Ashes to Ashes
3x04 Episode 4
Crikey, halfway through already! This is all going to be over before I know it...
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
3x07 (24/4/10 edition)
This is even more nearly-all-over. Less excitingly so though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Articles
Ashes creator: 'The ending is terrific' by Catriona Wightman
(from Digital Spy)
Fox 'fend off Avatar Blu-ray complaints' by Oli Simpson
(from Digital Spy)
Wes Craven: 'Scream 4 to mock Saw' by Aaron Broverman
(from Digital Spy)
Previously the return of Scream sounded like another attempt to cash-in by relaunching a once-popular franchise for no good reason. But now it sounds like they actually have a purpose: the original trilogy did a top-notch job of spoofing the horror movies of the day (and properly spoofing them too, not just recreating them with a 'joke' crowbarred into every scene a la Scary Movie & co), and now they want to do the same thing with modern horror movies. It sounds so obvious now, but does involve some degree of thinking outside the box -- after all, didn't we all expect a Scream revival would just be more of the same 80s/90s-spoofing?
The full interview can be found over here.
(from Digital Spy)
Fox 'fend off Avatar Blu-ray complaints' by Oli Simpson
(from Digital Spy)
the DRM software, originally introduced to discourage piracy, has in fact had the opposite effect."Much lols," as the cool internet kids say these days (I think).
Wes Craven: 'Scream 4 to mock Saw' by Aaron Broverman
(from Digital Spy)
Previously the return of Scream sounded like another attempt to cash-in by relaunching a once-popular franchise for no good reason. But now it sounds like they actually have a purpose: the original trilogy did a top-notch job of spoofing the horror movies of the day (and properly spoofing them too, not just recreating them with a 'joke' crowbarred into every scene a la Scary Movie & co), and now they want to do the same thing with modern horror movies. It sounds so obvious now, but does involve some degree of thinking outside the box -- after all, didn't we all expect a Scream revival would just be more of the same 80s/90s-spoofing?
The full interview can be found over here.
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
TV
FlashForward
1x13 Blowback
Go beardy dad bloke!
As for the rest of the series... It's good we're getting answers; it's still not good though, is it.
The Mentalist
2x10 Throwing Fire
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
1x13 Blowback
Go beardy dad bloke!
As for the rest of the series... It's good we're getting answers; it's still not good though, is it.
The Mentalist
2x10 Throwing Fire
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Articles
BBC Trust apologises for Frankie Boyle 'angry Jew' joke
(from guardian.co.uk)
In summary, if you call an Israeli a Jew it's "inappropriate and offensive".
Our Clegg-backing letter is one for the grandchildren by Richard Reeves
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Not normally one for brandishing too much politics across the blog, but this (and the letter it links to at the end) still make for an interesting read.
Week 6 Schedule Update by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Alternate headline: "Over the Rainbow stage scheduling coup while Moffat stranded in America".
I'm sure it's significantly less exciting than that, but, still.
(from guardian.co.uk)
In summary, if you call an Israeli a Jew it's "inappropriate and offensive".
Our Clegg-backing letter is one for the grandchildren by Richard Reeves
(from Comment is free at guardian.co.uk)
Not normally one for brandishing too much politics across the blog, but this (and the letter it links to at the end) still make for an interesting read.
Week 6 Schedule Update by Marcus
(from Doctor Who News Page)
Alternate headline: "Over the Rainbow stage scheduling coup while Moffat stranded in America".
I'm sure it's significantly less exciting than that, but, still.
preview of Doctor Who games has put me off
Preview: Doctor Who: The Adventure Games by Matthew Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
I was really looking forward to these games -- Doctor Who has always seemed well-suited to a point-and-click-style adventure game and I'd always hoped they'd make one. And that's what this looked like -- it's got "Adventure Game" in the title, after all, and screenshots have shown 3D person controls and adventure-game-like on-screen options like "examine".
