Bond 23 Expected In 2011 by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
So much for 2010, it seems they may be following the release pattern (or, at least, spacing) of Pierce Brosnan's era. The piece is an interview with Bond producer Michael G. Wilson and includes a few other snippets of interest to fans, such as thoughts on returns for Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright, and comparisons between Quantum and SPECTRE.
Movie Reviews: Quantum Of Solace
(from Studio Briefing)
An intriguing set of reviews for Quantum of Solace in the US: some critics assert the view widely expressed over here that it's not enough like the Bond of old and too much like Bourne, while at least one other lists elements that may've seemed appropriate in Bonds of the past but don't fit now. Oh the irony.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Poem of the Day: The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd
by Sir Walter Raleigh
Today's poem is indeed by the famous Elizabethan "writer, poet, soldier, courtier and explorer". It was written as a response to another piece -- The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe (yep, the Elizabethan dramatist and poet, allegedly a spy, an atheist and a homosexual) -- but the cynicism in Raleigh's reply suits me better.
To nab a brief bit of analysis from Wikipedia's entry on the poem: "It could be considered a criticism, or at least a negative reaction to the original poem, as the nymph is in fact rejecting the shepherd in question quite harshly, and includes many lines that are directly connected to propositions made in Marlowe's poem. However her main reason for rejecting him is more related to her own feelings of mortality and the transience of life".
Tomorrow, it's Funny Friday.
Today's poem is indeed by the famous Elizabethan "writer, poet, soldier, courtier and explorer". It was written as a response to another piece -- The Passionate Shepherd to His Love by Christopher Marlowe (yep, the Elizabethan dramatist and poet, allegedly a spy, an atheist and a homosexual) -- but the cynicism in Raleigh's reply suits me better.
If all the world and love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy love.
Time drives the flocks from field to fold
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold,
And Philomel becometh dumb;
The rest complains of cares to come.
The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields;
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall,
Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten--
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.
Thy belt of straw and ivy buds,
Thy coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.
But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee and be thy love.
To nab a brief bit of analysis from Wikipedia's entry on the poem: "It could be considered a criticism, or at least a negative reaction to the original poem, as the nymph is in fact rejecting the shepherd in question quite harshly, and includes many lines that are directly connected to propositions made in Marlowe's poem. However her main reason for rejecting him is more related to her own feelings of mortality and the transience of life".
Tomorrow, it's Funny Friday.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
TV
Charles at 60: The Passionate Prince
There have been lots of excellent documentaries about the monarchy in the past year or two. Just an observation.
Little Dorrit
Part 5 (of 14)
There have been lots of excellent documentaries about the monarchy in the past year or two. Just an observation.
Little Dorrit
Part 5 (of 14)
Articles
First Full Enterprise Photo From Star Trek Unearthed
(from AceShowbiz)
It's a pretty good re-design if you ask me (a non-Trekkie, I should add). It's faithful but not slavish; modernised, but also stylised (like a lot of the film seems to be). Director J.J. Abrams describes it as "realistic", which I think might be a bit of a stretch, but I would certainly call it "appropriate". Anyhow, see for yourself:
Keep going for more on Star Trek...
Monopoly Movie Finally Passes Go by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
This is the oddest idea & director pairing for a movie ever. Ever.
Shuler Donner Talks Magneto by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
The other X-Men prequel, which is still in development, sort of. Sounds like it could be good, though it'll be a helluva challenge to find two actors as good as McKellen and Stewart. (Incidentally, why isn't Stewart a Knight yet? His part in Extras should've sealed that one, I think.)
Star Trek Footage Revealed by James Dyer
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire have seen a whole chunk of the new Star Trek film (the 11th, but it's simply called Star Trek), and it actually sounds like it might be quite good. Shocking, I know. Read the spoiler-filled summary at that link, and look out for a new trailer soon (it's attached to Quantum of Solace in US -- clearly expecting that to be a Big Hit over the pond too, then).
(from AceShowbiz)
It's a pretty good re-design if you ask me (a non-Trekkie, I should add). It's faithful but not slavish; modernised, but also stylised (like a lot of the film seems to be). Director J.J. Abrams describes it as "realistic", which I think might be a bit of a stretch, but I would certainly call it "appropriate". Anyhow, see for yourself:
Keep going for more on Star Trek...
Monopoly Movie Finally Passes Go by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
This is the oddest idea & director pairing for a movie ever. Ever.
Shuler Donner Talks Magneto by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
The other X-Men prequel, which is still in development, sort of. Sounds like it could be good, though it'll be a helluva challenge to find two actors as good as McKellen and Stewart. (Incidentally, why isn't Stewart a Knight yet? His part in Extras should've sealed that one, I think.)
Star Trek Footage Revealed by James Dyer
(from the Empire Blog)
Empire have seen a whole chunk of the new Star Trek film (the 11th, but it's simply called Star Trek), and it actually sounds like it might be quite good. Shocking, I know. Read the spoiler-filled summary at that link, and look out for a new trailer soon (it's attached to Quantum of Solace in US -- clearly expecting that to be a Big Hit over the pond too, then).
How many syllables are in the word "hour"?
Not something I'd thought about until today, when trying to write a poem in a specific meter.
Think it's simple? It isn't, as this complex answer to that simple question proves. Said answer is long and quite technical, but so interesting that I wanted to share it.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
Think it's simple? It isn't, as this complex answer to that simple question proves. Said answer is long and quite technical, but so interesting that I wanted to share it.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
Poem of the Day: If--
by Rudyard Kipling
I originally posted this yesterday, before alighting on something more appropriate, so here it is again today. If-- was written in 1895 (first published 1910), in reaction to an event that contributed to the start of the Boer War. It's a justly famous poem, voted Britain's favourite in the '90s and one of mine too, which makes it an appropriate early choice for this series.
See you tomorrow!
I originally posted this yesterday, before alighting on something more appropriate, so here it is again today. If-- was written in 1895 (first published 1910), in reaction to an event that contributed to the start of the Boer War. It's a justly famous poem, voted Britain's favourite in the '90s and one of mine too, which makes it an appropriate early choice for this series.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
See you tomorrow!
Che in the UK
After all the coverage I've given it, I feel I should point out that the only real interest I have in Steven Soderbergh's two-part Che Guevera biopic is to do with the fuss surrounding whether it would be released and, if so, in how many parts. I don't share the common student's passing obsession with him -- or, rather, with the iconography of That T-Shirt.
Just so we're clear.
Anyway, it seems the UK release will be split in two, with Part One hitting our shores on January 1st 2009, and Part Two following seven weeks later on February 20th. Why such a gap I don't know, especially as Soderbergh expressed a desire for them to be released at the same time, so people could see all four hours in one go if they wished. I guess anyone wanting to do that will just have to wait for the DVD. To be honest, it's not that epic a running time; certainly not on DVD. I've watched all three extended Lord of the Rings films in one day -- that is an epic.
Anyway, here's the UK Che poster:
The technically-minded part of me wonders, "will they be called Che: Part One and Che: Part Two on screen, or retain the original, different titles on each half (still listed on IMDb)?" It hardly matters, but that's more likely to persuade me to fork out £7 (total) to go see them than their actual contents. Unless they win Oscars, in which case that reason edges into the lead.
Just.
Just so we're clear.
Anyway, it seems the UK release will be split in two, with Part One hitting our shores on January 1st 2009, and Part Two following seven weeks later on February 20th. Why such a gap I don't know, especially as Soderbergh expressed a desire for them to be released at the same time, so people could see all four hours in one go if they wished. I guess anyone wanting to do that will just have to wait for the DVD. To be honest, it's not that epic a running time; certainly not on DVD. I've watched all three extended Lord of the Rings films in one day -- that is an epic.
Anyway, here's the UK Che poster:
The technically-minded part of me wonders, "will they be called Che: Part One and Che: Part Two on screen, or retain the original, different titles on each half (still listed on IMDb)?" It hardly matters, but that's more likely to persuade me to fork out £7 (total) to go see them than their actual contents. Unless they win Oscars, in which case that reason edges into the lead.
Just.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
TV
Argumental
1x03 (10/11/08 edition)
The blues was robbed! It's still a shame this is premiering on Dave, because more people should see it. I don't know how many are seeing it, but as it's on Dave I should wager it's "not enough".
Natural World
Titus: The Gorilla King
Gorillas are amazingly human-like. Titus' life story could easily be made into a plot involving humans (probably a political/monarchy drama set in the past, a la The Tudors) and no one would go, "that's weird, why're they behaving like that?" Unless you kept the flea-picking bits in, of course...
[Watch it on iPlayer or read about it at Radio Times.]
1x03 (10/11/08 edition)
The blues was robbed! It's still a shame this is premiering on Dave, because more people should see it. I don't know how many are seeing it, but as it's on Dave I should wager it's "not enough".
Natural World
Titus: The Gorilla King
Gorillas are amazingly human-like. Titus' life story could easily be made into a plot involving humans (probably a political/monarchy drama set in the past, a la The Tudors) and no one would go, "that's weird, why're they behaving like that?" Unless you kept the flea-picking bits in, of course...
[Watch it on iPlayer or read about it at Radio Times.]
Articles
Details on How Terrence Howard Lost His Role in Iron Man 2
(from FirstShowing.net)
True or not? Sounds like it might well be to me. Either way, it's an interesting story, and nice to have a proper explanation after all the speculation.
