Never Mind the Buzzcocks
31x02 Episode 2
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x02 Week 1: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 30 September 2023
Films
Death on the Nile (2022)
[2nd watch]
[#71 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
The Man Who Was Nobody (1960)
[#72 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
[2nd watch]
[#71 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
The Man Who Was Nobody (1960)
[#72 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Three new additions this week, of which the biggest (in every respect) is The Wicker Man on 4K. Despite being one of StudioCanal's fancy big-box editions (with five discs, including a music CD, and a bunch of posters and art cards and whatnot), because it replaces my old Blu-ray copy it actually does almost nothing to the numbers below (but the other two additions do, of course). Still, it's a definite upgrade: all three cuts in 4K (meaning the Director's Cut jumps from an SD NTSC-to-PAL conversion straight to 4K), plus some new special features (as well as all the old ones). Now, I just need to actually watch it — when I last saw the film, the Director's Cut didn't even exist, never mind the Final Cut.
Number of titles in collection: 3,161 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,139 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 298 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,726 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,880 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 342 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,079 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Three new additions this week, of which the biggest (in every respect) is The Wicker Man on 4K. Despite being one of StudioCanal's fancy big-box editions (with five discs, including a music CD, and a bunch of posters and art cards and whatnot), because it replaces my old Blu-ray copy it actually does almost nothing to the numbers below (but the other two additions do, of course). Still, it's a definite upgrade: all three cuts in 4K (meaning the Director's Cut jumps from an SD NTSC-to-PAL conversion straight to 4K), plus some new special features (as well as all the old ones). Now, I just need to actually watch it — when I last saw the film, the Director's Cut didn't even exist, never mind the Final Cut.
Number of titles in collection: 3,161 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,139 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 298 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,726 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,880 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 342 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,079 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 29 September 2023
Fiction
Doctor Who: The Nameless City by Michael Scott
Chapters 2–5 [the end]
That completes the Second Doctor portion of my 60th anniversary celebrations. Another really good little story, I thought — this collection is two for two so far.
A brief pause for the weekend now (which is why I got through Fury in three days instead of six), and then on to the Third Doctor.
Chapters 2–5 [the end]
That completes the Second Doctor portion of my 60th anniversary celebrations. Another really good little story, I thought — this collection is two for two so far.
A brief pause for the weekend now (which is why I got through Fury in three days instead of six), and then on to the Third Doctor.
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
23–28 March 2021
Unusually, didn't have time for this yesterday, so have caught up by simply playing two days' worth today (no point overcomplicating it by spreading those skipped days over several play-days). And that turned out to be fortuitous, because the 24th to 26th are just about companions you can employ for the next part of the adventure, while the weekend of 27th/28th is just a shopping exercise.
23–28 March 2021
Unusually, didn't have time for this yesterday, so have caught up by simply playing two days' worth today (no point overcomplicating it by spreading those skipped days over several play-days). And that turned out to be fortuitous, because the 24th to 26th are just about companions you can employ for the next part of the adventure, while the weekend of 27th/28th is just a shopping exercise.
Thursday, 28 September 2023
Fiction
Doctor Who: The Nameless City by Michael Scott
Prologue + Chapter 1
The second in the 11/12/13 Doctors, 11/12/13 Stories series, to finish off the Second Doctor portion of my 60th anniversary celebrations. Despite these books only being short (calling them novellas feels a stretch — their long-ish short stories), I managed to start this one today but didn't find time to finish it. Tomorrow, hopefully.
Prologue + Chapter 1
The second in the 11/12/13 Doctors, 11/12/13 Stories series, to finish off the Second Doctor portion of my 60th anniversary celebrations. Despite these books only being short (calling them novellas feels a stretch — their long-ish short stories), I managed to start this one today but didn't find time to finish it. Tomorrow, hopefully.
Wednesday, 27 September 2023
TV
Doctor Who
5x33 Fury from the Deep Episode 5
5x34 Fury from the Deep Episode 6
These two episodes really pick up the pace of the serial, packing it full of action and excitement. The first four episodes have their moments, but I can't help but feel if they'd been condensed into two, and these two left as they are, we'd have an absolute-classic four-parter here, rather than an unfortunately compromised six-parter.
5x33 Fury from the Deep Episode 5
5x34 Fury from the Deep Episode 6
These two episodes really pick up the pace of the serial, packing it full of action and excitement. The first four episodes have their moments, but I can't help but feel if they'd been condensed into two, and these two left as they are, we'd have an absolute-classic four-parter here, rather than an unfortunately compromised six-parter.
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Audio Drama / Podcasts
Doctor Who: Redacted
2x02 Apex
This isn't 'officially' part of my 60th celebrations, by-the-by, it's just the whole season has already been released so I'm listening to it as and when.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
2x02 Apex
This isn't 'officially' part of my 60th celebrations, by-the-by, it's just the whole season has already been released so I'm listening to it as and when.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Monday, 25 September 2023
TV
Doctor Who
5x29 Fury from the Deep Episode 1
5x30 Fury from the Deep Episode 2
My 60th anniversary celebrations move on to the Second Doctor now (see further down today for the conclusion of the First Doctor). For this one, I've chosen an animated reconstruction of a missing TV serial. There are some complete Second Doctor serials I've not seen, but (as I said at the start) I'm trying to vary the media featured, and the Second Doctor is the only one with whole animated serials that I've not yet seen. I had intended to only watch one episode a day (my usual MO for watching Classic Who nowadays), but I'm getting a bit concerned about finishing everything before the anniversary rolls around, so I'm speeding this one up a bit.
As with Galaxy 4 earlier this month, the animation has its own listing as a miniseries on IMDb and on Letterboxd, as well as the ones for the original serial, which again leaves me with a logging/rating conundrum — the kind of thing that probably only bothers me. Of course, last time I made a judgement on this was only a couple of weeks ago, so I'm just following the precedent I set then.
