The Event
1x22 Arrival [series finale]
So that's that for The Event, cancelled post-finale in the US -- which means we get a cliffhanger here. Fortunately a lot of threads are wrapped up first, so it doesn't make for a wholly unsatisfying ending. It's a shame the series never really latched on with viewers (both Stateside and here, where C4 ended up burying it around midnight), because it got a lot better as it went on. Aside from Leila's clichéd pregnancy reveal (they could really have done with killing her off when they had the chance), the handful of last-minute revelations were all very intriguing for where they'd've gone next. Shame.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Have I Got News For You
41x07 (27/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Articles
The Hobbit Films Get Official Titles by James White
(from Empire)
It's official: they're to be called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Which is nice.
(from Empire)
It's official: they're to be called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Which is nice.
Monday, 30 May 2011
TV
Britain's Next Big Thing
Episode 7 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy
9x07 Road to the North Pole [Christmas special]
5x09 Road to Rupert
BBC Three had a night of Family Guy's Road to... episodes last night, which I V+d and watched in the early hours. Sadly, they chose to only show five of the six (skipping Road to Germany), two of which I'd watched quite recently, and then my recording of the last one mucked up -- so their 'night' turns into 'two episodes'. Hey-ho.
The first one is last Christmas' hour-long (in the US) special and is all kinds of sick and twisted. I loved it. New favourite Christmas TV special! Yay!
Episode 7 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy
9x07 Road to the North Pole [Christmas special]
5x09 Road to Rupert
BBC Three had a night of Family Guy's Road to... episodes last night, which I V+d and watched in the early hours. Sadly, they chose to only show five of the six (skipping Road to Germany), two of which I'd watched quite recently, and then my recording of the last one mucked up -- so their 'night' turns into 'two episodes'. Hey-ho.
The first one is last Christmas' hour-long (in the US) special and is all kinds of sick and twisted. I loved it. New favourite Christmas TV special! Yay!
Fiction
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver
Sunday: The Red Danube, Chapters 1-5
Monday: The Rag-and-Bone Man, Chapters 6-18
Here we go, the new Bond novel. Unlike Faulks' effort from a few years ago, this one makes like the films and drags Bond into the present day, all GCHQ and al-Qaeda and iPhones and whatnot.
We'll see how it goes, but it starts well: the first five chapters are effectively the pre-titles, an action sequence in which Bond stops some kind of disaster that has an ancillary connection to the main plot that'll follow. In the process it sets up the new world order -- the 30-something Bond who in 2011 works for an organisation more secret than MI6; his app-laden phone, complete with orders delivered via text message; his ruthless but appropriate mindset -- plus story specifics, like the threat this novel will tackle -- real-world (no hollowed-out volcanoes, of course) but appropriately grand -- and a Bond-equalling henchman character. Good going.
The pace consciously slows after that, taking Bond back to London and indulging in even more world-building. This is a Bond reboot, even more so than Casino Royale, so we briefly learn how this Bond was recruited (three years ago) and where the fictional organisation he works for sits in the make-up of MI5/MI6/etc. Plus Chapter 9 introduces us to the villain, a properly nasty piece of work thanks to his hobby. Bodes well for later. (I mean how evil he is, not the hobby per se.) And in Chapter 18, Bond doesn't sleep with a woman. Very modern. But, even though it would seem anti-Bond, it works, continuing to establish how the character might well be now, rather than dragging a product of the '50s into the '00s.
Remember the review I mentioned the other day, criticising the writing? Most of it's fine. I've certainly read worse. The foul-sounding "steaming curds" as a description for lovely scrambled eggs does stand out, though, as does this nasty use of a made-up verb:
Ouch. Damn American writers.
So, most importantly: does it feel like Bond? Yes and no. While previous continuation (i.e. non-Fleming) novels have slowly shifted Bond into the era they were written (much as the films did), I've never read any of them, so for me the literary Bond has always occurred in the '50s and '60s (or, in the case of Young Bond, even earlier). Unlike Faulks, who emulated Fleming as far as possible, this reads to me like a classic Bond novel crossed with a modern thriller... which I guess is the point.
Sunday: The Red Danube, Chapters 1-5
Monday: The Rag-and-Bone Man, Chapters 6-18
Here we go, the new Bond novel. Unlike Faulks' effort from a few years ago, this one makes like the films and drags Bond into the present day, all GCHQ and al-Qaeda and iPhones and whatnot.
We'll see how it goes, but it starts well: the first five chapters are effectively the pre-titles, an action sequence in which Bond stops some kind of disaster that has an ancillary connection to the main plot that'll follow. In the process it sets up the new world order -- the 30-something Bond who in 2011 works for an organisation more secret than MI6; his app-laden phone, complete with orders delivered via text message; his ruthless but appropriate mindset -- plus story specifics, like the threat this novel will tackle -- real-world (no hollowed-out volcanoes, of course) but appropriately grand -- and a Bond-equalling henchman character. Good going.
The pace consciously slows after that, taking Bond back to London and indulging in even more world-building. This is a Bond reboot, even more so than Casino Royale, so we briefly learn how this Bond was recruited (three years ago) and where the fictional organisation he works for sits in the make-up of MI5/MI6/etc. Plus Chapter 9 introduces us to the villain, a properly nasty piece of work thanks to his hobby. Bodes well for later. (I mean how evil he is, not the hobby per se.) And in Chapter 18, Bond doesn't sleep with a woman. Very modern. But, even though it would seem anti-Bond, it works, continuing to establish how the character might well be now, rather than dragging a product of the '50s into the '00s.
Remember the review I mentioned the other day, criticising the writing? Most of it's fine. I've certainly read worse. The foul-sounding "steaming curds" as a description for lovely scrambled eggs does stand out, though, as does this nasty use of a made-up verb:
He greeted a smartly dressed Asian woman keyboarding deftly at a large computer
Ouch. Damn American writers.
So, most importantly: does it feel like Bond? Yes and no. While previous continuation (i.e. non-Fleming) novels have slowly shifted Bond into the era they were written (much as the films did), I've never read any of them, so for me the literary Bond has always occurred in the '50s and '60s (or, in the case of Young Bond, even earlier). Unlike Faulks, who emulated Fleming as far as possible, this reads to me like a classic Bond novel crossed with a modern thriller... which I guess is the point.
Articles
Matthew Vaughn On X-Men: First Class – On The Writing Credits, On The Bond Influence, On The Difficult Shoot And More by Brendon Connelly
(from Bleeding Cool)
A variety of interesting questions and answers with... well, the title sums it up.
