The Americans
2x04 A Little Night Music
2x05 The Deal
I've been trying to ration this, because it's so good and there's only so much of it; but A Little Night Music ended on an almighty cliffhanger, and indeed this is really a two-parter without that name attached, so I don't feel so bad bending the 'rules' just this once.
Gilmore Girls
1x11 Paris is Burning [2nd watch]
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
TV
The Americans
2x03 The Walk In
Gilmore Girls
1x10 Forgiveness and Stuff [2nd watch]
Mock the Week
13x03 (26/6/14 edition)
2x03 The Walk In
Gilmore Girls
1x10 Forgiveness and Stuff [2nd watch]
Mock the Week
13x03 (26/6/14 edition)
Monday, 14 July 2014
TV
The Americans
2x02 Cardinal
Gilmore Girls
1x09 Rory's Dance [2nd watch]
I know some would brand it 'soapy' and it's certainly 'girly', but pfft, season one of Gilmore is really good. (And later seasons may be too, I can't quite remember. Though it definitely got less good once Rory went off to college.)
2x02 Cardinal
Gilmore Girls
1x09 Rory's Dance [2nd watch]
I know some would brand it 'soapy' and it's certainly 'girly', but pfft, season one of Gilmore is really good. (And later seasons may be too, I can't quite remember. Though it definitely got less good once Rory went off to college.)
Sunday, 13 July 2014
this week on 100 Films
This week on 100 Films in a Year, I started a new initiative to post at least one archive review every day.
I have literally hundreds of them left languishing on my old blog still (having been moved to the new one for several years now), and I only repost them now and again when they're on TV or a sequel comes out or something. There are dozens -- hundreds, probably -- of more obscure films that would never get brought over if I stuck to that, so I'm making a concerted effort to change it. Nonetheless, there are so many posts left that I think it will take me a full year or more to finish this -- and that's if I keep it up non-stop.
Anyway, we'll come to what was posted in a minute. First, there were two brand-new reviews published this week. They were:
Journey into Fear (1943)
The Raid (2011)
And as promised, the bumper crop new to the new blog were...
Calendar Girls (2003)
Doom (2005)
Mystic River (2003)
The Reckless Moment (1949)
Troy: Director's Cut (2004/2007)
Tu£sday (2008)
More next Sunday.
I have literally hundreds of them left languishing on my old blog still (having been moved to the new one for several years now), and I only repost them now and again when they're on TV or a sequel comes out or something. There are dozens -- hundreds, probably -- of more obscure films that would never get brought over if I stuck to that, so I'm making a concerted effort to change it. Nonetheless, there are so many posts left that I think it will take me a full year or more to finish this -- and that's if I keep it up non-stop.
Anyway, we'll come to what was posted in a minute. First, there were two brand-new reviews published this week. They were:
Journey into Fear (1943)
Remembered largely thanks to the involvement of Orson Welles (he has a supporting role, produced it, co-wrote it, and reportedly directed a fair bit too, though he denied that), Journey into Fear is an adequate if unsuspenseful World War 2 espionage thriller, redeemed by a strikingly-shot climax.Read more here.
The Raid (2011)
perhaps the other film that The Raid is most like is Mamma Mia: a perfunctory plot that exists purely to link together the bits we’re really here for — Abba songs. Or “fights”, in The Raid’s case… though, let’s be honest, how much more original and interesting would it be if they were fighting to Abba songs?Read more here.
And as promised, the bumper crop new to the new blog were...
Calendar Girls (2003)
The film could so easily have been quite a lowly, cheap TV movie effort, what with its apparently farcical premise, worthy cause and older characters. But instead the filmmakers have crafted a movie that is both utterly hilarious and deeply moving — even for this younger male viewer.Read more here.
Doom (2005)
When it does kick off it’s brief and only vaguely entertaining. And the much-discussed first-person sequence is far too much like watching someone play a video game.Read more here.
Mystic River (2003)
The acting is the main draw of this Oscar-winning murder drama, in which three childhood friends who grew apart are brought back together when one of their daughters is murdered. Tim Robbins is particularly excellent, easily earning his Best Supporting Actor Oscar.Read more here.
The Reckless Moment (1949)
probably only the second or third film noir I’d ever seen, and I don’t think I properly appreciated what I was watching. It doesn’t really come across in this ‘review’, but I’ve felt for several years now that the sense of apathy I felt then (which I think is implied) no longer reflects my memory of the film.Read more here.
Troy: Director's Cut (2004/2007)
This director’s cut adds almost half an hour of new material, which is about a 15% increase in length. That said, I can’t spot most of what’s new. If you know it well enough to spot the differences then you surely already like it, in which case I expect you’ll like this cut too. If you didn’t like Troy first time round, I doubt you’ll be swayed now.Read more here.
Tu£sday (2008)
The high-profile cast frequently belie what you’re watching. Most of the production has an amateurish feel. It’s hard to pinpoint, but it seems to be a combination of photography and editing: the look is like plain digital video, the choice of shots often obvious and lacking variety, the editing not as tight as it should be.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x06 (11/7/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x09 Episode 9 [season finale]
Considering we're very used to six-episode sitcoms over here, this seemed to be over very quickly! Await season four eagerly.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gilmore Girls
1x05 Cinnamon's Wake [2nd watch]
1x06 Rory's Birthday Parties [2nd watch]
6x06 (11/7/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x09 Episode 9 [season finale]
Considering we're very used to six-episode sitcoms over here, this seemed to be over very quickly! Await season four eagerly.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gilmore Girls
1x05 Cinnamon's Wake [2nd watch]
1x06 Rory's Birthday Parties [2nd watch]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, I acquired the huge Hitchcock: The Ultimate Filmmaker Collection 16-film box set. This replaces an old 14-film set and my Psycho Blu-ray (but duplicates To Catch a Thief, which I own on DVD with special features not included here, and North by Northwest twice, because I own it in a DVD box set with titles not yet available on Blu-ray, and in a Blu-ray box set with titles not included here, and that has special features that aren't here).
To show after all that were just a couple of small but strange number shifts... until I also got a new DVD, leaving virtually no trace of anything. Funny thing, my DVD collection...
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,187 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,821 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 435 [up 3]
All that does have an effect on the running time, though -- upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray means all those films are devoid of PAL speed-up. Plus there's everything else I've bought recently because, handily, it's the time of the month for an update!
And that is exciting, because, for the first time...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
300 days, 12 hours, and 16 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 1 hour, and 18 minutes from last month.)
...it's crossed 300 days! Madness.
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, I acquired the huge Hitchcock: The Ultimate Filmmaker Collection 16-film box set. This replaces an old 14-film set and my Psycho Blu-ray (but duplicates To Catch a Thief, which I own on DVD with special features not included here, and North by Northwest twice, because I own it in a DVD box set with titles not yet available on Blu-ray, and in a Blu-ray box set with titles not included here, and that has special features that aren't here).
