GroshLink

You might remember my June 6 post The Other Indiana Jones Movie.  This morning Peter T. Chattaway's Indiana Jones and the Deadly Blather: Notes on the devolution of a franchise establishes itself as the must read article on Indy's Devolution. Here's the conclusion which hits the mark (Note:  If you're a fan, I'd encourage you to take the time to read the whole piece):

For fans like myself, it is impossible not to feel disappointment at the note on which the franchise has now concluded. A number of critics have suggested that there is no real difference between the aliens of Crystal Skull and the religious artifacts of the earlier films; they're all just mystical MacGuffins, and equally silly, or so these critics say. But no matter how pulpy the earlier films were, they at least turned our attention to matters of the spirit and stoked a sense of awe. Crystal Skull has nothing that compares to this; indeed, the characters even perform autopsies on the "gods" of the past. It's safe to say this is one Saturday matinee that won't be getting much play in Sunday school.

I've been following the Mets season this year, trying to step into the ethos of a Mets fan (it's been a long time since enjoying the '86 World Series victory with my Aunt, who has grown up with the franchise).  There are only a few games to go and the angst level has increased. ... I must confess that I had no intention of watching the game last night, distracted by another team of Villians than the Cubs, as our fictional Heroes have plenty more to contend with as thanks to the return of the writers, they continue to mess with time (Note:  I have a much stronger preference for Doctor Who).  And I must confess, desiring to take advantage of watching some TV with Theresa, as Doctor Who and baseball seldom fit the bill for her :(

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I looked on youtube for a trailer to add to my post Anyone seen "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2008)? but when I came across the below trailer with trailer review I had a few thoughts to share.  

1.  A trailer review has more merit than a judging a book by its cover, which I had a conversation about at an InterVarsity Press booktable the other day. 

2.  This negative trailer review, made me more commited to seeing the film. Which leads me to believe that the diehard franchise fan still lies beneath the surface even after the disappointments with the prequels and changes in my overall perspective/worldview since seeing the orginal in the theatre at the formative age of three.

Would one categorize the NY Times Review of Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) as encouraging? Sure the film isn't the most painful movie of the year, but ...

I noticed the comments on the review indicated some fans. If anyone has seen Star Wars: The Clone Wars, let me know your reactions.  I'm not sure when I'll get to it, maybe on DVD in the coming year.  I must confess the prequels wore down my enthusiasm for The Galaxy Far, Far Away AND I have other priorities at this time, possibly even when the DVD comes out.

A Comic Book Superhero Is Headed to Small Screens caught my attention.  You might remember, I enjoyed Scott McCloud's exploration of the relationship of writer-comic-reader in the unfolding of story/meaning/time in Understanding Comics.  So I wonder what he has to say regarding the creation of digital cinematic comics via scanning the comics and adding music, text pop-ups, voice-overs. 

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Leading up to Lily Joy's birth I had a few evenings to occupy myself and I tried out a few more episodes of the new Doctor Who.  Not bad, but I'm not sure how much space and time will exist in the coming days, weeks AND they're not a family show that our whole family would enjoy. ... Who Altered British TV? Who Indeed provides insight into some of the themes I was noticing but couldn't place my finger upon.  Check it out.

P.S.  As I've noted before, I'm afraid Tom Baker still defines Doctor Who for me.  That's just the way it is, but you know when I go back and watch them they're not as good as I imagined them in my younger years ;-)

So I do have more to say regarding Ratatouille. Here's the helpful confession from the food critic Anton Ego:

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So the critic comes to Ratatouille with some serious concerns, but leaves a new person ;-)

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What do you do when you're waiting for a baby?  One reads Confronting the Dark Lord from the May issue of Wonder time:  celebrate your child's love of learning and is inspired regarding the possibilities.  In our household, Narnia has become more of a legacy than Star Wars.  What childhood adventures stories have you invited your children to inhabit with you?

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