Martyn – Page 7 – The Bad Wilf Network

Running Down Corridors-The RTD Christmas specials

As we approach RTD2, your dynamic trio take a look at the RTD Christmas specials.

The Christmas specials of Doctor Who written by Russell T Davies (2005-2009) explored humanity and the human cost of war and showed some of the Doctor’s greatest moments of heroism.

In The Christmas Invasion (2005) viewers were introduced to David Tennant’s Tenth Doctor and saw his successful thwarting of the Sycorax invasion of Earth.

In The Runaway Bride (2006) the Doctor reunited with old flame Donna Noble and had to rescue her from the Empress of the Racnoss.

In Voyage of the Damned (2007) the Doctor teamed up with Astrid to defend the Titanic in Space against the hostile alien force known as the Host.

In The Next Doctor (2008) the Doctor encountered his future self and fought off a robotic infestation. In The End of Time (2009), viewers saw the Doctor’s final farewell to his human companions before his regeneration into the Eleventh Doctor.

The specials explored themes of family, love, heroism, and faith while showcasing why Russell T Davies and David Tennant were both so popular with the general public.

Happy Christmas, to all of you at home. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back in the New Year. Albeit with a slightly different line-up. For personal reasons, Sam has decided to step down from the podcast. All is still well with The Bad Wilf family and there will always be a seat at the table for him, should he choose to return.

This podcast is part of The Bad Wilf Network. Check out www.badwilf.com, for information on all our other shows.

Artwork by Penny Smallshire.

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Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Lincolnshire Poacher

Mysterious signals lead the Torchwood team to investigate the Moil, where they encounter a series of numbers that seem to hold a secret. The story follows the team as they try to unravel the mystery, with Greg, an antagonist played by David Shaw-Parker, at the center of the intrigue. Greg’s routine, which involves recording audio while working in the Moil and setting traps, adds to the eerie atmosphere created by the use of real-life number stations.

Meanwhile, Ianto is trapped in a boiler room, and the reality around the team appears to be collapsing. As the story unfolds, the tension builds, and the Lincolnshire Poacher waits in the wings, adding to the creepy atmosphere.

Gareth David-Lloyd gives a stirring performance as Ianto, and the direction by Lisa Bowerman and sound designs by Toby Hrycek-Robinson create an immersive experience. The use of atmospheric music adds to the overall effect.

The Moil, an archaic word for “to work hard, often in the mud,” creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity, and the writing partnership of Lauren Mooney and Stuart Pringle shines through in the unique story and experimental themes.

Overall, The Lincolnshire Poacher is a strong addition to the Torchwood monthly range, with its strange, dark, and mysterious story keeping listeners guessing throughout. It’s a must-listen for fans of the show and anyone who enjoys immersive audio experiences.

Please note that Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Torchwood: The Lincolnshire Poacher is available to buy from Big Finish.

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Film Review-Clerks III

Kevin Smith, the once-indie film-making prodigy, has made his name not just from the success of his debut film, Clerks, but also from the legendary tale of its creation. Back in 1993, Smith famously used multiple credit cards and raised $27,575 to produce a witty, dialogue-driven film in the off-hours of his day job at a New Jersey convenience store.

As a long-time fan of Clerks and its follow-up, Clerks II, I approached Smith’s latest film, Clerks III, with cautious optimism, hoping to witness a return to form. However, despite being marginally better than his previous outings such as Tusk and Yoga Hosers, it falls far short of expectations.

The film is a meta-comedy that heavily relies on references and recreations of scenes from the original, a hardly surprising fact. But the execution is lazy and uninspired, lacking the originality and charm of its predecessor. Instead of building upon the source material in any meaningful way, Smith seems content to rehash old gags and callbacks, a move that ultimately renders the film a lacklustre sequel.

It’s clear that Smith has made a deliberate decision to cater solely to his podcast subscribers, alienating everyone else in the process. The callbacks and references to the original may please hardcore fans, but the lack of fresh ideas makes the film feel like a missed opportunity.

While the original film was quotable and fresh, this one falls short in almost every way, failing to capture the magic of the original.

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Professor Dave tribute

Here in podcast land, we lost one of our own recently. David Keep from Professor Dave’s Ark in Space sadly passed away last week. Dave was loved in our community, a true unsung hero of the genre.

This is a re-upload from 2010, where Dave and his future wife, Elizabeth. Joined us to discuss the Doctor Who episode Midnight.

As this episode is nearly 13 years old, the sound quality may not be up to today’s standards. But this is a very important episode for us here at Bad Wilf Towers, as I explain in a newly recorded intro.

Our thoughts go out to Elizabeth. We love you, Dave.

Episode 268: Doctor Who am I?

Martyn and Pete are joined by Matthew Jacobs and Vanessa Yuille, who discuss their excellent documentary ‘Doctor Who am I?‘

Doctor Who am I? follows Matthew Jacobs, writer of the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, as he is reluctantly dragged back into the American Whoniverse, in this funny and moving documentary about finding family in the unlikeliest of places.

Doctor Who am I? is currently screening in the UK, with American dates to follow. Check out Twitter and Facebook for more info. The Blu-ray and DVD are due for release on November 28th.

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Matthew Perry takes digs at Keanu Reeves

Perry’s upcoming memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” includes a few shocking revelations, including his exit from ‘Don’t look up’ after his heart stopped for five minutes. However, the most shocking is a pair of seemingly out-of-nowhere shots he takes at the beloved Keanu Reeves. At two points in the memoir, Perry questions why Reeves is still alive when “talented” actors and “original thinkers” like River Phoenix and Chris Farley had tragic deaths.

