escottf Reviews

The Marvels (2023)

If you liked Captain Marvel, you'll almost definitely like this

[7/10 · 8 February 2024]

As I say in the title, if you enjoyed the Captain Marvel movie you should enjoy this. It's not "a work of art" but I enjoyed it much more than a lot of the recent Marvel movies - and it is a lot more even than some of the recent ones. It's very character driven.

The three main characters are delightful - and I had seen WandaVision and Ms Marvel to understand who Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan were - but my wife hadn't and seemed to enjoy it too (no explanations of powers required - you could see them).

The opening is bit confusing - but it was confusing for the characters too so that makes more sense - and the 3 characters soon settled in as a team. The story was basic but made sense and the "antagonist" was so-so. Nick Fury was a bit low-key so it was really the Marvels' film - which was nice.

Seeing Kamala's family again was great too.

I definitely enjoyed it - and it will be one of the Marvel films I probably will watch on repeat a lot.

Yes, there is a brief part with a species who speak in song - but we have one of the best Star Trek TNG episodes with a species who speak in allegories so?

I'm glad I ignored the low ratings because I'd heard the "if you liked Captain Marvel you'll like this" comment from multiple sources that I value and totally agree.

Moving (2023– )

Very, very good series about normal people with super power

[10/10 · 22 September 2023]

I was surprised to find this on Disney+ given most of my Korean TV viewing is on Netflix but the descriptions of it as being similar to Heroes got me watching and, like may Korean shows you jump straight in to a world that feels like it's been there forever.

You initially think it's just about some teenage kids with superpowers but like many good Korean shows, what you think are minor characters are not minor and their characters are fully fleshed out with elaborate back stories - which instead of being tedious is each a separate adventure to enjoy and look forward to.

As they're people with super powers you're naturally going to get action scenes (which are very slick - or cool - or both) - but the characters are superbly written so you want to know more about them and knowing more doesn't disappoint.

While similar in nature to Heroes - it doesn't try and follow the Marvel/DC "way of working" - to its benefit.

Despite some "gang activities" it's probably suitable for older children to watch too - it does include violence (and "reverse violence" as some people have healing powers) but while I wouldn't say that it is "cartoon style" violence, and there are some gruesome moments, it's not horror (think of a Wolverine movie).

I absolutely loved this show.

Deadloch (2023– )

Classic murder mystery even though it might not seem that way at first

[8/10 · 6 July 2023]

I loved this show - but I was very undecided in the first episode. One of the lead roles seemed very one dimensional and there's a phenomenal amount of swearing which, admittedly, if it was in a Scorsese film, would be totally normal. Stick with it, it's worth it.

As it continued on, the characters (not just the two leads) were fleshed out and I wanted to see more of them. More importantly, like any good murder mystery, the murders and red-herrings built up.

It would be understatement to say I was eager for the last episode - and jumped on it as soon as it was released and yes they stuck the landing. Well worth waiting for!

I'm probably not alone hoping for a second series.

El año y la viña (2013)

Another enjoyable, quirky film by this director

[7/10 · 4 December 2016]

5 years ago I saw the director's film The Soul of Flies and loved it...but wondered how I'd get to see the next film. Years later I've finally got to watch it.

Starring two of the same actors, the film is equally original and enjoyable - although (strangely given the subject matter) less "fairy tale" than the previous film.

The film's description is apt, and the role of the priest (Javier Sáez) is probably overacted but the role of the Italian revolutionary (Andrea Calabrese (III) ) is really well done. I enjoyed the teacher's role too (Fede Sánchez Garcia). Why Andrea Calabrese isn't in more films and television roles, I have no idea.

Really though, like the film before it, this is one of those films when you turn off the world and enjoy the film for what it is. A short enjoyable film that takes you away to another place.

Bloody Foreigners (2010– )

As docu-dramas go, not a bad show with an interesting bit of history

[7/10 · 17 July 2014]

I've more than a passing interest in this subject - the Poles serving in the Battle of Britain - as I'm now living in Poland, and I've lived in London seeing multiple generations of Poles helping Britain along the way.

This is a program long docu-drama about the Polish squadron in the Allied air force vs the Nazis in WWII. As docu-dramas go, it's not too bad - neither the usual over-dramatisation (if anything, by the standards of Battle of Britain dramas massively little sadness - which given the attrition rate is quite something) nor over-stretching for dramatic effect, it pretty much uses the actors to give a little humanity to the plain (accurate) story of Polish participation.

From the time when they struggled to be recognised, to when they were finally let into the air and performed fantastically (they did - as did the NZers...something else I can be proud of), and finally to them being swept under the carpet to avoid offending Stalin, it tells a fairly basic story and tells it well.

Not necessarily a must-see unless you have an interest in the subject but worth a watch.

The Soul of Flies (2011)

When I think of this film, I always smile

[8/10 · 6 April 2014]

I was lucky enough to see this at a film preview in London - surrounded by film reviewers and other freeloaders - and was fairly open minded about it having had success with a similarly low budget El Mariachi years earlier.

At a train station, two half-brothers head to their father's funeral in small town Spain - they were raised separately by different mothers - and couldn't be more different. One a trendy city type, and the other is a more bohemian musician who, naturally have no affinity to each other.

After the helpful locals point out that the trains don't run any more, they end up taking different means of transport to the funeral and reluctantly form a relationship along the way. As things get more desperate ...and the transport more ropey... emotions get more tense and things start getting more surreal.

Now this could have been either stunningly predictable, or given the budget (of next to nothing), a disaster. It was neither. After a slow start, the characters came through, odd characters came and went and gradually my smile grew more and more permanent during the screening. The film is photographed beautifully, the acting great, and the story fun and not predictable in the least.

The term "the honour among thieves" gets new and hilarious meaning in this film and, honestly, whenever I think of that incident in the film I smile like a crazy person. Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to see the director/writer/cinematographer/editor's next film.