How I Met Your Mother
3x09 Slapsgiving
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
TV
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
17x12 (27/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's. Just in time.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
17x12 (27/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's. Just in time.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
40 Year Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It is Real and Has a Trailer
(from WorstPreviews)
Title pretty much says it all -- there really is a film called that. Can you guess what it's a spoof of?
Joss Whedon on Why Dollhouse Was Cancelled
(from WorstPreviews)
"In a polite way, he explained that Fox ruined the show that he originally envisioned." Read the article for the full reasoning.
(from WorstPreviews)
Title pretty much says it all -- there really is a film called that. Can you guess what it's a spoof of?
Joss Whedon on Why Dollhouse Was Cancelled
(from WorstPreviews)
"In a polite way, he explained that Fox ruined the show that he originally envisioned." Read the article for the full reasoning.
Collection Count
Collection Count, now in its seventh week, tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics.
As with last week's jiggery pokery, this week sees six new Blu-rays and seven new DVDs... but two of the BDs replace DVDs, and so funny stuff happens. Well, not as funny as before; so unfunny, in fact, that the statistics show no signs of replacements going on. In fact, it was funnier earlier in the week, when there were just two new DVDs and two new BDs and nothing had happened at all. Not that that was that funny.
In fact, a bigger spanner is thrown in the works by the arrival of The Godfather Trilogy on Blu-ray -- I have it on DVD, but it's in a rather lovely Steelbook that I'm not sure I want to get rid of. What do you mean that's sad? I'm the guy who posts a total of his DVD collection every week.
Anyway...
Number of titles in collection: 1,098 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,050 [up 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 48 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,692 [up 23]
Number of films in collection: 1,144 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,747 [up 31]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Digital Copies:
Ah digital copies -- the bane of any current DVD collection. What's the point? And why are they on a new disc which then just connects to the 'net to download them? What a waste of a DVD!
Anyway, I have just 10 of the abominations (0.9% of the collection). Some almost have a point -- the theatrical cut on Watchmen: Director's Cut or The X Files: I Want to Believe -- while the ones that just duplicate the DVD/BD... don't.
See you next week, faithful reader.
As with last week's jiggery pokery, this week sees six new Blu-rays and seven new DVDs... but two of the BDs replace DVDs, and so funny stuff happens. Well, not as funny as before; so unfunny, in fact, that the statistics show no signs of replacements going on. In fact, it was funnier earlier in the week, when there were just two new DVDs and two new BDs and nothing had happened at all. Not that that was that funny.
In fact, a bigger spanner is thrown in the works by the arrival of The Godfather Trilogy on Blu-ray -- I have it on DVD, but it's in a rather lovely Steelbook that I'm not sure I want to get rid of. What do you mean that's sad? I'm the guy who posts a total of his DVD collection every week.
Anyway...
Number of titles in collection: 1,098 [up 11]
Of which DVDs: 1,050 [up 5]
Of which Blu-rays: 48 [up 6]
Number of discs in collection: 2,692 [up 23]
Number of films in collection: 1,144 [up 11]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,747 [up 31]
Statistic of the week:
Number of Digital Copies:
Ah digital copies -- the bane of any current DVD collection. What's the point? And why are they on a new disc which then just connects to the 'net to download them? What a waste of a DVD!
Anyway, I have just 10 of the abominations (0.9% of the collection). Some almost have a point -- the theatrical cut on Watchmen: Director's Cut or The X Files: I Want to Believe -- while the ones that just duplicate the DVD/BD... don't.
See you next week, faithful reader.
new review at 100 Films
Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
It’s also scary in places, as it should be, because it’s a vampire horror movie that just happens to take the making of another real one as its starting point. Unfortunately, as the plot becomes confusing and ill explained towards the end, so the scares dissipate alongside the viewer’s understanding.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
TV
The Armstrong and Miller Show
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x09 Ignorance is Bliss
How I Met Your Mother
3x08 Spoiler Alert
Another excellent episode, that again I'd call one of the best.
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x09 Ignorance is Bliss
How I Met Your Mother
3x08 Spoiler Alert
Another excellent episode, that again I'd call one of the best.
Films
Rage (2009)
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Watched for free, legally, at the auteurs (though by the time you read this its free-ness will probably have ended).
By the looks of its IMDb page this is a film that's viciously hated by many, and normally it wouldn't be my cup of tea either, but I actually thought it was brilliant.
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2009]
Watched for free, legally, at the auteurs (though by the time you read this its free-ness will probably have ended).
By the looks of its IMDb page this is a film that's viciously hated by many, and normally it wouldn't be my cup of tea either, but I actually thought it was brilliant.
Articles
BBC's Paradox drops over 1 million by Dan French
(from Digital Spy)
"...managed 2.94m (11.5%) during the 9pm hour compared to last week's 4.13m (16.3%)." As rubbish as it looks, then.
