Cragsidebarry Reviews

The Signal (2024)

Save yourself - avoid

[4/10 · 30 April 2024]

I'm disappointed. It was an interesting setup, but half-way through the whole thing just completely comes apart at the seams: things make little sense, too many cliches, and a ridiculous, woke ending, poor cgi, etc.. Science is very, very dodgy at times.

Just a lot of illogical stuff, and it desperately tries to be grander and more significant than it is.

The actors mostly aren't fantastic, and some are just dire. Flat as pancakes.

I can see why some people might think this is passable, but it's way below anything that has quality and we really need better productions than this. Really we do!

3 Body Problem (2024– )

Starts promisingly, goes downhill rapidly, then crashes and burns

[3/10 · 22 April 2024]

I was happy to invest time in this despite many concerns about implausible characters and settings, and for the first few episodes it kept my interest.

But as time went on, the characters and settings just became more and more cartoon-like, and completely implausible situations and settings started to become the norm.

The killer for me came when a room of 'supposed' scientists completely failed to spot a gigantic hole in one of the main scientific tenets (I won't spoil it for you, but just to say it's to do with accelerating masses and completely overlooking that the larger masses in question would also have to be accelerated way beyond our capability). This isn't a debate, it's just plain impossible. And therefore, none of what ensues in the supposed resolution is possible.

And then there's the ridiculous scene in the hospital with the signing of the contract. What on earth (literally!) is the point of this? If the guy reneges on his contact it is too late and therefore has no value.

And then there's the frequent telegraphing of what is going to happen, sometimes multiple episodes ahead.

I'm really annoyed I invested time in this trash.

The Commuter (I) (2018)

Astonishingly bad, but somehow watchable (well, at least until the last 10-15')

[3/10 · 26 July 2023]

Oh my gosh, just how bad can a film be, yet still watchable?

The plot is nonsensical and incoherent, the production is poor, the green screen work dire, the acting ... well, don't even go there.

Yet, somehow, the film keeps you going. Admittedly it helped to have a few comfort breaks, ice cream and wine (strange combination, true) to help with soften the pain, but until the last 10-15', when the train went out of control, our interest was maintained, if not exactly on the edge of our seats!

All the time I was asking myself if Liam Neeson, a quality actor, was going in the same direction as Nick Cage - i.e. Making B movies that really suck. And I'd probably go as far as to say that if there are any more like this, yes he is.

So where does it all go so horribly wrong? Well, what kept is going was wondering how it be revealed that the baddies could possibly have such a detailed view of what was happening on board the train. Time travel? Matrix? Alternative Universe? Dreamscape? You know the sort of thing. But there was no such revelation, so it was basically IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

Then there was the premise that the baddies wanted to kill the witness. They showed pretty clearly they were not bothered about collateral damage and deaths, so why not just kill everyone and have done with it?

And as for the green screen work (if that's what it was) there was so little attempt to blend the lighting of the actors with CGI/background that it begged the question whether they even really tried.

Oh, and the denouement. Please. We're not stupid. Really were not!

All in all a really badly made, but somehow watchable, film.

Ad Astra (2019)

Pretend sci-fi for arty-farties

[4/10 · 17 May 2023]

It's little wonder there's a chasm between most of the 'critics' reviews and those of the general public. It doesn't take much to realise this film was made with little regard for the latter, but rather to garner praise from the industry ... and perhaps a few awards here and there.

I have no problems with either of the lead actors, and think both have made some of the best films out there. Indeed, if you want to see them acting well, there are plenty of good examples around, just not in this film. Why anyone thinks either of them acts well in this films I just can not fathom. If you want to see Pitt acting well, try Twelve Monkeys or Fight Club. Just don't waste your time on this.

Oh, and then there's the ridiculous story line. Come on, how stupid do you think we are???

But as I said, it wasn't written for me, or for most of you, unless you are a critic or arty-farties, probably both.

The Titan (2018)

Cast 👍 Direction 👍 Production values 👍. Everything else 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[3/10 · 20 April 2023]

I really hope this crew will get together again and make something that hasn't been written by monkeys (sorry, monkeys).

