Friends
1x11 The One with Mrs. Bing [many-th watch]
1x12 The One with the Dozen Lasagnas [many-th watch]
Continuing the Friends rewatch started in January. Can't believe it's been over ten years since I last saw these episodes — I swear I went through two or three entire Friends rewatches in the mid 2000s alone (that only one previous watchthrough is logged on this blog suggests maybe it was twice in the '00s and a third in the 2010s, or something like that).
Thursday, 15 February 2024
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Articles
The film’s the thing: Ian McKellen’s new Hamlet shows the screen can outdo the stage
by Michael Billington (from the Guardian)
I was interested in seeing this anyway, but this review has swayed me even more. Not sure I'll bother going to the cinema for it though, because there's a Blu-ray out before too long (early April) that's the same price as a regular adult ticket at my local cinema (who don't seem to be showing it anyway).
by Michael Billington (from the Guardian)
I was interested in seeing this anyway, but this review has swayed me even more. Not sure I'll bother going to the cinema for it though, because there's a Blu-ray out before too long (early April) that's the same price as a regular adult ticket at my local cinema (who don't seem to be showing it anyway).
Sunday, 11 February 2024
TV
Image Union
13x13 Halloween Fright
I won't get into the whole thing about what this is (you can read the Wikipedia article if you want!), but the important point is this 1990 episode contains Christopher Nolan's short film directorial debut, Tarantella. I could've just watched that bit, but I put the whole episode on for fun. If you'd just like to see the Nolan short, it starts at 19 minutes.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Would I Lie To You?
17x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
13x13 Halloween Fright
I won't get into the whole thing about what this is (you can read the Wikipedia article if you want!), but the important point is this 1990 episode contains Christopher Nolan's short film directorial debut, Tarantella. I could've just watched that bit, but I put the whole episode on for fun. If you'd just like to see the Nolan short, it starts at 19 minutes.
[Watch it (again) on Internet Archive.]
Would I Lie To You?
17x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Ambulancen (2005)
[#13 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Tarantella (1989)
See today's TV post.
[#13 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Tarantella (1989)
See today's TV post.
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
5–11 February 2024
And so the six 'trial' weeks come to an end. I did enjoy how they began to connect up and overlap a bit — for example, a mysterious guard who you don't see (because they're on the other side of a locked door) early in one week turns out to be the character you play for Week 6. It helps to reduce the feeling of treading water you get for having to 'wait' until the middle of February for the story to start. It also quite neatly and plausibly leads all six potential heroes to be in the same place at the same time to pick up tomorrow. I confess, I assumed it would be six standalone-ish 'taster' weeks, then the story proper begins after you've chosen one. This is a very neat way of handling that.
Scanning ahead a bit, it looks like much of the next week's play is about character management (choosing which of the six to play for the rest of the year; levelling up; getting equipment; etc), so I may well wait until next weekend before playing on again. Indeed, as I said one time before, it is quite nice saving up a whole week's play to go through in an extended session. Defeats the point of this being a calendar somewhat, but makes for a nice play experience.
5–11 February 2024
And so the six 'trial' weeks come to an end. I did enjoy how they began to connect up and overlap a bit — for example, a mysterious guard who you don't see (because they're on the other side of a locked door) early in one week turns out to be the character you play for Week 6. It helps to reduce the feeling of treading water you get for having to 'wait' until the middle of February for the story to start. It also quite neatly and plausibly leads all six potential heroes to be in the same place at the same time to pick up tomorrow. I confess, I assumed it would be six standalone-ish 'taster' weeks, then the story proper begins after you've chosen one. This is a very neat way of handling that.
Scanning ahead a bit, it looks like much of the next week's play is about character management (choosing which of the six to play for the rest of the year; levelling up; getting equipment; etc), so I may well wait until next weekend before playing on again. Indeed, as I said one time before, it is quite nice saving up a whole week's play to go through in an extended session. Defeats the point of this being a calendar somewhat, but makes for a nice play experience.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
1 new review was published to 100Films.co.uk this week...
Barbie (2023)
More next Sunday.
Barbie (2023)
This is definitely a movie primarily aimed at adults, with enough silliness and bright colours on the side to not alienate kids too much. Though by “kids” I mean “teenagers”. Sure, the 12A and PG-13 ratings are permissive enough to take your six-your-old who actually plays with Barbies, but they’re going to be left floundering — or, worse, bored — as the film debates feminism, the patriarchy, and gender roles in general.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 10 February 2024
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Just a couple of new titles this week — it looks set to be a slower month in general, although I do have a mass of preorders waiting at the end of it.
Number of titles in collection: 3,235 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,219 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 329 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,874 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,978 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 356 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Just a couple of new titles this week — it looks set to be a slower month in general, although I do have a mass of preorders waiting at the end of it.
Number of titles in collection: 3,235 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,219 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 329 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,874 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,978 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 356 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 9 February 2024
Films
Fantasmagorie (1908)
The first animated film — a two-minute short of chalkboard-like line drawings morphing into various scenes in a dreamlike stream-of-consciousness style 'narrative'.
The first animated film — a two-minute short of chalkboard-like line drawings morphing into various scenes in a dreamlike stream-of-consciousness style 'narrative'.
Non-Fiction
A City on Mars by Kelly & Zach Weinersmith
Chapters 18–20 + Conclusion [the end]
Altogether, a fun read. It gets deep enough into all the various issues of space settlement that you believe it's been seriously researched and all points have been considered, and you come away having learnt something about them. But it's also light enough to allow room for amusing anecdotes and asides, which regularly raise a chuckle and keep the whole thing in perspective.
To quote from the conclusion of the book itself: “Going to the stars will not make us wise. We have to become wise if we want to go to the stars.”
Chapters 18–20 + Conclusion [the end]
Altogether, a fun read. It gets deep enough into all the various issues of space settlement that you believe it's been seriously researched and all points have been considered, and you come away having learnt something about them. But it's also light enough to allow room for amusing anecdotes and asides, which regularly raise a chuckle and keep the whole thing in perspective.
