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dannieboy20906
Reviews
Genius (2017)
High Marks for Entertainment Value, Zero for Accuracy
I watched the first several episodes of the series and enjoyed the dramatic presentation. The production values for look, pacing, and acting were excellent. However, I was so distracted by the historical inaccuracies that I had to stop watching.
I accept that movies (including series and mini-series) are dramatic creations. I do not watch dramatic productions to learn about history. However, this series is about the most famous scientist in history and, in the opinion of many the most productive theoretical physicist ever. It not only speculates grossly about events in Einstein's life about which there is no documentation, it repeatedly contradicts the non- fiction biography (Einstein, His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson) that it claims as its source material. Ultimately, those inaccuracies destroyed any pleasure in watching the series for me. It is sad that Ron Howard, who made the movie about Apollo 13 that approached documentary level accuracy, was associated with this travesty.
The only good thing that I can say for the movie: it pushed me into repurchasing and reading Mr. Isaacson's biography to confirm my memories of what I read ten years ago. I hope this encourages you to buy the book rather than support this mini-series.
Origins (2015)
Should Not be Accepted as History
It's quick and entertaining, unfortunately the viewer cannot accept the content as valid history. There was a lot discussed in the first episode that I saw, about the development of the bow and arrow that I did not know. I found it quite interesting. However, the following two segments in the same program, about the development of firearms and nuclear weapons covered material that I do know a lot about. I am a nuclear engineer by education and a retired US Air Force intelligence officer by profession. I am also an amateur historian, especially on the military history of the United States.
Well, they got the time line for Samuel Colt's development of the revolver wrong. They distorted the development of repeating rifles (conflating them with revolvers). And they completed destroyed their presentation of the development of the nuclear bomb. They even misidentified a photo of a nuclear detonation as being one of the Hiroshima bomb rather than a test program and they gave credit to the wrong people for the discovery of nuclear fission. They did not even mention the true discoverers of nuclear fission, Otto Hahn and Lisa Meitner. (I apologize, but I forget the name of the other two directly involved)
Watch it for fun, but please do not use it in a school essay unless you are below the fifth grade.
Z (1969)
Not a Review of the Movie, Rather a Communist Polemic
From 1947 to 1949 the United States supported Greece in its fight for freedom from a Communist insurgency. This reviewer characterizes that as a "Civil War." It was not civil (most civil wars are not), but it was fought against foreign Communists supporting a Communist Geek minority in an attempt to seize control of the country.
I haven't seen the movie and would prefer an actual review of the movie rather than the reviewers whine. Nothing in the review reprises the plot, discusses the actors, the writing, or the music. Much more information is needed. If the reviewer wants to blog about politics, there are many boards at other internet sites available where he will be free to spout his pro-communist diatribes to his heart's content. Please provide information about the movie and opinions about the quality.