girlingreen Reviews

Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! (2012)

Viewing discretion requires suspension of disbelief

[6/10 · 25 January 2016]

I'm in the minority when I say that I enjoyed this movie solely for the performances by the cast members. I tried not to be too alarmed by the illogical plot twists and let it mar my entertainment.

The film opens with primary school teacher, Donald Peterson and his very pregnant wife getting ready to spend their first Christmas away from Donald's partisan father played with cold hauteur by Ian McNeice.

David Tennant has the unenviable task of playing the dual roles of the mild mannered, bewildered Donald as well as his cold, calculating twin brother Roderick and it is an absolute treat to watch such a hilariously camp performance.

The plot rapidly moves into suspension of disbelief especially whenever Mr Poppy (Marc Wooton) appears on screen. Mr Poppy is still reeling from the departure of Mr Maddens (played by Martin Freeman) during the events of the last film, and now has his heart set on winning top prize for St Bernadette's Primary school at "A Song for Christmas", a nationwide school competition. to this end, he takes the entire class and a hapless Donald on a road trip across the Welsh countryside. Picking up an unknown baby and a donkey furthers adds to the surrealism.

Side plots include Mr Shakespeare(Jason Watkins) of the rival school Oakmoor determined to cheat his way to winning and Roderick Peterson coolly surveying the other groups and 'tweaking' his choir at the last minute to win at any cost.

The best one liners come from the competition's MC, Angel Mathews a retired diva of the day played with sharp wit by Jessica Hynes.

The movie comes to its predictable conclusion soon enough though that is not what Donald Peterson refers to as "his best Christmas yet". That is left to the finale with the birth of his sons and the rather touching semi reconciliation scene between the twin brothers.

What I found surprising about the movie was that even with a predictable plot, it was the earnest performances from adult and child alike that set it apart. At no point did I feel that the adults were being ironic when improvising their lines. The story was silly, charming and unexpectedly touching at times.

I would definitely recommend this as guilty viewing pleasure for Christmas, preferably well tanked up on the holiday spirit of your choice.

Agent Carter (2015–2016)

Grossly under-appreciated return to golden age storytelling

[9/10 · 17 May 2015]

Before I watched this series, I was curious to know about the drop in viewership that apparently afflicted series 1 of Agent Carter.

Was it because of a drop in production values? Were Marvel fans upset with the direction of the story? were the characters two dimensional?

Then I watched it for myself and can only assume that like its eponymous heroine of the title, this series is simply grossly under-appreciated.

Much has been made about the sexism of the 1940's especially to women, but this series has a care to show other forms of subtle and not so subtle discrimination like the attitudes towards war veterans, the disabled, chauvinistic behaviour and xenophobia.

We have Agent Peggy Carter who does an impressive job taking down opponents bigger than herself, and yet does so with the simple motto that she believes in herself and her abilities to get the job done and to do it well. Her male colleagues at the SSR start out by being patronising yet through a slow progression of events, they begin to see Agent Carter shift from a glorified secretary to fellow colleague and someone who has their back in a fight against the bad guy.

Agent Daniel Sousa is another example of discrimination by being a disabled veteran SSR agent. Perhaps from knowing the pains of being slighted on sight due to his disability, we get a lovely metaphor for why he sympathises with Peggy's struggles in office politics.

A lot of reviewers gush (deservedly so) on the lush backdrops, the costumes & the heady 1940's nostalgic feel to this series that has made it such a fan favourite.I think the success is because it is a character driven series. When Marvel does a movie/TV series well, you end up caring about the characters and even the villains to an extent.

Series 2 has been commissioned this year. The people have spoken.

