Gigi (1958)
[#95 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Friday, 17 September 2010
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, a Blu-ray replaces a DVD, though any evidence is wiped out by the last-minute arrival of a new Blu-ray and a new DVD. Exciting stuff, eh what?
Number of titles in collection: 1,216 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 111 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 2,973 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,281 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,181 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Number of titles produced in the '70s:
91
(7.5% of the total)
Having now counted titles produced in the '00s, '90s, '80s, and over 100 years ago, it seems reasonable to continue back into the '70s. (Based on form, you can expect the '60s in about two months.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, a Blu-ray replaces a DVD, though any evidence is wiped out by the last-minute arrival of a new Blu-ray and a new DVD. Exciting stuff, eh what?
Number of titles in collection: 1,216 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 111 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 2,973 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,281 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,181 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Number of titles produced in the '70s:
91
(7.5% of the total)
Having now counted titles produced in the '00s, '90s, '80s, and over 100 years ago, it seems reasonable to continue back into the '70s. (Based on form, you can expect the '60s in about two months.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
TV
Dexter
4x11 Hello, Dexter Morgan
Cliffhanger-tastic! Though I guessed weeks (well, "episodes", certainly -- I probably watch it too quickly for "weeks") ago who would be saying the titular line. Next time: season finale! Tense.
How I Met Your Mother
5x17 Of Course
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
4x11 Hello, Dexter Morgan
Cliffhanger-tastic! Though I guessed weeks (well, "episodes", certainly -- I probably watch it too quickly for "weeks") ago who would be saying the titular line. Next time: season finale! Tense.
How I Met Your Mother
5x17 Of Course
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Films
I'll be at 100 before I know it at this rate...
Brigadoon (1954)
[#93 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Force of Evil (1948)
[#92 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The History Boys (2006)
[#94 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Brigadoon (1954)
[#93 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Force of Evil (1948)
[#92 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The History Boys (2006)
[#94 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
TV
Dexter
4x10 Lost Boys
Grandma's House
1x06 The day Simon finally found the strength to accept that his mother was getting married [season finale]
Perhaps not Grandma's House's finest (half-)hour, but still an amusing episode. I hope we get more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x06 The Valerie Step [season finale]
An excellent final episode to an excellent series. I hope we get more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
4x10 Lost Boys
Grandma's House
1x06 The day Simon finally found the strength to accept that his mother was getting married [season finale]
Perhaps not Grandma's House's finest (half-)hour, but still an amusing episode. I hope we get more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x06 The Valerie Step [season finale]
An excellent final episode to an excellent series. I hope we get more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
The Death Star of the 1930s (and other great retro scifi diagrams) by Cyriaque Lamar
(from io9)
A gallery of illustrations from the '30s, some of which are rather spectacular in their own retro way. I particularly like the A City On series, though the Future Ocean Liner appears to be amazingly prescient -- I think more-or-less everything it suggests has since come to pass.
(from io9)
A gallery of illustrations from the '30s, some of which are rather spectacular in their own retro way. I particularly like the A City On series, though the Future Ocean Liner appears to be amazingly prescient -- I think more-or-less everything it suggests has since come to pass.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
TV
Gareth Malone's Extraordinary School for Boys
Part 1 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x16 Hooked
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Part 1 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x16 Hooked
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Monday, 13 September 2010
TV
Dragons' Den
8x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
3x01 Broken
L&O:UK returns with a particularly strong episode dealing with a very difficult and emotive issue. It's to the series' credit that while the ending is ostensibly a good result, it's one few are wholly happy with.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mountain Gorilla
Part 3 Safe in Our Hands [final episode]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Law & Order: UK
3x01 Broken
L&O:UK returns with a particularly strong episode dealing with a very difficult and emotive issue. It's to the series' credit that while the ending is ostensibly a good result, it's one few are wholly happy with.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Mountain Gorilla
Part 3 Safe in Our Hands [final episode]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Fox orders Outnumbered remake by Morgan Jeffery
(from Digital Spy)
Let's put this headline in perspective: they've not ordered a series, they've ordered a pilot only; and this isn't even the first time they've done that -- they made a pilot back in 2007 (clearly, it didn't go well). So this is less a case of "we'll see" more "will we see?"
Google Instant is trying to kill me by Charlie Brooker
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Brooker, as usual, has a point, and he makes it amusingly. Hurrah! This is my favourite bit:
(from Digital Spy)
Let's put this headline in perspective: they've not ordered a series, they've ordered a pilot only; and this isn't even the first time they've done that -- they made a pilot back in 2007 (clearly, it didn't go well). So this is less a case of "we'll see" more "will we see?"
Google Instant is trying to kill me by Charlie Brooker
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Brooker, as usual, has a point, and he makes it amusingly. Hurrah! This is my favourite bit:
[Google Instant is] the internet on fast-forward, and it's aggressive – like trying to order from a waiter who keeps finishing your sentences while ramming spoonfuls of what he thinks you want directly into your mouth, so you can't even enjoy your blancmange without chewing a gobful of black pudding first.
Sunday, 12 September 2010
TV
A Concert for Heroes
Recorded it and watched an hour behind so I could fastforward the boring bits. No, not the charity stories -- the rubbish comedians and (copious) rubbish 'music' acts.
See also: today's Articles.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Recorded it and watched an hour behind so I could fastforward the boring bits. No, not the charity stories -- the rubbish comedians and (copious) rubbish 'music' acts.
See also: today's Articles.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Help for Heroes concert, Twickenham Stadium, review by Neil McCormick
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
Pretty much spot on.
(from Telegraph.co.uk)
Pretty much spot on.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Bhaji on the Beach (1993)
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
More next Sunday.
Bhaji on the Beach (1993)
The perspective is definitively female — no bad thing for a medium where, almost 20 years later, there are still few female directors, and those that garner the widest recognition tend to do so in typically male genres.
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
Melodramatic love story/stories? Check. A couple of over-acted comedy characters? Check. Characters bursting into song? Check. Bright, colourful, extravagant song-and-dance numbers? Check.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
TV
Merlin
3x01 The Tears of Uther Pendragon Part 1
Darker? Check. Grittier? Check. Well, sort of check. I mean, it's scarier, isn't it. Anyway, my point was: ah, third seasons (/books/films/etc) of fantasy series...
Still, Merlin seems to get better with each passing season. Or even episode -- next week's looks like a belter; more season finale than episode two. I hope they've got even bigger things planned, then.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x08 (10/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x01 The Tears of Uther Pendragon Part 1
Darker? Check. Grittier? Check. Well, sort of check. I mean, it's scarier, isn't it. Anyway, my point was: ah, third seasons (/books/films/etc) of fantasy series...
Still, Merlin seems to get better with each passing season. Or even episode -- next week's looks like a belter; more season finale than episode two. I hope they've got even bigger things planned, then.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x08 (10/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday, 10 September 2010
TV
Mock the Week
9x07 (9/9/10 edition)
Back from the six-week break it took for the Fringe. (I know, my comments are frequently invaluable.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Mountain Gorilla
Part 2 Last Stand of the Silverback King
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x07 (9/9/10 edition)
Back from the six-week break it took for the Fringe. (I know, my comments are frequently invaluable.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Mountain Gorilla
Part 2 Last Stand of the Silverback King
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Heroes cancellation: Source says NBC not moving forward with movie that will wrap up series by Lynette Rice
(from at EW.com)
Title says it all. No surprise, really -- Heroes was a long way from popular by the end (hence why it got cancelled).
Torchwood writer John Fay excited by The New World, plus why killing Ianto was ‘right thing to do’ by XXNAPOLEONSOLO
(from scyfilove)
Again, the title more-or-less sums this up. It's an interview though, so there are a few more tidbits for fans to pick up on (though nothing about the plot of The New World, really, just the way it's being written and the point it starts from).
(from at EW.com)
Title says it all. No surprise, really -- Heroes was a long way from popular by the end (hence why it got cancelled).
Torchwood writer John Fay excited by The New World, plus why killing Ianto was ‘right thing to do’ by XXNAPOLEONSOLO
(from scyfilove)
Again, the title more-or-less sums this up. It's an interview though, so there are a few more tidbits for fans to pick up on (though nothing about the plot of The New World, really, just the way it's being written and the point it starts from).
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
The numbers are all over the place this week, thanks to a couple of oversights and a new Blu-ray set that replaces four DVDs (it would've been more dramatic if another set had turned up to replace another four, but that's still in the post).
So, the number of titles go down, the number of DVDs goes down, and the number of Blu-rays goes up. The number of discs also goes down, thanks to BDs having plenty of room to house a two-disc-DVD's extras on a single disc. The number of films goes up slightly, due to a mistake last week, while the number of TV episodes goes down massively due to an error goodness-knows-when.
Ooh, exciting stuff.
