garethwdavies-97648 Reviews

NCIS: Sydney (2023– )

(Very) Light Entertainment

[7/10 · 28 May 2024]

I like all the NCIS variants as they are an easy watch with mostly decent plots. I've also enjoyed this series. It suffers from being an "NCIS" franchise and would probably have a higher rating if it was a stand alone series.

It's light weight and amusing. More light weight than the usual NCIS. The characters grow throughout the series and you learn a little more about each one as it progresses. They need to settle Blue down, normally in a 22 episode series, the quirky one starts off a bit extreme before becoming more normal. They have to speed it up with fewer episodes as she is a good actress but the character is grating.

Apparently the series has been renewed for a second season.

Matilda: The Musical (II) (2022)

Given the cast, should be a lot better.

[5/10 · 24 December 2023]

Given the cast, should be a lot better. Some outstanding actors in this remake but it even with a stellar cast, it falls flat.

The story is long winded, the script clunky and I just found myself comparing it to the original all the way through. Maybe that says more about me than it does the film.

I don't like criticising child actors but Matilda in particular is not a patch on the original. Emma Thompson does well as Mrs Trunchbull but Lashana Lunch is the actress who comes out of the film with the most credit

It's not terrible it is an ok watch, maybe if you haven't seen the original it works better.

FUBAR (2023– )

It's Arnie not Shakespeare

[7/10 · 4 November 2023]

I don't really understand a lot of the negative comments. This is Arnie by the numbers, not prime Arnie by any stretch but surely by now people know that with Schwarzenegger, what you see is what you get.

I have a couple of episodes to go, the action is decent, could do with more, family relationships ok but overdone in episode 6. Fortune Feimster started off being amusing but she only has one gear. She needs to learn about light and shade. A bit of variety from the shouting would be welcome.

Hopefully in the second series, the family relationships will settle down.

The series is worth sticking with if you're a Schwarzenegger fan. If you don't like prime Arnie, you won't enjoy this.

The Terminal List (2022– )

All a bit Meh

[5/10 · 9 December 2022]

I've not read any of the books so no idea how it compares.

Chris Prat is not credible as an action hero. Not sure why, he just doesn't carry it off.

Considering this is 8hrs long. There's a staggering lack of depth to the characters. Some of the villains are almost comical. The "twist" at the end while not as left field as some have said, was a little odd given the previous 7.5 hrs.

The series was also devoid of any humour so lacked contrast. It was hard to get invested in any of the characters.

This could have been very good with tighter writing and better casting. Will be interesting to see what the second series is like assuming there is one.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Cheesey and Predictable

[10/10 · 27 August 2022]

And I loved it. The film manages to bring the story forward to the present day while still being a typical 80s action film. The film lends heavily on the original, with a few scenes that play out exactly as they did in the original, which helps to add some humour to proceedings.

Maverick is obviously a hero, but Tom Cruise is sensible enough to hand over the reins to the next generation.

The acting isn't exactly Shakespeare but neither was the original. It's a 2hr feel good film with some great aerial dogfights.

A poignant cameo from Iceman stops just short of being too schmaltzy .

Grab a tub of popcorn, sit back and lose yourself for an evening.

NCIS: Los Angeles: Indentured (2021) Season 13, Episode 3

Upsetting the right people

[9/10 · 30 May 2022]

Why do so many people complain about the program being "Woke" when the baddies are white?

You didn't mind it so much when they were brown.

Can't think why!

L.A.'s Finest (2019–2020)

It's OK

[7/10 · 18 December 2021]

Four episodes in, it's ok. Not as bad as some make out but not as tightly written as it could be. One of those "almost" shows

Handy to kill a few hours.

Dad's Army (2016)

Woeful

[1/10 · 14 October 2021]

I don't mind remakes and always try to judge them on their own merit. Difficult to do when the film is just B rate impressions of the original cast. Poor script, poor acting and devoid of humour.

The Devil All the Time (2020)

Tom Holland is becoming a very good actor

[9/10 · 1 June 2021]

I really enjoyed this film. I hadn't heard of it until my daughter suggested it.

It's dark and a little disjointed in parts but the overall film works very well.

Holland is a revelation and clearly has a big future beyond the MCU.

Robert Pattinson while good, wasn't quite as good as some of his fans reviews would have you believe.

One of those films that I think I'll need to watch again.

Magnum P.I. (2018–2024)

Don't Understand the Hate

[10/10 · 9 February 2020]

I really enjoy this. I'm old enough to remember the original and let's face it, this is pretty tenuously linked to Tom Selleck's version. Just forget it's called Magnum and enjoy it for what it is.

Baywatch (2017)

Enjoyable Nonsense

[8/10 · 28 December 2019]

Silly puerile humour, paper thin plot and I loved it.

Sometimes you can just have a laugh.

SEAL Team (2017–2024)

Entertaining

[8/10 · 23 June 2018]

An hour of harmless entertainment that has a mixture of humour and action. A bit American ya hoo at times but enjoyable none the less.