Cracker
2x03 To Be a Somebody Part 3
A suitably explosive conclusion to Cracker's defining story. Incidentally, Jimmy McGovern's one-off drama about Hillsborough is on ITV3 next Wednesday (15th April), the first time it's been shown since the original broadcast in 1996.
[For some reason this episode isn't available on ITV Player, even though all preceding and following episodes are.]
Horne & Corden
1x03 Episode 3
When this is on form it's absolutely hilarious -- the Christian youth group song, for example, or the opening sketch of this episode (even if it spent too long on the build-up), or indeed several other bits -- but other bits drag on far too long, and others simply aren't any good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Speaker
1x02 Episode 2
As this has now settled down it's improved slightly, showing much potential. I like that the judges and mentors are different sets of experts -- drivel like The X Factor could learn something from that. However, Jane Horrocks is a dreadful choice for narrator -- for a programme all about speaking, why choose someone with such an irritating voice?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Wire
1x06 The Wire
1x07 One Arrest
A look ahead at the schedules suggest the BBC aren't showing all of The Wire in one huge twelve-week chunk after all, which saddens me. It's also very odd scheduling -- why rush through the first season in just three weeks if you're going to leave a gap before more?
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Films
Alien: The Director's Cut (1979/2003)
[#13a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
There are many differences between this and the original cut (they're catalogued in full on IMDb) but none that make it significantly different, hence the 'a' numbering.
[#13a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
There are many differences between this and the original cut (they're catalogued in full on IMDb) but none that make it significantly different, hence the 'a' numbering.
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
TV
The Mentalist
1x02 Red Hair and Silver Tape
Every episode of The Mentalist's first season features "red" or a similar colour in the title. I hope that they only intend to do this for one season. And, secondarily, that they do the same thing with a different colour every year, otherwise it'll just be a bizarre first-year quirk (rather than a bizarre whole-series quirk, which is much better).
The Speaker
1x01 Episode 1
The BBC's latest reality show... but it's on BBC Two, so it's a cut above all the rest. In this one, teenagers are trained to be public speakers. It has some potential.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Aw, no The Wire to complete a triumvirate of "The"s.
1x02 Red Hair and Silver Tape
Every episode of The Mentalist's first season features "red" or a similar colour in the title. I hope that they only intend to do this for one season. And, secondarily, that they do the same thing with a different colour every year, otherwise it'll just be a bizarre first-year quirk (rather than a bizarre whole-series quirk, which is much better).
The Speaker
1x01 Episode 1
The BBC's latest reality show... but it's on BBC Two, so it's a cut above all the rest. In this one, teenagers are trained to be public speakers. It has some potential.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Aw, no The Wire to complete a triumvirate of "The"s.
Magazines: Radio Times redesign
Radio Times 11-17 April 2009
Really speaking, under the 'rules' of this blog, I ought to mention RT every week as I do read it every week. As it is, of course, I only mention it occasionally, when there's a special reason (or when I remember).
This is a special RT for a couple of reasons. One is their redesign, which I approve of. They haven't lost any major sections/columns (always a redesign fear), and they've even managed to extend some. Importantly, their main channel listings are fundamentally unchanged, but the few cosmetic tweaks (such as making episode numbers and titles clearer) are very much for the best. They've also improved their main digital listings -- the larger format, especially the larger Choices box, takes a little getting used to, but it is better.
The magazine-wide change, however, is a general one stylistic one -- most of the features are the same and in the same place, but it now uses a different font. As was clear to me, and is thankfully flat-out admitted in the editorial, this "classy new design... reinforces RT's position at the top of the TV magazines premier league." Meaning to say, "this isn't just any TV listings magazine, this is a special TV listings magazine". And so it should be.
In the magazine itself, there are features on this Easter's Doctor Who special and Sky1's adaptation of Skellig, amongst other things. And yet another lovely Who cover -- with only four episodes this year, and two of those over the Christmas period, Who will surely see its greatest dearth of RT covers since it returned in 2005!
Really speaking, under the 'rules' of this blog, I ought to mention RT every week as I do read it every week. As it is, of course, I only mention it occasionally, when there's a special reason (or when I remember).