Number of titles in collection: 1,214 [down 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [down 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 109 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,971 [down 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,278 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,181 [down 24]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Batman titles in the collection:
12
(0.99% of the total)
Inspired by upgrading my four two-disc '80s/'90s Batman film DVDs to the Blu-ray set (yep, that's the box set I was referring to) (and, if you're interested, I upgraded both the Nolan films early in my BD days), I thought I'd round up how many Batman titles I own. It's perhaps more than you'd think (though it would've been 3 greater a few days ago!)
See you next week, faithful reader.
The numbers are all over the place this week, thanks to a couple of oversights and a new Blu-ray set that replaces four DVDs (it would've been more dramatic if another set had turned up to replace another four, but that's still in the post).
So, the number of titles go down, the number of DVDs goes down, and the number of Blu-rays goes up. The number of discs also goes down, thanks to BDs having plenty of room to house a two-disc-DVD's extras on a single disc. The number of films goes up slightly, due to a mistake last week, while the number of TV episodes goes down massively due to an error goodness-knows-when.
Ooh, exciting stuff.
Number of titles in collection: 1,214 [down 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [down 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 109 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,971 [down 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,278 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,181 [down 24]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Batman titles in the collection:
12
(0.99% of the total)
Inspired by upgrading my four two-disc '80s/'90s Batman film DVDs to the Blu-ray set (yep, that's the box set I was referring to) (and, if you're interested, I upgraded both the Nolan films early in my BD days), I thought I'd round up how many Batman titles I own. It's perhaps more than you'd think (though it would've been 3 greater a few days ago!)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
TV
Grandma's House
1x05 The day Simon felt the family was ready to be healed
...he was wrong.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
4x01 Public Relations
Hurrah for the unusually-early return of Mad Men to British TV! Lots of intriguing threads already set in motion, and I'm sure there are many more to come. Can't wait to find out what the next twelve weeks have in store.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x05 Reply All
Many of the series' plots reach their apex this episode, making it less comedic and more dramatic/tragic as everything explodes. Certainly leaves things in an interesting place for tomorrow's final episode. Incidentally, just to reiterate from past weeks, this is an excellent series; critics who dismissed it were, I think, expecting a Comedy, whereas in fact it's more of a drama that, in accurately observing real life, is often very funny.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x05 The day Simon felt the family was ready to be healed
...he was wrong.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
4x01 Public Relations
Hurrah for the unusually-early return of Mad Men to British TV! Lots of intriguing threads already set in motion, and I'm sure there are many more to come. Can't wait to find out what the next twelve weeks have in store.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x05 Reply All
Many of the series' plots reach their apex this episode, making it less comedic and more dramatic/tragic as everything explodes. Certainly leaves things in an interesting place for tomorrow's final episode. Incidentally, just to reiterate from past weeks, this is an excellent series; critics who dismissed it were, I think, expecting a Comedy, whereas in fact it's more of a drama that, in accurately observing real life, is often very funny.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Universal Lands Stephen King's The Dark Tower And Plans Unprecedented Feature/Network TV Adaptation by Mike Fleming
(from Deadline New York)
"Unprecedented" almost seems like an understatement. Look what craziness they're planning:
It'll either be a fantastic, revolutionary success, or an embarrassingly huge flop.
(from Deadline New York)
"Unprecedented" almost seems like an understatement. Look what craziness they're planning:
The plan is to start with the feature film, and then create a bridge to the second feature with a season of TV episodes. That means the feature cast — and the big star who’ll play [lead character] Deschain — also has to appear in the TV series before returning to the second film. After that sequel is done, the TV series picks up again, this time focusing on Deschain as a young gunslinger... The third film would pick up the mature Deshain as he completes his journey. They will benefit from being able to use the same sets cast and crew for the movie and TV
It'll either be a fantastic, revolutionary success, or an embarrassingly huge flop.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
TV
Derren Brown Presents Hero at 30,000 Feet
I normally have a comment after a Derren Brown special, but... no, not really. Other than to note the whole live bits seemed purely so they could set another countdown in motion! I guess we can expect another live special on 8th October at around 10pm, then.
Actually, one other comment: some people seem to feel cheated that he only landed a simulator. What, you really thought they were going to let a completely untrained man who was afraid of flying be responsible for landing a plane filled with hundreds of people? You really, genuinely believed that?
[This will be available to watch (again) on 4oD "soon".]
I normally have a comment after a Derren Brown special, but... no, not really. Other than to note the whole live bits seemed purely so they could set another countdown in motion! I guess we can expect another live special on 8th October at around 10pm, then.
Actually, one other comment: some people seem to feel cheated that he only landed a simulator. What, you really thought they were going to let a completely untrained man who was afraid of flying be responsible for landing a plane filled with hundreds of people? You really, genuinely believed that?
[This will be available to watch (again) on 4oD "soon".]
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Articles
Even Hit Like Kick-Ass Can Seem Like Miss at Debut by Brooks Barnes
(from the New York Times)
Kick-Ass was considered a flop after its US opening weekend (which, incidentally, was nonetheless at #1), but it went on to make 3½ times its budget at the worldwide box office and is now storming away on DVD and Blu-ray too -- which means a sequel will be coming (hooray!) This discrepancy (between opening weekend & total gross) is the point of the article: you can't (and shouldn't, though many do) judge a film by its opening weekend alone. See also: How to Train Your Dragon (labelled a flop, earned $479 million, sequel in the works), Date Night (labelled a flop, earned $152 million), and more.
(from the New York Times)
Kick-Ass was considered a flop after its US opening weekend (which, incidentally, was nonetheless at #1), but it went on to make 3½ times its budget at the worldwide box office and is now storming away on DVD and Blu-ray too -- which means a sequel will be coming (hooray!) This discrepancy (between opening weekend & total gross) is the point of the article: you can't (and shouldn't, though many do) judge a film by its opening weekend alone. See also: How to Train Your Dragon (labelled a flop, earned $479 million, sequel in the works), Date Night (labelled a flop, earned $152 million), and more.
Monday, 6 September 2010
TV
How I Met Your Mother
5x15 Rabbit or Duck
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Funniest Year: 2000
Quite funny. Bit long.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
5x15 Rabbit or Duck
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Funniest Year: 2000
Quite funny. Bit long.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Webseries
CarPool
Episode 2 Jonathan Ross
Ah, CarPool. I've been meaning to try this out for a while because it looked an interesting idea, and today I finally did by accident. The concept, for those who've missed it, is that Robert Llewellyn (aka Kryten off Red Dwarf) drives someone somewhere and chats to them.
It's like a chat show with a twist, essentially. And only one guest. It's been running on the web for quite a while now (since January '09) and amassed quite a few episodes (74, to be precise), and there's soon to be a TV version on Dave (of course). This is one of the earliest ones (well, as you can see) and also one of the shortest. I have no idea if it's exemplary of the whole series or not.
Also, if you're interested, the video announcing the TV series is a kind of "best bits" + reminder of what it's all about, and that kind of thing. Lovely. Plus, a camera test/interview with the producer of the TV version with some more details. Oh, and they get pulled over by Anti-Terrorism Police.
Got that covered, then.
Episode 2 Jonathan Ross
Ah, CarPool. I've been meaning to try this out for a while because it looked an interesting idea, and today I finally did by accident. The concept, for those who've missed it, is that Robert Llewellyn (aka Kryten off Red Dwarf) drives someone somewhere and chats to them.
It's like a chat show with a twist, essentially. And only one guest. It's been running on the web for quite a while now (since January '09) and amassed quite a few episodes (74, to be precise), and there's soon to be a TV version on Dave (of course). This is one of the earliest ones (well, as you can see) and also one of the shortest. I have no idea if it's exemplary of the whole series or not.
Also, if you're interested, the video announcing the TV series is a kind of "best bits" + reminder of what it's all about, and that kind of thing. Lovely. Plus, a camera test/interview with the producer of the TV version with some more details. Oh, and they get pulled over by Anti-Terrorism Police.
Got that covered, then.
Magazines
CLiNT #1
And lo, the new great hope for comics in the UK has launched. So after the middling reaction it's received in some quarters (that one review is representative of several I've seen), what's issue one actually like?
Well, that depends on one of two things: your age; or your ability to connect with your inner schoolboy. Features on "Hot TV Mums" and interviews with questions like "Would you fuck your dad to save your mum?" are not for the intellectually developed. I'm sure they must be pleasing to a certain demographic though; namely, the teenage/underdeveloped-twentysomething CLiNT has to convince to buy it for decent sales figures and 'mainstream' acceptance. That said, I found the Jimmy Carr interview interesting (it wasn't the one with the above-cited question).
Alternatively, you can just ignore the features and stick to the comics. For your £3.99 you get two full-length (as in US-full-length, i.e. 20-something pages) comics, which is already cheaper than you'd pay to buy them regularly, plus there's moderately decent amounts of three others. It's a disappointment that Kick-Ass 2 is a bite-sized opening snippet rather than a proper full-length edition. I don't know if this will change in future, but I hope so -- I want it in real chunks, not drip-fed in quarter-issue size. And, of course, the more full-length comics there are the better value for money.
