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Reviews
Lewis: The Mind Has Mountains (2011)
interesting but...
All the Lewis episodes are well-written and compelling, but the writers messed uew times here. The opening scene shows identicasl pills doled out to all patients. Any real trial would have "control" persons who are given placebos and these are usually "double blind" which meand even the testors don't know who had which until all data have been collected and analyzed. This fault alone would invalidate the testing.
Also, Dr. Gansa is written as so pompous and arrogant that it is too easy to suspect him. Experienced coppers like Lewis and Hathaway could not be tat naive. But here they are.
Also, when Gansa proposes the correct solution, they just dismiss it because they want him to be guilty. Shouldn't they have consulted a forensic psychologist (you think there is at least one in all of Oxford), to confirm Gansa analysis.
Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit, Stage Death (2020)
Who Taught These Guys How to Paint?
After helping Sam solve the crime, Allie shows up at his house
to help him paint his living room, using the coolr she picked for him. Shoe comes with a brush, but the next scene shows them using rollers. The curtains are still on the window, and they push the rollers up and down, not coming close the either ceiling or floor. Really? Youtube could provide them with quick lessons on hwo to do the job right.
This is not one of Hallmarks best mystery series. Here are my favorites.
2. Murder She Baked (although the last two, renamed Hanna Swenson mysteries slipped a bit)
3. Martha's Vineyard (they have to resolve the cliff hanger about who really shot Jeff).
4. Mystery 101 (and what bout that epilog about Amy's fiance?)
5. Emma Fielding
Full disclosure about these last two - as a retired college professor, I have a special feeling for shows that show academics in a positive light.
I could go on, but I think this is enough.
Call the Midwife: Holiday Special 2023 (2023)
Never Fails to Move Me
I first encountered this show about 2 episodes into season 1, introduced to it by my daughter, herself a nurse. My wife and I were instantly hooked and never miss an episode. The Christmas specials are so moving and we look forward to them, especially since they come after a long draught from the last show of the previous season.
This one moved me so much, especially the incredibly touching performance of Judi Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan. She brought the pain of age and failing faculties of some one aware of her frailities but still able to recall so much of her very accomplished life. The side story of the homeless Indian RAF veteran also reflects the neglect some of these men suffered after years of dedicated service.
In this past week, I have already watched this episode three times and wept silently each time.
My wife and I look forward to the upcoming season. We hope that Lucille will return from Jamaica. She was a wonderful character and we miss her.
Ragtime (1981)
The Musical Version is magnificent!
This movie very good despite the frequent criticism in these pages that it compresses too much of the book. I just saw a production of the musical version. It was the fourth time I've seen this magnificent production. I saw it for the first time when it debuted on Broadway over 20 years ago with Brian Stokes Mitchel and the incredible Audra McDonald as Sarah. Hardly anything from the book is omitted in a powerful three hours of stirring theater. The only truly notable omission is that of Police Commissioner Waldo. It doesn't matter. My favorite musical of all time.
If you have the opportunity, be all means see it.You will be deeply moved ,I assure you.
Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage (1986)
vicar doesn't know his scriptures
When Mrs. LaStrange first attends services, the vicar asks if she is just there "for the season", to which she said, "Well, to everything there is a season".
The vicar replies, "Oh yes, "Proverbs'". No, that quote is from the Book of Ecclesiastes. One would think vicar would know that.
BTW, this exchange does not appear in the novel.
Also, Mr. Dawes, the curate, is described to be a Jesuit. Why would what appears to be a Presbyterian church employ a Catholic priest? The curate is in the novel, but is never referred to as a Jesuit.
Bonanza: Any Friend of Walter's (1963)
rarecomedic success
Most attempts at comedy on this show have been, to be frank, kind of silly.
Witness Hoss and the leprecans and Hoss as the Easter bunny.
But this one, and a later "Walter" follow-up are exceptions. Of course, part of Walter's success is that he is facing three of the most inept criminals who ever lived. Walter does seem to possess show strange powers, but that is allpart of the fun. A truly delightful pair of episodes.
Grease (1978)
Overblown and overrated
I can't believe the incredible raves this travesty has received
I saw the original stage play in the mid-70's and it was nostalgic, understated and even a bit quaint by today's standards. This film exaggerates all of the story and characters. The only part I really liked was "Summer days, summer nights" which was staged beautifully and brilliantly. But the rest -- ugh!
Some reviewers did point out that all the "teens" were in their 20's and even 30's. This is not unusual -- remember 90210? Some did complain about the sexual innuendos, but what teen movie doesn't deal with sex? Teens have sex, whether their adults like it or not. It's part of growing up.
One other difference from the play is the slutty makeover of Sandy, which was not in the original.
Other gripes include the prom dance. What school would let girls in high heels dance of the gym floor? My high school dances were in the cafeteria with tile floors. And no high schoolers I ever knew danced like these kids. Much too choreographed to be real.
Sorry folks! This is just one, big bomb!
Bonanza: Twilight Town (1963)
Brigadoon,anyone?
Surely one the best episodes of this series. But it escapes me how no one made the "Brigadoon" connection. It may be somewhat obvious but I think it deserves mention.
Lewis: Reputation (2006)
Math Issues
I hold a Ph.D. in Mathematics and have spent 40 years as a college professor.
While Goldbach's Conjecture is a legitimate mathematical unsolved problem, it
does not carry the weight to be worth a Field's Medal. To be fair, the topics awarded Field's Medal are far too technical to explain in simple terms, whereas Goldbach is easily explained, which is why I suspect it is used here.
Also, Dennison's fear that Regan's paper, which exposed an error in his argument, would ruin his academic reputation is silly. Fields papers are reviewed by a panel of premier mathematicians and none of them spotted this subtle flaw. In 18 years since he published his paper, no one else did either. Besides that, to maintain a lectureship at Oxford would require a history of addition research. He could not rest on the glory of that one paper for long at any reputable academic institution. I think he over-reacted to her taunting that she was the "smartest girl in the world" and that he was just a "silly old man."
Still, a good beginning to a fine series.
Rating 8/10
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
This review is something of spoiler
I have never understood how Heston and the circus bosses did not know about the extent of Sebastion's injury. You have to think with so much invested in his presence at the show, they would have kept careful tabs on his progress. The circus must have had some kind of insurance for him as well.
Still, this movie is a great deal of fun.
Lewis: The Lions of Nemea: Part 2 (2014)
a bit of a spoiler here -- don't read if you have not seen it
How is it that Oxford did not vet Prof Flaxom? I spend over 40 years of my adult life in University teaching and we always demanded the credentials of all new faculty appointments. I can only guess that maybe Oxford believed that a gentleman is good for his word and does not need to be vetted.
Blue Bloods: Age of Innocence (2011)
A small goof and a bit of a spoiler
Good episode but they blew a simple fact. The murderer (tutor) used the name George Byron to register at the hotel. Danny said that was the real name of Lord Byron, whom the tutor had been teaching his pupil about. Not quite! Lord Byron was the title of George Gordon. So close, Danny, but not quite. Still a good episode.
Future War (1997)
Pieta reference
In the climactic fight scene, the escapee seems to be hurt and Sister Anne kneels down and holds him the the classic "Pieta" position. I am so surprised that Mike and the 'bots did not pick up on this (as they did for other religious references) and I don't see any other posters who noticed it either. This is such a sorry excuse for a movie! And,as others have said before me, maybe the saddest of all is the cardboard box camera. Also, the dinosaurs sometimes seems like giants and sometimes like small critters and this is not just the false perspective. It's part of the movie that their sizes seem to change. Still, with Mike and the 'bots, it's a fun way to waste a couple of hours!