1001 Things You Should Know
1x07 (20/11/12 edition)
Gooood riddance.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Elementary
1x04 The Rat Race
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stephen Fry: Gadget Man
1x01 Super Commuter
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Monday, 26 November 2012
Comics
The Amazing Spider-Man #698 by Dan Slott & Richard Elson
It's the beginning of the end for Peter Parker as Spider-Man: ASM comes to a close with next month's #700, before a new series with a new Spidey launches in 2013. Naturally this has some fans up in arms, as if Slott were the devil himself. Of course, there's also the climax of this issue, which has some pretty shocking developments. But c'mon, it's a story, and it's far from done.
And it's in comics -- even if something terrible happens, it'll be undone within a few years at most. How do comics fans not get that by now?
Dial H #2 by China Miéville & Mateus Santolouco
The Iron Snail! Awesome.
Judge Dredd #1 by Duane Swierczynski
featuring Ripe with art by Nelson Daniel
and Protection Racket with art by Paul Gulacy
The new US Dredd comic from IDW. I wasn't going to bother (regular readers know how well my reading of 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine is going), but it has a rather cool foil-stamped alternate cover of Dredd's badge (still available here) which was hard to resist.
And the content is good stuff too, thank Grud. Swierczynski seems to have a handle on the action, humour and ideas that are inherent to Dredd. A promising beginning.
It's the beginning of the end for Peter Parker as Spider-Man: ASM comes to a close with next month's #700, before a new series with a new Spidey launches in 2013. Naturally this has some fans up in arms, as if Slott were the devil himself. Of course, there's also the climax of this issue, which has some pretty shocking developments. But c'mon, it's a story, and it's far from done.
And it's in comics -- even if something terrible happens, it'll be undone within a few years at most. How do comics fans not get that by now?
Dial H #2 by China Miéville & Mateus Santolouco
The Iron Snail! Awesome.
Judge Dredd #1 by Duane Swierczynski
featuring Ripe with art by Nelson Daniel
and Protection Racket with art by Paul Gulacy
The new US Dredd comic from IDW. I wasn't going to bother (regular readers know how well my reading of 2000 AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine is going), but it has a rather cool foil-stamped alternate cover of Dredd's badge (still available here) which was hard to resist.
And the content is good stuff too, thank Grud. Swierczynski seems to have a handle on the action, humour and ideas that are inherent to Dredd. A promising beginning.
Articles
Merlin to end after series five
by Andy Joannou (from Digital Spy)
The internet flooded with moaning and wailing Merlin fans at midnight on Sunday/Monday when it was announced that the currently-running fifth series would be Merlin's last. Which is funny, because they've said since the start that they have a five year plan, and as the series has remained successful that's surely the reason they've chosen to end it now. Pay attention, 'fans'.
Seitz on Liz & Dick: A Retro-Bad TV Biopic
by Matt Zoller Seitz (from Vulture)
As the Telegraph put it, it's been "savaged by American critics". More here.
by Andy Joannou (from Digital Spy)
The internet flooded with moaning and wailing Merlin fans at midnight on Sunday/Monday when it was announced that the currently-running fifth series would be Merlin's last. Which is funny, because they've said since the start that they have a five year plan, and as the series has remained successful that's surely the reason they've chosen to end it now. Pay attention, 'fans'.
Seitz on Liz & Dick: A Retro-Bad TV Biopic
by Matt Zoller Seitz (from Vulture)
Ladies and gentlemen, behold Liz & Dick, the worst reviewed program of 2012.
As the Telegraph put it, it's been "savaged by American critics". More here.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x06 (19/11/12 edition)
The most irritating quiz show contestant of all time, and he becomes the first to get on three editions?! Bloody typical.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Arrow
1x03 Lone Gunmen
Castle
2x18 Boom!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Dave's One Night Stand
4x02 Patrick Kielty
Seems I missed the first episode of the series. It starred Al Murray. Can't say I'm fussed.
Spy
2x06 Codename: Citizen Lame
1x06 (19/11/12 edition)
The most irritating quiz show contestant of all time, and he becomes the first to get on three editions?! Bloody typical.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Arrow
1x03 Lone Gunmen
Castle
2x18 Boom!
