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Reviews
Supernatural: Citizen Fang (2012)
Another Strong Episode
I don't really write reviews but have dropped one on here for another underrated episode of Supernatural which I felt wasn't getting the love it deserved.
The past two seasons have been rocky but this is a true return to form, in a single episode there is all the charm of a classic hunt with the added drama of the brothers and where their loyalties lie.
By the end the tension built with the hostage situation and Sam racing to Amelia's I was on the edge of my seat and asking how both plots could be wrapped up in the short time left, but I was satisfied by the conclusion.
Finally, the scene where Benny laid his head down on the counter was very touching and the music/cinematography worked so well.
Supernatural: The Man Who Would Be King (2011)
Far from the worst episode of the show
I feel like I have to start by saying I completely disagree with the other reviews which say this is one of the worst. Have they seen Bugs?
This episode didn't really add anything new so much as fill in some key areas which had been left open, making this a great fit for season six where we're firmly within the trend of overarching plots rather than episode to episode monster hunts. The acting is as great as ever and, after so many hours building these characters up, their motivations and reactions in this episode make plenty of sense.
There were also some amazing scenes here, like the one where Castiel decides whether or not he should intervene with the attack on the boys and Bobby, where we see freeze frames of shattering glass and violence. Also eye-catching was the close up of Cas' blood in the flashback or the tense scene where he accidentally gives himself away and Dean tries to hide his anger and disappointment.
Ultimately this episode is amazing, one of my favourites from the series and a must watch.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
Tries very hard to recapture the magic of the original, partially succeeds
Even though I have never reviewed the original Kingsman film, I would probably give it an 8. For me, it came from nowhere and hit hard with style, beautifully filmed action and consistently strong comedy. Understandably, this sequel (which I'll say now was fantastic for a sequel), tries to recapture what made the first film so special.
This leads to my biggest problem with the film; It relies heavily on references to the first film to strengthen it. Much like A New Hope and The Force Awakens, the plot feels painfully similar. The creators advertised this in the trailers, calling back to what the first film described as being the best type of 'spy movie', with a colourful megalomaniac, exotic gadgets and that sort of thing. However, this is literally the framework used in the original.
As the film reaches it's final sequence, there are more and more similarities, down to the last fight scene using a piece of music which builds similarly with the action as Free Bird did so effectively in the church from the original... But it doesn't feel like it works as well.
Having said that, the film is a massive amount of fun. The comedy isn't as consistent as in the first and the use of CGI feels a bit more noticeable, especially in the impressive opening sequence, but it's a great film. The story is interesting, the 50s style of the main villain's base is attractive and the acting is as good here as it was in the previous entry. Elton John's part in this film is surprisingly prominent and so ridiculous that it becomes hilarious.
To fully enjoy this, you'd need to be willing to suspend disbelief and get carried away. Also, ideally, to avoid seeing the parallels between this and the original, you would need to try and forget about it, but there's so much crossover that it's a difficult thing to do.
Overall, while not as funny or as original as the first film, The Golden Circle is a strong sequel and is definitely worth a watch.
Doctor Foster (2015)
Invertebrates are both male and female (Series 1)
I'd heard great things about Doctor Foster, the stylish BBC drama about affairs starring Suranne Jones, a perfectly capable actress playing the part of a wife who is lied to and cheated on by husband Bertie Carvel.
To me, this show fits snugly in line with an entire genre of media which has managed to grip audiences worldwide despite their ridiculous themes, such as Gone Girl (2014) or The Girl On The Train (2016). Here, Gemma Foster (Jones) discovers that, not only has her husband cheated on her, but all of her friends are involved in some kind of conspiracy where they have double dates with the mistress, go on holidays together, etc.
The underlying meaning in all of these things is that all people, not just men, not just women, are terrible human beings. When Foster finds out and shares her fears with other people who know, they all downplay their part in the lie, or downplay the actions of the husband. This is a common occurrence throughout, with men arguing that they have an evolutionary need to cheat on their wives.
My problem isn't with this. It's true that people cheat, definitely not that they need to, but some people do. It's a fact. My problem is that nobody sees it as enough of a problem to do anything about it. When Foster finally decides to do something, she goes for the long play, even taking him back for a while, because she just doesn't have the intelligence to put a stop to it straight away.
It reminds me of the scene from The Great Gatsby where Tom says he goes on a 'spree' but he always comes back, and everybody laughs because no woman could possibly put up with that. Here, 90 years, including several decades of feminism, culminate in a sequence where a woman says she knows her husband 'strays' but it's okay as long as she knows where he is and who he's with. What is going on with this show?!
Oh and of course, Foster chooses to put her son in the firing line, even making him knock on the door of his dad's mistress' house, apparently trying to traumatise him as much as possible.
I could go on for hours about my problems with this factor, but there are some positives:
- The cinematography and editing are extremely professional. Stylish, smooth and contemporary, the composition of the shots is often beautiful and eye-catching. - Acting is consistently strong throughout, aside from the odd line here and there from the non-veteran actors. Even the most absurd lines are portrayed with passion and conviction. - Despite my problems with it, the plot is quite complex. There are some nice subplots which all end up coming together and are wrapped up nicely by the end of series one.
Overall, this is a strong 5 to a light 6. For fans of Gone Girl and Girl On The Train, watch it, but for other people who are expecting realism, probably look elsewhere.