Reviews

This is not a police procedural or even a mystery the audience can solve. Its genre bending messes with the logic of the film. A great cast giving great performances. Lots of red herrings but ultimately I was disappointed with the resolve. I give this 5 part series a 6 (fair) out of 10. {Drama Mystery Fantasy}

The draw to this movie was Naomi Scott. The resistance to this movie was POWER RANGERS. Naomi's charisma won. It was better than I expected. We could see more of each ranger in armour so their actions weren't reduced to overly dramatic pantomime. There was some character development. I give this movie a 6 (fair) out of 10. {Superhero Action}

Contrary to the visual of 4 girls on bikes in the 80s, this is not a STRANGER THINGS knockoff. Even though the protagonists are 12 years old (played by 15 year olds) this is not a kids show, the language alone is child inappropriate. What this is, however, is a pretty well conceived spin on a well travelled SciFi theme. Although it is based on a mystery/science graphic novel serie,s written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Cliff Chiang, where the comic was more an action adventure, the movie is more relational drama, thanks to the chemistry between the four fine actors who inhabit the main characters. It speaks a lot to who we are, our hopes and dreams for ourselves and our futures. That's not to say there isn't a persistent thriller vibe and a real obstacle to overcome. Loved the characters and their performances. Loved the story arc. Loved the poignant moments. I give this series an 8 (endearingly novel) out of 10. {SciFi Mystery Drama}

This is a unique series. It starts out as a crime thriller but, in episode 4, it adds a genre. Elisabeth Moss leads the cast and also is an executive producer and you can see her investment in this production. The casting is excellent as is their performances. It was so good to see Amy Brenneman. I became a fan when JUDGING AMY aired in 1999. The pace is deliberate but thrilling. The mystery keeps your curiosity sharp. The conclusion is satisfying yet open to further exploration. I can't decide if this is an 8 (great) or a 9 (superb) out of 10. {Crime Triller+}

Wow! What an impactful drama. The premise and the performances were powerful. You can't help but ask yourself the same questions. I give this 2 part series (and I think they chose the perfect length for it, rather than drag it out) an 8 (arresting) out of 10. {Crime Drama}

In case you don't think I'm a romantic (maybe based on my disdain for Hallmark cookie cutter romances), I want to set the record straight. I love love. Let me settle into a good drama with romance and I'm a happy camper. On the recommendation of a friend I settled into this one tonight and I liked it. It was very easy to fall in love with Sofia Carson and Nicholas Galitzine's characters. As inevitable as the plot was, it was nice to watch it play out despite the roadblocks they put in their own way. For a cozy night in this is a nice watch. I give this film a 7 (nice) out of 10. {Romance Drama}

This period drama hits a number of themes. The plot is formed around a mystery, then explores the individual responses of choosing to worship science or religion (represented as superstition). The social structures in the film explore political structures around wealth and poverty, or, self interest v compassion. But the overriding theme is an exploration of love, and how we choose our lives according to our passions. The overall tone of the film is bleak although there are moments of beauty. The draw for me was Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. Either one would draw me to a project. I love (and hate) the characters in this film which is usually a good indicator of great performances. I give this film a 7 (good) out of 10. {Mystery Drama Romance}

Apple TV makes some very strange series. This is another one of these. It has the vibe of an episode of BLACK MIRROR, but not the innate brilliance. It is very slow to invite the viewer into the reality behind the drama but once the door opened, I was all in. Unfortunately, it built up to a cliffhanger, and, if you follow me, you know how I feel about that, in a world where second seasons are not guaranteed. I have no problem with a series having a series arc when there is more story to tell, but I firmly believe the writers owe it to their audience to have a seasonal arc that resolves. This was just getting interesting, when it ended. Had it not, I would have given it a 7 (good), maybe even an 8 (great). I give this series a 6 (disappointed fair) out of 10. {SciFi Alternate Reality}

To date, there have been two seasons released of this series. They have left it open for another season, but there is no word yet. (Open, but not a cliffhanger.) The acting is superb. Eve Myles playing cranky against Babou Ceesay's perpetual optimism makes a great investigative pairing, while Hermione Corfield's performed psychopathy and Dipo Ola's convincing search for redemption shifts our moral compass. There is a dark lightness at play here, that, at first, I found dissonant, but soon became an integral rhythm of the story. The cast is wonderful, the story is darkly captivating, the series is compelling, I give this series an 8 (compelling) out of 10, {Crime Drama}

THE MISSING has, at this point, two stellar seasons (or series, as the Brits say) each headlined by brilliant actors, James Nesbit (season one) and Kelley Hawes (season two) who both play characters that have had a child stolen from them. The show also spawned the spinoff, BAPTISTE, that follows the investigational obsession of Detective Julien Baptiste played by Tchéky Karyn. The stories are complex, the responses dramatic, the grief is poignant.. The supporting cast is magnificent. If you are looking for a good crime series I recommend this. One reviewer (after season one) called it, "the best min-series of 2014". I give this series a 9 (superb) out of 10. {Crime Drama}

