sixpence1106 Reviews

Street Food Around the World (2012–2014)

Interesting culinary locations.

[5/10 · 30 September 2015]

I do like that that the host goes to unusual locations. He checks out the food markets showing the different items unique to each country, roams the streets and interacts with the locals. In addition to food, he goes to the tea and coffee shops, bakeries, chocolate shops, many of the street vendors and once in a while an indoor eatery. Since he is there for 24 hrs you get to see what foods the people of each country eat for each meal, from breakfast to dinner and late night snacks. It seems like its mostly the United States that has determined what is breakfast cuisine, like eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes and that type of food. You find in many countries what they eat for breakfast, is what they eat for lunch and dinner as well, like soup for instance. So I found that very interesting.

My biggest issue with the show is the sometimes the host can be very obnoxious. He always asks to go into the kitchen. If he is not asking to make some of the food, with his street clothes on (many times with his coat, scarf and hat..not very sanitary), he is hovering over the food that is to be served to other people. I can't imagine the owners were very pleased with that. In one segment, he was drizzling honey over baklava (I believe) and while he is pouring the honey over an entire tray of dessert, he sticks his tongue under the pouring honey. How disgusting and rude. He can be normal and entertaining, but some of his antics in the store owners kitchens are difficult to watch.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005– )

Gave me a headache

[1/10 · 7 January 2015]

I watched most of the series before I made any comments. I am guessing that most of the people that LOVED this show are men. They seem to like the type of humor that is on this show. They do have some funny moments, but I can't say that I am amused at the crude, disrespectful and politically incorrect humor through most of the series. Nothing is off limits. Mac even does one show in blackface when they decide to make a movie of Lethal Weapon 6. On the internet they even have an article called The Ten Most Vile Actions of the Paddy's Pub House Gang on "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia. And that was from 4 years ago, so I am sure they can add a lot more to that list. I think what annoys me the most is all the yelling. I don't think I have ever watched a TV series that spends 80% of the time yelling at such a high decibel. The one thing that I am curious about is how they got Danny Devito to be a regular on the show. Since it has lasted 10 seasons, I gather the ratings are good, so it worked out for him having a regular gig. I will never say something is bad, because taste is relative. Its just not my cup of tea.

Little Men (1998–1999)

Nice family fare

[7/10 · 23 June 2014]

Its seems most people who saw and reviewed the series feels the same way I do. I guess Tommy in Baltimore didn't care for it, which is his right. Just because something is sugary sweet doesn't make it bad, although I don't feel that this series was sugary sweet. It was just good wholesome family TV. Since I loved the Karate Kid, I thought I would enjoy the Disney series, Kickin It. From the beginning, I thought it was really juvenile. I gave it 3-4 episodes before I couldn't watch anymore. I hated it for "me".. I didn't think it was bad. I just knew it was made for younger kids. My 11 yr old niece has watched every episode and loves it. She doesn't think its juvenile. So, everything is relative. And Little Men did address some subjects that were on the serious side, so life at the school wasn't always happy. I enjoyed the stories, the characters and the acting. I felt the series was well written and produced. Its been ions since I read any of the books, so I couldn't tell you if it was true to the books or not. Since, I don't remember, I don't really care...lol. All I know is that I enjoyed the entire series and I would have loved to have seem more episodes.

Shelter Me (2012)

Wonderful Story How Shelter Dogs Can Save Lives

[10/10 · 14 June 2014]

This is a wonderful story about how shelter dogs lives can be saved by saving the life of a person in need. Its sad that so many wonderful dogs end up in shelters. I know some can't be helped, but so many people get dogs that have no business having a pet. But, it is so uplifting to see how many of these dogs can be trained to give assistance to those with physically issues and even our brave soldiers that come home from war with psychological problems. Its a win win. A person gets the companion they need and a wonderful dog gets a good and loving home. I just loved this documentary from beginning to end. My face hurt from smiling through the whole documentary. Sometimes that smile was joined by some tears of joy. A must watch for any animal lover.

Spinning Plates (2012)

Cook From The Heart

[7/10 · 6 June 2014]

A good friend of mine was in her mid 50's. She was now married and retired from working for the city. Karen had wanted to open a restaurant all her life and never had the opportunity. She found a small place and decided to finally fulfill her dream. She was at the restaurant hours before it opened every day so she could get the food ready for that day. The restaurant was only open for breakfast and lunch. But, being obsessively clean, the restaurant had to be spotless at the end of the day so she was there for hours after it closed. I don't even think she was open a year before she gave it up. She loved cooking, but admitted that she had no idea how hard it would be to have a restaurant. The cleaning, the food ordering, the paperwork, the cooking, dealing with people, etc. She said it was just too hard and too stressful. I don't think people have any idea what restaurant owners/chefs go through. Its long hours and hard work, sometimes, for very little money. I heard on one show that many Michelin star restaurants don't even make a lot of money. The cost to maintain these restaurants is very high. They do it for the love of cooking. I wish a lot of people could watch shows like this so the next time they feel the need to complain about something trivial, they will think twice about it. I can understand people who eat at Grants restaurant once, just to see what it is like. But, my idea of dining is not eating little bits of things frozen or blasted with heat and thrown on a table. I would rather have anything to eat at Breitbach or the Martinez's restaurant any day. I do appreciate Grant's passion and his skills at what he does. The documentary was very well done and done with a lot of heart.

