I look forward to owning an Apple TV. First I'm going to have to get a widescreen TV which is the only kind they work with. They also work with 480p TVs but what's the point in that?

I don't currently own an Apple TV but I do own an Xbox 360. And as it turns out the Xbox is one hell of a good video device. I have a 500GB external USB hard drive formatted as FAT32. It must be FAT32 for you to be able to connect it to your Xbox 360. Once connected to your Xbox 360 over USB you can watch many video types. I've been using Handbrake to convert my DVD movies to M4V video files. I'm using Handbrake's Apple TV Take 2 settings with 2-Pass. Then I transfer the video files to the Movie folder on the external hard drive.

I can easily select the hard drive from the Xbox 360 menu and play any movie or TV Show (Firefly) I have on it. And they look fantastic. You can also put image files on the drive and view them from the Xbox. I plan on getting a PS3 (maybe) by the end of this or beginning of next. The PS3 will also read this same drive connected over USB and play the same video files or view image files.

The Apple TV has been out for a year now and it's one USB port currently serves no purpose. When I get an Apple TV I want to be able to connect my pre-existing 500GB external USB hard drive to it. And have it play the movie files I've already encoded. I am making sure to select Apple TV specific settings.

Why does it matter. Because I really like the idea of all my movies accessible from one location. This is taking time and effort to setup. It would be nice not to lose the effort when it comes to the Apple TV. If the Apple TV never supports external storage, the drive will remain connected to the Xbox 360 and will continue to be my main source for video content. I already rent more movies from Xbox Live than iTunes or TiVo.

"Apple, by the time I get an Apple TV could you enable external storage through the USB port? And make sure it can read FAT32 so I don't have to reformat and transfer all of my video files."

Tags: Apple TV, Xbox 360

There will be several ways to watch iTunes Movie Rentals assuming the rumors are true.

First and foremost the movies will be rented from the iTunes Store. So you can watch it on your computer.

But how do you watch it on your TV? A couple of ways, first would be the Apple TV. It connects to your TV and you can tell it to download all new content on your computer.
The second way would be if you have and new iPhone, iPod touch, iPod nano or iPod classic. You would sync your movie rentals to one of these devices and with the use of a special $50 Apple Composite AV Cable or Apple Component AV Cable you can connect all of these devices your your television. You can even buy a special Universal Dock if you want to control the playback with the Apple Remote.

I have an iPhone, the Composite AV Cable and the Universal Dock for watching content from my iPhone on my TV. I looks quite good with the videos I've tried.

My predictions for the January 15th 2008 MacWorld Expo Keynote presentation by Steve Jobs:
1. New less expensive Apple TV, I'm guessing around $150. This hasn't been in the rumors at all it just makes sense to me.
2. New hi-end Apple TV with 1080p output and 5.1 audio, DVD (Blu-Ray upgradable). Possible combining of the Mac mini and Apple TV.
3. Movie Rentals.
4. New MacBook Pros. Redesigned.
5. New MacBook Pro to replace the un-replaced 12" PowerBook.
6. New Apple Universal Remote.
7. New MacBook that has built-in 3G network from AT&T, that way it's connected from everywhere.
8. New Apple displays with HDMI. Easily connect to Apple TV
9. New iTunes 8 after the show.
10. iPhone update with new features never been announced.

We'll probably hear about Starbucks, Microsoft Office 2K8 with Roz Ho, AT&T Pres about 3G and the show will end with musical talent (possibly a black male).

Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, Movies

I have these very old memories of a movie I watched when I was 9-12 (1981-1984).

I can't seem to put it together and figure out the story line. But it was a time when having cable television meant no commercials.

I watched the movie dozens of times.

If anybody knows where I can get the Galaxy Express movie (not TV show) that played on Showtime or HBO in the early 80's please forward that info.

Tags: Galaxy Express

I've seen all three movies and this one (IMO) is the best by far. The racing style is much more interesting and the story isn't bad. Drifting is awesome to watch if you're not familiar with it. This movie is filmed in some beautiful and colorful locations. It's interesting to see the different culture of Tokyo, even if it is tailored for americans.

