Friends
10x01 The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss [5th or so watch]
10x02 The One Where Ross is Fine [5th or so watch]
The final season begins!
Mad Men
7x01 Time Zones
The final season begins!
Person of Interest
2x16 Relevance
...yeah, this is just an episode. But at least it's a Special one.
Monday, 21 April 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
TV
Friends
9x22 The One with the Donor [5th or so watch]
9x23 The One in Barbados Part 1 [5th or so watch]
9x24 The One in Barbados Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x03 I Predict a Riot
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
9x22 The One with the Donor [5th or so watch]
9x23 The One in Barbados Part 1 [5th or so watch]
9x24 The One in Barbados Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x03 I Predict a Riot
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Saturday, 19 April 2014
TV
Castle
3x17 Countdown
In which the show tries to pretend Castle and Becket might die... twice. On the bright side, a lovely new cool-blue title card (that I guess won't stick around).
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x21 The One with the Fertility Test [5th or so watch]
Have I Got News For You
47x02 (11/4/2014 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x11 Bedtime Stories
A lot of people have been very critical of HIMYM's final season, but this proves it can still manage "best episode ever?"-level awesome.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
3x17 Countdown
In which the show tries to pretend Castle and Becket might die... twice. On the bright side, a lovely new cool-blue title card (that I guess won't stick around).
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x21 The One with the Fertility Test [5th or so watch]
Have I Got News For You
47x02 (11/4/2014 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x11 Bedtime Stories
A lot of people have been very critical of HIMYM's final season, but this proves it can still manage "best episode ever?"-level awesome.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Once again, no additions to report this week (though I've just ordered some stuff, so next might be busy). Indeed, a slow month all round: only two new titles added, making for a teeny tiny running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
As I intimated at the start, it's time for the running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
297 days, 16 hours, and 16 minutes.
(Up 6 hours and 13 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Once again, no additions to report this week (though I've just ordered some stuff, so next might be busy). Indeed, a slow month all round: only two new titles added, making for a teeny tiny running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
As I intimated at the start, it's time for the running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
297 days, 16 hours, and 16 minutes.
(Up 6 hours and 13 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 18 April 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x14 The Ebony Falcon
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x20 The One with the Soap Opera Party [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x16 Violets
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
1x14 The Ebony Falcon
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x20 The One with the Soap Opera Party [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x16 Violets
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
TV
Arrow
2x16 Suicide Squad
Shetland
2x06 Blue Lightning Part 2 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x16 Suicide Squad
Shetland
2x06 Blue Lightning Part 2 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
TV
The Guess List
1x01 Episode 1
It's basically just Blankety Blank with a twist, but it works, so why not?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Shetland
2x05 Blue Lightning Part 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x01 Episode 1
It's basically just Blankety Blank with a twist, but it works, so why not?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Shetland
2x05 Blue Lightning Part 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 14 April 2014
TV
The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
1x01 Meet Rin Tin Tin
1x03 Rin Tin Tin in the Flaming Forest
On DVD, 'remastered' into colour with new music and (some) dialogue. It seems less than half of the episodes have been 'restored' in this way, and these are the first two. (Not that I'm likely to end up watching many/any more, but I thought I'd point this out anyway.)
1x01 Meet Rin Tin Tin
1x03 Rin Tin Tin in the Flaming Forest
On DVD, 'remastered' into colour with new music and (some) dialogue. It seems less than half of the episodes have been 'restored' in this way, and these are the first two. (Not that I'm likely to end up watching many/any more, but I thought I'd point this out anyway.)
Sunday, 13 April 2014
TV
Castle
3x16 Setup
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
1x06 Episode 6
Friends
9x19 The One with Rachel's Dream [5th or so watch]
Even at this stage, I remember some episodes better than others. This is one I recall well.
Have I Got News For You
47x01 (4/4/2014 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
3x16 Setup
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
1x06 Episode 6
Friends
9x19 The One with Rachel's Dream [5th or so watch]
Even at this stage, I remember some episodes better than others. This is one I recall well.
Have I Got News For You
47x01 (4/4/2014 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Alter Egos (2012)
[#30 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
The Falcon's Adventure (1946)
[#31 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
[#30 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
The Falcon's Adventure (1946)
[#31 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
this week on 100 Films
Three new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Box (2009)
Chicken Little (2005)
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
And new to the new blog...
Kinky Boots (2005)
More next Sunday.
The Box (2009)
I believe the short story is all of six pages long — not exactly feature-length. Kelly has bulked it up by expanding the characters, who are now based on his parents to an almost freakish degree, and a massive back-end extension (the short story accounts for 30 to 40 minutes of the two-hour film) that heads deep into the same “what the…?” territory that he mined in his previous directorial efforts.Read more here.
Chicken Little (2005)
The director of Disney's woeful The Emperor's New Groove re-tells the well-known centuries-old folk take about a chicken who became a middle school baseball champ before foiling an alien invasion.Read more here.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
If the first instalment was indulgent in setting up the adventure we were about to embark on, this middle part is restless to the point of distraction. It buffets us from action sequence to action sequence with barely a chance to catch our breath. Rather than making time fly, however, this has the unfortunate side effect of making everything feel much longer than it actually is.Read more here.
And new to the new blog...
Kinky Boots (2005)
If nothing else it’s worth seeing for Chiwetel Ejiofor (who you may recognise from films such as Serenity, Inside Man and Children of Men [and this year Oscar nominated for 12 Years a Slave]) as a drag queen.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 12 April 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x13 The Bet
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x10 Mom and Dad
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Person of Interest
2x15 Booked Solid
1x13 The Bet
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x10 Mom and Dad
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Person of Interest
2x15 Booked Solid
DVD Extras
Special Features on The Sweeney
I didn't watch everything the disc had to offer, but interesting short featurettes on the Top Gear-assisted climactic car chase (shot in just two days!) and the Trafalgar Square shoot-out (shot in just six hours!)
I didn't watch everything the disc had to offer, but interesting short featurettes on the Top Gear-assisted climactic car chase (shot in just two days!) and the Trafalgar Square shoot-out (shot in just six hours!)
