The typical image of modern Japan is one of a neon-lit, high-tech futuristic society crammed into skyscraper-strewn cities. Just a short way out from the bustling human hotspots lies a completely different country. Born of volcanic eruptions and comprising 6,852 individual islands, this other land is one of incredible variety and natural wonder. With habitats ranging from snowy mountains to sun-kissed beaches and subtropical paradises, these diverse landscapes are home to creatures including brown bears, raccoon dogs, fiddler crabs and the famous hot-spring-bathing macaque monkeys.
National Geographics Japan’s Wild Secrets is a beautifully shot wildlife documentary. Taking care not to re-tread already well covered ground, the programme skips through landscape after sequence after complex shots. There are plenty of time lapse for enthusiasts (a must with today’s wild life documentary) and for those who like facts and figures, they throw them at you like you’re probably taking notes.
Highlights included a Japanese Macac (also known as a Snow Monkey) pick a bit of sleep from the corner of its eye and after inspecting it, continues to eat it. And mud skippers’ suprising ability to look adorable even thought they’re gooey, spitting out mud and blinking like a parody of a person with mental illness. Even their attempts at looking threatening was cute.
The photography is stunning and inspirational but the end message is a familiar one. That of modern developments threatening the natural environment.
Catch the show on Nat Geo Wild; Tuesday 8th at 9pm
Category Archives: TV
TV Preview: Aftermath – When the Earth stops spinning
Fox and the National Geographic channel are having an apocalypse week. Nothing says optimism like the end of the world and death on a devastating scale and this is no exception. Our planet is spinning at 1,600 km per hour but this programme predicts what would happen if that spinning stopped. Imagining an Earth that ground to a halt within 5 years we’re told of terrifying scenarios and visions of death, destruction and suffering.
To begin with the differences wouldn’t seem so large, eventually they become so escalated that there seems no corner of the Earth left unscathed. We’re shown graphic death scene after another, corpses floating in an underwater London, ficticious news reports of the unfolding horror. After more terrifying visuals and descriptions of an “earth tearing itself inside out” those who havnt suffocated, drowned, frozen, burned, starved or died of insomnia related accidents either stay in safe places or set sail for new lands.
A boat full of oceanographer/models set sail on an arc to new land. And so begins a new race of beautiful model “settlers”, fishing, farming, watering pot plants, harnessing the power of the wind, only wearing beige and shivering because they never had the need of a jumper. Only the people who previously owned floor length puffer jackets are craggy looking.
Eventually the Earth grinds to a complete stop and the remaining humans are left huddling together like penguins as they spend six months of the year in darkness. I’m not sure why the Earth stopped spinning, this is never explained, but the result is entertaining.
Watch Aftermath – When the Earth stops spinning on the National Geographic and HD channel on 7th June at 9pm
Time runs out for 24 {TV}
After the eight longest days of Jack Bauer’s life and 194 hours of incredible television, 24’s final episodes will be broadcast this Sunday night at 9 o’clock on Sky1 and Sky1 HD. The era-defining series, about the heroic Counter Terrorist Unit agent played by 1980s film star Kiefer Sutherland and his battles to prevent terrorist plots against a background of intrigue at the White House, will continue to live on in a series of motion pictures over the coming years, but the television series is coming to an end. First broadcast in 2001 just weeks after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the series has drawn on the fears and anxieties of the “War on Terror” with it’s myriad of biological, nerve-gas and nuclear threats, while in many ways being a good-fashioned action thriller, full of unexpected twists and explosive set-pieces.
The series’ most innovative gimmick has been the use of real-time, with each episode taking place over an hour and the story continuing, unseen, during commercial breaks. This was more closely observed in earlier seasons, when greater care was taken to ensure journeys took realistic lengths of time. Nonetheless, the use of split-screens and the iconic ticking yellow clock are still a fantastic way to ramp up the tension and keep viewers at the edge of their seats.
