Ran (1985)
[#203 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...? 2018 #9
+ the restoration featurette among the Blu-ray's (insanely extensive) special features, to see how they justified the bizarre teal-tinged colour balance. "This is how it was always meant to look," allegedly...
Thursday, 27 September 2018
Wednesday, 26 September 2018
Tuesday, 25 September 2018
Monday, 24 September 2018
Sunday, 23 September 2018
this week on 100 Films
3 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Gods of Egypt (2016)
The Post (2017)
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)
More next Sunday.
Gods of Egypt (2016)
it is kind of a terrible film… but if you embrace it, it’s also campy fun. It’s a film where the men are burly, the women are breasty, and the CGI is blurry, but there’s a certain irreverence that stops it from being stodgy, and a light-hearted tone to the dialogue that occasionally hits home. For all the whizzy video game-ish visuals, it’s an old-fashioned adventure quest at heart, capable of pulling off the occasional thrilling sequence or amusing verbal exchange.Read more here.
The Post (2017)
Perhaps the timeliest historical movie ever made, The Post is, in its plot, about the publication of the ‘Pentagon Papers’, a leaked report that examined decades of US government decisions about the Vietnam war; but, thematically, it’s about press oversight of a government lying to its people to cover up their own wrongdoing, including trying to forcibly stop the press from performing that role — sounds familiar, doesn’t it?Read more here.
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (1965)
Even if Chess Expert doesn’t thrill as much as some of the other movies, nor differ from the formula as thoroughly as some others, it does have its own charms for those prepared to indulge a somewhat more contemplative and chewy Ichi tale... For me, it doesn’t crack the very top tier of Ichi flicks, but is still an above-average adventure for everyone’s favourite blind masseur swordmaster.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 22 September 2018
TV
Bodyguard
1x04 Episode 4
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch episodes four and five (again) on iPlayer.]
Upstart Crow
3x03 If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 Episode 4
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch episodes four and five (again) on iPlayer.]
Upstart Crow
3x03 If You Prick Us, Do We Not Bleed?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Two new additions this week, though I also got rid of one title and found a couple of filing errors, so the changes are a bit bumpy.
In more exciting news, it's time for the running time update. It's a big'un: just over 7 whole days -- a week of solid viewing! That's the biggest increase since November 2015, when 246 episodes of TV saw it jump by almost 11 days. This month, it's thanks to "just" 173 episodes of TV: the complete Mission: Impossible set that I acquired at the start of the month, which alone accounts for almost 5 days & 18 hours.
Number of titles in collection: 2,149 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 996 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,515 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,398 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 636 [up 10]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
408 days, 1 hour, and 8 minutes.
(Up 7 days and 39 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Two new additions this week, though I also got rid of one title and found a couple of filing errors, so the changes are a bit bumpy.
In more exciting news, it's time for the running time update. It's a big'un: just over 7 whole days -- a week of solid viewing! That's the biggest increase since November 2015, when 246 episodes of TV saw it jump by almost 11 days. This month, it's thanks to "just" 173 episodes of TV: the complete Mission: Impossible set that I acquired at the start of the month, which alone accounts for almost 5 days & 18 hours.
Number of titles in collection: 2,149 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 996 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,515 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,398 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 636 [up 10]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
408 days, 1 hour, and 8 minutes.