James Bond is back with martinis but not the gadgets by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times Blogs)
Not much new to learn from this interview with Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster, but it amuses me how many of these articles are prominently branded "exclusive", despite similar (and often superior) interviews with the same people being plastered over every website and magazine going. It seems "exclusive" means "commonplace" these days; or, more accurately, "please read this!"
Lord of the Rings-inspired movie in the pipeline
(from Boxwish Blog)
No, not The Hobbit -- or 'The Hobbit 2' -- this is something else. (No, it's not another of those "films about fans" either.)
Next Big Viral: Neill Blomkamp's District 9 - For Humans Only
(from FirstShowing.net)
Bit late on spotting this one (though I did notice the banners in photos at the time, but just thought they were some silly con thing). Still, sounds interesting...
(from FirstShowing.net)
True or not? Sounds like it might well be to me. Either way, it's an interesting story, and nice to have a proper explanation after all the speculation.
James Bond is back with martinis but not the gadgets by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times Blogs)
Not much new to learn from this interview with Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster, but it amuses me how many of these articles are prominently branded "exclusive", despite similar (and often superior) interviews with the same people being plastered over every website and magazine going. It seems "exclusive" means "commonplace" these days; or, more accurately, "please read this!"
Lord of the Rings-inspired movie in the pipeline
(from Boxwish Blog)
No, not The Hobbit -- or 'The Hobbit 2' -- this is something else. (No, it's not another of those "films about fans" either.)
Next Big Viral: Neill Blomkamp's District 9 - For Humans Only
(from FirstShowing.net)
Bit late on spotting this one (though I did notice the banners in photos at the time, but just thought they were some silly con thing). Still, sounds interesting...
new Watchmen character posters
Nice enough, though I preferred the comic-inspired ones.
These were originally released scattered around the web as various exclusives (the one here was the first I came across, for example), which explains why some are extra-good quality, why the Dr Manhattan one is really low quality, and why Silk Spectre's has an MTV logo at the bottom (studies have shown it takes males longer to notice this logo than females.) Presumably all six sites were given equal-quality files, which makes it all the more annoying that not everyone bothered to include those -- especially the very poor quality Dr Manhattan one.
As usual, this rather silly 'exclusive' method means that any site not granted an exclusive can compile all six independently, thereby topping any of these oh-so-special treated sites. The irony of that always amuses me.
Click to enlarge.
(If anyone cares, the sites that had them were, respectively, Access Hollywood, USA Today's Lifeline Live, Wired's underwire, MTV's Splash Page, LA Times' Hero Complex, and EW.com's clearly rubbish PopWatch.)
Additionally, one of the sites had another poster that I've not seen before, which is my personal favourite so far:
03.06.09 is too far away.
These were originally released scattered around the web as various exclusives (the one here was the first I came across, for example), which explains why some are extra-good quality, why the Dr Manhattan one is really low quality, and why Silk Spectre's has an MTV logo at the bottom (studies have shown it takes males longer to notice this logo than females.) Presumably all six sites were given equal-quality files, which makes it all the more annoying that not everyone bothered to include those -- especially the very poor quality Dr Manhattan one.
As usual, this rather silly 'exclusive' method means that any site not granted an exclusive can compile all six independently, thereby topping any of these oh-so-special treated sites. The irony of that always amuses me.
Click to enlarge.
(If anyone cares, the sites that had them were, respectively, Access Hollywood, USA Today's Lifeline Live, Wired's underwire, MTV's Splash Page, LA Times' Hero Complex, and EW.com's clearly rubbish PopWatch.)
Additionally, one of the sites had another poster that I've not seen before, which is my personal favourite so far:
03.06.09 is too far away.
Poem of the Day: Dulce et Decorum Est
by Wilfred Owen
Following yesterday's A Martian Sends a Postcard Home, and in the run-up to needing to read a lot of new poetry for a module next year (starting mid-January), I've decided to post a poem every day (you may've guessed that from the title). I don't have any selection criteria at the minute -- old, new, long, short, familiar, obscure, anything goes. Though I have no desire to spend a long time typing anything up (unless it's really good) and don't want to violate any copyrights, so it'll just be stuff I find available online -- so mostly old stuff then, I guess.
As today is Remembrance Day, this year the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War, it seems most appropriate to include a poem by one of the war poets. There's a lot of notable poetry from this particular war, much of which I studied at A-level, and this is one of the most memorable -- very well know, but for good reason.
For those who don't know, the Latin phrase at the end was a common mantra at the time (originally written by Roman poet Horace), which translates as, "It is sweet and noble to die for one's country".
(Trying to find a version of this to post here, I noticed several variations. I went with what I considered to be a moderately definitive one, but am prepared to be corrected.)
Following yesterday's A Martian Sends a Postcard Home, and in the run-up to needing to read a lot of new poetry for a module next year (starting mid-January), I've decided to post a poem every day (you may've guessed that from the title). I don't have any selection criteria at the minute -- old, new, long, short, familiar, obscure, anything goes. Though I have no desire to spend a long time typing anything up (unless it's really good) and don't want to violate any copyrights, so it'll just be stuff I find available online -- so mostly old stuff then, I guess.
As today is Remembrance Day, this year the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War, it seems most appropriate to include a poem by one of the war poets. There's a lot of notable poetry from this particular war, much of which I studied at A-level, and this is one of the most memorable -- very well know, but for good reason.
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.
Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime...
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
For those who don't know, the Latin phrase at the end was a common mantra at the time (originally written by Roman poet Horace), which translates as, "It is sweet and noble to die for one's country".
(Trying to find a version of this to post here, I noticed several variations. I went with what I considered to be a moderately definitive one, but am prepared to be corrected.)
Monday, 10 November 2008
TV
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x07 The Mark of the Beserker Part One
Clearly, those kids are next to useless when Sarah Jane goes away. Did you know the only one that's actually 15 is Luke? The other two are both legally able to go out getting drunk and what have you. And do, apparently. (I apologise if this shatters anyone's illusions. Or indeed if "getting drunk" is overstating it.)
Stephen Fry in America
Part 5 True West
Stephen Fry visits a brothel! Now there's something you don't expect to see.
2x07 The Mark of the Beserker Part One
Clearly, those kids are next to useless when Sarah Jane goes away. Did you know the only one that's actually 15 is Luke? The other two are both legally able to go out getting drunk and what have you. And do, apparently. (I apologise if this shatters anyone's illusions. Or indeed if "getting drunk" is overstating it.)
Stephen Fry in America
Part 5 True West
Stephen Fry visits a brothel! Now there's something you don't expect to see.
Articles
Brand brands Sachs row 'meaningless' by Sarah Rollo
(from Digital Spy)
Ooh, controversial headline! I think I'll complain! Etc. However, he does have a point.
Quantum of Solace Rules International Box Office by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
I love a good round of statistics, and here's some good statistics: "on general release in 58 new markets around the world and opened bigger than Casino Royale in every single one of them (13 even managed to double what Royale did). [It] grossed a whopping $106.5 million this weekend in 61 territories, making it the 11th biggest international weekend ever. The film grossed more than triple the combined foreign take for the next four entries on the list... Despite not having opened in the US, Australia, Japan, Mexico and Spain yet, the 10-day cumulative total for Quantum of Solace stands at $160.3 million." Follow the link for loads more.
Review of The Incredible Hulk R1 DVD by James Gray
(from DVD Times)
"The two monsters dutifully tear apart a few apartment blocks before the Abomination keels over and surrenders and everyone goes home happy they’ve had their yearly fill of watching CGI monsters do battle while being simultaneously relieved they’ve left without getting the same headache as Transformers gave them last year."
Top Gear secret code mocks Strictly by Michael Thornton
(from Digital Spy)
It's the in thing these days to complain to the BBC about nothing -- especially if that nothing happens on a controversial show -- so I wonder how many this will manage?
(from Digital Spy)
Ooh, controversial headline! I think I'll complain! Etc. However, he does have a point.
Quantum of Solace Rules International Box Office by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
I love a good round of statistics, and here's some good statistics: "on general release in 58 new markets around the world and opened bigger than Casino Royale in every single one of them (13 even managed to double what Royale did). [It] grossed a whopping $106.5 million this weekend in 61 territories, making it the 11th biggest international weekend ever. The film grossed more than triple the combined foreign take for the next four entries on the list... Despite not having opened in the US, Australia, Japan, Mexico and Spain yet, the 10-day cumulative total for Quantum of Solace stands at $160.3 million." Follow the link for loads more.
Review of The Incredible Hulk R1 DVD by James Gray
(from DVD Times)
"The two monsters dutifully tear apart a few apartment blocks before the Abomination keels over and surrenders and everyone goes home happy they’ve had their yearly fill of watching CGI monsters do battle while being simultaneously relieved they’ve left without getting the same headache as Transformers gave them last year."
Top Gear secret code mocks Strictly by Michael Thornton
(from Digital Spy)
It's the in thing these days to complain to the BBC about nothing -- especially if that nothing happens on a controversial show -- so I wonder how many this will manage?
Poem of the Day: A Martian Sends a Postcard Home
by Craig Raine
This 1979 piece is part of a movement (possibly the start of the movement) known as Martian poetry, which you're most likely to have heard of as a way of being taught poetry in school. It's freely available on numerous websites, so I may as well include the full text here.
If you're struggling, I can tell you that "caxtons" are books (quite where that word comes from, or how they could be described as "mechanical birds", I don't know); "Model T" is, of course, the Ford Model T car; the watch and clock are obvious, I think; the "haunted apparatus" is a telephone, which "cries" (rings), is "soothed" (talked into) and "tickled" (dialled); the "punishment room with water" is, I believe, a bathroom; and "read about themselves" are dreams, I presume.
