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Oct. 24th, 2009 @ 03:56 pm Frustrated by eBooks
So I recently became interested in buying an eBook reader again. I've read eBooks on my laptop before, which mas a matte screen, so I know I'm comfortable with the idea. Barnes & Nobel just announced their Nook eBook reader, and tied with the Barnes & Nobel library I think this is the reader I'd be willing to take the plunge for. I'm using Terry Pratchett's "Unseen Academicals" as my use case, as this is the new book I'd most like to read right now.

But, then I tried to figure out what exactly I'm getting for my eBook purchase. Wikipedia has a really good comparison of the different eBook formats here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats. The feature I'm most concerned with is compatibility; DRM (Digital Rights Management) I can live with, but I need some assurances that if Barnes & Nobel stops making these devices or if the service stops for some other reason that I'm still going to have access to the books that I've purchased.

Barnes & Nobel sells their eBooks in the eReader format (extension .pdb, formerly known as Palm Media), with the DRM tied to your name and credit card number. The good news with the pdb format, as opposed to say the Kindle, is that it's an existing format; the site http://www.ereader.com provides a Mac compatible eBook reader that's, as far as I can tell, identical to the one Barnes & Nobel is providing. The bad news is that the Barnes & Nobel Nook is the only physical device that supports the format, the software is otherwise only available for the home computer. The big advantage of dedicated eBook devices is that they use eInk, basically electronic paper, which is the closest you can currently get to real books; it's selling point is that it's much easier on the eyes.

The next available format would be International Digital (extension .epub). Epub books are supported by the Nook, as well as a number of other physical eBook readers. You can't buy epub format books directly from Barnes & Nobel, but a little backtracking through the publisher and I was able to find an online retailer that could. Using "Unseen Academicals" as my test case, I went to Harper Collins website which led me to http://www.diesel-ebooks.com which sells the book in pdb, epub and Mobi Pocket formats. The bad news is that, while still less then the hard cover editions, these formats go for an average of $20 to $25; more then Barnes & Nobel or Amazon, which usually sell new releases for $9.99.

While I'm on the topic, another option would be the Mobi Pocket format (extension .mobi). This format, while popular, is currently owned by Amazon. Not surprisingly, Amazon's Kindle uses a modified version of this format. While the Kindle can read DRM free Mobi Pocket books, the only DRM books it officially supports are the ones sold through Amazon.com. You can, apparently, modify an existing Mobi Pocket book to get it working on the Kindle but it sounds to be treading into legal gray areas. So, basically, this eliminated both the Kindle AND the mobi pocket format from my consideration.

The only other format supported by all of the Kindle, Nook, and a variety of other physical eBook readers is pdf. Not surprisingly though, nobody sells eBooks in pdf format because there's no DRM available. Which is silly, because if somebody did I would't be making this post and they would already have my money.

- Jimbo
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Oct. 5th, 2009 @ 11:02 pm Welcome to the Dollhouse
I keep reading all these pessimistic reviews on Joss Whedon's TV series Dollhouse linked from whedonesque.com, it's all just stupid.

People are treating the ratings like they're some personal guide to watching the show: "Oh, it only got a 0.8 in the ratings this week, so I guess I'll give it a 3 out of 10"

GAHH

The show is doing fine people. The first two episodes have felt a lot more "in the groove" then anything in season one (except maybe Epitaph One, the extra episode, which was spot on). Last week's episode renewed my hope that Joss and Co. can actually handle an episode of the week format and not go flopping around like a fish out of water. The dialogue was tight, the plot was intriguing, and the acting squarely pulled me in.

I just finished reading a review from cinemablend.com that kept comparing the show to Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. I think this is the problem with most of the review's I've been reading online, they only look at Dollhouse in light of Joss Whedon's other television work, and compared to Firefly's campiness Dollhouse just seems depressing.

