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Rust Valley Restorers (2018)
Mike Hall Still Messing About...
I don't really know what to say about this series, I first watched it some years ago, when Mike Hall was bleating about not having any money too many cars in the "Field of Dreams" (yeah right) things always going wrong... blah, blah, blah..
I've just watched the latest season and Mike Hall is still messing bleating on about the same stuff...
Someone really needs to shake that bloke and knock some sense into him, after 4-5 years still the same problems and issues, at least he sold all the cars in the "Field of Dreams" well expect the 60 or so he couldn't part with "BIG SURPRISE"
Avery keeps calling Mike a "hooplehead" to be honest they both come across like a couple of "Hoopleheads" at least Avery can turn out a decent looking car or two, if he can stop laughing at everything like a maniacal Gofer, where as Mike seems to run into issues the minute he goes anywhere near a spanner, at least he has a new painter who seems switched on and wants to do good work, where Mike it seems is quite happy to cut corners because of budget, I seriously wouldn't let him build me a car.
Chip Foose Customs this is not.
Chosen (2013)
Really Good, we needed more than 3 seasons of 20 minute episodes.
I found Chosen, quite by accident on a streaming site I use a lot, and was intrigued by the description, so thought why not give it a watch....ok so I'm a little late to the party, but, I liked this series.
I binged on all 3 seasons in a couple of days, what I didn't like was each episode was only about twenty to twenty five minutes long... just not long enough in my view to explain all the finer points.
In fact even after 3 seasons it wasn't long enough, I wanted to see more, the acting is superb on all levels, and I really wanted to see how Chad Michael Murry's character, found the watchers and dealt with them, but sadly it wasn't to be, like so many other good series which need more episodes we got duped, perhaps the ending was a good way to end, but I felt there could have been more to this story.
Really Good, we needed more than 3 seasons of 20 minute episodes.
Ridley (2022)
The singing detective.... errmm
The singing detective.... no not that one but Ridley, a retired detective that sings at nights in his co-owned jazz bar, not an entirely original concept I feel, but it is a watchable intriguing series, that you need to settle into.
What bugs me with tv today is there always has to be some form woke-ness element included and the lead female detective is of course a lesbian, just how her home life and the fact she is a lesbian needs to be in the story line, to make it either interesting or plausible is mystifying but we life in all inclusive times, for better or worse and tv producers, writers just have to throw in these alternative elements for what ever reason.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
10/10 Exceptional TV Series, that seems to get over looked.
Exceptional TV Series, that gets over looked possibly because of Vikings, but which is in my opinion is quite possibly one of the best tv series to grace our screens in recent years.
I first watched The Last kingdom around 2018 so I missed the first couple of seasons due to being out of the UK, and I have to say on first viewing it didn't initially draw me in, and I've never left any reviews before for what ever reason, but subsequently having binge watched all the seasons I was hooked, and I since binged several times since, it just gets better and better.
It's amazing how much you miss initially, then as you watch again more is apparent, all I have to say after several viewings it is just an enormously well acted, well directed, well written production, one which all the cast and crew should be immensely proud to have been a part of.
In my all time top 10 of great watches.
Murder Company (2024)
Just How...
Just how did this movie get a 7.1 rating, it's a miracle.
I didn't make more than half of this movie before I bailed, it started with a US paratrooper hanging from a tree, trying to collect what looks like a German made what looks like an MP38 or MP40 SMG, also carried by yet another US soldier later in the scene.
Just why are these US Para's carrying German made SMG's, and why can't film makers get the small details right for crying out loud !!!, even to the point that the company has a Black member, now although there were African-American troops in service during WW2, they were in a different unit, they would not have been in a predominantly white unit... but it's 2024 so any thing goes it seems except telling history as it was.
What a waste of Kelsey Grammer, still !!! He got paid so he must be happy with his contribution.
Not being told correctly as history was, but it seems made for entertainment, shame it didn't entertain me. 2/10
Or in homework terms F+ must try harder.
The Bikeriders (2023)
Pretty Decent Movie
A pretty decent movie, with some reservations, Tom Hardy, Norman Reedus, Damon Herriman, the last two being under used in my opinion, as for Jodie Comer, what a talent this lady has, every movie or tv series I've seen her in she is just brilliant, this lady can act, make no mistake.
