Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
As discussed last time (aka "the day before yesterday"), although this update comes hot on the heels of the last one, it still represents a full week's worth of new additions to my collection... it's just that everything here arrived yesterday morning, is all.
The main contingent is a ten-title order from the US that I placed way back in March and expected to arrive almost a whole month ago now. Well, better late than never.
Number of titles in collection: 3,079 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,050 [up 11]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 255 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,572 [up 16]
Number of films: 3,774 [up 12]
Number of additional cuts: 314 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,051 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Sunday, 7 May 2023
Saturday, 6 May 2023
TV
The Coronation of TM King Charles III and Queen Camilla
The Preparation
The Coronation
The Celebration
A Day to Remember
More history, innit?
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
The Preparation
The Coronation
The Celebration
A Day to Remember
More history, innit?
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
Fiction
On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson
Chapters 1–2
My copy of this much-anticipated new Bond novel (novella, really) turned up today — better than some people, I hear, because Amazon have predicted delivery dates weeks in the future, even for preorders. Shame, especially as it actually starts on May 4th, the release day. Well, so the marketing emphasised — that's actually a flashforward, with the main action beginning back in March. Probably for the best — the coronation tie-in plot could already be a bit gimmicky, so not actually leaning into a "read it in real-time" gimmick as well is good.
Chapters 1–2
My copy of this much-anticipated new Bond novel (novella, really) turned up today — better than some people, I hear, because Amazon have predicted delivery dates weeks in the future, even for preorders. Shame, especially as it actually starts on May 4th, the release day. Well, so the marketing emphasised — that's actually a flashforward, with the main action beginning back in March. Probably for the best — the coronation tie-in plot could already be a bit gimmicky, so not actually leaning into a "read it in real-time" gimmick as well is good.
Friday, 5 May 2023
TV
The Eve of the Coronation
Well, I half watched it — had it on while I did other things. It's history, innit?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Well, I half watched it — had it on while I did other things. It's history, innit?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Well, "every week" has gone slightly out the window this time: this update should've been posted last Saturday, but I've been too busy to work out the additions (the final result may look simple, but there were a few "am I replacing that DVD?" issues to consider), and so it's gradually slipped until it's almost a full 7 days late. I'm sure no one cares — I could just post a new update tomorrow and be done with — but, well, I care. A little bit.
So, here's the final update for April — only about 15 hours short of being an entire week late compared to its usual posting time. But nothing new arrived in that time, so it's still accurate to last Saturday. But a bunch of stuff is going to arrive tomorrow morning, so I still intend to post another "weekly" update over the weekend. Yeah, I buy too much stuff...
Number of titles in collection: 3,068 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,039 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 253 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,556 [up 14]
Number of films: 3,762 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 313 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,046 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Well, "every week" has gone slightly out the window this time: this update should've been posted last Saturday, but I've been too busy to work out the additions (the final result may look simple, but there were a few "am I replacing that DVD?" issues to consider), and so it's gradually slipped until it's almost a full 7 days late. I'm sure no one cares — I could just post a new update tomorrow and be done with — but, well, I care. A little bit.
So, here's the final update for April — only about 15 hours short of being an entire week late compared to its usual posting time. But nothing new arrived in that time, so it's still accurate to last Saturday. But a bunch of stuff is going to arrive tomorrow morning, so I still intend to post another "weekly" update over the weekend. Yeah, I buy too much stuff...
Number of titles in collection: 3,068 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,039 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 253 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 7,556 [up 14]
Number of films: 3,762 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 313 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,046 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Wednesday, 3 May 2023
Tuesday, 2 May 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x03 (28/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x03 (28/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 1 May 2023
Films
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King — Extended Edition (2003/2004)
[5th or so watch]
[#34 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Perfect way to spend a Bank Holiday weekend: a Lord of the Rings film each day, all in 4K quality. As I said about Fellowship, the lack of grain only bothered me a few times, while several bits looked extra-spectacular thanks to the HDR colours.
[5th or so watch]
[#34 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Perfect way to spend a Bank Holiday weekend: a Lord of the Rings film each day, all in 4K quality. As I said about Fellowship, the lack of grain only bothered me a few times, while several bits looked extra-spectacular thanks to the HDR colours.
Sunday, 30 April 2023
Films
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers — Extended Edition (2002/2003)
[5th or so watch]
[#33 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I go back and forth on my feelings about Two Towers almost every time I watch it. No doubt it has phenomenal bits — some of my most favourite lines, shots, scenes, and characters from the entire trilogy are to be found here. But I’ve often found it to be, overall, a bit of a slog — a film that takes a long time to get going, and which frequently undermines its own flow by doing things like intercutting the phenomenal Helms Deep battle with the deathly-dull Entmoot. Even when I try to mentally prepare myself for that unevenly slow pace, it still sometimes grates. Well, for whatever reason, this is one of the times it didn’t. So that’s nice.
[5th or so watch]
[#33 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I go back and forth on my feelings about Two Towers almost every time I watch it. No doubt it has phenomenal bits — some of my most favourite lines, shots, scenes, and characters from the entire trilogy are to be found here. But I’ve often found it to be, overall, a bit of a slog — a film that takes a long time to get going, and which frequently undermines its own flow by doing things like intercutting the phenomenal Helms Deep battle with the deathly-dull Entmoot. Even when I try to mentally prepare myself for that unevenly slow pace, it still sometimes grates. Well, for whatever reason, this is one of the times it didn’t. So that’s nice.
Saturday, 29 April 2023
Films
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring — Extended Edition (2001/2002)
[5th or so watch]
[#32 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I haven't watched Lord of the Rings since before Covid? Huh — seems like it would've been the perfect thing for lockdown. Mind you, so would the Godfather trilogy, which I've been meaning to rewatch for about 20 years, and I haven't done that either, so...
