The Best Of British

[bredrenisedp]

With Film 4 running a best of british film season here in the uk and with so much awesomeness coming from the USA I thought I'd list a few UK gems that are worth checking out

Film
Trainspotting
Snatch
Lock Stock
This is England
London To Brighton

(Film4s top ten:
10 - Trainspotting
9 - Wicker Man
8 - Clockwork Orange
7 - Dead Man's Shoes
6 - Naked
5 - Monty Python's Life Of Brian
4 - Kes
3 - The Third Man
2 - Withnail And I
1 - Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb)



TV - Comedy
The Office
Extras (two obvious choices)
Peep Show (side splitting hilarity from start to finish)
The Mighty Boosh (surreal comedy, not my cup of tea but very popular)
Brass Eye (satire at its best)
Red Dwarf (an oldie but a goodie)
Bottom
Little Britain
Ali G Show

TV - Other
Top Gear (the best car show in the world)
Rome
Doctor Who
Lois Theroux Weird Weekends (documentary)
Ramseys Kitchen Knightmare (Uk version)
Blue Planet

And many more that I can't quite think of....

[wideawakewesley]

This Is England should have won the Oscar for Best Picture

[4fingers]

I too am enjoying the British connection on Film4; I am recording a film almost every night.
The Films that I haven’t seen on the top ten list are:
9 - Wicker Man (Not the American remake)
3 - The Third Man
1 - Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb)

I would really recommend the film Naked (1993) directed by Mike Leigh, the same guy who did Vera Drake (2004). It is a strong 18 as you can probably guess but I think it is regarded as the best British film of the 90s.

I can see Jeff loving the intelligence in the film which there is some mind boggling stuff said. Dan will enjoy the camera work and music while Alex will enjoy the extremely funny wit and erm nakedness.

I hope to see the other three movies soon.

[rottnkorpse]

I watch UK shows when I can get them but it's quite hard to get those except for BBCAmerica which shows stuff with like a 5 month delay and I just can't stand that.

However, I do agree with your comment on Top Gear...thats probably my favorite UK show ever.

What do you think about QI...I've always been a fan of Fry since I found stuff from his show with Hugh Laurie (not when it aired of course) but I've only seen one episode of QI and it seemed pretty good...what's the overall consensus?

[neverendingwhitelights]

I'm still a big fan of Hustle. That's just a show that would never make it in the US.

[applie]

Other great British films worth mentioning:
28 days later
Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz
Control
Bridge over the River Kwai (What Alec Guinness would like to be remembered for)
About a Boy
Bloody Sunday

[erebus1]

thanks for this list, Im a huge fan of british film, now I have some new movies to watch!

[damnedeyez]

No mention of my favourite british show though...not that it deserves to be in the top, but it's still a favourite.

[4fingers]

What do you think about QI...I've always been a fan of Fry since I found stuff from his show with Hugh Laurie (not when it aired of course) but I've only seen one episode of QI and it seemed pretty good...what's the overall consensus?
I certainly enjoy watching QI and is a must see for me if it’s on, I even heard Leo Laporte likes the show as well. The only drawback I can see is the fact it's a game show which I find doesn’t have the reply ability as other British TV shows like "Fawlty Towers". Once you know the answers and heard the jokes it just not as interesting as the first time you saw it.

That being said each episode is a great laugh and I think anyone that enjoys learning facts and the misrepresentation of them will enjoy it thoroughly. I have the feeling that if you don’t have a good sense of humour and really aren’t interested in increasing or challenging your general knowledge (like my sister) then you might prefer to watch something else.