What of the strips themselves? The two full-length strips are Jonathan Ross' Turf, which has been widely praised and rightly so, even if it is a bit text-heavy, and Mark Millar's Nemesis (soon to be a major motion picture from Tony Scott), which I haven't read yet but looks to have potential.
Of the shorter strips, I've already noted my disappointment at Kick-Ass 2's brevity (though the actual content is decent enough); Huw Edwards Presents Space Oddities is a 'wittily' named 3-or-4-page anthology series so will vary from issue to issue, but this example is quite good (I have no idea what, if any, involvement Huw Edwards actually has in this); and Frankie Boyle's Rex Royd is much better than the universally negative reviews led me to believe -- not perfect, but an interesting start. I enjoyed it anyway.
So that's CLiNT, issue 1. Certainly not perfect, but certainly aimed at a different demographic (both age-wise and experience-of-comics-wise) than most who've reviewed it. Will it be a success with the intended audience? No idea. But it does show promise, and if it's a success it might lead someone else -- or several someones -- to launch similarly comics-centric mainstream title(s) with a more adult/intelligent bent. And that would definitely be good news.
And lo, the new great hope for comics in the UK has launched. So after the middling reaction it's received in some quarters (that one review is representative of several I've seen), what's issue one actually like?
Well, that depends on one of two things: your age; or your ability to connect with your inner schoolboy. Features on "Hot TV Mums" and interviews with questions like "Would you fuck your dad to save your mum?" are not for the intellectually developed. I'm sure they must be pleasing to a certain demographic though; namely, the teenage/underdeveloped-twentysomething CLiNT has to convince to buy it for decent sales figures and 'mainstream' acceptance. That said, I found the Jimmy Carr interview interesting (it wasn't the one with the above-cited question).
Alternatively, you can just ignore the features and stick to the comics. For your £3.99 you get two full-length (as in US-full-length, i.e. 20-something pages) comics, which is already cheaper than you'd pay to buy them regularly, plus there's moderately decent amounts of three others. It's a disappointment that Kick-Ass 2 is a bite-sized opening snippet rather than a proper full-length edition. I don't know if this will change in future, but I hope so -- I want it in real chunks, not drip-fed in quarter-issue size. And, of course, the more full-length comics there are the better value for money.
What of the strips themselves? The two full-length strips are Jonathan Ross' Turf, which has been widely praised and rightly so, even if it is a bit text-heavy, and Mark Millar's Nemesis (soon to be a major motion picture from Tony Scott), which I haven't read yet but looks to have potential.
Of the shorter strips, I've already noted my disappointment at Kick-Ass 2's brevity (though the actual content is decent enough); Huw Edwards Presents Space Oddities is a 'wittily' named 3-or-4-page anthology series so will vary from issue to issue, but this example is quite good (I have no idea what, if any, involvement Huw Edwards actually has in this); and Frankie Boyle's Rex Royd is much better than the universally negative reviews led me to believe -- not perfect, but an interesting start. I enjoyed it anyway.
So that's CLiNT, issue 1. Certainly not perfect, but certainly aimed at a different demographic (both age-wise and experience-of-comics-wise) than most who've reviewed it. Will it be a success with the intended audience? No idea. But it does show promise, and if it's a success it might lead someone else -- or several someones -- to launch similarly comics-centric mainstream title(s) with a more adult/intelligent bent. And that would definitely be good news.
Articles
Sonic Screwdriver [Wii] Controller coming by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
I'm gonna get a Wii. Then this. Then use it to play GoldenEye. I'm sure you don't need me to explain why that's awesome.
Tesco goes to Trolleywood by Patrick Barkham
(from guardian.co.uk)
With the first direct-to-DVD-exclusive-to-Tesco movie out today (the first of many, they plan), I wound up stumbling across this article (from last month) which goes behind the scenes on said film, as well as hinting more broadly at the supermarket's plans. Quite interesting, even if the film -- a Jackie Collins adaptation -- holds very little interest in itself.
(from Doctor Who News Page)
I'm gonna get a Wii. Then this. Then use it to play GoldenEye. I'm sure you don't need me to explain why that's awesome.
Tesco goes to Trolleywood by Patrick Barkham
(from guardian.co.uk)
With the first direct-to-DVD-exclusive-to-Tesco movie out today (the first of many, they plan), I wound up stumbling across this article (from last month) which goes behind the scenes on said film, as well as hinting more broadly at the supermarket's plans. Quite interesting, even if the film -- a Jackie Collins adaptation -- holds very little interest in itself.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
TV
Dexter
4x09 Hungry Man
I managed to guess the revelation Deb had last episode, but I didn't see that final twist coming. (Apologies if this is vague -- trying to keep it spoiler free.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Documentary
With highlights of the concert itself (yes, the one I watched yesterday), plus interviews with many of the acts about the significance/importance of Freddie, Queen, this concert and AIDS.
(Today was Freddie's birthday, incidentally, which I'd like to claim I knew before choosing to watch these but... I didn't.)
Would I Lie To You?
4x07 (3/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
4x09 Hungry Man
I managed to guess the revelation Deb had last episode, but I didn't see that final twist coming. (Apologies if this is vague -- trying to keep it spoiler free.
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert Documentary
With highlights of the concert itself (yes, the one I watched yesterday), plus interviews with many of the acts about the significance/importance of Freddie, Queen, this concert and AIDS.
(Today was Freddie's birthday, incidentally, which I'd like to claim I knew before choosing to watch these but... I didn't.)
Would I Lie To You?
4x07 (3/9/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
The classic Doctor Who monster that terrified young John Barrowman by Carole E. Barrowman
(from io9)
Renamed Dredd wants to lure you in with new title, dark story by Nathalie Caron
(from Blastr)
That's Judge Dredd to you and I. And that's not a good move. I know titles shouldn't really matter, but now it sounds like a crap horror with a 'cleverly' misspelt title. And it's needless -- are people really so stupid as to think "the old film was rubbish, so the new one must be, even though it has no relation besides the same character"? Really? And that's if they even remember a near-20-years-old flop.
All that aside, the rest of the news about this project does sound promising. Fingers crossed...
Ridley Scott Talks Alien Prequels by Adam Quigley
(from /Film)
More hints emerge about Scott's plans for the two new Alien prequels. Not sure if I think it sounds intriguing or franchise-ruining.
The full interview from which the quotes come is here, in which Scott talks about his whole career, the reception and forthcoming Director's Cut of Robin Hood, and generally sounds a bit too self-agrandising.
(from io9)
Carole Barrowman talks about growing up as a fan of Doctor Who alongside her younger brother John — who became famous as the Doctor's sexiest companion, Captain Jack Harkness, in this excerpt from the anthology Chicks Dig Time Lords.Do note, John didn't become famous as Captain Jack in this anthology. Just in case you read the sentence as it was written.
Renamed Dredd wants to lure you in with new title, dark story by Nathalie Caron
(from Blastr)
That's Judge Dredd to you and I. And that's not a good move. I know titles shouldn't really matter, but now it sounds like a crap horror with a 'cleverly' misspelt title. And it's needless -- are people really so stupid as to think "the old film was rubbish, so the new one must be, even though it has no relation besides the same character"? Really? And that's if they even remember a near-20-years-old flop.
All that aside, the rest of the news about this project does sound promising. Fingers crossed...
Ridley Scott Talks Alien Prequels by Adam Quigley
(from /Film)
More hints emerge about Scott's plans for the two new Alien prequels. Not sure if I think it sounds intriguing or franchise-ruining.
The full interview from which the quotes come is here, in which Scott talks about his whole career, the reception and forthcoming Director's Cut of Robin Hood, and generally sounds a bit too self-agrandising.
this week on 100 Films
3 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Dragonslayer (1981)
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007)
Terminator Salvation: Director's Cut (2009)
You may also have noticed we passed into September this week. Ah, the bliss of children finally back in school. But it also meant it was time for the August update -- also blissful, in its own way.
More next Sunday.
Dragonslayer (1981)
a little scrappy, in a way — the narrative, the acting, the effects — and yet, for that, it’s a minor treat... as someone who in his childhood watched many examples of this kind of film on video from the small rental place in town, it fits nostalgically into that era. And there’s a lot to be said for nostalgia.
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007)
allegedly based on Susan Cooper’s five-volume fantasy series, The Dark is Rising, and specifically the second novel, The Dark is Rising, changes from book to screen abound... the lead character is changed to an ex-pat American, because, of course, Americans would never go to see a fantasy movie starring a British kid.
Terminator Salvation: Director's Cut (2009)
it turns out McG is a surprisingly good director — he certainly does better work than the cheap hack job Jonathan Mostow made of Terminator 3. I doubt everyone agrees on this point, but whatever else you may wish to say about McG, he knows how to put an action sequence together. Most of the time.
You may also have noticed we passed into September this week. Ah, the bliss of children finally back in school. But it also meant it was time for the August update -- also blissful, in its own way.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 September 2010
TV
The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness
Plus most of the DVD extras, mainly Freddie montages from the first half of the show.
