La-Luz Reviews

Locked Up Abroad: Peru/Lima (2008) Season 3, Episode 2

The Ultimate Honey Trap

[9/10 · 17 May 2024]

I have watched this episode a few times. Being a 'fan' of this series there are a few episodes that are pretty watchable. On the whole it is mostly watchable in amazement of the stupidity of the people who did the things they did, however not this guy. The story that this person tells is a bit different and you have to really have empathy for what he says he went through - by his account it was none of his own making.

What is most interesting about this episode is the possible scenarios to how things turned out for him. There are four that the guy comes up with. Three of them are nice on her but far too naive. Personally, I am inclined to believe his fourth and unfotunately his worst case scenario, where the girl used him as part of a larger plan. Whilst it seems almost totally plausible, the only thing that does not make sense / explained is who would have benefitted from her setting him up?

I just say one thing about how the guy says he got caught. In the airport after being cleared, the 'touched on the back' and "hey thats your plane" from the baggage security check guy (that gets him caught) would have prompted me to do a 180 and knock him spark out just for his sly behaviour. Not that I would ever be inbthat position in the first place but like I say, you have you feel for the guy.

The girl in question who sets him up seemed well dodgy. Married at 17 and already doing multiple lines of cocaine a day...at 17. That should have been a major red flag when the subject of her doing a mule trip to Peru came up.

Really good episode and well worth watching and with a happy ending for the guy.

Advice: do not agree to go on holidays like this, no matter how good looking!

The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)

Cool

[9/10 · 4 May 2024]

Really good documentary, that explains the making of the song in question in seemingly very full detail. Excellently presented by Lionel Ritchie, the documentary flows and keeps your attention as the story is told.

Couple of things that I learned from this, despite being a youngster when the single was released were that I did not fully realise some of the singers who were involved in it. I was surprised to see Waylon Jennings for example (fully aware of his standing but did not know he was part of USA For Africa). In fact it was interesting to learn that in assembling the artists, efforts were made to assemble those from all areas of American popular music.

Secondly, the documentary helps understand the way the music video appears. I had always thought that the video comes across as showing a room full of legendary singers only 'caring' about their own part / image but it explains that they were instructed by Producer Quincy Jones to 'lean in' to the mic when their part was due. That explains the way the video looks.

Also, seeing Bob Geldof there to give a short talk before the rehearsals began was interesting to observe as was learning from this that he was invited to sing on the chorus. Didn't know that!

On the mention of Sir Bob Geldof, a similar documentary called 'The Band Aid Story' was made sometime around 2000 also explaining how that song came to be and is well worth seeking out.

Being British, obviously the Band Aid song (the original version) is part of our culture but I do think that We Are The World is the better song and still sounds excellent 40 years on. I really enjoyed watching this documentary and thunbs up to all involved.

Lift (I) (2024)

boring

[1/10 · 27 April 2024]

The description makes it sound good but it is a boring movie with unrealistic characters played by actors who do not convince...particularly the interpol cop and the jokers in the heist team. Jean Reno is a good idea but is way underused. The other cast are stereotypes / mission: impossible wannabees who look far too young for the expertise they have - unless they been doing it since high school and their attempt at looking like hard bitten veterans is laughable.

The opener in Venice is difficult to follow and predictably, the cop on the tale of the team leader has a romantic history with him. Yawn. I only kept watching it so as to not lose face with the mrs after I had said it sounds a good movie. Its described as being set on a plane but is just constant waffle, scene after scene and takes half the film to get to that part. Lift is a boring movie and an for me is an example of why I do not often enjoy watching British cinema. I will be more careful in future!

High Score (2020)

too much talk and not enough on the games

[7/10 · 27 April 2024]

Interesting especually the first episode but overall far too many interviews alrhough the Nintendo sound creator was notable but far too short. Lots of stuff missed out such as table top games and handheld games, which were massive during first half of the 1980s. The short mention of the Pong console was inaccurate. It had more than one game and a light gun game. Also no coverage of "home computers" (as they were called at the time) and definitely Spectrum and Commodore should have been included in this series. Especially the ZX81 purely for landmark reasons being the first hime computer and for a goid few years Spectrum 48k was THE best for games and the rivalry with Commodore was era defining for sheer amount of games. So this series is a kind of nostalgia trip for those who were there but the coverage is limited. There should have been more focus on what the games kooked like being played rather than all the interviews. It would also have been better if there had been a segment focusing on the classics that were loved or played by everyone. Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong get their rightful albeit limited features but there were others that should have been included. Pole Position, Pitfall, Green Beret, Manic Miner, Fottball Manager, Daley Thompson's Decathlon, Outrun, Operation Wolf, Final Fight, After Burner, were all majorly played games.