Well, Joss Whedon must be a very depressing fellow. The last two seasons of Buffy were incredibly dark, regular cast were getting murdered and maimed. Likewise in the last season of Angel. Compared to some of the things he made his characters go through in the past, brainwashing seems almost quaint.

And, don't forget, Joss Whedon also wrote for Roseanne and Toy Story. Despite being a family comedy, Roseanne could be incredibly poignant. Perusing over the list of episodes he wrote over on wikipedia, it's not all fun and games. Toy Story is the other end of the park, but there's still classic Whedon angst and dialogue throughout.

Then we come to his current work, the Astonishing X-Men and the Buffy season 8 comics. Astonishing X-Men was probably one of the most painful X-Men stories I've ever read, worse then the Dark Phoenix for me just because of how emotionally attached I was to my memories of these characters who Joss was toying with like puppets. As for Buffy season 8, in a way I think it's the show he's always wanted to see made but never got: the struggles are bigger, and yet even more personal then in the tv show.

So, back to my original point: Joss Whedon is one depressing guy. I read once somewhere - wish I could link it - that he never liked to let his characters be happy. I learned to watch for any sign of happiness, because I knew one or more of the group would soon be dead, soulless, or otherwise buggered. And this is what makes good television, these's people's lives are interesting to us because it not candy coated or boring; it's visceral and real and painful and it's on every Friday at 9:00pm on FOX.

OK, so I'm not a good salesman. This may make good TV but it sure doesn't make popular TV. But popular TV trends gave us reality television people, we're just climbing out of that circle of hell, do we really want to slide back down? That said, unemployment, war, and swine flu are *real* issues and perhaps most people aren't ready to escape a painful reality to an even more painful virtual one. There's a reason World of Warcraft is the most popular MMO, and it's got nothing to do with the Warcraft; It's the bright colors, witty dialogue, never ending questlines, collectable pets, a constant stream of equipment upgrades, and an eternity of raiding with your peers. Dollhouse has Eliza Dushku holding a baby and a butcher knife; and I'm OK with that because the alternatives are Dateline and reruns of America's Next Top Model.

So FOX, what do you need to do to get more viewers? First pair it with Fringe. Either move Dollhouse to Thursdays or Fringe to Friday's - why are you trying to compete against the NBC comedy nights anyway? Second, throw money at writers, particularly writers who can balance Joss's natural angst. Finally, to everyone else, enjoy the show we have while we have it for the show it is - otherwise, we're all soon back to endless reality tv.

- Jimbo
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Aug. 29th, 2009 @ 01:08 pm I just got a present from Amazon!
I had pre-ordered Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and it was released today!

I also just bought crossover games for Mac, which is the commercially supported version of WINE for playing Windows games on a Mac.

I'm thinking this is the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship, and an even more disturbing personification of my macbook...

- Jimbo :-)
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Jun. 28th, 2009 @ 02:03 am Virtuality, classic Sci-Fi Fridays are making a come back
I just finished watching the pilot for Virtuality on hulu. A new sci-fi series from Ron D. Moore of Battlestar Galatica fame. Even though the premise is similar - a group of isolated crew is looking for a new home - the feel of the show is incredibly different then Battlestar. In some ways it feels too campy, like classic star trek (or Earth 2 or VR5 as I read in a few online reviews). In other ways it feels like a "palette cleanser" (as the phrase was used in the pilot) for Galatica, to get sci-fi fans out of the gritty, edgy, place that Galatica took us to and into a familiar and yet exciting new series.

There's a lot of talk of FOX not picking this up for a series. I think it's more that they're taking a lot of chances this upcoming year anyway and they while they don't want to scrap this they also can't in good conscience pick it up as a series right now. It's even possible they're putting it out now so they can get to an eventual sci-fi back-to-back Dollhouse/Virtuality Friday night (who says Friday night is a death slot? That what my friends and I do most Fridays, except we watch SyFy, not FOX)

Anyway, givin the gaping wide plot device introduced in that last few seconds of the episode, let me share some conjecture:
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Jun. 14th, 2009 @ 11:04 pm Jimboflix is back, under new managment
So, apparently, some of the movies in my Jimboflix collection are starting to show up on Hulu:
* A Bucket of Blood
* The Brain That Wouldn't Die
* and, Frogs being the one that got my attention in the first place.