Hardly a detailed analysis I know, but perhaps some useful pointers.
This 1979 piece is part of a movement (possibly the start of the movement) known as Martian poetry, which you're most likely to have heard of as a way of being taught poetry in school. It's freely available on numerous websites, so I may as well include the full text here.
Caxtons are mechanical birds with many wings
and some are treasured for their markings --
they cause the eyes to melt
or the body to shriek without pain.
I have never seen one fly, but
sometimes they perch on the hand.
Mist is when the sky is tired of flight
and rests its soft machine on ground:
then the world is dim and bookish
like engravings under tissue paper.
Rain is when the earth is television.
It has the property of making colours darker.
Model T is a room with the lock inside --
a key is turned to free the world
for movement, so quick there is a film
to watch for anything missed.
But time is tied to the wrist
or kept in a box, ticking with impatience.
In homes, a haunted apparatus sleeps,
that snores when you pick it up.
If the ghost cries, they carry it
to their lips and soothe it to sleep
with sounds. And yet they wake it up
deliberately, by tickling with a finger.
Only the young are allowed to suffer
openly. Adults go to a punishment room
with water but nothing to eat.
They lock the door and suffer the noises
alone. No one is exempt
and everyone's pain has a different smell.
At night when all the colours die,
they hide in pairs
and read about themselves --
in colour, with their eyelids shut.
If you're struggling, I can tell you that "caxtons" are books (quite where that word comes from, or how they could be described as "mechanical birds", I don't know); "Model T" is, of course, the Ford Model T car; the watch and clock are obvious, I think; the "haunted apparatus" is a telephone, which "cries" (rings), is "soothed" (talked into) and "tickled" (dialled); the "punishment room with water" is, I believe, a bathroom; and "read about themselves" are dreams, I presume.
Hardly a detailed analysis I know, but perhaps some useful pointers.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
TV
The Sandbaggers
1x07 Special Relationship [season finale]
Absolutely excellent; probably the best episode yet. One often thinks the concept of a "season finale", a grand final episode where the stakes are higher than any other, as being quite a modern American-inherited invention, but clearly the idea behind it goes back much further. Why can't all TV be this good?
Sharpe
7x02 Sharpe's Peril Part 2 [season finale]
A much stronger, and more action-packed, second half. One wonders if the international version -- which is only 102 minutes, in-keeping with the original series of Sharpe episodes (this British version totals 138 minutes) -- cuts equally from both halves, or gets rid of more of the first half's slower-paced relative dross. Both versions be on the DVD release (either out now or soon, depending on which sites you believe), so I suppose anyone who cares can find out then.
Top Gear
12x02 (9/11/08 edition)
Not entertaining, ohhh no.
1x07 Special Relationship [season finale]
Absolutely excellent; probably the best episode yet. One often thinks the concept of a "season finale", a grand final episode where the stakes are higher than any other, as being quite a modern American-inherited invention, but clearly the idea behind it goes back much further. Why can't all TV be this good?
Sharpe
7x02 Sharpe's Peril Part 2 [season finale]
A much stronger, and more action-packed, second half. One wonders if the international version -- which is only 102 minutes, in-keeping with the original series of Sharpe episodes (this British version totals 138 minutes) -- cuts equally from both halves, or gets rid of more of the first half's slower-paced relative dross. Both versions be on the DVD release (either out now or soon, depending on which sites you believe), so I suppose anyone who cares can find out then.
Top Gear
12x02 (9/11/08 edition)
Not entertaining, ohhh no.
Fiction
Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman, Andy Kubert & Richard Isanove
Part One
What if all the Marvel heroes appeared 400 years early, in Elizabethan England? It's an intriguing setup that starts well in this first part (of eight). Hopefully Gaiman can keep the story up and take it beyond the novelty factor of Sir Nicholas Fury being the Queen's chief spy, with young Peter Parquagh as his assistant, or 'witchbreeds' Scotius Summerisle, Robert Trefusis and John Grey rescuing a bewinged boy from a burning courtesy of the inquisition.
One element that never disappoints is Kubert's art, which has a cleanly realistic style that I always like, and here is beautifully computer-painted by Isanvoe. The pair did stunning work in a very similar vein on Origin (the series that finally revealed the early life of Wolverine) back in 2001/2, and this style certainly suits the faux-historical content of the two books. Also, Scott McKowen's wonderfully evocative covers (all of which can be seen here) shouldn't go without a mention.
Queen & Country - Operation: Broken Ground by Greg Rucka & Steve Rolston
Chapter 1
Queen & Country is an unofficial comics continuation of the world of The Sandbaggers, though set in the present day. It's immediately obvious from this first issue that the style has been faithfully maintained -- which makes it fantastic. This first chapter is available online for free (legally) on this page, or a direct link here (you'll need to right click + Save As, or what have you). You'll also need some software to read .cbr files -- I use FFView, which is Mac-only, but Wikipedia has some Windows (and Linux) suggestions.
Part One
What if all the Marvel heroes appeared 400 years early, in Elizabethan England? It's an intriguing setup that starts well in this first part (of eight). Hopefully Gaiman can keep the story up and take it beyond the novelty factor of Sir Nicholas Fury being the Queen's chief spy, with young Peter Parquagh as his assistant, or 'witchbreeds' Scotius Summerisle, Robert Trefusis and John Grey rescuing a bewinged boy from a burning courtesy of the inquisition.
One element that never disappoints is Kubert's art, which has a cleanly realistic style that I always like, and here is beautifully computer-painted by Isanvoe. The pair did stunning work in a very similar vein on Origin (the series that finally revealed the early life of Wolverine) back in 2001/2, and this style certainly suits the faux-historical content of the two books. Also, Scott McKowen's wonderfully evocative covers (all of which can be seen here) shouldn't go without a mention.
Queen & Country - Operation: Broken Ground by Greg Rucka & Steve Rolston
Chapter 1
Queen & Country is an unofficial comics continuation of the world of The Sandbaggers, though set in the present day. It's immediately obvious from this first issue that the style has been faithfully maintained -- which makes it fantastic. This first chapter is available online for free (legally) on this page, or a direct link here (you'll need to right click + Save As, or what have you). You'll also need some software to read .cbr files -- I use FFView, which is Mac-only, but Wikipedia has some Windows (and Linux) suggestions.
Articles
10 most uncool James Bond moments by James Clayton
(from Den of Geek!)
Some of these are undeniably true, but Den of Geek is still rubbish.
Jackson Plans Busy 2009 As Nick Fury
(from WENN)
"Samuel L. Jackson is preparing for a busy 2009 -- he's aiming to feature in a host of movie comics after he was revealed as superspy Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man." Apologies to anyone who considers that a spoiler, but c'mon, it's five months old now. "[Jackson] will play a key part in Iron Man 2... 'I should kinda pass through Iron Man 2, Captain America, Thor -- all those things -- and eventually get to that Avengers space... They sorta gave me a master plan about how they want it to work... I'll do every movie they wanna do." And while he didn't turn up in The Incredible Hulk, someone else did (and without having to wait til the end of the credits either!)
(from Den of Geek!)
Some of these are undeniably true, but Den of Geek is still rubbish.
Jackson Plans Busy 2009 As Nick Fury
(from WENN)
"Samuel L. Jackson is preparing for a busy 2009 -- he's aiming to feature in a host of movie comics after he was revealed as superspy Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man." Apologies to anyone who considers that a spoiler, but c'mon, it's five months old now. "[Jackson] will play a key part in Iron Man 2... 'I should kinda pass through Iron Man 2, Captain America, Thor -- all those things -- and eventually get to that Avengers space... They sorta gave me a master plan about how they want it to work... I'll do every movie they wanna do." And while he didn't turn up in The Incredible Hulk, someone else did (and without having to wait til the end of the credits either!)
Saturday, 8 November 2008
TV
Have I Got News For You
36x04 (7/11/08 edition; extended repeat)
The added material is often very funny, and really speaking there's quite a lot of it, but it's usually little bits scattered about and so at times feels a bit of a trawl.
Merlin
1x08 The Beginning of the End
Merlin: The Legend
Nothing to do with the current TV series, but a documentary on the history of the character in literature and whatnot. Of some interest, but occasionally padded and slow.
36x04 (7/11/08 edition; extended repeat)
The added material is often very funny, and really speaking there's quite a lot of it, but it's usually little bits scattered about and so at times feels a bit of a trawl.
Merlin
1x08 The Beginning of the End
Merlin: The Legend
Nothing to do with the current TV series, but a documentary on the history of the character in literature and whatnot. Of some interest, but occasionally padded and slow.
Fiction
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
There are, I think, three things that might surprise people who've only really heard the title & fame of the book/film Breakfast at Tiffany's -- certainly, they surprised me the first time I discovered them. One, it's by Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood and the subject of the surprisingly mediocre 2005 film Capote. Two, it's only 92 pages long, and that with relatively large text for a literary book. It doesn't even have any chapters. Shocking! And three, the character portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Holly Golightly, isn't... well, I'm not sure what she isn't, really, but she wasn't what I expected.
Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert
Time After Time: From 1602 to 2004 by Peter Sanderson
A distinctly above-average introduction to a graphic novel, by academic Sanderson, that acts as both an introduction to some of the characters involved and to the themes and concepts explored. Super.