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Dave's One Night Stand
4x02 Patrick Kielty
Seems I missed the first episode of the series. It starred Al Murray. Can't say I'm fussed.
Spy
2x06 Codename: Citizen Lame
this week on 100 Films
Two new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, both of biographical documentaries...
Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Read more here.
Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project (2011)
Read more here.
And also new to the new blog was...
Gambit (1966)
With the Colin Firth / Cameron Diaz remake in cinemas now, it seemed a good time to re-post my review of the Michael Caine / Shirley MacLaine original. I don't know what the remake's like (not that good, according to what I've seen), but this is wonderful.
Read my review here.
More next Sunday.
Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
What he actually is, more than a “fashion photographer”, is a documentarian, recording how people choose to present themselves to the world, both as individuals and how that translates en masse. Fashion may seem like a meaningless, arbitrary, frivolous thing to afford such time to, and I’d have no argument against Fashion being called exactly that. But fashion — the actual clothes we wear in our actual lives — is something a good many people spend a good amount of time obsessing over; it’s how they choose to represent themselves in the world, how they indicate what they’re like as a person, how they show which groups or types of people they align with. We all do it, even if it’s not a conscious choice. Surely that’s worth recording?
Read more here.
Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project (2011)
Briefly covering his upbringing, to better set in context what follows, Unauthorized tells the story of how Harvey and his brother Bob took their success as concert promoters and applied the techniques to the movie business, moving from simply buying and distributing foreign and indie films, to actually producing them, in the process revolutionising the American film industry for a decade or two.
Read more here.
And also new to the new blog was...
Gambit (1966)
With the Colin Firth / Cameron Diaz remake in cinemas now, it seemed a good time to re-post my review of the Michael Caine / Shirley MacLaine original. I don't know what the remake's like (not that good, according to what I've seen), but this is wonderful.
Read my review here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
TV
The Comic Strip Presents...
Five Go to Rehab
Well that was disappointingly rubbish.
Merlin
5x08 The Hollow Queen
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x16 Risk
QI
10x08 Jumble (XL edition)
The one I said I'd fill in.
Five Go to Rehab
Well that was disappointingly rubbish.
Merlin
5x08 The Hollow Queen
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Person of Interest
1x16 Risk
QI
10x08 Jumble (XL edition)
The one I said I'd fill in.
Comics
2000 AD #1805-1808
• Low Life: Saudade, Parts 1-4 by Rob Williams & D'Israeli
Remember how I read The Judge Dredd Story Everyone's Been Going On About, only to discover part of the reason for that was, a few parts in, it tied in to the current story in The Simping Detective, so I had to go back and read all of that? Well, turns out it's tying in to the current story in Low Life too, as revealed even further down the line, so I need to go back and re-read all of that too. And this is a case in point of why one should read the whole Prog in one go as it comes, rather than story-by-story -- especially as the surprise of it happening not only once but twice has now been spoiled for me.
But my, have they clearly gone big with this one!
Anyway, I've now caught them all up to the same point (a couple of Progs back) so can proceed in an orderly fashion through the rest of their stories… or story.
2000 AD #1809-1811
• Judge Dredd: The Cold Deck, Parts Four - Six by Al Ewing & Henry Flint
• Low Life: Saudade, Parts 5-7 by Rob Williams & D'Israeli
• The Simping Detective: Jokers to the Right, Parts Six - Eight by Simon Spurrier & Simon Coleby
And here it all gets pretty epic, if occasionally confusing thanks to ties to long-standing continuity and the three strips all lightly playing off each other, not to mention Spurrier's tendency towards purplish verbosity. But in spite of that, it's pretty awesome.
Prog 1811 is with subscribers today and in shops from Wednesday. Looks to be Prog 1812 (in shops Wednesday 5th December) is the final part of all these tales. Can't wait.
Dial H #1 by China Miéville & Mateus Santolouco
This series is quite far through now, but I'm only just getting round to starting it. It's OK, I would've bought all of the first arc anyway. And it's even more OK because I thought it was pretty good, with a promising concept well executed. I've heard not a lot of people like it and perhaps it's been getting low sales, so maybe it takes a downward turn, and even if it doesn't it may turn out to be one for the chop before too long, but I'll keep going for the moment at least.
