The feel-good Charlie's-Angels-spoof indie lesbian-Romeo-and-Juliet film of 2004! 3 stars. Hat tip to Anvil & Sprocket's review which convinced me to Netflix this.
Alain Robbe-Grillet is dead at 85. Read the détails or the details. Can I award Ishpoints to the best comment making reference to the destruction of narrative chronology?
"Well, that was the gayest Hitchcock I've ever seen." 3.5 stars. Half a star for the line "He was a Harvard undergraduate. That might make it justifiable homicide."
This week's Family Movie Night selection was mine, and while Lucas shamelessly rips off every fantasy / sword'n'sorcery movie ever (and a few of his own), it still holds up after 20 years. And the boys liked it, although they were concerned for the welfare of the baby-who-must-be-saved. 3 stars.
We've instituted Family Movie Night in our house every weekend, with the rules being 1) No Movies We've All Seen Before, and 2) Everybody Gets A Turn To Pick. This was the first grownup choice (Debbie's) and a big hit with all of us. Miyazaki, marvelous. 4 stars.
There's probably a German word for the deep sense of unease one gets from these dreamlike stories. But I don't know what it is. Definitely one for the Curious Bookshelf.
I recently re-read the "His Dark Materials" trilogy -- which the second time around is philosophically more interesting, but story-wise less so. In the ending acknowledgments Pullman cites three works: Paradise Lost, the works of William Blake, and On the Marionette Theatre by Heinrich von Kleist. So I went and found it. It's clear why it was an influence on Pullman, and there's a scene with Lyra and Iorek from the first book that's lifted from part of this essay.
I've decided, after watching three seasons of Lost, that the designers have deliberately screwed up the kerning in the title sequence, in order to subtly increase our sense of unease:
I can't remember where I read a reference to a Balthus tie knot, but after some searching I found Thomas Fink and Yong Mao, two physicists who figured out every conceivable way to tie to tie. And they wrote a book. More here. Get it for your geek who hates to wear ties but must on occasion.
It's good to go back to Middle Earth. But tragedy -- and I mean tragedy with a capital classical T, not in the modern sense of "something sad or unfortunate" -- is a hard read. Interesting to read at the same time as the Icelandic sagas, lots of parallels.
I don't know why this makes me happy, it just does. I didn't even see the White Castle movie. Maybe the fact that this looks like a major motion picture which is absurdist and political. Actually, best not to think about it too much.
I was pretty fearful that they would eviscerate one of my favorite books. This film adaptation wasn't bad, but it's not great either. It does look good. But mostly it just made me want to re-read the book. 3 stars.
Basically delivers on its fairy-tale-in-New-York promise. And a funny holiday movie to boot, which is hard to pull off without schmaltziness (or worse, unfuniness). 3.5 stars.
Well, here it is, the worst song -- or rather, the most unwanted song, as determined by the polling artsters (or arty pollsters?) Komar & Melamid. The folks at MeFi love it, though. Maybe you will too.
Speed Racer: The Movie. Chances that the Wachowski Siblings screw this up? Oh, pretty high, given what they did to V for Vendetta. But Christina Ricci as Trixie? That could work.
Check out the Mikiphone, "probably the smallest gramophone ever placed on the market, folded up to the size of a large pocket watch or a small cheese case."
Apparently all Japanese films made before 1953 are in the public domain. Which means that one of my all time favorites, Kurosawa's Ikiru, is available online. But please, download a decent-sized version. Watching a Kurosawa film at 320 x 240 pixels is like looking at a postcard of a Bierstadt.
OK, so I'll throw it half a star for special effects, and another half star for "best use of the subtitles as a visual element in the film." Why don't movies do that more often? Or ever? Anyway, back to the film, it's mainly senseless bombast. I felt like I was watching "Highlander," but in Russian, with better special effects, and vampires, but without Sean Connery, and not as good. 2 stars.
November 21, 2007: Bee Movie
B00005JPS5Represents all that is empty and soulless about Hollywood. Plus as a feminist it, well, bugs me that they have to take one of the great matriarchial societies in nature and turn it into a hive where the males seem ... » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
November 20, 2007: Kilroy Was Here
Kilroy Was Here was the first cassette I ever bought, on the first date I ever had. Since this was Radnor in the early 80s, the date was a trip to the King of Prussia mall. Since we were ... » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
November 16, 2007: Youth
B000BYCOD6Oh, you mean that Zion. Finally, I can listen to reggae -- without the guilt! » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
November 16, 2007: Cover Me.
