When Dogen was first filling the pill I thought it was the black powder they used to surround the temple (and the cabin) to protect it from Smokey. I still think that might be the case.

x = variable
Okay, so I've been thinking about why the title separates the X from the code for Los Angeles' airport and I came up with a completely half-assed theory. What if the x means that the L.A. timeline is a kind of variable, so that what the alterna-815ers do affects what happens in 2007 on the island. Sort…

More good photography
The cinematography was really strong in this episode. The shot of the plane slowly taxiing in at LAX, the overhead shot of Sawyer carrying Juliet out of the circle of wreckage, the shot of the others standing around the bubbling pool of brackish water in the temple, Kate stuck in the tangle of…

Seriously. I'm always amazed at how Noel can digest such a complex show so quickly and not only give a clear synopsis, hitting all of the important points, but throw out some decent theories based on the new information given in the episode. Kudos.

He was having a nightmare about getting hit in the chest with a flaming arrow.

Hellboy
I would put both of those Hellboy animated movies alongside the live action "Hellboy" in terms of entertainment value. I liked them both a lot more than "Hellboy II" that's for darn sure.

Please to explain
I know that you're just being Mr. Funny-pants, but I figure there is some truth behind the story of Robert Redford "deriding short filmmakers as the worst kind of human garbage". So what did Redford really say?

I'm glad the box is back. And I agree with Uncle Rifle. It's nice to have a site where the writers give a personal context for their feelings about a book or movie or music. It makes reading it much more rewarding. I hope writing about your father makes you feel better about him.

The thing I think I admire most about both Crank movies is all the boobies. Back in the 70s and even into the 80s an R rating used to guarantee at least one boob. But nowadays when you get an R rated movie you rarely get any nudity at all. Then along come the Crank movies and there's just nekkid chicks everywhere. …

Crank vs. Crank 2
It just so happens that last night I watched "Crank" and "Crank 2" back to back and I have to say that the first "Crank" was much better. The second one just got a bit too sloppy and ridiculous for me.

Death of the Box and Book vs. Film
I'm not knocking Wrapped Up in Books - I'm sure lots of people like it - but it seems to have shoved both Box of Paperbacks and Book vs. Film into limbo and that makes me kind of sad. I enjoyed both of those features and I hope they haven't gone away forever.

stealth release
Is it just me or does it seem like the studio kind of buried this? I've seen a trailer for it once in a movie theater and no ads for it on TV at all. Considering it comes from someone who is firmly established as a blockbuster filmmaker, it seems odd to me that it's getting put out without much hype.

Bridge - that's the video for "Rock DJ" which is a great video and a solid little slow dance track. Good enough to make me consider getting one of his earlier albums.

The Mist = Excellent
Keith, I would like to send you a big e-hug for saying that "The Mist" is excellent, because I love "The Mist" and I feel like it is misunderstood and unfairly dinged for it's awesomely dark and challenging ending.

I mentioned this in the comments for the NCC entry on "Dead Ringers", but "The Dead Zone" is my favorite David Cronenberg movie. I keep trying to convince myself that it has a lot of Cronenbergian stylistic touches, but really it would be hard to tell it was a Cronenberg movie if I didn't already know that. And I'll…

Charles Dance and parts of Shane Black's screenplay are pretty much all that make "Last Action Hero" worth watching.

Three stages of music at work
Good - listening to what you want at work (where you all seem lucky enough to be working)

He's right about The Eagles, too. Don't let anyone sue you Jason. "Hotel California" is a great album, and there's a great EP buried in "The Long Run".

Redford Skiing?
I could swear that somewhere on the commentary track for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" somebody mentioned that Redford was a very accomplished skier in real life and at one point was even considered for a spot on the US men's olympic team. I'm too lazy to sit through the whole commentary right…

January and Peas
I had a random encounter with January Jones several years ago where I wound up hanging out in her apartment after hours with some people I worked with. She seemed very sweet and is even cuter in person, but I could see how she would come off kind of stiff and not a natural comedian.