This is a special RT for a couple of reasons. One is their redesign, which I approve of. They haven't lost any major sections/columns (always a redesign fear), and they've even managed to extend some. Importantly, their main channel listings are fundamentally unchanged, but the few cosmetic tweaks (such as making episode numbers and titles clearer) are very much for the best. They've also improved their main digital listings -- the larger format, especially the larger Choices box, takes a little getting used to, but it is better.
The magazine-wide change, however, is a general one stylistic one -- most of the features are the same and in the same place, but it now uses a different font. As was clear to me, and is thankfully flat-out admitted in the editorial, this "classy new design... reinforces RT's position at the top of the TV magazines premier league." Meaning to say, "this isn't just any TV listings magazine, this is a special TV listings magazine". And so it should be.
In the magazine itself, there are features on this Easter's Doctor Who special and Sky1's adaptation of Skellig, amongst other things. And yet another lovely Who cover -- with only four episodes this year, and two of those over the Christmas period, Who will surely see its greatest dearth of RT covers since it returned in 2005!
Monday, 6 April 2009
TV
Law & Order: UK
1x07 Trust
A very powerful episode, well written and performed. I've never been a huge fan of Freema Agyeman, if I'm honest -- Martha as a character made a great change from Rose, but I was only ever 90% convinced by her acting. In this, however, she did a great job. The triumphant conclusion is, depressingly, unlikely in real life, but made for a suitably pleasing ending here.
This is the last we'll see of L&O:UK for a while, though technically it's not actually the season finale. It had a season finale feel to it, suggesting foresight on the part of the makers, but 13 episodes have been made -- yep, ITV are playing at their usual game and taking a break for an unspecified amount of time. God only knows what goes through their schedulers' minds.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mad Men
2x08 A Night to Remember
Little Betty Draper finally makes a stand for herself. Hurrah! But the character I really felt for tonight was ever-confident Joan Holloway, getting a sniff of a higher-powered career she was really good at and then having it cruelly snatched away. Poor Joanie.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Wire
1x05 The Pager
1x07 Trust
A very powerful episode, well written and performed. I've never been a huge fan of Freema Agyeman, if I'm honest -- Martha as a character made a great change from Rose, but I was only ever 90% convinced by her acting. In this, however, she did a great job. The triumphant conclusion is, depressingly, unlikely in real life, but made for a suitably pleasing ending here.
This is the last we'll see of L&O:UK for a while, though technically it's not actually the season finale. It had a season finale feel to it, suggesting foresight on the part of the makers, but 13 episodes have been made -- yep, ITV are playing at their usual game and taking a break for an unspecified amount of time. God only knows what goes through their schedulers' minds.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mad Men
2x08 A Night to Remember
Little Betty Draper finally makes a stand for herself. Hurrah! But the character I really felt for tonight was ever-confident Joan Holloway, getting a sniff of a higher-powered career she was really good at and then having it cruelly snatched away. Poor Joanie.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Wire
1x05 The Pager
Articles
Microsoft Encarta Dies After Long Battle With Wikipedia by Noam Cohen
(from Bits at The New York Times)
Ah, Encarta... I remember it with a vague amount of fondness. Mainly because my tiny little home town was on there.
"In January, Wikipedia got 97% of the visits that Web surfers in the United States made to online encyclopedias... Encarta was second, with 1.27%. "
More Torchwood For 2009 by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
"Radio 4 which has confirmed there will be a Torchwood audio series, possibly for broadcast in June, but would not give us any more information at the present."
This following the success of one-off radio drama Lost Souls on both broadcast and CD last year. Online retailers are listing three CD releases for this series, which would suggest anywhere from three to six one-hour dramas.
Reviewer Loses Job Over Wolverine Review by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
"Fox News has fired an entertainment blogger Roger Friedman who wrote for FoxNews.com, after he published a review of the Wolverine movie (released, of course, by Fox) based on a one of the pirated copies that have been doing the rounds."
Poor guy. Though clearly lacking in common sense. This is by far the funniest bit though:
"he even gave it a good review... Fox released a statement saying: “Roger Friedman’s views in no way reflect the views... 20th Century Fox Film Corporation." Ha!
