jgarbuz-1

I didn't think I was going to like it and was not overly impressed by the pilot, but kept going and it turned out much better than I could have hoped. I usually am a stickler for movies based on my favorite books sticking close to the original storyline, and while this deviated a bit it was not not by much, and the changes actually added rather than subtracting from the points in this epic 1931 epic sci fi classic. I think all who have read it and are quite familiar with the story will be pleasantly surprised as it goes on. I recommend watching it while it's still for free, and even if you have to pay a bit. I think it;'s worth it.

I never read the books but played the video games, and Witcher 3 in particular was the best video game i have ever played out of the perhaps 700 or so I have played over the last nearly 30 years. Naturally I had high hopes that this time, and with all the hype, a movie or series would finally capture the essence and "feel" of this incredible epic role playing game. Of course I was meant to be disappointed.yet again, How could that even have been possible.Loved the video games; did not care for the series so far. Gave it a "7" anyway but really not worth more than a "5" and really sorry to have to say.

This brief description is not meant to be any kind of review, but merely an expression of why I found it disappointing. For one thing, I have so far only watched the first 4 episodes it couldn't be comprehensive even if I had intended it to but just an expression of my impressions.

For one thing, I don't find the characters believable and mostly just uttering their lines. Except for Geralt, they barely resemble the characters in the video games. Marigold Tress is supposed to have flaming red hair and be a beauty. The story of the evolution of Yennefer is of course totally a "chick flick" kind of appendage. These are the two main "romantically attached" figures in the video games. These stories are very "discombobulated" but my primary objection is that there just isn't enough action. At least 20 minutes of every 60 minute episode should have been Geralt doing pure high adrenaline pumping fight action. We got a taste of it, but certainly not enough to satisfy a male video game player. And this the main audience that Netflix was trying to attract no? Sure we wanted the underlying story of the Witcher finding and then losing and searching for Ciri for some reason, which I presume will come out near the end of the series. But as usual they kill all video game based movies by too much blah blah blah, and too little heart pumping action. That is why they invariably fail in their mission. Which should be to satisfy the video game playing audience which is the core audience. I hope the second season puts it on the right course, It's supposed to be an action-packed fantasy adventure series not another long "chick flick" heart rendering series, in my view. If it doesn't stress action with Geralt tracking down and killing monsters and other evil doers, it will have missed the point. And the series will flounder and magically disappear faster than it should have.

Even now in 2019, a full decade after the series came to an end, I still watch Monk reruns. Simply one of the most brilliant series ever produced in America for US TV. If you liked Columbo, you'll love Monk. If you loved Columbo, you will become a Monk cultist for life.