Mission Impossible Director Chris McQuarrie on Stunts, VFX, COVID
by Iain Blair (from postPerspective)
Maybe these kinds of interviews happen all the time and I just don’t see them, I dunno; but across various articles & podcasts, it feels like McQ is the filmmaker who’s most open and detailed in his discussion of the actual process of making movies. This is a fantastic piece in that vein if you're intested in how the Missions are done.
Saturday, 22 July 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's major addition is Arrow's 4K box set of Bruce Lee films. I've owned most of these on DVD for over a decade, which I've never watched; and I bought the similar Criterion Blu-ray box set a couple of years ago, which I think is still unopened; and yet the promise of all-new transfers, plus a raft of versions and new extras... well, I couldn't resist! I should probably sell those DVDs, and maybe the Criterion set too, but I need to work out if they've got any unique special features worth keeping first. Either way, they're never likely to grace my player — why would they when I've got these Arrow versions now? (Well, for the special features, obviously; but, actually, I rarely watch those. So I should just sell them. But... Yeah, I'm hopeless.)
So, while that set only adds one title (and one Blu-ray and one UHD Blu-ray), it ratchets up numbers in the second half: across ten discs (a mix of UHD and regular BD), there are eight films, plus 13 further alternate cuts — six of the films have at least one alternate version, with one having five or six (depending what you count as an alternate cut and what as a special feature curio).
The only other newcomer this week was also an Arrow release, upgrading Dario Argento's debut film, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, from regualr BD to 4K. All that really does is take away one disc (because the BD also had a DVD copy, whereas the 4K doesn't have a BD copy).
Number of titles in collection: 3,123 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,094 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 270 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,652 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,832 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 335 [up 13]
Number of TV episodes: 9,611 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,062 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader, when I am currently expecting... nothing. Gasp!
This week's major addition is Arrow's 4K box set of Bruce Lee films. I've owned most of these on DVD for over a decade, which I've never watched; and I bought the similar Criterion Blu-ray box set a couple of years ago, which I think is still unopened; and yet the promise of all-new transfers, plus a raft of versions and new extras... well, I couldn't resist! I should probably sell those DVDs, and maybe the Criterion set too, but I need to work out if they've got any unique special features worth keeping first. Either way, they're never likely to grace my player — why would they when I've got these Arrow versions now? (Well, for the special features, obviously; but, actually, I rarely watch those. So I should just sell them. But... Yeah, I'm hopeless.)
So, while that set only adds one title (and one Blu-ray and one UHD Blu-ray), it ratchets up numbers in the second half: across ten discs (a mix of UHD and regular BD), there are eight films, plus 13 further alternate cuts — six of the films have at least one alternate version, with one having five or six (depending what you count as an alternate cut and what as a special feature curio).
The only other newcomer this week was also an Arrow release, upgrading Dario Argento's debut film, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, from regualr BD to 4K. All that really does is take away one disc (because the BD also had a DVD copy, whereas the 4K doesn't have a BD copy).
Number of titles in collection: 3,123 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,094 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 270 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,652 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,832 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 335 [up 13]
Number of TV episodes: 9,611 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,062 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader, when I am currently expecting... nothing. Gasp!
Friday, 21 July 2023
Monday, 17 July 2023
TV
University Challenge
2023/24 Episode 1
A new era begins, with Amol Rajan starting as only the third host since the show began 60-odd years ago.
...but that wasn't why I watched. I only saw it because I was at my parents' house and they watch regularly.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2023/24 Episode 1
A new era begins, with Amol Rajan starting as only the third host since the show began 60-odd years ago.
...but that wasn't why I watched. I only saw it because I was at my parents' house and they watch regularly.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 16 July 2023
Podcasts
Light the Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
2x01 When in Rome with Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie
Former fan podcast Light the Fuse is now the official M:I podcast, just in time for the release of Dead Reckoning Part One. That's not why I've finally got round to actually listening to it... but I guess it kinda is.
2x01 When in Rome with Tom Cruise & Christopher McQuarrie
Former fan podcast Light the Fuse is now the official M:I podcast, just in time for the release of Dead Reckoning Part One. That's not why I've finally got round to actually listening to it... but I guess it kinda is.
Saturday, 15 July 2023
Films
Sully: Miracle on the Hudson (2016)
[2nd watch]
...well, sort of. As I wrote on Letterboxd, I caught roughly the second half of this on BBC One this evening after turning it on by chance and getting sucked in. I'm never sure if I should count viewings like that (not that they happen often), because while I didn’t watch the whole film, I did watch a significant chunk; including, in this case, the best bit. At present, I've decided to note it here and on Letterboxd, and probably on 100 Films' Recently Watched page, but not allow it to count towards the 100 Films Challenge.
