Lovesusti
The Worst Film Ever
RipDelight
This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
Tobias Burrows
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
robdrummond
I have seen half of series one so far (so my review cannot be complete) but:its nice to see a 'Warts & All' of the IRISH Soldiers (Yes agreed: in the British Army) and what they did to their fellow IRISH citizens. Up until this point its always ''The British Army'' getting full blame in almost any history book you like - certainly in St Stephens Park! .('British Army'' suggesting it was something completely remote and nothing to do with The Irish of course) The Irish were also British at the time: same as The Scots are British as are the English & Welsh (not to mention some Irish people too!)It was even more interesting to see how how the 'Oppressed Irish Republican Movement' (but I didn't see much of that oppression), turned against anyone in civvy street they found that disagreed with THEM! - Talk about turning the Tables! We saw these 'Soldies' Shooting dead their own unarmed IRISH Citizens that got in their way, to get their way, against the vast majority of the rest of The Irish population wishes AT THAT TIME.Maybe this is why some of the reviews on here are very negative. They didn't get taught this bit at school and think ''An Irish (film) Director'' would have done a better job.The series casts a new and hugely interesting perspective on the whole subject. I am guessing some people don't like it because it does not chime with ''their truth''.
sarahmarianwhitmore
I loved this series. Highly addictive, compelling with some amazing tension throughout. Brilliantly written and superb acting throughout. As someone who's not particularly academic I've always struggled to learn about history the conventional way, through books, so am always grateful when TV teaches me something new. This series had my scurrying to the history books afterwards to find out more. The characters were all really easy to identify with and there was a much more realistic representation of the lower classes than is usual in period dramas. There was some wonderful dialogue-free sequences throughout the series which were just mind-blowingly good. I cant wait for season 2.
xxharrison
The Easter Rising of 1916 seems perfect for an exciting television dramatisation. Sadly, this isn't it. Telling the story from the perspective of smaller players might have served a human interest story well, except there's little of interest on that front. Instead, the central characters deliver speeches explaining their motivations and actions. This prevents the emergence of any engaging narrative, and doesn't help in explaining a complex situation either. I had hoped the commencement of hostilities might shake things up a little. Again, Rebellion disappointed. It utterly failed to capture the scale of the uprising, making it seem more like a series of side-street skirmishes. Why did the director feel that such a key moment as the storming of the GPO be shown as a peripheral dumb-show to the main action of a minor character being ejected from her taxi? The Proclamation was similarly trivialised. Meanwhile, the various narratives were unraveling as the unfortunate actors confronted ever more implausible plot developments.
vesus-67105
"I didn't look at their CVs," It seems like he didn't bother to do a lot of things. A Finnish guy who quite obviously doesn't know much about Irish history directs a series about the most pivotal few weeks in Irish history. Makes sense, but only in Donnybrook where they have a vested interest in downplaying, trivialising and confusing the events of 1916. The old spirit of Irish rebellion scares the bejaysus out of the corrupt establishment in this country,RTE is the mouthpiece of that establishment.The rising was brushed under the carpet by RTE like it was with the Government. Were nearly apologetic as a nation to how we fought back against the British.. It's like we're saying "Sorry about that" and come the anniversary itself people will be holding up placards saying "Careful Now" Instead of being proud for standing up for ourselves and fighting back against the Brits Why spend so much on fiction when there is enough material to do a very accurate historical piece?….a wasted opportunity .Absolutely appalling TV; neither dramatical nor historically factual. better off watching Seachtain Na Casca on TG4 way better.