Double Dragon (1994)

Dink tune

[9/10 · 29 March 2024]

Watched this for the first time recently. Found it to be enjoyable and as an 80s kid, know all about Double Dragon....although I reckon 'Bad Dudes' was a better game!

Anyway with zero familiarity of this movie or who is in it, the credits saying Robert Patrick made me look forward to watching and when it transpired he was the villain, I was mentally rubbing my hands together...."the Galleria?"!

But what really got me settled into thinking yeah this is pretty good was the car chase scene early on, set brilliantly to a super cool song by a grunge group called Dink. I had never heard of themor this song before and within 24 hours I made sure I got hold of it. It is a wicked tune.

The movie is really colouful with lots,of red, green, blue, yellow and looks good plus the sweetheart in it looks very sexy. One of the Dragon boys looks quite like Brandon Lee and I actually thought it was him until checking here afterwards.

Enjoyed watching this and reckon its an OK movie!

Death Proof (2007)

did my head in

[2/10 · 27 March 2024]

I have a folder on an external drive called not watched yet. I save tv and movies for things like travel, rainy days, boredom etc. Recently, one such day occured and Kurt Russell has been an actor that down the years, movies that he us in I have always enjoyed watching, thought a movie called Death Proof would be worth wasting 90 minutes on.

I got as far as the last billboard (woooh!) and by that time the car load of waffling women had done my head in. The pretentious flicker effects also got on my nerves.

I will not delete the .mp4 but unlikely to bother watching it again.

Tango & Cash it aint.

Sorry We Missed You (2019)

convincingly good

[9/10 · 17 February 2024]

Came across this by chance recently and totally unaware of it. Consulting imdb at the start of the film it seemed to be a pretty interesting topic so I decided to watch it. Also, there are some excellent reviews by other imdb users which after having watched it, has now left an impression on me enough to mention it when talking to somebody about UK cinema. Reason for saying all that is I do not actually watch a lot of UK produced film, probably the last one was the 2009 cult 'Harry Brown'. Even though I am British myself I am not really into UK movies. However this one like Harry Brown is a realistic portrayal of British life. Whilst Harry Brown portrays the misery of life on British council estates, 'Sorry We Missed You' portrays the misery of being part of a society where unless over a certain threshold, e.g. Middle class, getting ahead is extremely difficult. Infact it always has been like that in Britain but not really a well understood fact by people who do not know about it. So what we have here is a family - as another reviewer has mentioned - living in Brexit Britain....a place where it is every man for himself. People nowadays even say that to counter this argument "you should have tried harder at at school". What this means the 'has and the have nots of UK society' are completely divided and it is the haves who would say this to the have nots with a smug sense of satisfaction that they are alright, jack. The arguement does make sense but is not viable considering that up until 2008 in the UK most people were alright for cash and there were lots of employment opportunities in Britain. In this movie the family have supposedly been badly affected by the 2008 financial crash, saddled with debts and the main character is obviously one of the have nots - even alluding to how his own kid should try while he is still at school and become one of the haves.

What I found interesting about watching this was the way the characters seemed so realistic. The boss of the depot being the standout to me. I have met people like him before and these days I try to avoid this kind of person whenever possible. He is the kind of person who would use 'you make your own luck' type of comment rather than being compassionate to someone going through a bad patch. I did not like this character and it was interesting to learn that the actor's previous career was that of a copper, which kind of says it all to me. The main character was very good and believable. The film never had me feeling sorry for him or his family but more of a yeah I can believe that kind of stuff type feeling. Watching it at times did seem like it was a reality fly on the wall type documentary and it could have lasted for a lot longer than it did. Infact when it did end, I was quite surprised at how it did and was left wondering about the plight of this guy.

Decent movie that I will most likely watch again. Still relevant in the post-covid era where like another user said in "Germany they make cars, in the UK they have delivery drivers". Margaret Thatcher would have loved that comment.

The Wicker Man (1973)

once watched it is hard to forget

[8/10 · 8 September 2023]

I watched this recently after being aware of it for a very long time but was not really familiar with it apart from it being an old school British horror film. What intrigued me most of all to add it to my collection is that Edward Woodward is the main actor. The only thing I have ever seen him in is 80s classic 'The Equalizer'. So, before writing this, extensively read other reviews about it - some of which are excellent, the trivia concerning the production and other things such as geography of where 'Somerisle' is supposedly located. I have put together my own understanding of the film and despite only having watched it once, I reckon my own perspective of the storyline is pretty close to what the film makers had in mind.