Comics
Anne Bonnie #1 by Tim Yates
I quite enjoyed that. A bit like anime-like -- or, rather, like those Western kids' TV series that are anime-inspired (e.g. Avatar: The Last Airbender), but promising nonetheless. We'll see how it goes. #2 is out in June.
I quite enjoyed that. A bit like anime-like -- or, rather, like those Western kids' TV series that are anime-inspired (e.g. Avatar: The Last Airbender), but promising nonetheless. We'll see how it goes. #2 is out in June.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Absolutely no changes this week. Not expecting any next week either, but at least that's the running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Absolutely no changes this week. Not expecting any next week either, but at least that's the running time update.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 11 April 2014
TV
Elementary
2x18 The Hound of the Cancer Cells
Bit of a waste of that title-reference.
Friends
9x18 The One with the Lottery [5th or so watch]
The Graham Norton Show
15x01 (4/4/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x18 The Hound of the Cancer Cells
Bit of a waste of that title-reference.
Friends
9x18 The One with the Lottery [5th or so watch]
The Graham Norton Show
15x01 (4/4/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 10 April 2014
TV
Dave Gorman: Modern Life is Goodish
1x05 I Like Eggs
I didn't think I liked Dave Gorman, but I caught this episode by accident and really liked it. So that's nice. Obviously I don't know if other episodes are up to the same standard, but his deconstruction of ridiculous advertising practices in this one was bang-on and very amusing.
[Watch it (again) on Dave On Demand.]
Friends
9x16 The One with the Boob Job [5th or so watch]
9x17 The One with the Memorial Service [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x15 White as the Driven Snow
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
1x05 I Like Eggs
I didn't think I liked Dave Gorman, but I caught this episode by accident and really liked it. So that's nice. Obviously I don't know if other episodes are up to the same standard, but his deconstruction of ridiculous advertising practices in this one was bang-on and very amusing.
[Watch it (again) on Dave On Demand.]
Friends
9x16 The One with the Boob Job [5th or so watch]
9x17 The One with the Memorial Service [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x15 White as the Driven Snow
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
19x03 Minuet in Hell Part Three
I'm beginning to wonder if this is meant to be a comedy... but it's not funny enough for that, and does seem to be taking itself seriously most of the time. Weirdly, there are some potentially good ideas in there, but none of them are explored; it's just a laughable run-around.
19x03 Minuet in Hell Part Three
I'm beginning to wonder if this is meant to be a comedy... but it's not funny enough for that, and does seem to be taking itself seriously most of the time. Weirdly, there are some potentially good ideas in there, but none of them are explored; it's just a laughable run-around.
Comics
Wolverine #3-4 by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller
I wonder how much this actually inspired the movie, and how much it's just coincidence that some bits are kind of alike.
I wonder how much this actually inspired the movie, and how much it's just coincidence that some bits are kind of alike.
Wednesday, 9 April 2014
TV
Arrow
2x15 The Promise
Friends
9x15 The One with the Mugging [5th or so watch]
There seem to be an exceptionally high number of Famous Guest Stars in this season. I guess they knew the end was in sight.
How I Met Your Mother
9x09 Platonish
It's episodes like this that prove why people shouldn't've been so surprised when it all ended how it did. (Yeah, E4 are months away from getting there, but I accidentally found out what happens anyway.)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Trip to Italy
Part 1 Il Cenobio dei Dogi, Camogli
I didn't bother with the first series of The Trip (way back in 2010 now) because I wasn't sure I could take three hours of Steve Coogan. Some good reviews tempted me in for this sequel, though, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. Mainly thanks to Rob Brydon, but Coogan wasn't so bad.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x15 The Promise
Friends
9x15 The One with the Mugging [5th or so watch]
There seem to be an exceptionally high number of Famous Guest Stars in this season. I guess they knew the end was in sight.
How I Met Your Mother
9x09 Platonish
It's episodes like this that prove why people shouldn't've been so surprised when it all ended how it did. (Yeah, E4 are months away from getting there, but I accidentally found out what happens anyway.)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Trip to Italy
Part 1 Il Cenobio dei Dogi, Camogli
I didn't bother with the first series of The Trip (way back in 2010 now) because I wasn't sure I could take three hours of Steve Coogan. Some good reviews tempted me in for this sequel, though, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. Mainly thanks to Rob Brydon, but Coogan wasn't so bad.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Comics
Wolverine #1-2 by Chris Claremont & Frank Miller
No, not the Wolverine #1&2 I read recently; nor the Wolverine #1&2 that have been published since then; but, in fact, the first ever Wolverine #1&2 from 1982, aka Wolverine vol.1 1&2 -- half of the story that (loosely) inspired last summer's Wolverine movie, The Wolverine.
Much like its titular character (that'd be Wolverine), its reputation precedes it. Fortunately, it is very good.
No, not the Wolverine #1&2 I read recently; nor the Wolverine #1&2 that have been published since then; but, in fact, the first ever Wolverine #1&2 from 1982, aka Wolverine vol.1 1&2 -- half of the story that (loosely) inspired last summer's Wolverine movie, The Wolverine.
Much like its titular character (that'd be Wolverine), its reputation precedes it. Fortunately, it is very good.
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x12 Pontiac Bandit
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x14 The One with the Blind Dates [5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x04 Pride
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
1x12 Pontiac Bandit
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x14 The One with the Blind Dates [5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x04 Pride
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Monday, 7 April 2014
TV
Friends
9x12 The One with Phoebe's Rats [5th or so watch]
9x13 The One Where Monica Sings [5th or so watch]
Killer Magic
1x00 Pilot
I swear they used clips from other episodes in the opening montage, but this is a pilot with a six-episode series set to follow later in the year. Which makes me happy because it was really rather good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
A lot of people seemed to think this was clearly a season finale that someone thought they could get away with leaving as the last-ever episode. Personally, I thought it rounded quite a lot off, just not in a very cheery way -- essentially, all the bad guys won and our heroes lost. Perhaps writer-creator Peter Moffat was making a point about the justice system?
