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Bird (1704 KP) rated Prison Break in TV

Nov 29, 2024  
Prison Break
Prison Break
2005 | Action, Crime, Drama
8
8.3 (35 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
A Riveting Ride with a Few Bumps:
Prison Break is a show that deserves its reputation as one of the most exciting and original dramas of its time. While not without its flaws, the series delivers a thrilling mix of suspense, clever plotting, and character-driven storytelling that keeps you invested throughout its run. With an intriguing premise and a solid cast, it’s easy to see why Prison Break has garnered such a devoted fanbase.

The standout feature of Prison Break is undoubtedly its core premise. The idea of a structural engineer, Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller), intentionally landing himself in prison to break out his falsely accused brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), is fascinating. The execution of Michael’s plan, complete with hidden clues in his tattooed body map, is both ingenious and fun to watch unfold. The first season, in particular, excels at building tension as Michael carefully navigates the treacherous world of Fox River Penitentiary, laying the groundwork for the escape. It’s a slow burn at times, but the payoff is worth it.

The cast is another highlight. Wentworth Miller’s calm and calculated performance as Michael is captivating, and Dominic Purcell brings a solid, if sometimes overly stoic, presence to Lincoln. Robert Knepper steals the show as Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell, delivering a performance that’s equal parts chilling and oddly charismatic. Supporting characters like Sucre (Amaury Nolasco) and Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies) add warmth and heart to balance the often dark and gritty tone of the series.

However, the show isn’t without its flaws. While the first season is nearly airtight in its storytelling, later seasons can feel uneven. The second season’s shift to a manhunt format is exhilarating but occasionally stretches believability, with some plot twists feeling more like conveniences than organic developments. As the series progresses, the introduction of larger conspiracies and shadowy organisations adds scale but also detracts from the grounded tension that made the first season so compelling. By the time you reach the third and fourth seasons, the narrative occasionally veers into melodrama and over-the-top scenarios, which may pull some viewers out of the experience.

The pacing can also be hit or miss. While some episodes are packed with heart-pounding tension, others feel like filler, particularly in the later seasons. The show sometimes leans too heavily on cliffhangers, which can feel manipulative rather than earned. Additionally, while the cast is strong overall, some characters, like Lincoln, can come across as one-dimensional at times, and a few storylines feel underdeveloped or rushed.

That said, Prison Break is undeniably entertaining. Its gritty atmosphere, clever plotting, and high-stakes drama make it a standout among action-thrillers. The relationships between characters, particularly Michael and Lincoln’s unshakable brotherly bond, give the series emotional weight. Even with its flaws, the show’s twists and turns keep you engaged, and there’s a palpable sense of satisfaction when long-brewing plans come to fruition.

In summary, Prison Break is a fantastic watch, especially for fans of crime dramas and action-packed thrillers, though it occasionally falters under the weight of its ambition. It’s an 8/10 for me—hugely enjoyable, if not always perfect. While it may not stick the landing as well as it starts, the journey is more than worth taking.
  
Marvel's Luke Cage  - Season 1
Marvel's Luke Cage - Season 1
2016 | Sci-Fi
Homage to the comic books (1 more)
Not too much dwelling on back story
Stretched out (0 more)
As with the other series on Netflix (more notably Jesse Jones), I felt this series was a little dragged out to the agreed 13 episodes.
The story is good with Luke playing the underdog well, and the different setting of Harlem worked well.
My favourite moment was in the flashback after Luke escaped from Seagate prison and ended up dressed like the 70s comic equivalent for a brief moment
  
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Jenn (4 KP) rated American Gods in Books

Jul 9, 2017  
American Gods
American Gods
Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
Intricate Story, suprising twist (0 more)
If you've seen the TV Show, might not be as grandeur (0 more)
If you're a Mythology fan, this is an excellent book
When you enter the world through Shadow's eyes, you go from something simple like being recently released from prison to something much more explosive (discovering the world is much more complicated than you thought. All in all, it is a great fiction for someone that likes drabs of mythology, intricate character development, and throw backs of history.
  
