Christopher and His Kind
Quite good, though I have to say I wasn't that enamoured with Matt Smith in it. Good work from Imogen Poots and Pip Carter though.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x08 Critical Sight
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x15 Day 15
OK, this is definitely the final story arc now... right?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
TV
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 5 (of 5)
As the highlights series reaches its end, we've had clips from every game played except for two. I can only presume Room 101 and What's My Line just weren't funny enough.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x02 Wi-Fight
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Silk
1x04 Episode 4
Tough night for Clive in this episode! I imagine it'll all work out in his favour though, it usually seems to.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
1x02 Episode 2
I won't be surprised if this turns out to be the best thing to come of next year's London Olympics.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Episode 5 (of 5)
As the highlights series reaches its end, we've had clips from every game played except for two. I can only presume Room 101 and What's My Line just weren't funny enough.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x02 Wi-Fight
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Silk
1x04 Episode 4
Tough night for Clive in this episode! I imagine it'll all work out in his favour though, it usually seems to.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Twenty Twelve
1x02 Episode 2
I won't be surprised if this turns out to be the best thing to come of next year's London Olympics.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 21 March 2011
TV
The Event
1x11 And Then There Were More
1x12 Inostranka
A few people still seem to slag off The Event. Not entirely sure why -- it's not the greatest show ever, but it's better than something like FlashForward and it moves at a fair lick. I've missed it a little bit these past three months, and this double-bill return (only a week behind the US, as it turns out) certainly hits the ground running and keeps the pace up, so hurrah.
[Watch And Then There Were More and Inostranka (again) on 4oD.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x20 (11/3/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x14 Recession Proof
Law & Order: UK
4x02 Denial
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes Minister
3x02 The Challenge
1x11 And Then There Were More
1x12 Inostranka
A few people still seem to slag off The Event. Not entirely sure why -- it's not the greatest show ever, but it's better than something like FlashForward and it moves at a fair lick. I've missed it a little bit these past three months, and this double-bill return (only a week behind the US, as it turns out) certainly hits the ground running and keeps the pace up, so hurrah.
[Watch And Then There Were More and Inostranka (again) on 4oD.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x20 (11/3/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x14 Recession Proof
Law & Order: UK
4x02 Denial
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes Minister
3x02 The Challenge
Sunday, 20 March 2011
TV
Family Guy
2x11 A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Bucks
2x12 Fifteen Minutes of Shame
2x13 Road to Rhode Island [2nd watch]
2x14 Let's Go to the Hop
2x15 Dammit Janet!
2x11 A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Bucks
2x12 Fifteen Minutes of Shame
2x13 Road to Rhode Island [2nd watch]
2x14 Let's Go to the Hop
2x15 Dammit Janet!
this week on 100 Films
5 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, including three from 1953 (for no particular reason). And they were...
The Big Heat (1953)
Genevieve (1953)
Let Me In (2010)
Let the Right One In (2008)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Having posted reviews of both Let the Right One In and its remake, I also did a bit of a comparison, which you can read here.
More next Sunday.
The Big Heat (1953)
The cast are excellent. Glenn Ford is a suitably square-jawed lead; Alexander Scourby a detestable gentleman-villain; Lee Marvin a truly brutal thug. The best part goes to Gloria Grahame however, in a role that moves from a ditzy minor broad to so much more. In the performance stakes, it’s certainly her film.
Genevieve (1953)
The titular Genevieve is a classic car — bearing in mind this was made in the early ’50s, we’re talking properly classic — that takes part in a two-day drive from London to Brighton and back again. It’s not a race, though competing friends turn it into one. That’s about the gist of it.
Let Me In (2010)
The nighttime scenes are bathed in the orange glow of street-lighting, a nice choice of colour scheme as it’s evocative of the real world, especially as it’s not unnaturally overdone: the colour is abundant where there is such lighting, but more natural tones are used in forests, etc.
Let the Right One In (2008)
We’re used to vampire films being Dark, visually, due to the necessity of a nighttime setting, but here the snow-covered locale makes most of the night scenes bright and white. Alfredson emphasises this with wide compositions that fill the frame with the white stuff.
Roman Holiday (1953)
Hepburn seems to be effortlessly likeable, and it’s easy to sympathise with the idea that seeing the sights and having fun in an iconic city is a lot more better than meeting a bunch of stuffy old men.
Having posted reviews of both Let the Right One In and its remake, I also did a bit of a comparison, which you can read here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
TV
Comic Relief 2011
The post-midnight bit, obviously, which (unlike Children in Need) actually includes new, good stuff. Particularly liked the celeb version of Newport State of Mind.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Jack and Kevin's Comic Relief Lock In
Comic Relief's regular "the main show's over so here's a pre-recorded clip show" bit, featuring some familiar sketches/sitcom clips alongside some never-shown-on-TV-before bits. Personally I hadn't see the majority, so that was nice.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x08 Episode 8 [series finale]
And that's that. I shan't really miss it, and neither will most people, though it did get better towards the end. Nonetheless, I'm sure it'll be largely forgotten. Some mysteries left hanging though -- damn the makers' assumption they'd get a second run! Maybe someone will answer them at some point, somehow...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
3x01 Equal Opportunities
The post-midnight bit, obviously, which (unlike Children in Need) actually includes new, good stuff. Particularly liked the celeb version of Newport State of Mind.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Jack and Kevin's Comic Relief Lock In
Comic Relief's regular "the main show's over so here's a pre-recorded clip show" bit, featuring some familiar sketches/sitcom clips alongside some never-shown-on-TV-before bits. Personally I hadn't see the majority, so that was nice.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x08 Episode 8 [series finale]
And that's that. I shan't really miss it, and neither will most people, though it did get better towards the end. Nonetheless, I'm sure it'll be largely forgotten. Some mysteries left hanging though -- damn the makers' assumption they'd get a second run! Maybe someone will answer them at some point, somehow...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
3x01 Equal Opportunities
Articles
The First Films by Peter Bogdanovich
(from Blogdanovich)
(from Blogdanovich)
Today is the 116th anniversary of the first day ever a film was shot: March 19, 1895, in Lyon, France.Good piece on this subject, basically.
Friday, 18 March 2011
TV
Comic Relief 2011
Very good one this year, I think -- lots of entertaining sketches and powerful films.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Very good one this year, I think -- lots of entertaining sketches and powerful films.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A couple of numbers go a couple up this week. Lovely.
Number of titles in collection: 1,283 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 182 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,192 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,353 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,737 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A couple of numbers go a couple up this week. Lovely.
Number of titles in collection: 1,283 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 182 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,192 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,353 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,737 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 17 March 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x08 (10/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 4 (of 5)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x07 Instinct: The Sixth Sense 1
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friday Night Dinner
1x03 The Curtains
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x08 (10/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 4 (of 5)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x07 Instinct: The Sixth Sense 1
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friday Night Dinner
1x03 The Curtains
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
TV
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 3 (of 5)
Including Celebrity Juice, which is even worse than I always thought it was, something I didn't think possible. People actually watch this for pleasure? Really? Seriously? Seriously?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy
2x08 I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar [2nd watch]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 4 (of 4)
Very pleased about the winner. Made even better by seeing how annoyed the runner-up was, especially as he clearly thought he was going to win when the final two were announced. (In all honesty, I don't like him at the best of times, but that was especially satisfying.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monroe
1x01 Episode 1
Very good. I can see why there are constant comparisons to House in the press -- it's about a genius doctor, after all -- but they're also a tad unfair, because as a programme it's not really very like House.
