Off Topic The Review Thread

[Staines R's]

This was huge news round this way at the time and sporadically since, and I saw bits of this programme, but knowing what it was about found it stunningly depressing and have to confess I dodged out. It is a damning indictment of human nature and nearly makes you want to give up hope. A truly appalling story of exploitation and sadism.

I saw the programme advertised and now I’m dealing with people with special needs and MH issues, seemingly on a daily basis, I thought it worth a watch.
For me (when I wasn’t holding back the tears) one of the saddest things was that she was allowed to slip through the net and not diagnosed, therefore not offered any support and was a prime candidate for scum like those to befriend, manipulate and ultimately murder her.

 

[Steelmonkey]

I saw the programme advertised and now I’m dealing with people with special needs and MH issues, seemingly on a daily basis, I thought it worth a watch.
For me (when I wasn’t holding back the tears) one of the saddest things was that she was allowed to slip through the net and not diagnosed, therefore not offered any support and was a prime candidate for scum like those to befriend, manipulate and ultimately murder her.

I saw the program when it aired - there are some seriously twisted ****s out there who seem to have little respect for life and just common decency.

 

[Uber_Hoop]

Lovely story on Auntie this morning involving a Vietnamese ‘boat’ family that were rescued by a British merchant ship’s captain from their starving existence on a crowded and unseaworthy vessel 40 years ago, travelling to Northern Ireland to thank him at his care home (he’s now in his 80s).

 

[KooPeeArr]

I'd highly recommend Rhod Gilbert's latest stand up tour - The Book of John. Probably a bit more personal than his previous shows but it is hysterically funny.

 

[Ninj]

I saw the TV programme Gemma, and also the Panorama programme where a reporter was sent to a Care Home where vulnerable children were bullied and mentally abused by "people" paid to care for them.
I cannot understand why anyone would want to work in a Care Industry where the obvious quality you need is in the title. I have worked with children with autism, learning disabilities and severe challenging behaviours and I now work in a new care environment for adult with various disabilities. At a meeting I attended yesterday, one support worker said she was just that - however I had to remind her that what she does enables someone to have some quality in their life. Care work is never well paid, requires little qualification - however it can be extremely rewarding although very difficult. Companies seem to take more challenging residents with extreme needs and yet don't pay a decent living wage for the staff but take all the profit. I just think that if decent training provided and a decent wage, they would attract a more dedicated employee.
My role is trying to ensure that the facilities are suitable for the residents needs and that they can go out to different places.....however I do see a lot of good things.
I do feel sorry for those residents that were abused and only hope that those "people" who abused the kids (Including the dodgy manager who falsified records) receive suitable prison sentences. As far as the CQC go, if they are given falsified reports and see nothing wrong on their visit then they can only report on what they see. It was also concerning that there was a real lack of management shown as they are responsible for employing these "people" in the first place.

 

[sb_73]

Outstanding oral histories from veterans about the D Day landings in today’s Times. Worth a read, but it doesn’t like me posting links, sadly.

 

[DT’s Socks]

Starting again to watch GOT from the start.
Think I may do Breaking Bad as well and then compare them both to Twin Peaks

Think TP will win overall

 

[Uber_Hoop]

Starting again to watch GOT from the start.
Think I may do Breaking Bad as well and then compare them both to Twin Peaks

Think TP will win overall

I've started doing the same with my "Pogle's Wood" box set, then onto "Crystal Tips & Alistair".

 

[Steelmonkey]

Any Terry Pratchett fans out there? Just before he passed away, he asked his pal, and co-author, Neil Gaiman to make sure that their book "Good Omens" made it onto the screen. Four years later, and it's finally been released on Amazon Prime. With Michael Sheen and David Tennant in the lead roles as the angel Aziraphael and the demon Crowley trying to prevent the apocalypse in modern day Britain, an 11-year old Anti-Christ, a convent of hapless Devil worshipping nuns, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the descendant of a 17th century witch and her book of prophecies.....it's a hoot! Loads of really good cameo performances by some very well known faces and lots of laugh aloud moments. The series builds on the relationship between Tennant and Sheen, whos characters first meet in the Garden of Eden and spend the next 6000 years stuck on Earth and have an agreement not to impinge on each others works - until the Devil child is delivered......

