Argumental
2x14 Best of Argumental [season finale]
Second of two clip show specials rounding out the series. As with the first it really is just clips, no outtakes. At least they were funny.
The British Comedy Awards 2009
Hurrah for the Comedy Awards! Always good fun, even if the opening monologue had clearly been subjected to fervent lawyering this year (it's usually much more cutting). And, for a change, nearly all the right people/shows (read: people/shows I wanted to win) won. Lovely.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Live at the Apollo
5x02 (11/12/09 edition)
Squeezing three comedians into just half an hour leaves them all feeling a little short changed. Still, it means any you don't like re gone fairly quickly.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Miranda
1x05 Excuse
Final episode tomorrow, sadly. It's gone by so quickly... probably because I only started watching last Monday...
[Watch it again on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 13 December 2009
shameless eBay self promotion: final update
This is, hopefully, the final update of what I'm currently selling on eBay. All auctions end this evening, at various times until around midnight.
Nearly everything is currently being bid (hurrah!), but the two items that aren't (as of posting) are emboldened. Sold stuff is crossed out, most of it at the end.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
300 Special Edition, with The Art of the Film mini-book
Crash (2004) (new)
Wanted with mini-comic & exclusive website access code
Films on DVD
The Da Vinci Code Special Edition
Dark City (theatrical cut)
Dark City: Director's Cut (US Region 1)
The Fountain
Highlander 2-disc 'European edition'
Marnie
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Special Edition
The Ultimate Mummy Collection including The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns
No Country For Old Men
Nosferatu (1922) Special Edition
Predator
Underworld Special Extended Edition
Masters of Cinema DVDs
#1 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
#71 Mad Detective
TV on DVD
Band of Brothers in original tin packaging
The Complete Fawlty Towers 3-disc set
The Sopranos Series 1 Collector's Edition
The Sopranos Series 2
The Sopranos Series 3
Books
From Russia With Love (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
You Only Live Twice (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
As I said, all items end this evening.
Sold
Batman Begins Special Edition
The Dark Knight Special Edition with mini-comic
Fight Club Definitive Edition (uncut)
Ghostbusters 15th Anniversary Edition
The Great Dictator 2-disc edition
Highlander Immortal Edition
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition
Monty Python's Life of Brian The Immaculate Edition
Se7en 2-disc edition
This is Spinal Tap Special Edition
Underworld Evolution
Zodiac: Director's Cut
Nearly everything is currently being bid (hurrah!), but the two items that aren't (as of posting) are emboldened. Sold stuff is crossed out, most of it at the end.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
Films on DVD
Masters of Cinema DVDs
TV on DVD
Books
As I said, all items end this evening.
Sold
Saturday, 12 December 2009
TV
Gavin & Stacey
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Merlin
2x07 The Witchfinder
Finally picking up on this again, with just two weeks before it's all deleted from iPlayer. Oops.
Very good episode, though, with Charles Dance making a thoroughly evil villain.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
1x04 Episode Four
Misfits does the natural time travel episode -- what happens if you change the past? -- though with its own drug-addled spin. Shame that it pushes coincidence to the max by having every major character in the same location months before they all met. That aside, however, it was a well executed episode.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x05 Afrikanen (aka The African)
A relatively weak edition, I thought, particularly at the convenient and improbable climax (would the police really send one person to a potentially-dangerous location while three went to another?)
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Merlin
2x07 The Witchfinder
Finally picking up on this again, with just two weeks before it's all deleted from iPlayer. Oops.
Very good episode, though, with Charles Dance making a thoroughly evil villain.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
1x04 Episode Four
Misfits does the natural time travel episode -- what happens if you change the past? -- though with its own drug-addled spin. Shame that it pushes coincidence to the max by having every major character in the same location months before they all met. That aside, however, it was a well executed episode.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x05 Afrikanen (aka The African)
A relatively weak edition, I thought, particularly at the convenient and improbable climax (would the police really send one person to a potentially-dangerous location while three went to another?)
Magazines
Doctor Who Magazine #416
'The David Tennant Issue', a bumper-length edition packed with stuff about the end of the Russell T Davies era. Lots of intriguing tit bits about the 135 minutes of his Who that's left to go...
Next month: 'The Matt Smith Issue', an equally-lengthy issue heralding the new guard, and a redesigned magazine (well, the logo, at the very least) to boot.
Radio Times 19 December 2009 - 1 January 2010
...and today, I made it to the end. Hooray!
'The David Tennant Issue', a bumper-length edition packed with stuff about the end of the Russell T Davies era. Lots of intriguing tit bits about the 135 minutes of his Who that's left to go...
Next month: 'The Matt Smith Issue', an equally-lengthy issue heralding the new guard, and a redesigned magazine (well, the logo, at the very least) to boot.
Radio Times 19 December 2009 - 1 January 2010
...and today, I made it to the end. Hooray!
Collection Count
Collection Count, now in its eighth week, tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics. It's 24 hours late this week for no other reason than that it is.
I've been selling some DVDs this week (as you may've noticed), as well as replacing others with Blu-rays, but the sheer volume has been enough to show no dip in numbers. Always nice.
Number of titles in collection: 1,102 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,053 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 49 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,706 [up 14]
Number of films in collection: 1,148 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,780 [up 33]
Statistic of the week:
Audio commentaries:
672 titles (61% of the collection) have at least one audio commentary (or, on Blu-ray, picture-in-picture track). I've only listened to all the commentaries on 8 (1.2%) of these.
See you next week, faithful reader.
I've been selling some DVDs this week (as you may've noticed), as well as replacing others with Blu-rays, but the sheer volume has been enough to show no dip in numbers. Always nice.
Number of titles in collection: 1,102 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,053 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 49 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,706 [up 14]
Number of films in collection: 1,148 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,780 [up 33]
Statistic of the week:
Audio commentaries:
672 titles (61% of the collection) have at least one audio commentary (or, on Blu-ray, picture-in-picture track). I've only listened to all the commentaries on 8 (1.2%) of these.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 11 December 2009
TV
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
17x13 (4/12/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x05 Episode 5
Missed episode four, dammit, especially as it sounds particularly good. The BBC seem to decide at random which programmes are worth of an iPlayer series link...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x11 (9/12/09 edition)
Frankie Boyle is the last guest host before next week's David Tennant-fronted Doctor Who special. Fortunately, he appears to be relatively unneutered by the BBC's political correctness-obsessed censors. Hooray for his particular brand of hysterical vileness!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
17x13 (4/12/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x05 Episode 5
Missed episode four, dammit, especially as it sounds particularly good. The BBC seem to decide at random which programmes are worth of an iPlayer series link...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x11 (9/12/09 edition)
Frankie Boyle is the last guest host before next week's David Tennant-fronted Doctor Who special. Fortunately, he appears to be relatively unneutered by the BBC's political correctness-obsessed censors. Hooray for his particular brand of hysterical vileness!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Magazines
Radio Times 19 December 2009 - 1 January 2010
So, there weren't enough hours in the day -- today I made it almost to the end of the TV listings (almost!) Tomorrow, the end of the magazine? Perchance to dream...
So, there weren't enough hours in the day -- today I made it almost to the end of the TV listings (almost!) Tomorrow, the end of the magazine? Perchance to dream...
