dispecta Reviews

Instinct (2018–2019)

Better than most rewrites for TV

[7/10 · 26 February 2024]

Read the books (as audiobooks) and the books were better--especially with Eduardo Ballerini reading. But, this was a decent effort.

Have to say that the acting/plot development was a bit shallow, but Alan Cummings is always a good addition to anything.

A bit sad that Whoppi Goldberg has such a small contribution. Not sure whether to laugh or cry at her comment about Gladwell. A true professional would probably not be happy to be compared. Sales-wise, though.....I can see the draw.

I love how they changed his husband in the TV series. More mellow, but just as tenacious as the books.

Overall worth the watch.

CSI: NY: Blink (2004) Season 1, Episode 1

Rewatching whole series...if I can stand it.

[7/10 · 3 October 2023]

The choice of the 'grey' filter to make it 'gritty' NY is more annoying the second time around....and you don't open the back of a film camera to see what's there! The film would be ruined! CSIs should know this. The film in the camera was color, not B&W, btw.

The hospital nurse has obviously not been paid to speak. It's kind of unnatural.

People in a coma do not usually have their eyes open. Correct for locked-in syndrome, but the doctor should know this--not say she is in a 'deep' coma. But the the doctor sounds like a soap opera stereotype, so he's in keeping with the role he's playing.

Gary Sinise does play the tortured detective well. A modern day Bogart?

Only Murders in the Building (2021– )

Two gods of comedy are back

[8/10 · 12 May 2022]

Martin Short and Steve Martin have not lost a bit of their skill. No shade meant to Selena Gomez, but how did she end up with the privilege?

Its a great premise and execution is brilliant so far!

Murder in Provence (2022– )

Forget they are supposed to be French.

[7/10 · 5 April 2022]

The easiest thing they could have done was put this in Calais. That would have fixed the jarring cultural disconnect.

Otherwise, just pretend they are all Brits living abroad and it's actually good. Not a masterpiece, but good.

DCI Banks (2010–2016)

A bad production of the books.

[4/10 · 26 March 2022]

Its just not a good something: directing, script, acting-really ok if you forget what the characters are supposed to be like.

Not exactly sure what the problem is, I just know It's not right. Tried twice an as I can't get past the first episode.

Murder, They Hope (2021–2023)

The bottom of the barrel

[3/10 · 20 February 2022]

The movies were silly, but watchable. The series is a waste of space. Plot is ridiculous and full of stale tropes. Couldn't make it through the first episode. I was hoping it may have improved on the films. Sadly. No.

Mapleworth Murders (2020)

Silly bur addictive

[7/10 · 20 August 2021]

I can't decide if I'm pitiful or not because I can't stop watching.

Grace: Dead Simple (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

Read the book, then watch.

[7/10 · 8 May 2021]

They've crammed a huge amount of info into 87 minutes and didn't make it work. I can only imagine if you haven't read the book, you are lost.

That having been said, I think they've got the characters right and they've stuck to the story fairly well. We'll see how the series develops.