2
For a full explanation, please see the start of the countdown.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
TV
Damages
1x11 I Hate These People [2nd watch]
1x12 There's No 'We' Anymore [2nd watch]
1x13 Because I Know Patty [2nd watch; season finale]
Damages is utterly brilliant, and certainly stands up to a second viewing -- in fact, it might even better, because the whole thing's clearly been planned out and well executed from the start (either that, or they've done a damn fine job of bluffing that it was!) I can't wait for season two.
Doctor Who [classic]
Trailer for The War Machines
These new(-ish) 'Coming Soon' trailers for Who DVDs can be a bit of a mixed bag -- certainly, I've never seen a Hartnell one that works. Until now! This War Machines one is utterly brilliant, so it's typical that it won't see the light of day on a proper DVD. It's available for free online at least, but it deserves a full-res DVD release.
1x11 I Hate These People [2nd watch]
1x12 There's No 'We' Anymore [2nd watch]
1x13 Because I Know Patty [2nd watch; season finale]
Damages is utterly brilliant, and certainly stands up to a second viewing -- in fact, it might even better, because the whole thing's clearly been planned out and well executed from the start (either that, or they've done a damn fine job of bluffing that it was!) I can't wait for season two.
Doctor Who [classic]
Trailer for The War Machines
These new(-ish) 'Coming Soon' trailers for Who DVDs can be a bit of a mixed bag -- certainly, I've never seen a Hartnell one that works. Until now! This War Machines one is utterly brilliant, so it's typical that it won't see the light of day on a proper DVD. It's available for free online at least, but it deserves a full-res DVD release.
Films
The Golden Compass (2007)
[#51 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
My Best Friend's Girl 'Red Band' Trailer
Of moderate funniness. The poster (which star Dane Cook has had a good old rant about) certainly doesn't seem to represent the film accurately: it makes it look like Bridget Jones' Diary, when (based on this trailer) it's more like Wedding Crashers.
For the first time ever (in this history of this blog), you can see this trailer right here:
[#51 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
My Best Friend's Girl 'Red Band' Trailer
Of moderate funniness. The poster (which star Dane Cook has had a good old rant about) certainly doesn't seem to represent the film accurately: it makes it look like Bridget Jones' Diary, when (based on this trailer) it's more like Wedding Crashers.
For the first time ever (in this history of this blog), you can see this trailer right here:
Theatre
The 39 Steps
(at the Cort Theatre, New York)
"Hitchcock Meets Hilarious" proudly proclaim the posters and website for this originally-British comedy, and they're right on the money. Four cast members play dozens of characters in this wittily-staged comedy spy thriller, with a plot as Hitchcockian as they come. In fact, the title "Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps" -- which is bandied about on the posters and everywhere else, but not (it would seem) technically the title -- would be a better full moniker, as the play is adapted from that version more than the original novel (I gather) and is stuffed with references to other famous Hitchcock films. Recommended.
(at the Cort Theatre, New York)
"Hitchcock Meets Hilarious" proudly proclaim the posters and website for this originally-British comedy, and they're right on the money. Four cast members play dozens of characters in this wittily-staged comedy spy thriller, with a plot as Hitchcockian as they come. In fact, the title "Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps" -- which is bandied about on the posters and everywhere else, but not (it would seem) technically the title -- would be a better full moniker, as the play is adapted from that version more than the original novel (I gather) and is stuffed with references to other famous Hitchcock films. Recommended.
Articles
Can Knight Beat Titanic?
(from Studio Briefing)
As noted on Monday, The Dark Knight is going to beat Star Wars -- so what's new? Well, chiefly of note here is this quote from "Warner Bros. distribution chief" Dan Fellman: "Titanic was once in a lifetime, and I don't think we'll ever have another gross like that in the history of the industry". There are so many things wrong with that it's hard to know where to start, but... Titanic was "once in a lifetime", so it will happen again... but we'll never see its like again... in history... So, in the past, we will never see its like again, apart from in another lifetime. Yeah, well done Dan.
Dane Cook Rips Best Friend's Girl Poster by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
As in slags it off big-time, not tears it up. Bad article title, Empire. Funny story though, and Cook seems to have a point. See my thoughts on the trailer for more.
O'Brien anger over Rocky remake
(from BBC News)
Translation: "Richard O'Brien isn't happy that Sky One & MTV are remaking The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Except that's still not quite the case, as this quote shows: "It was announced on Wednesday that the new version... would be co-produced by O'Brien. But he told the BBC he would not be involved "in any way". "I have no view on whether it should be remade but it doesn't have my blessing," he added." Chalk up yet another misleading headline for BBC News.
