To which I toss in my corollary of Dick having a choice not to be Robin, and Bruce never realising that. Which makes Dick and Tim two sides of a coin too.

It's like a threesome of roads taken and not taken.

It's like a threesome

I'm just going to focus on that part.

And I think in that light, Tim represents the part of Bruce that he squashed down years and years ago -- the part that can choose what to make of his life.

Ooo, good point. Have you read the issues where Tim goes around the world and gets himself trained? It echos Bruce's training, but Tim's motivation is so very different. Tim wasn't, at least originally, a rescue, where the other three were (even, and I think sometimes especially, Steph), and that makes all the difference.

On a totally different topic related to the movie, did you catch the size of the hands on LN?

The Flick Filosopher on the Fantastic Four:

I just get all warm and squishy and totally turned on thinking about anguished, neurotic, potentially psychotic, not-at-all-well superheroes who need desperately to be hugged and coddled and, ahem, comforted after indulging their angsts and neuroses while beating the living crap out of bad guys bent on world domination or somesuch. What girl doesn't?

And then -- what the hell? -- we have Fantastic Four, which is like a kiddie ride when I've been primed to expect the biggest, baddest, meanest emotional-roller coaster of a sexy action movie when it's all about guys in tights.

She continues the "kiddie ride" theme throughout the review, ending with:

[The writers] were told: Don't give us a scary dragon roller coaster. Give us a tame choo-choo ride and just paint some dragons on the wall for the kiddies to look at as they chug by, you know, to suggest something fascinating.

Oh, and be sure the big stone Thing gets to pass gas from some orifice or other -- the kids, they love that.

So a film critic on my flist thinks The Island is actually really good:

It took only six movies, but now I can recommend a Michael Bay film without calling it a "guilty pleasure."

Followed by:

The more I think about the flick, the (much) more I like it. There are sneak screenings all over the U.S. tonight. Someone go see it so I have someone to discuss it with. ;)

I just watched Josie and the Pussycat and thought it was hilarious and completely awesome. How did I go so long without seeing this?

Heh. I've heard a lot of good things about that movie. I ought to see it some time.

It's the BESTEST movie ever. It's funny and smart and the music is pretty good and it has lines like "Orange is the new pink" and "Puppies turn into dogs that get old and DIE," which aren't so funny out of context but which you will quote forever if you hear them in context. And Tara Reid is actually pretty tolerable when she's playing an idiot. I think the marketing screwed them.

I bet D. Griswold would like it, if he's about.

YES! Tara Reid was a little too convincing as an airhead, but she was funny.

I just watched Josie and the Pussycat and thought it was hilarious and completely awesome. How did I go so long without seeing this?

Oh, I love that movie! I went to the premiere with a filmcritic friend, and the promotional tickets were attached to glittery purple studded cat collars.

Backdoor Lover is my very favourite boyband song ever ever in the history of ever. "DuJour means friendship." And how hot are the girls? Oh my God. Gah. Rosario Dawson. Gah.