And finally...
Roads named after Discworld books
(from BBC News)
Seriously. And this is in the town that's been twinned with Ankh-Morpork. No, seriously.
(from Bits at The New York Times)
Ah, Encarta... I remember it with a vague amount of fondness. Mainly because my tiny little home town was on there.
"In January, Wikipedia got 97% of the visits that Web surfers in the United States made to online encyclopedias... Encarta was second, with 1.27%. "
More Torchwood For 2009 by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
"Radio 4 which has confirmed there will be a Torchwood audio series, possibly for broadcast in June, but would not give us any more information at the present."
This following the success of one-off radio drama Lost Souls on both broadcast and CD last year. Online retailers are listing three CD releases for this series, which would suggest anywhere from three to six one-hour dramas.
Reviewer Loses Job Over Wolverine Review by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
"Fox News has fired an entertainment blogger Roger Friedman who wrote for FoxNews.com, after he published a review of the Wolverine movie (released, of course, by Fox) based on a one of the pirated copies that have been doing the rounds."
Poor guy. Though clearly lacking in common sense. This is by far the funniest bit though:
"he even gave it a good review... Fox released a statement saying: “Roger Friedman’s views in no way reflect the views... 20th Century Fox Film Corporation." Ha!
And finally...
Roads named after Discworld books
(from BBC News)
Seriously. And this is in the town that's been twinned with Ankh-Morpork. No, seriously.
Wikipedia
Apparently I'm the only person in the world who can't currently access that inestimable web resource, Wikipedia. Which is annoying because, as you may've noticed, I tend to use it for linking-up all of my posts.
Apologies if today's have dodgy links, then -- they're all done through guesswork.
Apologies if today's have dodgy links, then -- they're all done through guesswork.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
TV
Today, I'm exactly a week behind on two completely different programmes...
Damages
2x07 New York Sucks
The plot doesn't so much thicken as continue in this episode, though the segments focussing on Uncle Pete are brilliant.
One of Damages' problems is that it has too many balls in the air this season -- a few are good to keep things interesting and complex, but too many and they all just blur. It's still a good show, but I don't think it has that Special Something that made the first season so amazing. I think I might dub this condition "24 Syndrome".
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
5x04 (26/3/09 edition, uncut repeat)
I almost feel sorry for Zac Efron ("star of High School Musical, High School Musical 2 and, er, High School Musical 3") -- he clearly had no idea what he'd let himself in for, or really what was going on. But, then again, I don't.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Damages
2x07 New York Sucks
The plot doesn't so much thicken as continue in this episode, though the segments focussing on Uncle Pete are brilliant.
One of Damages' problems is that it has too many balls in the air this season -- a few are good to keep things interesting and complex, but too many and they all just blur. It's still a good show, but I don't think it has that Special Something that made the first season so amazing. I think I might dub this condition "24 Syndrome".
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
5x04 (26/3/09 edition, uncut repeat)
I almost feel sorry for Zac Efron ("star of High School Musical, High School Musical 2 and, er, High School Musical 3") -- he clearly had no idea what he'd let himself in for, or really what was going on. But, then again, I don't.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Wild Wild West (1999)
[2nd watch]
Can you believe this -- and, of course, its (in)famous associated song -- are now a decade old? I saw it on video way back when and quite liked, though was aware it wasn't all that good. Now those flaws are even more obvious, I'm sad to say.
Also, while a lot of the effects work is rather dodgy, some of it still holds good today. Not a huge point in the film's favour, but at least it means there's something nice to look at while the attempts at humour fall pathetically flat.
[2nd watch]
Can you believe this -- and, of course, its (in)famous associated song -- are now a decade old? I saw it on video way back when and quite liked, though was aware it wasn't all that good. Now those flaws are even more obvious, I'm sad to say.
Also, while a lot of the effects work is rather dodgy, some of it still holds good today. Not a huge point in the film's favour, but at least it means there's something nice to look at while the attempts at humour fall pathetically flat.
Articles
A pair of articles related to sci-fi fiction today...
