Anger over £1bn Centrica profits
(from BBC News)
"British Gas owner Centrica revealed £5m-per-day profits, after announcing a record price hike [...] On Wednesday, British Gas raised gas bills by 35% with immediate effect, to restore "reasonable profitability". Centrica said the rise was justified and was needed to offset higher costs."
It seems amazing that such a high-profile company would do something apparently so stupid, but I still bet most people who use British Gas won't bother to change supplier, and shareholders won't go selling their shares in a moral outrage. So, in fact, while we can all be shocked and angered at such blatant abuse of consumers, no one's going to do anything about it.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Films
Brideshead Revisited (2008)
[#49 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Teaser Trailer
It's certainly pretty-looking, and Potter himself is barely in the trailer! If the film retains that sort of balance -- focussing on the vital backstory of Tom Riddle / Dumbledore and cutting down the 'present day' plot -- it will be very interesting indeed. However it's treated, let's hope David Yates' excellent direction of the previous Potter outing can be paired with a better script (the last's was a bit like a two-hour montage) and produce a superior movie.
[#49 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Teaser Trailer
It's certainly pretty-looking, and Potter himself is barely in the trailer! If the film retains that sort of balance -- focussing on the vital backstory of Tom Riddle / Dumbledore and cutting down the 'present day' plot -- it will be very interesting indeed. However it's treated, let's hope David Yates' excellent direction of the previous Potter outing can be paired with a better script (the last's was a bit like a two-hour montage) and produce a superior movie.
Articles
Release Date, Extras, Specs & More for Firefly: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc! by David Lambert
(from TVShowsonDVD.com)
As nice as a new edition of Possibly The Greatest TV Show Ever is, I hope they don't bother releasing this on DVD. I'd feel compelled to buy it, but all that's new are two commentary tracks (which I rarely/never listen to) and a Cast Reunion featurette. They'll have to do more than that! Though I will of course get it on BD, if I ever make the upgrade.
Scoop on the DVD Release of 24: Exile - Special Creator's Cut by David Lambert
(from TVShowsonDVD.com)
Includes a plot summary for the forthcoming (in November) 24 TV movie (something I hadn't seen before), as well as info on a speedy and thorough DVD release. I hope R2 gets similar treatment.
(from TVShowsonDVD.com)
As nice as a new edition of Possibly The Greatest TV Show Ever is, I hope they don't bother releasing this on DVD. I'd feel compelled to buy it, but all that's new are two commentary tracks (which I rarely/never listen to) and a Cast Reunion featurette. They'll have to do more than that! Though I will of course get it on BD, if I ever make the upgrade.
Scoop on the DVD Release of 24: Exile - Special Creator's Cut by David Lambert
(from TVShowsonDVD.com)
Includes a plot summary for the forthcoming (in November) 24 TV movie (something I hadn't seen before), as well as info on a speedy and thorough DVD release. I hope R2 gets similar treatment.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
TV
Mad Men
1x12 Nixon vs. Kennedy
A chance for the series' minor regulars to shine a little, in an episode that includes subplots for each of them during the events of an all-night party for the 1960 Presidential election (among other major plot developments).
1x12 Nixon vs. Kennedy
A chance for the series' minor regulars to shine a little, in an episode that includes subplots for each of them during the events of an all-night party for the 1960 Presidential election (among other major plot developments).
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
The end of Big Brother?
Has BB9 turned into heaven or hell? by Liam Allen
(from BBC News)
Could this really be the beginning of the end -- or even just the end -- of Big Brother in the UK? We can but hope...
(from BBC News)
Could this really be the beginning of the end -- or even just the end -- of Big Brother in the UK? We can but hope...
TV
BBC News: Doctor Who Proms Special
Interview with Russell T Davies (available online at the above link) after this year's Doctor Who Prom.
Mad Men
1x10 The Long Weekend
1x11 Indian Summer
On Blu-ray! Mmm, HD...
Doctor Who theme tune by Nigel Kennedy - BBC Proms 2008
Ow. I've included the link, but, for your own aural safety, don't click it.
Interview with Russell T Davies (available online at the above link) after this year's Doctor Who Prom.
Mad Men
1x10 The Long Weekend
1x11 Indian Summer
On Blu-ray! Mmm, HD...
Doctor Who theme tune by Nigel Kennedy - BBC Proms 2008
Ow. I've included the link, but, for your own aural safety, don't click it.
Articles
Warner's Launches Anti-Piracy Campaign For Dark Knight
(from Studio Briefing)
Very interesting (and very brief) news piece on the special anti-piracy measures enforced for The Dark Knight (which is still smashing every box office record known to man, incidentally). Also check out the article about Leno's final show directly beneath it -- the change in the cost of advertising is quite staggering.
(from Studio Briefing)
Very interesting (and very brief) news piece on the special anti-piracy measures enforced for The Dark Knight (which is still smashing every box office record known to man, incidentally). Also check out the article about Leno's final show directly beneath it -- the change in the cost of advertising is quite staggering.
Websites
Cuil
A new search engine, founded by several people who used to work for Google, that claims to search more pages more intelligently than any other search engine. Whether it'll take off remains to be seen -- it's certainly different to other search engines you're likely to have used, which can definitely be off-putting, but such change hasn't stopped many adopting Firefox or Safari over Internet Explorer. For more info, try this article at BBC News or Cuil's own info pages. (It's pronounced "cool", by-the-way.)
A new search engine, founded by several people who used to work for Google, that claims to search more pages more intelligently than any other search engine. Whether it'll take off remains to be seen -- it's certainly different to other search engines you're likely to have used, which can definitely be off-putting, but such change hasn't stopped many adopting Firefox or Safari over Internet Explorer. For more info, try this article at BBC News or Cuil's own info pages. (It's pronounced "cool", by-the-way.)
Monday, 28 July 2008
TV
At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper
(26/7/08 edition)
Not that Ebert's even on it (hasn't been for the last two years, apparently, and currently replaced by Michael Phillips). Largely negative reviews for The X-Files: I Want to Believe and Brideshead Revisited, but much acclaim for Boy A, which was original on TV in the UK but has a (limited) theatrical release over here.
Doctor Who [new]
4x13a Music of the Spheres [special]
A special 7-minute scene written by Russell T Davies for this year's Doctor Who Prom. For copyright reasons it's relatively hard to watch legitimately (hopefully it'll be on the season four DVD set though), but then there's always the magic of YouTube these days. Find it with sound from the broadcast if you can -- it'll be worth it.
(26/7/08 edition)
Not that Ebert's even on it (hasn't been for the last two years, apparently, and currently replaced by Michael Phillips). Largely negative reviews for The X-Files: I Want to Believe and Brideshead Revisited, but much acclaim for Boy A, which was original on TV in the UK but has a (limited) theatrical release over here.
Doctor Who [new]
4x13a Music of the Spheres [special]
A special 7-minute scene written by Russell T Davies for this year's Doctor Who Prom. For copyright reasons it's relatively hard to watch legitimately (hopefully it'll be on the season four DVD set though), but then there's always the magic of YouTube these days. Find it with sound from the broadcast if you can -- it'll be worth it.
Films
Crash: Director's Cut (2004)
[3rd watch]
Despite a critical backlash following its Best Picture Oscar win, I still maintain this is a much better film than the distinctly overrated Brokeback Mountain -- a view apparently upheld by IMDb voters, where Crash is placed #177 on the Top 250 while Brokeback doesn't even figure.
[3rd watch]
Despite a critical backlash following its Best Picture Oscar win, I still maintain this is a much better film than the distinctly overrated Brokeback Mountain -- a view apparently upheld by IMDb voters, where Crash is placed #177 on the Top 250 while Brokeback doesn't even figure.
Articles
Batman's nemesis crowns dark tale by Michael Osborn
(from BBC News)
Little new in this brief article about The Dark Knight, with quotes from director Chris Nolan and stars Michael Caine and Christian Bale. If you haven't read much about the film, however, you may find something here.
