Dragons Forever (1988)
[#92 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Monday, 25 November 2024
Sunday, 24 November 2024
Games
007: Everything or Nothing
Continuing my Amazon Luna experience, I hooked it up to my Mac via Bluetooth and used it as any old wireless controller to have another crack at this classic James Bond game. When I tried it out a month ago, I struggled with keyboard-only controls; as hoped, using a controller made the world of difference. As discussed yesterday, I'm still finding the analogue sticks a little oversensitive (especially the one assigned to controlling the camera), but it was a huge improvement. Now I might actually try to play this whole game, something I've wanted to do for, oh, only twenty years.
Continuing my Amazon Luna experience, I hooked it up to my Mac via Bluetooth and used it as any old wireless controller to have another crack at this classic James Bond game. When I tried it out a month ago, I struggled with keyboard-only controls; as hoped, using a controller made the world of difference. As discussed yesterday, I'm still finding the analogue sticks a little oversensitive (especially the one assigned to controlling the camera), but it was a huge improvement. Now I might actually try to play this whole game, something I've wanted to do for, oh, only twenty years.
Saturday, 23 November 2024
Games
A Plague Tale: Innocence
So, I just got an Amazon Luna controller in their Black Friday sale, and this game is currently free to Prime members and is compatible with Luna, so I thought I'd give the pair a go to test them both out. The controller is good, though as I haven't played with one for a very, very long time, I find it hard to be fair — I mean, are the analogue sticks a little oversensitive, or is it just me not being used to using them?
As for the game, I'm still in the early tutorial-ish stages, though towards the end of my session I was moving out of them and kept dying, so, er, don't know if that bodes well. And as for cloud gaming, it seemed to be responsive enough to controls, though the visual quality was a bit blurry and muddy at times. Considering regular video streaming is mostly fine for me, that's a little disappointing; equally, it might've been a quirk of the service during bad weather on a Saturday afternoon. We'll see how it goes over time.
So, I just got an Amazon Luna controller in their Black Friday sale, and this game is currently free to Prime members and is compatible with Luna, so I thought I'd give the pair a go to test them both out. The controller is good, though as I haven't played with one for a very, very long time, I find it hard to be fair — I mean, are the analogue sticks a little oversensitive, or is it just me not being used to using them?
As for the game, I'm still in the early tutorial-ish stages, though towards the end of my session I was moving out of them and kept dying, so, er, don't know if that bodes well. And as for cloud gaming, it seemed to be responsive enough to controls, though the visual quality was a bit blurry and muddy at times. Considering regular video streaming is mostly fine for me, that's a little disappointing; equally, it might've been a quirk of the service during bad weather on a Saturday afternoon. We'll see how it goes over time.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Well, this week doesn't quite live up to last week's forecast that it could be a "stonker" (a large box set is still in the post, which means next week will have a far lower number of titles but a higher number of films and discs), but it's still a larger-than-average week — again. There's just so much interesting stuff coming out from the boutique labels nowadays — this isn't even everything I'd like to buy; I'm trying to be at least a little restrained. It's madness, really.
Number of titles in collection: 3,423 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 994 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,429 [up 11]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 407 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,253 [up 16]
Number of films: 4,295 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 418 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 9,850 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,185 [up 4]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Well, this week doesn't quite live up to last week's forecast that it could be a "stonker" (a large box set is still in the post, which means next week will have a far lower number of titles but a higher number of films and discs), but it's still a larger-than-average week — again. There's just so much interesting stuff coming out from the boutique labels nowadays — this isn't even everything I'd like to buy; I'm trying to be at least a little restrained. It's madness, really.
Number of titles in collection: 3,423 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 994 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,429 [up 11]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 407 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,253 [up 16]
Number of films: 4,295 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 418 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 9,850 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,185 [up 4]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Comics
X-Men — Magik: Storm & Illyana by Chris Claremont, Sal Buscema & Tom Palmer
#4 Darkchild [the end]
Enjoyed this overall, but it's very wordy — a lot of "tell don't show". Unusual for such a visual medium as comics; or maybe just how it was done back then (it's 40 years old now, after all).
#4 Darkchild [the end]
Enjoyed this overall, but it's very wordy — a lot of "tell don't show". Unusual for such a visual medium as comics; or maybe just how it was done back then (it's 40 years old now, after all).
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Videos
Critical Role
A Daggerheart Critmas Story: Session Zero
I was aware this Session Zero had happened, and thought I'd probably watch it at some point because I expect I'll watch the Christmas special at some point too, but then I happened to see another video with a clip of this, which suggested it featured a lot of Omar, Matt and Marisha's corgi, and, well, I had to see that ASAP. The rest of it was fun as ever — I like feeling like we're just hanging out with these guys — but I appreciated the Omar cam, too.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube or Beacon.]