To quote from the conclusion of the book itself: “Going to the stars will not make us wise. We have to become wise if we want to go to the stars.”
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Wednesday, 7 February 2024
Podcasts
Light the Fuse - The Official Mission: Impossible Podcast
2x34 Revisiting Christopher McQuarrie on "Jack Reacher"
Originally released as episodes 216, 217, and 218 of the 'original' (i.e. pre being made official) Light the Fuse podcast.
2x34 Revisiting Christopher McQuarrie on "Jack Reacher"
Originally released as episodes 216, 217, and 218 of the 'original' (i.e. pre being made official) Light the Fuse podcast.
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Articles
‘We didn’t expect this phenomenon to last’: France’s comic-book tradition is hitting new heights
by Phil Hoad (from the Guardian)
Interesting 'profile' of the state of the comic book (aka bandes dessinées) industry in France. It's always been a fairly significant artform there (at least, more respected than it has been in the anglosphere), but has gone to new heights during and after the pandemic.
by Phil Hoad (from the Guardian)
Interesting 'profile' of the state of the comic book (aka bandes dessinées) industry in France. It's always been a fairly significant artform there (at least, more respected than it has been in the anglosphere), but has gone to new heights during and after the pandemic.
Monday, 5 February 2024
Films
The Kingdom of the Fairies (1903)
Georges Méliès fantasy short, watched on YouTube (and reviewed on Letterboxd, for now).
Georges Méliès fantasy short, watched on YouTube (and reviewed on Letterboxd, for now).
Sunday, 4 February 2024
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
29 January – 4 February 2024
I'm still intending to switch to playing this as intended (i.e. daily) once I get through the initial period of "try each character for a week" (this was week 5 of 6 for that), but it is quite fun saving it up and playing a whole week in one go of a Sunday — I may end up doing that instead, long-term.
29 January – 4 February 2024
I'm still intending to switch to playing this as intended (i.e. daily) once I get through the initial period of "try each character for a week" (this was week 5 of 6 for that), but it is quite fun saving it up and playing a whole week in one go of a Sunday — I may end up doing that instead, long-term.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A new month began for 100Films.co.uk this week (also for everyone else, but, y'know), and so it was time to look back at January — first, with the usual monthly review...
...then, with all (or, at least, many of) the films I'd failed to watch...
More next Sunday. And, this year, I actually mean it!
...then, with all (or, at least, many of) the films I'd failed to watch...
More next Sunday. And, this year, I actually mean it!
Saturday, 3 February 2024
Magazines
Doctor Who Magazine Find the 600!
DWM published its 600th issue this week, and alongside the main mag was this special 16-page supplement of... well, it's a funny one. There's a potted history of the magazine, focusing on just a handful of specific issues from throughout its history; then a spot of silliness in a photo-based comic strip about the creation of the cover (sort of); and then a bunch of random quotes from the 15 'main' Doctors. In the rich history of Doctor Who-related magazine supplements, I'm not sure this is going to be remembered as fondly as, say, the Radio Times ones...
DWM published its 600th issue this week, and alongside the main mag was this special 16-page supplement of... well, it's a funny one. There's a potted history of the magazine, focusing on just a handful of specific issues from throughout its history; then a spot of silliness in a photo-based comic strip about the creation of the cover (sort of); and then a bunch of random quotes from the 15 'main' Doctors. In the rich history of Doctor Who-related magazine supplements, I'm not sure this is going to be remembered as fondly as, say, the Radio Times ones...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I thought this week was going to be a completely dead one, but then a small pile of titles turned up this morning, bringing with them all of the following increases...
Number of titles in collection: 3,233 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,217 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 328 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,870 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,975 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 354 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I thought this week was going to be a completely dead one, but then a small pile of titles turned up this morning, bringing with them all of the following increases...
Number of titles in collection: 3,233 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,217 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 328 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,870 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,975 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 354 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 2 February 2024
TV
Blackadder: The Lost Pilot
I think I was expecting the first half of this to be some fluff to pad it to an hour, but it’s a surprisingly good little documentary, both as a history of the pilot and how it was transformed into the series, and as analysis of what does and doesn’t work, etc. Such a shame they ballsed up the rights (or whatever happened) and couldn’t include it on the complete series Blu-ray.
As for the pilot itself, it’s kind of bizarre how much it’s like series 2, considering how much series 1 isn’t like series 2. It’s as if someone saw the pilot and said, “that doesn’t quite work, let’s change it up,” then it took them an entire produced and broadcast series to realise those changes made it worse, before they went back to the original ideas and discovered, actually, they were perfection.
The pilot was also reworked into what’s probably the best episode of series 1, but I’d argue this actually does the same stuff better; partly because of the tone, partly thanks to some surprisingly elaborate bits of choreography (the play that turns into a farce and a climactic sword duel) which are a lot of fun.
I think I was expecting the first half of this to be some fluff to pad it to an hour, but it’s a surprisingly good little documentary, both as a history of the pilot and how it was transformed into the series, and as analysis of what does and doesn’t work, etc. Such a shame they ballsed up the rights (or whatever happened) and couldn’t include it on the complete series Blu-ray.
As for the pilot itself, it’s kind of bizarre how much it’s like series 2, considering how much series 1 isn’t like series 2. It’s as if someone saw the pilot and said, “that doesn’t quite work, let’s change it up,” then it took them an entire produced and broadcast series to realise those changes made it worse, before they went back to the original ideas and discovered, actually, they were perfection.
The pilot was also reworked into what’s probably the best episode of series 1, but I’d argue this actually does the same stuff better; partly because of the tone, partly thanks to some surprisingly elaborate bits of choreography (the play that turns into a farce and a climactic sword duel) which are a lot of fun.
Thursday, 1 February 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x05 Witchsmeller Pursuivant
1x06 The Black Seal [season finale]
Well, that did improve as it went on, but I think the overall reputation I mentioned in my post for episode one still stands: this is a poor relation to the genius of the series that will follow. Imagine if the poor reception at the time had put them off commissioning series two (as nearly happened) — this would be some standalone oddity, a footnote in everyone's career (if, indeed, they went on to have the careers they had), possibly beloved by a tiny number of fans... Unless, of course, it's actually me that's aged and my tastes changed, and I won't enjoy the future episodes so much either?! Argh! Well, I'll worry about that for a little bit until I start series two...
