There's No Excuse For Misogyny In Space
by Helen O'Hara (from Empire States... at Empire)
I've read a few reviews of Riddick and every single one mentions its misogyny, so it must be a pretty clear trait. Here, O'Hara expounds on it at well-argued length. Sounds like a fascinatingly dreadful film to me.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
TV
Friends
1x08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Starlings
2x08 Episode Eight [season finale]
Weird this being over -- we took so long to watch the first series, both blurred into one that's gone on for over a year. Kinda hope there's a third run, too.
A Touch of Cloth II
2x01 Undercover Cloth Part One
I swear the first one wasn't quite so lewd. Still very funny though.
1x08 The One Where Nana Dies Twice [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Starlings
2x08 Episode Eight [season finale]
Weird this being over -- we took so long to watch the first series, both blurred into one that's gone on for over a year. Kinda hope there's a third run, too.
A Touch of Cloth II
2x01 Undercover Cloth Part One
I swear the first one wasn't quite so lewd. Still very funny though.
Articles
Game of Thrones beats Doctor Who at 2013 Hugo Awards
by Morgan Jeffery (from Digital Spy)
Who has won its Hugo category in six out of the past eight years, so it's always notable when it's beaten (last time was Dr. Horrible triumphing over Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead and Turn Left).
This year it's well deserved: Blackwater is an incredible piece of television -- or anything fullstop -- while this year's selection of Who eps (Asylum of the Daleks, The Angels Take Manhattan, The Snowmen) aren't even the best the show has to offer, never mind all of TV. Nonetheless, they still finished 3rd, 2nd and 4th, respectively.
by Morgan Jeffery (from Digital Spy)
Who has won its Hugo category in six out of the past eight years, so it's always notable when it's beaten (last time was Dr. Horrible triumphing over Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead and Turn Left).
This year it's well deserved: Blackwater is an incredible piece of television -- or anything fullstop -- while this year's selection of Who eps (Asylum of the Daleks, The Angels Take Manhattan, The Snowmen) aren't even the best the show has to offer, never mind all of TV. Nonetheless, they still finished 3rd, 2nd and 4th, respectively.
Monday, 2 September 2013
TV
Doctor Who
6x27 The Seeds of Death Episode Five
Almost every time I see some of Doctor Who shot on film I lament that it couldn't all have been filmed that way. The stuff outside the weather station in this episode looks fantastic, which is in part because it's a great set, but also that higher-quality-ness of film. Ah well.
The Great British Bake Off
4x02 Bread
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Newsroom
2x01 First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers
Funny old show, this. Despite the criticisms and reports of extensive reshoots, it's much the same as ever.
6x27 The Seeds of Death Episode Five
Almost every time I see some of Doctor Who shot on film I lament that it couldn't all have been filmed that way. The stuff outside the weather station in this episode looks fantastic, which is in part because it's a great set, but also that higher-quality-ness of film. Ah well.
The Great British Bake Off
4x02 Bread
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Newsroom
2x01 First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers
Funny old show, this. Despite the criticisms and reports of extensive reshoots, it's much the same as ever.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
TV
Friends
1x07 The One with the Blackout [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Probably the most easily-recalled episode since the pilot, but personally I don't think it's the funniest episode thus far (despite it's rating compared to the others on TV.com, linked above), more a memorable setup. Still, at this point in its run, "lesser Friends" is a purely relative term.
Vera
3x01 Castles in the Air
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
1x07 The One with the Blackout [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Probably the most easily-recalled episode since the pilot, but personally I don't think it's the funniest episode thus far (despite it's rating compared to the others on TV.com, linked above), more a memorable setup. Still, at this point in its run, "lesser Friends" is a purely relative term.
Vera
3x01 Castles in the Air
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Saturday, 31 August 2013
TV
Friends
1x06 The One with the Butt [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Veronica Mars
2x21 Happy Go Lucky
2x22 Not Pictured [season finale]
An awful lot of plot threads to wrap up this season, especially as they resurrected a lot of those from season one too, so they did a pretty fair and thorough job across these two episodes. All set up for a fresh-start season three? We'll see...