Sadly, said first half isn't on the DVD (it was included on previous VHS releases), not to mention the deletion of Innuendo and cropping the picture to widescreen. Ho hum.
Plus most of the DVD extras, mainly Freddie montages from the first half of the show.
Sadly, said first half isn't on the DVD (it was included on previous VHS releases), not to mention the deletion of Innuendo and cropping the picture to widescreen. Ho hum.
Friday, 3 September 2010
TV
Dexter
4x08 Road Kill
Mountain Gorilla
Part 1 Kingdom in the Clouds
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
4x08 Road Kill
Mountain Gorilla
Part 1 Kingdom in the Clouds
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
It's Official: Duke Nukem Forever Coming From Gearbox Software by Michael McWhertor
(from Kotaku)
Christ, this has been in development since I was a proper gamer -- and that's many years ago indeed.
Jane Espenson tells us about Torchwood's 'intense' next season by Thomas Mill
(from Blastr)
More tidbits emerge...
(from Kotaku)
Christ, this has been in development since I was a proper gamer -- and that's many years ago indeed.
Jane Espenson tells us about Torchwood's 'intense' next season by Thomas Mill
(from Blastr)
More tidbits emerge...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
As if last week's jump wasn't enough, here's one that's even bigger (in some regards, anyway). Hurrah! Should begin to quieten down again now though. These things cost money y'know.
Number of titles in collection: 1,217 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,109 [up 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 108 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,975 [up 16]
Number of films in collection: 1,276 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,205 [up 10]
Statistic of the week:
Number of titles in the 'Thriller' genre:
178
(14.6% of the total)
'Thriller' is my second-largest genre. (I've previously covered the largest, Drama, and two of the smallest, Anime and Music. Incidentally, the once-king 'Action' has slipped all the way to fourth. Maybe I grew up or something.) With several new titles supplementing Thriller's ranks this week, it seemed as good a time as any to highlight it.
See you next week, faithful reader.
As if last week's jump wasn't enough, here's one that's even bigger (in some regards, anyway). Hurrah! Should begin to quieten down again now though. These things cost money y'know.
Number of titles in collection: 1,217 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,109 [up 4]
Of which Blu-rays: 108 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,975 [up 16]
Number of films in collection: 1,276 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,205 [up 10]
Statistic of the week:
Number of titles in the 'Thriller' genre:
178
(14.6% of the total)
'Thriller' is my second-largest genre. (I've previously covered the largest, Drama, and two of the smallest, Anime and Music. Incidentally, the once-king 'Action' has slipped all the way to fourth. Maybe I grew up or something.) With several new titles supplementing Thriller's ranks this week, it seemed as good a time as any to highlight it.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
TV
Grandma's House
1x04 The day Simon decided he was forlorn
Every episode, I love this series a little bit more. I was going to quote some more excellent lines, but in the end there were just too many.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x04 The day Simon decided he was forlorn
Every episode, I love this series a little bit more. I was going to quote some more excellent lines, but in the end there were just too many.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
TV
Dragons' Den
8x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x04 Be Our Guests
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x04 Be Our Guests
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
The Stig. He’s ours by Andy Wilman
(from Transmission blog at the Top Gear official site)
As the BBC lose the court case to keep the Stig's identity secret to the money-grabbing fun-spoilers at HarperCollins, it's worth remembering why the defence of this seemingly inconsequential little bit of TV silliness did actually matter.
(from Transmission blog at the Top Gear official site)
As the BBC lose the court case to keep the Stig's identity secret to the money-grabbing fun-spoilers at HarperCollins, it's worth remembering why the defence of this seemingly inconsequential little bit of TV silliness did actually matter.
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
TV
Agatha Christie's Marple
5x01 The Pale Horse
A Bank Holiday means ITV trot out a Marple; one that was probably filmed half a decade ago, knowing them. It's also not adapted from a Marple story, as per about half the episodes (it seems).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
5x01 The Pale Horse
A Bank Holiday means ITV trot out a Marple; one that was probably filmed half a decade ago, knowing them. It's also not adapted from a Marple story, as per about half the episodes (it seems).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Articles
Review: CLiNT Magazine #1 by Danny Graydon
(from Bleeding Cool)
Review of Mark Millar's attempt to bring comics back to the British mainstream -- essentially, by packaging a few that are either written by star-studded names or tied to successful movies in which a bunch of lad's mag content. Hopefully it has potential -- the basic idea of selling comics into the mainstream has legs -- but it sounds like a faltering start.
Of course, the alternative perspective is that all the lad's mag twaddle that doesn't appeal to people with taste who already enjoy comics will appeal to the kind of people who don't read comics but might be persuaded to, and so it'll hit that market right on the nose, while comics fans will buy it and ignore the laddish bits. What you're still missing are the audience who aren't adverse to comics but have grown beyond the level of a particularly filthy 13-year-old boy.
Maybe if CLiNT's a success someone will try another new magazine aimed at them. Fingers crossed.
(from Bleeding Cool)
Review of Mark Millar's attempt to bring comics back to the British mainstream -- essentially, by packaging a few that are either written by star-studded names or tied to successful movies in which a bunch of lad's mag content. Hopefully it has potential -- the basic idea of selling comics into the mainstream has legs -- but it sounds like a faltering start.
Of course, the alternative perspective is that all the lad's mag twaddle that doesn't appeal to people with taste who already enjoy comics will appeal to the kind of people who don't read comics but might be persuaded to, and so it'll hit that market right on the nose, while comics fans will buy it and ignore the laddish bits. What you're still missing are the audience who aren't adverse to comics but have grown beyond the level of a particularly filthy 13-year-old boy.
Maybe if CLiNT's a success someone will try another new magazine aimed at them. Fingers crossed.
Monday, 30 August 2010
TV
The Deep
Part 4 Everything Put Together Falls Apart
As full of codswallop as The Deep is, I do quite like its structure: it's a five-part story, yes, but each episode also manages to present a fairly self-contained, almost stand-alone chunk of this longer narrative. That's quite neat.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x14 The Perfect Week
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Vexed
1x03 Episode 3 [season finale]
Well, in spite of what the Radio Times had to say, I enjoyed that. Here's hoping for a second run.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Part 4 Everything Put Together Falls Apart
As full of codswallop as The Deep is, I do quite like its structure: it's a five-part story, yes, but each episode also manages to present a fairly self-contained, almost stand-alone chunk of this longer narrative. That's quite neat.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x14 The Perfect Week
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Vexed
1x03 Episode 3 [season finale]
Well, in spite of what the Radio Times had to say, I enjoyed that. Here's hoping for a second run.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
BBC's Sherlock to return in 2011 by Colin Daniels & Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)
The return of Sherlock has already been announced, this just confirms the already-suspected format (another three 90-minuters) and already-suspected time (in a year). The real news here is that Luther has managed to earn itself another run. Be interesting to see how they get out of that cliffhanger, and where they take the characters from there.
(from Digital Spy)
The return of Sherlock has already been announced, this just confirms the already-suspected format (another three 90-minuters) and already-suspected time (in a year). The real news here is that Luther has managed to earn itself another run. Be interesting to see how they get out of that cliffhanger, and where they take the characters from there.
Sunday, 29 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x07 Slack Tide
That was probably the most uneventful, borderline-dull episode of Dexter ever. Apart from the nice twist at the end, that is, even if I did see it coming.
Who Do You Think You Are?
7x06 Alexander Armstrong
I don't normally watch this (as you may've noticed from its near total absence from this blog), but this one was meant to be rather good. It certainly has a surprising, quite extraordinary ending.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x06 (27/8/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
4x07 Slack Tide
That was probably the most uneventful, borderline-dull episode of Dexter ever. Apart from the nice twist at the end, that is, even if I did see it coming.
Who Do You Think You Are?
7x06 Alexander Armstrong
I don't normally watch this (as you may've noticed from its near total absence from this blog), but this one was meant to be rather good. It certainly has a surprising, quite extraordinary ending.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x06 (27/8/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Next series of Doctor Who to be split transmission (from the BBC Press Office)
and
Live blog: Doctor Who Masterclass by Neil Wilkes (from Digital Spy)
Today's big TV news, then: the next series of Doctor Who will be split in two, with the first seven episodes to air from Easter (when the whole series has aired since the revival), followed by the remaining six in the Autumn, and the regular Christmas special. It seems to have divided opinion, but I quite like it.
While it's been nice to a large, unbroken 13-episode run, this means (as Moffat noted) that kids (and, indeed, fans) will never be a few months away from new Who on the telly, and that we get two season openers and two season finales every year. I hope this doesn't mean they go overboard on the Great Big End Of The Universe finales we've had for all five series so far, though; but it does mean an extra promotional push, which is always a good thing -- it attracts new viewers. Plus Who surely works better as the nights are drawing in, rather than when the distractions of sunny evenings are beginning to open up.
