Doctor Who Magazine #456
I've never stopped buying DWM, but I haven't read a significant amount of an issue for months, perhaps even years (due to a particularly festive season, the preceding bagged Christmas issue remains unopened). Somewhere between a New Year's Resolution and It's The 50th Anniversary Goddammit, however, I have dived into this one and read it almost cover to cover.
This issue has a not-all-new-but-tweaked look for the 50th anniversary, appropriately tying into the not-all-new-but-tweaked stuff that permeated the Christmas special (titles, music, logo, TARDIS, Doctor, etc etc). Revving up for the anniversary, the issue includes a fairly thorough summary of the tonnes of merchandise I'll be spending a small fortune on this year (though it neglects to mention the recently-announced Puffin short stories (more here), which I therefore presume were being kept A Big Secret). Lots of it is rather exciting, even if I still dispute some of the choices for the anniversary collection of 11 tie-in novels. Big Finish are doing a helluva lot of stuff, while BBC Books seem to have missed a trick by not doing some kind of big behind-the-scenes book. On the one hand, they may just not have announced it yet (the article ends with a "and there's more to come" note); on the other, they've done a couple down the years so maybe there's no point; though, adjunct to that, the last I remember was for (I think) the 40th, so maybe an update of that to include the Ninth to Eleventh Doctors is the least we're due.
There's also the first part of a new comic strip, Hunters of the Burning Stone by regular DWM comic strippers Scott Gray and Martin Geraghty. This is set up elsewhere in the issue as being part season finale, part anniversary celebration (though at six parts it will be finished by the middle of the year, nowhere near the anniversary itself). I always feel like I should be reading DWM's strip, especially as it's only around 10 pages once per month, but again I haven't for years. This instalment doesn't do much to convince me otherwise to be honest, full as it is of dense because-we-can sci-fi-ness. Great final page though.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Articles
Baftas: Lincoln leads but Spielberg snubbed
(from BBC News)
And a fair few well-deserved nods for Skyfall too. Whether it wins anything or not is another matter, but fingers crossed. The full nominations can be read on BAFTA's site, here.
Jersey retailer Play.com closes direct retail business
(from BBC News)
Bit of a surprise, this -- Play always seem to be doing so well. But it was also kind of inevitable, with the tax loophole closing, something Play was always based around.
Lots of misreporting around the web on this though: Play aren't being forced to shut down, they're choosing to, meaning you don't need to worry about outstanding orders or refunds; indeed, they'll be selling stuff until the end of March; and then after that, they'll still be there, as an ebay/Amazon Marketplace-style site for people to sell stuff through. Be interesting to see how long that lasts, with at least two so-obvious alternatives available.
Relatedly:
French mourn Virgin's 'funeral march'
by Robert Plummer (from BBC News)
Interestingly different reaction to record store closures from our friends across the Channel. Perhaps they'll be more inclined to do something to stop the tax-dodging multinationals because of it.
(from BBC News)
And a fair few well-deserved nods for Skyfall too. Whether it wins anything or not is another matter, but fingers crossed. The full nominations can be read on BAFTA's site, here.
Jersey retailer Play.com closes direct retail business
(from BBC News)
Bit of a surprise, this -- Play always seem to be doing so well. But it was also kind of inevitable, with the tax loophole closing, something Play was always based around.
Lots of misreporting around the web on this though: Play aren't being forced to shut down, they're choosing to, meaning you don't need to worry about outstanding orders or refunds; indeed, they'll be selling stuff until the end of March; and then after that, they'll still be there, as an ebay/Amazon Marketplace-style site for people to sell stuff through. Be interesting to see how long that lasts, with at least two so-obvious alternatives available.
Relatedly:
French mourn Virgin's 'funeral march'
by Robert Plummer (from BBC News)
Interestingly different reaction to record store closures from our friends across the Channel. Perhaps they'll be more inclined to do something to stop the tax-dodging multinationals because of it.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
TV
Bond's Greatest Moments
Sky's countdown of the 22 greatest moments in the official James Bond films (one per film), as voted for by readers of their website. A surprising list in places, which went some way to make up for the often incredibly irritating talking heads they'd chosen.
[If you have Sky, you can watch it (again) on Sky Go.]
Face the Clock
1x01 (7/1/13 edition)
This sounded like a good idea for a game show -- contestants must answer questions against the clock to amass prize money, but if they're the one doing the answering when the clock runs out they lose it all; twist is, neither they nor surprisingly-camp question-master Rory Bremner can see the clock -- but it makes one fatal misjudgement: the length of time varies, at random, from round to round. So not only do the contestants have no idea how long is left on the clock, they don't have a clue how long the clock was in the first place. That removes any element of skill or prediction and just makes it blind luck whether they're still in command at the end, which makes it considerably less fun.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
8x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
Or "The Middle-Aged Men Episode". Can't quite tell if that was deliberate booking or unfortunate thematic repetition...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Miranda
3x03 The Dinner Party
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x19 Flesh and Blood
Resuming all these things post-Christmas-telly (see also: Elementary yesterday).
Sky's countdown of the 22 greatest moments in the official James Bond films (one per film), as voted for by readers of their website. A surprising list in places, which went some way to make up for the often incredibly irritating talking heads they'd chosen.
[If you have Sky, you can watch it (again) on Sky Go.]
Face the Clock
1x01 (7/1/13 edition)
This sounded like a good idea for a game show -- contestants must answer questions against the clock to amass prize money, but if they're the one doing the answering when the clock runs out they lose it all; twist is, neither they nor surprisingly-camp question-master Rory Bremner can see the clock -- but it makes one fatal misjudgement: the length of time varies, at random, from round to round. So not only do the contestants have no idea how long is left on the clock, they don't have a clue how long the clock was in the first place. That removes any element of skill or prediction and just makes it blind luck whether they're still in command at the end, which makes it considerably less fun.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
8x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
Or "The Middle-Aged Men Episode". Can't quite tell if that was deliberate booking or unfortunate thematic repetition...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Miranda
3x03 The Dinner Party
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x19 Flesh and Blood
Resuming all these things post-Christmas-telly (see also: Elementary yesterday).
Monday, 7 January 2013
TV
Animal Antics
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Britain's Brightest
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Elementary
1x06 Flight Risk
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Britain's Brightest
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Elementary
1x06 Flight Risk
Films
A Trip to the Moon (1902)
[#2a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
aka Le Voyage dans la lune, Georges Méliès' seminal sci-fi short, in the 2011 restoration of a rare hand-coloured print. And to accompany it:
The Extraordinary Voyage (2011)
[#3 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Shown alongside the restored short (and included on Park Circus' UK DVD released last November), this just-over-60-minute documentary describes Méliès' life and work (with specific focus on A Trip to the Moon), before moving on to the cover the various attempts at restoring his most famous work.
