Sinbad

I found it entertaining. Good actors and good production values. Much better than the stop-motion B films of yesteryear. In a season when so much seemed recycled, this seemed a fresh take on Sinbad and a fun ride.

I was quite excited by this. I thought Sinbad would lend itself well to TV. I do find it very watchable and will finish the series, although I am constantly reminded of its faults:

The acting and directing are poor. The acting is hammy and overblown and brings to mind old BBC series' from the late 80s and 90s. The fight scenes are laughable and the action sequences look cheap and badly done. Not at all convincing. Think cheap Bollywood without any special effects or cables making people fly.

This is VERY 'family'. The BBC Radio 4 accents, the tame fight scenes, the overly simple plots...it's so...mild...

...and incredible shallow. The characters are all out of the BBC 1992 hero scrap book and they have no depth at all. The plots are all very simple, poorly written and with really bad endings. Like they were written on the bus on the way to filming.

It is a watchable series, especially while you're doing something else! I have it on while I'm working to be honest. Whenever I watch it properly I am constantly reminded that I'm watching a very low budget, poorly done programme that is in a totally different league to big budget shows.

Fun, entertaining escape tv. Actors play well off of one another. Nareen Andrews is especially entertaining. He seems to be enjoying the role and going over the top. Filming location (Malta) gives a realistic backdrop for the program.

The ship's cook is a wonderful dark comic character.

Because it is escapism, I am not particularly concerned with accuracy both mythologically and costumes. Rubber soled shoes, machine stitched clothing doesn't bother me. But the witches gel French manicure is a little to blatant. I could forgive black, green or natural nails but an obvious squoval French manicured...drives me nuts.

I am catching up with the first series DVD box and am thoroughly enjoying every minute! Yes it does have the odd historical inaccuracy (as does 'Downton' with its use of the phrase 'big girl's blouse'!) and it reminds me of the BBC TV version of Robin Hood or Merlin for that matter. It tells a story - often with a moral - and tells it excitingly and colourfully. I am glad I bought the box. It is carrying me through the dark winter evenings and the cast - especially the leads - are very pleasant to watch! Their relationships and interplay are successfully portrayed and the effects are well done (for an understandably limited budget) and do not detract from the action - as they almost invariably do in movie blockbusters. For a family audience this is beautifully executed. Well done HBO - another success!

Ok I like fantasy. I have one major problem with this and that is Sinbad is not believable as Sinbad. He does not seem to really like girls but trying to act as though he does. Some points the acting is good but at others when he is supposed to be playing this masculine character its just not believable at all. Also I don't mind the extensions in his hair but his natural hair grows out and texture of beard is a sharp contrast to the hair extensions. This actor seems way too soft to play the part of Sinbad which kinda ruins it. Gunnar totally fits his role. Sinbad is just not believable and he is the main character. Seems like the actor is overreaching with this role. Cook was great. Rina good. And Anwar too. I'd just have to say Sinbad was the main problem. I wanted a more manly strong Sinbad. The stories were okay.