Enchanted April (1991)

You may already have what you need and not know it.

[9/10 · 6 June 2014]

What a beautiful and serene place to film a movie. It made me want to jump on the next plane and look for that castle in Italy. Add a lovely script and superb acting and you have a wonderful movie. 4 women (two are strangers) from London share a castle in Italy. They all want to get away for different reasons. The women had some time to reflect on their life and what they thought was really important. They find what they were running away from is what they really needed and wanted. And so did the men in two of the women's lives. When the movie was over, I felt happy and peaceful. I just wanted to take a slow deep breath and exhale.

What If... (I) (2010)

You may never know what you missed

[8/10 · 4 June 2014]

I was really lucky and found this on Netflix. It is reminiscent of "Its a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart, but with some different twists. Ben Walker was destined to be a simple preacher with his girlfriend Wendy. But now, years later his life has taken a 360 into a life of big business and all the luxuries & high maintenance girlfriend that comes with it. Then out of nowhere, Mike comes along and everything changes. When Ben was thrown into his What If life, I couldn't imagine how they were going to make his transformation believable. But, they did. Then I had no idea where they were going with the movie when he was told it was time to go back to his current life. They did a wonderful job. Whoever wrote this was brilliant. It was so cleaver how they put all the pieces together. Loved it !!

Auntie Mame (1958)

Live Live Live

[10/10 · 4 June 2014]

This is one of my top 3 favorite movies. You might say I am obsessed with this movie. I have no idea how many times I have watched it. I have lost count. I can't imagine anyone playing Mame any better than Rosalind Russell. I agree with another reviewer, in reference to the movie Mame with Lucille Ball. I LOVE Lucille Ball, but Ms. Russell was the ultimate Mame. I really did not care for Mame at all. Auntie Mame is a wonderful movie. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but mostly it will give you so much joy. Auntie Mame loves life and lives it to the fullest. When she loves, its with her whole heart and soul. Its like her book.. Live Live Live. The movie takes you from Mame as a kooky free spirit with no responsibilities or cares, to now having a child that depends on her. But there are many times that you have to wonder who is taking care of who. Lots of fun and laughs...canapé with tuna and peanut butter, anyone?

A Christmas Without Snow (1980 TV Movie)

A church choir is not without its problems

[8 January 2014]

Zoe is a divorced woman who moves to San Francisco to start a new life. She's left her son with her mom while she gets situated. Zoe decides to join a very small church choir. They have just hired a strong minded choirmaster. Even though they are just amateurs, he demands perfection from the members. They are a quirky group, who we get to know as the movie progresses. After going through personal issues with members and the choirmaster, a broken organ and other small dramas, she isn't sure its worth staying in the choir. She hopes she made the right decision to stay. Their performance of the Messiah, looks like it may not happen when and unfortunate incident happens just before Christmas. The movie is a little slow, but if you enjoy a nice little movie, with an interesting story line, good acting and enjoy listening to Handel's Messiah (which is sung throughout the movie), you will enjoy it.

Where Eskimos Live (2002)

War is ugly, especially for children

[8/10 · 5 January 2014]

I generally stay away from war movies. Its hard for me have to watch what people have to endure on a daily basis. It is especially hard to have to think about all the children out there who are orphans because of it. That is the basis of the movie. Sharkey has papers to get a 9 yrs old boy out of the country, so he searches for a boy that fits the profile. He runs into a gang of orphans who banned together to take care of each other. The boy who designated himself the leader will only let him take a grown boy with learning disabilities. As Sharkey continues on his quest, a young boy sneaks away from the group to see if Sharkey will take him. He is the right age, so Sharkey sets off with the boy. This is the story of their journey of running into other gangs, road blocks, dodging gun fire and other dangers. When he gets to his destination, he wonders if the boy is in just as much danger. He has to figure out how to get him out of that situation. It was a good movie, depressing and disturbing at times. But it was made very well and the acting by Sharkey and Vlado was wonderful. I am sure it did a good job of realistically depicting the horrors of war.

