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Janet1612
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Nighty Night (2004)
For teenage and adolescent boys I assume
I love the reviewers that call it dark, disturbing, hilarious...it's not. It's really not. I assume they've not watched any real comedies. I remember starting to watch this when it was first broadcast (early 2000?). I thought it was dire and pretty juvenile- the 'black' comedy is just childish adults being a little naughty and saying naughty things. The main character is just unbelievable, says outrageous things (yawn it's all been done before) and does outrageous things. Dresses like a tart and is a little mutton. What is that accent - she can't make up her mind if she's West Country or Essex.
She's more annoying than funny. I only watched one episode first time around. The woman whose hair she messed up and drew eyebrows on (I'm sure the teenage boys were laughing their socks off at this), is shown in the newspaper someone as having committed suicide. I bet the young boys were holding their sides as they must have ached from laughing (not).
BBC were recently promoting 'classic comedy' and I thought I'd give it another try. I got a bit further but I wanted to see Kevin Eldon.
Sadly the supporting cast are all stereotypes of 'comedy' characters. I see Gattis gives himself a role. Not funny. Even Kevin was overacting
The script is so silly, and it's definitely NOT a black comedy- black comedies are dark, clever and very dry and witty. This is just extremely silly and obviously aimed at teenage boys. Like Mrs B Boys.
Eat Pray Love (2010)
I suppose the title should have prepared me
All I can see is Julia Roberts filling her huge mouth with food. It's not a pretty sight seeing spaghetti, pizza, etc hanging from her mouth. When she's taking bites of toasts it's even worse! She's also talking with her mouth full. I felt quite sick
Her acting isn't any better. It's still Julia Robert's playing Julia Roberts as in all her films.
The story isn't much better. Isn't she a little old to be playing a lovesick woman falling in love on a European holiday.
A predictable and pretty unlikeable film and Julia stuffing her face - well appearing to. Haha. I'm sure she hardly touched the grub.
The Christmas Lottery (2020)
Frightful
Are the girls adopted? They are all so different- except for the hilarious false eyelashes. One of them is a strange yellow colour and has an odd colour (yellow) hair Veronica Lake style and eyes so stretched she can surely see around corners.
I was looking forward to this but the cast is too strange. What is the guy with the tattoo tee shirt. Yikes. Dad can't remember any of their names; it's 'baby' or 'sweet pea'.
Mum looks a fright and sadly has memory issues.
Ripped jeans and strange clothes, strange faces and weird eye lifts are too much of a distraction.
The awful kid Carol singers- yikes
The jaunty music gives the impression of a comedy-it's not.
The Holly and the Ivy (1952)
A real Christmas treat - with no sugar coating
This is a wonderful film - touching on subjects not seen or expected in English post war films. Originally a stage play, and it begins with a brief glimpse of the lives of three adults (children of a widowed parson) before they head home/plan for Christmas. (We don't actually see Margaret at first but that's explained later). We also see their elderly aunts planning their visit to the parsonage too.
Each of the adult children has something bothering them which they feel they can't mention to their father.
Such a change from the usual Christmas films (wonderful as they are), and this is REAL. Real people who have real problems and in 1952 not ones expected to be shared with the viewing public. Opening of feelings and REAL discussions.
There are many great lines and it makes a fascinating watch; I loved it. Here is is something you wouldn't expect in a film of that time - we all thought disliking consumerism at Christmas was something new......
"Aunt Lydia: I always think Christmas is the loveliest of the festivals.
Rev. Martin Gregory: Do you know I hate it?
Aunt Lydia: But Martin, *why*?
Rev. Martin Gregory: Ah, the brewers and the retail traders have got hold of it. It's all eating and drinking and giving each other knickknacks. Nobody remembers the birth of Christ"
How true. We thought a change in celebrating Christmas/religion was modern, but no: Here's another quote:........
"Rev. Martin Gregory: There's the church. A great little country church standing up there in the middle of the town. It's the centre of the place architecturally. It should be the centre of the place spiritually too. But it's not. No. That little tin-pot shack of a cinema they're going to tonight has more influence on the lives of people here than the church".
A question from me, what are Keatings? Denholm Elliott tells his sister to 'take your Keatings as the. Cinema is a real fleapit'. I can't find the meaning of the word.
NB watch as Jenny and her aunt descend the stairs in the first scenes- obviously waiting their cue. A pure Victoria Wood/Acorn Antiques moment.
