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Reviews
12 Days of Giving (2017)
Loved the premise, but ended up as expected
Loved the story of a lottery winner ($50,000) suddenly deciding to help pay off a stranger's store card balance - we'd do the same in similar circumstances. This snowballed into further anonymous charitable acts. Unfortunately it veered off to a predictable love story.
The girlfriend who appeared to be a little nasty, and an older woman whose son he befriends.
Unfortunately the son, I think, has a disability (similar to Jimmy Clitheroe - growth issues). I thought he was little different, especially to have braces on his teeth at such a seemingly young age. But the story does progress with the hullabaloo of the anonymous acts of kindness and this gives the film the warm, feelgood factor
Marple: Nemesis (2007)
is Agatha still spinning? Nuns! A German Michael!
This adaptation is dreadful, even if you haven't read the book. I don't like Mckeown as Marple anyway, but the idiotic writer who wrote this - it isn't Christie's book, they just nicked the title, characters and the basis of the story - should be ashamed of themselves. For those of you who haven't read the book, you've missed a masterpiece. For those of you who haven't seen the Joan Hickson version - you must. Liz Fraser's heart breaking performance as a drunkered, reminiscing about her murdered daughter, is amazing.
As for this version. It's a total hash with ridiculous, laughable characters, acting and story. It's hilarious the way a character tells a story and suddenly we are seeing this acted out. The programme makers assume we poor stupid viewers can't imagine it fir ourselves.
It actually makes me angry that the makers changed a great book and turned it into a dreadfully poor cheap play with hammy actors. Agatha Christie Ltd, who gave permission for this rewrite (and other dreadful adaptations) are doing Agatha a disservice and are thinking of $$ and ££ over substance.
Electric Dreams: Safe and Sound (2018)
Enjoyable, if predictable
Really enjoyed this episode,. Special effects are. spectacular. The acting is great although mum's character was a little overbearing.
I would have given 10 stars, but the ending was very patronising. We didn't need to see the person behind the voice of Ethan. It was as though we are stupid and needed the outcome spoon fed to us It should have just ended with the speech. No need to explain what went on, it was clearly obvious. I wonder if the book does the same?
Just Jim (2015)
Nothing original
It's all been done before. Teenager is a bit of a misfit, new friend helps him gain confidence (with some drugs, booze and shoplifting along the way). Jim is Welsh, but I couldn't hear an accent.
Tries a little hard to be quirky and odd, but it's all been done before. Nothing new here.
Shame the BBC felt the need to use our licence fee money to part fund this (the BBC licence is compulsory and paid by every UK household and establishment who has a TV. Its fine/prison if we don't have one).
Quacks (2017)
Very, very funny
I love this and it's currently being repeated on BBC (for once I'm not complaining about repeats). Matthew Baynton is just brilliant. He just has to move his eyes to express a comical gesture. I loved him in Horrible Histories (check out his Charles Dickens/Morrisey). I love the actress playing Caroline too. Such a natural. The writing is great with loads of laugh out loud moments. It looks good, has a great script, great cast. Hope there's another series
Marple: Sleeping Murder (2006)
the two stars are for wonderful Sidmouth (aka Dilmouth)
I needed a reminder as to which book this nonsense was adapted from. The programme makers have changed a large part of the story mybe thinking
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
The most annoying main character
I loved reading the poor reviews here, most are funnier than the film's script. I watched the film today and found the lead character very, very annoying. Poppy has a huge problem, she doesn't know when to shut up. In the opening scenes she goes into a book shop and keeps making inane remarks to the sales assistant despite their not engaging with her. I suppose we're to think that he's in the wrong, but we all agreed that she needed to shut up, browse and either buy a book or get out. What does she do? Just keeps prattling on and giggles. Get the point Poppy, the bloke is working. Then she discovers her bike has been stolen and says 'aww I didn't say goodbye'. Smile, giggle. It was then I realised that poor Poppy isn't necessarily happy go lucky, she's just two sandwiches short of a picnic, not the full shilling. And so the film continues with well, nothing happening.
We see some great shots of London. One reviewer asks, ooh my gawd are all English streets so narrow? Hilarious. It's a residential area with beautiful victorian treelined streets and this is all they can say. NB: London is an historic city whose suburbs have streets of many widths. Just like any other city in the world.
Poppy decides to learn to drive. Unfortunately she can't shut up long enough to listen to instructions. She giggles, gets distracted by squirrels, men, a bird, all whilst sending the poor instructor in a rage. By the third or fouth lesson he's in meltdown.
