via-helena Reviews

Rogue Heroes (2022–2024)

A ripping yarn

[6/10 · 1 November 2022]

I enjoyed this as a piece of TV in the 'War' / 'Action' genre but the writer, director & producers are certainly not too obsessed with historical detail; perhaps they should have included Julius Caesar in a DeLorean?

The cinematography wasn't bad, the CGI & special effects were good. Most of the actors made a fairly decent fist of things although Jack O'Connell seemed woefully mis-cast. It made me want to learn more about the real people behind these characters which is something.

The main thing that messed this film up for me was the soundtrack which contained a lot of out-of-period blaring rock, pop, heavy metal (etc.) music which was totally incongruous with the screenplay, very annoying.

Elvis (2022)

Austin Butler 11/10 - Baz Luhrmann 7/10

[9/10 · 6 August 2022]

This is a slightly flawed work of genius, lovingly crafted with Butler's turn a tour-de-force. Great detail has been stitched into every frame of this film and it's hard to escape the conclusion that the writers and director were huge Elvis fans.

Butler, quite rightly, has received huge praise worldwide for bringing Elvis back to life for this epic. I'm sure that his meticulously researched and well observed performance will shortly translate into a a cabinet full of industry gongs. Probably the biggest tribute is from Presley's family who were 'blown away' by his portrayal.

So, what lets this down (a little)?

(1) Butler is a pretty decent singer and did all the vocals, some worked out OK but most did not. We have to remember that Elvis was called THE KING for good reason, he had one of the most remarkable singing voices in performing history. Characterised by a deep dark timbre, huge range from bass to falsetto, his use of vibrato, powerful projection, etc. Butler could not match Elvis for many of the songs and was pushing his voice to the limit, it was a bit shouty and I'm surprised that he didn't strain his vocal chords. This was a Director error, Luhrmann should have realised that Butler's (decent) voice wasn't anywhere near special enough to reflect Elvis' talent and original recordings should have been used.

(2) Right up until the 'final performance' scene, Elvis was still the stick thin figure of his youth which detracted from the film's accuracy and authenticity. Prosthetics or CGI should have been used to show the effect that fried banana, bacon and peanut sandwiches or Fool's Gold sandwiches will have if consumed regularly enough. Again Director error.

(3) I love Tom Hanks but his portrayal of The Colonel wasn't remotely in the same league as Butler's Elvis. I can't help thinking that he was mis-cast. More director error. Would John Goodman have had the versatility to pull this role off?

(4) it was all a bit muddled, supposedly to reflect Elvis' chaotic life, but it made the film difficult to follow at times.

(5) I watched this in a Cineworld cinema, the picture quality wasn't as sharp as you'd expect of a film in this day and age. I don't know if this was a projection thing or the cinematography itself?

Apparently there was nearly 3 hours of usable footage / scenes which didn't survive the cutting room. I'd have quite happily sat through those 3 hours!

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Some sequels should not be remade!

[3/10 · 23 January 2022]

On its own, as a stand-alone film with different characters, I'd probably be describing this as opulent, delightful and engaging and rating it 8/10 BUT it's a sequel of an A-grade kid's vintage classic.

Poor songs, most of which are immediately forgettable.

The story is fair.

It's not well cast, rrrolling her rrr's all over the place and doing a wooden turn, Emily Blunt isn't the worst casting but Samuel L Jackson might have played Mary Poppins better?

Everything else is pretty good.

Better they'd made it as an original (non Mary Poppins) film with a competent casting director!

The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018)

Total dross

[1/10 · 20 April 2021]

What an unutterably nonsensical, incoherent and incomprehensible steaming pile of dung. I've got a feeling an 8 year old wrote it.

All those positive reviews, how? Emperor's New Clothes or has someone been orchestrating the positive reviews?

It's such a shame that an actor of the stature of Sam Elliott was hoodwinked into starring in this, it will diminish his legacy.

Witless (2016–2018)

Unexpectedly fantastic

[10/10 · 22 October 2020]

An interesting story premise, well scripted, well acted with lots of laugh out loud moments. You know the writing is good when you find yourself rooting for the antiheros. I was gripped and binge watched all 3 series in one day.

More please, (Scared Witless?)

On Chesil Beach (2017)

Dull as ditchwater

[1/10 · 2 July 2020]

This film started off weakly and it was all downhill from there. Pretentious drivel which will cast a long shadow over these young actors' careers. That's 110 minutes of my life that I can never get back!

Staged (2020–2023)

Like watching paint dry!

[1/10 · 15 June 2020]

I can't believe I'm watching the same series as all these 10/10 reviews. I don't think they're genuine reviews.

Sheen & Tennant are 2 of my favourite actors; this wastes them and their talent. It is utterly tedious unfunny drivel.

Simon Evans & Phinn Glynn both deserve concrete boots for this tripe!

Bunny and the Bull (2009)

Absolute cr@p

[1/10 · 1 May 2020]

That's an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back. Tries to be clever but is absurd & unwatchably bad. Deserves a minus10 score!

The Windermere Children (2020)

History, horror & redemption distilled into a gem

[10/10 · 27 January 2020]

Story, script, actors, direction, cinematography, costume, props, etc. all A1 and at the top of their game. Auntie Beeb at her finest.

A harrowing yet uplifting episode of history crystallised and immortalised.

Dracula (2020)

Count Pantomime

[1/10 · 8 January 2020]

An enormous effort and great deal of money has been invested in mangling the Dracula story & legacy.

Horrible mis-casting; Dracula is played by Frankie Howard's Danish nephew. Oo er mister gis a suck of yer neck!

Elizabeth Is Missing (2019 TV Movie)

An acting masterclass

[10/10 · 13 December 2019]

The story is solid if somewhat too labyrinthine.

