The British Academy Television Awards 2012
Rather uncomfortably ceremony this year, I thought. Lots of awkward bits from the awards presenters. Dara did a good job though.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
MythBusters
9x02 Blue Ice
9x04 Carbonated Chaos
Getting close to a year since I last stumbled across some MythBusters on late-night TV, I did the same again. The first of this double bill was very interesting; the second looked kinda cool, hence why I stuck with it, but neither myth was particularly worth bothering with.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
Comics
All Star Western #8 by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Moritat
Unlike Aquaman (below), Gray and Palmiotti consistently pack lead strip Jonah Hex full with action and plot. The story's titular villainous organisation, The August 7, seem to make for a formidable enemy -- I hope they're not too easily defeated too quickly.
Also includes the second part of a Patrick Scherberger-pencilled back-up strip starring Western superheroes Nighthawk and Cinnamon. After the first dealt with the backstory of the former, the second deals with the backstory of the latter. Solid stuff.
Next issue is a Night of the Owls tie-in, so I'll be interested to see if either of the current storylines take a pause for that, or if one is somehow connected to it (if either, I presume it'd be the Hex one), or if they boldly pack three strips into a single issue.
Aquaman #8 by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Meh. Good moments here, but there's so much decompression (there's a couple of unnecessary splash pages, and it's awash with low-panel-count pages and wasted panels) that it borders on frustrating. I criticised it for this last issue too, but it feels even worse here because the story isn't yet as engrossing as the opener. Disappointing.
Unlike Aquaman (below), Gray and Palmiotti consistently pack lead strip Jonah Hex full with action and plot. The story's titular villainous organisation, The August 7, seem to make for a formidable enemy -- I hope they're not too easily defeated too quickly.
Also includes the second part of a Patrick Scherberger-pencilled back-up strip starring Western superheroes Nighthawk and Cinnamon. After the first dealt with the backstory of the former, the second deals with the backstory of the latter. Solid stuff.
Next issue is a Night of the Owls tie-in, so I'll be interested to see if either of the current storylines take a pause for that, or if one is somehow connected to it (if either, I presume it'd be the Hex one), or if they boldly pack three strips into a single issue.
Aquaman #8 by Geoff Johns & Ivan Reis
Meh. Good moments here, but there's so much decompression (there's a couple of unnecessary splash pages, and it's awash with low-panel-count pages and wasted panels) that it borders on frustrating. I criticised it for this last issue too, but it feels even worse here because the story isn't yet as engrossing as the opener. Disappointing.
this week on 100 Films
Just one new review was posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and it was...
Legion (2010)
This past week also saw the UK TV premiere of Bruce Willis sci-fi movie Surrogates, so I posted my old review to my new blog. You can read it here. If you missed it, don't worry, it's pretty rubbish.
More next Sunday.
Legion (2010)
It’s penned by writers who think speechmaking equates to character. All of the dialogue is appalling; even Big Lines — just before an heroic death, that kind of thing — are irredeemably bad. It’s performed by actors who aren’t even capable of delivering that tosh. They all overact in one way or another, especially a gurning turn from Dennis Quaid. Later on it aims for some kind of epic fantasy stuff, but it manages to be both underdeveloped and overplayed.Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
This past week also saw the UK TV premiere of Bruce Willis sci-fi movie Surrogates, so I posted my old review to my new blog. You can read it here. If you missed it, don't worry, it's pretty rubbish.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
TV
Archer
3x12 Space Race Part 1
Unexpected-cliffhanger-tastic! (It would've been less unexpected if I'd looked this up and seen "Part 1" before watching.) But I'm glad because this is a fun story. Shame next week's is the last of the season.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Eurovision Song Contest: Baku 2012
Shame Engelbert did so badly, but I think people must've been after upbeat songs this year. Plus going first was never going to do him any favours. The success of the Serbian entry completely mystifies me though.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
43x06 (18/5/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The Voice UK
1x15 The Semi-Final
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x12 Space Race Part 1
Unexpected-cliffhanger-tastic! (It would've been less unexpected if I'd looked this up and seen "Part 1" before watching.) But I'm glad because this is a fun story. Shame next week's is the last of the season.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Eurovision Song Contest: Baku 2012
Shame Engelbert did so badly, but I think people must've been after upbeat songs this year. Plus going first was never going to do him any favours. The success of the Serbian entry completely mystifies me though.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Have I Got News For You
43x06 (18/5/12 edition; extended repeat)
[Watch the extended version (again) on iPlayer.]
