whiterose-54828 Reviews

Camp Camp: Welcome Back, Campers! (2024) Season 5, Episode 1

What Happened?

[5/10 · 5 March 2024]

Camp Camp is a show that I have loved since it first released in summer 2016 when I was in my late teens. With it's likeable characters, unique art style and fun humour, it was a constant source of entertainment for me through both good and bad times in my life. As you can imagine I was excited when I learned that there would be a fifth season of the show after a long hiatus and uncertainty over whether or not it would return but unfortunately after watching this first episode I was left disappointed.

First of all I should address the elephant in the room, the recasting of the main protagonist Max. Previously voiced by Michael Jones, Max is now voiced instead by Krishna Kumar. This is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself and to give credit where credit is due, Kumar clearly tried his best to replicate the voice Jones created for the character but this change of voice just does not work after four whole seasons with Jones as the voice of Max and is noticeable enough to be jarring. I would be more forgiving of this change if the original voice actor had passed away or was no longer able to voice the character but this is not the case here.

My other issue with the episode is the writing which feels bland and uninspired. Much of the charm and humour that made Camp Camp so great seems to be gone and most of the characters we have come to love come across as boring with little to do in this episode's plot. The new character CJ is a nice addition to the show and was probably one of the highlights of the episode with him delivering some of the few funny lines of dialogue.

It sadly seems that the show's animation quality has reduced with the animation in this episode feeling stiff. This combined with the fact this season will only have a meagre four episodes in total leads me to believe that the show is no longer receiving the same budget and care that it once had which is a great shame.

Overall a disappointing first episode for this new season of Camp Camp but I will continue to watch the other three in hopes of improvement and the show's continuation. No matter what happens though, I will always cherish the memories I have of this show's earlier seasons.

Sharpe (1993–2008)

Sean Bean at His Best

[9/10 · 3 February 2024]

Long before Alec Trevelyan, Boromir or Ned Stark it was the role of Richard Sharpe that made Sean Bean famous. In recent years Bean's portrayal of Sharpe has unfortunately been largely forgotten and overshadowed by his later roles which is unfortunate because it is arguably one of the greatest roles of his career.

Sharpe is based on the book series of the same name by Bernard Cornwell and just like the books, the show tells the story of the fictional working class British rifleman as he fights in the Napoleonic Wars, rising in the ranks and facing off against his prejudiced superiors.

Despite being produced on a 90s British TV budget, the show is beautifully shot on location in Ukraine and manages to feel cinematic in places, though if you're expecting to see epic large scale battles then you will be left disappointed.

Where the show really shines is in it's excellent cast of actors. In addition to Sean Bean as Sharpe, there is Daragh O'Malley as Sharpe's patriotic Irish right hand man Patrick Harper, Jason Salkey as well spoken bookworm Harris and John Tams as singing sharpshooter Hagman making up the supporting cast. The show also has a revolving guest cast of top tier British acting talent, some of whom were unknowns at the time but would later go on to have illustrious careers of their own, including Brian Cox, Daniel Craig, Pete Postlethwaite, Mark Strong, Philip Glenister, Douglas Henshall and Paul Bettany to name a few.

Some stories are noticeably weaker than others (most notably Sharpe's Honour and Sharpe's Gold) but overall Sharpe is a very strong series with great acting and writing despite the budgetary limitations of the time and is definitely worth checking out if only to see Sean Bean shine in this forgotten early role.

Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965)

A Strange but Satisfying Showa Entry

[7/10 · 9 October 2023]

After adapting America's biggest monster in 1962's "King Kong vs. Godzilla", Toho next set their sights on Europe's most famous monster for 1965's "Frankenstein vs. Baragon".

Toho's version of the Frankenstein story begins with the monster as a disembodied heart, which is said to be immortal, being stored in a laboratory in Germany at the end of World War II. Losing the war, the Germans transport the heart to their allies in Japan, specifically Hiroshima, just in time for the atomic bomb to hit. Years later it is revealed that the heart has regenerated itself into a new, younger Frankenstein's monster that roams Hiroshima eating small animals and is mistaken for an orphaned feral child. Our two main protagonists manage to calm down the monster and take him to the hospital where they work and where he gradually begins to grow in size (presumably due to radiation, though this is never really specified) before escaping into the wild.

