The Graham Norton Show
10x12 (20/1/12 edition)
This feels so much shorter when it has a good array of guests on, and this was such an episode. The Madonna one, conversely, felt rather long.
Law & Order: UK
6x04 Trial
Ironically, a rare episode to not feature a proper trial. But it's named that for a different reason, so it is.
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Pointless
5x52 (25/1/12 edition)
Room 101: Extra Storage
12x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Friday, 3 February 2012
Comics
Resurrection Man
#4 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Dagnino
#5 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Blanco
I don't think this has quite lived up to the promise of its first issue so far, but (a #2 slump aside) it's pretty good. #5 is certainly different: mostly a big long flashback to when the hero was a bit of a bastard (too long, actually -- it could've been trimmed to far fewer pages), with lots of bits tying in to the current story, and then a rather fine cliffhanger to boot. Looking forward to the next one.
Uncanny X-Men #5 by Kieron Gillen & Greg Land
I was considering giving up on this after the last issue, but, though this is equally dependent on past events from other books, I actually quite enjoyed it and found it intriguing. So it's back to "wait and see".
#4 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Dagnino
#5 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Blanco
I don't think this has quite lived up to the promise of its first issue so far, but (a #2 slump aside) it's pretty good. #5 is certainly different: mostly a big long flashback to when the hero was a bit of a bastard (too long, actually -- it could've been trimmed to far fewer pages), with lots of bits tying in to the current story, and then a rather fine cliffhanger to boot. Looking forward to the next one.
Uncanny X-Men #5 by Kieron Gillen & Greg Land
I was considering giving up on this after the last issue, but, though this is equally dependent on past events from other books, I actually quite enjoyed it and found it intriguing. So it's back to "wait and see".
Articles
Right-wingers are less intelligent than left wingers, says study
by Rob Waugh (from Mail Online)
by Rob Waugh (from Mail Online)
Right-wingers tend to be less intelligent than left-wingers, and people with low childhood intelligence tend to grow up to have racist and anti-gay views... Conservative politics work almost as a 'gateway' into prejudice against others...Well, obviously.
people with low intelligence gravitate towards right-wing views because they make them feel safe.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week, those retailers didn't get their act together. Shame on you, TheHut and ChoicesUK. Goodness knows when -- if ever -- the stuff I'm expecting from them will turn up. But some stuff from some others did, so while I don't make it to 300 Blu-rays (I'd've been bang on if those sites had managed the expected), I'm close... so close...
Number of titles in collection: 1,446 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 298 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,589 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,537 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,414 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week, those retailers didn't get their act together. Shame on you, TheHut and ChoicesUK. Goodness knows when -- if ever -- the stuff I'm expecting from them will turn up. But some stuff from some others did, so while I don't make it to 300 Blu-rays (I'd've been bang on if those sites had managed the expected), I'm close... so close...
Number of titles in collection: 1,446 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,148 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 298 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,589 [up 3]
Number of films in collection: 1,537 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,414 [up 3]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
TV
Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic
1x03 Episode 3
A magic show for kids... but just because some of the tricks are do-at-home simple, it doesn't mean there isn't some great magic in here too. Even if the constant replays are a bit repetitive. (I didn't mean to watch episode three first -- blame the oddities of Virgin Media catch-up.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x51 (24/1/12 edition)
Top Gear
18x01 (29/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
1x03 Episode 3
A magic show for kids... but just because some of the tricks are do-at-home simple, it doesn't mean there isn't some great magic in here too. Even if the constant replays are a bit repetitive. (I didn't mean to watch episode three first -- blame the oddities of Virgin Media catch-up.)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Pointless
5x51 (24/1/12 edition)
Top Gear
18x01 (29/1/12 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
DVD Extras
Interviews with Andrew Lin and Gordon Chan on 2000 AD
Relatively lengthy and interesting chats with the villain and director (respectively) of 2000 AD. The director repeats some of what he had to say in the commentary, but it seems to me that's fairly inevitable.
Relatively lengthy and interesting chats with the villain and director (respectively) of 2000 AD. The director repeats some of what he had to say in the commentary, but it seems to me that's fairly inevitable.
Comics
Action Comics #4 by Grant Morrison & Rags Morales
Solid story from Morrison and Morales' art is generally very good, apart from the part of the story where he causes much confusion (in me, anyway) by drawing two characters to look identical. All the more 'impressive' considering one's white and one's black.
