The trailers for this film focused on the humour which clashed with me, it fell way short and looked like a badly written slapstick. However it is far more substantial than that. It is a war movie filled with characters written with the actors in mind as a team mission adventure in the vein of Guns of Navarone and The Sea Wolves. To be honest I only wish that it had less of the female spy part and more of the fearless Dirty Dozen type adventurers. If the female spy part had been dropped I feel it would have hit harder. As it is I still feel it's a throw back jaunt that just fractionally falls short....
Reviews
5 Reviews
Night Hunter
(2018)
Solid, well cast, and dark thriller
1 September 2021
Other ratings on here put this as straight to video fodder, however nothing could be further from the truth. Certain aspects could have been explored more however it keeps you captivated and Kingsley and Cavill put in good stints as key roles. The show is stolen by an outstanding performance by Brendan Fletcher who's performance is key. I also loved the dark turgid atmosphere created by the characters and the cinematography. I find myself actually wishing there was a sequel as there is so much character development and story left unexplored.
Endeavour
(2012–2023)
The difficult first of the 'real' series is an amazing success
15 April 2013
After the surprisingly well handled one-off prequel, Shaun Evans is back as the young detective Endeavour Morse. Just like the original series with John Thaw, its success hinges on the charisma and personality of the lead character. Here Evans excels and carries the whole thing off handsomely. His performance portrays obvious knowledge and classical moral values but also an eager curiosity, drive and a naive humility which reminds us throughout this episode that he is a new recruit of sorts. The only issue I could find to quibble with is the almost Sherlockian mythology that has been added. In the original he was a knowledgeable and sharp police detective whereas here he is very much the deductive crime-fighter. As a Conan Doyle fan I do approve a little of the mythologizing but it needs to keep its roots with the original and down to earth.
Elementary
(2012–2019)
Keep it so that only Holmes and his keen logical mind could have solved the crime otherwise its pointless.
7 November 2012
As long time Sherlock fan of books/ Rathbone films and even BBC Sherlock, I was a little skeptical of this NY incarnation. Especially with the gimmick driven female Watson. Having watched the first few episodes however I am pleasantly surprised. The show is carried and carried well by the charisma and scruffy charm of Johnny Lee Miller, who convinces as the eccentric mental powerhouse who has his fair share of weaknesses both socially and physically. Watson does better as a woman than I would have thought and Aidan Quinn is just as brilliant as a police chief in this as he was in the undeservedly canceled Prime Suspect.
However, I did notice a worrying trend in a recent episode of lessening his deductive powers and in essence having him just follow clues as any normal detective. I hope with all sincerity that this series doesn't cheapen into a regular detective show with gimmicky moments highlighting his powers. i.e. Solving the crime as anyone would through normal police procedure and filling the gaps with inane deductive showcases.
Keep it so that only Holmes and his keen logical mind could have solved the crime otherwise its pointless.
However, I did notice a worrying trend in a recent episode of lessening his deductive powers and in essence having him just follow clues as any normal detective. I hope with all sincerity that this series doesn't cheapen into a regular detective show with gimmicky moments highlighting his powers. i.e. Solving the crime as anyone would through normal police procedure and filling the gaps with inane deductive showcases.
Keep it so that only Holmes and his keen logical mind could have solved the crime otherwise its pointless.
Reign of Fire
(2002)
Great look, feel and set up but ultimately end feels shortchanged and small in scope.
26 August 2012
The movie begins well by setting up a type of post-apocalyptic world created and haunted by flying dragons. They work well the reasoning behind the fiery destruction and the characters that form the resistance are interesting. You start to feel the fear and tension in the beginning of the movie and the cold barren location adds to the cold isolated atmosphere. The movie progresses well and new characters appear in the form of trained and technologically gifted Americans lead by the intriguing yet OTT Mcconaughey. It shakes up the narrative positively enough but the mood turns from that of a tense resistance film to straight action, and this is where it falls down. In changing from tension to action you as the viewer really want to see things cranked up with a series of battles culminating into a massive war for the survival of mankind.... This however does not appear and a plot shortcut keeps things low key and underdone near the end. It promises much then cranks up the tempo and it seems to run out of either time, money or effort. It is still a worthy addition to my movie collection but it really could have been a barren epic of human resistance and the battle for survival....it could have been so much better.
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