Holden: 'My show is credit crunch comedy' by Daniel Kilkelly
(from Digital Spy)
As in, "we couldn't afford any jokes", I presume.
Kelly: 'I want to do a direct film' by Mayer Nissim
(from Digital Spy)
"Richard Kelly has said that he would like to tell a more "straightforward" story with one of his future projects."
Good plan!
Twilight Unmasked in Buffy #33 by Shaun Manning
(from Comic Book Resources)
Is this the real Big Bad in Buffy Season Eight? Somehow, I doubt it.
Edit: some (but not full) clarification here.
(from Digital Spy)
"...managed 2.94m (11.5%) during the 9pm hour compared to last week's 4.13m (16.3%)." As rubbish as it looks, then.
Holden: 'My show is credit crunch comedy' by Daniel Kilkelly
(from Digital Spy)
As in, "we couldn't afford any jokes", I presume.
Kelly: 'I want to do a direct film' by Mayer Nissim
(from Digital Spy)
"Richard Kelly has said that he would like to tell a more "straightforward" story with one of his future projects."
Good plan!
Twilight Unmasked in Buffy #33 by Shaun Manning
(from Comic Book Resources)
Is this the real Big Bad in Buffy Season Eight? Somehow, I doubt it.
Edit: some (but not full) clarification here.
new review at 100 Films
Brute Force (1947)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Early on it’s quite humourous, with a weak warden, jaunty calypso-singing inmate and amusingly drunk doctor. Then there are the flashbacks to the outside world, laden with undercooked romance and awkward dialogue. In the final act it turns decidedly grim: warden Munsey lives up to his lowly reputation, goading one prisoner to suicide and beating another close to death; and one of the good guys betrays his mates, ultimately leading to wholesale slaughter as the escape plan goes awry.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently a whole pile of feature films in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
TV
Argumental
2x13 Best of Argumental
The first of two clip show specials rounding out the series (the second was on last night). This first is indeed just clips, albeit funny ones -- hopefully the second will include outtakes, as per the first series' clip show.
Grand Designs
7x03 Medway: The Eco Barge
These people were absolutely barking, especially the bloke. Though rarely have I more wanted a Revisited episode to see what happened in the end.
2x13 Best of Argumental
The first of two clip show specials rounding out the series (the second was on last night). This first is indeed just clips, albeit funny ones -- hopefully the second will include outtakes, as per the first series' clip show.
Grand Designs
7x03 Medway: The Eco Barge
These people were absolutely barking, especially the bloke. Though rarely have I more wanted a Revisited episode to see what happened in the end.
new review at 100 Films
Transporter 3 (2008)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently 17 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
After all the criticism of Transporter 2’s reliance on CGI, most of this sequel features no significant use of it — and that, of course, is a good thing. A car driving at high speed on two wheels between two articulated lorries is just silly if it’s all done with computers; done for real, as it is here, it’s somewhat impressive — exactly as it should be.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
There are currently 17 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
TV
The Armstrong and Miller Show
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x06 (27/11/09 edition; uncut repeat).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x09 (25/11/09 edition)
David Walliams, an ineffectual substitute teacher of a host. Another funny edition though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x06 (26/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
2x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
38x06 (27/11/09 edition; uncut repeat).
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
23x09 (25/11/09 edition)
David Walliams, an ineffectual substitute teacher of a host. Another funny edition though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
1x06 (26/11/09 edition, extended repeat)
[You can (still) only see the shorter version on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
Watchmen Video Journals #4: Dave Gibbons [2nd watch]
In HD, found on the Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics Blu-ray. As is a ten-minute preview/making-of on the Wonder Woman animated movie, which has a helluva cast.
In HD, found on the Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comics Blu-ray. As is a ten-minute preview/making-of on the Wonder Woman animated movie, which has a helluva cast.
Articles
Doctor Who Series One in Croatia by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
That's "is filming there", not just "will be shown there". And the links have some very intriguing pictures to boot. Hopefully, before long, with the final Tennant specials out of the way, we'll finally start getting some proper news about Season 31. Sorry, Five. Sorry, One.
Ofcom fights back against Sky criticism by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah for Ofcom! (For a change.) Especially in the face of James Murdoch, who's an utter... word I won't say on a family-friendly blog. Twonk will do for now though. A great big twonk.
(from Doctor Who News Page)
That's "is filming there", not just "will be shown there". And the links have some very intriguing pictures to boot. Hopefully, before long, with the final Tennant specials out of the way, we'll finally start getting some proper news about Season 31. Sorry, Five. Sorry, One.
Ofcom fights back against Sky criticism by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Hurrah for Ofcom! (For a change.) Especially in the face of James Murdoch, who's an utter... word I won't say on a family-friendly blog. Twonk will do for now though. A great big twonk.