I didn't like the music though; bit too far down the jolly route.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Episode 3 (of 5)
Including Celebrity Juice, which is even worse than I always thought it was, something I didn't think possible. People actually watch this for pleasure? Really? Seriously? Seriously?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Family Guy
2x08 I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar [2nd watch]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 4 (of 4)
Very pleased about the winner. Made even better by seeing how annoyed the runner-up was, especially as he clearly thought he was going to win when the final two were announced. (In all honesty, I don't like him at the best of times, but that was especially satisfying.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monroe
1x01 Episode 1
Very good. I can see why there are constant comparisons to House in the press -- it's about a genius doctor, after all -- but they're also a tad unfair, because as a programme it's not really very like House.
I didn't like the music though; bit too far down the jolly route.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
TV
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 2 (of 5)
A very game-show-y episode, in some cases a bit too cut-down. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x06 Knowledge [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x01 Pilot
Hm, well, we'll see.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Silk
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stand Up for the Week
2x01 (12/3/11 edition)
Slightly surprised to see this back. Still not sure if I like it or not.
Though Micky Flanagan's material is typically out of date. A routine about Gok Wan? Really? His show started five years ago and Flanagan begins, "there's this guy on TV now called Gok Wan". Ugh.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Twenty Twelve
1x01 Episode 1
As it turned out, very topical. They couldn't've asked for more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Episode 2 (of 5)
A very game-show-y episode, in some cases a bit too cut-down. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x06 Knowledge [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
$#*! My Dad Says
1x01 Pilot
Hm, well, we'll see.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Silk
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stand Up for the Week
2x01 (12/3/11 edition)
Slightly surprised to see this back. Still not sure if I like it or not.
Though Micky Flanagan's material is typically out of date. A routine about Gok Wan? Really? His show started five years ago and Flanagan begins, "there's this guy on TV now called Gok Wan". Ugh.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Twenty Twelve
1x01 Episode 1
As it turned out, very topical. They couldn't've asked for more.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Quarantine 2 Trailer Goes Viral by Owen Williams
(from Empire)
So the first film was criticised for being a shot-for-shot remake of the original, but the sequel -- sequels of course being known for their repetitive derivativeness -- is nothing like the plot of either the first film or the original's sequel? Mind = blown.
Steven Spielberg on Tintin: ‘It made me more like a painter than ever before’ by Rachel Abramowitz
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times)
A brief, interesting piece on why Spielberg chose motion capture to realise his forthcoming Tintin film.
(from Empire)
So the first film was criticised for being a shot-for-shot remake of the original, but the sequel -- sequels of course being known for their repetitive derivativeness -- is nothing like the plot of either the first film or the original's sequel? Mind = blown.
Steven Spielberg on Tintin: ‘It made me more like a painter than ever before’ by Rachel Abramowitz
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times)
A brief, interesting piece on why Spielberg chose motion capture to realise his forthcoming Tintin film.
Monday, 14 March 2011
TV
24 Hour Panel People
Episode 1 (of 5)
Remember when this happened live? Well now here's the highlights.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x13 Two Stories
An exceptionally entertaining episode, I thought.
Law & Order: UK
4x01 Help
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes Minister
2x07 A Question of Loyalty [season finale]
Episode 1 (of 5)
Remember when this happened live? Well now here's the highlights.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
7x13 Two Stories
An exceptionally entertaining episode, I thought.
Law & Order: UK
4x01 Help
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Yes Minister
2x07 A Question of Loyalty [season finale]
Articles
Interview: Ben Richards, writer/creator of Outcasts by Dan Owen
(from Dan's Media Digest)
A lot of discussion about what did (or didn't) go wrong with Outcasts. I don't agree with a lot of it -- especially what's said in the last two paragraphs -- but it's interesting to see the creator's perspective. (And, in case you haven't heard/guessed, it's been cancelled.)
(from Dan's Media Digest)
A lot of discussion about what did (or didn't) go wrong with Outcasts. I don't agree with a lot of it -- especially what's said in the last two paragraphs -- but it's interesting to see the creator's perspective. (And, in case you haven't heard/guessed, it's been cancelled.)
Sunday, 13 March 2011
TV
Outcasts
1x07 Episode 7
That was actually quite good. Still marred by myriad niggles, but better than most of the series. Too little too late, mind.
The last episode was on tonight. I read it doesn't contain all the answers, mainly because the makers hoped they'd get another series. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
South Riding
Part 3 (of 3)
Well that turned out surprisingly grim...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x07 Episode 7
That was actually quite good. Still marred by myriad niggles, but better than most of the series. Too little too late, mind.
The last episode was on tonight. I read it doesn't contain all the answers, mainly because the makers hoped they'd get another series. Oh well.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
South Riding
Part 3 (of 3)
Well that turned out surprisingly grim...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
Back to just 1 new review being posted on 100 Films in a Year again this week...
Melinda and Melinda (2004)
More (hopefully, more than one) next Sunday.
Melinda and Melinda (2004)
If it wasn’t for the framing device that clearly tells us not only the thematic point of the film but also which bit is the comedy and which the tragedy, I don’t think it would be immediately possible to tell which was which. Indeed, one might think that was Allen’s point: life is neither tragedy nor comedy, but both at the same time, so of course you can’t tell the difference.
More (hopefully, more than one) next Sunday.
Saturday, 12 March 2011
TV
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x14 Day 14
How are there six episodes left?! Surely all is nearly solved? It's ever so tense, exciting and moreish. This is what 24 used to feel like back when it was good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 3 (of 4)
That largely felt like watching a parade of irritating also-rans. Why are some of these people allowed to befoul my television screen? At least watching on iPlayer allows one to fastforward crap 'music' like The Wanted.
Top Gear
16x07 Best of Top Gear
I say I watched this -- I ended up fastforwarding the whole thing as, unlike what the listing said, it wasn't so much "the best of 2010" as "the best of a few week's ago". Indeed, they'd actually taken the start & end of one episode and the middle of another and just glued them together. Lazy. And, when the whole series is still on iPlayer, pointless. There's another "best of" this week -- probably not worth bothering with either.
[Watch it (again), if you really want, in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
2x06 The Quality of Life
1x14 Day 14
How are there six episodes left?! Surely all is nearly solved? It's ever so tense, exciting and moreish. This is what 24 used to feel like back when it was good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 3 (of 4)
That largely felt like watching a parade of irritating also-rans. Why are some of these people allowed to befoul my television screen? At least watching on iPlayer allows one to fastforward crap 'music' like The Wanted.