Actually, despite quite a few deeply unsatisfying aspects of the first half of this story, it's really quite watchable. But as the film progresses it just gets worse and worse. At one point (I won't say when as that would constitute a spoiler) it just becomes absolutely ridiculous. We watched through to the end and wished we'd just given up at that point. We'd have had a better evening.

Please, Netflix, get some better writers. It's not fair on the quality production team you had here to allow them to take the rap for this.

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

Flawed in so many ways

[3/10 · 6 April 2023]

Lots of reviewers have already alluded to problems of plot, writing, acting, direction and pretty much every other aspect of making a film, so I'm not going to try to repeat what has already been rightly said about this pretty awful effort.

So, as IMDB has a minimum required character level, I need to think of something else to add.

Let me think. Oh I know, let's look at positives.

Um.

Er.

Oh I know, it had letters in the title.

Er.

Mmm.

Ah, I know, I'll ask my wife who likes Luther more than me.

Well, I've asked her to give me a positive. She's thinking. Really she is.

After some time her answer is "I'm not sure I can." Nuff said.

Page Eight (2011 TV Movie)

I'm sure we must have watched a different film

[3/10 · 6 March 2023]

I don't get it. How in the world does a film like this score so highly?

We are three intelligent, mature adults. My wife reads a lot, especially crime and spy stuff. We all found this slow, tedious, unimaginative, massively predictable, constantly spoon-feeding, and just generally lame in all respects.

One thing I did notice was that, for probably the first time, I enjoyed Bill Nighy. He's yet another non-actor, playing pretty much the same, emotionless person in every role, but somehow this one suited him down to the ground.

I'm afraid the rest of the cast just didn't come across as anything but actors.

Don't let us put you off - we're obviously not typical of reviewers on this one.

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Brilliant on all fronts

[10/10 · 25 February 2023]

Like many, I came to this with minimal expectations. I mean, the film was made over twenty years ago and I'd never even heard of it until it appeared in Prime or Netflix, wherever it was. It looked from the snippets worth trying, and my wife and I settled down to what we thought was going to be a mediocre effort. How wrong we were! This is just brilliantly directed, acted, set, scripted ... I could go on. Every actor was credible. Every character was creatively weaved and complex.

One thing we can't understand is why Winona didn't pick up awards for her performance, which in our opinion was faultless and 100% convincing throughout. Jolie was amazing, and deserved her awards, but Winona easily topped everything that Jolie did.

Well worth seeing.

Stay Close (2021)

Botched interpretation

[3/10 · 20 February 2023]

Quite apart from the amateur re-imagination of the original story, the production values of this effort - aside from the amazing bond-esque titles - were substandard on pretty much every level.

Characters were shallow and many were simply not credible. Acting was mediocre, and sometimes just downright awful. Direction was lacking in creativity.

Need I go on?

We gave up after the first few episodes, finding it unwatchable and therefore not having the slightest interest in where it went from there. We hadn't established any relationship to any characters, so couldn't give a monkey's whodunnit, etc. Etc..

Really not one of Netflix's finer moments.

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

(Yet) another 'tried hard but ultimately failed'

[4/10 · 23 January 2023]

First thing to note is it was absolutely no surprise that Bale was producer. I actually checked IMDB while watching to confirm my suspicions.

Bale is a brilliant actor, and one of my favourites. However, far too often something gets lost when a principal actor takes up a production/direction role. And in this film Bale's acting was so much shallower, despite his best - and creditable - efforts.

Now, I'm not a fan of period dramas, so this was always going to struggle. It was beautifully filmed, which helped soften the discomfort, but for me at no stage was it anything but a group of actors in a very elaborate set.

I'd be happy for Bale to produce again, just not to act as well.

The Woman in the House: Episode 8 (2022) Season 1, Episode 8

Take it as it is

[8/10 · 8 January 2023]

It shouldn't take much to realise this is tongue in cheek. Come on, the title must surely give that away.

Once into it, the production is something of an adult drama crossed with a teen horror. At times that means it gets a tad irritating, but provided you don't take it too seriously you can usually ride these moments.

