It felt like the Papacy was being assaulted to me, but my memory is fuzzy.

Hey, you can attack Catholicism and still be Christian! Heh. But I think I know what you mean -- if I remember right, the church in the books resembles the Catholic Church in structure. But I don't think we get a whole lot of their doctrine beyond the fact that they believe in god, and they believe in sin. If it was an attack on a particular faith, I'd expect there to be something to identify which one, and why that one sucked but others were okay, y'know? I guess, if it's only about Christianity, it seems like Jesus should at least get mentioned somewhere.

Still kept reading, because, well, I'd started, and I only stop when I'm bored.

This is me with the Wheel of Time books. I'm invested enough in the (original) characters (I could give two craps about the 500 ancillary characters he introduces in every book.) to want to know how it ends, but I'm not really thrilled about trudging through everything to get there.

As for Chris Tucker getting $25 million, that's ridiculous. While I enjoyed Rush Hour, going in, Chris Tucker was a major negative rather than a draw for me. (He annoyed the crap out of me in The Fifth Element.) RH managed to change him from negative to neutral. I still wouldn't see a film with him in it unless there was someone in it I wanted to see, but at least he wouldn't drive me off.

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.

Aims, honey, those books are very much fantasy. Just because they're aimed at kids or young adults doesn't change that. Quite a great deal of fantasy (and to some extent, sci-fi) are written as kid or young adult books.

You know, it never occurred to me until it was pointed out here today that these books were written for a YA audience. It makes perfect sense, but I just never considered it.

Has there been discussion in this forum about the supposed first draft of the Golden Compass script, specifically about how it's going to deal with the overt anti-religion stance, or am I remembering another forum I'm on?

I thought Rush Hour was absolutely hysterical, and loved it to bits. I chalk that up to both of the leads.

I wouldn't call it hysterical, although I did think it was very funny. However, I think the "Detective James Carter" character could've been played by a number of other actors and been just as funny, and a lot less annoying.

eta: Few, if any other than Jackie Chan, could've played "Chief Inspector Lee".

(He annoyed the crap out of me in The Fifth Element.)

I'm the opposite, I thought he was brilliant b/c the character was perfect for his persona. Outside of that "Ruby" character and he's annoying as hell.

I'm all over a Miami Vice movie. I just wish the trailers said more.

Me, too. I signed on to see it when I saw Michael Mann was directing.

I'm TiVoing I Remember Mama for JZ. Turn of the century costume, San Francisco setting, 40s movie, Irene Dunne - can't miss.

Ooh, I LOVE that movie. A lovely script and all the performances are first-rate.

Ooh, I LOVE that movie. A lovely script and all the performances are first-rate.

Heh. JZ is watching it now and telling The Halloweenie that Irene Dunne was her Yiayia's favorite actress.

I wanted to add to the thumbs that are up for MI:3. It's great fun, and something blows up every five minutes. Well done, J.J.

I've also seen Munich and Good Night and Good Luck in the last couple days, which are both more important movies to be existing but not nearly as fun to watch.