Matching Album Art Posters -- warning one is NSFW. Via Coudal. And: Best Magazine Covers of the Year. » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
November 13, 2007: Miss Colbert?
You could do worse during the strike than to watch Ze Frank: Day One and Day Two. A special breath of fresh air for those of us who miss The Show. What's that? You don't know from The Show? Oh, ... » M E-L posted this |
November 12, 2007: Once Upon A Time In The West
B0000AUHPGThanks to Balls & Walnuts for suggesting this -- otherwise I might have missed this Sergio Leone Western that out-Westerns the Western. So over-the-top, so mightily mythic, and the four principals (Jason Robards! Charles Bronson! Claudia Cardinale! Henry Fonda... as ... » M E-L posted this |
November 12, 2007: The Children of Men
0307275434There's a class of movies based on books where it's essential that you see the movie first, because they aren't adaptations as much as mutations, so if you know the book you'll keep wondering why they changed so much. I'd ... » M E-L posted this |
November 3, 2007: The Creeping Flesh
B0001Z3I08If you like early-70s Hammeresque Horror, pick this one up -- it's worth it to watch Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing face off. Also for this exchange: Christopher Lee: "I've got to get hold of that skeleton somehow." Doctor Perry: ... » M E-L posted this |
November 3, 2007: Little Children
B000N3SU92I'll have to agree to disagree with the Owlanphys about the voiceover, but I did think this deserved 3.5 stars. Then again, I'd probably think differently if I'd read the book first. » M E-L posted this |
November 3, 2007: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
This album is currently on heavy rotation in my head. Coudal Partners notes that this was "filmed using vintage tv cameras bought on Ebay": » M E-L posted this | 5 comments
October 29, 2007: A Fun Day At The Cinema
24 Hours Of Horror With Eli Roth. I haven't seen any of Roth's films, and I'm not sure that they would be to my taste. But this is a pretty great list of horror flicks, at least based on the ... » M E-L posted this | 4 comments
October 29, 2007: Vinyl: CD Killer?
Vinyl May Be Final Nail in CD's Coffin. It seems sort of far-fetched, in a poetic-justice kind of way. But I imagine that the same people who switched from vinyl to CD for the convenience (back when there was a ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
October 22, 2007: Vatel
B00005K3OUDebbie: "Those people deserved to be overthrown." Half a star for the visuals in this Louis XIV costume drama, but half a star off for a romance that strains the bounds of credulity. 3 stars. » M E-L posted this |
October 12, 2007: Zorba the Hutt's Revenge
0553158899Ben has checked the "young adult" Jedi Prince books out of the school library, despite never having seen Star Wars. And really, they make The Phantom Menace look deep and interesting by comparison. Yes, Jabba's father (actually mother!) is really ... » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
October 8, 2007: Children of Men
B000N6TX1IYes, it will give you dystopian nightmares. But wow, what a film. 4 stars. » M E-L posted this | 4 comments
September 24, 2007: Tufte Dots
Last year I tracked my region's performance at DonorsChoose.org from week-to-week using sparklines, generated with the data that Lauren my SQL ninja would compile for us. This (fiscal / school) year, the data has multiplied (tracking nine regions instead of ... » M E-L posted this |
September 17, 2007: Slings & Arrows Season 3
B000P2A2X8Last and best season. (Note, these seasons are only six eps apiece.) This one is based around a production of King Lear, which I'm going to see this week at BAM, so it's also a good refresher. » M E-L posted this |
September 17, 2007: Knocking Over The Honeypot
Waaay back in 2004, I wondered why the media companies didn't just flood P2P networks with fakes. Of course, they did, and more. MediaDefender is a company that's hired by the likes of HBO and BMG to fight piracy. But ... » M E-L posted this |
September 12, 2007: The Frisco Kid
B000BYA4J2Rented to see if it held up since 1979. It hasn't really. File under "Amusing, But Not As Funny As I Remember It." 2.5 stars. » M E-L posted this |
September 11, 2007: "she won't know that you're gone to say goodbye"
New York Is A Woman, Suzanne Vega ----------- New York City spread herself before you with her bangles and her spangles and her stars you were impressed with the city so undressed you had to go out cruising all the ... » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
September 5, 2007: Who Knows What Evil?
