Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Just a couple of new additions this update -- but it's also the monthly running time update, and that's always exciting!

There should've been slightly more new titles to add, but for the second time my attempt at buying Sin City on Blu-ray has fallen through. Those with exceptional memories may remember when I tried in March: I was sent a copy with two Disc 1s and no Disc 2. This time, over a week after the due dispatch date, ASDA Entertainment -- one of The Hut Group's many, many subsidiaries -- decided they didn't actually have any stock after all so wouldn't be fulfilling my order. No Hut-run website is especially reliable so I'm not all that surprised.

Third time lucky? Maybe. We'll see... probably in another five months or something.

Number of titles in collection: 1,359 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,129 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 230 [up 1]

Number of discs in collection: 3,361 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,432 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,027 [no change]

Plus this week it's time for a running time update, so...

Total running time of collection (approx.):
242 days, 12 hours, and 26 minutes.
(Up 23 hours and 7 minutes from last month.)

That's the smallest monthly increase since March 2010! Well I never.

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Pointless
4x52 (16/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Single-Handed
2x05 A Cold Heaven Part 1
Things aren't looking good for our Jack... but there's still a whole episode to go. Considering the relatively low ratings this has apparently been getting (scheduled against both Torchwood and The American Killing, I'm not massively surprised), I hope there's some comeuppances to be had in the final episode.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x06 The Middle Men
On the one hand I feel this season is still improving; on the other it's still kind of... clumsy. It's lacking the right kind of subtlety that made Children of Earth so good, or makes other US imports (which is what this really is now) so popular. It's also lacking the regular utter barminess that made Torchwood so Torchwoody, actually -- I can see why so many still see it as a failure.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Articles

Ridley Scott to direct new Blade Runner film by Justin Harp
(from Digital Spy)
Well, I didn't expect that! I knew someone had bought the rights to Blade Runner and so a prequel/sequel was inevitable (as they're not allowed to do a remake), but I didn't think Sir Ridley would sign up. This could be interesting... or disappointingly awful.

The Walking Dead: Why Frank Darabont Was Fired & The Chaotic Aftermath by Anthony Ocasio
(from Screen Rant)
Here's something I forgot to mention a few days ago. You may have heard that filmmaker Frank Darabont had left as showrunner of The Walking Dead; you may even have heard that he'd actually been fired; but this is a fuller version of what went on. Not good, really.

TV

Dragons' Den
9x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

The Great British Bake Off
2x01 Episode 1
Mmm, cake...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Pointless
4x51 (15/8/11 edition)
So, we have one team wondering if Winston Churchill was ever Prime Minister, which makes me despair for the state of education in this country (and they weren't even young), and a question about Pirates of the Caribbean that doesn't even acknowledge the existence of the fourth movie, which was released three months ago -- how long ago was this filmed?!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Comics

2000 AD #1743
Despite my best intentions I'm getting increasingly, ludicrously behind with 2000 AD (prog 1747 is in shops today). Should've known this would happen. Maybe a more concerted effort to catch up...

Articles

The 30 Harshest Filmmaker-on-Filmmaker Insults In History by Jason Bailey
(from Flavorwire)
Does what it says on the tin. Some of those are very funny... and some you may well disagree with.

5 Reasons You Should Be Sure to Watch The Hour by Caroline Stanley
(from Flavorwire)
Based on this mini summary of reviews, it seems like The Hour is going down quite well Stateside -- which is more than can be said for it over here. Despite reservations, I do like it.

TV

The Hour
1x04 Episode 4
You get the feeling The Hour is still finding its feet, trying to work out the right balance between its various themes and story threads. Unfortunately we're now two-thirds of the way through, with only two episodes to go -- it should've been in its stride long ago. It's not as bad as some say, though -- there's still good stuff here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Pointless
4x50 (12/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Articles

Let's Kill Hitler confirmed in UK for 27th August by Chuck Foster
(from Doctor Who News Page)
The BBC finally bother to confirm what everyone's known for weeks. Also of interest here, however, is the press pack for the series (including little previews of every episode tucked inside Moffat's introduction), Radio Times' review of the episode (from last night's press screening), and Ian Wylie's transcript of the Q&A from the same.

TV

Castle
1x10 A Death in the Family [season finale]
Channel 5 aren't going straight on into season two, sadly. Original UK broadcaster Alibi are being rather cunning though: they're repeating the second season in the same slot 5 had been showing the first (Fridays at 9), starting this Friday. Very sneaky-clever of them. I don't get Alibi though, so it'll be a wait (or download) for me.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Doctor Who
32x07a Prequel to Let's Kill Hitler
With the sixth/thirty-second series returning to our screens in a fortnight (probably), the BBC have released this under-two-minutes prequel to the mid-season opener. Like the three others it's something and nothing, but hey-ho.
There was also a screening of the episode at the BFI today, so expect the web/papers to be flooded with spoilers over the next two weeks.
[Watch it on the BBC Doctor Who website.]

