The Case
Part 1 (of 5)
New issue-driven daytime drama, about the trial of a man who helped his lover commit suicide -- or did he just kill her?
It's quite good in places -- Dean Andrews' performance as the accused in particular, as well as Ruthie Henshall against type as a bitchy barrister -- but it's also very daytime. The direction, writing, editing, most performances… you just couldn't show it at 9pm on BBC One, it doesn't feel right.
Very good title sequence though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Frozen Planet
Part 1 To the Ends of the Earth
As if you need me to tell you, this is properly incredible.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Perfect Couples
1x08 Perfect Job
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Pointless
3x29 (22/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Articles
Sofie Grabol spills the secrets on Sarah Lund and The Killing II by David Brown
(from Radio Times)
I wouldn't call it secrets exactly, but here's a little preview before the second series starts on BBC Four soon-ish.
(from Radio Times)
I wouldn't call it secrets exactly, but here's a little preview before the second series starts on BBC Four soon-ish.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
TV
Ask Rhod Gilbert
2x06 Episode 6
The lab bits have always been silly and fairly pointless, but this week's teleporter really takes the biscuit.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
3x01 Episode 1
I'm always pleasantly surprised to see this back -- for some reason I keep assuming they'll've cancelled it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x28 (21/10/10 edition)
So, the repeat run just skipped an episode. Why? Not a clue.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
2x06 Episode 6
The lab bits have always been silly and fairly pointless, but this week's teleporter really takes the biscuit.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson
3x01 Episode 1
I'm always pleasantly surprised to see this back -- for some reason I keep assuming they'll've cancelled it.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x28 (21/10/10 edition)
So, the repeat run just skipped an episode. Why? Not a clue.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
X2 (2003)
[4th or so watch]
The critical consensus at the time, which has been upheld by audiences since, is that while X-Men was very good, X2 trounced it -- look on IMDb now and you'll see X2 still has the highest score of the trilogy (First Class tops it for the franchise though). I wasn't convinced in the cinema and I haven't been convinced re-watching it on DVD -- X2 is very good, but I love X-Men.
I'm not sure if being older (it must be half a decade since I last watched it) or watching Blu-ray made any difference to my appreciation of the film, but it did remind that it's a damn fine movie. Certainly, taken together, I believe the first two X films are among the absolute finest the superhero genre has to offer.
It'll be interesting to see The Last Stand again, hopefully tomorrow: I've always thought it was flawed, but I never hated it with the same vitriol as other fans. Maybe watching it immediately after these, however, I'll have a change of heart.
[4th or so watch]
The critical consensus at the time, which has been upheld by audiences since, is that while X-Men was very good, X2 trounced it -- look on IMDb now and you'll see X2 still has the highest score of the trilogy (First Class tops it for the franchise though). I wasn't convinced in the cinema and I haven't been convinced re-watching it on DVD -- X2 is very good, but I love X-Men.
I'm not sure if being older (it must be half a decade since I last watched it) or watching Blu-ray made any difference to my appreciation of the film, but it did remind that it's a damn fine movie. Certainly, taken together, I believe the first two X films are among the absolute finest the superhero genre has to offer.
It'll be interesting to see The Last Stand again, hopefully tomorrow: I've always thought it was flawed, but I never hated it with the same vitriol as other fans. Maybe watching it immediately after these, however, I'll have a change of heart.
Articles
Around-the-World Roundup: 'Tintin' Animates Overseas Box Office by Ray Subers
(from Box Office Mojo)
Despite the Guardian campaigning against it for goodness knows what reason, it seems Tintin has been massively popular, especially in France. I ought to make the effort to see it really...
(from Box Office Mojo)
Despite the Guardian campaigning against it for goodness knows what reason, it seems Tintin has been massively popular, especially in France. I ought to make the effort to see it really...