(from BBC News)
Little new in this brief article about The Dark Knight, with quotes from director Chris Nolan and stars Michael Caine and Christian Bale. If you haven't read much about the film, however, you may find something here.
Art
Dali: Painting and Film
(at the Museum of Modern Art)
Special Exhibition of the loopy Spaniard's work. MoMA's website includes a (more limited) online version of the exhibition, accessible here.
Museum of Modern Art
A general wander around the museum, which has a few genuine pieces of art amongst an awful lot of dreadful tosh.
(at the Museum of Modern Art)
Special Exhibition of the loopy Spaniard's work. MoMA's website includes a (more limited) online version of the exhibition, accessible here.
Museum of Modern Art
A general wander around the museum, which has a few genuine pieces of art amongst an awful lot of dreadful tosh.
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Films
The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience (2008)
[#48a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
This is the second time I've seen The Dark Knight. Read my first review of it, from a normal screening, here. (IMAX review now available too.)
[#48a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
This is the second time I've seen The Dark Knight. Read my first review of it, from a normal screening, here. (IMAX review now available too.)
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Friday, 25 July 2008
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
TV
Mad Men
1x03 Marriage of Figaro
1x04 New Amsterdam
A well-paired, er, pair of episodes. Mad Men is the sort of on-going-story-based show (which most dramas seem to be these days, of course) that works well when watched in multi-episode chunks, because the storylines flow across episodes. Of course, it means the line between what happened when is harder to remember -- and there are obvious pacing issues in reducing a one-week gap to one-minute!
On another, related, note, Blu-ray is annoying -- the films/TV themselves may be pretty, but the slow games console-style loading times and ugly menus are a right pain.
1x03 Marriage of Figaro
1x04 New Amsterdam
A well-paired, er, pair of episodes. Mad Men is the sort of on-going-story-based show (which most dramas seem to be these days, of course) that works well when watched in multi-episode chunks, because the storylines flow across episodes. Of course, it means the line between what happened when is harder to remember -- and there are obvious pacing issues in reducing a one-week gap to one-minute!
On another, related, note, Blu-ray is annoying -- the films/TV themselves may be pretty, but the slow games console-style loading times and ugly menus are a right pain.
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Films
Presto (2008)
[#47b in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Amusing Pixar short that's currently playing before WALL-E in cinemas.
WALL-E (2008)
[#48 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
And Pixar's aforementioned latest CG triumph.
[#47b in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Amusing Pixar short that's currently playing before WALL-E in cinemas.
WALL-E (2008)
[#48 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
And Pixar's aforementioned latest CG triumph.
Monday, 21 July 2008
TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live
(18/7/08 edition)
Batman-centric, just like the whole of America at the minute. Understandable, mind, considering its quality, and that Maggie Gyllenhaal was a guest. So too were Ant & Dec -- more British hosts trying to conquer America. Also a very funny segment where things that didn't need censoring were bleeped/pixelated, turning clean things dirty. (Despite the name, Kimmel Live is "recorded tonight". Absurdity!)
(18/7/08 edition)
Batman-centric, just like the whole of America at the minute. Understandable, mind, considering its quality, and that Maggie Gyllenhaal was a guest. So too were Ant & Dec -- more British hosts trying to conquer America. Also a very funny segment where things that didn't need censoring were bleeped/pixelated, turning clean things dirty. (Despite the name, Kimmel Live is "recorded tonight". Absurdity!)
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Films
The Dark Knight (2008)
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Read my review at 100 Films.
I Am Legend: Alternate Theatrical Version (2007)
[#47a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
While I saw the theatrical cut of I Am Legend earlier this year (see my 100 Films review), this is the first time I've seen the barely-different DVD "alternate theatrical version".
Also, the first film I've watched on Blu-ray. It was... sharp.
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Read my review at 100 Films.
I Am Legend: Alternate Theatrical Version (2007)
[#47a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
While I saw the theatrical cut of I Am Legend earlier this year (see my 100 Films review), this is the first time I've seen the barely-different DVD "alternate theatrical version".
Also, the first film I've watched on Blu-ray. It was... sharp.
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Friday, 18 July 2008
Watchmen trailer
Turns out Empire's exclusive Watchmen trailer is about as exclusive as a cheap hooker. Check it out in HD over at Apple.
That said, be sure to check out Empire's comic-to-film comparison, which is mildly diverting if far from comprehensive.
TV
CBS 2 News at 11PM
Foreign programming is funny -- it just has a completely different set of conventions to British equivalents.
Late Show with David Letterman
(17/7/08 edition)
A record-breaking ninth appearance by Ricky Gervais, who just finished a few nights at Madison Square Garden here in NY. Also, his Extras Christmas special has just been announced as having six Primetime Emmy nominations (best writing, direction, editing, made-for-TV movie, lead actor and supporting actress).
Foreign programming is funny -- it just has a completely different set of conventions to British equivalents.
Late Show with David Letterman
(17/7/08 edition)
A record-breaking ninth appearance by Ricky Gervais, who just finished a few nights at Madison Square Garden here in NY. Also, his Extras Christmas special has just been announced as having six Primetime Emmy nominations (best writing, direction, editing, made-for-TV movie, lead actor and supporting actress).
Films
Watchmen Teaser Trailer
Stunning.
The trailer is premiering online exclusively at Empire Online (doubt that'll last!) Also showing attached to The Dark Knight here in the US from midnight, which will now be opening to more booked-out screens than ever before. Presumably that's why the trailer debuts at 5AM on a British site! (I'll be getting to see it on the big screen on Saturday morning, then.)
Stunning.
The trailer is premiering online exclusively at Empire Online (doubt that'll last!) Also showing attached to The Dark Knight here in the US from midnight, which will now be opening to more booked-out screens than ever before. Presumably that's why the trailer debuts at 5AM on a British site! (I'll be getting to see it on the big screen on Saturday morning, then.)
Fiction
Captain Hammer: Be Like Me! by Zack Whedon & Eric Canete
Free online comic (just follow the link) about Captain Hammer, a character from Dr Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog. There are no songs in this one though.
Free online comic (just follow the link) about Captain Hammer, a character from Dr Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog. There are no songs in this one though.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Articles
Review of The Dark Knight by Mark Dinning
(from Empire Online)
Empire magazine's glowing first review of the new Batman sequel, out in the States this Friday and the UK the week after.
(from Empire Online)
Empire magazine's glowing first review of the new Batman sequel, out in the States this Friday and the UK the week after.
Wanted more?
To quote my own recent review of Wanted: "I spent much of the film presuming it would finish on an open-ended note, as the structure reminded me of films like X-Men and Iron Man: all set-up and origin story... done with an eye (or, indeed, both eyes) on a sequel. Wanted doesn’t really end that way, which in an age where the franchise is everything is admirable… apart from that the film leading to that ending still feels franchise-friendly."
And, lo, it turned out to be so.
Maybe next time they won't cram all the best bits into the trailer.
And, lo, it turned out to be so.
Maybe next time they won't cram all the best bits into the trailer.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Monday, 14 July 2008
Days in New York...
33
As regular readers will know, I'm currently in New York doing four weeks' work (plus a week's holiday). This is a countdown til I'll be back in the UK.
As regular readers will know, I'm currently in New York doing four weeks' work (plus a week's holiday). This is a countdown til I'll be back in the UK.
Sunday, 13 July 2008
Time Zones
While I'm in New York, posts will be made at their usual just-before-midnight times... but on GMT-5:00. This seems to make sense, all things considered.
DVD Extras
Munich: An Introduction by Director/Producer Steven Spielberg
Short but interesting introduction by Spielberg to his film Munich, one of the few extras to have made it onto the R2 DVD. (Watched primarily to test the MacBook Air SuperDrive I got with my new MacBook Air.)