Fiction

Torchwood: First Born by James Goss
Pages 167-210
Everything has taken A Turn For The Worse. Inevitable, really, but welcome -- bit of action 'n' all that. Past three-quarters now too (p.189), so this is the home straight.

TV

Dexter
5x03 Practically Perfect

Grand Designs Australia
1x05 Lake Bennett House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Pointless
4x49 (11/8/11 edition)
When they decided to do a round based on Sunday newspapers, I doubt they imagined it would have changed so obviously by the time it was broadcast.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Proms 2011
Prom 38 Film Music Night
I think this is the first Prom I've got round to watching/listening to this year (but I always do badly, so that's no surprise). I do have one of the first few downloaded to get round to though, and the same for the Horrible Histories one. Anyway, I love film music, so this was a good'un... though considering there's a Spaghetti Western-dedicated Prom (held the same night, due on TV later this month) I can't help but feel the main theme to Raiders of the Lost Ark would've made a better encore. Hey-ho.
The full, information-packed programme for this Prom can be read here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Fiction

Torchwood: First Born by James Goss
Pages 128-166
Between halfway and two-thirds (p.169, but this is close enough) we appear to be getting all the answers. And they seem to have come to our heroes quite easily -- "ooh, there's a suspicious base, I wonder what's going on there. Oi, employee, what's going on? Ok, thanks for telling me everything." -- so presumably there's a revelation or two (I believe there's a hint at something in the end of the chapter I've stopped at) and some form of exciting climax still to come.

this week on 100 Films

At last, a new review has been posted to 100 Films in a Year this week! Hurrah!

And so, the most fabulous thing was...

The King's Speech (2010)

The core of the film, the screenplay, is excellent — dramatic, funny, truthful. It won Best Original Screenplay… but surely it was an adapted screenplay? It’s so grounded in real events, based (at least in part, or so I thought) on the real man’s diaries and the book that was in turn based on them. When the Adapted Screenplay nominations include films loosely inspired by short films and semi-spin-offs from TV series that don’t even feature many of the same characters, never mind actually adapting their source for the big screen, surely something like this is definitely adapted?

More next Sunday. Hopefully a lot more. But we'll see.

TV

Castle
1x09 Little Girl Lost
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Pointless
4x47 (9/8/11 edition)
4x48 (10/8/11 edition)
Episode 47 had one of the more embarrassing finals I've witnessed... but I didn't care for one of the finalists, so I can't say I minded.
[Watch the 9/8/11 and 10/8/11 editions (again) on iPlayer.]

Ronnie Corbett's Comedy Britain
Episode 1 Comic Partnerships (of 2)
Episode 2 Solo Performance (of 2)
Ronnie Corbett takes a personal little toddle through some of the highs of British comedy from the past 50-ish years, accompanied by several modern comedy greats. Despite the presenter seeming out of place on the channel, it is quite an ITV-y show -- cheap & tacky title credits; ad break-friendly editing -- but note how the vast majority of the interviewees are what one might call 'BBC People'. For whatever reason, ITV's comedy track record really is appalling.
[Watch episodes one and two (again) on ITV Player.]

Films

Source Code (2011)
[#73 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]

Articles

BBC One's Miranda repeat tops new My Family by Paul Millar
(from Digital Spy)

BBC One's repeat of Miranda was more popular than a new episode of My Family last night. The Miranda Hart sitcom... grabbed 4.11m (19.3%) at 9.30pm... prior to that My Family amused 3.79m (13.8%).

Finally, some justice in TV viewing figures.

Big Brother isn't watching you by Russell Brand
(from guardian.co.uk)
Quite long, but Brand is surprisingly worth reading for his thoughts on the recent UK riots.

TV

How I Met Your Mother
6x24 Challenge Accepted [season finale]
Pretty mediocre episode, especially for a finale, but neat twist at the end.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Law & Order: UK
5x05 Intent
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

The Rob Brydon Show
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Remember that Amazon US package that was definitely delayed and I was having to wait a frustratingly long time before they'd agree to send me a replacement?

Well, it arrived.

So they were right.

But I have it now, and that's the main thing.

Number of titles in collection: 1,357 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,128 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 229 [up 3]

Number of discs in collection: 3,358 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,430 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,027 [up 22]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Pointless
4x46 (8/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x05 The Categories of Life
Torchwood's probably at its best when it gets dark, as here. I rather guessed where it was headed with that ending mind. We're only halfway through now so it's a good time for it to be really kicking off... but can it sustain it for the second half of the series?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Articles

BBC's Spooks axed after a decade by Tara Conlan
(from guardian.co.uk)
While I still quite like Spooks, this is overdue. To say they're ending it "in its prime" isn't true (in my opinion, obviously) -- it's prime was years ago; the first three or four series, I think. Since then it's becoming increasingly implausible, irrelevant and repetitive. It's also interesting how they talk about it being fast-paced and densely plotted... for its time. I think that's true: when it started it was those things; now it sometimes feels slow and simplistic, or if not the latter than over-complicated in the hope of doing something different to what they've already done.
But, like I say, it's still quite good, so better to end it now than let it really decline later.

