This week we have a remake, a film about “privileged, white angst,” and a movie that makes me tremble in fear; guess which one that is.

All Three Movies Are Scary…

Episode 98 of Pressed & Bound is online! We valiantly do a show downtown even though there is an arts festival and a basketball game. Also, Joe broke his PS3. In this week’s episode we discuss:

Books:
The God Delusion

At the Moving Picture Show:
The Losers

Movies:
Black Dynamite

Right click and download the ninety-eighth episode here:
MP4 280mb
MP3 23mb

Comments or questions? Email us at: pnbfans(at)gmail(dot)com

As discussed the other day, the Barnes & Noble nook has received a new software update via some sort of fantastical voodoo otherwise known as wifi. I’ve had a couple of days to play with the new features. Let’s make some arbitrary observations on how good or bad they are.

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It’s our solemn duty an P&B to inform you of everything that is awesome. Generally those posts are about us, because we’re awesome, but this time you must know that the third theatrical trailer for The Last Airbender has now been released and it’s amazing. Some things to note:

• APPA, bitches! – I know someone who had heard a rumor that Appa was not going to be in the film, and although I like her, I’m glad she’s wrong. That furry guy is ever present and accounted for (at least in the short second we get to see him fly). Awesome.
• The Fire Nation army looks pretty sweet. I am enjoying their armor and masks. Awesome.
• THE BLUE SPIRIT – There is a pretty pivotal episode in the series where the Blue Spirit shows up and helps Aang. That particular episode is nearly all action. Well, he’s going to be in this film and it’s going to be awesome.

Do yourself a favor and go download the trailer. If your computer can handle 1080p, get it and put some plastic on the floor because this is about to melt your face off.

It may come as no surprise that we (read: I) are excited for the newest version of nook software to roll out. I have had mine for around two months and really enjoy it. Today, Barnes & Noble released version 1.3 for its little e-reader that could. Let’s see what they’ve done.

According to the B & N eReader blog, 1.3 brings a few interesting features. Take note, though, that this update (it’s around 64mb) will not be pushed over 3G; you will have to either side-mount the update or download it over wifi.

1. Better wifi connectivity – Your nook should now be able to sniff out more signals.
2. A WEB BROWSER – It’s listed as being in beta right now, and as of this writing I have not seen it in action, but it’s a very interesting addition that is surely pointed directly at the competition. You will need to be connected to wifi in order to surf, however.
3. Games – Now featured are both Sudoku and Chess. I don’t know, personally, how much use I will get from these but I loves me some Sudoku so BRING IT ON.
4. Faster Page Turns – Self explanatory, but they also list quicker times for opening books as well.
5. Read Full Books in Stores – You can now go to any B&N brick & mortar store and read complete ebooks for free for up to an hour. They are also going to be rolling out periodicals soon as well.

That’s pretty much the rundown. My nook is currently updating as we speak (we’re not speaking right now, in all honesty). We’ll have an update on how great 1.3 is soon. I say “great” only in that mine just restarted and the bottom menu has changed for the awesome.

You can download the update here.

If you have been a diligent reader of the passed couple of weeks you will have noticed that an MP3 version of the show has made its grand re-appearance. We’ve had a few inquiries into why we got rid of it before (the answer, as most are around these parts, has a lot to do with laziness), so it is now back. Bam. Your day is much better.

There currently is no rss feed specifically for the mp3 version, so please simply check the posts. It’s the cool thing to do.

Okay, I’ve been sitting on this review of The Gangs of New York for a little while now.  The first couple of drafts didn’t come out right.  I’ve been having a  time with this one, you could say.  The problem isn’t that it’s a very hard book to write about.  It just pissed me off.  I find it difficult to produce limpid, effortless prose when writing about things that piss me off.  My usually passable style descends to something only slightly more comprehensible than fevered text message jargon.  That being said, here are Gangs of New York and why it pissed me off!

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We’ll let this most sacred quote lead you to the knowledge of how many films we have to choose from this week:

And the Lord spake, saying, “First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.

One…Two…Five…THREE SIR!…Three.

Episode 97 of Pressed & Bound is online! It is a dreary day outside, but that does not keep us away from the DANGER ZONE. In this week’s episode we discuss:

Books:
White Noise: (Classics Deluxe Edition) (Penguin Classics Deluxe Editio)

At the Moving Picture Show:
Kick-Ass

Movies:
Year One (Theatrical & Unrated Edition)

Right click and download the ninety-seventh episode here:
MP4 233mb
MP3 23mb

Comments or questions? Email us at: pnbfans(at)gmail(dot)com

Episode 96 of Pressed & Bound is online! Back again in the down of town. In this week’s episode we discuss:

Books:
Around the World in Eighty Days (Puffin Classics)

At the Moving Picture Show:
Date Night

Movies:
Nashville

Right click and download the ninety-sixth episode here:
MP4 120mb
MP3 17mb

Comments or questions? Email us at: pnbfans(at)gmail(dot)com