Written by: Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt based on The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond
Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
Featuring: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones, Ewen Bremner, Scott Shepherd, Gary Farmer and Lily Gladstone
King-Lu:“I think we should test the waters. Next batch, Cookie, we’ll take to market. I’ve heard a fortune is made on this.”
Cookie:“That seems dangerous.”
King-Lu:“So is anything worth doing.”
Released recently on DVD is one of the best films from 2019 in “First Cow” (2019) a period drama that explores a part of the US at a time when it was taking shape, but it does this from a deeply personal story that is a cautionary tale as well as incorporating the comedy, thriller and drama genres. “First Cow” also explores some kind of early market capitalism that would shape America, it is an easily understood plot that you know about a third of the way in is not going to end well for some of the deeply penetrating characters that have been shaped from the novel and into the smart screenplay.
“First Cow” is most obviously a character driven film that illustrates what can happen when there is equal stupidity, bravery and danger that shows what is possible when scarce resources are shared, in this case stolen, from one class to another. It also shows the ultimate comeuppance will be if these thieves are found out, a definite tragedy to people who were trying to find their own way in a land that is unforgiving and lethal.
The film begins in 1820 where Otis “Cookie” Figowitz is a quiet chef traveling in Oregon Country with a group of loud and aggressive fur trappers who harass him for not finding them enough food. One night, he comes across King-Lu, a Chinese immigrant on the run for killing a Russian man. Cookie allows Lu to hide in his tent for the night and watches him escape across the river the next day. Cookie’s group reaches a fort and Lu finds him there, babysitting an infant in the middle of a bar fight, and invites him to his house. Cookie moves in, and learns Lu is thinking about starting a farm, while Cookie talks about opening a bakery or hotel in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the outpost’s first milk cow has arrived; her mate and calf died on the journey. She is left unattended at night just outside the house of the wealthiest English trader in town, the Chief Factor. Lu laments that poor men don’t stand a chance to get ahead without some kind of fortune or committing a crime. Cookie reminisces about his days as a baker’s assistant in Boston and tells Lu that he could use some of the cow’s milk to make baked goods. They sneak onto the Chief Factor’s property at night, Cookie milking the cow and Lu keeping watch from a tree. They manage to get enough milk to bake a batch of buttermilk biscuits. Cookie is unsatisfied with the result, wishing it could be sweeter, but Lu points out they are far better than anything on the outpost and suggests they could make a fortune. Cookie refines his recipe and adds honey. From here they have a thriving business of sorts for a time until they are found out which is inevitable. I will not give too many spoilers as the narrative is great and put together by two expert storytellers.
“First Cow” was co-written and directed by the incredible Kelly Reichardt who has been around for some time now, and proves just how good a filmmaker she is with this, her latest film in release. The film is based on the book The Half-Life by Jonathan Raymond who also co-writes here, with much of the plot removed and boiled down to a macro narrative that has proven a very good choice, it is distilled to a point that it is on a razors edge. Reichardt directs with an assuredness that leads to a seemingly simplicity onscreen that requires experience and expertness, it is beautifully crafted and it seems everyone is onboard. It is a wonder to me that Kelly Reichardt was not nominated for this film, even for a screenplay honour which I believe it deserves, in fact it is difficult at this stage to believe she has never had an Oscar nomination for any of her previous films, this is something that needs to change.
With key performances by both John Magaro and Orion Lee, “First Cow” is captivating in how the plot unfolds and both men bring their all in the characters they play. In performances that could be seen as understated, which they are, but expertly played out onscreen especially with interaction with each other. They also shine in relation to their interactions with the rest of the supporting cast with many being more famous and experienced than them. However this lack of experience does not show as they rise to the occasion which has been controlled by the director who enjoys working with actors of all levels.
This is a tremendous film that is totally engaging, it marries a very simple but understandable plot with a classical narrative with some flourishes as well as surprises, although none are real third act reveals. In fact all of the character motivations are laid out quite clearly as are their actions for carrying on the way they do. Also, we recognise the jeopardy they face well before they do, in fact even when the ending is coming it is difficult as an audience not to feel a great deal of sympathy for them. The film works on multiple levels which of course the best do, this is guided so well it is a wonder that at the time it was not nominated or awarded higher honours. I recommend this film highly, it was a highlight of 2019 and should sit in any collection.
Featuring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Lucas Hedges, Valerie Mahaffey, Imogen Poots, Susan Coyne, Danielle Macdonald, Isaach de Bankolé and Tracy Letts
Frances Price:“My plan was to die before the money ran out.”
Released recently on DVD is the drama “French Exit” (2020) which sees a broke New York socialite and her son navigate her way to Paris and all the interactions she has from one place to another. This is a movie that also has other elements within it besides being a drama, it has comedy and melodrama which is very well handled by writer and director.
In this film a bank seizes all the property of Manhattan heiress Frances Price several years after her husband’s death. The close-to-penniless widow and her son, Malcolm, are left with few options. They sell everything in their house and relocate to a small apartment in Paris owned by Frances’ friend, with the family cat, who happens to be Frances’ reincarnated husband.
With a leading performance by star Michelle Pfeiffer who at this stage of her career is an expert at almost anything thrown at her and like the other actors of her generation can alter the characters she portrays in ways that mean she juggle multiple emotions even within the same scene. The other part of Pfeiffer’s performance is her beauty which has not dimmed with her age, like past roles she knows how to use it in terms of playing her parts without seeming disingenuous in the slightest. Even when the film as a whole grows a little ungainly, as it fills up with supporting characters who feel more like one-note ideas than actual people, Pfeiffer’s steely presence anchors the proceedings
“French Exit” has been directed by Azazel Jacobs and written by Patrick deWitt, based on his own book, this is their second collaboration after the film “Terri” (2011) about a bullied teen. This is a more nuanced film than their previous one it is a juggling act for both and at times can be a little top heavy in terms of characters but possibly light on plot. However the idea is to follow the main character who seems trapped within her own past, as well as her own geographic location.
Ultimately, “French Exit” is not put together in the best way but it has been designed as a showcase for Michelle Pfeiffer to show what she can still do, is it enough to carry the entire movie? Almost.
The first trailer has been released for Guy Ritchie’s war zone-set feature “The Covenant” which MGM and Amazon are releasing in cinemas on April 21st.
The story follows US Army Sergeant John Kinley (Gyllenhaal) and Afghan interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim). When their unit is ambushed on patrol, Kinley and Ahmed are the only survivors, and with enemy combatants in pursuit, Ahmed risks his life to carry an injured Kinley across miles of grueling terrain to safety.
When Kinley learns that Ahmed and his family were not given safe passage to America as promised, he must repay his debt by returning to the war zone to retrieve them before the Taliban hunts them down first.
Alexander Ludwig, Antony Starr, Jason Wong, Bobby Schofield, Sean Sagar, Sina Parvaneh, Emily Beecham, Cyrus Khodaveisi and Christian Ochoa co-star.
Featuring: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Angela Bassett
[the Sub-Mariner appears]
Ramonda: “Stop right there! Who are you? And how did you get in here?”
Namor: [looks around] “This place is amazing. The air is pristine, and the water… My mother told me stories about a place like this, a protected land with people who never have to leave, who never have to change who they were. What reason do you have to reveal your secret to the world?”
Ramonda:“I am not in the habit of repeating myself! Who are you?”
Namor:“My people call me K’uk’ulkan. But my enemies call me Namor.”
Critical Review
Released recenty on 4K Blu-ray “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) is the long awaited sequel to the Best Picture nominee “Black Panther” (2017) that was not only a global blockbuster but a critical darling. Now it is important to say up front that this new sequel is definitely not as good as its predecessor for a number of reasons which I will explain but because I will not offer any spoilers I will restrict this review to what has appeared in the trailers only with hints being given to everything else that happens in this movie which is saying something as it is a very long movie, and believe me you will notice it.
Obviously the most obvious element of the movie is the fact that the star of the first instalment, Chadwick Boseman, died of cancer in 2020 which left not only Disney without a major star but also offered a challenge to the filmmakers in terms of what to do with the character and how to replace him either by recasting or by some other narrative invention. The powers that be in all their wisdom decided, out of respect (which I really don’t understand) to not recast the role but retire the character of T’Challa completely thereby needing someone else to fill those particular boots.
So the basic story of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” begins with T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, who is dying from an illness which his sister, Shuri, believes can be cured by the “heart-shaped herb”. Shuri attempts to synthetically recreate the herb after it was destroyed by their cousin N’Jadaka but fails to do so before T’Challa succumbs.One year later, Wakanda is under pressure from other nations to share their vibranium, with some parties attempting to steal it by force. Queen Ramonda implores Shuri to continue her research on the heart-shaped herb, hoping to create a new Black Panther that will defend Wakanda, but she refuses due to her belief that the Black Panther is a figure of the past. In the Atlantic Ocean, the CIA and U.S. Navy SEALs utilize a vibranium-detecting machine to locate a potential vibranium deposit underwater. The expedition is attacked and killed by a group of blue-skinned water-breathing superhumans led by Namor, with the CIA believing Wakanda to be responsible. Namor confronts Ramonda and Shuri, easily bypassing Wakanda’s advanced security. Blaming Wakanda for the vibranium race, he gives them an ultimatum: deliver him the scientist responsible for the vibranium-detecting machine, or he will attack Wakanda.
There are a few positives to take away from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, firstly the performances of all the main characters are on point, for me the highlights were Winston Duke as M’Baka who for me is woefully underused, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia who is sidelined and reintroduced in the most artificial way possible, Angela Bassett as the Queen of Wakanda and of course Danai Gurira as Namor the new character to the MCU. Secondly, the general introduction and mythology of Namor is the high point in general of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, while it does deviate from the comic mythos which the MCU does play with in terms of many of its cinematic heroes and villains, this one is the most different and also the best. I won’t get into point by point differences but the deviations are not only logical and fit in within the MCU, but give a direct opposite to the Wakanadian introduction and mythology. I particulate liked the fact that many of Namor’s physical attributes such as his winged ankles and pointed ears have been kept when it may have been easier to jettison those, he remains in the real world a very good representation of his comic book look. Not only that but many of his people in this movie are directly from the comic book universe, in particular Attuma who has his own story, it should be interesting to see how this is played out in future movies. Thirdly, the rise (possibly) of M’Baku the most original character as well as someone to keep an eye on, in fact when he is introduced in this movie chewing on a carrot it is difficult to take your eyes off him and you wish he was in every scene from then on.
There are however, some real negatives in this movie and they are not knew, and in fact these appear in many Marvel movies from the past and the first one is the sprawling narrative as well as an overly packed plot with too many characters that are almost all underserved or undermined. One of the main issues is the third act which involves a sea battle with all the main characters all fighting mostly faceless undersea warriors who feel disposable on a vessel that seems out of place on the water, juxtaposed with a smaller fight occurring inland. The stakes never once feel very real, in fact when this was all taking place I was hoping it would finish quickly. Of course if this movie is anyones it is Letitia Wright’s as the younger sibling Suri who is attempting to fill a lot of shoes as well as facing down her own need for some kind of revenge. For the most part her character arc is complete and he destiny seems set until the mid credit sequence which at once is possibly the most touching part of this movie, but also does something that I think is unforgivable in this day and age, it depowers her relationship with Wakanda and also seeks to undermine the person she has just become.
This is Disney/Marvel’s 30th entry into the MCU that has been ongoing for over ten years, so there is nothing wrong with audiences having hight expectations especially when the previous entry was nominated for Best Picture. However, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” does suffer from a bloated plot, a messy narrative a big CGI battle at the end that serves none of the characters and seems tacked on to attempt to make the movie feel bigger than it actually is. There are two characters introduced within the narrative that for one, in Namor is served well, and is a highlight of the movie whilst the other, Riri is completely underserved and rushed, when the movie was finished I had trouble remembering her actual role at all.
There is no doubt that audiences will be clamouring for a Namor movie, but as has been revealed that will be forthcoming in any quick fashion as it turns out that Disney does own the rights to that particular character, he can only appear in others movies, which explains his arrival here in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.
I would say that it is completely fine to wait for this on a streamer, or even on a 4K disc, apart from a few highlights this does not reach the lofty heights of the original “Black Panther”.
Technical Review
Video
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” arrives on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with an average HDR10 transfer. This is a case of Disney’s insistence on sticking with BD-66 discs and a lack of Dolby Vision HDR really takes the wind out of the 4K Disc release. There are several very dark sequences that struggle with clarity and depth. Even with these negatives this is a better presentation than the 1080p disc. There are some genuinely striking and visually arresting moments throughout the film that are a brilliant reminder of what the format can offer. This disc easily and often outpaces the rather soft-looking 1080p Blu-ray.
Audio
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has a very average Atmos mix. It is, however, a much better DTS-HD MA 7.1 on the Blu-ray! While there’s plenty of active surround engagement with ample height channel activity, this track sounds good, but you have to pump up the volume but even then its hollow. You’d think the big exciting action sequences would have some great low-end activity, but surprisingly enough it’s the bass beats in Ludwig Göransson’s excellent score that gives this Atmos mix the most impactful rumble.
Special Features
Audio Commentary featuring Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Written by: Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton
Directed by: Florian Zeller
Featuring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams
Anthony:“I don’t need any help from anyone. And I’m not going to leave my flat. All I want is for everyone to fuck off. Having said that… it’s been a great pleasure. Au revoir. Toodle-oo.”
Released recently on DVD is the drama “The Father” (2020) a film on the surface about a man going through old age and specifically a dementia related illness along with the effects it has on his own family who are also going through it along with him.
“The Father” begins with Anne who visits her father Anthony in his flat after he has driven away the latest of several caregivers. He has dementia and constantly forgets important life events and where things are around his flat, including his watch. He tells Anne he believes his caregiver stole his watch and that he will never move out of his flat. She tells Anthony she is moving to Paris to be with a man, which confuses Anthony since he does not recall any men in her life since the end of her marriage to James. Anne says that if he keeps refusing to have a caregiver, she will have to move him into a nursing home. The film moves on from there where we meet the family and the ensuing drama that comes from that.
Florian Zeller is the co-writer and director of “The Father”, based on his own prize-winning 2012 French play of the same name with the assistance of Christopher Hampton who is an extremely successful and talented writer. The film is well written so right from the outset we are brought into the world of Anthony, we see, hear and almost experience his confusion, it is frustrating for us and him at the same time. Not only do we see his confusion but we see the impact it has on his family and loved ones, with them attempting to fit into his experiences and memories. These experiences last minutes for him, but for everyone else they have a long lasting effect as well as spreading to other parts of their lives.
“The Father” is led by the great Anthony Hopkins who is brilliant as the titular Father, like some his best performances he is both charismatic and ferocious, sometimes within the same breath. It is no wonder he was awarded the Oscar for his performance here beating some still competition, also illustrating he is still a force to be reckoned with as an artist. Of course as his daughter Olivia Colman just shows she is going from strength to strength as one of best English actors around, here she matches with a legend very well. Coleman uses her conflicting emotions to show the audience how she feels and what effect it is happening on her and everyone else.