TV

Pointless
4x45 (5/8/11 edition)
Stephen Sondheim might have written Mamma Mia!? Funniest thing I've heard in a long time.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Single-Handed
2x04 Between Two Fires Part 2
Well, maybe we'll get what I hoped for in the finale. We can add nasty cousin to the list too. And maybe some decent explanation about why Eithne seems to hate Gemma so much -- she's done nothing to her, and, in fact, has always been on Eithne's side.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Articles

Third Window after the riots
(from Third Window Films Facebook page)
One of the many independent companies affected by the Sony DADC fire speaks out about what this means for them. I imagine the story is exactly the same at all the other small companies. Fingers crossed that they're all able to ride it out in the long term. Bleeding Cool's list of how to help such companies is being continually updated.

TV

The Hour
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Pointless
4x44 (4/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Fiction

Torchwood: First Born by James Goss
Pages 41-127

As the quarter-way point (p.66) approaches, the novel begins to clarify What's Going On In Rawbone… as if we hadn't guessed most of it from the blurb. But why? How? And what's it got to do with Torchwood? Thankfully, as the tale reaches its one-third point (p.86) there's some proper mystery and intrigue creeping in, and by halfway (p.127) it's getting nicely sinister, building to a cliffhanger-y almost-revelation. This all seems to have given the story the kickstart I felt it needed; it's rattling along quite decently now, much better than the early plod.

One thing, though: don't write bits of your novel in French assuming the reader will be able to understand. That was fine 150 years ago, but nowadays, not so much. Thanks.

Articles

British film distributors left reeling by financial impact of Sony/PIAS warehouse fire by Henry Barnes & Andrew Pulver
(from guardian.co.uk)
Attacked and burnt down last night during the London riots, the Sony distribution centre in Enfield held a lot of stock for most/all of the UK's independent film and music labels. Whilst it's largely insured, the time to restock and find new distribution models could have a hugely detrimental effect on these already-struggling companies. Not good. Bleeding Cool have a suggestion for how to help.

Will DC Comics Drop Their UK Print Prices To Match Digital? by Rich Johnston
(from Bleeding Cool)
The UK release of US comics has always felt like it must be a bit of an afterthought to me -- understandably, really, as these are US publishing companies and the UK must be a much smaller market -- but it feels like our significance is increasing (or, I suppose, that I underestimated it) of late. For instance, the only reason we're not getting midnight sales of the New 52 launch (which they're holding in the US) is that there's a Bank Holiday in the way. And now, they're talking about putting a fixed UK price on the covers of the books (something that doesn't currently happen, obviously) and bringing the price down too (so that it's in line with digital). Great for consumers, but not necessarily so great for comic shops, would could be losing a significant percentage of profit on each book, potentially. Interesting times.

TV

Pointless
4x42 (2/8/11 edition)
4x43 (3/8/11 edition)
Highest-ever jackpot! Oo-ooh! But poor Glen and Carron -- stymied twice.
[Watch the 2/8/11 and 3/8/11 editions (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Dragons' Den
9x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Gracie!
BBC Four drama about singer and comedienne Gracie Fields and her relationship with Italian film director Monty Banks, starring Jane Horrocks and Tom Hollander, first shown a little under two years ago. The film also details Gracie's fall from the public's affections thanks to lies printed in the papers. Some things never change...

Grand Designs Australia
1x04 Clovelly House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Films

Sucker Punch: Extended Cut (2011)
[#72 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]

DVD Extras

Sucker Punch: Behind the Soundtrack

and

Sucker Punch: Animated Shorts
Feudal Warriors
The Trenches
Dragon
Distant Planet

Aside from a Maximum Movie Mode*, these are the only extras on the Sucker Punch Blu-ray, and they run under three minutes each. The first is a brief (obviously) look at the film's intriguing soundtrack. It's clearly designed to be promotional, but incidentally reveals a few interesting tidbits. (An even shorter version of it is linked to above.)

The animated shorts are 'prequels' that detail the background to the fantasy worlds visited in the film. It's the kind of thing you know can't be that essential because otherwise it'd be in the film itself -- The Trenches doesn't have much to do, for instance, because that world is explained in the movie -- but a couple of them are quite good anyway. Distant Planet in particular, as that felt one of the more under-explained environments to me. (All can be watched in full at the above links.)

* which, in fairness, could be very good -- it's potentially a feature-length making-of/commentary, after all.

TV

Castle
1x08 Ghosts
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Dexter
5x02 Hello, Bandit
Thought they'd do that with the kids. Storytellingly wise.

Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry
1x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
Very much enjoyed this; can see why it's garnered so much praise & so many awards. And now I've got all of the third series recorded to watch at some point -- super!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

My Favourite Joke
Episode 3 (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Fiction

Torchwood: First Born by James Goss
Pages 1-40

The first of three novels acting as prequels to the current series of Torchwood. (Well, it's the first published, but all the lists inside the book suggest it's the second. But I think they're all unrelated, so it doesn't matter either way. Anyway, I thought it best to get a wriggle on with this first/second novel because the second/first novel was out imminently, then the second/first arrived in today's post, so I was right. Super.)

Normally I catalogue how much I've read with chapter numbers, and while First Born does have chapters, rather than being all radical and calling them, I dunno, "Chapter 1" (etc.) it instead shifts about viewpoints and just titles each chapter (or "section", I suppose) after which character we're following... so page numbers to chart my progress it is. I'm sure you don't mind/care, dear reader(s).

This shifting perspective also, in this case, means first-person narration. I don't like first-person narration very much generally, and I don't think it works here. You have to get inside the head of the characters in a way that doesn't often fit for a tie-in novel, especially when some of those characters are supporting roles that are written/played quite broadly on TV -- fine on screen as support, but as the lead narration for a chunk of novel? Awkward.

(Or maybe it's just that Goss hasn't quite captured them right -- but my first suggestion was kinder, eh.)

And with the narrator switching around all the time -- occasionally mid-scene -- it's sometimes harder than it should be to remember who the "I" in question is.

But hey-ho, we'll see how the rest of it goes.

Articles

Harry Potter stars say final scene was a challenge for the ages by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at Los Angeles Times)
I assumed this would be a fluff piece basically saying "ooh, playing 20 years older was hard, man!", but it's actually a decent article about the difficulties of shooting Deathly Hallows Part 2's epilogue. Be warned, though, if you haven't seen the film there are photos that spoil the old-age make-up (if you care, of course).

TV

How I Met Your Mother
6x23 Landmarks
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1x07 Episode 7
This seems to have had mixed reviews and fluctuating ratings, so I guess a second series doesn't look promising. But there's a Christmas special at least! And, apparently, another episode at the end of August, which is a bit random.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Pointless
4x41 (1/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Rob Brydon Show
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Number of titles in collection: 1,352 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,126 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 226 [up 2]

Number of discs in collection: 3,348 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,427 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,005 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

No Ordinary Family
1x15 No Ordinary Powell
The Jim vs 'Jim' fight was good, and perhaps a couple of other bits were too, but otherwise this was an episode stuffed with stupidity. If you know there's a shapeshifter about, would you really trust anyone so readily? And would you except they're the real person off a few current-life details? And would you happily discuss your one and only weakness out in the open? Daftness. Which I suppose I should expect by now.

Pointless
4x40 (29/7/11 edition)
Or, Episode #150.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x04 Escape to L.A.
This season is improving with every episode, I think. Which is good, because I didn't think it started as well as people would've liked. It would be really nice if they sorted out the technical issues though -- every other US series looks fine on British TV, so what's with all the smearing/ghosting/etc? It bugs me.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Articles

The Strange and Twisted Tale of...The Movie That Grossed $30.00 by Rob Brunner
(from EW.com)
You may have heard of this before: Zyzzyx Road, which was shown on one screen once a day in Texas for a week in 2006 for legal reasons, and only six people saw it. Around Christmas 2006 it was picked up on and laughed at; this article, from February 2007, discusses the true story behind the 'flop' -- note the "legal reasons" I mentioned, and that it was "shown" not released.
Anyway, you can read the article for all that; the reason I mention it is: this article is four-and-a-half years old and in it they're talking about a possible theatrical and/or DVD release for the film in the US -- as far as I'm aware, this still hasn't happened. (It's not available over here either.)

Masters of Cinema / Masters of Cinema - completely different, obviously!

MoC vs. Phaidon
(from Masters of Cinema)

DVD publisher Eureka Entertainment are currently battling it out with much-bigger-company Phaidon, a book publisher who have recently decided to name a series of books "The Masters of Cinema Series", which Eureka has been using as a brand name for DVDs and Blu-rays for about seven years.

The books in question were originally published in French under a completely different title, so it's not as if Phaidon have just done a simple translation job -- they've (possibly deliberately) just nicked someone else's established brand.

When alerted to this fact, Phaidon decided it didn't matter -- books and DVDs are different, they say. I'm sure they'd be delighted if someone started releasing a series of DVDs as "The Phaidon Collection" without asking; never mind the fact that Eureka regularly get requests for information about "their books" from both professional trade and regular consumers -- clearly there is crossover and confusion.

Unfortunately for Phaidon, the very audience for these arty/intellectual film books is rallying behind the original Masters of Cinema on twitter, where MoC are hoping to enact some kind of fan-led change of mind from the publisher (see #badPhaidon for more) without having to resort to expensive legal proceedings -- other legal avenues have already been explored and shot down by Phaidon. Eureka want to protect their brand, but it's clearly going to cost them and that's always bad for the consumer -- less cash to put into releases and all that.

That's more or less the state of it anyway, though this official statement on the MoC website explains it more clearly (and in more detail).

