I think part of it for me is that I've ODed on those visuals. I liked Three Kings, for instance, and that was very close to its time--and a war movie which normally freaks me out.

The towers? I've seen them fall a hundred times. From many different angles. I watched until I was so sick I couldn't turn away. I saw the people around react--I saw the horror of hundreds if not thousands. I listened to tales of heroism, choked at the tears of survivors.

Oliver Stone has nothing to add.

And it doesn't have Jesus and Mary Mag running off in a yellow sportscar like "Rescue Me". As far as I know.

I saw Little Miss Sunshine today, and it was just great. But here's a thing about people at the movies that makes me nuts: (I assume) Because the movie was billed as a comedy, and because Steve Carrell is known as a comic actor, people started laughing at scenes of him that were NOT AT ALL FUNNY. They were the opposite of funny. And yet? Guffaws from elsewhere in the audience. WTF, people.

I have a theory that laugh tracks running under unfunny "jokes" on TV have messed up many a sense of humor.

I have heard that said, yeah.

Yeah, I can see that. In this case, it was really serious, but I think people were prepared for it to be funny, and just... no.

It's funny, not a laugh-riot.

Did you see it, Erika? I mean in like Carrell's second scene (or so).

No...haven't yet. Just wasn't sure I understood. I think some of Robin Williams' performances before he became "smiling through tears" guy got similar treatment once. But even that guy that he plays on "The Office" is kind of sad on one level, because he thinks he gets it so well and he misses the mark so badly. But it's not completely his show so we can laugh at him.

It gets funny later, but Carrell's first scene (not really a spoiler) is in the hospital just after a suicide attempt. Not funny.