Police Story (1985)
[#18 in The All-New 100 Films in a Year Challenge 2023]
Sunday, 5 March 2023
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A new month means two things at 100Films.co.uk — first, an overview of the month just passed...
Second, a look at all the films I failed to watch during the last month...
No new film reviews, but hopefully there'll be more next Sunday.
Second, a look at all the films I failed to watch during the last month...
No new film reviews, but hopefully there'll be more next Sunday.
Saturday, 4 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x18 Escape to Danger
aka The Web Planet Part Three, aka The One Where a Zarbi Bumps Into the Camera — a bit of drama, at last.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom & Crow’s Unsupervised Year-End Review Revue
The final livestream of the season is a clip-filled whistlestop recap of the first year of the Gizmoplex. As well as trailers for all 13 episodes of season 13, plus a selection of highlight clips, it also covered other goings-on — things like game nights, classic episode remasters, and aftershow interviews. At 40 minutes it was a pretty quick and fairly concise recap, but that's a good thing really — seeing as it was primarily a selection of trailers for and clips from things most viewers will have already seen, making it much longer could’ve been excruciating.
[Watch it (for free) on the Gizmoplex.]
The Wheel
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x18 Escape to Danger
aka The Web Planet Part Three, aka The One Where a Zarbi Bumps Into the Camera — a bit of drama, at last.
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom & Crow’s Unsupervised Year-End Review Revue
The final livestream of the season is a clip-filled whistlestop recap of the first year of the Gizmoplex. As well as trailers for all 13 episodes of season 13, plus a selection of highlight clips, it also covered other goings-on — things like game nights, classic episode remasters, and aftershow interviews. At 40 minutes it was a pretty quick and fairly concise recap, but that's a good thing really — seeing as it was primarily a selection of trailers for and clips from things most viewers will have already seen, making it much longer could’ve been excruciating.
[Watch it (for free) on the Gizmoplex.]
The Wheel
3x09 Episode 9
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
A week later than expected, but it finally happened: I passed 2,000 Blu-rays! I remember when I first started buying the format, I thought it would never surpass my DVD collection — my intention was to buy selectively; to keep buying on DVD stuff that didn't 'merit' HD. Ah, naïve times. The market, and my taste, has changed quite a bit since then — although we still see some relatively-major studio titles get DVD-only releases, while the boutique labels are putting out Blu-rays (or even 4Ks) of incredibly niche stuff. Funny old world.
That said, I did buy a DVD this week; but it was of a BBC serial from the 1970s, so fair enough. (Classic Doctor Who looks remarkably good on Blu-ray, free from DVD compression and lovingly upscaled, but you can't expect that for every old recorded-in-SD programme.) So, my DVD collection briefly grows again, but I wouldn't be surprised if my next "landmark" is that finally sinking below 1,000 titles. It's shrunk by an average of 25 titles a year over the last five years (although 2022's decrease was notably lower than 2021's, which was notably lower than 2020's), so maybe sometime in 2024 or 2025...
Number of titles in collection: 3,036 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,001 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,487 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,711 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 305 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,042 [up 1]
This week's additions also include the Criterion box set of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The films are restored with new special features, so I'm sure it was worth buying, but in terms of the stats counted here, it's such a one-for-one upgrade on the old trilogy Blu-ray set that it doesn't register anywhere. If they'd put it out on 4K... but, alas, no.
See you next week, faithful reader.
A week later than expected, but it finally happened: I passed 2,000 Blu-rays! I remember when I first started buying the format, I thought it would never surpass my DVD collection — my intention was to buy selectively; to keep buying on DVD stuff that didn't 'merit' HD. Ah, naïve times. The market, and my taste, has changed quite a bit since then — although we still see some relatively-major studio titles get DVD-only releases, while the boutique labels are putting out Blu-rays (or even 4Ks) of incredibly niche stuff. Funny old world.
