Richard Osman's House of Games
5x130 Week 22: Friday
5x131 Week 23: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday 31 May 2022
Monday 30 May 2022
TV
Around the World in 80 Days
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
4x10 The Queen's Gambit Job
Not Going Out
12x02 Text
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x129 Week 22: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
4x10 The Queen's Gambit Job
Not Going Out
12x02 Text
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x129 Week 22: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
Completed. Just under 7½ hours, so a bit longer than the first two took me in the end. Gotta say, the final cut scene is a bit disappointing. I guess there was some “the game is over, just get out of it” logic there, but considering how long some of the earlier ones were, it feels like we should be rewarded with a decent coda. Hey-ho, it’s hardly the end of the world.
Next: Monkey goes 3D in Escape.
Completed. Just under 7½ hours, so a bit longer than the first two took me in the end. Gotta say, the final cut scene is a bit disappointing. I guess there was some “the game is over, just get out of it” logic there, but considering how long some of the earlier ones were, it feels like we should be rewarded with a decent coda. Hey-ho, it’s hardly the end of the world.
Next: Monkey goes 3D in Escape.
Sunday 29 May 2022
TV
Around the World in 80 Days
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x127 Week 22: Tuesday
5x128 Week 22: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Ten Percent
1x02 Episode 2
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x127 Week 22: Tuesday
5x128 Week 22: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Ten Percent
1x02 Episode 2
this week on 100Films.co.uk
5 new reviews were published to 100Films.co.uk this week...
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
2022 | Weeks 14–15
More next Sunday.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
It feels like they’ve gone out of their way to crossover with everything possible: the two previous Spider-Man film series; there’s something from spinoff Venom; and even the MCU Netflix series, which were previously of dubious canonicity (of course, now they’re on Disney+ so they’re allowed to count again). About all that’s missing is Into the Spider-Verse, and there’s even an oblique reference to that. With all of that in the mix, it plays kinda like Fan Service: The Movie. Normally that would be a criticism, but it does it so entertainingly — and it’s so much the movie’s very raison d’être — that I think it works, in its own way.Read more here.
2022 | Weeks 14–15
Featuring...Read more here.
- Withnail & I (1987)
- Munich: The Edge of War (2021)
- tick, tick… BOOM! (2021)
- Move Over, Darling (1963)
More next Sunday.
Saturday 28 May 2022
TV
Around the World in 80 Days
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
4x09 The Cross My Heart Job
Not Going Out
12x01 Painting
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x126 Week 22: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Ten Percent
1x01 Episode 1
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Leverage
4x09 The Cross My Heart Job
Not Going Out
12x01 Painting
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x126 Week 22: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Ten Percent
1x01 Episode 1
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Last week I mentioned that I had multiple big parcels on the way. Most of them turned up, but not the biggest of all, so this is a strong week rather than the record-challenger it might've been otherwise. Assuming that final parcel turns up for next week's update, it'll make four chunky ones in a row. I'd say "maybe I should cut back", but then I look at how much I've got on preorder...
Anyway, this week is also the monthly running time update, so that's fun.
Number of titles in collection: 2,843 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,056 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,787 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,069 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,394 [up 12]
Number of additional cuts: 263 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 961 [up 1]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
507 days, 3 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 22 hours, and 26 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Last week I mentioned that I had multiple big parcels on the way. Most of them turned up, but not the biggest of all, so this is a strong week rather than the record-challenger it might've been otherwise. Assuming that final parcel turns up for next week's update, it'll make four chunky ones in a row. I'd say "maybe I should cut back", but then I look at how much I've got on preorder...
Anyway, this week is also the monthly running time update, so that's fun.
Number of titles in collection: 2,843 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,056 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,787 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,069 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,394 [up 12]
Number of additional cuts: 263 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 961 [up 1]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
507 days, 3 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 22 hours, and 26 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday 27 May 2022
TV
The Great Stand Up To Cancer Bake Off
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x125 Week 21: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x125 Week 21: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
These last two parts aren't quite as short as I thought. They're hardly full parts, really, having only a couple of scenes each, but they are pushing up that final gameplay total.