I also enjoyed him when he was doing "A bit of Fry and Laurie"
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFD01r6ersw
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vKjJh1NJXf0

[zombierin]

I suppose I'll chip in my two cents with my favourites British goodies

Film:
24 Hour Party People
Green Street (well I suppose this one is a UK/US joint but oh well)
Hot Fuzz
Shaun of the Dead
It's All Gone Pete Tong (UK/Canada)
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
and all the Monty Python films

TV:
Big Train
Black Books
Danger! 50, 000 Volts!
Doctor Who
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Green Wing
Hyperdrive
The IT Crowd
Jekyll
Man Stroke Woman
The Mighty Boosh
Nathan Barley
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Spaced

[jsatt]

Most of my favorite TV shows i have to catch on BBC America or Bitorrent:
Doctor Who (Classic and New)
IT Crowd
Torchwood
Top Gear
Hex
Jekyll (Started loosing me at the end of the season)

Movies:
Shaun of the Dead
Hot Fuzz
Anything else w/ Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and/or Edgar Wright
Magicians
28 Days later
In Bruges
Intermission (yes, i know it's Irish, but we don't have an Irish movie thread)
Countless, countless more that I can't think of right now.

[nshady]

The Office + Extras, obviously.
Fawlty Towers
Doctor Who
Jekyll
Vicar of Dibley
Mr Bean
Blackadder
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV)
Everything Monty Python
Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz

[joeyrock]

You all should check out Skins. It's second season is airing right now and it's just as good as the first.
Great dialog, great acting, great characters, brilliantly shot.. and the stories are good too. Plus the music is always top class.
It might be a bit overtly sexual and sweary for US TV, doubt it would ever be on BBC America, even though it's one of the bigger TV shows at the moment..... that's a shame.

The TRS guys should do a review.

Best to start with season 1 though. Probably floating around on the bit torrents some where.

[jessmatic]

You all should check out Skins. It's second season is airing right now and it's just as good as the first.
Great dialog, great acting, great characters, brilliantly shot.. and the stories are good too. Plus the music is always top class.
It might be a bit overtly sexual and sweary for US TV, doubt it would ever be on BBC America, even though it's one of the bigger TV shows at the moment..... that's a shame.

The TRS guys should do a review.

Best to start with season 1 though. Probably floating around on the bit torrents some where.

I love Skins! I believe it is exponentially better than all of the US teen dramas out there today. I love how each episode is focuses on only one character with the others only playing minor characters in that episode's story arch. I also love how the actors actually look like their age group.

If anything, it's like the first season of The OC but with British accents and better acting.

[robotbodiesbff]

One of my favorite Peter Sellers films is "Being There", it often gets overlooked.

[jessmatic]

I was going through some of my favorite videos on youtube and I came across Look Around You. I really loved this show! It's so low budget and is a great poke at those lame science videos you used to watch back in school :P

[zombierin]

I was going through some of my favorite videos on youtube and I came across Look Around You. I really loved this show! It's so low budget and is a great poke at those lame science videos you used to watch back in school :P

I can't believe I forgot to put Look Around You!
Love it!

[andyaldrich]

On a side note here are some British childrens shows I loved when I was young:

GamesMaster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fevO6Z2Sm8&feature=related)
Bad Influence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg-E2jXVx5k&feature=related)
Bagpuss (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70kUVZWokm4)
Ivor the Engine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDWk0BCeblQ&feature=related)
Pigeon Street (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plXS73zxEl0)
Magic Roundabout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3DcChXNyYQ)
Thunderbirds (even though they had American voices it was made in the UK)
Superted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUpl84wzUkA)
Raggy Dolls (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrDiW00__C4)
Bertha (http://www.thechestnut.com/bertha/bertha.htm)
Paddington Bear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eean1pNVkoY)

Ok well just a sampling there. I know that a lot of the people who post here aren't from the UK (although there are those who are) so I thought I would give you chance to see what kids over here grew up with 20 or so years ago.

[xplorer]

Don't forget The Young Ones...

Rick Mayall is priceless in it, great cast!

CLASSIC!

[joeyrock]

I love Skins! I believe it is exponentially better than all of the US teen dramas out there today. I love how each episode is focuses on only one character with the others only playing minor characters in that episode's story arch. I also love how the actors actually look like their age group.

If anything, it's like the first season of The OC but with British accents and better acting.

I would say Dawson's Creek would be closer to the Skins than the OC (less rich people and more "realistic" issues).
But it's a bit of a different show from those two. It's more realistic, but still exaggerated in that lots of extreme events happen to a single group of friends. Plus it's set out to be funny.. humour doesn't seem a priority for shows like OC and Dawson's.