[2nd watch]
...well, sort of. As I wrote on Letterboxd, I caught roughly the second half of this on BBC One this evening after turning it on by chance and getting sucked in. I'm never sure if I should count viewings like that (not that they happen often), because while I didn’t watch the whole film, I did watch a significant chunk; including, in this case, the best bit. At present, I've decided to note it here and on Letterboxd, and probably on 100 Films' Recently Watched page, but not allow it to count towards the 100 Films Challenge.
Articles
Henry Czerny On The Return of Kittridge In Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
by Mike Ryan (from Uproxx)
I actually read this a few days ago but forgot to share it. It's a great read for fans of the M:I series.
by Mike Ryan (from Uproxx)
I actually read this a few days ago but forgot to share it. It's a great read for fans of the M:I series.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Seven additions this week, include a trio of new releases (one in 4K; two arriving early), a trio of Arrow sales purchases (one in 4K, and also an upgrade from Arrow's regular BD), and one from Amazon's Prime Day offers (the third season of anime Attack on Titan. I've not actually got round to watching seasons one and two yet, which did make buying season three feel a bit silly, but while it was on offer I couldn't resist. Now I've just got to resist completing my collection with the parts of season four, in the hope they bundle them into a complete set eventually (as I've got complete series sets for the seasons so far).)
Number of titles in collection: 3,122 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,093 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 268 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,643 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,824 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 322 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,611 [up 22]
Number of short films: 1,062 [up 6]
Plus, it's once again time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
543 days and 13 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 6 hours, and 35 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Seven additions this week, include a trio of new releases (one in 4K; two arriving early), a trio of Arrow sales purchases (one in 4K, and also an upgrade from Arrow's regular BD), and one from Amazon's Prime Day offers (the third season of anime Attack on Titan. I've not actually got round to watching seasons one and two yet, which did make buying season three feel a bit silly, but while it was on offer I couldn't resist. Now I've just got to resist completing my collection with the parts of season four, in the hope they bundle them into a complete set eventually (as I've got complete series sets for the seasons so far).)
Number of titles in collection: 3,122 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,093 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 268 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,643 [up 10]
Number of films: 3,824 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 322 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,611 [up 22]
Number of short films: 1,062 [up 6]
Plus, it's once again time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
543 days and 13 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 6 hours, and 35 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 14 July 2023
Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Tuesday, 11 July 2023
Sunday, 9 July 2023
Films
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
[#49 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
My first trip to the cinema since Dune: Part One in October 2021! But I had to go for Indy. (And, soon, for Mission #7.)
[#49 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
My first trip to the cinema since Dune: Part One in October 2021! But I had to go for Indy. (And, soon, for Mission #7.)
Saturday, 8 July 2023
Films
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
[#48 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Santo vs. Evil Brain (1961)
If it weren’t for the strange confluence of MST3K piquing my interest and then Indicator releasing a box set, I’m not sure I’d have ever seen this movie. I’m not yet wholly sure whether that’s a good or indifferent thing, but at least it’s not bad.
[#48 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Santo vs. Evil Brain (1961)
If it weren’t for the strange confluence of MST3K piquing my interest and then Indicator releasing a box set, I’m not sure I’d have ever seen this movie. I’m not yet wholly sure whether that’s a good or indifferent thing, but at least it’s not bad.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Four new titles this week, including that rarest of sightings: an addition to my DVD collection! That was the Ian McKellen / Judi Dench Macbeth (shot for TV in the 1970s, so never likely to see a Blu-ray release). I don't know why I'd not bought it before, really, as I've wanted to rewatch it for years (having last seen it at school, presumably off a VHS, while studying the play for the first time, and so being less enamoured of it than I am now).
The other three titles are all new (or new-ish) releases from Radiance, including their first box set — which shipped with two corrected discs outside the box. Well, at least I don't have to sign up for some replacement programme and wait for them.
Number of titles in collection: 3,116 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,087 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 266 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,633 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,818 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 321 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,056 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Four new titles this week, including that rarest of sightings: an addition to my DVD collection! That was the Ian McKellen / Judi Dench Macbeth (shot for TV in the 1970s, so never likely to see a Blu-ray release). I don't know why I'd not bought it before, really, as I've wanted to rewatch it for years (having last seen it at school, presumably off a VHS, while studying the play for the first time, and so being less enamoured of it than I am now).
The other three titles are all new (or new-ish) releases from Radiance, including their first box set — which shipped with two corrected discs outside the box. Well, at least I don't have to sign up for some replacement programme and wait for them.
Number of titles in collection: 3,116 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,087 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 266 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,633 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,818 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 321 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,056 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Wednesday, 5 July 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x10 (16/6/2023 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
I think that's the first time I've ever wanted to buy the guest publication...
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x10 (16/6/2023 edition; extended repeat) [season finale]
I think that's the first time I've ever wanted to buy the guest publication...
