The Format war Appears Over

So it looks like Blu-Ray is going to be the next generation of entertainment as more and more studios are defecting from  HD-DVD.  This is good for Sony because  they have been getting their ass kicked (can you say “Wii”), they really needed a win.

This is a fire I have been staying away from. I mean going to slap down money for a peice of technology that has only a 50% survival rate for the near future just seemed like bad odds to me. Further Ive never really understood why people dump so much money into their home theater, as if missing a few pixels is really that earth shattering.

What really concerns me is now that this appears to be settled what happens to regular DVD’s? Are they going to go the way of VHS in a matter of a couple years? Does that mean us people that just want to watch a movie and don’t care about extra features or if i can make out Eve Mendes’s cute little mole will have to go buy all new equipment?

Its no wonder digital piracy of movies is so popular, the average Joe can’t afford to keep up.

Another Good Movie: The Machinist

So i’ve really been on a psychological thriller kick and this one really fit the bill!

This one staring Christian Bale is about a guy who hasn’t slept in a year and looks like he hasn’t eaten for about as long. You spend the whole movie trying to figure out the different twists and turns all the while the movie is dropping bread crumbs to the truth. At the same time he see the main characters reality warp out of control.

I thought i had this ending pinned twice and was completely wrong both times. A great movie, heck i even watch it again to fully grasp all the stuff i was just speculating at the first time. order it on your Netflix pronto!

Screw the Writers Guild

For the most part I buy into the notion that we “should shoot” our TV’s. I think its all mindless dribble and humanity would be better off without it. That said i have always been a huge fan of the late night talk scene. My favorite show is Late Night with Conan O’Brien, but I do occasionally catch the other fair offered up by Leno, Ferguson, and even Carson Daly. Really the only one I won’t watch is Letterman because he hasn’t changed at all since his days hosting Late Night, and is largely a snore to watch. So as you can imagine my late night lifestyle has sucked because of the Writers Guild Strike.

Well that all ended last week when all my favorite hosts to the world of insomniacs returned. I think ive really missed them too because Im going out of my way to make sure i can watch all of the shows by showing up to work early with my sling box in tow. I have noticed that the shows have changed without writers too, but unlike most of the crazy writers out there i think its for the better.

The shows are less predictable, and a lot more funny. Scripted jokes lost their appeal years ago, these past few days have felt like a begining of a new golden age to me. Honestly having to fly without a net has forced the late night hosts to use improv and other real talents. Even better it seem the quality of the guests has gotten better too, it might have to do with the fact that there is more time for the guests thats not filled up with dumb scripted characters now.

In closing I think the late show producers should say “screw you Writers Guild, we have a better product without you” and just fly without a net from here on out.

A Great Movie to Catch: “Stay”

I usually try to stay away from movie reviews and other pure entertainment blogging, but i just had to write on this one. Being a total Netflix junky i occasionally get movies i don’t remember ordering and have never herd of, in the case of Stay this is what happend.

The movie has a great cast in Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Naomi Watts, and even Bob Hoskins who i haven’t seen anything with in ages in the fray.

Its essentially a psychological thriller in the vain of Memento wit lots of twists and turns. One of my problems with movies is that i figure out the plot and the ending early on in my view which makes the whole experience a bore. With this movie i didn’t figure out the end at all. I wasn’t riveted to the end of my seat but i was intrigued through out the whole movie which is no small feet. Anyway check it out, you won’t be disappointed!

Wow! SNL was Awesome Last Night

I normally refrain from writing about entertainment topics, but after seeing SNL last night i just had to make an exception.

Alec Baldwin was on, which is no surprise because he always seems to be on there. That said his skit with Tony Bennett was priceless. However the highlight of the show was amazing: A duet with Tony Bennett and Christina Aguilera. The number had a bit of trouble, there seemed to be some issues with one of the instruments being out of sink and they had some trouble harmonizing at first. That said to see them on stage together was awesome and they did really well considering the different types of sound they have, and the fact that it was live with little rehearsing im sure. Anytime i see them do something together im always impressed.

Tony Bennett is one of my all time favorites, i can listen to his stuff all day and i cant think of a single song of his i dont like. Mean while ive always been a fan of Christina’s even back in her bubble-gum pop days. When my friends used to debate who was better Britney Spears or Christina there was absolutely no question in my mind, it was Christina because she had two things Brit totally lacked: Talent and Staying Power. Bubble-gum pop comes and goes but its the artist that have the foresight to grow up with the kids they started out with that last, shes one of those stars.

Speaking of stars! Was last nights edition some kind of special? I say this because there at the end during the curtain call stood Tony Bennett,Christina Aguilera, Alec Baldwin, Paul McCartney!,Steve Martin, and someone else that for the life of me i cant place right now. Man it would have been awesome to see McCartney out with Bennett and Aguilera!

Anyway, im sure parts of it are up all over the web; check em out!

Taking a Break to Weigh in on Imus

I just love this country, and its ability to make absolutely no head way on important issues, but some how finds time to go after a “shock-jock” with guns blazing…..for doing basically what the term “shock-jock” implies.

In my view Imus made only one mistake, apologizing. Why is it that celebrities use the First Amendment, but don’t defend it? After reading several articles on the subject of Imus I find myself in TOTAL agreement with Imus’s arch rival Howard Stern on this one.

I don’t care that Imus is a nice guy that gives oodles of money to cancer and SID’s research, and I really wish people would stop making excuses for him EXERCISING HIS RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. Hate speech and flag burning are protected by the First Amendment, like it or not. He knew what he was doing when he made his comment, it was intentional, and there fore he shouldn’t apologize for it. It doesn’t change what was said, nor does it change his outlook. He has, and always will be a hateful person; and you know what? Its his right to be that way and its the American Peoples right to hate him for it.

My question is that since Imus has a long history of hateful speech, why hasn’t everyone done what I did years ago….stop listening to him?! He has the right to say what he wants, but everyone else has the right to speak out against him and NOT GIVE HIS SHOWS RATINGS, which keeps him on the air.

Does getting a shock-jock fired end racism in the country? Does attacking the First Amendment end racism? No, it doesn’t, it just pushes it underground where it can fester and grow. As a matter of fact by pushing him underground may just make the situation “worse”.

The question everyone should be asking is “how has this guy remained so popular for 30+ years despite his frequent use of hate speech?”. As long as people seeking equality are reacting to the world instead of redefining it, no head way will be made. Imus may be gone, but rest assured its done NOTHING to stop hate speech on the radio. Howard Stern leaving traditional radio a few years back proves that.

Last point: If it wasn’t election season, and an otherwise stagnant news year….would this even be an issue?