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eunicemuir
Reviews
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
Dissapointed fans should have paid attention in history class
There have been lots of childish outrage and temper tantrums over the finale of Game of Thrones, particularly the lack of a happy ending with Jon Snow taking his place as the rightful heir to the throne. Unfortunately, the European medieaval history which inspired the series is full of rightful heirs being banished, driven into exile, imprisoned for life and even murdered, most especially if they were minors. The period from the fall of Rome until the Tudors, when a man with a very flimsy claim to the throne defeated the ruling family in battle, then had all the rightful heirs male and female, executed on base charges, was one long and bloody power struggle. After William the Conqueror invaded and killed the rightful king in battles, within days of King Harold fighting off the Norwegian King who also claimed the throne, the subsequent battles really began in earnest and lasted several hundred years. Allegiances would shift and back again as everyone was in it for power. For another 300 years usurpers would seize power by one means or another, alhough not resorting to the medieaval savagery. All the ruling families of Europe were related and clung to power via marrying among themselves, warfare and despatching rivals. There is no guarantee, and never has been, that a rightful heir would be able to claim his inheritance. More likely to be murdered by stronger rivals. During the Wars of the Roses the Queen of England took sanctuary with her children to save their being killed, but the sanctuary was violated and the young boys, the King and his brother, were murdered by their uncle who took the throne. He in turn was killed in battle by the Tudor usurper. I saw the finale as an epilogue returning to the beginning as the wheel of fortune revealed that nothing had really changed. For the time being there would be peace as the kingdoms rebuilt and reorganized, and a new geration of warriors was born, but after 20 years, new excuses would be found to recomence the great game.
Cypher (2021)
Soap opera without the beautiful actors
I am not so shallow that I feel only beautiful people are worthwhile, but to sit through a miniseries with acting on a level with soap opera (long reaction shots) and the sci fi cheap made for TV movies, with the ugliest cast of unknowns is beyond endurance. The story idea was good, it's just that an unwashed disheveled lead with a sore throat coping with one unbelievable crisis after another, while being threatened by ugly villains and workmates whose acting ability consists of menacing looks and little identification to where they were connected to the plot, just doesn't work. Then there is the check list of: 1. Maverick hero suspended or fired from previous job. 2. Estranged from wife. 3. Emotionally scarred child being fought over. 4. Attractive sympathetic blonde pops up out of nowhere and into his bed. 5. Battling superior. 6. Obligatory interracial romance. I could go on. The only missing trope was a transgender, although I thought that would be the 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' FBI single female. I even looked at the credits to see which country it had been made in and if it was a foreign import dubbed in English. I like sci fi. I like cryptography, but this has been done far better in offerings from Australia, like 'The Code'.
Lancaster Skies (2019)
Spoiled by unnecessary errors
The crew is to be commended for producing such a low budget film successfully, but my main problem was with some errors which anyone who served in the RAF would find unacceptable. I realize that there aren't too many veterans of WW2 around, but surely someone in the crew had an elderly grandfather around who could have given advice, or there must be books detailing correct procedure. I served in the RAF 12 years after the end of WW2, and can still remember the rules and pecking order.
The two main problems I had were with the saluting, and the fraternization. Officers of equal rank did not salute each other, and one did not salute unless wearing a hat, or beret. No one went outside with the head uncovered, and hats were not worn indoors. Thankfully, the saluting did not generate to the sloppy American style of brushing the fingertips across the eyebrows, at least they got that right. Officers and other ranks did not fraternize off duty. It was not allowed, nor could officers use the sergeants' mess on a casual basis. I have not got to the insignia of rank, but you get the idea. Many period films today, it appeared tohave been made by people who were not born for another 50 years. At least they did not make the common mistake of the characters, including women, using four letter words, and leaping into bed on the first date.
Perhaps I am being pedantic, and unfairly picking apart a film dedicated to the tens of thousands of heroic men and women who served and died in the war, but a little research would have made a big difference.
Rendition (2007)
Loose ends not tied up
So why was he getting the phone calls and who were they from?
Der gleiche Himmel (2017)
Wish they would wrap up a series properly and sutitle ALL the dialog
When we have to wait a year or more for the next season of a TV series, it would help if they wrapped up the loose ends and began the next season with a new storyline rather than leave us with a nail biting cliffhanger. By next year we will have forgotten where they left off. They could keep some of the characters non-cliffhanging threads, but leaving everything hanging in the air is frustrating to say the least, especially as there may not be another season.
SPOILER AHEAD!
My other BIG criticism is the practice of German and some other European studios to only use subtitles when the characters are speaking in their own language. As someone who needs the captions as I am somewhat hearing impaired, when the characters speak English I cannot for the life of me follow what they are saying in their heavily accented English. As a result, I have no idea of a lot of the plot n in 'the Same Sky' or how it ended. I found out from reading another poster's review that Lars was the cousin of the two girls in the Eastern section, and their schoolteacher father was his uncle. OK, and seeing as his father had a photo of twin babies, he must have a twin somewhere, probably in the west. Where was his mother? Why was he brought up by his father alone?
Who were the losers building a tunnel and why? Why was the workplace informer brought into the plot? I mention these because the story was incomprehensible to me without the subtitles and a potentially good international thriller was ruined.