Top Gear
16x07 Best of Top Gear
I say I watched this -- I ended up fastforwarding the whole thing as, unlike what the listing said, it wasn't so much "the best of 2010" as "the best of a few week's ago". Indeed, they'd actually taken the start & end of one episode and the middle of another and just glued them together. Lazy. And, when the whole series is still on iPlayer, pointless. There's another "best of" this week -- probably not worth bothering with either.
[Watch it (again), if you really want, in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
2x06 The Quality of Life
Films
Let Me In (2010)
[#30 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Having now watched both, and with this one out on DVD & Blu-ray from Monday, I shall aim to have reviews of both up by Sunday midnight. We'll see...
[#30 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Having now watched both, and with this one out on DVD & Blu-ray from Monday, I shall aim to have reviews of both up by Sunday midnight. We'll see...
Friday, 11 March 2011
TV
Due South
3x11 Asylum [2nd watch]
Family Guy
2x03 Da Boom
2x04 Brian in Love
The Graham Norton Show
8x19 (4/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x11 Asylum [2nd watch]
Family Guy
2x03 Da Boom
2x04 Brian in Love
The Graham Norton Show
8x19 (4/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Let the Right One In (2008)
[#29 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
And tomorrow, Hammer's US remake, Let Me In.
[#29 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
And tomorrow, Hammer's US remake, Let Me In.
Articles
10 o'Clock Live: an alternative (comedy) view by Laura Pledger
(from What We've Been Watching... at Radio Times)
10 O'Clock Live is an easy target, really, but this is nonetheless well observed and amusing.
Tarantino 'sues True Blood's Ball over macaws' by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
This is a quite spectacularly odd story.
(from What We've Been Watching... at Radio Times)
10 O'Clock Live is an easy target, really, but this is nonetheless well observed and amusing.
Tarantino 'sues True Blood's Ball over macaws' by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
This is a quite spectacularly odd story.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's updates include a new TV series on Blu-ray, an upgrade of a TV series from DVD to BD, and a BD that isn't out 'til Monday. Shiny.
Number of titles in collection: 1,280 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 179 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,189 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,349 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,737 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's updates include a new TV series on Blu-ray, an upgrade of a TV series from DVD to BD, and a BD that isn't out 'til Monday. Shiny.
Number of titles in collection: 1,280 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 179 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,189 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,349 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,737 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x07 (3/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x06 The Mystery of Healing 2
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Fast and Loose
1x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday Night Dinner
1x02 The Jingle
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Life in Books
Episode 10 Robert Harris and Trinny Woodall (of 10)
While it would be going too far to say everyone's been worth listening to, this has been a consistently interesting series. Some more wouldn't go amiss... though whether the Beeb will consider it or just file it away as part of their "year of reading", who can say.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x07 (3/3/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Extraordinary Dogs
1x06 The Mystery of Healing 2
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Fast and Loose
1x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday Night Dinner
1x02 The Jingle
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Life in Books
Episode 10 Robert Harris and Trinny Woodall (of 10)
While it would be going too far to say everyone's been worth listening to, this has been a consistently interesting series. Some more wouldn't go amiss... though whether the Beeb will consider it or just file it away as part of their "year of reading", who can say.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Guillermo del Toro Confirms He’ll Direct Pacific Rim; Talks Future of At the Mountains of Madness by Matt Goldberg
(from Collider.com)
Following on from yesterday's article, del Toro himself speaks a bit about what went wrong and why there's still a good deal of hope for the project.
Invasion of the stick figures from outer space! by Roger Ebert
(from rogerebert.com)
Ebert's beautifully scathing review of Battle: Los Angeles.
(from Collider.com)
Following on from yesterday's article, del Toro himself speaks a bit about what went wrong and why there's still a good deal of hope for the project.
Invasion of the stick figures from outer space! by Roger Ebert
(from rogerebert.com)
Ebert's beautifully scathing review of Battle: Los Angeles.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
TV
Due South
3x10 Perfect Strangers [2nd watch]
Family Guy
2x05 Love Thy Trophy
2x06 Death is a Bitch
2x07 The King is Dead
In the unlikely event anyone's keeping track, this is where the UK Season 1 DVD comes to an end.
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x13 Day 13
If you've still not watched any of this, start it now and you can watch one a day (which, considering each episode covers a day (more or less) is rather neat) before it disappears from iPlayer. If you like high-quality thrillers or crime drama, you won't regret it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 9 Larry Lamb and Sarah Millican (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x10 Perfect Strangers [2nd watch]
Family Guy
2x05 Love Thy Trophy
2x06 Death is a Bitch
2x07 The King is Dead
In the unlikely event anyone's keeping track, this is where the UK Season 1 DVD comes to an end.
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x13 Day 13
If you've still not watched any of this, start it now and you can watch one a day (which, considering each episode covers a day (more or less) is rather neat) before it disappears from iPlayer. If you like high-quality thrillers or crime drama, you won't regret it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 9 Larry Lamb and Sarah Millican (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Is it fair to blame Universal for the state of the industry today? by Drew McWeeny
(from Motion Captured at HitFix)
In the wake of Universal cancelling Guillermo del Toro's H.P. Lovecraft adaptation, At the Mountains of Madness, McWeeny looks at the reaction from other websites and explores why this decision is regrettable but completely understandable and, actually, not Universal's fault at all. A very interesting piece.
(from Motion Captured at HitFix)
In the wake of Universal cancelling Guillermo del Toro's H.P. Lovecraft adaptation, At the Mountains of Madness, McWeeny looks at the reaction from other websites and explores why this decision is regrettable but completely understandable and, actually, not Universal's fault at all. A very interesting piece.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
TV
Extraordinary Dogs
1x05 Above and Beyond Loyalty
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Family Guy
2x02 Holy Crap
2x09 If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'
House
7x12 You Must Remember This
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x05 Progress
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 8 Duchess of Devonshire and Elizabeth McGovern (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x05 Above and Beyond Loyalty
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Family Guy
2x02 Holy Crap
2x09 If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'
House
7x12 You Must Remember This
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x05 Progress
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 8 Duchess of Devonshire and Elizabeth McGovern (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 7 March 2011
TV
My Life in Books
Episode 7 Jeanette Winterson and Alastair Campbell (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
2x05 The Devil You Know
Episode 7 Jeanette Winterson and Alastair Campbell (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes Minister
2x05 The Devil You Know
Sunday, 6 March 2011
TV
Outcasts
1x06 Episode 6
There are flashes (brief, brief flashes) of really-quite-good-ness in Outcasts... but most of it is just unremittingly poor writing, be that implausible dialogue or hole-riddled plotting. Still, only two episodes left.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
South Riding
Part 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x06 (27/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x06 Episode 6
There are flashes (brief, brief flashes) of really-quite-good-ness in Outcasts... but most of it is just unremittingly poor writing, be that implausible dialogue or hole-riddled plotting. Still, only two episodes left.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
South Riding
Part 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x06 (27/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Four Musketeers (1974)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
I do stick with alphabetical on this, but it feels silly now.
Anyway, there's also the February update this week.
More next Sunday.
