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Reviews
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Drivel. Pure Drivel.
It is a shame the Luther series will end with this abomination. I was a big fan of the early series, but this one requires a complete "suspension of disbelief". I cannot imagine what motivated Idris Elba to sign on for this one. As always, he is excellent in dealing with the material he is dealt here.
I have read the comments this is a throwback thriller. The problem is the set up and execution is unbelievable.
Within just minutes, Luther has been convicted of heinous crimes, but we are not allowed to witness the evidence. Just accept he is in prison to set the stage for a ludicrous escape... so he can fight the most skilled psycho we have seen in a while.
The first inferno with the hanging bodies, some years dead, was mind-boggling (and unbelievable.) The finale of hanging bodies in the Ice Palace in Norway (what is their fascination with Norway?) took the endeavor to new heights of ridiculous.
If you want so-so action, it does provide that. But you may end up feeling badly about enjoying that aspect after you put up with the drivel.
Capitani (2019)
Should Have Read the Bad Reviews...
Because they are accurate. The "meat" of this story justified at most a two-hour movie. I wasted time wondering why is this so slow and where is it going. The police work was shoddy. The last two episodes which "explained" things could have been a high school play.
No way I'm going to waste time on the second season.
Apple Tree Yard (2017)
Excellent Acting, Weak Script
I had read the reviews before and after and concluded I agree with those that saw this as flawed. How could a brilliant scientist be trapped this way? I think Emily gave us the clue in the 4th episode when she said she had done nothing notable in years. That is certainly plausible and could indicate age was taking a toll on her ability to reason (and question.)
Having watched "Silk" recently, I was alert to the fact that the English legal system does not work the way the American system. They actually keep the accused in a glass cage which allows little interaction with their barristers? Curious to me.
I think it could have been handled nicely with 3 episodes.
The Lion King (2019)
Technically Brilliant, Comfortable Storyline
Viewed from the perspective of a 74-year old who sat next to his 8-year-old grandson. I had never seen the original but he had.
Most importantly: the "1" ratings here are political statement. Most of us have known for a long while Hollywood is pretty short on new story lines/ideas.
Yet, the technically brilliance demonstrated here is breathtaking.
The story line is pretty simple...the triumph of good over evil... but one must ask: who is the target audience? My grandson made comments along the way how the story tracked closely with the one he already knew. But he loved the movie. That is the only test that matters.
Before seeing the movie, I had read comments about emotionless faces of the characters, but i saw enough emotion to carry the story.
"Perfect is the enemy of good." This is a very good movie for its target audience.
(And I am put off by the political correctness of lots of Disney product these days.)
Note: I intended to rate this an "8".
Hostile Planet (2019)
Incredible Photography...Ruined by Polemics
It is hard to imagine the sacrifices that the photographers made to capture the high mountain scenes of wild life surviving. Their incredible work is probably unique.
But the script Bear Grylls sonorously spoils the experience reads a script straight from the IPCC: the world is ending because of mankind and these poor animals are doomed by rising temperatures. What is truly laughable is that frequently Bear reads words that contradict the meme by admitting that the animals are adapting to change.
Bloodline (2015)
Another Season 3 Rating: Awful
Thanks to another reviewer I saved 2 hours of my life and skipped the last two episodes.
I have to wonder what it is like to be a quality actor who has had two great seasons and then learn that your task is to watch the whole enterprise go down the drain because the writers ran out of juice.
The third season has been a disaster with even the set up for the trial not being believable.
I guess that's my bottom line: little of the third season is believable. The actors gave it a honest try, but they had so little to work with.
The Hero (2017)
The Bookend to "Lifeguard"
"Baby Driver" this is not.
Being of the same vintage as Sam and having grown up in a SoCal beach town, I have long enjoyed the truths of "Lifeguard" (1976). There, Sam E is "Rick", a 30-something of the 70s who "acts" on the beach for a living (so much of beach life guarding is "acting" for the public.) Rick is confronted by a decision to grow up, but he ultimately yields to the temptation of a 17-year old beach groupie who does not fit into her new world (she has just moved to the beach town.)
Spoiler alert?
Jump forward 40+ years and "Rick" is now "Lee", and Laura Prepon is that "too young for him" female who does not fit the norms of her world and challenges his world that has been thrown into turmoil by a cancer diagnosis.
It's not a perfect extrapolation, but the story is told with intelligent conversation and good directing. Not an ounce of CGI to be seen.