TV

Dexter
5x01 My Bad
The new (well, new to the UK -- it was on about a year ago in the States -- and, actually, is already about halfway through on FX over here) season of Dexter kicks off with a lot of having to deal with last season's shock twist/cliffhanger. Makes sense that it has to do so, but it makes for a slightly plodding and frustrating first episode. And with the FBI hanging around, it's clearly not done yet. Still, fingers crossed things pick up from here.

Pointless
4x39 (28/7/11 edition)
Ouch, that Bourne round result was killer! (He he he.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Top Gear
17x06 (31/7/11 edition) [season finale]
As soon as it arrived, it's gone again. That's how it feels, anyway, even though it has been six weeks.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Articles

Internet Explorer story was bogus
(from BBC News)

A story which suggested that users of Internet Explorer have a lower IQ than people who chose other browsers appears to have been an elaborate hoax.

It's probably true though, if they actually researched it.
Either way:

A number of media organisations, including the BBC, reported on the research

Oops! Now who's got a low IQ.
And just to compound the effect, they've for some reason posted this story twice. Oops!

Lost Alfred Hitchcock film found in New Zealand by Paul Chapman
(from The Telegraph)

"This is one of the most significant developments in memory for scholars, critics, and admirers of Hitchcock's extraordinary body of work."

It's not actually a film directed by Hitchcock though, but it was one for which he "wrote the scenario, designed the sets, edited the footage and served as assistant director". Interesting stuff.

TV

The Hour
1x02 Episode 2
This is apparently getting quite slagged off in the press, but I'm liking it. It's not perfect, but it has enough going for it to hold my attention.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

My Favourite Joke
Episode 2 (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Pointless
4x38 (27/7/11 edition)
Best. Round. Ever. (And make sure you keep watching 'til the end, it's worth it.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Tudors
4x10 Death of a Monarchy [series finale]
And that's that, then. A decent finale, especially the last five or ten minutes; the vision with the horse and the skull-headed rider was particularly beautiful, I thought. The last few screens of text to let viewers know what happened was welcome, even if I imagine most British viewers were very aware of the fates of Henry's children; I'd be more interested to know what became of supporting characters like Wifey #6 or Edward Seymour. But I guess that's what Wikipedia is for.
The Tudors on the whole has been of variable quality -- just for one example, take how the first half of this season was a tad slow while the second seemed to rush through events -- but I will miss it a little bit. At least there's a raft of pretenders to the throne to perhaps fill the gap... even if one of them is already cancelled.

Comics

2000 AD #1742

There are magazines I read regularly that I don't bother to mention -- the Radio Times every week, DWM and SFX every month, among others. In the spirit of completeness I suppose I ought to, really, but they're a bit like articles: I don't mention every single one I read, just ones I feel are interesting enough to share or want to comment on.

You'd be forgiven for thinking 2000 AD had slotted in alongside the rest of these magazines, then... but because it's fiction (which I do a much better job of covering my experience of, be it TV or films or books) I've been intending to keep mentioning it... it's just that I haven't actually read it since last time I covered it (nearly three weeks ago). Busy busy me, I guess. Anyway, it's catch-up time -- hopefully I'll remember to read (and include) more issues over the coming days.

TV

Archer
2x13 Double Trouble [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Law & Order: UK
5x04 Tick Tock
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Pointless
4x36 (25/7/11 edition)
4x37 (26/7/11 edition)
[Watch the 26/7/11 edition (again) on iPlayer.]

Single-Handed
2x03 Between Two Fires Part 1
There's only been one fire so far... Tension! Maybe, or it could be metaphorical. Either way, I hope that nasty Costello gets his comeuppance soon, a la Driscoll Sr. in the first series.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

TV

Dragons' Den
9x01 Episode 1
After subjecting myself to an episode of the woeful US version, it's great to have the real Dragons' Den back. Even if new dragon Hilary Devey looks like a Doctor Who monster from the '80s, and her face looming from the shadows in the opening titles is liable to give people nightmares.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Films

Robin Hood (1973)
[multipleth watch]

I can never remember how often I watched things as a child. Not just a precise number -- that's understandable; I was a kid, of course I wasn't counting -- but whether I watched something many times or just once and it made an indelible impression. There have been many films that I can remember with crystal clarity, but I'm certain I've only ever watched once, so any film I feel I must've seen multiple times I always wonder: did I, or did it just imprint itself?

This is, obviously, one of those films. Hence why I have invented the word "multipleth", whose meaning is hopefully clear.

(It's "multiple-th", not "multi-pleth".)

DVD Extras

Super: Behind the Scenes
Aside from the theatrical trailer, the only extra on the UK Super BD. As 19-minute making-ofs go it's decent: as this was an indie film we're not subjected to the usual low-quality, vacant, promotion-focused talking heads commonly found in these featurettes; you might even learn a few things about the production; it's still slightly padded with clips, mind. More disappointing is that a tonne of stuff on the US release is missing. If I can get my hands on the US Best Buy version, I will.

