Topic: Celebrity of the Week Marathon: Catherine Bell

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Celebrity of the Week Marathon

Catherine Bell

Catherine Bell (born August 14, 1968) is an American actress known for her role of Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie of the television show JAG from 1997 to 2005. Currently she stars in the Lifetime Television hit series Army Wives as Denise Sherwood. Bell was born in London, England, the daughter of Mina, a personal assistant and nurse, and Peter Bell, an architect. Her mother is Iranian and her father Scottish.

The idea behind this marathon—or what will actually be a series of marathons—is that I will watch 1 movie per day for an entire week with the chosen celebrity. I am not saying I will do one of these marathons every week... but it is something I will do hopefully fairly often.

As you can see for the first week I chose the JAG & Army Wives star... the always lovely Catherine Bell. I have been a fan of her's since the very first time I saw her in the second season of JAG.

This marathon will be running from today, Saturday the 17th through Friday the 23rd.

My Catherine Bell Movie Collection:
- Alien Nation: Body & Soul (bit part of a cop)
- Bruce Almighty (Susan Ortega)
- Evan Almighty (Cameo - Susan Ortega)
- The Good Witch (Cassie Nightingale)
- The Good Witch's Garden (Cassie Nightingale)
- The Good Witch's Wedding (Cassie Nightingale)
- The Good Witch's Family (Cassie Nightingale)
- Still Small Voices (Michael Summer)
- The Triangle (Emily Patterson)

So I will be watching 7 of the above through-out the next week. With 9 titles there... 2 of which is small parts I will probably skip the two where she has small parts.

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Heads up... the first thing I will be watching is The Triangle... which is a 4 and a half hour miniseries!...

...so the review won't be up until later this evening.

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

For me this would be an extremely short Marathon.
I only have her in one title and this is on my wishlist. She isn't even acting in it, she's only the body double for another much more famous actress.

Which movie is this?

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I know she was the body double for Isabella Rossellini in Death Becomes Her. Though I don't have that one.

I have about an hour left on the miniseries I am watching today.... so review will be up soon.

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The Triangle: Widescreen 2-Disc Set (2005/United States) Lions Gate Entertainment Director: Craig R. Baxley Writing: Rockne S. O'Bannon (Screenwriter), Rockne S. O'Bannon (Story By), Bryan Singer (Story By), Dean Devlin (Story By) Length: 249 min. Rating: NR Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Eric Stoltz as Howard Thomas
Catherine Bell as Emily Patterson
Lou Diamond Phillips as Meeno Paloma
Bruce Davison as Stan Lathem
Michael Rodgers as Bruce Geller
Sam Neill as Eric Benerall

Plot:
From the director of X-Men and a producer of Independence Day, comes a sci-fi event so big, it's a phenomenon. Experience the thrills and heart-pounding suspense of the greatest legend of our time as a team of specialists races to solve the mystery of why an alarming number of cargo ships are disappearing into the Bermuda Triangle. But as every clue only deepens the mystery, the truth they uncover is far more bizarre than the myths used to cover it up.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

This is my second time watching this mini-series. I was hoping this time I would enjoy it a little more then I did the last time. But going by my rating in profiler... and my notes on the last time I watched it.... I feel pretty much the same. It's not a bad film... I did enjoy it. But I still felt unsatisfied when it was over. I think... at least in my opinion... they went with an easy out at the end... but then added a bit of a twist to that easy out. Which was ok... but I just felt like there should have been more to it. As usual.... I did enjoy watching Catherine Bell in this one. But surprisingly I wasn't as impressed with Lou Diamond Phillips this time. I don't know... just felt like his heart wasn't in it or something.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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The Good Witch (2008/Canada) Gaiam Americas Director: Craig Pryce Writing: Rod Spence (Writer) Length: 88 min. Rating: NR Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

Stars:
Catherine Bell as Cassie Nightingale
Chris Potter as Jake Russell
Catherine Disher as Martha Tinsdale
Peter MacNeill as George O'Hanrahan
Allan Royal as Walter Cobb
Matthew Knight as Brandon Russell

Plot:
A mysterious, yet charming woman arrives in a small town and causes a stir when people think she is an actual witch. The town's moral committee, lead by the mayor's wife, becomes convinced she is evil and begins a campaign to drive her out of town. This causes much stress to the town sheriff, a struggling widower, who is slowly developing feelings for the woman. As their relationship grows, the woman helps the sheriff's children, as well as several members of the community, face their problems and overcome personal obstacles. But is it common sense or magic that's helping the townfolk? And will they ever be able to accept her as one of their own?