Starship (2011)

Affectionate Sci-fi parody of Disney proportions

[8/10 · 9 December 2013]

First of all for the uninitiated, Team Starkid is a Michigan based theater group known for creating parodies of well known pop culture, eg: the immensely popular A Very Potter Musical in 2009 followed by the latest trilogy in the series in 2013. Fans If you are familiar with their brand of humour and inside jokes, this show should be a treat to Starkid fans. In terms of story, lets say it shares many elements of Disney's Little Mermaid and is not taxing on the drama front, playing more on laughs and in some instances some innuendoes & mild swearing which definitely do not feature in your average Disney cartoon. What I liked most about the show was the earnestness of the actors, who often had to double up as puppeteers or prop artists between scenes but never failed to stay in character. The story's main message dwells on accepting being yourself and not let it stop you from fulfilling your dreams however far fetched they may seem to you or others. The songs are the second draw,fantastic hummable numbers originally composed and written by songwriter and actor Darren Criss who could not take part in the play due to his commitment on Glee! I hope Team Starkid continues to keep their future projects simple and fun.

Godhand Teru (2009– )

Super Teru!

[7/10 · 12 January 2010]

A medical drama with a supernatural twist- that's Godhand Teru in a nutshell.

The slightly longer version in this short drama (Only six episodes) is about a bumbling medical student finding help from beyond the grave when facing life threatening operations. Predictably, there are skeptics especially since Clumsy Teru, as the character is nicknamed continues to fumble his way to becoming a doctor like his famous father before him. These episodes touch on such issues as the insensitivity of doctor-patient relationships and the daily trials of medical students everywhere.

A formidable cast was chosen especially Hiraoko Yuta as the titular protagonist whose goofy, cheerful personality seems at odds with his transformation into a focused serious surgeon when the occasion calls. I was particularly charmed by Watabe Atsuro as the Hospital's eccentric Director who probably had the best one liners in the entire series.

I do hope there is season 2. I think further plot development in the cases of Dr Kitami and the nurse Sakura could ass interesting twists to the overall plot.

The New Batman Adventures: Beware the Creeper (1998) Season 2, Episode 10

Potential for spin off!

[8/10 · 25 June 2009]

There are two reasons why BTC is so enjoyable:-

1)The episode touches upon the classic myth of the creation of Batman's greatest nemesis, the Joker mirroring the same turn events in another victim with hilarious results and

2)The new hero(?) steals the show and all the best one liners.

The Creeper, as Joker's latest victim now calls himself, reflects Jim Carrey's manic turn as the Mask mingled with the antics of Warner Bros Animaniacs. Case in point is the scene, shortly after his transformation, when the Creeper scares a lady in her bathroom and takes off with the signature line from the Animaniacs series of Mindy and Buttons: "Okay,I love you, bub-bye!"

Its a lighthearted romp for the dynamic duo, making a nice change to let someone else chase the Joker and his minions for once. The Creeper's overtly romantic gestures towards Harley Quinn have all the screwball antics of classic cartoon shorts. Creeper:"Sweetie got a boo boo?"(hit with a hammer) Harley:"Aww, Creepo got a concussion?"

Even the Joker couldn't handle him in the end, and actually threw himself at the Batman's mercy. When the duo finally subdue him, the viewer is left with the feeling that the Creeper will out and about very soon.

Perhaps Gotham could use an alternative hero. Just a thought.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Timeless farce

[10/10 · 17 October 2008]

One of the few successful crossovers of a play into a movie is AaOL.

Cary Grant's manic comic energy sets the tone in this black comedy about the only (seemingly) sane member of the Brewster family trying to keep the skeletons firmly lodged in their closet - pun not intended.

The supporting cast sees great contributions from Josephine Hull and Jean Adair as the demure but sinister aunts and the wonderfully menacing presence of Raymond Massey as Jonathan Brewster's brother.

I can never resist watching reruns of this film, and would definitely recommend it for aficionados of black comedies or Cary Grant fans alike!

The Treacle People (1996–1997)

Fantastic series that should've had a longer run

[9/10 · 26 September 2006]

This was an understated gem of a series that either did not get sufficient publicity or lost out on its key audiences.

