Change Your Image
mattnation
Reviews
Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils (2022)
Truly awful.
Given 50 years of progress in specials effects, TV production techniques and values, it should be almost impossible for a show to look worse now than it did in the 1970s. And yet somehow they manage it here. The story, such as there is one, is clearly not important to the show makers as it's disjointed, rushed and mostly nonsensical. Sadly it doesn't even work as a pure visual feast - the effects are cheap, the acting poor and the dialogue borderline embarrassing.
If you've ever enjoyed Doctor Who, then please give this one a miss.
Dark Encounter (2019)
A real gem of a film.
Was gripped by this film from the beginning. Pure quality throughout. Acting, visuals, sound, the lot.
The portrayal of a family devastated by the loss of their daughter, utterly broken. And then, as if they haven't suffered enough, targeted by an otherworldly attack... But unlike so many other films, the twist in the ending really delivers. It's will structured, well made. Just an excellent piece of film making. Tried to find out where in America it was shot, only to find the while film was made in York, England, with a British cast. Amazing.
You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015)
Loving this show.
Slightly perplexed by the last two reviewers (were they watching the same show as me?!), as far as I'm concerned, this is one of the best written shows on TV at the moment. The plot is great - twisting and turning with a fabulous blend of humour and drama. I quite literally don't know where it's going from week to week. Whilst it is first and foremost a comedy - there is enough tension in the plot to make you genuinely concerned for the various characters - some of which meet quite unpleasant endings... The curious blend of Slough and the apocalypse - who'd have thought that would work?!
The acting is top notch - Rob Lowe perfectly cast. Matthew Baynton playing both parts with relish. There's not a week link in it. I will be truly sad when the show is over.
My only complaint is that they really should have stuck with the original title: "Apocalypse Slough!". Genius.
Treasure Island (2012)
Another Ruined Classic...Why call it Treasure Island?
This whole production was SUCH a wasted opportunity.
Good cast, good sets, good locations...and then an attempt to update a classic story by meddling with the plot. Bad idea.
The story is SUPPOSED to be about a boy (Jim) who gets dragged into the excitement of the pirates lives and is tempted away from the good side represented by Squire Trelawney (a thoroughly decent, albeit naive man), Dr Livesy (brave through and through) and his legitimate crew by the persuasive and morally ambiguous Long John Silver. When he realises how black-hearted the pirates are, he rejoins the 'right' side and helps save the day. By making Trelawney a villain (typical modern twist that anyone in a position of power must be corrupt and evil) and Dr Livesy a coward they ruined the whole message of the book.
Once they'd succeeded in destroying that aspect of the plot, they compounded matters by having the survivors tip all the gold into the sea at the end, having seemingly suddenly realised that material goods are evil.
Oh and killing off their newly formed 'evil' Trelawny in a ham-fisted attempt at showing that greed doesn't pay. Are you kidding me?! In one scene they destroyed the entire point of the film - all those people died for nothing then?! They might just as well have stayed at home... Rubbish. Absolute rubbish.
Oh and having Jim free Silver at the end - Nooooooo! He ESCAPES - he's LONG JOHN SILVER - he doesn't need a boy to free him..!!!!
Oh and finally Long John Silver is supposed to DISAPPEAR - you don't know if he makes it back to his wife or not - its left hanging there...with Jim liking to believe he made it...a far more satisfying end!
Maybe one day the screenwriters will actually read their source material....there's a reason why a classic is a classic...
As it is, you have to wonder why they even bothered giving it the same name as the classic tale...after all, it bore no resemblance to the contents of the book.