Happy 4/20 Day.

In case you haven't noticed, DirecTV is about to premiere Premium VOD for the price of $29.95. This allows certain studios to have their product in your home only 60 days after its theatrical release. Now, I don't know a lot, which includes: Where is all the demand for this type of product coming from?

Certainly, in another 30-60 days, you'll get the normal PPV and DVD release for a much cheaper price. Plus, if you go the hardcopy route, you own the thing. The PR on this stuff seems to include a hard-to-quantify clamoring for "movie nights". Meaning call up the family, neighbors and friends. We're too cheap or inconvenienced to go to a theater. So, we'll spend $30 on the latest Ed Helms flick for a "Movie Night" at home. WTF?

I see this scenario. Good luck with the chip-ins on the $30. And you better have good popcorn and shut these people the hell up while I'm trying to watch this on your shitty TV. Of course, within the prescribed 48-hour download period.

James Cameron and some other Directors are honked off.

Seven questions about the service.

Theater owners hate the concept.

I still like going to the theaters. Love that timpani.

20th Century Fox Fanfare



Meal of Links

"Restrepo" is such a gut-wrencher to watch. One of its co-Directors, Tim Hetherington, was killed in Libya today. Lots more online, if you are interested.

What a cool project. They want to make an app for Matthew Modine's "Full Metal Jacket Diary". I hope they meet their funding goal.

News organizations are turning more to outside help for comment moderation. Troll through cleveland.com for some local gems.

Have you thought about locating some obscure movie or music? As this article states, everything is available. Nice mention of Dylan's "Hard Rain".

I have never seen "Top Gun". Well, the 25th anniversary is coming up and it's in theaters. But not locally. Whew!

Reddit has this AMA (Ask Me Anything) Feature. I think Danny Pudi showed up recently. Today, I was thinking, crap, I remembered this kid being interviewed in the aftermath of Columbine. 12 years later (yeah, time DOES fly), it's interesting to read his thoughts.

Columbine



A chat with Morgan Spurlock on his new doc. All about the promotion. Pom being the title sponsor. His suit reminds of Greg Kinnear in "Mystery Men". Hey, Sheetz is in it! Just had lunch there on Monday. I call it "The Grassy Knoll" because, well, that's where they are located. The flick debuts here in 2 weeks.

The descent of Charlie Sheen. From the crew.

Exercise Yard

Remember the tased guy at PNC Park. There was a woman yelling in the background to stop it. Well, she's a KDKA producer and yelled other things, as well. She's guilty.

Visitor

42 Down: Thurman of "Kill Bill" (3 letters) Answer: Uma ("Uma, Jerry, Uma!")