Saturday, 10 February 2018
My Secret Battle
I've recently been involved in a battle, but its a secret and I can't tell anyone about it.
Saturday, 20 January 2018
The Big Finish Catch-Up: December 2017
For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues;
First up this month is "Psychodrome" part of a box set featuring the 5th Doctor. As opposed to Nyssa who I'm used to appearing in Big Finish we have Tegan and Adric. Matthew Waterhouse making his first appearance as Adric since his TV days and Janet Fielding is starting to crop up more often - I've heard her in one main range stories and a number of Lost stories. Without doubt this is a strong story which both sounds like its from season 19 and feels like it. Having a freshly regenerated Doctor and an unsure TARDIS crew make for an uneasy feel which adds to the verve of the story. A strongly plotted story with a few swerves its 9/10 from me.
Next up its "A Thousand Tiny Wings" featuring the 7th Doctor and a returning character from earlier in the main range Klein. An atmospheric story set in 1950s Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising. Centered around a group of British women hiding out in an abandoned farm waiting for rescue this story oozes atmosphere and tension. The Doctors relationship with Klein is so interesting yet not the centrepoint of this story which has an interesting mystery plot. A fantastic story with a good mystery that takes the Doctor and Klein in an interesting direction that feels like the start of an interesting plot line 10/10.
First up this month is "Psychodrome" part of a box set featuring the 5th Doctor. As opposed to Nyssa who I'm used to appearing in Big Finish we have Tegan and Adric. Matthew Waterhouse making his first appearance as Adric since his TV days and Janet Fielding is starting to crop up more often - I've heard her in one main range stories and a number of Lost stories. Without doubt this is a strong story which both sounds like its from season 19 and feels like it. Having a freshly regenerated Doctor and an unsure TARDIS crew make for an uneasy feel which adds to the verve of the story. A strongly plotted story with a few swerves its 9/10 from me.
Next up its "A Thousand Tiny Wings" featuring the 7th Doctor and a returning character from earlier in the main range Klein. An atmospheric story set in 1950s Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising. Centered around a group of British women hiding out in an abandoned farm waiting for rescue this story oozes atmosphere and tension. The Doctors relationship with Klein is so interesting yet not the centrepoint of this story which has an interesting mystery plot. A fantastic story with a good mystery that takes the Doctor and Klein in an interesting direction that feels like the start of an interesting plot line 10/10.
Sunday, 7 January 2018
Philippe Coutinho has left Liverpool
In case you've been living under a rock lady and gentle readers you can't help but have noticed that Philippe Coutinho has left Liverpool for Barcelona. I'm sad to see him go but the fact is we've known he wanted to leave for a good few months and it was either going to happen in January or the end of the season. The fact of the matter is players come and go with none of them being bigger than the club. So bye bye little magician and have fun at Barcelona.
However lets look to the present and future, FSG are finally putting their money where their mouth is and shelling out for some good players in Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. We've amassed a squad with the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. We're looking good in attack and we have a fighting chance of finishing top four. In short back Jurgen Klopp, we'll get whoever we get and Klopp will know who he wants. Hopefully for the fans there'll be a bit of buzz throughout January with maybe a new signing coming in. But all in all at the moment for Liverpool fans the reasons to be cheerful outnumber the reasons to be pessimistic.
However lets look to the present and future, FSG are finally putting their money where their mouth is and shelling out for some good players in Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. We've amassed a squad with the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. We're looking good in attack and we have a fighting chance of finishing top four. In short back Jurgen Klopp, we'll get whoever we get and Klopp will know who he wants. Hopefully for the fans there'll be a bit of buzz throughout January with maybe a new signing coming in. But all in all at the moment for Liverpool fans the reasons to be cheerful outnumber the reasons to be pessimistic.
Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Worst to Best: The Films I Saw in the Cinema in 2017
Hello all, here is a quick rating of my trips to the cinema this year;
13. Alien Covenant - utter disappointment.
12. Assassins Creed - not the blockbuster I wanted but an art house film that didn't capture the spirit of the game..
11. Doctor Strange - fun throwaway marvel film.
10. Battle for the Planet of the Apes - unexpectedly good film.
9. Lego Batman - fun!
8. IT - Proper proper good horror blockbuster which effortlessly recreates its era.
7. Spiderman Homecoming - good fun spiderman film and finally a spiderman with a Queens accent.
6. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - very good blockbuster.
5. Beauty and the Beast - very nearly top three and without doubt Luke Evans gives the most unexpected good turn in this years cinema.
Murder on the Orient Express - an outstanding adaption and more of a film than the 70s version which felt like a play.
3. The Last Jedi - good continuation from the previous film with some jaw dropping moments.
2. Thor: Ragnarok - by far the best comedy of the year with marvel fully embracing the cosmic side of things with a main character.
1. Dunkirk - My film of the year and I'd argue that its Christopher Nolans finest, unlike a lot of war films its not overlong and the interweaving three separate strands of time make for unexpected twists and riveting cineman.
