clgottardo Reviews

The Marvels (2023)

Mind-numbingly awful

[1/10 · 22 January 2024]

I haven't seen anything this awful for a long time and this is a Marvel Studios production.

The plot is laughable. The acting mediocre at best.

It really is incredibly bad on every level.

I cannot understand how Marvel and Disney allowed this to get to release, surely they could see as it went through its production phases that this release simply isn't up to scratch.

I'm aware that DC are undergoing a complete revamp at present .. I can only imagine after this debacle that Marvel need to go through a similar exercise.

The post credit scene left me with mixed emotions, on the one hand this looks very promising (no spoilers) and on the other hand I hope the people responsible for The Marvels are kept well, well away.

Curse of the Demon (1957)

Absolute Classic

[10/10 · 22 September 2023]

When I first watched this moved, despite the film itself calling itself Night Of The Demon, it was billed as Curse Of The Demon, which I believe was for the U. S. audience.

An absolute classic, as watchable today as it will have been when it was originally released in 1957.

Wonderful script, excellent main actors and supporting cast.

You can see how much that followed owes so much to this film.

I not going to give plot details as it will spoil it for those new to this film.

This film is available on Talking Pictures TV which is available on freeview and cable, for those outside UK it's available online.

You will not be disappointed.

Renegades (2022)

A lot of the reviewers have missed the point!

[10/10 · 11 January 2023]

This film comes off the back of 'We Still Kill The Old Way' and.'We Still Steal The Old Way' both are a tongue in cheek romp with action characters from the 80's and 90's and sets them against current baddies!

These films are not competing against Hollywood blockbusters, they have been put together for a bit of fun and a touch of nostalgia.

They are a bit of 'silly fun' for both the makers and those who watch and hopefully enjoy it for what it is.

Normally I would have given this sort of film a 6 or 7 because it achieves what it sets out to achieve but was so disappointed that so many missed the point I gave it too marks.

Doctor Who: The Power of the Doctor (2022) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

Predictably poor final outing for Chibnall / Whittaker

[4/10 · 24 October 2022]

The Chibnall / Whittaker Doctor Who era has been a disappointment pretty much from the first outing.

The stories have been drab, chaotic and in many cases, did not knit together.

The way JW has portrayed The Doctor has been, in my opinion, extremely lame and one dimensional. I know JW is a great actor and I look forward to enjoying her performances away from DW.

As for this episode, its been more of the same from previous episodes. Even though this episode brings together The Master, Daleks and Cybermen, the script is dull, the dialogue duller and the CGI/Production not where it needs to be.

Bringing back 2 previous companions did not work, it is no accident that they have not enjoyed fuller acting careers after leaving DW. The acting was appalling.

The reason I gave a 4 and not a 1 for my rating is firstly a nice touch to bring back most of the previous living doctors but also a great hammed up performance by Sacha Dhawan as The Master. I think he enjoyed himself and it shows.

I hope with RTD coming back, he can bring DW back to better days.

It is no accident that DW used to be prime time Christmas Day viewing .... this year is was demoted to New Year ... i look forward to seeing it again on Christmas day soon!

The Time Tunnel (1966–1967)

Hey guys ... this show was from the late 1960's

[8/10 · 1 August 2022]

So many recent reviews that are negative.

These reviewers fail to understand that this show was from the late 1960's .. my era .. when this show was first out, it was leading edge TV Sci-Fi.

For those of that era, we had Land of The Giants, Voyage to the Bottom of The Sea, Lost in Space and so many others that graced our screens in the 60's and 70's ... these cannot be judged by modern standards but need to be judged in context when they were originally broadcast.

Great sci-fy from a period where lots of this type of program was popular.

Spiral (2021)

I've seen worse!

[7/10 · 19 July 2022]

As a saw universe film, it was ok.

Enjoyed the creativity of the contraptions used on the victims.

Plot and pace were ok.

SLJ brings his usual presence to the screen.

Chris Rock on the other hand seemed to be doing an Eddie Murphy impression! I've seen him do other stuff, mainly comedy where he has been quite watchable, but in this, his portrayal has a lot to answer for.

The Outer Limits (1963–1965)

The forerunner of so much sci-fi to come

[9/10 · 20 May 2022]

Am watching reruns on Talking Pictures TV, well done by the way.

It's been so many years since I watched the reruns back in the 70/80's.

Fantastic story writing, so many of the ideas that this series introduced have been taken up by sci-fi writers and TV/movie makers since then to this day.

Way ahead of its time and excellently made given the lack of CGI back in the 1960's.

Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils (2022) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

Just stop ... you are embarrassing yourselves

[1/10 · 18 April 2022]

A new low. Since the introduction of Whittaker and Chibball, Doctor Who has steadily nose dived with each episode worse than the previous one.

