Reviews

Harry Price was a conman. Borley Recroty was never haunted by anything other than Harry Price was a sub-standard newspaper reporter with a vivid imagination and a wish for glory. He returned to the Rectory after it burned to the ground and published a photograph allegedly of a house brick floating in the air. Not so: the 'brick' is most likely the end of a balk of wood being supported from or nailed to the floor of the black open doorway to its rear. Don't waste your time with this junk. If you want to know the real story look on the internet.

I judge a movie by how long it takes me to realize I need the bathroom, how long the movie can hold my interest and how convincing the events unfolding are. Well, I watched this movie all the way through with no bathroom breaks. My interest was grabbed from the start and held all the way through. Being old enough, and lucky enough to have watched the premiere of 2001 A Space Odyssey - and viewed it several times since - of course I made comparisons, and there were a few, but this movie tells an excellent stand alone story that is both riveting and believable. I'm not going to give away any secrets but anyone who watches the last five minutes or so without a lump in their throat and a tear in their eye, well you're a critic, you're not enjoying the movie because you're too busy looking for bloopers and faults. Were there bloopers and faults? The darn movie was so riveting if there were any I didn't notice them!

Managed to sit through the whole first episode, not because it was enjoyable, simply because I needed to see if it would ever have the humour and pathos of the Aussie original. It was evident from the start that Greg Kinnear is no Richard Roxburgh, nor does he have the believable entourage of actors that Roxburgh enjoys for support. Roxburgh is a year older than Kinnear and their acting careers began about the same time, but Roxburgh's handling of the role of Cleaver shows a much more professional understanding of the character portrayed. Both men have long acting careers but Roxburgh comes across better as the gambling, womanising lawyer. We can empathise with and feel his frustrations, his joys and his fears. I shan't spoil it for those members of the American audience not familiar with the original by giving away any secrets but the Australian original is now in its third season: I shall be very surprised if the US version makes it to the end of season one.

I think this series benefited by using fairly unknown (to me any way) actors, unlike the British version which brought us heavy weight star Kenneth Brannagh. I watched this, puzzling from day one just who did murder Rosy Larsen. I recommend watching both Series One and Two over a week or so as we did. I am in England and downloaded the first episode to compare it to the British offering. Go back to the stage Kenneth, this set in Seattle series has your version beat hands down. It was mesmerizing and very thought provoking and I sincerely hope Series Three is coming shortly and that it will be as eye opening and have as many twists and turns as this has had. Watch this series, unbeatable entertainment.

This Closer spin-off might have been good if it had been left to G W Bailey and his crew but the addition of Chief Taylor (Robert Gossett), Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell) and especially Sykes, (Kearran Giovanni),has completely spoiled what had promised to be interesting story lines. What is the point in yet another cop series where the actual police work is hindered by hierarchical policy makers. Compare the acting in Major Crimes to the nitty-gritty reality and totally convincing acting of the Southland cast and what you have here is an updated version of Murder She Wrote. Can we look forward to a guest appearance from Angela Lansbury? Might make the Captain and the Chief seem just a little bit believable.