Deponia
With TV I list episodes; with books I list chapters; films I watch the whole sitting in one go, so that's fine... but what about games? I know I've just been posting the title up til now, but I'm not playing the whole thing in one go (at least, not so far), so I feel like I need more demarkation. That's partly why I started keeping track of my playtime in the earlier Monkey Islands. And, actually, playing these newer games through GOG, it keeps track of my playtime automatically (I believe Steam does the same thing), so maybe I should start listing that?
Well, I'm up to 2 hours 43 minutes so far. No idea how far through that gets me, other than that I've got 21% of the game's achievements — if that's an indicator of progress, the rest should take a little over 10 hours. We'll see... As for the game itself, I admit that today I finally resorted to a walkthrough for a couple of puzzles. Life's too short to spend ages wandering around the same locations with the same items in my inventory waiting for a brainwave (that's what we used to do Back In The Day, of course, but nowadays... nah. Especially when I've got dozens of other games lined up waiting for me to get to them).
Sunday, 14 August 2022
Saturday, 13 August 2022
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
My total titles crosses the 2,900 mark this week — will I get to 3,000 by the end of the year? Well, last year I added 240 titles to my tally, which is an average of 20 per month, and there are 4½ months of the year left, which works out at 90 titles. Ooh, so close! Of course, I'm sure the increase wasn't neatly spread throughout the year — maybe the end is normally even busier? I could work it out at such a granular level, but that might ruin the surprise. I know that I've had multiple very large weeks this year already, but whether that means I'll slow down towards the end or surge forth to even higher heights, only time will tell...
Number of titles in collection: 2,903 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,048 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,855 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 196 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,209 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,479 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 274 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,350 [up 14]
Number of short films: 999 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
My total titles crosses the 2,900 mark this week — will I get to 3,000 by the end of the year? Well, last year I added 240 titles to my tally, which is an average of 20 per month, and there are 4½ months of the year left, which works out at 90 titles. Ooh, so close! Of course, I'm sure the increase wasn't neatly spread throughout the year — maybe the end is normally even busier? I could work it out at such a granular level, but that might ruin the surprise. I know that I've had multiple very large weeks this year already, but whether that means I'll slow down towards the end or surge forth to even higher heights, only time will tell...
Number of titles in collection: 2,903 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,048 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,855 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 196 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 7,209 [up 11]
Number of films: 3,479 [up 9]
Number of additional cuts: 274 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,350 [up 14]
Number of short films: 999 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 12 August 2022
Films
Batman: Dead End (2003)
[2nd watch]
[#51 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2022]
This "Batman vs Predator" fan film was ever so popular Back In The Day, and for some reason came up on Twitter this afternoon, so I watched it — I wasn't sure I'd actually ever seen it, but once it got going it all came back. Mad that it's nearly 20 years old. It holds up really well too, which you might not expect — it's not just "good for an amateur production in the early '00s", it's genuinely well made. No wonder it caused such a stir all those years ago.
[2nd watch]
[#51 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2022]
This "Batman vs Predator" fan film was ever so popular Back In The Day, and for some reason came up on Twitter this afternoon, so I watched it — I wasn't sure I'd actually ever seen it, but once it got going it all came back. Mad that it's nearly 20 years old. It holds up really well too, which you might not expect — it's not just "good for an amateur production in the early '00s", it's genuinely well made. No wonder it caused such a stir all those years ago.
Games
Deponia
Decided to go for something a bit more modern for my next point-and-click adventure (it's ten years old, but that's "modern" by my standards). Also, there are three sequels to this, so if I enjoy it my list of games to play will get even longer (next time they're on sale, anyway). Only played for about half-an-hour, but it's off to a decent start — the cartoon visuals are pleasant, and the puzzles are logical without being ludicrously easy. Nothing too taxing yet, but then I have only just started.
Decided to go for something a bit more modern for my next point-and-click adventure (it's ten years old, but that's "modern" by my standards). Also, there are three sequels to this, so if I enjoy it my list of games to play will get even longer (next time they're on sale, anyway). Only played for about half-an-hour, but it's off to a decent start — the cartoon visuals are pleasant, and the puzzles are logical without being ludicrously easy. Nothing too taxing yet, but then I have only just started.
