Thank you Netflix. Just as "Serenity" gave us back our "Firefly", and the SyFy Channel gives us back our Sci-Fi, Netflix has given us back our "Lucifer" ,True to the original concept but with some real added value in mythological story-telling. Eve was an interesting charachter. I had her pegged at being Lillith until named as Eve. Lauren German as gorgeous as ever. But mein gott did she look absolutely stunning in the masquerade party sequence with the dark eyeliner egyptian eye of Ra Schwarzze Sonne sequence. Lucy is at his glorious best and worst demon and daemon self. A true Lokian trickster. Eye candy for all the future mother mary's rocking and rolling around on molly in a meaningless existence. The Norse Vikings had a concept of the biblical "End of Days" termed "Ragnarok". Our world will be destroyed at the end of time, but the world will be reborn and a new time will be birthed. Lets hope "Lucifer" will be reborn into the New World of Netflix. Season Five. It does have a devilish symmetry to it. It takes 5 to make a pentagram. A Glorious Gesture to Netflix is to keep giving the love, so they keep giving the love back to us. The Gods of Hollywood abandoned us decades ago. Netflix is the better devil I know.
Reviews
9 Reviews
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
(2001–2007)
Intricate
28 February 2024
The mysteries are tricky and intricate and at times perverse and bleak. But they are always solved, except maybe once when a fake solution was accepted. Inspector Lynley is maybe posh, as The Guardian said, since he is a Lord by birth and practices policework as a profession, one of these few professions a hereditary lord can practice. There are very few.
His assistant is a woman who is quite different from him but the two together are a funny pair more or less always staying within acceptable irregularities according to police ethics. But Lynley is going to the crime with his impulsive belief and conviction, whereas Barbara Havers goes to it with her empathy. When dealing with criminals and psychopaths, empathy is a weak point since the criminals and psychopaths just want this empathy so that they can play on it and manipulate the police, the situation they are in. The last case is typical of that. Two criminals absolutely equal in horror and viciousness and they play differently on the two cops to capture somewhere the empathy or the hostility they need to save their fate, at least if they have any future fate. They seem to think so.
But in all these cases, it looks like some salient features are coming out like the fact many of these cases concern children or teenagers or very young men or women becoming the victims of people older than they are. But in the last two seasons, they seemed to have come to some kind of a dead end. The first paramour of Inspector Lynley moved out of the police after a dramatic accident that killed her baby-to-be. One season later she came back under the name of another actress but to be purely shot dead by some Bosnian woman trying to shoot the man who killed her whole family in Bosnia. So, Lynley had two wives in the series, and in both cases, they ended dead or at least estranged after the death of their unborn child.
There is maybe slightly too much of this family business and maybe not enough of the crime side of the cases. The criminals are too often psychopaths who do not have any depth. They are just psychopaths, and that is the way the cases are dealt with which is the problem. It is always some technical connection between a crime and a criminal, but no real exploration of the motivations. The first wife of Lynley in the series was a profiler but her profiling was very dry, as dry as a fingerprint on a weapon or some DNA on a glass. You could do better than that, even when you are the Earl of Asherton. The empathy side of Barbara Havers is better but it never has the upper hand.
That's OK if you are only looking for some entertainment because the social or cultural depth is rather shallow, gliding over things as if they were hawks and then pouncing onto the prey as if the prey were a juicy piece of running rat or rodent.
His assistant is a woman who is quite different from him but the two together are a funny pair more or less always staying within acceptable irregularities according to police ethics. But Lynley is going to the crime with his impulsive belief and conviction, whereas Barbara Havers goes to it with her empathy. When dealing with criminals and psychopaths, empathy is a weak point since the criminals and psychopaths just want this empathy so that they can play on it and manipulate the police, the situation they are in. The last case is typical of that. Two criminals absolutely equal in horror and viciousness and they play differently on the two cops to capture somewhere the empathy or the hostility they need to save their fate, at least if they have any future fate. They seem to think so.