[#2a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
aka Le Voyage dans la lune, Georges Méliès' seminal sci-fi short, in the 2011 restoration of a rare hand-coloured print. And to accompany it:
The Extraordinary Voyage (2011)
[#3 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Shown alongside the restored short (and included on Park Circus' UK DVD released last November), this just-over-60-minute documentary describes Méliès' life and work (with specific focus on A Trip to the Moon), before moving on to the cover the various attempts at restoring his most famous work.
Sunday, 6 January 2013
this week on 100 Films
No new reviews to the blog this week, because it's just turned 2013! I know, it has been for the best part of a week, but as this is the first 100 Films update since the year began there's a few bits & bobs to report.
So first among firsts, there's the December update, revealing not only what I watched in December, but also the final total for 2013. Then there's some statistics about the site, helpfully provided by WordPress.
Next, the first of my big looks back at 2012. That has the full list of everything I watched, as well as the always-fun statistics. This year there are more of the latter than ever before, complete with numerous graphs. Exciting!
Finally, my final post looking back at last year, 2012 In Retrospect. There you can find my ten favourite films I saw for the first time last year, alongside some honourable mentions, the worst five, and fifty new ones I missed.
No new reviews, as I said, but nonetheless some old reviews were new to the new blog...
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Read more here.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Read more here.
Robin Hood: Director's Cut (2010)
Read more here.
And that's all for now. More next Sunday!
So first among firsts, there's the December update, revealing not only what I watched in December, but also the final total for 2013. Then there's some statistics about the site, helpfully provided by WordPress.
Next, the first of my big looks back at 2012. That has the full list of everything I watched, as well as the always-fun statistics. This year there are more of the latter than ever before, complete with numerous graphs. Exciting!
Finally, my final post looking back at last year, 2012 In Retrospect. There you can find my ten favourite films I saw for the first time last year, alongside some honourable mentions, the worst five, and fifty new ones I missed.
No new reviews, as I said, but nonetheless some old reviews were new to the new blog...
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Like On Stranger Tides, it suffers from a surfeit of ideas that are equally undeveloped. There’s an adventure story that wants to reach an Indiana Jones-esque style but fumbles it. It often feels like the genuinely important bits of plot and character development are quickly brushed over, instead spending inexplicably long stretches on barely-relevant asides.
Read more here.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
It’s beautifully done: backgrounds are gorgeously painted, character animation is fast and fluid. There are some stunning individual shots, like when the fireflies become involved in creating glorious lighting and patterns in the bayou, for instance. There’s a nice use of different styles when appropriate too
Read more here.
Robin Hood: Director's Cut (2010)
Origin stories are all the rage at the moment, and so Ridley Scott follows in the footsteps of Batman Begins and Casino Royale with his Darker And Grittier™ take on the beginnings of Robin Hood. No lurid green tights or Merry Men here — this is Robin of the Hood as he really was (maybe). Sadly, Scott's potentially worthwhile effort has become distracted and wandered too far down the wrong path.
Read more here.
And that's all for now. More next Sunday!
Saturday, 5 January 2013
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 9 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Numb: Simon Amstell Live at the BBC
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x12 Justice (XL edition)
Ripper Street
1x01 I Need Light
This seems to have had some mixed reviews, but I thought it was brilliant. Dark, but appropriately so.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Splash!
1x01 Heat 1
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
2012-13 Episode 9 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Numb: Simon Amstell Live at the BBC
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x12 Justice (XL edition)
Ripper Street
1x01 I Need Light
This seems to have had some mixed reviews, but I thought it was brilliant. Dark, but appropriately so.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Splash!
1x01 Heat 1
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Films
Underworld: Awakening (2012)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
The latest (fourth) entry in the surprisingly-durable Underworld series comes to Sky Movies yesterday. I don't have that yet (as usual, I'll get it in the next month or so for the Oscars), but I happened to buy the BD cheap in the sales, so it seemed a good idea to watch it right away and try to review it while it's still on telly. We'll see how that goes...
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
The latest (fourth) entry in the surprisingly-durable Underworld series comes to Sky Movies yesterday. I don't have that yet (as usual, I'll get it in the next month or so for the Oscars), but I happened to buy the BD cheap in the sales, so it seemed a good idea to watch it right away and try to review it while it's still on telly. We'll see how that goes...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,522 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 376 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,836 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,601 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,522 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 376 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,836 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,601 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 4 January 2013
TV
Apparently it's Comedy Reviews Of The Year Day here... plus Celebrity Mastermind (of course) and another Little Cracker.
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 8 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Charlie Brooker's 2012 Wipe
For some reason this isn't on iPlayer online (though if you look, it's there but won't work), but if you have a service like Virgin Media you can find it on there.
Have I Got News For You
44x11 Highlights (extended repeat) [season finale]
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg of the Year
The Paralympics were generally pretty awesome, but The Last Leg was nonetheless one of the best bits. And here it is for a review of the year -- which, as per every review of the year I've seen (and I've seen a few) means: Jubilee, Olympics, Paralympics, Gangnam Style, the Jesus 'restoration', and one or two sundry other bits. Which isn't a bad thing, just, y'know, that was the year, so...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Little Crackers
3x10 Of All the Trees
Being Katy Brand's.
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 8 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Charlie Brooker's 2012 Wipe
For some reason this isn't on iPlayer online (though if you look, it's there but won't work), but if you have a service like Virgin Media you can find it on there.
Have I Got News For You
44x11 Highlights (extended repeat) [season finale]
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg of the Year
The Paralympics were generally pretty awesome, but The Last Leg was nonetheless one of the best bits. And here it is for a review of the year -- which, as per every review of the year I've seen (and I've seen a few) means: Jubilee, Olympics, Paralympics, Gangnam Style, the Jesus 'restoration', and one or two sundry other bits. Which isn't a bad thing, just, y'know, that was the year, so...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Little Crackers
3x10 Of All the Trees
Being Katy Brand's.
Thursday, 3 January 2013
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 7 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x08 The Ten Year Plan: Fringe to Hollywood
Being Omid Djalili's.
Superstars 2012
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2012-13 Episode 7 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x08 The Ten Year Plan: Fringe to Hollywood
Being Omid Djalili's.
