Hip hop shows generally do suck for all the reasons listed.  After going to several during undergrad, I hadn't been to one in a long time until recently when Mos and Talib did their reunion tour.  Even with that, I went in with low expectations.  Luckily, they were really great, had good energy, and the acoustics were…

Yeah, being short at a crowded show sucks and it sucks all the more when it's a show you really want to see and really want to get into.

Death Cab.  I was actually supposed to see them live at Stubb's maybe 8yrs back and then caught a nasty case of the flu so I couldn't make it.  Later, when I watched/listened to some live recordings, it really struck me that Ben's voice doesn't seem to project all that well live versus how it sounds on their in-studio…

Probably better than Roy's.  Dude has been slumping since the AS Game and is softer than Kleenex.

They used to play The Shadow on Sunday night's here in Houston (don't remember the station) back when I was in high school.  I remember enjoying it, particularly the tagline "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?" quickly followed by a more sinister-sounding "The Shadow knooooows!"

I hear what your'e saying and what you say makes sense.  Being able to rise to the occasion is certainly impressive.  But it just seems akin to giving one sports team a home court advantage when the competition should be played on neutral grounds.  Maybe I'm not thinking about it the right way.

I don't really see the appeal of the Mickey Mouse Club guy, personally.  I could see Jamar going deep.  And maybe, like, Ma'thai and/or Pip?

Yeah, I thought Lindsay was kinda all over the place.  It's clear that she has talent but that just wasn't a good performance.

Jamar's energy is great.  I really dug his blind audition performance too.

It feels like there is alot of that going around, right?  Are the coaches deliberately doing this and thereby undermining the spirit of the competition?  OR are they just bad at picking neutral songs?  This is my first season watching, I'm curious if it was like this last season too.

Yeah, Charlotte was disappointing to me.  Her performance in this episode and also her personality.  Becuz I actually enjoyed her in the blind audition.

Jamar was amazing!  It would be great if he goes the distance.  Dude won me over too.

It gets shit on all the time here but I have to believe that it's going to improve in stature with time.  I totally agree with you.

I'd call it underrated.  The vast majority of ppl I know have never seen it and a large % don't even know it exists.

I'll try.  The movie's twist, its look/feel, and sinister subj. matter certainly go a long ways toward explaining the draw it has on ppl, I'd imagine.  It is well enough acted as you say.  But it has alot of really nice small character moments moments too.  Freeman's trip to the library and his meticulous approach and…

The ambiguity is a plus, as you say.  It's been a good while since I've read that book so my recollection may or may not be accurate …. but I seem to think that also Magus Nicholas is just a more relatable character than Game Nicholas in that Magus Nicholas is young, intelligent, drifting, callous with relationships ……

I could see that.  For me it was the other way, this film first and then a few yrs later that book.

I don't doubt that at all.

He's consistently better than most active directors and that's good enough for me.  And when he's at the top of his game, he is arguably great.  Ask for anything more than that and you're in truly rarified air.  But perhaps that's your point?

I'm with you part of the way.  I saw this in the theaters as a college freshman.  I hadn't even seen Seven yet at that time.  And I really didn't know what I was getting myself into.  It really blew my mind.  So stylish.  So audacious/ridiculous.  Serious/ominous tones.  Very unexpected turns.  I really ate it all up…