I'M GETTING MARRIED!

Getting hitched and setting off on honeymoon in the near future, catch-up with you all on my return. Big thanks to my sister and bro-in-law for house-sitting duties - big pressie will come back with us on the plane :)

IT TAKES TWO... TO KILL THE INFECTED!

I've wanted to play the main campaign of a game using online co-op for a while now and having recently picked up a Headset, I decided to place an order for Resident Evil 5 on PS3 from Amazon UK. Believe it or not, I have never played a 'Resident Evil' game so I'm taking a bit of a gamble but I've been told the co-op play is excellent.

If you have played through the game in co-op let me know your thoughts?

GODS & MONSTERS

As I've been enjoying a bit of the old blood n' gruel, hack n' slash style in the infernal romp Dante's Inferno of late, I decided to treat myself to the critically acclaimed God of War: Collection and placed an order with Amazon UK.

From what I understand Dante's Inferno borrows heavily from this supposedly superior franchise in terms of game-play mechanics and with its backdrop of Greek Mythology, God of War should hold enormous fun for me. Thought I'd start at the beginning with parts 1 and 2 and then play through the new shiny God of War III later in the year.

PURGATORY AWAITS BUT GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

I was delighted to receive DANTE'S INFERNO for PS3 in the post today courtesy of boomerang. I had been expecting MOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFT but after waiting over a week for this to turn up it has been classified as lost. This could have taken away all my enthusiasm for renting videogames as, inclusive of my free trial, I've only previous rented one game from boomerang. However, I must congratulate boomerang on their excellent customer service, especially Jemma who runs their twitter feed @boomeranggames. Jemma was friendly and professional throughout and arranged for another game to be sent out to me ASAP. It really does make a huge difference to receive quality customer service and as a result I'll be sticking with boomerang for the foreseeable future.

CONQUERING MY 'TO-WATCH PILE'

Inspired by this thread on the Mondo Movie forums, I've decided it was long overdue for me to actually get round to watching the ever-growing number of DVDs and Blu-ray discs I own (not to mention programmes stored on my DVR). At the very least, simply knowing what I have yet to watch will help curb my DVD/Blu-ray expenditure in these times when every penny counts.

Therefore, I've set myself a target of compiling a list of films, documentaries, television shows et al that are gathering dust on my shelves - both figuratively and literally - in a variety of media. Knowing myself as I do, it is futile for me to set this exercise up as a belated New Year's resolution or even think I will clear my sizeable back catalogue any month, year, time soon. So instead it is my intention at first to simply list the stuff I own but have never watched, then at regular intervals I'll endeavour to make the time to sit and watch a range of films, TV shows and documentaries from this list. Thus, finally getting my money's worth out of all the stuff I have previously bought and hopefully discovering a few hidden gems along the way.

I've set a couple of rules for myself and that is any DVD or Blu-ray I currently own or buy will be added to the list unless I have previously seen the film/TV Show etc before in its entirety - I must go back and finish all those films I've either fallen asleep through or caught the end of on TV. Likewise for any rentals or stuff I record to watch off TV. The list will be confined to quantifiable and easily definable works such as a film, documentary or scripted television show only e.g. coverage of 2010 World Cup and Match of the Day won't count although I'll still be watching it.

'To-watch' List in no particular order (on-going project last edited 27/7/10):

2046

13 (Tzameti)

