Music

An archive of blog entries about music and music production.

UK TV

Review: I, Davros – Guilt

21 December 2006 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

I, Davros - GuiltThere’s a certain expectation with prequels. At the end of them, you’re supposed to go, “Oh, that‘s why he/she/it did that.” Everything’s supposed to line up with the subsequent stories. It worked with Batman Begins; it sort of worked with Enterprise; even Foundation and Earth and House Atreides et al filled everything in and left you thinking you understood everything a little better. If I sat down and thought about it, I could probably come up with some non-SF prequels that did the same.

So why don’t I feel that way having sat through the whole of I, Davros? Actually, why do I feel ripped off by the whole mini-series?

Continue reading “Review: I, Davros – Guilt”

UK TV

Review: I, Davros – Corruption

20 December 2006 Rob Buckley Post a comment

I, Davros - CorruptionWe’re now up to part three of I, Davros, a potted biography of the inventor of the Daleks and the universe’s least politically correct villain. Cos, you know, those disableds are all evil cos they’re not like everyone else, you know, and they wish they were.

Not at all offensive, no.

Anyway, we’ve already had his slightly twisted childhood in Innocence, his slightly more rational 20s in Purity, and now, in Corruption, we’re up to his halcyon days, running the elite Kaled scientific corps.

Power’s going to his head though.

Continue reading “Review: I, Davros – Corruption”

UK TV

Review: I, Davros – Corruption

20 December 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

I, Davros - CorruptionWe’re now up to part three of I, Davros, a potted biography of the inventor of the Daleks and the universe’s least politically correct villain. Cos, you know, those disableds are all evil cos they’re not like everyone else, you know, and they wish they were.

Not at all offensive, no.

Anyway, we’ve already had his slightly twisted childhood in Innocence, his slightly more rational 20s in Purity, and now, in Corruption, we’re up to his halcyon days, running the elite Kaled scientific corps.

Power’s going to his head though.

Continue reading “Review: I, Davros – Corruption”

Christmas cultural confessions meme

19 December 2006 Rob Buckley 23 Comments

There’s a meme going on, spread by the Struggling Author among others, and I thought I’d join in, since Christmas is a time of sharing. The meme’s challenge is to list the five most embarrassing gaps in your cultural knowledge.

Here are mine. Go ahead and snigger.

1 I don’t read fiction any more

Okay, with the slight exception of Patrick O’Brian’s historical novels (which are more or less non-fiction at times), I don’t read fiction any more, just non-fiction. I just can’t get into it. Maybe it does “illustrate the human condition” or something, but then so does an Oxfam Christmas newsletter or a good psychology text book, usually more succinctly.

2 I haven’t watched Spaced

I really just can’t begin to formulate a reason for this. I just haven’t, even though I know I should. Can you get a cure for this problem on the NHS? Prescription HMV vouchers or something?

3 I’ve not watched The Sopranos

It’s five seasons long. I’m not starting now, no matter how hard my sister begs me to. And you Martin. Yes, you.

4 My indie credentials are gone

The edgiest piece of music I’ve listened to recently was Snow Patrol’s latest album. Every time I switch on XFM in an attempt to fix this problem, they’re playing Razorlight, so that’s no help. The problem’s so bad, I’m like a tone deaf Donald Rumsfeld: I don’t even know how much I don’t know about indie music any more.

5 I’ve only watched three Martin Scorsese films and I didn’t like them

Casino, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver. Hated them all. Absolute pants. Everything else of his I’ve steered clear of. Is this wrong?

News

Tuesday’s news

19 December 2006 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

Best taken with some bacon or a rollmop herring:

Doctor Who

  • David Tennant and Catherine TateIt was the press screening of The Christmas Invasion yesterday, so news and spoilers are all over the place:
  • Colin Baker is to appear in one of Big Finish’s Sapphire and Steel audio plays. League of Gentleman star, future Who guest star and current Who author Mark Gatiss will be returning to the series as Gold. Sarah Douglas from Superman II will be appearing in the season’s (and likely the series’) final episode.

British TV

  • I was wondering a while back what was happening about that remake of The Prisoner, given that Chris Nolan was making a film as well. Turns out, as suspected, that there are two versions going ahead now. Universal, which is behind Nolan’s flick, have the film rights and are still going ahead with a movie. But now US network AMC has come on board with Granada and Sky One to co-produce at least six episodes of a TV version. Production will begin in Spring, with the first episodes airing in the US and the UK in January 2008. It’s going to be an ‘entirely new reinterpretation’. Um…
  • There’s going to be a ratings system for British television, although it’s going to debut in Channel’s 4oD online service.
  • The big ratings winners on digital TV are the networks that spun off from the terrestrial channels.
  • The Hogfather has stolen Torchwood‘s record to become the highest ever rated digital TV show, with 2.8 million viewers. Meanwhile, Torchwood‘s ratings have dropped below Lost‘s again, bringing in 900,000 viewers for BBC3.

US TV

  • Raines has had its order of episodes cut to just seven, even though it won’t air until March. That doesn’t sound promising, does it?
  • E!’s Watch With Kristin has notable news and spoilers, including:
    • Paul Reubens will be appearing in 30 Rock.
    • The BSG spin-off, Caprica, now has a script and is waiting for network approval
    • My Boys has had another nine episodes commissioned
  • Frank Skinner’s British sitcom, Shane, is being remade for the US by its British producers, Avalon. Avalon also has some other comedies up its sleeve, including Evil Genius, about a super-villain who takes over the world and realises it’s bit harder to run than he first thought.
  • The L Word is launching a social networking site.
  • There are format changes ahead for The Class as attempts are made to make the sitcom more conventional. Curses. However, some of its themes of suicide, infidelity, etc will be preserved.
  • One of The Nine‘s producers tries to explain why the show flopped.