DVD Collection Contest Update

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Contests, Film

April 9, 2008

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We have a winner! Brian K. correctly identified the actor and actress in this contest, and he will receive a $15 iTunes gift card.

I have to admit that I am somewhat embarrassed by the answers. From my personal DVD collection, it turns out that I own more Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts films than any other (and that is a whole lot of teeth). I never really thought of myself as a typical movie enthusiast, but this might indicate otherwise. 

Tom Cruise

  1. Austin Powers in Goldmember (cameo, but it counts)
  2. Far and Away (just for “you’re a corker, Shannon!” in a horrible Irish brogue)
  3. A Few Good Men
  4. Jerry Maguire
  5. The Last Samurai
  6. Magnolia
  7. Minority Report
  8. Mission: Impossible
  9. Mission: Impossible II
  10. Mission: Impossible III
  11. The Outsiders
  12. Rain Man
  13. Top Gun

(on the wish list: The Firm)

Julia Roberts

  1. Closer
  2. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
  3. Erin Brockovich
  4. Mystic Pizza
  5. Notting Hill
  6. Ocean’s Eleven
  7. The Pelican Brief
  8. The Player (uncredited cameo)
  9. Pretty Woman
  10. Steel Magnolias

(on the wish list: Conspiracy Theory)

Here are the runners-up…

  • Gene Hackman: 11
  • Kevin Costner: 10
  • Matt Damon: 9
  • Hugo Weaving: 8 (six are from Lord of the Rings & Matrix trilogies)
  • Tim Robbins: 8
  • Michael Douglas: 7
  • Hugh Grant: 7
  • Laura Linney: 7
  • Emma Thompson: 7

So who is represented the most in YOUR collection?

And by the way, are you more likely to leave a comment on a post if there is a potential prize involved? I’m still contemplating the perfect gift to reward the person who leaves the most comments (on either blog) this year…

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Series Resuscitation: Comcast & DirecTV To the Rescue (Jericho & FNL)

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Television

April 8, 2008

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If you are a fan of Friday Night Lights or Jericho, you might want to consider switching/subscribing to DirecTV or Comcast.

In a recently announced deal between DirecTV and NBC, the third season of critically acclaimed series Friday Night Lights will air first on the satellite service, and months later on NBC.

Now there is a rumor floating around that Comcast may do the same with CBS, reviving the recently canceled fan-favorite show Jericho.

In my opinion, it isn’t a coincidence that both FNL and Jericho are being resuscitated so soon after the resolution of the Writers Strike. International attention to the digital media distribution of television and film was long overdue, and major networks/studios are only now beginning to research and acknowledge the number of online viewers. NBC and CBS are the first to boldly explore new distribution territory, figuring out ways to save and offset the production costs of beloved shows by licensing them to other mediums such as DirecTV and Comcast. If successful, the life of a series may no longer be determined by conventional ratings alone, giving hope to the cult classics and outrageously underrated shows with smaller yet feverishly dedicated audiences.

I
find these to be fascinating, positive developments in the
entertainment industry, and applaud the efforts of both the very
passionate fan campaigns and network executives/show runners who are finding creative methods
to somehow save their shows.

Many people will focus on the small percentage of people who subscribe to either DirecTV and Comcast, and what that means for Jericho and FNL. Call me an optimist, but I am choosing to wait and see how the future of both shows is determined through distribution by cable and satellite services vs. traditional networks. These deals represent a significant change to an archaic system, with the potential to alter the future of television as we know it.

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On Tap: An Ambitious Viewing Agenda

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Film, iTunes, Television

April 7, 2008

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And I’m back.

While visiting family this weekend, a few common questions arose over cocktails: which shows do I watch, and how many hours a night do I spend watching movies/TV and then blogging?

Well, here is a glimpse at my viewing agenda this week…

TV/TiVO

  • NCAA Women’s Basketball Final (I’m a Bay Area & Pac10 girl; go Stanford!)
  • 30 Rock (returns on Thursday)
  • Canterbury’s Law (Damages lite)
  • Dirt (total guilty pleasure)
  • John Adams (HBO miniseries)
  • Medium (Anjelica Houston has been a great addition)
  • The Office (returns on Thursday)
  • The Riches (not loving new season yet)
  • Samantha Who? (returns tonight)
  • Scrubs (returns on Thursday)
  • Survivor (finally admitting that I watch it online)
  • Top Chef

Netflix

  • Pirates of the Caribbean 3
  • X-Files, Season 9, Disc 1

iPod/iTunes

  • Jericho, Season 1

I am also looking forward to the return of Bones and Brothers & Sisters next week, as well as Season 1 of The Wire on DVD.

As for the amount of time I spend on this hobby…I estimate that I watch three hours per weeknight; either a movie on DVD or television on TiVo/online/iTunes/DVD. On the weekends I tend to watch an additional movie or two, and several episodes of shows I’ve missed.

As for my blogs, I alternate posting entries on both blogs every other night for about an hour each. I am also online for an average of 3-4 hours every night after work, reading news and other blogs, and preparing my own.

And so I’m off to post a Lost blog, and then catch up on last week’s Men in Trees. The weekly viewing commences now.

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Follow Me, Don’t Follow Me: Traveling with Twitter

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Social Networks, Travel

April 2, 2008

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I am heading out of town and won’t be posting again until Monday, but feel free to follow me on Twitter.

What the hell is Twitter? It’s kind of like cyber-stalking, but with permission.

Officially:
Twitter is a service for friends, family and co-workers to communicate
and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to
one simple question: What are you doing?

As REM would say, “follow me, don’t follow me.” Your choice.

Have a great weekend.

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New Toy, New Season, No Joke

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iTunes, Music, Personal, Sports

April 1, 2008

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Oh happy day.

Although it might seem that blogging, movies and television rule my life, I actually have two other favorite hobbies: baseball and music.

Not only am I enjoying opening night of A’s baseball on TV right now, I am setting up the newest addition to the JOpinionated family of gadgets. I have a new toy, one which I’ve been waiting patiently for.

Say hello to my little friend…

She’s a Classic; thin, beautiful, spacious (160GB; room for approximately 40k songs/25k photos/200 hours of video), and my new best friend.

Given that I already have a 40GB iPod (functional but with a cracked cover and weird mechanical sounds), I had to justify this purchase. Here goes:

1. I have been selling various gadgets & electronics on CraigsList just to buy this. My hand-me-downs have been other people’s treasures. Thanks, strangers!

2. I am about to fly back and forth across the country for the first time since back surgery in December, and rather than schelp my laptop & accessories, I can watch TV on this instead. Yeah, it’s good for my back!

Many of my friends have iPhones, but I do not like having music on my phone and it certainly cannot accommodate the amount of tunes I like to have at all times. I know, I know, the iPhone screen and functionality is amazing. I have email/Internet on my cell phone, and now I have 160GB to hold ALL of my music & photos, plus several seasons of TV shows. So I am a very happy camper.

I have to christen the iPod with some new music, and I’m open to suggestions. Right now the new REM and Counting Crows albums top the list, as well as the Madonna/JT and Death Cab for Cutie singles. My favorite song of the moment is Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls in Their Summer Clothes,” but by all means…recommend some others.

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