Law & Order: UK
6x03 Haunted
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Onion News Network
1x07 The Real Obama
Pointless
5x48 (19/1/12 edition)
5x49 (20/1/12 edition)
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
DVD Extras
Audio commentary by Bey Logan and Gordon Chan on 2000 AD
Second half.
The Making of 2000 AD
The making of the above, which was rather lightweight and promotional, but hey-ho.
Second half.
The Making of 2000 AD
The making of the above, which was rather lightweight and promotional, but hey-ho.
Comics
Detective Comics
#4 by Tony S. Daniel
#5 by Tony S. Daniel & Szymon Kudranski
#4 seems decent enough… until you realise that's supposed to be the end of the story, at which point it doesn't so much leave the odd thread hanging for the future as not resolve anything, which just highlights the bits that don't quite make sense.
And as for #5… Two half-length stories don't help matters. The main one (by dint of it featuring Batman and sort-of continuing the on-going thread, written & drawn (as usual) by Daniel) is a mix of catch-up and set-up rather than a full tale, has dubious satire/criticism of the Occupy movement (and if it wasn't meant to be critical of it then it fails by being critical), leaden dialogue, and a reveal that's thoroughly useless because a) that villain's on the cover, and b) last issue Batman said he'd be going after him… not that he is going after him -- he's after some small-time gangster types, and the Penguin gets brought into it through an entirely different route. Nice art, particularly Penguin's new casino, but damn if the story it tells isn't weak.
The nominal back-up strip, Russian Roulette (written by Daniel with art by Kudranski), is well-drawn -- in an appropriately grubby kind of way -- but seems like even more of a scene-setting prequel than the main story, and doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of sense. What does Eli add to Catwoman's plan, other than mucking things up and needing her to save him?
Quite a tumble for the former second-best Bat book, all told. If Batman and Robin has continued to pull its socks up in issues 4&5 (which I haven't read yet) then it'll move up a notch in my affections.
#4 by Tony S. Daniel
#5 by Tony S. Daniel & Szymon Kudranski
#4 seems decent enough… until you realise that's supposed to be the end of the story, at which point it doesn't so much leave the odd thread hanging for the future as not resolve anything, which just highlights the bits that don't quite make sense.
And as for #5… Two half-length stories don't help matters. The main one (by dint of it featuring Batman and sort-of continuing the on-going thread, written & drawn (as usual) by Daniel) is a mix of catch-up and set-up rather than a full tale, has dubious satire/criticism of the Occupy movement (and if it wasn't meant to be critical of it then it fails by being critical), leaden dialogue, and a reveal that's thoroughly useless because a) that villain's on the cover, and b) last issue Batman said he'd be going after him… not that he is going after him -- he's after some small-time gangster types, and the Penguin gets brought into it through an entirely different route. Nice art, particularly Penguin's new casino, but damn if the story it tells isn't weak.
The nominal back-up strip, Russian Roulette (written by Daniel with art by Kudranski), is well-drawn -- in an appropriately grubby kind of way -- but seems like even more of a scene-setting prequel than the main story, and doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of sense. What does Eli add to Catwoman's plan, other than mucking things up and needing her to save him?
Quite a tumble for the former second-best Bat book, all told. If Batman and Robin has continued to pull its socks up in issues 4&5 (which I haven't read yet) then it'll move up a notch in my affections.
Monday, 30 January 2012
TV
Pointless
5x46 (17/1/12 edition)
5x47 (18/1/12 edition)
Went away, got two weeks behind. The Pointless catch-up starts here!
5x46 (17/1/12 edition)
5x47 (18/1/12 edition)
Went away, got two weeks behind. The Pointless catch-up starts here!
DVD Extras
Breaking the Rules: Making Animation History
The Stage is Set
Now We Ride
A pair of really interesting making-of featurettes from the Rango Blu-ray, taking almost 50 minutes total to detail the unusual process behind the making of the movie.
The Stage is Set
Now We Ride
A pair of really interesting making-of featurettes from the Rango Blu-ray, taking almost 50 minutes total to detail the unusual process behind the making of the movie.
Comics
All Star Western #4 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Well back on form this issue, kicking off a new story proper. It's funny how some of these 20-page comics feel brief, lightweight and not worth their cover price, while others pack so much in I'm counting the pages to check it's not a bumper-length edition. All Star Western slots into the latter more often than most, which is probably thanks to Gray & Palmiotti doing nothing but one-and-dones on their pre-New 52 Hex series.
Also this issue, the first part of a new back-up strip, The Barbary Ghost, with art by Phil Winslade. It's got more potential than the last one, though the on-the-nose dialogue script could have done with some work.
Aquaman #3 & #4 by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Part three somewhat exemplifies what I was just talking about, ending when I still thought it had a bit to go. Good stuff though; hopefully the time it spent on backstory is setting up stuff for the future. The concluding part, however, was incident-packed and left the four-parter as a well-structured whole. Aquaman may not be many people's favourite superhero, but he's surely gaining lots of fans here.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
DVD Extras
Audio commentary by Bey Logan and Gordon Chan on 2000 AD
Logan is an incredibly prolific commentator -- according to Wikipedia, he's recorded 123 to date! -- and I can rather see why even from just this, the first half of a single commentary. He's amiable and knowledgeable, and quite good at drawing out more information from his co-commentator, the film's director. Makes me appreciate/understand more about a film I didn't hugely enjoy.
Logan is an incredibly prolific commentator -- according to Wikipedia, he's recorded 123 to date! -- and I can rather see why even from just this, the first half of a single commentary. He's amiable and knowledgeable, and quite good at drawing out more information from his co-commentator, the film's director. Makes me appreciate/understand more about a film I didn't hugely enjoy.
Comics
Six issues read today...
All Star Western #3 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Funny issue, this one: the story from the first two is wrapped up quickly, but with bits apparently left hanging, then it picks up a new thing... which isn't new because it was in the beginning of #1 (I think, because I don't really remember it). Moritat's apparently scratchy, chunky, basic art is surprisingly detailed, which is wonderful, especially in action scenes. Plus it really suits the grimy, gritty tone of the book. But overall, it feels like it needs to get going on a proper meaty story, like the first issue seemed to promise, and if/when it does I'll enjoy it even more.
Elsewhere, the Gray/Palmiotti-penned Jordi Bernet-drawn back-up strip El Diablo comes to a conclusion even limper than its opening. Ho hum. Many they need to look to 2000 AD for a lesson in storytelling in 6-8 page chunks.
Batman: The Dark Knight #3 & #4 by David Finch & Paul Jenkins
Still by far the worst Batman book going. Finch & Jenkins seem to tell a well-paced story... until it stops suddenly with the end of the issue. The plot (by both creators) seems to be constructed around shoehorning in cameos at every turn, as if someone's tried to craft the ultimate Batman story and failed miserably by doing far, far too much. Jenkins (writing) attempts to add some emotional depth to proceedings in #4, but he doesn't seem to have the chops to pull it off. Finch's art is fine, occasionally great, when depicting superhero antics, but his human faces range from not-great to nasty.
So I'm sticking it out to the end of this arc, but I'm quite looking forward to dropping it. Sadly, based on the schedule for collected editions, that won't be until #9! And I doubt DC will follow me in ditching it -- the fact there are currently four Batman-starring books suggests they like having one every week. Though with Batman Incorporated returning in a few months, maybe they'll ditch this at the next round of changes.
Batwoman #3, #4 & #5 by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
The absolutely stunning artwork alone would make this worth reading, but it's also backed up by an engrossing story featuring detailed and plausible characters. Surely one of the best books of the New 52, probably current mainstream comics full stop. It's technically the end of the current arc here, but there's a lot of story to go forward. It's changing artist next issue for some reason, so I hope that doesn't effect it too badly.
Definitely considering getting the collected edition of this story, especially if it's oversized, just to see the art again and appreciate it even more fully. Plus that collection will include #0, which I missed. It's out in June (in the US at least).
All Star Western #3 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Funny issue, this one: the story from the first two is wrapped up quickly, but with bits apparently left hanging, then it picks up a new thing... which isn't new because it was in the beginning of #1 (I think, because I don't really remember it). Moritat's apparently scratchy, chunky, basic art is surprisingly detailed, which is wonderful, especially in action scenes. Plus it really suits the grimy, gritty tone of the book. But overall, it feels like it needs to get going on a proper meaty story, like the first issue seemed to promise, and if/when it does I'll enjoy it even more.