Also worth a quick watch is this two minute video of Moffat making the announcement. In it he mentions something no news article I've seen has covered: that we shouldn't think of this as "one series split in two" but as "two separate series". He has a point when he says that 13 eps of Who is two series compared to most UK shows, true; but, more interestingly (from a fan point of view) will this mean they're branded and released as Series Six and Series Seven? Or are his words here the same as when he called Series Five Series One, and they'll just get released as Series Six Part One & Series Six Part Two (or just the Complete Series Six)?
I know it doesn't really matter, especially to the casual viewer, but as a fan it's the kind of thing we ponder. Well, I ponder.
and
Live blog: Doctor Who Masterclass by Neil Wilkes (from Digital Spy)
Today's big TV news, then: the next series of Doctor Who will be split in two, with the first seven episodes to air from Easter (when the whole series has aired since the revival), followed by the remaining six in the Autumn, and the regular Christmas special. It seems to have divided opinion, but I quite like it.
While it's been nice to a large, unbroken 13-episode run, this means (as Moffat noted) that kids (and, indeed, fans) will never be a few months away from new Who on the telly, and that we get two season openers and two season finales every year. I hope this doesn't mean they go overboard on the Great Big End Of The Universe finales we've had for all five series so far, though; but it does mean an extra promotional push, which is always a good thing -- it attracts new viewers. Plus Who surely works better as the nights are drawing in, rather than when the distractions of sunny evenings are beginning to open up.
Also worth a quick watch is this two minute video of Moffat making the announcement. In it he mentions something no news article I've seen has covered: that we shouldn't think of this as "one series split in two" but as "two separate series". He has a point when he says that 13 eps of Who is two series compared to most UK shows, true; but, more interestingly (from a fan point of view) will this mean they're branded and released as Series Six and Series Seven? Or are his words here the same as when he called Series Five Series One, and they'll just get released as Series Six Part One & Series Six Part Two (or just the Complete Series Six)?
I know it doesn't really matter, especially to the casual viewer, but as a fan it's the kind of thing we ponder. Well, I ponder.
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and it was...
Snake Eyes (1998)
More next Sunday.
Snake Eyes (1998)
I always like a bit of noir. Snake Eyes fits the bill, with ‘heroic’ characters of questionable morality, voluptuous femme fatales, vicious villains, double dealings, punch-ups in shadowy alleys, and dozens of other generic signifiers that I’ll leave it for you to discover and/or remember. I was rather surprised to discover it wasn’t on Wikipedia’s era-encompassing list of film noir (until I added it)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
TV
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Part 4 (of 4)
Proms 2010
Prom 49 A Celebration of Rodgers and Hammerstein
The full programme for this Prom can be found online here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Part 4 (of 4)
Proms 2010
Prom 49 A Celebration of Rodgers and Hammerstein
The full programme for this Prom can be found online here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
5 Annoying Trends That Make Every Movie Look the Same by Dan Seitz
(from Cracked.com)
Funny, but true.
(from Cracked.com)
Funny, but true.
Friday, 27 August 2010
Films
The Met Ball (2010)
[#88a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Short companion piece to The September Issue, covering the organisation of 2007's New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, aka the Met Ball.
[#88a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Short companion piece to The September Issue, covering the organisation of 2007's New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, aka the Met Ball.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
As mentioned last week, a large number of DVDs are now turning up for a nice big jump. And there's still a lot more to come. This batch includes my 100th Blu-ray -- that's only taken me just over a year, then. It was The Inglorious Bastards, if you're interested.
Number of titles in collection: 1,207 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 102 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 2,959 [up 18]
Number of films in collection: 1,265 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,195 [up 19]
Statistic of the week:
Total running time of collection (approx.):
208 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 3 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
As mentioned last week, a large number of DVDs are now turning up for a nice big jump. And there's still a lot more to come. This batch includes my 100th Blu-ray -- that's only taken me just over a year, then. It was The Inglorious Bastards, if you're interested.
Number of titles in collection: 1,207 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,105 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 102 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 2,959 [up 18]
Number of films in collection: 1,265 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,195 [up 19]
Statistic of the week:
Total running time of collection (approx.):
208 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 3 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Articles
How cute – Star Wars meets Winnie the Pooh
(from Live for Films)
Does what it says there, like. There's also a few not pictured.
(from Live for Films)
Does what it says there, like. There's also a few not pictured.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
TV
Grandma's House
1x03 The day Simon announced that he was in control of the Universe
Perhaps the best episode yet. After my initial doubts, this has certainly settled into its own, rather good, rhythm.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vexed
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x03 The day Simon announced that he was in control of the Universe
Perhaps the best episode yet. After my initial doubts, this has certainly settled into its own, rather good, rhythm.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vexed
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
TV
The Deep
Part 3 Ghosts of the Deep
Over halfway through now... thank God...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Part 3 (of 4)
That Mitchell and Webb Look
4x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
Part 3 Ghosts of the Deep
Over halfway through now... thank God...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Part 3 (of 4)
That Mitchell and Webb Look
4x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
Articles
Award-Winning Anime Director Satoshi Kon Passes Away
(from Anime News Network)
I have to admit, I didn't recognise his name when I saw it as the top twitter trend earlier tonight. But I do recognise the names of everything he's directed, all highly-acclaimed productions -- and, it seems to me, it's not often that everything someone's done is well-thought-of. Not to mention the fact that he was just 47, which is too young. RIP.
Take That, Theatrical Re-Release! Avatar Special Edition DVD Will Feature Sixteen Minutes of New Footage by Russ Fischer
(from /Film)
Clearly Cameron & co aren't happy with the couple of billion dollars Avatar has raked in with its original theatrical run and first DVD/BD release -- there's got to be a slightly-longer theatrical re-release, and a slightly-longer-again- DVD/BD re-release, and no doubt a slightly-changed-again 3D Blu-ray release even further down the line. Maybe they're aiming for trillions now...
(from Anime News Network)
I have to admit, I didn't recognise his name when I saw it as the top twitter trend earlier tonight. But I do recognise the names of everything he's directed, all highly-acclaimed productions -- and, it seems to me, it's not often that everything someone's done is well-thought-of. Not to mention the fact that he was just 47, which is too young. RIP.
Take That, Theatrical Re-Release! Avatar Special Edition DVD Will Feature Sixteen Minutes of New Footage by Russ Fischer
(from /Film)
Clearly Cameron & co aren't happy with the couple of billion dollars Avatar has raked in with its original theatrical run and first DVD/BD release -- there's got to be a slightly-longer theatrical re-release, and a slightly-longer-again- DVD/BD re-release, and no doubt a slightly-changed-again 3D Blu-ray release even further down the line. Maybe they're aiming for trillions now...
Monday, 23 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x06 If I Had a Hammer
Halfway. I'd intended to make this season last a little while... Oops.
Dragons' Den
8x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
4x06 If I Had a Hammer
Halfway. I'd intended to make this season last a little while... Oops.
Dragons' Den
8x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
'Ground Zero mosque'? The reality is less provocative by Charlie Brooker
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Insightful and amusing, as always.
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Insightful and amusing, as always.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x05 Dirty Harry
This season of Dexter is certainly managing an above-average number of twists and surprises, what with the ending to the previous episode and now this one. (UK pace viewers can find out in about three and four weeks.)
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x03 The Dining Room Curtains
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
4x05 Dirty Harry
This season of Dexter is certainly managing an above-average number of twists and surprises, what with the ending to the previous episode and now this one. (UK pace viewers can find out in about three and four weeks.)
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x03 The Dining Room Curtains
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Games
Tales of Monkey Island
Chapter 1 Launch of the Screaming Narwhal
The fifth Monkey Island game has been out for a long while now (over a year -- crikey, really?!), and I've even had the DVD version for a few weeks, so I'm not quite sure why it's taken me so long to get round to playing it. Expectation, I suppose -- I've loved the Monkey Island games for as long as I've been using computers; they're a part of my childhood, and my adolescence, and they're excellent -- who knew if this could live up to it?
I shouldn't have worried though, because it's brilliant. Not all of it -- the control method is frequently awkward (though as this isn't a fast-paced pixel-specific kind of game that's an irritant rather than major flaw), and there's a pair of sections that rival the Doctor Who Adventure Games for mind-numbing easily-failed repetitive boredom.
But by far the majority is entertaining, brain-taxing (in a very good way), and funny too. Hurrah! In fact, it was so good I played it all in one sitting -- which lasted about four hours (I'm sure it could be completed much faster, but I enjoy exploring everything and working through every dialogue tree that I can manage).
And there's four more episodes to go -- even better! Not to mention that it seems to have been a huge success. Dare we hope for a Monkey Island 6? I hope we don't have to wait as long (nine years!) next time.
Chapter 1 Launch of the Screaming Narwhal
The fifth Monkey Island game has been out for a long while now (over a year -- crikey, really?!), and I've even had the DVD version for a few weeks, so I'm not quite sure why it's taken me so long to get round to playing it. Expectation, I suppose -- I've loved the Monkey Island games for as long as I've been using computers; they're a part of my childhood, and my adolescence, and they're excellent -- who knew if this could live up to it?