These last two parts aren't quite as short as I thought. They're hardly full parts, really, having only a couple of scenes each, but they are pushing up that final gameplay total.
Thursday 26 May 2022
TV
Leverage
4x08 The Boiler Room Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x124 Week 21: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
4x08 The Boiler Room Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
5x124 Week 21: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday 25 May 2022
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
Almost at the end now, I think (I'm into Part 5, which is the penultimate one, but I think each of the last two are quite short). At just under 6 hours of playtime now, I suspect by the end it won't have taken much (if any longer) to complete than the first two.
Almost at the end now, I think (I'm into Part 5, which is the penultimate one, but I think each of the last two are quite short). At just under 6 hours of playtime now, I suspect by the end it won't have taken much (if any longer) to complete than the first two.
Tuesday 24 May 2022
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
Just a bit more today — up to 5 hours playtime now, and it's clear there's plenty of game left to go.
The Room Two
Gonna try not to rush through this one quite so much!
Just a bit more today — up to 5 hours playtime now, and it's clear there's plenty of game left to go.
The Room Two
Gonna try not to rush through this one quite so much!
Monday 23 May 2022
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
Past the combat and into Part 4 now, after another hour played. Whole new island, lots to do and explore and puzzle out next time.
The Room
Talking with someone about how much I'd been enjoying replaying Monkey Island, they recommended this iPhone game (it's available on other formats now), which it turns out is a decade old but had passed me by (like most games in the past 10 to 20 years, to be honest). So I downloaded it for the free trial, then bought the full game (only 89p), then finished it. Well, it shows how much I was enjoying it that I burned through it all so fast! Fortunately, there are sequels. They're each a little more expensive, so hopefully they'll last a little longer...
Past the combat and into Part 4 now, after another hour played. Whole new island, lots to do and explore and puzzle out next time.
The Room
Talking with someone about how much I'd been enjoying replaying Monkey Island, they recommended this iPhone game (it's available on other formats now), which it turns out is a decade old but had passed me by (like most games in the past 10 to 20 years, to be honest). So I downloaded it for the free trial, then bought the full game (only 89p), then finished it. Well, it shows how much I was enjoying it that I burned through it all so fast! Fortunately, there are sequels. They're each a little more expensive, so hopefully they'll last a little longer...
Sunday 22 May 2022
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
After 3½ hours total played, I'm into the ship combat / insult swordfighting section (aka Part 3).
After 3½ hours total played, I'm into the ship combat / insult swordfighting section (aka Part 3).
Saturday 21 May 2022
TV
The 1% Club
1x03 Episode 3
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch the series (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Scouting for Toys
1x06 Meccano
[Watch the series (again) on UKTV Play.]
1x03 Episode 3
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch the series (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Scouting for Toys
1x06 Meccano
[Watch the series (again) on UKTV Play.]
Games
The Curse of Monkey Island
On to #3! The forthcoming Return will be a direct sequel to #2, so arguably I should've stopped there; but they've also said it doesn't erase #3–5 from canon, and definitely features characters and/or elements from those later sequels, so my plan is to just go ahead and play them all.
As for how long this one takes to complete (vs. the 6 hours it took me to finish each of the first two this time round), the save games don't have a timer here, so I'm keeping track of it myself. Therefore, I also have no idea which percentage I've (supposedly) completed. I'm into Part Two already, though, after just over an hour playing. That said, it feels like this game has to be longer — there's lots more stuff to look at, each with its own description (rather than the generic "nice" that was trotted out so often in MI2), and tonnes of dialogue options in every conversation; plus, really lengthy cut scenes. Unless the game itself is very short (which I don't remember it being), this has to have a longer playtime. (For what it's worth, a site I found called HowLongToBeat says the first two take 6½–7½ hours, while Curse takes 8–9½, so I may well be correct.)