9x12 The One with Phoebe's Rats [5th or so watch]
9x13 The One Where Monica Sings [5th or so watch]
Killer Magic
1x00 Pilot
I swear they used clips from other episodes in the opening montage, but this is a pilot with a six-episode series set to follow later in the year. Which makes me happy because it was really rather good.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
A lot of people seemed to think this was clearly a season finale that someone thought they could get away with leaving as the last-ever episode. Personally, I thought it rounded quite a lot off, just not in a very cheery way -- essentially, all the bad guys won and our heroes lost. Perhaps writer-creator Peter Moffat was making a point about the justice system?
Sunday, 6 April 2014
TV
Castle
3x15 The Final Nail
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x10 The One with Christmas in Tulsa [5th or so watch]
9x11 The One Where Rachel Goes Back to Work [5th or so watch]
Friends does a clip show and it has a big-name guest star and a major plot development that affects the rest of the series. Win.
Person of Interest
2x14 One Percent
3x15 The Final Nail
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x10 The One with Christmas in Tulsa [5th or so watch]
9x11 The One Where Rachel Goes Back to Work [5th or so watch]
Friends does a clip show and it has a big-name guest star and a major plot development that affects the rest of the series. Win.
Person of Interest
2x14 One Percent
this week on 100 Films
April kicked off last Tuesday, meaning it was time to look back at what happened on 100 Films in a Year in March. Quite a lot, as it turned out. Also there: a list of 5 cancelled TV series that continued on the big screen.
It was also a good week for reviews, with four shiny new ones published. They were...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) (2012/2013)
The Next Three Days (2010)
On the Waterfront (1954)
Trance (2013)
And finally, new to the new blog...
Michael Clayton (2007)
More next Sunday.
It was also a good week for reviews, with four shiny new ones published. They were...
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) (2012/2013)
looking back over what was added in the wake of seeing the second film, I can’t help but feel that, when viewed as a trilogy, the little extensions that feed into events of The Desolation of Smaug make the extended edition a marginally preferable version.Read more here.
The Next Three Days (2010)
it’s inherently quite a daft concept: prisons are (rightfully) incredibly secure places — no ordinary Joe is breaking anyone out of there in a couple of weeks. By rights, a film of this ilk should probably be a Taken-esque slightly-OTT action-thriller... Haggis’ film is a mix of that, and an attempt at depicting a serious, plausible, realistic version of what might happen if a regular, intelligent guy set his mind to such a task.Read more here.
On the Waterfront (1954)
So much more than one famous scene, On the Waterfront is a movie about a magic jacket, which causes anyone who owns it to stand up for what’s morally right even in the face of oppression, but also to suffer badly when they do.Read more here.
Trance (2013)
Boyle comments that “it’s more classical than you might expect.” Though it has a storyline that blurs the line between what’s actually happening and what’s happening inside a character’s head, the overall tone and style is actually quite Hollywood. It’s just Hollywood jazzed up with storytelling trickery, a quirky score, dashes of extreme gore and surprising nudityRead more here.
And finally, new to the new blog...
Michael Clayton (2007)
If this sounds more legal drama than legal thriller, it is. Where this comes unstuck is that director Tony Gilroy does seem to want it to be a legal thriller, and so uncomfortably squidged into the mix are a pair of surveillance experts/assassins and one of the least-tense car chases in movie historyRead more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
TV
Friends
9x09 The One with Rachel's Phone Number [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x14 Grey Water
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Voice UK
3x15 The Final [series finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x09 The One with Rachel's Phone Number [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x14 Grey Water
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Voice UK
3x15 The Final [series finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
Special Features on The Box
A selection of cursorily short featurettes, the main revelation being just how much CGI there is in the film (for things like creating a '70s skyline, '70s cars, and covering everything with snow).
A selection of cursorily short featurettes, the main revelation being just how much CGI there is in the film (for things like creating a '70s skyline, '70s cars, and covering everything with snow).
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
One disc with three films?! No, it's one disc with two films... and I also noticed a mistake in my cataloguing, hence the other.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [up 1]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
One disc with three films?! No, it's one disc with two films... and I also noticed a mistake in my cataloguing, hence the other.
Number of titles in collection: 1,664 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 465 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,156 [up 1]
Number of films in collection: 1,790 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 4 April 2014
TV
Friends
9x07 The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song [5th or so watch]
9x08 The One with Rachel's Other Sister [5th or so watch]
I like these episodes and I cannot lie,
you other viewers can't deny
that Friends was still damn funny even at this point.
Law & Order: UK
8x02 Safe from Harm
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
9x07 The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song [5th or so watch]
9x08 The One with Rachel's Other Sister [5th or so watch]
I like these episodes and I cannot lie,
you other viewers can't deny
that Friends was still damn funny even at this point.
Law & Order: UK
8x02 Safe from Harm
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Thursday, 3 April 2014
TV
Arrow
2x14 Time of Death
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x11 Christmas
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x06 The One with the Male Nanny [5th or so watch]
2x14 Time of Death
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x11 Christmas
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
9x06 The One with the Male Nanny [5th or so watch]
Films
Trance (2013)
[#25 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Coming to Sky Movies tomorrow, as I write this, but probably today when you're reading it (or in the past, of course). I'll try to have a review up soon.
[#25 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Coming to Sky Movies tomorrow, as I write this, but probably today when you're reading it (or in the past, of course). I'll try to have a review up soon.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
TV
Castle
3x14 Lucky Stiff
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x05 The One with Phoebe's Birthday Dinner [5th or so watch]
Shetland
2x04 Dead Water Part 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x14 Lucky Stiff
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
9x05 The One with Phoebe's Birthday Dinner [5th or so watch]
Shetland
2x04 Dead Water Part 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
TV
Friends
9x04 The One with the Sharks [5th or so watch]
People tend to say Friends 'lost it' somewhere around season five or six, but there's a lot of really great, memorable stuff later on, too.
Shetland
2x03 Dead Water Part 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x04 The One with the Sharks [5th or so watch]
People tend to say Friends 'lost it' somewhere around season five or six, but there's a lot of really great, memorable stuff later on, too.
Shetland
2x03 Dead Water Part 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
The Searchers (1956)
[#24 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...? 2014 #3
[#24 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...? 2014 #3
Monday, 31 March 2014
Sunday, 30 March 2014
Films
Monsters vs Aliens (2009)
[#21 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Veronica Mars (2014)
[#22 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Loved it.
