Death in Paradise
2x08 Episode 8 [season finale]
And there will be a third series. Hurrah!
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
The Good Life
1x04 Pig's Lib
Stella
2x07 Episode 7
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Articles
Wikipedians wage war over a capital "I" in a Star Trek film
by Kevin Morris (from The Daily Dot)
How bloody ridiculous. And it came to the most ridiculous conclusion ever too:
I despair.
by Kevin Morris (from The Daily Dot)
Wikipedians and Wikipedia Star Trek fans have engaged in a heated conflict that's raged for nearly two months. In total, more than 40,000 words have been lobbed in the fight.
The point of contention? Whether "Into" should be capitalized in the movie's name.
How bloody ridiculous. And it came to the most ridiculous conclusion ever too:
users have reached a compromise. A way to please everyone and no one—and at the same time make the encyclopedia look rather ridiculous.
The first line of the entry now reads:
Star Trek into Darkness (usually written as Star Trek Into Darkness)
I despair.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Monday, 25 February 2013
TV
The 85th Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars, obviously.
Mixed reactions in the press, but then there always are. I thought it was largely a good show, Seth MacFarlane was largely a funny host, and largely the right people won. I'd've liked more for Skyfall of course, but that's life. And a tie in one category! Only the sixth ever. That was quite exciting... though, apparently, not exciting enough to make most news stories. But I guess it was in a technical category.
Oh, and shame on Sky for cutting off the closing song. Wouldn't've happened on the BBC.
How I Met Your Mother
8x04 Who Wants to Be a Godparent?
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x10 Panama Red
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stella
2x06 Episode 6
aka the Oscars, obviously.
Mixed reactions in the press, but then there always are. I thought it was largely a good show, Seth MacFarlane was largely a funny host, and largely the right people won. I'd've liked more for Skyfall of course, but that's life. And a tie in one category! Only the sixth ever. That was quite exciting... though, apparently, not exciting enough to make most news stories. But I guess it was in a technical category.
Oh, and shame on Sky for cutting off the closing song. Wouldn't've happened on the BBC.
How I Met Your Mother
8x04 Who Wants to Be a Godparent?
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
The Mentalist
5x10 Panama Red
[Watch it (again) on Demand 5.]
The Sarah Millican Television Programme
2x06 Episode 6 [season finale]
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Stella
2x06 Episode 6
Sunday, 24 February 2013
TV
The Culture Show
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [2013 special]
A little to my surprise, I watched 2011's Kermodes. That's one of the advantages of this blog -- reminding me of things I've completely forgotten.
I assumed I'd just missed it last year (and probably had it downloaded somewhere, still waiting to be watched), but I can find no evidence of it on the BBC's Culture Show website. I guess it just didn't get its own special, especially as you can indeed find the results online.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Oscar 2013: Red Carpet Live
As usual, the ceremony begins at 1:30am over here, so here's a lot of speculation and red carpet nonsense from Sky's chosen team (read: whoever would agree to come in for the night). Apparently this is now Sky's ninth year having exclusive rights to the ceremony. About time it went back to the Beeb, no?
Room 101: Extra Storage
13x07 Episode 7
Top Gear
19x04 (17/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Forget the Oscars, Here Are the Kermodes [2013 special]
A little to my surprise, I watched 2011's Kermodes. That's one of the advantages of this blog -- reminding me of things I've completely forgotten.
I assumed I'd just missed it last year (and probably had it downloaded somewhere, still waiting to be watched), but I can find no evidence of it on the BBC's Culture Show website. I guess it just didn't get its own special, especially as you can indeed find the results online.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Oscar 2013: Red Carpet Live
As usual, the ceremony begins at 1:30am over here, so here's a lot of speculation and red carpet nonsense from Sky's chosen team (read: whoever would agree to come in for the night). Apparently this is now Sky's ninth year having exclusive rights to the ceremony. About time it went back to the Beeb, no?
Room 101: Extra Storage
13x07 Episode 7
Top Gear
19x04 (17/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) in HD on iPlayer.]
Films
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
[#19 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
The year on this one is a real matter of perspective. It was made and first shown in 2011, but widely released (here, in the US, and everywhere else) in 2012. Websites disagree, but the latter turns up more Google hits, so...
[#19 in 100 Films in a Year 2013]
The year on this one is a real matter of perspective. It was made and first shown in 2011, but widely released (here, in the US, and everywhere else) in 2012. Websites disagree, but the latter turns up more Google hits, so...