Monday, 31 October 2011
TV
Death in Paradise
1x01 Episode 1
That was really rather good. Nice Agatha Christie vibe, which I don't think you get too often these days. Also, genuinely surprising ending that I didn't see coming in the slightest. Well done, don't see that often/ever.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x04 Episode 4
Loved the fill-in-the-blank YouTube comment round! More please.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x26 (19/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x01 Episode 1
That was really rather good. Nice Agatha Christie vibe, which I don't think you get too often these days. Also, genuinely surprising ending that I didn't see coming in the slightest. Well done, don't see that often/ever.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
25x04 Episode 4
Loved the fill-in-the-blank YouTube comment round! More please.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
3x26 (19/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
X-Men (2000)
[5th or so watch]
This was the first film I ever saw twice in the cinema -- I've loved X-Men ever since the early '90s animated series captured my imagination, and this was everything I'd wanted from a long-hoped-for movie version. I don't think it'd be too wrong to credit its success with kicking off the huge popularity of superhero movies that we're still very much living through.
Over a decade on from its original release, I still think the first movie is brilliant, though First Class may've supplanted it as my favourite of the series now. I never loved X2 quite as much as everyone else, so I'm very interested to see what I think tomorrow -- it's been a good few years (five or six) since I watched any of the first trilogy, so re-evaluation is a real possibility.
[5th or so watch]
This was the first film I ever saw twice in the cinema -- I've loved X-Men ever since the early '90s animated series captured my imagination, and this was everything I'd wanted from a long-hoped-for movie version. I don't think it'd be too wrong to credit its success with kicking off the huge popularity of superhero movies that we're still very much living through.
Over a decade on from its original release, I still think the first movie is brilliant, though First Class may've supplanted it as my favourite of the series now. I never loved X2 quite as much as everyone else, so I'm very interested to see what I think tomorrow -- it's been a good few years (five or six) since I watched any of the first trilogy, so re-evaluation is a real possibility.
Comics
Nightwing #2 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The plot thickens... which is always good for a second issue! Glad I followed the reviews to pick this series up, it's a good solid superhero book.
The plot thickens... which is always good for a second issue! Glad I followed the reviews to pick this series up, it's a good solid superhero book.
Articles
Jack The Ripper in the 23rd century: 21-plus unexpectedly scary episodes of not-so-scary TV shows by Erik Adams, Meredith Blake, Marah Eakin, Zack Handlen, Will Harris, Noel Murray, Phil Nugent, Sean O'Neal, Carrie Raisler, Tasha Robinson, John Semley, David Sims & Todd VanDerWerff
(from A.V. Club)
That is, to clarify, scary episodes of series that aren't usually scary. Not sure I've even heard of most of them, but interesting nonetheless. Plus, Doctor Who's Blink is in there. (Presumably it's quite a long list because all those writers wanted their say...)
Mark Millar: I want my films to do for Scotland what Lord Of The Rings did for New Zealand by Matt Bendoris
(from The Scottish Sun)
Key point: comic book writer Mark Millar is launching his own production company, aiming to adapt some more of his own comics, largely set in Scotland. Many more details at the link -- it's a surprisingly long and involved article considering it's from The Sun.
(from A.V. Club)
That is, to clarify, scary episodes of series that aren't usually scary. Not sure I've even heard of most of them, but interesting nonetheless. Plus, Doctor Who's Blink is in there. (Presumably it's quite a long list because all those writers wanted their say...)
Mark Millar: I want my films to do for Scotland what Lord Of The Rings did for New Zealand by Matt Bendoris
(from The Scottish Sun)
Key point: comic book writer Mark Millar is launching his own production company, aiming to adapt some more of his own comics, largely set in Scotland. Many more details at the link -- it's a surprisingly long and involved article considering it's from The Sun.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
TV
Have I Got News For You
42x02 (21/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
The coincidence of which editions Alexander Armstrong has hosted in the past few years is quite incredible.
Pointless
3x25 (18/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
So here we are -- after 10 years, 86 episodes, and almost every main character dying (seriously, although two of the original three leads escaped alive, almost every other main character has been killed off), Spooks comes to an end. It long ago fell from the heights of its realism-based early years, if you ask me -- anyone remember the whole episode Danny spent mulling over whether it was OK to assassinate someone? They did that kind of thing in a heartbeat in later years -- it remained a decent enough spy thriller/action series to the end.