The rest of the cast do a pretty decent job, Tom Hardy is good as the leader of the gang, which starts out as a bunch of guys riding bikes for fun, but then descends into something else entirely, and by the time the younger generation start to join the club, it's really a case of anarchy.
The interesting thing here is, having ridden Motorcycles for the best part of 50 years I've never really encountered this side of biking, with all the rivalry.
The only thing I find really annoying about this type of film. Movie, is why can't the sound engineers, post production "ever" get the sounds of bikes right, there was once scene where Benny rides away and his bike sounds like a 360 degree Triumph not a Harley, which had a completely different sound, I find that really irritating, how can these people get that so wrong in 2024, a bit like F'n'F with the cars having 20 gears... just unbelievable and for someone who notices things like that really annoying.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Season 1 8/10 - Season 2 so far, after 3 episodes 3/10
What to say about this House Of The Dragon prequel to Games of Thrones, the first season was pretty decent, but still not a patch at least for me on Game of Thrones, even though it felt the same it didn't quite hit the same spot I thought.
Then there is Season 2..... after only 3 episodes as I write this review, what is there to say about Season 2, and episode 3 in particular, firstly let me state for the record, I'm not a prude in any way I can swear like the next man, and probably better than a few, but episode 3 with all the F bombs, and then the scene of basically pornography.
Now I have to ask why the producers feel this nessacary when there could be children watching this series, is it to buck up the viewing figures or what !!!
For me this series has had it, I won't be watching any more, too many wrong influences of a dark nature, and if I wanted to see porn I know where I go I don't want to see it, on what basically is a multi generational tv show.
Road House (2024)
Don't believe the bad reviews...
Well where to start, I really enjoyed this movie and I wasn't really expecting to like it, but after seeing a clip I thought it seemed pretty interesting, with some good action, now whether it's a remake of Roadhouse the Patrick Swayze movie or not who cares, and to be honest I think this movie stands on its own two feet pretty well.
Jake Gyllenhaal plays his character so understated, and so what if I'm an UFC fighter, I'm an ordinary bloke underneath.
Conor McGregor on the other hand over plays his character as a mentalist, on a destruction course.
Overall I enjoyed this movie apart from the obviously poor Cgi, which ruined it to be honest with the beginning fight scene and boat crashes etc, and some really odd camera angles and views apart from that it's worth a watch. 8/10.
Dark Matter (2024)
From the Sublime....to the ridiculous
I thought Dark Matter started out well enough, it was interesting, plausible and kept your interest.
Unfortunately I have to agree with another reviewer, and say it went the way of so many good starters and got more and more implausible and more and more convoluted, to try to make a story.
So how many Jason's are there and why have they all descended on one time line, it is never easy to know which one is which.
By Episode 7 or 8 I was really starting to ask myself why am I watching this series, by Season end episode 9 it was off the scale ridiculous, when all the Jason's from all the realities all turned up in one reality... Just why is my question, this wasn't even eluded to.
If there is a season 2 I'm most likely going to be watching, something else.
The Last Duel (2021)
Good but...
Firstly I have to say I've watched this film twice now, and on the second viewing, I have a review..
Ridley Scott is famous for stating the film flopped due to millennials who only watch things delivered on their phones....
Well tbh as much as I enjoyed this film, I believe there is more to that statement, firstly it's trying to draw in a bigger audience with big name actors and tis is a mistake, it has the wrong actors in key parts,
Ben Affleck is just dropping the F bomb in almost every scene which I'm pretty sure if you check history didn't come into prominence until the late 1400's.
Secondly Matt Damon although a decent actor in most others things I've seen him in, looks well out of place in this, especially on a horse, where he looks like they stuck a plank up his back, he is so wooden.
Adam Driver is I feel the only American actor that doesn't disgrace himself in this, and actually manages to not be an American trying to be European with his accent for the most part.
And thats the problem with American productions, portraying European history, mainly they get it so wrong it's painful to watch, which considering Ridley Scott is English it surprises me.
McDonald & Dodds (2020)
Umm what to say about this series..
