TV

Elementary
5x06 Ill Tidings

The Missing
2x08 The Mountain [season finale]

Articles

Exclusive insights into The Missing series 2: What was cut, and one huge twist that almost didn't happen
by Morgan Jeffery (from Digital Spy)
As I finished the series tonight, I was able to read this piece I'd had saved for nearly two months. Very interesting.

TV

The Missing
2x07 1991

Films

Elstree 1976 (2015)
[#18 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

TV

The Missing
2x06 Saint John

Films

It Follows (2014)
[#17 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

+ the Blu-ray's very meagre special features, and, in a spectacularly rare occurrence, the audio commentary. Sadly, it wasn't a good one.

this week on 100 Films

A new month started this week, so it was time to look back at the old one over on 100 Films in a Year...





Plus, there were 3 brand-new reviews...


London Has Fallen (2016)

It does just about pass muster as a brains-off actioner, in the truest sense of the term: you’ll need to switch your brain off to endure the rampant xenophobia and American flag-waving. God, I bet Trump loves this movie.

Read more here.


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Miss Peregrine seems to have received a rather muted response, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It might be best to qualify that by reiterating that it’s playing with a lot of things I enjoy — “X-Men by way of Tim Burton” sounds fantastic to me, and that’s not a bad definition of this movie.

Read more here.


The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962)

The consensus seems to be that The Tale of Zatoichi Continues is a faster-paced and more action-packed movie than its predecessor, which is obviously to some viewers’ taste... However, I thought it lacked the artistry of the first film. It’s very focused on plot rather than digging into character, which is especially problematic when it comes to a subplot about a rogue who turns out to be Ichi’s brother.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Let It Shine
1x05 Episode 5
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Collection Count

Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.

Number of titles in collection: 1,931 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,193 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 738 [up 1]

Number of discs in collection: 4,975 [up 3]
Number of films: 2,134 [up 2]
Number of TV episodes: 7,622 [no change]
Number of short films: 508 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

TV

The Missing
2x05 Das Vergessen

The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins
9x05 (21/1/17 edition)
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
[#16 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

+ some of the Blu-ray's special features.

TV

The Missing
2x04 Statice

Not Going Out
8x02 Babysitting
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

TV

Elementary
5x05 To Catch a Predator Predator

Insert Name Here
2x05 Charlie
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Another Earth (2011)
[#15 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

TV

Death in Paradise
6x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Missing
2x03 A Prison Without Walls

Films

London Has Fallen (2016)
[#14 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

Films

Sing Street (2016)
[#13 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

Under the Shadow (2016)
[#12 in 100 Films in a Year 2017]

TV

Insert Name Here
2x04 Ben
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

The Missing
2x02 The Turtle and the Stick

this week on 100 Films

6 brand-new reviews were published to 100 Films in a Year this week, and they were...


Bridesmaids (2011)

Despite a rough start, there are some very, very funny parts later on; but, unexpectedly, it also works pretty well in more character-focused sections. You’re not going to mistake this for an emotional drama, but there’s more investment in the characters than you might anticipate given the cast and crew’s pedigree.

Read more here.


Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

The affable characters are quite delightful to get to know even as they’re getting to know each other, and there are some magical sequences. Plus it’s all beautifully designed and animated, as you’d expect from Studio Ghibli

Read more here.


iBoy (2017)

Where it comes unstuck is the tone. How many superhero films are going to feature gang rape? Well, somewhat appropriately, I guess the Netflix ones might. But the disjunct between iBoy’s daft premise and the grim world of inner city gangs (there are more acts of shocking violence) is a difficult one to negotiate.

Read more here.


Into the Wild (2007)

The true story of Christopher McCandless, who abandoned regular life after college to go hitchhiking and become one with nature or something, then accidentally killed himself by being a pretentious wanker.

Read more here.


The Pianist (2002)

It may not poke at your emotions quite so readily as, say, Schindler’s List, but that’s because Polanski and screenwriter Ronald Harwood dodge histrionics or an operatic envisioning of events. Instead this feels like a grounded relation of the facts, with everyday heroism (and cruelty) the order of the day — but, of course, there’s nothing “everyday” about it.

Read more here.


Wuthering Heights (2011)

Andrea Arnold’s earthy, plausible take on Emily Brontë’s beloved novel won’t be to all tastes — particularly anyone after an epic romance feel — but its sparse dialogue, Malickian attention to nature, and oppressive mood make for a benumbing work of cinematic art.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Let It Shine
1x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]