thedivinewoman Reviews

Unfrosted (2024)

Bonkers, but so much fun!

[9/10 · 4 May 2024]

One of the nuttiest movies I have seen for a long time and it was delightfully pure entertainment with its only agenda being to make us smile. It's not meant to be taken seriously at all and that is a rare thing these days. Every movie, including the awful Barbie movie,wants to preach to us about something.

This a fictionalised story of how Pop Tarts were invented, all a fun filled fantasy that includes real figures from the 60s. A cast filled with famous faces and all playing their parts perfectly.

I was actually born in 1963 and at first I was sort of put off by some of the anachronisms, but soon I really didn't care because I was having so much fun. James Marsden flexing his biceps as Jack LaLanne, perfect. Stand out was Hugh Grant as Thurl Ravenscroft, a Disney legend as well as the voice of Tony the Tiger.

Just put it on, turn your brain off and enjoy.

It did lose a point for a tasteless joke about Astronaut Gus Grissom, who died along with two other astronauts in the Apollo1 tragedy. Unnecessary and I could have done without it.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)

A Silent Masterpiece

[10/10 · 30 April 2024]

Firstly I must address some of the comments made, some years ago, by several reviewers about the portrayal of the Germans. Did they not realise this was made just two years after the First World War ended and anti German sentiment was still high and for good reason as many cinemagoers would have either served or known someone who served and more tragically, would have lost someone in the conflict.

That aside. What can I say about this movie except it is one of the finest movies ever made and while it is now looked at more as the movie that made Rudolph Valentino a star it is more than that. It is a beautifully written, beautifully directed and beautifully acted movie and I rank Kevin Brownlow as one of my greatest heroes, he introduced me to silents being much more than Charlie Chaplin and Ben Turpin with his seminal documentary series 'Hollywood' that I saw on its original broadcast when I was a mere teenager. I have it on video and it is long overdue a release on blu ray or on a streaming platform. The opening credits include Valentino performing the tango and that was one of the images that stuck with me.

It has been a very long time since I've seen Four Horsemen, over twenty years, but I've been revisiting my favourites recently and I had forgotten how brilliant this is an ensemble cast that is faultless wonderful direction and the score by Carl Davis is, as they all are by him, sublime. To be honest Valentino does stand out and you can see why he became a big star, but that doesn't mean the other actors are left in his shadow, Alice Terry and Josef Swikard are equally wonderful, I actually hate singling out any actor because every performance was tip top.

Seriously this is a movie that every true film buff should have on their bucket list and all I can say is that it is yet another movie that shatters the myth that many have of silent films being jerky comedies that are overacted and cheap looking. A must see.

The Son of the Sheik (1926)

A glimpse of what could have been.

[9/10 · 15 April 2024]

It took me far too long to catch up with the movies of Rudolph Valentino, but I have enjoyed the ones I have managed to see and this, his final film before his tragic untimely death, is tinged with sadness as we are left to wonder had he not passed away would he have gone on to make even better films as he clearly had the talent and charisma or would he have been another victim of the talkies. I don't think so, he had been in the US for many years and I think his voice and accent would not have been barriers, just look at Garbo.

As for The Son Of The Sheik. A hugely enjoyable sequel to The Sheik with Valentino playing the dual roles of father and son, Valentino plays the same character he played in The Sheik, but a combination of excellent make up and his performance is utterly convincing as the older man. There is superb camera work showing Valentino as both characters in the same scenes.

Let's not forget Vilma Banky, wonderful as Yasmin, her dancing was superb and her and Valentino had chemistry that probably would have had them starring together again.

Cannot recommend this highly enough, another wonderful movie from the silent era that is far more enjoyable than many made today.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

A fitting tribute.

[9/10 · 7 March 2024]

I saw the first Ghostbusters on its original release and it was an instant favourite, still is nearly 40 years on.

I really wanted to see this, but was scared that it would be another turgid irrelevant sequel. I finally watched it and I had nothing to worry about.

Ghostbusters Afterlife has a terrific cast, well thought out plot and enough, but not too many homages to the first movie. I love how they portrayed Egon's family and all the young actors were marvellous and Mckenna Grace captured Egon's spirit perfectly.

