Castle
3x07 Almost Famous
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
32x04 The Doctor's Wife [2nd watch]
By chance rather than design, #bbbDW50 includes one episode from each of the Eleventh Doctor's series. This episode from 2011 (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) was hailed as an instant classic by so many -- in part, let's be perfectly honest, because of the hype surrounding its writer. I'm not saying it wouldn't have garnered such love if it had been by anyone else, but... well, it wouldn't have garnered such love, would it?
I didn't fall for it quite so deeply. In fact, I thought it was interesting and fine, but held back by the level of expectation and the consequent, shall we say, "squee"ing over it. (I hate the 'word' "squee", making it perfect for this occasion.) Returning to it for the first time in 2½ years (my God, is it really 2½ years old?!) allows a chance for personal reappraisal.
...but not much has changed. It's a very good episode, and the conceit is a great one, but it's not flawless. House is not as effective an enemy as it feels he/it was imagined to be, and Amy and Rory basically run around corridors just so they have something to do. Similarly, the Doctor and Idris seem to fly their makeshift TARDIS for ages, again in a move that feels time-killing.
Still, the bits that work do work really well, and ultimately it's that sky-high expectation and overreaction from some quarters that can leave the episode to feel underwhelming.
Friends
5x03 The One Hundredth [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x07 Episode 7
aka The One With Huey Morgan And The Mug.
The Newsroom
2x08 Election Night Part I
2x09 Election Night Part II [season finale]
Good in places, spectacularly mawkish in others. Apparently it is coming back, but this does have the feel of a series finale... while also leaving plenty of doors open.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
31x07 Amy's Choice [3rd watch]
It's the final stages of #bbbDW50 now, as we reach the Eleventh Doctor.
First up, an episode I feel gets somewhat overlooked by the bigger, more attention-grabbing ones that have come about during the Eleventh's reign, but that I also feel is one of the very best to be produced under Moffat's stewardship. It's a shame they didn't focus on making more alternative, unusual, but still very Who-y, and unquestionably effective, episodes such as this one, rather than getting sidetracked into all those big, aimless, ultimately disappointing arc plots.
Seriously, if you're not aware of its brilliance, give this one another go. It has an awful lot going for it on a first watch, but it's almost even better second time round, when you know who the Dream Lord really is.
Friends
5x02 The One with All the Kissing [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x03 Wedding in Red
Wow, that was a spectacularly bad episode. Did the writers take a holiday and let the cleaner have a go?
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
31x07 Amy's Choice [3rd watch]
It's the final stages of #bbbDW50 now, as we reach the Eleventh Doctor.
First up, an episode I feel gets somewhat overlooked by the bigger, more attention-grabbing ones that have come about during the Eleventh's reign, but that I also feel is one of the very best to be produced under Moffat's stewardship. It's a shame they didn't focus on making more alternative, unusual, but still very Who-y, and unquestionably effective, episodes such as this one, rather than getting sidetracked into all those big, aimless, ultimately disappointing arc plots.
Seriously, if you're not aware of its brilliance, give this one another go. It has an awful lot going for it on a first watch, but it's almost even better second time round, when you know who the Dream Lord really is.
Friends
5x02 The One with All the Kissing [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x03 Wedding in Red
Wow, that was a spectacularly bad episode. Did the writers take a holiday and let the cleaner have a go?
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Monday, 18 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
30x14 The Next Doctor [2nd watch]
The Tenth Doctor portion of #bbbDW50 concludes with the 2008 Christmas special, the last episode of Doctor Who to be made in standard definition (but, almost ironically, the first we're watching on Blu-ray).
Every episode in this viewing season was selected for a reason, be it to represent a certain monster, or as a gold-standard classic, or even for its notoriety. Why did The Next Doctor win out over the numerous RTD-era classics? Well, it's one of the least-regarded Christmas specials, and as I haven't seen it since it first went out (five years ago!) it seemed overdue a personal reappraisal. It also features the Cybermen, who are the most startling oversight in a run of stories that has included Daleks (twice), Ice Warriors, Autons, the Master (twice), Omega, Zygons, Sontarans, and the Kandy Man.
Finally, watching The Next Doctor right after an episode starring "the next Doctor" was too fun to miss. (There are plenty of other episodes from season four and the specials that I've yet to re-watch, so that's the real reason, isn't it?)
In the end, the best reason to watch was that reappraisal. The Next Doctor is really good, with a peerless performance by David Morrissey and a great turn from Dervla Kirwan too. The Cyberking is a bit much, but otherwise the Cybermen are great, particularly effective at a snow-bound funeral and when they betray -- or, as it turns out, attempt to betray -- Miss Hartigan. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best Christmas special, but it's actually a very good one. Hurrah!
Elementary
2x03 We Are Everyone
Friends
5x01 The One After Ross Says Rachel [4th or so watch]
Really, it's Part 3.
Only Connect
Children in Need Special: Scrabblers v The Balding Team
30x14 The Next Doctor [2nd watch]
The Tenth Doctor portion of #bbbDW50 concludes with the 2008 Christmas special, the last episode of Doctor Who to be made in standard definition (but, almost ironically, the first we're watching on Blu-ray).
Every episode in this viewing season was selected for a reason, be it to represent a certain monster, or as a gold-standard classic, or even for its notoriety. Why did The Next Doctor win out over the numerous RTD-era classics? Well, it's one of the least-regarded Christmas specials, and as I haven't seen it since it first went out (five years ago!) it seemed overdue a personal reappraisal. It also features the Cybermen, who are the most startling oversight in a run of stories that has included Daleks (twice), Ice Warriors, Autons, the Master (twice), Omega, Zygons, Sontarans, and the Kandy Man.
Finally, watching The Next Doctor right after an episode starring "the next Doctor" was too fun to miss. (There are plenty of other episodes from season four and the specials that I've yet to re-watch, so that's the real reason, isn't it?)
In the end, the best reason to watch was that reappraisal. The Next Doctor is really good, with a peerless performance by David Morrissey and a great turn from Dervla Kirwan too. The Cyberking is a bit much, but otherwise the Cybermen are great, particularly effective at a snow-bound funeral and when they betray -- or, as it turns out, attempt to betray -- Miss Hartigan. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's the best Christmas special, but it's actually a very good one. Hurrah!
Elementary
2x03 We Are Everyone
Friends
5x01 The One After Ross Says Rachel [4th or so watch]
Really, it's Part 3.
Only Connect
Children in Need Special: Scrabblers v The Balding Team
Articles
Steven Moffat on The Night Of The Doctor
(from Doctor Who Official Site)
Missed this interview on Thursday, so you might've too. Intriguing final answer -- could we get a full set via The Day of the Doctor, I wonder?
(from Doctor Who Official Site)
Missed this interview on Thursday, so you might've too. Intriguing final answer -- could we get a full set via The Day of the Doctor, I wonder?
Sunday, 17 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
30x02 The Fires of Pompeii [2nd watch]
#bbbDW50 sticks with the Tenth Doctor for a little longer -- we haven't exactly used proportional representation for the Doctors so far, and we're not really starting here (not with any great degree of accuracy, anyway), but when it came to increasing the number of episodes from the original 45 to a more appropriate 50, it seemed fairest to bung in a couple more for the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors rather than a whole extra multi-parter for any earlier one.
Fans will no doubt easily guess why Fires of Pompeii earns a coveted spot here: one of its main guest stars is none other than Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor himself! Except not the Twelfth Doctor. Probably. Who knows what kind of retconning Moffat will attempt. (Probably none. Hopefully none.) Surprisingly, he's barely in the thing.
The episode also features a pre-Pond Karen Gillan, caked in make-up as a glorified extra... and yet, after two-and-a-half seasons as the main companion, really obviously her. But that's not why I've chosen it; that's just a coincidence.
Have I Got News For You
46x05 (1/11/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special [2nd watch]
From Christmas 2009 and repeated last week as part of the anniversary celebrations. It's a great fun episode, actually... though four years on accompanied by, "wow, doesn't David Tennant look a surprising amount younger!" and "wow, doesn't Phill Jupitus look clean-shaven and therefore kind of chubbier!"
Bernard Cribbins is still just blinkin' marvellous though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Poirot
13x02 The Big Four
Poirot finished forever earlier in the week, but with shocking tardiness I'm only embarking on the final series now. Though there are tonnes of earlier episodes I've never seen, so one day, with a DVD (or Blu-ray) box set, there's still plenty of new-to-me Poirot to come.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
30x02 The Fires of Pompeii [2nd watch]
#bbbDW50 sticks with the Tenth Doctor for a little longer -- we haven't exactly used proportional representation for the Doctors so far, and we're not really starting here (not with any great degree of accuracy, anyway), but when it came to increasing the number of episodes from the original 45 to a more appropriate 50, it seemed fairest to bung in a couple more for the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors rather than a whole extra multi-parter for any earlier one.