But in all these cases, it looks like some salient features are coming out like the fact many of these cases concern children or teenagers or very young men or women becoming the victims of people older than they are. But in the last two seasons, they seemed to have come to some kind of a dead end. The first paramour of Inspector Lynley moved out of the police after a dramatic accident that killed her baby-to-be. One season later she came back under the name of another actress but to be purely shot dead by some Bosnian woman trying to shoot the man who killed her whole family in Bosnia. So, Lynley had two wives in the series, and in both cases, they ended dead or at least estranged after the death of their unborn child.
There is maybe slightly too much of this family business and maybe not enough of the crime side of the cases. The criminals are too often psychopaths who do not have any depth. They are just psychopaths, and that is the way the cases are dealt with which is the problem. It is always some technical connection between a crime and a criminal, but no real exploration of the motivations. The first wife of Lynley in the series was a profiler but her profiling was very dry, as dry as a fingerprint on a weapon or some DNA on a glass. You could do better than that, even when you are the Earl of Asherton. The empathy side of Barbara Havers is better but it never has the upper hand.
That's OK if you are only looking for some entertainment because the social or cultural depth is rather shallow, gliding over things as if they were hawks and then pouncing onto the prey as if the prey were a juicy piece of running rat or rodent.
The Brokenwood Mysteries
(2014– )
Brokenwood
28 February 2024
I have given The Broken Wood Mysteries a 9 out of 10.
For me this is extremely rare, it's not often something catches my attention and keeps it, as well as Broken Wood does.
The main Actors in this excellent series, Neill Rea (plays Mike Shepherd) and Fern Sutherland (plays Kristin Simms) have a wonderful Father - Daughter type relationship, which is not only quite charming but also is really wonderful to see.
Despite working in close quarters, as indeed Police officers would do in real life. There is no suggestion of an improper relationship between the two.
It's Reassuring in a way, as today so many TV series actually live on and many survive only, on the sexual suggestion regardless of age gap.
Below, I happened upon a comment which alleges that this show is misogynist, because of a rather light hearted few scenes in the first series. You see, Mike Shepherd and another detective politely refuse coffee, when Simms offers to make some for all three.
Apparently, it's now a Sin to refuse a cup of coffee from a colleague, IF that colleague happens to be female!
It's refreshing, dare I say, decent family viewing. It however, does not take itself absolutely serious, there are often comedic, if not comedy cringe incidents between Mike Shepherd and the Russian M. E. Gina KADINSKY (played by Cristina Serbian Ionda).
Mike is the Love interest of M. E. Gina, which results in both indearing, touching and cringe worthy moments which induce bouts of laughter. I won't go further to avoid spoilers.
Rea is an exceptional Actor, who is comfortable dealing one moment with Simms and the very next with M. E. Gina, sometimes both at the same time. How he manages to play the senior / Father figure with Simms and immediately turn on the comedic role with M. E. Gina is hard to explain, yet he does it extremely well!.
I would be in stitches of laughter or sincerely stern, absolutely certainly and without doubt, at exactly the wrong time, each time.
It works, in fact it works extremely well!. It deserves much more recognition that it has so far, but as is often the case, it's after such a great series ends when admiration of the Actors skills comes to light.
I find little to criticise about The Broken Wood Mysteries, except perhaps, the seasons are way too short and each season, has far too few episodes!.
There are Very Few TV Series where one complains about too few episodes, for sure!.
BUT the Broken Wood Mysteries in my humble opinion, Is That Good!.
To Conclude, Wonderful Trio of exceptionally good Actors!, Delightful Script Writing (quality writing), wonderful Scenery which shows delightfully the beauty of New Zealand.
ALL IN ALL, A very deserved 9 out of 10.
For me this is extremely rare, it's not often something catches my attention and keeps it, as well as Broken Wood does.
