The Crown
2x03 Lisbon
2x04 Beryl
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
6x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
3x04 Ghost's Forge [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
2x02 The Night General
Sunday, 2 August 2020
this week on 100 Films
A new month means another monthly review on 100 Films in a Year...
Plus, 1 new review...
Split Second (1992)
More next Sunday.
Plus, 1 new review...
Split Second (1992)
Rutger Hauer chomps cigars, chocolate, and scenery as Harley Stone, a badass rogue cop on the hunt for the serial killer who murdered his partner... It starts out almost like budget Blade Runner — it’s the future (so we’re told); it’s night; it’s raining; a hardbitten cop visits a seedy nightclub; etc. But then we get Stone’s first line of dialogue, which comes after a guard dog barks at him. He flashes his warrant card — at the dog — and says “police, dickhead.” To the dog. It’s hilariously terrible and awesome in one fell swoop.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
There were 13 new additions this week, a pile of them arriving last-minute, hence this delayed update -- especially as many weren't just simple additions.
For example, I bought two Hitchcock films on Blu-ray that I already own on DVD as part of a box set. That set is of six films, five of which I now own on Blu-ray. The sixth film isn't available on Blu, so I can't just upgrade the whole set. Normally I'd either have to lose that sixth film or keep the entire box set. But, fortunately, the films are in individual cases and, uncommonly, have individual barcodes, so I can split up the set and sell five of the six. So, in this case, the Blu-ray count goes up, the DVD count stays the same, but the film count goes down, and so does the disc count.
Anyway, with all the various other changes also accounted for, here are the new numbers...
Number of titles in collection: 2,418 [up 9]
Of which DVDs: 1,088 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,330 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 68 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 6,226 [up 10]
Number of films: 2,712 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 176 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 758 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
There were 13 new additions this week, a pile of them arriving last-minute, hence this delayed update -- especially as many weren't just simple additions.
For example, I bought two Hitchcock films on Blu-ray that I already own on DVD as part of a box set. That set is of six films, five of which I now own on Blu-ray. The sixth film isn't available on Blu, so I can't just upgrade the whole set. Normally I'd either have to lose that sixth film or keep the entire box set. But, fortunately, the films are in individual cases and, uncommonly, have individual barcodes, so I can split up the set and sell five of the six. So, in this case, the Blu-ray count goes up, the DVD count stays the same, but the film count goes down, and so does the disc count.
Anyway, with all the various other changes also accounted for, here are the new numbers...
Number of titles in collection: 2,418 [up 9]
Of which DVDs: 1,088 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,330 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 68 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 6,226 [up 10]
Number of films: 2,712 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 176 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 758 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 1 August 2020
TV
Agatha Raisin
3x02 The Deadly Dance
The Great British Bake Off
10x02 Biscuit Week
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
3x03 The Omega Man [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
2x01 Impact
3x02 The Deadly Dance
The Great British Bake Off
10x02 Biscuit Week
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
3x03 The Omega Man [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
2x01 Impact
Friday, 31 July 2020
TV
The Crown
2x01 Misadventure
2x02 A Company of Men
It's over three years since I watched season one! I hadn't given up on it, just hadn't got round to it.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Jonathan Creek
3x02 The Eyes of Tiresias [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x01 Misadventure
2x02 A Company of Men
It's over three years since I watched season one! I hadn't given up on it, just hadn't got round to it.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Jonathan Creek
3x02 The Eyes of Tiresias [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 30 July 2020
TV
Friday Night Dinner
6x01 The Caravan
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
6x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
3x01 The Curious Tale of Mr Spearfish [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x01 The Caravan
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
6x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
3x01 The Curious Tale of Mr Spearfish [2nd watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 29 July 2020
TV
The Great British Bake Off
10x01 Cake Week
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
2x07 Black Canary [Christmas special; 2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
10x01 Cake Week
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
2x07 Black Canary [Christmas special; 2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Films
Spaceship Earth (2020)
[#182 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Venom (2018)
[#181 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#182 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Venom (2018)
[#181 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Monday, 27 July 2020
Films
The French Connection (1971)
[#180 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Blindspot 2020 #7
+ a couple of the deleted scenes, and a featurette on the film's connections to film noir
[#180 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Blindspot 2020 #7
+ a couple of the deleted scenes, and a featurette on the film's connections to film noir
Sunday, 26 July 2020
this week on 100 Films
My latest TV column headlines the additions to 100 Films in a Year this week...