(from Bleeding Cool)
A variety of interesting questions and answers with... well, the title sums it up.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
TV
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
4x05 (28/5/11 edition)
The lists feel more desperately obscure/specific every week. And pity the poor girl who managed to throw away two out of three lists she played by guessing answers that were almost correct.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x04 Little Lazarus [season finale]
Generally this is quite good, though in this case marred by some niggly plot holes (mainly to do with the husband).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
4x05 (28/5/11 edition)
The lists feel more desperately obscure/specific every week. And pity the poor girl who managed to throw away two out of three lists she played by guessing answers that were almost correct.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x04 Little Lazarus [season finale]
Generally this is quite good, though in this case marred by some niggly plot holes (mainly to do with the husband).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Articles
Agreeing and Disagreeing with Roger Ebert on Dim Projection by Tim League
(from Alamo Blog at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema)
A response to/continuation of Ebert's article the other day on dim projection of movies. It shows it can be done right, but, as Ebert says in the comments, "I have a sinking feeling that many theaters do not make the effort you describe".
Films That Killed Studios by Helen Cox
(from New Empress Magazine)
If you're a film fan you may well be familiar with some or all of these stories, but it's still quite astonishing to see how studios have been killed just by a single misjudged film.
(from Alamo Blog at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema)
A response to/continuation of Ebert's article the other day on dim projection of movies. It shows it can be done right, but, as Ebert says in the comments, "I have a sinking feeling that many theaters do not make the effort you describe".
Films That Killed Studios by Helen Cox
(from New Empress Magazine)
If you're a film fan you may well be familiar with some or all of these stories, but it's still quite astonishing to see how studios have been killed just by a single misjudged film.
this week on 100 Films
3 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week. As they included both versions of Assault on Precinct 13, I did a Make/Remake feature on them here.
And the rest of the reviews included...
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005)
More next Sunday.
And the rest of the reviews included...
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
I should probably also note that the main cop character is black and the main criminal is white, which I imagine was revolutionary in the ’70s. To be honest, it would probably go against the norm today — note how the remake reverted to (stereo)type.
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
In terms of the representation of race on screen, this is a film that could certainly be seen as a step backwards. While the original had a black police officer in charge of a white criminal, here not only is the lead officer white — as are all but one of the dozens of other policemen — but all the criminals inside the precinct are black or (in one case) hispanic. Ouch.
Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (2005)
it does feel like three Family Guy episodes stitched together. Much like that other stitched-together-from-three-animated-TV-episodes movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the events of part one (or the first twenty-odd minutes) seem entirely separated from the two-parter that makes up the back hour. Fortunately the Family Guy team seem to have more common sense than their Lucasfilm counterparts, choosing to link back round to the start for their film’s climax, tying it all together after all.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 28 May 2011
TV
Doctor Who
32x06 The Almost People
32x06a Prequel to Episode 7
Helluva cliffhanger -- impressive to live up to all the hype they've been giving it! And a teasing prequel indeed. I suspect we may finally get some answers next week... though as it's part one of two, and as we're halfway through the split-in-two season, I suspect there'll still be more than enough questions.
[Watch The Almost People (again) in HD on iPlayer, and the Prequel to Episode 7 on the official website.]
House
7x23 Moving On [season finale]
That was remarkably inconclusive. Ah well.
Robot Chicken
2x09 Massage Chair
2x13 Metal Militia
2x14 Veggies for Sloth
2x15 Sausage Fest
32x06 The Almost People
32x06a Prequel to Episode 7
Helluva cliffhanger -- impressive to live up to all the hype they've been giving it! And a teasing prequel indeed. I suspect we may finally get some answers next week... though as it's part one of two, and as we're halfway through the split-in-two season, I suspect there'll still be more than enough questions.
[Watch The Almost People (again) in HD on iPlayer, and the Prequel to Episode 7 on the official website.]
House
7x23 Moving On [season finale]
That was remarkably inconclusive. Ah well.
Robot Chicken
2x09 Massage Chair
2x13 Metal Militia
2x14 Veggies for Sloth
2x15 Sausage Fest
Friday, 27 May 2011
TV
The Graham Norton Show
9x06 (20/5/11 edition)
One of the least enjoyable Grahams ever, if you ask me. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
41x06 (20/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Robot Chicken
2x04 Celebrity Rocket
2x02 Federated Resources
2x05 Dragon Nuts
2x07 Cracked China
2x08 Rodigitti
2x10 Password: Swordfish
Ooh, Doctor Who reference! But no, I didn't get it... not 'til I read this.
9x06 (20/5/11 edition)
One of the least enjoyable Grahams ever, if you ask me. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
41x06 (20/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Robot Chicken
2x04 Celebrity Rocket
2x02 Federated Resources
2x05 Dragon Nuts
2x07 Cracked China
2x08 Rodigitti
2x10 Password: Swordfish
Ooh, Doctor Who reference! But no, I didn't get it... not 'til I read this.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Quite a lot of stuff turning up this week, one of them a DVD-to-BD upgrade of a box set that adds even more films to it. Lovely! Also, the running time update. Shiny!
Number of titles in collection: 1,316 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,110 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 206 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,256 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,389 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,840 [up 24]
As I said, it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
234 days, and 31 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 4 hours, and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Quite a lot of stuff turning up this week, one of them a DVD-to-BD upgrade of a box set that adds even more films to it. Lovely! Also, the running time update. Shiny!
Number of titles in collection: 1,316 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,110 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 206 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,256 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,389 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,840 [up 24]
As I said, it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
234 days, and 31 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 4 hours, and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
TV
How I Met Your Mother
6x13 Bad News
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Shadow Line
Part 3 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
6x13 Bad News
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Shadow Line
Part 3 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver – review by Steven Poole
(from guardian.co.uk)
aka the new James Bond novel. This is a marvellously scathing review! Of course, this is just a thriller being reviewed by a broadsheet critic, so maybe the novel isn't so bad -- other reviews, like The Telegraph's and the Evening Standard's, are most positive -- but this review's still a good read.
The dying of the light by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
On how 3D projectors in cinemas are ruining the projection of 2D movies. And they really are. This is also an interesting stat:
/Film Interview: X-Men: First Class Director Matthew Vaughn by Germain Lussier
(from /Film)
Title says it all. He also discusses the prospect of a sequel to Kick-Ass:
(from guardian.co.uk)
aka the new James Bond novel. This is a marvellously scathing review! Of course, this is just a thriller being reviewed by a broadsheet critic, so maybe the novel isn't so bad -- other reviews, like The Telegraph's and the Evening Standard's, are most positive -- but this review's still a good read.
The dying of the light by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
On how 3D projectors in cinemas are ruining the projection of 2D movies. And they really are. This is also an interesting stat:
David Poland of MovieCityNews.com ran the numbers and determined 60% of sales [for Pirates of the Caribbean 4] were in 2D and 40% in 3D: "Not only is this a clear rejection of 3D on a major movie, but given how distribution is currently designed, it makes you wonder whether Disney cost themselves a lot of gross by putting their film on too high a percentage of 3D screens."
