The Diary of Anne Frank
Part 3 (of 5)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Lark Rise to Candleford
2x02 Episode 2
Things actually seem to happen now in Lark Rise...! It's quite astounding.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Chapters Six - Nine
Now covering most/all of the first draft of Partners in Crime. I wonder how much shorter this would be if they took out all the scripts? Not that they need to, really, as if one wasn't interested in reading them they could easily be skipped over.
Chapters Six - Nine
Now covering most/all of the first draft of Partners in Crime. I wonder how much shorter this would be if they took out all the scripts? Not that they need to, really, as if one wasn't interested in reading them they could easily be skipped over.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
TV
The Diary of Anne Frank
Part 2 (of 5)
Despite an excellent cast all doing great work, Ellie Kendrick still shines as Anne (born in 1990, she's actually playing much younger as the 13-year-old titular girl). Her agent obviously did a good job getting her an "Introducing..." credit too, considering she's been in Waking the Dead, Doctors, Lewis, and the final Prime Suspect.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 2 (of 5)
Despite an excellent cast all doing great work, Ellie Kendrick still shines as Anne (born in 1990, she's actually playing much younger as the 13-year-old titular girl). Her agent obviously did a good job getting her an "Introducing..." credit too, considering she's been in Waking the Dead, Doctors, Lewis, and the final Prime Suspect.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Chapters Three - Five
This book is really brilliant. In today's reading, Russell begins to write Starship Titanic -- or, as it will eventually be renamed, Voyage of the Damned, the Kylie-starring 2007 Christmas special. Packed with script excerpts (seems to be most of the first draft, in fact; quite possibly every last word of it), it's amazing to see how close this initial vision is to the final product -- having seen the episode a couple of times myself, I wouldn't argue if you told me what we read in these chapters was the final shooting script.
Chapters Three - Five
This book is really brilliant. In today's reading, Russell begins to write Starship Titanic -- or, as it will eventually be renamed, Voyage of the Damned, the Kylie-starring 2007 Christmas special. Packed with script excerpts (seems to be most of the first draft, in fact; quite possibly every last word of it), it's amazing to see how close this initial vision is to the final product -- having seen the episode a couple of times myself, I wouldn't argue if you told me what we read in these chapters was the final shooting script.
Monday, 5 January 2009
TV
The Diary of Anne Frank
Part 1 (of 5)
BBC One's new dramatisation of the famed teenage war diary, showing on consecutive nights this week -- the BBC's new favourite way to show drama, it seems, after Criminal Justice last year and Torchwood: Children of Earth later this, among other examples.
Well made, and well scheduled at 7pm too -- a good time for family viewing.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You
Episode 1 (of 5)
This is certainly a... slightly different way to choose a Eurovision entry. Will it be any more successful? I highly doubt it. At least this is entertainingly camp at times though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
4x13 (30/12/08 edition) [Christmas special; season finale]
Michael McIntyre is amazingly good, I say. Plenty of (mildly) festive fun with Graham, though it does feel a bit belated at this point. Christmas is rather over now, isn't it? (Still got Christmas TV to catch up on though. And Christmas chocolates.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Part 1 (of 5)
BBC One's new dramatisation of the famed teenage war diary, showing on consecutive nights this week -- the BBC's new favourite way to show drama, it seems, after Criminal Justice last year and Torchwood: Children of Earth later this, among other examples.
Well made, and well scheduled at 7pm too -- a good time for family viewing.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You
Episode 1 (of 5)
This is certainly a... slightly different way to choose a Eurovision entry. Will it be any more successful? I highly doubt it. At least this is entertainingly camp at times though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Graham Norton Show
4x13 (30/12/08 edition) [Christmas special; season finale]
Michael McIntyre is amazingly good, I say. Plenty of (mildly) festive fun with Graham, though it does feel a bit belated at this point. Christmas is rather over now, isn't it? (Still got Christmas TV to catch up on though. And Christmas chocolates.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Chapter Two
This book is brilliant. A must read for both Whovians and any aspiring writers, especially if they want to work in TV.
