csumm

The series started promisingly, with some interesting characters and ideas. The basic concept is not bad, but as it progressed it tried unsuccessfully to get deep. Basically, they used unoriginal ideas and tired clichés, thematically and in storylines and dialog, and attempted to present them as something new. It didn't work. As the main storyline got darker and "deeper", the comedic characters felt increasingly out of place and are used clumsily. This gave the whole thing a schizophrenic quality to it, resulting in an incoherent mess. There is nothing groundbreaking about this series, there are far better space-operas out there so give this one a miss.

I finally got around to watching this and regret the time wasted in doing so. While there are some huge names in this production, and they certainly look like they had lots of fun overacting and hamming it up, but that has made this whole production seems like a cheap pantomime. The music is ill-fitting and seems like it was taken from a completely different show and added to this. While the set and effects are impressive for the time it was made, they look dated now. I have never read the books, so can't compare this series to them, but watching this series has put me off every doing that. My advice is to avoid and hope the upcoming adaptation will be much better.

After seeing all the positive reviews here I started watching it. The original idea for the series is quite good and novel, but the show is terrible and very poorly executed. The characters are unlikeable and never develop any depth, I got sick of the inanities that 790 kept uttering and as much as I hoped the series would improve as it continued, it didn't. Enough soft porn to keep some people watching, but it did nothing to add to the story. Low production values and some mediocre acting add to the direness of it. A smattering of semi famous faces but otherwise forgettable, with the exception of brilliant performance by Nigel Bennett. He is the reason why I gave 2 stars instead of one. Best to avoid this garbage altogether.

Louis Anderson is the standout in this series. While Zach Galifianakis is a good actor in his own right, he is great here.. But Louis Anderson is outstanding. His performance makes me want him to be my mom.

In summary, this is a really good show. The plot is good, and it proceeds intriguingly, with a few red herrings along the way to finding the culprit.

For the most part the actors and characters are very well cast and well played.

However, Andrew Buchan's contribution is negligible. He acts so woodenly that Keanu Reeves looks animated by comparison. A total lack of emotion, which basically detracts from all the fine performances around him. He looks like a Spitting Image puppet, yet cannot emote nearly as well.

Apart from this, a truly brilliant series worth watching.

This is one of my most favorite movies.

A quirky story, one to be enjoyed through multiple viewings. The surprises are in the cast and their contributions to this.

While Matt Lucas is wonderful as the white-underpants clad protagonist, it is the others around him that really shine.

Some delightful cameos from many famous and deserving actors, but special mention must go to James Caan as Mr Allspice, Billy Crystal in a great role where he performs understatedly, Dolph Lundgren, Peter Stormare and most especially Johnny Knoxville for his superlative performance as Tommy Balls. Before this, I never knew he could act so well.

This is gentle and subversive humor at it's best. And Weirdest.

I highly recommend this movie

This is a waste of some great actors. Val Kilmer, Tobey Maguire, Tim Robbins. I am not sure why they did this.

This goes to prove once again that anything with Will Ferrell in it is total shite. For example the Anchorman movies.

The premise and ideas would perhaps have been considered funny 30-40 years ago in a Mel Brooks' movies, but here they are lame. Even in an episodes of Family Guy they would be weak, but would hopefully lead to something better..

Here, delivered by some great names in Hollywood, they are embarrassing and pathetic.

Avoid at all costs. Set fire to your own genitals instead, it will be much less painful than watching this pile of feces.

Let me begin by saying the premise for this series is brilliant. The idea of the fairy tale characters living in a modern day world, yet forgetting who they are, is well devised.

However, it goes downhill from there.

For starters, it is too dumbed down and obvious. Perhaps made for audiences who need things spoon fed to them rather than thinking for themselves. You can see what is going to happen well before it does; no surprises anywhere.

Next is the dialog. Are we really expected to believe that in fairy tale times, all people spoke with American accents and used modern phrases? Again, needlessly dumbed down. Would Game Of Thrones be as compelling if everybody spoke modern American? Of course not. This really spoils any flashbacks to fairy tale times.

Then there is the acting... Robert Carlye is a brilliant actor, but I am sure he cringes at being so over-the-top as Rumplestiltskin. I am sure he is doing what the director asks of him, but it is too much. And Jared Gilmore (Henry) simply cannot act. Period. He spoils every scene with his lack of talent and is totally unconvincing in every way.

For some shows you can suspend disbelief and get lost in them. For Once Upon A Time however, you cannot. But then, remembering what a disappointment the ending of Lost was, from the same creators, there is no surprise there.

If you want a show with a similarly good premise but one that is well executed, watch The Almighty Johnsons. If you want a dumb show with little or no thinking required, Once Upon A Time is for you

As a Kiwi ex-pat, I occasionally watch some TV programs from back home to see what is happening. Sometimes they are OK, sometimes dire, but this is a real gem.

Great Kiwi humor, acting and story-line. I love this series! I have even introduced this to a few other Kiwi ex-pats, as well as other foreigners (including an American mate, who actually gets it)

To the Nay-sayers who dislike this program, I don't know what they are expecting or what they want. Perhaps another mass-produced American series ? there are loads of those.

This is original, and brilliant. I am so happy there is going to be a 3rd series!

Cheers