Share Your Favorite Films and Series: Reviews Without Spoilers
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I have been the first to complain about the amount of Netflix, Amazon, film topics on here. Requests for suggestions etc. But to be honest a list of titles tells nothing about the film/series or why you liked it. So, how about choosing something you have loved watching during lockdown (or an all time favourite), and giving us a proper review without spoilers so we can tell if we would fancy watching it.
Try not to repeat another's favourite but 'like it' if you have 'liked it' too lol.
Folk seem to watch more than read so maybe this will go down better than the book club.
I dont really watched much tv except the soaps. But due to them being cut I had a look on Netflix. Came across a series called orphan black. Well am hooked A woman at beginning witness a suicide I won’t say how not to spoil it but as she looks at her face its like looking at herself. She takes her identity but only to find out there are more that look like her clones. Might not be to everyone’s taste weren’t mine at first but am hooked.
Thanks Ann that sounds interesting. I have heard of it but have not tried it. I imagine there will be many more series you would like even if you aren't much of a viewer. Programmes are so gripping and well made these days. Do you have any other ways of watching or just normal tv and Netflix? Later on I will do my own recommend, but want to give others a chance first.
Lynibis we have prime I use my chromcast whice when had time for TV would watch upcoming episodes before released on TV channels I do enjoy Wentworth prison whice that will be available soon though a Internet server before netflix. I did have sky but cancelled as was never watching but can use my Inlaws sky go if needed. My other half likes his history and food programmes they just put me to sleep 
Ann1984 orphan black was weird, I really enjoyed it though and it is not something I thought I would. Kudos to the actress though playing all those roles.
rararachel yeah I seen it advertised before on bbc I player but thought not my thing but am really enjoying it.
I became OBSESSED with Orphan Black and it’s something I never would normally be into - I thought it would be too fantasy / sci fi for me but I loved it, recommended it to lots of others who have loved it too 
Gail not been seen for months 
Ann1984 I really really enjoyed orphan black I recommended to all my fiends/family
Hi Lynibis, good idea as I see series or films recommended but with not much information about what you can expect! I don’t watch a great deal of TV but I do like Netflix shows and watch them when I can. My favourite has been Queen of The South, a Netflix series, and it might not be everyones cup of tea but I loved it! There is currently 4 series and season 5 is now due to be released in March 2021. Without giving too much away the story is about Teresa Mendoza who is in a relationship with a drug cartel member, her partner steals from the head of cartel so she has to leave with money and a notebook which he said would protect her. She has to escape the cartel and has help from Pote her sidekick, I love how he protects her throughout and he calls her Terasita 
there is loads more to the story but I would spoil it for others by listing all of the good bits!
In my opinion the acting was great, especially the main character Teresa. There is quite a lot of action and I would say the story line is captivating and makes you want to binge the whole series. Hope this is okay as I have never done film or tv reviews before as you can probably tell
Great review, thanks Alice. I must admit I cannot watch anything drug related but I am sure it will appeal to anyone into that sort of thing. You gave enough essential info without giving away too much, nice one.
Lynibis - Lost Girls is on Netflix. It's a true life short film about a woman in New York whose daughter goes missing which ends up focusing on a number of other missing/killed women. Don't Google anything til you have watched the film but you'll probably have more questions than answers after and be truly traumatized when reading about the finer details of the whole case.
On Netflix for anyone who hasn't seen Making a Murderer - you'll be left with really mixed feelings on the whole case and investigation. It's very slow and almost like home filming in places but I was on a roller coaster of being annoyed at the police, the investigation, lawyers, family all at different points.
My wife is watching Making A Murderer and says it’s compelling viewing and very interesting. She’s hooked!
Johnny if your wife is on Twitter tell her to follow the Stevens lawyer when she has finished the series. It's very interesting the progress on the case since the last season of Netflix.
I am really stuck to prioritise my favourites as I have enjoyed so many. So this is one I may not have mentioned previously, The Borgias.