[#21 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Veronica Mars (2014)
[#22 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Loved it.
this week on 100 Films
Just one new review on 100 Films in a Year this week...
Fast Five (2011)
More next Sunday.
Fast Five (2011)
the fourth film tried to move F&F on a bit — but failed, thanks to being distinctly crap. Five is what that film wanted to be. It’s still not clever, but it is big — a big, somewhat daft, perhaps too long in the middle, but ultimately fun, Action Movie. It contains as much fisticuffs, shoot-outs and foot chasing as it does bits with carsRead more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 29 March 2014
TV
Friends
9x02 The One Where Emma Cries [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x14 The Semi-Finals
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x02 The One Where Emma Cries [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x14 The Semi-Finals
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, two bargain-priced Doctor Who DVDs (one new, one an upgrade) bring my Who collection to the brink of completion! I now have every story they've deigned to release on DVD, with the exception of the last two Matt Smith episodes (there's a box set of those due at some point that I'm waiting for); plus I'm shy a classic Who re-release or two. Other than that, it's just a case of when they get round to releasing The Underwater Menace episode they found a couple of years ago. Hurrah!
Number of titles in collection: 1,663 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 464 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,155 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,787 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [up 8]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, two bargain-priced Doctor Who DVDs (one new, one an upgrade) bring my Who collection to the brink of completion! I now have every story they've deigned to release on DVD, with the exception of the last two Matt Smith episodes (there's a box set of those due at some point that I'm waiting for); plus I'm shy a classic Who re-release or two. Other than that, it's just a case of when they get round to releasing The Underwater Menace episode they found a couple of years ago. Hurrah!
Number of titles in collection: 1,663 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,199 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 464 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,155 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,787 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,126 [up 8]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 28 March 2014
TV
Friends
9x01 The One Where No One Proposes [5th or so watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x08 The Lighthouse
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Last Leg
4x08 (21/3/14 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
6x13 Black Helicopters
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
9x01 The One Where No One Proposes [5th or so watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x08 The Lighthouse
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Last Leg
4x08 (21/3/14 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
6x13 Black Helicopters
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Thursday, 27 March 2014
TV
Arrow
2x13 Heir to the Demon
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x10 Thanksgiving
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
8x23 The One Where Rachel Has a Baby Part 1 [5th or so watch]
8x24 The One Where Rachel Has a Baby Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
2x13 Heir to the Demon
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x10 Thanksgiving
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
8x23 The One Where Rachel Has a Baby Part 1 [5th or so watch]
8x24 The One Where Rachel Has a Baby Part 2 [season finale; 5th or so watch]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
19x01 Minuet in Hell Part One
The fourth (and final) story in Big Finish's first 'season' of 8th Doctor adventures.
When BF started their Doctor Who stories, their stated aim was to re-create the style of classic Doctor Who in audio drama form, right down to the 25-minute episodes. Perfect for double CD, in many respects -- two episodes per disc making a standard-length Who story, hooray. Such constrictions went out the window right from the first release, of course: if you've got space on the CD for episodes up to around 40 minutes each, why force it down to 25? But by this release (which, as you can see, was only the 19th) it had gone so far out the window that Part One lasts just shy of 45 minutes -- a distinctly nuWho length (though the aforementioned revival was years away at this point).
Not a distinctly nuWho story, though. The deliberately oblique plot plods along, mired in implausible American accents and caricatures, before finally revealing itself to be somehow about a machine that can reprogram the human brain -- a bit of an unfortunate coincidence with which play I just listened to, that.
19x01 Minuet in Hell Part One
The fourth (and final) story in Big Finish's first 'season' of 8th Doctor adventures.
When BF started their Doctor Who stories, their stated aim was to re-create the style of classic Doctor Who in audio drama form, right down to the 25-minute episodes. Perfect for double CD, in many respects -- two episodes per disc making a standard-length Who story, hooray. Such constrictions went out the window right from the first release, of course: if you've got space on the CD for episodes up to around 40 minutes each, why force it down to 25? But by this release (which, as you can see, was only the 19th) it had gone so far out the window that Part One lasts just shy of 45 minutes -- a distinctly nuWho length (though the aforementioned revival was years away at this point).
Not a distinctly nuWho story, though. The deliberately oblique plot plods along, mired in implausible American accents and caricatures, before finally revealing itself to be somehow about a machine that can reprogram the human brain -- a bit of an unfortunate coincidence with which play I just listened to, that.
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x22 The One Where Rachel is Late [5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x01 Flaw
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
8x22 The One Where Rachel is Late [5th or so watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x01 Flaw
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
34x04 Spare Parts Part Four
Cracking. They should've just done a straight adaptation of this on telly, to be frank.
34x04 Spare Parts Part Four
Cracking. They should've just done a straight adaptation of this on telly, to be frank.
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Monday, 24 March 2014
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Films
Chicken Little (2005)
[#16 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) (2012/2013)
[#16a in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
I watched and reviewed the theatrical version of the first instalment of The Hobbit trilogy around this time last year. Now, with Part 2 about to debut on DVD/Blu-ray (and especially as I already have my copy), I thought I'd finally get round to this extended version before seeing what happens next. And I'll be reviewing it too, of course.
[#16 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) (2012/2013)
[#16a in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
I watched and reviewed the theatrical version of the first instalment of The Hobbit trilogy around this time last year. Now, with Part 2 about to debut on DVD/Blu-ray (and especially as I already have my copy), I thought I'd finally get round to this extended version before seeing what happens next. And I'll be reviewing it too, of course.
this week on 100 Films
In an improvement on the last few weeks, one new review was published to 100 Films in a Year...
World War Z: Extended Action Cut (2013)
Hopefully, more next Sunday.
World War Z: Extended Action Cut (2013)
things turn from claustrophobic to post-apocalyptic. The storyline feels moderately fresh, showing us the global scope of such an outbreak, rather than how a global event impacts a small group of people... However, what’s new to the zombie genre isn’t necessarily new in any other respect, and by the time we get to Jerusalem and the characters are again being chased through crowded streets, it begins to feel a tad repetitive.Read more here.
Hopefully, more next Sunday.
