Change Your Image
kathebaud
Reviews
Lewis (2006)
Disappointing and unimaginative way to end a series
"Lewis" Has become one of my favourite British dramas. The first 6 series have been very enjoyable. The plot, characters, ambiance, musical score, have been excellent and enjoyable.
However, I believe that series 7 and 8 are not going to be as enjoyable, with dissonance and tension between the main protagonists becoming more obvious and overshadowing other aspects of the program. If the writers/producers/actors/the tea lady etc. want to end the program, just end it. Not explanations needed. On a high note. Leave us baying for the encore that never comes. Elvis or Lewis, has left the building.
Alienating viewers from characters that have been developed for viewers to like/dislike/form a rapport with etc only to see the disintegration of their relationship with each other sounds like very unappealing viewing. I won't be watch series 7 & 8 for this reason. Very unimaginative way to deal with 25% of a series.
DCI Banks (2010)
What Happened?
I have read ALL of Peter Robinson's DCI Banks books, was looking forward to seeing the series but oh, the disappointment. Where is his personality? The bad boy image and behaviour that had him carpeted at least once every episode. Where is the tension between him and Annie? I don't mean the aggression that is shown in this series, the sexual tension you get when old lovers have to work together. Where is the scenery, the moors, the rock walls that Gristhorpe made while talking to Alan? All great atmosphere and it's all gone. This DCI Banks is a wimp of a man, who overacts to the point where it's embarrassing. Why does he speak so slowly? It's disconcerting and distracting. And not a characteristic of Banks. That alone would be enough for me not to choose him for the part. And Annie is a would be ball-breaker who comes across as an unattractive, spiteful slapper. Did anyone actually read any of the books? This is what gave you the idea for the series, correct? SO why, HOW could you make such a complete mess of it?
I wish I had not seen it at all.
Gangster Squad (2013)
The Untouchables Revisited
"The Gangsters" seems to follow "The Untouchables" in many respects. The demure pregnant wife at home, the way the squad is picked, the poor kid dying, an unintended victim of the gang war. (it was a bomb and a little girl in the Untouchables) The practice on the improvised shooting range. The geeky guy who is an unlikely but invaluable member of the team. And so on. The opening scene promises to show Cohen as evil and violent. He is both but Sean Penn didn't seem to be convinced. Maybe he just doesn't see himself as a really bad guy. There are enough interesting historical references, car chases, good cop/bad cop, divided loyalties, intrigue and so on, to keep it engaging. It's inevitably violent but mostly in context. I particularly like the bomb maker. There's the occasional gratuitous 'I'll shoot you because i'm a policeman and I can' scene but that's par for the course. Apart from the 'Untouchables' similarities "The Gangster Squad" is engaging and entertaining, a little predictable. Just don't overthink it.