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
TV
Only Murders in the Building
2x09 Sparring Partners
2x10 I Know Who Did It [season finale]
Poker Face
1x05 Time of the Monkey
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x70 Week 14: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x09 Sparring Partners
2x10 I Know Who Did It [season finale]
Poker Face
1x05 Time of the Monkey
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x70 Week 14: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 3 July 2023
TV
Only Murders in the Building
2x07 Flipping the Pieces
2x08 Hello, Darkness
Poker Face
1x04 Rest in Metal
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x68 Week 14: Wednesday
6x69 Week 14: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x07 Flipping the Pieces
2x08 Hello, Darkness
Poker Face
1x04 Rest in Metal
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x68 Week 14: Wednesday
6x69 Week 14: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
June was the fourth month in a row where I didn't publish any new reviews to 100Films.co.uk. Oh dear. Hopefully I'll restart again soon.
In the meantime, July has begun, and so that means it's time for the usual lookbacks at last month. First, the general review of the month...
And second, a bunch of stuff I didn't watch last month...
Perhaps there'll be more next Sunday. If not, see you in August!
In the meantime, July has begun, and so that means it's time for the usual lookbacks at last month. First, the general review of the month...
And second, a bunch of stuff I didn't watch last month...
Perhaps there'll be more next Sunday. If not, see you in August!
Sunday, 2 July 2023
TV
Leverage
5x06 The D.B. Cooper Job
Only Murders in the Building
2x05 The Tell
2x06 Performance Review
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x66 Week 14: Monday
6x67 Week 14: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
5x06 The D.B. Cooper Job
Only Murders in the Building
2x05 The Tell
2x06 Performance Review
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x66 Week 14: Monday
6x67 Week 14: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 1 July 2023
TV
Not Going Out
13x01 Italian Lessons
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Only Murders in the Building
2x02 Framed
2x03 The Last Day of Bunny Folger
2x04 Here's Looking at You
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x65 Week 13: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
13x01 Italian Lessons
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Only Murders in the Building
2x02 Framed
2x03 The Last Day of Bunny Folger
2x04 Here's Looking at You
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x65 Week 13: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week brings a heady mix of new releases (Avatar 2 in 3D; anime Pompo the Cinephile; '70s Japanese action in the Game trilogy from Arrow); a belated pickup from earlier in the year (Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave); and a pile of titles from US label Vinegar Syndrome, including three in 4K. An eclectic bunch, to be sure, but that's half the fun.
Number of titles in collection: 3,112 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,084 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 266 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,627 [up 18]
Number of films: 3,812 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 320 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,055 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week brings a heady mix of new releases (Avatar 2 in 3D; anime Pompo the Cinephile; '70s Japanese action in the Game trilogy from Arrow); a belated pickup from earlier in the year (Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave); and a pile of titles from US label Vinegar Syndrome, including three in 4K. An eclectic bunch, to be sure, but that's half the fun.
Number of titles in collection: 3,112 [up 8]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,084 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 266 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,627 [up 18]
Number of films: 3,812 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 320 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,055 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 30 June 2023
TV
Only Murders in the Building
2x01 Persons of Interest
Poker Face
1x03 The Stall
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x63 Week 13: Wednesday
6x64 Week 13: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x01 Persons of Interest
Poker Face
1x03 The Stall
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x63 Week 13: Wednesday
6x64 Week 13: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 29 June 2023
TV
Leverage
5x05 The Gimme a K Street Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x62 Week 13: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
5x05 The Gimme a K Street Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x62 Week 13: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Sunday, 25 June 2023
TV
The 1% Club
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Glastonbury 2023
Elton John
Farewell (again), Elton. A pretty spectacular send-off it was, too.
[Find the BBC's complete Glastonbury TV coverage on iPlayer.]
Mystery Science Theater 3000
13x09 The Million Eyes of Sumuru
So much for watching MST3K more regularly (it's been almost four months), but, hey, there's no season 14 in sight (yet), so I'll get there eventually (only four more to go now).
2x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Glastonbury 2023
Elton John
Farewell (again), Elton. A pretty spectacular send-off it was, too.
[Find the BBC's complete Glastonbury TV coverage on iPlayer.]
Mystery Science Theater 3000
13x09 The Million Eyes of Sumuru
So much for watching MST3K more regularly (it's been almost four months), but, hey, there's no season 14 in sight (yet), so I'll get there eventually (only four more to go now).
Fiction
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Chapters 1–4
I've been meaning to read this since everyone really started talking about it, which I guess was sometime after the paperback came out, which was in mid-2021, i.e. over two years ago. But I had other books to read and finish first, and so here I am, finally, with there now being three of the things (and a fourth imminent). Anyway, it's off to a fun and promising start.
Chapters 1–4
I've been meaning to read this since everyone really started talking about it, which I guess was sometime after the paperback came out, which was in mid-2021, i.e. over two years ago. But I had other books to read and finish first, and so here I am, finally, with there now being three of the things (and a fourth imminent). Anyway, it's off to a fun and promising start.
Comics
2000 AD #2326
Skipping another Regened Prog, for the time being.
