smith73 Reviews

Last Days of Jesus (2017 TV Movie)

Worth a look

[7/10 · 16 January 2024]

If you're a devout Christian who believes the Gospels are a true accounting of the life of the son of God and his resurrection, then this show is not for you. If you enjoy thought provoking documentaries, think that the Gospels are most likely a legend about a mortal man, a preacher who lived and was crucified, then you should take a look. A lot in the Bible makes little logical sense, and the Gospels are no exception. Some of it is mentioned in this show. But I must say that the conspiracy theory aspect of this show is tenuous. Too much speculation, in my opinion. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but you might want to check it out.

The Real War of Thrones (2017–2018)

Good but has flaws

[7/10 · 17 September 2021]

You can tell they didn't have a big budget, which is not necessarily bad. What I don't care for is the battle reenactments with about a dozen role players, when the actual battles had many thousands. Don't show the battle if you aren't babe to do it justice. Still, good information was presented and they did a decent job of explaining the actions and motivations of the leaders.

Charles I: Downfall of a King (2019)

Show host becomes obnoxious

[7/10 · 1 July 2021]

There is good history here and it is well balanced. But the show host/narrator gets too much focus. The camera gives her too much focus and attention and it gets old.

Who Wrote the New Testament? (2003– )

Not for religious people

[7/10 · 29 June 2021]

I'm neutral. I don't know if the Bible is true or not. So this is just a history show to me. But it does create doubt about the authenticity of the New Testament. People who believe the Bible purely based on faith will not appreciate the research and history this show offers.

The King's Choice (2016)

Excellent "Niche" WWII film.

[8/10 · 17 November 2020]

I really liked it. I say it's a "niche" movie because I'm American. Were used to seeing films about the US and UK battles of WWII. This is a mostly quiet film, with modest action sequences. Most of it revolves around the intense pressure on King Haakon and his family. You can feel his anguish. The loving but strained relationship with the Crown Prince is depicted well. I recommend this film to anyone with interest in the first year of WWII.

The Last Czars (2019)

Neither documentary nor drama

[7/10 · 14 August 2019]

The show tries to be a documentary and a drama series. It isn't great at either. The actual history and factual information is very lightweight, and the dramatic presentation is as well. Also, the focus on the Anastasia imposter seems overdone. But I can recommend the show to casual viewers not overly concerned with facts and historical research.

American Experience: The Battle of Chosin (2016) Season 29, Episode 2

Good overview of the battle.

[8/10 · 19 May 2019]

The person who rated this as a "1" is either immature or not very intelligent. There's no political agenda in this show. Ignore his rating. This episode gives a good look at the hardships faced and courage shown by the UN forces in the battle. You can almost feel the bone shattering cold. I learned quite a bit watching this.

Jeremiah (2002–2004)

Great concept, good acting, mediocre stories

[7/10 · 27 August 2004]

I like this show overall. I've always been fond of post-Apocolyptic stories. But the problem I have is that some of the stories are hokey, and a lot of the content seems to be very implausible. If you watch closely, as I tend to do sometimes, much of the show relies on cheap action and drama. Compared to some of the other premium cable series, Jeremiah is very much lacking. Whereas Oz or Six Feet Under cater to an intelligent, sophisticated audience, Jeremiah's stories do not. I think a teenager would most appreciate this show.

P.S. Why does everyone seem to wear jackets with military insignia/stripes?

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Not the let-down I expected

[7/10 · 21 July 2003]

I hadn't heard much about this movie from the press and it wasn't hyped very much, so I didn't expect a lot. But I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely not as good as T2, though. I like Nick Stahl and Claire Danes together. I hope the story line is continued even if Arnold is getting too long in the tooth for this stuff.

The Civil War (1990)

The best documentary I have seen

[10/10 · 18 June 2002]

This is a compelling, thought provoking mini-series. Definitely one of the best out there, and certainly the best I've seen. It is long, though, and slow at times. And it is somewhat influenced by political correctness. But all in all, a definite must see for history enthusiasts.

Centennial (1978–1979)

A very special mini series and book.

[9/10 · 22 February 2002]

I was hooked the first time I saw this mini series. The characters are endearing, the stories are engrossing, and the whole experience is memorable. I especially like the first few stories. I highly, highly recommend reading the book. It goes back much further than the movie.