Reviews
A Small Light (2023)
At a time of rampant anti semitism in the UK.
Excellent, TV at it's best. Many excellent performances,...This should be compulsory viewing in our, the UK's, schools. We are currently witnessing in our universities and on our streets, particularly in London,the most blatant anti semitism . But our Police look the other way and even when forced to make arrests our judicial system let's the perpetrators off . Our media are complicit and even our politicians.
And yes this is 2024, it's both unbelievable and shameful
This series should be a timely reminder of what anti semetism can lead to but those who should watch it won't. History is repeating itself.
Nautilus (2024)
History rewritten again
A more balanced view of history would be a welcome change, sadly you won't be getting it in Nautilus.
History used to be taught as factual now it's agenda driven, not just in schools but on our screens.
The East India Company was a reflection of it's time, it was no better and no worse than any other business of it's day. Nor indeed was the British Empire any different..although it brought democracy, the rule of law, free speech and the end of slavery to hundreds of millions of people.
But Nautilus will tell you otherwise. If you want shallow entertainment then do indeed watch it but if you want historical accuracy you're better off watching Sesame Street.
Jackpot! (2024)
Does anyone actually talk like that?
Quite enjoyed this movie, good harmless fun that made me laugh whilst being an easy watch for me on a Friday evening (after a long week at work) .
Would have scored higher than 7 if it wasn't for the constant swearing. Does anyone in real life actually talk like that? Apart from inmates, dock workers and soldiers. Don't get me wrong I'm no prude, I swear, but when a movie script contains almost nothing but swearing and cursing it gives the impression that the writers are lazy or the movie is targeted at teenage lads.
Shame really as it was a fun movie to watch and the swearing added nothing to it.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Downhill with Lycett
With Richard Ayoade as presenter it was 10/10. Now with Joe Lyette as presenter it's 1/10.
Richard may not be to everyone's taste when it comes to comedy but he's always gentle and never makes it personal. Joe Lycett sadly is a different kettle of fish, somehow thinking it's funny to make unpleasant (and at times downright rude/aggressive) comments about others. Really unpleasant stuff.
Richard is the intelligent, witty person you'd like to spend time with whilst Lycett is the loud, unpredictable thug in the pub you want to avoid.
So Travel Man has gone from a must watch to a must avoid. Very, very sad.
Patriot Games (1992)
Pre 9/11
Very dated in its portrayal of terrorists eg some of them are good, some of them are bad. Lot's of folky Irish terrorists with lovely Irish music in the background. In its defence this movie was made pre 9/11, in the days when many Americans naively viewed terrorists as freedom fighters.
You can't imagine this movie being made now thank goodness.
Clear and Present Danger is an excellent movie that has aged well. Patriot Games has not aged well, if indeed it was any good in the first place.
I also found the stereotyping of Irish and British characters uncomfortable and clumsy.
To conclude; it's a really poor movie.
Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1974)
Appalling bad
For decades I have been a fan of both Spike Milligan (especially his war memoirs) and Peter Sellers. However and with great sadness I have to say that this is, by a million miles, the worst film that I have ever had the misfortune to watch. Appalling, terribly, trash, bad, knaff, awful, rubbish, the pits, a stinking pile of doo doo, what a load of .......... Thankfully it was free to watch on Amazon. Imagine paying to watch this, I would be devastated.
The emperor's clothes spring to mind. Why didn't anyone tell Peter that this film was a disaster?
It is completely unfunny and instantly forgotten.
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
If you like Poirot you'll love this.
If you like Poirot you'll really love this.... We have really enjoyed all of Branagh's adaptations and this is the best to date....
A very spooky film, which made everyone in the cinema jump on a number of occasions....
Venice makes an absolutely beautiful backdrop. Some gorgeous shots. The building is perfect for a spooky film.
The actors played their parts well and we're all very believable.
Has a great soundtrack which certainly added to the atmosphere of dread.
It's a fast moving film, full of suspense, right until the very end...
Thrown in is some excellent humour.
So, all in all, we thoroughly enjoyed it. ....
Beyond Paradise (2023)
Intensely annoying
How did he get to be a senior police officer when he just lets people walk all over him????
Why would you set up business with an old flame (who you were once engaged to) without telling your current fiancée????
It just doesn't feel realistic.....
It does feel like a rip off of Doc Martin and Death in Paradise.....
There are no likeable characters just stereo types.....
There's no charm....
I feel like shouting " man up, dump your fiancée & her condescending, stuck up mother and stand up for yourself "....
I simply cannot watch this programme, it is soooo intensely annoying.
Right, I've got that off my chest and I feel better for it .
