willandferg Reviews

Miss Fisher & the Crypt of Tears (2020)

Garbage

[1/10 · 27 June 2022]

Deb Cox what were you thinking? The plot became more laughable as the show progressed. I laughed derisively, then cringed, then stopped watching because I felt embarrassed for Australia's TV production reputation.

The TV series had been enjoyable and entertaining in a lighthearted way.

Melbournians loved it for the locations and local history.

Why tarnish your past success with this embarrassing rubbish?

Rebecca (I) (2020)

Did they read the book?

[1/10 · 17 January 2021]

I don't think the directors or writers bothered reading Daphne du Maurier's excellent story. This film seemed like it was written by teenagers for teenagers. Have they any knowledge of the themes of the book? Why change a perfect story for your own childish ideas. Glam kitschy Rebecca bedroom in an English stately home, Mrs Danvers wearing fake eyelashes, servants removing their caps, as if in mourning when Danvers scuttles off with her suitcase, car chases, ham acting, changed storyline. Why bother ? A great book turned into a comic.

Number 13 (2006 TV Movie)

An enjoyable interpretation of James .

[7/10 · 15 December 2019]

Having just watched a really sub-standard depiction of Casting the Runes, I found this superior to many of the older M.R.James interpretations, except maybe The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral. The acting was excellent and the hotel scenes were a feast for the eyes for lovers of historic buildings and set the mood for a James story. The climactic scenes were truly frightening unlike Oh,Whistle and I'll Come To You,My Lad which were quite laughable.

The Miniaturist (2017)

Beautiful Bilge

[2/10 · 4 July 2019]

I was entranced by the first episode. The setting appeared as Vermeer or Jan de Bray brought to life. The story was intriguing for the first hour and I was so positive about the Miniaturist that I thought of recommending this beautiful production to readers of our local TV guide. Thank goodness I did not. By quarterway through the second episode I realised the story was nonsense. 2nd Rate Fiction. Apparently this book was a best seller. Which just goes to show. Luckily the 17th Century Dutch had better taste in art than modern readers have in fiction. The last line of the series epitomises it all......" You can do this " All the gals in 17th Century Holland were into this sort of self-talk

Devil's Playground (2014)

Compelling take on scandalous church

[8/10 · 10 December 2017]

An interesting series that tries to create a personal story around the Catholic Church's paedophile scandal. I found that the series succeeds in compelling the viewer to feel for the victims in a way that media reports have failed to do. Although we are all disgusted by the behaviour of the priests and brothers in newspaper reports it takes a series like this to bring the full horror home to the public on an emotional level because we get involved with the children depicted. All acting was extraordinarily good and the writing was sound, despite the other reviewers criticism of it. I found each episode compelling viewing and recommend it to all.