Monday, 30 November 2009
TV
FlashForward
1x08 Playing Cards with Coyote
Funny, I assumed all the men had the three-star tattoos from the get-go, making that a total non-twist. Ho hum, nothing out of character for FlashForward in that.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x08 (23/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's -- the 'Welsh Special'.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x07 Dowisetrepla
1x08 Playing Cards with Coyote
Funny, I assumed all the men had the three-star tattoos from the get-go, making that a total non-twist. Ho hum, nothing out of character for FlashForward in that.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
6x08 (23/11/09 edition)
Yes, last week's -- the 'Welsh Special'.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
How I Met Your Mother
3x07 Dowisetrepla
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Articles
The Art of Gaming by Mark Langshaw
(from Digital Spy)
A gamer once again tries to claim gaming is an art form on a par with novels, poetry, films, and so on.
Once again, they ignore what I think is one of the key factors: accessibility. Never mind the notion of having to learn controls and all that (while the others only require basic life skills, like sight, hearing, the ability to read) -- none of the other forms halt your progress if you haven't fully understood/completed the preceding section, unlike games.
This 'barrier to completion' is a major count against them in my view -- a film you can just keep watching, a novel keep reading, a painting stare at for as long as you like, but a game's over the moment you're incapable of completing a level/mission/etc. That inability to easily experience the work entire is a major obstacle to the medium's wider acceptance as Art, in my view.
Comedy writers 'no longer taking risks' by Marc Settle
(from BBC News)
Despite the insistence of BBC bigwigs later in the article that things are OK, it's clear they're not. And it's all the fault of busybody moaners, like Daily Mail readers or idiots from Sky like James Murdoch.
(from Digital Spy)
A gamer once again tries to claim gaming is an art form on a par with novels, poetry, films, and so on.
Once again, they ignore what I think is one of the key factors: accessibility. Never mind the notion of having to learn controls and all that (while the others only require basic life skills, like sight, hearing, the ability to read) -- none of the other forms halt your progress if you haven't fully understood/completed the preceding section, unlike games.
This 'barrier to completion' is a major count against them in my view -- a film you can just keep watching, a novel keep reading, a painting stare at for as long as you like, but a game's over the moment you're incapable of completing a level/mission/etc. That inability to easily experience the work entire is a major obstacle to the medium's wider acceptance as Art, in my view.
Comedy writers 'no longer taking risks' by Marc Settle
(from BBC News)
"Jokes aren't true - they're lies, they're exaggerations, they're distortion, they're imbalance, they're having a go, they're bullying, they're insulting," says The Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci. "Of course the intention is to cause offence." [He] is one of a number of leading figures who fear the rules of comedy writing in Britain are changing.
Despite the insistence of BBC bigwigs later in the article that things are OK, it's clear they're not. And it's all the fault of busybody moaners, like Daily Mail readers or idiots from Sky like James Murdoch.
new review at 100 Films
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK from tomorrow.
There are currently 18 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
it’s like an uncomfortable amalgamation of Saturday morning cartoon and more adult-orientated action-comedy. On the one hand you’ve got a top-secret organisation with a semi-plausible acronym for a name (NEST) that sees soldiers and good giant robots travelling the world fighting bad giant robots... On the other, you’ve got whole sequences about drug use, almost brutal fight scenes, and lad’s mag-level slow-mo shots of girls running, changing and having their short dresses hiked up... In other words: if you’re an average 13-year-old boy, this is the Best. Movie. Ever.
Read the full review at 100 Films.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is out on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK from tomorrow.
There are currently 18 feature films and one short in the review pipeline at 100 Films. As ever, updates here as and when they're posted.
Saturday, 28 November 2009
TV
Gavin & Stacey
3x01 Episode 1
Simply, brilliant. Gavin & Stacey blows away almost every other comedy currently in production, and a fair few dramas too. Witness, for example, the pair of gags relating to the cheese and pineapple sticks. Most dramas dream about that level of subtlety.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x08 Teamwork
How I Met Your Mother
3x06 I'm Not That Guy
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x03 Episode 3
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x01 Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x03 Bröderna (aka The Brothers)
Grim, but quite possibly the best episode so far.
3x01 Episode 1
Simply, brilliant. Gavin & Stacey blows away almost every other comedy currently in production, and a fair few dramas too. Witness, for example, the pair of gags relating to the cheese and pineapple sticks. Most dramas dream about that level of subtlety.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
House
6x08 Teamwork
How I Met Your Mother
3x06 I'm Not That Guy
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
1x03 Episode 3
Yes, last week's.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
QI
7x01 Gardens
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wallander [Swedish]
1x03 Bröderna (aka The Brothers)
Grim, but quite possibly the best episode so far.
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