joannpl Reviews

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

Another point to discuss...

[8/10 · 2 May 2022]

While I do love that whole new inside of the Wizarding World - way apart from HP's problems in Hogwarts (especilly new kinds of beasts that would make Hagrid amazingly happy:)) I felt mostly mweeehh by replacment of Johnny Depp by a "one-face-for-all-occassions" Mads Mikkelsen. THAT was so very sad. But, but - I have a second gripe with my today's watching the regular version (2D) of the movie in Multikino (Poland) - for unknown reasons the quality of this film was beyound strange - it looked as if it was VHS badly damaged - unfocused, blurred, no sharpness at all! Wth, I expected the CINEMA quality and got something like camvid :( For that reasons, my experience of being "sucked into the magic" was simply annoying. Anyone experienced poor quality of the movie while watching in a cinema?

Perry Mason (2020–2023)

Oddly addictive noire-like series but not THE Perry Mason

[6/10 · 7 July 2020]

The story in itself is pretty good - noire style, with great actors and props. You can feel the atmosphere of the period, as if you were reading a novel by Rex Stout or Ngaio Marsh or even Georgette Heyer (except for some R-rated elements). But definitelly not THE Perry Mason. For me, personally, all would be fine, even with this prequel-like story. Let's imagine that he's gone through the life motions before his glorious times. BUT - in "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop" - the original book, Paul Drake mentions to Perry that they have known for... 5 years. With the fact that law school takes about seven years to complete for an average student entering college plus the years he needed to gain notoriety we know from the books... Welllll... doesn't add up. And also - Paul Drake was a tall and lanky guy with straw-colored hair... I will keep watching, just to see how it's gonna lead (or not) to a conclusion when Perry becomes THE Mason. But I suppose, it won't be done in as elegant manner as in "Endeavour" series, paying tribute to "Morse" series...

What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024)

Jersey Shore for the vampires - hysterical

[10/10 · 2 June 2019]

The whole approach of this mocumentary is hysterical. Those "1s and 2s" must have never seen any season of Big Brother or Jersey Shore or even "Cardassians". It's the same flavour (a character sitting in front of the camera uttering a nonsense about his/ her experiences) but with a bloody twist :) For me and my husband, it was like THE very first-time watching "Benny Hill" or "Monty Python", like when we were kids. We end up with tears streaming down our cheeks after every episode. What's more - he's Pole and reading subtitles, I'm Brit/Pole hybrid listening to original jokes and the effect is exactly the same for both of us. It is amazingly funny to the point when we have our diaphragms pains because of laughing so hard. I so very much hope to see some more seasons.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Half a year ago I gave it a solid... 1

[8/10 · 24 October 2018]

And I wrote that it's an abomination :) And you know what guys - I had too much time on my hands and gave it a second shot. In two days I watched it all, starting from the beginning (last time I didn't manage to go past ep. 3) and by the last one I was looking for info on season 2.

I'm a hard-core Star Trek (all of them) fan. And I remember when I was about to watch Voyager and then The Original and finally Enterprise series for the first time - I had so many "buts" - in the first case that the captain was a woman in the second that it was so vintage and the last one was just mweh. And now - all the series are a background noise in my home, almost every day and I have all Star Treks on the loop, like over and over again - whatever I do :)

So when the disgust of the new Klingons (why? I still don't understand WHY???) and tons of special effects washed away from my system, I was ready to watch. And I found almost everything I love in the previous STs - friendship, compassion, funny moments. Obviously - they are shown in a different manner. But hey - so many haters, still hate Captain Kathryn Janeway or the whole Enterprise crew! It took time to get used to the new ones - in my case longer than I expected and with a hiccup or two on the way.

But I'm ready for the new season - especially that I saw glimpses of "normal" or "almost normal" Klingons - the ones I love :)

Case (2015– )

Good detective drama/ thriller

[8/10 · 17 August 2018]

It was pretty fast-paced, with solid detective work. For me peronally, it felt very bleak and depressing - it leaves a parent (me) of a young woman in a internal as well as mental shock "Oh my God! Thank you that my girl is safe!". I'm not kidding, that is exactly how I felt after that show. The series has many beliavable characters, presented by the actors in a very good manner. What was so depressing are all those graphic elements of what human-beings are capable of. There was shown virtually everything with close caption. The story moves fast and has so many red-herrings and twists that it felt like a roller-coaster sometimes. But still, I recommend for the fans of European noire.

The Break (2016–2018)

Disturbing

[8/10 · 17 August 2018]

I like crime/ drama/ thrillers very much. And I do love Europpean take on that area of tv, however, I didn't expect what I have experienced while watching that one. It was deeply disturbing, with some graphic scenes and pretty much depicting human filth in all possible forms. It was very depressing in that extent. And although I watched it awaiting the solution for the whole time - right until the very end, I wouldn't return to re-watch it because I felt exhausted, as if I was in that small town, at the time of those events. For those wo will think "So it's not worth watching" I say - that only proves how good the story is written and executed. Yoann Blanc's acting is a-ma-zing, he presented the rapid mental deterioration in a very beliavable way. His growing suspiciousness is shared by the viewers, although you do realize that he overdoses time and time again and that pills push him over the edge. But you still keep on watching to see whether he was right, what will happen with him... I highly recommend, however - bear in mind that it's not a relaxing tv show for Sunday binge-watching.

