algernonstruther Reviews

The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (2017)

Humorous and intriguing

[10/10 · 22 November 2021]

Sadly, the show wasn't longer.

What I enjoyed most was the acting, and then novel effects. An example of a novel effect: a gloomy cave full of skulls, the camera scanning halts at a skull and its jaw bone drops off... meh, not that funny now, maybe, but there's many small effects like that - almost unnoticed, which, for me, added more interest / novelty.

Although equally enjoyable were story, sets, and CG. The story is obviously about overcoming evil... it's not that difficult to understand. The badies were bad and the goodies were good, but also imperfect, lol.

The actors, for me, were convincing in their passionate displays of sorrows joys and jealousies, ouch! By the side: a guy in the hero group - I don't even recall if he even had a line - had heavy brows and staring eyes, just wild, so novel. The rest of the hero group were mainly weird looking, out-of-this-world people. That added more novelty - quirkiness, which I enjoy.

Excellent sci-fi fantasy - and I suspect, lots of Chinese mythology thrown in. Don't miss it!

Qin Dynasty Epic (2020)

Qin Dynasty Epic is epic!

[10/10 · 29 March 2021]

10/10 because it's an amazing epic, on an epic scale.

First off, costumes are finely detailed. It's the terracotta army brought to life. Then the sets are very detailed, even down to seemingly obscure details like chariot axles which have finely engraved Chinese artwork. No less the buildings and interiors, similarly finely detailed. We found ourselves pausing it to wonder at the sets and costumes, and then there's the scenery!

The story easily pulled us along with its believable characters, their loves and hates, plots, revenge - both women and men, some very dangerous. Director and writers know their stuff, not forgetting sets, makeup, costume!

The battles were bloody and intense, in which the characters are enmeshed.

Immersive, enjoyable, and historic too, loved it!

Novoland: Eagle Flag (2019)

Game of Thrones, China

[9/10 · 11 April 2020]

Scenery and sets were amazing, but limited by watching subtitles, which were sometime awry. Costumes too, wow. Had to pause a few times to marvel.

The acting and the characters made it convincing and immersive. We watched all the episodes and were sad when it ended.

No politics, just a great story.

The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019)

Drat, but it began so well.

[5/10 · 24 November 2019]

5/10 is for seasons one and two, definitely the excellent acting and usually the directing, which we enjoyed for originality, novelty and sinister undertones, so immersive. But season three, we're finding repetitive - seen it all in one and two. So, slightly bored, we found flaws. For example: the high class Nazi women with makeup, when even in the early sixties, serious makeup hadn't really taken off, and particularly, it would be so for Nazi women. They were seriously into purity, so that makeup was a no-no. Good health, natural living and ridding impurities. Instead we note, the Nazi ladies, and others, were heavily painted in the modern style. Re purity, there was an opportunity to show a parallel between 'the impure son's sacrifice' and the woman propaganda movie maker, a sacrifice which she would've also considered, and would've felt guilty for not doing the same sacrifice herself. The Nazis murdered, tortured, euthanized and decimated, but their reasons, they believed, were necessary for a better world. The 'couple' wouldn't be sorry for losing a son, they'd feel guilt for their lack of fealty to their 'righteous' cause; to cleanse an unclean world. Sick, well yep, most of us are fully aware that the Nazis were evil, but they weren't.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

OMG, a film we thoroughly enjoyed!

[10/10 · 14 November 2019]

Maybe 10/10 because there's simply nothing we've seen recently that's been better.

Accuracy to the period, the acting, the story, brilliant - the only depressing aspect was that the film had to end! 'Accuracy to the period' wow, accurate in the actors' attitudes and the actors' outlook, a convincing travelling in time. By the film's title we expected something like 'Nana McPhee' but it was nothing so cardboard, instead tangible with delights and dangers. It was a piece that could be placed, relative to actual events and places.

Art these days is rare, and that was art.

Gogol (2017–2019)

Watchable Darkly Gothic

[9/10 · 26 September 2019]

Amazingly Gothic and we got into it easily, despite the darned subtitles. Some of the period series / movies we've seen have a postcard picture feel - there's distance, no involvement, they're flat. Not with Gogol, but we were taken right into the historical settings; the Gothic feel and fabulous architecture. They're only asides to characterization, which really made the series watchable. Couldn't fault the story either, full of surprising twists and turns, never a dull moment.

Special Unit (2017)

Fun, good characters and story.

[9/10 · 10 September 2019]

A puzzler for us at first - disabled detectives - how can it possibly work as a movie?! It did, and was funny too, although not at the expense of anyone's dignity. Innovative as well which is unusual for Hollywood these days. Although, in the end it did go with 'feel good' but that wasn't a bad thing. Many of today's movies are depressing because they're stupid in the literal sense, offering nothing much except cardboard cutouts and CGI. This movie gave perspective on what disabled folk face, but still allowed us to laugh with them through their difficulties, and like the characters, and root for them. We'll be looking out for more Titus movies.

Heroes (II) (2006–2010)

Great characters and great story.

[9/10 · 27 July 2019]

Always a pleasure to watch great actors, acting fascinating characters, and the bonus a great story, full of surprises.

