» October 2006 Archives
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Posted by Philip Alderman at 9:38 PM | TV
| Responses (22)
Can it really be fourteen years since Ghostwatch? Almost a decade and a half since that fateful Halloween night in 1992, when a complacent British viewing public was shaken to its core by Stephen Volk's groundbreaking TV play.
The unofficial star of the piece was bloody-eyed, dress-wearing poltergeist Raymond Tunstall, whose fleeting appearances have become the stuff of legend. Now, as the nights get darker and Halloween comes around once more, NTS presents a brief guide to all the sightings of the late Mr Tunstall that you might not have noticed. And don't worry about that banging noise, it's just the pipes playing up again. Just the pipes.
Continue reading "Everybody Loves Raymond (Tunstall)" »
Posted by John Hoare at 2:07 AM | TV
| Responses (26)
And so
Torchwood continues, with an episode written by
Who script editor Helen Raynor. Having adored the first episode, and enjoyed the second whilst recognising its flaws, would this be the episode to cement my love for the series?
Continue reading "Torchwood - Ghost Machine" »
Monday, October 30, 2006
Posted by Tanya Jones at 1:34 PM | Music
| Responses (1)
Good old Popjustice have sent me some lovely links to stuff that has brightened up my day off sick considerably.
The Gothic Archies; 'Scream and Run Away'
Lily Allen; 'Littlest Things'
Genki Rockets; 'Heavenly Star' It's slightly meh until 40 seconds in, when it suddenly becomes splendid.
Posted by Phil Reed at 12:54 AM | Books
| Responses (11)
The second installment in our look back at the novels of Thomas Pynchon brings us to The Crying of Lot 49, released in 1966. It fulfills all of the promises V. made about the things Pynchon would one day achieve, and even makes a few new promises in the process.
This is Pynchon's shortest, most straight-forward and most accessible work. Ya got that? It won't get any easier than this...
Continue reading "The Thomas Pynchon Countdown: The Crying of Lot 49" »
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Posted by Jonathan Capps at 4:07 PM | TV
| Responses (6)
Russell T Davies' first Who spin-off series continues with this shitly titled second episode, and a chance for the viewer to sample a mouthful of Torchwood lead writer Chris Chibnall. Did I spit out those juices in disgust or lap them up greedily? Well, wouldn't you just like to know.
Continue reading "Torchwood - Day One" »
Posted by Josh Barton at 2:11 AM | Film
| Live
| Responses (4)
This weekend, James and myself attended the 10th London Movies, Comics and Media Expo at the Excel Centre in Docklands. Although the initial draw was the many comicbook and action figure stands urging us to part with our hard-earned money, just a few days prior to the event, we were delighted to discover that Simon Pegg and Nick Frost would be taking part in a Q & A session as part of the show's Hot Fuzz promotional presence. Although my memories of specific details are already quickly fading, I’ve done my best to transcribe some of the session’s more interesting points for your reading pleasure.
Continue reading "London MCM Expo - Q & A With Simon Pegg and Nick Frost" »
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Posted by Austin Ross at 7:47 PM | Film
| Responses (18)
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Posted by James Hunt at 10:14 PM | Comics
| Responses (0)
It's a pretty Civil War heavy week, in which we've got the end of Wolverine's Civil War tie-in, finally learning what happens when Wolverine catches up with the man responsible for the Stamford disaster, the climax of the X-Men's contribution to the crossover (in name alone) in Civil War: X-Men, and the end of Ms. Marvel's Civil War story in which we see how it can even make the bad characters look good.
Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 25 October 2006" »
Posted by John Hoare at 10:17 AM | Books
| Responses (16)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Posted by Michael Lacey at 5:40 PM | TV
| Responses (7)
Much-hyped Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood began on BBC3 this week. In the first of Noise To Signal's episode-by-episode reviews, we answer the question: was it any good?
Continue reading "Torchwood - Everything Changes" »
Posted by Seb Patrick at 2:55 PM | Music
| Net
| Responses (5)
... it's taken me years to find this video anywhere since I first saw it. And it's one that even the most ardent fan of Adam and Joe may never have seen, since it aired approximately ONCE on TV (on The Chart Show, from which this clip is taken). It's in lousy quality, and it's missing the second half of the song (which is much slower), but it's still a brilliant brilliant video for a brilliant brilliant song, and any fan of either A&J or bloody good indie should watch it straight away.
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Sweet Johnny (directed by Adam Buxton & Joe Cornish)
And that is just one of the many reasons why YouTube is pretty much the best site on the internet right now.
