steve-butten Reviews

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow (1975 TV Movie)

Tragedy in a tragic world

[8/10 · 1 March 2024]

The perceived amateurish nature of the acting in this movie, whether intended or not, does serve to provide an air of realism to this story of a sad moment in the wartime life of London's East End. A family, bombed out of their home, is forced to move to the home of a relative. The narrator, a teenage boy within that family relates the story of a crowd surge at a London tube station that killed so many who were trying to shelter from the bombs of the Luftwaffe, including his sister. It's a heart rending tale made real by the scenes of claustrophobic tube platforms and realistic Cockney accents. The acting award would have to go to Liz Smith. Whilst she would be a figure of fun in The Royle Family towards the end of her life, here she would return her uncanny ability to portray bleak stoicism in the face of adversity as Vi, the grandmother. A few years earlier she displayed to that same brave character in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments. News real scenes of the time and the music of the day round out the atmosphere that people enjoyed and endured during the Blitz. It's not a perfect film, but it reminds us that panic can cause immense hurt, so horribly experienced later at Hillsborough.

A Home of Your Own (1965)

Utterly Delightful

[9/10 · 13 January 2024]

This masterful study of comic invention and timing is a must see for lovers of a good belly laugh and a remarkable observation of the "British workman" at his worst. Ronnie Barker as a frustrated concrete layer, Bernard Cribbins as a hapless stone mason, Bill Fraser as an, always peeing, ground worker and many more recognisable stars and bit players, all with their little comic moments. Satirical commentary on disorganisation and incompetence abounds, all watched over by a copper leaning on his bicycle. Of course this all predates health and safety rules and regulations, providing ample opportunity to indulge in shoddy workmanship and wild comic invention. The "burble" dialogue adds to the comedy and all the actors contribute to the merriment. Enjoy it in its entirety on YouTube and, occasionally, on TV.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

Aardman has lost it

[4/10 · 24 December 2023]

I was really looking forward to this, but quite a short way in there were questions. How come only one egg is hatched amongst a large population of chickens on their new island home? Why did they not simply explain what led the crowd to their current location, which might have kept the offspring at home? At the close of the first movie, weren't the villains dispatched by their own machinery, so how come they survived to try again?

At one point I was so bored by the story/dialogue I hit the mute button so if those questions were answered I may have missed it. Of course the animation and settings are impressive, but the Aardman sharp humour and observation are missing. The gags are not funny and it all looks a bit plastic. The ending and the process of getting there are predictable and the British sensibility, that was often the mark of the studio seems to have been lost.

What a shame, I wonder if there are outside influences at work now.

American Gods: Tears of the Wrath-Bearing Tree (2021) Season 3, Episode 10

Where's the Ending

[4/10 · 28 January 2023]

I stuck with all three seasons in the knowledge that the tree vigil was close to the end, only they didn't close it out. Surely they can't make another series with the bit that's left. The first series did a good job of bringing Gaiman's concept alive and allowing us to dip our toes into the reasons why Wednesday/Odin nabbed Shadow Moon and used him the way he did. I have to say Series 2 left me cold and confused. I'm not sure that enough was done to fully tie us in to the reasons why there had to be this conflict between the Gods that came along with the settlers, and the gods of the new technical world. Series three did sort most of that out so I was convinced it needed there, which leaves me empty as to why it didn't.

Alchemy of Souls (2022– )

Season 2, not so much

[8/10 · 30 December 2022]

I really enjoyed Season 1 with its decent fantasy plot and acting. Pretty good eye candy too. So I looked forward to Season 2, only to witness it descending into a lovey-dovey stare fest with a lamp that keeps lighting and going out. I kept saying "get a move-on for goodness sake". I suppose there is a power struggle going on but often the lines of demarcation are blurred And the ubiquitous grey-haired villain pretty much plays the part he was born to play. Bad sign: I've started skipping forward only to find I haven't missed a thing when I rejoin the narrative. Certainly worth watching, but you might want to hurry through Season 2.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Not Jackson, but that's OK

[8/10 · 2 September 2022]

Two episodes in and first thoughts are that it's easy to see where the money was spent. I never expected a slavish adhesion to all that is Tolkien, nor did I expect much beyond the establishment of characters early on and that is pretty much it. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out and I am optimistic. My one carp is that Galadriel is portrayed very differently from how I expected her to be. I know she doesn't have a Ring of Power yet, but seeing her as a warrior rather than a witch/angel jarred somewhat. The depiction of the draft kingdom was particularly impressive and the New Zealand landscape served the stories well once again. It looks great and I shall stick with it. It'd be rude not too.