So Hulu stole my idea and is taking over the world with it. I'm OK with that.

- Jimbo :-)
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Apr. 11th, 2009 @ 06:28 pm Dollhouse just keeps getting better
I just watched this weeks episode of Dollhouse on hulu, A Spy In The House Of Love, and this show just keeps getting better.

I'm concerned though about this post on Ain't It Cool News, which reports about Felicia Day's appearance in the apparently cut 13th episode. The post comments somehow spiraled into "Oh well, the show's canceled".

What's interesting, although everyone seems to agree that the show is on its way out, is that all of the commenters had different reactions. The majority seemed to blame FOX, not unexpectedly given Joss Whedon's disputes with them over Firefly, with at least one commenter making a reference to "dollcoats" which made me smile. Others blamed the show itself for falling flat, or similarly Whedon himself for not producing a better show. A number of commenters we're upset, citing that the show has been steadily improving, while others seemed to have given up after the first two or three episodes and haven't come back.

I'm back to my original hypothesis: that the first few episodes were basically warm up so they could get us familiar with the show's premise. It's not an unreasonable approach, I'm not going to be emotionally invested in characters whose lives are turned upside down if I don't know them first. I think the "November" character is a prefect example of this, but I can't say anymore for spoiler reasons.

I think I'm updating my hypothesis though. I can imagine a conversation between Joss Whedon and FOX going something like this:
FOX: "Well Joss, the show seems great, but we're concerned that it moves to fast for our target audience."
Joss: "I don't think that will be an issue. I've written three hit television shows. I know what my audience will like."
FOX: "Yeah Joss, but were paying for it. Do us a favor and put a few episodes in the beginning to explain what's going on."
Joss: "I don't see how I can do that without scrapping the pilot, but I think we can make it work."

Now, obviously, I have no idea what happened with the original pilot; but given how different the show seems now I don't I'm too far off the mark. The only problem was that this plan, in part at least, seems to have backfired. The target audience who was expecting to see typical Joss Whedon television, instead were introduced to the first few - lets say steadily paced - episodes and immediately gave up on the show.

If this was actually how everything went down between FOX and Joss Whedon, I don't think they made the wrong decision. Regardless of how - steadily paced - the first few episodes were, I'm in love with the show as it is *now*, and I think that's in part at least because of how the show got to this point.

I think the blame falls squarely on us. I think society has gotten very judgmental of its television shows. If it's not a hit by the second episode, it's not worth it. Everyone rants about reality television, but it's cheap to produce and makes for huge ratings. Reality television, for all our problems with it, is exactly what we were asking for. Dollhouse isn't cheap entertainment nor immediate gratification. Like "Boston Legal", and "Battlestar Galatica", like "24", and "Lost", this isn't a show you turn on and tune out of. This is real, thoughtful, entertainment. This is cerebral and suspenseful. This is Bond meets Hitchcock. Hell, this is "Pretender". I'm on board.

I do think both FOX and Joss Whedon need to step up to the plate here. Like Obama shoring up the economy with his grasp of the English language and his steady demeanor, FOX needs to tell it's audience "Yes, we're supporting this show. We have confidence. You can sit down and watch it with us every Friday, and we will make sure it's consistent.", and Joss Whedon needs to say "Yes, I understand you're worried about this show. I know some of you gave up on it. I'm asking you to give it a second chance, because I know you won't be disappointed."

