Artists I Fancy: Classic Movie Lovers Will Love This Spotlight on Gordon Bruce Art

The 1942 film "Casablanca" which starred Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, did not make my list of memorable war movies, even though it was set during a war. If I was maintaining an official list, it would for sure be on my Top 10 favorite romantic love stories.

Using that introduction and background to shine the spotlight on one of the most incredible artists in the 21st century, Gordon Bruce.  Take a look at his painting.  Is it cool or what?!!  

Nobody will ever forget the line:  "Here's looking at you, kid."  

Everybody who sees this piece of artwork might be tempted to say:  "WOW!  Look at this, kid!!!"

Gordon Bruce : Casablanca "Here's looking at you kid" (oil on canvas) | ArtFinder

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Review: Detective TV Series: The Pinkertons (2014)

Finished watching "The Pinkertons", a TV series on Netflix. My review? Cute and adorable. Written for an audience with a childlike mind, who believe in the innocence of America and American ideals. Includes references to real historical people, places, and events. Pure fiction. OK.  Mostly fiction.  But keeps the actors employed. Corny! But the main characters and the supporting cast grow on you. Grade the acting as a B- and the script is a C+ at best. But you get hooked. They’re sort of endearing.  Closed out Season 1 with a cliffhanger.  I hate cliffhangers.  :)  What I hate even more is that there is no next season to get rid of the cliffhanger.  Ah well!  That's show biz, I guess.

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Per Wikipedia :

"The Pinkertons is a Canadian Western police procedural television series which features crime cases of the Pinkerton detective agency. The show is officially licensed with the Pinkerton detective agency,[3] and features stories based on actual cases from the Pinkerton detective agency archives dating to the 1860s."

Main Characters:

Martha MacIsaac, as Kate Warne, a Pinkerton agent and the first female detective in US history.

Jacob Blair, as William Pinkerton, the founder's son and also, a Pinkerton agent.

K-Drama: The Merchant: Gaekju (2015 Korean TV Series)

I heart K- dramas and especially the Korean historical period dramas;  movies or television series.  That's why I'm suggesting:  “The Merchant: Gaekju” (2015).

The English translation for the title is “God of Commerce” and it has 41 episodes.  With about 26 episodes left to view, I’m sharing this PRE-review.  By doing it this way, I’m less likely to accidentally blurt out the ending and spoil it for others who may want to see it.  

In today’s American business, we have what’s called bulls and bears. Back in the 17th-century Korean business world, not sure about the bulls and bears, but there were definitely snakes and Shamans.

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The main character is Chun Bong-Sam (played by Jang Hyuk), who never even wanted to be a merchant. Sadly his father died a tragic death when he was only 8 years old, and when he grew up, he stepped into his father's shoes and became a merchant too.

I have only watched 15 episodes. It’s taking me a while to complete this series because the plot’s unpredictability is driving me nuts!  (O.o)

You know how it is. You sit down to watch a movie or a series. You think you know what’s going to happen and how it will end and then … that’s not what happens!

Well for me, that has happened in several of the episodes. None of my predictions about the outcomes were correct.

Incredible! Doesn’t the scriptwriter know the rules of plot writing??!!!

The characters I liked were being killed off!

I’m only at episode 15!  I'm screaming! You can’t do this!! 

It is very upsetting.  But each episode has a "hook" that drives you to the next episode because ... you just have to know how it ends!  

Watch the trailer.

Content first published at Virily.com

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If You Liked This, You Might Also Like:

K-Drama: Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series) Gets My Five Stars

Six Flying Dragons (2015 Korean Drama TV Series) Worthy of 10 Stars

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016 Korean Drama TV Series)

Where to watch K-drama online?
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— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) May 1, 2020

Review: Action Spy TV Series : Undercovers (2010) ~ Do Not Rinse and Repeat!

“Undercovers” was an American action spy TV series that aired briefly on NBC in 2010. 

First episode: September 22, 2010

Last episode: December 29, 2010

It had beautiful people and totally sucked!

Dear Producers:
If you ever have plans again for an American TV show starring actors of color as CIA spooks, please hire better writers!!  Do NOT rinse and repeat!  My one-word review for this program?  Abysmal.  And that's a word I hardly ever use!  But you gave me a reason.

In my book, the show would get more than two thumbs down, but I only have two thumbs. It was horribly disappointing. But give the producers an A++ for at least daring to try out "fresh content" on the American audience of guinea pigs.