Before continuing though I want to say that not many films have had such an effect on me psychologically. The final scenes of this film I totally did not expect, and have stayed with me since. I had difficulty sleeping the second night after I had watched this film as I could not get the final scenes out of my head. Is that what makes this a horror movie? Perhaps...

So, my take on it is like this. Some have mentioned plot holes such as the anonymous letter. Assume that just by chance, the letter was read by the police officer and the fateful decision to follow it up was taken. A long shot by the person who sent the letter. Unless...some dilligence had already been done to pinpoint Sgt. Howie / similar profile as the ideal person for their May Day celebrations? That element is not explained so I just assume it was either a freak coincidence or a long shot that worked out perfectly for the Somerisle folk. I assume that they probably did not know to begin with that Howie was still a virgin but he did come of his own free will and in a position of authority. The fool? He walked into that one himself so 3 out of 4 could be ticked off, Howie made the mistake of turning down sex the night before May Day...it might have saved him.

On arrival at the island. The actions of the locals leave me in no doubt that they were expecting 'someone' to be coming for their May Day. The children looking out of the windows staring at Howie as he wanders around talking to people is a clear signal. Its possible to imagine their whispers and sniggering while he goes about his inquiries. In fact the classroom scene is a good example of that. It is as if the entire community is all in on it and allowing events to unfold in accordance with some already generated plan. It seems obvious to me that the trap was thought up by Lord Somerisle and probably with the help of a few of the other prominent islanders such as the school teacher, but the way they let it unfold without letting anything slip is either natural behaviour to them or very sinister behaviour by them. I consider it a mix of both. Disturbing to think that a community of people, including children and school teachers etc. Could think like that. It being a trap would explain the way the locals deny all existence of the missing girl to the point of ridicule whilst seemingly not giving a toss about why the policeman has come there. When watching it I did not suddenly twig onto that but thinking about it afterwards it made sense. It was a very elaborate plan with the success of it depending on a couple of chance occurences, which unfortunately for Sgt. Howie happened.

Some of the scenes (not including the final one) in the film are unpleasant to watch. The beetle going around the screw, the dead hare in the exhumed coffin, the strange folk music that the locals sing in the pub - especially the first one and the song while Willow is having sex with the young adult. The May Pole song, which is pretty a good bit of music but the lyrics are disgusting. Much seems to have been made about the sexual dance of Willow and whilst it is pretty interesting to observe, it comes across a bit disturbing in the overall context of my personal analogy. I felt that the May Day procession and ritual at the island's stone henge was also uncomfortable to watch. In saying that, it does shed some light on what stone henges were probably used for though.

Personally, I think that the community depicted in this film are disgusting, vile people but come across as being so realistic. It is not hard to imagine a closed off tight, community in Britain with people like this either. The writer must have got the idea from somewhere...

So to the final scene then. Up until the point when Rowena leads Howie through the caves to escape I still was unaware of what was going to happen. Then it just gets totally perverse. Rowena happily joins the clan smiling having played her part and events unfold very quickly. It is at this point it all made sense to me. Two things about this final scene are sickening and disturbing. First is the lighting of the wicker man, it is clear that the animals inside it are terrified as pigs can be heard squealing, which they do when they are aware of impending death. One camera angle actually shows that part of it is on fire with the animals (geese) in it! According to the trivia section on here, Britt Ekland said that some animals perished during the filming of the scenes and I believe it. Watching that and thinking about it makes it hard to forget. It is not difficult to imagine what the animals must have been thinking when that part of the film was being shot.

The other grotesque element of the final scene is the music, which is the stuff of nightmares and totally fits the bill and the sing-a-long that all the islanders do while watching the burning with a point of view angle afforded to make it look even more realistic. The music is the stuff of nightmares and fits the bill. It was this part that I could not forget and probably never will. It caused me a sleepless night. Perverted is the word I would use to describe this scene.

I am kind of a bit pleased that I have watched this as it is an important British film and people seem to consider it a cult classic. I could never watch it again though, it depicts people at their very worst levels of depraved morality, so from that point of view I wish I had not.

The music is quite good actually even if it is revolting lyrically. As mentioned, the pub song and the music that accompanies Willow's dance, plus the opener Corn Rigs are all very fine tunes. The acting by all involved is extremely good and makes it a really believable film.

EastEnders (1985– )

no longer viable but too important to cancel?

[6/10 · 23 June 2023]

I watched it from the off back in 1985 and for the first 3 years until Den Watts was "killed off" it was top notch TV alongside the likes of Brookside, The Bill, Grange Hill, Coronation Street.

The first 12 months of Eastenders were particularly good. On the Sunday omnibus the credits were so long that you even got the full version of the theme tune! It was ace.