A Daggerheart Critmas Story: Session Zero
I was aware this Session Zero had happened, and thought I'd probably watch it at some point because I expect I'll watch the Christmas special at some point too, but then I happened to see another video with a clip of this, which suggested it featured a lot of Omar, Matt and Marisha's corgi, and, well, I had to see that ASAP. The rest of it was fun as ever — I like feeling like we're just hanging out with these guys — but I appreciated the Omar cam, too.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube or Beacon.]
Monday, 18 November 2024
Games
Syberia
Another hour-and-a-half. Definitely in the final stretch, though it seems there's still a little bit to go. I kinda just want to get to the end now — the puzzles are linear and repetitive (sometimes dressed up differently, but almost all functioning in the same way), and the story is no great shakes. (Knowing me, I'll still end up feeling compelled to play the sequels...)
Another hour-and-a-half. Definitely in the final stretch, though it seems there's still a little bit to go. I kinda just want to get to the end now — the puzzles are linear and repetitive (sometimes dressed up differently, but almost all functioning in the same way), and the story is no great shakes. (Knowing me, I'll still end up feeling compelled to play the sequels...)
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Films
Duel to the Death (1983)
[#89 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
The Seventh Victim (1943)
[#88 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
[#89 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
The Seventh Victim (1943)
[#88 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Saturday, 16 November 2024
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
It's back to being a busy week this week, as a bunch of stuff I thought would turn up last time finally arrives, plus a few new things too. It makes for a larger-than-average week... although it could've been even bigger, because what didn't arrive were next week's new releases. Well, it spreads the fun out some more, at least.
Number of titles in collection: 3,412 [up 12]
Of which DVDs: 994 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,418 [up 13]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 404 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,237 [up 22]
Number of films: 4,282 [up 14]
Number of additional cuts: 415 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,850 [up 13]
Number of short films: 1,181 [up 3]
Looking at what might arrive next week, there's enough stuff definitely turning up to almost rival this week... but if the week-after-next's releases turn up early, it's really going to be another stonker for some categories. We'll see about that next week, faithful reader.
It's back to being a busy week this week, as a bunch of stuff I thought would turn up last time finally arrives, plus a few new things too. It makes for a larger-than-average week... although it could've been even bigger, because what didn't arrive were next week's new releases. Well, it spreads the fun out some more, at least.
Number of titles in collection: 3,412 [up 12]
Of which DVDs: 994 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,418 [up 13]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 404 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 8,237 [up 22]
Number of films: 4,282 [up 14]
Number of additional cuts: 415 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,850 [up 13]
Number of short films: 1,181 [up 3]
Looking at what might arrive next week, there's enough stuff definitely turning up to almost rival this week... but if the week-after-next's releases turn up early, it's really going to be another stonker for some categories. We'll see about that next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 15 November 2024
TV
Newsnight
15/11/24 edition
I don't regularly watch Newsnight, but I happened to see this had an item on the so-called 'Xodus' — i.e. people finally abandoning the site everyone knows as Twitter, mainly for Bluesky — and was interested to see how it would be covered.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
15/11/24 edition
I don't regularly watch Newsnight, but I happened to see this had an item on the so-called 'Xodus' — i.e. people finally abandoning the site everyone knows as Twitter, mainly for Bluesky — and was interested to see how it would be covered.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 14 November 2024
Tuesday, 12 November 2024
Sunday, 10 November 2024
Videos
Critical Role
2x66 Beneath Bazzoxan [1st half]
"Did we just defeat a whole village in, like, 30 seconds? But it took us days to leave a tree?" Ah, D&D.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
2x66 Beneath Bazzoxan [1st half]
"Did we just defeat a whole village in, like, 30 seconds? But it took us days to leave a tree?" Ah, D&D.
[Watch it (again) on YouTube, Twitch, or Beacon.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
Hurrah — 1 new review was published to 100Films.co.uk this week...
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
More next Sunday.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
If you came to Rosemary’s Baby without any kind of context about its place in film history, you might well conclude it had been made in the last few years... in terms of its plot, its themes, its characters and their relationships, and what they might be signifying, that all feels quite ‘of the moment’. Maybe it did in the ’60s too. Maybe it has in every time period since — maybe that’s why the film has endured so well for over 50 years.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I thought it was going to be another busy one this week, but, in the end, a lot of stuff was slow to dispatch or (in one case) got held up at customs, so I guess that might be deferred to next week (or even spread across the next couple of weeks, who knows).
Number of titles in collection: 3,400 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 995 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,405 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 400 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,215 [up 4]
Number of films: 4,268 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 414 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,837 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,178 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I thought it was going to be another busy one this week, but, in the end, a lot of stuff was slow to dispatch or (in one case) got held up at customs, so I guess that might be deferred to next week (or even spread across the next couple of weeks, who knows).