Why was it so awful?

Hmmm … ?? Let me think.

Bad script. Mediocre acting.

But! – you say in defense - other shows have survived with a badly written script and substandard acting.

This is true.

But when you have watched a series like the BBC's MI-5 and you want an American show that has somewhat similar stellar performances, intricate plots, etc. and you don't get that … your disappointment can be likened to the queen in the “Alice in Wonderland” fairy tale – Off with their heads!!

Huge disappointment for me because I'm a fan of Gugu Mbatha-Raw (she played Samantha Bloom). My intro to this actress was by way of both Dr. Who and MI-5.  She only had minor parts.  Even if you only saw her for those few brief moments you would know that her acting talent was seriously underutilized in this American TV show.

Image Credit: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Sexy Fabric Wall Scroll Poster (16x27) Inches

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Related or Similar Links:

Undercovers | tv.com

NBC Cancels New Drama 'Undercovers' | deadline.com

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NOTE: This short review also appears at PersonaPaper.com.

Entertainment : Review of TV Drama Series : "Small Island" (2009)

"Small Island" is a two-part drama adapted for television, included in the BBC Masterpiece Classic Collection, based on a novel by the same title written by Andrea Levy.

*

“Small Island” is a BBC Masterpiece Theater presentation.  The name of the main character is Hortense, an idealistic “proper” young Jamaican woman who dreams of living in England and she will fulfill her dream! It may take a little bit of conniving but … she will make it happen!

The setting is the 1940s; during and after the World War II - Jamaica and London.

* Naomie Harris plays Hortense.  She is something else!!

If the name Naomie Harris sounds familiar, it should. She starred in the James Bond movie, “Skyfall”. At the end of the movie, she finally formally introduced to Mr. Bond as “Miss Moneypenny”.

Here's the plot in a nutshell.

Hortense has a friend who has a fiancé and that fiancé is in the military and intends to take the friend, who will be his wife, with him when he goes to England. Uh huh. That was the original plan. But Hortense figured out a way to get the guy to ditch the friend and take her to England instead.   Like I said:  She is something else!  :)

* David Oyelowo plays Gilbert, the fiancé, scratch that ex-fiancé … dot dot dash … husband of “convenience”.

David Oyelowo. That name sound familiar? It should. He was “Danny” in the popular BBC spook TV show, “MI-5”. Also chosen for the role of “Dr. Martin Luther King”, in the Oscar-nominated film “Selma” about the Civil Rights Movement in America.

“Small Island” is a love story and you will love all of the characters; the ones in the starring roles and the supporting roles. They are very realistic and you will feel like you're a part of their lives.

Authentic costumes, great scenery, believable dialogue, stellar performances, quality entertainment!

My one word to describe this masterpiece? Delightful!

Most memorable line? “Gilbert! I'm perishin' in this bed!” :)

Hortense dreams of England - Small Island - BBC


NOTE:  This content was first published at Daily Two Cents; however that site shut down.  It has now been published via Read.Cash.

Comparison of 2 Fantasy Drama TV Series ~ British versus American

Do you enjoy legendary tales about evil witches (or sorceresses) and good warlocks (or sorcerers), noble kings, knights in shining armor, Druids, dragons, unicorns and other mythical creatures, fair maidens, and handsome princes? Tales where good always overcomes evil and in the end, all the people live happily ever after in a wonderful kingdom?

Of course, you do! Everybody does!

You might enjoy those tales, even more, when they are adapted for a TV audience and the series is so popular that it runs for several seasons.

If you like fantasy series made for television, here are two suggestions. One is a BBC production and the other was an American production. The British series was better.

** The Adventures of Merlin **  (British TV Series)
(Aired from 2008 to 2012)

♦ What I Liked About the TV Series:

* A family-friendly BBC production (British Broadcasting Corporation)

* Every episode captures your attention and is delightful!

* Forces of darkness, chivalry, romance, and magic – A winning combination!

* Based on the well-known legend about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table

* Perfect for people who enjoy lighthearted fantasy-adventures

* For fans of John Hurt who is the voice of The Dragon

(Sir John Vincent Hurt (1940 – 2017), CBE, regarded as one of Britain’s finest actors)

* Excellent for binge-watching

* Filmed in Wales and France

* Great addition to a personal home video library

♦♦ Where I Thought the Series Fell Short:

* Not made for viewers who prefer gritty, violent blood-curdling drama

* Some of the acting was not exactly BBC Masterpiece performances or Oscar-worthy, or rather, deserving of the British Academy Film Awards

* Ended after 5 seasons ~ Should have gone for at least 10.

