john_blackhawk Reviews

Kokoda: 39th Battalion (2006)

Claustrophobic and challenging

[10/10 · 13 May 2022]

This is no 'big picture' film. It's up close and personal. You hardly get to know much about what's going on. What you go get is a powerful story of a platoon that gets cut off in the dense and appallingly beautiful jungle in New Guinea.

Brilliant performances and great script.

There are a couple of moments when you have to look through your fingers from behind the sofa but it's thoroughly majestic.

I have seen it at least 10 times now.

It tells the story of young heroic Australian militia up against a battle-hardened Japanese force. It is a fight to slow down a potential invasion of their homeland. And they succeeded.

Don't miss this one.

Gallipoli (2015)

Authentic and absorbing

[9/10 · 13 May 2022]

I had ignored this on Netflix for a long time. I had assumed it would be just a long version of the battle scenes in the Mel Gibson, Mark Lee film of some 40 years ago. (That film was really good until it deflated there.) Wrong ! This is great. As an Australian I know how accurate a portrayal of the criminal mess that The Gallipoli Campaign was.

Black Sails (2014–2017)

What a surprise !

[9/10 · 10 May 2022]

I started to watch this expecting it to be trite trash. Addicted within one episode.

Great scenery. Terrific characters. I even laughed a lot.

Jack Rackham ! Goodness me. Brilliant !

After Life (2019– )

Funny, philosophical... but...

[8/10 · 21 January 2022]

Excellent production and well written. Lots of laughs. Characters are well drawn... and what a bunch they are. I would have given it 10 stars if it hadn't been for one thing. Two important characters (and two who appeared for a couple of minutes) have the most disgusting script I have heard on screen. I'm no prude but I was wincing listening to it. What was Gervaise thinking ?

The Key to Rebecca (1985 TV Movie)

Disappointing

[1/10 · 19 January 2022]

I have returned to the book a few times. It's a gripping yarn with three ingredients I like... spies, WW2 and The Middle East. This is, however, an appalling adaptation.

Made in the 80's but feels like it has the production values of the 50's. The secondary characters are so badly portrayed. As for the two male and two female leads... really these performances are unprintable... though likely not their fault... it's just such a bad production.

If ever a film needed a remake by someone good with good directing and production... this is it. It's a super story.

When Heroes Fly (2018)

Gripping.

[9/10 · 9 November 2021]

I started this with some trepidation. The trailer looked like it was a shootfest. It had me gripped straight away. Psychological action thriller... well filmed.