Reviews

I think this may be the absolute worst episode of LOCI. I was really put off by almost everything.

Here are problems I had with the episode, but not in any particular order.

1) The music. It was over the top creepy and intrusive 2) The detective from Chicago. That actor has played a great villain many times. He he was bland and forgettable.

3) The ease with which the perpetrator was found. That was a big flaw. The plot device of the letter was too cute by half. The expected suspense and drama involved with finding the criminal was almost totally absent.

4) The emphasis on knowing whether the Chicago case was decided correctly rang false to me.

5) The killer was not believable - - at all. Here was a man who had all the trappings of a normal life, who loved his son and daughter, and yet he's a serial killer? I don't buy it at all. Compare this episode with the one featuring a cannibal murderer. There you really believed in the psychology. Here it's a complete failure.

I like some episodes better than others, but I can't think of another where I regret watching. Stay away. This is far beneath the standards for LOCI.

This is a taut, interesting episode but they wrote a very unsympathetic victim. He's a failed journalist who lives with the fantasy of writing a last big story, who misreads every one he meets, and is less honest than a used car salesman. You can't believe anyone would notice this guy, let alone want to kill him. The story does have many interesting turns, and the solution to the crime will stupefy you.

I consider this an above average Criminal Intent episode. The acting is good, the writing tight with some offbeat humor. I'm watching this episode for at least the third time. What makes it so memorable is that this guy, whose life will end in agony in a few days, goes to his grave with no self understanding at all. It's tragic and very depressing.

I've been watching season 2 with low expectations, and mostly was satisfied. There are several problems with season 2 though.

1) Ritchson is so big he can hardly move, which hurts the fight realism. He waddles instead of walking. The appearance is ridiculous

2) The fight scenes were mostly extremely bad. Except for Reacher the team members are very scrawny and couldn't intimidate a Jr high school bully. The plot armor was really over the top.

3) The lack of realism was oppressive. You couldn't watch without yelling at the screen that nobody could leave killing fields behind them everywhere and not have any trouble. This was simply bad writing.

4) There are only two good actors : Patrick and Kingsley. The latter had a small presence but he created a chilling impression of cold menace. Robert Patrick was excellent, portraying the psychopathic bitter ex cop to perfection.

Between the very poor writing and the almost nonexistent acting skills of Ritchson I have little hope for improvement in season 3.

I was mildly intrigued in the first episodes, but with episode five I've lost faith. This show is obviously built on the model of X Files, or Lost : you are given hints of a big, world shaking mystery but it all fizzles in the end. Each episode gives you another crumb of knowledge to keep your interest. However, after a while you notice that your understanding is always at zero. This is because the writers just aren't smart enough to hold things together.

That's the main issue with the structure of the show, but maybe you will still enjoy the ride? For me the answer is no. There is too little continuity and logic for me to keep going. This is to say nothing of the lack of any science element at all. It's what I call fictional science storytelling, but not science fiction.

Enjoy, if thus is your cup of tea. It's not mine.

This episode has many problems. First of all, the acting in all the Italian parts is quite bad, especially the accents. Second, this is quite slow paced, despite being a 50 minute production. There were long stretches where I was quite bored. I found the logic of the plot unconvincing. The way Holmes got involved was hard to believe.

I'm a big fan of Brett's Holmes but here his I'll health was so obvious I found it painful to watch.

I consider this one of the weakest episodes of any of the seasons of Granada's Holmes. The story wasn't ridiculous, but I was bored and not caring about anybody.

The difference between this and the Eon filns is huge. The biggest problem is terrible flow in action sequences. It goes without saying that Geritol Connery is terrible. The only good part is Basinger's. Both villains are weak, especially Largo, whose character isn't interesting or stylish at all. Fatima has horrible costumes.

The M is really poor. As an action film this is mediocre, as a Bond film it doesn't check any of the boxes. I can't think of a Bond film I have enjoyed less.

Probably better just to watch Mission Impossible -- at least you'll be entertained.

In summary, don't waste your time.

John Cusack is such a one note, limited actor. This movie has me rooting for his death because he's so annoying. Likewise, Etiofor seems to get roles because he's good looking and can cry rivers. He's just so bad it makes the movie impossible for me to finish.

We know the plot is stupid and the effects will be over the top. The problem for me is that I am rooting against the main characters.

The special effects are dated and so physically unrealistic it's cringe, but I could deal with that if it weren't for the overacting and bad writing. In my opinion Day After Tomorrow was more successful.

I think the Craig films are a mixed bag. They are too brutal. I rank them 1) Spectre 2) Quantum of Solace 3) Casino Royale 4) Skyfall

The problem with Casino Royale is that it's a bit boring. Skyfall is just hideous --- one of the worst Bond movies because of the villain. The overacting and overwriting are too much.

Quantum of Solace, despite some weaknesses in the action sequences, is very interesting.

I really like Spectre for the fantastic scenery. The Mexico City chase and helicopter scene is not very good, while the car chase abd train fight are well done.

Like most Bond films, the plot doesn't stand up to scrutiny, but it's serviceable.

For me, weak casting is a problem though. Andrew Scott is just terrible. He has no presence at all. Lea Seydoux isn't rather wooden, but she looks good.

The problem with Daniel Craig is that he's a rather ugly, brutish Bond with limited acting chops. The films have lots of action, but there is a black hole in the center. Goldeneye was the best Brosnan outing and one of the better Bond films. The franchise is probably dead for all practical purposes. Craig didn't kill it, but he watched it die.

The secondary characters are all good here, with the exception of Bean, who is a bland villain. The general Oumurov character was also too much of a cliche.

This is a quintessential Bond film, with a typical blow up the world mentality from the bad guys. It's not a particularly interesting film, but it's well done.

Four seasons mostly about the commonwealth was fine but it played out in season 4. In season 5 we have a new setting and new problems. I like it. I have avoided season 5 previously because of all the bad reviews. I'm glad I decided to watch.

Unlike the newer Trek series, Andromeda is actually entertaining. There's some surprising emotional depth in the plots-- sometimes. The effects were decent. I think slipstream is a better effect than warp drive. While the series has some undeniable cheesiness to it, Kevin Sorbo makes a good captain. From time to time there is real grandness.

Finally, firefly was cancelled for a reason. Andromeda is much better, although they both occupy a similar niche in the sci fi universe.

Update. I've skipped to season 4 because I'm so familiar with the episodes in 1-3.

Even in season 4 (early episodes) consists of very fun B action sci fi. In comparison, series like STD, SNW, Foundation, Raised by wolves are not even at the level of B sci fi--- and they're not fun in the least.

Update. I watched season 4. Whatever weaknesses there are in the storyline are more than made up for with Tyr's absence. Cobb is such a horrible actor it's a relief that he's gone.

Let's be honest ---Billy Piper has zero acting talent. She's relentlessly terrible. Freema Agyeman was better but I didn't like the way her character was written, with her turning into a kind of warrior. Catherine Tate was pretty good. Only with Gillan do we get someone who can act, and she's beautiful too.

That's the buzz on fan sites I go to. Is Uhuru the new Wesley Crusher? Don't you agree? Yes, Uhuru is the new Wesley Crusher!

You can't deny that Uhuru is the new Wesley Crusher.

I'm rewatching Babylon 5 from the beginning and I'm enjoying it quite a bit. I think season 1 may be the best for me. I did not care for the long arc of war which started later. I also didn't like the replacement commander, Boxleitner. He's not just a terrible actor, he mugs for the camera like nobody else in the series.

In season 1 I enjoy the feel of learning about the station and the people.