That said, I did buy a DVD this week; but it was of a BBC serial from the 1970s, so fair enough. (Classic Doctor Who looks remarkably good on Blu-ray, free from DVD compression and lovingly upscaled, but you can't expect that for every old recorded-in-SD programme.) So, my DVD collection briefly grows again, but I wouldn't be surprised if my next "landmark" is that finally sinking below 1,000 titles. It's shrunk by an average of 25 titles a year over the last five years (although 2022's decrease was notably lower than 2021's, which was notably lower than 2020's), so maybe sometime in 2024 or 2025...
Number of titles in collection: 3,036 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,035 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,001 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 7,487 [up 3]
Number of films: 3,711 [up 3]
Number of additional cuts: 305 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,559 [up 8]
Number of short films: 1,042 [up 1]
This week's additions also include the Criterion box set of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The films are restored with new special features, so I'm sure it was worth buying, but in terms of the stats counted here, it's such a one-for-one upgrade on the old trilogy Blu-ray set that it doesn't register anywhere. If they'd put it out on 4K... but, alas, no.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 3 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x17 The Zarbi
aka The Web Planet Part Two. Whereas the first episode felt like it was deliberately set at a leisurely pace, this one just feels like it’s playing for time. It’s not the production ambition that’s the problem here — it’s easy to forgive ’60s Who its shonky effects; they’re par for the course — it’s the lack of an interesting story.
2x17 The Zarbi
aka The Web Planet Part Two. Whereas the first episode felt like it was deliberately set at a leisurely pace, this one just feels like it’s playing for time. It’s not the production ambition that’s the problem here — it’s easy to forgive ’60s Who its shonky effects; they’re par for the course — it’s the lack of an interesting story.
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x02 A New Life
I guess because Audible has its roots in audiobooks (which I presume just run through the entire book beginning to end), this has no opening or closing credits on individual episodes, which is a bit of a pain when the next part just starts playing automatically.
Anyway, this episode was some more scene setting, albeit with some proper piratical action at the end, and the promise that our heroines have now met.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x02 A New Life
I guess because Audible has its roots in audiobooks (which I presume just run through the entire book beginning to end), this has no opening or closing credits on individual episodes, which is a bit of a pain when the next part just starts playing automatically.
Anyway, this episode was some more scene setting, albeit with some proper piratical action at the end, and the promise that our heroines have now met.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x16 The Web Planet
Carrying right on with season two again, this time into one of Doctor Who's most notorious serials: The Web Planet (obv).
The things that make it infamous don't really crop up much in this first instalment. Instead, we get the Doctor and Ian going for a stroll while Vicki has a lie down and Barbara does some spring cleaning. It’s a bit of a slow starter, this one…
On the bright side, the slower pace allows for an entire scene where Barbara and Vicki just chat about Vicki’s upbringing and the gang’s previous adventure in Rome. It’s the kind of thing that some might regard as a time waster, but it also feels uniquely ’60s Doctor Who — in later eras the serials are so much more discrete, and the modern show often feels too frantic for such detail. I rather liked that.
2x16 The Web Planet
Carrying right on with season two again, this time into one of Doctor Who's most notorious serials: The Web Planet (obv).
The things that make it infamous don't really crop up much in this first instalment. Instead, we get the Doctor and Ian going for a stroll while Vicki has a lie down and Barbara does some spring cleaning. It’s a bit of a slow starter, this one…
On the bright side, the slower pace allows for an entire scene where Barbara and Vicki just chat about Vicki’s upbringing and the gang’s previous adventure in Rome. It’s the kind of thing that some might regard as a time waster, but it also feels uniquely ’60s Doctor Who — in later eras the serials are so much more discrete, and the modern show often feels too frantic for such detail. I rather liked that.
Podcasts
Radio Free Skaro
895 The Exit Interview
The "exit" in question being Chris Chibnall leaving Doctor Who. This near-two-hour episode (I can't say I listened to all of it, just Chibnall and the discussion after) includes an hour-long chat with Chibnall, recorded at the recent Gallifrey One convention, ranging over his entire era — as one of the hosts summarised, the conversation "touched on topics like promotion, budgets, writers' room, Jodie Whittaker, the amazing Covid video that they made, Disney+..." and more. As a fun who loves the nitty gritty of production detail, it's a fantastic interview; indeed, I'd've happily listened to more. Such are time constraints, though. (The above link also includes a full text transcript, FYI.)