(Up 7 days and 39 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 21 September 2018
TV
Bodyguard
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Imitation Game
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Magic for Humans
1x05 Guilt Trip
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Imitation Game
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Magic for Humans
1x05 Guilt Trip
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Articles
The Walking Dead studio Telltale hit with devastating layoffs as part of a ‘majority studio closure’
by Megan Farokhmanesh (from The Verge)
Well, this sucks -- Telltale always seemed to represent a possible renaissance for the kind of games I love: adventure games like Monkey Island. But it seems things haven't been right there for a while, as the next article explains:
Toxic Management Cost an Award-Winning Game Studio Its Best Developers
by Megan Farokhmanesh (from The Verge)
by Megan Farokhmanesh (from The Verge)
Well, this sucks -- Telltale always seemed to represent a possible renaissance for the kind of games I love: adventure games like Monkey Island. But it seems things haven't been right there for a while, as the next article explains:
Toxic Management Cost an Award-Winning Game Studio Its Best Developers
by Megan Farokhmanesh (from The Verge)
Thursday, 20 September 2018
TV
Bodyguard
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Upstart Crow
3x02 Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Upstart Crow
3x02 Wild Laughter in the Throat of Death
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Tuesday, 18 September 2018
TV
Bodyguard
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Simpsons
13x11 The Bart Wants What It Wants
Can't remember the last time I watched an episode of The Simpsons (I was going to say "not in the lifetime of this blog", but then I found this and this), but I happened across this on TV and for some reason stuck with it. It was quite good.
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Simpsons
13x11 The Bart Wants What It Wants
Can't remember the last time I watched an episode of The Simpsons (I was going to say "not in the lifetime of this blog", but then I found this and this), but I happened across this on TV and for some reason stuck with it. It was quite good.
Films
Courage Under Fire (1996)
[#197 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Heathers (1988)
[#196 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[#197 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Heathers (1988)
[#196 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Monday, 17 September 2018
TV
Daniel Sloss: Dark
The first of two live shows bundled together on Netflix as Daniel Sloss: Live Shows (does what it says on the tin, I guess). This show lives up to its title, but it's also very clever and hilariously funny.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Iron Fist
2x09 War Without End
2x10 A Duel of Iron [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
The first of two live shows bundled together on Netflix as Daniel Sloss: Live Shows (does what it says on the tin, I guess). This show lives up to its title, but it's also very clever and hilariously funny.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Iron Fist
2x09 War Without End
2x10 A Duel of Iron [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Sunday, 16 September 2018
TV
Iron Fist
2x08 Citadel on the Edge of Vengeance
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Who Do You Think You Are? [USA]
9x01 Courteney Cox
Didn't set out to watch this, but caught the start and was surprisingly engrossed -- more by the story from British history than anything to do with Courteney Cox, to be honest.
2x08 Citadel on the Edge of Vengeance
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Who Do You Think You Are? [USA]
9x01 Courteney Cox
Didn't set out to watch this, but caught the start and was surprisingly engrossed -- more by the story from British history than anything to do with Courteney Cox, to be honest.
this week on 100 Films
Just 2 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
All the Money in the World (2017)
The Tree of Life (2011)
More next Sunday.
All the Money in the World (2017)
All the Money in the World does not star Kevin Spacey. But I expect you knew that. Indeed, if you only know one thing about the film, I expect that is what you know. Spacey’s firing, and his speedy replacement by Christopher Plummer, was such a big news story that it instantly became what the movie was most famous for — and, I suspect, is what it will always be most famous for, because the film itself isn’t good enough to transcend its own reputation.Read more here.
The Tree of Life (2011)
Whether you love it or hate it — and there are certainly plenty of perfectly reasonable people at both extremes — it’s definitely an Experience; one every person who considers themselves serious about film appreciation needs to have.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 15 September 2018
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 2,148 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 994 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 5,512 [up 4]
Number of films: 2,398 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 626 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 2,148 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 994 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 5,512 [up 4]
Number of films: 2,398 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 626 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 September 2018
Thursday, 13 September 2018
TV
The Imitation Game
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Iron Fist
2x06 The Dragon Dies at Dawn
2x07 Morning of the Mindstorm
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Iron Fist
2x06 The Dragon Dies at Dawn
2x07 Morning of the Mindstorm
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Wednesday, 12 September 2018
Tuesday, 11 September 2018
TV
Magic for Humans
1x04 Seeing is Believing
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x05 Horror [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 Seeing is Believing
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x05 Horror [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 10 September 2018
Sunday, 9 September 2018
this week on 100 Films
9 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Disaster Artist (2017)
I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death (1969)
My Life as a Courgette (2016)
Rocky IV (1985)
Rocky VI (1986)
The Room (2003)
Film Noir Review Roundup
More next Sunday.
