I enjoyed CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR. It's a solidly OK movie. The performances of Tom Hanks and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are excellent and deserving of award nominations. But Julia Roberts was off; she can't hold on to a Southern accent to save her life, or a role. I found her a distraction. I didn't see her character, rather I just saw Julia Roberts trying to play a Southern woman.

The screenplay is terrific, intelligent, funny, and dense. It's the kind of script that sometimes requires a rewind to be sure you got everything that was said. There is a lot to follow. So, for that reason, you could wait until it comes to DVD.

According to the History channel show on Charlie Wilson that I'm watching at the moment, the movie is quite true to life. It's a fascinating story.

All in all, CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR is decidedly worth watching. But it's a movie that might best be viewed on the small screen so you can rewind when necessary.

You have your actors like Marlon Brando or Jack Nicholson who are always pretty recognizable no matter who they play.

What actors blend into their roles the most? These are the kind of faceless actors that inhabit a role so well you often don't recognize them from film to film. I'm thinking of:

Alec Guinness - Especially in his early roles (until he became iconic in Star Wars) it was hard to remember what he looked like (as Heinlein mentioned in "Double Star"). He was perfectly cast as the spymaster Smiley in the LeCarre mini-series because he was the classic Gray Man of espionage, he just seemed to be able to blend into a character.

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Several times I've gone back and noticed he was in movies where I hadn't realized it was him until the credits - like "Almost Famous", where I didn't recognize him as Lester Bangs or in The Big Lebowski where he was the millionaire Lebowski's assistant. Amazing in "Capote".

Chris Cooper - Getting popular now, I didn't realize it was the same actor I saw in "American Beauty", "Adaptation", and "Breach" until recently.

Who else?

Today I saw "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" in a theatre, and I enjoyed it. It was better than first one IMHO.

Why I enjoyed it? Well, Nicolas Cage was Nicolas Cage as usual. Diane Kruger was very nice woman, but that's all.

Ed Harris played bad guy. He's great actor and he can play any characters. But he played bad guy before. So nothing new.

Bruce Greenwood played The President. But he played The President in Thirteen Days before.

Helen Mirren! She was awesome! Recently she played Queen many times, but this time she was adventurer. She climbed rock and dived into the water! Amazing woman...


If you like first movie, I'm sure you'll enjoy this sequel. Especially, if you like conspiracy by governments, you'll get into this movie.





Before I see this movie, I saw this trailer and I'm looking forward to this!

Has anyone heard/seen anything about the the movie "The Signal"? There is a preview up at [url=Has anyone heard/seen anything about the the movie "The Signal"? There is a preview up at [link=http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/thesignal/hd/]Apple[/link]. Looks reminiscent of King's "Cell". Maybe better. Dunno. Looks interesting though.]Apple[/url]. Looks reminiscent of King's "Cell". Maybe better. Dunno. Looks interesting though.

Now my heart is beating too hard! Because I watched trailer of "Hellboy II The Golden Army". We have to wait until next summer! Why can't we see this movie right now?! I'm sure this is better than first one! Looks like Hellboy got into world of Pan's Labyrinth.

I'm not exaggerating! Check this.

HellboyII The Golden Army: trailer



"Red, we have company".

The new DOCTOR WHO series filmed a 7 minute comic scene, which I understand will be included on the dvd, for CHILDREN IN NEED. The new episode for the new season (VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED) starts now with a time malfunction that causes Peter Davison (Dr.#5) to appear with David Tennant on the Tardis. Very cute scene and could be viewed on youtube under the title "Doctor Who-Timecrash."
Have some fun and check it out!

Peter Jackson has confirmed that he will Executive Produce the upcoming Hobbit movies, but will not direct.

BBC News Article

Empire Online Article

Official Blog

It has also been announced that they will be filming two films back-to-back. Empire specualtes that this means they will be splitting the book in two. I am personally a little bit cynical about this approach -- it just seems like a way to squeeze twice as much cash out of the audience.

Well, kiddies, the 4th season of LOST will be with us before you know it. (Sometime in February, I think.)

I got the boxed set of the DVD's of Season 3 and am enjoying them immensely.

Seriously, watching a series continuously like that is my favorite way of watching TV these days. (1) I'm getting more from the series than I did when watching in segments; (2) it's beautifully filmed and just great to watch; (3) it just makes more sense, and in LOST, that counts for a lot; (4) I'm making more connections than I did before.

I know most people don't have the time to dedicate hours and hours of viewing to one show, but if you don't mind some late nights, it's a lot of fun.

I just pre-ordered the 10th anniversary edition of Legacies this morning. As of now, I will be billed $251 on December 31st for that, Secret Histories (with slipcase), and By the Sword.

I keep telling myself A) I can afford it, B) It's worth it, and C) I can afford it, but I keep getting a nagging, nail-biting sensation when I think about it. Could anyone play the greedy little devil perched on my shoulder and give me the proverbial pat on the back so I don't completely succumb to that feeling called "guilt?" I mean, it's FPW; it's worth it. (But...)

Today I also saw Slither.

It reminded me of Shaun Hutson's "Slugs". But it's creepier than "Slugs". If you like "The Thing", "Deep Rising" and "Lake Placid", I recommend this movie.


If you don't like "Slugs", "Deep Rising", "Lake Placid", "The Thing".....I warn you. Do Not watch this movie!