Elsewhere, the Gray/Palmiotti-penned Jordi Bernet-drawn back-up strip El Diablo comes to a conclusion even limper than its opening. Ho hum. Many they need to look to 2000 AD for a lesson in storytelling in 6-8 page chunks.
Batman: The Dark Knight #3 & #4 by David Finch & Paul Jenkins
Still by far the worst Batman book going. Finch & Jenkins seem to tell a well-paced story... until it stops suddenly with the end of the issue. The plot (by both creators) seems to be constructed around shoehorning in cameos at every turn, as if someone's tried to craft the ultimate Batman story and failed miserably by doing far, far too much. Jenkins (writing) attempts to add some emotional depth to proceedings in #4, but he doesn't seem to have the chops to pull it off. Finch's art is fine, occasionally great, when depicting superhero antics, but his human faces range from not-great to nasty.
So I'm sticking it out to the end of this arc, but I'm quite looking forward to dropping it. Sadly, based on the schedule for collected editions, that won't be until #9! And I doubt DC will follow me in ditching it -- the fact there are currently four Batman-starring books suggests they like having one every week. Though with Batman Incorporated returning in a few months, maybe they'll ditch this at the next round of changes.
Batwoman #3, #4 & #5 by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
The absolutely stunning artwork alone would make this worth reading, but it's also backed up by an engrossing story featuring detailed and plausible characters. Surely one of the best books of the New 52, probably current mainstream comics full stop. It's technically the end of the current arc here, but there's a lot of story to go forward. It's changing artist next issue for some reason, so I hope that doesn't effect it too badly.
Definitely considering getting the collected edition of this story, especially if it's oversized, just to see the art again and appreciate it even more fully. Plus that collection will include #0, which I missed. It's out in June (in the US at least).
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
Ironclad (2011)
More next Sunday.
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
There is an even better film tucked away inside Battle Los Angeles. One brief dialogue scene discusses the similarities between the human soldiers and alien grunts, but the intriguing idea that they’re intelligent beings following orders just like us is sadly not built upon. There are obvious parallels with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but aside from the audience spotting shots that are reminiscent of news footage, the threads aren’t drawn out or commented on.
Ironclad (2011)
There are stretches some may find dull — there’s little new to be done with the whole Recruiting The Team bit, and once John gets the castle under siege and everyone’s twiddling thumbs and eating horses some viewers will be doing one of the two as well — but there are regular bursts of sword-swinging violence that achieve the film’s primary aims of creating a Hollywood-esque historical action movie on British soil
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
TV
How I Met Your Mother
7x12 Symphony of Illumination
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
7x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
The Magicians
2x03 Episode 3
I enjoy the tricks and illusions on The Magicians -- the world-exclusive walking-on-fountains was particularly nice this week -- but the show itself feels like it's being put together by the work experience kids at times. This is prime time Saturday night BBC One for crying out loud, there shouldn't be mistakes like playing the Next Time trailer 10 minutes early in episode one, never mind by episode three!
The Mentalist
4x06 Where in the World is Carmine O'Brien?
Room 101: Extra Storage
12x01 Episode 1
Hurrah for the return of Room 101! I've seen some be quite critical of its new format, but I thought it worked well. And Fern Britton's silly sci-fi comments were suitably rebutted.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
7x12 Symphony of Illumination
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
7x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
The Magicians
2x03 Episode 3
I enjoy the tricks and illusions on The Magicians -- the world-exclusive walking-on-fountains was particularly nice this week -- but the show itself feels like it's being put together by the work experience kids at times. This is prime time Saturday night BBC One for crying out loud, there shouldn't be mistakes like playing the Next Time trailer 10 minutes early in episode one, never mind by episode three!
The Mentalist
4x06 Where in the World is Carmine O'Brien?
Room 101: Extra Storage
12x01 Episode 1
Hurrah for the return of Room 101! I've seen some be quite critical of its new format, but I thought it worked well. And Fern Britton's silly sci-fi comments were suitably rebutted.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
Nightwing
#3 by Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica
#4 by Kyle Higgins & Trevor McCarthy
#5 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The regular artist and on-going story takes a break (mostly) in issue 4 for a fairly fun one-and-done with Batgirl... then returns for another one-and-done. I like those, they make a change from modern comic's general long-form storytelling (even if these two take a fantastical aside from the general real-world feel of the current Bat-books), but there's an element of "get on with it" when you don't wrap a story up. Arcs are one thing, something left hanging is another. Good cliffhanger to #5 though.
#3 by Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica
#4 by Kyle Higgins & Trevor McCarthy
#5 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The regular artist and on-going story takes a break (mostly) in issue 4 for a fairly fun one-and-done with Batgirl... then returns for another one-and-done. I like those, they make a change from modern comic's general long-form storytelling (even if these two take a fantastical aside from the general real-world feel of the current Bat-books), but there's an element of "get on with it" when you don't wrap a story up. Arcs are one thing, something left hanging is another. Good cliffhanger to #5 though.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, my Blu-rays have almost made it to 300. I've a few more on order -- most of which should have arrived, but TheHut Group companies aren't as efficient as Amazon or HMV, or even Play.com -- so next week might see it tip over. If the aforementioned retailers get their act together.
Also this week, the first running time update of the new year! How many days/hours/minutes of entertainment have I bought since Christmas?
Number of titles in collection: 1,443 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 295 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,586 [up 7]
Number of films in collection: 1,535 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,411 [up 2]
And as I said, it's time for a running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
258 days, 10 hours, and 17 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last month.)
That's the result of 29 new titles, by-the-by. All that since Christmas?! I'm mad.
Still, see you next week for even more, faithful reader.
This week, my Blu-rays have almost made it to 300. I've a few more on order -- most of which should have arrived, but TheHut Group companies aren't as efficient as Amazon or HMV, or even Play.com -- so next week might see it tip over. If the aforementioned retailers get their act together.
Also this week, the first running time update of the new year! How many days/hours/minutes of entertainment have I bought since Christmas?
Number of titles in collection: 1,443 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 295 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,586 [up 7]
Number of films in collection: 1,535 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,411 [up 2]
And as I said, it's time for a running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
258 days, 10 hours, and 17 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last month.)
That's the result of 29 new titles, by-the-by. All that since Christmas?! I'm mad.
Still, see you next week for even more, faithful reader.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Articles
Oscar Index: The Beginning of the End
by S.T. Vanairsdale (from Movieline)
Movieline's weekly Oscar roundup has its first post-nominations-announcement look at how things are going and expected to go. It's full of graphs charting candidates' chances, and most interesting are the acting and directing categories -- look at all the previously-high lines that plummet out when they surprisingly don't get a nomination! Also, look how much War Horse has dropped in the Best Picture stakes!
Rufus Hound interview: 'Censorship will cause death of civilisation'
by Alex Fletcher (from Digital Spy)
Starts off about his recent Windows ad campaign, but then he goes on to make some good points about the ludicrous sense of entitlement among internet forum commenters.
by S.T. Vanairsdale (from Movieline)
Movieline's weekly Oscar roundup has its first post-nominations-announcement look at how things are going and expected to go. It's full of graphs charting candidates' chances, and most interesting are the acting and directing categories -- look at all the previously-high lines that plummet out when they surprisingly don't get a nomination! Also, look how much War Horse has dropped in the Best Picture stakes!
Rufus Hound interview: 'Censorship will cause death of civilisation'
by Alex Fletcher (from Digital Spy)
Starts off about his recent Windows ad campaign, but then he goes on to make some good points about the ludicrous sense of entitlement among internet forum commenters.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Articles
Bad Rep – The War Against 35mm
by David Jenkins (from Little White Lies)
Or, why the future is grim for obscure old films.
by David Jenkins (from Little White Lies)
Or, why the future is grim for obscure old films.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Articles
Masters Of Cinema Monthly February 2012 – Announcements, Le Silence De La Mer, Punishment Park, The Future Of DVD And An Interview With Monte Hellman
by Craig Skinner (from Bleeding Cool)
Mainly including this for the full coverage of MoC's April/May/June titles, which were announced on twitter today. Here, BC have cover art and initial extras lists for all of them. Lots of very exciting stuff there... indeed, I think all of it is of interest to me, much of it as soon as it's released.
