The problem I have with her criticism is that she has a prescriptive view of popular art, believing that it's not enough to report on reality or offer criticism of reality. The artist must also present an example of how things should be, of empowerment, even if it contradicts the rules of a setting, or a time or…

The problem with her criticism can be reduced to the following.

No, that's nine seconds in heaven.

The thing is there are so many great movies about faith and religion, Christian and otherwise (usually by people who struggle with their faith), why would anyone waste time with this megachurch cardboard-cutout vision of religion? Why is salvation so fucking dull? It's almost like they're afraid of presenting anything…

"But first, because this is a 'pinky violence' movie (a blend of female-led action and softcore sexploitation), there’s a series of fetishistic sex scenes to get through." You say that like it's a bad thing.

The whole "dated" thing is nonsensical. Yeah, cultural artifacts should ideally reflect their time.

He's produced some decent to good stuff. But he hasn't actually written or directed anything of value. Give him credit for having an eye for opportunity and talent though.

I would love for them to write something about Wire, or the Homosexuals, or the Pop Group, or This Heat or Pere Ubu, or all the above. But instead we get this constant stream of the Smiths, The Cure and Joy Division. Hell, even Siouxsie rarely appears in these pages.

One of the most enjoyable things about this movie is you can freeze-frame it and identify all the records. It's quite a variety.

It's interesting to me that music writers apparently have an inexhaustible supply of new Joy Division information and appreciation. Maybe recommend a lesser known post-punk/new wave band of the time instead of going through the motions of discussing something that has already been discussed unto death. I mean fuck, an…

Shitty contemporary band doesn't like shitty nineties pop song. News at 11.

I actually had to leave the theater during the showing I attended because of how loud and confusingly edited it was. It was a very bad kind of sensory overload.

He also spoiled Star Trek III.

Actually, I find digital recording to be just as serendipitous in the workaround department. And I've had plenty of happy accidents.

They don't make you feel that terrible for it. You can use the powers or not, you can kill or not. There are consequences, but nothing to be neurotic about. Some masochists out there, like me, actually enjoy playing stealthily and not being excessive. And to use a real-life example, why not use nukes in a war and get…

Not sure why so many people who hate stealth games waste their time with them. It's cool you gave it a shot anyway, I guess, but if you don't like the conventions (the patience is pretty core to these games), why bother? Are you criticizing the game, or ruminating about your own tastes here?

Well it's a stealth game, so you're not liking it is a kind of a foregone conclusion. Also, how can it be like every other game when stealth games are so relatively rare? I found it quite unique, both in terms of game play and setting.

Well somehow I'm thinking they're probably going to have him talking up a storm in this, so his non-identity in previous games will probably me a moot point.

I think we've passed the point where self-awareness can elevate a middling movie. We're two decades into the winking-at-the-audience family blockbuster, and self-awareness no longer carries much of a subversive thrill. Jokiness is beginning to reek of defensiveness in these movies.

That was unfortunate…