30 Rock - Season 3 - watched - Rating 7/10

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

4400, The - Season 2

A Cock and Bull Story

A Prophet

A Serious Man

Alexander

Alias - Season 2

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Almost Famous

Amarcord

And Now The Screaming Starts

Animatrix, The

Antichrist

Baba Yaga

Bad Education

Bad Inclination

Baise-Moi

Band of Brothers - Miniseries

Battle Royale

Beast In The Cellar, The

Bedlam

Before Sunset

Before Surnise - watched - Rating 8/10

Belleville Rendez-Vous

Black Books - Season 2

Black Books - Season 3

Black Christmas - remake

Black Hawk Down

Black Sheep

Body Snatcher, The

Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia

Brokeback Mountain

Broken Embraces

Broken, The

Brothers

Bug

Bully

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever

Capitalism: A Love Story

Capturing Mary

Carnal Knowledge - watched - Rating 7/10

Cash Back

Castle Of Blood

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

Children, The

City of God

City of the Dead, The

Class, The

Collector, The

Comeback, The

Constant Gardener, The

Control Room

Corpse Bride, The

Countess Dracula

Crazy Heart

Curse Of The Cat People

Cursed Medallion, The

Danger: Diabolik

Dark Angel - Season 1

Dark Angel - Season 2

Daybreakers

Dead Space: Downfall

Defying Gravity - Season 1

Dellamorte Dellamore

Demons

Demons 2

Dexter - Season 1

Diving Bell And The Butterfly, The

Dominion: Prequel To The Exorcist

Door Into Darkness - Season 1

Double Indemnity

Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde

Duchess, The

Dust Devil

Elephant

Elephant Man, The

Encounters at the End of the World

Eraserhead

Exorcist: The Beginning

Eye, The

Fall Of The House Of Usher, The

Fall, The

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Fish Tank

Flags of Our Fathers

Flesh and Blood Show, The

Following

Foreign Correspondent

Fourth Kind, The

Fringe - Season 1

From Beyond

Ghost Ship, The

Giallo

Ginger Snaps

Good, The Bad and The Weird, The

Grace

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Helen

Hills Run Red, The

Horrible Dr. Hichcock, The

Horseman, The

Host, The

Hound Of The Baskervilles

House Of Exorcism, The

House of the Devil, The

Hush

I Loved You So Long

I Stand Alone

I Vampiri

Iguana With The Tongue Of Fire, The

In Between Your Legs

In The Mood For Love

Infestation

Inland Empire

Innocents, The

Inside

Isle Of The Dead

Knowing, The

Kung-Fu Hustle

La Vie En Rose

Last Samurai, The

Leap Year - watched - Rating 3/10

Leaves of Grass

Letters From Iwo Jima

Life - Series 1

Lifeboat

Lisa And The Devil

Lovely Bones, The

Lust For A Vampire

Macabre

Mad Men - Season 2

Mars Attacks

Master and Commander and The Far Side Of The World

Men Who Stare At Goats, The

Miami Vice

Mill Of The Stone Women, The

Monster Club, The

Mummy, The

Nadja

Night Of The Demon

Nightmare Before Christmas, The

Not Quite Hollywood

Once Upon A Time In The West

Orphan

Outlander

Pacific, The - Miniseries

Pit And The Pendulum, The

Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire

Prey

Push

Rabid Dogs

Ravenous

Return of the Living Dead

Scream and Scream Again

Seventh Seal, The

Seventh Victim, The

Shadows In The Dark: Val Lewton Legacy

Shrek The Third

Six Feet Under - Season 1

Smallville - Season 1

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring

State Of Play - Series 1

Survival of the Dead

Sweeney Todd

Swimming Pool

Tales of Terror

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Season 1

Thank You For Smoking

Thirst

Torso

Trucker

Truman Show, The

Twenty-Four Hour Party People

Twice Told Tales

Twin Peaks - Season 2

U-Turn

Val Lewton by Martin Scorsese

Vampire Circus

Virgin Witch

Visitor, The

Volver

Waltz with Bashir

West Wing, The - Season 1

Whatever Works

Where The Truth Lies

Where The Wild Things Are

White Ribbon, The

Whiteout - watched - Rating 4/10

Who Saw Her Die?

Who's That Knocking At My Door

Wicker Man, The

Wire, The - Season 5

Witchfinder General

Wolf Creek

Zombi 2

Zombieland

That'll do for a start. I fear there are at least another hundred or two, hopefully some gems amidst these works neglected by me.