Fans will no doubt easily guess why Fires of Pompeii earns a coveted spot here: one of its main guest stars is none other than Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor himself! Except not the Twelfth Doctor. Probably. Who knows what kind of retconning Moffat will attempt. (Probably none. Hopefully none.) Surprisingly, he's barely in the thing.
The episode also features a pre-Pond Karen Gillan, caked in make-up as a glorified extra... and yet, after two-and-a-half seasons as the main companion, really obviously her. But that's not why I've chosen it; that's just a coincidence.
Have I Got News For You
46x05 (1/11/2013 edition; extended repeat)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x12 The Doctor Who Special [2nd watch]
From Christmas 2009 and repeated last week as part of the anniversary celebrations. It's a great fun episode, actually... though four years on accompanied by, "wow, doesn't David Tennant look a surprising amount younger!" and "wow, doesn't Phill Jupitus look clean-shaven and therefore kind of chubbier!"
Bernard Cribbins is still just blinkin' marvellous though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Poirot
13x02 The Big Four
Poirot finished forever earlier in the week, but with shocking tardiness I'm only embarking on the final series now. Though there are tonnes of earlier episodes I've never seen, so one day, with a DVD (or Blu-ray) box set, there's still plenty of new-to-me Poirot to come.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
this week on 100 Films
Six brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Make/Remake: The Daleks’ Invasions of Earth
Sean Connery as James Bond, Part 1
And new to the new blog...
The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
More next Sunday.
Make/Remake: The Daleks’ Invasions of Earth
There’s little doubting that The Dalek Invasion of Earth is a minor epic. Where The Daleks struggled a bit to fill its seven-episode order, in six instalments writer Terry Nation takes us from an occupied, bomb-blasted London, to an attack on the Dalek spaceship, to a mine in Bedfordshire that’s digging to the centre of the Earth. Although made on Doctor Who’s typically tiny budget, the TV serial shines.Read more here.
Sean Connery as James Bond, Part 1
The name's Connery, Sean Connery, the star of the first five world-conquering James Bond movies...
Featuring reviews of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice.
And new to the new blog...
The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
one of the forefathers of the modern spectacle-driven blockbuster, packed with innovative effects designed to dazzle the viewer. One can only imagine how incredible the special effects looked to a 1940 audience. Today the flaws are obvious, but, surprisingly, not by much.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 16 November 2013
TV
Arrow
2x04 Crucible
Atlantis
1x08 The Furies
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Children in Need 2013
Midnight to 2am, featuring dregs and repeats... and a record-breaking total.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x08 The Eighth Doctor
Half an hour on one story -- no mention of the books, audios, comic strips... And because it was made months ago, no mention of The Night of the Doctor either, which is a shame.
Friends
4x23 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 1 [5th or so watch]
4x24 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
The Science of Doctor Who
Prof. Brian Cox's lecture on the real-life science related to concepts from Doctor Who. Essentially, this means time travel, with a diversion into the possible existence of aliens. Interesting, but a shame there was nothing on uniquely Who concepts like something being bigger on the inside.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x04 Crucible
Atlantis
1x08 The Furies
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Children in Need 2013
Midnight to 2am, featuring dregs and repeats... and a record-breaking total.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x08 The Eighth Doctor
Half an hour on one story -- no mention of the books, audios, comic strips... And because it was made months ago, no mention of The Night of the Doctor either, which is a shame.
Friends
4x23 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 1 [5th or so watch]
4x24 The One with Ross's Wedding Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
The Science of Doctor Who
Prof. Brian Cox's lecture on the real-life science related to concepts from Doctor Who. Essentially, this means time travel, with a diversion into the possible existence of aliens. Interesting, but a shame there was nothing on uniquely Who concepts like something being bigger on the inside.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Comics
Dredd Underbelly: Part Three by Arthur Wyatt & Henry Flint
(from Judge Dredd Megazine #342)
Oh -- is that it?!
Well, bluntly, yes. After just three instalments, the story's over, rushing to a conclusion. In the US it'll be collected as a one-shot early next year. Not sure it was worth it.
(from Judge Dredd Megazine #342)
Oh -- is that it?!
Well, bluntly, yes. After just three instalments, the story's over, rushing to a conclusion. In the US it'll be collected as a one-shot early next year. Not sure it was worth it.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's purchases include two 3D Blu-rays. I don't have a 3D Blu-ray player (or TV), but that's how the Extended Edition of The Hobbit comes, and that's how the plastic-tat edition of Pacific Rim comes. The latter, incidentally, was a complete waste of money. I know, I should have known better.
Number of titles in collection: 1,635 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,196 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 439 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 4,063 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,741 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,024 [up 2]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's purchases include two 3D Blu-rays. I don't have a 3D Blu-ray player (or TV), but that's how the Extended Edition of The Hobbit comes, and that's how the plastic-tat edition of Pacific Rim comes. The latter, incidentally, was a complete waste of money. I know, I should have known better.
Number of titles in collection: 1,635 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,196 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 439 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 4,063 [up 10]
Number of films in collection: 1,741 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,024 [up 2]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 15 November 2013
TV
Children in Need 2013
As ever, this is officially everything up to midnight -- including a clip of the Doctor Who 50th! Link below is all the CiN stuff on iPlayer.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
29x09 The Family of Blood [3rd watch]
This is truly excellent. In DWM's Mighty 200 it was voted the sixth greatest story ever, and I reckon it's at least that good, if not better, even with another 50-ish stories having come since that poll.
As ever, this is officially everything up to midnight -- including a clip of the Doctor Who 50th! Link below is all the CiN stuff on iPlayer.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who
29x09 The Family of Blood [3rd watch]
This is truly excellent. In DWM's Mighty 200 it was voted the sixth greatest story ever, and I reckon it's at least that good, if not better, even with another 50-ish stories having come since that poll.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
33x14a The Night of the Doctor
This seven-minute prequel to The Day of the Doctor was expected on Saturday (when it'll be available on the BBC Red Button), but for some reason got released today. And... I'm not going to say too much, just in case anyone reads this not having seen it, but... wow! That's something I've been wanting from nuWho ever since it materialised. Thank you Steven Moffat, all is forgiven! However good the anniversary special turns out to be (let's hope "very"), I'm not sure it can live up to my pleasure at the existence of this. Best bit of the 50th so far.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x22 The One with the Worst Best Man Ever [4th or so watch]
Person of Interest
2x03 Masquerade
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
33x14a The Night of the Doctor
This seven-minute prequel to The Day of the Doctor was expected on Saturday (when it'll be available on the BBC Red Button), but for some reason got released today. And... I'm not going to say too much, just in case anyone reads this not having seen it, but... wow! That's something I've been wanting from nuWho ever since it materialised. Thank you Steven Moffat, all is forgiven! However good the anniversary special turns out to be (let's hope "very"), I'm not sure it can live up to my pleasure at the existence of this. Best bit of the 50th so far.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x22 The One with the Worst Best Man Ever [4th or so watch]
Person of Interest
2x03 Masquerade
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Films
Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D (1966)
[3rd watch; #100a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
As previously mentioned, I'm comparing the two Dalek movies to their TV originals. This sequel is an adaptation of The Dalek Invasion of Earth (which I watched here and here), and while it isn't as good as its TV counterpart, it's the better of the two films.
[3rd watch; #100a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
As previously mentioned, I'm comparing the two Dalek movies to their TV originals. This sequel is an adaptation of The Dalek Invasion of Earth (which I watched here and here), and while it isn't as good as its TV counterpart, it's the better of the two films.
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
TV
Castle
3x06 3XK
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
29x08 Human Nature [3rd watch]
After only reaching the Ninth Doctor on Monday (and concluding him yesterday), it's time for #bbbDW50 to race straight on to the Tenth Doctor. The anniversary's nearly here, lots of episodes to cram in!
What better one for November than this, which is set almost exactly 100 years ago and concerns itself with remembrance? OK, it would've been even better two days ago, but I didn't actually choose it for the neatness of the scheduling -- I chose it because it's a damn fine story, which I haven't seen for a number of years and wanted to watch again. And it really is brilliant, even if the cliffhanger is a little forced -- this is from the "a two-parter is one long story" school of thought, rather than the later "a two-parter is two connected single episodes" style.