Music

5.1 Inception Soundtrack by Hans Zimmer
Finally had a flick through the Inception Blu-ray and one of the included extras is 39 minutes of Hans Zimmer's score, presented in 5.1 HD surround sound. It's really rather good. I may have to get round to buying the soundtrack now.

this week on 100 Films

Just 1 new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year again this week. It was...

Catfish (2010)

If you have any interest in the Internet and the way so many people now live their lives through it, with all the social networking it offers, and how that impacts back on their ‘real’ lives, then Catfish demands to be seen... As much as I loved The Social Network, this probably has more to say about the actual impact of Facebook on our lives than Fincher/Sorkin’s biopic does.

That's only two all month. Pathetic.

In about 11 hours you can see my summary of July's viewing, which is almost equally pathetic. It'll be available here then.

More, hopefully, next Sunday.

TV

Castle
1x07 Home is Where the Heart Stops
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Horrible Histories with Stephen Fry
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Just Good Friends
3x05 The Witness

Lee Mack's All Star Cast
1x06 (23/7/11 edition) [season finale]
(I know I've only got myself to blame for watching all of this, but) I do hope they don't bring it back.

Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Films

Super (2010)
[#71 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Out on DVD & Blu-ray in the UK from Monday, at shockingly low prices for a new release.
Out in the US a week Tuesday, but with loads more extras, and more still if you get the Best Buy exclusive version. (On the off chance anyone reading this knows of somewhere I can get the Best Buy version shipped to the UK, please let me know. Thanks.)

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Disarray this week, thanks to upgrading a two-disc DVD to a single-disc BD alongside a single-disc BD with two films. And a regular one-disc-one-film release, too.

Look, it's not that exciting, alright, but if you thoroughly considered the numbers properly without knowing all that it might look unusual, all right?

Number of titles in collection: 1,350 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,126 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 224 [up 3]

Number of discs in collection: 3,343 [up 1]
Number of films in collection: 1,424 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,005 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

How I Met Your Mother
6x22 The Perfect Cocktail
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

My Favourite Joke
Episode 1 (of 6)
This would be better if they played the whole routine/sketch/what-have-you either before or after all the comedians' comments. It's fine if you're familiar with the thing they're discussing, but if you've never seen it before it's a chore trying to piece it together from the snippets they scatter about, and it lessens the impact in the process. Shame.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

No Ordinary Family
1x14 No Ordinary Double Standard

The Rob Brydon Show
2x01 Episode 1
I'm glad this is back -- I thought it would be too odd to attract the numbers -- but, thankfully, here it is.
Also, Nina Conti should be on telly more often.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Grand Designs Australia
1x03 Southport Heritage House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

No Ordinary Family
1x13 No Ordinary Detention
Or No Ordinary Bottle Episode, as this is essentially three contrived-single-location stories smudged into one episode. Still, by NOF standards it was quite good. Shame they let British Villain Lady escape though.
(Technically it's not really a bottle episode -- plenty of guest actors and a couple of non-standard sets -- but, y'know, near enough.)

Single-Handed
2x02 The Lost Boys Part 2
Even better second half. Glad to see having to do three stories at once (the previous three were produced over several years) hasn't diminished the quality (yet, anyway).
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x03 Dead of Night
"It's fizzy in the UK and flat in the US." "Just about sums it up." A metaphor for the series itself, one wonders?
Ironically, those lines come in what I felt was the best episode of the season so far. Not close to Children of Earth level, true, but it's steadily improving.
The much-discussed sex scene cuts were unnoticeable, of course, but even more importantly, having seen the uncut version I can say we weren't missing anything; we still get everything that was going on -- the very definition of a pointless/gratuitous scene.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

The Tudors
4x09 Secrets of the Heart
What the hell just happened -- suddenly everyone looks about 20 years older! Well, most people -- they haven't bothered with some. Clearly time has jumped forward -- there's no mention of Henry's collapse last time, they've all decamped somewhere else -- but not by that much. And most of the aged make-up isn't that good anyway. I can only assume they ran out of money by this point.
Or maybe they were just too busy rushing through the story. After wasting so much time treading water or seen-it-before storylines in the first half of this final season, it's a shame they've had to speed through some decent plots as it draws to a close. Ah well, almost the whole thing's been a missed opportunity anyway.

TV

Law & Order: UK
5x03 Crush
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Top Gear
17x05 (24/7/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

The Tudors
4x08 As It Should Be
He won the battle! But now they're going to take the city back! And then he keeled over! The end must be nigh... especially as there are only two episodes left...

TV

Dynamo: Magician Impossible
1x02 Episode 2
I don't get Watch (annoyingly), but popping home to my parents' for the day I found an episode of this on Sky Anytime. Dynamo's very impressive, and while I could guess how he did a couple of tricks (which pleases me -- as previously established, I like to know how it's done), there are some that are totally baffling -- how he can push his hand through (apparently-)real glass right before someone's eyes, for instance.
I think now I'll have to see if I can get the rest of the series... somehow...

