Alex Diaz-Granados

Featured Content (1 of 4)

• The Force Goes "Blu": A Look at Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray

  11/6/2011

  George Lucas revisits (and reworks) both Trilogies of the Star Wars saga for its debut on high-definition video.
• George Lucas's Entertaining Star Wars: The Clone Wars- the Complete Third Season Now Available on Blu-ray and DVD

  11/3/2011

  The complete third season of Lucasfilm's Cartoon Network animated series takes viewers back to that galaxy far, far away
• Silencing Al-Awlaki: The "Bin Laden of the Internet" Meets Hellfire Justice in Yemen at Last

  9/30/2011

  Anwar Al-Awlaki, the U.S.-born and raised Al Qaeda propagandist, is the first American citizen to die as an officially targeted terrorist.
• My Favorite Novelist: Tom Clancy

  9/22/2011

  Despite authorial weaknesses and a few literary misses, Clancy is still relevant
• Disney World: There Will Be No More Grad Nites After 2011

  3/17/2011

  Citing schedule conflicts caused by higher spring attendance, Disney World discontinues popular senior year tradition.
• The Best World War II Movies and Documentaries for the Modern Classroom

  12/14/2010

  Who said teaching kids about World War II had to be dry and boring? Teachers can use these nine movies and documentaries in the classroom
• After the Mid-Terms: Questions for President Obama and Speaker-Designate Boehner

  11/9/2010

  If I could ask three questions each of President Obama and John Boehner, I'd ask these.
• Obama, Boehner should answer questions on party cooperation

  11/8/2010

  If I could interview the president and the incoming Speaker of the House, what would I ask?
• Why Braman's Recall Threat Makes Sense for Miami-Dade County

  9/28/2010

  Even as Miami-Dade residents try to make ends meet, the politicians raise their taxes to fund unwarranted government growth
• Who Green-Lit These Six Movie Turkeys?

  9/23/2010

  Sure, not every film project can be great or even good, but these six movie turkeys are really "fowl."
• The Unfinished Korean War - World's Next International Crisis?

  5/31/2010

  Sinking of Corvette Cheonan causes new break between two Koreas.
• Persian Tales from the Dark Side: Ahmadinejad, the Holocaust and 9-11

  3/11/2010

  First Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, now he denies the 9-11 attacks.
• Five Terrific Gift Ideas that Won't Cost Over $20 Each

  10/23/2009

  Sure, times are tough and money is tight. However, the financial crisis doesn't have to make a Grinch out of you this holiday season.
• Facebook or MySpace: Which Social Networking Site is Better?

  9/18/2009

  Though both sites have similar functions and even offer some of the same apps, one is better than the other. Which one is it?
• My Top Five Sports Movies

  9/15/2009

  Whether they explore the serious or funny sides of sports, these five movies epitomize the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat."
• Billy Joel's 10 Best Songs Ever

  6/22/2009

  For more than 30 years, William Martin Joel has been composing and singing some of the best pop/rock songs in American musical history.
• Obama's First 100 Days: The Trouble with Pakistan and the Taliban

  4/25/2009

  Pakistan - the world's only Islamic nation with nukes - is caving in to Taliban insurgents. What can, or should, President Obama do?
• Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope: Lucas Updates 1930s Serials in 1977 Classic Film

  4/16/2009

  In May 1977, 20th Century Fox very reluctantly released George Lucas's Star Wars - not realizing that its success would launch a multi-Episode saga and build an "Empire of Dreams."
• Obama's First 100 Days: Pirates of the Horn of Africa

  4/9/2009

  The attempted takeover of the Maersk Alabama is one more incident in a problematic region that is bound to give the Obama White House headaches.
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  Obama's First 100 Days: the Trouble with Hugo, or Re-Engaging a Leftist-Leaning Latin America

  4/3/2009

  While North Korea and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are President Obama's top priorities, Chavez and his regime are potential headaches closer to home.
• President Obama's First 100 Days: North Korea and Its 'Temper Tantrum'

  3/31/2009

  Though the economy and the various bailouts are Priority One for the President, North Korea's "satellite launch" is an unwelcome foreign challenge.
• 
  Is Nadya Suleiman "Xtremely" Selfish?

