Boxee / XMBC
So you're sick of TV and prefer the Internet for entertainment? That's all very well but it usually means you have sit in front of a computer screen. Two Web sites aim to change all that: the Boxee site, and the XMBC community. Both sites are the focus for software apps, and both aim to put everything you can download, stream or watch online onto your flat screen TV.
ReadyNASCommunity
The other site that could also open up huge entertainment possibilities is the ReadyNAS community, which shows how to connect a NAS box full of content to your TV.
Hulu
And for visitors to the Hulu site, the time to ditch "regular" TV is here now. Hulu has full, free episodes of shows like The Daily Show and Arrested Development, and movies like The Birds and Basic Instinct. It's the motherload of non-pirated entertainment, the only catch being you need to be in the US to watch, though it hasn't stopped some people using proxies to get around this.
Dark Horizons / Slashfilm
The Dark Horizons site supplies one of the best release date calendars, while Slashfilm's list of the Ten Most Influential Films of the Last Ten Years is a must-see.
The Auteurs' Notebook
We're particularly taken by three film blogs. The Auteurs' Notebook revels in the moodiness and intrigue of forgotten film, with fascinating black and white photography, posters and film collections.
The House Next Door
The House Next Door posts regular blogs on the artier aspects and themes of movie making. The real gem though, is the Conversations series, which are captivating monthly debates delving into the subtext of cinema. So you're a fan of Michael Mann? Here's a lengthy discussion of his best known films. Other Conversations topics include Star Trek, and David Fincher.
In Contention
In Contention is nirvana for cinematography buffs, with shot-by-shot analysis, interviews, and plenty of discussion on the workings of Hollywood, sound effects, technical effects, editing, directing, acting and more.