To show after all that were just a couple of small but strange number shifts... until I also got a new DVD, leaving virtually no trace of anything. Funny thing, my DVD collection...
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,187 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,821 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 435 [up 3]
All that does have an effect on the running time, though -- upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray means all those films are devoid of PAL speed-up. Plus there's everything else I've bought recently because, handily, it's the time of the month for an update!
And that is exciting, because, for the first time...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
300 days, 12 hours, and 16 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 1 hour, and 18 minutes from last month.)
...it's crossed 300 days! Madness.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 11 July 2014
TV
The Americans
2x01 Comrades
Here we go, then -- and it's as good as last season, which is by no means a given and so is great news. It's quite wedded in some of the plot lines left over from last year's finale/season in general, which is something I'm generally fond of TV series doing, but is a little awkward when it's been a year or so since you watched it and the "previously on" is a little inadequate. But hey-ho, I kept up well enough.
Mock the Week
13x02 (19/6/14 edition)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x06 The Baby Arrives [season finale]
2x01 Comrades
Here we go, then -- and it's as good as last season, which is by no means a given and so is great news. It's quite wedded in some of the plot lines left over from last year's finale/season in general, which is something I'm generally fond of TV series doing, but is a little awkward when it's been a year or so since you watched it and the "previously on" is a little inadequate. But hey-ho, I kept up well enough.
Mock the Week
13x02 (19/6/14 edition)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x06 The Baby Arrives [season finale]
Thursday, 10 July 2014
TV
Gilmore Girls
1x04 The Deer-Hunters [2nd watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x23 Last Forever Part 1
9x24 Last Forever Part 2 [series finale]
As E4 have decided to split the clearly-conceived-as-an-hour series finale into its constituent parts, I downloaded the US version and watched it all in one go. No idea where the split would be, actually; quite tempted to watch Part 1 on catch-up and see (or just read about it on Wikipedia -- it's where I thought it might be).
Anyway, a lot of people seemed to hate it -- some have branded it the worst finale ever. Personally, I quite liked it. Kinda obvious it's been going somewhere like that all along, surely? Not to many/most, it would seem...
[Watch Last Forever Part 1 (again) on 4oD. Part 2 will be available next week.]
Live at the Apollo
9x05 Episode 5
First of two Apollo episodes I missed in the last series -- and I stumbled on it completely by accident on BBC Three, while simply looking for any old (decent-ish) comedy to pass the time! Coincidencetastic.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x04 The Deer-Hunters [2nd watch]
How I Met Your Mother
9x23 Last Forever Part 1
9x24 Last Forever Part 2 [series finale]
As E4 have decided to split the clearly-conceived-as-an-hour series finale into its constituent parts, I downloaded the US version and watched it all in one go. No idea where the split would be, actually; quite tempted to watch Part 1 on catch-up and see (or just read about it on Wikipedia -- it's where I thought it might be).
Anyway, a lot of people seemed to hate it -- some have branded it the worst finale ever. Personally, I quite liked it. Kinda obvious it's been going somewhere like that all along, surely? Not to many/most, it would seem...
[Watch Last Forever Part 1 (again) on 4oD. Part 2 will be available next week.]
Live at the Apollo
9x05 Episode 5
First of two Apollo episodes I missed in the last series -- and I stumbled on it completely by accident on BBC Three, while simply looking for any old (decent-ish) comedy to pass the time! Coincidencetastic.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
TV
Gilmore Girls
1x03 Kill Me Now [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x07 Waterloo [mid-season finale]
But what does it all mean?!
1x03 Kill Me Now [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x07 Waterloo [mid-season finale]
But what does it all mean?!
Tuesday, 8 July 2014
TV
Top Gear
21x06 Burma Special Part 1
21x07 Burma Special Part 2 [season finale]
The 2013 Christmas special, shown in the middle of March 2014. Goodness knows why -- perhaps an editing thing: it's just over two hours long in this form, and the DVD/Blu-ray version has a further 35 minutes!
21x06 Burma Special Part 1
21x07 Burma Special Part 2 [season finale]
The 2013 Christmas special, shown in the middle of March 2014. Goodness knows why -- perhaps an editing thing: it's just over two hours long in this form, and the DVD/Blu-ray version has a further 35 minutes!
Monday, 7 July 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x05 (4/7/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Gilmore Girls
1x02 The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x06 The Strategy
6x05 (4/7/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Gilmore Girls
1x02 The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x06 The Strategy
Sunday, 6 July 2014
TV
Gilmore Girls
1x01 Pilot [2nd watch]
It's been 5½ years since we accidentally abandoned Gilmore Girls, so rather than try to pick it up -- and struggle to access years-old memories of what was going on -- it felt best just to start again from the start.
Wimbledon 2014
Men's Final Build-Up & Men's Final
Ah well.
[Watch the build-up and the mens' final, plus many other matches, on iPlayer.]
With Wimbledon now over, and most shows on a summer break, hopefully the next few weeks will finally see me make good on the notion of starting all the stuff I need to catch up on.
1x01 Pilot [2nd watch]
It's been 5½ years since we accidentally abandoned Gilmore Girls, so rather than try to pick it up -- and struggle to access years-old memories of what was going on -- it felt best just to start again from the start.
Wimbledon 2014
Men's Final Build-Up & Men's Final
Ah well.
[Watch the build-up and the mens' final, plus many other matches, on iPlayer.]
With Wimbledon now over, and most shows on a summer break, hopefully the next few weeks will finally see me make good on the notion of starting all the stuff I need to catch up on.
this week on 100 Films
First up this week from 100 Films in a Year, it's my look back at June.
Elsewise, two brand-new reviews were published this week, and they were...
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976/1978)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Finally, several older reviews were new to the new blog...
The Three Musketeers (1973)
The Four Musketeers (1974)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
More next Sunday.
Elsewise, two brand-new reviews were published this week, and they were...
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976/1978)
Ever since I read the blurb for Masters of Cinema's DVD of Maurice Pialat's Police, I've been casually enticed by The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. Said blurb asserts that "Police is a genre-defying excursion rivaled only by John Cassavetes’ The Killing of a Chinese Bookie in the pantheon of cinema’s most idiosyncratic thrillers", which is both a nice turn of phrase and an intriguing one. The thriller is very much a Genre — that is to say, it's a label loaded with rules and expectations, and to be idiosyncratic within such a form is an interesting notion. Both "thriller" and "idiosyncratic" are pretty accurate labels for Chinese Bookie, thoughRead more here.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
It starts off well, with a virtuoso eight-minute pre-credits sequence that reconfigures the past 50 years of Earth’s spacefaring in the story’s image. OK, so it contains a seriously ill-advised, incredibly poorly-realised CGI JFK, but we can let some things go. Unfortunately, from here on out the movie does its best to pile on stuff we can’t let go.Read more here.
