Monday, 13 February 2012
Comics
All Star Western #5 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Last issue I comment that "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." This is another example of that. The speed of storytelling, humour and strong plotting make this a great action/adventure/detective comic. Nice work all.
Back-up strip The Barbary Ghost continues too, again with solid art by Phil Winslade, though Gray and Palmiotti provide more clunky dialogue and a tale heavy on exposition, setting up next issue's (final?) part. I don't know if they're overworked or going for a different pulpier style, but I don't think these secondary stories work as well as the main Hex-starring one.
Animal Man #6 by Jeff Lemire, John Paul Leon & Travel Foreman
Remember how issue 1 mentioned Buddy Baker (aka Animal Man) had recently acted in a movie about a washed-up superhero? Well, here we get to see it... or the opening chunk of it anyway, before a clever conceit kicks in. It's a filler issue, certainly -- presumably needing to sync up with Swamp Thing or something -- but as filler issues go it's an excellent idea.
Wolverine and the X-Men #5 by Jason Aaron & Nick Bradshaw
This continues to be exactly the kind of X-Men comic I want to be reading: fun, accessible, not reliant on plot points from other books that I don't read, and with a darker edge at times. The slightly cartoony art sets the tone perfectly, actually. This isn't a kiddy book -- the T+ rating seems bang on -- but it is for people who like their comics to be enjoyable, rather than mired in decades of continuity and po-faced seriousness.
Articles
BitTorrent doesn't hurt US box-office, delayed international releases drive downloading
by Cory Doctorow (from boingboing)
Title says it all, really. Or, to expand a little:
by Cory Doctorow (from boingboing)
Title says it all, really. Or, to expand a little:
There's only one Internet, networked culture doesn't respect national boundaries. A particularly effective marketing campaign for a new release in America will stimulate demand in other countries, and if there's no legitimate way to fulfill demand, then some portion of viewers will choose illegitimate routes... the delayed release makes downloading easier and more attractive.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
TV
The British Academy Film Awards 2012
As I think was expected, The Artist swept the board with seven awards, including Best Film, Director, Actor and Original Screenplay. Really looking forward to catching that when it comes to Blu-ray.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
4x11 Always Bet on Red
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 2nd March. Probably.]
As I think was expected, The Artist swept the board with seven awards, including Best Film, Director, Actor and Original Screenplay. Really looking forward to catching that when it comes to Blu-ray.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
4x11 Always Bet on Red
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 2nd March. Probably.]
Films
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
[#13 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Unknown (2011)
[#12 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
[#13 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Unknown (2011)
[#12 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
DVD Extras
Unknown: The Story
Just an EPK featurette, which might be expected but is disappointing considering how much things change in the final act -- would've been interesting to hear the cast and crew discuss that, but naturally they're not giving it away in this promotional puff piece.
Just an EPK featurette, which might be expected but is disappointing considering how much things change in the final act -- would've been interesting to hear the cast and crew discuss that, but naturally they're not giving it away in this promotional puff piece.
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Glorious 39 (2009)
More next Sunday.
Glorious 39 (2009)
it creates a mood of creeping terror and dread; of an oppressive conspiracy that our hero, who’s just a fairly ordinary girl, has no chance of overturning — if it’s even real, and if she can find details about it if it is... you can never be sure where it’s going to go; never be sure who’s on the side of the angels and who of the devils; of who is reliable and what is really happening; of who will survive. What’s better in a thriller than not actually knowing what will come?Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
TV
House
8x09 Better Half
Don't think this has started up again over here yet (if it has, I missed it), but they're three or four episodes into it Stateside so I thought I'd get going anyway.
The Magicians
2x05 Episode 5
The Singing Detective
Part 1 Skin
Dennis Potter's seminal 1986 drama, currently being repeated on BBC Four... but only on iPlayer for a week at a time, so I'm afraid I can't link to this one any more.
Top Gear
18x02 (5/2/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x09 Better Half
Don't think this has started up again over here yet (if it has, I missed it), but they're three or four episodes into it Stateside so I thought I'd get going anyway.
The Magicians
2x05 Episode 5
The Singing Detective
Part 1 Skin
Dennis Potter's seminal 1986 drama, currently being repeated on BBC Four... but only on iPlayer for a week at a time, so I'm afraid I can't link to this one any more.
Top Gear
18x02 (5/2/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friday, 10 February 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
10x13 (27/1/12 edition)
Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x59 (3/2/12 edition)
5x60 (6/2/12 edition) [season finale]
And that's me caught up! Series 6 begins on Monday.
[Watch the 6/2/12 edition (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x04 Episode 4
Stella was recommissioned this week, which is nice because it's good fun.
