WOAH.
John Simm is all kinds of awesome.
Also? Bernard Cribbins FTW!
Friday, December 25, 2009
HAPPY WHOMAS!
God bless the BBC!
All geeking aside, I think there are some obvious (and not so obvious) parallels to be drawn between the Son of God and the last of the Timelords.
I hope that everyone, be they religiously-minded or otherwise, spread joy and happiness on this special day, and if you're not keen on the lessons of Jesus, at least have a little think about what The Doctor has taught us.
Happy Christmas!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
AVATAR
Saw AVATAR tonight in 3D. Loved it.
Definitely one of the must-see movies of... forever, really.
I know it has been hugely hyped, but if people can get over their preconception that it's "a sci-fi movie" in the same way that people got over Titanic being "a movie about a boat that sinks", then this is going to take a shitload of money at the box office.
The 3D work is mindblowing, simple as that. Far from simply having "some cool 3D effects", the 3D element breathes life into Cameron's creation for the entirely of the movie.
The story is strong and solid despite being pretty predictable in places, but that works just fine, in fact that it has taken Cameron so long to make the movie actually speaks volumes for the story itself - he obviously had this idea a long time ago and it feels very apt and relevant today. I think that the surprising simplicity of the plot really helps, in that it really is a movie that everyone should be able to appreciate, not just something for sci-fi fans.
The effects? The effects speak for themselves. Go see it.
All the lead actors give outstanding performances, and imho Zoe Saldaña deserves an Oscar nomination for her work here. What would be an award worthy performance in and of itself is elevated by the fact that her physical form in the film is 100% computer generated. Incredible.
I am actually looking forward to seeing it in 2D, as I am intrigued as to whether the story will be as strong without such amazing visuals, seeing as pretty much all the special effects seemed to be created to serve the story, rather than the other way round (yes Transformers 2, I am looking at you!)
All things considered, this could well give Star Trek a run for it's money as my Film Of The Year.
Definitely one of the must-see movies of... forever, really.
I know it has been hugely hyped, but if people can get over their preconception that it's "a sci-fi movie" in the same way that people got over Titanic being "a movie about a boat that sinks", then this is going to take a shitload of money at the box office.
The 3D work is mindblowing, simple as that. Far from simply having "some cool 3D effects", the 3D element breathes life into Cameron's creation for the entirely of the movie.
The story is strong and solid despite being pretty predictable in places, but that works just fine, in fact that it has taken Cameron so long to make the movie actually speaks volumes for the story itself - he obviously had this idea a long time ago and it feels very apt and relevant today. I think that the surprising simplicity of the plot really helps, in that it really is a movie that everyone should be able to appreciate, not just something for sci-fi fans.
The effects? The effects speak for themselves. Go see it.
All the lead actors give outstanding performances, and imho Zoe Saldaña deserves an Oscar nomination for her work here. What would be an award worthy performance in and of itself is elevated by the fact that her physical form in the film is 100% computer generated. Incredible.
I am actually looking forward to seeing it in 2D, as I am intrigued as to whether the story will be as strong without such amazing visuals, seeing as pretty much all the special effects seemed to be created to serve the story, rather than the other way round (yes Transformers 2, I am looking at you!)
All things considered, this could well give Star Trek a run for it's money as my Film Of The Year.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
SPOOKS!!!!!!!
So I finally got the chance to watch the latest episode, and while I can't in all honesty say I loved it (I felt that the main mission-of-the-week felt a little too familiar and found it far too easy to figure out how it tied in to the Big Bad Season Arc), it was largely redeemed by the final act, in particular the incredible editing of a particular scene which really brought the viewer right into the action and confusion of the climax.
The above sentence is deliberately long in an attempt to illustrate what I mean... it's like it didn't pause for.. visual punctutation, so to speak. While Spooks has always had it's fair share of tense and suspenseful moments, it doesn't often feel this frenetic. I was literally on the egde of my seat. Brilliant.
As for that Big Bad Season Arc, we now know pretty much what The Evil Plan is, and OMG?!WTF?! we only have one episode left for Harry and the team to stop them!!!
The preview for the season finale? EPIC.
PS I want a Very Special Episode where Lucas North and Jack Bauer team up.
The above sentence is deliberately long in an attempt to illustrate what I mean... it's like it didn't pause for.. visual punctutation, so to speak. While Spooks has always had it's fair share of tense and suspenseful moments, it doesn't often feel this frenetic. I was literally on the egde of my seat. Brilliant.
As for that Big Bad Season Arc, we now know pretty much what The Evil Plan is, and OMG?!WTF?! we only have one episode left for Harry and the team to stop them!!!
The preview for the season finale? EPIC.
PS I want a Very Special Episode where Lucas North and Jack Bauer team up.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
GLEE!
WOW.
Okay so it's not got spies or explosions or time-travel but this needs mentioning.
As mid-season finales go, that was bloody incredible!!!
My mind is actually having trouble interpreting the thoughts into words regarding just how blown away I was by Lea Michell's rendition of Rain On My Parade. I did NOT see that coming and it knocked me for six!
