nooshie-33142

I was eagerly anticipating "Dune" more than any movie of the past couple of years. I loved the books which I read as a teenager and was disappointed in David Lynch's crack at the story and the tv mini series with John Hurt. Sadly, I'm still waiting for the books to be brought convincingly to the screen. Yes, the movie looks good and some of the action set pieces are well done but the pace of the film is so boring that the actors seem to be sleepwalking through it. Perhaps Chalamet is the wrong actor to play the pivotal role of Paul? He's not dynamic enough and perhaps his acting style is not suited to a blockbuster movie and he's better in more intimate drama. You almost need to be bigger than the special effects and he just isn't. The rest of the cast do a workmanlike, nothing special job and leave it to the effects guys to produce the real substance of the film. The effects are fine but not as great or as exciting as I'd hoped. It was all a bit of a ponderous yawnfest and I really hope the sequel is better!

I don't do "dramedy". Usually neither funny enough nor dramatic enough for my taste. However, I had run out of my usual Nordic Noir dramas and thought I'd give this a try. I have Swedish heritage but have never lived in Sweden so this wonderful show gives you a rare insight into family life in modern Sweden. It's not much different to anywhere else in the world and what we call a "blended family" in the UK, Sweden calls a "bonus family". The lives, loves, family spats, growing pains and complicated family dynamics are all here to be laughed at and sometimes cried at. This show has phenomenal acting, realistic plotting and great characters. I love them all and can identify with their struggles, triumphs and embarrassments, in work and out, at home, school and socially. It really is a "slice of life" that never hits a false note and is often laugh out loud funny. The ensemble cast is brilliant across the board and the three kids are played wonderfully by the young actors who are as obnoxious and lovable as any kids in the real world. Don't let the fact this is a European show put you off, as it's one of the best family comedy dramas that I have ever seen.