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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Elmet in Books
Sep 30, 2017
Grim, intense and brutal
This is a rather disturbing and intense book, written in the point of a view of a young teenage boy, who describes his life and how he has ended up homeless and in search of his sister. It is a rather grim look at some aspects of British gangster culture, a feudal system, with a landowner exploiting the vulnerable through violent means.
It is gory, and grim for the majority of the book, which describes the boy living with a father, a hired thug who has escaped that lifestyle, and a scrappy sister, living off the grid. It is well written, even though I don't think it is Man Booker Prize worthy.
It is gory, and grim for the majority of the book, which describes the boy living with a father, a hired thug who has escaped that lifestyle, and a scrappy sister, living off the grid. It is well written, even though I don't think it is Man Booker Prize worthy.
Peter Shephard (2822 KP) rated Red Dwarf in TV
Jun 2, 2019
Some of the best British TV moments
Red dwarf is one of my all time favourite TV shows. The chemistry between the characters, particularly Rimmer and Lister, is sublime. The first season was a really good introduction, but in my opinion has not aged too well. There are still some absolutely brilliant moments, but the series feels very much like its finding its feet. Season three to six are some of the greatest TV episodes I've ever seen, and Season five and Six in particular are excellent. Season 7 and 8 were so-so, and the later ones were starting to return to some of the old magic.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Kill List (2012) in Movies
Feb 11, 2018
Brutal
A very good film...in the end and a bit odd as well. The first 20mins I found very slow and dull. I was worried this could be a low budget shocker that was over hyped. Once the film got going though it is pretty relentless until the end. The violence is very brutal, gritty and disturbing. For once in a film it was quite realistic. The only down side was the twist towards the end which left many questions unanswered. Maybe a film that needs to be watched more than once to get a better understanding of it. Overall a good British thriller that will last long in the memory after viewing.
Otway93 (580 KP) rated Clockwise (1986) in Movies
Oct 21, 2019 (Updated Oct 21, 2019)
Cast (2 more)
Humour
Concept
Excellent, but hasn't aged well.
Not one of John Cleese's best films, but a good one nonetheless.
Clockwise is a very typical road-trip comedy, but from before everybody was doing it.
The plot can be summed up as A-B, hijinx along the way etc., as I said: very typical. But as this is John Cleese it stands apart from the typical road trip comedy, with classic British humour (not for everyone, but I love it), and a protagonist not unlike Cleese's Basil Fawlty character.
Unfortunately the film hasn't aged well, most of the predicaments could be easily solved with modern technology, and the film certainly shows its age.
Clockwise is a very typical road-trip comedy, but from before everybody was doing it.
The plot can be summed up as A-B, hijinx along the way etc., as I said: very typical. But as this is John Cleese it stands apart from the typical road trip comedy, with classic British humour (not for everyone, but I love it), and a protagonist not unlike Cleese's Basil Fawlty character.
Unfortunately the film hasn't aged well, most of the predicaments could be easily solved with modern technology, and the film certainly shows its age.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Terrornauts (1967) in Movies
Oct 20, 2019
Almost wholly inept British sci-fi B-movie. Aliens abduct a shed containing two astronomers, their secretary, an accountant, and the institute's tea lady in order to secure their help in repelling an attack on the Earth.
Starts slow, is dull in the middle, gets very silly towards the end (it's the kind of movie which seems to assume that the audience for SF films is made up of very young children and congenital idiots). Production values and special effects manage to be even worse than you'd expect, but deserves such a low score mainly because it doesn't contain a single interesting or original idea. Every bit as poor as its reputation would suggest.
Starts slow, is dull in the middle, gets very silly towards the end (it's the kind of movie which seems to assume that the audience for SF films is made up of very young children and congenital idiots). Production values and special effects manage to be even worse than you'd expect, but deserves such a low score mainly because it doesn't contain a single interesting or original idea. Every bit as poor as its reputation would suggest.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Ford v Ferrari (aka Le Mans '66) (2019) in Movies
Jan 21, 2020 (Updated Jan 21, 2020)
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!!!!!
