reviews Archives - Jonathan Glazier

28th November 202428th November 2024

Alt.review: Dune: Prophecy (HBO USA, Sky Atlantic UK)

Alt.review: Dune: Prophecy (HBO USA, Sky Atlantic UK)

Dune: Prophecy on Sky Atlantic embraces the monumental task of adapting Frank Herbert’s legendary science fiction epic for television. Following Denis Villeneuve’s cinematic masterpiece and David Lynch’s divisive 1984 adaptation, this series seeks to carve out its own niche. But does it succeed, or is it just another mirage in the desert of Dune retellings?

The Format: Deep Dive or Dragging Pace?

Television offers Dune: Prophecy a distinct advantage—time. The episodic format allows for intricate exploration of the politics of Arrakis, the Bene Gesserit’s manipulative schemes, and the ecological stakes of spice mining. Fans of Herbert’s books will revel in the detail, but the slower pace may alienate casual viewers.

Where Villeneuve emphasized grand cinematic scope and Lynch condensed the chaos into surreal storytelling, Prophecy opts for deliberate pacing. While this lends depth to characters like Lady Jessica and a richer portrayal of Fremen culture, it risks testing viewers’ patience with drawn-out scenes that sometimes feel indulgent.

Paul Atreides: A Hero Reimagined

The portrayal of Paul Atreides is a key differentiator. Where Timothée Chalamet’s Paul was a charismatic blend of reluctant heir and budding messiah, Prophecy leans heavily into his internal struggle. This version of Paul feels more vulnerable, burdened by the weight of prophecy, and truer to Herbert’s original vision.

While some may find this introspection refreshing, others might miss the magnetism that made Chalamet’s performance so compelling. The gamble pays off in emotionally charged moments but falters when Paul’s doubt drags pivotal scenes.

Arrakis Reimagined: Harsh and Intimate

The series’ depiction of Arrakis stands out. The desert is presented as an unforgiving and dangerous force, capturing its hostility better than the romanticized sands of Villeneuve’s films. However, the trade-off is a scaled-down aesthetic. Intimate, grounded sets replace sweeping vistas, offering a more functional, lived-in look that appeals to purists but lacks cinematic grandeur.

Supporting Cast: Shining Moments

The supporting characters are a highlight. Stilgar, the Fremen leader, receives a richer narrative arc, aligning more closely with Herbert’s depiction. His leadership and pragmatism shine in ways underexplored in previous adaptations.

Lady Jessica, however, sparks debate. While her expanded role as a Bene Gesserit operative adds intrigue, it sometimes sidelines her maternal depth, leaving fans of Rebecca Ferguson’s nuanced portrayal in Villeneuve’s films longing for more balance.

Themes: True to the Source

Dune: Prophecy excels in honoring Herbert’s core themes: ecological warnings, colonial critiques, and the interplay of religion and power. However, these themes are more subtly woven into Villeneuve’s films, while Prophecy makes them explicit through dialogue and character dynamics. This approach rewards dedicated fans but may feel heavy-handed to others.

Production Design and Sound: Mixed Results

While the series’ detailed production design captures the functional essence of Arrakis, it lacks the iconic visual splendor of Villeneuve’s adaptations. Similarly, the sound design and score, though competent, fail to evoke the emotional resonance of Hans Zimmer’s unforgettable compositions.

Final Thoughts

Dune: Prophecy is a bold attempt to bring Frank Herbert’s vision to the small screen. It’s a treasure trove of detail for fans of the book, with nuanced characters and a commitment to the source material. However, its slower pace and understated design may not appeal to casual viewers or those seeking the grandeur of Villeneuve’s films.

The question remains: Should Dune adaptations always be judged against their predecessors? Perhaps Prophecy deserves credit for telling its story on its own terms. If you have the patience, it’s a rewarding—if imperfect—journey through the sands of Arrakis.

Written by Jonathan Glazier

A seasoned media consultant and multi-camera TV director, Jonathan brings decades of global experience in creating, producing, and directing innovative formats. Drawing on insights from the cutting edge of television and media trends, he offers a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today.

