http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Wed, 23 Oct 2002 02:09:05 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2002/10/23/020905.php Stephen GreenI was raised on classic movies, so I'll be reviewing a lot of them as DVD releases here at Blogcritics.Watching all those movies at such an impressionable age, I always wanted to grow up to be Cary Grant. It never happened. My shoulders never got broad enough, my chin never developed that famous cleft, my hair was always too wavy, and -- try as I might -- I could never nail down that not-quite-English, not-quite-Boston accent.But how about William Powell? He might not have been as good looking or as sauve as Cary, but he was certainly as funny -- and he got to spend quality time with the delicious Myrna Loy in her pajamas.I've spent my entire adult lift trying to be as cool as Powell was in The Thin Man, newly available on DVD.The first time we meet William Powell's detective Nick Charles, he's demonstrating to a bartender how to properly shake a martini to waltz time. Nick, it should be noted, is too soused to walk properly, much less have another drink.Moments later, we meet Nora Charles (Myrna Loy), his wife. As she quickly downs six martinis to catch up with Nick, we're treated to some of the funniest, snappiest dialogue since... well, since before anything. The Thin Man created the Sexy Funny Couple In Danger genre, and nearly seventy years later, it still sets the (Cuervo) gold standard.I could do the typical critic's job and rehash some other great scenes, to entice you into buying the movie. Instead, allow me to introduce you to The Thin Man Drinking Game.Start with a pitcher of martinis and your favorite spouse.Whenever Nick takes a drink on the screen, the husband takes a drink on the sofa. When Nora drinks, the wife drinks.You'll both have a very happy glow, long before you find out whodunnit.And since The Thin Man is, at all-too-long last, available on disc, you won't even have to rewind a tape during your hangover. [This is adapted from a review orginally published on Amazon.com] Video1462@blogcritics.org Wed, 23 Oct 2002 02:09:05 EDT