centaur1135 Reviews

Martingale (2024)

Far too long for the story.

[4/10 · 5 May 2024]

"Martingale" is a journey that unfortunately overstays its welcome. Even at a 1 hour and 45 minutes, it tests the patience of the viewer. The plot meanders like a lost hiker in a dense forest, leaving viewers yearning for a more streamlined narrative.

The film's greatest flaw lies in its lighting. Or rather, the lack thereof. Scenes unfold in murky shadows. Characters converse in dimly lit rooms despite evidence showing that they are really well lit. And outdoor scenes look as though there is a smoke or haze in the air. Perhaps the director aimed for an atmospheric noir vibe, but it feels more like stumbling through a power outage.

For me the lighting destroyed the whole film, and I longed for it to end. Perhaps I could have got away with watching the first ten minutes and the last.

The acting was like the lighting, it was dead serious throughout, there was little to lighten the atmosphere to give relief from the heavy tension. Alas, their talents are often lost in the murky abyss of poor illumination.

Some viewers may find its labyrinthine plot and dimly lit aesthetics intriguing, while others will yearn for a brighter cinematic experience. Proceed with caution and bring a flashlight.

Lift (I) (2024)

Just a whole lot of fun

[9/10 · 18 January 2024]

I wasn't sure whether of not to watch this with the number of low scores and bad reviews. I'm glad that I ignored them.

This is an easy to watch fun movie. No complicated plot that's not always predictable.

Exquisite film locations. The producers put in a great deal of thought into the making of this film. Yes there was some unbelievable situations, that's the nature of an action packed fictional story line.

It held my interest throughout and left me wanting more. It tied up loose ends which I thought maybe padding.

I felt there was a strong performance from most of the actors, you got to like each of them for their individual traits.

It is a film that left me wanting more. I really hope that there will be a sequel.

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (2023) Season 1, Episode 0

The return of Russel T Davies should have been an improvement

[3/10 · 26 December 2023]

Disney has a reputation for being the 'kiss of death' when they become involved with a show. If this is the calibre that we are expecting from Doctor Who, then it is dead.

I was hoping for so much better. The story did not start until about 20 minutes in. It was crass, it had no tension, and the goblins had absolutely no character or credible part, or goal in the story. They were not even villains. A boat in the sky is more gaming CGI not science fiction. There was nothing scary or villainous about the goblins, like there was with the faeries in 'Small Worlds' Torchwood. What a waste of space the goblin song was. I'm sure 'Unleashed' will tell us how amazing it was.

The actual church in Ruby Road had no real significance in the story. The CGI of the church and its surrounding area was second-rate and had no resemblance to any real church but was more like a Christmas card picture. It was pathetic.

The story showed signs of picking up about two-thirds of the way through, then it fell apart.

Doctor Who is supposedly science fiction. This is not science fiction. I'm sure that the actors did the best they could with the script they were given, but the script was an insult to their talents.

I was not a fan of Jodie Whittaker, who was also let down by the script. She is great outside Doctor Who, and when I watched this, I preferred her. This new Doctor seemed currently confused and too busy being camp to provide any intelligence to the story, living by his wits rather than his knowledge, this Doctor Who (at least in this story) had very little intelligence. The sonic screwdriver is being used as a 'get out of jail free' card so that script writers don't have to create imaginative plots. Earlier Doctors rarely used the sonic screwdriver, which is the way it needs to be.

If Doctor Who is to survive, it needs to return to being science fiction. It needs to be scary again, and we need to be on the edge of our seats wondering what is doing to happen next.

Doctor Who has fallen a long way from the show it once was. It needs to stop relying on CGI to create unconvincing goblins, or other cuddly fiendish creatures and give us something that we are on the edge of our seats where we actually identify with the predicament of the Doctor and the other characters, not merely going with the flow till the credits roll.

In a nutshell this is NOT a Doctor Who story. It is a story where anyone could have been used, and Doctor Who happened to be available.

The Good Doctor: The Good Lawyer (2023) Season 6, Episode 16

Great Pilot Episode for The Good Lawyer

[10/10 · 25 March 2023]

At the time of viewing, I was unaware that this was a pilot episode, until afterwards I researched more. At the time of viewing I thought if this is not a pilot for a new series, then it should be.

Everything about it was awesome. The story was extremely well told. Joni's disability was delicately portrayed, and modern day often unwitting discrimination was portrayed with skill, both by the script writers and the actors.

I like the way that Joni's first appearance was almost dismissed as a chance encounter. The dialogue between Shaun and Jodi is intellectually thought provoking.

Janet too is an interesting character, though if I were to adversely criticise, character development may have been a little too quick.

As someone who is hooked on legal dramas, probably more-so than medical dramas. I hope this will be the beginning of multiple seasons. I can't wait for the season to start.