(By-the-by, the link I've used for the episode title... Interesting and not un-true review/summary of the series, but do note the "This is a sponsored post" tucked away at the bottom. So, essentially, this is a paid-for advert masquerading as a genuine blog post. Sneaky.)

Music

Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie
[4th & 5th listen]

Articles

Class 4G and the Zygons by Gary Gillatt
(from Squabbling Rubber)
A class of 10-11 year olds watch Doctor Who... back in 1995, when the series had been off air for six years (or "forever" to kids of that age). It's originally from DWM but is reproduced in full here. It might be interesting to re-run the experiment today -- six years isn't that long, really, and a lot of kids' TV at the time still had Who-ish production values; what would a class of a similar age today, weened on masses of slick kids' TV and years of the revamped Who, make of a '70s serial?

Graham Norton, Richard Hammond land BBC America shows by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
I do hope they make it over to the UK, because a) it would be daft not to, and b) some of them do sound quite good.

Music

Let Them Talk by Hugh Laurie
[2nd & 3rd listen]

Articles

New Doctor Who picture, series six trailer released by Kate Goodacre
(from Digital Spy)
Same trailer, but ooh exciting new cast photo! Love a long coat.

TV

I would have watched the second Single-Handed today, but the Virgin Media catch-up service is being stupid again. Other means of acquisition will be required.

But other than that, there was:

Grand Designs Australia
1x02 Very Small House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

The Tudors
4x07 Sixth and the Final Wife
War, huh? What is it good for? Not much, other than some exciting battle scenes. The speed of the plot seems to have picked up massively in the second half of the series. Shame they wasted so much time during the first half.

Articles

Doctor Who Return Date by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
As hinted at by Doctor Who Magazine on twitter ages ago, Doctor Who will return for Series 6: Part 2 (as the DVD/BD will brand it) on August 27th. So far only the US date is confirmed, but unless it's on a week earlier in the UK (which seems unlikely) this must be the UK return date too.
Additionally, a selection of UK trailers can be watched here.

Karen Gillan stays with Doctor Who by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Relatedly, Karen Gillan confirms she'll be returning for Season 7. There'd been speculation that she and Arthur Darvill would be leaving as both have work commitments around the time Who would normally be shooting, but the recent much-discussed news about its various delays suggest that's no longer a problem. Which will make them the longest-serving companions for goodness knows how long! Maybe the 11th Doctor will pull a 2nd Doctor and retain the same companions throughout his run? (Yes, OK, "more or less" in the latter's case.)

And also relatedly...

Eccleston Expands on Reasons for Leaving by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Remember when Chris Eccleston talked about his reasons for leaving Doctor Who the other day? Well, here's a fuller version of what he had to say. Intriguinger...

TV

Archer
2x12 White Nights
A cliffhanger (sort of)?! Two-part season finales not on the same night suck.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Castle
1x06 Always Buy Retail
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

The Hour
1x01 Episode 1
Quite a good start, though it could do with getting on with things a bit more. This is where the 40-50 minutes of US series have an advantage: they'll tell the same story, but they'll tell it quicker.
Much was made in the press of the series' similarities to Mad Men, mainly because it's set in approximately the same era, features men in suits, women being kept in their place, and everyone smoking all the time. The makers were right to say such comparisons were inaccurate -- downtrodden, brown British '50s journalism is a very different world to glossy, colourful American '60s advertising -- but I still think the series is trying to be Mad Men-ish. For one thing, Dominic West's character's story in this episode (he's a smooth ladies' man... who actually has a wife and, it would seem, a tricky home life) is straight out of Don Draper's introduction in Mad Men's first episode (s).
Still, on the whole it has promise. Fingers crossed it realises it.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

No Ordinary Family
1x12 No Ordinary Brother
Pretty much everyone in this programme is better than it. Which is kinda depressing. New British villainess is suitably rubbish though.

Pointless
4x35 (22/7/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

How I Met Your Mother
6x21 Hopeless
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Miranda
1x05 Excuse [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Pointless
4x34 (21/7/11 edition)
400! Well crikey.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Tudors
4x06 You Have My Permission

Magazines

SFX Special Edition #51
The Top 100 Sci-Fi Icons of the 21st Century

I don't know when this issue is/was released, but I'm a subscriber and my copy turned up today. It's rare I get round to reading much of any magazine I buy these days, and never (with the recent exception of 2000 AD) do I get round to reading all of it at any time... but I read all of this within one day!

Is it that good? No, it's that lightweight. It's 100 full-page (later on, double page) pictures, some of them incredibly poor copies (they're blocky and pixellated, like they've been badly compressed for the web), with teeny tiny articles to accompany them that won't tell you anything new about anything. Ouch.

And that's before we get onto the list itself -- hey, at least no one from Twilight turns up at any point. And that's not devoid from mistakes, either: apparently #6 is "Lanto Jones", who died in an episode written by James Moran. Oh dear.

