Film Reviews by JB

We had no idea what to expect. This 3-episode series proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable night's viewing. Excellent performances by a cast of established actors. Obviously not for those who want a lot of action and histrionics, but a calm and considered piece that encourages the viewer to listen and to think. Wish there were more in this mould.

This short film makes skilled and exceptional use of archive footage to bring us as close as it is possible to get to the world explored by Gertrude Bell in the early years of the 20th Century. It is very much focussed upon her time in the Middle East - her pioneering exploits in European mountaineering are only mentioned but not otherwise covered - and upon the pivotal role that she played in the aftermath of the First World War. Her sad personal story is woven into the narrative with some sensitivity.

I highly recommend this film which made a splendid complement to reading her published diaries - do get hold of these if you can - and showed many of the places that she wrote about so ebulliently. For more about her visit the website of the Gertrude Bell Archive at Newcastle University.

The main question is, 'Is this so bad that it's worth watching just for a laugh?' - but it's not really that funny seeing a cast of such excellent talent mired in a dismal exploit like this.

Others have commented on the unecessary and gratuitous updatings, the 'spelling-it-all-out for a assumed audience of ignoramuses', the liberal posturing and so on. It was dispiriting to see one fine actor after another reduced to small and dismal walk-on roles while an absurdly hirsure Branagh plods through the mire towards enlightenment. The main excitement lay in the brief snatches of CGI imagery.

Don't bother.