I recently read someone assert that Human Nature exists purely to establish the fob watch so it can be used for the Master in the season three finale. I felt a bit sorry for them -- all that they're not seeing in this tale if they think it's just about that. Knowing how RTD writes, I always assumed the fob watch was part of this tale that he then realised could be co-opted for the Master's return, rather than the other way round. Not to mention that the novel this adapts pre-dates the TV version by over a decade.
Friends
4x21 The One with the Invitations [4th or so watch]
More accurately, The One with All the Clips From Previous Episodes. Especially grating when you're watching the whole show at a speedy rate.
The Graham Norton Show
14x05 (8/11/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x06 3XK
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
29x08 Human Nature [3rd watch]
After only reaching the Ninth Doctor on Monday (and concluding him yesterday), it's time for #bbbDW50 to race straight on to the Tenth Doctor. The anniversary's nearly here, lots of episodes to cram in!
What better one for November than this, which is set almost exactly 100 years ago and concerns itself with remembrance? OK, it would've been even better two days ago, but I didn't actually choose it for the neatness of the scheduling -- I chose it because it's a damn fine story, which I haven't seen for a number of years and wanted to watch again. And it really is brilliant, even if the cliffhanger is a little forced -- this is from the "a two-parter is one long story" school of thought, rather than the later "a two-parter is two connected single episodes" style.
I recently read someone assert that Human Nature exists purely to establish the fob watch so it can be used for the Master in the season three finale. I felt a bit sorry for them -- all that they're not seeing in this tale if they think it's just about that. Knowing how RTD writes, I always assumed the fob watch was part of this tale that he then realised could be co-opted for the Master's return, rather than the other way round. Not to mention that the novel this adapts pre-dates the TV version by over a decade.
Friends
4x21 The One with the Invitations [4th or so watch]
More accurately, The One with All the Clips From Previous Episodes. Especially grating when you're watching the whole show at a speedy rate.
The Graham Norton Show
14x05 (8/11/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
27x13 The Parting of the Ways [season finale; 4th watch]
Here is where all the good bits are: the Dalek Emperor ("they survived through me!"), the Dalek army flying through space (thousands of them!), Lynda's death (poor Lynda!), David Tennant's first few moments (crikey he looks young!), and so on and so on.
Plus, the emotional wringer Rose goes through, brilliantly played by Billie Piper, now brings with it a realisation of how emotionless the Moffat-era companions have been, and how little the actors have been stretched by those roles. Shame.
Friends
4x20 The One with All the Wedding Dresses [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x02 Black-Winged Redbird
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
27x13 The Parting of the Ways [season finale; 4th watch]
Here is where all the good bits are: the Dalek Emperor ("they survived through me!"), the Dalek army flying through space (thousands of them!), Lynda's death (poor Lynda!), David Tennant's first few moments (crikey he looks young!), and so on and so on.
Plus, the emotional wringer Rose goes through, brilliantly played by Billie Piper, now brings with it a realisation of how emotionless the Moffat-era companions have been, and how little the actors have been stretched by those roles. Shame.
Friends
4x20 The One with All the Wedding Dresses [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x02 Black-Winged Redbird
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Monday, 11 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
27x12 Bad Wolf [4th watch]
With less than a fortnight until the anniversary, #bbbDW50 reaches the revived series. NuWho makes up exactly 20% of my viewing for this. That feels like it's disproportionately large, right? Wrong. From a grand total of 33 seasons of Doctor Who, the seven modern-era ones make up just over 21%. Pretty much bang on, then. The viewing rate will also step up to squeeze all the episodes in: rather than three per week, it'll be 10 episodes over the next 12 days.
First up, then, is the Ninth Doctor (of course). Although he only stuck around for one season -- a total of 10 stories -- there are several classics to choose from. His season finale seems a natural choice to sum up his era -- Daleks, Captain Jack, the regeneration... and Bad Wolf, which looks like it will factor in to the 50th special.
The most remarkable thing, watching this now, is how old it looks. It's only been eight years, but somehow it looks... not dated, necessarily, but not the same as TV drama now. I mean, what the hell cameras were they using to make every single light source glow to three times its size?! And all the Big Brother / Weakest Link stuff has dated terribly. Even at the time we knew it would, but (again) it's only been eight years -- how bad is it going to look in another five, ten, twenty? Future viewers will not just benefit from some contextual notes, they'll need them.
Still, not a bad story. A lot of the biggest bestest stuff is in Part Two though.
Friends
4x19 The One with All the Haste [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x06 Episode 6
27x12 Bad Wolf [4th watch]
With less than a fortnight until the anniversary, #bbbDW50 reaches the revived series. NuWho makes up exactly 20% of my viewing for this. That feels like it's disproportionately large, right? Wrong. From a grand total of 33 seasons of Doctor Who, the seven modern-era ones make up just over 21%. Pretty much bang on, then. The viewing rate will also step up to squeeze all the episodes in: rather than three per week, it'll be 10 episodes over the next 12 days.
First up, then, is the Ninth Doctor (of course). Although he only stuck around for one season -- a total of 10 stories -- there are several classics to choose from. His season finale seems a natural choice to sum up his era -- Daleks, Captain Jack, the regeneration... and Bad Wolf, which looks like it will factor in to the 50th special.
The most remarkable thing, watching this now, is how old it looks. It's only been eight years, but somehow it looks... not dated, necessarily, but not the same as TV drama now. I mean, what the hell cameras were they using to make every single light source glow to three times its size?! And all the Big Brother / Weakest Link stuff has dated terribly. Even at the time we knew it would, but (again) it's only been eight years -- how bad is it going to look in another five, ten, twenty? Future viewers will not just benefit from some contextual notes, they'll need them.
Still, not a bad story. A lot of the biggest bestest stuff is in Part Two though.
Friends
4x19 The One with All the Haste [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x06 Episode 6
Films
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
[#100 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
For the first time in almost 23 months, 100 Films has a #100!
I was going to label this "first half", but that's not true: Lawrence has an intermission, but it cuts the film up as a 139-minute first 'half' and an 83-minute second 'half' -- almost an hour different.
But anyway, I watched everything up to the intermission, and will watch the remainder tomorrow. I was very tempted to watch it all in one go*, but I was watching late at night and another hour-and-a-half was pushing it.
* as I did with Once Upon a Time in America in the end, which is only 7 minutes shorter (and that's only because I have OUaTiA on PAL DVD and Lawrence on Blu-ray)
[#100 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
For the first time in almost 23 months, 100 Films has a #100!
I was going to label this "first half", but that's not true: Lawrence has an intermission, but it cuts the film up as a 139-minute first 'half' and an 83-minute second 'half' -- almost an hour different.
But anyway, I watched everything up to the intermission, and will watch the remainder tomorrow. I was very tempted to watch it all in one go*, but I was watching late at night and another hour-and-a-half was pushing it.
* as I did with Once Upon a Time in America in the end, which is only 7 minutes shorter (and that's only because I have OUaTiA on PAL DVD and Lawrence on Blu-ray)
Sunday, 10 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x07 The Seventh Doctor
Friends
4x17 The One with the Free Porn [4th or so watch]
4x18 The One with Rachel's New Dress [4th or so watch]
The Sarah Millican Slightly Longer Television Programme
3x05 Episode 5
1x07 The Seventh Doctor
Friends
4x17 The One with the Free Porn [4th or so watch]
4x18 The One with Rachel's New Dress [4th or so watch]
The Sarah Millican Slightly Longer Television Programme
3x05 Episode 5
this week on 100 Films
100 Films in a Year begins its mini-celebration of Doctor Who's 50th anniversary this week...
Make/Remake: Doctor Who and the Daleks
Plus, archive reviews new to the new blog...
Avatar [3D] (2009)
The Departed (2006)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Wanted (2008)
More next Sunday.
Make/Remake: Doctor Who and the Daleks
Something about those pepperpot-shaped apparently-robotic villains clicked with the British public, and Dalekmania was born. Toys and merchandise flowed forth. The series soon began to include serials featuring the Daleks on a regular basis. And, naturally, someone snapped up the movie rights.Read more here.
Rather than an original storyline, the ensuing film was an adaptation of the TV series’ first Dalek serial...
Plus, archive reviews new to the new blog...
Avatar [3D] (2009)
All this is realised through unrelenting CGI. It’s very good, but here Avatar falls victim to its own hype once again, because it’s still not 100% perfect. Perhaps it’s the closest yet seen — it certainly remains consistent throughout — but nothing had me wondering if they’d perhaps used prosthetics in addition to the CGI, as Davy Jones did at several points during Dead Man’s Chest, and I remain convinced that wonderful modelwork, as seen in the likes of Lord of the Rings, is still an unbeatable tool for creating convincing environments.Read more here.