A Merry Scottish Christmas (2023)
An extremely strange and unauthentic drama
OK, let's believe it was filmed in Scotland. Like the later series of Foyle's War and a recent TV series supposedly set in London; they're obviously not.
From the accents - honestly can't they cast actors who can manage a Scottish accent? At least they create laughter. The Scottish' doctor Amelia had the oddest accent and acting technique.
Anyway, spoiled kids tear mum off a strip for denying them 'their true selves' eg mum didn't tell them she was 'duchess' as part of her ancestry. She explained their lives a would be controlled as to career and marriage they wouldn't be able choose (!)- honestly she'd be a duchess not part of royalty- even royalty choose their partners and careers nowadays.
Loved the son's hilarious perma-tan face. He actually uses an umbrella (better get used to that!)
Loved the breakfast sitting out on the table - all getting cold! Porridge, fried eggs, kippers etc all on ordinary plates and not in the usual containers keeping it all hot. No wonder the family turned their noses up at it.
Butler says he failed at soufflé and decided 'to "make freshly made cookies'" COOKIES? Haha of course they're freshly made if he'd just made them, but they are BISCUITS. Let US viewers learn about UK food terms.
Predictable drama with an odd script and dodgy accents and acting. Look out for The Duke and Duchess of Dundee being announced at a ball. Hilarious fancy dress.
Hunters (2020)
Dreadful acting- dreadful annoying accents
The opening scene was great except for the strange woman screeching at the 'Nazi'. Her odd face just had me yelling at the TV - shoot.
Then we had Safta with her scary face (yikes what happened to her!) Crude language, teen complaining the Darth Vader is black- what's going on?
Then Jonah .....if my parents weren't killed in the ghetto, if my sister wasn't killed in the camps....here we go. In current times although we mourn for the victims of the concentration camps and abhor the actions of some Nazis, sympathy is hard to come by
Yes we get the drift - honestly just watch The Boys from Brazil. Even Pacino can't save this. His accent is torture on the ears.
Made in Italy (2020)
Love James D'Arcy and wish he'd played the son
A lovely if predictable plot- one for the ladies to weep to.
The actor who plays the son - why not James as the son? - is Neeson real son yet has a different name, his way of saying he doesn't want to hang on dad's coat tails? .Too late; a bit of nepotism methinks as the guy is one poor actor.
Neeson is his usual self, always watchable.
The story is written by James D'arcy who is a great actor who we need to see more often. Shame they didn't cast a more experienced and not one who happens to be related to the lead actor.
The scenery in Italy is wonderful and had there been a different actor I would have enjoyed it more.
After Henry (1988)
A very funny and gentle comedy series
This is a great series. There's also a radio series with the same cast - except the bookshop owner.
A funny and gentle series with the fantastic Prunella Scales (who I first thought overacted dreadfully, but she soon calmed down). There is no bad language, no annoying background music (which is usually blasting out over the dialogue nowadays). All in all great fun and great fashion of the 1980s. It also has a serious gay character which is highly unusual for the time - not a stereotypical gay character either. The series is currently being replayed on TV and what a welcome change. UK 'comedies' today start with foul language from the off nowadays.
Succession (2018)
What a family ! What foul language! What unnecessary scenes!
The stars are for Matthew as Tom. It was hard at first to get used to his American accent. After Spooks and Pride and Prejudice (and many other great performances) the accent and acting was so different, but my goodness he nailed the character and was my favourite of an extremely bad bunch.
A friend recommend this to me and not being a fan of Brian Cox (the actor not the wonderful scientist) I avoided it. Nothing else to watch on TV so I gave it a go. The first scenes with the meeting were awful - I was so surprised that American TV would allow the foul language - thought they all despised it. As for the bedroom scenes (oral activities too) they were unnecessary. Don't we all know what goes on there.
Some of the characters are downright nasty (Roman - what a ridiculous name!) is such a nasty piece and shows what's wrong with the world today - portraying such vicious, nasty people, using foul language and being downright nasty makes their actions normal to warped viewers who will copy.
There are some great lines, it's a good story but the family members are flawed and just awful. The language and characters are not worth investing time in, and as Logan is a nasty piece of work, he deserves the family he has. I am shocked at how US viewers have accepted this.
Patrick (2018)
Two stars and they're for the pug
If there's an award for over-acting and another for overdoing the (attempts at) comedy, the lead actress would win it. She'd also win for overdoing facial expressions. Honestly she was more annoying than entertaining.