/Film Interview: X-Men: First Class Director Matthew Vaughn by Germain Lussier
(from /Film)
Title says it all. He also discusses the prospect of a sequel to Kick-Ass:
We might do it. People forget that Kick Ass we made for $28 million and now with DVD and everything else has made $225 million in revenue so it’s done great business. A lot of people say it could be like Austin Powers how the first one people couldn’t get their heads around, they all discovered it on video and then the second one was a huge blockbuster... There could be one but if I do a sequel to that it’s gotta be just as good, if not better.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
TV
Archer
2x04 Pipeline Fever
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
3x21 Like a Redheaded Stepchild
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x12 Goodson Goes Deep
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
2x04 Pipeline Fever
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
3x21 Like a Redheaded Stepchild
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x12 Goodson Goes Deep
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Articles
Clash of the versus movies by Stuart Heritage
(from Film Blog at guardian.co.uk)
Oprah Winfrey: 10 moments that made her by Tom Geoghegan
(from BBC News Magazine)
Sounds like it's just a list of memorable things from her chat show, but it's actually a more analytical piece than that (through the prism of a top ten list), which makes it interesting.
Vaughn: 'X-Men: First Class influenced by Bond' by Zakia Uddin
(from Digital Spy)
X-Men: First Class Reviews from
Digital Spy by Ben Rawson-Jones
Empire by Dan Jolin
Total Film by Rosie Fletcher
Consensus so far (based also on other comments I've read scattered about) is that it's excellent, perhaps the best X-Men film yet. Super.
(from Film Blog at guardian.co.uk)
by the time that Dinosaurs v Aliens rolls around, we'll have been hit over the head with such an extraordinary number of similar movies that we won't care whether the dinosaurs or the aliens win. Mark my words, soon we'll all be suffering from versus fatigue.But why do so many of them feature zombies?! Are they the new vampires? Can we expect a Twilight-y human-zombie teen romance soon?
Already in the pipeline are films such as Strippers v Werewolves, Gladiators v Werewolves, Aliens v Ninjas, Boy Scouts v Zombies, Humans v Zombies, Aliens v Avatars, Cockneys v Zombies and Michael Bay's Zombies v Robots. Add this to the teetering stack of versus movies made by The Asylum (including Alien v Hunter, Mega Shark v Giant Octopus and Mega Shark v Crocosaurus) and you would be forgiven for despairing at the film industry's staggering lack of imagination.
Oprah Winfrey: 10 moments that made her by Tom Geoghegan
(from BBC News Magazine)
Sounds like it's just a list of memorable things from her chat show, but it's actually a more analytical piece than that (through the prism of a top ten list), which makes it interesting.
Vaughn: 'X-Men: First Class influenced by Bond' by Zakia Uddin
(from Digital Spy)
He also teased a follow-up to the movie that could open with the assassination of John F.Kennedy, who has been shot with a "magic bullet controlled by Magneto".Ooh, good idea!
X-Men: First Class Reviews from
Digital Spy by Ben Rawson-Jones
Empire by Dan Jolin
Total Film by Rosie Fletcher
Consensus so far (based also on other comments I've read scattered about) is that it's excellent, perhaps the best X-Men film yet. Super.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
TV
Britain's Next Big Thing
Episode 6 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Event
1x21 The Beginning of the End
Only one episode left?! Feels like there's much more to go. Hope it isn't too much of a cliffhanger...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Robot Chicken
2x00 Christmas Special
2x01 Suck It
2x03 Easter Basket
2x06 1987
The special, included as an extra on the season two DVD, aired in the US on December 22, 2005 (between seasons one and two) and simply includes a couple of sketches from the first season and one from second.
Compilationtastic.
I fastforwarded the first season ones. And said second season sketch was in Easter Basket, so naturally I fastforwarded it the second time.
Fastforwardedtastic.
Yes, Prime Minister
1x07 The Bishop's Gambit
Episode 6 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Event
1x21 The Beginning of the End
Only one episode left?! Feels like there's much more to go. Hope it isn't too much of a cliffhanger...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Robot Chicken
2x00 Christmas Special
2x01 Suck It
2x03 Easter Basket
2x06 1987
The special, included as an extra on the season two DVD, aired in the US on December 22, 2005 (between seasons one and two) and simply includes a couple of sketches from the first season and one from second.
Compilationtastic.
I fastforwarded the first season ones. And said second season sketch was in Easter Basket, so naturally I fastforwarded it the second time.
Fastforwardedtastic.
Yes, Prime Minister
1x07 The Bishop's Gambit
Monday, 23 May 2011
Articles
How Black People Use Twitter by Farhad Manjoo
(from Slate)
The subject of this article is something I have also noticed and been intrigued by, so I find this to be noticeably intriguing.
Review of Anno Dracula - New Edition by Blackgloves
(from Horrorview)
Interesting, insightful review of Kim Newman's seminal modern-classic SF/F novel.
(from Slate)
The subject of this article is something I have also noticed and been intrigued by, so I find this to be noticeably intriguing.
Review of Anno Dracula - New Edition by Blackgloves
(from Horrorview)
Interesting, insightful review of Kim Newman's seminal modern-classic SF/F novel.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
TV
The British Academy Television Awards 2011
And that's the kind of thing that happens if you let your Audience Award be voted for on YouTube.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
And that's the kind of thing that happens if you let your Audience Award be voted for on YouTube.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Music
Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie
I was interested in this anyway, but having seen him promoting & performing from it all over TV recently it became a must-have. Didn't disappoint.
I was interested in this anyway, but having seen him promoting & performing from it all over TV recently it became a must-have. Didn't disappoint.
Articles
Sunday Herald names footballer accused on Twitter
(from BBC News)
(from BBC News)
"It seems to us a ludicrous situation where we are supposed to keep from our readers the identity of someone who anybody can find out on the internet at the click of a mouse, and in fact many people have already done so."Quite right. More relevant comments along these lines in the article, plus the government report on super-injunctions where old out-of-touch justice-types once again misunderstand the potential, relevance, and importance of new technology.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Death Race (2008)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Also this week, I pondered the movies everybody's seen but you, as dictated by iCheckMovies.com, including the top 10 I've not seen. Do have a look at my post and see what your ones are.
More next Sunday.
Death Race (2008)
everything that happens is an excuse to get to some action sequences, in which cars race around a circuit and attempt to destroy each other in some moderately creative ways. It caters perfectly to its intended audience: there’s fast cars, sexy girls, lots of action, big explosions. It doesn’t always make sense — those sexy girls are really shoehorned in — but that doesn’t really matter.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
I think Iron Man 2 has been underrated — I would contend that it is, more or less, as good as the first film. That didn’t seem to be the consensus at the time of release, which ranged from mediocre to rubbish, and I think this is in part due to viewers’ expectations. When one thinks a first film is better than it is, expectations for the sequel are heightened; when said sequel is only as good as the first film really was, it looks worse by comparison
Also this week, I pondered the movies everybody's seen but you, as dictated by iCheckMovies.com, including the top 10 I've not seen. Do have a look at my post and see what your ones are.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
TV
Doctor Who
32x05 The Rebel Flesh
I really enjoyed that -- a proper Doctor Who story, I thought, and certainly my favourite of the series so far. Rory was brilliant in it, it was pretty scary in places, there are some great concepts and ideas that are being properly explored, and even if the cliffhanger was a tad obvious I'm sure it's thoroughly shocking if you're a kid. Fingers very crossed next week's second half can keep this quality up.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
No Ordinary Family
1x07 No Ordinary Mobster
Haven't watched this since February -- been too much on regular telly -- and it's been cancelled, but gotta finish season one...