It’s curious that right from the first scene where there is an exchange between Father and Daughter about a lost or stolen watch that is repeated, well a version of it, throughout the film with multiple other people to bring the point home of the loss they are all feeling. But while some moments of memory loss cause a jolt in the story and give Hopkins room to express his character’s frustration grandly, what’s happening throughout with the production design and editing is so subtle, it’ll make you want to rewind a few seconds just to appreciate the slight changes. Whether it’s different tiles on the kitchen backsplash, a rearranged bedroom or a white grocery bag instead of a blue one holding the chicken to roast that night, production designer Peter Francis vividly creates various versions of this same, enclosed setting. And what editor Yorgos Lamprinosdoes here is so complicated and yet so understated, it’s like a magic trick right before our eyes. Lamprinos, our Los Angeles Film Critics Association winner for best editing, had the daunting task of crafting a story that’s simultaneously confusing and compelling, and he rose elegantly to that challenge.
“The Father” is an excellent film that should be required viewing, it has everything going for it, it even has some humour, it is incredibly directed, written and performed, it was rightly nominated for multiple Oscars winning two of them. This should be a part of any collection.
“The Mandalorian” Season Three Poster & Featurette
Lucasfilm has released both a new poster and a featurette for the third season of its “Star Wars” spin-off “The Mandalorian” which returns on March 1st.
Marking the second series this year with Pedro Pascal, the poster for the new season sees his Din Djarin character standing atop his starfighter wielding the ignited darksaber. Grogu, whom came back to him during “The Book of Boba Fett,” sits in the cockpit nearby.
The new season sees Din Djarin attempting to reclaim his Mandalorian identity and features other returnees like Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, and Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan along with Omid Abtahi, Emily Swallow, and Amy Sedaris.
New to the series this season are Christopher Lloyd and Tim Meadows who have joined in undisclosed roles.
This season sees directors Rick Famuyiwa, Carl Weathers, and Bryce Dallas Howard, along with Lee Isaac Chung (“Minari”), Peter Ramsey (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), and “Black Panther” cinematographer Rachel Morrison.
Jon Favreau is also set as the showrunner and one of its directors, and executive produces alongside Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, Karen Gilchrist, and Carrie Beck.
Featuring: Joel Fry, Phoebe Dynevor, Rory Kinnear, Hugh Bonneville, Paul Kaye, Jo Hartley and Cathy Tyson
Dave:“Indulge me just for a day. There’s method in my madness.”
Released recently on Netflix is the English based and produced “Bank of Dave” (2023), a drama with comic overtones that brings to light a recent period that also highlights how business in the UK is structured as well as the way in which some people are kept out of the halls of money and power. It also attempts to highlight how ideas that could be seen as revolutionary are put forward and all the obstacles that exist to stop that idea. What “Bank of Dave” is to bring together a very good high profile cast, gives them all room to breathe with their own stories that link up to the main narrative but is a little let down by some formulaic writing as well as uninspired direction which means this is a movie that, like so many British stories that are produced each year could get a little lost, which is a shame as this is not only an eye opening story but illustrates clearly that the idea of a movement based on communities should be able to succeed no matter the cages it rattles in the process.
It’s remarkable the seeming ease that the British Film Industry is able to produce great independent drama, comedies and horror movies each and every year. Not only that, but the talent on show always seems to be original as well as first class. What many of these English films have in common is that they are based around something unique or have some kind of gimmick, this new movie “Bank of Dave”” has both of those, but feels like it is stretched too thin to actually make the impact it should. While it is an ensemble with a large group of characters, the narrative itself feels a little obvious and gimmicky that it seems just like a story that has been plotted to fit within two hours. This movie has much in common with many of the British movies produced over the past twenty years, it has some well-known actors that could all carry their own movies, it has a concentration of on location production, is based on a very English story and most often has relatively inexperienced writers and directors. What is healthy to see with “Bank of Dave” is that it is a narrative that has been directed by Chris Foggin who also directed the drama “Fisherman’s Friends” (2018) which was a little thinly stretched but this movie is actually much better with a fuller story and overall better performances.
The film is based on the real-life experiences of Dave Fishwick. It follows the story of a Burnley working class and self-made millionaire, who struggles to set up a community bank to help the town’s local businesses to thrive. To do so, he must battle London’s elite financial institutions and compete for the first banking licence in over 100 years.
With lead performances by both Joel Fry and Rory Kinnear “Bank of Dave” really does hum along at a very good pace, but it hinges on the performances of not only the two leads but the supporting cast as well. Of course in terms of character arcs it is the two leads that really have them and Fry has the best of all, going from a London lawyer who cares about one thing to becoming an almost three dimensional person who has been impacted by the small town morals. To say that his change in person is almost too good to be true is probably speaking the truth as it is as formulaic as they come, which is kind of a missed opportunity to actually show the disparity between big city politics and greed in juxtaposition with a smallish town that is just getting by. Also there is the typical and expected love affair that almost always has to occur in a movie of this genre. Now as for Rory Kinnear who is just such a great actor he gives it his all and you almost believe he is the Dave of the story. To be fair he is a support actor in his own story but it works extremely well and like always he is believable.
Of course “Bank of Dave” while loosely based on something that really happened has much that is made up to make the plot more expansive as well as broadening it out so that it appeals in a movie form. The reason to make up portions of the story is simple enough no matter what is behind Banks are inherently boring and have cost the global economy trillions, even with all that this is a well put together movie and I would recommend it for a watch especially on a streaming service.
Witchiepoo:“’Calm down’, he says! The commander-in-chief of all witchdom is bringing our convention here, and she wants to see my flute, and I don’t have my flute, and he says CAAAAAAALM DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN!”
Released recently on DVD is the children’s movie “Pufnstuf” (1970) which sees the main character from the television show “H.R. Pufnstuf” (1969) come to the big screen in an adventure not too far away from “The Wizard of Oz” (1939). Although to be fair it is nowhere near as good as that classic, although I do have a soft spot for this movie as I used ti see it a lot when I was much younger. Whether an audience enjoys this movie would depend on your history with the series and this movie, if it holds a place in your heart or mind as a classic adventure or just a curio, I can see both sides.
For a number of years the only way to see this movie was on VHS, and this new DVD version with its widescreen transfer looks very good especially with its use of colour which it is saturated in. The difference from television show to the big screen is all in the camera, in the opening instead of a cheaper opening we see Jimmy on a beach replete with multi coloured sand on a beach, it looks so very good.
The soundtrack itself, which is a major part of the movie, is very well executed, there should be no surprise that this movie features music as there is the occasional song in the series, along with Jack Wild’s cockney voice. The music definitely links the storyline which is fairly bare, with them written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel who obviously wanted to make an amalgam of bubble-gum pop , psychedelia and orchestrated show tunes that seems to be exclusive to that era.
“Pufnstuf” is centred around Jimmy who is wrongfully ejected from the school band, he ventures on a journey with his newly magical talking flute Freddy. Orchestrated by Witchiepoo, Jimmy takes an evil boat to Living Island, an island where everything is alive. He befriends the island’s inhabitants, who are led by Mayor H.R. Pufnstuf, but the evil Witchiepoo is determined to steal Freddy the Flute from him in order to impress the visiting Witches’ Council and the Boss Witch so that she may win the Witch of the Year Award.
The witch steals the flute by disguising herself as a pretty dance instructor. Jimmy and his new friends recover the flute by having Gopher dig a tunnel to Witchiepoo’s castle and faking a fire. Witchiepoo retaliates by bombing and destroying Pufnstuf’s town. There is a back and forth on the movie which feels like a television episode strung out, I feel it deserves more but I still have to admit to really enjoying it.
There is no doubt that this movie belong s to Billie Hayes as Jimmy, what is not easy is that he runs away and steals every scene he is in with the always great Mama Cass as Witchiepoo. It becomes pretty obvious that Witchiepoo gets all the best lines, that is compared to everyone else, that is understandable as she was easily the most famous and talented of the cast so could demand such things. Not only that but her motivations are clear and are easily understood, but that is normally the case with the villains of such fantasy movies.
If you want to see where children’s programming was in the late 1960s and early 1970s you don’t have to look much beyond “Pufnstuf”, it was created by people who obviously had a flair for not only original thinking, but knew a thing or two about what appealed to children as well as having an idea about unique and individual characters that would appeal to a mass audience. The same thing could be said of Gerry Anderson and his raft of television shows in the UK. Of course what they also had in common was the lack of real storytelling in plotting as well as narratively delivering something that would show some spark. This is probably why there is also a market for the reinvention of old stalwarts like ‘Robin Hood’, ‘Sinbad’ and number of old texts that are easily reinvented with plots that can be for the long term to keep an audience interested.
As I have already said I really love “Pufnstuf” for what it represents as well as the music and the general vibe of it. Is it perfect? No, not in the least but it is very watchable and could be something shared with a family. I would have it on DVD in a second and would love a Blu-ray as well.
Amin (9-11 years old):“We have no idea what’s going to happen. to us. Nobody tells us anything. The journalists come and film us. We hope something will happen, but no. They go home to make TV programmes… But nothing really happens. It’s just us and the guards.”
Released recently on DVD is the animated documentary from Denmark, “Flee” (2021), which was also nominated for three Oscars last year. “Flee” was definitely one of the best reviewed films of 2021 and was a success in many international markets. This was not the first documentary to be animated but it marked a high point in the sub-genre and proved what can be achieved through that medium. This also marked the first time an animated film had been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film.
“Flee” is presented in the form of an animated documentary; animated scenes depict Amin’s past and present, interspersed with archival footage. The film is begins with Amin Nawabi who is being interviewed in Denmark by director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, who has known Amin since they were teenagers. Jonas is making a documentary about Amin’s life, including his escape from Afghanistan to Denmark as a refugee. Amin has not shared the full details of his story with anyone, including his boyfriend Kasper, whom he plans to marry. The trauma of his past affects Amin’s ability to settle down, and he considers a position away from Kasper in the United States as a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University. Amin begins by sharing stories of his childhood in Kabul with his mother Tahera, sisters Fahima and Sabia, and his older brother Saif.
“Flee” has been co-written and directed by Danish film-maker Jonas Poher Rasmussen it is an extremely emotional narrative, it is possible to see the impact on the director and his subject, almost immediately. Rasmussen’s digital animation, interspersed with live-action archive TV footage, not only links the past with the present but does so in a way that is obvious and gives the narrative a natural structure, much like a fiction film, well a good one anyway. This is also a way of obscuring the subject’s identity, which still has to be kept secret.
This film is about so much that it is difficult to talk about in any kind of review, however it does cover themes such as nationalism, racism, borders and national identity. Even if “Flee” was not a documentary it would be a great film, there is no doubt that the story would touch emotions maybe even change minds, it is that kind of story. I don’t want to give away any spoilers as this would harm the experience of seeing it in any natural form, it would also do a disservice to the filmmakers and the subject, I recommend this highly.
Featuring: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tōko Miura, Reika Kirishima, Park Yu-rim, Jin Dae-yeon, Sonia Yuan, Ahn Hwitae, Perry Dizon, Satoko Abe and Masaki Okada
Kôshi Takatsuki:“But even if you think you know someone well, even if you love that person deeply, you can’t completely look into that person’s heart. You’ll just feel hurt. But if you put in enough effort, you should be able to look into your own heart pretty well. So in the end, what we should be doing is to be true to our hearts and come to terms with it in a capable way. If you really want to look at someone, then your only option is to look at yourself squarely and deeply.”
Released recently on DVD is the Japanese film “Drive my Car” (2021) which was one of the best reviewed dramas of 2021 and won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film in 2022, something well deserved. This is not only a great film in terms of Japanese cinema but it also illustrates what can happen when art and commerce come together to create a challenging film that can have real international success. It seemingly had everything stacked against it, a long running time, unknown actors, a challenging location, dialogue in a foreign language and some real themes about being alive right now. However it was almost universally hailed as not only a breakthrough but also the announcement of a unique voice whose work will be looked forward to for the rest of his career.
“Drive my Car” is co-written and directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, it is inspired by Haruki Murakami’s short story of the same name, and that title, like Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, is designed to invoke the feeling of a Beatles lyric. Hamaguchi’s previous pictures “Asako I and II” (2018) and “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (2021) were about the enigma of identity, the theatrical role play involved in all social interaction and the erotic rapture of intimacy.
“Drive my Car” is based around Yûsuke (Hidetoshi Nishijima) a successful actor and theatre director who specialises in experimental multilingual productions with surtitles, he is currently working on Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and is preparing to play the lead in Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. He has a complex relationship with his wife Oto (Reika Kirishima), a successful writer and TV dramatist who has a habit of murmuring aloud ideas for erotic short stories, trance-like, while she is astride Yûsuke having sex, including a potent vignette about a teenage girl who breaks into the house of the boy with whom she is obsessed.
The couple learn that Yûsuke is in danger of losing the sight in one eye but this perhaps makes it easier for him to accept that he will need a driver for his trusty Saab 900 when he later directs a new revival of his Vanya production at an arts festival in Hiroshima, a city that is photographed with crisp unsentimentally.
Featuring: Keith Alexander, Sylvia Anderson, Rupert Davies, Gary Files, Len Jones, Martin King, David Healy, Jeremy Wilkin, Liz Morgan and Shane Rimmer
Released recently on DVD is the 1970s science fiction series “Joe 90” (1968 – 1969), one of the many series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson using their self-named and patented ‘Supermarionation’ that has become a signature of most of their endeavours. It is very true that “Joe 90” was an in demand series which is proven by the fact that, in New Zealand at least, it was in heavy rotation on repeats for a number of decades. That is why it seems to get releases on DVD every so often. In fact all of the Anderson’s shows get releases on DVD to satiate their demand especially now that pop culture is such a huge demographic.
“Joe 90” made its debut on ITV on 29 September 1968, the show introduced us to Joe McClaine, an apparently ordinary nine-year-old boy with freckles and a cheeky smile. But Joe’s stepdad, Professor Ian (Mac) McClaine, has invented a machine, one that could turn Joe into a whiz kid superspy. The BIG RAT device (Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record and Transfer), housed in a secret laboratory beneath their clifftop home in Dorset, can receive the brain patterns of an expert in any field and transfer them to the occupant of this cerebral Faraday Cage. The head of World Intelligence Network’s London HQ, Shane Weston, persuades Mac via family friend Sam Loover to allow WIN to commandeer his machine, thereby making Joe their ‘most special agent’, one who will never be suspected by the enemy. The 30-part series saw Joe become, variously, a fighter pilot, brain surgeon, explorer, concert pianist, astronaut, explosives expert, even the heir to a Middle Eastern throne. In many ways it was a dream format, what kid didn’t dream of having instant prowess in any discipline?
“Joe 90”, unlike many of the Anderson’s other shows had an emphasis on character and less on hardware than its predecessors, and in a present-day setting rather than the future, howeber there were futuristic flourished such as the family Jet Car. With special effects from a team established by Derek Meddings and music by composer Barry Gray, Joe 90 is fondly remembered by those who were children when the show first aired, or when it was repeated. “Joe 90” is widely believed to be set in 2012 and 2013. The scriptwriters’ guide stated that the year is 1998, while other sources place the series at an unspecified point in the early 21st century. The episode “The Unorthodox Shepherd” is implied to be set in 2013.
