Very Late Review 10
Back we come to the Very Late Review, the truly spectacular pooling-of-knowledge/opinion venture which is one of this blog’s proudest achievements. As you will know if you’ve been reading for a bit, the idea is that I nominate things I haven’t experienced/am in two minds about etc and ask you, the readers, to rate them out of 10 and write a brief review. It’s edited by the estimable Megan McLeod who I’ve only ever met twice but now regard as a colleague (an unpaid one).
So here we go with the most recent topics, nominated a while ago. One of them was Michael McIntyre, but I’ve decided not to include the McIntyre comments because sometimes in interviews people quote the Very Late Review as if they were MY opinions, and I can imagine things getting unpleasant with Michael being a colleague of mine essentially. I’ll hold the reviews of MM back for a less fraught time.
Over to Megan, and at the end you’ll find a list of the subjects up for your review this time round. As always, you can be as brief or as verbose as you like, and remember to include a score out of 10. Here are the results from our most recent investigations…
The Big Bang Theory (TV series)
As of January’s end, Mr Watson had not seen this, but said everyone in the British TV industry name-dropped it. Curious. It’s also one of the top-rated comedy in Canada right now (though not even in the top 10 in the US). I like nerds, but I find this show is best enjoyed in small doses; a few of you seem to agree that the humour is quite repetitive and/or clichéd, but the fans, some super duper huge ones, some reluctantly won over, definitely dominated in our little compiliation here. (And I can’t hate this show entirely, because they have name-dropped a friend of mine, a comic book writer, more than once, apparently.)
Memorable quotes: ‘Being at a nerdy university means I am surrounded by people who would get all the complex maths/physics/star trek references yet agree that it’s not funny. Maybe it’s too American.’ (Kathryn); ‘The character Sheldon is pretty much the main reason everyone should watch this show as almost every second joke is either about or said by him.’ (Ally); ‘As the girl who’s hung out with more than her fair share of nerds this show has a place in my heart, and I love it more with each science joke. (Alice); I watched a great video on youtube when they remove the laugh track and it becomes quite haunting.’ (One of them is here and is rather brilliant) (Clembear); ‘The Big Bang Theory started at a pretty high level, and several series in (three, four?) still manages to reach that level surprisingly often. Part of my enjoyment may be because I share some of Sheldon’s disdain for the idiocy of people.’ (Andrew); ‘It’s easier to watch but much less shit than How I Met Your Mother, E4′s similar offering. I like Sheldon, he reminds me of some of the kids I teach. ’ (Laura-B) (How dare you! HIMYM is the only sitcom for which I’m willing to deal with a laugh track!)
Average score: 7/10
Diving score: 7/10
Full marks: 2 out of 24 ratings
Nul points: None
The Trip (TV series/film)
I hoped and prayed that my boss would be able to get the edited-down-to-film-length version of this to play at the cinema, but no dice. In the interest of non-impartiality, I loved this, as did my friend Richard, and we rewatched A Cock and Bull Story in preparation because the Coogan/Brydon dynamic is so fantastic. And because we love going out for big, multiple course meals when money allows. (And as my trave
ANYway, comments from y’all were vaguely Marmite-y (more on that later) in that a few can’t stand Rob Brydon and/or Steve Coogan (!!!), or thought the show was slow/off/self-indulgent. The wise Corry said it wouldn’t have been commissioned if these two hadn’t been involved (I’m sure Winterbottom had something to do with it too), which is probably true, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing. That having been said, several people loooooooved this (like I did) and it has been hailed by some as the best comedy so far this year.
Memorable quotes: ‘It should really be awful because it basically just boils down to two middle-aged man bantering and doing impressions of people that no-one under the age of 20 has hear of, but Coogan and Brydon somehow manage to take that and make it bloody hilarious.’ (Tom Beasley); ‘Never seen it, as I believe it contains both Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan, both of whom make me want to spew.’ (Glamlovinkitty); ‘Watched it, found it more awkward than funny, but that’s probably because I find Rob Brydon a bit grating. He’s good in acting roles, but his endless array of characters drives me a bit crazy. So adding Steve Coogan into that mixture didn’t help me any.’ (h2osarah); ‘I can’t really say it was hilariously funny or put my finger on quite why I found it enjoyable and highly watchable.’ (DeborahF); ‘Didn’t really drag me in enough to bother with the remainder, but one of the characters was called Misha which was nice/confusing.’ (Misha); ‘I set the line ‘To bed, gentlemen! We leave at 8.30 for 9′ as my phone’s welcome message earlier this year, and it has made dropping my phone and having to reset the battery a rather enjoyable scenario. ’ (Aislinn); ‘I did not really get this.’ (Helen)
Average score: 7/10
Diving score: 7/10
Full marks: 2 out of 18 ratings
Nul points: 0 out of 18
Meet the Little Fockers (series of increasingly poorly reviewed films)
This one was a head-scratcher, in that only one person gave the series a positive review, yet there was no 0/10 marks; most were in the 3-5/10 range. But yeah, general consensus is that these films are not brilliant, are immature, might offer the occasional laugh, but that the first (or second film) did not inspire you to bother to see the third. Frankly, the trailers for Little Fockers made me want to disassociate myself from the cinema industry altogether (and I am the person for whom disaster epic 2012 was one of the best films of 2009).
