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stieffguy
Reviews
Avenue 5 (2020)
Hard to get your head round but it's actually quite brilliant
First episode? Horrible!
Second episode? Hmm ok
Third episode? Good lord I like it!!
No one is more surprised than me. Give it a chance, I can't say I've seen anything quite like Avenue 5. The script writers were on something when they wrote this. The humour seems to either be delivered by extras in the background. The best one liners are delivered usually as the characters walk away. Give it a chance, it's not for everyone.
As the captain says "tickle my ringpiece" you may quite like it.
Special (2019)
Quite possibly the most special of all
I don't want to say much ... This show is a rare gem and is touching and funny. Modern issues are handled so well. Brave and sensitive.
Pose (2018)
Breathtaking - if you don't yet know why, you will.
Yes it seems harsh, yes it seems unreal and yes there are elements of fiction to convey a story. This is possibly as real as it gets because yes, this is how it was.
At first I couldn't understand the casting. Did some research and all I can say now is that I hold each and every actor in this production in the highest awe and regard.
Ryan Murphy. If I could, I would thank you for bringing this to the world. For every forgotten soul of that time, I applaud you for commemorating each and every one.
The Orville (2017)
Neither great nor dire
This is a beautiful show to watch. The CGI and the make-up are without doubt breathtaking and a joy to see. For us, the emotion we felt was, ambivalent. The hour passed by fast too which we take as a good sign and we're looking forward to the next episode. It is too early to make a decision but i do hope the humour smartens up a bit. It is rather peurile. It's like witnessing a car full of 5 year olds giggling at tittie, willy, wee-wees 😀 Give it time and I'm sure it will become a gem.
The Defenders (2017)
Enid Blyton on steroids
Where shall I start? Let's start with the good. Individually each characters show were quite brilliant. Even iron fist wasn't this trudgingly and achingly awful. It's a modern day five go mad in Dorset ... But with heaps of Chinese food and lashings of whiskey. I don't honestly know how to even describe the show... You'll have to give it whirl. Imagine,if you will, mixing milk, orange juice, cooking oil and vinegar. It'll look interesting and you may take a sip but you surely wouldn't stick with it until the end. We did and we regret it.
Paint something first, perhaps a bedroom,, and then you can enjoy watching it dry between any interesting segments in the show.
Finally, who on earth is responsible for Sigourney Weavers wardrobe? Whoever it is must have a grudge against the poor dear. Every outfit highlights Ms Weaver shortcomings and have successfully made her look like an aged drag queen. I love drag, but I suspect Ms Weaver wouldn't take it as a compliment.
I guess you may be getting an inkling that this really isn't doing it for me. However much jocularity is to be found in the wardrobe department, seriously it's hysterical. I can almost hear Sigourney with the wardrobe mistress ... "Get away from me you *****"
Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Oh deary, deary me
Oh this is just awful, I mean truly dreadful. Everyone I know told me not to waste my time but alas I did. The sad reality is that A) the script is full of explanatory dialogue, just in case you're too dumb to know Kong is an ape. So your told what an ape is .... Again and again and again. B) the movie is a scene stealing mash up from many movies that the 50+ remember from groundbreaking movies. Especially Apocalypse Now. I realize that the 40- generation may not remember such cinematic masterpieces but boy this movie is lazy, lazy, lazy. Oh well :(
Let's aim it like this. This is a perfect movie to watch on TV during the holiday season at home. You can happily go off and have a manicure, whip up a soufflé or more excitingly, take a mini cruise without fear of missing anything. If there are more than two people watching this with you, you can do a little experiment. See how many people go to the loo or wander off for half an hour without saying "can you pause it? I'll be back in a min" Believe me you won't miss a thing that makes the story hard to dip back into and follow. I can't criticise the cast, we all need to pay the rent.
Westworld (2016)
We're divided by opinion
My husband is loving the show. I fondly remember the book and movies. I honestly didn't know what to expect from this incarnation of Westwood so was prepared to watch with a totally open mind and was looking forward to the show immensely. I'll be watching until the end so this is only my impression so far. Hopefully I'll amend this review to glowing by the end. The show looks beautiful, the filming is superb. The story line is OK but not sharp, clever or twisted which I'd expect from an HBO production. I have genuinely loved virtually all productions so far. The "star studded" cast is pointless. To be frank, new or unknown talents would have been perfect for this. All the seasoned actors are just themselves, it's like they're doing it for a good pay check and to keep their names on people's minds. Oh I don't know, give it try. As for me? Well the shows on right now and in typing this and having a much more enjoyable time. Westworld has done something that entertainment should not do and hasn't gone to me for a very long time. IT IS BORING ME SENSELESS!
