What I Watched This Week (w/e June 22nd 2008)

This week was mostly taken up by watching review discs and season two of House, but there was also rugby, F1 and boxing on television and I've continued to try and catch up on the backlog of reading material.

DVD

House M.D.: Season 2 - As with season one, this is compelling television with a great character in Dr. House, brilliantly played by Hugh Laurie, and a superb supporting cast. I don't know where they keep getting these obscure diseases and conditions from! The final episode was excellent, with a nice guest appearance by Elias Koteas. It can't be too long before I buy season three.

300 - As with the graphic novel, this is something with which you first look at the aesthetic and then the narrative. Zack Snyder has stayed very faithful to Frank Miller and Lynn Varney's comic book, with some scenes straight from the page, but this isn't up there with the greatest comic book adaptations. :)

Them - An extremely impressive and nerve-jangling French horror that does more by showing nothing than most films achieve with all sorts of bloodlust. I saw this a while ago and enjoyed it more the second time around. :D

Mad Men: Season 1 - A fantastic piece of television which, like most series, completely passed me by when it was originally screened - full review on the site.

Bloodbath at the House of Death - I didn't watch this review disc because it contained a DivX of Lindsay Shonteff's bawdy drama Take Some Girls which, by the way, is terrible!

Classic Marathon 1992 - An ok package of an interesting event with great classic cars and stunning Alpine scenery - full review on the site.

Now You See Me, Now You Don't - A very accomplished piece by Hungarian filmmaker Attila Szász - full review on the site.

Love in the Time of Cholera - Beautifully shot but ultimately unsatisfactory - full review to follow shortly.

A Year in Provence - A terrific adaptation of Peter Mayle's book - full review to follow shortly.

Cinema

The Happening - Just abysmal - better than Lady in the Water but that's not saying much as this sanctimonious and badly acted piece of tosh just makes you wonder what happened to the talent that made The Sixth Sense. >:(

Television

New Zealand vs. England - England were torn apart and the All Blacks will go into the Tri-Nations on a high and joint favourites with the Springboks.

Ireland 'A' vs. Argentina XV - An interesting game, with some impressive play by the Irish but it's a shame that Argentina didn't have much of a cutting edge and that the highlight was the handbags at ten paces.

Scotland 'A' vs. England Saxons - Scotland were much better than I expected but the Saxons, as they have done throughout the Churchill Cup tournament, were fitter and stronger than their opponents in the last quarter, retaining the cup. Jordan Crane was a deserved Man of the Tournament.

Amir Khan vs. Michael Gomez - The fact that Khan was knocked down and badly hurt by a shop-worn blown up super-featherweight speaks volumes about his chances in world class against one of the champions.

F1 French Grand Prix - This always looked like being a Ferrari 1-2, but I didn't expect it to be in the order it was - Raikkonen's knackered exhaust saw to that. The burnt hole in his bodywork was a sight at the end of the race.