Big aside...
I've not included re-play counts on these (like I do for film or TV rewatches) because the first two were Special Editions and it was the first time I'd played those remakes. But also, I'm really not sure how many times I've played any of these. The first two, at least twice each before these recent plays; Curse, I really can't remember if I only ever played it once or if I went back sometime. Looking ahead, I also can't remember if I only played Escape once or more (I feel like I did replay it at some point). I only become certain with the fifth game, Tales of Monkey Island, which was released in chapters, and I clearly remember only playing Chapter One. Plus, it's archived on this blog if I had forgotten.
On to #3! The forthcoming Return will be a direct sequel to #2, so arguably I should've stopped there; but they've also said it doesn't erase #3–5 from canon, and definitely features characters and/or elements from those later sequels, so my plan is to just go ahead and play them all.
As for how long this one takes to complete (vs. the 6 hours it took me to finish each of the first two this time round), the save games don't have a timer here, so I'm keeping track of it myself. Therefore, I also have no idea which percentage I've (supposedly) completed. I'm into Part Two already, though, after just over an hour playing. That said, it feels like this game has to be longer — there's lots more stuff to look at, each with its own description (rather than the generic "nice" that was trotted out so often in MI2), and tonnes of dialogue options in every conversation; plus, really lengthy cut scenes. Unless the game itself is very short (which I don't remember it being), this has to have a longer playtime. (For what it's worth, a site I found called HowLongToBeat says the first two take 6½–7½ hours, while Curse takes 8–9½, so I may well be correct.)
Big aside...
I've not included re-play counts on these (like I do for film or TV rewatches) because the first two were Special Editions and it was the first time I'd played those remakes. But also, I'm really not sure how many times I've played any of these. The first two, at least twice each before these recent plays; Curse, I really can't remember if I only ever played it once or if I went back sometime. Looking ahead, I also can't remember if I only played Escape once or more (I feel like I did replay it at some point). I only become certain with the fifth game, Tales of Monkey Island, which was released in chapters, and I clearly remember only playing Chapter One. Plus, it's archived on this blog if I had forgotten.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
As if the 9 new titles I purchased last week, I mentioned that I had a bunch more in the post — and so, they've turned up for this week. It's not quite as many, but it makes for a big fortnight overall.
Number of titles in collection: 2,837 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,057 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,780 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,056 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,382 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 261 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 960 [up 2]
Now, I've got even more titles in the post... but many are coming from faraway places like Australia and the USA, so it's hard to know exactly when they'll arrive. If they all turn up in the next week (which they might, but also might not), they'll be just in time for the monthly running time update. It could be a big'un!
See you then, faithful reader.
As if the 9 new titles I purchased last week, I mentioned that I had a bunch more in the post — and so, they've turned up for this week. It's not quite as many, but it makes for a big fortnight overall.
Number of titles in collection: 2,837 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,057 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,780 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,056 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,382 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 261 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 960 [up 2]
Now, I've got even more titles in the post... but many are coming from faraway places like Australia and the USA, so it's hard to know exactly when they'll arrive. If they all turn up in the next week (which they might, but also might not), they'll be just in time for the monthly running time update. It could be a big'un!
See you then, faithful reader.
Friday 20 May 2022
Thursday 19 May 2022
Wednesday 18 May 2022
TV
For All Mankind
1x05 Into the Abyss
Crikey: it’s over a year since I last watched an episode of this! And apparently I only watched four — I thought I’d got a bit further through than that. Thing is, I didn’t intend to stop watching, it just… happened. It’s, weirdly, a show I think is great while it’s on, but don’t feel much drive to watch in between episodes; and when there’s always so much else to watch, that can end up with it falling by the wayside. Anyway, here I am making a concerted effort to finally get on with it. I thought this was another great episode, by the way.