There are, I think, three things that might surprise people who've only really heard the title & fame of the book/film Breakfast at Tiffany's -- certainly, they surprised me the first time I discovered them. One, it's by Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood and the subject of the surprisingly mediocre 2005 film Capote. Two, it's only 92 pages long, and that with relatively large text for a literary book. It doesn't even have any chapters. Shocking! And three, the character portrayed by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Holly Golightly, isn't... well, I'm not sure what she isn't, really, but she wasn't what I expected.
Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert
Time After Time: From 1602 to 2004 by Peter Sanderson
A distinctly above-average introduction to a graphic novel, by academic Sanderson, that acts as both an introduction to some of the characters involved and to the themes and concepts explored. Super.
Articles
"And Don't Crash It!" by Christopher Middleton
(from Radio Times 8-14 November 2008, p.14-16)
Richard Hammond and 'Gene Hunt' chat about the Ashes to Ashes special, part of Children in Need this Friday. Highly amusing stories about their driving tests too.
Daniel Craig On Continuing Bond's Journey In Quantum of Solace by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
But, more important than Craig going on about the Bond/Vesper love story again, there's this: "Someone asked me before, who would win a fight, Bond or Batman or Bourne? And I said, 'Bond would get the other two to punch the shit out of each other while betting on both of them and having a martini.'"
"I'd love to reinvent Q and Moneypenny" by Tim Roth
(from CommanderBond.net)
So say Daniel Craig. Plus, a gay Bond?
(from Radio Times 8-14 November 2008, p.14-16)
Richard Hammond and 'Gene Hunt' chat about the Ashes to Ashes special, part of Children in Need this Friday. Highly amusing stories about their driving tests too.
Daniel Craig On Continuing Bond's Journey In Quantum of Solace by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
But, more important than Craig going on about the Bond/Vesper love story again, there's this: "Someone asked me before, who would win a fight, Bond or Batman or Bourne? And I said, 'Bond would get the other two to punch the shit out of each other while betting on both of them and having a martini.'"
"I'd love to reinvent Q and Moneypenny" by Tim Roth
(from CommanderBond.net)
So say Daniel Craig. Plus, a gay Bond?
Friday, 7 November 2008
TV
Have I Got News For You
36x04 (7/11/08 edition)
Russell Brand's Ponderland
2x02 Family
He may've quit the BBC, but he's still on C4! Cos they know what they're doing, see.
The Sandbaggers
1x06 A Feasible Solution
Now that I'm all caught up with Spooks, I can get back into some more realistic spying, '70s style.
36x04 (7/11/08 edition)
Russell Brand's Ponderland
2x02 Family
He may've quit the BBC, but he's still on C4! Cos they know what they're doing, see.
The Sandbaggers
1x06 A Feasible Solution
Now that I'm all caught up with Spooks, I can get back into some more realistic spying, '70s style.
Films
Gasman (1997)
[#76a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Short from the director of Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar.
[#76a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Short from the director of Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar.
Articles
Morrissey responds to Dr Who rumours by Ben Rawson-Jones
(from Digital Spy)
"As for any talk of me taking over as the next Doctor, well, if or when they do choose someone, they would have to be totally different to David - which I am." Based on his comments about the Christmas special, however, I doubt he will be. (Note that they contain what might be termed spoilers.) Apparently some papers are reporting that Colin Salmon has been cast in the part, but I've not seen that covered anywhere.
New Defiance Poster by Emily Phillips
(from Empire Online)
Ooh, don't they look defiant?
Rickrolling: Rick Astley named Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards by Matthew Moore
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
"lol".
Sam Mendes Talks Preacher by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"This is a typical Variety announcement," says Mendes "'Mendes to direct Preacher' – I wish! Basically they should have written, 'Mendes in development with Preacher'. What I’m doing is, I’ve gotta find a script. I’ve just got to get it written." Read on for more info on why Mendes took on the long-gestating project. Also, try Empire's Who the Hell is Preacher? guide, which is thankfully very light on spoilers.
Spielberg And Smith To Remake Oldboy? by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"Unexpected" is the key word for this one. "We do like it when a project comes out of leftfield – and they don't come much more leftfield than this: Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in talks to direct and star in a remake of Chan-wook Park's belting 2004 revenge thriller, Oldboy... as well as being compelling, bold, and utterly brilliant, Oldboy is the sort of uncompromising, dark thriller that would represent a huge risk for... the most bankable director-star team in the world. Which, if you're wondering, is exactly what Smith and Spielberg represent."
(from Digital Spy)
"As for any talk of me taking over as the next Doctor, well, if or when they do choose someone, they would have to be totally different to David - which I am." Based on his comments about the Christmas special, however, I doubt he will be. (Note that they contain what might be termed spoilers.) Apparently some papers are reporting that Colin Salmon has been cast in the part, but I've not seen that covered anywhere.
New Defiance Poster by Emily Phillips
(from Empire Online)
Ooh, don't they look defiant?
Rickrolling: Rick Astley named Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards by Matthew Moore
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
"lol".
Sam Mendes Talks Preacher by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"This is a typical Variety announcement," says Mendes "'Mendes to direct Preacher' – I wish! Basically they should have written, 'Mendes in development with Preacher'. What I’m doing is, I’ve gotta find a script. I’ve just got to get it written." Read on for more info on why Mendes took on the long-gestating project. Also, try Empire's Who the Hell is Preacher? guide, which is thankfully very light on spoilers.
Spielberg And Smith To Remake Oldboy? by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"Unexpected" is the key word for this one. "We do like it when a project comes out of leftfield – and they don't come much more leftfield than this: Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in talks to direct and star in a remake of Chan-wook Park's belting 2004 revenge thriller, Oldboy... as well as being compelling, bold, and utterly brilliant, Oldboy is the sort of uncompromising, dark thriller that would represent a huge risk for... the most bankable director-star team in the world. Which, if you're wondering, is exactly what Smith and Spielberg represent."
Thursday, 6 November 2008
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
7x10 (6/11/08 edition)
An appropriate degree of lambasting the General Public for complaining about things they've not even seen/heard.
Little Dorrit
Part 4 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x06 (6/11/08 edition)
Obviously taped in the wake of the recent BBC scandal, this Buzzcocks did a typically great job of extracting all the humour out of BBC shows needing to 'behave' now.
7x10 (6/11/08 edition)
An appropriate degree of lambasting the General Public for complaining about things they've not even seen/heard.
Little Dorrit
Part 4 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x06 (6/11/08 edition)
Obviously taped in the wake of the recent BBC scandal, this Buzzcocks did a typically great job of extracting all the humour out of BBC shows needing to 'behave' now.
Films
Clockwise (1986)
[#76 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
[#76 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Articles: James Bond
All James Bond-related articles today...
Children banned from cinemas for Bond film as adults demand peace and quiet by Colin Fernandez
(from Mail Online)
Well done, Vue! Very well done indeed. Shame it costs an extra 50p -- though, I'd pay that for the added peace & quiet! -- but at least they're intending to continue the move for some future releases.
'I wanted to make the Bond movie I always wanted to see...' by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
Director Marc Forster has one or two different things to say. For my musing on these endless interviews with the same people, see here.
Just what is the greatest Bond film ever? by Mark Oakley
(from Den of Geek!)
The idea is decent, the criteria intriguing, but the final reasoning weak and most of the conclusions wrong (in my opinion, obviously). It doesn't help that the limited films included make it over a decade out of date! I've been looking at a fair bit of Den of Geek today, and have concluded that it's all round a rather rubbish site.
Michael G. Wilson On Reinventing James Bond by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
The producer discusses the up & down nature of the franchise.
Children banned from cinemas for Bond film as adults demand peace and quiet by Colin Fernandez
(from Mail Online)
Well done, Vue! Very well done indeed. Shame it costs an extra 50p -- though, I'd pay that for the added peace & quiet! -- but at least they're intending to continue the move for some future releases.
'I wanted to make the Bond movie I always wanted to see...' by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
Director Marc Forster has one or two different things to say. For my musing on these endless interviews with the same people, see here.
Just what is the greatest Bond film ever? by Mark Oakley
(from Den of Geek!)
The idea is decent, the criteria intriguing, but the final reasoning weak and most of the conclusions wrong (in my opinion, obviously). It doesn't help that the limited films included make it over a decade out of date! I've been looking at a fair bit of Den of Geek today, and have concluded that it's all round a rather rubbish site.
Michael G. Wilson On Reinventing James Bond by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
The producer discusses the up & down nature of the franchise.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Articles
Interview with Quantum of Solace Star Daniel Craig by Thomas Leupp
(from ReelzChannel)
There have, obviously, been dozens of interviews with Craig and other QoS-related people of late -- and, with the US release still 9 days away, I seriously doubt we've seen the end of them -- but they always tend to contain one or two answers a little different from the rest. It's also interesting to see what fansites like CommanderBond.net make of them. Their headline for this article was Craig: Creativity And Talent Must Fuel Bond Franchise Future. There's nothing inherent in the actual interview that suggests this is Craig's primary point -- it's one answer among many, about halfway through -- but it must be a bit different to what he's commented on elsewhere for them to feel the need to pull it out.
Michael Crichton Dies Aged 66 by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"the author of Jurassic Park has died at the age of 66. The enormously popular novelist, who also enjoyed success as a film director, passed away following what his family have called, “a courageous and private battle against cancer”. [Crichton] also created the enormously popular medical drama ER... adapted Robert Wise’s sci-fi thriller, The Andromeda Strain from his own novel, [and directed] Westworld, Coma and The Great Train Robbery... Many of his other novels were also filmed, including Disclosure, Sphere, Congo, and Timeline. In total, his novels sold over 150 million copies worldwide."