Robot Chicken
1x14 Joint Point
1x17 Operation Rich in Spirit
1x19 That Hurts Me
1x20 The Black Cherry [season finale]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x06 A Victory for Democracy
32x05 The Rebel Flesh
I really enjoyed that -- a proper Doctor Who story, I thought, and certainly my favourite of the series so far. Rory was brilliant in it, it was pretty scary in places, there are some great concepts and ideas that are being properly explored, and even if the cliffhanger was a tad obvious I'm sure it's thoroughly shocking if you're a kid. Fingers very crossed next week's second half can keep this quality up.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
No Ordinary Family
1x07 No Ordinary Mobster
Haven't watched this since February -- been too much on regular telly -- and it's been cancelled, but gotta finish season one...
Robot Chicken
1x14 Joint Point
1x17 Operation Rich in Spirit
1x19 That Hurts Me
1x20 The Black Cherry [season finale]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x06 A Victory for Democracy
Articles
Top 10 Spectacular Long Takes by James Oliver
(from MovieMail)
I love a long take, and here are ten of the best -- complete with clips and links to order the films on DVD.
(from MovieMail)
I love a long take, and here are ten of the best -- complete with clips and links to order the films on DVD.
Friday, 20 May 2011
TV
Plenty today...
Archer
2x03 Blood Test
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Event
1x20 One Will Live, One Will Die
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
House
7x22 After Hours
Different; good. Season finale next week! Crikey.
How I Met Your Mother
6x12 False Positive
Another strong episode. After struggling a bit (and coming in for some flack for it), HIMYM seems to have re-found its earlier narratively-playful groove. Nice.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x11 Family Dinner for Schmucks
So this has been cancelled. It's not the greatest sitcom ever, but it's entertaining enough. Ah well.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The South Bank Show
37x10 The Final Cut [series finale]
The last-ever edition of ITV's long-running arts show, which aired nearly a year ago now. It looks at South Bank itself, though in its usual atypical way: rather than just providing a history of the series it interviews three of its filmmakers to find out why they did things the way they did them. Very good.
Archer
2x03 Blood Test
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Event
1x20 One Will Live, One Will Die
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
House
7x22 After Hours
Different; good. Season finale next week! Crikey.
How I Met Your Mother
6x12 False Positive
Another strong episode. After struggling a bit (and coming in for some flack for it), HIMYM seems to have re-found its earlier narratively-playful groove. Nice.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x11 Family Dinner for Schmucks
So this has been cancelled. It's not the greatest sitcom ever, but it's entertaining enough. Ah well.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The South Bank Show
37x10 The Final Cut [series finale]
The last-ever edition of ITV's long-running arts show, which aired nearly a year ago now. It looks at South Bank itself, though in its usual atypical way: rather than just providing a history of the series it interviews three of its filmmakers to find out why they did things the way they did them. Very good.
Articles
The Impossible Astronaut - most recorded TV show of all time by Chuck Foster
(from Doctor Who News Page)
4.11 million people chose to record the opening episode of this series of Doctor Who and watch it within a week; the next nearest is the first episode of Come Fly With Me, with 3.29 million. That's quite a margin.
It's interesting to look at the full top ten, compiled here. The quote in the article points out they're all within the last three years -- that's true, but it's more impressive to look at it this way: nine of them are within the last 12 months. The anomaly is Christmas 2008's astonishingly popular Wallace & Gromit special. Also worthy of note that, of those nine, three of them were on Christmas Day 2010.
I'm also not sure I believe this is the real top ten: there's very neatly ten different series on there, series which are all enormously popular and air many episodes per year (as opposed to it being full of one-off dramas or sports events, etc), so how can it be that (for instance) 3.17 million people recorded one episode of The X Factor but no more than 2.37 million recorded any other? That doesn't seem to make sense.
But hey-ho, Doctor Who is still #1!
$#*! My Dad Says Creator, Father React to Show's Cancellation
(from The Live Feed at The Hollywood Reporter)
The news it's been cancelled is just news -- this response is pretty funny, but also heartwarming... in the way the show itself is heartwarming, so...
Waterstone's sold off as Amazon eBook sales bite by Nicole Kobie
(from PC Pro)
"For every hardback we sell online, we sell four eBooks online" -- this kind of statistic shouldn't surprise anyone. Who wants a huge, heavy, expensive hardback when you can have the same text on a highly portable eBook reader for the same price or less? It would be more interesting statistically to see how eBooks stack up against paperbacks.
(from Doctor Who News Page)
4.11 million people chose to record the opening episode of this series of Doctor Who and watch it within a week; the next nearest is the first episode of Come Fly With Me, with 3.29 million. That's quite a margin.
It's interesting to look at the full top ten, compiled here. The quote in the article points out they're all within the last three years -- that's true, but it's more impressive to look at it this way: nine of them are within the last 12 months. The anomaly is Christmas 2008's astonishingly popular Wallace & Gromit special. Also worthy of note that, of those nine, three of them were on Christmas Day 2010.
I'm also not sure I believe this is the real top ten: there's very neatly ten different series on there, series which are all enormously popular and air many episodes per year (as opposed to it being full of one-off dramas or sports events, etc), so how can it be that (for instance) 3.17 million people recorded one episode of The X Factor but no more than 2.37 million recorded any other? That doesn't seem to make sense.
But hey-ho, Doctor Who is still #1!
$#*! My Dad Says Creator, Father React to Show's Cancellation
(from The Live Feed at The Hollywood Reporter)
The news it's been cancelled is just news -- this response is pretty funny, but also heartwarming... in the way the show itself is heartwarming, so...
Waterstone's sold off as Amazon eBook sales bite by Nicole Kobie
(from PC Pro)
"For every hardback we sell online, we sell four eBooks online" -- this kind of statistic shouldn't surprise anyone. Who wants a huge, heavy, expensive hardback when you can have the same text on a highly portable eBook reader for the same price or less? It would be more interesting statistically to see how eBooks stack up against paperbacks.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, the number of Blu-rays I own passes the 200 mark. Woo! They now make up just over 15% of my collection.
Number of titles in collection: 1,309 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,108 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 201 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 3,246 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,380 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,816 [up 6]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, the number of Blu-rays I own passes the 200 mark. Woo! They now make up just over 15% of my collection.