5x29 Fury from the Deep Episode 1
5x30 Fury from the Deep Episode 2
My 60th anniversary celebrations move on to the Second Doctor now (see further down today for the conclusion of the First Doctor). For this one, I've chosen an animated reconstruction of a missing TV serial. There are some complete Second Doctor serials I've not seen, but (as I said at the start) I'm trying to vary the media featured, and the Second Doctor is the only one with whole animated serials that I've not yet seen. I had intended to only watch one episode a day (my usual MO for watching Classic Who nowadays), but I'm getting a bit concerned about finishing everything before the anniversary rolls around, so I'm speeding this one up a bit.
As with Galaxy 4 earlier this month, the animation has its own listing as a miniseries on IMDb and on Letterboxd, as well as the ones for the original serial, which again leaves me with a logging/rating conundrum — the kind of thing that probably only bothers me. Of course, last time I made a judgement on this was only a couple of weeks ago, so I'm just following the precedent I set then.
Fiction
Doctor Who: Marco Polo by John Lucarotti
Chapters 14–17 [the end]
Doctor Who: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
Chapters 1–5 + Epilogue [the end]
For Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, Puffin issued a series of short ebooks, one per Doctor. They also bundled them together into a print paperback, called 11 Doctors 11 Stories. A year later, after Peter Capaldi had joined, they released a new story and also republished the book as 12 Doctors 12 Stories. I have both of those — normally I'd've been reticient to rebuy, but when they issued the latter as a neat little box set with the stories split into 12 individual books (plus some postcards), I couldn't resist. And then, after Jodie Whittaker joined, they reissued it again, this time as (you probably guessed it) Thirteen Doctors, 13 Stories (that's not me being weird with the different spelling, it's them). I didn't buy it again. I'm not a fool. Well, not that much of a fool. (Will we get a 15 Doctors, 15 Stories after Ncuti joins? Only time will tell...)
And also, despite owning it twice, I've never actually read any of the stories. Oh dear. But when better to finally do it than now? A collection originally commissioned for the 50th, finally read for the 60th — very me. My plan is to read each Doctor's story after their 'main' contribution for my 60th celebrations, so today we have this First Doctor tale. It was a lot of fun. I hope the next 12 tales can live up to it.
Chapters 14–17 [the end]
Doctor Who: A Big Hand for the Doctor by Eoin Colfer
Chapters 1–5 + Epilogue [the end]
For Doctor Who's 50th anniversary, Puffin issued a series of short ebooks, one per Doctor. They also bundled them together into a print paperback, called 11 Doctors 11 Stories. A year later, after Peter Capaldi had joined, they released a new story and also republished the book as 12 Doctors 12 Stories. I have both of those — normally I'd've been reticient to rebuy, but when they issued the latter as a neat little box set with the stories split into 12 individual books (plus some postcards), I couldn't resist. And then, after Jodie Whittaker joined, they reissued it again, this time as (you probably guessed it) Thirteen Doctors, 13 Stories (that's not me being weird with the different spelling, it's them). I didn't buy it again. I'm not a fool. Well, not that much of a fool. (Will we get a 15 Doctors, 15 Stories after Ncuti joins? Only time will tell...)
And also, despite owning it twice, I've never actually read any of the stories. Oh dear. But when better to finally do it than now? A collection originally commissioned for the 50th, finally read for the 60th — very me. My plan is to read each Doctor's story after their 'main' contribution for my 60th celebrations, so today we have this First Doctor tale. It was a lot of fun. I hope the next 12 tales can live up to it.
Sunday, 24 September 2023
Fiction
Doctor Who: Marco Polo by John Lucarotti
Chapters 9–14
I really enjoy Marco Polo as a narrative. It's such a shame the TV version is lost. It's probably still #1 on my personal list of "ones I wish they'd find". But the novelisation...
Well, it doesn’t get off to the greatest of starts. In the early chapters especially (and to an extent throughout) it almost reads like a screenplay, so reliant is it on dialogue, with the barest description of anything else. Even when you do get a line of action or other description, sometimes it adds nothing beyond reflecting the onscreen blocking (presumably, that is — with the episodes missing, it’s hard to know for sure. But, for example, there are moments when characters are described moving around the room in a way that has no impact on what's happening). The prose begins to open up more as the book goes on, but by that point the script-like literalness is so embedded that any section not dense in dialogue comes across as abridgement. That is to say, it feels like there were too many scenes to fit in a short Target novelisation, so parts have instead been summarised.
That’s not to mention that Lucarotti is clearly writing a book “for children”, with a use of language and overall style clearly aimed at a young age group. In fairness, I suppose these books were that at the time, and maybe the entire range is guilty of it. I don’t remember feeling that way about any of them before, but it’s a good long while since I’ve read a Target novelisation — probably not since my own childhood, in fact, when obviously I wouldn’t have noticed as much; plus, I’ve done a lot more studying of literature since then, so I'm more attuned to that kind of thing.
So, not the greatest novel overall, then — but, like I said, at least it's a cracking story.
Chapters 9–14
I really enjoy Marco Polo as a narrative. It's such a shame the TV version is lost. It's probably still #1 on my personal list of "ones I wish they'd find". But the novelisation...
Well, it doesn’t get off to the greatest of starts. In the early chapters especially (and to an extent throughout) it almost reads like a screenplay, so reliant is it on dialogue, with the barest description of anything else. Even when you do get a line of action or other description, sometimes it adds nothing beyond reflecting the onscreen blocking (presumably, that is — with the episodes missing, it’s hard to know for sure. But, for example, there are moments when characters are described moving around the room in a way that has no impact on what's happening). The prose begins to open up more as the book goes on, but by that point the script-like literalness is so embedded that any section not dense in dialogue comes across as abridgement. That is to say, it feels like there were too many scenes to fit in a short Target novelisation, so parts have instead been summarised.
