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DemonicAngelicPirate-1925
Reviews
Doctor Who: Space Babies (2024)
Babies in space oh dear just a very full nappy
What is there to say about this but just ridiculous nonsense from a Christmas special that was fun and happy to the ridiculous literally babies in space on a stranded space station that is stationary but can eventually be moved by the build up of nappies and methane the mention of the doctors planet being decimated with genocide and destruction then a whole speech on refugees not being able to get to where they need I thought this had promise but no it just didn't materialise and was reduced to a pile of nappies and space babies not a good start for the new doctor to say I was disappointed is an understatement I just can't express how ridiculous this episode was and how it failed in this day and age when it could have been so much more.
Masters of the Air: Part Nine (2024)
Bad ending to a mediocre show
It has been said before about how much the British and the Americans were much more than the stereotypes that are depicted in this show and I watched to the end even though it was painful and some obvious inaccuracies which others have pointed out but I need to say that cutting off Churchills speech at that very point was just not on and missed out on educating the world about how a part of Britain had been occupied by the Germans Churchill's famous speech cut off when he was about to say that the Channel Islands were to be freed as well it's such a shame that they did this I know they had to cut it off at some point but surely after he said that would have worked too Hanks et al you let everyone down with this CGI soaked saga
Apple do better.
The New Look (2024)
Disappointed John reprises role from Johnny English
Very disappointed with this show it could have been so much better but the fake accents detract from the story and John Malkovich sounded like his character from Johnny English so much talent wasted and where is the fashion the life of these designers Christian and his battle with his sexuality the historical inaccuracies calling Sir Winston long before he was knighted so much money wasted on this show
And to have French speaking actors speaking English subtitles exist and it would be so much more realistic if they spoke in their native tongue
I kept watching hoping it would improve but it never did and two shows almost back to back set in this era and so inaccurate on so many levels this and Masters of the Air.
Stay away from history Apple until you can do it justice and do it better. One episode left and I am still not invested in the characters. Chanel is like a character from absolutely fabulous by Jennifer Saunders!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
A wasted opportunity
I want to tell the real story without the fluff and nonsense of this soap opera. To say this film is a true depiction is not right. The film fails on so many levels at least film in some parts of the island we all know that it has changed but come on if you're telling a story about somewhere at least film something here.
I know the film & characters are fictional, the film is doesn't do justice to what happened to my island of Guernsey during WWII. Guernsey, alongside the other Channel Islands, was the only British territory that the Germans invaded and occupied during the war.
When Hitler gained control of France only about 6 miles away it was inevitable that the Islands would be captured.
As in the film, many families were separated during the war, sending their children off to safety in England and non Islander born residents were given the option to leave too. Many did go with their children. Evacuation of the island began on the 19th of June by boat before the Germans arrived.
When the Germans landed in the Islands, almost half of the Guernsey population had already fled to mainland Britain. My grandfather went to fight for the French resistance and came back you might think luckily but he was a broken man and never spoke of his time away.
My great grandmother owned a massive tomato vinery and one night the Germans told her that the next morning they would come and take her home and vinery so all night she smashed it to pieces breaking every pane of glass and hid as many tomatoes as possible and destroying the rest so intent that they would have nothing. My family went through hell during the occupation and the Germans used slaves mostly Russian to build underground hospitals in Jersey and Guernsey by hand out of rock with pick axes and shovels many died and were built over their bodies
Food was a HUGE problem throughout the occupation, as the island was eventually cut off completely from any supplies. There was little to feed the islanders, German soldiers and slaves. So day-to-day lives of islanders revolved around queuing for the restricted food supplies.
The potato peel pie is actually a true occupation recipe, which made the most of the limited ingredients available. Some were forced to cook for the Germans and would cut the potato peel very thickly to get some nutrition and the Germans let us have the leftover scraps hence the potato peel you see the potatoes Dawsey is forced to grow was for the German Soldiers NOT for the islanders.
None of this is filmed in Guernsey which is a joke because you still see and can visit many of the concrete fortifications bunkers Guernsey was the most fortified piece of occupied territory of Hitlers Germany he was obsessed with having control over a part of Britain. The coast is some of the most beautiful you could ever see as they didn't film here you can't see how close the other islands are although further north Alderney was a concentration camp for the slaves.
There were escape attempts in the islands and people hiding slaves and many who would report on their neighbours friends even just for food and if you went into a nursing home in the 80's there would be islanders still shunning those deemed gerry bags or informants. No one forgot
By the winter of 1944, Guernsey was on starvation rations with both locals and soldiers at risk. The arrival of the Swedish ship SS Vega, chartered by the International Red Cross to bring in food and supplies, saved many people from death.