The characters are good but the story is about the racing so the plot is a little thin. I enjoyed it a lot, I didn't try to figure out what was going to happen next or what movie a particular scene resembled. I just sat back and watched some awesome race scenes, beautiful scenery and a look at Tokyo that makes me want to go there.

The thing about this movie I like the most is it makes me feel young. There's something about the music and the racing combined that lift me up.

The producers think that we must see domestic vehicles in the movies which I think is unnecessary. Lots of base and hi-revving cars, plus the soundtrack is pretty cool. I enjoyed it a lot and will see it again when it's released on DVD.

You can see the trailer here http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/thefastandthefurioustokyodrift/

Or visit the official website http://www.thefastandthefurious.com/

Updated 01-21-2008, I bought the movie the day it was released on DVD and have watched it dozens of times. It's on my MacBook and my iPhone.

Tags: THE FAST and THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, Review

Last night my wife and I watched this movie.

I typically don't shop at Wal-Mart anyway, I just don't like the look and feel of their stores. After watching this movie I have even less to like about this company.

I'm not saying that I've never shopped at Wal-Mart but the few times I've gone to Wal-Mart they never have what I'm looking for anyway.

I started making jokes with my wife last year that Wal-Mart and Kroger are the devil. Since I don't usually shop there anyway does this affect me?

Yes it does because I'm a Sam's Club Business Member. I'm going to let the info in the movie sink into my brain and do a little research of my own. If I can't find where this movie is nothing more than Union Propaganda then I will be canceling my Sam's Club membership. Does one person canceling their membership make a difference, no, but it will remove me from being part of the problem.

I don't recommend anyone take my word for it, watch the movie http://www.walmartmovie.com/, do the research and make up your own mind.

I rented this movie from Blockbuster so you don't have to buy it to see it. But I recommend you see it, if the movie is as accurate as it appears to be Wal-Mart has ruined a lot of towns.

This movie is as moving and educational as Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me. Which I recommend you also rent.

Tags: Walmart: The High Price of Low Cost, Review

If you were a fan of the TV series FireFly then buy the DVD set, watch all 14 episodes then go see Serenity.

If you're not familiar with FireFly then checkout the movie Serenity. And then when you want more go buy the DVD set of Firefly.

I'm a fanboy of the series because it's that good. While the first two weeks indicate that this movie is not a Spider-Man blockbuster. It could very easily be a sleeper hit as people continue to review how good it is and new viewers are going to see it every week.

The more people that see the better all our chances are of seeing sequels.

GO SEE THIS MOVIE, NOW.

Tags: Serenity, Review

Without question the single best Batman movie ever. I hope they reintroduce all of the villains using this format.

If you haven't seen it, go, go now.

Tags: Batman Begins

By Rob Jones

The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut DVD Alternate Review.

"SPOILER ALERT" IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE, THIS REVIEW WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU.

I have now watched the movie six times and almost every single thing there is on the DVD and my opinion of how things happened has change three times so far.
This review is my opinion #2 of how things happened the second time I thought I had it figured out. I don't even remember the first one anymore.

If we are to believe that the movie progresses linearly then some thought changes have to be made from my other review in order to understand it.

Let's say for instance that the first 30 minutes of the movie progress exactly the way they were shown to us.
Meaning that all of the events happen in the exact order that we see it.

This review believes that time travel came before the blackouts. Meaning that all blackouts were directly caused by Evan's time travel.
Rule 1. Blackouts are caused by Evan's time travel, the events are not blocked from Evan's memory, they don't exist yet.
Meaning that these events won't happen in Evan's mind until he time travels and fills them in.
Rule 2. Blackouts are events in which time travel can fill them in for the first time and returned to and changed for alternate outcomes.

