But using Game of Thrones' supposed historical accuracy (if you can say that about a made up world), basically proves the point about naive cynicism. The level of violence and oppression in Game of Thrones is a conscious choice by Martin, he may have been inspired by real events and people, but the sum total of it is…

Considering that it would have been impossible to do that giant squid justice in the early nineties, especially since Hollywood was rather wary of giving Gilliam too much money, this remains a very neat solution.
And I don't think they turn into cosplayers of themselves, but rather that they find themselves suddenly in…

Is it possible that they meant Jupiter Rising? The Wachowskis seem like they would be up for a cameo like that.

Considering it's being helmed by Refn, I'd be fine with almost anything as long as Christina Hendricks stars.

Exactly! It's disappointing no one involved in the production had that level of intense nerdery.

But Probert and Sternbach didn't work on the original series, what we need is updated Matt Jefferies and Mike Minor.
Regardless, the problem is that almost all new scifi films are designed by the same handful of concept artists, so no wonder it all looks the same.

Wait what? New Excelsior?
Is there a Star Trek-rumor mill I'm missing out on?

People really only absolutely love or hate these illustrations, don't they? I can see why some people might not like them, but I appreciate how they represent a rather American and hippie-ish perspective on middle earth. It's a lovely picture too, outside of how appropriate it is.
As for Tolkien, as much as I like his…

It's a strange world when a hearing like this is considered refreshingly pro-science. Considering that the chair of the science committee is more generally known for calling into questions the motives of scientists when they say something he doesn't like to hear.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/1…

I'd say the objection to the term machine has more to do with an adverseness to the idea that it implies that nature is just something humans can control and use like any tool. As opposed to something that is an autonomous system that doesn't exist for our needs alone. Yes, like a machine the environment is a…

It is, but let's be clear, it's a German poster made to give the impression that the occupying forces were bravely protecting them from socialist agressors. The whole thing is a marvel of irony through propaganda.

Exactly! Ultimately, I think the best way to interpret 'inbred' is to see it as a reference to people from very isolated environments that haven't moved along with the times. This could mean mutant weirdos from Pennsyltucky as well as chinless freaks with a peerage.

Why? Because a villain who's aim is to not hold on to power and pass away quickly isn't all that exciting. At least in most stories, I'm sure you can tell some stories about the mayhem caused by someone who wants to go out in a blaze.
But also because it's unnatural and therefore inherently suspect to many people.
I…

Of course it was dismissive, that was the point. And while the film had many qualities, many of them due to Abrams, I doubt you'll find many people praising its script. I doubt I wouldn't even have minded its faults if it weren't for the countless quotes from Orci, et al about really taking the time to write something…

Actually dear boy, I enjoyed it quite a bit. Doesn't mean it wasn't an immensely unintelligent and unoriginal film. Which was my point, if they spent that much time on a script of such gormlesness, then how good a sign is this for the new Star Wars film?

He was the director though, the guy in charge who said, 'yes, this is the kind of quality material I was waiting for'.

I know it's fashionable to denounce J.J. Abrams, but he made those Star Trek films work despite the less than stellar writing. If he brings that sense of style to Star Wars, when he actually cares about what he's making, the films will turn out fine.
With the Star Trek films it was very clear his only goal was to make…

Hey, that sounds like that time J.J. Abrams spent forever on getting the script for the second Star Trek film right. That worked out fine too, didn't it?

The thing that annoys me is when people claim they don't have time to (learn to) cook, and anyway, they don't care about food. Well, maybe if you actually took some time to learn how to make good food for yourself, you'd start to enjoy it. So often I come across this weird macho-puritanical attitude where spending all…

Let the eating of spicy Mexican food commence!