Films

Ant-Man (2015)
[#181 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Paddington (2014)
[#182 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

Doctor Who
35x11 Heaven Sent
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

this week on 100 Films

Three brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...


An inside out pair of shorts

Pixar’s latest opus, Inside Out, was naturally accompanied by a short film in cinemas. On Blu-ray, it’s accompanied by two. These are they -- Lava and Riley's First Date? -- reviewed in nice quick drabbles.

Read more here.


Jupiter Ascending (2015)

best known (as far as I’m aware) for provoking speculation it would cost Eddie Redmayne the Oscar for Theory of Everything because it came out during voting season and he was so gosh darn bad in it. And it’s also known for being just generally dreadful and universally disdained. [But] the universal disdain wasn’t actually universal — I have actually seen some people praise this film. I know, right? Sadly, I still thought it was awful.

Read more here.


Murder by Death (1976)

A gaggle of famed detectives are summoned to a remote mansion to solve a murder in this detective spoof by playwright Neil Simon. The twist is, all the characters are spoofs of famous literary/film/TV ‘tecs. Also, that the murder hasn’t happened yet. And also, that the person inviting them is Truman Capote. Not “someone playing Truman Capote”, but “Truman Capote playing someone”.

Read more here.


Plus, it's the last-ever archive reposts!


2010: The Full List

I did it! After last year’s slight shortfall, that’s the big news this year... So, here’s the list of all I saw. Slight change this year: the list is in numerical order, aka order viewed... [And] after the lists comes the usual array of fascinating statistics.

Read more here.


2010 In Retrospect

This final look back has my usual mix of features: a ‘Bottom Five’, a ‘Top Ten’, some ‘Also Ran’s, and ‘Didn’t Run’s too.

Read more here.


More -- though only new posts (hurrah!) -- next Sunday.

Films

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Extended Edition) (2014/2015)
[#180a in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Was this really only out last Monday? Feels like it's been sat on my shelf for weeks! Anyway, it's my third Hobbit film this year (after Part 2 Extended and Part 3 Theatrical back in March).

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

A delayed update this week, because not only was there loads to add, but it all arrived on Saturday afternoon. I thought most of it would arrive next week, but here it is just in time for the last running time update before the post-Christmas end-of-the-year one. That would've been an utter monster if this lot had been there too! As it is, I think it'll now really struggle to beat this... or even come close...

Number of titles in collection: 1,820 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,211 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 609 [up 7]

Number of discs in collection: 4,645 [up 78]
Number of films in collection: 1,980 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 7,051 [up 246]
Number of short films in collection: 465 [up 3]

Yes, 246 episodes of TV. I imagine that'll make quite a difference to the...

Total running time of collection (approx.):
339 days, 1 hour, and 43 minutes.
(Up 10 days, 22 hours, and 18 minutes from last month.)

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Jessica Jones
1x05 AKA The Sandwich Saved Me

TV

Castle
5x15 Target
5x16 Hunt
aka Castle Does Taken, Parts One and Two. Despite the obviousness of that influence, and some very poor green screen shots of a certain foreign city, it was a very good two-parter.

Detectorists
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Castle
5x14 Reality Star Struck

Have I Got News For You
50x07 (20/11/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

TV

Arrow
4x05 Haunted

Live at the Apollo
11x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Castle
5x13 Recoil

Detectorists
2x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Flash
2x05 The Darkness and the Light

Jessica Jones
1x04 AKA 99 Friends

TV

Jessica Jones
1x03 AKA It's Called Whiskey

this week on 100 Films

Four brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...


Inside Out (2015)

Pixar haven’t had the greatest start to the second decade of the 21st Century... This might go some way towards explaining why their release for this year has attracted such acclaim, despite it offering a pretty rote storyline dressed up in some fancy ‘original idea’ clothing (not that it is a truly original idea) and a modicum of genuine emotional resonance.

Read more here.


The Machine (2013)

maybe James, in only his second feature, is trying to show his full range and use the film as a calling card. After all, it does attempt human drama, an exploration of sci-fi ideas, a touch of conspiracy thriller, and an all-action climax. Unfortunately he’s delivered quite a clunky screenplay, which lingers on inexplicable scenes one moment before rushing over vital things the next

Read more here.


One-Eyed Monster (2008)

For the innocents among you… well, maybe you should stop reading now. For the slightly-less-innocent, “one-eyed monster” is a euphemism for a (whisper it) penis. It also contains the word “monster”, like, y’know, a horror movie. What if you made a horror movie where some chap’s one-eyed monster was a monster?!

Read more here.


Turtle Power (2014)

The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ... This informative documentary uses interviews with all the key players to tell the story of how a small indie comic, created incidentally and published almost on a whim, became a true cultural phenomenon.

Read more here.


Plus two archive reposts...


2009: The Full List

So, 2009… the first year I failed to reach my stated goal. Still, I saw 94 new films and bothered to review several others — and here’s a full alphabetical list of the lot of ’em!

Read more here.