How great it was to see Peter, Ray and Winston reunited and I'll admit, I cried when they brought Egon back, utterly beautiful. And to have Janine and Dana too, albeit too briefly.

This movie had so much heart, kudos to Jason Reitman for that. Heart and fun.

I can't wait for the next one now. Especially the return of Walter Peck!

Call the Midwife (2012– )

Unrealistic depiction of British society

[2/10 · 14 January 2024]

I loved this show when it began, but it has slowly descended into a show to please box tickers and minority of viewers who demand no more shows that have all white or majority white casts and if you seriously think that this is an accurate description of Britain at the times depicted then think again.

As someone who grew up in the 60s I don't recognise it at all. All I see is the BBC producing a show to please the 'must have inclusivity, equality and diversity' crowd. I have tried to watch recent series, but, it's a fantasy and even the trailer is a fantasy. This is a classic example of a show where the producers and writers sit around a table and think up how to include the latest 21st century issue into a show set over 50 years ago.

Having read the original books and pleased at how close to them the original series were, I am disappointed this show has descended into a show simply to please the easily outraged.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

A tad overlong

[7/10 · 16 December 2023]

I remember going to see the very first Indiana Jones movie when it opened and it was such a blast. Temple Of Doom was a bit of a disappointment, but Last Crusade was back to cracking good form.

I haven't seen Crystal Skull, I just never got around to it as it came out during a time in my life where I had many distractions.

Anyway, I have a trial of Disney+ and decided that I'd watch Dial of Destiny. I wasn't expecting much as I always found Phoebe Waller Bridge so overrated in the awful Fleabag and to be honest, she genuinely is a very bland actress. However, I was very impressed with de-aging of Harrison Ford, I wonder if it was the work of that guy from YouTube, Shamook. The issue has always been in the eyes,they always seemed lifeless when actors are de-aged, but this wasn't an issue here.

It started well, but why oh why were the chases so long? Particularly the one in Tangiers. They really could have cut both chases down without losing anything. By the time it got to the crucial part when they time travelled I was flagging and Waller Bridge did not help as she is not that good an actress, especially with other writers' material or perhaps it was because there was no real clarity in Helena's motives. The rest of the cast were good though and the cameos were welcome.

Not a bad movie, on par with Temple of Doom, but it would take a lot to beat the first and third Indiana Jones movies. Still, it was a lot of fun and Mads Mikkleson, as usual, was a terrific bad guy. I have to say, I didn't buy Toby Jones' character either, they tried to make him a Marcus Brody type, but it didn't work.

Glad I've seen it, but not one I'll go out of my way to see again.

The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)

Playing fast and loose with history

[4/10 · 12 December 2023]

I have so looked forward to seeing this movie having seen exceprts from it over the years. However, what a huge disappointment as it was just a historical mess and if you know anything about Henry and his 6 wives then prepare to be annoyed.

Now, I'm fully aware of the liberties taken with historical biographies, but this was in a different league. First of all, Katherine of Aragon, married to Henry for 25 years is a single sentence and doesn't even appear. As for all the other wives? Anne Boleyn is sympathetically portrayed, but the other wives! Katherine Howard looks like she's in her 20s when she would have only been about 13 or 14 at the time of anne Boleyns execution, KH was only 22 when she was executed by the way. Jane Seymour is portrayed as an airhead and Anne of Cleves had me turning it off as it couldn't not have been more inaccurate, okay so they had her speaking English whne AoC could not speak a word of it and she is having a relationship with the chap Henry sent over when the real AoC was sheletered and innocent.

The four stars go to Charles Laughton's fabulous portrayal as Henry and the set design by Vincent Korda, but, this movie is just disappointing bilge.

Loki (2021–2023)

There is still some good things in the MCU

[10/10 · 16 November 2023]

I wonder how many of the negative reviewers who dissed the first couple of episodes stayed with this series to the end. I had no problems because I loved this from the start and was rewarded with a superb series that shows that the MCU can still come up with the goods provided they don't have an agenda to push and stick to entertaining the audience.

Every member of the cast was outstanding, there were some great twists and while complicated at times it was not overly complicated.

As for the ending, I had wondered how they would manage a satisfying one, but they did.