Chapter Two
This book is brilliant. A must read for both Whovians and any aspiring writers, especially if they want to work in TV.
Articles
A Shot-By-Shot Analysis Of The New Wolverine Trailer
(from Empire)
Packed with spoilers, and -- much to my surprise -- mutants! There's all sorts of new-to-film ones here (and plenty of shots of them too, including a certain Cajun), plus cameos from younger versions of main characters from the trilogy. So much for it just featuring Wolverine and a couple of others, eh?
As for the trailer itself, look... oh, um, they didn't provide a link... (It can be found here.)
(from Empire)
Packed with spoilers, and -- much to my surprise -- mutants! There's all sorts of new-to-film ones here (and plenty of shots of them too, including a certain Cajun), plus cameos from younger versions of main characters from the trilogy. So much for it just featuring Wolverine and a couple of others, eh?
As for the trailer itself, look... oh, um, they didn't provide a link... (It can be found here.)
Sunday, 4 January 2009
TV
Gilmore Girls
5x12 Come Home
Oh Emily! You do something good, and then you have to toddle straight off and do something bad. Typical Gilmore.
Midsomer Murders
9x08 Four Funerals and a Wedding
I haven't watched Midsomer by choice for the best part of a decade, and this has done little to change my mind. Apparently it's the highest-paid writing gig on TV though.
5x12 Come Home
Oh Emily! You do something good, and then you have to toddle straight off and do something bad. Typical Gilmore.
Midsomer Murders
9x08 Four Funerals and a Wedding
I haven't watched Midsomer by choice for the best part of a decade, and this has done little to change my mind. Apparently it's the highest-paid writing gig on TV though.
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Chapter One
Including RTD's initial episode-by-episode breakdown for Who season four, which reveals some interesting things -- for example, Mark Gatiss' original WW2-set episode three (sounds like a corker), the long-gestating Tom MacRae-penned episode eight (nifty also), and that the excellent Turn Left began life as little more than "Doctor-lite, I'll try to keep it cheap."
Chapter One
Including RTD's initial episode-by-episode breakdown for Who season four, which reveals some interesting things -- for example, Mark Gatiss' original WW2-set episode three (sounds like a corker), the long-gestating Tom MacRae-penned episode eight (nifty also), and that the excellent Turn Left began life as little more than "Doctor-lite, I'll try to keep it cheap."
The Eleventh Doctor
After yesterday's announcement -- which drew 6.1 million viewers (despite its early slot, it was the second most-watched programme of the day) -- there have naturally been a flurry of articles and whatnot about the rather shocking casting.
Courtesy of the BBC Press Office (via Outpost Gallifrey), here are the first pictures of Smith 'in character' -- though as that's the same outfit he was wearing in the interview I'm guessing it's not his costume, and I hope to God he gets a haircut.
Click to expand.
Naturally articles abound. You can find the official press release here (plenty of comments from Official People on the Who staff and at the BBC), and the official site's exclusive interview here. Typically, Outpost Gallifrey have a nice summary of some major reactions from the press, which can be read here.
Personally, I'm still not convinced. The comment that he looks like "the Twilight choice" seems worryingly spot on. Many fans will take comfort in that he's Steven Moffat's choice, as Moffat is seen as Who's best and most consistent writer. I'm sorry to say, not me. The Empty Child is still one of Who's best ever stories, and Blink is one of the scariest things in anything ever, but Moffat's most recent work -- Silence in the Library and the separate miniseries Jekyll -- has been too barmy, unfocused, and of dubious quality, in my opinion.
Still, we'll see... in about 15 months...
Courtesy of the BBC Press Office (via Outpost Gallifrey), here are the first pictures of Smith 'in character' -- though as that's the same outfit he was wearing in the interview I'm guessing it's not his costume, and I hope to God he gets a haircut.
Click to expand.
Naturally articles abound. You can find the official press release here (plenty of comments from Official People on the Who staff and at the BBC), and the official site's exclusive interview here. Typically, Outpost Gallifrey have a nice summary of some major reactions from the press, which can be read here.
