cwatson6387 Reviews

The 13th Warrior (1999)

The fillum that was and the fillum tha wasn't!

[9/10 · 17 January 2024]

I guess you've got to start by saying the film is haunted by the production troubles and the rumoured 30 minutes cut from the McTiernan version - Diane Venora & Anders Anderson's near the top billing suggests that more time was going to be spent on the politics of the Viking "kingdom" the gang we're going to save.

What is left is a disjointed version in which the characters of the band are mostly underdeveloped. Only the relationships between Banderas, Storhoi and Kulich are explored.

What's left is a which is a loose adaptation of the tale of Beowulf combined with Ahmad ibn Fadlan's historical account of the Volga Vikings and as far as that goes it a fairly good action fillum.

For me the highlight is Kulich's Buliwyf (4th billing) and his desire to be remembered in posterity which is also the main focus of Brad Pitt's Achilles in Troy (2004).

Flawed but still a thrilling fillum - apologies for slipping into the Scotch phonetic pronunciation.

Your Cheatin' Heart (1990– )

It's well worth tidying up your DVD collection.

[9/10 · 9 January 2024]

I came across an old DVD of Your Cheatin' Heart (1990) at the back of my collection and really enjoyed the rewatch (after who know how long) written by Paisley's own John Byrne and IMO not far short of Tutti Frutti in quality - it's in the same territory of West Coast eccentrics and losers set to a musical backdrop.

Of the five main actors (featured in all 6 episodes) Tilda Swinton & Ken Stott went to have substantial careers while the other three kinda fell by the wayside - Top Billed John Gordon Sinclair, while Katy Murphy and Keviin McMonagle don't even have photos on their IMDB pages.

Well worth a watch if like Byrne's work and, I suppose, if you can find it out there on the interweb!

Porterhouse Blue (1987)

Scullion was not dim.....

[8/10 · 12 June 2023]

.....as another reviewer suggested.

Scullion may have served on the "wrong side" of the divide at Porterhouse and thus had no letters after his name but it's quite clear that neither Sharpe (I've read the book) and Malcolm Bradbury who adapted the novel saw him as dim.

Anyway in the best traditions of the underdog turning the table on his "betters" Skullion understands how to deal with TV journalist far better than any of the Masters.

As an aside the acapella music especially dives in Omnia" (Latin for "Rich in Everything") as sung by The Flying Pickets heard throughout the series was excellent.

Ridley (2022– )

What is Ridley's Superpower?

[6/10 · 24 September 2022]

Basic competence in following the obvious leads, unlike say Monk or Professor T, he does not have a lateral way of connecting clues that regular cops could be forgiven for missing - the force he left behind is a sorry one indeed with 3 of the 4 episodes involving the solving of a "cold case" in the passing. He also seemed to move from making a semi-resented comeback in the opening episode to being the "go to guy" remarkably easily.

As others have noted it's a formulaic but not unpleasant watch, apart from Ridley & his snitch the characters were two-dimensional, worth a second series but there's plenty of room for improvement.

'71 (2014)

Solid 8/10 from me.

[8/10 · 4 June 2022]

Good film with most of the action taking place in an intense 24 period.

Squaddie Gary Hook is left behind after a botched arms raid in Belfast, the story recounts his attempts to make it back to his base in an unfamiliar city. A strong point in the fillum is the delineation of the various factions interested in GHs "wellbeing" - two Republican factions (Official & Provisional), two British army factions (covert & official) and Unionist terrorists - with all the conflicting motives.

The film doesn't flinch from violence and is quite brutal in places, so not for the squeamish - but with the caveat of.an R rating it's well worth a watch.

The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)

Great film but a hard watch.

[8/10 · 9 March 2022]

With a well signposted downbeat ending this it doesn't surprise me that it failed to recoup it's budget.

Mitchum carries the role well and it's hard to think of another actor who could have played the doomed (and well aware of it) Coyle. Decent supporting cast make the plot believable - a tragedy on a personal level.