Saturday, 22 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x20 The One with the Baby Shower [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x12 The Quarter-Finals
3x13 The Quarter-Finals Results
[Watch the Quarter-Finals and the Results (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x20 The One with the Baby Shower [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x12 The Quarter-Finals
3x13 The Quarter-Finals Results
[Watch the Quarter-Finals and the Results (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week
The second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, is out on DVD & Blu-ray on 7th April in the UK and 9th April in the US... but my copy turned up earlier this week (hehehe).
And that's it for additions this time... although there is the monthly running time update to keep things lively.
Number of titles in collection: 1,662 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 464 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,152 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,787 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
Last but not least...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
297 days, 10 hours, and 3 minutes.
(Up 11 hours and 36 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
The second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug, is out on DVD & Blu-ray on 7th April in the UK and 9th April in the US... but my copy turned up earlier this week (hehehe).
And that's it for additions this time... although there is the monthly running time update to keep things lively.
Number of titles in collection: 1,662 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 464 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,152 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,787 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
Last but not least...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
297 days, 10 hours, and 3 minutes.
(Up 11 hours and 36 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 21 March 2014
TV
Castle
3x13 Knockdown
Light fun Castle is back with... kind of a grim episode. Surely it would've been better to make this the last one before a break rather than the first one back, C5?
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
8x18 The One in Massapequa [5th or so watch]
8x19 The One with Joey's Interview [5th or so watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x07 No Questions Asked
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Last Leg
4x07 (14/3/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
3x13 Knockdown
Light fun Castle is back with... kind of a grim episode. Surely it would've been better to make this the last one before a break rather than the first one back, C5?
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Friends
8x18 The One in Massapequa [5th or so watch]
8x19 The One with Joey's Interview [5th or so watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x07 No Questions Asked
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Last Leg
4x07 (14/3/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 20 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x17 The One with the Tea Leaves [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x12 The Golden Hammer
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Only Connect
Sport Relief: Scribblers v Terriers
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
X-Men
1x11 Days of Future Past Part 1 [2nd watch]
1x12 Days of Future Past Part 2 [2nd watch]
See today's Comics.
8x17 The One with the Tea Leaves [5th or so watch]
The Mentalist
6x12 The Golden Hammer
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Only Connect
Sport Relief: Scribblers v Terriers
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
X-Men
1x11 Days of Future Past Part 1 [2nd watch]
1x12 Days of Future Past Part 2 [2nd watch]
See today's Comics.
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
34x03 Spare Parts Part Three
Ooh, it gets good here -- finally really seeing what everyone's on about. And so much better than the TV version.
34x03 Spare Parts Part Three
Ooh, it gets good here -- finally really seeing what everyone's on about. And so much better than the TV version.
Comics
X-Men: Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont & John Byrne
The seminal two-part X-Men tale, just released in a lovely hardback edition with all of its sequels. It's the inspiration for the new film coming this summer, of course, so I thought I might do some kind of retrospective on 100 Films looking back at previous versions.
The seminal two-part X-Men tale, just released in a lovely hardback edition with all of its sequels. It's the inspiration for the new film coming this summer, of course, so I thought I might do some kind of retrospective on 100 Films looking back at previous versions.
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x16 The One Where Joey Tells Rachel [5th or so watch]
Room 101
14x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Shetland
2x02 Raven Black Part 2
Well, I thought that was really good. Weird lack of trailer for the next story, though -- why put one after a cliffhanger but not after something that looks like it could be the end of the series if you didn't know better?!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x16 The One Where Joey Tells Rachel [5th or so watch]
Room 101
14x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Shetland
2x02 Raven Black Part 2
Well, I thought that was really good. Weird lack of trailer for the next story, though -- why put one after a cliffhanger but not after something that looks like it could be the end of the series if you didn't know better?!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
Zombie Town Hall: Knights of the Living Dead
A special feature on the Sainsbury's-exclusive version of World War Z, in which filmmaker George A. Romero, WWZ author Max Brooks, and some other chap who has apparently also written some zombie stuff, chat entertainingly about the genre and their place in it for an hour in front of a film-festival audience in Denver.
A special feature on the Sainsbury's-exclusive version of World War Z, in which filmmaker George A. Romero, WWZ author Max Brooks, and some other chap who has apparently also written some zombie stuff, chat entertainingly about the genre and their place in it for an hour in front of a film-festival audience in Denver.
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x15 The One with the Birthing Video [5th or so watch]
Shetland
2x01 Raven Black Part 1
Enjoyed the first series/pilot last year, so glad to see it back with adaptations of three more novels. Some have said it's just a standard murder mystery tarted up with some semi-Scandi scenery, but even if that's all it is, it's still effective.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x15 The One with the Birthing Video [5th or so watch]
Shetland
2x01 Raven Black Part 1
Enjoyed the first series/pilot last year, so glad to see it back with adaptations of three more novels. Some have said it's just a standard murder mystery tarted up with some semi-Scandi scenery, but even if that's all it is, it's still effective.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 17 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x14 The One with the Secret Closet [5th or so watch]
The Michael McIntyre Chat Show
1x01 (10/3/14 edition)
Not a bad start. Feels a bit... untopical. Hard feeling to pin down. Maybe it's the lack of a news-riffing opening monologue, like Graham and Jonathan have. Not necessarily a problem, but it means it feels less like a chat show and more like a comedian's recorded-well-in-advance TV show, such as Sarah Millican's programme.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x14 The One with the Secret Closet [5th or so watch]
The Michael McIntyre Chat Show
1x01 (10/3/14 edition)
Not a bad start. Feels a bit... untopical. Hard feeling to pin down. Maybe it's the lack of a news-riffing opening monologue, like Graham and Jonathan have. Not necessarily a problem, but it means it feels less like a chat show and more like a comedian's recorded-well-in-advance TV show, such as Sarah Millican's programme.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 16 March 2014
TV
How I Met Your Mother
9x06 Knight Vision
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Person of Interest
2x13 Dead Reckoning
The Voice UK
3x11 The Knockouts 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
9x06 Knight Vision
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Person of Interest
2x13 Dead Reckoning
The Voice UK
3x11 The Knockouts 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 15 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x13 The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x10 The Knockouts 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
8x13 The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath [5th or so watch]
The Voice UK
3x10 The Knockouts 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
An early appearance on my doormat by The Hunger Games 2 (out Monday) brings this week's smidgen of additions. Still, the forecast for next week is nothing.