Sadly we shall see no more of Kang aka He Who Remains aka Victor Timely aka The Conquerer as they have decided not to do anything more with such a great villain for whatever reason they have. No, lets just make Marvel movies for the kiddoes to push the merch as in the case of The Young Avengers.

To all involved in Loki Series 2, I thank you as I have hope left that you will honor the great Stan Lee and stop messing up the franchise with TV shows and movies that are more interested in pleasing a minority who can't bear white male superheroes that made up the original comics and now wants to erase them with each new MCU production or want to push the message of the easily outraged minority.

Frasier (2023– )

Perhaps it's my age

[10/10 · 13 October 2023]

I am old enough to have watched Cheers from the first broadcasting of the first ever episode and then onto Frasier. Perhaps this is advantageous because I am old enough not to want the crude and overly political sitcoms of today that also bangs on about race, generally anti white (think Neighbourhood) or the ones set in an era that is nothing like how I remember it (think The Goldbergs and Son Of a Critch) No, Frasier 2023 had me laughing out loud, a rarity, and also near tears for it's poignancy. It shows how formulaic modern sitcoms are because I though John was going to be revealed as Freddie's boyfriend, but, who he actually was felt real. Both Freddie and David have been well thought out, Freddie has his father and mother's brains (and Lilith's biting wit) and his grandfather's desire to serve the community. David is simply Niles and Daphne's son, enough said, but, he could have been annoying, he isn't.

As for the new characters, a good mix and I felt good chemistry between the whole cast. Olivia is my kind of gal with her obsession with firefighters, Alan is dry and it's lovely to see Nicholas Lyndhurst show what an all round actor he is, and Eve is so likeable and brings it all together.

I hope they don't go the way of the Roseanne and Murphy Brown reboots and start being overly political. Frasier Crane was never a political animal in the original series and I'm sick to death of politics anyway. I thought it did a great job of establishing the characters in this first episode.

I'm looking forward to watching the next episode and I hope it carries on like this. I'm a happy camper.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Pass the tissues.

[10/10 · 18 August 2023]

This is the best thing from the MCU for quite a few years. It relied on an excellent storyline and not trying to tick boxes for diversity and inclusivity unlike some recent MCU films and TV shows.

A beautifully told story of how man treats other species and involving a wannabe god rather than an actual one as in the case of Ego. With the destruction of a planet's inhabitants because they were not 'perfect' is a reworking of the story of Noah's Ark, just to point out to those who think the story of mass murder in the Bible is cute.

If you didn't cry when Lila, Teeth and Floor were killed then you have not got a heart. It was also a message, not at all clumsy, about what we do to animals while claiming it is for our benefit, is disgusting.

When you have a cast of different ethnicities and races and you don't notice it then the film makers have it right and they certainly did in this movie.

My faith in the MCU has been restored temporarily, although I doubt for very long. Loki Season 2 is our next best hope.

Fire of Love (2022)

Disappointing

[5/10 · 21 July 2023]

I have been aware of Maurice and Katia Krafft for long before their untimely deaths and I was looking forward to watching this documentary to learn more about them and their contribution to the science of volcanology.

What a disappointing documentary. It just left me with feeling that they were just volcano tourists, travelling to one after another with Maurice, in particular, more interested in stunts than science. You feel if there had been YouTube in their lifetime they would have a monetised channel to pay for trips just showing them pratting around yet another volcano and trying to kid us they were informing us of important things very much like those ones of people at Walt Disney World filming themselves and claiming to be educational.

There was no real mention of their scientific discoveries in the field of volcanology, I'm sure there must have been many.

A very disatisfying documentary, just a glorified home movie with an annoyingly whispered narration giving the impression they were adrenaline junkies rather than serious scientists, especially Maurice and that perhaps Katia was so besotted with him she just followed blindly.

This documentary does no favours to their reputations as serious vulcanologists.

The Tillman Story (2010)

Shocking and disturbing

[9/10 · 3 July 2023]

Pat Tillman was a hero, simple as that, he didn't have to enlist , but his country was more important to him than an illustrious fooltball career and how did that country return that sacrifice? By lying and not respecting his Atheism.