  2/13/2009

  Nadya Suleiman's "need" to have kids takes the concept of extolling the self way too far.
• Obama Administration Must Cope with Looming Energy Crisis, Fulfill Campaign Promises

  12/5/2008

  With gas prices currently low, the incoming Obama Administration still needs a credible and actionable energy policy
• Obama Wins White House; What Happens Now?

  11/5/2008

  What will an Obama Administration (and a Democratic Congress) do now after winning the 2008 election so handily?
• McCain, Obama Wage 'Battle of Ideas' to Win Floridians' Vote in Key Battleground State

  10/31/2008

  With only four days to go until Election Day, both presidential candidates wage war of ideas to win Florida's 27 electoral votes and maybe the White House
• Florida Early Voting Rush is On

  10/29/2008

  With millions of Floridians heading to the polls to vote early, Gov. Crist orders polling stations to operate from 7 AM to 7 PM in key battleground state
• Florida Polls: Barack Obama Ahead, but John McCain Has Hope

  10/28/2008

  Florida has been a strongly Republican state since the Reagan era, but will the discontent over the current Administration's policies be enough to make it a blue state?
• Local Ballot Initiatives in Miami-Dade that Require Equal Time to Presidential Race

  10/23/2008

  Voting in Miami-Dade this November entails looking carefully at local issues, too
• 
  Leslie Gaddy - an Up-and-Coming Southern Rock Singer in Her Own Words

  9/28/2008

  One of the singers of Free Will Offering, Leslie Gaddy, opens up about her music, inspirations, and her career
• A Look at Hasbro's Darth Vader with Imperial Interrogation Droid

  10/30/2007

  Released in 1999 as part of Hasbro's Power of the Force 2 Collection, this version not only includes the menacing little torture robot seen in Episode IV, but also comes with a "talking" Dark Lord of the Sith
• The Death and Resurrection of Classical Music Radio in the Miami, FL Market

  10/27/2007

  After a six-year absence and one abortive attempt to return, classical music is back in South Florida's airwaves. Will it remain?
• A Look at Kenner/Hasbro's Lak Sivrak Star Wars Action Figure

  10/23/2007

  Not as detailed as the current 21st Centuty action figures, this 1998 action figure is still a nice Star Wars collectible.
• Luke Skywalker in Ceremonial Outfit: Kenner's 1996 Action Figure of a New Hope's Hero

  10/17/2007

  Although Luke Skywalker only wore four outfits in Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope, it took Kenner Toys and Hasbro 19 years to release a 3.75-inch action figure depicting the Classic Trilogy's hero in his ceremonial outfit from the film's Throne Room scene.
• 
  Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Ruling the World Has Never Been This Much Fun

  9/29/2007

  Who says learning about world history has to be dull and uninspiring? This fourth version of Sid Meier's popular empire-building is not only fun and addictive, but it also "stealth-teaches" players about many aspects of, well, civilization.
• A Look at the Evolution of a Collectible from "a Galaxy Far, Far, Away...."

  8/18/2007

  Kenner unwittingly revolutionized the toy industry when it became one of the few licensees of Star Wars merchandise in 1977, but its original figures and playsets are eclipsed by more detailed versions from its successor Hasbro.
• A Look at Hasbro's 1997 Re-Issue Luke Skywalker Action Figure

  7/20/2007

  Kenner's initial Luke Skywalker figures were marred by lack of extras and blandness. Since the 1990s, however, Hasbro's toymakers have endeavored to capture Star Wars fans' hearts, minds, and wallets with more extras and better detailing.
• Running Back Gets Unfair Break: Gets to Play and Go to College Despite Sex Scandal

