Fifty years on, defending 007’s right to be himself.

Comic-Con is on this week, and the geek-related links are flying fast and furious.

My review of “Moonrise Kingdom.”

As it begins its fifth season, some quick thoughts about what makes “Mad Men” so resonant.

Complaints about Michel Hazanavicius’s Oscar-winning ode to the silent film era.

Nicolas Winding Refn’s remarkable movie “Drive” and the curious phenomenon of nostalgia.

“Captain America” and the real world.

It’s been twelve months since I left The New York Times; here’s a little bit of what I’ve been up to.

Two of many gems from The Onion’s mostly non-satirical sister publication, The A.V. Club.

The power of self-delusion can be hard to deny.

I’m not too proud to admit when I’m wrong: this is a very, very good television show.

Twelve songs culled from the best and most interesting albums I acquired in 2010.

An incredible line-up of classic movies in Film Forum’s “The Heist” festival.

Looking closely at vintage comics. Sometimes very, very close.

Thoughts about ‘original ideas’ in Christopher Nolan’s superb new movie.

Amid all the misfires, one print publication, at least, is getting it right with their iPad app.

In spite of not being a fan of heavy metal music, here are some nice things I have to say about two movies about heavy metal music.

An appreciation of the ‘breakthrough familiarity’ in the movies and television shows of Mike Judge.

Random thoughts in appraisal of the television show “Lost.”

The new music I liked best in 2009, available for you to listen to — and download.

In “Public Enemies” and other recent films, director Michael Mann is in fact designing his narratives.

For all their success, it would just be nice to see Pixar wipe the floor with their box office competition for a change.

The newly relaunched Muxtape is a test case for extreme minimalism.

This cover for the second record from Swedish chanteuse Frida Hyvönen really shouldn’t work. Except it does.

Embellishment, not adaptation, is what drives Zack Snyder’s movie.

“The Dark Knight” isn’t as good as a movie as I thought it was, but it still deserved an Oscar nomination for best picture.

As digital music has become more pervasive, the ritual of attending the live performance of pop music seems more and more superfluous.

Game design has been telling me something about my job, and I haven’t been listening.

Proving Steve Jobs wrong for myself, anyway.

Nearly two decades of “Batman” reviews from The New York Times.

Muxtape and the pros and cons of minimalism. Plus, a Muxtape from me.

Unexpectedly, the Wachowski Brothers’ adaptation of “Speed Racer” turns out to be art.

Old rock musicians should stop releasing new albums. Or new album covers, at least.

Watching “Battlestar Galactica” is like watching a car you know is going to crash.

“U2 3D” and the price of innovation.

“The Wire” versus “The Sopranos” for best show ever.

NPR puts on a good new show, and CBC puts on… me.

Some very good design is being wasted on magazines.

Respect for HBO’s “The Wire.”

What YouTube is good for.

A good movie that did really well, and a bad one, too.

I confess: I’m not a Formula One racing car, but rather a robot in disguise.

Who had fun watching tonight’s final episode of “The Sopranos.”

The sometimes digressive road to the series finale of “The Sopranos.”

Habit-forming moviegoing, and recaps of “Grindhouse,” “Blades of Glory” and “Hot Fuzz.”

Catching up with a few things I should have written about earlier.

Making public radio bearable during pledge drives.

What to watch when you’re not into the Super Bowl.

Making mix tapes is good practice for graphic design.

One thing you didn’t know about me is that I like Phil Spector.

A fundraising event for 826NYC.

Watching Aaron Sorkin᾿s new show by mail order.

A report from the nerdiest convention in this universe.

Alternative illustration for mainstream fashion.

Seth’s “Wimbledon Green” lives up to the romantic hype of print.

TV is so good, I have to stop watching it.

Doomed to listen to whatever music you favored in your formative years.

Notes on the context around Christopher Nolan’s reinterpretation of Batman.

Looking forward to “Episode III.”

The new DC Comics logo isn’t worthy of the old logo’s legacy.

The Perceptionists are everywhere, right before our eyes.

What the creator of “Deadwood” has to say about writing, and how it matters to design.

To my surprise, the past month of my favorite television show have actually been good.

Books on my table, just sitting there, waiting to be read.

Because others have more time to do it more better, here are only some random thoughts on “The Incredibles.”

Retreating into the world of comic book history.

Jet lag, post-vacation doldrums, and losing Superman.

Comments on Gus Van Sant’s “Elephant.”

A year and a week later, reconsidering Ted Leo/Pharmacists.

There’s a cynical and almost frigid heart driving Michael Mann’s “Collateral.”

Dentyne has a vision for the future of music.

How odd to read about typography in the paper of record, unfortunately.

Better late than never: an appreciation for “School of Rock.”

What will it take to put an end to the most enduring franchise on television?

Let’s see what the NME has to say about Franz Ferdinand.

Less time at the office means more time in front of the DVD player.

You know a movie is bad when it makes me want to go see a Jim Carrey movie.

David Mamet’s “Spartan” is a wonderful construction that amounts to very little.