They also announced that they've acquired the rights to silent classic, and 20th greatest and 206th most popular film of all time, La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (The Passion of Joan of Arc). That's due out sometime in 2013 though. Long time to go, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
by Craig Skinner (from Bleeding Cool)
Mainly including this for the full coverage of MoC's April/May/June titles, which were announced on twitter today. Here, BC have cover art and initial extras lists for all of them. Lots of very exciting stuff there... indeed, I think all of it is of interest to me, much of it as soon as it's released.
They also announced that they've acquired the rights to silent classic, and 20th greatest and 206th most popular film of all time, La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (The Passion of Joan of Arc). That's due out sometime in 2013 though. Long time to go, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Comics
In my quest to get caught up, I'm generally starting with series where I'm three or more issues behind.
Batgirl #3 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
I last read Batgirl nearly 14 weeks ago. A lot of people seem to be loving this book but I wasn't sold (only enough to commit myself to at least finish the current story arc), and this issue does little to change my mind. Nice cliffhanger-resolving action with a twist at the start, but followed with too much business with Nightwing told in an overlong fashion. I thought this would be the end to said arc, but it's an aside. Next time... maybe...
Batgirl #4 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
..."yes", here it is. Much better, this one. Mirror's a great idea for a villain and he's well dealt with in their final battle. And despite saying I'd be leaving the book here, Simone pulls out a cliffhanger too intriguing to leave hanging. Guess Batgirl has me for at least a little longer... and so...
Batgirl #5 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes
...I would've just listed these together if I hadn't written comments on each one when I wasn't expecting to read them all. As for this one, I find the stuff with Barbara's mum -- sorry, mom -- a bit unconvincing. After, what, a decade away, through Barbara's teens and young adulthood, she just turns up on her doorstep and they just pop out for a coffee? Don't buy it. Meanwhile, there's another intriguing superhero-y plot kicking off.
So my conclusion about Simone's writing, after five issues: don't buy her character/drama stuff, but the superheroics are pretty good.
Batman #3, #4 & #5 by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
This is easily the best comic covered in this post... or quite a lot of other posts, to be honest. It feels like reading a classic in the making. CBR gave #5 the full five stars last week; personally I enjoyed the build up to it more -- lots of tension and revelations and action -- but it's all excellent.
Justice League #3 & #4 by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee
The more you read, the more you can see why comic fans complain about decompressed storytelling in modern books -- even reading two issues back to back, it doesn't feel like things have moved on a great deal. That doesn't mean there's not good stuff in here, but it can take its time actually moving the plot forward, and when there's only about 20-22 pages an issue, for the prices they charge, that can feel a bit frustrating.
Uncanny X-Men #4 by Kieron Gillen & Brandon Peterson
Why would you relaunch a series only to keep telling stories reliant on events from the past? Other than as a cynical sales tactic, of course.
Wolverine and the X-Men #4 by Jason Aaron & Nick Bradshaw
Some intriguing stories being set up, once you decipher them from the mass of references to other books and past storylines. And American comics creators wonder why their sales are dropping! Old fans get fed up with the number of books they're expected to buy at increasingly high prices, new fans find it all too dense and self-referential to get on board with... plus the number of books they might need to buy at increasingly high prices. But it explained enough for me to follow in the end, and the first three issues were strong enough that I'll stick with it for now. Not so sure about Uncanny's long-term future in my reading...
Batgirl #3 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
I last read Batgirl nearly 14 weeks ago. A lot of people seem to be loving this book but I wasn't sold (only enough to commit myself to at least finish the current story arc), and this issue does little to change my mind. Nice cliffhanger-resolving action with a twist at the start, but followed with too much business with Nightwing told in an overlong fashion. I thought this would be the end to said arc, but it's an aside. Next time... maybe...
Batgirl #4 by Gail Simone & Ardian Syaf
..."yes", here it is. Much better, this one. Mirror's a great idea for a villain and he's well dealt with in their final battle. And despite saying I'd be leaving the book here, Simone pulls out a cliffhanger too intriguing to leave hanging. Guess Batgirl has me for at least a little longer... and so...
Batgirl #5 by Gail Simone, Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes
...I would've just listed these together if I hadn't written comments on each one when I wasn't expecting to read them all. As for this one, I find the stuff with Barbara's mum -- sorry, mom -- a bit unconvincing. After, what, a decade away, through Barbara's teens and young adulthood, she just turns up on her doorstep and they just pop out for a coffee? Don't buy it. Meanwhile, there's another intriguing superhero-y plot kicking off.
So my conclusion about Simone's writing, after five issues: don't buy her character/drama stuff, but the superheroics are pretty good.
Batman #3, #4 & #5 by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
This is easily the best comic covered in this post... or quite a lot of other posts, to be honest. It feels like reading a classic in the making. CBR gave #5 the full five stars last week; personally I enjoyed the build up to it more -- lots of tension and revelations and action -- but it's all excellent.
Justice League #3 & #4 by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee
The more you read, the more you can see why comic fans complain about decompressed storytelling in modern books -- even reading two issues back to back, it doesn't feel like things have moved on a great deal. That doesn't mean there's not good stuff in here, but it can take its time actually moving the plot forward, and when there's only about 20-22 pages an issue, for the prices they charge, that can feel a bit frustrating.
Uncanny X-Men #4 by Kieron Gillen & Brandon Peterson
Why would you relaunch a series only to keep telling stories reliant on events from the past? Other than as a cynical sales tactic, of course.
Wolverine and the X-Men #4 by Jason Aaron & Nick Bradshaw
Some intriguing stories being set up, once you decipher them from the mass of references to other books and past storylines. And American comics creators wonder why their sales are dropping! Old fans get fed up with the number of books they're expected to buy at increasingly high prices, new fans find it all too dense and self-referential to get on board with... plus the number of books they might need to buy at increasingly high prices. But it explained enough for me to follow in the end, and the first three issues were strong enough that I'll stick with it for now. Not so sure about Uncanny's long-term future in my reading...
Articles
Russell T Davies creates new children’s BBC drama
by Jack Seale (from Radio Times)
Co-created with Sarah Jane Adventures' head writer Phil Ford, it's called Aliens vs Wizards. Sounds cool.
by Jack Seale (from Radio Times)
Co-created with Sarah Jane Adventures' head writer Phil Ford, it's called Aliens vs Wizards. Sounds cool.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Films
Ironclad (2011)
[#8 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Eight is the number I need to see in January to stay on perfect target, so that's a solid opening to the year. With nine days to spare, there's still time for it to turn in to a great one. We'll see.
[#8 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Eight is the number I need to see in January to stay on perfect target, so that's a solid opening to the year. With nine days to spare, there's still time for it to turn in to a great one. We'll see.
Comics
And that catching up continues apace...
Daredevil #7 by Mark Waid & Paolo Rivera
Christmassy one-and-done in which Daredevil has to save a bunch of blind kids after their school bus crashes in snowy mountains, killing the driver… except they end up rescuing him. How heartwarming. Didn't much care for it myself.
Uncanny X-Men #2 by Kieron Gillen, Rodney Buchemi, Jorge Molina & Carlos Pacheco
A bit twiddly-thumbs-y middle-part-y. Some beautifully drawn pages -- no idea which of the three pencilers, four inkers and four colourists are responsible for those ones, but they do look good -- but the story almost treads water for most of the issue.
Uncanny X-Men #3 by Kieron Gillen, Rodney Buchemi, Paco Diaz & Carlos Pacheco
That was better -- a conclusion to the current threat, but leaving other things open for the future. And relatively subtly laying things in for this summer's big X-Men event.
Wolverine and the X-Men
#2 by Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo
#3 by Jason Aaron, Chris Bachalo, Duncan Rouleau & Matteo Scalera
This book, however, is just bags of cartoony fun -- and utterly fantastic because of it. Enjoying it immensely.
X-Men: Regenesis by Kieron Gillen & Billy Tan
A one-shot prequel/bridging book for all the newly-relaunched X-Men series. Having read the first issues of the two main books, I thought it might be worth a look. It's a neat way of telling a story that could just be a list of people saying "I choose A" or "I choose B", but a great deal of it doesn't make sense to a newbie reader -- need a little list of backstory explanations to go alongside it.