But appearances can be deceptive, as this preview reveals. Instead of a Who-ish game driven by story, conversation and inventory-based puzzles, we're getting stealth sections that sound thoroughly old-fashioned and mini-games every time the Doctor needs to unlock a door. And, from the sounds of the preview, that's all the game really has to offer. Oh.
If that was the kind of game they'd pitched, well, c'est la vie -- but it promised so much more! And it sounds like the developers lack the creativity to have even thought of the superior option. This quote demonstrates their complete lack of understanding:
Basically, if it's not a shoot-em-up, it's not a game. What idiots.
Why couldn't this have been licensed to Telltale? Well, probably because they're American 'n' all that -- but they've proven it works as a business model (not that these Who games need a business model -- they're free), and I'd assumed their style had basically been copied for these games. But it seems not.
I'll still play them, of course, cos I'm a Who fan and they're canon and they're free. But before I was really looking forward to them, and now I'll just go through the motions because I have to. Which is a bit depressing.
(from Digital Spy)
I was really looking forward to these games -- Doctor Who has always seemed well-suited to a point-and-click-style adventure game and I'd always hoped they'd make one. And that's what this looked like -- it's got "Adventure Game" in the title, after all, and screenshots have shown 3D person controls and adventure-game-like on-screen options like "examine".
But appearances can be deceptive, as this preview reveals. Instead of a Who-ish game driven by story, conversation and inventory-based puzzles, we're getting stealth sections that sound thoroughly old-fashioned and mini-games every time the Doctor needs to unlock a door. And, from the sounds of the preview, that's all the game really has to offer. Oh.
If that was the kind of game they'd pitched, well, c'est la vie -- but it promised so much more! And it sounds like the developers lack the creativity to have even thought of the superior option. This quote demonstrates their complete lack of understanding:
The Doctor himself solves all the problems of the universe, saves humanity, with the power of negotiation and clever quips, which within themselves don't make for great gameplay... He hasn't got a blaster, it'll be brilliant if he had a lightsaber, it'll be great if he had twin guns, but he hasn't and we can't…
Basically, if it's not a shoot-em-up, it's not a game. What idiots.
Why couldn't this have been licensed to Telltale? Well, probably because they're American 'n' all that -- but they've proven it works as a business model (not that these Who games need a business model -- they're free), and I'd assumed their style had basically been copied for these games. But it seems not.
I'll still play them, of course, cos I'm a Who fan and they're canon and they're free. But before I was really looking forward to them, and now I'll just go through the motions because I have to. Which is a bit depressing.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
TV
Have I Got News For You
39x04 (22/4/10 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
2x05 (22/4/10 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version (again) on iPlayer.]
39x04 (22/4/10 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
2x05 (22/4/10 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch only the shorter version (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Dog injures nose by Karen Bate
(from Salisbury Journal)
Apparently this is what passes for news in Salisbury. The story's been a (very) minor twitter sensation, which the site gamely commented on in a follow-up article.
The Greatest Flashbacks by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
The 15 best SF/F TV series flashback episodes. So, yeah, does what it says on the tin.
Paramount revives Ring franchise by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
Well that's just... dated. I mean, surely the plot will go something like this:
(from Salisbury Journal)
Apparently this is what passes for news in Salisbury. The story's been a (very) minor twitter sensation, which the site gamely commented on in a follow-up article.
The Greatest Flashbacks by Dave Golder
(from SFX)
The 15 best SF/F TV series flashback episodes. So, yeah, does what it says on the tin.
Paramount revives Ring franchise by Simon Reynolds
(from Digital Spy)
Well that's just... dated. I mean, surely the plot will go something like this:
Teen 1: Dude, what's this freaky-looking video?
Teen 2: Video? WTF? We don't have a video player, just chuck it.
Teen 1: 'k.