Short but interesting introduction by Spielberg to his film Munich, one of the few extras to have made it onto the R2 DVD. (Watched primarily to test the MacBook Air SuperDrive I got with my new MacBook Air.)
Non-Fiction
Tricks of the Mind by Derren Brown
Part Four
- Hypnosis and Suggestibility
- A Brief History
- What is Hypnosis?
- Seemingly Unique Hypnotic Phenomena
- How to Hypnotize
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Part Four
- Hypnosis and Suggestibility
- A Brief History
- What is Hypnosis?
- Seemingly Unique Hypnotic Phenomena
- How to Hypnotize
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Friday, 11 July 2008
Articles
The Timeline of a Time Lord: Tony Lee Talks Doctor Who by Remy Minnick
(from Comic Book Resources)
Article about the forthcoming US Doctor Who comic miniseries, The Forgotten, which sounds very interesting indeed.
Covers for Doctor Who: The Forgotten #1, #2 & #3
(click to enlarge)
(from Comic Book Resources)
Article about the forthcoming US Doctor Who comic miniseries, The Forgotten, which sounds very interesting indeed.
Covers for Doctor Who: The Forgotten #1, #2 & #3
(click to enlarge)
Thursday, 10 July 2008
TV
Gilmore Girls
4x19 Afterboom
Lab Rats
1x01 A Snail
Mock the Week
6x01 (10/7/08 edition)
Spooks
5x04 World Trade
4x19 Afterboom
Lab Rats
1x01 A Snail
Mock the Week
6x01 (10/7/08 edition)
Spooks
5x04 World Trade
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
TV
Doctor Who [classic]
20x23 The Five Doctors [anniversary special]
See here for my thoughts on this story.
Gilmore Girls
4x18 Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!
Top Gear
11x03 (6/7/08 edition)
20x23 The Five Doctors [anniversary special]
See here for my thoughts on this story.
Gilmore Girls
4x18 Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!
Top Gear
11x03 (6/7/08 edition)
Graduation
I graduated from university today. This is my first degree, a BA in English With Film Studies. (Next academic year I'll be doing an MA in Creative Writing.)
Not necessarily the most exciting thing for independent readers, but a piece of my cultural experience nonetheless.
Not necessarily the most exciting thing for independent readers, but a piece of my cultural experience nonetheless.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
TV
Babylon 5
1x20 Babylon Squared
Gilmore Girls
4x17 Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist (aka Gilmore Girls Gone Wild)
Shark
2x16 Wayne's World 3: Killer Shark [series finale]
Spooks
5x03 The Cell
1x20 Babylon Squared
Gilmore Girls
4x17 Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist (aka Gilmore Girls Gone Wild)
Shark
2x16 Wayne's World 3: Killer Shark [series finale]
Spooks
5x03 The Cell
Monday, 7 July 2008
TV
The Graham Norton Show
3x12 (3/7/08 edition) [season finale]
Heroes
2x11 Powerless [season finale]
Everyone involved seems to think the 'Big Twist' at the end of Volume Two was a total shocker (based on what they had to say in Heroes Unmasked), but, really, that's just about the most predictable thing that can happen to someone giving a big tell-all speech. A bit of a rocky season, though nowhere near as poor as some claim; but let's hope they can still up the ante next year.
Heroes Unmasked
2x10 From Heroes to Villains [season finale]
See above.
Mine All Mine
Part 6 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Utterly, utterly barmy... and brilliant because of it! And oh-so very Welsh too. Such a shame it flopped.
Shark
2x13 Bar Fight
2x14 Leaving Las Vegas
2x15 One Hit Wonder
Spaced
1x07 Ends [season finale]
3x12 (3/7/08 edition) [season finale]
Heroes
2x11 Powerless [season finale]
Everyone involved seems to think the 'Big Twist' at the end of Volume Two was a total shocker (based on what they had to say in Heroes Unmasked), but, really, that's just about the most predictable thing that can happen to someone giving a big tell-all speech. A bit of a rocky season, though nowhere near as poor as some claim; but let's hope they can still up the ante next year.
Heroes Unmasked
2x10 From Heroes to Villains [season finale]
See above.
Mine All Mine
Part 6 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Utterly, utterly barmy... and brilliant because of it! And oh-so very Welsh too. Such a shame it flopped.
Shark
2x13 Bar Fight
2x14 Leaving Las Vegas
2x15 One Hit Wonder
Spaced
1x07 Ends [season finale]
Fiction
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Book One
As with Watchmen and Batman: Year One, one of the seminal late-'80s tales that helped shaped the way mainstream comics still are today.
Book One
As with Watchmen and Batman: Year One, one of the seminal late-'80s tales that helped shaped the way mainstream comics still are today.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
6x03 (27/6/08 edition)
Babylon 5
1x18 A Voice in the Wilderness Part I
1x19 A Voice in the Wilderness Part II
Spaced
1x06 Epiphanies
Spooks
5x02 Gas and Oil Part 2
While a lot of this story pushes believability to the limit, the 'emergency measures' plot strand scenes of police attacking protestors are all too believable.
Wimbledon 2008
The longest -- and surely most tense -- men's singles final in Wimbledon history, Federer vs Nadal (for the third time) ended with the Spaniard winning. In the process he's put a stop to both Federer's near-record-breaking run of consecutive Wimbledon wins, and halted his near-five-year run of unbeaten matches on grass. Who'd've thought Federer would end up looking like the underdog too?!
6x03 (27/6/08 edition)
Babylon 5
1x18 A Voice in the Wilderness Part I
1x19 A Voice in the Wilderness Part II
Spaced
1x06 Epiphanies
Spooks
5x02 Gas and Oil Part 2
While a lot of this story pushes believability to the limit, the 'emergency measures' plot strand scenes of police attacking protestors are all too believable.
Wimbledon 2008
The longest -- and surely most tense -- men's singles final in Wimbledon history, Federer vs Nadal (for the third time) ended with the Spaniard winning. In the process he's put a stop to both Federer's near-record-breaking run of consecutive Wimbledon wins, and halted his near-five-year run of unbeaten matches on grass. Who'd've thought Federer would end up looking like the underdog too?!
Fiction
Batman: Year One by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli
Chapters One - Four [the end]
See here for some of my thoughts on this book.
Batman: The Man Who Laughs by Ed Brubaker & Doug Mahnke
Like the film it inspired, Batman: Year One ends with newly-promoted Captain Jim Gordon informing Batman about a rising threat: the Joker. As The Dark Knight will do on film, The Man Who Laughs follows directly from this moment... Written very recently (2005), The Man Who Laughs mixes elements of Year One, the Joker's origin from The Killing Joke, and Batman's original first battle with him (in 1940's Batman #1), to retell the story of the Batman's first encounter with his nemesis. It's part of a new wave of creators retelling early Batman stories: 2005/6's Batman and the Monster Men is set during Year One and tells of Batman's first encounter with Dr Hugo Strange, while 2006/7's Batman and the Mad Monk retells another tale from Batman's first few appearances in Detective Comics, and leads directly into The Man Who Laughs (all three of these stories are collected in The Batman Chronicles Volume 1).
Batman: Made of Wood by Ed Brubaker & Patrick Zircher
(from the Batman: The Man Who Laughs hardcover)
Only tenuously linked with The Man Who Laughs: same writer and major involvement for (a retired) Gordon. In some ways it mirrors the construction of Man Who Laughs (which in turn mirrors Year One), with Gordon and Batman pursuing different lines of inquiry, narrated in journal-style text boxes. The story itself concerns a series of murders from the '40s, when Green Lantern patrolled Gotham. Consequently it's a bit of a team-up tale, a genre I don't care for on the whole, especially when it's someone with silly superpowers intruding on Batman's superpower-free world. On the plus side, the last page gives some nice extra meaning / modified perspective on what went before.