Australian Idol (2003–2024)

Channel 7 wrecks the format (yet again)

[3/10 · 14 March 2023]

When Channel 10 hosted the show, each episode had some form of quality. There were several episodes per week, and we had quality time with the contestants and watching their learning curve, as well as the backing musicians.

Channel 7 has reduced it to one episode per week, and a laborious drag of a results show. We only see minimal interaction with the (very good) voice coach.

The backing musicians are awesome, it is unfortunate that we see nothing of them. It is they, who make the contestants shine.

Channel 10 would put the contestants through their paces, introducing styles outside their comfort zone. I always looked forward to the Big Band episode; many of the contestants had no real experience in that genre, yet most of them, when they performed in that style had the best musical experience of their life. Channel 7, the closest contestants had was a Judges Choice episode, where the judges choose 4 songs, for the contestant to select one.

There are only two meaningful judges. Harry Connick Jr, and Amy Shark. Meghan Trainor on occasion has helpful remarks, but her screaming throws her credibility out of the window. It was refreshing to have Marcia Hines return briefly. Kyle Sandilands is an enigma, most of the time he is a fool and brings the show down, yet on occasion, he can have the greatest insight. Harry Connick Jr is a real musician, he is really the most knowledgable. It's a shame though we haven't got an Australian as good.

Channel 7s revisioning is a train wreck. It may have the biggest live audience ever, it does not make it better. It's like they just want to get through to the end as quickly as possible, as cheaply as possible, much like their revisioning of Channel 10s Big Brother. (They wrecked that too). We are not seeing a journey, we can't see the contestants highs and lows along their journey, and most of all they are not pushed far outside their comfort zone. It is an insult to the contestants to rush them through and whittle them down as quickly as they have done in this new inferior format. Channel 7, you are an embarrassment.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Incredibly well produced contrived story telling

[6/10 · 10 August 2022]

First off, I want to give a great shout out to four of the cast, Ewan McGregor, Moses Ingram, Indira Varma and Vivien Lyra Blair. They are all exceptional for their acting in this series and deserve 10/10. Vivien Lyra Blair was perfect in her role, giving it a child like innocence. The casting crew for Princess Leia, did brilliantly casting her, her facial features recognisable to what could possibly be a young Carrie Fisher. In the Star Wars franchise, she could well have a job for life, as she grows up and ages. I really hope so. Moses Ingram acting was awesome in this story, I loved every moment she was on screen.

Sadly, that is where it ends. The story would have been better off in a 2.5 hour film. There was too much padding, and the script that they had to work with must have tried the patience of any good actor. One example, without giving away any plot, Obi mistakenly addresses Princess Leia, No Jedi master unwilling to blow their cover would do that. It stood out like a sore thumb.

The story was muddled, and contrived, and elements of repeats from other Star Wars productions. While it was not unwatchable, it could have been better.

Note to the Star Wars team, get away from Disney, they ruin everything - Disney are holding you back - With the amount of resources Disney have, this should have been much better.

Bull: The Envelope, Please (2022) Season 6, Episode 20

A ghost story - really!

[3/10 · 22 May 2022]

Waste of an episode, with all the flash backs. 2nd worst episode, the worst being the awful 'musical' episode a while back.

Poor boring story, a shame really because Bull is normally well worth the watch, and in many ways it is a shame that this is the last series. It's a pity that the producers chose to waste an episode.

Secrets of Sulphur Springs: Time Out (2022) Season 2, Episode 3

Is this really for children? Parents should be aware.

[3/10 · 2 February 2022]

This is the continuation of an exciting adventure for children, and some adults like myself like to immerse in the innocence of our past. The acting on the whole is not bad, but occasionally a little wooden, especially by the young ones. The story continues to be thrilling, especially for the younger mind. It is good to see children's' content made with real actors rather than the overload of animation that prevails today.

On the whole, everyone likes a good ghost story, but I was horrified that children watching this episode could discover that it may not be as wholesome entertainment that it proports to be. Responsible parents should be aware of the contents of programs their children watch, but I was shocked to see children using a spirit board as though it were a normal thing to do. Some consider such things dangerous, and I believe that the producers of this program have shirked their responsibility and duty of care in showing this kind of content. I would give the story a high score as many users have, but this episode shows gross oversight in regard to responsible content for minors.

Screw (2022–2023)

Not sure what I just watched

[3/10 · 8 January 2022]

IMDB has categorised this as a drama. It's not. If there is a story, then it wasn't visible. It just lurched from one improbable scene to another till the credits went up. I wanted so much to like it, because some of the acting was good and some of the characterisations were good too, but the script and the story (such as it was) let it down. It is an insult to good actors to give them drivel and expect them to turn it into a masterpiece. The first episode is always supposed to grab your attention. I saw it all, and I won't be seeing any more.

