DavMeg909

I'm not particularly keen on reality TV but I've now watched every version of The Circle from around the world - the 2 seasons of the original UK show (ages ago), and, more recently the US, Brazil and French editions.

To be honest, I can't talk about the UK ones because I watched them so long ago that all I really remember is that they were unexpectedly brilliant, but can't remember enough details to really compare them to the other versions.

I just finished this French version and, honestly, it was just brilliant. Definitely my favourite of the non-UK ones. Every episode had something, and that finale had me in actual hysterics. Such vivid characters, lots of scheming and tactics, and I found that most episodes I changed my mind about who I wanted to win or leave the show.

Ultimately, it was good to see that, for the most part, all the players seemed to be nice people - perhaps not always in the game, but certainly outside it. It's always great to see the online personas and feuds disappear so quickly once the real players have been revealed, and generally the players can appreciate each other and their respective game plans, etc.

Basically I needed to rant about this show because no one I know has watched it and it was so good I needed to vent!

PS did you know that ALL versions of The Circle are filmed in the location of the original Circle UK - in the same block of flats (apartments) in Manchester, England? #nowyouknow

When I saw the trailer for this in the cinema ages ago, I thought it looked like just the sort of film I fancied watching and relaxing to - I'm really not a major action junkie but I can appreciate well co-ordinated stunts and fight scenes. However, when I heard terrible reviews about it, I was really disappointed and decided against going to see it in the cinema (the IMDb rating was much lower than it's current 6.something when I first checked).

I did, though, buy it recently for £3 and thought I'd give it a try. I gotta say it's just what I hoped it would be.. Look, there's obviously not gonna be any incredible, unpredictable storyline in a film like this, that's just not what it's about. Anyone who watches these types of films should know that the HUGE likelihood is that you'll know the entire plot before you've watched 2 minutes of it. But in this sort of movie, it's not about what happens, it's about how it happens and watching it unfold in an entertaining way.

Maybe it's just because I was expecting it to be awful after the reviews I'd read, but I honestly was very happily surprised by it. The fight scenes (which is what most people will watch this for - other than the bodies on show, which are also pretty top-notch) are really impressive. The storyline, while predictable, is capable of carrying your attention through the film without just waiting for the next big fight scene. The Martial-Art instructor guy adds a welcome second-dimension to the film, even without having as much screen time as we might hope for from an actor with such screen-presence.

Realistically speaking, if you're gonna watch a film like this, there are only a few things that you're really hoping for. I would say that this film pretty much delivers on all those things. It's fun, fast-paced and offers some really good fight scenes.

If you usually hate films like this, you'll hate this. Don't bother with it. If you, like me, saw the trailer and thought it looked just up your street, it probably is.