Meanwhile the giant subterranean monster Baragon emerges from underground and wreaks havoc across Japan, which the Japanese falsely blame on Frankenstein's monster. Baragon's inclusion in the story really only serves to give Frankenstein's monster an opponent to fight but it does also create an interesting contrast between the peaceful Frankenstein's monster who is perceived as being violent and evil and Baragon who is the true dangerous threat to Japan.

Inevitably the two giant monsters clash in a fight which is rather impressive for the time, though perhaps that's thanks to the advantage of having a more humanoid monster and an actor not limited by the confines of wearing a suit.

Overall while the concept may seem silly, Ishiro Honda manages to pull it off in a surprisingly dark and profound story which much like the original Mary Shelley novel explores the humanity behind Frankenstein's monster and questions if he should be killed or spared.

The Effects of Lying (2023 TV Movie)

Heartfelt But Tonally Confused

[6/10 · 7 July 2023]

At it's core The Effects of Lying is a heartfelt film about the secrets a family keep from each other and how they each deal with the consequences of their secrets being revealed. While this is an interesting premise, the way the film decides to tell this story leaves it feeling tonally confused. It is advertised as being a comedy but it isn't funny enough to truly be considered as such, while at the same time it's also a bit too lighthearted and silly in moments to come across as a serious thought-provoking drama. Looking at the previous work of the writer and director it appears they both come from a background of working on TV dramas which makes the comedy angle even more confusing. I also felt that some of the characters' reactions to the situations they found themselves in were somewhat unusual and unrealistic, and that some characters are forgiven for their actions a little too easily.

The main reason I decided to watch the film was because it starred Laila Rouass who is a personal favourite actress of mine since her days of playing Sarah Page in Primeval and as expected she gives another good performance in this film with what she's given. Mark Williams of Father Brown and Harry Potter fame is also a nice addition to the cast, though his talent is somewhat wasted here as a character that only really exists to reveal a secret about our main protagonist's past. The rest of the cast I am not as familiar with but they all gave fine performances with what they had to work with.

Overall while it isn't perfect, The Effects of Lying is a watchable film with some heartfelt moments and messages on family and what's important in life. If only the film had a more consistent tone I may have given it a higher rating.

Jonathan Ross' Myths and Legends (2023)

Britain's Mythology

[7/10 · 6 April 2023]

Jonathan Ross' Myths and Legends follows the presenter as he takes a road trip around Britain, exploring the local myths and legends of various different areas.

Initially Ross seems like a slightly unusual choice to present this kind of documentary but it's clear from his wide-eyed enthusiasm that he has a deep interest and fascination with the subject matter.

The 'experts' that he meets along his journey are for the most part well informed and entertaining to listen to. It was also a pleasant surprise to see some familiar faces such as actor Michael Sheen, writer Neil Gaiman and artist Brian Froud make appearances to offer their thoughts and interpretations of the myths and legends in question.

The show often uses animated illustrations of mythical creatures which are overlayed over footage of Britain's landscapes. These range from being funny and charming to being somewhat out of place and cheap looking. Fortunately though, most of these animated segments fall into the former category.

Overall while it isn't perfect and could have perhaps used a slightly larger animation budget and one or two more episodes covering parts of Britain that were left out (such as Jonathan's native South East England), the series is an enjoyable watch for anyone interested in mythology, history and everything in-between.

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

Luther Meets Skyfall

[6/10 · 10 March 2023]

The Fallen Sun is the BBC and Netflix's attempt to bring Idris Elba's popular detective to the big screen, leaving behind the more traditional stories of the TV series for a bigger budget James Bond style thriller in the vein of 2012's Skyfall.

Idris Elba once again gives a fantastic performance as the hardened detective, as does Andy Serkis as the film's somewhat over the top villain who is clearly inspired by the likes of Heath Ledger's Joker and Skyfall's Raoul Silva. There are also some impressive Nolan-esque shots of London's skyline which help to give the film a more big budget and cinematic feel.

Unfortunately however, none of this is quite enough to make up for the film's average and convoluted script. It almost feels as though the script was written with a handful of interesting scenes in mind but the writers weren't quite sure how to tie these scenes together in a way that made sense. This results in the film awkwardly speeding along from one set piece to the next without allowing us any time to breathe or fully understand what's happening.

Overall The Fallen Sun is an average film let down by it's script but not without it's merits such as the acting and cinematography.