The Departed (2006)
An all-star cast lead Scorsese’s Oscar-winning remake of Hong Kong action thriller Infernal Affairs. It’s an unusual yet striking mix of elements: cops vs. robbers thriller, gangster drama, relationships of those who protect/threaten us drama, and several more.Read more here.
No Country for Old Men (2007)
real life: random and lacking closure and satisfaction. But this isn’t real life, it’s a movie; and a movie with a near-fantasy (or, more accurately, horror) aspect too, in its unstoppable villain; so I think I want my proper tied-together plot, thank you very muchRead more here.
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
Judi Dench is brilliant as ever in a rare villainous role (the Oscar would’ve been hers were it not for Helen Mirren’s equally brilliant but more obvious turn in The Queen)Read more here.
Wanted (2008)
If you don’t mind your action being computer-aided and as realistic as… well, a comic book… then there’s much to enjoy. Except, you already enjoyed most of it in the trailer.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 9 November 2013
TV
This is the 5,000th post on My Cultural Experience!
Atlantis
1x07 The Rules of Engagement
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x06 The Sixth Doctor
Friends
4x16 The One with the Fake Party [4th or so watch]
Atlantis
1x07 The Rules of Engagement
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x06 The Sixth Doctor
Friends
4x16 The One with the Fake Party [4th or so watch]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,632 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,195 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 437 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,053 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,739 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,022 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,632 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,195 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 437 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,053 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,739 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,022 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 8 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
The TV Movie [3rd third; 5th watch]
Everything from DVD chapter 14 (with the Doctor and Grace in the Master's ambulance, i.e. before the bike chase) to the end. For those of you who remember the TVM, you'll realise that's an awful lot of its action: the bike chase, all the stuff with the clock, the Eye of Harmony climax, 'temporal orbit', etc etc. Yes, it's a longer part than the other two (remember 25/25/35), but it feels a little less like watching an "extended Part 3 of 3" and more like watching "Parts 3 & 4 of 4".
On the whole, I think the TVM is quite distinctly underrated. It was a shock to the system in 1996, but compared to the new series... well, it's actually very like the new series: the bike chase, kissing/hand-holding, "drezz for the occasion", the humour, everything at the clock, the characterisation of Grace and Chang Lee, everything McGann does -- all could fit comfortably in episodes masterminded by RTD or Moffat.
It's not perfect -- the opening few minutes are a mess of references and infodumpery; bits of the climax don't make a lick of sense -- but, on the whole, I love it.
Friends
4x14 The One with Joey's Dirty Day [4th or so watch]
4x15 The One with All the Rugby [4th or so watch]
Or, The Ones Where Emily Turns Up And Is Intensely Irritating.
The Graham Norton Show
14x04 (1/11/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
46x04 (25/10/2013 edition)
Although an extended version of this episode is listed, it wasn't shown. Which is one of the reasons I'm so behind on it now.
The TV Movie [3rd third; 5th watch]
Everything from DVD chapter 14 (with the Doctor and Grace in the Master's ambulance, i.e. before the bike chase) to the end. For those of you who remember the TVM, you'll realise that's an awful lot of its action: the bike chase, all the stuff with the clock, the Eye of Harmony climax, 'temporal orbit', etc etc. Yes, it's a longer part than the other two (remember 25/25/35), but it feels a little less like watching an "extended Part 3 of 3" and more like watching "Parts 3 & 4 of 4".
On the whole, I think the TVM is quite distinctly underrated. It was a shock to the system in 1996, but compared to the new series... well, it's actually very like the new series: the bike chase, kissing/hand-holding, "drezz for the occasion", the humour, everything at the clock, the characterisation of Grace and Chang Lee, everything McGann does -- all could fit comfortably in episodes masterminded by RTD or Moffat.
It's not perfect -- the opening few minutes are a mess of references and infodumpery; bits of the climax don't make a lick of sense -- but, on the whole, I love it.
Friends
4x14 The One with Joey's Dirty Day [4th or so watch]
4x15 The One with All the Rugby [4th or so watch]
Or, The Ones Where Emily Turns Up And Is Intensely Irritating.
The Graham Norton Show
14x04 (1/11/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
46x04 (25/10/2013 edition)
Although an extended version of this episode is listed, it wasn't shown. Which is one of the reasons I'm so behind on it now.
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
The Light at the End Part Two (of 2)
Hm. Well. OK.
Obviously the Doctor being completely wiped out of history is a suitably epic story for a Big Anniversary Doctor Team-Up Special, but it feels so... low-key. Like how it would be handled in a short story, rather than a novel or a season finale... or a big anniversary special. I also didn't quite get all of the plan. The weapon the Master uses makes sense, but why put it in that particular human, on that particular date? As the listener the choice of 23rd November 1963 is obvious, but why in the story?
Still, at least the Doctors knocking around together is fun at times. I'm pretty sure Big Finish have teamed up the Sixth and Seventh before -- I've not heard those stories (obviously), but somehow it didn't feel fresh. Maybe the Fifth and Seventh would've been more unusual? The best bits are the Fourth and Eighth together, which are mainly in Part One but make a comeback towards the end of Part Two... though leaving the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh together for the last quarter(-ish) makes it feel like the early days of Big Finish, when they were the only Doctors they had. Or maybe that was the point.
As for the appearances by the First, Second and Third... I get why their audio is obscured, to help hide the impressions that are being done; but they're still obviously impressions, and by making them so quiet in the mix we have to strain to hear them -- which makes the fact they're impressions more obvious because we're listening so hard.
The Light at the End is pleasant enough on the whole, but with some script polishing (I've not even mentioned some of the clunky dialogue) and a splash more of the epic, this could've rivalled the new series for grandiosity. Whether Moffat's come up with something bigger for The Day of the Doctor or not, the TV series has already out-agrandised this audio in the past. Shame.
The Light at the End Part Two (of 2)
Hm. Well. OK.
Obviously the Doctor being completely wiped out of history is a suitably epic story for a Big Anniversary Doctor Team-Up Special, but it feels so... low-key. Like how it would be handled in a short story, rather than a novel or a season finale... or a big anniversary special. I also didn't quite get all of the plan. The weapon the Master uses makes sense, but why put it in that particular human, on that particular date? As the listener the choice of 23rd November 1963 is obvious, but why in the story?
Still, at least the Doctors knocking around together is fun at times. I'm pretty sure Big Finish have teamed up the Sixth and Seventh before -- I've not heard those stories (obviously), but somehow it didn't feel fresh. Maybe the Fifth and Seventh would've been more unusual? The best bits are the Fourth and Eighth together, which are mainly in Part One but make a comeback towards the end of Part Two... though leaving the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh together for the last quarter(-ish) makes it feel like the early days of Big Finish, when they were the only Doctors they had. Or maybe that was the point.
As for the appearances by the First, Second and Third... I get why their audio is obscured, to help hide the impressions that are being done; but they're still obviously impressions, and by making them so quiet in the mix we have to strain to hear them -- which makes the fact they're impressions more obvious because we're listening so hard.
The Light at the End is pleasant enough on the whole, but with some script polishing (I've not even mentioned some of the clunky dialogue) and a splash more of the epic, this could've rivalled the new series for grandiosity. Whether Moffat's come up with something bigger for The Day of the Doctor or not, the TV series has already out-agrandised this audio in the past. Shame.
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Book Two, Chapter 24-25 [the end]
A marvellous conclusion, full of defences for things that don't often get defended but deserve defending -- like RTD's writing style (p.678-9), the quality of Rose (p.681-5); plus spot-on criticism of forum-dwelling 'fans' (p.691-2).
Book Two, Chapter 24-25 [the end]
A marvellous conclusion, full of defences for things that don't often get defended but deserve defending -- like RTD's writing style (p.678-9), the quality of Rose (p.681-5); plus spot-on criticism of forum-dwelling 'fans' (p.691-2).
Thursday, 7 November 2013
TV
Elementary
2x02 Solve for X
Gotta hand it to Elementary -- they do at least come up with more unusual storylines than detective shows' usual stomping ground. Fundamentally it all works in the same way, of course, but it at least makes it feel fresher.
Friends
4x13 The One with Rachel's Crush [4th or so watch]
Or, The One Where Joey Says "How You Doin'?" For the First Time.
The Newsroom
2x07 Red Team III
Underwhelming title for such a pivotal episode. But have the makers forgotten that sometime between "the past" (which has nearly caught up with the present) and "the present", Maggie has to do that thing to her hair? Shouldn't she have done it more or less immediately after the incident that provoked it? What's going to provoke it?
I was also a little surprised there were two whole episodes left after the events of this one, but it's a two-parter, so that makes more sense.
