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Reviews
Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
My favourite of the big 3 'Hitler bunker' movies.
This one, HBO's 'the Bunker' and 'Downfall' all have good points.
But if you want to understand Hitler - this is by far the best to me.
Downfall's Hitler acts like a child...I am not buying for a second that this guy lead a powerful nation. Anthony Hopkins 'the Bunker's Hitler is far too drugged up to take seriously. Though the shots of him years earlier ring true.
But from all I have read about Hitler - Alec Guinness's is the closest to reality. And that is what I want from historic films. I want to know what happened - not what some writer wants to have happened.
Downfall was rather gruesome and felt real and stark and awful...like we were there (except I thought Hitler was written a bit too childishly/almost too likeable).
HBO's the Bunker I loved the emphasis on all the underling's. I especially found the mechanic and the radioman (forget their names) to be the most compelling...relatively normal people caught up in chaos. And I loved how that film covered several months and showed how the situation slowly deteriorated.
IMO. if you want to learn about Hitler - watch 'the last 10 days'. If you want to get a feel for the situation in all it's grit and horror - watch 'Downfall'. And if you want to get an overall sense of life in and around the bunker over the last few months of the war in Europe (without the graphic details) - watch 'the Bunker'.
Doctor at the Top: Waring Goes Private (1991)
A wonderful ending to the Duncan Waring character
I see most people gave this a middle-of-the-road vote (6.7). But I think it was great.
It was the first episode of this short series to focus on Duncan - and it was a gem. It showed a deeper, more thoughtful Waring. Someone facing serious concerns with his life and where it is going.
And how he faced them - and how those in his life help him - was great to watch.
And the ending was funny and satisfying (to me).
A more mature, humorous and wonderful final sent off for Duncan (and the last episode Robin Nedwell ever did on TV).
R.I.P. Robin Nedwell...you brought great entertainment to millions and you shall NEVER be forgotten.
Doctor at the Top (1991)
A more mature Doctor In The House series
When I saw the first episode, I cringed a bit. How they had aged (not really Collier though) and how the humor was not like it used to be.
But as I watched more of the episodes, I enjoyed them more and more.
This is a series about Duncan, Paul and Dick...grown up. Not young medical students/doctors having fun, doing pranks and chasing nurses. But middle aged men with responsibilities (again, except Collier - to a point).
I would say the last 4 episodes are the best ones; the funniest and - gasp - the deepest as well. Dealing with interesting ideas about middle aged men and how they handle them in different ways.
I think when I was young - when I watched the first series (Doctor In The House, Doctor On The Go, etc.), I think I would have liked those better. More fun, less serious. But now that I am middle-aged, I think I like these ones better.
I get the impression this series did not do well when it was released (I live in Canada). Probably for similar reasons I was put off of it when I first saw it. Which is a shame....because it really was a fine series. And - IMO - a worthy way to end the run of the likable trio of Duncan, Paul and Dick.
My best advice to watching this series is - don't expect the shows to be as silly/slapstickish as the originals. Expect something a little more serious...but still fun.
Blunt Talk (2015)
Very good show..but more Blunt.
I very much like this show and it's quirkiness. And I love the Blunt character and how he interacts with various people - especially his butler/driver/etc..
However, other then his producer, I think the show spends too much time on the other characters and not enough time on Blunt. The other characters are alright. But I am just not interested enough for the amount of time they spend on them.
If there is indeed a season #2, I hope they rectify this and have more emphasis on Blunt and less on his underlings at the office (outside of maybe his producer).