Articles
15 Must-See Movies On TV This Christmas by Mark Powell
(from Total Film)
Just in case you need more guides for what to watch this Christmas.
John Simm to star in Hamlet next year by Oli Simpson
(from Digital Spy)
Well, that's just going to invite comparisons with David Tennant's version, isn't it?
Russell T Davies And The Heritage Of Doctor Who by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
SFX's Doctor Who Countdown continues with a fourth part to their Russell T Davies interview, here discussing why he never did a multi-Doctor story.
(from Total Film)
Just in case you need more guides for what to watch this Christmas.
John Simm to star in Hamlet next year by Oli Simpson
(from Digital Spy)
Well, that's just going to invite comparisons with David Tennant's version, isn't it?
Russell T Davies And The Heritage Of Doctor Who by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
SFX's Doctor Who Countdown continues with a fourth part to their Russell T Davies interview, here discussing why he never did a multi-Doctor story.
shameless eBay self promotion: update 3
It's Friday! What a good day to bid on something on eBay, eh?
So, here's what I'm selling then. In a different move to the last few days' updates, stuff being bid on in is now normal while the few remaining unbid-on-or-sold-(yet) items are emboldened. Stuff that's sold is crossed out.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
300 Special Edition, with The Art of the Film mini-book
Crash (2004) (new)
Wanted with mini-comic & exclusive website access code
Films on DVD
The Da Vinci Code Special Edition
Dark City (theatrical cut)
Dark City: Director's Cut (US Region 1)
The Fountain
Highlander 2-disc 'European edition'
Marnie
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Special Edition
The Ultimate Mummy Collection including The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns
No Country For Old Men
Nosferatu (1922) Special Edition
Predator
Underworld Special Extended Edition
Underworld Evolution
Masters of Cinema DVDs
#1 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
#71 Mad Detective
TV on DVD
Band of Brothers in original tin packaging
The Complete Fawlty Towers 3-disc set
The Sopranos Series 1 Collector's Edition
The Sopranos Series 2
The Sopranos Series 3
Books
From Russia With Love (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
You Only Live Twice (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
All auctions end at some point on Sunday.
Sold
Batman Begins Special Edition
The Dark Knight Special Edition with mini-comic
Fight Club Definitive Edition (uncut)
Ghostbusters 15th Anniversary Edition
The Great Dictator 2-disc edition
Highlander Immortal Edition
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition
Monty Python's Life of Brian The Immaculate Edition
Se7en 2-disc edition
This is Spinal Tap Special Edition
Zodiac: Director's Cut
So, here's what I'm selling then. In a different move to the last few days' updates, stuff being bid on in is now normal while the few remaining unbid-on-or-sold-(yet) items are emboldened. Stuff that's sold is crossed out.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
Films on DVD
Masters of Cinema DVDs
TV on DVD
Books
All auctions end at some point on Sunday.
Sold
Thursday, 10 December 2009
TV
Live at the Apollo
5x01 (4/12/09 edition)
Didn't think we'd see this again, after Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow seemed to replace it. But I swear it used to be longer than half an hour...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
8x03 Episode 3
An exemplary episode, even if it once again stretches credibility -- a given with Spooks these days, I suppose. It's also one of those episodes where one agrees with the terrorists, to at least some degree, which is always an interesting conundrum; particularly for the writer I should imagine.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
5x01 (4/12/09 edition)
Didn't think we'd see this again, after Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow seemed to replace it. But I swear it used to be longer than half an hour...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
8x03 Episode 3
An exemplary episode, even if it once again stretches credibility -- a given with Spooks these days, I suppose. It's also one of those episodes where one agrees with the terrorists, to at least some degree, which is always an interesting conundrum; particularly for the writer I should imagine.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Fatal Instinct (1993)
[#86 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ah, iTunes' 99p Film of the Week, what randomness thou dost produce.
[#86 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ah, iTunes' 99p Film of the Week, what randomness thou dost produce.
Magazines
Radio Times 19 December 2009 - 1 January 2010
Ah, the legendary (their word) Christmas issue.
I do love the Christmas RT. Every year it's an epic of a magazine, stuffed to bursting (literally -- the cover's two-thirds off mine already) with previews, interviews, reviews, other 'views, the film guide and, of course, two whole weeks' worth of TV and radio listings.
Today, I've managed to make it as far as what is ostensibly the point of the magazine: the actual TV listings section. Tomorrow, maybe I'll reach the end... but there may not be enough hours in the day...
Ah, the legendary (their word) Christmas issue.
I do love the Christmas RT. Every year it's an epic of a magazine, stuffed to bursting (literally -- the cover's two-thirds off mine already) with previews, interviews, reviews, other 'views, the film guide and, of course, two whole weeks' worth of TV and radio listings.
Today, I've managed to make it as far as what is ostensibly the point of the magazine: the actual TV listings section. Tomorrow, maybe I'll reach the end... but there may not be enough hours in the day...
shameless eBay self promotion: update 2
So, I'm still selling a bunch of stuff on Popular Internet Auction Site eBay. I promise I'll stop advertising it once it's all gone.
Anyway, here's what there is. Stuff being bid on in is emboldened, sold stuff crossed out. Updated as-and-when.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
300 Special Edition, with The Art of the Film mini-book
Crash (2004) new
Wanted with mini-comic & exclusive website access code
Films on DVD
The Da Vinci Code Special Edition
Dark City (theatrical cut)
Dark City: Director's Cut (US Region 1)
The Fountain
Highlander 2-disc 'European edition'
Marnie
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Special Edition
The Ultimate Mummy Collection including The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns
No Country For Old Men
Nosferatu (1922) Special Edition
Predator
Underworld Special Extended Edition
Underworld Evolution
Masters of Cinema DVDs
#1 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
#71 Mad Detective
TV on DVD
Band of Brothers in original tin packaging
The Complete Fawlty Towers 3-disc set
The Sopranos Series 1 Collector's Edition
The Sopranos Series 2
The Sopranos Series 3
Books
From Russia With Love (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
You Only Live Twice (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
Sold
Batman Begins Special Edition
The Dark Knight Special Edition with mini-comic
Fight Club Definitive Edition (uncut)
Ghostbusters 15th Anniversary Edition
The Great Dictator 2-disc edition
Highlander Immortal Edition
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition
Monty Python's Life of Brian The Immaculate Edition
Se7en 2-disc edition
This is Spinal Tap Special Edition
Zodiac: Director's Cut
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
Anyway, here's what there is. Stuff being bid on in is emboldened, sold stuff crossed out. Updated as-and-when.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
Films on DVD
Masters of Cinema DVDs
TV on DVD
Books
Sold
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
TV
Gavin & Stacey
3x02 Episode 2
Plot description, essentially: they order a curry. Yet it's still brilliant!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x07 (4/12/09 edition; uncut repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x10 (2/12/09 edition)
Yes, last week's, in which Dermot O'Leary made for a surprisingly effective host, particularly with the X Factor voice over gags.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x02 Ganimals
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x04 Mörkret (aka The Overdose)
3x02 Episode 2
Plot description, essentially: they order a curry. Yet it's still brilliant!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x07 (4/12/09 edition; uncut repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x10 (2/12/09 edition)
Yes, last week's, in which Dermot O'Leary made for a surprisingly effective host, particularly with the X Factor voice over gags.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x02 Ganimals
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x04 Mörkret (aka The Overdose)
Films
Paths of Glory (1957)
[#85 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Starring Kirk Douglas, who (as IMDb tells me) happens to be 93 today. And to double the amusement, he was born in 1916, the year this film's set. You have to wonder if someone at Channel 4 planned this...