13. Alien Covenant - utter disappointment.
12. Assassins Creed - not the blockbuster I wanted but an art house film that didn't capture the spirit of the game..
11. Doctor Strange - fun throwaway marvel film.
10. Battle for the Planet of the Apes - unexpectedly good film.
9. Lego Batman - fun!
8. IT - Proper proper good horror blockbuster which effortlessly recreates its era.
7. Spiderman Homecoming - good fun spiderman film and finally a spiderman with a Queens accent.
6. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - very good blockbuster.
5. Beauty and the Beast - very nearly top three and without doubt Luke Evans gives the most unexpected good turn in this years cinema.
Murder on the Orient Express - an outstanding adaption and more of a film than the 70s version which felt like a play.
3. The Last Jedi - good continuation from the previous film with some jaw dropping moments.
2. Thor: Ragnarok - by far the best comedy of the year with marvel fully embracing the cosmic side of things with a main character.
1. Dunkirk - My film of the year and I'd argue that its Christopher Nolans finest, unlike a lot of war films its not overlong and the interweaving three separate strands of time make for unexpected twists and riveting cineman.
Wednesday, 13 December 2017
The Big Finish Catch-up February - November 2017
For those of you new to this section of the blog, I started listening to the Big Finish Doctor Who releases when they started back in 1999, getting them as they were released up to mid 2002 and release No 33 Neverland. At that time I left Uni and due to being a bit busy with life and what not I only heard one or two releases over the next few years. I started getting back into them around 2008 and was 6 years behind at that point. Due to wondering off into the Lost Doctor range and a relaxed listening pace I fell further behind. In order to catch up I'm listening to two releases a month (or more when its a 60 min single disc release, plus without seeing the cover or knowing anything about the story) and my mission to catch up continues, here are some snap reviews of stories I've heard this year;
The Sontaran Ordeal, from the Classic Doctors/New Monsters box set. A good one featuring a time war era 8th Doctor and the Sontarans. Moody as hell and a bit of a cheat having a classic monster 9/10.
The Skull of Sobek, with the 8th Doctor and Lucie. A so-so unmemorable story 5/10.
Kingdom of Silver, with the 7th Doctor. A very good start but the story loses atmosphere when it changes location 7/10.
Keepsake, a follow up to the last story and lovely intimate story 9/10.
Judoon in Chains, the 6th Doctor in a fun adventure with the Judoon 8/10.
Grand Theft Cosmos, the 8th Doctor and Lucie in a series of events that get more and more out of hand 8/10.
The Doomwood Curse, the 6th Doctor and Charley in the best story I've heard in ages 10/10.
Time Reef, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in an interesting story that doesn't quite fit the episode format 7/10.
Perfect World, a follow up to the last story that left me non-plussed and stopped before it got started 5/10.
The Zygon Who Fell to Earth, good but it needs another episode and rotates between whimsy and dark to much for one episode 6/10.
Hive of Horror, the 4th Doctor in the finale to his first BBC box set. Ends on a high and emotional as its my final story with Wibbsey as I've heard the other box sets 8/10.
Brotherhood of the Daleks, the 6th Doctor and Charley in an intense plot driven story that has one to many ends 9/10.
The Death Collectors and Spiders Shadow, the 7th Doctor in two decent if unmemorable stories 5/10 and 6/10.
The Vengeance of Morbius, the finale of the 8th Doctors second season. Decent with a very good cliffhanger 6/10.
The Raincloud Man, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a follow up to an earlier story and moves between noir and the more fantastic incredibly well 10/10.
Castle of Fear, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in the most fun story I've heard this year 9.5/10.
The Magic Mousetrap, the 7th Doctor in a well plotted mystery 9.5/10.
Papercuts, a good tight story with the 6th Doctor and Charley 7/10.
The Romance of Crime, a fun runaround with the 4th Doctor, Romana and K9 9/10.
Enemy of the Daleks, a moody story featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.
The Eternal Summer, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a well plotted story 8/10.
Patient Zero, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a cracker of a story 10/10.
The Company of Friends, the 8th Doctor in a collection of fun stories with various companions 6/10.
Plague of the Daleks, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a fine finale to the Stockbridge trilogy 8/10.
The Angel of Scutari, good but not as good as other war stories featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance, the original Doctor and team in a rather emotional coda and a-typical story 8/10.
The Scorchies, Jo Grant and the UNIT team in a fun story that will raise a laugh 7/10.
The Sontaran Ordeal, from the Classic Doctors/New Monsters box set. A good one featuring a time war era 8th Doctor and the Sontarans. Moody as hell and a bit of a cheat having a classic monster 9/10.
The Skull of Sobek, with the 8th Doctor and Lucie. A so-so unmemorable story 5/10.