2009 In Retrospect

It’s been a somewhat inauspicious year for 100 Films, actually, failing to make the titular target for the first time and not necessarily seeing a great many classic films along the way. 2007’s Top Ten held undeniable classics like Brief Encounter and Citizen Kane, while 2008’s managed the likes of Rashomon [and] Notorious... I don’t mean to spoil this year’s lot, but it looks kinda tame and modern (70% come from the last three years) by comparison.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Doctor Who
35x10 Face the Raven
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Jessica Jones
1x01 AKA Ladies Night
1x02 AKA Crush Syndrome

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Quite a few additions this week, relatively, which means I sail past 600 Blu-rays without landing neatly on it. Ah well, it's not that interesting a number anyway. Should keep next week's running time update lively, though.

Number of titles in collection: 1,815 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,213 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 602 [up 3]

Number of discs in collection: 4,567 [up 22]
Number of films in collection: 1,971 [up 9]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,805 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 462 [up 3]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Have I Got News For You
50x06 (6/11/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Articles

Peter Jackson: 'I didn’t know what the hell I was doing' when I made The Hobbit
by Ben Child (from the Guardian)

With quotes culled from the behind-the-scenes video on the forthcoming Battle of the Five Armies extended DVD, director Peter Jackson candidly admits how he rushed The Hobbit films.


Why Star Wars: The Force Awakens Not Screening for Critics Might Be a Good Thing
by Sam Adams (from Criticwire)

Interesting thoughts on the place for and relevance of movie criticism.

TV

Arrow
4x04 Beyond Redemption

Live at the Apollo
11x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Premium Bond with Mark Gatiss and Matthew Sweet
Sweet and Gatiss offer an appreciation of the whole Bond series, by gently critically analysing them. So, so much better than a vacuous "weren't they all great" puff piece. Hurrah for BBC Four!
[Watch it (again) in full on iPlayer, or in Bond-by-Bond chunks here.]

Films

Tank Girl (1995)
[#180 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

The Flash
2x04 The Fury of Firestorm

Have I Got News For You
50x05 (30/10/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

this week on 100 Films

No new reviews on 100 Films in a Year this week (I was away most of the week), but there were two archive re-posts...


2008: The Full List

This year hasn’t been quite as successful as last, at least in terms of film viewing. As the year neared its end I didn’t think I’d make it to 100, and was all prepared to settle for 90 around Christmas time, but a final push saw me make it in the nick of time. Hurrah!

Read more here.


2008 In Retrospect

And so 2008 is finally at an end (really this time)... first up, my five Worst Films, in no particular order; then, my ten Best Films, in a lovely countdown.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Doctor Who
35x09 Sleep No More
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Inside Out (2015)
[#179 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Lava (2014)
[#179b in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Riley's First Date? (2015)
[#179a in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Number of titles in collection: 1,811 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,212 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 599 [up 1]

Number of discs in collection: 4,545 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,962 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,805 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 459 [up 2]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Frank Skinner On Demand With...
Lee Mack
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Come Drink with Me (1966)
[#178 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
3x02 Thirty Five Quid For This...
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]

Arrow
4x03 Restoration

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

TV

The Flash
2x03 Family of Rogues

Have I Got News For You
50x04 (23/10/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

Live at the Apollo
11x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Articles

Lucky VII: Superfan J.J. Abrams on Directing The Force Awakens.
by Scott Dadich (from Wired)

Nice, detailed interview with the director of Star Wars Episode VII.

Films

Enchanted (2007)
[3rd watch]
This was #80 on 100 Films way back in 2008.

TV

Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
3x01 I've Been Fingered By Captain Kirk
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]

Films

The Little Mermaid (1989)
[4th or so watch]

this week on 100 Films

Three brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...


Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

there are too many characters, and the film doesn’t always seem to know what to do with all of them. The array of cameos in minor roles is fine, and sure to please thoroughly-versed comic book readers, but it’s the main characters who are sometimes sidelined. In some cases, literally: Wonder Woman disappears off to her island after two scenes; the Flash retires early on; Superman gets sunk in the ocean at the start of the climax.

Read more here.


Spooks: The Greater Good (2015)

you don’t need to have seen the TV series to follow the plot, which is standalone in every aspect that seriously matters... However, a familiarity might help manage your expectations: The Greater Good feels like a wider-screen, (slightly-)bigger-budgeted version of the show, for good or ill. “Good” because, well, it should really, otherwise why call it Spooks? “Ill” because anyone expecting an action-packed thriller to rival Bond, Bourne, or Mission: Impossible will come away disappointed.

Read more here.


The Thief of Bagdad (1924)

the film really comes alive for its final hour... Here’s where the film’s real adventure lies, as we whizz through multiple fantasy landscapes, the thief battling monsters as he goes... This is also where most of the film’s famed special effects are to be found. So groundbreaking that they were analysed in scientific magazines at the time, they still have the power to enchant viewers the best part of a century later.

Read more here.


Plus two archive posts recapping 100 Films Year 1...


2007 In Retrospect

Read on for my five least-favourite films I’ve seen this year, and (more interestingly, I’m sure) my top ten — in a lovely countdown and all!

