Movie review haiku: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Gripping performances
Horror, pain, sadness ... and still
There's hope in the end 

Harry Potter web mania

Well, I know how I'm going to be killing time this week.

Scholastic launched its official Harry Potter site, chock full of quizzes about each book, a glossary of magical terms and more.

Also, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park opens this summer at Universal Studios in Orlando. Road trip, anyone?

Running song of the month

"Putting Shame in Your Game," Beastie Boys

It's no secret that I often listen to the Beastie Boys while I run (or do anything, really). But this week, while my iPod was on shuffle, this song came on and I immediately kicked up my pace. My footsteps fall to the beat, it has outstanding samples, and any song that uses the word "quagmire" gets automatic awesome points.

Movie review haiku: Alice in Wonderland

3D viewing treat
But didn't care what happened
Red Queen, Cheshire rocked

RIP Corey Haim

Corey Haim died this morning of an apparent accidental drug overdose. He was 38. 


He was 38? Wow, that means I'm getting old.


You may recall mere weeks ago I posted a clip from "License to Drive," the movie I would consider Haim's magnum opus. I'm probably in the minority; most people would probably say his best work came in  "The Lost Boys" or "Lucas," but "License to Drive" was one of those movies that was on HBO about a billion times in the summer of 1989, and thus, it became ingrained in my life. (On a related note, "La Bamba" fell in this same category, serving as the HBO movie of choice in the summer of 1988.)


And although I was always more of a fan of the other Corey, Corey Feldman, as a child of the '80s, I can say that Corey Haim played the role of teen heartthrob well.

Oscar predictions revisited

Went 7-for-9 on the specific predictions (missing the screenwriting categories). But "Avatar" didn't win all of the tech awards. Told you I'm not very good at this stuff.

Oscar predictions

Best picture: "The Hurt Locker"
Best director: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
Best actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Best actress: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Best supporting actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best supporting actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Best original screenplay: "Inglourious Basterds"
Best adapted screenplay: "Up in the Air"
Best animated picture: "UP"

Also, "Avatar" will win every technical award.
Also, I have a history of inaccurate predictions.

Diabetes is no laughing matter

... unless, of course, it's this mashup of Wilford Brimley's commercials for Liberty Medical.