Video
The video is presented in 1.33:1 full-frame, and like the previous releases of Gerry Anderson material, the image has been cleaned up and looks very good, despite the 34 year vintage. Anyone familiar with Anderson`s other animated series, will immediately recognise the visuals, featuring the slightly ungainly puppets with numerous ingenious gadgets saving the world from a variety of villains.
Sound
The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital Mono, and as you might expect is not particularly exciting, instead providing competent reproduction of the dialogue and effects.The lack of a multi-channel soundtrack results in a flat and lifeless tone, but the dialogue is clear and understandable throughout each episode.
Episodes
The Most Special Agent: World Intelligence Network (W.I.N.) director Shane Weston explains to Professor Ian McClaine how nine year-old son Joe can utilize the brain patterns of professional experts to become W.I.N.’s most special agent.
Most Special Astronaut: Two men become trapped aboard a space station that is to form the hub of W.I.N.’s new orbital radar system.
Project 90: Dr. Conrad Darota intends to discover the secret of W.I.N.’s File 90 which details the BIGRAT project and Joe’s involvement as W.I.N.’s most special agent.
Hi-Jacked: Following the shooting of W.I.N. agent Ed Johnson while investigating the activities of ruthless gun-runner Mario Coletti, Joe infiltrates Coletti’s hide-out using Johnson’s brain patterns.
Colonel McClaine: Army supply runs ferrying U114 liquid explosive to the Kuchanga Tunnel have been plagued by sabotage.
The Fortress: W.I.N. agent Roger Fleming is captured in Santa Marina after hiding a top secret microfilm.
King for a Day: The Sultan of Ardaji dies in mysterious circumstances and his heir, Prince Kahib, is kidnapped by the Regent, Ben Shazar.
International Concerto: Concert pianist Igor Sladek is secretly one of W.I.N.’s top agents, but during a private recital at the Dolski Palace, his final engagement of a world tour, his cover is blown and he is arrested.
Splashdown: Two leading electronics experts who have been secretly recruited for a top security government project in Istanbul, go missing after being involved in air crashes, Joe takes on the brain patterns of a US Air Force test pilot to prevent Mac from becoming the next victim of a ruthless extortionist.
Big Fish: A U85 two-man atomic submarine is grounded inside Porto Guavan territorial waters and its discovery by Juan Chaves’ military dictatorship could jeopardise free elections in the police state.
Relative Danger: While searching for Uranium 534, Dr. Willie Loover is trapped with two colleagues in a mine tunnel in the Pueblo Mountains.
Operation McClaine: Writer Maurice Estoral urgently requires a brain operation, but the only neurosurgeon who can perform the procedure is badly injured in a plane crash.
The Unorthodox Shepherd: The Rev Shepherd has been passing forged bank notes but when he is confronted by Mac and Sam, he reveals that his verger is being held hostage by the counterfeiters in the church crypt.
Business Holiday: Joe is sent in to destroy an Army base that has been taken over by enemy forces.
Arctic Adventure: An air force B107 bomber is forced down inside the Arctic Circle by a freak storm, but only three of the four nuclear devices on board are recovered.
Double Agent: Three of W.I.N.’s top couriers have been killed and Shane Weston suspects an inside job.
Three’s a Crowd: Mac falls in love with a beautiful American reporter, Angela Davies, but Sam is concerned about their liaison and finds a willing ally in Joe.
The Professional: Kramer Foundation funds are being misappropriated and W.I.N. must recover the remaining money which amounts to eight million dollars in gold bullion.
The Race: An experimental brain transfer allows Mac and Joe to dream the same dream. In it, they are involved in a race from London to Monte Carlo against an Army team led by General Tempest, who will stop at nothing to win.
Talkdown: After the crash of an F116 prototype aircraft, Joe flies a second prototype to determine the cause of the crash, using the brain patterns of top test pilot Jim Grant.
Breakout: A couple of escaped convicts threaten the life of Canadian Prime Minister MacCormack, shelling a rail bridge as the Minister’s train is crossing.
Child of the Sun God: Four of the world’s leading statesmen have been paralysed by a poison developed by the Amaztecs, a tribe of South American Indians that was wiped out three hundred years ago.
See You Down There: Financial shark Ralph Clayton is using dubious methods to take control of rival companies.
Lone-Handed 90: While Mac, Sam and Shane argue, Joe falls asleep in front of the television. In his dreams, he becomes the Sheriff of Joesville, single-handedly taking on the infamous W.I.N. Gang as they plot the robbery of a consignment of gold from the mail train at Altuna.
Attack of the Tiger: W.I.N. discovers that the Eastern Alliance have built a secret rocket installation which will launch a nuclear device into orbit and hold the world to ransom.
Viva Cordova: W.I.N. is assigned to ensure the safety of President Juan Cordova who plans to expose the corruption of General Valdes.
Mission X-41: The Eastern Alliance have isolated the X-41 virus, capable of breaking down the molecular structure of matter and destroying everything in its path.
Test Flight: A new Orbital Glide Transport craft is sabotaged and crashes on the launch control building, trapping the flight controller inside with vital monitoring equipment – both will be wiped out if the OGT’s rocket fuel ignites.
Trial at Sea: The maiden voyage of the S.S. Friendship hoverliner is at risk when Sir George Harris receives a bomb threat.
The Birthday: It is Joe’s 10th birthday, but Mac has already gone to town before Joe wakes up and won’t be back until late.
Featuring: Andy Samberg, Taylor Lautner, Andie MacDowell, Greg Davies, Tamla Kari, Esther Smith, Tyger Drew-Honey, Helen Baxendale, Matt Lacey and Kenneth Collard
Cuckoo:“I gave this speech on our wedding day. Now I’d like to give it again with clothes on and you, our family, present.”
Recently released on DVD is the BBC series “Cuckoo” (2012 – 2019) a comedy about the coming together of two families from the US and the UK, although it is set in the England it does speak to something, one of those being the young and the old as well as the rapidly changing attitudes towards almost anything, in fact this series ended four years ago and it would be considered out of date – that can be a positive and a negative.
“Cuckoo” was initially based around parents Ken and Lorna Thompson who are in a time of happiness, their daughter, Rachel, is on her way back from a gap year spent on the beaches of Thailand. An academic star with a place on a medical course waiting for her, Rachel’s all set to do great things, and her parents motor down to the airport ready to welcome their golden girl back to her charmed life. Unfortunately, Rachel’s brought back a little more than excess baggage and a suntan. Ken, the doting dad, is about to see a dark shadow loom over his little girl’s carefully planned existence. It belongs to her new husband, the man she’d been telling them about on Facebook for weeks, her dad doesn’t do social media, hence the surprise. Her alarming other half is a Californian hippie, spouts New Age mysticisms as if they were going out of fashion has been travelling for twelve years and gives every indication of being permanently high. He is, quite simply, Cuckoo.
Sure this is a comedy that works because of the doting Father, Ken, played expertly by Greg Davies, who is like a Basil Fawlty character where everything happens to him and nothing is his fault. He seems incapable of experiencing change which is something his daughter does experience with little or no regrets or fear. Ken like many parents lives his own life through his children, in this case his daughter who was maybe going to be a Doctor but now is going to hang out with her new husband who is a free spirit. It is no wonder Ken fears him, he wants plans, and he is of threatened by Cuckoo, which I love. There is nothing better than subverting expectations and pissing people off without any insults.
I love the idea of a person named Cuckoo who does what he does in this series, it is just a hilarious concept. One of my favourite stories is The Midwich Cuckoos and for someone to make a comedy where a boy man comes to a home and is magically able to get his own way with all the women on his side for no reason is some of the best television. Like that story only the man can seemingly see the fault in the new boys arrival. It does read like the worst part of helicopter parenting.
“Cuckoo” is obviously a very English comedy with some very well-known English actors who all do just amazing work, they are completely watchable and believable in their roles. But it is Andy Samberg who steals the show and with his experience in television, music and movies he knows just how to pitch his Cuckoo. What is also fantastic to see is Samberg doing something completely out of the blue as “Cuckoo”, it is so surreal at times that he is in a BBC comedy that you really have to pinch yourself. Greg Davies, however, really holds his own here, and the one-on-one scenes between Ken and Cuckoo work brilliantly; there’s already a hint of an odd-couple rapport beneath the surface personality clash, and Cuckoo’s vision of Ken as a particularly awkward disciple promises big laughs to come.
Episodes
Season One
The Homecoming: The Thompsons meet daughter Rachel’s new American husband Cuckoo for the first time.
Family Meeting: Ken is keen to lay down some ground rules for Cuckoo in the Thompson house.
Ken on E: Ken is delighted to be picked as a local councillor. Naturally, Cuckoo has some advice.
Grandfather’s Cat: Ken is afraid that Cuckoo will send his beloved father-in-law Tony to an early grave.
Connie Sings: Cuckoo motivates Lorna’s best friend Connie to pursue her dream of becoming a singer.
The Wedding: Rachel and Cuckoo discover that their Thai beach wedding ceremony wasn’t official.
Season Two
A New Beginning: Two years after learning that Cuckoo died in a climbing accident in the Himalayas, Ken is celebrating the fact that Dylan will be leaving home to attend university and Rachel moving in with staid boyfriend Ben. He is less overjoyed when Lorna suggests he has a vasectomy. Then Dale Ashbrick, a hirsute American youngster, arrives at the house, claiming to be Cuckoo’s son, searching for the father he has never met. Like his father he is odd, believing that aliens will end the world next day. However he is wrong and, to the menfolk’s annoyance, Lorna and Rachel ask him to…
Potato Party: Ken is going away for a reunion weekend and Dylan persuades Lorna to go to the theatre with Connie so he can throw a party and lose his virginity to girlfriend Zoe, Connie’s daughter. Dale has decided that his destiny is to take over Cuckoo’s potato wagon so Dylan asks him to provide food for the party. Dale is a wow with the girls, including Rachel, and the food he serves up with its special sauce is a hit. Unfortunately the sauce, which he found in the garage, is well past its sell-by date and by the time Connie turns up with Lorna in tow to stop her daughter having…
Tribunal: After finding a nude Dale in bed with them Ben and Rachel aim to set him up with one of her friends, Natalie, who finds him gorgeous and fascinating. They date but nothing happens as Dale does not believe she is the Special One. Medic Steve is facing a tribunal for gross misconduct and blackmails Ken into representing him or else he will tell Lorna the vasectomy never went ahead. Unfortunately Ken has ingested some drugs and acts very oddly at the hearing, his boss Charles taking over and winning the case.
Funeral: With Rachel and Ben away on holiday Ken takes Dale to a book-shop where they meet Ken’s old tutor Dr Rafferty, who borrows a valuable first edition from Ken, Unfortunately he dies before he can return it so Ken takes the family to the funeral to retrieve it. The relatives take to Dale, despite his bizarre funeral oration, as they wrongly believe he is the doctor’s American lover. However Rafferty’s niece Sandra is irate when she catches Ken trying to steal his book back, nor does it help when the family discovers that Dale is not the lover and Dylan is caught having …
Ken at Work: Ken’s boss Charles announces his retirement, adding that he will be supporting Ken as his successor, rather than rival Jane. To scupper Jane’s chances Ken takes CCTV footage of her robbing the stationery cupboard but the tape also shows Rachel and Ben having sex. Seeing Charles watching a tape and looking guilty Ken wrongly assumes that this is the sex tape and publicly uses this against Charles to secure his promotion. In the event it was a different tape but now Ken has exposed his daughter and her boyfriend’s secret. Dylan is also exposed when it turns out that the…
Neighbourhood Watch: Lorna wakes in the night to hear somebody trying to steal the family car but Ken refuses to intervene and Dale scares them off, making Ken feel old and inadequate. The family attends Steve’s Neighbourhood Watch meeting where Ken is amused to see Dale trounce Steve in martial arts but a resident’s car is stolen. Steve gives chase, with a reluctant Ken, leading to a fight and a misunderstanding though Lorna is proud of her man. Rachel also discovers that she prefers Dale to Ben.
Christmas Special: Whilst Christmas shopping Lorna faints in the street and, on her return home, discovers that she is pregnant. However, seeing the positive testing kit both Ben and Dale believe that Rachel is expecting and both assume that they are the father. At a pre-Christmas dinner Steve wins Connie back from her lover Pepe and Ben persuades a reluctant Ken to play Santa at a charity concert so that he too can take the stage and publicly propose to Rachel. It all goes ahead but everybody is shocked when Lorna, not Rachel, announces that she is the pregnant one (though Lorna is …
Season Three
Birth: Lorna’s baby is a week late but she also has a great new job lined up, meaning that Ken could be stuck with an unwanted paternity leave. Rachel is still seeing boring Ben so all three are delighted when Dale returns from China, fleeing an irate father. Dylan, his reluctant room-mate, is less enamoured. Lorna’s labour is miraculously induced by some bizarre Eastern methods practiced by struck-off doctor Steve but at the hospital Ken almost misses the birth when he gets caught up with another pregnant woman, Jess – who fancies him.
The Application: Rachel has a chance to get the job of her dreams – and Ken and Dale are on hand to help out.
Mum’s Group: Assisted by Dale, Ken is enjoying hosting the mother and baby group at his house but is forced to confess to Lorna that he was present when Jess’s baby was born, whereupon Lorna demands that he leave the group. Ken is unwilling – until Jess makes a play for him, forcing him to leave her house in a hurry. Unfortunately this leads to a mix-up that requires Dale to sort it out, though he is less amenable when he sees Rachel with a man she has met through a dating app.
Life of Dale: Ken wants a quiet family evening doing his favourite things on his birthday. Steve invites himself round and a simple quiz turns into an ordeal, with Dale recounting stories of a past life. Lorna and Rachel have their minds on other things.
University Challenged: Having been dumped by girlfriend Zoe, Dylan wants to drop out of university after a month so Ken and Dale head to the campus to dissuade him – and fail. However Ken has to claim back the tuition fees – and also fails. Dale stumbles upon a reason to make Dylan stay, allowing Ken to relive his old student days – but not for long. Back home Rachel gets a visit from Ben, who is keen to resume their relationship.
Sid’s Big Day: It’s the day of Lorna and Ken’s baby Sid’s naming ceremony and not only does Zoe bring her new boyfriend, annoying Dylan, but Ken’s irritating mother Belinda arrives from Spain, building up Dale’s romantic hopes for Ling with her tarot reading and causing Ken to crash the car. When Lorna gives Ken some shocking news regarding his mother he is prepared to change his attitude but it is Dale’s performance at the ceremony which causes the biggest reaction.
The Holiday: Leaving Sid with Belinda the family goes on holiday to Cumbria though only Ken and Lorna know that it is to find the man Belinda told Ken was his real father – though sadly he has recently died. Soon they are joined by Steve and Ben who have brought Mr Xi and Ling , just arrived from China and with an angry Mr Xi about to make Dale an offer he cannot refuse. Fortunately Ben comes up with a solution to please everybody and a car chase is followed by happy endings all round.
Season Four
Lawyer of the Year: Ken’s delight at being nominated for Lichfield’s Lawyer of the Year takes a knock on discovering that he is competing with high-powered colleague Jane so Lorna tries to fix it for him to win. His success is only partial but Dale’s attempt to get as job and enable him to marry Rachel by entering into a partnership with Steve’s new bar gives far more cause for concern.
