A darker, better version of Breaking Bad without the drugs but a bit more violence. Wasn't sure I'd be into that, but the dark humour just makes it work.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Danger Close
(2019)
Great Australian movie
8 August 2019
This isn't the regular Vietnam War movie. It does
not look at the war with the benefits of today's moral lenses, nor does it have to.
It's about Australia's biggest battle in the Vietnam's conflict. Long Tan.
At that time, ('66) the Prime Minister won an emphatic electoral victory because of his support of LBJ and sending troops to Vietnam. Unlike the U.S, the domino affect was a really regional concern for Australians.
The story follows a Company (Delta) from 6 Royal Australian Regiment based in Nui Dat, Southern Vietnam, led by the precocious Major Smith. Time isn't wasted filling in backstory. Character development is forged through battle and you only get to know the major characters until after the first shots are fired - the wait isn't that long.
The one thing that stood out for me in this flick was the professionalism of the soldiers. As a veteran myself, I thought their fire and movement, weapon handling skills and the battlefield choreography was one of, if not, the best I have seen on film yet. One watches Platoon or Hamburger Hill and you have no idea what's going on. In this film, you see them doing fire and movement, Tactical withdrawal and the overriding mechanisms of training when the proverbial hits the fan.
It is unique in many ways. It is not the traditional Vietnam War flick. It doesn't pretend to be anything other then the telling of a story that has largely been forgotten for over 40 years. A must see.
It's about Australia's biggest battle in the Vietnam's conflict. Long Tan.
At that time, ('66) the Prime Minister won an emphatic electoral victory because of his support of LBJ and sending troops to Vietnam. Unlike the U.S, the domino affect was a really regional concern for Australians.
The story follows a Company (Delta) from 6 Royal Australian Regiment based in Nui Dat, Southern Vietnam, led by the precocious Major Smith. Time isn't wasted filling in backstory. Character development is forged through battle and you only get to know the major characters until after the first shots are fired - the wait isn't that long.
The one thing that stood out for me in this flick was the professionalism of the soldiers. As a veteran myself, I thought their fire and movement, weapon handling skills and the battlefield choreography was one of, if not, the best I have seen on film yet. One watches Platoon or Hamburger Hill and you have no idea what's going on. In this film, you see them doing fire and movement, Tactical withdrawal and the overriding mechanisms of training when the proverbial hits the fan.
It is unique in many ways. It is not the traditional Vietnam War flick. It doesn't pretend to be anything other then the telling of a story that has largely been forgotten for over 40 years. A must see.
My Honor Was Loyalty
(2016)
Terrible Movie - Avoid
8 March 2017
I am sorry, but this was rubbish. The opening narrative pretty much sums up this discursive, poorly written, sloppy movie. It is, however, reenactor porn. It is the kind of poorly made movie amateurs post on Youtube, akin to fan films. Morally, it is bankrupt: it gives tacit endorsement for the actions of the SS and tries to argue it away as simply the tumult of war. Battle scenes look ridiculous because they plainly could not afford blank rounds... the explosions that did seem real seem to be more like fireworks than actual explosive devices. Netflix is currently playing it... I've got no idea why. It's terrible. Straight out.
Continuum
(I) (2012–2015)
Got halfway thru first episode
20 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I could only manage about 13 minutes before I had to turn it off. Don't get me wrong, I am a massive time-travel genre fan, but the script writing for this episode was so bad that I could not stand to watch these poor actors and actresses endure another corny, predictable line. Lead actress was not someone I would have cast for this role. The opening scene was good. Then we find ourselves in the lead's apartment with friends who act like they're from some elitist art club, and since when can single-mothers on a cop salary afford a penthouse overlooking the city skyline? The conversation was awkward, and the scene with her kid, excruciating. The deal-breaker was the scene where said lead rushes in to stop the condemned from traveling back in time... It made no sense, and the scene and act was handled sloppily. A bit of history I do not care to travel back to.