Part of the reason for the delay was waiting for the 4K versions, then waiting for them to do the 4K release properly, which never happened, so then waiting for the 4K release to be on sale... Finally, I'm there. Worth it? On balance, yeah. The way it’s been scrubbed of grain was occasionally noticeable and disappointing, but overall it looked fab, especially the HDR grade.
[5th or so watch]
[#32 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I haven't watched Lord of the Rings since before Covid? Huh — seems like it would've been the perfect thing for lockdown. Mind you, so would the Godfather trilogy, which I've been meaning to rewatch for about 20 years, and I haven't done that either, so...
Part of the reason for the delay was waiting for the 4K versions, then waiting for them to do the 4K release properly, which never happened, so then waiting for the 4K release to be on sale... Finally, I'm there. Worth it? On balance, yeah. The way it’s been scrubbed of grain was occasionally noticeable and disappointing, but overall it looked fab, especially the HDR grade.
Friday, 28 April 2023
Music
Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
[2nd watch]
Almost four years later, the promised rewatch — yes, from my Blu-ray copy this time. Still a great show; probably Minchin's best all-round one to date.
[2nd watch]
Almost four years later, the promised rewatch — yes, from my Blu-ray copy this time. Still a great show; probably Minchin's best all-round one to date.
Thursday, 27 April 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x47 Week 10: Tuesday
6x48 Week 10: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x47 Week 10: Tuesday
6x48 Week 10: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Fiction
Forever and a Day by Anthony Horowitz
Chapter 19
I started reading this in February 2022 with the intention of finishing it well before Horowitz's third (and final) Bond novel came out in May 2022 — but here we are in bloomin' April 2023, basically a whole year later than I'd intended to finish. And now there's another Bond novel on the horizon (Charlie Higson's On His Majesty's Secret Service, out in nine days), which set me a new deadline (I want to read that as soon as I get it).
And it's not as if I have a mass of the novel left to go, just 54 pages (now 45). I despair of myself; I really need to devote more time to reading.
Chapter 19
I started reading this in February 2022 with the intention of finishing it well before Horowitz's third (and final) Bond novel came out in May 2022 — but here we are in bloomin' April 2023, basically a whole year later than I'd intended to finish. And now there's another Bond novel on the horizon (Charlie Higson's On His Majesty's Secret Service, out in nine days), which set me a new deadline (I want to read that as soon as I get it).
And it's not as if I have a mass of the novel left to go, just 54 pages (now 45). I despair of myself; I really need to devote more time to reading.
Monday, 24 April 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x02 (21/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x02 (21/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 23 April 2023
Saturday, 22 April 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
After a quiet few weeks, hoo boy, did lots drop through my letterbox this week! It's a combination of long-held preorders and caving to a bunch of stuff in sales (including two Arrow titles, two 4K titles, and four Eureka Westerns).
And all of that just in time to be included in the latest monthly running time update, too.
Number of titles in collection: 3,058 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,029 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 249 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,542 [up 18]
Number of films: 3,752 [up 16]
Number of additional cuts: 311 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
537 days, 8 hours, and 58 minutes.
(Up 2 days and 9 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
After a quiet few weeks, hoo boy, did lots drop through my letterbox this week! It's a combination of long-held preorders and caving to a bunch of stuff in sales (including two Arrow titles, two 4K titles, and four Eureka Westerns).
And all of that just in time to be included in the latest monthly running time update, too.
Number of titles in collection: 3,058 [up 10]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,029 [up 10]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 249 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,542 [up 18]
Number of films: 3,752 [up 16]
Number of additional cuts: 311 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
537 days, 8 hours, and 58 minutes.
(Up 2 days and 9 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 21 April 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x01 (14/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x01 (14/4/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 18 April 2023
Sunday, 16 April 2023
Films
Clerks II (2006)
[#29 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the five-minute intro by writer-director Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier. Like the extras on the first Clerks, they chat to camera in a wide-ranging ramble that's only sometimes about the film or the disc. That's their style; it's fine
[#29 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the five-minute intro by writer-director Kevin Smith and producer Scott Mosier. Like the extras on the first Clerks, they chat to camera in a wide-ranging ramble that's only sometimes about the film or the disc. That's their style; it's fine
Saturday, 15 April 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This month's additions include Masters of Cinema's Early Murnau box set — something I've had half an eye on since it came out, but I already owned most of its contents on DVD. But now it's going out of print (it's already sold out on their website), so I finally snapped it up. That results in some shenanigans below, what with it being a single release containing three discs and five films that replaces three titles containing four discs and four films.
Number of titles in collection: 3,048 [down 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,019 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 246 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,524 [no change]
Number of films: 3,736 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This month's additions include Masters of Cinema's Early Murnau box set — something I've had half an eye on since it came out, but I already owned most of its contents on DVD. But now it's going out of print (it's already sold out on their website), so I finally snapped it up. That results in some shenanigans below, what with it being a single release containing three discs and five films that replaces three titles containing four discs and four films.
Number of titles in collection: 3,048 [down 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,019 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 246 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,524 [no change]
Number of films: 3,736 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 April 2023
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x07 The Lost Lady of New Providence
1x08 The Pirate Code
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x07 The Lost Lady of New Providence
1x08 The Pirate Code
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Thursday, 13 April 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x45 Week 9: Friday
6x46 Week 10: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x45 Week 9: Friday
6x46 Week 10: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #2305
Didn't realise it had been almost a month since my last issue. I've had a busy, distracted few weeks!
Didn't realise it had been almost a month since my last issue. I've had a busy, distracted few weeks!