1x05 Into the Abyss
Crikey: it’s over a year since I last watched an episode of this! And apparently I only watched four — I thought I’d got a bit further through than that. Thing is, I didn’t intend to stop watching, it just… happened. It’s, weirdly, a show I think is great while it’s on, but don’t feel much drive to watch in between episodes; and when there’s always so much else to watch, that can end up with it falling by the wayside. Anyway, here I am making a concerted effort to finally get on with it. I thought this was another great episode, by the way.
Tuesday 17 May 2022
Video
Doctor Who: The Fan Show
- Steven Moffat On Writing, Weeping Angels, and More
- Steven Moffat On Matt Smith's Era, Writing The 50th Anniversary & MORE!
- The Steven Moffat Interview: Part 3
When Steven Moffat stepped down as showrunner of Doctor Who, he did a three-part over-an-hour-long interview with The Fan Show YouTube series, covering his entire time on the show. I'd meant to watch it at the time but kind of forgot. Something brought it to mind the other day, and so I've finally watched it. It's interesting and with some insightful observations, although you may have heard them repeated or retold elsewhere in the intervening years. And, in fact, he worked on the show for so long that even an hour-or-so doesn't feel like long enough to cover everything worth covering. But they do their best.
[Watch them (again) at the above YouTube links.]
- Steven Moffat On Writing, Weeping Angels, and More
- Steven Moffat On Matt Smith's Era, Writing The 50th Anniversary & MORE!
- The Steven Moffat Interview: Part 3
When Steven Moffat stepped down as showrunner of Doctor Who, he did a three-part over-an-hour-long interview with The Fan Show YouTube series, covering his entire time on the show. I'd meant to watch it at the time but kind of forgot. Something brought it to mind the other day, and so I've finally watched it. It's interesting and with some insightful observations, although you may have heard them repeated or retold elsewhere in the intervening years. And, in fact, he worked on the show for so long that even an hour-or-so doesn't feel like long enough to cover everything worth covering. But they do their best.
[Watch them (again) at the above YouTube links.]
Sunday 15 May 2022
Podcasts / Audio Drama
Doctor Who: Redacted
1x04 Angels
[Listen (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Kermode & Mayo's Take
13/5/2022 The one with Gaspar Noé, The Essex Serpent, Everything Everywhere All at Once
1x04 Angels
[Listen (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Kermode & Mayo's Take
13/5/2022 The one with Gaspar Noé, The Essex Serpent, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Video
RetroAhoy
The Secret of Monkey Island
Stumbled across this on Letterboxd, so thought I might end up logging it as a film, but eh, not really. It's very slickly produced, though, even if it does stray from its ostensible title: the part about The Secret of Monkey Island is actually only 10 or 15 minutes of the 74-minute video, proceeded by a potted history of the birth of the adventure game genre, and followed by a look at the sequels, other LucasArts adventure games, and what's happened to the genre since. All very interesting, mind, and I've ended up with about half-a-dozen titles to look up.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
The Secret of Monkey Island
Stumbled across this on Letterboxd, so thought I might end up logging it as a film, but eh, not really. It's very slickly produced, though, even if it does stray from its ostensible title: the part about The Secret of Monkey Island is actually only 10 or 15 minutes of the 74-minute video, proceeded by a potted history of the birth of the adventure game genre, and followed by a look at the sequels, other LucasArts adventure games, and what's happened to the genre since. All very interesting, mind, and I've ended up with about half-a-dozen titles to look up.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
7 new reviews were published to 100Films.co.uk this week...
Fast & Furious 9 (2021)
West Side Story (2021)
2022 | Weeks 12–13
More next Sunday.
Fast & Furious 9 (2021)
before long they're racing around (literally) after one Macguffin or another, plus all the requisite shooting stuff and blowing stuff up and performing physics-defying CGI-aided stunts that have become The Fast Saga’s hallmarks. If that makes it sound a bit tired — just “more of the same” — well, remember, we’ve reached film #9.Read more here.