Not that this really matters to anyone, but... normally I keep what I've read/watched to alphabetical order, but have here stuck to the order I read them because my comments flow that way.
Chapters One - Four [the end]
See here for some of my thoughts on this book.
Batman: The Man Who Laughs by Ed Brubaker & Doug Mahnke
Like the film it inspired, Batman: Year One ends with newly-promoted Captain Jim Gordon informing Batman about a rising threat: the Joker. As The Dark Knight will do on film, The Man Who Laughs follows directly from this moment... Written very recently (2005), The Man Who Laughs mixes elements of Year One, the Joker's origin from The Killing Joke, and Batman's original first battle with him (in 1940's Batman #1), to retell the story of the Batman's first encounter with his nemesis. It's part of a new wave of creators retelling early Batman stories: 2005/6's Batman and the Monster Men is set during Year One and tells of Batman's first encounter with Dr Hugo Strange, while 2006/7's Batman and the Mad Monk retells another tale from Batman's first few appearances in Detective Comics, and leads directly into The Man Who Laughs (all three of these stories are collected in The Batman Chronicles Volume 1).
Batman: Made of Wood by Ed Brubaker & Patrick Zircher
(from the Batman: The Man Who Laughs hardcover)
Only tenuously linked with The Man Who Laughs: same writer and major involvement for (a retired) Gordon. In some ways it mirrors the construction of Man Who Laughs (which in turn mirrors Year One), with Gordon and Batman pursuing different lines of inquiry, narrated in journal-style text boxes. The story itself concerns a series of murders from the '40s, when Green Lantern patrolled Gotham. Consequently it's a bit of a team-up tale, a genre I don't care for on the whole, especially when it's someone with silly superpowers intruding on Batman's superpower-free world. On the plus side, the last page gives some nice extra meaning / modified perspective on what went before.
Not that this really matters to anyone, but... normally I keep what I've read/watched to alphabetical order, but have here stuck to the order I read them because my comments flow that way.
"Batman: Year One" by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli
Batman: Year One is one of the key late '80s tales (like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns) that are credited with re-defining the comics medium. It's as much Jim Gordon's story as Batman's, succinctly showing how Batman's emergence began to change things in a corrupt, ruined Gotham. It's clear that a lot of this formed the basis to Batman Begins, though I'd argue the film's embellishments improve on this version.
The most recent edition also includes a page from an L.A. Confidential-style gossip rag, 'The Crime Blotter'; an introduction by Denny O'Neill (written in 1988); an interesting illustrated afterword by David Mazzucchelli ; a selection of script pages and corresponding layouts; a gallery of sketches and covers (including more roughs); to-scale reproductions of original art and newspaper-print pages; and, finally, another afterword, by Frank Miller.
These extras represent 40 pages, much of it very interesting. Especially intriguing were Mazzucchelli's early '80s submission pencils, which show a detailed realistic style, which was largely abandoned for a scratchy, sketchier style through Year One.
The most recent edition also includes a page from an L.A. Confidential-style gossip rag, 'The Crime Blotter'; an introduction by Denny O'Neill (written in 1988); an interesting illustrated afterword by David Mazzucchelli ; a selection of script pages and corresponding layouts; a gallery of sketches and covers (including more roughs); to-scale reproductions of original art and newspaper-print pages; and, finally, another afterword, by Frank Miller.
These extras represent 40 pages, much of it very interesting. Especially intriguing were Mazzucchelli's early '80s submission pencils, which show a detailed realistic style, which was largely abandoned for a scratchy, sketchier style through Year One.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
TV
Babylon 5
1x17 Legacies
Doctor Who [classic]
The TV Movie (aka The Enemy Within) [4th watch]
See here for my thoughts on this story.
Doctor Who [new]
4x13 Journey's End [season finale]
See here for my thoughts on this story. [coming soon]
Shark
2x12 Partners in Crime
Wimbledon 2008
A fair bit of 14-year-old Brit Laura Robson beating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn to the girls' singles title. Hurray for the British! Also, the Incredible Hulk had two matches. I didn't watch either.
Near the end of Wimbledon they had a bank of four trailers... all for Olympics-related programmes. Dear God, it's going to be a bad summer. At least the football's over.
1x17 Legacies
Doctor Who [classic]
The TV Movie (aka The Enemy Within) [4th watch]
See here for my thoughts on this story.
Doctor Who [new]
4x13 Journey's End [season finale]
See here for my thoughts on this story. [coming soon]
Shark
2x12 Partners in Crime
Wimbledon 2008
A fair bit of 14-year-old Brit Laura Robson beating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn to the girls' singles title. Hurray for the British! Also, the Incredible Hulk had two matches. I didn't watch either.
Near the end of Wimbledon they had a bank of four trailers... all for Olympics-related programmes. Dear God, it's going to be a bad summer. At least the football's over.
Fiction
24: Based On the Hit TV Series by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes, Renato Guedes & Manny Clark
Collection of the first three 24 one-shot comics, including One Shot, Midnight Sun and Stories. See here for my thoughts on all three.
Dan Dare (Collector's Edition / Oversized UK Edition) by Garth Ennis & Gary Erskine
Chapters 1 - 3 [the end]
See here for my thoughts on this book.
Collection of the first three 24 one-shot comics, including One Shot, Midnight Sun and Stories. See here for my thoughts on all three.
Dan Dare (Collector's Edition / Oversized UK Edition) by Garth Ennis & Gary Erskine
Chapters 1 - 3 [the end]
See here for my thoughts on this book.
"24: Based On the Hit TV Series" by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes, Renato Guedes & Manny Clark
24: Based On the Hit TV Series is a collection of the first three 24 tie-in comics. It includes:
24: One Shot by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Renato Guedes
You might think 24's split screen style could lend itself to comics, especially with the potential to depict terrorist attacks unachievable on TV, or, conversely, tell more contained, dramatic tales than a Fox action show would attempt. But no. This, the first 24 tie-in comic, tells of Jack Bauer's first day at CTU, so it's set before season one, before his affair with Nina (you see them meet for the first time), etc etc. Unfortunately, it tries & fails to replicate the 24-hour format, it's padded out (numerous pointless frames), the dialogue's poor, the story implausible, the art heavily photo-referenced, the colouring like Photoshopped photos... Hopefully the other two tales will be better.
24: Midnight Sun by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Renato Guedes
The creative team from One Shot return for this story, set between the show's second and third seasons, and only bring some of their previous faults with them. Guedes' art is definitely improved: it's done 'properly' this time out, with improved colouring to boot, and while this sometimes means you have to guess which character Chase is, everyone else is clear. The storyline is more engrossing and better handled than the last, with fewer pointless frames, though some still repeat the same image for no good reason.
The permanent daylight of the Alaskan setting is a good concept, but 24 always seems to work best after dark, and this plot is a bit action-light. The villains aren't especially menacing, and there are times when the writers seem to just be playing out male fantasies -- for example, when Jack's undercover, the women all support him while the men distrust him, and at least one attractively-drawn girl is apparently happy to be sleeping with a middle-aged balding geek. Better than before, then, but still far from essential.
24: Stories by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Manny Clark
The final one-shot in the collection is also set before season three, during the time Jack was undercover with the Salazar drug cartel. They send him to LA on an errand, where he gets caught up in a hotel siege by a Chechan liberation group. Vaughn & Haynes' script is passable though not exemplary, as before, while Clark's art is unusual: unquestionably edited together from photos, which have then either been treated or painted over (or both) -- if you've ever played Max Payne, think of the comic strip cut scenes from that. It's an effective idea for TV tie-ins, but an odd style to get used to as a reader.
So, taken as a collection, it seems 24 doesn't really convert very well to the comics medium -- at least not in this incarnation. A second 24 graphic novel has been released that tells the story of Operation Nightfall, the mission Jack performed several years before the start of season one that directly led to all of that season's events. Hopefully, with a whole book to play with and a story less bound to the show's normal generic structure, the creative team on that came up with something better.
