Knightfall

Time to change my desktop background.  The only thing that would make me more excited about the July 20, 2012 release of The Dark Knight Rises would we if it were the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field getting blown up by Hurricane Ditka instead of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.  Second favorite team, though?  I’ll take it.

A lot to be discussed here.  Must Batman vanquish two+ villains at once?  Will Anne Hathaway pose nudie throughout the movie?  Will Bane break the bat’s back?  WILL JOKER RETURN?

My answer to these questions and many more is: No, but (in order) neither Bane nor Catwoman will die; no need; it’s possible; not likely.

I can’t imagine this final installment coming out better than the penultimate The Dark Knight.  As pumped as I was for the 2008 sequel to Batman Begins, the film surpassed my expectations.  I anticipate my anticipations will increase* as the film’s viral marketing takes off.

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*Should I skip the waiting and just have high expectations right now?

I’d admire the Jackass guys if they weren’t on drugs

Tangentially speaking, the John Wells film The Company Men was a pretty good Father’s Day prelude.  It’s a story about a bad economy, joblessness, family and self-perceptions of worth.  My family’s general consensus is that it’s an emotional depressant.  The lessons – “corporate executives are bad, hard work is good” – aren’t revelatory.  Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones and Chris Cooper portray what happens to those who invest their lives into something that can reciprocate with a mere paycheck.

Champaign-Urbana’s Finest: EbertFest

Today marks the opening day of the 13th Annual Roger Ebert Film Festival.  I’m excited for my opportunity to host journalist, critic, and film editor Matt Zoller Seitz.

A digression

Sometimes (right now)…

1. I wish I had a secretary.
2. I wish I could perform osmosis with text and my mind.
3. I wish I owned Hermione’s time-turner.
4. I wish a lot but barely ever do it properly (i.e. wishbones, shooting stars, drinking Felix Felixis liquid luck)

LA BLOGOTHEQUE

Is Vincent Moon becoming so important in the music industry that bands know they’re in once he tapes them?  His site of candid musical performances (the most popular called ‘Take Away Shows‘) is a captivating reminder that genuine and authentic music will forever prevail.