(Actually I should also add that the set is labelled "M15+ Recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over" - which may also indicate that these aren't the equivalent of the Beeb's chopped episodes.)

(Actually I should also add that the set is labelled "M15+ Recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over" - which may also indicate that these aren't the equivalent of the Beeb's chopped episodes.)

Amazon seem to think the ultimate boxset is rated 18 - must be some really good bits that were censored (Although, they also seem to think it only contains 2 discs. Play seems to be better, details-wise)

Oooh, hang on a minute! Allegedly 26th feb. Yay!

Anything but the Torchwood roundup, because I'm doing that at some point

See Mongrel's post

Although I will do a roundup at some point, when I get the chance

possibly getting everyone involved to write a section

Oooh, hang on a minute! Allegedly 26th feb. Yay!

Only 25 days to go!!11!!1!111!3.14159!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordered Title Price Dispatched Subtotal
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Amazon.co.uk items (Sold by Amazon EU S.a.r.L.):

1 Ghost In The Shell - Stand... £29.99 1 £29.99

Shipped via Royal Mail (estimated arrival date: 27-February-2007).

*wonders if there's enough time to squeeze in a rewatch of the first season*

Primeval may or may not be shit (depending on if I can make my mind up in time)
[...]
I can't be arsed doing proper Primeval articles at the moment, Like Wot I Said I Would Be Doing.

Cheers,
Rich.

Only 2ish days to go!!!!11231312312£!"£!

Primeval may or may not be shit (depending on if I can make my mind up in time)
[...]
I can't be arsed doing proper Primeval articles at the moment, Like Wot I Said I Would Be Doing.

I think your mind is already made up, you just can't admit it.

Primeval may or may not be shit (depending on if I can make my mind up in time)
[...]
I can't be arsed doing proper Primeval articles at the moment, Like Wot I Said I Would Be Doing.

I think your mind is already made up, you just can't admit it.

Well, I don't. So far it has been shit, but then the crazy wifey thing appeared, and suddenly I'n not so sure anymore. This presents them with the opportunity to do something interesting, it's just a question of whether they follow through with it.

Which they probably won't.

But in order to actually find out, I'll have to watch the next episode.

And of course, all the other shit aspects of the show aren't likely to change if they do follow through - so there's very little chance of it becoming good simply because they're doing something interesting with crazy wifey.

Cheers,
Rich.

I refer the right honourable gentleman to my previous response.

Also, if they were going to do something interesting, they would have saved the "wifey" until the cliffhanger at the end of season 1.

I refer the right honourable gentleman to my previous response.

Err, no. If, by some miracle, it turns out to be good, then I'm willing to accept that. Therefore, my mind is not made up.

Also, if they were going to do something interesting, they would have saved the "wifey" until the cliffhanger at the end of season 1.

By which time everyone would have stopped watching and not notice.

And who says they can't do the interesting stuff now, while they still have a chance to regain some credibility?

It isn't written in stone that you should always put big show-changing elements at the end of seasons.

Cheers,
Rich.

If Jesus Christ himself shows up at my doorstep and performs a miracle, I'd change my opinions of him too, but until such time I think I already have enough information to make up my own mind.

Not if they did something interesting, like providing the team with a credible nemesis: not some PS2-quality duck-billed dino (which is either a man-eater or not, depending on the pay scale of the actor in the water) but someone who's ahead of the curve and knows what they're going to do next before they do; someone who has not only been there and done that, but was also married to the guy in charge?

I know it's a rule of thumb that shit pilot equals good series, but shit pilot and shit episodes through the first half of the first season when you've got your only opportunity to grab viewers...?

but until such time I think I already have enough information to make up my own mind.

I've highlighted the important bit, there. Primeval has shown evidence that it could become good - should I simply ignore that when trying to come to a conclusion about it?

And how would they know about this nemesis, if they've given up watching?

You're trying to convince me that I've come to the conclusion that Primeval is shit.

So you admit yourself that she would be an interesting and worthwhile adversary, but then you scorn me for supporting the move to introduce her now?

Cheers,
Rich.

What evidence? State your case, man!

The whole point of having a credible nemesis is to make it not shit, so people would be watching it.

You need to make the bad shit a credible threat - which I don't think the dinos are - and you need to make the resolution thrilling and interesting - which just isn't happening.

They could have made so much more of her.

...which actually started as a throwaway comment

As it is, you're spending more time arguing with me than writing the article.