The End.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Articles
Scott reveals Alien prequel storyline
and
Scott confirms two Alien prequels
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
In many respects, the storyline's no surprise, but it'll certainly annoy some fans who were hoping to keep that mystery (and please others who want it solved). The notion of two prequels, though... hm. Sounds like blatant moneymaking to me. And the way Scott talks about shooting in 3D very much sounds like it was forced on him and he'd rather it hadn't been.
and
Scott confirms two Alien prequels
by Simon Reynolds (from Digital Spy)
In many respects, the storyline's no surprise, but it'll certainly annoy some fans who were hoping to keep that mystery (and please others who want it solved). The notion of two prequels, though... hm. Sounds like blatant moneymaking to me. And the way Scott talks about shooting in 3D very much sounds like it was forced on him and he'd rather it hadn't been.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
TV
FlashForward
1x11 Revelation Zero Part 1
1x12 Revelation Zero Part 2
Finally catching up with this -- yes, I am sticking with it for now, even though it's A Bit Rubbish. That said, the long hiatus for the show to have a re-think seems to have done some good. It's not much better, but it is better.
Over the Rainbow
Show 6: Results
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x11 Revelation Zero Part 1
1x12 Revelation Zero Part 2
Finally catching up with this -- yes, I am sticking with it for now, even though it's A Bit Rubbish. That said, the long hiatus for the show to have a re-think seems to have done some good. It's not much better, but it is better.
Over the Rainbow
Show 6: Results
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone. (2007/2009)
[#41 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The first of four movies re-telling (with some changes) the anime TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I love. This is also the third iteration of the first movie: after 1.0, 1.01 tweaked the animation in some 266 shots, and now 1.11 adds a further three minutes of footage. I hope they don't faff about so much with the next three... though such hopes are looking doubtful.
Also, watched most of the Blu-ray's extras. Bit slight, to be honest, but better than nothing. The booklet (which I think may only be in the HMV-exclusive editions) is more informative about the processes behind making the film.
Read my review of Evangelion 1.11 here.
[#41 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
The first of four movies re-telling (with some changes) the anime TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which I love. This is also the third iteration of the first movie: after 1.0, 1.01 tweaked the animation in some 266 shots, and now 1.11 adds a further three minutes of footage. I hope they don't faff about so much with the next three... though such hopes are looking doubtful.
Also, watched most of the Blu-ray's extras. Bit slight, to be honest, but better than nothing. The booklet (which I think may only be in the HMV-exclusive editions) is more informative about the processes behind making the film.
Read my review of Evangelion 1.11 here.
Articles
Doctor Who fans angered by trailer for Over the Rainbow
(from BBC News)
Apparently it ruined a particularly dramatic moment. I wouldn't know, of course, cos I was watching BBC HD. Not that I'm gloating of course.
(from BBC News)
Apparently it ruined a particularly dramatic moment. I wouldn't know, of course, cos I was watching BBC HD. Not that I'm gloating of course.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week -- a slight improvement over the last few -- and they were...
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Wallander: The Revenge (2009)
More next Sunday.
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Panda features some beautiful animation — not a phrase you usually associate with CG ‘toons, but Panda frequently achieves it: petals swirl in the breeze, panoramic scenery shots look gorgeous, and the character animation is subtly detailed
Wallander: The Revenge (2009)
rather than a thoughtful investigation into an ‘everyday’ murder, Wallander blazes back onto our screens with the explosive destruction of a power station, a bloody execution — no less than 17 shots fired — and the army rolling into town to handle the fall-out from an extended power cut.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
TV
Doctor Who
31x04 The Time of Angels
See some of my thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x04 Eyes Wide Open
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
3x03 Programme 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
31x04 The Time of Angels
See some of my thoughts here.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x04 Eyes Wide Open
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Outnumbered
3x03 Programme 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Pixels (2010)
[#40a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
A great, fun short. Watch it in full (don't worry, legally) here.
[#40a in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
A great, fun short. Watch it in full (don't worry, legally) here.
Articles
DVD Producer Michael Pellerin on the Blu-ray Release of... The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy by Bill Hunt & Michael Pellerin
(from The Digital Bits)
The title does a pretty nifty job of summing up what's in this piece... other than clarifying who Pellerin is and why what he has to say about the LotR Blu-rays matters, of course. In short: he produced the original DVDs and consulted on the new BDs. Here he explains some of what went into the new HD transfers and suggests what may be to come on future Extended Edition re-releases -- a lot more stuff that's been in the works for almost a decade, basically.