The Four Musketeers (1974)
this second effort has less action, which could be fine, but more importantly it’s less fun. In and of itself such a statement doesn’t make it bad, but it consequently fails to fulfil the promise of the first film. It’s also a little more ramshackle… Considering Three Musketeers has a kind of endearing scrappiness to it, that a similar factor becomes a negative point here either means they took it too far or there was a certain luck to the first film hanging together.
The Three Musketeers (1973)
Where to begin? The action, I suppose. It’s loaded with the stuff. It puts later movies — from eras when we’re more accustomed to non-stop, regularly-paced action than the ’70s — to shame with its barrage of sword fights. And if you think they’d all be the same and become repetitive, you’re dead wrong.
I do stick with alphabetical on this, but it feels silly now.
Anyway, there's also the February update this week.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 5 March 2011
TV
24 Hour Panel People
Saw various bits of this live webstream throughout the afternoon and evening, in which David Walliams (and others, naturally) complete 19 different panel shows in one 24 hour period. With lots of long breaks for set changes and that kind of malarky, which for viewers of the live stream means cutting to some budget presenters in a "pod". It's still going on right now (unless they're on a break, but you know what I mean) and is due to finish at midday. The (almost) complete schedule is here. BBC Three will be showing a series of highlights programmes next week.
[Watch the live stream here.]
The Culture Show
The Books We Really Read [special]
Part of BBC Two's Culture Show-based coverage of World Book Night (indeed, the only bit I properly watched), Sue Perkins looks at what makes blockbuster books sell while literary fiction... doesn't. Including Sophie Kinsella being reasonable and Lee Child coming across as a right idiot.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
3x09 Dead Guy Running [2nd watch]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 4 The Villain [final episode]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x12 Day 12
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 2 (of 4)
As much as I enjoyed the tap dancing, I really didn't expect the British public to put it through first! Shame about Lulu too, though Noel Fielding has a better chance of beating Russell Kane, so...
My Life in Books
Episode 6 Sister Wendy and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (of 10)
A dry edition of what's otherwise been an entertaining and pleasantly fast-moving watch. I can see why this episode is tucked away in the middle of the run.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Saw various bits of this live webstream throughout the afternoon and evening, in which David Walliams (and others, naturally) complete 19 different panel shows in one 24 hour period. With lots of long breaks for set changes and that kind of malarky, which for viewers of the live stream means cutting to some budget presenters in a "pod". It's still going on right now (unless they're on a break, but you know what I mean) and is due to finish at midday. The (almost) complete schedule is here. BBC Three will be showing a series of highlights programmes next week.
[Watch the live stream here.]
The Culture Show
The Books We Really Read [special]
Part of BBC Two's Culture Show-based coverage of World Book Night (indeed, the only bit I properly watched), Sue Perkins looks at what makes blockbuster books sell while literary fiction... doesn't. Including Sophie Kinsella being reasonable and Lee Child coming across as a right idiot.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
3x09 Dead Guy Running [2nd watch]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 4 The Villain [final episode]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x12 Day 12
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 2 (of 4)
As much as I enjoyed the tap dancing, I really didn't expect the British public to put it through first! Shame about Lulu too, though Noel Fielding has a better chance of beating Russell Kane, so...
My Life in Books
Episode 6 Sister Wendy and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (of 10)
A dry edition of what's otherwise been an entertaining and pleasantly fast-moving watch. I can see why this episode is tucked away in the middle of the run.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday, 4 March 2011
TV
Due South
3x08 Spy vs. Spy [2nd watch]
Even by Due South's standards, this episode was barmy.
Family Guy
1x07 Brian: Portrait of a Dog [season finale]
2x01 Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater
2x10 Running Mates
The Graham Norton Show
8x18 (25/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x08 Spy vs. Spy [2nd watch]
Even by Due South's standards, this episode was barmy.
Family Guy
1x07 Brian: Portrait of a Dog [season finale]
2x01 Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater
2x10 Running Mates
The Graham Norton Show
8x18 (25/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
[#26 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Christ, it's nearly two-and-a-half years since I read this! And I've been meaning to watch it ever since.
[#26 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Christ, it's nearly two-and-a-half years since I read this! And I've been meaning to watch it ever since.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After everything turned up last week, there's still a few left over this week (just): three new titles and a DVD-to-BD upgrade. Thrilling. But on the bright side, running time update for the lot of it! Yay!
Number of titles in collection: 1,278 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 176 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,185 [up 6]
Number of films in collection: 1,348 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,730 [up 22]
Plus this week it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
228 days, 10 hours, and 32 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 13 hours, and 55 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
After everything turned up last week, there's still a few left over this week (just): three new titles and a DVD-to-BD upgrade. Thrilling. But on the bright side, running time update for the lot of it! Yay!
Number of titles in collection: 1,278 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,102 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 176 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 3,185 [up 6]
Number of films in collection: 1,348 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,730 [up 22]
Plus this week it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
228 days, 10 hours, and 32 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 13 hours, and 55 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 3 March 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x06 (24/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Due South
3x05 Seeing is Believing [2nd watch]
Family Guy
1x03 Chitty Chitty Death Bang
1x05 A Hero Sits Next Door
1x06 The Son Also Draws
My Life in Books
Episode 5 Peter Snow and Dan Snow (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x06 (24/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Due South
3x05 Seeing is Believing [2nd watch]
Family Guy
1x03 Chitty Chitty Death Bang
1x05 A Hero Sits Next Door
1x06 The Son Also Draws
My Life in Books
Episode 5 Peter Snow and Dan Snow (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
TV
Due South
3x06 Bounty Hunter [2nd watch]
Family Guy
1x01 Death Has a Shadow
1x02 I Never Met the Dead Man [2nd watch]
1x04 Mind Over Murder
I've only seen random episodes of Family Guy before (plus the first two Star Wars ones). Turns out, this second one is one of them.
And secondly, Family Guy has a whole messed-up-mixed-up history of which episodes are in which season and which order, for various reasons that don't need going into. Though I'll just watch them in the order presented on the Region 2 DVDs, numbering is courtesy of Wikipedia's episode list (i.e. by US transmission).
Friday Night Dinner
1x01 The Sofabed
C4's new sitcom apparently had a very good launch, ratings-wise. Which is nice, because it's quite good.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x11 Day 11
I hope it wasn't Troels who did it, because a) you surely can't drag that out for half the series, and b) Bremer deserves what's coming to him. In fact, I hope Bremer did it and is trying to frame Troels. That'd be good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 4 Sir Trevor McDonald and Rebecca Front (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x06 Bounty Hunter [2nd watch]
Family Guy
1x01 Death Has a Shadow
1x02 I Never Met the Dead Man [2nd watch]
1x04 Mind Over Murder
I've only seen random episodes of Family Guy before (plus the first two Star Wars ones). Turns out, this second one is one of them.
And secondly, Family Guy has a whole messed-up-mixed-up history of which episodes are in which season and which order, for various reasons that don't need going into. Though I'll just watch them in the order presented on the Region 2 DVDs, numbering is courtesy of Wikipedia's episode list (i.e. by US transmission).