It was still watchable until the mid 90s when it became obvious that it was a tv show and not a gritty soap that it had started off as. From that point I lost interest until like most of Britain got excited at the return of Den. The episodes leading up to him framing Phil Mitchell were very good including the episode itself.

I am absolutely certain however that the spun line about Lesley Grantham being offered a reprise and him turning it down because 'the timing was not right' was a fabrication of events. There was an Eastenders documentary in 1998 when he spoke about his time on the show and how he had been uncerimonously killed off by "someone holding a bunch of daffodils". No talking whatsoever about reprising the role if the time was right. However his return was a highlight it is was pretty poor show how he was killed off the second time though. Since then it has become common that other legends who were killed off screen have made a comeback.

In any case, the introduction of Martin Kemp as Steve Owen made EastEnders extremely watchable for a few years (even after he had left the show). Many fine actors were in it around this time and it was very good. A vibrant and dedicated fan forum called 'Talk Walford' was also around at the time and I think EastEnders probably never was more stronger than between this period: 1999-2006. Some of the characters were excellent. Johnny Allen, Dan Fletcher, Andy Hunter, Steve Owen and (even) Phil Mitchell were given some really good long running storylines...and as mentioned Steve Owen, who was an excellent creation really helped invigorate it.

I stopped watching it around 2008 or 9 but then when I learned that Paul Usher (Barry Grant from Brookside) had been cast I could not wait to watch it again. Unfortunately though it seemed that to me the EastEnders grit had become so watered down that his character was not a patch on what it could have been. If he had been in it in the 1990s or even early 2000s, Danny Hardcastle would have been a memorable Eastenders villain.

Seeems to me that these days anyone with a remotely souding London accent can get a gig on the show providing the public are already familiar with the personality.

Worth watching it 1985-88, 1990-1992 and 1999-2006. If possible, watch the first 12 months which are excellent.

Brookside: Unfinished Business (2003 Video)

One of the best Brookside episodes of them all....

[9/10 · 3 June 2023]

As many fans of Brookside are aware, this DVD only episode was intended to be a first of a few releases focusing on central characters' lives after Brookside but after the show was cancelled, the idea of a second DVD was not followed through, leaving this a pretty unique installment in the soap's history.

It is a story that relates back to the 2002 drug gang siege when a mob of Manchester gangsters took over the Close and held the residents hostage, injuring some and causing the death of others: Emily O'Leary (nee Shadwick) - Tim's beloved wife, and Diane Murray - Steve's stepmum, being two of them. The foundations for Unfinished Business were laid a few months prior in the regular episodes, when Tim and Steve tracked down Terry 'Psycho' Gibson; the gang leader (and the person chiefly responsible for the deaths) but were unable to even the score in a botched revenge attempt over in Manchester.

As the months pass by Tim and Steve move on with their lives and are running a limousine business when out of the blue Terry ('Bob') sets up a trap for them to drive a pretentious female escort to a remote location in Wales. The trap has been carefully planned by Gibson and Tim and Steve (and the girl) are totally unprepared for what he has in store for them...

Unfinished Business is an excellent Brookside story, that makes full use of its DVD release with elements that would be far too strong for TV. The actor playing Terry Gibson - Greg Wood (as Greg Milburn) - is outstanding in his role as a lunatic bent on revenge and is totally believable, especially if you are familiar with the backstory. Philip Oliver and Steven Cartait (as Steven Fletcher) are excellent carrying on in their familiar roles as scouse buddies and the way they deal with what Gibson throws at them is really good. The cast is small with only two others making up the story. Sarah Jayne Dunn and Claire Harman, who portray two young city working girls. Sarah Jayne Dunn the bigger role and is central to the story.

Unfinished Business is placed in the timeline between the penultimate and final episodes of Brookside in November 2003 and whilst it is not necessary to have to watch it to understand the link, it does set up the final episode nicely if slotted in between them.

20 years after Brookside was axed and now with a public revived interest in the soap, Unfinished Business is well worth a watch.

The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972)

wonderful

[8/10 · 16 December 2022]

Lovely film that starts off in London on Christnas eve and then shifts to a few weeks later in the countryside at a stately home that is in a state of serious neglect. The acting is good, especially from the main cast of child actors and also Laurence Naismith, who plays the titular Mr. Blunden and gives a warm performance. He fits the role perfectly.

We used to be shown this film at school in the early 1980s at the end of term before Christmas. As a youngster the story came across a bit scary with the 'orrible Mrs Wickens and her halfwitted husband trying to do away with the children. As an adult, it is a movie I occasionally watch at Christmas time and its always enjoyable. The music is really good as well.