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Brian May's Brief History of 3D
Remember when everyone was so convinced that 3D was going to take off that Sky even launched a dedicated 3D channel? This was one of their original programmes, back in 2011. Thirteen years ago! Christ. Where does time go? The optimism for 3D is still strong, here — as well as a speedy but interesting history of the medium, it also takes time to look to its then-current and future uses. Of course, such optimism was misplaced. Now, it's back to being a hobby for us few aficionados. Yes, I still have a 3D TV, and I watched this on that in 3D — and lovely it was too, including the chance to see some real rarities — but for the mass audience, even theatrical 3D screenings are dwindling (though that does seem to depend on where you live). Can it ever make a comeback again? Who knows. Glasses always seem to be the major barrier for people. If they can make a glasses-less system, maybe things will be different.
1x05 Witchsmeller Pursuivant
1x06 The Black Seal [season finale]
Well, that did improve as it went on, but I think the overall reputation I mentioned in my post for episode one still stands: this is a poor relation to the genius of the series that will follow. Imagine if the poor reception at the time had put them off commissioning series two (as nearly happened) — this would be some standalone oddity, a footnote in everyone's career (if, indeed, they went on to have the careers they had), possibly beloved by a tiny number of fans... Unless, of course, it's actually me that's aged and my tastes changed, and I won't enjoy the future episodes so much either?! Argh! Well, I'll worry about that for a little bit until I start series two...
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Brian May's Brief History of 3D
Remember when everyone was so convinced that 3D was going to take off that Sky even launched a dedicated 3D channel? This was one of their original programmes, back in 2011. Thirteen years ago! Christ. Where does time go? The optimism for 3D is still strong, here — as well as a speedy but interesting history of the medium, it also takes time to look to its then-current and future uses. Of course, such optimism was misplaced. Now, it's back to being a hobby for us few aficionados. Yes, I still have a 3D TV, and I watched this on that in 3D — and lovely it was too, including the chance to see some real rarities — but for the mass audience, even theatrical 3D screenings are dwindling (though that does seem to depend on where you live). Can it ever make a comeback again? Who knows. Glasses always seem to be the major barrier for people. If they can make a glasses-less system, maybe things will be different.
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Monday, 29 January 2024
Sunday, 28 January 2024
Comics
Helium by Ian Edginton & D’Israeli
So, here's the series I was referring to in yesterday's 2000 AD listing. Glad I bothered to read this, both because I enjoyed it a lot (it's an action-packed pulp 'dieselpunk' adventure) and because I reckon I'd've been floundering about what's going on in the new run without this grounding. Crazy to think it’s taken eight years for the next part to appear — if I’d read this when originally published, by this point I’d probably assume it’d just come to a downbeat, borderline-unique ending, rather than a cliffhanger.
Read Helium for free here.
So, here's the series I was referring to in yesterday's 2000 AD listing. Glad I bothered to read this, both because I enjoyed it a lot (it's an action-packed pulp 'dieselpunk' adventure) and because I reckon I'd've been floundering about what's going on in the new run without this grounding. Crazy to think it’s taken eight years for the next part to appear — if I’d read this when originally published, by this point I’d probably assume it’d just come to a downbeat, borderline-unique ending, rather than a cliffhanger.
Read Helium for free here.
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
22–28 January 2024
We're only four weeks into the year? Somehow, it feels a lot more. And also, like it can't be (almost) February already. Perception of time is a funny thing, eh...
22–28 January 2024
We're only four weeks into the year? Somehow, it feels a lot more. And also, like it can't be (almost) February already. Perception of time is a funny thing, eh...
this week on 100Films.co.uk
5 new reviews were published to 100Films.co.uk this week...
Archive 5, Vol.8
More next Sunday.
Archive 5, Vol.8
Featuring...Read more here.
- One Cut of the Dead (2017)
- The Breakfast Club (1985)
- Chopping Mall (1986)
- Dead Man's Folly (1986)
- Wild Target (2010)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 27 January 2024
Comics
2000 AD #2351
Three new series start this Prog, and one of them they had the kindness to provide the previous run online for free. Fortunately, I downloaded it at the time (though, as of posting this, it's still available anyway), so I think it makes sense to read that first before embarking on series two. Which means I'm gonna let these Progs pile up as not-quite-finished until I do that. Hopefully, I'll bother to do it soon... but knowing me...
Three new series start this Prog, and one of them they had the kindness to provide the previous run online for free. Fortunately, I downloaded it at the time (though, as of posting this, it's still available anyway), so I think it makes sense to read that first before embarking on series two. Which means I'm gonna let these Progs pile up as not-quite-finished until I do that. Hopefully, I'll bother to do it soon... but knowing me...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Normally the end of a month feels a bit busier, as it seems to be the favourite release window for all the boutique labels nowadays. No idea why. But my titles from Eureka turned up early, and one from Arrow is coming from the US, so it's just a bundle from Radiance this week.
Number of titles in collection: 3,230 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,214 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 327 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,866 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,970 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 353 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,110 [no change]
To liven things up, it's also time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
553 days, 21 hours, and 54 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 14 hours, and 17 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Normally the end of a month feels a bit busier, as it seems to be the favourite release window for all the boutique labels nowadays. No idea why. But my titles from Eureka turned up early, and one from Arrow is coming from the US, so it's just a bundle from Radiance this week.
Number of titles in collection: 3,230 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,214 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 327 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,866 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,970 [up 4]
Number of additional cuts: 353 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,110 [no change]
To liven things up, it's also time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
553 days, 21 hours, and 54 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 14 hours, and 17 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 26 January 2024
Films
Bottoms (2023)
[#8 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Bottoms (2023)
[2nd watch]
Arguably this belongs in tomorrow's Films post, because most of my viewing was after midnight; but that would obscure an important fact: that after I finished watching Bottoms, I more-or-less turned right around and watched it again. That's only the second time in my life I can remember doing that (the last was Serenity, on the big screen at my uni's film society, back in 2006).