Pair of Sequels Planned for Road to Perdition by Scott Weinberg
(from Cinematical)
Road to Perdition is a great film based on a great book, but it's not something you'd necessarily expect sequels to. That said, the involvement of Max Allan Collins, who wrote the original graphic novel and has since penned a sequel, bodes a bit better. This won't form the basis for the sequel films, however, which instead seem to be based on two continuation novels (as in, words no piccies) that Collins wrote.
(from ReelzChannel)
There have, obviously, been dozens of interviews with Craig and other QoS-related people of late -- and, with the US release still 9 days away, I seriously doubt we've seen the end of them -- but they always tend to contain one or two answers a little different from the rest. It's also interesting to see what fansites like CommanderBond.net make of them. Their headline for this article was Craig: Creativity And Talent Must Fuel Bond Franchise Future. There's nothing inherent in the actual interview that suggests this is Craig's primary point -- it's one answer among many, about halfway through -- but it must be a bit different to what he's commented on elsewhere for them to feel the need to pull it out.
Michael Crichton Dies Aged 66 by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
"the author of Jurassic Park has died at the age of 66. The enormously popular novelist, who also enjoyed success as a film director, passed away following what his family have called, “a courageous and private battle against cancer”. [Crichton] also created the enormously popular medical drama ER... adapted Robert Wise’s sci-fi thriller, The Andromeda Strain from his own novel, [and directed] Westworld, Coma and The Great Train Robbery... Many of his other novels were also filmed, including Disclosure, Sphere, Congo, and Timeline. In total, his novels sold over 150 million copies worldwide."
Pair of Sequels Planned for Road to Perdition by Scott Weinberg
(from Cinematical)
Road to Perdition is a great film based on a great book, but it's not something you'd necessarily expect sequels to. That said, the involvement of Max Allan Collins, who wrote the original graphic novel and has since penned a sequel, bodes a bit better. This won't form the basis for the sequel films, however, which instead seem to be based on two continuation novels (as in, words no piccies) that Collins wrote.
British currency, re-designed
Did you know they've redesigned all the coins in use in the UK? I didn't. I feel I should have. This is the first time British coinage has been redesigned since decimalisation almost 40 years ago!
They're a bit too modern-looking for my taste. I seriously doubt it'll be 40 years before they change again.
They're a bit too modern-looking for my taste. I seriously doubt it'll be 40 years before they change again.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
TV
Stephen Fry in America
Part 4 Mountains and Plains
Marvellous as ever. It's a wonderful mix of intelligence, wit, and boyish glee.
Part 4 Mountains and Plains
Marvellous as ever. It's a wonderful mix of intelligence, wit, and boyish glee.
Fiction
Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again by Frank Miller & Lynn Varley
Book Three [the end]
Finally found a chance to finish this. The concluding part is better and more coherent than the others, but still suffers from Miller's over-simplistic over-large art, as well as bunging in a ludicrous number of things from the DC universe that he assumes you'll just know. A comic for comic geeks, then, and as weak as those usually are. Be sure to read The Dark Knight Returns (it's really brilliant), but skip this.
Book Three [the end]
Finally found a chance to finish this. The concluding part is better and more coherent than the others, but still suffers from Miller's over-simplistic over-large art, as well as bunging in a ludicrous number of things from the DC universe that he assumes you'll just know. A comic for comic geeks, then, and as weak as those usually are. Be sure to read The Dark Knight Returns (it's really brilliant), but skip this.
Articles
Outnumbered returns to BBC One
(from the BBC Press Office)
Hurray! Bring on November 15th I say.
Review of Executive Koala DVD by Kevin Gilvear
(from DVD Times)
This sounds wonderfully loopy. I mean, just look at that title, and consider that it's live action! Fabulous.
Tuesday Link-a-Mania by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
A few years ago, the BBC produced a two-part drama called Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, a near-future sci-fi in which a spaceship set out to explore the solar system. It was one of them drama-documentary things, designed to educate about the solar system, but one suspects writer-director Joe Ahearne (of Ultraviolet, Doctor Who, and next week's new BBC One series Apparitions) was more interested in the dramatic potential of the thing. And quite right too -- it's a fab idea (you should check it out on DVD). So I'm exceedingly pleased to learn that the BBC, US's Fox, and companies from Canada and Germany, are teaming up to do a 13-part version. Its plot is described as "eight astronauts from five countries who take on a mysterious six-year mission through the solar system", but is unclear if all six years are in those 13 eps or if they hope it'll run for six years. Either way's good by me. It's called Defying Gravity, which is a crap title so hopefully they'll think of something better.
Also on that link: The Dark Knight nearly breaks $1bn; Joss Whedon discusses more projects in the Dr Horrible vein; Heroes gets simple; and something about Planet of the Apes. Who'd've thought one news item could contain so many interesting bits?
(from the BBC Press Office)
Hurray! Bring on November 15th I say.
Review of Executive Koala DVD by Kevin Gilvear
(from DVD Times)
This sounds wonderfully loopy. I mean, just look at that title, and consider that it's live action! Fabulous.
Tuesday Link-a-Mania by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
A few years ago, the BBC produced a two-part drama called Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, a near-future sci-fi in which a spaceship set out to explore the solar system. It was one of them drama-documentary things, designed to educate about the solar system, but one suspects writer-director Joe Ahearne (of Ultraviolet, Doctor Who, and next week's new BBC One series Apparitions) was more interested in the dramatic potential of the thing. And quite right too -- it's a fab idea (you should check it out on DVD). So I'm exceedingly pleased to learn that the BBC, US's Fox, and companies from Canada and Germany, are teaming up to do a 13-part version. Its plot is described as "eight astronauts from five countries who take on a mysterious six-year mission through the solar system", but is unclear if all six years are in those 13 eps or if they hope it'll run for six years. Either way's good by me. It's called Defying Gravity, which is a crap title so hopefully they'll think of something better.
Also on that link: The Dark Knight nearly breaks $1bn; Joss Whedon discusses more projects in the Dr Horrible vein; Heroes gets simple; and something about Planet of the Apes. Who'd've thought one news item could contain so many interesting bits?
Monday, 3 November 2008
TV
Argumental
1x02 (3/11/08 edition)
The Graham Norton Show
4x05 (30/10/08 edition, uncut repeat)
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x06 Secrets of the Stars Part Two
Spooks
7x02 Split Loyalties
1x02 (3/11/08 edition)
The Graham Norton Show
4x05 (30/10/08 edition, uncut repeat)
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x06 Secrets of the Stars Part Two
Spooks
7x02 Split Loyalties
Music
Roar! (Theme from Cloverfield) by Michael Giacchino
This is a great track, I highly recommend it. You can get it from iTunes -- all 12 minutes and 17 seconds for just 79p -- here.
This is a great track, I highly recommend it. You can get it from iTunes -- all 12 minutes and 17 seconds for just 79p -- here.
Articles
Christopher Nolan on Dark Knight and its box-office billion: 'It's mystifying to me'
and
Christopher Nolan revisits and analyzes his favorite scene in Dark Knight
and
Christopher Nolan says his Batman doesn't play well with others by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times Blogs)
A very exclusive, in-depth, three-part interview with the director of Batman Begins and (more pertinently) The Dark Knight.
Coppola's slow boat on the Nung by Gordon Coates
(from guardian.co.uk)
Quite simply, "Gordon Coates on the five-hour Apocalypse Now". That would be the workprint, long available as a bootleg, that -- depending on who you believe -- is anywhere from 289 to 330 minutes long. (Incidentally, the information that the film is an 18 is out of date -- the Redux was classified at 15 in 2001, and while the original (shorter) cut received an 18 in 2004 (what's that about eh?), all the materials on the recent DVD release -- which includes both cuts of the film -- were collectively rated 15.)
Quantum of Solace Grabs #1 Spot At International Box Office by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
"the 007 film earned £15.7 million ($25.3 million) over the weekend" -- beating estimates by over $4 million, and "becoming the biggest three-day opening ever in the UK, surpassing Casino Royale’s equally impressive box office debut by 35%. [From] the UK, France and Sweden, [it] grossed a spectacular $38.6 million... ‘No other international release in 2008 has grossed more [playing in] fewer than 27 territories,’ said Mark Zucker, Sony’s president of international distribution." Super. From a different article: "Six movies can claim bigger UK openings than Quantum of Solace, but all achieved their grosses with the addition of paid previews, typically from the weekend prior and/or days immediately before their official opening."
Quantum of Solace opens around most of the world in the next two weeks, most significantly in the US on November 14th. Look here for a weekly-updated summary of its worldwide box office.
and
Christopher Nolan revisits and analyzes his favorite scene in Dark Knight
and
Christopher Nolan says his Batman doesn't play well with others by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times Blogs)
A very exclusive, in-depth, three-part interview with the director of Batman Begins and (more pertinently) The Dark Knight.
Coppola's slow boat on the Nung by Gordon Coates
(from guardian.co.uk)
Quite simply, "Gordon Coates on the five-hour Apocalypse Now". That would be the workprint, long available as a bootleg, that -- depending on who you believe -- is anywhere from 289 to 330 minutes long. (Incidentally, the information that the film is an 18 is out of date -- the Redux was classified at 15 in 2001, and while the original (shorter) cut received an 18 in 2004 (what's that about eh?), all the materials on the recent DVD release -- which includes both cuts of the film -- were collectively rated 15.)