  7/18/2007

  One of the harsh realities of modern American society is that if you are a student-athlete in high school, particularly a star athlete, you can pretty much get away with a lot of things that non-jocks would probably face suspension, even expulsion for doing.
• Kenner/Hasbro's Grand Moff Tarkin Action Figure: Rare, Hard-to-find Rendition of Star Wars' Ruthless Death Star Commander First Appeared in 1996

  6/12/2007

  Although Kenner Toys rendered most of the original Star Wars Trilogy's Imperial characters as 3.75-inch action figures during their original production run of 1978-1985, the one glaring exception was Grand Moff Tarkin.
• A Look at Hasbro's Star Wars: Episode I Sebulba's Podracer

  6/5/2007

  Hasbro's Star Wars Episode I Sebulba's Podracer is a reasonably well-designed reproduction of the villainous racing champion's speedy vehicle
• A Look at Hasbro's "Final Jedi Duel"

  6/5/2007

  Final Jedi Duel captures the essence of Return of the Jedi's final lightsaber clash extremely well,
• Collectibles from that Galaxy Far, Far Away: A Look at Hasbro's "Jabba's Dancing Girls"

  6/5/2007

  Although it might be hard to find, collectors can search for this rare three-pack of action figures featuring Rystall, Greeata, and Lyn Me
• "Here They Come!" a Look at Hasbro's TIE Bomber

  5/4/2007

  Since 1978, the TIE Fighter and its variants has been an important part of any serious Star Wars collection; the TIE Bomber's rarity makes it a must-get item.
• All Good Things: Our Labrador Retriever's Final Days

  5/1/2007

  On a mild April morning nearly four years ago, the hard truth was no comfort to either me or my mom as we drove Mary Joe, our beloved eight-year-old yellow Labrador retriever to the vet for the last time.
• A Look at Hasbro's "Watto's Box" CinemaScene

  4/26/2007

  Inspired by an "if-you-blink-you'll-miss-it" shot from The Phantom Menace, this three-figure pack is a nice "displayable collectible" for Star Wars fans.
• A Look at Hasbro/Kenner's "Death Star Escape" Cinema Scene Three-Pack

  4/11/2007

  Almost half of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope deals with Princess Leia's rescue from the Death Star, and this is the best three-packs based on that sequence.
• A Look at Hasbro/Kenner's Power of the Force Cantina Showdown Cinema Scene

  4/11/2007

  Although it might be hard to find, collectors can search for this rare three-pack of action figures featuring Ben Kenobi, Dr. Evazan, and Ponda Baba
• Exiles' Love for Cuba is Understandable, but it Doesn't Excuse Censorship

  3/11/2007

  While the pain of losing one's country to a brutal regime is understandable, it doesn't excuse a Cuban exile group from stealing books from public school libraries in a blatant act of censorship.
• A Look at Hasbro's "Luke Skywalker: Hoth Attack" Action Figure

  3/2/2007

  Although Kenner/Hasbro has released several action figures depicting Luke Skywalker as he appears in the first 15 minutes or so of The Empire Strikes Back, this 2003 figure has better, more accurate detailing.
• History Revisited: A Look at Richard Shenkman's Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of American History

  1/2/2007

  Even if you think U.S. history is not exciting, this book is very readable and funny. Highly recommended!
• Hasbro's Hoth Attack Wampa is an Improvenent on Kenner's '80s Reproduction

  12/14/2006

  In the early '80s, Kenner Toys issued a ho-hum action figure based on the snow monster that attacks Luke Skywalker on Hoth. The 2003 Hasbro re-issue is more detailed and matches the 1997 Special Edition's wampa.
• How NOT to Do Film Parodies: A Not-so-loving Look at Aaron Seltzer's Date Movie

  8/8/2006

  Whereas the writers and director of Airplane! got the formula for film parodies just right, Seltzer and Friedlander clearly go for cheap, easy laughs without being actually funny. Avoid this movie at all costs.
• Classic Despite Flaws, The Longest Day is Still Relevant and Powerful Even After 40 Years

