Widescreen

"Paul Blart: Mall Cop" is No. 1 at the box office for the second week in a row, and they could apparently use him over at Woodfield today. I haven't seen "Paul Blart" yet, and probably won't until it inevitably plays three nights in a row on TBS around this time next year, but I don't think its popularity is a sign of the end times or anything. (But this picture might be.)

Why is the success of "Paul Blart" -- a kid-friendly comedy that, I'm guessing, is playing mostly to families -- bothersome to so many people? Check out some of the reactions online:

After "Revolutionary Road" was over, I found myself literally jumping up and down in the parking lot of the AMC 30 in South Barrington.

"That movie was so damn good," I told my sisters, who agreed. I kept repeating it. This happens a few times year -- I see a movie so good that it can't be expressed in words alone. It happened three times in 2007, with "There Will Be Blood," "Zodiac" and "Ratatouille."

The trailers for "Revolutionary Road" admittedly make it look like a whiny bore. Does the world need another movie full of beautiful people living in a beautiful home with their beautiful children who just can't stand how ... beautiful their lives are? At first, "Revolutionary Road" seems like an extremely well-made variation of that story, directed by Sam "American Beauty" Mendes, of all people. It gets by on its '60s atmosphere and the undeniable star power of its two leads for a good long while. If we're going to watch two people scream at each other, it might as well be Kate and Leo.

But "American Beauty" veered into fantasyland with its sitcom plot points and its sarcastic, over-the-top performance by Kevin Spacey. "Revolutionary Road" stays firmly in the real world, and it all feels so ... right.

The nominees for the 81st Academy Awards have been announced, and the fanboys are none too happy.

"The Academy just slit their own throats," proclaimed Harry Knowles, editor of aintitcool.com. A reader named Halik at joblo.com cried out: "CURSE THE HEAVENS!!!" One particularly disgusting post at IMDB.com blasted the Academy for forcing the gay agenda on America by nominating "Milk," and wondered: "maybe if bruce wayne came out then TDK would be in there too."

Yes, this is what happens when an Academy full of pseudo-intellectuals, Old Hollywood cronies and pompous blowhards declines to nominate a superhero movie as best picture.

I'll be blogging after every "Lost" episode this season. Spoiler warning, naturally.

"Lost" has picked up right where it left off last summer: The best modern example of science fiction, the most exciting show on TV, a production of feature-film quality, an enjoyable headtrip, and a mosaic of lovable, indelible characters.

The first hour of the season premiere was like a giant love letter to the hardcores. The opening scene managed to pay homage to Desmond's introduction at the bottom of the Swan Station, show us our first glimpse of Dr. Marvin Candle away from an orientation film, and proved that Faraday has been on the island before.

The Academy's shortlist will be announced Thursday morning at 7:30. Let's see how many of my predictions come true tomorrow:

Spoiler warning in effect.

We're in the homestretch, my fellow Losties. We are but two days from the "Lost" season premiere, and I can't bear the anticipation. How can anyone function this week? (And what's all this about some big event in Washington tomorrow? Anyone?!)

I've been catching bits and pieces of seasons 3 and 4 in the last few weeks and watching every "Lost"-themed video I can find on YouTube. It is all-consuming -- well, when I'm not at work or playing Rock Band 2. (Of course, I'm at work now, writing this, so I guess I can't escape it there either.)

So here's one last bit of business before the wee hours of Thursday morning, when I'll hopefully be writing my ecstatic, post-work reaction to "Because You Left" and "Lies," the first two episodes of Season 5.

Sean's Ten Super Awesome "Lost" Moments:

Two weeks ago, I complained that I wasn't getting my money's worth out of the Nintendo Wii.

I'm done whining. Oh, the joys of online gaming.

For sixty bucks, here's what I was able to buy last night from the online WiiShop:

"Ghostbusters" hits stores on June 19. Yowza.

Jan. 21 is almost here. Check out these awesome videos from YouTube user campetin:

The Island

"The Fifth Element"
Directed by Luc Besson
Screenplay by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen
Released May 9, 1997

The first poster for "The Fifth Element" was intriguing. It didn't even give the title. It featured white letters on a star field, reading: "IT MU5T BE FOUND." The 5 appeared to be on fire. (Click here for the image.) I vaguely remember reading about the film in a Starlog or an Empire at the Waldenbooks in Woodfield, and I still had no idea what the heck the movie was; I guess that was the idea.

When TV ads appeared, they trumpeted one critic's bold quote: "THE 'STAR WARS' OF THE '90s!" In 1997, a quote like that really meant something; just two years later, it would have seemed more like a threat than a promise. That quote promised unparalleled visual effects, lovable characters and classic storytelling. And that's more or less what "The Fifth Element" delivered -- in addition to truly absurd comedy, outlandish costume and set design, and a manic pace that almost overwhelms.