South Park: The Worldwide Privacy Tour (2023)
Fantastic documentary
Who'd have thought that 2 self centred millionaires constantly playing the victim would have repercussions?
I've not watched South Park for many years but was drawn back by this episode. Initially I thought it was a documentary as it was so accurate in it's portrayal of these 2 narcicissts. It is a very, very amusing episode...
Prince Harry has made the mistake of thinking he can control the media and the narrative, well thankfully he can't as we still live in a free world. Talking of 'World' I think the title of this episode 'The world-wide privacy tour' is an absolute stroke of genius.
A big thank you from the people of Britain to the South Park team. X.
Harry & Meghan: The Complete Story (2022)
Uncomfortable to watch.
Harry undoubtedly has issues and needs help. How he thinks repeatedly complaining about his family on TV, in books and on social media will help god only knows.
He could be accused of doing it for the money but he is already supported by his daddy so does not need the money.
He indirectly attacks HM Queen Elizabeth and everything the Royal Family stands for but won't give up his title of 'Prince'.
He could ask his father for advice & guidance but he won't talk to his father. He could ask Meghan's father instead but he's not talking to him either.
Someone needs to tell Harry ' when in a hole stop digging '.
Goldfinger (1964)
Seriously creepy
Watched this film for the first time in 40 years. Like me it has not aged well. I found it uncomfortable viewing. If this is how they treated women in front of the camera one shudders to think how they were treated behind the camera. Are we supposed to admire Connery for the way he ignores a woman saying no? He simply throws her to the floor and has sex with her. He blatantly eyes every woman up and down..what a perve! The film itself is quite naff, it looks cheap and ridiculous. Compare it to more recent Bond films and it looks even worse. Indeed if it wasn't a Bond film it would never see the light of day .
Dreadful film and seriously creepy.
Moonfall (2022)
Thank goodness
Thank goodness I watched the movie before reading the reviews on here.
I found it entertaining, it was something different to the usual sci fi , there's some good humour and some emotional scenes.
Just watch it with an open mind.
Great movie.
Gimyohan gajok (2019)
Like an Ealing comedy but with zombies
Like an Ealing comedy but with zombies.....
Another great Korean film. Terrific fun. Lots of laughs. Yet again Korea shows how to produce films that entertain.
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
Quaint, innocent times.
Great film. Simple but effective.
I did find it amusing that they were concerned about gangs getting hold of semi automatic weapons. Fast forward 50 years and it's ordinary folk who can legally buy them.....and then go on a killing spree.
Black and Blue (2019)
Not what I'd expected
Being a fairly recent release I was expecting one of those sterotypical films where 'all black people are good, all cops are bad'.
It's actually nothing like that, it's more realistic eg there's good and bad everywhere.
It kept me gripped and guessing until the very end.
Great film.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)
One of the better zombie films
The title had put me off watching this for years.. however it is entertaining, witty and clever.......
In fact it is one of the better zombie films.....
Cargo (2017)
Something different.
Something different. One of the better zombie films.... although that's not saying much.
I love the scenery, the slow burning tension and the music....
After Life (2019)
Absolutely awful
Absolutely awful. I'm sure he's a lovely person in real life but I find Ricky's characters really annoying regardless of which show/film we're talking about.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
An all time great
One of the all time great musicals. Very moving.
It's the story of a peasant farmer dealing with life's adversities as well as Russian anti semitism.
Despite everything he doesn't lose his spirit and keeps smiling no matter what.
Werewolves Within (2021)
Excellent
This was excellent. Very enjoyable, entertaining and amusing.
Re the werewolf; I was Kept guessing right until the very end.
Oh and Milana Vayntrub is absolutely gorgeous.
Well done Netflix for a great film.
The Silent Sea (2021)
Something different
Great to see something different in the world of Sci fi. There's also a great sense of tension and mystery. The astronauts were believable characters instead of those portrayed in western media eg all handsome, witty, macho ex fighter pilots.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Our woke western world
Very funny but scarily real. Almost a mirror to our liberal media/political class.
Latest gadgets, celebs, online presence is everything. Where as a comet heading our way is not on their list of priorities.
Death to 2021 (2021)
Laughing when people are grieving.
You've just lost your husband after decades of marriage and this is your first Christmas without him. You are grieving.
What does this programme do ? They make a joke of it
No compassion and bereft of morals.
The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
Slow but better than The Mandalorian.
The Mandalorian felt like a 1960s cowboy show and not a good one. It was slow and shallow. This is a step up hence the 2 stars but it still doesn't feel like Star Wars.
Shatner in Space (2021)
Fantastic man
Mr Shatner came across as warm, witty, humble and intelligent. He was visibly moved, in fact brought to tears, by his experience.
Excellent programme.