Little Dorrit
Part 12 (of 14)
Delayed from Thursday. Finally, someone stands up to Mr Dorrit a bit and Mrs Clenham is -- for a moment -- likable. Both of those things occurred within the same scene, incidentally.
Outnumbered
2x04 Episode 4
After a lull in the last few episodes this was a spectacular return to form. Karen has to be one of the finest comic characters ever, and certainly the sweetest.
Top Gear
12x06 (7/12/08 edition)
Best. Road. Test. Ever. "What if I'm chased through a shopping centre by baddies driving a Corvette?" And if you thought they couldn't top that... D-Day 2! Most entertaining.
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Saturday, 6 December 2008
TV
The British Comedy Awards 2008
Last year there were no Comedy Awards due to the 2006 ones being caught up in the phone voting scandals; this year, the Brand/Ross/Sachs affair surely put them in jeopardy. But on the air they were, and a few good jabs were had at the 30,000 people who complained without evening having heard the show -- with sizable cheers from the audience. Russell Brand's pre-recorded acceptance speech was intriguingly cut short, however... Also amusing, the lack of applause and amount of heckling that Ricky Gervais' win received, especially when his pre-recorded speech was full of his usual "I've won so many awards, this one means nothing" schtick. It got old a few years ago, and now it seems people really hate it. It's just a shame the audience audio was turned down so much. It'll be interesting to see what (if anything) gets more press coverage post-event: the reactions to Ross & Brand, or the jeering of Gervais.
Live at the Apollo
4x02 (5/12/08 edition)
Merlin
1x12 To Kill the King
Oh, the twisty-turny morals! Very nearly scuppered it too, but of course they twisted the right way for an unsurprisingly moral finale. But did the rest of the episode go too far the other to fully justify the ending? I think they may've. Also, the Next Time trailer was unintentionally amusing -- aiming for the same portentous effect as a Doctor Who season finale trailer, but without the weight of imagery and import to carry it off. Oh dear.
Last year there were no Comedy Awards due to the 2006 ones being caught up in the phone voting scandals; this year, the Brand/Ross/Sachs affair surely put them in jeopardy. But on the air they were, and a few good jabs were had at the 30,000 people who complained without evening having heard the show -- with sizable cheers from the audience. Russell Brand's pre-recorded acceptance speech was intriguingly cut short, however... Also amusing, the lack of applause and amount of heckling that Ricky Gervais' win received, especially when his pre-recorded speech was full of his usual "I've won so many awards, this one means nothing" schtick. It got old a few years ago, and now it seems people really hate it. It's just a shame the audience audio was turned down so much. It'll be interesting to see what (if anything) gets more press coverage post-event: the reactions to Ross & Brand, or the jeering of Gervais.
Live at the Apollo
4x02 (5/12/08 edition)
Merlin
1x12 To Kill the King
Oh, the twisty-turny morals! Very nearly scuppered it too, but of course they twisted the right way for an unsurprisingly moral finale. But did the rest of the episode go too far the other to fully justify the ending? I think they may've. Also, the Next Time trailer was unintentionally amusing -- aiming for the same portentous effect as a Doctor Who season finale trailer, but without the weight of imagery and import to carry it off. Oh dear.
Articles
Movie Reviews: Punisher: War Zone
(from Studio Briefing)
Sounds like it's exactly what is set out to be... and the critics all hate that. At least it should please the fans.
New look - we are listening! by Colin Polonowski, and user comments
(from DVD Times)
Who'd've thought a redesign of a free website would prove so controversial?
(from Studio Briefing)
Sounds like it's exactly what is set out to be... and the critics all hate that. At least it should please the fans.
New look - we are listening! by Colin Polonowski, and user comments
(from DVD Times)
Who'd've thought a redesign of a free website would prove so controversial?
100 Films update
While it's not been as long since the last update as I usually leave it, I decided the time was ripe to mention the latest round of reviews posted on my other blog, 100 Films in a Year. Though, there aren't many...
As December dawns (oh how literary-sounding!), I still have quite a way to go to hit my target of seeing 100 new films before the year's out. Finger-crossing time, perhaps; or maybe finger-pulling-out time -- I should just get on with it. Talking of which, I wrote a little 'editorial' on the matter here.
Anyway, I have recently posted the following reviews from 2008's quest...
The Cable Guy (1996)
Fist of Legend (1994)
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943)
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)
And among all these new films, I'm slowly uploading reviews from 2007. The latest batch includes...
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Hellboy: Director's Cut (2004)
On the Town (1949)
Piglet's Big Movie (2003)
Play Time (1967)
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Wild at Heart (1990)
Also...
