Third-episode verdict: Flash Gordon

30 August 2007 Rob Buckley 1 Comment

It’s around now – well, truth be told, it should have been a number of days ago – that I passed a third-episode verdict on Flash Gordon. However, as we all know from the clearly defined rules of The Carusometer, if there’s a sudden change in quality, either upwards or downwards, we have to hold off until episode five before deciding a show’s final rating.

In Flash‘s case, episode three was a marked improvement on the first couple of episodes. The show’s now going for more or less full-on comedy, the characters are improving, Mongo is getting a bit more alien – the only thing that hasn’t improved is Ming, who I think simply misses having a throne.

So episode five it’ll be before the final ruling comes in. Unlike Ming, we’re merciful round here.

Quick Bourne Identity/Supremacy question

30 August 2007 Rob Buckley 2 Comments

Is the guy who shoots Conklin (Chris Cooper) at the end of Identity supposed to be the same character as the German Treadstone agent Bourne meets in Supremacy?

Reasons for

  1. Character 2 is described as the only other remaining Treadstone agent. What about character 1 then, unless they’re the same person?
  2. They look very similar
  3. They’re both based in Germany

Reasons against

  1. They’re played by different actors
  2. The characters have different names (at least according to the script; it’s not mentioned onscreen)
  3. Character 1 is based in Hamburg, Character 2 in Munich, but Bourne tells him he should have moved

What do you all think? Anyone have wisdom on this score?

Anyway, I’m off to see The Bourne Ultimatum now. I hear it’s good.

News

Thursday’s “it’s a good job everyone’s on holiday or else they’d be bored with the lack of news today?” news

30 August 2007 Rob Buckley Post a comment

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Finally! Decent TV in the UK iTunes Store

29 August 2007 Rob Buckley 3 Comments

Here’s the copied and pasted press release. Not everything we could hope for, but it’s a start:
Apple Announces Hit Television Programming Now Available on the iTunes Store in the UK
The Walt Disney Company’s ABC Studios & Disney Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon & Paramount Comedy Offer Wide Range of Programmes on iTunes
LONDON – August 29, 2007 – Apple today announced that hit television programming from ABC Studios, Disney Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy is now available for £1.89 an episode from the iTunes Store in the UK (http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/). iTunes customers can choose from a wide range of popular primetime programming including the Emmy Award-winning series “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ugly Betty” and locally-produced UK series such as MTV’s “Barrio 19,” Nickelodeon’s “Genie in the House” and Paramount Comedy’s “Comedy Blue.” The iTunes Store in the UK currently offers 28 television programmes for purchase and download which can be viewed on a PC or Mac, fifth generation iPod, or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV®.
“We’re thrilled to bring TV programming to the iTunes Store in the UK,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We’ve got 28 shows and expect to continue to add more great programming.”
The complete list of television programming on the iTunes Store in the UK includes:
• Disney’s ABC Studios’ dramas and comedy-dramas “Lost,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Ugly Betty,” “Commander in Chief” and “Nightstalker;”
• Disney Channel’s renowned children’s programming including “Jake Long: American Dragon,” “Kim Possible,” “That’s So Raven,” “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and Playhouse Disney titles “Handy Manny,” “Little Einsteins” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse;”
• MTV’s reality favourites “Pimp My Ride,” “Barrio 19,” “Bam’s Unholy Union,” “Laguna Beach,” and “My Sweet Sixteen;”
• Nickelodeon children’s programming “Avatar: The Legend of Aang,” “Drake and Josh,” “Dora the Explorer,” “Genie in the House” and “SpongeBob SquarePants;” and
• Paramount Comedy hits “South Park,” “Comedy Blue,” “Jongleurs Unleashed: Part I,” “That 70’s Show” and “The World Stands Up.”