  7/21/2006

  Even though this 1962 war drama is showing its age, it is still a powerful movie about a pivotal world event. The most expensive black and white movie for three decades, it is based on the 1959 best seller by Cornelius Ryan.
• A Look at Beggin' Strips Snacks for Dogs

  7/19/2006

  Beggin' Strips look like bacon, smell like bacon, but aren't bacon. Instead, they are a popular doggie snack by Ralston Purina.
• Schindler's List: A Look at Steven Spielberg's Best Film

  7/6/2006

  Schindler's List is not only a fine example of filmmaking at its best, but it also serves as a memorial to the six million victims of the Holocaust.
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

  7/6/2006

  Of all the Star Trek feature films, the fifth entry in the series is considered by most fans to be the weakest and least satisfying.
• A Look at Hasbro's Darth Vader - Emperor's Wrath Action Figure

  6/22/2006

  Although Kenner and Hasbro have re-issued Darth Vader action figures since he first appeared as a 3.75-inch toy replica, this variant is rather uniquely detailed.
• James Luceno's Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Explores the Early Days of the Sith Lord's Career of Evil

  6/21/2006

  James Luceno's Dark Lord is one of the best literary adventures set "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away." A must-read for Star Wars fans.
• A Look at Hasbro Toy Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Collection 1: Luke Skywalker Bespin Duel Action Figure

  6/19/2006

  In company with Darth Vader: Bespin Duel, this figure of the Classic Trilogy's main hero is worth searching for.
• The Power of the Dark Side: A Look at Hasbro's Darth Vader - Dagobah Action Figure

  6/12/2006

  Hasbro, like Kenner before it, has made many variants of the Dark Lord's action figure, but this is the only one that can be used to recreate Luke Skywalker's Force vision on Dagobah.
• Overcoming the Odds: Kellie Pickler

  6/6/2006

  From roller skating waitress to TV talent show contestant, Kellie Pickler shows the world that adversity can't keep this Southern charmer down
• Favorite Movie Themes: Five Pieces by Composer Jerry Goldsmith

  6/6/2006

  The late, great Jerry Goldsmith composed many great movie themes in his 40-year-long Hollywood career. Here are five of his best.
• A Look at Star Wars - the Empire Strikes Back: The Illustrated Screenplay

  6/5/2006

  For movie buffs and Star Wars fans alike, this 1998 re-issue of the screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back is definitely a must-get volume.
• Star Wars Collectible: Episode 2 : Darth Vader (Bespin Duel) Action Figure

  6/2/2006

  Though there are many Vader variants available, this figure's details make it worth scouring the galaxy for. Get the companion Luke Skywalker: Bespin Duel figure to complement it!
• The Life and Films of George Lucas Are the Focus of Dale Pollock's Skywalking

  6/1/2006

  This is a highly readable and informative unauthorized biography that delves into the life and films of Star Wars creator George Lucas.
• A Look at Purina Moist & Meaty Burger with Cheddar Cheese

  5/31/2006

  Purina has been making fine pet foods for ages; Moist & Meaty Burger with Cheddar Cheese is one of their best products!
• A Look at Ol' Roy Dog Food by Wal-Mart

  5/31/2006

  As a former dog owner and current dog-sitter, I have had to feed my canine charges different types of food; Ol' Roy is one of the best in-store canned foods for dogs.
• A Look at The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  5/27/2006

  The late, great Douglas Adams weaves a comical tapestry full of puns, zany characters and loopy situations in this sci fi satire. Don't Panic...read The Guide.
• Lullabye A Beautiful Heartfelt Ode to Parental Love : Billy Joel Transforms a Piano Piece into a Masterpiece of Musical Simplicity

  5/27/2006

  Considering that Billy Joel's album River of Dreams is one of his more thoughtful albums, Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel) certainly fits into the work's themes of reflection and "summing up."
• From George Washington to (Almost) George W.....: A Look at "Presidential Anecdotes"

