Sunday 26 December 2010

TV

Doctor Who Confidential
6x00 Christmas Special 2010
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Poirot
12x03 Murder on the Orient Express
This seems to have come in for criticism in some quarters due to its focus on Poirot's religious conundrum. While I agree it didn't need to be made so overtly religious, when you're adapting a mystery where the vast majority of viewers know the answer, it's a good idea to find something else to hold their interest, and Poirot's out-of-character moral decision is certainly an interesting aspect of this tale. Personally, I thought it was all very well done -- hard and cold in story and shooting style, and so maybe not really suitable for Christmas Day (probably why it only managed 14th in the day's ratings) but still good.
(And if you don't know the twist, read the book or watch an adaptation, it's worth it.)
(And relatedly, I watched the famed film version close to this time last year. Coincidencetastic!)
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Films

A Good Woman (2004)
[#121 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]

Music

More Christmas present-based listening...

Back to the Light by Brian May

Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? by Paloma Faith

Praise & Blame by Tom Jones

Articles

10.3 Million watch A Christmas Carol by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
The Doctor Who version that is, naturally. Makes it the second most-watched programme of Christmas Day! Lovely.
Article also includes the rest of the TV ratings for the day, including the new Murder on the Orient Express in a disappointing 14th.

Why won’t Tom Jones accept me as his son? The illegitimate child from a one-night stand tells of his rage and pain by Aditya Bonda
(from DownloadsEdge)
A bit like a Channel 4 documentary, this: horridly trashy title, surprisingly good content.

this week on 100 Films

Despite it being Christmas week, I've still found time to post 4 new reviews to 100 Films in a Year, and they were...

Nanny McPhee (2005)
The primary-coloured sets and costumes work marvellously, a delightful mash between reality and fantasy. It could’ve been garish; instead, it’s vibrant. The effects are properly magical. They don’t overwhelm, always serving the story rather than themselves, which is probably what makes them all the more effective.

Rambo III (1988)
the one Hot Shots! Part Deux really took to task, and not without reason. Having seen that spoof several times since my youth, a few large chunks of this second sequel felt all too familiar... Stallone -- here serving as writer and star -- does leave his character rather open for mockery.

Tales of the Black Freighter (2009)
the short emulates an ’80s Saturday morning cartoon style… albeit in cinematic widescreen, evocative 5.1 Surround Sound, and with horrific R-rated gore. Yes, this probably wouldn’t actually have been shown on Saturday morning TV, even in America.

Toy Story 3 (2010)
Didn’t get Toy Story 3 for Christmas? Pick it up in the sales, then, because it’s bloody good... hilarious, emotional, exciting, scary; a great comedy, a great action/adventure. And Ken’s fashion show sequence is worth the price of admission all by itself.

More next Sunday.