Grok This: Forget The Business Books, Go Sci-Fi To Stoke Your Imagination by Michael Arrington
(from TechCrunch)
Initially coming at things from a business blog perspective, it quickly moves on to just being a list of sci-fi books (i.e. don't worry that it's going to try to relate all of them back to business concepts or something). It's a fairly interesting list with several good books. And Frankenstein, which I think is overrated.
And that article links to...
Top 100 Sci-Fi Books
(from Sci-Fi Lists)
Not sure how this list is compiled, and I've not even heard of some of the books, but it's interesting nonetheless. See the parent site for similar lists about film, television and short fiction.
Grok This: Forget The Business Books, Go Sci-Fi To Stoke Your Imagination by Michael Arrington
(from TechCrunch)
Initially coming at things from a business blog perspective, it quickly moves on to just being a list of sci-fi books (i.e. don't worry that it's going to try to relate all of them back to business concepts or something). It's a fairly interesting list with several good books. And Frankenstein, which I think is overrated.
And that article links to...
Top 100 Sci-Fi Books
(from Sci-Fi Lists)
Not sure how this list is compiled, and I've not even heard of some of the books, but it's interesting nonetheless. See the parent site for similar lists about film, television and short fiction.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
TV
Primeval
3x01 Episode 1
ITV's Doctor Who rival is still nothing like as good, packed to bursting with cliches in both its action and its dialogue (there are whole sequences that go by without a single non-cliched line being uttered). It can be passable entertainment at times, but the sheer volume of niggling flaws have me literally shouting at the TV.
And I can't let a Primeval comment go by without mentioning Cutter's ridiculous new haircut -- or, rather, lack thereof. Someone fetch the trimmers!
Also, scheduling it against Robin Hood wasn't such a good idea, at least as far as I'm concerned (hence why I'm a week behind -- yep, it's Demons all over again).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Robin Hood
3x02 Cause and Effect
Sword fights for no reason? Utterly implausible escapes? Action, action, action? Yep, Robin Hood has finally got it right! This is what I've wanted from the series from day one, and only rarely got before now. Hopefully it can keep it up.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Total Wipeout
1x09 The Total Wipeout Awards
I caught glimpses of Total Wipeout throughout its run. Essentially, it's people trying to run hard obstacles courses, failing and falling into water. And it's much funnier than it has any right to be. This is just a "best of" presented in a slightly different format -- don't worry, you don't have to suffer illiterate acceptance speeches if you choose to watch it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x01 Episode 1
ITV's Doctor Who rival is still nothing like as good, packed to bursting with cliches in both its action and its dialogue (there are whole sequences that go by without a single non-cliched line being uttered). It can be passable entertainment at times, but the sheer volume of niggling flaws have me literally shouting at the TV.
And I can't let a Primeval comment go by without mentioning Cutter's ridiculous new haircut -- or, rather, lack thereof. Someone fetch the trimmers!
Also, scheduling it against Robin Hood wasn't such a good idea, at least as far as I'm concerned (hence why I'm a week behind -- yep, it's Demons all over again).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Robin Hood
3x02 Cause and Effect
Sword fights for no reason? Utterly implausible escapes? Action, action, action? Yep, Robin Hood has finally got it right! This is what I've wanted from the series from day one, and only rarely got before now. Hopefully it can keep it up.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Total Wipeout
1x09 The Total Wipeout Awards
I caught glimpses of Total Wipeout throughout its run. Essentially, it's people trying to run hard obstacles courses, failing and falling into water. And it's much funnier than it has any right to be. This is just a "best of" presented in a slightly different format -- don't worry, you don't have to suffer illiterate acceptance speeches if you choose to watch it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Music
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl by Klaus Badelt
and
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by Hans Zimmer
The scores for the Pirates trilogy provide great music for writing big action-adventure blockbusters to. My personal preference lies with the first film's score -- yes, it can be repetitive, but the bit it repeats is brilliant. The albums for two and three have their moments, but they're more scattered.
and
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End by Hans Zimmer
The scores for the Pirates trilogy provide great music for writing big action-adventure blockbusters to. My personal preference lies with the first film's score -- yes, it can be repetitive, but the bit it repeats is brilliant. The albums for two and three have their moments, but they're more scattered.