  5/26/2006

  This book about our country's first 42 Presidents is a great anecdotal antidote to all those boring and dry history classes we took in high school.
• A Look at Star Wars Episode IV - a New Hope: The Illustrated Screenplay

  5/26/2006

  For fans of Star Wars and movie buffs alike, this book is a fascinating blueprint for A New Hope
• Movie Review of The War of the Worlds

  5/25/2006

  Even if you think the lead actor is acting bizarrely off-screen, War of the Worlds is a terrific sci-fi/horror film.
• Best Films by Steven Spielberg

  5/25/2006

  Steven Spielberg has been one of the best directors in Hollywood for over 30 years; these are his 10 best films.
• Tom Cruise Flies High in Top Gun

  5/25/2006

  Although far better than Iron Eagle, this Tom Cruise vehicle is typical fare for the Reagan Era: nice visuals, but too jingoistic and simplistic
• The Da Vinci Code: Much Ado About Secret Societies and Faux Theology

  5/25/2006

  Considering the success of this novel, I thought it would be at least a fun and entertaining read. Sadly, this overhyped best-seller is neither!
• Give Your Dog a Delicious Treat: Pup-Peroni Treats

  5/25/2006

  f you want to give your dog (or a neighbor's) a tasty treat, you can't go wrong with Pup-Peroni!
• Samsung DVD-L70 Portable DVD Player with Screen Review

  5/25/2006

  Although this will be used only sparingly, the DVD-L70 offers video and audio performance beyond what one imagines from such a small device. Highly recommended!
• Ortho Home Defense Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer Pull-N-Spray

  5/25/2006

  Got bugs? Don't want to hire a pest control company? Then Ortho Home Defense Perimeter & Indoor Insect Killer Pull-N-Spray might be the right weapon for you.
• Review of Norelco ReflexPlus 6423

  5/24/2006

  The ReflexPlus 6423 LC Electric Shaver carries on in the tradition of Philips/Norelco's of excellent shaving products. Highly recommended
• From Page to Screen: 10 of the Best Films Based on Novels

  5/23/2006

  Although no movie ever really surpasses its literary source, these are the 10 best movies based on popular works of fiction (or fictionalized fact, in one case).
• Favorite Movie Themes: Music By....Beethoven?

  5/23/2006

  Some of the best film themes ever have been around before the invention of the motion picture camera. Here are five famous classical pieces that have been featured in movies
• A Look at Billy Joel's An Innocent Man and River of Dreams

  5/19/2006

  Whether exploring the musical styles of the '50s and early '60s or giving the world one last original pop/rock album (for the time being, anyway), Billy Joel shows his musicianship and versatility in these two recordings.
• The Star Wars Galaxy Gets Down and Funky with Jerry Hey's "Jedi Rocks"

  4/24/2006

  If you liked the revised musical number in the Special Edition of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, you'll love this single...if you don't have the soundtrack album, at least.
• Billy Joel's Versatility and Talent Are Highlighted in This Entry in Columbia's Essentials Series

  4/5/2006

  For owners of the various Billy Joel Greatest Hits collections, this 2-CD set might seem, well, superfluous, but in addition to obvious hits (Piano Man, Just the Way You Are) there are some rare gems, too. Worth a listen!
• Brad Ferguson's a Flag Full of Stars is a Book Full of Flaws

  4/3/2006

  Pocket Books' Star Trek: The Lost Years project sought to fill in the blanks about the "missing years" between the TV show's final episode and the first movie, but the books are uneven at best, bad at worse.
• A Look at James Luceno's Episode III Prequel Novel, Labyrinth of Evil

  3/14/2006

  Although fans know the ultimate fate of the films' major characters, Luceno's Revenge of the Sith novel is a suspenseful and exciting set-up for the final Star Wars movie.
• Coping with an Insidious and Cruel Illness is Hard for a Miami Family