The License: Ken is suspended from work and tries to engineer a way back in before Lorna finds out.
Ken’s New Friend: It’s an episode full of secrets for Ken when he complains about loud new neighbor Lloyd to the police, only to make great friends with him later.
Trapped: Ken wakes up trapped behind a newly built wall in Steve’s Bar and is forced to wait it out till help arrives, with only Steve for company. Meanwhile, his wife discovers in shock that their son is secretly dating his ex-girlfriend’s mom.
Walkabout: When Rachel says she needs more space Dale takes her at her word and strands her in the Pennines.
Opening Night: It’s the opening night for All Steve’s Pals, with Dale determined to make it the best launch ever and show Rachel he’s the kind of serious safe bet she can spend her future with.
Season Five
Ivy Arrives: Ken is excited about the visit of his long-lost sister Ivy, but it turns out that the billionaire doesn’t really want to get to know her brother at all.
Ivy Nanny: Ken is determined that Sid should attend a private school, but Lorna is dead set against it. Can Ken persuade her to change her mind?
Weed Farm: As Ivy begins to get to know the members of the family better she discovers that Dylan is operating a cannabis farm in one of the properties that he is supposed to be selling, Ivy spots an opportunity.
Macbeth: In the pub a strange old lady predicts that Ken will become the Liberal Democrat candidate at the next election. Weirdly, events seem to be conspiring to make Ken’s political dreams come true as the sitting MP dies.
Divorce Party: When Ivy receives the news that her divorce has been finalised, Steve takes it upon himself to cheer her up by throwing her a divorce party.
Two Engagements and a Funeral: Ivy completely misunderstands the meaning of the phrase “put to sleep” – leading to her accidentally having her dog put down. A distraught Ivy forces the Thompson family to attend a weird funeral for her.
Election: Ken looks like a shoo-in to elected MP with Ivy vigorously running his campaign for him. Can a small boy calling him fatty and a stranger affect the outcome of the vote?
Written by: Simon Nye and Abigail Wilson based The Darling Buds of May by H. E. Bates
Directed by: Andy De Emmony
Featuring: Bradley Walsh, Joanna Scanlan, Sabrina Bartlett and Tok Stephen
Jasmine Brown: “Angela and I graduated through virginity together.”
Recently released on DVD is “The Larkins: Series One” (2021) which is only the most recent adaptation of H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May. Both the novel and the series are set in rural 1950s Kent and revolve around the life of Pop and Ma Larkin and their six children.
“The Larkins: Series One” is set in an idyllic corner of England just before the 1960s turn into the revolution we all recognise. All is right in this world, and if it is not the ever genial Ma and Pa Larkin will make it so with a cheery word or a cheeky bit of daring. It ought to be exactly the kind of feel good televison required right now in the world that has quite a bit of darkness in it.
The Larkins is stuck firmly in the past in every sense. From character to comedy the broadest of brushes is employed. There is absolutely no subtlety at all which robs the show of any depth at all and it also means it comes across as lazy and vacuous, there is little reality involved. ItItss like looking through rose coloured glasses to a time when England was a certain way. Of course that view is an imagined reality, almost like looking back at the ‘old days’, of course they never existed. It’s a pity because with a little more effort “The Larkins: Series One” could have been a lot better. Instead it settles for good enough when it really isn’t.
Episodes
In Which we meet the Larkin Family: There is excitement at the approaching May Day Fair, but Mariette drops a bombshell and the tax man comes calling.
In Which the Larkins Woo Charley the Tax Man: With their wit, charm and a little bit of cunning, the Larkins woo Charley the Tax man. Mariette agrees to put her plans on hold and stay free for the summer.
In Which Pop and Ma Go on Holiday: Ma is worried that Pop is working too hard and books a weekend in Margate, leaving Charley and Mariette to mind the kids. Margate, however threatens to be a let-down.
In Which the Larkins Rescue the Railway Station: News reaches Pop that the train station is to close. With the help of reluctant Miss Chand and villagers, Pop seizes the opportunity to save the railway – and make money along the way. Mariette fights with Pauline, and Charley makes a big decision.
In Which Ma’s Sister Bertha Comes to Visit: With the imminent arrival of her sister, Ma is beside herself and cleaning like a demon.
In Which the Larkins are Determined to Convince Mariette to Stay: The Larkins dash to the railway station and manage to stall Mariette’s departure to France. They convince her to stay for a donkey derby/gymkhana and cocktail party in a few days.
Featuring: Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum
Narrator:“She said she was terrified of being alone. Terrified of living without him. That when she left, she’d be like Bambi on the ice. And that was precisely why she had to do it. Aksel mumbled soothing words she didn’t hear. She was thinking about how, at the age of 30, she’d just compared herself to Bambi.”
Released last year was one of the best Foreign films of the year in “The Worst Person in the World” (2021) which was nominated for two Oscars for Best Foreign Film and Best Screenplay, sadly not winning either. This film is sweet and gentle and funny, in ways that are undoubtedly conventional but also very real. It’s the kind of film we’ve all seen done so badly that it’s an unexpected treat to see it done well and to realise that its themes are very important. It is also the third film in the director’s Oslo Trilogy, following “Reprise” (2006) and “Oslo, August 31st” (2011).
“The Worst Person in the World” is based around Julie who is a medical student in Oslo who transfers to psychology and then photography. In her late 20s, she starts a relationship with Aksel Willman, a comic artist 15 years older than her. Now dabbling in writing, she spends a weekend with Aksel at his parents’ house. Aksel floats the idea of starting a family with Julie, but Julie is uncertain. While walking home from a publishing event for Aksel, Julie crashes a wedding reception and meets Eivind, a barista. Though both are in relationships, they spend the night together sharing jokes and intimacies, but without sexual relations. They exchange only their first names and part ways. This is of course a great set up for a film and from here the story picks up with some excellent performances as well as some very good storytelling, I will give no spoilers.
Joachim Trier is the Norwegian director who has over the years directed some very interesting films including the disturbing telekinesis thriller “Thelma” (2017) and the already mentioned and challenging drug-addiction drama “Oslo, August 31st”. Working with his longtime screenwriter Eskil Vogt, he has discomfited his audiences, jolted them and shocked them into realising they aren’t here for an easy ride. With “The Worst Person in the World” both Trier and Vogt have given us something truly shocking a tender relationship comedy with a wonderful freshness, that will leave audiences with a tear in their eye. Trier has taken on one of the most difficult genres, the romantic drama something many have attempted which normally devolves into trope laden and formula driven storylines, however not with Trier who injects the “The Worst Person in the World” with some originality and some very biting humour with a touch of realness to keep it all grounded.
In the lead is Renate Reinsve who takes on the lead role of Julie and proves she is someone to watch closely as just one of a number of Scandinavian actors to have surfaced in the past fifteen years. There are two sensational set-pieces: one when she finally plucks up the courage to tell Aksel she is leaving him, and the whole world goes into freeze-frame while she runs through the Oslo streets to find Eivind and kiss him. The second comes when she takes shrooms with Eivind and his friends, an absolute showstopper of a drug-hallucination dream sequence in which Julie finally confronts her deadbeat estranged dad.
“The Worst Person in the World” is definitely very conventional especially for filmmaker Joachim Trier, but it ties itself all together by keeping it as socially real as possible. Not only that it does address some very real issues that cover how life unfolds and what it’s like looking for someone to share it with. It is all undercut by some very good performances especially from Renate Reinsve who is fantastic. If you have not seen this film you should put it on top of your watch list and it would make a handsome addition to nay collection.
The 95th Academy Awards nominations have just been announced this morning by hosts Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams with “Everything Everywhere All At Once” leading the pack with eleven nominations.
Best Picture “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “The Fabelmans” “TAR” “Top Gun: Maverick” “Triangle of Sadness” “Women Talking”
Best Director Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin” The Daniels, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans” Todd Field, “TAR” Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness”
Best Actor Austin Butler, “Elvis” Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Brendan Fraser, “The Whale” Paul Mescal, “Aftersun” Bill Nighy, “Living”
Best Actress Cate Blanchett, “TAR” Ana de Armas, “Blonde” Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie” Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans” Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Best Supporting Actress Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Hong Chau, “The Whale” Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Best Supporting Actor Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway” Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans” Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin” Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Best Animated Feature “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” “Marcell the Shell with Shoes On” “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” “The Sea Beast” “Turning Red”
Best International Feature “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Argentina, 1985” “Close” “EO” “The Quiet Girl”
Best Documentary Feature “All That Breathes” “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” “Fire of Love” “A House Made of Splinters” “Navalny”
Best Adapted Screenplay “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” “Living” “Top Gun: Maverick” “Women Talking”
Best Original Screenplay “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “The Fabelmans” “TAR” “Triangle of Sadness”
Best Cinematography “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Bardo” “Elvis” “Empire of Light” “TAR”
Best Film Editing “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “TAR” “Top Gun: Maverick”
Best Production Design “All Quiet on The Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “Babylon” “Elvis” “The Fabelmans”
Best Score “All Quiet on The Western Front” “Babylon” “The Banshees of Inisherin” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “The Fabelmans”
Best Song “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman” “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick” “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR” “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Best Makeup and Hairstyling “All Quiet on the Western Front” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Elvis” “The Whale”
Best Costume Design “Babylon” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Elvis” “Everything Everywhere All At Once” “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”
Best Visual Effects “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Batman” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” “Top Gun: Maverick”
Best Sound “All Quiet on the Western Front” “Avatar: The Way of Water” “The Batman” “Elvis” “Top Gun: Maverick”
Best Animated Short Film “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” “The Flying Sailor” “Ice Merchants” “My Year of Dicks” “An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake And I Think I Believe It”
Best Documentary Short Film “The Elephant Whisperers” “Haulout” “How Do You Measure a Year?” “The Martha Mitchell Effect” “Stranger at the Gate”
Best Live-Action Short Film “An Irish Goodbye” “Ivalu” “Le Pupille” “Night Ride” “The Red Suitcase”
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hold this year’s Academy Awards on March 13th. The Oscars will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
Created by: Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy
Featuring: Colin Morgan, Angel Coulby, Bradley James, Katie McGrath, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, John Hurt and Nathaniel Parker
[introduction to each episode]
The Dragon: [voiceover] “In a land of myth, and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name… Merlin.”
Recently released on Blu-ray is the fantasy series “The Adventures of Merlin” (2008 – 2012) based around the Arthurian legend that has seen multiple reinventions over the decades, this one aimed at a teen audience so a majority of the characters are all in their teens or early 20s at least.The show is surprisingly effective and very good especially in the age of making this kind of series on a budget. “The Adventures of Merlin” also has an audience and quite a loyal one at that which is why it has had releases across multiple platforms.
“The Adventures of Merlin” is based around the titular character of Merlin, (Colin Morgan) a young, powerful warlock who arrives in the kingdom of Camelot after his mother arranges for him to stay with the court physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson). He discovers that the king, Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), outlawed magic twenty years earlier in an event known as the Great Purge and imprisoned the last dragon, Kilgharrah (voice of John Hurt), in the caves beneath the castle. After hearing a mysterious voice inside his head, Merlin makes his way to the cavern beneath the keep to find that he was hearing the dragon’s voice. The Great Dragon tells Merlin that he has an important destiny: to protect Uther’s only son, Prince Arthur (Bradley James), who will return magic to Camelot and unite the land of Albion. When Merlin meets Arthur, Merlin considers him to be an arrogant bully, and Arthur, likewise, is less than impressed with Merlin. After saving the prince’s life, Merlin is appointed as his personal manservant. The two experience many adventures, over the course of which they come to respect and trust one another. But when Uther’s actions eventually cause his ward, Morgana (Katie McGrath), to turn against Camelot and pursue a path of evil, Merlin and Arthur must join forces with friends, old and new, to protect their home and secure their destinies.
Like most of these type of fantasy television shows it would be easy to shrug of this incarnation but in fact it is a very good introduction to the Arthurian legend as anything else around, or even a gateway to other fantasy books, television or movies especially in 2023 when there is so much being spent on this genre to make them look and feel as real as possible. Of course one element of the show that stands out now is that by the middle seasons there is a certain routine to the scripts as well as the series being a little trope laden. Like many shows of the time there is an odd blokey feel to it, much like the Heath Ledger “A Knight’s Tale” (2001) where the language and friendships seem to be of today rather than hundred of years ago.
Of course this may feel quaint ten years after its last season ended but in fact when it was released it was criticised for a perceived modern appearance, which may have been because it featured minorities and it has aged a little as the CGI was, even for the time relatively cheap looking. This is a fantasy series based on a legend from the Dark Ages, so there has been liberties taken with almost everything we see, but in the end it is fantasy, not fact.
It’s also worth remembering that the story of Arthur is essentially a tragedy. It ends with the king betrayed by Guinevere and Lancelot and destroyed by his own blood relative. Merlin’s optimistic tone could never survive the shift into a torrid tale of death and destruction.
Season One
Episodes
The Dragon’s Call: Young Merlin, sent by his mother from their village to start a better life, arrives in Camelot where he is to be apprenticed to Gaius, physician to the repressive King Uther. Uther, believing all magic evil, has made it punishable by death, so when Gaius finds that Merlin has magical, telekinetic powers, he agrees to keep the boy’s secret. The mother of a sorcerer Uther recently executed comes to Camelot for revenge in the guise of a pretty girl, charming the court to sleep with her singing. Only Merlin sees what is happening and, staying awake, saves the situation …
Valiant: King Uther Pendragon holds an annual tournament where Prince Arthur Pendragon is to defend his title against other knights of the realm. Sir Valiant comes with a magic secret weapon – a shield from which the painted poisonous serpents can come to life and attack (which Sir Valiant also used to murder its creator). By nursing snake-poisoned knight Ewan, Merlin finds out how this vile knight has been defeating adversaries as easily as Arthur. He informs the prince, but a servant’s word is worthless against a knight’s, and by the time the prince challenges Valiant, the …
The Mark of Nimueh: The dark sorceress Nimueh casts a spell on a dragon egg she throws into the castle’s water. The next day a plague causes people to die, their skin turning white with dark blue veins. When King Uther orders Prince Arthur to search all Camelot for the sorcerer he believes to have caused the epidemic, only a magic trick saves Merlin from having his book found. When Gwen’s father exhibits symptoms, Merlin waves Gaius’s warning by curing him. Arthur reports the recovery, and Uther orders her execution at the stake. Merlin tells Gwen’s caring mistress, Morgana, only Arthur …
The Poisoned Chalice: In poisoning a cup, Nimueh’s latest scheme jeopardizes a peace accord between two kingdoms, turns father against son, lays a foe low, and sends Arthur on a perilous quest alone.
Lancelot: Merlin would have been killed by a giant griffin (half eagle, half lion) if not for valiant Lancelot, who bravely attacked it and got them safely away. Learning Lancelot’s life dream is to become a knight, grateful Merlin brings him to court, but when told only noblemen may apply, magically forges proof of nobility. Lancelot passes hazing and close combat tests against Prince Arthur but is found out as commoner and jailed. When the griffin attacks Camelot – even inside the royal castle – the knights’ arms prove unable to penetrate it . Arthur frees Lancelot, who in …
A Remedy to Cure All Ills: Receiving tainted lilies collected by unsuspecting Gwen, royal ward Morgana falls ill with an unidentified brain disease Gaius can’t cure. Mysterious healer Edwin’s “remedy to cure all ills” seemingly works (by actually removing the cursed black beetle he hid in the lilies). As Edwin maneuvers grateful King Uther to instate him as new court physician, Gaius gets court archivist Geoffrey to allow him illegal access to the sealed records of Uther’s purge of magic, revealing Edwin’s parents as executed black sorcerers. After consulting the dragon (who says he must choose…
The Gates of Avalon: When Arthur becomes besotted with a mysterious girl, he stands to lose more than just his heart.