Number of titles in collection: 3,400 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 995 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,405 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 400 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 8,215 [up 4]
Number of films: 4,268 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 414 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,837 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,178 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 9 November 2024
Friday, 8 November 2024
TV
The Graham Norton Show
32x07 (8/11/2024 edition)
I didn't set out to watch this, and yet somehow it was on, and I didn't turn it off. Hey-ho.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News for You
68x06 (8/11/2024 edition)
This I did choose to watch. Guest hosted by the regular host of the US version of the show, who did a better job than what (little) I've seen of the US version. I guess he's good at his job, but the writers and editors of the US version, maybe not so much...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
32x07 (8/11/2024 edition)
I didn't set out to watch this, and yet somehow it was on, and I didn't turn it off. Hey-ho.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News for You
68x06 (8/11/2024 edition)
This I did choose to watch. Guest hosted by the regular host of the US version of the show, who did a better job than what (little) I've seen of the US version. I guess he's good at his job, but the writers and editors of the US version, maybe not so much...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 7 November 2024
Wednesday, 6 November 2024
Games
Syberia
Another hour. The second main location is kinda more interesting, with more characters to meaningfully interact with. It still showcases numerous game design flaws (screens with absolutely no purpose other than to lengthen your treks back and forth; conversations that don't flow even close to naturally across topics), but at least it's slowly piquing my interest with its central mystery.
Another hour. The second main location is kinda more interesting, with more characters to meaningfully interact with. It still showcases numerous game design flaws (screens with absolutely no purpose other than to lengthen your treks back and forth; conversations that don't flow even close to naturally across topics), but at least it's slowly piquing my interest with its central mystery.
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
Comics
X-Men — Magik: Storm & Illyana by Chris Claremont & Brent Anderson
Introduction by C.B. Cebulski
The Uncanny X-Men #160 Chutes and Ladders
Sure, I'm quite behind on 2000 AD and still need to catch up with current X-Men, and I started Spawn but haven't read it for over six months, but why not start something else? (It's only a four-issue miniseries, with this issue of Uncanny as prologue, so it shouldn't take up too much time. Says the guy who's recently read one issue or less per week...)
Introduction by C.B. Cebulski
The Uncanny X-Men #160 Chutes and Ladders
Sure, I'm quite behind on 2000 AD and still need to catch up with current X-Men, and I started Spawn but haven't read it for over six months, but why not start something else? (It's only a four-issue miniseries, with this issue of Uncanny as prologue, so it shouldn't take up too much time. Says the guy who's recently read one issue or less per week...)
Monday, 4 November 2024
Games
The Booze of Monkey Island
What's this? Another game I'm starting instead of continuing Syberia. Ah, but I also finished this one, because it's only short (it took me three hours, and that was with exploring most of the dialogue trees, which are extensive). And you can't complain about it's length, because it's free. And also unofficial — it's a fan game. But it's really good — the graphics are lovely (like a modern HD version of Curse) and, even more importantly, the humour is bang on. There are a few bugs and translation issues, but nothing that hinders gameplay. If you're a fan of Monkey Island, it's definitely worth playing... and soon, before the Disney lawyers learn about it and nuke it.
What's this? Another game I'm starting instead of continuing Syberia. Ah, but I also finished this one, because it's only short (it took me three hours, and that was with exploring most of the dialogue trees, which are extensive). And you can't complain about it's length, because it's free. And also unofficial — it's a fan game. But it's really good — the graphics are lovely (like a modern HD version of Curse) and, even more importantly, the humour is bang on. There are a few bugs and translation issues, but nothing that hinders gameplay. If you're a fan of Monkey Island, it's definitely worth playing... and soon, before the Disney lawyers learn about it and nuke it.
Sunday, 3 November 2024
Comics
Absolute Batman #1 by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
I wasn’t sure I was going to bother with this new Elseworlds variant of Batman. On one hand, it’s written by Scott Snyder, whose Batman work I greatly enjoyed back when I was regularly buying comics the last time in 2011–14. On the other, it sounded like it perhaps deviated too far from what makes Batman Batman; plus, it’s not as if I don’t buy enough other comics that I’m not getting round to reading (including two regular Batman titles). But then it became “the comic everyone was talking about” when it released, and that talk all seemed to be positive, so I bought issue one — and only just got round to reading it, because hey, that's what I'm like.
Anyway, it is indeed absolutely fantastic and I can't wait for more. Thanks, general chatter, for persuading me to read it.
I wasn’t sure I was going to bother with this new Elseworlds variant of Batman. On one hand, it’s written by Scott Snyder, whose Batman work I greatly enjoyed back when I was regularly buying comics the last time in 2011–14. On the other, it sounded like it perhaps deviated too far from what makes Batman Batman; plus, it’s not as if I don’t buy enough other comics that I’m not getting round to reading (including two regular Batman titles). But then it became “the comic everyone was talking about” when it released, and that talk all seemed to be positive, so I bought issue one — and only just got round to reading it, because hey, that's what I'm like.
