Movie Minute

Saw the new Bruce Willis sci fi flick Surrogates last night. Man, I love his taste in science fiction! Shades of Asimov in this one, with just a little Matrix thrown in to boost the quality of the tech. I love sci fi that looks at the question, "If we can, does that mean we should?" (This is a good time to go watch the trailer, linked above, and then come back.) I walked away from this movie totally understanding how humanity could go where the story takes them. For my own reasons, there are times I would love to be able to plug in to a surrogate and use it to take me out into the world, from which I often must keep myself isolated, and can only imagine what a blessing such technology would be to the wheelchair-bound, or bed-ridden. However, I also believe that the film is quite accurate about where such things could lead. Where is that, you ask? Well, for that you'll have to watch the movie, which I recommend you do.

You'll recognize Bruce Willis. He's the pretty little surrey with the fringe on the top.

Star Trek

Went to see the new Star Trek movie this afternoon! I haven't been to a theater in a very long time--not many films can lure me into "Overpriced Discomfort World," but I've been watching Star Trek since I was five years old, and it beckons like the purr of a baby tribble, or the distress call of a Federation science outpost under attack from a Romulan Warbird. I will not bore you with my opinions about casting choices, character development, relationship twists, time travel, alternate time-lines, or the potential for exciting sequels. These are judgements every sci fi fan must make for themselves. The definite opinion I will offer, though, is that this movie is FUN! I was thoroughly entertained, and loved some of the nods to the original series. If you're in the mood for some rollicking sci fi adventure, you could do worse than to go see the latest Roddenberry spawn--a lot worse.

Da Vinci Reviewed

The Da Vinci Code opens in theaters Friday, and is certainly getting it's share of positive and negative attention. Stephen Bainbridge takes an interesting look at the film over at TCS Daily. He quotes C.S. Lewis. That alone makes his essay worth reading.

Update: Scrappleface has a report on how things stand at the Vatican.