Incidentally, the 'end' of my catchup period is beginning to feel in sight now. When I started, I was five months behind, and for a long while I was only managing to more-or-less maintain that. But now, I've got it down to less than three months; only ten issues. And the gap continues to narrow — hurrah!
Skipping another Regened Prog, for the time being.
Incidentally, the 'end' of my catchup period is beginning to feel in sight now. When I started, I was five months behind, and for a long while I was only managing to more-or-less maintain that. But now, I've got it down to less than three months; only ten issues. And the gap continues to narrow — hurrah!
Saturday, 24 June 2023
Films
Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
[#46 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #6
[#46 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #6
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Another smaller week by my standards, with two brand-new releases (arriving early, of course), and one slightly older title I bought to get free postage (also because it had been recommended).
Number of titles in collection: 3,104 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,076 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 263 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,609 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,802 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 318 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,055 [up 1]
Next week might be a slightly bigger one (back up towards my average levels), and should include my first 3D title from a major studio in a while (because those releases are a massive rarity these days, sadly).
See you then, faithful reader.
Another smaller week by my standards, with two brand-new releases (arriving early, of course), and one slightly older title I bought to get free postage (also because it had been recommended).
Number of titles in collection: 3,104 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,076 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 263 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,609 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,802 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 318 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,055 [up 1]
Next week might be a slightly bigger one (back up towards my average levels), and should include my first 3D title from a major studio in a while (because those releases are a massive rarity these days, sadly).
See you then, faithful reader.
Friday, 23 June 2023
TV
Glastonbury 2023
Foo Fighters
As everyone had deduced, mystery act The Churnups actually turned out to be Foo Fighters. Imagine being whiny li'l Royal Blood and having to follow them (I didn't watch that, obv).
[Find the BBC's complete Glastonbury TV coverage on iPlayer.]
Foo Fighters
As everyone had deduced, mystery act The Churnups actually turned out to be Foo Fighters. Imagine being whiny li'l Royal Blood and having to follow them (I didn't watch that, obv).
[Find the BBC's complete Glastonbury TV coverage on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 22 June 2023
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Monday, 19 June 2023
Sunday, 18 June 2023
TV
Poker Face
1x02 The Night Shift
Staged
3x05 Future
3x06 Knock Knock [series finale]
3x07 Staged Unseen
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
1x02 The Night Shift
Staged
3x05 Future
3x06 Knock Knock [series finale]
3x07 Staged Unseen
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Saturday, 17 June 2023
TV
Poker Face
1x01 Dead Man's Hand
Staged
3x02 Who's Playing Who
3x03 Past
3x04 Present
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 Dead Man's Hand
Staged
3x02 Who's Playing Who
3x03 Past
3x04 Present
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A trio of brand-new releases this week, including John Wick 4 on 4K and two Japanese Masters of Cinema titles that arrived a whole week early. Always feels nice getting stuff early, but it rarely means I actually watch them early anymore, so kinda doesn't matter.
Also this week, it's once again time for for the monthly running time update. It's actually been a fairly quiet few weeks (well below my average that I was on about... I thought recently, but turns out it was 8 months ago), with no big purchase (no many-film box sets or entire TV series; no TV series at all, in fact), so it's only a modest increase — it doesn't even get into days!
Number of titles in collection: 3,101 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,073 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 262 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,606 [up 5]
Number of films: 3,799 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,054 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
540 days, 17 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 18 hours and 33 minutes from last month.)
I do the running time update every four weeks (as opposed to literally monthly), which I always think means they should come at the end or start of a month, and yet the fact most months aren't actually four weeks means they gradually drift until, like right now, they're happening mid-month. Maybe I should change how I do them? I mean, no one actually cares, do they?
Anyway, see you next week, faithful reader.
A trio of brand-new releases this week, including John Wick 4 on 4K and two Japanese Masters of Cinema titles that arrived a whole week early. Always feels nice getting stuff early, but it rarely means I actually watch them early anymore, so kinda doesn't matter.
Also this week, it's once again time for for the monthly running time update. It's actually been a fairly quiet few weeks (well below my average that I was on about... I thought recently, but turns out it was 8 months ago), with no big purchase (no many-film box sets or entire TV series; no TV series at all, in fact), so it's only a modest increase — it doesn't even get into days!
Number of titles in collection: 3,101 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,073 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 262 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,606 [up 5]
Number of films: 3,799 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,054 [no change]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
540 days, 17 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 18 hours and 33 minutes from last month.)
I do the running time update every four weeks (as opposed to literally monthly), which I always think means they should come at the end or start of a month, and yet the fact most months aren't actually four weeks means they gradually drift until, like right now, they're happening mid-month. Maybe I should change how I do them? I mean, no one actually cares, do they?