GO GO GADGET PHONE

I've been trying out an iPhone for the first time recently and I must confess, I am very impressed with it's functionality.

I may have to keep hold of this one as the apps alone are useful and so addictive!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

ISLAND ARRIVAL

I'm pleased to say my copy of Dennis Lehane's novel SHUTTER ISLAND arrived in the post from Amazon UK today. I still have high hopes of catching Scorsese's big-screen adaptation at the flicks and will have to decide whether to put off reading the book until I do?

AN INCOMING HAT-TRICK DUE

To help get me in the mood for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa this summer I've ordered the following discs from Amazon UK: England's Road to South Africa 2-disc colllector's edition on DVD, The Official Review of UEFA Euro 2008 on DVD and All The Goals - FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 on Blu-ray.

I'm particularly looking forward to returning to the 2006 FIFA World Cup(having forcibly blank the event from my mind over intervening four years due to England obligatory painful exit from the tournament on penalties) as this will be my first experience of watching sport on Blu-ray in High Definition.

DESTINATION SOUTH AFRICA

My fiancée returned from her marathon shopping trip today bearing gifts in the shape of 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA on PS3 and Keir Radnedge's accompanying book 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA OFFICIAL BOOK.

Get in!

DVD INCOMING

In the post today I received DVDs of STATE OF PLAY: COMPLETE BBC SERIES 1 and CHANNEL 4's COMEDY GALA - IN AID OF GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL. Thanks Amazon UK!

I'm particularly looking forward to watching the C4 Comedy Gala, having attended the performance at the 02 it was a top night out.

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED

I completed ROCK BAND 2 on the Wii today. By completed, I mean saw the end credits roll but looking at the gigs I've unlocked there's still plenty of content to play through. Great game.

MYSTERY SOLVED!

I've finally completed the quite excellent Professor Layton and the Curious Village. For my money this is the pinnacle of gaming offered on Nintendo DS. Really looking forward to the forthcoming sequel due for release next month.

NO INTRODUCTION NECESSARY

The better half treated me to a welcome surprise today. INFAMOUS for PS3. Played an hour or so far - gripping 'Heroes' vibe.

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Basketball

I've just achieved some new high scores in some of my favourite events - YES!

Event: Basketball
Game Mode: 3-Point Contest
Score: 26 (new personal best)

Comments: Yes, I shoot to the top of the leader boards and lay claim to best Wii Sports Resort Basketball player in our house!

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Frisbee

Event: Frisbee
Game Mode: Frisbee Dog
Score: 1300 (new personal best)
Comments: Eat my circular disc of plastic one and all!

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Power Cruising

Event: Power Cruising
Game Mode: Slalom Course Beach
Score: 200.5 (new personal best)
Comments: I'm improving slowly. Great event to play this one.

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Wakeboarding

Event: Wakeboarding
Difficulty: Beginner
Score: 1630 (new personal best)
Comments: People are getting over 3,000 on this event (Colin and Jack I'm talking about you) I must be doing something wrong! Good to finally beat the missus at something though, lol!

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Power Cruising

Event: Power Cruising
Game Mode: Slalom Course Beach
Score: 198.9Comments: Reminiscent of Wave Race 64 and all the better for it. Controls are excellent.

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Cycling

Event: Cycling
Game Mode: Road Race - 1st Stage - Around The Island
Score: 2:30.66
Comments: Another event I've yet to really sit down and play but having read some negative comments about this sport, I'd say it isn't terrible. Instead of proper Wii Motion Plus controls it feels more akin to the gestures used for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. I'm a fan of that game so no complaints from me.

Wii Sports Resort - High Scores - Canoeing

Event: Canoeing
Difficulty: Beginner
Game Mode: Speed Challenge
Score: 216.04
Comments: Only had a few goes at this one so far. Great fun!