Was It Something I Said
1x04 Episode 4 (extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version on 4oD.]
2x02 Solve for X
Gotta hand it to Elementary -- they do at least come up with more unusual storylines than detective shows' usual stomping ground. Fundamentally it all works in the same way, of course, but it at least makes it feel fresher.
Friends
4x13 The One with Rachel's Crush [4th or so watch]
Or, The One Where Joey Says "How You Doin'?" For the First Time.
The Newsroom
2x07 Red Team III
Underwhelming title for such a pivotal episode. But have the makers forgotten that sometime between "the past" (which has nearly caught up with the present) and "the present", Maggie has to do that thing to her hair? Shouldn't she have done it more or less immediately after the incident that provoked it? What's going to provoke it?
I was also a little surprised there were two whole episodes left after the events of this one, but it's a two-parter, so that makes more sense.
Was It Something I Said
1x04 Episode 4 (extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version on 4oD.]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
The Light at the End Part One (of 2)
While Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special seems to mainly focus on the last seven-or-so years of nuWho, and Moffat goes on and on (and on) about how it looks to the future more than the past, here's the other 50th anniversary special: the Big Finish-produced multi-Doctor team-up, featuring all the classic Doctors (because they're not allowed the new ones). Hey, at least between the two stories we get everyone but the Ninth (ah, Christopher Eccleston.)
I think it was designed to be listened to as a whole, because even the cliffhanger is not that cliffhanger-y, and the parts are eight minutes different in length -- if you moved the end of Part 1 forward by about four minutes, you might be in a more cliffhanger-y situation. But I guess I shouldn't judge until I listen to the second almost-half. So far, intriguing, but also surprisingly low-key for a story featuring multiple Doctors, the Master, and the possible destruction of the TARDIS and/or all of time.
The Light at the End Part One (of 2)
While Doctor Who's 50th anniversary special seems to mainly focus on the last seven-or-so years of nuWho, and Moffat goes on and on (and on) about how it looks to the future more than the past, here's the other 50th anniversary special: the Big Finish-produced multi-Doctor team-up, featuring all the classic Doctors (because they're not allowed the new ones). Hey, at least between the two stories we get everyone but the Ninth (ah, Christopher Eccleston.)
I think it was designed to be listened to as a whole, because even the cliffhanger is not that cliffhanger-y, and the parts are eight minutes different in length -- if you moved the end of Part 1 forward by about four minutes, you might be in a more cliffhanger-y situation. But I guess I shouldn't judge until I listen to the second almost-half. So far, intriguing, but also surprisingly low-key for a story featuring multiple Doctors, the Master, and the possible destruction of the TARDIS and/or all of time.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
TV
Arrow
2x03 Broken Dolls
Ooh, blatant Batman reference is blatant!
Doctor Who
2x07 The End of Tomorrow
2x08 The Waking Ally
2x09 Flashpoint
Parts four to six of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, the second-ever Dalek serial. It's a marvellous story, actually, packed with incident and scale — things lacking from the "trek across the planet for half the story" first Dalek serial. It's also fantastically realised on what must have been the usual tiny budget — epic location filming, numerous (relatively) elaborate studio sets… The final scene, with Susan's departure (the first original regular to leave), is a particular highlight — not because we're glad to be rid of her, but because it's beautifully written and performed, especially by Hartnell.
And also...
Doctor Who
The TV Movie [2nd third; 5th watch]
I forgot to mention last time (in amongst all my other waffle) that the TVM is the 40th episode of #bbbDW50 -- at the end of this week it'll be two-thirds complete! More on giving over 20% of the viewing to the new series when I get there, next week.
So, 'Part 2' of the TVM takes us from "the morning after" (beginning of DVD chapter 8) to the Master and Chang Lee posing as paramedics to collect the Doctor and Grace from her house (end of DVD chapter 13) -- a bit of a cliffhanger, as our heroes happily trot off with a guy we know to be evil. Dun-dun-duuuun! Maybe not quite as effective as 'Part 1', but better than the next option (after the bike chase); and hey, the classic series has its fair share of under-dramatic episode endings.
Friends
4x12 The One with the Embryos [4th or so watch]
I suppose The One Where the Girls Lose Their Apartment to the Boys would've given away the ending rather. But it's that one.
Person of Interest
2x02 Bad Code
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
2x03 Broken Dolls
Ooh, blatant Batman reference is blatant!
Doctor Who
2x07 The End of Tomorrow
2x08 The Waking Ally
2x09 Flashpoint
Parts four to six of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, the second-ever Dalek serial. It's a marvellous story, actually, packed with incident and scale — things lacking from the "trek across the planet for half the story" first Dalek serial. It's also fantastically realised on what must have been the usual tiny budget — epic location filming, numerous (relatively) elaborate studio sets… The final scene, with Susan's departure (the first original regular to leave), is a particular highlight — not because we're glad to be rid of her, but because it's beautifully written and performed, especially by Hartnell.
And also...
Doctor Who
The TV Movie [2nd third; 5th watch]
I forgot to mention last time (in amongst all my other waffle) that the TVM is the 40th episode of #bbbDW50 -- at the end of this week it'll be two-thirds complete! More on giving over 20% of the viewing to the new series when I get there, next week.
So, 'Part 2' of the TVM takes us from "the morning after" (beginning of DVD chapter 8) to the Master and Chang Lee posing as paramedics to collect the Doctor and Grace from her house (end of DVD chapter 13) -- a bit of a cliffhanger, as our heroes happily trot off with a guy we know to be evil. Dun-dun-duuuun! Maybe not quite as effective as 'Part 1', but better than the next option (after the bike chase); and hey, the classic series has its fair share of under-dramatic episode endings.
Friends
4x12 The One with the Embryos [4th or so watch]
I suppose The One Where the Girls Lose Their Apartment to the Boys would've given away the ending rather. But it's that one.
Person of Interest
2x02 Bad Code
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
2x04 World's End
2x05 The Daleks
2x06 Day of Reckoning
What's this, #bbbDW50 returning to the First Doctor? No, don't be daft — that'd be silly! This is extracurricular viewing, designed to facilitate a companion piece to my Dr Who and the Daleks retrospective/comparison on 100 Films later this month.
That's because, for those who don't know, these are parts one to three of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, which was the basis for the second Peter Cushing Dalek movie. I've never seen the TV version before, but it's a mightily impressive production — some grand sets, and the stuff filmed in a deserted London is astounding. Though, weirdly, the famous shot of the Daleks crossing the bridge isn't here; instead, we just see their tops drifting past from below — I guess while some photographer was grabbing a more iconic image!
Friends
4x11 The One with Phoebe's Uterus [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x01 The Desert Rose
As if Arrow, Castle, Elementary and Person of Interest weren't enough... and I'm still going on The Newsroom... and I've not even started Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., or Ripper Street series 2, or the already-finished Peaky Blinders... and I have loads of other complete series recorded/downloaded from earlier in the year that I've not got to... and I'm years behind on Misfits, which just restarted also... Why is there so much TV right now?!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Wrong Mans
1x06 Running Mans [season finale]
Sounds likely there'll be another series of this -- very much yay.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x04 World's End
2x05 The Daleks
2x06 Day of Reckoning
What's this, #bbbDW50 returning to the First Doctor? No, don't be daft — that'd be silly! This is extracurricular viewing, designed to facilitate a companion piece to my Dr Who and the Daleks retrospective/comparison on 100 Films later this month.
That's because, for those who don't know, these are parts one to three of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, which was the basis for the second Peter Cushing Dalek movie. I've never seen the TV version before, but it's a mightily impressive production — some grand sets, and the stuff filmed in a deserted London is astounding. Though, weirdly, the famous shot of the Daleks crossing the bridge isn't here; instead, we just see their tops drifting past from below — I guess while some photographer was grabbing a more iconic image!
Friends
4x11 The One with Phoebe's Uterus [4th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x01 The Desert Rose
As if Arrow, Castle, Elementary and Person of Interest weren't enough... and I'm still going on The Newsroom... and I've not even started Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., or Ripper Street series 2, or the already-finished Peaky Blinders... and I have loads of other complete series recorded/downloaded from earlier in the year that I've not got to... and I'm years behind on Misfits, which just restarted also... Why is there so much TV right now?!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Wrong Mans
1x06 Running Mans [season finale]
Sounds likely there'll be another series of this -- very much yay.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Book Two, Chapter 23
Book Two, Chapter 23
Monday, 4 November 2013
TV
Archer
4x11 The Papal Chase
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
The TV Movie [1st third; 5th watch]
Choices are limited when it comes to representing the Eighth Doctor as part of #bbbDW50 -- it's either this again, or a half-arsed 'animation' of Shada (that they didn't include properly on the DVD anyway, so I don't know how we'd have gone about watching it).
