Comic-Con, Day 3: Where the fans are by Todd VanDerWerff
(from The AV Club)
Sick of the rabid love of Comic-Con? Here's a wonderful, realist's antidote. And it's a must-read even if you are a fan of the uber-con. (Hm, Uber-Con... good name...)
Sunday, 25 July 2010
this week on 100 Films
3 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
1945-1998 (2003)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sherlock Holmes (2010)
More next Sunday.
1945-1998 (2003)
Is 1945-1998 actually a film? Or is it a piece of video Art? Or just another online video? Its setup is quite simple: it charts every nuclear explosion between the titular years; the total, by-the-way, is 2,053. These explosions play out as flashing dots on a world map; different colours indicate which country was responsible for the explosion, accompanied by running totals.
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Ritchie brings something special to the director’s chair, believe it or not — you may think he’s sold out into blockbusterdom to revive his flagging and repetitive career, but the touches he brings suggest the mind of someone who has control of his material, his camera and his edit, and wants to use them all to try something a bit different, not just another hack-for-hire
Sherlock Holmes (2010)
in The Asylum’s favour, their Sherlock Holmes doesn’t hide what it is. Yes, it’s called simply Sherlock Holmes rather than Sherlock Holmes and the Implausible CGI Monsters, but at least said monsters are plastered all over the DVD cover. If you see that and still expect something faithful to Conan Doyle, more fool you. That said, at times it’s surprisingly faithful to Doyle’s spirit.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
TV
The Mentalist
2x23 Red Sky in the Morning [season finale]
Another season over, another smidgen closer to Red John. But only a smidgen, of course.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x01 (23/7/10 edition)
When last series' opener aired, I suggested Would I Lie To You? was buried on a Monday and should be moved to Friday nights. Well, lookee where it is now! Job well done.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x23 Red Sky in the Morning [season finale]
Another season over, another smidgen closer to Red John. But only a smidgen, of course.
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Would I Lie To You?
4x01 (23/7/10 edition)
When last series' opener aired, I suggested Would I Lie To You? was buried on a Monday and should be moved to Friday nights. Well, lookee where it is now! Job well done.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Articles
Why Sherlock is still sleuthing by Tim Masters
(from BBC News)
Quote-packed piece on why a 123-year-old literary detective is still so popular today -- and it is particularly relevant, what with two new stage productions, a new TV series, a new Nintendo DS game, and the Guy Ritchie film all turning up in less than a year (plus more to come).
(from BBC News)
Quote-packed piece on why a 123-year-old literary detective is still so popular today -- and it is particularly relevant, what with two new stage productions, a new TV series, a new Nintendo DS game, and the Guy Ritchie film all turning up in less than a year (plus more to come).
Friday, 23 July 2010
TV
Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
18x25 (16/7/10 edition) [series finale]
Wossy's last-ever show... on TV... for the BBC. See you next year on ITV, Wossy!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
18x25 (16/7/10 edition) [series finale]
Wossy's last-ever show... on TV... for the BBC. See you next year on ITV, Wossy!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Blu-ray Producers: Extras Are for the Fans, By Fans by John Latchem
(from Agent DVD)
A report on the DVD/Blu-ray producers panel at Comic-Con 2010, mainly focused on the importance of special features and if studios are beginning to ignore DVD. A decent read for those interested.
Is A Game of Thrones the most eagerly anticipated TV show ever? by Mathilda Gregory
(from guardian.co.uk)
I reckon it's safe to say "no" on that one, to be honest -- I bet Doctor Who's pre-installed fan base before the 2005 revival would knock it out of the park -- but, still, it sounds interesting.
Lone Star Statements by Matthew Baldwin
(from The Morning News)
Ah, the article title that gives you no clue what the article's about. Try this:
RTD on Torchwood by Ian Berriman
(from SFX)
Specifically, the next series -- "one long story, consisting of 10 episodes". Awesome.
(from Agent DVD)
A report on the DVD/Blu-ray producers panel at Comic-Con 2010, mainly focused on the importance of special features and if studios are beginning to ignore DVD. A decent read for those interested.