Three New Articles From the Doctor Who Restoration Team
I always look forward to new articles from the Restoration Team, as I find the work they do quite astounding and interesting. Today, we're treated to articles on three forthcoming classic Who DVDs; namely...
- The War Machines (+ two articles on the story's VHS restoration, here and here)
- Four to Doomsday
- The Trial of a Time Lord
That said, the only one of those with very much detail is The War Machines. Trial has an incredible extras package though.
Universal Buys Wheel Of Time by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire Online)
But what are the chances of them actually making a film / film series out of Robert Jordan's long series of massive novels? (The average page count for each book is 850 -- a total of 9,353 pages across the 11 so far published!) Very very slim, I should imagine. Unlike the books. (Ho ho!)
(from Studio Briefing)
As noted on Monday, The Dark Knight is going to beat Star Wars -- so what's new? Well, chiefly of note here is this quote from "Warner Bros. distribution chief" Dan Fellman: "Titanic was once in a lifetime, and I don't think we'll ever have another gross like that in the history of the industry". There are so many things wrong with that it's hard to know where to start, but... Titanic was "once in a lifetime", so it will happen again... but we'll never see its like again... in history... So, in the past, we will never see its like again, apart from in another lifetime. Yeah, well done Dan.
Dane Cook Rips Best Friend's Girl Poster by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
As in slags it off big-time, not tears it up. Bad article title, Empire. Funny story though, and Cook seems to have a point. See my thoughts on the trailer for more.
O'Brien anger over Rocky remake
(from BBC News)
Translation: "Richard O'Brien isn't happy that Sky One & MTV are remaking The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Except that's still not quite the case, as this quote shows: "It was announced on Wednesday that the new version... would be co-produced by O'Brien. But he told the BBC he would not be involved "in any way". "I have no view on whether it should be remade but it doesn't have my blessing," he added." Chalk up yet another misleading headline for BBC News.
Three New Articles From the Doctor Who Restoration Team
I always look forward to new articles from the Restoration Team, as I find the work they do quite astounding and interesting. Today, we're treated to articles on three forthcoming classic Who DVDs; namely...
- The War Machines (+ two articles on the story's VHS restoration, here and here)
- Four to Doomsday
- The Trial of a Time Lord
That said, the only one of those with very much detail is The War Machines. Trial has an incredible extras package though.
Universal Buys Wheel Of Time by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire Online)
But what are the chances of them actually making a film / film series out of Robert Jordan's long series of massive novels? (The average page count for each book is 850 -- a total of 9,353 pages across the 11 so far published!) Very very slim, I should imagine. Unlike the books. (Ho ho!)
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
TV
Damages
1x09 Do You Regret What We Did? [2nd watch]
1x10 Sort of Like a Family [2nd watch]
Tin Man
Part 2 Search for the Emerald
An improvement on the first part, as it breaks away from slavishly re-imagining the original story, but it still suffers from a cookie-cutter fantasy plot, low production values, a turgid pace and hammy acting.
1x09 Do You Regret What We Did? [2nd watch]
1x10 Sort of Like a Family [2nd watch]
Tin Man
Part 2 Search for the Emerald
An improvement on the first part, as it breaks away from slavishly re-imagining the original story, but it still suffers from a cookie-cutter fantasy plot, low production values, a turgid pace and hammy acting.
Films
Trailers for:
Ashes of Time: Redux
Babylon A.D.
Exciting near-future action flick, or just a Children of Men rip off?
Bangkok Dangerous
Surprisingly exciting trailer for the new Nic Cage actioner. He's looking a bit old for that haircut though.
Choke
Adaptation of the new Chuck Palahniuk novel. Looks very good.
City of Ember
Could-be-fun kiddy post-apocalypse sci-fi.
Cthulhu
Looks like a cheap fan film to me.
Death Race
Provided there's not too much plot and plenty of cool car action, this could actually be pretty cool. Then again, it is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Defiance
Promising new work from the director of Blood Diamond.
Hamlet 2
It has no right to look any good, but this looks hilarious.
Igor
Was looking forward to this. Not at all now. Disappointing for me, "oh dear" for whoever edited the trailer.
Righteous Kill
Conversely, this looks brilliant. Maybe it can even live up to the hype its pairing of stars brings.