The 20' minutes per episode is just enough to keep the story developing nicely, while also making it enjoyable and in no way tedious.

The revelation of 'whodunnit' also caught us out. Really clever! However, we were uncomfortable with how the next few minutes panned out, and they were drawn out far too long.

Oh, and a nice lead in to either the end of the programme, or a possible next season. I hope it's the latter.

I Came By (2022)

Lazy, woke writing, but otherwise very well made

[4/10 · 7 November 2022]

So many reviewers have already said it, this was a potentially good story that was put in the hands of someone who was so keen to be woke, they completely forgot about making the story remotely believable!

Were it not for the high production values, not least cinematography and acting, this would probably have rated zero - ok, IMDB doesn't go that low, so a 1.

But those positives just couldn't outweigh the dire script, the totally ridiculous writing, the in-your-face wokeness which comes head-on from start to finish. It's almost embarrassing and quite an insult to the intelligence of viewers to do this so blatantly.

Please, please let's move on from this sort of drivel.

Human Playground (2022– )

Nicely filmed and edited, pretty poor on most other fronts

[5/10 · 9 October 2022]

Some beautiful photography in some amazing places.

Some, sadly few, captivating stories. By far the best was the lass doing the desert ultra in the first episode. I'd have happily, if uncomfortably, watched a whole series just about her journey.

The comments about animal cruelty/abuse are pretty spot on. We shouldn't, in my view, be justifying or even glorifying these as sport in the way this series does.

But what really grates here is the awful, often tedious script, read by a very capable actor who, for me, was just the wrong choice. There are so many others who could have injected passion to the narration. What might have worked even better for me is someone from each field doing that. How fantastic that would have been.

Deep Water (I) (2022)

Should have been done so much better than this

[3/10 · 7 October 2022]

Certain aspects of this story ran for me a little too close to experience than I would have liked. I had a long, stormy, non-sensical relationship with an incredibly attractive, flirtatious, controlling partner many years younger than me. It was non-sensical because we stayed with each other far, far longer than we should have, despite all the signs to each of us that the relationship was ridiculous. Pretty much all we had by the end was love and sex. And that's not enough. Really!

So in that respect this story reflects a more real situation than many would understand, and I sincerely hope would never experience.

Affleck plays someone in a similar position, but his is overlaid with elements of psychopathy, and a lot more wealth. I kept shouting at him to just divorce her, so they could move on with their lives, but then it took me years to listen to others and make the break. His condition possibly made him even less likely to do so.

An uncomfortable film, which had potential, but was ultimately not well delivered.

The Current War (2017)

For once it wasn't Cumberbatch who let the film down

[3/10 · 2 October 2022]

My gosh, Benedict actually acted for once. And he did it pretty well in my view.

What a shame that the one film he demonstrates his skills turns out to be such a shambolic, weak-scripted, jumbled mess of a Hollywood attempt at faux-history.

Oh, and did I say boring?

I really don't know who this film is aimed at. It can't possibly be scientists, or anyone with a reasonable grasp of science, because it dumbs everything down to virtual insignificance to the story.

So is it for people who like history? No, not them either as it is so full of historical inaccuracies.

Ah, maybe its for people who like to see the relationships, the human side of science and business. Possibly, but there are so many films that do this so much better, so this doesn't add to that genre.

Nope, it's little surprise this effort bombed at the box office.

The Sandman: The Sound of Her Wings (2022) Season 1, Episode 6

So glad I kept with the series

[10/10 · 28 September 2022]

Wow! This one episode made staying with the series worthwhile.

Other than the occasional continuity faux-pas, this is pretty spot on in every way.

Okay, if I had one improvement, it might be to make this two linked but separate episodes. There was plenty that could have been explored with more time on each part of the story, and I'm sure with this team it would have been time well spent.

For me, this was on a par with Black Mirror's San Junipero - a beautiful episode among some rather more extreme, and not always satisfying offerings.

At times watching The Sound of Her Wings, I felt a tingle on my spine, and even shed a couple of tears.

This is TV at its best.

