BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

SeeQuant Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Joanna Mccarty Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Karlee The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

benjamin_ashworth By Any Means tries to be clever using what the writers think are twist endings in each episode, but they fail to understand how twist endings actually work. Instead of planning ahead and weaving clues into the storyline, they have each episode meander around until the last five minutes where they suddenly show you a load of storyline that was previously missed out. An ending you stood no chance of seeing coming is then pulled out of a hat to a great fanfare of victory for the heroes. It's the laziest style of writing since the, "It was all a dream," ending.Whilst the idea of a police force that can set criminals up and give them a good hiding without worrying about the due process of collecting evidence or about human rights might seem like a good idea briefly, it's an insult to all that's just and decent. I can forgive it to some extent on the grounds that it's obviously just fantasy but it is set in the real world. It's not a mysterious future or a sci-fi reality or anything like that. It should, therefore, be believable and realistic.The characters also aren't likable. They betray those vulnerable people they are supposed to protect and, in some cases, get them killed in acts of violence that are shocking for the sake of it and, instead of just showing how bad the bad guys are, show how weak the good guys are.The BBC has invested in far better written dramas in the past and can still show some good stuff now. There are writers out there who can put together a genuinely well thought out plot. It needs to take a long hard look at what it's spending its money on and provide something that gives people's minds a workout instead of "brain out" television that people who don't want to think about what they're watching believe is clever because they don't quite get it.

onkelcuchullain hello fellow TV show addicts,please excuse a little explanation at the beginning. this is the first time i feel obligated to write here on IMDb. For quite a while i am overall a little disturbed by the sometimes extreme ratings for shows here on IMDb. As if there were only tens and zeros out there. In my opinion one needs to learn to differentiate a bit in his life. To moan about an overall decline in values, the wasting of taxpayers money and other exaggerated, demagogic ranting just because of a TV-show? Really? Over here in many of central Europe's other countries public service broadcasting is still your granny's TV. Limited to two Channels, broadcasting News, some decent reports and besides that mostly breakfast television, dusty whodunit repetitions and other things with a slightly relicish feel. All that in mind back to topic:This TV-show may not be another Luther, Sherlock nor any other high end, ingeniously plotted, exquisitely acted, overall gorgeous, critically acclaimed, kick-ass TV-marvel. but, does it need to be? does it want to?i stumbled upon this new format by accident whilst looking for new things to watch. I liked the leading actor quite a lot on Luther, so i gave it a try. Thankfully before reading any reviews. A decent meal can leave you quite satisfied after a long day, doesn't it? And like that this show works for me. Yes, you can see right through the webbing of this show. The lead, the geek, the eye candy. Does a twist even deserve to be called a twist if you expected it right on time? rather not. The almost comical black and white views on good and bad. But still, i liked it. I liked to be right. I liked getting nothing unexpected. I liked the boastful appearance of the characters. I liked the snappy comments and the predictable one-liners. So if you're looking for something to clear your head, ease your mind or have a smile now and then. I encourage you to try it.Not every nice evening has to feature a six-course dinner.greetings from the deep south of Bavaria

Dr_Sagan This was the starting week for many series in USA and UK. Not any real diamond among them. Most of them are bad to mediocre but so far "By Any Means" is the worst.There are many problem with this TV-series.First and most important all the actors and actresses lack charisma. I don't know what they have done before B.A.M. but they are totally forgettable, performance wise, even their faces. The team of 3, have the usual snob/hype attitude, common in many series, but just doesn't suits them. No charisma at all.Second and equally important the plot. Is about a "special team" and blah-blah, blah-blah, one of them is a hacker (!), the girl is the ...locks expert, the last one is the street smart and blah-blah, blah-blah, *YAWN*. And they will catch the bad guy in a mildly smart way.Third the pace, editing, transitions between shots, photography, music and (obviously) directing are simply annoying. (If you now a things or two about editing there is something called "light spills" that is overused here.). To put it in 2 words: Poor execution.There is an arrest (in the pilot) that introduces (kind of) to the team stolen directly from an Al Pacino movie were the criminals think they are going to participate in some sort of Sports event. I saw it and keep asking my self: Are these people the Special team? That's how uncharismatic they are.Anyway this has nothing to do with other BBC series like "Sherlock" in terms of fun or intelligence and you can do perfectly well without it.Overall: Better to avoid it. (Or you will lose 57' of your life)

andy-leslie By Any Means Episode 1 Review: BBC TV Sunday, 9pm commencing 22 Sept Although initially publicised as an "edgy drama", "By Any Means" is actually a comedy drama relying upon reveals in the last few minutes to show "how it was done". This closely follows in the mould of "Hustle" and is produced by the same company, Red Planet Pictures, who also give us "Death In Paradise" which similarly relies upon comedy and late reveals to give body to the stories.The basic premise is that someone in the Police has set up a clandestine unit, existing in a grey area, dedicated to acting as vigilantes to "get" criminals otherwise untouchable by the Police and instructed in this by a mysterious female of middle years who seems to be a cross between M and an all-powerful Sandra Pullman (from New Tricks).The first episode of six was shown yesterday. One of the first suggestions on how to deal with the criminal mastermind is to shoot him. Since a) this is illegal and b) would make for a short programme, this option is discarded. Instead a convoluted plot line commences. Then, a quick con of a psychiatrist later, is followed by the heroes annoying the villain, singing to him and threatening his bodyguards with a gun.The denouement involves stealing evidence from another crime and then throwing it (it's £20 notes, lots of them) at the villain, who is then "caught" by a plethora of Coppers who turn up at the scene and ask no questions, accompanied by a number of reveals to show how it was done. In case you couldn't guess.Since this criminal mastermind has already gotten off at criminal trials three times, we are told, I have no doubt his Barrister will have him out in less than the time it takes to ask exactly what the case is, against him. That'd be a laff.Now, yes, it is funny. Although the lead Copper telling of his infidelity with his sister-in-law isn't as funny as the writers appear to believe. And I did laugh, a few times. But this formula is old and needs more to refresh it than this hodgepodge of poor writing, intermingled with actors hamming it up and having a wonderful time.Since all 6 episodes are in the can, I expect this to run its course and hopefully disappear without a trace.