Anyway, see you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 16 June 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x60 Week 12: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
3x01 A Version of This
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
6x60 Week 12: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Staged
3x01 A Version of This
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 15 June 2023
TV
Leverage
5x04 The French Connection Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x59 Week 12: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
5x04 The French Connection Job
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x59 Week 12: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x09 (9/6/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
4x07 No Stars for Naughty Boys
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
65x09 (9/6/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Taskmaster
4x07 No Stars for Naughty Boys
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
Sunday, 11 June 2023
Fiction
On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson
Chapters 5–6 [the end]
Overall, this was a really fun read. It's just long enough to feel substantial (rather than the simple brief tie-in it seems they originally intended), but short enough to move like a whipcrack throughout. It's also packed with fun little nods to real-life events (there's some particularly enjoyable stuff about Charles's pen in the final chapter). Some reviews online complain about the political content, but I thought it was fine... mostly because I agree with it, I guess! I presume the people who object are more on the villain's side than Bond's, and that's their problem.
Now, just let Higson write some full-length adult Bond novels, please.
Chapters 5–6 [the end]
Overall, this was a really fun read. It's just long enough to feel substantial (rather than the simple brief tie-in it seems they originally intended), but short enough to move like a whipcrack throughout. It's also packed with fun little nods to real-life events (there's some particularly enjoyable stuff about Charles's pen in the final chapter). Some reviews online complain about the political content, but I thought it was fine... mostly because I agree with it, I guess! I presume the people who object are more on the villain's side than Bond's, and that's their problem.
Now, just let Higson write some full-length adult Bond novels, please.
Saturday, 10 June 2023
TV
The 1% Club
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
John Mulaney: Baby J
I watched a John Mulaney special once before, but have literally no recollection of it (this is one of the reasons I keep going with this daft blog that I assume no one reads — it's a valuable aid to my memory). Anyway, apparently I enjoyed it (I gave it four stars on Letterboxd), and I'd seen chatter about this new one, so I gave it a go. Thought it was really good. Hopefully I'll remember that...
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
John Mulaney: Baby J
I watched a John Mulaney special once before, but have literally no recollection of it (this is one of the reasons I keep going with this daft blog that I assume no one reads — it's a valuable aid to my memory). Anyway, apparently I enjoyed it (I gave it four stars on Letterboxd), and I'd seen chatter about this new one, so I gave it a go. Thought it was really good. Hopefully I'll remember that...
[Watch it (again) on Netflix.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, a handful of titles dribbled in throughout the week, mainly new orders I placed after the sad news of the demise of Network, the great DVD/Blu-ray label. They're going to be sorely missed.
Number of titles in collection: 3,098 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,070 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 261 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,601 [up 5]
Number of films: 3,796 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,054 [up 1]
Next week was set to be a busy one: only one new title is actually due for release, but I had a bunch of stuff on preorder for the week after direct from a couple of different labels, and direct orders like that often ship early. But then one title got put back, which took the whole order with it, and now I'm thinking it'll be of a broadly similar size to this week, maybe even smaller. Oh, the exicting ups and downs of buying boutique label releases! (Please note: yes, I am using the word "exciting" ironically.)
Anyway, next week it's also time again for the monthly running time update, so at least there's that excitement. See you then, faithful reader!
This week, a handful of titles dribbled in throughout the week, mainly new orders I placed after the sad news of the demise of Network, the great DVD/Blu-ray label. They're going to be sorely missed.
Number of titles in collection: 3,098 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,028 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,070 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 261 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,601 [up 5]
Number of films: 3,796 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,054 [up 1]
Next week was set to be a busy one: only one new title is actually due for release, but I had a bunch of stuff on preorder for the week after direct from a couple of different labels, and direct orders like that often ship early. But then one title got put back, which took the whole order with it, and now I'm thinking it'll be of a broadly similar size to this week, maybe even smaller. Oh, the exicting ups and downs of buying boutique label releases! (Please note: yes, I am using the word "exciting" ironically.)
Anyway, next week it's also time again for the monthly running time update, so at least there's that excitement. See you then, faithful reader!
Thursday, 8 June 2023
Fiction
On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson
Chapter 4
When I said the other day that I'd read chapter 4, what I really meant was most of chapter 4 (it's a long'un). Finished it this evening. Into the second half of the book now.
Chapter 4
When I said the other day that I'd read chapter 4, what I really meant was most of chapter 4 (it's a long'un). Finished it this evening. Into the second half of the book now.
Monday, 5 June 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x08 (2/6/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x08 (2/6/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 4 June 2023
Films
Killer of Sheep (1978)
[#41 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #4
Moneyball (2011)
[2nd watch]
[#40 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I’ve been intending to rewatch Moneyball for a while, because I didn’t much care for it the first time (read my original review for all the reasons why) but a lot of people seem to like it, so I thought it deserved a second chance. When it came up among “other movies you might like” after I watched Air, the time seemed right. And… well, I enjoyed it a little more this time, but I feel like most of my original criticisms (that it’s too much about sport and not enough about statistics; and that it doesn’t explain the sport at all for those of us who don’t know anything about baseball beyond that it’s a glorified version of rounders) still stand.
