Reviews
Frasier (2023)
Nowhere at the level of the original
Matching the original series was always going to be a tough one. However, the main deficiency in my opinion is to do with the supporting characters. In the original show we had 4 supporting regular characters, each of which was an independent force to be reckoned with. They were original and interesting. That is why there wasn't much need to bring guest roles. The different combination of interactions and personality clashes amongst the 5, coupled with the superb writing and acting, was enough to entertain. The characters in the new show are uninteresting at best with very little depth and appeal to the extent that they cannot hold a scene in their own right. It ultimately all falls on the shoulders of Mr Grammer. Unrealistic and clowny characters such as Nigel's son and Moose the fireman, cheapen the show and suggest that the writing is not able to do its job. Frasier's son and the waitress do not have the potential for interesting content. It will never lead to anything like the great Frasier and Ross chemistry. On the plus side, it has been refreshing to see Ross and Lilith guest star.
Perfil falso (2023)
A Writing Mess
I think that what they spent on locations they saved on hiring proper writers. The scenery is breathtaking but that is all there is. The original plot is interesting and enticing. However, they spend too much time on parties and sex scenes and then seem to run out of time to unravel everything. The last episode is like an editing disaster. The acting is atrocious, except maybe for the actress playing the wife and the young gigolo waiter. All others are like glossy cardbord figurines. Very beautiful indeed but as shallow and unbelievable as they can be. However, I doubt even good actors could have done much better with such abismal writing. The final scene is a complete joke and if it is the prelude to a second season, we have to expect comedy.
The Diplomat (2023)
Great Plot and Performances. Mediocre Writing
The plot is very interesting and current. It can be a minefield for a long series. The main actress was brilliant in The Americans. Main reason I started watching. However, unlike The Americans, this show is one of those where drama is lightened up with a few comedic secondary (luckily!) characters and scenes that really negate the main narrative. At first, the unique relationship between the Ambassador and her husband comes accross as interesting and intriguing. However, it starts getting a bit too unreal with the husband becoming so laid back it is almost impossible to see him as ever having had a serious career in politics. The main two problems I see are: The main character is not hugely likable and (at least until episode 5) still obscure as to what drives her. It isn't easy to relate to her as a result. Whilst certain mystery can be good, at some point, you start withdrawing your unreserved loyalty and that can be a huge downer when it is the principal subject of the show. Secondly, the writers appear to be up-to-speed in some important UK foreign policy topics but why do they fall in that endless cliche trap of portraying all British characters as starchy snobby with posh accents drinking tea and having biscuits!!! Good example is the stereotypical uptight and sneering housekeeper. Do some more research! A Brit in a high political office would never speak to his team and express himself in public (esp in front of foreign alley officials) anywhere near the way that the Prime Minister on the show does. It takes away a lot in return for what might be a rather lame "funny" moment.
My Policeman (2022)
Disappointing Adaptation
Having read the book, I thought the film was badly scripted. Nice scenery and great acting especially by Gina McKee. However, Styles was not a good casting in my opinion. The original character, in whose essence the whole plot revolves, was nowhere captured in the film. He was initially more outgoing, butch and, in a nice way, pretentious. Hence why Marion sees him like unapproachable and way out of her league. This hardly comes across in the film which also misses a lot of Tom's viewpoints and internal struggle. This is essential to understand some of the key moments of the plot, which, in the film, pass inadvertedly by the viewer.
Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)
Disappointing Writing for Wolf's standards
I am a die-hard fan of the original Law & Order. Unlike with any other series I have watched, I can see reruns over and over. I have also liked L&O SVU from the start. Given the limited remit of SVU, I have always thought the topics would eventually dry out. No such thing. Even where situations have been very similar, each episode deals with things differently and reaches a unique ending with an also unique message.
What I like the most about the L&O franchise is the writing. Nothing is over explicit. The scenes are very efficient. As a viewer this encourages me to use my intellect a bit. As for the overarching stories, I believe this efficient writing rewards regular watchers that come to know the stories from the regular and recurring characters little by little, as often happens in real life. A subtle -almost blink-and-you-miss-it- look from Turtuola to Benson can mean so much to a regular viewer who knows their story and their relationship well. This gives the audience almost a role of complicity that enhances the viewing experience.
