May 10th, 2008
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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Neil Burnside, the lead character in this classic ITV series, lets the viewer know early on that this isn’t going to be a series full of 007-style outlandish plots and over the top action –“If you want James Bond go to a library” he informs a colleague in the first episode. The Sandbaggers is more interested in the backroom boys than with the agents in the thick of things, it’s the political wrangling that’s at the heart of the show and it’s the characters making the life and death decisions (with other peoples lives) who are the most compelling.
The Sandbaggers of the title are an elite group of covert operatives under the command of Neil Burnside. The seven episodes in this first season see them tracking down defecting government officials, finding kidnapped scientists and plotting to overthrow a foreign government. But the real battles are between Burnside and his superiors, not to mention his own conscience.
Ray Lonnen, who would go on to star in the well regarded Harry’s Game, plays Sandbagger 1, Willie Caine. For Caine it’s simply a job, one he often doesn’t like but is extremely good at, and Lonnen plays him as an honest working stiff, with none of the airs and graces of the higher-ups. Caine is the most honest character in the show, and because of that he’s far less interesting than some of the more politically savvy characters.
April 19th, 2008
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Ian W |
TV Reviews, Westerns |
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While I remember several of the western TV shows of the ‘60s this one escapes me, in fact I’m not even sure it was ever shown on UK television. It’s your typical man/men on a quest type of series with Walter Brennan playing the title role while Dack Rambo, later of Dallas fame, plays his grandson Jeff. The pair are searching for Will’s son, legendary gunfighter Jim Sonnett, the father Jeff has never seen. Their search leads them into all sorts of adventure, from both old acquaintances of Will and enemies of Jim.
Walter Brennan relishes being the star of the show, making the most of the series format to develop Will beyond the stereotypical cantankerous grandfather he starts out as, into a fully rounded character. The series fills in the details of his past as an army scout and his estrangement from his son as it progresses, giving us little nuggets every few episodes.
If Brennan provides the acting then Rambo is there to handle the action, getting stuck in to the fight scenes with gusto while also providing eye candy to appease the ladies in the audience. His acting is nothing special but he does a serviceable job, mostly just needing to look hurt, confused or occasionally, angry.
April 14th, 2008
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Ian W |
Action, Movie Reviews, Science Fiction, TV Reviews, Thriller |
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Evil organisation THRUSH (the series never explained what the acronym stands for) attempts to infiltrate UNCLE (that one stands for “United Network Command for Law and Enforcement”) by replacing their top agent, Napoleon Solo, with a doppelganger. There aim is to crack an operation codenamed “The August Affair”, and get their hands on Project Earthsave, a top secret energy source.
Unlike Flint and Helm, The Man from UNCLE series played it (relatively) straight, at least it did until its third season. This “movie” is really a couple of first season episodes cobbled together, along with some extra footage that was a bit too risqué for television at the time. The film holds together relatively well considering, although it does plod a little in the middle. The series and these spin-off films would get better as the series found its feet. The villains improved as well, with some big name guest stars making an appearance. Here all we get is Senta Berger, who, while certainly not unpleasant to look at, isn’t particularly threatening.
Still at least Mr Smooth, Robert Vaughn, is on hand. Snappy dresser, seducer of beautiful women and no slouch when it comes to mixing it up with the bad guys, Napoleon Solo is America’s answer to James Bond and Vaughn is the perfect choice to play him. Here he also gets to play his double but doesn’t really get to have much fun being evil as he’s just pretending to be the real Solo.
February 7th, 2008
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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This first season of Tales of the Unexpected was made up exclusively of Roald Dahl’s stories (later seasons would include adaptations of Ruth Rendell and Jeffrey Archer, amongst others). Dahl also introduced each tale during the first few seasons, sitting by a fireplace all nice and cosy.
In this day and age, with the likes of M. Night Shyamalan making a career out of the twist ending, the stories presented here should really be called Tales of the Occasionally Surprising, but watching them again, what is really surprising is how many have stayed in my memory.
“The Man from the South”, “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “Neck” all brought back fond memories. The best stories are those with a healthy dose of black humour to go along with the twist ending and all of these fit the bill nicely.
The series featured a surprisingly starry cast. “Neck” gives John Gielgud a dry run for his butler role in Arthur while “Edward the Conqueror” sees Joseph Cotton go to extremes in order to dispose of the feline reincarnation of Franz Liszt. Other notables include Jose Ferrer, Joan Collins and Jack Weston.
They’re nothing special to look at, particularly those shot on video, but it’s the story that’s the main attraction. Julie Harris stars in the dullest of the tales, Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat (she made a second appearance in the episode “The Way Up to Heaven” at the end of the season) but even this features a wryly amusing, if unsurprising, conclusion.
December 27th, 2007
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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This is a real blast from the past. NBC’s Mystery Movies from the ‘70s, which also included Colombo and McCloud, were essential weekly viewing in our household when I was growing up. Colombo always seemed a little dull (I enjoyed it more as I got older), McCloud appealed to the western addict in me, but McMillan & Wife provided pure mindless fun.
The premise is ridiculous, I’m not sure what a Police Commissioner actually does but I’d put money on it not involving car chases, shoot-outs and fist fights, but such was the daily life of Stewart ‘Mac’ McMillan as played by Rock Hudson.. I also doubt any high ranking police officer ever had a wife as lovely and kooky as Susan Saint James.
Hudson and Saint James had a great onscreen chemistry and give the impression of having just as much fun making the series as the viewer did watching it. While the absurdity of the central concept wouldn’t get of the drawing board today, the series has a certain retro charm. The murder plots may be ludicrously convoluted but they were, at least in the best episodes, secondary to the banter between the shows stars. They were a ‘70s Nick and Nora Charles, just not as pickled.