Eaten by Lions (2018)

Very Enjoyable - 8/10

[8/10 · 19 February 2022]

Maybe strives a bit too hard to be quirky at times but I watched it with my partner (both in our 50s) and son (20) and we were all laughing out loud at various points.

IMO suitable for a wide ranging audience.

The Persuaders! (1971–1972)

A joy to watch!

[8/10 · 28 January 2022]

Dan-dan-da-na Dan-dan-da-na Dan-dan-da-na-na Dan-dan--dan-da-na

Curtis & Moore play a couple of chalk&cheese playboys initially blackmailed into taking down a continental crime lord. After gaining respect for each other in the initial eposode the formula is repeated at various location usually involving saving a damsel in distress in the passing.

Undemanding fun, for me part of this fun is identifying the weekly guest stars, usually stalwarts of various other ITC productions. A period piece where no pert bosom or buttocks go unogled.

Oh, and did I mention the theme tune?

Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans (2019)

For Fans Only....

[6/10 · 27 December 2021]

Going from 30 minute sketch shows to a 90 minute fillum based on one storyline didn't really work. Like I said in the heading "for fans only", that said I gave it a six - probably won't watch it again though.

Identifying the actors in the ensemble cast probably tempted me to add a point especially, especially using Derek Jacobi as the outgoing Emperor Claudius (he dies before the credits roll) but I managed to resist.

Alfie (2004)

What's it all about?

[2/10 · 9 December 2021]

The original was made at a time when abortion was illegal and the pill only available on prescription to married woman so the consequences of having unprotected sex could be devastating.

None of these issues are relevant in the remake so it stands or falls on it's merits as a romcom/soap - and it just doesn't do it for me.

Minder: The Bounty Hunter (1979) Season 1, Episode 5

A tale of two accents...

[8/10 · 25 October 2021]

Arthur had two accents - one for The Winchester etc where 'e would drop 'is "h"'s and a posher one at times in this episode where he was trying to get membership of an upmarket club.

Inspector George Gently: Gently Among Friends (2015) Season 7, Episode 3

Good show, great episode!

[9/10 · 27 August 2020]

Always liked this show as the 2 hour (minus adverts) gives a bit more time for character/story development. By this stage in the series the two major characters were well established and in this episode DI Bacchus (Lee Ingleby) is getting worried worried about being upstaged by a younger, smarter, female rival DC (by this stage) Coles (Lisa McGrillis).

This episode has an excellent cameo role from Vic Reeves (as Jim Moir) which is watching in itself.

Frayed (2019–2021)

Marmite

[8/10 · 3 November 2019]

The how seems to have drawn a few extreme reviews on the site. I enjoyed it and can't wait for Series 2.

Does anyone know who played the ambient music that ran through the Series - I've tried on here and a Tunefind which often has this sorta info, but no luck - thanks.

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

User rating 6.6 - Come on folks!

[9/10 · 25 August 2006]

I was a bit surprised to see this film was rated 6.6 by IMDb contributors. I think it should be higher in the 7.5 - 8.0 range.

It's got a killer opening scene - Travolta strutting down the street to the music of The Bee Gees.

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The movie stars JT as Tony Manero, a troubled Brooklyn youth whose weekend activities are dominated by visits to the local disco. While in the disco, Tony is the king, and the visits help him to temporarily forget the reality of his life: a dead-end job, clashes with his unsupportive and squabbling parents, racial tensions in the local community, and his associations with a dead-beat gang of friends.

Tony connects with the aloof Stephanie one night at the disco. Despite her initial frosty and superior attitude toward Tony, she agrees to partner with him in the dance contest after much urging. Tony then has to ditch his current partner Annette, who had actively pursued Tony, despite his obvious disdain for her. Stephanie has a job in Manhatten and is poised to move there. This awakens in Tony the need to transcend his working-class roots.

After a series of twists and turns Tony and Stephanie are fall out and are reconciled although not necessarily as a couple. Will he make it to the promised land – I've never watched the sequel and don't really want to know, as I think the film ends at the right place.

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My only disappointment with the movie was the fight scene which for a film aspiring to be realistic was unconvincing otherwise I'd be arguing for an even higher score!