Finally, several older reviews were new to the new blog...
The Three Musketeers (1973)
I like a good swashbuckler. I don’t know exactly what it is about sword fights, but they’re probably my most favourite kind of action sequence. The 1973 Three Musketeers, then, is a film I’m slightly amazed I’ve not seen before. Especially as I absolutely loved it.Read more here.
The Four Musketeers (1974)
It’s a bit grim too [and] none of it sits well with the jolly swashbuckling tone that still dominates. There are some good action sequences nonetheless — for instance, the ice-covered lake; breakfast/siege in the ruined fort; and the burning-building finale — which go some way to make up for the shortcomings.Read more here.
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
It gets off to a flying start. The first 20 or 30 minutes in particular move at a rate of knots, churning through plot in a way no blockbuster would seem to dare these days...: a Borg attack; the Enterpise ordered not to join the fight; Picard doing so anyway; the destruction of the Borg cube; the Borg, erm, ball flying into the past; the Enterprise following; meeting Zephram Cochrane and his lot… It’s boom boom boom, moving on. It’s nice to rattle through a taleRead more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,185 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,819 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 432 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 4,185 [no change]
Number of films in collection: 1,819 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 432 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 4 July 2014
TV
Episodes
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x22 The End of the Aisle
Well, who guessed The Big Wedding would be in the penultimate episode? Not me!
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x22 The End of the Aisle
Well, who guessed The Big Wedding would be in the penultimate episode? Not me!
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Thursday, 3 July 2014
TV
Law & Order: UK
8x08 Repeat to Fade [series finale]
This certainly feels more like a first episode than a finale -- and, as they've now decided to "rest" the series (i.e. "cancel by any other name", I should imagine) it's even weirder.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player].
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x05 Father's Clinic
The one with the famous rollerskating sequence. The rest of the episode doesn't have as much to recommend it, unfortunately.
8x08 Repeat to Fade [series finale]
This certainly feels more like a first episode than a finale -- and, as they've now decided to "rest" the series (i.e. "cancel by any other name", I should imagine) it's even weirder.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player].
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x05 Father's Clinic
The one with the famous rollerskating sequence. The rest of the episode doesn't have as much to recommend it, unfortunately.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
TV
How I Met Your Mother
9x21 Gary Blauman
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x04 Frank and Marvin
9x21 Gary Blauman
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x04 Frank and Marvin
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Monday, 30 June 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x04 (27/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mock the Week
13x01 (12/6/14 edition)
6x04 (27/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mock the Week
13x01 (12/6/14 edition)
Sunday, 29 June 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x22 Charges and Specs [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Celebrity Fifteen to One
1x04 (27/6/2014 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Mad Men
7x05 The Runaways
1x22 Charges and Specs [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Celebrity Fifteen to One
1x04 (27/6/2014 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Mad Men
7x05 The Runaways
this week on 100 Films
No brand-new reviews on 100 Films in a Year this week, but there were two new to the new blog...
Hard Candy (2005)
The Invasion (2007)
More next Sunday.
Hard Candy (2005)
The viewer’s never quite sure of any fact about either of the two characters; never quite sure if they’re being genuine or at any moment will undermine their present emotion with the revelation it’s just an act, an attempt to fool the other.Read more here.
The Invasion (2007)
Much of the dialogue is on the level of bad exposition, but, to rub salt in the wound, it explains things we’ve already been shown. Normally reliable actors turn in flat performances with such an awkward script, which ponderously works its way through a plot that’s far too slow-moving considering how obvious it is.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 28 June 2014
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week!
Network's Buster Keaton set (just £7 direct from them), which compliments Masters of Cinema's set nicely. Well, kinda: all 17 of the short films on Network's set are already in MoC's, but in addition to that there's 11 Keaton feature films and a feature-length 1968 documentary about him. Still good value, as far as I'm concerned.
And!
Hulk Vs. on Blu-ray, which while sold as a feature actually contains two shorter films: Hulk vs. Wolverine and Hulk vs. Thor. Thanks to technicalities of running time, however, Hulk vs. Wolverine would count as a short film (running under 40 minutes) while Hulk vs. Thor would count as a feature film (running over 40 minutes), so (naturally) that's how I've listed them.
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,185 [up 7]
Number of films in collection: 1,819 [up 13]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 432 [up 18]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week!
Network's Buster Keaton set (just £7 direct from them), which compliments Masters of Cinema's set nicely. Well, kinda: all 17 of the short films on Network's set are already in MoC's, but in addition to that there's 11 Keaton feature films and a feature-length 1968 documentary about him. Still good value, as far as I'm concerned.
And!
Hulk Vs. on Blu-ray, which while sold as a feature actually contains two shorter films: Hulk vs. Wolverine and Hulk vs. Thor. Thanks to technicalities of running time, however, Hulk vs. Wolverine would count as a short film (running under 40 minutes) while Hulk vs. Thor would count as a feature film (running over 40 minutes), so (naturally) that's how I've listed them.
Number of titles in collection: 1,684 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 483 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,185 [up 7]
Number of films in collection: 1,819 [up 13]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 432 [up 18]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 27 June 2014
TV
Have I Got News For You
47x09 (30/5/2014 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x02 The RAF Reunion
47x09 (30/5/2014 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x02 The RAF Reunion
Thursday, 26 June 2014
TV
Celebrity Fifteen to One
1x03 (20/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friday Night Dinner
3x01 The Girlfriend
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x01 Cliffhanger
1x03 (20/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Friday Night Dinner
3x01 The Girlfriend
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
2x01 Cliffhanger
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x03 (20/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x20 Daisy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mimic
1x01 Episode 1
1x02 Episode 2
Missed this when it was on originally, but I seemed to remember wanting to give it a go, so when I stumbled across it on on demand I thought I would. It's about someone who does impressions, but instead of doing the usual sketch show they've created a sitcom. It's adequate... which is about the same quality as the impressions, to be honest. (It did get recommissioned... though the "early 2014" broadcast obviously didn't happen.)
[Watch episodes one and two (again) on 4oD.]
6x03 (20/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
How I Met Your Mother
9x20 Daisy
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mimic
1x01 Episode 1
1x02 Episode 2
Missed this when it was on originally, but I seemed to remember wanting to give it a go, so when I stumbled across it on on demand I thought I would. It's about someone who does impressions, but instead of doing the usual sketch show they've created a sitcom. It's adequate... which is about the same quality as the impressions, to be honest. (It did get recommissioned... though the "early 2014" broadcast obviously didn't happen.)
[Watch episodes one and two (again) on 4oD.]
Sunday, 22 June 2014
this week on 100 Films
Onebrand-new review was published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and it was...
Wallander: The Troubled Man (2013)
Plus, new to the new blog...
The International (2009)
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
More next Sunday.
