TV

The British Academy Television Awards 2009
Many worthy winners, some worthier losers, many under-appreciated jokes, and a jibe at the criminally useless Ed Balls.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Horne & Corden
1x04 Episode 4
Not exactly underrated, but better than many would have you believe.

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
1x02 Poison

Robin Hood
3x04 Sins of the Father
Finishing up after what happened yesterday.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Articles

Amstell quits BBC's Buzzcocks by Sarah Rollo
(from Digital Spy)
Shame, he's been an excellent host.

Fry & Laurie 'would love TV reconciliation' by Dan French
(from Digital Spy)
I'm still upset that Fry & Laurie never played Holmes & Watson, and that was planned years ago. Fry's ideas for a guest spot on House are all really good though:
"I quite like the idea of being a ruder doctor than Hugh -- one that is even ruder than he is to patients and staff. That would be quite amusing. Or one who is so unbelievably nice but a better diagnostician than he is!"

Gripesville 1 - 9 by ghostof82
(from Musings of the Ghost of 82)
Nine problems with modern movies. Many of them are very agreeable-with.

See-Through Screens
(from Amazing! Incredible!)
Computers with see-through monitors. Very cleverly done.

Doctor Who news

Thanks to the wonder that is twitter, it's now confirmed that, despite earlier reports, Skins actress Hannah Murray definitely isn't the next Doctor Who companion. I leave it to Lizo Mzimba's tweets to report in full:

News hot off the press. Just spoke to the lovely Hannah Murray who says she definitely isn't going to be Matt Smith's assitant in Dr Who.

Hannah Murray said: It was something I could never consider cos I'm doing a degree at the moment so I could never commit to a show that big.

Hannah Murray continued re rumours: "That was never founded in fact." And re-asserted that companion was "definitely not" going to be her.

She's a decent enough actress and wouldn't've been bad casting, especially as it'll be a challenge to find anyone who actually looks young than Matt Smith.

TV

HD on BBC iPlayer is rubbish. Keep reading to find out why...

Have I Got News For You
37x01 (24/4/09 edition; uncut repeat)
Hurrah! It's great to have HIGNFY back -- why can't it be on all year round?
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Primeval
3x05 Episode 5
Probably Primeval's most ludicrous episode yet -- and that's saying something. Riddled with plot and logic holes, which is a shame because the basic ideas here have such potential.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Robin Hood
3x04 Sins of the Father
I was quite excited by the prospect of using BBC iPlayer to watch content in HD legally. This was my trial run... and it was appalling. Playback frequently dropped as low as one frame-per-second and the compression was blocky -- not what you expect from HD! Ran out of time to finish it before HIGNFY was on so will have to catch the rest on regular TV iPlayer another time. So much for iPlayer, back to less-than-legal downloads it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Poetry

Hoping It Might Be So: Poems 1974-2000 by Kit Wright
Hoping It Might Be So (2000)
Short Afternoons (1989) (pages 45-55)
Collecting all of Kit Wright's books for adult readers published between (can you guess?) 1974 and 2000. Some very funny, satirical stuff. Some of it a bit densely poetic for me.

Music

Chinese Democracy by Guns N' Roses
I got this album as a free legal digital download around Christmastime, when Amazon UK briefly (as in, for one day) offered a free MP3 album to anyone who wanted it. But this is why I usually avoid paid-for downloads: if it were a CD I'd've listened to it more-or-less immediately; as a download, I forgot about it for four months.

Despite years (literally) of anticipation, it managed to receive fairly good reviews on release (at least, that was my impression -- I don't really follow music reviews/journalism) and I can see why. Whereas some good albums require a listen or two to get into, much of Chinese Democracy is instantly likable. It's not a revolutionary step in GnR's output, but if this is your kind of music then it's enjoyable.

Stand-out tracks (after a listen and a half) were:

Shackler's Revenge

Better

There Was a Time

Scraped

I.R.S.

Madagascar

I don't think the last one has anything to do with the films.

As a Queen fan, I'd also like to point out that one track, Catcher in the Rye, may or may not feature guitarist Brian May -- a leaked 1999 version did, but apparently the CD doesn't credit him.

Articles

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire)
That title tells you nothing, doesn't it? The subtitle is better: "How they're splitting the final film". No one reveals where they're doing it, of course, though it's intriguing that they settled on a point and then moved it to a different one. Very intriguing. Also discussed is how they might handle the "19 Years Later" epilogue, in more detail than where that breakpoint is.