That’s not to mention that Lucarotti is clearly writing a book “for children”, with a use of language and overall style clearly aimed at a young age group. In fairness, I suppose these books were that at the time, and maybe the entire range is guilty of it. I don’t remember feeling that way about any of them before, but it’s a good long while since I’ve read a Target novelisation — probably not since my own childhood, in fact, when obviously I wouldn’t have noticed as much; plus, I’ve done a lot more studying of literature since then, so I'm more attuned to that kind of thing.
So, not the greatest novel overall, then — but, like I said, at least it's a cracking story.
Saturday, 23 September 2023
Films
Fisherman's Friends: One and All (2022)
[2nd watch]
[#69 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
[2nd watch]
[#69 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Audio Drama / Podcasts
Doctor Who: Redacted
2x01 Regrets
I didn't much care for the first series of this, but, hey, it's Doctor Who, so here I am. Here I'll always be.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
2x01 Regrets
I didn't much care for the first series of this, but, hey, it's Doctor Who, so here I am. Here I'll always be.
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Fiction
Doctor Who: Marco Polo by John Lucarotti
Chapters 1–8
My Doctor Who 60th celebrations proper begin here! To mark the occasion, I'm going to watch, read, or listen to one piece of media I've never experienced for each Doctor. I've aimed to diversify those too, to take in as much of what Doctor Who is as possible – i.e. considering all the various spin-off/ancillary media as equal to the TV series, because, in many ways, they kind of are (I mean, would the series really have survived the Wilderness Years without them?)
So, up first — and therefore representing the First Doctor — is the Target novelisation of the oldest missing TV story, Marco Polo. It was the fourth-ever Who story, and I've seen the three that precede it, so this is the oldest story I could've chosen while still retaining the "something I've never experienced" angle. (Arguably, for something even earlier in Who history I could've gone for the novelisation of An Unearthly Child — it depends how faithfully one takes "never experienced". There are one or two choices later on that really do push the boundaries of that definition. But hey, it's my celebration — I can do what I like.)
Chapters 1–8
My Doctor Who 60th celebrations proper begin here! To mark the occasion, I'm going to watch, read, or listen to one piece of media I've never experienced for each Doctor. I've aimed to diversify those too, to take in as much of what Doctor Who is as possible – i.e. considering all the various spin-off/ancillary media as equal to the TV series, because, in many ways, they kind of are (I mean, would the series really have survived the Wilderness Years without them?)
So, up first — and therefore representing the First Doctor — is the Target novelisation of the oldest missing TV story, Marco Polo. It was the fourth-ever Who story, and I've seen the three that precede it, so this is the oldest story I could've chosen while still retaining the "something I've never experienced" angle. (Arguably, for something even earlier in Who history I could've gone for the novelisation of An Unearthly Child — it depends how faithfully one takes "never experienced". There are one or two choices later on that really do push the boundaries of that definition. But hey, it's my celebration — I can do what I like.)
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's additions include Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, which I've wanted to revisit for quite a while now. I nearly bought the Blu-ray when they reissued it in a Steelbook a couple of years back, but was put off by it being an older disc with poor reviews. Fortunately, I never caved to that, and so have now been able to pick it up in 4K, replacing my DVD. Except, after it arrived, I discovered the UK release doesn't carry over the director's commentary, which is on the DVD, so now I've got to hang on to that after all if I want all the special features (which I do). Grr.
Causing me similar consternation this week was Eureka's 4K re-release of Touch of Evil. It includes all three cuts of the film in 4K, but only in widescreen — their Blu-ray release also included two of the cuts in open matte 4:3. So do I hang on to that release for the alternate framings, or accept that the widescreen is now 'settled' as the definitive version? Bearing in mind that I don't exactly rewatch films very often, so am I ever likely to watch it in 1080p 4:3 when the 4K widescreen copy is awaiting? I've decided to hang on to my old copy for now, which probably means it'll just stick around indefinitely, but I'm not convinced it's the right (or final) decision.
Number of titles in collection: 3,159 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,137 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 297 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,722 [up 8]
Number of films: 3,877 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 342 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,078 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's additions include Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow, which I've wanted to revisit for quite a while now. I nearly bought the Blu-ray when they reissued it in a Steelbook a couple of years back, but was put off by it being an older disc with poor reviews. Fortunately, I never caved to that, and so have now been able to pick it up in 4K, replacing my DVD. Except, after it arrived, I discovered the UK release doesn't carry over the director's commentary, which is on the DVD, so now I've got to hang on to that after all if I want all the special features (which I do). Grr.
Causing me similar consternation this week was Eureka's 4K re-release of Touch of Evil. It includes all three cuts of the film in 4K, but only in widescreen — their Blu-ray release also included two of the cuts in open matte 4:3. So do I hang on to that release for the alternate framings, or accept that the widescreen is now 'settled' as the definitive version? Bearing in mind that I don't exactly rewatch films very often, so am I ever likely to watch it in 1080p 4:3 when the 4K widescreen copy is awaiting? I've decided to hang on to my old copy for now, which probably means it'll just stick around indefinitely, but I'm not convinced it's the right (or final) decision.
Number of titles in collection: 3,159 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,137 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 297 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,722 [up 8]
Number of films: 3,877 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 342 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,078 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 22 September 2023
Audio Drama
Doctor Who: The Legacy of Time
Part 6 Collision Course [finale]
This took a lot longer to get round to than intended (I blame the fact it's been my first week in a new job, because... well, because that is why). But I certainly did it thoroughly this evening, following up the hour-and-a-bit-long finale with the two CDs (two whole CDs!) of behind-the-scenes material.
Next: onwards to my 60th celebrations! Starting that is rather overdue now — it might be a struggle to get it in before the celebratory TV episodes start. On the other hand, if I aim for the anniversary itself, I probably gain an extra week or two. So, in short: we'll see.
Part 6 Collision Course [finale]
This took a lot longer to get round to than intended (I blame the fact it's been my first week in a new job, because... well, because that is why). But I certainly did it thoroughly this evening, following up the hour-and-a-bit-long finale with the two CDs (two whole CDs!) of behind-the-scenes material.
