Derren Brown Investigates
1x02 The Men with X-Ray Eyes
Verdict: fake. And actually quite exploitative. Nasty Russians.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
FlashForward
1x19 Course Correction
Spoke too soon...
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Friday, 21 May 2010
Articles
How to Gain from Dragon by Brandon Gray
(from Box Office Mojo)
Why How to Train Your Dragon has been a surprise box office hit, and that rarest of things, a consistent one.
(from Box Office Mojo)
Why How to Train Your Dragon has been a surprise box office hit, and that rarest of things, a consistent one.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
All new-release Blu-rays this week, one replacing a DVD. Exciting.
Number of titles in collection: 1,173 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,086 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 87 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 2,844 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,239 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Titles I've upgraded to Blu-ray:
26
(29.9% of Blu-rays. 2.3% of DVDs upgraded.)
Specifically, these are things I used to own on DVD that I've now replaced with Blu-rays... which I guess is what the name says. Though it also includes three where, for various reasons, I've still kept the DVD.
I have no immediate intention to attempt an upgrade of my remaining 1,086 DVDs. In most cases it wouldn't even be possible, in others of minimal benefit, and it would of course cost a bloody fortune. Most of my BD purchases are new films or things I missed on DVD for whatever reason -- 70.1%, to be precise -- and this is how I intend to continue forward. But a few more titles may well warrant the upgrade in the future, particularly as prices continue to fall.
See you next week, faithful reader.
All new-release Blu-rays this week, one replacing a DVD. Exciting.
Number of titles in collection: 1,173 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,086 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 87 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 2,844 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,239 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 3,916 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
Titles I've upgraded to Blu-ray:
26
(29.9% of Blu-rays. 2.3% of DVDs upgraded.)
Specifically, these are things I used to own on DVD that I've now replaced with Blu-rays... which I guess is what the name says. Though it also includes three where, for various reasons, I've still kept the DVD.
I have no immediate intention to attempt an upgrade of my remaining 1,086 DVDs. In most cases it wouldn't even be possible, in others of minimal benefit, and it would of course cost a bloody fortune. Most of my BD purchases are new films or things I missed on DVD for whatever reason -- 70.1%, to be precise -- and this is how I intend to continue forward. But a few more titles may well warrant the upgrade in the future, particularly as prices continue to fall.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
TV
FlashForward
1x18 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
More flashback-driven twists! Intrigue-tastic.
I'm almost beginning to like FlashForward now, which is sod's law considering it's been cancelled. Alternatively, maybe it's because I know it's All Over in just four more episodes that I don't mind so much.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
7x06 (17/5/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
2x08 Best Bits (extended repeat) [season finale]
Mostly hilarious, though the extended repeat's stand-up was a single routine, one so bad I'd actually wiped it from my memory (but I had seen it before -- I eventually remembered).
Also included in the extended version were some new bits cut from the series, including a selection of particularly funny montages. I would've linked directly to them on iPlayer, but for no known reason the BBC still insist on not putting the extended show up. Bastards.
[Watch the whole episode (shorter version only) on iPlayer.]
1x18 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
More flashback-driven twists! Intrigue-tastic.
I'm almost beginning to like FlashForward now, which is sod's law considering it's been cancelled. Alternatively, maybe it's because I know it's All Over in just four more episodes that I don't mind so much.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
The Graham Norton Show
7x06 (17/5/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Russell Howard's Good News
2x08 Best Bits (extended repeat) [season finale]
Mostly hilarious, though the extended repeat's stand-up was a single routine, one so bad I'd actually wiped it from my memory (but I had seen it before -- I eventually remembered).
Also included in the extended version were some new bits cut from the series, including a selection of particularly funny montages. I would've linked directly to them on iPlayer, but for no known reason the BBC still insist on not putting the extended show up. Bastards.
[Watch the whole episode (shorter version only) on iPlayer.]
Films
Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960)
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Halfway through, and it's still May -- hurrah!
[#50 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Halfway through, and it's still May -- hurrah!
Articles
Death to the spoiler police by Mary Elizabeth Williams
(from Salon.com)
I dislike spoilers as much as the next discerning viewer, and I don't want to go round spoiling things for others -- well, except maybe fans of something like Twilight -- but this article has several good points about spoilers and the way we behave around them.
Be warned, it spoils Citizen Kane, The Sixth Sense, Les Diaboliquse, Soylent Green, The Empire Strike Back, and some US reality series.