Posted by Josh Barton at 11:47 AM | Games
| Responses (0)
Saints Row is a game which has garnered much of its media attention from being audaciously similar to Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series. Consequently, many have been quick to dismiss the title as a poor imitation of the franchise that it pays homage to, but those willing to spend some time roaming the mean streets of Stilwater will discover a very good game; one which not only accomplishes the GTA formula with aplomb, but also improves upon it. Josh flies the NTS colours in this long overdue review of Volition's gangland epic, and takes to the mean streets of Stilwater with nothing more than his Xbox 360, laptop and an AK-47.
Continue reading "Xbox 360 Review - Saints Row" »
Posted by John Hoare at 12:34 AM | Net
| Responses (3)
A couple of interesting links for you relating to the BBC News site. Firstly, this lists and gives comparisons to all revisions made to BBC News articles. Have a look through - it's very interesting to see what was changed.
But not as interesting as this - a list of censored posts on the 'Have Your Say' comments - ie. posts that were removed from bbc.co.uk. The really weird thing about this is that a lot of those posts don't seem to break the BBC guidelines...
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Posted by Sue Ward at 12:53 PM | TV
| Responses (16)
The Mirror online has posted news today of a possible spin-off to Life On Mars, to be shown in 2008. As the article contains potential spoilers for the next series of Life On Mars, it follows under the link.
Continue reading "Life On Mars - Spin Off?" »
Monday, October 23, 2006
Posted by Jeffrey Lee at 11:59 PM | Film
| Responses (10)
Shirow Masamune's Ghost in the Shell franchise consists of manga, animted films, computer games, books, and an animated TV series. Although they all contain the same characters, in the same universe, dealing with the same kinds of situations, each type of publication is significantly different from the others.
These differences run to the point where some people will love one incarnation but hate another.
Rather than extole the virtues of the franchise, this article will serve to highlight the many differences between the different incarnations.
Warning: This article is rather long. Not advisable reading material for narcoleptics.
Continue reading "Ghosts in the Shell" »
Posted by Phil Reed at 11:09 PM | Books
| Responses (2)
November 21, foax...that's when Thomas Pynchon's Against the Day hits the shelf in a bookstore near you. It's his first published work in nine years and is being anticipatedly hotly by fans and scholars alike.
Yet, you might not be planning on buying Against the Day. Which is fine...a 1,000+ page novel by a guy you've never really heard of is not a very appealing way to spend a month of your time. But I hope that by spotlighting a different novel every week, you will find something that kindles your interest...and on November 21 you'll find yourself buying a Pynchon book. Maybe not the latest Pynchon book, but a Pynchon book nonetheless.
So for the next five weeks (ending, conveniently, the day before Against the Day's publication) I will be spotlighting every one of Pynchon's novels...which is easy, because there's only five.
Let's start at the beginning...
Continue reading "The Thomas Pynchon Countdown: V." »
Posted by Jonathan Capps at 5:00 PM | TV
| Responses (3)
Welcome to the "second" "week" of POV USA, and things have taken a drastic slump, as your reviewer (that's me) has completely given up on one show and failed to watch the last episodes of another. Well done, me.
Continue reading "POV USA - 23/10/2006" »
Posted by Seb Patrick at 10:18 AM | TV
| Responses (24)
Whether or not you liked the first two episodes of Torchwood (me, I thought "Pretty good, entertaining, but not brilliant"), it's still extremely annoying to read people on Good ol' OG saying that (spoilers, highlight) introducing someone as a "lead" character in pre-publicity then killing them off in the first episode is "stolen" from Joss Whedon.
O YES BECAUSE JOSS WHEDON WAS THE FIRST PERSON EVER TO DO THAT WASN'T HE.
Posted by John Hoare at 3:47 AM | Meta
| Responses (0)
You know, it's been a shit few months for NTS really. Bad Gateway errors. Stupid problems with the front page. And worst of all - nasty viruses. And recently, the site has been timing out altogether when trying to post a comment; with similar things going on behind the scenes on our admin system. (Which is why we haven't posted much recently.) All of which, I would point out, were beyond our control - they were problems with our hosts.
Well, all that's sorted now, as we've moved to yet another server, with webspace kindly donated by onepointnought, co-run by the excellent Rich Goodwin. And it's a nice and reliable server, so we shouldn't have any more problems.