[#41 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Blindspot 2023 #4
Moneyball (2011)
[2nd watch]
[#40 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
I’ve been intending to rewatch Moneyball for a while, because I didn’t much care for it the first time (read my original review for all the reasons why) but a lot of people seem to like it, so I thought it deserved a second chance. When it came up among “other movies you might like” after I watched Air, the time seemed right. And… well, I enjoyed it a little more this time, but I feel like most of my original criticisms (that it’s too much about sport and not enough about statistics; and that it doesn’t explain the sport at all for those of us who don’t know anything about baseball beyond that it’s a glorified version of rounders) still stand.
Fiction
On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson
Chapter 4
Finally found some time to continue with this (it's already taking me longer to finish than anticipated/hoped, but I'm determined to not let it stretch out ridiculously, unlike the last one!)
Chapter 4
Finally found some time to continue with this (it's already taking me longer to finish than anticipated/hoped, but I'm determined to not let it stretch out ridiculously, unlike the last one!)
this week on 100Films.co.uk
"This week on 100Films.co.uk" continues to really be "This Month..." because, once again, there's been no new reviews all month and it's now time for my two regular monthly columns.
First, the overall review of May...
Finally, all the stuff I didn't watch last month...
More next Sunday? We'll see...
First, the overall review of May...
Finally, all the stuff I didn't watch last month...
More next Sunday? We'll see...
Saturday, 3 June 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x07 (26/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x07 (26/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Just a single new addition again this week, a rarity for me nowadays (but more weeks should be like this, really).
Number of titles in collection: 3,094 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,065 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,596 [up 1]
Number of films: 3,792 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Just a single new addition again this week, a rarity for me nowadays (but more weeks should be like this, really).
Number of titles in collection: 3,094 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,065 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,596 [up 1]
Number of films: 3,792 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Games
Foolish Mortals (demo)
Resuming, and finishing, the demo I started last Friday — it only took about another 20 minutes (vs over an hour I played the other day), so I probably should've just finished it then. Hey-ho. It was good fun, anyway, and I'm looking forward to the full game.
Resuming, and finishing, the demo I started last Friday — it only took about another 20 minutes (vs over an hour I played the other day), so I probably should've just finished it then. Hey-ho. It was good fun, anyway, and I'm looking forward to the full game.
Tuesday, 30 May 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x57 Week 12: Tuesday
6x58 Week 12: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x57 Week 12: Tuesday
6x58 Week 12: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Monday, 29 May 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x56 Week 12: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x56 Week 12: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Films
After the Thin Man (1936)
[2nd watch]
[#37 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Another Thin Man (1939)
[2nd watch]
[#38 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
[2nd watch]
[#37 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Another Thin Man (1939)
[2nd watch]
[#38 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Sunday, 28 May 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x55 Week 11: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x04 Episode 4
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x55 Week 11: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x04 Episode 4
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Saturday, 27 May 2023
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x54 Week 11: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x01 Episode 1
1x02 Episode 2
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
6x54 Week 11: Thursday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Trigger Point
1x01 Episode 1
1x02 Episode 2
1x03 Episode 3
[Watch the whole series (again) on ITVX.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Just one new addition for the final update of May 2023. The next couple of weeks are currently looking similarly as quiet, although there's always the possibility some preorders will ship early. If not, the last couple of weeks of June will be flooded with boutique label releases. Fun times.
Number of titles in collection: 3,093 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,064 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,595 [up 1]
Number of films: 3,791 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Just one new addition for the final update of May 2023. The next couple of weeks are currently looking similarly as quiet, although there's always the possibility some preorders will ship early. If not, the last couple of weeks of June will be flooded with boutique label releases. Fun times.
Number of titles in collection: 3,093 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,064 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,595 [up 1]
Number of films: 3,791 [up 1]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 26 May 2023
Games
Foolish Mortals (demo)
I backed this point-and-click adventure on Kickstarter last year, unplayed — the demo existed back then, but not for Mac; but it looked good enough that I decided to take a punt nonetheless. This week, I discovered they'd shared a Mac-compatible version of the demo, so I finally got to play it. Some instability aside (I quickly learnt to save all the time because it was regularly crashing for no reason; it settled down after a certain point, but still doesn't seem wholly reliable), it's good fun — high quality production values, and the kind of tone and atmosphere I'd expected. Looks like I was right to take the punt!
Anyway, I played for about an hour and didn't finish all the demo had to offer. I'd have stuck with it to the end, but other things are pressing on my time — I'll have to finish it next week, now.
I backed this point-and-click adventure on Kickstarter last year, unplayed — the demo existed back then, but not for Mac; but it looked good enough that I decided to take a punt nonetheless. This week, I discovered they'd shared a Mac-compatible version of the demo, so I finally got to play it. Some instability aside (I quickly learnt to save all the time because it was regularly crashing for no reason; it settled down after a certain point, but still doesn't seem wholly reliable), it's good fun — high quality production values, and the kind of tone and atmosphere I'd expected. Looks like I was right to take the punt!
