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Reviews
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
What's that sound? - it's Gene Roddenberry spinning in his grave
In 2023, I was of the opinion that the biggest stinker was Dead Loch, with Queen of Oz and Joe Pickett leading the pack of 'also-rans'. However, Start Trek - Strange New Worlds' is now contending quite strongly for second place among the stinkers
The prequel to the prequel started reasonably well, building on 'what has gone before'. However, every episode in the current season has been increasingly appalling in terms of quality and entertainment value. The fault appears to rest solely with the Scriptwriters and the Producers - the cast (crew) can only work with the material at hand, and they are likely to be offended by the deterioration in the quality of the scripts. If this is to continue, then do the decent thing and put the horse out of its misery - cancel further seasons, as they properly did with 'Joe Pickett'.
Murder in Provence (2022)
Roger Allam - Why did you do this?
I am an admirer of the acting skills of Roger Allam - in fact, he was at his very best as Inspector Thursday i 'Endeavour' - head and shoulders above what was, in truth, a very good cast.
So why did he chose to descend from this elevated level of success to what can only be described as the depths of mediocrity - 'Murder in Provence'? Haphazard writing, superfluous plots/sub plots, wooden, dispassionate performance of roles. I recognise that effective roles for older white males, however competent, are rapidly disappearing, as a function of a media-inspired campaign to entertain a new generation whose life experiences begin in the 21st century, and who, as such, have no background to equate the difference between quality performances and this dross.
All Creatures Great & Small (2020)
Further evidence of not screwing with the original
As is all too often the case, this 're-write is a poor reflection of the classic series. As others have noted, this new series bears little resemblance of the books, all of which I read some time before the screening of the original series. The writing is painfully stilted, and casting of all characters is problematic, especially that of Mrs. Hall. In the positive side, the writers opted to portray James Herriott with a Scottish accent, which the author, James Alfred Wight, would have had, since despite being born in Sunderland, England, he was brought up in Glasgow.
It is of small consolation that the North Yorkshire Moors are shown in their full glory (almost as magnificent as the Lake District), but even inept screenwriters can't mess with nature.
My advice is to watch the original, again if necessary.
Badland (2019)
Don't bother!
A western movie in keeping with the philosophy of current liberal apologists, with Confederate officers as the 'bad guys'. Actual history is blithely ignored, all in the name of pandering. Dreadful acreenplay, and wooden, soulless acting - Bruce Fern and Mira Sorvino must have been desperate for a role to appear in this garbage.
The Mallorca Files (2019)
It is depressing to see how far the BBC has fallen
Abject and unmitigated garbage!
This production is so inane that it makes the last two seasons of 'Death in Paradise' appear entertaining in comparison. It continues to tick the now requisite boxes so beloved by the BBC, as demonstrated by the seemingly gender-confused London Police Superintendent. The script appears to have been produced by a group of pre-teen students, whilst the acting (?) would be better served in a classic 'drawing-room farce'.
I don't have sufficient intestinal fortitude to watch another episode, yet I have no doubt that this programme, and others of its ilk, will be popular with the target audience - teenagers and young adults - who have not had the experience of watching, and enjoying, BBC (and ITV) programmes from 20 - 30 years ago,
Strike Back (2010)
I now remember why I stopped watching this after Season 3
In it's original format, 'Strike Back' provided well-scripted, well-portrayed of 'good guy's vs 'bad guys'. Rivetting tv! Then, PC, diversity and equality got in the way and the series completely lost its way - Barbie dolls being introduced into the screenplay purely to appease the apologists. The first episode of Season 6 has continued along the same, tired path, with, unbelievably, worse scripts, casting and acting. I won't bother watching any more, but I will go back at watch the initial season again, just to remember how good it once was.
Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries (2019)
A massive disappointment!
Having previously watched, and enjoyed, among many Australian tv series, the original 'Miss Fisher' series, it was with some measure of anticipation that I sat and watched the first of this new series. Within minutes, it became apparent that the only similarity was with the protagonist's name - Fisher. Dreadful and implausible script, uninspired, dispassionate acting and characterisation - the list of deficiencies is long. This is the sort of rubbish churned out by the British media - I had expected better from their Australian counterparts. It is to be hoped that this hopefully short-lived series is merely a temprary bump in the road, and quality tv will again return to the fore in Australia.