Nice use of the backup strip this issue: titled Hearts of Steel, written by Sholly Fisch and excitingly drawn by Brad Walker, with beautiful colouring by Jay David Ramos, it expands on a part of the main story there wasn't room to tell in the primary strip itself.
Also, shame I hadn't got to this issue before my nearly-three-month break in reading -- the story now takes a break until #7, so that's another couple of months gap for me.
Solid story from Morrison and Morales' art is generally very good, apart from the part of the story where he causes much confusion (in me, anyway) by drawing two characters to look identical. All the more 'impressive' considering one's white and one's black.
Nice use of the backup strip this issue: titled Hearts of Steel, written by Sholly Fisch and excitingly drawn by Brad Walker, with beautiful colouring by Jay David Ramos, it expands on a part of the main story there wasn't room to tell in the primary strip itself.
Also, shame I hadn't got to this issue before my nearly-three-month break in reading -- the story now takes a break until #7, so that's another couple of months gap for me.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Articles
DC Entertainment Officially Announces Before Watchmen
by David Hyde (from The Source at DC Comics)
A series of prequel series to Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons' seminal '80s comic. There's been a lot of reporting on this today and I haven't had a chance to read most of it, so maybe I'll share more links tomorrow.
by David Hyde (from The Source at DC Comics)
A series of prequel series to Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons' seminal '80s comic. There's been a lot of reporting on this today and I haven't had a chance to read most of it, so maybe I'll share more links tomorrow.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
TV
Law & Order: UK
6x03 Haunted
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Onion News Network
1x07 The Real Obama
Pointless
5x48 (19/1/12 edition)
5x49 (20/1/12 edition)
6x03 Haunted
[Watch it (again) on ITV Player.]
Onion News Network
1x07 The Real Obama
Pointless
5x48 (19/1/12 edition)
5x49 (20/1/12 edition)
DVD Extras
Audio commentary by Bey Logan and Gordon Chan on 2000 AD
Second half.
The Making of 2000 AD
The making of the above, which was rather lightweight and promotional, but hey-ho.
Second half.
The Making of 2000 AD
The making of the above, which was rather lightweight and promotional, but hey-ho.
Comics
Detective Comics
#4 by Tony S. Daniel
#5 by Tony S. Daniel & Szymon Kudranski
#4 seems decent enough… until you realise that's supposed to be the end of the story, at which point it doesn't so much leave the odd thread hanging for the future as not resolve anything, which just highlights the bits that don't quite make sense.
And as for #5… Two half-length stories don't help matters. The main one (by dint of it featuring Batman and sort-of continuing the on-going thread, written & drawn (as usual) by Daniel) is a mix of catch-up and set-up rather than a full tale, has dubious satire/criticism of the Occupy movement (and if it wasn't meant to be critical of it then it fails by being critical), leaden dialogue, and a reveal that's thoroughly useless because a) that villain's on the cover, and b) last issue Batman said he'd be going after him… not that he is going after him -- he's after some small-time gangster types, and the Penguin gets brought into it through an entirely different route. Nice art, particularly Penguin's new casino, but damn if the story it tells isn't weak.
The nominal back-up strip, Russian Roulette (written by Daniel with art by Kudranski), is well-drawn -- in an appropriately grubby kind of way -- but seems like even more of a scene-setting prequel than the main story, and doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of sense. What does Eli add to Catwoman's plan, other than mucking things up and needing her to save him?
Quite a tumble for the former second-best Bat book, all told. If Batman and Robin has continued to pull its socks up in issues 4&5 (which I haven't read yet) then it'll move up a notch in my affections.
#4 by Tony S. Daniel
#5 by Tony S. Daniel & Szymon Kudranski
#4 seems decent enough… until you realise that's supposed to be the end of the story, at which point it doesn't so much leave the odd thread hanging for the future as not resolve anything, which just highlights the bits that don't quite make sense.
And as for #5… Two half-length stories don't help matters. The main one (by dint of it featuring Batman and sort-of continuing the on-going thread, written & drawn (as usual) by Daniel) is a mix of catch-up and set-up rather than a full tale, has dubious satire/criticism of the Occupy movement (and if it wasn't meant to be critical of it then it fails by being critical), leaden dialogue, and a reveal that's thoroughly useless because a) that villain's on the cover, and b) last issue Batman said he'd be going after him… not that he is going after him -- he's after some small-time gangster types, and the Penguin gets brought into it through an entirely different route. Nice art, particularly Penguin's new casino, but damn if the story it tells isn't weak.