1x06 The One with the Butt [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Veronica Mars
2x21 Happy Go Lucky
2x22 Not Pictured [season finale]
An awful lot of plot threads to wrap up this season, especially as they resurrected a lot of those from season one too, so they did a pretty fair and thorough job across these two episodes. All set up for a fresh-start season three? We'll see...
DVD Extras
Special Features on Veronica Mars: Season Two
A couple of brief featurettes, a ton of deleted scenes from across the season, and a surprisingly amusing gag reel, which is a nice change.
A couple of brief featurettes, a ton of deleted scenes from across the season, and a surprisingly amusing gag reel, which is a nice change.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Just two new titles this week, though between them they've created rises in every statistic here. With Bank Holiday and pay-day sales in the past week, there could have been a lot more here... but that's all going to turn up next week, just in time for the monthly running time update.
It would been even more if WOW HD didn't let you order stuff cheap then almost immediately turn around and say it's not in stock so your order's cancelled. Wankers.
Number of titles in collection: 1,596 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,174 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 422 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,986 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,703 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,879 [up 6]
Number of short films in collection: 391 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Just two new titles this week, though between them they've created rises in every statistic here. With Bank Holiday and pay-day sales in the past week, there could have been a lot more here... but that's all going to turn up next week, just in time for the monthly running time update.
It would been even more if WOW HD didn't let you order stuff cheap then almost immediately turn around and say it's not in stock so your order's cancelled. Wankers.
Number of titles in collection: 1,596 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,174 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 422 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,986 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,703 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,879 [up 6]
Number of short films in collection: 391 [up 7]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 30 August 2013
TV
Doctor Who
6x26 The Seeds of Death Episode Four
Fallen a little off course due to an unexpected trip away... but only one episode behind, so hardly a problem. Aside from some silly running around (six-parters, eh?) I like this story.
Friends
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Veronica Mars
2x20 Look Who's Stalking
Trip also meant a longer-than-usual break from Veronica. Only two episodes left this season and it doesn't feel like there's so few to go. I guess the final stages in the season-long mysteries will be really rattled through, then.
6x26 The Seeds of Death Episode Four
Fallen a little off course due to an unexpected trip away... but only one episode behind, so hardly a problem. Aside from some silly running around (six-parters, eh?) I like this story.
Friends
1x05 The One with the East German Laundry Detergent [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Veronica Mars
2x20 Look Who's Stalking
Trip also meant a longer-than-usual break from Veronica. Only two episodes left this season and it doesn't feel like there's so few to go. I guess the final stages in the season-long mysteries will be really rattled through, then.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Articles
15 greatest single location-thrillers of the last decade
by Caroline Preece (from Den of Geek!)
Or "single-location thrillers", which I like, so good list.
Chris Chapman on Doctor Who, The Ice Warriors, missing episodes, Matt Smith & more...
by Cameron K McEwan (from Den of Geek!)
One of classic Who's regular DVD special feature producers, Chapman here chats about some of the features he's made down the years and what he might like to do in the future, as well as the animated episodes of The Ice Warriors that he was involved with.
by Caroline Preece (from Den of Geek!)
Or "single-location thrillers", which I like, so good list.
Chris Chapman on Doctor Who, The Ice Warriors, missing episodes, Matt Smith & more...
by Cameron K McEwan (from Den of Geek!)
One of classic Who's regular DVD special feature producers, Chapman here chats about some of the features he's made down the years and what he might like to do in the future, as well as the animated episodes of The Ice Warriors that he was involved with.
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
TV
Friends
1x03 The One with the Thumb [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
The break-up scene in this episode (where Monica has to tell the friends that she's breaking up with Alan, who they all love, and they respond with all the stock break-up clichés) is one of the entire series' best bits.
The Last Leg
3x04 (21/8/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x03 The One with the Thumb [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
The break-up scene in this episode (where Monica has to tell the friends that she's breaking up with Alan, who they all love, and they respond with all the stock break-up clichés) is one of the entire series' best bits.
The Last Leg
3x04 (21/8/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Doug Naylor: The Anniversary Interview
(from Red Dwarf: The Official Website)
Long interview from back in February with Red Dwarf's co-creator, looking back over the series' history and a little into its future (very non-specifically, I'm afraid to say).