West Side Story (2021)
I remember when I first heard about this remake, I couldn’t quite understand what they were going to add by redoing it. The original is a widely-acclaimed classic — why remake it? I should’ve remembered one of the golden rules of cinema: always trust Spielberg.Read more here.
2022 | Weeks 12–13
Featuring...Read more here.
- Muriel's Wedding (1994)
- Cobra (1986)
- Django & Django (2021)
- A Man Escaped (1956)
- Death on the Nile (2022)
More next Sunday.
Saturday 14 May 2022
TV
Eurovision Song Contest: Turin 2022
The first time I've been able to watch Eurovision live since 2018! And thank goodness I could, because what a show to experience live! So close...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The first time I've been able to watch Eurovision live since 2018! And thank goodness I could, because what a show to experience live! So close...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition
And that's the end. Took me pretty much exactly the same time it took to complete the first one, a little to my surprise.
I find it hard to say which of the two is better. The first has more classic memorable moments, but the second feels more expansive, and does have its fair share of great bits. They're both great classics, ultimately.
And that's the end. Took me pretty much exactly the same time it took to complete the first one, a little to my surprise.
I find it hard to say which of the two is better. The first has more classic memorable moments, but the second feels more expansive, and does have its fair share of great bits. They're both great classics, ultimately.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I had one of my "carried away" weeks this week, with 9 new additions here and a bunch more in the post for next week. Of this week's lot, four are new releases (out next Monday); two were titles I happened to see recommended; one I thought was a recent release (it actually came out last September), but I'd been waiting for a sale price and now I got it; and the other two were just a bit random... and they're also DVDs.
That's right, I bought DVDs! And not one, but two! It does still happen, once in a blue moon; and only for titles not available on Blu-ray, and not likely to be available on Blu-ray, of course. (It'd be just my luck for someone to announce BD releases of them next month now. But they cost less than £4 each, so it'd be no true hardship.)
Number of titles in collection: 2,831 [up 9]
Of which DVDs: 1,057 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,774 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,050 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,376 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 260 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 958 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I had one of my "carried away" weeks this week, with 9 new additions here and a bunch more in the post for next week. Of this week's lot, four are new releases (out next Monday); two were titles I happened to see recommended; one I thought was a recent release (it actually came out last September), but I'd been waiting for a sale price and now I got it; and the other two were just a bit random... and they're also DVDs.
That's right, I bought DVDs! And not one, but two! It does still happen, once in a blue moon; and only for titles not available on Blu-ray, and not likely to be available on Blu-ray, of course. (It'd be just my luck for someone to announce BD releases of them next month now. But they cost less than £4 each, so it'd be no true hardship.)
Number of titles in collection: 2,831 [up 9]
Of which DVDs: 1,057 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,774 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,050 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,376 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 260 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 958 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday 13 May 2022
Games
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition
My opinion is now swinging the other way: I feel like I'm nearly at the end, and I've got there quicker than in Secret. Possibly I've just been playing it in a more condensed timeframe, though, because I'm at about five-and-a-half hours of playtime for 87% complete.
My opinion is now swinging the other way: I feel like I'm nearly at the end, and I've got there quicker than in Secret. Possibly I've just been playing it in a more condensed timeframe, though, because I'm at about five-and-a-half hours of playtime for 87% complete.
Thursday 12 May 2022
Games
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition
Just over 3 hours playtime and apparently 37% complete. Might be worth mentioning that I don’t remember this one as well as I did Secret, so I am having to actually solve more of the puzzles. Still, the game feels bigger, with more stuff to look at, more characters to talk to and for longer, and the need to traverse multiple islands with multiple locations on each.
Just over 3 hours playtime and apparently 37% complete. Might be worth mentioning that I don’t remember this one as well as I did Secret, so I am having to actually solve more of the puzzles. Still, the game feels bigger, with more stuff to look at, more characters to talk to and for longer, and the need to traverse multiple islands with multiple locations on each.