Over the eight seasons, 24 has developed a few predictable quirks – there’s always a mole or two at CTU, there’s always a moment that Jack has to go rouge because his bosses are getting it wrong, and the bad guy at the start of the season always turns out to be a small part of the picture, with the big boss only revealed a few episodes before the end. But it never fails to surprise, with the ability to shock over and over again. Memorable moments down the years have included the jaw-dropping ending to the first season with Jack’s wife Terri being tragically shot just as it seemed that all was well, Bauer being forced to kill his own boss, Ryan Chappelle, the killing of several main characters at the start of season five and the nuclear explosion in downtown Los Angeles in season six.
This season has seen attempts to sign a peace deal at the United Nations in New York between American President Allison Taylor and the fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan, with the Republic’s President being kidnapped and eventually murdered. As ever, it’s now emerged that the IRK rebels we thought were responsible at the start of the season were only a small part of the plot, with the Russians turning out to be behind it. We go into the final two hours with Jack Bauer on a revenge mission against those responsible for the shocking murder of his lover, ex-FBI agent Renee Walker. Unfortunately for him, it means going against President Taylor who is committed to getting the peace deal signed, no matter how, and has even accepted help from the brilliantly villainous Nixon-like former president Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) to make it happen. This means that every fan’s favourite quirky CTU analyst Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), now temporarily in charge of CTU, and field agent Cole Ortiz (Freddie Prinze Jr) are having to instigate a manhunt to capture Jack, last seen wearing some sort of Iron Man-like protective suit as he went on the rampage against the bad guys like never before. It’s all coming down to a showdown between Chloe’s instincts to protect her friend, who she knows has always been right before, and her duty to follow orders.
Executive producer Howard Gordon has promised that the series will end in a way that feels consistent with what we’ve seen over the last eight seasons. Gordon says that Jack Bauer finds himself “in a compromised place morally, ethically and emotionally. This show is a tragedy, and to give Jack a happy ending didn’t feel authentic. Chloe and Jack are in a real face-off, Chloe has to decide between her duty and friendship to Jack. It’s about as hairy a confrontation as you can possibly imagine.”
One thing’s for sure – however the TV series comes to an end, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Jack Bauer.
Stefans TV Picks; 31st May
Monday 31st – BBC 2, 21:00
I’m not a big fan of period dramas, I would rather read Pride and Prejudice, Cranford annoyed me and I keep expecting Mark Heap to do a pratfall or start juggling in Lark Rise to Candleford. However, I’m expecting more than just stuffy women in bonnets and bile rising oh so polite kids in todays ‘The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister’. Anne Lister lived from 1791 to 1840, was a Yorkshire Landowner, rural gentlewoman and diarist, she also courted huge amounts of controversy due to being a lesbian and living with her lover. Based on Lister’s coded diary, this is one costume drama that promises to be more compelling than most others.
Tuesday 1st – ITV 1, 22:35
I tried, I really tried, I wanted to find a TV show better than my selection, but I really couldn’t, so…Shaun of The Dead it is. This brilliant zom-rom-com by the guys who bought us Spaced and Hot Fuzz shows what most of us would probably do in the event of a zombie apocalypse. Immensely funny and full of brilliant references and homage’s to the zombie genre (Shaun works at Foree Electronics, Ken Foree starred in Dawn of the Dead and I think his mother was purposely named Barbara just so they could utter line ‘We’re coming to get you Barbara’ a play on the line ‘They’re coming to get you Barbara’ from Night of the Living Dead) if I had a pick of the week, this would be it.
Wednesday 2nd – BBC 2, 21:00
Myths and Legends intrigue me, not the magical and mystical aspect of them, but how and why they started. One of the most well known myths is that of Atlantis. Tonight we shall join historian Bettany Hughes in Atlantis: A Timewatch Special, as she uses geology, archaeology and historic events to examine the natural disaster that inspired the legend of this island.