I said she *could* have been a worthwhile adversary, but the way they've handled it has been poor and they're ruined the chance.

What evidence? State your case, man!

Where Main Bloke met with her, and found out that she's certifiably insane.

The whole point of having a credible nemesis is to make it not shit, so people would be watching it.

But if that nemesis only appears at the end of the series, then they'd have no reason to watch beyond the first couple of episodes in order to find out that the nemesis actually appears.

You need to make the bad shit a credible threat - which I don't think the dinos are - and you need to make the resolution thrilling and interesting - which just isn't happening.

A few dinos a week certainly isn't a credible threat. But they're also saying things that open them up to the possibility of introducing many more dinos, say a few thousand or million.

They could have made so much more of her.

Who's to say they're finished with her? She clearly isn't happy about being back, and having nosy government types poking their noses into "her" discovery which is hers and hers alone.

...which actually started as a throwaway comment

As it is, you're spending more time arguing with me than writing the article.

That's because I'm at work. Forum whoring is generally OK (particularly if you're able to work while browse the 'net - which I am). But I think watching TV and writing articles would be a step too far

I said she *could* have been a worthwhile adversary, but the way they've handled it has been poor and they're ruined the chance.

Erm, ever thought that she could escape?

Cheers,
Rich.

You read the bits where I had her popping up in every episode, and where she could have been helping or hindering them, right? She'd be in it every episode, just with an ambiguity as to a) her existence and b) motivation (even if she is a hallucination, it goes to the doc's mental state if she's "hindering").

Which they'd only have the money to do once - at the end of the series, by which time no-one's watching? Sound familiar?

The formula - only three episodes in, mind - is already tired.

They've even made dinosaurs seem dull.

existence being intriguing

At 6:11pm? Go home!

However, someone said:
"So far it has been shit [..] all the other shit aspects of the show aren't likely to change if they do follow through - so there's very little chance of it becoming good"
You see that quote? That's by you, that is. That's your words calling the program shit, and unlikely to change. And yet here you are, staying late at work, saying I'm wrong saying it's shit and unlikely to change.

Keep recommending stuff... because me and Tanya went into Music Zone the other day - and bought £80 of DVDs

Yay! Monies.

I think my current list of recommendations for you stand at (in no particular order):

1. Lexx. The first season would probably make the most sense to buy first, and should be readily available. Second season seems to be out of production, so you'll have to look on ebay/amazon marketplace. Third season boxset was still available last I checked - and fourth season never made it to DVD in the UK, so you'll have to wait for it to be repeated again on TV or import the American release.
2. Ghibli. I can't really name one which you'd like, because they're all very different from each other. Just don't be afraid to choose one which you think isn't made with you in mind. And remember to play it safe by watching it in Japanese with subtitles
3. GITS. As my overly-long article proved there are many differences between the different versions, so again it's a bit hard to recommend one. The first film if you're unsure - the manga if you'd like to read - the second film if you're interested in experiments in film-making rather than a deep storyline - the 1st season boxset if you're fairly certain you'll like it - and the second season volumes if you're feeling really rich
4. Some other stuff, I guess. The above three would give you a wide range of settings, styles and stories - I haven't yet found a fourth that I'd consider recommending to an outsider. But for what it's worth, the contenders so far (I.e. the only other movie-type stuff I've really watched recently, but stuff that just so happens to be good) are Battle Royale 1 & 2 (Apart from being good movies there's some interesting political/humanitarian motiviation behind them), and Akira (similar setting to GITS, but a somewhat more fantastical story).

Not entirely sure where my travels will take me next. Season 2 of GITS would be nice, but I'd rather buy the boxset than fork out on the individual volumes. Plus I need to hurry up and get my hands on the second half of Lexx season 2.

Oh, and you can also download MCoG if you're nostalgic about 80's children's TV

[Edited by Phlamethrower at 01:34, 6/11/2006]

I'm currently trying to convince myself that I don't need to spend silly amounts of money on the Farscape Ultimate Complete Collection.

Also they haven't printed the rating on the spines of the folders, only on the individual discs, so I can't quickly check to see which episode(s) were rated 18

Also they haven't printed the rating on the spines of the folders, only on the individual discs, so I can't quickly check to see which episode(s) were rated 18

OH NOES

Also I'm left wondering why all the discs only seem to contain 2 or 3 episodes each, since judging by the amount of space they use you can easily fit 4 onto a dual layer disc.