Her facial expressions and attempts at comedy were just too annoying (the date with the vet was OTT). The 'funny' running and falling in the bushes- very Bridget Jones. Her voice annoyed us too- weak, high pitched, and little girly.
To the story......predictable with a few laughs, mainly the antics of the dog. Good to see Bernard Cribbins.
Silly to have her real mum in the film too - disguised with frightful hair and a fat suit. The 'I thought it was fancy dress' is another scene stolen from BJ. Wasn't anywhere near as funny. Poor Saunders probably thought she was giving a humorous performance.
An OK predictable film (the class and the odd pupil). A teacher wouldn't invigilate her class test/exam or interfere in a pupil's family life.
With a different actress or if this one had toned down her performance the film may have been enjoyable.
The locations were beautiful- Windsor I think.
NB one of the most annoying parts? The scene at the door with Ben- over the top. Too much. Please please someone tell her to stop the ridiculous facial expressions and attempts at comedy.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022)
Mrs 'Arris wasn't a likeable character in this adaptation
Why they changed the name of the film goodness knows. There are so many products and people whose names are misspelled, what's wrong with dropping the aitch?
Anyway Lesley Manville is miscast and I couldn't warm to her as I did Angela Lansbury when she played the part.
The acting wasn't too great with the exception of Jason Isaac and Anna Chancellor.
Great seeing shots of London and the great route master bus, but Manville just got on my nerves overdoing the Cockney accent.
Hilarious when she loans the rather large girl her dress and it fits her perfectly- Manville is HALF the size of the other actress
Paul Gallico's book (all his books) are wonderful and there was no need to remake this film after the original with Angela L.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
DA meets Singing in The Rain
What happened to the wonderful plots and script from Mr Fellows? What happened to the cast? They all looked odd and their acting was appalling. I hope there isn't anyone around from MGM to sue Mr F for stealing one of film plots.
Crikey! The plot is predictable (the reason for the inheritance of the villa was obvious), The story of the silent film making is straight from Singing In The Rain. The cast look odd. Carson had heavy make up and a bronzed face (in England and as a butler!). Lord Grantham also has ridiculously bronzed features and looking peculiar- his acting is appalling (especially at 1:14 when he blubs). Mr Bates has lost his limp and looks like his huge head will explode as his collar is too tight. As for Daisy and the actress - oh dear.
It's such a poor film and I'd looked forward to seeing it. Honestly it was hilarious and more like a wonderful Victoria Wood parody. Even Maggie Smith's performance is below par. Poor Sue Johnson is a fright.
The music is OTT too: slushy and sentimental- I could picture the musician watching the film and putting the awful music to the scenes.
Victoria would have been proud NB the scene with Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton (real husband and wife) in the hat shop was very, very silly. An in joke that fell flat. Did Julien Fellows write the script? I can't believe he did.
So the fans were given fairy tale endings for each cast member and well publicised 'death' was of course the 150 year old dowager yet we a little story slipped in thinking it was someone else.
An absolutely terrible film.
Ugly Betty (2006)
First time viewing was great - recent watch not
There are some great lines and comic moments, Unfortunately the 'background' music is extremely annoying and distracting- who thinks the constant music is needed? Film and TV makers take note - we viewers want to HEAR the dialogue.
Anyway, first time around I liked Betty and was rooting for her. This time her high pitched voice is painful and the fact that three men (four) are falling over themselves to have a relationship with her is unbelievable. Her constant eating and taking the food from her her mouth actually made me feel sick
Justin is just too much and Hilda dressing like a (well, as she does) is just ridiculous. The introduction of the annoying French kid was something I decided to skip.
The saviour of the whole show is Vanessa Williams as Willa-MEAN -a.
The Union (2024)
We switched off
Honestly who makes and watches these crap films.
Nothing new - close up shots of Halle Berry (did she order that in her contract?)perfect smile, hair, skin and make up.
Mike's mum needs to get ready for a wedding- does that include more facial work? Mike looks rough and has no money but mum has money for cosmetic work.
If only they made the characters look realistic. Sadly Hollywood looks kick in
We settled down to watch but hated the smiley twee interactions between the two leads. Oh well back to choosing something else.
Sadly the Netflix offerings can be pretty bad and it's gets harder to choose anything decent.
Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation (2023)
Distracted by Grey's face
I'm sure there's a good story there somewhere and I persevered for sometime. Lots of annoying features but mainly the acting.