The nominal back-up strip, Russian Roulette (written by Daniel with art by Kudranski), is well-drawn -- in an appropriately grubby kind of way -- but seems like even more of a scene-setting prequel than the main story, and doesn't necessarily make a whole lot of sense. What does Eli add to Catwoman's plan, other than mucking things up and needing her to save him?
Quite a tumble for the former second-best Bat book, all told. If Batman and Robin has continued to pull its socks up in issues 4&5 (which I haven't read yet) then it'll move up a notch in my affections.
Monday, 30 January 2012
TV
Pointless
5x46 (17/1/12 edition)
5x47 (18/1/12 edition)
Went away, got two weeks behind. The Pointless catch-up starts here!
5x46 (17/1/12 edition)
5x47 (18/1/12 edition)
Went away, got two weeks behind. The Pointless catch-up starts here!
DVD Extras
Breaking the Rules: Making Animation History
The Stage is Set
Now We Ride
A pair of really interesting making-of featurettes from the Rango Blu-ray, taking almost 50 minutes total to detail the unusual process behind the making of the movie.
The Stage is Set
Now We Ride
A pair of really interesting making-of featurettes from the Rango Blu-ray, taking almost 50 minutes total to detail the unusual process behind the making of the movie.
Comics
All Star Western #4 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Well back on form this issue, kicking off a new story proper. It's funny how some of these 20-page comics feel brief, lightweight and not worth their cover price, while others pack so much in I'm counting the pages to check it's not a bumper-length edition. All Star Western slots into the latter more often than most, which is probably thanks to Gray & Palmiotti doing nothing but one-and-dones on their pre-New 52 Hex series.
Also this issue, the first part of a new back-up strip, The Barbary Ghost, with art by Phil Winslade. It's got more potential than the last one, though the on-the-nose dialogue script could have done with some work.
Aquaman #3 & #4 by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Part three somewhat exemplifies what I was just talking about, ending when I still thought it had a bit to go. Good stuff though; hopefully the time it spent on backstory is setting up stuff for the future. The concluding part, however, was incident-packed and left the four-parter as a well-structured whole. Aquaman may not be many people's favourite superhero, but he's surely gaining lots of fans here.
Sunday, 29 January 2012
DVD Extras
Audio commentary by Bey Logan and Gordon Chan on 2000 AD
Logan is an incredibly prolific commentator -- according to Wikipedia, he's recorded 123 to date! -- and I can rather see why even from just this, the first half of a single commentary. He's amiable and knowledgeable, and quite good at drawing out more information from his co-commentator, the film's director. Makes me appreciate/understand more about a film I didn't hugely enjoy.
Logan is an incredibly prolific commentator -- according to Wikipedia, he's recorded 123 to date! -- and I can rather see why even from just this, the first half of a single commentary. He's amiable and knowledgeable, and quite good at drawing out more information from his co-commentator, the film's director. Makes me appreciate/understand more about a film I didn't hugely enjoy.
Comics
Six issues read today...
All Star Western #3 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Funny issue, this one: the story from the first two is wrapped up quickly, but with bits apparently left hanging, then it picks up a new thing... which isn't new because it was in the beginning of #1 (I think, because I don't really remember it). Moritat's apparently scratchy, chunky, basic art is surprisingly detailed, which is wonderful, especially in action scenes. Plus it really suits the grimy, gritty tone of the book. But overall, it feels like it needs to get going on a proper meaty story, like the first issue seemed to promise, and if/when it does I'll enjoy it even more.
Elsewhere, the Gray/Palmiotti-penned Jordi Bernet-drawn back-up strip El Diablo comes to a conclusion even limper than its opening. Ho hum. Many they need to look to 2000 AD for a lesson in storytelling in 6-8 page chunks.
