Kathy Phillips

Terrific movie, if old school and a poor print. But the book, Operation Mincemeat by Ben McIntyre is better. Get it for any student of war and intelligence work, especially WWII.

The early episodes of Vera needed to find their footing, but it, and Shetland, tend to be more focused and centered on the crime at hand. The conflict between the religious community and the outside world is more central to the story than the murder. That can make it difficult to follow the crime. The best part of this kind of story is that each character has two sides of themselves, not only who they show to the world but what they acknowledge about themselves. This perspective, a large number of characters, and a complex plot is a lot for a series to handle in four episodes, but it does a credible job.

Entertaining and insightful, it actually brings up some important issues of the use of inventions for military purposes — but that’s for the philosophers among us. The rest of us can enjoy the drama, humor, clever repartee, and romances, including between an Android and a smart house, not to mention the 21 destroyed police vehicles. As with the best of the comic book universe (it isn’t one, but might have been), the good guys are our heroes and the bad guys are obvious.

One of my favorite feel good movies. Like His Gal Friday. Of course not nearly that smart or sassy, but it’s great for when you just can’t think of watching anything to loud or heavy. And the music will tap your feet for you.

Constantly surprising and stimulating, there’s enough humor to relieve any hint of melodrama or stereotype. Cobie Smulders was born for this role.