Would I Lie To You?
17x04 Episode 4
[Watch it (again) on iPlayer.]
Sunday, 4 February 2024
Games
The Leaf Riders of Wrenwood
29 January – 4 February 2024
I'm still intending to switch to playing this as intended (i.e. daily) once I get through the initial period of "try each character for a week" (this was week 5 of 6 for that), but it is quite fun saving it up and playing a whole week in one go of a Sunday — I may end up doing that instead, long-term.
29 January – 4 February 2024
I'm still intending to switch to playing this as intended (i.e. daily) once I get through the initial period of "try each character for a week" (this was week 5 of 6 for that), but it is quite fun saving it up and playing a whole week in one go of a Sunday — I may end up doing that instead, long-term.
this week on 100Films.co.uk
A new month began for 100Films.co.uk this week (also for everyone else, but, y'know), and so it was time to look back at January — first, with the usual monthly review...
...then, with all (or, at least, many of) the films I'd failed to watch...
More next Sunday. And, this year, I actually mean it!
...then, with all (or, at least, many of) the films I'd failed to watch...
More next Sunday. And, this year, I actually mean it!
Saturday, 3 February 2024
Magazines
Doctor Who Magazine Find the 600!
DWM published its 600th issue this week, and alongside the main mag was this special 16-page supplement of... well, it's a funny one. There's a potted history of the magazine, focusing on just a handful of specific issues from throughout its history; then a spot of silliness in a photo-based comic strip about the creation of the cover (sort of); and then a bunch of random quotes from the 15 'main' Doctors. In the rich history of Doctor Who-related magazine supplements, I'm not sure this is going to be remembered as fondly as, say, the Radio Times ones...
DWM published its 600th issue this week, and alongside the main mag was this special 16-page supplement of... well, it's a funny one. There's a potted history of the magazine, focusing on just a handful of specific issues from throughout its history; then a spot of silliness in a photo-based comic strip about the creation of the cover (sort of); and then a bunch of random quotes from the 15 'main' Doctors. In the rich history of Doctor Who-related magazine supplements, I'm not sure this is going to be remembered as fondly as, say, the Radio Times ones...
Collection Count
Collection Count tracks my DVD/Blu-ray collection via a number of statistics every week.
I thought this week was going to be a completely dead one, but then a small pile of titles turned up this morning, bringing with them all of the following increases...
Number of titles in collection: 3,233 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,217 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 328 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,870 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,975 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 354 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
I thought this week was going to be a completely dead one, but then a small pile of titles turned up this morning, bringing with them all of the following increases...
Number of titles in collection: 3,233 [up 3]
Of which DVDs: 1,016 [no change]
Of which Blu-rays: 2,217 [up 3]
— of which Ultra HD Blu-rays: 328 [up 1]
Number of discs in collection: 7,870 [up 4]
Number of films: 3,975 [up 5]
Number of additional cuts: 354 [up 1]
Number of TV episodes: 9,678 [no change]
Number of short films: 1,115 [up 5]
See you next week, faithful reader.
Friday, 2 February 2024
TV
Blackadder: The Lost Pilot
I think I was expecting the first half of this to be some fluff to pad it to an hour, but it’s a surprisingly good little documentary, both as a history of the pilot and how it was transformed into the series, and as analysis of what does and doesn’t work, etc. Such a shame they ballsed up the rights (or whatever happened) and couldn’t include it on the complete series Blu-ray.
As for the pilot itself, it’s kind of bizarre how much it’s like series 2, considering how much series 1 isn’t like series 2. It’s as if someone saw the pilot and said, “that doesn’t quite work, let’s change it up,” then it took them an entire produced and broadcast series to realise those changes made it worse, before they went back to the original ideas and discovered, actually, they were perfection.
The pilot was also reworked into what’s probably the best episode of series 1, but I’d argue this actually does the same stuff better; partly because of the tone, partly thanks to some surprisingly elaborate bits of choreography (the play that turns into a farce and a climactic sword duel) which are a lot of fun.
I think I was expecting the first half of this to be some fluff to pad it to an hour, but it’s a surprisingly good little documentary, both as a history of the pilot and how it was transformed into the series, and as analysis of what does and doesn’t work, etc. Such a shame they ballsed up the rights (or whatever happened) and couldn’t include it on the complete series Blu-ray.