The Sandman (2022– )

Trying to please the world

[8/10 · 9 August 2022]

The problem from the start with Neil Gaiman is that he tries to please everyone. Sadly he listens to editors and publishers that want to see his work appealing to the world and that is not possible. As a consequence his stories exist in several editions and require forewords and observations to inform the reader that the text has had to be updated several times, mainly to remove stuff that's too English for the American taste; the same reasoning explains the Americanising of Teletubbies and Bob the Builder, heaven forfend that American children should ever develop Englishness. Thank heavens that the works of, for example, Tolkien, Milne and Lewis are sufficiently revered as to retain their originality. If he were allowed to be true to his original visions half these reviews would be headed off at the pass.

Slow Horses (2022– )

Ignore the Know-It-Alls

[8/10 · 25 April 2022]

I love the clever clogs who just know everything. They are out in force here. Political preaching? Don't hear it. Been done before? Well, I've not seen it.

Do yourself a favour and watch this excellent adaptation. It's dark, funny, gritty, well acted and gripping. Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott-Thomas are tip top. They are well supported and it's nice to get away from James Bond and Spooks. I'm up for the next series and I'll watch it before I let this lot try to put me off.

Sordid Lives (2000)

A Marmite movie

[9/10 · 10 January 2022]

I was lucky to see this film in Palm Springs where it was almost worshipped. Folks saw it several times and it attained cult status there.

Make no mistake you will either love this or hate it, there seems to be no in between view. It is every bit about Texas trailer-trash and how they try to negotiate a family funeral. The plot is stated here many times so I won't waste time on that.

I was hooked when Noleta is throwing GW's stuff out of the trailer because of his infidelity and neighbour Sissy says: "Oh, there goes the TV. "

Bonnie Bedelia is outstanding as Ty's mum, she turns out to have been a much more loving mother than he realised. Kirk Geiger hits a saner note as Ty, a struggling gay actor, and Sarah Hunley as barfly Juanita is both hysterical and emotional with a bottomless drink and an ever present cigarette. Leslie Jordan's turn as a drag Queen doing Tammy Wynette shows for disinterested institutional inmates is priceless.

There was a TV seri s based on this but I never saw it and I'm told it was indifferent.

So it is a movie not to get too serious about. Love it or hate it, it's a proper laugh.

The Silent Sea (2021– )

I quite liked it

[7/10 · 9 January 2022]

I can't be as down on this series as many of the sci-fi masters herein seem to want to be. It's not the best I've seen but I was intrigued enough to keep watching and ultimately I enjoyed the series. This is an early attempt at sci-fi by k-dramatists and I think they have made a good start. Tension and mystery abound and I wasn't really bothered by familiar tropes. Lots of "don't go in there" moments. Don't get too bogged down with high expectations. It's good enough, enjoy.

Fainaru raifu: Ashita, kimi ga kietemo (2017)

Stylish, But Ultimately Tiresome

[7/10 · 6 November 2021]

A pretty good premise wasted really. So much time is spent mulling over the past with long close-ups and staring contests. Ryo can't forget what happened to his brother and Shion has Einstein's brain cells which makes him super smart. That's about it really. The show has style, both protagonists have great hair and the titles hint at homo-ertoticism but that doesn't materialise. The music is good and the whole thing has a certain cool feel about it, even if it does try a bit too hard. It's watchable, but also forgettable. When Shion has his moments of revelation the action takes off and his Holmes-like reasoning solves some tough cases very quickly; too quickly. I don't think it took the actors long to learn their lines, they have so little to say.

Dune (2021)

Thoroughly Enjoyable

[8/10 · 21 October 2021]

I'm one of the few that actually enjoyed the Lynch movie, but this is much better. Told at a slower pace to accentuate the spiritual side of the books is a good thing, although I was a little annoyed at the forward looking visions of Paul, they took up too much time and I found them jarring.

Chalamet is excellent, apparently weak, but ultimately very strong. The effects and the stunning score by Hans Zimmer enhance what is already a highly watchable film.

For me the books were pretty much unreadable once the Atreides were out of the picture, descending into a monotonous religious drone. So if this story turns into a series I hope they do what the mini-series did and stop at Children of Dune.