The Disaster Artist (2017)
Franco and friends (the lead cast includes his brother, his brother’s wife, and his best mate) seem to be having a jolly old time recreating their favourite bad movie, and they’re certainly not above patting themselves on the back for how well they’ve done it... For aficionados of The Room such dedication pays off: there are lots of fun references — not just the obvious stuff (the recreation of actual scenes), but scattered lines and nods throughout the movie.Read more here.
I Am Sartana, Your Angel of Death (1969)
The second official movie to star Western antihero Sartana is, according to the blurb on Arrow’s Blu-ray release, “a more playful film than its predecessor, possessing an inventive visual style and developing its central character into a more creative and resourceful figure.” That’s bang on — and it’s a better film for it.Read more here.
My Life as a Courgette (2016)
the film takes a more cartoonish style, at least on the surface. In fact, the whimsical production design belies the very serious nature of the story — it’s not as monumentally grim as it could be, given the subject matter, but it doesn’t shy away from some very dark areas. It handles these with an understated, calm maturity that is both befitting and refreshing.Read more here.
Rocky IV (1985)
Interpreting a sports movie as really being about the conflict between the USA and the Soviet Union might normally be considered subtextual analysis, but that’s not the case here — it couldn’t be more blatant. Sometimes this is as hilariously preposterous as you’d expect (Rocky’s victory speech is greeted by a standing ovation from the Soviet politburo!), but other bits actually work quite well.Read more here.
Rocky VI (1986)
An early work from Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki (one of those world cinema names I recognise but couldn’t tell you a single film by), Rocky VI is not, in fact, the sixth entry in the Rocky franchise, but a short parody of the fourth one (the Roman numerals in the title being an inversion of the real film’s IV, obv.). Kaurismäki described the short as “my revenge on Mr. Stallone, who I think is an asshole.” Don’t hold back, Aki, tell us what you really think!Read more here.
The Room (2003)
Ostensibly the story of the relationship woes of twentysomethings in San Francisco, there is nothing wrong with The Room… for the first two minutes. Then Tommy Wiseau enters a room and opens his mouth. There are no words to accurately describe Wiseau — he has to be witnessed to be believed. From there out, the film is distractingly ridiculousRead more here.
Film Noir Review Roundup
I’ve made a conscious effort to watch more film noirs this year, and today’s roundup contains a few results of that:Read more here.
- The Narrow Margin (1952)
- Accomplice (1946)
- Shockproof (1949)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 8 September 2018
Films
The Tree of Life (2011)
[#192 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
+ the special features on the current Blu-ray (mainly, half-hour documentary Exploring The Tree of Life)
[#192 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
+ the special features on the current Blu-ray (mainly, half-hour documentary Exploring The Tree of Life)
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After last week's massive update (6 films! 61 discs! 188 episodes of TV!), this couldn't be more different: absolutely nothing to report! More next week though, guaranteed.
Number of titles in collection: 2,145 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 991 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 5,508 [no change]
Number of films: 2,394 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 624 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
After last week's massive update (6 films! 61 discs! 188 episodes of TV!), this couldn't be more different: absolutely nothing to report! More next week though, guaranteed.
Number of titles in collection: 2,145 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 991 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 5,508 [no change]
Number of films: 2,394 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [no change]
Number of short films: 624 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 7 September 2018
TV
Jack Ryan
1x06 Sources and Methods
1x07 The Boy
1x08 Inshallah [season finale]
Despite how this looks, I didn't burn through almost half the season just to get it done for Iron Fist. Well, obviously I watched all these episodes within 24 hours, but I didn't sit and watch them back to back. (Just so we're clear on this important information.)