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
TV
Leverage
5x03 The First Contact Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x43 Week 9: Wednesday
6x44 Week 9: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x05 Boardroom Politics
2x06 Old Scores [season finale]
5x03 The First Contact Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x43 Week 9: Wednesday
6x44 Week 9: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x05 Boardroom Politics
2x06 Old Scores [season finale]
Tuesday, 11 April 2023
TV
Ghosts
4x07 It's Behind You [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x41 Week 9: Monday
6x42 Week 9: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x03 Drinking Games
2x04 Cicada
4x07 It's Behind You [Christmas special]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x41 Week 9: Monday
6x42 Week 9: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x03 Drinking Games
2x04 Cicada
Monday, 10 April 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x40 Week 8: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
Part 1 (of 3)
Part 2 (of 3)
Part 3 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
6x40 Week 8: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
Part 1 (of 3)
Part 2 (of 3)
Part 3 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Sunday, 9 April 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x39 Week 8: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x01 Last Stop
2x02 From Upshott with Love
6x39 Week 8: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
2x01 Last Stop
2x02 From Upshott with Love
Films
Clue of the Twisted Candle (1960)
[#26 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Swallows and Amazons (2016)
[#26 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Swallows and Amazons (2016)
Saturday, 8 April 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x37 Week 8: Tuesday
6x38 Week 8: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x37 Week 8: Tuesday
6x38 Week 8: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Just one addition this week — a brand-new release on 4K, Babylon. Most of the new releases I buy nowadays are from boutique labels and, for whatever reason, they seem to favour releasing towards the end of the month, so expect plenty more in the next couple of weeks. Indeed, my current list of preorders totals 23 more titles before April ends.
Number of titles in collection: 3,049 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,017 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 246 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,524 [up 2]
Number of films: 3,734 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Just one addition this week — a brand-new release on 4K, Babylon. Most of the new releases I buy nowadays are from boutique labels and, for whatever reason, they seem to favour releasing towards the end of the month, so expect plenty more in the next couple of weeks. Indeed, my current list of preorders totals 23 more titles before April ends.
Number of titles in collection: 3,049 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,017 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 246 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,524 [up 2]
Number of films: 3,734 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,045 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 7 April 2023
Thursday, 6 April 2023
TV
Death in Paradise
11x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x36 Week 8: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Treason
Part 1 (of 5)
Part 2 (of 5)
[Watch the whole series (again) on Netflix.]
11x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x36 Week 8: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Treason
Part 1 (of 5)
Part 2 (of 5)
[Watch the whole series (again) on Netflix.]
Wednesday, 5 April 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x34 The Death of Doctor Who
2x35 The Planet of Decision
aka The Chase Parts Five and Six.
Back in February, when I popped in The Collection: Season 2 - Disc 3 to watch the first part of The Rescue, I didn't intend to stick with season 2 for so long. I'd wanted to watch The Romans, and decided I may as well first watch the preceding two-parter that introduced Vicki; and when I realised The Web Planet came next, it seemed about time that I finally watched such an infamous story. Then I noticed I was within shouting distance of (a) the earliest Dalek story I'd not seen, which (b) was also Ian and Barbara's exit, and so it seemed only right to continue to that point. If I hadn't, I would've just gone off and found some other stories I'd not seen to watch next, so it may as well be these ones.
But now, I'm at the end of that. There is only one more story in season 2, The Time Meddler, but I only watched that fairly recently (almost three years ago, in fact, but that's "recent" in my perception of time), so I won't watch it again right now. But I might only skip ahead by one, because the season 3 premiere was Galaxy 4, and I've not watched the animated reconstruction of that yet...
2x34 The Death of Doctor Who
2x35 The Planet of Decision
aka The Chase Parts Five and Six.
Back in February, when I popped in The Collection: Season 2 - Disc 3 to watch the first part of The Rescue, I didn't intend to stick with season 2 for so long. I'd wanted to watch The Romans, and decided I may as well first watch the preceding two-parter that introduced Vicki; and when I realised The Web Planet came next, it seemed about time that I finally watched such an infamous story. Then I noticed I was within shouting distance of (a) the earliest Dalek story I'd not seen, which (b) was also Ian and Barbara's exit, and so it seemed only right to continue to that point. If I hadn't, I would've just gone off and found some other stories I'd not seen to watch next, so it may as well be these ones.
But now, I'm at the end of that. There is only one more story in season 2, The Time Meddler, but I only watched that fairly recently (almost three years ago, in fact, but that's "recent" in my perception of time), so I won't watch it again right now. But I might only skip ahead by one, because the season 3 premiere was Galaxy 4, and I've not watched the animated reconstruction of that yet...
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x32 Flight Through Eternity
2x33 Journey Into Terror
aka The Chase Parts Three and Four. Plenty of six-parters are known for padding out their middle section, but I’m not sure any other ever did it so obviously as this.
2x32 Flight Through Eternity
2x33 Journey Into Terror
aka The Chase Parts Three and Four. Plenty of six-parters are known for padding out their middle section, but I’m not sure any other ever did it so obviously as this.
Sunday, 2 April 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x31 The Death of Time
aka The Chase Part Two. In which time does not die, but a Dalek does say, "well, see to it!" Funny old show.
2x31 The Death of Time
aka The Chase Part Two. In which time does not die, but a Dalek does say, "well, see to it!" Funny old show.
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x04 The Price of Freedom
1x05 Three is a Crowd
Now that this has settled into being a drama about pirates (as opposed to the first couple of episodes, which were setup and backstory), it's more or less exactly what I wanted it to be (i.e. piratical adventures) and pretty darn enjoyable. No offence to audio drama as a medium, but I imagine it would make a fun TV show (I probably ought to get round to Black Sails, eh?)
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x04 The Price of Freedom
1x05 Three is a Crowd
Now that this has settled into being a drama about pirates (as opposed to the first couple of episodes, which were setup and backstory), it's more or less exactly what I wanted it to be (i.e. piratical adventures) and pretty darn enjoyable. No offence to audio drama as a medium, but I imagine it would make a fun TV show (I probably ought to get round to Black Sails, eh?)