Thursday, 11 August 2022
Films
Tintin and the Lake of Sharks (1972)
[#50 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2022]
Normally for foreign language films I use the title as seen on the copy I watched, but my DVD copy of this has for some reason chosen to call it Tintin and the Mystery of Shark Lake, whereas the title above — a more accurate translation of the original, Tintin et le lac aux requins — is much more commonly used online.
[#50 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2022]
Normally for foreign language films I use the title as seen on the copy I watched, but my DVD copy of this has for some reason chosen to call it Tintin and the Mystery of Shark Lake, whereas the title above — a more accurate translation of the original, Tintin et le lac aux requins — is much more commonly used online.
Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Games
Flight of the Amazon Queen
Finished, in just over 6 hours. Bit of a lacklustre ending — in a movie it would be a Big Action Climax, but that doesn't really translate to point-and-click adventure games, so it's just a couple of simple puzzles to end on. Hey-ho. It was fun overall, but not truly a classic; more a likeable imitation of better things.
Now... what next?
Finished, in just over 6 hours. Bit of a lacklustre ending — in a movie it would be a Big Action Climax, but that doesn't really translate to point-and-click adventure games, so it's just a couple of simple puzzles to end on. Hey-ho. It was fun overall, but not truly a classic; more a likeable imitation of better things.
Now... what next?
Tuesday, 9 August 2022
Podcasts
Doctor Who: Pieces of Eighth
1x05 The Eighth Doctor Action Figures
I became aware of this podcast — dedicated to media about the 8th Doctor — a while ago and have been meaning to catch up on it, but (as is typical of me and podcasts) I keep not getting round to it. But with today's announcement of a new 8th Doctor action figure set, someone on Twitter pointed towards this edition, which covers the genesis and history of the 8th Doctor in action figures (at least until mid-2021) via an interview with Alasdair Dewar of Character Options, the company who make Doctor Who toys.
[Listen to it (again) on Anchor, or wherever you get your podcasts.]
1x05 The Eighth Doctor Action Figures
I became aware of this podcast — dedicated to media about the 8th Doctor — a while ago and have been meaning to catch up on it, but (as is typical of me and podcasts) I keep not getting round to it. But with today's announcement of a new 8th Doctor action figure set, someone on Twitter pointed towards this edition, which covers the genesis and history of the 8th Doctor in action figures (at least until mid-2021) via an interview with Alasdair Dewar of Character Options, the company who make Doctor Who toys.
[Listen to it (again) on Anchor, or wherever you get your podcasts.]
Sunday, 7 August 2022
YouTube
Georgia & David Tennant's Doctor Who Quiz
Somehow stumbled across this quiz (from back in December 2020!), which was done in aid of Marie Curie, and I ended up getting sucked in to it. Well, if you've got David & Georgia Tennant, plus guest stars, testing my Doctor Who knowledge (and I do love a quiz), how could I resist? (Apparently I resisted back in December 2020. But I don't recall knowing it was happening, so...)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Somehow stumbled across this quiz (from back in December 2020!), which was done in aid of Marie Curie, and I ended up getting sucked in to it. Well, if you've got David & Georgia Tennant, plus guest stars, testing my Doctor Who knowledge (and I do love a quiz), how could I resist? (Apparently I resisted back in December 2020. But I don't recall knowing it was happening, so...)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
this week on 100Films.co.uk
We may now be a whole week into August, but the month did only start at the beginning of this week, and that means this 100Films.co.uk update begins with my review of last month...
Plus, the summary of films I failed to watch in July...
Additionally, there was 1 new review published this week...
Prey (2022)
More next Sunday.
Plus, the summary of films I failed to watch in July...
Additionally, there was 1 new review published this week...