Assault of the Party Nerds 2: The Heavy Petting Detective (1995)

Nerds doing what they do best

[1/10 · 4 January 2014]

Once in a while I watch a movie, I am sure I will think is stupid. I think it makes me appreciate the good movies even more. For the most part its hard for women to review movies like this. Men seem to have a different mentality than women do. Many find the most sophomoric things funny. (Sorry, but you know its true) I am trying to figure out if these actors are that bad or really good at acting so bad. Except for Arte Johnson, I don't recognize any of these actors. Its been almost 15 yrs since the movie came out..so I am guessing its not the later. That being said, I am guessing with the strong sexual content, partial nudity and sexy girls, most guys would like the movie. Unless, you have low standards, I think most girls will think its just as stupid as I did.

A Golden Christmas (2009 TV Movie)

There's no place like home for the holidays

[9/10 · 4 January 2014]

Its Christmas and Jessica comes back home for Christmas. She comes back to the house she loved and that her dad built. Its been 3 years since she's been home. She is excited to tell her parents she decided she wants to give up her life as a lawyer and come back home. She was not ready for the devastating news her parents revealed. She reminisces about her childhood and the young boy she met one summer and the lunch box (time capsule) they buried. Its been rough since her husband passed away, 3 years ago. She meets Michael, a single father, who lives in town. After her parents tells her who he is, she automatically takes a disliking to him. A dog showed up at Michael's doorstep and he took her in. But, the dog always seems to find his way to Jessica's house. Could the dog be trying to get them together? Does the dog know something they don't know? All you have to do is give me a nice story with wonderful actors and I am a happy camper. And that is what this movie has.

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978 TV Movie)

Santa and his broken leg

[4/10 · 4 January 2014]

Patsy and Cynthia go to Switzerland so Benji can be Grand Marshall in a parade. When they arrive they find that Kris Kringle has a broken leg and will not be delivering gifts on Christmas. But, his leg may not be the problem. If it were not for Ron Moody (who played Fagin in the movie Oliver)the movie would be a total bust. He is quite the actor and showman. Other than the fact that they were in Switzerland for Benji to be in a parade, he was pretty much just carried around and had very little interaction in the movie. The dog had no personality and seemed disinterested during the whole movie. Did I mention it was VERY short. I know it was listed as a short and short it was..

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988 TV Movie)

Did jealousy lead to the unthinkable?

[6/10 · 3 January 2014]

If you are a fan of Perry Mason, as I am, you would have figured that out there was something strange from the beginning of the movie. Normally Perry Mason spends his entire show defending his client and piecing together the crime and identifying the real criminal at the very end of the show. When the movie began, it seems that the killer was identified in the first few minutes of the movie. But obviously, things were not what they seemed. I was not sure what it was, but Raymond Burr and Barbara Hale seemed very flat and uninspired. At least William Katt and David Hasselhoff kept the movie alive. The ending was very interesting. I definitely did not see that coming. As a mystery the movie was worth watching, but as a "Perry Mason" movie, it was disappointing.

The Story Lady (1991 TV Movie)

Be careful what you wish for.

[8/10 · 2 January 2014]

As, I am sure was previously mentioned...Jessica Tandy is in this movie. Need we say more? Many years ago, I had a boss that thought the only way you could be a good sales person was to talk loudly and firmly, to the point of being pushy. Ms. Tandy, with her quiet and calm demeanor could sell snow to an Eskimo. She makes acting look easy and effortless. That is what makes her so good. This is not a blockbuster movie, but it's a sweet story of an older woman who senses that at her age, people seem to feel she has nothing more to offer. What started out as a small enjoyable pass time, became more than she could have anticipated. In the meantime, she shows a mother that she is missing out on what is really important. Stephanie Zimbalist was wonderful as well. I really enjoyed the movie. Its definitely worth watching.

Lover's Prayer (2001)

Should be called Dazed and Confused

[2/10 · 2 January 2014]

The only reason I gave it a 2 instead of a 1 is because amid the crazy plot, there was some good acting. It seemed like it was going to be a typical period movie. It was far from that. I am not sure if it was me, but I was quite confused throughout the entire movie. Until the end of the movie, I still hadn't figured out if Zinaida was just as pix-elated (as in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town)as her mother or if she was just a very selfish, egotistical young lady who enjoyed playing with people and their feelings. I was confused at what was going on with Vladimir's father and his thought process at the end. If you gave that cast a good plot and script, it would have been a wonderful movie. Its too bad it was wasted on that one.

Noel (2004)

Christmas in the real world.

[8/10 · 1 January 2014]

Even though it was a few days after Christmas, I decided to stay in the spirit and watch a Christmas movie. When I saw the cast, I figured it had to be a good movie. As I started to watch the movie, it wasn't quite what I expected. It was a bit maudlin. I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue watching. I really hate giving up on a movie so I continued to do so. I was so glad I did. The cast was amazing and I loved how the stories intertwined. It was a little strange watching Paul Walker in a movie, so soon after his passing and found it rather heartbreaking. The stories themselves at times seem agonizing and painful, but somehow they managed to end the movie showing that there is always hope. I really enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to anyone who loves wonderful acting and interesting story lines. One of the best movies I've seen in a while.