The main Actors in this excellent series, Neill Rea (plays Mike Shepherd) and Fern Sutherland (plays Kristin Simms) have a wonderful Father - Daughter type relationship, which is not only quite charming but also is really wonderful to see.
Despite working in close quarters, as indeed Police officers would do in real life. There is no suggestion of an improper relationship between the two.
It's Reassuring in a way, as today so many TV series actually live on and many survive only, on the sexual suggestion regardless of age gap.
Below, I happened upon a comment which alleges that this show is misogynist, because of a rather light hearted few scenes in the first series. You see, Mike Shepherd and another detective politely refuse coffee, when Simms offers to make some for all three.
Apparently, it's now a Sin to refuse a cup of coffee from a colleague, IF that colleague happens to be female!
It's refreshing, dare I say, decent family viewing. It however, does not take itself absolutely serious, there are often comedic, if not comedy cringe incidents between Mike Shepherd and the Russian M. E. Gina KADINSKY (played by Cristina Serbian Ionda).
Mike is the Love interest of M. E. Gina, which results in both indearing, touching and cringe worthy moments which induce bouts of laughter. I won't go further to avoid spoilers.
Rea is an exceptional Actor, who is comfortable dealing one moment with Simms and the very next with M. E. Gina, sometimes both at the same time. How he manages to play the senior / Father figure with Simms and immediately turn on the comedic role with M. E. Gina is hard to explain, yet he does it extremely well!.
I would be in stitches of laughter or sincerely stern, absolutely certainly and without doubt, at exactly the wrong time, each time.
It works, in fact it works extremely well!. It deserves much more recognition that it has so far, but as is often the case, it's after such a great series ends when admiration of the Actors skills comes to light.
I find little to criticise about The Broken Wood Mysteries, except perhaps, the seasons are way too short and each season, has far too few episodes!.
There are Very Few TV Series where one complains about too few episodes, for sure!.
BUT the Broken Wood Mysteries in my humble opinion, Is That Good!.
To Conclude, Wonderful Trio of exceptionally good Actors!, Delightful Script Writing (quality writing), wonderful Scenery which shows delightfully the beauty of New Zealand.
ALL IN ALL, A very deserved 9 out of 10.
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
(2013–2018)
Doctor Blake
28 February 2024
I first came across this series a couple years ago and since then have looked forward to each new series and have not been disappointed every episode has hit the mark.
Craig McLachlan breaks away from his likely lad image and makes a brilliant job playing the maverick police surgeon Dr Lucien Blake. The wonderful Nadine Garner plays his housekeeper Jean Bezley to perfection. Equally brilliant is Joel Tobeck as the police inspector and former school mate of Dr Blake.
The inter play between Dr Blake and his housekeeper is major source of amusement running through the series. Both characters have back stories that put obstacles in the path of a romantic outcome. Joel Tobeck's police inspector has the tricky job of managing Dr Blake he admires Blake's brilliance but has to reign in Blake when breaks procedure and takes the investigation of at a tangent.
Craig McLachlan breaks away from his likely lad image and makes a brilliant job playing the maverick police surgeon Dr Lucien Blake. The wonderful Nadine Garner plays his housekeeper Jean Bezley to perfection. Equally brilliant is Joel Tobeck as the police inspector and former school mate of Dr Blake.
The inter play between Dr Blake and his housekeeper is major source of amusement running through the series. Both characters have back stories that put obstacles in the path of a romantic outcome. Joel Tobeck's police inspector has the tricky job of managing Dr Blake he admires Blake's brilliance but has to reign in Blake when breaks procedure and takes the investigation of at a tangent.