Twilight
I'm sure fans of the books will love it, but it looks just as crappy as it sounds.
W.
"Odd" is just about the best word to describe this. Fitting, I suppose. But since when was Tony Blair blond?
Ashes of Time: Redux
Babylon A.D.
Exciting near-future action flick, or just a Children of Men rip off?
Bangkok Dangerous
Surprisingly exciting trailer for the new Nic Cage actioner. He's looking a bit old for that haircut though.
Choke
Adaptation of the new Chuck Palahniuk novel. Looks very good.
City of Ember
Could-be-fun kiddy post-apocalypse sci-fi.
Cthulhu
Looks like a cheap fan film to me.
Death Race
Provided there's not too much plot and plenty of cool car action, this could actually be pretty cool. Then again, it is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Defiance
Promising new work from the director of Blood Diamond.
Hamlet 2
It has no right to look any good, but this looks hilarious.
Igor
Was looking forward to this. Not at all now. Disappointing for me, "oh dear" for whoever edited the trailer.
Righteous Kill
Conversely, this looks brilliant. Maybe it can even live up to the hype its pairing of stars brings.
Twilight
I'm sure fans of the books will love it, but it looks just as crappy as it sounds.
W.
"Odd" is just about the best word to describe this. Fitting, I suppose. But since when was Tony Blair blond?
Articles
Hollywood feels the crunch by Peter Bowes
(from BBC News)
iPhone Software Sales Take Off: Apple's Jobs by Nick Wingfield
(from The Wall Street Journal)
Brief interview with Steve Jobs about the stunning success of the new iPhone App Store.
Zak Penn Writes The Argonauts by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire Online)
"Zak Penn is to write and produce a new take on The Argonauts, the crew who accompanied the Greek hero Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Penn's story will be an "original take" on the legend... But this is just one of a wave of Greek-themed projects in Hollywood at the moment... there's Louis Leterrier working on Clash of the Titans; Warners is planning a 300 sequel... Relativity Media is making War of Gods about Theseus; Brett Ratner's mulling God of War (don't confuse those two; this one's based on a game); and there are at least three Hercules projects in development, including Peter Berg's Hercules: The Thracian Wars (based on a comic). Oh, and DreamWorks is making a different film called The Argonauts, about modern treasure-hunters thrown back through time when they find the original Argo."
(from BBC News)
iPhone Software Sales Take Off: Apple's Jobs by Nick Wingfield
(from The Wall Street Journal)
Brief interview with Steve Jobs about the stunning success of the new iPhone App Store.
Zak Penn Writes The Argonauts by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire Online)
"Zak Penn is to write and produce a new take on The Argonauts, the crew who accompanied the Greek hero Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Penn's story will be an "original take" on the legend... But this is just one of a wave of Greek-themed projects in Hollywood at the moment... there's Louis Leterrier working on Clash of the Titans; Warners is planning a 300 sequel... Relativity Media is making War of Gods about Theseus; Brett Ratner's mulling God of War (don't confuse those two; this one's based on a game); and there are at least three Hercules projects in development, including Peter Berg's Hercules: The Thracian Wars (based on a comic). Oh, and DreamWorks is making a different film called The Argonauts, about modern treasure-hunters thrown back through time when they find the original Argo."
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
TV
Damages
1x05 A Regular Earl Anthony [2nd watch]
1x06 She Spat at Me [2nd watch]
1x07 We Are Not Animals [2nd watch]
1x08 Blame the Victim [2nd watch]
Tin Man
Part 1 Into the Storm
Sci-Fi's SF/F re-imagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally shown last December in the US and this May in the UK... but I watched it on a legal download via TV. That works fine, though I swear it was shot for widescreen and presented here in 4:3 (not iTunes' fault, I'm sure). As for the show itself... well...
1x05 A Regular Earl Anthony [2nd watch]
1x06 She Spat at Me [2nd watch]
1x07 We Are Not Animals [2nd watch]
1x08 Blame the Victim [2nd watch]
Tin Man
Part 1 Into the Storm
Sci-Fi's SF/F re-imagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally shown last December in the US and this May in the UK... but I watched it on a legal download via TV. That works fine, though I swear it was shot for widescreen and presented here in 4:3 (not iTunes' fault, I'm sure). As for the show itself... well...
