MST3K: The Return of the Final Countdown
So, I popped on this telethon finale for the MST3K Kickstarter just to see if anything interesting was going on with it… and ended up having enough fun that I stuck with it for the whole five-hour shebang. It's all available to replay, though I suspect it's less fun not watching live — I mean, you can't join in with the Jackbox game, for one thing.
Murder, They Hope
1x01 The Bunny Trap
First episode of a spinoff/continuation series (whatever you wanna call it) from the TV movie trilogy of Murder on the Blackpool Express, Death on the Tyne, and Dial M for Middlesbrough. I thought the hour format might tighten things up a bit, but if anything it feels even less focused and more ridiculous. Maybe future episodes will be better.
Saturday, 8 May 2021
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
For once, there's absolutely nothing to report this week! But there's already more stuff in the post, so it won't be this way for long...
Number of titles in collection: 2,591 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,073 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,518 [no change]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 101 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,581 [no change]
Number of films: 3,012 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 221 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,075 [no change]
Number of short films: 854 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
For once, there's absolutely nothing to report this week! But there's already more stuff in the post, so it won't be this way for long...
Number of titles in collection: 2,591 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,073 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,518 [no change]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 101 [no change]
Number of discs in collection: 6,581 [no change]
Number of films: 3,012 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 221 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,075 [no change]
Number of short films: 854 [no change]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 7 May 2021
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
11x02 Cry Wilderness
“I’m afraid this movie might not be very good...”
So, I said I'd jump ahead to better-regarded episodes, but it turned out I didn't have to jump at all: Cry Wilderness seems to be widely regarded as the best episode of MST3K: The Return (aka season 11), and it also happens to be episode 2, so I haven't had to watch anything out of sequence. Hurrah! Unlike the first episode, this one hits the ground running and maintains a pretty consistent level from there. It was enough to convince me to back the Kickstarter.
11x02 Cry Wilderness
“I’m afraid this movie might not be very good...”
So, I said I'd jump ahead to better-regarded episodes, but it turned out I didn't have to jump at all: Cry Wilderness seems to be widely regarded as the best episode of MST3K: The Return (aka season 11), and it also happens to be episode 2, so I haven't had to watch anything out of sequence. Hurrah! Unlike the first episode, this one hits the ground running and maintains a pretty consistent level from there. It was enough to convince me to back the Kickstarter.
Thursday, 6 May 2021
Films
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
[#100 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Blindspot 2021 #5
I watched the shorter theatrical cut, because that's the one in 4K UHD on Arrow's release. Also, while the 50-minutes-longer Director's Cut does have its fans, there seems to be a consensus that the shorter cut is better.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
[5th or so watch]
Rewatchathon 2021 #15
I've been meaning to rewatch the Indiana Jones movies for ages (I've owned the Blu-ray set for 8½ years now and never watched it), but I've finally been spurred on by them hitting 4K next month (as I said: watching those discs I bought almost a decade ago before I inevitably buy the new ones!) I have no idea how many times I've seen Raiders — the above count is a total punt.
[#100 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Blindspot 2021 #5
I watched the shorter theatrical cut, because that's the one in 4K UHD on Arrow's release. Also, while the 50-minutes-longer Director's Cut does have its fans, there seems to be a consensus that the shorter cut is better.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
[5th or so watch]
Rewatchathon 2021 #15
I've been meaning to rewatch the Indiana Jones movies for ages (I've owned the Blu-ray set for 8½ years now and never watched it), but I've finally been spurred on by them hitting 4K next month (as I said: watching those discs I bought almost a decade ago before I inevitably buy the new ones!) I have no idea how many times I've seen Raiders — the above count is a total punt.
Wednesday, 5 May 2021
TV
Mystery Science Theater 3000
11x01 Reptilicus
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark... and it’s this movie!”