So it's back to the TV movie, for something like the fifth time for me and second for my viewing companion. That's not so bad: I do like it, and the last time was five years ago now. Just to mix things up, we're going to watch it as a three parter, stripped across the week as per usual. It's not the easiest thing to divide into traditionally-sized 25 minute chunks -- it might seem roughly the right length, but it depends how well-balanced you want your episodes. See, there's actually great cliffhanger points (and DVD chapter stops!) at exactly 25 and 50 minutes... but that leaves a "Part 3" that's 35 minutes long. Alternatively, using the chapter points, you can get a "1st third" that's 30 minutes (ch.1-8), with a second of 27 minutes (ch.9-14) and third of 29 minutes (ch.15-24) -- pretty equal.
(Splitting it neatly in half for two new-series-length episodes, however, is next to impossible -- there's a huge sequence right in the middle that leaves you with clearly lopsided 'halves', whether you're using chapter points or not. And that's one of the reasons we're watching it in three, not two.)
Anyway, I went for 25/25/35 -- that's the more entertaining way to split it, because it means 'Part 1' ends with the Doctor's whole "Who. Am. Iiiiaiaiaaargh?!" bit, which is quite a natural end-point, rather than a semi-decent one at the next chapter break. The TVM's biggest sin is being too old-fan friendly: if it began in San Francisco, 1999, with all the gang shootings, and a box appearing out of thin air, and a mysterious man, and a surgeon... that could all work. Instead, it begins on Skaro with a huge exposition dump, which is fine if you're a fan -- plenty of nods -- but must've been awful for total newcomers.
That aside, there's a nice vein of sly humour that would sit well in the revived series, and incredibly classy direction from Geoffrey Sax (apparently they've tried to get him on the new series several times, but he's always been in another job). With the (very good) regeneration out of the way, so a new Doctor and Master in place, the best bits are yet to come.
Friends
4x10 The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie [4th or so watch]
4x11 The Papal Chase
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
The TV Movie [1st third; 5th watch]
Choices are limited when it comes to representing the Eighth Doctor as part of #bbbDW50 -- it's either this again, or a half-arsed 'animation' of Shada (that they didn't include properly on the DVD anyway, so I don't know how we'd have gone about watching it).
So it's back to the TV movie, for something like the fifth time for me and second for my viewing companion. That's not so bad: I do like it, and the last time was five years ago now. Just to mix things up, we're going to watch it as a three parter, stripped across the week as per usual. It's not the easiest thing to divide into traditionally-sized 25 minute chunks -- it might seem roughly the right length, but it depends how well-balanced you want your episodes. See, there's actually great cliffhanger points (and DVD chapter stops!) at exactly 25 and 50 minutes... but that leaves a "Part 3" that's 35 minutes long. Alternatively, using the chapter points, you can get a "1st third" that's 30 minutes (ch.1-8), with a second of 27 minutes (ch.9-14) and third of 29 minutes (ch.15-24) -- pretty equal.
(Splitting it neatly in half for two new-series-length episodes, however, is next to impossible -- there's a huge sequence right in the middle that leaves you with clearly lopsided 'halves', whether you're using chapter points or not. And that's one of the reasons we're watching it in three, not two.)
Anyway, I went for 25/25/35 -- that's the more entertaining way to split it, because it means 'Part 1' ends with the Doctor's whole "Who. Am. Iiiiaiaiaaargh?!" bit, which is quite a natural end-point, rather than a semi-decent one at the next chapter break. The TVM's biggest sin is being too old-fan friendly: if it began in San Francisco, 1999, with all the gang shootings, and a box appearing out of thin air, and a mysterious man, and a surgeon... that could all work. Instead, it begins on Skaro with a huge exposition dump, which is fine if you're a fan -- plenty of nods -- but must've been awful for total newcomers.
That aside, there's a nice vein of sly humour that would sit well in the revived series, and incredibly classy direction from Geoffrey Sax (apparently they've tried to get him on the new series several times, but he's always been in another job). With the (very good) regeneration out of the way, so a new Doctor and Master in place, the best bits are yet to come.
Friends
4x10 The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie [4th or so watch]
DVD Extras
The Doctor's Strange love, Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the TV Movie
Featurette on the Doctor Who TV Movie Special Edition DVD, in which Who author Simon Guerrier, Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures writer Joseph Lidster, and comedian Josie Long discuss why the TV Movie is actually pretty good.
Perhaps most surprising is how many similarities they draw up with the new series. This was filmed while David Tennant was still the Doctor, and I think those things are, if anything, even more pertinent after Matt Smith's incarnation.
Featurette on the Doctor Who TV Movie Special Edition DVD, in which Who author Simon Guerrier, Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures writer Joseph Lidster, and comedian Josie Long discuss why the TV Movie is actually pretty good.
Perhaps most surprising is how many similarities they draw up with the new series. This was filmed while David Tennant was still the Doctor, and I think those things are, if anything, even more pertinent after Matt Smith's incarnation.
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Book Two, Chapter 22
Book Two, Chapter 22
Sunday, 3 November 2013
TV
Doctor Who
33x06b The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later
This prequel-esque mini-scene was first released yonks ago, but I've finally bothered to watch it thanks to the Series 7 box set. It has more point and amusement than your average DW prequel/short/thing, at least.
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x05 The Fifth Doctor
Friends
4x09 The One Where They're Going to Party! [4th or so watch]
33x06b The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later
This prequel-esque mini-scene was first released yonks ago, but I've finally bothered to watch it thanks to the Series 7 box set. It has more point and amusement than your average DW prequel/short/thing, at least.
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x05 The Fifth Doctor
Friends
4x09 The One Where They're Going to Party! [4th or so watch]
this week on 100 Films
Lots to report this week -- it's been a very busy one on 100 Films in a Year.
Firstly, it's now November, so here's the monthly update for October. It's mainly filled with my next topic...
In honour of Halloween last Thursday, the past seven days have been the Week of the Living Dead for 100 Films. All six reviews are summarised in chronological order at that link.
...but even then that wasn't all this week, oh no. In total there were seven brand-new reviews published in the past seven days. In alphabetical order, they were:
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Day of the Dead (1985)
Diary of the Dead (2007)
Land of the Dead (2005)
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Survival of the Dead (2009)
Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
And on top of all that, one review was new to the new blog...
2012 (2009)
More next Sunday.
Firstly, it's now November, so here's the monthly update for October. It's mainly filled with my next topic...
In honour of Halloween last Thursday, the past seven days have been the Week of the Living Dead for 100 Films. All six reviews are summarised in chronological order at that link.
...but even then that wasn't all this week, oh no. In total there were seven brand-new reviews published in the past seven days. In alphabetical order, they were:
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
The film is rich with analogy and symbolism for them that wants it; what’s kind of depressing is that so many viewers today don’t. I’m a fan of a well-constructed largely-mindless action movie as much as the next Bloke, on the right occasion, but that’s now what Romero was purporting to construct. It’s not “pretentious” to see these themes, because that’s why he made the film.Read more here.
Day of the Dead (1985)
the darkest and most nihilistic of all Romero’s films, lacking the humour that played such a significant role in Dawn. It’s not as if Night was rolling in laughs, but... there are no villains — characters conflict, but their motives are all understandable. Day has a clear-cut villain: the base’s new commander, Captain Rhodes, a power-mad borderline-caricature of small man syndrome. This is where that B-movie thing comes in: he’s eminently quotable, but he’s also thoroughly unlikeable.Read more here.
Diary of the Dead (2007)
a greater focus on action and gore than ever before. The first three films limit the majority of their violence to a final-act brawl... but here we’re given a smattering throughout, with no all-or-nothing finale. That’s not a bad thing, but it makes it feel more pervasive — even more so than Land, which was an action-adventure movie through and through.Read more here.
Land of the Dead (2005)
clearly bursting with Romero’s usual socio-political analogies and commentary. There’s the rich/poor divide and the abundance of entertainment; there’s certainly some post-9/11 thoughts, and perhaps post-Katrina too; perhaps the zombies represent foreign nationals, either breaking in or kicking off a revolution; and there are freedom fighters within too, who are incarcerated and apparently tortured without trial...Read more here.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
The Walking Dead, Warm Bodies, World War Z… zombies seem to be everywhere at the minute (generally in things beginning with ‘W’, for some reason), and generating big business. But this particular subgenre began 45 years ago, in a simple black & white independent movie, made for less than 1% of Brad Pitt’s salary for World War Z.Read more here.