I shouldn't have worried though, because it's brilliant. Not all of it -- the control method is frequently awkward (though as this isn't a fast-paced pixel-specific kind of game that's an irritant rather than major flaw), and there's a pair of sections that rival the Doctor Who Adventure Games for mind-numbing easily-failed repetitive boredom.
But by far the majority is entertaining, brain-taxing (in a very good way), and funny too. Hurrah! In fact, it was so good I played it all in one sitting -- which lasted about four hours (I'm sure it could be completed much faster, but I enjoy exploring everything and working through every dialogue tree that I can manage).
And there's four more episodes to go -- even better! Not to mention that it seems to have been a huge success. Dare we hope for a Monkey Island 6? I hope we don't have to wait as long (nine years!) next time.
this week on 100 Films
3 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Final Destination 3 (2006)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Matchstick Men (2003)
More next Sunday.
Final Destination 3 (2006)
what of The Point: the deaths? Some are moderately inventive, and one or two even provoked a crumb of the intended amusement, but somehow it didn’t click as it was clearly intended to (i.e. more with the humour of the second than the fear of the first).
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The whole film is a grab-bag of filmmaking styles, techniques and modes, thrown together with a gleeful abandon. Tarantino uses what he wants when he wants it, sometimes for no reason at all, and with no eye to creating a stylistic whole.
Matchstick Men (2003)
Matchstick Men ends with a twist. One of those great big changes-everything-you’ve-just-seen numbers that have a habit of making a film notorious. I’m almost loathe to mention it, because I’ve never read a review that mentions it. Maybe they’re playing along trying to keep the secret. But not me, because I bloody hated it. The twist, that is. The rest of the film is pretty good
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x04 Dex Takes a Holiday
The Making of King Arthur
Nothing to do with the recent(-ish) film, everything to do with how the Normans appropriated and developed the myth (and what happened to it over the next couple of centuries). Written and presented by Simon Armitage, who seems distinctly odd and a little self-centred. But then he is a poet.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Proms 2010
Prom 1 The First Night of the Proms: Symphony of a Thousand
Every year, I intend to watch or listen to more of the Proms. Last year I managed one (and a half); this year, so far, none. But this -- more properly known as Mahler's Symphony No.8 -- was about to disappear from my iPlayer downloads, so... (If anyone's interested, the full programme can be read here.)
I've also got Prom 2, The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, but that also disappears tomorrow and it's five hours long. Not looking so good.
Would I Lie To You?
4x05 (20/8/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
4x04 Dex Takes a Holiday
The Making of King Arthur
Nothing to do with the recent(-ish) film, everything to do with how the Normans appropriated and developed the myth (and what happened to it over the next couple of centuries). Written and presented by Simon Armitage, who seems distinctly odd and a little self-centred. But then he is a poet.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Proms 2010
Prom 1 The First Night of the Proms: Symphony of a Thousand
Every year, I intend to watch or listen to more of the Proms. Last year I managed one (and a half); this year, so far, none. But this -- more properly known as Mahler's Symphony No.8 -- was about to disappear from my iPlayer downloads, so... (If anyone's interested, the full programme can be read here.)
I've also got Prom 2, The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, but that also disappears tomorrow and it's five hours long. Not looking so good.
Would I Lie To You?
4x05 (20/8/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
So Bryan Singer just called regarding Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class... I'm quite excited now. by Harry Knowles
(from Ain't It Cool News)
Ah AICN, still with their amateurish design and useless headlines. They do get good scoops though, and here's a great one -- or, rather, few -- about the forthcoming fourth (or fifth, if you count Wolverine) X-Men film. It's going to be set in the '60s, with a young, walking, full-head-of-hair-owning Charles Xavier setting up the titular mutant supergroup with an equally young Magneto.
Even more new details in the article.
(from Ain't It Cool News)
Ah AICN, still with their amateurish design and useless headlines. They do get good scoops though, and here's a great one -- or, rather, few -- about the forthcoming fourth (or fifth, if you count Wolverine) X-Men film. It's going to be set in the '60s, with a young, walking, full-head-of-hair-owning Charles Xavier setting up the titular mutant supergroup with an equally young Magneto.
Even more new details in the article.
Friday, 20 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x03 Blinded By the Light
I believe it's tonight season four started on FX over here. Tum tee tum...
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Part 2 (of 4)
4x03 Blinded By the Light
I believe it's tonight season four started on FX over here. Tum tee tum...
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Part 2 (of 4)
Articles
The lexicography of Starbucks by Jon Kelly
(from BBC News Magazine)
Ultraviolet light reveals how ancient Greek statues really looked by Esther Inglis-Arkell
(from io9)
Well I never.
(from BBC News Magazine)
An English professor's stubborn refusal to use a coffee chain's terminology has struck a chord around the world. But why are brands so keen to impose their jargon on us?...
Tony Thorne, King's College London's former language centre head... believes the impact of such marketing techniques is insidious. "Some of this stuff is ludicrous in its complexity," he says... "It's intended to bamboozle and intimidate. I see it as a form of corporate bullying."
Ultraviolet light reveals how ancient Greek statues really looked by Esther Inglis-Arkell
(from io9)
Well I never.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Nothing this week. Not a sausage. I currently have quite a number of DVDs and BDs on their way from various places around the globe; I imagine they'll all turn up in one batch, just... because...
Number of titles in collection: 1,201 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 99 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 2,941 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,258 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,176 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Collections of short films:
12
(1.0% of the total)
I don't actually have a total for the number of short films I own across these collections (and the odd couple on other sets too). Maybe I'll make that a stat-creating task for the future...
See you next week, faithful reader.
Nothing this week. Not a sausage. I currently have quite a number of DVDs and BDs on their way from various places around the globe; I imagine they'll all turn up in one batch, just... because...
Number of titles in collection: 1,201 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 99 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 2,941 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,258 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,176 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Collections of short films:
12
(1.0% of the total)
I don't actually have a total for the number of short films I own across these collections (and the odd couple on other sets too). Maybe I'll make that a stat-creating task for the future...
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Articles
Box Office Bob-omb: 5 Reasons Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Failed To Find An Audience by Josh Tyler
(from Cinema Blend)
First 100 days: David Cameron and Nick Clegg lose buddy movie script by Marina Hyde
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Star Wars on Blu-ray: George, don't do that… by Joe Utichi
(from Film Blog at guardian.co.uk)
Turns out George Lucas isn't just a fan-irritater with his CGI'd-up Star Wars 'special' editions, but also a great big hypocrite:
(from Cinema Blend)
Here's what it all comes down to: There were big expectations for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but only from the handful of people who'd already seen it. But it was always a movie without a specific audience. It's a broad movie built on a lot of different niche elements, and as much as we'd like to believe moviegoers are open-minded enough to step outside their comfort zone, most of the time they won't. The mistake was in thinking that all the different audiences Scott Pilgrim speaks to were the same audience, when they're not.
First 100 days: David Cameron and Nick Clegg lose buddy movie script by Marina Hyde
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
if even the terminally artless wing of the Conservative party are now viewing the coalition through the prism of Hollywood movies, the rest of us will be miles ahead. We can see that what we are dealing with is a malfunctioning buddy movie.
Star Wars on Blu-ray: George, don't do that… by Joe Utichi
(from Film Blog at guardian.co.uk)
Turns out George Lucas isn't just a fan-irritater with his CGI'd-up Star Wars 'special' editions, but also a great big hypocrite:
A 1988 congressional hearing heard that colourising old black-and-white films would constitute "destruction of our film heritage". The speaker's statement continued: "In the future it will become easier for old negatives to become lost and be 'replaced' by new altered negatives. This would be a great loss to our society. Our cultural history must not be allowed to be rewritten."
It's hard to believe now, but that speaker was George Lucas.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
TV
Grandma's House
1x02 The day Simon decided it might be a nice idea to surprise his mother with a gift
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Normans
Part 3 Normans of the South [final episode]
I've said all I need to about this series, really -- the concluding part is just as good as the first two.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vexed
1x01 Episode 1
In their review, the Radio Times seemed to imply this was the most horrendous thing to blight our screens for decades. Conversely, I really enjoyed it. It's not flawless, but mostly it's entertaining, funny, and I think most of the bits that RT complained about were actually misinterpreted by them.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x02 The day Simon decided it might be a nice idea to surprise his mother with a gift
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Normans
Part 3 Normans of the South [final episode]
I've said all I need to about this series, really -- the concluding part is just as good as the first two.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Vexed
1x01 Episode 1
In their review, the Radio Times seemed to imply this was the most horrendous thing to blight our screens for decades. Conversely, I really enjoyed it. It's not flawless, but mostly it's entertaining, funny, and I think most of the bits that RT complained about were actually misinterpreted by them.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
TV
The Deep
Part 2 Into the Belly of the Beast
Still risible. It looks like it might have enough central plot to sustain a two-hour film, which has then been padded with problem-of-the-episode bits and dull emotional subplots to make a five-hour series. And the problems are compounded by poor dialogue, stupid characters, illogical plot jumps, and weak acting.