 

[sb_73]

Any Terry Pratchett fans out there? Just before he passed away, he asked his pal, and co-author, Neil Gaiman to make sure that their book "Good Omens" made it onto the screen. Four years later, and it's finally been released on Amazon Prime. With Michael Sheen and David Tennant in the lead roles as the angel Aziraphael and the demon Crowley trying to prevent the apocalypse in modern day Britain, an 11-year old Anti-Christ, a convent of hapless Devil worshipping nuns, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the descendant of a 17th century witch and her book of prophecies.....it's a hoot! Loads of really good cameo performances by some very well known faces and lots of laugh aloud moments. The series builds on the relationship between Tennant and Sheen, whos characters first meet in the Garden of Eden and spend the next 6000 years stuck on Earth and have an agreement not to impinge on each others works - until the Devil child is delivered......

I’ve never read any Pratchett and there is so much of his stuff that I wouldn’t know where to start. I like the idea of him though. I like Gaiman, though his writing is very variable. This looks good, I have a lot of time for Michael Sheen, as an actor and as a human being, and as it’s a BBC co production, perhaps even us non subscribers will get a chance to see it sometime.

 

[sb_73]

For a Few Dollars More was on the telly, late last night. I’d forgotten how brilliant it is, and quite how psychotic the chief baddie, El Indio, is. And that Klaus Kinski, an authentic real life unpleasant lunatic, was in it. The music, of course, is awesome.

It was followed by the TV version of What We Do in the Shadows. I was sleepy and didn’t watch much, but despite the presence of Matt Berry who is great, really disappointing. If you’ve seen the original film I think it’s pretty clear that the basic joke doesn’t stretch much longer than a highly entertaining 90 minutes.

 

[Steelmonkey]

For a Few Dollars More was on the telly, late last night. I’d forgotten how brilliant it is, and quite how psychotic the chief baddie, El Indio, is. And that Klaus Kinski, an authentic real life unpleasant lunatic, was in it. The music, of course, is awesome.

It was followed by the TV version of What We Do in the Shadows. I was sleepy and didn’t watch much, but despite the presence of Matt Berry who is great, really disappointing. If you’ve seen the original film I think it’s pretty clear that the basic joke doesn’t stretch much longer than a highly entertaining 90 minutes.

Watched what I could of the film last night (I'd been up since 4 so was a bit noddy) - classic movie. I've loved that, Good Bad & The Ugly, Fistfull of Dollars, High Plains Drifter and many more of Clints westerns since I was a kid.

I'm enjoying What We Do In The Shadows - yes, it's inferior to the film, but there are some funny moments in it, especially the episode where they go clubbing and end up drinking "drug blood" and are tripping. There's a lot worse on TV........

 

[sb_73]

Watched what I could of the film last night (I'd been up since 4 so was a bit noddy) - classic movie. I've loved that, Good Bad & The Ugly, Fistfull of Dollars, High Plains Drifter and many more of Clints westerns since I was a kid.

I'm enjoying What We Do In The Shadows - yes, it's inferior to the film, but there are some funny moments in it, especially the episode where they go clubbing and end up drinking "drug blood" and are tripping. There's a lot worse on TV........

Yeah, fair enough Steels, I’m sure I’d be loving it without the high bar of the original to compare it too.

 

[Steelmonkey]

It’s a BBC co production, perhaps even us non subscribers will get a chance to see it sometime.

You think I pay to watch TV.......

 

[QPR999]

New Sky/HBO mini-series Chernobyl - just watched the first two episodes, compelling viewing. Difficult to assess how true an account of the events this is due to the secrecy of the soviet regime, but if even half of it is correct it's one hell if a tale. Didn't realise how bad it actually was, and how close it came to being a hell of a lot worse. Some true heroes and some slippery top brass trying to cover their arse!

The only downside for me is all the actors are English, speaking in their own voices - think I would've preferred it if it had been in Russian with subtitles or at least with Russian accents to add some extra authenticity to it.

Over the last 24 hours I've just watched the first four episodes of Chernobyl. After the first episode my sentiments echo with what you said. But as you continue with it you realise the complete magnitude of the whole thing and come to realise the basic human spirit and sense of right is all encompassing. Ordinary people doing extradornary things. There are some terrific characters and performances throughout and none moreso than Jared Harris who is the son of Richard Harris who didn't even want to be an actor, or at least showed little or no interest in doing so until his late teens.