Telling Lies (a short)
I'm nearly done updating last year -- hopefully, 2007 and 2008 will finish around the same time. It'll be odd only having new reviews to post in 2009.
As December dawns (oh how literary-sounding!), I still have quite a way to go to hit my target of seeing 100 new films before the year's out. Finger-crossing time, perhaps; or maybe finger-pulling-out time -- I should just get on with it. Talking of which, I wrote a little 'editorial' on the matter here.
Anyway, I have recently posted the following reviews from 2008's quest...
And among all these new films, I'm slowly uploading reviews from 2007. The latest batch includes...
Also...
I'm nearly done updating last year -- hopefully, 2007 and 2008 will finish around the same time. It'll be odd only having new reviews to post in 2009.
Friday, 5 December 2008
TV
Big Cat Week
2x05 (7/1/05 edition) [season finale]
I wonder if someone got a little annoyed with Jonathan Scott, considering how bossy he comes across during one bit of this...
The Dark Defender
Part One: Little Chino
Part Two: Roger Hicks
Part Three: Ken Olson [final episode]
"Stalker of the night, his blade of vengeance turns wrong into right." Animated-ish web spin-off thing from Dexter season two, which I've had knocking around since I finished watching that season... even though it looked rubbish. And, indeed, it's not very good, like an "oh, that would be a good idea" moment no one could be bothered to properly follow through. Quite why I suffered through all three episodes I don't know.
Wallander
1x01 Sidetracked
See here for my thoughts on this episode.
2x05 (7/1/05 edition) [season finale]
I wonder if someone got a little annoyed with Jonathan Scott, considering how bossy he comes across during one bit of this...
The Dark Defender
Part One: Little Chino
Part Two: Roger Hicks
Part Three: Ken Olson [final episode]
"Stalker of the night, his blade of vengeance turns wrong into right." Animated-ish web spin-off thing from Dexter season two, which I've had knocking around since I finished watching that season... even though it looked rubbish. And, indeed, it's not very good, like an "oh, that would be a good idea" moment no one could be bothered to properly follow through. Quite why I suffered through all three episodes I don't know.
Wallander
1x01 Sidetracked
See here for my thoughts on this episode.
Wallander: Sidetracked
The BBC plays at ITV's game, adapting a series of detective novels into a TV series, with feature-length episodes, named after the lead character.
The difference here is, these are Swedish novels set in Sweden -- and filmed there too -- starring Distinguished Actor Kenneth Branagh. (Incidentally, the Swedes have already produced a film series (adapting the novels) and a TV series (with new stories) featuring the character. It's interesting to note how different he looks in each version; and you can see for yourself on screen when BBC Four screen some of the Swedish Wallander films next week.)
It's certainly 'grim up North' -- or, indeed, grim up Norse -- ho ho ho! Anyway, it's grim, and slow-paced in a measured, thoughtful kind of way. Big mistake in casting someone fairly well known in a tiny role though, especially when all the other small roles are filled by unknowns -- they may as well be wearing a T-shirt saying "I did it". That aside, it's quite good, though based on comments in one of the many issues of Radio Times out at the minute (whichever one covers Wallander's final ep), the unrelentingly downbeat style might get a tad wearing.
One other element I was uncertain of: the conclusion of the main plot. It seems like your usual "hero does the Right Thing" moment, but things are a bit more complicated than that in this instance, and the possible ramifications of what Wallander did aren't touched upon. A bit of a missed beat considering the more intelligent, considered and complex approach this particular crime drama seems to be taking when compared to the straightforward black-and-white ones ITV churns out.
Also, I have no idea what the title had to do with anything.
The difference here is, these are Swedish novels set in Sweden -- and filmed there too -- starring Distinguished Actor Kenneth Branagh. (Incidentally, the Swedes have already produced a film series (adapting the novels) and a TV series (with new stories) featuring the character. It's interesting to note how different he looks in each version; and you can see for yourself on screen when BBC Four screen some of the Swedish Wallander films next week.)
It's certainly 'grim up North' -- or, indeed, grim up Norse -- ho ho ho! Anyway, it's grim, and slow-paced in a measured, thoughtful kind of way. Big mistake in casting someone fairly well known in a tiny role though, especially when all the other small roles are filled by unknowns -- they may as well be wearing a T-shirt saying "I did it". That aside, it's quite good, though based on comments in one of the many issues of Radio Times out at the minute (whichever one covers Wallander's final ep), the unrelentingly downbeat style might get a tad wearing.
