I recently watched Cold Mountain, and it profoundly changed my mental reactions to Ms. Kidman. The sex scene reduced me to hysterical cackling, and now whenever I see her face on paper or screen I can't help but giggle and think, "I've seen her having really ridiculous sex." Same effect, really, as walking into a student lounge and catching an acquaintance in the act-- from that moment on, whenever you see them you are twelve.

Pullman, however... what a horrible waste of genuine talent. The man's angrier than Neil Gaiman and as confusingly surreligious as your average faux-Wiccan high-schooler, but if he cleaned up his act I'd be a total fan of his writing. Alas and rue the day...