Another summer has gone and yet again the film industry sees steady losses. Why? Has the internet and video games industry taken more of the summer blockbuster pie? Are the movies that are being released less appealing than the previous years? While some of this is true its not the true underlining cause. The reason for these losses is simple. Movies are coming out on DVD way too soon.

When I was a kid I remember that if you didn't see a film while it was in the theater. You had to wait a long time for it to be shown on regularTV. Sometimes it took 4 whole years or more. So there was a more need to rush and see a film before it was gone. Newspaper ads used to announce a films final weeks in the theater. There was more of an urgency to see a film before it was too late. Seeing a film on TV paled in comparison. With censorship, commercial and a small screen using standard mono sound.

Flash forward to now and you have only to wait 6 to 4 months (or less if the film didn't fare well in theaters) for movies. I'm sure we have all heard the phrase "I'll wait for the video" And why not, its cheaper and with HDTV and 7.1 surond sound its actually better. The coming of the Cell Phone has made the occasional chatter into a constant stream and those cell phone lights pull you away from the movie. I remember discount theater that would show a film 6 months later at a $2 rate for a double feature. Now if you wait that amount of time you can rent or buy the film. So the question comes to mind is: Why pay full price if I can wait and see it at home on my HDTV with 7.1 True HD Sound. Why pay for overpriced candy and popcorn when I can see it at home to a full cooked meal? Hollywood has yet to address this cause they still make money in the end. Many films that make subpar box office in theaters can make a killing on DVD/Blu Ray Disc release.

No, its the Theaters that suffer. The old projection screen is lacking next to HDTV. While THX is a great sound system. Many 7.1 system can provide superior sound at home. Seeing a film one time for $10 to $14 doesn't compare to renting it for $3.99 or buying it for 14.99 to $29.99 and getting special features. Many movies I would have seen years ago in the theater, I have elected to see at home via netflix or cable tv. The urgency is gone and with it the need to see a movie anytime soon. With video on demand I can wait months before seeing a film. Video game consoles like Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 offer movie rentals now. Ipod, PSP, Zune and many mp3 players makes it possible to watch a major release films only months later during my lunch hour.

Seeing a film in the theater for full price to only see it being watched by someone on the bus can be a humbling experience. So much that the next must see film might get a "I'll wait for the video"

I've been very disappointed with smallville of late. With the same pothole that made the Adv of Lois and Clark a joke,the on again off again relationships. Chloe and Jimmy, Lois and Oliver, Clark and Lana, Lex and Lana its just unimaginitive!

When they started introducing other DC heroes I was excited. but they gave us the lame patrol Not the Justice league. No Batman, even a young pre costume bruce wayne during his wandering years. He's investigating misuse of waynetech. It leads to Lex and together they foil his plans. Yet Lionel is sure the stranger looked familiar. Clark finds out little about Bruce, he never gives his real name. Before parting Bruce says to Clark that "All it takes for evil to succeed is for Good Men to stand around and do nothing" Later Lionel looks through a year book and seens a face similiar to Bruce under Thomas Wayne. No we got Flash, Cyborg, Green Arrow and a surf dude version of Aquaman. (Thank God that series is on a shelf where it can do no harm)

Then they made Lois ditzy as a sterotypical dumb blonde.Lois should have been a more serious character. Playing the Scully to Chloe's Mulder. She's should have been learning to be a reporter from the start and a better one than Chloe because Lois wouldn't report on meteor freaks cause its too sensational and won't be believe. Lois would either drop the story or tweak out the unbelievable parts. She wants to be taken serious in the male dominated field and reporting about shape shifting gossip reporters won't do it. Its all preordained that she will be one of the world's greatest reporters. However Lois on smallville wandered about with no true purpose. We all know that she is Clark's true destiny. Adding her should have been an opportunity to show the flaws of Lana and Chloe. Its way too early for Lois and Clark to have an type of realationship. Lois should have become Clark's friend. Not wanting to be saved or loved just someone he could talk to. Without knowing Clark's secret Lois gives advice that will help him become Superman. Lois has always had this belief in truth of the press and the freedom America gives. But those freedoms must be used and fought for otherwise they can disappear without notice. She calls Clark "Smallville" cause he sorta naive and needs to grow to see the world many shades of grey. Something Lois has seen first hand traveling with her father in the Army. I could have been told in flashback that Lois was part of a convoy that was attacked. And that Lois endured the harshships of being a child of war for a time before she was resqued. Series like Smallville before tiresome because the characters don't seem real, they lack dimension or purpose. At this stage Lois sees Clark as an little brother and a friend. She not a threat to Lana but as Lana choices become more regretable. We watch as Clark who thought Lana was everything he wanted loses that glimmer in his eye and starts to wonder if this is what he truly wants. And starts to see Lois with different eyes.