Man vs. Bee (2022)

Bean vs. Bee

[7/10 · 26 June 2022]

If you've seen Mr. Bean or Johnny English then Man vs. Bee is exactly as you'd expect.

Rowan Atkinson plays a housesitter named Trevor who takes a job housesitting at a large mansion so that he can afford to take his daughter to the Isle of Wight. Trevor's hopes for a quiet week are soon dashed however when his rivalry with a troublesome bee kickstarts a series of destructive hijinks.

The series perhaps isn't quite on the same level as Atkinson's previous work and I'm not quite sure why they decided to make it a series when the 10 minute long episodes could easily be combined into a feature-length film but it manages to provide enough laughs and charm with the somewhat bizarre concept to make it an enjoyable experience.

If you're someone who dislikes Atkinson's style of comedy then Man vs. Bee probably won't win you over but if you're a fan of his previous work then it's worth checking out.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part I (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Flawed but Intriguing

[7/10 · 29 May 2022]

As a fan of the Star Wars prequels and in particular Ewan McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan, I've been cautiously optimistic about this film-turned-series since it was announced.

Star Wars under Disney has been a bit of a mixed bag. At it's best it's given us Rogue One and The Mandalorian, at it's worst it's given us the mess that is the sequel trilogy and then there's those projects like Solo and The Book of Boba Fett that fall somewhere inbetween. Obi-Wan Kenobi so far leans more towards that middle area in terms of quality.

It goes without saying that Ewan is an excellent Obi-Wan and once again he delivers a great performance, it's hard to believe it's been over 15 years since he last played the character given how easily and seamlessly he gets back into the role. The highlight of the first episode is his story and his struggle, coming to terms with his failures and trying to find his place in this new galaxy without the Jedi.

Unfortunately there are also some flaws with the show so far that prevent it from being as good as it could and should be.

Firstly the inquisitors, I never watched Rebels so I have no prior exposure to these characters but I found them hard to take seriously with their cheap looking costumes and over the top acting. I wasn't super excited about Vader being the main villain of this series but if this is the best they can offer in terms of villains then his return can't come soon enough.

Secondly the pacing, the episode feels much longer than it needs to be and this isn't helped by the number of pointless scenes that they for some reason felt necessary to include. Seriously, how many times do we need to see Obi-Wan cutting up some meat and then getting a ride back into town? They repeat that same sequence at least three times in the episode and it happens the exact same way every time to the point I began wondering if they were just reusing the same footage.

Overall it isn't a masterpiece but it's far from the being the worst piece of Star Wars media and certainly isn't as terrible as some make it out to be. It's a flawed but intriguing first episode and I'm interested to see how the rest of the series plays out.

Deadly 60 (2009– )

Britain's Answer to Steve Irwin

[9/10 · 16 April 2022]

Deadly 60 is a show I have fond memories of watching back when it first started airing in the early 2010s.

The show is presented by Steve Backshall who with his adventurous energy and passion for wildlife is essentially Britain's answer to the late Steve Irwin. The premise is simple, Steve travels around the world to different countries looking for their most dangerous animals to add to his list the "Deadly 60". The show is primarily aimed towards a younger audience but can be enjoyed by people of any age and it's lighter style of presenting lends itself well to casual viewing.

My favourite aspect of the show is how Steve frequently interacts with his camera crew, thereby involving them in the action. It's rare with shows such as this that you get to meet the people behind the camera, let alone see them, but here the crew are just as much stars of the show as Steve himself.

If you're a fan of wildlife documentaries, particularly those of the late Steve Irwin, then I highly recommend Deadly 60.

Spy Kids (2001)

Early 2000s Insanity

[7/10 · 14 April 2022]

If you were a child back in the early 2000s then the Spy Kids trilogy was likely a big part of your childhood. These whacky and fun family action films are an instant source of 2000s nostalgia and despite very much being products of their time still have a charm to them that makes them fun to rewatch two decades on. With how crazy and insane it's two sequels were it's easy to forget just how strange the relatively grounded original is too.

The story centers on two children, Carmen and Juni, whose parents are former enemy spies who ended up falling in love, getting married and starting a family. An evil children's television presenter named Floop wants to create an army of robot "Spy Kids" and so transforms a number of secret agents into nightmarish mutant creatures called Fooglies that he proudly displays on his show, this is in order to lure out and capture Carmen and Juni's parents so that they'll give him the location of the Third Brain, a device that will make his Spy Kids more intelligent and realistic. He also has an assistant who is literally named Alexander Minion and an army of robots that look like strange thumb people (because of course he does). It's then up to Carmen and Juni (and their estranged uncle Machete) to save their parents and put an end to Floop's evil plan.