  3/9/2006

  This is how our lives are with this insidious illness my mom is enduring. Each of us is trying to cope in his or her way, but it's not easy.
• A Brief Look at Fatherland, a What-if Novel that Portrays a Victorious Third Reich

  2/24/2006

  Fans of real and alternative history willI find Harris' novel to be a true "can't put this down till I finish" book.
• A Look at MECO's Star Wars & Other Galactic Funk

  2/24/2006

  I've owned plenty of Star Wars-related albums, most of which I've enjoyed. This one by MECO is one of the rare ones I don't like.
• Guitarist John Williams Joins Two Orchestras to Perform Rodrigo's Classical Music Masterpieces

  2/10/2006

  One of the best classical guitarists tackles two of the most beautiful guitar-and-orchestra compositions written in the 20th Century. A must-hear recording!
• Polydor's First CD of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is Not Worth Getting

  2/10/2006

  Of the four versions of the John Williams/London Symphony Orchestra recordings of the "Empire" score, this is the least satisfying and the worst-conceived CD edition.
• Jedi Trial is an Exemplary Literary Prequel to Revenge of the Sith

  2/8/2006

  Details about the Clone Wars - one of the biggest, yet largely unseen, elements in the Star Wars mythology - and well-developed characters are the main draw of this excellently-written Prequel Era novel.
• A Quick and Easy Guide to the Chronology of George Lucas' Star Wars Saga

  2/7/2006

  If you've been stranded on a desert island since May of 1977 or are new to the Star Wars mythos, this how-to guide explains the chronology of the six-film saga.
• Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Perform Brilliantly in Amadeus

  2/6/2006

  Mozart may have died a penniless pauper at the age of 36, but his music enriched the Western artistic tradition. This 2-CD set is a wonderful sampler of music by Mozart and a few other Classical era composers.
• Johnny Mathis Sings Classic Love Songs from the Standard Repertoire

  1/30/2006

  In this unassumingly packaged Sony Music Special Products offering, Mathis sings 10 standards written by such luminaries as Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter.
• Killing Pablo Chronicles the Hunt for Pablo Escobar, "World's Greatest Outlaw"

  1/27/2006

  Based on Mark (Black Hawk Down) Bowden's 2001 best-selling book of the same name, Killing Pablo is an engrossing documentary that chronicles the "hunt for the world's greatest outlaw."
• Clone Wars: Volume Two Continues Bridging the Gap Between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith

  1/25/2006

  Although several Expanded Universe novels give a different version of some events here, Star Wars - Clone Wars: Volume Two bridges the gap between Episodes II and III entertainingly.
• John Williams' 1977 Star Wars Album is Still Sublime, Despite Its Flaws

  1/20/2006

  Of all the albums of various genres and by different artists that I've ever owned, perhaps the one that has most shaped my taste in music is, without a doubt, the original two-disc soundtrack album from George Lucas' Star Wars.
• Worst World War II Movies Ever, Part Three: Midway

  1/20/2006

  This film is just plain awful. Want to learn about the Battle of Midway? Read Walter Lord's Incredible Victory instead.
• Worst World War II Movies Ever, Part One: Battle of the Bulge

  1/20/2006

  The Second World War inspired many epic films that recreate major battles with some degree of accuracy. Battle of the Bulge isn't one of them.
• Waking Up in Astoria Indy Film Portrays Struggles of NY Actor and His Family with Humor, Pathos

  1/19/2006

  So you think an actor's life is all fortune and glory? Easy? Fun? Waking Up in Astoria captures a different side of a struggling thespian's life as he strives to get parts in the New York area.
• A Hero Falls: From Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader, These are The Pages of Star Wars

  1/19/2006

  Matthew Stover has written an entertaining, insightful, and moving account of a hero's tragic fall from grace amidst the death of a galaxy-spanning democracy.
• The Girl Next Door: Cuthbert, Wish-fulfillment Are Top Draws to This Underrated Teen-sex Comedy-drama