Luke Cage (2016)
So much better than I expected
Well this certainly is not your usual Marvel TV series. I've read the other less than kind reviews. Luke Cage is different. It does seem slow but every moment is important in building both character and storyline. It makes such a change to have this genre make you think, rely less on special effects and fully immerse you in a tale that is both incredible and yet believable. To start it doesn't seem to gel or make sense but stick with it and it will grip you like a vice. Most episodes start with a flashback that satisfyingly is concluded at the end of said episode. Although you have cliffhangers you have total satisfaction and look forward to the next. If you simply want cgi and wild story lines then you'll have to look elsewhere.if you want a great script, great acting and something that pulls you in until you lose yourself. Luke Cage is the show to watch.
Hurricane Bianca (2016)
I can't make up my mind
First I have to say we LOVE Bianca! She's simply in a class of her own and one of the most profound talents of our age. As soon as the movie was available on iTunes we bought it and nestled in for a romp of bawdy, offensive comedy. Thrilling at the thought that the movie would finally propel this amazing entertainer forward.
Hmm, well I'll explain the five stars. The movie was tame. Those who love Bianca for her dry humour and scathing wit will, I feel, be a little disappointed. The script is not as you'd expect and the funniest moments are shown in the trailers. So for a thrill ride of offensive one liners you'd have to look elsewhere.
However when you look at it as a low budget first movie, then it is awesome! So here lies the problem. Not what you expect but still very watchable. The criticism of ray as himself are pointless. That's the point of the movie. To expose the prejudice against us gays by the establishment. If Ray had been a wisecracking, bitter queen there would be no need for Bianca to rise from pits of hell.
Willam was not able to keep up with Shangela who proved herself to be a great actor /actress. Unfortunately Willam was uncomfortable to watch. Compared to his stage persona (which is inspirational) his role was more bleh than wow.
All in all, expect little and you'll receive a lot. Expect a Bianca bitch fest and you'll be left unsatisfied. This is a great movie and I'll watch it again and again. It's subtle and tells a good story ... And it tells it well. That's the surprise!
To be honest the biggest fail is the script and the soundtrack. The incidental effects and music drown out much of the dialogue and that was a devastating shame.
When all is said and done though, I'll be first in the queue for the sequel!
Stranger Things (2016)
Don't have high expectations and you won't be let down
Yes it's OK. Very dull until episode 4 when the story actually begins to become a little less predictable. The story is a blend of poltergeist meets underworld meets the goonies. Beautiful attention to details of the period but one can't help feel this attention has come at the expense of a consistent storyline. 011 is an excellent actress and deserves a huge amount of praise. We stuck with it until the end and it was enjoyable and I'm glad I watched it. However, it's once watched you probably wouldn't bother again. Its chewing gum for the eyes and sitting through it again would be akin to popping yesterday's gum back in. Still chewy enough to work your jaw but without any flavour.
Orphan Black: The Collapse of Nature (2016)
So disappointed
I am so devastated. This was one of my favourite shows ... I'd even say it was my all time favourite. We're now on episode four of season four and I'm afraid to say it's beaten me to a pulp with a rather large and knobbly stick of boredom. The first episode of season four is completely unnecessary and dare I say dull beyond belief. Sometimes things do not need to be explained. Let the viewer figure out what's going on please ... the first three seasons offered so much intrigue and excitement. Have the writers decided that the show should now appeal to pre schoolers? I keep waiting for a subtitle saying "she's pulling out a gun now (that's a weapon containing bullets that can be used to end the life of a living creature,human or animal (see your local library for more details) I'm so sad. The acting was incredible and still is but the storyline is hodgepodge and desperate at best. I hate giving up but my life is precious and there's some terribly interesting wet paint that needs watching.
The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
A tintin fan says .....
Like many people leaving reviews I have loved the tintin stories for many many years. However, I had sort of grown out of the fervor by 46 (alas at last I must grow up)
I went to see this movie simply because I really didn't want to enjoy it. I wanted my memories to be better than Hollywoods vision of a great European Comic Book Hero. (Alas I was to grow up really quickly)
This movie is a must see. I would defy anyone not to find something enjoyable about it. This actually took me to a different place and the beauty of the animation did more for me than Avatar managed to do. Why? well, because it's real and not a fantasy world. I did find it hard to sometimes believe I was ostensibly watching a cartoon.
Please see this movie, wait for DVD if you must, but see it. It will be worth your time.
Oh, and Mr S? Thanks - you made me feel like a kid again!