The film is strange, surreal and silly and filled with plenty of outdated and unconvincing early CGI effects but ultimately it's a fun time, especially if you have some sort of nostalgic connection to these films.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020)

A Fine Addition to the Series

[9/10 · 24 March 2022]

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a show that I never got the chance to watch when I was younger, despite being just the right age to enjoy it when it first released. Here in the UK the show only aired on Cartoon Network on Sky which my parents refused to pay for, as a result for several years my only exposure to the show was the movie (which I did get to see), what my friends told me about it and a few minutes of out of context scenes I'd manage to catch when visiting a relative's house. In the years since I had heard how good the show was, especially in it's later seasons and after all these years I finally decided to watch it all for myself.

As the name of the show suggests, it follows various characters during the Clone Wars between Episode II and III of the films but mainly Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and new characters Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex (Anakin's Padawan and Clone Captain). The show isn't perfect and not every episode or story arc is great (usually those involving Jar Jar Binks or the droids) but the show overall manages to be consistently good throughout and it's better episodes are some of the best Star Wars content that exists.

I'm not going to say that this show "fixed" the prequels like so many others have because that would imply that the prequels were bad which is a sentiment I personally disagree with. I will however say that The Clone Wars does a wonderful job of expanding on the story of the prequels, adding more context, introducing new characters and locations and giving the Clone Troopers more personality and individuality to make them feel like their own distinct characters. George Lucas himself was heavily involved with the show's creation and production, making The Clone Wars undoubtedly canon alongside his original six films.

If you're a Star Wars fan and if like me you didn't get the chance to watch The Clone Wars when it originally released then I'd highly recommend checking it out. It's a more than worthy addition to the series that expands upon the already great story of the films.

Jupiter's Legacy (2021)

Superhero Drama

[7/10 · 22 January 2022]

Jupiter's Legacy is the story of the Union of Justice, a semi-retired team of superheroes who have kept the world safe while upholding a strict moral code but now in their old age must pass on their legacy to their children who struggle to uphold the same moral values of their parents in an increasingly hostile world.

The show takes place in two different settings which it switches back and forth between in every episode. There's the modern day setting which acts primarily as a superhero family drama (think The Incredibles) and focuses more on the younger heroes and then there's the 1930s setting telling the dark and psychological origin story of the Union of Justice. Of these two settings I feel that the 1930s setting is the superior one, the older characters are much more interesting and it's compelling watching them grow and change from flawed ordinary people into the superheroes they are today. That being said, the 1930s story is only as effective as it is because of the existence of the modern day story which throws us straight into this established universe, leaving us wanting to uncover the mystery of how it all got to this point.

The effects and costumes are quite cheesy with a low budget feel but I get the impression that this is at least partially intentional given that these are superheroes from the 1930s so it stands to reason they'd have simplistic and bright costumes similar to those of the golden age of comic books.

The show doesn't have a lot of action sequences and what few it does have aren't great but that's understandable because it isn't that kind of show.

If you're expecting a typical superhero action show in the vein of the CW DC shows or even the Disney+ Marvel shows then you'll be disappointed but if you're interested in a more psychological and philosophical superhero show that delves into the psyche of these characters and questions the morality of what's considered right and wrong then Jupiter's Legacy is for you.

The Green Planet (2022)

The Life of Plants

[10/10 · 20 January 2022]

The Green Planet gives us an insight into the world of plants, using groundbreaking timelapse footage to film them in motion as if they were animals. Like the rest of the "Planet" series it's extremely well made and is both educational and engaging.

It goes without saying that Sir David Attenborough is an excellent narrator and it's nice to also see him on location once again for the first time in ages. The series seems to be something of a spiritual successor to his two previous plant focused documentaries "Kingdom of Plants" and "The Private Life of Plants". If like me you are fascinated by plant life and their secret world then this documentary series is definitely for you.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)

Visually Impressive But Predictable

[7/10 · 8 January 2022]

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is set in a distant future where the people of Earth have joined forces to form a United Human Federation and now reside on a giant space station with other alien races who share their knowledge and skills with one another. The story follows two government agents, Valerian and Laureline who are tasked with protecting the station's commander from a mysterious alien threat, leading them to uncover a deep conspiracy.