The beginning of the movie.
We are being shown what Evan did to time travel when he no longer had his journals.
1. The first time we see this scene it's as if he already knows how it's going to play out and kicks the door in first and slams it closed. We are shown this scene first.
2. The second time he sneaks through hall to the door and pushes it with hand then kicks it in quietly closing it. We are shown this scene second.

While the scenes are obviously different the directors may have just wanted show the same event from a different point of view.

Later in the movie when Evan tells the doctor to give him his journals and the doctor tells Evan that his Dad (Jason) was always asking for a photo-album. This is when we see Evan realize for the first time that his Dad used a photo-album and that's when he realized he was not limited to using the journals to time travel.

The classroom blackout
This was Evan trying to prove to Carlos that he talks to Jesus so Carlos would agree to help Evan get his journals back.
We see the first page of all his journals in the prison scene with Carlos, it starts " Dear Journal Mom says that I have to write in you because wensday I got in trouble for a drawing I didnt do.
1. The first time he drew the picture of the dead men. We were shown this event first.
2. The second time he drew the dead men and impaled his hands on Mrs. Boswell's note posts. We were shown this event second.
After the second time when he impaled himself a lot of people think that this would be a huge event, I think you could simply chalk it up to he was about to be taken to the doctor anyway. I don't get how Carlos would see the hand scars appear for the first time, shouldn't they be in his memory if Evan had them before going to prison. It's a couple of small plot holes that you have to live with.

Another problem with this event is that it doesn't makes sense, why did it happen twice. This should have only happened once when he was proving to Carlos.
What would be the purpose in going back just to draw the picture (without the impaling) like we are shown at the beginning of the movie.

This is when Evan's Mom (Andrea Treborn) takes Evan (probably the same day) to Sunnyvale Institute and Dr. Redfield suggests the journals.

The kitchen blackout
This was Evan's attempt at disturbing the blockbuster.
1. The first time he grabbed a knife hoping somehow this would disturb the blockbuster. We were shown this event first.
3. The second time we are just seeing the same scene that was shown to us earlier in the movie.
But I did notice he was trying to put the knife in his pocket, I don't know if this means he was going to take the knife with him to the Miller's house or if he was trying to freak out his Mom.

The basement blackout
This was Evan attempting to change George so that Kayleigh was not molested as a child.
1. The first time he probably had just finished removing his cloths. We were not shown this event, but we are shown the moments after.
Another thought, this is also the only blackout in the movie that has not yet been effected by Evan's time travel. Or has it?
This is the third time we see Evan time travel knowing fully that he is in control of the event.
2. The second time he gave George and piece of his mind. We were shown this event first.
3. The third time he blew up Kayleigh. We were shown this event second.
This scene is weird because we are to believe that the blockbuster was in the same place six years prior to the mailbox scene.

I've read a lot of people opinions on whether Evan and Kayleigh actually had sex as children and I think I can confirm that by saying no. Here's why, his black out starts from the time he was outside to the time he was in the basement with his clothes off. No more than a few minutes. They barely had enough time to get down to the basement and have George convince them to take off their clothes. Kayleigh was probably just embarrassed by having to take here clothes off in front of Evan nothing ever happened between them. When Evan goes to question Kayleigh about that event later as an adult she is reminded of all the abuse she received from her father as a child, not that one event in the basement with Evan. And when Tommy later says "Why did you have to _uck with mine", I'm certain he was referring to Evan and Kayleigh's kiss at the movie theatre.

Plot hole killer. In the first 30 minutes of the movie we are shown six blackouts. One, two, four, five, and six show us what happens after Evan time travels.
The third blackout progresses through the movie as thought it hasn't been altered by time travel yet. This makes things very confusing for linear thinkers.

This is the most disturbing blackout because it doesn't fit the rule.
If we are to believe that all of the blackouts are caused by time travel then we are also to conclude that the original basement scene actually happened to the adult Evan time traveling to that event.

The Dad blackout
This was Evan's attempt to see if his Dad could help him fix the problems he had caused.
1. The first time he asked his Dad how to fix what he messed up. We were shown this event first.

We were not shown any other changes to this blackout.