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Upstart Crow
3x01 Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x06 Sources and Methods
1x07 The Boy
1x08 Inshallah [season finale]
Despite how this looks, I didn't burn through almost half the season just to get it done for Iron Fist. Well, obviously I watched all these episodes within 24 hours, but I didn't sit and watch them back to back. (Just so we're clear on this important information.)
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Upstart Crow
3x01 Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 6 September 2018
TV
The Imitation Game
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Jack Ryan
1x05 End of Honor
I'd hoped to have this finished by today, because Iron Fist season 2 is out tomorrow. Oh well. (It's good, I just haven't had the time.)
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
1x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on the ITV Hub.]
Jack Ryan
1x05 End of Honor
I'd hoped to have this finished by today, because Iron Fist season 2 is out tomorrow. Oh well. (It's good, I just haven't had the time.)
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Wednesday, 5 September 2018
TV
Reported Missing
2x01 Episode 1
Not normally my kind of programme, but the write-up in the Radio Times was too intriguing: a dad reports his five-year-old son missing, having not seen him for two years after a custody dispute with the mother; but when the police track her down, she says the boy doesn't exist and she doesn't even know the man who made the report. To say much more would spoil the twists and turns as the case unfolds...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x01 Episode 1
Not normally my kind of programme, but the write-up in the Radio Times was too intriguing: a dad reports his five-year-old son missing, having not seen him for two years after a custody dispute with the mother; but when the police track her down, she says the boy doesn't exist and she doesn't even know the man who made the report. To say much more would spoil the twists and turns as the case unfolds...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Fiction
Zorro by Isabel Allende (translated by Margaret Sayers Peden)
Part 1 (pages 1-12)
I bought this novel about 13 years ago and never read it (where does time go, seriously?) It was seeing it in a box the other day that (perhaps subconsciously) inspired me to watch Zorro, and enjoying that inspired me to dig this out and finally start it.
Part 1 (pages 1-12)
I bought this novel about 13 years ago and never read it (where does time go, seriously?) It was seeing it in a box the other day that (perhaps subconsciously) inspired me to watch Zorro, and enjoying that inspired me to dig this out and finally start it.
Monday, 3 September 2018
TV
Hang Ups
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jack Ryan
1x03 Black 22
1x04 The Wolf
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x04 Science Fiction
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jack Ryan
1x03 Black 22
1x04 The Wolf
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x04 Science Fiction
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 2 September 2018
Films
Darkman (1990)
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #33
Sartana's Here… Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin (1970)
[#188 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #33
Sartana's Here… Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin (1970)
[#188 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
this week on 100 Films
Yesterday saw the start of a new month, meaning it was time for 100 Films in a Year to look back at the old one...
Plus, the past week also saw the latest TV review column...
And in regular activities, 3 brand-new reviews were also published...
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Seoul Station (2016)
More next Sunday.
Plus, the past week also saw the latest TV review column...
And in regular activities, 3 brand-new reviews were also published...
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
they don’t make big-budget spy thrillers like this anymore, but maybe they should, because Red October’s qualities stand the test of time: its story is driven by well-drawn, interesting characters and an overall sense of suspense, rather than elaborate stunts or computer-generated effects. I like the latter too, but there’s room for variety in the cinematic landscape.Read more here.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
What plays out is a solid plot, smattered with decent action sequences. Frankly, it’s nothing incredible, and you’d have reason to expect more distinctive work from a director of the calibre of Edward Zwick, but it’s still a good action-thriller.Read more here.