Next: onwards to my 60th celebrations! Starting that is rather overdue now — it might be a struggle to get it in before the celebratory TV episodes start. On the other hand, if I aim for the anniversary itself, I probably gain an extra week or two. So, in short: we'll see.
Thursday, 21 September 2023
Fiction
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Chapters 102–115 [the end]
Well, it took me longer than I hoped when I started it back in June, but finishing a novel in under three months is a relative rarity for me nowadays — lest we forget, the one before last took 14 months (albeit including a 13 month pause).
Anyway, I enjoyed it very much, and will definitely read the sequels. But next, I have some Who to attend to...
Chapters 102–115 [the end]
Well, it took me longer than I hoped when I started it back in June, but finishing a novel in under three months is a relative rarity for me nowadays — lest we forget, the one before last took 14 months (albeit including a 13 month pause).
Anyway, I enjoyed it very much, and will definitely read the sequels. But next, I have some Who to attend to...
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
2–4 March 2021
These three days consist of, respectively, finding a shield, opening a treasure chest, and taking a rest. Sometimes, it really feels like it pays off to be playing several days at once.
2–4 March 2021
These three days consist of, respectively, finding a shield, opening a treasure chest, and taking a rest. Sometimes, it really feels like it pays off to be playing several days at once.
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Podcasts
Light the Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
2x13 What Makes "Dead Reckoning Part One" Work with Bilge Ebiri Part 2
I recently switched jobs. It was during the last few days of my old job that I began listening to podcasts on my commute, often getting through an episode each way — look back through the "Audio" tag and see all the days with two episodes? That's (mostly) that. But my new job is significantly closer, meaning a shorter commute. So I actually started this episode yesterday (just forgot to log it), then continued it today, but won't finish it until tomorrow. The new drive is not so good for listening to podcasts, but I definitely prefer the shortness overall!
2x13 What Makes "Dead Reckoning Part One" Work with Bilge Ebiri Part 2
I recently switched jobs. It was during the last few days of my old job that I began listening to podcasts on my commute, often getting through an episode each way — look back through the "Audio" tag and see all the days with two episodes? That's (mostly) that. But my new job is significantly closer, meaning a shorter commute. So I actually started this episode yesterday (just forgot to log it), then continued it today, but won't finish it until tomorrow. The new drive is not so good for listening to podcasts, but I definitely prefer the shortness overall!
Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Monday, 18 September 2023
Sunday, 17 September 2023
Audio Drama
Doctor Who: The Legacy of Time
Part 5 The Avenues of Possibility
It’s funny that Part 1 of this box set seems to the best regarded, because I thought it was a bit clunky and awkward and padded and I generally didn’t really care for it all that much, whereas I’ve largely enjoyed every episode since. Maybe I just needed to get my ear in and I should give it another chance? Maybe it’s just that tastes differ. Anyway, hopefully the finale (up next) is good too.
Part 5 The Avenues of Possibility
It’s funny that Part 1 of this box set seems to the best regarded, because I thought it was a bit clunky and awkward and padded and I generally didn’t really care for it all that much, whereas I’ve largely enjoyed every episode since. Maybe I just needed to get my ear in and I should give it another chance? Maybe it’s just that tastes differ. Anyway, hopefully the finale (up next) is good too.
Comics
2000 AD #2349
If I'd read this issue on Friday (as I planned), I could've said that I'd finally caught up, after seven months of working on it. But that would've been short-lived anyway, because Prog 2350 arrived Saturday morning — so I'm behind again. (Sort of: it's not officially out 'til Wednesday; getting it early is just a subscriber perk.)
Well, that's how it goes — there's always more to come. And besides, I've still got a small pile of Regened issues to go back to, so technically I wouldn't've been fully up-to-date anyway. I'll feel able to start my American comics eventually...
If I'd read this issue on Friday (as I planned), I could've said that I'd finally caught up, after seven months of working on it. But that would've been short-lived anyway, because Prog 2350 arrived Saturday morning — so I'm behind again. (Sort of: it's not officially out 'til Wednesday; getting it early is just a subscriber perk.)
Well, that's how it goes — there's always more to come. And besides, I've still got a small pile of Regened issues to go back to, so technically I wouldn't've been fully up-to-date anyway. I'll feel able to start my American comics eventually...
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A mid-month update from 100Films.co.uk!? What's going on?! Well, no new reviews, for starters, just a bit of a musing on the state of things...
What a waste of a week
More next Sunday, maybe. But probably not.
What a waste of a week
I’ve just left one job and am about to start another, with (to quote myself) “a small amount of time off in between”. That was 11 days, to be precise, which are now coming to an end. My plan for that time had been to “cram a bunch of films in… I’ve certainly got plenty that I want to catch up on.”Read more here.
Dear reader, I have not crammed. In fact, I have watched… just checking my notes, adding them all up… one (1) film.
Look, for once it’s not my fault...
More next Sunday, maybe. But probably not.
Saturday, 16 September 2023
Films
Spy (2015)
[2nd watch]
[#68 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Last time I watched the extended cut. I enjoyed this slightly-shorter theatrical version more.
[2nd watch]
[#68 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Last time I watched the extended cut. I enjoyed this slightly-shorter theatrical version more.
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
15–17 February 2021
Magic: The Gathering Arena
I'm not going to log this every time I play it going forward, because it's a bit "casual" for that (there are several casual games I play all the time that I never mention here, precisely for that reason), but I felt my third session was worth noting (a) for that reason, and (b) because I completed the first stage of the initial challenge, which culminated in my first match against another real human being — which I won! Hurrah!
15–17 February 2021
Magic: The Gathering Arena
I'm not going to log this every time I play it going forward, because it's a bit "casual" for that (there are several casual games I play all the time that I never mention here, precisely for that reason), but I felt my third session was worth noting (a) for that reason, and (b) because I completed the first stage of the initial challenge, which culminated in my first match against another real human being — which I won! Hurrah!
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Five new additions this week, although that's rather masked by some of them being upgrades. On the other hand, almost every category sees a change in numbers — except the total number of titles, ironically.
