When it gets too much: walking out of movies

Sometimes people ask me if critics get hardened to movies — if we never laugh, cry, or gasp in horror; if the images that we see are simply passing before our eyes, to be noted rather than experienced. I can only speak for myself, but the answer is no. What I see in a dark theater often stays with me long afterward, for good or ill. “Wolf Creek” sickened me, to the point that I couldn’t be in the same room with it any more.

Having walked out once, I’ve no intention of making a practice of it. But I’m not sorry I made an early exit from “Wolf Creek.” I only wish I’d done it sooner, so the sound of that screaming wouldn’t still be echoing in my head.

Seattle Times: ‘A first: a movie that made this critic walk out’

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Microsoft gets slapped over EU ruling

Microsoft faces fines of up to €2 million (£1.36m) a day, after failing to comply with a European Commission ruling that found the company had broken competition rules.

“I would like to stress that we expect of course Microsoft to comply with the March 2004 decision and not with their own interpretation of the March 2004 decision” Neelie Kroes, the EU Competition Commissioner, said.

The Times: Microsoft faces €2m daily fine

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Zeitgeist according to Google

This years Google Zeitgeist is out, and as usual, it’s a hoot. Where do people go for their news when there’s a real crisis, who’s the most interesting to the public: Brad, Angelina or Jennifer? Compare and contrast the searches of the past year with the power of Google’s analysis behind you, telling the tale.

Google Press Center: Zeitgeist

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I thought I was gay

But I’m nowhere near as gay as my sisters. This is the problem with coming home for the holidays; I can hear them two floors below me, singing acapella to the Chordettes classic, Mr Sandman. Seriously, is it possible to be any more faggy?!

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