magical-kingdom
This is a unique Christmas film. Most Christmas movies are pretty predictable,typical cookie cutter you see this time of year. All share the same uplifting purpose which is sorely needed. It has a great plot and very good acting. Keeping you mesmerized,wondering what would happen next and was there going to be a happily-ever-after. Put me in a teary eyed mood when it appeared Daniel was saying his goodbyes.Thomas Beaudoin,as Daniel, was excellent as a handsome gentleman playing the ghost. Jen Lilley, as Kate,an ambitious attorney sent from Boston to Vermont 12 days before Christmas to broker the sale of the haunted mansion.An absolutely stunning,brilliant film that has everything, romance, mystery,nostalgia, beautiful realistic winter setting at a gorgeous Victorian estate...Hollybrook Inn in Vermont.Highly recommended for those of us who enjoy these movies but would appreciate a change of pace without sacrificing the theme.
Irishchatter
This Christmas movie is definitely a different one because I never seen a film where a ghost falls in love with a modern girl 95 years later. It does remind you of Patrick Swayze's 'Ghost' or they took the past ghost idea of Charles Dickens 'Christmas Carol'. I really liked hearing Jen Lilley's voice, she has such a voice that you are immediately dying for. She's like so stunning for an actress that I never even knew she was in a few well known films! Since she is a singer, she should've sang a Christmas song in this, she would make this film more Christmassy!Thomas Beaudoin was excellent playing as the ghost, he really has the looks of a handsome gentlemen from 95 years ago. I say it was the make up and outfit that made him attractive! I like how this movie was also a mystery, we are able to dig deep into the time he was killed and what his life was like then. Throughout, the only thing I was questioning myself like why did his killer kill him? I could say it was pretty horrible for the poor guy to not know this for all these years! You would be thinking in the ghost world, what are the answers? I wish we could see people who have left us and that we would be able to help them figure out their past!This movie is absolutely stunning and brilliant! I would suggest this as a good film to take a look at :)
hsolaf
This Lifetime Christmas 2015 movie has everything, perhaps too much of everything: an attractive cast, love, romance, nostalgia, mystery, beautiful winter settings and a splendid, Victorian haunted house "Hollygrove Inn". It's the former home of the Forsythes,(not the same as in the "Forsythe Saga"), who have died without heirs. Ambitious,single and thoroughly modern attorney Kate (Jen Lilley)is sent from Boston to Vermont 12 days before Christmas to broker the sale of the inconveniently haunted mansion. She's promised a promotion if she can deal with the ghosts and the real estate before the year's end. Problems start to mount as soon as Kate gets there. The appraiser leaves in panic, his job undone, after having encountered a ghost. Plus, the innkeeper Warren (excellent actor Robert Walsh)is closing the Inn for the holidays.But spunky Kate tells him she will stay in spite of Warren's objections. Kate stays, meets the resident hunky ghost,impressive Daniel Forsythe (Thomas Beaudoin), who died by an unknown killer on Christmas Eve 95 years ago, as he approached "Hollygrove". The supernatural walks into our story right then in the unusual form of Daniel The Ghost, who likes to eat pancakes, imbibe drinks, and of course, likes women like Kate, in more than a spiritual way. At first, Kate and Daniel quarrel, but soon she succumbs to his manly ghost charms.Kate's love is also fueled by her empathy with Daniel's very sad, errant ghost story. Daniel is doomed to return to the house every Christmas and not to resolve his other-worldly status until he can solve the mysteries of his life, love and his death. Eventually, Kate will help him to solve the puzzle of his inconclusive ghost existence. This TV movie looks expensive, its production values are high, as we travel back to Hollygrove 1919,in stylish flashbacks. We learn Daniel thinks his wife Lilly (Katy Salowsky) was unfaithful with his brother, whom she married and had a daughter with, after Daniel died. We also find out, with curious Kate's help,that not one, but two ghosts inhabit Hollygrove, and the other one is Daniel's mysterious killer. Is it his bro, his wife, or someone else? Stay tuned to the end and find out. Another suspense element in this very complicated story, is his wife Lilly's love for Daniel. Did she or did she not betray him with his bro? Another subplot to solve is the future of Hollygrove. How can Kate sell the property and have her favorite ghost be homeless? Who will buy Haunted Hollygrove with the murder curse and the unwelcome ghosts? Finally and most importantly, will Kate and Daniel find a way to join flesh and spirit,to bridge the chasm between life and death, and fulfill their love? In many ways the unusual human-loves-ghost story gives origin to interesting, suspenseful and cute humorous situations. The lovely Hollygrove mansion and setting, plus the period flashbacks gives it romance and nostalgic texture. There's also several charming subplots like the romance between Molly(Joanna Herrington) a local pub owner, and Innkeeper Warren, who is also the ghost's best friend."The Spirit of Christmas" requires that we forsake our logic and stretch our imagination into the realm of the supernatural. But think of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"or of some Nicholas Spark's romantic stories,like "Safe Haven". Think of so many Christmas films in which Santa, elves, or angels do magical mysterious favors for humans. Christmas is that time when we are most willing to suspend logic and believe in spirits, the promise of an afterlife, and all things magical. The problem with "The Spirit of Christmas" is not that we can't accept its supernatural premises. It's that the crafted storyline doesn't work logically. At the end, the puzzle pieces don't fall neatly into place.Thus, it doesn't produce a fully pleasing feeling, a sense of artful satisfaction. It has too many loose ends and unexplained issues. I'll mention just one, not to produce important spoilers. How can Daniel be allowed to choose between staying on Earth or move to another life, once his curse is lifted? Analyze what the script says happened in 1919t; it's full of holes. The plot is too complicated and ambitious. Especially when it flashes back,the treatment of past events is shoddy, perfunctory and unreal. The film does much better when it covers the present, with more reality, wit, and humor. The cinematography is beautiful, with great winter landscapes and interiors. The acting is competent, especially by Ms. Lilley(Kate), Ms. Herrington (Molly), and Mr. Walsh (Warren). I also liked Mr. Beaudoin as Daniel whose impressive presence and light humorous touch seems just right for Daniel. That said, his lines fall flat in dialogue requiring more depth. "Spirit of Christmas"has many interesting parts, but the whole doesn't quite come together. Still,it's a film worth watching; but don't expect full satisfaction.