♦♦

** The Shannara Chronicles **  (American TV series)
(Debuted on MTV in 2016, ended in 2017)

NOTE: This series is a little bit different from Merlin in that it has Druids and elves (and other “races”), half breeds born from a union between humans and elves who are made fun of because of their short-tipped ears, and lowly humans who have no magical power ~ ALL versus demons, with one big bad awful Demon in charge of a massive demon army?

♦ What I Liked About the TV Series:

* Based on a trilogy by Terry Brooks titled *The Sword of Shannara*

* Filmed in New Zealand

♦♦ Where I Thought the Series Fell Short:

* A not so family-friendly American fantasy drama television series

* TV episodes contain unnecessary nudity

* Scriptwriters worked too hard trying to incorporate “American politically correct” attitudes

* Acting was really “cheesy” (awful) – Blame the actors or the scriptwriters or both!

* Canceled after two (2) seasons and nobody even questions why

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Review of Turkish Drama TV Series: Filinta Mustafa (2014-2016)

“Filinta Mustafa” is a Turkish mystery and historical period drama series, set in 19th century Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire. There are 66 episodes and they aired from 2014 to 2016. Netflix was instrumental in bringing this TV show to an American audience.

A Clear Line Drawn Between Good and Evil

This series draws a clear line between good and evil and makes it plain for you to see.

• The good guys are really good. Noble and kindhearted. Fiercely dedicated to the pursuit of justice.

• The bad guys and ladies (there is no discrimination or gender inequality) are extremely bad.

Imagine that this fictional series paints a “true picture” of Sultan Abdülhamid’s era (the Ottoman Empire). If so, then to be a law enforcement officer in 19th century Istanbul, you never get any rest! Not only do you have to deal with the local thugs and scumbags, but you have to wrestle with the foreign criminals from around the world that bring their crime to your city. The English, the French, the Russians, the Americans, the Germans, the Catholics! Oh my!

These people scheme and connive to do everything from murder and robbery to starting wars! Also, we have to throw in corruption among the government officials within the Ottoman Empire. Did I mention the part about young children being kidnapped by a secret organization and trained to become ruthless killers? It’s a good thing Filinta Mustafa has a loyal partner, Blade Ali, who works with him to help fight crime and corruption.

The Shakespearean Lens

The best way to describe this TV series is to compare it to a Shakespeare tragedy. A tragedy written by William Shakespeare can’t be tragic if there aren’t dead bodies lying all over the place! Well! There was one episode where there are so many dead bodies and the crimes which occurred in such a short period of time, the police detective said: “Oy! It’s raining corpses today in Istanbul!”

Yeah. It was that many dead people! More than in a Shakespeare tragedy. You just have to ask: Do evil people ever stop thinking and take a break? Do they ever stop being cruel and ruthless, and just smell the roses? 

Filinta Mustafa is Eye Candy for the Ladies

“Filinta” or “Filinta Mustafa”, is the “first Ottoman crime show of television history”. The main character, Mustafa has been styled as “the Turkish Sherlock”. If you are a loyal fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s master detective Sherlock Holmes, you will probably become a fan of his Turkish look-alike.

If I’m being honest, the ladies would love watching this show, whether or not it was interesting. Why? Because they won’t be able to take their eyes off the main character. Filinta Mustafa (played by Onur Tuna) is strikingly handsome. Pure eye candy! Brings a new meaning to “Turkish delight”. Your eyes get glued to him. You follow him everywhere. You see no reason for them to take the camera off of him. If he’s not in the scene, the ladies are thinking: “Hurry up! Get the camera back on Mustafa!”

Summary Review

This is a made for TV crime-solving series that is genuinely delightful entertainment. In each episode, you look forward to the bad guy getting his comeuppance!! There are many bad guys but the main one who is a constant thorn in Mustafa’s side is “Boris Zaharyas”. This guy put the letter “C” in the words criminal, conniving, callous, and cruel! He has got to be brought down! Serhat Tutumluer plays this part and he plays it to the “T”!!

Take your time watching this series. You will want to savor the moment and patiently wait for when Mustafa finally brings down the curtain on Boris!!

My summary review of this series? Never a dull moment.

Source:  Publish0x