Articles
BBC Charged £150,000 Over Sachsgate. Fine? No, Not Really… by RedJolt
(from FaceJolt)
"They’ve taken £150,000 away from the BBC, which means we can have £150,000 less good programming in the near future, and given it to Ofcom."
Metrodome in April by Dave Foster
(from DVD Times)
Remember Lordi, that crazy Finnish rock band who won Eurovision a few years back? Well, they're now starring in a horror film. No, really. Have a look about it here.
Personal web data to be stored for a year by Robert Verkaik
(from The Independent)
"Bloody Europe again," you might think, but you'd only be half right. So I'm told, Brown thought it would be too controversial here (too right) and so had it pushed through in Europe. (And let's not forget, we still haven't elected this man.)
Student submits worst application ever? by Sarah Rollo
(from Digital Spy)
"A horticulture student was left red-faced after sending a job application to a Welsh attraction from the email address 'atleastimnotwelsh'."
Virgin1 launches Dr Hoo, a year-round online only drama by Matt Warman
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
My various travels around the web led me to uncover this series on IMDb, an intriguingly-named entity starring some moderately well-known names (Ian Hart, Elaine Cassidy, someone who used to be in EastEnders) about which there was next to no info.
A little more digging unearthed this article. Turns out, it's some webseries that supposedly runs year round, though Virgin seem to have uploaded 10 three-minute episodes and left it be for the time being. Connections to a certain immensely popular sci-fi show referenced by the title seem to be minimal, although I haven't actually watched it yet so can't say for certain.
If you're interested, you can watch it for yourself here.
(from FaceJolt)
"They’ve taken £150,000 away from the BBC, which means we can have £150,000 less good programming in the near future, and given it to Ofcom."
Metrodome in April by Dave Foster
(from DVD Times)
Remember Lordi, that crazy Finnish rock band who won Eurovision a few years back? Well, they're now starring in a horror film. No, really. Have a look about it here.
Personal web data to be stored for a year by Robert Verkaik
(from The Independent)
"Bloody Europe again," you might think, but you'd only be half right. So I'm told, Brown thought it would be too controversial here (too right) and so had it pushed through in Europe. (And let's not forget, we still haven't elected this man.)
Student submits worst application ever? by Sarah Rollo
(from Digital Spy)
"A horticulture student was left red-faced after sending a job application to a Welsh attraction from the email address 'atleastimnotwelsh'."
Virgin1 launches Dr Hoo, a year-round online only drama by Matt Warman
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
My various travels around the web led me to uncover this series on IMDb, an intriguingly-named entity starring some moderately well-known names (Ian Hart, Elaine Cassidy, someone who used to be in EastEnders) about which there was next to no info.
A little more digging unearthed this article. Turns out, it's some webseries that supposedly runs year round, though Virgin seem to have uploaded 10 three-minute episodes and left it be for the time being. Connections to a certain immensely popular sci-fi show referenced by the title seem to be minimal, although I haven't actually watched it yet so can't say for certain.
If you're interested, you can watch it for yourself here.
new reviews at 100 Films
A couple of new reviews have been posted over at 100 Films since my last update, and they are...
Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
There are currently 10 new films in the review pipeline at 100 Films, not to mention two shorts and another review of something previously seen. Updates as and when they're posted.
Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)
once again more a spy thriller than a traditional detective tale. That’s not to say Holmes’ abilities as a detective aren’t present — in fact, he does a very reasonable amount — but if you switched him for a generic British Intelligence agent the plot would be unlikely to suffer
Some Like It Hot (1959)
a very funny film even 50 years on. It rattles from situation to situation at an occasionally surprising pace, literally without a dull moment. Not that there’s anything wrong with slower old films, but its certainly spritely for its age.
There are currently 10 new films in the review pipeline at 100 Films, not to mention two shorts and another review of something previously seen. Updates as and when they're posted.
Friday, 3 April 2009
TV
I've Never Seen Star Wars
1x04 Emily Maitlis
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
K9 MIPTV Trailer
Read my thoughts on this trailer here.
