Beltmann

No kidding... I say, the toy companies ought to put as much lead into their products as they damn well please. And E. coli is just another spice, if you ask me.

Cage's performance is really the only good thing about that movie--but that's definitely enough to justify it.

My favorite is the '51 A Christmas Carol--hence my holiday avatar--but from this list I would pick A Christmas Story.

I've always felt a little indifferent towards The Weakerthans, but I finally picked up Reunion Tour over the weekend, and I can't stop listening to it. I think I might love it.

In the December 7 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King lists his favorite albums of the year. Sky Blue Sky comes in at #2. He says, "No audio tricks and/or experimentation this time, only a set of gorgeously simple tunes and class-A writing. Jeff Tweedy has never been sweeter, more controlled, or in better voice. Not a bad cut on the album. Even the cover art's beautiful." He also lists his top 18 tracks of the year. Number One? "Either Way."

There aren't too many comic-book movies that I've enjoyed more than Hellboy. The tone was, well, just perfect.

Yes, I noticed that. And I think the fact that Pat Garrett also underwent a major identity change--outlaw to lawman--connects to the overall theme here.

You know, even though I find them (parts 1-2 especially) to be masterfully made, I have to concede that they aren't even on the radar of my personal favorites. I could probably name 200 movies that, subjectively speaking, mean far more to me.

That does not describe the Death Proof that I saw... but it does sort of describe Planet Terror, except in that one even the kills grew tiresome.

Take the Money and Run was on TCM earlier tonight. I hadn't seen it for probably 15 years, and had forgotten most of the best jokes. Laughed out loud more than once.

I don't have any specific complaints about the LOTR trilogy, but man, those movies were a chore to sit through. I would much rather watch Godfather III than any of those again, no kidding. I think there's "something really special" in the Fanny Trilogy (1931's Marius, 1932's Fanny, and 1936's Cesar), the Toy Story movies, and also the aforementioned Apu and Three Colors series. And I'd throw in the Mr. Hulot movies, too, except there's more than three of 'em. And let's not forget about the Friday series.

People keep saying this, and I keep being surprised by it.

Hey man, now you're really living. This must be your lucky day in hell, you beautiful freak.

I have no idea what this means.

All I know is that Godfather III is unfairly maligned, and Back to the Future II is a total piece of crap. I still vote Apu.

I voted for Reservoir Dogs. For me, JB, KB1, and PF are tied for second--I like them all equally, but for totally different reasons.

Beat me to it. Without question, that's my favorite trilogy of all-time. That's my write-in vote!

Huh. And here I thought those were some of the most interesting moments. Damn, I wish I had noticed that they serve no purpose.

One of my all-time favorites.

I thought it was great. It's not really about Bob Dylan, though--it only uses the familiar celebrity of Dylan as a catalyst for introducing other ideas, the real subjects of the movie.

Koyaanisqatsi is the better film, but Powaqqatsi has the better music! I actually have a poster for the third one, Naqoyqatsi, hanging in my classroom--mostly to provoke questions. I actually thought of these films recently, when I was watching a German documentary called Our Daily Bread... if you like this trilogy, you must look into that one, too.

Typical Kaurismaki--which means that it's another movie about the downtrodden marked by economical and inexpressive acting--but this time he's also made, apparently, an homage to '50's crime films. A widely disliked security guard suddenly finds himself the object of a beautiful woman, but of course she's actually a gangster's moll trying to steal the guard's keys to a jewelry store. There are many things to like here (especially the colorful and oddly geometric cinematography), but the theme that man often provokes his own damnation isn't quite worked out, and the plot leaves too many quest

I only had time to watch the first half, and very few made much of an impact... but the one with the Hispanic nanny is probably my favorite so far. I'm hoping to finish the rest of the them tonight.

Yep. Woulda been great to see ya!