The Beginning of the End: When a druid boy’s father is caught by the king’s guards, the boy sends out a telepathic call for help, to which Merlin responds and offers sanctuary; but, under penalty of death to anyone harboring the boy, will Merlin be willing to put himself and his friends in mortal danger? And when Uther’s dungeon dragon hints of dark prophecies linked to the boy, will Merlin then turn a blind eye?
Excalibur: A black knight crashes Arthur’s coming-of-age ceremony, throwing down the gauntlet to any knight who will fight him, killing all who do, one day at a time. Gaius discovers he is Uther’s dead brother-in-law, now a wraith summoned from the grave by the witch Nimueh, seeking revenge for the death of his sister who died giving birth to Arthur. His intent: to eventually fight and kill Uther. Merlin learns that only a special sword burnished with a dragon’s fiery breath can kill the knight. To that end, he asks Gwen for the best sword her father ever forged (the sword later…
The Moment of Truth: Hearing that his village is being threatened by a warlord and his gang, Merlin travels home with Gwen, Morgana and Arthur, the latter doing his best to drill the peaceful villagers into a fighting force. Merlin’s friend William is dismissive of Arthur’s efforts, feeling they constitute egoism, though he ultimately saves the young prince’s life. Nonetheless the villagers are inexperienced in martial ways and Merlin must use magic and conjure up a wind-storm to help see off the bandits.
The Labyrinth of Gedref: While hunting, Arthur and Merlin see a unicorn. Despite Merlin’s protests, Arthur kills the beautiful creature to bring the crass Uther its horn as an ornament. The foolish father and son ignore Gaius’s warning that it is bad luck to kill a unicorn, but soon the crops wither and the well water turns to sand. The mystic Anhora, guardian of the unicorns, arrives in Camelot to tell Arthur that his stupidity has cursed the land and he alone can lift that curse. This involves his learning much-needed humility before riding to the Labyrinth of Gedref, where he will be …
To Kill the King: Gwen’s blacksmith father Tom is approached by Tauren, who possesses the alchemist’s stone and wants Tom’s help in turning base metal into gold – gold he intends using to overthrow the king. The palace guards raid the smithy; Tauren escapes but Tom is caught, sentenced to death for assisting sorcery and (unsuccessfully helped to escape by Morgana ) killed. Appalled by Uther’s callousness, she tells Tauren she will help him in his plot, unaware that Merlin is listening. On the pretext of visiting the grave of her father, for whose death she blames Uther, she rides out …
Le Morte d’Arthur: The Questing Beast is on the loose near Camelot, and Arthur, ignoring a warning from Morgana who has dreamed that it will kill him, is bitten by the creature before Merlin slays it. Arthur sinks into a coma and the Great Dragon tells Merlin he can only save him by traveling to the Isle of the Blessed. On arrival there Merlin meets the witch Nimueh, who gives him the antidote, water from the Cup of Life, but warns him that, to save Arthur’s life, another must be sacrificed. Arthur drinks the water and recovers but Merlin discovers the witch was not lying – his mother …
Season Two
The Curse of Cornelius Sigan: A treasure chamber is unearthed beneath Camelot, the centre-piece being a glowing blue stone in the sarcophagus lid of Cornelius Sigan. Decades earlier, Sigan was executed for sorcery and died vowing revenge. Greedy Cedric, hearing only of the treasure, comes to Camelot. Learning that Arthur has the one key to the vault, he worms his way into the dim young prince’s confidence and steals it, looting the chamber and prying away the stone (which is actually Sigan’s wicked soul). Consequently possessed by Sigan’s spirit, Cedric takes on his magic powers and animates the …
The Once and Future Queen: Realising that his jousting opponents always let him win because he is the royal prince, Arthur pretends to leave court and enters the lists in disguise to win on merit. He stays with Guinevere, who tells him some home truths about his arrogance, and they kiss. Moorish assassin Myror, paid by neighbouring king Odin (whose son challenged a reluctant Arthur to a duel and lost his life) arrives at Camelot to kill the young prince. He enters the joust with a lance hiding a dagger on its tip, but Merlin uses magic to defeat and kill him. Arthur has learned some humility by…
The Nightmare Begins: Morgana realizes she has magic powers when she sets her room on fire from her bed. Against the advice of Gaius and the dragon, Merlin sends her to seek advice from the Druids. Uther, believing she has been abducted, orders the deaths of all suspected sorcerers and their sympathizers unless she is returned, so Merlin goes after her. Locating her in the Druid village where chieftain Aglain tells her the truth (giving her confidence that magic can be used for good), Merlin must get her back to Camelot before Arthur and a vengeful search party catches up with them and …
Lancelot and Guinevere: Gwen is mistaken for Morgana and kidnapped. Against Uther’s wishes, Arthur heads out to fight for her freedom, with Merlin by his side to help him.
Beauty and the Beast: Part One: An ugly old troll drinks a potion transforming herself into the glamorous Lady Catrina, who arrives at Camelot with her servant Jonas. Gaius, who has met the real Catrina, and Merlin, who witnesses her true identity, are unable to convince bone-headed Uther of Catrina’s real nature, especially when she bewitches him by giving him a magic pendant. Merlin attempts magic to expose her but she is too strong and it is too late to stop her marrying the king and becoming the queen of Camelot.
Beauty and the Beast II: Merlin spies on the troll and steals the potion she uses to resemble Catrina, replacing it with a fake one made by Gaius. Consequently she turns back into a troll, in view of everybody, but Uther, still bewitched by her, fails to see this. Merlin learns that the only way to break the spell on him is to make him weep real tears. Thus Gaius prepares another potion, which Arthur drinks, and makes him appear to be dead. This does the trick and the king finally comes to his senses. Arthur kills the troll and Jonas and thanks Merlin for his efforts.
The Witchfinder: In his determination to rule magic out of Camelot forever, Uther hires the services of Aredian, a terrifying witch hunter who is most feared due to the fact that he stops at nothing in the quest to uncover all and every kind of sorcery. Even though no one is under direct suspicion, several people in Camelot are afraid that the witch hunter could see straight through them: Morgana is worried that Uther might have her executed and Gaius is concerned for the fate of Merlin and his own, since caring for the young warlock is considered crime and treason. Will all three be …
The Sins of the Father: When a mysterious warrior challenges Arthur to a duel, no one could possibly predict the devastating chain of events it sets in motion – least of all the young prince himself. Arthur and Merlin soon find themselves on a strange quest at the behest of the beautiful Morgause. Through her, Arthur discovers a dark secret which threatens to bring about the downfall of the kingdom.
The Lady of the Lake: Merlin saves a Druid girl from a bounty hunter’s cage, but there is more to her than meets the eye.
Sweet Dreams: Rulers from the Five Kingdoms converge on Camelot for a peace conference, including King Olaf and his spoilt, over-protected daughter Vivian. King Alined is also present, along with his jester, the wizard Trickler. He is a disruptive force who wants to cause discord between Olaf and Uther to gain ultimate power for himself. To this end he gets Trickler to bewitch Vivian and Arthur so that they fall in love and incur the annoyance of Olaf, who will challenge Arthur to a duel. This time it is down to Guinevere, rather than Merlin, to break the spell.
The Witch’s Quickening: Mordred brings a warlock, Alvarr, to see Morgana, and they persuade her to steal a crystal with magical properties from the vaults of Camelot. Alvarr tells her it can be used to help people like themselves with special powers, though he really intends to destroy Camelot with it. Merlin and Arthur pursue him, returning him and the crystal to court. Mordred escapes, and Morgana (having disowned Uther), springs Alvarr from prison by drugging the guards. Merlin, having looked into the crystal, is alarmed by a vision of chaos, but Gaius assures him that it is far into the …
The Fires of Idirsholas: Using an incantation, Morgause revives the deadly Knights of Medhir and, whilst Merlin and Arthur are the sole survivors of the party sent to beat the knights, Morgause uses Morgana to bewitch Camelot so that everybody except Morgana herself falls asleep, rendering the court defenseless when the knights approach, intent on killing the king. Merlin learns from the Great Dragon that the only way to break the spell is to kill Morgana, so he uses her as his bargaining power to force Morgause to call off the attack. As a consequence he must honour his pledge to free the …
The Last Dragonlord: Morgana has gone with Morgause, and the dragon, freed by Merlin, repeatedly attacks Camelot, causing huge fire damage. Only a dragon-lord is capable of containing the beast, men whom Uther persecuted years earlier, from which only one still survives (Balinor), who lives like a hermit in a cave. Gaius, who helped him escape Camelot, tells Merlin this is his father, and when Merlin and Arthur trace him, Merlin reveals himself to Balinor (though they keep it from Arthur). Balinor agrees to come to Camelot to assist, but there is further drama before Merlin proves himself…
Season Three
The Tears of Uther Pendragon: A year after being whisked away from Camelot, Morgana is found, disheveled and bruised in the forest and claiming abduction by bandits. Superficially contrite and charming, she remains in league with Morgause, for whom she collects tears shed by Uther. These Morguase uses to curse him through a doll fashioned from mandrake root, which Morgana places under his bed. As it slowly starts to drive the king mad with hallucinates of ghosts, Morgause – after taking Merlin prisoner – induces rival king Cenred to invade the weakened kingdom, for which Merlin summons the Great …
The Tears of Uther Pendragon: Part Two: The Great Dragon returns Merlin to Camelot where, convincing Gaius of Morgana’s treachery, they break the curse on Uther by burning the mandrake doll. Nonetheless, they feel he would not believe them if they exposed Morgana. Whilst Cenred’s men lay siege to the castle, Morgana uses a rowan wood magic staff to create an army of sword-wielding skeletons to fight the knights inside Camelot. Merlin destroys the staff, the skeletons disintegrate and, as the tide turns in favour of Camelot, Cenred calls off his siege. Morgana, however, takes the credit for destroying the …
Goblin’s Gold: Merlin finds a secret chamber and accidentally releases a Goblin, which wreaks havoc.
Gwaine: A heroic stranger causes trouble for Merlin after risking his life to save Arthur.
The Crystal Cave: Fleeing enemies, Merlin and Arthur take refuge in The Valley of the Fallen Kings. There, the sorcerer Taliesin cures the wounded Arthur and shows Merlin the Crystal Cave, which provides a disturbing vision of the future in which Morgana stabs a sleeping Uther. Come her birthday, Morgana, given a dagger by Arthur, steals into the king’s room to kill, secretly followed by Merlin, who uses magic to thwart her. She is temporarily put into a coma, during which time Uther confides in Gaius that she is his natural daughter – a fact of which she is also aware. Gaius believes …
The Changeling: Arthur is pressured into an arranged marriage with a visiting princess, but there’s more to her than mere gracelessness and a taste for frogs.
The Castle of Fyrien: Gwen faces an impossible dilemma when she is forced to choose between saving the life of her estranged brother (Elyan) or Arthur.
The Eye of the Phoenix: Arthur must journey alone to seek out an ancient sorcerer, the Fisher King, and retrieve a golden trident to prove his right to the throne. Morgana gives him an amulet, the Eye of the Phoenix, which will weaken and kill him if worn for too long. Discovering this, Merlin sets out after him, collecting Gwaine, and they save the debilitated prince from two attacking wyverns, discarding the amulet. Arthur believes the quest is his but Merlin, separated from the others, meets the Fisher King, who tells him he is the chosen one. He gives him a bottle of water from the lake …
Love in the Time of Dragons: A healer is in Camelot using magic to heal the sick, and Gaius quickly realizes it is Alice, a woman whom he was about to marry many years earlier until she had to flee from Uther’s persecution of sorcerers. Now Gaius is happy to work with Alice again in preparing potions, but he is unaware that Alice is being controlled by a mythical monster, a manticore, which urges her to poison the cold-hearted king. To break the manticore’s hold over Alice and ultimately save her from execution, Gaius has to perform the magic that he possessed but had forsaken long ago.
Queen of Hearts: Prophetic dreams of Guinevere becoming Camelot’s Queen torment Morgana. Morgause encourages her to reveal Arthur and Gwen’s courtship to Uther, knowing the king will do whatever it takes to stop his son from marrying a serving girl. As a result, Uther banishes Gwen from the kingdom, forcing Arthur to make the ultimate sacrifice of leaving Camelot to join her. Determined to stop the loving couple, Morgana frames Gwen for the unpardonable crime of enchanting the prince. With destiny once again at stake, Merlin will be compelled to risk everything to save Gwen from a …
The Sorcerer’s Shadow: Camelot’s legendary tournament only has one rule: there are no rules whatsoever. Terrifying warriors start to fill the mythical city, Gilli amongst them. Despite his small stature, Gilli is ready to join the action and committed to achieve victory with a secret weapon to help him: magic. When Gilli begins to realize the full extent of his powers, Merlin becomes torn since his new friend is putting his own life in danger as well as threatening the very heart of Camelot with his actions. Will Merlin be able to make Gilli see sense before it’s too late?
The Coming of Arthur: Part One: Sir Leon is nursed back to health by Druids using the Cup of Life after he is the sole survivor of an attack by Cenred’s men. It purportedly grants immortality to those who drink from it, and Arthur and Merlin retrieve it from the Druids to prevent it falling into Cenred’s hands. However, they, along with Gwaine, are ambushed and the cup stolen. Having killed Cenred, Morgause makes his soldiers drink from it and, under her orders, they successfully attack Camelot. By the time the three young men arrive back at the court, Uther is in chains and Camelot has a new ruler.
The Coming of Arthur: Part Two: The new queen of Camelot proves to be far crueler than Uther, who is made to watch from his dungeon as she slaughters innocents. Guinevere helps Sir Leon escape from prison and joins her brother Elyan, Gaius, Merlin, Arthur and Gwaine, who are hiding in the woods. Soldiers follow but they are saved by Lancelot and a youth of immense strength, Percival. Merlin looks into the waters of Avalon in the phial given him by the Fisher King, which directs him to Excalibur, the sword which will defeat the enemy. The fugitives find a round table, around which they movingly …
Season Four
The Darkest Hour: Morgana takes the dying Morgause to the Isle of the Blessed where she unwittingly tears the veil to the spirit world, unleashing the Dorocha, invisible ghosts that begin to attack the kingdom. At Camelot, where a weakened Uther has given over much of his rule to his scheming brother Agravaine, Merlin senses what is happening but finds his magic inadequate to stop it. As Camelot fills with refugees, Gaius reasons that, as one death opened the portal, only another will close it. Arthur offers himself as the sacrifice and travels to the Isle of the Blessed with Merlin …
The Darkest Hour: Part Two: The kingdom is on the brink of collapse, with Morgana poised to strike. As Lancelot races back to Camelot with the dying Merlin, Arthur must continue on his mission to vanquish the Dorocha without them. Though the knights know their journey to the Isle of the Blessed is fraught with danger, none anticipate the sacrifice Arthur intends to make there. Friendship and loyalty are tested to the limit, but in the end, it is the power of love that changes all their lives forever.
