Sunday 12 April 2009

TV

Orangutan Diary
2x04 Episode 4

Red Dwarf
9x03 Back to Earth Part 3 [season finale]
See here for my thoughts on this episode.

Films

Predator (1987)
[#16a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Seen this twice before, but will be reviewing it as part of a series on the Alien and Predator films.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (Part 3)

Not the strongest part of the three, thought it confirmed to me that this would be much better viewed as a single 90-minute piece -- the sheer volume of ongoing plot elements, running jokes, quite in depth references back to events of previous parts, and really awkward cliffhangers all suggest this that's how it was meant to be seen. I suppose only the DVD release can reveal that for certain.

In all, it's not the best Red Dwarf has to offer, but it was mostly very cleverly done (too cleverly for some, it seems) and entertained plentifully. There were also a nice number of references to previous episodes -- many of them years and years old -- that only fans were likely to get, but which didn't impede too much on the enjoyment for newbies. It did rather rely on you having seen Blade Runner to fully appreciate it though.

Ratings for Part 1 were strong but dipped for Part 2, though were still great by Dave's standard and was against much stronger competition. Hopefully Part 3's were alright and, factoring everything in (including various repeats and a bumper-bonus single-sitting repeat tomorrow), here's hoping we'll be treated to more RD in the future.

Poem of the Week: Peter Cottontail

by Beatrix Potter

A slightly delayed poem this week -- because it's Easter! Mmm, chocolate. And in that sort of spirt, here's a lovely bit of Beatrix Potter.

Before we begin, I should point out that the titular rabbit is, of course, Peter Rabbit. Apparently; because, as I'm sure you know, Peter and Cottontail are two different bunnies in The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I'm afraid I have no clarification on this point.

Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Easter's on its way.

Bringin' every girl and boy Baskets full of Easter joy,
Things to make your Easter bright and gay.
He's got jelly beans for Tommy,
Colored eggs for sister Sue,
There's an orchid for your Mommy
And an Easter bonnet, too.

Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Happy Easter day.

Here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Look at him stop,
And listen to him say:
"Try to do the things you should."
Maybe if you're extra good,
He'll roll lots of Easter eggs your way.

You'll wake up on Easter morning
And you'll know that he was there
When you find those choc'late bunnies
That he's hiding ev'rywhere.

Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail,
Hoppin' down the bunny trail,
Hippity, hoppity,
Happy Easter day.

Happy Easter Day indeed.