“The list of geniuses who were ahead of their time is too long to detail here — suffice to say, near the top of any such list should be my costar in ‘A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon,’ River Phoenix. River was a beautiful man, inside and out — too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us? River was a better actor than me; I was funnier. But I certainly held my own in our scenes”.

Reeves is mentioned again, later in the book when Perry talks about the death of his friend and comedian, Chris Farley. “His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word ‘heroin,’ a fear we did not share). I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us. I had to promote ‘Almost Heroes’ two weeks after he died; I found myself publicly discussing his death from drugs and alcohol. I was high the entire time.”

After an intense internet backlash, Matthew Perry issued an apology. Telling People “I’m actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologise. I should have used my own name instead.”

Doctor Who heading to Disney+ internationally

The BBC announced today, that all future series of Doctor Who will stream on Disney+ internationally. The exclusive deal will give Disney+ the rights to air the legendary sci-fi series outside of the U.K. and Ireland.

The show returns next year, with three 60th-anniversary specials featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. New Doctor Ncuti Gatwa will take over at Christmas 2023.

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies said: “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the Tardis all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the U.K.,”

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s chief content officer, added: “We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who is the perfect partner to bring this very British show to the rest of the world. Russell T Davies’ vision for ‘Doctor Who’ has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor’s epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it’s an extremely exciting time for fans in the U.K. and across the world.”

Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+, added: “We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalogue of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”

The streaming deal will not affect the release of DVD and Blu-Ray box sets.

Film review-Black Adam

Warner Bros. Discovery faces multiple challenges that threaten the success of their entertainment empire. Changes to the streaming service HBO Max, the Batgirl cancelation, and the redirection of the DC Extended Universe have all negatively impacted the studio’s reputation. Despite attempts to re-approach the model through different creative perspectives, the DC Extended Universe has yet to establish a consistent cinematic universe. The main issue seems to be the lack of consistent quality over time.

Black Adam, the latest addition to the DC Extended Universe, features a solid performance from Dwayne Johnson as the titular anti-hero. However, the chemistry between the cast members falls short, with the Justice Society of America lacking meaningful substance. The humourless, hollow screenplay fails to balance the dramatic intensity with the comedic beats that made Shazam! successful. The film’s overall aimlessness and narrative misdirection warn that CGI-ed mass destruction is not enough to rebuild a brand.

The superficiality of Black Adam contradicts any signs of progression for the DC Extended Universe, accusing them of misusing their characters. The film presents a bare-boned and uninspired “good vs. bad” narrative without much of a story to support it. There’s a disregard for audience expectations, needs, or desires, relying on expensive-looking excuses for an origin story. While the post-credits scene featuring a thrilling cameo may excite DC fans, it does not make up for the film’s overall shortcomings.

In conclusion, Black Adam’s solid performance from Dwayne Johnson is overshadowed by its aimlessness, lack of chemistry, humourless screenplay, and narrative misdirection. Warner Bros. Discovery and their DC Film team must focus on crafting comprehensive works of fiction that meet audience expectations, needs, and desires, rather than relying on high-volume talent to attach themselves to projects.

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Review-The Banshees of Inisherin

In 1923, on a tiny remote island, just off the coast of Ireland. Two friends find themselves at odds. When one of them decides he doesn’t like the other anymore.

It’s as basic a premise as one can think of for contemporary storytelling. And in his wondrous, wonderful, and exquisitely contained mini-opera “The Banshees of Inisherin,” writer-director Martin McDonagh takes this straightforward premise and sets it ablaze, using it as a backdrop to explore the conflict in man, the nature of pride and spite, the significance of companionship, and the curious edges of the male ego.

It’s a darkly comic drama that packs an emotional gut punch, after emotional gut punch and consistently finds new ways to deliver brutal body blows.

After portraying hitmen in McDonagh’s 2008 cult classic “In Bruges,” Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunited for the role of the men who are no longer friends when the film opens.

Like they do every day at 2:00 p.m., the unassuming Pádraic (Farrell) stops by Colm’s (Gleeson’s) beachside cottage to see if he wants to join him for a pint, at the local pub. But this time he’s snubbed by Colm. Later, he arrives, and Colm declines Pádraic’s offer to sit next to him. Pádraic, like the other patrons in the pub, is unable to comprehend just what is happening. The following day, Colm makes it very clear. He tells him, “I just don’t like you no more.” Did they have a drunken fight? Was it something he said? It’s not really that easy. Colm, who enjoys the arts and plays the fiddle. Has come to the realisation that Pádraic is boring. He’s sick of discussing the same issues, over and over. He just wants to be left alone.

Pádraic is gobsmacked to lose his closest friend, whilst Colm desperately seeks to leave some sort of musical legacy behind. Others like Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and Dominic (Barry Keoghan) are left to choose between picking up the pieces or looking out for themselves.

Condon and Keoghan absolutely shine in the film and steal every scene they’re in. Siobhán is easily the smartest person on the Island, confined by the attitudes of the era. Whilst Dominic is a deeply troubled character. Keoghan is a shoo-in for best supporting actor at the BAFTAs.

In lesser hands, Colm may seem unreasonable in his behaviour but Gleeson plays him with such world-weary depth, it’s impossible to dislike him. Farrell is also incredible as the bemused underdog, Pádraic.

It may not be as re-watchable as In Bruges, but The Banshees of Inisherin is a masterful exploration of the complications of male friendship. Undoubtedly one of the best films of the year.

The Banshees of Inisherin is out in the UK on October 21st.

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