Doctor Who Confidential
6x08 River Runs Wild
Very nicely done "previously on Doctor Who" bit... but surely something like that would've made more sense on the episode itself?
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Epic Win
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x60 (26/8/11 edition) [season finale]
I say season finale -- tad arbitrary, as the next one started the day after.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x08 End of the Road
Are we really supposed to believe a mother who's had her children taken away because she's incapable of looking after them, and is being monitored in a special facility because of this, would be allowed access to the internet to sign herself and those already-taken-away kids up for, effectively, an assisted suicide programme? Even in Torchwood's pessimistic new world that's ridiculously implausible.
Still, only two more episodes to go. There better be a good finale.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Articles
New 52 Pickup | And so it begins! by Steve Sunu
(from Robot 6 at Comic Book Resources)
Unsurprisingly the net's been flooded with reviews of Justice League #1, the first title in DC's New 52, but this is most interesting because it's the first in a series that intends to review every last one of the New 52 first issues and whittle them down to the best books over the coming months. One to keep looking out for, then.
(from Robot 6 at Comic Book Resources)
Unsurprisingly the net's been flooded with reviews of Justice League #1, the first title in DC's New 52, but this is most interesting because it's the first in a series that intends to review every last one of the New 52 first issues and whittle them down to the best books over the coming months. One to keep looking out for, then.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
TV
The Great British Bake Off
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Favourite Joke
Episode 5 (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
For some reason shown three weeks after the last episode, it's nice to have an extra burst of this super show. And apparently there's a Christmas special too. Grand.
And, in a case so rare it may break the whole internet, the review I've linked to above is dreadful but the comment section (OK, the only comment there) is rather good. That's not right at all.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
4x59 (25/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
My Favourite Joke
Episode 5 (of 6)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Penn & Teller: Fool Us
1x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
For some reason shown three weeks after the last episode, it's nice to have an extra burst of this super show. And apparently there's a Christmas special too. Grand.
And, in a case so rare it may break the whole internet, the review I've linked to above is dreadful but the comment section (OK, the only comment there) is rather good. That's not right at all.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
4x59 (25/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
8 awesome sci-fi movie skins that mess with your MacBook Apple by Scott Edelman
(from blastr)
Does what it says on the tin. Most are film inspired, of course.
The IT Crowd creator: 'Twitter put TV back in the crowd' by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
The headline makes it sound like a quick quote spun out into a news article, but it's actually a slightly longer piece on the relevance and usefulness of twitter.
(from blastr)
Does what it says on the tin. Most are film inspired, of course.
The IT Crowd creator: 'Twitter put TV back in the crowd' by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
The headline makes it sound like a quick quote spun out into a news article, but it's actually a slightly longer piece on the relevance and usefulness of twitter.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
TV
Dragons' Den
9x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x58 (24/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
9x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x58 (24/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Browncoats: Redemption (2010)
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Charity-benefitting fan film set in the Firefly/Serenity 'verse. One for forgiving die hard fans only. Available to buy on DVD or Blu-ray for another 29 hours only from the official website.
[#77 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
Charity-benefitting fan film set in the Firefly/Serenity 'verse. One for forgiving die hard fans only. Available to buy on DVD or Blu-ray for another 29 hours only from the official website.
Monday, 29 August 2011
Sunday, 28 August 2011
TV
Epic Win
1x01 Episode 1
Thoroughly daft... but what did you expect? Good fun for it.
Grand Designs Australia
1x07 Fish Creek Church House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Ocean Giants
Part 2 Deep Thinkers (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Proms 2011
Prom 40 Comedy Prom
Another excellent Prom, and this one a first too. Can't say I ever expected to see Tim Minchin in a Prince Charles mask playing the Doctor Who theme on a keytar in the Royal Albert Hall... but now I have, I'm ever so glad. (You can see it too.)
The programme for this Prom, such as it is, can be read here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x01 Episode 1
Thoroughly daft... but what did you expect? Good fun for it.
Grand Designs Australia
1x07 Fish Creek Church House
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Ocean Giants
Part 2 Deep Thinkers (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Proms 2011
Prom 40 Comedy Prom
Another excellent Prom, and this one a first too. Can't say I ever expected to see Tim Minchin in a Prince Charles mask playing the Doctor Who theme on a keytar in the Royal Albert Hall... but now I have, I'm ever so glad. (You can see it too.)