(from Red Dwarf: The Official Website)
Long interview from back in February with Red Dwarf's co-creator, looking back over the series' history and a little into its future (very non-specifically, I'm afraid to say).
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
TV
Doctor Who
6x25 The Seeds of Death Episode Three
Friends
1x02 The One with the Sonogram at the End [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Once Upon a Time
2x07 Child of the Moon
Starlings
2x07 Episode Seven
6x25 The Seeds of Death Episode Three
Friends
1x02 The One with the Sonogram at the End [goodness-knows-what-th watch]
Once Upon a Time
2x07 Child of the Moon
Starlings
2x07 Episode Seven
Monday, 26 August 2013
TV
Death in Paradise
2x05 Episode 5 [2nd watch]
Sometimes you just have to watch something again as appropriate-for-everyone time-filler.
2x05 Episode 5 [2nd watch]
Sometimes you just have to watch something again as appropriate-for-everyone time-filler.
Comics
Batman '66 #2 by Jeff Parker & Jonathan Case
Really didn't mean to leave it so long since issue one, but there we are. My comments on that still stand: it's good fun, and manages to both evoke the TV series and subtly post-modern-ly riff off it. Marvellous.
I also like the semi-animated "DC2" format. It looks like they've not bothered with that beyond the end of this first three-part story, though, which is a shame if so.
Really didn't mean to leave it so long since issue one, but there we are. My comments on that still stand: it's good fun, and manages to both evoke the TV series and subtly post-modern-ly riff off it. Marvellous.
I also like the semi-animated "DC2" format. It looks like they've not bothered with that beyond the end of this first three-part story, though, which is a shame if so.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Films
Speed (1994)
[2nd watch]
I think I appreciated this more second time round. Sure, Keanu Reeves can't act -- but he's not as bad as I remembered, mainly because only one or two scenes really require Acting. What it is, however, is fantastically directed and edited, a proper rollercoaster ride that is both exciting and tense as required. Fantastic job by Jan de Bont & co.
[2nd watch]
I think I appreciated this more second time round. Sure, Keanu Reeves can't act -- but he's not as bad as I remembered, mainly because only one or two scenes really require Acting. What it is, however, is fantastically directed and edited, a proper rollercoaster ride that is both exciting and tense as required. Fantastic job by Jan de Bont & co.
this week on 100 Films
Three new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, including the first from What Do You Mean You Haven't Seen...?
And that's up first...
City Lights (1931)
The Imposter (2012)
It Happened One Night (1934)
And new to the new blog...
Babel (2006)
St. Trinian's (2007)
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
More next Sunday.
And that's up first...
City Lights (1931)
Though the film is mostly comedic and the romantic plot is a little thin, Chaplin also manages to construct moments that are affectingly emotional. The most notable is the ending, which remains a striking example of subtle acting yielding huge rewards.Read more here.
The Imposter (2012)
There’s no doubting The Imposter tells a bizarre and fascinating tale, but at times I felt it was one that might be better served through a solid Sunday supplement article than a feature-length documentary film.Read more here.
It Happened One Night (1934)
it’s the archetypal rom-com: two mismatched people are forced together, initially hate each other, fall in love. I don’t know if it was such a well-known set of events back then, but today it’s a formula we’ve seen repeated a thousand times in cinema. Despite that, its execution here feels fresh.Read more here.
And new to the new blog...
Babel (2006)
The quickest way to assess Babel is to say that it is about something — or, About Something. The plots, such as they are, aren’t really the point; nor is how they connect, or what chronology they actually occurred in... Naturally, because it is About Something, the Something it is About isn’t made blindingly clearRead more here.
St. Trinian's (2007)
it has a pleasantly wicked sense of humour, which must be pushing that 12 certificate on moral grounds... There’s a number of good, brief, visual gags too, such as the RE department having a Practical Study of the Easter Story with a girl strung up like Jesus on the cross (Christian bating is always funny).Read more here.
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
It’s not a laugh-out-loud comedy and it is (of course) heavy on the sentiment, but it does have a lovely Christmasiness that is perfect for [that] time of year.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
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