syracuse10
What can I say about The Spirit of Christmas? It perfectly blends mystery, suspense, and romance into one fantastic holiday movie. Kate is the perfect character to assist Daniel in discovering the truth about his murder on that cold, winter night. Seeing the development of Kate's and Daniel's relationship throughout the story was truly heartwarming. They went from Daniel wanting Kate to leave the inn and never return to being the perfect match for one another, a true Christmas Miracle. I can't say enough about the writing and acting. Just superb. It was heartbreaking to learn that Daniel;s cousin was his murderer, but at the same time you felt compassion for the cousin due to his circumstances. The true character of Daniel was on display in this moment, however, when he forgave his cousin. Enormous growth from the Daniel we first met. I loved this movie and would recommend to anyone that is looking for a great, fun, loving Christmas movie for the holidays. Merry Christmas and a cooked goose for everyone!
Heather
Daniel is a little different from what you think of when you picture a ghost. The holiday season (the winter solstice) is 'a magical time of year,' which according to the Ancient Celts meant that the veil between this world and other realms and the veil that separates the living and the dead is thin (think of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol by Dickens). With that in mind, during the holidays, Daniel takes on a solid form. Like a vampire or a zombie, he's undead and has an insatiable appetite to fuel his unnatural body. Like a ghost, he doesn't sleep, he can't leave the property, and has unfinished business to take care of. He quite literally can choose to be ghostly or solid, and ultimately he has to choose one for the rest of his life.The ending is confusing but here's what I think happened. Daniel hadn't been around any Christmases after his death, but he managed to remain solid this time around for Christmas because he was starting to resolve his unfinished business/break his curse. Since he hadn't been around on Christmas before, he didn't see the residual haunt that happens at Christmas. That is, the murder happens every year (in ghostly form) just as it happened, like watching someone's memory. Spirits aren't really 'there' during residual haunts; you can't interact with them. Then Daniel finds out the other spirit in the bed and breakfast is the man who murdered him. Then Daniel lets go of his anger about his death. Thus, Daniel's former lover's spirit shows up to take Daniel to the other side. Since Daniel's somewhat alive, he chooses to stay alive and live out the rest of his life. A hard-working life in a legal line of work instead of the illegal high-life he had when he was alive.
juneebuggy
I actually really enjoyed this. It's well done as far as made-for-TV Christmas movies go, with a unique story and decent mystery attached.It also wasn't as corny or cliché as most holiday themed movies tend to be and I wasn't ever sure how the story was going to play out especially in regards to the happily-ever-after. The acting and sets were very good too, including real snow, as I've seen some Xmas movies which were obviously filmed mid summer.The story follows Kate, a lawyer who travels to Vermont to broker the sale of an inn and learns that the reason it won't sell is because it's haunted by a man who cannot move on until the mystery of his death (95 years ago) is solved.I have to admit one of the reasons I enjoyed this as much as I did was down to Thomas Beaudoin who plays the ghost. I've never seen him in anything before but he was excellent. Decent acting and super good looking. He really pulled off a man from the turn of the century.Daniel as our ghost only appears 12 days each year and then disappears back into his static between world again. He is grumpy and perpetually hungry for his 12 days at the inn, wanting just to be left alone. Despite Kate finds herself drawn to the ill-tempered spirit, determined to help him and they soon find themselves in an unlikely time crossed romance. 12/23/15
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.
