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A Christmas Mourning
A Christmas Mourning
Laura Bradford | 2020 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery of the Missing Christmas Spoon
Claire Weatherly is going to enjoy a rare day off with her aunt Diane, and the two are going to play tourist, visiting the Amish sites that are open for tours. When Claire mentions this to Jakob Fisher, her new boyfriend, he tells her a story about a Christmas years ago. Raised by a local Amish family, Jakob actually attended school in the one room school house Claire and Diane will be visiting. The last year he was there, he took a fancy Christmas spoon his mother owned to show off to his friends, and it got lost. Claire decides to see if she can figure out what happened to it. But can it be recovered all these years later?

I’ve been meaning to read this short story at Christmas one year, and I’m glad I finally made the time. While the events of the past are set around Christmas, the contemporary part is not set during the season, which was a surprise that I got over quickly. The story was perfect for a short story; it kept me engaged without being overly complex. The ending made me tear up, but in a good way. We don’t see all of the characters, but it was wonderful to check in with those who were part of the story. It took me just under an hour to read, so if you want to read it this year, there is still time to slip it in before the holiday.
  
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Fantasy
Totally bogus
I really wanted to like this film. I love the original two but the thought of another sequel so many years later just didn’t sit right, and I’m afraid after watching this I’m really not convinced.

There are a lot of good things about this though. It’s good to see Bill and Ted back and to see Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter back together, and this gives it a rather nostalgic and nice feeling. The film also has a good message and the whole thing is just heartwarming and enjoyable fun. By far the best thing about this film though is William Sadler returning as Death, and I also quite warmed to Dennis who was very much on the border of being cringey, at times,but these two are the only ones that made me laugh the entire film.

And now the bad. I hated the daughters, they were just either very dull or ridiculously cringey and I just found them being (smarter) carbon copies of their fathers a little bit obvious and predictable. I also feel like Bill and Ted themselves have been pushed to one side in this to make room for the daughters, and this is meant to be a Bill and Ted film! The daughters journey was just repeating the same story from the originals too. I don’t understand either why the future versions of Bill and Ted were so horrible, and the song at the end was rather a letdown as well.

I’m probably being very harsh but I really don’t think this film should have been made. If you want to watch a Bill and Ted film, watch the first two.