Number of titles in collection: 1,309 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,108 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 201 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 3,246 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,380 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,816 [up 6]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
TV
Doctor Who Confidential
6x04 Bigger on the Inside
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
9x05 (13/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x03 The Crow Trap
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
6x04 Bigger on the Inside
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
9x05 (13/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x03 The Crow Trap
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
TV
Perspectives
1x04 Down by the River [season finale]
ITV1's South Bank replacement lets Hugh Laurie explain his love for blues music, culminating in his recent performance in New Orleans. It's perhaps not as intellectual as South Bank, which is probably the point, but it's certainly as informative and entertaining. The series also has a surprisingly extensive website, by ITV standards.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Wonderland
3x04 The Trouble with Love and Sex
Meanwhile, one of the BBC's documentary strands looks at the effect of Relate counsellors on relationships, through recordings of actual sessions visualised through animation. Interesting.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x05 A Real Partnership
This isn't a documentary. But it almost could be. And one about today's politics, too. Shocking, really, considering it was made over 25 years ago.
1x04 Down by the River [season finale]
ITV1's South Bank replacement lets Hugh Laurie explain his love for blues music, culminating in his recent performance in New Orleans. It's perhaps not as intellectual as South Bank, which is probably the point, but it's certainly as informative and entertaining. The series also has a surprisingly extensive website, by ITV standards.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Wonderland
3x04 The Trouble with Love and Sex
Meanwhile, one of the BBC's documentary strands looks at the effect of Relate counsellors on relationships, through recordings of actual sessions visualised through animation. Interesting.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x05 A Real Partnership
This isn't a documentary. But it almost could be. And one about today's politics, too. Shocking, really, considering it was made over 25 years ago.
Films
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
[#55 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
More importantly, however, this is the 500th new film I've watched while doing 100 Films! Crikey, eh.
[#55 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
More importantly, however, this is the 500th new film I've watched while doing 100 Films! Crikey, eh.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
TV
Britain's Next Big Thing
Episode 5 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Robot Chicken
1x10 Badunkadunk
1x11 Toy Meets Girl
1x12 Midnight Snack
1x13 Atta Toy
Yes, Prime Minister
1x04 The Key
Episode 5 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Robot Chicken
1x10 Badunkadunk
1x11 Toy Meets Girl
1x12 Midnight Snack
1x13 Atta Toy
Yes, Prime Minister
1x04 The Key
Monday, 16 May 2011
TV
The Mentalist
3x20 Redacted
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Shadow Line
Part 2 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x20 Redacted
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Shadow Line
Part 2 (of 7)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Exclusive: Tintin One-Sheet Online by Phil de Semlyen
(from Empire)
Brilliant. And look how big the writers' names are! The writers!
Trailer tomorrow, apparently.
No way to run a railway brand - how South West Trains have managed to trash their image. by Chris Arnold
(from Arnold on Ethical Marketing at Brand Republic)
This article feels like it's getting nowhere about something you've not heard, if you read it from the start. I suggest jumping to paragraph four ("The whole incident revolves around...") to get to the shocking point. If you keep going 'til the end, you'll find there's a petition here.
(from Empire)
Brilliant. And look how big the writers' names are! The writers!
Trailer tomorrow, apparently.
No way to run a railway brand - how South West Trains have managed to trash their image. by Chris Arnold
(from Arnold on Ethical Marketing at Brand Republic)
This article feels like it's getting nowhere about something you've not heard, if you read it from the start. I suggest jumping to paragraph four ("The whole incident revolves around...") to get to the shocking point. If you keep going 'til the end, you'll find there's a petition here.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
TV
The Event
1x19 Us or Them
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Have I Got News For You
41x05 (13/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
6x11 The Mermaid Theory
Hurrah for HIMYM being back on E4! Personally, I thought that was an exceptionally good episode.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x19 Us or Them
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Have I Got News For You
41x05 (13/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
6x11 The Mermaid Theory
Hurrah for HIMYM being back on E4! Personally, I thought that was an exceptionally good episode.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
My mighty hammering over Thor by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
Ebert defends his review of the Thor movie in the wake of ridiculous criticism from 'fans'.
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
Ebert defends his review of the Thor movie in the wake of ridiculous criticism from 'fans'.
this week on 100 Films
3 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week -- coincidentally, all of films from 2009! They were...
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
An Education (2009)
Up in the Air (2009)
Also worth noting (relatively) is that (500) Days of Summer is the 500th review of a feature-length film to be posted as part of 100 Films! It's not the 500th film though, as I've reviewed a variety of non-counted films. But that 500th is imminent...
More next Sunday.
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
An opening voiceover warns the viewer that “this is not a love story”. Of course, it is, just one without the traditional ending... romantics would do well to heed this warning anyway, otherwise they might find themselves disappointed. However, viewers who are prepared for a story that rings true... may well be pleasantly surprised. It’s not wholly unique, but equally it doesn’t feel derivative.
An Education (2009)
The film hangs on Carey Mulligan, justly nominated for her performance. Quite aside from whether the performance is awards-worthy or not, it’s effortlessly watchable... On the other hand, some have found her character too pretentious or naïve — maybe your own background will dictate if you see these negative traits.
Up in the Air (2009)
It’s easy to see how Clooney’s character — very much the centre of the piece — could be irritating or vapid or any number of other negative adjectives, but instead he’s… well, he’s George Clooney, isn’t he? He’s all charm. If you were going to be fired, you’d probably want George Clooney to be doing it.
Also worth noting (relatively) is that (500) Days of Summer is the 500th review of a feature-length film to be posted as part of 100 Films! It's not the 500th film though, as I've reviewed a variety of non-counted films. But that 500th is imminent...
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
TV
Doctor Who
32x04 The Doctor's Wife
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Eurovision Song Contest: Düsseldorf 2011
Thought this year's winner was a bit of a mediocre effort -- there were several much better songs. Still, at least the unusually close voting made for relatively interesting viewing.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Family Guy Presents Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show
Vera
1x02 Telling Tales
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
32x04 The Doctor's Wife
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Eurovision Song Contest: Düsseldorf 2011
Thought this year's winner was a bit of a mediocre effort -- there were several much better songs. Still, at least the unusually close voting made for relatively interesting viewing.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Family Guy Presents Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show
Vera
1x02 Telling Tales
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Once again this entry is delayed a day, this time by Blogger's unexpected downtime, and also a few hours too, by unexpected downtime from my ISP. Thrilling.
Number of titles in collection: 1,307 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,108 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 199 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,243 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,379 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,810 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Once again this entry is delayed a day, this time by Blogger's unexpected downtime, and also a few hours too, by unexpected downtime from my ISP. Thrilling.
Number of titles in collection: 1,307 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,108 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 199 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,243 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,379 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,810 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Blogger, fixed
So Blogger seems all fixed now, and despite my earlier fears everything is back. Hurrah!
Consequently, there's two days worth of posts -- that's TV for Thursday, Articles that were going to be on Thursday but are now Friday because they are, and TV and Films for Friday too. Super.
The latest Collection Count update is, once again, bumped to Saturday.
Consequently, there's two days worth of posts -- that's TV for Thursday, Articles that were going to be on Thursday but are now Friday because they are, and TV and Films for Friday too. Super.
The latest Collection Count update is, once again, bumped to Saturday.