10x13 (27/1/12 edition)
Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x59 (3/2/12 edition)
5x60 (6/2/12 edition) [season finale]
And that's me caught up! Series 6 begins on Monday.
[Watch the 6/2/12 edition (again) on iPlayer.]
Stella
1x04 Episode 4
Stella was recommissioned this week, which is nice because it's good fun.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A couple of new things this week, but still not quite at 300 for Blu-rays. Next week... maybe... (It'll probably land on 301 now, which looks less pretty.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,448 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,149 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 299 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,592 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,538 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,417 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A couple of new things this week, but still not quite at 300 for Blu-rays. Next week... maybe... (It'll probably land on 301 now, which looks less pretty.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,448 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,149 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 299 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,592 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,538 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,417 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 9 February 2012
TV
Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
6x05 Line Up
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
5x58 (2/2/12 edition)
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
2x01 A Shock
I hadn't expected to see this quiet but excellent comedy-drama back, but I'm very glad it is. As mundane but brilliant as ever, with an intriguing new plot thread to guess at too -- what was outside the window? What's in the note?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Room 101
12x03 Episode 3
No extended version this week thanks to the Super Bowl. Bloody Yanks.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
6x05 Line Up
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
5x58 (2/2/12 edition)
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
2x01 A Shock
I hadn't expected to see this quiet but excellent comedy-drama back, but I'm very glad it is. As mundane but brilliant as ever, with an intriguing new plot thread to guess at too -- what was outside the window? What's in the note?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Room 101
12x03 Episode 3
No extended version this week thanks to the Super Bowl. Bloody Yanks.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
TV
Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask
1x01 Episode 1
Missed the pilot of this last year (was it really on in May?!). Shame, because it's fun.
The Mentalist
4x10 Fugue in Red
Just forging on ahead now.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 24th February. Probably.]
Pointless
5x57 (1/2/12 edition)
1x01 Episode 1
Missed the pilot of this last year (was it really on in May?!). Shame, because it's fun.
The Mentalist
4x10 Fugue in Red
Just forging on ahead now.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 24th February. Probably.]
Pointless
5x57 (1/2/12 edition)
Comics
Animal Man
#4 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
#5 by Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman & Steve Pugh
Dark as sin, with some of the most (deliberately) disgusting art I've ever seen, but brilliant stuff. Really can't believe it's only rated Teen+ though -- surely this is much tougher stuff than that implies?
Anyway, they're off to meet Swamp Thing next... or not. Quick Google search revealed that their much-discussed crossover is coming in the 12th issues, this summer. And there's also an annual about it. Christ, it does feel like you need to read the news to keep up with these things! It'd be nice if it was clear in advance in the comic itself how much crossover there'll be with Swamp Thing, because not every reader will read both (I'm not) and not everyone will have as much forethought as me to Google it.
That said, based on some of the stuff in this interview with Swamp Thing writer Scott Snyder, maybe I should double back and catch up... even though he specifically says, "We don't want you to feel like you have to read both books, at all. It's not that kind of thing."
Detective Comics #6 by Tony Salvador Daniel
That was a lot better -- a decent story, for one thing, even if the Penguin has nothing to do other than call other supervillains by their name so we know who they are; and if at times it felt like it was calling back to past stories/characters that it assumes the reader will know. That's the annoying thing about comics, and something I've always thought newcomers must have when watching something like Doctor Who: when there's a reference to a previous adventure, or the reveal of a villain, there's an element of "am I meant to know what that means?" And sometimes yes, they expect you to; and other times no, it's new to all viewers. Who is almost always the latter -- very little essential is based on fannish knowledge, and certainly not if it's something from the classic series. With comics... you never can be sure.
Most blatant was a reference to the current story in I, Vampire, which guest stars Batman. I'd been thinking about reading it anyway -- it's got Batman; I've thought I, Vampire sounds interesting -- but when it goes being so obviously called up... But there's no need to read it; it's not essential to this story. Which makes it the most pointless kind of reference, in a way; it plays like an uncomfortably obvious advert for another comic, because they've shoehorned it in for the sake of shoehorning it in. Oh well.
#4 by Jeff Lemire & Travel Foreman
#5 by Jeff Lemire, Travel Foreman & Steve Pugh
Dark as sin, with some of the most (deliberately) disgusting art I've ever seen, but brilliant stuff. Really can't believe it's only rated Teen+ though -- surely this is much tougher stuff than that implies?
Anyway, they're off to meet Swamp Thing next... or not. Quick Google search revealed that their much-discussed crossover is coming in the 12th issues, this summer. And there's also an annual about it. Christ, it does feel like you need to read the news to keep up with these things! It'd be nice if it was clear in advance in the comic itself how much crossover there'll be with Swamp Thing, because not every reader will read both (I'm not) and not everyone will have as much forethought as me to Google it.
