Change Your Image
skybluewolf
Reviews
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001)
O.K. so its not the office
Right this is not The Office (thank God) and it's not blessed by having Armando Ionucchi letting the light of his countenance shine upon it. But to be as blunt as the TPOL characters it p****s all over The Office. I'm a bit fed up with the press pseudo intellectuals slagging this show off. I'm the first to admit the actings not exactly top notch but in one way this helps make the characters more believable and easier to relate to. The writing is excellent and the creator Susan Nichson knew what she was doing as she lived in Runcorn and the set for Johnny and Janet's flat is based on the flat she rented from her Grandmother. So I'll finish with part of a memorable scene in which Donna is leaving Gaz's flat to meet some friend's from University. Gaz to Donna "So your off to meet your new arty farty friends then Donna ?" "Well I'm sorry if I'm not arty enough for you but where does that leave me?" Donna "Farty." Classic. If you like unpretentious, unashamedly crude, sometimes very rude but brilliantly scripted and laugh till your guts hurt comedy then I cannot recommend this highly enough.
The Beachcombers (1972)
brings back memories
Like most of the other posters I remember watching this show as a kid. Every Sunday on the United Kingdoms Independent Telavision Channel (the U.K.s only commercial station at the time). Loved the characters especially Nick and Relic who's seemingly constant feuding was one of the aspects of the show that made it so engaging. Of course the scenery of the coast of British Colombia was also amazing. The main episode I remember is the one where two of the teenage characters get stuck on an Island and the girl goes into a Diabetic coma. Alos to the person who posted about the name of Nick's boat it was indeed the Persephone, named after the Greek Goddess I imagine. I am now going to try and get this series on D.V.D.
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Read the book !!
OK I've just read some of the comments concerning Battlefiled Earth and to be honest I cant disagree. It's one of the worst film's I've ever seen and considering Travolta is a Scientologist you'ld think he'd have put better production value's on a film based on a novel penned by the religion's founder . I would suggest that some of the poster's should maybe take the time to read the novel which is a little convoluted but ultimately worth the effort. The novel may in someway explain more plainly the use of the learning machines employed by the Psychlo's even though they are a fairly prominent feature in the film , maybe the watchers should have spent more time watching the movie instead of thinking up "witty" comments to post on how bad it was. If more attention had been paid to obtaining a script which more closely resembled the novel with a cast more suited to the roles what was without doubt one of the biggest Turkey's ever produced by Hollywood could have instead been a true epic.
Zulu (1964)
an excellent film.
If you've not seen this film then do not read on. This film is simply superb, though as I found out later inaccurate in some respects. However do not let this put you off. As most people know the film is a dramatisation of the military action that took place in December 1879 between around 130 British troops and roughly 4000 Zulu warriors. The performances given by the cast are superb and the panoramic shots of the surrounding country are true cinematic gems. Some people who have posted earlier have complained about the special effects, to those I say remember that it was made in 1964 and the fact that its not soaked in buckets of blood a la Saving Private Ryan (another excellent film by the way) in no way retracts from the depiction of the horror of close hand to hand combat. Also to the one's who commented on the protagonist's on both sides succumbing too easily to spear or bayonet thrust's they should try having a couple of inches's of steel shovelled under their rib's and see how chipper they feel. There are a few memorable line's contained in the film such as Colour Sergeant Bourns response to a trooper when asked "Why us sarge" Bourn's reply of "Because we're here lad that's why" and I found myself mouthing "Hold them , hold them" (Chard's command to his flying column of troopers during close combat) under my breath during an England football match when the defence was under pressure. The subconscious is truly strange. All in all I cannot recommend this film highly enough it is in my personal top 10 and was recently placed in the top 10 war film's in a list voted for by viewer's on U.K. terrestrial T.V. Channel 4.