ivankaIMDB Reviews

After Life (2019–2022)

After Life

[9/10 · 2 January 2023]

What a breath of fresh air! Finally a show that's not exactly the same as all the others. It's witty, funny and unapologetic. Yes, it's based on something very sad, but it's also something personal and something that happens in life. I must say that I didn't use to like Ricky's Office but he completely won me over with After Life. Despite the sadness, the show does make you laugh a lot, well, if you have a sense of humour. I've seen all 3 seasons and liked them both though I was sceptical before the 3rd season after reading some mixed bag reviews but I'm glad I decided to watch it despite what they said. It's a great series!

What Is a Woman? (2022)

What is a woman

[10/10 · 31 October 2022]

I wrote a review already basically saying well done to Matt Walsh but it I just checked and see that it was declined with a reason Not specified. So I'm just trying again. Well done, Matt Walsh, and thank you for making the documentary. Now I don't know how much I can say if I don't want for my review to be declined but I need to say enough to meet the minimum required characters. I am not giving the documentary 10 stars because I think it's the greatest peace in the world of cinema but because I think that it discusses an important topic, a topic which goes much further than its title and obviously makes many people uncomfortable.

You (2018–2024)

You

[8/10 · 4 December 2018]

On the surface, Joe Goldberg is just another Joe Bloggs. Under the surface, he's a sociopath who falls in love with a girl who he meets at the book store where he works. He becomes obsessed with her, watches her, stalks her... And as he says, he'd do anything for her. And so he does. Not that she has any idea about it or asked him for it. He judges what and who is good and bad for her. He is the good and bad is everything else. I think a series like this was a long time coming. Season 2 has been announced before season 1 even started, so that's definitely something. You may not be a life changing series, but it's definitely one I'd say I've seen plenty of. It makes you think and wonder. I think that's a sign that something was done right there. At first I wasn't sure how they want to continue this story in season 2, but turns out that Caroline Kepnes (based on whose novel the series You was made) wrote a book called Hidden Bodies. The second season of You will be based on it. I'm wondering if I should pick up the book. Will have some time to think about it as season 2 won't be out any time soon.

Cardinal (2017–2020)

Cardinal

[7/10 · 2 December 2018]

I'm not even sure where I stand with this one. I just finished the second season. It's very dark. I had a problem watching some parts of it, but we're all different, I'm sure there'll be people who will stomach it more easily. It did remind me of the Killing but was more gruesome and I felt like it didn't get that much into the characters. All in all for me it was a good story and well done. There were times when I wanted to watch more but was so tired at the end and felt somewhat happy for it to be over.

Malibu Country (2012–2013)

Malibu Country

[7/10 · 28 November 2018]

I know that this show doesn't get much love here on IMDB. And I probably wouldn't have started watching it had I read the reviews before watching it. But one day this shows just randomly popped up on TV right in front of my eyes and I did like it. Only then I checked the rating. And I even held back starting watching it properly but I'm glad I got into it. Maybe it's because music is such a big part of the series that I like it so much. I even found out that Dave Stuart is one of the creators of the show. I never heard of Reba before but that doesn't make me like the show any less. My one criticism would go towards character depth, as I find some very one dimensional, but I understand that that goes with the format of the show. Overall I find the show very enjoyable. It's a shame it didn't last longer. If I happen to find another show which involves either Reba or Dave Stuart, I'll surely check it out.

Happy Valley (2014–2023)

Happy valley

[8/10 · 20 November 2016]

***Contains spoilers*** Happy valley is an English drama series, which centres on the life and work of Catherine Cawood, a police sergeant in a rural Yorkshire valley. Catherine is a real character with believable flaws and family which needs her, and she does everything for them. Well, the family that she has left. She lives with her sister Clare, a recovering alcoholic, and her grandson Ryan. Ryan's mother Rebecca, Catherine's daughter, had been raped and killed herself after giving birth to Ryan. Her death, and the reason for her suicide affect Catherine's life in a number of ways. She divorced her husband who was unable to face living with Ryan, but who she is still intimate with. In the first season of the show Catherine investigates the kidnapping of a young woman, a daughter of a local business man. The investigation opens her own wounds when the man who raped her daughter becomes suspect. This show has a lot going for it: complex characters, ever moving and interesting plot line, and also some great acting. It is intense, intelligent and well written. Season 2 didn't stay behind its predecessor. I think I've enjoyed it even more than the first one. Hopefully we can expect to see season 3 as it would be a shame for it to end with only 2 seasons.

