cooked Reviews

Sanditon (2019–2023)

Unfortunate future of period dramas

[7/10 · 21 May 2022]

As a show somewhat enjoyable. Lacks the subtlety of both Austen and the period, especially in the 2nd series. The 'baddies' were to obvious with few redeeming qualities and the storylines rather extreme, if not silly, which fail to create the tension in each episode.

The Long Call (2021)

It could and should have been good

[2/10 · 7 November 2021]

Slow, pedantic and boring. Absolutely no tension created. I finished it hoping it would get better, but if anything it got worse. Awful. Not even sure what vibe the director was trying to create.

The Blacklist (2013–2023)

Hard Work to watch

[8/10 · 4 May 2021]

What used to be eagerly anticipated is now too much.....I'm afraid Liz is an irritating character poorly acted. I'll try to remember the show for what it was.

Silk (2011–2014)

Enjoyed the journey, not the destination

[8/10 · 28 April 2021]

Really enjoyed all the series. Good cast of powerful but flawed characters. Variety of cases and situations kept it flowing. Terribly disappointed in the weak ending. I have no problem with leaving situations open and unsolved, but this was simply poor quality, cheap and lazy scriptwriting. The series deserved a better ending.

Your Honor (II) (2020–2023)

Really disappointing

[2/10 · 11 April 2021]

Promising start, decent plot, then descends into an implausible mess in all its dimensions. I had high expectations, but they disappeared by episode 4. No real character development just silly twists and turns. Ruined by either erratic scriptwriting or poor direction. Probably a bit of both.

MI-5 (2015)

Very poor

[3/10 · 5 April 2021]

A big fan of the series, this was very disappointing. Script clever for the sake of it and at the cost of fluency. Difficult to be invested in shallow characters. Ruth would be disappointed😂

The Undoing (2020)

Minority view

[1/10 · 30 November 2020]

I know I'm out on a limb here, but I thought this series totally contrived, with poor acting and unlike (from reviews) most people didn't captivate me at all. I really hoped it would improve, but it didn't. I find Nicole Kidman very unconvincing in just about everything she does, with the exemption of Paddington.

Rebecca (I) (2020)

Just Terrible

[3/10 · 20 November 2020]

I generally like some of the actors involved, so was expecting so much more with great source material. The changes added nothing. Really bad acting and no subtlety at all. Characters development non existent. Lacks soul.

Robin Hood (2018)

Awful in just about every way

[1/10 · 10 January 2020]

I enjoy new takes on classics. This is unbelievably bad in every way!

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

This film is as good as it gets

[10/10 · 16 September 2007]

George Bailey is you or me as we hope we are, therefore this story shows us what we can be and the wonderful impact we can have if we make the right decisions.

Whilst the original story is great, the screenplay to make it accessible is pure genius.

The players are magnificent, especially James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Henry Travers & Thomas Mitchell.

The cynics today may well see this as sentimental, but personally I think they're missing the point, if life can be more like this then it would be a good think and worth aiming for. Upon release in 1946 the critics preferred 'The Best Years of Our Lives', which is also a great film, but which is better remembered & loved today!

A Christmas Carol (1951)

Classic

[10/10 · 16 September 2007]

For me, the definitive version of 'A Christmas Carol'. Alistair Sim embodies the spirit of the story better than anyone else. A few deviations from the book are frustrating and unnecessary, but do not in any real way detract from the essence of the tale.

The social comment in the film, as it was in the book, are pertinent & ahead of their time. The view of life in days gone by is again somewhat fanciful, but again not in detriment to the message.

I'm sure that all subsequent players viewed this version before playing the part of Ebenezer Scrooge as can be seen their characterisations.

Strange how the morality of this film reflects in extreme the truth of so many of our lives if we are honest. That we try harder at Christmas more than any other, to be better people is surely in some small way down to Dickens who helped revive the spirit of Christmas at a time when it came close to being forgotten.

Social comment, morality, meaning of life, entertainment, open your mind & heart & enjoy.

Poor Cow (1967)

Social reflection

[7/10 · 14 May 2002]

Not a film of entertainment, but of real lives & limited ambition for the working class in 60's. Enjoyable because of my upbringing, not sure it'd work for most people. Typical Loach. Full of TV actors/actresses of 70's/80's/90's.