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
No film reviews on 100Films.co.uk again this week, but it is the start of a new month, meaning a look back at the one just passed...
...including all the things I failed to watch during it...
More next Sunday, maybe.
...including all the things I failed to watch during it...
More next Sunday, maybe.
Saturday, 1 April 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x30 The Executioners
aka The Chase Part One. Only the third-ever Dalek story, and the oldest one I've not seen. A few thoughts about the episode itself on Letterboxd.
The Wheel
3x11 Episode 11
3x12 Episode 12 [season finale]
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x30 The Executioners
aka The Chase Part One. Only the third-ever Dalek story, and the oldest one I've not seen. A few thoughts about the episode itself on Letterboxd.
The Wheel
3x11 Episode 11
3x12 Episode 12 [season finale]
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Six new additions this week, although four of them were upgrades. Second Sight's long-awaited 4K release of George A. Romero's Martin doesn't usurp the old Arrow DVD from my collection because that has unique special features, but elsewise, I switched out 88 Films' BD of Dragons Forever for their 4K release, and their older BD of Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin for a remastered one (I've never seen either film, but I got a good discount); plus StudioCanal's 4K reissue of The City of Lost Children turned up a few days early. That's a title I've owned on DVD and Blu-ray, and now 4K, but never actually seen. More fool me.
Number of titles in collection: 3,048 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,016 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 245 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,522 [up 8]
Number of films: 3,733 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [up 14]
Number of short films: 1,045 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Six new additions this week, although four of them were upgrades. Second Sight's long-awaited 4K release of George A. Romero's Martin doesn't usurp the old Arrow DVD from my collection because that has unique special features, but elsewise, I switched out 88 Films' BD of Dragons Forever for their 4K release, and their older BD of Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin for a remastered one (I've never seen either film, but I got a good discount); plus StudioCanal's 4K reissue of The City of Lost Children turned up a few days early. That's a title I've owned on DVD and Blu-ray, and now 4K, but never actually seen. More fool me.
Number of titles in collection: 3,048 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,016 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 245 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,522 [up 8]
Number of films: 3,733 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 308 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [up 14]
Number of short films: 1,045 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 31 March 2023
Thursday, 30 March 2023
Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Films
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
[2nd watch]
[#22 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Posted some extended thoughts on Letterboxd.
[2nd watch]
[#22 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Posted some extended thoughts on Letterboxd.
Sunday, 26 March 2023
Films
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
[3rd watch]
[#21 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Posted some extended thoughts on Letterboxd.
[3rd watch]
[#21 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Posted some extended thoughts on Letterboxd.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Eight new additions this week, but a mix of upgrades keeps the final tally lower. The big one was Doctor Who season 9, which (for the time being) removes two DVDs (it'll be more once some special features turn up on future releases). I also upgraded John Wick 1 and 2 to 4K, so that's two BDs replaced by a 4K set. And I upgraded Red Eye right from DVD (which I only bought, cheap, a decade ago, because a Blu-ray wasn't forthcoming and I wanted to rewatch it. That disc has never entered a player) to its new 4K release (I will rewatch it this time! I will!)
Anyway, that means that, despite this veritable pile of new stuff sat next to me ony my desk, the net change to titles is only +3.
Number of titles in collection: 3,045 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,013 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 242 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,514 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,730 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,575 [up 16]
Number of short films: 1,044 [up 1]
All of which has happened just in time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
535 days, 8 hours, and 49 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Eight new additions this week, but a mix of upgrades keeps the final tally lower. The big one was Doctor Who season 9, which (for the time being) removes two DVDs (it'll be more once some special features turn up on future releases). I also upgraded John Wick 1 and 2 to 4K, so that's two BDs replaced by a 4K set. And I upgraded Red Eye right from DVD (which I only bought, cheap, a decade ago, because a Blu-ray wasn't forthcoming and I wanted to rewatch it. That disc has never entered a player) to its new 4K release (I will rewatch it this time! I will!)
Anyway, that means that, despite this veritable pile of new stuff sat next to me ony my desk, the net change to titles is only +3.
Number of titles in collection: 3,045 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,032 [down 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,013 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 242 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,514 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,730 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,575 [up 16]
Number of short films: 1,044 [up 1]
All of which has happened just in time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
535 days, 8 hours, and 49 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 12 hours, and 37 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 25 March 2023
Films
John Wick (2014)
[3rd watch]
[#20 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the first hour of the audio commentary by directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch (before I got tired because it was late).
[3rd watch]
[#20 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the first hour of the audio commentary by directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch (before I got tired because it was late).
Thursday, 23 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x29 The Final Phase
aka The Space Museum Part Four, the finale. On the whole, this serial certainly lives down to its reputation. Potentially interesting concepts are tossed away after being barely discussed, never mind explored, paired with a half-arsed rote revolution plotline and dull, poorly-performed villains. Yawn.
+ Defending the Museum, a nine-minute extra in which Dalek and Big Finish writer Robert Shearman explains his love for the serial, though even he admits it has good bits that are drowned out by poor execution.
2x29 The Final Phase
aka The Space Museum Part Four, the finale. On the whole, this serial certainly lives down to its reputation. Potentially interesting concepts are tossed away after being barely discussed, never mind explored, paired with a half-arsed rote revolution plotline and dull, poorly-performed villains. Yawn.
+ Defending the Museum, a nine-minute extra in which Dalek and Big Finish writer Robert Shearman explains his love for the serial, though even he admits it has good bits that are drowned out by poor execution.