[#85 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Starring Kirk Douglas, who (as IMDb tells me) happens to be 93 today. And to double the amusement, he was born in 1916, the year this film's set. You have to wonder if someone at Channel 4 planned this...
Articles
Ashes finale will explain Life On Mars by Neil Wilkes
(from Digital Spy)
I always thought it would've been braver to do the first season of Ashes to Ashes as Life On Mars Series 3 -- a complete change of setting and main character in your third season is both barmy and brilliant.
This is the headline news story from Digital Spy's new interview with Matthew Graham (co-creator of Mars and Ashes), which is worth a read for any fan.
Sight and Sound publish their Top Ten Films of 2009
(from MovieMail Latest)
This is literally just the list, re-reported by MovieMail. I think I'll have to see about getting the actual magazine now -- I do like a good Best Of list.
(from Digital Spy)
The idea is to unify the two shows... Series three [of Ashes to Ashes] unifies Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes and makes them one show. By the time you get halfway through series three of Ashes To Ashes, you will actually feel like you're watching series five of Life On Mars!"
I always thought it would've been braver to do the first season of Ashes to Ashes as Life On Mars Series 3 -- a complete change of setting and main character in your third season is both barmy and brilliant.
This is the headline news story from Digital Spy's new interview with Matthew Graham (co-creator of Mars and Ashes), which is worth a read for any fan.
Sight and Sound publish their Top Ten Films of 2009
(from MovieMail Latest)
This is literally just the list, re-reported by MovieMail. I think I'll have to see about getting the actual magazine now -- I do like a good Best Of list.
shameless eBay self promotion: update
As mentioned yesterday, I currently have a raft of items for sale on Popular Internet Auction Site eBay. Here's a list of what's currently on the go, now with stuff that's being bid on in bold (and sold stuff crossed out).
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
300 Special Edition, with The Art of the Film mini-book
Crash (2004) new
Wanted with mini-comic & exclusive website access code
Films on DVD
The Da Vinci Code Special Edition
Dark City (theatrical cut)
Dark City: Director's Cut (US Region 1)
The Fountain
Ghostbusters 15th Anniversary Edition
Highlander 2-disc 'European edition'
Marnie
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Special Edition
The Ultimate Mummy Collection including The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns
No Country For Old Men
Nosferatu (1922) Special Edition
Predator
Underworld Special Extended Edition
Underworld Evolution
Masters of Cinema DVDs
#1 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
#71 Mad Detective
TV on DVD
Band of Brothers in original tin packaging
The Complete Fawlty Towers 3-disc set
The Sopranos Series 1 Collector's Edition
The Sopranos Series 2
The Sopranos Series 3
Books
From Russia With Love (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
You Only Live Twice (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
Sold
Batman Begins Special Edition
The Dark Knight Special Edition with mini-comic
Fight Club Definitive Edition (uncut)
The Great Dictator 2-disc edition
Highlander Immortal Edition
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition
Monty Python's Life of Brian The Immaculate Edition
Se7en 2-disc edition
This is Spinal Tap Special Edition
Zodiac: Director's Cut
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
Films on DVD
Masters of Cinema DVDs
TV on DVD
Books
Sold
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
TV
Miranda
1x03 Job
1x04 Holiday
Still brilliant!
[Watch Job and Holiday again on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x07 (3/12/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
We Need Answers
2x01 Women
How I missed the first series of this I'll never know, though to be fair it was only three episodes. It must've gone down well because this new run lasts thirteen. It's utterly, utterly barmy, but quite fun because of it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x03 Job
1x04 Holiday
Still brilliant!
[Watch Job and Holiday again on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x07 (3/12/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
We Need Answers
2x01 Women
How I missed the first series of this I'll never know, though to be fair it was only three episodes. It must've gone down well because this new run lasts thirteen. It's utterly, utterly barmy, but quite fun because of it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2006)
[#84 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Following Transformers 2 and Inglourious Basterds, my catch-up of what I missed this summer continues.
[#84 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Following Transformers 2 and Inglourious Basterds, my catch-up of what I missed this summer continues.
DVD Extras
First Footage from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
and
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Sneak Peek
on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray
The theme park (aka The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) looks suitably like a Potter fan's dream; Deathly Hallows looks entertainingly different to all the other films.
and
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Sneak Peek
on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Blu-ray
The theme park (aka The Wizarding World of Harry Potter) looks suitably like a Potter fan's dream; Deathly Hallows looks entertainingly different to all the other films.
new review at 100 Films
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
every inch a Boy’s Own adventure, packing every facet of that genre of storytelling into its brisk running time. There’s secret bases, ray guns, giant robots, flying aircraft carriers, snow-bound Himalayan treks, creature-infested secret jungle islands, huge underground bases, space rockets, planes that are also submarines, tree bridges over impossibly deep gorges… If it’s part of the genre, it’s probably here
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
shameless eBay self promotion
I currently have a raft of items for sale on Popular Internet Auction Site eBay. So tardy have I been in promoting these items here that some have already sold, while others are already being bid on. (Long-term readers may recognise some of the items from when I did this before, about 14 months ago.)
Here's a list of what I currently have on the go, then, in case anyone's interested. Several are already being bid on.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
300 Special Edition, with The Art of the Film mini-book
Crash (2004) new
Wanted with mini-comic & exclusive website access code
Films on DVD
The Da Vinci Code Special Edition
Dark City (theatrical cut)
Dark City: Director's Cut (US Region 1)
The Fountain
Ghostbusters 15th Anniversary Edition
Highlander 2-disc 'European edition'
Marnie
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Special Edition
The Ultimate Mummy Collection including The Mummy (1999) and The Mummy Returns
No Country For Old Men
Nosferatu (1922) Special Edition
Predator
Se7en 2-disc edition
Underworld Special Extended Edition
Underworld Evolution
Masters of Cinema DVDs
#1 Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
#71 Mad Detective
TV on DVD
Band of Brothers in original tin packaging
The Complete Fawlty Towers 3-disc set
The Sopranos Series 1 Collector's Edition
The Sopranos Series 2
The Sopranos Series 3
Books
From Russia With Love (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
You Only Live Twice (Penguin Modern Classics edition)
Sold
Batman Begins Special Edition
The Dark Knight Special Edition with mini-comic
Fight Club Definitive Edition (uncut)
The Great Dictator 2-disc edition
Highlander Immortal Edition
Monty Python and the Holy Grail Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition
Monty Python's Life of Brian The Immaculate Edition
This is Spinal Tap Special Edition
Zodiac: Director's Cut
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
Here's a list of what I currently have on the go, then, in case anyone's interested. Several are already being bid on.
'Exclusive' & New DVDs
Films on DVD
Masters of Cinema DVDs
TV on DVD
Books
Sold
That's all for now. I'll aim to update this when things sell.
Monday, 7 December 2009
TV
Doctor Who [new]
4x16a Dreamland
Full-episode-length animated special, starring David Tennant (of course). More thoughts on this coming soon.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x09 (30/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Miranda
1x01 Date
1x02 Teacher
This is brilliant! Despite all the dross, sometimes we can still produce wonderful sitcoms. Also, loving the return of "You Have Been Watching..." -- fits perfectly with the show's style. Lovely.