One other element I was uncertain of: the conclusion of the main plot. It seems like your usual "hero does the Right Thing" moment, but things are a bit more complicated than that in this instance, and the possible ramifications of what Wallander did aren't touched upon. A bit of a missed beat considering the more intelligent, considered and complex approach this particular crime drama seems to be taking when compared to the straightforward black-and-white ones ITV churns out.
Also, I have no idea what the title had to do with anything.
Poem of the Day: Together forever... until the 8th of December
by 'Daniella'
Today sees the last in a series of five poems about December here on Poem of the Day. It's also Funny Friday, of course, so I have searched out this amusing little piece for your delectation.
It can be surprisingly hard to find funny poems around the web, and even more so if you're after a very specific topic. This was the best I could do, though I don't mind too much as I personally find it quite amusing. The author is a 15-year-old South African who posted it on Poems & Quotes a month ago today (you can read the original posting, with its own comments, here). And that's about all the biographical information I have for you.
In the author's words, "I wrote this because my friend kept saying how she knew that my boyfriend and I would last forever and that we're like Noah and Allie from The Notebook, but she already knew that we're gonna break up... so it's pretty ironic."
Next Monday is the 8th, you know. I don't know if they're breaking up then or if this was last year. You can always ask her if you like. Do let us know if you do.
And that's the last Funny Friday until January. Sorry. Why? All will become clear soon enough...
Today sees the last in a series of five poems about December here on Poem of the Day. It's also Funny Friday, of course, so I have searched out this amusing little piece for your delectation.
It can be surprisingly hard to find funny poems around the web, and even more so if you're after a very specific topic. This was the best I could do, though I don't mind too much as I personally find it quite amusing. The author is a 15-year-old South African who posted it on Poems & Quotes a month ago today (you can read the original posting, with its own comments, here). And that's about all the biographical information I have for you.
Together forever ~ we'll never part
Together forever ~ you have my heart
Noah and Allie in modern day
Through the test of time our love will stay
The perfect couple; meant to be
The perfect couple ~ you and me
"Together forever" is what I remember...
Together forever, till the 8th of December
In the author's words, "I wrote this because my friend kept saying how she knew that my boyfriend and I would last forever and that we're like Noah and Allie from The Notebook, but she already knew that we're gonna break up... so it's pretty ironic."
Next Monday is the 8th, you know. I don't know if they're breaking up then or if this was last year. You can always ask her if you like. Do let us know if you do.
And that's the last Funny Friday until January. Sorry. Why? All will become clear soon enough...
Thursday, 4 December 2008
TV
No Little Dorrit today, because the BBC decided to show some tosh about Shannon bloody Matthews instead. It'll now be shown for the first time in Sunday's omnibus. Seems odd for such a big primetime drama -- maybe no one's been watching? Don't imagine they'd've done the same to East-bloody-Enders.
Lead Balloon
3x04 Karma
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x10 (4/12/08 edition)
Last week I summarised the appalling amount of TV I had to catch up on. How are things one week on? One Sarah Jane Adventures, one Survivors, one Wallander, one Heroes... four Apparitionses and five Heroes Unmaskeds. At least some have improved.
Lead Balloon
3x04 Karma
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
22x10 (4/12/08 edition)
Last week I summarised the appalling amount of TV I had to catch up on. How are things one week on? One Sarah Jane Adventures, one Survivors, one Wallander, one Heroes... four Apparitionses and five Heroes Unmaskeds. At least some have improved.
Poetry
Fall of the Rebel Angels: Poems 1996-2006 by Andy Brown
Part II (pages 49-59)
The Trust Territory by Andy Brown
(from Fall of the Rebel Angels: Poems 1996-2006 pages 37-46)
[a few reads now]
Part II (pages 49-59)
The Trust Territory by Andy Brown
(from Fall of the Rebel Angels: Poems 1996-2006 pages 37-46)
[a few reads now]
Poem of the Day: December
by Helen Hunt Jackson
This week Poem of the Day is celebrating the start of December, with a poem each day somehow related to the month. On Monday and Tuesday we had a pair of English poets, and yesterday was the first in a pair of Americans.
Jackson's December is the final piece in a book of poetry entitled A Calendar of Sonnets, originally published in 1886. I'm sure you can guess the subject of the eleven preceding pieces. If you're interested, you can read the whole book for free at Project Gutenberg.
As usual, it concentrates primarily on nature. I suppose it's no surprise that all the poetry found easily online is quite old -- it's a copyright thing, I should imagine -- and therefore obviously not concerned with aspects of modern experience
Tomorrow, we end the week with a December-themed Funny Friday.
This week Poem of the Day is celebrating the start of December, with a poem each day somehow related to the month. On Monday and Tuesday we had a pair of English poets, and yesterday was the first in a pair of Americans.