Read more here.


2007: The Full List

And so the end is here. Yes, finally this time! ... as we’ve reached the end, here’s the full alphabetical list of everything I saw, followed by some intensely interesting statistical whatsits.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Doctor Who
35x08 The Zygon Inversion
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

The Lone Ranger (2013)
[#177 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Number of titles in collection: 1,808 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,210 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 598 [up 1]

Number of discs in collection: 4,540 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,959 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,805 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 457 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

Films

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
[#176 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

Articles

John Lewis Christmas advert: who is Moon Hitler?
by Stuart Heritage (from the Guardian)

Perfectly skewering John Lewis' annual mawkishness-fest.

TV

Arrow
4x02 The Candidate

Have I Got News For You
50x03 (16/10/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

The Flash
2x02 Flash of Two Worlds

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Films

The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
[#175 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

Castle
5x12 Death Gone Crazy

Films

Force Majeure (2014)
[#174 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

Have I Got News For You
50x02 (9/10/2015 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]

Mock the Week
14x12 (highlights/out-takes)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Horns (2013)
[#173 in 100 Films in a Year 2015]

TV

Duck Quacks Don't Echo
3x07 Episode 7

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4x02 Episode 2

this week on 100 Films

It's the 1st of a new month, so my round up of what was posted over on 100 Films in a Year this week naturally begins with the October round-up. It's a big'un -- the biggest ever, in fact!




Phew! Now then, there were also six brand-new reviews published this week. They were...


Birdman (2014)

Michael Keaton is an actor who once played a superhero in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Well, to clarify, Michael Keaton plays an actor, Riggan Thomson, who once played a superhero in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Decades later, he’s trying to be taken seriously by starring in a play on Broadway… which he’s also written… and is directing… and has sunk his personal finances into. So it’s probably not a good thing that one of his cast can’t act, his personal life is all over the place, the critics hate him before the play’s even opened, and he’s hallucinating superpowers.

Read more here.


Spectre (2015)

I saw Spectre days after the eager-beavers but still before some people, so here are my spoiler-free thoughts... Chances are, if you’re interested in a review of the 24th Bond movie you’ve already read one. Several, probably. Nonetheless... I’m compelled to throw some of my initial spoiler-free thoughts out there. Plus, in places, commentary on those other reviews.

Read more here.


Stoker (2013)

Stoker isn’t all about its mystery and its twists — it’s at least as much about its carefully constructed Gothic mood; but part of that is the mystery, so, y’know. Indeed, it’s so moody and atmospheric that it seems to turn some viewers off. It’s certainly not thrill-a-minute, and it has a very particular pace and tone.

Read more here.


Superbad (2007)

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s semi-autobiographical comedy sets Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) (see what they did there?) on a quest to obtain booze for a party where they hope to copulate. Or, “every American teen comedy.”

Read more here.


Twilight (2008)

For Halloween, I decided to review one of the most notorious supernatural films of recent times. A movie so horrific, it sent critics cowering behind their sofas. A film so evil, it’s perverted the minds of children — and some adults — the world over. A movie so renowned, it strikes fear into the hearts of even hardened movie lovers. I speak, of course, of Twilight.

Read more here.


Wings (1927)

part rom-com, part war-action movie. On the ground, Jack and David’s interactions with Mary and Sylvia (the latter of whom barely features) are based around misunderstandings and almost-slapstick drunkenness. In the air, the picture comes alive in thrilling battle scenes, performed by fearless stuntmen and shot by bold cameramen.

Read more here.


Finally, six archive posts were reposted too...


July 2011

Every year of 100 Films seems to see at least one shockingly weak month for my film viewing. Last year it was April (three films); the year before February (two) and July (none); and so on. This year I’d done pretty well — my monthly totals so far run at 12, 13, 13, 9, 11 and 9 — but I have finally crumbled: July 2011 scores a lowly four.

Read more here.


August 2011

[The following was all irrelevant soon after I posted it, never mind now in 2015. But hey-ho, the repostathon rolls on…]

Read more here.


September 2011

By the end of September 2010 I’d made it to my goal of 100 films. This year? Not a chance. Of course I haven’t. I ended last month on 77 — even at my best, 23 films in a month is madness. [How times have changed!]

Read more here.


October 2011

Still not at 100. I think I would have made it to 90 though, or possibly even a bit further, but I re-watched X-Men: First Class on Blu-ray last Friday night and got a burning desire to re-watch the rest of the X-Men films in chronological order

Read more here.


November 2011

This year’s 100 Films is turning into a race for the finish line — always kinda fun, if not record-breaking... now — as I enter the final stretch — I find myself just one ahead of target. To put it plainly: there’s eight films to go to my goal.

Read more here.


December 2011

But did I make it to 100 in time? ... I did! Just. Three films in the final 24 hours of the year, the last of them finishing just an hour before midnight, see me reach 100 exactly this year. Phew!

Read more here.


So nearly done with the reposts now!

More next Sunday.