Ok, so I suck at coming up with blogging subjects, therefore it’s time to head back to what I know and that’s TV & Films, so without further ado here’s what I’ve watched recently.

24 – Redemption

Set between seasons 6 & 7, Jack is currently residing in a small African country about to explode with a Coup which seems as though members of the American government are assisting with technology and weapons.  The army that is to perform this coup are comprised mainly of young boys, who are drugged and brain washed to fight for General Dumar.  Jack is currently staying at a small school run by an old friend Bennet, played by Robert Carlyse, and the boys become a target for the snatch squads looking for new recruits.

This follows the standard 24 “events occur in real time” which means that the story has to move along at a frantic pace to try and finish it within the 2 hrs, however it does kind of work.  Obvious the main subplot is Jack trying to avoid the fact that the US have issued a subpeona for him to return to the US to answers charges relating to him torturing suspects in his custody and given the sneak peeks released for Season 7 this time last year, before the writers strike delayed everything, you know he’s not getting away from that one.

There are a large number of hints of things to come in the new season, a new President is sworn in, her son (yes the new President is a female)  has a friend trying to send him some financial records that relate to our small African country which he was told to destroy and how much does the old President know about this situation.  All plot lines that I am sure are going to have repercussions for Jack when we next see him.

Anyway overall it’s a real improvement on season 6 which just seemed too disjointed and hopefully is a sign of things to come in season 7.

Kung Fu Panda.

Hmmm, an animated film for kids, not exactly my normal cup of tea, but one that Mrs CB wanted to watch so we acquired the DVD and sat down to watch it.  All I can say was WOW!!! This is a great film, entertainment for young and old.

Heroes.

Not quite as good as it was back in Season 1, however it’s better than the cut short season of last year.  With the switching round of characters from being evil to good and vice versa it’s re-energizing the show and it’s again becoming one of those “I can’t wait for the next episode”.  Cu-dos to the BBC for airing it only a couple of days after the US.

Spooks

Awesome – enough said.  If you don’t watch it, go out and buy Season 1 and start from there.

I’m a Celebrity get me out of here.

Just kidding!!!! not even watched 1 min of this (although I did catch around 5 seconds when switching channels).

Star Trek – trailer for the new movie.

Ok, this looks awesome!!! Can’t wait for May for this to come around.  Forget Xmas this is now the big date on my radar!!!!

Stress levels are dangerously high at the minute, I have (I hope, given we haven’t confirmed that the hospital have a bed for my wife yet) 2 hrs before I leave the office to take her to the hospital.  Things will be a little sketchy here for a while so don’t expect many updates.

On the up side, watched the 1st & 2nd eps of Heroes Season 3.  OMG does it look good.  Don’t want to say too much and spoil it for those who haven’t watched it yet.

My next blog should be full of good news.

Time just seems to drag at the moment, 3 weeks to my wife’s op and I can’t even get the enthusiasm to blog.  At least my wife and I are going away for a few nights holiday next week and then we have to start organising things for her stay in hospital.

People ask how I’m doing but it’s difficult to say when I’m not sure myself.  The funniest thing is that at times I’m almost cheerful and that just doesn’t feel right to me.

Wycombe seem to be doing well, 3 wins and a draw in the first 4 matches of the season sees them in 4th Position in the table, however the 3 teams above us are only there on goal difference, I have a good feeling about this season (someone bookmark this and send it to me when we get relegated!!!).

Gaming front, following a small trade in yesterday (gaining £114 in credit) I have re-invested in Tiger Woods 2009, Too Human, Smash Court Tennis 3, Conan, Tomb Raider Anniversary and Crackdown (again).  Expect some reviews over the next few weeks.

Film front, a little quiet at the moment, however I have found a rather nice bit of software to catalogue my collection http://www.invelos.com/.  More than likely a bit of software I will actually register!!!

Book front, my writing has slowed down to a snails pace at the moment, having written two and half chapters over 3 days 2 weeks ago, I have not written a word since.  I know that one of my proof readers will be chasing my soon.

Anyway that’s kind of where I am at the minute, although my head is usually some other place for the most part.   Catch ya on the flip side.

For those of you who missed out on Season 1 check out this link. Season 1 was shot during the 2006 season, Season 2 during 2007. For those who followed the climbers during Season 1, we have a number of familiar faces, Russell (Team leader), Tim Medvetz (Maniac biker), Mogens Jensen (Mad Asthmatic Dane) return after both failing to summit the previous year along with the familiar sherpas. Joining them we have David Tait, planning a double traverse, that’s climb the north side, go down the south, rest for a couple of days and then come back over the top (is he completely insane???) , Katsusuke Yanagisawa, at 71 he is planning to be the oldest man to ever summit among others. For me, having watched season 1 this is all about Tim and Mogens, both of whom need to get a kick in their mental arses, Tim needs to stop arsing about all the time, last year a 30 min late start at camp 4 cost him his summit chance, Mogens needs to realise that although he wants to be the first asthmatic to summit without using bottled oxygen, he also needs to understand that there are goals and there are realistic goals and maybe simply summiting is what he is capable of.
In the end this is an epic struggle for both Tim and Mogens, Mogens finally realises that he has to use oxygen to get up the mountain and because of this finally manages to summit after three years of failure. Tim’s attitude improves and he is one of the first out of Camp 4 on Summit day, however his attempt is thrown into doubt when he manages to fall and break his hand. However he actually manages to hide the extent of his injury from the rest of the climbers and from Russell down at base camp and eventually summits. In the end when he finally comes clean, no one actually believes he has broken his hand and feels that he is making too much of it, that is until the x-ray is performed and 2 bones are clearly broken. As for David Tait, he and super Sherpa Phurba Tashi manage the single traverse, but David has to pull out of the return leg as he does not recover well from the effects of the first climb. Finally Katsusuke Yanagisawa manages to summit and therefore sets the record for the oldest climber to ever summit Everest.

And with that Torchwood rolled back onto our screens last night, from the opening chase scene, through Captain Jack’s return this episode IMO really raised the bar. Last season was good, with some great episodes, this season has started off with an episode that put the whole of last season in the shade. We are introduced to Captain John, played by James Masters, another Time Agent with whom Jack was a partner in the past and apparently Captain John was the wife.
The obvious chemistry between Gwen, Eve Myles, who’s breasts are looking as fine as ever (got to be worth a few hits based on past search hits) and Jack is still there, but with Gwen now engaged following Jack’s disappearance you would have expected it to be toned down but the obvious eventual sub-plot is certainly just waiting to happen. However the fact that by the end of the episode Jack has already set up a date with Ianto, who this series has graduated from the role that seemingly saw him simply guarding the door, answering the phone and delivering the mail, through to actually getting out with the team.
James Masters, who is rumored to reprise the role later in the series, brings a level of humour to the role that is absolutely perfect for his character. From the opening Holo-Mail, think voice mail but video in 3d, ending with the classic line “Help me ObiWan Kenobi you are my only hope” you knew he was going to be a different kind of villain, I mean lets face it how many other villains end up lip-locking with two of the main cast, Jack and Gwen for those of you keeping count (Does being a Time Agent mean that you have to be bi???).
Overall this is a cracking first episode and bodes well for the season ahead, let’s just hope that they can maintain the quality of the episodes, and if anyone at the BBC is listening, get James Masters signed up for more episodes!!!!