There was also 1 new film review...
Searching (2018)
More next Sunday.
There was also 1 new film review...
Searching (2018)
When his daughter goes missing, David Kim does the most logical thing in this day and age: he turns to her computer and social media to try to work out where she’s gone. What Searching does to really sell this concept is place us inside the tech: everything we see takes place on the screen of computers... Director Aneesh Chaganty uses the visual concept perfectly... finding new ways to use the limitations to tell the story.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 25 July 2020
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Every time I try to slow my purchasing, new sales and offers come along. So there are another six new titles this week, with a bunch more in the post and on order.
Of particular note this time is Master of Cinema's set of Bela Lugosi-starring Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, which includes an alternate cut of one of the three films, hidden as an Easter egg. This doesn't seem to have been widely reported. Indeed, if I hadn't had to look up a review to get the running times of the individual films, I would've missed that fact -- that one review seems to be the only place it's been mentioned anywhere!
Number of titles in collection: 2,409 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,089 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,320 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 64 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,216 [up 8]
Number of films: 2,708 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 176 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 756 [no change]
In the midst of all that going on, it's also time again for a monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
452 days, 19 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day and 10 hours (exactly) from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Every time I try to slow my purchasing, new sales and offers come along. So there are another six new titles this week, with a bunch more in the post and on order.
Of particular note this time is Master of Cinema's set of Bela Lugosi-starring Edgar Allen Poe adaptations, which includes an alternate cut of one of the three films, hidden as an Easter egg. This doesn't seem to have been widely reported. Indeed, if I hadn't had to look up a review to get the running times of the individual films, I would've missed that fact -- that one review seems to be the only place it's been mentioned anywhere!
Number of titles in collection: 2,409 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,089 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,320 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 64 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,216 [up 8]
Number of films: 2,708 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 176 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 756 [no change]
In the midst of all that going on, it's also time again for a monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
452 days, 19 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 1 day and 10 hours (exactly) from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 24 July 2020
Films
Bloodshot (2020)
[#178 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Le Mans ’66 (2019)
[#177 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
aka Ford v Ferrari
[#178 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Le Mans ’66 (2019)
[#177 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
aka Ford v Ferrari
Wednesday, 22 July 2020
Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Monday, 20 July 2020
Films
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
[#176 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
And a submarine double-bill...
Hunter Killer (2018)
[#175 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Wolf's Call (2019)
[#174 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#176 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
And a submarine double-bill...
Hunter Killer (2018)
[#175 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Wolf's Call (2019)
[#174 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Sunday, 19 July 2020
Films
Hamilton (2020)
[2nd watch]
The final 55 minutes + credits.
Love on a Leash (2011)
[#173 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[2nd watch]
The final 55 minutes + credits.
Love on a Leash (2011)
[#173 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
The Three Caballeros (1944)
More next Sunday.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019)
The opening few minutes of The Last Black Man in San Francisco are some of the most visually extraordinary I remember seeing from a film in a while. Well, it begins with two men waiting at a bus stop, but when the bus doesn’t arrive… cinema happens. If the rest of the film had been terrible, I’d have been ok with watching it just to have seen that.Read more here.
The Three Caballeros (1944)
technically, the first sequel in the Disney Canon... [it's] considerably more enjoyable than its predecessor. Its depiction of South America is perhaps a little more twee, leaning on culture and tradition rather than the modern cityscapes that were so important to the impact of the first film, but that doesn’t grate too much because it’s not striving so hard to be educational. Because of that, it’s also able to be more straightforwardly entertaining.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 18 July 2020
TV
The Twilight Zone
2x25 The Silence
+ the audio commentary by TZ expert Marc Scott Zicree & comic book writer Marv Wolfman
2x25 The Silence
+ the audio commentary by TZ expert Marc Scott Zicree & comic book writer Marv Wolfman
Films
Hamilton (2020)
[2nd watch]
I decided to embrace watching it in chunks, so took in another 50-or-so minutes. Intend to finish it tomorrow, and do a proper one-sitting rewatch at a later date.
Safety Last! (1923)
[#172 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ some extras from the Criterion Blu-ray, including the introduction by Suzanne Lloyd and the Locations and Effects featurette
[2nd watch]
I decided to embrace watching it in chunks, so took in another 50-or-so minutes. Intend to finish it tomorrow, and do a proper one-sitting rewatch at a later date.
