Archer
3x07 Drift Problem
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Have I Got News For You
43x02 (20/4/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
5x05 Signal 30
Excellent episode all round, for oh so many reasons. After a bit of a slow start in some ways, this season is really kicking in. No idea what that title means though.
Also, amazing how a throwaway reference to a fictional author -- Dave Algonquin, pen name of character Ken Cosgrove -- makes the internet explode with creativity.
Onion News Network
2x09 Brooke vs. O'Brady
Pointless
4x19 (7/4/11 edition)
Scott & Bailey
2x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
The Voice UK
1x07 Live Show 1
The vast majority of singers on this are insanely good. It's going to get very tough after a couple of weeks. Or not, if some of the ones I dislike manage to cling on.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
My late-afternoon-yesterday return from Cornwall, plus a pile of Blu-rays that had arrived during my absence (thanks to Arrow's BOGOF sale (lasts 'til Monday)), necessitated a delay until today. And then another one turned up this morning, which probably means I'll have nothing to say next week.
But for now...
Number of titles in collection: 1,471 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 319 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 3,664 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,558 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,473 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
My late-afternoon-yesterday return from Cornwall, plus a pile of Blu-rays that had arrived during my absence (thanks to Arrow's BOGOF sale (lasts 'til Monday)), necessitated a delay until today. And then another one turned up this morning, which probably means I'll have nothing to say next week.
But for now...
Number of titles in collection: 1,471 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 319 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 3,664 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,558 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,473 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 27 April 2012
TV
Not Going Out
5x02 Dads
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
2x04 The Rapper [mid-season finale]
This series ends having got nowhere near the start of the Olympics. I know the real thing is soon, but it'd be nice if we still got some more of this... and luckily we will. It'll be interesting to see if they push to continue it even after the games, or if the next series will rush through the 400+ days that remain (in-series). It doesn't feel like it's over by any stretch.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Voice UK
1x06 The Battles 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x02 Episode 2
Why isn't WILTY on iPlayer series link?
5x02 Dads
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
2x04 The Rapper [mid-season finale]
This series ends having got nowhere near the start of the Olympics. I know the real thing is soon, but it'd be nice if we still got some more of this... and luckily we will. It'll be interesting to see if they push to continue it even after the games, or if the next series will rush through the 400+ days that remain (in-series). It doesn't feel like it's over by any stretch.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Voice UK
1x06 The Battles 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x02 Episode 2
Why isn't WILTY on iPlayer series link?
Articles
CinemaCon 2012: The Hobbit Underwhelms At 48 Frames Per Second
by Devin Faraci (from Badass Digest)
Footage from the forthcoming Hobbit adaptations has been screened in its much-heralded higher framerate of 48fps, and the results aren't good. "It is drenched in a TV-like -- specifically 70s era BBC -- video look. People on Twitter have asked if it has that soap opera look you get from badly calibrated TVs... and the answer is an emphatic YES." Oh dear. More detail at the link.
MST3K: The Movie (UK) in June
by Dave Foster (from The Digital Fix: Film)
Not only is the Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie coming out in the UK (which is a surprise), and not only is it coming out on Blu-ray (which is a surprise), but it's got extras too (which is a surprise). So I'm very surprised, but very happy about it. June 11th is the date; exactly £12 is the (current) best price for the BD.
by Devin Faraci (from Badass Digest)
Footage from the forthcoming Hobbit adaptations has been screened in its much-heralded higher framerate of 48fps, and the results aren't good. "It is drenched in a TV-like -- specifically 70s era BBC -- video look. People on Twitter have asked if it has that soap opera look you get from badly calibrated TVs... and the answer is an emphatic YES." Oh dear. More detail at the link.
MST3K: The Movie (UK) in June
by Dave Foster (from The Digital Fix: Film)
Not only is the Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie coming out in the UK (which is a surprise), and not only is it coming out on Blu-ray (which is a surprise), but it's got extras too (which is a surprise). So I'm very surprised, but very happy about it. June 11th is the date; exactly £12 is the (current) best price for the BD.
back
I have returned!
As you can see, today's updates are already here (above this, obviously), and later I'll go back and add in the couple of things I have for earlier in the week.
As you can see, today's updates are already here (above this, obviously), and later I'll go back and add in the couple of things I have for earlier in the week.
