Samuel K.'s Reviews

What I waited for on Television for years. A rock solid start to a rock solid show. Dystopian pandemonium. One benefit of our 'device' age has been a reformed mind which seeks the nearest shortcut to what is needed. This series quite demonstrates the disparity between the mindsets, and the advantages therein. I quite enjoyed all the mutated organisms which are encountered across the seasons.
Review Date: 6/29/2018

One always worries with King adaptations that what is filmed will not be allegiant to the source material. This one does well though. Worth watching. Part of the horror that tends to develop with a King opus, is that after turning hundreds of pages, one finds there are a thousand more or so left to imbibe. Which can be mind-meltingly terrifying. "11/22/63" happens to be one of these protracted pieces. This miniseries, on the other hand, is much easier to digest. And it is faithful enough to almost be a replacement.
Review Date: 11/25/2018

One always worries with King adaptations that what is filmed will not be allegiant to the source material. This one does well though. Worth watching. Part of the horror that tends to develop with a King opus, is that after turning hundreds of pages, one finds there are a thousand more or so left to imbibe. Which can be mind-meltingly terrifying. "11/22/63" happens to be one of these protracted pieces. This miniseries, on the other hand, is much easier to digest. And it is faithful enough to almost be a replacement.
Review Date: 6/8/2018

Canadian series written specifically for Montreal as a location. Filmed in a Montreal decommissioned police station and surrounding areas. These actors have even been schooled by the Montreal Police force. The dynamics here are a bit different than a typical North American city, as the show concerns Francophones, and it's their own distinctive frame of reference being portrayed. The idea here is a bit similar to "The Wire" or "The Shield" and yet remains it's own creature. The somber piano soundtrack is truly a delight as well, and not what one might expect for this genre of show.

This also isn't the average crime-of-the-week cop series. Rather, it follows these characters throughout their dysfunctional lives. And wow, are they all ever messed up. Even their families. I think they should all be arrested.
Review Date: 8/14/2018

I enjoyed this French production immensely. One small fatal car accident opens up an absolute pandora's box of events and revelations in a small coastal community, a community with no criminal history, and the infection runs deep. That is all I will reveal. And I wouldn't bother reading the reviews on Amazon unless you want the whole thing spoiled by unscrupulous trolls. Naughty people. Anyways, this series was tension filled from beginning to end. And the epiphanies in the last couple episodes are mind blowing.

I recognized several actors here, despite this being a French production. That being said, this being French, you'll have to keep your eyes glued to subtitles, and you won't want to miss any of the dialogue. If you are one of the many who cannot abide subtitles, stear clear. (Personally, I am one who will turn on subtitles whenever they are available.) Well, that's my two cents. This title is highly endorsed!
Review Date: 3/9/2019

2010 BBC series. Written by Jimmy McGovern, the bloke responsible for Cracker, and well, he seems to have a penchant for engulfing his characters in tribulation. Each of these tales is just about people's lives, fragile as they are. And the way ordinary people get roped into situations which are quite understandable. And, some are where people get so lost in the moment that clear reasoning slips. And well, yeah, there's plenty of idiotic folk out there too. A handful of these scenarios are a direct result of frustration with a bankrupt justice system, bound by bureaucracy. Even people utilizing the legal system to torment others or institutionalized bullying. Some might consider this series demoralizing due to this factor. Truth is, it's just telling things like they are. This is not formulaic crime drama. And every one packs a good punch.

Each episode starts with the accused in their cell waiting for the decision of the jury, and there really is no guessing. Some of these are quite the surprise. Very interesting to see the outcomes of the case at the end after viewing what really occurred. No regular cast, but great cast of actors you'll quickly recognize, who do an outstanding job (several Doctor Who's in here.) All said, you'll not want to binge these. Compulsive viewing it is though.
Review Date: 11/17/2018

Hands down worst 'horror' movie I have ever watched.
Review Date: 6/8/2018

This version is alright. The real version I'd like to get my hands on is "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" which stars Jeff Goldblum. Still not available on Dvd, only on VHS. It's unfortunate someone hasn't cleaned this one up and released it on Dvd or Blu. Full title is on YouTube though, as usual.
Review Date: 6/29/2018

Thirty half hour episodes here. From a more innocent time. Lead cast is William Russell who starred as a companion to the very first Doctor Who William Hartnell. Half of these episodes are color and half black/white. Some great sword fight scenes. I tend to put this on in the background while doing other things. It's comforting in it's own way. Patrick McGoohan is here too (of "The Prisoner" fame.) Good renaissance stuff for kids back in the 50's and 60's.
Review Date: 7/9/2018

Convoluted storytelling, as always. Mysteries these are not. Was refreshing to see some other sides of her writing.
Review Date: 11/25/2018

Convoluted storytelling, as always. Mysteries these are not. Was refreshing to see some other sides of her writing.
Review Date: 11/25/2018