#DuneProphecy #HBO #SkyAtlantic #DuneSeries #FrankHerbert #ScienceFiction #Arrakis #BeneGesserit #PaulAtreides #FremenCulture #SpiceMelange #DuneFans #DuneReview #AltMedia #TVReview #SciFiSeries

25th November 202425th November 2024

Alt.Review: The Day of the Jackal (Sky Atlantic)

Alt.Review: The Day of the Jackal (Sky Atlantic)

by Jonathan Glazier, Media Consultant.

Sky Atlantic’s The Day of the Jackal reimagines Frederick Forsyth’s classic 1971 thriller for a modern audience. Eddie Redmayne takes on the iconic role of the Jackal, a calculating and elusive assassin, while Lashana Lynch’s MI6 agent Bianca matches him step for step in a tense game of cat and mouse.

This version isn’t just a straightforward adaptation—it dares to explore the Jackal’s family life, adding emotional complexity to the fast-paced intrigue. It’s a bold choice that might divide audiences, but it brings something new to a story many of us thought we already knew.

so, is the Day of the Jackal good or bad? Read on

The Family Plotlines: Bold or Distracting?

One of the biggest changes from the original story is the way the show delves into the Jackal’s personal relationships. These moments reveal a more human side to a character we’re used to seeing as an enigma. His strained family connections, quiet struggles, and flashes of vulnerability are unexpected but compelling.

This approach adds a fresh layer to the story—it makes the stakes feel more personal. However, it’s a choice that not everyone will agree with. Some may feel that shining a light on the Jackal’s private life takes away from his mystique. Whether it works or not depends on what you want from the character: the cold, unreachable professional, or a man grappling with the personal cost of his actions.

Alt.Review: A Layered Experience

Here’s what I found most engaging about the series:

The Jackal’s Planning and Precision

The Jackal’s meticulous strategies are a highlight. Every step he takes is calculated, and every pivot feels deliberate. It’s fascinating to watch his mind at work, whether he’s outsmarting authorities or improvising under pressure. It’s the kind of storytelling that rewards paying attention to detail.

A Truly International Thriller

The series doesn’t just confine itself to one or two locations—it takes viewers across Europe and beyond. From the streets of London to safehouses in Paris, from the sun-drenched coasts of Spain to the shadowy corners of Estonia and Germany, every setting feels distinct and vital to the story. These locations aren’t just backdrops; they’re integral to the atmosphere and action.

The Emotional Conflict

The Jackal’s family life adds emotional weight to the story. It’s not just about whether he’ll succeed in his mission—it’s about what he’s sacrificing along the way. These moments are thought-provoking and uncomfortable, adding a raw edge to the narrative.

A Brilliant Counterbalance in Bianca

Lashana Lynch’s Bianca is a standout. She’s sharp, determined, and brings a humanity to the story that contrasts with the Jackal’s cold professionalism. Her pursuit of him is as compelling as the assassin’s own schemes, creating a dynamic where you’re invested in both sides of the chase.

My Writer’s Thoughts

The pacing of the series feels uneven at times, particularly when switching between plotlines or locations. But instead of being frustrating, I found it added to the sense of unpredictability. The narrative mirrors the Jackal himself—never letting you settle, always keeping you on edge.

The family plotlines, while divisive, are one of the boldest parts of the series. They ask us to look at the Jackal in a new way, as someone with vulnerabilities and connections. It’s a gamble, but one that adds depth to the story.

Final Thoughts

The Day of the Jackal is more than a retelling—it’s a reinvention. Stylish, smart, and layered, it challenges our expectations while delivering the high-stakes tension of a classic thriller. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate plotting, the emotional depth, or the stunning international settings, this series has a lot to offer.

If you’re a fan of character-driven thrillers, I think you’ll enjoy this fresh take. And if you see it differently, I’d love to hear your perspective. That’s the joy of stories like these—they spark discussion and make us think.

