Gotrek_Fabian Reviews

Jesus: The Facts About Jesus (2023)

Atrocious narration ruins this from the off

[3/10 · 22 October 2023]

I couldn't get past 5 minutes of this due to the narrator elongating every word to a nonsensical proportion. It seems he is putting on a husky voice too.

I wish that I could give a better opinion of the documentary itself but sitting through someone who can't act, trying to act really grated on me. In the effort to give the voice over some gravity he merely brought it to almost comical.

What I saw of the film footage seemed fine with good costumes and settings and some fitting iconography such as the crown of thorns, the crucifix, the nails and tools used to crucify Jesus.

I have never review scored anything this low before but I really couldn't hear that voice any longer.

Proof right here that nepotism doesn't often work. (Director and narrator are related)

Celebrity Juice (2008–2022)

Raucous, crude, irreverent and genuinely funny with it.

[9/10 · 23 April 2020]

Celebrity Juice is a quiz-com of sorts with A-Z Listers (usually comedians and pop stars) filling the seats of the panel and hosted by Keith Lemon (an alter ego of the comedian Leigh Francis. Games consist of macabre requests designed to make the panel feel stupid, ugly or uncomfortable for the audience's pleasure. Sure, the experience isn't for everyone and can at times be somewhat puerile but if you know who Keith Lemon is already you'll know whether the show is for you or not. Some episodes are funnier than others but that's the nature of unscripted TV.

My favourite game has to be the one where Ant and Dec are put in a box and asked to feel around and guess what the item is. Google it, it's an absolute riot and my cheeks genuinely hurt from laughing when I first watched it.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Not quite the Tarantino tale you were looking for

[7/10 · 3 February 2020]

Like most of Tarrantino films there are some moments of genius cinematography (such as the falsely portrayed bad editing) and story telling but unfortunately this film has some long lulls in-between those moments.

The story of Sharon Tate is absolutely baffling and leads nowhere within the film other than making her look like a complete bimbo and just seems to be a love letter to fellow director Roman Polanski rather than any story within the film. Are you supposed to think that Rick Dalton gains a few more years of grace in Hollywood due to having a drink with her after the credits roll? Unlikely seeing as there is a minor plot during the credits that would suggest not. Just utterly confusing as to what part she played in the film other than eye candy.

The culmination of plots lead up to a satisfying Tarantinoesque finale with some gruesome moments of violence in it but does it warrant the watch? I enjoyed it for the most but definitely felt that the pacing for the first 60-90 minutes was hardly memorable and somewhat tedious. That being said, if you enjoy Tarantino's previous works you'll likely enjoy this, just not as much a some of his other films.

After Life (2019–2022)

Dark and depressing and yet soulful and humourous

[8/10 · 2 February 2020]

How this has not picked up awards is beyond me, this comedy drama is one of the best shows I have seen in a long time. Tony, the lead character, is someone you care about within the first 5 minutes thanks to both the writing and acting of Ricky Gervais and the ensemble cast, which boasts a good few British comedians and comic actors (Joe Wilkinson, Paul Kaye, Roisin Connaughty, Kerry Godliman). I don't know how he did it but I felt myself welling up with emotion, be that sadness or happiness for Tony, at least once in every episode. Everything feels rounded and with a backstory making the universe of After Life an utterly believable reality from the postman and drug addict to the fame driven no hoper who constantly tries to embezzle his way into the "news" in the local free newspaper.

This is Gervais' finest work to date and, as much as this deserves renewing for another series, I hope that it doesn't get renewed so that it can remain the masterpiece that it is.

Serengeti (2019– )

An African National Park brought to your living room but with a cringe worthy dramatisation

[7/10 · 8 August 2019]

I have watched every episode of this TV series and was always compelled to watch the next show and, for the most, found it very enjoyable. Photography here is as beautiful as any natural world documentary seen on the BBC and John Boyega does a great job of narrating the show and brings a passion to the writing but that's where this show falls down. The narrative is that of a story of a family of several different species and is pure fiction to fit the shots captured. If you are keen eyed you will even notice that the animals which they use a certain name for will suddenly have some differences (such as a zebra's stripes) and is blatantly a different animal. I love nature and wildlife and the photography pleased me but I felt patronised, it is bordering on mockumentary. Give me Sir David Attenborough with his factual explanations over this any day.

Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989)

Wonderfully nuanced yet woefully under-rated

[8/10 · 6 July 2019]

Ever Decreasing Circles is a British 80's sitcom based around the marriage of Martin Bryce, an overly pedantic, borderline obsessive compulsive man who lives in middle class suburbia and his wife, Ann who is steadily but surely becoming disenchanted with her marriage due to her husband's obsessions which always take precedence over her needs from him. A new neighbour, Paul Ryman, moves in next door and there is electricity between him and Ann instantly which results in some very heartfelt and yet awkward moments between them. There are two friends of the couple who are also part of this wonderful ensemble: Howard and Hilda who always compliment each other with matching jumpers. Howard is the underdog of the show who always seems to put his foot in it or be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

This show has a charm of it's own despite it's over-arcing plot having been used before and after the show finished on other shows and yet is one of the best versions of this tried and tested formula. If you haven't seen it then I heartily recommend it for story, a brilliantly talented cast who convey their characters with aplomb causing you to feel for them as well as laugh at them and for the subtle and yet clear romance between two people who are not meant to be.

Susie Dent's Guide to Swearing (2017)

A Guide to the Six Most Offensive/Best Loved Profanities

[9/10 · 1 July 2019]

Looking for a history of profanity? Here it is. The UK's premier etymology expert, Susie Dent gives us her findings on how to swear, the origins of those words and alternatives to them as well. All in all, this is an excellent little mini-series to while away a few minutes here and there with each episode weighing in at 3-5 mins each. Good job Susie!

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

The best fantasy TV show ever (Very minor spoilers)

[10/10 · 21 May 2019]

Score breakdown: Seasons 1-6 = 10/10 Season 7 = 8/10 Season 8 = 7/10 Overall, still a 10/10 due to the sheer pleasure I got from this amazing show. Forget what all of the naysayers spout about it's ending and the imbecilic 1/10 "reviewers".

With Game of Thrones we have not just the best fantasy TV show but one of the best TV shows of all time. The TV show is based on George RR Martin's epic masterpiece (yet to be completed), A Song of Ice and Fire and named after the first book in the series (this was due to only one season being funded initially as it was unknown whether the public would take to a fantasy TV show) and for the first season it's sticks very closely to the penmanship of the novel. As of season 2 there are omittances and alterations and the further into the novels you go the more changes there are but this is not to say that it makes for a bad experience.

The overall story is one of a political struggle for The Iron Throne of Westeros, a monarchy in the land of Westeros whose capital city is King's Landing, and an ominous threat from the uncharted North beyond 'The Wall' whose existence is a threat to all mankind known as the White Walkers and led by a mysterious Wight called the Night King (the beings in the novels are known only as The Others and the Night King doesn't exist). The person who sits on the throne never does so for long and the ruler of Westeros changes quite frequently one way or another.

The most endearing quality for me is the way that characters are written as multifaceted beings which endears them to me so much more than stories with two dimensional heroes. There a bad guys with good and redeeming qualities and there are good guys with altogether disgusting traits or horrid histories which makes for much more enjoyable viewing. It causes you to wonder which side of that character is going to surface on plot points and keeps you gripped within their stories as well as the overall plot of the show.

Game of Thrones has changed the way TV shows are thought of today and the way TV shows are made. It is a game changer the likes of which will not be seen for some time to come. It shocks, disgusts, causes great ponderance on what is to come, confuses and delights in droves and every episode will leaving you desiring more.

The show has its flaws towards the end, mainly due to GRR Martin having not written the final two books yet (The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring) and the directors, Benioff and Weiss, having to write the script themselves. The impact of this is apparent to anyone who embroils themselves in the show with time passage becoming a little odd as well as characters acting somewhat erroneously and making choices which seem odd for their personalities. This is not a major detractor though and is only apparent due to the high standard which this show set itself from the very first episode. Even at its lowest points this show still surpasses nigh on anything out there available for your viewing pleasure today and if you haven't seen it then take a chance on it, even if fantasy isn't your thing. After a couple of episodes you will likely be hooked (I truly envy you if you haven't yet seen it!).

