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Chloe (514 KP) rated The Good Doctor in TV
Mar 7, 2019
really enjoyable
The first season is amazing it has anything you could want out f a good medical drama:
- a quirky main character
-well developed secondary characters
-lots of gory medical scenes
and 1 thing you would want to see in any drama much character development
That being said like many other dramas and even movies and books the series falls at the hurdle of the second season.don't get me wrong the series is still watchable and good however it just for me at least loses its spark that you see in the first season. its really hard to pinpoint what is lacking but it is. if I had to say what brings this about id say that maybe if anything they set the bar to high in the first season. I mean how can you beat performing surgery in a train station?
Although yes the series does go downhill slightly it is still highly enjoyable and id recommend to anyone particularly for those with a love of medical dramas.
- a quirky main character
-well developed secondary characters
-lots of gory medical scenes
and 1 thing you would want to see in any drama much character development
That being said like many other dramas and even movies and books the series falls at the hurdle of the second season.don't get me wrong the series is still watchable and good however it just for me at least loses its spark that you see in the first season. its really hard to pinpoint what is lacking but it is. if I had to say what brings this about id say that maybe if anything they set the bar to high in the first season. I mean how can you beat performing surgery in a train station?
Although yes the series does go downhill slightly it is still highly enjoyable and id recommend to anyone particularly for those with a love of medical dramas.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986) in Movies
Mar 26, 2019
Fourth big-screen Trek dodges the usual 'all SF blockbusters must be action movies' pitfall and opts for some gentle social comedy instead. Alien probe is outraged by the extinction of Earth's whales and decides to wipe out civilisation; Kirk and the gang have to travel back to 1980s San Francisco to recruit some substitute cetaceans and save the day. Very possibly riding on the coat-tails of Back to the Future, but also Nick Meyer's Time After Time (Meyer wrote the middle section of the film).
Solidly structured and engagingly played: the actors know their characters backward and it's a pleasure to spend time with them. Interesting to speculate about the original version of the film, which would have co-starred Eddie Murphy (Paramount nixed the idea). Doing a lighter Trek works well here, but led to the studio insisting on comedy bits being added to future films in the series, which was arguably a big mistake. Doesn't detract from the entertainment value of Star Trek in one of its magisterial phases.
Solidly structured and engagingly played: the actors know their characters backward and it's a pleasure to spend time with them. Interesting to speculate about the original version of the film, which would have co-starred Eddie Murphy (Paramount nixed the idea). Doing a lighter Trek works well here, but led to the studio insisting on comedy bits being added to future films in the series, which was arguably a big mistake. Doesn't detract from the entertainment value of Star Trek in one of its magisterial phases.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Star Inspector (Zvyozdniy inspektor) (1980) in Movies
May 26, 2019 (Updated May 26, 2019)
Borderline-unwatchable Soviet-era sci-fi film, also known as Space Cop (according to the subtitles on the version I saw, anyway). The reappearance of a ship thought lost in space, and an attack on Space Police HQ, results in a patrol spaceship being sent to investigate, the search leading to one of those planets which looks suspiciously like a quarry. What ensues there is a joyless, repetitive trudge.
Feels like one of those films made by people who've had sci-fi explained to them over the phone, but who have no first-hand familiarity with the genre, or indeed much familiarity with storytelling in general. This is before we get to the primitive production values, the aspects of the story which don't travel well (the villains are a trio named Doug, Marge, and Steve), or the heavy reliance on technobabble plot devices. Has the general feel of an episode of Space 1999. There are some interesting psychedelic visuals on display, and the special effects are often amusing (this was not the intention), but this is grim stuff for the most part.
Feels like one of those films made by people who've had sci-fi explained to them over the phone, but who have no first-hand familiarity with the genre, or indeed much familiarity with storytelling in general. This is before we get to the primitive production values, the aspects of the story which don't travel well (the villains are a trio named Doug, Marge, and Steve), or the heavy reliance on technobabble plot devices. Has the general feel of an episode of Space 1999. There are some interesting psychedelic visuals on display, and the special effects are often amusing (this was not the intention), but this is grim stuff for the most part.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Game Of Thrones - Season 2 in TV
May 27, 2019 (Updated May 27, 2019)
A second fantastic season
Season 2 of Game of Thrones continues the first seasons display of excellent character development and writing.