With a new MST3K Kickstarter underway, I figured I should finally watch episode(s) from the last one, (a) because I should've got round to them ages ago, and (b) to see if I want to back this new Kickstarter. This one... left me unsure. You see, I always really like the idea of MST3K in theory, but I feel like whenever I actually watch it I’m less convinced. There’s a sense of “throw anything at the wall and hope some of it sticks” about the jokes, rather than the constant barrage of zingers that you’d ideally find. But some of it does stick, so...
Anyway, apparently this is one of the weaker episodes of the revival season, so I might jump ahead to some I've heard are better, to let it put its best foot forward.
11x01 Reptilicus
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark... and it’s this movie!”
With a new MST3K Kickstarter underway, I figured I should finally watch episode(s) from the last one, (a) because I should've got round to them ages ago, and (b) to see if I want to back this new Kickstarter. This one... left me unsure. You see, I always really like the idea of MST3K in theory, but I feel like whenever I actually watch it I’m less convinced. There’s a sense of “throw anything at the wall and hope some of it sticks” about the jokes, rather than the constant barrage of zingers that you’d ideally find. But some of it does stick, so...
Anyway, apparently this is one of the weaker episodes of the revival season, so I might jump ahead to some I've heard are better, to let it put its best foot forward.
Monday, 3 May 2021
Films
Baby Done (2020)
[#98 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Carefree (1938)
[#97 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
[#98 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Carefree (1938)
[#97 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Sunday, 2 May 2021
TV
Line of Duty
6x06 Episode 6
6x07 Episode 7 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x84 Episode 84
3x85 Episode 85
[Watch these episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
6x06 Episode 6
6x07 Episode 7 [season finale]
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x84 Episode 84
3x85 Episode 85
[Watch these episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
this week on 100 Films
Another month gone, another monthly review over at 100 Films in a Year...
Also this week, there was 1 new film review...
Nomadland (2020)
More next Sunday.
Also this week, there was 1 new film review...
Nomadland (2020)
at times the film arguably slips into documentary: most of the supporting cast are real people, playing themselves or versions thereof, so when these people Fern encounters tell their stories, it not only feels real, it is real. There’s a lot of sadness — in the events that have brought people to this place, and in the struggle to live this lifestyle — but a lot of happiness in what it’s given them, too. The net result is a dignified, deeply humane portrait of people who we might describe with negative words like “homeless” or “dispossessed”, but who in reality are free, in their way. It makes for a powerful, quietly moving experience.Read more here.
More next Sunday.
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
This week's biggest release, in just about every sense, is Arrow's 4K box set of Battle Royale, which includes the sequel on regular Blu-ray. I already own Arrow's previous Blu-ray release of BR from over a decade ago, and shamefully have never watched it. This new set should replace that, but the old one has a couple of physical extras that have gone walkabout from the new edition, and it's rather nice in and of itself, so I'm loathe to part with it. I also own both films on DVD and I really should get rid of them now; indeed, I'm not sure why I didn't just get rid of my DVD of the first film last time. It's going now. But my DVD of the second edition comes in a limited edition tin, and so, as a limited edition in fancy packaging, I am once again loathe to say goodbye to it. Sometimes I think I need help...
Speaking of which, I gave in and bought the pretty Curzon Artificial Eye Bong Joon-Ho box set a lot of people have been chatting about. This is now the third edition of Parasite I own, and the second editions for Parasite: Black & White, The Host, and Snowpiercer. That leaves three films in the set I don't have, although none have special features, which bugs me, especially as two of them (Mother and Memories of Murder) have been released in English-friendly editions with extras. Why the hell did I buy it, then? Well, three films I don't own at all isn't that bad a hit rate; this edition of Parasite does have a couple of extras I don't own elsewise; and the transfer of Memories of Murder has a better colour palette than the Criterion edition... although I'd still like to pick that up sometime for its special features.
Yeah, maybe I do need help...