This week's acquisitions include: two brand-new film releases (both on 4K; one an upgrade from Blu-ray); one title that's arrived a week early; a box set I finally picked up thanks to Amazon's 25th anniversary discount (only £5 off, but every litte helps); and the latest addition to the Doctor Who classic series Blu-ray Collection, which Royal Mail told me was going to arrive on Monday but then turned up this morning. Hurrah! Not that I'm going to watch any of it immediately, but it is part of my 60th plans, so it's nice it's here.
Also worth mentioning is that we're finally reaching something of a tipping point in that Collection series. What I mean is, I'm intending to replace all my classic Who DVDs with the Blu-rays, and I've been ditching them as we go along... except I've been hanging on to any where the special features haven't made the leap to BD (usually because they've decided to move it to a different story) or, even more importantly, box sets with multiple stories from which not all have been released on Blu-ray yet. Now, this new release sees the number of discs go down (it's a nine-disc set that replaces ten discs), as well as the number of episodes (because it replaces some cross-season box sets). This tipping point was always gonna come, and some future releases may be even more extreme than the results seen here. Of course, it makes sense that we're at that point: this is the 14th release out of at least 26 (hopefully 27), so we're definitely over halfway through.
Number of titles in collection: 3,155 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [down 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,133 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 294 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,714 [up 7]
Number of films: 3,873 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 340 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [down 7]
Number of short films: 1,078 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Five new additions this week, although that's rather masked by some of them being upgrades. On the other hand, almost every category sees a change in numbers — except the total number of titles, ironically.
This week's acquisitions include: two brand-new film releases (both on 4K; one an upgrade from Blu-ray); one title that's arrived a week early; a box set I finally picked up thanks to Amazon's 25th anniversary discount (only £5 off, but every litte helps); and the latest addition to the Doctor Who classic series Blu-ray Collection, which Royal Mail told me was going to arrive on Monday but then turned up this morning. Hurrah! Not that I'm going to watch any of it immediately, but it is part of my 60th plans, so it's nice it's here.
Also worth mentioning is that we're finally reaching something of a tipping point in that Collection series. What I mean is, I'm intending to replace all my classic Who DVDs with the Blu-rays, and I've been ditching them as we go along... except I've been hanging on to any where the special features haven't made the leap to BD (usually because they've decided to move it to a different story) or, even more importantly, box sets with multiple stories from which not all have been released on Blu-ray yet. Now, this new release sees the number of discs go down (it's a nine-disc set that replaces ten discs), as well as the number of episodes (because it replaces some cross-season box sets). This tipping point was always gonna come, and some future releases may be even more extreme than the results seen here. Of course, it makes sense that we're at that point: this is the 14th release out of at least 26 (hopefully 27), so we're definitely over halfway through.
Number of titles in collection: 3,155 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,022 [down 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,133 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 294 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,714 [up 7]
Number of films: 3,873 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 340 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,621 [down 7]
Number of short films: 1,078 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 15 September 2023
Thursday, 14 September 2023
Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Audio Drama
Doctor Who: The Legacy of Time
Part 1 Lies in Ruins
Big Finish's series to mark Who's 60th anniversary, Once and Future, is well underway at this point (the fifth episode came out this week; though, as someone who subscribed to the limited edition CD versions, I'm still waiting for all but the first disc to arrive!) But I never got round to listening to their last big celebrarory special. No, not the one for the 50th (I managed to do that at the time), but this one, which was released back in 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of their own Doctor Who range (how time flies!) So, I thought I'd listen to this first.
And I guess that means my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory viewing/listening/reading officially begins here! I've got a whole thing planned out, going Doctor by Doctor, so maybe I'll outline that when it begins 'properly' with my chosem First Doctor represenation.
Part 1 Lies in Ruins
Big Finish's series to mark Who's 60th anniversary, Once and Future, is well underway at this point (the fifth episode came out this week; though, as someone who subscribed to the limited edition CD versions, I'm still waiting for all but the first disc to arrive!) But I never got round to listening to their last big celebrarory special. No, not the one for the 50th (I managed to do that at the time), but this one, which was released back in 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of their own Doctor Who range (how time flies!) So, I thought I'd listen to this first.
And I guess that means my Doctor Who 60th anniversary celebratory viewing/listening/reading officially begins here! I've got a whole thing planned out, going Doctor by Doctor, so maybe I'll outline that when it begins 'properly' with my chosem First Doctor represenation.
Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
3–5 February 2021
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Having done the tutorials yesterday, today I started a challenge-thing. But, more importantly, I gave it a go on my tablet (having played it on my Mac yesterday). Worked nicely... which is especially good as it's an Amazon Fire tablet and I had to sideload the Google Play store to even get MTGA on there.
3–5 February 2021
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Having done the tutorials yesterday, today I started a challenge-thing. But, more importantly, I gave it a go on my tablet (having played it on my Mac yesterday). Worked nicely... which is especially good as it's an Amazon Fire tablet and I had to sideload the Google Play store to even get MTGA on there.
Monday, 11 September 2023
TV
Christopher Eccleston Remembers Our Friends in the North
Never seen Our Friends in the North — only watched this interview because someone posted an interesting clip from it on Twitter. Ought to watch the series, really. The existence of this interview makes me presume they're repeating it, so maybe I will.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never seen Our Friends in the North — only watched this interview because someone posted an interesting clip from it on Twitter. Ought to watch the series, really. The existence of this interview makes me presume they're repeating it, so maybe I will.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
Two different types of (nerdy, fantasy) games today...
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
1–2 February 2021
In to the second month already! In that respect, it feels like this is flying by. And yet I also know it's going to last until Christmas (and slightly beyond), which feels like a long way off yet. Hopefully that means it's going to feel like an epic adventure — something that takes "a whole year" should do, really.
