Review Day

There are no major spoilers in these reviews.

Zodiac (R):
Movies based on a true story are always given a bad rap for straying too far from the true story, but this one doesn't stray far enough. It's based on the (still unsolved) Zodiac serial killer case from the 1970s, but while the lack of resolution may be true to life, it results in a movie that just peters out without satisfaction. Much of the running time is spent fading out and jumping forward in time, giving some idea of just how thin the source material is. The two and a half hour span is occasionally beautified by Robert Downey Jr., but this is counterbalanced by Jake Gyllenhaal acting like Tobey Macguire and Mark Ruffalo mumbling a lot. Free on Netflix.

Final Grade: D+

West Wing, Season Two:
This continues to be a good background show -- occasionally interesting but slow enough to not require full attention. This season gets a little more preachy, and does some unnecessary timeline devices that feel like cerebral writer exercises. Free on Netflix.

Final Grade: B-

Ender's Game (PG-13):
This adaptation of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi book is a misfire all around. It hits all of the high points from the book in an expected way, but trims so much character development to fit into two hours that the entire thing lacks any emotional resonance. The diction is wooden, the music is repetitive, and the post-climax ending feels as tacked on as it did when Card rewrote the book so he could tie it to the sequel. Skip this.

Final Grade: D

Hoover WindTunnel MAX Pet Plus (UH70605):
This vacuum is no Dyson, but no one wants to pay that much for a vacuum. It's heavy but maneuverable, and does a decent job of normal cleaning. The only difference between the attachments and a normal vacuum's attachment are exposed rubber surfaces that are intended to draw pet hairs out of cloth so they can be sucked up. This works well with effort, but you still have to go over a surface a few times -- it's not a magic solution. The trap fills up after a full floor of my house, and empties easily. I'm satisfied with its performance after four months of use, and the auto-recoiling extension cord is a nice touch.

Final Grade: B