Superstars 2012
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 6 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Miranda
3x02 What a Surprise
Such fun.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
That Dog Can Dance!
Awww.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
2012-13 Episode 6 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Miranda
3x02 What a Surprise
Such fun.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
That Dog Can Dance!
Awww.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
TV
2012: A Funny Old Year
Well that was spectacularly mediocre.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Castle
2x24 A Deadly Game [season finale]
Great episode. Hope C5 don't make it too long before they embark on season three. I mean, I could download it (they're on, what, five now in the US?), but...
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 5 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x01 Baby, Be Blonde
Being Joanna Lumley's.
Restless
Part 2 (of 2)
Great conclusion, even if it was a tad dense and confusing in places. I'd quite like to read the novel now, too.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Well that was spectacularly mediocre.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Castle
2x24 A Deadly Game [season finale]
Great episode. Hope C5 don't make it too long before they embark on season three. I mean, I could download it (they're on, what, five now in the US?), but...
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 5 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x01 Baby, Be Blonde
Being Joanna Lumley's.
Restless
Part 2 (of 2)
Great conclusion, even if it was a tad dense and confusing in places. I'd quite like to read the novel now, too.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 31 December 2012
TV
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2012
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 4 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x10 New Year's Eve
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x12 Le Concert de L'école [season finale]
Being Darren Boyd's.
The Mentalist
5x09 Black Cherry
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
New Year Live 2012
Fireworks! Yay!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Restless
Part 1 (of 2)
Good period spy drama (double period, in fact, as it's set in both the '40s and the '70s), but I've no idea what the title means.
I'm also not sure that "look, it's Michael Gambon!" works as a cliffhanger when his name's in the opening credits.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 4 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x10 New Year's Eve
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x12 Le Concert de L'école [season finale]
Being Darren Boyd's.
The Mentalist
5x09 Black Cherry
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
New Year Live 2012
Fireworks! Yay!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Restless
Part 1 (of 2)
Good period spy drama (double period, in fact, as it's set in both the '40s and the '70s), but I've no idea what the title means.
I'm also not sure that "look, it's Michael Gambon!" works as a cliffhanger when his name's in the opening credits.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
The Plank (1967)
[#97 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
And that's 100 Films for 2012 done... at less than 100 films. Oh well.
[#97 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
And that's 100 Films for 2012 done... at less than 100 films. Oh well.
Articles
Skyfall becomes first $1 billion James Bond movie
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
Huzzah!
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
Skyfall has also crossed the £100 million barrier at the UK box office, making it the first movie to achieve that milestone.
Huzzah!
Sunday, 30 December 2012
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 2 (of 10)
2012-13 Episode 3 (of 10)
[Watch episodes two and three (again) on iPlayer.]
James May's Toy Stories
Flight Club
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x04 Nutcracker
3x05 The Autograph
Being, respectively, Caroline Quentin's and Alison Steadman's. (And I must add, it's a complete accident I watched these in 'order' and following on from watching two and three on Friday -- they're listed randomly on Virgin's catch-up and so I've been choosing them randomly.)
QI
10x14 Jingle Bells (XL edition)
If for any reason anyone persists in watching the 30-minute edition, they really do miss out on some quite interesting stuff.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2012-13 Episode 2 (of 10)
2012-13 Episode 3 (of 10)
[Watch episodes two and three (again) on iPlayer.]
James May's Toy Stories
Flight Club
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x04 Nutcracker
3x05 The Autograph
Being, respectively, Caroline Quentin's and Alison Steadman's. (And I must add, it's a complete accident I watched these in 'order' and following on from watching two and three on Friday -- they're listed randomly on Virgin's catch-up and so I've been choosing them randomly.)
QI
10x14 Jingle Bells (XL edition)
If for any reason anyone persists in watching the 30-minute edition, they really do miss out on some quite interesting stuff.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
The 100 Films 2012 Advent Calendar came to an end this week and... golly, was Christmas less than a week ago? Feels forever!
Anyway, that means two brand-new reviews were published to finish that off, and they were...
Cowboys & Aliens: Extended Director's Cut (2011)
Read more here.
Skyfall (2012)
Read more here.
With the advent calendar over, I've returned to reposting old reviews. Also new to the new blog, then, were...
Alice in Wonderland (3D) (2010)
Read more here.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Read more here.
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
Read more here.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest (2009)
Read more here.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Anyway, that means two brand-new reviews were published to finish that off, and they were...
Cowboys & Aliens: Extended Director's Cut (2011)
It’s still an action-adventure summer blockbuster, but with pretensions at times to be a Western drama. I think that’s the fundamental problem with the entire film, and probably why it feels slow... One wonders if these particular writers, versed in the art of the blockbuster, don’t really know what they’re doing.
Read more here.
Skyfall (2012)
I had been intending to write a sort-of commentary on Skyfall, talking through my opinion of the film on a scene-by-scene basis. But then I thought it a bit too distant to write now. And then I sat down and it happened anyway. So here is a 4,400 word (yes, really) natter through the film in broadly chronological order, but taking asides to discuss particular elements in their entirety.
It contains whopping great spoilers about almost everything, just in case you hadn’t guessed.
Read more here.
With the advent calendar over, I've returned to reposting old reviews. Also new to the new blog, then, were...
Alice in Wonderland (3D) (2010)
Burton has created a sort of "Alice 2", crafting a new plot from the novels’ elements... Consequently, this new Alice positions itself freshly in two ways: one, as “Burton’s version”, and two, by following in the footsteps of the specific side of the filmic fantasy genre started by Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings.
Read more here.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Despite the modern stylings, dark themes and attention-grabbing characters, much of the film unfolds as a procedural whodunnit like, for instance, the Wallanders, complete with piles of red herrings and last-minute twists.
Read more here.
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
One solution to the sequel problem is to “make it personal”, and that’s exactly what we get... A journalist and his girlfriend working for Mikael are murdered and Lisbeth is suspected of the crime. It’s somewhere around here that the coincidences begin to pile up. It makes perfect sense as a plot in itself, but in bringing Mikael and Lisbeth back together it doesn’t work.
Read more here.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest (2009)
The final third of the film is dominated by a series of immensely satisfying courtroom scenes in which the defence trounce the opposition, not through American-esque grandstanding but through a quiet and thorough application of facts and truth. You can see the satisfaction bubbling under Lisbeth’s almost-static face as the prosecution unknowingly hang themselves
Read more here.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
I saw a trailer for How to Train Your Dragon a few months before release. I thought it looked to have basic animation and a too daft tone. I wrote it off, expecting the kind of animated movie that would be slagged off as a Pixar-wannabe… My impression from the trailer was massively wrong. How to Train Your Dragon is, as everyone else has likely already impressed upon you, brilliant.
