At first glance Second Sight is a crime drama like any other british murder mysteries. But don't be fooled. It goes deeper than most dramas. In other murder mysteries it always involves finding the killer with some character development and that's it. Second Sight is different. Solving the crime is important, but more importantly is how the main character Ross Tanner solves these crimes. Because at the first episode it becomes apparent that he has a rare decease, causing him to loose his sight and eventually going blind. In the course of the series he looses his sight now and then later accompanied by strange visions and surreal dreams (which helps him strangely enough to solve crimes). At first D.C.I. Ross Tanner (a very strict, but fair, well respected and succesfull leader of a crime squad who wants to be in controll of everything) ignores his problem. But then he has to face the music when D.I. Catherine Tully discovers something is wrong with his vision. She helps him and becomes his sight. After four episodes she cannot help him anymore because it is to much a strain on her and the team thinks she is trying to climb up the ladder by sleeping with her superior Ross Tanner, not aware of the main character's problem. As the series goes on his handicap becomes bigger, but at the same time it is enabling him to see things at a better perspective. It is amusing to see how Ross Tanner (Clive Owen) handles himself. More so if his second D.I. ( a very ambitious fellow) tries to take over things. Because only a few people have noticed his problem, he continues with his work, while we know he cannot go on any much longer. Will they ever find out? Clive Owen really makes this series work, if it was played by anyone else, it would not be believable. This crime drama is one of the best dramas ever to be broadcasted by the BBC. Go watch it!
Reviews
16 Reviews
Black Dahlia
(1998 Video Game)
storyline better than "Seven"
9 December 2000
I have played this game several times and it never gets boring. The plot is wonderful. If you like fmv games, then this one you will love. The acting is good, the graphics are beautiful and there are some special effects which are simply superb. Dennis Hopper and Teri Garr just appear briefly in the game. If you bought this game just because you are a Dennis Hopper fan, you don't have to be disappointed, because this is one storyline which is even better than "Seven". To give a little indication of what to expect. The producers of "Ripper" have outdone themselves. They have created a better game with better actors. Buy this game. If you are a movie buff like me, then this is one interactive movie you have to own.
Gladiator
(2000)
a movie you have to see at least once in your life
25 November 2000
The first time i heard about the Gladiator, I thought it would be all action and no story. Although the story wasn't that complicated, it was really compelling to watch. There are some political issues discussed in the movie but do not expect intrigue like in the "I Claudius" series (although Derek Jacobi who played Claudius also stars in "the Gladiator"). The whole movie looked great and reminded me of movies like Spartacus and Ben Hur. The action was very well choreographed and was fun to watch, even if it was a little gory (we have to be realistic: using swords can be a bloody affair). Russel Crow carries the movie. You really feel his pain when his family is killed. Actually the entire cast was good. Hans Zimmer did a excellent job on the musical score. The runtime of the movie is about 155 minutes, and not once when i watched the movie i was bored, the movie is over before you know it. So "The Gladiator" is a movie you have to see at least once in your life.
Wonder Seven
(1994)
fastpaced, humoristic action movie
23 November 2000
"Wonder Seven" is a great mix of shootouts and martial arts. This movie is about a gang who consists out of seven orphans joined by one man, serving as a secret police force. Each member of the gang has his own speciality (sounds familiar: Magnificent Seven). At one mission something goes wrong and they are being accused of a murder they haven't commited. Of course you know how this story will end. But this movie isn't about the plot, it is about the action. Let me tell you, the action is very well done. And Michelle Yeoh (Tomorrow never dies) shows what she really can do (which she wasn't allowed to do in the Bond movie). This is a fastpaced, humoristic action movie.
Heroic Trio 2: Executioners
(1993)
forget this movie ever being made
23 November 2000
After seeing Heroic Trio, I expected a lot of this movie. But I have to say, this was a bad movie, because it didn't make any sense. Of course being a HK movie this normally doesn't bother me, but even the action was bad. If there was any action. Because at the time you were expecting a fight or two, they didn't fight. They justed talked. I almost fell a sleep during this movie. My advise to you forget this movie ever being made. Only watch the first part.
