Dragons' Den
6x08 (8/9/08 edition) [season finale]
At some point, I watched 6x07 and seem to have completely forgotten to mention it. Oops.
Gilmore Girls
5x05 We Got Us a Pippi Virgin
The National Movie Awards 2008
A surprisingly good celebration of all that's popular in film. Despite a spectacularly weak opening monologue, James Nesbitt developed into a funny and enjoyable host. Though I do rather feel that, as they're British, they should be "Film Awards". Still, Quantum of Solace trailer! Yay! It was a slightly odd one, I thought, but still brilliantly exciting. (As of the end of this programme, the trailer is available online here, including HD options.)
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
Articles
24 Boss Orders Seventh Season Rewrites
(from WENN)
It's good to see they're making a concerted effort to up the quality, after a couple of decidedly poor seasons.
Favorite live-action musical of the 00's (so far)? (poll results)
(from IMDb)
I vote in IMDb's Daily Poll most days, though don't usually mention them. Yesterday's earns one though, due to the extraordinary closeness of the top two: Moulin Rouge edges into first with just 7 more votes than Sweeney Todd. When the total number of votes is 21,523, that's a tiny margin -- 0.03%, in fact. I was one of the 2,735 people who preferred Baz Luhrmann's colourful explosion of joy and sorrow, a film packed with light and shade... whereas Sweeney, while good, was all just shades of grey -- literally.
Knightley Finished With Pirates
(from WENN)
Definitely no more Pirates, or just no more Pirates with Keira? The latter seems more likely.
We Cast Potential Spider-Man 4 Villians
(from Empire Online)
With Spider-Man 4 and 5 seemingly confirmed, Empire has a go at predicting which villain(s) might turn up and who might play them. (Note that they misspelt "villains" in the article's title... and then in the article itself too! Ho ho ho!)
Also check out some bits & bobs about this weekend at the US box office.
(from WENN)
It's good to see they're making a concerted effort to up the quality, after a couple of decidedly poor seasons.
Favorite live-action musical of the 00's (so far)? (poll results)
(from IMDb)
I vote in IMDb's Daily Poll most days, though don't usually mention them. Yesterday's earns one though, due to the extraordinary closeness of the top two: Moulin Rouge edges into first with just 7 more votes than Sweeney Todd. When the total number of votes is 21,523, that's a tiny margin -- 0.03%, in fact. I was one of the 2,735 people who preferred Baz Luhrmann's colourful explosion of joy and sorrow, a film packed with light and shade... whereas Sweeney, while good, was all just shades of grey -- literally.
Knightley Finished With Pirates
(from WENN)
Definitely no more Pirates, or just no more Pirates with Keira? The latter seems more likely.
We Cast Potential Spider-Man 4 Villians
(from Empire Online)
With Spider-Man 4 and 5 seemingly confirmed, Empire has a go at predicting which villain(s) might turn up and who might play them. (Note that they misspelt "villains" in the article's title... and then in the article itself too! Ho ho ho!)
Also check out some bits & bobs about this weekend at the US box office.
Dubya
Empire have a gallery of rather nifty posters for W., Oliver Stone's premature George W. Bush biopic. Most of the posters are amusingly similar (in a good way), so I thought I'd share my three favourites with you. (Click on any to enlarge.)
This is the best one. Brolin looks the most like Bush that I've seen to date here, allowing it to convey exactly what the film's about (W.'s a rather mysterious title, after all), while his looking to the sky conveys a mixture of carefree idiocy and "please help me God", something I'm sure Bush must've thought often.
Again conveying Bush's carefree -- or care-less -- attitude, especially with his boots on the desk like that. He looks too dreamy though, as if he's just come up with some grand plan that will save everything, and only he, with his reckless irreverence, can pull it off. Which is obviously not the case. Not a particularly close second favourite, then -- the top one's far better.
Though there's alway this one...
Monkey see monkey do!
On second thought, that's a lot better than the second. While those are my favourites, the very fact there are six so similar posters works brilliantly -- one hopes cinemas will choose to display all/several of them, in the way they do with different character posters for major releases, rather than just choosing their favourite.