Films from the writing staff of television’s funniest half hour.

How I came to know all about how to kick people.

You got your classic rock in my hip-hop!

The best ‘best of’ compilation CD that I’ve ever owned.

A quick take on a very long movie — Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West.”

Tintin celebrates his 75th anniversary.

Something perfect in the imperfection of “House of Sand and Fog.”

Instant Messenger spamming’s got me down.

Peter Jackson has done his best to make sure the myth of “The Lord of the Rings” goes on forever. And ever.

If you missed “Battlefield Earth,” you can catch “The Matrix Revolutions.”

NPR’s “On the Media” moves to MP3.

Jarvis Cocker is back on track with Relaxed Muscle.

The best part of The Onion.

Forty years ago, Roger Angell wrote about the way Yankees fans felt on Saturday night.

Orientalism in the new Quentin Tarantino movie.

I love watching baseball. I can’t stand watching baseball.

Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” is exquisitely calculated and it features the Bill Murray performance we’ve all been waiting for.

What’s it mean when there’s a Republican in the Sorkin White House?

HBO’s “K Street” doesn’t mess with reality enough.

The heights and limits of Ted Leo/Pharmacists.

No one heard what Roger Clemens had to say after last night’s Yankees game.

Showtime’s dramatization of the Bush White House during the days after 9/11 is awful and awfully hilarious.

“All the President’s Men” is a brilliant movie that sounds like no other.

An old friend got nominated for an Emmy yesterday.

Khoi kicks Coca-Cola.

Report from my night at the theater.

Ang Lee’s “The Hulk” is repeatedly intruded on by Stan Lee’s Hulk.

The advanced word for “The Hulk” sounds bad.

Thoughts on my latest contribution to Squat.

Two anecdotes from my daily walk to the office.

Brad Bird’s “Incredibles” may make his career.

Starship Dimensions settles arguments between science fiction geeks.

Serializer.net is a vibrant experiment in online comics.

The absolute bleeding edge in chic ironic pastimes is Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

The true spectacle of “The Matrix Reloaded” is ambition.

Everywhere you go, there’s “The Matrix.”

Bryan Singer’s “X2: X-Men United” is a solid movie first and a faithful adaptation second.

Six new additions to my music collection in one week.

It’s like “Friends” meets “The West Wing.”

“Confidence” is generic, and advertising is unstoppable.

Digging through my old comic books, I came across an amazing postcard from 1979.

Richard Ashcroft’s new CD is a disappointment, and I hope that I am missing out on some great music.

Five random notes on the occasion of the 75th Academy Awards.

Looking back at Christopher Reeve’s first two “Superman” movies.

Fred Rogers passed away yesterday from stomach cancer.

DJ Format’s “We Know Something…” is one of the most entertaining videos I’ve seen in a long time.

My third contribution to the Squat CD exchange club just went out in the mail. Whew!

The Gulf War sequel is funny business.

Possibly being a charter member of the Squat CD swap club may or may not be a really cool thing.

The Film Movement distributes independent movies via U.S. mail.

A profile on Peter Saville in the NY Times Magazine.

For once, everything good you’ve heard about a TV phenomenon is true.

Everything you always wanted to know about Blaxploitation.

Stephen Dorff makes another brilliant career move.

More about “24 Hour Party People” and Trouser Press.

Man city likes to party all the time, party all the time.

Bollywood has a rich legacy of film posters.

Scans of every page of the first issue of Action Comics.

Sesame Street intends to add an HIV-positive character to its cast of puppets.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about comics.

Hellboy is coming, Hellboy is coming.

I saw Margaret Cho and her new movie.

“Scooby-Doo” just doesn’t look like Scooby-Doo.

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is holding art festival.

Replay TV goes on the offensive.

John Romita, Jr. is using his powers for good.

Hollywood has re-imagined historical matters of national security as the province of seminal geeks.

Fan-made films made in tribute to “Star Wars.”

Went to see “Topdog/Underdog.”

Reading “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.”

Play deejay with Bruce Lee.

My local PBS station is showing old episodes of “The Prisoner.”

“Star Wars” in museums.

God-Man is on patrol, when…

Remember Shoegazing? Magnet Magazine does.

What I liked about “Scratch.”

Chuck Jones, R.I.P.

His new fighting technique is unstoppable.

You can play with Eva Herzigova.

A great interview with Frank Miller.

Television is a heck of a lot better today than it has been at just about any time I can remember.

I’;s excited for “Justice League.”

The Superman mythose gets the Buffy treatment.

Goodbye, Aaliyah.

Spider-Man is coming! Spider-Man is coming!

How do you talk about Gorillaz without sounding like a marketing sucker?

Why I can’t stop listening to Nina Simone’s rendition of “Just in Time.”

A critique of the current state of fashion photography at Slate.

Roger Guenveur Smith’s one-man play “A Huey P. Newton Story.”

A list of movies, books, magazines and other pop junk that came my way in the year 2000.

After 74 years, England’s Melody Maker music paper ceases publication.