Sadly Jennifer Grey's facial work is so severe she sadly looks very weird (a little similar to David Beckam's wife). I continued watching until she changed her hair (yikes) and was eating the cake- she could hardly open her moth to get the cake in! The reaction to it was OTT.
Why were the staff no eating the cake - did I miss something?
How I dislike the US show bizz churches with brainwashed followers. I wanted to carry on watching but the weird face was way too much.
Captive State (2019)
Watchable poor against the rich. Same old story
A very watchable film. Fast moving and an interesting story. Although there are aliens, they aren't seen that often, thank goodness.
Good acting by some of the cast and great tensions at times.
It seemed to us viewers that the plot boiled down to the poor, against the rich. Same old story. The relentlessly put upon poor just moan about their circumstances whilst causing trouble and engaging in terrorism and upsetting the lives of hard working people wanting to get on with their lives. Sounds familiar? The 'aliens' in this case are of course those in power/government. Very subtle.
This IS life as we know it. Now and always. Nothing new to see here.
Make Me a Dealer: Krystal and Piers (2018)
A good series depending on the contestants -not this one
Sadly Crystal has done exactly what she set out to do. Be noticed!. Very hyper and she probably needs to cut down on the caffeine. She was shown how to bid discreetly, but no. She yelps as she waves her arm and card about, shrieks when she wins the bid. Giggles like a silly little girl. Jumps and bobs up and down with a chance of black eyes. She shouts out at the auctioneer with a suggested bid. Giggle, giggle, giggle. Shriek, shriek, shriek.
Even when patient Piers bids she's there looking up at him telling him (patronisingly well done you). Is she ever off camera??
If only Little Britain was still around - Matt would have played a great Crystal.
Night of the Demon (1957)
Great film and story. Scary today
I watched this film as a young adult and again throughout the years. .Unlike modern films, there is actually a story and it keeps you gripped.
Do make sure you watch the UK Night of The Demon as it's far superior and unedited. Not the US version.
With a good quality picture it's worth settling down for a great watch. The story moves along quickly and creepy Carswell is pretty intimidating. The scene with the party scared me then and now.
Unlike annoying and loud music in current films, the score really fits the bill.
Dana Andrew's is great. Don't be put off by the date, the film is great, as is the story it's based on.
A Family Affair (2024)
Oh dear. Oh dear, dear, dear. Scary faces
Distracted by the strange looking cast. I don't know Zak Efron but this bloke has the strangest looks- I don't think his face even moved. Are they contacts making his eyes look alien? Acting ability isn't too great either. Kidman looks even odder. How we laughed when his character says to hers 'gee whizz you're her mum? When did you have her, in kindergarten??' No just several face jobs so that I'm barely recognisable and the lines on my face have been been s tr e c h e d.
The actress playing the daughter was just as odd, although her acting was better (a little over the top ).
Wooden acting,, strange faces, Kidman acting like a teenager (I can't get over her poor face). Stale and predictable script. The scene with her trying on the dresses was just to show us how stick thin she still is.
Honestly how was film even made yet alone shown to the public? Did anyone check the rushes first. How long can Kidman take on roles with that face - her acting had gone downhill as well as her looks. I forgot what the film was about I kept wondering about her decision to have work and how she must think she looks fine. It's a sad world when women do this to themselves.
Cleaning Up (2019)
Why all the likes? It's awful. Poor Sheridan she does try
I'm surprised at the positive reviews as this was so bad and Sheridan's acting extremely annoying. I am a fan of hers but she seems to lately choose some daft projects (like the recent collaboration with Rufus Wainwright)). Anyway - first of all her poor face makes viewing difficult as she looks so different and odd; bloated and what's with the pouting? The friend Jess seems to think that acting is about making as many facial expressions as she can. She also exaggerates every movement and gesture. She is very annoying to watch.
Sheridan's character gambles and is in debt (despite being able to afford her many tattoos) . We then see her attempting Insider Trading. She can't afford to feed her family because of the gambling and that seemed even harder to believe. Fake tan, false eyelashes, her kids have smart phones. False/ manicured nails; for a cleaner, hard to believe. Sheridan is a good actress and needs to make better choices, and put a stop to facial work. I also came to hate the winking (something she does on stage) and her doe-eyed looks and smirks are overplayed. They
make you want to slap her face.
Kingdom (2007)
Is there an edited version without the sister?