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x28 The Search
aka The Space Museum Part Three. The only group more ineffective than the museum-running Moroks are the native Xeron rebels who would seek to overthrow them, if only they... could be bothered trying? There’s the material here for some kind of satire, or at least a spoof, but nobody’s playing it that way.
2x28 The Search
aka The Space Museum Part Three. The only group more ineffective than the museum-running Moroks are the native Xeron rebels who would seek to overthrow them, if only they... could be bothered trying? There’s the material here for some kind of satire, or at least a spoof, but nobody’s playing it that way.
Tuesday, 21 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x27 The Dimensions of Time
aka The Space Museum Part Two — not to be confused with Dimensions in Time. Neither are Doctor Who at its best, and here the title doesn't even mean anything (it has more to do with the previous episode). The serial's reputation is for a nosedive in quality after the first instalment, so I'm not surprised and only expecting it to get worse...
Would I Lie To You?
15x11 The Best Bits [season finale]
Funny: I don't watch any episodes of this for ages, then get so caught up I've had to jump back to a previously-missed "best of" compilation because there are no new episodes yet. On the bright side, while I remembered most of the stories, I couldn't remember whether they were true or not.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x27 The Dimensions of Time
aka The Space Museum Part Two — not to be confused with Dimensions in Time. Neither are Doctor Who at its best, and here the title doesn't even mean anything (it has more to do with the previous episode). The serial's reputation is for a nosedive in quality after the first instalment, so I'm not surprised and only expecting it to get worse...
Would I Lie To You?
15x11 The Best Bits [season finale]
Funny: I don't watch any episodes of this for ages, then get so caught up I've had to jump back to a previously-missed "best of" compilation because there are no new episodes yet. On the bright side, while I remembered most of the stories, I couldn't remember whether they were true or not.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 20 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x26 The Space Museum [2nd watch]
Being the first part of The Space Museum, obviously. Also, the only episode of the serial I've seen before: back in the day, I watched this first part on VHS, but for reason(s) forgotten by time, never finished it. I don't intend for that to happen again!
2x26 The Space Museum [2nd watch]
Being the first part of The Space Museum, obviously. Also, the only episode of the serial I've seen before: back in the day, I watched this first part on VHS, but for reason(s) forgotten by time, never finished it. I don't intend for that to happen again!
Sunday, 19 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x25 The Warlords
aka The Crusade Part Four — both the serial's finale and the second of its two missing episodes.
As a whole, there's a lot I like about The Crusade, and I enjoy each episode individually. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add up as a whole; primarily, the pace across all four parts is off, and some of the storylines are ultimately too slight or told in a rush. It’s literally less than the sum of its parts.
2x25 The Warlords
aka The Crusade Part Four — both the serial's finale and the second of its two missing episodes.
As a whole, there's a lot I like about The Crusade, and I enjoy each episode individually. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add up as a whole; primarily, the pace across all four parts is off, and some of the storylines are ultimately too slight or told in a rush. It’s literally less than the sum of its parts.
Saturday, 18 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x24 The Wheel of Fortune [3rd watch]
aka The Crusade Part Three. As I mentioned on Part One, I'm fairly certain I watched this episode on both The Hartnell Years VHS and the later The Crusade/The Space Museum VHS, which means this serial has a different 'watch count' for almost every episode. Doesn't really matter, but still feels daft. (Even dafter would be to 'correct' it by rewatching only certain episodes. I might be barmy, but I'm not that barmy.)
Would I Lie To You?
16x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x24 The Wheel of Fortune [3rd watch]
aka The Crusade Part Three. As I mentioned on Part One, I'm fairly certain I watched this episode on both The Hartnell Years VHS and the later The Crusade/The Space Museum VHS, which means this serial has a different 'watch count' for almost every episode. Doesn't really matter, but still feels daft. (Even dafter would be to 'correct' it by rewatching only certain episodes. I might be barmy, but I'm not that barmy.)
Would I Lie To You?
16x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Podcasts
David Tennant Does a Podcast with…
1x13 Michael Sheen
1x14 Everyone [season finale]
It's been over two years since I last listened to an episode of this! (Actually, I also listened to the James Corden episode at some point, but apparently forgot to log it. Oops!) Never would've guessed it was that long. I didn't stop because I didn't like it — indeed, quite the opposite: I think Tennant is actually quite a good interviewer, creating a casual atmosphere that encourages his interviewee to open up with an honesty you don't usually get on chat shows — I just don't really 'do' podcasts, so only think to listen to it once in a blue moon, when I can't sleep but don't have the awakeness to read or watch anything, or something like that.
Anyway, rather than continue to continue through them in order, I skipped ahead slightly to a particularly interesting-sounding episodes. The interview with Sheen was recorded after Good Omens wrapped filming but before it aired, so long before Staged and the like came along. It's like a little time capsule.
1x13 Michael Sheen
1x14 Everyone [season finale]
It's been over two years since I last listened to an episode of this! (Actually, I also listened to the James Corden episode at some point, but apparently forgot to log it. Oops!) Never would've guessed it was that long. I didn't stop because I didn't like it — indeed, quite the opposite: I think Tennant is actually quite a good interviewer, creating a casual atmosphere that encourages his interviewee to open up with an honesty you don't usually get on chat shows — I just don't really 'do' podcasts, so only think to listen to it once in a blue moon, when I can't sleep but don't have the awakeness to read or watch anything, or something like that.
Anyway, rather than continue to continue through them in order, I skipped ahead slightly to a particularly interesting-sounding episodes. The interview with Sheen was recorded after Good Omens wrapped filming but before it aired, so long before Staged and the like came along. It's like a little time capsule.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's additions include something I've had my eye on for ages: a box set of the 3D films David Attenborough made for Sky, back when they had a 3D channel. Plus two new HK action titles from Eureka. One new release that didn't turn up early: Doctor Who season 9. It'll be here next week, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,042 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,007 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,503 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,726 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's additions include something I've had my eye on for ages: a box set of the 3D films David Attenborough made for Sky, back when they had a 3D channel. Plus two new HK action titles from Eureka. One new release that didn't turn up early: Doctor Who season 9. It'll be here next week, though.