Survival of the Dead (2009)
There are, unquestionably, better zombie movies written and directed by George A. Romero, but I think here he’s produced one of his most watchable; one that can be as entertaining as the others, is still at times as innovative, and does even support a deeper reading, if you’re prepared to look for it. The film not only shows us that the dead can survive, but that so should Romero’s reputation.Read more here.
Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
a mash-up of horror-trope-spoofery and usual kids’ tale Toy Story antics, pretty much divided half-and-half around the midpoint. Which is no bad thing when it’s all so much fun. The horror movie stuff early on is a suitable tribute to the genre, packed with atmosphere. Of course it’s kid-friendly and so not really scary, but there are plenty of nice references and a solid mysteryRead more here.
And on top of all that, one review was new to the new blog...
2012 (2009)
The end of the world occurs courtesy of messy CGI. I’ve seen better graphics in current-generation computer games than some of the sequences here. And there’s too much of it. Letting Emmerich’s imagination — and budget — run rampant means there’s an assault of imagery that’s just too much for one film.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 2 November 2013
TV
Atlantis
1x06 The Song of the Sirens
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x08 The One with Chandler in a Box [4th or so watch]
1x06 The Song of the Sirens
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x08 The One with Chandler in a Box [4th or so watch]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,630 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,194 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 436 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,050 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,736 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,022 [up 15]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
Plus this week it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
291 days, 8 hours, and 11 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 10 hours, and 5 minutes from last month.)
That jump is made up from 17 films, 55 episodes of TV, and 13 shorts.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,630 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,194 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 436 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,050 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,736 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,022 [up 15]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
Plus this week it's time for a running time update, so...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
291 days, 8 hours, and 11 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 10 hours, and 5 minutes from last month.)
That jump is made up from 17 films, 55 episodes of TV, and 13 shorts.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 1 November 2013
TV
Castle
3x05 Anatomy of a Murder
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
25x07 The Happiness Patrol Part Three [2nd watch]
The end of #bbbDW50's time in the classic era proper (the TV Movie gets counted as "classic Who", because obviously it's not part of modern BBC Wales-made nuWho, but it's not really classic Who, is it? It's in-between-y. But anyway.) It's a great one to end on, in my opinion, undervalued by fans thanks to some of the admittedly-somewhat-silly bits. Yet even for that, I kinda like the Kandy Man too.
Friends
4x07 The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line [4th or so watch]
The Graham Norton Show
14x03 (25/10/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Was It Something I Said
1x03 Episode 3 (extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version on 4oD.]
3x05 Anatomy of a Murder
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Doctor Who
25x07 The Happiness Patrol Part Three [2nd watch]
The end of #bbbDW50's time in the classic era proper (the TV Movie gets counted as "classic Who", because obviously it's not part of modern BBC Wales-made nuWho, but it's not really classic Who, is it? It's in-between-y. But anyway.) It's a great one to end on, in my opinion, undervalued by fans thanks to some of the admittedly-somewhat-silly bits. Yet even for that, I kinda like the Kandy Man too.
Friends
4x07 The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line [4th or so watch]
The Graham Norton Show
14x03 (25/10/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Was It Something I Said
1x03 Episode 3 (extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version on 4oD.]
Films
Survival of the Dead (2009)
[#98 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Week of the Living Dead #6 -- the final film. Hurrah, I did it!
Now I just have to get a review up in time...
[#98 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Week of the Living Dead #6 -- the final film. Hurrah, I did it!
Now I just have to get a review up in time...
Articles
Spooks movie The Greater Good to shoot in 2014, plot details revealed
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
Intriguing. It'd be nice if they brought back more of the series' cast beyond Harry, but then I imagine they probably want it to be standalone rather than a great big reunion just for fans.
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
Intriguing. It'd be nice if they brought back more of the series' cast beyond Harry, but then I imagine they probably want it to be standalone rather than a great big reunion just for fans.
Thursday, 31 October 2013
TV
Arrow
2x02 Identity
Friends
4x06 The One with the Dirty Girl [4th or so watch]
Episodes of Friends often have three plots, to cover all of the characters. Usually you can rank them, as I expect they did in writing, in order of importance -- probably called the A plot, B plot, and C plot. And this episode is, weirdly, but most definitely, named after the C plot.
2x02 Identity
Friends
4x06 The One with the Dirty Girl [4th or so watch]
Episodes of Friends often have three plots, to cover all of the characters. Usually you can rank them, as I expect they did in writing, in order of importance -- probably called the A plot, B plot, and C plot. And this episode is, weirdly, but most definitely, named after the C plot.
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
TV
Doctor Who
25x06 The Happiness Patrol Part Two [2nd watch]
The one with the bit where the Doctor talks some men out of shooting him, amongst other fun and frolics. I like The Happiness Patrol.
Friends
4x05 The One with Joey's New Girlfriend [4th or so watch]
Person of Interest
2x01 The Contingency
While the US are enjoying season three, Channel 5 have finally started on season two. Ah, it's like thegood bad ol' days...
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Wrong Mans
1x05 Wanted Mans
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
25x06 The Happiness Patrol Part Two [2nd watch]
The one with the bit where the Doctor talks some men out of shooting him, amongst other fun and frolics. I like The Happiness Patrol.
Friends
4x05 The One with Joey's New Girlfriend [4th or so watch]
Person of Interest
2x01 The Contingency
While the US are enjoying season three, Channel 5 have finally started on season two. Ah, it's like the
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Wrong Mans
1x05 Wanted Mans
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Land of the Dead: Director's Cut (2005)
[#96 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Week of the Living Dead #4.
[#96 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Week of the Living Dead #4.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
TV
Elementary
2x01 Step Nine
Sherlock Holmes in London? What an original idea! Good plot, though.
Friends
4x04 The One with the Ballroom Dancing [4th or so watch]
The Great British Bake Off
4x11 The Final
Despite it getting higher viewing figures than The X Factor, I've managed to go a whole week without having the Bake Off final spoiled. (It would've been simpler to watch it sooner, of course... but then, I didn't take any special measures (I just kind of forgot about it), and it still wasn't ruined, so...)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Suburgatory
2x13 Blowtox and Burlap
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
2x01 Step Nine
Sherlock Holmes in London? What an original idea! Good plot, though.
Friends
4x04 The One with the Ballroom Dancing [4th or so watch]
The Great British Bake Off
4x11 The Final
Despite it getting higher viewing figures than The X Factor, I've managed to go a whole week without having the Bake Off final spoiled. (It would've been simpler to watch it sooner, of course... but then, I didn't take any special measures (I just kind of forgot about it), and it still wasn't ruined, so...)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Suburgatory
2x13 Blowtox and Burlap
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
DVD Extras
For Every Dawn There is a Day Or Why George Romero Would Never Direct a Rambo Movie
by Calum Waddell
Booklet included with the UK Day of the Dead Blu-ray, which again is one long essay by Waddell. Although he valiantly defends the film, and again expands upon what it Means, there were a lot of little niggles (in his conclusion he uses the word "anecdote" instead of "antidote"!) that make it feel kind of amateurish -- or, worse, fannish.
by Calum Waddell
Booklet included with the UK Day of the Dead Blu-ray, which again is one long essay by Waddell. Although he valiantly defends the film, and again expands upon what it Means, there were a lot of little niggles (in his conclusion he uses the word "anecdote" instead of "antidote"!) that make it feel kind of amateurish -- or, worse, fannish.
Comics
Day of the Dead: Desertion by Stefan Hutchinson, Barry Keating & Jeff Zornow
A full-length (well, one-shot length) comic included with Arrow Video's Blu-ray of Day of the Dead. Unfortunately, it's pretty terrible. There are some neat ideas in there, which someone of Romero's ability could have explored, but here it's just rendered with ultra-violence and extreme language purely for shock factor. Plus, dialogue that no one in the world would ever actually say -- it's over-written to the point of absurdity.
A full-length (well, one-shot length) comic included with Arrow Video's Blu-ray of Day of the Dead. Unfortunately, it's pretty terrible. There are some neat ideas in there, which someone of Romero's ability could have explored, but here it's just rendered with ultra-violence and extreme language purely for shock factor. Plus, dialogue that no one in the world would ever actually say -- it's over-written to the point of absurdity.
Monday, 28 October 2013
TV
Arrow
2x01 City of Heroes
Ah Arrow -- it can be ever so cheesy and silly, but occasionally it's really good, and overall it's fun. Unlike the godawful Once Upon a Time, which I've finally decided to just give up on.
Doctor Who
25x05 The Happiness Patrol Part One [2nd watch]
With less than a month to go 'til the 50th anniversary special, #bbbDW50 reaches the end of the classic era proper with this Seventh Doctor story.