Safety Last! (1923)
[#172 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ some extras from the Criterion Blu-ray, including the introduction by Suzanne Lloyd and the Locations and Effects featurette
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Yeah, I'm back buying again -- eight new additions this week, no upgrades (well, one I already own on DVD, but it's in a box set with loads of other stuff so it's going nowhere), and even more on order (some from the US, so they might not arrive for a month yet).
Number of titles in collection: 2,404 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,314 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,208 [up 10]
Number of films: 2,701 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 175 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 756 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Yeah, I'm back buying again -- eight new additions this week, no upgrades (well, one I already own on DVD, but it's in a box set with loads of other stuff so it's going nowhere), and even more on order (some from the US, so they might not arrive for a month yet).
Number of titles in collection: 2,404 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,314 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,208 [up 10]
Number of films: 2,701 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 175 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 756 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 17 July 2020
Films
Hamilton (2020)
[2nd watch?]
Only rewatched the first 45 minutes-ish so far (for various reasons), which feels like too much to not mention, but isn't really full rewatch (yet), so...
Lady Bird (2017)
[#171 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[2nd watch?]
Only rewatched the first 45 minutes-ish so far (for various reasons), which feels like too much to not mention, but isn't really full rewatch (yet), so...
Lady Bird (2017)
[#171 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Thursday, 16 July 2020
TV
Star Trek: Picard
1x10 Et in Arcadia Ego Part 2 [season finale]
It’s only taken me six months, but I finished it! Hurrah.
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
The Twilight Zone
1x29 Nightmare as a Child
2x18 The Odyssey of Flight 33
+ the start of the commentary on Flight 33, which is not by the usual commentator, Marc Scott Zicree. I only listened to the start because it was a bit dull. As overly-enthusiastic and motormouthed as Zicree is, at least it makes his commentaries speedy and attention-grabbing.
1x10 Et in Arcadia Ego Part 2 [season finale]
It’s only taken me six months, but I finished it! Hurrah.
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
The Twilight Zone
1x29 Nightmare as a Child
2x18 The Odyssey of Flight 33
+ the start of the commentary on Flight 33, which is not by the usual commentator, Marc Scott Zicree. I only listened to the start because it was a bit dull. As overly-enthusiastic and motormouthed as Zicree is, at least it makes his commentaries speedy and attention-grabbing.
Wednesday, 15 July 2020
Tuesday, 14 July 2020
Monday, 13 July 2020
Films
Dangal (2016)
[#166 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Lighthouse (2019)
[#167 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ some of The Lighthouse's special features. The two deleted scenes are... odd. They’re incredibly short (less than 3 minutes combined, and quite a chunk of that is clips to put them in context) and they don’t really add much, especially the second one. I don’t know why they bothered to put them on the disc, to be honest, except maybe as some kind of joke. “Do you have any deleted scenes? People love deleted scenes.” “Um... yeah, have these... *snigger*” I also listened to the first ten minutes of the commentary, which had some interesting titbits but was a little sparse. The only other feature is a 37-minute making-of, which I might make time for later.
[#166 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Lighthouse (2019)
[#167 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ some of The Lighthouse's special features. The two deleted scenes are... odd. They’re incredibly short (less than 3 minutes combined, and quite a chunk of that is clips to put them in context) and they don’t really add much, especially the second one. I don’t know why they bothered to put them on the disc, to be honest, except maybe as some kind of joke. “Do you have any deleted scenes? People love deleted scenes.” “Um... yeah, have these... *snigger*” I also listened to the first ten minutes of the commentary, which had some interesting titbits but was a little sparse. The only other feature is a 37-minute making-of, which I might make time for later.
Sunday, 12 July 2020
this week on 100 Films
A whopping 11 new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
The Equalizer 2 (2018)
Greyhound (2020)
It Chapter Two (2019)
The Old Guard (2020)
The 100-Week Roundup VII
The 100-Week Roundup VIII
More next Sunday.
The Equalizer 2 (2018)
It isn’t a terrible film, but it is quite a boring one. Not just slow paced — genuinely boring. A raft of subplots don’t really go anywhere or serve any purpose, the main story is incredibly thin, and the limited action sequences do little to balance the books.Read more here.
Greyhound (2020)
The threat of the U-boats is ever present, a constant danger that leaves our men pinging from one crisis to the next... Combined with the brief running time, it feels like the film doesn’t let up. This isn’t some stately drama about men at sea who are occasionally forced to take potshots at an unseen enemy, but an action movie; only instead of men clashing with kung fu or guns, its boats and subs fighting with torpedos and, um, trigonometry. The result is tight, tense, and thrilling.Read more here.
