HowardB70 Reviews

The Veil (2024)

Why all the low ratings? Really good so far...

[8/10 · 4 May 2024]

What's with all the low ratings? I'm really enjoying this series so far, only 2 episodes in. As the synopsis summary indicates, "Follows the relationship between two women playing a deadly game of truth and lies" is the key here, primarily on the two main characters talking and probing each other to ascertain the truth and lies - simple. The dialog is good, the scenery great, the story so far is interesting.

Unsure why some reviewers have given it a low rating, as it's slowly revealing some really interesting dynamics. It's not a slow burn, but you do have to listen to the dialog, and there is a lot of it, so you also have to concentrate a bit to follow the positioning and the story's twists and turns, which is a good thing, as not everything is spoon fed to the viewer as with some other series these days.

I really only know Elisabeth Moss from The Handmaid's Tale series, which I also enjoyed. Her rather quirky and bordering unhinged character promises to be interesting. Again there are comments about her English accent - there is nothing wrong with it! Stop focussing on such specific detail and simply enjoy the acting, the character development, the scenery and the story as it unfolds...

There's a bit of everything so far and I'm actually really enjoying it. Role on episode 3!

Beyond Paradise (2023– )

Stick to solving cases, not the un-needed drama!

[2/10 · 31 March 2024]

I was looking forward to this spin-off series - although Humphrey wasn't my favourite DI in Death in Paradise, the mystery series' who-dunnit cases were generally really good, as were the sub-plots - rather quirky and entertaining if nothing else.

Beyond Paradise is a simple fail for me - the cases themselves are okay but have become the sub-plot, and the majority of the airtime is around the woes of Martha, her shop, her ex-fiance and her drama-filled feelings - this feels to me not so much a spin-off of Humphrey as a DI, but a spin-off of Martha and her drama... basically very annoying and not very entertaining at all.

I tolerated the first season, and by the end I put up the white flag. When season 2 was announced, I though that the whole baby-thing was done with, so tried the first episode - well, not much has changed and there's a new path being walked now with Martha...

Unfortunately another potentially excellent who-dunnit show ruined by un-needed drama that does nothing for the story, and over-shadows the mystery and case-solving that should be the primary story.

Boat Story (2023)

So far enjoying it, 2 episodes in

[9/10 · 26 November 2023]

I don't understand some of the negative reviews - yes, you'll either love it or hate it - but watch it for what it is - I love it so far; very different and thoroughly enjoyable.

For me, the Tarantino-esque over-the-top violence and Lock Stock-like ineptitude and daftness of some situations/characters is what I enjoy about it so far. Yes there is violence, yes the plot is unrealistic, yes the dialog is sometimes corny, yes the characters could have been written better, but it's simply good fiction and a good plot so far, so watch it for what it is...a dark comedic thriller.

Although only 2 episodes in, I really cannot wait for the remaining episodes!

Mayfair Witches (2023– )

Umm, no...

[2/10 · 24 January 2023]

The reviews here seemed fair and above average, so gave this a go. I haven't read the books, but really enjoyed other Anne Rice adaptations - this however, what can I say - when they say "based on" that's a stretch; very, very, very loosely based on, maybe. Who wrote this? Terrible writing, dialog is awful, story flow is like the investment markets graph, up and down - just no, no, no. The actors I did see seemingly managed to try and deliver the dialog with some dignity, hence the 2 stars, but my wife and I simply looked at each other, switched it off and deleted the first 3 episodes after only 15 minutes into the first episode.

A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)

Rather depressing...

[6/10 · 27 December 2022]

I was really hoping for a similar feel-good follow-up to the original, however, it was quite depressing with very little up-beat feeling. The story was fair and there were many nods to the original. Really enjoyed seeing some of the original cast back. I would watch it again, but not every Christmas; the original is a Christmas Eve tradition for us now - this one, not so much. I was really expecting some more laughs, light-heartedness and most importantly, the re-appearance of the old man's leg lamp (from the second movie), but sadly not. A good try, but not a hit - I actually felt quite down after watching it; something I was not expecting...

The Santa Clauses (2022–2023)

Was looking forward to this...let down, dumbed down...

[2/10 · 21 December 2022]

I don't recall ever having reviewed anything here, but felt I had to on this one. I started watching this with no expectations, particularly given the very mixed reviews. I really enjoyed the first two Santa Clause movies and watch them most years during the Festive Season; the third movie was thinning and have not watched it again. From the start of episode one of this series, I just felt that everything was being dumbed down and explained to me in a very shouty manner, as though I was an utter moron that could not think for himself; furthermore, some of the chosen "funny scenes" were simply not Christmassy nor appropriate, like the elf puking glitter after getting seemingly over-excited... simply not needed imo. After 15-odd minutes, the acting in general was so forced and wooden and utterly playing on my nerves; then at about the 20-minute mark the dialog simply became too much to continue. Noting the first episode was only 30 minutes long, I decided to bite the bullet, put on my big boy panties and let it run to the end. Well, all I can say is that I was very disappointed - I've not watched any further episodes and even if there was absolutely nothing else on earth to watch, I still wouldn't watch the remaining 5 episodes. Unsure how this all went wrong, but this is my honest review as a 50-year old who thoroughly enjoyed the first two movies.