The film has some great visuals, which while not being very realistic are still very impressive to look at. I was reminded a lot of the visuals of Avatar, particularly during the opening scenes on planet Mül. I loved the vibrant colours and beautiful landscapes and it's clear that a lot of work went into designing the various alien species in the film.

Where the film falls short however is in it's story and characters. They attempt to do a Disney-style twist villain but it's immediately obvious who the villain is from the moment they're on screen and from that point on it's easy to predict what's going to happen and how it's all going to end.

I wasn't a big fan of the two main characters and their arguing throughout the film which got annoying very fast. There's a romantic subplot with the two of them which didn't work for me as they had little chemistry together and it was painful watching the two of them interact with each other.

The story often goes on strange tangents that have little to do with the overarching plot and seem to only exist for the purpose of worldbuilding. With so many alien species I had hoped we'd get to explore them a bit more but all we really get is a computer AI telling us about a handful of alien species which then never show up again in any meaningful way throughout the rest of the film. There's only two alien species that get a decent amount of screen time and even then it still feels like we know very little about them.

Overall it's a fun film with some impressive visuals and style, just don't expect anything too great in the story department.

Thieves of the Wood (2018–2020)

De bende van Jan de Lichte

[8/10 · 4 January 2022]

Thieves of the Wood as it is known in English is a Belgian period drama based on the novel "De bende van Jan de Lichte" which in turn is loosely based on the real life historical figure Jan de Lichte.

The series follows Jan, a deserter in 18th-century Flanders who returns home to find his village in control of a corrupt mayor and his equally corrupt council who have exiled the poor into the woods with plans to use them to build a road that will turn their small town into a rich and bustling city. Jan takes control of a band of outlaws and leads them in a fight against the mayor's injustice. Standing in their way however is bailiff Baru who seeks justice from within.

I am not Belgian myself, however I am of Belgian and more specifically Flemish ancestry so it was interesting to learn more about this lesser known period of Belgium's history through this series. I also appreciate the series being in Flemish which helped me to learn some of the language, much of which is phonetically similar to English.

Overall it's an entertaining period drama series with a high production value. It isn't perfect but if you can look past it's flaws it's worth watching. I enjoyed watching the two main characters Jan and Baru as their stories intertwined. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending, one of the characters changes drastically in a way that makes sense but perhaps could have been set up better throughout the series so it felt less out of left field, however I don't think it's enough to spoil what is otherwise a pretty good series.

Shrek 2 (2004)

Deserves a Higher Rating

[10/10 · 26 December 2021]

There isn't much I can say about why Shrek 2 is a masterpiece of animation that hasn't already been said. The story, the humour, the drama, the animation, the music, it all just works. So why then does Shrek 2 (at the time of my review) only have a 7.2 star rating?

Looking back at older reviews I was surprised to see that audiences at the time had mixed feelings about Shrek 2, with some even claiming the first was better. Why exactly did some reviewers dislike it at the time? Was it simply a case of "I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet but your kids are gonna love it"?

Whatever the case was, Shrek 2 has since become a beloved classic that is generally seen as being the best film in the series. It definitely deserves more than an "average" 7.2 stars.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Fun But A Little Too Familiar

[7/10 · 9 December 2021]

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is essentially a sequel to the original two Ghostbusters movies, ignoring the 2016 reboot while acting as something of a soft reboot of the series. The story revolves around Egon's daughter Callie and her two children Phoebe and Trevor as they inherit his old run-down farmhouse and uncover the reason he left his friends and family behind to live alone in a small town.

The movie is a bit slow to start with but does eventually get going once Egon's grandchildren find his old equipment. As you'd expect with this sort of film there are a lot of callbacks and references to the original with the intent to appeal to the nostalgia of fans. Overall these callbacks are welcome additions though it does make the story feel a bit too familiar in some places, Gozer is the villain again, the Terror Dogs are back and there's a Gatekeeper and Keymaster.

The remaining original cast (minus Rick Moranis) all return, it's nice to see them again but they don't have much to do here as the focus is more on the new characters. The new characters are fine, the standouts for me are Egon's granddaughter Phoebe and her teacher Mr. Grooberson played by Paul Rudd.

Overall it's a fun movie for fans of the original that pushes the series forward while relying a little too much on the legacy of the original.