This stop motion animated series centers on the lives of the inhabitants in a little Lancashire village called Sabden, known for its famous by-products from the Treacle Mines.

I simply loved the characters with their quaint idiosyncrasies that should have the adults chuckling along with the kids.

Rosie Mitton and Bill Wizzle are the delightful kids who save the day or rather try to if it weren't for the Boggarts.

Proffesor Baines-Pilling is the resident "Nutty Professor" of the village, with his botched up inventions and well meaning attitude.

Leyland Lil (and her husband Charlie who's hardly in the picture) are the owners of "The Bubble and Boggart Cafe" that caters mostly treacle flavoured ginger beer and Lil's infamous parkin which better serves as a doorstop than on a plate...

Brendan hails from Ireland and therefore uses his natural charms to sway the often irate Lil (and others) when they feel he's not pulling his weight at the ginger beer bottling factory owned by the village's head entrepreneur, Silas Mitton.

The unflappable Tapper Knowle was my favourite though. An engineer in the Treacle Mines with a no-nonsense attitude, hard core common sense and dry wit. Although seemingly at odds with everyone thanks to his blunt nature, he does care about the residents though its likely he'll never say it out loud!

The series began with an inevitable crisis affecting the residents, viz, the mines drying up. Through an extraordinary stroke of luck (and with the help of a few dodgy creatures called Boggarts), the mines were saved, which lead to an entirely new set of problems and fiascoes to handle.

I do hope the series can be continued with the same cast showcasing a motley crew of small town residents that was entertaining to watch.

Prince Violent (1961)

Entertaining Sam & Bugs

[7/10 · 8 February 2006]

While its not one of my favourite cartoons, I have a soft spot for the hot tempered little Texan/Viking. In the cartoon's opening sequence, it stands to Yosemite Sam's credit that he can send an entire village into a panic by his mere presence.

As the little sword waving warrior drives the entire village inside the castle for refuge,the country's defender Prince Violent(Bugs) comes to the rescue in his own inimitable way.

Good gags and an ingenious use of a large pachyderm pepper the cartoon's plot(Whoops! almost gave that away) and you're left with an otherwise entertaining little cartoon which just might inspire you to watch the classic film "Prince Valiant" on whom Bugs was supposedly based.

The Tommy Cooper Show (1978 TV Special)

One of the best British Funnies ever!

[9/10 · 30 January 2006]

The man who literally died laughing(it's true, he had a heart problem and he collapsed on live t.v) is one of the few comedians who could deliver the punchline and make it really hurt...from laughing so much.

Famous for his recognisable get up - Egyptian fez and formal suit, and for his catchphrase -"...just like that!", T.C had a knack for visual gags, slapstick and farcial situations like few comedians I've seen today.

I especially loved the way he would mess up classical Shakespeare, viz, Hamlet. Here's a sample of what I mean: "To wake , to sleep, perchance to dream...I had a funny dream once..dreamt I was eating a ten pound marshmallow...next morning the pillow was gone..."

A great man is a deserving epitaph.

The Tex Avery Show (1997–2002)

Poor show

[1/10 · 29 January 2006]

If there was a single sentence review contest, my entry for this 1997 series would be "Not even remotely like Tex Avery".

New viewers would probably find the above statement a little harsh, but for those of us who were raised on the screwball antics of the late Tex Avery would find the criticism well justified.

This cartoon series seems to go against every formulistic gag that the classic cartoons used to follow. If the classic cartoons were known for their minimum dialog and maximum slapstick humour, than this new series is the complete polar opposite.

Before I was through with the second episode, I ardently wished that the characters would just shut up instead of producing cringe worthy jokes that were supposed to be funny.

Or if the classic cartoons charm relied on the complete unpredictability of their story lines, then this new series had plot lines you could see a mile off.

All in all, this series just felt like it was put together to cash in on Tex Avery's memory and I can imagine a huge sigh of relief escaping from the lips of hardcore fans when the series finished its run.