Quantum of Solace Grabs #1 Spot At International Box Office by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
"the 007 film earned £15.7 million ($25.3 million) over the weekend" -- beating estimates by over $4 million, and "becoming the biggest three-day opening ever in the UK, surpassing Casino Royale’s equally impressive box office debut by 35%. [From] the UK, France and Sweden, [it] grossed a spectacular $38.6 million... ‘No other international release in 2008 has grossed more [playing in] fewer than 27 territories,’ said Mark Zucker, Sony’s president of international distribution." Super. From a different article: "Six movies can claim bigger UK openings than Quantum of Solace, but all achieved their grosses with the addition of paid previews, typically from the weekend prior and/or days immediately before their official opening."
Quantum of Solace opens around most of the world in the next two weeks, most significantly in the US on November 14th. Look here for a weekly-updated summary of its worldwide box office.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
TV
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x05 Secrets of the Stars Part One
Sharpe
7x01 Sharpe's Peril Part 1
Spooks
7x01 New Allegiances
A sneaky bit of PR in the run up to this series means that the opening episode regains Spooks' ability to be genuinely surprising, something that went increasingly awry as the show became increasingly far-fetched.
Top Gear
12x01 (2/11/08 edition)
Absolutely hilarious, as usual.
2x05 Secrets of the Stars Part One
Sharpe
7x01 Sharpe's Peril Part 1
Spooks
7x01 New Allegiances
A sneaky bit of PR in the run up to this series means that the opening episode regains Spooks' ability to be genuinely surprising, something that went increasingly awry as the show became increasingly far-fetched.
Top Gear
12x01 (2/11/08 edition)
Absolutely hilarious, as usual.
Films
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince International Trailer
Not officially released yet, though this is surprisingly good quality for a leak. Anyhow, it looks like it could be quite good. Order of the Phoenix (that was the last one) was well directed by David Yates (who returns for Half-Blood Prince, as well as the final two films, Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2) but let down by a script that sometimes felt like a very long "Previously on Harry Potter..." recap of the novel. That was written by a different screenwriter though -- hopefully the return of Steve Kloves means something more akin to Goblet of Fire (that was the fourth one), which managed to abbreviate the lengthy novel sensibly.
Valkyrie Trailer
Looks pretty dismal if you ask me.
Not officially released yet, though this is surprisingly good quality for a leak. Anyhow, it looks like it could be quite good. Order of the Phoenix (that was the last one) was well directed by David Yates (who returns for Half-Blood Prince, as well as the final two films, Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2) but let down by a script that sometimes felt like a very long "Previously on Harry Potter..." recap of the novel. That was written by a different screenwriter though -- hopefully the return of Steve Kloves means something more akin to Goblet of Fire (that was the fourth one), which managed to abbreviate the lengthy novel sensibly.
Valkyrie Trailer
Looks pretty dismal if you ask me.
Articles
Comic Book Virgin: Watching the Watchmen
and
The Comic Book Virgin Reads Watchmen, both by Isabelle Burtan
(from Newsarama.com)
Someone who's never read a comic, never mind Watchmen, sees the film's trailer for the first time (some of her guesses are amusingly wrong if you know the story), and then reads the novel itself. Be warned that her thoughts on the later contain a considerable number of spoilers. Other than that, they're quite interesting.
Neil Gaiman exclusive! Part 1 & Part 2 by Jayne Nelson
(from SFX)
Personally, I didn't get a great deal from part one, but part two was nice. (For part three, see here.)
Okay, I've Read Watchmen. What's Next? by Dusty Harbin
(from Newsarama.com)
Who'd've thought something as dense as Watchmen could be a 'gateway drug' to the medium? But it seems it is, and has seen some simply amazing sales since the trailer debuted. Here, a comic shop owner succinctly (read: short article) gives some useful suggestions on where to look next.
and
The Comic Book Virgin Reads Watchmen, both by Isabelle Burtan
(from Newsarama.com)
Someone who's never read a comic, never mind Watchmen, sees the film's trailer for the first time (some of her guesses are amusingly wrong if you know the story), and then reads the novel itself. Be warned that her thoughts on the later contain a considerable number of spoilers. Other than that, they're quite interesting.
Neil Gaiman exclusive! Part 1 & Part 2 by Jayne Nelson
(from SFX)
Personally, I didn't get a great deal from part one, but part two was nice. (For part three, see here.)
Okay, I've Read Watchmen. What's Next? by Dusty Harbin
(from Newsarama.com)
Who'd've thought something as dense as Watchmen could be a 'gateway drug' to the medium? But it seems it is, and has seen some simply amazing sales since the trailer debuted. Here, a comic shop owner succinctly (read: short article) gives some useful suggestions on where to look next.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
TV
Have I Got News For You
36x03 (31/10/08 edition; extended repeat)
Even more Bakery madness and jokes about this week's news.
Heroes
3x05 Angels and Monsters
Merlin
1x07 The Gates of Avalon
All dialogue © The Great Big Book of Clichéd Fantasy Dialogue.
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
2x08 (1/11/08 edition) [season finale]
36x03 (31/10/08 edition; extended repeat)
Even more Bakery madness and jokes about this week's news.
Heroes
3x05 Angels and Monsters
Merlin
1x07 The Gates of Avalon
All dialogue © The Great Big Book of Clichéd Fantasy Dialogue.
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
2x08 (1/11/08 edition) [season finale]
Articles
Mamma Mia! breaks UK film record
(from BBC News)
I'm not convinced by the stats in this story. Why are Harry Potter films included and Bond films not? Both are funded by US studios as much / more so than anything British. If Bond was included, Casino Royale would place 3rd on that chart.
Michael G. Wilson: Bond 23 Work To Begin Early Next Year by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
The new one's barely out, but it's time to talk about the next! "Last time when we were in post production on Casino Royale we were already working on Quantum of Solace. This time we haven’t started, but in January we are going to get some writers together and start kicking some ideas around."
Nolan dismisses Superman crossover by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
Thank goodness! That's not to stop DC doing it anyway, of course.
Quantum of Solace Sets Box Office Record In UK by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
"Quantum of Solace got off to a momentous start in the UK yesterday with a stuning $8 million (£4.94 million) debut -- the biggest Friday opening of all time in the UK. In comparison, the previous record holder was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which had a $6.5 million (£4 million) opening. Along with Thursday previews, Casino Royale managed $4.7 in its opening day." It's like The Dark Knight all over again... only on a much smaller scale...
Roger's little rule book by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal at the Chicago Sun-Times)
Wise words and sage advice (there's not one in there about cliches) from one of the world's most respected film critics.
S. Darko actor defends movie by Michael Thornton
(from Digital Spy)
"Jackson Rathbone said that the [Donnie Darko] sequel, which is released next year, "goes beyond" the idea of the original film, insisting that it should not be simply dismissed as a cash-in." We'll see, eh? "S. Darko is set seven years after the original film and tells the story of Donnie's little sister Samantha and her friend Corey, who experience bizarre visions on a road trip to Los Angeles."
Wahlberg's Daughter Loves Seeing Him In Pain
(from WENN)
Funny story.
(from BBC News)
I'm not convinced by the stats in this story. Why are Harry Potter films included and Bond films not? Both are funded by US studios as much / more so than anything British. If Bond was included, Casino Royale would place 3rd on that chart.
Michael G. Wilson: Bond 23 Work To Begin Early Next Year by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
The new one's barely out, but it's time to talk about the next! "Last time when we were in post production on Casino Royale we were already working on Quantum of Solace. This time we haven’t started, but in January we are going to get some writers together and start kicking some ideas around."
Nolan dismisses Superman crossover by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
Thank goodness! That's not to stop DC doing it anyway, of course.
Quantum of Solace Sets Box Office Record In UK by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
"Quantum of Solace got off to a momentous start in the UK yesterday with a stuning $8 million (£4.94 million) debut -- the biggest Friday opening of all time in the UK. In comparison, the previous record holder was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which had a $6.5 million (£4 million) opening. Along with Thursday previews, Casino Royale managed $4.7 in its opening day." It's like The Dark Knight all over again... only on a much smaller scale...
Roger's little rule book by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal at the Chicago Sun-Times)
Wise words and sage advice (there's not one in there about cliches) from one of the world's most respected film critics.
S. Darko actor defends movie by Michael Thornton
(from Digital Spy)
"Jackson Rathbone said that the [Donnie Darko] sequel, which is released next year, "goes beyond" the idea of the original film, insisting that it should not be simply dismissed as a cash-in." We'll see, eh? "S. Darko is set seven years after the original film and tells the story of Donnie's little sister Samantha and her friend Corey, who experience bizarre visions on a road trip to Los Angeles."
Wahlberg's Daughter Loves Seeing Him In Pain
(from WENN)
Funny story.
Friday, 31 October 2008
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats
7x09 (30/10/08 edition)
Finally, a much-needed humorous/irreverent perspective on this week's news.
Have I Got News For You
36x03 (31/10/08 edition)
Aaah, it's Tom Baker! As brilliant as you might have cause to hope, if not more so.
Spooks
6x10 The School [season finale]
7x09 (30/10/08 edition)
Finally, a much-needed humorous/irreverent perspective on this week's news.
Have I Got News For You
36x03 (31/10/08 edition)
Aaah, it's Tom Baker! As brilliant as you might have cause to hope, if not more so.
Spooks
6x10 The School [season finale]
Films
My Quantum of Solace Film Season #7:
Quantum of Solace (2008)
[#73 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
It may not be as good as Casino Royale, and I do have a few specific reservations about it, but all things considered it's a more-than-solid action thriller. Also, the short-ish running time is (unsurprisingly) not a problem in the slightest.
This also means I managed to complete My Quantum of Solace Film Season exactly as planned. I have to say, I didn't expect that!
