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mddawson
Reviews
Seven Little Australians (1973)
A wonderful piece of Australiana
I have just finished reacquainting myself with this wonderful piece of Australiana after last watching it during its original B&W broadcast back in 1973.
Based on the 1894 novel by Ethel Turner, the story has a timelessness that holds the interest of children and adults alike. The original story was revolutionary for its time in depicting children realistically, something that the TV series also depicts well - typical Aussie kids.
This series has aged quite well with acting and production values as good as most mini series made today.
I have a special affinity for this series as the last three episodes (Yarrahappini, The Picnic & Going Home) were filmed at Lanyon Homestead, literally a 5 minute drive from my home in southern Canberra. I was also married under the Norfolk pines next to the house.
For those interested, 31 years on the area still looks as it does in this series despite the encroachment of Canberra's southern suburbs. Fortunately the heritage listed site is protected from redevelopment and also survived the 2003 bush fires unscathed.
The new ABC DVD, although displaying far from perfect video quality, is an excellent release and I hope the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) will release more programs from this era.
Highly recommended.
Tru Calling (2003)
Worth watching but don't expect anything special.
Firstly I believe every new program on TV has been done before. There have been no original plots for many years now so all new programs are just a blend of characters and plots from previous TV programs. The trick is getting the blend right to create the illusion of an original program.
For me Tru Calling does not quite get the blend right. A bit of 7 Days, a touch of Lola Rennt with Angel like flash frames creates a fast paced show that is lacking that certain something to make it special. Watchable yes, special no.
I should add that I have only seen the first two episodes so far (we are a bit behind here with US TV series) and there is always the possibility that the show will find its feet as the season progresses. Hopefully the TV executives will allow enough time for the show to develop and not prematurely cancel it like they did with Firefly.
Worth watching but don't expect anything special: 2.5 out of 5.
The Tribe (1999)
Pure soapy with a slight sci-fi twist.
I bought the first series based on the rave reviews I had read. I was looking for another quality kids sci-fi show like Spellbinder or The Girl From Tomorrow. I was sadly mistaken with The Tribe as it is pure soapy with a slight sci-fi twist.
The writing is mediocre, the acting is often appalling and the music sucks big time. After watching a dozen episodes I began to wish the virus had taken the kids out as well. I find it hard to believe that this series has managed to survive five seasons whilst quality productions such as Firefly only managed 14 episodes.
My advice is if it comes on your TV, change channels.
Quills (2000)
Seems familiar.
I recently watched this film for the first time and found it very enjoyable although I had this nagging suspicion that the plot was somehow familiar. Eventually it hit me, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' but now set in the Napoleonic era. I suppose if you are going to borrow another movies plot you could do a lot worse than Cuckoos Nest.
The Dish (2000)
Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.
Like so many movies based on a "true story', the writers of The Dish didn't let the truth stand in the way of a good story.
It was the Honeysuckle Creek Radio Telescope (30 km south of Canberra : that received the first moon landing signals, not the one located at Parkes. However the Honeysuckle Creek site is now nothing more than some old carparks and building foundations while the real dish is now located some 20 km south of Canberra at Tidbinbilla.
I would say that the story also benefitted from the Parkes Radio Telescopes close location to Parkes. Honeysuckle Creek was nestled high in the Brindabella Range quite remote from any towns.
U-571 (2000)
Historically Inaccurate.
Several reviewers have commented on the fact that it was the British who cracked the Enigma code. However there is another major historical blunder in this film, U-571 was actually sunk by the Australian Air Force.
U-571 was sunk with all hands on January 28, 1944, West of Ireland (at 52.41N - 14.27W) with depth charges from a Royal Australian Air Force Sunderland flying boat of the No.461 Squadron. Perhaps the films makers would have been better off creating a truly fictional U-Boat for the film.