The programme for this Prom, such as it is, can be read here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #1745
I really ought to make an even bigger effort to catch up: apparently the Dredd story in prog 1749 (out Wednesday in shops, with subscribers (including me) since yesterday) has a big surprise at the end... and big surprises mean not wanting it spoiled and wanting to keep up with The Conversation, as it were, so... yeah...
Also, apparently prog 1750 will be another all-number-1s jumping-on prog. That didn't turn out so well last time, with a collection of stories that still felt halfway through even if they were technically first parts... but it got me started, so clearly it wasn't a total failure. Still, perhaps they've made a greater effort for the round-number-ness of 1750?
Finally, the ECBT 2000AD reviews for this prog can be found here, here, here, here and here.
I really ought to make an even bigger effort to catch up: apparently the Dredd story in prog 1749 (out Wednesday in shops, with subscribers (including me) since yesterday) has a big surprise at the end... and big surprises mean not wanting it spoiled and wanting to keep up with The Conversation, as it were, so... yeah...
Also, apparently prog 1750 will be another all-number-1s jumping-on prog. That didn't turn out so well last time, with a collection of stories that still felt halfway through even if they were technically first parts... but it got me started, so clearly it wasn't a total failure. Still, perhaps they've made a greater effort for the round-number-ness of 1750?
Finally, the ECBT 2000AD reviews for this prog can be found here, here, here, here and here.
this week on 100 Films
No new reviews on 100 Films in a Year this week, but I did mark reaching #75 by creating a list of 25 films I own that I really should have seen.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
TV
Doctor Who
32x08 Let's Kill Hitler
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed that. I'm concerned that in retrospect it might look more like four people stood around in a series of rooms explaining things to each other, but at least they ran around a bit between the rooms and it was quite funny. And Rory was as brilliant as ever.
And the title was worth it for the twitter trend #letskillhitler, half fed by people exclaiming that he's already dead. Idiots. (I mean, obviously he is dead, but look at the bloody trend and see why it's bloody trending. Idiots.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Proms 2011
Prom 39 Spaghetti Western Orchestra
This was incredible, I thought -- so much fun, and brilliant music to boot. It's on iPlayer for the rest of the week, I urge you to check it out. Plus, the full programme can be read here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
32x08 Let's Kill Hitler
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed that. I'm concerned that in retrospect it might look more like four people stood around in a series of rooms explaining things to each other, but at least they ran around a bit between the rooms and it was quite funny. And Rory was as brilliant as ever.
And the title was worth it for the twitter trend #letskillhitler, half fed by people exclaiming that he's already dead. Idiots. (I mean, obviously he is dead, but look at the bloody trend and see why it's bloody trending. Idiots.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Proms 2011
Prom 39 Spaghetti Western Orchestra
This was incredible, I thought -- so much fun, and brilliant music to boot. It's on iPlayer for the rest of the week, I urge you to check it out. Plus, the full programme can be read here.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Nirvana (1997)
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
The Radio Times described this as "one of the best science-fiction films ever made. Yet few people outside Italy have seen it." So when it was on BBC Two last night, it felt like a must-see -- it's not available on DVD over here, never even been classified by the BBFC.
It's an Italian film (you may have guessed), but the version shown by the Beeb was the US one: acquired by Miramax, they did their usual foreign film hatchet job, chopping out over quarter of an hour and dubbing it into English. I don't know what difference the cuts made (have to research that before writing my review, I suppose), but the dubbing doesn't help, oscillating between awkward accents with broken English (Christopher Lambert dubs himself) and regular stereotypically bad voice acting.
It's an interesting film, with some interesting ideas, but some plot threads seem unfocused -- possibly they're too thematically-minded and I missed a little of what they were aiming at. In this bastardised form, at least, I'd be loathe to call it one of the best sci-fi flicks ever.
I'm tempted to get the uncut, original language, and apparently very good quality, Italian DVD... but I'd also point out that, if you're interested, the English-language version is available on iPlayer for the next week.
[#75 in 100 Films in a Year 2011]
The Radio Times described this as "one of the best science-fiction films ever made. Yet few people outside Italy have seen it." So when it was on BBC Two last night, it felt like a must-see -- it's not available on DVD over here, never even been classified by the BBFC.
It's an Italian film (you may have guessed), but the version shown by the Beeb was the US one: acquired by Miramax, they did their usual foreign film hatchet job, chopping out over quarter of an hour and dubbing it into English. I don't know what difference the cuts made (have to research that before writing my review, I suppose), but the dubbing doesn't help, oscillating between awkward accents with broken English (Christopher Lambert dubs himself) and regular stereotypically bad voice acting.