Batman: The Dark Knight #3 & #4 by David Finch & Paul Jenkins
Still by far the worst Batman book going. Finch & Jenkins seem to tell a well-paced story... until it stops suddenly with the end of the issue. The plot (by both creators) seems to be constructed around shoehorning in cameos at every turn, as if someone's tried to craft the ultimate Batman story and failed miserably by doing far, far too much. Jenkins (writing) attempts to add some emotional depth to proceedings in #4, but he doesn't seem to have the chops to pull it off. Finch's art is fine, occasionally great, when depicting superhero antics, but his human faces range from not-great to nasty.
So I'm sticking it out to the end of this arc, but I'm quite looking forward to dropping it. Sadly, based on the schedule for collected editions, that won't be until #9! And I doubt DC will follow me in ditching it -- the fact there are currently four Batman-starring books suggests they like having one every week. Though with Batman Incorporated returning in a few months, maybe they'll ditch this at the next round of changes.
Batwoman #3, #4 & #5 by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
The absolutely stunning artwork alone would make this worth reading, but it's also backed up by an engrossing story featuring detailed and plausible characters. Surely one of the best books of the New 52, probably current mainstream comics full stop. It's technically the end of the current arc here, but there's a lot of story to go forward. It's changing artist next issue for some reason, so I hope that doesn't effect it too badly.
Definitely considering getting the collected edition of this story, especially if it's oversized, just to see the art again and appreciate it even more fully. Plus that collection will include #0, which I missed. It's out in June (in the US at least).
All Star Western #3 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Funny issue, this one: the story from the first two is wrapped up quickly, but with bits apparently left hanging, then it picks up a new thing... which isn't new because it was in the beginning of #1 (I think, because I don't really remember it). Moritat's apparently scratchy, chunky, basic art is surprisingly detailed, which is wonderful, especially in action scenes. Plus it really suits the grimy, gritty tone of the book. But overall, it feels like it needs to get going on a proper meaty story, like the first issue seemed to promise, and if/when it does I'll enjoy it even more.
Elsewhere, the Gray/Palmiotti-penned Jordi Bernet-drawn back-up strip El Diablo comes to a conclusion even limper than its opening. Ho hum. Many they need to look to 2000 AD for a lesson in storytelling in 6-8 page chunks.
Batman: The Dark Knight #3 & #4 by David Finch & Paul Jenkins
Still by far the worst Batman book going. Finch & Jenkins seem to tell a well-paced story... until it stops suddenly with the end of the issue. The plot (by both creators) seems to be constructed around shoehorning in cameos at every turn, as if someone's tried to craft the ultimate Batman story and failed miserably by doing far, far too much. Jenkins (writing) attempts to add some emotional depth to proceedings in #4, but he doesn't seem to have the chops to pull it off. Finch's art is fine, occasionally great, when depicting superhero antics, but his human faces range from not-great to nasty.
So I'm sticking it out to the end of this arc, but I'm quite looking forward to dropping it. Sadly, based on the schedule for collected editions, that won't be until #9! And I doubt DC will follow me in ditching it -- the fact there are currently four Batman-starring books suggests they like having one every week. Though with Batman Incorporated returning in a few months, maybe they'll ditch this at the next round of changes.
Batwoman #3, #4 & #5 by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
The absolutely stunning artwork alone would make this worth reading, but it's also backed up by an engrossing story featuring detailed and plausible characters. Surely one of the best books of the New 52, probably current mainstream comics full stop. It's technically the end of the current arc here, but there's a lot of story to go forward. It's changing artist next issue for some reason, so I hope that doesn't effect it too badly.
Definitely considering getting the collected edition of this story, especially if it's oversized, just to see the art again and appreciate it even more fully. Plus that collection will include #0, which I missed. It's out in June (in the US at least).
this week on 100 Films
2 new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
Ironclad (2011)
More next Sunday.
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
There is an even better film tucked away inside Battle Los Angeles. One brief dialogue scene discusses the similarities between the human soldiers and alien grunts, but the intriguing idea that they’re intelligent beings following orders just like us is sadly not built upon. There are obvious parallels with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, but aside from the audience spotting shots that are reminiscent of news footage, the threads aren’t drawn out or commented on.
Ironclad (2011)
There are stretches some may find dull — there’s little new to be done with the whole Recruiting The Team bit, and once John gets the castle under siege and everyone’s twiddling thumbs and eating horses some viewers will be doing one of the two as well — but there are regular bursts of sword-swinging violence that achieve the film’s primary aims of creating a Hollywood-esque historical action movie on British soil
More next Sunday.
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