I mean, what could be more festive than watching Gene Hackman lose his mind?

In that case, throw in "The Conversation" and go for the triple.

Dark Shadows to start shooting next September/October!!

So, Sherlock Holmes wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't really very good. The acting and dialogue are great, but the plot and action scenes and set design were very meh. It's kind of going for a steampunk look, but it winds up feeling more like a cheap b-movie - there's just no texture to any of the CGI backgrounds.

I keep seeing the trailer on TV, and it looks like a lot of fun. Since I care more about the acting and dialogue than the action scenes and set design, I think I'll end up liking it.

(Actually, what I said to The Boy the first time we saw the trailer was "We are seeing that the day it comes out." He said, "It's Christmas Day -- we'll be with family!" I said, "They can come, too.")

I feel the opposite about the trailer, probably for the same reasons -- it just looks like a bunch of quips, instead of something of any heft at all.

In all seriousness, the thing I want most out of a Sherlock Holmes movie is one that doesn't treat Watson like he's stupid. I have optimism for this one.

The trailer has been all spats and explosions, but I can't explain why--I'm totally psyched for it and have told my sister we'll be there opening day too.

Back to School, Summer School or Fast Times at Ridgemont High

For our second '80s Movie Quote Quiz, we've chosen quotations from three classic, school-themed movies: Summer School, Back to School and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Your job is to pick which movie it came from. Do you have what it takes to earn your "seemingly useless pop culture knowledge" diploma from Mental_Floss High? The teacher is in...pop quiz hotshots.

I got 60%. I never saw Summer School and I don't remember many of the quotes from Back to School....

I got 70% This is what cable adds to your life.

I saw Summer School in the theater (shut up), don't think I've seen Back to School, and got 40%. Lame!

So there's a question to liven up the thread (hopefully):

Favorite Holmes.

Favorite Watson.

Favorite Holmes movie.

Holmes is a tough one. I think it might be Peter Cushing (and it's a shame his TV run was either wiped or supressed, as those were supposed to be even better than his turn in Hound), though both Christopher Plummer and Robert Stephens were quite good. Jeremy Brett eventually struck me as too mannered, but early on was quite good in the role.

My favorite Watson has to be Robert Duvall, as it's also one of my favorite examples of "who thought that casting would work" that actually does. James Mason would be close second.

Not sure about which movie, either. A few I haven't seen for a long, LONG time.

I liked The Hound of the Baskervilles with Ian Hart as Watson and Richard Roxburgh (the baddie from Moulin Rouge) as Holmes. They also did The Case of the Silk Stocking, but I've not yet seen it.