[Watch Date and Teacher again on iPlayer.]
4x16a Dreamland
Full-episode-length animated special, starring David Tennant (of course). More thoughts on this coming soon.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x09 (30/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Miranda
1x01 Date
1x02 Teacher
This is brilliant! Despite all the dross, sometimes we can still produce wonderful sitcoms. Also, loving the return of "You Have Been Watching..." -- fits perfectly with the show's style. Lovely.
[Watch Date and Teacher again on iPlayer.]
Articles
Russell T Davies On The End of Time
and
More Wit And Wisdom Of Russell T Davies
and
Russell T Davies And The Line That Must Never Be Uttered
by Dave Golder (from SFX)
Three-part interview with nearly-gone Who supremo Russell T Davies, days one to three of SFX's Christmas Countdown, covering both the forthcoming 10th Doctor finale and some of his thoughts on his whole tenure. Even though he's been interview countless times over the years, not least in the past few months, there are still some new things for fans to learn.
And Davies certainly knows how to cater for his audience -- his mass press/TV interviews are perfectly fine for a general audience, but for SF/F mag SFX Davies' is thoroughly geek-friendly, referencing specific classic Who stories right from question one.
and
More Wit And Wisdom Of Russell T Davies
and
Russell T Davies And The Line That Must Never Be Uttered
by Dave Golder (from SFX)
Three-part interview with nearly-gone Who supremo Russell T Davies, days one to three of SFX's Christmas Countdown, covering both the forthcoming 10th Doctor finale and some of his thoughts on his whole tenure. Even though he's been interview countless times over the years, not least in the past few months, there are still some new things for fans to learn.
And Davies certainly knows how to cater for his audience -- his mass press/TV interviews are perfectly fine for a general audience, but for SF/F mag SFX Davies' is thoroughly geek-friendly, referencing specific classic Who stories right from question one.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Films
Children of Heaven (1997)
[#83 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
The film referred to in that wonderful Ebert article I linked to a while back (just under three months -- or a quarter of a year -- ago, to be exact).
[#83 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
The film referred to in that wonderful Ebert article I linked to a while back (just under three months -- or a quarter of a year -- ago, to be exact).
new review at 100 Films
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Robert Shaw makes a terrific villain: calm, uncompromising, and British, the primary prerequisite of a perfect Hollywood bad guy. As the unlikely hero, Garber, Walter Matthau is a terrific foil at the other end of the phone, dryly sardonic as he attempts to effectually organise a dozen services.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
TV
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
17x12 (27/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's. Just in time.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
17x12 (27/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's. Just in time.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
40 Year Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It is Real and Has a Trailer
(from WorstPreviews)
Title pretty much says it all -- there really is a film called that. Can you guess what it's a spoof of?
Joss Whedon on Why Dollhouse Was Cancelled
(from WorstPreviews)
"In a polite way, he explained that Fox ruined the show that he originally envisioned." Read the article for the full reasoning.
(from WorstPreviews)
Title pretty much says it all -- there really is a film called that. Can you guess what it's a spoof of?
Joss Whedon on Why Dollhouse Was Cancelled
(from WorstPreviews)
"In a polite way, he explained that Fox ruined the show that he originally envisioned." Read the article for the full reasoning.
Collection Count
Collection Count, now in its seventh week, tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics.
As with last week's jiggery pokery, this week sees six new Blu-rays and seven new DVDs... but two of the BDs replace DVDs, and so funny stuff happens. Well, not as funny as before; so unfunny, in fact, that the statistics show no signs of replacements going on. In fact, it was funnier earlier in the week, when there were just two new DVDs and two new BDs and nothing had happened at all. Not that that was that funny.
In fact, a bigger spanner is thrown in the works by the arrival of The Godfather Trilogy on Blu-ray -- I have it on DVD, but it's in a rather lovely Steelbook that I'm not sure I want to get rid of. What do you mean that's sad? I'm the guy who posts a total of his DVD collection every week.
Anyway...
Number of titles in collection: 1,098 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,050 [up 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 48 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,692 [up 23]
Number of films in collection: 1,144 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,747 [up 31]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Digital Copies:
Ah digital copies -- the bane of any current DVD collection. What's the point? And why are they on a new disc which then just connects to the 'net to download them? What a waste of a DVD!
Anyway, I have just 10 of the abominations (0.9% of the collection). Some almost have a point -- the theatrical cut on Watchmen: Director's Cut or The X Files: I Want to Believe -- while the ones that just duplicate the DVD/BD... don't.
See you next week, faithful reader.
As with last week's jiggery pokery, this week sees six new Blu-rays and seven new DVDs... but two of the BDs replace DVDs, and so funny stuff happens. Well, not as funny as before; so unfunny, in fact, that the statistics show no signs of replacements going on. In fact, it was funnier earlier in the week, when there were just two new DVDs and two new BDs and nothing had happened at all. Not that that was that funny.
In fact, a bigger spanner is thrown in the works by the arrival of The Godfather Trilogy on Blu-ray -- I have it on DVD, but it's in a rather lovely Steelbook that I'm not sure I want to get rid of. What do you mean that's sad? I'm the guy who posts a total of his DVD collection every week.
Anyway...
Number of titles in collection: 1,098 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,050 [up 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 48 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,692 [up 23]
Number of films in collection: 1,144 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,747 [up 31]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Digital Copies:
Ah digital copies -- the bane of any current DVD collection. What's the point? And why are they on a new disc which then just connects to the 'net to download them? What a waste of a DVD!
Anyway, I have just 10 of the abominations (0.9% of the collection). Some almost have a point -- the theatrical cut on Watchmen: Director's Cut or The X Files: I Want to Believe -- while the ones that just duplicate the DVD/BD... don't.
See you next week, faithful reader.
new review at 100 Films
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
It’s also scary in places, as it should be, because it’s a vampire horror movie that just happens to take the making of another real one as its starting point. Unfortunately, as the plot becomes confusing and ill explained towards the end, so the scares dissipate alongside the viewer’s understanding.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
TV
The Armstrong and Miller Show
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x09 Ignorance is Bliss
How I Met Your Mother
3x08 Spoiler Alert
Another excellent episode, that again I'd call one of the best.
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x09 Ignorance is Bliss
How I Met Your Mother
3x08 Spoiler Alert
Another excellent episode, that again I'd call one of the best.
Films
Rage (2009)
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Watched for free, legally, at the auteurs (though by the time you read this its free-ness will probably have ended).
By the looks of its IMDb page this is a film that's viciously hated by many, and normally it wouldn't be my cup of tea either, but I actually thought it was brilliant.
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Watched for free, legally, at the auteurs (though by the time you read this its free-ness will probably have ended).
By the looks of its IMDb page this is a film that's viciously hated by many, and normally it wouldn't be my cup of tea either, but I actually thought it was brilliant.
Articles
BBC's Paradox drops over 1 million by Dan French
(from Digital Spy)
"...managed 2.94m (11.5%) during the 9pm hour compared to last week's 4.13m (16.3%)." As rubbish as it looks, then.
Holden: 'My show is credit crunch comedy' by Daniel Kilkelly
(from Digital Spy)
As in, "we couldn't afford any jokes", I presume.