Monday, 23 April 2012
away
I'm away from today, for anything up to a week, and I'm not sure what if any internet access I'll have. So please excuse the (potential) shortage of updates, and I'll try to update it all once back.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
this week on 100 Films
Two new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
La Règle du jeu (1939)
aka The Rules of the Game
I'm off to Cornwall for most/all of the next week, so it's quite possible there won't be any more reviews for a fortnight. We'll see.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Some people complained that Iron Man 2 had too little focus on its own story and too much stuff setting up The Avengers. I disagreed, but I’d consider levelling such a criticism at Cap. While it doesn’t do it so overtly as the second Iron Man, it feels at times as if it’s drawing together disparate threads from previous films in preparation for the team-up... Maybe the subtitle should’ve given that away.Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
La Règle du jeu (1939)
aka The Rules of the Game
it’s a farce, but also a drama, which clearly has Something To Say — I believe I read that Renoir said it’s intended to be more about the lifestyle and the time it’s set than it is about a story. That kind of idea can often lead to pretension, but here it works... I’m not sure how Proper Film Critics would feel about this link, but I felt a certain affinity for Gosford Park while watching.Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
I'm off to Cornwall for most/all of the next week, so it's quite possible there won't be any more reviews for a fortnight. We'll see.
Saturday, 21 April 2012
TV
Castle
2x09 Love Me Dead
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Grandma's House
2x01 The day Simon officially became a very good and totally employable actor
20 months after the first series began, Simon Amstell's hilarious sitcom is back. Hurrah! I imagine a lot of people don't/won't like it -- it's not very traditional -- but in it's painfully-life-like-ness it's brilliant.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x03 Episode 3 [2nd watch]
Watched this for no particular reason (it was on Dave).
I'm sure I've seen it before, though it wasn't very familiar. But no wonder: this episode first aired (and I imagine I last watched it) before this blog even existed, back in November 2007. That's 4½ years ago! Crikey.
The Voice UK
1x05 The Battles 1
Loads of properly great duets in this, I thought. Some decisions I completely disagreed with, mostly by Danny. I'm away from tomorrow so will probably have to wait a whole week to see the second half!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x09 Love Me Dead
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Grandma's House
2x01 The day Simon officially became a very good and totally employable actor
20 months after the first series began, Simon Amstell's hilarious sitcom is back. Hurrah! I imagine a lot of people don't/won't like it -- it's not very traditional -- but in it's painfully-life-like-ness it's brilliant.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
21x03 Episode 3 [2nd watch]
Watched this for no particular reason (it was on Dave).
I'm sure I've seen it before, though it wasn't very familiar. But no wonder: this episode first aired (and I imagine I last watched it) before this blog even existed, back in November 2007. That's 4½ years ago! Crikey.
The Voice UK
1x05 The Battles 1
Loads of properly great duets in this, I thought. Some decisions I completely disagreed with, mostly by Danny. I'm away from tomorrow so will probably have to wait a whole week to see the second half!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Peter Dinklage Was Smart to Say No
by Dan Kois (from the New York Times)
A lengthy interview with/profile of the Game of Thrones star, which is very good.
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Should Hit Theaters at 48-Per-Second Frame Rate
by Carolyn Giardina (from The Hollywood Reporter)
It's long been known that The Hobbit (both parts, obv.) is being shot at 48fps (which apparently we're all to start calling HFR, because an acronym always helps), but with the release date of the first half creeping closer (only 8 months to go!), the reality of getting that into cinemas (from a technical point of view) is beginning to bite.
How many cinemas will actually be showing it at 48fps? No one knows, yet...
Skyfall Set Visit: 10 Big Questions and How the Cast and Creators Answered Them
by Rick Marshall (from Movies.com)
In case you've somehow forgotten, Skyfall is the next Bond film. Other than that, the title's pretty much got it covered. Interesting questions; interesting, but naturally quite cagey, answers.
Why the Halo Movie Failed to Launch
by Jamie Russell (from Game|Life at Wired)
The film of Halo should probably have been one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. Instead, the project imploded and disappeared, probably forever. In this excerpt from his new book Generation Xbox: How Video Games Invaded Hollywood, journalist Russell interviews significant players to reveal the behind-the-scenes story of Microsoft's odd negotiation tactics and the production mess that ensued. A must-read (the article, at least; dunno about the book) for anyone interested in the business goings-on of Hollywood or video games.
There's a less-detailed summary of some of the events in this article by Mike Bracken at Movies.com, which goes on to comment on how the video game industry might be able to learn something from comic books when it comes to getting their properties onto the cinema screen.
by Dan Kois (from the New York Times)
A lengthy interview with/profile of the Game of Thrones star, which is very good.
Peter Jackson's The Hobbit Should Hit Theaters at 48-Per-Second Frame Rate
by Carolyn Giardina (from The Hollywood Reporter)
It's long been known that The Hobbit (both parts, obv.) is being shot at 48fps (which apparently we're all to start calling HFR, because an acronym always helps), but with the release date of the first half creeping closer (only 8 months to go!), the reality of getting that into cinemas (from a technical point of view) is beginning to bite.
How many cinemas will actually be showing it at 48fps? No one knows, yet...