Primeval: New World (2012–2013)

Canadian Primeval

[7/10 · 6 December 2021]

After the original Primeval was cancelled for a second time in the UK, Impossible Pictures turned to the international market to keep the show alive. In late 2012 we got Primeval: New World, a North American spin-off of the show that takes the action from London (and Dublin) to the rugged landscape of Vancouver.

I appreciate that New World is a spin-off rather than a complete reboot or remake of the series, though it largely ignores the events of Series 5 of the original show with only a short appearance of Connor and a nod to the ARC to tie the two shows together. As a result it's unclear if New World can be considered part of the same continuity or not.

The first (and only) season is 13 episodes long, making it even longer than Series 3 of the original show. This is not necessarily a good thing as it results in a lot of episodes feeling unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. It takes until episode 5 for the show to get going and until episode 8 for it to start getting good. I can't help but feel that cutting a lot of the earlier episodes would make the show more engaging and help the story flow better, especially when you consider that the first series of the original show managed to achieve far more in only six episodes.

The characters are fine and the actors do a good job playing them but they're not quite as memorable as the characters from the original. The standout characters for me are Mac Rendell who brings some familiarity with his British accent and Becker-like personality, and Lt. Ken Leeds who has some fun comedic moments and constantly tries to convince team leader Evan Cross that he's there to help, to no avail.

The creatures for me were a bit of a disappointment. Unlike the original show which made the effort to use varied and unique creatures in each episode, New World instead opts for using mostly generic dinosaurs. It may just be because of the higher resolution but the CGI creatures also didn't feel as convincing as they did in the original.

Overall Primeval: New World is a fine show and worth watching if you're desperate for more Primeval content but it lacks the heart and story that made the original work. It seemed to be getting somewhere with it's last few episodes and could have improved in subsequent seasons but as the show met the same fate as the original, I guess we'll never know.

Doctor Who: Flux: Chapter Four - Village of the Angels (2021) Season 13, Episode 4

The Angels Return

[8/10 · 23 November 2021]

Village of the Angels is possibly the best episode that Chibnall has written for the show. It may just be because of the overall quality of his era but I thought this was genuinely good.

I was never a big fan of the Weeping Angel episodes that came after Blink, I think Moffat overused them and they lost what made them so effective. This episode isn't on the same level as Blink but I do think it's the best use of the Weeping Angels since that episode, they are finally scary and threatening again.

I loved Kevin McNally as Professor Jericho, he gave it his all and it was thrilling seeing him take on the Angels without fear. It looks like his character will be sticking around for a while which I'm all for, I wouldn't mind him staying on as a regular companion like Captain Jack.

This episode is connected to the somewhat convoluted Flux storyline but thankfully it's mostly standalone which works in it's favour. With this episode and War of the Sontarans I think it's clear that Chibnall works best when he's writing episodes for established villains. This era of the show may not be popular with fans but I think this episode at least got it right.

Primeval (2007–2011)

An Underrated Classic

[9/10 · 20 November 2021]

Primeval has often been referred to as "ITV's Doctor Who" and it's easy to see why. Both shows aired around the same time, both revolve around time travel and both even starred a former singer-turned-actress in a lead role. As much as it is a compliment to compare Primeval to it's BBC counterpart however, I feel this also does a disservice to what is an excellent piece of television that stands on it's own.

Most young viewers at the time were likely attracted to the show by it's premise of prehistoric creatures coming through anomalies in time into the present. While the creatures were indeed an integral part of the show, created with groundbreaking (for the time) CGI, the show also had an element of human drama that helped elevate it beyond the typical monster of the week format.

Much of the show's story revolved around Douglas Henshall's character Professor Nick Cutter, his search for his estranged wife and eventually moving on after discovering she's no longer the woman he once knew. Cutter's story added a lot of weight to the show and the role was perfectly acted by Henshall who really captures Cutter's pain and sadness throughout the show.

The rest of the cast also give great performances and have great chemistry with one another which is essential for this kind of show to work. Even the more short-lived characters in the show manage to leave some kind of impression on you, whether it be good or bad.

Unfortunately the show did start to drop in quality somewhat after the departure of Douglas Henshall (and much of the other original cast members) but it did at least remain entertaining throughout. ITV at the time seemed intent on killing off the show, cancelling it twice, as a result it sadly never received the big send-off it truly deserved but it did at least get a short-lived continuation in the form of the Canadian spin-off series Primeval New World.