The Voice UK
1x15 The Semi-Final
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Friday, 25 May 2012
TV
Castle
2x13 Sucker Punch
That was... more significant than I was expecting.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Episodes
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x21a Swan Song
8x22 Everybody Dies [series finale]
And that's it, the end of House! Weird feeling after eight years, and a final season that didn't always feel like it was actually the end (scrapping a major character, introducing two new ones and performing some serious re-organsing at the start of the season didn't help). It was kind of an odd finale, but then House finales often are. I suppose it ultimately worked. Swan Song was a nicely different behind-the-scenes/recap/tribute-thing too.
Maestro at the Opera
Episode 3 (of 3)
The Voice UK
1x14 Results Show 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
2x13 Sucker Punch
That was... more significant than I was expecting.
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Episodes
2x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
House
8x21a Swan Song
8x22 Everybody Dies [series finale]
And that's it, the end of House! Weird feeling after eight years, and a final season that didn't always feel like it was actually the end (scrapping a major character, introducing two new ones and performing some serious re-organsing at the start of the season didn't help). It was kind of an odd finale, but then House finales often are. I suppose it ultimately worked. Swan Song was a nicely different behind-the-scenes/recap/tribute-thing too.
Maestro at the Opera
Episode 3 (of 3)
The Voice UK
1x14 Results Show 4
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x07 Episode 7
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Number of titles in collection: 1,481 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 327 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,683 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,567 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,489 [up 10]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Number of titles in collection: 1,481 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,154 [up 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 327 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,683 [up 5]
Number of films in collection: 1,567 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,489 [up 10]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
TV
How I Met Your Mother
7x13 Tailgate
It's back! At last! Hurrah! (It paused way back in January.) OK, I could've been downloading it from the US, and that would've removed the weirdness of watching a snow-caked New Years episode on a baking hot May day, but meh, it's easier this way.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Not Going Out
5x06 Drunk [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
7x13 Tailgate
It's back! At last! Hurrah! (It paused way back in January.) OK, I could've been downloading it from the US, and that would've removed the weirdness of watching a snow-caked New Years episode on a baking hot May day, but meh, it's easier this way.
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Not Going Out
5x06 Drunk [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Articles
Dark Knight Animated Movie Sets Voice Cast
by Borys Kit (from Heat Vision at The Hollywood Reporter)
DC finally announce the voice cast for their forthcoming two-part animated adaptation of Frank Miller's seminal graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. More exciting is the article comes with eight shots from the film itself, which confirm the style is what one would probably expect it to be: based on the original book, but with the kind of stylistic simplisation and blockier colours animation almost always brings. Looks like it could be good though.
RED 2 Teaser Poster Arrives
by Kevin Melrose (from Spinoff Online)
I enjoyed RED, so I'm certainly looking forward to this one.
by Borys Kit (from Heat Vision at The Hollywood Reporter)
DC finally announce the voice cast for their forthcoming two-part animated adaptation of Frank Miller's seminal graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. More exciting is the article comes with eight shots from the film itself, which confirm the style is what one would probably expect it to be: based on the original book, but with the kind of stylistic simplisation and blockier colours animation almost always brings. Looks like it could be good though.
RED 2 Teaser Poster Arrives
by Kevin Melrose (from Spinoff Online)
I enjoyed RED, so I'm certainly looking forward to this one.
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Articles
Interview: Alex Garland
Part One and Part Two
(from Edge)
Novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland talks about his experiences writing a video game and more broadly about the state and future of storytelling in gaming. Most of the latter is in the second part, and for me that was the most interesting stuff in the interview.
Read Every Line of Dialogue Rihanna Says in Battleship
by Sarah Lawson (from Vulture)
Clearly Rihanna's character is a deep and complex one. Who, um, doesn't say anything much.
Part One and Part Two
(from Edge)
Novelist and screenwriter Alex Garland talks about his experiences writing a video game and more broadly about the state and future of storytelling in gaming. Most of the latter is in the second part, and for me that was the most interesting stuff in the interview.
Read Every Line of Dialogue Rihanna Says in Battleship
by Sarah Lawson (from Vulture)
Clearly Rihanna's character is a deep and complex one. Who, um, doesn't say anything much.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Articles
Final List Of Special Features And Two Trailers For The Upcoming Bond 50 Box Set
by Brendon Connelly (from Bleeding Cool)
Disappointingly, it's unsurprisingly disappointing: most of the films look good, and there's a 23rd disc of new features, but Casino Royale isn't the special edition that was released around the time of Quantum of Solace, and they haven't produced the long-promised QoS special edition (for which some extras were completed before even the first DVD/BD release, the cheeky sods).