Wallander: The Troubled Man (2013)
Krister Henriksson returns as the Swedish detective for a third and final series of mysteries, starting with this final theatrically-released episode, based on the final Wallander novel. Yes, there is a sense of finality here — albeit one not reached just yet.Read more here.
Plus, new to the new blog...
The International (2009)
A lot of scenes involve people explaining the plot to each other, or discoursing in clichés about why they’re going to be thrown off the case or justice is an illusion or whatever. In a rare moment of something approaching innovation, we don’t have to suffer a romance between the two leads because she’s happily married, as we’re briefly shown early on. It should be something of a concern when one of a film’s high points is something it doesn’t do.Read more here.
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006)
The humour is a mixture of schoolboy toilet gags, general silliness/quirkiness, and rock/culture references — undoubtedly, therefore, your mental age will dictate which bits (if any) you laugh at.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 21 June 2014
Films
Troy (2004)
[#18 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
[3rd watch]
Not the whole thing, and I didn't mean to watch it! I was flicking to see what was on, thought "that's a slightly odd advert"... and it turned out to be Troy. I remember liking it (see my review of the Director's Cut), but today it struck me as quite poor in almost every regard: the script, the acting, the direction and production values -- more Hallmark mini-series than big-budget all-star blockbuster. Game of Thrones looks more expensive, and that's not just down to 10 years of technical improvements.
Still, I got suckered in, and it does have good stuff -- the battles and fights are really well staged, if nothing else. And I watched it to the end from when I joined (a good 2½-3 hours, with ad breaks), so there's clearly something there.
[#18 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
[3rd watch]
Not the whole thing, and I didn't mean to watch it! I was flicking to see what was on, thought "that's a slightly odd advert"... and it turned out to be Troy. I remember liking it (see my review of the Director's Cut), but today it struck me as quite poor in almost every regard: the script, the acting, the direction and production values -- more Hallmark mini-series than big-budget all-star blockbuster. Game of Thrones looks more expensive, and that's not just down to 10 years of technical improvements.
Still, I got suckered in, and it does have good stuff -- the battles and fights are really well staged, if nothing else. And I watched it to the end from when I joined (a good 2½-3 hours, with ad breaks), so there's clearly something there.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
All the neat, fairly-rounded numbers of last week (1680, 1200, 480...) go flying this week -- as they all inevitably do -- with two new Blu-rays.
Number of titles in collection: 1,682 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,200 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 482 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 4,178 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,807 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 414 [up 4]
See you next week, faithful reader.
All the neat, fairly-rounded numbers of last week (1680, 1200, 480...) go flying this week -- as they all inevitably do -- with two new Blu-rays.
Number of titles in collection: 1,682 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,200 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 482 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 4,178 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,807 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 414 [up 4]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 20 June 2014
TV
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
1x05 Jarvis Cocker's BritPop Herd [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]
1x05 Jarvis Cocker's BritPop Herd [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]
Thursday, 19 June 2014
TV
Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled
1x04 Until I'm Married or You're Dead
That was good. Wish I'd watched the rest of the series now.
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]
1x04 Until I'm Married or You're Dead
That was good. Wish I'd watched the rest of the series now.
[Watch it (again) on Dave OD.]
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
TV
Penny Dreadful
1x01 Night Work
With Game of Thrones over for another year, here's what I'm hoping can be televisual methadone: much-anticipated, good-looking series from the creators of Skyfall (writer John Logan, who creates and writes, and director Sam Mendes, who exec produces) set in Victorian England about Dracula and Frankenstein and all that kind of stuff existing together. Interesting first episode, but it's clearly only just getting going, so we'll see. It would help if the direction didn't use some of the same tricks multiple times...
1x01 Night Work
With Game of Thrones over for another year, here's what I'm hoping can be televisual methadone: much-anticipated, good-looking series from the creators of Skyfall (writer John Logan, who creates and writes, and director Sam Mendes, who exec produces) set in Victorian England about Dracula and Frankenstein and all that kind of stuff existing together. Interesting first episode, but it's clearly only just getting going, so we'll see. It would help if the direction didn't use some of the same tricks multiple times...
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Monday, 16 June 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x02 (13/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
4x10 The Children [season finale]
And that's it for another year! As usual, some satisfying conclusions (of a sort), while other stuff is left brazenly hanging. It's almost enough to make you want to dive straight into the books... were it not for the fact that at this point they've deviated so much there's no choice but to read the whole darn thing, not just start with Book 4. (I do want to read the books, mind, but no one's getting straight to 'new' stuff if they're only starting now!)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x06 The Psychiatrist
6x02 (13/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
4x10 The Children [season finale]
And that's it for another year! As usual, some satisfying conclusions (of a sort), while other stuff is left brazenly hanging. It's almost enough to make you want to dive straight into the books... were it not for the fact that at this point they've deviated so much there's no choice but to read the whole darn thing, not just start with Book 4. (I do want to read the books, mind, but no one's getting straight to 'new' stuff if they're only starting now!)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x06 The Psychiatrist
Sunday, 15 June 2014
TV
How I Met Your Mother
9x19 Vesuvius
OK, I have no idea what the episode titles mean at this point.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
9x19 Vesuvius
OK, I have no idea what the episode titles mean at this point.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Fiction
Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
Part Two: Chapter 1
The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling by Ted Chiang
Fourth Hugo Best Novelette nominee.
It's another first-person letter "like it's a real historical document... about the future!" one, a style that has increasingly grated with me as my Hugo reading has gone on. Perhaps that means I'm judging this one unfairly, but as it also did the "two apparently unconnected story threads unfolding at the same time... that come together at the end!" thing again; and it had pretty much the same primary SF idea as an episode of Black Mirror, which I felt did it better. Add all that together and I didn't warm to it at all!
Nonetheless, you can read it at the above link.
So that's not a good hit rate for the novelettes, I'm afraid. I'm not even going to bother with the fifth, because I've not heard a single person have anything good to say about it. The Lady Astronaut of Mars is definitely my top pick, and I'll have to debate amongst myself which (if any) I rank below it, and in what order.
Part Two: Chapter 1
The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling by Ted Chiang
Fourth Hugo Best Novelette nominee.
It's another first-person letter "like it's a real historical document... about the future!" one, a style that has increasingly grated with me as my Hugo reading has gone on. Perhaps that means I'm judging this one unfairly, but as it also did the "two apparently unconnected story threads unfolding at the same time... that come together at the end!" thing again; and it had pretty much the same primary SF idea as an episode of Black Mirror, which I felt did it better. Add all that together and I didn't warm to it at all!
Nonetheless, you can read it at the above link.
So that's not a good hit rate for the novelettes, I'm afraid. I'm not even going to bother with the fifth, because I've not heard a single person have anything good to say about it. The Lady Astronaut of Mars is definitely my top pick, and I'll have to debate amongst myself which (if any) I rank below it, and in what order.
this week on 100 Films
Four brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Elysium (2013)
Ghost Rider (2007)
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
The Punisher (2004)
Additionally, new to the new blog was...
