Reviews

As someone regularly disappointed by anime, it is a truly happy occasion when worthy material comes up.

This series engages all of the tropes expected from the period and setting, but provides angles and insights that avoid the clichés expected - despite the familiar story lines that under other direction would have been trite.

The adult rating is warranted for gore, violence, nudity, sexual situations and language, so probably not suited for family viewing!

Binge watch warning should also apply...

Good animation, solid script, decent score, and a storyline that fits the 8 episodes of the season - recommended.

So the acting is awesome. It's solid drama and the actors deliver. The direction and production is pretty decent. Every single person involved in making this happen did a great job, and it is worthy of your time.

Except the writers. It's sloppy, at best. It reduces the British to caricature, trivialises actually tough diplomatic engagement and manipulates a women mercilessly to the tune of her better knowing superiors.

Grief. Where is Aaron Sorkin when you need him? Clearly this was inspired by The West Wing, but it needs a better talent pool in the story board department.

In short, watch it, but don't even start to confuse it for believable.

Open a beverage of your choice, sit back with low expectations and discover this is a gem.

Watched because it was recommended. She'd a genuine tear at the conclusion. Bravo. Extra star for catching me off guard.

Great cast, fantastic cinematography, strong performances all over the place. Shame the drama is so transparent.

Attempting to build depth and rapport with the characters, the script and direction leverages shallow clichés, so they remain caricatures.

From the opening scene, you have the whole story in a microcosm, and frankly they could have left it there and delivered a world class short film instead of this.

The Copenhagen bombing error is a story worth telling properly. This melodrama doesn't fit the bill.

I am looking forward to seeing this cast and film crew on a project worthy of their considerable talents.

You will see complaints that this contains very little Maui Thai, the singing is flat, and the story misses opportunities. That's all fair. If you come in expecting a sport movie, or a pop extravaganza, you are going to be disappointed.

The film is problematic - the lighter notes are there, the dark side misses some depth and the missed opportunities in the script will be clear.

But it is thoughtful, deep enough to engage, dark enough to make characters real, light enough to be approachable for folks outside the trans community, and absolutely artfully shot.

No Hollywood blockbuster, but a pretty interesting diversion.

The movie is awful. I mean, the special effects are stunning, but the story lines are lazy, ensuring this cannot have continuity in the x-men universe, and the ideas behind it mean that the story could be applied to almost any group of people, not specifically the x-men: this should have been a stand alone movie about some other random people.

Lazy story, inadequate and clichéd script writing and indifferent character development put this movie in the doghouse for me.

There are a lot of mixed opinions on this movie. I enjoyed it on the big screen - enough to see it twice, which is rare, so it seems appropriate to mention why.

First, what is not new or surprising:

• it is based on a comic book character;
• it is in the Marvel universe;
• it has a comic book cast and plot [read: big plot holes].

It you went to see this, looking for the next Avengers blockbuster special effects, then you are early - that is coming out later this year. And so you would be somewhat disappointed: no aliens, no space ships, very human antagonist, yet all the normal comic book plot holes are there to see...

On the other hand, approached with an open mind, this was an interesting insight in to a very different world. You learn about the back story and character of the Black Panther, his weaknesses, his strengths and his commitment to his people. You see a messy aspect of his family history resolved. And then, too, you are exposed to a completely new culture - even though the Marvel view of African culture is as sanitised as civilian life in the big US cities, it is very much in that mold, with richness and depth and traditions on display or alluded to throughout.

Yes, there are plot gaps, some personalities are under developed, odd storylines start and stop a little randomly; the lighter tone and mix of humour is not for everyone either. So, that cost it a star in my eyes.

The film is visually stunning, approachable by families, brings considerable talent to the screen and is a thoroughly enjoyable step up from a pure action flick.