Speaking of directors stepping back belatedly to the helm of franchises they founded, has anyone else noticed that Peter Jackson seems a little dispirited on the Hobbit video blogs? I've been enjoying them, but there's definitely a sense from Jackson of "Oh well, here we go again."

Speaking of directors stepping back belatedly to the helm of franchises they founded, has anyone else noticed that Peter Jackson seems a little dispirited on the Hobbit video blogs? I've been enjoying them, but there's definitely a sense from Jackson of "Oh well, here we go again."

I hate to say it, but if you're really determined to get a PG-13 rating, "Yippee-ki-yay Mother Russia" is kind of brilliant.

I hate to say it, but if you're really determined to get a PG-13 rating, "Yippee-ki-yay Mother Russia" is kind of brilliant.

If King Kong had been twenty minutes shorter, I think it would have been seen, deservedly, as the pretty awesome movie it really is.

If King Kong had been twenty minutes shorter, I think it would have been seen, deservedly, as the pretty awesome movie it really is.

And they doesn't taste very nice, does they, precious? No. Not very nice at all.

And they doesn't taste very nice, does they, precious? No. Not very nice at all.

Thirty white horses on a red hill.
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.

Thirty white horses on a red hill.
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.

We eats it, my precious.

We eats it, my precious.

Eggses!

Eggses!

But does it have taters? Po-tay-toes?

But does it have taters? Po-tay-toes?

The Information just appreciates the information.

The Information just appreciates the information.

Maybe it's a Harvard thing—they hissed at Ryan O'Neal's name in the credits when I saw Barry Lyndon at the Brattle.

Maybe it's a Harvard thing—they hissed at Ryan O'Neal's name in the credits when I saw Barry Lyndon at the Brattle.