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jenniferpoole
Reviews
The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978)
A Story about karma
This brilliant adaption of a typically grim hardy novel was filmed in Corfe Castle, Dorset, but is set in Dorchester (aka Casterbridge). Given that it is 45 years old and it stands up well. Technically. Bates is of course the star. Sadly, Farfrae and Lucetta are poorly caste (the newer version being much better) but it is good to see the story told as written (mostly) and no one afraid to take a long time about it. It shows a man recovering from an early failure of character, who then does well. But then he lets himself down again and starts to fail. He makes a recovery of sorts, only to let himself (and others) down again. In short. This is a story about karma and how we control our own fortune. For those of us who are able to concentrate for an extended period of time it is well worth agonising over his life.
McDonald & Dodds: Clouds Across the Moon (2022)
A real dud of a Dodds - such a disappointment
Oh no! Not another one of these tedious super-criminal episodes where instead of following the work of the team as usual we have to see them all acting totally out of character in order to make the plot come out. Utterly stupid actions on behalf of nearly everyone, and the pathetic behaviour of Macdonald at the end (surely they taught her some simple self-defence) was ludicrous. This episode ruined what had been a great series otherwise. My advise is skip it. It really was a cringe with none of the lovely light humour we enjoy so much. Plus so ignorant about the Catholic Church procedures for divorce, and All Souls Day itself. (A day for honouring one's ancestors and nothing to do with dead people!). I do hope we wont have any more duds like this.
Murdoch Mysteries: Sir. Sir? Sir!!! (2018)
Dreadful waste of an evenig
This whole episode was a waste of an evening. Halloween or not. It was futile and hopeless. Rubbish.
Flying Down to Rio (1933)
Nothing good except Fred and Ginger
The film is famous for Fred and Ginger's first pairing and for the dancing on plane number. The latter a dreadful and obvious piece of sexual exploitation which helped bring in the necessary code to protect girls in movies. Apart form Fred's two solo dances and the one set piece with Ginger half way through the film, it is a bit of a cringe with long drawn out musical numbers and obvious silent movie techniques.