editorjuno Reviews

The World Wars (2014)

Uniformly Awful

[1/10 · 17 October 2023]

So badly written, indifferently acted, poorly narrated, and historically inaccurate as to beggar the imagination. There is absolutely nothing in this train wreck of a pseudo-documentary mini-series to justify it's existence. So many pivotal events have been left out that one would think that these vast conflicts comprised just a couple of dozen battles, and the timelines depicted are frequently out of whack -- for example, the impression given is that Patton arrived in France and immediately galloped off the win The Battle Of The Bulge pretty much single-handedly, with no mention of the paratroopers and support units who held on at tremendous cost until Patton's boys could get through. Pearl Harbor and Midway get mentioned, but not Guadalcanal or the monumental naval engagements of The Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf or of Nimitz, Halsey, or Spruance -- as with Patton, the impression given was that only MacArthur mattered in the Pacific when in fact that theater was divided between him and Nimitz, who was every bit as able, with none of imperious egotism that typified MacArthur's approach to command.

I watched this entire debacle so you don't have to.

You're welcome.

How China Got Rich (2019)

The 3/10 "FEATURED REVIEW" is just plain wrong

[8/10 · 8 June 2023]

This is actually a pretty balanced presentation of the last four decades or so of burgeoning economic progress in the PRC, with plenty of caveats and a clear awareness of the potential pitfalls of combining a market-driven, low-regulation, growth-oriented and globally engaged economy with the heavy-handed governance approach that comes of the one party rule Deng Xiaoping inherited from the tragically failed, ideology-driven era of Maoism.

Does the program's predominantly optimistic tone combined with the pleasant, sunny demeanor of the main presenter, popular British historian Michael Wood, and the dearth of attention given to the often brutal de facto political tyranny of the CCP elite -- not to mention the emerging personality cult of current PRC President Xi Jinping -- comprise "propaganda?" As seen from here, the answer is no -- the focus is on the topic at hand, which is not the supposedly intrinsic excesses and limitations of one-party rule, but rather on explaining the factors that contributed to one of the world's oldest civilizations achieving remarkable success via favoring Deng's pragmatism over Mao's fanatical ideological devotion.

The Great Revival (2007– )

A solid historical series achored by a superb actor

[8/10 · 26 May 2023]

Note: This entire 41 episode series -- complete with English subtitles, no less -- is currently available in HD on U-Toob, at least here in the U. S. A.

Chen Dao Ming -- as the heroic and ruthlessly determined leader of the Warring States period kingdom of Yue -- delivered his usual outstanding and highly professional performance. His work here is both nuanced and evocative, presaging his monumental portrayal of Han Dynasty founder Liu Bang in 2012's "The Legend Of Chu and Han," which is streamable -- again in the U. S. A. -- via Netflix as "King's War."

The supporting cast -- especially the veteran actors portraying elderly royals, generals, and court officials -- is very good, but it is Mr. Chen's intense turn as main protagonist King Goujian that makes the series compelling.

Despite its rather dubious origin as a production of a provincial propaganda agency in the PRC, this is a very well done series and a must for anyone as into East Asian historical dramas as I am. 8 out of 10.