Jomead Reviews

Comic Relief: Doctor Who - The Curse of Fatal Death (1999 TV Movie)

Hilarious Parody - But Not for Oversensitive Purists

[13 April 2004]

I grew up with Dr. Who, I enjoy the show, and I laughed my socks off during "The Curse of Fatal Death"

The piece tries to amuse both long-time fans of the show, and casual viewers who only know it 'that cheesy British sci-fi show', so it has a fair bit of juggling to do. However, the the comedy draws from both ends of the spectrum and, I think, can provoke laughter from anyone who has a passing familiarity with the original.

All of the actors (Atkinson, REG, Broadbent et al) manage to put their own mark on the character during their brief interlude as the Gallifreyan Timelord and seemed to have fun doing it. Pryce was clearly having far too much fun hamming it up as The Master. Pryce's comments about prepping for his role make watching the 'making-of' segment on the video worth the time, alone - and the rest of it is quite entertaining, too.

Granted, the humor can be a bit broad, but this isn't a subtle social satire, folks, it's a blatant parody and, as such, some silly things are going to happen. I've heard rumbling complaints from purists about CoFD being "disrespectful" or something and I think that mayhaps those fans are taking themselves too seriously. If you can't laugh at yourself, then it's probably too late for you...

Hamlet (2000)

A challenge for purists, but worth watching.

[26 September 2002]

I've read over the comments of other IMDB users and I have to say that a Hamlet which doesn't provoke disagreement and controversy is a rarity indeed...

The cast is solid but, for the large part, not very memorable. Hawke glooms and mopes his way through the part, but doesn't seem to have any particular insight - or even opinion - about Hamlet's motives. I understand Kyle MacLachlan has his roots in Shakespeare, but even he wasn't particularly stellar. The applause for Bill Murray is, I think, a "waltzing bear" situation - it's not how nicely the bear waltzes that matters, but that it waltzes at all... Ditto for Liev Schriber, although I thought her sullen Ophelia was a pleasant break from the traditional reading of Ophelia as a prissy schoolgirl. Overall, a competent cast, but not a breath-taking one.

The overall adaptation *is* a challenge for the purist. I'm one, myself, and it took me most of the first act to relax and accept Almereyda's vision. But if person is going to watch another person's interpretation of a play, then the viewer must be willing to accept that there might be a difference of opinion 'twixt themselves and the director.

I wasn't entirely happy with some of the decisions made when it came to cutting the text and presenting certain scenes - I'll agree with some other users' comments that the final scene, in particular, seems careless and rushed - but it's an unfortunate truth that to keep Shakespeare accessible to modern audiences, some cuts have to be made. Purists will gladly sit through Brannagh's 240 minutes of uncut melancholy-Dane, but not everyone is a purist - far from it.

The surprising strength of this adaptation was the complete use of cinema in telling the story. Critics might call some moments coy - soliliquies to video journals and bitter messages left on answering machines instead of true dialogue - but cinema exists to take such things as a centuries-old play *beyond* the stage - rendering it more accessible to a contemporary audience. Yes, the occasional quick-cuts and abrupt scene shifts mean you have to pay attention to the visuals, whilst relishing the language but... cinema is a visual medium. And, surely, Hamlet deserves close attention?

Providing you are willing to concede that "Hamlet" is a flexible enough story to be told in a truly cinematic way, then this production can be enjoyed.

House of Cards (1990)

A fantastic series - entertaining, dark and relevant

[10/10 · 7 January 1999]

"House of Cards" is an entertaining and frightening tale. Ian Richardson, playing the intelligent and ruthless Francis Urquhart, immediately draws the viewer into the tale with his wry comments to the camera, discreet confidences just between the two of you, and compels you to accompany him as the tale moves from an amusing political fantasy to something altogether darker.

The writing and acting is spot on (I must give kudos to Susannah Harker whose fine performance as Mattie Storin has, I think, been overlooked by many viewers), and the pace of the show doesn't slow until the final, shocking end.

I am constantly recommending "House of Cards" to friends, to the point of hosting viewing parties at my place every few months, and I'm not tired of watching it, yet! :) I find that anyone who enjoys such pieces as "I, Claudius" or any other involuted, political drama, will enjoy "House of Cards".