Doctor Who: Flux: Chapter Three - Once, Upon Time (2021) Season 13, Episode 3

This pretends to be awesome and isn't

[3/10 · 19 November 2021]

I get it, if there is disruption in time, anything can happen. However, this is no excuse for scatty writing. After the last two episodes, which were a marked improvement of Chibnal's usual dross, it's too good to be true that the improvement could last an entire season. It was a mishmash of incoherent disruption. I watched it twice just to make sure I hadn't missed the point. There is a lack of intelligence in the script. Chris Chibnal is the kiss of death director for the reboot Doctor Who, as John Nathan-Turner. Was for the classic series. The BBC needs to wake up, this is not clever. It's a snooze fest. I don't want to see production on Doctor Who end, I just want the dynamic to improve. Doctor Who is aimed and children and teens, this misses it, and this episode in particular is an insult to the viewer, the story and the actors.

NCIS: False Start (2021) Season 19, Episode 6

Unbelievable Trite

[4/10 · 13 November 2021]

I don't have a problem with the new team leader or new team members.

I have a problem with the script writing. It is an abysmal, un-plausible story. NCIS is known for good stories, but this story is comedic, not in a good way. It's like the show is contracted to turn out a story, and any old bilge will do to get one episode closer to the end of the contract. It's like they don't care. The actors did the best that they could with a poor script.

Sharpen up please, you can do better.

NCIS: Hawai'i (2021–2024)

This is not the kind of quality we expect from the NCIS franchise.

[2/10 · 22 September 2021]

NCIS in name only.

While the opening gets your attention, almost in the style of Hawaii 5 0 not that you would want an exact replica of that fine series, the rest of the script was not engaging after the opening

The acting was poor, as was the entire story line, not the least the introduction of a woke agenda just to make it hip. We have come to expect so much more from the NCIS franchise. The original, Los Angeles and New Orleans have the NCIS quality, the latter for me having the least appeal, but should have had at least two more seasons, though it probably was killed deliberately by turning into a family soap opera.

Hawaii, needs to have a long hard look at itself if it is to survive. I hope the team behind it are urgently reviewing subsequent episodes before their release, and if not, they should be.

I would have preferred the hinted at NCIS: Red to this, it had potential.

New Amsterdam: Fight Time (2021) Season 3, Episode 13

Propaganda +

[1/10 · 11 June 2021]

Please write gripping story lines, like the early episodes were. This is just government propaganda. This is bad drama and bad script writing.

All Rise: Leap of Faith (2021) Season 2, Episode 16

Lack of discipline in court

[4/10 · 25 May 2021]

The defence and prosecutions have no sense of decorum in court. It is unbelievable.

There is little of interest in the ongoing story and sub plots.

The quality of the drama in season 2 is not as high as season 1.

New Amsterdam: Pressure Drop (2021) Season 3, Episode 11

Annoyingly dreadful

[1/10 · 20 May 2021]

Preachy twaddle, with BS ideas, BS statistics, BS Science and BS drama

The scriptwriters appear to be lost for ideas, so decide to preach ideologies that are proving to be laughable.

Back in series one it was good, but now it's just a yawn. We need entertainment, not chastisement for unproven issues.

The drama is also tired, especially Dr Blooms sudden epiphany. I suppose I've been watching out of nostalgia for earlier episodes in the hope that it will improve. I'm running out of patience.

NCIS: New Orleans: Illusions (2021) Season 7, Episode 14

Since when did this become a soap opera.

[3/10 · 16 May 2021]

Loosing interest in this rapidly. The 'family relationships' sections are boring and intellectually tedious. It's like they have unused story lines from other shows that they have adapted to NCIS NO. Difficult to stay awake.

And stop using those damned masks.

Upstart Crow: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow: A Lockdown Christmas 1603 (2020) Season 4, Episode 1

Not clever or that entertaining

[3/10 · 23 December 2020]

All episodes until this one were genius.

This was a lesson to do as you are told. It was tired and tedious. Usually I am entertained. I didn't laugh once.

The acting and the delivery were reasonably good. The script weak and predictable. Not the Upstart Crow we love.

Bull: My Corona (2020) Season 5, Episode 1

Stupid Musical

[2/10 · 20 November 2020]

If the story for the episode continued as it had started about data processing, without it being a dream, or a tin pot musical, or having pathetic covid overtones, or exiting the story without it concluding, it would have been good. Instead, it seamed like the script writers had no idea how to conclude, so not only did it turn into a dream, they exited the entire story and showed the movie set. It did not work for me. I was invested in the case. There needed to be a conclusion to what could have been a great story.

Please, no more musicals and get rid of the masks, it is no longer topical.

