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peter-w
Reviews
Nova: Galileo's Battle for the Heavens (2002)
Marvellous depiction of early science
Simon Callow shines in this excellent NOVA production. It is very sympathetic to Galileo's struggle to construct a scientific view of the universe. We hear from modern experts and follow his progress towards the observation that the earth revolves about the sun, thereby coming into conflict with the political power of the time, the dreadful roman catholic church, which maintained that the sun revolved around the earth. This lead to his downfall as the faith bound church slapped him down.
It is clear that Galileo was not backward in coming forward, so we see him also as a tireless self promoter. We also learn about the alternative models of the solar system prevalent at the time, which the telescope clarified, proving the Copernican view.
Timeline (2003)
I liked it
It's hard to make a movie like this, and after watching the special features, my respect for the cast and crew is high. I was expecting a sweetened Hollywood time travel movie, but was heartened to see that a real attempt was made to convey the nasty brutal and short life that folk endured in those days.
I was reminded of "The Abyss" by the marines with the untrustworthy leader getting his come-uppance.
I think the time travel wink out scenes worked well, but I did not think that the reconstruction of the mechanism after the explosion worked. The destruction was too great, the equipment to complicated to be able to reconstruct it so quickly. Better to have gone to the other unit they briefly mention having created in Europe.
The film did not address the results of the deaths of people back then who might otherwise have bred and left descendants, the old grandfather paradox. I would have had all memory of Francois removed from the modern people, because Kate had killed his ancestor, or something like that.
I say well done to all involved.
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960)
Fast moving and pre-Monty Python
I just watched this on TV, and it was great to see so many well known actors looking young ! This film is very interesting as a part of our British cultural heritage, and a window on a time when Pythonesque humour was developing.
The idea of a British schoolgirl being a stripper in a club called "Mohammed's" in "Arabia" may seem awfully non-PC today, but the other characters are also caricatures of British types.
I particularly enjoyed the British Officer in the "Bath" unit and his preoccupation with Scotch. But as another reviewer has said, George Cole is outstanding.
Great fun.