searchersd

I actually stopped watching early in the movie - seemed too heavy for my taste. A sad story about a man unable to deal with his wife's death. I then decided to give it another chance because Daniel Gillies was in it and appeared to be doing an OK job so far as the stone-faced and emotionless husband.

The bereaved husband decides to follow his wife's written request to go to his aunt's house within a senior living community in the desert and build her a long ago promised porch. The aunt, Barbara Hershey, runs activities there, while also running a clinic on a Native American reservation. But all is not what it seems with her as well.

The movie picks up a lot at this point, and as you'd expect, things turn out more than good at the end. Gillies does an impressive job, as do Hershey and Ron Pearlman. And you'll love all the old ladies and their humor.

I felt like watching another version of Snow White, being that Disney's latest offering of the same tale has just debuted in the cinemas. I never saw this "Grimm" version yet, so was curious to see how their interpretation differed.

Granted, all the bells and whistles of a typical grand Hollywood production are definitely missing here, but this movie still grows on you. The scenery, the castles, and the dungeon all look authentic. The wardrobe department could have tried a little harder, though. And presumably there wasn't enough money to create, and, or improve upon the special effects, but I was able to better them myself with my imagination.

I thought the actors did a great job. I was never bored, I was on the edge of my seat at times, and tearing up at others. The final battle scene could have been staged a lot better, but again, corners had to be cut.

But despite it all, I actually enjoyed this different version of Snow White. It was fun and it had the expected, happy ending. Now on to read the actual Grimm fairytale.

Ferelith Young puts a lot more substance into her acting here than what you'd expect, considering that this appears to be just one more Christmas romance movie where boy gets girl, or girl gets boy. In fact, without her, it definitely would be just another one to sit through, because that's what you do at this time of the year. However, she makes this movie.

The story is also a bit different. A creative quilt artist meets a fireman who is more concerned with the outdated fire extinguishers in the community center where she creates. Opposites can attract.

Although low-budget, I can find no fault with the expertise of everything else. I'd probably watch this one again next year.