Archive for the ‘Television: British and Canadian’ Category
Blightyvision Special: “Much Ado About Nothing”
Starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate Directed by Josie Rourke Theatre, especially London theatre, is such a mess when it comes to seeing (or rather not seeing) performances. It’s not like movies, where time and money and intention will get you to it at some point. You can have the time and location and finances [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: Catherine Tate, david tennant, downloadable, modern restaging, stage performance, who's not who, William Shakespeare
Blightyvision: “Sherlock” Series 2
Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss Written by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, and Steve Thompson Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Andrew Scott After the ending of the first series of Sherlock, a friend tweeted desperately to Steven Moffat that clearly he forgot to deliver the next episode to the BBC. For more than [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: benedict cumberbatch, mark gatiss, martin freeman, modern retelling, mystery, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, the moff
Producers Guild of America Awards
Well, it’s sort of coming out at a bad time, considering Sundance is going on right now, but the Producers Guild of America held their awards show this weekend and we may be getting a good look at a barometer for the Oscars. The Artist has picked up another ‘Best Picture’ award, this one the [...]
In: Events, Movies, Television: British and Canadian, Television: U.S.A. · Tagged with: Producers Guild of America, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, The Artist
Blightyvision: “Treasure Island”
Directed by Steve Barron Adapted by Stewart Harcourt Starring Eddie Izzard, Toby Regbo and Rupert Penry-Jones If you had told College Me that Eddie Izzard would someday be killing it in a serious period drama, my response would likely have been “Right, and next you’ll be telling me that North kid will actually survive as a grown-up actor.” [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian
Blightyvision: “Merlin” Series 4
Created by Julian Jones, Julian Murphy, Johnny Capps, Jake Michie Starring John Hurt, Colin Morgan and Bradley James After catching up to “Merlin” in time to be ready for the new series, I skulked around listening to fandom buzz just to see what other people thought of it. I don’t see it as a guilty pleasure so much as a [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: Anthony Head, arthurian, bradley james, colin morgan, fantasy, john hurt
Blightyvision: Doctor Who: “The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe”
Written by Steven Moffat Directed by Farren Blackburn Starring Matt Smith, Claire Skinner, and Bill Bailey Even fans who are completely anti-Moff-era have admitted that, yes, under his supervision the Christmas specials have become more Christmasy. With only one or two notable exceptions, they’ve tended to be off in their own little world, but after [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian
Blightyvision: Black Mirror
Created by Charlie Brooker Written by Charlie Brooker (“The National Anthem” and “15 Million Merits”), Konnie Huq (“15 Million Merits”), and Jesse Armstrong (“The Entire History of You”) Starring Rory Kinnear and Lindsey Duncan (“The National Anthem”), Daniel Kaluuya and Jessica Brown-Findlay (“15 Million Merits”), Toby Kebbell and Jodie Whittaker (“The Entire History of You”) [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: black comedy, charlie brooker, dark comedy, rory kinnear, satire, technology, utterly horrifying
Blightyvision: “Death in Paradise”
Created by Robert Thorogood Starring Ben Miller, Sara Martins, and Danny John-Jules I kept an ear to the ground (or, rather, to the Twitter) when it came to “Death in Paradise.” Reviews from individual viewers were mixed. Some enjoyed it, some were apathetic, and others believed it was not “thrilling” or “mysterious” enough. It struck [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: ben miller, comedy, murder mystery, mystery
Blightyvision: “Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes”
Written by David Pirie Directed by Paul Marcus Starring Ian Richardson and Charles Edwards Well, ’tis the season and all that. A Game of Shadows comes out tomorrow, with the second season of the Cumberbatch/Moff “Sherlock” premiering on New Year’s Day. And thus the Sherlockians divide themselves even further — which, other than giving me [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: charles edwards, detective series, ian richardson, murder mystery, mystery, Sherlock Holmes, very nearly based on a true story
Blightyvision: “ShakespeaRe-Told”
Directed by Mark Brozel, Ed Fraiman, Brian Percival, and David Richards Starring James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, Billie Piper, Shirley Henderson, and David Mitchell There’s only one area where I don’t try frantically to skip through DVD previews, and that’s on BBC releases. Why? Because if you sit and watch, you’ll see a dozen shows you’ve [...]
In: Columns, Television: British and Canadian · Tagged with: adaptations, billie piper, david mitchell, James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, modern retelling, William Shakespeare