S.E.R.E.G.

I managed to grind it through, which means something. Because it's the first Netflix style Hungarian series, I was interested.

At times it drags on a little slow especially when it is a military action. But there are enough classic series elements and turning points to keep up interest.

Yes, I agree it was too expensive when Hungary has crumbling hospitals and railway lines etc. But the film wisely avoids the political angle. I think the director was good, though dialogues can be a bit stilted. So... all in all it is watchable, and maybe it is not according to the creator's intention, but it reveals a lot about HU culture inadvertently.

It's not an American production, but they handled many aspects quite well, especially considering the limitations they had. There are plenty of big-budget movies and TV shows where the 'foreign' locations were created with much cheaper, often looking far less realistic than in this production. The story may follow some familiar clichés. Despite having a significantly smaller budget, they made the most of what they had. In fact, the entire 6-episode series cost far less than a single episode of SEAL Team. Obviously, recruitment goals also play a role in the film, but the same element is present in many other productions as well.

"S. E. R. E. G" is a series that, despite its high budget, falls short in several key areas. The characters are disappointingly one-dimensional, lacking depth and development. The main character, in particular, comes across as an emotionless machine, making it difficult for viewers to connect with them. The dialogues are unrealistic and fail to resonate with real-life conversations, further distancing the audience. Additionally, the series seems to be heavily influenced by state propaganda, which detracts from its overall quality. Despite the significant financial investment, "S. E. R. E. G" does not deliver a compelling or engaging viewing experience.

Decent storytelling coupled with mediocre acting. As you get more and more into it, you will eventually forget about the acting and get completely immersed in the story. It doesn't necessarily have much depth to it, so you shouldn't expect some life changing lesson in there, but as long as you take it lightly, this serie will keep you engaged and entertained from the beginning till the end.

Now I also understand that most people look at the serie through the lense of contemporary Hungarian politics, which is such a shame, because it takes away the enjoyment of the story. It's worth to give it a chance with an open mind, and just enjoy the story for what it is: casual entertainment.

Take a look around the state of hospitals, schools, and other fundamental elements of our society in the country and tell me that this was necessary. We're expected to watch this cinematic flop while the real needs of everyday people go ignored, just because someone in power decided that this chest-pounding "tribute" was worth splurging 865 million forints. And for what? A parade of cardboard characters, hammy acting, and action scenes that seem to be pieced together by a team who might have watched one too many low-budget war flicks and thought they were up to the task.

The film's attempts at grandeur fall flat in every possible way. The "epic" shots are downright laughable, with CGI that would have been outdated even a decade ago, and the story feels like it was written to fit the most sanitized and lifeless military propaganda imaginable. There's no depth, no nuance, no real exploration of what it might mean to serve or sacrifice - just empty, jingoistic one-liners paired with the most cliched plot points you can imagine.

And let's not even start on the pacing, which drags on forever in all the wrong places, leaving even the most action-oriented scenes feeling like a chore. By the time the credits roll, you can't help but feel that this was less a movie and more a poorly-disguised vanity project for the people who greenlit it.

Ultimately, this film is a blaring reminder that we need to start investing public funds in areas that genuinely matter, not on bloated productions that try and fail to dress up national pride as high art. This isn't just a bad movie; it's an insult to everyone whose needs have been left unmet in favor of this charade.