Brookside: Episode #1.1991 (1997) Season 1, Episode 1,991

the 1997 Christmas Special

[9/10 · 10 September 2022]

This 1997 feature length episode was broadcast on Boxing Day, with the events also depicted as taking place on the same calendar date, in what is a Brookside classic Christmas special.

The previous couple of months in Brookside led up to events that occur in this one. In October 1997, Paul Usher, who played Barry Grant, returned after a 3 and a half year absence and put in arguably his best work portraying the character. Most of this episode relates back to events concerning 'The Lost Weekend' spin off and as such there is a similar gritty feel, where once again, the love-hate relationship between Barry Grant and Jimmy Corkhill is the focu. The added twist by this time is that while he had been back on the scene, Barry had wasted no time in charming Jimmy's naive, yet very beautiful daughter Lindsey for added good measure!

Involved in running a string of clubs and restaurants, Barry is by now based in the Midlands. After sorting out the menace of the Finnegans (Lost Weekend) he remained on the scene at Brookside and few days before Christmas, arranged a mugging of Lindsey's fioncee, Peter Phelan for a sizeable amount of cash - 20 grand! Jimmy and Jackie were on to him but Lindsey was having none of it. So, Jimmy being Jimmy decides to go down to Birmingham and seek out Barry to at least get the money back for Peter. If he can persuade Barry to stop leading his daughter on, then even better. Lindsey gets wind of it and also travels down to Barry's Birmingham club - Bliss - and things start to heat up. Sensing Jimmy has rumbled him, Barry sets him up with a driveaway - a heist on a lorry full of goods in return for 15 grand - which Jimmy surprisingly declines. However Barry has no intention of paying if Jimmy pulls off the job regardless, for Barry has been playing a personal game with the Corkhills and using Lindsey, just to get one over on his old rival, Jimmy.

After thinking about it, Jimmy reluctantly decides to go along with the heist just to get Barry out of their lives for good but decides to turns the tables by ditching the lorry load, which almost gets him a serious beating from Barry's associates. Barry intervenes in the nick of time and they both return to Bliss where a no holds barred conversation results in Jimmy attacking and beating up Barry, who had revealed he had just been using Lindsey for sex. A mutual and grudging respect for each other finally ends the fued and Jimmy returns home with Lindsey, who is none the wiser about her part in all of it.

Meanwhile back on the Close, it is Ron Dixon's 50th Birthday, and a party a the bungalow is attended by most of the Close residents. Ron who has bounced back from his third heart attack is convinced life begins at 50...while Max and Susanna, who have a cash deal with Jacqui Dixon to be a surrrogate mother for them, smuggle her into their home to get on with the deed. The money for which Jacqui will get for doing it is owed to none other than Barry Grant! And Peter Phelan suspects that Barry has been at it with Lindsey behind his back...

Brookside really upped its game to even better levels during 1997 and this episode was the icing on the cake to a truly memorable year on the Close.

Brookside: The Lost Weekend (1997 Video)

Brookside: The Lost Weekend

[9/10 · 6 February 2022]

When the home video was first released, it was yet again a first by Phil Redmond - a spin off, that would later be emulated by other British soaps. Cleverly, the story involves a one that has elements in it far too strong for terrestrial TV. Voilence, kidnap, guns and gangsters - plus the eventual development of Barry Grant, which went a long way to satisfying the hardcore and long time viewers of Brookside.

It is more than that though. Sheila Grant comes back in an extended role to try to make things right, meaning the relationship between the Grants and the Corkhills finally is laid to bare. Questions are asked, some are resolved. Some are not. Some never can be. It is a good idea and bringing back Sheila Grant really adds depth. If only Billy (John McArdle) could have been involved: wow. He did partake in a Brookside video 'The Men' in a 1997 release.

But...

The Lost Weekend was part of an arc that happened in late 1997 and centered around the Bar Brookie and the Finnegans who were leaning on the Dixons who owned it. It took Brookside in a new direction for a couple of years until 1999/2000, when it reacehed new heights for must see TV.

So, for those who have not watched it or have forgotten, the pretext for the plot is as follows...Glaswegian - Callum Finnegan of 'Finnegan Security' - is a bit tasty and looking to 'protect' Bar Brookie. Barry Grant gets paid by Jacqui Dixon to help dissuade him (and the Finnegans) and it escalates into a turf war. Lindsay Corkhill is later kidnapped by the Finnegan mob. Number 10 Brookside Close (home of Jimmy Corkhill), becomes the home base and eventually a plan is put together and Barry rescues Lindsay. The problem of Callum Finnegan is eventually "contained".