Jackson's December is the final piece in a book of poetry entitled A Calendar of Sonnets, originally published in 1886. I'm sure you can guess the subject of the eleven preceding pieces. If you're interested, you can read the whole book for free at Project Gutenberg.
The lakes of ice gleam bluer than the lakes
Of water 'neath the summer sunshine gleamed:
Far fairer than when placidly it streamed,
The brook its frozen architecture makes,
And under bridges white its swift way takes.
Snow comes and goes as messenger who dreamed
Might linger on the road; or one who deemed
His message hostile gently for their sakes
Who listened might reveal it by degrees.
We gird against the cold of winter wind
Our loins now with mighty bands of sleep,
In longest, darkest nights take rest and ease,
And every shortening day, as shadows creep
O'er the brief noontide, fresh surprises find.
As usual, it concentrates primarily on nature. I suppose it's no surprise that all the poetry found easily online is quite old -- it's a copyright thing, I should imagine -- and therefore obviously not concerned with aspects of modern experience
Tomorrow, we end the week with a December-themed Funny Friday.
Alec Baldwin is very funny
Normally I don't bother watching videos people post on blogs unless they're under a minute. This one's nearly three, but I bothered, and so should you -- it's hilarious.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
TV
Babylon 5
1x21 The Quality of Mercy
1x22 Chrysalis [season finale]
Long-time readers may remember that I tried to finish the first season of Babylon 5 before I went to New York last summer -- five months ago. Ha! Well, anyway, I've finally done it.
The Quality of Mercy is one of the series' best stand-alone episodes so far; Chrysalis is overrated, one of those season finales that confuses complications and "not resolving anything" with events of importance and cliffhangers -- thankfully, a style that's now mostly out of fashion. And where Mercy is all very well written and performed, Chrysalis has some dreadful daytime-soap-level relationship scenes. Ouch.
The Devil's Whore
Part 3 (of 4)
Heroes
3x09 It's Coming
Little Dorrit
Part 11 (of 14)
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x09 The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith Part One
1x21 The Quality of Mercy
1x22 Chrysalis [season finale]
Long-time readers may remember that I tried to finish the first season of Babylon 5 before I went to New York last summer -- five months ago. Ha! Well, anyway, I've finally done it.
The Quality of Mercy is one of the series' best stand-alone episodes so far; Chrysalis is overrated, one of those season finales that confuses complications and "not resolving anything" with events of importance and cliffhangers -- thankfully, a style that's now mostly out of fashion. And where Mercy is all very well written and performed, Chrysalis has some dreadful daytime-soap-level relationship scenes. Ouch.
The Devil's Whore
Part 3 (of 4)
Heroes
3x09 It's Coming
Little Dorrit
Part 11 (of 14)
The Sarah Jane Adventures
2x09 The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith Part One
Poem of the Day: December Night
by W. S. Merwin
This week Poem of the Day is celebrating the start of December, with a poem each day somehow related to the month.
After a pair of English poets, it's time for a pair of Americans. Born in 1927 and coming to fame as an anti-war poet during the 1960s, Merwin is decidedly more modern than Southey or Keats, though his poem might not be so different...
Tomorrow, a woman. Shocking I know.
This week Poem of the Day is celebrating the start of December, with a poem each day somehow related to the month.
After a pair of English poets, it's time for a pair of Americans. Born in 1927 and coming to fame as an anti-war poet during the 1960s, Merwin is decidedly more modern than Southey or Keats, though his poem might not be so different...
The cold slope is standing in darkness
But the south of the trees is dry to the touch
The heavy limbs climb into the moonlight bearing feathers
I came to watch these
White plants older at night
The oldest
Come first to the ruins
And I hear magpies kept awake by the moon
The water flows through its
Own fingers without end
Tonight once more
I find a single prayer and it is not for men
Tomorrow, a woman. Shocking I know.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
TV
Heroes
3x08 Villains
Backstory episodes like this are often among Heroes' best, if you ask me. But that ending... my God that was gruesome! It says a lot about American TV that they'll merrily show a decapitated body -- and the head lying separately by itself -- but not so much swearing as "God" and not so much nudity as a bottom. What's wrong with that nation?!
Spooks
7x07 The Mole
Oh dear! Oh my! Not just for Harry being interrogated and the revelation of the mole, including a particularly vicious murder (though, next to that decapitation...), but because there were times when I actually liked Ros! Argh! "You are a fool" were probably the most satisfying four words in a drama for a while, especially as no good guys seem to be allowed to take appropriate revenge or deliver appropriate put-downs these days.
