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ritafair
Reviews
11.22.63 (2016)
I would have liked it more if I hadn't read the book first (spoilers)
The series started out well. A few things were different from the book but I accepted that it was necessary to condense the story. The audiobook requires 30 hours of narration! But if they were going to leave things out, why include a negligible appearance like the yellow ticket man. Best to leave it out entirely if you can't give due development. (Note: I hadn't seen the last episode when I wrote this. He does tie in at the end.). The first half was okay to good though again, giving a passing glance to situations that needed to be developed. The introduction of a sidekick was unexpected, but that seemed to work at first. The second half became a mishmash of hasty events mixed among slow-paced plodding ones. For example, students at the school play a huge part in the book but hardly appear at all. The romance, though charming, took up more of the story than it needed to. As a result, the development of a very interesting character, Mimi, did not happen. A lot that made the original story compelling didn't happen. The lead actor did not fit the role. Perhaps the series was doomed by trying to fit this complex and compelling story in 8 episodes. I loved the settings, the cars, the fashions. The ending was good and did tie up the series nicely.
The Witcher (2019)
Season 2. Too much plot. Too much dialogue. Too many characters....
....basically too much. Too much back and forth in locations and story lines. A promising story begun in Season 1 was turned into a muddled mess in Season 2. Why is a good story with great characters and fine acting written in such an unnecessarily confused way? Disappointing.
The Comeback Trail (2020)
Enjoyable light movie
This movie doesn't take itself seriously and that's why it's fun and very enjoyable. Too many movies try too hard to make some sort of social commentary. This one simply entertains. Recommended.
World's Most Dangerous Roads (2011)
Enjoyed but Silly in Parts
The Siberia episode was very interesting because of the history and scenery, but the drivers were particularly inept. Or they got stuck on purpose to add more drama. The Alaska, Nepal and Peru episodes were better with challenging sections of road and conditions. I really enjoyed the photography, information on culture and history. The driver teams were occasionally quite funny.
Follow up: As I watch more episodes I find myself cringing at some of the comments by the drivers. They are sometimes dismissive and occasionally sarcastic about the people and culture. They sound shallow and uninformed.
Second follow up. Subsequent episodes (Madagascar and Bolivia) redeem the series.
Audrey (2020)
That horrible music...
...did not stop. I couldn't stand it and quit watching.
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Once I gave up believing this was about Mary and Elizabeth...(mild spoilers)
...I was free to try to enjoy this movie. I enjoyed parts but I had to bite my tongue through a great deal of it. I resent the opportunism of using famous characters to sell a movie with an agenda that has nothing to do with history. If you're going to fictionalize a story, go all the way and create fiction characters. The settings were good, as were the costumes. The story was okay but sometimes became confusing as huge chunks of time were condensed in a few scenes. All the Scots were bearded, had long hair and shouted which made it hard to distinguish among them. Mary was well-acted and engaging and Elizabeth's role was as well played as possible given a bad script. Making Elizabeth into a clown caricature was graceless and unfair. This was supposed to enhance the contrast between the two queens--the one youthful and beautiful all the way to her death, and the other hideous and a survivor but at great cost. My reaction was a kind of horrified disbelief which deflected from the dialogue and the drama of their meeting--a meeting which never actually occurred.
The Trip to Greece (2020)
Stupefyingly boring
Two guys nattering annoyingly while the beauty of Greece is virtually ignored.
Bhutan: The Snowman's Trek (2018)
Great photography but SO much complaining
The photography and scenery were beautiful. Otherwise I would have given this one star (because I can't give a zero). It became tedious to listen complaints about the pace, or the horsemen or the guides. Such little respect for the people, the culture and the country.