[#8 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Bottoms (2023)
[2nd watch]
Arguably this belongs in tomorrow's Films post, because most of my viewing was after midnight; but that would obscure an important fact: that after I finished watching Bottoms, I more-or-less turned right around and watched it again. That's only the second time in my life I can remember doing that (the last was Serenity, on the big screen at my uni's film society, back in 2006).
Thursday, 25 January 2024
Films
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 3D (2018)
[2nd watch]
[#7 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
[2nd watch]
[#7 in The 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2024]
Monday, 22 January 2024
Films
Steamboat Willie (1928)
The original Mickey Mouse short, which is now in the public domain. Ironically, I watched it on Disney+.
The original Mickey Mouse short, which is now in the public domain. Ironically, I watched it on Disney+.
Sunday, 21 January 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x04 The Queen of Spain's Beard
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
16x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 The Queen of Spain's Beard
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
16x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
15–21 January 2024
A week introducing Playable Character #3. I didn't think this was a character I'd want to play as, but I had more success than with either of the other two so far. Of course, that's partly just the luck of dice rolls. Several more to go yet before I have to make a final decision about the rest of the year.
15–21 January 2024
A week introducing Playable Character #3. I didn't think this was a character I'd want to play as, but I had more success than with either of the other two so far. Of course, that's partly just the luck of dice rolls. Several more to go yet before I have to make a final decision about the rest of the year.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
Can you believe it? I barely can! But it's true: last week, I published 8 new reviews on 100Films.co.uk! They were...
2024 | Week 2
The Return of Archive 5
More next Sunday.
2024 | Week 2
Featuring...Read more here.
- Lift (2024)
- Only Yesterday (1991)
- Jackass Forever (2022)
The Return of Archive 5
Hey, look what else is back! Almost a whole year on from the last instalment in the series, I’ve finally managed to rustle up a new Archive 5. Featuring...Read more here.
- The Mummy (1932)
- So Dark the Night (1946)
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
- A Brief History of Time Travel (2018)
- Misery (1990)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 20 January 2024
TV
Blood Actually: A Murder, They Hope Mystery
Can’t tell if these are getting worse or if they’ve always been this bad and it’s only now getting to me.
Can’t tell if these are getting worse or if they’ve always been this bad and it’s only now getting to me.
Comics
2000 AD #2350
Having just caught up (er, four months ago), now I've fallen well behind again! Oops. Another casualty of my Doctor Who focus towards the end of 2023. I had intended to try to catch up again in December, during the period when the bumper Christmas issue was on shelves meaning no new Progs until January, but it didn't happen. Hopefully I'll get to that Christmas issue before too long — it's always going to be unseasonal now, but the sooner the better.
Having just caught up (er, four months ago), now I've fallen well behind again! Oops. Another casualty of my Doctor Who focus towards the end of 2023. I had intended to try to catch up again in December, during the period when the bumper Christmas issue was on shelves meaning no new Progs until January, but it didn't happen. Hopefully I'll get to that Christmas issue before too long — it's always going to be unseasonal now, but the sooner the better.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A goodly haul this month — a mix of January sales & offers (including one DVD-to-4K upgrade, a quality jump that always tickles me) and a handful of new releases (technically out over the coming fortnight) from Eureka.
Number of titles in collection: 3,226 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,210 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 327 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,862 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,966 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 352 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,110 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A goodly haul this month — a mix of January sales & offers (including one DVD-to-4K upgrade, a quality jump that always tickles me) and a handful of new releases (technically out over the coming fortnight) from Eureka.
Number of titles in collection: 3,226 [up 7]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,210 [up 8]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 327 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 7,862 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,966 [up 8]
Number of additional cuts: 352 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,110 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 19 January 2024
Thursday, 18 January 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x03 The Archbishop
It does seem to get better with each episode. Still nowhere near the level of later series at their best, though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x03 The Archbishop
It does seem to get better with each episode. Still nowhere near the level of later series at their best, though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Non-Fiction
A City on Mars by Kelly & Zach Weinersmith
Introduction
Subtitled Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?, this popular science book reportedly offers a thoroughly-researched alternative to the well-popularised view of certain tech bros that we're merrily off to colonise space in the next decade or two.
And yes, that's right: me, who barely manages to read anything most of the time (certainly a lot less than I'd like) is attempting a science book! Well, I heard good things, and the subject matter is up my street. Plus it's "popular science", so I figure it should be accessible and not, like, a textbook. Makes a change from fiction, too; in that, although I don't read as much fiction as I'd like, it is almost all I read when I do read. So there.
Introduction
Subtitled Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?, this popular science book reportedly offers a thoroughly-researched alternative to the well-popularised view of certain tech bros that we're merrily off to colonise space in the next decade or two.
And yes, that's right: me, who barely manages to read anything most of the time (certainly a lot less than I'd like) is attempting a science book! Well, I heard good things, and the subject matter is up my street. Plus it's "popular science", so I figure it should be accessible and not, like, a textbook. Makes a change from fiction, too; in that, although I don't read as much fiction as I'd like, it is almost all I read when I do read. So there.
Monday, 15 January 2024
Sunday, 14 January 2024
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
8–14 January 2024
I don't seem to be doing a great job with playing this as intended (i.e. daily). However, each of the first few weeks (six, I think? Which would take us right into February!) is a sort of prequel mini-adventure with one of the possible heroes, at the end of which you choose which one you'll continue with for the rest of the year. So, after I played the first one in one sitting, I feel like I've set a precedent. Equally, if I do keep this up, I won't be playing the calendar 'properly' until mid-February. Hm.
Well, a couple of times this week I nearly just played the week up to that point, but then other entertainment options distracted me (it's not like I'm short of choice — so many films and TV series I want to watch, both old and new; books I want to read; audio dramas I want to listen to; comics I want to catch up on...) So, let's see what happens next week.
