Scott reveals Alien prequel storyline
and
Scott confirms two Alien prequels
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
In many respects, the storyline's no surprise, but it'll certainly annoy some fans who were hoping to keep that mystery (and please others who want it solved). The notion of two prequels, though... hm. Sounds like blatant moneymaking to me. And the way Scott talks about shooting in 3D very much sounds like it was forced on him and he'd rather it hadn't been.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Sunday, 25 April 2010
TV
FlashForward
1x11 Revelation Zero Part 1
1x12 Revelation Zero Part 2
Finally catching up with this -- yes, I am sticking with it for now, even though it's A Bit Rubbish. That said, the long hiatus for the show to have a re-think seems to have done some good. It's not much better, but it is better.
Over the Rainbow
Show 6: Results
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x11 Revelation Zero Part 1
1x12 Revelation Zero Part 2
Finally catching up with this -- yes, I am sticking with it for now, even though it's A Bit Rubbish. That said, the long hiatus for the show to have a re-think seems to have done some good. It's not much better, but it is better.
Over the Rainbow
Show 6: Results
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone. (2007/2009)
[#41 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The first of four movies re-telling (with some changes) the anime TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I love. This is also the third iteration of the first movie: after 1.0, 1.01 tweaked the animation in some 266 shots, and now 1.11 adds a further three minutes of footage. I hope they don't faff about so much with the next three... though such hopes are looking doubtful.
Also, watched most of the Blu-ray's extras. Bit slight, to be honest, but better than nothing. The booklet (which I think may only be in the HMV-exclusive editions) is more informative about the processes behind making the film.
Read my review of Evangelion 1.11 here.
[#41 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The first of four movies re-telling (with some changes) the anime TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I love. This is also the third iteration of the first movie: after 1.0, 1.01 tweaked the animation in some 266 shots, and now 1.11 adds a further three minutes of footage. I hope they don't faff about so much with the next three... though such hopes are looking doubtful.
Also, watched most of the Blu-ray's extras. Bit slight, to be honest, but better than nothing. The booklet (which I think may only be in the HMV-exclusive editions) is more informative about the processes behind making the film.
Read my review of Evangelion 1.11 here.
Articles
Doctor Who fans angered by trailer for Over the Rainbow
(from BBC News)
Apparently it ruined a particularly dramatic moment. I wouldn't know, of course, cos I was watching BBC HD. Not that I'm gloating of course.
(from BBC News)
Apparently it ruined a particularly dramatic moment. I wouldn't know, of course, cos I was watching BBC HD. Not that I'm gloating of course.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week -- a slight improvement over the last few -- and they were...
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Wallander: The Revenge (2009)
More next Sunday.
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Panda features some beautiful animation — not a phrase you usually associate with CG ‘toons, but Panda frequently achieves it: petals swirl in the breeze, panoramic scenery shots look gorgeous, and the character animation is subtly detailed
Wallander: The Revenge (2009)
rather than a thoughtful investigation into an ‘everyday’ murder, Wallander blazes back onto our screens with the explosive destruction of a power station, a bloody execution — no less than 17 shots fired — and the army rolling into town to handle the fall-out from an extended power cut.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
TV
Doctor Who
31x04 The Time of Angels
See some of my thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x04 Eyes Wide Open
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
3x03 Programme 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
31x04 The Time of Angels
See some of my thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x04 Eyes Wide Open
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
3x03 Programme 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Pixels (2010)
[#40a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
A great, fun short. Watch it in full (don't worry, legally) here.
[#40a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
A great, fun short. Watch it in full (don't worry, legally) here.
Articles
DVD Producer Michael Pellerin on the Blu-ray Release of... The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy by Bill Hunt & Michael Pellerin
(from The Digital Bits)
The title does a pretty nifty job of summing up what's in this piece... other than clarifying who Pellerin is and why what he has to say about the LotR Blu-rays matters, of course. In short: he produced the original DVDs and consulted on the new BDs. Here he explains some of what went into the new HD transfers and suggests what may be to come on future Extended Edition re-releases -- a lot more stuff that's been in the works for almost a decade, basically.
Stars attack tories over BBC plans
(from Google news U.K.)
I'm not saying vote Labour (at all), but this does need bearing in mind.