Quantum of Solace (2008)
[#73 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
It may not be as good as Casino Royale, and I do have a few specific reservations about it, but all things considered it's a more-than-solid action thriller. Also, the short-ish running time is (unsurprisingly) not a problem in the slightest.
This also means I managed to complete My Quantum of Solace Film Season exactly as planned. I have to say, I didn't expect that!
Casino Royale Refresher
Five Casino Royale Pointers For Quantum Of Solace
(from Empire Online)
Quantum of Solace is pretty reliant on the previous film's plot -- I should know, I've seen it -- but doesn't come with much exposition/reiteration or any flashbacks, so it might be worth swotting up a little before you go see it. Which you will, obviously.
(from Empire Online)
Quantum of Solace is pretty reliant on the previous film's plot -- I should know, I've seen it -- but doesn't come with much exposition/reiteration or any flashbacks, so it might be worth swotting up a little before you go see it. Which you will, obviously.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
TV
The Graham Norton Show
4x04 (23/10/08 edition, uncut repeat)
I had a funny comment about this, but I've completely forgotten it. Oh well.
Little Dorrit
Part 2 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x05 (30/10/08 edition)
Russell Brand "had been filmed for this week's edition, but because he is not allowed to appear on the [BBC], that show has been postponed. Instead an episode filmed for the following week that features [James Allan from] Glasvegas, along with James Corden and Germaine Greer, will air in its place." (Source: NME)
4x04 (23/10/08 edition, uncut repeat)
I had a funny comment about this, but I've completely forgotten it. Oh well.
Little Dorrit
Part 2 (of 14)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x05 (30/10/08 edition)
Russell Brand "had been filmed for this week's edition, but because he is not allowed to appear on the [BBC], that show has been postponed. Instead an episode filmed for the following week that features [James Allan from] Glasvegas, along with James Corden and Germaine Greer, will air in its place." (Source: NME)
Films
My Quantum of Solace Film Season #6:
Casino Royale (2006)
[4th watch; #72a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Casino Royale (2006)
[4th watch; #72a in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
Articles
Doctor Who: The runners and the riders
(from BBC News)
Several obvious choices here, but I'm not sure how convinced I am by any of them, especially considering most of their ages -- RTD has several times made the sensible point that over a certain age most actors would find the gruelling schedule too much. Sure, none of them are old, but (bar two, one of whom is very unlikely now) they're all got at least 6 years on David Tennant now, never mind when they'd start (in a year-ish) or finish (four years at least, one would hope). Still, s'always fun to speculate!
Neil Gaiman exclusive! Part 3 by Jayne Nelson
(from SFX)
The third part of SFX's Neil Gaiman interview (the clue's in the title), in which he discusses the possibility of him writing for Doctor Who, as well as some general thoughts on the series as a whole and what he might've done with it. Also includes a funny comment from Steven Moffat.
Preacher Set for the Big Screen by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
After years of films-almost-getting-made and TV-series-almost-getting-made, I won't believe this til it goes before the cameras. That said, the existence of adult comic adaptations like Watchmen could help things along, especially if that's a success.
The latest on Ross/Brand can be found here and, especially, here.
(from BBC News)
Several obvious choices here, but I'm not sure how convinced I am by any of them, especially considering most of their ages -- RTD has several times made the sensible point that over a certain age most actors would find the gruelling schedule too much. Sure, none of them are old, but (bar two, one of whom is very unlikely now) they're all got at least 6 years on David Tennant now, never mind when they'd start (in a year-ish) or finish (four years at least, one would hope). Still, s'always fun to speculate!
Neil Gaiman exclusive! Part 3 by Jayne Nelson
(from SFX)
The third part of SFX's Neil Gaiman interview (the clue's in the title), in which he discusses the possibility of him writing for Doctor Who, as well as some general thoughts on the series as a whole and what he might've done with it. Also includes a funny comment from Steven Moffat.
Preacher Set for the Big Screen by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
After years of films-almost-getting-made and TV-series-almost-getting-made, I won't believe this til it goes before the cameras. That said, the existence of adult comic adaptations like Watchmen could help things along, especially if that's a success.
The latest on Ross/Brand can be found here and, especially, here.
a typically intelligent perspective
Normally I'd just bung this in today's Articles post, but it makes too much sense, so here it is by itself:
Welcome to the Blander Broadcasting Corporation by Mark Lawson
(from guardian.co.uk)
"while there is no defence for the incident, there's cause to worry that the rumpus will prove damaging to larger parts of broadcasting than the careers of Brand and Ross. After each of the recent public controversies over BBC programme... broadcasters and producers at the BBC have noted a reduction in courage, a paranoia among managers about making another mistake... The making of editorial policy at the corporation consists largely of padlocking doors that have just opened... And so, inexorably, all shows will be forced to become safer and blander."
"...it's a terrible mistake to impose a single tone or set of guidelines on thousands of different shows. As society becomes increasingly fragmented - containing, for example, older people who never swear and younger ones who never stop swearing - universal rules become increasingly futile. The fact that only two of Brand's actual listeners are reported to have complained about the original broadcast reminds us that definitions of acceptability vary widely among audiences, and the BBC's ability to compete will be greatly reduced if all are held to the same standard."
"...It still seems improbable that the BBC will permanently remove one of its most popular broadcasters, and the fact that the programme was recorded rather than live will make it hard to argue the presenters were finally responsible. But, once a prime minister gives backing to a newspaper witch-hunt, the momentum for dismissal can become unstoppable... Were the BBC to now sack Ross, he would probably be rapidly taken on by commercial broadcasters, or even by the networks of Rupert Murdoch, whose newspapers have been calling for his head."
Too true.
Welcome to the Blander Broadcasting Corporation by Mark Lawson
(from guardian.co.uk)
"while there is no defence for the incident, there's cause to worry that the rumpus will prove damaging to larger parts of broadcasting than the careers of Brand and Ross. After each of the recent public controversies over BBC programme... broadcasters and producers at the BBC have noted a reduction in courage, a paranoia among managers about making another mistake... The making of editorial policy at the corporation consists largely of padlocking doors that have just opened... And so, inexorably, all shows will be forced to become safer and blander."
"...it's a terrible mistake to impose a single tone or set of guidelines on thousands of different shows. As society becomes increasingly fragmented - containing, for example, older people who never swear and younger ones who never stop swearing - universal rules become increasingly futile. The fact that only two of Brand's actual listeners are reported to have complained about the original broadcast reminds us that definitions of acceptability vary widely among audiences, and the BBC's ability to compete will be greatly reduced if all are held to the same standard."
"...It still seems improbable that the BBC will permanently remove one of its most popular broadcasters, and the fact that the programme was recorded rather than live will make it hard to argue the presenters were finally responsible. But, once a prime minister gives backing to a newspaper witch-hunt, the momentum for dismissal can become unstoppable... Were the BBC to now sack Ross, he would probably be rapidly taken on by commercial broadcasters, or even by the networks of Rupert Murdoch, whose newspapers have been calling for his head."
Too true.
suspensions, resignations, and iPlayer nonsense
Ross suspended for three months
(from BBC News)
A relatively sensible step, especially with it being these three months -- March to May wouldn't seem a long time, but October to January will seem an age, what with all the fuss of Christmas and New Year. Hopefully it'll be long enough for people to calm down and gain a sense of perspective.
However, I dislike the controller of Radio 2 resigning. I always hate it when people are forced to resign over something they weren't even involved in, just because they're the highest person in the chain. It's also a stupid concept -- she made a mistake (well, she didn't, but for the sake of argument...) which she could learn from and be careful not to do again; her replacement has made no such error, leaving them more open to do the same / something else more easily, unaware of the early signs of where things are headed.
Back to Ross: amusingly, if you search iPlayer for "Jonathan Ross" or "Film 2008" or what have you then any programme featuring him seems to have been pulled. However, search the BBC's site more generally, and they can still be found. (That doesn't guarantee they still work however, as episode 8 won't play for me. I'm just glad I got round to watching the Daniel Craig interview before the show was removed!)
It also seems all his shows have been entirely cancelled. While it's understandable that Friday Night With... has been cancelled (as it's very much "The Jonathan Ross Show") I hope they can find an alternate presenter for Film 2008 -- people don't watch that for Wossy, they watch it for info on films, and removing it because the regular present is suspended wouldn't be in viewers' interests.
As with this week's big Who news, this has finally managed to garner some moderately-prominent coverage on US sites like IMDb too.
(from BBC News)
A relatively sensible step, especially with it being these three months -- March to May wouldn't seem a long time, but October to January will seem an age, what with all the fuss of Christmas and New Year. Hopefully it'll be long enough for people to calm down and gain a sense of perspective.
However, I dislike the controller of Radio 2 resigning. I always hate it when people are forced to resign over something they weren't even involved in, just because they're the highest person in the chain. It's also a stupid concept -- she made a mistake (well, she didn't, but for the sake of argument...) which she could learn from and be careful not to do again; her replacement has made no such error, leaving them more open to do the same / something else more easily, unaware of the early signs of where things are headed.
Back to Ross: amusingly, if you search iPlayer for "Jonathan Ross" or "Film 2008" or what have you then any programme featuring him seems to have been pulled. However, search the BBC's site more generally, and they can still be found. (That doesn't guarantee they still work however, as episode 8 won't play for me. I'm just glad I got round to watching the Daniel Craig interview before the show was removed!)