Move to Heaven (2021)

First Rate Series

[9/10 · 21 May 2021]

I was taken with this series from episode one. It was clear that the part of Han Geu-ru was not an easy one to play but Tang Joon-Sang does admirably. Korean dramas are quite fond of leading characters on the autism spectrum: The Good Doctor, Alice (Joo Won in both cases) and now this. No love story here to speak of for a nice change but a series of stories created by a former trauma cleaner. There is a sub plot but the main thrust of each story is the cleanup following traumatic death and those that do it. Each vignette has quite the powerful message conveyed through the fearsome logic of a 20 year-old Man born with Asbergers Syndrome. Get-ru's uncle moves in as his guardian following the death of the father. Together they run Move To Heaven and each story follows a traumatic death. On a personal note episode 5 following a rare gay love story for Korea had me in floods of tears, but all episodes are quite affecting.

Mariposas Verdes (2017)

Was Good Until....

[2/10 · 5 April 2021]

I could barely believe it. What started out as an interesting little gay movie about growing up and the assertion of basic human rights, turned into a depressing story of rampant homophobia within an educational establishment and culminating in one of the worst clichés in cinema.

This movie sets gay cinema back about 40 years. It was always the case that one or both of the gay subjects of the movie were either killed or committed suicide. It took a long time but eventually film makers got past that and offered, at the very least, a positive spin, if not necessarily a happy ending.

Not here. It was so annoyed at how this turned out.

Out of the Unknown: The Machine Stops (1966) Season 2, Episode 1

Amazingly prophetic

[9/10 · 30 March 2021]

Much is made of the fact that this was written in 1909 as little more than short story and rightly so; its visions of TV, email, internet and remote health care are astonishing. I read this at school as part of a short story project and was much affected by it. I was lucky to see this 1966 BBC treatment of it and it is spellbinding despite its now obvious problems with future fashion predictions.

It is a dark vision, that today brings to mind Blade Runner, Wall-E, Total Recall and just about any dystopian message you care to bring up. Sadly it is a piece that has now all but disappeared behind the BFI pay wall and may only rarely get a free airing.

Wish You (2021)

A Rare and Sweet Glimpse of Gay South Korea

[6/10 · 7 February 2021]

Although it's not illegal to be a gay man in South Korea, it is frowned upon and I have found outright expression of gay feelings to be quite rare in the vast catalogue that is the current wave of K-dramas; finding instances where one of these extraordinary K-pop singer/actors might expose his chest is a tough one, more's the pity. They are nearly all as fit as a butcher's dog. So it is refreshing to find this little vignette openly telling a lovely, if somewhat lumpy little gay love story. The story is simplicity itself: boy musician falls in love with another boy musician and the outcome is inevitable. The acting is a bit forced at times, but one can forgive these lovely guys, just because they are so much eye candy. No Oscars here, but cuteness abounds; enjoy it for the sake of it.

Hollywood (2020)

A lot of fun, just don't look for the whole truth.

[8/10 · 5 May 2020]

Many reviewers seem bothered by the extension of truth into fantasy in this colourful and entertaining romp. Frankly I found if I pushed aside expectations of verisimilitude and historical accuracy I enjoyed it far more. Jim Parsons shakes off the confines of Sheldon Cooper to let himself plunge head first into a character (Henry Willson) who certainly got what he wanted from the eager boy-starlets. There is much eye candy to enjoy and some light and fluffy story lines that kept me entertained in my self-induced isolation. Don't sweat the history and enjoy the fantasy.

I'll Get This (2018–2020)

Can Be Good Fun

[8/10 · 5 April 2020]

Well, harumph! I detect some serious jealousy here. After all, these are rich people splashing out on expensive dishes in a posh restaurant and, judging by these reviews, this rubs people the wrong way quite a bit. I rather like the show, my only criticism being that I find some of the "games" bewildering. If there is a good group of chatty, intelligent celebrities, it can be quite fun. Sometimes, however, we are left with D-list celebs and it can get boring. All in all a good time and just renewed for a third series, back in BBC 2. I'll be watching.