It seems unlikely after a decade that the show will ever be revived in it's original form but while it lasted it was an entertaining and excellent show (Series 1 and 2 especially) that I always find joy in revisiting all these years later.

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)

Not Quite a Critical Hit

[6/10 · 16 November 2021]

I have been a fan of the Pokémon series since I was a child, first getting into the games with Ruby and Sapphire on the Game Boy Advance and being obsessed with it ever since. Someone who is as big a fan as I am should automatically love this movie, right? Well no, not exactly.

When it was first announced that they were making a Pokémon movie and that not only would it be live action but would also be based on an obscure spin-off game few have played I was understandably confused yet cautiously optimistic. After finally watching it I think it was ok, it certainly could have turned out a lot worse but that doesn't mean it's without it's flaws.

Firstly Pikachu himself, personally I think Ryan Reynolds was miscast in this role. Unlike many casual audiences I understand that this is a version of Pikachu that is supposed to talk though I still don't think Ryan Reynolds' voice fits the character. I'm unable to take Pikachu seriously when he essentially just sounds like and has the personality of Deadpool. I remember when the game released fans were petitioning for Danny DeVito to voice Detective Pikachu, I feel he would have been a better choice and not casting him was a huge missed opportunity.

The movie's world also feels very artificial to me, from the CGI Pokémon that never quite feel like they're actually there to Ryme City which is pretty much just London with some added CGI, a fact they don't try to hide at all with London buses, underground signs and even the iconic skyscraper The Gherkin in plain view. It's clear they tried to make the Pokémon somewhat realistic looking while also keeping their cartoonish features, this works fine for some like Pikachu and Psyduck but others like Charizard and Torterra just end up looking a bit strange and uncanny.

The story starts fine enough with a mystery involving our protagonist Tim's deceased father and a mysterious gas that turns Pokémon violent but starts to go off the rails into full blown insanity in the final act. There are some strange moments and concepts I'm not sure I like as they don't seem to fit in with the lore of the game's universe, I understand this is a different continuity but as an adaptation I'm not sure it should change things up to quite this degree. There are some nice nods and references to the games and other media that I liked, even if some feel a bit too forced.

Overall Detective Pikachu is decent enough for a movie based on a video game. If you can ignore it's issues then it's harmless and fun. It seems unlikely there will be a sequel to this particular story but it would be interesting to see other movies set in this world as we don't get to see much of the more traditional Pokémon Trainer side of things in this one.

His Dark Materials (2019–2022)

Better Than The Golden Compass?

[7/10 · 8 November 2021]

His Dark Materials is the BBC and HBO's adaptation of Philip Pullman's fantasy novel series of the same name which previously received a big screen adaptation in the form of the 2007 movie The Golden Compass which due to studio meddling and protest from religious groups never got a sequel.

As someone who never read the books I enjoyed the 2007 movie despite it's flaws and so decided to watch this series to see if they got it right this time. Overall I think the series is better than the movie due to the fact it's format allows it to expand on the story and include elements that had to be cut for the big screen adaptation. That being said there are also some elements of the movie that I prefer.

The first three episodes are a bit slow and introduce a lot of terminology and concepts that aren't really explained until later but if you can manage to get through them, the rest of the episodes are worth it. Unlike the movie, the ending remains intact and they keep many of the darker elements of the story.

The cast give great performances with Dafne Keen, following her breakout role in Logan doing a good job as protagonist Lyra. Ruth Wilson is also amazing as Mrs. Coulter, she pulls off being both kind and caring as well as scary and intimidating in the scenes which require it. Generally I think I prefer the cast from the movie and feel they fit their characters better (Sam Elliott can't be beaten as Lee Scoresby) but that doesn't mean this cast isn't great too.

The daemons seem to be less of a focus here than in the movie (presumably for budgetary reasons) with them notably being missing from many scenes but when they do appear they look great and you can see that a lot of money went into the animation budget for them and by extension the armoured bears. The series seems to do a better job at showing the connection between humans and their daemons and I like that Lyra's daemon Pan constantly changes form due to her being a child, something I don't remember being in the movie but is apparently accurate to the books.

There seems to also be a multiverse aspect to the series which wasn't in the film but I assume is something from the books. As well as scenes in Lyra's world we also get scenes of characters in what is presumably our world, this can seem confusing and disjointed at first but it does start to make sense eventually and will surely be explored further as the series progresses.