Number of titles in collection: 3,042 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,007 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,503 [up 13]
Number of films: 3,726 [up 13]
Number of additional cuts: 307 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 17 March 2023
TV
Comic Relief 2023
Red Nose Day
The Best of the Best Bits
It's years since I last watched a full Comic Relief (2015, this blog tells me). Indeed, as the best bits segment showed to me, I haven't even watched some of the headline sketches from the last few iterations. But this year promised a few good-looking bits, and I think it mostly delivered. Didn't start well, with a next-to-pointless Doctor Who bit (less a sketch, more a single gag), but at least it recovered with (in particular) Ghosts, The Traitors, Baldrick's bedtime story, the Eurovision auditions, and that musical number about Comic Relief history.
[Watch them (again) on iPlayer.]
Red Nose Day
The Best of the Best Bits
It's years since I last watched a full Comic Relief (2015, this blog tells me). Indeed, as the best bits segment showed to me, I haven't even watched some of the headline sketches from the last few iterations. But this year promised a few good-looking bits, and I think it mostly delivered. Didn't start well, with a next-to-pointless Doctor Who bit (less a sketch, more a single gag), but at least it recovered with (in particular) Ghosts, The Traitors, Baldrick's bedtime story, the Eurovision auditions, and that musical number about Comic Relief history.
[Watch them (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
A semi-random (they were prompted by rankings on Letterboxd) selection of silent shorts, all watched on YouTube.
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1897)
[rewatch]
The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)
[rewatch]
Grandma's Reading Glass (1900)
The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899)
The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1897)
[rewatch]
The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)
[rewatch]
Grandma's Reading Glass (1900)
The Kiss in the Tunnel (1899)
Articles
Ben Affleck on Air, New CEO Gig and Those Memes: “I Am Who I Am”
by Rebecca Keegan (from The Hollywood Reporter)
Only clicked through to read in full what he had to say about working on Justice League, but turned out to be an interesting interview all-round.
by Rebecca Keegan (from The Hollywood Reporter)
Only clicked through to read in full what he had to say about working on Justice League, but turned out to be an interesting interview all-round.
Thursday, 16 March 2023
Wednesday, 15 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x23 The Knight of Jaffa
aka The Crusade Part Two, the first of the serial's two missing episodes. The VHS release came with a CD of the soundtracks for those two episodes, so it's possible I've listened to this before; but I've certainly never watched it in any way, so I don't think this can count as a rewatch. Which is kinda weird — to be able to say I've seen half a serial, but mean alternating parts rather than, say, only the first half — but, eh, that's the crazy world of Doctor Who for you.
Would I Lie To You?
16x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x23 The Knight of Jaffa
aka The Crusade Part Two, the first of the serial's two missing episodes. The VHS release came with a CD of the soundtracks for those two episodes, so it's possible I've listened to this before; but I've certainly never watched it in any way, so I don't think this can count as a rewatch. Which is kinda weird — to be able to say I've seen half a serial, but mean alternating parts rather than, say, only the first half — but, eh, that's the crazy world of Doctor Who for you.
Would I Lie To You?
16x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Adventures of Bryan Scott (demo)
Short demo for a Broken Sword-style point-and-click adventure game that's currently running a Kickstarter. The demo all takes place in the hero's apartment, which is hardly the stuff of high adventure, but hey, that's demoes for you. The production values (i.e. art style and gameplay) and plot setup seem promising enough that I've backed the crowdfunding. (Assuming it's successful, the full game isn't scheduled to release until the end of 2025, so don't expect to see me playing it soon.)
Short demo for a Broken Sword-style point-and-click adventure game that's currently running a Kickstarter. The demo all takes place in the hero's apartment, which is hardly the stuff of high adventure, but hey, that's demoes for you. The production values (i.e. art style and gameplay) and plot setup seem promising enough that I've backed the crowdfunding. (Assuming it's successful, the full game isn't scheduled to release until the end of 2025, so don't expect to see me playing it soon.)
Tuesday, 14 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x22 The Lion [2nd watch]
aka The Crusade Part One.
I've long been uncertain whether I've seen The Crusade or not, but (looking into it before starting the serial on the season 2 Blu-ray set) I've concluded I almost certainly watched the version released on VHS in 1999. That included the then-recently-recovered Part 1, the already-held Part 3 (which I'm fairly certain I'd already seen on the Hartnell Years VHS), and narration by William Russell, in character as Ian, to fill us in on Parts 2 and 4.
Anyway, personal admin aside, I rather enjoyed this. Clearly pure historicals aren't popular with a lot of people, otherwise we'd have seen their revival by now (I still find it a little remarkable that, 17 years and over 140 stories into nuWho, they've not even tried the format once), but I find I tend to enjoy them, and this first instalment sets out the serial's stall with all the usual fun: a conflict in progress, the TARDIS team separated, a spot of fighting, a dash of comedy, and cod-Shakespearean dialogue. Lovely.
2x22 The Lion [2nd watch]
aka The Crusade Part One.
I've long been uncertain whether I've seen The Crusade or not, but (looking into it before starting the serial on the season 2 Blu-ray set) I've concluded I almost certainly watched the version released on VHS in 1999. That included the then-recently-recovered Part 1, the already-held Part 3 (which I'm fairly certain I'd already seen on the Hartnell Years VHS), and narration by William Russell, in character as Ian, to fill us in on Parts 2 and 4.