Indeed, the final episode was one of the best for a while, with a genuinely tense climax -- the benefit of it being the last-ever episode I suppose, in which Anything Can Happen more readily than in a regular episode. Great cameo in the closing moments too, though it's a shame they didn't use him a bit more. I also think it ended on pretty much the right note at the very end. Job well done, Kudos.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
42x02 (21/10/11 edition; extended repeat)
The coincidence of which editions Alexander Armstrong has hosted in the past few years is quite incredible.
Pointless
3x25 (18/10/10 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Spooks
10x06 Episode 6 [series finale]
So here we are -- after 10 years, 86 episodes, and almost every main character dying (seriously, although two of the original three leads escaped alive, almost every other main character has been killed off), Spooks comes to an end. It long ago fell from the heights of its realism-based early years, if you ask me -- anyone remember the whole episode Danny spent mulling over whether it was OK to assassinate someone? They did that kind of thing in a heartbeat in later years -- it remained a decent enough spy thriller/action series to the end.
Indeed, the final episode was one of the best for a while, with a genuinely tense climax -- the benefit of it being the last-ever episode I suppose, in which Anything Can Happen more readily than in a regular episode. Great cameo in the closing moments too, though it's a shame they didn't use him a bit more. I also think it ended on pretty much the right note at the very end. Job well done, Kudos.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Films
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
[2nd watch]
Probably the most-derided of the X-Men films, I actually quite liked this. In part, I'd already heard all the dreadful reviews before I went in, so my expectations were probably suitably lowered. I haven't watched it since that first cinema viewing (two-and-a-half years ago, when it was #23 in 100 Films 2009), and seeing it again on Blu-ray I still don't think it's too bad. OK, it has some awful CGI, a miscast Gambit, bastardised Deadpool, and a pile of clichés, but despite that...
[2nd watch]
Probably the most-derided of the X-Men films, I actually quite liked this. In part, I'd already heard all the dreadful reviews before I went in, so my expectations were probably suitably lowered. I haven't watched it since that first cinema viewing (two-and-a-half years ago, when it was #23 in 100 Films 2009), and seeing it again on Blu-ray I still don't think it's too bad. OK, it has some awful CGI, a miscast Gambit, bastardised Deadpool, and a pile of clichés, but despite that...
Comics
Nightwing #1 by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows
The final addition to my regular reads from DC's New 52, because apparently it's very good -- well, it is -- and apparently is going to be quite closely connected to what's going on in Batman. Don't know about the latter yet, but as one features someone out to kill Bruce Wayne (not Batman) and this features someone out to kill Dick Grayson (not Nightwing), I can see the potential for a link. Mind you, if they're not connected then these writers ought to talk to each other more.
The final addition to my regular reads from DC's New 52, because apparently it's very good -- well, it is -- and apparently is going to be quite closely connected to what's going on in Batman. Don't know about the latter yet, but as one features someone out to kill Bruce Wayne (not Batman) and this features someone out to kill Dick Grayson (not Nightwing), I can see the potential for a link. Mind you, if they're not connected then these writers ought to talk to each other more.
Articles
The Lists: Top 10 scary PG-rated films by Guy Lodge
(from HitFix)
Rather than the regular "greatest horror movie" Halloween list, HitFix instead takes a look at the ten most frightening family 'friendly' movies. And some of them are properly scary too.
Halloween treats from the Ebert Club! by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
That title's completely irrelevant, but still, that's what it's called. Anyway, this is about sweded films -- that's no-budget home-made abridged/parody versions of well-known movies. The term comes from Be Kind Rewind, as I'm sure you'll know if you've seen it (I rather liked it, incidentally), and it's gone on to be quite a big cult -- there's a Swede Fest, for instance, which is what this article is about. There's a very impressive swede of The Avengers trailer there as an example, and you can see just how good it is on the side-by-side comparison.
