Watched last night

[CaptainWaggett]

Yes Harold was rather good in this rather to my surprise I must confess, and I quite like James Donald but I agree he can can veer rather into looking rather disinterested by it all in several films. Still he was excellent in The Net and of course The Great Escape to name but two outings.

He's good in In Which We Serve where he's meant to be bored but sometimes he does rather give the impression of wishing he were somewhere else

[Tigon Man]

New Tricks: Lost in Translation

Episode three of the current series of this amiable good natured show. Fine cast as well including Lucy Liemann, Marcia Warren, Clive Russell and a rare appearance from the lovely Annabel Leventon.
The vintage cops link a murder victim to an Albanian family feud. Great fun.

[batman]

Hotel Reserve - a creaky old spy mystery with a great cast that included James Mason and Herbert Lom. Quite atmospheric at times but nothing special.

[Mr Sloane]

The Hour - looks OK , the expected slow first episode introducing the characters.

[screenglued]

The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery - I once loved these fripperies, but this one was just a waste of time even though George Cole is always entertaining.

[didi-5]

Out last night at the BFI watching the 25th Disney feature, 'The Black Cauldron'. Missed this at the time of release - OK, but nothing special.

Also watched the third episode of 'New Tricks'. Are there new writers this series? The characters of Gerry and Brian seem to have changed and the whole tone is darker than usual. Interesting, but not really the series we've watched for years.

[Harbottle]

The Magnet (1950). Utterly delightful film starring a young William (James) Fox who tricks a smaller boy into parting with his prized magnet, which leads to a few scrapes and childhood fear from the guilt of having done wrong. Added charm is to be found in the Merseyside locations many of which (according to IMDB comments) such as New Brighton Pier and Ferry are now long gone. Young William Fox is excellent as are the adult players especially Stephen Murray as his psychologist father often misreading his sons feelings, and Ealing regular Meredith Edwards.

[dpgmel]

I've started to rewatch the BBC series The Great War.

An excellent series with a superb narration from Sir Michael Redgrave.

Highly recommended

[CaptainWaggett]

I've started to rewatch the BBC series The Great War.

An excellent series with a superb narration from Sir Michael Redgrave.

Highly recommended

And such a feelgood ending

[Steve Crook]

I've started to rewatch the BBC series The Great War.

An excellent series with a superb narration from Sir Michael Redgrave.

Highly recommended

Look away now if you don't want to see the results

Steve

[theuofc]

Caught Rufus Sewell in Aurelio Zen: Vendetta last night and enjoyed the first episode of the stylish detective trilogy, based on Michael Dibden's novels. A fast paced mystery with Rome and Italian political intrigue as a backdrop, some holes in the plot, but who cares. Great fun. And Rufus Sewell in Armani is a visual treat as he dashes through Rome and environs as the ever-honest Italian detective.

Too bad the BBC axed the series in favour of, among others projects, yet another adaptation of Great Expectations.

There are eight more Dibden novels; maybe another network will pick up the series.

Sewell as Aurelio Zen with love interest ex-Bond girl Caterina Murino

[smudge]

Brian Desmond Hurst's HUNGRY HILL, from Daphne Du Maurier's story. A turgid saga of two families' lives based around an Irish copper mine. I tuned in because I was interested in seeing this Denham production, which is quite the rarity in this week's BBC2 B&W (school) holiday schedules. Reliable (as ever) performances from Cecil Parker and Dennis Price, but the aging of Margaret Lockwood's character was not very convincing; presumably because of the star's requirement to look good (?).

Bit of a pot-boiler...

Smudge

[batman]

The Killing (US version) - no doubt this will get slaughtered for a) being American and b) being a remake. Regardless of one's views about the original Danish series (and I am a huge fan), this is a quality production. The settings, performances and direction are all top class and the changes (made mostly to reduce the running time and to introduce a different killer) work surprisingly well. Highly recommended.

[Tigon Man]

Live And Let Die (1973)

The first and probably the best of Sir Rog's tour of Bond, before it all became too flippant and silly.

There's plenty of exotic locations in Jamaica and the Southern US, lots of set piece stunts, especially the bayou speedboat chase and some memorably chreographed dance sequences from Geoffrey Holder, playing Baron Samedi.

Sir Rog looks lean and fit and only a wooden Jane Seymour as Solitaire slightly mars the proceedings (subsequently much of her dialogue was dubbed by Nikki Van Der Zyl).

Impressive big budget actioner.

[smudge]

Live And Let Die (1973)

The first and probably the best of Sir Rog's tour of Bond, before it all became too flippant and silly.

There's plenty of exotic locations in Jamaica and the Southern US, lots of set piece stunts, especially the bayou speedboat chase and some memorably chreographed dance sequences from Geoffrey Holder, playing Baron Samedi.

Sir Rog looks lean and fit and only a wooden Jane Seymour as Solitaire slightly mars the proceedings (subsequently much of her dialogue was dubbed by Nikki Van Der Zyl).

Impressive big budget actioner.

Let down badly by the silly 'Michelin man' ending I always thought. I'd put FOR YOUR EYES ONLY forward as Sir Rog's finest hour as 007 because he finally seemed to achieve a cold, hard, edge which had long been missing since the early Connery days. He is quite chilling when he boots the car off the edge of the cliff...

Smudge

[torinfan]

Probably seen enough films by now to tell when one just doesn't cut the mustard.....
One such being 1998's Lost in Space.....



Roger Ebert was right this ones very poor (and I normally like sci-fi & adored the TV series as a child).. Avoid at all costs..
3/10 (2 of those are because Heather's in it)
Cheers
Sgt S

It's hard to top the original cast in the tv series, especially Jonathan Harris. I can't think of anyone who'd follow his Zachary Smith character.

[Dame Starry]

Alex: A Life Fast Forward (BBC3) - an amazing programme about an extraordinary young man who crammed a lifetime into 22 years and 5 days.

[Harbottle]

We Joined the Navy (1962). Nice cast shame about the film as Lt. Cdr. Kenneth More tries to keep three Officer trainees Derek Fowlds (swot), Jeremy Lloyd (twit) and Dinsdale Landen (man of action) in line as they are seconded to a US Navy ship commanded by Admiral Lloyd Nolan. A host of welcome faces appear including Sid James, John Le Mesurier and Warren Mitchell. but even with the undoubted charm of star More this is heavy going thanks to a pretty feeble script.

[smiffy]

The Killing (US version) - no doubt this will get slaughtered for a) being American and b) being a remake. Regardless of one's views about the original Danish series (and I am a huge fan), this is a quality production. The settings, performances and direction are all top class and the changes (made mostly to reduce the running time and to introduce a different killer) work surprisingly well. Highly recommended.

I wasn't allowed to watch this until my daughter had time to watch it with me ,so last night we decided to watch the first episode . We are now up to date ,as after episode 1 we decided to watch the other one that was taped then last nights episode as well . This is right up my street ,I love a good whodunnit ,and like the way the characters backgrounds are being developed while giving plenty of finger pointing opportunities . Looking forward to next week

[Tigon Man]

Let down badly by the silly 'Michelin man' ending I always thought. I'd put FOR YOUR EYES ONLY forward as Sir Rog's finest hour as 007 because he finally seemed to achieve a cold, hard, edge which had long been missing since the early Connery days. He is quite chilling when he boots the car off the edge of the cliff...

Smudge

I'd agree with you Smudge, it's just that Sir Rog by 1981 is much too old for the role and it does show. The scenes with Lynn-Holly Johnson are cringeworthy..yuk