Anyway, personal admin aside, I rather enjoyed this. Clearly pure historicals aren't popular with a lot of people, otherwise we'd have seen their revival by now (I still find it a little remarkable that, 17 years and over 140 stories into nuWho, they've not even tried the format once), but I find I tend to enjoy them, and this first instalment sets out the serial's stall with all the usual fun: a conflict in progress, the TARDIS team separated, a spot of fighting, a dash of comedy, and cod-Shakespearean dialogue. Lovely.
Monday, 13 March 2023
TV
The 95th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars. It was a good one this year, I thought: kept to the point, with an almost-unwavering focus on the awards and nominees; just an opening monologue and a couple of stand-up-ish interludes from host Jimmy Kimmel, rather than extraneous sketches no one wants, which I think is the perfect balance (the "no host" ceremonies often feel like they lack something). Plus, an abundance of good and memorable speeches; and even the dull "just a list of thanks" ones were mostly brief and focused, rather than the never-ending sprawl of pulled-from-thin-air names they can degenerate into.
Leverage
5x02 The Blue Line Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x35 Week 7: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
aka the Oscars. It was a good one this year, I thought: kept to the point, with an almost-unwavering focus on the awards and nominees; just an opening monologue and a couple of stand-up-ish interludes from host Jimmy Kimmel, rather than extraneous sketches no one wants, which I think is the perfect balance (the "no host" ceremonies often feel like they lack something). Plus, an abundance of good and memorable speeches; and even the dull "just a list of thanks" ones were mostly brief and focused, rather than the never-ending sprawl of pulled-from-thin-air names they can degenerate into.
Leverage
5x02 The Blue Line Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x35 Week 7: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 12 March 2023
TV
The Oscars 2023: Who Will Win?
No pre-show or red carpet coverage of the Oscars this year (I think there is some of the latter on Sky Showcase, but I don't get that channel). Instead, here's a preview/predictions show that Sky released a week or so ago, which I've watched as a stand-in. This is usually the kind of stuff they do in the hour before the main show begins anyway, so seemed fitting.
Unforgotten
5x03 Episode 3
5x04 Episode 4
5x05 Episode 5
5x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
No pre-show or red carpet coverage of the Oscars this year (I think there is some of the latter on Sky Showcase, but I don't get that channel). Instead, here's a preview/predictions show that Sky released a week or so ago, which I've watched as a stand-in. This is usually the kind of stuff they do in the hour before the main show begins anyway, so seemed fitting.
Unforgotten
5x03 Episode 3
5x04 Episode 4
5x05 Episode 5
5x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Nothing huge to report this week, just a couple of new titles — the never-ceasing drip, drip, drip of new acquistions that has slowly made my collection the ridiculous size it is.
Number of titles in collection: 3,038 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,003 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,490 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,713 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 306 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Nothing huge to report this week, just a couple of new titles — the never-ceasing drip, drip, drip of new acquistions that has slowly made my collection the ridiculous size it is.
Number of titles in collection: 3,038 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,003 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,490 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,713 [up 2]
Number of additional cuts: 306 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,043 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 11 March 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x34 Week 7: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
5x01 Episode 1
5x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x34 Week 7: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Unforgotten
5x01 Episode 1
5x02 Episode 2
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Friday, 10 March 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x32 Week 7: Tuesday
6x33 Week 7: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x32 Week 7: Tuesday
6x33 Week 7: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 9 March 2023
TV
Leverage
5x01 The (Very) Big Bird Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x31 Week 7: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
5x01 The (Very) Big Bird Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x31 Week 7: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 8 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x21 The Centre
aka The Web Planet Part Six, the finale. This serial might commonly be criticised for its over-ambitious low-rent staging, but I think the production achieved an admirable amount with so little. That it’s all in aid of such a dull story is what makes that effort feel like a waste.
Our Flag Means Death
1x10 Wherever You Go, There You Are [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
2x21 The Centre
aka The Web Planet Part Six, the finale. This serial might commonly be criticised for its over-ambitious low-rent staging, but I think the production achieved an admirable amount with so little. That it’s all in aid of such a dull story is what makes that effort feel like a waste.
Our Flag Means Death
1x10 Wherever You Go, There You Are [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 7 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x20 Invasion
aka The Web Planet Part Five.
Our Flag Means Death
1x09 Act of Grace
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
16x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x20 Invasion
aka The Web Planet Part Five.
Our Flag Means Death
1x09 Act of Grace
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
16x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 6 March 2023
Sunday, 5 March 2023
TV
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage
Netflix's first-ever foray into live broadcasting is this Chris Rock stand-up special, the promo for which relied heavily (as far as I saw) on the fact he was going to talk about The Slap for the first time — the broadcast cannily timed to be just one week before this year's Oscars. Perfect (for viewing figures).
Well, I don't know how good the figures were; the comedy was alright. I'm often not a fan of American stand-up, and Rock is one of its key figures, but I laughed at a few bits and was tickled at others. By far the best material was related to The Slap, though — a couple of references dropped here and there, and then a full-on assault in the final 10 minutes. It's what we came for, and we got what we wanted.
Netflix also teed things up and played it out with half-hour The Show Before the Show and The Show After the Show livestreams. Apparently these won't be available on the recorded version of the special, which is largely fine (the question of archiving media aside) because they didn't offer too much of value.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Mystery Science Theater 3000
13x08 The Batwoman
I was "a little behind" on MST3K season 13 for a while, but it's now been over six months since I last watched an episode — a combination of trying to devote time to finishing my 100 Films Challenge at the end of 2022, and then just getting out of the habit. So, hopefully I'll now begin to watch them more regularly and finish off the five remaining episodes. I thought this was quite a good one — a clearly-ridiculous underlying film, scattered with decent riffs.