Skyfall Set Visit: 10 Big Questions and How the Cast and Creators Answered Them
by Rick Marshall (from Movies.com)
In case you've somehow forgotten, Skyfall is the next Bond film. Other than that, the title's pretty much got it covered. Interesting questions; interesting, but naturally quite cagey, answers.
Why the Halo Movie Failed to Launch
by Jamie Russell (from Game|Life at Wired)
The film of Halo should probably have been one of the biggest blockbusters of all time. Instead, the project imploded and disappeared, probably forever. In this excerpt from his new book Generation Xbox: How Video Games Invaded Hollywood, journalist Russell interviews significant players to reveal the behind-the-scenes story of Microsoft's odd negotiation tactics and the production mess that ensued. A must-read (the article, at least; dunno about the book) for anyone interested in the business goings-on of Hollywood or video games.
There's a less-detailed summary of some of the events in this article by Mike Bracken at Movies.com, which goes on to comment on how the video game industry might be able to learn something from comic books when it comes to getting their properties onto the cinema screen.
the crapness of Blogger
Just noticed that Blogger hadn't bothered to publish most of my scheduled posts from the last few days. Presumably this stupidity is something to do with the semi-enforced transition to its stupid new interface. Stupid thing.
Anyway, they're there now. Thought I'd say why.
Anyway, they're there now. Thought I'd say why.
Friday, 20 April 2012
TV
Discovering Hamlet
There seem to have been various documentaries by this title over the years, but this is one recently shown on Sky Arts 2, featuring interviews with the likes of David Tennant, plus other actors who've played the role, and directors who've directed it. Unusual absence of scholars, actually, though John Nettles' surprising contribution on the play's historical allegory subtext was most enlightening. Very interesting it all was, in fact.
If you get Sky Arts 2, it's on again at 1pm on Saturday 21st.
The Matt Lucas Awards
1x02 Episode 2
Still so slow. Shame.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Once Upon a Time
1x03 Snow Falls
Bit less cheap this week. Still cheesy. But at least they're keeping the story moving (for now).
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Pointless
4x18 (6/4/11 edition)
Scott & Bailey
2x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
There seem to have been various documentaries by this title over the years, but this is one recently shown on Sky Arts 2, featuring interviews with the likes of David Tennant, plus other actors who've played the role, and directors who've directed it. Unusual absence of scholars, actually, though John Nettles' surprising contribution on the play's historical allegory subtext was most enlightening. Very interesting it all was, in fact.
If you get Sky Arts 2, it's on again at 1pm on Saturday 21st.
The Matt Lucas Awards
1x02 Episode 2
Still so slow. Shame.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Once Upon a Time
1x03 Snow Falls
Bit less cheap this week. Still cheesy. But at least they're keeping the story moving (for now).
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Pointless
4x18 (6/4/11 edition)
Scott & Bailey
2x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's new arrivals include the Masters of Cinema Steelbook Blu-ray of Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (out next Monday). I already have Lifeboat on DVD, but it's in a box set so I'll be keeping that. It also comes with two Hitchcock-directed wartime shorts in HD. I have them on DVD too, in a separate release, but as it includes a special feature that this BD does not I may hang on to it.
Also this week, my Young Indiana Jones collection is completed with Volume 3. It feels like I've been waiting ages for it, though I only mentioned it last week.
And finally, this week also sees the monthly running time update. This month seems to have been mostly minor tweaks, and even a week with no new acquisitions... but it also included three box sets of feature-length TV episodes. How much will it be up? Ooh, the tension! See after the regular weekly stats...
Number of titles in collection: 1,465 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 313 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,653 [up 16]
Number of films in collection: 1,551 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,473 [up 9]
And so we come to that running time update, and it tells us that...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
261 days, 23 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 12 hours, and 15 minutes from last month.)
Well, there you go.
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's new arrivals include the Masters of Cinema Steelbook Blu-ray of Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (out next Monday). I already have Lifeboat on DVD, but it's in a box set so I'll be keeping that. It also comes with two Hitchcock-directed wartime shorts in HD. I have them on DVD too, in a separate release, but as it includes a special feature that this BD does not I may hang on to it.
Also this week, my Young Indiana Jones collection is completed with Volume 3. It feels like I've been waiting ages for it, though I only mentioned it last week.
And finally, this week also sees the monthly running time update. This month seems to have been mostly minor tweaks, and even a week with no new acquisitions... but it also included three box sets of feature-length TV episodes. How much will it be up? Ooh, the tension! See after the regular weekly stats...
Number of titles in collection: 1,465 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 313 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,653 [up 16]
Number of films in collection: 1,551 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,473 [up 9]
And so we come to that running time update, and it tells us that...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
261 days, 23 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 12 hours, and 15 minutes from last month.)