Anyway, I played for about an hour and didn't finish all the demo had to offer. I'd have stuck with it to the end, but other things are pressing on my time — I'll have to finish it next week, now.
Thursday, 25 May 2023
Films
The Shiver of the Vampires (1971)
[#35 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the 4-minute intro by director Jean Rollin that's included on Indicator's release, in which he says his goal was to make something “really strange, really bizarre”. Well, I think he achieved that...
[#35 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
+ the 4-minute intro by director Jean Rollin that's included on Indicator's release, in which he says his goal was to make something “really strange, really bizarre”. Well, I think he achieved that...
Monday, 22 May 2023
Sunday, 21 May 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x06 (19/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x06 (19/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x14 Promises Kept [season finale]
Well, I thought that was really good overall. A nice mix of swashbuckling fiction (exactly what you want from a pirate story) and historical fact (there's plenty of gaps in the latter to be filled by the former). It has a very modern sensibility to some of the characters and their relationships, which I guess would rub some listeners up the wrong way, but it's actually fitting — these people were forerunners to modern ideas about the place of women, the value of freedom, and LGBTQ+ lifestyles; while they may not have actually used the same language to express those ideas, it's hard to think they would've disagreed with them. Besides, any work of fiction is as much about the time it was written as it is about the time it's set, so I think it works to view these historical people through a modern lens.
It comes to such a fitting close that I'm almost loathe to listen to the second series (which definitely goes beyond recorded events into the realm of total fictionalisation, from what I can tell)... but it's the same writer and lead actors, and it's set in a different but equally swashbuckling milieu (that of highwaymen), so hopefully it's as entertaining.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x14 Promises Kept [season finale]
Well, I thought that was really good overall. A nice mix of swashbuckling fiction (exactly what you want from a pirate story) and historical fact (there's plenty of gaps in the latter to be filled by the former). It has a very modern sensibility to some of the characters and their relationships, which I guess would rub some listeners up the wrong way, but it's actually fitting — these people were forerunners to modern ideas about the place of women, the value of freedom, and LGBTQ+ lifestyles; while they may not have actually used the same language to express those ideas, it's hard to think they would've disagreed with them. Besides, any work of fiction is as much about the time it was written as it is about the time it's set, so I think it works to view these historical people through a modern lens.
It comes to such a fitting close that I'm almost loathe to listen to the second series (which definitely goes beyond recorded events into the realm of total fictionalisation, from what I can tell)... but it's the same writer and lead actors, and it's set in a different but equally swashbuckling milieu (that of highwaymen), so hopefully it's as entertaining.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I mentioned last time that this post would take a bit of work, because I'm massively behind on adding new acquisitions to my database, which means they're not easily factored in to the total running time — and (as is perhaps obvious) it's time for an update on that. Plus, I was away all of yesterday, so that hardly helped.
Anyway, slightly delayed, here it all is: this week's average-ish pile of new additions (by my standards — this many new additions every week shouldn't really be "average"!), plus the monthly check-in on the length of my collection.
Number of titles in collection: 3,092 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,063 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,594 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,790 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [up 1]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
539 days, 23 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 14 hours, and 7 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
I mentioned last time that this post would take a bit of work, because I'm massively behind on adding new acquisitions to my database, which means they're not easily factored in to the total running time — and (as is perhaps obvious) it's time for an update on that. Plus, I was away all of yesterday, so that hardly helped.
Anyway, slightly delayed, here it all is: this week's average-ish pile of new additions (by my standards — this many new additions every week shouldn't really be "average"!), plus the monthly check-in on the length of my collection.
Number of titles in collection: 3,092 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,063 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 260 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,594 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,790 [up 7]
Number of additional cuts: 316 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,053 [up 1]
Total running time of collection (approx.):
539 days, 23 hours, and 5 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 14 hours, and 7 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 19 May 2023
Thursday, 18 May 2023
Wednesday, 17 May 2023
Tuesday, 16 May 2023
Comics
Articles
Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro On How They Found The Emotional Handle For Their Cannes Epic Killers Of The Flower Moon
by Mike Fleming Jr (from Deadline)
A fantastic piece on Scorsese's new film. It begins with the backstory and the thoughts of DiCaprio and De Niro, and then there's an extended interview with Scorsese where he also talks about his general thoughts/experience of making films right now. Great stuff.
by Mike Fleming Jr (from Deadline)
A fantastic piece on Scorsese's new film. It begins with the backstory and the thoughts of DiCaprio and De Niro, and then there's an extended interview with Scorsese where he also talks about his general thoughts/experience of making films right now. Great stuff.