Cobra
(1993–1994)
very cool show
23 November 2000
This was a very cool show, because Michael Dudikoff did what he did best. Show his athletic skills and kick ass. The great thing about this series was that you did not have to see the whole series to follow the plot. All episodes could stand on their own. But if you did want to follow the whole plot it never got boring to be reminded of the main story (Michael Dudikoff searching for his father's legacy).
Character
(1997)
this isone Dutch movie to be proud of
22 November 2000
Normally I do not watch Dutch movies because they are very boring most of the times. Oh yes they contain a lot of vulgar language and a lot of sex and if you are lucky some humour. But that is not enough to keep you entertained. "Karakter" however is a good movie who got an oscar for best foreign movie. And now after seeing it I agree. It certainly is keeping you on your toes, and the story about the main character who has this "conflict" with his father is very interesting. The main characters put on their best show, since you really can imagine what they are going through. There is some humour in the movie which is very subtle and not very typical Dutch humour. This is one Dutch movie to be proud of.
Tex Murphy: Overseer
(1998 Video Game)
a great gaming experience
22 November 2000
I am a movie buff, but when it comes to "interactive movies" I do not compare them to normal cinema, because that isn't doing them both justice. A computer game has to be fun. Tex Murphy adventures are all fun. You will love the anti-hero tex Murphy, who doesn't take himself seriously, but still gets you involved in great told stories and solves them also. The overseer has some great dramatic scenes, which I do not see often in computer games. The humour in this Tex Murphy is as great as ever. You just have to see it, and when you do I know you will get hooked. It isn't that easy to get from one scene to the next one, there are a lot of puzzles to be solved, but when needed hints are provided, so it really makes you believe you are solving mysteries. So when people say the plot isn't that special, I can confirm that. But people forget that the experience on a computer is very different from watching a movie on the television. Even a b-movie type plot can be enjoyed as a oscar winning plot on the computer. "Overseer" delivers a great gaming experience with a very sympathetic Michael York. The graphics are beautiful. And if this adventure is being typecasted as a b-movie,so be it but "Overseer" (as the whole experience) is even better then most A-movies. Go play it!
High Incident
(1996–1997)
just as real life
22 November 2000
"High Incident" is one of the best police dramas i have seen and believe me I have seen a lot. The emphasis of this show was not the action, but the drama. This doesn't mean there isn't enough action. There is a lot of action to be enjoyed. But when you see the cops at work, you get involved with the characters and sometimes you will hate them, just as real life. The acting is excellent. I cannot understand that a show this great can be cancelled after two seasons, while a c****y show like "Walker, Texas Ranger" can go on and on and on. "High Incident" must come back.
Gwang tin lung fo wooi
(1989)
crime drama with heroic bloodshed at it's best
22 November 2000
China White is being typecasted as one of many bad martial arts movies. If you judge this movie by the cover (woman with high heels, Saskia van Rijswijk, champion Kickboxing), you would certainly think it is. Wrong, it is a Hk action movie with some martial arts in it. " China White" is to be compared with other heroic bloodshed titles made in Hong Kong. There are a lot of slowmo shootouts (very cool to watch), which take place in Amsterdam, Holland. The story is about a Chinese gang getting into war with the Italian mob in their quest for ultimate control of power in Amsterdam. The story is interesting enough to watch and short enough to be enjoyed. I have also seen a longer version (the HK version), where you get to know more about the background of the main characters, also starring Andy Lau. But for the action part of the movie not very important, so can be missed as is the case in the 98minute version (English version). This is crime drama with heroic bloodshed at it's best.
Roti Kapada Aur Makaan
(1974)
Fun to watch
22 November 2000
This is an indian movie. Indian movies are a 3 hr mix of action, drama, humor, and musical. This may seem long. But if a movie is as good as Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, you will not notice it. This movie has some of the greatest actors of the indian cinema. A lot of social and political issues are being portrayed, which even after 26 years haven't changed that much. But if you do not like the moral tone in the movie there is enough action to keep a lot of you satisfied. One special relationship (in the movie) has to be mentioned. The oldest brother of one very poor family (the main character, Manoj Kumar) is the one with a degree, but is not able to get a good job. On the other side is his younger brother (my favorite, Amitabh Bachchan) who earns his money a little bit illegally and as a consequence gets judged and punished by his brother. So Amitabh decides to go join the army to make amends.