I used to have a bunch of cassette tapes of old radio programs -- The Lone Ranger, Abbott & Costello, The Goon Show, Bob & Ray, The Shadow, stories like War of the Worlds and Leiningen Versus the Ants. They're ... » M E-L posted this |
August 27, 2007: Hoop Dreams
B0007WFYBGAn amazing documentary that follows two Chicago kids through high school who hope to someday play for the NBA. Two things, though: 1) Just because you're a good documentarian does not make you a good narrator; and 2) three hours ... » M E-L posted this |
August 27, 2007: Death By Chick Lit
0425215245I just finished reading Death By Chick Lit -- very much recommended! And I would totally say that even if it weren't written by Lynn Harris, she of Breakup Girl. I don't know how she does it, but DBCL is ... » M E-L posted this |
August 27, 2007: Slings & Arrows Season 2
B000H5U5M6Not as sharp or sublime as the first season, but still better than most TV. » M E-L posted this |
August 22, 2007: A General Announcement
Debbie and I have at last finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows out loud, so you can now talk about it in our presence without us sticking our fingers in the ears and singing "Oh Mickey" at ... » M E-L posted this | 4 comments
August 15, 2007: After The Jump
Hey, there's a concert in Brooklyn next Saturday (the 25th) to benefit music projects at DonorsChoose! I haven't heard of any of the bands (except Golem) but then I'm, you know, old and stuff. The concert was organized by a ... » M E-L posted this |
August 13, 2007: The Simpsons Movie
Half a point for the "Spider Pig" song, but otherwise had all the laughs of an okay episode, stretched out over 87 minutes. Rent it if you must see it. 2.5 stars. » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
August 10, 2007: Hot Fuzz
B000RJO578Maybe if I were a bigger fan of the buddy-cop-blow-up genre I would have liked this more, but despite a hugely strong cast, I would have rather watched Shaun of the Dead a second time. 2.5 stars. » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
August 8, 2007: Simpsons / Electoral Candidates Mapping
Via Balls and Walnuts comes this mapping of Simpsons Characters to Presidential Candidates. I guess Cheney has the Burns character wrapped up, hence not on the list. Speaking of the 2008 Election, here come the usual "candidate selectors": one at ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
August 8, 2007: An Incovenient Truth
B000ICL3KGOK, so yay for propaganda for the most pressing issue in the world. As a film, though, I have four problems with it: 1) I understand the reasoning behind the whole "man behind the message" interstitials, but feel that it ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
August 6, 2007: The 40-Year-Old Virgin
B00005JNZUI thought, this can't possibly be as funny as everyone says it is, especially if I don't see it in a theater of laughing people. I was wrong. 4.5 stars. » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
August 6, 2007: Ratatouille
B00005JPFCNot the best Pixar movie ever made -- but still 4 stars. Kids saw it twice. » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
July 29, 2007: The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril
074328786XThere are some books you read and think, "this is written for the ages." There are others you read and think, "this is written for Chris Kalb." But even if you're not obsessed with pulp fiction, this is a rousing ... » M E-L posted this |
July 27, 2007: My Alias Weeps
Cinematographer László Kovács is dead. Mr. Kovács shot some great pictures, as well as some lousy ones. But I'll most remember him for the reason I adopted his name, which was his name-only (but apparently coincidental) appearance in A ... » Tk posted this | 3 comments
July 10, 2007: Before Sunrise and Before Sunset
B0002Z0ECCI liked the "My Dinner Date with Andre" aspect of the former (long conversations about Life and stuff) while Debbie preferred the complexity of the latter. What does that say about us? I don't know. But watch these back-to-back if ... » M E-L posted this |
July 5, 2007: Live Free or Die Hard
Totally Awesome Summer Movie. Justin Long's hacker makes a really good foil for John McClane. Bonus: Kevin Smith. 4 stars. » M E-L posted this |
July 5, 2007: Knocked Up
The thing I liked most was that every minor character, down to the bouncer, had their moment: this is a comedy full of 2 minute Oscars. Bonus for parents: a mostly realistic view of pregnancy. 4 stars. » M E-L posted this |
July 2, 2007: Greg Speaks; Hulk Smash!
0785122451In the latest Pak Talks Comics column, Greg answers my burning questions about gladiators, why it's so hard to make a good comic book movie, and how the heck you write for the Hulk. If you didn't pick up every ... » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
June 27, 2007: Hey, Teacher!
