Those are my favorite scenes in the film! They really demonstrate the Black Widow signature of adopting the noir archetype of an emotional and easily manipulated woman and using it to her advantage. Whedon isn't perfect and he shouldn't get a pass on sexism just because he's Joss, but he crafted those scenes VERY well.

I think those scenes can also challenge the idea of Tasha being an honorary male. Only a woman, underestimated by everyone, could pull off what she does. But HM is still a good way to look at women in films.

I am really looking forward to Now You See Me, Carrie, and Side Effects. I'll see Catching Fire - despite my displeasure with the casting - and Percy Jackson but I wouldn't say I'm excited about them. I didn't even know Sin City 2 had gone into production. I'm going to have to process that news.

Am I the only one who was pretty sold on The Host trailer before seeing the "based on a novel by Stephanie Meyer" credit? Because it looks kind of compelling.

I remember hearing about this going into production quite a few years ago. I think it was when Hoult was riding the post-Skins, pre-X-Men tide. It sounds like I'll enjoy it, but I'll probably wait for the DVD.

I feel like this discussion will be very valuable to listen to, but at the same time I do not want to spend my time watching Looper in order to listen to this.

That is a GREAT song. I saw them live last month and it was so fun. Do not feel ashamed.

I Facebook and Twitter stalk exes all the time. I've stopped trying to justify it.

Have you ever drunk called/texted someone you shouldn't have?

Finally watched GOODBYE LENIN after two years of saying I would. Good film, great soundtrack.

She is going to FREAK OUT. Please have some tea or warm towels ready. And maybe a camcorder.

Great video. I read through the comments because I hate myself and I thought it was really interesting how many commenters are dismissive of the influence media has on people. Media is one of the biggest influences we have.

Best of the year: Skyfall, Pitch Perfect, Life of Pi, Django, Argo, and Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II. If Dorkman can list Dredd I can list Twilight.

Worst: The Chernobyl Diaries and The Raven.

Most disappointing: Snow White and the Huntsman and Perks of Being a Wallflower

I really didn't like the changes they made to POTC (Davy Jones why are you here ruining the narrative flow?) but I think since Star Tours is more of a "let's show off this cool location" thing, adding in new characters to scenes wouldn't be a problem at all.

Really Teague? Once? I haven't even seen the full original trilogy and I've ridden it a few times.

DAMN I love this article.  It is another step in the process of accepting that Tom Hooper does not hate me personally, but is just generally not good at his job.

Like I said in the other thread, the choices that Hooper made are actively working against the themes the story is trying to communicate. But they also work against the story in general because, as Hulk explains, it feels all wrong.  If you want me to care about the boys at the barricade - I already do so it should be an easy task - you are going to have to give me a wide shot of the goddamn barricade so I know what's going on.  The lack of context and spacial relationships was killing me during the prostitution scene too.  Are the prostitutes on a dry docked boat?  Why are there stone shelves for them everywhere?  Why so many Dutch angles?

I already talked at length the in the other Les Mis thread, so that's all I'll say for now. I'm going back next week and I'm looking forward to how I react to a repeat viewing.

And then, in a trademark plot twist, Steven Moffat gave us the mess that was series 6.