24: One Shot by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Renato Guedes
You might think 24's split screen style could lend itself to comics, especially with the potential to depict terrorist attacks unachievable on TV, or, conversely, tell more contained, dramatic tales than a Fox action show would attempt. But no. This, the first 24 tie-in comic, tells of Jack Bauer's first day at CTU, so it's set before season one, before his affair with Nina (you see them meet for the first time), etc etc. Unfortunately, it tries & fails to replicate the 24-hour format, it's padded out (numerous pointless frames), the dialogue's poor, the story implausible, the art heavily photo-referenced, the colouring like Photoshopped photos... Hopefully the other two tales will be better.
24: Midnight Sun by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Renato Guedes
The creative team from One Shot return for this story, set between the show's second and third seasons, and only bring some of their previous faults with them. Guedes' art is definitely improved: it's done 'properly' this time out, with improved colouring to boot, and while this sometimes means you have to guess which character Chase is, everyone else is clear. The storyline is more engrossing and better handled than the last, with fewer pointless frames, though some still repeat the same image for no good reason.
The permanent daylight of the Alaskan setting is a good concept, but 24 always seems to work best after dark, and this plot is a bit action-light. The villains aren't especially menacing, and there are times when the writers seem to just be playing out male fantasies -- for example, when Jack's undercover, the women all support him while the men distrust him, and at least one attractively-drawn girl is apparently happy to be sleeping with a middle-aged balding geek. Better than before, then, but still far from essential.
24: Stories by J.C. Vaughn, Mark L. Haynes & Manny Clark
The final one-shot in the collection is also set before season three, during the time Jack was undercover with the Salazar drug cartel. They send him to LA on an errand, where he gets caught up in a hotel siege by a Chechan liberation group. Vaughn & Haynes' script is passable though not exemplary, as before, while Clark's art is unusual: unquestionably edited together from photos, which have then either been treated or painted over (or both) -- if you've ever played Max Payne, think of the comic strip cut scenes from that. It's an effective idea for TV tie-ins, but an odd style to get used to as a reader.
So, taken as a collection, it seems 24 doesn't really convert very well to the comics medium -- at least not in this incarnation. A second 24 graphic novel has been released that tells the story of Operation Nightfall, the mission Jack performed several years before the start of season one that directly led to all of that season's events. Hopefully, with a whole book to play with and a story less bound to the show's normal generic structure, the creative team on that came up with something better.
"Dan Dare" (Collector's Edition / Oversized UK Hardcover) by Garth Ennis & Gary Erskine
This volume collects the first three issues of Virgin Comics' Dan Dare revival, written by Preacher scribe Garth Ennis, in which an older Dan Dare is brought out of retirement to help defend Earth from a reappearance of his arch-nemesis, the Mekon. In this respect it seems primarily aimed at long-term Dare fans, as many of the early character reveals and past references are near meaningless (I only understood some thanks to Ennis' introduction, while others surely passed me by).
The book's quality is disappointingly mixed in just about every respect: Ennis attempts to mix obvious commentary on our current political situation with pro-British high adventure (not a comfortable pairing), while Erskine's art is variable -- some panels are great, but often his proportions are off and it's occasionally tricky to follow who's who from frame to frame. It's helped by Parasuraman A.'s colours though, which are suitably modern. Also, despite being a British hero, from a British author, launched by an originally British company, at the behest of its British founder/owner (Branson is even quoted on the cover), the book still has irritating displays of Americanism -- mainly in the spelling ("color", for example). Hardly a major point, but it annoyed me.
This particular collection is mainly a promotional tool, I feel, as it only contains the first three issues of the new miniseries, albeit in a nice oversized hardback format. Somehow I doubt there'll be another matching volume to round out the series, especially as it would be almost twice as long (four issues remain, and one is double-length), so if I want to know what happens I'll either have to track down the remaining issues individually or buy the inevitable complete collection. At this point, I'm undecided.
The book's quality is disappointingly mixed in just about every respect: Ennis attempts to mix obvious commentary on our current political situation with pro-British high adventure (not a comfortable pairing), while Erskine's art is variable -- some panels are great, but often his proportions are off and it's occasionally tricky to follow who's who from frame to frame. It's helped by Parasuraman A.'s colours though, which are suitably modern. Also, despite being a British hero, from a British author, launched by an originally British company, at the behest of its British founder/owner (Branson is even quoted on the cover), the book still has irritating displays of Americanism -- mainly in the spelling ("color", for example). Hardly a major point, but it annoyed me.
This particular collection is mainly a promotional tool, I feel, as it only contains the first three issues of the new miniseries, albeit in a nice oversized hardback format. Somehow I doubt there'll be another matching volume to round out the series, especially as it would be almost twice as long (four issues remain, and one is double-length), so if I want to know what happens I'll either have to track down the remaining issues individually or buy the inevitable complete collection. At this point, I'm undecided.
Doctor Who: The TV Movie
First broadcast on the second May Bank Holiday weekend of 1996 -- six and a half years since new Doctor Who has last graced British TV sets (it sounds hardly any time at all now, but it seemed like forever back then) -- the American-produced Doctor Who TV movie (or TVM for handy abbreviation, or The Movie as the DVD would have it, or The Enemy Within as executive producer Philip Segal would have it) was a ratings success in the UK, but flopped in the US where it was scheduled against the final episode of popular sitcom Roseanne. In many ways, retrospectively, this is a good thing -- if it had been a success it would've led to a US-produced new series, which would probably have lasted seven years at the absolute best, at variable quality, and then disappeared again. Instead, we've had a hugely successful and artistically sound revival, which has so far lasted four years, will definitely do two more, and most likely more beyond. For many Who fans, who view the TVM as an Americanised aberration, this can only be a good thing. But they're wrong, you know, because the TVM is actually a lot of fun.
Let's start with the point nearly everyone can agree is good: Paul McGann. Right from the off, he's a brilliant incarnation of the Doctor, arguably the only actor to have nailed the part so confidently in their initial performance. The greatest loss is that we didn't get further TV adventures with him, though thanks to the Big Finish audios those with a decent disposable income can enjoy a raft of stories with the eighth Doctor. The rest of the cast are great too, right down to the supporting artists (having been watching Babylon 5 lately, I've seen how bad minor-role actors can be). Daphne Ashbrook's Grace would make a great companion, as would Lee, played by Yee Jee Tso. Eric Roberts' version of the Master is often highly criticised, but there's nothing wrong with his camp panto villain portrayal, which seems to suit the character rather well. John Simm's turn in the new series could be seen to be developed from this as much as any other variation on the part. Several other highly criticised elements have also emerged in the new revival -- the kiss(es), hand-holding, fast pace, action-packed, etc etc. The revelation that the Doctor is half human may still cause debate among fans, but, really, it's not that bad -- it can be see to add to the mythology, or written off as a quirk of his eighth life, or any other number of sci-fi explanations.
The same can be said for the climax of the plot. Bringing Grace and Lee back to life may be somewhat dubious, and "temporal orbit" barely makes sense either, but if you care enough for them to bother you you should be able to come with some explanation or another (I'll make some up for you, if you really want). Otherwise, Matthew Jacobs' much criticised script is actually a joy. Yes, the opening is exposition heavy, and is awkward enough to follow even for knowledgeable fans, but if you can sidestep that the rest is pretty straightforward, packed with exciting sequences and great dialogue. There are laughs aplenty, especially from the Doctor, and for once they're not at poor production design. Even jokes that some call nonsensical -- the Doctor saying he's English, for example -- make sense -- in that example, he's speaking with an English accent, so why wouldn't he say "I suppose I am" when called English! The 'car chase' is brief, not executed out of character, and helps keep the plot moving. Geoffrey Sax's direction serves the same job. It's exemplary, in fact, with some great shots and fantastic editing -- look at sequences like the Doctor choosing his outfit while Lee searches through his items; the Genghis Khan moment; the furiously-edited climax... It's great to watch.