I'll probably still get this, but now without a rush; but I'll 'have to' keep my Casino Royale SE and keep my fingers crossed for the QoS SE. Bastards.
Game of Thrones: a show that breaks the golden rules of television
by Robert Colvile (from the Telegraph)
Naturally the web is flooded with articles on Game of Thrones (the sheer volume of reviews (or, as Americans apparently like to call them, "recaps") after each episode is daunting even if you're not reading them), but this brief piece has a couple of interesting thoughts, not so much on why it's good (you'll likely have heard those) but on how it's adapting the books.
Be warned, if you've still not started watching it (what?! fool!), this spoils the end of season one.
by Brendon Connelly (from Bleeding Cool)
Disappointingly, it's unsurprisingly disappointing: most of the films look good, and there's a 23rd disc of new features, but Casino Royale isn't the special edition that was released around the time of Quantum of Solace, and they haven't produced the long-promised QoS special edition (for which some extras were completed before even the first DVD/BD release, the cheeky sods).
I'll probably still get this, but now without a rush; but I'll 'have to' keep my Casino Royale SE and keep my fingers crossed for the QoS SE. Bastards.
Game of Thrones: a show that breaks the golden rules of television
by Robert Colvile (from the Telegraph)
Naturally the web is flooded with articles on Game of Thrones (the sheer volume of reviews (or, as Americans apparently like to call them, "recaps") after each episode is daunting even if you're not reading them), but this brief piece has a couple of interesting thoughts, not so much on why it's good (you'll likely have heard those) but on how it's adapting the books.
Be warned, if you've still not started watching it (what?! fool!), this spoils the end of season one.
Monday, 21 May 2012
Articles
Mark Millar interview: Kick-Ass creator on the movie sequel
by Mark Langshaw (from Digital Spy)
The writer/co-creator of the Kick-Ass comic has a chat about the sequel to the film, which is due to start shooting in a couple of months. Be warned, he also chats about Kick-Ass 3 (the comic thereof), and in doing so spoils some events from Kick-Ass 2 (as in the comic, but probably therefore the film too).
by Mark Langshaw (from Digital Spy)
The writer/co-creator of the Kick-Ass comic has a chat about the sequel to the film, which is due to start shooting in a couple of months. Be warned, he also chats about Kick-Ass 3 (the comic thereof), and in doing so spoils some events from Kick-Ass 2 (as in the comic, but probably therefore the film too).
Sunday, 20 May 2012
this week on 100 Films
Two new reviews were posted to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Rush Hour 3 (2007)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
More next Sunday.
Rush Hour 3 (2007)
The fights aren’t amongst Chan’s best action sequences, but they’re still quite entertaining. I love sword fights and I love Chan’s acrobatic choreography, so a climax combining the two — plus some sparing atop the Eiffel Tower (or, I presume, a surprisingly good set thereof) — is occasionally spectacular and single-handedly almost justifies the entire film’s existence.Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
a fun ride with stand-out moments, but not as a particularly exceptional version of Sherlock Holmes. It’s very enjoyable as a comedy-action movie with amusing characters and entertainingly-staged action sequences, but while my affection for the first has grown to make it one of my favourite movies, this is just an entertaining follow-up.Read more on my new blog or my classic blog.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
TV
Archer
3x11 Skin Game
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
4x24 The Crimson Hat [season finale]
Another great Mentalist season finale, though I can see why some people have got fed up with all the variations on almost-got-Red-John-but-not-quite they've done now.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 1st June.]
Once Upon a Time
1x07 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Playhouse Presents
1x02 Nellie and Melba
After not at all liking the first one of these, I've been slightly loathe to watch any more. But it's an anthology series and they're all different, so it's a shame they started with such a pretentious one that could lock out potential viewers. This is a lot more fun, but still with depth. Good good.
The Voice UK
1x13 Live Show 4
They could've had grumpy little Aleks Josh mime along to a Jack Johnson CD and it would've sounded the same. I hope an unthinking teeny fanbase don't guarantee him a place in the semi-final.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
3x11 Skin Game
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Mentalist
4x24 The Crimson Hat [season finale]
Another great Mentalist season finale, though I can see why some people have got fed up with all the variations on almost-got-Red-John-but-not-quite they've done now.
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 1st June.]
Once Upon a Time
1x07 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
Playhouse Presents
1x02 Nellie and Melba
After not at all liking the first one of these, I've been slightly loathe to watch any more. But it's an anthology series and they're all different, so it's a shame they started with such a pretentious one that could lock out potential viewers. This is a lot more fun, but still with depth. Good good.