Memorable quotes:
‘The only reason I saw the last is someone else offered to pay so I wouldn’t get angry about wasting my money, and I still left the theater feeling ripped off.’ (Lisa D); ‘You don’t watch a film with “fockers” in the title because you want a mature, emotional epic. You watch it for a laugh and you will definitely laugh at these films…They are by no means excellent films, but if you want to see a man called Gaylord brawl with an ex-CIA man at a children’s party, you certainly won’t get it anywhere else!’ (Tom Beasley); ‘I find it ludicrous that Ben Stiller has effectively played the exact same character in every single film he has ever been in.’ (Beth); ‘I find it very frustrating that nobody has noticed that Robert De Niro can’t do comedy, at all.’ (Andrew) (thank goodness someone agrees with me); ‘Thought Meet the Parents was OK, thought Meet the Fockers was poor. Based on that trajectory I have no intention of seeing Little Fockers. Remember the days when Robert De Niro was a heavyweight actor?’ (Sam)
Average score: 3.5/10
Diving score: 3.5/10
Full marks: 0 out of 19 ratings
Nul points: 0 out of 19
Marmite (yeasty spread)
As expected, opinions on this were just like the adverts like to announce; some people love it, and those who don’t largely hate it, and hate it a lot. HOWEVER, a number of Watsonians claimed to be relatively indifferent about the stuff, and to despise their ‘Love It or Hate It’ campaign, so it just proves that advertising slogans are not actually true. Shocking stuff.
(Advice/Information Request #1: Marmite is definitely something that this foreigner doesn’t fully understand, so this is where I want to ask for your help: I was first exposed to it when I was about 15, because a friend’s parents (who were Welsh) always had some in the pantry and my friend insisted that a bunch of us smell the stuff. Blurgh. The memory is not good. But my high school boyfriend/now best friend has said that, if spread in a microscopically thin layer (he suggested some kind of laser-based applier), it helped perk up a cheese sandwich immeasurably. But, many, many years on, I still haven’t tried it. For the (numerous) among you who think it’s fabulous? Were I to invest in a wee jar, how should I endeavour to eat it first for maximum enjoyment?)
Memorable quotes: ‘MARMITE is a magnificent two-fingered salute to the poseurs who dismiss British food as ‘brown’. “Behold!”, it seems to say, “I am so brown I’m almost black. Half the nation cannot aide me but still I’m a cultural icon”. I find such self-assurance very attractive.’ (David B); ‘Marmite is the best food in the world. Fact. On cold dark mornings I wake up and I’m cheered by the fact that I can go and eat some marmite on toast.’ (Hannahq); ‘The Devil’s creation – absolutely disgusting. (DeborahF); I like it so much the the Marmite flavoured breadsticks I bought had to be dipped into Marmite to make them Marmity enough.’ (Natalie-Helen); ‘Wrong all wrong.’ (Jen); ‘I’ve never understood why anyone would eat this, even the smell of it is barf-tastic.’ (Glamlovinkitty); ‘Most of the time I cannot stand it. But when I’ve got a hangover I would happily kill for a slice of marmite on toast.’ (Chris H) (I feel the same about poutine); ‘I think it’s very hypocritical for a murky brown spread to go about acting like everything is black or white.’ (Helen) (This might be my favourite comment of VLR10)
Average score: 5.5/10
Diving score: 5.5/10
Full marks: 2 out of 19 ratings
Nul points: 5 (!!) out of 19
Dublin (the city, to which Mr Watson has never been)
Most of my knowledge of Dublin comes from The Commitments (the film) and other Roddy Doyle stories (in book form) which, I suspect, might be a bit dated now. Reviews from the masses (well, the dozen or so who commented) are almost universally very positive (see Sam’s comment below, though). So, essentially, everyone should go.
(Advice/Information Request #2: How expensive is it really? Some friends found it the most spendy place in Europe when they were there a while back, but I have been meaning to get to Ireland for many, many years and I reckon I should go while the Canadian dollar is actually worth something.)
Memorable quotes: ‘Go to the Winding Stair Bookshop – you’ll love it.’ (Chris H); ‘Every time I’ve visited the fair city my impression of it has gotten worse, which is a real shame. First went about 10 or so years ago and had a really fantastic time and couldn’t rate it highly enough…Subsequent visits have seen the city get dirtier, everything get more expensive, and so many homeless people begging on the street.’ (Sam); ‘I think that Temple Bar (the bit with all the pubs, little artsy shops etc) is the nicest bit of Dublin City. We have a Spire that tourists generally like to look at, lots of nice theatre places, a zoo and the only bridge in the world that is wider than it is long.’ (lisan66, a Dubliner); ‘It is gorgeous, the people are as brilliant as the cliche says they should be but it is an expensive place to be (unless someone else is paying).’ (Corry)
Average score: 8/10
Diving score: 8.5/10
Full marks: 1 out of 10 ratings
Nul points: 0 out of 10
Meditation (activity & something people seem to recommend that Mr Watson and other tense people try)
A few of you find this highly helpful in your lives, but even more of you find it nearly impossible and/or very frustrating to try to clear your head in order to get your ommmmm on. A couple stated outright that medication was preferable for helping with sleep/stress/etc. Possibly talking out my arse (as usual) here, but I think any activity (be it ‘pure’ meditation, whatever that is, rock-climbing, yoga, knitting, etc.) that requires enough focus to NOT think about life’s other problems is beneficial. My commute to work (by bike) does me fine. (It’s hard to worry about the work printer not networking correctly when you’re playing cat-and-mouse with a bus.)
Memorable quotes: ‘I have problems with anxiety, so I have been told that I should meditate. I don’t really get the point though, because I just sit there thinking about everything and getting stressed. Or I get bored. And once I fell asleep, which I suppose is an okay kind of outcome.’ (Lydia); ‘I have tried this a few times and have always, without fail, got the giggles.’ (Alex); ‘Most of the time it’s just boring, I do find that listening to a guided meditation thing before going to bed helps me sleep as it stops me from focusing on eveything that happened during the day.’ (Ally); ‘I instinctively find people who (unprompted) proclaim that they meditate to be extremely annoying.’ (Chris H); ‘I need to be knocked out much quicker.’ (Tracey)
Average score: 5.5/10
Diving score: 5.5/10
Full marks: 0 out of 15 ratings
Nul points: 1 out of 15
Et voilà! Another Very Late Review. Now back to Mr Watson, with a thank you to everyone for participating/reading this far!
