Bootleg

I thought this was a great little series, well made and relevant, it was very good family viewing. The central premise of the series is "What would happen if they banned chocolate?" It is an obvious analogy to the current prohibition of Cannabis, which makes just as little sense. Very good to spark intelligent debate with your children.

Reviewers have mentioned that this was filmed in Australia but set in the U.K. I have to admit that I hardly noticed this, I suppose we get so used to seeing Aussie T.V. programmes in the U.K. that they now feel as familiar as U.K. made programmes. Actually that made me start wondering just how many U.K. programmes get watched in Australia?

Every once in a while, a family drama comes along that really warms you up on a cold winter day, and 'Bootleg' is one of them. A simple story of two boys and their friends trying to get round a chocolate ban imposed on the country by the sinister Nazi-like 'Good-For-You' group. Wonderful performances by the cast, (and mouth-watering chocolate!!) makes this a real feast for the whole family. -I am a chocoholic myself, so was going to watch this lovely family programme from the start simply for that reason! Well done to all involved.

If this isn't one of the best ever family mini series, then please kill me. For i believe that the acting is brilliant, the stars know how to speak, yes, thats right, how to speak, and the plot is excellently drafted. On the whole i give the show a healthy 8/10. The acting is excellent, and the props are quite believable. You feel like becoming part of the show. Chocaholics are probably the target audience. Frankly, if chocolate isn't the main subject of the show, then it must be cocoa mass!!! Of course, it's great fun for all ages on a cold winter day when you don't want to see star wars of teletubbies, but something nice and relaxing, yet compelling drama.

This is an interesting TV show, but I found it annoying that they made Melbourne look like it was England or something... the Victorian number plates on cars made it a bit obvious. For such a politically charged show show, i wouldn't think that ethnicity would be such an issue, and being Australian such a 'liability'.

I have read this book numerous times to my students and only just discovered this adaptation. While it stays true to the essence of the main story line, I was disappointed that some of the plot details were changed, especially the ones that were so much a part of the humour in the book. I was also disappointed in the casting of Frankie Crawley who in my vision should have been much smaller and meeker only puffing himself up to match his 'authority'. His and Myrtle Perkin's (another name change) storylines were not well developed in this adaptation either. However, the retelling of this story grew on me and I think it was quite well done overall.