This should never have been an 8 episode series. Its length did not offer depth of perspective but was merely too much of the same thing. People drawn to the series hoping to get insight into Michelle Carter's motivations will find the crumbs offered up by the writers to be limited and insubstantial. Fans who follow Elle Fanning will be glad to see her but not overwhelmed by her portrayal. It is hard to inhabit a poorly drawn character. There were attempts to mix the storytelling (musical numbers, turning texts into face to face conversations) but they all felt like padding if a failed narrative. Inevitably, this is a sad tales of two lives lost to tragic situations. I give this series a 5 (long, boring and unsubstantial) out of 10. {Crime Drama}

IRMA VEP is a documentary series exploring the dark magic of filmmaking. No, not really, but it wants to be. The industry is going to love the series because it loves admiring itself in a mirror. Most viewers will scratch their heads wondering what it is about. I wonder if Alicia Vikander took this project because she was unsettled with her meteoric rise in the industry and she was questioning what she wanted in her future as an artist. As usual, she is the best thing about the series. I can't help wondering if Kristen Stewart accepted her minuscule role in the last episode of the series for the same reasons. Two performers who could have the pick of their next project pondering the worth of the medium. If you are at all captivated by the industry, you may hang in there for the whole series, seeing if it can land on its feet. If you are there only to be entertained, I doubt you'll hang in there or, if you do, you'll be very disappointed you abdicated your time. I rate the series, on Alicia alone, a 7 (good) out of 10 (I'd watch her reading the telephone book), but, otherwise it is a 5 (meh). {Existential Experiment}

This series is a lot of fun. Iman Vallani is charming as the teenage superhero. There is a great supporting cast. The story arc is true to course and the threat is convincing. The writers also spent considerable effort to capture the culture and history of Kamala Khan's community which I found fascinating. I found this an all round entertaining project which should appeal to a wide range of ages, but especially younger audiences. I give this series a 7 (good) out of 10. {Superhero Adventure}

I was a big fan of BOSCH and, so, it's no surprise that I am a big fan of BOSCH LEGACY (I actually think I like it better, or, maybe, absence makes the heart grow fonder). The characters I most enjoyed, in the original, are the anchor of this sequel. Great characters great performances, plus, there were wonderful cameos from the former cast. I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10. {Crime Drama}

By January 2022, the book had sold 12 million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. Almost everyone in the theatre, yesterday afternoon, had read the book and were wondering if the movie could be as good as the book, so in my exit poll, of a dozen, or so, viewers, I asked then specifically, "Did the movie do justice to the book?" Without exception they said it had. (Although one reader thought the movie had a more definitive ending than the book.) Their ratings were 8s, 8.5s and two 10s. When I said that anything I rated over 8 would be worthy of a rewatch, it was unanimous that all of them would rewatch it, some thinking they'd like to read the book, again. So, these people, who came to see the movie, had high standards that they felt were met.

The story is simple but intriguing. There is a whole TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD vibe to it. And there is a wonderful contrast between a purity of soul living within a world of threat and danger. It was refreshing to have a film celebrate innocence. The nature shots of North Carolina are breathtaking. The casting is spot on and the performances are flawless. But the success of the film lies with the lead actor, Daisy Edgar-Jones (a very talented Brit, who earned respect for her talents in another best selling novel adaptation for television, NORMAL PEOPLE). There is a wide eyed innocence about Kya that she captures which, in turn, captivates the audience to invest in her story and her plight. (The only disconnect I had with her portrayal was not her fault but that of the production. For a swamp girl, living off the grid, her personal hygiene and wardrobe were spotless and fitted to perfection. A seemingly unlikely possibility considering her environment.) I would definitely see this film again and am tempted to buy the audible book. I give this film an enthusiastic 9 (beautiful and touching) out of 10. {Drama}

"And a child will lead them". On the surface, this is a movie about a transformational relationship between a man and a child. On the bigger scale, it is a story about challenging old archetypes. I'd be very interested in hearing more from the writer and director on their takeaways for the movie. The animation is gorgeous. The casting is wonderful. The story is both fun and purposeful. It is being hailed as Netflix's salvo to HOW TO TRAIN A DRAGON. This is a great family film. I give this film a 7 (beautifully entertaining) out of 10. {Animated Adventure}

First of all, I should have paid more attention before I watched this. It was cancelled after its inaugural season and ended on a cliffhanger. All the story elements come to a crescendo and then hang in anticipation of the next season revealing what was happening. If I had known that I'm not sure I would have watched it and I am definitely feeling jilted.

