This Is England '88

Slow paced, nothing much really going on, and if there is they're sure to stretch it out for hours. Sequences are too long with lots of slow filler scenes that tend to drag. Acting is acceptable with the exception of stephen Graham who is outstanding as usual. Dialogue isn't the best and generally needs more direction. Maybe it would make a better music video than a film.

Forget all the Christmas specials and seasonal 'bumper' editions of your favorite shows that usually fail to live up to the hype. This is the real deal.

In my opinion this is the finest ensemble cast to grace the small screen, offering us devastating highs and lows (cleverly, in some instances within the same scene) to send your emotional levels into overdrive. Vicky McLure continues her incredible portrayal as Lol, but bolstered by an incredible cast of English actors. Jo Gilgun, surely now part of the English comedy drama culture since picking up the mantle in Misfits is still firing out his deadpan comic delivery, tinged with a subtle cringing irony which is surely going to explode in future episodes. The haunting presence of Johnny Harris is still lingering in this show despite the incident last time, as the direction flashes on the verges of psychological horror. The rest of the flawless cast just shine without effort, and you wish you could spend all your time in their company despite the downbeat nature of the era.

Unsurprisingly the writing is assured, and the direction is awesome. For me though, It's McLure all the way. The performance of the year (again). Surely more awards are pending for this splendid programme and long may England live.

Carrying on from This is England this continues the lives of the characters portrayed in the first movie . Fantastic film

Another excellent showing in the series.

Shaun now in college, studying drama, still with Smell. They aren't doing too good. I have to admit, this character is kind of annoying me now. He's just kind of irritating, but in a lovable way. That scene he has with Smell at the party was really heartbreaking. You really feel her pain. Hope things change in the 90 installment.

Poor Lol. She is going through so much in this latest installment. Now a single mother to, well you know whose baby it is. She has to bear the torment of what occurred and the guilt for Combo. All of which eventually bites her in the butt by the time this series ends.

Woody is the ultra superstar in 88. The performance was just amazing. You can feel the passion, you can really feel the anger. The way he reacts to the Christmas Day incident really pulls on the heartstrings. His love for Lol is undeniable.

It's amazing the power that a well written, acted, and produced piece of film/entertainment can have on you. I really feel like all the characters are my friends now. I'm an outsider looking in, but in a weird way I kind of feel like Shaun in the 1st installment. He was lost, they took him in and now he is like family to them. The viewer was lost in the first installment and with this being the 3rd in the series, we are now family.

I could go on and on. Just go and watch this. You'll be hooked right away.

This gets a LennyReviewz Score of: 9/10.

Get ready to cry, laugh and tie curling awkwardness. Just when you let your guard down and laugh. The next scene leaves you in anguish or tears. It's a master class in tragicomic relief. The settings put you right back in the 1980's, where kids and youth Rommedahl the streets. There are some absolute architectural "beauties" and prime 1980's dekor, That curbs any lurking nostalgia.