The Sky Is Falling!

Steve and I subscribe to Netflix. It's really a great alternative to the movie theater, especially with a HDTV and a blu-ray player. Even DVDs look good on this thing. Why do you think they're coming out with all of these 3D flicks? To try and drag us back into the theaters and charge us even more for mediocre fair.

In any case, we get two movies a week plus a disc from a TV series. (So far we've watched "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica," "Oz" and "John Adams.") With films being released on disc less than a year after theatrical release, it really makes sense to pick and choose what you drop $14 to $22 for in the movie theater versus what you can see at home for less than a buck with a rental service. We watch one on Saturday, one on Sunday and pop in the series disc whenever there's nothing on cable. Friends have told me it's also a great way to introduce their kids to television classics that don't air as reruns on cable.

Today, we watched "2012" on blu-ray, and all I can say to Roland Emmerich (writer and director) is: "Ohhh, puhleese." But I do have to admit that the poster does clearly state: "We were warned." The computer graphics are good but totally over the top. As a film critic I know said, "It looks like he's designing thrill rides for Universal Studios."

Emmerich (the writer/director of this movie, as well as "The Day After Tomorrow," "Godzilla (the remake)," Independence Day" and "Stargate") is really in love with the end of the world. Rumor has it he thinks he's the first horseman of the Apocalypse (but in a good, Hollywood kind of way). I understand "Independence Day 2 and 3" are on their way to us (let's hope the aliens have learned not to program their space ships with Mac OS X this time), as well as Roland's take on the Isaac Asimov "Foundation" trilogy. Of the latter, all I can say is "eeewwww."

Any self-respecting sci-fi fan knows that "Foundation" would be impossible to create as a single film. Perhaps if it were made as six or nine films, or an extended series, like "Battlestar," perhaps it could be achieved with some fidelity. But I dread to think of what Sony and Emmerich will do to it. Makes me want to re-read the series over again for old times' sake.

There is relief on the film front tomorrow, however: our movie for Sunday is "Dolores Claiborne," with Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Based on a Stephen King book, it's directed by Taylor Hackford, who I like way better ("An Officer and a Gentleman," "White Nights," "Devil's Advocate" and "Ray.")

On other fronts: Cats are both fine, the orchid spike is still putting out blooms. I finished the Flash coursebook and passed the sample exam first time (but just). I'm presently halfway through the Dreamweaver book (Photoshop and Illustrator still to go). Steve keeps getting queries from employment agents but nothing solid as of yet. His present boss still refuses to take him full-time or give him the raise he was promised six months ago.