I'm beginning to wonder if it was written as a deliberately bad B-movie-style kind of thing, before the director & cast took it seriously. I hope for the writer(s)'s sake it was...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Dragons' Den
8x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
That Mitchell and Webb Look
4x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x04 (13/8/10 edition)
Part 2 Into the Belly of the Beast
Still risible. It looks like it might have enough central plot to sustain a two-hour film, which has then been padded with problem-of-the-episode bits and dull emotional subplots to make a five-hour series. And the problems are compounded by poor dialogue, stupid characters, illogical plot jumps, and weak acting.
I'm beginning to wonder if it was written as a deliberately bad B-movie-style kind of thing, before the director & cast took it seriously. I hope for the writer(s)'s sake it was...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Dragons' Den
8x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
That Mitchell and Webb Look
4x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x04 (13/8/10 edition)
Articles
The greatest rant you'll see this week: World War II is full of plot holes, and the writers should all be fired by Charlie Jane Anders
(from io9)
Saw this a little while ago, forgot to mention it. It's very funny. The full rant can be found here.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Lamentable Weekend Gross — what happened? by Cyriaque Lamar
(from io9)
Geeks don't equal cash, as we've seen. This suggests three things that may have gone wrong, complete with amusing video.
(from io9)
Saw this a little while ago, forgot to mention it. It's very funny. The full rant can be found here.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Lamentable Weekend Gross — what happened? by Cyriaque Lamar
(from io9)
Geeks don't equal cash, as we've seen. This suggests three things that may have gone wrong, complete with amusing video.
Monday, 16 August 2010
The World at War Blu-ray is a travesty
I think I may have bemoaned this in the past, but my anger has been provoked again, so here we go.
A quick summary: The World at War is a classic documentary series about World War 2. It was made in 4:3 (fullscreen). The forthcoming remastered DVD and Blu-ray has cropped it -- i.e. cut out a significant chunk of the image -- to 16:9 (widescreen).
That's not on.
The company behind it, Fremantle (also behind plenty of other pop culture travesties, like everything that stars Simon Cowell), have recently (or, recently enough that I've only just noticed) issued their reasons for this bastardisation. Essentially, "because 4:3 is old and 16:9 is modern". They have more specifics than that, but they're all rubbish.
Normally I don't like Amazon reviews about an unreleased product that the reviewer hasn't seen/read/heard... but sometimes there are exceptions, and this is one of them -- especially when there are a bunch of misguided five-star reviews saying how great it is the series is now in widescreen. So I've joined the one-star review crowd.
My review can be found here. I'd copy & paste it, but I'd hate for Amazon to delete it on the assumption I'd nicked it from my own blog (as it were). I'd appreciate if you'd go click "Yes" at the bottom, to say it was helpful, even if you don't really care. I appreciate that by posting it here I'm also chancing people clicking "No" just for the hell of it, but... well, please don't.
And it would also be good to click "Yes" on these two well-informed reviews as well. And, just for good measure, a "No" on this one and, particularly, this one (as you can see in the comments, the guy who wrote the latter is a right idiot).
You're allowed to disagree with me, of course, but if you do then (in this instance) you're just plain wrong.
A quick summary: The World at War is a classic documentary series about World War 2. It was made in 4:3 (fullscreen). The forthcoming remastered DVD and Blu-ray has cropped it -- i.e. cut out a significant chunk of the image -- to 16:9 (widescreen).
That's not on.
The company behind it, Fremantle (also behind plenty of other pop culture travesties, like everything that stars Simon Cowell), have recently (or, recently enough that I've only just noticed) issued their reasons for this bastardisation. Essentially, "because 4:3 is old and 16:9 is modern". They have more specifics than that, but they're all rubbish.
Normally I don't like Amazon reviews about an unreleased product that the reviewer hasn't seen/read/heard... but sometimes there are exceptions, and this is one of them -- especially when there are a bunch of misguided five-star reviews saying how great it is the series is now in widescreen. So I've joined the one-star review crowd.
My review can be found here. I'd copy & paste it, but I'd hate for Amazon to delete it on the assumption I'd nicked it from my own blog (as it were). I'd appreciate if you'd go click "Yes" at the bottom, to say it was helpful, even if you don't really care. I appreciate that by posting it here I'm also chancing people clicking "No" just for the hell of it, but... well, please don't.
And it would also be good to click "Yes" on these two well-informed reviews as well. And, just for good measure, a "No" on this one and, particularly, this one (as you can see in the comments, the guy who wrote the latter is a right idiot).
You're allowed to disagree with me, of course, but if you do then (in this instance) you're just plain wrong.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
TV
Dexter
4x01 Living the Dream
Season 4 starts on UK TV sometime this week, I believe -- plus season 5 kicks off before long in the US -- so what better time to get round to it for myself. Somehow I doubt I'll have the patience to make it last 12 weeks, but you never know.
4x01 Living the Dream
Season 4 starts on UK TV sometime this week, I believe -- plus season 5 kicks off before long in the US -- so what better time to get round to it for myself. Somehow I doubt I'll have the patience to make it last 12 weeks, but you never know.
Films
Bride & Prejudice (2004)
[#82 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Final Destination 3 (2006)
[#83 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
[#82 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Final Destination 3 (2006)
[#83 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Articles
Expendables Explode, Eat Pray Love Carbo-Loads, Scott Pilgrim Powers Down by Brandon Gray
(from Box Office Mojo)
So much for all that Comic-Con-based hype, then.
(from Box Office Mojo)
Scott Pilgrim scored a modest estimated $10.5 million [to come 5th for the weekend], which was less than Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist's $11.3 million opening weekend. It also paled compared to the launches of Kick-Ass ($19.8 million) and Zombieland ($24.7 million), among recent fan boy affairs.
So much for all that Comic-Con-based hype, then.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Final Destination 2 (2003)
True Lies (1994)
More next Sunday.
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Final Destination 2 is daft. The concept’s daft, the new additions are daft, the characters are daft, and most of all the deaths are daft. And that’s why it’s an awful lot of fun.
True Lies (1994)
True Lies is unusual on director James Cameron’s CV in that it’s a funny, daft comedy, a spoof of other action films. Where it differs from most spoofs is that it’s also a proper action movie.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
TV
Robin Hood
3x13 Something Worth Fighting For Part 2 [series finale]
And that's that for this version of Robin Hood. It's a shame the series got cancelled after it was made -- a lot of the ending is very definitive, but with the chance of a fourth run they had to leave it open somehow; if the news had come sooner they could've just rounded it off properly. Oh well.
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x02 The Unglamorous Row
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x07 Opposite Numbers [series finale]
And that's Sandbaggers over forever too, sadly -- and on a cliffhanger, damn 'em. Brilliant as ever though. I guess I'll just have to get my hands on Queen & Country for my political/spy fix.
3x13 Something Worth Fighting For Part 2 [series finale]
And that's that for this version of Robin Hood. It's a shame the series got cancelled after it was made -- a lot of the ending is very definitive, but with the chance of a fourth run they had to leave it open somehow; if the news had come sooner they could've just rounded it off properly. Oh well.
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x02 The Unglamorous Row
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x07 Opposite Numbers [series finale]
And that's Sandbaggers over forever too, sadly -- and on a cliffhanger, damn 'em. Brilliant as ever though. I guess I'll just have to get my hands on Queen & Country for my political/spy fix.
Films
Ocean's Eleven (1960)
[#80 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
All those people who say the remake is better... are right.
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)
[#79 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The 6th film in the Rathbone/Bruce series (I've previously reviewed the preceding five). It's a good entry, moving away from the WW2-spying Nazi-fighting tales of the last three films and back towards proper Holmesian detective work. Apparently the next couple are even better, so I look forward to those.
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
[#80 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
All those people who say the remake is better... are right.
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)
[#79 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The 6th film in the Rathbone/Bruce series (I've previously reviewed the preceding five). It's a good entry, moving away from the WW2-spying Nazi-fighting tales of the last three films and back towards proper Holmesian detective work. Apparently the next couple are even better, so I look forward to those.
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Friday, 13 August 2010
TV
How I Met Your Mother
5x12 Girls Vs. Suits
Three recognisable (ish) guest stars, a great big song-and-dance number, and a mother-related plot? That's the kinda palaver you wheel out for a) the first ep back after a Christmas break and b) the 100th episode. And there I was thinking it must've been a sweeps one.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
5x12 Girls Vs. Suits
Three recognisable (ish) guest stars, a great big song-and-dance number, and a mother-related plot? That's the kinda palaver you wheel out for a) the first ep back after a Christmas break and b) the 100th episode. And there I was thinking it must've been a sweeps one.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A variety of sales make this the biggest update for a while; and there's more to come, as a pile of Criterion DVDs and BDs wing their way to me across the Atlantic. Lovely. (Though my bank balance doesn't agree.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,201 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [up 6]
Of which Blu-rays: 99 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,941 [up 9]
Number of films in collection: 1,258 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,176 [up 16]
Statistic of the week:
Titles in regular Amaray cases:
737
(61.4% of the total)
Yep, this is the kind of thing I keep a record of. "Amaray cases", for the uninitiated, are the standard plastic DVD cases that most DVDs come in, especially these days -- Way Back When, when digipacks (i.e. those cardboard fold-out ones) were commonplace for any significant release with more than one disc, and Warner insisted on those dreadful snapper cases, it seemed a worthwhile thing to note. These days, everything comes in a version of Amarays it seems -- you get two or three discs squeezed into regular cases with those stacking systems, or The Bit In The Middle, and whole TV series in those thick ones that hold four or five or six or more discs. Personally, I miss digipacks and all that lovely cardboard, but hey-ho.