Definitely not worth viewing unless you'd like to add extra criticism!

Odor-Able Kitty (1945)

From the School of Pepe's Arts.

[7/10 · 16 January 2006]

Pepe Le Pew can either really creep you out or totally sweep you off your feet. Either way, you can't help feeling a little awe on beholding this classic WB character. This commentater personally believes that Pepe was the inspiration behind other would be animated casanovas today from Cartoon Network's "Johnny Bravo" to Disney's Lumiere from "Beauty and the Beast".

His unique brand of love making is to be wondered at in today's world where his antics would normally be slapped with a sexual harassment warrant and at least a 50m distance from all his victims.

In this particular cartoon, a world weary cat decides to do an ultimate makeover and earn some respect for a change for pretending to be a skunk. All goes well, until Pepe arrives and promptly pursues the unfortunate feline with his overwhelmingly enthusiastic love-making.

The groundwork for Pepe's many trademarks are laid in this cartoon. From his adorable "frenchified" love calls to that aggravatingly calm hop-chase of his.

This cartoon only goes to show that as far as the world of cartoon fantasy is concerned, the most ardent wooer can go the distance...and have his beloved "pig-eon" leaving dust trails behind them.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

Not just another "Possesion" movie

[8/10 · 3 December 2005]

This is exactly the sort of movie that receives the tag-line "controversy" before its initial release. Given the spate of possession movies since the infamous "Exorcist" movie in the 1970's, I wondered why people would be interested in another Demonic Possession movie in 2005. The reason became apparent when the story unfolded. I sat among a multicultured audience that evening, watching the harrowing spectacle of Emily Rose's plight during her period of possession. Whether or not we believed she was truly possessed or suffered a mental illness is unclear, but our hearts went out to Emily Rose regardless. Her suffering was poignantly touching and excited pity rather than revulsion during her manic demonic bouts.

Kudos goes to the cast who brought the story to life. The controlled performances of EmilyRose,Fr. Moore and Erin Bruhrer were impressive to say the least. In fact this movie felt more like a t.v drama or a documentary without expensive S/Fx to hinder the story's flow.

During the scene when Fr. Moore read out Emily's letter, there was utter silence in the theatric. This really impressed me, as the audience was a mixed religious group of Arab nationals, Hindus and miscellaneous others. I could almost read their uppermost thoughts. Was Emily Rose really sane when she accepted her fate in the field? Why did God allow all this to happen to her?

I don't think we left the cinema theatre with the answers to these questions. But we did leave in thoughtful silence and reflection.

Sparky's Magic Piano (1987 Video)

Musical magic

[6/10 · 23 November 2005]

Sparky's Magic piano might be seen as a modern fairy tale. It certainly deals with themes of how intoxicating Fame can be for those unprepared for it.

When a magical piano offers Sparky the chance to get fame and recognition by feigning to play for him, it seems almost too good to be true. Before long, Sparky is off jet-setting to exotic locales and charming his audiences with his "musical talent" on the piano. The path to celebrity hood soon goes to his head, and he becomes like one of the celebrity kids now domineering our tabloids today.

The key delights of this little animated feature are the wonderful classical pieces from the likes of Beethoven, Chopin and Bach. I was blown away by the lilting melodies from the Masters of old, and like the audience in the cartoon, you too will be swaying to the music before long.

Becket (1964)

Et tu, Becket?

[9/10 · 21 November 2005]

The story of "Becket" is an old one, and the saint is often exonerated as an example of loyalty to God over man.

The movie would not be considered "Oscar" material today, possibly due to its religious content (always a controversial topic, I don't know why) and the theatriacs that O Toole's character King Henry frequently displayed.

However, fans of the film were intrigued by the tense relationship that eventually built up between the King and Becket. King Henry's black fits of rage were met by Becket's stoic expressions of calm, and this tempers the scenes throughout the movie.