New Social Networking Site Changing The Way Oh, Christ, Forget It
(from The Onion)
(from Salon.com)
I dislike spoilers as much as the next discerning viewer, and I don't want to go round spoiling things for others -- well, except maybe fans of something like Twilight -- but this article has several good points about spoilers and the way we behave around them.
Be warned, it spoils Citizen Kane, The Sixth Sense, Les Diaboliquse, Soylent Green, The Empire Strike Back, and some US reality series.
New Social Networking Site Changing The Way Oh, Christ, Forget It
(from The Onion)
While millions of young, tech-savvy professionals already use services like Facebook and Twitter to keep in constant touch with friends, a new social networking platform called Foursquare has recently taken the oh, fucking hell, can't some other desperate news outlet cover this crap instead?
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Articles
Matthew Graham interview: the Ashes To Ashes finale by Simon Brew
(from Den of Geek!)
A completely spoiler-free interview with Ashes to Ashes co-creator Matthew Graham about The Last Ever Episode, which is on this Friday. Interesting, exciting, etc.
(from Den of Geek!)
A completely spoiler-free interview with Ashes to Ashes co-creator Matthew Graham about The Last Ever Episode, which is on this Friday. Interesting, exciting, etc.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
TV
House
6x21 Baggage
With the return of Therapist Blokey and Crazy Rapping Inmate Blokey, this feels almost like a sequel to the season opener. Which is so long ago now it feels like it was last season to me. Talking of which, season finale next week.
Luther
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
6x21 Baggage
With the return of Therapist Blokey and Crazy Rapping Inmate Blokey, this feels almost like a sequel to the season opener. Which is so long ago now it feels like it was last season to me. Talking of which, season finale next week.
Luther
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Monday, 17 May 2010
TV
FlashForward
1x17 The Garden of Forking Paths
This episode was on a few weeks back, but it's quite funny to watch it having just heard about FlashForward's cancellation: it contains the first obvious hints at the producers' seven-year plan, with the revelation that "The End" (of the world, presumably) will occur in December 2016. Something we'll now definitely never see. But hey-ho, we don't have to sit through the 132(ish) episodes it would take to get there.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
You Have Been Watching
2x05 Best of the Bastards
(If the attentive among you are wondering where episode four got to, it was the election night special. You can watch it, by itself, on 4oD.)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
1x17 The Garden of Forking Paths
This episode was on a few weeks back, but it's quite funny to watch it having just heard about FlashForward's cancellation: it contains the first obvious hints at the producers' seven-year plan, with the revelation that "The End" (of the world, presumably) will occur in December 2016. Something we'll now definitely never see. But hey-ho, we don't have to sit through the 132(ish) episodes it would take to get there.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
You Have Been Watching
2x05 Best of the Bastards
(If the attentive among you are wondering where episode four got to, it was the election night special. You can watch it, by itself, on 4oD.)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Articles
Spoofing the big film blockbusters by Fiona Pryor
(from BBC News)
Heard of 'mockbusters'? Whether your answer's yes or no, this interview with their creators is worth a read.
Why New Zealand is a lifestyle superpower by Nick Bryant
(from From Our Own Correspondent at BBC News)
New Zealand always sounds so nice.
(from BBC News)
Heard of 'mockbusters'? Whether your answer's yes or no, this interview with their creators is worth a read.
Why New Zealand is a lifestyle superpower by Nick Bryant
(from From Our Own Correspondent at BBC News)
New Zealand always sounds so nice.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
TV
Over the Rainbow
Show 9: Results
This is the semi-final, incidentally. S'all over next week. Just in time for Eurovision.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Show 9: Results
This is the semi-final, incidentally. S'all over next week. Just in time for Eurovision.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Enjoyed this more than the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film. Worth expecting good things for the future adaptations then, I feel.
Righteous Kill (2008)
[#46 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Read the 100 Films review here.
[#47 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Enjoyed this more than the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film. Worth expecting good things for the future adaptations then, I feel.
Righteous Kill (2008)
[#46 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
Read the 100 Films review here.
Articles
Why I Steal Movies… Even Ones I'm In by Peter Serafinowicz
(from Gizmodo)
The "writer/producer/director/actor/musician/comedian/voice model" offers some interesting thoughts on Internet piracy and how businesses still need to change to cope with it. And it's much less dry, and much more amusing, than that makes it sound.