Seoul Station (2016)
Before he made zombie masterpiece Train to Busan, director Yeon Sang-ho was an animation director with several features to his name. So perhaps it’s not surprising that, to accompany his aforementioned live-action debut, he also helmed this animated prequel. [...] Like Train to Busan, Seoul Station revolves around a struggling father-daughter relationship — though this one’s of a very different sort. That’s apparent from the off, but to say too much more would be a last-act spoiler. Suffice to say, it all comes to a very dark, grim ending, with none of the redemption or hopefulness of the main film.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 1 September 2018
Films
The Elephant Man (1980)
[#187 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...? 2018 #8
[#187 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...? 2018 #8
Music
The 2nd Law by Muse
[2nd listen]
As I just realised, I listened to this once when it came out six years ago... and then never again! (Aside from two tracks that I listened to a lot.) Until today, when I listened to the whole thing again. It's mostly okay, with a couple of great tracks (Supremacy, Panic Station).
[2nd listen]
As I just realised, I listened to this once when it came out six years ago... and then never again! (Aside from two tracks that I listened to a lot.) Until today, when I listened to the whole thing again. It's mostly okay, with a couple of great tracks (Supremacy, Panic Station).
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week: a BD-to-BD upgrade that changes nothing on the stats, two DVD-to-BD "upgrades" that don't replace my DVD copies, and a trilogy box set that doesn't replace the copy of the first film I already own. Plus: a 47-disc 173-episode complete series box set. And I'm supposed to be thinking about slimming down my collection...
Number of titles in collection: 2,145 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 991 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 5,508 [up 61]
Number of films: 2,394 [up 6]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [up 188]
Number of short films: 624 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week: a BD-to-BD upgrade that changes nothing on the stats, two DVD-to-BD "upgrades" that don't replace my DVD copies, and a trilogy box set that doesn't replace the copy of the first film I already own. Plus: a 47-disc 173-episode complete series box set. And I'm supposed to be thinking about slimming down my collection...
Number of titles in collection: 2,145 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 991 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 5,508 [up 61]
Number of films: 2,394 [up 6]
Number of TV episodes: 8,293 [up 188]
Number of short films: 624 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 31 August 2018
Thursday, 30 August 2018
TV
Hang Ups
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Magic for Humans
1x03 Terrifying Tech
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Magic for Humans
1x03 Terrifying Tech
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
TV
Disenchantment
1x08 The Limits of Immortality
1x09 To Thine Own Elf Be True
1x10 Dreamland Falls [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x08 The Limits of Immortality
1x09 To Thine Own Elf Be True
1x10 Dreamland Falls [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Tuesday, 28 August 2018
Films
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
[2nd watch]
+ the Blu-ray's special features; primarily, a decent half-hour making-of.
Seoul Station (2016)
[#184 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[2nd watch]
+ the Blu-ray's special features; primarily, a decent half-hour making-of.
Seoul Station (2016)
[#184 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Monday, 27 August 2018
Sunday, 26 August 2018
TV
Disenchantment
1x07 Love's Tender Rampage
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Magic for Humans
1x02 Express Yourself
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x07 Love's Tender Rampage
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Magic for Humans
1x02 Express Yourself
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
this week on 100 Films
Just 2 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year again this week, and they were...
Kidnapped (1917)
Conquest Program No.9
More next Sunday.
Kidnapped (1917)
Kidnapped may not be an unheralded classic begging for rediscovery, but it’s a fun jaunt nonetheless. Proof, if it were needed, that there’s often worth to be discovered by digging into the more forgotten and esoteric corners of film history.Read more here.
Conquest Program No.9
For her DVD release of the 1917 feature Kidnapped, Fritzi Kramer of Movies Silently was able to source the four short films that were bundled with it as part of “Conquest Program No.9”. The Conquest Programs were the idea of distributor George Kleine and created by Thomas Edison’s film company. Eleven were created in all, each one bundling together a feature film and a mix of shorts to create a complete bill of wholesome entertainment. By specifically recreating Program No.9, the Kidnapped DVD doesn’t just offer an approximation of what a night at the movies in 1917 might’ve been a bit like, but rather a genuine was-definitely-shown-in-theatres programme from the time.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 25 August 2018
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
There were a total of 9 new additions to my collection this week... but one of those was a 2D-to-3D Blu-ray upgrade, adding a single disc, and three more were DVD-to-BD upgrades, with one of those alone replacing three former titles and reducing five discs to three. And if that wasn't enough, a further two were Blu-ray upgrades of films I own on DVD but I can't ditch the DVD copies because they're in box sets with other stuff!
