I will never understand these trekkies. You people do know what retconning is, right? You do realize that Star Trek is insanely full of it throughout its history, right? In case some of you forgot that your pal, Gene Roddenberry, has done quite a bit of it himself:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_retcons#Star_Trek_in_various_media

They're using the same excuse they use every time they decide they want to change things: it's an alternate universe, things are different. Either you accept this one or you accept none of them. Get over it, nerds.

Having said as much, the movie was fantastic. I'm not much of a trekkie myself -- I find the series to typically be very boring -- but I truly appreciated this one. I was afraid that JJ Abrams would ruin it by completely ignoring the need for, you know, a plot. I was afraid he'd do what he's done in other movies, in that he'd just let the explosions do the talking. Thankfully, he did not.

This movie is to Star Trek in the 60s what the new Battlestar Galactica series is to the 70s series. It's a kick in the teeth. It's a story about human nature where space is the backdrop, not the other way around. The mark of a good show or movie is asking: if I took the setting out of this show, would it still be good? The answer is a big yes.

Do yourself a favor and see the movie - you will not be disappointed. Ignore the people who are afraid of change. Change is a good thing, especially in this situation.

I had high expectations going into this movie but was let down by the sub-par acting and the awful script. I really just did not feel like I was actually IN Paris. See other movies; I personally recommend "Space Dongs VII".

What kind of a review is that? "It is certainly not a family oriented movie"? So what? You couldn't have figured that out from the trailer, the movie poster, and the R rating? What's worse is you claim it's not a bad movie, but then proceed to give it one star for what I can only assume is your bias against movies that aren't specifically designed for you to bring your offspring to. The Jonas Brothers in 3D was showing right down the hall, feel free to take them to that instead - that just means one less kid kicking my seat in.

You know what? It's not a family oriented movie. Neither is The Godfather. Does that mean that The Godfather's a bad movie just because Little Timmy couldn't appreciate it? Absolutely not.

Don't get me wrong - Watchmen is not The Godfather. It's not close, however Watchmen the graphic novel is considered by many to be something of a Godfather of its kind. The movie does in fact carry the same plot and a relatively equal ending (all things considered). It's as close to a perfect representation of the novel as it's going to get. That is, in its entirety, why Watchmen is not being accepted by many people who were previously unfamiliar with the subject matter.

The problem with Watchmen is that it's a movie which requires you to think. American audiences are not big fans of this mystical ability we've been granted. It's easy to sit in front of a movie like The Dark Knight because every little plot issue is explained to you and the characters aren't incredibly deep. The Joker is a bad guy who does bad stuff and Batman is a good guy who sometimes crosses the line. Pretty easy stuff, and at the end Batman overcomes his challenges and wins like we knew he would. The problem people will have with Watchmen is that the characters don't win. They're not "good" and "bad", they're shades of gray. In real life we may see ourselves as shining examples of good (no matter how messed up all of us are), but the truth is that no one is Superman. No one is a perfect force of good in the world, and Alan Moore knows that. Alan Moore knew that if superheroes existed, they wouldn't be perfect either. He knew that many of their choices would not be as simple as stopping a speeding train and saving every person aboard and then throwing the bad guy in the slammer. With Watchmen he created fully three dimensional, living and breathing characters whose motives and actions are questionable. The graphic novel and the movie were never made to be "non-stop thrill rides" - they were made to help you understand what a farce most "superhero movies" and comics are. In this right, both the movie and the novel succeed.

Some of the movie did not quite work out like one would hope, and that is regrettable. Malin Akerman is one of the worst actresses in Hollywood, and Rorschach was really not written to be as psychotic as he's supposed to be, but these problems are merely simple flaws. The rest of the acting is quite good, and the cinematography is at times completely breathtaking. Bottom line? If you're expecting to go into this movie and have everything told to you, you will be disappointed. There's no Neo, and there's no Superman. Everything is not and won't be wrapped up in a neat little package. However, if you want a good movie that has a different perspective on life and will make you think, then Watchmen is it. It is as close to the graphic novel as one will probably ever get.

She is not the type of person anyone should emulate or aspire to be. I'm all for self-expression, but her destructive lifestyle is not something to be glorified. I'm not saying she should be a paragon of virtue, but I am saying that the life she chooses to lead has an influence on people even if it shouldn't. You aren't twelve years old any more, have some self-control for God's sakes.