Comics
2000 AD #1767-1768
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Eve of Destruction, Parts 3-4 by John Wagner & Henry Flint
• Grey Area Feel the Noise, Parts 1-2 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Nikolai Dante The Wedding of Jena Makarov, Parts 5-6 by Robbie Morrison & Simon Fraser
• Absalom Ghosts of London, Parts Three - Four by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Parts Five - Six by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Eve of Destruction, Parts 3-4 by John Wagner & Henry Flint
• Grey Area Feel the Noise, Parts 1-2 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Nikolai Dante The Wedding of Jena Makarov, Parts 5-6 by Robbie Morrison & Simon Fraser
• Absalom Ghosts of London, Parts Three - Four by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Parts Five - Six by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
Articles
Twilight Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Kristen Stewart, Rihanna win Razzies
by Colin Daniels (from Digital Spy)
The Twilight finale fairly swept the board, winning seven of the ten awards. Well, it's traditional for awards to give a series' final instalment all it deserves, isn't it.
by Colin Daniels (from Digital Spy)
The Twilight finale fairly swept the board, winning seven of the ten awards. Well, it's traditional for awards to give a series' final instalment all it deserves, isn't it.
this week on 100 Films
Two new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...
Birth (2004)
Read more here.
The Plank (1967)
Read more here.
And new to the new blog...
The Invention of Lying (2009)
Read more here.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
Read more here.
The Wolfman: Unrated Version (2010)
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Birth (2004)
Nicole Kidman’s rationalist husband dies suddenly; years later, as she gets engaged to another man, a boy arrives claiming to be her husband reincarnated. More realistic art house drama about grief and insecurity than thrill-giving occult mystery, it nonetheless keeps you guessing
Read more here.
The Plank (1967)
The film opens with the credits being sung to the viewer — a surreal touch that indicates the kind of experience you’re in for. The humour is primarily of a slapstick variety, much of it unsurprisingly revolving around the titular slab of wood. Some of it is very amusing, but... I can’t see this as a film that will convert anybody.
Read more here.
And new to the new blog...
The Invention of Lying (2009)
I enjoyed the religious plot. I don’t think it’s misjudged satire, as some reviews have claimed; I think it’s pretty decent satire, in fact... It’s a decently amusing deconstruction of religion and the ideas that underpin it, coming from a rational perspective that can see through the obvious flaws and falsehoods in (specifically) Christianity.
Read more here.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)
essentially offers more of the same. That’s often levelled as a criticism, but in this instance it’s absolutely fine: Book of Secrets isn’t a rehash — there’s a new mystery with new puzzles — but is another adventure in the same vein, with clue-hunting and the occasional action sequence.
Read more here.
The Wolfman: Unrated Version (2010)
this is not your modern whizzbang horror movie, but something more classically inspired... the film makes this clear pretty quickly — or rather, quite slowly. The plot and character are allowed to unfurl at a gradual rate, building up to bursts of action later on rather than trying to keep the audience’s adrenaline pumping with a constant barrage of set pieces.
Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
TV
Arrow
1x09 Year's End
Elementary
1x13 The Red Team
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2013
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
1x09 Year's End
Elementary
1x13 The Red Team
Let's Dance for Comic Relief 2013
Episode 2 (of 4)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #1764-1766
Featuring...
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: The Assassination List, Part 6 by John Wagner & Leigh Gallagher
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Eve of Destruction, Parts 1-2 by John Wagner & Henry Flint
• Grey Area Meet & Greet, Parts 2-4 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Nikolai Dante The Wedding of Jena Makarov, Parts 2-4 by Robbie Morrison & Simon Fraser
• Past Imperfect H Battalion by T.C. Eglington & Warren Pleece
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Parts Two - Four by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
• Absalom Ghosts of London, Parts One - Two by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion
'New' Dredd tale Eve of Destruction kicks off a whopping 20-part run (and at the end of it, Chaos Day itself is just two). As Grey Area's first story closes I think it has promise, but, for an acclaimed-in-some-circles writer, Abnett's dialogue is shockingly clunky. The final part read like a recap of the entire premise coupled with a resolution, which was very odd for only the fourth instalment.
This is the last-ever Nikolai Dante story and I'm sure pays off handsomely to fans, but is hardly the right point for newbies. Still has its moments, at least. The Past Imperfect wasn't much cop, all set up for a final reveal that, even though it was the entire point, felt needless. Strontium Dog begins to become more followable as it focuses on the present predicament, and Absalom… begins. We'll see.
Featuring...