Friday Night Dinner
1x01 The Sofabed
C4's new sitcom apparently had a very good launch, ratings-wise. Which is nice, because it's quite good.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x11 Day 11
I hope it wasn't Troels who did it, because a) you surely can't drag that out for half the series, and b) Bremer deserves what's coming to him. In fact, I hope Bremer did it and is trying to frame Troels. That'd be good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Life in Books
Episode 4 Sir Trevor McDonald and Rebecca Front (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
TV
House
7x11 Family Practice
How I Met Your Mother
6x10 Blitzgiving
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Life in Books
Episode 2 Giles Coren and Sue Perkins (of 10)
Episode 3 Clare Balding and Hardeep Singh Kohli (of 10)
[Watch episode 3 (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
1x01 Episode 1
Excellent, very believable new legal drama. Of course, being so plausible means it can be as gruelling as watching news about trials -- they don't always give the correct verdict or a fair sentence.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
7x11 Family Practice
How I Met Your Mother
6x10 Blitzgiving
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
My Life in Books
Episode 2 Giles Coren and Sue Perkins (of 10)
Episode 3 Clare Balding and Hardeep Singh Kohli (of 10)
[Watch episode 3 (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
1x01 Episode 1
Excellent, very believable new legal drama. Of course, being so plausible means it can be as gruelling as watching news about trials -- they don't always give the correct verdict or a fair sentence.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 28 February 2011
TV
The 83rd Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars, of course. Once again, I've got myself Sky Movies specially for this -- pricey, but lots of movies for a month. Yay.
Due South
3x07 Mountie and Soul [2nd watch]
Wait... hold on... what are they doing?! No, they haven't skipped another episode (or three) -- despite acknowledging on their website that this is indeed the seventh episode, BBC Two for some reason showed this before episodes five and six. And, incidentally, showed five and six the wrong way round. And seem to be doing the same with later episodes too. It probably doesn't matter -- Due South isn't big on serialisation -- but still, what the hell?
Extraordinary Dogs
1x04 Crucial Hearing
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
My Life in Books
Episode 1 PD James and Richard Bacon (of 10)
Outcasts
1x05 Episode 5
Good, unexpected final twist. So at least this series has produced something almost worthwhile in the end.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
aka the Oscars, of course. Once again, I've got myself Sky Movies specially for this -- pricey, but lots of movies for a month. Yay.
Due South
3x07 Mountie and Soul [2nd watch]
Wait... hold on... what are they doing?! No, they haven't skipped another episode (or three) -- despite acknowledging on their website that this is indeed the seventh episode, BBC Two for some reason showed this before episodes five and six. And, incidentally, showed five and six the wrong way round. And seem to be doing the same with later episodes too. It probably doesn't matter -- Due South isn't big on serialisation -- but still, what the hell?
Extraordinary Dogs
1x04 Crucial Hearing
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
My Life in Books
Episode 1 PD James and Richard Bacon (of 10)
Outcasts
1x05 Episode 5
Good, unexpected final twist. So at least this series has produced something almost worthwhile in the end.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 27 February 2011
TV
Due South
3x04 Strange Bedfellows [2nd watch]
I don't mind New Ray, but I do rather miss Old Ray at this point.
Oscars 2011: Red Carpet Live
Not much red carpet in the red carpet show -- which is fine by me! The actual awards begin at 1:30am here (1am Stateside, I believe), so I'll mention that tomorrow, as usual.
South Riding
Part 1 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x05 (20/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x04 Strange Bedfellows [2nd watch]
I don't mind New Ray, but I do rather miss Old Ray at this point.
Oscars 2011: Red Carpet Live
Not much red carpet in the red carpet show -- which is fine by me! The actual awards begin at 1:30am here (1am Stateside, I believe), so I'll mention that tomorrow, as usual.
South Riding
Part 1 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x05 (20/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year again this week. Must try harder.
The Invention of Lying (2009)
More next Sunday.
The Invention of Lying (2009)
there are two points to be made. One, it’s not really setting out to be a 100% flawless world-without-lies — it’s our world, reflected back with lies removed. And two, it’s a comedy — the honesty of the corrupt cop or the casino box office is funny. On a deeper level, one might argue the film is exploring the lies we tell ourselves and each other — how harsh the world would be without them.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
TV
The Culture Show
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [special]
Mark Kermode tells us how the Oscars have got it wrong this year. And he's probably right.
See also: today's Articles.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
3x03 I Coulda Been a Defendant [2nd watch]
Fast and Loose
1x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 3 The Snob
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x10 Day 10
Once again a conclusion feels like it's nigh -- but we're only halfway through! As much still to come as there's already been! Tensiontastic.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 1 (of 4)
Despite all his trending on twitter and what have you, I didn't think Russell Kane's routine was that great. Dressing up in drag may've worked in both previous series, but it was accompanied by an amusing and well-performed routine -- I didn't think Kane managed either. And Katie Price was one of the worst too. But hey, whoever said the British public had taste?
Whose Line is it Anyway?
4x12 (10/4/92 edition)
3x16 (3/5/91 edition)
Despite Whose Line's fame and endurance (ten series of the UK version followed by eight of a US one), I've never seen it before. Caught these in the middle of the night on Dave, for some reason showing the last non-compilation episodes of the British version in reverse order. OK... And though this is the British one, these episodes were both taped in New York. One wonders where these ideas come from.
[Watch 3x16 and 4x12 (again) on 4oD.]
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [special]
Mark Kermode tells us how the Oscars have got it wrong this year. And he's probably right.
See also: today's Articles.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
3x03 I Coulda Been a Defendant [2nd watch]
Fast and Loose
1x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 3 The Snob
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x10 Day 10
Once again a conclusion feels like it's nigh -- but we're only halfway through! As much still to come as there's already been! Tensiontastic.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2011
Episode 1 (of 4)
Despite all his trending on twitter and what have you, I didn't think Russell Kane's routine was that great. Dressing up in drag may've worked in both previous series, but it was accompanied by an amusing and well-performed routine -- I didn't think Kane managed either. And Katie Price was one of the worst too. But hey, whoever said the British public had taste?
Whose Line is it Anyway?
4x12 (10/4/92 edition)
3x16 (3/5/91 edition)
Despite Whose Line's fame and endurance (ten series of the UK version followed by eight of a US one), I've never seen it before. Caught these in the middle of the night on Dave, for some reason showing the last non-compilation episodes of the British version in reverse order. OK... And though this is the British one, these episodes were both taped in New York. One wonders where these ideas come from.
[Watch 3x16 and 4x12 (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Groundbreaking Cinema: 15 Films from 2010 That Challenged & Advanced the Medium by Adam Quigley
(from /Film)
(from /Film)
the movies from 2010 that, as best as I have been able to ascertain, helped contribute to the landscape of film in ways that are important, creative and culturally significant — regardless of any personal animosity you may feel toward them.A most interesting read. And the intro is great as a reminder of the dozens of films the Oscars have completely overlooked, all of them more influential and/or popular than a good deal of actual Best Picture winners.
