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curiousdude
Reviews
Zone blanche (2017)
Loads of potential but...
About 7 episodes in I realized this is just a typical AMC style show, instead of telling an original, gripping story as most of the Euro mini series do, they capitulate to more of a "solving the murder of the week" styled narrative.
Great cinematography, good actors, but the writing just gets away from them. By the time the bank robbers show up and we have the prototypical "shoot em up" styled episode in little old Villefrench I knew it was time for me to bow out. I'll need to find another way to pass the time until Casa De Papel comes back.
La casa de papel (2017)
The best that's ever been
Sure, there are a few plot holes, and it does drag a bit at times. Not a series I could watch a second time, but I have NEVER seen a series that is smarter, or better at developing the characters. It's also not too heavy on violence and other obscenities.
The Plot Holes - Tokyo riding that motor bike into the mint in season two was a bit much for me, and why on earth do they not kick Arturo out of the Bank in season 3? That guy is poison to their operation. BUT I figure its easily worth the ride so go with it.
The Beauty - You really can't stop watching it, I felt like I was taking some kind of opiate it was so compelling. Where do you even begin?? These characters are so deep and well developed, half the time they are trying to kill one another and the other they are saving each others lives. The line between heroes and villains is blurred to perfection.
As an American, I can see why this show might turn off some my fellow countrymen. American's often times need their shows to be resolved in a neat little package every 60 minutes. Or assuming they do have the IQ to handle a serial program, they need to see perfectly sculpted actors fresh out of a J Crew catalogue. Or worse, they can't make it 30 minutes without a sex scene or someone's brains being splattered. Forgive them, they are an unfortunate group.
The Outpost (2019)
Amazing Film
As with Kilo Two Bravo, I find its best to watch these films in a way that allows you to back up and rewatch some scenes to fully understand all of the dialogue. Lots of slang and soldier speak, so for me I can't conceptualize all of it the first time through. Also takes some time to be able to truly recognize each character and tell them apart.
With that said, this a great film about what soldiers deal with in places like AFG, I was vaguely familiar with this story having seen Sgt Romesha's story told in a documentary about CGMH recipients. But this version does a phenomenal job of putting you right there in the action. I thought the pacing was brilliant, slowly builds up to the epic battle, and I appreciated the fact they spent some time afterwards to explain what happened to each solider.
Mai wei (2011)
Probably the best war movie you'll ever see
The Pianist meets Saving Private Ryan, this is a TRUE work of art. I could write a book about how great the film was, but instead, a few key takeaways:
- Demonstrates just how brutal war can be, that in the worst of times the troops fighting are little more than slave laborers, who would run away in a heartbeat if not for the officers standing by to blow their brains out if they try to escape.
-How much we learn about the perspective of others once we are forced to live with the same burdens they do. Tatsuo evolves from a brutal Japanese officer killing his own men into a mortal, fragile human being. From a sadistic zealot to a pilgrim who cannot escape the Axis tyranny and devastation fast enough. Frankly put, he learned what it was like to be a victim in the Russian Gulag and as a forced member of the Nazi war machine.
- Like the Pianist you find yourself completely overwhelmed by the courage and tenacity of the victims of Axis tyranny. By the time its over you literally want to shed tears for them.
Please watch this movie! 2.5 hours extremely well spent. In this polarized world it should be required viewing for Dems and Repubs alike!
Luther (2010)
Great series but...
Lost their way in Season 5, I came on today to see if Neil Cross had somehow stepped out and let someone else write the most recent season, so much went wrong with it. Alice turning against Luther, the annoying, unnecessary new partner. Luther being perp walked at the end by grandpops. Just doesn't hold up to the level of work that came before. If this is best you can do I'd go ahead and close up shop. Season's 1 through 4 are good enough to stand on their own.
Wasp Network (2019)
Should have been a series
Rather than a 2 hour film, far too much information to put into two hours. Also very bad pacing and story telling. The first hour is just two Cuban ex-Pats doing stuff in America, marginally involved with the anti-Castro movement. Then the final hour it turns into an espionage thriller, but not nearly enough ground work was done to make that part interesting.
Yes they made the Cuban Government too Angelic, and the US too corrupt. I'm all for telling a true story, but there are volumes written and evidence abounds regarding how the Castro regime treated political dissidents.
Let's give this another try in a few years as a 6 to 8 episode series, be a little more honest about how both governments do things they should be ashamed of. The series "The Spy" is 30 times better than this.