Thank you Megan. For review in the 11th episode:
HAWAII (destination, never been)
DAN IN REAL LIFE or THE SWITCH or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (bunch of American films I’m not that likely to see)
BEING HUMAN (cult comedy, so far has passed me by)
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON (people; seems wrong not to talk about them when so many other people are)
SUSHI (food, I’m trying to adjust to it)
SUDOKU (enduringly popular hobby which I have never got into)
THE MOON (the traditional ‘one for people who don’t know about any of the others’)
Off you go! Thank you!
Posted by Laurs on June 9, 2011
PRNCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON (people; seems wrong not to talk about them when so many other people are) – I like them both. They seem different to the stereotype of royals and I watched the wedding and enjoyed it. It was lovely to see a couple who clearly love each other celebrate their day. I bought a souvenier newspaper thingy as well (and I never buy them!) because one day, if I have kids, I want to be able to tell them about the day that I watched the future king get married. I think they are the crucial element we need to get suppot for the royals. I’m not a royalist by any stretch of the imagination, but I love the fact that we have a Royal family, even if they don’t, on a practical level, do much! 9/10
SUDOKU (enduringly popular hobby which I have never got into) – HATE IT. With a passion. I have dyscalculia, which is basically dyslexia of numbers, so you can imagine my joy when so called friends tell me to “have a go, they aren’t that difficult” Thirty minutes later, when I am still looking at a blank piece of paper because I have no idea where to start is not my idea of fun. Also, frankly, why would anyone want to spend their time working out which number goes in which bloody box. 1/10 (and that is only because minus points aren’t really fair – i think!)
THE MOON (the traditional ‘one for people who don’t know about any of the others’) we’d be a bit screwed without it I guess, what with it affecting tides and stuff… at least that’s what i think it does, who knows if I’m acually right?! 8/10
Posted by Clembear on June 9, 2011
Hawaii – lots of islands that are entirely the product of volcanoes, home of surfing and has a delicious pizza named after it. What’s not to love. 10/10.
Sudoku – Its odd the way little crazes take off and then die away again. I like puzzles so am somewhat a fan but can’t do a lot of them in a row. I’d love to know how to classify easy vs medium vs hard -I assume the number of steps you have to go through to get to a conclusion? Or the number of routes to reach a conclusion reducing makes a puzzle harder? Anyway – fun. Some are unsolvable too which is refreshingly eastern. 7/10
DIRL, HJNTIY, TS – not seen any of them .Not sure what they’re about. Puzzled and saddened by the creative effort that went into making something quite mediocre. So 3/10 for quality, 8/10 for pathos. Are they part of the continuing meta-joke of casting Aniston as a romantic lead whilst portraying her in the media as a loveless spinster? If so one point for irony.
Sushi – brilliant, but once gave me food poisoning. I first had sushi in 1989 in California when people were generally terrified of new foods and viewed sushi as a liberal plot. Its now widespread and accepted. Awesome. 9/10.
Posted by Dave B on May 11, 2011
SUDOKU
In the words of the great Owen Paul “My Favourite Waste of Time”. 10/10
SUSHI
I’m scared of it. Also, food should not be served on a conveyor belt. 1/10
WILL AND KATE
Adorable. I’ve started to shop in Waitrose in the hope of running into one or the other. We’ll chat casually in the check out queue and they’ll be impressed that I treat them just like ordinary people. Fingers crossed they move to Daventry. 8/10
THE MOON
For millennia it’s been a huge scientific, cultural and spiritual symbol. Then, at the cost of millions of dollars and a fair few lives man actually stepped on it. Tellingly, the most significant thing they found was a stunning view – of planet Earth. 10/10
Posted by Doomed1 (Beth A) on May 3, 2011
Sorry Ive been quiet!! I had a dream I saw you in the street and had to tell you I was still reading this but because I had hit half of my TYSIC challagnes you had to let me go!! Weird..
Anyway I do today have time to reply ..
HAWAII – Never been but heard amazing thigns and would love to go, im hoping for my honeymoon when asked! However expensive! 9/10
DAN IN REAL LIFE or THE SWITCH or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
- All averagey films to be watched when hungover or a girl crying into a big bowl of icecream!! However He’s just not that into you is based on this awesome book that teaches girls you are not the exception and guys will screw u over if you let them..etc, but the film has as the ending a girl getting the guy and going ‘I am the exception’ completly against what the book teaches you!! – And I must say the book really helped me!! One of the best books ive ever red – highly recommended for all girls! Based on the lies of He’s just not that into you – 3/10
BEING HUMAN – Really good!!! Highly recommended, just for Russel Tovey!! 10/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON – Meh, they seem nice enough! 5/10
SUSHI – As previously said im quite fussy with food and havent got round to trying this yet. 2/10
SUDOKU – Fun for one, 5/10
THE MOON – Friggin awesome – 10/10
Posted by Aislinn on May 1, 2011
BEING HUMAN – 9/10
It’s bloody brilliant! If a bit ridiculous.
SUSHI – 6/10
More people would like sushi if more people tried sushi.
SUDOKU – 6/10
I only find them fun when they’re incredibly easy.
THE MOON – 9/10
I quite like the idea that it’s made of cheese.
Posted by Jen on May 1, 2011
HAWAII – same never been so best not comment or score!