Personally, I'm still not convinced. The comment that he looks like "the Twilight choice" seems worryingly spot on. Many fans will take comfort in that he's Steven Moffat's choice, as Moffat is seen as Who's best and most consistent writer. I'm sorry to say, not me. The Empty Child is still one of Who's best ever stories, and Blink is one of the scariest things in anything ever, but Moffat's most recent work -- Silence in the Library and the separate miniseries Jekyll -- has been too barmy, unfocused, and of dubious quality, in my opinion.
Still, we'll see... in about 15 months...
Saturday, 3 January 2009
TV
Doctor Who Confidential
4x15 The Eleventh Doctor
So, the 11th Doctor is... Matt Smith! A surprise choice, to be sure, who looks... well, kinda the same... Oh well, we've got over a year to get used to the idea. (For further thoughts, look here.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
4x15 The Eleventh Doctor
So, the 11th Doctor is... Matt Smith! A surprise choice, to be sure, who looks... well, kinda the same... Oh well, we've got over a year to get used to the idea. (For further thoughts, look here.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Some Like It Hot (1959)
[2nd watch; #2a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Son of Paleface (1952)
[#2 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
[2nd watch; #2a in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Son of Paleface (1952)
[#2 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
January 1st 2009
For whatever reason, my scheduled posts for January 1st didn't get posted. They're there now, if anyone cares.
Friday, 2 January 2009
TV
2008 at the Movies
It's amazing how well some things do at the worldwide box office, especially compared to their meagre performance in the key US market (see: The Mummy 3). Also, really cheesy graphics, and a disappointing lack of the usual studio guests and viewer-voted top films elements, thanks to Jonathan Ross' ongoing BBC ban. I hope he's back in place for next year -- while this had it's moments, it's nothing like as good as the usual Film 200X year-end round-ups.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
12x08 (28/12/08 edition) [season finale]
Francis Ford Clarkson, Francis Ford Hammond and Francis Ford May undertake to travel from the bottom to the top of Vietnam, managing in 8 days what the Americans failed to do in however many years that war dragged on for. Unfortunately, it's far from the best Top Gear Mad Challenge Special, especially as Jeremy seemed miserable for a large chunk of it and they were on motorbikes -- if further proof were needed that Top Gear is no longer a car programme and is instead an entertainment show, that would be it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Marple
3x04 Nemesis [2nd half; season finale]
An above-average episode with a neat conclusion, despite the old rule of "most famous person in smallest role did it" applying.
It's amazing how well some things do at the worldwide box office, especially compared to their meagre performance in the key US market (see: The Mummy 3). Also, really cheesy graphics, and a disappointing lack of the usual studio guests and viewer-voted top films elements, thanks to Jonathan Ross' ongoing BBC ban. I hope he's back in place for next year -- while this had it's moments, it's nothing like as good as the usual Film 200X year-end round-ups.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Top Gear
12x08 (28/12/08 edition) [season finale]
Francis Ford Clarkson, Francis Ford Hammond and Francis Ford May undertake to travel from the bottom to the top of Vietnam, managing in 8 days what the Americans failed to do in however many years that war dragged on for. Unfortunately, it's far from the best Top Gear Mad Challenge Special, especially as Jeremy seemed miserable for a large chunk of it and they were on motorbikes -- if further proof were needed that Top Gear is no longer a car programme and is instead an entertainment show, that would be it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Marple
3x04 Nemesis [2nd half; season finale]
An above-average episode with a neat conclusion, despite the old rule of "most famous person in smallest role did it" applying.
Articles
New Doctor to be revealed on BBC One tomorrow
(from BBC Press Office)
"The BBC confirmed today that it will reveal the identity of the 11th Doctor as part of a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential to be aired on BBC One tomorrow, Saturday 3 January 2009, at 5.35pm... The programme will be broadcast live on BBC Big Screens [in city centres] nationwide."
Oh my oh my oh my! Yay! Be interesting to see the ratings on that one.
Also...
"There will be four Doctor Who specials featuring David Tennant that will run in 2009 into New Year 2010."
