adam-578-343376 Reviews

The Office (2001–2003)

Equal with the best

[10/10 · 15 April 2023]

The Office stands shoulder to shoulder with the other greats of British comedy and like those other shows, manages to perfectly capture the essence of Britishness at a particular moment in time. It's one of those rare shows that you simultaneously know by heart, yet can still watch time and time again, waiting for those killer moments. It is a true masterpiece and can make you cringe, but can also make you sad, happy and tearfully joyous. The casting and music are perfect. The series length is perfect. And it's only at the end you realise the levels of poignancy. Thank you Ricky and Stephen for making this wonderful piece of television.

I Believe in Miracles (2015)

The beautiful game

[9/10 · 6 December 2021]

Essential viewing for football fans.

Harks back to an era of football fairytales and muddy pitches. Worlds away from today's game, when football was for the fans.

Nostalgic maybe, but also wonderful and, in some places, highly emotional.

The World at War (1973–1974)

The most important piece of television ever made

[10/10 · 3 January 2021]

As a TV production, this series is hard to fault. It is long enough to allow for sufficient detail without becoming boring and it tells the story of WW2. Whilst being of their time, the concept, execution and production are all excellent. Then there is the music - perfection from Carl Davis. Finally, the unparalleled narration from Sir Lawrence, nothing has ever come remotely close. However, even more impressive and important, is the contribution to the historic record that this series makes about the most important event in the world's history. The series was made at exactly the right time as enough years had passed to allow for reflection, yet many of the key players were still alive to give essential, first-hand accounts of events. This piece of art should be revered and should be compulsory viewing for all secondary school children as part of their understanding of the modern world. The World at War had a huge impact on my life when I first came across it, and it continues to do so. We can never forget what happened such a short time ago.

Billy Elliot (2000)

Always worth watching again

[9/10 · 27 December 2020]

I've seen this film several times and every time I'm surprised by it's power. As a complete film it's a decent watch - entertaining, well-acted, funny and with a good story, maybe a 7 out of 10. However, there are several moments in this film that show why cinema is such a powerful medium and why we love it so much. Just thinking about the strike-breaking scene turns me into an blubbering mess without fail. Wonderful.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (2019 TV Movie)

Simply Beautiful

[10/10 · 26 December 2020]

A modern film made in a style from days gone by. Absolutely charming and a faithful representation of the much-loved book. The animation, acting and music are all magnificent. This little film is full of nostalgia and cannot fail to bring a smile to your face.

Enslaved (2020)

Disappointing

[3/10 · 13 October 2020]

After promising so much with an obviously large budget, great production and, of course SLJ, this show rapidly revealed itself as a 'product of 2020'. I'd suggest that most viewers were already aware of the horrors of the African slave trade and were expecting insight and historical fact. Instead, they were served up large portions of conjecture alongside some badly constructed narratives that seemed to have served only to justify the very expensive diving expeditions. Add in the bizarrely staged / dubbed conversations, and the end result is an unwatchable, virtue-signalling mess, devoid of historical accuracy and authenticity. What a shame and a complete missed opportunity.