Kelly: 'I want to do a direct film' by Mayer Nissim
(from Digital Spy)
"Richard Kelly has said that he would like to tell a more "straightforward" story with one of his future projects."
Good plan!
Twilight Unmasked in Buffy #33 by Shaun Manning
(from Comic Book Resources)
Is this the real Big Bad in Buffy Season Eight? Somehow, I doubt it.
Edit: some (but not full) clarification here.
(from Digital Spy)
"...managed 2.94m (11.5%) during the 9pm hour compared to last week's 4.13m (16.3%)." As rubbish as it looks, then.
Holden: 'My show is credit crunch comedy' by Daniel Kilkelly
(from Digital Spy)
As in, "we couldn't afford any jokes", I presume.
Kelly: 'I want to do a direct film' by Mayer Nissim
(from Digital Spy)
"Richard Kelly has said that he would like to tell a more "straightforward" story with one of his future projects."
Good plan!
Twilight Unmasked in Buffy #33 by Shaun Manning
(from Comic Book Resources)
Is this the real Big Bad in Buffy Season Eight? Somehow, I doubt it.
Edit: some (but not full) clarification here.
new review at 100 Films
Brute Force (1947)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Early on it’s quite humourous, with a weak warden, jaunty calypso-singing inmate and amusingly drunk doctor. Then there are the flashbacks to the outside world, laden with undercooked romance and awkward dialogue. In the final act it turns decidedly grim: warden Munsey lives up to his lowly reputation, goading one prisoner to suicide and beating another close to death; and one of the good guys betrays his mates, ultimately leading to wholesale slaughter as the escape plan goes awry.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
TV
Argumental
2x13 Best of Argumental
The first of two clip show specials rounding out the series (the second was on last night). This first is indeed just clips, albeit funny ones -- hopefully the second will include outtakes, as per the first series' clip show.
Grand Designs
7x03 Medway: The Eco Barge
These people were absolutely barking, especially the bloke. Though rarely have I more wanted a Revisited episode to see what happened in the end.
2x13 Best of Argumental
The first of two clip show specials rounding out the series (the second was on last night). This first is indeed just clips, albeit funny ones -- hopefully the second will include outtakes, as per the first series' clip show.
Grand Designs
7x03 Medway: The Eco Barge
These people were absolutely barking, especially the bloke. Though rarely have I more wanted a Revisited episode to see what happened in the end.
new review at 100 Films
Transporter 3 (2008)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently 17 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
After all the criticism of Transporter 2’s reliance on CGI, most of this sequel features no significant use of it — and that, of course, is a good thing. A car driving at high speed on two wheels between two articulated lorries is just silly if it’s all done with computers; done for real, as it is here, it’s somewhat impressive — exactly as it should be.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently 17 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
TV
The Armstrong and Miller Show
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x06 (27/11/09 edition; uncut repeat).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x09 (25/11/09 edition)
David Walliams, an ineffectual substitute teacher of a host. Another funny edition though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x06 (26/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x06 (27/11/09 edition; uncut repeat).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x09 (25/11/09 edition)
David Walliams, an ineffectual substitute teacher of a host. Another funny edition though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x06 (26/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
Watchmen Video Journals #4: Dave Gibbons [2nd watch]
In HD, found on the Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics Blu-ray. As is a ten-minute preview/making-of on the Wonder Woman animated movie, which has a helluva cast.
In HD, found on the Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics Blu-ray. As is a ten-minute preview/making-of on the Wonder Woman animated movie, which has a helluva cast.
Articles
Doctor Who Series One in Croatia by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
That's "is filming there", not just "will be shown there". And the links have some very intriguing pictures to boot. Hopefully, before long, with the final Tennant specials out of the way, we'll finally start getting some proper news about Season 31. Sorry, Five. Sorry, One.
Ofcom fights back against Sky criticism by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah for Ofcom! (For a change.) Especially in the face of James Murdoch, who's an utter... word I won't say on a family-friendly blog. Twonk will do for now though. A great big twonk.
(from Doctor Who News Page)
That's "is filming there", not just "will be shown there". And the links have some very intriguing pictures to boot. Hopefully, before long, with the final Tennant specials out of the way, we'll finally start getting some proper news about Season 31. Sorry, Five. Sorry, One.
Ofcom fights back against Sky criticism by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah for Ofcom! (For a change.) Especially in the face of James Murdoch, who's an utter... word I won't say on a family-friendly blog. Twonk will do for now though. A great big twonk.
Monday, 30 November 2009
TV
FlashForward
1x08 Playing Cards with Coyote
Funny, I assumed all the men had the three-star tattoos from the get-go, making that a total non-twist. Ho hum, nothing out of character for FlashForward in that.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x08 (23/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's -- the 'Welsh Special'.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x07 Dowisetrepla
1x08 Playing Cards with Coyote
Funny, I assumed all the men had the three-star tattoos from the get-go, making that a total non-twist. Ho hum, nothing out of character for FlashForward in that.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x08 (23/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's -- the 'Welsh Special'.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x07 Dowisetrepla
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Articles
The Art of Gaming by Mark Langshaw
(from Digital Spy)
A gamer once again tries to claim gaming is an art form on a par with novels, poetry, films, and so on.
Once again, they ignore what I think is one of the key factors: accessibility. Never mind the notion of having to learn controls and all that (while the others only require basic life skills, like sight, hearing, the ability to read) -- none of the other forms halt your progress if you haven't fully understood/completed the preceding section, unlike games.
This 'barrier to completion' is a major count against them in my view -- a film you can just keep watching, a novel keep reading, a painting stare at for as long as you like, but a game's over the moment you're incapable of completing a level/mission/etc. That inability to easily experience the work entire is a major obstacle to the medium's wider acceptance as Art, in my view.
Comedy writers 'no longer taking risks' by Marc Settle
(from BBC News)
Despite the insistence of BBC bigwigs later in the article that things are OK, it's clear they're not. And it's all the fault of busybody moaners, like Daily Mail readers or idiots from Sky like James Murdoch.
(from Digital Spy)
A gamer once again tries to claim gaming is an art form on a par with novels, poetry, films, and so on.
Once again, they ignore what I think is one of the key factors: accessibility. Never mind the notion of having to learn controls and all that (while the others only require basic life skills, like sight, hearing, the ability to read) -- none of the other forms halt your progress if you haven't fully understood/completed the preceding section, unlike games.
This 'barrier to completion' is a major count against them in my view -- a film you can just keep watching, a novel keep reading, a painting stare at for as long as you like, but a game's over the moment you're incapable of completing a level/mission/etc. That inability to easily experience the work entire is a major obstacle to the medium's wider acceptance as Art, in my view.
Comedy writers 'no longer taking risks' by Marc Settle
(from BBC News)
"Jokes aren't true - they're lies, they're exaggerations, they're distortion, they're imbalance, they're having a go, they're bullying, they're insulting," says The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci. "Of course the intention is to cause offence." [He] is one of a number of leading figures who fear the rules of comedy writing in Britain are changing.
Despite the insistence of BBC bigwigs later in the article that things are OK, it's clear they're not. And it's all the fault of busybody moaners, like Daily Mail readers or idiots from Sky like James Murdoch.
new review at 100 Films
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK from tomorrow.