- Jimbo :-)

P.S. If we do have to do something to save the show, I say we do it Dollhouse style pajamas. In fact, I think that may have been the prime intention with them all wearing pajamas all the time.
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Mar. 28th, 2009 @ 11:05 pm The purpose of Deja Vu, and it's correlation with Serendipity
I've recently had more frequent bouts of Deja Vu then I'm used to. I've always been prone to it, but usually it's a few months apart. I'd say I've had three or four occurrences in the past two weeks.

Usually my Deja Vu is just a brief moment of "I remember this", followed by a general feeling of what's supposed to happen next. I've never been wrong about the next part before, until these past few times. Just recently I had a moment where I expected everything to blow up (verbally, not physically), and instead everything sort of calmed down and everyone involved walked away the better for it. I'm somewhere in between upset about being wrong, and happy about things turning out well. I'm hoping it's just that I've unconsciously started to utilize this ability more positively then I'd previously been.

In other news, I made a right instead of a left for lunch the other day, and ended up the better for it. I had wanted to goto McDonald's, of which there is one in either direction when I'm leaving work. I'd fully intended to go left - it's the closer of the two - but I found myself turning right. Well, the other McDonalds is in an outdoor mall with a Walmart, so I stopped in to look for a small patio table I'd been wanting to buy for the front porch now that the weather is getting warmer. Turns out I found a nicer table then the one I'd expected to find, and also got the yogurt I'd been meaning to buy far cheaper then it is at the grocery store; and I still got my McNuggets :-).

Today, the trend continued. After getting a haircut I noticed the library was open. I'd been wanting to read a new collection from a horror author I'd seen at the bookstore, but for as hard as I tried I couldn't remember his name. I went to ask the librarian, who had her own serendipitous moment after she looked up the author, H.P. Lovecraft (that must have been some mental block on my part), and connected it to an interview with Neil Gaiman she'd just read where he cited Lovecraft as one of his biggest influences. She'd never heard of H.P. Lovecraft before, then she hears his name twice in one day for two entirely different reasons. On that note, everyone pick up a copy of "Coraline" - I haven't seen the movie yet but the book is a nice short adventure typical of Gaiman's stories, I highly recommend it.

So, the next time you're picking a destination, leave the direction up to the last moment and let fate choose it for you. If you seen an open door, walk in (well, if there's screaming and/or gunshots I'd say use your better judgment). If you see an opportunity, take it. If you're thinking of someone, assume they're thinking of you and run with it. There's some good Karma in the wind right now, do what you can to pay it forward. And, as always, strive for the happy medium (It's like the middle, but happier).

- Jimbo :-)
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Mar. 21st, 2009 @ 09:23 pm Whedon is back
I just watched this weeks episode of dollhouse, Man on the Street, on hulu.  Boy, have I misjudged this series so far.

Before this week the show has been very formulaic:  Take the show's premise, fill out a story of the week, add a B storyline, and call it a day.  Then this episode shows up and takes the show from an episodic one to a serial one.  Now we've got a bunch of interesting unanswered questions, an overarching storyline, characters with motivations and deep personalities - even the dolls, who we'd been repeatedly told were just blank slates, seem like real characters now.

It makes a little more sense now why the first few episodes played out the way they have.  I think Whedon wanted to give the audience time to get comfortable with the way the dollhouse works and what everyone's roles are, before he sprung this episode on us.  It's almost like we've had a month long series premier, but didn't realize what everything was about until the last few minutes.

So, if you haven't tried Dollhouse yet, do yourself a favor and watch all of them on hulu up to this one.  If you've been dragging through the episodes and were just about to give up, take a seat and watch this one.

I sound like a crazy fanboy right now, but really I'm so happy.  I thought I had nothing left after Galatica, and now we've got a new Whedon show that finally hitting its intended pace.  Squeee!

- Jimbo

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Mar. 21st, 2009 @ 12:08 am BSG finale review
( No spoilers for you... )
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Mar. 19th, 2009 @ 07:40 pm The way to frakkin end it
I'm concerned about how Battlestar Galatica might be ending tomorrow night.  Not that I've heard anything more then vague rumors, but in general I think based on the way a show has run the viewers should expect a certain type of finale.

