FlashForward [ABC]

Records began by telling us that he'd recently spoken with Maurice Sendak, author of the beloved kids' book the movie is based on. Sendak apprently told Records, "I hope people like this movie because if not they can all go straight to hell."

In the footage we saw, which included interviews with Sendak as well as writer Dave Eggers (who co-authored the screenplay) and Jonze, it was clear Sendak's approval and vision were central to the filmmaking. The author called Eggers and Jonze "throwbacks, like people I knew in the 1960s." He approves of what Jonze calls "refanging" the movie, and "making it dangerous."

According to Records, Jonze took the idea of making the movie dangerous fairly literally. He kept a propane tank on the set, and would shoot giant flames out of it near Records when he wanted to get a reaction of genuine surprise.

As for the clips themselves, they were set to a series of creamy, twangy indie rock songs that made it feel like it was aimed at adults who came of age in the 1990s wishing their suburban lives were as wild as the music they listened to. The imagery was simply beautiful, which isn't surprising given that director Jonze is known for his surreal, playful concept design in movies like Being John Malkovich and Adaptation. Jonze got the emotional tenor just right in a scene where Max plays with the giant, furry monsters, finding himself at the bottom of a soft pile of them as they fall into snoring slumber. He confesses to one sleepy monster that he hates his home, and that's why he's come to their island. It's a simple, strange scene, but it did such an incredible job capturing the fierce loneliness of childhood that it left some audience members sniffling.

The world of the monsters is sad and luminous, filled with bright blue oceans and glowing beaches. We saw another scene where Max directs the monsters to build a castle out of rocks, reeds, sticks, and flowers. The end result looks sort of like a Death Star made of woven branches and flowers, and it's breathtaking.

One possible flaw is that the film seems a bit too taken with its vision, and the scenes verged a few times on becoming precious. Co-author Eggers has made a career out of hip preciousness, and it's obvious that his style has influenced the film - it's the kind of thing urban alterna-parents will want to take their kids to see.

But it's hard to tell how the tone will work throughout the film from just a few minutes of clips. Seen in context, these scenes may not feel trapped in hipster sentimentality. The filmmakers have tried to make a movie that is true to the experience of childhood, and the original book, by avoiding cutsie cliches. Though what we saw was promising, it's still too early to tell whether the movie has fangs.

So, without the commercials you've still got about 75 minutes of Lost to watch next week, and rest assured they're probably saving the really good stuff for right before the second hour ends, all the better to make you turn in the following week. However, it's worth at least part of these six minutes to see Hurley continue to assert his newfound balls. Think he'll run over someone else with the van?

Red Hot Video: Lost Sneak Previews [E! Online]

You've basically got two ways to show that something is really, really old in a movie. One is tons of dust, the other is an assload of cobwebs. Indiana Jones normally has both in spades, but they've gone above and beyond for this new movie.

Consider the evidence: in that opening scene in Raiders, he hauls ass through some massive webs before hitting the dirt in front of the Hovitos tribe. What's he covered in? Those same webs. In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom he ventures down into insect-infested catacombs which include what? Giant spiders and cobwebs. In Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade has to again venture into cobwebby catacombs under Venice, and later deal with both a cobwebby Knight of the First Crusade, and his dad's cobweb-addled mind. Look for a final showdown in Indiana Jones and the Giant Spiders From Mars to finally put an end to this issue.

This reminds us of the exchange from the last movie, which we've altered a bit:

Indy: "That belongs in a musuem!"
Panama Hat Man: "So do you! With a ton of cobwebs for effect!"

According to series creator Joss Whedon, the plot involves a successful robbery masterminded by Captain Mal Reynolds and his crew. "Basically, they pull off a heist and everything doesn't go completely wrong. This, needless to say, has never happened, and it's about how they deal with success." It's set during in the television series continuity, which is almost like having the show back. Almost.

Based on these pages, and that great shot of a grinning Jayne, we're excited about this book. While it would be great if this show was still on the air, this comic book will hopefully be the next best thing. If we just didn't have to wait three months for it. Does this mean there's still hope for for a Voyagers! comic book? I'm still holding onto some hope.