Convoluted storytelling, as always. Mysteries these are not. Was refreshing to see some other sides of her writing.
Review Date: 6/8/2018

1972 historical film written and directed by Werner Herzog with Klaus Kinski in the title role. The New Age-ish score is composed by German band Popol Vuh. Herzog has effectively appropriated actual events from the 16th century into this fictitious account, which is mostly about a bunch of Conquistadors on the hunt for El Dorado. This film is unique from the aspect that Herzog made all the actors tromp through the footsteps of these gold dreamers, hiking through precarious mountains, and rafting down the Amazon in Peru. Because of this, while viewing, I felt quite a bit of worry, both for the actors and animals involved, and found myself unable to disassociate myself from this juxtaposition. Evidently, Klaus Kinski's antics frightened the entire cast. He even shot one of their fingers on set. He effectively looks mentally imbalanced throughout the entire production, which becomes surreal towards the end.

"Apocalypse Now" and "The New World" were both strongly influenced by this piece of work. It is also in Ebert's top 10, and has garnered a cult following over the years. Very easy to recommend.
Review Date: 11/17/2019

1972 historical film written and directed by Werner Herzog with Klaus Kinski in the title role. The New Age-ish score is composed by German band Popol Vuh. Herzog has effectively appropriated actual events from the 16th century into this fictitious account, which is mostly about a bunch of Conquistadors on the hunt for El Dorado. This film is unique from the aspect that Herzog made all the actors tromp through the footsteps of these gold dreamers, hiking through precarious mountains, and rafting down the Amazon in Peru. Because of this, while viewing, I felt quite a bit of worry, both for the actors and animals involved, and found myself unable to disassociate myself from this juxtaposition. Evidently, Klaus Kinski's antics frightened the entire cast. He even shot one of their fingers on set. He effectively looks mentally imbalanced throughout the entire production, which becomes surreal towards the end.

"Apocalypse Now" and "The New World" were both strongly influenced by this piece of work. It is also in Ebert's top 10, and has garnered a cult following over the years. Very easy to recommend.
Review Date: 11/17/2019

Alien Nation aired for one season (1989-1990) and then was cancelled. No fault of it's own. FOX was having financial difficulties and as a result cancelled all dramatic shows for the next season. Which is sad, as the producers were all geared for season 2 and left everyone with a cliffhanger. This generated a series of novels. Five movies were later filmed to wrap things up (1994-1997), which are available in a separate Dvd set.

Alien Nation thoroughly scrutinizes the social repercussions of having a new minority injected into the system. Because this minority happens to be an alien species with it's own anatomical and cultural eccentricities, the viewer is not especially emotionally invested, a fact which the writer's used to extreme advantage in turning the magnifying glass on us humans, our own xenophobia, and bizarre rituals. To me, this is Alien Nation's strong point, which few contenders have equaled.

This series is much gentler than the gritty movie which spawned it. Each episode is basically a police procedural, only a bit like a Scifi version of Lethal Weapon. There's been rumblings for several years of a remake of the film, but I haven't seen anything further on it since 2016.
Review Date: 7/21/2018

Alien Nation aired for one season (1989-1990) and then was cancelled. No fault of it's own. FOX was having financial difficulties and as a result cancelled all dramatic shows for the next season. Which is sad, as the producers were all geared for season 2 and left everyone with a cliffhanger. This generated a series of novels. Five movies were later filmed to wrap things up (1994-1997), which are available in this separate Dvd set.

Alien Nation thoroughly scrutinizes the social repercussions of having a new minority injected into the system. Because this minority happens to be an alien species with it's own anatomical and cultural eccentricities, the viewer is not especially emotionally invested, a fact which the writer's used to extreme advantage in turning the magnifying glass on us humans, our own xenophobia, and bizarre rituals. To me, this is Alien Nation's strong point, which few contenders have equaled.

This series is much gentler than the gritty movie which spawned it. Each episode is basically a police procedural, only a bit like a Scifi version of Lethal Weapon. There's been rumblings for several years of a remake of the film, but I haven't seen anything further on it since 2016.
Review Date: 11/26/2018

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

Based on the books of the British veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under the pseudonym James Herriot. It's an old saying in the film industry that one should never work with children or animals, as they never do what they are supposed to. Well, this show did, and proved it was possible, although the animals still greatly misbehaved. The series had two runs, totaling 90 episodes: the original (1978 to 1980, based directly on Herriot's books) was for three series. The second run (1988 to 1990, filmed with original scripts) for the fourth series. Since then, it has become an internationally beloved world favorite, and indeed, when viewing these now, one gets a feeling that the countryside was a glorious place inhabited by amazing people. Two or three of these episodes at the end of the day provides an escapist, gentle, heartwarming, cozy-cup-of-cocoa type drama. It's warm, simple, nice, and lovely, even educational, and it's not going to frighten the horses. Although, I should add, that all the main actors here suffered at least one anointing of having their hand up a cow.
Review Date: 1/1/2019

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