Yes, I haven't been posting here in a while. Laziness is the strongest reason, followed closely by not having anything to post about. There was a 'Lost in the stacks' post I was planning, but it fell by the wayside when the latest issue of the comic I was to write about was pushed back to August (which is when I shall post the entry). I have been stumbling upon three short run comics that are strong contenders for future 'Lost in the stacks' columns.

I think I've sent more tweets than I've written blog posts all year (I don't feel like counting; it's probably neck and neck).

I've been planning a new feature here about soundtracks that I'm pretty sure no one else has. It's gonna be some time before that gets off the ground.

Also, in going through my old posts, I've found that my 'why I love movies' post is three years old. I should really update it and get it posted.

As soon as I find the list and finish drafting it, I'd also like to post '10 warning signs that the writers didn't care'. Yes, it's a post about animation.

I guess that's it.

Everything bold is new again.

For the first time in a long time, I got a full night's sleep on the eve of a Varese Sarabande CD Club announcement. Did I just forget about it, or was my subconscious protecting me from bad news? It's hard to forget about it when a specialty label announces seven new titles in one day, so the answer is obviously the latter.

In my "film music of 2011" post, I mentioned that the "Varese CD Club was, for the most part, swimming in a circle". This morning, that tradition continued.

Picking up the likes of Eye of the Needle and Amazing Grace and Chuck seems an inevitability as, respectively, I've grown fond of late-period Rozsa and ondes Martenot-heavy Bernstein scores are like crack cocaine.

Still, who said that we really need The Karate Kid Part III or The Clan of the Cave Bear?

The former points to a problem I've seen amongst film music labels: constant recycling of releases. I mean, sure, good for those who missed out on the box set pressed a few years ago (the main reason that these individual releases don't blow my skirt up), but there are scads more film scores to be released. I (and many others, I'm sure) was expecting the likes of The List of Adrian Messenger or Cape Fear...and by all logic, those titles should've already been released by Varese (save a cocktease that is as massive as it is pointless, why else would the last few years see Club releases of early-60s Goldsmith titles from Universal Studios?*).

Sadly, this disease is not exclusive to Varese. Intrada has truly raised the bar on specialty releases in the last few years, but did we really need two releases of Silvestri's Predator?! And the buzz has been deafening on a re-release of La La Land's out-of-print Star Trek V for tonight.

Is it too much to seek out different paths instead of trodding over the same ones?

* - Just so it's clear, I'm not some plebe who thinks that Goldsmith scored Cape Fear; I couldn't think of a better way to phrase the whole 'Universal'/'early 60s' thing.

Summer movie preview.

May

The Avengers - All of those post-credit cookies in the last few years of comic-book movies are about to pay off.

The Dictator - Another feature-length "Punk'd" sketch from Sacha Baron Cohen. Also starring Ben Kingsley, John C. Reilly and a game Megan Fox.

God Bless America - This latest entry into the surprisingly burgeoning 'loser becomes a violent avenger' genre (Super, Defendor) reunites One Crazy Summer stars Joel Murray (in the lead) and Bobcat Goldthwait (the film's writer/director).

Dark Shadows - Adaptation of the 1970s vampire soap opera receives a sparkling makeover from Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. The trailer made me laugh (yes, I'm one of the ten).

Battleship - Based on the board game, but judging by the trailer, it may as well be based on the ingredients of a quiche.

What to Expect When You're Expecting - An impressive ensemble brings to life the famous book on pregnancy. Screenplay by Shauna Cross (Whip It) and Heather Hach (Freaky Friday).

Men in Black III - Another day, another alien menace to defeat.

Moonrise Kingdom - Wes Anderson's latest has two children running off together, sending a community into a tizzy looking for them.

Chernobyl Diaries - A group of backpackers visit the ruins of the infamous nuclear disaster and encounter ghosts. From the creator of Paranormal Activity. That just about says it all.

June

Piranha 3DD - Because the first movie just wasn't batshit crazy enough...

Snow White and the Huntsman - The second of the year's two Snow White films. I'm not that impressed and let's start with the fact that Kristen Stewart is considered fairer than Charlize Theron. Really?

Prometheus - The same director and the same vibe, but it's not Alien, something most obvious in the fashionable, photogenic cast.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted - I missed the first two Madagascar films, but this one looks fairly amusing.

That's My Boy - Deadbeat dad Adam Sandler barges into the life of straitlaced son Andy Samberg. The script (back when it was "I Hate You Dad") made me laugh. Hopefully, this is a nice rebound from the last few years of Sandler sludge.

Rock of Ages - It's telling that Adam Shankman's best film as a director...hell, his only good film...is a musical (Hairspray), so I have somewhat high hopes for this all-star adaptation of the Broadway play.

Brave - A young princess refuses to bow to the standards of the time. It's a Pixar film, so it's certain to be good.

Seeking a Friend at the End of the World - An asteroid is about to strike the Earth, so the recently separated Steve Carell tries to find a new love. Peculiar, but worth mentioning as the directorial debut of Lorene Scafaria, adapter of the underrated Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

To Rome with Love - This year's Woody Allen film features Ellen Page, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Benigni and Jesse Eisenberg.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter - Before he was our 16th President, Lincoln killed vampires. An odder bird you will not find this season.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation - A follow-up to the guilty pleasure that looks to be truer to the cartoon's roots...and a bucket of fun.

