I updated the original Houston post as promised, jump over there to check it out.

Well, as usual, I made a decision at exactly the wrong time. On the third I bought an HD-DVD player, thinking that all this Sony nonsense was going to flush Blu-ray down the tubes, then THIS happens?!

Sheesh, have I got bad timing or what? For once I turn my back on Apple and Sony, and salute Microsoft, and look at the thanks I get. Oh well, I guess now I can buy HD-DVDs for real cheap…

This cements the idea that when companies fight over formats, the consumers lose. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE competition. I love how competition makes companies fight FOR the consumer, but this was not one of those times. This was companies fighting over two disk formats, one of which is vastly superior, to the detriment of the consumer. It was an issue of pride and politics winning out over preference and parity.

First night club to implement this wins!

We pulled the trigger tonight: we bought a HD-DVD player. We found the Toshiba HD-A3 for $179 and used some Christmas money to pay the bill. We’re excited to see how it looks on the Aquos, and REALLY excited about the extras attached to this particular deal.

This A3 comes with 300 and The Bourne Identity in the package, and Amazon throws in 3 more HD-DVDs when we buy (we chose 2001, A Space Odyssey, Face Off and Blades of Glory). Of course, there’s the standard 5-free deal too. When the dust settles, we’ll have 10 free HD-DVDs, one HD-DVd from Christmas and a brand spanking new HD-DVD player, for $195 with tax.

Everyone’s invited anytime for a HD-DVD party!

I watched the trailer for the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight (Why so serious?). I can’t stop watching it. Over and Over. This Batman movie looks so dark, so twisted, and yes, so scary, I am going to have to see it in theaters when it finally rolls out.

As someone who’s scared of clowns, I was really hoping the Joker would be cast in this way. I was disappointed however, to find out Heat Ledger was the Joker. As it turns out, it looks like HEath might pull this off. With faded face paint, and a smile carved into his face with a knife, you they’re off to a good start. Add to the fact that he’s not a smiling, lovable, cartoony joker, but instead a psychopath murderous violent joker with an RPG, and you’ve got one seriously scary clown.

It doesn’t hurt that they tossed in a generous dosage of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christian Bale.

All images taken from the trailer.