Written by Jonathan Glazier

4th February 20232nd February 2023

Harry and Meghan Documentary: Hidden Messages

Harry and Meghan Documentary: Hidden Messages is part one of my look at some of the production techniques used in the Netflix documentary. It’s not a review of the documentary or a commentary on the story. Its is my analysis of how the production team have used certain techniques to tell the story. Some of these techniques have a hidden psychological effect on the audience. They are well known in the advertising business. I use them all the time; even the title of this video is designed to hook you in; the Harry and Meghan Documentary: Hidden Messages, Harry and Meghan -is probably the most talked about and searched-for keyword today, and Hidden Messages is designed to create curiosity in the reader. Giving you the desire to find out what these messages may be and implying that you will come away from watching the video better informed.
#uktvreviews #jgtvdirector #harryandmeghannetflix

So let me know what you think of my observations.

Key moments in this video

0:00 Start
0:06 What is this video about
0:40 Review Time
0:48 The Disclaimer and what it really means
2:45 Power Words set Agendas
4:00 The Towel Shot
5:05 The Master IV

You can find me on social media at.
https://linktr.ee/JonathanGlazier

3rd February 20232nd February 2023

HOW TV WORKS EXCLUSIVE: TV Director on the INSIDE STORY

EXCLUSIVE: TV Director on the INSIDE STORY of How TV works. Do you want to know how to make better videos to attract, engage and retain viewers? Using my experience making shows like Asia’s Got Talent and my 40 years in the broadcast business, I hope I can help. Using reviews of good and bad shows you watch and connecting them to YouTube videos that work, I will share my techniques for great storytelling. I am also going on a journey on YouTube. Using it as a place to experiment, make mistakes, and hopefully succeed. After 40 years, I still have so much to learn. How TV works is a mixture of reviews and behind the scenes of TV and my career.

Thanks JG you can find me on social media at. https://linktr.ee/JonathanGlazier

Pro social media https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanglazier/

Jonathan Glazier: TV Director, Executive Producer, Lecturer at University for the Creative Arts. Former Head of BBC Light Entertainment and International Formats, MD FoxWorld TV UK. Creative Director at Talent TV, Creative Director Endemol Asia.

30th August 201923rd November 2024

Red Joan Review

Red Joan Review by Jonathan Glazier: This is a terrific film. With that cast, it should be Dame Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson and directed by Trevor Nunn. I found the narrative style fresh and exciting, the use of flashback is always a fine line, but I thought it was a line used to perfection. So that’s the good stuff, now for my issue. How loose does loosely based mean? Yes, Tube Alloys was the real cover for the British Nuclear Program, yes the real Joan was a secretary to the Chief Professor doing the research. And yes the real Joan gave a press conference on her suburban doorstep much to the amazement of her neighbours.

But the real Joan went to Southampton University, not Cambridge, she had long flirted with the communist party etc. etc. Her advocate was her daughter, not her son. So it really is a long list of points that goes beyond dramatic licence, in my view its a different story, a good story but actually fictional. I have always had an issue with that. It doesn’t matter how well observed the cars, costume and design match the period. If the facts are so bent, it’s not based on it is just very loosely inspired by. All said and done this is a film worth seeing.

2nd August 2019

The Masked Singer

Coming to ITV in 2020, in production in Australia as I write (break a leg David and Chris) a show described as mad in the US press after its first season debut on Fox. The Masked Singer is a Korean Format from my friends at MBC.Celebrities don masks and perform in their own voices to the ubiquitous panel of judges. The performers are paired off and the loser is eliminated and of course, unmasked. Given some of the performers are not known for their singing this could be dubbed cruelly as a murder mystery given some of the attempts are “pitchy”. That said like the best of entertainment and in the works of one of the great entertainment producers of her generation the late Jane McNaught “you have to be able to see the joke.” Or in other words don’t take it too seriously, enjoy it as a parlour game but play to win. I can’t wait to see what Australia makes of it, and I really do hope the UK version has Eamonn and Ruth masked as beauty and the beast.

Jonathan GlazierExecutive Producer & Director, Writer and Creatorformer BBC head of format entertainment.