Anyhow, you can see the fallout of all that below. You can also see what effect all those upgrading shenanigans had on the monthly running time update...
Number of titles in collection: 2,140 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [down 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 987 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 5,447 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,388 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes: 8,105 [up 1]
Number of short films: 624 [up 5]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
401 days and 29 minutes.
(Up 18 hours and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
There were a total of 9 new additions to my collection this week... but one of those was a 2D-to-3D Blu-ray upgrade, adding a single disc, and three more were DVD-to-BD upgrades, with one of those alone replacing three former titles and reducing five discs to three. And if that wasn't enough, a further two were Blu-ray upgrades of films I own on DVD but I can't ditch the DVD copies because they're in box sets with other stuff!
Anyhow, you can see the fallout of all that below. You can also see what effect all those upgrading shenanigans had on the monthly running time update...
Number of titles in collection: 2,140 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [down 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 987 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 5,447 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,388 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes: 8,105 [up 1]
Number of short films: 624 [up 5]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
401 days and 29 minutes.
(Up 18 hours and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 24 August 2018
TV
The Comedy Lineup
1x08 Tim Dillon [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Disenchantment
1x05 Faster, Princess! Kill! Kill!
1x06 Swamp and Circumstance
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Edinburgh Nights
2018 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x08 Tim Dillon [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Disenchantment
1x05 Faster, Princess! Kill! Kill!
1x06 Swamp and Circumstance
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Edinburgh Nights
2018 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 23 August 2018
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
TV
I've got a miserable cold, so all this comedy seemed like a good way to while away some time...
The Comedy Lineup
1x05 Phil Wang
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Disenchantment
1x04 Castle Party Massacre
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Friends
1x20 The One with the Evil Orthodontist [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
A random episode courtesy of Comedy Central.
Jimmy Carr: Funny Business
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Magic for Humans
1x01 Self-Control
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
The Comedy Lineup
1x05 Phil Wang
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Disenchantment
1x04 Castle Party Massacre
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Friends
1x20 The One with the Evil Orthodontist [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
A random episode courtesy of Comedy Central.
Jimmy Carr: Funny Business
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Magic for Humans
1x01 Self-Control
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
TV
Disenchantment
1x01 A Princess, an Elf, and a Demon Walk Into a Bar
1x02 For Whom the Pig Oinks
1x03 The Princess of Darkness
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
1x01 A Princess, an Elf, and a Demon Walk Into a Bar
1x02 For Whom the Pig Oinks
1x03 The Princess of Darkness
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Sunday, 19 August 2018
this week on 100 Films
2 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Christopher Robin (2018)
A Quiet Place (2018)
More next Sunday.
