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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Good example of what millions of dollars worth of visuals will buy you (and what it won't)
This is NOT a review bomb. I liked bits of the show (so far). What did I think was good? Well, there are, like in the title of this review, some good cinematography, some beautiful composition, and nice colour. Set design was wanting, and some armour looked like it was made in a plastics factory. For story wise? I think it fell short of the mark, in almost every way. Why is that? Is it because I hate Amazon? Is it because I'm one of those "racist" critics who hates the casting choices? No. There are many reasons I could attribute to what it lacks, such as it's inability to really say anything (so far), it's use of modern language in an ancient world (such as "okay" and borrowing the modern saying "caught the short end of the stick"), or even it's inclusion of characters that have no role in the period simply to draw in those who've seen the Jackson films. But the fact is that I love a good fantasy on screen like anyone else, despite all these issues. Why I feel this show really isn't good is that it's a product of it's time, not timeless, no matter how hard the writers try and describe it that way. In my opinion, the reality is that this story doesn't feel like it HAS to be told on screen, or at the very least not in this day and age. We live in an age of the visual medium, one where we are all looking for the next tv show/film trilogy fix. We don't appreciate the written word anymore, the experience of having an experience that requires us to use our imagination, and time to read. It's a fact that Tolkien's work was a literary one. His weapon of choice was the pen, not the camera, his ammunition his words, not photorealistic CGI. This of course can certainly apply to Jackson's films, however one could argue there's a defined story (which Tolkien worked on for 10 years) with a central protagonist to follow from beginning to end. The Rings of Power has no particular story or protagonist to follow, certainly nothing close to three books worth of character development on a couple of protagonist's. This show has no basis for existing, because the amount of creative licence required to make it go from an un-fleshed out story to a tangible television series is mind boggling. The reiterate, I want this show to be good as anyone else does, I like anyone else wants to see more of Tolkien's masterpiece on screen, but Things of Power, despite all the money and "respect" they pay to his work, regardless of the Tolkien's estate's approval, cannot deliver a story worthy of being heralded as being something with the Tolkien label on it.
Red Election (2021)
Great Geopolitical/Spooks thriller - not for everyone
Not sure why some other reviewers simply dismiss this show, one that does make sense, but I'll admit it's not for everyone (I agree with one reviewer, maybe the sceptics ARE Americans, because this was 10 times better than any American spy thriller IMO); Is everything realistic? Are all the actors Oscar worthy? Was its writing team stellar? These questions are legitimate ones, but it's all too far to dismiss them as amateurs or that the show was dumb. Shows in Europe and the UK have a high standard when it comes to green-lighting shows, and so your better come with actual ammunition to prove this show wasn't worth a watch. I'm not sure about the sceptics, but that's not why I watch things.
The fact is the story was there, and it absolutely kept me on my toes Wondering what might the truth be. The opening line referring to powerful men putting themselves against truth actually tied the show up in a neat bow, and in my opinion justified the sometimes messy, but complex plot. The truth was certainly being messed with, to the protagonists AND the audience. Both were left fighting to figure out the truth, and wondering who might be messing with it.
Ignore the 1 stars, it's all too easy to dismiss something when you're only after a rush from amateur roasting.
Would highly recommend.