The initial introduction to Avatar was not good. The trailer left something to be desired. Plus it is in 3-D which to some people is a hindrance rather than a help. Also the running time of the film is close...

Steve Berry continues his "Cotton Malone" series with The Paris Vendetta, and once again Malone is in the middle of international intrigue. There are assassination plots, searches for hidden treasure, battles between enemies and even friends, and a taste of romance thrown into the mix. In other words, it has...

There is Hollywood's way of making movies and then there is the Eastwood way. Actor/Director Clint Eastwood stamps each of his films with his own imprint. They are straight to the point movies that don't waste the audience's time on superfluous events. This has worked for Eastwood in the past...

Al Roker has a wealth of fans created by his day job as the weatherman on NBC's hugely popular Today Show. Over the years his personality has emerged and he is beloved as a jovial, charming man who not only gives the weather forecasts, he also engages in interviews with...

It has been said that war movies do not create good box office but that has been disputed by the success of the amazing film "The Hurt Locker." Now comes "Brothers" to further smash this concept. "Brothers" is a film so finely crafted and so beautifully acted that it has...

Stephen King's latest novel is titled Under the Dome, and at 1074 pages in length, epic it is. This book is also King at his best. He creates a setting of good versus evil, and then introduces a large cast of characters to bring the story to life. It is...

Are there really fans out there waiting for the latest Wes Anderson film? And are there people clamoring for the mere sound of George Clooney's voice? I don't think so. So why do we have an animated film (stop/action animation) from Mr. Anderson that features the vocal work of Mr....

There are those who would argue that each and every one of Nicholas Sparks' novels, beginning with The Notebook, is pure schmaltz. Many argue he aims for the tear ducts and won't rest until they are drained dry. Still, say what you want, Sparks writes books that touch the heart...

You have heard it said a thousand times that such and such got better with age. Well in the case of Hal Holbrook's acting skills it is true. At 84 his talent has never shone brighter than it does now, and his latest film That Evening Sun is a perfect...

What is it with George Clooney! How can one actor star in so many box office bombs and still be Hollywood's darling? Since 2003 this "leading man" has starred in such failures as "Intolerable Cruelty," "Syriana," "The Good German," "Leatherheads" and "Burn After Reading." The only major hit he has...

Karen White is known for writing romantic novels that are full of lively characters and solid plots. This time, however, she has created a story titled The Girl on Legare Street, and it is peopled with some not-so-alive characters, but the plot is still solid.

If you have ever...

What Might Have Been

The documentary "This Is It" is a chronicle of the rehearsals for Michael Jackson's comeback tour. It was compiled from hours of footage that were shot during the day to day work getting ready to launch Michael's first major concert tour in years. As we...

There is no evidence of Jonathan Kellerman's innate writing talent in his new novel Evidence. This is his twenty-fourth story featuring the character of Child Psychologist Dr. Alex Delaware and it appears he has gone to this well one time too many. In the past, Delaware has been the center...

Movie Review, Jackie K. Cooper

Let me say up front I have never read Maurice Sendak's children's book Where the Wild Things Are, so I didn't come to view the...

Book Review, Jackie K Cooper

Chelsea Cain is a writer who knows no fear. She manages to break all the rules of mystery writing by being as gruesome and gory as possible. You would think this style would turn off...

Novelist Brian Haig's Sean Drummond series is one of my favorite reading events. With his latest novel however, Haig leaves Drummond behind and concentrates on a new lead character and a new set of events that are equally satisfying to read about. The Hunted is a fictional story based on...

You Won't Remember Their Names

If they had to pick a movie to remake then Fame is a smart move. Since it is the story of talented kids going to a performing arts school the situations are timeless. The first version of Fame was in 1980 and it was...

Reviewed: The Amateurs by Marcus Sakey

There is a brilliant writer in America somehow flying under the radar of public knowledge. His name is Marcus Sakey and he has written four enormously enjoyable books, the latest being The Amateurs. He composes novels that are full of unexpected plot turns and...

Movies Flop

Love Happens is a movie supposedly starring Jennifer Aniston. The problem is Jennifer is MIA in the film. She is barely seen on screen while Aaron Eckhart's character gets most of the scenes and is certainly the focus of the film. Heck Dan Fogler, who plays Eckhart's sidekick,...

Georgia O'Keeffe is one of America's most outstanding painters but very little has been revealed about her personal life. The Lifetime Channel corrects this with a new film titled Georgia O'Keeffe which stars Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons. The film does not deal with the totality of O'Keeffe's life but...