What's a nubian?

I was planning to go see The Town at the Cinema Saver last night but ended up staying out too late doing Christmas shopping.  Instead I decided to watch a different Ben Affleck movie - Chasing Amy.  In my opinion, it's a classic.  Not only that, but it's one of the better, if not best, Kevin Smith films.  I like Kevin Smith.  The dude's funny.  But a lot of his recent movies just haven't done it for me.

While I was out shopping I picked up a copy of The New World extended cut for $5 at B&N.  I was pretty surprised because Barnes and Noble never has cheap DVDs.  I am going to give it to another friend for Christmas.  Usually I give books to everyone whether they like to read or not.  Perhaps this year a few lucky recipients will receive a DVD instead.

John, you don't know how jealous I am that you were able to see Tori and Maynard.  I love that clip because it shows a different side of Maynard that you usually don't get to see when he is working on one of his other projects.  Thanks for alerting Netflix.  The sound was perfect.  Also, if you haven't read it, I'll bring the NYT's Magazine and Arts and Entertainment section from Sunday to game night.  The magazine is the film issue and there are some good articles about True Grit and Somewhere and the importance of Bertolucci in the A&E section.  And don't let me forget once March rolls around that I want to go to some of the Binghamton Classic screenings.

Brandon, the other thing about Prodigal Sons that really gets to me is just how dangerous it can be to live in the past or to shy from it.  Marc obviously wants to go back to a time when things were better for him, when he was "popular" and before his life became a series of missed opportunities.  Of course, opposite to that is Kim.  She wants nothing to do with the past, which to Marc is very offensive.  Kim says something in a voiceover that I think goes to the very heart of the conflict between her and Marc.  To paraphrase her: Marc would have given anything to be the man that I no longer wanted to be.

And can I make one more plug for Community?  Their Christmas stop-motion animation show was awesome.

Again though, the clever way in which these characters are frequently thrust into alternating genre scenarios is only one aspect of what makes Community such a charming, lovable show. Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas illustrated that beautifully, bringing a touching, thoughtful poignancy to an episode that could have just as easily gotten by on its fantastical surrealism and delightful musical cues. And that, ultimately, is why I love the show. Every so often, it will break out these brief, smartly devised moments of emotional honesty that help to humanize these otherwise cartoonish—and in the case of Abed, reality-defying—figures, keeping them believable and endearing from episode to episode, regardless of the genre trope parodies that surround them. Episodes like these that elevateCommunity from simply being a hilarious media satire variety hour to a consistently rewarding series about characters we love and want to see grow and find happiness.