The Untamed (2019)

An astonishing series, much to learn for a European

[10/10 · 2 January 2020]

I have just finished watching this epic on Netflix and, in short, I have to say it is well worth sticking with it, as ultimately it is hugely rewarding on so many levels. Looking at a show like this with a western sensibility, we have to talk of some elephants wandering around the room. Firstly the era in which this drama takes place means the depiction of strong class and social positioning, showing a degree of respect and politeness rarely seen in the west, except perhaps in the 18th century. The mannerisms and dress take some getting used to. The viewer must also get used to the fact that everyone has at least two names: given name, courtesy name, and sometimes a formal name. All the major characters belong to one of five clans. Secondly the pacing of this series is likely to be difficult for a generation with a short attention span and a video-game paced expectation. This series has many periods of long glances, involved speeches and lengthy exposition. Sometimes it's difficult to know why some characters get so upset over things that are apparently so trivial. These social orders are strict indeed. Then we spot that there are fifty one-hour episodes, a daunting thought, but more of that later. I would advise checking out more knowledgable reviewers to gain more insight into the clans and the people in them. I cannot speak to the original novel. I have searched but cannot locate an English translation. Much is made of the relationship between the two male leads and, by all accounts, this is much more explicit in the novel. Nonetheless it became clear to me early on that there was attraction between the two that was more than just brotherly love. The story begins with events leading to the death of Wei Wuxian (aka Wei Ying and the Yiling Patriarch). After this we are taken on a lengthy flashback detailing the development of the friendship between Wei Wuxian, the demonic cultivator, and noble and intriguing Lan Zhan (also Lan Wangji and Lord Hanguang). We learn how Wei Wuxian is framed for misdeeds and killings he did not really do. Some years after his death Wei Wuxian is revived by illegal means, is reunited with Lan Zhan and they embark on an investigation as to who is behind all the feuding and the discredit of Wei Wuxian, although this has been hinted to the viewer already. Many of the confusions of earlier episodes begin to get resolved; you will easily find spoilers elsewhere if you want them. Suffice to say the final half-dozen episodes reveal a great deal and the end is satisfying. The spectacular scenery, stunning costume design and and decidedly attractive cast make this whole journey unique and exciting. I have found the animated version online and have started watching that too. The two leading actors, Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian and Wang Yibo as Lan Zhan, are mega-stars, across east Asia these days and they appear together on all kinds of tv shows (see YouTube). The intensity of their performances, coupled with the nuanced nods to more than just a bromance is enjoyable and skilfully done in a climate of censorship. I can thoroughly recommend this, although it is unlikely that many westerners will commit to a fifty episode series and that is a shame. There is much to discover about a very different society and we could all learn much from it.

The King (I) (2019)

By Any Means, Watch This Movie

[9/10 · 18 November 2019]

This is a terrific film and, above all else, worthy of your time.

Much has been made of its lacking in historical fact, or its failure to follow an accepted storyline, but to slavishly follow either of these courses would have delivered a movie we have seen many times before. What's the point of that?

One word: adaptation. Any screenwriter worth his or her salt is going to play with historical fact or the essences of a work of fiction; after all, who wants to see the same stories copied over and over again?

I remember thinking just this when so many people complained that a recent retelling of Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders, was so different to all the others. It had to be, otherwise we would be seeing the same thing repeated endlessly.

This movie tells as much as we need to know of history and is a worthy addition to the many tv and movie adaptations we have seen over the years.

If I had a prior reservation about this film it was the casting of Timothée Chalamet as a fighting King. Surely too slight a build to portray a warrior. Well, whatever this extraordinary young actor lacks in physicality he more than makes up for in sheer screen presence. A gritty and convincing performance. Maybe not an Oscar, but surely a nomination.

Don't look for accuracy here. Go see a documentary or read a textbook if that is what you want. This is a retelling worthy of its own entry in the annals of cinema history. Bravo!

Vagabond (2019)

Action packed

[30 September 2019]

OK only four episodes to this point, but I am hooked. They are released on Netflix, two episodes a week. I won't go into the premise, others will do that. I will just say that the action scenes are taught, slick and well choreographed. This is well worth following. The only criticism I have is that the "nutcase who doesn't know what he's talking about" bit, even though the terrorist incident in question should have been obvious to a blind person, is wearing thin. I hope they resolve that one quickly. Otherwise go for it.

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016–2017)

K-Pop and Anachronisms.

