I have written at length about how the Playstation 3 is vastly superior, technically, than the XBox 360.  Playstation 3 uses the Blu-ray format for video and game discs and the XBox 360 uses the HD DVD format for the same.  There isn't that much different between the two disc formats.  Essentially the difference between the two is the same as the difference between VHS and Beta for VCRs in the 80s.  Back then, Sony backed the Beta format.  We all know how many Beta VCRs there are now - none. The battle over Blu-ray vs. HD DVD is similar.  Sony and some movie studios backed Blu-ray.  Microsoft and some other movie studios backed HD DVD.  For consumers, this is a horrible situation since, depending on the movie studio, some movies will only be available in Blu-ray and some will only be available in HD DVD. But this weekend, Warner Brothers announced that they are ditching HD DVD for the Blu-ray format.  Shortly thereafter, Paramount announced it was defecting to Blu-ray also.  And Apple has announced that it will be including Blu-ray drives in the new MacBooks, Mac Pros, and iMacs. So, finally, I will soon be able to watch the Matrix movies in Blu-ray!!!

Here we go again - Season 4 of the coolest show on TV. Jack Bauer is back and the first 4 hours of Day 4 are the most intense yet.

I had an urge to see an action movie last week and so Ahu and I went to see MI:3 midweek at the Loews Theater in Schaumburg. I'm not sure why this movie is doing so badly at the theater. It's a really great action movie. There are a number of awesome stunts and a lot of good special effects. The plot isn't really that bad - again, this is an action movie! Action movie plots are always a touch unbelievable. Tom Cruise does a very good Ethan Hunt once again and Laurence Fishburne has a nice role also. Not sure if it was worth the price that movie theaters extort these days but definitely a good choice for DVD.

I saw the new War of the Worlds last night. I had been looking forward to this movie for months, ever since the teaser trailer came out in the spring showing a crazy lightning storm blowing up houses. The movie started off really well. In fact, right up until the end, the movie was very exciting and intriguing. This movie creates a level of tension in the audience that is unreal. You find yourself literally holding your breath at time. Unfortunately, the anti-climatic end of the movie was quite disappointing. The movie ends very abruptly without real closure on the fate of the planet. In reading other reviews of this movie, it seems most viewers have a similar complaint. It's surprising to me that a director with the experience and success in making movies would be satisfied with such an ending. My only guess is that they filmed a longer ending for a Director's Cut edition on DVD. As far as acting performances go, Tom Cruise did well but his role is not one that requires much talent. The best performance was, as usual, by Dakota Fanning as Cruise's frightened daughter. She's so crazy in this movie at times that you just want to leave the theater at times to avoid the chaos she creates. The story is a novel reimagining of a sci-fi classic and the rich visualization provided by the special effects crew is laudable. I think it will get a close 2nd place in the Academy Awards to Star Wars Episode III. The tripods in the film are especially well done. I have to also comment on the sound effects. They are excellent and very well timed to provide maximum anxiety in the audience. Score: 82/100