Thursday 3rd – Sky Movies Premier, 17:00
Stop motion animation films have come a long way sing King Kong terrorised New York back in 1933 and through Peter and The Wolf, Wallace and Gromit and Jack Skellington we come to Coraline. Based on the book by Neil Gaimen, Coraline is the story of a young girl bored with her life who, after finding a hidden door in her new house, makes nightly excursions into a fantastical parallel world that mimics her own life but changes things so all is perfect for her. A brilliant slightly nightmarish movie that everyone can watch and everyone will enjoy.
Friday 4th – Sky Movies Premier, 20:00
Johnny Depp is known for his wacky outlandish roles, in Public Enemies we get to see him be sensible for a change. Starring Depp as notorious gangster John Dillinger and Christian Bale as hard-nosed FBI agent Melvin Purvis charged with tracking him down and capturing him, Public Enemies brings all the action you’d expect from a gangster movie, but also shows the relationships between Dillinger and his crew, his moll and most importantly the game (in his eyes) between him and Purvis. A nice change for anyone like me who is sick of Depp prancing about in make up.
Saturday 5th – BBC 2, 22:00
The series I’m in a Rock and Roll Band has been a good look at all the elements of a rock band (I’ll jus ignore that they lumped us bassist’s in with saxophonists and backing dancers as ‘the other one’ in a band *grumblegrumble*!) and will be ending with a studio discussion presented by old punk Jonathon Ross, rock fan Lauren Laverne, Police drummer Stewart Copeland and DJ Mark Radcliff discuss theirs and the nations favourite rock’n’rollers and debate all things rock live in front of a studio audience. After a nation wide poll they also be revealing the countries dream band! I’m hopin for Thom Yorke on vocals, Slash on guitar (just for his sweeeet solos), Travis Barker on drums, Flea on bass, the Gogol Bordello girls for backing vocals/hi-jinks and Billy Corgan as song writer!
Sunday 6th – BBC1, 20:00
I like telly. And I like to see things I like get awards for being good, which is why the British Academy Television Awards (BAFTA without the F) will be on in my house today. Honouring all thing’s telly and giving out those shiny one eyed faces the only bad thing is it’s being presented by the BBC’s flavour of the month Graham Norton, he should stick to annoying reality gameshows and shouting innuendo’s on his chatshow! Other than that sit back and watch the pretty people get pretty awards.
Lost Alternative Ending {Misc-uity}
LOST is over and after 6 years and watching every single episode; no one’s still sure about what actually happened. Well someone found this and now it makes a little more sense!!
Thanks to [Geekologie]
TV Preview: The Seasons with Alan Titchmarsh; Autumn
I love a good wildlife documentary, If they’re done right they can be relaxing and informative at the same time. Frost Magazine were allowed a preview of ITV’s current offering ‘The Seasons’ so we can tell you all about it.
In ‘The Seasons’; gardening zen master Alan at-one-with-nature Titchmarsh takes us through the seasons and how we’re intrinsicly linked with nature.
This time round it’s Autumn. Mixing time lapse sequences and beautiful photography, The Seasons shows us something about our home country that we’ve forgotten about. As we increasingly move and expand our urban jungles, we’re actively trying to recapture our link to nature. Farmers markets and organic food are booming and we guilt trip ourselves and others into shunning advances in food technology. We’re increasingly seeking a more natural and simplistic way of life. It’s little wonder then that glorious early morning mists in seemingly mystical forests seem so appealing.
Titchmarsh walks us through Autumn explaining why we have seasons by using an electric globe and an orange ball and answering questions like why do leaves turn orange? and why do berries taste bitter after michaelmas?
He also talks about animal behaviour; covering hibernation, migration and how animals prepare for winter; which gives lots of opportunities to show us shots of adorable small mammals and woodland creatures as well as some less adorable insects and a snail in its very own stasis.
The Seasons doesn’t stop at animals and plants, it looks into how humans relation to nature, from Harvest to allotments to sustainable oyster fishing.