Before the meltdown simple Poppy is shown at school, teaching. Yes despite being a simple soul she's a qualified teacher (god help those poor kids). She intervenes when a bully is discovered in her class, she seeks to discover what is causing the behaviour. Don't worry about the kids being bullied, they're forgotten. The bully is gently questioned and probably sent on a luxury holiday to discourage such behaviour. No more is said about that.
Poppy visits her sister's lovely house, which she and her hubby are rightly proud of. Poppy continues driving lessons, has a date with a bloke, laughs, grins, giggles, points at things and..........well that's it. A very simple film portraying a very simple person who can't string a sentence together, makes odd sometimes inappropriate remarks and giggles. Such a strange, boring film. Kept waiting for something interesting to happen. It didn't. Oh nearly forgot the best scenes were when Poppy was trampolining. Just her silly face but no talking. Bliss
Paddington (2014)
Laugh out loud, warm, gripping it has it all
We all loved it. The family including five year olds sat and watched this. From the start, with the exception of laughter, we were all mesmerised. The film is great to look at, with stunning locations and the Brown's house is absolutely beautiful.
The humour is there for all ages. Loved Hugh B dressed as a char lady with his wonderful Welsh accent (recognised a couple of actors from Horrible Histories at the records office) . The scenes in the record office are hilarious with clever CGI. I remember shops giving change via those tubes and pods.
I hope the reviewer (selffamily?) can manage to watch it again as it's a beautiful, feel good film. So there's a baddie in it? I'm sure Michael Bond wouldn't have objected. Cruella de Ville managed to scare me as a child and many more, as did The Child Catcher in Chitty, kids love this.
I can't praise this film enough, or describe how I feel when watching it (warm and fuzzy?)
A Husband for Christmas (2016)
Yes it's corny, some poor acting but enjoyable
I quite enjoyed this. I actually think the actor playing Roger did well with an English accent; he fooled me. Usually when an actor is trying an English accent it really affects their performance. I thought he'd been in the US a while and picked up a bit of an accent and their terms ('mad' for 'annoyed'), and thought he WAS English!
The lead lady with the odd name (viva a fox) did a great job, although her clothes were a tad small, the makeup too much (she didn't need it) and the way she carried her handbag (which must have been glued to her arm) was distracting and comical. Mum, dad and sister gave poor performances, as did the Warhol look alike boss. Obviously not actors.
Good story, silly but enjoyable.
The ending is the worst I've ever seen. Seemed they made something up quickly. It has to be seen to be believed.
A nice Christmas film (despite the script, some poor performances and a dreadful ending.
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2015)
Wonderful
Wonderful but I wouldn't agree with another review that it warrants us paying this outdated BBC licence fee. Compulsory for UK residents who own a TV. If you don't pay then it's a whopping fine or, believe this, jail!
The book was fantastic and this TV adaptation is absolutely brilliant. I love the actors playing Strange and Norrell, especially Strange, such a comic character initially.
There are some great special effects and witty moments. I recorded it when it was first aired 2015, and watched it recently. Loved it, but as for the BBC fee......it has to be scrapped.
England's Reformation: Three Books That Changed a Nation (2017)
A potentially interesting documentary
This subject is really interesting and I was looking forward to this programme, having seen a recent documentary on William Tyndale, who translated the bible into English.
As soon as the presenter started I felt something wasn't right. I wasn't sure about their presenting skills, arms all over the place, and a strange Goth look. Their hands moved an awful lot and when asking a question of someone, every word is accompanied by a jerky hand movement - a lot of presenters do this. Very irritating.
We also have unnecessary close ups of the presenter's face and we have her walking, well teetering on ridiculously clompy shoes. At least that added a big of humor.
I couldn't always understand what the presenter was saying and I had to put the closed captions on - actually that wasn't a bad thing as I concentrated on them!
I watched a while as the books are so interesting, as is the subject.
Unfortunately, I soon realised that I wasn't learning anything new, the information and details we were given have all been televised before.
Note to BBC and documentary makers, please ask presenters to maybe not be shown too much, after all we are watching for the subject and there shouldn't be irritating distractions. Presenters should also be able to present well.
Count Arthur Strong (2013)
Laugh out loud comedy
First heard Count Arthur (CAS) on BBC radio and loved it. He gets words and all sorts wrong and is quite a horrible, if hilarious, character who gets into all sorts of situations.
The TV CAS is the same character but here he is NICE!
I wasn't sure how it would work on TV but it does. With Graham Lineman (Father Ted, The IT crowd) on board there are some surreal moments, and Rory Kinnear takes a bit of getting used to.
I only have to look at Count Arthur's character and I'm already laughing.
The episode in which we have a copy of the story 'Misery' is hilarious. No bad language, just laugh out loud fun.