29th July 201929th July 2019

The Great Hack

The Great Hack is a superb watch, compelling even if you forget the implications of the story because the characters are fascinating. In particular, Brittany Kaiser, why does a Bernie Saunders voting, former green peace advocate and brilliant woman end up working for the Trump campaign through Cambridge Analytica? Was she seduced by the anarchy and power of the undoubtedly charismatic Steve Bannon, or was it her family’s dire financial circumstances? This is something the film doesn’t address in any depth. Nor does it look at how all the leading players at Cambridge Analytica have simply started up precisely the same kind of company after dissolving CA. Although we do get the impression they filed for bankruptcy to avoid their legal responsibilities. The money and power screams of an Illuminati conspiracy theory. All that said this is a must-watch show, brilliantly made. Chilling imagery of our data being collected and shots of those “innocent” quizzes we have all clicked on Facebook bring home the reality of data collection. There’s one caveat I’d add, who did anything wrong? Sure the ownership of our own data is something we should all debate. But all recent elections target the swing vote. All parties seek out the “persuadables“, why is it so shocking and called election influencing when it’s been happening since the mid-’50s. Once upon a time, it was Mr Murdoch who was the alleged kingmaker. Yes, the stories used today to target the swing voters are despicable, mostly false but very effective, why are we so surprised? I think the most insidious thought being the platforms we use to post cute cats are the ones being used to split society apart and the fact that Russia and other foreign powers are using the same techniques to subvert our democracy. Vice wrote an excellent review here, saying the great hack mostly missed the point. That point being, we are entering into surveillance capitalism, but that’s been the case for years, the powerful have been keeping the masses in their place using every trick in the book. Supermarkets have been employing psychologists for years placing impulse buys in precisely the right place in the store etc. The infamous “torches of freedom” smoking campaigns designed to get women to equate smoking with their emancipation in the late 1920s were an example of early manipulation by large wealthy corporations using Edward Bernays and the psychoanalyst A.A. Brill. So while it is a must-see “The Great Hack” is really about the modern-day techniques being used today, the fact that it’s got so much easier to farm data thanks to the large internet corporations. I think we all half expect our governments to hold data about us, perhaps our banks and medical institutions, suddenly we discover a bunch of college kids with an app have 100 times the data, and we gave it up ourselves so easily is a shock. If I am honest, I don’t know why we actually give our trust so easily to governments, medical institutions and of all places banks.

21st July 2019

The Last Alaskans

The last Alaskans is a remarkable series. We all know the pain of getting quiet reserved people to talk on camera. This is where this series really succeeds for me. Seeing these people, particularly the men open up in such an emotional way is heartwarming. These are the last 8 or 9 families living in the Alaskan wilderness, once the last children of the current permit holders die, no more permits will be issued. Contrary to popular belief is is possible to fail capturing spectacular scenery, this series does not fail, it is beautifully shot. The drone shots are lovely and the IV and cabin interiors take you right into their lives.

For me though it’s the story telling that succeeds so well and that centres on relationships. The relationships within the families and the families relationship to nature. I am no supporter of hunting or trapping, this show does help square some of those issues. For these families it is about survival and actually their relationship with nature actually does help preserve it, probably much more than most non hunters. But don’t judge me take a look at this gem of a show.

21st July 2019

Love Island UK v USA

As love Island breaks ratings records in the uk it’s interesting to see the US version struggling. Is Love Island one of the many ideas that just doesn’t translate? And why is that? Certainly the US VO lacks the wit and charm of Ian’s fantastic effort here. Also the US version to me feels more like unscripted drama, or a game show with people really chasing fame at any cost. The UK version actually feels more authentic, yes I did say that! But the inmates actually seem to be searching for relationships while acknowledging the Love Island “experience.”

All this against series 2 of the rebooted Temptation Island producing solid ratings. I was at FOX for the first outing but had left by the time of the UK version. I am fascinated by cultural differences particularly between countries that share language and seemingly so many other touch points. Yet still there are major differences that polarise our cultures. It highlights the fact that cultural differences are random and often hidden. A common language helps us identify and understand. But it also shows just how much care is required when language is also a barrier.