DAN IN REAL LIFE or THE SWITCH or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU – none of these impressed me at all …although I do love Steve Carell though 5/10
BEING HUMAN – my sister loves this…me – take it or leave it 3/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON – both seem nice enough and I do wish them both all the best…but it does annoy me how they act like she’s a pauper – her family are wealthy/ well to do/ mix in high circles etc etc – so its not so shocking that they got together really 5/10
SUSHI – scares me just to look at it…i don’t know why!?! 1/10
SUDOKU – stressful rather than relaxing…doesn’t do it for me…give me a book to read on a long train journey over this anyday! 1/10
THE MOON – love its variety..its different shapes/sizes and sometimes colour …and how you can be anywhere in the world and look up and its there looking out for you…nice! 10/10
Posted by Tom Beasley on April 30, 2011
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
Well I’m sure they’re lovely people and that they love each other very much… but I couldn’t give a shit about their wedding. 6/10
SUDOKU
Love them. I used to spend so much time doing them, but less so now. They’re still awesome though and they are way more satisfying than any puzzle involving solely the numbers 1 to 9 should be. I also have a different way of approaching them to everyone else, which makes me some kind of fucking Sudoku maverick. 8/10
THE MOON
Can’t say I’ve ever been. Don’t think I could put up with RyanAir for that long…
Posted by Lizzy on April 29, 2011
Being Human – Amazing.
When I saw it on your list to review, I went and er… looked it up on the internet. And clicked on “Series 1 Episode 1″ that I found.. and watched it.. and loved it. And THEN wondered where Russell Tovey was (I’m extremely slow a lot of the time) and realised I’d watched the American version and that the British version was first. So then I watched the first episode of the British version. And it wasn’t as good. And that’s coming from me, who ALWAYS prefers the British version. Always. So I suppose watching the American version first might have left too much of an imprint on me to go back. Anyway, I finished watching the whole American series (Yes. Over the last 2 days. I’ve been busy.) And it’s just brilliant. Really dark and a bit funny and well written.
I’ve since gone back and tried to watch the whole British first series but I’ve definitely ruined it for myself, OR the American version really just is better. To me the actors are better (apart from Tovey), and therefore the characters are more vibrant and the story just plays out so much… better as there’s more space (more episodes) for it to do so in. It didn’t seem sparse and dragged out, it seemed right.
I don’t know whether to watch the 2nd and 3rd British series now as I think the plots weren’t covered in the American version, or to wait until the 2nd US series comes out. Which I think I might. But really good. Watch the US version. It’s got Jacob out of Lost in it.
And I want Rebecca’s hair. And Aidan.
…
Sorry. Definitely just ruined any integrity that review had, right? Still. 10/10.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on April 29, 2011
Forgot to add, I’ve been to the Being Human house, the Bristol one. Actually, speaking of Bristol, that’s another reason you should watch it Mark, series 1 and 2 are all filmed in Brizzybriz and features it all nice, like.
Posted by Georgie on April 29, 2011
BEING HUMAN
I assume you mean the british version (well, I hope, because I haven’t seen the american one). Quite good, I think. But not the best tv show there is around at the moment. I’ve watched the first two seasons only, though. So it could have gotten better/worse since then. It’s a bit different to the usual vampire/werewolf/ghost storyline, I think.
7/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
I dislike them right at the moment because they recently did something that forced the Chasers commentary to be cancelled and that was the only coverage of the wedding that I was considering watching. I am judging my score entirely on that as I don’t know much more about them (other than the fact that Kate’s ring is worth 5 million dollars/pounds or something like that which is RIDICULOUS).
1/10
SUSHI
Referring to the rice-and-stuff-in-seaweed type: Not normally a huge fan, but there is one place in Hobart which sells pretty amazing sushi so I only ever buy it if I go there. I never buy the ones with fish in them… Normally I get like chicken, or my favourite ‘sundried tomato and cashew’. Not very japanese, I know.
7/10
SUDOKU
I used to quite enjoy these, but have gotten a bit bored of them recently. There are other things I would much prefer to be doing with my time. Unless, of course, a sudoku race is involved (doing a sudoku at the same time as someone else doing the same one). Races are fun.
5/10
THE MOON
Love the moon! It entertains me on my 20min walk from the tram stop to my apartment in Melbourne late at night (generally after comedy). I am very sad when it hides itself from me.
10/10
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on April 29, 2011
BEING HUMAN 9ish/10
Being human fits in with Misfits (and to a lesser extent skins) in being the sort of programme that if you try and describe it – “There’s a vampire and a werewolf and a ghost and they… just sit around watching The Real Hustle” – it sounds like you might have gone a little bit mad. But it works so well. The beauty of it is that the characters were fully formed before any of the spooky shit was added. The last 2 series have maybe focussed a bit too much on the running round stabbing vampire stuff but it wasn’t half exciting. At it’s core it’s about the struggle between accepting the bad stuff in you as a part of you (Mitchell) or trying to externalise it (George). Very good stuff.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON [blank]/10
I am so for the wedding tomorrow and more than that, I love the royals. I made a tumblr post explaining my love for the royal family
http://hardwatertown.tumblr.com/post/4956821973/for-queen-and-country
However, I’m not going to rate them as people. That just seems a bit weird. Not my place.
SUSHI 0-10/10
As I said in my comment on the sushi post, good sushi is brilliant, bad sushi is awful. Good sushi: I went to a sushi restaurant in Osaka when I was in Japan. Seriously, you’ve never had the like. I was not sold on raw squid, I have to say, but sushi, I love. Bad sushi: Tesco sell chicken sushi with a sticker on the front “No Raw Fish”. Need I say more?
SUDOKU 5/10
I have to say, I don’t mind a good Sudoku. I could never finish one though, and I’d hardly choose to do one every day, but you know, the thinking, with the numbers, it’s all good. It’s funny.
THE MOON 10/10
The moon’s so pretty. It’s ace. Also, Tim Ten Yen, a very fine fellow and an excellent music-man is releasing a free track every full moon for a year. The moon’s great.
