PLEA FOR MORE PATIENCE - Interesting posts from Joeyc and newcomer Meep Womp in the Feedback Forum. I'm inspired to comment on them except that... well, except that this week has left me utterly inspired. It seems that Sam and Eric are just as busy this week too. I need some more time to recharge and, perhaps, even rethink the purpose of this blog. CS will be back Monday morning, hopefully with a review of 'The Recruit' and at least one other movie. If you have any words of inspiration or suggestions for topics to discuss, please send them my way.

In the meantime, Eric's got a little something to chew on.

ODDS AND ENDS - Just thought Joey C's post about his new favorite movie in the Feedback Forum was appropriate, since I've also seen two movies recently that would have made my top 5 from last year, had I seen them then. One, Hell House is just gold. Top film of the year, hands down. The other, starting tonight at the Bijou in Iowa City, is Chain Camera, and is still quite good, top 5 good, just not as funny. It can get a little Degrassi Jr. High at times, but still excellent. And if you couldn't already tell, I'm a big documentary fan. Adam, Sam, any recommendations?

It's official, our readers like 'North by Northwest' as the best Hitchcock film of all time, in a poll containing 3 votes. I would have to agree with this declaration, and I think most others would too that have seen a fair deal of Hitchcock. Maybe a better question is his 2nd best film since he has such a vast body of work. There are certainly tons to choose from: Rope, Dial M for Murder, Rebecca, Strangers on a Train, Sabotage, Spellbound, Rear Window; the list boggles the mind. But my choice would have to be Notorious, a little Cary Grant/Ingrid Bergman ditty about the Nazis. Has that old-school Hollywood sheen most Hitchcock films don't reflect until the late 50s. Vote on the Feedback Forum.

One last item, which may become a permanent feature if I can find enough of them regularly: The Hollywood Gasbag. Actual quotes from actual movie critics about recent movies.

David Sheehan, CBS Los Angeles, 'Shanghai Knights' - "Hysterical! A comic kung fu colossus!" There you have it, complete with exclamation points.

E-mail CinemaScoped@attbi.com or start a discussion in the Feedback Forum