Doctor Who
2x17 The Zarbi
aka The Web Planet Part Two. Whereas the first episode felt like it was deliberately set at a leisurely pace, this one just feels like it’s playing for time. It’s not the production ambition that’s the problem here — it’s easy to forgive ’60s Who its shonky effects; they’re par for the course — it’s the lack of an interesting story.
Friday, 3 March 2023
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x02 A New Life
I guess because Audible has its roots in audiobooks (which I presume just run through the entire book beginning to end), this has no opening or closing credits on individual episodes, which is a bit of a pain when the next part just starts playing automatically.
Anyway, this episode was some more scene setting, albeit with some proper piratical action at the end, and the promise that our heroines have now met.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x02 A New Life
I guess because Audible has its roots in audiobooks (which I presume just run through the entire book beginning to end), this has no opening or closing credits on individual episodes, which is a bit of a pain when the next part just starts playing automatically.
Anyway, this episode was some more scene setting, albeit with some proper piratical action at the end, and the promise that our heroines have now met.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x16 The Web Planet
Carrying right on with season two again, this time into one of Doctor Who's most notorious serials: The Web Planet (obv).
The things that make it infamous don't really crop up much in this first instalment. Instead, we get the Doctor and Ian going for a stroll while Vicki has a lie down and Barbara does some spring cleaning. It’s a bit of a slow starter, this one…
On the bright side, the slower pace allows for an entire scene where Barbara and Vicki just chat about Vicki’s upbringing and the gang’s previous adventure in Rome. It’s the kind of thing that some might regard as a time waster, but it also feels uniquely ’60s Doctor Who — in later eras the serials are so much more discrete, and the modern show often feels too frantic for such detail. I rather liked that.
2x16 The Web Planet
Carrying right on with season two again, this time into one of Doctor Who's most notorious serials: The Web Planet (obv).
The things that make it infamous don't really crop up much in this first instalment. Instead, we get the Doctor and Ian going for a stroll while Vicki has a lie down and Barbara does some spring cleaning. It’s a bit of a slow starter, this one…
On the bright side, the slower pace allows for an entire scene where Barbara and Vicki just chat about Vicki’s upbringing and the gang’s previous adventure in Rome. It’s the kind of thing that some might regard as a time waster, but it also feels uniquely ’60s Doctor Who — in later eras the serials are so much more discrete, and the modern show often feels too frantic for such detail. I rather liked that.
Podcasts
Radio Free Skaro
895 The Exit Interview
The "exit" in question being Chris Chibnall leaving Doctor Who. This near-two-hour episode (I can't say I listened to all of it, just Chibnall and the discussion after) includes an hour-long chat with Chibnall, recorded at the recent Gallifrey One convention, ranging over his entire era — as one of the hosts summarised, the conversation "touched on topics like promotion, budgets, writers' room, Jodie Whittaker, the amazing Covid video that they made, Disney+..." and more. As a fun who loves the nitty gritty of production detail, it's a fantastic interview; indeed, I'd've happily listened to more. Such are time constraints, though. (The above link also includes a full text transcript, FYI.)
[Listen to it (again) on YouTube.]
895 The Exit Interview
The "exit" in question being Chris Chibnall leaving Doctor Who. This near-two-hour episode (I can't say I listened to all of it, just Chibnall and the discussion after) includes an hour-long chat with Chibnall, recorded at the recent Gallifrey One convention, ranging over his entire era — as one of the hosts summarised, the conversation "touched on topics like promotion, budgets, writers' room, Jodie Whittaker, the amazing Covid video that they made, Disney+..." and more. As a fun who loves the nitty gritty of production detail, it's a fantastic interview; indeed, I'd've happily listened to more. Such are time constraints, though. (The above link also includes a full text transcript, FYI.)
[Listen to it (again) on YouTube.]
Tuesday, 28 February 2023
Audio Drama
Hell Cats
1x01 Disguise and Deceit
Released as an Audible Original podcast, this series tells the story of the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — the eponymous "hell cats". I forget where I first heard about it, but I've been meaning to listen for ages; and as I've forked out for Audible for months now without getting round to it, it was more than overdue that I start. This first episode is mostly backstory, detailing the women's childhoods, which clearly set them on their path to outlaw lives.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
1x01 Disguise and Deceit
Released as an Audible Original podcast, this series tells the story of the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read — the eponymous "hell cats". I forget where I first heard about it, but I've been meaning to listen for ages; and as I've forked out for Audible for months now without getting round to it, it was more than overdue that I start. This first episode is mostly backstory, detailing the women's childhoods, which clearly set them on their path to outlaw lives.
[Listen to it (again) on Audible.]
Monday, 27 February 2023
Sunday, 26 February 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x14 Conspiracy
aka The Romans Part Three.
The Wheel
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
2x14 Conspiracy
aka The Romans Part Three.
The Wheel
3x08 Episode 8
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
Comics
2000 AD #2301
Ok, it's taken me a little longer to continue than intended, but I intend to pick up the pace from here. All-new storylines start this prog, most of which I really enjoyed, so there's double incentive to keep at it.
Ok, it's taken me a little longer to continue than intended, but I intend to pick up the pace from here. All-new storylines start this prog, most of which I really enjoyed, so there's double incentive to keep at it.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
8 new reviews were published to 100Films.co.uk this week, but all within one post...
Silent Shorts Summary
More next Sunday.
Silent Shorts Summary
Featuring...Read more here.
- Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900)
- The One-Man Band (1900)
- The Infernal Cauldron (1903)
- Life of an American Fireman (1903)
- The Consequences of Feminism (1906)
- The Dancing Pig (1907)
- Frankenstein (1910)
- What! No Spinach? (1926)
More next Sunday.
