I almost stopped watching because the occasional violence is very strong. People die. Few are shot, too many are beaten to death. There is too much screaming and mad-dogging. It can be hard to watch. That’s the asterisk on this 5-star rating.

That said, I am more often stunned by the writing and the acting. I can’t do either justice. Some scenes are heart-wrenching and one can read thoughts on faces to a degree I can’t remember from another TV show. The two principals, Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, are phenomenal; both have shown such depth. Almost everyone around them is great. Even the characters I hate.

Although making and dealing methamphetamines drive the plot, this show in no way glamorizes drugs. The desperate skeletal junkies should scare anyone away from meth (or heroin).

My comments come at the end of Season 2. The first season had only 7 episodes; Season 2 has 13. Twenty episodes aren’t very many. I’ve heard things get weirder or worse (very hard to imagine) in Season 4 (not yet on Netflix). Can good writing and acting compel one to watch the unwatchable? I’ll let you know.

Breaking Bad (5 stars and an asterisk) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

Great performances along side Jackson, especially Aunjanue Ellis, Tamara Tunie, Ann Magnuson, and Anthony Michael Hall.

The Caveman’s Valentine (5 stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

Though quite original, Ink made me think of several movies, including Dark City, 9, Beauty and the Beast, Newt from Aliens, and Franklyn. (Yes, weird to call a move original and then cite other movies, but, seriously, Ink is fresh.) And Jade Warrior, which Ink resembles only in blowing my mind. In particular, a short film I caught on PBS, Spin, came to mind. Damn if it wasn’t the same writer/director, Jamin Winans (see the 8 minute short).

Ink (unlimited stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

For no good reason, this disc sat around here for more than 6 weeks last fall and at least 10 days this time. We didn’t get our money’s worth of discs from Netflix during that time, but we watch Roku daily, so we’re happy with the cost.

A Knight’s Tale (2001) – IMDb

  132 min  -  Action | Romance   -  Available on demand

Users: 6.6/10 (48,290 votes) 614 reviews | Critics: 148 reviews

After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writer:

Brian Helgeland

Stars:

Heath Ledger, Mark Addy and Rufus Sewell

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Watch Trailer »

A Knight’s Tale (2001) – IMDb

Note: There is something strange going on with the poster from this movie. I see it on IMDB; I see it in my blog editor; I don’t see it on my blog. Go to IMDB if you want to see it.

A Knight’s Tale (4+ Stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

Jade Warrior (2006) – IMDb

Jade Warrior (4.7 stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

If you stream Netflix, be aware this movie is only available “until” (through?) 1/22/2011. What are you waiting for?

BTW, the poster used by IMDB (shown here) is not the one used by Netflix, which I think is the better one. Moreover, I might quibble with the summaries on both IMDB and Netflix.

Franklyn (5 stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh

OMG! The Butterfly Effect (2004) is a mind-blowing moving. It is a little challenging at times, but it presents a unique twist on time travel – so unique, it isn’t about time travel, at all. It’s kinda sci-fi, but not really. I didn’t see the ending coming (as it appeared in the Director’s Cut). Amazing movie.

The Butterfly Effect (5 stars) is a post from: mjh's blog. Thank you for subscribing. Let me know what you think. peace, mjh