OK, so we're thinking about what actors we might ask to help us with a DonorsChoose training and promotion video. I think it would make sense to ask actors who have played teachers. A few come to mind: Edward James ... » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
June 21, 2007: La République de Rêves
Speaking of Imaginary Places, yesterday's post reminded me of La République de Rêves. Back in the 80s I read about the Republic, a project of a couple of Philadelphia artists, in Games Magazine, and sent away for a catalog. One ... » M E-L posted this | 7 comments
June 12, 2007: Help McSweeney's
Local publishers McSweeney's are in some financial straits as their distributor went bankrupt, leaving unpaid revenues of $130,000. They're selling a bunch of stuff for cheap, auctioning off some art, etc. Books I'd recommend: Icelander, reviewed here. Voyage Along the ... » M E-L posted this |
June 11, 2007: Spider-Man 3
1416527214Kind of weepy for a superhero film, but the "Peter-turns-bad" sequence was hilarious. Delivers. 3 stars. 'Nuff said. » M E-L posted this |
June 11, 2007: And The Ship Sails On
0780022270I think our general rule of thumb is: if a Fellini film has Marcello Mastroianni in it, we will like it; if not we will probably turn it off sometime before the end. So far Nights of Cabiria is the ... » M E-L posted this |
June 11, 2007: Shorter New York Times Reviews
This blog is at the intersection of Tongue In Charts and Music Reviews. Check out his graphic take on a NYT concert review. Kewl. » M E-L posted this |
June 10, 2007: Death By Chick Lit
That's the name of the latest book from our neighbor and pal Lynn Harris: When the bodies of It-Girl writers begin to pile up, Lola starts asking dangerous questions: Are the murders connected? Am I next? If not, um, why ... » M E-L posted this |
June 8, 2007: In Which:
Another blog reviews the Pipettes show that Chris and I went to on Tuesday so I don't have to. Thanks, Fluxblog! Oh, and here's another one which includes pictures -- check out the opening act, Smoosh! » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
June 5, 2007: Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End
B00005JPFV"I betray you!" "No, I betray you!" The plot is senseless, and it doesn't wrap things up they way the last-of-a-trilogy is supposed to. Debbie thinks they got a call midway through filming the end: "We just got greenlight for ... » M E-L posted this |
June 5, 2007: Canon Fodder: Opening Salvo
In which our own Chris Molanphy examines the eternal debate: Sgt. Pepper or Revolver? » M E-L posted this |
June 4, 2007: The Five Obstructions
B0002KPI3CDebbie liked this more than I did -- I kept wanting to stop watching the documentary and focus on the films Lars von Trier has his mentor Jørgen Leth make, until she pointed out to me that the documentary was ... » M E-L posted this |
June 1, 2007: Sky High
B000BJ7BCKExactly what I expected, which is: mostly harmless, and mildly disappointing. I'd rather watch the Incredibles, again. 2.5 stars. » M E-L posted this |
June 1, 2007: Lost Season 2
B000FIMG68It's following the Inevitable Devolution of the Clever Show, but addition of new characters (where are the Harlem Globetrotters?) is keeping it interesting. Plus now we're hooked, and will probably watch until it's revealed that the Numbers are God's locker ... » M E-L posted this |
May 30, 2007: Recent Low-Profile Deaths
Lloyd Alexander I've only read the Chronicles of Prydain, but they were excellent. I believe Mike’s read more. Charles Nelson Reilly Yes, you know he was simply fabulous on Match Game, prefiguring Paul Lynde on Hollywood Squares, but have you ... » Tk posted this |
May 30, 2007: HAPPY RE-BIRTHDAY RENAISSANCE
According to yesterday’s Wikipedia’s this day in history. May 29th 1453 was the day the Ottomans (Ottormen?) took over Constantinople. This was the end of the middle ages, meaning that today is the anniversary of the first day of the ... » patrick posted this | 1 comment
May 7, 2007: Speaking of Star Wars...