Moving Wallpaper
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
A brilliantly ludicrous finale to the second series. Fingers crossed for a third -- when it's good it can be great -- though I'm not confident.
It's a shame Renaissance is just a 9-minute online thing (to be found here, or currently papering over the ITV.com front page) rather than the fully-fledged TV special promised by the marketing of the show. I swear some of the actors flat-out lied during the promotion for this -- possibly to keep the ending a secret, but really, I suspect, to make people think it was still relevant and worthy of being on TV.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Wire
1x04 Old Cases
Read my (brief) thoughts on this episode here.
1x04 Emily Maitlis
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
K9 MIPTV Trailer
Read my thoughts on this trailer here.
Moving Wallpaper
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
A brilliantly ludicrous finale to the second series. Fingers crossed for a third -- when it's good it can be great -- though I'm not confident.
It's a shame Renaissance is just a 9-minute online thing (to be found here, or currently papering over the ITV.com front page) rather than the fully-fledged TV special promised by the marketing of the show. I swear some of the actors flat-out lied during the promotion for this -- possibly to keep the ending a secret, but really, I suspect, to make people think it was still relevant and worthy of being on TV.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Wire
1x04 Old Cases
Read my (brief) thoughts on this episode here.
Articles
Cinema's third attempt at 3D by Mark Savage
(from BBC News)
Interesting article on the pros and cons of the current trend towards 3D in cinema. There've been a lot of articles on this topic lately, but this is the first I've seen that expresses any genuine skepticism about it. Which is a good thing, because for all the plaudits being thrown around by major filmmakers, there are a number of reasons that this isn't really up there with Sound and Colour in the pantheon of Great Revolutions In Cinema. I mean, you didn't have to wear special glasses for either of the other two, did you.
March Stalls 2009 Madness by Brandon Gray
(from Box Office Mojo)
Once you get past the opening paragraphs that seem to add fuel to the "Watchmen flopped!" fire (it didn't), this has some realistic points to make. Such as, "expectations were so unrealistically high that it was the sole new nationwide release for the first weekend of the month, and overall business suffered from that dearth of counter-programming." (Emphasis my own.)
Talking of Watchmen...
Watchmen Second Run Confirmed
(from WatchmenComicMovie.com)
Chances of it hitting the UK, in my opinion? Slim. Chances of it being outside London if it does? Nil.
You Wouldn't Steal a Car... by Helen O'Hara
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire weighs in on the whole Wolverine leak fiasco. Makes for some interesting reading, as do the comments.
(from BBC News)
Interesting article on the pros and cons of the current trend towards 3D in cinema. There've been a lot of articles on this topic lately, but this is the first I've seen that expresses any genuine skepticism about it. Which is a good thing, because for all the plaudits being thrown around by major filmmakers, there are a number of reasons that this isn't really up there with Sound and Colour in the pantheon of Great Revolutions In Cinema. I mean, you didn't have to wear special glasses for either of the other two, did you.
March Stalls 2009 Madness by Brandon Gray
(from Box Office Mojo)
Once you get past the opening paragraphs that seem to add fuel to the "Watchmen flopped!" fire (it didn't), this has some realistic points to make. Such as, "expectations were so unrealistically high that it was the sole new nationwide release for the first weekend of the month, and overall business suffered from that dearth of counter-programming." (Emphasis my own.)
Talking of Watchmen...
Watchmen Second Run Confirmed
(from WatchmenComicMovie.com)
Chances of it hitting the UK, in my opinion? Slim. Chances of it being outside London if it does? Nil.
You Wouldn't Steal a Car... by Helen O'Hara
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire weighs in on the whole Wolverine leak fiasco. Makes for some interesting reading, as do the comments.
K9 series MIPTV trailer
Here's the trailer for Doctor Who spin-off (sort of) series K9, which has been floating around the web for the last few days. It was created for the MIPTV trade conference in Cannes and is technically unfinished. Watch it (if you want), then read more after.
In case you haven't heard of this series before, it's a Doctor Who spin-off... sort of. It's not made by the BBC and it's not connected to the Who production office (unlike Torchwood and Sarah Jane), but it does feature a revamped version of the Doctor's robotic dog companion, K9. And it is the self-same K9, because the original model appears at the start of the series.
