joepm28

The Gilded Age is a frothy, enjoyable series that falls in the categories of a mishmash of Brit like melodramas from the likes of Trollope and Elliot (yet not nearly as literary or done as well), then throwing in elements of romance novels and historical melodramas. It is not awful, yet is far from great. IMO, The Gilded Age falls a star short of Downton Abbey, mainly because it is trying to shoe horn in way too many story lines in to the series than Downton Abbey did. As a result, the character development is lacking, many of the cast just giving cookie cutter performances. Other than the Russell family, who are really front and center in S3, the series has moved to giving much less screen time to the Van Rhijn family. And even when the Van Rhijn's are shown, it is more as a comic relief element than any real drama. I get why The Gilded Age is popular, yet it could have been so much more.

I'll try to write my review of Saltburn without any spoilers, yet with enough information so viewers know what they're getting themselves into when watching this creepy, cringy film.

First off, the biggest, biggest, BIGGEST flaw of Saltburn is that there is the barest of character back story as to what is motivating the 'hero' of the movie, Oliver Quick (an above average performance by Barry Keogh). I mean there are bits and then there are some twist and then there is the shocking ending, yet I was left asking at the discordant finale 'Why?'.

That then gets to the second fault of Saltburn - it is just totally unbelievable and preposterous as to the entire story line. Sure, we can say that there are foibles to the upper class that have inherited their wealth. Yet, to think they can all be as dense and unaware as the Catons and their set makes the whole film's premise fall apart at the slightest examination.

Finally, and most disappointing, for a purported 'gay' film, Saltburn does not fall in to that category, other than some lurid sexual longings and some unrequited love. Which to me, never came off since there was so little chemistry between the characters of Oliver and Felix Caton (Jacob Elordi delivering a rather wooden performance).

The best part of the film is the setting, the eponymous English manor house (Drayton Hall in real life), which is absolutely spectacular and to die for. But, even that is way too little to cover for the thin plot, poor character development and unbelievable ending.

I wouldn't say don't watch it Saltburn, just be prepared to be let down from the hype.

I'll give the cast and crew of A Knight's War credit for creating something we don't see enough of these days which is the moderately budgeted, sword & sorcery fantasy film. However, the pluses - great scenery, sets and costumes - are more than offset by the negatives - just ok acting, a story that was a pastiche of so many other genre tropes and, one of my continued biggest beefs, a run time that could have easily had been 15 or more minutes less.

And, as in my title, there were so many elements of A Knight's War that had the whiff, intentional or not, of being lifted from other films. Dying over and over to come back again - Edge of Tomorrow. The 'Light' and some of the music - Game of Thrones. Costumes and the masks - Pan's Labyrinth. The lead, Bhodie (Jeremey Ninaber - decent performance) - shades of The Witcher. You get the picture.

Overall A Knight's War is not awful nor is it very good. So, view at your own choice, especially if this type of film is in your wheelhouse.