There are currently 18 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
it’s like an uncomfortable amalgamation of Saturday morning cartoon and more adult-orientated action-comedy. On the one hand you’ve got a top-secret organisation with a semi-plausible acronym for a name (NEST) that sees soldiers and good giant robots travelling the world fighting bad giant robots... On the other, you’ve got whole sequences about drug use, almost brutal fight scenes, and lad’s mag-level slow-mo shots of girls running, changing and having their short dresses hiked up... In other words: if you’re an average 13-year-old boy, this is the Best. Movie. Ever.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK from tomorrow.
There are currently 18 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Saturday, 28 November 2009
TV
Gavin & Stacey
3x01 Episode 1
Simply, brilliant. Gavin & Stacey blows away almost every other comedy currently in production, and a fair few dramas too. Witness, for example, the pair of gags relating to the cheese and pineapple sticks. Most dramas dream about that level of subtlety.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x08 Teamwork
How I Met Your Mother
3x06 I'm Not That Guy
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x03 Episode 3
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x01 Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x03 Bröderna (aka The Brothers)
Grim, but quite possibly the best episode so far.
3x01 Episode 1
Simply, brilliant. Gavin & Stacey blows away almost every other comedy currently in production, and a fair few dramas too. Witness, for example, the pair of gags relating to the cheese and pineapple sticks. Most dramas dream about that level of subtlety.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x08 Teamwork
How I Met Your Mother
3x06 I'm Not That Guy
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x03 Episode 3
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x01 Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x03 Bröderna (aka The Brothers)
Grim, but quite possibly the best episode so far.
Fiction
Dr. Horrible #1 (preview)
6-page preview of issue one of the Dr. Horrible comic, available to read for free online. It's a nice little origin story fully contained within these preview pages.
6-page preview of issue one of the Dr. Horrible comic, available to read for free online. It's a nice little origin story fully contained within these preview pages.
Articles
The "I'm Not That Sad" Quote Of The Week by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
Sky trials 3D broadcasts at the O2 by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Long-ish article with more details on Sky's ever-developing plans for 3D TV, if you're interested.
(from SFX)
You can almost hear actress Tamzin Outhwaite hissing “I'm not THAT sad” between her teeth as she joins an esteemed list of actors in abject self-denial about appearing in sci-fi. Here she is on Teletext, talking about her role in Paradox: "Initially I thought it was a sci-fi project. Then I read the script and realised it wasn't. It's about police officers trying to work out whether there is a worm hole between two time zones."... Sorry, love, but by using the phrase, “a worm hole between two time zones” you've just defeated your whole argument.
Sky trials 3D broadcasts at the O2 by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Long-ish article with more details on Sky's ever-developing plans for 3D TV, if you're interested.
new review at 100 Films
Watchmen: Director's Cut (2009)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Watchmen: Director's Cut is out on Blu-ray in the UK from Monday.
There are currently 20 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
I wouldn’t be inclined to say it’s vastly different to the previously seen version. There are some obvious new scenes and extensions, especially if you’re familiar with the original novel, but ultimately I didn’t find the additional 24 minutes created a vastly different experience. Most of the flaws still remain... By the same token, none of the great bits are ruined, while some are enhanced.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Watchmen: Director's Cut is out on Blu-ray in the UK from Monday.
There are currently 20 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Friday, 27 November 2009
TV
Argumental
2x12 (17/11/09 edition)
Last episode... except for two clips show specials.
Russell Howard's Good News
1x05 (19/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
The stand-up in this episode was so rubbish, I've deliberately tried (and succeeded) to forget his name. Which is a shame, because now I can't avoid him in future.
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
2x12 (17/11/09 edition)
Last episode... except for two clips show specials.
Russell Howard's Good News
1x05 (19/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
The stand-up in this episode was so rubbish, I've deliberately tried (and succeeded) to forget his name. Which is a shame, because now I can't avoid him in future.
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
Films
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
[#80 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
On Blu-ray, which isn't out 'til Monday. I (still) always love it when this happens.
[#80 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
On Blu-ray, which isn't out 'til Monday. I (still) always love it when this happens.
Articles
Corduroy Skirts are a Sin by Julie Z
(from fbomb)
A wonderful protest (it's infinitely more important, and clever, than that title suggests). It would take too long to summarise, so, just go read it.
(from fbomb)
A wonderful protest (it's infinitely more important, and clever, than that title suggests). It would take too long to summarise, so, just go read it.
Collection Count
For those keeping count (ho ho), this is now the sixth week of Collection Count, which tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics.
The big acquisition this week is the latest Star Trek on Blu-ray, accompanied by bargain purchases of Ian McKellen's King Lear, Zodiac: Director's Cut and Dark City: Director's Cut to boost my BD numbers. But as I owned the last two of those on DVD -- Dark City twice, in fact -- their DVDs have now been discounted from the list (soon to be found on eBay), which does funny things to the DVD numbers. By which I mean that, though I've bought three new DVDs this week, the ultimate result is "down 2"!
Oh, it's a complicated malarkey, this DVD listing business.
Number of titles in collection: 1,087 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,045 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 42 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 2,669 [up 9]
Number of films in collection: 1,133 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,716 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Titles with audio commentary/ies or PIP tracks:
666
(61.3% of the collection)
See you next week, faithful reader.
The big acquisition this week is the latest Star Trek on Blu-ray, accompanied by bargain purchases of Ian McKellen's King Lear, Zodiac: Director's Cut and Dark City: Director's Cut to boost my BD numbers. But as I owned the last two of those on DVD -- Dark City twice, in fact -- their DVDs have now been discounted from the list (soon to be found on eBay), which does funny things to the DVD numbers. By which I mean that, though I've bought three new DVDs this week, the ultimate result is "down 2"!
Oh, it's a complicated malarkey, this DVD listing business.
Number of titles in collection: 1,087 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,045 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 42 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 2,669 [up 9]
Number of films in collection: 1,133 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,716 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Titles with audio commentary/ies or PIP tracks:
666
(61.3% of the collection)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
TV
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
Star-studded gig in aid of Children in Need. With a line-up full of Today's Hot Pop Acts it's inevitably a mixed bag, dependent on your tastes, but it's all for a good cause so you can't complain too much.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x05 How I Met Everyone Else
Ah, the semi-inevitable 'how we all met' episode, a staple of any long-running sitcom. Luckily, this ep is worthy of that grand tradition.
The Sarah Jane Adventures
3x11 The Gift Part One
3x12 The Gift Part Two [season finale]
Guest starring (the voices of) big-name actors Miriam Margolyes and Simon Callow! Just goes to show how well SJA does for itself.
It's a relatively low-key season finale, despite the guest stars and a world-threatening plot -- there's very few locations, lots of standing around nattering, and a ton of CGI, which is presumably where the story's budget went. Not the best SJA story then, and feeling more like a low-budget mid-season effort than a grand ending, but entertaining enough.
Fingers crossed for a fourth series...
[Watch part one and part two (again) on iPlayer.]
Star-studded gig in aid of Children in Need. With a line-up full of Today's Hot Pop Acts it's inevitably a mixed bag, dependent on your tastes, but it's all for a good cause so you can't complain too much.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x05 How I Met Everyone Else
Ah, the semi-inevitable 'how we all met' episode, a staple of any long-running sitcom. Luckily, this ep is worthy of that grand tradition.