Boogie Nights (1997)
More next Sunday.
Elysium (2013)
Elysium is a parable; one related to current hot-button topics (in the US especially) like immigration and access to healthcare for the poor. I’m sure some would therefore characterise it as Left Wing, for good or ill, but I think its underlying message is more fundamental than that: it’s just humanitarian.Read more here.
Ghost Rider (2007)
The MacGuffin storyline feels ripped from Constantine, but here executed via a screenplay written in Dairylea on a block of Stilton, shot on Camembert film with Cheddar cameras.Read more here.
Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
it’s a difficult film to digest in one viewing, because there’s so much there... it’s packed with incident, and shaped in a non-traditional narrative structure. A first viewing is an exercise in following what’s going on, what connects to what else, why things are happening in such an order. It fairly begs, “get a handle on it this time, you can analyse it when you watch it again”.Read more here.
The Punisher (2004)
This is the second of three live-action Punishers, all unconnected. Now the rights are back with Marvel, how long before another reboot?Read more here.
Additionally, new to the new blog was...
Boogie Nights (1997)
I didn’t fall for it in the same way I did for Magnolia... One I may get a better feel for when I see it again some day.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 14 June 2014
TV
Celebrity Fifteen to One
1x02 (13/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x05 The Hospital Visit
With Sarah Jane Smith!
1x02 (13/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x05 The Hospital Visit
With Sarah Jane Smith!
Films
Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (2008)
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Plus the DVD's special features, which included a short EPK-y "making of", an even shorter overview of teen teams in Marvel comics, and some extended trailers for the Hulk Vs shorts that made them look so good I went and ordered the Blu-ray (a US import only £2 dearer than buying the UK DVD).
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
Plus the DVD's special features, which included a short EPK-y "making of", an even shorter overview of teen teams in Marvel comics, and some extended trailers for the Hulk Vs shorts that made them look so good I went and ordered the Blu-ray (a US import only £2 dearer than buying the UK DVD).
Fiction
The Lady Astronaut of Mars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Third Hugo Best Novelette nominee. It's a really great story, in an alternate-history SF setting, but about people and characters in that world (which is quickly, effectively sketched) rather than the world itself. It's overall quality is a light year beyond the other two, in my estimation.
You can read it online at the above link.
Third Hugo Best Novelette nominee. It's a really great story, in an alternate-history SF setting, but about people and characters in that world (which is quickly, effectively sketched) rather than the world itself. It's overall quality is a light year beyond the other two, in my estimation.
You can read it online at the above link.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, the two '60s Thunderbirds movies on US Blu; two cuts of Oliver Stone's Alexander, one of them superseding The Final Cut; and an upgrade for Atonement.
Also this week, a running time update (hurrah!)
Number of titles in collection: 1,680 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,200 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 480 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 4,176 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,805 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
299 days, 10 hours, and 58 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 2 hours, and 41 minutes from last month.)
That'll be over 300 days next month, most likely!
But before that... see you next week, faithful reader.
This week, the two '60s Thunderbirds movies on US Blu; two cuts of Oliver Stone's Alexander, one of them superseding The Final Cut; and an upgrade for Atonement.
Also this week, a running time update (hurrah!)
Number of titles in collection: 1,680 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,200 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 480 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 4,176 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,805 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
299 days, 10 hours, and 58 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 2 hours, and 41 minutes from last month.)
That'll be over 300 days next month, most likely!
But before that... see you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 13 June 2014
TV
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
6x01 (6/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
7x04 The Monolith
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x04 Have a Break, Take a Husband
6x01 (6/6/14 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Mad Men
7x04 The Monolith
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x04 Have a Break, Take a Husband
Thursday, 12 June 2014
TV
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x03 Love Thy Neighbour
Vera
4x04 Death of a Family Man [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
1x03 Love Thy Neighbour
Vera
4x04 Death of a Family Man [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
TV
Goodness Gracious Me
Reunion Special
Have I Got News For You
47x08 (23/5/2014 edition; extended repeat)
Law & Order: UK
8x07 Hard Stop
Well that felt very finale-ish, which considering there's one more episode to come -- and it's now the last-ever -- is kinda odd.
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x02 George's House
Reunion Special
Have I Got News For You
47x08 (23/5/2014 edition; extended repeat)
Law & Order: UK
8x07 Hard Stop
Well that felt very finale-ish, which considering there's one more episode to come -- and it's now the last-ever -- is kinda odd.
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x02 George's House
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x21 Unsolvable
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
4x09 The Watchers of the Wall
Awesome, in a very literal sense!
Mad Men
7x03 Field Trip
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x01 The Job Interview
Thought I'd seen the first few episode of this before, but I don't remember this one in the slightest. We'll see later, then. Anyway, it's still very funny, which isn't always true of old sitcoms, even popular ones, or so I find.
1x21 Unsolvable
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Game of Thrones
4x09 The Watchers of the Wall
Awesome, in a very literal sense!
Mad Men
7x03 Field Trip
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1x01 The Job Interview
Thought I'd seen the first few episode of this before, but I don't remember this one in the slightest. We'll see later, then. Anyway, it's still very funny, which isn't always true of old sitcoms, even popular ones, or so I find.
Monday, 9 June 2014
TV
Cowboy Bebop
1x12 Jupiter Jazz Part 1
1x13 Jupiter Jazz Part 2
Disadvantage of my accidental gap: I only had a vague recollection of the events these episodes called back to.
Advantage of our modern internet-enabled era: I could just read up on episode five online.
Gavin & Stacey
3x06 Episode 6 [series finale; 2nd watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x06 Bad Romance
1x12 Jupiter Jazz Part 1
1x13 Jupiter Jazz Part 2
Disadvantage of my accidental gap: I only had a vague recollection of the events these episodes called back to.
Advantage of our modern internet-enabled era: I could just read up on episode five online.
Gavin & Stacey
3x06 Episode 6 [series finale; 2nd watch]
Law & Order: UK
8x06 Bad Romance
Fiction
Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
Part One: Chapters 6-7
Yep, decided to continue with this. It's still a mite too obsessed with explanations of arcane future economics, but I'll trust on the concurrent narrative for a little longer.
The Waiting Stars by Aliette de Bodard
Second Hugo-nominated novelette, which won the same award at the Nebulas last month.
Considerably better-written than yesterday's, but I'm not sure how I feel about it in itself. I guessed the 'twist' before the halfway point, though it's not just concerned with pulling the rug from under you -- there's questions of imperialism and colonialism here, with neither 'side' being presented as the villain, instead alluding to both the positives and shortcomings of each.
But, in my opinion, it's not long enough to pull off the emotional punch I think it's (in part) going for -- unless you unreservedly buy into these characters at lightning speed, you need a much longer work to feel for them, and to feel for how the change effects them at the end.