First there's the episodic shows: sitcoms with minor character development but great punchlines, villian of the week mysteries, etc.  Rosanne wins by far here, and Mad About You is one of my personal favorites.  I never watched the show, but I've seen the Mary Tyler Moore ending dozens of times and it always struck me as an icing on the cake ending - exactly what I'd want from this type of show.  You want to know the characters go on to live happy lives, but secretly you want to watch them doing what they do best one last time.  I've also read M.A.S.H. was the most watched finale ever, but as I've only seen it reruns I don't remember specifically waiting for a finale.  Someone else will probably comment.  Seinfeld was a finale that tried to do to much, but like other sitcoms it had started faltering in it's last few shows.

Then there's the serials: long developed storylines and characters, more unanswered questions every week, shark jumping abounds.  Winner here for me is Firefly, and I'm referring to Serenity.  For me it was the ending that was a beginning, as I didn't watch the series until after seeing the movie.  What better praise can I give a show then to point out I started watching it *after* seeing how it ends.  Joss Whedon also gave us two other great shows, but Buffy's was an ending that felt a season too long, and Angel's a season too short; though the stories have been continued successfully via comics, like other shows make movies to keep the franchise rolling.  Then there's Deep Space 9, that felt like a stepping stone to so much more - what ashame that the more turned out to be Enterprise.  Here's hoping the movie leaves the franchise in a better state.

Then there's the inbetweens.  I'm sure there's lots of room for opinion here but I think Star Trek: The Next Generation is a good example.  It started off almost exclusively episodic, then as the seasons went on the storylines started to last a few episodes, and characters' lives started being effected for longer then just one episode.  It also helps my post since Ron D. Moore, creator of the new Battlestar Galatica, also wrote the series finale for ST:TNG.  While I wouldn't put it on a pedestal, the ST:TNG finale hit all the right buttons.  Give the characters one last hurrah, give the viewers some peace of mind.

So what am I hoping for from the BSG finale?  Well, some answered questions for one.  I'm expecting a generous amount of frakkin cylon butt kicking.  I'd also like some decent character moments, good enough for me to remember them by.

I hate it when a quality science fiction show ends, it particularly feels like the end of an era given that there's not much down the pipe after Galatica.  I have high hopes for Doll House which is slowly picking up pace.
 

- Jimbo :-)

P.S.  Betty White guest starring on My Name is Earl is pertty much the best thing ever.

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Mar. 7th, 2009 @ 02:02 am All Along The Watchmen Tower
Just got through Watchmen.  It's late, but I wanted to get this all down now while it's fresh.

Bottom line, great attempt at an adaptation but for something that was never meant to be watched as a movie.

( review with light spoilers after the cut. )

Take away's: go see the movie if you're a fan of the comic, but wait for the dvd otherwise as you'll just find it tedious to sit through. It would be a good movie to watch a little of every night of a week, like a mini series.

- Jimbo :-)


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Feb. 9th, 2009 @ 09:24 pm "No, I'm going to torture them in front of you"
Goon: "Are you going to torture me in front of them?"
Sylar: "No, I'm going to torture them in front of you"

Best Sylar line ever, I hope they keep him like this all season.

Update: later followed by "and I didn't kill you. That's kinda a big thing for me."
Squee!

- Jimbo
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Jan. 11th, 2009 @ 10:03 pm Two hours of power
Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, on Fox, and Battlestar Galatica, on SciFi, are both airing on Friday's nights. From what I can tell 9:00-10:00, and 10:00-11:00 respectively.

For a brief moment I thought Fox was trying to go up against Battlestar (not the SciFi Channel, just Battlestar). Don't screw us over Fox. I can and will buy Dollhouse on DVD, but I need my Galatica fix on Friday nights.

Maybe I should reconsider changing my blog title to TV Junkie.