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
TV
Castle
2x23 Overkill
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
It'll be Alright on the Night
(28/12/12 edition)
Mock the Week
11x13 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Panto!
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
2x23 Overkill
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
It'll be Alright on the Night
(28/12/12 edition)
Mock the Week
11x13 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Panto!
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This is the first post-Christmas update, and it was a relatively light haul this year (lots of books instead). Still, it did include the 31-disc Harry Potter Wizards Collection, and the large and awesome limited edition of Lawrence of Arabia. Both are instant centrepieces to a collection.
Also, the digibook re-release of Peter Jackson's King Kong (not replacing my old DVDs (at least not just yet) because I don't think it's even close to having all the extras); plus E.T. (which I'm moderately certain I've never seen) and the new release of A Trip to the Moon. Post Christmas purchases include Underworld: Awakening (it was only a fiver) and... other stuff that hasn't arrived.
All BDs except Trip to the Moon, and Lawrence replaces my old DVD, which you'll see reflected in these numbers...
Number of titles in collection: 1,521 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 375 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,834 [up 36]
Number of films in collection: 1,600 [up 14]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [up 1]
And just to make it a bumper bonus of excitement, this week it's the regularly scheduled running time update too! As I'm not expecting anything on Monday, this also serves as an end-of-2012 update. Shiny.
So without further ado...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
276 days, 18 hours, and 57 minutes.
(Up 3 days, 14 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
That's a pretty big jump these days.Happy times.
See you next week, faithful reader.
This is the first post-Christmas update, and it was a relatively light haul this year (lots of books instead). Still, it did include the 31-disc Harry Potter Wizards Collection, and the large and awesome limited edition of Lawrence of Arabia. Both are instant centrepieces to a collection.
Also, the digibook re-release of Peter Jackson's King Kong (not replacing my old DVDs (at least not just yet) because I don't think it's even close to having all the extras); plus E.T. (which I'm moderately certain I've never seen) and the new release of A Trip to the Moon. Post Christmas purchases include Underworld: Awakening (it was only a fiver) and... other stuff that hasn't arrived.
All BDs except Trip to the Moon, and Lawrence replaces my old DVD, which you'll see reflected in these numbers...
Number of titles in collection: 1,521 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 375 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,834 [up 36]
Number of films in collection: 1,600 [up 14]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [up 1]
And just to make it a bumper bonus of excitement, this week it's the regularly scheduled running time update too! As I'm not expecting anything on Monday, this also serves as an end-of-2012 update. Shiny.
So without further ado...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
276 days, 18 hours, and 57 minutes.
(Up 3 days, 14 hours, and 11 minutes from last month.)
That's a pretty big jump these days.Happy times.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 28 December 2012
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2012-13 Episode 1 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Dragons' Den
10x13 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x03 Howler
3x02 Rainy Days & Mondays
Being, respectively, Tommy Tiernan's and Rebecca Front's.
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x06 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
2012-13 Episode 1 (of 10)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Dragons' Den
10x13 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x03 Howler
3x02 Rainy Days & Mondays
Being, respectively, Tommy Tiernan's and Rebecca Front's.
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x06 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 27 December 2012
TV
Downton Abbey
3x09 A Journey to the Highlands [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Live at the Apollo
8x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
at Christmas
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Spy
2x11 Codename: Show Stopper [Christmas special]
2x12 Behind the Scenes
If the technical-season-finale resolved most of the season's on-going plot threads, this resolves the rest -- including some stuff that's formed part of the backbone of the entire series. But it also definitively sets it up for a third run, so hurrah!
Plus, an uncommonly serious-minded making-of for a comedy show, but also good fun with it. Win-win.
3x09 A Journey to the Highlands [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Live at the Apollo
8x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
at Christmas
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Spy
2x11 Codename: Show Stopper [Christmas special]
2x12 Behind the Scenes
If the technical-season-finale resolved most of the season's on-going plot threads, this resolves the rest -- including some stuff that's formed part of the backbone of the entire series. But it also definitively sets it up for a third run, so hurrah!
Plus, an uncommonly serious-minded making-of for a comedy show, but also good fun with it. Win-win.
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
TV
Castle
2x22 Food To Die For
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Have I Got News For You
44x10 (21/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x06 The Awkward Age
Sky show these in all sorts of different orders, so I figured I may as well jump in where I please -- it's not like they really form a series. Plus they're all over the place on catch-up (listed individually as, for instance, Dylan Moran's Little Cracker, rather than as a series of Little Crackers), so what's a man to do?
I like the addition of making-of attachments this year, but that might just be me.
Miranda
3x01 It Was Panning
Hurrah for the much-belated return of Miranda! And I thought it was fabulous too, so even better.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Paddy's 2012 Show and Telly
I remembered this as being not too bad last year, but clearly I wiped it from my memory because looking it up now I hated it. And this one was definitely awful. Just... ugh.
[Watch it (again), if you must, on ITV Player.]
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
2x00 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
World's Biggest Pets
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
2x22 Food To Die For
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Have I Got News For You
44x10 (21/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Little Crackers
3x06 The Awkward Age
Sky show these in all sorts of different orders, so I figured I may as well jump in where I please -- it's not like they really form a series. Plus they're all over the place on catch-up (listed individually as, for instance, Dylan Moran's Little Cracker, rather than as a series of Little Crackers), so what's a man to do?
I like the addition of making-of attachments this year, but that might just be me.
Miranda
3x01 It Was Panning
Hurrah for the much-belated return of Miranda! And I thought it was fabulous too, so even better.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Paddy's 2012 Show and Telly
I remembered this as being not too bad last year, but clearly I wiped it from my memory because looking it up now I hated it. And this one was definitely awful. Just... ugh.
[Watch it (again), if you must, on ITV Player.]
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
2x00 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
World's Biggest Pets
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Articles
DIY Tardis looks bigger on inside with augmented reality
by Leo Kelion (from BBC News)
Kinda awesome. I'm sure someone at the BBC is now beavering away to make this a toy people can buy. And if they're not, they should be.
by Leo Kelion (from BBC News)
Kinda awesome. I'm sure someone at the BBC is now beavering away to make this a toy people can buy. And if they're not, they should be.
