MovieChat Forums > The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (2007) Discussion > I saw this last weekend

I saw this last weekend

posted 17 years ago by ericlondergan
8 replies | jump to latest

I saw this at the Boston International Film show last weekend. Just to give my opinion to the movie makers before it's released, I found the movie to be very slow. I was yawning a lot more than I do in most movies. It's also very quiet. I know this is needed as a big part of the film is "quiet time", but when you're already bored, the movie is almost narcoleptic.

I also think this will be quite a challange to market. It certainly doesn't feel like a movie that has multiple week box office appeal, even in the holiday season. It might do better in the indie houses, but I don't think the crowd that usually frequents them will find this appealing. It's quaint, in the most literal definition of the word, and I don't think that's what art house patrons are looking for.

I knew nothing of the story before I saw this. I never heard of the book but I was not surprised to learn it's only 40 pages according to Amazon. This story feels like it could be a very nice 1/2 hour special. Or maybe a Hallmark channel movie with commercials. As a feature film, I think it fails. I didn't hate it, but I can't recommend it.

[–] htitanicfan 17 years ago

dont you think you might be being a bit harsh? it is after all a kids movie.

[–] ericlondergan 17 years ago

There's an imfamous Siskel & Ebert from 1987 where they reviewed Full Metal Jacket and Benji the Hunted on the same week. They gave a thumb up and down each, reversing for each film. An argument started about how one could hate one and like the other. One of them (I forget which) said they reviewed movies without thought to the potential audience and simply on the merits of what HE thought of the picture. I'm definitely in that category.

If this is a kids film and you think that it should be judged differently, than say Ocean's Thirteen, I can't say that's without merit. All I can tell you is this viewer was bored, bored, bored.

[–] htitanicfan 17 years ago

ok well um, i guess you just need to remember that it is for kids and that an older audience might not find it good. however to the younger ones it could be the most amazing movie ever.

[–] onethirtyeightforlife 17 years ago

even if it is a "kid's movie", an adult has more of an attention span than a child does so if an adult finds a movie boring, a child may possibly be bored to tears by it.
if it was an animated film with action or whatever and an adult found it boring, i would say the adult found it boring because of the subject matter being more appealing to children than adults. however, this movie seems like more of a quiet, calm, "talky" holiday film, and therefore, the original poster probably found it boring because it is a truly boring and slow film. i haven't seen this movie or even a trailer of it, just reinforcing an argument.

If You're Gonna Scream, Scream With Me...

[–] caclark4 17 years ago

I thought it was a nice film. It really is along the lines of a Hallmark film. If you go into it with the expectations of some of the more commercial holiday films (flying reindeer, singing elves, wild sledding scene), you will be disappointed. However, if you are looking a nice film to enjoy with the family over a bowl of popcorn, this is the film for you.

[–] a_fensom 17 years ago

Which is its intention. I don't quite see why other people are trying to claim that this film should be grouped with films that have completely different intentions.

I can't wait to see it, and see myself on the credits!

[–] luvtom-2 17 years ago

The Christmas season can't come too fast for me.. I'm looking forward to it :)

[–] htitanicfan 17 years ago

haha same here. im looking forward to seeing myself on the credits too!