Mark Hawkins – Google

While I cannot fault the main performances, as they were truly exceptional, Oscar worthy in fact, however, fine performances do not alone a good movie make. They have to be accompanied by a gripping script, based upon a fine tale well told, but, sadly, this was far from that. It was dark, in fact so dark it extinguished all the light that shone from the cast. I left the theatre feeling utterly mystified and thoroughly miserable. How could such a cast, such a budget and superb cinematography combine to create such a dreadfully unpleasant experience. If one needs a movie to study for a psychology degree, it’s perfect, but for any other purpose it fails utterly.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Addition to my review of last year. An incredibley poor decision was made to show it in almost total darkness for 70% of each episode. Out of each episode I can only actually see 15 minutes of the programme. However, when I watched ‘Inside the rings of power’ the very same scenes I simply couldn’t see in the programme, were shown un-edited and beautifully clear with immense clarity. What on earth has possessed them to create such a travesty to visual enjoyment!! I can’t judge this seasons episodes because I simply can’t see them Last years review; Good start, overall disappointing in its evolution. Tolkien in name only

I have been a bibliophile and book dealer for over 50 years, and the ghost writer has done an acceptable job of constructing a readable book, despite having to use very substandard material. Unfortunately, being readable is not the same at all as being a good read. The content is far too accusatory, without even a scintilla of acceptance of personal blame. I read it to see if my businesses should stock it. They will not be doing so. If you want to enjoy a genuinely good read, any autobiography by Barry Humphries [there are many] would be 100 times more worthy of the cost and time involved. Post script; He states in the book he was at Eton School when he heard the news of the Queen Mother’s death, when in fact he was in Klosters on a skiing holiday. What is the point of an autobiography that contains memories that are easy to prove to be based on lies. How many more are there?

Very, very disappointed. I am fully aware I am clearly of no interest to the BBC as being a viewer and ardent fan of Dr Who since the second episode in 1963 { I missed the first by accident} which naturally dates me. But, after being delighted by its return, many years after Michael Grade axed it, after happily admitting he hated it, I had enjoyed it better than ever. Until that is about three to four years ago, when it very rapidly started downhill. The scripts became woefully lecturing, and sadly they have got worse and worse, as these past few years have been entirely message driven instead of concentrating on the tried, tested and proven, Dr Who past formula, of thrills, excitement and entertainment.

One of the few TV comedy series made since the 1990’s which made me laugh out loud. Simple, yet incredibly well performed an superbly scripted, the characters are simply wonderful, and the star turn, Count Arthur, was an act of pure genius, with just a nod to Harry Worth, and in my opinion it’s one of the best comedy series the BBC [or any channel frankly] has ever made, and naturally, being the BBC, it was cancelled. They simply didn’t know what they had. Poorly scheduled and tragically allowed to disappear, it is an absolute gem. If Rory Kinnear agreed to co star in it, that alone should tell anyone it was a masterclass of acting comedy.

It has been one of the very best police detective series I have ever seen, and I’ve been watching television for almost 60 years. Detective, police and medical dramas have been the lifeblood TV since it began, and Bosch is one of the very best series I have ever watched, and truly enjoyed every single minute of every single episode. Titus Welliver is perfect in the part, with the rest of the cast matching beautifully. Thank goodness Amazon is taking up season eight. I have another reason to live.

Watched them all, countless times. Morse, Lewis and Endeavour, a triumvirate of the greatest television ever produced. John Thaw was an actor of incredible depth, talent and presence, and I believe I have watched everything he had ever filmed. Some of the happiest memories, that will live with me forever, was anticipating and then watching every new episode of Morse with my sweetheart, and the only sadness is watching Endeavour without her, and thus not reminiscing every episode together.