The Sarah Jane Adventures
3x11 The Gift Part One
3x12 The Gift Part Two [season finale]
Guest starring (the voices of) big-name actors Miriam Margolyes and Simon Callow! Just goes to show how well SJA does for itself.
It's a relatively low-key season finale, despite the guest stars and a world-threatening plot -- there's very few locations, lots of standing around nattering, and a ton of CGI, which is presumably where the story's budget went. Not the best SJA story then, and feeling more like a low-budget mid-season effort than a grand ending, but entertaining enough.
Fingers crossed for a fourth series...
[Watch part one and part two (again) on iPlayer.]
Bernard Cribbins is marvellous
Bernard Cribbins talks Who return by Neil Wilkes & Chris Allen
(from Digital Spy)
I've said it before, I usually prefer transcriptions to video interviews -- they're quicker and easier to skim -- but Bernard Cribbins is so fantastic that it's a joy to spend 5 minutes and 10 seconds listening to him speak.
Go on, watch it. He's lovely.
(And in answer to Wilkes' question under the video: it's just you. And anyone else who clearly wasn't paying proper attention. Or, alternatively, too much attention, as the comments show.)
(from Digital Spy)
I've said it before, I usually prefer transcriptions to video interviews -- they're quicker and easier to skim -- but Bernard Cribbins is so fantastic that it's a joy to spend 5 minutes and 10 seconds listening to him speak.
Go on, watch it. He's lovely.
(And in answer to Wilkes' question under the video: it's just you. And anyone else who clearly wasn't paying proper attention. Or, alternatively, too much attention, as the comments show.)
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
TV
The Force
Episode 2 (of 3)
The second episode of this excellent documentary series takes a look at the UK's first dedicated rape unit outside London, an "experiment" given six months to prove itself as a concept that should be rolled out nationwide. As stated near the start, rape is second only to murder in seriousness in the opinion of the British public, but is one of the hardest crimes to prove and consequently has one of the lowest conviction rates. Ultimately, the unit is shut down -- though it's given a last minute reprieve, once most of its staff have already been reassigned. Effectively, it's deemed as not cost effective despite impressive statistics, though just about allowed to continue... for the time being.
All in, it makes for an engrossing documentary on the way rape is and could be investigated, and commentary on the (perhaps hypocritical) difference between the opinion of rape in general, i.e. second only to murder, and the opinion on specific cases, i.e. unsolvable -- something the work of this unit categorically disproves. To date, no other force has established a similar unit, while last year 15,000 rapes were reported in the UK, leading to just 955 convictions.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
It's Only a Theory
1x08 Episode 8
Marcus Chown, again! And yet they still pretend they don't know him. Come on guys, treat your viewers with some intelligence!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x08 (18/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
Martin Freeman does a good job in the guest host chair, though I couldn't see him doing it regularly (should they return to that route). One of the great things about the Buzzcocks guest hosts, incidentally, is that most of them seem to be having a whale of a time; unlike on HIGNFY, where they mostly seem nervous as hell.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Episode 2 (of 3)
The second episode of this excellent documentary series takes a look at the UK's first dedicated rape unit outside London, an "experiment" given six months to prove itself as a concept that should be rolled out nationwide. As stated near the start, rape is second only to murder in seriousness in the opinion of the British public, but is one of the hardest crimes to prove and consequently has one of the lowest conviction rates. Ultimately, the unit is shut down -- though it's given a last minute reprieve, once most of its staff have already been reassigned. Effectively, it's deemed as not cost effective despite impressive statistics, though just about allowed to continue... for the time being.
All in, it makes for an engrossing documentary on the way rape is and could be investigated, and commentary on the (perhaps hypocritical) difference between the opinion of rape in general, i.e. second only to murder, and the opinion on specific cases, i.e. unsolvable -- something the work of this unit categorically disproves. To date, no other force has established a similar unit, while last year 15,000 rapes were reported in the UK, leading to just 955 convictions.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
It's Only a Theory
1x08 Episode 8
Marcus Chown, again! And yet they still pretend they don't know him. Come on guys, treat your viewers with some intelligence!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x08 (18/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
Martin Freeman does a good job in the guest host chair, though I couldn't see him doing it regularly (should they return to that route). One of the great things about the Buzzcocks guest hosts, incidentally, is that most of them seem to be having a whale of a time; unlike on HIGNFY, where they mostly seem nervous as hell.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Magazines
Radio Times 30 November - 6 December 2009
Christmas must be getting close -- here, RT have their (first of several, I'm sure) preview of what's to come over the Christmas holiday, while the next issue is out on Saturday (rather than the usual Tuesday), a schedule change that only happens in the run up to making way for the double-length Christmas issue.
Of course, the Big Day itself is just one month from today...
Christmas must be getting close -- here, RT have their (first of several, I'm sure) preview of what's to come over the Christmas holiday, while the next issue is out on Saturday (rather than the usual Tuesday), a schedule change that only happens in the run up to making way for the double-length Christmas issue.
Of course, the Big Day itself is just one month from today...
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
TV
How I Met Your Mother
3x04 Little Boys
Mastermind
for Children in Need [2009 special]
In which Mark Watson scored the highest (celebrity?) score ever... only to have it beaten within a few minutes by Lucy Porter. Poor Mark.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
1x02 Episode Two
Continues to be surprisingly good, applying a welcome sci-fi twist to any of the Skins-like drama it feels the need (or the budget constraints) to include.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x04 (12/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
3x04 Little Boys
Mastermind
for Children in Need [2009 special]
In which Mark Watson scored the highest (celebrity?) score ever... only to have it beaten within a few minutes by Lucy Porter. Poor Mark.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Misfits
1x02 Episode Two
Continues to be surprisingly good, applying a welcome sci-fi twist to any of the Skins-like drama it feels the need (or the budget constraints) to include.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x04 (12/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
new reviews at 100 Films
Three reviews of the films in Channel 4's 3D Week, went up at 100 Films the other day. They were:
Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008)
There are currently 19 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)
The best thing about the extra dimension is that it provides some genuinely impressive visuals throughout, and not in the gimmicky, thrust-stuff-into-the-audience way — naturally there are some of those shots, but… there are also shots that demonstrate why 3D could be genuinely valuable, to visuals if not necessarily to storytelling.Read the full review at 100 Films.
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
They have a whale of a time shoving stuff out into the audience for almost no reason — just like the stereotype of 3D films, of course. That’s part of the fun of trashy 3D movies so I’m not criticising it, but what sadly doesn’t work is the ColorCode 3D system chosen by C4.Read the full review at 100 Films.
