andreretel Reviews

Absolute Beginners (2023)

A pleasant surprise

[8/10 · 17 November 2023]

I started watching this tv series not really knowing what to expect. This coming of age story has a good plot, good character development and has a good cast. Sensitively filmed, this tv show captures the essence of youth, sexual exploration and discovering individual identities.

There are three main characters, Niko, Lena and Igor who embark on a film making adventure which forces them into characters which challenges their abilities to have sex with each other and with whom. It is a cleverly written plot where a controversial sex scene leads Lena to try and convince both boys to perform the sex scene with her.

I was not disappointed and neither will you if you decide to watch this.

The Luminaries (2020)

Convoluted, Confusing and Frustrating to Watch

[4/10 · 5 May 2021]

If you enjoy watching a show that takes you on a road to nowhere, then this series is specifically designed for you.

The plot is, by design, formulated to make the audiences' heads spin in trying to figure out whether they are watching a scene from the past tense, present tense or the future tense. The writer fails to make it clear, what, when and why specific events were happening, leaving me with the sense that I have just squandered approximately five hours of my life before any of the pieces to the puzzle were solved.

The acting was very good and each character was appropriately cast. The cinematography was exceptionally good, showcasing the beauty of New Zealand's wondrous coastline and nature of it's lands.

Be prepared to be frustrated during the episodes all through to the ending, if in fact you make it that far.

Tolkien (2019)

A disappointment to say the least

[3/10 · 16 January 2021]

Suffice it to say that this autobiographical film is as boring as it gets. Half way through the film and still nothing compelling nor interesting is revealed.

The filmmaker is desperately trying to keep the audience's attention and achieves this by useing lavish period. However, grand sets are merely empty props when it is accompanied by a script that is neither good or interesting.

I was looking forward to seeing this film only to be disappointed and turning it off at the 1 hour mark.

The Lodge (2019)

Lacking clarity and reasonable plausibility

[6/10 · 13 December 2020]

This film provided a few tense moments and I thought it had potential. But then the plot stumbled and you are left with many questions un answered .

Specific scenes made no logical sense at all. Background on character development were thin at best and contributed to the story's lack of clarity. The acting was good, but not enough to carry the film.

For me it wasn't very thrilling but very watchable.

Z (I) (2019)

A good start, then crashed and burned

[3/10 · 6 December 2020]

This film had so much potential. The writer should have stopped the script 3/4 through the film, packed up and go home, and he would have ended up with a decent film.

Black Christmas (2019)

The Murder of a Classic!

[2/10 · 11 November 2020]

This remake of the 1974 classic was a complete disaster and does not deserve my time to give it a lengthy review.

Suffice it to say, this film disapoints severely. The writer's flimsy attempt to recapture a classic thriller's allure failed miserably. Let this be a lesson to future film makers and writers that attempting to rewrite a proven classic is doomed for failure.

Cuffs (2015)

A great show cut short...what a shame.

[10/10 · 12 October 2020]

Great character development and an entertaining account of personal and professional challenges in a Brighton police department. Good script and wonderful acting. A diverse cast with equally diverse characters under represented in many current shows. A real shame that the BBC didn't renew it. Shows of this caliber are hard to come by.

The Lie (2018)

Just not good.

[3/10 · 12 October 2020]

I fell asleep on my husband's lap. Best nap I ever had!

Perfidia (2009)

The longest underwear commercial I have ever seen

[4/10 · 10 September 2014]

This film tries very hard to be "Avant Garde", but it falls short due to the very long and tedious sequences. The plot is interesting, but it take the director a very long time to give the audience a hint of what this film is all about. I would be surprised if 50% of the viewers make it half way through the film without turning it off or using the fast forward button.

I had to fast forward through a lot of scenes that just seemed to drag on forever, which ended up being a lot about nothing. The lead actor,Gonzalo Valenzuela, did an admirable job showcasing different sets of underwear. Other than that, the role wasn't very challenging and could have been cast by any novice actor with the same results.

This is a film that tries to be cerebral, but instead only succeeds in giving the viewer a bad migraine.