We were finally free on May 9th 1955 a day after the victory in Europe.
It would have been nice to include some of the local sayings besides gerry bag as we have our own language and our accents have been likened to the South East of England.
Your Christmas or Mine? (2022)
I don't get the bad reviews it's a great British film
So it's Christmas and there's a plethora of Christmas films old and new and many just are too cheesy and cringy but this one is different. I would go so far as to say that I haven't enjoyed a new Christmas film since Love Actually.
The story is different and well crafted sometimes predictable but that doesn't detract from the core message. I love the actors and the differences in their family life. Maybe it touched me more because I can relate with losing a parent near Christmas and she was similar to James mum in saving everything I had done I even have a scrapbook she made I also identify with Daniel Mays character when he says sometimes the Christmas's with just chicken are the best.
I know some people find some of it implausible but it's a Christmas film and meant to be fun and entertaining it's also very heartwarming and funny in places.
So put away all preconceptions of a perfect film and enjoy it for what it is lighthearted escapism and it's definitely very British what with the class system etc and I like how it doesn't try to be all things to all people.
I gave it a high score because it deserves it and I genuinely loved it and will likely watch again.
Ghosts: Part of the Family (2021)
Brilliant Ending can't wait for more
I am compelled to put quill to parchment to emphasise my enthusiasm for this incredible show season 3 has been consistently brilliant and the finale was just perfect I think I may have seen all the series several times now and I still laugh at the same gags just like in the previous episode when poor Robin missed doing Zumba. The writing feels effortless but I'm sure lots of hard work and many hours are put in to make it work. It never feels tired or worn the jokes are fresh and the actors/writers have great chemistry the whole series has had me wondering what was going to happen and I won't spoil it but there is hope for more. The way Lady B says murder SHE, wrote is simple but great excellent finale for an excellent show please keep them coming 4,5,6 series at least. Please don't stop!
View from the Top (2003)
Please read Richard Ayoade's book on top to appreciate this film
I read Richard Ayoade's book "On Top" before I had ever heard of this film and it was so good I just had to see the film.
Please please read his book then watch the film or rewatch it if you've seen it already. It will give a whole new perspective on this kind of film where you throw together some well known actors and a lacklustre script and get a straight to video (old school style) film.
I saw this film differently because of this and appreciate the incredibly cheesy aspects
Plus special mention of Mike Myers who elevates the humour and encapsulates the I want to be your friend not your boss kind of person.
Overall it is what it is - a cheesy predictable trailer park girl does well by serving others and all the hiccups and hurdles she has to overcome to get there from being dumped by her high school sweetheart and stabbed in the back by her friend. It's good for some cheap laughs and accept it for what it is.
So as Richard says ( abridged version)
Please make sure your seat is back and that the folding trays are in their upright position. Because it's not the crash that will kill you, it's the trays.
We remind you that this is a non smoking review and buckle up for the flight of your life.
Truth Seekers: The Ghost of the Beast of Bodmin (2020)
Feet and metres
Although us brits have had the metric system since 1971 we still use imperial measurements which may account for some questions for those in other countries
Even tradesmen will switch between systems I know this because my family is full of them 😂
Anyway the show itself is picking up and I'm loving the ensemble the references to previous films which Pegg and Frost often do and I love seeing Julian being a bad boy the tongue was especially intriguing.
What We Do in the Shadows: The Portrait (2021)
This made me well up
This season has been great with the usual hi jinxes and seeing Nandor in a Jane Fonda style 80's get fit outfit with his short shorts will stay with me for a long time. But this episode actually gave me a tear in the eye at the end when poor Guillermo gets tricked into going to England and leaves poor Nandor thinking he had been abandoned. It'll be interesting to see how they go forward with baby Colin I'm glad he's not totally gone they all had a great chemistry together it was great seeing Taika again. Can't wait for the next season. I'm glad they don't over do the episodes like usual US shows where there are 18 or 20 episodes they keep it short and snappy with no fillers.
A Cock and Bull Story (2005)
I loved it
I loved it and it feels very much the beginning of the road to the "The Trip" series of films/specials
I've not read the book but I've now only seen this film 21 years after it's release and it still feels fresh and new. The cast of impeccable actors and a film that couldn't be made.
The Good Place (2016)
Original and fun
It took me a while to get into this show but there was so much hype I stuck it out for the first season and was blown away. It had me hooked and I binged the rest of the show. I love Michael Schur's work and found the first half of season 1 annoying but I trusted Schur and so glad I kept watching now some might "get" it earlier than me but it was only the final episode of season 1 that I truly understood from there it was peaks and troughs but they ended it the only way they could.