The mailbox blackout
This is the second time we see Evan time travel but he realizes after seeing the scar that it wasn't just a flashback, he was actually in control.
1. The first time he drops his cigarette and gives himself a scar. We were shown this event first.
2. The second time he runs to save the lady and gets blown up. We were shown this event second.

The junkyard blackout
This is the first time we see Evan time travel but I'm certain that he thought it was nothing more than a flash back.
1. The first time we see Evan trip in mid-run only to be hit in the head by Tommy. He tripped because he time traveled into a mid-run.
2. The second time we see Evan telling Lenny to use the shard to cut the rope and after tripping he convinces Tommy not to kill the dog.

I'm still confused by the fact that the junkyard blackout seems to be two separate blackouts.

After this event the Treborn's move.

Time Progression. I think that time passed normally for Evan throughout the movie, I think as he made changes time continued on as normal for him. Example, from the first time he time traveled to the last, several weeks or months had passed.

The blackouts are caused by Evan's time travel.
The blackouts lasted exactly the same amount of time Evan would time travel and project himself into the past.

More twists, if you get the part about his dad then you understand that The Butterfly Effect is not the first part of the story.
In the Director's Cut Evan ends the curse. By making sure he is never born the curse dies with him.
In the Theatrical Release he does not end the curse, he only makes things good enough to stop the time travel.
I think this because there is an entire story line about the Grandfather (Edward), Father (Jason) and possibly Andrea's two previous stillborn children that are never fully realized.
Here's what I mean, Evan was never really born the first time, the father used a photo-album to go back in time and change something that made sure he was not stillborn like Andrea's two previous pregnancies. Then he realized that he changed more than just that one event and tried to fix it, which is why he wanted his son dead, because he was never suppose to be born.

They could do prequels on the Fathers and Grandfathers experiences alone. They must have continued to try and make changes until they ended up in the mental institution without something to escape. Jason being stuck there Evan went on to effect everything around him and inherited the same curse of time travel.

I've read peoples opinions on the difference between the directors cut and theatrical version.
The theatrical version was cut together to please New Line for those who must have a Hollywood ending.
In my honest opinion the Director's Cut is exactly the way the movie was suppose to end and I prefer it.
The directors also indicate that this was always the original ending

The Theatrical Release may have a hole as well. Was the video of him meeting Kayleigh for the first time a blackout that was never shown, because without a blackout how is he to time travel? This is another reason why I don't think the Theatrical Release is the original. Also, after the last time travel wouldn't he be dead from the brain hemorrhaging?
I do suppose that if he had a blackout at his party then even he would barely have noticed due to all the commotion and from the beginning to the end of the blackout, very little would have changed with his party. Just like no one would have noticed a blackout in the womb.

Director's Cut = Original ending.
Theatrical Release = Hollywood ending.

My wife and I don't watch That 70's Show, with that in mind we both thought Ashton Kutcher did a great job with this character.

http://www.butterflyeffectmovie.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289879/

This review is based on a linear thinking and there are lots of holes, that's why I think it might actually be wrong.
If this is the correct layout of the movie then after six years of trying to get it made I would think they had plenty of time to fill in the holes.

What did I think of the movie, I really liked it and give it an A+ for invoking a high level of thought that few movies accomplish.

If the director's ever read this please correct any mistakes I've made. Some of the thoughts and theories here can be proven by the additional content on the DVD.
Other items can not be disproved by anyone but the directors themselves.

Tags: The Butterfly Effect, Review

By Rob Jones

The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut DVD Review.

"SPOILER ALERT" IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE, THIS REVIEW WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU.

I have now watched the movie six times and almost every single thing there is on the DVD and my opinion of how things happened has change three times so far.
This review is my opinion #3 of how things happened the third and final time I thought I had it figured out. I don't even remember the first one anymore.

This review believes that blackouts came before the time travel. Meaning that the blackouts were Evan's suppressed memories.
Rule 1. Blackouts are caused by Evan's time travel, the events happened normally the first time but were blocked from his mind because of the future changes.
Rule 2. Blackouts are events in which time travel can fill them in and returned to and changed for alternate outcomes.