This is a 15th century drama with the tagline 'the original crime family'. It is set in Italy with Rodrigo becoming the first Spanish pope and despite the rule of celibacy he has a mistress and 3 kids and between them they rule with fear and machiavellian plotting and intrigue. It becomes very obvious why the mafia has its roots in Italy with all the noble families killing each other and revenge demanded. Jeremy Irons plays a blinder and the mother of his kids is played by Joanne Walley Kilmer. The Pope finds positions for his sons and marries off his daughter but then the husband's cruelty is punished!
Lots of spying, murder, torture, plotting and incredible costumes and scenery. The sons are villainous but you can't help liking them and hoping they get their way.
There are 3 series and I hated that it ended so soon but I have watched it about 3 times.
Btw, it is a true story.
I was just about to say this is a true story! Not watched this but I know the story. Will need to give this a watch.
I've been watching walking with elephants, Sunday evenings channel 4 at around 9pm . It's been absolutely brilliant. Mind you I love anything to do with wildlife.
Both seasons are available on BBC iplayer - Fleabag. I binged it in a day.
It's a comedy series set in London about a woman who is sexually promiscuous & very snarky with a dysfunctional family, as the show goes on tho, you realise that shes actually quite lost in life, dealing with alot of pain & guilt, whilst grieving over her best friend. Theres some very rude scenes throughout the series but it's very very funny & quite sad too. I thought the ending was very cleverly written.
Must admit it is not my cup of tea but glad you enjoyed it. You must have done so to watch in one day, I take my hat off to you, even I cannot manage that lol.
Ricky Gervais - After Life, watch it, laugh and cry. No spoilers. Just fantastic.
Yes, I have watched both series and I haven't met anyone who disliked it once seen.
This is a review topic though, so for those who haven't seen it Gervais plays a guy whose wife has died and he is trying to cope with life in the aftermath, with pathos and humour.
My next review is for Black Sails which you can find on Amazon. I make no apology for copying this description as it is far better than anything I could write.
A prequel to the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel "Treasure Island," "Black Sails" is a pirate adventure that centres on the tales of Captain Flint, who has a reputation throughout the West Indies as being the most brilliant, most feared of all the Golden Age pirates. It's 1715, and as Flint fights for the survival of New Providence Island -- a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers -- in the wake of threats from British and Spanish forces, he aligns himself with Eleanor Guthrie, daughter of the local kingpin, to hunt the ultimate prize and ensure his people's survival. But standing in the way are rival captains, Eleanor's intrusive father, and perhaps the bigger obstacle of all: John Silver, a young, fast-talking, authority-flouting sailor recently added to Flint's crew.
You will recognise many of the actors including Toby Stephens, Rupert Penry Jones, Ray Stevenson. Even if the names do not sound familiar the faces will. In my opinion this is better than any of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and weaves together fact and fiction featuring all the many pirates of the era who terrorised the seas: Captain Charles Vane, Jack Rackham, Anne Bonney, Edward Teach (blackbeard), and also Captain Woodes Rogers, British Naval Captain whose book I happen to have.
Be aware that there is a lot of nudity, swearing and violence in this set of three series only, with a good story throughout with a beginning, middle and proper ending. (In real life most of them got hung).
My husband and I loved Black sails! Such a brilliant show! Would highly recommend.
I've really enjoyed Medici on Netflix - the third season has recently been added and I'm trying to ration myself and not binge watch it. Lots of familiar actors appear throughout the seasons, the scenery and acting is really good. It makes learning the history of the Medici very easy although it has been toned down to make it watchable as they were a ruthless bunch.
A political family drama set in Florence in the early fifteenth century. Cosimo de Medici finds himself at the helm of his banking dynasty when his father, Giovanni, dies suddenly. ... Lorenzo is called to take his father's place after an attempt on his life which reveals years of poor bank management from them.
angemski, that was to be my next review, you have beaten me to it lol. I loved it and it may be worth mentioning that there are a few stars in it like Sean Bean, Dustin Hoffman, Richard Madden (GOT & Bodyguard) not to mention Sarah Parrish.
This is set not far distant in time from the Borgias and you are right about the ruthlessness. Again, very much like the Borgias and the similarity to the mafiosa that has followed down the ages with their blood feuds and vendettas. It seems humans never learn.