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

What can I say? I really enjoy this Hallmark Channel Original movie. I caught this movie for the first time on cable a while back... enjoyed it so much that I went ahead and grabbed the DVD. I grabbed the DVD just over a year ago (Feb. 8, 2011)... and this is my third time watching the DVD. And I enjoy it just as much now as the first time I watched it. I really like the character of Cassandra Nightingale (The Good Witch) and the lovely Catherine Bell did a wonderful job in the role. I couldn't imagine anyone doing it better. If there is anything I didn't care for though... it would be that the ending felt like it was settled a little quickly and easily. But that didn't really take away from the movie for me. Unfortunately this DVD release has no extras what so ever. Also unfortunate is the fact that none of the three sequels has made it on DVD yet. Luckily I have them all recorded until they are (hopefully) released.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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Real life got in the way of my DVD watching today... so to make up for it I will be watching 2 titles tomorrow.

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The Good Witch's Garden (2009/Canada) Director: Craig Pryce Writing: G. Ross Parker (Writer), Rod Spence (Original Characters By) Length: 86 min. Rating: TV-PG Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

Stars:
Catherine Bell as Cassie Nightingale
Chris Potter as Jake Russell
Catherine Disher as Martha Tinsdale
Peter MacNeill as George O'Hanrahan
Rob Stewart as Nick Chasen
Matthew Knight as Brandon Russell

Plot:
Cassandra ‘Cassie’ Nightingale (Catherine Bell) has settled into Middleton and is busy making a home of Grey House. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Jake Russell (Chris Potter), and his kids are happy to have Cassie in the neighborhood, but she has yet to gain the trust of some people in town.

Before long, a stranger rolls into town with papers entitling him to legal ownership of Grey House. Before she knows it, Cassie is left without a home and is convinced Middleton isn’t where she belongs. Ultimately, everyone will learn holding on too tightly to something can make it more likely that thing will slip through your fingers.

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

This is one that I recorded and burned to DVD myself as it hasn't been released yet. But I am hoping to see a DVD release of it before too long so I can junk this recording. I enjoyed this first sequel just as much as I did the original movie. It has enough sub-plots to keep the story moving and interesting... while limiting it just enough so that there isn't too much going on. I really enjoyed the main storyline of the guy trying to swindle Grey House from Cassie. Once again Catherine Bell was great as Cassie. The more I see her in the bigger fan I become.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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The Good Witch's Wedding (2010/Canada) Director: Craig Pryce Writing: Rod Spence (Writer), G. Ross Parker (Writer) Length: 84 min. Rating: NR Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

Stars:
Catherine Bell as Cassie Nightingale
Chris Potter as Jake Russell
Catherine Disher as Martha Tinsdale
Peter MacNeill as George O'Hanrahan
Matthew Knight as Brandon Russell
Elizabeth Lennie as Gwen

Plot:
Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell) has settled comfortably in Middleton with a successful boutique and is now engaged to Police Chief Russell (Chris Potter). But with only two short weeks till Christmas, Jake is desperate to find the perfect gift. With no wedding date set, Jake wants to give Cassie a family for Christmas this year and suggests they get married on Christmas Eve. But, as usual, things don't always happen as planned and Cassie must use a bit of magic to give her new family that special Christmas.

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

Once again this has not yet been released officially on DVD. It is one that I made off my own recording. This sequel is actually known under 2 different titles... The Good Witch's Wedding (as is in the opening credits) and The Good Witch's Gift. It is the third movie in the series. While I still enjoyed this one very much. It wasn't quite as good as the previous two. Almost but not quite. It is a good mixture between a wedding and Christmas storyline. As with the other sequel I hope to see an official release on DVD before too long.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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The Good Witch's Family (2011/Canada) Hallmark Home Entertainment Director: Craig Pryce Writing: G. Ross Parker (Writer), Rod Spence (Original Characters By) Length: 83 min. Rating: TV-PG Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

Stars:
Catherine Bell as Cassie Nightingale
Chris Potter as Jake Russell
Sarah Power as Abigail
Catherine Disher as Martha Tinsdale
Matthew Knight as Brandon
Hannah Endicott-Douglas as Lori

Plot:
A young witch visits her cousin in a small town during a heated mayoral election race. Her kind-hearted cousin, the town’s beloved “good witch” and newlywed with two teenage step-kids, is running for office, but must keep her family from falling apart when their visitor uses her magic to put them—and the whole town—under her bitter spell.