This is the best one. Brolin looks the most like Bush that I've seen to date here, allowing it to convey exactly what the film's about (W.'s a rather mysterious title, after all), while his looking to the sky conveys a mixture of carefree idiocy and "please help me God", something I'm sure Bush must've thought often.
Again conveying Bush's carefree -- or care-less -- attitude, especially with his boots on the desk like that. He looks too dreamy though, as if he's just come up with some grand plan that will save everything, and only he, with his reckless irreverence, can pull it off. Which is obviously not the case. Not a particularly close second favourite, then -- the top one's far better.
Though there's alway this one...
Monkey see monkey do!
On second thought, that's a lot better than the second. While those are my favourites, the very fact there are six so similar posters works brilliantly -- one hopes cinemas will choose to display all/several of them, in the way they do with different character posters for major releases, rather than just choosing their favourite.
This weekend at the US box office
A couple of bits about the past weekend's box office in the US...
Box Office: The Winner Tanks
(from Studio Briefing)
"Although it opened in first-place at the box-office, the Nicolas Cage thriller Bangkok Dangerous was considered an unmitigated flop this weekend as it drew just $7.8 million... This was not a pretty weekend at the box office." Nope, it was a thoroughly shocking one. Total ticket sales were just $51.6 million, "the smallest number of tickets sold in at least five years".
And the reason why?
Movie Reviews: Bangkok Dangerous
(from Studio Briefing)
...And here's the primary reason why, as the critics pan the only new release. And I thought the trailer looked quite good. Oh well.
Additionally, the all-conquering Dark Knight is still sitting pretty in 3rd, taking a further $5.52m -- increasingly thanks to IMAX screenings. It was originally announced as coming 4th this weekend, but actual figures (as opposed to the estimates they publish on Sunday, which are almost always correct about positions) show it beat The House Bunny by $0.01m.
Box Office: The Winner Tanks
(from Studio Briefing)
"Although it opened in first-place at the box-office, the Nicolas Cage thriller Bangkok Dangerous was considered an unmitigated flop this weekend as it drew just $7.8 million... This was not a pretty weekend at the box office." Nope, it was a thoroughly shocking one. Total ticket sales were just $51.6 million, "the smallest number of tickets sold in at least five years".
And the reason why?
Movie Reviews: Bangkok Dangerous
(from Studio Briefing)
...And here's the primary reason why, as the critics pan the only new release. And I thought the trailer looked quite good. Oh well.
Additionally, the all-conquering Dark Knight is still sitting pretty in 3rd, taking a further $5.52m -- increasingly thanks to IMAX screenings. It was originally announced as coming 4th this weekend, but actual figures (as opposed to the estimates they publish on Sunday, which are almost always correct about positions) show it beat The House Bunny by $0.01m.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Articles
CBn Forum Member Suggestion Makes The Cut In By Royal Command by Matt Weston
(from CommanderBond.net)
Higson loves the fans. (On a similar note, By Royal Command includes a thanks to the webmaster of The Young Bond Dossier, the fansite so prolific they feed its news on the official Young Bond site.)
Inside Man 2 Is A Go, Says Spike Lee by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
I really enjoyed Inside Man, which came a little out of nowhere two-and-a-half years ago (has it really been so long?!) Hopefully this sequel can live up to the first film.
Troubled Movie Productions
(from Empire Online)
Inspired by the recent spat over Babylon A.D. ("I never had a chance to do one scene the way it was written or the way I wanted it to be... The script wasn't respected. Bad producers, bad partners, it was a terrible experience"), Empire takes a look at ten other famously tumultuous productions. Featuring American History X, Apocalypse Now, Brazil, Dune, Fitzcarraldo, The Invasion, Kingdom of Heaven, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Three Kings, and Waterworld. (If you've never heard of the Don Quixote film, it's cos it was never finished. The documentary film Lost in La Mancha documents how spectacularly wrong things went.)
For more articles from today, see here and here; and don't miss the Serenity-centric post right next to this one.