Number of titles in collection: 1,661 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 463 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,149 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,786 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
An early appearance on my doormat by The Hunger Games 2 (out Monday) brings this week's smidgen of additions. Still, the forecast for next week is nothing.
Number of titles in collection: 1,661 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 463 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,149 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,786 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 March 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x09 Sal's Pizza
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
8x12 The One Where Joey Dates Rachel [5th or so watch]
The Last Leg
4x06 (7/3/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x09 Sal's Pizza
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friends
8x12 The One Where Joey Dates Rachel [5th or so watch]
The Last Leg
4x06 (7/3/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 13 March 2014
TV
Coronation Street: A Moving Story
Not as much about the technicalities of the move and the new set as I'd've liked (s'why I watched), but hey-ho, should've gussed it'd be 'soapier'.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Elementary
2x16 The One Percent Solution
Friends
8x11 The One with Ross's Step Forward [5th or so watch]
The Blu-ray menus call this The One With Ross's Step Forward; TV.com call it The One with the Creepy Holiday Card. Who to believe?!
Yonderland
1x08 Dirty Ernie [season finale]
Not as much about the technicalities of the move and the new set as I'd've liked (s'why I watched), but hey-ho, should've gussed it'd be 'soapier'.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Elementary
2x16 The One Percent Solution
Friends
8x11 The One with Ross's Step Forward [5th or so watch]
The Blu-ray menus call this The One With Ross's Step Forward; TV.com call it The One with the Creepy Holiday Card. Who to believe?!
Yonderland
1x08 Dirty Ernie [season finale]
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
TV
Arrow
2x12 Tremors
The Mentalist
6x11 White Lines
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Room 101
14x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x12 Tremors
The Mentalist
6x11 White Lines
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Room 101
14x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
TV
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
1x05 Episode 5
Game of Thrones
3x10 Mhysa [season finale]
Tad underwhelming after the last episode, but by no means bad.
Person of Interest
2x12 Prisoner's Dilemma
Top Gear
21x04 (23/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x05 Episode 5
Game of Thrones
3x10 Mhysa [season finale]
Tad underwhelming after the last episode, but by no means bad.
Person of Interest
2x12 Prisoner's Dilemma
Top Gear
21x04 (23/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 10 March 2014
TV
Game of Thrones
3x09 The Rains of Castamere
Crikey.
To be perfectly honest, I guessed something like that would happen -- fans and creators have been talking about the Red Wedding since before season one began, mentioning it would be the climax to season three; and then there was the massive reaction online after it was broadcast (even without reading people's thoughts, the sheer volume of articles indicated how significant it was; I've had half a dozen saved since then to read once I got past this episode); and considering the characters involved, and their potential for deception (in particular Walder Frey), I had my suspicions that all would not end well.
But it was still shockingly, strikingly done, and the writers and makers did an excellent job of misdirecting the viewer. Indeed, it's so effective that even if you knew exactly what would occur (which even book-readers didn't, thanks to some modifications), it's still disturbingly executed.
Most fascinating, perhaps, is what it means for the series as a whole. One of the main driving plots for the entire thing seems to have just been cut off. Where does it go from here? Especially considering we're not even halfway through. Hopefully episode 10 provides some answers, and an indication of the course forward.
Outnumbered
5x06 The Musical [series finale]
A funny, moving, fitting finale. I know they've said they might come back for specials, but you kind of feel like they perhaps shouldn't -- how could they end it better? And would coming back for a random, disconnected, one-more-time be right?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x09 The Rains of Castamere
Crikey.
To be perfectly honest, I guessed something like that would happen -- fans and creators have been talking about the Red Wedding since before season one began, mentioning it would be the climax to season three; and then there was the massive reaction online after it was broadcast (even without reading people's thoughts, the sheer volume of articles indicated how significant it was; I've had half a dozen saved since then to read once I got past this episode); and considering the characters involved, and their potential for deception (in particular Walder Frey), I had my suspicions that all would not end well.
But it was still shockingly, strikingly done, and the writers and makers did an excellent job of misdirecting the viewer. Indeed, it's so effective that even if you knew exactly what would occur (which even book-readers didn't, thanks to some modifications), it's still disturbingly executed.
Most fascinating, perhaps, is what it means for the series as a whole. One of the main driving plots for the entire thing seems to have just been cut off. Where does it go from here? Especially considering we're not even halfway through. Hopefully episode 10 provides some answers, and an indication of the course forward.
Outnumbered
5x06 The Musical [series finale]
A funny, moving, fitting finale. I know they've said they might come back for specials, but you kind of feel like they perhaps shouldn't -- how could they end it better? And would coming back for a random, disconnected, one-more-time be right?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Silk
3x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
"The Rains of Castamere" Unveiled on Game of Thrones Season 3
A Maximum Movie Mode-style feature looking at the creation of one of the season's (indeed, the entire series') most pivotal episodes. Packed with interesting detail, but executed in an incredible viewer-unfriendly fashion, sadly.
A Maximum Movie Mode-style feature looking at the creation of one of the season's (indeed, the entire series') most pivotal episodes. Packed with interesting detail, but executed in an incredible viewer-unfriendly fashion, sadly.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x08 Old School
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
3x07 The Bear and the Maiden Fair
3x08 Second Sons
So much for all that stuff about double bills yesterday, eh? But I'm so close now to episode 9, one of the most talked-about episodes of TV last year. (You might argue it was the most talked about, but 2013 was also the year of things like Doctor Who's 50th and Breaking Bad's finale, so there's stiff competition.)
How I Met Your Mother
9x05 The Poker Game
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x08 Old School
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
3x07 The Bear and the Maiden Fair
3x08 Second Sons
So much for all that stuff about double bills yesterday, eh? But I'm so close now to episode 9, one of the most talked-about episodes of TV last year. (You might argue it was the most talked about, but 2013 was also the year of things like Doctor Who's 50th and Breaking Bad's finale, so there's stiff competition.)
