Reviews

Austin Butler really puts on a brilliant performance and it's obvious that he studied Elvis extensively. If you shut your eyes you can hear Elvis. Unfortunately he looks nothing like Elvis. If you can get past this, and if you're a real Elvis fan it's almost impossible to do, the film has a lot to say.

The real Pricilla Presley sang Olivia De Jonge's praises as having portrayed her with such emotion and although she should know better I am not convinced. Again the actress does not resemble the real person at all. Hair and make up in the movie are a failure with the exception of Tom Hanks.

Pricilla Presley has given many interviews revealing her first encounter with the King saying what an innocent she was at 14. She has claimed that Elvis was attracted to shy girls and especially virgins .The movie shows Pricilla at 14 in Berlin as quite opinionated and forthcoming.

The success of the movie is that it gives an idea about how Elvis was influenced from Gospel and early African American music but although it is long is it is missing many pieces such as Elvis relationship with Anne Margaret and the details of his relationship with Pricilla. Probably because these are known, but for the film to really work it was necessary to see more about this.

The footage of Elvis' last performance of Unchained Melody is horrific. Having never seen it before I was shocked. It is unbelievable how unnaturally obese and bloated he had become and. What is more shocking is why no one was able to prevent this slow deterioration.

One thing is a fact. 44 years after his death he remains the one and only.

The story line of the sequel is clever and so much more interesting than the first movie which plot wise really had nothing to say. Once again Dame Maggie Smiths' lines are hilarious. Just seeing her expression leaves me with a permanent smile on my face.

Hugh Bonneville is noticeably much thinner but his make up is off. He seems to have an artificial tan as if he's just been sprayed on a Californian beach.

The ending left me thinking that this is the best and most dignified way for someone to go, in their own bed, surrounded by loved ones.

I will miss this series greatly!

This is a documentary following on Philippe Sands book. East West Street. I read the book first which I found extremely interesting and saw the documentary afterwards.

Philippe Sands an international lawyer meets with the sons of one of the two highest ranking Nazi Officer Hans Frank and Otto Wächter. Their perspective is completely different from one another regarding the crimes their fathers committed. As they revisit Poland it is fascinating to see how all three react to the murder ground of their father in front of Sands whose entire family was wiped out during the war as they were Jews.

When Catherine the Great came to the throne she was in her early thirties which is when the series begins. However in the series she is portrayed as being an older woman in her sixties. Helen Mirren is an very good actress but she should have been cast as the older Catherine later in the series.

It is historically inaccurate to show Catherine with the Orlovs and Potemkin at such an age. How will they explain that she had a child with Potemkin?