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Dork_knight74 (881 KP) created a post

Jul 12, 2018  
Watched a new Netflix original called "Tau". It's a sci-fi thriller about a girl (Maika Monroe) kidnapped by a scientist to experiment on her, coding AI from peoples emotions. She escapes his prison but ends up stuck in his house under the scientist's watch with the assistance of his AI controlled house. Very good acting and story. The effects were pretty impressive and the cinematography was very well done. Netflix continues to make very good original content. Worth a watch!
     
Show all 5 comments.
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Andy K (10823 KP) Jul 13, 2018

https://smashbomb.com/s/tau

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Dork_knight74 (881 KP) Jul 16, 2018

Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it!

Tau (2018)
Tau (2018)
2018 | Sci-Fi, Thriller
Watched a new Netflix original called "Tau". It's a sci-fi thriller about a girl (Maika Monroe) kidnapped by a scientist to experiment on her, coding AI from peoples emotions. She escapes his prison but ends up stuck in his house under the scientist's watch with the assistance of his AI controlled house. Very good acting and story. The effects were pretty impressive and the cinematography was very well done. Netflix continues to make very good original content. Worth a watch!
  
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Ben (2351 KP) rated Walk the Line (2005) in Movies

Apr 10, 2020 (Updated Apr 10, 2020)  
Walk the Line (2005)
Walk the Line (2005)
2005 | Drama
Great acting (1 more)
Great singing
A very good film about the life of Johnny Cash
A great biopic that follows the life and career of Johnny Cash. It follows the singer from his early life growing up in Arkansas until his famous performance at Folsom prison. Brilliant lead performances from Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter make this movie a good watch for anyone, even if your not a big fan of Johnny Cash.

I’d highly recommend!
  
AA
An American Cage
Ted Galdi | 2017
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Danny Marsh is serving time in a maximum security prison in Texas. His cellmate, Phil Zorn, along with his good friend Monty Montgomery all decide to make an escape from prison and head to Mexico. But, as these things go, the plan did not go as it should and quickly decisions had to be made on the fly. Will the trio make it to Mexico, or will they be caught and forced to spend even more time behind bars?

Thank you to Ted Galdi and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the second book I have read by Ted Galdi. His first book, [bc:Elixir|22849611|Elixir|Ted Galdi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406903898s/22849611.jpg|41253131], was very good as well.

For most of his life Danny Marsh has run from his problems. But one night, he makes a mistake that he can't run from. Even though Danny is only charged with a minor crime, he is sent to a maximum security prison in East Texas. This is not a place Danny is doing well. When his cellmate, Phil come up with the plan for escape, Danny agrees so that he can get out of this place. But Danny learns a lot more about his "friend" once they are on the outside. Taking matters into his own hands, Danny finds a way to make it through the situation his been forced in to, alive.

This book is very hard to put down. I got through it quickly and I could feel myself right there along with Danny trying to find the place between right and wrong and good and evil.

Highly recommended.
  
Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)
Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)
Catherine Fisher | 2007 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Original Review posted on <a title="Incarceron" href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-incarceron-by-catherine-fisher.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>

Note: Formatting may be lost due to copy and paste.

      I didn't think I would like Incarceron. The synopsis wasn't very appealing during the selection at the book club meeting. The only thing that I found appealing was the very fact that a prison is "alive" and has a mind of it's own.

     Finn is one of the prisoners of Incarceron, with no memories whatsoever from his childhood and believes that he has not been a part of Incarceron his entire life as others say. The Warden's Daughter, Claudia, is trying to escape an arranged marriage as a part of a scheme she doesn't want to be a part of for certain reasons and claims that Finn is from the Outside.

     Both Claudia's and Finn's views are from separate "worlds" but they both eventually cross-sect each other. I would be lying if I said I liked Claudia's view over Finn. Finn's view, however gloomy his life may seem, is more adventurous with avoiding the Winglord and trying to find an escape route from Incarceron. Claudia's view, on the other hand, seems to be more of... avoiding schemes and wanting no part of it after she finds out the end results.

     Despite the fact that the end was, in fact, spoiled away by one of my friends, I thoroughly enjoyed Incarceron. Catherine Fisher creates a fictional world in a supposed paradise of an animate prison built from centuries ago (I would love to see the prison myself... minus the conditions... of course).