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Robocars follows a number of teams from preparation to competition in their endeavor to win DARPA's Urban Challenge--a contest to design a fully autonomous vehicle that can drive itself through an urban environment.

The series itself is well made, neither too long nor too short. To protect the intellectual rights of the teams, it doesn't go into too much detail. It is presented simply enough that anyone can understand, yet by its very nature will inspire even the most experienced engineers.

The bottom line: the DARPA Urban Challenge finally gets the attention it deserves. Robocars is a fascinating chronicle of the future in the making. Highly recommended for anyone with the slightest interest in robots or the future of the automotive industry.

The Dark Knight is a good film. All-the-way-around, it keeps the audience interested and is highly entertaining, decently thought-provoking, and very impressive from a technical standpoint.

The special effects are above average, although parts of it are a little below par and don't fit as seamlessly as we'd all like. The acting does not disappoint; as this film does not rely on the actors much, I have no complaints. Heath Ledger does a convincing job as the Joker, bringing new depth to the character--largely belittling the former Jack Nicholson Joker--however Heath's performance has likewise been moderately overrated. The plot is well-developed, above average for modern action flicks.

In many ways I believe it surpasses Batman Begins, and because of it the series still tops the comic-book adaptations. Tonally, it is the expected sequel. It is somewhat darker, but it continues Nolan's refreshing take on the Batman series. And with this latest addition, it makes all the other Batman films even more forgettable.

However, to say that The Dark Knight is the best film ever overlooks many other great films. Realistically, I would put it on the level of Jurassic Park, giving The Dark Knight a slight edge, but both deserving a spot among the top films in modern cinema.

If you're expecting Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to be a fourth in the series, you'll be disappointed. The original three were set in the 1930s, looking for buried treasure in a Treasure of the Sierra Madre style. The new film is set in the 1950s, and that changes everything.

Frankly, it should be viewed as a new series. It certainly overlaps with the previous films, however most of that seems to affect the new film trivially. I actually think it's a little unfair to present this new type of film under the great Indiana Jones reputation, and however smart marketably I believe this, and the lack of understanding and inaccurate expectations on the audience's behalf will ultimately lead to the film's demise.

The film itself is well written, and well made with only a few exceptions. As long as you don't expect another Raiders of the Lost Ark, you'll probably be pleased with the film as it is, with the exception of one sequence which doesn't quite seem to fit. Beyond that, the plot, characters and acting all fit with this new kind of Indy film.

The cinematography is not the 80s style we'd probably all like, but it's not bad. The camera is certainly held much more stable than many of today's films, and the action is very clear and easy to follow, as is the stunt work great. There is a lot of computer animation--most of it looks believable, but some of it does not--but that which was done well fits superbly.

The acting was also very good. I was very impressed by Cate Blanchett, and to my surprise very pleased with Shia LeBeouf's character and acting.

All-in-all, I really appreciated the film as a whole, although some of the animation and action sequences seemed somewhat unfinished, or at least too difficult to believe (even for an Indy film). Still, it is an excellent 1950s serial, and I really hope we'll see at least one other Indy film set in this new era.