Considering that the last two specials will form a two-parter, and the specific wording of that statement, I'm suspecting a Christmas Day 2009 / New Year's Day 2010 two-parter to say farewell to the 10th Doctor. How cool is that? (Answer: extremely.)
(from BBC Press Office)
"The BBC confirmed today that it will reveal the identity of the 11th Doctor as part of a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential to be aired on BBC One tomorrow, Saturday 3 January 2009, at 5.35pm... The programme will be broadcast live on BBC Big Screens [in city centres] nationwide."
Oh my oh my oh my! Yay! Be interesting to see the ratings on that one.
Also...
"There will be four Doctor Who specials featuring David Tennant that will run in 2009 into New Year 2010."
Considering that the last two specials will form a two-parter, and the specific wording of that statement, I'm suspecting a Christmas Day 2009 / New Year's Day 2010 two-parter to say farewell to the 10th Doctor. How cool is that? (Answer: extremely.)
Poem of the Day: Text me my darling
by John Lancaster
After a Christmassy break, this week sees the return of the grand tradition of Funny Friday here on Poem of the Day. Sadly, this is the last regular Funny Friday, as Poem of the Day is becoming Poem of the Week from now on. Every Friday, a new poem. There'll still be funny ones, just not every week.
Anyway, this piece is lifted from deviantART and, as with the very first Funny Friday, I think the rhyme and maintained rhythm are key to the humour, but so is the excellent spoofing of the subject.
As mentioned, the original version of this is published at deviantART. Please comment there, and mark it as a favourite too, if you wish.
After a Christmassy break, this week sees the return of the grand tradition of Funny Friday here on Poem of the Day. Sadly, this is the last regular Funny Friday, as Poem of the Day is becoming Poem of the Week from now on. Every Friday, a new poem. There'll still be funny ones, just not every week.
Anyway, this piece is lifted from deviantART and, as with the very first Funny Friday, I think the rhyme and maintained rhythm are key to the humour, but so is the excellent spoofing of the subject.
My phone subscription will renew
But I can't contain my Love 4U
My facia's the height of fashion
My keypad rattles with great passion
I need a bit of SMS
If only to relieve the stress
I'll type a ;>) with sexy lashes
Hot Love tonight - In dots and dashes
Text me tonight - Oh, Text me harder!
Or I'll get bored and raid the larder
Text me my darling - Please B mine
O Text me where the sun don't shine!
It's more exciting at peak rates
Please Please B quick - my phone awaits!
Text me my precious - with skill and grace
(I'll orgasm in uppercase)
As mentioned, the original version of this is published at deviantART. Please comment there, and mark it as a favourite too, if you wish.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
TV
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year
2008 edition
Entertaining, but not as good without Jonathan Ross, Rob Brydon, Russell Brand, Noel Fielding.
Marple
3x04 Nemesis [1st half; season finale]
ITV's scheduling of its Marple is decidedly odd -- for more thoughts in this vein, look here.
2008 edition
Entertaining, but not as good without Jonathan Ross, Rob Brydon, Russell Brand, Noel Fielding.
Marple
3x04 Nemesis [1st half; season finale]
ITV's scheduling of its Marple is decidedly odd -- for more thoughts in this vein, look here.
Films
Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
And so, the third year of 100 Films begins, once again on New Year's Day itself. (Last year's New Year's Day film was The Simpsons Movie, the year before Eragon.)
[#1 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
And so, the third year of 100 Films begins, once again on New Year's Day itself. (Last year's New Year's Day film was The Simpsons Movie, the year before Eragon.)
Non-Fiction
Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale by Russell T Davies & Benjamin Cook
Foreword by Philip Pullman
Introduction by Russell T Davies
Introduction by Benjamin Cook
Well, I feel thoroughly introduced. "If you still want to be a writer after reading this, you probably will be" says Steven Moffat. So let's see...
Foreword by Philip Pullman
Introduction by Russell T Davies
Introduction by Benjamin Cook
Well, I feel thoroughly introduced. "If you still want to be a writer after reading this, you probably will be" says Steven Moffat. So let's see...
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