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grahamheather-65603
Reviews
Yellowjackets (2021)
Can't believe I forgot to actually rate one of my top shows ever!?
Yellowjackets is imo tv gold. I have never before seen a show written with such intelligence and with such emphasis given to individual character development. A psychiatrist would have a field day watching the personalities on display here. This show blows everything else out of the water in that regard. 'The wilds' is also a good show and will invariably be compared to yellowjackets given the topic, but yellowjackets has the edge, great acting, great loveable (and hateable at the same time) characters. TV doesn't get any better for those who like to watch complex and complicated personality types. I can only pray season 2 is as perfect as season 1.
From (2022)
Boring, like the walking dead became...
I found this show dull and boring, all talk no action, no interesting characters to invest in, no personalities, no character development. The creatures, (which we saw virtually nothing of in their horrific form), were cool and their aftermath brutal, but their presence sorely lacking throughout the series. I like pulse pounding horror, this is not that.... this is people talking...and talking...really not sure why this is rated so highly as I switched off numerous times to make tea, throw a wash in, feed the cat etc.
The Wilds (2020)
Gritty and interesting concept...
I'm a female in my 40's, and finally getting to see shows I wished I had in my early teens, and twenties. I really enjoyed this. I can envisage comparisons being drawn with this and 'yellowjackets', which I am also loving, but both have their own strengths and are quite different in execution. I tend to like female led shows, lots of simmering tensions, emotions running high...yes they are all young women but we shouldn't write it off as just another teen show, given we were all teens at one stage, it does a disservice to the writers and actors. I hope season 2 does not focus on the 'other scenario' revealed at the end, taking place on the other island but that it completes the story from the girls perspective. Really enjoyed it, diverse characters and interesting concept. Well done, can't wait for more.
Chucky (2021)
A dying franchise saved from the brink...
I had such low expectations for this series given some of the awful films from the franchise, (though it did perk up momentarily with 'curse of chucky' imo). This series made me love chucky again. Its almost like they listened to the fans and followed their advice. Chucky is funny, end of, his one liners make the chucky series great and to me that's what always made him watchable...i loved all the previous characters/actors returns too. Die hard fans are, I'm sure, as delighted as I was to see them return to the storyline. The fact that Brad Dourif returned to voice him gave me goosebumps. Devon Sawa from the first final destination movie appears, some music from the shining and I'm sure some other nods to horror movies that I've missed. Either way I'm glad to see my much loved 'chucky' restored to greatness.... World domination is no doubt next on his to do list.....loved it!
Assassination Nation (2018)
Unique and original
It took me a while to get into this, the overly loud soundtrack didn't help. But I have now watched it 3 times. It, to me is a horror film without the 'proverbial' monsters, just people being people I guess. It makes you think, and worry about the future and feel sorry for all kids involved in the mire of social media. Glad I'm out of that age range for sure. Start was a bit slow but action packed for last 57 mins. Highly recommend if you like movies that make you think.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1989)
Rediscovering the past in 2021
I have been watching a lot of my old favourites recently and I can't heap enough praise on this adaptation. I'm not a great reader, but this bbc show was just brilliant. The acting, everything. Geraldine McEwan and Charlotte Coleman were both outstanding. The first episode was so funny and endearing, the soundtrack happy and upbeat, a young Emily Aston just lovely, but you knew darker things were to come, how could they not? People don't like to see others happy when they are miserable themselves it seems. I think every school syllabus should have had a book like this included instead of the usual boring heteronomative drivel I was forced to read waay back in the 80's when I was struggling with my sexuality myself. Brilliant show back then and is just as brilliant today.
Lez Bomb (2018)
Lez 'bomb' says it all...
I'm sure the legalities around production/distribution of this and 'happiest season' were very interesting!!! Happiest season (aka depressing season) seems to be a basic awful replica of yet another awful film, ie this. I advise any gay women out there seek out 'desert hearts', 'but I'm a cheerleader', 'elena undone', 'freeheld' etc...and the many other numerous oldies that are still more relevant and uplifting than these films being churned out now under the gay rom/com umbrella...both these identical films are (possibly imo) offensive to any lesbian out there...the language of all male characters in the cast was derogatory and condescending and predatory in nature....this is not humourous, so the incessant lesbian erasure continues.....pairing lesbians with bisexual characters is just an excuse to bring in yet more offensive male characters making jokes about fish and beef....yawn. sorry I thought we were in 2021 and above gross school boy jokes...
Tell It to the Bees (2018)
Interesting and emotional...
I'm not sure how this one got past me, but I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I get slight ptsd watching films like this set in the not too distant past. I feel so overwhelmed by the daily misery wonderful, caring, compassionate, intelligent, people suffered over their entire lifetime, just for being gay, it's heartbreaking, can you imagine the pain and trauma of having to live your life in fear? It's easy to understand how the daily stress would inevitably lead to mental health issues. The film was interesting and the end not as bleak as it probably would have been if this film was made 10 years ago,as everything 'lesbian' was quite grim until recently. Acting was good by everyone, though I have to say Anna Paquin (the Dr) is not a great actress imo but did a fairly good Scottish accent. Sexual tension builds, but you can see how the Dr tries to fight her feelings for the boys mother as she knows it will just cause pain and trouble for all, then there is the young son who talks to the bees, which is quite charming. I found the bee sequences fascinating and humans should take note of our destruction of the bee population and the impact it will eventually have on us. This was a film about good decent people being vilified by nasty people, and it happens every day around the world. Cinematography, sound, all that stuff on mark too. Recommended (by a gay woman).
Supernatural (2005)
Still not sure about the finale..(spoilers)
I have to say the finale still has me torn. Supernatural was great TV for about 5 seasons, (let's be honest). I loved the early brothers and their monsters of the week tales, but they got through them pretty quick, then it descended into dross, angel's,demons, prophet's, chuck, reapers, death, god, blah blah....awful, but I still loved the brothers and the early ensemble cast, they were great characters and I was clearly more invested than I realised when it all ended. I have cried over the last episode, more than once and at inopportune times, I hated it, loved it, hated it again. I haven't been so moved by one hour of, not even very good tv, for a long time. The use of music was exceptionally good..mixing both versions of 'wayward son' was just genius. (Check out neoni) I just can't believe everyone basically died. At least joss whedon brought buffy back and let her go off into the wide blue yonder....not sure why they didn't end it at episode 19 as that had all the flashbacks of previous characters in it and all was good at the end...the characters deserved much better than the writers could give them. Someone needs to get the dream team of writers behind buffy and angel together to bring us the next great show , cos there is NOTHING else decent out there now...
Motherland: Fort Salem (2020)
Finally! An original concept..
I have been waiting for a show like this for A LONG time. It's original, unique, non formulaic and is well paced. I have binged season 1 and don't think there was a filler episode anywhere. This has the potential to be great if they sustain the standard of this season. I love supernatural shows but so many are not good, but I watch anyway, feeling less than enthralled most times, but here we have something incredible. Yes, I am female and gay and a horror fan so naturally it's going to tick a lot of boxes but it is well written and has a high production look about it that other shows lack. Long may this show continue. The only reason i'm giving it an 8 out of 10 is the lack of good one liners to lighten the mood...(long live buffy!) And also the ridiculous idea that witches would ever help the US Government patriarchal war machine!! Maybe they will come to their senses in season 2! ...I also noticed no use of social media which was a welcome change...plus no dodgy twilight romantic drivel...good show..keep it up! Please!