Is A Game of Thrones the most eagerly anticipated TV show ever? by Mathilda Gregory
(from guardian.co.uk)
I reckon it's safe to say "no" on that one, to be honest -- I bet Doctor Who's pre-installed fan base before the 2005 revival would knock it out of the park -- but, still, it sounds interesting.
Lone Star Statements by Matthew Baldwin
(from The Morning News)
Ah, the article title that gives you no clue what the article's about. Try this:
Recently [it was 2005, but then so was this], Time magazine published a list of the 100 best novels. But the praise of professional critics hardly matters to the book-reviewing readers at Amazon.com. A compilation of the best of the worst… about the best.So there you go. Some of these actually provoke a response more akin to "well, I've not read the book, that might be fair criticism" from me, but as they go on they get increasingly ridiculous and, therefore, funny. Some of my favourites include the quotes about Mrs. Dalloway, Lord of the Flies, 1984 and Slaughterhouse-Five. And Tropic of Cancer (right at the end) probably sums up the general attitude.
RTD on Torchwood by Ian Berriman
(from SFX)
Specifically, the next series -- "one long story, consisting of 10 episodes". Awesome.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Only Blu-ray increases this week, pushing me closer still to 100 of them. I can't remember exactly when I got Blu-ray, though I should try to find out -- it's been almost a year and it would be interesting to know just how many I acquire in my first 12 months.
Number of titles in collection: 1,190 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,094 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 96 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 2,926 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,253 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,121 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
James Bond titles:
23
(1.93% of the total)
No particular reason for this -- I was just looking for something easy while I continue to work on a slightly unusual stat (which will appear in a fortnight, as next week is the running time update).
There are, of course, only 22 official Bond films. The 23rd thing isn't Never Say Never Again, nor the crappy '60s Casino Royale, nor even the TV Casino Royale (which I still haven't seen, actually). No, it is, of all things, the Die Another Day Special Edition bonus disc -- because the Ultimate Edition left off extras (why? The fools!) I kept a copy of the original SE's second disc. Because I'm like that.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Only Blu-ray increases this week, pushing me closer still to 100 of them. I can't remember exactly when I got Blu-ray, though I should try to find out -- it's been almost a year and it would be interesting to know just how many I acquire in my first 12 months.
Number of titles in collection: 1,190 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,094 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 96 [up 2]
Number of discs in collection: 2,926 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,253 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 4,121 [no change]
Statistic of the week:
James Bond titles:
23
(1.93% of the total)
No particular reason for this -- I was just looking for something easy while I continue to work on a slightly unusual stat (which will appear in a fortnight, as next week is the running time update).
There are, of course, only 22 official Bond films. The 23rd thing isn't Never Say Never Again, nor the crappy '60s Casino Royale, nor even the TV Casino Royale (which I still haven't seen, actually). No, it is, of all things, the Die Another Day Special Edition bonus disc -- because the Ultimate Edition left off extras (why? The fools!) I kept a copy of the original SE's second disc. Because I'm like that.
See you next week, faithful reader.
Red trailer
Remember the Red (and/or RED, if it matters) teaser trailer from last month? Well, there's a full-sized trailer already:
Still looks like a ton of fun.
Still looks like a ton of fun.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Articles
My Two Cents (20/7/10) by Bill Hunt
(from The Digital Bits)
Fantastic news for us Blu-ray fans: the risible release of Gladiator is being done-over with a new transfer. And it looks properly stunning too -- I'm sure even uninitiated Normal People will be able to see how much sharper the lines are, how much more accurate the colours look, and so on. Now all that remains to be seen is if it makes its way to the UK -- in the US and, it would seem, some other countries, Paramount are responsible for distributing it and are re-releasing the new transfer; but in the UK it's owned by Universal... oh dear. Well, if they don't, I'll just buy the US version and they shan't have my cash. So ner.
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss interview: Sherlock by Michael Leader
(from Den of Geek!)
Some of this is familiar from earlier articles (I'm guessing it was a roundtable interview, especially as it mentions how "we ventured out to the BBC studios in Wales with a bunch of eager journalists"), but there are enough new bits to hold the interest of the interested.