Anyway, it is indeed absolutely fantastic and I can't wait for more. Thanks, general chatter, for persuading me to read it.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A new month began just before the weekend (I'm sure you noticed), so it was time for 100Films.co.uk to look back at October...
And that includes the October "failures", of course...
More, hopefully, next Sunday.
And that includes the October "failures", of course...
More, hopefully, next Sunday.
Saturday, 2 November 2024
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
So, after last week turned out to be considerably smaller than expected, it all came pouring in this week instead — just in time for the monthly running time update.
Indeed, there was even more than I'd expected, thanks to an early arrival for Eureka's Louis Feuillade box set (which should replace three DVDs, but they have extras I'm not yet ready to ditch) and Indicator throwing up a sale, from which I ordered two big box sets (and a couple of regular titles), which also managed to arrive before week's end.
Altogether, it makes for a bunch of very sizeable increases — including a frankly ludicrous 48 new feature films! I feel like that must be some kind of record, but I don't have the energy to check.
Number of titles in collection: 3,397 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 995 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,402 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 397 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 8,211 [up 34]
Number of films: 4,265 [up 48]
Number of additional cuts: 414 [up 10]
Number of TV episodes: 9,837 [up 40]
Number of short films: 1,175 [up 4]
I always have a dilemma with film serials: are they one film; or a bunch of TV episodes; or a bunch of films? Because they're not really one film; but counting each episode as a film is a bit daft; but they're not really TV episodes either. I tend to end up counting them there, though, because it seems like the fairest option. That's what I've done with this new Feuillade set, anyway — no 'actual' TV was added to the collection this month.
No debate about where to count the running time, at least: it all goes into the same massive pile...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
577 days, 4 hours, and 40 minutes.
(Up 6 days, 8 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
So, after last week turned out to be considerably smaller than expected, it all came pouring in this week instead — just in time for the monthly running time update.
Indeed, there was even more than I'd expected, thanks to an early arrival for Eureka's Louis Feuillade box set (which should replace three DVDs, but they have extras I'm not yet ready to ditch) and Indicator throwing up a sale, from which I ordered two big box sets (and a couple of regular titles), which also managed to arrive before week's end.
Altogether, it makes for a bunch of very sizeable increases — including a frankly ludicrous 48 new feature films! I feel like that must be some kind of record, but I don't have the energy to check.
Number of titles in collection: 3,397 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 995 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,402 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 397 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 8,211 [up 34]
Number of films: 4,265 [up 48]
Number of additional cuts: 414 [up 10]
Number of TV episodes: 9,837 [up 40]
Number of short films: 1,175 [up 4]
I always have a dilemma with film serials: are they one film; or a bunch of TV episodes; or a bunch of films? Because they're not really one film; but counting each episode as a film is a bit daft; but they're not really TV episodes either. I tend to end up counting them there, though, because it seems like the fairest option. That's what I've done with this new Feuillade set, anyway — no 'actual' TV was added to the collection this month.
No debate about where to count the running time, at least: it all goes into the same massive pile...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
577 days, 4 hours, and 40 minutes.
(Up 6 days, 8 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 1 November 2024
Music
The Guest II: Original Soundtrack
I vaguely remember them releasing this a couple of years ago. It's a soundtrack album for a film that doesn't exist; a kind of concept album in lieu of any sequel to The Guest actually getting made. I never got round to listening to it before because, you know, it's not actually a sequel to The Guest; but having rewatched The Guest yesterday and been reminded of how awesome and essential the soundtrack is, I thought I'd finally stick this on.
Warriors
by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Eisa Davis
I feel like I should have something significant to say about this — as someone who loves both The Warriors and Hamilton — but, well, not for now. Maybe after I listen to it a few more times. What I will say is: at the start I wasn't convinced — the more of Miranda's work you listen to, it begins to feel like he only has so many ideas and tricks to deploy — but I did get into it the more it went on and liked lots of it.
I vaguely remember them releasing this a couple of years ago. It's a soundtrack album for a film that doesn't exist; a kind of concept album in lieu of any sequel to The Guest actually getting made. I never got round to listening to it before because, you know, it's not actually a sequel to The Guest; but having rewatched The Guest yesterday and been reminded of how awesome and essential the soundtrack is, I thought I'd finally stick this on.
Warriors
by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Eisa Davis
I feel like I should have something significant to say about this — as someone who loves both The Warriors and Hamilton — but, well, not for now. Maybe after I listen to it a few more times. What I will say is: at the start I wasn't convinced — the more of Miranda's work you listen to, it begins to feel like he only has so many ideas and tricks to deploy — but I did get into it the more it went on and liked lots of it.
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