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Reviews
The Bear: The Bear (2023)
Intense, brilliant, magnificent finale
Blown away by this conclusion to a superb second series of a wonderful programme. The transformation of characters, evolving from that incandescent "seven fishes" episode was just sublime. The two series of "The Bear" have been absolutely captivating, especially as I recall younger days working in a military officers kitchen to exacting and brutal standards. Nobody except those who have done this line of work necessarily appreciate the ungodly hell of delivering exacting, perfect food time after time after time to customers (or senior military officers!) without compromise or failure.
We all work for a reason and "The Bear" illuminates brilliantly the huge physical and emotional price it takes to deliver excellence.
Oppenheimer (2023)
A film for the generations
I'm 45, worked in military roles in the 90s, I understand the gravity and horror of the implications of nuclear attack / war more than most. I watched this in a quiet cinema on a midday showing, two teenage lads close by watched too, deeply curious yet not understanding what the true horror of an atomic detonation meant. Watching this movie reminded me of why humanity must, must always realise just what nuclear weapons are, and can do, and what corruption this infinite power to obliterate brings.
Like many others, I adore Nolan's works, but this feels truly seminal. There's something about this movie that feels as if he and everyone involved have given life and soul to make it something truly extraordinary. And it is.
It is a long film but it could easily have been double the three hours as Oppenheimer is such an extraordinary human being he deserves so much more investigation.
What a brilliant, evocative, brilliant and terrifying movie.
Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone (2022)
Stark, captivating, appalling and enlightening
An amazing series, filled with extraordinary first-hand archive footage presented without audio narration that provides viewers with unique and often highly-intimate perspectives on life in the USSR and Russia during this period. Overlaid only with basic English text, it provides an unfiltered and graphic visualisation of the often-appalling world that Soviet citizens endured - and then how dark malignant forces took root. Watching this series helps one to better understand why Russia and her neighbours are the way they are today, to appreciate the immense pain and endless hardships endured by generations of people across a vast stretch of land. It feels epic and is epically insightful in the process. Brilliantly presented, compelling TV. Living history at its best.
MH370: The Plane That Disappeared (2023)
Armchair detective nonsense
Why do Netflix inject huge amounts of money into this crap? Most serious people are missing from this series and for obvious reasons: a mad New York keyboard warrior, a grief-stricken Frenchman who thinks "America" causes this, and some other loony tunes given far too much airtime. It's stupid, feeble, and embarrassing as a piece of so-called investigative "reporting".
I don't really understand why so much money gets spent on such poorly-researched, poorly-investigated sensationalism and it really bothers me. Why, for example, has nobody even discussed the idea that if a pilot turned so far off course - there are always, always, always passengers watching the route on their screens. Surely some folk would have mentioned this. It suggests an act of violence or terror or something that "subdued" the entire cabin, anyway....
Netflix could have done so much better with this.