Probably won't get my #1 place on the ballot, then, but it's not bad. It can be read for free at the above link.
Part One: Chapters 6-7
Yep, decided to continue with this. It's still a mite too obsessed with explanations of arcane future economics, but I'll trust on the concurrent narrative for a little longer.
The Waiting Stars by Aliette de Bodard
Second Hugo-nominated novelette, which won the same award at the Nebulas last month.
Considerably better-written than yesterday's, but I'm not sure how I feel about it in itself. I guessed the 'twist' before the halfway point, though it's not just concerned with pulling the rug from under you -- there's questions of imperialism and colonialism here, with neither 'side' being presented as the villain, instead alluding to both the positives and shortcomings of each.
But, in my opinion, it's not long enough to pull off the emotional punch I think it's (in part) going for -- unless you unreservedly buy into these characters at lightning speed, you need a much longer work to feel for them, and to feel for how the change effects them at the end.
Probably won't get my #1 place on the ballot, then, but it's not bad. It can be read for free at the above link.
Sunday, 8 June 2014
Fiction
The Exchange Officers by Brad R. Torgersen
Starting reading for the Hugo Best Novelette award -- essentially, a long short story.
Not too impressed by this one. The dialogue is hilariously poor, loaded with clunky exposition, as is some of the prose. Otherwise, it's essentially about a space fight between The Right And Good US Of A, who are unnarmed because they're just in space for nice exploration, and The Evil Chinese, who are kinda armed because they're Evil gorrammit. The other nominees will have to be pretty poor for this to end up highly-ranked on my ballot.
Not available to read for free online, but apparently included in this podcast.
The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
The last nominee for the Best Short Story award... and my favourite, too. Interestingly, all the nominees are "magical realist"-type stories rather than obvious SF/F, which I wouldn't have expected (especially given the more 'obvious' style of the nominees in other categories).
This one is set in Thailand, apparently by a Dutch writer and then translated into English. Which doesn't really mean anything, it's just unusual.
Read it online for free at the above link.
Starting reading for the Hugo Best Novelette award -- essentially, a long short story.
Not too impressed by this one. The dialogue is hilariously poor, loaded with clunky exposition, as is some of the prose. Otherwise, it's essentially about a space fight between The Right And Good US Of A, who are unnarmed because they're just in space for nice exploration, and The Evil Chinese, who are kinda armed because they're Evil gorrammit. The other nominees will have to be pretty poor for this to end up highly-ranked on my ballot.
Not available to read for free online, but apparently included in this podcast.
The Ink Readers of Doi Saket by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
The last nominee for the Best Short Story award... and my favourite, too. Interestingly, all the nominees are "magical realist"-type stories rather than obvious SF/F, which I wouldn't have expected (especially given the more 'obvious' style of the nominees in other categories).
This one is set in Thailand, apparently by a Dutch writer and then translated into English. Which doesn't really mean anything, it's just unusual.
Read it online for free at the above link.
this week on 100 Films
One brand-new review was published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)
Also, new to the new blog were...
Atonement (2007)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
More next Sunday.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013)
That The Day of the Doctor delivers — and how — is part miracle and part relief, and all joy for the viewer. [And] for the majority it wasn't just a success, it was a triumph. Evidence? The record-breaking global audience; it was the most-watched drama in the UK in 2013; its theatrical release reached #2 at the US box office; it won the audience-voted Radio Times BAFTA for last year's best TV programme; and, last week, a poll of Doctor Who Magazine readers asserted it was better than the 240 other Who TV stories to crown it the greatest ever made.Read more here.
Also, new to the new blog were...
Atonement (2007)
even more astounding is 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan as Briony, wise beyond her years as the over-imaginative girl who causes so much misery. In many ways she's the lead character, but as she shares the role with two other, older actresses, it's no surprise she's up for Best Supporting Actress... She's certainly one to watch...Read more here.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The visuals in general may be Benjamin Button’s strongpoint, holding up a variety of era-evoking colour palettes and other design elements as it passes throughout the 20th Century... For a director who has a reputation in some corners for exhibiting excessive flair with swish shots and effects, Fincher shows steady restraint here — as he did in Zodiac, and Se7en, and all the moments in his other films where it was appropriate.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
TV
Celebrity Fifteen to One
1x01 (6/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gavin & Stacey
3x05 Episode 5 [2nd watch]
Have I Got News For You
47x07 (16/5/2014 edition; extended repeat)
1x01 (6/6/2014 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Episodes
3x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gavin & Stacey
3x05 Episode 5 [2nd watch]
Have I Got News For You
47x07 (16/5/2014 edition; extended repeat)
Fiction
Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
Part One: Chapters 3-5
Every time this threatened to get interesting, it slipped into a history or economics lesson about this fictional far-future -- ugh. I was on the verge of giving up... then decided to give it to a fifth of the way through, the end of chapter 4, and it suddenly got interesting, with a chapter-ending cliffhanger and everything. By the end of chapter 5, it's almost downright exciting.
Unfortunately, this is where the free extract provided for Hugo voters runs out. Now I'm debating whether to bank on this new-found good-ness continuing and read more, or assume it will fall back on its old ways and give up anyway.
If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love by Rachel Swirsky
Selkie Stories Are for Losers by Sofia Samatar
The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu
Three of the four Hugo nominees for Best Short Story. All are about real-world things with an SF/F twist. If You Were a Dinosaur is clearly the best, The Water That Falls is good but perhaps ends before the end (though perhaps not), and I have no idea what Selkie Stories Are for Losers is really meant to be about.
You can read them all online for free at the links above.
Part One: Chapters 3-5
Every time this threatened to get interesting, it slipped into a history or economics lesson about this fictional far-future -- ugh. I was on the verge of giving up... then decided to give it to a fifth of the way through, the end of chapter 4, and it suddenly got interesting, with a chapter-ending cliffhanger and everything. By the end of chapter 5, it's almost downright exciting.
Unfortunately, this is where the free extract provided for Hugo voters runs out. Now I'm debating whether to bank on this new-found good-ness continuing and read more, or assume it will fall back on its old ways and give up anyway.
If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love by Rachel Swirsky
Selkie Stories Are for Losers by Sofia Samatar
The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere by John Chu
Three of the four Hugo nominees for Best Short Story. All are about real-world things with an SF/F twist. If You Were a Dinosaur is clearly the best, The Water That Falls is good but perhaps ends before the end (though perhaps not), and I have no idea what Selkie Stories Are for Losers is really meant to be about.
You can read them all online for free at the links above.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, a Blu-ray upgrade for V for Vendetta, thanks to the hard-to-come-by Zavvi-exclusive Steelbook. Even though my DVD is a fairly nice limited edition too, there's no point hanging on to it, which is why some numbers go down.