3x08 Villains
Backstory episodes like this are often among Heroes' best, if you ask me. But that ending... my God that was gruesome! It says a lot about American TV that they'll merrily show a decapitated body -- and the head lying separately by itself -- but not so much swearing as "God" and not so much nudity as a bottom. What's wrong with that nation?!
Spooks
7x07 The Mole
Oh dear! Oh my! Not just for Harry being interrogated and the revelation of the mole, including a particularly vicious murder (though, next to that decapitation...), but because there were times when I actually liked Ros! Argh! "You are a fool" were probably the most satisfying four words in a drama for a while, especially as no good guys seem to be allowed to take appropriate revenge or deliver appropriate put-downs these days.
Music
Day & Age by the Killers
[2nd listen]
Every time I get a new Killers album I'm not sure about it, then it slowly grows on me. So it was with their first, Hot Fuss, and their second, Sam's Town, and now with their third, Day & Age -- so, see, every time. (Sawdust doesn't count -- it's a collection of B-sides & rarities, not an album, and I'd heard most of its tracks over the years.)
Trying to predict ahead to my long-term thoughts (always tricky), I'm not sure there's anything on D&A that will I grow to love as much as Somebody Told Me, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, When You Were Young, Bling (Confessions of a King), Tranquilize, or my unusual favourite-of-all, exitlude; or, indeed, several other tracks from those first two albums. The tracks with the best chance, I would say, are Losing Touch, Joy Ride (great chorus... until the last two words) and A Crippling Blow. But we'll see.
(All track names link to iTunes, so you can hear previews.)
[2nd listen]
Every time I get a new Killers album I'm not sure about it, then it slowly grows on me. So it was with their first, Hot Fuss, and their second, Sam's Town, and now with their third, Day & Age -- so, see, every time. (Sawdust doesn't count -- it's a collection of B-sides & rarities, not an album, and I'd heard most of its tracks over the years.)
Trying to predict ahead to my long-term thoughts (always tricky), I'm not sure there's anything on D&A that will I grow to love as much as Somebody Told Me, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, When You Were Young, Bling (Confessions of a King), Tranquilize, or my unusual favourite-of-all, exitlude; or, indeed, several other tracks from those first two albums. The tracks with the best chance, I would say, are Losing Touch, Joy Ride (great chorus... until the last two words) and A Crippling Blow. But we'll see.
(All track names link to iTunes, so you can hear previews.)
Magazines
Radio Times 6-12 November 2008
I posted the fold-out cover for this issue the other day -- "Who's the Doctor?" it demands, playing in on the fact that Proper Dave's leaving (in 2010) and Other Dave's also playing "the Doctor" in a special called The Next Doctor. Oo-ooh! (I also can't believe I've not seen anyone else applying Proper Dave and Other Dave to this situation yet.)
Anyway, this issue has a nice little preview of that ep, spoiler-free; plus a preview of the Sarah Jane finale, spoiler-filled; and a Review of 2008 that starts with a (dull and informationless) Catherine Tate interview. Also, a rather scathing piece on Survivors and some letters about the Strictly thing.
I posted the fold-out cover for this issue the other day -- "Who's the Doctor?" it demands, playing in on the fact that Proper Dave's leaving (in 2010) and Other Dave's also playing "the Doctor" in a special called The Next Doctor. Oo-ooh! (I also can't believe I've not seen anyone else applying Proper Dave and Other Dave to this situation yet.)
Anyway, this issue has a nice little preview of that ep, spoiler-free; plus a preview of the Sarah Jane finale, spoiler-filled; and a Review of 2008 that starts with a (dull and informationless) Catherine Tate interview. Also, a rather scathing piece on Survivors and some letters about the Strictly thing.
Websites
from FireboxAnd the prize for Oddest Christmas-Related Service Ever goes to... CrapWrap (which, I should probably add, is a trademark) is Firebox's new optional giftwrapping service. But rather than providing the normal Christmas-movie-perfect wrapping these services normally produce, CrapWrap wraps your gift badly. Really badly. Really, really, really badly, in fact. Not only that, it'll cost you £3.95. How gullible do you have to be to fork out £3.95 to have your present wrapped so badly you could unquestionably imitate it yourself? The only difference would be, you wouldn't have an official sticker on it. Ludicrous.
Doctor Who Adventure Calendar
I forgot to mention this yesterday, but the annual Doctor Who Adventure Calendar has begun again on the official BBC Who site. Day one was a rather pathetic Christmas greeting from David Tennant, while today's is a more interesting text interview with director Graeme Harper, answering fans' questions. (Incidentally, the link at the top is a rather undramatic text version of the calendar. Go to the site's front page for the full door-opening experience.)
Zavvi struggles this Christmas
Click to enlarge.
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