The video was shot to create a movie style feel so there are no commercial interruptions and the dialogue at times makes full usage of the home release rating, so its a bit of a treat to hear the likes of Jimmy Corkhill, Barry Grant and others swearing in certain scenes.

There is also a montage segment concerning Barry Grant (in a b&w flashback), that adds depth to the story.

Sue Johnston, Dean Sullivan, Sue Jenkins, Paul Usher, Gerard Kelly star. With strong performaces from Brian Regan, Michael Starke, Claire Sweeney in supporting roles, it makes this a Brookside video that is a cult classic. It does not quite end here though - the finale to this story would take place with the 1997 Christmas special, four weeks later, in probably the best ever episode of Brookside.

Brookside: For Old Times' Sake (1992) Season 1, Episode 1,103

a classic Brookside episode

[10/10 · 4 February 2022]

There are a handful of Brookside episodes that broke new ground when first broadcast. Most fans or those familiar with the show would usually think of the 'body under the patio', or the 'lesbian kiss' or 'Billy's dole madness', the 'Brookside Parade gas explosion', or either of the two different 'sieges'. All classic storylines in their own right.

This one, in the middle of the show's 10th anniversary is a bit special...Barry Grant, on the run from some people he ripped off, finally succumbs to personal guilt about his affect on his best mate, Terry, and while talking about their friendship down the years, events of the previous 18 months come to a head.

It is another long running and excellent story arc that is concluded, with flashbacks from prior episodes in the 1980s. The flashback sequences were new to Brookside at this point but would become a feature in years to come whenever sensational storylines concluded.

An absolute must watch for any fan of Brookside.

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

unforgettable masterpiece

[10/10 · 19 December 2021]

This is a brilliant movie that is highly enjoyable and will make you feel so good. It has excellent music, excellent storylines and excellent actors and an excellent little girl actor as well, who almost steals the show!

Meet Me in St. Louis is such a good movie, I literally had tears of joy watching this when the song and dances started. I will never forget watching this - December 2021.

Bloodsport (1988)

influential

[9/10 · 20 July 2021]

I have been a high school teacher for many years. I think this movie is appropriate for kids and works as an inspiration to them. It depicts that a person can do anything if they try truly believe and work hard enough.

I have shown this movie one time per semester to suitable classes for the last 14 years. I therefore think this review is justified. All of the kids never had seen or heard it of this movie before, but were glued to it. The action is great, the music is great, there is no profanity and morals win.

Try watching Bloodsport with this frame of mind - it will enlighten your soul.

Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983)

timeless, quality British TV

[10/10 · 21 June 2021]

One of the kind of TV series that can be watched again and again, year in year out. The subject matter is fascinating and each episode is excellent. Watching the entire series in one go is a great way to enjoy it.

Sam Neill is absolutely excellent as the main character and is noticeable how much his method acting is also similar to that of Pierce Brosnan- especially Neill's delivery of dialogue. Do have to wonder if Sam Neill was an influence on Brosnan's style, when watching this.

Anyway, apart from the fact that it is based on a real person actual events that took place, it is also really interesting how it follows a timeline from 1901 through to the 1920s, with some year gaps alone the way and new locations, where Reilly was based or operating from. It is this element that makes the series so original and watchable.

So, the series is more or less arranged into two parts: Reilly working for the British Government in the first 15 years or so of the 20th Century, then his relocation to St. Petersburg and his subsequent involvement in the Russian Revolution, with Lenin and the years following when Stalin first came to power. However, pick of the first few episodes until Russia is probably 'The Visiting Fireman' - although the second episode 'Prelude to War' is also good.

The Russia episodes are more linked to form a story arc and the subject matter concerning the Bolsheviks and The Trust gets good treatment.

The cast that is used over the whole series is stellar, with some big names and some up and coming names of British TV in very strong supporting roles. Also fascinating is the attention to detail for each particular point in the timeline. It looks and feels authentic.

The introductory narration during each episode is superb. The theme tune and opening titles is a beautifully done concept.

NYPD Blue (1993–2005)

try watching series 1 & 2 as a standalone John Kelly / Bobby Simone arc

[8/10 · 22 May 2021]

Sitting down to re-watch NYPD from the pilot episode onwards - in the knowledge that David Caruso's character will be written out, actually works to the show's and viewer's advantage.