Number of titles in collection: 1,678 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 477 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,173 [down 1]
Number of films in collection: 1,801 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, a Blu-ray upgrade for V for Vendetta, thanks to the hard-to-come-by Zavvi-exclusive Steelbook. Even though my DVD is a fairly nice limited edition too, there's no point hanging on to it, which is why some numbers go down.
Number of titles in collection: 1,678 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,201 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 477 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 4,173 [down 1]
Number of films in collection: 1,801 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 6 June 2014
TV
Cowboy Bebop
1x11 Toys in the Attic
Gavin & Stacey
3x04 Episode 4 [2nd watch]
Wallander [Swedish]
3x02 Försvunnen (aka Missing)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x11 Toys in the Attic
Gavin & Stacey
3x04 Episode 4 [2nd watch]
Wallander [Swedish]
3x02 Försvunnen (aka Missing)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 5 June 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x20 Fancy Brugdom
The internet can't agree if it's "Brudgom" or "Brugdom" -- but then, neither can the show itself.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Gavin & Stacey
3x03 Episode 3 [2nd watch]
Person of Interest
2x22 God Mode [season finale]
Well that was inconclusive...
1x20 Fancy Brugdom
The internet can't agree if it's "Brudgom" or "Brugdom" -- but then, neither can the show itself.
Gavin & Stacey
3x03 Episode 3 [2nd watch]
Person of Interest
2x22 God Mode [season finale]
Well that was inconclusive...
Wednesday, 4 June 2014
TV
Cowboy Bebop
1x09 Jamming with Edward
1x10 Ganymede Elegy
Crikey, has it really been 7½ months since I last watched Cowboy Bebop?! (Yes.) Oops. Anyway, let's try to make this a more regular thing, eh?
Gavin & Stacey
3x02 Episode 2 [2nd watch]
The Guess List
1x05 Episode 5
Person of Interest
2x21 Zero Day
So, I've been wrapping up all my already-on-going series from the TV season just passed (UK time, anyway -- the past TV season in the US had PoI season three). Which means soon I shall dig into a bunch of stuff I have saved up from earlier this year: The Americans season two, Ripper Street season two, The Musketeers season one, Peaky Blinders season one... and probably more, too. Exciting.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
1x09 Jamming with Edward
1x10 Ganymede Elegy
Crikey, has it really been 7½ months since I last watched Cowboy Bebop?! (Yes.) Oops. Anyway, let's try to make this a more regular thing, eh?
Gavin & Stacey
3x02 Episode 2 [2nd watch]
The Guess List
1x05 Episode 5
Person of Interest
2x21 Zero Day
So, I've been wrapping up all my already-on-going series from the TV season just passed (UK time, anyway -- the past TV season in the US had PoI season three). Which means soon I shall dig into a bunch of stuff I have saved up from earlier this year: The Americans season two, Ripper Street season two, The Musketeers season one, Peaky Blinders season one... and probably more, too. Exciting.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
TV
Game of Thrones
4x08 The Mountain and the Viper
Well, someone did say there'd be several more significant deaths before the season was out. I believe next week is a Blackwater-style single-location battle-focused episode, so I guess this one serves as the penultimate part for every other storyline -- and it felt like it!
Gavin & Stacey
3x01 Episode 1 [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x02 A Day's Work
The fact the "previously on" mostly recapped last season is rather damning about how little happened in episode one! Things are very much underway now, though. Good good.
4x08 The Mountain and the Viper
Well, someone did say there'd be several more significant deaths before the season was out. I believe next week is a Blackwater-style single-location battle-focused episode, so I guess this one serves as the penultimate part for every other storyline -- and it felt like it!
Gavin & Stacey
3x01 Episode 1 [2nd watch]
Mad Men
7x02 A Day's Work
The fact the "previously on" mostly recapped last season is rather damning about how little happened in episode one! Things are very much underway now, though. Good good.
Monday, 2 June 2014
TV
Gavin & Stacey
3x00 Christmas Special [3rd watch]
It's nearly six years since this first aired. Six years! Where does time go...
Person of Interest
2x20 In Extremis
Featuring a major guest character with my name! Weeeeiiiird.
3x00 Christmas Special [3rd watch]
It's nearly six years since this first aired. Six years! Where does time go...
Person of Interest
2x20 In Extremis
Featuring a major guest character with my name! Weeeeiiiird.
Fiction
Neptune's Brood by Charles Stross
Part One: Chapter 1
I know I seem to have a predilection for giving up on books by accident, but I haven't abandoned Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (even though it's been a while). So why start this? Well, I'll be voting for the 2014 Hugo Awards, and this is one of the nominees, which I feel I should at least make some effort to read.
So far, it's not really my cup of tea. I confess I didn't even read all of this review, but the first four or so paragraphs give a good enough idea -- both of the novel, and why I'm not keen: "the real business of the novel [is] interstellar economics." Wow! Couple that with its dense hard-science-fiction style and it's all a bit much.
Not sure how long I'll stick with it, then. The advice someone offered -- that you should read all the nominated works, but only until you've had enough of each (which therefore shows you can't think that much of one if you don't want to finish it) -- seems good to me! And also practical, when there's so much to read.
Part One: Chapter 1
I know I seem to have a predilection for giving up on books by accident, but I haven't abandoned Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (even though it's been a while). So why start this? Well, I'll be voting for the 2014 Hugo Awards, and this is one of the nominees, which I feel I should at least make some effort to read.
So far, it's not really my cup of tea. I confess I didn't even read all of this review, but the first four or so paragraphs give a good enough idea -- both of the novel, and why I'm not keen: "the real business of the novel [is] interstellar economics." Wow! Couple that with its dense hard-science-fiction style and it's all a bit much.
Not sure how long I'll stick with it, then. The advice someone offered -- that you should read all the nominated works, but only until you've had enough of each (which therefore shows you can't think that much of one if you don't want to finish it) -- seems good to me! And also practical, when there's so much to read.
Sunday, 1 June 2014
TV
How I Met Your Mother
9x17 Sunrise
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Vera
4x03 The Deer Hunters
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
9x17 Sunrise
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Vera
4x03 The Deer Hunters
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
this week on 100 Films
It's June today (right now!), which means it's time to look back at how 100 Films in a Year fared in May 2014. Not too shabbily, as it turns out, though it was far from exceptional.
This month, there's also a look at the five men who've played Swedish detective Kurt Wallander. Yep, five.
Elsewhere, just one new review was published this week...
Mad Max (1979)
...but there was also one new to the new blog:
Beowulf: Director's Cut (2007)
More next Sunday.
This month, there's also a look at the five men who've played Swedish detective Kurt Wallander. Yep, five.
Elsewhere, just one new review was published this week...
Mad Max (1979)
A pursuit opens the film in style. It's a surprisingly-lengthy white-knuckle sequence that introduces us not only to Max, but to what director George Miller is capable of. Even 35 years on it remains a mightily effective set piece, with more punch than the average over-choreographed CGI-addled chases of the last decade-and-a-half of moviemaking.Read more here.
