Yesterday, five major studios — Universal, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros., and MGM — unveiled Movielink, a joint venture that, for the first time, allows customers to download a large assortment of studio films. Movielink’s initial library contains about 175 movies — new and old, from Jimmy Neutron to Last Tango in Paris. They range in price from $1.99 to $4.99 for a 24-hour rental. It’s a cool service, attractively priced. It’s also going to be a flop on the order of The Adventures of Pluto Nash.

The next big Internet flop

] "If New Orleans is "the Big Easy," then Detroit is "the
] Big Ugly."
] A convenient metaphor for all things scary and doomed,
] the city has long served as a bleak backdrop for writers
] and filmmakers who paint it as a desolate, dangerous
] melange of burned-up buildings and forgotten dreams."

I'm fairly interested in seeing this movie. Making it out of a ghetto as a rapper is a difficult road, especially for a white guy. There is a very powerful story to tell here if they do it well. The thing is that Americans put so much focus on rock stars and basketball stars, and the fact is that most people who do get out of the ghetto are much more likely to come out of it as accountants then as rock stars, and the challenges associated with that are every bit as real. Focusing on talent based activities instead of skill based activities encourages people to focus on stuff that most people will never be good at no matter how hard they try.

Of course, right now you are thinking, who would go see a movie about an accountant. I'll offer that if we can't make the right message interesting its because we're not trying.

Detroit Shows Its True Grit in '8 Mile' - 11/6/02

"The development of early American animation is represented by this collection of 21 animated films and 2 fragments, which spans the years 1900 to 1921. The films include clay, puppet, and cut-out animation, as well as pen drawings. They point to a connection between newspaper comic strips and early animated films, as represented by Keeping Up With the Joneses, Krazy Kat, and The Katzenjammer Kids. As well as showing the development of animation, these films also reveal the social attitudes of early twentieth-century America. "

Origins of American Animation, 1900-1921

Far from a historical curio, "Metropolis" arrives, three-quarters of a century late, like an artifact from the future. At last we have the movie every would-be cinematic visionary has been trying to make since 1927.

I hope this is shown outside New York and becomes available on DVD.

A Restored German Classic of Futuristic Angst

"In all of the time we spend observing the Rebel Alliance, we never hear of their governing strategy or their plans for a post-Imperial universe. All we see are plots and fighting. Their victory over the Empire doesn't liberate the galaxy--it turns the galaxy into Somalia writ large: dominated by local warlords who are answerable to no one.
Which makes the rebels--Lucas's heroes--an unimpressive crew of anarchic royals who wreck the galaxy so that Princess Leia can have her tiara back. "

The Case for the Empire

"Presiding over a memorial service commemorating the victims of the attack on the Death Star, the Emperor declared that while recent victories over the Rebel Alliance were "encouraging, the War on Terror is not over yet.""

Emperor issues statement following Death Star attacks

My thoughts on Star Wars?

Everything the critics said was right. The dialog is flat. Some of the acting is off (esp. the first few scenes). The movie gets damn slow in the middle. The politics seem real, the emotion seems empty. One of the most critical moments in the development of Darth Vader is obviously on an editing room floor somewhere because someone decided it was too screwed up to show to children.

But you're going to go see it and you're going to enjoy it. You'll enjoy it because there are flying cars racing across an urban landscape that makes Hong Kong seem "quaint" while John Williams' awesome score blasts away in the background. You'll enjoy it because you want to fuck Natalie Portman. You'll enjoy it because Yoda fights with a light saber better then Neo fights with a gun.

Ultimately, Star Wars isn't about the action and adventure on screen. Its about the action and adventure you create in your head as you "fly" home from the theater.... Star Wars is 2 and a half hours of inspiration for idle day dreaming... Use the force, dude.

Only other point worth making is that the use of security fears to convince the democracy to vote itself away is a rather eery unintended warning cast upon current events.

HoloNet News | Anti-War Rally Dispersed by Senate Guard

"There is a certain lifelessness in some of the acting, perhaps because the actors were often filmed in front of blue screens so their environments could be added later by computer. Actors speak more slowly than they might--flatly, factually, formally, as if reciting. Sometimes that reflects the ponderous load of the mythology they represent. At other times it simply shows that what they have to say is banal. "Episode II-- Attack of the Clones" is a technological exercise that lacks juice and delight. The title is more appropriate than it should be."

Ebert not impressed with clones...

Ebert not happy with new Star Wars film

... What little story creeps out in dribs and drabs ... Hmmm, I forget what happens next.

This is now the second "Episode II really sucks" review I've seen; NYT's A.O. Scott said much the same thing in last week's review.

washingtonpost.com: Force Fizzle

"Adorable aliens and menacing dinos made him the biggest science fiction director of all time. With Minority Report he's finally turning to the dark side."

I balked at the previews for this, but it actually sounds like it could be really cool...

Wired 10.06: Spielberg in the Twilight Zone