The acting is extraordinary too. All actors, regular and guests, do justice to the writing. In particular, the roles created by Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni and Sam Waterstone are as perfectly defined and credible as any other person one might know well. Again, it is the little by little that we have gathered throughout the years that make them feel like real life acquaintances. I can't have enough of them.
Loosing Stabler many seasons ago was a big blow. I personally think, none of the other attempts to bring a sizable male counterpart for Benson worked. Stabler is Stabler! So, of course bringing him back was fantastic news. Brilliant character and brilliant actor. With his own spin-off, even better! However, having watched now every episode of L&W OC, I feel the writing is subpar. So far, we have seen Stabler face three different cartels. The story for each appears to be the same but with different faces, ie Elliot going undercover, bedding or entertaining the Mafia boss' wife, becoming the second in command of the cartel leader, Stabler presumed to be in trouble with the justice law system, disobeying his boss to successfully follow a hunch....and then, and more annoyingly, Benson's gravitas in everything that happens with Stabler!
Part of the subtlety referred to earlier about the writing was the attraction between Benson and Stabler and the associated tension. That was a good ingredient. Unique in that it never crystallised. Now, with his status as widower, it is only natural that more can be explored there. However, it is becoming too obvious and exploited and dragged on for too long. I personally would prefer that they keep them apart but, if they are to be together, go ahead and join them once and for all. The tension has now disappeared and the relationship becoming a cliché "Who is the Boss" stereotype. The writers need to find some new ideas. I like the whole concept of him trying to keep his house together and bringing back his mother and children. I hope this continues. But please, stop this trend to turn Benson and Stable into some middle age version of Romeo and Juliet.
Riviera (2017)
Should have been just one season
I would have given it 10 points prior to the last episode of season 1. From then on, this appears to have been written by complete amateurs. Nothing makes sense. Worst of all is the third season which haa no relation whatsoever with the show so far. The main character, Georgina, goes from being an art expert to an internarional super heroe with complete pointless agenda. Don't even get me started on the other characters. That ridiculous rosary storyline, the governor who can appoint succesors by simple power of attorney to his son (the power of attorney remains in place even beyond death! Come on! Do a little bit of minimal legal and constitutional research), those aimless twins reappearing out of the blue.... the acting is simply atrocious only beatable by the writing...if it weren't for the sceneries, this would fail even the most basic 1st year TV productio course....
La catedral del mar (2018)
Just read the book
I read the book and loved it. It is a very good combination of well documented historic background and gripping fiction. However, I find the show very disappointing. The acting is very poor. Most of the actors are not versed in period drama and the old-style Spanish does not come naturally to them. Also the acting is extremely one-dimensional. The characters are either complete villains who will not even say hello without a sneer or complete naïve morons. This starchy bipolarity makes the crude scenes look more unreal.
The Beguiled (2017)
Disappointing Waste of Good Cinematography
The photography is stunning and acting by the female cast was good. That is about all that is not wrong with this movie. Colin Farrell's work leaves a lot to be desired and resembles more a character from the Pirates of the Caribbean. Then the pace of the film is so erratic. It drags on and on some scenes and then all of a sudden a new scene comes where we assume that days have passed from last one but then you get someone saying something about it being the same day
It seems like rushed editing under pressure to stick everything in 1.5 hours while at the same time not speeding things up in some scenes. Not sure what they were attempting to do. Shame though as most of the material is beautiful.
Atlantis (2013)
Huge disappointment
Had seen so much publicity about it and always been fascinated by the legend, so I decided to tune in. From the very start you can tell there has been a lot of money invested in it but it simply comes across as so....plastic.....The wardrobe, to start with, is so clinical, so obviously taylor-made and impeccable. Even the spots are tidy and laboured...so is the set. Completely artificial. Some of the swords are so brand new that you cannot help but try and see if you can spot the price tag. That is all really secondary because the acting is amateur at best....The characters sound so colloquial and modern, so posed.....I would only save Juliet Stevenson and bin the rest! Mark Addy is a mythological Del Boy and his comedy-like performance is completely inappropriate for this genre....
