awakeinreality
Yes Eric Banna did a brilliant Chopper Read, and yes it was a brilliant film. What was floored in that film was a lot of artistic liberties that were taken that even Read himself condemned. If yiu watch some interviews with him you will see him say for example that the potrayal of Tanya as a junkie was untrue.
Mark "Chopper" Read was a man of myth, contradiction and folk law. This potrayal of a series of events in his life not focused on in the film presents the cerebral side to the man and the enigmatic and complex manner that was the split personality almost that was Mark and that was Chopper.
Give this a chance, watch a few interviews with Read and approach this with an open mind and you may just enjoy it. I did.
videorama-759-859391
No doubt, there's been loud clamor about how Jeffrey hasn't done the role justice. Look at it, from one side, and you can see this. But look at the other. He has taken the role and made it his own, which I heavily approve. It's good, cause it makes it different. On the contrare, you wouldn't want it too much like Eric Bana, or Choppery if done like with cliche'd feel, if you see where I'm heading. Jeffrey is a good actor, and he misses a lot of traits and characteristics of our beloved Chop Chop, one example is his consistent shifting sides 'unable to stand still' while doing stand up, which was done at minimum show. More so than anything is his too deep un Chop Chop voice, it's too high, un ockerish sort. But look beyond that or disregard it, and look at it in another way at looking at the legendary psychopathic murderer, and you will enjoy, although he does miss the mark on a lot of stuff. A sloppy, half assed acting offering. This Underbelly shows a more gentler side of Chopper in spades that I was truly thankful for. You learn a few other things here than you did in 2000's hit film, him marrying twice for one. But as far as acting goes, It's Todd Lasance's electrifying and standout performance that has you, as Chopper's notorious rival, pathetic wannabe tough guy, Syd Collins. The imaginary scenes of him appearing in the back shot audience of Chopper's live comedy shows were stupid, too much, where him in a flashback as a little boy being bullied, was just unnecessary and meaningless. Vince Colosimo again proves, he can't stop mastering the art of overacting as the notorious Alphonse Gangitano, bringing little or no impact to the role, where instead he's an overacting goose, about as threatening as a feather, heavily out ranked by Lasance and Jeffrey. Lasance is a future actor who's bettering his craft. Look out for more of this guy's work. Yes I admit, you could look at this show as a train wreck, but it's an interesting and entertaining train wreck. Are you ready for more of Uncle Chop Chop?7.5/10
glilleyman
It is hard to see how this show didn't end up on the cutting room floor never to be released. Didn't anyone watch it before it was screened.It was just horrible. Aaron Jeffrey was a pimple on the bum of Eric Banner. He didn't sound anything like the original and his mannerisms were just not there.The other really confusing thing was all the flashbacks and imagined events. WTF was that all about. Obviously no one did. needed to have a good harsh work with the people who were making it and tell them to just stop. I watched the first episode and thought that it was bad. But I thought that it must get better so I tried the second episode as well I was wrong, it was worse and a lot worse. Three hours of my life I will never get back.Don't make my mistake.
timsaunders23
I'll keep it short with no spoilers. This storyline is terrible, the script is terrible, the acting is terrible. The whole show seems slapped together, looks low budget and this bloke does not have Read's mannerisms down at all.The problem with making a show about Chopper is that in reality he was a joke in the criminal underworld. The stories in his books are fiction, so that leaves little to talk about.If you want to see a brilliant portrayal of Chopper Read, watch Eric Banner in Chopper.This was easily the worst Underbelly series made.
