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brian-ball
Reviews
The War of the Worlds (2019)
Dreadful
Don't waste your with this. It's absolutely dreadful. The producer, director and writers should never work for the BBC again. Constant confusing flashbacks, arty panoramic slow mo camera shots. It's very slow, not telling the story well, I could go on but don't want to waste my time.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Dreadful
This is the worst Spider-Man film to date. I thought Andrew Garfield's version was too goofy, but this one is a 100 times worse. The first 20 mins the film is all over the place. If this is supposed to be a reboot, then why haven't they started with how he gets his powers. It's so poorly acted, it feels like they are just rushing through the lines to get done with. The pace of the film is all wrong. Spider man seems to aged 12, wasn't he supposed to be a freelance photographer in the comics. It's just too stupid, what a mess and what a shame.
The Tunnel: Episode #3.4 (2018)
Poor 3rd series
This series has been poor compared to the previous two. There are too many things that don't make sense. How would Elise recognise Charlie after 8 years, he would have changed so much? If she was the one working the case 8 years ago, why wouldn't she know that the hotel staff and guests weren't questioned about the disappearance. Considering that this is a shorter series, I would have expected the story lines to be much tighter. It feels rushed, but I don't understand why when sky have put on download, unless the was a network need in France.
Ray Donovan: Sold (2017)
What has happened to Ray Donovan
*** spoiler alert***
What the heck has happened to this show. I was so looking forward to this coming back on. It's gone so morbid and the flashbacks are really annoying. The characters are acting out of character that it doesn't make sense. All of a sudden, Bunchy has a load of money again. The writers seem to have forgotten that in a previous season, he bought a house and then burnt it down. No insurance would pay out on that. if he did still have that kind of money, wouldn't he have used it to buy a nice house for his wife and daughter to live in and pay for a nanny, instead of sleeping in the gym as he was in the last season. Thankfully they killed off the second to worse character (worse being Ray's daughter), only for her to keep coming back in flashbacks. The way they are making Ray to seem so devastated by it, when at every opportunity he had he was sleeping with someone else. This better improve soon and go back to how it use to be or I'm going to give it up. Will be surprised if it gets another season at this rate. Very poor.
Modern Family: The Long Goodbye (2017)
Had enough
That it, I'm out. This show has just got worse and worse since the start of season 5. The characters have just gone to the extreme that they just aren't funny anymore and the writing is poor, lazy and obvious. It's become slapstick. If that's your thing then enjoy, but I've had enough. In the first four seasons there was some very clever writing, where some event at the start would have consequence later in the show with the occasional clever twist delivery with perfection. Now it's just people acting stupid and falling over etc. I keep expecting a drum roll or trumpet sound at the end of each scene. In the last few seasons there have probably been two or three half decent episodes, but I can't sit through an entire 20 plus episodes in the hope of one or two good ones. Also, how much surgery has Claire had and what's with Hayley mouth this season!
Humans (2015)
First series good, but not the second
I really enjoyed the first series, but watching the second series has been rather painful. The story is so slow and the 8 episodes could have easily been cut down to 6. There are lots of shots of people / synths!!, just standing, stirring into nothingness, while the camera pans around. I think the director is trying to be "arty", but it just makes me want to hit the fast forward button. While some people may like the "arty" slow panning shots as it adds to the drama and the mood etc, but for me, it's just pointless padding because there isn't enough plot content to fill the 8 episodes. I give the first series 7 out of 10, but the second series 3 out of 10. I am very close to giving up on it, but given I have watched the first series and 6 out of 8 episodes of series 2, I feel I have to get to the end, but I doubt I will be watching a third series if it does come back. There is a lot better out there to invest your time on.
Justified (2010)
Not for me
I only watched 3 or 4 episodes then gave up with it. First of all I didn't get why a deputy US marshal was getting involved in cases that would normally be dealt with by the local police or FBI. Then there was the constant reference to the opening scene of him drawing his weapon before the guy and that every criminal seems to be aware of this, then question whether it was true and then insist on founding out, even though this event may have barely made front page news in the state it happened in. I could just see this been the same baseline in every episode and him saying it was 'Justified'. The lead actor Timothy Olyphant plays the role of Raylan Givens very well and was likable, usually a key thing for me as to whether I warm to a series or not, but regardless of liking the lead actor, the whole basis of the story was just a bit flat and lacking. May be due to it being set in one location is it's downfall as I was expecting a bit more with him chasing the bad guys across America with some fast paced action along the way. Although the main character was likable, the baggage of his ex was another aspect that was going to become a bore for the show.
Homeland (2011)
Disappointing so far
I've only watched 5 episodes so far, but I just don't get it. I've heard this touted as the next 24, but it's nowhere near as good (comparing it to the first series of 24), nor would I even start to compare it with 24. Homeland is very slow, and just seams to be drifting along, as yet there are no twists and turns, no cleverness in it's storyline, no surprises or elements that keep you guess between episodes. May be some of this is to come, but's that if I stick with it to find out. I'm finding that I don't really care about any of the characters such as Carrie (the CIA agent) or about Brody's family. Damian Lewis is acting his role as Nicholas Brody well, but Claire Danes is very poor, and Morena Baccarin is a much better/ stronger actress than she is showing here. I can't believe it has a current rating of 8.6 on here, but may be that because there is more to come in the later episodes (and I really hope so) and may be it's just that people want some that's fairly easy to watch without complicated twists and turns from the likes of Lost, flash-forward and 24 etc.