How the Nazis Lost the War (2021)

Possibly the worst example of this genre. Period.

[1/10 · 25 September 2022]

There have been many attempts at exploring the dreadful chain of events that lead up to ww2 and it's conclusion. It's not inappropriate, therefore, to look at how the nazis lost, especially given the immense position of power they had built up between the wars.

Where this goes completely wrong is to do this from a heavily biased position. In short, from this account there was little or nothing the nazis did right, intelligently, etc.. At any point.

No one in their right mind would support many of the motives or the abhorrent strategies employed by the nazis, but it is an over-simplification, and an insult to viewers, to suggest virtually everything they did was flawed or 'doomed to fail'.

We need an intelligent exploration, not this tripe.

Star Trek: Picard: Two of One (2022) Season 2, Episode 6

Thank the stars for small mercies

[11 April 2022]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the episodes are getting shorter each week?

So far, episode lengths (in mins) have been:: 56, 54, 47, 45, 42, and then this one 39.

By that pattern we will hopefully be down to less than 30' of dross by the end of this pitiful season.

On the plus side that means less dross to sit through, I guess.

Star Trek: Picard: Fly Me to the Moon (2022) Season 2, Episode 5

So long, and thanks for all the fish

[1/10 · 5 April 2022]

That's it. I'm off. This is so bad I just can't cope with it any more. What a mess. So full of inconsistencies and poor writing it's hard to know where to begin.

The final nail in the coffin for me was when it was revealed about Picard's ancestor. A person critical to so much, and with the same name as one of his closest family members, how could he possibly not have known about her? How could he possibly not have been aware of the relevance of the date?

Bye!

Star Trek: Picard: Watcher (2022) Season 2, Episode 4

Going downhill alarmingly fast

[1/10 · 27 March 2022]

Dreadful acting by all the cast (yes, even you, Patrick).

Dreadful script.

Ridiculous plot.

And you know that feeling when you've had too many Easter eggs? Well, you get that here.

Please don't make a third season. Put us out of our misery at the end of this one.

Star Trek: Picard: Assimilation (2022) Season 2, Episode 3

Almost as awful as Star Trek V

[1/10 · 20 March 2022]

A show that has promise has descended into drivel for pretty much the same reasons as STV.

Hopefully, there'll be an equivalent of ST-VI around the corner to rescue us.

Transcendence (I) (2014)

A modern take on Lawnmower Man that just doesn't work

[4/10 · 16 March 2022]

Lots of reviews comment rightly that this film just doesn't seem to get much right. It's strange, because it feels like the cast and crew tried, but ultimately the sum of the parts was far greater than the whole.

Oh, and I don't share the director's view that Depp was the best choice for the role. He was unconvincing before he uploaded, and even less-so after doing so. That effectively masked any plot twist(s). Actually, a better outcome might have been by achieved by swapping Rebecca Hall's role with Depp's. Now there's a thought!

The Power of the Dog (2021)

Just dire

[1/10 · 7 March 2022]

Very probably one of the most boring films I have ever seen. I lost interest within 20', but said nothing. My wife and daughter also said nothing until the end, only keeping with it because they thought I must be liking it. They hated it!

In my view films like this are made more for the majority of critics than for the majority of the public.

Don't waste your time.

The King's Man (2021)

Utter tosh

[2/10 · 13 February 2022]

Some nice acting from Fiennes. He really should focus on films that are worth making, and not make the same mistake as the likes of Cage.

So, that's about it for positives. Embarrassingly bad film in every other sense.

Dune (2021)

A strong remake of the amazing original film

[8/10 · 8 February 2022]

There's lots to like about this film.

My concerns about a 'Blade Runner 2' style treatment of a powerful original quickly faded and I was drawn in to the amazing production and cinematography, and the pretty faithful story line. Indeed, this remake takes almost every element seriously.

What it sadly doesn't achieve are some important matters like character depth, but hopefully we'll see more of that in the next outing.

Oh, and totally agree with the comments about the new Paul - not a patch on Kyle, and please, please ease up on your strong accent. Everyone else seems to manage it. So should you.