• Low Life: Saudade, Parts 1-4 by Rob Williams & D'Israeli
Remember how I read The Judge Dredd Story Everyone's Been Going On About, only to discover part of the reason for that was, a few parts in, it tied in to the current story in The Simping Detective, so I had to go back and read all of that? Well, turns out it's tying in to the current story in Low Life too, as revealed even further down the line, so I need to go back and re-read all of that too. And this is a case in point of why one should read the whole Prog in one go as it comes, rather than story-by-story -- especially as the surprise of it happening not only once but twice has now been spoiled for me.
But my, have they clearly gone big with this one!
Anyway, I've now caught them all up to the same point (a couple of Progs back) so can proceed in an orderly fashion through the rest of their stories… or story.
2000 AD #1809-1811
• Judge Dredd: The Cold Deck, Parts Four - Six by Al Ewing & Henry Flint
• Low Life: Saudade, Parts 5-7 by Rob Williams & D'Israeli
• The Simping Detective: Jokers to the Right, Parts Six - Eight by Simon Spurrier & Simon Coleby
And here it all gets pretty epic, if occasionally confusing thanks to ties to long-standing continuity and the three strips all lightly playing off each other, not to mention Spurrier's tendency towards purplish verbosity. But in spite of that, it's pretty awesome.
Prog 1811 is with subscribers today and in shops from Wednesday. Looks to be Prog 1812 (in shops Wednesday 5th December) is the final part of all these tales. Can't wait.
Dial H #1 by China Miéville & Mateus Santolouco
This series is quite far through now, but I'm only just getting round to starting it. It's OK, I would've bought all of the first arc anyway. And it's even more OK because I thought it was pretty good, with a promising concept well executed. I've heard not a lot of people like it and perhaps it's been getting low sales, so maybe it takes a downward turn, and even if it doesn't it may turn out to be one for the chop before too long, but I'll keep going for the moment at least.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's update includes a DVD I actually received a couple of weeks ago, but thought I'd be returning. I imported the Thai DVD of Birth because it was the only one in the world to include a second disc of special features. The website said it had two discs; the packaging boasts about the two discs; but inside was just the film disc. After emailing the retailer, turns out the second disc isn't made any more, so that was a bit of a waste. Luckily it was no more expensive than just buying the UK DVD (especially after I got a compensatory refund) so I'm not ludicrously out of pocket for no reason. Shame about those extras though.
Number of titles in collection: 1,506 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 360 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,755 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,547 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 370 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's update includes a DVD I actually received a couple of weeks ago, but thought I'd be returning. I imported the Thai DVD of Birth because it was the only one in the world to include a second disc of special features. The website said it had two discs; the packaging boasts about the two discs; but inside was just the film disc. After emailing the retailer, turns out the second disc isn't made any more, so that was a bit of a waste. Luckily it was no more expensive than just buying the UK DVD (especially after I got a compensatory refund) so I'm not ludicrously out of pocket for no reason. Shame about those extras though.
Number of titles in collection: 1,506 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,146 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 360 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,755 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,547 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,700 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 370 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 23 November 2012
TV
Bring Me Morecambe & Wise
1x01 From Stage to Screen
Castle
2x17 Tick, Tick, Tick…
This feels very much like a season finale two-parter, which is very odd as it's still very much mid-season.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Derren Brown: Fear & Faith
Part 2 (of 2)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x03 Not One Red Cent
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
1x01 From Stage to Screen
Castle
2x17 Tick, Tick, Tick…
This feels very much like a season finale two-parter, which is very odd as it's still very much mid-season.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Derren Brown: Fear & Faith
Part 2 (of 2)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x03 Not One Red Cent
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Thursday, 22 November 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x05 (16/11/12 edition)
Featuring one of the more irritating contestants I've ever seen on a quiz show. And he won too! Which means we have to suffer him next time as well. Ugh.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Hebburn
1x05 She Doesn't Just Give It Away
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Hunted
1x07 Khyber
I presume that was meant to be an "is Sam poisoned?!" cliffhanger, which was promptly spoilt by plastering her all over the trailer. Not that we don't know she'll survive, but still.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x05 (16/11/12 edition)
Featuring one of the more irritating contestants I've ever seen on a quiz show. And he won too! Which means we have to suffer him next time as well. Ugh.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Hebburn
1x05 She Doesn't Just Give It Away
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Hunted
1x07 Khyber
I presume that was meant to be an "is Sam poisoned?!" cliffhanger, which was promptly spoilt by plastering her all over the trailer. Not that we don't know she'll survive, but still.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x04 (15/11/12 edition)
On which two players amass all the money, then a third swoops in, finally gets some questions right, and waltzes off with over £5,500. Seems somehow immoral...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
8x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x04 (15/11/12 edition)
On which two players amass all the money, then a third swoops in, finally gets some questions right, and waltzes off with over £5,500. Seems somehow immoral...