This documentary leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when you see Rumsfeld and the assorted generals showing absolute cowardice in playing the old 'I don't recall' or 'I don't remember' card at the committee that looked into Pat Tillman's murder and the chair of the committee just allowing them to not only get away with it, but, allowing them to 'correct' the final statement, which was odd seeing as they did not recall or remember those dates when questioned. Then to see them laughing and joking and probably congratulating each other as they stood up was sickening.

The bravest person, after Pat Tillman's death was his youngest brother Richard. What he said in response to the religious platitudes spouted by the likes of John McCain will stay with me forever, because he was right, his brother was dead, not in some imaginary afterlife invented by those who can't deal with the reality of our short existance on this planet. And Pat Tillman's bravery is magnified by the fact he didn't believe in some glorious afterlife if he was killed in action, he believed in his country and they let him down.

Pat Tillman was murdered and so would have any of those who were on the hillside with him had they died too. Murdered by poorly trained gun happy soldiers led by officers without a clue.

Be prepared to feel angry if you watch this.

The Change (2023– )

More sanitised comedy about the menopause.

[2/10 · 28 June 2023]

I knew exactly what to expect when I watched this, but, who knows I could be wrong and it's a tidy little cast.

Well, turns out this is yet another sanitised, 'uplifting' bunch of nonsense about being an older woman and the menopause. Hot flushes depicted as 'Ooh, I'm hot and forgetful' and fans herself gently with her hand. Then she gets on her motorbike and heads off on an odyssey, although I would do the same if Jerome Flynn featured in it.

Sadly, for many women, myself included, the menopause is a complete sow, sure my memory is as good as ever, small mercies, but, hot flushes aren't as Christie depicts for many of us, they are more like something from the depths of Hades, overwhelming waves of suffocating internal heat. Nor does she mention itchy skin, headaches, joint pain and fatigue. But, there is no comedy to be had from that. The problem is that this gives a misleading image of the menopause and the doctor with his bicycle helmet still on? Seriously?

Decent observational comedy is dead in the UK, if you are a woman or bame and you write a 'comedy' then you are automatically the greatest comedy writer ever! Even if what you write is rubbish and this is rubbish.

If you are a woman struggling with menopause, I know we are all big babies who should suck it up, then don't watch this, it's annoyingly unrealistic. And, quite frankly, it's tedious anyway.

Encanto (2021)

Messy opening, but, gets better

[6/10 · 20 June 2023]

It took me a long time to get around to watching Encanto. I did try about a year ago, but, the opening, especially the first song was messy and cluttered and I gave up. This time I stuck with it and it's a nice little film, but, flawed. Firstly it has too many songs and many are forgettable and let's be honest, Lin Manuel Miranda is no Sherman Brothers or Alan Menken and Howard Ashman and Disney can use him as much as they like, but, his songs all sound the same.

I also noticed something odd about this film and I'm probably the only one who thinks this, but, many characters felt recycled from other films, Abuela is exactly the same type grandmother as the one in Coco. Augustin looked like they reused Maui (Moana) and Isabella reminded me too much of Rapunzel, not to mention one of the kids reminded me of Dash Parr, it's as if they reused the software that created these original characters. Even the tree in Antonio's room looked like the Tree of Life from Animal Kingdom.

Well, having sat through the opening 20 minutes and resisting the urge to give up, especially when they said Mirabel had no gift and all I could think was that girl may not have magic, but, she has a gift for crafting, it started to pick up although I was disappointed the toucan didn't stay as Mirabel's companion, I liked him. In the end it was a nice little movie, but, like so many recent Disney offerings, both animated and live action, it was nothing special. The kiddoes may enjoy it, but, I can see those who have short attention spans losing interest in it because the opening is rambling and convoluted. And it's biggest fault was having way too many songs that added nothing to the movie except credits for the incredibly overrated Mr Miranda. And I simply cannot believe people think they should have an Encanto themed ride at the Disney parks.

All I can say is that I've seen it, it's not memorable it felt like it had no heart and soul and incredibly rehashed from other sources.

6 out of 10 for Bruno's rats.

Connections (1978)

Still superb

[10/10 · 9 June 2023]

There is a dearth of decent programming on UK TV so I have been working my way through my DVD collection. I found this series that I purchased from a charity shop along with accompanying book.