The title says it all. Robert Downey Jr. manages to grab your attention and run with it, skating through scenes and making it look all too easy. He's a likable jerk, in the "You really need to learn what tact is, but you're a genius and what you're saying is so clever that it's okay" variety made famous by the FOX show "House".

The one thing I really like about this movie is that it understands that it's a superhero movie, and acts accordingly. Tony Stark incurs a certain "learning curve" with his project of creating a virtually indestructible exoskeleton, which leads to some hilarious problems. The movie understands that, to create a superhero in a real world, it does require some suspended disbelief. It pokes just enough fun at itself to remind you that it is a movie designed to be fun. In that field, they have succeeded.

My only qualm about the movie is that, while I love its ability to poke fun at itself, the movie just doesn't seem to know which identity it has at times. Sometimes the movie is a gritty "superhero in a real world, and very capable of death" film, and sometimes it's a "no human being could ever do this" movie. While it's possible to find a happy middle point, it spends far too much time building up Tony Stark's character and inner struggles for it to then ask us to believe that a scrap-made armored suit prototype built in a cave in the Middle East could shrug off an anti-artillery gun but then be completely destroyed by a 50-100 foot fall that still manages to leave him completely intact. Bottom line: You're either Batman Begins or you're Shoot 'Em Up. Taking the best of both of them doesn't work.

Having said as much, I still gave it four stars because of its intelligent humor and self-awareness. That and Robert Downey Jr. does a fantastic job of living the role of the Tony Stark from Marvel lore. Go see it and you will not be disappointed. Also, remember to stick around for the end of the credits for a short "teaser" from a possible Iron Man 2. Enjoy!

I had a huge review written, intricately detailing exactly why DragonForce is the next big thing in the metal scene, but unfortunately I was listening to "Through the Fire and Flames" and the guitar solo rocked my computer so hard it exploded. I type this review now with multiple shards of hard plastic and metal in my face, which (in this reviewer's eyes) just proves how totally bad ass hardcore awesome you have to be to listen to DragonForce.

Their "Inhuman Rampage" album has been listed as the FBI's #1 Most Wanted. Due to the psychedelic riffs that are blowing minds across the world, millions are being left dead in the street with their faces rocked clean off. This album could very well be used by creationists as irrefutable evidence of the existence of a god. It could make Michael Jackson black again. OJ did it because Nicole lent Ron Goldman this album and he never gave it back; and the album didn't even exist in 1995. It's THAT good.

It's rumored that a single guitar riff from Herman Li can kill every emo kid in a 50 mile radius. Can you afford not to have that kind of power on your side?

The following are things Rick Astley would never do:

- Give you up
- Let you down
- Run around
- Desert you
- Make you cry
- Say goodbye
- Tell a lie
- Hurt you

And let's face it - you wouldn't get that from any other guy.

Soft-spoken, mellow, and always a genuinely nice guy, Jack Johnson is a refreshing change of pace from the typical celebrity. His music and his demeanor bring us to a time long gone where entertainment was an art form; not a publicity stunt. Where other performers were interested in being famous merely to be famous, Jack Johnson only wanted to sing. Where other celebrities only cared about the almighty dollar or the advertisement deal, Johnson remained true to himself.

Regardless of his attitude, his music is truly inspiring on multiple levels. I, like many cynics, did not believe myself capable of liking a tune such as his. If you're like myself, you've grown up in an era of Disney-produced "feeling" and corporate produced music, where not even our food is real any more. I felt myself becoming alienated from music itself, and it was truly disheartening. Johnson's music was almost an awakening; it's a "feel good", and "care free" style of music that you can merely sway to and imagine yourself laying in a hammock on a far off island.

All of this from a gentleman who truly understands where music should come from - the soul.

More manly than a hand grenade.

If there were anyone to improve and legitimize the game of poker, "Kid Poker" Daniel Negreanu would be it. He is a class act in all forms; not only is his poker play unbelievable, but his attitude at or away from the poker table is a breath of fresh air.

He has a sixth sense for reading opponents; something that must be seen to be believed. At times, it almost seems as if he can see right through one's cards and tell them how to play their hand better than they are. This uncanny ability has led him to gain a great deal of admiration from poker enthusiasts as well as professional players.

His demeanor at a table is something almost shocking. He never seems upset, never frustrated, and always has an unnaturally nice attitude. Some attest that part of his poker ability stems from how nice he is, in that people are willing to give him more information than he might be entitled to, just on account of his friendly attitude. Even after leaving you with few chips, Daniel can still leave a smile on your face.