  1/11/2006

  Like most sexually-themed teen comedies, this film depends on suspension of disbelief, but it does have a somewhat sweet core beneath its unabashedly naughty layers.
• Ed Zwick's The Siege Features Fine Acting but Suffers from a Flawed Screenplay

  1/11/2006

  Pre-Sept. 11 film seeks to explore the ramifications of a terrorist campaign in NYC, namely the use of military force and declaring martial law, but suffers from cinematic schizophrenia.
• House of Wax : Despite the Title, This Horrid Film Isn't a Remake of the '53 Vincent Price Chiller

  1/9/2006

  The true horror in this film is not just that Paris Hilton is in this, but that Warner Bros. wants $20 for the DVD.
• West Side Story "The Jets Are Gonna Have Their Way...tonight!"

  1/9/2006

  West Side Story, the 1961 film adaptation of one of the best American musical plays of all time, is one of the most acclaimed movies in Hollywood history.
• How to Prepare for the Coming Hurricane Season of 2006 and Beyond

  1/9/2006

  As a horribly active hurricane season comes to an end, residents in Florida and other coastal states need to prepare for a 20-30 year "busy" cycle in the Atlantic.
• How to Make Sense of Clancy's Convoluted Chronology in Jack Ryan Series

  1/9/2006

  If you are confused by the chronology of the Jack Ryan series, this guide's for you....
• Worst World War II Movies Ever, Part Two: Is Paris Burning?

  1/5/2006

  Perhaps one of the most disappointing war epics of the 1960s is French director Rene Clement's 1966 adaptation of Is Paris Burning?, a book about the liberation of the French capital in August of 1944.
• Jedi Adaptation is a Fitting Conclusion to Star Wars Radio Drama Trilogy

  1/2/2006

  Star Wars on radio? Don't laugh...it really works, and Return of the Jedi makes for a fine aural experience!
• "Hey Bud, Let's Party!"

  12/23/2005

  Fast Times at Ridgemont High is one of the rare teen-sex comedies that deserves its reputation as a classic of the genre. Worth a look!
• The Great Escape One of the Best War/Escape Films Ever Made

  12/23/2005

  Despite resistance from Hollywood, John Sturges was able to produce and direct one of the best war/escape films ever made.
• Fail-Safe Depicts Nightmare Scenario During the Cold War

  12/16/2005

  Fail-Safe is perhaps one of the best Cold War-era films that dared to depict an accidental nuclear war brought on by the failure of technology and human frailties.
• The One that Started it All: Star Wars: A New Hope

  12/13/2005

  Bucking logic and expectations, Star Wars set box-office records and thrilled audiences with its mix of space fantasy and mythological archetypes, starting one of the most popular film series in movie history.
• 
  A Category One Hurricane in Florida

  12/13/2005

  While Wilma was no Andrew or Katrina, its effects expose weaknesses in South Florida's overdeveloped infrastructure.
• A Brief Look at Smashing of the Reich

  12/13/2005

  In 1962, writer-producer Perry Wolff made a feature-length documentary about the Allied victory over Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime.
• "This Here's Miss Bonnie Parker. I'm Clyde Barrow. We Rob Banks...."

  12/12/2005

  Amoral, perhaps psychotic, but somehow fascinating, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow come to life again in this classic 1960s film.
• Book Review: Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War

  12/12/2005

  This book on the first Gulf War is well researched and detailed; it's very readable and vivid.
• Despite the Usual Flaws, Clones Sets Viewers Up for Revenge of the Sith

  12/10/2005

  Just in time for Star Wars' 25th Anniversary, Attack of the Clones continues the tragic story of Anakin Skywalker's fall from grace and lays the foundations for Episode III.
• John Wayne & Co's The Green Berets is a Dud of a Vietnam War Film

  12/8/2005

  Of the few films to actually depict the Vietnam War as it raged in the 1960s, The Green Berets is the worst.
• Nivea® For Men Sensitive After Shave Balm Soothes, Relieves Skin