Christopher Robin (2018)
There have been many Winnie the Pooh adaptations down the years, as well as original movies and TV series featuring the same characters, so rather than remake any of those, here Disney have set about telling another brand-new story (although it begins with an adaptation of one of A.A. Milne’s very best Pooh stories, which is nice). This new tale justifies its live-action form by moving beyond the confines of the Hundred Acre Wood; and it also, smartly, trades on our own childhood nostalgia for the silly old bear.Read more here.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Its USP is the “must stay quiet” aspect, which reportedly led to less chatter and popcorn-munching during cinema screenings. If only all moviegoing experiences were so blessed. Of course, a similar conceit was only recently deployed in Don’t Breathe, but here the threat level is upped by the almost supernatural enemy. The film’s PG-13 rating in the US means it occasionally pulls its punches on going all-out terrifying, but, as the UK 15 certificate may indicate, it’s still loaded with sequences of tension and suspense.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 18 August 2018
Podcasts
The Empire Film Podcast
Mission: Impossible – Fallout Spoiler Special
Part 1 ft. Christopher McQuarrie
Part 2 ft. Team Empire
If you thought Empire's Rogue Nation podcast was long, well, Chrises Hewitt and McQuarrie have really outdone themselves here: Part One alone beats it, and Part Three (which I've barely started) is even longer again. In between, Part Two sees the Empire team chat about the film for a brief 48 minutes.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout Spoiler Special
Part 1 ft. Christopher McQuarrie
Part 2 ft. Team Empire
If you thought Empire's Rogue Nation podcast was long, well, Chrises Hewitt and McQuarrie have really outdone themselves here: Part One alone beats it, and Part Three (which I've barely started) is even longer again. In between, Part Two sees the Empire team chat about the film for a brief 48 minutes.
Friday, 17 August 2018
TV
Edinburgh Nights
2018 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience
8x03 Airline Cabin Crew
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2018 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience
8x03 Airline Cabin Crew
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 16 August 2018
Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Dinner
The Kitchin
Last time I was in Edinburgh, we went to The Kitchin. This time... well, it was good!
(Looking that up made me realise I've been thoroughly inconsistent at logging this kind of activity -- mainly by, er, not.)
Last time I was in Edinburgh, we went to The Kitchin. This time... well, it was good!
(Looking that up made me realise I've been thoroughly inconsistent at logging this kind of activity -- mainly by, er, not.)
Tuesday, 14 August 2018
Films
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #31. This time in IMAX. It was rather awesome.
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #31. This time in IMAX. It was rather awesome.
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Films
Skyfall (2012)
[3rd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #30
Apparently I haven't watched this in five-and-a-half years (or, at least, haven't watched it in full -- I feel like I must've seen some of it in that time, surely). In fact, I didn't even watch all of it tonight -- I caught it on TV once it was already a little way in. Maybe I'll rewatch it 'properly' sometime soon.
[3rd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #30
Apparently I haven't watched this in five-and-a-half years (or, at least, haven't watched it in full -- I feel like I must've seen some of it in that time, surely). In fact, I didn't even watch all of it tonight -- I caught it on TV once it was already a little way in. Maybe I'll rewatch it 'properly' sometime soon.
Music
Synthesis by Evanescence
Only just found out about this album. I used to be a big fan of Evanescence back in the day. Now... well, I quite liked this. I wasn't sure the first time, but I've already listened to it a couple of times and it grew on me.
Only just found out about this album. I used to be a big fan of Evanescence back in the day. Now... well, I quite liked this. I wasn't sure the first time, but I've already listened to it a couple of times and it grew on me.
this week on 100 Films
Just 2 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)
More next Sunday.
When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
Written by the queen of the romcom, Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally is almost a deconstruction of the genre: its titular protagonists are just friends, but (the film asks) can a man and a woman ever be ‘just friends’? It perhaps feels like a dated question today, when almost 30 more years of gender equality have pushed heavily towards the answer being “yes, of course”, but that doesn’t matter for two very good reasons: first, the film still stands as an insight into the nature of relationships in the ’80s and ’90s; and second, it’s just a really good film.Read more here.
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (1965)
The eleventh film in the Zatoichi series is perhaps the first one that could legitimately be described as bad. It’s not outright terrible, but the plot doesn’t hold together very well, and there are only a couple of redeeming scenes.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 11 August 2018
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Despite what I said last week, this turns out to be a regular-ish-sized update -- stuff took longer than expect to arrive, basically. I'm also away from home currently, so it'll be a bit longer still before they get added.
Number of titles in collection: 2,137 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,158 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 979 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,444 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,383 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 8,104 [no change]
Number of short films: 619 [no change]
See you in a fortnight, faithful reader.
