Maybe it is the US-centric nature of most of the readers of this site, because I, living in the Netherlands, knew that our country and the UK are on the same latitude as Newfoundland. Our relatively mild climate is wholly due to the gulf stream.

You're right. There are better ones here. But still it took me out of an enjoyable popcorn movie.

Computer virus, Mac, Jeff Goldblum, super advanced alien mothership, boom. Sorry, what? Really?

How about the London Underground? It's the oldest and in my mind most awe inspiring mass transit system in the world. It served as a blue print for all that followed. Even the map of the Tube has been copied by everyone.

Here's a guy who needed some hubris. Who needed to listen to his elders once in a while. Who is conceited creep. Who... Well, you know. And we all think this of him thanks to the conceit of this guy.

You guys have recommending it for months. So finally I'm playing catch up. Like what I've read thus far.

What about Smile Time (episode 14 of season 5) from Angel. Angel always was the somewhat darker cousin of the slightly more lighthearted Buffy, but this one made me giggle and smile.
Close second is The Zeppo (13 of season 3) from Buffy. A whole episode seen from the point of view of Xander is funny.

I agree. And don't get me wrong. I love the comic and I like the movie. But they had to tone down the extreme edges of V for the movie to work. But still they did it.

V from the graphic novel became this character. Not too different? Read the graphic novel again and then see the movie. And then get back to this post. The comic goes into dark places the movie doesn't. It tries, but doesn't succeed.

Is there any doubt? Arogant, doesn't take the advise of his teachers to heart, tries to kill his teacher, and terrible fashion sense (at least as far as his hair is concerned). And that is before he became a genocidal monster.

Predestination was created by micromanaging deity.

I am sure my fondness for late 70s and 80s actors is caused by the rose tinted glasses of my adolescence, especially with Keaton. But be honest, is there any actor who has been a better Superman than Reeve? And I am more than willing to admit that Donner's Superman film is flawed, but is there any better Superman…

To be honest, I think both Christopher Reeve and Michael Keaton carry it off best. Best looking costumes, best actors for either role and best poses. Maybe it's sentimental nostalgia and I'm showing my age (forty-ish), but while Bale may be a better actor than Keaton, he wasn't the best Batman in my opinion. Reeve has…

What about Twin Peaks? The slow starts of slowly, but also packs a boom. Slow beautiful title sequence. Josie Packard humming as she stares into her mirror, and Pete Martell announcing to no one in particular, "Lonesome foghorn blows," before discovering Laura's body on his fishing trip.

Yes, the best cold openings I can think of are all from James Bond. And Person of Interest was already mentioned.

Does the opening sequences of The Prisoner count. Not a specific episode, but the whole sequence briliantly captures the premise.

I know. I also know that Fran Walsh expanded The Hobbit by taking storyline, ideas and names from The Silmarillion. Can you imagine how many more stories can be ripped and turned into four-hour movies?

But if you look outside of comicbook universe adaptations you can see this mega franchise building going all over the place. Once The Hobbit is over and done with MGM will have had six mega succesful movies in one franchise. With the superpowers of Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson to turn one short fantasy novel into…

How about this one? The transformation from whiny spoiled brat to mysterious ruthless galactic overlord. Too bad we had to watch it in reverse.

Isn't the biggest problem Hollywood has that it is populated mainly by white Anglo Saxon males, and they tend to take their inspiration of their ancestors' myths. So king Arthur, Greek myth, Norse Myth, Beowulf, Biblical tales, etc. are their focus and all other myths get waylaid. Bollywood does a great job of doing…