(from CommanderBond.net)
Higson loves the fans. (On a similar note, By Royal Command includes a thanks to the webmaster of The Young Bond Dossier, the fansite so prolific they feed its news on the official Young Bond site.)
Inside Man 2 Is A Go, Says Spike Lee by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
I really enjoyed Inside Man, which came a little out of nowhere two-and-a-half years ago (has it really been so long?!) Hopefully this sequel can live up to the first film.
Troubled Movie Productions
(from Empire Online)
Inspired by the recent spat over Babylon A.D. ("I never had a chance to do one scene the way it was written or the way I wanted it to be... The script wasn't respected. Bad producers, bad partners, it was a terrible experience"), Empire takes a look at ten other famously tumultuous productions. Featuring American History X, Apocalypse Now, Brazil, Dune, Fitzcarraldo, The Invasion, Kingdom of Heaven, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, Three Kings, and Waterworld. (If you've never heard of the Don Quixote film, it's cos it was never finished. The documentary film Lost in La Mancha documents how spectacularly wrong things went.)
For more articles from today, see here and here; and don't miss the Serenity-centric post right next to this one.
Articles: Serenity comics
An Interview with Scott Allie
(from Stakes & Salvation)
Allie is the editor of Buffy Season Eight. Not a hugely interesting interview to be honest, especially as it's over a year old; unless you're really into exactly how Season Eight works behind the scenes.
Ron Glass announces A Shepherd’s Tale comic, reveals (some) secrets
(from SerenityStuff)
Slightly old news this (like, eight months) but I've only just come across it. As the prospect of a sequel to Serenity becomes increasingly unlikely, it seems the 'verse will be continuing in comic-form. Hopefully this third miniseries can improve on the first (I haven't read the second yet, though will when it hits tpb). It certainly looks set to be the best yet, potentially answering the largest remaining question(s) left hanging: who is Shepherd Book, and what is his history? I'm certifiably excited.
Whedon Can’t Get Enough Serenity by Wil Moss
(from Publishers Weekly)
Another article from 2007 (clearly no one's had anything to say in the last year), in which Joss discusses why Serenity would never work as an ongoing comic and why there aren't tie-in novels. The 'verse is still one great big missed opportunity, and it's a shame there's no suitable way for Joss to continue his larger story -- after all, a show that he was thinking would run for 150+ episodes has been reduced to 14, a movie, and three (standalone) comics. Hardly balanced, is it.
(from Stakes & Salvation)
Allie is the editor of Buffy Season Eight. Not a hugely interesting interview to be honest, especially as it's over a year old; unless you're really into exactly how Season Eight works behind the scenes.
Ron Glass announces A Shepherd’s Tale comic, reveals (some) secrets
(from SerenityStuff)
Slightly old news this (like, eight months) but I've only just come across it. As the prospect of a sequel to Serenity becomes increasingly unlikely, it seems the 'verse will be continuing in comic-form. Hopefully this third miniseries can improve on the first (I haven't read the second yet, though will when it hits tpb). It certainly looks set to be the best yet, potentially answering the largest remaining question(s) left hanging: who is Shepherd Book, and what is his history? I'm certifiably excited.
Whedon Can’t Get Enough Serenity by Wil Moss
(from Publishers Weekly)
Another article from 2007 (clearly no one's had anything to say in the last year), in which Joss discusses why Serenity would never work as an ongoing comic and why there aren't tie-in novels. The 'verse is still one great big missed opportunity, and it's a shame there's no suitable way for Joss to continue his larger story -- after all, a show that he was thinking would run for 150+ episodes has been reduced to 14, a movie, and three (standalone) comics. Hardly balanced, is it.
No Preacher either
Mark Steven Johnson: No Preacher on HBO
(from Comics Continuum)
No news for ages, then this.
"We were budgeting and everything and it was getting really close to going," Johnson said, "but the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial. Which, of course, is kind of the point!" And I was so looking forward to it too. Wankers.