How I Met Your Mother
9x05 The Poker Game
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Veronica Mars review: A dark thriller with a marshmallow centre by Emma Dibdin (from Digital Spy)
and
The Veronica Mars movie is "worth the wait" - review round-up by Susanna Lazarus (from Radio Times)
A full review of the movie from DS, while RT rounds up the opinions of The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Hitfix and Indiewire -- and it all sounds great.
and
The Veronica Mars movie is "worth the wait" - review round-up by Susanna Lazarus (from Radio Times)
A full review of the movie from DS, while RT rounds up the opinions of The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Hitfix and Indiewire -- and it all sounds great.
this week on 100 Films
Two new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
North by Northwest (1959)
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
And new to the new blog...
The Fountain (2006)
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
More next Sunday.
North by Northwest (1959)
Alfred Hitchcock is famous for a good many movies — I wager most people would jump to Psycho if asked to name one, but that’s not to ignore… so many more. But of them all, North by Northwest is so packed with his trademark plots, characters, and style, that it is perhaps the ultimate Hitchcock movie.Read more here.
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
While Denzel Washington and John Travolta are both actors who veer between competent and great, and so could theoretically match the performances of Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw in the earlier film, unfortunately they just don’t. Compared to the memorable characters created before, here the acting is crushingly adequate.Read more here.
And new to the new blog...
The Fountain (2006)
it looks gorgeous. While the whole film is beautifully shot, it’s hard not to single out the future segments, in which Aronofsky chose to create space with “micro-photography of chemical reactions” rather than the usual CGI. However it was achieved, the important thing is it looks great.Read more here.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Movies have taught us many things, and here’s another: don’t take the train from Pelham Bay Park at 1:23. In the past thirty-five years said train has been taken hostage three times, and while once every 11⅔ years may not sound a particularly high average, I’d wager it’s higher than for most trains.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 8 March 2014
TV
Game of Thrones
3x06 The Climb
I'd say I normally double-bill Game of Thrones -- to be statistical about it, across the first two seasons I watched 60% of episodes as part of a pair. Not so this season, though. Not sure why. I mean, I know why -- because it's so good it feels wrong to be watching multiple episodes instead of savouring as individual instalments -- but previous seasons had that same quality too. Maybe they're now more satisfying as standalone episodes than they were before? Maybe it's just me? Probably that one.
The Voice UK
3x09 Battle Rounds 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x06 The Climb
I'd say I normally double-bill Game of Thrones -- to be statistical about it, across the first two seasons I watched 60% of episodes as part of a pair. Not so this season, though. Not sure why. I mean, I know why -- because it's so good it feels wrong to be watching multiple episodes instead of savouring as individual instalments -- but previous seasons had that same quality too. Maybe they're now more satisfying as standalone episodes than they were before? Maybe it's just me? Probably that one.
The Voice UK
3x09 Battle Rounds 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
34x01 Spare Parts Part One
I've still got one story left in Big Finish's first 'season' of 8th Doctor adventures, but (for various reasons) instead of going straight on to that I've opted for this: Marc Platt (the writer of Ghost Light) 's acclaimed "origin of the Cybermen" tale, which as famously adapted into the TV story Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel.
Based on this first instalment, however, it bears very little resemblance to what we got on TV. Maybe that comes later; maybe it was purely the "birth of the Cybermen" thing they took. This is much more traditional Who -- even with the potentially limitless budget of audio, it feels as if it could have been produced as a real-life Davison serial.
34x01 Spare Parts Part One
I've still got one story left in Big Finish's first 'season' of 8th Doctor adventures, but (for various reasons) instead of going straight on to that I've opted for this: Marc Platt (the writer of Ghost Light) 's acclaimed "origin of the Cybermen" tale, which as famously adapted into the TV story Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel.
Based on this first instalment, however, it bears very little resemblance to what we got on TV. Maybe that comes later; maybe it was purely the "birth of the Cybermen" thing they took. This is much more traditional Who -- even with the potentially limitless budget of audio, it feels as if it could have been produced as a real-life Davison serial.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
With several things I was expecting to be part of this update turning up just in time for the last one, there's absolutely nothing to report this week. Might be the same next time, too.
Number of titles in collection: 1,660 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 462 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,147 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,785 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
With several things I was expecting to be part of this update turning up just in time for the last one, there's absolutely nothing to report this week. Might be the same next time, too.
Number of titles in collection: 1,660 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,198 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 462 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,147 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,785 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,118 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 409 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 7 March 2014
TV
Game of Thrones
3x05 Kissed by Fire
Wow. After a bit of a slow start, over the past two or three episodes this season has really kicked off -- and how. I was going to double-bill this with the next one, but (as I discussed at one point last season) when it's this good it seems foolhardy to race through it too fast.
The Last Leg
4x05 (28/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
3x05 Kissed by Fire
Wow. After a bit of a slow start, over the past two or three episodes this season has really kicked off -- and how. I was going to double-bill this with the next one, but (as I discussed at one point last season) when it's this good it seems foolhardy to race through it too fast.
The Last Leg
4x05 (28/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 6 March 2014
TV
Death in Paradise
3x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Game of Thrones
3x03 Walk of Punishment
3x04 And Now His Watch is Ended
Every time you might think, "they're brilliant, they're my favourite character", someone else comes along and does something else awesome.
At the minute, though, I'm most consistently intrigued by Margaery Tyrell. Is she really all sweetness and light, or is there some more devious twist to be revealed? And if she is the former, what inevitable crushing blow will befall her?
Person of Interest
2x11 2-Pi-R
3x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Game of Thrones
3x03 Walk of Punishment
3x04 And Now His Watch is Ended
Every time you might think, "they're brilliant, they're my favourite character", someone else comes along and does something else awesome.
At the minute, though, I'm most consistently intrigued by Margaery Tyrell. Is she really all sweetness and light, or is there some more devious twist to be revealed? And if she is the former, what inevitable crushing blow will befall her?
Person of Interest
2x11 2-Pi-R
Audio Drama
Doctor Who [Big Finish]
18x04 The Stones of Venice Part Four
Hooray for obvious-from-the-start 'twists'! And I think the actress who plays Miss Lavish, Elaine Ives-Cameron, gives the fruitiest performance known to man.