Despite what I said last week, this turns out to be a regular-ish-sized update -- stuff took longer than expect to arrive, basically. I'm also away from home currently, so it'll be a bit longer still before they get added.
Number of titles in collection: 2,137 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,158 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 979 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,444 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,383 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 8,104 [no change]
Number of short films: 619 [no change]
See you in a fortnight, faithful reader.
Friday, 10 August 2018
Monday, 6 August 2018
Sunday, 5 August 2018
TV
Lupin the 3rd: Part IV
1x07 Until the Full Moon Passes
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x03 Coming of Age
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x07 Until the Full Moon Passes
Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema
1x03 Coming of Age
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
The Quiet Earth (1985)
[#178 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
+ most of the Blu-ray's extras, including a visual essay, a gallery, and the theatrical trailer (which, much like the original poster, conspires to give away the ending!)
A Quiet Place (2018)
[#177 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[#178 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
+ most of the Blu-ray's extras, including a visual essay, a gallery, and the theatrical trailer (which, much like the original poster, conspires to give away the ending!)
A Quiet Place (2018)
[#177 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Non-Fiction
Space Helmet for a Cow: The Mad, True Story of Doctor Who - Volume 2: 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley
Chapter 11 (pages 192-197)
Chapter 11 (pages 192-197)
this week on 100 Films
It's monthly progress report time at 100 Films in a Year!
Plus, 5 brand-new reviews...
Killing Gunther (2017)
Train to Busan (2016)
Review Roundup: 15-Rated Comedies
More next Sunday.
Plus, 5 brand-new reviews...
Killing Gunther (2017)
As a comedy, I thought it was funny. Not always super original or absolutely hilarious, but ticking enough. As an action movie, some of the single-take assassination scenes are done quite well. It was clearly produced on a low budget, so the action sequences don’t really fulfil on an adrenaline-junkie level, but they work decently in context.Read more here.
Train to Busan (2016)
shunts aside any tiredness you may feel about zombie flicks to demonstrate that, however overdone a genre may seem, there’s almost always room for fresh voices and creativity to produce remarkable workRead more here.
Review Roundup: 15-Rated Comedies
You don’t have to be an adult to like today’s reviewed movies, but… you do have to be a teenager. Still being a teenager would probably help you enjoy them, too.Read more here.
In this roundup: Airplane II: The Sequel, Hot Tub Time Machine, and Sausage Party.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 August 2018
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Three additions this week, all US imports, oddly enough. There should be a lot more next week... provided it turns up before I go away for a bit. Most of those are going to be US imports too -- even more than this week. Funny how things pan out sometimes.
Number of titles in collection: 2,135 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,158 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 977 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,441 [up 5]
Number of films: 2,381 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 8,104 [no change]
Number of short films: 619 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Three additions this week, all US imports, oddly enough. There should be a lot more next week... provided it turns up before I go away for a bit. Most of those are going to be US imports too -- even more than this week. Funny how things pan out sometimes.
Number of titles in collection: 2,135 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,158 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 977 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 5,441 [up 5]
Number of films: 2,381 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 8,104 [no change]
Number of short films: 619 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 3 August 2018
Thursday, 2 August 2018
Non-Fiction
Space Helmet for a Cow: The Mad, True Story of Doctor Who - Volume 2: 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley
Chapter 11 (pages 178-192)
Chapter 11 (pages 178-192)
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
Films
Ant-Man 3D (2015)
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #29
The Way of the Gun (2000)
[#173 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2018 #29
The Way of the Gun (2000)
[#173 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Films
Paul (2011)
[#172 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
[#171 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
[#172 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
[#171 in 100 Films in a Year 2018]
Non-Fiction
Space Helmet for a Cow: The Mad, True Story of Doctor Who - Volume 2: 1990-2013 by Paul Kirkley
Chapter 11 (pages 170-178)
Chapter 11 (pages 170-178)
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