Daredevil #7 by Mark Waid & Paolo Rivera
Christmassy one-and-done in which Daredevil has to save a bunch of blind kids after their school bus crashes in snowy mountains, killing the driver… except they end up rescuing him. How heartwarming. Didn't much care for it myself.
Uncanny X-Men #2 by Kieron Gillen, Rodney Buchemi, Jorge Molina & Carlos Pacheco
A bit twiddly-thumbs-y middle-part-y. Some beautifully drawn pages -- no idea which of the three pencilers, four inkers and four colourists are responsible for those ones, but they do look good -- but the story almost treads water for most of the issue.
Uncanny X-Men #3 by Kieron Gillen, Rodney Buchemi, Paco Diaz & Carlos Pacheco
That was better -- a conclusion to the current threat, but leaving other things open for the future. And relatively subtly laying things in for this summer's big X-Men event.
Wolverine and the X-Men
#2 by Jason Aaron & Chris Bachalo
#3 by Jason Aaron, Chris Bachalo, Duncan Rouleau & Matteo Scalera
This book, however, is just bags of cartoony fun -- and utterly fantastic because of it. Enjoying it immensely.
X-Men: Regenesis by Kieron Gillen & Billy Tan
A one-shot prequel/bridging book for all the newly-relaunched X-Men series. Having read the first issues of the two main books, I thought it might be worth a look. It's a neat way of telling a story that could just be a list of people saying "I choose A" or "I choose B", but a great deal of it doesn't make sense to a newbie reader -- need a little list of backstory explanations to go alongside it.
this week on 100 Films
This week I forgot I'd snuck The Spider Woman in on Sunday, so not as many reviews as I'd intended. That said, there were still 2 new reviews posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
More next Sunday.
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Judged as simply a movie, on its story and its characters and all that regular palaver, I can see why Hotel for Dogs attracts so many poor scores. But as a kids' film I think it works well enough, and as a delivery system for cute dogs I loved it. I don’t think I’ve ever “aww”ed so much in a single film. Yep, I’ve gone all soft.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
this entry jumps back in time several hundred years for an origin of sorts, fleshing out flashbacks and backstory from the first two films. Unfortunately, we learnt pretty much all we needed to know in those flashbacks, and so in terms of both story and world-building Rise of the Lycans has little to add to the Underworld franchise.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
TV
How I Met Your Mother
7x11 The Rebound Girl
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Magicians
2x02 Episode 2
Pointless
5x45 (16/1/12 edition)
Including the most-pointlesses-scored round in Pointless history! Oo-ooh.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
7x11 The Rebound Girl
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Magicians
2x02 Episode 2
Pointless
5x45 (16/1/12 edition)
Including the most-pointlesses-scored round in Pointless history! Oo-ooh.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
'There is a clue everybody's missed': Sherlock writer Steven Moffat interviewed
by Stuart Jeffries (from the Guardian)
Moffat has lots of interesting things to say about Sherlock (and some other stuff too) in this surprisingly lengthy interview. He also mentions that series 3 might be on later this year! We can but hope.
Another choice comment is on people's attitude to TV viewing:
Very, very true.
And in other Sherlock news, the latest twist in the tale of that US series...
Legal thriller looms as Sherlock takes his caseload to New York
by Adam Sherwin (from the Independent)
More at the article, naturally. The most relevant bit:
by Stuart Jeffries (from the Guardian)
Moffat has lots of interesting things to say about Sherlock (and some other stuff too) in this surprisingly lengthy interview. He also mentions that series 3 might be on later this year! We can but hope.
Another choice comment is on people's attitude to TV viewing:
"I get irritated when people say on Twitter: 'It's too complicated. I'm not following it.' Well, you could try putting your phone down and watching it."
Very, very true.
And in other Sherlock news, the latest twist in the tale of that US series...
Legal thriller looms as Sherlock takes his caseload to New York
by Adam Sherwin (from the Independent)
Sue Vertue, Sherlock Executive Producer at Hartswood Films, said: "We understand that CBS are doing their own version of an updated Sherlock Holmes. It's interesting, as they approached us a while back about remaking our show. At the time, they made great assurances about their integrity, so we have to assume that their modernised Sherlock Holmes doesn't resemble ours in any way, as that would be extremely worrying... We are very proud of our show and like any proud parent, will protect the interest and wellbeing of our offspring."
More at the article, naturally. The most relevant bit:
Margaret Tofalides, a copyright specialist at law firm Manches, said: "The concept of a new Sherlock Holmes is unprotectable. But if the unusual elements of the BBC series – the modern settings, characters, clothes, plots and distinctive visual style – were closely reproduced in the CBS version, that could form the basis of a potential copyright claim."
Friday, 20 January 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
10x11 (13/1/12 edition)
Well, that wasn't as uncomfortable as it could have been.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
6x02 Immune
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Mentalist
4x07 Blinking Red Light
Skipped an episode again, but this time deliberately because my copy of ep6 wouldn't play. Don't worry, I've already acquired another. Anyway, this was a particularly great episode I thought, with a really nice twist in the tail right at the end. Good work Mentalist team.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
5x02 (14/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x02 Episode 2
10x11 (13/1/12 edition)
Well, that wasn't as uncomfortable as it could have been.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
6x02 Immune
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Mentalist
4x07 Blinking Red Light
Skipped an episode again, but this time deliberately because my copy of ep6 wouldn't play. Don't worry, I've already acquired another. Anyway, this was a particularly great episode I thought, with a really nice twist in the tail right at the end. Good work Mentalist team.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
5x02 (14/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x02 Episode 2
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,438 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 290 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,579 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,531 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,409 [up 21]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,438 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 290 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,579 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,531 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,409 [up 21]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
TV
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Episode 3 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x44 (13/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 3 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x44 (13/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
TV
Eternal Law
1x02 Episode 2
That was a little better than the first one. Maybe. Maybe I've just got (massively) lowered expectations.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Episode 3 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The One...
1x02 Jasper Carrott
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x02 Episode 2
That was a little better than the first one. Maybe. Maybe I've just got (massively) lowered expectations.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Episode 3 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The One...
1x02 Jasper Carrott
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Magdalen Oxford gets rejection letter from student
(from BBC News)
US broadcaster CBS orders Sherlock Holmes TV pilot
by Tom Cole (from Radio Times)
(from BBC News)
A student has sent a rejection letter to the University of Oxford following her interview for a place there. Elly Nowell parodied the institution's own rejection letters, stating Magdalen College "did not quite meet the standard" of other universities.Hehe.
US broadcaster CBS orders Sherlock Holmes TV pilot
by Tom Cole (from Radio Times)
the pilot will see Holmes living in contemporary New York and, like the BBC’s Sherlock, will adapt Conan Doyle’s plotlines to fit the modern world."That British show Sherlock seems to have gone down well, shall we try to arrange a remake?" "The characters are out of copyright -- let's do a rip off!" "RIP OFF!"
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
TV
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
1x06 Cyber Attack
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
1x06 Cyber Attack
Articles
Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock boosts Conan Doyle book sales
by Paul Jones (from Radio Times)
Channel 4 announces More4 rebrand
by Tom Cole (from Radio Times)
Fern Britton: 'Doctor Who is the most dreary thing'
by Catriona Wightman (from Digital Spy)
I know some fans can't face any criticism, but while I disagree I can see where people are coming from sometimes when they criticise Doctor Who, say for being too silly, or daft, or funny, or not-real, or too complicated, or many other things that get trotted out. But "dreary"? Dreary? Dictionary definition: "dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing". Doctor Who is many things, but those are four it most certainly is not.
The Royal Bodyguard fails to defend its viewing figures
by Tim Glanfield (from Radio Times)
by Paul Jones (from Radio Times)
sales of Sherlock Holmes books increased by 53 per cent [from 2009 to 2010]...
Weekly sales of Sherlock Holmes books took “a significant jump” when the series began, according to David Walter of Neilsen BookScan, which provided the figures... “If you compare sales for the first week of 2012 to an average week from 2011 (sales somewhere under 2,000 copies a week) the sales are nearly double,” said Walter.
Channel 4 announces More4 rebrand
by Tom Cole (from Radio Times)
certain documentary strands, current affairs and arts programmes will no longer play on More4... programming covering subjects including homes, property, food, health and fashion will form the bulk of the revamped channel’s output.So, put succinctly, they're going downmarket.