It Chapter Two (2019)
I think I liked the film it wanted to be (using the horror genre as an analogy/examination of growing up and moving on, or not, and how the past differs from our memories even as it defines us) more than the film it actually is (kind of that, but not in enough depth, and with a bunch of unnecessary business thrown in).Read more here.
The Old Guard (2020)
the concept has fundamental similarities to another recent big-budget Netflix actioner, Michael Bay’s 6 Underground. Whereas that was about a band of off-the-grid mercenaries working in secret to try to influence the course of human history for the better by going around shooting bad guys, The Old Guard is about a band of people who can’t die working in secret to try to influence the course of human history for the better by going around shooting bad guys. ... The Old Guard is more blandly acceptable than 6 Underground. And yet it never swings as big as Bay’s films — for all his many faults, his “go big or go home” style has its merits as blockbuster entertainment. Nothing here is going to stick in the memory as much as 6 Underground’s opening car chaseRead more here.
The 100-Week Roundup VII
Featuring...Read more here.
- The Garden of Words
- The Secret in Their Eyes
- Paul
- The Way of the Gun
The 100-Week Roundup VIII
Featuring...Read more here.
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
- The Quiet Earth
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 11 July 2020
Films
Greyhound (2020)
[#164 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ the two short featurettes accompanying it, which are more like trailers with interviews really
Palm Springs (2020)
[#163 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#164 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
+ the two short featurettes accompanying it, which are more like trailers with interviews really
Palm Springs (2020)
[#163 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Two box sets this week, with three discs apiece, one with three films, one with just one. Ah, the whims of disc producers...
Number of titles in collection: 2,396 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,306 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,198 [up 6]
Number of films: 2,693 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 754 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Two box sets this week, with three discs apiece, one with three films, one with just one. Ah, the whims of disc producers...
Number of titles in collection: 2,396 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,306 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,198 [up 6]
Number of films: 2,693 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [no change]
Number of short films: 754 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 10 July 2020
Thursday, 9 July 2020
TV
Hamilton's America
A documentary that aired on PBS in the US after the Hamilton phenomenon and truly taken hold. Part making-of, part history lesson, it’s full of insight into both, so it's a shame Disney+ couldn't get this (or didn't try, I dunno) to accompany the film -- I think a lot of people who’ve enjoyed the film would enjoy this as a chaser. Definitely worth a watch if you can track it down.
Star Trek: Picard
1x09 Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
A documentary that aired on PBS in the US after the Hamilton phenomenon and truly taken hold. Part making-of, part history lesson, it’s full of insight into both, so it's a shame Disney+ couldn't get this (or didn't try, I dunno) to accompany the film -- I think a lot of people who’ve enjoyed the film would enjoy this as a chaser. Definitely worth a watch if you can track it down.
Star Trek: Picard
1x09 Et in Arcadia Ego Part 1
[Watch it (again) on Prime Video.]
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
Tuesday, 7 July 2020
Films
Make Mine Music (1946)
[#160 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Plus...
David Lynch Cooks Quinoa (2007)
[#159a in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
"Shia LaBeouf" Live
[Watch it (again) on YouTube]
Both of these are counted as short films on this list on Letterboxd, but I'd argue the Shia LaBeouf one is actually a comedy skit and/or music video. The Lynch one is originally a DVD special feature, but I'm gonna let it count, as much as anything with the purpose of writing about the weirdness of that list on 100 Films.
[#160 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Plus...
David Lynch Cooks Quinoa (2007)
[#159a in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
"Shia LaBeouf" Live
[Watch it (again) on YouTube]
Both of these are counted as short films on this list on Letterboxd, but I'd argue the Shia LaBeouf one is actually a comedy skit and/or music video. The Lynch one is originally a DVD special feature, but I'm gonna let it count, as much as anything with the purpose of writing about the weirdness of that list on 100 Films.
Monday, 6 July 2020
Films
A Dog's Will (2000)
[#159 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The 8th greatest film of all time according to Letterboxd users.
[#159 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The 8th greatest film of all time according to Letterboxd users.
