Movie: The Count of Monte Cristo

A really good swashbuckling tale of righting wrongs.

Movie: Eragon

Entertaining adventure about a boy and his dragon vs. hordes of evil minions. First of a trilogy. Read the book instead.

Movie: Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Slightly more grown-up Disney fare, recounting the survival and rediscovery of Atlantis. Nicely done if you can follow the somewhat hyperactive pacing, and can deal with the new-ageism.

Movie: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Engaging tale of the fantasy world that lives just outside our view, and what happens when you start meddling with it. Cute, for older kids.

Movie: Phantom of the Opera (1989)

The famed story, without the lush music, without the stylized idealism, and with all the horror it can muster. Fall for the other version before letting this (albeit good) one terrorize you.

News: doing great

Just to allay any concerns (which have been expressed): I feel great! Recovery went very well, and aside from a mild bout of periocarditis and distinct over-doing-it limits, I could not ask for better. We are blessed to have such a GOOD health care system in this country.

Movie: Pitch Black

This Chronicles of Riddick tale is surprisingly restrained for our über-cool sci-fi action anti-hero. As dazzling daylight fades to indefinite night, the story just can't quite pull off the terrors of the dark, or even quite the totality of the dark itself. An entertaining, if shallow, story.