To rub salt in the wound (sort of), they've decided to include a reader survey with this issue. One of the questions is about if the magazine represents value for money. Normally, I'd be happy to say it does, even if the specials are a bit overpriced these days. But for this edition? Definitely not. It's one completely lightweight article stretched out to a whole magazine... and they're asking £7.99 for it!

I feel like I've wasted part of my subscription.

Articles

Christopher Eccleston: 'I quit Doctor Who over politics' by Kate Goodacre
(from Digital Spy)
More hints emerge on the ongoing mystery of What Went On With Doctor Who's First Season. Read some of my thoughts on the article's commenters here.

Review of Daredevil #1 by Doug Zawisza
(from Comic Book Resources)
Glowing review... which is good, because I've been interested in Daredevil for a long time and decided an issue-one relaunch was a good time to finally try jumping on board.

The Forgotten Part 2: DVD’s hidden depths by James Oliver
(from From the Cheap Seats at MovieMail)
Good article on one of the major benefits of the DVD era: access to so, so many more films in good-quality editions; so many that Oliver suggests we need to be seriously rethinking the canon of great films. And he's probably right.
(I first read this in the current MovieMail catalogue, the full version of which can be read or downloaded as a PDF here. If you've never read one of their monthly catalogues before, it's more like a mini film mag than just a list of stuff you can buy, with new short analytical pieces on some of the new releases (plus pages purely promoting products, of course). And if you're wondering what this article is part two of, the first is here. Not read it myself yet...)

Jurassic Park 4 in two or three years, says Steven Spielberg at Comic-Con 2011 by Daniel Sperling
(from Digital Spy)
They've been saying stuff to this effect for years. I'll believe it when they say they're shooting it. I hope they do, though.

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Almost no new titles this week. It should've been more, but... Well, remember that parcel from Amazon US that I mentioned? Still not arrived. They tell me I have to wait "a little while" after the final estimated date before I can claim for a replacement. In this case, "a little while" means four weeks. Ridiculous.

Anyway, at least we've got the running time update -- done accurately, which is why some of my previous discrepancies have shown up -- and that's always exciting!

Number of titles in collection: 1,348 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,127 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 221 [up 1]

Number of discs in collection: 3,342 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,421 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,005 [no change]

And this month's running time update tells us the following exciting stuff...

Total running time of collection (approx.):
241 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 20 hours, and 38 minutes from last month.)

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

Lee Mack's All Star Cast
1x05 (16/7/11 edition)
I think this is getting worse. Though not having Katie Price this week is a big bonus.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1x05 Episode 5
Most of the Metro reviews of this series (which I've generally linked to as the only thing close to an episode-specific online presence I can find) have been half-decent, but this one's just stupid. Witness them prattling on about "amateur magicians" -- it's been clear since the first special that these are almost all working, award-winning magicians, not "some bloke that dabbles" types. At least, I thought it was clear. But I suppose this reviewer does write for the Metro...
At least, unlike 99% of articles on the Internet, the comments on this one are vaguely worth a read (for more of the same eye-rolling annoyance I'm expressing.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Pointless
4x33 (20/7/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Top Gear
17x04 (17/7/11 edition)
A train made from caravans that turned into a fireball?! Awesome!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x02 Rendition
That was much, much better, I thought. Obviously Jack was never in any real danger -- they're not going to kill him off, and certainly not in the second episode -- but there was good Torchwoody fun as they raced around finding everything for the cure. The subplots -- both Oswald Danes and the medical emergency -- are interesting, providing they play them right from now on. Danes has a long way to go, that's clear, but if overdone the medical sob story is going to get dull.
Perhaps best of all, though, was Agent Lyn stumbling along with her head on backwards. Proper Torchwood silliness -- much missed from the first two episodes up to that point, I feel.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]

Articles

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games returns in October with Guy Fawkes episode by Matthew Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)

The second series will begin with The Gunpowder Plot, and sees The Doctor, Amy and Rory battle aliens in London in 1605. Guy Fawkes will have a role in the episode, which will see the return of two old Doctor Who enemies.

...The new series will see several gameplay enhancements, including non-linear routes, more sophisticated puzzles and a more complex lighting system.

I've still only played the first of the original four games, because I didn't think it was much fun -- so hopefully these "more sophisticated puzzles" include "making it good". I ought to go back and play the other three games, mind -- some of what I read suggested they did get better. Plus, Cybermen! Yay Cybermen.

TV

How I Met Your Mother
6x20 The Exploding Meatball Sub
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]

Law & Order: UK
5x02 Safe
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Pointless
4x32 (19/7/11 edition)
And another winner! I spoke too soon.
Shame I didn't like the team again.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Castle
1x05 A Chill Goes Through Her Veins
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]

Pointless
4x31 (18/7/11 edition)
Having just commented on how hard it was to win, someone goes and does it! Wasn't sure that ever happened, to be honest. Shame I didn't like the team.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]