The Voice UK
1x13 Live Show 4
They could've had grumpy little Aleks Josh mime along to a Jack Johnson CD and it would've sounded the same. I hope an unthinking teeny fanbase don't guarantee him a place in the semi-final.
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Would I Lie To You?
6x06 Episode 6
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
Team America: World Police (2004)
[last act; 3rd watch]
Everything from I'm So Ronery on -- I happened to turn on Channel 4 perfectly in time for that bit and couldn't stop watching. Not seen the whole thing for years; ought to watch it all again.
[last act; 3rd watch]
Everything from I'm So Ronery on -- I happened to turn on Channel 4 perfectly in time for that bit and couldn't stop watching. Not seen the whole thing for years; ought to watch it all again.
Comics
Resurrection Man #8 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Fernando Dagnino
Apparently this is a low seller and so potentially on the cusp of cancellation. I hope not -- it's a great concept and they've been telling good stories, I think. Plus it would be annoying if it cut off before the end of the bigger tale they're telling.
Apparently this is a low seller and so potentially on the cusp of cancellation. I hope not -- it's a great concept and they've been telling good stories, I think. Plus it would be annoying if it cut off before the end of the bigger tale they're telling.
Articles
The Traditionalist
by Jeffrey Ressner (from DGA Quarterly: Spring 2012)
If you're interested in filmmaking, the behind-the-scenes-y-ness of it and the process of it and so on, then this is an absolutely excellent -- nay, essential -- interview with Christopher Nolan.
by Jeffrey Ressner (from DGA Quarterly: Spring 2012)
If you're interested in filmmaking, the behind-the-scenes-y-ness of it and the process of it and so on, then this is an absolutely excellent -- nay, essential -- interview with Christopher Nolan.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I didn't think I'd bought that much recently... until I noticed all the titles I hadn't yet entered running times for on my Big List. (Because it's that time again.) Still, the increase is only on a par with my regular jumps going back a few months, so it's not too bad.
Number of titles in collection: 1,479 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 326 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,678 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,566 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,479 [no change]
And as I said, this week it's time for a running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
263 days, 5 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 6 hours, and 33 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
I didn't think I'd bought that much recently... until I noticed all the titles I hadn't yet entered running times for on my Big List. (Because it's that time again.) Still, the increase is only on a par with my regular jumps going back a few months, so it's not too bad.
Number of titles in collection: 1,479 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,153 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 326 [up 3]
Number of discs in collection: 3,678 [up 4]
Number of films in collection: 1,566 [up 3]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,479 [no change]
And as I said, this week it's time for a running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
263 days, 5 hours, and 38 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 6 hours, and 33 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 18 May 2012
TV
Grandma's House
2x05 The day Simon found himself back on the path to fulfilment and joy
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Horrible Histories
4x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Maestro at the Opera
Episode 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Matt Lucas Awards
1x06 Episode 6
From what I've heard this series hasn't gone down especially well, so I'm not sure we'll be seeing any more. It certainly wasn't perfect but it did have enjoyable moments. And I must remember I've still got episode 3 to watch. (There's a seventh episode too, but it's just highlights.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
4x23 Red Rover, Red Rover
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 25th May.]
2x05 The day Simon found himself back on the path to fulfilment and joy
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Horrible Histories
4x08 Episode 8
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Maestro at the Opera
Episode 2 (of 3)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Matt Lucas Awards
1x06 Episode 6
From what I've heard this series hasn't gone down especially well, so I'm not sure we'll be seeing any more. It certainly wasn't perfect but it did have enjoyable moments. And I must remember I've still got episode 3 to watch. (There's a seventh episode too, but it's just highlights.)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Mentalist
4x23 Red Rover, Red Rover
[Watch it on Demand 5 from Friday 25th May.]
Comics
Batman: The Dark Knight #8 by Joe Harris & Ed Benes
Hurrah, Finch and Jenkins are gone! Their story appears to live on though, based on the cover (one of the characters on it doesn't even appear), so I feel sorry for a new writer lumbered with that. It has OK points; maybe a good person will rescue it.
As for this one-and-done (presumably to fit with including Night of the Owls next issue, then getting on with its own stuff after that)... it was solid. Lots of blood and violence for a T-rated book. I imagine they don't actually pay much attention to those ratings...
Hurrah, Finch and Jenkins are gone! Their story appears to live on though, based on the cover (one of the characters on it doesn't even appear), so I feel sorry for a new writer lumbered with that. It has OK points; maybe a good person will rescue it.
As for this one-and-done (presumably to fit with including Night of the Owls next issue, then getting on with its own stuff after that)... it was solid. Lots of blood and violence for a T-rated book. I imagine they don't actually pay much attention to those ratings...
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