The character development was the best part of the show. There was complexity and we discover that what we assumed was not always what was real. Its tone is steamy, unrelenting heat. The acting is solid but I wasn't always sold on the chemistry. It's definitely interesting. It's like watching a train wreck. As a friend said, "it's uncomfortable but also fascinating." You just can't stop watching, even knowing that the end is inevitable and it will be devastating. I wish Netflix had allowed this series to finish its story. I give this prematurely murdered series a 7 (riveting) out of 10. {Psychological Thriller}

Having just finished the first season, I wanted to write down my preliminary thoughts. This is a very different kind of a police procedural, as it is meticulous in keeping it as close as possible to the events involved in actually solving these three cases. These were real crimes, 3 murders and an attempted murder committed by one man. The source material is a memoir of Colin Sutton, the lead investigator in these crimes who also collaborated in checking the accuracy of the series. As Martin Clunes, who plays Sutton, said in a Facebook Live interview, "It was a story worth telling because this is how crimes get solved. It's not glamorous. Policemen don't wear their best clothes to work. It takes a lot of hard, boring work, trolling through CCTV... and looking at everything." The series was the highest new drama in the 2 years before it. The realism is a positive and a negative. The authenticity has a popular attraction but Clunes reminds us that it would be a mistake to forget that those girls were taken. The biggest challenge was to keep the story moving forward, dispute the tedium of the police work. It was a hard line for the production to walk. I'm giving this first season a 7 (a story worth watching) out of 10. {True Police Procedural}

The more episodes that drop, the better this series gets. A great premise, interesting ensemble characters and beautiful Italy, all make for a great, episodic, criminal, mystery drama with a touch of romance. Emilia Fox plays the intelligent, very attractive, woman at the centre of these investigations. I love the word play of the title, Signora Volpe, Lady Fox, true in a multitude of ways. (I have a bias. I have followed Emilia Fox's career since I first found her in SILENT WITNESS, a show that has always been a favourite of mine). I certainly hope this series will have many other seasons. I give this series an 8 (beautifully imagined) out of 10. {Crime Mystery Drama}

I liked this limited series. It had an air of gravitas. The writing and acting was mature. The casting was spot on from the precocious Vivian Lyra Blair to the formidable Moses Ingram. (Anytime Indira Varma steps into a role my expectations for the project rises). Fans of the franchise should be pleased with the treatment of canonic characters and new additions. Ewan McGregor played the (not really) "old" Obi-Wan's internal conflicts with great range. The visuals are stunning, the creatures are masterpieces. This is just a good, not rushed but not lagging, watch. I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10. {SciFi Drama}

All camp and a whole lot of fun. Lots of cameos from the Marvel Universe. Thor is charming. Thor is beautiful. Thors are mighty. Thor collides with a quest for love. My exit interviews, of approximate 20-25 people, yielded scores from 8 to 10 (with two 11s). I had a blast! I give this movie a 9 (total campy fun) out of 10. {Marvel Superheroes}

Another cult classic, mostly, I think, because it led to the TV series. It was everything it intended to be, campy, heart throbby, comedic, silly. To rate it according to its intentions, I give it a 7 (good) out of 10. (I'll rewatch the series, not the movie.) {Action Campy Horror Comedy}

A Classic, a Cult Classic, the best adventure picture of all time - these are the things said about this movie. Why? I think it was a generational obsession that keeps repeating because the kids who fell in love with it in the 80s, showed it to their kids, who fell in love with it at the turn of the millennium, and, now, the third generation, millennials, are experiencing it anew. It has all the elements of a child's imagination: pirates, booby traps, villains, perils in the chase, good buddies, a map, the threat of losing all they hold dear. It captures the imagination. I give this film an 8 (great adventure) plus an addition point as a classic, so, 9 (classic adventure) out of 10. {Childhood Adventure}

After hearing, repeatedly, that this is a Must Watch movie, I can now say, I have, and, I understand why people call it iconic. It was not what I expected. The point of the movie was not to model the Mean Girl, which is what I expected (and which I had no interest in perpetuating). It's actually quite the opposite. It demystifies the stereotype while having no intention, whatsoever, to be anything other than a comedy. The casting is incredible. The humour is spot on. It is forever being covertly quoted. It is rewatchable and truly iconic. I give this film an 8 (grool) out of 10. {Comedy}

A most impressive series, despite all the nay sayers. Three very strong casting choices who were arduous in their desire to reflect the nuances of their roles. The characters that were deeper in history had the advantage over the Obama portrayals because these people are still very present in our memory and thus we see the disparity between actor and role. As a non-American, I found the series very informative, and indeed inspirational, as all three of these First Ladies were moved to action with a courageous vision of a greater nation. I hope this series is renewed. We need to see our potential for change when we hope for a better world. I give this series a 9 (inspirational) out of 10. {Historical Drama}