Breaking The Hobbit

The interweb is abuzz with news that Peter Jackson, director of the Academy-Award winning Lord of the Rings trilogy will not be returning to adapt J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit to the big screen. Due to some piddling legal mumbo jumbo that I'm not entirely clear on, it's looking like the film will make it to big screen without Jackson's magic touch...and without his writing team...and without his special effects house. Oof.

Now I've seen some stupid studio decisions lately, including the supposed greenlighting of a sequel to Alien Vs. Predator. But this? This has misfire written all over it. Now, the LOTR movies aren't perfect, but damn it they're close. Why screw that up?

Show your support. Head on over to TheOneRing.net and let your voices be heard as loud as the Horn of Gondor. Oh yes, I went there...and back again.

Decking the Halls and Such

'Tis the season! Actually, it's been the season for a few weeks now. As early as November 1st I've been seeing Christmas lights, hearing Christmas music, and tasting Starbucks peppermint mochas. Even then, I found myself screaming "too soon!" like someone who just heard an awful Steve Irwin joke. Now, it's feeling more official. Fa la la la la, and so on.

The Charlie Brown Christmas special aired this week, the tree at Rockefeller Center is illuminated, and shoppers have once again busied themselves in purchasing the same crap that we'll all be bored with by New Year's.

I saw all of this Christmas clamor first-hand on a recent trip to Toys R Us in Times Square on my lunch break. I had gone to purchase a Nintendo Wii, knowing that I'd kick myself if I missed out on getting it (even though software is scarce right now, but Super Mario Galaxy is just around the corner). Well, I didn't kick myself when they were sold out, but I did see some pretty entertaining shoppers, Christmas lists in hand, searching for the most elusive of items on their little ones' lists. Oddly enough, the scene was pretty heartwarming. Seeing these people take time out from their busy workday to ensure that their children would have their Christmas wishes fulfilled made me realize how much we all took the whole "Santa thing" for granted. Christmas doesn't just happen. It's hard work.

Despite not obtaining a Wii, I left Times Square with my faith in humanity restored for at least another day.

The Triumphant Return

I know you missed it, and here it is. The glorious return of Musings of the Easily Amused. The URL has changed, but mark my words: change is awesome. So awesome in fact that I shall remain committed to bringing you the very best that pop culture has to offer after going through my now patented sh*t filter, which shall be called a shilter from now on.

I know that you' ve been lost, confused, perhaps even bored since the musings went on hiatus for a month, so let me bring you up to speed on a few things.

Film: Casino Royale, if you haven't seen it, is incredible. So incredible that I daresay that Daniel Craig may be the best Bond since Connery. I know what you're thinking: what competition has he had? Roger Moore played him as an arrogant prick, Timothy Dalton starred in two of the most forgettable Bond films in the series, and then there was the other guy that no one remembers (I do, and I honestly think that George Lazenby wasn't really given all that much to work with). Pierce Brosnan nailed the part in GoldenEye but the last three Bond movies? Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist? Her boobs aren't THAT smart.

But this new guy, he's edgy. He takes Bond in the direction that Ian Fleming truly intended. He's a blunt instrument, he makes mistakes, and he's still learning. I can't wait to see where this series goes from here.

DVD: You probably already know what I think of Superman Returns (awesome, if a little slow) and Clerks II (who knew interspecies erotica and sentiment can coexist?). They both came out this week, and are both worth your time and money.

Video Games: I have not been one of those fortunate enough to nab a Nintendo Wii or a Playstation 3, and you know what? I'm glad. I haven't gotten beaten up or shot for one, haven't had to wait on any ridiculous lines, and haven't been disappointed with the total lack of launch titles for both systems. Whoops, did I say that out loud? People, listen to me and listen close: WAIT FOR THE GAMES. Nintendo Wii has Wii Sports, which is awesome and comes packed with the system, but come on...The only semi-decent game for the Wii is the new Zelda title, and that's gonna be out for GameCube any day now. And Playstation 3? Sony has already lost the console war, and that's all I have to say about that. But then again, Gears of War looks great on the XBox 360...::cough cough, Christmas hint cough cough::

Music: I refuse to purchase the new Jay-Z CD. Retiring 3 years ago with a really great album (The Black Album) should have been a nice cap on a career, but no. Jay-Z needed to release Kingdom Come which is a mediocre follow-up from what I hear. With all the hype this album has recieved, every purchase should come complete with a lap dance from Beyoncé Knowles herself. Then again, that's totally worth 14 bucks.

I've been listening to the new Snoop Dogg album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment and I'm just blown away at how underrated this guy is as a lyricist. This is definitely a sleeper disc.

Speaking of sleeping, that's it for this post. Be sure to check back periodically for more updates.