Posted by Rachael on April 28, 2011
Sudoku: I enjoy it. Completing one gives me a sense of accomplishment and I feel like it exercises my brain cells. However, I did not always feel this way, I sort of taught myself to like it. Also, if you get stuck or do it wrong it can make you feel stupid and fustrated. 7/10
Will and Kate: I don’t know much about Kate but she certainly isn’t offensive. I have respect for Will because he makes a point of doing the things he wants to do, such as his degree and his career. Plus, they do both have to put up with quite alot, like all the attention. I think there could be much worse people to represent our country. 8.5/10
Posted by Ingrid on April 28, 2011
Right… here goes
DAN IN REAL LIFE or THE SWITCH or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
I have dan in real life… yet have never watched it. I will work to amend that and get back to you
BEING HUMAN (cult comedy, so far has passed me by)
I was very bored one day and found myself watching the the season final. And i loved it! Since then i have been watching the whole series in reverse.
9/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON (people; seems wrong not to talk about them when so many other people are)
I dont really know. They seem nice enough, so i wont let my irritation with the royals as an institute get in the way with my review.
As i said, im not to sure but, well they seem nice enough. Still it feels weird rating people I’ve never met out of ten, so i think I’ll leave this one.
SUDOKU (enduringly popular hobby which I have never got into)
You gotta love it. Awfully addictive, and sometimes so frustrating you feel like tearing the damn thing up and yelling ‘WHO WINS NOW!?’ (not that that helps much), but overall, a great way to pass time. 9/10
THE MOON (the traditional ‘one for people who don’t know about any of the others’)
Yeah you know… its… pretty isnt it?
9/10
Posted by BenH9 on April 28, 2011
Hi all, this is my first post. I give it 6.5/10.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON 8.5/10. I’m quite pro-Royal, but this mark also reflects the fact they seem to be genuinely decent people. Wills has taken on a very noble job and mucks in, by recent accounts. Also seem popular where they’re going to live in Anglesey. My rating for the wedding though is 2/10, coz it’s all about modern sleb-culture rather than the royalty.
SUDOKU 6/10. As Mark points out, enduring, perhaps surprisingly so. I’m quite a puzzle fan. I enjoy the logical processes required, but the satisfaction of getting these right is diminished by the dull end result of a grid full of jumbled numbers. Personally I find it a decent exercise, but have moved on to harder logic puzzles – i.e. a magazine called “Beyond Sudoku” – so I’ll give it a sound but unspectacular mark as there are plenty more interesting and satisfying diversions around.
THE MOON 10/10 Can’t really knock the Moon, can you? Oddly blamed for various manias and supernatural transformations, which seems harsh balanced against its sterling work lighting the night. Briefly a tourist hotspot in the 60′s/70′s, though this has died down.
Posted by Sam on April 28, 2011
Not too many of these I can talk about with authority – thankfully having no knowledge of something has never stopped me giving an opinion
HAWAII – Never been. From the UK (where I live) its just too far and too awkward to get to for nice beaches, good surf and whatever else about it that takes your fancy. On the other hand, I do like the idea of being able to wear a flower garland and say ‘aloha’ to everyone you meet; seems a very amiable way to conduct yourself. (no rating, since I don’t have any personal experience)
DAN IN REAL LIFE or THE SWITCH or HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU
Only seen He’s Just Not That Into You. I enjoyed it It’s trashy, it’s superficial, its full of impossibly beautiful people. The thing is, you know what you’re getting when you watch one of these films and you know how it’s going to end so only go there if you know you like those kind of ‘will they/won’t they, yes they will’ romcoms (you wouldn’t have a banana milkshake if you didn’t like the taste of banana). 7/10 for mindless, forgettable entertainment. Would have been 6/10 but I gave it an extra point for the silliness of being based on a book which was based on a single line of dialogue from Sex and the City.
BEING HUMAN Not seen it, probably won’t bother. Not got anything against it, except life’s too short to commit to too many TV Series.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored. 1/10 for an extra day’s holiday.
SUSHI I love, love, love sushi!! Can’t rate it highly enough. Delicious, healthy, filling, fun to eat. Also fun to say with all the names of the different types of rolls. Fun to make it too – with the sticky rice, and seaweed wrap and whatever you decide to fill/top it with. Got an Iphone app ‘Teach Me Sushi’ which gives recipes instructions by THE MOST enthusiastic man I’ve ever seen who’s manages to sincerely be not even a little bit annoying which is quite an accomplishment for me as I’m very easily annoyed. High five for raw fish
10/10
SUDOKU I don’t know anything about sudoku. No idea of the rules, the process or the point. Something about numbers?
THE MOON Ah the moon. Our lovely satellite. What’s not to like. It gives us tides, helps keep our stable orbit, doesn’t cause earthquakes or apocalypses even when it’s super. And it looks just soooo pretty when it’s full. And it’s clever enough not to show it’s full self all the time so you don’t get bored/complacent with it’s full loveliness. 10/10
Posted by Megan on April 28, 2011
In the transfer from my computer to Mr Watson’s email to the blog, the link to the Big Bang Theory video vanished. Here is the ‘haunting’ video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmLQaTcViOA
Posted by Andrew on April 28, 2011
WILLIAM/MIDDLETON: Et tu, Watson? I find it absolutely astonishing that in 2011 we even have the institution of monarchy. I can’t express how mystifying it is to me to read lines like the one left by another commenter, “I am a fan of the Royal Family”. It is completely incomprehensible to me. Nothing against them as individuals, and I know none of this nonsense is their fault, but obviously, 0/10.
SUDOKU: I enjoy it, but have used it as displacement activity when particularly demoralised at work, so it has associations of misery for me. 5/10.