Friday, 25 February 2011
TV
Due South
3x02 Eclipse [2nd watch]
Episodes
1x07 Episode Seven [season finale]
It took a few episodes to find its feet, but I properly enjoyed it by the end. More please.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x17 (18/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x02 Eclipse [2nd watch]
Episodes
1x07 Episode Seven [season finale]
It took a few episodes to find its feet, but I properly enjoyed it by the end. More please.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x17 (18/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Nanny McPhee & the Big Bang (2010)
[#24 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
aka Nanny McPhee Returns in the US, for God knows what reason.
[#24 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
aka Nanny McPhee Returns in the US, for God knows what reason.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Titles this week include The Social Network soundtrack on Blu-ray (yes, a soundtrack on Blu-ray) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Blu-ray, which means that I now own, for various reasons, the 25th, 30th and 35th anniversary releases of that particular film. I need to get eBaying...
Incidentally, I thought the orders that made up this update would spread themselves out over two or even three weeks, yet somehow they've all turned up in just one. Back to being a bit quiet next week then... probably...
Number of titles in collection: 1,275 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,103 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 172 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 3,179 [up 13]
Number of films in collection: 1,345 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,708 [up 37]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Titles this week include The Social Network soundtrack on Blu-ray (yes, a soundtrack on Blu-ray) and The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Blu-ray, which means that I now own, for various reasons, the 25th, 30th and 35th anniversary releases of that particular film. I need to get eBaying...
Incidentally, I thought the orders that made up this update would spread themselves out over two or even three weeks, yet somehow they've all turned up in just one. Back to being a bit quiet next week then... probably...
Number of titles in collection: 1,275 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,103 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 172 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 3,179 [up 13]
Number of films in collection: 1,345 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,708 [up 37]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x05 (17/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Due South
3x01 Burning Down the House [2nd watch]
This is the one episode of Due South I'm absolutely certain I've seen, because I remember not approving of the new Ray at the time. Now, I also don't approve of the new opening theme music or the new closing theme music. New Ray -- played, incidentally, by Callum Keith Rennie, he of a thousand recognisable guest/recurring roles since -- isn't as good as Old Ray, true, but he's not too bad.
Extraordinary Dogs
1x03 Myth and Reality
Aww, look at all the cute doggy-woggies!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
House
7x10 Carrot or Stick
Just Good Friends
2x07 Goodbye Again [season finale]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x09 Day 9
There's a bit of an "entering phase two" feeling about this episode, as a lot of long-running threads are closed off, giving rise to new ones that may well drive the rest of the series. Still over half to go though...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x05 (17/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Due South
3x01 Burning Down the House [2nd watch]
This is the one episode of Due South I'm absolutely certain I've seen, because I remember not approving of the new Ray at the time. Now, I also don't approve of the new opening theme music or the new closing theme music. New Ray -- played, incidentally, by Callum Keith Rennie, he of a thousand recognisable guest/recurring roles since -- isn't as good as Old Ray, true, but he's not too bad.
Extraordinary Dogs
1x03 Myth and Reality
Aww, look at all the cute doggy-woggies!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
House
7x10 Carrot or Stick
Just Good Friends
2x07 Goodbye Again [season finale]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x09 Day 9
There's a bit of an "entering phase two" feeling about this episode, as a lot of long-running threads are closed off, giving rise to new ones that may well drive the rest of the series. Still over half to go though...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
The Day the Movies Died by Mark Harris
(from GQ)
Interesting article about the (potential) death of American movies.
Internet-savvy Firefly fans fly back into the fight by Doug Gross
(from Geek Out! at CNN)
Hard to believe anything will come of this plan to revive Firefly, but it's impressive how much coverage it gained so quickly.
(from GQ)
Interesting article about the (potential) death of American movies.
Internet-savvy Firefly fans fly back into the fight by Doug Gross
(from Geek Out! at CNN)
Hard to believe anything will come of this plan to revive Firefly, but it's impressive how much coverage it gained so quickly.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Music
The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
[5th listen]
This time in HD 5.1 surround sound via Blu-ray. Lovely.
[5th listen]
This time in HD 5.1 surround sound via Blu-ray. Lovely.
Articles
Doctor Who 'Brigadier' Nicholas Courtney dies aged 81
(from BBC News)
Splendid chap, both of them. He'll be sorely missed.
Though how many articles about this have perpetuated the lie that "the actor appeared on screen opposite five different Doctors"?! He "appeared on screen" with all seven classic Doctors... just not always as the Brig, or in stories of dubious canonicity.
Nicholas Courtney by Eddie Robson
(from Shiny Shelf)
Naturally there are many tributes across the web -- Tom Baker's is not to be ignored -- but this is amongst the best; or, at least, most reflective of my thoughts too.
Rufus Sewell's Zen axed by BBC by Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)
Can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed. The production company are "currently in discussion with other UK broadcasters" about another series, but no one ever wants another channel's rejects, and where would it fit anyway? Bit too classy for ITV, bit too pricey for C4 or Sky (I should imagine).
(from BBC News)
Splendid chap, both of them. He'll be sorely missed.
Though how many articles about this have perpetuated the lie that "the actor appeared on screen opposite five different Doctors"?! He "appeared on screen" with all seven classic Doctors... just not always as the Brig, or in stories of dubious canonicity.
Nicholas Courtney by Eddie Robson
(from Shiny Shelf)
Naturally there are many tributes across the web -- Tom Baker's is not to be ignored -- but this is amongst the best; or, at least, most reflective of my thoughts too.
people loved seeing him again, perhaps more than any other character in the show... It’s hugely saddening to realise we’ve seen him for the last time.
Rufus Sewell's Zen axed by BBC by Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)
Can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed. The production company are "currently in discussion with other UK broadcasters" about another series, but no one ever wants another channel's rejects, and where would it fit anyway? Bit too classy for ITV, bit too pricey for C4 or Sky (I should imagine).
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
TV
Due South
2x18 Flashback [2nd watch; season finale]
Seems odd to end a season with a recap-esque clips show, but then this was the point at which Due South was cancelled (before being revived for two more seasons) so maybe it was intended to be a nice send-off as much as a recap.
On another note, BBC Two didn't bother to show the episode they skipped. Boo.
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x04 Love
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x04 Episode 4
Some people have said Outcasts gets better as it goes on (as I also mentioned yesterday). On the strength of this episode, I'm finding it very hard to believe them. If anything, it's getting worse.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x05 Trust
1x06 Promise
The end of Yugo's "1st Negotiation" -- i.e. first story arc -- sees a lot more action than previous instalments. Another quite well done element of the series that I don't think I've mentioned is how it handles the political situation, especially using it to a dramatic advantage. For instance, the hostage takers appear to be the villains, but they're freedom fighters with at least some degree of honour -- so are the army, who are out to stop them even if it costs the hostage's life, the true villains? But lest we be in any doubt that the terrorists aren't Not Wholly Nice too, they shoot down a helicopter almost in cold blood. Perhaps it's not the most nuanced programme ever, but it makes a fair fist -- more than one might expect, anyway.
2x18 Flashback [2nd watch; season finale]
Seems odd to end a season with a recap-esque clips show, but then this was the point at which Due South was cancelled (before being revived for two more seasons) so maybe it was intended to be a nice send-off as much as a recap.