(from The Digital Bits)
The title does a pretty nifty job of summing up what's in this piece... other than clarifying who Pellerin is and why what he has to say about the LotR Blu-rays matters, of course. In short: he produced the original DVDs and consulted on the new BDs. Here he explains some of what went into the new HD transfers and suggests what may be to come on future Extended Edition re-releases -- a lot more stuff that's been in the works for almost a decade, basically.
Stars attack tories over BBC plans
(from Google news U.K.)
I'm not saying vote Labour (at all), but this does need bearing in mind.
Doctor Who: The Time of Angels
Just some quick thoughts, too long for the usual TV post...
Blinkin' excellent episode, a first part that promises we may be getting a truly classic story -- much like Moffat's The Empty Child did back in 2005, in fact. So much of it was worthy of comment, but two things in particular:
One, Moffat was spot-on when he said this was like Aliens to Blink's Alien; a superb analogy.
Two, the cliffhanger... that wasn't really a cliffhanger... New Who has become almost known for having two-parters where each half is almost a distinct episode -- they very much build to that cliffhanger, then almost start again in the second half. But this was nothing of the sort -- it feels like Moffat's penned a 90-minute story and then split it in half at roughly the right moment. Which I quite like, actually.
One of the reasons it works is the whole story's structure (at least so far): it's very like a film, building in peaks of action and calmer lulls of dialogue and plot development. Any of the big action sequences -- the opening, Amy with the TV-Angel, the chase through the Maze -- contained appropriate cliffhanger moments... but those didn't fall at the story's halfway mark. Maybe this isn't how Moffat crafted the story at all -- maybe it is two entirely distinct parts and this was always meant to be a cliffhanger -- but with the way we know the Doctor's just done Something Clever to escape (we even see it starting before it cuts to the titles), it feels like an appropriate-enough halfway break in a longer tale rather than a bespoke cliffhanger. And, as I say, I quite like that.
Finally, something people have been moaning about: the sound mix, specifically the music being too loud. Watching on BBC HD, which broadcasts Who in true 5.1, proved something I suspected for a while: the audio has clearly been mixed for 5.1, because it sounds absolutely spot-on in this format (the music may even be too quiet), so I presume that someone, somewhere, must be mucking up the down-mix to Stereo for normal transmission.
Also, no Graham Norton invading half the screen on BBC HD.
P.S. Sacred Bob? Angel Bob? Clearly Moffat must be a fan of me -- link.
Blinkin' excellent episode, a first part that promises we may be getting a truly classic story -- much like Moffat's The Empty Child did back in 2005, in fact. So much of it was worthy of comment, but two things in particular:
One, Moffat was spot-on when he said this was like Aliens to Blink's Alien; a superb analogy.
Two, the cliffhanger... that wasn't really a cliffhanger... New Who has become almost known for having two-parters where each half is almost a distinct episode -- they very much build to that cliffhanger, then almost start again in the second half. But this was nothing of the sort -- it feels like Moffat's penned a 90-minute story and then split it in half at roughly the right moment. Which I quite like, actually.
One of the reasons it works is the whole story's structure (at least so far): it's very like a film, building in peaks of action and calmer lulls of dialogue and plot development. Any of the big action sequences -- the opening, Amy with the TV-Angel, the chase through the Maze -- contained appropriate cliffhanger moments... but those didn't fall at the story's halfway mark. Maybe this isn't how Moffat crafted the story at all -- maybe it is two entirely distinct parts and this was always meant to be a cliffhanger -- but with the way we know the Doctor's just done Something Clever to escape (we even see it starting before it cuts to the titles), it feels like an appropriate-enough halfway break in a longer tale rather than a bespoke cliffhanger. And, as I say, I quite like that.
Finally, something people have been moaning about: the sound mix, specifically the music being too loud. Watching on BBC HD, which broadcasts Who in true 5.1, proved something I suspected for a while: the audio has clearly been mixed for 5.1, because it sounds absolutely spot-on in this format (the music may even be too quiet), so I presume that someone, somewhere, must be mucking up the down-mix to Stereo for normal transmission.
Also, no Graham Norton invading half the screen on BBC HD.
