jtbhbyzqfy Reviews

Blue Lights (2023– )

Outstanding drama

[9/10 · 22 April 2024]

The best police procedural for quite some time - it's a drama and not a documentary but it does an outstanding job of weaving in echoes of a history that we all understand. The best way to enjoy this programme is to watch the superb BBC documentary 'Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland' first.

The key to this programme is that is doesn't patronise. The writers assume that you understand what a VCP is, the relationship that PSNI officers have with firearms and personal security, that you know what Special Branch is, and more importantly was in the past. Strip that away and you have a tightly written, tense and well paced drama...it's the context that makes it something special.

There must surely be a third series and I implore the writers not to fall into the same trap as the Line Of Duty team that went before: resist the temptation to dumb down, overcomplicate, and make silly in an attempt to attract a group of viewers who had no interest/ couldn't cope with the much higher quality first 2-3 series.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )

Not what I expected - so so so much better!

[8/10 · 4 February 2024]

Hihi...if you love the film then you'll hate this...it's sharper, wittier, sweeter, more intelligent, more interesting.

The film is popcorn-fun with some genuine laughs but does nothing of real interest. The TV series is entirely different and not at all what I expected; it shares a name and the premise is reversed, but connected - that's it. This is very different, and more importantly it's a better version of that different thing.

It's not a comedy, it's a drama about relationships with some violence, fashion, and luxury homes thrown in. It's incredibly sweet in places and sad in others. The therapy episode has the lowest rating but is crucial to the rest, especially when compared to the final scenes.

Red Sparrow (2018)

Yearning for pt2

[8/10 · 21 January 2024]

I read the three books that make up the series before seeing the film...always a risk, it's hard to capture the granularity of long and detailed novel for the big screen. The first time I watched it I was from impressed, but the second time around I've thoroughly enjoyed it...and will reread the books!

The film is a robust, classy, intelligent and well balanced telling of a much more complex story. It's violent, serious, and at times graphic. It all belongs though, with very little waste, some great tension, and a satisfying ending.

After the third book I yearned for a forth...I feel the same at the end of the film.

Reacher (2022– )

In rapid decline

[5/10 · 20 January 2024]

The first season was solid, good even. It was different, the story compelling, the casting strong and entirely representative of the books, and it followed the first of the book series well.

Season two mashes two books together and is just a bit messy. The plot is convoluted, the interaction between the hero-ensemble clumsy, and the action often unnecessary. Most of all, the attitude our heroes have to cold blooded murder is strange and completely out of sync with their professional history....they were cops, not the müder without hesitation and right in front of federal law enforcement who turn a blind eye.

This showed great promise...but season two is woefully disappointing.

One Life (2023)

Outstanding - heartbreaking and inspiring

[10/10 · 3 January 2024]

Just thinking about the That's Life clip brings a lump to the throat and this entire film was a build up to that moment. Outstanding story telling with little forced emotion or contrived set ups. Incredibly understated.

Excellent pace between the two time periods and on two occasions I forgot that we weee going to switch back. Very well balanced with both the main characters getting a fair share of opportunity for an excellent performance.

I had just one 'yeah but', relating to some of the That's Life audience but even this is explained away beautifully in the final on screen notes...even my 15 year old son with an empathy deficiency had a tear in his eye!

No notes!