I finally got the chance to watch this movie and oh boy it was excellent, the chemistry between Bale and Damon is phenomenal, the plot is fantastic, the racing is like your actaully their. James Mangold did a perfect job directing this movie.
The Plot: American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
A must watch film, if you havent seen it yet.
The Plot: American automotive designer Carroll Shelby and fearless British race car driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford Motor Co. Together, they plan to compete against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
A must watch film, if you havent seen it yet.
The story (1 more)
The flashback scenes
A drama full of twists and turns
Dr. Tom Delaney (played with a convincing British accent by Michael C Hall) lives with his daughters in a gated community, but following a party when a young lad is found dead in a swimming pool and Tom's daughter goes missing life begins to unravel for the residents of the exclusive area.
Twists, turns, red herrings and surprises galore in this 8 episode series where it is almost impossible to guess what might come next. Until it smacks you in the face...
It took a couple of episodes to really get going but once it did, it didn't hold back...
Twists, turns, red herrings and surprises galore in this 8 episode series where it is almost impossible to guess what might come next. Until it smacks you in the face...
It took a couple of episodes to really get going but once it did, it didn't hold back...
Erika (17789 KP) rated Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded in Books
Feb 1, 2020
This novel is commonly known as the first true English novel, as well as the first epistolary novel. I've taken numerous British and English Literature classes, but had not been introduced to this novel until I studied in England and took an English novel class taught by a German professor who learned English solely so he could read Shakespeare in the vernacular. I'm glad that this prof included this wonderful novel. It was a nice change from just assigning Jane Eyre and Great Expectations.
It's an interesting study on Pamela, and spawned so many great, satirical novels. This is definitely a must read if you like classic literature and enjoy reading the novels that shaped the literature of today.
It's an interesting study on Pamela, and spawned so many great, satirical novels. This is definitely a must read if you like classic literature and enjoy reading the novels that shaped the literature of today.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Legend of Hell House (1973) in Movies
Mar 21, 2020
Broodingly effective British horror movie is strikingly unlike anything else of its time - not much resemblance to a movie by Hammer, or Amicus, or AIP. Four people move into a haunted house for a week; their beliefs about the supernatural vary, but they are forced to agree there is something funny about the place...
Understated, almost pseudo-documentary atmosphere works in the film's favour; the actors also know to underplay it until the big histrionics are required. Unsettling soundtrack by radiophonic genii Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson is a major plus. The script goes a bit nuts towards the end (don't think too hard about the plot) but the journey to get to this point is more than worthwhile.
Understated, almost pseudo-documentary atmosphere works in the film's favour; the actors also know to underplay it until the big histrionics are required. Unsettling soundtrack by radiophonic genii Delia Derbyshire and Brian Hodgson is a major plus. The script goes a bit nuts towards the end (don't think too hard about the plot) but the journey to get to this point is more than worthwhile.
David McK (3576 KP) rated The Lost Outlaw (Jack Lark #8) in Books
Apr 12, 2020
8th entry in Paul Fraser Collard's 'Jack Lark' series - originally dubbed as The Talented Mr Ripley meets Sharpe - and, this time, we're in Wild West territory with Jack joining a cotton convoy down from the Southern US States into Mexico.
Jack remains as compelling an protagonist as ever, having now fought on both sides of the American Civil War and throughout the British colonies (the series started in Alma), although now his past is beginning to tell - he is no longer as cocksure, as certain of himself as before and is suffering from nightmares over all he has witnessed.
And, yes, the finale does very much resemble Rorke's Drift - even the author states as much!
Jack remains as compelling an protagonist as ever, having now fought on both sides of the American Civil War and throughout the British colonies (the series started in Alma), although now his past is beginning to tell - he is no longer as cocksure, as certain of himself as before and is suffering from nightmares over all he has witnessed.
And, yes, the finale does very much resemble Rorke's Drift - even the author states as much!