DVD Review: No Angels series two box set

No Angels has to be one of my favourite Channel 4 adult comedy drama. Featuring four female NHS nurses, the series is raunchy and 'realistic'. Medical series like E.R. is about doctors trying to be heroic - through weekly epic battles. No Angels is about humans working in a hospital and how they deal with their everyday life (through sex).


A typical nurses home in Leeds? Sign me up!

In No Angels, doctors and nurses frequently squabble, fights break out among patients and the politics of NHS wards are highlighted. Watching this, you would just wish the scriptwriters of other so called 'chick-flicks' such as Desperate Housewives would just give it up.


Junior doctor punching someone. Yay!

The final series of No Angels is currently being screened on Channel 4. Since I missed most of season two last year, I thought I would just save myself by getting the season two box-set. Unlike series one (my review here), the second season has less two episodes (eight), although you will still get them over three DVDs. Like most of Channel 4 dramas, the DVDs come in a digibox case along with a very pink slipcover.



The DVD transfer has been done pretty well with colours looking accurate (I believe). Aspect ratio is 16:9 and the audio is only limited to two channels. There are no bonus features apart from a cast interview and photo gallery. And taking a step backwards when compared to the first season DVD, there are no subtitles on this version.



Still, don't let that detract you from checking getting the DVD if you missed it last year (or the repeats). This is an extremely funny British series, which is rare these days with the oversaturated craps that grace our telly.

Technorati tags: No Angels Channel 4 Comedy Nurses NHS

Gyakuten Saiban: Yomigaeru Gyakuten / Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney mini-review

One of the best time of my life was when I played this game a few months ago. Three days of non-stop playing, occasionally stopping for food and drink and other of life's essentials - and I finally 'beaten' the game in the early hours of a Sunday morning. It's like reading four detective books. Your eyes will bleed but it doesn't matter because you will want to get to the bottom of the truth.

You will become a recluse as you are sucked into the world where Phoenix, Maya, Ema and Edgeworth lives. When you finish, it's like something good has been taken away. You will understand the frustration that is felt by Harry Potter fans who has to wait for the next book like forever. You may even weep as you try to enjoy it all over again. But it will never be the same as the first time. Same goes with Gyakuten Saiban. It is that good.

Also known as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney in the western world, Gyakuten Saiban DS is a remake of the original Gameboy Advance game where you play as rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright. It is easy and yet sometimes frustrating. It is the only world where you are allowed 'five lives' in the court (don't worry you can save). A world that nothing makes sense but when it dawns on you, you will be thinking "duh!". The DS version also contains a bonus case which is almost as long as two normal cases put together. Perfect for investigative adventure game fans, especially for those who remember the days of Monkey Island and Sam & Max.

Any objections?

9/10

Buy now from Play-Asia or Amazon UK

The 'fake sheikh' Mazher Mahmood

Ah, as it is legal now, British based blogs are free to publish pictures of the so called fake sheikh without fear of a lawsuit. The undercover reporter for News of the World; whose journalistic 'skills' include (allegedly) destroying lives, entrapment, selling drugs, faking passports and inciting the kidnapping of a famous footballer and his posh wife; was cornered by Gorgeous George (note, I am not a fan - but do read his amusing blog entry here) when Mr Mahmood attempted to entrap the Respect MP. You can read more at the Guardian.

Technorati tags: Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood Pervez Khan

British Summer Time

The clock went forward by an hour roughly two weeks ago, and I am still not used to it even after eight years of BST changeovers. That one hour less sleep during the changeover meant that my body clock is truly fucked up. I can easily recover in a day or two from a 8 hours jet-lag, but for some reason BST can screw me up so badly.

The worst thing about BST, apart from losing an hour and then gaining an hour months later, is the confusion it causes. When BST came in the wee morning hours of the 26th, I had no idea which clock to trust. Windows XP automatically took care of the clock but my mobile phone did not. The telly was still displaying the old time. At one point I actually thought that we gained an hour. I was kinda hoping that my Fossil would magically move its longer arm by itself but alas it did not.