I wanted to give ten but had to drop a few because the awful actress playing the sister (she's the same in all her roles). I like Stephen Fry - even more now that he's not all over the TV and news. Anyway it's a lovely, gentle series with great plots and wonderful scenery. I watched it when it was first aired and again recently. I was thoroughly enjoying it UNTIL the actress playing the sister appeared. I'd forgotten all about her. She is miscast and difficult to watch as despite her extremely strange features is referred to as 'beautiful'
Stephen Fry is great as Kingdom and a natural actor. His assistant is good too - when he's not overacting (which is most of the time) . I'm currently watching via streaming and thank goodness I can fast forward the silly and irrelevant scenes showing his sister. The male characters all fall over themselves for her, she acts as though she's a great beauty (double yikes) and the episode where she gets her kit off for an art class is plain daft and a waste of screen time. Why on earth is that character even included?
New Tricks (2003)
Enjoyable - but spoiled by a cast member
An enjoyable watch especially as the team are solving old crimes. We see the start of the set up of UCOS and choosing ex Old Bill to work on it.
There are some great stories and some not so great but the characters are relatable and well known English actors (in the early series)
My gripe (and that of most people I know) is the actress playing the boss. She's a good actress but when her character eats, she's no lady. One of the early episodes has her stuffing her face in an Indian restaurant and eating the leftovers of others. OK no big deal but the expressions on her face are ridiculous, as is the scene- she also ordered many dishes that probably do no exist. She actually made me feel ill. We then have her eating again staring at the camera making the most stupid of faces- why? The scenes are irrelevant and bring nowt to the story. The other issue with her is when she smiles- goodness it's strange. Thankfully her character doesn't do it too often.
For a woman in a men's environment she wears clothes that show a lot of cleavage - why?
Brian is my favourite character- but not when he eats. Gerry, played by the late great Dennis Waterman is a great character who says it how it is.
Another gripes ,and an odd issue, is that for a cold case team they often investigated their own choice of case, not those brought from their seniors. How was the team kept on if they had no official cases to solve- an oversight by the writers.
The series changed cast members as time went on and the standard went gradually down - Nicholas Lyndhurst was sorely miscast.
Desperate Measures (2022)
An OK drama despite the over acting of Amanda Abington.
This was OK. A bit of a daft story with stereotypical characters, a baddie with a gun, a dumb drug runner and a dumber school kid. Single mum, short of money, kid somehow gets involved with drug baddies, mum now owes money. Luckily she works in a bank!!!.
It was such a shame that Abington felt the need to overact with the constant ridiculous facial expressions and her over the top touchy/feely actions and baby references to her teenage son. Actually he lapped it up which is odd - usually it'd be a 'gerrof' if mum tries to cuddle a teenage lad, and call him darling. She was always cupping his face in her hands and hugging him tightly. Too much. In most scenes she was putting all she learned in acting school into her performance - it makes it so unnatural, forced and a 'look at me, I'm acting'. She's a good actress and doesn't need to do thiis.
The outstanding actor in this series was Sunetra - playing Abington's work colleague . An understated, natural performance. No over acting, Nothing to annoy viewers.
Despite the appalling acting of the son (can't recall his name) and the ridiculous baddie, this it was watchable, if daft. Abington needs to curb her annoying facial expressions as they were a distraction.
Hobson's Choice (1954)
A gem of a film - just as films should be
An absolutely delight of a film. So much humour and wonderful lines and acting. I'd watched Little Women before it, with the smarmy, sickly sweet March girls and needed something realistic.
The bickering sisters, the horrible and comical dad and the absolutely wonderful Will Mossop played by the great John Mills.
There are so many wonderful scenes. I love it when Mr Hobson is sharpening his carving knife awaiting his dinner - hidden under a serving dome, only to be shown 'jellied tongue'. Maggie is great and I just love her and her brash but caring ways.
It's such a great film and a shame that classics like this are no longer made.
Trial & Retribution: Shooter: Part 1 (2009)
Poor episode to end a good series on
The series was good to start with. Two part stories that actually seemed to go on forever. Good storylines but so many longwinded, unnecessary scenes.
Sadly Mike is still around, hands in pockets playing the tough but short cop. This episode was very convoluted with some poor acting by the Belkin family. Sally Alexander (had to look her name up from the cast) is playing the stereotypical matriarch of the thug family. Chewing whatever it is she is chewing and speaking with an accent that seems like she's auditioning for Eastenders. Every scene she overacts and towards the end we all burst out laughing.
To be honest we lost interest as the the story was so unbelievable it was laughable.