Number of titles in collection: 2,591 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,073 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,518 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 101 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,581 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,012 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 221 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 9,075 [down 5]
Number of short films: 854 [no change]
Oh, and after all that, it's also time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
476 days, 13 hours, and 41 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 17 hours, and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
This week's biggest release, in just about every sense, is Arrow's 4K box set of Battle Royale, which includes the sequel on regular Blu-ray. I already own Arrow's previous Blu-ray release of BR from over a decade ago, and shamefully have never watched it. This new set should replace that, but the old one has a couple of physical extras that have gone walkabout from the new edition, and it's rather nice in and of itself, so I'm loathe to part with it. I also own both films on DVD and I really should get rid of them now; indeed, I'm not sure why I didn't just get rid of my DVD of the first film last time. It's going now. But my DVD of the second edition comes in a limited edition tin, and so, as a limited edition in fancy packaging, I am once again loathe to say goodbye to it. Sometimes I think I need help...
Speaking of which, I gave in and bought the pretty Curzon Artificial Eye Bong Joon-Ho box set a lot of people have been chatting about. This is now the third edition of Parasite I own, and the second editions for Parasite: Black & White, The Host, and Snowpiercer. That leaves three films in the set I don't have, although none have special features, which bugs me, especially as two of them (Mother and Memories of Murder) have been released in English-friendly editions with extras. Why the hell did I buy it, then? Well, three films I don't own at all isn't that bad a hit rate; this edition of Parasite does have a couple of extras I don't own elsewise; and the transfer of Memories of Murder has a better colour palette than the Criterion edition... although I'd still like to pick that up sometime for its special features.
Yeah, maybe I do need help...
Number of titles in collection: 2,591 [up 4]
Of which DVDs: 1,073 [down 2]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,518 [up 6]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 101 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 6,581 [up 12]
Number of films: 3,012 [up 10]
Number of additional cuts: 221 [up 4]
Number of TV episodes: 9,075 [down 5]
Number of short films: 854 [no change]
Oh, and after all that, it's also time for the monthly running time update...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
476 days, 13 hours, and 41 minutes.
(Up 2 days, 17 hours, and 8 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Saturday, 1 May 2021
Films
The Awful Truth (1937)
[#95 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Page Eight (2011)
[#96 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
[#95 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Page Eight (2011)
[#96 in 100 Films in a Year 2021]
Friday, 30 April 2021
TV
Line of Duty
6x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x82 Episode 82
3x83 Episode 83
[Watch these episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
3x03 La Fiera
6x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x82 Episode 82
3x83 Episode 83
[Watch these episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
3x03 La Fiera
Thursday, 29 April 2021
TV
Death in Paradise
10x05 Episode 5
10x06 Episode 6
[Watch series 10 (again) on iPlayer.]
Line of Duty
6x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
10x05 Episode 5
10x06 Episode 6
[Watch series 10 (again) on iPlayer.]
Line of Duty
6x03 Episode 3
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
TV
Line of Duty
6x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Not Going Out
11x04 Old Acquaintance
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
6x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Not Going Out
11x04 Old Acquaintance
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Tuesday, 27 April 2021
TV
Line of Duty
6x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x81 Episode 81
The week where the contestants were Jamelia, Susan Calman, Gareth Malone, and Paul Martin.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
3x02 In Justice
6x01 Episode 1
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
3x81 Episode 81
The week where the contestants were Jamelia, Susan Calman, Gareth Malone, and Paul Martin.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
3x02 In Justice
Monday, 26 April 2021
TV
The 93rd Annual Academy Awards
aka the Oscars. I thought it was quite a good ceremony this year, actually — the differences to normal may have been forced by COVID, but it seemed to make it an actual celebration of the films and filmmakers rather than attemps to please the imagined viewing audience with sketches, etc. Well, until the final few minutes, anyway, when the brazen rearrangement of categories led to a damp squib of a finale. Shame.
The Rookie
3x01 Consequences
aka the Oscars. I thought it was quite a good ceremony this year, actually — the differences to normal may have been forced by COVID, but it seemed to make it an actual celebration of the films and filmmakers rather than attemps to please the imagined viewing audience with sketches, etc. Well, until the final few minutes, anyway, when the brazen rearrangement of categories led to a damp squib of a finale. Shame.
The Rookie
3x01 Consequences
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