Fern Britton: 'Doctor Who is the most dreary thing'
by Catriona Wightman (from Digital Spy)
I know some fans can't face any criticism, but while I disagree I can see where people are coming from sometimes when they criticise Doctor Who, say for being too silly, or daft, or funny, or not-real, or too complicated, or many other things that get trotted out. But "dreary"? Dreary? Dictionary definition: "dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing". Doctor Who is many things, but those are four it most certainly is not.
The Royal Bodyguard fails to defend its viewing figures
by Tim Glanfield (from Radio Times)
Just 2.61 million viewers (a 10 per cent audience share) tuned in to watch the David Jason vehicle between 9pm and 9:30pm on BBC1. The figures represent a consistent downward curve for the programme's ratings, which started at the dizzy heights of 7.1 million on Boxing Day before falling to 4.5 million viewers a week later and just 2.9 million viewers for its third episode last week.I've not watched it, but it did look dreadful, something these figures really bear out.
Monday, 16 January 2012
TV
Pointless
5x43 (12/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tim Minchin: Ready for This?
Mr Minchin live, as shown on TV, and so probably shorter than the version you can get on DVD & Blu-ray. Still brilliant though.
5x43 (12/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tim Minchin: Ready for This?
Mr Minchin live, as shown on TV, and so probably shorter than the version you can get on DVD & Blu-ray. Still brilliant though.
Films
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
[#4 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Having wrapped up the bulk of Underworld's dangling plot threads in the sequel, here the filmmakers desperately extend the franchise by going back in time the best part of a millennium to tell a story we've already mostly seen in flashbacks in the first two films. It's not a bad effort, but knowing everything that happens takes some of the wind out of its sails.
[#4 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Having wrapped up the bulk of Underworld's dangling plot threads in the sequel, here the filmmakers desperately extend the franchise by going back in time the best part of a millennium to tell a story we've already mostly seen in flashbacks in the first two films. It's not a bad effort, but knowing everything that happens takes some of the wind out of its sails.
Articles
New image arrives from The Hobbit
by George Wales (from Total Film)
Also, at least as interestingly, some comments from director/co-writer Peter Jackson and co-writer Pippa Boyens.
by George Wales (from Total Film)
Also, at least as interestingly, some comments from director/co-writer Peter Jackson and co-writer Pippa Boyens.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
TV
Perfect Couples
1x13 Perfect Daughter [series finale]
Perfect Couples comes to an end with one of its better episodes. Still not a great series, mind, but it did improve a bit as you got used to it.
Sherlock
2x03 The Reichenbach Fall [season finale]
That was brilliant, though I wish they'd done the reveal at the end -- we knew he was going to die and then not be dead, of course, but how he did it is the real surprise. Of course, that makes for a pretty fine 'cliffhanger'/tease, much clever than if they'd tried to pull off "is he dead?" as one.
Though however much I loved Sherlock, the twist (unveiled on twitter) that a third series was actually commissioned at the same time as a second is better than any they had in the series itself. Keeping that, which is pretty big news (how many series get a two-season pick-up! Not many) completely secret for so long is a very clever piece of work. Neat, very neat.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x13 Perfect Daughter [series finale]
Perfect Couples comes to an end with one of its better episodes. Still not a great series, mind, but it did improve a bit as you got used to it.
Sherlock
2x03 The Reichenbach Fall [season finale]
That was brilliant, though I wish they'd done the reveal at the end -- we knew he was going to die and then not be dead, of course, but how he did it is the real surprise. Of course, that makes for a pretty fine 'cliffhanger'/tease, much clever than if they'd tried to pull off "is he dead?" as one.
Though however much I loved Sherlock, the twist (unveiled on twitter) that a third series was actually commissioned at the same time as a second is better than any they had in the series itself. Keeping that, which is pretty big news (how many series get a two-season pick-up! Not many) completely secret for so long is a very clever piece of work. Neat, very neat.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
[2nd watch]
Last time I saw this was in cinemas, about six years ago, and I'd forgotten (or never realised) just how different it was to the first film.
Whereas that's very much a modern urban-fantasy -- all blue-grey perma-night constant-rain Gothic cityscape with cars and leather coats and dripping sewers and guns and more guns -- here we're back in the traditional vampire/werewolf realms of Eastern European forests (albeit filmed in Canada, apparently) with decrepit castles and ancient myths and all that kind of thing. Sure there's still high technology and guns, and characters new and old digging around in the ashes of the first film (an 800-year-ago prologue aside, this one picks up where that left off), but the general tone is different. And I don't like it as much.
There are plus points though. It wraps up all of the first film's hanging threads -- whereas that was ultimately inconclusive, here the mythology is completed (quite what's left for the prequel I'm not sure; more detail on events we already know the end result of I suppose). Indeed, Underworld: Part 2 would've been as apt a title, so closely is it linked to the first film. The acting's better too. I wouldn't necessarily say the script is, but with Shane Brolly dispatched early on and Sir Derek Jacobi added to the cast, the average performance quality is significantly raised.
It's also much more violent -- the first's a 15, this is an 18, and it's earned, though it didn't strike me as much as it did in the cinema (more desensitised I guess).
So, in conclusion, shame they couldn't have stuck to the first film's urban settings -- it was what made the franchise feel a bit different and Cool. Tomorrow night, I intend to see what I make of that prequel. Considering it's obvious time setting I'll allow it more of the old-fashioned-ness, but will it actually be any good?
[2nd watch]
Last time I saw this was in cinemas, about six years ago, and I'd forgotten (or never realised) just how different it was to the first film.
Whereas that's very much a modern urban-fantasy -- all blue-grey perma-night constant-rain Gothic cityscape with cars and leather coats and dripping sewers and guns and more guns -- here we're back in the traditional vampire/werewolf realms of Eastern European forests (albeit filmed in Canada, apparently) with decrepit castles and ancient myths and all that kind of thing. Sure there's still high technology and guns, and characters new and old digging around in the ashes of the first film (an 800-year-ago prologue aside, this one picks up where that left off), but the general tone is different. And I don't like it as much.
There are plus points though. It wraps up all of the first film's hanging threads -- whereas that was ultimately inconclusive, here the mythology is completed (quite what's left for the prequel I'm not sure; more detail on events we already know the end result of I suppose). Indeed, Underworld: Part 2 would've been as apt a title, so closely is it linked to the first film. The acting's better too. I wouldn't necessarily say the script is, but with Shane Brolly dispatched early on and Sir Derek Jacobi added to the cast, the average performance quality is significantly raised.
It's also much more violent -- the first's a 15, this is an 18, and it's earned, though it didn't strike me as much as it did in the cinema (more desensitised I guess).
So, in conclusion, shame they couldn't have stuck to the first film's urban settings -- it was what made the franchise feel a bit different and Cool. Tomorrow night, I intend to see what I make of that prequel. Considering it's obvious time setting I'll allow it more of the old-fashioned-ness, but will it actually be any good?
Articles
Universal 100th Anniversary Plans
by Dave Foster (from Home Cinema @ The Digital Fix)
Exciting stuff. More details at the link.
They've also rejigged their logo for the anniversary -- about time, I think, because the old '97 CGI was beginning to get a bit tired. Here's the swish but faithful new look, as unveiled by universal100.tumblr.com.
Click to enlarge.
by Dave Foster (from Home Cinema @ The Digital Fix)
Relevant to DVD and Blu-ray fans are the studio's efforts to restore thirteen films over the course of the centennial year... Universal Home Entertainment will be introducing a limited edition 100th Anniversary Collector’s Series featuring some of the aforementioned film restorations on Blu-ray in collectible, book-style packaging...
In addition, special collections will be released throughout the year culminating in the highly anticipated Blu-ray releases of Universal’s Classic Monster and Alfred Hitchcock series. A selection of movies that have shaped Universal’s legacy will also be released in commemorative packaging, many of them on Blu-ray for the first time ever.
Exciting stuff. More details at the link.
They've also rejigged their logo for the anniversary -- about time, I think, because the old '97 CGI was beginning to get a bit tired. Here's the swish but faithful new look, as unveiled by universal100.tumblr.com.
Click to enlarge.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Centurion (2010)
The Spider Woman (1944)
And in case you missed them last week, a pair of looks back at 2011 -- my watched list & statistics for the past year and my top ten (and bottom five) -- are obviously still available.
More next Sunday.
