I enjoyed Looped a lot but never felt like it completely gelled as a story. The whole TK idea seemed like a second magic bean that could have been scrapped altogether. I suppose it was constructed to answer the question as to how The Rainmaker was able to begin taking over future cities single-handedly, but the whole thing seems irrelevant to me. Why couldn't he just be the next Hitler or something? A person Old Joe has good reason to want dead, but not someone who strains our suspension of disbelief so much.

I have to agree with bullet3. It seemed like two different stories that would have sufficient enough on their own, but may have tripped over each other when combined.

The other thing that bothered me a bit was some of the costuming (although Jeff Daniels' tie critique was amusing). I"m a little tired with the black trenchcoats and sunglasses look the goons were sporting.

All that being said Looper was fun and fairly original and had some memorable scenes (the one in which Paul Dano's future self begins falling apart was brilliant) .

John Williams' process, enjoy:

I loved the Civil War and it would be great to see a version of it on the big screen (as opposed to another aliens from outer space antagonist). Unfortunately I don't think it will be possible any time soon. Too many other studios still own the film rights to Marvel characters (Sony - Spider-Man, Fox - X-Men and Fantastic Four). So it would pretty much come down to a Nick Fury and Cap vs Iron Man and Thor movie.

I am so looking forward to Looper. I loved Brick and Brothers Bloom.
Here's to Rian Johnson and a long, eclectic career!

Hunger Games left me completely underwhelmed. I read the books last year and enjoyed them (didn't love them, but they're a super-quick and fun read).

The movie had been getting very positive reviews so I was excited, and maybe I let my expectations get too high.
Here are a few problems I had:

I normally don't mind the shaky handheld camera gimmick or quick cuts, but the amount and severity of them in the first act distracted the hell out of me.

I think the movie failed to illustrate just how big the social and economic gap was between District 12 and the capitol. Obviously there was a difference in luxury, fashion and technology, but nobody in District 12 seemed to be starving or as destitute as portrayed in the books.

Katniss never seemed to fulfill her role as a figurehead of a rebellion (which I'm sure will happen in the sequels, but the groundwork wasn't properly laid).

X-Men was the hero team I always came back to. I never followed the Avengers until the launch of the Ultimates by Mark Millar, that was great.

Dear Teague, Trey, whomever else this applies to,

I think it might have come up on the Source Code episode as well, that you don't really get excited about upcoming movies and that you don't feel any kind of impetuous to see them upon their release.

I was wondering if you've always been this way, or if this is a result of living in LA and working in the industry. I'm a smart enough guy to know that trailers are just advertising tools and exploit whatever they think will get people in the seats, but I still get excited when I hear/read/see more about a movie I think has potential to be fun or great. Is it just the marketing/politics behind the industry that turn you off, or are you all just mature (jaded) bastards that refuse to buy into the zeitgeist (or am I misinterpreting what I thought you said)?

We all have our own preferences, but knowing how much you guys love film it seems hard to believe you don't get the same twinges of anticipation that I do when you think about that new project that your favorite director/writer/actor/team is working on.

I've been pleased with everything I've seen so far, with the exception of the Halloween costume Chris Evans still insists on wearing.

It's going to be big, dumb expensive fun sprinkled with a few witticisms and 'Holy Shit!" moments, courtesy of Joss.

I can't wait.

Just in case you're not all totally burned out on dissecting The Phantom Menace, this guy has some interesting ideas on what it could have been:

A lot of his ideas reminded me of the treatments Dorkman and the rest of DIF came up with, but it's worth a watch regardless.