We apologize for any interruptions in our site. We are currently upgrading to allow for faster speeds and better use of content for our readers. ~Thanks
VISIT OUR NEW SITE HERE.
Loosely based on Thomas Rose's 1989 "Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event" about the real-life, Reagan-era rescue that riveted the nation's attention onto the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska, this family-friendly, feel-good story revolves around the plight of three gray whales trapped under a thickening slab of ice in the Beaufort Sea.
The Wall Street occupiers grouse that one percent of the country owns forty percent of the wealth. What's more, many if not most have acquired their fortunes by gambling in equities and real estate. By contrast, one percent of Americans are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, earn a modest wage, and when they return they often find themselves unemployed. Along with the rotten economy, perhaps some of the joblessness occurs because of physical handicaps that unlucky service people acquire, while in other cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder makes them unable to fit in with civilian life. The ironic thing about PTSD is that the very wars that are responsible for this psychological ailment make some returning vets eager to rejoin, where their behavior would fit in more readily in combat situations then among the banalities of civilian life. Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" deals primarily with the fighting, but notes that her principal character played by Jeremy Renner re-enlists after seeing that the most exciting thing happening to him in civilian life is looking at scores of brands of cereal in the local supermarket.
George Lucas's CG-enhanced aerial dogfights and a final moment of respect are what's memorable about this tribute to the courageous Tuskegee airmen of World War II.
Having faith in a Marine in one thing, but a Marine in the cockpit of one of the most kick-ass jets on the planet is a whole different story!
When a recently escaped prisoner, wrongly convicted ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into Manhattan's Roosevelt Hotel, he's on a mission. After devouring a lobster lunch with champagne from room service, he opens the window and climbs out on the ledge, threatening to jump and attracting a gawking crowd. But is he really suicidal?
  Latest Movie Reviews
By Harvey Critic
HARVEY KARTEN, Ph.D.,
Member NYFCO
The Wall Street occupiers grouse that one percent of the country owns forty percent of the wealth. What's more, many if not most have acquired their fortunes by gambling in equities and real estate. By contrast, one percent of Americans are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, earn a modest wage, and when they return they often find themselves unemployed. Along with the rotten economy, perhaps some of the joblessness occurs because of physical handicaps that unlucky service people acquire, while in other cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder makes them unable to fit in with civilian life. The ironic thing about PTSD is that the very wars that are responsible for this psychological ailment make some returning vets eager to rejoin, where their behavior would fit in more readily in combat situations then among the banalities of civilian life. Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" deals primarily with the fighting, but notes that her principal character played by Jeremy Renner re-enlists after seeing that the most exciting thing happening to him in civilian life is looking at scores of brands of cereal in the local supermarket.
Chico & Rita is a delightful and electric animated love story, which opens in Havana, Cuba in 1948. This little gem, was nominated for Best Animated Feature for the 2012 Oscars, which it deserves.
As an action-adventure movie, 'Man on a Ledge' succeeds only partly: by providing some tension when an ex-cop who has been convicted of the crime of stealing a $40 million diamond goes out on the ledge of New York's Roosevelt Hotel 25 stories in the air. The trouble is that much of the action--particularly the busy goings-on across the street from which the title man on a ledge wants to distract the police--remains stable when it should be ratcheted up. That's not all: the dialogue is as corny as Kansas in August, the young woman who serves as hostage negotiator has hair that always remains in place from the time she is awakened, there is only one newscaster providing visuals to the adventure in our city of eight million, and we find out early on that there is little chance that the man will plunge to his death.
There's really only one reason to see "Rampart, " but it's a good enough one--and that's the awards-worthy performance of Woody Harrelson in the role of a dirty cop. The L.A.-based police drama that may well have been inspired by the Rodney King affair is murky--a downer with a plot that is repetitive, spinning on in a circular way to put us firmly into the mind of the rogue cop, Dave Brown (Woody Harrelson) who is coming apart at the seams both on his beat and within his strange family. The major part of Bobby Bukowski's filming is dark and sometimes dizzying. The neighborhood is bleak and appears riddled with crime, which is all Dave Brown needs to know to release his macho style on everyone he meets. He is so controlling that he even forces a rookie cop in the precinct to eat the fries that she orders, despite her insistence that she is watching her cholesterol. (Never mind the burger that she downs, though the whole scene may be Woody Harrelson's sending up of his own raw-food shtick, having had a role in a DVD about reversing diabetes by eschewing the gas range: the end-credits list his personal nutritionist.)