Jealousy, anger and loneliness are all touched upon and explored by characters such as Henry' mother and his wife, Queen Eleanor. This was a good move on the part of the film makers since the only mention we have of her is relegated to a couple of lines in history books.

King Henry's fatal order to his knights possibly rivals the famous last words of Julius Caesar: "Et tu , brute?"

In fact, Becket is really an anti-hero with failings of his own. History books do not fill us in on the details, but as the King's constant companion he must have been quite jaded by the world before his conversion. In today's terms, his conversion would be likened to an international playboy who suddenly decides to leave it all and become a Trappist monk.

Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Usual Mel Brook plot line

[8/10 · 31 October 2005]

Like most Mel Brooks spoofs, "Robin Hood:Men in tights" wasn't exactly family comedy. Expect the usual double innuendo jokes that reminded some people of the "Black Adder" series.

That said, this is one of Mel Brooks better films. Young, dashing Robin of Loxley returns to find his ancestral home towed away, and gains a new enemy in the Sheriff of Nottingham who has a penchant for spoonerisms.

Will he be able to get back his castle deeds, win the seemingly modest maid Marian and retain some modicum of respect from the villagers after his dreadful Winston Churchill speech?

There are plenty of pop culture references that took on the movies of the decade (this was the 90's after all) such as Home Alone, White men can't jump etc. Expect to groan and laugh at any familiar looking scenes . (I know I did)

It was the impressive leading man though that really made this fun to watch. Cary Elwes carried off his role as Robin of Loxley a la Errol Flynn style. Which was definitely better than Kevin Costner in the original film...

King Arthur's Disasters (2005–2006)

Disastrous fun

[6/10 · 15 October 2005]

These are the disastrous stories that will make the Real King Arthur (wherever he's buried) turn in his grave.

In this new animated series King Arthur is the short, generally good natured leader of Medieval Britain, who seeks the hand of the lovely shopholic princess Guinevere.

In each episode, the lovestruck Royal tries to woo Guinevere who sets him impossible tasks that (you guessed it) ends in disaster. Helping him in these really silly tasks is his ONLY best friend , the incompetent wizard Merlin not to mention his Highness's horse, Alan.

Fun, rather goofy at times and really funny, this is a must see for fans of British comedy, and especially for fans of the talented Rik Mayall who voices the title character.

Grim Tales (1989–1991)

Giggles for Grim

[8/10 · 21 March 2005]

Rik Mayall's Grim Fairy tales gave old favourites like Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, King Thrushbeard and many others a new lease of life by giving them a modern and totally irreverent interpretation. Mayall's wacky approach to the stories was complimented by a smattering of local accents ranging from cockney, Brummie, Lancanshire and even Irish that lended colour to various character impressions.

You had to watch him in action whether he imitated mean, spoilt princesses (picking their nose, burping etc) or witches (same as above).

Here's an example of his description of a 'really bad smell': "..(the witch) smelt like no one had cleaned the lav. for a year.."

This was British comedy in its full tainted glory that was targeted at the kids but gained many adult fans as well.

Count Duckula (1988–1993)

Saluting the duck

[8/10 · 21 March 2005]

It's good to see Cosgrove-Hall creators poking fun at the old Dracula movies through this classic cartoon series.

The basic plot line, if you don't already know it, concerns the misadventures of a vegan vampire duck , an outstanding blot on the escutcheon of a proud bloodthirsty race of vampire ducks. Count Duckula is helped or hindered by the Family's fiercely loyal butler with as big a bloodlust as his masters of old, not to mention an amiable if very accident prone giant chicken named Nanny.

The cartoons creators make use of every and any situation to wring the maximum jokes and puns as only Cosgrove and Hall know best. See clichés of the horror movies put through the spoof grinder. A absolute classic of the 80's genre, and well worth a watch.

"If only real life were like this" - Count Duckula