As for the pilot itself, it’s kind of bizarre how much it’s like series 2, considering how much series 1 isn’t like series 2. It’s as if someone saw the pilot and said, “that doesn’t quite work, let’s change it up,” then it took them an entire produced and broadcast series to realise those changes made it worse, before they went back to the original ideas and discovered, actually, they were perfection.
The pilot was also reworked into what’s probably the best episode of series 1, but I’d argue this actually does the same stuff better; partly because of the tone, partly thanks to some surprisingly elaborate bits of choreography (the play that turns into a farce and a climactic sword duel) which are a lot of fun.
Thursday, 1 February 2024
TV
The Black Adder
1x05 Witchsmeller Pursuivant
1x06 The Black Seal [season finale]
Well, that did improve as it went on, but I think the overall reputation I mentioned in my post for episode one still stands: this is a poor relation to the genius of the series that will follow. Imagine if the poor reception at the time had put them off commissioning series two (as nearly happened) — this would be some standalone oddity, a footnote in everyone's career (if, indeed, they went on to have the careers they had), possibly beloved by a tiny number of fans... Unless, of course, it's actually me that's aged and my tastes changed, and I won't enjoy the future episodes so much either?! Argh! Well, I'll worry about that for a little bit until I start series two...
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Brian May's Brief History of 3D
Remember when everyone was so convinced that 3D was going to take off that Sky even launched a dedicated 3D channel? This was one of their original programmes, back in 2011. Thirteen years ago! Christ. Where does time go? The optimism for 3D is still strong, here — as well as a speedy but interesting history of the medium, it also takes time to look to its then-current and future uses. Of course, such optimism was misplaced. Now, it's back to being a hobby for us few aficionados. Yes, I still have a 3D TV, and I watched this on that in 3D — and lovely it was too, including the chance to see some real rarities — but for the mass audience, even theatrical 3D screenings are dwindling (though that does seem to depend on where you live). Can it ever make a comeback again? Who knows. Glasses always seem to be the major barrier for people. If they can make a glasses-less system, maybe things will be different.
1x05 Witchsmeller Pursuivant
1x06 The Black Seal [season finale]
Well, that did improve as it went on, but I think the overall reputation I mentioned in my post for episode one still stands: this is a poor relation to the genius of the series that will follow. Imagine if the poor reception at the time had put them off commissioning series two (as nearly happened) — this would be some standalone oddity, a footnote in everyone's career (if, indeed, they went on to have the careers they had), possibly beloved by a tiny number of fans... Unless, of course, it's actually me that's aged and my tastes changed, and I won't enjoy the future episodes so much either?! Argh! Well, I'll worry about that for a little bit until I start series two...
[Watch the whole series (again) on iPlayer.]
Brian May's Brief History of 3D
Remember when everyone was so convinced that 3D was going to take off that Sky even launched a dedicated 3D channel? This was one of their original programmes, back in 2011. Thirteen years ago! Christ. Where does time go? The optimism for 3D is still strong, here — as well as a speedy but interesting history of the medium, it also takes time to look to its then-current and future uses. Of course, such optimism was misplaced. Now, it's back to being a hobby for us few aficionados. Yes, I still have a 3D TV, and I watched this on that in 3D — and lovely it was too, including the chance to see some real rarities — but for the mass audience, even theatrical 3D screenings are dwindling (though that does seem to depend on where you live). Can it ever make a comeback again? Who knows. Glasses always seem to be the major barrier for people. If they can make a glasses-less system, maybe things will be different.
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Monday, 29 January 2024
Sunday, 28 January 2024
Comics
Helium by Ian Edginton & D’Israeli
So, here's the series I was referring to in yesterday's 2000 AD listing. Glad I bothered to read this, both because I enjoyed it a lot (it's an action-packed pulp 'dieselpunk' adventure) and because I reckon I'd've been floundering about what's going on in the new run without this grounding. Crazy to think it’s taken eight years for the next part to appear — if I’d read this when originally published, by this point I’d probably assume it’d just come to a downbeat, borderline-unique ending, rather than a cliffhanger.
Read Helium for free here.
So, here's the series I was referring to in yesterday's 2000 AD listing. Glad I bothered to read this, both because I enjoyed it a lot (it's an action-packed pulp 'dieselpunk' adventure) and because I reckon I'd've been floundering about what's going on in the new run without this grounding. Crazy to think it’s taken eight years for the next part to appear — if I’d read this when originally published, by this point I’d probably assume it’d just come to a downbeat, borderline-unique ending, rather than a cliffhanger.
Read Helium for free here.
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