Despite the low opinion many fans hold of the TVM, it's one of my most-seen Who stories. It's fantastic fun, especially once you get past the rather leaden first half hour. McGann is great, the script is exciting and witty, the direction glorious to watch. It's not perfect, but it boldly dragged Who into the '90s and had a great time doing it. Really, I don't think I'd've minded some more.
Let's start with the point nearly everyone can agree is good: Paul McGann. Right from the off, he's a brilliant incarnation of the Doctor, arguably the only actor to have nailed the part so confidently in their initial performance. The greatest loss is that we didn't get further TV adventures with him, though thanks to the Big Finish audios those with a decent disposable income can enjoy a raft of stories with the eighth Doctor. The rest of the cast are great too, right down to the supporting artists (having been watching Babylon 5 lately, I've seen how bad minor-role actors can be). Daphne Ashbrook's Grace would make a great companion, as would Lee, played by Yee Jee Tso. Eric Roberts' version of the Master is often highly criticised, but there's nothing wrong with his camp panto villain portrayal, which seems to suit the character rather well. John Simm's turn in the new series could be seen to be developed from this as much as any other variation on the part. Several other highly criticised elements have also emerged in the new revival -- the kiss(es), hand-holding, fast pace, action-packed, etc etc. The revelation that the Doctor is half human may still cause debate among fans, but, really, it's not that bad -- it can be see to add to the mythology, or written off as a quirk of his eighth life, or any other number of sci-fi explanations.
The same can be said for the climax of the plot. Bringing Grace and Lee back to life may be somewhat dubious, and "temporal orbit" barely makes sense either, but if you care enough for them to bother you you should be able to come with some explanation or another (I'll make some up for you, if you really want). Otherwise, Matthew Jacobs' much criticised script is actually a joy. Yes, the opening is exposition heavy, and is awkward enough to follow even for knowledgeable fans, but if you can sidestep that the rest is pretty straightforward, packed with exciting sequences and great dialogue. There are laughs aplenty, especially from the Doctor, and for once they're not at poor production design. Even jokes that some call nonsensical -- the Doctor saying he's English, for example -- make sense -- in that example, he's speaking with an English accent, so why wouldn't he say "I suppose I am" when called English! The 'car chase' is brief, not executed out of character, and helps keep the plot moving. Geoffrey Sax's direction serves the same job. It's exemplary, in fact, with some great shots and fantastic editing -- look at sequences like the Doctor choosing his outfit while Lee searches through his items; the Genghis Khan moment; the furiously-edited climax... It's great to watch.
Despite the low opinion many fans hold of the TVM, it's one of my most-seen Who stories. It's fantastic fun, especially once you get past the rather leaden first half hour. McGann is great, the script is exciting and witty, the direction glorious to watch. It's not perfect, but it boldly dragged Who into the '90s and had a great time doing it. Really, I don't think I'd've minded some more.
Friday, 4 July 2008
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
6x04 (4/7/08 edition)
Criminal Justice
Part 5 (of 5)
The show with TV's most boring title sequence comes to an end. While justice is served it's pleasingly not a "and they all lived happily ever after" ending -- major characters lose relationships, careers, and even their lives. In spite of a final half hour that show the legal system coming through for Ben, it's too little too late to restore any faith you may have had in it, which was surely shattered by the rest of the series.
Mine All Mine
Part 5 (of 6)
When Mine All Mine first went out, they were offered a fantastic slot (between one of those talent shows and Christmas, I think)... but it was only five weeks and they'd made six episodes. So out went most of part five, with the necessary bits edited into a longer final episode. Hence why I'm seeing much of this one for the first time. Incidentally, Mine All Mine is utterly hilarious and massively underrated, if you ask me.
This Morning
(4/7/08 edition)
A brief and relatively uninformative interview with Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies. It was great when the Dalek woke up though.
Wimbledon 2008
Bits and bobs, but most substantially: half of the more likable Murray brother sadly losing his mixed doubles semi-final; and the end of unseeded Brit Laura Robson beating Romana Tabakova in the girl's semi-final. Tabakova = stroppy Slovak; Robson = amusing and likable. Clearly, if there is a theme to my thoughts on Wimbledon players, it's "be likable". And it helps if you're British.
6x04 (4/7/08 edition)
Criminal Justice
Part 5 (of 5)
The show with TV's most boring title sequence comes to an end. While justice is served it's pleasingly not a "and they all lived happily ever after" ending -- major characters lose relationships, careers, and even their lives. In spite of a final half hour that show the legal system coming through for Ben, it's too little too late to restore any faith you may have had in it, which was surely shattered by the rest of the series.
Mine All Mine
Part 5 (of 6)
When Mine All Mine first went out, they were offered a fantastic slot (between one of those talent shows and Christmas, I think)... but it was only five weeks and they'd made six episodes. So out went most of part five, with the necessary bits edited into a longer final episode. Hence why I'm seeing much of this one for the first time. Incidentally, Mine All Mine is utterly hilarious and massively underrated, if you ask me.
This Morning
(4/7/08 edition)
A brief and relatively uninformative interview with Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies. It was great when the Dalek woke up though.
Wimbledon 2008
Bits and bobs, but most substantially: half of the more likable Murray brother sadly losing his mixed doubles semi-final; and the end of unseeded Brit Laura Robson beating Romana Tabakova in the girl's semi-final. Tabakova = stroppy Slovak; Robson = amusing and likable. Clearly, if there is a theme to my thoughts on Wimbledon players, it's "be likable". And it helps if you're British.
Fiction
Master of the Future by Brian Augustyn & Eduardo Barreto
(from Batman: Gotham by Gaslight)
Longer sequel to Gotham by Gaslight, which sees a Victorian-era Batman face an airship-owning madman who wants to burn Gotham to the ground. The added length allows Augustyn to develop his story more fully this time, though it still feels as if it's missing most/all of a second act. Barreto's art is more mainstream in style than Mignola's, and he produces some excellent splash pages, but it does make for an interesting contrast: Mignola's almost cartoonish style is on the grittier, more realistic tale, while Barreto's more realistic style covers the more fantastical, cartoonish one. Such is comics, I suppose.
Mouse Guard: Autumn 1152 (aka Mouse Guard: Fall 1152) by David Petersen
Chapters One - Six
Epilogue [the end]
The first collected volume of David Petersen's acclaimed Mouse Guard (currently publishing a second series, with at least three more to follow that). Beautifully drawn and well plotted, if quick to read (while each chapter/issue is a usual 24 pages, they're smaller than normal and filled with bigger, text-light frames).
The collection also includes maps of Mouse Territories and Barkstone, guides to Lockhaven and common mouse trades, a gallery of pinups by "esteemed authors & friends", and... a preface.
(from Batman: Gotham by Gaslight)
Longer sequel to Gotham by Gaslight, which sees a Victorian-era Batman face an airship-owning madman who wants to burn Gotham to the ground. The added length allows Augustyn to develop his story more fully this time, though it still feels as if it's missing most/all of a second act. Barreto's art is more mainstream in style than Mignola's, and he produces some excellent splash pages, but it does make for an interesting contrast: Mignola's almost cartoonish style is on the grittier, more realistic tale, while Barreto's more realistic style covers the more fantastical, cartoonish one. Such is comics, I suppose.
Mouse Guard: Autumn 1152 (aka Mouse Guard: Fall 1152) by David Petersen
Chapters One - Six
Epilogue [the end]
The first collected volume of David Petersen's acclaimed Mouse Guard (currently publishing a second series, with at least three more to follow that). Beautifully drawn and well plotted, if quick to read (while each chapter/issue is a usual 24 pages, they're smaller than normal and filled with bigger, text-light frames).