The Wicked Day: The mighty citadel is buzzing in anticipation of the prince’s birthday celebrations, but Arthur’s old adversary, Odin, promises to ensure this is one party Camelot will never forget, for amongst the assembling guests lurks a deadly assassin, set to strike. As the dust settles, Camelot is left devastated, but just how far is Merlin prepared to go to put things right? Would he really risk everything and reveal his secret?
Aithusa: The mysterious Julius Borden arrives in Camelot with news of a magical secret that threatens to change the landscape of the kingdom forever. He has located the final part of the key to the tomb of Ashkanar, an ancient mausoleum which holds a very special treasure: the last remaining dragon’s egg. Merlin is understandably drawn in by Borden’s news, and promises to help him, but just who is the enigmatic stranger and, more importantly, what does he really want with the egg?
His Father’s Son: Arthur faces his first true test as King when he incurs the wrath of the formidable Queen Annis. With the lives of thousands hanging in the balance, Arthur must find the strength to be his own man and become the leader Camelot so desperately needs.
A Servant of Two Masters: When Merlin falls into Morgana’s hands, he becomes a deadly weapon in her fight for supremacy. Using ancient magic, she pits friend against friend to create the perfect assassin. An oblivious Arthur is in great danger. Will anyone notice Merlin’s unusual behaviour before he does the king some serious harm?
The Secret Sharer: Following her defeat by Emrys, Morgana joins forces with the wizard Alator and kidnaps Gaius in an effort to find out more about her arch-enemy.
Lamia: When the menfolk of Guinevere’s home village fall victim to a mysterious illness, Gaius sends Merlin, along with Guinevere and the knights, to cure them, but they are side-tracked by a waif-like girl, Lamia. Only Merlin and Guinevere suspect, rightly, that she is a witch, and soon the knights fall under her spell, succumbing to the same sickness. Arthur rides out with Gaius, who has realized the girl’s secret, but will they rescue Merlin and Guinevere or can Merlin defeat Lamia without revealing his magic powers?
Lancelot du Lac: Learning from Agravaine that Arthur plans to wed Guinevere, Morgana uses necromancy to revive Lancelot, though he has no proper recollection of his past life and, grateful to Morgana, returns to Camelot to seduce the future queen. Guinevere resists, until she is presented with an enchanted bracelet supplied by Morgana for Lancelot to give her. The two meet in secret and are observed by Arthur. Merlin, suspicious of events, convinces Gaius of how the knight was resurrected, but can they stop Arthur from banishing Guinevere and putting Lancelot to death?
A Herald of the New Age: The watery ghost of a slain Druid boy haunts Elyan and captures the conscience of the king.
The Hunter’s Heart: King Arthur’s engagement to Princess Mithian presents him something he’s never faced before – a perfect match.
The Sword in the Stone: Part One: As Morgana’s forces capture Camelot, Arthur at last comes to see his uncle’s treachery. He is reluctant to flee, but Merlin bewitches him into escaping with him, temporarily blocking his memory and dressing him as a peasant. Elyan, Gaius, and Gwaine are taken prisoner, though Morgana is impressed by Gwaine’s performance in trials by combat. Separated from Leon and Percival, Merlin and Arthur fall in with smugglers Tristan and Isolde, during which Merlin’s spell wears off and the young king can reveal his identity to them. The quartet escapes to Ealdor, Merlin’s …
The Sword in the Stone: Part Two: Merlin summons the dragon to vanquish the pursuers and uses his magic to kill Agravaine. Hiding in the woods with Guinevere, Tristan and Isolde, Arthur confesses his self-doubt to Merlin and feels he has failed his subjects, but Merlin proves to him that he is worthy to be king by getting him to extract the legendary sword from its stone. In front of Leon and Percival and many other fugitives from the court, Arthur accomplishes the feat, inspiring them to claim back Camelot by entering through the same siege tunnels and freeing the prisoners. Finally, Camelot will be …
Season Five
Arthur’s Bane: Part One: Arthur has been king for three years without incident, but now an expedition north to the land of Ismere, led by Gwaine and Percival, is captured by Morgana and fellow sorcerer Ruadan and set to work in the mines to locate a mystical key. A search party headed by Arthur and Merlin goes after them, coming upon a village whose inhabitants have been massacred, A dying Druid warns Merlin of Arthur’s bane – a battle where the young king will be slain. Ruadan’s daughter Sefa is a spy working as Guinevere’s maid, who warns her father of Arthur’s army heading for Ismere …
Arthur’s Bane: Part Two: Ruadan rescues his daughter but is fatally wounded in the process. Merlin and Arthur are route-marched to Morgana’s wintry hide-out. Mordred shows them some kindness but Merlin, having glimpsed the future, mistrusts him. Merlin and Arthur escape and arrive in the mines below the castle, where they free all the slaves and meet a spirit called the Euchdag, who is herself the Diamar, the “key” which Morgana had been seeking. Mordred saves Arthur from Morgana’s attempt to kill him and is rewarded with a knighthood on the return to Camelot. Merlin remains wary despite the …
The Death Song of Uther Pendragon: Arthur rescues an old lady accused of sorcery, who gives him a horn with which to summon the spirit world. Despite Gaius’s warning, he uses it to briefly meet his father but soon realises his error as Uther terms him weak for his non-political marriage, his practice of knighting ordinary young men on merit, and his lack of cruelty to make his subjects fear him. When Camelot falls prey to poltergeist attacks, with Guinevere the principal victim, it becomes clear that Arthur has unwittingly released his disapproving, vengeful father’s spirit on the court. With a potion …
Another’s Sorrow: With the help of King Odin who blames Arthur for the death of his son Morgana invades the Kingdom of Nemeth in another attempt to take over Camelot. While Odin holds King Rodor of Nemeth hostage Morgana in disguise as a lady in waiting and Princess Mithian seek help from Arthur and his knights.
The Disir: The druid Osgar delivers the judgment of the disir to Arthur.
The Dark Tower: After visiting her father’s grave, Guinevere is captured by Morgana and imprisoned in the infamous Dark Tower haunted by ghostly visions and screams. Merlin and Arthur lead the knights in a rescue mission but get lost in the thick and aptly named Impenetrable Forest. Mab, the fairy queen of this forest, appears to Merlin and shows him how to guide the others through it but tauntingly reveals that one will not return. Arriving at the tower, they save Guinevere but at the cost of a man. None, however, realise that Guinevere is a changed woman thanks to Morgana.
A Lesson in Vengeance: After Arthur is unseated from his horse, his saddle is shown to have been tampered with and stable groom Tyr Seward blamed. Imprisoned, he tells Merlin he saw the true culprit but was told his mother would die if he informed on them. The actual saboteur, Guinevere (enchanted by Morgana) kills Tyr, and Arthur realises too late his innocence. Guinevere then poisons Arthur and casts the blame on Merlin, leaving an imprisoned Merlin to use magic to save himself and the king. To cover herself, Guinevere summons the apothecary from whom Morgana purchased the poison to pass …
The Hollow Queen: Earnest young druid Daegal begs Merlin to come to his village and save his dying sister, but the boy leads him into a trap where he’s left to die by Morgana. Arthur meanwhile hosts the ruthless Sarrum of Amata, with whom he plans to form an alliance; however, with Merlin deliberately put out of the way, the bewitched Guinevere, appealing to the Sarrum’s lust for power, persuades him to assassinate Arthur on the promise of a share of the kingdom. He accepts (though plans on killing her, too). Guilt-ridden, Daegal returns to save Merlin and they make it back to Camelot …
With All My Heart: Friendship, love, and loyalty between Arthur, Gwen, and Merlin.
The Kindness of Strangers: Morgana captures Alator – her former ally who later sided against her – in order to find out the identity of the legendary warlock known to the Druids as Emrys (still unaware this is Merlin). Merlin is approached by a mysterious woman, Finna, who warns him of danger and asks him to meet her at the temple of Erui. Though she is sent by Alator, Gaius suspects a trap and alerts Arthur to send his knights to find her, though she escapes with Merlin. She gives him a box and warns him against Mordred before willingly sacrificing herself to divert the pursuing Morgana. Back …
The Drawing of the Dark: Merlin sees Mordred helping Kara, a wounded Druid with whom he was once in love, but agrees to keep it secret. Later Kara tries to kill Arthur and is sentenced to death, with Arthur turning down Mordred’s pleas for mercy. Mordred uses magic to help Kara escape but they are recaptured and Kara is executed. Merlin rightly fears this will make Mordred determined to destroy Arthur; and, sure enough, he flees and goes to see Morgana, revealing to her that Emrys is Merlin.
The Diamond of the Day: Part One: Merlin finds himself facing the future he’s fought so long to avoid.
The Diamond of the Day: Part Two: With Arthur’s forces outnumbered, Merlin arrives in his guise as the aged sorcerer to defeat Morgana’s army with magic. Arthur kills Mordred but is wounded and rescued by Merlin, who reveals that he is a wizard. Arthur is initially hostile but, advised by Gaius, allows Merlin to take him to the healing lake of Avalon. On the journey, Arthur comes to appreciate everything Merlin has ever done for him and eyes him with a new respect, even softening in his attitude to magic, but Morgana is pursuing them. Can they make it to Avalon ahead of her?
Featuring: Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton
Kendra:“Well, I’m grateful to see you all together finally. May I say that. And I’m hopeful that we all think that this was a good thing to do by the time we leave here today.”
Released recently on DVD is the independent drama “Mass” (2001) a film set mostly in one room with four people talking and explaining their own points of view on grief, as well as the result of a school shooting that occurred years before. The themes and ideas behind “Mass” are all too real in today’s society, mainly because of the sheer amount of shootings that are occurring almost every day. Already this year in the US on the 24th January there have been 36 mass shootings in the US alone – if that number had been proffered when I was young it would have been thought to unthinkable. So to make a film about the long term aftermath is not only brave but invites an audience to give very critical feedback, in this case however it offers something very special, a kind of forgiveness as well as a view into four peoples lives who have all be altered.
“Mass” revolves around Jay and Gail Perry who are parents grieving the death of their son Evan, a victim of a high school shooting. Richard and Linda are the parents of the teenage perpetrator Hayden, who killed himself after his shootings. Six years after the tragedy, both couples agree to meet and talk in a private room at an Episcopal Church. The couples had met previously, in which Jay and Gail made hurtful comments toward Richard and Linda when they were all going through the public legal procedures that resulted from the incident. Jay had since publicly advocated for gun control and against gun ownership, causing a brief debate between him and Richard.
This was a film that debuted at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to much acclaim and throughout that year maintained buzz to its release, it made an impact and garnered a BAFTA nomination for Ann Dowd as well as other awards in other groups. Make no mistake “Mass” made an impact in 2021, the only letdown was that it was nominated for any Oscars which it definitely deserved.
Written and Directed by Fran Kranz who prior to “Mass” was known as an actor, here developed and saw through a very challenging film that required people to stay in a room with four people talking about their feelings but reflecting on society at large on a subject that is not talked about in the media at all. “Mass” has the feel of a stage play or live TV drama that was subsequently adapted for the big screen, during an era when people would happily pay to see theatrical films about adults in the real world, dealing with life-changing events that could actually happen.
Martha Plimpton and Jason Isaacs play the parents of a teenage boy who was one of ten students murdered in a school shooting. Ann Dowd and Reed Birney are the parents of the killer, a depressed and disturbed young man. The couples agree to sit at a table in the basement of an Episcopalian church and talk about, well, everything, in hopes of moving past depression, grief and anger, through catharsis, and toward a state of acceptance, or at least insight. Even before the parents meet you can feel the tension building up until about the middle of the meeting when there is an explosion of emotion which is a like a valve going off, they go off occasionally but the first one is the most telling. The four actors all at different levels of fame, talent and age are incredible their roles, of course as it should be it is Ann Dowd and Martha Plimpton who really steal the film as the Mother’s of the two boys, both are very different but at the end you can’t help but think they are in the same situation.
This is an emotional film and I don’t mean just with feelings, it does talk about politics or the availability of guns which I think is most important because the reality is in these polarised times both of those elements are never going to change to a greater or lesser degree. The decisions people have made about what side of the political spectrum they are on has been made, also the idea that gun laws will get any stricter is a pipe dream at this stage. What can change is the way parents interact with their children and how they raise them as well as just talking to them, that is a non partisan issue to be sure. Both gun ownership and gun control are political issues that hold no real place in that room with the two sets of parents, the last thing on their mind is politics.
It is interesting that the film was designed the way it has been, it would be an easy thing to translate this to the stage which would be a real treat, live it would be something else. This is not an easy film to watch especially when you start to realise what you are going to experience. However it is worth the emotion as the payoff is something uneasy but earned, I recommend this film highly.
Featuring: Nicholas Young, Elizabeth Adare, Peter Vaughan-Clarke, Philip Gilbert, Stephen Salmon, Sammie Winmill, Dean Lawrence, Mike Holoway, Misako Koba and Nigel Rhodes
John:“I wonder if all those people who are desperate to have a close encounter of some kind have ever really thought about what it might mean.”
Hsui Tai:“What do you mean, John?”
John:“Just think what happened to the African Negro and the American Indian when they came into contact with the Europeans who had more advanced technology. Well, the Blacks were sold into slavery and the Indians almost wiped out.”
Released recently on DVD is the science fiction television series “The Tomorrow People” (1973 – 1979) which was a huge hit upon its release and was obviously influenced by a lot of science fiction, the most obvious is “Doctor Who” (1963 – present).
“The Tomorrow People” concerns the emergence of the next stage of human evolution (Homo novis) known colloquially as Tomorrow People. Born to human parents, an apparently normal child might at some point between childhood and late adolescence experience a process called ‘breaking out’ and develop special paranormal abilities. These abilities include psionic powers such as telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation. However, their psychological make-up prevents them from intentionally killing others.
Like many television shows of the time that were high concept, again like “Doctor Who” were made on small budgets and as time wore on those budgets only decreased, which makes very little sense, especially as they were successful in their early years. In something very obvious the way that the production company attempted to fight the reducing budgets was to reduce the episode count so by the time the final season aired there were only four episodes, I would argue that it is a bit of a stretch to call that a series, especially when the running time of each one is about thirty minutes. Possibly though this is why it is reasonably easy and cost efficient to release the series in one box set, it may seem hard going at the beginning of the seasons but it speeds up after series five.
Like many English series of the era the episodes look and sound acceptable especially on DVD, there is of course a lot of characteristic of cross-chroma interference which is typical of PAL material of this era, but otherwise 1970s videotape has rarely looked so good. A pass through the BBC’s Transform decoder, now routinely used by the Doctor Who Restoration Team, would probably have cleaned the PAL artefacts up. Even the film sequences are clean. A grading pass would have ironed out the inconsistencies between shots, and between the studio material and the film inserts.
There is a general lack of special features which is made even more obvious when put alongside other DVD and Blu-ray releases from the time released today which is a huge disappointment especially when many of the principles are still alive today. There are however commentaries on every episode, fact files and photo galleries.