In fact I was most relieved when the rest of the kids came into the auditorum partway through because up until the I was somehwat mesmerised in stunned silence at just how.. perfect it was. Not only did it stand up vocally in and of itself, but it was just utterly in character for Rachel after all she had been through during the season. Genius choice of song and I think the perfomance beats out a previous favourite of mine (by Aimie Atkinson at finals of BBC Voice Of Musical Theate competition a few years ago).
As well as that, some great songs (as usual) and some HUGE plot turns which will doubtless have people eager to tune in again when the season continues next year.
In Sue Sylvester, Jane Lynch has truly created a monster, and I'm not sure what pleases me the most, seeing her taken down a peg or two or watching her juicy comebacks. Truly a character to love to hate and clear standout of the finle, despite the limited screen time.
Jayma Mays is simply adorable. ADORABLE!
That the final moments managed to achive such poignancy despite being so deeply soaked in the cheese that Gleeks have been sampling on a regular basis is a great testament to the show being far more than the sum of it's parts.
Logically it shouldn't work, but it just kinda... does.
It will be a looooooooooooooong wait until the spring. :(
Okay so it's not got spies or explosions or time-travel but this needs mentioning.
As mid-season finales go, that was bloody incredible!!!
My mind is actually having trouble interpreting the thoughts into words regarding just how blown away I was by Lea Michell's rendition of Rain On My Parade. I did NOT see that coming and it knocked me for six!
In fact I was most relieved when the rest of the kids came into the auditorum partway through because up until the I was somehwat mesmerised in stunned silence at just how.. perfect it was. Not only did it stand up vocally in and of itself, but it was just utterly in character for Rachel after all she had been through during the season. Genius choice of song and I think the perfomance beats out a previous favourite of mine (by Aimie Atkinson at finals of BBC Voice Of Musical Theate competition a few years ago).
As well as that, some great songs (as usual) and some HUGE plot turns which will doubtless have people eager to tune in again when the season continues next year.
In Sue Sylvester, Jane Lynch has truly created a monster, and I'm not sure what pleases me the most, seeing her taken down a peg or two or watching her juicy comebacks. Truly a character to love to hate and clear standout of the finle, despite the limited screen time.
Jayma Mays is simply adorable. ADORABLE!
That the final moments managed to achive such poignancy despite being so deeply soaked in the cheese that Gleeks have been sampling on a regular basis is a great testament to the show being far more than the sum of it's parts.
Logically it shouldn't work, but it just kinda... does.
It will be a looooooooooooooong wait until the spring. :(
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Spooks!!!!!!
I had to record this last night and watch this morning as I wasn't feling well, but it was well worth the wait!!
In fact this 6th episode might well have been my favourite of the season so far. By combining what would have been a solid mission-of-the-week in and of itself with the larger story arc, I think it managed to be more than the sum of it's parts and really pushed the OMGness of this year's seasonal mystery into a timely frenzy.
I thought the Sarah/Lucas showdown was perfectly scripted and utterly convincing, and Harry's concern/support for the Home Secretay was just wonderfully played.
While the trailer for next weeks looks at first glance to be very standalone, I think if you consider the implications, the proverbial shit is really going to be hitting the fan!
It just sucks that couple of weeks from now it will all be over for another year. :(
In fact this 6th episode might well have been my favourite of the season so far. By combining what would have been a solid mission-of-the-week in and of itself with the larger story arc, I think it managed to be more than the sum of it's parts and really pushed the OMGness of this year's seasonal mystery into a timely frenzy.
I thought the Sarah/Lucas showdown was perfectly scripted and utterly convincing, and Harry's concern/support for the Home Secretay was just wonderfully played.
While the trailer for next weeks looks at first glance to be very standalone, I think if you consider the implications, the proverbial shit is really going to be hitting the fan!
It just sucks that couple of weeks from now it will all be over for another year. :(
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Spooks Season 9 confirmed!
On Saturday I embarked on a secret highly classfied mission to attend the Collectormania event in London and obtain Peter Firth's autograph.
Not only was this mission a success, but when I casually enquired as to whether he thought the BBC might commsion another year of the show, he told me that they were, it had been confirmed to him recently and he is due to start filming in February!
YES!!!
He also agreed with me that given the brilliance of the show it would only be right for the powers-that-be to give it a tenth as it is thoroughly deserving of a decade. By the sound of it if they did he would definitely want to be on board. Here's hoping that Harry Pearce will be protecting us for a good while yet.
Not only was this mission a success, but when I casually enquired as to whether he thought the BBC might commsion another year of the show, he told me that they were, it had been confirmed to him recently and he is due to start filming in February!
YES!!!
He also agreed with me that given the brilliance of the show it would only be right for the powers-that-be to give it a tenth as it is thoroughly deserving of a decade. By the sound of it if they did he would definitely want to be on board. Here's hoping that Harry Pearce will be protecting us for a good while yet.
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