Wednesday 11 May 2022
Games
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition
Setting sail on game #2! The save game once again charts my progress, so after an hour's play I'm allegedly 10% of the way through. If that's true, MI2 is a much longer game than the first, as I thought. But the first game's progress percentage was poppycock, so we'll see.
Setting sail on game #2! The save game once again charts my progress, so after an hour's play I'm allegedly 10% of the way through. If that's true, MI2 is a much longer game than the first, as I thought. But the first game's progress percentage was poppycock, so we'll see.
Tuesday 10 May 2022
Monday 9 May 2022
Sunday 8 May 2022
TV
The British Academy Television Awards 2022
I used to watch religiously, but it turns out this is the first time I've watched the TV BAFTAs since 2017 — that's five years! This year, It's a Sin deserved to sweep up, with multiple nominations, but in the end it didn't win a single thing. Tsk.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
1x04 Down an Octave
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
I used to watch religiously, but it turns out this is the first time I've watched the TV BAFTAs since 2017 — that's five years! This year, It's a Sin deserved to sweep up, with multiple nominations, but in the end it didn't win a single thing. Tsk.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
1x04 Down an Octave
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Podcasts
Kermode & Mayo's Take
5/5/2022 The one with Tom Hiddleston, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Cabaret
As I said the other day, I've long been aware of Kermode & Mayo's popular film radio show / podcast but never joined in listening, so this new start seemed as good a time as any.
5/5/2022 The one with Tom Hiddleston, Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Cabaret
As I said the other day, I've long been aware of Kermode & Mayo's popular film radio show / podcast but never joined in listening, so this new start seemed as good a time as any.
Saturday 7 May 2022
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
13x01 Santo in the Treasure of Dracula Post-Premiere Q&A
So, although the new season of MST3K premiered two months ago, it also premiered tonight. What? Well, before it was a backer-exclusive preview of an unfinished cut of the episode; tonight was the 'real deal'. I didn't watch the whole thing again, but did tune in for the live chat / Q&A afterwards, which was fun.
Taskmaster
1x03 The Poet and the Egg
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
13x01 Santo in the Treasure of Dracula Post-Premiere Q&A
So, although the new season of MST3K premiered two months ago, it also premiered tonight. What? Well, before it was a backer-exclusive preview of an unfinished cut of the episode; tonight was the 'real deal'. I didn't watch the whole thing again, but did tune in for the live chat / Q&A afterwards, which was fun.
Taskmaster
1x03 The Poet and the Egg
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Three new titles this week, including a BD-to-4K upgrade so exact (same number of discs, same number of cuts, etc) that it only shows on the UHD stat. It was one of Arrow's Dario Argento titles, which I've mostly been ignoring because I bought all of them on regular BD and, frankly, haven't watched any of them, so forking out the same money again just for the resolution boost, on films I don't actually know if I like, seemed daft.
But the last couple have actually started improving on the BD releases — this one was Deep Red, which adds a whole load of bonus features, as well as packaging more in line with the rest of the range. I couldn't resist. And next up, in a couple of months, is Tenebrae, which is a complete overhaul from the previous edition, so I'll definitely be buying that. Or I could actually watch my current copy and check I really want to...
Number of titles in collection: 2,822 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,055 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,767 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,040 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,367 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 258 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 957 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Three new titles this week, including a BD-to-4K upgrade so exact (same number of discs, same number of cuts, etc) that it only shows on the UHD stat. It was one of Arrow's Dario Argento titles, which I've mostly been ignoring because I bought all of them on regular BD and, frankly, haven't watched any of them, so forking out the same money again just for the resolution boost, on films I don't actually know if I like, seemed daft.