Other Movie Reviews
|
What a week of openings! The big dilemma is trying to decide which is more unfunny: "Arthur" or "Your Highness." This may have to be settled by a coin toss. Here's what the team that made "Arthur" might have been thinking in remaking the terrific 1981 version which starred Dudley Moore and John Gielgud: Our society has become more vulgar, less literate, more attuned to comedy that's shoved on them rather than to the wit and gentle humor that presumably fit in better with bygone days, like the seventies and early eighties.
|
|
It would be easy to dismiss Sucker Punch as simply pandering to its audience. Yes, the movie aims at geek culture in general, teenage males in particular; and as such it certainly offers as much skin and anime-style action as it can provide within the confines of a PG-13 rating. But Punch does not want to just pander to its audience; instead, it aims to be something more than just your average Summer Action Movie, hoping perhaps to reach the lofty heights of "art". Unfortunately, this ambition turns out to be the movie's undoing.
|
|
Everyone wants to get their hands on the computer hard drive with incriminating information about arms dealers, gangsters and politicians who party with high-priced night ladies. Catalina, a high-class call girl has the drive and two neophyte private detectives are trying to protect her. She is being chased by the host of very dangerous people including a ruthless assassin who could be mistaken for Helen Mirren. This is the modern equivalent of classic action comedies like FOUL PLAY. Made for today it just is more chaotic, has more nudity, and had more violence including some slightly nauseating scenes of torture. Otherwise the film is funny and fun, a fast, entertaining ride. Rating: high +1 (-4 to +4) or 6/10
|
|
Brad Furman directs John Romano's screenplay based on the Michael Connelly novel. A sleazy lawyer has to tread a tricky path to fulfill the law, his responsibility to his client, and his idea of justice in a cleverly plotted legal thriller. Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey), is the kind of a lawyer who gives the profession a bad name. He is good at the law and uses it to squeeze the maximum fees from his wealthy clients. When he gets the case of defending a magnate's son charged with rape and assault he finds himself in a tight legal bind that could force him to protect a killer or even get himself killed. This is a tightly-written thriller that at the same time creates a tricky legal puzzle. Rating: high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10
|
|
|
TUCSON - Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords today announced she will resign her seat in the House of Representatives this week. The decision announced one year after a horrific shooting which wounded 13 and left 6 dead.
PHOENIX (AZNewswire) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT-SHOW to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.
WASHINGTON D.C. (AzNewswire.com) - Today, Congressman Ben Quayle of Arizona, was joined by two other freshman Members of Congress in sending the following letter urging all Republican Presidential candidates to stop attacking free market capitalism.
"The plan is a financial disaster as well as an environmental one - it'll make poor-quality air and water around Phoenix even worse," said Cyndi Tuell at the Center for Biological Diversity.
ARLINGTON, Va. - The design and establishment of an online graduate certificate in sustainability leadership at Arizona State University for soldiers and civilians in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve was inaugurated Jan. 6 during a signing ceremony.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (AZNewswire.com) - Allan Sobol the aggressive marketer of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Industry, filed a motion in Maricopa County Superior Court today asking Judge Dean Fink, to impose a preliminary and permanent injunction against Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and Will Humble, Director of the Arizona Health Department . If granted by the Court the Injunction would enjoin the Governor and Humble from expending any public funds to impede, delay or in any way whatsoever, prevent the full implementation of the of the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act. (AMMA).
TUCSON, Ariz. - Congreswoman Gabrielle Giffords shared this tweet, "The candlelight honoring victims of 1/8/11 to begin soon." Along with this photo of her view.
In a pre-technological world, many media companies would adhere to standards accepting only standardized press releases authorized for print distribution. While the marketplace for print PR distribution continue to decline, remaining segmented by geographical region and print availability, the emergence of electronic syndicates in a world connected by relevancy, offer greater paradigm changes of staggering proportions to the world of news media.
|
 Latest Movie Reviews
By Susan Granger
Member NYFCO
Loosely based on Thomas Rose's 1989 "Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event" about the real-life, Reagan-era rescue that riveted the nation's attention onto the tiny town of Barrow, Alaska, this family-friendly, feel-good story revolves around the plight of three gray whales trapped under a thickening slab of ice in the Beaufort Sea.
More Susan Granger Reviews
|
George Lucas's CG-enhanced aerial dogfights and a final moment of respect are what's memorable about this tribute to the courageous Tuskegee airmen of World War II.
|
|
When a recently escaped prisoner, wrongly convicted ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) checks into Manhattan's Roosevelt Hotel, he's on a mission. After devouring a lobster lunch with champagne from room service, he opens the window and climbs out on the ledge, threatening to jump and attracting a gawking crowd. But is he really suicidal?
|
|
|
 James Mapes
Quantum Leap Thinking
An Owner's Guide to the Mind
|
This particular article was prompted by two recent events - speaking to a very special organization and my wife telling me a story.
|
|
There are many metaphors for leadership and limitless examples of teamwork and cooperation. Mounting a play for a theatrical production and producing a movie, can provide a very clear model for excellence. I view producing a play as an illustration of running a small business, and making a movie an example for larger, more complex businesses where rapid, clear and precise communication is mandatory.
|
|
When it comes to communication, the story is everything. Whether it's selling, leading, managing, teaching or preaching, the power of story is the power of change. I would like to tell you one of my all-time favorite stories, a story that represents a change in my perceptions and, therefore, my reality.
|
|
Finding Arizona Reporter
|
|
|
|
