johnbyrne-19773 Reviews

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

A lack of thunder.

[5/10 · 19 December 2022]

Yes some of the Thor films have garnered poorish feedback however I have enjoyed them all.....so far. Ragnorak the best looked like the opening of a new garish image which I loved.

L&T came with big expectations and fails - seriously fails.

It lacked the spark and self awareness of Ragnorak. L&T came across as overly self knowing; trying too hard to be amusing and laying on the un-funnies in quick succession falling flat.

Bale for me was not dark enough and like many "baddies" just doesn't work.

Some of the better bits were the "lovey dovey" bits between Thor and Jane/Mighty Thor.

Throughout the whole film I felt as though I was watching an ok made for TV series.

We know these characters of old but I didn't really empathise nor was I particularly interested in them.

Thankfully I only rented this. I won't be watching it again. NB: I am a Marvel fan and have been since my teens (long ago) a Thor fan. Disappointed.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Well impressed.

[3 September 2022]

Besides bots and trolls I have to wonder why some reviewers are dissing this.

The production is stunning visually and the sound including the music is great.

I've knocked points off for some of the acting......particularly for Elrond and Galadriel- they've not wholly convinced me yet but early days with the first two episodes.

I have not read the books other than the "...Rings" and The Hobbit but I found the pacing and story development fine as well as the intro to most of the characters.

I am far from colour blind and feel it's more "real" (yes even in fantasy) to have people of colour in our shows. Certainly looking forward to my Friday night TV.

The Midnight Sky (2020)

Really.....

[3/10 · 31 May 2022]

WHAT!? I love sci-fi. This has to be one of the most disappointing genre films I have seen in a long time. I can cope with the tacky/crappy B movies but this should have been better. Space tropes could have been passed over - why the disaster in the middle - so unnecessary. The mental cheat of a dieing man. A whimp of a captain - the existence of the human race is at "........" stake and oh yes off you go.

A film without hope- in a bad way. The end of the human race can be done well but don't go looking for it here - being done well that is.

Night Sky (2022)

Mature sci-fi in more ways than one...

[9/10 · 24 May 2022]

First: Spacek & Simmons are wonderful as a couple in their later years. Second: how wonderful is it to see respected older leads in a well written, character driven slow build piece. A breath of fresh air.

It's almost sci-if without the sci-fi.

Yes it's a slow burn as are many shows nowadays but it gives you enough and builds to a fitting season finale where the 3 arcs are well placed for the next chapter.

There will be something wrong in the world if this is not given a 2nd season.

No Men Beyond This Point (2015)

Two men laugh....

[7/10 · 27 February 2022]

Two gay men and we both thoroughly enjoyed this film. It puts aside any sense of subtlety and hits you over the head with ideas of sexual identity and politics.

Loved that the main spokes"man" for the liberation of men was an absolute plonker - men can be dicks.

The film didn't really show the full extent of the more or less total female society and how it had developed over the 40 years of female only births though to be fair that is still a short period of time.

How different this film might have been written and direct by a women one can only guess but it put neither man or woman in a great light.

However the film was thoroughly enjoyable and we laughed out loud several times - particularly at the male stereotypes.

Invasion (2021–2024)

Enjoyable....but

[6/10 · 30 December 2021]

Invasion is guilty of what Lost began and shows like The Leftovers continued. Overlong, with titbits offered in each episode and over character development.

It's slow pace is really what let's it down.

However I did find a lot to enjoy and don't feel it deserves some of the low scores it's received.

It's getting a 2nd series as far as I can tell and hopefully we will get to see a lot more of the aliens..... and I think they will be different to the ones we have seen so far - though I thought they were neat.

West Side Story (2021)

Why?

[6/10 · 24 December 2021]

I have to wonder why someone felt this classic had to be remade or at least remade in an almost like for like fashion.

I am a man of a certain age and it was always going to take something special to improve on the original film - this wasn't it.

The music and the songs are still wonderful and I enjoyed these parts especially America and Tonight but... The songs etc lose something when you can't empathise with the characters.

I don't feel that the film flowed as well as the original and oddly felt more "stagey".

The Spanish speaking elements were ok for me.... I've read a lot of negativity about this - why?

So I still come back to WHY?

Rebecca (I) (2020)

What the......

[2/10 · 28 January 2021]

This was a gothic style thriller..... ruined. A weird mix of periods, set out of time. The cinematography was appalling modern at some points and oddly retro at others. The often mesmeric Scott-Thomas was wasted and the rest made Eastenders cast appear Oscar worthy. What the hell were they thinking. All the way through this I was going "what have they done" and "how bad can it be" - fairly bad.

It's a Sin (2021)

Broken......

[9/10 · 27 January 2021]

I found this very painful to watch. I was in Brighton in the 80s and I saw our world change in those 10 years. This brought it all back. The fun, the freedom, the joy and the tragedy. It's a Sin......beautifully and painfully done. Kudos to all involved.

1917 (2019)

At moments harrowing......

[7/10 · 27 January 2020]

Loved the cinematography and performances. And yes as stated elements of the film were harrowing but something was lacking. I wasn't pulled into the story..... possibly all the positive feedback I had heard may have led to higher expectations as well as a feeling of being manipulated - emotionally (and I often allow myself to be manipulated by lesser films than this). Of course the film is traumatic in parts and again but.....?

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Age irrelevant- a great new beginning.

[9/10 · 25 January 2020]

My first IMDb review....I had to because of some the odd comments on the age of Patrick Stewart. What is the issue with some of you. Life does not stand still, we grow and hopefully mature and maybe even our perspectives on the world changes because of the experiences we have. Don't make age the issue - be it for actor or the character they are portraying. If you want to watch "Tweeny" shows there are plenty of those about - especially on Netflix.

...and don't get me started on some of the comments about the episode focusing more on the female character 1) I didn't notice, 2) So what if they did!

As to Picard...... a great first episode. Yes it started with some action and it built well on existing lore and it was great to see the gravitas Stewart brought to the leading role. He and we have the advantage of knowing Picard but how much more watchable is he now 20 years on. I do understand some of the comments that the story may travel contemporary tropes within the genre but it is still only episode one so and even if this is the case if done well it can still be engaging and captivating.

As to the production values......on the whole very impressive - hope they keep it up.

.....and for all you cynics......I'm a real individual and not part of some publicity machine.