The beginning of the movie.
I think the beginning of the movie hints to us that this was not the first time Evan got trapped in the institution.
1. The first time we see this scene it's as if he already knows how it's going to play out and kicks the door in first and slams it closed. Once in the room he reaches for the movies and remembers to move the couch.
2. The second time he sneaks through hall to the door and pushes it with hand then kicks it in quietly closing it. Once in the room he pushes the couch in front of the door.

I think he probably got trapped in the institution many times and used the home movies to change something different each time.

Later in the movie when Evan tells the doctor to give him his journals and the doctor tells Evan that his Dad (Jason) was always asking for a photo-album. This is when we see Evan realize for the first time that his Dad used a photo-album and that's when he realized he was not limited to using the journals to time travel.

The classroom blackout is an example of how we are not shown what happens the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout in the classroom.
We see the first page of all his journals in the prison scene with Carlos, it starts " Dear Journal Mom says that I have to write in you because wensday I got in trouble for a drawing I didnt do.
1. The first time he probably just drew a picture. We were not shown this event.
2. The second time he drew the picture of the dead men. We were shown this event first.
3. The third time he drew the dead men and impaled his hands on Mrs. Boswell's note posts. We were shown this event second.
After the third time when he impaled himself a lot of people think that this would be a huge event, I think you could simply chalk it up to he was about to be taken to the doctor anyway. I don't get how Carlos would see the hand scars appear for the first time, shouldn't they be in his memory if Evan had them before going to prison. It's a couple of small plot holes that you have to live with.

Another problem with this event is that it doesn't makes sense, why did it happen twice. This should have only happened once when he was proving to Carlos.
What would be the purpose in going back just to draw the picture (without the impaling) like we are shown at the beginning of the movie.

This is when Evan's Mom (Andrea Treborn) takes Evan (probably the same day) to Sunnyvale Institute and Dr. Redfield suggests the journals.

The kitchen blackout is an example of how we are not shown what happens the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout in the kitchen.
1. The first time he probably just ate his cereal. We were not shown this event.
2. The second time he grabbed a knife hoping somehow this would disturb the blockbuster. We were shown this event first.
3. The third time we are just seeing the same scene that was shown to us earlier in the movie.
But I did notice he was trying to put the knife in his pocket, I don't know if this means he was going to take the knife with him to the Miller's house or if he was trying to freak out his Mom.

The basement blackout is also an example of how we are not shown what happened the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout in the basement.
1. The first time he probably had just finished removing his cloths. We were not shown this event, but we are shown the moments after the original event.
Another thought, this is also the only blackout in the movie that has not yet been effected by Evan's time travel.
2. The second time he gave George and piece of his mind. We were shown this event first.
This is the third time we see Evan time travel knowing fully that he is in control of the event.
3. The third time he blew up Kayleigh. We were shown this event second.
This scene is weird because we are to believe that the blockbuster was in the same place six years prior to the mailbox scene.

I've read a lot of people opinions on whether Evan and Kayleigh actually had sex as children and I think I can confirm that by saying no. Here's why, his black out starts from the time he was outside to the time he was in the basement with his clothes off. No more than a few minutes. They barely had enough time to get down to the basement and have George convince them to take off their clothes. Kayleigh was probably just embarrassed by having to take here clothes off in front of Evan nothing ever happened between them. When Evan goes to question Kayleigh about that event later as an adult she is reminded of all the abuse she received from her father as a child, not that one event in the basement with Evan. And when Tommy later says "Why did you have to _uck with mine", I'm certain he was referring to Evan and Kayleigh's kiss at the movie theatre.

Plot hole killer. In the first 30 minutes of the movie we are shown six blackouts. One, two, four, five, and six show us what happens after Evan time travels.
The third blackout progresses through the movie as thought it hasn't been altered by time travel yet. This makes things very confusing for linear thinkers.