Tin Star (2017)
You really cannot overstate
Just how bad the second season was, its offensive to watch. Roth sits around looking like a cross between a cancer patient and heroin addict (I borrowed that from another person) and is absolutely miserable to watch. His daughter was always cold but turns out to be unbearable in the second season.
The premise is that "Liverpool" is some type of super criminal organization from jolly old England who will hunt you down and kill you anywhere in the world, they're so bad that a professional killer from Mexico would rather blow his own brains out than cross them. Although he may have been blowing his brains out to avoid having to be around Body Odor Jack in the camper.
But then... Liverpool shows up with numbers and assault rifles... But have no fear, heroin Jack, his Missus, and his miserable daughter kill them all with a pair of handguns. Please don't make a season 3, there's no coming back from this. Absolute rubbish of a show.
Sunderland 'Til I Die (2018)
A great watch for all sports fans
Being an American I liken this to major conference college football here in the states, not quite the big leagues, but VERY passionate fans and very high stakes with highly compensated Coaches. The filmmakers do a phenomenal job of telling this story. I'm surprised to hear that some folks prefer season 1, that was such a punch in the gut. At least they have hope in season 2, such a shame they couldn't sign Maja by the deadline, and I'm left wondering if they had made him the Will Griggs IS On FIRE! offer if they'd been able to keep him. Stewart found himself over a barrel, do nothing at the deadline and you've got no chance of promotion, so they end up overpaying for a guy who was not anywhere near the talent of the striker they lost.
I was sorry to read that Charlie Methvan had to resign the following year. He is such a passionate guy, obviously rubbed some people the wrong way but I love working with people like Charlie. He's an A+ talent and expects the best from his employees. You can learn so much from guys like Charlie (and Stewart) if you can keep your personal hurt feelings out of it. I was glad to see they sent that negative nancy packing midway through season 2. You're never going to win with toxic people in your organization. Hope Sunderland comes back with a vengeance once football returns! Stay the course Gents!
The Pacific (2010)
Obviously a lot of negative reviews here didn't finish the series
Those who criticize it as being unrealistic (the Japs die to easily) obviously didn't get past the first episode. This series gets in your guts as much or more than any war movie ever will.
Those who say the characters are not real? Check out Ken Burns "The War" and learn something. I can assure you that Sidney Phillips and Eugene Sledge were very real, both went on to become Doctors and Sledge wrote a classic book about their experience, which was the inspiration for a lot of this work. Bob Leckie went on to become a great journalist and author. John Basilone was a CGMOH recipient, look it up.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
This one separates the adults from the kids
SMH at some of the negative reviews on here... They obviously come from American's who like the mainstream shows that tidy everything up for you in a nice package, leaving nothing for you to discern for yourself. "Its so unrealistic!" Yes, that's because its a work of fiction.
This show haunts you the way few will, great acting, great writing, beautiful camera work and music. Can't wait to see the others listed on this page (Gomorrah for instance). Can't help but see some Christ like tendencies in Chris Lynwood, however I'm not nearly clever enough to catch everything the writer/director are laying down with regards to that.
The Strangers (2008)
Sheeesh, too much criticism
Some of you really need to step back a minute. I didn't see the film, but I read the script and thought it was terrifying. Obviously I'm no expert, but here is something I want to point out.
Its real easy to play armchair QB and say you'd have done this, or you'd have done that. But anyone who's ever been in a crisis situation like this knows how incredibly disorienting it can be. I remember waking up once to a loud bang on my door, luckily it wasn't someone trying to kill me, it was someone telling me the neighbors house was on fire and the flames were only a few feet away from my car and my house. I totally panicked, and tried to go 25 different directions at once. I couldn't even find my car keys, so I went on a cursing rage and eventually realized 5 minutes later the keys were in my pocket. I literally felt like I was suffocating the whole time. Get the wife out, get the dog out, move the cars, grab valuables...
My point is, you really don't know what you'd do in this situation until you're in it. These killers attacked them at their weakest moment. In a family vacation home at 3:00am. You have to factor in the role exhaustion, and disorientation would play. Imagine being attacked right now where you're sitting. The last place you'd ever expect it, at work, in your home, people are even in attacked in wide open public places as we've tragically seen in real life.
Unfortunately I probably won't get to see the film, my wife hates horror flicks and I am too chicken to watch it alone. Hopefully it will hit HBO and I can catch it there.