[Listen to it (again) on YouTube.]
895 The Exit Interview
The "exit" in question being Chris Chibnall leaving Doctor Who. This near-two-hour episode (I can't say I listened to all of it, just Chibnall and the discussion after) includes an hour-long chat with Chibnall, recorded at the recent Gallifrey One convention, ranging over his entire era — as one of the hosts summarised, the conversation "touched on topics like promotion, budgets, writers' room, Jodie Whittaker, the amazing Covid video that they made, Disney+..." and more. As a fun who loves the nitty gritty of production detail, it's a fantastic interview; indeed, I'd've happily listened to more. Such are time constraints, though. (The above link also includes a full text transcript, FYI.)
[Listen to it (again) on YouTube.]
Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x01 Disguise and Deceit
Released as an Audible Original podcast, this series tells the story of the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — the eponymous "hell cats". I forget where I first heard about it, but I've been meaning to listen for ages; and as I've forked out for Audible for months now without getting round to it, it was more than overdue that I start. This first episode is mostly backstory, detailing the women's childhoods, which clearly set them on their path to outlaw lives.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x01 Disguise and Deceit
Released as an Audible Original podcast, this series tells the story of the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — the eponymous "hell cats". I forget where I first heard about it, but I've been meaning to listen for ages; and as I've forked out for Audible for months now without getting round to it, it was more than overdue that I start. This first episode is mostly backstory, detailing the women's childhoods, which clearly set them on their path to outlaw lives.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Monday, 27 February 2023
Sunday, 26 February 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x14 Conspiracy
aka The Romans Part Three.
The Wheel
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x14 Conspiracy
aka The Romans Part Three.
The Wheel
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #2301
Ok, it's taken me a little longer to continue than intended, but I intend to pick up the pace from here. All-new storylines start this prog, most of which I really enjoyed, so there's double incentive to keep at it.
Ok, it's taken me a little longer to continue than intended, but I intend to pick up the pace from here. All-new storylines start this prog, most of which I really enjoyed, so there's double incentive to keep at it.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
8 new reviews were published to 100Films.co.uk this week, but all within one post...
Silent Shorts Summary
More next Sunday.
Silent Shorts Summary
Featuring...Read more here.
- Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900)
- The One-Man Band (1900)
- The Infernal Cauldron (1903)
- Life of an American Fireman (1903)
- The Consequences of Feminism (1906)
- The Dancing Pig (1907)
- Frankenstein (1910)
- What! No Spinach? (1926)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 25 February 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
For the past few weeks I've been talking about reaching 2,000 Blu-rays before the February running time update. Well, in short, it didn't happen — but it definitely will next week, because the order that should've tipped me over is in the post and currently due to arrive on Monday. Oh well.
There were still some new additions this week, but I'd forgotten that a 4K title I added last week was actually an upgrade from DVD. I've accounted for that this week, but it means most categories show no change at all, because this week's only new additions were a different 4K title and a Blu-ray-to-Blu-ray upgrade.
Number of titles in collection: 3,032 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,034 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,998 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,484 [no change]
Number of films: 3,708 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 304 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,551 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,041 [no change]
But, as I alluded to earlier, it is time for the monthly running time update, so here's that excitement...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
532 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 19 hours, and 25 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
For the past few weeks I've been talking about reaching 2,000 Blu-rays before the February running time update. Well, in short, it didn't happen — but it definitely will next week, because the order that should've tipped me over is in the post and currently due to arrive on Monday. Oh well.
There were still some new additions this week, but I'd forgotten that a 4K title I added last week was actually an upgrade from DVD. I've accounted for that this week, but it means most categories show no change at all, because this week's only new additions were a different 4K title and a Blu-ray-to-Blu-ray upgrade.
Number of titles in collection: 3,032 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,034 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,998 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,484 [no change]
Number of films: 3,708 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 304 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,551 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,041 [no change]
But, as I alluded to earlier, it is time for the monthly running time update, so here's that excitement...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
532 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 19 hours, and 25 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
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