Sorry for the long delay in posting, unacceptable. Instead of writing a review I've just decided to write my top ten thoughts on it (hopefully not too many spoilers):

1. Best quote: "My usual farewell would appear self-serving, so instead, goodluck!" Spock Prime to Spock.
2. I love Simon Pegg as Scotty and his sexual one-liners in referrence to the USS Enterprise.
3. James Cho's character responding that his hand-to-hand combat experience is fencing--also priceless.
4. The 'red matter' reminds me of the Rambaldi sphere from Alias
5. The ice planet that Kirk is marooned on seems a lot like Hoth from Star Wars V.
6. I think it's hillarious that ILM did the SFX.
7. Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge get tanked was awesome, too bad it can't happen in real life so work is cancelled.
8. The green alien Kirk is banging in the beginning looks like Elphaba from the musical Wicked.
9. Kuddos the the script writer. A lot of excellent one-liners.
10. Don't bother waiting till the end of the credits, there is no clip.

I've seen a few movies lately and here are my comments.

Two Lovers: boring, bad, and sad. If this is Joaquin Phoenix's 'last' film, this truly is not the way to end an otherwise above average film career. The lesson in this movie is that Brooklyn-Jewish-self-preoccupation didn't end with Annie Hall and that Jewish boys should always marry the Jewish girls their mothers pick for them. I don't understand how Gwyneth Paltrow's character continues to do ex or acid or whatever if she knows she's pregnant...confusing. The only standout in this movie was Isabella Rossalini. Though now, the gum chewing on Letterman makes a lot more sense.

Alien Trespass: better than I was expecting and as perfect a spoof as one can find. Eric McCormick's comedic timing is hilarious and Jenni Baird looks very pretty in a period appropriate way. When I asked director R.W. Goodwin (of X-Files fame) what he thought of all the sci-fi remakes, he said that nothing could compare to the originals which is why he choose to make his an original, but shot in the same style of the classics, as opposed to hijacking the plot and re-shooting with modern effects. I agree with Goodwin's idea...much more enjoyable than the painful re-imaginings of the War of the Worlds and Day the Earth Stood Still

I Love You, Man: Genius! Same vein of humor as Knocked Up and Baby Mama (I know, that was a Tina Fey flick), but without the pot jokes, which makes it more mature than just a frat-boy comedy. Paul Rudd's physical comedy is especially good, such as his inability to come up with a proper nickname or farewell/ response/ greetings to Jason Segel. Jamie Pressly and Jon Favreau are hilarious.

Man on Wire: better than average for a documentary, and most likely deserved it's Oscar (I don't consider Best Documentary, Feature a competitive category), but I don't think it deserves a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. First of all, Phillipe Petit sounds like he is lying during parts of his recount and he also comes across as a pompous French tool (I know, I know, a stereotype, but this time he proves the rule). He is too obsessed with his own fame, and by the account of his then girlfriend at the time, Annie Allix, and primary accomplice, Jean-Louis Blondeau, he turned his back on them all after he finished his walk. Instead of marveling at the event that the film chronicles, my last thought was, 'man, this guy is a douche bag!'

Sort of makes me laugh since the man is so repulsive and reprehensible (the Emily-Prior-sitting-on-the-lap incident notwithstanding). Are we really that surprised that a man who pits some of the world's best cricketers against each other for $1 Million apiece, flirts with their wives, and enters their dressing rooms is able to commit in the words of the SEC, 'fraud of shocking magnitude'? While the economic consequences are regrettable, I am glad to see this oaf of a character go. For all the hopes placed on him by the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, and the ECB that he would revitalize their economies and cricket, the lesson to be learned is that going the way of the NFL or premier league football will only damage the fiber of the sport. Dumping money at cricket will only make a circus; there need to be better ways of expanding the game then sinking into lampoonery as Mr. Stanford and the IPL would have.

In other news, 36 Chowringee Lane is a painful movie and makes me rethink like Aparna Sen as a director, and CMU was mentioned on The Simpsons. The funny part is that Al Gore was also at the pub since he just spoke at CMU's 2008 Commencement Exercises. The episode is on Fox, if you are curious to check it out.

As many of you know (that's a joke, maybe 2 people actually read this with any regularity) will know I love the Oscars. I especially enjoy Oscar parties and am the habit of throwing one every year, however this year due to my new locale and lack of social circle will prob. just sit at home in my sweats with my traditional bottle of champagne. This year is also special since it is the first year I have seen most of (and by the end of this week, all) the picks for Best Movie. Anyway lacking anything better and more productive to do I will give my picks for a) who I think will win, and b) who I want to win. Here goes...

Performance by an actor in a leading role
a) Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" - As the critics say, he is more Nixon than Nixon.
b) Sean Penn in "Milk" - No, not just because I'm from SF. He really does embody the role.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
a) Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" - Crowd favorite. Death is great for winning posthumous awards.
b) Josh Brolin in "Milk" - This man is a chameleon. I have enjoyed him immensely in everything I have seen him in: W., Milk, and No Country For Old Men.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
a) and b) Kate Winslet in "The Reader" - Sorry Meryl, Kate's turn.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
a) Amy Adams in "Doubt" - It's based of a straight play and since they are snubbing Meryl they'll give it to Amy.
b) Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - She was luminous on screen.