NCIS: New Orleans: Something In The Air, Part I (2020) Season 7, Episode 1

Yawn Yawn: Covid all day in the news and then in the entertainment. Haw can I escape?

[3/10 · 9 November 2020]

All said in the heading. I love the NCIS franchise. It is quality entertainment. However, when nearly every new episode of the current franchises (not just NCIS NO) contains covid themed story lines, It is not something I want after having it thrust at me all day from all directions and every day in the news. If they think they are teaching us something new, they are not. They are rehashing the tired old cliches not only in this drama, but most of them, as though it's clever. The character Sebastian Lund was absurd, not even funny. When I'm entertained, I want to escape this hell. What's even worse is, we are in for more, the episode ended with "To be continued." I hope to goodness that will be it, I don't want to see actors with covered faces.

If.... (1968)

Boring

[3/10 · 21 August 2020]

I was at British public school when this film was released. It came to the television screens, and my fellow schoolmates raved about it. I watched it with them in the early 1970s , and waited patiently for something interesting to happen. Yes, I knew it wasn't going to be a replica of Tom Browns Schooldays, Some of the boys characters were similar to the school that I was at. The story is slow and uninteresting.

Skip forward to 2020, I came by the film again, and saw the many positive reviews and considered that there may be something that I had missed, and maybe I should give it another go. There was nothing it it that endeared itself to me. The characters, even for the time period portrayed were unbelievable.

The only "If...." for me was, IF only it was a better film. The 3 stars I gave are a generous 3 stars, even though it was one big yawn from start to finish.

Proximity (II) (2020)

Certainly not the best film, nor the worst.

[7/10 · 28 June 2020]

The story is well conceived. It is well filmed, and the special effects on the whole have been beautifully executed.

It is easy viewing, though at times the story is a little slow. The main stars Ryan Masson and Highdee Kuan were excellent, and I hope that they both go a long way in the future.

Eric Demeusy has a lot of great credits to his name including 'Stranger Things' and 'Game of Thrones' which is why I gave this a shot, and was not disappointed.

The film is an escape, it is not meant to be literal, just enjoy it for what it is.

I do not have a problem with aliens wanting to find out more about Jesus. Some of the reviewers here would have you believe that it wrecked a major part of the film. In fact only consumed a small fraction of the story, and it was certainly not in a bible thumping evangelical convert or die in your sins way. Jesus has been a major influence on the way of life for millions on this planet, so for the benefit of the story, why shouldn't aliens what to know more about the influences. I'm sure that if they wanted to find out more about Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna and other such influences there would not have been such an outcry.

Almost Paradise (2020– )

Brilliant fun

[10/10 · 19 April 2020]

This has the same fun as Dean Devlin's "Leverage" It explores serious topics and manages to have fun on the way in the varying relationships in the cast without exploiting the gravity of the topics covered. It's easy viewing, great entertainment that keeps you interested throughout. The main cast play of each other brilliantly. Dean Devlin has created another winner, let's hope it has a good long run.

Doctor Who: The Timeless Children (2020) Season 12, Episode 10

Boring

[2/10 · 3 March 2020]

To much talking and not enough action. Chibnal's continuing crimes against Doctor Who show he is just a psychopath. The story had so much potential and it was all destroyed just to criminally rewrite the Dr. Who universe. Shame on you Chibnal.

The highlight is the closing credits, announcing not only the season is closed, but that Chibnal will be wrecking the Daleks in the next season.

Doctor Who: Praxeus (2020) Season 12, Episode 6

Where is the excitement and the tension?

[2/10 · 4 February 2020]

Dull, boring, flat, lifeless, no tension, inconsistent continuity, dreary story and characterisation. Another bad humans when will you ever learn sermon.

I was hoping that after the previous week (which was much better) there had been a U turn from bad story telling. There is too much relying on that damned sonic screwdriver, never has a doctor used it so much as this one. Yes, use it once or twice in a series, but not to rely on every little decision, it wreaks of the inability of scriptwriters to actually write a story.

Doctor Who: Orphan 55 (2020) Season 12, Episode 3

Continually spiralling to oblivion

[2/10 · 13 January 2020]

From the outset the story was stupid. It had a meaningless plot. The acting was terrible. Jodie Whittaker continues to be silly and stupid. She should be commanding, but she is clueless. But she is only silly, stupid and clueless because of the writers and the direction. Come on BBC stop persisting that you are right and the fans are wrong. You do that in virtually all your broadcasting.

The so called 'monsters' in this episode did not for one moment give the notion of fear.

Jodie Whittaker is not The Doctor. This whole series so far takes The Doctor's name not his identity.

Russell T. Davies rebooted the series perfectly. Chris Chibnall is it's suicide. Listen up BBC. We want good escapism that Doctor Who used to be. Not moralising monologues from Doctor Greta Who, as was done at the end of this episode.