Also, for anyone planning to catch up who has Time Warner (like me), they're all On Demand. I was intrigued by the pilot episode, but not quite enough to make it a priority to watch the rest right away.

After watching the first two episodes I haven't really been able to get into it, but maybe this will be a good chance to do so.

Proposed Dodger off-day random discussion:
Top Five Films of the 21st Century

1 Waking Life (Richard Linklater, 2001)
2 Amores Perros (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2000)
3 25th Hour (Spike Lee, 2003)
4 Traffic (Steven Soderbergh, 2000)
5 Mean Creek (Jacob Aaron Estes, 2004)

I'm gonna give you six, because I can't narrow it down to five...

1. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 2001)
2. 24 Hour Party People (Michael Winterbottom, 2002)
3. City Of God (Fernando Meirelles, 2003)
4. The Sea Inside (Alejandro Amenabar, 2004)
5. 49 Up (Michael Apted, 2006)
6. House Of Sand (Andrucha Waddington)

1. The New World (Terrence Malick, 2005)
2. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)
3. Stevie (Steve James, 2003)
4. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater, 2004)
5. Ratatouille (Brad Bird, 2007)

While I would probably have to include "The Big Lebowski", this list would be a great desert island movie. I have seen all of them more than once and they all got better with time.

By the way, the Incredibles and Ratatouille are two of the most impressive companion pieces in recent memory. One is a defense of individual greatness against the pressure of universal mediocrity (lest anyone feel left out that they are less than great), the other is a reminder that anyone can be great (but only by having the most exacting and snobby tastes can true lovers of art recognize that greatness). Really subversive and beautiful films and most amazing of all, they are for children.

Walter Chaw often wonders that television and movies are the only place where "it is for children" means it is of lower quality than similar adult fare. Why insult the intelligence of children? Go Pixar.

It's a Chip 'n Dip!

Eric, I've got to say that I hated Waking Life. Fake cartoon people sitting around talking. It was the only movie rental since I was 13 that I turned off 3/4 of the way through. I just couldn't sit there any longer.

1. Lord of the Rings trilogy
2. Hotel Rwanda
3. Amelie
4. Crash
5. Donnie Darko

5 - Lots of great stuff last night.

6 - Didn't see Waking Life, but if you search hard enough, you can find the day I argued with these guys about how awful Before Sunset was.

7 - Yeah, I knew you would dig that pick.

best flight of the Conchords yet, very very funny.

My top 5:

1. Almost Famous
2. High Fidelity
3. Adaptation
4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
5. Donnie Darko

Yes, I am a Charlie Kaufman fan, how did you know?

Richard Linklater's one of those directors where even if I don't exactly enjoy the movie I'm still very impressed by it. Dazed and Confused is of course awesome and School of Rock is a nice light-hearted movie, but I really enjoyed Before Sunrise and Before Sunset because it was a lot of well-written dialog that you could imagine yourself saying.

Where it gets hazy is the trio of Waking Life, Slacker, and A Scanner Darkly where he delves into more abstract ideas. Waking Life was my favorite out of those three, but each brought something thought-provoking to the table whether it be philosophical dirges, fly on the wall personality studies, or mind-bending treatises on drugs and authority.

Whether I truly enjoy his movies or not, I always look forward to experiencing each one of them.

I am not good at these lists, because it is hard for me to narrow down films, but I will just throw 5 out there.

1. Last Life in the Universe
2. Chopper
3. Oldboy
4. Visitor Q
5. Amorres Perros

I don't dance angry.

I would like to amend my list to include "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". I can't believe I forgot that one.

I can't keep track of decades anymore. What's a 2000s movie vs. a 1990s? The distinction is much clearer with regard to TV. There's Before Sopranos and After Sopranos.

I think these are from the 2000s; more or less in order.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
28 Days Later
Talk to Her
Gangs of New York
Almost Famous
Million Dollar Baby
Lord of the Rings trilogy
Master and Commander
House of Sand and Fog
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
You Can Count on Me
Adaptation
The Incredibles
Kill Bill v.1-2
Mystic River
The Departed