What can I say? It is a brilliant piece of TV and apart from James Burke's suit it is not dated at all.

It's entertaining, educational and riveting. Yes, they are still making documentaries today, but, the style of presenting has changed, some in particular, no names mentioned, make it more about them. Not Burke, like David Attenborough, he is like the old style school teacher, more about informing and educating than dressing up or being flashy or a personality.

The 70s were a golden age of documentary making and this is another example that stands the test of time.

1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year (2023)

Salacious and typical of modern documentaries.

[2/10 · 5 May 2023]

I was hoping to see a documentary about what is considered, and actually is, the greatest year for movies in Hollywood history. I was hoping it would discuss the movies that didn't get as much attention as the more well known ones, but, were equally as good. However, this was a rehashing of things that are well known already and there was nothing new or interesting. We all know about the studio's mistreatment of Judy Garland and the abhorrent treatment of Hattie McDaniels* and yet again, the insinuation that Cary Grant and Randolph Scott were a gay couple when it has come to light in recent times that their bachelor pad had a lot of female visitors.

If you are genuinely a film buff ignore this rubbish and just seek out the movies made in 1939 that you may not have heard of, my first suggestion woul be a personal favourite 'Midnight' starring Don Ameche and Claudette Colbert or perhaps The Women, which features an entire cast of just women. Or the delightful Ninotchka.

*I wonder how many of those disgusted by the treatment of Hattie McDaniels in 1939 demanded Disney remove another of her movies from public view. I'm talking of 'Song Of The South'. Double standards maybe.

Great Expectations (2023)

Dreadful, simply dreadful

[1/10 · 3 April 2023]

I actually don't know where to begin. I have given up on it now and I think I only stuck with it so long to see if it could get worse and it managed it.

This is the result of modern laptop jockeys who think they are better than Charles Dickens and that he needs to be rewritten and his stories need extra added inclusivity, foul language and sex and drugs references. Hint - THEY DON'T!! Dickens is regarded as one of the greatest British authors for a good reason, because he was. His novels and serial stories in magazines highlighted social injustice of the time,something millennials, Gen X and Gen Z have no understanding of.

Just do yourself a favour and watch David Lean's sublime production instead of this modernised pile of steaming horse manure.

1923: Nothing Left to Lose (2023) Season 1, Episode 8

Becoming unwatchable.

[1/10 · 26 February 2023]

The quality of this show has dropped in recent episodes, but, this episode had me turning it off halfway through.

The plot involves Alex and Spencer on a luxury liner sailing from Italy to England and her former fiance is also on the boat. He apparently lives in the 18th Century and the dialogue in the ballroom is laughable, for a moment I thought I was watching Blackadder. But, no, sadly this is meant to be high drama instead of slapstick comedy that it ended up as. I gave up when the sequence ended as it was so stupid to beggar belief.

Taylor Sheridan clearly thinks that he can write any old rubbish and because of his name people will be full of praise and ignore the fact that it is tosh. He has even introduced an interracial marriage, illegal in 1920s Montana, just out of the blue and with a saucy shower scene that has no relevance to the plot.

Please stop! The glorified violence is too much, all those whippings on the prostitute that barely injures her, she is even able to get up and walk with no issues after them and not a mark in sight. Teonna's perfect white teeth, none missing or chipped despite all the beating to the face and head she has had. It's the sanitised violence that gets me angry, if they feel the need to show this then make it look real with make up to show the real consequences of horrible violence.

I don't know if I will go back after turning it off when Spencer was sent to the 'brig'. It's just difficult to enjoy something so full of flaws and goofs. And please get extras who aren't looking at the camera or pretending badly to play a violin.

1923 (2022–2023)

Very slow moving and drawn out.

[3/10 · 26 February 2023]

I have just learned that this is just the first season and there is going to be a second one. So, I had a good think about my review in light of this and the final episode of this season and I am changing my review on reflection.

I asked myself did I actually enjoy this as much as I initially thought, but, I realised I hadn't. From Jerome Flynn's terrible accent from episode one to the shambolic nonsense the the series meandered to in episode eight I realised I spent a lot of my time being distracted by all the goofs, plot holes and poorly researched errors. Add those to the gratuitous and sanitised violence, the pointless nudity and sex scenes and it is just a hot mess.