Also, you can kinda tell this is the first one they made, because each day varies in size so much. Sometimes that's at the discretion of the player (1st February is a sewer map where it's really up to you how many rooms you venture through), other times less so (2nd February is a four-round battle). Either way, playing just these two days felt plenty for a session, in the sense that it was comparable to times I've played through five days at once.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
aka MTG Arena. For those that don't know, Magic is a trading card game, and this is the primary online version.
I played some Magic when I was younger. Or, at least, I remember having some of the cards. Don't remember the circumstances of how I got them, or how many I had (did they do starter kits back then?), or even who I played against (maybe I forced my sister into it?), but when recent developments caused me to look into the game again, I definitely remembered some of the rules and mechanics (all that tapping mana business) and the back design of the cards (which hasn't changed since the beginning, for the sake of formats where all cards are allowed) also felt very familiar.
Those "recent developments" were the release of a Lord of the Rings set and the forthcoming release of a Doctor Who one. I bought some of the LotR cards and have been opening them over the past few days — it's quite enjoyable, the collecting side of it, and the fun of seeing what will be in the packs. I also bought the starter kit, which comes with a code to unlock its sets on MTG Arena — hence why today I signed up and had a crack at that. I've only played through the opening tutorial campaign thingy so far, but, well, gotta start somewhere.
(Also, saying I've enjoyed the collecting side of it... I'm now a little addicted to ordering packs of the LotR cards, but trying to cut back already because I've also forked out for the entire range of Doctor Who sets that are coming in October! Really looking forward to getting stuck into the 400+ Who cards that are coming my way...)
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
1–2 February 2021
In to the second month already! In that respect, it feels like this is flying by. And yet I also know it's going to last until Christmas (and slightly beyond), which feels like a long way off yet. Hopefully that means it's going to feel like an epic adventure — something that takes "a whole year" should do, really.
Also, you can kinda tell this is the first one they made, because each day varies in size so much. Sometimes that's at the discretion of the player (1st February is a sewer map where it's really up to you how many rooms you venture through), other times less so (2nd February is a four-round battle). Either way, playing just these two days felt plenty for a session, in the sense that it was comparable to times I've played through five days at once.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
aka MTG Arena. For those that don't know, Magic is a trading card game, and this is the primary online version.
I played some Magic when I was younger. Or, at least, I remember having some of the cards. Don't remember the circumstances of how I got them, or how many I had (did they do starter kits back then?), or even who I played against (maybe I forced my sister into it?), but when recent developments caused me to look into the game again, I definitely remembered some of the rules and mechanics (all that tapping mana business) and the back design of the cards (which hasn't changed since the beginning, for the sake of formats where all cards are allowed) also felt very familiar.
Those "recent developments" were the release of a Lord of the Rings set and the forthcoming release of a Doctor Who one. I bought some of the LotR cards and have been opening them over the past few days — it's quite enjoyable, the collecting side of it, and the fun of seeing what will be in the packs. I also bought the starter kit, which comes with a code to unlock its sets on MTG Arena — hence why today I signed up and had a crack at that. I've only played through the opening tutorial campaign thingy so far, but, well, gotta start somewhere.
(Also, saying I've enjoyed the collecting side of it... I'm now a little addicted to ordering packs of the LotR cards, but trying to cut back already because I've also forked out for the entire range of Doctor Who sets that are coming in October! Really looking forward to getting stuck into the 400+ Who cards that are coming my way...)
Sunday, 10 September 2023
DVD Extras
William Russell in Conversation
One of the most recent instalments in the ongoing series of long-form interviews included on the classic Doctor Who Blu-ray releases, this one from Season 2. ("Recent" here being a relative term, because this set came out nine months ago, but is (for the moment) the last-but-one release in the range (a new one is out next week); and there wasn't an "in conversation" feature on the last release anyway.)
Russell seems like a lovely man, but he's also clearly very old and a bit frail, and so while interviewer Matthew Sweet tries to gently steer him towards some recollections, it doesn't feel like there's all that much fresh here — Sweet brings most of the stories and facts (presumably researched from previous interviews, etc) and Russell mostly agrees, with the occasional minor extrapolation. Still, seems like a lovely man.
One of the most recent instalments in the ongoing series of long-form interviews included on the classic Doctor Who Blu-ray releases, this one from Season 2. ("Recent" here being a relative term, because this set came out nine months ago, but is (for the moment) the last-but-one release in the range (a new one is out next week); and there wasn't an "in conversation" feature on the last release anyway.)
Russell seems like a lovely man, but he's also clearly very old and a bit frail, and so while interviewer Matthew Sweet tries to gently steer him towards some recollections, it doesn't feel like there's all that much fresh here — Sweet brings most of the stories and facts (presumably researched from previous interviews, etc) and Russell mostly agrees, with the occasional minor extrapolation. Still, seems like a lovely man.
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
28–31 January 2021
Slightly messing up my "three days per day" plan is that weekends are double days (i.e. there are six "days" per week of the calendar), so today I had to play four days. Do I restructure my whole pace to account for this, or just play two days the next day when this happens? I'm banking on this being a rare occurence, and therefore the latter will suffice. (Who knew this simple plan would get so complicated, eh?)
28–31 January 2021
Slightly messing up my "three days per day" plan is that weekends are double days (i.e. there are six "days" per week of the calendar), so today I had to play four days. Do I restructure my whole pace to account for this, or just play two days the next day when this happens? I'm banking on this being a rare occurence, and therefore the latter will suffice. (Who knew this simple plan would get so complicated, eh?)
Saturday, 9 September 2023
TV
Doctor Who
3x04 The Exploding Planet
aka Galaxy 4 Part 4, the final instalment. Enjoyed it overall. Not top-tier First Doctor, but solid mid-range stuff.
3x04 The Exploding Planet
aka Galaxy 4 Part 4, the final instalment. Enjoyed it overall. Not top-tier First Doctor, but solid mid-range stuff.