The collection also includes maps of Mouse Territories and Barkstone, guides to Lockhaven and common mouse trades, a gallery of pinups by "esteemed authors & friends", and... a preface.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
TV
Babylon 5
1x15 Grail
1x16 Eyes
Criminal Justice
Part 4 (of 5)
Derren Brown: Trick or Treat
2x04 Escape
2x05 Confidence
2x06 Superstition [season finale]
Mine All Mine
Part 4 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Shark
2x11 Shaun of the Dead
Spaced
1x05 Chaos
This Morning
(3/7/08 edition)
Normally I wouldn't even mention this, but I saw a bit of Paul Ross previewing next week's TV and wanted to state what an idiot he is. "For the second series Dexter has moved to FX" -- no, it hasn't, it started there -- "so it's not on ITV1 any more" -- yes, it is, at a later date... just like the first series was! How can a man whose job is to be a TV critic know so little about TV?! (Incidentally, Dexter is fantastic, and if you haven't seen it you should. And Russell T Davies -- job: 'Who supremo' -- is going to be on tomorrow's This Morning, undoubtedly saying nothing at all about the season finale, the Christmas special, or next year's specials, thanks to that last cliffhanger meaning anything he could say is a spoiler. Tsk.)
Wimbledon 2008
The end (as always) of Serena Williams vs Jie Zheng. There are two things Serena Williams make me think of: 1) a man in drag; and 2) the Incredible Hulk -- "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry!" I don't like Venus any more, mind, so I certainly won't be bothering with the fourth all-Williams final this Saturday. Also, the end of the Bob & Mike Bryan / Jonas Bjorkman & Kevin Ullyett men's doubles semi-final, which saw the two 36-year-olds beat the first seeds to make it to the final. Especially nice for Bjorkman as it's his last Wimbledon.
1x15 Grail
1x16 Eyes
Criminal Justice
Part 4 (of 5)
Derren Brown: Trick or Treat
2x04 Escape
2x05 Confidence
2x06 Superstition [season finale]
Mine All Mine
Part 4 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Shark
2x11 Shaun of the Dead
Spaced
1x05 Chaos
This Morning
(3/7/08 edition)
Normally I wouldn't even mention this, but I saw a bit of Paul Ross previewing next week's TV and wanted to state what an idiot he is. "For the second series Dexter has moved to FX" -- no, it hasn't, it started there -- "so it's not on ITV1 any more" -- yes, it is, at a later date... just like the first series was! How can a man whose job is to be a TV critic know so little about TV?! (Incidentally, Dexter is fantastic, and if you haven't seen it you should. And Russell T Davies -- job: 'Who supremo' -- is going to be on tomorrow's This Morning, undoubtedly saying nothing at all about the season finale, the Christmas special, or next year's specials, thanks to that last cliffhanger meaning anything he could say is a spoiler. Tsk.)
Wimbledon 2008
The end (as always) of Serena Williams vs Jie Zheng. There are two things Serena Williams make me think of: 1) a man in drag; and 2) the Incredible Hulk -- "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry!" I don't like Venus any more, mind, so I certainly won't be bothering with the fourth all-Williams final this Saturday. Also, the end of the Bob & Mike Bryan / Jonas Bjorkman & Kevin Ullyett men's doubles semi-final, which saw the two 36-year-olds beat the first seeds to make it to the final. Especially nice for Bjorkman as it's his last Wimbledon.
Fiction
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Chapter XI
After the Masquerade by Doug Roth
Chapter XII [the end]
Stunning conclusion to the justifiably acclaimed masterpiece. You owe it to yourself to read this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pre-order all the action figures from the forthcoming film adaptation.
Chapter XI
After the Masquerade by Doug Roth
Chapter XII [the end]
Stunning conclusion to the justifiably acclaimed masterpiece. You owe it to yourself to read this. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pre-order all the action figures from the forthcoming film adaptation.
Non-Fiction
Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of James Bond by James Chapman
Chapters 6 - 9 [the end]
Chapters 6 - 9 [the end]
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
TV
Babylon 5
1x14 TKO
Criminal Justice
Part 3 (of 5)
Some glimmers of hope as BBC One's super-depressing murder/prison/legal drama enters the trial phase.
Derren Brown: Trick or Treat
2x03 Time
David Tennant is the 'ordinary member of the public' in this episode from the last series of Derren Brown's trickery show. The first two stunts are almost mundane, as they're pretty standard Brown fare, but the third defies belief and reason -- exactly why I love this man's programmes.
Mine All Mine
Part 3 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Wimbledon 2008
Unsurprisingly, some bits of Andy Murray vs Rafael Nadal -- with it's equally unsurprising result -- and most of the second (and final) set of Jamie Murray & Liezel Huber vs Daniel Nestor & Chia-Jung Chuang, which went the way of the more likable of the two Murray brothers.
1x14 TKO
Criminal Justice
Part 3 (of 5)
Some glimmers of hope as BBC One's super-depressing murder/prison/legal drama enters the trial phase.
Derren Brown: Trick or Treat
2x03 Time
David Tennant is the 'ordinary member of the public' in this episode from the last series of Derren Brown's trickery show. The first two stunts are almost mundane, as they're pretty standard Brown fare, but the third defies belief and reason -- exactly why I love this man's programmes.
Mine All Mine
Part 3 (of 6) [2nd watch]
Wimbledon 2008
Unsurprisingly, some bits of Andy Murray vs Rafael Nadal -- with it's equally unsurprising result -- and most of the second (and final) set of Jamie Murray & Liezel Huber vs Daniel Nestor & Chia-Jung Chuang, which went the way of the more likable of the two Murray brothers.
Fiction
Gotham by Gaslight by Brian Augustyn & Michael Mignola
Published in 1989, and now considered the first Elseworlds tale, Gotham by Gaslight combines two interests of mine by pitting a Victorian Batman against Jack the Ripper. Although double the length of an average issue of a comic, the story feels a little short, with not enough room to develop fully. Nonetheless, it's a great idea and a good story.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Chapter IX
Sally Jupiter scrapbook
Chapter X
'Veidt' documents
With no shortage of twists and turns, as well as the usual doses of great art and juxtaposition, things rattle on towards the story's climax. Only two chapters to go!
Published in 1989, and now considered the first Elseworlds tale, Gotham by Gaslight combines two interests of mine by pitting a Victorian Batman against Jack the Ripper. Although double the length of an average issue of a comic, the story feels a little short, with not enough room to develop fully. Nonetheless, it's a great idea and a good story.
Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Chapter IX
Sally Jupiter scrapbook
Chapter X
'Veidt' documents
With no shortage of twists and turns, as well as the usual doses of great art and juxtaposition, things rattle on towards the story's climax. Only two chapters to go!
Non-Fiction
Licence to Thrill: A Cultural History of James Bond by James Chapman
Chapter 5
Did you know that Moonraker was the second highest-grossing Bond film until GoldenEye? Were the people of the '70s really so blinded by the sci-fi trappings (so popular at the time thanks to Star Wars) that they threw out all pretense of taste? That said, look at some of the films that are released and are successful today -- some things never change...
Chapter 5
Did you know that Moonraker was the second highest-grossing Bond film until GoldenEye? Were the people of the '70s really so blinded by the sci-fi trappings (so popular at the time thanks to Star Wars) that they threw out all pretense of taste? That said, look at some of the films that are released and are successful today -- some things never change...
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
TV
Criminal Justice
Part 2 (of 5)
imagine...
11x06 Werner Herzog: Beyond Reason
Interesting documentary about the somewhat loopy Bavarian filmmaker.
Part 2 (of 5)
imagine...
11x06 Werner Herzog: Beyond Reason
Interesting documentary about the somewhat loopy Bavarian filmmaker.