Centurion (2010)
The story moves quickly, keeping the momentum up. Indeed, at times it moves so fast that some characters seem to be given short shrift. There’s a “who will survive?” element to the plot — Marshall’s horror roots showing through, perhaps — but you can largely guess which order they’ll be shuffled off in based on, a) how much screen time the character has, and b) the good old deciding factor of “which actors are most recognisable”.
The Spider Woman (1944)
the story sees Sherlock Holmes fake his own death to help tackle the Irene Adler-esque titular woman, apparently his intellectual match, who’s somehow causing a spree of suicides. Several borrowed elements — the faked death and The Woman — lead to some delicious scenes, such as when an incognito Holmes meets the woman, who is actually aware of his true identity. Gale Sondergaard is so good that they crafted a sequel around her
And in case you missed them last week, a pair of looks back at 2011 -- my watched list & statistics for the past year and my top ten (and bottom five) -- are obviously still available.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
TV
The Great Sport Relief Bake Off
Episode 1 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The House of Rooms
1x01 Episode 1 - Paul
Or Milton Jones's House of Rooms, as the listings would have it. It's a pilot, but they called it Episode 1 on screen -- confidant. It was completely barmy, which you should expect from Jones really, and quite fun because of it. Go on C4, make a series.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Jonathan Ross Show
2x01 (7/1/12 edition)
Still not got round to the Christmas special. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Magicians
2x01 Episode 1
I can see why they've made it live -- for tricks like the social media one and, even more so, the public vote -- but it did make it feel rather clunky and unpolished at times. Hopefully it was first night nerves and things will firm up as the series goes on, because it's still a fun show.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x42 (11/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 1 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The House of Rooms
1x01 Episode 1 - Paul
Or Milton Jones's House of Rooms, as the listings would have it. It's a pilot, but they called it Episode 1 on screen -- confidant. It was completely barmy, which you should expect from Jones really, and quite fun because of it. Go on C4, make a series.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Jonathan Ross Show
2x01 (7/1/12 edition)
Still not got round to the Christmas special. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Magicians
2x01 Episode 1
I can see why they've made it live -- for tricks like the social media one and, even more so, the public vote -- but it did make it feel rather clunky and unpolished at times. Hopefully it was first night nerves and things will firm up as the series goes on, because it's still a fun show.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x42 (11/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Underworld: Extended Cut (2003)
[3rd watch]
Technically my second watch, for this version (the first being the theatrical cut, in the cinema right back in '03). Last time was just before the first sequel hit cinemas, so about six years ago.
My opinion on it hasn't changed a great deal in that time, though I may have grown out of it a little more... but then I was always aware the dialogue was frequently clunky, the desaturated look a bit forced, the production design self-consciously Goth-y, and some of the performances dire: on one hand you have the likes of always-excellent Michael Sheen, on another Bill Nighy hamming it up magnificently, and on another the flat-as-a-pancake Shane Brolly, with the rest of the cast hitting various quality levels around them.
But it's good supernatural/action/Goth-geek-cool fun for all that. I imagine it's a helluva lot better than that other populist vampire vs. werewolf love story of recent times.
[3rd watch]
Technically my second watch, for this version (the first being the theatrical cut, in the cinema right back in '03). Last time was just before the first sequel hit cinemas, so about six years ago.
My opinion on it hasn't changed a great deal in that time, though I may have grown out of it a little more... but then I was always aware the dialogue was frequently clunky, the desaturated look a bit forced, the production design self-consciously Goth-y, and some of the performances dire: on one hand you have the likes of always-excellent Michael Sheen, on another Bill Nighy hamming it up magnificently, and on another the flat-as-a-pancake Shane Brolly, with the rest of the cast hitting various quality levels around them.
But it's good supernatural/action/Goth-geek-cool fun for all that. I imagine it's a helluva lot better than that other populist vampire vs. werewolf love story of recent times.
Friday, 13 January 2012
TV
Black Mirror
1x03 The Entire History of You [season finale]
Another bloody good episode; possibly the best one, in fact. So that's three for three -- impressive stuff. I hope this gets a re-commission, because intelligent TV sci-fi is much needed and always welcome.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Graham Norton Show
10x10 (6/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x12 Perfect Pants
The first of two episodes shown only online in the US. They take place before the wedding, so presumably they were ditched from the TV schedule when the show was cancelled in favour of finishing off the story arc.
Pointless
5x41 (10/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x01 Episode 1
New comedy-drama written by and starring Ruth Jones. Very good, I thought. So that's another good original comedy on Sky -- what are they playing at?
1x03 The Entire History of You [season finale]
Another bloody good episode; possibly the best one, in fact. So that's three for three -- impressive stuff. I hope this gets a re-commission, because intelligent TV sci-fi is much needed and always welcome.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Graham Norton Show
10x10 (6/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x12 Perfect Pants
The first of two episodes shown only online in the US. They take place before the wedding, so presumably they were ditched from the TV schedule when the show was cancelled in favour of finishing off the story arc.
Pointless
5x41 (10/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x01 Episode 1
New comedy-drama written by and starring Ruth Jones. Very good, I thought. So that's another good original comedy on Sky -- what are they playing at?
Articles
Interview: Daniel Handler
by Tasha Robinson (from A.V. Club)
A rather interesting and lengthy interview with the man behind Lemony Snicket about all kinds of things I found quite interesting. So there.
by Tasha Robinson (from A.V. Club)
A rather interesting and lengthy interview with the man behind Lemony Snicket about all kinds of things I found quite interesting. So there.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Y'see, this is the problem with January: there's all the stuff you didn't get for Christmas to buy, plus the new releases. Why are there so many new releases in January? I guess it's all the stuff they didn't think would sell in the pre-Christmas rush, saved up for the (alleged) post-Christmas lull. Unfortunately for me (or, rather, for my bank balance), I'm interested in all that stuff too.
Number of titles in collection: 1,433 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 285 [up 7]
Number of discs in collection: 3,569 [up 21]
Number of films in collection: 1,527 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,388 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Y'see, this is the problem with January: there's all the stuff you didn't get for Christmas to buy, plus the new releases. Why are there so many new releases in January? I guess it's all the stuff they didn't think would sell in the pre-Christmas rush, saved up for the (alleged) post-Christmas lull. Unfortunately for me (or, rather, for my bank balance), I'm interested in all that stuff too.
Number of titles in collection: 1,433 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 285 [up 7]
Number of discs in collection: 3,569 [up 21]
Number of films in collection: 1,527 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,388 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
TV
Law & Order: UK
6x01 Survivor's Guilt
A tough subject matter, left over from last season's cliffhanger, but beautifully handled. Who knew before L&O that Bradley Walsh would turn out to be such a spectacularly good actor?
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
No Ordinary Family
1x16 No Ordinary Proposal
1x17 No Ordinary Love
"Actually, getting hit by that bullet saved his life."
"The only thing that can beat chemical love... is true love."
Oh No Ordinary Family, you are ridiculous. And surprisingly slow. But even though it's been five months since I last watched it, I still feel the need to finish it.
Perfect Couples
1x10 Perfect Exes
1x11 Perfect Wedding
How to make a middling series like Perfect Couples seem better: watch it immediately after No Ordinary Family. Seriously, it worked. (Hence why there's two of each.)
Pointless
5x40 (9/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x01 Survivor's Guilt
A tough subject matter, left over from last season's cliffhanger, but beautifully handled. Who knew before L&O that Bradley Walsh would turn out to be such a spectacularly good actor?
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
No Ordinary Family
1x16 No Ordinary Proposal
1x17 No Ordinary Love
"Actually, getting hit by that bullet saved his life."
"The only thing that can beat chemical love... is true love."
Oh No Ordinary Family, you are ridiculous. And surprisingly slow. But even though it's been five months since I last watched it, I still feel the need to finish it.
Perfect Couples
1x10 Perfect Exes
1x11 Perfect Wedding
How to make a middling series like Perfect Couples seem better: watch it immediately after No Ordinary Family. Seriously, it worked. (Hence why there's two of each.)
Pointless
5x40 (9/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
TV
Have I Got News For You
42x11 2011 (extended repeat) [season finale]
Being a best-of-the-year thingamy.
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
5x01 (7/1/12 edition)
Ah, Who Dares Wins -- rubbish really, but the format's fun for playing along.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x39 (6/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
42x11 2011 (extended repeat) [season finale]
Being a best-of-the-year thingamy.