Umm what to say about this series, as usual I found McDonald and Dodds quite by accident, I watched the first episode of season1 and almost binned it after that first one, it was as usual in the 2020's a woke production, the DCI is a female and black, boxes were clearly ticked in this series, there were all sorts of other types with lesbian woman and intimated gay interaction.
But something made me watch the next episode as the production was good, scenery was good, but the led playing DCI McDonald is either a really bad actress or just hamming it up for laughs, but I do not like her or her character, and find her really irritating.
She is too much bigging her self up, while the "real" detective is very much Dodds an unassuming man in his twilight years and forgotten by the Police, and it seems never given the gratitude he most clearly warrants.
After 2 episodes I really hope this doesn't descend into more of the same, time will tell.
Life After Fighting (2024)
What an unexpected delight
I've never heard of Bren Foster, but I found this movie as I a fair amount of what I watch pretty much by accident.
And to be honest I wasn't really expecting very much, if at all probably a B movie and it I expecting pretty awful acting, pretty awful sound and pretty awful direction.
So what a surprise to be presented with quite possibly one of the best action movies I've seen in a long while,
I don't know Bren Foster having never seen him in anything before but the martial arts scenes are just incredible, in a lot of martial arts movies, you can see the actors pulling their punches... not in this movie, the actors actually seem to be going at it full on, which is a welcome change.
Bren Foster really needs to be doing more action movies, after this I hope he will.
The Fall Guy (2024)
One Big Fall
I remember the Fall Guy TV series from the 1980's with Lee Majors and Heather Thomas in the lead roles and while it was a bit cheesy, it was watchable, so I was sort looking forward to the 2024 movie with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt in those same roles.
Sadly I feel the movie was lame, below par, and a fall from the TV series, just why did they have to make the lead characters with the same names as the tv series, in the tv series Jody was a stunt woman not a camera tech or director, perhaps this was done as a tribute to the tv series, but it just didn't work, if you've never seen the tv series I suppose this might be a whole new spectacle for you, but for me I have up after 50 minutes and binned it.
I've rated it 3/10 for some of the stunts and action I did watch, but the story line is meh.... Lee Majors must be rolling his eyes.
Outer Range (2022)
Just What The ..... is this !!! Monty Python Does Wyoming
I've only just stumbled on this series, and I checked the reviews before watching, all I can say is, why the rave reviews, this series is so out there, it's ridiculous,
Will Patten singing in his bath robe, was the first sign something wasn't quite right here, I managed to get to Episode 4 Season 1 when I threw in the towel, the scene at the funeral with the brother signing a Kate Bush song was excruciating to watch.
Perhaps this show gets better, later on, but I suspect not, it certainly doesn't know what it wants to be... is it Sci-fi, is it drama, is it a western or is it a lame attempt at comedy, I suspect the later, with the terrible singing, and weird acting from some of the cast, now weather this is supposed to be irony or not I have no idea, but just how did Brolin and Patten get roped (pun intended) into doing this is a mystery.
It struck me more that this series is trying too hard and is trying to be a little of The Righteous Gemstones but without the comedy and writing skills of that series.
I'm Out, 5/10.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
Was really expecting better than what I watched
I Was really expecting better from Guy Ritchie than what I watched, it's supposed to be 1942 and there are some real mis-casting going on as seems to be the way in this modern era, so not really authentic of 1942, which is really starting to annoy me, in a lot of period television dramas and films.
It seemed to be done all too tongue in cheek and a little too farcical for my liking, so it didn't really hit home the real story of operation Postmaster that the SOE conducted in WW2 against the Nazi forces.
I managed 30 minutes before I binned it, a real missed opportunity to tell an amazing story of real life heroism, written, filmed and directed in what came across in a jokey manner.
I see other reviewers are raving about this movie, but, If you are someone that likes history and WW2 history in particular, I think you will be disappointed.
Guy Ritchie normally a good director misses the target for me sadly with this movie. 5/10.
Dark Matter (2015)
Great TV Series
First off let me just state that I really enjoyed this series when it first dropped, back in 2015-2017 and now some years later binge watching it again, it is really very, very good, but now in 2024 I'm noticing a fair few continuity issues I didn't notice originally.