Extras:

• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

This is the most recent of the Good Witch TV Movies. Once again this is off a Recording as there is no DVD out for it yet. It is another very good installment to the series. This is the second time I watched this one. Once when it originally aired and now. I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the last time. Though I did miss seeing the kid's grandfather in this one. He was a main character in all three of the previous movies... but not in this one at all. Not even mentioned. The Good Witch series of TV Movies has become pretty much a tradition Every Halloween for the last four years on the Hallmark Channel. I haven't heard if they will be doing another one this year or not. But I hope that they do.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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Still Small Voices (2006/) A&E Home Video Director: Mario Azzopardi Writing: Jolene Rice (Writer) Length: 87 min. Rating: NR Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: None

Stars:
Catherine Bell as Michael Summer
Mark Humphrey as Ash Summer
Damir Andrei as Bud
Deborah Grover as Anne Hartley
George Buza as Wife Beater
Eugene Clark as Sergeant Gillett

Plot:
When 911 operator Michael Summer (Catherine Bell, Army Wives) returns to work after suffering a personal tragedy, she receives a mysterious call from a frightened child begging for help. She soon begins having visions of a young girl believed to have been a drowning victim. The visions lead Michael to the town of Starlight, Pennsylvania, where she uncovers the story of a girl who went missing years before. Though the girl was written off as a drowning victim, Michael believes she was kidnapped. Threatening her own health and sanity, Michael launches her own investigation, uncovering a startling secret that shatters everything she knows to be true about herself.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

This is one of my favorite TV Movies I have found so far. This came up as a recommendation at Amazon when I ordered The Good Witch... and when I watched the TV Spot on Youtube I knew I had to see it as it dealt with the supernatural as Michael (Catherine Bell), the 911 operator got ghostly calls from a little girl. This is a made for TV movie that originally aired on Lifetime on January 6, 2007.  I found that this movie looses very little with repeat viewing... I enjoyed it just as much today as I did the first time I watched it. And this is the third time I have watched it in the year that I have owned it now. Definitely one I feel comfortable recommending.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5

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Bruce Almighty: Widescreen (2003/United States) Universal Studios Home Video Director: Tom Shadyac Writing: Steve Koren (Story By), Mark O'Keefe (Story By), Steve Koren (Screenwriter), Mark O'Keefe (Screenwriter), Steve Oedekerk (Screenwriter) Length: 101 min. Rating: Rated PG-13 : Language, Sexual Content and Some Crude Humor Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: DTS: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Jim Carrey as Bruce Nolan
Morgan Freeman (1937) as God
Jennifer Aniston as Grace Connelly
Philip Baker Hall as Jack Baylor
Catherine Bell as Susan Ortega
Lisa Ann Walter as Debbie

Plot:
Comic genius Jim Carrey stars with Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman in the entertaining comedy hit of the year that critics are applauding as a "laugh a minute" (Jim Ferguson, FOX-TV). Bruce Nolan (Carrey) is a TV reporter who believes the entire universe is stacked against him. In a life-altering encounter, the Big Guy Upstairs (Freeman) endows Bruce with all of His divine powers and challenges Bruce to take on the big job to see if he can do it any better. Bruce Almighty is the wildly funny comedy featuring "Jim Carrey at his best!" (Leonard Maltin, Hot Ticket)

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Production Notes
• Outtakes/Bloopers
• DVD-ROM Content

My Thoughts:

This is a movie I always enjoyed. I have watched it multiple times since I got the DVD... but for some reason this is the first time I seen it in a couple years now. I know Jim Carrey can be hard to take at times... but I seem to always enjoy him... and this one is no exception. Of course Jennifer Aniston is good as well. Catherine Bell plays one of the news anchors. She is of course good as well though her part is a little smaller then I would have liked to of seen. It isn't a small part... but I would have liked to seen more of her. Then there was \Morgan Freeman who played God which I thought was a great choice.

My Rating:
Out of a Possible 5