DukeNewcombe Reviews

The Green Knight (2021)

If you want to watch something a little different.

[7/10 · 26 September 2021]

The brilliant thing about watching movies and not reading books is you can review the movie independently of the books story line.

This was film which has you thinking... WTF... for 120 minutes. It is certainly not for everyone, in fact I would suggest that the an audience that could fully appreciate this film is so narrow it could pass between two atoms.

I did enjoy the visuals,I enjoyed the acting, I the theme... but strike me down if I could follow this plot from start to finish without thinking WTF just happened. It's a little like watching Tenet, on in a fantasy genre.

What I liked about the film most was it's difference from the norm, in a period in time where Hollywood pumps out guns, superhero's and mainstream sci-fi like they're bank who prints their own money its nice to get something a little different.

Allied (2016)

Pleasantly surprised.

[8/10 · 18 November 2017]

Oh know I hear you say, another WWII movie...

Yes it was, but Bill Clinton saw more action in his office than was in this movie. The action was deliberate, concise, and well executed to not be the main feature of the movie but lay the foundation of what would be an unbreakable bond for the rest of the story. It sounds a little cliché, and to a degree it is but it works.

With an amazingly well setup wardrobe, subtle scenes, and body language that screams intimacy the opening scenes really captivated me and I didn't even know it had grabbed me. It really brought me into the espionage life for the period but it was not over played with massive drama, or super spy scenes, it was subtle, covert, to a point even calm nothing to tense.

The middle was a little sluggish, and that is where the modern values crept into a period movie. It has almost become a part of every TV series and movie to have an open gay couple as if TV and movies are trying to prove something about diversity. Sigh....

But where it all came together was the ending, I thought I knew... hell I even hoped for the best... but it was the visual and emotional strike that I have to say was what blew me away. So much so it had me asking personal questions for some time afterwards.

I loved this movie, yes there could have been improvements... ie Pitts French... aghhhh... but overall pretty happy I took the time not only to watch it, but to believe it too.

SEAL Team (2017–2024)

Try as they might, they will fail

[4/10 · 16 November 2017]

"SEAL Teams" a story about Seal team 6? hell yeah I am up for that!

Oh it had awesome potential for this to be a brilliant action series.

Except it isn't... they cast David Boreanaz who really adds nothing to what there is of a story. He isn't much more than 2D (or 3D if TV has it) eye candy for those that into that. While they try and add a little depth to the guy as he deals with elements of PTSD he is still very much an unamazing actor. He walks in, saves the day, end of story and that's really how the story goes.

So far as I can tell it has four "drama" sub stories along with a new mission every week. To me an action show is where the season is about a long term goal like "we need to capture this dude, but we don't know where he is" and each week they prosecute a new story chasing down milestones to help achieve that goal. However "SEAL teams" presents us with a 75% sidestory drama and 25% planning and action with against a target that has zero relevance to viewers.

Clearly the writers are more interested in sticking in their doo- gooder views, and are more focused on the personal lives of the teams than they are the action... why oh why?

I'm giving until the end of the season, but I don't think it is going to be on my watch list next year... if it even makes it that far.

Strike Back (2010–2020)

Not a great reboot

[10/10 · 1 November 2017]

Let me start by saying I love this show... right up until Season 6. This season has really big shoes to fill, with the departure of the old Section 20 and the development of a new one you might think there was a slightly different tune to the story but not really. The friendship and banter that was shared between Stonebridge and Scott along with the a great series running story line, and brilliant action scenes (both in and out of the bedroom) really worked because it looked natural and real. This season is not off to a great start because they have tried to replicate that exact same team dynamic using different actors who just don't cut the mustard. The cast I am sure in many other roles would be great. Of the now four person bravo team we have a team leader that looks as natural with a rifle in her hands as a fish is out of water, a pair of US and UK Sgt's trying desperately hard to replicate a friendship from seasons 2-5 and it really shows, and an Australian Engineer who is the only one that shows a little promise.

Episode one for me, total let down. The scenes were terrible, the story line was too rushed, and the acting was looking forced. The entire show was spent trying to duplicate the formula that worked previously but with an entirely different cast, which is why it failed. I really hope for some improvement over the rest of the season because the strike back legacy is an important one as the rest of the "action" genre TV shows never came close to this saga.