More Articles by This Author

How to Win at Erotic Photo Hunt: A Checklist

By brian longtin • Nov 25th, 2010 • Category: playing

As a fan of the game, and noticing some fellow players struggle to beat the clock, I offer some tips for Erotic Photo Success.



Catfish: Don’t Believe What Everyone Wants You to Think It Is

By brian longtin • Sep 17th, 2010 • Category: watching

How misleading expectations basically subverted and nearly ruined what is otherwise a fascinating, provocative film.



Under Culture Podcast #11: I’m Done With Museums

By brian longtin • Sep 7th, 2010 • Category: podcasts

Brian and Spencer discuss Restrepo, Mother, and other fine foreign films; new albums by The Body, Best Coast, and Wavves; the Xbox Live game, Limbo; plus Jersey Shore, Michelle Pfeiffer and the scourge that is Ted Mosby.



Scott Pilgrim vs Every Other Comic Book Movie Ever Made

By brian longtin • Aug 31st, 2010 • Category: watching

No matter which side of the geek fence you fall on, ‘Scott Pilgrim’ is still a movie that needs to be seen — mainly because its visual style is unlike anything out there.



Death and Education: Learning in Limbo

By brian longtin • Aug 5th, 2010 • Category: playing

By setting its action in a literal out-of-body experience, Limbo changes our perception in two major ways that make it essentially and marvelously different than its peers.



The Moment Avatar: The Last Airbender Proved It’s More Than a Kids’ Show

By brian longtin • Jul 22nd, 2010 • Category: watching

Like the best shows for kids or adults, Avatar assumes we have the patience to get involved with its characters as human beings, not just action figures.



Too Smart for Stupid: Underestimating the Audience for Inception

By brian longtin • Jul 15th, 2010 • Category: side notes

An undercurrent of condescension mars the early praise for the summer’s most anticipated blockbuster.



Under Culture Podcast #10: I’m Sick of Carrying This Crown

By brian longtin • Jul 14th, 2010 • Category: podcasts

Brian and Spencer discuss albums by Sleigh Bells, The National, and The Black Keys, and the novels Matterhorn and A Game of Thrones (Song of Ice & Fire vol 1). Also, the shows they’re keeping busy with this summer (Avatar: The Last Airbender and Daria) and the stupid movies they’re not seeing.



LA Film Fest 2010 Round-Up: The Good, The Great, and The Artsy

By brian longtin • Jun 30th, 2010 • Category: watching

A brief overview of this year’s LA Film Fest selections, with a list of the top films that really floored me this year.



Machinarium: The Beauty of Simplicity (and Beauty)

By brian longtin • Jun 17th, 2010 • Category: playing

Despite bigger games pushing the boundaries of technology, a short little Flash game about robots has more personality and charm than any number of its blockbuster competitors.