Talking with John “DJ” Des Jardin
(from WatchmenComicMovie.com)
A solid interview about the special visual effects on Watchmen, including some of what we can expect from the Director's Cut.

new review at 100 Films

Runaway Train (1985)

The focus on a high concept, emphasis on exciting action sequences, the way the plot is structured, the faintly pantomime villains, comical supporting characters, and occasional slips into fantasy — none of these elements suggest your typical Oscar nominee.

Read the full review at 100 Films.

There are currently 15 new films in the review pipeline at 100 Films, not to mention two shorts, a film I've previously seen, and an alternate cut. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.

TV

Cracker
2x04 The Big Crunch Part 1
Ah, Evil Christians -- a brilliant episode! Can't wait 'til Fitz gets his hands on them, it should be priceless.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]

Articles

The Finished/Theatrical Version Of Wolverine Has Been Seen!! Just How Different Is It From That Workprint?? by Merrick
(from Ain't It Cool News)
Answer: it's exactly the same (apart from effects and sound fixes), apparently. Oops.

For him by Andrew Collins
(from Never Knowingly Underwhelmed)
A hilarious perspective on Crank 2. One of my favourite reviews ever.

Robert Rodriguez's Predators officially confirmed today! by Quint
(from Ain't It Cool News)
And just after I watched them all too!

Poem of the Week: Gateway to the Atlantic

by Roger McGough

While I was generally quite down on Slapstick when I covered it yesterday, it still has a decent number of worthwhile poems. Here's one of my early favourites because of its nice rhyme and rhythm, as well as a fairly clear topic and theme.

I am the warm hello and the sad farewell

I am the path to glory and the road to hell

I am the gull on the wing and the salt in the air

I am the night patrol and the morning prayer

I am the port register, read the names with pride

I am the thickening fog and the quickening tide

I am the ferryboat, the slaver, the man-o'-war

I am the keeper of the quays, welcome ashore

I am the starstruck, eternal romantic

I am the gateway to the Atlantic.

As mentioned above, Gateway to the Atlantic is taken from Slapstick (aka Slapstick Poems), McGough's 2008 collection published by Puffin.

TV

The Mentalist
1x04 Ladies in Red
1x05 Redwood
[Watch Ladies in Red and Redwood again on Demand Five.]

The Wire
1x13 Sentencing [season finale]
Look here for my thoughts on this episode, and the season as a whole.

Poetry

Slapstick (aka Slapstick Poems) by Roger McGough
McGough is a well-respected poet for good reason, though that's not always evident in this collection. That's not because it's aimed at kids -- I love poetry for kids -- but because some of it falls down on issues of rhythm, pace, or the be-all-and-end-all of poetry, sounding good.
Others are great (and destined for Poem of the Week) and others still depend -- not just "benefit from", but depend -- on the illustrations of Adam Stower... yet he doesn't get a credit on the cover. In fact, he's only mentioned once, on page three. Poor Adam Stower. His excellent illustrations are to be found accompanying every poem and he deserves more mention, I feel -- I frequently enjoyed his art more than the piece it was attached to.

Articles

Quite a lot of articles today (10, in fact), so here they are split into three groups. First, the most articley of articles...

Outlander Vs State Of Play or, The Premise Vs Plot Dilemma by Helen O'Hara
(from the Empire Blog)
A very thoughtful and thought-provoking article on the amount of hype drummed up by some movies, and their consequent box office success, and the lack of chatter on others, and their consequent box office failure -- essentially, "woah, cool" movies for the former and more intelligent movies for the latter. Recommended reading for all, I say.

The Play’s The Thing - An Easy Guide To Liking Shakespeare Onscreen by Helen O'Hara
(from the Empire Blog)
Does more or less what it says on the tin, and does it well I think.

Articles: Lists

10 Greatest Movie Posters Ever Made by Sam Ashurst
and
10 Worst Movie Posters Ever Made by Andy Lowe
(from Total Film)
Some odd choices on both sides, but worth pondering. Personally, I love the "Some Thing Has Found Us" tagline -- that's a very cleverly placed space.

10 Incredibly Strange Movie Trailers by Andy Lowe
(from Total Film)
I do love a good trailer, and some of these are just that. And some are unmitigated drivel. Follow the advice on #2, the clips it points you toward are utterly hilarious.

If Movie Posters Were Honest
(from Holy Taco)
As with all of these Photoshop-based comedy poster/advert efforts, there's a mix of very funny and "oh how I wish I were funny" efforts here. The Indy 4 spoof is unoriginal and, to be honest, a tired and fairly untrue complaint, but the too truthful The Happening spoof singlehandedly makes up for all the bad ones.