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: The Assassination List, Part 6 by John Wagner & Leigh Gallagher
• Judge Dredd Day of Chaos: Eve of Destruction, Parts 1-2 by John Wagner & Henry Flint
• Grey Area Meet & Greet, Parts 2-4 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Nikolai Dante The Wedding of Jena Makarov, Parts 2-4 by Robbie Morrison & Simon Fraser
• Past Imperfect H Battalion by T.C. Eglington & Warren Pleece
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Parts Two - Four by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
• Absalom Ghosts of London, Parts One - Two by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion
'New' Dredd tale Eve of Destruction kicks off a whopping 20-part run (and at the end of it, Chaos Day itself is just two). As Grey Area's first story closes I think it has promise, but, for an acclaimed-in-some-circles writer, Abnett's dialogue is shockingly clunky. The final part read like a recap of the entire premise coupled with a resolution, which was very odd for only the fourth instalment.
This is the last-ever Nikolai Dante story and I'm sure pays off handsomely to fans, but is hardly the right point for newbies. Still has its moments, at least. The Past Imperfect wasn't much cop, all set up for a final reveal that, even though it was the entire point, felt needless. Strontium Dog begins to become more followable as it focuses on the present predicament, and Absalom… begins. We'll see.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
Only one new thing this week, but no more is required: the Skyfall Steelbook. Splendiferous.
And to liven things up nonetheless, there's the running time update. The thrills just keep on coming.
Number of titles in collection: 1,535 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 383 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,853 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,611 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,722 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [no change]
As promised...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
277 days, 22 hours, and 27 minutes.
(Up 16 hours and 36 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Only one new thing this week, but no more is required: the Skyfall Steelbook. Splendiferous.
And to liven things up nonetheless, there's the running time update. The thrills just keep on coming.
Number of titles in collection: 1,535 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,152 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 383 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 3,853 [up 2]
Number of films in collection: 1,611 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes in collection: 5,722 [no change]
Number of short films in collection: 374 [no change]
As promised...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
277 days, 22 hours, and 27 minutes.
(Up 16 hours and 36 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 22 February 2013
TV
Dexter
6x11 Talk to the Hand
6x12 This is the Way the World Ends [season finale]
Usually Dexter has a calm, reflective ending... but not this season. Wham-bang-huge-cliffhanger it is! Loads of other plot threads left dangling too -- all the signs of a two-year recommission after season five, then.
Season seven starts in the UK this Sunday on FOX (formerly FX), for them that has it, while season eight is coming before too long to the US.
The Graham Norton Show
12x17 (15/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg
2x04 (15/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Yes, Prime Minister [2013]
1x06 A Tsar is Born [season finale]
This has been distinctly variable. Some funny moments, but an awful lot of too-big stagey acting and far too many recaps of what's going on. It notes in the end credits that it was adapted from the stage play, so I guess they took the two hours (or whatever) of that and extended it to make six half-hours of TV -- on stage, the "all this in one night" thing would work, but on TV, over six weeks, it felt needless. I can't imagine they'll get to have another go, but if they do, I hope it's in the form of a real series rather than a (somewhat misguided) serial.
6x11 Talk to the Hand
6x12 This is the Way the World Ends [season finale]
Usually Dexter has a calm, reflective ending... but not this season. Wham-bang-huge-cliffhanger it is! Loads of other plot threads left dangling too -- all the signs of a two-year recommission after season five, then.
Season seven starts in the UK this Sunday on FOX (formerly FX), for them that has it, while season eight is coming before too long to the US.
The Graham Norton Show
12x17 (15/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Last Leg
2x04 (15/2/13 edition)
[Watch it (again) on 4oD.]
Yes, Prime Minister [2013]
1x06 A Tsar is Born [season finale]
This has been distinctly variable. Some funny moments, but an awful lot of too-big stagey acting and far too many recaps of what's going on. It notes in the end credits that it was adapted from the stage play, so I guess they took the two hours (or whatever) of that and extended it to make six half-hours of TV -- on stage, the "all this in one night" thing would work, but on TV, over six weeks, it felt needless. I can't imagine they'll get to have another go, but if they do, I hope it's in the form of a real series rather than a (somewhat misguided) serial.