The article mentions the prospect of movie(s) -- "I've heard someone is in the process of getting the rights to turn it into a feature film... I hope it happens as a series of movies as one movie couldn't do it justice" -- but the script that was knocking around a few years back (by the comic's writer, Garth Ennis) wasn't great and was very much a single-film thing. So while it was exciting, the prospect of a full, faithful TV series-y adaptation was a dream come true. Of course, it was ultimately too good to be true.
(from Comics Continuum)
No news for ages, then this.
"We were budgeting and everything and it was getting really close to going," Johnson said, "but the new head of HBO felt it was just too dark and too violent and too controversial. Which, of course, is kind of the point!" And I was so looking forward to it too. Wankers.
The article mentions the prospect of movie(s) -- "I've heard someone is in the process of getting the rights to turn it into a feature film... I hope it happens as a series of movies as one movie couldn't do it justice" -- but the script that was knocking around a few years back (by the comic's writer, Garth Ennis) wasn't great and was very much a single-film thing. So while it was exciting, the prospect of a full, faithful TV series-y adaptation was a dream come true. Of course, it was ultimately too good to be true.
Buffy on(line), Firefly off
Immerse Yourself in a Virtual Buffyverse by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
"there’s a Buffy MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) on the way... The ground-breaking MMOG will offer a new experience for gamers, allowing them to play it either as a fully immersive 3D environment or as a Flash-based 2D game, where both types of players can interact."
Interesting idea. As much as I love Buffy, I wouldn't bother... though the easy-sounding 2D Flash version is kinda tempting, if it's free... Biggest question: will it follow the canon of the Season Eight comics?
Sadder news, however, is that "the previously-announced Firefly on-line game is now on hold." As dedicated as the Firefly fanbase is, I never believed it was large enough or gamery enough to support an MMOG, though maybe the sheer quality could have attracted non-fan gamers on the basis of it being a free-roaming space adventure? Who can say, as it'll probably (though kinda unsurprisingly) never see the light of day.
Shame, cos that one I would have played.
(from SFX)
"there’s a Buffy MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) on the way... The ground-breaking MMOG will offer a new experience for gamers, allowing them to play it either as a fully immersive 3D environment or as a Flash-based 2D game, where both types of players can interact."
Interesting idea. As much as I love Buffy, I wouldn't bother... though the easy-sounding 2D Flash version is kinda tempting, if it's free... Biggest question: will it follow the canon of the Season Eight comics?
Sadder news, however, is that "the previously-announced Firefly on-line game is now on hold." As dedicated as the Firefly fanbase is, I never believed it was large enough or gamery enough to support an MMOG, though maybe the sheer quality could have attracted non-fan gamers on the basis of it being a free-roaming space adventure? Who can say, as it'll probably (though kinda unsurprisingly) never see the light of day.
Shame, cos that one I would have played.
Sunday, 7 September 2008
TV
By Any Means
Part 1 (of 6)
Charley Boorman begins another round-the-world trip, this time Ewan McGregor-less, as he travels from Ireland down to Sydney by land- and sea-based methods appropriate to each region he passes through, specifically trying to avoid commercial flights. As per his two series with McGregor, the opening episode is half about the preparation for such an undertaking (an important phase that most travel shows ignore) and half about the opening leg of the journey, through Britain.
Dexter
2x03 An Inconvenient Lie
One of the best episodes yet. This season is shaping up very nicely.
God, the Devil and Bob
1x09 Bob Gets Greedy
1x10 There's Too Much Sex on TV
Have I Got News For You
35x07 (30/5/08 edition) [2nd watch]
Have I Got News should be on all year round. With Alexander Armstrong hosting, this is an especially good edition.
Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights
A bit padded, to be honest, but entirely worth it for the stunning shots of the Northern Lights.
Part 1 (of 6)
Charley Boorman begins another round-the-world trip, this time Ewan McGregor-less, as he travels from Ireland down to Sydney by land- and sea-based methods appropriate to each region he passes through, specifically trying to avoid commercial flights. As per his two series with McGregor, the opening episode is half about the preparation for such an undertaking (an important phase that most travel shows ignore) and half about the opening leg of the journey, through Britain.
Dexter
2x03 An Inconvenient Lie
One of the best episodes yet. This season is shaping up very nicely.