It's an interesting film, with some interesting ideas, but some plot threads seem unfocused -- possibly they're too thematically-minded and I missed a little of what they were aiming at. In this bastardised form, at least, I'd be loathe to call it one of the best sci-fi flicks ever.
I'm tempted to get the uncut, original language, and apparently very good quality, Italian DVD... but I'd also point out that, if you're interested, the English-language version is available on iPlayer for the next week.
Friday, 26 August 2011
TV
Natural World
Heligan: Secrets of the Lost Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rob Brydon Show
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Heligan: Secrets of the Lost Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rob Brydon Show
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Fiction
Torchwood: Long Time Dead by Sarah Pinborough
Chapters 8-9
Two things: one, Pinborough seems to have an obsession with ageing geeky men who've never had relationships at all/of significance -- why? Two, how come everyone Suzie meets has met Torchwood in some way and now wants to kill themselves? Is this going somewhere -- everyone in Cardiff has been touched by Torchwood, that kind of thing -- or are we only seeing the ones who have and that's making it feel awkwardly coincidental that she keeps passing them? Fingers crossed these things have a reason or some sense to them, otherwise they'll just keep niggling...
Chapters 8-9
Two things: one, Pinborough seems to have an obsession with ageing geeky men who've never had relationships at all/of significance -- why? Two, how come everyone Suzie meets has met Torchwood in some way and now wants to kill themselves? Is this going somewhere -- everyone in Cardiff has been touched by Torchwood, that kind of thing -- or are we only seeing the ones who have and that's making it feel awkwardly coincidental that she keeps passing them? Fingers crossed these things have a reason or some sense to them, otherwise they'll just keep niggling...
Articles
Lots of exciting news today...
Charlie Brooker detective spoof Touch of Cloth arrives on Sky1 by Alex Fletcher
(from Digital Spy)
Shame about the channel but, otherwise, this sounds like it's worth looking forward to. The headline pretty much encapsulates why.
Daredevil #1 Audio Edition
(from Marvel)
This is rather appropriate (considering the titular character is blind): the first issue of the acclaimed relaunch of Daredevil is now available as an audio edition for the visually impaired. It's all been done in-house at Marvel -- the writer describes the panels, various editors do the voices -- making it seem more like a pet project they've let out than a fully-commissioned idea, but hey, it's still good for those who can't see well/at all.
The Hour renewed for second series by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
Didn't expect that, but it's welcome -- despite an iffy start, I thought it had got rather good by the end. And BBC Two's first recommissioned original British drama in over a decade?! Crikey!
Rock Version of Silent Film Classic Metropolis to Hit Theatres This Fall by Borys Kit
(from The Hollywood Reporter)
Never mind theatres, it's also coming out on DVD and Blu-ray in November! This is great news. Some consider the shortened, colourised, rock-scored version of Metropolis to be a horrible bastardisation, and they have a point, but considering we now have the most-complete-available version of the original film released in fantastic DVD and Blu-ray editions, it's nice to have a chance to see this '80s oddity as well -- and in full HD too, not to mention with a couple of worthwhile special features (a restoration documentary, Moroder introduction, original trailer and photo gallery).
No idea if there's going to be a UK release, quite possibly not, so I'll definitely be pre-ordering the US BD when I can.
Charlie Brooker detective spoof Touch of Cloth arrives on Sky1 by Alex Fletcher
(from Digital Spy)
Shame about the channel but, otherwise, this sounds like it's worth looking forward to. The headline pretty much encapsulates why.
Daredevil #1 Audio Edition
(from Marvel)
This is rather appropriate (considering the titular character is blind): the first issue of the acclaimed relaunch of Daredevil is now available as an audio edition for the visually impaired. It's all been done in-house at Marvel -- the writer describes the panels, various editors do the voices -- making it seem more like a pet project they've let out than a fully-commissioned idea, but hey, it's still good for those who can't see well/at all.
The Hour renewed for second series by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
Didn't expect that, but it's welcome -- despite an iffy start, I thought it had got rather good by the end. And BBC Two's first recommissioned original British drama in over a decade?! Crikey!
Rock Version of Silent Film Classic Metropolis to Hit Theatres This Fall by Borys Kit
(from The Hollywood Reporter)
Never mind theatres, it's also coming out on DVD and Blu-ray in November! This is great news. Some consider the shortened, colourised, rock-scored version of Metropolis to be a horrible bastardisation, and they have a point, but considering we now have the most-complete-available version of the original film released in fantastic DVD and Blu-ray editions, it's nice to have a chance to see this '80s oddity as well -- and in full HD too, not to mention with a couple of worthwhile special features (a restoration documentary, Moroder introduction, original trailer and photo gallery).