The memory scenes when 5 is living the lives of other crew members, there a re some misaligned continuity, then again in Season2 when they suddenly regain their memories after escaping the prison once back on the ship no one seems to ask where are 1 and 6, if they had truly regained their prior memories, they would be asking where are those two..
Apart from that I think a really good series ended too soon.
Clarkson's Farm (2021)
Some Say.... Jeremy Clarkson is...
Some Say.... Jeremy Clarkson is bumptious , arrogant, full of his own importance, and they don't like him.... all we know is.... Jeremy and Lisa on Clarkson's Farm are brilliant.
I've been a follower of Jeremy Clarkson right from his early days as a staff writer on a car magazine back in the 1990's even before he was on Top Gear, and his sense of humour and verbal style was a welcome relief from all the yes men and boring old staff writers that seemed to be writing back in those days for car magazines.
I've followed his career all these years later right through Top Gear to The Grand tour and now Clarkson's Farm and as we now have it Season 3 of yet for trials and tribulations of farming in the UK in this day and age, I'm not a farmer so have no axe to grind but what Jeremy has done is brought to the masses the absolute ridiculousness of local authorises and planning permissions, that local farmers and people trying to scratch a living have to go through to earn a crust.
Now whether the local authorities in Oxfordshire where his farm is are just too stuck in their ways or just being difficult because they don't like Clarkson for some reason, because of his persona is a question only they can answer, but...
Clarkson's Farm is a can't miss watch, it certainly shows Jeremy in a new light even as a long time follower, he has shown a lighter more personal side to his personality although we have seen glimpses of this side of him on TG & TGT, this is brave for him to do that, as for his lady Lisa Hogan, what an amazing lady, the way in which she just gets stuck in and deals with birthing baby pigs S3-ep4 is incredible.
At the end if you were not a fan of Jeremy before, after watching him in utter heartbreak because his pigs are dying or some other heart rending glimpse into his life away from and outside his TV persona.
I rarely give a 10/10 but Clarkson's Farm is sure fire and worthy 10/10, please lets have more from Diddly Squat Farm.
Het gouden uur (2022)
Some say !!!
Some say this series Het Gouden Uur (The Golden Hour) is racist is unbelievable, is unrealistic, but to be true from history this series is art reporting real life.
We all can remember the lorry attack in the United Kingdom London Bridge terror attack of 2019, perpetrated by extremists, and I suspect watching this series would be extremely harrowing for relatives of anyone killed in a terrorist attack, but sadly the truth is these attacks happen weather they are portrayed on TV or film or not, and perhaps should be highlighted, to warn of such horrors.
Het Gouden Uur is a great piece of Dutch TV and well worth a binge on a wet weekend, if a little graphic in places, and the way the guy from the AIVD treated the cops wife was possibly a bit unrealistic, or perhaps it wasn't having had some interaction with European Police they are not like we see or believe the UK Police to be all rights and gentle with the suspects, so perhaps this depiction is truthful... who knows.
Overall I liked The Golden Hour, it was very well made, the acting was superb and a lot better than some big budget productions coming out of the big houses, I do hope there is a Season 2 as the end of Season 1 left questions about who is involved from the Police in the terror attacks, 9/10.
In the Land of Saints & Sinners (2023)
A Liam Neeson film that is actually watchable
I have to firstly admit I'm not a huge Liam Neeson fan, most of his films have been pretty bad, if I'm being honest, but In the Land of Saints and Sinners, sounded different and it was for me it was the first of Liam Neeson' s movies I actually enjoyed.
And as other reviews have stated he seems right at home in this movie and the role he plays.
The setting is Ireland and what beautiful scenery there is as a backdrop to what is a very watchable movie.
Neeson plays Finbar Murphy a retired man with a dark past in 70's Ireland now leading a very quiet existence, when some people arrive and disrupt his peace he must stop them.
The Frontier (2015)
I don't get the it looks like.....
I don't get the it looks.....like it was made in the 70's, well people.. it's obviously set in that period, judging by all the 70's clothing style and cars, and like a lot of great 70's movies, for example Vanishing Point, The French Connection, Bullitt, to name but three, it is all the better for it.
I just do not understand the negative 70's comments, they are clearly made by sub age 40's film watchers, more in tune with todays bang... bang and Fast 'n' Boring style movies, with fake cgi, that you don't have to think to hard when you watch them.