God, the Devil and Bob
1x09 Bob Gets Greedy
1x10 There's Too Much Sex on TV
Have I Got News For You
35x07 (30/5/08 edition) [2nd watch]
Have I Got News should be on all year round. With Alexander Armstrong hosting, this is an especially good edition.
Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights
A bit padded, to be honest, but entirely worth it for the stunning shots of the Northern Lights.
Articles
Review of Maid Marian and Her Merry Men: Complete Series 1-4 Special Edition DVD by Eamonn McCusker
(from DVD Times)
I vaguelly remember Maid Marian... from when I was younger, but this review makes me desperately want to see it again. So this set is seriously tempting...
Merlin Press Pack
(from the BBC Press Office)
Including, on page two, some surprising info on how much outgoing Who supremo Russell T Davies was involved in shaping the series.
(from DVD Times)
I vaguelly remember Maid Marian... from when I was younger, but this review makes me desperately want to see it again. So this set is seriously tempting...
Merlin Press Pack
(from the BBC Press Office)
Including, on page two, some surprising info on how much outgoing Who supremo Russell T Davies was involved in shaping the series.
Saturday, 6 September 2008
TV
Dexter
2x02 Waiting to Exhale
Gilmore Girls
5x04 Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too
Taylor Doose's reign is no more! Hurrah! And with no real last minute attempt at eliciting sympathy for him either, as is the usual Gilmore fashion. Good riddance, Taylor... though I sadly doubt it's the last we've seen of him.
2x02 Waiting to Exhale
Gilmore Girls
5x04 Tippecanoe and Taylor, Too
Taylor Doose's reign is no more! Hurrah! And with no real last minute attempt at eliciting sympathy for him either, as is the usual Gilmore fashion. Good riddance, Taylor... though I sadly doubt it's the last we've seen of him.
Articles
Exclusive James Bond Footage Scheduled For ITV1 Movie Awards by Devin Zydel
(from CommanderBond.net)
Normally I couldn't care less about ITV's pleb-voted National Movie Awards, but this is reason enough to watch. From the press release: "On Tuesday 9th September, ITV1's National Movie Awards will unveil a global exclusive with the first broadcast of preview footage from James Bond's 22nd adventure Quantum of Solace... Playing at over two minutes in length, the preview is action packed with the latest offerings from Daniel Craig's iconic Bond, and gives fans the unique opportunity to see Camille (Olga Kurylenko) -- Bond's unlikely ally -- and sinister Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) in action. This dramatic and explosive footage is sure to delight fans and viewers with a taster of what is to come". It's obviously unclear if this is just a selection of clips or the full trailer, which sources suggested would be released around September 9th. Either way, it'll be a good'un.
Review of Spooks: Code 9 DVD by Michael Mackenzie
(from DVD Times)
I would add "Series One" to that title, but I rather suspect "The Complete Series" would be more apt. Yep, it's another scathing review. I was going to try to download this show (as I missed it on TV), but I don't think I'll bother.
(from CommanderBond.net)
Normally I couldn't care less about ITV's pleb-voted National Movie Awards, but this is reason enough to watch. From the press release: "On Tuesday 9th September, ITV1's National Movie Awards will unveil a global exclusive with the first broadcast of preview footage from James Bond's 22nd adventure Quantum of Solace... Playing at over two minutes in length, the preview is action packed with the latest offerings from Daniel Craig's iconic Bond, and gives fans the unique opportunity to see Camille (Olga Kurylenko) -- Bond's unlikely ally -- and sinister Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric) in action. This dramatic and explosive footage is sure to delight fans and viewers with a taster of what is to come". It's obviously unclear if this is just a selection of clips or the full trailer, which sources suggested would be released around September 9th. Either way, it'll be a good'un.
Review of Spooks: Code 9 DVD by Michael Mackenzie
(from DVD Times)
I would add "Series One" to that title, but I rather suspect "The Complete Series" would be more apt. Yep, it's another scathing review. I was going to try to download this show (as I missed it on TV), but I don't think I'll bother.