If TV Shows Had Truthful Titles
(from Holy Taco)
Yup, it's the exact same thing, only with TV show titles. Intriguingly, this article came first -- I'd've thought the ease and familiarity of movie posters (as opposed to having to find posters/DVD covers/cast photos with some words on for TV shows) made them a more obvious choice. Anyway, it's again a mixed bag, but the Heroes one makes it all worth it.

Articles: News

Sony Wants You To Pay More Money To See Spider-Man 4 by Devin Faraci
(from CHUD.com)
The headline sounds sensationalist, but is fairly accurate. It also supports some of my previously-expressed thoughts on this new love for 3D.

Tom Hanks On Toy Story 3 by Helen O'Hara
(from Empire)
And also The Pacific, a "spiritual sequel" to Band of Brothers. BoB is amazing, one of the greatest miniseries ever, so hopefully The Pacific can live up to it.

Turtles Origins Set For Live Action by Emily Phillips
(from Empire)
So, essentially, a remake.

The Wire 1x13: Sentencing

An excellent concluding episode to The Wire's first season. One suspects they weren't banking on having any more, considering how this wraps things up.

It's all handled in a believable, real-world style, in-keeping with the rest of the series -- which final episodes aren't necessarily, often finding some semi-plausible final piece of evidence that sees all the bad guys locked up and all the good guys exalted with amazing levels of praise. Not so here -- there are consequences for all involved, to one degree or another, and thankfully no magic final revelation that allows all the bad guys to be locked up for a respectable amount of time.

It also succeeds in rewarding the viewer in a way only The Wire does. They're tiny moments played to perfection, such as my personal favourite, the juxtaposition of freshly-promoted mole Carver and Pryzbylewski in the wake of a speech about what kind of police officer you should be -- subtly, and referencing earlier events, it shows the complete difference between the two officers, and how they've subverted our early expectations of them. Similarly, the episode pays off apparently minor scenes -- and even just lines -- from all the way back to episode one. But, importantly, it does this without battering you round the head with flashbacks or "remember when..." dialogue. That's why this is a "novel for TV", and has become so beloved.

And, like most of the very best stories, its full quality can't be appreciated until you've seen it through to the end. This perhaps explains the minor critical (and audience, in some cases) backlash, where some 'don't get it' after only one or two sample episodes. (I'm happy to admit that I shared this view, to an extent, and expressed it here, but I think I remained aware that The Wire was the sort of programme you couldn't adequately judge without seeing it all).

The announcer confirmed that the second season would begin in a few weeks. Considering each tells such a different story (or so I've heard) this seems a wise decision... but I'm looking forward to it already. The Wire hasn't become my Favourite TV Series Ever, but I can now see why it's so praised. Consider me a fan -- and a convert.

TV

The Omid Djalili Show
2x01 Episode 1
Not certain it lived up to claims of being massively funnier than the first series, but it kept me amused. Favourite bit was possibly the Tudors-spoofing Henry VIII credits.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Speaker
1x06 Episode 6
How in God's name did they vote for Duncan?! Poor Haroon.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Articles

Force is strong for Jedi police
(from BBC News)
"Eight police officers serving with Scotland's largest force listed their official religion as Jedi in voluntary diversity forms... Strathclyde Police said the officers [plus] two of its civilian staff claimed to follow the faith, which features in the Star Wars movies."
I suppose as they're meant to be the 'Police Service' these days a headline of "May the (Police) Force Be With You" would've been considered politically incorrect.

Internet-Age Writing Syllabus and Course Overview by Robert Lanham
(from Timothy McSweeney)
"As print takes its place alongside smoke signals, cuneiform, and hollering, there has emerged a new literary age, one in which writers no longer need to feel encumbered by the paper cuts, reading, and excessive use of words traditionally associated with the writing trade. Writing for Nonreaders in the Postprint Era focuses on the creation of short-form prose that is not intended to be reproduced on pulp fibers. Instant messaging. Twittering. Facebook updates... 21st-century literary genres"
Mmm, satire. (Long satire.)

TV

Argumental
2x04 (20/4/09 edition)
Blues was robbed.

The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency
1x01 The Big Bonanza
Perfect Sunday night viewing -- gentle, funny, but mercifully not dull (as some examples of "perfect Sunday night viewing" are). Shame I didn't get round to this sooner; on the other hand, it means I'll watch the last two episodes in HD thanks to BBC HD being added to iPlayer. (Sadly only the last two are available there though.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Speaker
1x05 Episode 5
My God, get rid of Duncan! Please!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]