There's great performances from Stellen Skarsgard and Emily Watson and from two other straight talking strong characters who play the manager of the plant ( Paul Ritter ) and the fat bloke who plays the leader of the miner's.

There's also an excellent podcast with the writer Craig Mazin in which he explains why they told the story in the way they did and why there was an ommision of Russian accents. There is a podcast accompanying each seperate episode. Mazin is clearly a very talented person and has created one of the most thought provoking and poignant shows of all time that stays with you long afterwards. I can't wait until Tuesday for the conclusion.

Here's the link to the podcast which should also link you to the subsequent episodes ...

You must log in or register to see media

 

[Stroller]

Any Terry Pratchett fans out there? Just before he passed away, he asked his pal, and co-author, Neil Gaiman to make sure that their book "Good Omens" made it onto the screen. Four years later, and it's finally been released on Amazon Prime. With Michael Sheen and David Tennant in the lead roles as the angel Aziraphael and the demon Crowley trying to prevent the apocalypse in modern day Britain, an 11-year old Anti-Christ, a convent of hapless Devil worshipping nuns, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and the descendant of a 17th century witch and her book of prophecies.....it's a hoot! Loads of really good cameo performances by some very well known faces and lots of laugh aloud moments. The series builds on the relationship between Tennant and Sheen, whos characters first meet in the Garden of Eden and spend the next 6000 years stuck on Earth and have an agreement not to impinge on each others works - until the Devil child is delivered......

Just watched the first of these. I really like both Sheen and Tennant and they seem to be having a ball together. Great fun.

 

[Stroller]

I've just happened upon a truly awful docu/drama (if that's the correct description) about Freddie Mercury on Channel 5 - The Freddie Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever. Compulsively terrible.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Over the last 24 hours I've just watched the first four episodes of Chernobyl. After the first episode my sentiments echo with what you said. But as you continue with it you realise the complete magnitude of the whole thing and come to realise the basic human spirit and sense of right is all encompassing. Ordinary people doing extradornary things. There are some terrific characters and performances throughout and none moreso than Jared Harris who is the son of Richard Harris who didn't even want to be an actor, or at least showed little or no interest in doing so until his late teens.

There's great performances from Stellen Skarsgard and Emily Watson and from two other straight talking strong characters who play the manager of the plant ( Paul Ritter ) and the fat bloke who plays the leader of the miner's.

There's also an excellent podcast with the writer Craig Mazin in which he explains why they told the story in the way they did and why there was an ommision of Russian accents. There is a podcast accompanying each seperate episode. Mazin is clearly a very talented person and has created one of the most thought provoking and poignant shows of all time that stays with you long afterwards. I can't wait until Tuesday for the conclusion.

Here's the link to the podcast which should also link you to the subsequent episodes ...

You must log in or register to see media

Cheers for the link to the podcaat! Long drive this morning and I've listened to them all.

Agree, the further into the show you get, the less you worry about accents as the charcter development is superb. If this show doesn't win a mountain of awards then there's something amiss - it's the best thing I've seen in ages.

 

[Uber_Hoop]

Don’t we all watch a lot of telly!

I haven’t peeked at ‘Killing Eve’ yet and will now also look at ‘Chernobyl’. Has anyone watched ‘Summer of Rockets’ and can give their view of it, please?

Was away most of the weekend, but watched a programme ‘The Interviews’ which told the story of Kenneth Williams through excerpts of interviews with the great man. Extraordinary how the public persona and private man were so very different, as is often the case with such talents.

Ooh, matron!

 

[sb_73]

Don’t we all watch a lot of telly!

I haven’t peeked at ‘Killing Eve’ yet and will now also look at ‘Chernobyl’. Has anyone watched ‘Summer of Rockets’ and can give their view of it, please?

Was away most of the weekend, but watched a programme ‘The Interviews’ which told the story of Kenneth Williams through excerpts of interviews with the great man. Extraordinary how the public persona and private man were so very different, as is often the case with such talents.

Ooh, matron!

A long time ago I read Kenneth Williams’ diaries, which I think were published posthumously. As you say a very different man to the Carry On image, and a rather sad one too.