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nigelridehalgh
Reviews
Outcasts (2010)
One of the better ones
Anyone who knocks this series because it 'isn't exciting enough' should realise that the audience who might get this series are not died-in-the-wool sci-fi fans. It is a series about normal, believable, 'now' people, undergoing a change in their lives that could happen to any of us based on one technological advance, space travel.
The fact that there are no space weapons, intense galactic star battles, aliens and similar shouldn't take away from the fact that this series managed on a relatively small budget to do somewhat what the newer battlestar galactica did, in that it made it about individual, believable humans, and more than that it made you think about what might happen in 'our'lifetime.
You may not like every character. You may not like the lack of star battles, but if this series does not get it's promised second series it will be a travesty. All the actors and actresses were up to the task, at least by the end of series one, and the basic storyline and potential for it to develop to great literature is all there.
Don't watch one, watch them all, and hope for more. Great show.
Alphas (2011)
Loved it so far
I have to disagree with most of what the negative reviews say - I thought the characterization and the acting were excellent so far, with the promise of much more to develop as the series goes on. Of course the basic concept of the show is not new, or breaking any particularly new ground yet, but it seems well done and definitely worth a watch. There are so few shows that are ever completely original, so not trying this series out because because you've already seen another 'group of people with special abilities' series would be a shame.
I think one of the best aspects so far is the way in which all the characters talents appear to complement each other and the situation, in a way that seems much more natural and less forced or coincidental than other shows of this genre, which I imagine is not easy to achieve.
I am looking forward to the next few episodes extremely keenly.
The Nine Lives of Chloe King (2011)
Might get better
It's bionic woman without the acting finesse, although most of the players make an above average effort. Unfortunately from the first episode it's not easy to see any real reason to watch more, but I do get a subconscious feeling it just may improve so I will probably try 1 more episode. I think possibly teenagers may get more from this than I did.
When a storyline type this overused is 're-done' it has to have something else going for it than just the concept - so far I've not seen it.
The whole idea could perhaps be a fantasy style show, but it tries to piggy-back a little too much on dull teenage reality, so the 'fantastic' elements seem a little too outside the rest of the plot. I wouldn't recommend anyone doesn't watch it, but also I wouldn't recommend it to anyone - as a time filler it may be OK, but as something worth watching, so far it falls short...
Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula (2000)
If you prefer reality (mostly) over myth then this film is a must see
The true story of Vlad Dracula (The Impaler) is often confused by the propaganda that was circulated at the time by the Turks, and borrowed by his enemies on the Christian side of the frontier. Although this film portrays Vlad as more loved than feared by his people, which history disputes, the basic structure is very accurate. The acting, the sets, the scenes are all excellent; if all films made on this sort of budget were as good, Hollywood could close tomorrow. Even if the history doesn't interest you at all then watch it just for the quality of production. Please note that this is not a horror film - just a realistic representation of the Balkans in medieval times.