Netflix’s “Unorganizable” Queue

Netflix’s “Unorganizable” Queue
Sam Adams - Slate

Complicating matters further, Netflix is currently testing a variety of new interfaces, rolling out variations on its iconic queue to small groups of users. Instead of a customizable queue, some—like me—now see a “list” which can only be sorted according to a handful of options. See the screenshot below, and don’t judge me.

What on earth?

Honestly, if I can’t organize the items in my queue, I’d probably leave Netflix. This is just stupid.

‘Superman’ Comic Writer Criticizes ‘Man of Steel’ PG-13 Rating

‘Superman’ Comic Writer Criticizes ‘Man of Steel’ PG-13 Rating
Hugh Armitage - Digital Spy

“Words like ‘realism’ and ‘dark’ and ‘gritty’ get bandied about Hollywood as if the only merit a story can have is in its verisimilitude, but that’s a lie,” the former Action Comics and Adventures of Superman writer said.

“Emotional honesty transcends reality - it’s what allows disbelief to be suspended, and yet what makes a story stay true. When Superman: The Movie was released, Richard Donner promised us we’d believe a man could fly. We did, but it wasn’t the wire-work alone.

He makes good points. I’m taking a wait and see approach though.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan — Review

5 of 5 stars
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

“THIS IS CETI ALPHA FIVE!”

No, actually, this is not Ceti Alpha Five. But it is one of those reviews that I am really nervous to write. Why? you might ask. The answer is that this would be my second favorite film of all time. You might remember when I wrote my review of The Matrix that it was my favorite film of all time. Well this is the second film on that list.

It is true that I love pretty much all things that have to do with Star Trek, but I am not blind, nor do I place this film in second place of my favorite films list lightly. And indeed, as much as I love Star Trek, I think if…

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Director Explains Continuity Error of ‘Monsters University’

Director Explains Continuity Error of ‘Monsters University’
Peter Sciretta - /Film

Some Pixar fans have noticed that the set-up of Monsters University is inconsistant with the backstory presented in Monsters Inc.. How could Mike Wazowski and James P. “Sulley” Sullivan have met for the first time in college when there is a line in Monsters Inc about the duo knowing each other in the fourth grade?

...

And it was really Pete Doctor, the original director, and John Lasseter who finally kind of said to me, it’s great that you’re honoring that, but you have to do what’s right for the story. You have to do what’s right for both stories in the long run. And  so we made a…

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‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Clip - “I Allow It” - Plus Thoughts and Opinions

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ Clip - “I Allow It” - Plus Thoughts and Opinions

First of all, another clip, this one showing of a confrontation between Chris Pine’s Kirk, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s John Harrison.

Harrison appears to be in the brig of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and if I were to guess, he’s using psychology and manipulation on Kirk. Somehow I just don’t believe a word he’s saying. Of course, it’s always possible that Cumberbatch isn’t the villain at all and that we’ve been mislead this whole time, but I do doubt that at this point.

You should know three things before we go on:

  1. The clip below contains possible spoilers. I’m okay with that because it…
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How Agent Coulson Returns in S.H.I.E.L.D. (SPOILERS!)

How Agent Coulson Returns in S.H.I.E.L.D. (SPOILERS!)
Germain Lussier - /Film

In the pilot, it’s revealed Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the ultimate super spy, faked Agent Coulson’s death on purpose to motivate The Avengers. Some S.H.I.E.L.D. members were in on it (including, possibly, Maria Hill played by Cobie Smulders) but The Avengers were not. Their security clearance wasn’t high enough. Coulson was forced to hold his breath as part of the ruse and that’s a point of contention among his colleagues  After the fact, Fury moved him to a remote location until things died down, and then he was reinserted into duty at the time of the show.

At this moment, several…

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Weekend Box Office Report: April 29, 2013

Weekend Box Office Report: April 29, 2013

The only new film this past weekend worth mentioning was Pain and Gain and I was/am so not interested in that film. Ugh.

But, let’s see how things went down.

#1 - Pain and Gain

$20 Million

The budget for this bad boy from Michael Bay was $26 Million. So it’s very close to making it’s money back. BUT, Iron Man 3 opens this weekend. Will enough people opt to see Pain and Gain over Iron Man 3 that it will get up to its budget? Probably, but I’m guessing it won’t go a lot over. Time will tell the story.

#2 - Oblivion

$64.7 Million Domestic Total / $134.1 Million Foreign Total =…

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Broadcast TV’s Nightmare

Broadcast TV’s Nightmare
Tero Kuittinen - BGR.com

The latest data from analytics firm Flurry research shows that mobile apps are now used by more than 50 million people in America during the most hectic period of the day. And that moment is at 8:00 p.m. — smack in the middle of TV’s prime time. On weekdays, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. is the stretch when mobile apps reach more than 50 million U.S. consumers. This happens to coincide with the time most big broadcast television shows air. It probably is no coincidence that while mobile app usage exploded between 2011 and 2013, the most important prime time shows started imploding. “American…

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What to see: Weekend of April 26, 2013

What to see: Weekend of April 26, 2013

Not a lot new going on this week, but trust me the dam is about to break and we are going to be flooded with summer movie fun let me tell you. Regardless, here’s your guide to what you might want to see this weekend.

Opening This Weekend

Pain & Gain - R
Michael Bay has consistently (with one exception) turned out films that are anywhere from mediocre, to complete and utter trash. This film looks like it’s closer to the trash side of the gage to me. I admit to having bias against the guy because I hate the Transformers franchise so much, but seriously, I am not the least interested in…

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Update on the Disney/Regal/Cinemark Situation

Update on the Disney/Regal/Cinemark Situation
Deadline

UPDATE 12:37 PM: AMC just released this pro forma statement. (Don’t you love how everybody is friends again?): “Iron Man 3 tickets are now on sale and we’re excited to welcome guests to the 9 PM debut and Marvel’s Iron Man Marathon at AMC, both on May 2. We thank our partners at Disney for working with us to achieve economical terms so we can present our guests with one of the biggest blockbusters of 2013 and solidly kick off the summer movie season.”

2ND UPDATE 2:30 PM: The largest domestic movie theater chain Regal Entertainment says this post is going up on its Facebook page: “Regal…

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