Derry Girls (2018–2022)

Painfully unfunny

[6/10 · 19 March 2019]

I have tried so hard to like Derry Girls as sitcoms seem to be thin on the ground currently but there is very little that is good to write about it. The concept and situation itself is fine: a Catholic school run by Nuns and a group of girls with one boy accepted within the circle during the IRA issues of the 80's, the cast is far from the worst although no one stands out in particular but the comedy just isn't there. In fact, this is so bad that it would probably benefit from canned laughter (laugh track - US). There isn't one joke that you would remember the following day in this never mind a year later. Even the plagiarised scripts and jokes are so far off the mark that the BBC soap EastEnders, which is known for its doom and gloom, is a preferable place to go for laughs. How this was commissioned for a second series is beyond me.

I also think it worth mentioning that all of these reviews giving 9-10 stars are either paid reviews or from people that have never experienced a sitcom before. Were they to understand that Friends, Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Frasier, The Vicar of Dibley, Seinfeld, Steptoe and Son, Red Dwarf etc, etc are all amazing comedy's and still not something which hits a 10/10 for most people but would consistently make them laugh EVERY episode then they would feel ashamed of themselves for giving such stupidly high scores. Go and watch some real comedy and only then start reviewing, if you don't have something to compare to then you can't give a true critique of something.

Outlaw King (2018)

Good viewing if you don't know the history

[7/10 · 25 November 2018]

There is a great spectacle to behold with this film which tells the story of the warrior king of Scotland, Robert the Bruce and the fight for the monarchy of Scotland with, initially, Edward the 1st. The cast is very well suited to their roles and cinematography is delightful with castles, towns and villages et al to behold, battles are enjoyable to watch and well choreographed but the story is romanticised too heavily in places at the cost of the truth. I won't bore you with all of the details but the ending for example *spoiler* at the Battle of Bannockburn which has Robert fighting Edward II in a swordfight just didn't happen. Edward II was dragged from that particular battle before the heaviest phase began and retreated to England soon after.

If you can get past these inconsistencies with the story then there is an enjoyable film here for you but, if you are anything like me, these minor points will grate on you a little.

Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh (2018 TV Special)

Lacklustre

[5/10 · 4 November 2018]

Throughout the 73 minutes including credits I didn't belly laugh once. Sure, I smiled and chuckled (somewhat forcedly, admittedly) a couple of times but this is some very unfunny stand up 'comedy'. The worst thing about watching the show from the TV is listening to the audience who laughed even at points in the jokes which weren't punchlines. In essence the routine is discussing going about something in everyday life and then inserting something random/crude or vice versa.

If Adam Sandler intends to do more stand up then he needs to work on his routine. If an agent saw this as someone's first attempt to break into the business then, quite simply, they wouldn't be doing another show for a long while.

The Imitation Game (2018–2019)

Transparently rehearsed

[6/10 · 9 September 2018]

Whilst there are some great impressions (and a few terrible ones too) in this the laughs are hit and miss. The worst of the show is, as I stated in the review title, the pretence that this show is done off the cuff. There is a musical round which highlights this in particular where people are doing perfect duets with each other and a guy in the band who would have no idea what the comedian would be doing. There are also rounds where people are reading from prompt cards. If this was just people delivering their own jokes off the cuff it would likely give more laughs than it does in it's current format.

This has a great deal of potential but in it's current state it is destined for just a single series before being axed.

Quadrophenia (1979)

A London Mod's journey through highs and lows

[9/10 · 19 August 2018]

This is a strong piece of cinema brought to us by director Franc Roddam with an, at the time, largely unknown cast with many who went on to carve out careers (Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Gordon Sumner (Sting), Toyah Wilcox, Mark Wingett, Timothy Spall, Michael Elphic, Gary Cooper, John Altman, Gary Hilton) in music, British TV and even Hollywood AAA films.

The story is of a twenty something youth called James (Jimmy) Cooper who lives in Shepherd's Bush, London with his parents and leads a somewhat normal life working in an advertiser's office as a postboy. His disenchantment with this way of life (the movies tag line) leads him further into his chosen image of Mod lifestyle with vandalism, street fighting, pill popping and even theft in order to show his friends and others in his social circle that he is one of the faces.