Bloodline (2015–2017)

Boring

[2/10 · 1 August 2016]

This show seems to be rated very highly & I was looking forward to it. In the middle of the fifth episode, I will have to give up on it as I find it incredibly boring. Every episode is almost an hour long, but nothing really happens in it, apart from the very end, where there is a promise of something, but watching half way through the fifth episode, the 'something' hasn't materialised yet. I won't judge the actors, maybe they are great. But if there's no real story, I don't know how to have an opinion on them. Maybe I should stick with it longer, but I don't think I can do it, as watching Bloodline feels like a waste of time.

Mozart in the Jungle (2014–2018)

Mozart in the jungle

[6/10 · 17 July 2016]

*** This review may contain spoilers *** I loved the first season. It was funny, full of music and heart-warming. I started watching it without high expectations, but really enjoyed it. I'd even go as far to say I had loved it. After seeing the first season I couldn't wait to watch the next one.

But… What happened with the second season? I found nothing interesting there. It's no longer funny, no longer interesting. The focus no longer seems to be on music. Instead, the focus seems to be on nothing in particular. It's all so random, that it's hard to watch. Did the writers run out of ideas? Was it meant to be just a one season series? After watching the first season, I awarded it with for me a very unusually high score of 10. However, now I had to change it to a much lower result. Really disappointing. There's still hope for the third season. I'd be happy if it was about music again, and if there was also an actual plot.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

The girl with the dragon tattoo

[2/10 · 22 July 2012]

I have read the book and was really looking forward to seeing the film. I was pondering between choosing the American or Swedish version. In the end I opted for the American. I have quite liked the book; unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the film. The first thing which really annoyed me was the fake Swedish accent. It was horrible and it made me switch on the subtitles. I know that it is impossible to have in the film everything that was in the book; however, some very important things were left out. As a result, Mikael & Lisbeth look rather shallow. They are there, they do things but the viewers do not really know why. Actually, just like all the other characters. Also, some things were completely different from the book (not just slightly) and it did not help the film. I do not understand how this film got such good reviews. I just hope the Swedish version is better. Although, now, I'm not quite sure I want to watch it.

The Descendants (2011)

The Descendants

[5/10 · 21 April 2012]

This film is not good, not bad, in my opinion it is just pure average. The story line is promising but it ends there as it does not develop as much as it could have. The film just isn't deep enough. It looks as if things and people were there just for the sake of being there. Scenes are being shown because, err, it's a movie… I wouldn't say it was a bad idea to make this film; just the realisation could and should have been much better. Of course Hawaii is nice but I didn't watch the movie to see Hawaii. Anyway, good few scenes were shot when it was overcast and I'm not quite sure that was the intention. The land selling part of the story was just too obvious from the beginning. Well, how was he going to decide? As for George Clooney, I saw him only as George Clooney. Maybe it's not his fault, maybe the script didn't give him the opportunity to "shine". Anyway, this film clearly misses something that could have made it into a very good film. I'm sure it was meant to be emotional but the emotions were not there. All in all, if you are thinking between watching this film and doing something else, at many times the latter option will be better.

Shark (2006–2008)

Shark

[8/10 · 14 April 2012]

I enjoy the show. Sebastian Stark (James Woods) goes from defending the bad guys to prosecuting them. And he goes with style. Yes, there are better & worse episodes, but every episode so far has been watchable, enjoyable and funny. The "little helpers" from his office might appear to be too good looking for their job but once Woods is on the scene there are all forgotten. Also, Jeri Ryan, who plays Stark's boss, for some reason shows her thin waist in every episode (at least so far). This does not really go with the position she should have but I guess it was a desire of the people who created the show. In addition, she walks like on a catwalk and it looks rather comical. Also, it was probably thought that the show will be more interesting if Shark and his team do not only take on law but also do the police work. Like in Law & Order there are at first the cops who investigate crimes and then there are the lawyers; the creators of Shark decided that Stark will do everything. That's where the show is not entirely believable. With that said I have to add that I don't mind too much, I just sit and watch :)