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
TV
Doctor Who33x06 The Snowmen [Christmas special]
Well I thought that was a properly Christmassy and properly special Christmas special, with some real magic moments (the "taller on the inside" staircase, for just one). Considering I've found myself moderately underwhelmed by large chunks of the last two series, and didn't care for last year's Christmas special, it was a nice to finally just enjoy some Who.
Also, it was completely standalone, which a good Doctor Who Christmas special really should be, but also was absolutely aware of what had gone on in the first half of this season and considerably set up what's to come in the second half. Nice job, Mr Moffat.
Plus, Ian McKellen was awesome, Richard E Grant wasn't irritating (in fact, he was pretty good too), and as much as I hated Oswin Oswald in Asylum of the Daleks, I liked Clara here. So that was a nice surprise!
The other Big New Things were, of course: the TARDIS interior, which I like stylistically but seems a bit small after the grandiose last one; the new theme music, which sounded like the build-up of the old one (with added bass), but lacking the big dramatic proper-theme pay-off; and a new title sequence, which I thought was fantastic. 1.5 out of 3 on those counts, then, but maybe the rest just takes some getting used to.
All in all, I think it was a certifiable success.
(I rather like the poster, a full-size version of which should be viewable here.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friday Night Dinner
2x07 Christmas [special]
aka Mark Heap Christmas Special 2 of 3.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x08 Red Sails in the Sunset
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Rolf's Animal Clinic
1x07 Rolf's Animal Christmas [special]
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Room on the Broom
[#94a in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Wasn't familiar with this one, from the writer, illustrator and filmmakers behind the two Gruffalos, but I loved it! Wonderful family entertainment.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Has 3D film-making had its day?
by Vincent Dowd (from BBC News)
"Not exactly, but maybe a bit," is kind of the conclusion of this balanced article -- a rare thing when it comes to 3D, which tends to come with a love-it or hate-it bias. Worth a read for the interested.
by Vincent Dowd (from BBC News)
"Not exactly, but maybe a bit," is kind of the conclusion of this balanced article -- a rare thing when it comes to 3D, which tends to come with a love-it or hate-it bias. Worth a read for the interested.
Monday, 24 December 2012
TV
Bring Me Morecambe & Wise
1x05 Christmas [final episode]
The Great British Bake Off
Christmas Masterclass
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
44x09 (14/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
Merlin
5x13 The Diamond of the Day Part Two [series finale]
Well that surprised me -- I wasn't expecting anything nearly as definitive. They only announced it was the final finale recently, as if a sixth series was a genuine possibility. Perhaps they shot two endings? Who knows.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x13 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
5x00 The Sick Party [Christmas special]
aka Mark Heap Christmas Special 1 of 3.
Took a while to get going, but it turned out OK. I think the kids are quite definitively too old for it now though -- Ben and Karen really seem to have shot up and matured in the last year. It would still be nice if they properly wrapped it up somehow, but I think it's time for that now.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Snowman
I haven't watched this since I was very little, but it is still rather magical.
1x05 Christmas [final episode]
The Great British Bake Off
Christmas Masterclass
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
44x09 (14/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
Merlin
5x13 The Diamond of the Day Part Two [series finale]
Well that surprised me -- I wasn't expecting anything nearly as definitive. They only announced it was the final finale recently, as if a sixth series was a genuine possibility. Perhaps they shot two endings? Who knows.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x13 Christmas Special [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
5x00 The Sick Party [Christmas special]
aka Mark Heap Christmas Special 1 of 3.
Took a while to get going, but it turned out OK. I think the kids are quite definitively too old for it now though -- Ben and Karen really seem to have shot up and matured in the last year. It would still be nice if they properly wrapped it up somehow, but I think it's time for that now.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Snowman
I haven't watched this since I was very little, but it is still rather magical.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
TV
Doctor Who
33x05b Vastra Investigates
After the one we got during Children in Need, here's another brief prequel to Tuesday's Doctor Who Christmas special. Intriguing...
[Watch it (again) on the official Doctor Who site.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x09 (21/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Loving Miss Hatto
It must be Christmas -- I actually watched something when it was actually on! See also below.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mr Stink
Quite marvellous this was -- perfect Christmastime family entertainment. Slightly wish I had a 3D TV to have seen its full effect; not because it needed the extra dimension, but just because... well, it's a gimmick, isn't it -- but sometimes a fun one. I don't think you can watch it online in 3D though. Heck, you can't even watch it in HD!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
2x10 Codename: Last Scupper [season finale]
I say "season finale" -- there's a double-length Christmas special on Boxing Day that I should imagine picks up where this left off. But it was billed as the season finale nonetheless, and did rather wrap some things up at least.
33x05b Vastra Investigates
After the one we got during Children in Need, here's another brief prequel to Tuesday's Doctor Who Christmas special. Intriguing...
[Watch it (again) on the official Doctor Who site.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x09 (21/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Loving Miss Hatto
It must be Christmas -- I actually watched something when it was actually on! See also below.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mr Stink
Quite marvellous this was -- perfect Christmastime family entertainment. Slightly wish I had a 3D TV to have seen its full effect; not because it needed the extra dimension, but just because... well, it's a gimmick, isn't it -- but sometimes a fun one. I don't think you can watch it online in 3D though. Heck, you can't even watch it in HD!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
2x10 Codename: Last Scupper [season finale]
I say "season finale" -- there's a double-length Christmas special on Boxing Day that I should imagine picks up where this left off. But it was billed as the season finale nonetheless, and did rather wrap some things up at least.
this week on 100 Films
Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, Life got in the way of the 100 Films Advent Calendar this week. Nonetheless, five new reviews were published, and they were...
Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Read more here.
The Court Jester (1956)
Read more here.
The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
Read more here.
RoboCop (1987)
Read more here.
RoboCop 2 (1990)
Read more here.
More next Sunday, including the final pair of reviews from the advent calendar!
Conan the Barbarian (2011)
I just didn’t really care at any point. The plot kind of pings about through some disconnected set pieces, few of them particularly inspiring with the exception of one featuring ninja-types who are formed out of sand.
Read more here.
The Court Jester (1956)
I’d never heard of The Court Jester before it popped up on on-demand while I had Sky Movies for the Oscars, but apparently it’s “a television matinee favorite”. Maybe just in America (note the spelling in the quote); maybe it just passed me by. Either way, it’s an entertainment worth catching if you can. Get it?
Read more here.
