Mil e Uma Noites

Firstly,a quick remark to the first critic of the film.To the user called "deadenedsoul" - I am beyond any expectation the average USA consumer who is fond of reality shows and meaningless all-round movies to appreciate anything from the Turkish cinema culture and heritage or the professional acting or the ideas that lie in the plot of the film but this comment leaves me speechless as it is absolutely not related to 1001 nights.1001 nights is a classy novel which is told by the master of story-telling ... and acted wonderfully by talented and young Turkish professional actors.The fables and strings of though in the series are subtle and meaningful.The story is beautiful in essence and is breathtakingly presented.A wonderful piece of art recommended to anyone regardless of nationality or religion.

This show is a complete waste of time. It's like those Argentinian or Brazilian soap operas that make you feel like you're constipated. Or the characters are, for this matter.

The scenario is based on exaggerated dramas and meaningless misunderstandings. Something happens, someone gets bad news and boom, you have to look at that person's facial expression for the next 5 to 10 minutes. They never talk to each other and nobody ever finds out what is really going on, which is always something minor and very simple to get through.

All this goes on and on for about an hour and a half which is way too long for a prime time soap opera.

I only gave it a 4/10 because the elderly actors Metin Cekmez and Tomris Incer are amazing as the grandparents and some of the other actors (Halit Ergenc and Tardu Flordun for instance) have backgrounds in theater and are also good at their jobs.

And no wonder - they apparently actually fell in love during the filming. Plot is razor thin and stretched to unbelievable lengths. But you keep watching because of the fiery chemistry between the leads. Grandparents were great, kids were awesome (especially Kaan). Bennu and Kerem were awesome too. Some of the story extensions were totally unnecessary - Burak, what ever happened to Mihirban, Ahu etc. But I guess they had to fill in 80 episodes. Good escapist soap in these troubled times.

There is a lot to love about this- even for guys. I have only seen the first series- as that is all I can see on Netfix at the moment - I hope that they do put the rest of it on. Generally I love Turkish series, I did not think I would, but they are gripping, human and there are strong moral themes running through them, without them being preachy about it or moralistic. They have a beauty, sweep and realism about them that is so lacking in the Hollywood machine. I am pleased Netflix gives me the opportunity to see these and the leads are excellent.

1001 Nights is a wonderful TV show! Oh yes, there was the everyday living and loving, but more than anything it was wonderful to watch a show that show people of character working through their everyday lives with respect. There is so little of that in North America on TV, in entertainment, on FB. A show that I could watch with my fourteen year old daughter and help her understand decisions people make in life and how it affects them. We cancelled TV six years ago. I do not mind reading sub-titles.