Rob-A

Miles Teller ('Top Gun: Maverick') doesn't quite have the acting chops of Anya Taylor-Joy ('Peaky Blinders', 'The Queen's Gambit', 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga') but they seem to work well enough on screen in the first hour of this rather flat 137-minute sci-fi written by Zach Dean ('The Tomorrow War') and directed by Scott Derrickson ('Doctor Strange').

In fact the first hour is the more engaging half, focussing mostly on the forbidden relationship between the two protagonists but also including a welcome action sequence that introduces the first glimpses of the denizens of the gorge.

There are one or two (pretty obvious) plot developments that work, but they're sadly outstripped by the equally obvious plot holes so typical of modern film scripts. Those combined with what turn out to be very underwhelming 'monsters' (who look as if they're straight out of a Pirates of The Caribbean sequel) left me asking a host of questions with no answers.

The movie had what I thought was a great premise and looked good based on the main trailer.

Unfortunately, as so often happens, it underdelivers badly. I was disappointed because so much more could have been made after a strong first half.

5 of 10, mostly for the first 60 minutes.

Well, given this show's long run, I thought it might be worth a shot. And certainly, I enjoyed the first few episodes.

But by the end of Series One I was getting a little tired of the childish antics. Which got worse in Series Two and reached a real low in Series Three. I couldn't watch any more after that.

Some half decent acting, but I grew tired and frustrated watching grownups cocking up their lives and make the same mistakes time and time again.

Yes, a good script needs drama - but that does not mean resorting to the juvenile behaviour & decisions you'd expect more of a high school flick than a show about highly paid & privileged doctors.

Disappointing.

It's almost a quarter of a millennium since Shakespeare In Love pipped Saving Private Ryan to the post for best film. But no-one cares or remembers any more, nor should they.

For those who went to see both, there was ne'er a twixt between them.

I write this having just seen this beautiful movie again in 2024.

If you haven't yet, you should.

It's a timeless, most wonderful piece of art; an eternal story, cast with inspiration and acted out by an ensemble in their prime.

Gwyneth Paltrow in her utmost serene beauty, Joseph Fiennes in his elementary, most burning-eyed energetic best. If there was ever true chemistry between two players, it's here in spades.

This film will make you laugh and cry, at the same time.

It will make you wish, it will make you despair.

It's a glorious rollercoaster of the best of all that's in us.

How many movies have ever done that to you?

A handful, I'd wager 50 pounds.

A fabulous tale, with a fabulous ending, that no-one has ever regretted watching and most would say they are all the richer for doing so.

Mag. Nificent.