Bill Halliwell

Speaking as a retired film and TV critic/reviewer; I'm not usually a fan of teen 'adventure' genre movies or TV but 'Stranger Things' is a unique exception with generous helpings for fans of just about every major TV genre. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, sometimes gripping drama with a generous thread of comedy, irony; 'in-house' and 'industry' humour. The storylines and the scripts are outstanding, squarely aimed at younger audiences, however, with much added appeal for adult viewers. Apart from the great scripts, there is a strong ensemble cast of outstanding young actors, and a handful of experienced actors who were stand out rising stars of their period, like Matthew Modine and Paul Riser. Cleverly scripted, directed, produced and steered through a widely varied and contrasting story arch by the talented Duffer brothers. For the older, film and TV fans there is much to admire written 'between the lines' of the scripts. Like the choice of product-placement for Coca-Cola that is so intense that it, in itself, becomes almost like a running gag. Then there are truly cleverly inserted references to many other horror and sci-fi films going back years. Some of this is in your face, literally, as one of the cast members dons a Michael Myers 'head mask'. Other industry references include salutes to Stephen King's works, Star Wars films, there are several 'Jaws' poster shots, etc. Then there are brilliant timeframe references that clearly place you in the 1970s and 80s, with all the popular technology and products that were 'must haves' back in those days. Finally, in summing up, there's great interest in 'Stranger Things' for fans of serious, chilling horror; classic American teen school relationships; those who really dig, parody and 'tongue-in-cheek' references from every cliche from romance, through sports, even to fans of the prison genre; corrupt government and military sub-plots; all tumble-dried with hundreds of monsters, deadly creatures and the inevitable, potential destruction of the entire world -- all of this happening in classic 'tiny town' USA. I binged the entire 4 seasons and it never seemed to be as long as the hours and minutes tell us they are; and, at the end, I just wanted more. Happily, the last part of the final, season 4 episode clearly led the viewer to the conclusion there will be a fifth season. I can't wait!

I'm unable to understand the scathing comments about this great film. I'm a retired film critic and so i hardly ever give any movie five stars, if that's the only option. Believe me, there are an extremely small number of 'perfect' films. In 'It's A Wonderful Life' there is a scene where Stewart's character, George Bailey completely loses it and breaks down to cry. Director, Frank Capra, having got the footage of Stewart's crying, decided to keep the camera rolling. Stewart kept crying, then, even when the camera was stopped. Capra said, years later, that even though the movie was shot nearly two full years since Jimmy Stewart left the USAAF full-time, "I believe Jimmy drew, in that scene, on all the pent up sorrow for the terrible losses of his fellow airmen during his time in the Eighth Air Force. During WW2 the Eighth Air Force suffered 46,000 casualties, from these, over 26,000 were KIA. Jimmy Stewart served in the service and theatre of war that had the highest casualty and death rate of all the US armed forces. Only the losses of Merchant seamen were greater. No one, no matter how great an actor, as (General) Stewart was, no one can keep their reactions to the slaughter of one's friends without serious emotional consequences. I think that's what Capra was talking about. Surely, a great actor, I'm guessing Jimmy Stewart was a person who never found difficulty in weeping, ever if was only in private; very much away from the cameras. RIP Jimmy and all your fallen comrades. Cheers, BH

I am a semi-retired film & TV critic who vividly recalls this monumental performance from a young Gary Sinise brilliantly portraying the life and political career of President Harry Truman. A huge challenge for any actor, particularly an actor who, up till that time, had not been considered as a top-notch 'character' actor. He shows us Truman's younger life as a struggling farmer then, an ultimately failed, retail business man; then an amazing transformation as a misfit officer of artillery into a born leader who develops an iron will to succeed. The outstanding ageing make-up, with the technical limitations of the time, and no reliance on CGI; it is Sinise's sheer acting skill that makes his ageing process, and performance, utterly believable. Mr Sinise's character is suddenly thrust from a virtually unknown Vice President into the huge shoes of the late President Roosevelt. Not only an 'instant' WW2 leader, Sinise's Truman is then forced to make the most mammoth decision of any world leader since then to this present day: the decision to drop the first, then second hostile nuclear bombs in history. After watching this outstanding bio-pic, I urge you to watch one of the many good documentaries on Truman that prove he did vital work stopping wartime corruption and money wasting as VP and went on to closely avert WW3 by sacking the ego-maniac General Douglas MacArthur who wanted to 'nuke' China. On a personal level, I urge you all to donate to Mr Gary Sinise's Foundation that gives free concerts to US service people and their families plus handing out much needed cash donations, and other assistance, to military families that fall through the cracks of the US welfare and healthcare nets. Bill Halliwell Hobart Tasmania