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Reviews
War of the Worlds (2019)
Ray-Ban Sci Fi
This is a weirdly brilliant tv series. Shot in a greenish hue where only red stands out as any contrast, the European cityscape shown is devoid of any of the great pieces of art and architecture for which France and England are renowned. Instead the viewer is treated to a bleak desolate world of concrete and concertinaed cars as seen though an old pair of Ray-Bans with the smoky green lenses. Against this background, the characters emerge in both French and English groups that on occasion intertwine to show their almost seamless similarity putting Brexit to shame. The acting is first class. The various characters face up to both fighting the invaders and inward removal of all pretenses while experiencing catastrophic loss and associated grief. The action is sporadic and brutal with main characters and minors being killed and maimed at any moment but realistically not OTT. Once the viewer drops into this background apocalyptic low key rhythm, they will find themselves hungering for the next episode to find out if humans can survive.
La disparition des lucioles (2018)
Young female perspective to letting go
Well crafted movie detailing a young girl's struggle to avoid suffocation in a small town while still being true to herself, relationships and her yet unknown ambition. The legitimacy of violent and destructive action in relationships is tackled here with aplomb and probably no better portrayed than since the water fountain was tossed in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Also soundtrack is good with riveting improvisations from the guitar man as well as the WD-40s (what a good name for a band) numbers while use of Crimson and Clover song anywhere seduces me every time.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Bond finally commits in this outstanding finale of the 60's
Yes yes and yes. The Bond series should have ended here before all the Moore/Dalton/Brosnan bloated pap of the following years. Why? Diana Rigg simply - THE girl of the 60's, the best girl of the spy genre in the form of Emma Peel in the Avengers TV series whose character did more for women's emancipation than anything else on screen in the 60s. Bond saves her when all has no meaning and she saves him when he has lost all hope. Yes, I know, Mills and Boon but here set in the crisp wedding white of the European Alps only those who have never loved could not be moved. Bond knows he must commit to Tracy forever or be damned for eternity. Lazenby does a good job when one considers the Bond/Avenger legacy he faced. His final words at the tragic end are particularly poignant and I am not sure whether Connery could have mustered such compassion.
The Romantics and Us (2020)
Epsom salts for the last four years
Thank heavens for people like Simon Scharma. In a world bombarded by mindless tweets from morons and brain dead celebrities, this series is an enema for the residual sludge that clogs our conscious/unconscious barrier. Even though Schama's analysis tries to explains the roots of our present malaise particularly with the nationalistic/parochial reaction of the Romantics to the Enlightenment, which may not be in agreement with some, it is his questioning of the very nature of the human psyche through this turbulent historical period that brings great joy to those of us blunted by the endless streamed serial killer/comedy/political pap that is dished up to us like the recycled manure fed to the animals we eat. It is a sign of the attention span of the current generation that the series is too short. I only hope he extends the series into later 1800s revolutionaries eg Rimbaud, Nietzche but thank you anyway.
Les chevaliers blancs (2015)
First world arrogance
I do not know what this movie was trying to say or whether it was just a recounting of true events but it certainly would be a must see example of how not to go about dealing with a poverty and war stricken people. Vincent Lindon goes wandering about treating both his staff and the people he is trying to obtain orphans from with anger, shouting and physical confrontation like some little Hitler. From the bribing of tribal chiefs to the forced identification of children as orphans under 5 for the sake of the French foster parents in a land where no paperwork exists, the viewer is left with an increasing sense of horror which is only assuaged by the dignity of the local translator who has to translate this moron's rants. One cannot feel for the other characters as they fall into line with this idiot and the whole concept of an illegal kidnap of children. The people who do shine are the local chiefs who in a kind way treat this white man with quiet disdain using him for their own gain in a war torn country where the edicts and whims of continental France don't apply. Thankfully the movie's end shows some justice in the world to the relief of the viewer.
Serangoon Road (2013)
Borders on brilliance
Even though somewhat limited in the street scenes etc. probably as a result of budget constraints, this series attempts to focus on the tragedy of decisions that have to be made by individuals facing momentous change. The series is therefore relevant to multicultural Singapore 1964 with the surrounding Malaya/Borneo and Vietnam wars and the pull out of the British as it is today with 9/11 and the Asia century. Caught in this is the Don Hany character who tries valiantly to right wrongs while only sensing right intuitively from a broken multi cultural upbringing. The tragedy of these less than perfect decisions is crystallized in the shock felt by the otherwise bored Maeve Darmody character at the death of a young boy as a result of business and authorities looking the other way (I am only up to episode 5). Darmody pulls this off brilliantly as the quintessential Australian female with Don Hany in support almost out of his shell in feeling guilt for his vacuity in being of not much help to his girlfriend for whom he senses fearfully purpose and grand love. Though both the personal and national tragic themes are vast, good on you HBO and the production team for attempting them.