THE MOON: There is little more beautiful than a huge full moon hanging languidly low in the sky. 10/10.
Posted by Juliet on April 28, 2011
Good review! so..
DAN IN REAL LIFE:
This is, of course, an american movie, a Hollywood movie, but it might surprise you because it has a different color, it feels different, like it’s not that commercial.
I didn’t like Juliette Binoche’s performance, but I loved Steve Carrell’s, even though he kind of plays the same role that he’s always played (the loser).
Something everyone should know about this movie is that it has the most amazing soundtrack EVER, all songs by Sondre Lerche, beautiful melodies, amazing voice and very touching lyrics.
In the end, it’s a love story, but not just another love story.
Score: 9/10
THE MOON:
Not a big deal, just a piece of rock. There are many other satellites in the system so why should this particular one be special in any way?
Score: 4/10
HAWAII:
Never been. But it’s a beach destination and any place with beaches makes me feel miserable.
Score: 1/10
Posted by Tibbs on April 28, 2011
I really did mean to go back and comment on that VLR. Really I did. I’m going to avoid that situation this time around, and answer promptly!
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU: I’ve not even heard of the other two films, so I will only comment on this one, which I found really rather disappointing. It had so many great people in it, but it was just so predictable and blah. 1/10, and that 1 is mostly for having the cute boy from Ed, whom I have not seen in much else.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON: Holy hell am I ever tired of hearing about these two. And it must be so much worse for people actually in the UK; I really feel for you all! 0/10
SUSHI: I have only ever had vegetarian sushi, I think it had cucumber in it or something, when I was cooling my heels in Singapore Airport (I think) on my way home from Korea the Christmas before last. I was starving and jet lagged and so didn’t really taste what I was eating. But kimpap, the Korean equivalent (made with a different type of seaweed and quite a bit bigger than sushi) was one of the few restaurant-y things I could eat in Korea, and so wonderfully inexpensive. “Please give me one kimpap, no meat, no ham” remains one of the few full sentences I can still say in Korean. (“Kimpap hana duseo, kogi pego, ham pego”, if you were wondering.) 8/10
SUDOKU: I used to like it, when it was new and weird and provided me with something else I could do to while away the time at work after I’d finished the crossword. I’ve since gotten really bored of it. It basically boils down to counting to 9 over and over again. 3/10
THE MOON: I FUCKING LOVE THE MOON. It makes me happy just to see it. Really, this is in part an extension of my love of the sky and everything in it. But it’s not just our moon that I love; I love the shepherd moons that help keep planetary rings in check, I love that one of Jupiter’s moons (Ganymede) is bigger that Mercury, I love Saturn’s ice moon Enceladus that has potentially life-supporting liquid water under its surface. But our Moon is still the best one; it’s bigger in proportion to the Earth that any other planet’s moons, which makes it much cooler to look at; human being have actually walked on it, which is just utterly mindblowing if you think about it; and its size and distance from the Earth are just right to give us such spectacular solar eclipses. In conclusion, if I could give it infinity out of 10, I would. But that would make it a bit hard for Megan to work out the averages, so 10/10.
Posted by Miz on April 28, 2011
HAWAII: I’ve been to Oahu, it was pleasant enough but a bit too busy and tourist-y for me. I’ve heard that the other islands are a bit more relaxed? 5/10 for the lack of banana boats.
BEING HUMAN: The first two series were stellar. Unpopular opinion: Mitchell was a twat and I didn’t like him, so that hampered my enjoyment of the third. Very good overall though. 8/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON: They seem pleasant enough as people. *shrug* 4/10
SUSHI: I feel obliged to say I love it ’cause technically I’m Japanese…but whoops, I don’t like fish. 2/10
SUDOKU: Exceptionally boring. 1/10
THE MOON: What’s not to love? 10/10
Posted by MusicalLottie on April 28, 2011
BEING HUMAN:
I haven’t actually seen it but I feel strongly enough about vampire/supernatural stuff (which is the reason I haven’t seen it) to give it a 0/10 straight away.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
Hmm. The Royal Family produce mixed feelings within me – on the one hand, I don’t really see the point, but on the other hand they’re harmless enough (even Prince Philip – we’re all human). So on that basis, Prince William and Kate Middleton seem fairly sensible – in fact, they both seem really quite pleasant, from what I gather, and it’s not their fault their wedding is subject to such hype and protocol. If anything I feel a little sorry for them because they probably have much less control over it all – their wedding, and their lives – than the average couple. I think I’ll give them 8/10.
SUSHI
I’d love to try. I know I like raw salmon, and from the sushi dishes that I’ve read about, it sounds rather interesting – just it’s expensive so I’ll give it an anticipatory 9/10.
SUDOKU
Er. As a mathematician I ought to be good at it, but I’m not. It can be addictive, but I do find it really hard work. 6/10.
THE MOON
Ooh. On a scientific basis: absolutely brilliant! It’s also quite romantic too, if one is inclined to view things in that way. It’s even consistently inconsistent (@Hannah!) so to give anything less than 10/10 would be criminal.
Posted by Kathryn on April 28, 2011
BEING HUMAN:
It’s so good. It’s pretty much the only thing I take time out to watch when I’m at university (apart from House, and Doctor Who). I’ve watched it from the start of series 1 and I genuinely don’t think the standards of writing/acting have fallen at all. I may be slightly motivated by an attraction to Aidan Turner/Mitchell though (and I messed up my iPlayering so I am very annoyed at people ruining the end of series 3, even though I’d worked out what was going to happen.) There are so few really gripping drama series out there and maybe it’s not for everyone (my mother described it as ‘Satanic’) but it is seriously addictive and worth watching, especially with the balance between comedy, mundane drama and darkness. 9.5/10
SUDOKU:
I thought it was amazing when I was about 13 and I competed against my friends to improve my time and see if I could get to a higher level before anyone else. I was a nerdy child. The Killer ones are better though; it’s only really useful when you’re waiting for something and you’ve exhausted every other option in the paper and the internet isn’t working. 6/10
Posted by Beth on April 27, 2011
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU- tried to watch this on a plane in Spanish with English subtitles and couldn’t make it to the end. I think there were too many characters and all the men looked very similar which was confusing. Maybe I should have given it a proper go but the start gets 3/10.