Saturday, 25 February 2023
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
For the past few weeks I've been talking about reaching 2,000 Blu-rays before the February running time update. Well, in short, it didn't happen — but it definitely will next week, because the order that should've tipped me over is in the post and currently due to arrive on Monday. Oh well.
There were still some new additions this week, but I'd forgotten that a 4K title I added last week was actually an upgrade from DVD. I've accounted for that this week, but it means most categories show no change at all, because this week's only new additions were a different 4K title and a Blu-ray-to-Blu-ray upgrade.
Number of titles in collection: 3,032 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,034 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,998 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,484 [no change]
Number of films: 3,708 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 304 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,551 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,041 [no change]
But, as I alluded to earlier, it is time for the monthly running time update, so here's that excitement...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
532 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 19 hours, and 25 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
For the past few weeks I've been talking about reaching 2,000 Blu-rays before the February running time update. Well, in short, it didn't happen — but it definitely will next week, because the order that should've tipped me over is in the post and currently due to arrive on Monday. Oh well.
There were still some new additions this week, but I'd forgotten that a 4K title I added last week was actually an upgrade from DVD. I've accounted for that this week, but it means most categories show no change at all, because this week's only new additions were a different 4K title and a Blu-ray-to-Blu-ray upgrade.
Number of titles in collection: 3,032 [no change]
Of which DVDs: 1,034 [down 1]
Of which Blu-rays: 1,998 [up 1]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 239 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,484 [no change]
Number of films: 3,708 [no change]
Number of additional cuts: 304 [no change]
Number of TV episodes: 9,551 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,041 [no change]
But, as I alluded to earlier, it is time for the monthly running time update, so here's that excitement...
Total running time of collection (approx.):
532 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes.
(Up 1 day, 19 hours, and 25 minutes from last month.)
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 24 February 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x12 The Slave Traders
Rolling straight on into the next serial, The Romans. This is always billed as “Doctor Who tries comedy”, but within the first 10 minutes we’ve met slave traders plotting to kidnap our heroes and an innocent old man’s been brutally murdered in a hedge. Barbara does whack Ian over the head during a fight though, so fair’s fair.
2x12 The Slave Traders
Rolling straight on into the next serial, The Romans. This is always billed as “Doctor Who tries comedy”, but within the first 10 minutes we’ve met slave traders plotting to kidnap our heroes and an innocent old man’s been brutally murdered in a hedge. Barbara does whack Ian over the head during a fight though, so fair’s fair.
Thursday, 23 February 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x11 Desperate Measures
aka The Rescue Part Two (of two). After a strong opener with an interesting setup, Part Two almost squanders it trying to justify Barbara killing an innocent creature and everyone patronising Vicki. But the scenes in the Hall of Judgement are suitably atmospheric (Bennett tossing a chair like a petulant child excepted), and the twist is neat. Plus, at just two instalments, the story doesn’t have time to outstay its welcome — none of that Part Three treading water. A few dud parts aside, this struck me as a bit of an underrated adventure.
2x11 Desperate Measures
aka The Rescue Part Two (of two). After a strong opener with an interesting setup, Part Two almost squanders it trying to justify Barbara killing an innocent creature and everyone patronising Vicki. But the scenes in the Hall of Judgement are suitably atmospheric (Bennett tossing a chair like a petulant child excepted), and the twist is neat. Plus, at just two instalments, the story doesn’t have time to outstay its welcome — none of that Part Three treading water. A few dud parts aside, this struck me as a bit of an underrated adventure.
Films
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2010)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two (2011)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Three (2014)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
The three original Marcel the Shell shorts, before I watch the feature film (hopefully soon).
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Two (2011)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Three (2014)
[Watch it (again) on YouTube.]
The three original Marcel the Shell shorts, before I watch the feature film (hopefully soon).
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
TV
Doctor Who
2x10 The Powerful Enemy
aka The Rescue Part One (of two — the second of just six true two-parters in classic Who). Watched on the season two Blu-ray, which I think makes this the first story I've actually watched from one of those Blu-ray releases. Considering we're now almost halfway through the range, that's a bit ludicrous on my part. Really need to dig into them more.
Our Flag Means Death
1x08 We Gull Way Back
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
2x10 The Powerful Enemy
aka The Rescue Part One (of two — the second of just six true two-parters in classic Who). Watched on the season two Blu-ray, which I think makes this the first story I've actually watched from one of those Blu-ray releases. Considering we're now almost halfway through the range, that's a bit ludicrous on my part. Really need to dig into them more.
Our Flag Means Death
1x08 We Gull Way Back
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 19 February 2023
TV
The British Academy Film Awards 2023
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Death in Paradise
11x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x30 Week 6: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
4x21 Mother's Day
4x22 Day in the Hole [season finale]
Really weird season finale: they doled out a major development that affected several ongoing plotlines as a cliffhanger for episode 21, then fundamentally ignored it and its wider implications in the finale (which I therefore assumed was going to be all about resolving the aforementioned plot threads) for what was more of an anywhere-midseason comedy episode kinda thing. Weird.
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Death in Paradise
11x02 Episode 2
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Richard Osman's House of Games
6x30 Week 6: Friday
[Watch various episodes (again) on iPlayer.]
The Rookie
4x21 Mother's Day
4x22 Day in the Hole [season finale]
Really weird season finale: they doled out a major development that affected several ongoing plotlines as a cliffhanger for episode 21, then fundamentally ignored it and its wider implications in the finale (which I therefore assumed was going to be all about resolving the aforementioned plot threads) for what was more of an anywhere-midseason comedy episode kinda thing. Weird.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)