The Dad blackout is also an example of how we are not shown what happened the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout when meeting his Dad.
1. The first time he probably just rambled on about how much they had in common. We were not shown this event, but we are shown the moments after the original event.
2. The second time he asked his Dad how to fix what he messed up. We were shown this event first.

I think his Dad tried to kill him every time this event happened.

The mailbox blackout is also an example of how we are not shown what happened the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout by the mailbox.
1. The first time he probably just stood there and then ran when it when it went off. We were not shown this event.
2. The second time he drops his cigarette and gives himself a scar. We were shown this event first.
This is the second time we see Evan time travel but he realizes after seeing the scar that it wasn't just a flashback, he was actually in control.
3. The third time he runs to save the lady and gets blown up. We were shown this event second.

The junkyard blackout is an example of how we are shown a portion of what happened the first time that event occurred.
Examples of his blackout at the junkyard.
1. The first time we see them jump the car and run to the fire. We were only shown the first half of this event.
2. The second time we see Evan trip after getting up only to be hit in the head.
This is the first time we see Evan time travel but I'm certain that he thought it was nothing more than a flash back.
3. The third time we see Evan telling Lenny to use the shard to cut the rope.
I'm watching it a 5th time to make sure I have this one correct.

I'm still confused by the fact that the junkyard blackout seems to be two separate blackouts.

After this event the Treborn's move.

Time Progression. I think that time passed normally for Evan throughout the movie, I think as he made changes time continued on as normal for him. Example, from the first time he time traveled to the last, several weeks or months had passed.

I think he had many blackouts that were not shown in the movie as well as variations of time travel that were not shown.

More twists, if you get the part about his dad then you understand that The Butterfly Effect is not the first part of the story.
In the Director's Cut Evan ends the curse. By making sure he is never born the curse dies with him.
In the Theatrical Release he does not end the curse, he only makes things good enough to stop the time travel.
I think this because there is an entire story line about the Grandfather (Edward), Father (Jason) and possibly Andrea's two previous stillborn children that are never fully realized.
Here's what I mean, Evan was never really born the first time, the father used a photo-album to go back in time and change something that made sure he was not stillborn like Andrea's two previous pregnancies. Then he realized that he changed more than just that one event and tried to fix it, which is why he wanted his son dead, because he was never suppose to be born.

They could do prequels on the Fathers and Grandfathers experiences alone. They must have continued to try and make changes until they ended up in the mental institution without something to escape. Jason being stuck there Evan went on to effect everything around him and inherited the same curse of time travel.

I've read peoples opinions on the difference between the directors cut and theatrical version.
The theatrical version was cut together to please New Line for those who must have a Hollywood ending.
In my honest opinion the Director's Cut is exactly the way the movie was suppose to end and I prefer it.
The directors also indicate that this was always the original ending

The Theatrical Release may have a hole as well. Was the video of him meeting Kayleigh for the first time a blackout that was never shown, because without a blackout how is he to time travel? This is another reason why I don't think the Theatrical Release is the original. Also, after the last time travel wouldn't he be dead from the brain hemorrhaging?
I do suppose that if he had a blackout at his party then even he would barely have noticed due to all the commotion and from the beginning to the end of the blackout, very little would have changed with his party. Just like no one would have noticed a blackout in the womb.

Director's Cut = Original ending.
Theatrical Release = Hollywood ending.

My wife and I don't watch That 70's Show, with that in mind we both thought Ashton Kutcher did a great job with this character.

http://www.butterflyeffectmovie.com/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289879/

Here is the mistake that most people make, they think the movie is linear and it's not. There would be an insurmountable number of plot holes if it were linear.
We don't always see what happened the first time and don't always see things in the actual or original order they happened.

What did I think of the movie, I really liked it and give it an A+ for invoking a high level of thought that few movies accomplish.

If the director's ever read this please correct any mistakes I've made. Some of the thoughts and theories here can be proven by the additional content on the DVD.
Other items can not be disproved by anyone but the directors themselves.

Tags: The Butterfly Effect, Review