Sunday, 5 July 2020
TV
Celebrity Mastermind
2019/2020 Episode 5 (of 10)
Elementary
6x20 Fit to Be Tied
6x21 Whatever Remains, However Improbable [season finale]
Jonathan Creek
2x06 Mother Redcap [season finale; 2nd or so watch]
Regarding my ongoing dilemma about how many times I've seen these episodes, the more of the series I watch, the more I suspect I had the first series on VHS and watched it more than once, but only saw the second series onwards when it aired. (Not that this matters to anyone besides me and my weird completism for counting rewatches!)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2019/2020 Episode 5 (of 10)
Elementary
6x20 Fit to Be Tied
6x21 Whatever Remains, However Improbable [season finale]
Jonathan Creek
2x06 Mother Redcap [season finale; 2nd or so watch]
Regarding my ongoing dilemma about how many times I've seen these episodes, the more of the series I watch, the more I suspect I had the first series on VHS and watched it more than once, but only saw the second series onwards when it aired. (Not that this matters to anyone besides me and my weird completism for counting rewatches!)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
Just 1 new review on 100 Films in a Year this week, but it was a big one...
Hamilton (2020)
It was also the start of a new month, so there was my usual review of the old one...
More next Sunday.
Hamilton (2020)
it doesn’t feel like a mere stopgap until they film it ‘properly’, nor a “that’ll do” stand-in for a real theatrical performance, but instead like a legitimate experience in its own right. Hamilton is a masterpiece, and getting to see it performed by the original cast in its original staging via a film so carefully and lovingly crafted is an absolute thrill.Read more here.
It was also the start of a new month, so there was my usual review of the old one...
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 July 2020
TV
Agatha Raisin
3x01 The Haunted House
Celebrity Mastermind
2019/2020 Episode 3 (of 10)
Elementary
6x19 The Geek Interpreter
3x01 The Haunted House
Celebrity Mastermind
2019/2020 Episode 3 (of 10)
Elementary
6x19 The Geek Interpreter
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's only new addition is that missing Red Dwarf series from last week, which means I now own the complete show on Blu-ray. Hurrah. Now just to watch it...
Number of titles in collection: 2,394 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,304 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,192 [up 2]
Number of films: 2,689 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [up 6]
Number of short films: 754 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's only new addition is that missing Red Dwarf series from last week, which means I now own the complete show on Blu-ray. Hurrah. Now just to watch it...
Number of titles in collection: 2,394 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,304 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,192 [up 2]
Number of films: 2,689 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,935 [up 6]
Number of short films: 754 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 3 July 2020
Thursday, 2 July 2020
TV
Elementary
6x18 The Visions of Norman P. Horowitz
Jonathan Creek
2x04 The Problem at Gallows Gate Part One [2nd or so watch]
2x05 The Problem at Gallows Gate Part Two [2nd or so watch]
[Watch parts one and two (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x05 Ulysses
1x06 The Cookie Jar [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
6x18 The Visions of Norman P. Horowitz
Jonathan Creek
2x04 The Problem at Gallows Gate Part One [2nd or so watch]
2x05 The Problem at Gallows Gate Part Two [2nd or so watch]
[Watch parts one and two (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x05 Ulysses
1x06 The Cookie Jar [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
TV
Elementary
6x17 The Worms Crawl In, the Worms Crawl Out
Jonathan Creek
2x03 The Scented Room [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x03 Who the F#!k is Michael Sheen?
1x04 Bara Brith
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
6x17 The Worms Crawl In, the Worms Crawl Out
Jonathan Creek
2x03 The Scented Room [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x03 Who the F#!k is Michael Sheen?
1x04 Bara Brith
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
The Ipcress File (1965)
[#156 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
As part of Blindspot 2020, a leftover from Blindspot 2019.
[#156 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
As part of Blindspot 2020, a leftover from Blindspot 2019.
Tuesday, 30 June 2020
Monday, 29 June 2020
TV
Elementary
6x16 Uncanny Valley of the Dolls
Jonathan Creek
2x01 Danse Macabre [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x01 Cachu Hwch
1x02 Up to No Good
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
6x16 Uncanny Valley of the Dolls
Jonathan Creek
2x01 Danse Macabre [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
1x01 Cachu Hwch
1x02 Up to No Good
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 28 June 2020
this week on 100 Films
5 new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
The 100-Week Roundup VI
More next Sunday.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Sporadically funny; often dated; with tired and rehashed routines; longer than Alexander Lemtov’s penis; and surprisingly emotional at the end… Actually, maybe The Story of Fire Saga is like Eurovision after all.Read more here.
The 100-Week Roundup VI
Featuring...Read more here.