Prey (2022)
Plot-wise, Prey is pretty straightforward. And therein lies a big part of its success, because what more do we want from a Predator movie than “a hero has to fight a technologically-superior Predator”? If you do want more than that, I think you’ve come to the wrong franchise. Of course, simply rehashing what’s gone before is just another path to failure, and so what Prey does is take those basic bones and dress them up with fresh settings, ideas, and perspectives.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 6 August 2022
DVD
Big Finish Talks Back: Paul McGann
[2nd watch]
Not quite sure what to file this as — it's not a movie; it's not TV; it's not an extra, because it's a release unto itself... It's a feature-length interview, anyway. It came out in 2002 and I guess I bought it and watched it around then — 20 years ago! — because I know I've seen it but I don't remember it. It was a nice thing to revisit, though.
Plus, a bonus short interview that adds in McGann's first Doctor Who audio companion, India Fisher, after they'd recorded their second series. A nice little time capsule.
[2nd watch]
Not quite sure what to file this as — it's not a movie; it's not TV; it's not an extra, because it's a release unto itself... It's a feature-length interview, anyway. It came out in 2002 and I guess I bought it and watched it around then — 20 years ago! — because I know I've seen it but I don't remember it. It was a nice thing to revisit, though.
Plus, a bonus short interview that adds in McGann's first Doctor Who audio companion, India Fisher, after they'd recorded their second series. A nice little time capsule.
Theatre
The Lion King
UK & Ireland Tour at Wales Millennium Centre
Finally seen this super-acclaimed and -popular show. I thought the songs added beyond the film were mostly a bit lacklustre, but the costumes and puppetry were incredible. I can see why it's a stage spectacle that's been enduringly popular for decades now.
UK & Ireland Tour at Wales Millennium Centre
Finally seen this super-acclaimed and -popular show. I thought the songs added beyond the film were mostly a bit lacklustre, but the costumes and puppetry were incredible. I can see why it's a stage spectacle that's been enduringly popular for decades now.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Five new additons this week — a quiet one, by current standards. Three new releases, too. Only one 4K, but both the older titles are 3D (one an upgrade to the 2D copy I already had).
Number of titles in collection: 2,899 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,048 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,851 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 194 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,198 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,469 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 273 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,336 [no change]
Number of short films: 999 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Five new additons this week — a quiet one, by current standards. Three new releases, too. Only one 4K, but both the older titles are 3D (one an upgrade to the 2D copy I already had).
Number of titles in collection: 2,899 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,048 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,851 [up 4]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 194 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,198 [up 9]
Number of films: 3,469 [up 6]
Number of additional cuts: 273 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,336 [no change]
Number of short films: 999 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 5 August 2022
Thursday, 4 August 2022
Games
Flight of the Amazon Queen
I've not said much (or anything) when I've logged this, but I'm making steady progress. It's not a bad game, but it's no LucasArts classic. It's clearly inspired by Indiana Jones, but executed with some of the self-aware humour of Monkey Island, but it doesn't hit the mark as precisely as either. I guess that's what happens when you're taking off things that are already fundamentally perfect! But the most annoying thing is the voice acting — everyone speaks so slowly, probably in some effort to beat the compression of the day (the game is from the early '90s, after all), and half the lines are delivered with the emphasis in the wrong place. But I'm nitpicking, really, because overall it's a likeable dose of retro adventuring. I'm five-and-a-half hour of playtime through, so if typical playtimes are anything to go by, I've only got a couple of hours left to go.
I've not said much (or anything) when I've logged this, but I'm making steady progress. It's not a bad game, but it's no LucasArts classic. It's clearly inspired by Indiana Jones, but executed with some of the self-aware humour of Monkey Island, but it doesn't hit the mark as precisely as either. I guess that's what happens when you're taking off things that are already fundamentally perfect! But the most annoying thing is the voice acting — everyone speaks so slowly, probably in some effort to beat the compression of the day (the game is from the early '90s, after all), and half the lines are delivered with the emphasis in the wrong place. But I'm nitpicking, really, because overall it's a likeable dose of retro adventuring. I'm five-and-a-half hour of playtime through, so if typical playtimes are anything to go by, I've only got a couple of hours left to go.
Wednesday, 3 August 2022
Tuesday, 2 August 2022
Sunday, 31 July 2022
TV
Richard Osman's House of Games
4x13 Episode 13
4x14 Episode 14
4x15 Episode 15
[Watch various (other) episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
4x13 Episode 13
4x14 Episode 14
4x15 Episode 15
[Watch various (other) episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
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