So: content, then. Best get to it. And our review of Torchwood should be up by the end of the week, so watch out for that...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Posted by John Hoare at 7:24 PM | Net
| Responses (4)
When I ask to go to the BBC Three site, I expect to be taken to the BBC Three site. I do not expect to be redirected to the Torchwood site. If I wanted to go there, then I would have asked for it.
I mean, Jesus.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Posted by John Hoare at 2:45 PM | TV
| Responses (7)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Posted by Ian Symes at 7:40 PM | TV
| Responses (5)
Sky One to screen Lost Season 3 in the UK. That's sure to be good for the fans. OK, so the hardcore and the able will be downloading it from the US (my housemate is currently watching episode three), but a lot of analogue/Freeview users are going to be pretty pissed off.
"We are confident that Sky will build upon the established success of Lost, bringing the series to viewers in flexible ways, ideally suited to its watercooler, must-see status," said Tom Toumazis, evp at BVITV EMEA.
Yeah, that'll happen on a subscription-only channel.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Posted by James Hunt at 11:23 AM | Comics
| Responses (5)
Yet another week writing comics reviews while ill and easily confused, so please excuse the typos which probably appear with marginally greater frequency than usual. This week I've got DMZ #12, with my dream writer/artist combo, Brian Wood and Brian Wood, as well as Pirates of Coney Island #1, Stan Lee Meets Dr. Strange, Thunderbolts #107, Uncanny X-Men #479 and this week's gratuitous Civil War issue, Civil War: Front Line #7.
Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 18th October 2006" »
Monday, October 16, 2006
Posted by Andrew Edmark at 9:57 PM | Film
| Responses (16)
You heard it right, folks. Edgar Wright's latest flick starring comedic duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost has just put out a couple of teaser trailers. Catch them after the jump.
Continue reading "Official Hot Fuzz Teasers" »
Posted by Austin Ross at 4:46 PM | Film
| Responses (1)
Yes, that's right. Someone has decided to make a movie of Gene Wolfe's outstanding Nebula Award-winning novella, "The Death of Doctor Island." I would highly recommend you read the novella itself (available here), as it's top-notch stuff.
I'll let them do the explaining:
"The Death of Doctor Island" is the story of a naked boy with a head wound, a homicidal maniac, and a girl who has swallowed a bird.
The project was shot on location in Costa Rica and Los Angeles during 2003. It is a medium-length 35mm production (100% digital intermediate).
I really hope they do the story justice.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Posted by Phil Reed at 5:30 PM | TV
| Responses (8)
This is good news, and--oddly--something I was just asking a coworker about this past week. Why not release the first season of Saturday Night Live on DVD?
Continue reading "Live from New York, it's 1975!" »
Friday, October 13, 2006
Posted by Phil Reed at 10:08 PM | TV
| Responses (15)
It's time to...oh, nevermind. I'll resist and be the only review of this DVD set on the planet that doesn't start by quoting the theme song...contagious as it may be.
And it is contagious. You remember the song (admit it). You probably remember more than a few of the songs. You remember your favorite guest stars, your favorite characters, you remember thinking it was really a guy in a Fozzie suit. Hell, you remember a lot of things, because "The Muppets" is such a collective memory to those who grew up with them...encompassing television, movies, books, music, toys...let's face it, those were excellent days.
But this is season one, which predates most of that stuff...and though Henson and co. cut their collective teeth on Sesame Street, there was still a long way to go before The Muppets really reached their peak. This is a four disc set that will take you through every episode of The Muppet Show's 1976 premier season--and, like that premier season, it has its great points, and its not-so-great points...
Continue reading "DVD Review: The Muppet Show, season one" »
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Posted by Sue Ward at 9:10 PM | TV
| Responses (9)
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is - at long last - released on DVD this coming Monday, 16th October.
Continue reading "Huzzah! It's Official!" »
Posted by Jonathan Capps at 4:48 PM | TV
| Responses (7)
Go, go, GO!
Highlights include an interview with RTD, an absolutely brilliant tour of the 'Hub' set (it's farking huge!) and Eve Myles' lovely, lovely face.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Posted by James Hunt at 11:33 PM | Comics
| Responses (0)
Ordinarily, I'd pad a week of comics this sparse out with something a little more interesting, but after last week's 13-issue slog, I decided to give myself a break. Sad part is, if I'd planned ahead, I could have reviews some of last week's now, but I got caught up in the marathonesque nature of reviewing so much in one go. Ah well. This week we've got a Greg Pak double-bill with Incredible Hulk #99 and Phoenix: Warsong #2, and a JMS single-bill with Fantastic Four #540.
Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 11th October 2006" »
Posted by Andrew Edmark at 7:36 PM | Film
| Responses (3)
For those who were fascinated by 70/80's exploitation films, the good ones with explicit gore, gratuitous nudity, and the weirdest shit you've ever seen... Well, your prayers have been answered. Prepare for the ultimate trailer for the film "Grind House," a two-part feature directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. This trailer in particular is for Robert's half, which is titled "Zombie Planet."
Continue reading "More Zombies" »
Posted by Jonathan Capps at 2:00 PM | TV
| Responses (15)
As promised welcome to the first edition proper of POV USA (that's Point of View United States of America, by the way. God, don't you even know that? I do) bringing you the skinny (willfully misinformed opinions) on the latest offerings doled up by US television.
Continue reading "POV USA - 11/10/2006" »
Posted by John Hoare at 12:59 PM | TV
| Responses (29)
...NO.
I don't want yet another of your fucking best ofs. This is one of the most fondly-remembered and influencial comedy shows ever made, and you can't actually buy the full thing in Region 2. I want all four series, in full. We're not talking about some obscure show here that couldn't financially sustain it.
AAAARRRGGGGHHHH.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Posted by John Hoare at 11:31 AM | Games
| Responses (7)
Teaser video and art for upcoming game.
It looks great. And is a reminder that far too many games these days look the same...
Monday, October 9, 2006
Posted by Phil Reed at 11:49 PM | TV
| Responses (16)
Well, IGN has named their top 25 prime-time animated series of all time, and you can find the complete list here, all fulla descriptions and fancy, descriptive rundowns, but I'm going to reproduce the list below. Can you guess the identity of number one? If you can't, you drank bleach.
Continue reading "IGN's Top 25 Animated Series" »
Posted by John Hoare at 1:59 PM | TV
| Responses (27)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6033735.stm
:-o, frankly. I knew they weren't going to go on indefinitely, but I thought they'd give it three series...
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Posted by Phil Reed at 12:52 AM | Net
| Responses (5)
Okay, The Onion, I know Saturday Night Live has been burgling your jokes off and on for years now, but stealing from The Day Today is no way to even the score.
You be the judge. Coincidence? It's possible, but a piece of me thinks this is just a joke some humorist thought he could lift without getting busted.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Posted by Seb Patrick at 8:29 PM | TV
| Responses (18)
Excuse me, I think I've just come.
(SPOILER behind cut)
Continue reading "TORCHWOOD TRAILER TORCHWOOD TRAILER" »
Friday, October 6, 2006
Posted by Andrew Edmark at 3:26 PM | Film
| Responses (3)
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Posted by James Hunt at 11:22 PM | Comics
| Responses (2)
After a week of technical ups and downs on NTS, this week's comics reviews are slightly delayed if only to give the Sonic preview I recently helped to write some time to breathe a bit first (and to give me time to read everything properly!). One day later than usual, I've got an unprecedented look at 13 different comics for you. It's okay, you can thank me later. For now we've got something of a spider-centric week with Amazing Spider-Man #535, Civil War: Front Line #6, Stan Lee Meets Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man #100. Plus 9 other comics.
Continue reading "Alternate Cover - 4th October 2006" »
Posted by John Hoare at 10:55 AM | Film
| Responses (9)
Posted by John Hoare at 6:40 AM | Meta
| Responses (13)
So. Hello again. For the full story of why we went offline, see this G&T post - it's the same for both sites. Have a read if it if you haven't already, and then come back here. (Short version: we're now clean of viruses, and it wasn't our fault.) But whilst I used that post to complain about our hosting company did wrong - what about what we did wrong?
Continue reading "And now I'm back again" »
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
Posted by Josh Barton at 7:25 PM | Games
| Responses (22)
Like a package of illicit goods falling off the back of a lorry, the Xbox Live Marketplace demo of Sega's long-awaited
Sonic the Hedgehog title has fallen off the back off the Tokyo Games Show. Armed with nothing more than an Xbox 360 and a rudimentary knowledge of the English language, fully heterosexual NTS co-habitants James and Josh bring you a witty and incisive look at one of the console's most anticipated titles.
In the past, NTS has been accused of being a bit too fanboyish about what it reviews, probably because we only review what we deem worth buying, and we're all tight-fisted bastards. Without saying too much about what we thought of the demo, please bear in mind that, well, this was a
free download.
Continue reading "Xbox 360 Preview - Sonic the Hedgehog" »