Murdoch Mysteries
(2008– )
Thoughtful
28 February 2024
I caught 'The Murdoch Mysteries' by accident while drifting around the satellite channels and was instantly hooked. A well performed, touching and interesting show caught my eye. The characters are involving, are worth caring about and have a strong sense of purpose. Each one brings something to the mix and adds their own skills to the events of each episode. Each episode has a strong mystery to be solved, sometimes offering an intriguing moral dilemma to both Murdoch and the viewer. It is also very reassuring to not have modern day morality thrust into the past as happens so frequently with other shows (yes 'Dr Quinn Medicine Woman', I mean you), dealing with the nineteenth century. Instead we are allowed to explore the world as they see it, enjoying the discoveries and trying to find a way forward into a new century.
Funny Games
(2007)
Amazing
14 December 2012
Watching "Funny Games" is a bit like coming across a major accident on the highway - you know you should continue driving on past the scene, but you just can't keep yourself from slowing down and gawking at all the wreckage.
The premise of the story does not sound very promising at first, as the idea, or a simple variation of it, has served as the foundation for countless such films in the past: an innocent family of three is held hostage in their home by a couple of sadistic killers who systematically abuse and terrorize their victims for their own twisted pleasure.
So many horror movies are predictable and formulaic that it's a pleasant surprise to come across one that actually makes an effort to break free of its bonds and make its own way in the world. And, indeed, "Funny Games" busts through the horror movie conventions with an almost ruthless determination. In this Americanized version of a film he made in his native Austria in 1997, director Michael Haneke scrupulously avoids obvious camera setups and editing techniques, bypassing virtually every storytelling, visual or audio cliché endemic to the genre. There is no background music, for instance, to cue us into the scary moments, no screeching cats jumping out of the shadows, and no point-of-view shots designed to generate easy suspense. Unlike in most films of this type, the violence here happens in an entirely haphazard and random manner, making it all the more frightening in its unpredictability and plausibility. Haneke refuses to cater to the expectations of his audience, making them face the reality of the nightmare he's showing them rather than giving them what it is they may want to see.
Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet are cringe-worthy and terminally creepy as the smarmy psychopaths who get their jollies out of watching other people suffer, while Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Devon Gearhart engage our full sympathy as the hapless victims who have come up against the blank wall of two twisted minds they are woefully unequipped to even understand, let alone wage battle against.
This is one of the most memorable and artful horror films of recent times, but it is also one of the most unnerving and difficult to watch. The movie gets into your bones, no matter how much your better angels may be telling you to keep it out. It's depressing and disturbing and is certainly not intended for all audiences, but it is a movie that it is very difficult to shake off once you've given yourself over to it.
The premise of the story does not sound very promising at first, as the idea, or a simple variation of it, has served as the foundation for countless such films in the past: an innocent family of three is held hostage in their home by a couple of sadistic killers who systematically abuse and terrorize their victims for their own twisted pleasure.
So many horror movies are predictable and formulaic that it's a pleasant surprise to come across one that actually makes an effort to break free of its bonds and make its own way in the world. And, indeed, "Funny Games" busts through the horror movie conventions with an almost ruthless determination. In this Americanized version of a film he made in his native Austria in 1997, director Michael Haneke scrupulously avoids obvious camera setups and editing techniques, bypassing virtually every storytelling, visual or audio cliché endemic to the genre. There is no background music, for instance, to cue us into the scary moments, no screeching cats jumping out of the shadows, and no point-of-view shots designed to generate easy suspense. Unlike in most films of this type, the violence here happens in an entirely haphazard and random manner, making it all the more frightening in its unpredictability and plausibility. Haneke refuses to cater to the expectations of his audience, making them face the reality of the nightmare he's showing them rather than giving them what it is they may want to see.
Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet are cringe-worthy and terminally creepy as the smarmy psychopaths who get their jollies out of watching other people suffer, while Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Devon Gearhart engage our full sympathy as the hapless victims who have come up against the blank wall of two twisted minds they are woefully unequipped to even understand, let alone wage battle against.
This is one of the most memorable and artful horror films of recent times, but it is also one of the most unnerving and difficult to watch. The movie gets into your bones, no matter how much your better angels may be telling you to keep it out. It's depressing and disturbing and is certainly not intended for all audiences, but it is a movie that it is very difficult to shake off once you've given yourself over to it.