When the show deviated from that formula, like in the final episode of the first season with Saint James relegated to a secondary role (due, I think to her real life pregnancy), it drags, feeling like a standard 50 minute show padded to 70+ minutes. It was little wonder the series folded after just one season without Susan.
November 27th, 2007
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Ian W |
DVD Viewing Journal, TV Reviews |
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A new, semi-regular (depending on how long it takes me to watch them) series on Mine Was Taller, TV Tomb will take a look at some bygone shows. Ranging from the ‘50s to the modern day with shows from the UK, USA and maybe even further afield, the only criteria for inclusion will be that the series has ended its run and thus been consigned to the “TV Tomb”. First up is an ITV show from the mid-seventies that lasted only one season.
Beasts is a series of six self contained dramas with a horror bent from the pen of Quatermass creator Nigel Neale. I didn’t watch the show when it first aired back in 1976, I was eleven at the time and it was probably shown after my bedtime, so this DVD release from Network was my first exposure to it.
It looks dated in its production values but for the most part the stories still stand up. As with many television dramas of the time is was shot on video tape and on the kind of ‘70s sets that never fooled anyone into believing they were the real thing, so it’s not particularly pleasing on the eye. Some of the acting is a little too broad, having more in common with stage acting than film, but there are some standout performances.
March 31st, 2007
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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US TV
February was Star Trek geek month on US TV - don’t worry, I’ll explain why as we go along.
24
“Day 6: 12pm - 5pm”
Poor old Jack, his family makes the Borgias look like the Waltons. His brother was bad enough, but dear old dad just about takes the biscuit. James Cromwell hasn’t been this convincingly nasty since L.A. Confidential. I’m hoping that Morris will fall into his clutches soon and Bauer Sr. can put a bullet in him and save us all from his incessant whining. Still, at least Milo showed some backbone, fighting off the bad guys until the cavalry (in the form of Jack “Nick of Time” Bauer) arrived. Mr Lennox has also shown a little more spirit, standing up to the would-be presidential assassins. Of course being a little guy, this just resulted in him being tied up and gagged, but it’s the thought that counts. Then we have ex-president Logan - just what is he planning? The series has had its usual quota of ridiculous plot twists but the action has been a little lacking this year. Still Morris got tortured so it’s not all bad.
Battlestar Galactica
“The Woman King”
February 13th, 2007
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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Almost seven months ago, in my third post, I wrote about my disillusionment with American TV due to the current predilection for long running stories that were never allowed to reach fruition. I stopped watching US TV shows completely, going cold turkey (at the time I had a fifteen shows per week habit). But, like Michael Corleone, “Just when I thought I was out they pulled me back in”.
It’s no surprise that the series that drew me back in was NBC’s superhero show Heroes – as a long time comic book junkie, it was impossible to resist. I also tried a few of the other new series, notably Jericho, Shark and Justice. Sadly Jericho failed to make the most of its interesting premise and Shark relied too much on the star power of James Woods at the expense of original stories and interesting characters. Only Justice grabbed my attention, with its did-they-or-didn’t-they stories that kept you guessing until the very end and Victor Garber as a lawyer who made Shark look like a goldfish. Of the three, Justice was the one that got canned, go figure.
On top of the new shows I returned to some old favourites, though not quite to the level of my previous addiction. I’m currently watching seven ongoing series and trying some others when they pique my interest. So here’s what I’ve been watching in January.
24
“Day 6: 6am-12am”
November 2nd, 2006
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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After the conclusion of last week’s episode, Hiro is more certain than ever that it’s his destiny to become a superhero. Using his powers and the comic book he brought back from the future, he convinces his friend Ando of this and the intrepid pair head to the US. Hiro still provides most of the laughs, but after the apocalyptic climax of the previous episode there’s also a desperate urgency about him. After all, he only has five weeks to save New York.
This week Peter Petrelli also provides a lighter moment as his attempts to fly result in not only a bruised body, but a bruised ego as well. On a more serious note, there’s a rift between him and his brother after Nathan informs the press that Peter’s jump off the building was a suicide attempt brought on by depression. All of this improves Peter’s character to no end. He’s getting much more interesting, and even punches Nathan out. I didn’t think he had it in him. He also hooks up with Simone after she breaks up with junkie precog artist Isaac when he refuses to get treatment for his addiction.
October 19th, 2006
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Ian W |
TV Reviews |
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This episode of Extras is definitely one for the British fans and being one of them, I loved every minute of it.
What makes this such a joy for the home crowd is the wealth of celebrity guests on offer. Richard Briers, Ronnie Corbett and Stephen Fry are practically household names in the UK. I can’t say for sure but my guess is that most American audiences won’t have a clue who any of them are.
One guest who will be known to viewers on the other side of the Atlantic is Coldplay’s Chris Martin. I’m not a fan of Coldplay, Martin’s mournful vocals on EVERY song put me off. I mean he’s a million selling rock star, you’d think he’d have something to smile about. But as a person he’s won me over after his appearance here. He sends up the charitable rock star type brilliantly. He’s even good when he makes a guest appearance on Andy’s sitcom When the Whistle Blows…at least until he starts to sing.
With Martin’s guest spot over with, the rest of the episode concentrates on Andy’s BAFTA nomination for Best Comedy Performance.
When Maggie is treated rudely in a designer clothes store while shopping for a dress to wear to the awards dinner, Andy decides to use his celebrity status to play the hero. Gervais is brilliant here, it would be so easy to overdo things and by doing so kill the scene but he lets the situation bring out the laughs rather than try to play it funny.