Articles
Dark Knight Rules The Box Office Again by Olly Richards
(from Empire Online)
For the first time since Lord of the Rings 3 in 2003/4, The Dark Knight makes it to four weeks at the top of the US box office. While it's likely to drop next weekend, under the double whammy of the highly-anticipated Tropic Thunder (though that will do business on Wednesday and Thursday that won't get counted) and the even-more-highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, TDK should still overtake Star Wars as the second-highest-grossing-film-in-the-US-ever by the end of the week. Can it best Titanic? I still don't think so, but you never know...
Invisibility cloak 'step closer'
(from BBC News)
No, seriously. Well, sort of.
(from Empire Online)
For the first time since Lord of the Rings 3 in 2003/4, The Dark Knight makes it to four weeks at the top of the US box office. While it's likely to drop next weekend, under the double whammy of the highly-anticipated Tropic Thunder (though that will do business on Wednesday and Thursday that won't get counted) and the even-more-highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, TDK should still overtake Star Wars as the second-highest-grossing-film-in-the-US-ever by the end of the week. Can it best Titanic? I still don't think so, but you never know...
Invisibility cloak 'step closer'
(from BBC News)
No, seriously. Well, sort of.
Monday, 11 August 2008
Articles
Inside the World of Warner Premiere Motion Comics
(from Newsarama.com)
Quite interesting interview about Warner's new Motion Comics thingies (turning DC Comics into part-animated, narrated videos). Unfortunately it's clearly an interview with some form of mid-level executive rather than fan or creative, as it's packed with copywriter-sanitized middle-management marketing speak.
Review of Star Wars: The Clone Wars by James Dyer
(from Empire Online)
"It may not be what the (now older) fans are hoping for, but this is entirely in keeping with Lucas’ original vision -- whether you like it or not."
(from Newsarama.com)
Quite interesting interview about Warner's new Motion Comics thingies (turning DC Comics into part-animated, narrated videos). Unfortunately it's clearly an interview with some form of mid-level executive rather than fan or creative, as it's packed with copywriter-sanitized middle-management marketing speak.
Review of Star Wars: The Clone Wars by James Dyer
(from Empire Online)
"It may not be what the (now older) fans are hoping for, but this is entirely in keeping with Lucas’ original vision -- whether you like it or not."
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Films
Hamlet (1996)
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
[1st half]
Kenneth Branagh's four-hour full-text adaptation of arguably Shakespeare's most famous play. So long it has an official intermission inserted, which is where I watched to -- it's a bit much for one sitting if you ask me. At least the current David Tennant-starring production, which I'll be seeing in September, has been edited.
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2008]
[1st half]
Kenneth Branagh's four-hour full-text adaptation of arguably Shakespeare's most famous play. So long it has an official intermission inserted, which is where I watched to -- it's a bit much for one sitting if you ask me. At least the current David Tennant-starring production, which I'll be seeing in September, has been edited.
Non-Fiction
Overheard in New York by S. Morgan Friedman & Michael Malice
Forward by Marc Shaiman
Introduction: The Whole World is Listening by Lawrence Block
"Behind Closed Doors"
"Going Underground" (pages 101-137)
'Best of' volume from the blog of the same name, which collects amusing things people have been overheard saying in New York (the title really is self explanatory).
Forward by Marc Shaiman
Introduction: The Whole World is Listening by Lawrence Block
"Behind Closed Doors"
"Going Underground" (pages 101-137)
'Best of' volume from the blog of the same name, which collects amusing things people have been overheard saying in New York (the title really is self explanatory).
Saturday, 9 August 2008
TV
Beijing 2008 Olympics: Opening Ceremony
I'm still not convinced that the Chinese should have the Olympics (the IOC insist that the Olympics should not be political and are about unity or harmony or something, yet they're in a country infamous for its human rights violations? Do they have no sense of irony?), but this opening ceremony -- a vast, impressive mix of techniques and styles, directed by filmmaker Zhang Yimou -- is too startling to miss. Of course, they wasted a helluva lot of money on it, so of course it does. I expect any participant who did their bit wrong will be taken out and shot. (Watched on NBC with US commentary, which was surprisingly good.)
I'm still not convinced that the Chinese should have the Olympics (the IOC insist that the Olympics should not be political and are about unity or harmony or something, yet they're in a country infamous for its human rights violations? Do they have no sense of irony?), but this opening ceremony -- a vast, impressive mix of techniques and styles, directed by filmmaker Zhang Yimou -- is too startling to miss. Of course, they wasted a helluva lot of money on it, so of course it does. I expect any participant who did their bit wrong will be taken out and shot. (Watched on NBC with US commentary, which was surprisingly good.)
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