[7/10 · 25 September 2019]

Set in Seorabeol, the capital of the Korean province of Silla in the 7th Century, many of the characters in this are historically correct. Soo Yeon witnesses the killing of his best friend and believes the assassin to be in thrall to the King. He gains access to the capital city illegally and poses as his friend, who was the son of the royal physician. Meanwhile The Queen has kept her son, Sam Maek Jong, (aka Ji Dwi) the Crown Prince in hiding because of numerous death threats. He joins the group of young warriors known as Hwarang along with Soo Yeon, who has vowed to kill the king when he finds him. It becomes known that the king is among the Hwarang warriors and there follows a lot of tension as the Queen seeks to protect him. This is a K-Pop lovers dream. Many of the warriors are clearly From Boy Bands and at one stage there is even a choreographed dance routine. And here lies the problem with this epic. The music and some of the clothing are clearly out of time (rubber soled boots already), and the music sometimes seems so out of place. I'm not saying it should be the music of that day, but chart songs seem way out of place. All that said, these actors and their female co-stars are very easy on the eye. In particular Park Hyung-Seok as the king in waiting looks amazing in the warrior dress of the day and all the lads sport what I am guessing are hair extensions. Every one of them has flawless skin and takes a close-up very well. A worthy mention too for Lee Da-In as Su Yeon (Dog-Bird), Do Ji-Han as the moody Ban Ryu, Go Ara as the physicians daughter and so many more. Despite my reservations the costumes are amazing and the scenery a travel writers dream. A worthy binge on Netflix.

Tientsin Mystic (2017)

A Long but Rewarding Journey

[9/10 · 25 September 2019]

Gosh what a long trek this has been. 24 episodes of some surprising excitement from China. At this writing I have three episodes to go so I can't give out spoilers. I'm not sure what I expected from a mainland China piece; perhaps unfairly I thought it might be a tad amateurish. Far from it, this is a slick, involved and ultimately exciting journey which, judging by promos during end-of-episode credits looks to be full of action in its conclusion. Set in 1930s Tianjin, in Republican China, with all its accompanying fashion, dark brown looks and, er, interesting hair styles, we follow the exploits of Gou De-You (Li Xian) as he investigates the mysterious appearance of hundreds of bodies on his patch. As the "Little River God" it's his job to fish them all out. In tandem with Ding Mao (Ming'en Zhang), head of an influential business group, they dig deeper into a strange and dangerous world to uncover the Ancient Evil Gang, its enigmatic mentor and his successor Lian Hua Qing (Enhe Kang). There is mysticism, fight action and intrigue, even zombies, and all that kept me invested in this right to the end. I have read that series 2 has begun filming though, sadly, without Li Xian. He has great screen presence and an intensity that easily makes him leading man material. In the next series Jin Shijia will be the lead actor. I thoroughly recommend this adventure and look forward to the next series.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Disappointing

[3/10 · 21 February 2007]

I wanted to like this movie having enjoyed "Sean of the Dead" but I was very much disappointed. The movie was incredibly loud and quite bad. The plot is explained elsewhere on this site and, in fairness, is woven quite well. But the noisy soundtrack and an excess of overacting, result in a thoroughly negative experience. Most of the best jokes are already spent in the trailers. There are a couple of moments that are surprising and, in one instance towards the end of the film, grossly funny, but the film is a huge waste of time and money; I can say that, having spent £13 in a Leicester Square cinema, where the experience should have been one of elation, I wasted my money. I could see where they wanted to go with this: a spoof on the Hollywood slam-bang cop/ buddy film, with a Brirish slant and location. To see the likes of Timothy Dalton, Edward Woodward and others reduced to this level was laughable, but not funny. A neat idea wasted.

Play for Today: 'Nuts in May' (1976) Season 6, Episode 12

A couple goes camping, but find their neighbours to be less than desirable.

[9/10 · 22 December 2006]

This is a perfect introduction to the films of Mike Leigh. As with most of his work, there is the mundane, leading to a climax of conflict between the characters, followed by life-changing realisation, where before there was denial and ignorance. It's deceptively bucolic, gripping stuff, highlighted by then wife, Alison Steadman's performance as Candice-Marie, a free-thinking, hippie. You can't decide if she is completely naive, or sincerely rebelling against Keith, her partner (Roger Sloman), a fiercely anal-retentive pedant. Similar patterns in story telling keep surfacing in Leigh's work: Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies, All or Nothing, Vera Drake and it is always riveting. Where hope ends most of Leigh's stories, however, Keith's future looks less hopeful at the end of this early work.