voigaswolpertinger

I came across this Neflix show by accident, since I am not a subscriber, it was mentioned in a local paper, that our very own Austrian Special Forces "Jagdkommando" are featured in an episode (the alpine one).

I don't know if this is on purpose, but the chemistry of the three former operators makes quite some fun TV. Dean from SBS is the silent/quiet professional, Cameron the Ranger is the allrounder and a fair bit younger than the other two. Ryan, a former US Navy SEAL comes off a bit loud and over-confident at first, but even he fits in nicely.

Of course they could not go on real missions, but the couple of days of specialized training were depicted fine and the final missions usually went well. We get to see all environments imaginable, from the Desert, to Jungles and the Arctic.

If there's a second season, I'd love to see the Jagdkommandos Swiss equivalent, AAD24 or the German KSK in the mix, maybe the SF of Denmark and the Royal Thai Navy SEALs too. Good on you producers, it's not award winning TV, but at 40 minutes per episode it does it's job of entertaining and giving some insight, without offering up any op-sec relevant information.

Recently I was re-watching all of the Ong Bak trilogy and found it much better than a decade ago. Obviously part one is a milestone and true classic of martial arts movies. The 2nd installement was set in a different time and thus did not feature modern muay thai/muay boran. For part 2 I recommend, to try and get hold of the european cut, that runs about 20 minutes longer, than the theatrical version. Then we come to this here part three. Yes, it's the weakest of the trilogy, yes it cannot live up to what most of us fans hoped for. BUT, it's not half as bad, as some people want you to think. I am not Thai, so I need to watch it with subtitles, but it's still giving me joy, when I understand part of the conversation. And concerning the "lack of action" that some reviewers mentioned before me, the first part of the movie is really rather historic or telling the background, but the final twenty minutes, are outstanding. And to combine classical siamese dance moves with muay thai/muay boran is not an easy feat, the coreography is beautiful in my personal view.

Just take it for what it is and enjoy, don't try to find a deeper truth within.

I do not write many reviews, usually when I am really blown away or feel that a movie or show is treated/viewed unfair or too harsh.

When I read about the book "the sympathizer" was being adapted into a mini series, it was thrilling. It was a great read and kept me awake for a few nights.

Episode 1 of the tv show was okay, followed by two serious letdowns. The fourth episode made up for it in certain aspects, somehow it was a parody on a previous parody, starring Robert Downey Jr, named "Tropic Thunder". Coming to that actor, is where I personally see the whole problem with the sympathizer show. It appears to be a vanity project for Iron Man. He takes on multiple roles but excells in none, aside from the weird movie director. Neither his CIA spook nor the cultural sucker professor are well done.

So, why even give it a five out of ten? For the 1st and 4th episode, for it being a show set in cool locations and including dark moments in history. Overall tho, I have to force myself to keep on watching, not looking forward to soak up the next episode.