Reviews
Ogden (2023)
Totally pointless
I thought I'd give Ogden a watch as it's supposed to be a mini series and comedy.
On the positive side, it has it's funny moments, even though they're childish and stupid. Some of the actors are quite good, much better than this rubbish.
On the negative side, the 6th epsiode finishes and leaves it unfinished, leaving you confused as it doesn't have any sort of ending where you wonder if that's it, or will there be a follow up, as it just ends, unfinished, as if somebody couldn't be bothered writing the next episode.
The audio is constantly up and down from actor to actor as if they couldn't be bothered spending any time on it, to make sure it was edited correctly.
The storyline seemed to be going somewhere, even though it was very tongue in cheek, but due to it suddenly ending, it just leaves you in limbo, wondering why there's no 7th episode.
Don't waste your time with it, as you'll just end up totally dissappointed.
Doctor Who (2023)
Looks like they dredged the bottom of the barrel for the story writers
I've just watched the first two episodes of the newest Dr Who and as I feared, the latest Dr Who is following the suit of the previous Dr Who's of recent years, where the episodes and storylines are progressively getting more and more ridiculous.
I appreciate that Dr Who is totally fictional with outlandish stories about space, aliens and the inexplicable. But these latest shows are getting more and more ridiculous and stupid, too stupid in fact, to watch.
The shows writers seem desperate to write something which is entertaining and seem to be writing for a childrens show, rather than writing in the vain of the previous writers, who created interesting story lines and characters.
The actors do a great job with the scripts which they are given and try their hardest to make each episode as entertaining as possible.
While Ncuti Gatawa has proved himself as a good actor in various different roles and I think would make for a really good Dr Who, he would do a lot better with decent scripts and storylines, but unfortunately, I can't see him getting them with these writers.
Dr Who has progressively worsened over the years and if this vein of writing and storylines continues, I can see Dr Who being a thing of the past.
The Warriors Gate (2016)
An entertaining fantasy
The film started on a very similar vein as Never ending story and has a very similar plot, where a young man has to protect the princess and save the land.
Although there are similarities, the characters are very different in a totally different type of reality.
The storyline is more martial arts based, with pretty good fight scenes and quite a few funny comments and one liners.
The actors are well chosen and make the characters likeable, even the bad guys.
Accept the film for what it is, a light hearted, entertaining fantasy and you might find that you enjoy it, even though you might find some of it to be a bit too fantastic.
It is a film after all and not real life.
Count Arthur Strong (2013)
Good old fashioned, belly laugh comedy
I'd never heard of this show, even though it was originally shown on the BBC when it first came out.
I only knew of it, due to it being on Amazon Prime and due to reading the reviews on the program, so I thought I would give it a try, as I had just finished watching another series.
I started watching it whilst my wife was in the kitchen and due to me inadvertently laughing out aloud, my wife came in to the room to ask me what was causing me to laugh.
We both started watching the series together, enjoying it so much that we binge watched all three series over the space of a few days.
Both of us were belly laughing, with my wife having the occasional stream of tears flowing down her cheeks with laughing so much.
Steve Delaney is co writer and plays the lead character, who at first appears to do a lot of overacting, but stick with it, as the overacting is an integral part of the show,
Delaney's mannerisms, body twitching and facial expressions throughout the show had us rolling about in fits of laughter as did the funny storylines and comical characters that all made a large contribution to the show.
The show is good old fashioned, slapstick comedy, which all generations will find funny, as much of the comedy is visual as well as scripted.
All the characters are likeable, obviously some more than others and the two main characters, Count Arthur and Michael bounce of each other well,
Take the first episode to get to know the characters and accept that it all seems over the top acting, because by the second episode, you'll understand why and enjoy it and want to see more.
The Man in the Hat (2020)
So strange, but so engrossing
The plot...a man driving across France with a picture of a woman. The storyline......no idea, but so engrossing.
It starts with Hinds witnesses what he thinks is a gang disposing of a body who realise he sees them in the act.
Hinds does a runner and sets of in a small Fiat across France, but from here on in the storyline is totally confusing, but sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always enthralling, as he encounters the same people continually in, strange circumstances, with some nonsensical events happening on his journey, whilst constantly being followed by the gang.
There's no point trying to analyse the film, but just let it suck you in and enjoy the journey, as it takes you on a weird and wonderful trip across France.
It's reminiscence of 'The plank' with Eric Sykes, where he's trying to carry a plank across town, but events ensure that it's not a straightforward journey .
Sisu (2022)
Arnie and Sly you've got geriatric competition
Take this film at face value and as entertainment and you'll enjoy it.
If you ignore the fact that much of the film is over the top and quite ridiculous and remember that it's just a film created to give you a bit of enjoyable entertainment, with storyline that makes sense and an enjoyable ending, then you'll find that this is a film worth watching.
The hero, or main character in the film, is a wizened, old soldier who has decided that he's had enough of war and killing, but circumstances make him change his mind and he sets out with a vengeance to right a wrong and does it quite dramatically.
The hero is reminiscent of an Arnie or Sly character, but older and without the muscles and more entertaining, so I hope there's a follow up to the film.
Old (2021)
Enjoy the film for what it is, but ignore the lack ofcontinuity
The film is an interesting concept and has you wondering where it's going, or what's going to happen next. What it has in storyline is interesting, but the continuity is all over the place.
A cut on someone heals in seconds, yet nobody has any facial growth as they age, or hair growing longer.
The children age quickly, but the adults seem to be stuck in limbo where aging is involved.
The acting is quite good and the characters are evolved to allow you to get to know them and take an interest in them.
If you take the film for what it is, just entertainment and don't scrutinise it too much, you might find it entertaining.