- The Day the Earth Stood Still
- Full Metal Jacket
- Wind River
- Body of Lies
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 27 June 2020
TV
The Twilight Zone
1x11 And When the Sky Was Opened
1x14 Third from the Sun
+ the audio commentary by TZ expert Marc Scott Zicree & TV producer David Simkins on Third from the Sun
1x11 And When the Sky Was Opened
1x14 Third from the Sun
+ the audio commentary by TZ expert Marc Scott Zicree & TV producer David Simkins on Third from the Sun
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After upgrading Red Dwarf I-VIII to Blu-ray last week, as well as buying the latest 'series', I decided to complete my collection, which means an upgrade for Back to Earth and new purchases for X to XII (I hadn't bought them before because I was torn between getting DVDs to match the rest of my collection or buying Blu-rays because they're better quality. Upgrading the older series settled that debate). Unfortunately, XI turned up damaged, so that'll get added to the stats when a replacement arrives.
This week was mostly TV-based, as I also bought the miniseries versions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Watchmen. Five seasons of TV totals 28 episodes added -- you can tell they're mostly not US series, eh?
Number of titles in collection: 2,393 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,303 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,190 [up 12]
Number of films: 2,689 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,929 [up 28]
Number of short films: 754 [up 3]
It's also time for the monthly running time update. It's felt like a fairly busy four weeks, but what effect has it had?
Total running time of collection (approx.):
451 days, 9 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 3 days and 55 minutes from last month.)
Not a small amount by any means, but not as big as last month, nor that really big month earlier this year.
See you next week, faithful reader.
After upgrading Red Dwarf I-VIII to Blu-ray last week, as well as buying the latest 'series', I decided to complete my collection, which means an upgrade for Back to Earth and new purchases for X to XII (I hadn't bought them before because I was torn between getting DVDs to match the rest of my collection or buying Blu-rays because they're better quality. Upgrading the older series settled that debate). Unfortunately, XI turned up damaged, so that'll get added to the stats when a replacement arrives.
This week was mostly TV-based, as I also bought the miniseries versions of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Watchmen. Five seasons of TV totals 28 episodes added -- you can tell they're mostly not US series, eh?
Number of titles in collection: 2,393 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,090 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,303 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 63 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,190 [up 12]
Number of films: 2,689 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,929 [up 28]
Number of short films: 754 [up 3]
It's also time for the monthly running time update. It's felt like a fairly busy four weeks, but what effect has it had?
Total running time of collection (approx.):
451 days, 9 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 3 days and 55 minutes from last month.)
Not a small amount by any means, but not as big as last month, nor that really big month earlier this year.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 26 June 2020
Films
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
[#153 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Polytechnique (2009)
[#152 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#153 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Polytechnique (2009)
[#152 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Thursday, 25 June 2020
Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Films
Man on Wire (2008)
[#149 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010)
[#150 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
What do you mean you've never heard of it? It's the 243rd greatest film of all time!
[#149 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010)
[#150 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
What do you mean you've never heard of it? It's the 243rd greatest film of all time!
Tuesday, 23 June 2020
Films
Chicken Run (2000)
[#148 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Crawl (2019)
[#147 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#148 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Crawl (2019)
[#147 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Monday, 22 June 2020
Sunday, 21 June 2020
TV
Hey Duggee
2x44 The Comedy Badge
Apparently this is my little nephew's favourite show, so we thought we'd watch an episode. It was actually quite fun (as programmes aimed at 2-to-5-year-olds go).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Shelf Isolation
1x02 Denise Mina
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The South Bank Show [Sky Arts]
5x01 George R.R. Martin
This was filmed back in 2015, when Martin was being criticised for taking so long to finish The Winds of Winter. Five years on, there's still no publication date in sight.
2x44 The Comedy Badge
Apparently this is my little nephew's favourite show, so we thought we'd watch an episode. It was actually quite fun (as programmes aimed at 2-to-5-year-olds go).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Shelf Isolation
1x02 Denise Mina
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The South Bank Show [Sky Arts]
5x01 George R.R. Martin
This was filmed back in 2015, when Martin was being criticised for taking so long to finish The Winds of Winter. Five years on, there's still no publication date in sight.
Films
Do the Right Thing (1989)
[#145 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Blindspot 2020 #6
+ a look through some of the Criterion Blu-ray's special features, including one where Spike Lee reads out some of the contemporary racist reactions from the mainstream media
[#145 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Blindspot 2020 #6
+ a look through some of the Criterion Blu-ray's special features, including one where Spike Lee reads out some of the contemporary racist reactions from the mainstream media
this week on 100 Films
7 new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week...
