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Reviews
Wallander (2005)
Another great Swedish series!
Like Beck, Wallander is a great Swedish series of movies. Right now there's 13 movies. Out of the 13 I think I've seen like 9 or 10. All the movies I've seen are really good. Henning Mankell is has written the books about Wallander and even though the movies doesn't follow his story lines they are true to the characters from the books.
You follow Kurt Wallander (Krister Henriksson), a police in Ystad in the southern Sweden. Wallander, his daughter Linda (Johanna Sällström, Stefan Lindman (Ola Rapace) and the rest of their tight group in Ystad solves their cases one by one. Wallander isn't thrilled about his daughter working as a policeman, but accepts the fact that she won't change her mind. Linda and Stefan are partners, and soon that evolves into something deeper, but can you really work together and have a relationship without loosing your objectivity? This series of movies comes highly recommended from my part. The series is well written and has a great cast.
If you like Beck you will surely like Wallander!
With the death of Johanna Sällström (she committed suicide due to depression early this year, R.I.P) I fear that the series won't be the same, if they even decide to continue on. But for now I'll catch the series on TV and see Johanna in all her glory, because she was a great actress.
Beck (1997)
Beck - finally a Swedish series worth watching!
To be honest I haven't seen all the Beck movies in the series, which are 21 and counting, but the ones I've seen are well worth watching! I'm from Sweden myself and have a lot of thoughts, most of them negative, regarding Swedish movies. But Beck I like and that's quite an achievement from their part. The Beck series revolves around Martin Beck, Gunvald Larsson and their colleagues at the police force in Stockholm, Sweden. Beck is a divorced, middle-aged man while Larsson is young, forward and a quite violent man (against suspects that is). Together they make a perfect team, investigating crimes committed in Sweden, around Stockholm. The movies have a well written storyline, with diverse crimes, with no fear of showing brutal murders, horrible cases, or to go outside the Swedish border, making this series of movies great! Plot twists are only to be expected at the ending, making sure that everyone is kept in the dark of the outcome until the very end, which isn't always that easy to accomplish.
The series of movies are well-known here for a couple of things; Gunvald Larsson's short temper, and his great sarcastic lines! The neighbor of Beck, who always seem to be on sick-leave - wearing a lovely neck-collar, and who always is willing to give Beck some alcohol. And last but not least; the great actors! Peter Haber and Mikael Persbrandt are brilliant in their interpretations of Beck and Larsson.
Beck comes well recommended from my part!
Charmed (1998)
Forever Charmed
Having charmed viewers around the globe for eight years the last spell was cast May, 2006. Charmed is about three sisters; Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs) and Phoebe Halliwell (Alyssa Milano) who happens to be witches and together they activate the Power of Three - the greatest force of good known throughout the magical world. They use their powers to fight demons and warlocks and to save innocents. Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210, Heathers) returned to TV to join yet another Aaron Spelling production bringing Holly Marie Combs (Picket Fences, See Jane Date), her best friend with her to the table. Alyssa Milano (Who's the Boss?, Melrose Place, Fear) replaced the pilot actress Lori Rom as Phoebe after a call from Aaron Spelling, whom she worked with on Melrose Place. Together the three actresses formed a magical spell for success getting picked up for the rest of the season after only two episodes. But a lot happens during eight years and Charmed is no exception; after the third season Shannen Doherty left the series and was replaced by Rose McGowan (Jawbreaker, Phantoms). Rose played long-lost half-sister Paige Matthews, being half-witch and half-whitelighter she brought new blood to the show and secured yet another season for the bewitching sisters. Along the road a lot of hot men have been part of the magic as well, in the first season we saw T.W. King (Sex and the City), Brian Krause (Return to the Blue Lagoon, Sleepers), Dorian Gregory (Baywatch Nights) and Michael Weatherly (NCIS) to name a few. The second season brought us Greg Vaughan (B H 90210), Lochlyn Munroe (all CSI series, White Chicks)and Antonio Sabbato Jr. (See Jane Date, Melrose Place). Other hot men have been Julian McMahon (Fantastic 4, Nip/Tuck) Nick Lachey (Newlyweds), Jason Lewis (Sex and the City), Ivan Sergei (The Break-up), Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek), Victor Webster (Related, Mutant X), Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy), Oded Fehr (Resident Evil: Apocalypse, the Mummy and the Mummy Returns) and Drew Fuller (Final Contract: Death on delivery).
What makes Charmed worth watching? If the magical storyline doesn't get your attention the on-set chemistry between the witches will. But don't expect it to be like Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 'cause it's not. It has dark elements in the first four seasons but it's never taken as far as in Buffy. However it's still a delight to watch. =) Comes highly recommended!
The Power of three will set you free!