BEING HUMAN- I have only watched the third series but it was great!Not predictable with some really good plot lines. 8/10.
THE MOON- Everyone loves the moon. Pretty and the perfect size and distance away for great solar eclipses. 10/10.
Posted by ChrisP on April 27, 2011
Being Human: Absolutely loved the first series, really engaging and as a bit of a horror fan had bags to offer in terms of the way that the characters interact and the way their darker sides reflect real personal problems. Second series didn’t quite feel the same and lost interest. Apparently the DVD set doesn’t have the original music score either which really added something so if you’ve missed it, you’ve really missed out.
7.5/10
The royal bloody weeding: Couldn’t give a flying fuck. Let the poor buggers get married in peace and quiet! What has the world come to!
10/10 for Will and Kate being happy 0/10 for pathetic media hype of the whole event.
The Moon: Very pwitty
10/10 (particularly good cameo appearances in Being Human)
Posted by LisaD on April 27, 2011
DAN IN REAL LIFE–It depends what sort of Steve Carrell fan you are. If you love him from Anchorman, this is not the movie for you. I love this movie. It’s willing to be sad and funny and genuinely painful in places. 9/10
BEING HUMAN–A friend of mine sat me down to watch this show a while back and I ended up gorging through all 3 series in about a week. I thought it was great. It lost me a bit in series 3 but the payoff was totally worth it. The writing gets a bit over-hyped. Most of the time it’s really good, occasionally it’s a bit hack-y, but still better than any of the other teen vamp stuff lying around. 7/10 PS It wasn’t on the list but I’d also like to briefly review the US version: it is shit. I’m embarrassed for the actors delivering those lines and the actress playing Annie needs to get a grip. 2/10
SUDOKU: I’m a bit shocked by how prevalent these puzzles have become. These things are very much in my wheelhouse; I like numbers, I like logic puzzles, this is both so they make me happy. The ones in the Metro are too easy though and I get bored. 8/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON–I know people think that Americans are obsessed with the royal family, but truthfully it takes a bit of effort to even bother enough to write this. Essentially I think they seem sweet enough to look at, but that’s all I can glean from the many shots of them standing in front of a lot of people with cameras flashing so much the look like their standing under strobe lights. Mainly I’m just pleased I didn’t have to pay for it. 5/10
THE MOON–What’s not to love? It’s pretty. Looking at it always relaxes me. Also when I get frustrated with tricky problems in life I remind myself that in the 60′s a bunch of people worked out how to send three guys in a rocket to the moon and have them walk around a bit and come back. Nothing I have to figure out is that tricky. 10/10
I know you specifically said the one moon, but the joy I’ve gotten from the several moons conversations on QI is easily worth 10/10
Posted by lisan66 on April 27, 2011
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON (people; seems wrong not to talk about them when so many other people are) I kinda like the royal family, I’m not British, but I tihnk that they add character to the country and they have to bring in tourist revenues, right? Plus, without the royal family, we wouldn’t have ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’, ‘The Young Victoria’ or ‘The King’s Speech.’ On Prince William and Kate Middleton though; I know for a fact that I will watch the wedding, along with my mam. And the two of us will talk about it incessantly, and the rest of the family will ignore us. I really do wish them well, and people in the UK should be delighted for them, because most of you got the day off work
9/10
THE MOON (the traditional ‘one for people who don’t know about any of the others’) I love the moon except when it’s outisde my window (from about midnight till one am). Otherwise it’s amazing. And powerful. And beautiful! Especially a full moon. There’s nothing like being in the countryside when there’s a full moon! 10/10
Oh, and in other news, the tickets for Mark in The Academy, Dublin went on sale earlier!
Posted by Josie on April 27, 2011
THE SWITCH – I watched this on a 9-hour flight from Kilimanjaro Airport to Heathrow, and it’s your typical Hollywood schmaltzy romcom – Jennifer Aniston playing “average American woman” (although I can’t stand her) and that guy that was in that film that nobody watched. It’s OK… watchable, but maybe that’s just because after 6 hours on a 747 I would have watched anything.. 4/10.
BEING HUMAN – Not a comedy. I kept up with the first series but trailed off towards to end and have been dipping in and out ever since. It’s hugely enjoyable but one of those ones you have to watch from the beginning – the constant references to previous seasons and episodes means it’s difficult to follow. Very good. Very gory when it wants to be. 8/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON – Blah 6/10
SUDOKU – Boring and frustrating! With no point! Gah! 0/10
THE MOON – Pretty at night and compliments the stars but not a source of light 9/10
Posted by Tim Buckle on April 27, 2011
Prince William & Kate Middleton: I am a fan of the Royal family so I am happy for them both. They seem to get on well and she will be a breath of fresh air to the Royal Family. 8/10
Being Human: Really good programme. Not what I thought it was going to be like. I thought it was going to be a silly comedy buts a really good drama. 9/10
Sudoku: Guilty pleasure. Don’t do it as often as I would like. It makes maths seem fun. 7/10
The Moon: Hypnotic. Also a full moon does make me feel differently.