Episodes
Series One
The Slaves of Jedikiah: Part 1 – 5: Adolescent Stephen Jameson doesn’t know it but he’s about to break out, and several other special teenagers, as well as two thugs, hope to find him when or before he does. Stephen has been abducted from the hospital by Ginge and Lefty, who take him to the mysterious Jedikiah. John, Carol and Kenny attempt to locate him and get him safely back to the lab.
The Medusa Strain: Part 1 – 4: Jedikiah is recovered from space by Count Rabowski, who is already holding prisoner Peter, one of the Time Guardians. Jedikiah tricks Peter into transporting them to the 20th century so he can get his revenge on the Tomorrow People.
The Vanishing Earth: Part 1 – 4: The Tomorrow People investigate a series of natural disasters which are threatening the entire planet. Meanwhile, Ginger and Lefty take a day trip to Clacton and encounter a sinister pier attraction.
Series Two
The Blue and the Green Part 1 – 5: John and Stephen find themselves with two mysteries to investigate – the possibility that Stephen’s new teacher Elizabeth M’Bondo is a Tomorrow Person and some worryingly accurate paintings of alien planets.
A Rift in Time Part 1 – 4: John and Stephen both begin having dreams about Peter and realise he is asking for help, but first they must track down a Roman vase that also appears in the dream.
The Doomsday Men Part 1 – 4: A new peace treaty is about to be signed but the Tomorrow People are worried about the Doomsday Men, an organisation dedicated to the perpetuation of war. Stephen is sent undercover at the same school as the grandson of the group’s leader.
Series Three
Secret Weapon 1 – 4: John, Liz and Stephen sense the breakout of a new Tomorrow Person, Tyso Boswell. Unknown to them, however, he has already come to the attention of Professor Cawston, who introduces him to the mysterious Colonel Masters.
Worlds Away 1 – 3: The Tomorrow People are visited by Timus, an ambassador from the Galactic Federation. He tells them of the planet Pyrie, where telepaths are oppressed by the servants of the alien Khultan, and asks them to go there to help them.
A Man for Emily 1 – 3: A group of aliens stop off on Earth for supplies, but since their only knowledge of Earth’s culture comes from watching cowboy films, it is not long before their visit results in violence and the Tomorrow People become involved.
The Revenge of Jedikiah 1 – 3: When one of his colleagues goes missing after an expedition to Egypt, Professor Cawston goes to the Tomorrow People for help. They soon realise the expedition unearthed Jedikiah, who is attempting to track them down.
Series Four
One Law 1 – 3: John, Liz, Stephen and Tyso return to Earth to see if any more Tomorrow People have broken out in their absence. They sense the presence of another telepath, Mike Bell, and decide to leave him to break out in his own time. Unfortunately, his abilities have already attracted the attention of some criminals.
Into the Unknown 1 – 4: A spaceship is detected near Earth. John and Stephen jaunt aboard to collect the pilot, Kwaan, who has been injured. When Mike goes up to the ship on his own, it results in several of the Tomorrow People being trapped on board.
Series Five
The Dirtiest Business 1 – 2: The lab is invaded by the SIS, who inform the Tomorrow People that Pavla, a telepathic girl working for the KGB, has gone missing in London. The Tomorrow People must try to protect her from the intelligence agencies of two countries.
A Much Needed Holiday 1 – 2: The Tomorrow People take a holiday on the planet Galia, but when they come across two runaway slave boys, it becomes clear more goes on than they were first aware.
The Heart of Sogguth 1 – 2: A stranger, Jake, offers to manage Mike’s band, but when Liz learns that he is the leader of a religious group called the Hearts of Sogguth, she begins to wonder what his motives are.
Series Six
The Lost Gods 1 – 2: During solo flights in John’s glider, Mike’s mind connects strongly with an emerging Tomorrow Person, a sacrificial priestess in an Asian temple.
Hitler’s Last Secret 1 – 2: Adolf Hitler’s genetically engineered 40-year-plan for world domination unfolds prematurely.
The Thargon Menace 1 – 2: A Thargon slimship crash-lands on a Pacific island under the control of the infamous dictator General Papa Minn. When the Tomorrow People investigate, the crew claim they are on the run from Thargon slavers.
Series Seven
Castle of Fear 1 – 2: The Tomorrow People all dream of a headless Highlander and suspect a new Tomorrow Person of breaking out. This is Andrew Forbes, a boy with the power to create illusions – but his father is far from pleased with his new abilities.
Achilles Heel 1 – 2: Two aliens come to Earth to mine a rare mineral that can rob all intergalactic Tomorrow People of their special powers.
The Living Skins 1 – 2: A shopping trip sees Mike and Hsui Tai purchasing the new bubbleskin jumpsuits. When they subsequently exhibit strange behaviour, the other Tomorrow People wonder if there is more to the new fashion craze than meets the eye.
Series Eight
War of the Empires 1 – 4: Liz has travelled to the Trig to join Timus in negotiating a peace between the Sorsons and the Thargons. They are unsuccessful, and soon both races are encroaching on Earth’s solar system.
“The Avengers: The Emma Peel Collection” (1965 – 1967)
Television Thriller
Fifty Episodes
Created by: Sydney Newman
Featuring: Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg
John Steed: “Mrs. Peel, we’re needed.”
Released recently on Blu-ray on the Imprint label is “The Avengers: The Emma Peel Collection” (1965 – 1967) two seasons concentrating on the Emma Peel’s character within the series. One of the reasons that these have been released as just series four and five is that most of series one and two have been lost and series four have only been released on DVD, the quality is quite low.
“The Avengers” focuses on extraordinary crimes against the people and the state have to be avenged by agents extraordinary. Two such people are John Steed, top professional, and his partner, Emma Peel, talented amateur. Otherwise known as The Avengers. With lethal bowler hat and umbrella, killer fashion and kung fu, the secret agents investigate bizarre and colourful adventures with nonchalant efficiency, sophistication and charm.
Whilst every era of the long-running, enduringly popular and trend-setting British series has its own unique style, charm and wit, it is the Emma Peel years that have become the programme’s most iconic and recognisable, with Diana Rigg’s portrayal of Mrs. Emma Peel ushering in a new era of excitement, fashion and iconology, coupled with Patrick Macnee’s continuing depiction of the urbane and sublime John Steed.
Of course when “The Avengers” was released in the 1960s it must have been seen as televisions answer to “James Bond” however it actually was broadcast before “Dr. No” (1962) so now seems even cooler if that is possible. Up to the fourth season the series was in black and white which again now on reflection for me makes it look utterly cool. This fifth season was the series’ first foray into color, announced in a pre-credits title card for what was then in the United States the new standard for television series. This season also marked the show’s foray into a somewhat cheekier style that included more frankly whimsical elements than had been featured in earlier seasons, and perhaps not so coincidentally, this season was an unqualified success, raising the pop cultural profiles of natty agent John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and his “talented amateur” sidekick, the extremely elegant Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), to new heights.
There have been endless reissues of the series on VHS, then DVD and now Blu-ray which effectively illustrates how timeless “The Avengers” is. Of course with so much distance between the original series and now, as well as having all the principle actors now dead, there is a tendency for the series to be viewed with rose coloured glasses. This being essentially a spy show it is of little surprise that on the “The Avengers” they were portrayed as more campy and away from what realism there was.
Like many television shows of the time, and the successful ones, the series had a mostly strict format that it followed, Mrs. Peel would receive an “invitation” of sorts from Steed, informing her that the pair is needed. Usually the cases are patently outlandish, featuring a lot of gimmicky quasi-science fiction or fantasy elements. Typically Steed and Mrs. Peel go their separate ways on separate tracks in their investigation, something that just as typically temporarily puts Emma in danger, so that Steed can burst in at the last minute to save her.
Of course the fun in the show are the two main characters Steed and Mrs. Peel who have great chemistry, it is no wonder they are still known all these decades later. Macnee’s elegantly patrician but still accessible demeanor makes Steed the very model of a modern undercover agent, and Rigg’s ineffable glamour and poise, not to mention her occasional martial arts moves, make Emma a force to be reckoned with. The fashions of the show of course became one of its true calling cards, and Steed’s natty suits and bowler hats, and Emma’s succession of form fitting pantsuits create a very mod ambience for the show that places it securely in the Flower Power era.
Technical Commentary
Video
“The Avengers” is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.34:1. It’s important to remember there are black pillar boxes on all episodes and that this single camera series never really exploited a lot of fancy camera moves or even over the top action that might require more bandwidth. From a color perspective, this release is fantastically vivid most of the time, with deeply saturated hues that are for the most part very accurate and lifelike looking. There are a couple of exceptions, with one or two episodes looking slightly yellow when compared to the rest, but for the most part, it’s probably the color that will most impress longtime fans of the series. Clarity and sharpness are very good, but detail is somewhat mitigated perhaps due in part to bitrates, but probably at least as much due to apparent high frequency filtering that has smoothed the image out. There is grain in this presentation, but it’s rather light and not especially organic looking. Coupled with this issue are occasional signs of digital sharpening which can add slight but observable halos to objects.
Audio
“The Avengers” a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on all episodes, certainly a letdown for those who would have preferred not only lossless audio, but a rendering of the series’ original mono soundtrack.
Special Features
1080p high-definition presentation from the original 35mm elements
Collectable double-sided Hardbox packaging LIMITED to 1500 copies
120-page booklet featuring essay by Dick Fiddy of the British Film Institute and Story Information for every episode taken from the original studio files
Original ‘as broadcast’ mono audio tracks (LPCM)
Original ‘as broadcast’ “The Avengers in Color” opening slate on Series 5 episodes
Audio Commentaries
Filmed introductions to eight Series 5 episodes by producer / writer Brian Clemens
Filmed introduction to “The ₤50,000 Breakfast” by guest actress Anneke Wills
Brief audio recollection from guest actor Francis Matthews on filming “The Thirteenth Hole”
“THE AVENGERS AT 50” – Footage captured from the 50th anniversary celebration of the series, held at Chichester University in 2011. Includes: video message from Patrick Macnee, interviews with producer / writer Brian Clemens, director Don Leaver (never before released), director Gerry O’Hara (never before released), stunt co-ordinator Raymond Austin, guest actress Carol Cleveland, guest actress Anneke Wills, writer Roger Marshall, and Patrick Macnee’s biographer Marie Cameron
“Dame Diana Rigg at the BFI” – 2015 on-stage interview and Q&A held at the British Film Institute in London to celebrate 50 years of Emma Peel
“The Series Of No Return” – audio interview with actress Elizabeth Shepherd, who was originally cast as Emma Peel
Granada Plus Points featuring actor Patrick Macnee, composer Laurie Johnson, writer Roger Marshall and stunt-double Cyd Child
Bonus Series 6 episode “The Forget-Me-Knot” – Emma Peel’s final story and the introduction of Tara King
“K Is For Kill” – excerpt from The New Avengers episode featuring appearances by Emma Peel
ARCHIVAL MATERIAL
Armchair Theatre episode “The Hothouse” starring Diana Rigg (the performance that led to Rigg’s casting as Emma Peel in The Avengers
Chessboard Opening Title sequence used on US broadcasts for Series 4
German and French title sequences
Series 4 UK Commercial Break Bumper slates
Alternative titles / credits / end tag of select Series 4 episodes
Series 4 Commercial Break Bumpers
Production trims from select Series 5 episodes
“The Strange Case Of The Missing Corpse” – Series 5 teaser film
German television interview with Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg by Joachim Fuchsberger
Colourisation test footage for “Death At Bargain Prices” and “A Touch Of Brimstone”
Reconstructed John Stamp Series 4 trailer
“They’re Back” Trailers, Series 5 Trailer and Series 5 German Cinema Trailer
Extensive Photo Galleries from the studio archives
1973 Interview with Diana Rigg discussing her US sitcom Diana, and leaving The Avengers
BONUS DISC 1: ADDITIONAL SPECIAL FEATURES
More interviews from “THE AVENGERS AT 50” including composer Laurie Johnson, writer and guest actor Jeremy Burnham, stunt-double Cyd Child, and a screenwriters’ panel discussion featuring Brian Clemens, Richard Harris, Richard Bates and Terrance Dicks
“Brian Clemens In Conversation” – on-stage interview at the British Film Institute in London discussing his early writing career
Extensive Photo Gallery from The Avengers Fashion Show
Diana Rigg Photo Gallery
BONUS DISC 2: THE ORIGINAL EPISODES FILE
Featuring the 4 original episodes from the Cathy Gale era of the series which were remade in Series 5: “Death Of A Great Dane”, “Don’t Look Behind You”, “Dressed To Kill” and “The Charmers” (Standard Definition)
Audio Commentary by writer Roger Marshall on “Death Of A Great Dane”
Audio Commentary by actress Honor Blackman and UK presenter Paul O’Grady on “Don’t Look Behind You”
Filmed introduction by Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman to “Don’t Look Behind You”
“Tunnel Of Fear” – a full-length, previously lost episode from Series 1, recovered in 2016
“THE AVENGERS AT 50” – interview with Honor Blackman by Paul O’Grady
Episodes
Season Four
The Town of No Return: Steed and Emma visit a mysterious coastal town where several agents have vanished, and where the locals are not all they seem.
The Gravediggers: Steed and Mrs Peel must find out why an early warning radar is failing. Emma joins the staff of The Sir Horace Winslip Hospital for Ailing Railwaymen – while Steed has lunch with Sir Horace himself aboard his private, indoor train.
The Cybernauts: The Avengers investigate a series of murders of Corporate men, who have all been bidding on a new circuit element. Each one of them seems to have been killed by a powerful Karate blow, so Mrs. Peel visits a Karate Dojo, Steed’s inquiries lead him to United Automation, where ex-Ministry scientist Dr. Armstrong is working on an electronic brain, not to mention cybernetic men.
Death at Bargain Prices: When a colleague is found dead in a large London department store Steed and Mrs. Peel go undercover as staff members, exposing a dastardly plot by the wheelchair-bound Horatio Kane to devastate the capital with a huge bomb housed within the store.
Castle De’ath: When an agent in diving gear is found dead in a Scottish loch yet substantially taller than he was whilst he was alive Steed and Mrs. Peel visit a remote castle owned by the feuding De’ath cousins, Ian and Angus, to investigate the sinister goings-on.
The Master Minds: Government minister Sir Clive Todd is wounded as he and other ministers try to steal top secret documents. He has no idea why he did it and hypnosis is suggested. All concerned belonged to a club for people with high I.Q.s called RANSACK, who are about to meet at a school. The Avengers join the club in order to expose the mastermind behind the next heist – the theft of a plane from an R.A.F. base.
The Murder Market: Steed and Mrs. Peel investigate a murder-for-hire organization fronting as a matchmaking bureau.
A Surfeit of H2O: After a village poacher drowns in the middle of an open field, The Avengers are soon on the trail of a mad scientist able to control the weather.
The Hour That Never Was: On their way to a closing down party at an air base the Avengers’ car crashes when they swerve to avoid hitting a dog. The air base proves to be deserted and Steed is knocked out. When he recovers he is back at the car but minus Mrs. Peel and the party, when he gets there, is in full swing. It would seem that he has gone back an hour in time.