...but there was also one new to the new blog:
Beowulf: Director's Cut (2007)
I like animated films; I have absolutely no problem with animated films for adults; but the issue here is that most of the characters (especially the 'extras') seem of about the same quality as humans in Shrek. So while the battle scenes are often very violent, it becomes hard to take them seriously because it's all too cartoony.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 31 May 2014
TV
Episodes
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gavin & Stacey
2x07 Episode 7 [season finale; 2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x22 Blue Bird [season finale]
That would've worked perfectly well as a last-ever episode... which, considering how late their renewal came, may well have been the intention. Hurrah for one more season to find out what happens next, though.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
3x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Gavin & Stacey
2x07 Episode 7 [season finale; 2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x22 Blue Bird [season finale]
That would've worked perfectly well as a last-ever episode... which, considering how late their renewal came, may well have been the intention. Hurrah for one more season to find out what happens next, though.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Comics
The Bunker #2 by Joshua Hale Fialkov & Joe Infurnari
The first issue, originally published online in small chunks, rattled through a ton of story. Given a full issue at full-issue pace, this seems to slow down. Shame. Remains intriguing, but a shame.
Pretty Deadly #4 by Kelly Sue DeConnick & Emma Rios
Golly this is good. No offence to comics as a medium, but I'd love to see it as a film -- a truly faithful, put-the-panels-on-screen movie. That would be awesome.
Wolverine #5 by Paul Cornell & Gerardo Sandoval
In which Wolverine gets a tattoo. No, really. He has a fight with Thor too, for no real reason, but that's about it. Except for giving some voiceover to the book's only real female character, and giving her some awareness and impetuous and -- as the buzzword seems to go these days -- "agency". Which is the least we should expect from a writer obsessed with things like panel parity, I think.
The first issue, originally published online in small chunks, rattled through a ton of story. Given a full issue at full-issue pace, this seems to slow down. Shame. Remains intriguing, but a shame.
Pretty Deadly #4 by Kelly Sue DeConnick & Emma Rios
Golly this is good. No offence to comics as a medium, but I'd love to see it as a film -- a truly faithful, put-the-panels-on-screen movie. That would be awesome.
Wolverine #5 by Paul Cornell & Gerardo Sandoval
In which Wolverine gets a tattoo. No, really. He has a fight with Thor too, for no real reason, but that's about it. Except for giving some voiceover to the book's only real female character, and giving her some awareness and impetuous and -- as the buzzword seems to go these days -- "agency". Which is the least we should expect from a writer obsessed with things like panel parity, I think.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A few anime BDs push up the TV episodes, especially, this week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,678 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,202 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 476 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 4,174 [up 6]
Number of films in collection: 1,801 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [up 21]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A few anime BDs push up the TV episodes, especially, this week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,678 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,202 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 476 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 4,174 [up 6]
Number of films in collection: 1,801 [no change]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 6,147 [up 21]
Number of short films in collection: 410 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 30 May 2014
TV
Doctor Who
33x15 The Day of the Doctor [50th anniversary special; 2nd watch]
In 3D! OK, only anaglyph 3D, but amber-blue rather than the old-fashioned red-green -- the depth isn't as striking, but the colours are better rendered; though pure white has a tendency to go wrong. But anyway, that's not the point. The point is, I put it on to try out the 3D a bit, and ended up watching the whole thing. Brilliant episode. The best ever? Well, dunno... but it does deserve to be up there.
Gavin & Stacey
2x06 Episode 6 [2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x21 Black Hearts
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Person of Interest
2x19 Trojan Horse
33x15 The Day of the Doctor [50th anniversary special; 2nd watch]
In 3D! OK, only anaglyph 3D, but amber-blue rather than the old-fashioned red-green -- the depth isn't as striking, but the colours are better rendered; though pure white has a tendency to go wrong. But anyway, that's not the point. The point is, I put it on to try out the 3D a bit, and ended up watching the whole thing. Brilliant episode. The best ever? Well, dunno... but it does deserve to be up there.
Gavin & Stacey
2x06 Episode 6 [2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x21 Black Hearts
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Person of Interest
2x19 Trojan Horse
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Films
In Your Eyes (2014)
[#42 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
You can rent this Joss Whedon-penned film on Vimeo (and any of its associated apps) for $5 (~£3). And if you do, you might get a little something in the post, too. I'd recommend it (not just for the potential for awesome free stuff.)
[#42 in 100 Films in a Year 2014]
You can rent this Joss Whedon-penned film on Vimeo (and any of its associated apps) for $5 (~£3). And if you do, you might get a little something in the post, too. I'd recommend it (not just for the potential for awesome free stuff.)
Magazines
Doctor Who Magazine #474
After Empire's huge movie poll yesterday, today it's DWM's turn. To mark the 50th anniversary, they asked fans to rate every Doctor Who story ever (right up to Matt Smith's Christmas regeneration), and this issue is dedicated to the results (which therefore replace the previously-defintive poll held in 2009 when the series reached 200 stories).
Lots of new entries (41 full-length stories have been produced since then), lots of changes, lots of things to agree and disagree with. But I won't spoil any of that here, go buy it for yourself (which you can on iTunes as well as in print, if you're so inclined).
After Empire's huge movie poll yesterday, today it's DWM's turn. To mark the 50th anniversary, they asked fans to rate every Doctor Who story ever (right up to Matt Smith's Christmas regeneration), and this issue is dedicated to the results (which therefore replace the previously-defintive poll held in 2009 when the series reached 200 stories).
Lots of new entries (41 full-length stories have been produced since then), lots of changes, lots of things to agree and disagree with. But I won't spoil any of that here, go buy it for yourself (which you can on iTunes as well as in print, if you're so inclined).
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
TV
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
1x19 Tactical Village
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Gavin & Stacey
2x04 Episode 4 [2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x20 Il Tavolo Bianco
1x19 Tactical Village
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Gavin & Stacey
2x04 Episode 4 [2nd watch]
The Mentalist
6x20 Il Tavolo Bianco
Magazines
Empire #301
Featuring the 301 Greatest Movies of All Time, the magazine's first reader-voted poll since the renowned 500 Greatest Movies of All Time back in 2008.
As with any list of this ilk, it's chock-full of stuff to completely disagree with, including a ludicrous number of recent films (13 from last year; even two from this year). But I'm sure someone, somewhere, will think it's bang-on. Law of averages and all that...
Featuring the 301 Greatest Movies of All Time, the magazine's first reader-voted poll since the renowned 500 Greatest Movies of All Time back in 2008.
As with any list of this ilk, it's chock-full of stuff to completely disagree with, including a ludicrous number of recent films (13 from last year; even two from this year). But I'm sure someone, somewhere, will think it's bang-on. Law of averages and all that...
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