Gemini Man (2019)
Tomb Raider 3D (2018)
The 100-Week Roundup V
More next Sunday.
Gemini Man (2019)
a film that, at every point I can remember it being talked about, was discussed more for its various technical feats than anything else. Partly that’s because there are a couple of angles. Firstly, the most obvious: it stars Will Smith as an ageing assassin who must fight… a 25-years-younger Will Smith, achieved with motion capture and CGI. Secondly, director Ang Lee shot it in 3D 4K HFR — that’s High Frame Rate, if you don’t know, with the picture running at 120 frames per second rather than the 24fps we’ve been used to for the past 90-odd years. Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that Gemini Man often feels more like a tech demo with a plot grafted onto it than it does a fully functioning movie in its own right.Read more here.
Tomb Raider 3D (2018)
successfully recreates the running, jumping, shooting, puzzle-solving action of its inspiration without too overtly abandoning real-life logic for video game logic. Well, I say “real-life logic” — it’s actually “action/adventure movie logic”, but I think that’s allowed in an action/adventure movie. As an entry in that genre, it’s fun enough. It’s not going to compete for greatest-of-all-time status with its urtext, the Indiana Jones films, nor does it quite challenge the heights of more-overt homages like The Mummy, but it’s not a bad couple of hours’ entertainment in their mould.Read more here.
The 100-Week Roundup V
Featuring...Read more here.
- Blade of the Immortal
- Cash on Demand
- Free Enterprise
- Iron Monkey
- Muppet Treasure Island
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 20 June 2020
Films
7500 (2019)
[#144 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Tomb Raider 3D (2018)
[#143 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#144 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Tomb Raider 3D (2018)
[#143 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Oh dear, I'm at it again: although it doesn't beat the new record I set back in April, this week slots into second place in the rankings of my most new purchases in one week, with 16... not that you'd know it from looking at the top stat. That's thanks to one box set replacing eight previous individual releases (Red Dwarf series I-VIII), and kept low by three more DVD-to-BD upgrades.
Hidden by that drop in DVD numbers is a rare purchase on the format (I say "rare": the last time I bought a DVD was only two weeks ago. You wait ages for one to come along, etc).
Number of titles in collection: 2,387 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [down 10]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,296 [up 15]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 62 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,178 [up 15]
Number of films: 2,687 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 8,901 [up 1]
Number of short films: 751 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Oh dear, I'm at it again: although it doesn't beat the new record I set back in April, this week slots into second place in the rankings of my most new purchases in one week, with 16... not that you'd know it from looking at the top stat. That's thanks to one box set replacing eight previous individual releases (Red Dwarf series I-VIII), and kept low by three more DVD-to-BD upgrades.
Hidden by that drop in DVD numbers is a rare purchase on the format (I say "rare": the last time I bought a DVD was only two weeks ago. You wait ages for one to come along, etc).
Number of titles in collection: 2,387 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [down 10]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,296 [up 15]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 62 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,178 [up 15]
Number of films: 2,687 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 174 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 8,901 [up 1]
Number of short films: 751 [up 2]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 19 June 2020
Theatre
Fleabag
Available to rent via Amazon, the original one-woman stage version of the successful TV show. I've never seen the TV version, so I guess I didn't quite know what to expect from this -- more than just "a comedy", given the level and kind of praise it's attracted. But jeez, I wasn't expecting it to get so dark. Lovers of small furry animals, beware.
Available to rent via Amazon, the original one-woman stage version of the successful TV show. I've never seen the TV version, so I guess I didn't quite know what to expect from this -- more than just "a comedy", given the level and kind of praise it's attracted. But jeez, I wasn't expecting it to get so dark. Lovers of small furry animals, beware.
Thursday, 18 June 2020
Films
Gemini Man (2019)
[#141 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
On 4K UltraHD Blu-ray, where it's also in high frame rate (HFR) at 60fps (as opposed to the usual 24fps. It was actually shot at 120fps, but nothing supports that. And it was shot in 3D, but 4K doesn't do 3D, annoyingly).
[#141 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
On 4K UltraHD Blu-ray, where it's also in high frame rate (HFR) at 60fps (as opposed to the usual 24fps. It was actually shot at 120fps, but nothing supports that. And it was shot in 3D, but 4K doesn't do 3D, annoyingly).