Ok so this movie is a little B movie in it's style, but for all that I actually enjoyed it way more than I was expecting, the acting and plot is very good, and if you like some substance in your movie plots then give it a watch, I don't think you will be disappointed.
Shogun (2024)
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent.
Well it has come to an end after 10 episodes, and what is there to say about Shôgun, but Excellent, Excellent, Excellent, a total masterpiece in cinematic quality, in every detail.
This is a must see television series, and one of the best series I've watched in a long, long time, I was a little unsure of Cosmo at the beginning, in the first couple of episodes, but Cosmo grew on me as the episodes progressed, and he filled out his character a little more as the series went on.
Recently I read they might well produce a second season, even though this is based on a single book, and pretty much the story is played out, but I do hope there is a second series and then some, as the ending certainly seemed to say there is more for the characters in this series and more to say in their saga.
Overall a massive 10/10 from me, well worth a binge over a wet and miserable weekend.
Vikings (2013)
Seasons 1 - 4 are simply the best
As some others have stated having re-binged on Vikings over the years and I have to agree Seasons one to four are the best, by quite a margin.
Season five starts to go a little awry but by Season six, when Ivar ends up in Russia I found to going a bit off the original theme, and found myself skipping through some of the Episodes, as it was a bit slow moving.
To be honest as odd as some have said about Travis Fimmel acting can be sometimes, especially in other productions I've seen him in, for me his portrayal of Ragnar, I think is actually very good, also Floki is an interesting character, well played by Gustaf Skarsgård, as for the remaining actors they do a decent job in their respective parts.
Overall a good series 9/10 well worth a binge for Seasons 1-4, as I feel it lost its way a little after Ragnar was killed off.
Spitfire Over Berlin (2022)
Spitfire Over Berlin
Ok lets start by saying, I have a bit of a liking for WW2 films and particularly ones to do with the extremely brave young men and I mean guys in their late teens and early 20's that signed up to protect this the UK from invasion by the German forces, sadly not the best CGI I've ever seen in a film, but then I'm guessing the guys that made and produced this are not working with a massive budget, but of all the 3 WW2 movies these guys have produced I feel it isn't the best of the 3.
Secondly not the worst acting I've ever had the misfortune to watch, I've seen much bigger budget films with way worse acting than this film in bigger budget movies from the USA.
Knox Goes Away (2023)
Knox Goes Away - Exceptional Movie
When I first read the synopsis about a man with dementia, I was a little put off it has to be said, but thought just how bad could it be it's has Keaton, Pacino and Marsden in the lead roles.
It starts off pretty slowly, and I almost packed it in, but I persevered and it starts to pick up nicely once his son played by Marsden who he hasn't seen for a while, turns up on his door step covered in blood.
And even though Knox is loosing his memory pretty quickly he sets out to help his son cover up the murder of the sons daughters rapist, which not giving away the twist he does masterfully.
The ending is kind of hard to watch I feel for anyone who has had a friend or family member suffer with a fast acting illness, and it did give me a bit of a lump in my throat, as I have had a good friend with something similar that was only given 3 months to live some years ago, and sadly died still quite young.
Overall an exceptionally well shot, acted, directed film, that is very thought provoking, a must watch I feel.
The Man in the High Castle (2015)
Oh dear, oh dear... Disappointing ending from a great start.
I wanted to write how amazing The Man in the High Castle was having never read the book, and the premise drew me in.
Season 1 was the best in my view, Season two was pretty good still, Season 3 was starting to show a few cracks in the walls of the castle.
Season Four what a waste of 10 hours of my and I suspect other viewers time and energy expecting it to return to great writing, which it never did, there was way too much of what makes modern television and film script writing all the same, with this modern day politically correct stuff.
As for the ending Episode 10 of Season 4 just what the heck was that, what a stupid ending, S4started poorly and with every episode it got more ridiculous don't waste your time with Season 4 it's a series filler of 10 hours of nonsensical scenes jammed together for the times we now live in.
I had previously scored this series 9/10 until I watched Season 4 and that ending, I now give it a 7/10, but mainly because the first 2 Seasons where grab you by the seat of your pants.