TV

Eurovision Song Contest: Tel Aviv 2019
Watched this 24 hours late, because I forgot to set it to record and iPlayer wasn't letting me "watch from start". Didn't think it was a great year, sadly -- the song quality wasn't as good as normal (yeah, I know, it's Eurovision, but even still). Some of the interval stuff was good, at least.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Films

Cosmopolis (2012)
[#89 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

this week on 100 Films

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


BlacKkKlansman (2018)

“A black man infiltrates the KKK.” Sounds like the setup for a joke, doesn’t it? Or possibly some outrageous blaxploitation movie. But it’s something that actually happened... Although the premise sounds comical, the fact it’s a true story concerning an organisation as inhumane and pernicious as the KKK made me worried the film would be serious, grim, and heavy-going. In actuality, it’s lively, funny, and fast-paced.

Read more here.


Bumblebee (2018)

The “a girl and her robot” angle is what the film was sold on, combined with the ’80s setting to suggest a throwback to movies of that era. I quite like it as a concept — it’s certainly a change of pace from the increasingly overblown city-destroying world-saving antics of the earlier films — but it’s the execution that disappointed me. It takes too long to get it up and running, spinning its wheels on Charlie getting Bumblebee started, on comedic interludes with her family, on establishing a wannabe-love-interest... There’s altogether too much time spent on the military and Decepticons hunting ‘Bee, too, especially considering it amounts to little that’s meaningful.

Read more here.


The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

perhaps making the plot 50% a straightforward quest-against-time narrative and 50% impenetrable philosophy lectures wasn’t the best idea, but the action sequences are still absolutely stunning. And, actually, if you bother to engage with the film on its own level, there’s some interesting stuff here.

Read more here.


The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

I used to think Revolutions was better than Reloaded, mainly because at least it brought everything to an end and didn’t have that confusing stuff with the Architect. But reflecting on the sequels now, I have to agree with the consensus that this isn’t as good — there’s nothing that matches the highway sequence for entertainment value, and, actually, the lack of overt philosophising is almost to its detriment.

Read more here.


Upgrade (2018)

On one level, it's a straightforward sci-fi action-thriller, following the hero's investigation as it leads him to some shady figures who have near-future tech of their own, and then they fight. While that may seem simplistic, it’s full of neat little touches, particular in the action’s choreography — it almost begs a rewatch just to see everything that’s going on in the frantic fight scenes.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

TV

Ghosts
1x04 Free Pass
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]

Collection Count

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

Just one new addition this week. It's looking like it'll be a quiet couple of weeks ahead, too... but then you never know when some sale or bargain might catch my eye...

Number of titles in collection: 2,226 [up 1]
Of which DVDs: 1,131 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,095 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 26 [no change]

Number of discs in collection: 5,758 [up 2]
Number of films: 2,550 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 8,427 [no change]
Number of short films: 667 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

Films

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
[2nd watch]
Rewatchathon 2019 #19

Widows (2018)
[#88 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

Articles

I don't often share articles anymore, but today I happened to read 3 particularly good ones, all tied to Game of Thrones and its fans...

The anger of Game of Thrones fans is part of the game
by Mary McNamara (from the Los Angeles Times)
One of the best pieces I've seen defending the series' recent episodes.

'Fan' Is Becoming A Four-Letter Word
by Matt Singer (from Screen Crush)
On how the notion of being a fan of something has changed in recent times -- it used to mean you like something, now it almost means you hate it.

And finally, a bit of humour...

Game Of Thrones Showrunners Disappointed With How Quality Of Fans Has Dropped Off Over Past Couple Seasons
(from the Onion)

Films

Dracula (1931)
[#87 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]
Blindspot 2019 #5

TV

Thronecast
8x05 The Bells

The Twilight Zone
4x16 On Thursday We Leave For Home

Films

BlacKkKlansman (2018)
[#86 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

Films

Cleopatra (1970)
[#85 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

TV

Game of Thrones
8x05 The Bells

Films

Ghostbusters II (1989)
[3rd or so watch]
Rewatchathon 2019 #18, after rewatching the first one in January. One of my earliest memories is watching this on a rented VHS when I must've been 4 or 5 years old, and being scared shitless by the painting that comes to life. I thought this might be the first time I've watched it since then, but I did remember tonnes of it, so either I'm wrong (probably) or it had a big impact on tiny little me (well, clearly it did at least a bit!) Anyway, it's not a patch on the classic first one, but it has its moments and is mostly good fun.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
[#84 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

Films

Bumblebee (2018)
[#83 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

this week on 100 Films

I turned my monthly TV review into a fortnightly one on 100 Films in a Year this week, to cover the latest episodes of Game of Thrones (and a few other things)...





There were 5 new film reviews, too...


Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

Making a sequel to what’s regarded as one of, if not the, greatest action (and Christmas) movies of all time is basically a hiding to nothing — however good your work, if it’s not a stone-cold classic too then it’s a relative failure. Nonetheless, there are those who’d argue this second sequel to Die Hard is practically as good as the first one, and they’d practically be right.

Read more here.


The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)

With a daft-ish title and promotional campaign that definitely amped up the comedy, you might be surprised to learn that this started life as a drama. Yep, apparently so. Then, a few weeks prior to filming, the script underwent a “frantic” two-week rewrite to be remixed into a comedy. The end result is kind of a mixed bag, which, all things considered, makes sense.

Read more here.


Holmes & Watson (2018)

It’s hard to believe this was a professionally-produced, studio-released movie given the lack of technical skills on display, including atrocious dubbing, sloppy editing, and even shots that are out of focus. It’s so poor that Netflix, who seem to purchase any scraps the major studios decide to throw their way, turned down the chance to buy it (so they do have some standards!)

Read more here.


Knocked Up (2007)

being too long was the film's biggest problem, in my opinion — chop out 20, even 30 minutes (heck, do it properly and get rid of more, even) and I reckon it’d be better. It’s also a bit needlessly crude, I guess, but I’ve seen far worse and less funny examples of that. It makes up for it by how well-handled the more dramatic parts are. Overall, I liked it a lot more than I expected I would.

Read more here.


The Meg 3D (2018)

it’s a movie about a giant prehistoric shark being unleashed and attacking humans, and Jason Statham has to fight it. That’s all. It delivered on that in spades for me and I had a great time with it. And I guess tied to that pulpiness, if you have the option and enjoy the effect, I thought it looked fantastic in 3D.

Read more here.


More next Sunday.

Films

Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
[#82 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]
American re-edit of the original Godzilla (see 2019 #71). Plus the audio commentary on Criterion's Blu-ray release.

Collection Count

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

After a flurry of UHD additions in February and a gradual increase in March, it's been all quiet on that front throughout April. Now, here are two more: a new release (Bumblebee, out Monday) and a bargain (the X-Men trilogy, which I picked up for just £15!)

Number of titles in collection: 2,225 [up 2]
Of which DVDs: 1,131 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,094 [up 2]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 26 [up 2]

Number of discs in collection: 5,756 [up 9]
Number of films: 2,549 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 8,427 [no change]
Number of short films: 667 [no change]

See you next week, faithful reader.

Films

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (1970)
[#80 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

Zombieland (2009)
[#81 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]

TV

The Twilight Zone
1x16 The Hitch-Hiker
2x29 The Obsolete Man [season finale]

Films

Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
[#79 in 100 Films in a Year 2019]