Doctor Who: Decide Your Destiny
Regular readers of this blog will have seen that, over the past three weeks (it feels longer), I've published a series of reviews of the Doctor Who: Decide Your Destiny books. These are a collection of gamebooks in which you join the tenth Doctor -- and, most of the time, Martha -- on adventures in time and space. Having now covered all 12 of the books (there may be more in the future, though none have been announced), I thought I'd compile all of my reviews into one handy guide.
This is that guide.
1) The Spaceship Graveyard
"The plot isn't a bad idea, though it disappointingly doesn't all come together... all of the decisions you make are aimed at the reader and not the character... It's disappointing because you have no control over your actions."
2) Alien Arena
"several action-packed sequences and a real sense that you have choices and your decisions will matter... a fantastic final sequence in which you wind up in the titular arena, battling aliens! This is how a Decide Your Destiny book should be done."
3) The Time Crocodile
"Your choices are often limited to directing the story rather than your actions, and most routes lead to pages that just say the same thing but with different words... a weak entry, both in terms of plot and quality of play."
4) The Corinthian Project
"Moore has clearly spent as long creating the setting for this adventure as the actual plot... frequently, once you've chosen a path via two or three decisions, you're shuttled from page to page... Where's the choice in that?"
5) The Crystal Snare
"the first historical of the range, and it uses its setting well... isn't quite as much fun as [Alien Arena], but the setting makes a nice change, the gameplay is more appropriate than Brake's entries, and the plot less bogged-down in linearity and technicalities than Moore's book."
6) War of the Robots
"Get the right path and Baxendale's book provides an entertaining read with moderately varied choices and some exciting sequences; but get the wrong one and you'll be shuttled through a dull denouement... Even with this, it's one of the series' better efforts."
7) Dark Planet
"engaging, with a couple of decent incidents and a fair backstory... there are three notably different adventures to be had from this book -- good value for money... one of the series' better efforts."
8) The Haunted Wagon Train
"[the plot] is OK, though not exceptional... Compared to the range's only other historical, the amount of detail is negligible and the setting isn't exceptionally well evoked. Another weak effort from Mr Brake."
9) Lost Luggage
"It will come as no surprise that all the problems evident in Brake's previous three books are present here... Brake's style of choices sap much of the fun out of playing this kind of book, and when you pair it with an over-ambitious plot [you've got] an entry at the lower end of the spectrum."
10) Second Skin
"it's a Who-like story of a technology company gone wrong, and an alien parasite turning ordinary people bad... [It] isn't my favourite entry... but it plays well and has a decent story. Certainly one of the series' better books."
11) The Dragon King
"a mixed bag. There's no plot to speak of, at least on the path I followed... and the ending was utterly lacklustre... I seem to have missed noteworthy things on other paths [meaning] it's the book I'm most likely to re-read."
12) The Horror of Howling Hill
"set entirely on present day Earth [and] taps into one of Who's main genres -- creepy goings on in apparently lovely places... an atmospheric adventure... one of my favourites"
So, having reached the end, I can say that they're a bit of a mixed bunch. Those written by Colin Brake are, to be blunt, best avoided, as they don't properly capture the spirit of this style of book. Other books may be lacking in some elements, but most have something to enjoy regardless; his four entries, on the other hand, represent the lowest rank in my opinion, and while some are passable they're style still obstructed the having of fun for me.
By a similar token -- only, the other side of it -- Richard Dungworth's books are all a safe bet, with Alien Arena enduring as my best-remembered experience of the range (though it should be noted that it was only the second book, and so being flat-out better than the first may have given it a small boost). Aside from Dungworth's three (numbers 2, 5 and 10), I would most recommend Davey Moore's Dark Planet and Jonathan Green's The Horror of Howling Hill, both being exciting tales in their own right -- the former especially, as it contains three very different routes.
While I've been fairly critical of some of these books -- finding something bad to say about all of them, I must admit! -- they were almost all fun in one way or another, all well written (considering their target audience), and most captured the characters of the Doctor and Martha suitably. Certainly the less-critical eye of a younger reader -- some of whom would surely miss the distinction between "directing your character" and "directing the story", the much-cited primary flaw of Brake's efforts -- would be likely to get even more unquestioning enjoyment out of them than I did.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to read some books where the page numbers always go consecutively...
This is that guide.
1) The Spaceship Graveyard
"The plot isn't a bad idea, though it disappointingly doesn't all come together... all of the decisions you make are aimed at the reader and not the character... It's disappointing because you have no control over your actions."
2) Alien Arena
"several action-packed sequences and a real sense that you have choices and your decisions will matter... a fantastic final sequence in which you wind up in the titular arena, battling aliens! This is how a Decide Your Destiny book should be done."
3) The Time Crocodile
"Your choices are often limited to directing the story rather than your actions, and most routes lead to pages that just say the same thing but with different words... a weak entry, both in terms of plot and quality of play."
4) The Corinthian Project
"Moore has clearly spent as long creating the setting for this adventure as the actual plot... frequently, once you've chosen a path via two or three decisions, you're shuttled from page to page... Where's the choice in that?"
5) The Crystal Snare
"the first historical of the range, and it uses its setting well... isn't quite as much fun as [Alien Arena], but the setting makes a nice change, the gameplay is more appropriate than Brake's entries, and the plot less bogged-down in linearity and technicalities than Moore's book."
6) War of the Robots
"Get the right path and Baxendale's book provides an entertaining read with moderately varied choices and some exciting sequences; but get the wrong one and you'll be shuttled through a dull denouement... Even with this, it's one of the series' better efforts."
7) Dark Planet
"engaging, with a couple of decent incidents and a fair backstory... there are three notably different adventures to be had from this book -- good value for money... one of the series' better efforts."
8) The Haunted Wagon Train
"[the plot] is OK, though not exceptional... Compared to the range's only other historical, the amount of detail is negligible and the setting isn't exceptionally well evoked. Another weak effort from Mr Brake."
9) Lost Luggage
"It will come as no surprise that all the problems evident in Brake's previous three books are present here... Brake's style of choices sap much of the fun out of playing this kind of book, and when you pair it with an over-ambitious plot [you've got] an entry at the lower end of the spectrum."
10) Second Skin
"it's a Who-like story of a technology company gone wrong, and an alien parasite turning ordinary people bad... [It] isn't my favourite entry... but it plays well and has a decent story. Certainly one of the series' better books."
11) The Dragon King
"a mixed bag. There's no plot to speak of, at least on the path I followed... and the ending was utterly lacklustre... I seem to have missed noteworthy things on other paths [meaning] it's the book I'm most likely to re-read."
12) The Horror of Howling Hill
"set entirely on present day Earth [and] taps into one of Who's main genres -- creepy goings on in apparently lovely places... an atmospheric adventure... one of my favourites"
So, having reached the end, I can say that they're a bit of a mixed bunch. Those written by Colin Brake are, to be blunt, best avoided, as they don't properly capture the spirit of this style of book. Other books may be lacking in some elements, but most have something to enjoy regardless; his four entries, on the other hand, represent the lowest rank in my opinion, and while some are passable they're style still obstructed the having of fun for me.
By a similar token -- only, the other side of it -- Richard Dungworth's books are all a safe bet, with Alien Arena enduring as my best-remembered experience of the range (though it should be noted that it was only the second book, and so being flat-out better than the first may have given it a small boost). Aside from Dungworth's three (numbers 2, 5 and 10), I would most recommend Davey Moore's Dark Planet and Jonathan Green's The Horror of Howling Hill, both being exciting tales in their own right -- the former especially, as it contains three very different routes.
While I've been fairly critical of some of these books -- finding something bad to say about all of them, I must admit! -- they were almost all fun in one way or another, all well written (considering their target audience), and most captured the characters of the Doctor and Martha suitably. Certainly the less-critical eye of a younger reader -- some of whom would surely miss the distinction between "directing your character" and "directing the story", the much-cited primary flaw of Brake's efforts -- would be likely to get even more unquestioning enjoyment out of them than I did.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to read some books where the page numbers always go consecutively...
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