In case the History Channel seems like a misnomer to anyone else. (With thanks to Mark for this.)

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Forecast: Expect increasing trailers, signs of promotional NZ scenery.

If you're a writer, a reader, and particularly if you enjoy YA -- take 30 minutes from your life to watch: The Simpsons: The Book Job.

Normally, I'm not that big a Simpsons fan, but this take on writing, and specifically on how YAs are written, is pretty hilarious.  Even more painfully, parts of it are true!!  As a special bonus, it has Neil Gaiman ( Read more... )

I'm not much into music, but I do love animation, and this black-hearted version of Red Riding Hood is right up my alley.  George Fort's animation is a wonderful bow to the early masters of animation, and his dangerous blond version of Betty Boop is my kind of girl.  Song by The Real Tuesday Weld.

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Does it eat yours as well ( Read more... )

"Paranormal Activity" surprised me with how effectively scary it was.  Similar to "Blair Witch Project" (which I loathed and thought insurmountably stupid), it's shot on video by Micah, the guy of the couple who is experiencing paranormal activity in their San Diego tract house.

Micah is a bit of an ass, and becomes more so as the story unfolds.  ( Read more... )

If you're not interested in current Dr. Who, move along. Nothing to see here.

Unless for some reason you think it would be fascinating to read me getting all geeky.
( Dr. Who rant and spoilers )

Terrance Malick's "Tree of Life" is an old man's movie the way "King Lear" is an old man's play. You can only look back perceiving the bitterness and futility and joy and beauty and try to make sense of it all from the end. It easily bears comparison with "2001" and with "Synecdoche, New York." Not because they are similar movies, but because they ( Read more... )

When I was in high school I ran across Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee mysteries. To this New England girl, the combination of a Dutch author writing stories about an ancient Chinese judge with some historical basis was readercrack. It was exotic and cool and nobody else I knew had ever heard of these books and I was in fifty kinds of heaven. This is ( Read more... )

There had been enough buzz about Sweden's "Sound of Noise" that we put it on our calendar. I'm so glad we did!

This is a joyful film about art, street art as opposed to plasticized art spoon fed to the masses as portrayed in the film by a bland Haydn concert and muzak piped over street speakers. Its heroes, or anti-heroes as your preference may be ( Read more... )