On another note, BBC Two didn't bother to show the episode they skipped. Boo.
How TV Ruined Your Life
1x04 Love
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x04 Episode 4
Some people have said Outcasts gets better as it goes on (as I also mentioned yesterday). On the strength of this episode, I'm finding it very hard to believe them. If anything, it's getting worse.
[Subject yourself to it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x05 Trust
1x06 Promise
The end of Yugo's "1st Negotiation" -- i.e. first story arc -- sees a lot more action than previous instalments. Another quite well done element of the series that I don't think I've mentioned is how it handles the political situation, especially using it to a dramatic advantage. For instance, the hostage takers appear to be the villains, but they're freedom fighters with at least some degree of honour -- so are the army, who are out to stop them even if it costs the hostage's life, the true villains? But lest we be in any doubt that the terrorists aren't Not Wholly Nice too, they shoot down a helicopter almost in cold blood. Perhaps it's not the most nuanced programme ever, but it makes a fair fist -- more than one might expect, anyway.
Monday, 21 February 2011
TV
Baking Made Easy
1x06 Time to Bake [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
2x17 Red, White or Blue [2nd watch]
Episodes
1x06 Episode Six
Surprised to find this reaching its series-opening flashforward near the start of the penultimate episode -- I'd assumed it'd be this one's ending, or somewhere in the finale. It's quite nice when a TV programme manages to genuinely surprise you in a good way.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x03 Episode 3
I've read Outcasts gets better as it goes on. While it has its moments -- as it has since the start -- there's not yet any sign of significant improvement.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x04 Hero
Yugo continues its steady improvement with the kind of style I often like: a serial drama where each episode works as a standalone segment of the tale too. Here, Yugo has been captured by the terrorists and must prove his worth before negotiations can begin. The series also employs a technique used to Grown Up Clever Series like Mad Men: we're given individual scenes subtly furthering other plot threads with minimal explanation -- if you don't know what's going on they're a meaningless aside. That might sound obvious -- of course it's how you tell a story -- but, actually, many series wouldn't dare let them pass with so little explanation of what we're seeing.
1x06 Time to Bake [final episode]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
2x17 Red, White or Blue [2nd watch]
Episodes
1x06 Episode Six
Surprised to find this reaching its series-opening flashforward near the start of the penultimate episode -- I'd assumed it'd be this one's ending, or somewhere in the finale. It's quite nice when a TV programme manages to genuinely surprise you in a good way.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outcasts
1x03 Episode 3
I've read Outcasts gets better as it goes on. While it has its moments -- as it has since the start -- there's not yet any sign of significant improvement.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x04 Hero
Yugo continues its steady improvement with the kind of style I often like: a serial drama where each episode works as a standalone segment of the tale too. Here, Yugo has been captured by the terrorists and must prove his worth before negotiations can begin. The series also employs a technique used to Grown Up Clever Series like Mad Men: we're given individual scenes subtly furthering other plot threads with minimal explanation -- if you don't know what's going on they're a meaningless aside. That might sound obvious -- of course it's how you tell a story -- but, actually, many series wouldn't dare let them pass with so little explanation of what we're seeing.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
TV
Baking Made Easy
1x05 Bake to Impress
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x01 Negotiator
1x02 Resolve
1x03 Contact
For my thoughts on these episodes, look here.
1x05 Bake to Impress
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Yugo the Negotiator
1x01 Negotiator
1x02 Resolve
1x03 Contact
For my thoughts on these episodes, look here.
Music
I've become lax and listing music again. So much for my good intentions. Anyway, I have mostly been listening to...
Once: Music from the Motion Picture by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Plus, today...
The Union by Elton John & Leon Russell
[4th listen]
Once: Music from the Motion Picture by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová
The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Plus, today...
The Union by Elton John & Leon Russell
[4th listen]
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, rounding off David Fincher Week...
The Social Network (2010)
Talking of rounding off David Fincher Week -- in which I reviewed all eight of David Fincher's films, lest you've forgotten -- I also had a bit of a summary post.
More (though no more Fincher, obviously) next Sunday.
The Social Network (2010)
Reviews have been stuffed with superlatives — again, just look at the DVD cover — and while I agree with the counterpoint that it’s too soon to tell if it’s a classic or generation-defining (it’s about a generation-defining phenomenon, that doesn’t inherently make it a generation-defining film), there’s every chance it will indeed turn out to be both. Even if it doesn’t, it’s still an incredible piece of filmmaking.
Talking of rounding off David Fincher Week -- in which I reviewed all eight of David Fincher's films, lest you've forgotten -- I also had a bit of a summary post.
More (though no more Fincher, obviously) next Sunday.
Yugo the Negotiator, Episodes 1-3
Anime series about a privately-contracted hostage negotiator.
The first three episodes -- Negotiator, Resolve and Contact (ignore the titles at those links, they're incorrect) -- make up the first half of the first storyline. Only 13 episodes and two story arcs were made -- unfortunately, because the series has a lot of promise.
It's unusual for an anime show in its lack of action -- you imagine their usual interpretation of such a scenario would be for the character to go in all guns blazing, probably in a giant robot. (If you think I'm being stereotypical in such a view, read some of the reviews from dedicated anime sites.) Instead, Yugo is slow-paced and somewhat methodical, as the titular hero sets about investigating the situation and treading carefully, all with a very realistic and well-researched style.
It improves as it goes on too, a little like (though, to be frank, not as good as) The Wire -- the accumulation of knowledge and settling into the series' pace and style allows it to improve; later episodes aren't necessarily better in and of themselves, but the whole thing improves as it grows. It's the kind of slow-paced that's addictive: the running time mostly dashes past, but with so little development you long for the next episode to see the story continue.
In these respects it's rather good then, but it's let down by some occasionally woeful dialogue in the English dub. The acting is mostly fine, and they've gone to a lot of trouble to respectfully depict Pakistan (more than the Japanese dub did, it seems), but sometimes a better script is called for. Even worse, though, is the truly dreadful and shockingly inappropriate theme music. It's a jazzy number that doesn't fit the grim, serious, realistic tone of the series at all. I rarely skip title sequences -- they're part of the programme after all -- but here I'm seriously tempted.
On the evidence of these first few episodes I can see why Yugo isn't among the most well-known of anime series -- as those reviews point out, it's an acquired taste for a (Western) fandom more used to straightforward action, humour and romance -- but for those who like this kind of thing (like me) it's a minor gem. If it weren't for the too-often poor screenplay, it'd be the kind of thing you might use to persuade the unconverted to give anime a go, but as it is I'm not convinced it'd work.
The first three episodes -- Negotiator, Resolve and Contact (ignore the titles at those links, they're incorrect) -- make up the first half of the first storyline. Only 13 episodes and two story arcs were made -- unfortunately, because the series has a lot of promise.
It's unusual for an anime show in its lack of action -- you imagine their usual interpretation of such a scenario would be for the character to go in all guns blazing, probably in a giant robot. (If you think I'm being stereotypical in such a view, read some of the reviews from dedicated anime sites.) Instead, Yugo is slow-paced and somewhat methodical, as the titular hero sets about investigating the situation and treading carefully, all with a very realistic and well-researched style.