Hawaii: Never been but it is where Obama is from so must be good
Posted by Lydia on April 27, 2011
HAWAII: My mum’s recently ex boyfriend liked it, therefore it is crap. 1/10
DAN IN REAL LIFE: Steve Carrell dances. So obviously this is awesome. 8/10
HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU: I am embarrassed about it, but I actually really love this film. 9/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON: When people I actually know are getting married it kind of annoys me, so why would I care about their wedding? 2/10
SUDUKO: Someone tried to teach me this during a particularly desperate General Studies last year. I didn’t get it. It involves maths therefore it cannot be fun. 0/10
THE MOON: I love the moon. I like staring at it and thinking pretentious thoughts. 10/10
I want to know what people think of Campus. I’ve got really into it, but all the reviews I’ve read are crap. It’s all “It’s not as good as Green Wing”, which is kind of unfair, I think.
Posted by Alex on April 27, 2011
THE SWITCH
This is predictably enjoyable in a rom-com way. The DVD actually broke about 15 minutes before the end of the film and we looked up the plot on Wikipedia. We really didn’t have bothered, it was obvious what was going to happen after about 20 minutes. It’s not great, I wouldn’t watch it again, but it was sort of funny and reasonably likeable. 5/10
BEING HUMAN
I fucking LOVE Being Human. The first series is brilliantly funny, the second maybe a bit *too* dark- there wasn’t enough humour, but series three was back on form. The characters are brilliant, the stories are clever, and it doesn’t feel contrived in the way most of the vampire stuff around at the moment does. 9.5/10 because- SPOILER- I can’t quite forgive them for killing off Mitchell.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
They seem nice enough. I hope they have a nice wedding and everything. Not a big fan of what the monarchy stands for but it’s not HIS fault he’s a prince… So, yeah, happy wedding to them, and now I think everyone should stop talking about it please.
SUDOKU
I am embarrassingly bad at sudoku 0/10
THE MOON
The Moon is pretty special. Apparently the sea wouldn’t work without it? Looks quite nice too. 10/10
Posted by Hannah on April 27, 2011
DAN IN REAL LIFE – i have seen this film because i have sky movies and i am a procrastinator. i do like steve carell, so one point for that, basically i have no opinion one way or the other, so i’ll have to give it 5/10
BEING HUMAN -y. good but not as good as everyone says it is,and the last season got a bit whiny. good, though. 7/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON – sure they’re very pleasant but i am completely against the whole idea of the monarchy for so many reasons, and i object to having the fairly boring wedding of some fairly boring (if pleasant – i don’t know!) people being constantly pushed in my face and smushed around a bit with dress speculation and whatnot. 0/10
SUDOKU – ok, but killer sudoku (involves adding) is better, and crosswords are even better. i’ve always found them more mind numbing than mind stimulating though. 6/10
THE MOON – pretty, and gives us tides which makes the beach look pretty 9/10 (not always visible so had to take a mark off for inconsistency)
Posted by Phill on April 27, 2011
I have a couple of friends who really like Being Human, but I’ve never seen it so can’t really comment. It’s definitely on my “to-do” list though.
SUDOKU: I wouldn’t bother. I got into Sudoku a few years ago and it didn’t take me long to realise that essentially … they’re all the same. Yes, some are more difficult than others, but you pretty much have to apply the same techniques / pattern to every single one. I find crosswords a much more interesting and fulfilling way of passing the time.
Score: 3/10
SUSHI: Had sushi a few times and like it in general, although I’ve never tried any of the really hard stuff (if that’s an appropriate way of describing Sushi). I’m not a massive seafood fan but did like Sushi, as someone else found, so yeah … worth trying definitely
Score: 7/10
Posted by Misha on April 27, 2011
I have no opinions on Hawaii or the films.
BEING HUMAN Series One was wonderful, a breath of fresh air in a world of shitty twilight vampires and sparkles, and i’ll admit I quite fancied Mitchell even though I didn’t want to.
Series 2 was ok, but just not quite as good.
Series 3 I felt was more of a whimper, I only really watched it out of loyalty, and missed the finale. So watch series 1, that’s worth it.
7/10
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON I am utterly ambivalent to them. I quite like the concept of the royal family, it’s sort of charming and britishy. That’s it really.
3/10
SUSHI I’ve never had proper sushi, but I love that not real stuff that you get in tescos, the tuna one. I mean, it makes a rubbish lunch because it barely touches the sides and you can’t eat it nicely, but if you fancy a snack and you’re alone in the room it’s wonderful to ram in your face.
10/10
SUDOKU I once attempted a Sudoku as an escape from being made to watch The Godfather in history. I found out at the last box i’d gone wrong somewhere. I screwed it up and haven’t bothered since. 0/10
THE MOON Is awesome. Nuff said. 10/10
Posted by Alice on April 27, 2011
Being Human- series one and two are superb, tightly written, detailed acting, tripping along the tightrope between horror and comedy with ease. It gets fairly gory and more than a little fatalistic/epic/serious in the third series but there’s still a twisting plot and I audibly gasped more than once. 9/10 for series one and two and 7.5/10 for series three.
Sushi- I love it. Wasabi is an amazing cold cure. It blasts through in seconds. You can still get noodles and full dishes at most sushi joints if the raw thing worries you (I took my sister out once to a sushi place and she happily ate nothing but spring rolls all evening). Plough on while you’re in Oz, I hear they do sushi better than us.
Posted by Patrick on April 27, 2011
Sushi: I’m not really a big fan of fish in general, but this is one thing I LOVE.. I could quite frankly eat it all day and not complain once. Just thinking about it now….mmm, sushi. Don’t love them all, but I coul live off the litttle cucumbery-ricey-seaweedy ones. 9/10
Sudoku: Meh. I used to do a few, back in the days when I didn’t have exams/Watsonia/friends, but now I don’t really have time/interest. Worth a go, but if you get frustrated at it, don’t come crying to us. 6/10
The Moon: Adore it. 10/10