There is an excellent supporting cast with Helen Behan & Nell Williams putting in very strong performances.

Then there is Glenda Jackson wow! Utterly compelling and absolutely plausible, if this had seen higher investment and a cinematic release she'd have the Oscar in the bag! You might need a handkerchief to discreetly dab if you find your face unexpectedly leaking.

It is commendable that BBC is commissioning programmes of such high quality.

Still Open All Hours (2013–2019)

Should shut up shop for good!

[1/10 · 29 November 2019]

What utter drivel, atrocious and as funny as Jimmy Savile in an orphanage. Arkwright would be spinning in his grave.

Every one of the stellar cast of respected and accomplished British luvvies who appears in this monstrosity is sullying their legacy.

Giri/Haji (2019)

A flawed gem

[7/10 · 14 November 2019]

It's difficult to make comparisons between this series any any other because of its uniqueness and the culture clash element. Having so much of the dialogue in subtitled Japanese was wearing but the Director obviously felt it indispensable and in some ways was probably right. The storyline was OK but a bit too disjointed & labyrinthine, some of the characters a bit schizophrenic. Individual episodes seemed to run out of steam at times as though the writers had run out of ideas. There were a few clever twists & turns as the story unravelled. It was well cast and mostly well acted, Billy Kimber made a 21st Century comeback. Special effects were excellent. There were some fantasy aspects of the series that spoiled it for me, the gay ghost popping up every 5 minutes and that really awful black & white rooftop ballet??! Overall good but tried too hard to be cleverer than it really is.

Zomboat! (2019)

Pretty good, fingers crossed for a second series

[8/10 · 9 November 2019]

Looking at the other reviews it seems this series has really polarised opinion - people love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp. I think you either get it or you don't.

Fresh, fair storyline, good scripting & well acted. The writers obviously had tongues firmly in cheeks while creating it. It lost a couple of points due to the whole zombie thing being a bit clichéd and a paucity of good Brummie accents.

I'm hoping we get more, Ozzie Osborne would make a fantastic guest star!

Ghosts (2019–2023)

Left me wanting more!

[10/10 · 3 November 2019]

Good little storyline, well scripted, well acted, good special effects, plenty of chuckles. Should appeal to age ranges 5 to 105. Hoping we'll get a second series?

The Amelia Gething Complex (2019– )

Total tripe

[1/10 · 14 October 2019]

I've lost half an hour of my life that I'll never get back, hideous rubbish! Amelia, writing / acting / comedy really isn't for you girl!

I'll assume the 10/10 glowing review above mine is Amelia / family?

Defending the Guilty (2018–2019)

A breath of fresh air

[9/10 · 21 September 2019]

Well scripted, well cast, well acted with a good theme and good episode storylines. Some talented young actors getting their first breaks in this. I really hope this goes beyond 6 episodes.

Mr Pye (1986)

Of its time

[4/10 · 21 September 2019]

This looks very dated now with dismal special effects. The storyline is uninspiring but might have been a bit racy when more people believed in Christ & Satan. One of Jacobi's hammier turns.

Hold the Sunset (2018–2019)

Potboiler

[1/10 · 18 September 2019]

What an absolute abortion of a series, wasting the talents of respected actors like Alison Steadman, Jason Watkins & Sue Johnston not to mention destroying the legacy of comedy God John Cleese, (who I assume must be skint to have agreed to take this drivel on). Charles McKeown should have his fingers smashed with a hammer to ensure he can't churn out such mind-numbing crud in the future.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Flawless

[10/10 · 30 August 2019]

A1 storyline. A1 scripting. A1 casting. A1 directing. A1 cinematography A1 costume. A1 locations. How can you beat this?

Burton and Taylor (2013 TV Movie)

The end of an era

[7/10 · 30 August 2019]

There is criticism that this play does not do justice to the Burton-Taylor relationship but that is unfair, what it does do is to focus upon a particular stage in their lives, coincidentally shortly before Burton's death.

Other criticism is for the lead players. If you had to cast someone as iconic as Richard Burton or Elizabeth Taylor who would you cast? Who would meet the legend? I feel the leads do a competent job and Dominic West's fading Welsh accent is very convincing.

It is, in truth, a fairly boring story but bolstered by strong performances and good direction.

Dirt Road to Lafayette (2018)

A gem

[9/10 · 30 August 2019]

A good story and solid script but this film is lifted by the performance of the young actor behind the principal character Neil Sutcliffe. A fantastic supporting cast and some goose-bump inducing music with astute character observation give this film a 3rd dimension. I'll admit to having moist eyes at some points.

I'd hope to see much more from Mr Sutcliffe in the decades ahead as well as more from Director Kenneth Glanaan.

The Fall of the Krays (2016)

Better this had never been made

[1/10 · 29 August 2019]

Tells 3% of the Krays story. Horribly miscast, the only way they could have done worse was if they'd had Whoopi Goldberg and Julian Clary playing the Kray twins. Inane plot. Badly scripted. Cheap cheap cheap! I hope the Director Zachary Adler, writers Ken & Sebastian Brown and the production team never get another chance at polluting our screens with such drivel again.

Minor saving grace; they had a competent, if uninspiring, cinematographer in Luke Palmer.

The Mind of Herbert Clunkerdunk (2018 TV Movie)

Drivel

[1/10 · 27 August 2019]

Looks like it has been made for 6 year olds by 4 year olds.

Serengeti (2019– )

Disappointing

[4/10 · 8 August 2019]

Cinematography (& sound): A1 Direction / production: Fail Scripting / story: Fail Narration: Epic fail (Quietly spoken & husky does not equal Attenborough!)