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008)
The only real exception is the 3D — being a very recent production, that was flawless.Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently 19 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Monday, 23 November 2009
TV
The Graham Norton Show
6x07 (16/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Greatest Ever 3D Moments
The centrepiece of Channel 4's 3D Week purports to countdown the top 10 3D moments of all time. In reality, it uses the list format to recount the history of 3D, albeit in jumbled-up fashion thanks to this countdown structure. And it seems as if the top moments were dictated as much by what clips could be found and/or licenced as what is genuinely good 3D. And they were of course discussed by not-very-funny wannabe-famous specialist-knowledge-lacking young comedians, though thankfully the odd expert did show their face. Not a total waste, then, but it was a good idea that couldn't quite be pulled off. Like a lot of 3D week, as it turned out. Or 3D in general.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
6x07 (16/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Greatest Ever 3D Moments
The centrepiece of Channel 4's 3D Week purports to countdown the top 10 3D moments of all time. In reality, it uses the list format to recount the history of 3D, albeit in jumbled-up fashion thanks to this countdown structure. And it seems as if the top moments were dictated as much by what clips could be found and/or licenced as what is genuinely good 3D. And they were of course discussed by not-very-funny wannabe-famous specialist-knowledge-lacking young comedians, though thankfully the odd expert did show their face. Not a total waste, then, but it was a good idea that couldn't quite be pulled off. Like a lot of 3D week, as it turned out. Or 3D in general.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Films
Friday the 13th Part III in 3D (1982)
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Once again courtesy of Channel 4's 3D week. Lots of fun 3D silliness in this, which is good because the rest of it is by-the-numbers slasher flick tosh.
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in 3D (2008)
[#78 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ugh. The only thing worse than Hannah/Miley is the Jonas Brothers, who unfortunately turn up for a song or two.
Wanted (2008)
[2nd watch]
This was #46 in 100 Films 2008, where I gave it a fairly harsh write-up in reference to the trailer containing all the best bits. 16 months on, I find myself able to enjoy it in its own right. Distanced from said ubiquitous trailer, all the cool bits that gave away are fresher again, making it easier to appreciate the other great things about the film, such as it's wonderful sense of humour. If I wasn't about 20 reviews behind I'd consider re-evaluating it.
Watchmen: Director's Cut (2009)
[#79 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ahead of the UK Blu-ray release in 8 days (I'll try to have a review up before then), and while the Ultimate Cut is winging its way to me across the Atlantic, it's more than time I got round to watching Zack Snyder's definitive version of this year's most-talked-about superhero movie. The theatrical cut, incidentally, was #9.
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Once again courtesy of Channel 4's 3D week. Lots of fun 3D silliness in this, which is good because the rest of it is by-the-numbers slasher flick tosh.
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in 3D (2008)
[#78 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ugh. The only thing worse than Hannah/Miley is the Jonas Brothers, who unfortunately turn up for a song or two.
Wanted (2008)
[2nd watch]
This was #46 in 100 Films 2008, where I gave it a fairly harsh write-up in reference to the trailer containing all the best bits. 16 months on, I find myself able to enjoy it in its own right. Distanced from said ubiquitous trailer, all the cool bits that gave away are fresher again, making it easier to appreciate the other great things about the film, such as it's wonderful sense of humour. If I wasn't about 20 reviews behind I'd consider re-evaluating it.
Watchmen: Director's Cut (2009)
[#79 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Ahead of the UK Blu-ray release in 8 days (I'll try to have a review up before then), and while the Ultimate Cut is winging its way to me across the Atlantic, it's more than time I got round to watching Zack Snyder's definitive version of this year's most-talked-about superhero movie. The theatrical cut, incidentally, was #9.
DVD Extras
Alternate Opening on Wanted (Blu-ray)
This is a rather impressive sequence, which would've added to the mythic quality the film refers to but doesn't really embrace. It also clearly involved a lot of time, effort and, to be blunt, money, which makes it almost amazing it was cut. But it would've been information overload at the start of the film, particularly as it's relatively unrelated to what follows, and so cutting it out seems a wise decision. By itself it's great though, so hurrah for the age of DVD/Blu-ray that allows us to see it.
This is a rather impressive sequence, which would've added to the mythic quality the film refers to but doesn't really embrace. It also clearly involved a lot of time, effort and, to be blunt, money, which makes it almost amazing it was cut. But it would've been information overload at the start of the film, particularly as it's relatively unrelated to what follows, and so cutting it out seems a wise decision. By itself it's great though, so hurrah for the age of DVD/Blu-ray that allows us to see it.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
TV
Children in Need 2009
Being the post-midnight stretch, which as ever included a lot of repeats from earlier in the evening. A few new things too though, including musical numbers and an amusing (despite never having seen either show) Rebus/Taggart team-up/piss-take.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comedy Showcase
2x01 Campus
Being "from the creators of Green Wing" inspired me to watch this episode of C4's series of comedy pilots. Three of the six from the first season went to full series; so far, one from this batch has already been commissioned. Not this one though. Probably because it's not that good. Some funny bits, to be fair, but some's just crass for the sake of it. (What else is new, eh?)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Harper's Island
1x13 Sigh [series finale]
Nearly everyone's killed and everything's brought together and explained as the series-length slasher movie reaches its conclusion. It's been a fun ride -- not always the best-written show on TV (well, never the best written, but you know what I mean), it's kept itself rattling along with fun deaths and copious suspense. Shame more people didn't get on board its slightly unusual style ("unusual" being a euphemism for "not always that well-written", really), not that there'd've been a second series anyway.
Still hoping for a Blu-ray. Not all of the series looked as good as episode one, but that alone would be worth it.
Harper's Island Solved
Effectively 'Part Two' of BBC Three's episode eleven accompanier Harper's Island Unsolved (see what they did there?), looking at the final reveal of the killer -- he was always the case for the writers, apparently, and the actor knew since episode eight -- as well as the deaths in the final few episodes, including everyone's most-memorable, Cal and Chloe's. Despite Fearne Cotton's slightly irritating BBC Three-styled narration, it's a surprisingly interesting and information-filled documentary. Well done BBC.
Being the post-midnight stretch, which as ever included a lot of repeats from earlier in the evening. A few new things too though, including musical numbers and an amusing (despite never having seen either show) Rebus/Taggart team-up/piss-take.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comedy Showcase
2x01 Campus
Being "from the creators of Green Wing" inspired me to watch this episode of C4's series of comedy pilots. Three of the six from the first season went to full series; so far, one from this batch has already been commissioned. Not this one though. Probably because it's not that good. Some funny bits, to be fair, but some's just crass for the sake of it. (What else is new, eh?)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Harper's Island
1x13 Sigh [series finale]
Nearly everyone's killed and everything's brought together and explained as the series-length slasher movie reaches its conclusion. It's been a fun ride -- not always the best-written show on TV (well, never the best written, but you know what I mean), it's kept itself rattling along with fun deaths and copious suspense. Shame more people didn't get on board its slightly unusual style ("unusual" being a euphemism for "not always that well-written", really), not that there'd've been a second series anyway.
Still hoping for a Blu-ray. Not all of the series looked as good as episode one, but that alone would be worth it.
Harper's Island Solved
Effectively 'Part Two' of BBC Three's episode eleven accompanier Harper's Island Unsolved (see what they did there?), looking at the final reveal of the killer -- he was always the case for the writers, apparently, and the actor knew since episode eight -- as well as the deaths in the final few episodes, including everyone's most-memorable, Cal and Chloe's. Despite Fearne Cotton's slightly irritating BBC Three-styled narration, it's a surprisingly interesting and information-filled documentary. Well done BBC.
Films
Flesh for Frankenstein in 3D (1973)
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Courtesy of Channel 4's 3D week, though it's films like this that demonstrate why 3D has never taken off before.
Jumper (2008)
[#76 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Courtesy of Channel 4's 3D week, though it's films like this that demonstrate why 3D has never taken off before.
Jumper (2008)
[#76 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
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