Series 1 and 2 is an excellent long haul story arc because of Caruso's departure and Jimmy Smits joining. A seamless transition and by the end of the second series its hard to decide which character is better - John Kelly or Bobby Simone. Personally I like Caruso's portrayal of John Kelly. His facial grimace expressions and plain no-nonsense approach to nearly all aspects of his life. But Simone has that cold, businesslike New York attitude as well that makes him so watchable. Smits' Bobby Simone really grows on you during the remainder of series 2 and whilst it is disappointing to see the departure of David Caruso's character, it is not a gaping omission that harms the way the first two series develop and unfold.

Anyway, the first series in particular has some really watchable episodes in it. The first 6 episodes that feature Robert Costanzo as Mob informer Giadella are good. This is also an arc that has enough conent and draws to a staisfactory conclusion. And during this phase, other characters are introduced that become part of the show's main cast.

The middle run of series 1 brings memorable characters such as Greg Medavoy, Donna Abandando, Mike Roberts and James Martinez with their own storylines that are really good too. The character Detective Mike Roberts is possibly the most underrated inclusion from the first couple of seasons, in my opinion.

But...the best episode of series 1 is the final one called Rockin' Robin. Andy Sipowicz solves a long running, unsolved and traumatic case. In this episode it really illustrates how much of a decent person Sipowicz is and it is a pretty emotionally charged story. Certainly a memorable one - and contains possibly Dennis Franz' best acting scenes from the entire show.

Getting back to the Kelly / Simone transition. The fact that there are so many episodes in the first series, that even with this knowledge that its gonna happen, you can still sit down to watch it all unfold and not feel short changed The way Kelly's character is written out coming a few episodes in to series 2 is well handeld in a way to bring about closure for that character.

NYPD Blue in its later run had some really good actors in it that took the show to a must-see each week level (Currie Graham, Kim Delaney being two) but the first 2 series as a standalone arc is over a couple of days viewing is a satisying bit of TV. Each individual episode is excellent.

The Goebbels Experiment (2005)

worth the watch for the narration alone

[10/10 · 9 April 2021]

First up - it does have excellent archive footage of what Germany looked like in the 1930s. I know Rheydt and know that scenese of how that place looked then, many places in Germany have hardly ever changed. So...from that point of view it is interestesting to anyone who is not German who has lived there. Onto the documentary itself: the exerts from the diary are read with skill but maybe a tonge in cheek style as Kenneth Branagh really goes to work on it and at times it does come across as humour not fact. But anyway as a documentary as one of it's kind, you should really take in the archive footage of Germany as the producers go to good lenghts on it. As recommended viewing for WWII historians? Maybe not but anyone who understands Kenneth Branagh's skill will enjoy it immensely.

The Diary of Jack the Ripper: Beyond Reasonable Doubt? (1993 Video)

very good

[8/10 · 15 February 2021]

Really good and flowing documentary. Wonderfully narrated by Tom Baker with such skill. Micheal Winner presents certain 'chapter' segments. At nearly 2 hours in duration this has plenty of material in it to keep Ripper fans interested. The classic Ripperologists headed by Martin Fido all make a contribution and some of the theories presented by people who you may or not be familiar with...handwriting experts, for example, discuss them so very infamous Jack the Ripper letters. The documentary more or less pins the blame on a guy from Liverpool called James Maybrick. Evidence that is discussed strongly suggests that he was Jack the Ripper; mostly based on matching details in the 'diary' to what was already agreed upon before the diary itself surfaced.

Jack the Ripper (1988)

"Ripper Eats Kidney"...

[15 February 2021]

I have watched this many times - starting off in 1988 when it was broadcast on UK terrestrial television as a two-part cliff hanger. At that time it was considered a great production and one of the highlights of the year on British TV. Whilst I dust it off every now and then, these days to me, it comes across as a docu-drama kind of adaptation because of the way it is presented with an excellent opening and closing statement from the brilliant voice artist, the late Patrick Allen and a pretty good 'ripperologist' : who did do it? feel to it.

The casting obviously is good with Michael Caine - quality as ever - but I really do like Lewis Collins in this. Infact despite being a made for TV affair, It is a stellar cast with some really big names in it.

No need to go on about the story but for a solid couple of hours watching, you can enjoy this production easily.

In the movie, it correctly depicts kids on London streets selling the newspapers (in a murder a day style) shouting the day's dramatic headlines. They do that, but following the dear Boss letter, adults are shown depicting what happened. Hence always think the makers of this bottled it a tad and would have been much more entertaining to have had the kids on street yelling "Ripper eats kidney".

Air Crash Investigation: Kid in the Cockpit (2005) Season 3, Episode 1

an episode of an event that has to be seen to be believed

[10/10 · 15 February 2021]

Before Air Crash Investigations came about, in the UK a Channel 5 documentary was made that had a compilation style program concerning the 'top 10 worst air disasters'. That was around 1998 If memory serves me correctly. This was regarded as the worst one (top) in that list.