The ODESSA File (1974)
Great film, gripping story
First saw this film some years ago and found it moving and interesting. I can still remember the feeling of the hairs standing up on the back of my neck at a revelation. Such a brilliant well told story.
I did notice something odd while watching it for the upteenth time. The scene in the underground station. Before the train comes: Sigi and Peter pass through the passengers and we see a grey haired man wearing a camel coloured coat and light scarf, and a hat When the train halts and the doors open, the guard alights and I'm sure the same man is behind him on the train (minus the hat)! I only noticed him as he reminded me of my dad.
Anyway, great film although some may find it dated - it's very '70s. You'd never know the actress playing Sigi is English. Jon Voight is great, with a brilliant German accent.
Outlander: Sassenach (2014)
Great if it wasn't for the female lead
Loved the books and was looking forward to this TV series.
Would have been a higher score if it wasn't for the main female lead. She obviously isn't English and this affects her acting. And that voice! The clipped tones with each word ending deliberately pronounced....'he'll cuT your throaT. Serves you righT', 'kidpappeD, rapeD' I can't bear it, it's too much. Sorry although I want to watch it, her appalling acting, and accent is too much. An English actress would have been more natural.
Could try with sound off and subtitles I suppose.
The scenery is fantastic as well as the costumes but this actress is totally miscast.
Battleship (2012)
CGI great acting and story B movie
The film is watchable for the special effects alone. The lead cast are pretty poor actors and we don't see enough of Liam Neeson.
It has a feel of a B movie, with a pretty poor script. The scenes with the blonde woman and black man are so poorly acted it's cringeworthy.
When the alien ship lands in the sea it causes an enormous splash, as you can imagine! Yet the crew in a dinghy a few feet away are unmoved. I love the must have slow motion scenes and the stirring patriotic music.....so original!
The actor playing the captain, I've never heard of and sure I won't in future. The young afro American playing his sidekick has lines of: yes sir, OK sir, will do sir. Not exactly challenging.
This could have been a good film but it's not. We were all rooting for the aliens.
Going in Style (2017)
Daft but enjoyable
I enjoyed the film, my wife hated it. We went along to see it, despite people telling us 'it's rubbish, but watchable'. There were a few laugh out loud moments; the bank clerk, the manager of the supermarket where they practice stealing ('cordon blue chicken with chicken thighs, now that's a crime'.)
It was watchable, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman were brilliant and funny as usual. Didn't like Arkin's character, didn't like watching the strange face of that poor woman who played his love interest. Millicent Martin would have played that role so much better.
There could have been a much better ending, but they went for the predictable, safe, soppy, Hollywood one.
I always rate a film by saying to myself, would I recommend it. I'm unsure about this one. I'd say go and see it even just to see Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman
Bundle of Joy (1956)
Terrible
I love musicals and had never heard of this one. After watching some of it. I no longer wonder why.
I love Debbie Reynolds but even she can't improve this film.
The film begins with a terrible song and singer, and then Debbie and an odd sounding woman - who I thought at first was Lauren Bacall - start singing and it's dreadful! I've heard of Eddie Fisher but this is the first film of his I've seen.. He's not a natural, his acting is poor, really poor. It seems as though his lines are stuck near the camera. The songs aren't good and his singing is dreadful.
Unlike Singing in the Rain, Guys and Dolls etc this film is very dated. This a gift but its off to the charity shop.
La La Land (2016)
Thoroughly enjoyable
I can't give the film higher marks as although I enjoyed it - it was great to watch- as a musical it didn't have the power of, say, Chicago. The dance routines were mediocre. Having recently watched Astaire and Powell dance to Begin the Beguine, the routine by the two actors by the lampost was just, well, lacking. Trying to be cool with hand in trouser pocket, they didn't seem to me to be dancing, just moving. Maybe it's not a fair comparison, but if dance routines are included, they've got to be good, and memorable.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the colour, the locations and the story. We weren't told what was going on in the story, it just evolved. The girl works in a cafe on a film production set, we see her going to rehearsals and ( despite doing well) fails to get parts. Chance meetings with the Sebastian, they talk about their aspirations, etc. etc. I saw the film with four others and they all said, what did you think of that? This isn't their usual response and they weren't smiling. I just enjoyed being entertained and watching the story unfold. The singing wasn't great, the songs not memorable and the dance routines OKish (the opening dance at the traffic jam was, er different). I think this scene was telling us that all of those drivers had dreams of fame - can't remember what the song was about though.
It was enjoyable, but I didn't leave the cinema thinking I'd watched a great film.
Passengers (2016)
Great film
Hadn't heard of this film, went along on a last minute invite. So glad I did. The film is spectacular visually and the time flew by (a sure sign of a film enjoyed). Lot of discussion afterwards, some picking the story apart, some not too keen on the actors.