As for this second week, it seemed to go much quicker than the first. I don't know if it had less content or I'm just a little more familiar with the gameplay and whatnot than I was. I also didn't have much luck on my rolls. Can't see myself choosing this character to play for the rest of the year!
8–14 January 2024
I don't seem to be doing a great job with playing this as intended (i.e. daily). However, each of the first few weeks (six, I think? Which would take us right into February!) is a sort of prequel mini-adventure with one of the possible heroes, at the end of which you choose which one you'll continue with for the rest of the year. So, after I played the first one in one sitting, I feel like I've set a precedent. Equally, if I do keep this up, I won't be playing the calendar 'properly' until mid-February. Hm.
Well, a couple of times this week I nearly just played the week up to that point, but then other entertainment options distracted me (it's not like I'm short of choice — so many films and TV series I want to watch, both old and new; books I want to read; audio dramas I want to listen to; comics I want to catch up on...) So, let's see what happens next week.
As for this second week, it seemed to go much quicker than the first. I don't know if it had less content or I'm just a little more familiar with the gameplay and whatnot than I was. I also didn't have much luck on my rolls. Can't see myself choosing this character to play for the rest of the year!
this week on 100Films.co.uk
Having spent the first week of 2024 wrapping up my regular coverage of 2023 over on 100Films.co.uk (read all about that here), this week was all about kicking off my 2024 challenge.
First up: the overall challenge...
Then, posts dedicated to my Blindspot and "What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" challenges...
Blindspot 2024
What Do You Mean You Haven’t Seen All of the IMDb Top 250?
With that all out of the way, will there be more next Sunday? Only time will tell...
First up: the overall challenge...
Then, posts dedicated to my Blindspot and "What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" challenges...
Blindspot 2024
This is a challenge in which you pick 12 films you've never seen but should have (your blindspots) and watch them one per month over the next year. It's a great way of ensuring you watch films that you might otherwise not get round to. Or intending to get round to them, anyway, as I've failed to complete the list on various occasions... Below are my 12 picks for 2024, followed by an unnecessarily long-winded explanation of why I chose them.Read more here.
What Do You Mean You Haven’t Seen All of the IMDb Top 250?
Ever since I began my 100 Films in a Year Challenge all the way back in 2007, I've kept track of my progress in completing one of the best-known "best of" lists on the internet: the IMDb Top 250... Ultimately, over the first 17 years of this blog, my annual statistics say I've watched 211 films from the Top 250 — but films come and go from the list, and many of those 211 won't even be on there anymore. For example: since I had 119 films left to go, I've watched 145 more, but I still have 19 outstanding.Read more here.
With that all out of the way, will there be more next Sunday? Only time will tell...
Saturday, 13 January 2024
Fiction
The Spider-Queen by Austin McConnell & Elizabeth McIvor
Chapters 6–8 + Epilogue [the end]
Ironically, this suffers from the same problem that blights 'real' superhero cinematic universes: it's mostly just origin story that teases something bigger and possibly more exciting — including a "credits" scene that, literally, teases something bigger and more exciting. It's not bad, but it could maybe have done with, structurally, making the climax the end of Act Two and having something bigger for Act Three, rather than just teasing.
Chapters 6–8 + Epilogue [the end]
Ironically, this suffers from the same problem that blights 'real' superhero cinematic universes: it's mostly just origin story that teases something bigger and possibly more exciting — including a "credits" scene that, literally, teases something bigger and more exciting. It's not bad, but it could maybe have done with, structurally, making the climax the end of Act Two and having something bigger for Act Three, rather than just teasing.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, another whole TV series gets upgraded from DVD to BD, plus catching up on some recent releases (from December and earlier in January) means changes across the board.
Number of titles in collection: 3,219 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,017 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,202 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 324 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,850 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,958 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 352 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,670 [down 1]
Number of short films: 1,110 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, another whole TV series gets upgraded from DVD to BD, plus catching up on some recent releases (from December and earlier in January) means changes across the board.
Number of titles in collection: 3,219 [up 5]
Of which DVDs: 1,017 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,202 [up 7]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 324 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,850 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,958 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 352 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,670 [down 1]
Number of short films: 1,110 [up 1]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 12 January 2024
Audio Drama
Hell Cats 2
2x01 Home Coming
I greatly enjoyed the first series of Hell Cats when I listened to it last year, but I was getting to the point of deciding not to bother with series 2 — after all, the first run was based on history and told a complete story, whereas this spins off into semi-fantasy (I presume the stuff with the highwaymen is once again broadly historically accurate, but dragging pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read into it is, well, not). But just as I was about to cancel my Audible subscription, they offered me a cut rate to stay, which I took and, well, it seemed only right to take that as some kind of sign (not that I believe in such things) and actually listen to the series.
This first episode, then, is very much about setting the new scene, but describing highwaymen as "land pirates" feels a clear indicator of where things are headed.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
2x01 Home Coming
I greatly enjoyed the first series of Hell Cats when I listened to it last year, but I was getting to the point of deciding not to bother with series 2 — after all, the first run was based on history and told a complete story, whereas this spins off into semi-fantasy (I presume the stuff with the highwaymen is once again broadly historically accurate, but dragging pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read into it is, well, not). But just as I was about to cancel my Audible subscription, they offered me a cut rate to stay, which I took and, well, it seemed only right to take that as some kind of sign (not that I believe in such things) and actually listen to the series.
This first episode, then, is very much about setting the new scene, but describing highwaymen as "land pirates" feels a clear indicator of where things are headed.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Thursday, 11 January 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x02 Born to Be King
Already showing signs of improvement, but the elements are just not aligned correctly for what made Blackadder work to, well, work. At the moment, I'm mostly hopeful that series one will simply remain "bearable" until the genius of series two can arrive.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x02 Born to Be King
Already showing signs of improvement, but the elements are just not aligned correctly for what made Blackadder work to, well, work. At the moment, I'm mostly hopeful that series one will simply remain "bearable" until the genius of series two can arrive.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x01 The Foretelling
Sometime in the late ’90s, a BBC Two repeat of Blackadder was like catnip to my teenage group of friends — probably the perfect age to be introduced to it. I didn’t get in on it until series 2, and — thanks to its lesser reputation — have never got round to going back to series 1. Well, I just bought the new Blu-ray set, so here we go.