Friday, 13 May 2011
TV
The Graham Norton Show
9x04 (6/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
7x21 The Fix
Robot Chicken
1x07 A Piece of the Action
1x05 Toyz in the Hood
1x06 Vegetable Funfest
1x09 S&M Present
9x04 (6/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
7x21 The Fix
Robot Chicken
1x07 A Piece of the Action
1x05 Toyz in the Hood
1x06 Vegetable Funfest
1x09 S&M Present
Films
Iron Man (2008)
[2nd watch]
This was #31 in 100 Films 2008, when I watched it at the cinema. I liked it then, but think I enjoyed it even more second time round. The sequel is on Sky Premiere from next Friday, so naturally I'm aiming to watch my Blu-ray of that before then and post a review in time -- hence watching this one now.
[2nd watch]
This was #31 in 100 Films 2008, when I watched it at the cinema. I liked it then, but think I enjoyed it even more second time round. The sequel is on Sky Premiere from next Friday, so naturally I'm aiming to watch my Blu-ray of that before then and post a review in time -- hence watching this one now.
Articles
16 movie poster traditions that need to die in a horrible fire by Ali
(from theshiznit.co.uk)
I don't entirely agree with some of them -- the "from the producer of" credit is kinda irritating, but at the same time producers do tend to make the same kind of films because they know how to make those kind of films, so it's not a worthless comparison, especially in the age of producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, who arguably have more control over the final film than the director -- but most are spot-on, and several quite amusing too.
If this summer's movie posters told the truth by Ali
(from theshiznit.co.uk)
And from the same site, a better take on posters. These are most amusing. I particularly like the Super 8 one -- "E.T. With Lens Flare". It's funny because it's true.
Steven Moffat speaks out against spoiler "vandals" by Chuck Foster
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Moffat's 'anti-fan' comments seem to be increasingly regular and causing an increasing stir amongst certain aspects of fandom. But the thing is, pretty much everything he has to say is true -- proper fans should be agreeing, not moaning about it. It's only 'fans' -- the people who claim to like the show but always complain about it, or deliberately spoil it and take the fun out of it -- that need to feel offended, and offended they should feel because... well, he's right about them.
Where are today's Steinbecks? by Michael Goldfarb
(from BBC News)
(from theshiznit.co.uk)
I don't entirely agree with some of them -- the "from the producer of" credit is kinda irritating, but at the same time producers do tend to make the same kind of films because they know how to make those kind of films, so it's not a worthless comparison, especially in the age of producers like Jerry Bruckheimer, who arguably have more control over the final film than the director -- but most are spot-on, and several quite amusing too.
If this summer's movie posters told the truth by Ali
(from theshiznit.co.uk)
And from the same site, a better take on posters. These are most amusing. I particularly like the Super 8 one -- "E.T. With Lens Flare". It's funny because it's true.
Steven Moffat speaks out against spoiler "vandals" by Chuck Foster
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Moffat's 'anti-fan' comments seem to be increasingly regular and causing an increasing stir amongst certain aspects of fandom. But the thing is, pretty much everything he has to say is true -- proper fans should be agreeing, not moaning about it. It's only 'fans' -- the people who claim to like the show but always complain about it, or deliberately spoil it and take the fun out of it -- that need to feel offended, and offended they should feel because... well, he's right about them.
Where are today's Steinbecks? by Michael Goldfarb
(from BBC News)
Millions of men and women have lost their jobs in the latest global downturn - the biggest for decades. Why do we hear so little about them?Or, why art is so slow to respond to the current global recession when it wasn't last time.
Blogger's stupidity
Those who don't use Blogger are likely to have missed this, but somehow yesterday evening they buggered up their whole system and left everything in read-only mode while they tried to fix it -- that's why, in the case of this blog in particular, you dear readers would still have been able to read everything, but no new posts appeared.
To fix it they seem to have deleted Wednesday's posts. They are, apparently, still in the process of restoring these. Additionally, it seems all saved posts have reverted to pre-Wednesday form -- or, to put it another way, all my half-written & saved-as-drafts posts for Thursday's viewing, reading, etc, have disappeared as well.
I am miffed about this.
Fingers crossed it's all coming back, not just posted posts. I shan't publish any other updates for the immediate future, just in case, and if it doesn't get fixed I'll catch up on Wednesday (though, that should come back anyway) and Thursday later tonight or tomorrow.
Just in case you were curious.
To fix it they seem to have deleted Wednesday's posts. They are, apparently, still in the process of restoring these. Additionally, it seems all saved posts have reverted to pre-Wednesday form -- or, to put it another way, all my half-written & saved-as-drafts posts for Thursday's viewing, reading, etc, have disappeared as well.
I am miffed about this.
Fingers crossed it's all coming back, not just posted posts. I shan't publish any other updates for the immediate future, just in case, and if it doesn't get fixed I'll catch up on Wednesday (though, that should come back anyway) and Thursday later tonight or tomorrow.
Just in case you were curious.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
TV
Archer
2x02 A Going Concern
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Secret History of Eurovision
Plenty of British people seem to think it's just a joke or ungrounded PR spin when it's said that Eurovision is much more important on the continent than it is over here, and can have a genuine effect on more serious political issues. Even the Radio Times voiced such ideas in their review of this documentary. But I think this does a good job of showing that, actually, it's true -- the silly camp little thing we largely ignore has been, and continues to be, incredibly significant to much of Europe; and it exposes this while also acknowledging its occasional (well, frequent) silliness and campery. Good documentary.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Shadow Line
Part 1 (of 7)
New murder/crime/conspiracy thriller, which started last week (so I am of course watching this week). Rather unusual in all kinds of ways -- pace, writing style, acting -- but all of it marvellous in its irregular fashion. This has "classic in the making" written all over it. If you're not watching, start before it's too late.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x10 You Can't Handle the Truce
Hold on... what? Last episode, Vince and Bonnie decided to move out of their home, and we saw their dog, who we'd met before. This week, they're in the same place and they're trying to adopt a dog, with no sight or mention of their previous one. So... what?
Well, the TV.com page for this episode says it was originally scheduled to air the week before the first episode featuring the dog, and said dog turned up right at the end, so I presume this episode should really be placed earlier in the season and 5* just weren't paying attention. Tsk.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
2x02 A Going Concern
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Secret History of Eurovision
Plenty of British people seem to think it's just a joke or ungrounded PR spin when it's said that Eurovision is much more important on the continent than it is over here, and can have a genuine effect on more serious political issues. Even the Radio Times voiced such ideas in their review of this documentary. But I think this does a good job of showing that, actually, it's true -- the silly camp little thing we largely ignore has been, and continues to be, incredibly significant to much of Europe; and it exposes this while also acknowledging its occasional (well, frequent) silliness and campery. Good documentary.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Shadow Line
Part 1 (of 7)
New murder/crime/conspiracy thriller, which started last week (so I am of course watching this week). Rather unusual in all kinds of ways -- pace, writing style, acting -- but all of it marvellous in its irregular fashion. This has "classic in the making" written all over it. If you're not watching, start before it's too late.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x10 You Can't Handle the Truce
Hold on... what? Last episode, Vince and Bonnie decided to move out of their home, and we saw their dog, who we'd met before. This week, they're in the same place and they're trying to adopt a dog, with no sight or mention of their previous one. So... what?