... have any of you even heard of the Turkish Star Wars? Man, that is some strange splicing. Officially titled, "The Man Who Saved the Word", this Turkish-made film is commonly known as "Turkish Star Wars" because of its notorious ... » M E-L posted this |
May 1, 2007: Chris is our Idol(ator)
Hey, our own CMOM is guestblogging over at Idolator today; you can see all his posts here. » M E-L posted this |
May 1, 2007: Dear Internet:
Thanks so much for loaning me the MP3s to sample. I've really enjoyed listening to some great music and learning about new artists. Now, could you please properly tag those MP3s before you send them out? Pretty please? It would ... » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
April 23, 2007: Unstable Molecules
0785111123What if the Fantastic Four were "real"? The most interesting thing about the FF has always been the family relationships -- brother, sister, husband, friend. This story shows us Sue, Reed, Johnny and Ben in Long Island in the 1950s, ... » M E-L posted this |
April 18, 2007: Casting Call For:
Satan! Look, if you've already cast Terence Stamp as God, your choice for Satan is obvious: Hugo Weaving. Give Guy Pearce a decent role and you've got a Priscilla reunion! Via Quipsologies » M E-L posted this | 2 comments
April 13, 2007: Park Slope Reader
Hey, Ishbadiddle is in an article on neighborhood blogs in the latest Park Slope Reader, available in fine stores everywhere. Well, not everywhere, but here. PDF version here in case the Community Bookstore is too far away. The full uncut ... » M E-L posted this |
April 8, 2007: Il Postino
6305291403Starts as a romantic comedy, but then... well in case you haven't seen it I'll leave that in comments. What the heck was everyone raving about? 2 stars. » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
April 4, 2007: Slings & Arrows: Season 1
B000FBFYKUIntelligent, funny, and it's about the theater -- what's not to like? 3.5 stars. » M E-L posted this |
April 4, 2007: Fighting Fox
Chris Rabb is helping fight the new unholy alliance between Fox News and the Congressional Black Caucus. One look at this video and it's easy to say why. » M E-L posted this |
April 4, 2007: If Pepsi Ran Like The Music Business
Music Video Business Principles Applied To The Real World Pepsi: Fine. Look, this television thing doesn't sound too great. What about the internet? Promotions: No worries there: we have you covered. Pepsi: [perking up] Ok... good. Promotions: Yes sir, we ... » M E-L posted this |
March 26, 2007: The Prestige
B000LC55F2Certainly better than the dreadful Illusionist, but not great. Still, half a star just for having the screen credit "David Bowie as Nikola Tesla." 3 stars. » M E-L posted this |
March 26, 2007: Waking Life
B00005YU1OAt first I put this into the "amazing looking but not engaging" category, but toward the end (when he stops merely "swept along") I was hooked. 3.5 stars. » M E-L posted this |
March 23, 2007: Run Lola Run
B000021Y772nd viewing was better than I expected, but still not as good as the first. Did you know that the average shot length is 2.7 seconds? Still 3.5 stars. » M E-L posted this |
March 22, 2007: Good Omens (The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch)
0441008615Picked this up at the airport bookstore. I'm sure 10,000 people have said "If Douglas Adams had written about Armageddon it might be this book," so I'll just be 10,001. A book to borrow. » M E-L posted this |
March 21, 2007: Middlesex
0312422156This was so good, I would give it a Pulitzer if it didn't already have one. And if I had them to give. A Book to Buy » M E-L posted this |
March 8, 2007: Why Do Fox News and MSNBC Hate America?
Anna Nicole Smith vs. Walter Reed Both MSNBC and Fox News devoted more coverage to Anna Nicole Smith — three weeks after her death on Feb. 8 — than they did to the multiple developments involving the neglect and deplorable ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
February 21, 2007: Witch World
I picked up this sci-fi / fantasy book off of my stoop, but had no idea it was the start of a huge world-building series. Of course I had no idea that the late Andre Norton was a woman, either. ... » M E-L posted this |
February 19, 2007: Six Feet Under
B000E6EK42So it's over. I must say that I thought the show jumped the shark in the fourth season -- "That's My Dog," specifically, the episode that gave David, the series' most sympathetic character, PTSD. Seasons 4 and 5 devolved into ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
February 12, 2007: Weird
I just saw two ads, back to back -- one for a car, one for fast food -- both using "Sweet Home Alabama" on the soundtrack. » M E-L posted this | 13 comments
February 10, 2007: We Are The Pipettes
B000FS9L2KI've been waiting for a band to replace Voice of the Beehive! Great sound, great fun. Looking at the Amazon import price makes me glad this was available on eMusic. » M E-L posted this |
February 10, 2007: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
0765356155Marvelous! If you like Harry Potter but tire a bit of his adolescent angst, read this novel. A Book to Buy. » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
February 9, 2007: A Cliché Grows in... Oh, Never Mind.
