Thursday 8 October 2009

TV

House
5x15 Unfaithful
5x16 The Softer Side
5x17 The Social Contract
This season of House has come in for criticism in some quarters for lacking the humour that made previous seasons so popular. I disagree. Perhaps it's more serious overall, but the characters' storylines are on the whole quite well interesting and well-done, especially in that they ebb and flow -- there's not a Single Huge Arc that takes all season, gradually building in every episode, but rather a variety of stories that come and go, arcs that last only an episode or two. It's more like real-life and, in my opinion, makes for more rewarding drama. Within these, they've pushed the show and its characters further than ever, and all without losing the humour -- it may appear less often, but House's biting wit is still there.
And, occasionally, the Case of the Week is good too. Shocking.

Fiction

Dean Koontz's Frankenstein - Book Three: Dead and Alive by Dean Koontz
Chapters 45 - 46
Not quite a third, is it?

Articles

Apple to Indie Labels: iTunes LP Is Out of Your League by John Herrman
(from Gizmodo)
Some days, it's hard to remain an Apple fan. Read the article for the full rather-hypocritical details.

Super-Social Networking: Superhero Facebook Status Updates by Chris Sims
(from Comics Alliance)
Very well observed. (It helps if you're a comics fan, or at least have a passing knowledge.) Superman's my favourite here, because of all the replies underlining what happens when you have too much continuity and too many 'original' ideas.

new review at 100 Films

AVPR - Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)
Over-dark cinematography and typically choppy editing obscure every action sequence. Why is it that in an age where special effects are so improved and there’s a preference for real actors over stunt doubles, action sequences have become harder to follow?

Read the full review at 100 Films.

Tonight, I'll post a short overview of the franchises.