That said, based on some of the stuff in this interview with Swamp Thing writer Scott Snyder, maybe I should double back and catch up... even though he specifically says, "We don't want you to feel like you have to read both books, at all. It's not that kind of thing."
Detective Comics #6 by Tony Salvador Daniel
That was a lot better -- a decent story, for one thing, even if the Penguin has nothing to do other than call other supervillains by their name so we know who they are; and if at times it felt like it was calling back to past stories/characters that it assumes the reader will know. That's the annoying thing about comics, and something I've always thought newcomers must have when watching something like Doctor Who: when there's a reference to a previous adventure, or the reveal of a villain, there's an element of "am I meant to know what that means?" And sometimes yes, they expect you to; and other times no, it's new to all viewers. Who is almost always the latter -- very little essential is based on fannish knowledge, and certainly not if it's something from the classic series. With comics... you never can be sure.
Most blatant was a reference to the current story in I, Vampire, which guest stars Batman. I'd been thinking about reading it anyway -- it's got Batman; I've thought I, Vampire sounds interesting -- but when it goes being so obviously called up... But there's no need to read it; it's not essential to this story. Which makes it the most pointless kind of reference, in a way; it plays like an uncomfortably obvious advert for another comic, because they've shoehorned it in for the sake of shoehorning it in. Oh well.
Articles
House Ends In May With The Conclusion Of Its Eighth Season – Official Statement
by Brendon Connelly (from Bleeding Cool)
They were taking so long over this I'd begun to assume it'd be recommissioned after all. Ah well. Goodbye, House -- you weren't always great, but you were always entertaining.
by Brendon Connelly (from Bleeding Cool)
They were taking so long over this I'd begun to assume it'd be recommissioned after all. Ah well. Goodbye, House -- you weren't always great, but you were always entertaining.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
TV
The Mentalist
4x09 The Redshirt
From being increasingly far behind Five -- sorry, Channel 5 --, to being ahead of them. That's what happens when you take too long bringing a US show back from its Christmassy break, British network. Not that they care. Or I, really. Just fancied watching it.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 17th February.]
Pointless
5x56 (31/1/12 edition)
4x09 The Redshirt
From being increasingly far behind Five -- sorry, Channel 5 --, to being ahead of them. That's what happens when you take too long bringing a US show back from its Christmassy break, British network. Not that they care. Or I, really. Just fancied watching it.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 17th February.]
Pointless
5x56 (31/1/12 edition)
Comics
Justice League #5 by Geoff Johns & Jim Lee
Considering the pace this is moving at, I really don't see how they're going to wrap it all up next issue. Hope it doesn't feel too rushed, or too inconclusive. Still, some good stuff in here; though one senses Jim Lee is finding the monthly deadlines a bit much -- his pencils are looking quite a lot sketchier, I think. No wonder he's taking a multi-issue break after this arc.
Considering the pace this is moving at, I really don't see how they're going to wrap it all up next issue. Hope it doesn't feel too rushed, or too inconclusive. Still, some good stuff in here; though one senses Jim Lee is finding the monthly deadlines a bit much -- his pencils are looking quite a lot sketchier, I think. No wonder he's taking a multi-issue break after this arc.
Monday, 6 February 2012
TV
Franklin & Bash
1x05 You Can't Take it With You
Needed something to watch fairly late at night; this seemed to be the last offensive thing on; turned out I quite liked it. Lightweight sure, but kinda fun.
Onion News Network
1x09 Real America
Particularly strong episode, I thought.
Pointless
5x55 (30/1/12 edition)
1x05 You Can't Take it With You
Needed something to watch fairly late at night; this seemed to be the last offensive thing on; turned out I quite liked it. Lightweight sure, but kinda fun.
Onion News Network
1x09 Real America
Particularly strong episode, I thought.
Pointless
5x55 (30/1/12 edition)
Comics
Aquaman #5 by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Poor Aquaman: saving the world one issue, still getting the piss taken out of him the next. Intriguing new story launching out of the old one though.
Poor Aquaman: saving the world one issue, still getting the piss taken out of him the next. Intriguing new story launching out of the old one though.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
TV
Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x54 (27/1/12 edition)
Stella
1x03 Episode 3
Somehow they managed to broadcast the first half-hour of this without any sound... and then out of nowhere cut to The Simpsons. Good thing Virgin have added Sky Anytime this month.
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x54 (27/1/12 edition)
Stella
1x03 Episode 3
Somehow they managed to broadcast the first half-hour of this without any sound... and then out of nowhere cut to The Simpsons. Good thing Virgin have added Sky Anytime this month.
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