Netflix's first-ever foray into live broadcasting is this Chris Rock stand-up special, the promo for which relied heavily (as far as I saw) on the fact he was going to talk about The Slap for the first time — the broadcast cannily timed to be just one week before this year's Oscars. Perfect (for viewing figures).
Well, I don't know how good the figures were; the comedy was alright. I'm often not a fan of American stand-up, and Rock is one of its key figures, but I laughed at a few bits and was tickled at others. By far the best material was related to The Slap, though — a couple of references dropped here and there, and then a full-on assault in the final 10 minutes. It's what we came for, and we got what we wanted.
Netflix also teed things up and played it out with half-hour The Show Before the Show and The Show After the Show livestreams. Apparently these won't be available on the recorded version of the special, which is largely fine (the question of archiving media aside) because they didn't offer too much of value.
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Mystery Science Theater 3000
13x08 The Batwoman
I was "a little behind" on MST3K season 13 for a while, but it's now been over six months since I last watched an episode — a combination of trying to devote time to finishing my 100 Films Challenge at the end of 2022, and then just getting out of the habit. So, hopefully I'll now begin to watch them more regularly and finish off the five remaining episodes. I thought this was quite a good one — a clearly-ridiculous underlying film, scattered with decent riffs.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A new month means two things at 100Films.co.uk — first, an overview of the month just passed...
Second, a look at all the films I failed to watch during the last month...
No new film reviews, but hopefully there'll be more next Sunday.
Second, a look at all the films I failed to watch during the last month...
No new film reviews, but hopefully there'll be more next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x18 Escape to Danger
aka The Web Planet Part Three, aka The One Where a Zarbi Bumps Into the Camera — a bit of drama, at last.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom & Crow’s Unsupervised Year-End Review Revue
The final livestream of the season is a clip-filled whistlestop recap of the first year of the Gizmoplex. As well as trailers for all 13 episodes of season 13, plus a selection of highlight clips, it also covered other goings-on — things like game nights, classic episode remasters, and aftershow interviews. At 40 minutes it was a pretty quick and fairly concise recap, but that's a good thing really — seeing as it was primarily a selection of trailers for and clips from things most viewers will have already seen, making it much longer could’ve been excruciating.
[Watch it (for free) on the Gizmoplex.]
The Wheel
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x18 Escape to Danger
aka The Web Planet Part Three, aka The One Where a Zarbi Bumps Into the Camera — a bit of drama, at last.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom & Crow’s Unsupervised Year-End Review Revue
The final livestream of the season is a clip-filled whistlestop recap of the first year of the Gizmoplex. As well as trailers for all 13 episodes of season 13, plus a selection of highlight clips, it also covered other goings-on — things like game nights, classic episode remasters, and aftershow interviews. At 40 minutes it was a pretty quick and fairly concise recap, but that's a good thing really — seeing as it was primarily a selection of trailers for and clips from things most viewers will have already seen, making it much longer could’ve been excruciating.
[Watch it (for free) on the Gizmoplex.]
The Wheel
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A week later than expected, but it finally happened: I passed 2,000 Blu-rays! I remember when I first started buying the format, I thought it would never surpass my DVD collection — my intention was to buy selectively; to keep buying on DVD stuff that didn't 'merit' HD. Ah, naïve times. The market, and my taste, has changed quite a bit since then — although we still see some relatively-major studio titles get DVD-only releases, while the boutique labels are putting out Blu-rays (or even 4Ks) of incredibly niche stuff. Funny old world.
That said, I did buy a DVD this week; but it was of a BBC serial from the 1970s, so fair enough. (Classic Doctor Who looks remarkably good on Blu-ray, free from DVD compression and lovingly upscaled, but you can't expect that for every old recorded-in-SD programme.) So, my DVD collection briefly grows again, but I wouldn't be surprised if my next "landmark" is that finally sinking below 1,000 titles. It's shrunk by an average of 25 titles a year over the last five years (although 2022's decrease was notably lower than 2021's, which was notably lower than 2020's), so maybe sometime in 2024 or 2025...
Number of titles in collection: 3,036 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,001 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,487 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,711 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 305 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,042 [up 1]
This week's additions also include the Criterion box set of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The films are restored with new special features, so I'm sure it was worth buying, but in terms of the stats counted here, it's such a one-for-one upgrade on the old trilogy Blu-ray set that it doesn't register anywhere. If they'd put it out on 4K... but, alas, no.
See you next week, faithful reader.
A week later than expected, but it finally happened: I passed 2,000 Blu-rays! I remember when I first started buying the format, I thought it would never surpass my DVD collection — my intention was to buy selectively; to keep buying on DVD stuff that didn't 'merit' HD. Ah, naïve times. The market, and my taste, has changed quite a bit since then — although we still see some relatively-major studio titles get DVD-only releases, while the boutique labels are putting out Blu-rays (or even 4Ks) of incredibly niche stuff. Funny old world.
That said, I did buy a DVD this week; but it was of a BBC serial from the 1970s, so fair enough. (Classic Doctor Who looks remarkably good on Blu-ray, free from DVD compression and lovingly upscaled, but you can't expect that for every old recorded-in-SD programme.) So, my DVD collection briefly grows again, but I wouldn't be surprised if my next "landmark" is that finally sinking below 1,000 titles. It's shrunk by an average of 25 titles a year over the last five years (although 2022's decrease was notably lower than 2021's, which was notably lower than 2020's), so maybe sometime in 2024 or 2025...
Number of titles in collection: 3,036 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,001 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,487 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,711 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 305 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,042 [up 1]
This week's additions also include the Criterion box set of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The films are restored with new special features, so I'm sure it was worth buying, but in terms of the stats counted here, it's such a one-for-one upgrade on the old trilogy Blu-ray set that it doesn't register anywhere. If they'd put it out on 4K... but, alas, no.
See you next week, faithful reader.
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