M:I:3 has actually been getting decent reviews. I think the box office is a combination of Cruise backlash and the crappitude of M:I:2.

And what ita said - the studios' budgets are projected out far in advance, and when a film doesn't match the projections, the budgets have to be updated.

We watched I Capture the Castle last night. This completes the trifecta of "Why the DH isn't allowed to pick movies anymore." A couple years ago he decided we didn't have enough romantic comedies for our DVD collection to be well-rounded (we had two). So he purchased 3 movies that were recommended to him as funny, witty, and romantic.

Secretary was good, and smart, but not a romantic comedy by any means. L'Auberge Espangnole wasn't even good or smart. What a waste of foil and plastic.

I Capture the Castle wasn't funny, was romantic in places, and even up making me despair and want to hide in my room. But the scenery was gorgeous, and the 1930s costumes were gorgeous.

And Marc Blucas was one of the leads. Playing, as far as I could tell, Marc Blucas.

Haha, Raq, isn't that who he always plays?

Ooh, I forgot the other thing I was going to say about MiIII (I have no idea where the colon goes anymore)... I was so impressed that Jonathan Rhys-Meyers finally seemed almost straight! I only slightly slashed him with Ethan! He finally doesn't look quite like a little boy. And the part where he's sweaty and arguing in Italian ? Mmmm. I think he's got some major BBoC factor.

Oh dear. I'm really not sure about this.

Weitz is back for His Dark Materials.

[link]

I am just about to start reading that series! My first-ish foray into fantasy!

Well, fantasy books, anyway.

Er...books classified as fantasy.

Harry Potter isn't classified as fantasy?

I always thought of the series as children to young adult.

But, now that I think about it, His Dark Materials is for the same age range, huh?

Nevermind. Cancel the fantasy novel exploring. Still reading children's books.

YA Fantasy, but wholeheartedly fantasy.

I actually have His Dark Materials books, but I've heard so much about Pullman's abrasive anti-Christianity crusade that I've been reluctant to start on the books. Not that I'm that religious myself, but I dislike knowing that the author/director has an agenda to push in advance. If there is an agenda, I'd rather discover it myself on my own.

Well, with The Golden Compass, you'd only need to read about 2 pages before twigging to that particular agenda.

Sony isn't showing advanced screenings of The DaVinci Code: [link]