This is really fun to watch. Although Amitabh hasn't got a very big part, he really steals the show. Oh yeah there is a lot of romance going on, but it never gets boring. Watch it!
This is really fun to watch. Although Amitabh hasn't got a very big part, he really steals the show. Oh yeah there is a lot of romance going on, but it never gets boring. Watch it!
Peace Hotel
(1995)
chow yan fat, one bad motherf###
18 November 2000
When people hear the name Chow yan fat, they associate him with John Woo, of course this is not bad thing. Chow yan fat certainly is the master of heroic bloodshed. But he is foremost a very charismatic and good actor. In Peace Hotel you get an example of very good acting by him. He really carries the movie. The story plays in the wild west of China ( an eastern instead of western, this gives the whole story a very original approach)in which several gangs are at war with each other and where there is one neutral place where everyone is welcome, and where no one will dare to use their weapons. This is because they respect the owner of this " Peace Hotel " (Chow Yan Fat). Everyone believes he is a very notorius killer (the rumour in the movie goes that Chow Yan Fat came to that hotel and killed everyone in sight without remorse and since that event he stayed in the hotel, to maintain the piece. It is a delight to see and find out why Chow Yan Fat did all this and why he stays at this hotel! At first Chow Yan Fat is very sympethatic, but later on you can see that Chow Yan Fat can be a bad motherf###. There is also some very interesting character development from the other actors. The action is brutal and fierce, like it is in real life, so do not expect beautiful filmed action sequences. But do not fear them also, because they fit the story very well.So go watch this movie, if you are ready for a very different HK action movie.
The Bare-Footed Kid
(1993)
explosive wireworks!
18 November 2000
Aaron Kwok is great as the Barefooted Kid. He is a great martial artist, but doesn't know the rules of life. This he will learn from his uncle and a very kind woman who gives him shelter. This uncle is played by Ti Lung, who is even a greater martial artist and has some great scenes where he shows his talents. The story is very melodramatic, which doesn't have to be annoying. I personally like melodrama at some occassions. But if you don't like melodrama you can skip to the action sequences because that is why this movie is made in the first place. The action sequences are divine to watch. They are far superior to the scenes shown in the Matrix. Which prooves, that digital effects are not needed to create explosive wireworks! If there is one typical HK martial arts movie you have to watch then it's this one.
Saviour of the Soul
(1991)
wonderful combination of action and special effects
18 November 2000
Saviour of the soul is a mix of martial arts, shootouts and fantasy. It is obvious that it is a comic adaptation. The story isn't always clear,but it succeeds very well in keeping your attention, although sometimes i wanted to last the action sequences a little longer. There is a lot of humour in it and still succeeds in being serious when it has to. There are some special effects in it that will amaze you (without the use of digital effects which we are used to nowadays). I always enjoy the action sequences Hong Kong movie makers come up with. They really are the best when it comes to action. Saviour of the Soul is certainly a classic when it comes to the wonderful combination of action and special effects. Go see it!
Scream 3
(2000)
A good movie if you haven't seen the first two
17 November 2000
If you never have watched the first two Scream movies, then Scream 3 can be thrilling. But the problem is that many of the jokes and thrills are about what happened in the first two movies. So you have to watch the first two Scream movies to get an idea about Scream 3. Therefore it misses it marks with people who never have seen any scream movie en scream fans who did watch it all will be let down, because the ending is far from thrilling.
Island of Fire
(1990)
Not a typical jackie chan flick
17 November 2000
The prisoner is a typical hongkong action movie, with great action but also with exxagerated drama and humour. But if you are a fan like me, you will get used to this if you watch a lot of them. The prisoner is a serious movie with some humour in it. It isn't a jackie chan movie, but it is a movie with jackie chan in it. A serious one, which we don't get to see very often . But in this he is great, especially at the end (Jackie a la John Woo).
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