It's the one that exploded across the news a few years ago for being a satire on Margaret Thatcher, which was a bit baffling for Doctor Who fans: we'd always known that; why was it news? (Indeed, the autobiography which was the source for the news story had been out for a few years itself.) It's a controversial story all round, in fact: this is also the one with the Kandy Man, who is both divisive (you just know there are some fans who are going to give themselves an aneurism over a villain made from sweets) and possibly copyright-infringing (the Bertie Bassett people complained and the BBC had to promise never to bring him back).
Then there's all the stuff with indoor sets that are meant to be be outdoor streets, and the garish costumes, and painting the TARDIS pink... In DWM's Mighty 200 it came a lowly 170th, putting it in the bottom half of Sylvester McCoy stories (albeit at the top of said half).
Personally, I've always liked it. It's got a barminess undercut with a serious side that works. The guest star is Sheila Hancock, who is always magnificent. And there's that bit where the Doctor talks his way out of getting shot which is simply marvellous.
Some people dismiss the McCoy years out of hand, without even considering they might have some merit. Yes, the show had been getting steadily worse for years (while '60s and '70s stories can hold up well today, several '80s ones really, really do not), but it picked back up again towards the end. It's a shame that by then so few people cared; and even those who were watching assumed it was still all bad, and can't get over that to this day.
Friends
4x03 The One with the 'Cuffs [4th or so watch]
Have I Got News For You
46x03 (18/10/2013 edition; extended repeat)
2x01 City of Heroes
Ah Arrow -- it can be ever so cheesy and silly, but occasionally it's really good, and overall it's fun. Unlike the godawful Once Upon a Time, which I've finally decided to just give up on.
Doctor Who
25x05 The Happiness Patrol Part One [2nd watch]
With less than a month to go 'til the 50th anniversary special, #bbbDW50 reaches the end of the classic era proper with this Seventh Doctor story.
It's the one that exploded across the news a few years ago for being a satire on Margaret Thatcher, which was a bit baffling for Doctor Who fans: we'd always known that; why was it news? (Indeed, the autobiography which was the source for the news story had been out for a few years itself.) It's a controversial story all round, in fact: this is also the one with the Kandy Man, who is both divisive (you just know there are some fans who are going to give themselves an aneurism over a villain made from sweets) and possibly copyright-infringing (the Bertie Bassett people complained and the BBC had to promise never to bring him back).
Then there's all the stuff with indoor sets that are meant to be be outdoor streets, and the garish costumes, and painting the TARDIS pink... In DWM's Mighty 200 it came a lowly 170th, putting it in the bottom half of Sylvester McCoy stories (albeit at the top of said half).
Personally, I've always liked it. It's got a barminess undercut with a serious side that works. The guest star is Sheila Hancock, who is always magnificent. And there's that bit where the Doctor talks his way out of getting shot which is simply marvellous.
Some people dismiss the McCoy years out of hand, without even considering they might have some merit. Yes, the show had been getting steadily worse for years (while '60s and '70s stories can hold up well today, several '80s ones really, really do not), but it picked back up again towards the end. It's a shame that by then so few people cared; and even those who were watching assumed it was still all bad, and can't get over that to this day.
Friends
4x03 The One with the 'Cuffs [4th or so watch]
Have I Got News For You
46x03 (18/10/2013 edition; extended repeat)
DVD Extras
For Every Night There is a Dawn (Or how George Romero never recovered from the Vietnam War)
by Calum Waddell
Booklet included with the UK Dawn of the Dead Blu-ray, which is one long, interesting essay by Waddell.
by Calum Waddell
Booklet included with the UK Dawn of the Dead Blu-ray, which is one long, interesting essay by Waddell.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
TV
Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited
1x04 The Fourth Doctor
Friends
4x02 The One with the Cat [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x04 The Fourth Doctor
Friends
4x02 The One with the Cat [4th or so watch]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
27x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Toy Story of Terror! (2013)
[#93a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Pixar's latest Toy Story short is this made-for-TV Halloween special, shown in the US a couple of weeks ago and now available through Sky Movies in the UK. It's good fun, so a shame Sky got their grubby little mitts on it.
[#93a in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
Pixar's latest Toy Story short is this made-for-TV Halloween special, shown in the US a couple of weeks ago and now available through Sky Movies in the UK. It's good fun, so a shame Sky got their grubby little mitts on it.
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Book Two, Chapter 21
Book Two, Chapter 21
this week on 100 Films
Five brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Italian Job (2003)
Man on a Ledge (2012)
My Week with Marilyn (2011)
On Dangerous Ground (1952)
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2012)
And there were four reviews new to the new blog, too...
Die Hard 2 (1990)
An Education (2009)
Is Anybody There? (2008)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
More next Sunday.
The Italian Job (2003)
I’ve never seen the original, but from what I gather the only similarity is they both feature Minis in their climactic sequence — and even then, the original used ‘real’ Minis while this uses those daft big-as-a-regular-car new ones. In that respect it’s one of those remakes/reboots that is just using the name for brand recognition, and they normally turn out to be awful. But maybe The Italian Job is the exception...Read more here.
Man on a Ledge (2012)
A man books into a swish hotel, has a nice meal, then climbs out the window. Onlookers and police gather. Will he jump? Or is he just a distraction? What follows is pretty generic ‘single location thriller’ material, with a thoroughly daft ending… but when the whole film strains plausibility, do we buy it?Read more here.
My Week with Marilyn (2011)
The supporting cast is a veritable who’s who of recognisable British faces, stars of screens both big and small. Barely a speaking part goes by without an actor you’re certain to recognise. I’d list them but, honestly, there are far, far too many. [But,] of course Dominic Cooper’s in it — is it even legal to make a mid-budget British movie without him now?Read more here.
On Dangerous Ground (1952)
I also didn’t ‘feel’ the juxtaposition of shadowy city in the film’s early sections with bright snowy country later on. Nonetheless, there is a clear contrast on screen, particularly as the city is all shot at night and is very black, while most of the country scenes occur in daylight, emphasising the near-ceaseless white of the snow.Read more here.
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2012)
The master of miniatures back when special effects were truly special, rather than copious CGI ladled all over a couple of thousand shots throughout a blockbuster, the effect of Harryhausen’s work in (primarily) the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s is to thank for much of the best creativity in sci-fi/fantasy filmmaking of the last 20 to 30 years.Read more here.
And there were four reviews new to the new blog, too...
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Arguably the other main reason Die Hard worked so well — the confined office block setting — is also discarded, giving McClane a whole airport to run around. We have to be grateful that this isn’t just a straight forward rehash of the first film... but it doesn’t have the same brilliant simplicity.Read more here.
An Education (2009)
Jenny’s induction into her new friends’ higher-class world isn’t marred by the usual abundance of “embarrassing faux pas” humour that such tales normally fall back on. I’ve never understood where the entertainment value is supposed to lie in seeing the character we’re asked to like being put through the kind of social embarrassment that happens all too often in real life and that we’d really rather like to forget.Read more here.
Is Anybody There? (2008)
Perhaps if you’ve ever been that child who wondered and worried about what comes after death, or struggled to find your place in the world, or become stuck in a situation where you feel you may as just give up, or known people who’ve been abandoned as they grew old, or who have suffered that horrible, sometimes slow, sometimes all too fast, loss of their mental faculties, then this film will engage you too.Read more here.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
it may lack the depth of X-Men or X2, both of which played with subtexts of social exclusion and derision... but, taken as a straightforward action-adventure movie about people with extraordinary abilities fighting each other, it more than satisfies.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 26 October 2013
TV
Atlantis
1x05 White Lies
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x01 The One with the Jellyfish [4th or so watch]
The Sarah Millican Slightly Longer Television Programme
3x04 Episode 4
1x05 White Lies
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friends
4x01 The One with the Jellyfish [4th or so watch]
The Sarah Millican Slightly Longer Television Programme
3x04 Episode 4
Films
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
[#93 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
It's almost Halloween (had you noticed?), and this year I'm finally going to execute my long-held plan to watch all of George A. Romero's "Dead" films in a week. Starting today, with the first (obv.) The plan is to also run reviews daily on 100 Films, starting from Monday.
[#93 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
It's almost Halloween (had you noticed?), and this year I'm finally going to execute my long-held plan to watch all of George A. Romero's "Dead" films in a week. Starting today, with the first (obv.) The plan is to also run reviews daily on 100 Films, starting from Monday.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,628 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,193 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 435 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,046 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,735 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,007 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,628 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,193 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 435 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,046 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,735 [up 8]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,007 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 405 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
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