Why does Hollywood feel every girl lead must be filled by a sexy starlet with very little or no talent except a bra size. Lois shouldn't be played by a glamous girl. If anything it says something about Superman. That its not about looks but personality and inner character that attracts him. Lana was a young Clarks idea of beauty. However as the season prgressed Clark matured in his definition of what that beauty was. I feel the part of Lois should have gone to a pretty girl but a subtle type of beauty. The type that doesn't overwhelm you. That the actress should have been someone with actual acting skill and range. TV sucks cause instead of looking for talent in acting schools and off broadway plays casting agents are looking in this month's issue of Maxim.

This Hail Mary with Doomsday and Maxima is just desperate attempt by writers to lure back many fans from Heroes which takes the story of superheroes more seriously. Superheroes were always seen as a less serious type of literiture. But as we have watched batman go from campy to serious to downright poingiant in Dark Knight. So should have the writing of Smallville. Its not bigger special effects but more honest and deeper stories with a suprising amount of action that isn't there for sweeps week but actually makes sense and shows the conflicts that a struggle of good vs evil can bring.

I love GameSpot. Its fair and balance coverage of E3 is one of the many reason for this. Sure i stray and look at other websites for information. But if I want truly good coverage I need only go to GameSpot. Which brings me to TV video game coverage. Everybody knows that G4 is king of TV coverage due to a lack of others to compete for the spot.

I have a Playstation 3 and its been a rough road to travel. Even GameSpot seem to take a negative view of the system. However, as the system started getting more games and better media functions this negative coverage became praise. But not for G4. They continue to praise the Xbox360. They totally ignored the Red ring of death topic and gave the 360 a pass on the whole affair. When Halo 3 was coming out they devouted an entire week to the game. Gave multiple hands on interviews with the developers and basically bulit a hype for the game. (Granted their efforts weren't need the game rocks without it) My point is that when the Playstation 3 comes out with a great game it doesn't get anywhere near the same type of coverage.

This brings us to E3. Microsoft was given a commerical free presentation of their press conference. Followed by each host take on the event. Later Adam Sessler gave a soapbox short commenting on the conference. He praised the Final Fantasy news. Now remember Sessler has said in the past he hates Final Fantasy. That he finds it boring. But with news of Xbox 360 getting it. He says wow that's increbible news. He says Fable looks great and can't wait for Fallout 3, more on that one later. So after sitting through this day dedicated to Xbox 360 I come back the next day looking forward to seeing what Sony has in store for the Playstation 3. but there's nothing here. More coverage of Gears of war and Fallout 3. I'm told if I want to see Sony's conference I have to go to G4's web site. So no after conference commentary? and If I'm one of the millions of American's with no internet access I guess I'm SOL. Sessler does his soapbox but instead of reviewing Nintendo and Sony separate he does a quickie review of both and makes it seem like either was worth seeing. Later G4 does a poll on who had the best news. No shock here! Microsoft wins cause even if I do have internet access. Most viewers were sure to see the Microsoft press conference many didn't see Nintendo's or Sony's. And let's talk about Microsoft's conference. Most of the games were 3rd party multiplatformers that PS3,Wii,DS and PSP will get. So why did Microsoft act like it was their property alone. Why did G4 never mention that Fallout 3 will be for PS3 as well during hands on? Most of the news wasn't that stellar. Lips? your in the movies? a new Banjo game and Pinata game. Please. Yes Gears looks awesome! but Fable 2 looks sorta boring. Sony showed us Resistance 2, Killzone 2, LittlebigPlanet, God of War 3, DC online, New PSP games and PSN games like Rachet and Clank the search for booty and Siren 2 and topped it off with MAG a massive online game. They announced a videos and TV shows now availiable. Sure Xbox Live has more titles but it doesn't have the ability to port the shows and movies with you via PSP. Now I can take a show to school or work. While the Xbox is still stuck at home. The G4 acted like Fallout 3 was a exclusive to the Xbox. The loss of Final Fantasy as an exclusive is sad but not the end of the world. Remember for years Square has been making FF tltles for Playstation systems. I doubt this port will be all that good. So if your a true FF fan the best version will still be on the PS3. Microsoft announced avatars. and while the Miis are cool on the Wii. I've always looked at Microsoft and Sony as the systems to a more mature crowd as opposed to Nintendos little kid system. These Avatars don't fit. They look too cutesy for the Xbox and look like something Sanrio aka Hello Kitty would come up with. Home is making avatars that can actually resemble you or your dream you. Not a reject from a Nick jr. I don't see 13+ getting all excited with their toon version of themselves. With all of these announcments G4 declared Microsoft the winner. It was the only conference they bothered to show so I guess they decided before E3 who had won this show. So thank you GameSpot for being above all the petty console wars and remaining a true journalist and keeping with the fair and balanced tradition of that field.