P.S. Sacred Bob? Angel Bob? Clearly Moffat must be a fan of me -- link.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This is the biggest update since mid-February, thanks in part to a round of bargains (Sherlock Hound, 3:10 to Yuma, Zombieland), anticipated new releases (The Box, Evangelion 1.11), and bargainous near-new releases (Glorious 39). With a third of these being anime titles, including one I've been waiting years for, this week's statistic has taken a slight dash of inspiration from them...
Number of titles in collection: 1,170 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 79 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 2,838 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,227 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [up 26]
Statistic of the week:
Total number of anime titles:
47
(4% of the total)
See you next week, faithful reader.
This is the biggest update since mid-February, thanks in part to a round of bargains (Sherlock Hound, 3:10 to Yuma, Zombieland), anticipated new releases (The Box, Evangelion 1.11), and bargainous near-new releases (Glorious 39). With a third of these being anime titles, including one I've been waiting years for, this week's statistic has taken a slight dash of inspiration from them...
Number of titles in collection: 1,170 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 79 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 2,838 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,227 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [up 26]
Statistic of the week:
Total number of anime titles:
47
(4% of the total)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 23 April 2010
TV
Archer
1x10 Dial M for Mother [season finale]
And that's that for the first season of Archer. It's great fun so I'll miss it considerably. Luckily, a longer second season is already in the works.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
18x12 (16/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
You Have Been Watching
2x02 (22/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x10 Dial M for Mother [season finale]
And that's that for the first season of Archer. It's great fun so I'll miss it considerably. Luckily, a longer second season is already in the works.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
18x12 (16/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
You Have Been Watching
2x02 (22/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Doctor Who: The return of the Weeping Angels by Steven Moffat
(from BBC tv blog)
Who's head honcho on how one of the series' scariest villains are back... but different.
Election debate TV ratings: 4.1m watch leaders' tussle by Jason Deans
(from guardian.co.uk)
Under half the number who watched the first debate last week. Have people lost interest already? Or was it because it was buried on digital channels? I suspect the latter, but only time -- i.e. next week's debate on BBC One -- will tell.
Also of interest: despite ostensibly being 'The Sky News Debate', it was simulcast on six digital TV channels, repeated later on BBC Two, broadcast on Radio 4, and available from a variety of online sources. The number of people who actually watched it on Sky News was just 2.1 million, which is almost certainly under half the people watching (that 4.1 million leaves out three TV channels, online sources, and Radio 4).
First 3D TV goes on sale in the UK by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
(from BBC tv blog)
Who's head honcho on how one of the series' scariest villains are back... but different.
Election debate TV ratings: 4.1m watch leaders' tussle by Jason Deans
(from guardian.co.uk)
Under half the number who watched the first debate last week. Have people lost interest already? Or was it because it was buried on digital channels? I suspect the latter, but only time -- i.e. next week's debate on BBC One -- will tell.
Also of interest: despite ostensibly being 'The Sky News Debate', it was simulcast on six digital TV channels, repeated later on BBC Two, broadcast on Radio 4, and available from a variety of online sources. The number of people who actually watched it on Sky News was just 2.1 million, which is almost certainly under half the people watching (that 4.1 million leaves out three TV channels, online sources, and Radio 4).
First 3D TV goes on sale in the UK by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Matt Rajah, who has more money than sense, was first in the queue(I may have rewritten that slightly...)
Thursday, 22 April 2010
TV
Ashes to Ashes
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
2x09 A Price Above Rubies
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
2x09 A Price Above Rubies
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Articles
First Doctor Who game episode revealed by Matthew Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
City of the Daleks -- nice title. Also, double meaning (based on the plot). Clever.
(While I'm at it, I'd also like to express my gratitude that the BBC are bothering to release this for both PC and Mac at the same time. With the gradually increasing proliferation of Mac users, one would think is only sensible for all games producers, but particularly from a public institution like the BBC.)
(from Digital Spy)
City of the Daleks -- nice title. Also, double meaning (based on the plot). Clever.
(While I'm at it, I'd also like to express my gratitude that the BBC are bothering to release this for both PC and Mac at the same time. With the gradually increasing proliferation of Mac users, one would think is only sensible for all games producers, but particularly from a public institution like the BBC.)