Dial a Deadly Number: Company chairmen across the city are dropping dead, apparently through natural causes. Can Steed and Mrs Peel discover who is making a killing?
Man-Eater of Surrey Green: A man-eating plant from outer space lands in Middle England and takes several top horticulturists as its prisoners in an effort to germinate the Earth. Fortunately for the Earth, Steed just happens to be a herbicidal maniac.
Two’s a Crowd: A mysterious Russian called Psev is arriving for a conference at which Steed and Mrs. Peel have been hired to act as the security guards. However, a man called Gordon Webster who is an exact double for Steed turns up and offers his services to Psev’s entourage of four people, fooling Mrs. Peel in the process and agreeing to kill Steed. Though he is thwarted it turns out that Psev is also not exactly the man that everybody had expected him to be.
Too Many Christmas Trees: Steed has been having bad dreams involving Christmas trees and a man dressed as Santa Claus. At a party given by publisher and Dickens fan Brandon Storey, two telepathic spies attempt to read Steed’s mind and make sense of the dream. However, the dream is echoed exactly by the events of the party, enabling Steed to spot the villains in advance and identify the dangerous Santa.
Silent Dust: When birds begin to fall from branches in flocks, it seems someone is using the banned chemical Silent Dust in the countryside of Cornwall. Steed and Mrs Peel soon find out a that a small group of local landowners is planning to use the deadly dust to blackmail the country by destroying Dorset.
Room Without a View: A missing scientist returns after having disappeared. He’s half-mad and attacks his Asian wife. Steed and Peel find out that seven other scientists have also disappeared – none having returned – but all have one thing in common; they were all booked at the Chessman hotel when they vanished.
Small Game for Big Hunters: A man dressed in Safari clothes is found in Hertfortshire with an arrow in his back, and falls into a coma-like state. All clues lead to a delusional Colonel living nearby. Whilst Emma watches over an increasing number of comatose men, Steed’s invited into the Colonel’s officers club.
The Girl from Auntie: When Steed returns home early from a holiday, he finds Mrs. Peel replaced by an actress, Georgie Price-Jones. Subsequently everyone involved in the hiring of Georgie is stabbed to death with double-O knitting needles. It seems the real Mrs. Peel has become Lot 17 of ‘Art Incorporated’, an organization which prides itself on being able to obtain any object for any one as long as the price is right.
The Thirteenth Hole: Steed and Mrs. Peel join an exclusive golf club to catch a government scientist passing secrets to the Iron Curtain.
Quick-Quick Slow Death: When a foreign agent is caught trying to dispose of a body, the investigation leads Steed and Mrs. Peel to a dancing school that’s infiltrating the country with enemy spies.
The Danger Makers: Someone’s organising a group of danger-craving psychopaths. Steed and Mrs. Peel must stop them before their next caper; stealing the crown jewels.
A Touch of Brimstone: A modern day Hellfire Club, led by libertine John Cleverly Cartney, plans to incite chaos by killing three foreign Prime Ministers.
What the Butler Saw: Steed enrolls in a butlering school to investigate a leak in government secrets, whilst Emma attempts to seduce one of the 3 main suspects; an RAF playboy known to the ladies as Georgie-porgie.
The House That Jack Built: Mrs. Peel is bequeathed an old house by an uncle Jack, whom she never knew existed. In the event, he did not exist. The house is a former lunatic asylum and it is all a ruse by a vengeful ex-employee of Mrs. Peel’s to submit her to mind games which will drive her insane.
A Sense of History: Economist James Broom is shot with an arrow by one of a group dressed as Robin Hood whilst on his way to meet a man opposed to his Utopian vision of a new Europe. The trail leads the Avengers to St. Bode’s College, where anarchic students oppose traditional schools of thought. Could one of these have killed Broom? All is revealed at a fancy dress party where everyone is a character from the Robin Hood legend.
How to Succeed …. At Murder: Eleven businessmen and counting have been mysteriously murdered, their affairs taken over by their able secretaries. The smell of perfume lingering over one of the dead bodies leads Mrs Peel to J.J. Hooter, who quickly becomes the next man to die. With secretaries as their only clue, Steed decides to hire one, and Emma to take up the profession.
Honey for the Prince: Two undercover agents are shot at Q.Q.F. Incorporated but one survives long enough to clue in Steed and Peel. So, Steed visits the Quite Quite Fantastic office (where fantasies are made to come true) while Emma looks into B. Bumble’s honey shop. They soon surmise that someone is aiming for Prince Ali of Barabia, who is visiting London with his harem of 320 wives.
Season Five
From Venus with Love: The members of a society that watches Venus are dying one by one from something that turns them completely white, so Steed joins them to flush out the culprit while Peel chases a light that seems related to the killings.
The Fear Merchants: The executives of several ceramics companies are being driven crazy or killed by fear. The trail leads to a consulting company with some unusual techniques for helping their clients beat their competition.
Escape in Time: When a mad miscreant whips up a time machine, it takes The Avengers no time at all to show him the “era” of his ways.
The See-Through Man: When an enemy agent purchases an invisiblity formula, the Avengers must find out if the formula’s genuine,, and if not, how’s the apparent invisibility being staged.
The Bird Who Knew Too Much: Two spies have obtained information about a secret missile base which they are passing to the other side, via a person known as Captain Caruso, whom the Avengers are charged to locate. In the event the good Captain turns out to be a trained parrot who possesses a photographic memory . . .
The Winged Avenger: Several businessmen have been killed, the murderer having apparently clawed them to death so that the initial suspect is an author who owns a bird of prey and had a grudge against a victim who ran a publishing house. However, the discovery of a comic called ‘The Winged Avenger’ featuring a super-hero is found by the latest victim. And could the invention of Professor Poole, boots that allow the wearer to climb walls and scale ceilings, be involved?
The Living Dead: Five years after a mine disaster, Mrs. Peel and Steed are called upon to investigate the spooky goings-on at the local inn. The ghost of the 15th Duke of Benedict, who was reputedly lost in the mine disaster, has been seen wandering the area and Emma joins SMOG and FOG in a ghost hunt. The Duke’s ghost supposedly takes Emma with him to his final resting place in the collapsed mine, but Steed descends into the shaft to rescue her. He finds a secret underground city that is being used to stage an invasion of England; the mine disaster was just a cover-up for the plan. …
The Hidden Tiger: What seems to be a man eating tiger on the loose is actually the first step in a plan to take over the whole of England.
The Correct Way to Kill: Somebody is systematically killing off foreign agents and Steed, who is initially implicated, declares a truce and calls on his Russian opposite number, Nutski. Along with Soviet agents Anna and Ivan the Avengers discover SNOB, an exceedingly English gentlemen’s club with murderously patriotic members.
Never, Never Say Die: The Avengers “are needed” after reports that a motorist has repeatedly run over and supposedly killed the same person. Their investigations lead them to the country and the top secret Neoteric Research Unit, which is run by the appropriately-named Dr. Frank N. Stone, who has made a startlingly life-like robot of himself, so much so that Steed finds it hard to tell the two Stones apart.
Epic: Z.Z. von Schnerk, a mad Teutonic film director of the Erich von Stroheim variety, along with his has-been leading actor and actress, Stewart Kirby and Damita Syn, capture Mrs. Peel in an effort to make a movie about her life and exciting adventures. Unfortunately it is to end with her violent death so Steed has to follow the clues to find her.
The Superlative Seven: Steed is invited to a party on an aeroplane with six other people who include a matador, a cowboy and a circus strong man. As the pilotless , remote-controlled craft takes off, a voice announces that they are bound for a desert island where one of them will be revealed as a super-killer. Mrs. Peel has to work out how to get to her partner as the bodies start to pile up.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station: Whilst travelling on an express train on a quest to find a missing agent, Steed and Mrs. Peel get caught up in an assassination attempt on the life of the British Prime Minister on the part of a disgruntled and murderous ticket collector. They are helped in their efforts to foil him by Mr. Crewe, an eccentric owner of an abandoned station.
Something Nasty in the Nursery: Reliable men are reverting to childhood, and blabbing all of their secrets to kindly old “Nanny Roberts.”
The Joker: Mrs. Peel is invited to a bridge party at a house on Exmoor but when she arrives she discovers that she has been lured there by a man known as ‘The joker’. She had once helped to put him in prison, but he has now escaped and with his two crazy accomplices, subjects Mrs. Peel to a series of lethal tricks and traps as Steed arrives to help her.
Who’s Who???: Mad scientist Dr. Krelmar is working on a machine that allows two people to swap minds and enemy agents Basil and Lola intend to use it with the Avengers to get them to destroy their network. Basil exchanges personalities with Steed but Mrs. Peel is suspicious that the man who looks like her partner is acting out of character and has to persuade the real Steed what is going on.
Return of the Cybernauts: Paul Beresford, the brother of Clement Armstrong, the creator of the Cybernauts, blames Steed and Mrs. Peel for his brother’s death at the cold hands of his own creations. Aided by Armstrong’s assistant Benson, he abducts several scientists who are blackmailed into producing a new batch of Cybernauts. Whilst he is the perfect gentleman towards Mrs. Peel, his aim is to turn her and Steed into human robots.
Death’s Door: Sir Andrew Boyd, the British delegate at a European peace conference has a dream in which he is run over and killed by a car. The dream comes true. The Avengers are charged with the safety of his successor, Lord Melford. He too is beginning to have bad dreams, involving a sinister man who turns out to be a member of the Eastern bloc. There is a plot afoot to derail the conference and Steed and Mrs. Peel intend to foil it.
The £50,000 Breakfast: The Avengers go to the dogs as their only lead when $50,000 of stolen diamonds is found in a dead man’s stomach. Mismatched Borzoi hairs lead Steed and Emma to a pet cemetery where they take the bite out of the villain’s bark.
Dead Man’s Treasure: The hunt for a murdered courier’s despatch leads Steed and Emma to a deadly car race with a “shocking” surprise at the finish line. It takes The Avengers to flag down the murderers and apply the brakes to their plans.
You Have Just Been Murdered: Steed and Mrs. Peel stop a clever blackmailing scheme targeting millionaires.
The Positive Negative Man: A scientist is killed by having been hurled through and embedded in a wall. This is the latest death of a person engaged in the government’s Project 90, whose documents can also not be found. When the Avengers investigate they discover a bizarre means of murder whereby the killer can carry an electrical charge to the victim without being electrocuted themselves.
Murdersville: When Mrs. Peel’s friend Major Croft goes missing she traces him to the picture postcard village of Little Storping. Unfortunately the entire population are assassins for hire who lure their victims to the village, kill them and then claim that they have never been there. Croft has been killed, along with his valet to prevent them from exposing the sinister secret and Mrs. Peel is next on the hit list unless Steed can save her. Fortunately, she manages to put in a phone call to her ‘husband.’
Mission… Highly Improbable: A car carrying two Ministry officials, enroute to investigate the budget overruns on Professor Rushton’s latest project, vanishes under escort. Steed goes to investigate, and discovers the hard way where the money has gone; to build a device capable of shrinking anything to a fraction of its normal size. While Rushton has great science- and industry-oriented plans for the device, his assistant Chivers has plans of his own… to make a profit, and dispose of anyone in his way. Steed, inches tall, manages to telephone Emma with a warning, but she is captured by a …
Featuring: Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, Randall Batinkoff, Andrew Lowery, Cole Hauser, Ben Affleck and Anthony Rapp
Charlie Dillon:“You know something? I’m still gonna get into Harvard. And in 10 years no one will remember any of this. But you’ll still be a goddamn Jew.”
David Green:“And you’ll still be a prick.”
Critical Commentary
Released this month on the Imprint label on Blu-ray is “School Ties” (1992), the early 1990s drama about institutionalised racism and bigotry and unfortunately, they remain relevant although of course sexual identity can be added to that was well. Of course looking back on this film now in 2023 it is hard to believe two things, one, that this movie was not a success with so many A-list actors and two, that there was anyone in this cast that would not at some point be a huge star, say hello to Randall Batinkoff, I bet he feels unlucky.
“School Ties” is set in 1959, where working-class Jewish 17-year-old David Greene, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, receives a football scholarship to St. Matthew’s Catholic boarding school, an exclusive Massachusetts prep school, for his senior year because of his excellent grades and exceptional ability to play football. Upon arrival, he meets his teammates Rip Van Kelt, Charlie Dillon, Jack Connors, and his roommate Chris Reese, the most well-known and popular students who are from well-to-do families, and learns of the school’s cherished honor code system. Soon learning that his newfound friends, as well as the majority of staff and students at this preparatory school, have wide spread, negative and stereotypical views about Jews, he chooses to not reveal his ethnicity to them.
There have been many films made over the decades about institutionalized racism and bigotry and unfortunately, they remain relevant. Misguided and hateful prejudices have a bad habit of festering and holding on long enough to rear their ugly heads again and again making them ripe topics for feature films. It is obvious from everyday news that antisemitism and racism are still a problem across the globe. In 1992, “School Ties” attempted to address this race issue within an elite prep school system that often gatekeeps entry to ivy league universities like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. There is no doubt that it has some very good performances but the story is a little routine especially with so many other movies about similar issues.
“School Ties” is led by Brendan Fraser’s performance as David, this as a period in his career when he had made some comedies and was trying something new, it is not surprising that he went from this and others back to comedies. Fraser definitely stands out alongside other up-and-coming actors like Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, Cole Hauser, and Anthony Rapp who all deliver impressive performances.
There is no doubt that “School Ties” is a very good movie, even more so now than when no hampered by the baggage of a studio hoping for a hit. This is by no means a perfect movie, it has a script that is loaded with tropes and it is directed in an uninspired way. The movie was co-written by Dick Wolf who was writing around this stage of his career before he would be known the creator of police procedural franchises. However you can see the similarities with broad storytelling which can work for awhile but after a some time as a creator this is found out which may explain his move to television .
I always enjoyed this movie but it disappointed and disappeared on its initial release and has become a curio because of its cast of young up and coming future A list actors. Possibly the reputation is “School Ties” was better than the actuality as it was only available on DVD, now that it is on a new Blu-ray it is time for it be seen for what it is, a very good drama that falls short of greatness possibly because of its script and its direction.
Technical Commentary
Video
“School Ties” arrives with an overall decent 1.78:1 1080p Transfer. Well-detailed with an intact but prominent grain structure, the transfer also shows its age as it doesn’t appear to be a recent scan. The image has a crispy quality indicative of an older master complete with some edge enhancement. Where close-ups, middle shots, and some outdoor sequences can look quite good, they also don’t fully come together. There’s some slight banding on some tight textures and image depth is a bit restrained where black levels never quite resolve sticking preciously close to crush territory. Primaries are in good shape with bright bold reds, blues, yellows, and overall healthy human skin tones. Film elements are also relatively clean without issues. This is an overall good transfer.
Audio
“School Ties” arrives with a DTS-HD MA 5.1 track and a LPCM 2.0 track. Both are excellent in their own ways so it comes down to dealer’s choice. For most of this viewing, I rolled with the 5.1 track and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Even in a stuffy location like a prep school where things are kept front/center, there was still plenty of surround channel activity emanating from busy hallways, classrooms, football games, and dining halls. Dialog is clean and clear for both tracks and Maurice Jarre’s beautiful score gets plenty of attention. No hiss or age-related issues to report.