Who is the target audience? It used to be something adults could watch with their children. With the reboot back in 2005, it too catered for an adult audience.

Today, it's flat, lacks pace, dire acting particularly Whittaker, CGI team must be amateurs and the dreary and drab scripts.

The only saving grace is that the Whittaker/chibnall combination is just one more, likely to be unwatchable, episode ... then we can have another Doctor and the return of Russell T. D.

Cosmos (I) (2019)

Very watchable

[8/10 · 22 March 2022]

Do not understand the hate in some reviews.

I thought it was a good plot, well acted and it's not until you get to the end you appreciate how well paced the film was.

I love my sci-fi and watch and enjoy all sorts, from the Flash Gordon of the 1930's to Marvel, DC, Star Wars and Star Trek.

I don't need ray guns and space ships to enjoy the genre and frankly, you don't need to be a lover of Sci-fi to enjoy this film.

Very watchable indeed.

Gomorrah (2014–2021)

One of the best series in the last few years

[10/10 · 19 January 2022]

Hard hitting, gritty, unpredictable, Gomorra does not fail to entertain.

No spoilers here except to say .. if you don't watch this series, you are losing out!

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

I thought capaldi was bad !!!

[1/10 · 2 January 2022]

I'm sorry ... I know this is potentially controversial..Jodie Whittaker is the second worse doctor after Capaldi .

Truly poor, not helped by abysmal scripts. Getting Walsh and bishop on to help out cannot mask how awful Whittaker is in the role.

Love Jodie in her previous roles, but as doctor who .. OMG awful.

The Champions (1968–1969)

They don't make them like this anymore

[10/10 · 26 September 2021]

So many series in the 70's 80's and we early 90's that today is likely would not be seen, this is a great little series, great nostalgia and still very watchable.

See (2019–2022)

Too unbelievable

[1/10 · 29 August 2021]

I am a great fan of Science Fiction& Horror, and as a lover of these genres, suspending disbelief is is something I am well versed at.

SEE is just stupendously unbelievable. I managed to force my way to the end of the first episode and gave it up at that point.

If this show was called DEAF and everyone could not hear, that would be more believable that what's been achieved and done by people who cannot see, and by people I mean everyone!

Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

Why .. why .. why!!??

[1/10 · 22 July 2021]

So bad ... not a single redeeming feature. What was the point ... probably one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty poor examples.

Intergalactic (2021)

Astonishingly bad

[1/10 · 5 May 2021]

I have not seen anything so contrived in ages.

Everything about Intergalactic is poor.

Poor acting, staggeringly poor script, ridiculous characters, amateurish CGI.

I wanted to like this as there is little good sci-fi on at present.

The producers and Sky should check out The Expanse ... that's how to do sci-fi.

The Blackout (2019)

Very watchable Russian sci-fi

[6/10 · 17 April 2021]

It could have probably been 30 minutes shorter to remove some of the slower portions of the film, but Overall, very watchable.

Coherent plot, good acting well paced film ... enjoyable.

30 Coins (2020–2023)

Very good, poor reviews are odd

[8/10 · 18 February 2021]

Very good series ... suggest you watch the original with subtitles as I found the subtitled version lacking in atmosphere.

One of many very good programmes coming out of Spain at the moment.

Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)

Spectacular

[10/10 · 12 January 2021]

All the Victorian creations (Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, Dorian Gray, Dracula, Witches) brought together in spectacular fashion. Timothy Dalton and Eva Green are excellent foundation stones to the series.

Mortal (2020)

Don't understand the very low ratings

[7/10 · 27 November 2020]

OK, it's not got the budget of a Marvel or DC megafilm, but this film is a little cracker.

Understated with a good script and decent enough acting.

It's a shame that some people rate too low and not take the film at face value, luckily I was not out off, others may be.

Again, this film did not have a blockbuster budget and was executed well under the circumstances.

Very, very watchable. Enjoyed the ending ... sequel is a must.

I would not be surprised if Hollywood picked this up and redo it.

Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020)

Does not compare to the Timothy Dalton series

[7/10 · 28 August 2020]

I wish they did not use 'Penny Dreadful' as part of the title.

While penned by John Logan, this series and the original Timothy Dalton series are completely removed from each other.

City of Angels in isolation is above average, but nowhere compared to the original series.

Worth a watch, but try not to compare.

Brave New World (2020)

Ponderous

[5/10 · 28 August 2020]

Starts quite slow, Carry's on slowly.

Seriously lacking in pace. Got to the point where I stopped caring. Forced myself to see it to the end for the benefit of writing a review.