Stephen Horne

Ok, so it took me a few episodes to warm to the quirky offbeat style, but that very feature becomes its most addictive quality! I loved Series 3 a lot, but S4 has topped it for me. Unlike many series, for me this one gets better. I find it very enjoyable watching.

There will be raised eyebrows from some, and disquiet from others, as The Chosen develops fictional back stories, character development and dot-joining that interpolates scripture and recorded history. This is necessary to present the Bible in the form of a fully articulated story, which The Chosen bravely sets out to do as never attempted before. Along the way it drops in some modern ideas, professions, concepts and curiosities that literally don’t belong there / and some dry humour for good measure. It’s a very courageous and risky venture. Which for me, works brilliantly. Not all will find it so. But many will be captivated by how powerfully it brings the Bible so vividly to life for a modern audience. In doing that, which it achieves spectacularly, The Chosen serves God’s work admirably in my opinion. The value of this piece of work will equal that of great crusades and bring Jesus very much to life for many people. Any quibbling about artistic licence over-reach and instances of scriptural misapplication, whilst arguably valid, must be set aside in favour of celebrating and exhorting this epic work loudly and widely. Don’t niggle. Shout it out so more hear and take a look. It will do nothing but good. Humanity needs this show. We’re blessed to have it.

It’s a good film. Not as great as it might have been with a bit more care and attention. The bad reviews are simply wrong. They’re folks who want a fast paced action flick, like his other work. This isn’t. It’s much better. Might not be what you're looking for, but it is good.

Since it’s animated, I was expecting awesome animation. Maybe 3D immersion. But it’s not. First, the Japanese anime style loses me instantly. It’s got its place, but for me this isn’t it. LOTR in Sailor Moon style - that’s just strange. And second, it’s stunningly low grade quality animation. Kids tv cartoon grade, not cinema standard. The storyline is passable, and the music is pretty good. I felt it was a wasted opportunity.

So intense! So complex! So many twists! And I love that whilst each series is its own story, the big story runs as a thread right through. Which is why it’s so intensely frustrating that it’s stalled (ended?) at S6, just yards short of the try line. To leave us with the caption that AC12 is at its lowest ebb in its ability to fight corruption is to let the bad guys win! Undermines our faith and determination to stick with it through 6 turbulent series. It’s a betrayal. Yes that’s it. Betrayal. Shame on you. S7 must be made

A great cast, with an initially intriguing concept, degrades into silliness and then, after a painfully slow burn plot development over multiple episodes. concludes in literally 3 minutes with and ending that fails to connect with any of the threads and makes zero sense. Zero. There must be a back story, of an imminent cancellation, contract dispute or budget cut, because it’s clearly missing several episodes to build out the blanks. Great potential, totally wasted. Don’t waste your time.

As I’m watching, it feels too slow and frustratingly ponderous at many points. But I keep watching. This dreariness is curiously laced with brooding tension. Hardly any of the characters are wholly likeable. And I keep watching. It keeps getting weirder, and uglier. And I keep watching. The ending is a poignant mixture of highs and shocking lows. Looking back, with the paint dry, you see all the brushstrokes. You see the subplots and how it all weaves into the big picture. This is a work of craft. Like all art, not everyone will like it. Parts of it are hard work to embrace. But it’s admirable. BC works hard and does well. Supporting roles are gritty and well delivered. Did I love it? No. But I’d watch it again.

Putting aside the (totally reasonable) SK cultural quirks, and the challenge of subtitles rather than dubbing, it’s complex, engaging, with a good underlying SF concept. Quite emotive, and with romantic threads, it wallows a little at times. But there’s some action and grit too. A fascinating mixed bag. I’ll stick with it.

If sci fi is more about ideas than technology, and how the tech impacts on society, (which it is for me), then Lapsis is one of the best sci fi movies I’ve seen in years. I spent 2/3 of the movie with an open jaw. Not just because of popcorn consumption. But because what I was seeing was at the same time surreal/bizarre and yet oddly very plausible, in an impossible way. So many touches in it are clever, whimsical, but making silent comment. The more you process, the more it tells you. There’s a surprising amount of cerebral engagement in what seems a cheap budget knockabout flick. Nothing heavy, or too preachy, but yet lots of philosophy. It ends abruptly, and enigmatically. Huh? Jaw open again. What was that? And then, as you leave, you say to yourself: I’ll need to think about what I’ve just seen. And you will. The more you do, the higher your rating will be of this little treasure. You might walk out lukewarm. But this is not bubble gum sci fi. Let your mind process it. There’s a lot in it. Destined for cult classic status. Popularity in the mass market? Zero. We were the only 2 in the cinema for it. And that made it even better.

Not for the first time, I was duped into watching a horror film promoted as post apocalyptic sci fi. Ought to have switched off earlier, but John Malkovich is always worth watching. Silly film.