The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
16 years after they first swashed their buckles for director Richard Lester, Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay and Richard Chamberlain return as the titular swordsmen in an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ Twenty Years After. As feats of sequalisation go, there’s something inherently pleasing about reassembling a cast and crew the best part of two decades later to adapt a tale set at a similar distance.
Read more here.
RoboCop (1987)
Hailed by those who love it as some kind of satirical masterpiece, RoboCop does manage to raise itself above other mindless ’80s action fare, at least to some degree. Equally, should you choose to watch it brain-off then I doubt you’ll be too troubled by its criticisms of corporate greed or the privatisation of public services
Read more here.
RoboCop 2 (1990)
The consensus opinion seems to be that the RoboCop films exist on a steep downward trajectory of quality, starting with the pretty-good first film and ending with the nadir-of-humanity third. In this equation the second lands, naturally, somewhere in the middle — not that good, but not so bad. Personally, I enjoyed it more than the first.
Read more here.
More next Sunday, including the final pair of reviews from the advent calendar!
Saturday, 22 December 2012
TV
Adam Hills Stands Up Live
Absolutely hilarious, and nice to see a one-person stand-up on TV that isn't an edited version of a year-old DVD release. Heard some of the stories before in various other places, but they're still hilarious and there was new stuff too. Grand.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Merlin
5x12 The Diamond of the Day Part One
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x12 Touching People
The regular slightly-alternative best-of-the-series. Next week (which was actually on tonight), a Christmas special. Hurrah!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x05 Body Beautiful
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Absolutely hilarious, and nice to see a one-person stand-up on TV that isn't an edited version of a year-old DVD release. Heard some of the stories before in various other places, but they're still hilarious and there was new stuff too. Grand.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Merlin
5x12 The Diamond of the Day Part One
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x12 Touching People
The regular slightly-alternative best-of-the-series. Next week (which was actually on tonight), a Christmas special. Hurrah!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x05 Body Beautiful
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Two weeks ago I said there'd be nothing between then and the post-Christmas update (which is next week, fact-fans). Turns out I'm a great big liar, because not only was there something last week, there's a bit more this week too.
In my defence, I thought these things (all imported from America) were going to turn up next week. But hey ho, what can you do? Amazingly fast Christmastime post it is!
Number of titles in collection: 1,516 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 370 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,798 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,586 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader, for a running time-containing Christmas-fuelled update.
Two weeks ago I said there'd be nothing between then and the post-Christmas update (which is next week, fact-fans). Turns out I'm a great big liar, because not only was there something last week, there's a bit more this week too.
In my defence, I thought these things (all imported from America) were going to turn up next week. But hey ho, what can you do? Amazingly fast Christmastime post it is!
Number of titles in collection: 1,516 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 370 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,798 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,586 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader, for a running time-containing Christmas-fuelled update.
Friday, 21 December 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
12x08 (14/12/12 edition) [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Merlin
5x11 The Drawing of the Dark
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x13 Jobs (XL edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
12x08 (14/12/12 edition) [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Merlin
5x11 The Drawing of the Dark
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x13 Jobs (XL edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 20 December 2012
TV
I've been away. There's an awful lot of catching up to do. Here's a small fraction of it...
Castle
2x21 Den of Thieves
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Live at the Apollo
8x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
5x07 If It Bleeds, It Leads
A new on-going plot? Did we really need one of those? And I swear the Red John story took a jump -- I felt like I'd missed an episode. I appreciate it when series don't treat their viewers like idiots, but every once in a while a helpful nudge of how things got where they are is also appreciated.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Spy
2x09 Codename: Pulp Friction
Castle
2x21 Den of Thieves
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Live at the Apollo
8x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
5x07 If It Bleeds, It Leads
A new on-going plot? Did we really need one of those? And I swear the Red John story took a jump -- I felt like I'd missed an episode. I appreciate it when series don't treat their viewers like idiots, but every once in a while a helpful nudge of how things got where they are is also appreciated.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Spy
2x09 Codename: Pulp Friction
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
TV
Bring Me Morecambe & Wise
1x04 The Plays Wot Ernie Wrote
These were always my favourite part of Morecambe & Wise, so this episode was a particular delight.
The British Comedy Awards 2012
Last year, they found a Harry Hill clip that actually made me laugh. This year, it was a Leigh Francis one. What's the world coming to?
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x04 The Plays Wot Ernie Wrote
These were always my favourite part of Morecambe & Wise, so this episode was a particular delight.
The British Comedy Awards 2012
Last year, they found a Harry Hill clip that actually made me laugh. This year, it was a Leigh Francis one. What's the world coming to?
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Sunday, 16 December 2012
this week on 100 Films
I'm still working my way along the 100 Films Advent Calendar, so there's another seven new reviews this week...
The Call of Cthulhu (2005)
Read more here.
Drive Angry (2011)
Read more here.
Fantastic Four (2005)
Read more here.
The Final Destination (2009)
Read more here.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
Read more here.
Passchendaele (2008)
Read more here.
Tiny Furniture (2010)
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
The Call of Cthulhu (2005)
The marriage of low-budget and silent film style is one made in heaven, particularly when you add in the dedication of the makers. They built impressive props, ingenious sets, and employed model work in various inventive ways, all to execute a story that includes a cultist swamp orgy, a mysterious island, a sea battle, and a skyscraper-sized monster.
Read more here.
Drive Angry (2011)
It’s got a crazy plot, crazy action, gratuitous violence, gratuitous nudity, rough production values, variable acting, loopy bad guys — the highlight is definitely the latter, with William Fichtner channelling Christopher Walken. The whole thing could do with being punchier and pacier, and shorter
Read more here.
Fantastic Four (2005)
this incarnation of the FF doesn’t really have a story. They kind of meander through a few things that Happen, then a villain finally emerges and they defeat him. It leaves the film bereft of narrative drive; a series of scenes strung together without a common goal.
Read more here.
The Final Destination (2009)
None of the deaths matter because nothing is done to make us care about these characters, or even be broadly interested in them, unlike the best of the earlier entries. So there's zero tension, zero emotion, just elaborate death after elaborate death. It's one of the most hollow films I can think of.
Read more here.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
it’s a solid crime/legal thriller; the kind of thing we’d probably get as a 90-minute TV episode over here, but thanks to America not really having that format, it gets the cinema treatment. Nonetheless, it’s well enough acted, with an interesting enough story, to sustain the grander status automatically afforded to something released theatrically.
Read more here.
Passchendaele (2008)
Despite winning a bunch of Canadian film awards, this First World War drama seems to have been really poorly received by critics — the Radio Times even saw fit to award it just 1 star! I must dissent, however, because I thought it was very good.