We follow Robb Stark for much of the season, as he proceeds to March toward King's Landing in open rebellion against the crown after the events of season 1. It's another slow burning season, but once again, nothing becomes dull, every scene is engaging, and you as a viewer are given time to digest all of the information being handed to you, as well as getting to know both new characters, and already established characters - learning to really detest Joffrey is a particular treat (Hats off to Jack Gleeson).
This season also contains the first proper battle of the show, in the episode Blackwater, which remains one of my favourite episodes to this day.
The closing episodes of season 1 showed that GoT was a show that was not afraid to pull any punches, and season 2 is almost an apitizer for what is yet to come.
Top tier TV!
We follow Robb Stark for much of the season, as he proceeds to March toward King's Landing in open rebellion against the crown after the events of season 1. It's another slow burning season, but once again, nothing becomes dull, every scene is engaging, and you as a viewer are given time to digest all of the information being handed to you, as well as getting to know both new characters, and already established characters - learning to really detest Joffrey is a particular treat (Hats off to Jack Gleeson).
This season also contains the first proper battle of the show, in the episode Blackwater, which remains one of my favourite episodes to this day.
The closing episodes of season 1 showed that GoT was a show that was not afraid to pull any punches, and season 2 is almost an apitizer for what is yet to come.
Top tier TV!
Ashley Wold (5 KP) rated A Court of Mist and Fury in Books
Jan 31, 2018
World Building (4 more)
Character development
Complex, compelling plot
Strong female characters
THE FEELS
ACoMaF is my favourite book of the three in this series! There is so much more action, making the pacing faster. I liked ACoTaR well enough (though I felt there was much to be desired), but this second book blew me away.
I wasn't very fond of Feyre in the first book, but she grew on me in this one. I didn't really like Tamlin, and I was delighted to find my instincts were right. I also was intrigued by Rhysand in the first book, and he quickly became one of my favourites. I really liked the new characters Maas introduced in this one. I found them to be memorable.
If you got through ACoTaR but didn't particularly like it, I urge you to peek into this book and see if it piques your interest. I know a lot of people who felt lukewarm about the first book, but ended up being HUGE fans of this series because of this second book!
I wasn't very fond of Feyre in the first book, but she grew on me in this one. I didn't really like Tamlin, and I was delighted to find my instincts were right. I also was intrigued by Rhysand in the first book, and he quickly became one of my favourites. I really liked the new characters Maas introduced in this one. I found them to be memorable.
If you got through ACoTaR but didn't particularly like it, I urge you to peek into this book and see if it piques your interest. I know a lot of people who felt lukewarm about the first book, but ended up being HUGE fans of this series because of this second book!
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated Just Add Magic - Season 1 in TV
Feb 9, 2018
There are far worse kid shows to be stuck watching
While I can't say I'm exactly a rabid fan of Just Add Magic, it's not horrible. In comparison to some of the other stuff I've had to listen to while my child gets her allotted TV time, I will happily choose this show.
The three girls are a nice range of personalities. Their older parallels are equally interesting. There are some problems, of course, like the Hispanic one of the older trio of course being the sneaky one. However, that can generate discussion with your child about stereotypes, so you can gripe about it and not watch the show and watch something like Spongebob instead – or you can use it as a reason to have a dialogue with your child about stereotypes and go from there.
The dialogue doesn’t make me want to scrub out my ears. The cinematography is pleasing. My 8 year old loves it. It gives her hints on how doing stuff like trying to take the easy way out never works out well. So, it’s a win for me.
The three girls are a nice range of personalities. Their older parallels are equally interesting. There are some problems, of course, like the Hispanic one of the older trio of course being the sneaky one. However, that can generate discussion with your child about stereotypes, so you can gripe about it and not watch the show and watch something like Spongebob instead – or you can use it as a reason to have a dialogue with your child about stereotypes and go from there.
The dialogue doesn’t make me want to scrub out my ears. The cinematography is pleasing. My 8 year old loves it. It gives her hints on how doing stuff like trying to take the easy way out never works out well. So, it’s a win for me.
Gareth Michael Lewis (6 KP) rated Netflix in Apps
Jan 20, 2018
New series regularly being added and created (1 more)
Netflix recommendations can help you discover similar material to view
Well worth the money
I fell in love with Netflix whilst home ill one weekend. I admit I am a devourer of things I love and I must have binge watched more than a months worth of series in a weekend. It's a great way to catch up on those shows you missed on other channels and find new shows to watch. You may end up, however, getting hooked on a series only to find it has been cancelled after one or two series. Netflix own original series have been pretty spectacular and just keep getting better.
