I went to see War of the Worlds with Candace today, at the AMC 16 in Burbank. It was a lot better than I was expecting, although a lot of the character drama felt somewhat uneven. It often seemed like the actors were simply waiting their turn to speak their lines, rather than having a 'real' conversation. Obviously the effects were top notch. Candace pointed out what would seem to be a continuity error in the first 20 minutes, when a guy is using a camcorder even though the EMP has disabled every other electronic device in the area. But still, it was a positive experience. I realized that a lot of my reluctance about seeing it had to do with the fact I was bombarded with the damn trailer so many times that I was completely bored of seeing it. But I must admit, the trailer for V For Vendetta looked pretty cool.

Oh, and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Vista yesterday, in the company of Steve, Karen and Kristina. Again, I liked it overall. Roald Dahl's books were such a huge part of my childhood (as I imagine they were to many a lad of my generation). I can remember my dad reading Charlie's adventures to me as a boy, before I began reading all of those books for myself (the release of Matilda was big whoop, because the entire school found in the Trunchbull a cosmic distillation of all the qualities of our own surly headmistress, Mrs. Spry, a formidable woman who bore considerable resemblance to a wizened gorilla in a pattern dress). Iconic details, such as having all the grandparents in the one bed made me happy. I'm not sure that they needed to make Willy Wonka into such a psychopath, but I guess it is the 21st century and that's the only way to reach the kids of today. Everything has to be so Freudian, present impulses explained by childhood trauma and whatnot. Honestly, it was like watching an Oliver Stone film. Willy Wonka, the Lizard King of Macedonia.

While shopping for groceries this afternoon, I picked up a new toy for Mr. Nibbler. It's a little furry blue mouse with a rattle inside. It seems to be a big hit - he's chasing it all over the place and stuff - but is not enough to keep him from the eternal delights of knocking everything he can off any flat surface. Hopefully it will last at least a couple of days before he dismembers it. Collecting Beau and Mary's mail from the box is starting to make me feel uncultured. They have much classier mail than I do. This has been Nibblerwatch.