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
5x01 (7/1/12 edition)
Ah, Who Dares Wins -- rubbish really, but the format's fun for playing along.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x39 (6/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 9 January 2012
TV
Endeavour
I never watched Inspector Morse, but this feature-length prequel was pretty good, and I'm assured it was faithful and fitting to its inspiration too. My guess about the solution was completely, epically wrong.
The Mentalist
4x05 Blood and Sand
The One...
1x01 Lenny Henry
Inspired by the rather good The One Ronnie special from last Christmas (well, the Christmas-before-last now, isn't it), here a selection of other older comedians do a similar thing: a bit of stand-up, a few sketches with Younger Things, and so on. Lenny isn't as good as Ronnie, but some of the sketches were pretty decent nonetheless.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
1x05 The Trial of TR-425
Pointless
5x38 (5/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Rhod Gilbert and the Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst
Didn't intend to watch this, but stumbled across it a few minutes in and left it on. I have a bit of a love/hate opinion on Rhod Gilbert's comedy (more of the former, really, but I don't go out of my way to watch him), and this was rather good.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
I never watched Inspector Morse, but this feature-length prequel was pretty good, and I'm assured it was faithful and fitting to its inspiration too. My guess about the solution was completely, epically wrong.
The Mentalist
4x05 Blood and Sand
The One...
1x01 Lenny Henry
Inspired by the rather good The One Ronnie special from last Christmas (well, the Christmas-before-last now, isn't it), here a selection of other older comedians do a similar thing: a bit of stand-up, a few sketches with Younger Things, and so on. Lenny isn't as good as Ronnie, but some of the sketches were pretty decent nonetheless.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
1x05 The Trial of TR-425
Pointless
5x38 (5/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Rhod Gilbert and the Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst
Didn't intend to watch this, but stumbled across it a few minutes in and left it on. I have a bit of a love/hate opinion on Rhod Gilbert's comedy (more of the former, really, but I don't go out of my way to watch him), and this was rather good.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Sunday, 8 January 2012
TV
Sherlock
2x02 The Hounds of Baskerville
Shame about the dodgy CG doggy turning up at the end. That aside, I enjoyed this, a solid modernising of a familiar story with nice nods to the original. The revelation about the morse code was a particularly amusing twist -- hound, dogging, hehehe, etc.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks
Regular readers will know I love a bit of magic, and so what better piece of entertainment than this, Channel 5's three-hour countdown of the best tricks TV has ever offered. And it was brilliant too, though there were quite a few tricks I wish they could've found the time to show in full. And, of course, I wish we were told how they were all done.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
2x02 The Hounds of Baskerville
Shame about the dodgy CG doggy turning up at the end. That aside, I enjoyed this, a solid modernising of a familiar story with nice nods to the original. The revelation about the morse code was a particularly amusing twist -- hound, dogging, hehehe, etc.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks
Regular readers will know I love a bit of magic, and so what better piece of entertainment than this, Channel 5's three-hour countdown of the best tricks TV has ever offered. And it was brilliant too, though there were quite a few tricks I wish they could've found the time to show in full. And, of course, I wish we were told how they were all done.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Articles
J.J. Abrams Talks Star Trek 2; Says Filming Begins Thursday and 3D Tests on First Star Trek Convinced Him to Post-Convert Sequel
by Christina Radish (from Collider.com)
He also says that the 3D "was something that the studio wanted to do, and I didn’t want to do it." Ah. He goes on:
by Christina Radish (from Collider.com)
He also says that the 3D "was something that the studio wanted to do, and I didn’t want to do it." Ah. He goes on:
And then, when I saw the first movie converted in sections, I thought that it actually looked really cool. So, I was okay with their doing it, as long as I could shoot the movie the way I wanted to, in anamorphic film, and then let them convert it. So, those who want to see it in 3D, which looked pretty cool, can do it, and those that want to see it in 2D can do that tooSo 2D is his preferred format, I'd say. He also talks about the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch and other bits and bobs like that.
this week on 100 Films
No new reviews on 100 Films in a Year this week, but I have posted my two looks back at the previous year:
The Full List, which lists every film I saw in viewing order, plus a stack of fascinating statistics (now with graphs!)
and
In Retrospect, in which I list my five worst and ten best films of the year, as well as fifty I missed.
And that's 2011 done with... apart from the pile of reviews I still have to post. More of them next Sunday.
and
And that's 2011 done with... apart from the pile of reviews I still have to post. More of them next Sunday.
Saturday, 7 January 2012
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Countdown: The Channel 4 Mash Up
Bits of both shows jumbled together? Ah, a proper mash-up.
[Watch some of it (again) on 4oD.]
Charlie Brooker's 2011 Wipe
Charlie Brooker recaps and satirises the year that was "like an end of season finale for all of mankind".
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Eternal Law
1x01 Episode 1
New supernatural/legal drama from the creators of Life on Mars. Also from the creators of the reviled Bonekickers, which is unfortunately more relevant. Despite the good writers, a good cast and an interesting high concept, this is the victim of weak writing (a slow start, an implausible courtroom), weak acting and too much unnecessary opacity in the way the premise is presented. Shame.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
House
8x08 Perils of Paranoia
This episode, aired in November, was the last one until the end of January. On the one hand, "oh America and your crazy scheduling!" On the other, I haven't watched it until now (partly because it was the last one until January), so what does it matter.
How I Met Your Mother
7x09 Disaster Averted
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Paddy's 2011 Show and Telly
I can't stand Paddy McGuinness, but I love TV and a quiz show about it sounded fun. But it's presented by Paddy McGuinness. Ugh. Appalling, for all kinds of reasons.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player. But I wouldn't if I were you.]
Pointless
5x37 (4/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Bits of both shows jumbled together? Ah, a proper mash-up.
[Watch some of it (again) on 4oD.]
Charlie Brooker's 2011 Wipe
Charlie Brooker recaps and satirises the year that was "like an end of season finale for all of mankind".
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Eternal Law
1x01 Episode 1
New supernatural/legal drama from the creators of Life on Mars. Also from the creators of the reviled Bonekickers, which is unfortunately more relevant. Despite the good writers, a good cast and an interesting high concept, this is the victim of weak writing (a slow start, an implausible courtroom), weak acting and too much unnecessary opacity in the way the premise is presented. Shame.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
House
8x08 Perils of Paranoia
This episode, aired in November, was the last one until the end of January. On the one hand, "oh America and your crazy scheduling!" On the other, I haven't watched it until now (partly because it was the last one until January), so what does it matter.
How I Met Your Mother
7x09 Disaster Averted
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Paddy's 2011 Show and Telly
I can't stand Paddy McGuinness, but I love TV and a quiz show about it sounded fun. But it's presented by Paddy McGuinness. Ugh. Appalling, for all kinds of reasons.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player. But I wouldn't if I were you.]
Pointless
5x37 (4/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
It really ought to be a quiet time in January, post-Christmas, but it's not going to be completely silent -- look, I've started already!
Number of titles in collection: 1,426 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 278 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,548 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,519 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,388 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
It really ought to be a quiet time in January, post-Christmas, but it's not going to be completely silent -- look, I've started already!
Number of titles in collection: 1,426 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 278 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,548 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,519 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,388 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 6 January 2012
TV
Absolutely Fabulous
6x01 Identity [Christmas special]
6x02 Job [New Year special]
You assume these kind of revivals are going to be at best pretty weak and at worst hopelessly embarrassing, but I thought these two episodes were actually rather funny. Not sure the mooted movie is a good idea though.
[Watch Identity and Job (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Many Faces of
Dame Judi Dench
The Mentalist
4x03 Pretty Red Balloon
US TV should be re-starting before too long, so I ought to catch up on the ones I've not seen... not that The Mentalist seemed to stop over Christmas.
Pointless
5x36 (3/1/12 edition)
Returning post-Christmas, Pointless returns to new episodes (last aired in October). Not that it matters much to me -- I hadn't seen the repeats they'd been showing anyway. Though I was dreadfully behind on them, and now have them all saved up for when they switch to repeating episodes I have seen.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x13 Intelligence (XL edition)
Being the one I missed that I keep going on about.