There is, of course, a love interest for Jimmy who is a big part of why he tries to be as standout as he can. At first she is with a more reputable Mod and he reasons with himself that he must do more in order to show that he is someone she should be with.

Further into the movie a weekend in Brighton is arranged with a big dance but the lads have more than that in their mind and set themselves on entering into violence if possible with their rival youth subculture: The Rockers (leather clad motorbikers who generally listen to heavy rock). Suffice to say that the weekend ends up with a huge riot in Brighton starting with a fight in cafe with some Rockers who were seen earlier in the film running one of Jimmy's friend off the road while on his scooter which then spills onto the beach and through the centre of the town.

Jimmy's involvement in the riot gets him the prowess he coveted and into the admiration of the girl he desires, Steph (Leslie Ash) but this is short-lived and a downfall from glory is soon to come upon him. I won't spoil any more of the film with intricacies but will say that this part of the film is the most interesting and where it's title comes into play. Jimmy is living four different lives but he only wants to live one and the one he wishes for is the cause of his self destruction.

Set against The Who's Rock Opera album which shares the name of the film (although the tracks are placed very differently compared to the concept album) as well many other classics from the 60's this is enjoyable as a psychological teen angst film, a look into how the 60's London Mod scene was as well the infamous beach riots and as a rock opera which far surpasses Tommy (also by The Who).

Whether you are a teenager who is trying to find your place in society, a fan of The Who's music, a fan of cult films or someone looking to remember those confusing years of your youth (whether from this era or not) then this movie will take you on an emotional and optical ride. Quadrophenia is an impressive and unique film experience with strong characters which will hook you into the story and is an overlooked cult classic which deserves your time.

Upstart Crow (2016–2020)

Tries too hard for its laughs

[6/10 · 25 December 2017]

Those who see this as an intelligent form of comedy will, no doubt, vote this review down but this is not intelligent humour just because it is masked by 'an Olde English' script and is written about the life of the most lauded playwright of all time.

I have tried to like this sitcom which is based on the life of Shakespeare and his family but rarely find myself laughing with any gusto. Most of the wit in this show comes from the use of English as used in the 16th century coupled with a modern crude terminology or a reference to an incident in today's timeline (such as stagecoaches used in place of current public transport) but it just doesn't give me a feeling of comedy. Instead this gives me the feeling that this is trying so hard to witch the formula and successes of Ben Elton's classic historical comedy, Blackadder.

Harry Enfield's portrayal of Shakespeare's father is the highlight of the show for me which he delivers in a light slapstick style which meets with the simplistic nature of the character. Other members of the cast pass off their roles well for the most but it is the script that lacks rather than any performance. The inclusion of poetry and excerpts from the works of the great bard are a nice touch which people will likely enjoy whether they know the writing or not.

Sorry Ben Elton, this is your least enjoyable sitcom to date for me.

The X-Files: Beyond the Sea (1994) Season 1, Episode 13

X-Files Season 1, Episode 13

[9/10 · 13 September 2016]

* Warning - Possible spoilers *

This is, in my opinion, Season 1's best episode of the cult show.

The norm of the FBI's paranormal investigating duo is flipped on its head here whereby Mulder is a non believer of an incarcerated murderer on death row who claims to be psychic and Dana Scully, the skeptic of the duo, has her logical and scientific mindset pushed to the point of its limits when she sees her recently deceased father channeled via Lucas Boggs (the psychic prisoner). Mulder requests proof of the abilities of Boggs and accuses him of being a charlatan when his test isn't passed and he reveals that he set up the test. Scully however is suddenly shocked to hear something immediately after the interview and test which shocks her to her core and later in the episode she decides to act on the information which Mulder ruled out as being unreliable when she sees things foretold by Boggs' precognition.

The incarcerated serial murderer is played with supreme expertise by Brad Dourif and brings the shows best moments. Despite the role being confined within three walls and and bars, Brad somehow elevates the performance into something amazing and outshines even the shows stars with his portrayal of Lucas Boggs' emotion of others persons being channeled by the character, his fear of his outcome and the knowledge of what others are thinking.

Despite it being 23 years old, this episode has stood the test of time and will, most likely, still shine in another 20+ years.