18x04 The Stones of Venice Part Four
Hooray for obvious-from-the-start 'twists'! And I think the actress who plays Miss Lavish, Elaine Ives-Cameron, gives the fruitiest performance known to man.
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
TV
Friends
8x10 The One with Monica's Boots [5th or so watch]
aka The One Where Ross Can.
Game of Thrones
3x02 Dark Wings, Dark Words
The Mentalist
6x10 Green Thumb
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
8x10 The One with Monica's Boots [5th or so watch]
aka The One Where Ross Can.
Game of Thrones
3x02 Dark Wings, Dark Words
The Mentalist
6x10 Green Thumb
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
5x06 (28/2/14 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Arrow
2x11 Blind Spot
Friends
8x09 The One with the Rumor [5th or so watch]
aka The One with Brad Pitt.
Game of Thrones
3x01 Valar Dohaeris
A slightly earlier Blu-ray release than before means it's only 11 months (as opposed to a full year) since the last season of Game of Thrones for me. OK, this also means I'm watching it almost a year after "everyone" else — but I've remained largely unspoiled, and I get to watch it all in about a week (or even less) rather than having to wait over two months as it gradually unfurls. I've criticised Netflix for premiering their original series in "box set"-esque chunks (it hampers episode-by-episode audience discussion and therefore the creation of a community/fanbase), but golly if it isn't a better way to watch.
11 months is still an awfully long time to remember all of this show's complex on-going plots though, so thank goodness for the Blu-ray: there's both a 10-minute "previously on" covering both seasons one & two, and a 14-minute featurette recapping last season in a little more detail. And I thought Dexter's routine five-minute recap at the start of each season was crazily long! But, for a show that relies so heavily on its on-going storylines, it's very handy to so thoroughly refresh the memory.
That said, a lot of this premiere is about reestablishing characters and setting up where things will be heading this season. And there are so many characters and threads that it doesn't even touch base with everyone! Not necessarily a great episode in itself, then, but with some good scenes and interesting balls set in motion, it has places to go...
Room 101: Extra Storage
14x06 Episode 6
First edition this series that's had an extended repeat.
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
5x06 (28/2/14 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Arrow
2x11 Blind Spot
Friends
8x09 The One with the Rumor [5th or so watch]
aka The One with Brad Pitt.
Game of Thrones
3x01 Valar Dohaeris
A slightly earlier Blu-ray release than before means it's only 11 months (as opposed to a full year) since the last season of Game of Thrones for me. OK, this also means I'm watching it almost a year after "everyone" else — but I've remained largely unspoiled, and I get to watch it all in about a week (or even less) rather than having to wait over two months as it gradually unfurls. I've criticised Netflix for premiering their original series in "box set"-esque chunks (it hampers episode-by-episode audience discussion and therefore the creation of a community/fanbase), but golly if it isn't a better way to watch.
11 months is still an awfully long time to remember all of this show's complex on-going plots though, so thank goodness for the Blu-ray: there's both a 10-minute "previously on" covering both seasons one & two, and a 14-minute featurette recapping last season in a little more detail. And I thought Dexter's routine five-minute recap at the start of each season was crazily long! But, for a show that relies so heavily on its on-going storylines, it's very handy to so thoroughly refresh the memory.
That said, a lot of this premiere is about reestablishing characters and setting up where things will be heading this season. And there are so many characters and threads that it doesn't even touch base with everyone! Not necessarily a great episode in itself, then, but with some good scenes and interesting balls set in motion, it has places to go...
Room 101: Extra Storage
14x06 Episode 6
First edition this series that's had an extended repeat.
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 3 March 2014
TV
The 86th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars, obviously. Despite all the (justified) talk about how this was the closest and most unpredictable awards for years, pretty much everything went where it was expected to go. Which is what happens when you have an entire industry built up around predicting the results, plus half a dozen other awards ceremonies with many of the same voters.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
1x04 Episode 4
Outnumbered
5x05 The Chinese Horde
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
aka the Oscars, obviously. Despite all the (justified) talk about how this was the closest and most unpredictable awards for years, pretty much everything went where it was expected to go. Which is what happens when you have an entire industry built up around predicting the results, plus half a dozen other awards ceremonies with many of the same voters.
Duck Quacks Don't Echo
1x04 Episode 4
Outnumbered
5x05 The Chinese Horde
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 2 March 2014
TV
The Culture Show
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [2014]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Oscar 2014 Nominations Special
Oscar 2014: Red Carpet Live
As last year was Sky's ninth with the Oscars, that must make this year the tenth. Nice round number, back to terrestrial next year, yeah?
Silk
3x01 Episode 1
Has it really been over 18 months since the last series?! No wonder I struggled to remember the on-going plot threads.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
21x03 (16/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [2014]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Oscar 2014 Nominations Special
Oscar 2014: Red Carpet Live
As last year was Sky's ninth with the Oscars, that must make this year the tenth. Nice round number, back to terrestrial next year, yeah?
Silk
3x01 Episode 1
Has it really been over 18 months since the last series?! No wonder I struggled to remember the on-going plot threads.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
21x03 (16/2/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Gravity (2013)
[#13 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Loved it. Will definitely be backing it at the Oscars tonight.
[#13 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Loved it. Will definitely be backing it at the Oscars tonight.
this week on 100 Films
Three things to report from 100 Films in a Year this week...
Firstly, it's now March, so there's the February update. It wasn't a great month, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to read about.
Secondly, one shiny new review:
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
And finally, one re-posted archive review:
Throne of Blood (1957)
More next Sunday.
Firstly, it's now March, so there's the February update. It wasn't a great month, but that doesn't mean there isn't something to read about.
Secondly, one shiny new review:
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
The goal is clearly to present an objective, fact-driven account of how the CIA eventually found their most-wanted target, but how successfully it does that has been called in to question multiple times: there were those who felt it justified the use of torture, and those who claimed its facts were all wrong. On both these facts, any one viewer’s mileage might vary.Read more here.
And finally, one re-posted archive review:
Throne of Blood (1957)
Kurosawa moves Macbeth from Scotland to 16th Century Japan in this retelling of Shakespeare’s infamous Scottish Play... It works well in the new setting, with some of the themes — honour, respect, betrayal — perhaps becoming more understandable when placed in samurai culture.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
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