To be fair, Pentecostalism covers a wide range of beliefs; Wahabbism is very clear and very strict about its interpretation. But, yeah, *some* Pentecostalists are as theocratic and insane.

Yeah, but I criticise *lots* of crap movies for pandering to stupidity and arrogance — not just bad Christian movies but bad political movies (Argo), bad science (What the Bleep Do We Know?), rape apologias (Revenge of the Nerds), and so on. So let me reverse the question. Given that the AV Club and its commentariat…

It depends entirely on the film. Even a hardcore atheist like myself would be more than happy to watch a *good* film based on the story you've outlined. But Hollywood can't even keep it honest with *secular* versions of the same story (that is, Argo), so I don't hold out much hope.

Or to put it another way — call me when the Harry Potter Party wins seats in Congress and starts pushing for wizarding to be taught in physics, or the Maia Majority wants to set up its version of HUAC. "Are you now or have you ever been an agent of Morgoth?"

No problem at all with suspension of disbelief — that's why The Exorcist is considered a pretty great horror film even among non-Catholics. But the films in this article aren't being made as entertainment or philosophical enquiry (for reasons well articulated in the OP), instead they're pandering to the absolutely…

That's absolutely true. As a buyer, I'd much rather shell out for a completed graphic novel. But I think from the creative point of view, serialisation has its advantages, especially for an incredibly work-dense medium like comics.

That looked like it was a fun interview, but damn if it didn't veer into near-incoherence a few times.

Yeah, Clapton is hugely talented but became less and less interesting as he got older. Go back to his early work and he was one of several musicians instrumental (heh) in bringing blues into rock music.

OK, fair enough. I retract my statement. There are plenty of guitarists in the mode Jack Black was satirising in High Fidelity, but I don't think your examples were well chosen.

I'm not a Clapton fan, but he's done fantastic work for other people like the awesome solo in Roger Waters' "Sexual Revolution." The fact that you hate people for enjoying great guitar solos tells me that your musical tastes are largely derived from how much you can sneer at others.

The problem with artist biopics: 1. if it's all about the finished art, then why not just listen to the original music/look at the art/watch them perform? 2. if it's about the process of making the art then it's almost inevitably going to be boring — who wants to watch the process of writing, composing, painting, or…

You're about 5 years too late.

I can understand people being upset about their culture being treated disrespectfully*, but if the term "cultural appropriation" is trotted out as a criticism anytime a white musician uses a gospel choir, then I think it's got pretty silly.

You mean this movie is actually good? I only saw the trailer but it was bad enough to make me think (1) that I had just seen 90% of the plot, and (2) the film will deliver its moral message by sledgehammer.

Who broke the Thomas Crown Affair?

I love surprises. Is it an Easter egg?

I wonder if Tim Roth still speaks to his agent.

70s Watchmen (yeah, I know it hadn't been written):

I can see Paul Reubens in a tux, downing a martini, taking out an entire bike gang…

Yes, but Grace Jone's androgyny was a style, not a mission statement. She was perfectly happy to do Playboy shoots and be a Bond girl.