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Showing posts from October, 2014

Doctor Who: In the Forest of the Night - VIDEO REVIEW

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Another episode, another review. I did not have much time to edit this together, hence the lack of the usual jump-cuts!

First Thoughts on 'The Flash' (Pilot)

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The Flash is finally here! After a huge marketing campaign started earlier this year, with two tie-in episodes of 'Arrow' season two, followed by the trailer release, and finally the series. Numerous other stuff has been released in between, as well as the announcement of a Flash action figure (which incidentally looks cool). The Pilot is essentially the origin story for Barry Allen becoming the Flash, complete with narration, a tragic back-story (which has a nice unique element to which I'll talk about later), brooding characters, sequel/series set-up and some woods from an old friend to help Barry on his way. Its not secret that this is a spin-off to Arrow, but Flash does a good job at standing on its own. Oliver Queen's cameo may not help new viewers, but for Arrow fans as well, its a really great moment to see the two side-by-side as heroes, even if Oliver looks more clean-shaven and particularly smiley and cheerful. The tone is very different from Arrow as well

Thoughts on new Marvel Studios film announcements

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Earlier today, the following Marvel Movies were announced with release dates: Captain America: Civil War (6/5/2016) Doctor Strange (4/11/2016) Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (5/5/2017) Thor: Ragnarok (28/7/2017) Black Panther (3/11/2017) Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 (4/5/2018) Captain Marvel (6/7/2018) Inhumans (2/11/2018) Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2 (3/5/2019) If any other studio had announced these films, I would have been skeptical, but if its Marvel Studios, then I have high hopes from the get-go. Each film sounds unique and interesting, and with their current track record, they should all be pretty awesome movies. I am no expert on comic books, but I'm pretty excited to see what these new films over the coming five years have got for us. Glad to see Avengers: Infinity War is a two-movie epic though. This is of course adding to the current set of Marvel films: Avengers: Age of Ultron (24/4/2015) Ant-Man (17/7/2015) The teaser posters/logos for the ann

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 2, Episode 1 Review

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Agents of SHIELD opened its second season last Friday and...that was a bit of a shaky start. I watched the episode the first time with family (most of whose conversations lasted longer than the adequate ad-break time), so I ended up missing certain crucial elements, but felt the episode to be a weak entry from the show. When I watched the second time, I liked it a lot more, and was actually able to hear the dialogue! After a quick recap on last season (sneakily editing out Samuel L Jackson's brilliant final scene putting Coulson in charge of SHIELD and Coulson's writing on the wall), we open in 1945 where Agent Peggy Carter (from Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel One Shots: Agent Carter and the new Marvel's Agent Carter TV show, set to air next year) and some Howling Commandos (who, would you believe it, had some dialogue and almost get personalities!) as they take over a Hydra base. Plot hole though - wasn't the Agent Carter short set a year after WWII

Doctor Who: In the Forest of the Night (Series 8 Episode 10) - MINI REVIEW

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Doctor Who: Flatline - VIDEO REVIEW

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Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) - Teaser Trailer REACTION

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Where shall I begin? Ultron (voiced by James Spader), sounds absolutely terrifying, from his Pinocchio-esque speech on strings to just his huge, robot self. Even when he's little more than a charred Iron Man robot, he looks frightening! The CGI still needs to be polished in places (and by that I mean one or two shots), but he looks utterly fantastic! He looks to be the best villain of MCU since Loki, but completely different. Move over Batman v Superman, because this superhero cross-over actually has released a trailer, and it is badass. There are so many hints at the Avengers themselves. There's no sign of Vision, but if the rumours about Captain America 3 are correct, than I can definitely see the beginnings of Tony Stark's arc leading him there. Thor seems pretty angry at Tony, and even drops his hammer (no idea how to spell the name) almost in defeat! Cap and Black Widow look cool. Let's be honest though, since The Winter Soldier , Cap has just become plain awe

Doctor Who: Flatline (Series 8, Episode 9) - MINI REVIEW

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Yet another excellent script from Jamie Mathieson. Two absolutely brilliant scripts in a row? One being the best of the series so far, and the best episode since 'The Name of the Doctor' (2013)? A third script is definitely needed. Its good to see that Who's new talent isn't just scripts like 'Kill the Moon' and has true gems like 'Flatline' and 'Mummy on the Orient Express'. The episode was truly brilliant, albiet with some poor supporting characters (the train driver was unnecessary and as for the Warden...how clichéd and annoying can you get?). We also has YET ANOTHER cameo from Danny Pink, which I did think might go somewhere, although maybe it will in the next three episodes. Its difficult to say without knowing what's going to happen in future episodes, but all in all, another brilliant episode. The Boneless was creepy and the visual FX were very impressive. Rigsy was a great character, although he wasn't as developed as he could

Thoughts on DC Cinematic Universe Announcement

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OK guys, so yesterday Warner Bros and DC Entertainment announced 10 new DC Movies to be released from 2016 to 2020: Just imagine this, but dark, gritty and Nolan-style. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (25/3/16) Suicide Squad (5/8/16) Wonder Woman (23/6/17) Justice League: Part 1 (17/11/17) The Flash (23/3/18) Aquaman (27/7/18) Shazam (5/4/19) Justice League: Part 2 (14/6/19) Cyborg (3/4/20) Green Lantern (19/6/20) For the most part, I'm happy with this list. I'm excited for Batman v Superman, Justice League: Parts 1 and 2, and as for Wonder Woman - hire Joss Whedon if you have ANY sense DC. Then again... Shazam sounds like a great flick and its a shame that it won't actually be part of the Justice League, but good on the film-makers for making their own self-contained film. Justice League being in two parts sounds like a good idea, Aquaman has potential, as does Cyborg. As for the Green Lantern reboot, adapt the animated movie 'First Flight'