Plenty of kids options for my 2 boys plus my wife can have her own profile with her own recommendations so we are all kept pretty entertained.
Overall, if you have a choice between going to a movie and paying for a month of Netflix, choose Netflix.
Plenty of kids options for my 2 boys plus my wife can have her own profile with her own recommendations so we are all kept pretty entertained.
Overall, if you have a choice between going to a movie and paying for a month of Netflix, choose Netflix.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Ghost in the Shell (2017) in Movies
Feb 6, 2018
Forgettable
I’ve never seen the original anime, so I went into this with a fairly open mind but sadly the film just didn’t deliver.
The trailer made it look like a very slick futuristic thriller almost, and although the sfx are fantastic and really well done, the rest of the film is a letdown. The initial idea of her being a human brain inside a cyborg is a good one, but it’s sadly ruined by the unoriginal and predictable discovering her origins story. And I’m sorry, but I really don’t rate Scarlett Johansson. She isn’t bad, but she isn’t particularly great either and lately she always seems to be playing a similar sort of character. Pilou Asbæk is the only one who really excels in this and he’s the only truly likeable character. However I did spend the entire film trying to figure out where I knew him and his name from, and it’s only now I’ve realised he’s Euron Greyjoy, gah. To be honest I was pretty bored watching this and great sfx can’t make up for a very dull plot.
The trailer made it look like a very slick futuristic thriller almost, and although the sfx are fantastic and really well done, the rest of the film is a letdown. The initial idea of her being a human brain inside a cyborg is a good one, but it’s sadly ruined by the unoriginal and predictable discovering her origins story. And I’m sorry, but I really don’t rate Scarlett Johansson. She isn’t bad, but she isn’t particularly great either and lately she always seems to be playing a similar sort of character. Pilou Asbæk is the only one who really excels in this and he’s the only truly likeable character. However I did spend the entire film trying to figure out where I knew him and his name from, and it’s only now I’ve realised he’s Euron Greyjoy, gah. To be honest I was pretty bored watching this and great sfx can’t make up for a very dull plot.
Justin (2 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies
Feb 2, 2018 (Updated Feb 2, 2018)
Meh
I dont get what this movie is trying to do. I kinda grew up with the original power rangers so the last thing i need from a movie based on them is loads of screen time taken up by character introduction. You could well argue that its targeted at a younger audience who might not have experienced the shows and latter movies first time round. But i would imagine they would have been as dissappointed and bored as i was by the majority of the movie being character intro and development and barely any of the fast action monster arse kicking that both us oldies and the younger generation would be expecting to see. Skip to the last half hour and you have a great high budget episode. Or just watch the trailer and see the last half hour condensed into a teaser that cons you out of your time/money into thinking youll get that throughout. Either way avoid like the plague.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Frenzy (1972) in Movies
Mar 8, 2018 (Updated Mar 8, 2018)
Penultimate Hitchcock thriller is solid but unpalatable tale of a serial killer on the loose in London and marked Hitchcock's return to his home country for the first time in decades. Police are baffled by the crimes of the so-called Necktie Killer, eventually set their sights on drifter and generally moody git Blaney (Finch). But have they got the right man?
Hitchcock himself certainly turns up, for there is at least one moment of the old dark magic (a bravura tracking shot in which a murder is implied without being shown), but it is the problematic Hitch - misogynistic, sour, given to awkward tonal misjudgements - who oversees this movie. Movie is largely about a rapist and killer, but the director still includes various jolly running gags and moments of broad comedy; the end result may well leave a bad taste in the mouth of discerning viewers. The decision to go with such an unsympathetic anti-hero is also arguably a mistake. Worth a look for Hitchcock fans, but also evidence that the great man had essentially shot his bolt many years earlier.
Hitchcock himself certainly turns up, for there is at least one moment of the old dark magic (a bravura tracking shot in which a murder is implied without being shown), but it is the problematic Hitch - misogynistic, sour, given to awkward tonal misjudgements - who oversees this movie. Movie is largely about a rapist and killer, but the director still includes various jolly running gags and moments of broad comedy; the end result may well leave a bad taste in the mouth of discerning viewers. The decision to go with such an unsympathetic anti-hero is also arguably a mistake. Worth a look for Hitchcock fans, but also evidence that the great man had essentially shot his bolt many years earlier.
Chloe (514 KP) Mar 7, 2019
Stephen (210 KP) Mar 7, 2019