Comics
2000 AD #2012
Continuing and concluding the Christmas-before-last bumper Prog, with…
• Aquila Prologue by Gordon Rennie & Leigh Gallagher
• Grey Area Meet & Greet, Part 1 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Dandridge A Christmas Ghost Story by Alec Worley & Jon Davis-Hunt
• Sinister Dexter Now & Again by Dan Abnett & Anthony Williams
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Part One by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
Aquila and Grey Area are both effective introductions to brand-new series. The latter may be a bit too exposition-y, but it still holds promise. Dandridge is an effective little ghost story. Sinister Dexter is a double whammy of continuing/concluding plot from the previous Progs, and Christmas-special-ish dimension hopping through all 2000 AD's most beloved franchises. And then Strontium Dog is the second arc of a long story for a very old series, making it absolutely impenetrable to newbies like me. Still, at least everything else was good.
Continuing and concluding the Christmas-before-last bumper Prog, with…
• Aquila Prologue by Gordon Rennie & Leigh Gallagher
• Grey Area Meet & Greet, Part 1 by Dan Abnett & Karl Richardson
• Dandridge A Christmas Ghost Story by Alec Worley & Jon Davis-Hunt
• Sinister Dexter Now & Again by Dan Abnett & Anthony Williams
• Strontium Dog The Life and Death of Johnny Alpha, Chapter Two: The Project, Part One by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & Hector Ezquerra
Aquila and Grey Area are both effective introductions to brand-new series. The latter may be a bit too exposition-y, but it still holds promise. Dandridge is an effective little ghost story. Sinister Dexter is a double whammy of continuing/concluding plot from the previous Progs, and Christmas-special-ish dimension hopping through all 2000 AD's most beloved franchises. And then Strontium Dog is the second arc of a long story for a very old series, making it absolutely impenetrable to newbies like me. Still, at least everything else was good.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Articles
Interview with Steven Moffat from Gallifrey One
by Kyle Anderson (from Nerdist)
I say "article" -- it's a video. Normally I object to that (I prefer a transcript), but this is worth watching. It's 13 minutes in which DVD documentary maker Ed Stradling chats to The Moff -- that's quite long for a one-on-one interview really, and it goes in to about as much depth as you might expect regarding plans for Who's 50th anniversary, plus wider-ranging discussion of Moffat's Who views. For those that have been worried, he denies the anniversary special is just one 60-minute episode, and confirms there will be a 2013 Christmas special.
An Oscar Voter's Brutally Honest Ballot
by Anonymous, as told to Scott Feinberg (from The Hollywood Reporter)
A lot of people in the comments think this guy is a right... something-or-other. He is in places; in others, he's bang on. Either way, it's an interesting insight into how people vote for the Oscars... and why the results end up so daft so often.
Plus, while I'm here...
Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast of Neverwhere - first photo and air date revealed
by Paul Jones (from Radio Times)
Looks exciting. It's on the week of March 16th (all 3½ hours of it).
by Kyle Anderson (from Nerdist)
I say "article" -- it's a video. Normally I object to that (I prefer a transcript), but this is worth watching. It's 13 minutes in which DVD documentary maker Ed Stradling chats to The Moff -- that's quite long for a one-on-one interview really, and it goes in to about as much depth as you might expect regarding plans for Who's 50th anniversary, plus wider-ranging discussion of Moffat's Who views. For those that have been worried, he denies the anniversary special is just one 60-minute episode, and confirms there will be a 2013 Christmas special.
An Oscar Voter's Brutally Honest Ballot
by Anonymous, as told to Scott Feinberg (from The Hollywood Reporter)
One of the 371 members of the Academy’s directors branch recently invited me over to his office to listen in as he openly deliberated about how to fill out his final ballot for the 85th Oscars.
A lot of people in the comments think this guy is a right... something-or-other. He is in places; in others, he's bang on. Either way, it's an interesting insight into how people vote for the Oscars... and why the results end up so daft so often.
Plus, while I'm here...
Benedict Cumberbatch and the cast of Neverwhere - first photo and air date revealed
by Paul Jones (from Radio Times)
Looks exciting. It's on the week of March 16th (all 3½ hours of it).
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Films
Skyfall (2012)
[2nd watch]
Skyfall was #86 in 100 Films 2012, and I afforded it a spoiler-packed 4,800-word review on Christmas Day. I also wrote a (much shorter) spoiler-free piece right after it came out, for those who haven't seen it yet.
And if you haven't seen it... it's out on DVD and Blu-ray now. Buy it, it's brilliant.
[2nd watch]
Skyfall was #86 in 100 Films 2012, and I afforded it a spoiler-packed 4,800-word review on Christmas Day. I also wrote a (much shorter) spoiler-free piece right after it came out, for those who haven't seen it yet.
And if you haven't seen it... it's out on DVD and Blu-ray now. Buy it, it's brilliant.
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