It’s a lot of information to cover in one hour long program which means that The Seasons touch upon a great deal of information but doesn’t go into any real depth. Still, it has some great photography. The episode concludes on visions of frosty fields and snowy countrysides which gives you a taste iof what will follow.
The Seasons: Autumn is on ITV1 on 23rd May at 7pm
TV: Lost – The End
Was it really six years ago that LOST first crashed onto our screens? ‘Breaking ground’ all over the place; LOST has since picked up a raft of awards including an Emmy® for Outstanding Drama Series, a Golden Globe® for Best Television Series (Drama), and Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild Awards.
In 2007, Lindelof and Cuse made the bold decision to announce that LOST would comprise six seasons in total and reach its conclusion in 2010, allowing them to map out exactly how the series would unfold over the final two seasons, whilst also providing dedicated viewers with an endgame.
The sixth season, which debuted on Sky1 HD in February 2010, has answered many long-standing questions posed back in the early days of the show. In perhaps one of the most revealing scenes so far, Jacob (Mark Pelligrino) used the metaphor of a wine bottle to explain the importance of the Island, the true nature of the Man in Black and how and why he must be prevented from fulfilling his wish of escaping. “Think of this wine as… Hell… malevolence, evil, darkness, and here it is – swirling around in the bottle unable to get out, because if it did, it would spread. The cork, is this island, and it’s the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs.” Now with the Man in Black taking on the form of the deceased Locke (Terry O’Quinn), the final episodes are building towards his potential escape. But will Charles Widmore (Alan Dale) or Jacob’s yet-to-be-decided successor “The Candidate”, be able to stop him?
Executive producers and writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse recently put the finishing touches on the final script, and explained that answers to the mysteries will continue to unravel. Cuse commented: “It was very profound for us, as we had written a cryptic scene, and we thought, no, these characters are actually at the place where they can have a discussion about what is going on here. It was very weird to take these closely held secrets and actually put them in the scene. It was very liberating and exciting.”
George Lucas sent an open letter to executive producers Lindelof and Cuse the show on its run and offering some words of support. Poking fun at the producers he says: “Congratulations on pulling off an amazing show. Don’t tell anyone … but when ‘Star Wars’ first came out, I didn’t know where it was going either. The trick is to pretend you’ve planned the whole thing out in advance. Throw in some father issues and references to other stories — let’s call them homages — and you’ve got a series.”
If you’ve never watched LOST, I’d love to give you an overview of what you’ve missed, except I’m still not sure myself. Watch this video and anyone would think that even the script writers get confused.
The final season has also introduced the concept of flash-sideways, portraying two parallel universes. The scenes on the island depict a universe where the bomb failed to detonate and the survivors remained, whereas the flash-sideways show a world where Oceanic 815 landed and the passengers never ended up living together. However, destiny appears to be drawing them together regardless as their lives end up colliding despite the reversal of history. Indeed, following a recent meeting with Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) starts to feel as if he has led another life before and plans to ‘awaken’ the other passengers on Oceanic 815 – starting with crashing his car into Locke as he crosses the road.
On Friday 28 May at 7pm, Sky1 HD and Sky1 will kick off an evening celebrating LOST with a two hour US special entitled LOST: THE FINAL JOURNEY. The documentary will take a retrospective look at the past six seasons of the series and delve into what has transpired during the current season as a primer leading into the finale.
At 9pm, it’s time for LOST: The End, a two and a half hour conclusion to a television phenomenon and an unmissable landmark event in television history. Fans need not despair as at 11.30pm, two of Sky1 HD’s specials, THE END IS NIGH and TOP 10 GREATEST SCENES will follow.
by Genevieve Sibayan
Next Week's TV Picks
Monday 17th
George Clooney is an odd one. He can go from an out an out blockbuster that everyone in the world will see (even those without TV’s had Ocean’s 11 beamed into their brains via satellite) to little movies that still cost as much but not many know about, and he still holds his credibility. I am speaking, of course, about Welcome to Collinwood on BBC 1 at 23:20. Clooney plays the wheelchair bound old acerbic Safe Cracker hired by a motley band of crooks who share a goal of obtaining the biggest score of their lives, their ‘Bellini’. With a brilliant cast including Sam Rockwell, William H Macy and Michael Jeta, Collinwood is a silly yet excellent crime caper that’ll make you late for work on Tuesday but is absolutely worth it.