- Jimbo
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Jan. 11th, 2009 @ 09:41 pm I need a hit ... now!
I flipped on 24 at 8:00 tonight on Fox. I thought Family Guy and American Dad would be on, and I thought "oh, 24, I like that show."

I forgot that 24 is *not* a gateway drug. It's like watching non stop Die Hard (in part because they've ripped off the plot of the last die hard movie). But still, can't... look.. away...

- Jimbo

P.S. Why did Fox 29 have a trailer for Watchmen? Isn't 24 involved in a legal battle over that movie?

P.P.S Tonight's "Legend of the Seeker" didn't ruin the Denna plot line as thoroughly as I was expecting. True, they didn't follow the book; but they got the right message and plot events through, and left an open ending that I was OK with. My only disappointment was that the actress who played Denna wasn't Kristina Loken even thought I really thought it was her.
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Jan. 2nd, 2009 @ 01:40 pm Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Christmas vacation has been a blur of family, friends, and presents.

We had our traditional Pork and Sauerkraut dinner here at Grandma's last night. I'm not a fan of Sauerkraut, but everything else was delicious.

My New Years resolution is to use up the stack of gift cards from both this year and last year. I called to make sure they all had the full balance on them yet. I've got IHOP, Panera Bread, Barnes & Noble, Wawa, and some coupons to Best Buy.

My friends and I had a Wii night at Hank's house for New Years's eve. There's a new Rayman Rabbids game out, that can also use the Wii balance board. I got a Wii Fit for Christmas from Mom, but I didn't get a chance to try any of the Rayman games with it yet. Anyway, it was potluck so I ate a little bit of everything, then we watched Mama Mia! (with the sing along subtitles).

I visited about half a dozen friends and family with my parents over vacation. We went to the Jersey shore two days after Christmas with some friends of theirs. We went to this little shopping town called Smithville, then to Cape May where my Aunt has her flower shop. She's currently raising three ducks and about a dozen chickens, which are all adorable. The chickens coo at her when she pets them. I took home a carton of fresh eggs which taste, well, fresh and delicious.

We had Christmas over Mom and Dad's. It was quiet this year. My Dad's cousin split up with the woman she was living with, and another friend of the family who usually comes got sick, so there was just seven of us for dinner. Still, it was nice. Christmas Eve we went to mass together, then over to Grandma's for dinner and presents. Day after Christmas we go over my aunt and uncles, which was more eating and drinking.

I think it's safe to say that the theme of Christmas has turned, once again, not to Jesus, or presents, or commercialism, but to eating with your friends and family - with some drinking, for color.

So, Happy eating day, and a merry eating year. May we all live in moderation, not get too fat, and stay happy and healthy. Good luck to you all and whatever your New Year's resolutions may be.

- Jimbo :-)
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Nov. 24th, 2008 @ 11:15 pm It's almost like Galatica's back!
I've really enjoyed TV lately.

The Legend of the Seeker episode this past Sunday was the first I've felt they've got right since they started. Now, granted, it was entirely new material from anything in the book and also went against some very important elements that should have come up later, but I think it's obvious by now they have no intention of keeping to the same plot as the books. What they finally got right was the characters. Bridget Regan had Kahlan down pat right from the start, but it was Zedd and Richard who finally felt right. Richard being driven solely to rescue the child in the episode felt very right, and he was much less whiny in this episode. And Zedd in disguise with the Da'harans, while not a perfect fit, was a lot better then the overbearing teacher role they've had him in. I think it was the beard that helped the most, all wizards should have long white beards - it's a Pratchett thing.

Then heroes tonight, was the total opposite of last week for me. Taken individually, I hated each of the storylines. I'm tired of Claire whining and her relationship with her father (although I'll admit, her reactions seem the only natural ones of the lot). Peter and Nathan is the same old brotherly hatred. Elle and Sylar were awesome but confusing as hell. And Matt and Daphney - after the flash forward from a few weeks ago, I want them written out of the story so they can live happily ever after out of harms way. I like Matt's character, and the stories they put him in, but they always end up badly. But taken all together, everything just felt right. I like that there was somehow more action despite what happens (I'd lj-cut this, but the promos give everything away). Can't wait till next week.