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
TV
House
6x17 Lockdown
Directed by Hugh Laurie! And the latest in what's becoming a recurring trend for breaking-the-format episodes of House in the wake of episodes focussed on Wilson (the imaginatively-titled Wilson) and Cuddy (the genuinely imaginatively-titled 5 to 9). This sees the regulars all split up and Learning Something About Each Other... and yet, it felt oddly slight.
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
3x06 (17/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x17 Lockdown
Directed by Hugh Laurie! And the latest in what's becoming a recurring trend for breaking-the-format episodes of House in the wake of episodes focussed on Wilson (the imaginatively-titled Wilson) and Cuddy (the genuinely imaginatively-titled 5 to 9). This sees the regulars all split up and Learning Something About Each Other... and yet, it felt oddly slight.
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
3x06 (17/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
15 Movie Posters Re-Imagined With the Stars Originally Cast by Kevin Polowy
(from Moviefone)
It's well done 'n' all but, for some reason, not as funny or interesting as it ought to be.
(from Moviefone)
It's well done 'n' all but, for some reason, not as funny or interesting as it ought to be.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
TV
Happy Finish
Pilot
Quite funny.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
iCandy
Pilot
Rubbish.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Mad Men
3x13 Shut the Door, Have a Seat [season finale]
Another excellent closing episode from Mad Men, replete with moments to contest Don's declaration about having no contract (my favourite was Joan's return). It's also a tantalising 'cliffhanger', and with the new season set to begin Stateside in around three months I'm not sure I can handle the long slow wait 'til BBC Four/HD bother to pick it up.
[Watch it again in HD on iPlayer.]
Pilot
Quite funny.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
iCandy
Pilot
Rubbish.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Mad Men
3x13 Shut the Door, Have a Seat [season finale]
Another excellent closing episode from Mad Men, replete with moments to contest Don's declaration about having no contract (my favourite was Joan's return). It's also a tantalising 'cliffhanger', and with the new season set to begin Stateside in around three months I'm not sure I can handle the long slow wait 'til BBC Four/HD bother to pick it up.
[Watch it again in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
50 Movie Titles That Got Lost In Translation by Simon Brew
(from Den of Geek)
I appreciate this was posted A Very Long Time Ago and it's on an awful website, but someone happened to mention it on twitter today. It's an expectedly daft but still rather amusing diversion, I thought. Look out in particular for China's version of Boogie Nights and France's (alleged) new title for The Matrix. Do feel free to share any other favourites in the comments.
Damages not expected to return by Mike Moody
and
Damages creator wants new season by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
The first season of Damages was utterly brilliant, flawless TV. The second was a bit of a muddle. The third... could still go either way (it's just finished in the US, halfway through on BBC One, and I'm only on episode three still) All of which leaves me rather uncertain about whether a fourth run is a good idea: if it has and can hit the heights of its first season, more is definitely desired; but it's just maintained the second year's degeneration, then no thanks, put it out of our misery.
Sutherland says 24 movie script is ready by Mike Moody
(from Digital Spy)
(from Den of Geek)
I appreciate this was posted A Very Long Time Ago and it's on an awful website, but someone happened to mention it on twitter today. It's an expectedly daft but still rather amusing diversion, I thought. Look out in particular for China's version of Boogie Nights and France's (alleged) new title for The Matrix. Do feel free to share any other favourites in the comments.
Damages not expected to return by Mike Moody
and
Damages creator wants new season by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
The first season of Damages was utterly brilliant, flawless TV. The second was a bit of a muddle. The third... could still go either way (it's just finished in the US, halfway through on BBC One, and I'm only on episode three still) All of which leaves me rather uncertain about whether a fourth run is a good idea: if it has and can hit the heights of its first season, more is definitely desired; but it's just maintained the second year's degeneration, then no thanks, put it out of our misery.
Sutherland says 24 movie script is ready by Mike Moody
(from Digital Spy)
Sutherland also hinted that the plot could possibly mirror the show's first season, giving Jack Bauer a personal crisis to deal with. "It doesn't have to be a bomb," he said. "It can be something personal that people understand."Sounds like good news... but then they've said something similar before every season of the TV show for the last few years, so I'll believe it when we see it.
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