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sjm_maloney
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Watership Down (2018)
A wasted opportunity for an update
I'm nearing 50, read the book in childhood, saw the film, and happen to be reading the book to my 6 year old at bedtime right now; so I was looking forward to this. Unfortunately this offers nothing new and I won't bother watching again.
I've seen plenty of comment already around the animation standards, 'alikeness' of all rabbits etc. so will pass on all of that, however there were many changes in the story that just seemed outright badly executed. The dialogue that replaces lines coming from the book was in general risible.
OK, so the female roles are made stronger and some character swaps are involved. I know the original is a bit of a 'sausage fest' - though the basis of half the book is the need to get does on the warren, but this change is perhaps to be expected. Strawberry was a good choice, though Hazel would have been braver. However, once balance is a little restored with greater female involvement, they're then subjected to sexual threats and harassment? The Clover/Woundwort scenes were very uncomfortable, as was the unnecessary torture of the marking of the new rabbits in Efrafa.
Keehar has turned into a miserable, conniving git. I love 'The Thick of It', but why reprise Capaldi's role in this film? Keehar is utterly unlikable,
I could go on, but it is already slipping from memory. Trying too hard to be exciting, the extended Sandleford Owsla chase, the river, the crows (not rats apparently!!) in the barn, and all the rest. Can we not spend a little more time developing plot and empathy these days?
Positive points. Fiver's visions were interesting. Voice-acting, well executed.
The 1978 film supposedly scared a great many children. I watched it again last night out of curiosity. It is 'gory', but it is a decent portrayal of a 'prey' species and the tooth and claw of nature. It also has wonderful touches of comedy and heart; it may scare but it also makes you care for the characters. This new version felt cold and heartless by comparison.
The Greatest Tomb on Earth: Secrets of Ancient China (2016)
Opportunity missed
Having watched Dan Snow's recent documentary around a secret Nazi tunnel (a real waste of an hour) I had concerns that this piece would be rather content light; it was.
Given the sheer scale of the first emperor's tomb, and the diversity of the artifacts so far discovered, there was a huge opportunity to explore what is known; and what is yet to be discovered. Instead, an obsessive agenda around whether 'the Greeks' built the complex was followed, with very scant conclusions. Alice spend her brief time examining a single skull, which turned out to be non-Western, and the chap who had 'unprecedented access' to an aerial view of the complex was only able to postulate a road heading in the wrong direction; and a smaller anomaly possibly going in the right direction. However that would only lead to a known border town anyway. Those wishing to look for a proto silk road, should be starting at the edge of China's boundaries at the time in the first place; not in the capital. Dan had the best of it, showing that a 'lost wax' method had been used to create some of the bronzes. Quite why they couldn't have been imports was not explained. It should also be noted that the Egyptians passed on their knowledge to the Greeks around creating colossal sculpture, and should be given some of the credit if due.
Much more could be said. It's worth a watch, simply because the complex and findings are utterly fascinating in of themselves; a missed opportunity though.
Micro Men (2009)
Enjoyable, nostalgic and thought provoking
I watched this single piece drama last night on BBC4 and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
All the actors did a fine job and convinced - despite Mr Armstrong's (Sinclair) rather obvious makeover for the role. The mixture of archive footage and new filming hit a balance that was enjoyable.
The programme addresses the beginnings of the Home Computer industry in the UK and the roles & rivalries of Sinclair and Acorn in those early days. For those of us of a certain age it was extremely nostalgic stuff (even though I ended up getting a CBM 64)! A mixture of reality, light comedy and invention (some scenes were 'invented' according to the titles) kept me engrossed and actually rather disappointed that it had finished so soon; I think a 2 part show would have kept me interested.
Some of the most fascinating stuff for me was a reminder of some of the side issues, for instance the UK general public's initial reaction to the technology - those of us who bought them were considered 'hobbyists' at the time. However, on reflection possibly the most important side- effect was the fact that a public organisation like the BBC was allowed to pursue the making of its own branded model in an attempt to raise the nation's computer literacy above other's. The BBC model B sold widely in schools, this combined with the home market growth must surely have contributed enormously to the strength of the UK programming industry (of which I was part) in the formative years.
Whilst never rivalling IBM and HP in the end (as poignantly if somewhat mawkishly shown in the final scenes) this era and the people involved, must be considered as a time which generated huge revenue for the UK as well as a great platform for the public to get to grips with computers. Our programmers are still regarded as some of the world's most creative, despite financial difficulties; and this period ensured that as a nation we are not only regarded for older, but venerable, media such as the pop music & individual greatness in film & drama.
Highly entertaining as a drama, thought provoking if you care about the beginnings of the industry; I was entertained and amused throughout.
Recommended.
Troy (2004)
Below average fare
Very interesting to see the previous review from 'Leontion', the comments on validity versus Homer's epic and subsequent texts are enlightening and should be of interest to anybody who wants to judge the storyline of the film against historic texts. Having said that the fates of both Agamemnon & Menelaus in this film are surely not a common interpretation from any age? A Cassandra cameo would surely have raised a smile or two as well.
However I would prefer to judge this as a film experience, and in this respect I feel this is at best an average movie. Dialogue is poor, characterisations are two dimensional and direction & camera-work during the 'epic' scenes is average to say the least.
Brian Cox & Peter o' Toole are simply going through the motions and add much less weight to the film than their acting talents deserve.
The battle scenes are poor, relying on scale via CGI, with overall tactics again (like many other films) relying on 'chaarge!!!' rather than any approach that may tax the viewer with complexity. Choreography of the individual duel scenes again lack drama and finesse, particularly the scene between Hector & Achilles which had far too many cuts to 'audience' and lousy continuity.
The orchestral score (a specialist area of mine) was particularly poor for a film of this budget; varying between bland arrangements and sub-standard emulation of Lisa Gerrard (think 'Gladiator') style vocalisation in the 'poignant' sections.
I cannot recommend this film, and will not watch it again. On a level which I cannot defend with facts, I feel that realism aside, and from my own study of the classical world, the Spartans would have smiled and approved heartily of the manner of their portrayal in 300; in Troy neither side would have enjoyed their representations.