Articles
How A Filmmaker Got The No. 1 Movie In America During A Pandemic
by Lisa Finn (from Patch)
In short: they made a short horror film on Zoom, rented a cinema to screen it, bought all the tickets, and with virtually nothing else showing that was enough to get them to #1. Ingenious. The short is now available to rent online, so maybe I will...
by Lisa Finn (from Patch)
In short: they made a short horror film on Zoom, rented a cinema to screen it, bought all the tickets, and with virtually nothing else showing that was enough to get them to #1. Ingenious. The short is now available to rent online, so maybe I will...
Wednesday, 17 June 2020
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
Monday, 15 June 2020
Films
The Old Dark House (1932)
[#137 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Rhythm Section (2020)
[#138 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
[#137 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
The Rhythm Section (2020)
[#138 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
Sunday, 14 June 2020
this week on 100 Films
No new film reviews over at 100 Films in a Year this week, but there was a new TV column...
More next Sunday.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 13 June 2020
TV
Macbeth
The Royal Shakespeare Company production from 2018, starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack. It's already available on iPlayer as part of the Culture in Quarantine series, and will also be shown on BBC Four tomorrow (Sunday) night. I posted some thoughts on Letterboxd, and will expand on them further in my next 100 Films TV column.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Royal Shakespeare Company production from 2018, starring Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack. It's already available on iPlayer as part of the Culture in Quarantine series, and will also be shown on BBC Four tomorrow (Sunday) night. I posted some thoughts on Letterboxd, and will expand on them further in my next 100 Films TV column.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
For once, this week's updates are exactly what you see -- no upgrades, partial or full; no hidden recounts -- just four new titles, with nine discs between them, containing 11 feature-length films and 15 short films.
But there's a bunch of stuff currently in the post or on order that should make next week's update both fairly big (if they all turn up) and as fiddly as normal.
Number of titles in collection: 2,382 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,281 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 62 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,163 [up 9]
Number of films: 2,674 [up 11]
Number of additional cuts: 172 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,900 [no change]
Number of short films: 749 [up 15]
See you next week, faithful reader.
For once, this week's updates are exactly what you see -- no upgrades, partial or full; no hidden recounts -- just four new titles, with nine discs between them, containing 11 feature-length films and 15 short films.
But there's a bunch of stuff currently in the post or on order that should make next week's update both fairly big (if they all turn up) and as fiddly as normal.
Number of titles in collection: 2,382 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,101 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,281 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 62 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,163 [up 9]
Number of films: 2,674 [up 11]
Number of additional cuts: 172 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 8,900 [no change]
Number of short films: 749 [up 15]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 12 June 2020
TV
Daniel Sloss: X
Only just found out about this, because it hasn't had a proper UK release. It's well worth seeking out, though -- both hilarious and insightful.
Only just found out about this, because it hasn't had a proper UK release. It's well worth seeking out, though -- both hilarious and insightful.
Thursday, 11 June 2020
Wednesday, 10 June 2020
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
TV
The Great British Bake Off
9x10 Final [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x05 The House of Monkeys [season finale; 2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
9x10 Final [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x10 Episode 10 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x05 The House of Monkeys [season finale; 2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 8 June 2020
TV
Elementary
6x13 Breathe
Grantchester
5x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
The Great British Bake Off
9x09 Pâtisserie
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x04 No Trace of Tracy [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x13 Breathe
Grantchester
5x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
The Great British Bake Off
9x09 Pâtisserie
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x09 Episode 9
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x04 No Trace of Tracy [2nd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 7 June 2020
TV
Grantchester
5x05 Episode 5
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x03 The Reconstituted Corpse [3rd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
5x05 Episode 5
The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice
5x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on All 4.]
Jonathan Creek
1x03 The Reconstituted Corpse [3rd or so watch]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Gambit (1966)
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2020 #28
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
[#132 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
aka The Gay Divorce on iPlayer
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2020 #28
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
[#132 in 100 Films in a Year 2020]
aka The Gay Divorce on iPlayer
this week on 100 Films
No reviews at 100 Films in a Year this week, but there were a couple of other posts. Firstly, a new month began this week (yep, that was only this week), so, as always, it was time to look back at the one just gone...
I also reached my 2,000th film. It was...
Click/tap the picture for more about that.
More (hopefully reviews) next Sunday.
I also reached my 2,000th film. It was...
Click/tap the picture for more about that.
More (hopefully reviews) next Sunday.
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