Dead Lucky (2018)
All the previous good/great Australian programmes destroyed in one fell swoop
For the best part of 5 years, I watched all of the really good Australian shows, Rake, Janet king, Wanted, Jack Irish, Doctor, Doctor, The Doctor Blake Mysteries, etc. Now in one fell swoop, with the screening of 'Dead Lucky, all the previous good work has been wasted.. 'Dead Lucky' is intended to tick all of the boxes for it identified viewers, the liberal cultural apologists, to ensure they don't feel neglected. The screenplay on one episode I watched was woeful, the characters had no credibility or substance in any of the various groups included, and the acting was, at best, wooden, and at worse, painful to watch. This show is something that the BBC or Sky would produce and screen - I had firmly believed that the Australian producers held themselves aloof from the nauseating cultural pandering. There is no opportunity to rate this as 0/10, yet that would be a fair rating.
I shall continue to watch the tried and tested programmes, but will be increasingly wary of new shows.
The Shannara Chronicles (2016)
A Terry Brooks adult book reduced to JK Rowling triteness for preteen consumption
I lasted 4 episodes, but my opinion was formed after two. It is apparent that those who 'wrote' the screenplay for this truly dreadful series had (a) never read the Terry Brooks novels and (b) the intended audience was vacuous adults or pre-teen adolescents. The 'Shannara' fantasy series, as provided by Terry Brooks, soars with superb definition, well-developed plots and sub plots, and characters that have body, allowing the reader to become part of the action. None of these facets of the books is anywhere visible in the TV series - the plots are almost 'Harry Potter-ish' in their development, dialogue is woefully stilted and the casting is totally at odds with books characters, and seemingly more to do with PC and pre-teen audiences. It has been quite some time since I last read the 'Shannara' books, not all of which I enjoyed, but the only good thing that has come out of my wasting time on this puerile TV series is a desire to read the books again. This would serve to confirm the old adage 'I find TV to educational - when needed, I switch it off and read a good book' I would offer the same advice to anyone who hasn't, as yet, read the Terry Brooks novels, and stop wasting time watching the TV series.
No Escape (2015)
How to circumvent 'No Escape' - don't go!
In keeping with Owen Wilson movies (a possible exception being 'Wedding Crashers'), a pretty awful movie . Casting Mr. Wilson in a 'hero' mantle was the first mistake made. There is no effort to develop his character, and everything he does is wooden and one-dimensional.Similarly the screen presence of his wife and children (I don't know how children can be easily able to elicit the shock and horror that the setting of the film demanded but, for me, it wasn't there) Similarly, the presence of Pierce Brosnan in what is clearly a 'B- Film' is a further demonstration of how far his acting credentials have fallen.
I note, with displeasure, that many of the 'liberal luvvie' film reviewers have accused the film-makers of xenophobia, since, in their opinion, the Asian actors are seen to be either mentally challenged or militant thugs. Perhaps their confusion stems from the film indicating that the latter group shot, or otherwise killed, all the 'normal' Asians.
This movie reportedly cost about $5 million to make, and has currently earned a global total of some $54 million at the box office. The moral is that cinema goers will pay good money to watch a garbage movie, as long as their is plenty of blood and guts on display, so I am sure that other film producers are taking note and planning similar'blockbusters'.
Wild at Heart (2006)
Tedious drivel
I have to confess that I am not a fan of Stephen Tompkinson - my lasting impression of him is the suicidal clown in 'Brassed Off' and he was definitely mis-cast as DCI Banks - and the other participants in this sugary drivel are unknown to me. I lasted 3 episodes before I realised that further masochism wasn't for me. Based on what I saw, future episodes will include:
- the horny Northern teenage daughter will get pregnant by her African
boyfriend - the wife will have an affair with the rich property owner next door,
while Tompkinson smiles gormlessly - the obnoxious son will be somehow disposed of by one (or more) of the
cast because of his behaviour. - Duplessis will drink himself to death(likely because of having to
deal with this dysfunctional family)