0767916034 So my mom sent me a copy of Don't Get Too Comfortable by David Rakoff, a series of essays on "The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never- Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, ... » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
February 9, 2007: Little Miss Sunshine
B000K7VHQECharming, yes; funny, yes; but Oscar material? Really? 3 stars. » M E-L posted this |
January 26, 2007: Fail Better.
Zadie Smith on literature's legacy of honourable failure. Also, part two. Worth printing out and reading on the subway. Then give it to your favorite reader. Via robot filter. » M E-L posted this |
January 25, 2007: The Brooklyn Follies
0312426232Probably the warmest Auster novel I've read to date, which isn't the same thing as simplest. Plus, hey look, it's Park Slope! » M E-L posted this |
January 25, 2007: Ys
B000I2K9M4Björk with a harp! » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
January 22, 2007: The Illusionist
B000K7VHQ4Half a star off for utter predictability. Another half a star off for the terrible Austrian accents put on by Messrs. Norton and Giamatti = 2 stars. Disappointing. » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
January 22, 2007: I'm tired of these motherf***ing snakes in my motherf***ing soup!
Felix writes on guanxi, vegetarianism, environmentalism, eating wild animals, cultural relativism, and the perils of going out to eat with your boyfriend's business associates in China: Not eating wild snakes. » M E-L posted this |
January 21, 2007: Kings and Queen
B000B9EYG6What do you get when you combine a French melodrama and a screwball comedy? A 4 star movie. » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
January 20, 2007: The Notorious Bettie Page
B000GB5M42Bettie's Biopic: Bibles, Bondage, Boors, and ... oh, well I ran out of B's. Less titillating and better directed than you'd expect. 3 stars. » M E-L posted this | 3 comments
January 18, 2007: (1:00)
Maybe it's just me. But most pop songs these days seem to be one minute too long. I wouldn't have discovered this were it not for the iPod, which -- magically! -- displays how much time is left in a ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
January 17, 2007: Inaugural Meeting of the Athanasius Kircher Society
We attended the Inaugural Meeting of the Athanasius Kircher Society last night, which featured: Savant Kim Peek, who remembers 98% of everything he experiences. (Funes the Memorious?) Nathan True's Time Fountain. A demonstration of Solresol, which could have been better ... » M E-L posted this |
January 17, 2007: Eastern Standard Tribe
0765310457I liked this much more than Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, which was too much of a Tungsten Novel. EST has a better plot (and characters), and the Big Idea is more of a backdrop than ... » M E-L posted this |
January 16, 2007: Your Quote of the Day
"And worst of all is the person who acts as exegete of The Word - whether it be from the Talmud, the Bible, the Koran, or any other book already written or yet to come. I am not fond of ... » M E-L posted this |
January 12, 2007: Scooby-Doo creator died
Paul G. writes: You've got to love http://www.slate.com/id/2157397/">this story in Slate. why? because of the quote at the end describing the "scooby world view" (which itself comes from the Wash Post, but not where I got it) The Washington Post's ... » Guest posted this | 3 comments
January 11, 2007: R2-D2, Superspy?
A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope If we accept all the Star Wars films as the same canon, then a lot that happens in the original films has to be reinterpreted in the light of the prequels. As ... » M E-L posted this | 1 comment
January 8, 2007: Shadow of the Wind
0143034901Maybe it works better in Spanish, but to me the writing was really overblown. I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into it. » M E-L posted this |
December 24, 2006: "The Heathen Chinee"
Racist art brings fame. "The Heathen Chinee" was once one of the most popular poems in America: "Its sensational popularity made Bret Harte the most celebrated literary man in America in 1870". It's a poem about the innate perfidy of ... » Ennis posted this |
December 19, 2006: The Design Disease
Matt F-B sent this over: "Sometimes the disease will stop you enjoying things. I know designers who will walk out of a room because the colour upsets them." Via the same blog, Poorly designed everyday objects. There seems to be ... » M E-L posted this |
December 19, 2006: A Murray Little Christmas
When they talk about a War on Christmas, they mean this show. Two of our favorite acts were in it -- the Pontanti Sisters and the Wau-Wau Sisters -- plus Dirty Martini and of course your host, Murray Hill. Fa ... » M E-L posted this |
December 19, 2006: Baby Boy
B00003CY51Okay, but too bad 2Pac wasn't alive to play the title role. 3 stars. » M E-L posted this |
December 15, 2006: Evil Dead 2 Dead by Dawn
6305841861Indeed better than the first. While the visual FX don't hold up, the sound editing is still really great. 3 stars. » M E-L posted this | 1 comment