How can this happen? Because copyright for the tin dog lies with the guy who co-created him, not with the BBC.
Will the series be any good? Hard to tell from this trailer, which is aimed at the trade and features unfinished music, titles and -- most importantly -- voice-over work. As kids' shows go it looks OK enough, but nothing more. Also, it was shot in Australia, so the over-posh British accents are occasionally amusing.
In case you haven't heard of this series before, it's a Doctor Who spin-off... sort of. It's not made by the BBC and it's not connected to the Who production office (unlike Torchwood and Sarah Jane), but it does feature a revamped version of the Doctor's robotic dog companion, K9. And it is the self-same K9, because the original model appears at the start of the series.
How can this happen? Because copyright for the tin dog lies with the guy who co-created him, not with the BBC.
Will the series be any good? Hard to tell from this trailer, which is aimed at the trade and features unfinished music, titles and -- most importantly -- voice-over work. As kids' shows go it looks OK enough, but nothing more. Also, it was shot in Australia, so the over-posh British accents are occasionally amusing.
The Wire 1x04: Old Cases
The more The Wire continues, the more certain I become that it is indeed a grower.
Some shows start and grab you immediately; they can then either build on this or throw it all away (more often than not it's the latter, sadly). Others are quite good and improve, others are just bad and stay bad. But The Wire is that very rare thing -- possibly unique -- where you start off uncertain because it only works the more of it you see. And, I suspect, its true quality (however high that may or may not be) is only revealed once you've seen the complete season -- or, to put it another way, the complete story.
Also worthy of note from this episode... well, many things, I'm sure -- but the one bit I wanted to mention is a great sequence in which Detectives McNulty and Bunk analyse a cold case crime scene without saying a word bar variations on the word "fuck". (In practice, this is less Tarantino than it sounds here.)
Some shows start and grab you immediately; they can then either build on this or throw it all away (more often than not it's the latter, sadly). Others are quite good and improve, others are just bad and stay bad. But The Wire is that very rare thing -- possibly unique -- where you start off uncertain because it only works the more of it you see. And, I suspect, its true quality (however high that may or may not be) is only revealed once you've seen the complete season -- or, to put it another way, the complete story.
Also worthy of note from this episode... well, many things, I'm sure -- but the one bit I wanted to mention is a great sequence in which Detectives McNulty and Bunk analyse a cold case crime scene without saying a word bar variations on the word "fuck". (In practice, this is less Tarantino than it sounds here.)
Poem of the Week: Jabberwocky
by Lewis Carroll
I was rather surprised to discover I hadn't had this for Poem of the Week yet (I'd merely suggested the idea a couple of months ago), and so, in need of a speedy one this week, here it is.
As usual, first the poem, then some brief notes.
Jabberwocky is, of course, a nonsense poem, and quite possibly the most famous of them all. It was originally published in 1871 as part of the novel Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, both of which are fairly nonsensical in themselves. (They're also both great, quick reads, incidentally, if you've never read them.)
Interestingly, it's managed to take on quite a life of its own beyond this. As well as its independent popularity and featuring in some of the adaptations of the Alice books, there's been both a feature-length film adaption by director Terry Gilliam and, before that, a short film featuring the whole poem by Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer. I've seen neither, so can't vouch for either's quality.
I was rather surprised to discover I hadn't had this for Poem of the Week yet (I'd merely suggested the idea a couple of months ago), and so, in need of a speedy one this week, here it is.
As usual, first the poem, then some brief notes.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Jabberwocky is, of course, a nonsense poem, and quite possibly the most famous of them all. It was originally published in 1871 as part of the novel Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, both of which are fairly nonsensical in themselves. (They're also both great, quick reads, incidentally, if you've never read them.)
Interestingly, it's managed to take on quite a life of its own beyond this. As well as its independent popularity and featuring in some of the adaptations of the Alice books, there's been both a feature-length film adaption by director Terry Gilliam and, before that, a short film featuring the whole poem by Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer. I've seen neither, so can't vouch for either's quality.
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