  12/7/2005

  Vain I may not be, but I like shaving. However, razors often irritate my skin, so this Nivea® For Men product is often necessary. It works great, though!
• Review: Uncle John's All-Purpose Extra Strength Bathroom Reader

  12/7/2005

  For general trivia lovers - or for people who habitually read in the bathroom! - the best books are the Uncle John's Bathroom Readers
• Black Sunday: A Look at a Pre-9-11 Novel About Terrorism in the U.S

  12/7/2005

  Before Tom Clancy nuked the Super Bowl in a 1991 novel, Thomas Harris wrote the chiller Black Sunday
• Jamie Foxx Shines in His Oscar-winning Role as Ray Charles

  12/7/2005

  Although I normally avoid watching biopics, Taylor Hackford's film about musician Ray Charles is definitely worth seeing.
• Darth Vader Returns in NPR's Radio Adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back

  12/7/2005

  With the success of Star Wars: The Radio Drama, National Public Radio, Lucasfilm Ltd, John Madden and acclaimed SF author Brian Daley returned to create a second radio series based on "Empire"
• The Sounds of Heartbreak: My 10 Favorite Sad Songs and Compositions

  12/7/2005

  Although, like most people, I prefer cheerful and upbeat music - say, John Williams' Raiders' March, Billy Joel's Uptown Girl, or The Beatles' Eight Days a Week, there are periods when all I'll listen to is melancholic, even bitterly sad songs
• "I Can't Shake Him!"

  12/5/2005

  Rogue Squadron 3-D allows players to take the role of Luke Skywalker as a Rebel pilot against the Empire in an exciting arcade/sim style game.
• Sith Score Closes John Williams' Six-Episode Star Wars Cycle with Style, Brilliance

  12/1/2005

  Once again, composer John Williams provides Star Wars creator with a brillliant, enduring score, but Sony Classical could have done a better album. At least a bonus DVD was included, though.
• First of the Star Wars Prequels Nicely Sets Up the Tragedy of Darth Vader

  11/28/2005

  Talky, full of political intrigue, and not warmly embraced by most fans, The Phantom Menace is still a good beginning to the six-Episode saga
• Mrs Miniver: Fine for Its Time, but Somewhat Hokey Now

  11/24/2005

  Although it's fine as an example of WWII propaganda, Mrs Miniver is a somewhat cliched and dated melodrama.
• Visiting Miami and South Florida Like a Native

  11/19/2005

  As a native Miamian, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the city's growth into the Gateway of the Americas.
• A Look at Star Wars: The Radio Drama

  11/18/2005

  Can one of the most visually exciting films in history be adapted into a radio drama?
• Score for A Bridge Too Far is Composer's Tribute to the Men Who Fought and Died in Operation Market-Garden

  11/18/2005

  Although the film A Bridge Too Far flopped in 1977, it was well done, and one of the best things about it was Joh Addison's score.
• A Look at Star Wars: Clone Wars - Volume One

  11/14/2005

  Cable and satellite television subscribers who get the Cartoon Network - and now, DVD owners - have seen other engagements in the animated micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars
• If Adventure Has a Name, It's Indiana Jones

  11/12/2005

  Since the DVD format was introduced in the late 1990s, movie fans were anxious to get their hands on two Lucasfilm trilogies, Star Wars and the Indiana Jones films.
• A Look at a International House of Pancakes in South Florida

  11/3/2005

  IHOP may not be a fancy-shmancy restaurant, but their slogan is accurate: come hungry, leave happy
• Examining Revenge of the Sith

  10/28/2005

  Forget, if you can, the disappointment you probably felt with the ponderous political scheming of Episode I: The Phantom Menace or the somewhat less-than-impressive rebel-without-a-cause portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
• Give My Regards To Broad Street, Paul McCartney's 1984 Movie Tie-In

  10/28/2005

  Of course, sometimes even failed films come with a soundtrack album, and Give My Regards to Broad Street lends itself well to having its spin-off record.