Gotham - Episode 1 'Pilot' Review

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Gotham certainly has some big shoes to fill, making it stand out against other DC Comics TV shows and as a prequel to Batman. Sadly though, I feel it still has a while before becoming its own show instead of simply a prequel to the famous Dark Knight's story. The focus on the Waynes' murders, Bruce Wayne's struggle as an orphan, the start of origin stories for villains and an overall theme of 'this is before Batman' makes Gotham just fall back into the shadows of nothing special. The 50 minute Pilot introduces some interesting elements, such as James Gordon's struggle in a corrupt Gotham Police Force, as well as Oswald Cobblepot on his journey to become the Penguin. However, the cameo from Edward Nygma felt unnecessary and not-so-subtle as I would have liked, and as for the Ivy Pepper cameo...really? Ivy Pepper? Not Pamela Isely, Ivy Pepper? Of course they aren't at all hinting at her becoming Poison Ivy... Easily the best hint at Batman future was th

Autumn 2014 TV - What to look forward to?

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Well folks, its that time that isn't happening again, but anyway, here are my thoughts on some TV shows coming up this Autumn: Doctor Who: Series 8  - The series has already aired 8 great episodes, but the remaining 4 are undoubtedly the most intriguing. Who is Missy? Is she the woman in the shop? What are the Cybermen doing? Will Clara die? Will Danny die? Will Courtney die? Is Heaven real...? All these questions should be interesting to find out the answers to, and then its the Christmas episode! Will Clara die in that one instead, or simply leave? Who knows... Doctor Who series 8 continues from Saturday 18th October to Saturday 8th November 2014. Marvel's Agents of SHIELD: Season 2  - Season 1 of the Marvel show has been met with some mixed criticisms, although by the end it did gain a fanbase to defend its faults. Was it really as bad as its reputation suggests? No, of course it wasn't. While far from being the next Firefly (Joss Whedon's best work if you

First Thoughts on 'Arrow' Season 2 (Episodes 6-23)

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Oh boy, this will be difficult. 18 episodes to talk about. Put simply, I have really enjoyed Arrow's second season, from story to characters. If I'm honest, Sara is a character I was looking forward to seeing a resolution with her at the end of the season, but from the looks of the Season 3 trailers, it seems that's still to come. She was beginning to outstay her welcome, featuring in both the modern scenes and the island scenes each episode. Speaking of the island, it was great to see the full character arc of Slade Wilson come to a close by the end of the season, even if it wasn't in chronological order exactly. It all added up and worked perfectly well. We also didn't have every episode focused on the island, with one on Diggle's past, and one showing an event that helped conclude Moira Queen's character arc. Oh, and speaking of Moira Queen - her death scene was quite possibly the best written sequence Arrow has ever delivered us. The pacing, directi

Doctor Who: Mummy on the Orient Express - VIDEO REVIEW

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Doctor Who: Mummy on the Orient Express (Series 8, Episode 8) - MINI REVIEW

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Jamie Mathieson, you can return. Tell you what, you can write next week's episode if you like...oh, you are. OK. Anywho (get it?) we get our first 10/10 for this series and it was well-deserved by the episode. Such a shame Frank Skinner left at the end; maybe we'll get some good jokes on the next series of Room 101!

Doctor Who: Kill the Moon - VIDEO REVIEW

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Doctor Who: Kill the Moon (Series 8, Episode 7) - MINI REVIEW

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Despite my high hopes, the episode was a big disappointment, with a poor resolution that completely destroyed the moral dilemma of the episode, terrible use of the spider-germs and bad writing on the part of the supporting characters, who either died within ten minutes or were just plain old boring. There was some good acting, a good premise, structure and a great use of the Moon setting, which led to some eerie moments. Such a shame the atmosphere (ha-ha) wasn't there in the interior scenes.

First Thoughts on 'Arrow' Season 2 (Episodes 1-5)

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Season 2 of 'Arrow' was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 22nd September, and for my Birthday six days later I got...that. Anyway, this is my thoughts on the first few episodes of 'Arrow': Season 2. So the whole premise of this season is that Diggle and Felicity have brought Oliver back home to help his imprisoned mother (who is facing life sentence), look after his young sister Thea (who incidentally graduated from school without telling anyone), and prevent Queen Consolidated from being taken over by non-badass River Tam (please tell me she is secretly a badass villain or something). However, when Oliver reluctantly returns and sees that Starling City is in utter ruin with more crime than ever, its up to him to return as the vigilnate in order to bring justice to this city. With a posh new bow, altered theme tune and a new moral code (thanks to Tommy's death last season), Oliver Queen decides to save the city, no longer as 'the Hood', but as...'the Ar

Doctor Who: The Caretaker - VIDEO REVIEW

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An audio review? Yeah, sorry guys, but the video will explain why its a slide show with my voice sounding very ill over the top of it.