filmtechnz Reviews

West Side Story (2021)

Why bother?

[5/10 · 25 December 2021]

First of all I am biased - I generally don't like remakes, and although Spielberg has done a reasonable job with this - why did he bother? The film was adequate but not a patch on the original 1961 version, and while I enjoyed. Rachel Zegler as Maria, I found. Ansel Elgort's Tony weak and ineffective. And I must admit I missed 'Doc'. Why not have Doc and his wife (Rita Moreno) running the.shop together? I also didn't like the way Spielberg moved "I Feel Pretty" to after The Rumble. That did not work, and It is difficult not to make generalised comparisons with the original which was just more polished. While the latter missed the talents of the likes of Russ Tamblyn and George Chakiris, I won't even mention the 2021 version of Officer Krupke. So in conclusion - Why did Spielberg bother? If he wanted to try his hand at a musical, why not an original? One thing is sure - In 50 years time this will not be remembered.

Cimarron (1960)

A Brilliant western

[9/10 · 9 June 2018]

I am at a loss to understand why this has been panned by critics, and why it did not do better at the box office. Like other reviewers I found Glenn Ford's depiction of Yancey Cravat far better than that of Richard Dix, in the 1931 version. The land rush was brilliantly done, and the remainder of the cat, eg Harry Morgan, Russ Tamblyn, Anne Baxter and especially Maria Schell were excellent. The music by Franz Waxman was splendidly done, the cinematography brilliant, and the title song very catchy. Generally I am not (with one or two notable exceptions) a fan of westerns, however Cimarron should not be missed. It is a thoroughly enjoyable film.

In the Nick (1960)

Worth watching - if you can find it

[7/10 · 19 May 2018]

I managed to catch up with this film only very recently, after having searched for it for a long while. I originally watched it in the cinema, and remembered enjoying it. Second time round - watching at home I was a little disappointed - but still had a few laughs. However what made me really recall the film was the catchy title song, composed by Lionel Bart, although Ron Goodwin is given screen credit - it is also played and sung right through the end credits. Anthony Newley was his usual competent self, as was of course Harry Andrews as Chief Officer Williams. In The Nick is not a great film, but is worth watching, and I'm sure you will have your toes tapping to the title song.

Holby City (1999–2022)

At the beginning

[18 April 2018]

I have just come across the first four seasons of Holby City and am re-watching them. This was a brilliant series in the beginning, thanks to particularly the characters of consultant Anton Meyer, Victoria Merrick, Nick Jordan and Sister Karen Newburn. Compared to more recent episodes that I have watched one can see how the series has gone downhill since most of the original characters have left.

Erebus: The Aftermath (1988– )

A brilliant docudrama - not to be missed

[10/10 · 15 January 2018]

I cannot heap enough praise on the tv mini-series from New Zealand which recounts the enquiry into the Air New Zealand DC10 tragedy in Antarctica. It begins with the DC10 leaving for a day trip to the Antarctic and follows the alarm when the plane is reported overdue. Next we follow the court of enquiry, headed by Judge Peter Mahon, brilliantly played by Frank Finlay and we hear the Air New Zealand management attempting to blame the flight crew for the accident. What follows is possibly the best piece of television I have ever seen. I have watched it countless times, and always discover something new. It is a great shame that this has never been released commercially and one wonders whether the 'powers that be' have played a hand in this.

The Winds of War (1983)

A Great TV Series - Including Ali McGraw

[10/10 · 13 January 2018]

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, and have to definitely disagree with previous reviewers regarding the casting of Ali McGraw as Natalie Jastrow. I thought she was brilliant in the role, and was disappointed to find she had been replaced in the follow up series War and Remembrance. I also enjoyed the performances of David Dukes as Leslie Slote, and Peter Graves, Victoria Tennant and Jeremy Kemp. Although I have never been a fan of Robert Mitchum he was acceptable as Victor Henry. Gunter Meisner's portrayal of Adolf Hitler was also brilliant and realistic. I have watched this series more than once and cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Witness for the Prosecution (2016)

A Total Waste of Time and Very Disappointing

[1/10 · 30 April 2017]

If you are going to produce an Agatha Christie play - at least have the decency to keep some resemblance to the original. This was so way off the mark it could have been called The Murder of Madame X or maybe A Month in the life of John Mayhew - and probably no one would have watched it. I hope that Sarah Phelps who adapted this abomination never again gets the chance to destroy what could have been an excellent production. This mini series (as they billed it) seems to go on and on and on - and in almost every scene we are tortured by the hacking cough of Toby Jones. (Mayhew) The scenes get darker and darker, there is no 'build up to a climax' and when the climax should happen the dreary thing drags on for another half an hour. There are no surprises, no courtroom repartee, there is nothing. I thought the performances were also mediocre. I usually like Toby Jones - but he seemed to be almost 'reading his script' as he went through - the other cast members were really no better. And the direction - well the less said the better. But really 90% of the blame goes to Sarah Phelps for her atrocious interpretation of an excellent story.

I have given this more thought since writing my original review and am now convinced that this has got to be the most disappointing piece of television I have ever seen. It has also got to be one of the worst BBC shows I have ever had the misfortune to watch.