If I was to put Skins into a pigeon nook it would be with UK shows from a few years ago, like Cold Feet, This Life, Teachers... "Dramadies" if you will.

Americans.. there's three more examples of shows to check out if people haven't seen them :) . We are feeling the lack of new episodes of shows like 24 etc over here, and we still have our own stuff to watch... you guys must be feeling pretty TV hungry.

If you want some sitcom action you could try a 90's one like Game On.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_On_(BBC_television)

You'll be calling everyone tossers or double hard bastards for at least a mon... couple of hours

Coupling (probably know of that already, very funny)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coupling_(UK_TV_series)

............

Missed out Button Moon, Pob and Rainbow there Andy. How could you forget Rainbow :(

Experience the wonder of Rainbow... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXIQSH-M_kQ&feature=related

Pob hasn't been on TV in anything other than "clip form" for years but given the decline in kids TV they should so bring it back. I would love find that on at 5am after I got in pissed/stoned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu0n6oDTxi0&feature=related

[yssman]

TV - Other
Top Gear (the best car show in the world)
Doctor Who
Ramseys Kitchen Knightmare (Uk version)


Seriously, these are the best shows on television, period. Top Gear easily surpasses anything "The Shield" for awesomeness, The Doctor always kicks off my Saturday nights properly, and Kitchen Nightmares are always a wonderful watch during my lunch.

Those three shows alone are worth the extra money to get BBC America. Seriously.

By the way... Alex, Dan, Jeff: When are you going to do a TV segment about Top Gear? They're already planning on doing a US version, you should review the UK version first! They're playing season 10 on BBC America already!

[puddlefish]

I love Skins! I believe it is exponentially better than all of the US teen dramas out there today. I love how each episode is focuses on only one character with the others only playing minor characters in that episode's story arch. I also love how the actors actually look like their age group.

If anything, it's like the first season of The OC but with British accents and better acting.


Not sure if anyone's mentioned it but the people who are making Skins made a fantastic series called Shameless. Well worth a watch.

As regards films, the Wickerman is the best british film I can think of right now. Genius.

[redrain]

Not sure if anyone's mentioned it but the people who are making Skins made a fantastic series called Shameless. Well worth a watch.

As regards films, the Wickerman is the best british film I can think of right now. Genius.

Was the American movie adapted from the British version?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wicker_Man_(2006_film)

[nshady]

The Office + Extras, obviously.
Fawlty Towers
Doctor Who
Jekyll
Vicar of Dibley
Mr Bean
Blackadder
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV)
Everything Monty Python
Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz

Oh, I forgot Red Dwarf.

[slaguru]

My 10p worth

TV

Top Gear
Red Dwarf (series 1 - 5)
Only Fools and Horses
Men Behaving Badly
Torchwood (especially the latest series)
Blackadder
IT Crowd
Extra's
Little Britain


Films

ID
Shaun of the Dead
Scum
London to Brighton
Clockwork Orange
Life of Brian
Train spotting
28 Days Later
24 Hour Party People

Honorable mention

Radio - Fighting Talk (Radio 5, Sat mornings)

[kingcorn]

Three awesome British shows that should be huge:

Look Around You- I found out about this show through an interview with Matt Groening, who said he loved it. The first season were 10 minute parodies of the kind of 70s science filmstrips you'd have to watch in school. The second season was a take off on 80s popular science type programs. You can find most of it on youTube. Definitely check it out.

I Am Not an Animal- show animated in a style similar to South Park featuring Steve Coogan and Simon Pegg among others as superintelligent lab animals who escape from a testing facility and live in a house and try to emulate humans.

Monkey Dust- another animated show, this one's a bunch of short, completely twisted vignettes about hilarious topics such as terrorists, suicide and cottaging. Very, very dark and not for everybody but if you appreciate dark humor you'll love it. Also can be found on youtube.

Honorable mentions: Little Britain, Garth Maranghi's Dark Place, the IT Crowd, Big Train, Spaced