Microsoft. Its no secret I'm not a fan of the Xbox 360. However I was expecting some really big announcements from them to counter the PS3's gaining on their year lead and bring it within 5 million in the US. Microsoft's Master, Bill Gates, a long time ago showed that he could take someone elses idea and rip it off very well. Microsoft was bragging about titles that the PS3 will get. Big Deal! This isn't a reason to jump ship from Sony and join the Microsoft crowd and the exclusive titles were sequels. If I didn't buy Gears of War or Fable before why would a sequel influence me now. No the evening was pretty much a demonstration of how Microsoft hasn't lost its touch when it comes to skillful art of Cut, Paste and Copy. Avatars! wow that sounds like Home. Lips? don't you mean Singstar? Viva Pinata rips off Eye of Judgements card loading abilities. and getting a francise like FF 13? I hear rumor its not the full version that the PS3 is due to Blu Ray to DVD port won't allow it. But we will see if that's true later.

The answer is very simple. Fantasy. Let me explain. Do you remember the original show? what attracted you to the show. The idea of having that kind of power and doing all sorts of cool and good things with it. Running and Jumping at incredible speeds and heights. Its a daydreamers best love.

Now after 20 years you bring it back. With today's new special effects and more sophisticated audience its bound to be a hit. Its a no brainer. Girls especially will lap it up and Guys will get an action show with a very pretty girl. However you let the writer's (who after this screw up have some nerve to ask for more money) go crazy. They make the bionics less cool by adding flaws. That a highly trained soildier can outwit your bionics and beat you. They are prone to malfuctions and finally, you have about five years to live unless we can fix a flaw with the new bionics. Now why in the world would I want this? Why would I fantasize about less power and a chance to die in five years?

Gone is the OSI a ultra cool spy outfit fighting the good fight. Now we have the burka instititute, an organization that doesn't know exactly whom they are working for from time to time. The original had a very small cast. This was so not to steal from the star of the show. Now you have way too many people with too many agendas. Its a confusing mess.

Jamie is played by a british actress. Now if that's not a slap in the face. Tons of American girls would love this role and they went to english woman. And yes the accent is good but you can tell she's not america Adding a sister to the cast was a stupid idea. we don't have time to babysit or hear about her whiny problems.

I was expecting to see a show about Jamie Summers with a deep theme like the morale implications of Cloning, Sleeper agents and experimentations on human. State of the art special effects. Its a sci fi show. We should have seen fights with Killer robots, Genetically enhanced spys, Mutants and Psychics. Not just regular spys. any average person can beat those. I thought that after the success of Heroes. NBC would pit Jamie against secret organizations give her "24/alias" like adventures with huge killer conspiracies. Not show her having a heart to heart with her teenage sister. Or wondering why that cute CIA agent hasn't called. WTF! I will not be surprised if the rumors of this shows cancellation are true.