Knick-knacks

Here are a few things I'm thinking about while being a girl's camp-induced single father:

• CBS announced today that my favorite reality show, The Amazing Race, will return for its 13th edition on September 28. Though loved by the Emmys (it's the only show to win in the Outstanding Reality Competition category since it was introduced in 2003), it has never been as popular as other reality staples like Survivor or American Idol. Sunday is my least-favorite day on which it has aired (harder to turn into a social event), but at least it's coming back.
• The reviews for Pixar's latest, Wall-E, have been nothing short of stellar. I already couldn't wait to see it, but some of these snippets have gotten me even more excited:
  
• "Dangerously close to the sublime..."
• "2008's first perfect film and one of the best Pixar projects of all time."
• "A jewel of a film in conception, execution and message."
• "Some day, there will be college courses devoted to this movie."
• Wendy and I rented a few movies recently, none of which I have made time to formally review:
  
• Fool's Gold is trashy and not nearly fun enough to justify its sleaziness.
  
• Jumper is mildly exciting, with an interesting concept that could lead to a good sequel, but gets bogged down by wooden acting and too-little back story.
  
• Cloverfield is the dizziest, dumbest disappointment I've seen in a looong time.
• Lars and the Real Girl is probably the most unexpected delight we've stumbled upon in recent years; it's warm, quirky, and ultimately redeeming. (Don't worry about its kinky premise, it's not really what you think.)
  
• Finally, I saw Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in theaters over the past couple of weeks. Iron Man, as you have probably heard, is energetic, witty, and a lot of fun. (Robert Downey, Jr. is perfect as Tony Stark.) Hulk, on the other hand, is perhaps even more disappointing than the 2003 art house version. It's louder, yes, but mayhem and explosions do not always a good movie make. It's really a joyless affair; sort of like a less heartfelt version of King Kong. That's twice that Universal/Marvel have gotten money from me to see the big green fellow destroy things and twice I've felt cheated. If this movie makes its money back and the studio makes another (which at this point is unlikely), it's going to take some supernatural powers to get me to give it a third try.