Tuesday 18th
Music Award shows annoy me, filled with prancing posing idiots fuelling themselves on champagne for a night of self indulgence, Damon Albarn worship and dancing on tables because their “so mad”. The Classical Brit Awards 2010 (ITV, 22:35) will be oh so different. Presented by classical crumpet Myleene Klass, this event will be full of brilliant performances (one of which by Bryn Terfel…..awesome) so get a glass of good wine and turn the volume up. But before this make sure your watching BBC 1 at 21:00 to see our fair Editor Miss Catherine Balavage committing acts of violence upon Paul McGann in Luther.
Wednesday 19th
YAAAAAAYYYYY THE BIG BANG THEORY IS BACK!
Finally after a weird disappearance from our screens for two months the rest of season 3 is continuing on Channel 4 at 22:55 (why it’s on so late confuses me). After a double date with Howard and Bernadette, Leonard and Penny’s relationship suffers a blow after Penny tells of her belief in psychics. Meanwhile Raj recruits Sheldon as his wingman as the pair attend a University Mixer in an attempt to score!…….I love this show.
Thursday 20th
I wasn’t expecting to like Forgetting Sarah Marshall (showing at 20:00 on Sky Movies Comedy), but one day after finding nothing else to watch I decided to give it a go and found that it’s surprisingly entertaining. I thought this lighthearted, sweet story of a man trying to get his ex would be overshadowed by Russell Brand overtly parodying himself, but his performance is believable and down to earth, and with a very good if small role by Jonah Hill this is my recommendation for the 20th. Oh and at 22:00 turn over to Channel 4 to hear Charlie Brooker yell about the TV that none of us should watch in You Have Been Watching.
Friday 21st
I missed The Wrestler when it came out at the cinema, and this annoyed me. So I’m definitely going to be tuning into Sky Premier at 22:00 to see this award winning film. The story of an aging pro-wrestler trying to come to terms with hanging up his shorts and living his life outside the ring, re-patching his role as father to the daughter he abandoned, attempting to tell a stripper how he really feels for her and having to work a dead end job while struggling with his deteriorating health, The Wrestler is one to watch.
Saturday 22nd
I don’t know if I like Michael Moore, his films give good messages and highlight problems that might otherwise go ignored to anyone not experiencing them, but he uses cheap tricks and propaganda to deliver them. Case in point, in Sicko he tells of the UK’s brilliant health care system by interviewing a well paid and very well off GP…and that’s it, he doesn’t share the information about the lack of Mid-Wives, the struggling NHS, the MRSA debacle etc etc. But all this said, like I stated, it’s the message he delivers that’s important, and Capitalism: A Love Story on Channel 4 at 22:15 tells us of the capitalist tendencies of major US corporations and lets us know how the rich stay rich and how the poor are kept poor. Sure to be insightful, shocking and entertaining…but beware the propaganda!
Sunday 23rd
It seems I’m ending this week with a bunch of movies, but seeing as that’s how I spend the most of my time (when I’m not playing Half-Life2) it’s appropriate. Sunday’s choice is the outstanding Frost/Nixon on Sky Movies Crime and Thriller at 15:15. This dramatisation shows the series of interviews given by David Frost to ex President Richard Nixon, which came very close to the ex Oval Office dweller admitting guilt for the Watergate Scandal and uttering the shocking statement of ‘When the President does it, it’s not illegal’. Strange to think that that bloke off Through the Keyhole went up against such a formidable foe and came out on top! Make sure you don’t miss this.