(from The Digital Bits)
Fantastic news for us Blu-ray fans: the risible release of Gladiator is being done-over with a new transfer. And it looks properly stunning too -- I'm sure even uninitiated Normal People will be able to see how much sharper the lines are, how much more accurate the colours look, and so on. Now all that remains to be seen is if it makes its way to the UK -- in the US and, it would seem, some other countries, Paramount are responsible for distributing it and are re-releasing the new transfer; but in the UK it's owned by Universal... oh dear. Well, if they don't, I'll just buy the US version and they shan't have my cash. So ner.
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss interview: Sherlock by Michael Leader
(from Den of Geek!)
Some of this is familiar from earlier articles (I'm guessing it was a roundtable interview, especially as it mentions how "we ventured out to the BBC studios in Wales with a bunch of eager journalists"), but there are enough new bits to hold the interest of the interested.
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
TV
How I Met Your Mother
5x08 The Playbook
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Stand Up for the Week
1x04 (16/7/10 edition)
No sooner had I accepted that Jack Whitehall might be getting good than he turned rubbish again. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Top Gear
15x04 (18/7/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
5x08 The Playbook
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Stand Up for the Week
1x04 (16/7/10 edition)
No sooner had I accepted that Jack Whitehall might be getting good than he turned rubbish again. Ho hum.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Top Gear
15x04 (18/7/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
[2nd watch]
I first watched this back in December, when it became #82 in 100 Films in a Year 2009. And now, over 7 months later, I've still not got round to reviewing it. I don't know if that's a personal record (it felt like I took a pretty long time to get to The Green Mile, but it was only actually two months -- child's play to me these days), but it's still far too long.
And so, I have watched it again -- partly to jog my memory so I can finally write the damn review, and partly just cos it's great.
[2nd watch]
I first watched this back in December, when it became #82 in 100 Films in a Year 2009. And now, over 7 months later, I've still not got round to reviewing it. I don't know if that's a personal record (it felt like I took a pretty long time to get to The Green Mile, but it was only actually two months -- child's play to me these days), but it's still far too long.
And so, I have watched it again -- partly to jog my memory so I can finally write the damn review, and partly just cos it's great.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Articles
Damages finds home on DirecTV by Stuart Levine
(from Variety)
(Yep, in bold, and caps, with an exclamation mark.)
I really thought Damages was a goner, so this is stupendous news. My one hope is that it doesn't somehow mean the BBC lose the rights -- it would be irritatingly ironic for the series to leave FX in the US only to wind up on FX over here.
Jeffery Deaver will write a James Bond novel by Glenn McDonald
(from newsobserver.com)
OK, the headline tells us nothing we don't already know, which makes it just about the most pathetic headline ever, because this is actually an interview with Deaver in which he reveals a few more snippets about the direction he'll be taking Bond in. Interesting.
The new Doctor Who season will hit home video with a tantalizing extra by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at the Los Angeles Times)
Or, translated into English, "The Doctor Who Series 5 DVD will have a tantalising special feature". And one that will likely interest those fans who don't normally give a toss about extras too -- a pair of new scenes, starring Smith and Gillan and written by Moffat. Oo-ooh indeed.
Sherlock Holmes is back… sending texts and using nicotine patches by Vanessa Thorpe
(from The Observer)
Half preview, half interview with co-creator Mark Gatiss, there's not a great deal new here but there are snippets, and if you've not read anything about the series yet it's fine. Don't bother with the comments thought -- you may think you've stumbled onto the Daily Mail's website.
Whole lotta cantin' going on by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
Or, as the URL puts it better, "the myth of a perfect film". Very definitely worth a read, this one. The BBC Entertainment News twitter said not to read it 'til you've seen Inception, though I honestly have no idea why -- it doesn't spoil the film and is only about it in part (it's a starting point and case study as much as it's the focus).
(from Variety)
[DirecTV] has ordered two 10-episode seasons. The first season will air next summer with the [second] launching in the summer of 2012. Glenn Close and Rose Byrne have been confirmed to return with other thesps set to sign on soon.YAY!
(Yep, in bold, and caps, with an exclamation mark.)