Stars attack tories over BBC plans
(from Google news U.K.)
I'm not saying vote Labour (at all), but this does need bearing in mind.
(from The Digital Bits)
The title does a pretty nifty job of summing up what's in this piece... other than clarifying who Pellerin is and why what he has to say about the LotR Blu-rays matters, of course. In short: he produced the original DVDs and consulted on the new BDs. Here he explains some of what went into the new HD transfers and suggests what may be to come on future Extended Edition re-releases -- a lot more stuff that's been in the works for almost a decade, basically.
Stars attack tories over BBC plans
(from Google news U.K.)
I'm not saying vote Labour (at all), but this does need bearing in mind.
Doctor Who: The Time of Angels
Just some quick thoughts, too long for the usual TV post...
Blinkin' excellent episode, a first part that promises we may be getting a truly classic story -- much like Moffat's The Empty Child did back in 2005, in fact. So much of it was worthy of comment, but two things in particular:
One, Moffat was spot-on when he said this was like Aliens to Blink's Alien; a superb analogy.
Two, the cliffhanger... that wasn't really a cliffhanger... New Who has become almost known for having two-parters where each half is almost a distinct episode -- they very much build to that cliffhanger, then almost start again in the second half. But this was nothing of the sort -- it feels like Moffat's penned a 90-minute story and then split it in half at roughly the right moment. Which I quite like, actually.
One of the reasons it works is the whole story's structure (at least so far): it's very like a film, building in peaks of action and calmer lulls of dialogue and plot development. Any of the big action sequences -- the opening, Amy with the TV-Angel, the chase through the Maze -- contained appropriate cliffhanger moments... but those didn't fall at the story's halfway mark. Maybe this isn't how Moffat crafted the story at all -- maybe it is two entirely distinct parts and this was always meant to be a cliffhanger -- but with the way we know the Doctor's just done Something Clever to escape (we even see it starting before it cuts to the titles), it feels like an appropriate-enough halfway break in a longer tale rather than a bespoke cliffhanger. And, as I say, I quite like that.
Finally, something people have been moaning about: the sound mix, specifically the music being too loud. Watching on BBC HD, which broadcasts Who in true 5.1, proved something I suspected for a while: the audio has clearly been mixed for 5.1, because it sounds absolutely spot-on in this format (the music may even be too quiet), so I presume that someone, somewhere, must be mucking up the down-mix to Stereo for normal transmission.
Also, no Graham Norton invading half the screen on BBC HD.
P.S. Sacred Bob? Angel Bob? Clearly Moffat must be a fan of me -- link.
Blinkin' excellent episode, a first part that promises we may be getting a truly classic story -- much like Moffat's The Empty Child did back in 2005, in fact. So much of it was worthy of comment, but two things in particular:
One, Moffat was spot-on when he said this was like Aliens to Blink's Alien; a superb analogy.
Two, the cliffhanger... that wasn't really a cliffhanger... New Who has become almost known for having two-parters where each half is almost a distinct episode -- they very much build to that cliffhanger, then almost start again in the second half. But this was nothing of the sort -- it feels like Moffat's penned a 90-minute story and then split it in half at roughly the right moment. Which I quite like, actually.
One of the reasons it works is the whole story's structure (at least so far): it's very like a film, building in peaks of action and calmer lulls of dialogue and plot development. Any of the big action sequences -- the opening, Amy with the TV-Angel, the chase through the Maze -- contained appropriate cliffhanger moments... but those didn't fall at the story's halfway mark. Maybe this isn't how Moffat crafted the story at all -- maybe it is two entirely distinct parts and this was always meant to be a cliffhanger -- but with the way we know the Doctor's just done Something Clever to escape (we even see it starting before it cuts to the titles), it feels like an appropriate-enough halfway break in a longer tale rather than a bespoke cliffhanger. And, as I say, I quite like that.