And… yeah, it certainly lives down to that reputation. It’s remarkable how mediocre this is, given the genius that would follow. Maybe the quality improves across the first series? I hope so…
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 The Foretelling
Sometime in the late ’90s, a BBC Two repeat of Blackadder was like catnip to my teenage group of friends — probably the perfect age to be introduced to it. I didn’t get in on it until series 2, and — thanks to its lesser reputation — have never got round to going back to series 1. Well, I just bought the new Blu-ray set, so here we go.
And… yeah, it certainly lives down to that reputation. It’s remarkable how mediocre this is, given the genius that would follow. Maybe the quality improves across the first series? I hope so…
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 9 January 2024
TV
Jeopardy!
1x01 (1/1/24 edition)
I was curious about this ever since they announced it, because Jeopardy is an enduringly popular show in the US (as described in this episode, it's the TV show equivalent of a "national treasure") but no UK version has ever stuck long-term. So here we go trying again, with the wonderful Stephen Fry as host. But then I heard it wasn’t actually any good, plus I’m not sure I actually want to watch any game show every single day, hence why it’s taken me over a week to watch it.
They’ve obviously decided to copy the US version as closely as possible, which feels a bit weird on UK TV — we don’t do things the same as the yanks, after all. Part of that is it feels dated and dreadfully slow. You could easily condense the same content into 30 minutes and it wouldn’t feel like it was taking forever. Of course, it doesn’t help that watching it on catchup means unskippable ad breaks.
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
1x01 (1/1/24 edition)
I was curious about this ever since they announced it, because Jeopardy is an enduringly popular show in the US (as described in this episode, it's the TV show equivalent of a "national treasure") but no UK version has ever stuck long-term. So here we go trying again, with the wonderful Stephen Fry as host. But then I heard it wasn’t actually any good, plus I’m not sure I actually want to watch any game show every single day, hence why it’s taken me over a week to watch it.
They’ve obviously decided to copy the US version as closely as possible, which feels a bit weird on UK TV — we don’t do things the same as the yanks, after all. Part of that is it feels dated and dreadfully slow. You could easily condense the same content into 30 minutes and it wouldn’t feel like it was taking forever. Of course, it doesn’t help that watching it on catchup means unskippable ad breaks.
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Monday, 8 January 2024
TV
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Neil Brand's fully-scored adaptation for orchestra and actors, which was first staged in December 2022, broadcast on radio in February, and finally aired on BBC Four on Christmas Day 2023. I enjoyed it a lot on radio (the Brand intro I mention in the above link sadly wasn't included on TV, though you can find it on YouTube) and enjoyed it again with visuals... not that they add a lot, considering it's a staged reading, but actors are actors and can't help inject at least some physicality. I also wrote more about it on Letterboxd.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Neil Brand's fully-scored adaptation for orchestra and actors, which was first staged in December 2022, broadcast on radio in February, and finally aired on BBC Four on Christmas Day 2023. I enjoyed it a lot on radio (the Brand intro I mention in the above link sadly wasn't included on TV, though you can find it on YouTube) and enjoyed it again with visuals... not that they add a lot, considering it's a staged reading, but actors are actors and can't help inject at least some physicality. I also wrote more about it on Letterboxd.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Fiction
The Spider-Queen by Austin McConnell & Elizabeth McIvor
Chapters 2–3
Some books have long chapters; some books have short chapters; and this book has long chapters that should be short chapters. "***" has its uses to mark a passage of time or change of scene or whatever, but here it's too often used when a new chapter would feel appropriate. (I guess there are no rules about these things, it's just a personal feeling about pace or structure or whatever, but still, that's how I feel about it.)
Chapters 2–3
Some books have long chapters; some books have short chapters; and this book has long chapters that should be short chapters. "***" has its uses to mark a passage of time or change of scene or whatever, but here it's too often used when a new chapter would feel appropriate. (I guess there are no rules about these things, it's just a personal feeling about pace or structure or whatever, but still, that's how I feel about it.)
Sunday, 7 January 2024
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
1–7 January 2024
Having made sure to finish the 2021 calendar before the end of 2023, and having had my worries allayed when the 2024 calendar actually arrived before the end of 2023... I haven't actually got round to starting it on time. Oops. But here I go now, playing the whole first week of the year. They've obviously made improvements over the years, so while it's familiar it's also slightly different to the 2021 calendar. All to the good though, not least the way it gets going so quickly.
1–7 January 2024
Having made sure to finish the 2021 calendar before the end of 2023, and having had my worries allayed when the 2024 calendar actually arrived before the end of 2023... I haven't actually got round to starting it on time. Oops. But here I go now, playing the whole first week of the year. They've obviously made improvements over the years, so while it's familiar it's also slightly different to the 2021 calendar. All to the good though, not least the way it gets going so quickly.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
It's been all about 2023 on 100Films.co.uk this week, as I've spent the first week of the new year wrapping up the old one.
There are quite a lot of posts to get through, so let's get cracking. First up:
100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023: Final Standing
Next, my regular monthly posts: the review of December 2023...
...and all the films I failed to watch that month:
Next, my "review of the year" proper, across four posts...
Whew! Now, 2024 can begin. Will I be any better at regularly posting reviews this year than I was last year? Find out next Sunday.
There are quite a lot of posts to get through, so let's get cracking. First up:
100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023: Final Standing
As the challenge tracker page will soon be replaced with a version keeping tabs on 2024’s effort, here’s an archive of how it looked at the very end of 2023. Sadly, it’s incomplete...Read more here.
Next, my regular monthly posts: the review of December 2023...
...and all the films I failed to watch that month:
Next, my "review of the year" proper, across four posts...
Whew! Now, 2024 can begin. Will I be any better at regularly posting reviews this year than I was last year? Find out next Sunday.