Pity today's directors don't take a few tips on how story-telling and character development is done.

Harrow (2018–2021)

It began well...

[5/10 · 18 July 2019]

Loved episode one and two. Harrow (Rufford) thoughtful man, slightly eccentric and intelligent. A loner with problems communicating, or perhaps 'relating,' would be a better word, and interactions were often dryly amusing. But then around episode three, a policewoman was shoe-horned in, almost as his close partner and her poor acting threw it askew. The show is fairly serious, and quite intelligent. She wan't. She lacked real personality and depth, which contradicted the show. Spoiler: The final straw was a visit to Airlie Bch and the croc woman, who beneath her shallow veneer seemed like posh woman, but for the part of 'croc woman' was dirtied up and dressed in weird looking camos. She continually grinned stupidly and remained standing at all times in a small boat, which is extremely risky, especially in croc country. Next the woman fires a shotgun to scare crocodiles but the shotty splash is a tiny plink, and the shotty sound was unconvincingly quiet. Harrow is frightened to go in the water, when in the previous episodes, faced with troubles he's been brave and resilient, but to our surprise the policewoman is bold and fierce.... (I'm being sarcastic). The whole thing was tediously contrived. End Spoiler. Shame, the series began well and Rufford is an excellent actor. We give him 10 stars.

Hell on Wheels (2011–2016)

"We wuz there"

[9/10 · 3 April 2019]

Avoided it, supposing it'd either be: 'just stepped from my SUV cowboys,' or a puerile PC historical re-write probably about why we wuz naughty, and how oppressed we wuz. No, no, no! Actual believable, relatable characters' stories and a story too! Men, women, even the horses! Sure an ex-slave, pissed about slavery, but everyone else is just as pissed about what led them to that s-hole. The Indians proudly independent but also deadly dangerous which has the residents in terror, and then frightened loathing. Each group and interesting individuals, have a story.

The irritating thing is that the story's so engrossing I found myself forgetting the realistic backgrounds. Reflecting, I realized I'd avoided 'Westerns,' because those movie directors forgot story and lost themselves 'tellin' 'bout badasses.' "Hell on Wheels" is 'tellin;' but it's a timeless window on humanity, which is why the 'Western' background seemed to fade.

Negative, well, I would've liked to see some mangy dogs and gangs of hard-nosed kids on the side, but the story does fine without them.

Burn Notice (2007–2013)

well wow

[9/10 · 31 January 2019]

The wit and dry humour got me first, then the guns and explosions, and then the step-by-step, how-to-be a spy instructions, which were well thought out. I wasn't ever bored with it - well except the occasional machine guns firing in all directions while the characters dodged the bullets, a bit much - but that was a tiny, tiny flaw in the whole entertaining series. Each character was unique, although I was doubtful at first about Sharon Gless (Michael's mum), but she quickly developed into a winner. The show's dated now, but I hadn't seen it, and glad I stumbled across it.

Lie to Me (2009–2011)

Extremely watchable.

[10/10 · 31 January 2019]

Never bored me, although sometimes at the beginning of the stories I'd thought I'd be bored, but they were like the beginning of roller coaster rides: get the premise and you're away! Each character had unique quirks and faults, which I like, and each construct built the entire show into a tangible character. Even Brendan Hines (Loker) at first a bit of a lettuce, but he developed nicely. The women too had obvious flaws and I enjoyed them working through problems and issues. Roth (Lightman), definitely a cockney; a world of abstracts with a curious cohesion, so that I could almost hear Bow bells.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)

Think of the crew.

[1/10 · 21 September 2018]

I noticed KH's review saying essentially: watched some of it "...because of the glowing reviews..."

The 'glowing reviews' are equally mysterious to me since for me the show was jarring, shuddering, grinding, irritating cringe.

The one star I've awarded is for the benefit of the crew: cameras; set makers; dressers; makeup, sound, effects. I do realize the crew deserve a higher rating star than 1, but I attribute to the crew at least: professional discernment to understand the weight of my award. And besides, the crew had to live through producing the ghastly thing.

Credit where its due.

The Post (2017)

Sorry, no.

[3/10 · 19 September 2018]

Probably 3/10 is unfair since I only managed about 10 mins of the thing, but honestly I expected better of Spielberg.

Spielberg lived in those times but at film outset we see guys in their late 30s / 40s as soldiers in Vietnam. No, no, no. Next long hair (sure, the film's depiction was short and average length for these times, but not for then.).

The 60s early 70s was for the youth long hair vs short. 99% of older guys didn't have "long" hair. For example, during those times there were Beetle wigs (Beetles: John, Ringo etc, style hair) and the wigs hair was short compared to now.

Frankly I'd sooner read historical documents on the subject than be insulted by this shoddy effort of a film.

Suite Française (2014)

Believable characters and depiction of WW2.

[10/10 · 19 September 2018]

I was expecting a British style pace but the film did pick up its pace. Besides that sorta slow beginning, the accuracy to period I could not fault. It blew me away, and stayed my patience. The restraint of the characters relative to those times was also impressive.

A film I could believe in; characters I could believe in; and the accurate depiction of those times, hence a definite 10/10.