Change Your Image
siwoodhall
Reviews
Midsomer Murders: Death's Shadow (1999)
Top notch episode
I can't quite decide whether this is my all-time favourite episode or if the pilot episode, 'The Killings at Badger's Drift', (also penned by Anthony Horowitz) is as good. Regardless, this is an (equally) genuinely tense and sinister tale with an utterly satisfying denouement. The cast is first-rate. Definitely one of the high points of this long-running series.
Paddington 2 (2017)
Warm, witty and utterly charming.
This is virtually impossible to fault and is a perfect medicine for melancholy. The film showcases a sharp script delivered by an impeccable cast. It is modern yet old-fashioned and entirely faithful to the warmth of the books.
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Genuinely nasty and pointless finale.
Like its 80s stablemate, The Terminator, this is another series that banks on the unfailing loyalty of nostalgic fans to want familiar elements but increasingly ignore plot holes, incoherent motivations and questionable casting. Sadly this is equally another case of diminishing returns, a film which reflects the nastiness and nihilism of the 2008 outing but with even less coherence or sense. Is it telling that the end credits are the most enjoyable part?!
The Bay (2019)
Seaside soap opera nonsense
How can ITV make rounded, considered detective dramas such as 'Unforgotten' and 'Broadchurch' but also produce this cliched soap opera mess? Perhaps, the producers think that they can just throw vapid drama tropes at the screen and hope they stick without the need for 'essentials' such as character motivation or intelligence.
Baptiste (2019)
Disappointing offshoot
This is the least impressive drama from the usually excellent Williams brothers. The dialogue is very clunky, the plot is overly complicated and the characters are all guilty of stupidity on multiple occasions. The drama, which wants to mimic the scandi noir genre, works best when characters are using their native language and not saddled by accents that remind you of 'Allo 'Allo.
A Fatal Inversion (1992)
A slow burn chiller
This is an excellent adaptation of the Barbara Vine novel that sticks thankfully close to the original plot. The pace is slower than modern drama standards but this suits the gradual build-up of tension culminating in a genuine twist.
A Dark Adapted Eye (1994)
Worthy if slightly selective adaptation of the Barbara Vine novel
The addition of Ciarán Hinds (a fine actor) as a superfluous lawyer is unnecessary and some of the more interesting parts of the book are omitted but this is still a fine adaptation of a brilliant and evocative novel.
Age Before Beauty (2018)
Soapy nonsense
Inconsistent, unbelievable characters who act illogically and who, as such, are totally unlikeable or just plain stupid.
Any drama requires the viewer to feel some sympathy/empathy towards one character at the very least. Good luck finding one here!