Well, there you go.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
TV
Archer
3x06 The Limited
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Horrible Histories
4x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
2x03 Clarence House
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x06 The Limited
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Horrible Histories
4x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
2x03 Clarence House
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Jonathan Ross: The king of comics
by Jonathan Ross (from London Evening Standard)
The title might suggest a profile of Wossy's new(ish) comic-writing career, but actually it's a piece by him about the new-found cool of comic books and their movies. I presume someone copyedited it to death though, as it's filled with references to "Spiderman", and "Captain Marvel" being in The Avengers alongside "Iron Man, the Hulk, the Mighty Thor, Captain, America, Hawkeye and Sgt Fury" (most of that last bit's fine -- spot the mistake in the middle). Still, the rest of the piece is good.
The Ethical Rot Behind Before Watchmen & The Avengers [Opinion]
by David Brothers (from Comics Alliance)
By contrast, here's a very good piece on the evils of the comic book industry.
by Jonathan Ross (from London Evening Standard)
The title might suggest a profile of Wossy's new(ish) comic-writing career, but actually it's a piece by him about the new-found cool of comic books and their movies. I presume someone copyedited it to death though, as it's filled with references to "Spiderman", and "Captain Marvel" being in The Avengers alongside "Iron Man, the Hulk, the Mighty Thor, Captain, America, Hawkeye and Sgt Fury" (most of that last bit's fine -- spot the mistake in the middle). Still, the rest of the piece is good.
The Ethical Rot Behind Before Watchmen & The Avengers [Opinion]
by David Brothers (from Comics Alliance)
By contrast, here's a very good piece on the evils of the comic book industry.
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
TV
Have I Got News For You
43x01 (13/4/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Horrible Histories
4x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
8x17 We Need the Eggs
Unless I've forgotten something, I have no idea what this title has to do with this episode.
Pointless
4x17 (5/4/11 edition)
43x01 (13/4/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Horrible Histories
4x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
8x17 We Need the Eggs
Unless I've forgotten something, I have no idea what this title has to do with this episode.
Pointless
4x17 (5/4/11 edition)
I'm the One That's Cool
This has been around for almost three weeks. You may've seen it. But I only just did, so there. (It's really good, though.)
Watch it bigger on YouTube and/or buy it on UK iTunes. Only the song though, sadly.
Watch it bigger on YouTube and/or buy it on UK iTunes. Only the song though, sadly.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
TV
Not Going Out
5x01 Band
It's nice to watch a series of Not Going Out not thinking it might be the last ever -- they've already commissioned a sixth. Hurrah! And based on this, it's still on form. Double hurrah!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
2x08 Artificial Intelligence
This show gets loopier by the episode.
5x01 Band
It's nice to watch a series of Not Going Out not thinking it might be the last ever -- they've already commissioned a sixth. Hurrah! And based on this, it's still on form. Double hurrah!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Onion News Network
2x08 Artificial Intelligence
This show gets loopier by the episode.
Articles
Marvel: What Does the Future Hold?
by Daniel W. Baldwin (from CHUD.com)
The forthcoming Avengers movie -- that'd be Marvel Avengers Assemble, obv. -- is the unprecedented culmination of years of work from Marvel's movie division. But they're not stupid -- they have plans beyond it. Many plans. Here's a good succinct summation of what is actually known about those plans (and is very light on the usual conjecture and wishful-thingking-fan-speculation that usually fills these pieces), covering 12 movies that could actually be coming out within the next five or so years.
by Daniel W. Baldwin (from CHUD.com)
The forthcoming Avengers movie -- that'd be Marvel Avengers Assemble, obv. -- is the unprecedented culmination of years of work from Marvel's movie division. But they're not stupid -- they have plans beyond it. Many plans. Here's a good succinct summation of what is actually known about those plans (and is very light on the usual conjecture and wishful-thingking-fan-speculation that usually fills these pieces), covering 12 movies that could actually be coming out within the next five or so years.
Monday, 16 April 2012
TV
Dame Elizabeth Taylor: A Tribute
Happened to notice, while browsing through recordings that have been on my V+ box for ages, that this was shown a year ago today. I didn't realise it had been so long. But a good time to watch it, eh. Nicely done too, full of comments from people who actually knew her rather than 'celebrities' who just liked some movies they saw once.
Horrible Histories
4x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x16 (4/4/11 edition)
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
1x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Happened to notice, while browsing through recordings that have been on my V+ box for ages, that this was shown a year ago today. I didn't realise it had been so long. But a good time to watch it, eh. Nicely done too, full of comments from people who actually knew her rather than 'celebrities' who just liked some movies they saw once.
Horrible Histories
4x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x16 (4/4/11 edition)
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
1x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
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