Podcasts
The Empire Spoiler Special Film Podcast
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One ft. Christopher McQuarrie Part Four
It felt like I had to wait forever (it's actually only been nine days), but here it is: the final part. Oh no! Over so soon? Actually, no, because there's a bonus live show they did too. And anyway, across the four parts they talked for 11½ hours — that's enough for four commentary tracks, even on a film as long as M:I-7. But I want more! Not just because I'm greedy, but because McQ is so insightful and a joy to listen to and learn from. Good thing that live show is reportedly 3 hours long, then...
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One ft. Christopher McQuarrie Part Four
It felt like I had to wait forever (it's actually only been nine days), but here it is: the final part. Oh no! Over so soon? Actually, no, because there's a bonus live show they did too. And anyway, across the four parts they talked for 11½ hours — that's enough for four commentary tracks, even on a film as long as M:I-7. But I want more! Not just because I'm greedy, but because McQ is so insightful and a joy to listen to and learn from. Good thing that live show is reportedly 3 hours long, then...
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
23–27 January 2021
There, caught up to my original plan. Sometimes playing five days at once felt like plenty, sometimes not nearly enough. It'll be interesting to see how three goes down. (Also, I'm currently on a holiday from work, so have plenty of time for things like games. Once I'm back to full time, having only a little burst each day might be more welcome.)
23–27 January 2021
There, caught up to my original plan. Sometimes playing five days at once felt like plenty, sometimes not nearly enough. It'll be interesting to see how three goes down. (Also, I'm currently on a holiday from work, so have plenty of time for things like games. Once I'm back to full time, having only a little burst each day might be more welcome.)
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I thought this was going to be a zero additions week, but then two titles I was expecting on Monday managed to turn up on Saturday. Both are theatrically-released animated superhero movies in 4K, too — namely, sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse making its disc debut, and a new edition of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. The latter I already own twice on Blu-ray, and unfortunately I won't be getting rid of either: one is in the box set of the TV series, the other contains a 4:3 version of the film not available on any other release. Grr.
Number of titles in collection: 3,155 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,026 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,129 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 292 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,707 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,867 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 338 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,628 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,077 [no change]
This week also marks the time for another running time update. The past month has had three low-key weeks and one packed one, so what effect has that had?
Total running time of collection (approx.):
546 days, 4 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 20 hours, and 35 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
I thought this was going to be a zero additions week, but then two titles I was expecting on Monday managed to turn up on Saturday. Both are theatrically-released animated superhero movies in 4K, too — namely, sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse making its disc debut, and a new edition of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. The latter I already own twice on Blu-ray, and unfortunately I won't be getting rid of either: one is in the box set of the TV series, the other contains a 4:3 version of the film not available on any other release. Grr.
Number of titles in collection: 3,155 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,026 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,129 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 292 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,707 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,867 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 338 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,628 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,077 [no change]
This week also marks the time for another running time update. The past month has had three low-key weeks and one packed one, so what effect has that had?
Total running time of collection (approx.):
546 days, 4 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 20 hours, and 35 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 8 September 2023
TV
Doctor Who
3x03 Air Lock
aka Galaxy 4 Part 3. This is the one episode of the serial that survives, but I'm still watching the animated version for consistency.
3x03 Air Lock
aka Galaxy 4 Part 3. This is the one episode of the serial that survives, but I'm still watching the animated version for consistency.
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
16–22 January 2021
Well, playing this in chunks definitely paid off today: January 16th through 22nd are just character introductions and stat sheets, so you can pick your hero. According to the developers on the game's forum, spending a whole week introducing the characters "was meant to be an experience in reading each of their bio's and learning more about the world [but] it inevitably slows down the story." Yeah... So, that's why I've broken my own pacing rules (today should have ended on the 20th) and read ahead a couple of days, so as to cover all the intros in one. This only adjusts my catchup pace slightly: playing five days tomorrow will just get me on track a day earlier than initially intended.
16–22 January 2021
Well, playing this in chunks definitely paid off today: January 16th through 22nd are just character introductions and stat sheets, so you can pick your hero. According to the developers on the game's forum, spending a whole week introducing the characters "was meant to be an experience in reading each of their bio's and learning more about the world [but] it inevitably slows down the story." Yeah... So, that's why I've broken my own pacing rules (today should have ended on the 20th) and read ahead a couple of days, so as to cover all the intros in one. This only adjusts my catchup pace slightly: playing five days tomorrow will just get me on track a day earlier than initially intended.
Thursday, 7 September 2023
Wednesday, 6 September 2023
TV
Doctor Who
3x01 Four Hundred Dawns
aka Part 1 of Galaxy 4, one of the missing stories that's recently been animated — and therefore has ended up with two listings on places like IMDb and Letterboxd, both for its original '60s version and the animation. For someone as anal as me, it's kinda confusing knowing which to log / link to: more people have done the original, but that's because the animation is recent and/or wasn't listed when it first came out. In some respects it doesn't matter (whichever I choose to log/link, I can't have watched the original, because it's lost), but it bothers me!
3x01 Four Hundred Dawns
aka Part 1 of Galaxy 4, one of the missing stories that's recently been animated — and therefore has ended up with two listings on places like IMDb and Letterboxd, both for its original '60s version and the animation. For someone as anal as me, it's kinda confusing knowing which to log / link to: more people have done the original, but that's because the animation is recent and/or wasn't listed when it first came out. In some respects it doesn't matter (whichever I choose to log/link, I can't have watched the original, because it's lost), but it bothers me!
Podcasts
Light the Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
2x11 Why We Love Mission: Impossible
Oh, I'm all caught up! Now I just need the Empire one to get on with posting the rest of their McQ sessions...
2x11 Why We Love Mission: Impossible
Oh, I'm all caught up! Now I just need the Empire one to get on with posting the rest of their McQ sessions...
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
6–10 January 2021
My "speedrun" plan calls for playing three days per day (because I'm doing it in four months rather than twelve — s'just maths, innit), but as I forgot to start on September 1st, I'm currently doing five days per day to catch up (I should be on track by the end of January, aka the end of this week).