Single White Female
(1992)
Classic
14 September 2012
"New friend turned psycho" films have been made before, multiple times, but this was a good one. It is hard to remember sometimes which came first. Was it "Play Misty for Me" or that one with Glenn Close? The stereotypical gay friend upstairs, and the fiancé who can't seem to keep himself zipped up. Yet even the less than perfect men in the movie aren't all bad. Sure the client boss enjoys a little sexual harassment, and the fiancé isn't perfectly faithful, but then in reality who is morally perfect in life? And while both are jerks in different ways, poetic justice sets in when they both get dispatched permanently, while the gay friend only suffers a concussion from which he timely revives and saves Bridget Fonda from being killed by psycho woman. The movie is true in that most people are neither all good or all bad, and that once in a long while you run into someone who is a sociopath and frankly diabolical tendencies are breathtaking.
Perfect thriller
14 September 2012
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is a very solid thriller thanks to naturalism and realism. This is one of the best thrillers ever made, and it's just too bad it did not get the attention and praise it deserves. For one thing, we've seen many thrillers that lacked realism while some were not thrilling at all.
HTRTC has it all. A solid story, solid cast, good directing and best of all, a high level of realism. The story can actually happen to any family in America, or anywhere in the world. The cast is great, and even though there's basically no "big name phenomenon" (well, Julian Moore's now very popular but not yet here) in this film, the performances are very good. In fact, great! Rebecca De Mornay, who's young and very beautiful in this film, has the best performance as the smart-beautiful-deadly Peyton. She's very convincing as both wife and nanny, as well as temptress and killer!
Take note of some of the "sinful scenes" in this movie. Some scenes can be very disturbing (not disgusting) but if you're matured enough, then you'll get over this movie well. The "sinful scenes" do make a wake-up call in your family life. Heck, better watch out for those evil nannies!
HTRTC has it all. A solid story, solid cast, good directing and best of all, a high level of realism. The story can actually happen to any family in America, or anywhere in the world. The cast is great, and even though there's basically no "big name phenomenon" (well, Julian Moore's now very popular but not yet here) in this film, the performances are very good. In fact, great! Rebecca De Mornay, who's young and very beautiful in this film, has the best performance as the smart-beautiful-deadly Peyton. She's very convincing as both wife and nanny, as well as temptress and killer!
Take note of some of the "sinful scenes" in this movie. Some scenes can be very disturbing (not disgusting) but if you're matured enough, then you'll get over this movie well. The "sinful scenes" do make a wake-up call in your family life. Heck, better watch out for those evil nannies!
Closing the Ring
(2007)
Love this movie
14 September 2012
First of all, this didn't deserve the straight to DVD treatment it received for the U.S. It's not perfect by any means, but it's an experience that should have been seen on the big screen. No, it's not action packed, but it's beautiful to watch. It's a romance with dimensions that work very well, and oddly enough I wasn't one step ahead of it the whole way through. Some elements are always a bit predictable for a film like this, but I wasn't always entirely sure where it was heading next. This could have gotten a solid score of 10 had it not been for several severe flaws. The biggest of which is the actor playing Teddy. Now imagine The Notebook if Ryan Gosling was an awful actor, it would have destroyed the movie. Luckily, as important as the Teddy character is, he's not in a massive part of the film, and it's easy to imagine what the character should have been, and believe the key romance behind the film. Mischa worked for me for the most part, although she had a majority of her scenes with the lifeless Teddy character. McClain and Plummer were amazing as they usually always are. Campbell did a believable effort as the daughter lost behind all the secrets, and I loved the actors who played the young friends of Teddy. Lastly, in the end we are treated with one of the most beautiful film songs in years. Watch the credits, you'll here the amazing Lost Without Your Love, which will complete your experience with this flawed but wonderful film.
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