The Night Manager

Dear Jamie,

You are not wide of the mark I am not so pleased to say!

George (Smiley) - "I've been reviewing my situation in the last half-hour of hell, and I've come to a very grave decision. After a lifetime of living by my wits, and on my memory, I shall give myself up full-time to the profession of forgetting. I'm going to put an end to some emotional attachments with have long outlived their purpose."

I am coming to the conclusion that not only is the world in a topsy-turvy state, but there is nothing that I can do to alter it for the better.

Best wishes from George

Well I'm glad to get something right..

I am watching part one at the moment. Maybe it will be worth watching through!

Last chance though as part one expires at 10 pm ....

ATB from George

Part One has a lot going for it. I have seven days to catch Part Two, as I definitiely do not have the energy to concentrate properly to the end now.

Whether I like every aspect is beside the point, and the jury is out on that, but I guess that when the DVDs come out, I’ll get them.

ATB from George

Well, I managed to stay on the “qui vive.” right through Part Three.

Rest will be watched in the following days.

Okay, I definitely prefer the similarly monumentally slow Smiley [Guinness] adaptations from thirty years ago, and miss the great acting in those plays, but in terms of modern film this has a good deal going for it. In fact it is the first decent television made film I have seen for two decades. 

So perhaps I have to eat my words in expecting the DVDs [when they come] to be disappointing ... I shall definitely get them ...

ATB from George

Twenty million quid well spent then.

Jeez they are REALLY expensive DVDs.

JamieWednesday posted:

Twenty million quid well spent then.

I would not have spend that much on it!

George Fredrik Fiske posted:

I would not have spend that much on it!

How could you have?

The series is due to premier in the US on AMC April 19. I've got half a mind to watch it after all the faff here

Then again, major league baseball will be back in full-swing.

Tell you what, there's quite a bit on Amazon now. I really wasn't that bothered to begin with but it came with Prime so I've been taking a look and there's lots of U.S. stuff on it and quality Brit appeal like Ripper Street too. Just been through Man in the High Castle which was quite a good stab at a pretty complex story (even by Dick's standards). It was changed around a bit but was still a decent journey. We're now about to start on Mr Robot.

All in all I'm quite taken with Prime. £79 p.a. for 'free' next day postage (for me and the Mrs) a 'free' book each month, a pretty decent range of telly and films to watch when you like and a (variable, i.e. low, bitrate) music streaming service with a decent interface for PC while you're smurfing isn't that bad a deal as it turns out.

Did he break Corky's neck or do something deadly to his sternum?

G

I almost watched that a bit earlier, but as usual when the mayhem starts, I moved forward a minute! He certainly killed jim!

I am waiting agog for Part Six! 

I am sure that I’ll spring for the DVD issue unless the price is daft!

ATB from George

Have you guys never heard of spoiler alerts for those of us who have not seen the latest episode ?????

TO be fair the thread's title give away the topic, just stay away from it and it won't be spoiled 

JamieWednesday posted:

Tell you what, there's quite a bit on Amazon now. I really wasn't that bothered to begin with but it came with Prime so I've been taking a look and there's lots of U.S. stuff on it and quality Brit appeal like Ripper Street too. Just been through Man in the High Castle which was quite a good stab at a pretty complex story (even by Dick's standards). It was changed around a bit but was still a decent journey. We're now about to start on Mr Robot.

All in all I'm quite taken with Prime. £79 p.a. for 'free' next day postage (for me and the Mrs) a 'free' book each month, a pretty decent range of telly and films to watch when you like and a (variable, i.e. low, bitrate) music streaming service with a decent interface for PC while you're smurfing isn't that bad a deal as it turns out.

I'm also a bit of a Prime fan. Worth it for getting stuff quickly when you need it, and there's some good programs available - not looked at the music offerings yet. We've now got three Fire TVs, which are excellent devices for streaming movies from my ripped collection via PLEX, plus all the many apps., a better buy than the Apple TV4.

GraemeH posted:

Did he break Corky's neck or do something deadly to his sternum?

G

Ok, a friend reckons he exploded his heart.

G

A few minutes from the end of Part Six, I can definitely say that I’ll be getting the DVDs for serious watching!

Just like Tinker-Taylor, Smiley’s People and the Perfect Spy ...

I believed that such an adaptation would not be possible these days!

ATB from George

Superb. That's the licence fee well deserved for another year. It reminded me more of The Constant Gardener than the cold war tales though. And not having read the book, I can't believe that Le Carre would finish with a such a "hollywood" ending.

He didn't..!

I could tell you how the book ends. But then I'd have to send Room Service around.

Quite!

Read the book. It is FAR more interesting!

But the series is good on its own account, all the same!

I shall get my own copy of the book - the one I read last September in Norway was my Aunt’s - to read before watching the DVDs when they come out!

ATB from George

I thought this was splendid entertainment, even if Olivia Colman was a bit miscast. Initially I was unconvinced by Hugh Laurie, but  I thought he did the silky evil bit very well and he - and most of the cast - were terrific.

Not quite the best TV of the year though - did anyone see the last-but-one Scandi-drama, Trapped? If so, what did you think?

I thought it was superb, with a wonderful lead in Andri, played by the bear-like Ólafur Darri Ólafsson  (and another strong female character in Hinrika played by Ilmur Kiristjànsdóttir), plenty of twists and turns and some breathtaking Icelandic lanscapes. Anyone agree? (Or disagree?).

I came to the series rather late and then used i-Player to catch-up.  I enjoyed it.  Like Kevin, I wouldn't have thought Hugh L could have carried off the villain role particularly well. I couldn't really see him as dark or threatening but credit where credit is due. He was plausible.      

Kevin-W posted:

I thought this was splendid entertainment, even if Olivia Colman was a bit miscast. Initially I was unconvinced by Hugh Laurie, but  I thought he did the silky evil bit very well and he - and most of the cast - were terrific.

Not quite the best TV of the year though - did anyone see the last-but-one Scandi-drama, Trapped? If so, what did you think?

I thought it was superb, with a wonderful lead in Andri, played by the bear-like Ólafur Darri Ólafsson  (and another strong female character in Hinrika played by Ilmur Kiristjànsdóttir), plenty of twists and turns and some breathtaking Icelandic lanscapes. Anyone agree? (Or disagree?).

Yes, we were hooked by 'Trapped' for all the reasons you cite Kevin. More compelling Scandi-noir.

Trying 'Marcella' just now.

G

Glad I started that although I don't think we have a concensus view!!!!

Regards,

Lindsay

'Follow the Money' looks promising after episode 1. All on iPlayer BBC4.

G