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ShanklinPJB
Reviews
The Last Bus (2021)
Good performance but cliche ridden
I really wanted to like this film as generally everything Timothy Spall does is excellent but unfortunately the characters of the people he meets on his journey were ridiculously two dimensional and unrealistic. There was far too much in the way of nice and helpful ethnic minorities and clumsy use of unpleasant white authority figures and bullies. As an older man myself I appreciated the emotional performance of Tim Spall but the characters surrounding him in certain parts just didn't ring true for me .Plus the locations suggested didn't look much like the places they were supposed to represent.
Father Christmas Is Back (2021)
Very poor
Had high hopes as I saw some big names in the cast but was very disappointed. Massive overacting by all. Thoroughly unlikeable characters and basically very little in the way of funny moments. Supposed to be a Christmas movie but outside shots show green leaves on the trees. I'd have been embarrassed to have my name associated with the film.
Holy Water (2009)
Fundamental flaw.
This is a really so so movie which appears funnier than it actually is. The main flaw is that the whole Viagra in the water supply causing the villagers to become sex crazed is complete nonsense as Viagra does nothing for sex drive ...it simply helps erectile disfunction. Mildly amusing but I wouldn't bother.
The Mallorca Files (2019)
Poor man's foreign drama
Very nice scenery. The male lead has plenty of charisma while the female lead is as dull as ditchwater .Language is the biggest gripe for those of us who enjoy foreign dramas such as Montelbano and The Bridge.
I feel that by having everyone speaking English so well and the ridiculous situation of Germans failing to speak in their mother tongue even to each other the programme is pandering to the dim demographic.....viewers who can't be bothered with a few subtitles and the sort of tourists who expect everyone abroad to speak English.
Noces rouges (2018)
Average fare but watchable
Absolutely amazing scenery with red herrings and twists galore. Fairly uncomplicated viewing with no gory deaths which puts it more in the daytime TV bracket. Worth a look. In response to an earlier review, the military men had covered up their drugging and humiliation of their fellow female military colleague.
Doctor Who: Empress of Mars (2017)
Classic Dr Who
It is always gratifying for fans of the old series to see the return of old enemies and moreover enemies that are pretty similar in appearance but obviously look even more impressive with today's budget.
The main problem modern writers often have with portraying historical characters,in this case British soldiers from Victorian times,is that they are torn between accuracy in showing their behaviour when dealing with modern situations which can be humorous and entertaining(think Catweazle) and yet avoiding the less savoury aspects of old world attitudes. In this case portraying the black character wearing the Kings Uniform as being completely without note as it would be today as is the mixed race Bill blending in without a word.I'm sure soldiers of this period would have treated him as a real novelty with the racism that goes with it.
I'm just not sure the intelligence of children in the audience deserve to be insulted in this way.Star Trek did this so much better in an episode when Abraham Lincoln was beamed aboard the Enterprise and commented that Uhura was 'a Charming Negress' Condescending,sure,but it's what a man from his time would say.
I'm digressing from the story but the Doctor Who character for me needs to be an educator and moral guide for the young audience possibly pointing out the old fashioned racist/sexist attitudes that he encounters from historical figures.OK ...rant over.