Flight World War II
(2015)
Interesting concept, didn't deliver
19 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
As a concept I thought it was very creative, but let down by amateur script and direction. Things happen that do not advance the story, and a shed load of what you think are sub-plots end up as pointless dead-ends. the lost plane faces Nazi planes powered by jet engine and even face numerous surface-to-air missiles. The explanation for this anachronism is non- satisfactory and again is never touched on again once explained. The acting is mixed. There are in fact some very good actors, but there are some real shockers too. the concept was interesting to me, as I love time travel movies, but this one was a corker, with more holes in it than the plane at the end of the movie. Avoid.
Star Wars: Rebels
(2014–2018)
Getting better
13 December 2014
I have generally enjoyed Star Wars Rebels series one. The biggest flaw I see is that the story line jumps from adventure to adventure, and thus provides fairly scant regard to the major storyline, which is treated almost like a sub-plot. The animations are at times a bit "disney" but generally good, I enjoy seeing cameos of old favourites, and the last couple of episodes seemed to have found their purpose and I'm starting to enjoy it a little more. I am hoping series two provides a little more backstory, but I think they've done very well with their protagonists, and if it is anything like the last two episodes of series one, we should be in for a treat.
Parer's War
(2014 TV Movie)
Good but Not Great
28 April 2014
So Damian Parer is someone I have been interested in for a while, ever since reading 'One Crowded Hour' about another legendary Australian cameraman Neil Davis. Let me share The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
The Good Great acting. Matthew Le Nevez's performance is of note, seamlessly demonstrating the contradictory nature of Parer's character: fearless in battle yet vulnerable in love; reckless but thoughtful; an intelligent man who could sometimes need a tap on the shoulder. Other performances of note was the powerful David Breen and the relatively unknown but graceful Adelaide Clemens.
Good locations. I assume most of the action was filmed in Queensland.
The Bad The plot is kind of condensed. Parer covered Tobruk, Timor, Kakoda, and through to Pelélieu. I didn't really get the opportunity to connect with any of the characters other than Damian, and only because I had a lot of the back story already.
Attention to detail was hit and miss. Sometimes the soldiers looked battle-worn, haggard, dirty, their clothes falling off at the seams. But other times it looked like they'd just had mum iron their shirt, or better yet, taken straight out of the plastic.
The Ugly: It suffered from what I can only describe as the Neighbours effect, creating drama and conflict one would imagine is well out of proportion – "Just leave me along no, come back here and leave me alone..". I do not refer to the battle scenes here either. Although I was bothered by that clean shaven captain who kept appearing and looking like he'd just stepped out of a Day Spa.
The Good Great acting. Matthew Le Nevez's performance is of note, seamlessly demonstrating the contradictory nature of Parer's character: fearless in battle yet vulnerable in love; reckless but thoughtful; an intelligent man who could sometimes need a tap on the shoulder. Other performances of note was the powerful David Breen and the relatively unknown but graceful Adelaide Clemens.
Good locations. I assume most of the action was filmed in Queensland.
The Bad The plot is kind of condensed. Parer covered Tobruk, Timor, Kakoda, and through to Pelélieu. I didn't really get the opportunity to connect with any of the characters other than Damian, and only because I had a lot of the back story already.
Attention to detail was hit and miss. Sometimes the soldiers looked battle-worn, haggard, dirty, their clothes falling off at the seams. But other times it looked like they'd just had mum iron their shirt, or better yet, taken straight out of the plastic.
The Ugly: It suffered from what I can only describe as the Neighbours effect, creating drama and conflict one would imagine is well out of proportion – "Just leave me along no, come back here and leave me alone..". I do not refer to the battle scenes here either. Although I was bothered by that clean shaven captain who kept appearing and looking like he'd just stepped out of a Day Spa.
Chronicle
(2012)
Interesting start and middle. Poor ending. Annoying Camera.
10 February 2014
I thought the concept was really cool. A couple of regular kids find themselves with super- human powers and have to come to terms with this new, amazing, scare reality like only teenagers know how: through experimentation - the good, the bad, the ugly. The plot, I felt, didn't know where it wanted to go. I think whoever wrote the script knew he/she had a great concept, but just couldn't take it to where it needed to go; like 2/3 of the way through, a big chuck of cryptonite fell onto the writer's lap. Also, the hand-held camera action... it had credibility for about three scenes... then the reasons for having to constantly film lost all credibility. All up, had huge potential, but a few obvious and major flaws turned it into a bit of a tomato.
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