Film News
Turns out there was a mass of interesting film news yesterday, when I didn't bother to read any. Here's the best bits:
Mark Strong Joins Sherlock Holmes by Glen Ferris
(from Empire Online)
Mark Strong's doing very well for himself these days. Following roles in Syriana, Sunshine and Stardust (I sense a pattern...), recent releases Babylon A.D. and RocknRolla, as well as forthcoming flicks Body of Lies and The Young Victoria, he'll be seen as a villain (not Moriarty) in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.
Monster Of Florence Attracts Tom Cruise by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
My interest in this is heightened because it was a book I worked on promotion for while I was in New York recently. It sounds like a fantastic read too (I have a free copy, ha ha!), so hopefully it'll make a good film. Learn about the book here. No links for the film I'm afraid.
No Edge Of Darkness For Robert De Niro by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
Sounds like The Clashing of the Egos to me.
Raimi And Maguire Back For More Spideys by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
I'm not sure whether I'm surprised or, well, not. Better news than a second-rate director and C-list star trying to emulate the formula, though hopefully it'll be an improvement on Spider-Man 3. In all honesty I hold little hope -- the last one was weak, and other recent attempts at shooting a pair of sequels back-to-back (Matrix, Pirates) have led to worse films. Still, they do have the writer of Zodiac on board, and a 2011 release date for Spider-Man 4 suggests they're not rushing it.
Who You Gonna Call... Again? by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
Ghostbusters 3? With the original cast? Best. News. Ever. (Read the article for a somewhat deeper commentary on the news.)
Mark Strong Joins Sherlock Holmes by Glen Ferris
(from Empire Online)
Mark Strong's doing very well for himself these days. Following roles in Syriana, Sunshine and Stardust (I sense a pattern...), recent releases Babylon A.D. and RocknRolla, as well as forthcoming flicks Body of Lies and The Young Victoria, he'll be seen as a villain (not Moriarty) in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.
Monster Of Florence Attracts Tom Cruise by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
My interest in this is heightened because it was a book I worked on promotion for while I was in New York recently. It sounds like a fantastic read too (I have a free copy, ha ha!), so hopefully it'll make a good film. Learn about the book here. No links for the film I'm afraid.
No Edge Of Darkness For Robert De Niro by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
Sounds like The Clashing of the Egos to me.
Raimi And Maguire Back For More Spideys by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
I'm not sure whether I'm surprised or, well, not. Better news than a second-rate director and C-list star trying to emulate the formula, though hopefully it'll be an improvement on Spider-Man 3. In all honesty I hold little hope -- the last one was weak, and other recent attempts at shooting a pair of sequels back-to-back (Matrix, Pirates) have led to worse films. Still, they do have the writer of Zodiac on board, and a 2011 release date for Spider-Man 4 suggests they're not rushing it.
Who You Gonna Call... Again? by Chris Hewitt
(from Empire Online)
Ghostbusters 3? With the original cast? Best. News. Ever. (Read the article for a somewhat deeper commentary on the news.)
Friday, 5 September 2008
TV
Dexter
2x01 It's Alive!
I happened to catch the first season of Dexter on FX (the UK one) last year, before all the hype surrounding it's ITV1 repeat run, and I'm very glad I did -- it's bloody brilliant, one of the best shows currently in production. Not having FX available to me this year (where season two is airing long before it makes its way to one of the ITVs), I'm having to findless than legal legal, honest, ways to watch this second season. Starting now.
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
15x01 (5/9/08 edition)
Wossy returns for another 15 weeks of fawning over celebrities and wannabe-celebrities.
The Tudors
2x06 The Definition of Love
2x01 It's Alive!
I happened to catch the first season of Dexter on FX (the UK one) last year, before all the hype surrounding it's ITV1 repeat run, and I'm very glad I did -- it's bloody brilliant, one of the best shows currently in production. Not having FX available to me this year (where season two is airing long before it makes its way to one of the ITVs), I'm having to find
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
15x01 (5/9/08 edition)
Wossy returns for another 15 weeks of fawning over celebrities and wannabe-celebrities.
The Tudors
2x06 The Definition of Love
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