Episode eight hit the bottom of the barrel. From prostitutes being whipped with a belt to within an inch of their life and yet displaying no injuries, not even stiffness or pain when getting off the bed and whipping her fellow prostitute, why are they even there? They aren't prisoners so why don't they just leave? To the utter stupidity of the final scenes on the luxury line, where did Spencer and Alex even get that money from to get the tickets, let alone a luxury suite and clothing? And as for her former fiance? Was he from the 18th century and he's supposed to be a member of the Royal Family because he has the title Earl of Sussex, or at least I thought he was until the older Arthur was referred to as the Earl of Sussex and then they called Alex the Countess of Sussex, why? She was wasn't married to the younger Arthur and also, having a title doesn't make you a member of the Royal Family. Then there was the duel, oh, bwah haha! Absolute silliness, I actually stopped watching at the point young Arthur was thrown overboard and Spencer was put in the brig.

It's just a load of baloney with a big name cast. And let's not forget the biggest distraction, those pearly white teeth on every member of the cast, Teonna, savagely beaten around the face and head time and again and not one chipped, cracked, broken or missing tooth. And for me the most offensive thing was Elizabeth losing her baby and that ridiculous scene of her and Jack behaving like they'll never have anymore children because she suffered one early miscarriage. Awful and completely inaccurate.

And now we have another storyline of the illegal interracial couple, introduced right at the end of episode eight. You feel that Taylor Sheridan was given the go ahead for a second season around the time of filming episode five or six and he completely rewrote the script for the remaining episodes to draw things out and add in new and pointless storylines and it shows.

Sometimes a writer develops a big ego and thinks everything he creates is pure gold. Sadly for Taylor Sheridan this is nothing more than Iron Pyrite.

The Threepenny Opera (1931)

Worth the wait.

[8/10 · 9 January 2023]

This has been on my list of movies that I have really wanted to see and I finally got a chance to see it and it was worth the wait.

First of all, I just want to say that the casting of Rudolph Forster as Mackie Messer was perfect, he displayed the menace and charisma of the character that would compel those around him to do his bidding without question. The rest of the cast was also excellent and the setting and direction was first class, atmospheric and believable. My only real quibble was the constant talk of the Queen's coronation, I am presuming this was a fictional queen because the setting was decidedly not early Victorian. But highly enjoyable and subtitles have never bothered me.

Very happy to have finally seen it and will probably watch it again.

1883 (2021–2022)

Could have been a 10, but...

[9/10 · 29 December 2022]

Something different from all the cop, hospital and woke shows that seem to dominate TV today. I haven't seen Yellowstone yet, but, this intrigued me.

First of all, kudos for getting things right 90% of the time, unshaved armpits for example, but, as mentioned in the goofs, why didn't they do something about the ridiculously gleaming white, to the point of glowing in the dark, teeth? It was incredibly distracting in the first few episodes until you got used to it, although at times you did get reminded of it. How much would a bit of yellowing make up cost, or did the vanity of the main stars prevent them from having their teeth look so shiny white and straight.

It did feel like it lost its way at times, the parents were a bit to free and easy with Elsa's behaviour. However, I thought Thomas and Neomi's storyline was great, two people who suffered prejudice bonding over the shared experience.

I did find Elsa's narration pretentious at times and it felt like they had borrowed it from 'Days of Heaven', a highly recommended movie.

Sam Elliot, as usual, was fantastic, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were better than expected and it was pretty well perfectly acted. Although the Lakota warrior who spoke English felt a bit fake, I don't know why, but, it just did. I also got fed up with the way Elsa was made out to be some kind of horse genius and a 'warrior', it seemed to focus on how wonderful she was when the character was a bit of a brat.

Anyway, that and the teeth lost it a point. I'm now looking forward to 1923 before starting on Yellowstone.

Final thought, in the age of colour casting and having quotas of minorities in shows to fill it was refreshing to see a bit of reality. This is not meant as a racist observation, but, keeping history of the time real.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

A sign of the times.