Finally we have Boston Legal. the series started strong, the floundered the past season or two. Tonight was the first time I felt like the current group was meshing, and then suddenly it's off the air? Come on, somebody pick this show up. I'm mystified at how their writers can take such serious topics and bring them across so casually. At the least, it's like watching some bizarre Murphy Brown + Night Court + Ally McBeal + Star Trek, but at it's best it just sucks you in like all the great drama's do. I can't wait for Betty White to guest star again next week.

Ok, enough TV talk. I took an extra day off before thanksgiving, plus I scheduled all my Christmas vacation time. It's gonna be fun.

- Jimbo
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Nov. 18th, 2008 @ 09:07 pm I guess I just have to go see it
I wanted to hate the new Star Trek movie. I'm not a huge fan of the way J.J. Abrams does stuff. And recasting the original characters, especially given the actor's he'd chosen, I was worried about how it would turn out. Not that I'm against any of the actors individually, just they didn't feel right in my opinion.

So I just saw a preview of it after House tonight of Fox. So, I guess I'll just have to go a watch it. I'm still not too optimistic about the characters, but holy crap does it look fun.

- Jimbo
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Nov. 17th, 2008 @ 11:51 pm The new hero is ... Shark!
And his power is Sharking.

I should have loved Heroes tonight. Everybody makes an appearance, a bunch of story arcs are moved along, we're gearing up for a big mid season finale. Taken individually, I found each story arc compelling or charming or intense.

But taken as a whole, the episode just felt really close to a shark for me. It's like the difference between the x-man cartoon show and the comics. The x-men have always had strong character development, but most story arcs stand on their own. In the animated series, you felt attached to the characters, but you never felt lost. They show up, they kick ass, there's some team conflict and some sexual tension, and then they save the day and everyone's happy. But then you take the comic, same story, same characters, but it's like 6 months for anything to come to any kind of resolution - and along the way five people who should have been dead weren't really, some extra dimensional crazy shit happens, Jean Grey blows up Planets, etc. It's just tiring.

It's like that with Heroes for me. Turns out my friend Joe and I have very different opinions when it comes to individual episodes. He likes it more episodic and action oriented, I prefer it be more serial and character driven. But I think the problem is that the producers can't decide to play it one way or the other, and they're losing on both fronts instead. They either need have everyone show up, kick ass, and onto next week - or it needs to be a soap opera with mutants. They can't have it both ways and keep everyone happy, they need to pick a side to keep most people happy and screw the viewers who can't be bothered to enjoy a show for just being fun to watch.

- Jimbo
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Nov. 16th, 2008 @ 10:47 pm I (think I) know who the last cylon is
So I woke up in the middle of the night, almost certain that I knew who the last cylon on Battlestar Galatia would be revealed to be. Since then, I've found some evidence to make me uncertain, but the person I locked in on last night feels more right then any theory I've had before.

When I thought I had it, it so shattered my heart that I knew I couldn't share the theory with anyone until it's finally revealed, but I'd like to go through some of the process to see if anyone else targets on a different character then I did.

Just a warning, I'm a big fan of spoilers but I don't read them because I want to know what happens - I read them so I can brace myself for what's going to happen. I get too emotionally attached to these shows then is healthy and I've learned that spoilers are a good way to detach yourself so that when the painful moments come you can remind yourself that it's just a show.

Anyway, here's my proposals:
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- Jimbo
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Nov. 2nd, 2008 @ 10:56 pm Legend of the Seeker: Reviewing the premier
So, I watched the first episode tonight. It feels a little different from the book, but hasn't jumped the shark early by being too much like Xena or Hercules. Some comments and comparisons to the book after the cut:

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- Jimbo
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