Read more here.
Tiny Furniture (2010)
Tiny Furniture comes with a predisposition to dislike it from anyone who isn’t a hipster or desperate to be relevant to hipsters... It’s a slow-paced, consciously arthouse-drama-y story film about unlikeable people leading unlikeable lives. I think everyone in it is either selfish or at least self-centred.
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
12x08 (14/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x13 Jobs
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
12x08 (14/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
QI
10x13 Jobs
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Despite my assertion last week, I can't resist a bargain, and getting The Hammer Collection box set for what equates to 89p per film definitely counts as a bargain in my book. But that really is it until after Christmas now.
Probably.
Number of titles in collection: 1,514 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,147 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 367 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 3,796 [up 21]
Number of films in collection: 1,584 [up 21]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Despite my assertion last week, I can't resist a bargain, and getting The Hammer Collection box set for what equates to 89p per film definitely counts as a bargain in my book. But that really is it until after Christmas now.
Probably.
Number of titles in collection: 1,514 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,147 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 367 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 3,796 [up 21]
Number of films in collection: 1,584 [up 21]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 December 2012
TV
The Graham Norton Show
12x07 (7/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
44x09 (14/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x04 Fun and Games
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
12x07 (7/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
44x09 (14/12/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x04 Fun and Games
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 13 December 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x20 (7/12/12 edition)
[Watch episodes it (again) on 4oD.]
Have I Got News For You
44x08 (7/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x20 (7/12/12 edition)
[Watch episodes it (again) on 4oD.]
Have I Got News For You
44x08 (7/12/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
TV
Bring Me Morecambe & Wise
1x03 At Home with Eric and Ern
Castle
2x20 The Late Shaft
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
John Bishop's Big Year
Episode 2 (of 2)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Spy
2x08 Codename: Double Oh
1x03 At Home with Eric and Ern
Castle
2x20 The Late Shaft
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
John Bishop's Big Year
Episode 2 (of 2)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Spy
2x08 Codename: Double Oh
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x17 (4/12/12 edition)
1x18 (5/12/12 edition)
[Watch episodes 17 and 18 (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x06 Cherry Picked
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
QI
10x11 Jumpers (XL edition)
1x17 (4/12/12 edition)
1x18 (5/12/12 edition)
[Watch episodes 17 and 18 (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x06 Cherry Picked
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
QI
10x11 Jumpers (XL edition)
Articles
Creating The IDW Covers: Judge Dredd Year One
by Dave Sim (from A Moment of Cerebus)
Interesting piece on the thought and work that goes into creating a comic's cover.
by Dave Sim (from A Moment of Cerebus)
Interesting piece on the thought and work that goes into creating a comic's cover.
Monday, 10 December 2012
TV
Have I Got News For You
44x07 (30/11/12 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x10 Episode 10
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Royal Variety Performance 2012
Now, I thought this switched between the Beeb and ITV every year, but it was on ITV last year and again this year, so... Well, it doesn't matter; just baffled me slightly.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x03 Work Made Easy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
44x07 (30/11/12 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x10 Episode 10
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Royal Variety Performance 2012
Now, I thought this switched between the Beeb and ITV every year, but it was on ITV last year and again this year, so... Well, it doesn't matter; just baffled me slightly.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x03 Work Made Easy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Skyfall blows past Spider-Man 3 to become Sony's top-grossing film
(from HitFix)
Records are falling before it like flies and its placing in various charts is constantly on the rise. Where will it stop? Nobody knows!
(from HitFix)
Records are falling before it like flies and its placing in various charts is constantly on the rise. Where will it stop? Nobody knows!
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Comics
The Amazing Spider-Man #699 by Dan Slott & Humberto Ramos
Explanations! Great if you've been reading ASM for years, I'm sure, but it's a little thumb-twiddly otherwise -- it's all prelude to whatever's coming next issue.
Extermination #3 & #4 by Simon Spurrier, Jeffrey Edwards & V Ken Marion
This is such fun, especially if you're a fan of Batman and/or Superman, which two of the main characters are delightfully unsubtle riffs on. Which is fine, because you could never do this in a licensed story. It's also generally witty and clever too, even if the art is occasionally scruffy.
Revival #3 by Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
Continues to slow burn, but still great.
Explanations! Great if you've been reading ASM for years, I'm sure, but it's a little thumb-twiddly otherwise -- it's all prelude to whatever's coming next issue.
Extermination #3 & #4 by Simon Spurrier, Jeffrey Edwards & V Ken Marion
This is such fun, especially if you're a fan of Batman and/or Superman, which two of the main characters are delightfully unsubtle riffs on. Which is fine, because you could never do this in a licensed story. It's also generally witty and clever too, even if the art is occasionally scruffy.
Revival #3 by Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
Continues to slow burn, but still great.
this week on 100 Films
The 100 Films Advent Calendar continues apace, with seven new reviews published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Chatroom (2010)
Read more here.
The Expendables (2010)
Read more here.
The Keep (1983)
Read more here.
The Last Airbender (2010)
Read more here.
M (British version) (1931/1932)
Read more here.
Predators (2010)
Read more here.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Read more here.
If that wasn't enough, also new to the new blog were...
Predator (1987)
Read more here.
Predator 2 (1990)
Read more here.
Another seven (hopefully!) next Sunday.
Chatroom (2010)
Chatroom is born of trying to find a viable way of depicting the world of online chatrooms on film... presumably presenting the online world in a filmic way was a necessary aside for wanting to set a story in that world. Sadly, the actual tale being told isn’t up to all that much.
Read more here.
The Expendables (2010)
What you do get is a film that revels in its action-movie-ness. I mean, most of the characters have great (read: daft) action movie names: Barney Ross, Lee Christmas, Yin Yang, Toll Road, Hale Caesar, Paine… How is that not a film aware of its own absurdity? How can you not enjoy that, even a little?
Read more here.
The Keep (1983)
it’s really good; a film that is genuinely creepy, with an effective sense of foreboding and mystery… for about half an hour or so. [...] Events become convoluted and borderline nonsensical, and whatever thematic points the film has to make about evil and belief get lost in the mix.
Read more here.
The Last Airbender (2010)
The plot pings back and forth between locations and characters, basing itself in a heavy mythology that isn’t adequately explained. Chunks of it seem to be missing, conveyed through clunky voiceover rather than on-screen action. The first rule of screenwriting is Show Don’t Tell, but Shyamalan does exactly the opposite.
Read more here.