Monday, 15 May 2023
TV
Have I Got News for You
65x05 (12/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
65x05 (12/5/2023 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended episode (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 14 May 2023
Saturday, 13 May 2023
TV
Eurovision Song Contest: Liverpool 2023
Grand Final
A great show on the whole, even if I didn't understand the winner at all (it was a perfectly adequate song, but there were so many other better or more interesting ones, so I don't get why it was such a runaway hit). On the bright side, it means a return to Sweden, who last time they hosted gave us one of the greatest Eurovision moments of all time. No pressure for 2024, guys...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The One Show at Eurovision
9/5/2023 edition
10/5/2023 edition
11/5/2023 edition
12/5/2023 edition
13/5/2023 edition: Eurovision Countdown
As you might guess from the title, BBC One's early evening magazine programme The One Show has been in Liverpool all week to cover Eurovision. I didn't realise how much coverage they'd given it — I assumed it would be little bits here and there, but actually it dominated each episode, with only an interview or short feature per episode deviating. So I caught up on all of that earlier today.
It's not just me who's spent most of the day in a Eurovision bubble, though: the actual BBC One schedule dedicated 8 hours to Eurovision-related programming throughout the afternoon & evening! It began with a repeat of last week's Ultimate Guide, there was then a repeat of last year's Weakest Link tie-in special, followed by new tie-in editions of Pointless Celebrities and The Hit List. So, mostly themed specials of game shows, then. I decided to skip all of that (I did have some other things to do), but joined for The One Show countdown to the main event.
[Watch the countdown (again) on iPlayer.]
Grand Final
A great show on the whole, even if I didn't understand the winner at all (it was a perfectly adequate song, but there were so many other better or more interesting ones, so I don't get why it was such a runaway hit). On the bright side, it means a return to Sweden, who last time they hosted gave us one of the greatest Eurovision moments of all time. No pressure for 2024, guys...
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The One Show at Eurovision
9/5/2023 edition
10/5/2023 edition
11/5/2023 edition
12/5/2023 edition
13/5/2023 edition: Eurovision Countdown
As you might guess from the title, BBC One's early evening magazine programme The One Show has been in Liverpool all week to cover Eurovision. I didn't realise how much coverage they'd given it — I assumed it would be little bits here and there, but actually it dominated each episode, with only an interview or short feature per episode deviating. So I caught up on all of that earlier today.
It's not just me who's spent most of the day in a Eurovision bubble, though: the actual BBC One schedule dedicated 8 hours to Eurovision-related programming throughout the afternoon & evening! It began with a repeat of last week's Ultimate Guide, there was then a repeat of last year's Weakest Link tie-in special, followed by new tie-in editions of Pointless Celebrities and The Hit List. So, mostly themed specials of game shows, then. I decided to skip all of that (I did have some other things to do), but joined for The One Show countdown to the main event.
[Watch the countdown (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Another more-than-healthy pile of new arrivals this week, almost all brand-new releases (to be exact, almost half of these titles have been out for a while, but they were bundled in a preorder with something that's out next week, so my copies have only just turned up).
Also in this batch: 4K releases of the two 1970s Musketeers films, upgrading a BD doublepack. I massively enjoyed those films when I first saw them a few years ago (I checked: it was 2011. Twelve years ago is my idea of "recently"), so looking forward to revisiting them in 4K.
Number of titles in collection: 3,086 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,057 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 257 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,583 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,783 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 315 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,052 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader, when it's time for a running time update — but I'm massively behind in adding all my recent acquisitions to my database, so it's gonna require a rather large amount of work on my part to get that figure ready. Don't be surprised if the post is delayed...
Another more-than-healthy pile of new arrivals this week, almost all brand-new releases (to be exact, almost half of these titles have been out for a while, but they were bundled in a preorder with something that's out next week, so my copies have only just turned up).
Also in this batch: 4K releases of the two 1970s Musketeers films, upgrading a BD doublepack. I massively enjoyed those films when I first saw them a few years ago (I checked: it was 2011. Twelve years ago is my idea of "recently"), so looking forward to revisiting them in 4K.
Number of titles in collection: 3,086 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,029 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,057 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 257 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,583 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,783 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 315 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,589 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,052 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader, when it's time for a running time update — but I'm massively behind in adding all my recent acquisitions to my database, so it's gonna require a rather large amount of work on my part to get that figure ready. Don't be surprised if the post is delayed...
Friday, 12 May 2023
TV
Eurovision: Everyone's a Winner
Well well well, #1 was a surprise... but only because I'd forgotten it was a Eurovision song. Ever since the song in question started getting a lot of radio play, I thought it seemed familiar. I assumed it was very similar to something I couldn’t place; I never expected the answer to be “it finished 20th on Eurovision last year”. Wonders will never cease.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Well well well, #1 was a surprise... but only because I'd forgotten it was a Eurovision song. Ever since the song in question started getting a lot of radio play, I thought it seemed familiar. I assumed it was very similar to something I couldn’t place; I never expected the answer to be “it finished 20th on Eurovision last year”. Wonders will never cease.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 11 May 2023
Wednesday, 10 May 2023
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)