Saturday, 6 January 2024
TV
The 1% Club
2x09 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Sarah Millican: Bobby Dazzler
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
The Wheel
4x06 Christmas Wheel
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x09 Christmas Special
[Watch it (again) on ITVX.]
Sarah Millican: Bobby Dazzler
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
The Wheel
4x06 Christmas Wheel
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A fair few new additions this week; all titles that really should have shown up before the end of 2023, but for one reason or another slipped to this first week of 2024. Well, it would've been a dead one otherwise, so that's something I suppose. They include two box sets from Australia (one upgrading a BD to 4K, the other upgrading two DVDs to BD) and the latest batch of releases from Radiance and their partner labels.
Number of titles in collection: 3,214 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,019 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,195 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 322 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,841 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,953 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 351 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,671 [up 3]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
A fair few new additions this week; all titles that really should have shown up before the end of 2023, but for one reason or another slipped to this first week of 2024. Well, it would've been a dead one otherwise, so that's something I suppose. They include two box sets from Australia (one upgrading a BD to 4K, the other upgrading two DVDs to BD) and the latest batch of releases from Radiance and their partner labels.
Number of titles in collection: 3,214 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,019 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,195 [up 5]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 322 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,841 [up 6]
Number of films: 3,953 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 351 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,671 [up 3]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 5 January 2024
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x24 Week 5: Thursday
7x25 Week 5: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
7x24 Week 5: Thursday
7x25 Week 5: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Podcasts
The Official Doctor Who Podcast
Christmas Special 2023 - The Church on Ruby Road
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Christmas Special 2023 - The Church on Ruby Road
[Listen to it (again) on BBC Sounds.]
Thursday, 4 January 2024
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x23 Week 5: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie: Feds
1x04 To Die For
I had no intention of watching this spinoff from The Rookie (last seasons's backdoor pilot did nothing to win me round), but they did a handful of direct crossovers throughout this season — four, to be precise (at least according to Wikipedia) — so of course I'm watching those. On the evidence of this episode, not watching it was the right decision. (Fortunately (for me), Feds was cancelled after just this one season, so I won't have to worry about keeping up with such crossovers after The Rookie season five.)
Slow Horses
3x05 Cleaning Up
3x06 Footprints [season finale]
7x23 Week 5: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie: Feds
1x04 To Die For
I had no intention of watching this spinoff from The Rookie (last seasons's backdoor pilot did nothing to win me round), but they did a handful of direct crossovers throughout this season — four, to be precise (at least according to Wikipedia) — so of course I'm watching those. On the evidence of this episode, not watching it was the right decision. (Fortunately (for me), Feds was cancelled after just this one season, so I won't have to worry about keeping up with such crossovers after The Rookie season five.)
Slow Horses
3x05 Cleaning Up
3x06 Footprints [season finale]
Wednesday, 3 January 2024
TV
Friends
1x10 The One with the Monkey [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x22 Week 5: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x04 The Choice
Slow Horses
3x04 Uninvited Guests
1x10 The One with the Monkey [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x22 Week 5: Tuesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x04 The Choice
Slow Horses
3x04 Uninvited Guests
Tuesday, 2 January 2024
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
7x21 Week 5: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
3x02 Hard Lessons
3x03 Negotiating with Tigers
7x21 Week 5: Monday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Slow Horses
3x02 Hard Lessons
3x03 Negotiating with Tigers
Monday, 1 January 2024
TV
Friends
1x09 The One Where Underdog Gets Away [many-th watch]
aka the first Thanksgiving one — a setting that would become a Friends staple.
New Year's Eve Fireworks
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x09 Week 2: Thursday
2x10 Week 2: Friday [season finale]
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Rick Astley Rocks New Year's Eve
Part 2 (of 2)
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x03 Dye Hard
Slow Horses
3x01 Strange Games
A bit of a slow-burn start to the third season, but exciting and enticing in its own way. Long may this show continue (there are still plenty of books to go).
1x09 The One Where Underdog Gets Away [many-th watch]
aka the first Thanksgiving one — a setting that would become a Friends staple.
New Year's Eve Fireworks
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x09 Week 2: Thursday
2x10 Week 2: Friday [season finale]
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Rick Astley Rocks New Year's Eve
Part 2 (of 2)
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x03 Dye Hard
Slow Horses
3x01 Strange Games
A bit of a slow-burn start to the third season, but exciting and enticing in its own way. Long may this show continue (there are still plenty of books to go).
Sunday, 31 December 2023
TV
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2023
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
The Famous Five
1x01 The Curse of Kirrin Island
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
1x07 The One with the Blackout [many-th watch]
1x08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x07 A Christmas Gift [series finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Rick Astley Rocks New Year's Eve
Part 1 (of 2)
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
[Watch it (again) on Channel 4.]
The Famous Five
1x01 The Curse of Kirrin Island
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friends
1x07 The One with the Blackout [many-th watch]
1x08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x07 A Christmas Gift [series finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Rick Astley Rocks New Year's Eve
Part 1 (of 2)
[Watch it all (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Here we are, then — the final tally of the year! Which means a bunch of bonus stats looking back at the whole of 2023. Fun. A few things that should have turned up before the end of the year didn't, which is irritating, but doesn't make a huge difference to the sheer scale of increases on the whole...
Number of titles in collection: 3,211 [up 4 this week; up 220 in 2023]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change this week; down 18 in 2023]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,190 [up 4 this week; up 238 in 2023]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 321 [up 3 this week; up 99 in 2023]
Overall, not as big an increase as the last couple of years (titles went up 241 in 2022 and 240 in 2021), but it's my biggest year for 4Ks yet (vs 81 in 2022, 48 in 2021, 56 in 2020, 28 in 2019, and 9 in 2018). Shame it didn't quite get to the lovely round 100, but there you go (it should have done. Damn Parcelforce...) And in the time that 4Ks have gone from 0 to 321, DVDs have dropped back by 145 — and that's (one of the reasons) why my overall collection stays growing!