It also seems all his shows have been entirely cancelled. While it's understandable that Friday Night With... has been cancelled (as it's very much "The Jonathan Ross Show") I hope they can find an alternate presenter for Film 2008 -- people don't watch that for Wossy, they watch it for info on films, and removing it because the regular present is suspended wouldn't be in viewers' interests.
As with this week's big Who news, this has finally managed to garner some moderately-prominent coverage on US sites like IMDb too.
extended David Tennant / Lizo Mzimba interview
David Tennant to Leave Doctor Who (did you know?)
A much extended version of the Lizo video interview from yesterday.
Also features a somewhat natty 50-second trailer for The Next Doctor, including glimpses of the Cybershades in action.
And also -- "Tennant Steps Down As Doctor Who" is the #1 news story on IMDb. IMDb! That's American!
Oh, and something else I forgot to mention: I'm having a good old laugh at all the people who took Tennant's throwaway comment that Moffat was his new boss (made on a series four commentary track heard by reviewers on advance copies -- that'll look especially outdated when the set eventually hits stores next month!) as confirmation he would definitely be in series five. Fools!
A much extended version of the Lizo video interview from yesterday.
Also features a somewhat natty 50-second trailer for The Next Doctor, including glimpses of the Cybershades in action.
And also -- "Tennant Steps Down As Doctor Who" is the #1 news story on IMDb. IMDb! That's American!
Oh, and something else I forgot to mention: I'm having a good old laugh at all the people who took Tennant's throwaway comment that Moffat was his new boss (made on a series four commentary track heard by reviewers on advance copies -- that'll look especially outdated when the set eventually hits stores next month!) as confirmation he would definitely be in series five. Fools!
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
TV
National Television Awards 2008
Thankfully, the shock announcement of David Tennant's exit from Doctor Who overshadowed the rest of the ceremony, including the special achievement award going to... Simon Cowell. Simon Cowell?! Don't get me started.
Thankfully, the shock announcement of David Tennant's exit from Doctor Who overshadowed the rest of the ceremony, including the special achievement award going to... Simon Cowell. Simon Cowell?! Don't get me started.
Music
12 minutes of Quantum of Solace (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by David Arnold
For a film that's meant to be relentlessly action-packed, this seemed quite a quiet score. Of course, that impression is seriously unbalanced by my listening to only 30-second samples from each track, thereby weighting a 40-second quiet piece on the same level as an 8-minute action cue (with a sample taken from (probably) the one quiet bit). Still, it all sounded suitably Bondian, with some nice foreign influences for the worldwide locations. Arnold even manages to work in some bits from the main theme, which I wasn't expecting this time round as he wasn't involved in its composition (unlike Casino Royale's). I look forward to hearing the score in full -- for the first time on the film (two days!), and then by itself later on.
For a film that's meant to be relentlessly action-packed, this seemed quite a quiet score. Of course, that impression is seriously unbalanced by my listening to only 30-second samples from each track, thereby weighting a 40-second quiet piece on the same level as an 8-minute action cue (with a sample taken from (probably) the one quiet bit). Still, it all sounded suitably Bondian, with some nice foreign influences for the worldwide locations. Arnold even manages to work in some bits from the main theme, which I wasn't expecting this time round as he wasn't involved in its composition (unlike Casino Royale's). I look forward to hearing the score in full -- for the first time on the film (two days!), and then by itself later on.
Articles
Two huge pieces of news today, one of which has had its own posts (two of them!), the other... well, it's right below this... Oh, and a piece about Superman, which is great news (it makes me excited about a Superman project, which is impressive in and of itself) but is totally overshadowed by everything else. Oh well.
David Tennant quits as Doctor Who
and
David Tennant on Doctor Who exit by Lizo Mzimba
(from BBC News)
The main story on BBC News' entertainment page -- even topping the Brand/Ross story which, ironically, is the #1 story on the main news page. It's already confirmed that RTD will be writing his final story, based on these comments from the giant himself: "the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left! After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching." The video interview on the first story is transcribed in the second, but the video version contains a few extra comments.
Exclusive: Mark Millar Talks Superman by Dan Goodswen
(from Empire Online)
"Mark has been working... on a pitch for what he is calling the Magnum Opus of Superman stories. His idea is for an 8-hour saga, split into 3 films to be released a year apart, in a Lord of the Rings fashion... “It’s gonna be like Michael Corleone in the Godfather films, the entire story from beginning to end, you see where he starts, how he becomes who he becomes, and where that takes him... I want to start on Krypton, a thousand years ago, and end with Superman alone on Planet Earth, the last being left on the planet, as the yellow sun turns red and starts to supernova, and he loses his powers.""
Don't forget (as if you could) my thoughts on the Brand/Ross thing, to be found today at this location and this one.
David Tennant quits as Doctor Who
and
David Tennant on Doctor Who exit by Lizo Mzimba
(from BBC News)
The main story on BBC News' entertainment page -- even topping the Brand/Ross story which, ironically, is the #1 story on the main news page. It's already confirmed that RTD will be writing his final story, based on these comments from the giant himself: "the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left! After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching." The video interview on the first story is transcribed in the second, but the video version contains a few extra comments.
Exclusive: Mark Millar Talks Superman by Dan Goodswen
(from Empire Online)
"Mark has been working... on a pitch for what he is calling the Magnum Opus of Superman stories. His idea is for an 8-hour saga, split into 3 films to be released a year apart, in a Lord of the Rings fashion... “It’s gonna be like Michael Corleone in the Godfather films, the entire story from beginning to end, you see where he starts, how he becomes who he becomes, and where that takes him... I want to start on Krypton, a thousand years ago, and end with Superman alone on Planet Earth, the last being left on the planet, as the yellow sun turns red and starts to supernova, and he loses his powers.""
Don't forget (as if you could) my thoughts on the Brand/Ross thing, to be found today at this location and this one.
Technology
Tell Your iPhone to Stop Opening iPhoto! by Michael Krol
(from michaelkrol.com)
"How do I stop iPhoto opening every time I connect my iPhone?" I asked Google, and it found this. Handy!
I don't know if any fellow iPhone and Mac users read this blog, but I found iPhoto's opening bloody irritating, and now the problem is quickly and simply solved. Much yaying round these parts.
(I'm going to be nitpicky now -- you don't tell you iPhone to stop opening iPhoto, you tell another application, so technically the title's wrong. Tsk.)
(from michaelkrol.com)
"How do I stop iPhoto opening every time I connect my iPhone?" I asked Google, and it found this. Handy!
I don't know if any fellow iPhone and Mac users read this blog, but I found iPhoto's opening bloody irritating, and now the problem is quickly and simply solved. Much yaying round these parts.
(I'm going to be nitpicky now -- you don't tell you iPhone to stop opening iPhoto, you tell another application, so technically the title's wrong. Tsk.)
"Brand quits BBC over prank calls"
Brand quits BBC over prank calls
(from BBC News)
While I don't doubt his apology in the slightest, I do wonder if this resignation is a strategic move for the BBC. Brand has plenty of other avenues -- a Channel 4 show, standup, a movie career -- and was at the centre of the scandal, while Ross is 'Mr BBC', and I'm sure neither he nor BBC bosses want to have to fire him. Brand accepting responsibility and resigning also looks better than a weeks/months-long investigation/battle resulting in them having to kick him out. With one of them gone of their own volition, and -- importantly -- Sachs accepting their apology and not wishing to take matters further, this hopefully means Ross can be restored to the BBC, and sooner rather than later.
Another point:
4.2 million people watched Jonathan Ross' show last week. More will have watched it via the Saturday repeat, iPlayer, and plain old recording it. 3 million people regularly listen to his radio show.
0.01 million people's complaints have led to him being suspended.
I have no doubt some of those ratings would drop off in the wake of this massive overreaction, but I think many would be surprised how small the drop would be -- no doubt indicating the silent majority who realise how overblown this has become.
So, where do you think the public interest lies?
(from BBC News)
While I don't doubt his apology in the slightest, I do wonder if this resignation is a strategic move for the BBC. Brand has plenty of other avenues -- a Channel 4 show, standup, a movie career -- and was at the centre of the scandal, while Ross is 'Mr BBC', and I'm sure neither he nor BBC bosses want to have to fire him. Brand accepting responsibility and resigning also looks better than a weeks/months-long investigation/battle resulting in them having to kick him out. With one of them gone of their own volition, and -- importantly -- Sachs accepting their apology and not wishing to take matters further, this hopefully means Ross can be restored to the BBC, and sooner rather than later.
Another point:
4.2 million people watched Jonathan Ross' show last week. More will have watched it via the Saturday repeat, iPlayer, and plain old recording it. 3 million people regularly listen to his radio show.
0.01 million people's complaints have led to him being suspended.
I have no doubt some of those ratings would drop off in the wake of this massive overreaction, but I think many would be surprised how small the drop would be -- no doubt indicating the silent majority who realise how overblown this has become.
So, where do you think the public interest lies?
'It's been blown out of proportion'
Brand and Ross suspended by BBC
and
'It's been blown out of proportion'
(from BBC News)
"It's been blown out of proportion" sums it up for me. I think it's telling that young people can realise this, while older viewers go on complaining.
Get some perspective people.
Also, be sure to read this:
Open and shut case? by Rod McKenzie
(from BBC News: The Editors blog)
and
'It's been blown out of proportion'
(from BBC News)
"It's been blown out of proportion" sums it up for me. I think it's telling that young people can realise this, while older viewers go on complaining.
Get some perspective people.
Also, be sure to read this:
Open and shut case? by Rod McKenzie
(from BBC News: The Editors blog)
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