Overall a much better adaptation of this series, it's not for everyone and it's a slow start but if you can push through to the end then it's worth it. It will be exciting to finally see this story told from start to finish, something many have been waiting for since 2007.

The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

Beautiful and Touching

[9/10 · 5 November 2021]

Arrietty (as it is known here in the UK) is Studio Ghibli's adaptation of the classic book series "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton. Though this version of the story relocates it's setting from England to Japan it may just be the best adaptation to date.

As always with Ghibli's films the animation is vibrant and beautiful to look at, many of the film's scenes look like an oil painting come to life. I was particularly impressed with the animation in scenes in which is raining, the effect of the raindrops splashing about looked incredibly realistic.

The film's characters are full of life and I loved seeing the friendship build between the main characters Arrietty and Sho, leading up to the emotional climax of the film.

If you haven't seen Arrietty then I highly recommend it, for me it is up there with some of Studio Ghibli's best.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

It's Grown On Me

[8/10 · 2 November 2021]

Despite being part of the generation that grew up with these books/films I was never particularly a big fan of Harry Potter the way so many others were. I saw the films on TV every now and then and found them mildly entertaining but they never managed to truly win me over. At the time I was more of a fan of the lesser appreciated Chronicles of Narnia series of films.

I had watched the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts a few years ago and found it quite enjoyable so with it being twenty years since the original film's release, what better time to revisit it and give it another go?

Upon rewatch I was pleasantly surprised and found myself enjoying it more now than I did all those years ago as a child, ironic given it's intended target audience. I liked the sense of mystery in the story and how our protagonists uncover the conspiracy within Hogwarts, leading up to the big confrontation at the end which was also done very well. This first film also has much more whimsical and lighthearted moments compared to later films in the series which depending on your personal tastes could be a good or bad thing.

Where the film really shines is in it's characters and the actor's portrayals of them. The young cast of course do a fairly good job, with Radcliffe being the perfect fit for Harry. There are also some great performances from the older cast members such as Robbie Coltrane as the gentle (half) giant Hagrid, the late Alan Rickman as the stern and intimidating Professor Snape and of course the late Richard Harris as the wise and gentle yet powerful wizard Professor Dumbledore who sadly passed away after the second film and as such could not play the role in the following films.

After rewatching this first Harry Potter film so many years later I had a newfound appreciation for it and the series as a whole. If like me you were never that into the series the first time around I'd recommend revisiting it and perhaps you'll be pleasantly surprised as I was.

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

An Amazing Show (Series 1-5)

[9/10 · 21 October 2021]

The Doctor Who revival is a show that I, like many others my age in the UK grew up watching each week. From Series 1 to 5 the show maintained a mostly consistent level of quality, with Series 3 and 4 being the show's high point, putting out great story after great story.

The show started in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the titular character and Russell T. Davies as showrunner. Together they created a strong first series for the new era of the show, bringing in new fans such as myself as well as appealing to fans of the original show.

In 2006 David Tennant took over the role and it's during his tenure that the show became a household name once again. During this time it felt like everyone and their grandmother was watching the show, each new episode felt like a huge event which was talked about all over the UK. I remember everyone from my classmates, to my teachers to even my family members being completely obsessed with it.

In 2010 the show underwent huge changes as it was announced that not only would Tennant be leaving the role to be replaced by Matt Smith but also that Davies would be leaving as showrunner, being replaced by prominent writer Steven Moffat. Series 5 was largely a success with Smith's Doctor proving to be a hit with fans, helped by his natural chemistry with companions Amy and Rory and some standout episodes such as the now iconic "Vincent and the Doctor".

Unfortunately this is where the show, for me at least, started to lose it's magic and the quality of the writing started to go downhill. Series 6 had the perfect chemistry of the Doctor, Amy and Rory trio but it's overarching story was a convoluted mess that to this day I still don't completely understand. Things didn't improve much for Series 7 either with it being split into two halves and with Amy and Rory being replaced by new companion Clara Oswald who lacked the same kind of chemistry with Smith's Doctor.

Though Smith would later be replaced by Peter Capaldi and he too with Jodie Whittaker the show never really reached the same heights of those 2005-2010 years. With Davies announced to be returning as showrunner once again for 2023 there's hope that the show can return to it's former glory but if not then at least we still have Series 1-5 to look back on with fondness.