6x01 Identity [Christmas special]
6x02 Job [New Year special]
You assume these kind of revivals are going to be at best pretty weak and at worst hopelessly embarrassing, but I thought these two episodes were actually rather funny. Not sure the mooted movie is a good idea though.
[Watch Identity and Job (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Many Faces of
Dame Judi Dench
The Mentalist
4x03 Pretty Red Balloon
US TV should be re-starting before too long, so I ought to catch up on the ones I've not seen... not that The Mentalist seemed to stop over Christmas.
Pointless
5x36 (3/1/12 edition)
Returning post-Christmas, Pointless returns to new episodes (last aired in October). Not that it matters much to me -- I hadn't seen the repeats they'd been showing anyway. Though I was dreadfully behind on them, and now have them all saved up for when they switch to repeating episodes I have seen.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
9x13 Intelligence (XL edition)
Being the one I missed that I keep going on about.
Articles
Outnumbered to return for fifth series?
by Morgan Jeffery (from Digital Spy)
Fingers crossed for this one. Though I agree the kids are getting a bit too old and they should probably wrap it up soon, I think they should wrap it up soon rather than just stop it, and doing a fifth series this year -- rather than in 2013 as mooted -- seems to the best way to do that.
by Morgan Jeffery (from Digital Spy)
Fingers crossed for this one. Though I agree the kids are getting a bit too old and they should probably wrap it up soon, I think they should wrap it up soon rather than just stop it, and doing a fifth series this year -- rather than in 2013 as mooted -- seems to the best way to do that.
Thursday, 5 January 2012
TV
Earthflight
Part 1 North America (of 6)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Black Mirror
1x02 15 Million Merits
That was a bit bleak and depressing... much like the reality TV & app cultures it was satirising, then. That's what all the best sci-fi does: comment on the here & now. Usually such things are more subtle, but where does subtlety get you these days? And I'm sure plenty of people are too dim to get that this is a comment on where things are at now rather than where they might theoretically end up.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Lee Mack: Going Out
Apparently this was all-new, but as it went on I began to feel like I'd seen some of it before. Maybe just déjà vu, I dunno. (Last time I watched some Lee Mack stand-up, I had seen it before. Coincidencetastic.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x13 Episode 13 [season finale]
Just a best bits show, except for a couple of quite amusing outtakes near the end.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 1 North America (of 6)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Black Mirror
1x02 15 Million Merits
That was a bit bleak and depressing... much like the reality TV & app cultures it was satirising, then. That's what all the best sci-fi does: comment on the here & now. Usually such things are more subtle, but where does subtlety get you these days? And I'm sure plenty of people are too dim to get that this is a comment on where things are at now rather than where they might theoretically end up.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Lee Mack: Going Out
Apparently this was all-new, but as it went on I began to feel like I'd seen some of it before. Maybe just déjà vu, I dunno. (Last time I watched some Lee Mack stand-up, I had seen it before. Coincidencetastic.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x13 Episode 13 [season finale]
Just a best bits show, except for a couple of quite amusing outtakes near the end.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
TV
Comic Relief 2011: What a Cracker
A poorly-edited (every sketch was truncated! great stuff was missing!) set of highlights from last year's Comic Relief. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Great Expectations
Part 3 (of 3)
I enjoyed that greatly. Makes me want to watch the David Lean film again to see if the bits I didn't remember were in it or not.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x07 Christmas Special [season finale]
3x00 Vegas Baby!
I didn't watch last year's special sooner because it wasn't near enough Christmas when I finished series two proper. Now I'm struggling to justify to myself that it's still Christmas season enough to get away with it. Oops. On the bright side, it is quite separate from the series proper -- set three months later, even -- so in that respect it's been a good gap. Great episode too.
Then there's the amusing, and surprisingly long, series three prequel, explaining the departure of a major character (I'm sure if you care you know who, even if you're as behind as me). As well as 4oD, the prequel's available on iTunes for free -- and in HD too! -- here.
[Watch the Christmas special and Vegas Baby! (again) on 4oD.]
A poorly-edited (every sketch was truncated! great stuff was missing!) set of highlights from last year's Comic Relief. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Great Expectations
Part 3 (of 3)
I enjoyed that greatly. Makes me want to watch the David Lean film again to see if the bits I didn't remember were in it or not.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Misfits
2x07 Christmas Special [season finale]
3x00 Vegas Baby!
I didn't watch last year's special sooner because it wasn't near enough Christmas when I finished series two proper. Now I'm struggling to justify to myself that it's still Christmas season enough to get away with it. Oops. On the bright side, it is quite separate from the series proper -- set three months later, even -- so in that respect it's been a good gap. Great episode too.
Then there's the amusing, and surprisingly long, series three prequel, explaining the departure of a major character (I'm sure if you care you know who, even if you're as behind as me). As well as 4oD, the prequel's available on iTunes for free -- and in HD too! -- here.
[Watch the Christmas special and Vegas Baby! (again) on 4oD.]
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
TV
Great Expectations
Part 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
2x01 My First Brassiere
QI
9x15 Ice (XL edition) [Christmas special]
Keeping track of QI has becoming a nightmare over Christmas, where they've shown a mix of old and new episodes in both regular and XL editions. Plus they've apparently put some brand-new stuff in those VG episodes, aside from all the best bits and best-bits-of-episodes-not-yet-shown; and then there's that episode I missed, which it turns out I have recorded.
Is it all just some kind of test for those people who want to see every episode in its fullest form, I wonder?
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
2x01 My First Brassiere
QI
9x15 Ice (XL edition) [Christmas special]
Keeping track of QI has becoming a nightmare over Christmas, where they've shown a mix of old and new episodes in both regular and XL editions. Plus they've apparently put some brand-new stuff in those VG episodes, aside from all the best bits and best-bits-of-episodes-not-yet-shown; and then there's that episode I missed, which it turns out I have recorded.
Is it all just some kind of test for those people who want to see every episode in its fullest form, I wonder?
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 2 January 2012
TV
Top Gear
18x00 India Special
This year's Christmas special sees the boys "set off on an epic road trip across India", which doesn't sound quite as iconically Christmas as last year's baby Jesus-themed thing.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
18x00 India Special
This year's Christmas special sees the boys "set off on an epic road trip across India", which doesn't sound quite as iconically Christmas as last year's baby Jesus-themed thing.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
[2nd watch]
This was #70 in 100 Films 2011, and why I watched it again today will become obvious imminently...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
[#2 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
That's a little over four-and-a-half hours of Potter today. Epic.
Also, last night...
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
[2nd watch]
This was #70 in 100 Films 2011, and why I watched it again today will become obvious imminently...
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
[#2 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
That's a little over four-and-a-half hours of Potter today. Epic.
Also, last night...
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Sunday, 1 January 2012
TV
Great Expectations
Part 1 (of 3)
Love a bit of Gothic, and this is marvellously so.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
7x08 The Slutty Pumpkin Returns
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Little Crackers
2x11 I Was a Teenage Santa!
Sherlock
2x01 A Scandal in Belgravia
God that was good. I'd like to say which bits I liked, but they make Sherlock such a densely packed hour-and-a-half that it's difficult to know where to begin. Or end. Absolutely brilliant.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Part 1 (of 3)
Love a bit of Gothic, and this is marvellously so.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
7x08 The Slutty Pumpkin Returns
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Little Crackers
2x11 I Was a Teenage Santa!
Sherlock
2x01 A Scandal in Belgravia
God that was good. I'd like to say which bits I liked, but they make Sherlock such a densely packed hour-and-a-half that it's difficult to know where to begin. Or end. Absolutely brilliant.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
Happy New Year!
Anyway...
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week... but there was also the December update, being the first in my annual triumvirate looking back at the year (the next two looking back at the year, rather than just the month-and-by-association-of-it-being-the-last-month,-the-year).
Anyway, that review...
Gambit (1966)
More next Sunday.
Anyway...
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week... but there was also the December update, being the first in my annual triumvirate looking back at the year (the next two looking back at the year, rather than just the month-and-by-association-of-it-being-the-last-month,-the-year).
Anyway, that review...
Gambit (1966)
Gambit is distinctly underrated. The huge advantage of this is that you’re not very likely to have had all the twists spoiled, which is wonderful news! Indeed, because the biggest twist is near the start, it’s pretty hard to review without giving it away. But I’ll do my best. Honestly though, avoid other reviews, just in case.
More next Sunday.
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