Ófærð (2015– )

Splendid

[10/10 · 17 August 2018]

Ófærð is an amazing, dark, slow-burning drama, where you feel the tension building from the very first moment. Ólafur Darri Ólafsson depicted a single-father (for the time-being), living with his parents-in-law, working as the chief of police with so much details and such psychological depth that it leaves the watcher in awe. He is strong but easily-hurt, he is tormented by his love to his wife and still naivelly believes that maybe, just maybe everything will be fine. The story - wow, so many paths that it takes us on, such tangled connections between closed-knit society of a small community. The scenery - breath-taking; I'm from Poland so we do have some strong winters, but the creepy atmosphere of being completelly cut-off by the snow fall is something I don't know :) And it worked for me - I was binge-watching the series with 38 degrees Celsius outside and I felt frozen to the bone :) It was a combination of the story and scenery that made the film so thrilling. Overall - great acting, good story and somewhat surprising ending.

Castle Rock (2018–2019)

I'm waiting for more :)

[10/10 · 16 August 2018]

Some good elements of old-style King which really makes it very watchable show. No more comedy like "Under the dome" or a sad excuse for screening of an amazing book like "11/22/63" that turned out to be... well, I don't know what it was but definitelly something veeery disappointing. "Castle Rock" is good, or even very good. So far, the level of creepiness is satisfying and the story is fine slow-paced with some "wow" elements. Hope it gets even better.

Hotel Beau Séjour (2016– )

I was very happy to find that series

[10/10 · 16 August 2018]

I almost missed that one due to the fact that at first I thought it was for the younger tv watchers. I'm 40 and I really enjoyed it :) I guess I can summarize it that way:

• great acting,
• great story,
• moderate pace,
• no flashing/ rotating scenes that would make you feel dizzy :),
• enough grim/ paranormal,
• satisfying conclusion.

Really recommend for those who have some time for another European darker mystery, with unusual paranormal elements.

Chasing Shadows (I) (2014)

Reece Shearsmith was amazing

[9/10 · 16 August 2018]

As in the title - Reece Shearsmith made this short series enjoyable and thought-provocative one. I specialize in teaching children suffering from various dysfunctions and from the very first moment I felt that DS Sean Stone has something like Asperger Syndrome. And it was great to see how people surrounding him will react and relate to his unique personality. Apart from the applause for the acting, the story was engaging and I'm very sorry that it didn't have further seasons.

Residue (2015)

Feels Indie but it is pretty good

[8/10 · 16 August 2018]

I like post-apocalyptic movies from time to time and that short series was really nice choice with some fine shots of a part of the city shrouded in tarps covering buildings, as well as monstrous venring systems and military zones. Some scenes were too much like from a crazy drug-user nightmare but I guess it was meant to be like that. I have a low tolerance for spinning or flashing images so that was only my personal problem that left me with a slight head-ache :) The story is well told, with a pretty decent explanation of everything, so there is no feeling of a "what?!" at the end. Acting also left nothing more to wish for, it was good.

The Moorside (2017)

Average and tiring

[5/10 · 16 August 2018]

I had high hopes when I saw the cast. But eventually it was tiring to watch. At first it was heart-warming to see people gather to do something good and that they stay united. Nevertheless, I do not like stupidity and pathology. Therefore I understood the feelings of betrayal and hostility towards the "mom" character. She fully presented a dumb woman, destroyed by her life choices (her family was mentioned as a non-pathological), leaving no doubt what sort of human-being she really is. I was sorry for the children, I felt claustrophobic by the number of people coming and going through the neighbours' houses and I felt depressed after watching the series. I don't understand how it can be hinted that if a person had bad life ( because she has no moral compass and likes to give birth to children aparently) she can be rid of responsibility... Stupidity is not an excuse.

Case Sensitive (2011–2012)

Very decent mystery/murder mini series

[9/10 · 16 August 2018]

I watch mostly murder mysteries or thrillers and I don't like it when everything happens too quickly. Therefore Case Sensitive was a perfect choice. Moderate pace and some sharp turns in the story were balanced to the perfection. The acting was good if not very good - Olivia Williams as a woman in a male-flooded job was amazing. Same goes to Rupert Graves - highly emotional performance, with beliavable outrage, shock and other feelings. The series made me purchase from Amazon two first books by Sophie Hannah from "The Culver Valley Crime series".

Sniffer (2013– )

Loved the series, pity there's no more seasons

[10/10 · 16 August 2018]

My overall feelings about that series - it was made in a good, old-fashioned (70-80' old :)) style: a murder, steps to solve it, chase with guns blazing and not too much gore and horryfying scenes. Reminded me of "Bergerac" or "Dempsey and Makepeace" :) Oh, and likeable characters plus chemistry between them was heart-warming.

11.22.63 (2016)

Convoluted, way-different from the book

[1/10 · 24 March 2016]

I really enjoyed episode one and I was willing to give it a try, although - after the tragic or rather comic outcome of "Under the Dome" I didn't have high hopes. Still - true (almost) to the period, well chosen actors... Episode one was good.

I chose to watch the series. Now, I'm so sorry that I did.

Straight from the episode two, the unbelievable started to unravel. At this point I have no idea how Stephen King could sign under such project. For those who loved the book - it has NOTHING to do with it. The plot is at best simplified, flattened and made in a way of a cheap love/ crime story. Also - new characters and additional plot lines make watching the series unbearable.

I hope that they won't decide to make season two. One is an insult enough for the fans of King :(