Well, the TV.com page for this episode says it was originally scheduled to air the week before the first episode featuring the dog, and said dog turned up right at the end, so I presume this episode should really be placed earlier in the season and 5* just weren't paying attention. Tsk.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
TV
Britain's Next Big Thing
Episode 4 (of 7)
Having Theo Paphitis as on-screen presenter (but not even narrator) on the first three episodes of this felt pointless, but now it's moved from wannabes pitching their product to the actual business of getting them on to shop shelves, he seems to have more to do. So that's nice.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy: Groundbreaking Gags
BBC-produced talking-heads documentary about Family Guy's extraordinarily outrageous humour -- and there's certainly plenty of it to talk about. If you've never watched the show, this is probably a good primer for why you may well not like it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
41x04 (6/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x09 Make a WISiH
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Episode 4 (of 7)
Having Theo Paphitis as on-screen presenter (but not even narrator) on the first three episodes of this felt pointless, but now it's moved from wannabes pitching their product to the actual business of getting them on to shop shelves, he seems to have more to do. So that's nice.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy: Groundbreaking Gags
BBC-produced talking-heads documentary about Family Guy's extraordinarily outrageous humour -- and there's certainly plenty of it to talk about. If you've never watched the show, this is probably a good primer for why you may well not like it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
41x04 (6/5/11 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x09 Make a WISiH
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Articles
Character to release winning Blue Peter TARDIS console by Chuck Foster
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Remember in 2009 Blue Peter launched a competition for a viewer to design a TARDIS console to feature in an episode of Doctor Who? If I recall, it was widely believed by fans to be intended for episode 11, The Lodger... which it didn't turn up in. Now it's turned up in the new series, in the Neil Gaiman's episode The Doctor's Wife -- which was originally scheduled to be episode 11 of the last series. Wow. Anyway, said viewer design is (as I've said) finally making it on to TV... and making it into toy form too, as Who toy manufacturer Character are going to be making it into a playset! Lucky winner...
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Remember in 2009 Blue Peter launched a competition for a viewer to design a TARDIS console to feature in an episode of Doctor Who? If I recall, it was widely believed by fans to be intended for episode 11, The Lodger... which it didn't turn up in. Now it's turned up in the new series, in the Neil Gaiman's episode The Doctor's Wife -- which was originally scheduled to be episode 11 of the last series. Wow. Anyway, said viewer design is (as I've said) finally making it on to TV... and making it into toy form too, as Who toy manufacturer Character are going to be making it into a playset! Lucky winner...
Monday, 9 May 2011
TV
Case Sensitive
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
Another ITV crime drama with a female detective about people being drowned adapted from a novel. In the same week? Really, ITV? I didn't think as much of this as Vera -- indeed, some of it was downright laughably daft, unfortunately.
[Watch parts one and two (again) on ITV Player.]
Part 1 (of 2)
Part 2 (of 2)
Another ITV crime drama with a female detective about people being drowned adapted from a novel. In the same week? Really, ITV? I didn't think as much of this as Vera -- indeed, some of it was downright laughably daft, unfortunately.
[Watch parts one and two (again) on ITV Player.]
Sunday, 8 May 2011
TV
Exile
Part 1 (of 3)
Part 2 (of 3)
Part 3 (of 3)
Listings and reviews took to calling this a "psychological thriller", which I'm not sure is entirely accurate, but I guess they needed some way to pigeonhole it. In reality it combines two usually quite distinct genres: the "conspiracy thriller" and the "serious drama about illness", in roughly equal parts.
Jim Broadbent was exceptional as a man with Alzheimer's -- combined with Danny Brocklehurst's script, Exile gave a more realistic and thorough depiction than normally seen. The thriller side was pretty good with some nice twists, although the hand of "creator" (how can someone "create" but not write a three-part serial? Weird) Paul Abbott seemed obvious at times: John Simm as a roguish journalist investigating a cover-up that may involve his former best friend, while shagging said former-best-friend's wife? Straight out of State of Play, that.
Didn't overshadow it too much though -- this was a superior drama, proof (if it were needed) that claims we can't do Real Drama (provoked every so often by the likes of The Wire or The Killing) are unfounded. We do a lot of tosh, true, but other countries surely churn out a lot of crap that we simply don't see. In fact, if you put together all the high-quality drama the UK produces every year, it'd probably trump the amount of equally-good drama we see coming out of other countries. So there.
[Watch parts one, two and three (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Part 1 (of 3)
Part 2 (of 3)
Part 3 (of 3)
Listings and reviews took to calling this a "psychological thriller", which I'm not sure is entirely accurate, but I guess they needed some way to pigeonhole it. In reality it combines two usually quite distinct genres: the "conspiracy thriller" and the "serious drama about illness", in roughly equal parts.
Jim Broadbent was exceptional as a man with Alzheimer's -- combined with Danny Brocklehurst's script, Exile gave a more realistic and thorough depiction than normally seen. The thriller side was pretty good with some nice twists, although the hand of "creator" (how can someone "create" but not write a three-part serial? Weird) Paul Abbott seemed obvious at times: John Simm as a roguish journalist investigating a cover-up that may involve his former best friend, while shagging said former-best-friend's wife? Straight out of State of Play, that.
Didn't overshadow it too much though -- this was a superior drama, proof (if it were needed) that claims we can't do Real Drama (provoked every so often by the likes of The Wire or The Killing) are unfounded. We do a lot of tosh, true, but other countries surely churn out a lot of crap that we simply don't see. In fact, if you put together all the high-quality drama the UK produces every year, it'd probably trump the amount of equally-good drama we see coming out of other countries. So there.
[Watch parts one, two and three (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
An Education (2009)
[#51 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
This has its UK TV premiere next Friday -- I'll try to have a review up by then, then.
[#51 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
This has its UK TV premiere next Friday -- I'll try to have a review up by then, then.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Exam (2009)
Once (2006)
More next Sunday.
Exam (2009)
The film occurs in real-time (more or less) in a single room. These are two narrative tricks I always enjoy the potential of... Exam succeeds in both... Writer-director Hazeldine’s screenplay is inventive enough to keep the story rolling throughout the entire film, while the direction and camerawork keeps it visually interesting without tipping over into pointless flashiness.