(from HitFix)
Rather than the regular "greatest horror movie" Halloween list, HitFix instead takes a look at the ten most frightening family 'friendly' movies. And some of them are properly scary too.
Halloween treats from the Ebert Club! by Roger Ebert
(from Roger Ebert's Journal)
That title's completely irrelevant, but still, that's what it's called. Anyway, this is about sweded films -- that's no-budget home-made abridged/parody versions of well-known movies. The term comes from Be Kind Rewind, as I'm sure you'll know if you've seen it (I rather liked it, incidentally), and it's gone on to be quite a big cult -- there's a Swede Fest, for instance, which is what this article is about. There's a very impressive swede of The Avengers trailer there as an example, and you can see just how good it is on the side-by-side comparison.
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
The Damned (1963)
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Plus, as it's Halloween tomorrow, a review of the final Saw film will be available after midnight here.
More next Sunday.
The Damned (1963)
an interesting film, but one that is perhaps somewhat undercut by its age; a kind of ’60s SF that would probably require a distinctly different approach if you were to attempt to make it today. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it has that kind of disconnect from reality that’s markedly ’60s.
The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Many other Disney films have stand-out sequences; things to latch an appreciation on to. The best often have several of these stacked up, in some cases non-stop from start to finish. The Princess and the Frog is missing anything like that, but what it has instead is a very consistent tone, where the musical numbers fit effortlessly into the flow of the story rather than stopping the film for a showpiece.
Plus, as it's Halloween tomorrow, a review of the final Saw film will be available after midnight here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 29 October 2011
TV
The Jonathan Ross Show
1x08 (22/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x05 His Father's Son
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x08 (22/10/11 edition) [season finale]
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Merlin
4x05 His Father's Son
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
X-Men: First Class (2011)
[2nd watch]
I saw this in the cinema back in June, making it #60 for this year's 100 Films, but the picture and sound quality were so wretched that I've waited until now to watch it again on Blu-ray (officially out Monday) before reviewing it. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
[2nd watch]
I saw this in the cinema back in June, making it #60 for this year's 100 Films, but the picture and sound quality were so wretched that I've waited until now to watch it again on Blu-ray (officially out Monday) before reviewing it. I enjoyed it even more the second time.
Articles
Isn’t It About Time You Gave Mirrormask Another Chance? by Lee Harris
(from SFX)
I've never seen MirrorMask. I think it's about time I gave it a chance. I have it on DVD... somewhere...
Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize by Leo Kelion
(from BBC News)
Interesting views on how gaming has become more widespread, thanks to Normal People playing them on smartphones, etc. "I think that technology is a real red herring. What technology is driving forward is the ability for games to look more real... I don't think that is in itself something that makes them art. Otherwise we wouldn't cry at Bambi." And so on.
(from SFX)
I've never seen MirrorMask. I think it's about time I gave it a chance. I have it on DVD... somewhere...
Minecraft awarded GameCity videogame arts prize by Leo Kelion
(from BBC News)
Interesting views on how gaming has become more widespread, thanks to Normal People playing them on smartphones, etc. "I think that technology is a real red herring. What technology is driving forward is the ability for games to look more real... I don't think that is in itself something that makes them art. Otherwise we wouldn't cry at Bambi." And so on.
Friday, 28 October 2011
TV
QI
9x07 Incomprehensible (XL edition)
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
1x02 Codename: Tramp
This is too good to be on Sky.
Top Gear USA
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
9x07 Incomprehensible (XL edition)
[Watch QI XL (again) on iPlayer.]
Spy
1x02 Codename: Tramp
This is too good to be on Sky.
Top Gear USA
1x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #1753
And the ECBT 2000AD reviews are...
visual review
Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Elusive Part 01
Ampney Crucis Investigates... The English Assassin Part Four
Indigo Prime Everything and More Part Four
Angel Zero Part 03
Low Life The Deal Part 4 Still not liking Indigo Prime, but everything else is great, especially Low Life.
And the ECBT 2000AD reviews are...
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