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Live at the Apollo
8x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Hunted creator Frank Spotnitz confirms Sam Hunter spin-off series
by David Brown (from Radio Times)
So, basically, Hunted series 2 but by a different name. And probably not on over here. Or on Sky1, I suppose, but they seem to be doing less pinching of drama these days than they used to.
by David Brown (from Radio Times)
So, basically, Hunted series 2 but by a different name. And probably not on over here. Or on Sky1, I suppose, but they seem to be doing less pinching of drama these days than they used to.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x03 (14/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Rolf's Animal Clinic
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
1x03 (14/11/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Rolf's Animal Clinic
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Films
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part I (2012)
[#90 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Adapting the first two books of Frank Miller's seminal tale. This hits UK DVD and Blu-ray next Monday, while the second half is out in the US at the end of January.
[#90 in 100 Films in a Year 2012]
Adapting the first two books of Frank Miller's seminal tale. This hits UK DVD and Blu-ray next Monday, while the second half is out in the US at the end of January.
Articles
Tweetnotes - Skyfall
by Andrew Ellard (from Storify)
Ellard analyses the latest Bond film in his usual insightful way. A few massive spoilers in there, so make sure you've seen the film first (but then, who hasn't?)
by Andrew Ellard (from Storify)
Ellard analyses the latest Bond film in his usual insightful way. A few massive spoilers in there, so make sure you've seen the film first (but then, who hasn't?)
Monday, 19 November 2012
TV
1001 Things You Should Know
1x01 (12/11/12 edition)
Weirdly, Virgin put it on eventually. Handy. It's a nice show, because most of the questions are so easy it makes you feel quite clever.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Elementary
1x03 Child Predator
The Hour
2x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes, Prime Minister
2x06 The Patron of the Arts
1x01 (12/11/12 edition)
Weirdly, Virgin put it on eventually. Handy. It's a nice show, because most of the questions are so easy it makes you feel quite clever.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Elementary
1x03 Child Predator
The Hour
2x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
26x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Yes, Prime Minister
2x06 The Patron of the Arts
DVD Extras
Extras on The Call of Cthulhu DVD
These are headed up by half-hour making-of Hearing "The Call", which is both informative and entertaining, with good insight on how they made this quite fascinating production for virtually no money. It's better put together than some behind-the-scenes features on professional releases and definitely worth a watch for anyone who enjoyed the film.
The disc also houses eight minutes of deleted footage, including more of the stop-motion monster; a few easter eggs in the same vein; galleries of both behind-the-scenes photos and production stills; and the obligatory trailer, which doesn't sell the film quite as well as it could in my opinion.
These are headed up by half-hour making-of Hearing "The Call", which is both informative and entertaining, with good insight on how they made this quite fascinating production for virtually no money. It's better put together than some behind-the-scenes features on professional releases and definitely worth a watch for anyone who enjoyed the film.
The disc also houses eight minutes of deleted footage, including more of the stop-motion monster; a few easter eggs in the same vein; galleries of both behind-the-scenes photos and production stills; and the obligatory trailer, which doesn't sell the film quite as well as it could in my opinion.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
TV
A Mark Heap double bill...
Friday Night Dinner
2x06 The Mouse [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Spy
2x05 Codename: Family Bonds
Friday Night Dinner
2x06 The Mouse [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Spy
2x05 Codename: Family Bonds
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