No idea if there's going to be a UK release, quite possibly not, so I'll definitely be pre-ordering the US BD when I can.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, the complete Due South gives a nice boost to the totals of discs and TV episodes -- and means I can finally watch the 14 episodes the BBC didn't bother to show during their repeat run! Hurrah!
And a package full of Blu-rays from America that I wasn't expecting until next week at least (bonus!) is largely responsible for the boost to films and, again, discs. Hurrah!
Plus, the Sin City saga finally comes to an end as bee.com manage to provide me with a copy that has the full compliment of correct discs! Hurrah! (This shouldn't need to be such a celebration, eh.)
There's a couple of other things in there, too -- a big week all round, then, but I think it'll be a little quieter for a little while now. Probably for the best.
Number of titles in collection: 1,370 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,132 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 238 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 3,392 [up 31]
Number of films in collection: 1,444 [up 12]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,100 [up 73]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, the complete Due South gives a nice boost to the totals of discs and TV episodes -- and means I can finally watch the 14 episodes the BBC didn't bother to show during their repeat run! Hurrah!
And a package full of Blu-rays from America that I wasn't expecting until next week at least (bonus!) is largely responsible for the boost to films and, again, discs. Hurrah!
Plus, the Sin City saga finally comes to an end as bee.com manage to provide me with a copy that has the full compliment of correct discs! Hurrah! (This shouldn't need to be such a celebration, eh.)
There's a couple of other things in there, too -- a big week all round, then, but I think it'll be a little quieter for a little while now. Probably for the best.
Number of titles in collection: 1,370 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,132 [up 3]
Of which Blu-rays: 238 [up 8]
Number of discs in collection: 3,392 [up 31]
Number of films in collection: 1,444 [up 12]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,100 [up 73]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
TV
Torchwood: Miracle Day
4x07 Immortal Sins
A change of pace is always good, as is learning more about what Jack got up to in the past. But did my ears deceive me, or did Jack mention "the tracer brigade" in a context that seemed like it should have been a reference to the Trickster's Brigade from Sarah Jane? Maybe I misheard...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wilfred
1x01 Happiness
1x02 Trust
BBC Three's latest acquisition: a US remake of an Australian sitcom in which a man sees his neighbour's dog as an Aussie bloke in a dog suit. It's at least as barmy as it sounds, and very adult-orientated. Which means vulgarity. But despite that, it's also often very funny.
4x07 Immortal Sins
A change of pace is always good, as is learning more about what Jack got up to in the past. But did my ears deceive me, or did Jack mention "the tracer brigade" in a context that seemed like it should have been a reference to the Trickster's Brigade from Sarah Jane? Maybe I misheard...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wilfred
1x01 Happiness
1x02 Trust
BBC Three's latest acquisition: a US remake of an Australian sitcom in which a man sees his neighbour's dog as an Aussie bloke in a dog suit. It's at least as barmy as it sounds, and very adult-orientated. Which means vulgarity. But despite that, it's also often very funny.
Articles
Nick Helm's password joke is Edinburgh Fringe funniest
(from BBC News)
The top ten funniest jokes from this year's Fringe, as voted for by the public. All ten are at the link, naturally (as is the joke voted worst of the festival), but the winner goes thusly:
(from BBC News)
The top ten funniest jokes from this year's Fringe, as voted for by the public. All ten are at the link, naturally (as is the joke voted worst of the festival), but the winner goes thusly:
I needed a password eight characters long so I picked Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
TV
The Great British Bake Off
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x56 (22/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Single-Handed
2x06 A Cold Heaven Part 2 [season finale]
Excellent finale. Seems like a real turning point for Driscoll too, moving from slavishly following the law and what's Right to just doing the right thing. That makes it either a good ending to the series, or the next run could have a slightly different flavour. Hopefully there'll be more, though, because it's quietly brilliant.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
4x56 (22/8/11 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Single-Handed
2x06 A Cold Heaven Part 2 [season finale]
Excellent finale. Seems like a real turning point for Driscoll too, moving from slavishly following the law and what's Right to just doing the right thing. That makes it either a good ending to the series, or the next run could have a slightly different flavour. Hopefully there'll be more, though, because it's quietly brilliant.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
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