What this total doesn't include is boxes with multiple Amarays -- I class those, cunningly, as "box sets" -- or those thin plastic cases you sometimes get, or those thick ones (like you get whole TV series in), or standard Blu-ray cases. I don't know if the latter are being called Amarays (the name originates from the manufacturer/patent holder/something like that of DVD cases), but I just call them Blu-ray Cases, so...
Still awake? No? Well, never mind, it's over now.
See you next week, faithful reader.
A variety of sales make this the biggest update for a while; and there's more to come, as a pile of Criterion DVDs and BDs wing their way to me across the Atlantic. Lovely. (Though my bank balance doesn't agree.)
Number of titles in collection: 1,201 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [up 6]
Of which Blu-rays: 99 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 2,941 [up 9]
Number of films in collection: 1,258 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,176 [up 16]
Statistic of the week:
Titles in regular Amaray cases:
737
(61.4% of the total)
Yep, this is the kind of thing I keep a record of. "Amaray cases", for the uninitiated, are the standard plastic DVD cases that most DVDs come in, especially these days -- Way Back When, when digipacks (i.e. those cardboard fold-out ones) were commonplace for any significant release with more than one disc, and Warner insisted on those dreadful snapper cases, it seemed a worthwhile thing to note. These days, everything comes in a version of Amarays it seems -- you get two or three discs squeezed into regular cases with those stacking systems, or The Bit In The Middle, and whole TV series in those thick ones that hold four or five or six or more discs. Personally, I miss digipacks and all that lovely cardboard, but hey-ho.
What this total doesn't include is boxes with multiple Amarays -- I class those, cunningly, as "box sets" -- or those thin plastic cases you sometimes get, or those thick ones (like you get whole TV series in), or standard Blu-ray cases. I don't know if the latter are being called Amarays (the name originates from the manufacturer/patent holder/something like that of DVD cases), but I just call them Blu-ray Cases, so...
Still awake? No? Well, never mind, it's over now.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
TV
Robin Hood
3x12 Something Worth Fighting For Part 1
Only 14 months after it was actually on, I've finally got round to watching this. I'd forgotten what it was like... which is to say, was the writing and acting always this bad? I swear the villains are straight off CBBC...
3x12 Something Worth Fighting For Part 1
Only 14 months after it was actually on, I've finally got round to watching this. I'd forgotten what it was like... which is to say, was the writing and acting always this bad? I swear the villains are straight off CBBC...
Films
Late Spring (1949)
[#78 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
I got on considerably better with this than I did Tokyo Story a few years ago, though it would be a lie to say I'd had some kind of revelation about the genius of Ozu.
[#78 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
I got on considerably better with this than I did Tokyo Story a few years ago, though it would be a lie to say I'd had some kind of revelation about the genius of Ozu.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
TV
Grandma's House
1x01 The day Simon told his family about his important decision
Former Never Mind the Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell turns his hand to sitcom writing and acting. This sample exchange (from the programme itself; you can view the clip here) sums it up:
Simon: Maybe I'll write something or act a bit.
Grandpa: Oh dear...
Tanya: Act?! You can't act. Can you?
Grandpa: No.
Yet for all that, it ultimately manages a few laughs. I'll stick with it; we'll see how it goes.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Normans
Part 2 Conquest
I don't watch that many documentaries, often put off (as much as anything) by all the talk of pointless camerawork and other OTT visuals. This keeps it simple: presenter, talking, with accompanying period illustrations or other evocative shots. OK, so a lot of the footage has very little to do with what he's talking about, but what are they meant to show? No, this is brilliant, and (based on what I read of other programmes) more documentaries should follow its style.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x06 Who Needs Enemies
This is the penultimate-ever episode of The Sandbaggers, so I'm running out of chances to say this: this series is excellent. If you're at all interested in spy dramas/thrillers or other series of that ilk, it's a must-see.
1x01 The day Simon told his family about his important decision
Former Never Mind the Buzzcocks host Simon Amstell turns his hand to sitcom writing and acting. This sample exchange (from the programme itself; you can view the clip here) sums it up:
Simon: Maybe I'll write something or act a bit.
Grandpa: Oh dear...
Tanya: Act?! You can't act. Can you?
Grandpa: No.
Yet for all that, it ultimately manages a few laughs. I'll stick with it; we'll see how it goes.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Normans
Part 2 Conquest
I don't watch that many documentaries, often put off (as much as anything) by all the talk of pointless camerawork and other OTT visuals. This keeps it simple: presenter, talking, with accompanying period illustrations or other evocative shots. OK, so a lot of the footage has very little to do with what he's talking about, but what are they meant to show? No, this is brilliant, and (based on what I read of other programmes) more documentaries should follow its style.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x06 Who Needs Enemies
This is the penultimate-ever episode of The Sandbaggers, so I'm running out of chances to say this: this series is excellent. If you're at all interested in spy dramas/thrillers or other series of that ilk, it's a must-see.
Articles
Dalek Birthday Cake
(from Geeks are Sexy)
That's... just... wow...
Click to enlarge.
The Tempest – Poster for the new adaption
(from Live for Films)
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but... wow that's a good poster.
Click to enlarge.
(from Geeks are Sexy)
That's... just... wow...
Click to enlarge.
The Tempest – Poster for the new adaption
(from Live for Films)
I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but... wow that's a good poster.
Click to enlarge.
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
TV
The Deep
Part 1 To the Furthest Place
Oh dear. Such a promising idea, wasted with poor writing, unconvincing characters, weak acting, a turgid pace, pointless flashbacks, an implausible set... I laughed out loud several times, usually at the bits that were Deadly Serious. How rubbish. How disappointing. And I'll still watch the rest... all four hours of it... ugh.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x11 Last Cigarette Ever
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x01 The Guarantee
Conversely (to The Deep), this is beautifully written and acted, both funny and real. Super.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Part 1 To the Furthest Place
Oh dear. Such a promising idea, wasted with poor writing, unconvincing characters, weak acting, a turgid pace, pointless flashbacks, an implausible set... I laughed out loud several times, usually at the bits that were Deadly Serious. How rubbish. How disappointing. And I'll still watch the rest... all four hours of it... ugh.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
5x11 Last Cigarette Ever
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Roger & Val Have Just Got In
1x01 The Guarantee
Conversely (to The Deep), this is beautifully written and acted, both funny and real. Super.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Girl quits her job on dry erase board, emails entire office by Leo
(from the Chive)
Read this. Stick with it. It's worth it.
Serious funny business by Will Gompertz
(from Today on BBC News)
On the rise and rise of stand-up comedy.
Sherlock returning for second series by Ryan Love & Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah!
(from the Chive)
Read this. Stick with it. It's worth it.
Serious funny business by Will Gompertz
(from Today on BBC News)
On the rise and rise of stand-up comedy.
Sherlock returning for second series by Ryan Love & Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah!
Monday, 9 August 2010
Articles
Matthew Vaughn Agreed to Direct X-Men: First Class Because He Believes Superhero Movies Will Be Dead Soon by Adam Quigley
(from /Film)
Vaughn speaks with honesty and sense. That said, he may be calling the death a mite too soon -- with Batman 3, The Avengers and a rebooted Spider-Man on the way, amongst others, is the superhero movie really dead just yet? Surely there's a few more years, perhaps half a decade, left at least. I suppose we'll see...
6 ways Torchwood's new season will change everything by Fred Topel (from blastr)
and
Torchwood relaunch is more global by Hanh Nguyen (from Zap2it)
Mostly stuff we've already heard, but a couple of extra bits. I think. When you read enough of these things it becomes hard to know if it's new info or just something you'd assumed already.
(from /Film)
Vaughn speaks with honesty and sense. That said, he may be calling the death a mite too soon -- with Batman 3, The Avengers and a rebooted Spider-Man on the way, amongst others, is the superhero movie really dead just yet? Surely there's a few more years, perhaps half a decade, left at least. I suppose we'll see...
6 ways Torchwood's new season will change everything by Fred Topel (from blastr)
and
Torchwood relaunch is more global by Hanh Nguyen (from Zap2it)
Mostly stuff we've already heard, but a couple of extra bits. I think. When you read enough of these things it becomes hard to know if it's new info or just something you'd assumed already.
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