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thobelman
Reviews
Midsomer Murders (1997)
I think I may have misunderstood the nature of this series
I am an American who loves and enjoys most BBC productions. I especially love the various English murder mystery series. But this series left me somewhat befuddled, and I could not watch more than the first series (which I simply could not finish). While many reviewers say it is meant to be humorous or tongue-in-cheek, I can't seem to get past certain issues I consider integral to murder mysteries. For example, Sergeant Toby is portrayed as "dumb as a box of rocks." But, it would be unlikely that a police officer who has worked their way up to the rank of sergeant and is partnered with a DCI on Murder cases would be unable to think his way out of a paper bag. And, the constant contempt, insults and bad treatment by Barnaby seems exactly that and nothing more. A much more intelligent, witty (and sometimes contentious) parallel relationship is expertly done in the George Gently series where the sergeant is smart and perceptive (if a little misguided) and makes significant contributions to investigations. In Midsomer Murders, the characters come across to me as unrealistic and campy, and in some instances, the show reminds me of poor quality, B-grade horror movies. While I agree with many comments about the attention to details of the settings and interiors of homes, I feel there are important elements that are missing from a good Detective series. But, I have probably missed the point here and recognize that the series is just not my cup of tea.
Blunt Talk (2015)
Sadly Disappointed
Patrick Stewart is a wonderful actor, but I feel that the quality of this show is so poor that not even Mr. Stewart's acting talents can save it. I have watched the first four episodes and have not laughed even once. And, I'm not a hard sell when it comes to good comedy. Whatever humor is intended is either juvenile or clichéd or so poorly written that it simply falls flat. Just because they have quirky characters doing bizarre and outrageous things does not automatically make for comedy. I feel that they have focused more on "weird" and completely missed the comedic mark in the process. Each episode works hard to achieve an unending stream of frenzy and chaos. The only thing I have really enjoyed are the ending scenes of Walter Blunt (Stewart) and his man servant -- Someone definitely did those right. I don't think I will finish the rest of the episodes though.
Anne of Green Gables (2016)
Very Disappointing
I watched the first installment of the new Anne of Green Gables series on PBS and was very disillusioned by it. It had none of the charm of the 1985 rendition. The writers of the 1985 series offered "full" stories of each experience in Anne's life with clever and humorous dialogue and always with a keen eye for the important details that helped to flesh out the characters, all of which enhanced the rich emotional landscape of the drama. The new series tells incomplete stories, constantly jumping around and skimping on details that are vital to building depth of character, as well as contributing to the overall appeal of L.M. Montgomery's wonderful books. **SPOILER** As only one comparison, there is a wonderful early scene in the story line where Anne must apologize to Rachel Lynde for Anne's hot-headed response to Rachel's unkind comments about Anne's appearance. In the 1985 version, the apology (which is acted out in full) is extremely funny. Whereas, the modern version shows Anne at a distance with Rachel, gesticulating (with no dialogue), after which she wins Rachel over, who then gives Anne a hug. **END OF SPOILER** This scene is so empty as to leave the viewer with no emotional response whatsoever. In fact, for myself, the entire episode continued on this track leaving such a void that it did not rouse any emotional connection or amusement, which is what made the 1985 version so endearing. Even Martin Sheen, an actor I greatly admire, gave a tepid performance and could not save this poorly written and equally poorly acted version -- nowhere near the quality of acting in 1985. If they were unable to rise above this sub par presentation in 1.5 hours, I believe it is unlikely the remaining episodes will offer any real improvements. And, any attempts to stand apart from the earlier version never should have been embarked upon at the expense of quality. Perhaps the appeal, for some, lies in it's parallel to the modern social media, sound byte dynamic which has gained considerable popularity in our society. Some will say that those who are critical can't let go of their fondness for the 1985 version. But, I would argue that there are fair and well-established criteria for the critical process, regardless of the year. I do not believe this is about "when" something was made. There are many modern day films and series I consider to be quite excellent. All in all, I cannot even bear the thought of watching this version any further. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend the 1985 series for a truly rewarding viewing experience of this wonderful story.