I think these sort of series would be good for school learning if they cut out the nudity and had class discussions on what was truth and what was fiction. There is plenty of material for British kids for our own history. And that has given me my choice for tomorrow's review!
Today's recommendation is for a mini series called Rome. Unfortunately it is only on Amazon and you have to pay to watch it but you may be able to watch a trailer, although if you search online you can watch several trailers to give you an idea. It is on Youtube and I think it is a mark of it's popularity that it is not available for free. I have seen both seasons for sale on Amazon for £19.99.
It stars Ray Stevenson (who appeared in a few episodes of Black Sails, above) and Kevin McKidd, Derek Jacobi and Ciaran Hinds as Julius Caesar.
It weaves into the factual story of Caesar (his rise and eventual assassination) the fictional story of two Roman soldiers, one dour and one a bit of a lad always getting into trouble, even going to the lengths of the latter having a brief encounter with Cleopatra. Her son then being the subject of speculation as to whether the father is Caesar or Titus. Of course there is an awful lot more to it and I absolutely loved it despite the violence and depravity, Marc Antony being especially naughty and played brilliantly by James Purefoy.
Tomorrow I will try to come up with something a bit more modern for those of you not into historical dramas.
Il consider watching anything with James Purefoy in. Very underrated actor IMO, & very easy on the eye 
. He was fabulous in the series 'The following' with Kevin Bacon. For anyone who never saw it James played Joe, A serial killer who is a cult leader & has brainwashed others into doing his murders. Bacon plays the FBI detective obsessed with catching him. I don't remember all the details but I enjoyed it alot at the time & been a fan of James work since.
Glitterandgold brilliant, yes I saw that too. He also played the Black Prince in A Knight's Tale with Heath Ledger. And he was title role of Solomon Kane in that film.
I can recommend the above very highly as he has a really meaty role and is often swanning around naked in and out of the Roman baths lol.
Do you like Rufus Sewell, another great actor in the way of James Purefoy but never quite achieved greatness. He played Lord Melbourne in the ITV series Victoria.
Lynibis Well life is pretty boring at the minute, Watching Purefoy swanning around naked sounds like a good enough cure to me!! 
. Iv seen Solomon Kane, but don't think I ever saw A Knights Tale, that I remember. I might see if that's on prime actually.
I had to google Rufus Sewell, whilst I recognise his face I can't say from what. I never got around to watching Vistoria so it isn't from that.
Glitterandgold he was in The Man in the High Castle, which I didn't watch and a recent drama on BBC. If you Google again and add filmography after his name he has been in dozens of films.
I am pretty sure a Knight's Tale is on Amazon or Netflix, it is not a comedy but is quite light with some touching moments. Enjoy your viewing!
Dead To Me is really good on Netflix, without spoiling anything it is about a women who has recently lost her husband and is trying to solve his murder, she meets a new friend at a support group who is also dealing with a loss of her own. Though they are two very different people, they become friends and help each other through some tough stuff.
Ok. So today's offering is Spooks, first shown on BBC in 2002 and finished in 2011 after 10 series. For those who don't know spooks is an in house term for spies so if you are in to James Bond or spy things in general it is a treat. Currently available on Britbox, not sure about elsewhere.
Harry Pearce (Colin Firth) is head of MI5 and he is in every episode though his team come and go, usually due to death in the line of duty!
Although the characters have background stories the episodes deal with one story per episode although sometimes there is a 2 parter.
I have been intrigued watching a pandemic issue (deliberate chemical let loose) they dealt with in the 2008 series. They also dealt with a coup on British soil which had me punching the air and shouting at the tv with excitement. Don't be put off by the out of date technology, it is fun watching it modernise through each series and also seeing new spies (and traitors) coming along.
If it is your genre you won't be disappointed!
Available on BBC iPlayer I have been told.
Hi Everyone, could I get an idea if anyone is bothered about reading these reviews. The thing is, we get dozens of topics asking for viewing ideas but people just give a title with nothing about the programme. I have spent a fair bit of time doing these but don't want to do so if no one is interested lol. Maybe people only ask to start a topic.
No more reviews then, but just to say have now watched all 10 series of Spooks and ending was heartbreaking!
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