This episode then, as the other reviewers have presented in much good detail is a story that is hard to believe. A Russian pilot of elite level decides to treat his kids to a holiday on a brand new spanking Airbus that only a few Russian pilots are commissioned to fly. During the flight, as a treat he invites his kids up to the cockpit and allows both of them to sit at the controls and 'fly the plane'.

For me, having watched this episode a few times is firstly the amazement at how such a professional could behave in the manner that he did (with no objections from his co-pilot peers), but more so how the investigators find out what caused the plane to veer and become uncontrollable. It was only when they did that a realisation of a flaw in the automated flight controls was discovered. One would assume that the scientists and engineers that create this level of intricate technology would be aware of all possible scenarios that can put an aircraft in danger. Seemingly not. It took this air disaster to find it out.

The actual cockpit chaos once things go wrong is quite disturbing to watch and think about, if you put yourself in ther position. And despite the story being a sad, crazy tale it is easily one of the series' best.

Air Crash Investigation: Fire on Board (2003) Season 1, Episode 6

an early episode and a graphic account of the event

[15 February 2021]

The first season of Air Crash Investigations is only a handful of episodes, with this episode probably being the one that is the most harrowing to sit through and watch. The story itself is about a rapid spreading fire on board a Swissair long haul flight that was overcome by fire. The fire was caused by an in flight entertainment system that overheated and the wiring that ignited flammable cladding inside the plane. The entertainment system was incorrectly installed without a circuit breaker and could not be switched off, even though the reenactment shows that the Captain took what he thought was the correct measure in disconnecting the power supply outside of the cockpit. The Pilots attempted to land at the nearest available airport, being Halifax in Nova Scotia but were overcome by the situation within minutes with all on board flight controls damaged as a result of the quick spreading blaze.

A parent of one of the victims takes part in the documentary as does the Halifax air controller and as a viewer, provides thought provoking feelings of compassion for both of them.

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State: Factories of Death (2005) Season 1, Episode 3

highly disturbing

[9/10 · 13 October 2020]

This episode of an excellent put together and insighting series is the most disturbing of the lot.

Many things have been told about how Jews were transported from all parts of Europe to this concentration camp but this documentary has information that totally will blow your mind in terms of how evil the Nazis were.

It is a case of the Nazi deal with the French who would not agree to sending French Jewish people but would send foreign Jews. Subsequently what happened is all adults (parents) were sent and all the children were then housed in a kind of hopsital holding zone, until it was decided what to do with them.

In this case, it is told that all the little kids were looked after by kind Parisian carers who then on the day of transport "dressed them up the best we could" and "many of them could not even carry their little bags with them".

Those quotes are from an adult carer and survivor of that place when this documentary was made in 2005.

Then, it goes to tell how the Nazis transported these infants along with complete strangers on transports for 3 days to reach the final destination and then they were murdered in special infantile gas chambers at Auschwitz.

This episode for this content is sickening and the 9/10 rating is only given for the fact that the issue is made aware.

The Real Robin Hood (2010 TV Movie)

Robin Hood and his Merry Men

[7/10 · 10 September 2020]

Interesting documentary that poses a few questions about the legend of Robin Hood. Released around the same time as the 2010 Robin Hood movie, it includes clips as well as comments from the director of the movie (Ridley Scott) and also the star of it (Russell Crowe).

Following a few comments from those two, the information presented in this then about Robin Hood is quite good. It may or may or not be totally accurate? But as information on Robin Hood its ok and serves its purpose. It talks about where he really might have came from and when, triest o pinpoint the actual person's name from records, and that he may have been a middle class yoeman of the time. Questions his reasons for being an Medieval outlaw living in woodlands, which apparently according to this was happening all across England, not just with Robin Hood and co. in Sherwood Forest.

It goes on to talk about all the usual stuff associated with the story: Richard the Lionheart, King John, the Sheriff of Nottingham and so on. Talks about the ballads that were written and when these characters first became part of the canon. Then it goes to profile these so called merry men in the stereotypical choronological order (1. Little John, 2. Will Scarlet, 3. Friar Tuck, etc.) Some of the information given on the 'merry men' is pretty ok to learn about. It also shows the dungeons of Nottingham Castle, which look pretty scary but would be cool to actually visit as a tourist I think.

Maybe the best part of the documentary though is the information from the person who talks about battle tactics, warfare and the arms used at the period. He seems to know his stuff, provides tough guy style demonstrations and shows that he is a crack shot with a longbow.

Overeall, I think this is a good documentary about Robin Hood, especially as a starting point on the subject.