We all know the story and my bug bear was it was too predictable - will film makers ever give us a surprise ending? The only reason for the awakening of the second passenger was for sex scenes and shots of JL's body (which I'm sure most men are not complaining about). The scene with the wedding ring was sick bag enducing and what did the waking up of a third passenger bring to the story other than to fill some time.
One poor reviewer questions why the ship was so well stocked and had sports and leisure facilities etc. They obviously hadn't heard us being told that the crew would wake up so many months prior to landing, and the passengers sometime after them.
On the whole a visually stunning and great film to watch. Point taken off for the predictable storyline. Michael Sheen gave a usual understated, brilliant performance.
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985)
Great effects, acting, story, great everything
I first saw this film when it was released and remember being blown away by the special effects. The hallucinations are brought to life by some extremely clever special effects people (they should have one the Oscar). The knight jumping from the church's stained glass window is fantastic. Even watching it recently, it's absolutely brilliant (it hasn't dated like those effects in Jason and the argonauts/clash of the titans - which are still great films).
The film crops up on TV now and again but recently I watched it with family, telling them how much I had enjoyed it. The young lads playing Holmes and Watson are great to watch (where are they now?) and the rest of the cast is equally as good.
The film is very atmospheric, and lovely to watch; a Victorian London, and a school and dining hall exactly as Harry Potter's - which came some years later. There is some humour, as well as a good story. We see the first meeting of Watson and Holmes and instantly take to them. The stammering, old and slow science teacher is fun to watch, as is the bored reaction of the pupils. Again, very Potterish.
A great film for young and not so young and a good introduction to Holmes.
Call Me Claus (2001)
It's not the worst Christmas film
Eight stars as although its the usual story; bad tempered person who hates Christmas for personal reasons blah blah blah, there are some laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately the laughs are few and far between and the film could have been so much better with some original aspects to the story, instead of incorporating others into it.
Whoopi Cushion is not the best actress and at one point her performance is pretty cringe worthy.
There are some feel good moments and I had a few tears in my eyes, but its a story told over and over again and we know the outcome. Loved most of the film, the shopping channel's take on Christmas was brilliant.
Hated the fact the makers couldn't spell the niece's name properly (Ieesha, for Ayesha - what!) and her awful rendition of Oh Holy Night (hear my vocal exercises as I sing!) totally spoilt it. I've added a spoiler alert to this review but we know the outcome as soon as the niece says 'oh auntie you must come to the church Christmas eve I'm singing solo'
The Coroner (2015)
Lightweight daytime drama
Watched a couple of episodes after seeing some reviews. It's OK for those at home needing more than antique hunts, cookery and makeover programmes.
The acting is pretty poor with most of the cast attempting a Devon accent (some are quite amusing).
The actress playing the (very young) Coroner is not believable and has a weak, Essex, whiney voice.
The script is very, very poor, but hey it's daytime TV and it's BBC
I watched one today about a pirate festival, and armed robbers dressed as pirates too. Then we go to a scene with the coroner on the beach investigating a dead body, presumed murdered. She's there two minutes (if that) and receives a call - oh she says to the caller, is she all right? And then runs away from the crime scene. Earlier we'd seen her daughter go to the aid of victim of the armed robbery (they were armed with pirate knives! !!!). We then see the Coroner with her daughter (who is happily texting on her phone) and she's fussing over her asking if she's sure she's OK. Two things here: 1. Why did anyone feel the need to call a coroner on duty to tell her her (16+) year old daughter had witnessed (but was nowhere in harm's way) an armed robbery. 2. Why would a coroner leave a crime scene without finding out facts, or speaking to the daughter.
Daft, unbelievable, unprofessional. Poor story, poor script, poor TV.
The Girl on the Train (2016)
fast paced thriller
I enjoyed the book and was looking forward to this film. Slight trepidation as the trailer had shown Emily Blunt playing Rachel she looks nothing like the description by the author (I was expecting an overweight, pasty faced, lank haired woman - this is a woman who is depressed, drinks and doesn't look after herself). Emily was nothing like that. Also just as the opening scenes were shown I realised they'd replaced the London setting with somewhere in the U.S.! (WHY??) Initial disappointment. Then the characters were introduced at such a speed I was glad I'd read the book (others who hadn't read it said they found the beginning pretty confusing).
I thought the film was good, but nowhere as good as the book, but that's usually the case. The time watching it sped by, always the sign of a good film. Thought the sex scenes unnecessary, and had to look away at the violent scenes.
As with film adaptations, there's so much left out -Rachel' mum Tom's mum, Cathy's despair at the state of Rachel.