I really thought Damages was a goner, so this is stupendous news. My one hope is that it doesn't somehow mean the BBC lose the rights -- it would be irritatingly ironic for the series to leave FX in the US only to wind up on FX over here.
Jeffery Deaver will write a James Bond novel by Glenn McDonald
(from newsobserver.com)
OK, the headline tells us nothing we don't already know, which makes it just about the most pathetic headline ever, because this is actually an interview with Deaver in which he reveals a few more snippets about the direction he'll be taking Bond in. Interesting.
The new Doctor Who season will hit home video with a tantalizing extra by Geoff Boucher
(from Hero Complex at the Los Angeles Times)
Or, translated into English, "The Doctor Who Series 5 DVD will have a tantalising special feature". And one that will likely interest those fans who don't normally give a toss about extras too -- a pair of new scenes, starring Smith and Gillan and written by Moffat. Oo-ooh indeed.
Sherlock Holmes is back… sending texts and using nicotine patches by Vanessa Thorpe
(from The Observer)
Half preview, half interview with co-creator Mark Gatiss, there's not a great deal new here but there are snippets, and if you've not read anything about the series yet it's fine. Don't bother with the comments thought -- you may think you've stumbled onto the Daily Mail's website.
Whole lotta cantin' going on by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
Or, as the URL puts it better, "the myth of a perfect film". Very definitely worth a read, this one. The BBC Entertainment News twitter said not to read it 'til you've seen Inception, though I honestly have no idea why -- it doesn't spoil the film and is only about it in part (it's a starting point and case study as much as it's the focus).
Sunday, 18 July 2010
TV
The Mentalist
2x22 Red Letter
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Mock the Week
9x04 (15/7/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x02 To Hell With Justice
Wallander [Swedish]
2x10 Vålnaden (aka The Ghost)
Another rather good episode, for the most part -- very filmic, nicely shot and evocative of a summer heatwave.
2x22 Red Letter
[Watch it (again) on Demand Five.]
Mock the Week
9x04 (15/7/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Sandbaggers
3x02 To Hell With Justice
Wallander [Swedish]
2x10 Vålnaden (aka The Ghost)
Another rather good episode, for the most part -- very filmic, nicely shot and evocative of a summer heatwave.
Fiction
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Part 2, Chapters 6 - 7 [the end]
Very good. Still not sure if I've read it before.
Anyway, I read it via iBooks on my iPhone -- that's how I started it, for one thing, and it's surprisingly pleasurable to use, not to mention portable. I've been using the good preview copy I mentioned when I read Chapter 1 because, well, it was the best one. But, reaching the final chapter, I discover they are sensibly cunning: the preview includes all of the novel... except the final chapter. Oh no! Unfortunately for them, I already own two hard copies of the complete Holmes so have finished it off with one of those.
But, as it's only £1.99 for a very readable almost-complete collection, I may buy it anyway. It's just unfortunate that, out of the three copies I found on iBooks, by far the most readable is also the least complete: it misses The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, still under copyright in the US, while one of the other two is actually the complete Arthur Conan Doyle -- and is as unwieldy to use as you might imagine a single book containing dozens of novels and hundreds of short stories would be.
Part 2, Chapters 6 - 7 [the end]
Very good. Still not sure if I've read it before.
Anyway, I read it via iBooks on my iPhone -- that's how I started it, for one thing, and it's surprisingly pleasurable to use, not to mention portable. I've been using the good preview copy I mentioned when I read Chapter 1 because, well, it was the best one. But, reaching the final chapter, I discover they are sensibly cunning: the preview includes all of the novel... except the final chapter. Oh no! Unfortunately for them, I already own two hard copies of the complete Holmes so have finished it off with one of those.
But, as it's only £1.99 for a very readable almost-complete collection, I may buy it anyway. It's just unfortunate that, out of the three copies I found on iBooks, by far the most readable is also the least complete: it misses The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, still under copyright in the US, while one of the other two is actually the complete Arthur Conan Doyle -- and is as unwieldy to use as you might imagine a single book containing dozens of novels and hundreds of short stories would be.
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