Happy Friday, I guess.

I'll be back next week for real. Promise.  I know it says "read more" at the bottom of this post, but it's a lie.

I hate excuses (and yet am really good at making them up) but I think if I admit there is a problem I will be better equipped to correct it.  I'm just having trouble getting back to the old keyboard.  Too much information and a plethora of holiday/birthday fun combined with a serious case of irresponsibility has left me uninspired.  I'm sure Twitter is to blame somehow.

In the meantime, feel free to leave writing topics in the comments section. Some I have already received include: a brief history of video games, my 2010 wrap up (which is totally not happening, I've tried to write it twice now) and anything that isn't a straight-up movie review.

What's your 2 cents, other fair readers?

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Movie Review: Avatar

Yeah, I know it's been like awhile.  I have a few plans for improvement of this here blog for 2010, but really what I need is more time. So, if anyone has any extra, feel free to email it to me.

But, back to business.  I saw Avatar last week, avoided reading any and all reviews and then broke it down for just for you, fair readers. We have never seen anything like Avatar before. James Cameron (Aliens, Titanic) delivers a seamless, rich and all-engrossing 3D experience with CGI that looks and feels completely authentic.  The uncanny valley has been conquered and yet Avatar is still just a bloated fantasy movie with a weak script and recycled devices. For once the digital effects are so good that one is left to only dwell on the art direction, story and characters.  Uh-oh.  Gratuitous use of phosphorescence, problematic otherness, plot holes and general cheesiness keep Avatar from being more than just a corny, uber-fantastical cartoon — a really elaborate, $400 million-plus (including marketing) cartoon that looks nothing like any film or animated feature that has come before it.  When a movie looks this good who needs a good story?

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Top Chef Finale! Who won? 'Cause I totally couldn't watch it.

I actually know who won Top Chef, I just didn't get to see. I'm not very happy with the result.

I'm just not feeling it lately, fair readers. My ideas are shit, I'm distracted by tinsel and cookies and I've lost the ability to half-watch crappy movies at random on cable whilst doing things around the house.  Yes, that's right we've canceled cable.  You will be the first to know that the moment I hung up with the very persistent Comcast representative after she confirmed that the technician would come by and shut off our cable from the outside at 9am the next morning, well, there were actual tears in my eyes.  I believe I uttered the words, "This sucks, " in my most self-pitying tone.  Two moments later I determined that this emotional response further justified our decision to cut the time sucking cord, not just for our bank account, but for my very soul.  Don't worry, fair readers, I did not suddenly become some born-again self-righteous holier-than-though too-good-for-TV jerk. You know those people at parties who declare without a hint of sadness that they, "don't even own a TV and don't even miss it."  Well, I miss my time suck dearly, mostly because last night I had to suffer through Glee since our HD antenna didn't really present any other options.  Please feel free to leave your reasons why you think Glee is good in the comments section, but know that I will totally hold it against you.  No, I'm kidding. No, I'm not. Maybe.

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