Reel Reviews -- N

Napoleon Dynamite (+) -- The concept is probably better than the execution, but this film still deserves attention and applause for its oddball sensibility. The auteurs do not fully commit to the details--it feels like the mid-80s, but some contemporary details sneak in to muddle the time frame--and that just seems sloppy. They also fail to be explicit in their thesis (that it's not so bad to be a geek, if you're strong about it). Subtlety is always welcome in this sledgehammer world, but in this case it might actually undermine the movie's statement. Overall, the movie is funny and offbeat enough to make it worth while, but it still leaves questions in the air. Posted 8/10/04.

Network (+) -- I suspect that this film has suffered with the passage of time. That's typical for old movies, but the wear and tear is more impactful with this flick. I'm sure it was great when it was a biting satire; since subsequent history has turned it into prophecy, the resulting reaction has to be one of sadness. The pseudo-romantic subplot doesn't work so well, but the characterization of the dangers of corporate media make this a primer that every informed citizen should see. Posted 3/7/05.

Never Been Kissed (+) -- So fluffy that you half expect the DVD to float right out of your hand--but nevertheless, very appealing.

For The Record, Scale Check

This probably barely qualifies as an update, but technically I did weigh in at less than my previous low weight, so there it is, in all it's glory. Actually, when I first stepped on the scale, the meter read 280.5, so half a pound less than the above (and 1.5 pounds less than the previous low). Then I stepped back on the scale with my iPhone and snapped the picture...but it was too blurry to use, so I had to try again. And on the third time I stepped up, I got the 281.0 reading. So apparently, while I was trying to take the above picture, I gained half a pound. Hmmm. Not sure how that works, but the point is, this new low register is actually a little more legit than it may seem in direct comparison with the last.

(This is also the second time in recent weeks I've seen a reading below the previous low of 282.0; I didn't count the last low reading because it was only 281.5--too close to the previous low to be outside the margin of error. But given the second reading below the previous mark, this becomes worth posting.)

What's notable here is that this low reading is coming in very early May. That's substantially earlier in the calendar year than I've seen previous low readings come up. The significance of that is, I've still got all of the Summer ahead to winnow that reading down even further. In previous years, I've seen my low point arrive in the middle or at the end of Summer, when there isn't as much time before the cold weather hits to keep the downward trend sustained. Thus, I am quite hopeful that the next few months will see even greater progress ahead.