Once (2006)
The musical bit is both traditional and revisionist. The songs still reveal character and emotion, in the way they do in all good musicals, but here the lead characters are a pair of musicians and the songs are (mostly) placed in a plausible context — strumming on the bus, writing lyrics to a tune, recording in a studio
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 7 May 2011
TV
Doctor Who
32x03 The Curse of the Black Spot
A lot of previews/reviews referred to this as a "romp". Bit inaccurate, in my opinion -- it's a standalone story, a more straightforward adventure than the epic timey-wimey antics of the opener, but it's not got that distinct light silliness of a romp.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
6x03 Ship Ahoy!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Event
1x18 Strain
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
4x03 (7/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x01 Hidden Depths
ITV's newest detective drama. Don't normally watch any of their raft of similar programming, so not entirely sure what led me to watch this one... something a little different, I suppose.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
32x03 The Curse of the Black Spot
A lot of previews/reviews referred to this as a "romp". Bit inaccurate, in my opinion -- it's a standalone story, a more straightforward adventure than the epic timey-wimey antics of the opener, but it's not got that distinct light silliness of a romp.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
6x03 Ship Ahoy!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Event
1x18 Strain
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
4x03 (7/5/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Vera
1x01 Hidden Depths
ITV's newest detective drama. Don't normally watch any of their raft of similar programming, so not entirely sure what led me to watch this one... something a little different, I suppose.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Films
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Halfway! Hooray! But I'm a massive 24 reviews behind -- one more and it'll be the most I've ever been behind. Ouch.
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Halfway! Hooray! But I'm a massive 24 reviews behind -- one more and it'll be the most I've ever been behind. Ouch.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A day late again this week, purely because I wasn't paying attention. But there's a couple of new things, so that's nice.
Number of titles in collection: 1,304 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,109 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 195 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 3,238 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,376 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,810 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A day late again this week, purely because I wasn't paying attention. But there's a couple of new things, so that's nice.
Number of titles in collection: 1,304 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,109 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 195 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 3,238 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,376 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,810 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 6 May 2011
TV
The Graham Norton Show
9x03 (29/4/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
7x20 Changes
Outnumbered
3x01 Programme 1 [2nd watch]
Caught the second half of this as BBC One started a repeat run of this tonight, presumably because it's about a year since it was first on. There's a fourth series coming, but it was only announced just over a month ago so I guess it'll be a while yet.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
9x03 (29/4/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
7x20 Changes
Outnumbered
3x01 Programme 1 [2nd watch]
Caught the second half of this as BBC One started a repeat run of this tonight, presumably because it's about a year since it was first on. There's a fourth series coming, but it was only announced just over a month ago so I guess it'll be a while yet.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 5 May 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x15 (28/4/11 edition) [season finale]
Shame this ended the week before the Osama news! No idea if it's been recommissioned or cancelled -- the mixed reaction seemed to continue throughout the series.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x13 The Power in Movement 2 [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
3x18 The Red Mile
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
1x15 (28/4/11 edition) [season finale]
Shame this ended the week before the Osama news! No idea if it's been recommissioned or cancelled -- the mixed reaction seemed to continue throughout the series.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x13 The Power in Movement 2 [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
3x18 The Red Mile
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
TV
Archer
2x01 Swiss Miss
Hooray to have Archer back! Has it really been over a year?! Still love it.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x03 The Smoke Screen
This is 26 years old now, yet policies and moves discussed in it are still coming to pass and/or still have some bearing on modern politics. Which I guess shows how slowly the world of politics moves -- something Yes [Prime] Minister consistently nailed, and time has proven it right.
2x01 Swiss Miss
Hooray to have Archer back! Has it really been over a year?! Still love it.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x03 The Smoke Screen
This is 26 years old now, yet policies and moves discussed in it are still coming to pass and/or still have some bearing on modern politics. Which I guess shows how slowly the world of politics moves -- something Yes [Prime] Minister consistently nailed, and time has proven it right.
"The Cast Of Doctor Who Read Celebrity Tweets In American Accents"
This is thoroughly, inexplicably random... but quite funny.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
TV
Britain's Next Big Thing
Episode 3 (of 7)
Didn't much like the Habitat people...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x19 Last Temptation
Cheerio Masters! Really thought they were going to keep her on for a minute there.
Robot Chicken
1x02 Nutcracker Sweet
1x03 Gold Dust Gasoline
1x15 Kiddie Pool
1x04 Plastic Buffet
Episode 3 (of 7)
Didn't much like the Habitat people...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x19 Last Temptation
Cheerio Masters! Really thought they were going to keep her on for a minute there.
Robot Chicken
1x02 Nutcracker Sweet
1x03 Gold Dust Gasoline
1x15 Kiddie Pool
1x04 Plastic Buffet
Monday, 2 May 2011
TV
The Event
1x17 Cut Off the Head
We seem to be entering the final phase now. No idea if the series is getting a recommission or not -- signs weren't good, last I read -- so hopefully they'll bother to wrap it all up.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x08 The Manly Thing to Do
The YMCA sequence... feels kinda clichéd, and it's certainly predictable, but at the same time it's well performed and consequently funny. So there.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
ITV adaptation of Kate Summerscale's "non-fiction novel", as people seem to have taken to calling it (I thought it was just "non-fiction", but there you go). It was rather good, though seemed to lack the thorough whodunnit nature and unveiling of numerous dark secrets that praise for the book indicates. And it began at (or near) the end before flashing back to the start for no reason -- why?! This is a pointless and irritating trend in films/feature-length TV that really should end.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x02 The Ministerial Broadcast
1x17 Cut Off the Head
We seem to be entering the final phase now. No idea if the series is getting a recommission or not -- signs weren't good, last I read -- so hopefully they'll bother to wrap it all up.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x08 The Manly Thing to Do
The YMCA sequence... feels kinda clichéd, and it's certainly predictable, but at the same time it's well performed and consequently funny. So there.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher
ITV adaptation of Kate Summerscale's "non-fiction novel", as people seem to have taken to calling it (I thought it was just "non-fiction", but there you go). It was rather good, though seemed to lack the thorough whodunnit nature and unveiling of numerous dark secrets that praise for the book indicates. And it began at (or near) the end before flashing back to the start for no reason -- why?! This is a pointless and irritating trend in films/feature-length TV that really should end.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes, Prime Minister
1x02 The Ministerial Broadcast
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Lunch
Gidleigh Park
Remember just over a year ago, when I went to Michelin-starred restaurant The Kitchin? Well, by a similar token, today I went to the two-Michelin-starred Sunday-Times-best-restaurant-in-Britain, Gidleigh Park.
It was very nice, thank you very much.
Remember just over a year ago, when I went to Michelin-starred restaurant The Kitchin? Well, by a similar token, today I went to the two-Michelin-starred Sunday-Times-best-restaurant-in-Britain, Gidleigh Park.
It was very nice, thank you very much.
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)
After none last week, it's a bit pathetic. But at least there's the April update too.
More, hopefully, next Sunday.
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)
The title may sound like a ’40s rom-com or a ’70s TV sitcom, but Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison is nothing of the sort. It’s set in the south Pacific in 1944, at the height of World War II, and... What we get is almost relentlessly a two-hander, but not the kind where a pair of characters sit around and natter until something turns up to end their conversation.
After none last week, it's a bit pathetic. But at least there's the April update too.
More, hopefully, next Sunday.
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