Best animated feature film of the year
a) and b) "WALL-E" - Do I even need to say anything?

Achievement in art direction
a) and b) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - I think I already said this, but it's really like a moving picture. Each shot is so well thought out.

Achievement in cinematography
a) "Slumdog Millionaire" - The shots are ingenious and capture the vibrancy and desolation of life in India
b) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - No really, this is a BEAUTIFUL movie.

Achievement in costume design
a) and b) "Australia" - Just look at the "Vogue" issue with Nicole Kidman.

Achievement in directing
a) "Slumdog Millionaire" - While I question some of Danny Boyle's work, he does manage to get a stirring performance out of slum kids and debutantes.
b) "Milk" - The entire ensemble is captivating and Gus Van Sant masterfully weaves it all together.

Achievement in film editing (can we first say that I think it's a joke the The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was nominated? This film NEEDS editing)
a) "The Dark Knight" - I think the most powerful moment is when the Joker is riding in the police car with his head out the window like a dog's, swaying back and forth as he surveys the damage he was wreaked with a muted sirens in the background.
b) "Slumdog Millionaire" - I just really love the low shots and quick editing changes in this. It really does physically give you the sense of the chaos of India.

Achievement in makeup
a) and b) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - They manage to believably make Cate Blanchett look younger than me and Brad Pitt older than my grandfather.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
a) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - The music is beautifully interwoven with the film.
b) "Slumdog Millionaire" - Okay so I've pretty much wanted to marry A.R. Rahman since the 8th grade.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
a) "Down to Earth" from "WALL-E" - It's in English.
b) "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire" - Gulzar and Rahman gave us the soundtrack for Dil Se which incidentally makes them my favorite musical pair of all time. Also the dance at the credits is cute.

Best motion picture of the year
a) "Slumdog Millionaire" - At first I was skeptical but after a strong showing at the SAG Awards, it proved the Golden Globes weren't a fluke.
b) "Milk" - I just wanted the movie to keep going. Also beautifully poignant and relevant.

Achievement in sound editing
a) "The Dark Knight" - Lots of special effects meaning lots of sound editing.
b) "WALL-E" (Walt Disney) - Ehh, I just liked it.

Achievement in sound mixing
a) "The Dark Knight" - Big budget means good sound editing.
b) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - The whole movie was just a piece of art.

Achievement in visual effects
a) "The Dark Knight" - Lots of explosions and big shots.
b) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - Kuddos to however they aged Cate and Brad, it was seamless and never got in the way of the story telling.

Adapted screenplay
a) "Doubt" - It won a Tony.
b) "Frost/Nixon" (Universal) - It's crazy because you know how it ends, but I was really gripped by how Frost would fare. Also, was nominated for a Tony.

Original screenplay
a) "WALL-E" - Cute, kid-friendly and environmentally conscious message. The fact that the first 30 min. of the movie had no dialogue did nothing to detract from my suspension of disbelief.
b) "Milk" - Just an overall moving picture that made you at times detest Milk's selfishness and sympathize with White's alienation and desperation.

For those of you who watch Top Chef you will be aware that Radhika is out. Now I know that my like of her was purely based on that fact she was Indian-American and of similar background (raised in the Midwest on a fusion of Indian and American food). She was a good chef but not entirely assertive which was her undoing. It kills me that she was eliminated during the biggest show of the series ("Restaurant Wars") for being in a role she was placed into by winning the elimination challenge. I believe Jaime (the chef from SF who own Absinthe--a fav. of mine) said that she almost didn't want to win the elimination challenge for "Restaurant Wars" because the restaurant owner's head is on the block if their restaurant fails. How true. Radhika actually was the winner, Leah was second, and the judges actually judged the food from her restaurant to be better, yet faulted her 'front of house' experience. She's won several elimination challenges and been in the top 3 numerous times, yet the reason she goes home is because she is nervous and didn't set out spoons for dessert? I thought this was Top Chef not Top Matrie'd.

Mainly I'm just sad such a good chef was eliminated not on the basis of her food, which was strong, but on judgment calls, mainly not sending someone else to front of house and staying in the kitchen. Radhika, you will be missed.

AND secondly, yay Slumdog Millionaire which won the SAG Award showing that it's Golden Globe win wasn't a fluke. I have to admit, I wasn't so worried about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which I did enjoy) but about Milk which is a superb movie with a poignant message (and not just because I live near where Harvey Milk was shot and oppose Prop. 8). While Milk is probably a better movie, Slumdog Millionaire is a nice feel-good film foe these depressing times. Likewise, with the Bombay bombings, and the fact that my favs. A.R. Rahman and Irfan Khan are involved helps give it the edge in my affections.

Well here's to waiting for the Oscars...

And my last shoutout, HERE WE GO STILLERS, HERE WE GO, PITTSBURGH'S GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!.