Finally, something people have been moaning about: the sound mix, specifically the music being too loud. Watching on BBC HD, which broadcasts Who in true 5.1, proved something I suspected for a while: the audio has clearly been mixed for 5.1, because it sounds absolutely spot-on in this format (the music may even be too quiet), so I presume that someone, somewhere, must be mucking up the down-mix to Stereo for normal transmission.
Also, no Graham Norton invading half the screen on BBC HD.
P.S. Sacred Bob? Angel Bob? Clearly Moffat must be a fan of me -- link.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This is the biggest update since mid-February, thanks in part to a round of bargains (Sherlock Hound, 3:10 to Yuma, Zombieland), anticipated new releases (The Box, Evangelion 1.11), and bargainous near-new releases (Glorious 39). With a third of these being anime titles, including one I've been waiting years for, this week's statistic has taken a slight dash of inspiration from them...
Number of titles in collection: 1,170 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 79 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 2,838 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,227 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [up 26]
Statistic of the week:
Total number of anime titles:
47
(4% of the total)
See you next week, faithful reader.
This is the biggest update since mid-February, thanks in part to a round of bargains (Sherlock Hound, 3:10 to Yuma, Zombieland), anticipated new releases (The Box, Evangelion 1.11), and bargainous near-new releases (Glorious 39). With a third of these being anime titles, including one I've been waiting years for, this week's statistic has taken a slight dash of inspiration from them...
Number of titles in collection: 1,170 [up 6]
Of which DVDs: 1,091 [up 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 79 [up 4]
Number of discs in collection: 2,838 [up 11]
Number of films in collection: 1,227 [up 5]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [up 26]
Statistic of the week:
Total number of anime titles:
47
(4% of the total)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 23 April 2010
TV
Archer
1x10 Dial M for Mother [season finale]
And that's that for the first season of Archer. It's great fun so I'll miss it considerably. Luckily, a longer second season is already in the works.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
18x12 (16/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
You Have Been Watching
2x02 (22/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x10 Dial M for Mother [season finale]
And that's that for the first season of Archer. It's great fun so I'll miss it considerably. Luckily, a longer second season is already in the works.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
18x12 (16/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
You Have Been Watching
2x02 (22/4/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Doctor Who: The return of the Weeping Angels by Steven Moffat
(from BBC tv blog)
Who's head honcho on how one of the series' scariest villains are back... but different.
Election debate TV ratings: 4.1m watch leaders' tussle by Jason Deans
(from guardian.co.uk)
Under half the number who watched the first debate last week. Have people lost interest already? Or was it because it was buried on digital channels? I suspect the latter, but only time -- i.e. next week's debate on BBC One -- will tell.
Also of interest: despite ostensibly being 'The Sky News Debate', it was simulcast on six digital TV channels, repeated later on BBC Two, broadcast on Radio 4, and available from a variety of online sources. The number of people who actually watched it on Sky News was just 2.1 million, which is almost certainly under half the people watching (that 4.1 million leaves out three TV channels, online sources, and Radio 4).
First 3D TV goes on sale in the UK by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
(from BBC tv blog)
Who's head honcho on how one of the series' scariest villains are back... but different.
Election debate TV ratings: 4.1m watch leaders' tussle by Jason Deans
(from guardian.co.uk)
Under half the number who watched the first debate last week. Have people lost interest already? Or was it because it was buried on digital channels? I suspect the latter, but only time -- i.e. next week's debate on BBC One -- will tell.
Also of interest: despite ostensibly being 'The Sky News Debate', it was simulcast on six digital TV channels, repeated later on BBC Two, broadcast on Radio 4, and available from a variety of online sources. The number of people who actually watched it on Sky News was just 2.1 million, which is almost certainly under half the people watching (that 4.1 million leaves out three TV channels, online sources, and Radio 4).
First 3D TV goes on sale in the UK by Andrew Laughlin
(from Digital Spy)
Matt Rajah, who has more money than sense, was first in the queue(I may have rewritten that slightly...)
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