And it is not like "British Summer Time" actually mean anything. The evenings may get longer, but it is still chilly! To be fair though, last year I did gained an extra hour of birthday when BST ended.

On a happier note, the postman should be delivering something truly special for me tomorrow. \o/

Technorati tags: British Summer Time

Video Game Impressions: Nintendo DS Lite & Tomb Raider: Legend

I won't bore you with an in depth review of Nintendo's new DS Lite. Instead here are some pictures and first impressions.


Vs







A reduced-size GBA slot cover is provided


Normal GBA carts protrudes around one cm

Pros:
- Smaller (42% less volume)
- Lighter too
- Amazing screen
- Four level brightness - high level brightness perfect for summer alfresco gaming sessions
- Larger capacity battery
- Inside matte finish
- Still region free
- Longer and thicker stylus slot
- Buttons do not 'click' (may be negative to some)

Cons:
- Reduced-sized GBA slot (a necessary evil, I guess)
- New charging slot
- Outside glossy finish which attracts fingerprints
- OS not updated (still need to reboot!)
- So far only exists as expensive imports (on top of the potential H.M. Revenue & Customs tax)

Playing Metroid Prime: Hunters has never been more satisfying.

Totally unrelated to the DS Lite, but still remaining with gaming:

I also had the chance to have a go with the new Tomb Raider: Legend demo today. Behind the unrealistically glossy new Lara, gameplay works essentially the same as the original Tomb Raider. However playing Legend isn't the same as when I first played Tomb Raider nine years ago on the family computer.


In 1996, playing a scantly clad sexy female Indiana Jones style character while hunting for old relics in exotic locations was a unique and refreshing twist, especially when compared to the many male-centric games

I guess the idea of controlling a semi-nude sexy protagonist isn't that big a deal nowadays. Still as a game title, Legend is pretty good and should satisfy most fans of Lara Croft and the third person platform genre. It isn't a killer title, but if the price drops down to £15, I may just be tempted to play the full version.

You can download the PC demo here or here.

Technorati tags: Nintendo Nintendo DS Nintendo DS Lite DS Lite Gaming Portable Consoles Tomb Raider Tomb Raider Legend Lara Croft

Dixons no more

Finally, the accursed name of Britain's most pathetic high street electronic chain will be banished. Yes, it is simply a rebrand (replacing them with Currys), but it still matters. Why? Because as my high street has both Currys and Dixons, the consolidation will only mean that in the future, we will have one less crappy store to worry about.

Update: Yes... replace Dixons with Currys.digital... As though that will ever change their reputation of having the worst trained staffs. But at least we can laugh at their new name! Seriously though this venture will fail and Dixons as a brand will be no more. Anyone seen their online store recently? It is laughable.

Technorati tags: Dixons Currys Currys.digital

Let there be lite

Look at what the mailman dropped today!



Woohoo!

Ben & Jerry's Glastonbury Tour

Got this in my mailbox today:

Hi Jon, get your free helping of our new Glastonberry ice cream on the Orange & Sony Ericsson Glastonbury Tour of the film, which is released across the UK on 14th April.

Kicking off with the London film premiere (April 11), the tour moves to Bristol (April 13), Leeds (April 14) and Glasgow (April 15). Each of the regional events will include a live acoustic set from a Glastonbury act followed by a screening of Glastonbury The Film, which follows some of the festival’s 35-year history featuring acts such as The Scissor Sisters, Radiohead, Bjork and Coldplay plus many more.

You can find out more and win or buy tickets by clicking here.

Can't say that I am excited about it. No more London tickets for the event at Prince Charles Cinema too. But really, the only event I kinda wish I could attend is Leeds (Starsailor) but I would be busy during the time period (more on that later). And no way am I going to sit down and watch a film clip which features Coldplay. Even if the price is 50p under a fiver.

Still no news about their next Sundae festival.

Technorati tags: Ben & Jerry's Glastonbury Glastonberry Live event