Kingdom of Silver, with the 7th Doctor. A very good start but the story loses atmosphere when it changes location 7/10.
Keepsake, a follow up to the last story and lovely intimate story 9/10.
Judoon in Chains, the 6th Doctor in a fun adventure with the Judoon 8/10.
Grand Theft Cosmos, the 8th Doctor and Lucie in a series of events that get more and more out of hand 8/10.
The Doomwood Curse, the 6th Doctor and Charley in the best story I've heard in ages 10/10.
Time Reef, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in an interesting story that doesn't quite fit the episode format 7/10.
Perfect World, a follow up to the last story that left me non-plussed and stopped before it got started 5/10.
The Zygon Who Fell to Earth, good but it needs another episode and rotates between whimsy and dark to much for one episode 6/10.
Hive of Horror, the 4th Doctor in the finale to his first BBC box set. Ends on a high and emotional as its my final story with Wibbsey as I've heard the other box sets 8/10.
Brotherhood of the Daleks, the 6th Doctor and Charley in an intense plot driven story that has one to many ends 9/10.
The Death Collectors and Spiders Shadow, the 7th Doctor in two decent if unmemorable stories 5/10 and 6/10.
The Vengeance of Morbius, the finale of the 8th Doctors second season. Decent with a very good cliffhanger 6/10.
The Raincloud Man, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a follow up to an earlier story and moves between noir and the more fantastic incredibly well 10/10.
Castle of Fear, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in the most fun story I've heard this year 9.5/10.
The Magic Mousetrap, the 7th Doctor in a well plotted mystery 9.5/10.
Papercuts, a good tight story with the 6th Doctor and Charley 7/10.
The Romance of Crime, a fun runaround with the 4th Doctor, Romana and K9 9/10.
Enemy of the Daleks, a moody story featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.
The Eternal Summer, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a well plotted story 8/10.
Patient Zero, the 6th Doctor and Charley in a cracker of a story 10/10.
The Company of Friends, the 8th Doctor in a collection of fun stories with various companions 6/10.
Plague of the Daleks, the 5th Doctor and Nyssa in a fine finale to the Stockbridge trilogy 8/10.
The Angel of Scutari, good but not as good as other war stories featuring the 7th Doctor, Ace and Hex 7/10.
The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance, the original Doctor and team in a rather emotional coda and a-typical story 8/10.
The Scorchies, Jo Grant and the UNIT team in a fun story that will raise a laugh 7/10.
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
5 Tips for Fortnite
Good afternoon lady and gentle readers, lately I've been playing a lot of "Fortnite" the Battle Royal style computer game. Here are some top tips;
1. Stay out of the storm, players always "get lost in the storm" so always know where the safety zone is and get there with plenty of time to spare.
2. Don't jump straight out of the bus, you start the game by flying over the island in a bus. Don't jump straight out as most people do resulting in a crap game with sometimes 20 players getting killed be fore my feet sometimes hit the ground.
3. Know when to craft, early in the game only use the wood and only use it for stairs. You'll need metal and brick for later in the game to build a fort.
4. Explore the island, if you go to the same places sometimes you get poor loot and guns. Explore the island as the shrinking safety zone can be anywhere on the island.
5. Never run from a fight, if you turn your back on someone you will be shot. Learn how to fight and what weapons are best for short and long range.
1. Stay out of the storm, players always "get lost in the storm" so always know where the safety zone is and get there with plenty of time to spare.
2. Don't jump straight out of the bus, you start the game by flying over the island in a bus. Don't jump straight out as most people do resulting in a crap game with sometimes 20 players getting killed be fore my feet sometimes hit the ground.
3. Know when to craft, early in the game only use the wood and only use it for stairs. You'll need metal and brick for later in the game to build a fort.
4. Explore the island, if you go to the same places sometimes you get poor loot and guns. Explore the island as the shrinking safety zone can be anywhere on the island.
5. Never run from a fight, if you turn your back on someone you will be shot. Learn how to fight and what weapons are best for short and long range.
Sunday, 19 November 2017
Its Christmas - Its not Christmas
An annoying habit is people celebrating Christmas early and earlier with the end result is Christmas themed adverts and TV shows as early as quarter past November. Christmas decorations are already up in some homes as well as shops and it is utterly ridiculous.
I don't know about you lady and gentle reader but its this bloggers opinion to let Christmas be Christmas. Lets not be led into starting early because some shop wants to launch a Black Friday sale, as far as I'm concerned Christmas begins on December the 1st and ends on boxing day. I will not be swayed on the subject and will no doubt be in the Christmas spirit in a little under a fortnight.
I don't know about you lady and gentle reader but its this bloggers opinion to let Christmas be Christmas. Lets not be led into starting early because some shop wants to launch a Black Friday sale, as far as I'm concerned Christmas begins on December the 1st and ends on boxing day. I will not be swayed on the subject and will no doubt be in the Christmas spirit in a little under a fortnight.
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