Magic Mike - Steven Soderbergh's latest looks at the lives of male strippers. Okay...

Madea's Witness Protection - Wasn't this last year's Big Momma's House sequel?

July

The Amazing Spider-Man - The other Marvel movie of the season. Here's hoping it's not trampled underfoot.

Savages - A less manic return to Natural Born Killers territory for Oliver Stone. Two drug dealers (John Carter and Kick-Ass) must rescue their shared girlfriend from the clutches of Salma Hayek.

Ted - Seth MacFarlane's first foray into live-action looks somewhat better than its terrible script, but it's not high on my must-see list.

Ice Age: Continental Drift - Not sure we need a fourth Ice Age, but the trailer made me laugh and I've yet to encounter one of these movies that I dislike.

The Dark Knight Rises - Another trip to Gotham City with Catwoman and Bane joining the party.

Neighborhood Watch - A bunch of pals on neighborhood watch (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill) stumble onto an alien invasion. From the director of Hot Rod, though this doesn't look as promising.

Step Up: Revolution - More dancing. What else is there to say?

Ruby Sparks - Paul Dano (reuniting with the directors of Little Miss Sunshine) is a frustrated writer who writes about the girl of his dreams...then she comes into being. If only, right?

August

The Bourne Legacy - Now batting for Matt Damon...Jeremy Renner. Looks like this franchise is...Bourne again. (Yeaaaaaah!)

Total Recall - No Johnnycab. No "Get your ass to Mars". No Goldsmith. Still, this remake does look like great fun.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - Puberty seems to be setting in for Greg Heffley (or is that just the actor playing him?) in this third installment of the series.

The Campaign - The two sides of Jay Roach's career - wacky comedy (Austin Powers, Dinner for Schmucks) and politicial satire (Game Change, Recount) - combine as Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis fight over a Senate seat.

Hope Springs - Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones try to rekindle their marriage with the help of therapist Steve Carell. From the director of The Devil Wears Prada (which made millions) and The Big Year (which I and a handful of others saw).

The Odd Life of Timothy Green - A childless couple gathers the traits they would want in a son and they plant them, growing a little boy. Yes, I just typed that.

The Expendables 2 - I can only imagine what the legions of unwilling girlfriends dragged to this will be owed.

ParaNorman - In spite of the cutesy title, this stop-motion feature (from Laika, the studio behind Coraline) looks appealing.

Sparkle - Sort of like Dreamgirls, but the group is made up of sisters instead of friends.

Premium Rush - Bike messenger Joseph Gordon-Levitt tries to deliver a package whilst avoiding corrupt cop Michael Shannon.

The Apparition - A pair of collegians accidentally unleash a supernatural presence. There must be easier ways to get extra credit.

Lawless - An attractive cast makes up this Prohibition-era drama.

The Possession - In keeping with this summer's motif of uninspired horror flicks, an estranged couple reunites to save their daughter from an evil spirit.

7500 - I've had it with these motherfudgin' Grudges on this motherfudgin' plane! From the same director, so it kinda fits.

Since the actual nominations for the MTV Movie Awards have been announced, I suppose it's about that time.

best on-screen duo:

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Paul
Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page, Super
Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, 30 Minutes or Less
John Cho and Kal Penn, A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas
James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, X-Men: First Class

best action sequence:

the bridge collapse, Final Destination 5
the sandstorm chase, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
taking San Francisco, Rise of the Planet of the Apes
the train crash, Super 8
destruction of Chicago, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

best comedic performance:

Johnny Depp, Rango
Cameron Diaz, Bad Teacher
Dan Fogler, Take Me Home Tonight
Danny McBride, Your Highness
Eddie Murphy, Tower Heist

best villain:

Kevin Bacon, X-Men: First Class
Chris Cooper, The Muppets
Colin Farrell, Fright Night
Tom Hiddleston, Thor
Hugo Weaving, Captain America: the First Avenger

best breakthrough performance - male:

Asa Butterfield, Hugo
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Rasmus Hardiker, Your Highness
Chris Hemsworth, Thor
Kenny Wormald, Footloose

best breakthrough performance - female:

Hayley Atwell, Captain America: the First Avenger
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Gina Carano, Haywire
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Imogen Poots, Fright Night

best female performance:

Viola Davis, The Help
Jennifer Lawrence, X-Men: First Class
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

best male performance:

Albert Brooks, Drive
Matt Damon, We Bought a Zoo
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Liam Neeson, The Grey
Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes

best fight:

Andy Serkis vs. Daniel Craig, The Adventures of Tintin
Gina Carano vs. Michael Fassbender, Haywire
Jason Statham vs. Clive Owen, Killer Elite
Robert Downey, Jr. vs. Jared Harris, Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows
Logan Lerman vs. Mads Mikkelsen, The Three Musketeers

best kiss:

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, The Adjustment Bureau
Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, In Time
Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne, My Week with Marilyn
Simon Pegg and Kristen Wiig, Paul

best movie:

The Artist
Captain America: the First Avenger
The Help
Hugo
Super 8