gus-186-777813 Reviews

Lioness (2023– )

Near flawless. The masterful technique involved disappears into the epic tale.

[9/10 · 15 September 2023]

Holey moley! Does a TV military action thriller ever get any better than this? I can't think of one and I've been watching since Vic Morrow held me enthralled as he escorted me through the hedgerows of wartime Normandy.

I can think of more stylish thrillers, exploiting the medium of television in new and exciting ways, like Kenedy-Martin's original Edge of Darkness miniseries. But for straight-out plausible integrated storytelling which never throws you out of the drama by drawing attention to technique, there is none better at it than Taylor Sheridan and this has to be his crowning achievement so far.

I would have given him and his team 10/10, but that would leave no room for them to surpass themselves on the next project.

And only God and Nadia Comaneci are perfect, right Taylor?

Blinky Bill the Movie (2015)

Dinky-di Animated Romp

[8/10 · 24 October 2017]

I'm astonished at the number of poor reviews here - what a bunch of party-poops!

Clearly all the good Aussie fun passed over their dour heads - or they were fussing so much over the movie's departure from the ethos of the original series that they couldn't let themselves appreciate it for what it is.

This is a high-quality animated film sporting a star-studded cast of some of Australia's most famous voices clearly having great fun portraying many of our iconic creatures. The script makes no pretense of sticking to reality or even logic and good luck to them! No child watching it will have any problem with it's inconsistencies, so why should the adults?

Even the blue of the wombat's vehicle being left- hand drive is kinda funny when you think about it. A classic escape from an Australian classic.

Dallas (1950)

If only ...

[7/10 · 11 August 2017]

I don't think I've ever watched a good cast work harder to make a bad script work. Which means the directing had to be good too. And, for the period, the production values are pretty high too. But the real candidate for lynching was the writer, not the bad guy in the movie.

I would have scored it lower but for the laughs I got out of the woefully bad dialog and virtually every cast member's heroic efforts to keep a straight face while delivering their bits. If you're a Gary Cooper fan, or just like to listen to Ruth Roman's sexy husky voice, the rest is worth a watch for just how funnily bad it is. Funnier than many an intentional western parody.

Patriot (2015–2018)

Some of the best dark humour it's ever been my privilege to watch

[9/10 · 17 April 2017]

I've watched 7 of the 10 episodes of Patriot's first season so far (Oh God/Allah/Krishna/Odin/Whomever please let there be more seasons) and each one has delighted me even more than the last!

I thought Braindead was great last year, but this brilliantly sardonic dystopian tale is even better. Like Orwell's Brave New World, but with a much lighter touch, and no leaning on devices like allegory or speculation or exaggerated absurdity, Steve Conrad's master hand reflects our own goofy world back to us with such humour and humanity that I stand in awe of his achievement. Really.

I have been visiting IMDb daily for many years, but this is the first time anyone has moved me to actually write a review. Specfically, the video that Dennis prepares for his wife in Episode 7 is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I couldn't not write a review after being gifted with that.

I think the only previous time I have witnessed true art created for the television medium was when I watched Troy Kennedy-Martin's Edge of Darkness miniseries back in 1985. I thought at the time it was the television equivalent of Michelangelo's David. I was sure I would never see it's equal. Now I have.