But the last couple have actually started improving on the BD releases — this one was Deep Red, which adds a whole load of bonus features, as well as packaging more in line with the rest of the range. I couldn't resist. And next up, in a couple of months, is Tenebrae, which is a complete overhaul from the previous edition, so I'll definitely be buying that. Or I could actually watch my current copy and check I really want to...
Number of titles in collection: 2,822 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,055 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,767 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 169 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,040 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,367 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 258 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,268 [no change]
Number of short films: 957 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday 6 May 2022
Thursday 5 May 2022
Wednesday 4 May 2022
TV
Taskmaster
1x01 Melon Buffet
Thought it was about time (long overdue, even) that I found out what all the fuss was about. It was pretty good — very few things could live up to the hype Taskmaster has accrued down the years, so "pretty good" isn't a bad result. I'll certainly keep watching it (for 10 more days, at least, when it's apparently being removed from All 4).
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
1x01 Melon Buffet
Thought it was about time (long overdue, even) that I found out what all the fuss was about. It was pretty good — very few things could live up to the hype Taskmaster has accrued down the years, so "pretty good" isn't a bad result. I'll certainly keep watching it (for 10 more days, at least, when it's apparently being removed from All 4).
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Articles
Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo: ‘I’ve never heard us described as an island of joy before!’
by Miranda Sawyer (from the Guardian)
For some reason, I've never really engaged with Kermode & Mayo's show or podcast (beyond watching the odd clip or reading some tweets or whatever). Not sure why. But now they're moving it to a new medium (this is an interview promoting that, FYI), so it seems as good a jumping on point as any. That said, I don't really listen to podcasts (just look at their history of being logged on this blog — few and far between), so we'll see how that goes.
by Miranda Sawyer (from the Guardian)
For some reason, I've never really engaged with Kermode & Mayo's show or podcast (beyond watching the odd clip or reading some tweets or whatever). Not sure why. But now they're moving it to a new medium (this is an interview promoting that, FYI), so it seems as good a jumping on point as any. That said, I don't really listen to podcasts (just look at their history of being logged on this blog — few and far between), so we'll see how that goes.
Tuesday 3 May 2022
Games
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
And I'm done. Took almost exactly 6 hours in the end, over half of which was spent on the first "35%" — and that was the part of the game I remembered best, so was also the part I worked through the fastest and with the greatest ease. That said, it's also the part with more characters to just chat to and places to just explore, so I was hardly doing a speedrun. Nonetheless, I think those percentages are pretty darn inaccurate, however they're generated.
Anyway, that was a lot of fun. It's a great game — a classic for a reason. On to the sequel next, which I remember as being a much bigger game, so it'll be interesting to see how many hours that takes me.
And I'm done. Took almost exactly 6 hours in the end, over half of which was spent on the first "35%" — and that was the part of the game I remembered best, so was also the part I worked through the fastest and with the greatest ease. That said, it's also the part with more characters to just chat to and places to just explore, so I was hardly doing a speedrun. Nonetheless, I think those percentages are pretty darn inaccurate, however they're generated.
Anyway, that was a lot of fun. It's a great game — a classic for a reason. On to the sequel next, which I remember as being a much bigger game, so it'll be interesting to see how many hours that takes me.
Monday 2 May 2022
Games
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Officially at 69% now, although I think I'm actually much nearer the end than that. We'll see.
Officially at 69% now, although I think I'm actually much nearer the end than that. We'll see.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
No new reviews this week, again, but it was a new month for 100Films.co.uk (er, as well as for everyone else). I've held this post back a day to get in both of the April-focused columns: the review of the month...
...and its failures...
More next Sunday, hopefully.
...and its failures...
More next Sunday, hopefully.
Sunday 1 May 2022
TV
The 1% Club
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Scouting for Toys
1x05 Charlie Bears
[Watch the series (again) on UKTV Play.]
Would I Lie To You?
15x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Scouting for Toys
1x05 Charlie Bears
[Watch the series (again) on UKTV Play.]
Would I Lie To You?
15x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)