6–10 January 2021
My "speedrun" plan calls for playing three days per day (because I'm doing it in four months rather than twelve — s'just maths, innit), but as I forgot to start on September 1st, I'm currently doing five days per day to catch up (I should be on track by the end of January, aka the end of this week).
Tuesday, 5 September 2023
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
1–5 January 2021
So, somehow I came across Sundial Games' Quest Calendars thanks to their Kickstarter campaign for the 2024 edition. It sounded fun and I backed it, and in the process ended up with a digital copy of this, their first calendar from 2021. It's meant to play out over a whole year (obviously), but as I intend to be playing the 2024 one from next January, I decided to speed-run this one over the next four months (it would've been ideal to start on September 1st, therefore, but I forgot).
The game is designed to give you a quick little burst of RPG-ing each day (or, rather, for 6 days out of 7, as the weekends are doubled up). That means it actually works quite well saved up and playing a few days at once — each day is so short (especially here at the start, which has a lot of intro material) that even playing through a few days doesn't take very long.
So, that means there's not much to comment on so far (in terms of interactivity, I've conducted precisely one dice roll), but I'm curious to see where it goes and how it plays over the long term.
1–5 January 2021
So, somehow I came across Sundial Games' Quest Calendars thanks to their Kickstarter campaign for the 2024 edition. It sounded fun and I backed it, and in the process ended up with a digital copy of this, their first calendar from 2021. It's meant to play out over a whole year (obviously), but as I intend to be playing the 2024 one from next January, I decided to speed-run this one over the next four months (it would've been ideal to start on September 1st, therefore, but I forgot).
The game is designed to give you a quick little burst of RPG-ing each day (or, rather, for 6 days out of 7, as the weekends are doubled up). That means it actually works quite well saved up and playing a few days at once — each day is so short (especially here at the start, which has a lot of intro material) that even playing through a few days doesn't take very long.
So, that means there's not much to comment on so far (in terms of interactivity, I've conducted precisely one dice roll), but I'm curious to see where it goes and how it plays over the long term.
Monday, 4 September 2023
Podcasts
Light the Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
2x07 Henry Czerny on the Evolution of Kittridge Part 2
2x08 Rebecca Ferguson’s Adventures with Ilsa
Here's what happens after you get bought out and become "official", I guess: your Mission: Impossible-centred podcast has to do a 15-minute segment promoting a completely different and unrelated film (the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie) from the same studio. Almost worth it for the "Light the Ooze" pun.
2x07 Henry Czerny on the Evolution of Kittridge Part 2
2x08 Rebecca Ferguson’s Adventures with Ilsa
Here's what happens after you get bought out and become "official", I guess: your Mission: Impossible-centred podcast has to do a 15-minute segment promoting a completely different and unrelated film (the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie) from the same studio. Almost worth it for the "Light the Ooze" pun.
Sunday, 3 September 2023
this week on 100Films.co.uk
It's time again for "this month on 100Films.co.uk", with my review of August...
...and my look over all the films I failed to watch last month...
More next Sunday, perhaps; next month, if not.
...and my look over all the films I failed to watch last month...
More next Sunday, perhaps; next month, if not.
Saturday, 2 September 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I always knew this week was going to represent an uptick in additions, because I was expecting a tidy pile of preorders, plus a couple of discount purchases that didn't quite turn up in time for last week. But then another whole pile turned up from the US a week earlier than I was expecting, and so I was left with a grand total of 15 new titles. Crikey.
Not that it says 15 below. That's thanks to those two that were due last week — both recent-ish-but-not-brand-new 4K releases that upgrade my old DVD copies (always nice to jump straight from DVD to 4K, because I don't feel like I've wasted money on a Blu-ray that way — especially as half (or more) of those BDs I upgrade are ones I haven't even watched).
There were more 4Ks among the five preorders: four titles from Indicator, with three in 4K; and the fifth was a delayed box set from Eureka, though that's not 4K. But the 4K love continued with that box of American titles: eight Blu-rays in total, five of them in 4K. That's a total of 10 new 4K titles this week alone, which I suspect is a personal record (maybe I should go back and check...)
Number of titles in collection: 3,153 [up 13]
Of which DVDs: 1,026 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,127 [up 15]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 290 [up 10]
Number of discs in collection: 7,704 [up 25]
Number of films: 3,865 [up 16]
Number of additional cuts: 338 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,628 [up 4]
Number of short films: 1,077 [up 8]
See you next week, faithful reader, when I'm expecting... nothing whatsoever, now. Huh. But it is time for the monthly running time update (already? Apparently so!), so at least there's that to look forward to.
I always knew this week was going to represent an uptick in additions, because I was expecting a tidy pile of preorders, plus a couple of discount purchases that didn't quite turn up in time for last week. But then another whole pile turned up from the US a week earlier than I was expecting, and so I was left with a grand total of 15 new titles. Crikey.
Not that it says 15 below. That's thanks to those two that were due last week — both recent-ish-but-not-brand-new 4K releases that upgrade my old DVD copies (always nice to jump straight from DVD to 4K, because I don't feel like I've wasted money on a Blu-ray that way — especially as half (or more) of those BDs I upgrade are ones I haven't even watched).
There were more 4Ks among the five preorders: four titles from Indicator, with three in 4K; and the fifth was a delayed box set from Eureka, though that's not 4K. But the 4K love continued with that box of American titles: eight Blu-rays in total, five of them in 4K. That's a total of 10 new 4K titles this week alone, which I suspect is a personal record (maybe I should go back and check...)
Number of titles in collection: 3,153 [up 13]
Of which DVDs: 1,026 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,127 [up 15]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 290 [up 10]
Number of discs in collection: 7,704 [up 25]
Number of films: 3,865 [up 16]
Number of additional cuts: 338 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,628 [up 4]
Number of short films: 1,077 [up 8]
See you next week, faithful reader, when I'm expecting... nothing whatsoever, now. Huh. But it is time for the monthly running time update (already? Apparently so!), so at least there's that to look forward to.
Friday, 1 September 2023
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