[5/10 · 30 October 2022]

I decided to watch Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 back to back. I'm not sure if that was such a good idea as it did illustrate how Disney's attitude to entertainment has changed between the years between the movies.

First of all, The Sanderson Sisters are the best thing in this movies as was Billy Butcherson, but, everything else was meh. Everything has to be about diversity and inclusivity these days and not about entertainment as far as Disney are concerned. Drag Queen Sanderson sisters, Salem being the most diverse city on the planet and more preaching than at a Sunday morning church service, particularly clumsy was Mike being told he was being a bully and of course he is immediately repentant.

There was none of the humour or charm of the original and it was tedious at times, the only bright spots were when the Sanderson Sisters were there. And whay about the huge plug for a certain pharmacy chain! Hardly subtle.

It had it's moments, the roombas for example, but, they were few and far between and, to be fair, it was enjoyable to a degree, but, while the original movie is a must watch on Halloween, this movie is a one time only as far as I'm concerned. Come on Disney, stop being so heavy handed in trying to please every single 'community' and concentrate on the enjoyment factor instead of ticking all the boxes required by the millennials. Disney missed an opportunity to make a sequel featuring such great characters as the Sanderson Sisters by putting wokeism before entertainment.

The Conners (2018–2025)

The Darlene Show.

[1/10 · 29 October 2022]

This show should be renamed 'Darlene' as it's mainly about the most miserable, sour person on TV.

The reboot started well, but, it has clearly run out of ideas. It's now just a miseryfest starring Darlene, all the other characters are just padding. What happened to DJ and his permanently deployed wife, the woman who could could challenge Darlene for spiteful sourness in her few very brief appearances.

Yes, families have challenges, but, they complain about having no money while quaffing endless beers from the fridge.

Young Sheldon is currently portraying a family in crisis too, but, they have managed to retain the humor while tugging at the heart strings. Perhaps 'The Conners' should employ Chuck Lorre as their head writer.

Bob Fosse: It's Showtime! (2019)

If you love Fosse like I love Fosse then don't watch this.

[1/10 · 28 October 2022]

I adore Bob Fosse, a genius whose style is unique and timeless. So I sat down to watch this with the hope of watching a bio about the man and instead we have people like Louse Redknapp, a pop singer who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, Will Young, who I believe has theatre experience, but, is best know for being the first winner of Pop Idol and Jason Solomons, who is a rent a gob film reviewer and go to interviewee for entertainment. I think I know more about Bob Fosse than the three of them combined.

It was a terrible 'documentary' an insult to Bob and all he achieved. Please don't waste your time, go to YouTube and watch videos of the man himself and of his choreography, better still, go watch his work from 'My Sister Eileen', the dancing duel with Tommy Rall is a delight, 'Kiss Me Kate' again he and Tommy Rall are wonderful and all the movies he choreographed and directed. 'Cabaret' is fantastic, years ahead of it's time and the performances he got from the actors are outstanding.

Enough of these documentaries that are more about the people saying stuff than the subject matter themselves.

Awful.

Welcome to Wrexham (2022– )

Bendigedig

[9/10 · 27 August 2022]

When I was a little girl I loved soccer and loved Wrexham. As time went on my tastes changed and soccer wasn't so important.

However, my interest was piqued when it was reported Wrexham AFC was bought by these two guys . However, my concern, on learning they were going to make it into a documentary, was it was going to be of interest to them only for that reason. I'm hoping I'm wrong.

So far I have loved this more than expected and I'm rooting for Wrexham again. There's a little too much effing and jeffing for my taste as I would have liked to seen this being suitable for all ages. But, Rob seems very emotionally invested while Ryan does strike me as being a bit more of the business side of things and as a monetary investment for him.

Still, the best part its it is not being patronising or mean to the Welsh people, seeing the Welsh language featured so prominently is particularly pleasing. And best of all, it feels real and not staged.

I wonder if Ryan and Rob have looked into seeing if they have Welsh links on a personal level. Rob, in particular, as there are many Welsh links in Pennsylvania. Bryn Mawr is a welsh name and many West Walians went over and the towns of Narberth and Haverford(west) are in both Pembrokeshire and Pennsylvania.

Anyway, looking forward to the rest of the series.