M (British version) (1931/1932)
Let’s establish one thing right away: this is unquestionably an inferior version of Fritz Lang’s masterpiece, M. Never mind that it’s an old, unrestored, thoroughly battered print; it’s the conscious changes that — unavoidably — lessen the film.
Read more here.
Predators (2010)
it’s not an entirely stock plot merely peppered with gunfights. Rodriguez and co have made the effort to push the mythology in new directions; ones which seem to build naturally out of other Predator media, even though those aren’t specifically mentioned.
Read more here.
The Sum of All Fears (2002)
it’s a solid little thriller. A bit plodding at times, but engrossing enough... There’s A Big Twist in the middle that would easily have been one of the best bits about the film, had they not blown it in the trailers. Even still, it’s a bit audacious
Read more here.
If that wasn't enough, also new to the new blog were...
Predator (1987)
Let’s not pretend here: although the series have become intrinsically linked, Predator is Alien’s poorer cousin. Not that it’s a bad film — it’s an entertaining war flick that turns into a sci-fi/action/horror skirmish thingy — but it doesn’t have the same finesse that imbues Alien and its sequel.
Read more here.
Predator 2 (1990)
the action is moved from a jungle to the concrete jungle (see what they did there?) of LA... the vastly different settings and setups mean that, even with the involvement of the same sneaky alien hunter, the films have a vastly different feel too. It’s just a shame Predator 2’s “urban jungle” concept is so poorly executed
Read more here.
Another seven (hopefully!) next Sunday.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
Comics
Dial H #3, #4 & #5 by China Miéville & Mateus Santolouco
Here's a funny one, then. After the fun of the first two issues, Dial H takes a sharp downward turn into confusing babble here. It builds back up to something that makes sense and a clever climax, but it's not really much fun until quite near the end. There's nothing wrong with making your reader work a bit -- not spoon-feeding them everything -- but this goes too far down the road of oblique mysteriousness for the sake of it, giving us multiple characters who all know what they're babbling about while locking the reader out. And then, like I say, it does get a bit better. Now I'm torn between dropping this and keeping going.
Dial H #0 by China Miéville & Riccardo Burchielli
As for the Zero Issue, it tells a completely unrelated story that manages to illuminate the mythology of the dial, with some interesting revelations about how it works. Again, it trades on confusion until quite near the end, but at least in this instance the answers are actually in the same issue.
Extermination #2 by Simon Spurrier & Jeffrey Edwards
See below.
Revival #2 by Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
It's 6 months since I read Extermination #1, and though a bit foggy I did manage to pick it back up fine.
It's 4 months since I read Revival #1, and though I largely followed it I felt I really ought to re-read the first one to fully appreciate just what was going on.
I don't know what that says about each respective series, but they're both great. Extermination is bold, dark, but funny and entertaining, while Revival is more serious, grown-up and mysterious. And if the latter continues on its current path -- and retains its current levels of praise -- it's a dead cert for a Walking Dead-style cable TV series at some point, because that's exactly what it feels like. And I look forward to that.
Here's a funny one, then. After the fun of the first two issues, Dial H takes a sharp downward turn into confusing babble here. It builds back up to something that makes sense and a clever climax, but it's not really much fun until quite near the end. There's nothing wrong with making your reader work a bit -- not spoon-feeding them everything -- but this goes too far down the road of oblique mysteriousness for the sake of it, giving us multiple characters who all know what they're babbling about while locking the reader out. And then, like I say, it does get a bit better. Now I'm torn between dropping this and keeping going.
Dial H #0 by China Miéville & Riccardo Burchielli
As for the Zero Issue, it tells a completely unrelated story that manages to illuminate the mythology of the dial, with some interesting revelations about how it works. Again, it trades on confusion until quite near the end, but at least in this instance the answers are actually in the same issue.
Extermination #2 by Simon Spurrier & Jeffrey Edwards
See below.
Revival #2 by Tim Seeley & Mike Norton
It's 6 months since I read Extermination #1, and though a bit foggy I did manage to pick it back up fine.
It's 4 months since I read Revival #1, and though I largely followed it I felt I really ought to re-read the first one to fully appreciate just what was going on.
I don't know what that says about each respective series, but they're both great. Extermination is bold, dark, but funny and entertaining, while Revival is more serious, grown-up and mysterious. And if the latter continues on its current path -- and retains its current levels of praise -- it's a dead cert for a Walking Dead-style cable TV series at some point, because that's exactly what it feels like. And I look forward to that.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
It's nearly Christmas -- things are meant to be winding down! But no, here's a pile of new stuff, about half of it late arrivals from Black Friday sales and the other new releases; things so much desired that I couldn't wait another two weeks in the hope of getting them on Christmas Day.
Number of titles in collection: 1,513 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 367 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,775 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,563 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [up 2]
This is the last of it though (random good bargains that I can't resist notwithstanding), so I can say with absolute certainty that there won't be anything to report for the next two weeks! And the first post-Christmas one is a running time update, so that'll always be a bumper bonus of fun and excitement, oh yes it will.
See you next week nonetheless, faithful reader.
It's nearly Christmas -- things are meant to be winding down! But no, here's a pile of new stuff, about half of it late arrivals from Black Friday sales and the other new releases; things so much desired that I couldn't wait another two weeks in the hope of getting them on Christmas Day.
Number of titles in collection: 1,513 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 367 [up 5]
Number of discs in collection: 3,775 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,563 [up 7]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 373 [up 2]
This is the last of it though (random good bargains that I can't resist notwithstanding), so I can say with absolute certainty that there won't be anything to report for the next two weeks! And the first post-Christmas one is a running time update, so that'll always be a bumper bonus of fun and excitement, oh yes it will.
See you next week nonetheless, faithful reader.
Friday, 7 December 2012
TV
Dragons' Den
10x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x06 (30/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
10x11 Episode 11
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
12x06 (30/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
FAN ART: Comics And Marvel Movie Images Integrated
by DCMarvelFreshman (from ComicBookMovie.com)
Neat idea, well done. One of the best ones as an example:
by DCMarvelFreshman (from ComicBookMovie.com)
A very talented Graphic Artist has visually analyzed just how “thin is the line that separate Modern from classic and Pixels from ink,” by integrating Marvel films with comics. Check out his digital art!
Neat idea, well done. One of the best ones as an example:
Thursday, 6 December 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x15 (30/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Dave's One Night Stand
4x04 Milton Jones
1x15 (30/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Dave's One Night Stand
4x04 Milton Jones
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