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Reviews
Les revenants (2012)
Was a winner but fell (no walked off the track) at the final hurdle
This was a really interesting series that had me gripped for the most part. The story line and acting was very good. The idea of people coming back from the dead and the reactions of friends and family made for great viewing. The series had great suspense and a creepy atmosphere and it left one wondering whether certain characters had good or bad intentions.
There were a few things that seemed silly – such as the parents who seemed unperturbed when their daughter went missing - oh well, only a killer on the loose! – but overall the story was developing well. I couldn't wait to watch each episode as the secrets about the characters were revealed.
It was building up to what I thought would be an exciting finale. However, what a let down! The final episode was a complete and utter waste of time – pointless. Where were the answers? I feel so cheated that I now wish I missed that episode. At least then I would be under the illusion that I missed out on something great and would be inclined to watch series 2. Now, I'm not sure I will bother.
Prometheus (2012)
Disappointed - A Crashing Bore
Spoilers within***
I heard there were mixed reviews when the film was released so decided to leave it till the DVD came out. I purposely did not read the reviews because I love Sci-Fi and decided to give the film a go anyway.
However, what a bore it was. It looks beautiful but it is dull and worst of all - plain stupid and inconsistent. The characters are so irritating. I hated every single one of them. They all behaved so illogically it was unbelievable.
Scientists would take their helmets off on an alien planet? Ridiculous, if one is serious. Examine a strangely undecomposed alien head with no barrier (such as a suit with separate air supply) between them and it. Really? Stick electrodes in it! Why? Frankenstein's monster?
A character rants on that he's only there for the money!! Not sure if he and the other character that was with him were supposed to be like Parker and Brett from Alien. However, although Parker and Brett grumbled about money - they came across like real workers convinced management was doing them over. They were essentially decent people and you cared what happened to them. I didn't care about any character in Prometheus. Did I mention, I hated them all?
The two guys in Prometheus got scared seeing a dead alien - OK. They left and got lost - OK put it down to panic. They thought there was a life form in another part of the building so they went in the opposite direction - OK. The Captain doesn't care - weird! The guys choose to go into a scary room - why? They see a live alien that looks like a cross between a giant worm and an albino cobra - they want to pet it and cuddle it. Now COME ON!!!!! Was this meant to be like Jurassic Park? This alien looks neither cute nor harmless.
In Alien - the equivalent scene is more subtle. Kane is trying to understand what is happening. He is curious. Whereas in Prometheus, we get dumb scene after dumb scene.
Why does the android act the way he does? Is he under orders for every action he carries out? Does he have human feelings? Is he angry because the brain dead, drunken action man scientist called him boy? Why does he want to experiment on a human? Nobody knows. Whereas, although Ash in Alien was under orders, this unfolded slowly, there was subtlety there - he admired the alien. You felt Ash would have done what he did even if he was not under orders. His behaviour made sense.
When the Prometheus explorers first enter an alien room with an enormous bust that looks human, no one seems shocked. Ho hum.
Is this meant to be the first time humans land on another planet or encounter anything alien? Who knows, again.
Why is Weyland hiding?
What is the point of Charlize Theron's character?
What is the alien at the beginning of the film really doing? If he is putting his DNA into the primordial soup to create life and eventually humans, then why is there already a breathable atmosphere on earth and grass growing? Is he really trying to kill off existing life on earth? Who knows.
Why don't I feel sympathy for Shaw despite her 30 second back-story about her desire for children? Ho hum. The script and plot (what plot?) is more at fault than the actors.
There are too many unanswered questions to make this film enjoyable. Other people have highlighted the inconsistencies and plot holes and nonsensical actions by stupid characters - there are so many and so in your face that it makes the film jarring to watch.
If a film has a reasonable storyline and script, you just wouldn't notice these things at the time or you just wouldn't mind. Look at Star Trek over the years spouting scientific gobbledygook and changing Klingons....
Terminator Salvation (2009)
Dull
Clichéd and dull. It looked like there were actors wearing 'Terminator' suits - they looked chunky and had none of the menace of the original Terminator.
Boring characters. They just seemed to have a check box method. Adult hero present? Check. Little child present? Check. Love interest present? Check.....
Then the Terminators. There were machines, machines everywhere...flying machines, transformer type machines, motor-cycle type machines etc....None of them were of any real interest.
This film was so bad it makes the third film look like the work of Shakespeare. The film just dragged on and on. They should have spent a bit more time on the storyline. I fell asleep in the end. Don't know how it ended and really couldn't care less either.
The Shadow Line (2011)
Good but flawed
Spoilers----
Overall I found it gripping viewing - unusual in many ways but clichéd and unbelievable in others.
e.g. It was unbelievable that known drug barons would be given a Royal pardon for some unknown reason. There would be a public outcry.
Also, there were so many corrupt officers willing to murder that it made parts of the storyline unbelievable...more mafia than the mafia, and the reason for all that corruption seemed ridiculous in the extreme. Doing it just for the money would have been much more realistic. The story was too convoluted in parts.
The actors were very good. However, I did find the Patterson character irritating. His dialogue was unnatural and more suited to the stage than TV. I've also never seen any real life press conferences where police officers spout poetry and make snide quips non-stop. Let alone a press conference where the victim is another officer.
The Jay Wratten character was a bit too over the top. Like a character from the Little Britain comedy show gone psycho. It would have worked better for me if he said the same words but with a different accent, to stop any thought of Little Britain from entering my mind. The Gatehouse character was absolutely brilliant - very chilling. Quite believable - apart from his miraculously quick recovery.
The actors - playing Joseph Bede, Jonah, their partners etc. were great, often acted with great sympathy.
Glickman's finale was a surprise. Some of the others less so, but generally this did not matter - e.g. the storyline with the driver and his wife.
Although there were things that could have been better - there was much to be praised and the good definitely outweighed the bad. There were, at times signs of real brilliance.