Number of discs in collection: 7,835 [up 8 this week; up 438 in 2023]
Number of films: 3,947 [up 4 this week; up 298 in 2023]
Number of additional cuts: 350 [up 1 this week; up 54 in 2023]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [no change this week; up 160 in 2023]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change this week; up 84 in 2023]
Unsurprisingly (given what went on in the first block of stats), most of these are slightly down on last year. The most noteworthy drop is probably TV, where 2022's increase was 282 episodes, up from 2021's all-time low of 244 — so sinking below 200, whew. Proof if proof were needed that a lot less TV gets released on disc nowadays.
Total running time of collection (approx.):
552 days, 7 hours, and 37 minutes.
(Up 20 hours and 32 minutes from last month.)
(Up 24 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last year.)
That's my lowest yearly running time increase since 2019; the past three years have all been over 30 days. I don't know what that tells us, but there it is.
See you next week for a new year to begin, faithful reader.
Here we are, then — the final tally of the year! Which means a bunch of bonus stats looking back at the whole of 2023. Fun. A few things that should have turned up before the end of the year didn't, which is irritating, but doesn't make a huge difference to the sheer scale of increases on the whole...
Number of titles in collection: 3,211 [up 4 this week; up 220 in 2023]
Of which DVDs: 1,021 [no change this week; down 18 in 2023]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,190 [up 4 this week; up 238 in 2023]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 321 [up 3 this week; up 99 in 2023]
Overall, not as big an increase as the last couple of years (titles went up 241 in 2022 and 240 in 2021), but it's my biggest year for 4Ks yet (vs 81 in 2022, 48 in 2021, 56 in 2020, 28 in 2019, and 9 in 2018). Shame it didn't quite get to the lovely round 100, but there you go (it should have done. Damn Parcelforce...) And in the time that 4Ks have gone from 0 to 321, DVDs have dropped back by 145 — and that's (one of the reasons) why my overall collection stays growing!
Number of discs in collection: 7,835 [up 8 this week; up 438 in 2023]
Number of films: 3,947 [up 4 this week; up 298 in 2023]
Number of additional cuts: 350 [up 1 this week; up 54 in 2023]
Number of TV episodes: 9,668 [no change this week; up 160 in 2023]
Number of short films: 1,109 [no change this week; up 84 in 2023]
Unsurprisingly (given what went on in the first block of stats), most of these are slightly down on last year. The most noteworthy drop is probably TV, where 2022's increase was 282 episodes, up from 2021's all-time low of 244 — so sinking below 200, whew. Proof if proof were needed that a lot less TV gets released on disc nowadays.
Total running time of collection (approx.):
552 days, 7 hours, and 37 minutes.
(Up 20 hours and 32 minutes from last month.)
(Up 24 days, 7 hours, and 51 minutes from last year.)
That's my lowest yearly running time increase since 2019; the past three years have all been over 30 days. I don't know what that tells us, but there it is.
See you next week for a new year to begin, faithful reader.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
I promised more from 100Films.co.uk this Sunday, to bring 2023 to a close, but... well, I do plenty of "year in review" posts over there, it's just I do them in the first week of January — and that doesn't start 'til tomorrow.
So, nothing this week. Not a jot. But next week... oh, next week...
Yep, more next Sunday. Lots more.
So, nothing this week. Not a jot. But next week... oh, next week...
Yep, more next Sunday. Lots more.
Saturday, 30 December 2023
TV
Friends
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [many-th watch]
1x06 The One with the Butt [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x07 Week 2: Tuesday
2x08 Week 2: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x02 Labor Day
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [many-th watch]
1x06 The One with the Butt [many-th watch]
Richard Osman's Festive House of Games
2x07 Week 2: Tuesday
2x08 Week 2: Wednesday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
5x02 Labor Day
Films
Mildred Pierce (1945)
[#92 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #12
And that's almost certainly the last film I'll watch for my 100 Films Challenge this year. It means I complete WDYMYHS, but end the overall challenge eight films short. Still, that's better than last year.
[#92 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
"What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?" 2023 #12
And that's almost certainly the last film I'll watch for my 100 Films Challenge this year. It means I complete WDYMYHS, but end the overall challenge eight films short. Still, that's better than last year.
Friday, 29 December 2023
TV
Friends
1x04 The One with George Stephanopoulos [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x06 Last Resort [season finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
1x04 The One with George Stephanopoulos [many-th watch]
Ghosts
5x06 Last Resort [season finale]
[Watch the entire series (again) on iPlayer.]
Games
The Dragon Staff of Maladoria
30–31 December 2021
My copy of the 2024 calender arrived today (complete with all kinds of bonus swag — fun times), so I thought I'd finish this one off, ready to start a brand-new adventure on Monday. It's a slightly underwhelming ending, because (as predicted) it sets up "next year's" (i.e. 2022's) calender, but there you go. (I got 2021's as a discount add-on when I bought 2024's — maybe if they do the same for 2025, I'll get 2022's!)
Overall, it's been fun — I'll kind of miss my character and this world — but that also means I'm excited to experience a new one in the 2024 calendar. That said, playing multiple days at a time felt about right, so I'm slightly worried dropping down to a day-by-day pace will feel a bit slow. On the other hand, having read a little of the forums, it seems they acknowledged some pacing issues with this calendar (their first), so perhaps a couple of years of adjustments will have addressed that. We'll see.
30–31 December 2021
My copy of the 2024 calender arrived today (complete with all kinds of bonus swag — fun times), so I thought I'd finish this one off, ready to start a brand-new adventure on Monday. It's a slightly underwhelming ending, because (as predicted) it sets up "next year's" (i.e. 2022's) calender, but there you go. (I got 2021's as a discount add-on when I bought 2024's — maybe if they do the same for 2025, I'll get 2022's!)
Overall, it's been fun — I'll kind of miss my character and this world — but that also means I'm excited to experience a new one in the 2024 calendar. That said, playing multiple days at a time felt about right, so I'm slightly worried dropping down to a day-by-day pace will feel a bit slow. On the other hand, having read a little of the forums, it seems they acknowledged some pacing issues with this calendar (their first), so perhaps a couple of years of adjustments will have addressed that. We'll see.
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