Review of DA VINCI'S DEMONS

DA VINCE'S DEMONS Season 1

The first episode begins with an elderly man rudely dismissing a youth from his bed, going to church, telling people, "Don't worry, I'm here," and then being stabbed to death. It turns out he was a major supporter of LORENZO (the Magnificent) MEDICI, the ruler of FLORENCE, who now needs other support to protect him from the machinations of ROME under POPE SIXTUS IV.  And what better way to get the support of his own people than a grand party, the climax of which will be a metal dove sliding down a wire to ignite fireworks. Ah, but young LEONARDO DA VINCI has a better idea: he'll make a mechanical dove to fly to the fireworks in an elaborate path without using a wire. Lorenzo, with a little persuading, agrees, the dove works as planned, and Leonardo's career with Lorenzo has begun.

Leonardo Da Vinci is in actuality a gigantic, multifaceted figure in history, but perhaps the creators of this series went a bit over the top.  In addition to creating wonderful paintings and inventions (including war machines), he beds Lorenzo's mistress, LUCREZIA, meets a mystic group called SONS OF MITHRAS (who insist he's one of them), has an uncomfortable dinner with a non-supernatural DRACULA, escapes jail using bombs made of the guano in his bat infested cell, and breaks into the Vatican where he forces the pope to show him the secret archives.

Much of the series is historically accurate, but a lot is fiction. Leonardo was indeed an illegitimate child and a vegetarian who would buy birds intended for food and release them. His actual sexual orientation is not known, but that he was in fact accused of sodomy and acquitted. Several of the people mentioned, including Lorenzo, his mistress. his brother GUILANO, RIARIO (a nephew of the pope), and others are historical figures, though not necessarily portrayed accurately. The Sons of Mithras and their frequently referenced BOOK OF LEAVES are myths. The series frequently suggests supernatural occurrences, but leaves open the possibility of a natural explanation.

The music is eerily mystical and engaging, reminiscent at times of Philip Glass.

Be warned--there is a lot of violence with some really horrible cruelty. There is also a lot of titillation and also tits, simulated intercourse, a few limp cocks, and excessive (IMHO) use of the word 'fuck'.

All in all, this is a gripping series. There are two more seasons, and the reviews on them are also good.  I rate it ++++.  I will get your pulse up to a run.

Review of BOARDWALK EMPIRE

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (first two disks)

NUCKY (Enoch) THOMPSON, a crooked politician, finds prohibition a cause for celebration.  With his brother, ELI, the equally crooked sheriff, CHALKY, a crooked leader of the black community, and various others, he controls booze in Atlantic City and funnels the proceeds of the liquor trade into his bank account. A self-righteous, terminally constipated federal agent, NELSON VAN ALDEN, tries to limit the flow of alcohol, but is hopelessly underfunded. Enter MARGARET SCHROEDER, a prohibitionist who, thinking Nucky supports her cause, asks him for help for her violent husband. Nucky helps her, and when her husband disappears, a victim of an alcohol-war skirmish, he helps her more.

Don't watch this right after the movie DONNIEBRASSO.  Though in a different era, the situations are similar enough to be confusing.

Some aspects of the story are never well explained, for example, Nucky's attraction to Margaret (though that may be because she's the only woman with balls--excuse me, ovaries.)

The interactions between the characters make this one of the more riveting series I've watched.  Nucky, though often cruel and ruthless, frequently shows consideration to others he doesn't consider a threat.  Margaret, though at first an apparently naïve victim, has unexpected cunning, and also the ability to lie and even to steal. Likewise, the most of the other characters are multifaceted with good and bad traits. To me, their interactions are more absorbing than car chases or bloody fighting.

There are a lot of bare breasts, some pubic hair, and some simulated intercourse (at least, I think it's simulated.)  A couple of times, the exposure was obviously gratuitous.  Some people like this kind of thing more than others.

The sexism portrayed by most of the male characters (with no objections from the women) is overpowering.  There's also a fair amount of anti-black racism and some anti-Semitism.  The producers might justify the bigotry by saying it's historically realistic. Poop in a toilet is also realistic, but you don't have to show it.

Some characters, like Al Capone and Eddie Cantor, are actual historical figures, and others, like Nucky, are closely based on real people of that era. The Wikipedia ('much more comprehensive and almost as accurate as Britannica') article on the series can give you more details.

I rented this series on the recommendation of my son, and it was well worth it. It's good cinema and a good workout video.  I give it +++++ - it will get your pulse up to a sprint. If you see it, let me know what you think.