The best movie requiring a co-pay**

There are different kinds of comedy. Some are obvious and some are subtle. Some have a punch line and others are visual. Some comedy has wide appeal and some does not.
Cheryl and I just finished watching “Little Miss Sunshine,” and I simply must tell you that I’ve never laughed harder. There’s a scene in this [...]

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Clarification

I haven’t been particularly lazy this last month or so, and I’ve been doing just as much reading as ever, but one of the last books I tried reading was a terrible bore. I say this because a new book recently appeared in the recent reads portion of this site, and the length of time [...]

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I’m John, and I can’t see you

Katie Couric is good at what she does. As far as I know, it’s as true today as it was six months ago. What’s more, I’ve always liked Katie Couric (even though I don’t watch much weekday morning TV). I say this up front because this entry is yet another example of me being hyper-critical, [...]

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Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

If Cheryl and I ever renew our wedding vows, I’d like to include something regarding our Netflix Que. One of the most reliable weekend buzz kills ’round these parts is a movie in the mail from Cheryl’s pickings. Friends, I almost had to leave the house when she popped in that Steven Segal flick.
I still [...]

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A word from our author

I have an announcement to make: it’s been a couple of months, but I’ve finally read a decent bit of science fiction.

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Movie time

Yesterday we watched “…good night, and good luck.” It’s that movie about Edward R. Murrow and his decision to take on Senator Joseph McCarthy during the height of the “Red Scare.” At the end of the movie, after watching several stirring recreations of “See it now” broadcasts, I was struck with one overriding thought. There [...]

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Finding your depth

Do you have an actor, in your repertoire of actors, that puts you off on their first appearance in a trailer? (Bonus points if you can guess whether I spelled that French word right on the first try!)
Take that sentence, take it back 50 years, and I’ll bet you no one knows what the hell [...]

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Off balance: a belated review

Presumption number one: you pay attention to the books I read.
Presumption number two: anyone is paying attention at all.
My first impression of Harry Turtledove follows his naming strategy… he’s awfully repetitive. Have you ever read a book where the author continuously reminds you what the character’s motivations are?
Chapter 1: “… Jack was uneasy, his acne [...]

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Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Since Cheryl and I have scaled back our Netflix subscription, movies at the Kauffman house have been rare. We’ve watched plenty of DVDs… like Lost and Oz, but few movies. With two kids whipping around the house, adult time has been at a premium… and rarely can be culled into a two hour block.
So I’ve [...]

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Spanglish

There is no way for me to describe what I thought of this movie without kind of giving it away. So, if you have any intentions of watching it… move along.
Scene: a thirty-something couple finishes watching a movie on cable. The wife gets up as the credits roll… the husband, unmoving, stays behind. The husband [...]

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