It improves as it goes on too, a little like (though, to be frank, not as good as) The Wire -- the accumulation of knowledge and settling into the series' pace and style allows it to improve; later episodes aren't necessarily better in and of themselves, but the whole thing improves as it grows. It's the kind of slow-paced that's addictive: the running time mostly dashes past, but with so little development you long for the next episode to see the story continue.
In these respects it's rather good then, but it's let down by some occasionally woeful dialogue in the English dub. The acting is mostly fine, and they've gone to a lot of trouble to respectfully depict Pakistan (more than the Japanese dub did, it seems), but sometimes a better script is called for. Even worse, though, is the truly dreadful and shockingly inappropriate theme music. It's a jazzy number that doesn't fit the grim, serious, realistic tone of the series at all. I rarely skip title sequences -- they're part of the programme after all -- but here I'm seriously tempted.
On the evidence of these first few episodes I can see why Yugo isn't among the most well-known of anime series -- as those reviews point out, it's an acquired taste for a (Western) fandom more used to straightforward action, humour and romance -- but for those who like this kind of thing (like me) it's a minor gem. If it weren't for the too-often poor screenplay, it'd be the kind of thing you might use to persuade the unconverted to give anime a go, but as it is I'm not convinced it'd work.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
TV
Baking Made Easy
1x04 Very Entertaining
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
2x16 The Duel [2nd watch]
Fast and Loose
1x06 Episode 6
I liked the new musicals round at the end -- most amusing. Also, one of the best Interpretive Dance rounds thus far. Handily (and by sheer coincidence -- no, honestly), those are the two clips available independently on the BBC's website.
[Watch the whole episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 2 The Lover
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x04 Very Entertaining
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Due South
2x16 The Duel [2nd watch]
Fast and Loose
1x06 Episode 6
I liked the new musicals round at the end -- most amusing. Also, one of the best Interpretive Dance rounds thus far. Handily (and by sheer coincidence -- no, honestly), those are the two clips available independently on the BBC's website.
[Watch the whole episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Faulks on Fiction
Part 2 The Lover
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friday, 18 February 2011
TV
Baking Made Easy
1x03 Modern Classics
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x16 (11/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x04 (13/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x03 Modern Classics
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
8x16 (11/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
16x04 (13/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Today, three of the most interesting articles I've bothered to share in quite some time (in my opinion, of course).
How Pirates Can Save the Home Movie Industry (And Why Netflix is its Future) by Navneet Alang
(from TECHi)
Despite the big picture of Captain Jack, they don't mean those kinds of pirates. And it's less supposing Internet piracy can save the home video industry -- that's just an obviously inflammatory title -- and more how the lessons learnt from it could do the saving. It seems well-reasoned and
Middle-earth according to Mordor by Laura Miller
(from Salon.com)
"A newly translated Russian novel retells Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings from the perspective of the bad guys," basically. The article goes into a lot more detail on why this is a properly interesting and well-executed concept, not just some quick cash-in. It sounds like a good read... and thanks to potential copyright issues, it's available completely free (in English, as an ebook/PDF file) from here.
Why Chris Nolan’s Batman Isn’t Racist by Mark Hughes
(from Obsessed with Film)
That might sound like a silly or obvious thing to say, but the article has a good point to make -- essentially, that most comics and consequently comic book movies are extremely white-orientated, but Nolan's Batmans really aren't. It goes on a bit, labouring the point (especially toward the end), but it has plenty of examples and clear reasoning.
How Pirates Can Save the Home Movie Industry (And Why Netflix is its Future) by Navneet Alang
(from TECHi)
Despite the big picture of Captain Jack, they don't mean those kinds of pirates. And it's less supposing Internet piracy can save the home video industry -- that's just an obviously inflammatory title -- and more how the lessons learnt from it could do the saving. It seems well-reasoned and
Middle-earth according to Mordor by Laura Miller
(from Salon.com)
"A newly translated Russian novel retells Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings from the perspective of the bad guys," basically. The article goes into a lot more detail on why this is a properly interesting and well-executed concept, not just some quick cash-in. It sounds like a good read... and thanks to potential copyright issues, it's available completely free (in English, as an ebook/PDF file) from here.
Why Chris Nolan’s Batman Isn’t Racist by Mark Hughes
(from Obsessed with Film)
That might sound like a silly or obvious thing to say, but the article has a good point to make -- essentially, that most comics and consequently comic book movies are extremely white-orientated, but Nolan's Batmans really aren't. It goes on a bit, labouring the point (especially toward the end), but it has plenty of examples and clear reasoning.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A couple of little boosts this week. Should be more next.
Number of titles in collection: 1,267 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 166 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,166 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,341 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,671 [up 11]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A couple of little boosts this week. Should be more next.
Number of titles in collection: 1,267 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 166 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,166 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,341 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,671 [up 11]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
TV
10 O'Clock Live
1x04 (10/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Baking Made Easy
1x02 Speed Baking
Normally I couldn't give a flying fig about cooking programmes, but this one is lovely. And yummy. Far too yummy to resist. Too many figs though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x08 Day 8
Perhaps surprisingly, I found this episode's rather understated cliffhanger the most engrossing yet. What happens next?! I demand to know!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 (10/2/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Baking Made Easy
1x02 Speed Baking
Normally I couldn't give a flying fig about cooking programmes, but this one is lovely. And yummy. Far too yummy to resist. Too many figs though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Killing [aka Forbrydelsen]
1x08 Day 8
Perhaps surprisingly, I found this episode's rather understated cliffhanger the most engrossing yet. What happens next?! I demand to know!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Fiction
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Walking Dead by Mathew New
I've never read Scott Pilgrim and I've yet to see the film, but this was rather entertaining. The number of comments saying how similar it is to the originals suggests to me I might actually like them.
(By-the-by, that link is to Edgar Wright's blog. The original is here.)
I've never read Scott Pilgrim and I've yet to see the film, but this was rather entertaining. The number of comments saying how similar it is to the originals suggests to me I might actually like them.
(By-the-by, that link is to Edgar Wright's blog. The original is here.)
Articles
Lords want TV ads cut by 20 percent by Kate Goodacre
(from Digital Spy)
Reader’s Block by Geoff Dyer
(from Work in Progress)
An interesting -- if slightly long and overly academic -- essay on "reader's block", the notion of finding it increasingly difficult to read a book. In possibly the only instance of it on the entire Internet, nearly all the comments are quite interesting too (and most more digestible than the article itself, it must be said).
(from Digital Spy)
The House of Lords Communications Committee has recommended cutting the number of advertisements on television... "our recommendations would encourage both public service and commercial broadcasters to provide their viewers with quality original UK television programmes."What better way to encourage broadcasters to make more programmes than cut the amount of money they earn, eh?
Reader’s Block by Geoff Dyer
(from Work in Progress)
An interesting -- if slightly long and overly academic -- essay on "reader's block", the notion of finding it increasingly difficult to read a book. In possibly the only instance of it on the entire Internet, nearly all the comments are quite interesting too (and most more digestible than the article itself, it must be said).
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