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antonymartin
Reviews
Columbo: Try and Catch Me (1977)
One of the best episodes
A brilliantly written and performed episode. The interplay between Ruth Gordon and Peter Falk is a delight. The music is excellent, too. Hard to believe that one reviewer found it boring!
The Columbo episodes from the 70s have aged really well - how many other cop shows from that decade look as good? I wonder how many contemporary shows will still be sought out in 35 years' time?
Initially, I wasn't as keen on the later Columbos, and I think it's because Peter Falk's performances seem slightly more contrived - almost a parody of his original style. On second viewing, they do improve, though, and they, too, have grown on me - although I still prefer the earlier ones!
No Blade of Grass (1970)
Inept
The author of Death of Grass, John Christopher (real name Samuel You'd - for some reason,the IMDb site keeps adding an apostrophe to the name) didn't see this film at the cinema when it was released.
Years later, when it was broadcast as a late night movie, he sat down to watch it in a comfy chair, a glass of whisky to hand. He lasted until the first advert break and then, sensibly, retired to bed.
This cries out to be remade - one or two of John Christopher's other novels would make interesting films, too.
John Christopher was often compared to John Wyndham and the similarity certainly exists - although Wyndham had the edge.
I wish IMDb would withdraw the 10 line minimum requirement - seems a bit arbitrary!
Surface (2005)
Wyndham ripoff?
I have to agree with the earlier comment - this sounds almost identical to John Wyndham's novel 'The Kraken Wakes'. Spoiler follows: This book describes an alien invasion via the Earth's oceans (the aliens' arrival mistaken for meteor showers) resulting in the melting of the polar icecaps, the destruction of all sea going vessels and the 'harvesting'of humans from coastal areas. However, the existence of the invasion is strongly denied by governments across the world and the scientist who attempts to alert everyone is ridiculed. However, the invasion proceeds and the net result is the disintegration of civilisation across the globe. All this is related from the viewpoint of a married couple who work in the media.