Summer isn't smart?

Today, the first day of school for many of the kiddies in my area, is a good day to reflect on how film companies assume that out of school, we're all stupid. Brooks Barnes wrote a great piece this week in the New York Times about "Inception" breaking the stereotype of the summer blockbuster - or, at least what Fox, Universal, Sony and Disney percieve as summer blockbusters. They force fed us "The Other Guys," "Sex and the City 2" and, dare I mention, "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," all while Christopher Nolan - whose style is better represented in "Momento" than "The Dark Knight" - took a chance that the average American wanted to see a well-crafted movie, not just something mindless.

Now don't get me wrong, I saw "The Other Guys" (and considered walking out) and "Sex and the City 2" (out of pure respect for the series, which I recently watched from beginning to end). I bought in to the summer madness, the rainy nights that needed to be filled with something other than sitting at home, staring at my Facebook feed. There is a place for the "Transformers" of the world. But when that movie, the over-hyped, star-studded, action-packed thriller/comedy/shoot 'em up, becomes every movie released that summer (disguised as a children's movie, a Nicholas Sparks movie, what have you), it tires even the most mindless of middle-America. How in the world, looking at the fare we've been offered this summer at the movies, could studios be baffled at why no one went to the show? Or, when "Inception" - which was star-studded and quite the shoot 'em up, by the way - topped the box office? It was well acted, smart and really needed repeat viewings for many to be understood.

What baffles me is that if that formula - or lack thereof, thank you Mr. Nolan - worked, maybe some of those award season-caliber films should be released in the summer. Afterall, if it's an award you're after, look to this year's statue winner: A summer movie with substance, "The Hurt Locker."

Ah, the family vacation.

Read my latest story with the Post and Courier about "Block Ice & Propane."

More Spoleto

Read my preview piece about the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra's first concert tonight.

Emmanuel Villaume's 10 years at Spoleto

My first multimedia piece for the Post and Courier.

So Southern

Check out the food blog I am writing while in Charleston, S.C.

Lee Dewyze - crowned

How is anyone surprised the Lee Dewyze won "American Idol?" He's so pretty.

Glee and Gaga

I recently arrived in Charleston, SC to be an arts intern at the Post and Courier covering the Spoleto USA Festival for the next three weeks. While I am discovering new places to eat, shop and tan, I am also discovering the scarcity of televisions in the residence hall we are staying in. My friends and I ran into our first floor lounge this evening, raring to watch "Glee," only to be shut down by some older ladies settling in - they had peanut butter on the table! - to watch the finale of "Dancing with the Stars." We proceeded to take the elevator to each floor, run around that floor and find it has no TV, until we reached the fourth floor. There, we met some other friendly Gleeks.

The episode itself was a mish-mash of hot and cold. Here's my breakdown:

Best song of the show: Idina Menzel singing "Funny Girl"

Worst song of the show: Menzel and Lea Michele singing "Poker Face" - talk about ruining an emotional moment!

Best line of the night: Brittany, "You look terrible. I look awesome."

Worst line of the night: Umm the whole last five minutes. Does there have to be a lesson in every episode?

Best character connection: Burt and Kurt Hummel when Burt comes to his son's rescue from Finn's homophopia

Worst character connection: Tina. Her vampire was ridiculous.

Runner-ups: Mark Salling singing "Beth" was cute and poignant - yeah, Quinn, let him be in the delivery room! Lea Michele's stuffed-dress (just hilarious. I think I can make one of those).