(from Gizmodo)
The "writer/producer/director/actor/musician/comedian/voice model" offers some interesting thoughts on Internet piracy and how businesses still need to change to cope with it. And it's much less dry, and much more amusing, than that makes it sound.
this week on 100 Films
4 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Death Wish (1974)
The September Issue (2009)
Speed Racer (2008)
Titanic (1997)
More next Sunday.
Death Wish (1974)
realism permeates: Paul’s encounters aren’t all easily won; he gets injured; his crimes create a media storm, on which public opinion is divided; he never conveniently come across the attackers of his wife and kids... There are unrealistic bits, but by employing enough believability it manages to rise a little above the “heroic vigilante” sub-genre.
The September Issue (2009)
I don’t really care about fashion, which means I really don’t care about Fashion — i.e. the world inhabited by Vogue and its American edition’s infamous editor, Anna Wintour... But The September Issue, as it turns out, is surprisingly enjoyable. Is it illuminating? I’m not sure
Speed Racer (2008)
it’s visually astounding. Speed Racer’s blocks of vibrant colour and computer whizzery are a natural fit for the modern digital experience. Action sequences are mind-meltingly fast, but also incredibly thrilling.
Titanic (1997)
it feels like the entire film following the iceberg’s arrival is in real-time, which would make the length excusable — I do like real-time — were it not for Cameron padding it out with endless contrivances to have Jack and Rose running around the ship.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
TV
Doctor Who
31x07 Amy's Choice
As much as I love Who, I think it's fair to say that most plots (particularly in nuWho) are variations on a theme: aliens try to do something to/invade humans, the Doctor stops them. A lot of TV's just as formulaic, in its own style, so this isn't a criticism. But Who has literally endless potential, so it's always nice to see an episode that does something outside the norm -- like this one.
Another excellent episode in what's becoming a series of them, then. Will this wind up a classic year? Quite possibly, though I rarely tend to think of Who by season (instead, by story, which is probably a remnant from the pre-nuWho days -- classic Who is still released/considered by story, after all).
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x07 Arthurian Legend
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
39x06 (13/5/10; extended repeat)
An exceptionally good edition, with particularly choice insults to journalists. Hurrah!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
2x13 Redline
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
31x07 Amy's Choice
As much as I love Who, I think it's fair to say that most plots (particularly in nuWho) are variations on a theme: aliens try to do something to/invade humans, the Doctor stops them. A lot of TV's just as formulaic, in its own style, so this isn't a criticism. But Who has literally endless potential, so it's always nice to see an episode that does something outside the norm -- like this one.
Another excellent episode in what's becoming a series of them, then. Will this wind up a classic year? Quite possibly, though I rarely tend to think of Who by season (instead, by story, which is probably a remnant from the pre-nuWho days -- classic Who is still released/considered by story, after all).
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Doctor Who Confidential
5x07 Arthurian Legend
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
39x06 (13/5/10; extended repeat)
An exceptionally good edition, with particularly choice insults to journalists. Hurrah!
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
2x13 Redline
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Over the Rainbow
Show 9
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
Sherlock Holmes (2010)
[#45 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
'Mockbuster' from The Asylum to tie in with Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. But this one features dinosaurs. Seriously. Well, a dinosaur.
Also, Gareth David-Lloyd from Torchwood and Dominic Keating from Star Trek: Enterprise. "How the mighty..." and all that.
[#45 in 100 Films in a Year 2010]
'Mockbuster' from The Asylum to tie in with Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes. But this one features dinosaurs. Seriously. Well, a dinosaur.
Also, Gareth David-Lloyd from Torchwood and Dominic Keating from Star Trek: Enterprise. "How the mighty..." and all that.
Articles
NBC Plans Finale For Heroes? by Nikke Finke
(from Deadline Hollywood)
After yesterday's news that it'd been cancelled, it looks like the show may be granted a 2- or 4-hour special to wrap up. Which is probably nice for fans.
In other news, FlashForward got cancelled. Can't say I'm surprised or upset. I'm sticking with it to find out what it was all about, but I'm glad I won't have to for another year or six.
(from Deadline Hollywood)
After yesterday's news that it'd been cancelled, it looks like the show may be granted a 2- or 4-hour special to wrap up. Which is probably nice for fans.
In other news, FlashForward got cancelled. Can't say I'm surprised or upset. I'm sticking with it to find out what it was all about, but I'm glad I won't have to for another year or six.
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