Ruffles

I have to say this is one of the best conceived and acted films I have watched in a long time; it seems as if it might transfer very well to the stage if someone wanted to bother. What I must comment on is the classification of "comedy". Perhaps for singles or people that are disillusioned with relationships and parenthood, this might seem funny, but if you are a conscientious parent or in a willingly committed relationship, this was far from funny. Every single one of the characters were well-acted and very believable so that I saw very close similarities from my own social circle and the subject matter was very dark. I would classify this as "drama" and remove the "comedy" tag.

I watched it and I even smiled in several places.

The production values are really good and the acting is quite good given the script and the hole-ridden plot and premise.

The class for assassins with outcast students learning to become top hit guys I like, but the students are just pitched against each other with no training. That's not going to turn out top martial artists and assassins I'm afraid and this bugs me.

I liked it enough to try to see the second episode, but only just...

It passed me by when it first came out, but I followed up a friend's recommendation and was more than happy I did so. Watching it prompted me to read the books; so far three in the series from Richard Morgan. I can say that there are some fundamental differences in the plot and characterisations between the TV series and the book that will irritate fans and made me wonder how they will resolve them if they go on to adapt the next two books. If you are not a fan of the book, then you should find the TV series is phenomenally good. After looking at the various reviews and comments online, it seems that the "creator" intended to portray women in strong roles; if this is true, then it is an other example of visual media's highjacking someone else's story to preach to us with their own social agenda. I wish they wouldn't do that. Setting those collateral gripes aside; I can say that the TV series is very watchable and grips you from start to finish. Note that it is very violent and gory, so be warned...

If you like the mainstream television sci fi series all with similar production styles and values then it is not likely that you will like this. I have watched many such series and films and enjoyed them as well as more unusual examples of the genre into which this falls. The unusual cinematography employing lots of hand held footage does start to jar after a while but the series is new and different and I really enjoyed it immensely. I recognised none of the actors but they all turned in believable performances and I would be happy to see them again in different roles. A good debut from a budding media industry and I look forward to more new projects from the region.

I enjoy vampire movies but they tend to be made to a very predictable formula thanks, I suppose, to Bram Stoker and Nosferatu. Just as in any genre, the formulaic is also enjoyable in its own way but the movies that delight are always the ones that come at you from the side and offer a new perspective on an established theme.

Eternal is just such a movie. Beautifully filmed, edited and acted, it is full of morally questionable characters that are both good and bad at the same time. This film is certainly one of the best that I have seen.

You should also see The Hunger and Chronos if you enjoy vampire movies that are a little off the beaten track.