debalan Reviews

Manhunt (2019–2021)

Another Martin Clunes Winner

[9/10 · 2 June 2024]

We don't usually like serial killer dramas, mostly because they are too graphic. In this series it is the method of discovering the killer, the down & dirty police work that is the highlight. The dead bodies are either not shown, or shown in a less than bloody manner.

It is the fine acting and the interaction of the police officers that is so compelling.

The "puzzles" of who the serial killer is and the big WHY and HOW the victims are chosen is amazing. I know these cases are dramatized but I think the killers motivations are accurate (not that I actually checked- I just want to believe in the story).

We wish the series had been extended, it was that good.

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Terrible remake

[2/10 · 19 February 2018]

I love this story and I was really looking forward to the remake. With all of today's technology and the real life location shots, I was expecting spectacular. What I got was a dud.

I was not expecting for them to change character names, drop characters, have other characters change their professions, add chases (can you really see Poirot chasing someone?), Poiroit making light of his OCD (really???), a derailment, a stabbing (not Rachett), a shooting, etc that never happened in the story. Also left out was some of the logic leading to the solution. They could have made a splendid movie with all the great scenery, CGI, etc., without changing the actual story. Poor Agatha, must be having fits.

In addition, even though they had splendid actors, only Daisy Ridley and Johnny Depp gave worthy performances. All of the rest were unconvincing, even Branagh.

Then the topper.. the last scene has a officer coming to get Poirot to ask him to go to Egypt to solve a murder on the Nile. What is the world??? Poirot is supposed to already be in Egypt when the first murder is committed.

Don't waste your time on Orient Express and based on the last scene I would pass on Death on the Nile too..

Dharma & Greg (1997–2002)

This show always makes us laugh

[10/10 · 31 August 2006]

This show is on our list for the best TV comedy show and rates a BIG FAT 10.

We know the premise is unrealistic and the characters are a lot off-center but the show ALWAYS makes us laugh out loud. There are a lot of shows that make us chuckle, but it rare to find a show that can consistently produce real laughter. Even when we see the same show again and again, we still laugh. What a treasure and a treat.

As goofy as this story is the actors make it work. Now if we can only get seasons 2-5 on DVD we will be happy campers and we will never have to have a day without a laugh again.

The Thirty Nine Steps (1978)

One of our favorite films

[10/10 · 4 November 2004]

This is an exciting, well acted version of the Thirty Nine Steps. David Warner is appropriately evil as the head of the Nazi's moles, Robert Powell is a convincing reluctant hero who has been thrust into mystery & danger, Sir John Mills is great as the voice of warning and reason against the pending threat of war, and Karen Dotrice is very sweet as the romantic interest now that she is all grown up. Compared to the earlier Hitchcock version (which we also like) this story is much more believable and less campy.

We love it and watch it every few months. Our only disappointment is that our VHS is getting worn and we can't find a replacement in either VHS or DVD.