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
Big Disappointment
I watched this movie last night and found it a complete disappointment. I read the book and whilst I thought the idea was original (although very badly documented), I found the ending was one of the most stupid ones in history. The film struggled to make sense of everything in the book in 2.5 hours and in doing so, makes the characters spit out all deductions in a very unreal way. It might be that what makes acting (even from T Hanks and Sir Ian) look so poor. Good part of the audience had left before halfway down the movie. Its not unwantchable but extremely disappointed, so I guess best thing if you are going to watch its have no big hopes. The adaptation is incredibly mediocre, in my view, and so unbelievable.
The Grudge (2004)
Dreadful
I watched this movie last night and woke up this morning thinking "there is nothing I can do to get me back those 2 hours of eyesore, but I will feel a bit better if I can warn other potential victims" so decided to post my comment here. Absolutely silly from beginning to end! Being a fan of scary movies, I think I have seen them all, but this is by far the worst. What was the Director thinking about??? And I just saw Sarah Michael [whatever her other name is] come to London to promote that movie! I feel sorry for her. I would be so embarrassed to go into a private viewing of this movie if I had been on it. From the very beginning, this ridiculous figure/silhouette/stain appearing chasing people (some hardly related with the house) was so bizarre! And what's with Sarah M... washing her hair and getting some weird sort of bars coming out of the back of her head??? What on Earth has that to do with a dead person haunting the house. At the end, you can imagine what is supposed to be happening thanks to the [third] restatement of the opening thought (something along the lines of "where some one dies full of rage, they leave some sort of jinx...") Dreadful, dreadful! Acting was so poor. Perhaps the leading lady has done so much vampire hunting that she could not put on a credible face projecting fear or surprise. I can only think that this was created on the basis of some Oriental approach to thrillers unknown in the western hemisphere. I only give it one point as I must admit jumping from my seat a few times at the beginning (the background music was good). What a huge fiasco!
Estefanía (1979)
Excellent Series
I remember this series when I was a kid. It was very well written and the cast was superb. It focused on the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez in Venezuela and more specifically on his Head of National Police Force (Seguridad Nacional), Pedro Estrada. I understand that the script is very close to reality and the different characters, albeit fictional for the most, did resemble situations that were common those days. The main character was played by actress Pierina Espana who later retired from acting. I believe after over 30 years of democracy, reruns are being shown at present and that the current government feels a bit alluded. I am not sure if this show was ever translated.
Dynasty (1981)
Great Tribute to the 80's
I loved this show and I think I will love it forever. It was beauty and luxury at its best. People may criticise it on the grounds that the situations were unbelievable and acting was stiff, I think that was the only way the show could work and become what it undeniably became: unique. Dynasty was a shrine to the excesses of the 80's. Probably nobody was too natural back then, so the cast should be given credit for adopting a pace that suited the show and that was key to its success. Ratings might have sunk, but that is always bound to happen. However, almost 20 years later and the show always gives plenty to talk about, is synonym of luxury (even for people who did not follow the show or weren't even born then). That must be worth something. I am sure anyone you ask is likely to know who Alexis Carrington is. I truly wish these days there would be shows were you could see beautiful women (of all ages - even if they had tons of make-up ans stuff) an immaculate scenery and splendid props. Dynasty - in ts kind - was perfection and the best A Spelling has produced in my opinion. Pamela Sue Martin, Pamela Bellwood and Katherine leaving the cast was a big blow I think, but - personally - did not stop remaining hooked. Only no no was the UFO (let's ignore that).
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
Good Laugh
I remember watching this movie over and over again when I was a kid. I loved it. Whilst I haven't watched it recently, I am sure I would enjoy it just the same today. Its a very light funny movie guaranteed to make anyone laugh. The situations with each one of the characters were so funny and imaginative! I particularly liked the one with the girl traveling with her mother's ashes (who ends up picking them up on the highway after the explosion) , the robbers and the nuns. This nice humour style is much missed these days. Also, this movie proved that actor Paul Keenan (Dynasty/Days of our Lives) was off to a great start. I recommend it to anyone lucky enough to find it in their local video shop.
Manuela Sáenz (2000)
in the previous text
Very disappointing work -- such a rich real life character and story is very far from being honoured by this movie. Anyone not knowing much about Bolívar, Latin American history or Manuela Sáenz will definitely get the opposite view to what is basic knowledge. Needless to say photography is very poor and production incredibly mediocre. Diego Rísquez has always stood as one of the most talented directors in Venezuela - no idea what happened this time.