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Michiel1965
Reviews
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)
S for Sherlock, S for Superior
There is a reason why this series gets such a high rating. This superb television, it is so good that it is superior to most superb other shows.
The script is fantastic, it oozes "britishness" in all its meanings. Beautiful locations, wonderful dialogues but the unique selling point is the haunting performance of Jeremy Brett, he is intense, a maniac, he is almost diabolical good. I wont say much about Brett what cant be found on the internet, just know there is a tragic secret behind his performance.
In short, superior television in every possible way, Sherlock Holmes has been done many times and sometimes very good (Benedict Cumberbatch) but Holmes's real name is Jeremy Brett for ever.
Thank you for reading.
Dad's Army (1968)
Like wine, it gets better each year!
Some years ago "Dad's army" was voted the best British comedy and rightly so.
Great Britain faced imminent invasion by Germany in 1940. The British army was destroyed on the beaches of Dunkirk. To counter an invasion the government decided to raise local militias consisting of individuals unfit or too old for military service called the Home Guard. Dad's Army is the story about such a local militia in the (fictious) little town of Walmington-on-Sea.
Dad's Army is British comedy at his very best. Some good points are
* The Brits are masters of ridiculing other nations but are grandmasters in ridiculing themselves. They do it with gusto in Dad's Army. * The ensemble cast has no weak links. Arthur Lowe (as capt. Mainwaring) is a giant, and John Le Mesurier (as sgt Wilson) plays himself, the quintessential English gentleman. *The writing is superb, the humour as British as British humour can get *There is so much to discover, the relationships between the characters, living in Britain during the war, the class-struggle, so many actors from other series make an appearance.
It is all wonderful to be honest.
Father Ted (1995)
Father Ted, the Church needs you know!
Father Ted is (absurd) comedy at its very best I think.
Father Ted lives on Craggy Island with his goofy Father-to-be Dougal. No, its not THAT kind of relationship! They have a moustached maid called Mrs Doyle and the former priest Jack.
There are sterling performances by Dermot Morgan as Ted and Ardal O'Hanlon. The dialogue and is incredibly funny and the story lines are, well, peculiar. Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn) is wonderful too but also a bit scary...
You really have "to dig" Father Ted, my gf does not and seriously think I am demented when I am rolling on the floor laughing. Personally I think that(and yes, it sounds snobbish...so be it)Father Ted is for the true (black-)comedy-gourmet. It teaches one important lesson...Irish are more fun than British and I guess that will come as a shock to some.
Yes, the church can be fun, just watch Father Ted.
Dermot Morgan died suddenly in 1998, may he rest in peace.
Married with Children (1987)
Totally absurd
MWC is a comedy-classic. But you really do need an open mind to accept it as a classic. MWC is totally absurd, it compares to nothing.
The characters are stereotypes. Al Bundy is a low-paid shoe salesman in ill fitting polyester pants. Al is married to Peggy, red haired and buxom, being everything but a housewife. Daughter Kelly is blond, sexy and dumb and her brother Bud is perpetual in his puberty.
The first time I saw it I was confused...so NOT-American as we knew at the time, personified in the Huxtable-family. It was such a relief, foul mouthing and b*tching each other, jokes so lame that it was hilarious, completely over the top!
For the sake of sanity, the Bundy's have neigbours. Superficially they are sane but under the vanish of a decent middle-class-couple they are just as demented as The Bundy's are. David Garrison is very much missed as neighbor Steve in my opinion.
Yesterdaynight I saw an episode, don't ask me which one but I saw it at last 5 times before. I saw the jokes coming from light years away and I laughed again.
If you love an anti-pc comedy, which is sexist, randy and occasionally extremely lame, full of stereotypes machinegunning you with one liners and sometimes great dialog, this is for you. It was for me for oh-so many years.
Its not the greatest comedy ever but it is in the top 10 for sure (number one for me is Father Ted!)
Thank you for reading and may Al live Forever!