Edge of Darkness

For the past decade, Mel Gibson has received more attention for his work behind the camera than in front of it. Passion of the Christ, a powerful film that uses the graphicness of violence inflicted on Jesus to demonstrate the suffering he endured because of his love for humanity, was a box office smash upon its release in 2004. Then he received quite a bit of negative press for such incidents as a receiving a DUI in 2006 and making anti-Semitic remarks to the officer. Now he's back in the spotlight in an acting role, doing an admirable job in a film that draws some comparison to last year's Taken. In this story, however, Gibson's daughter is killed within the first ten minutes of the film, and Gibson's character, Thomas Craven, wants revenge. Will Craven be able to stay level headed in his pursuit of justice or will his quest for retribution be too much for him to handle? This is a pretty good thriller, one I would recommend, but ultimately fogettable in the grand scheme of things.

American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein

There's something about outspoken people that always gets my attention. People who have strong views on things and are not afraid to speak of them in public draws both feelings of irritation and admiration from me. Initially, I'm angry that they don't seem to give a crap about other people's thoughts and feelings when they express them. Then again, maybe I'm just too worried about what people think. Ultimately, I admire them because they are willing to make a stand on something they believe to be the truth and are not swayed by negative comments from others. Norman Finkelstein certainly falls under the outspoken category, and definitely the controversial category as well. A Jew raised by parents who survived the Holocaust, Finkelstein went on to teach at several universities in the United States while expressing critical views on Israel in what he calls the Holocaust Industry. Finkelstein believes Israel must take responsibility for its murder of countless Palestinians and using the memory of the Holocaust to gain immunity from any criticism by other nations on its policies and to further its financial interests. Wherever he speaks, Finkelstein is greeted with hardcore supporters and opponents. Although I have neither ties to Israel nor Palestine, I found it very interesting to watch this man and the way he spread his message. I'm not sure he's somebody I'd have a beer with, but Finkelstein is a great example of a man committed to standing firm even when it's unpopular to do so.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief or Jason makes a savings throw versus nostalgia

1. Did I enjoy the movie? YES
I have not enjoyed Chris Columbus' movies in the past. Yet, with this film he hit the right notes. Notes building to chords of myth, action, and magic reminding me of a summer past.

I don't know why my dad asked me to keep Kevin Ryan's nephew company that summer before sixth grade. I did not mind. He seemed like a cool kid. A little older than me but not haughty. (Wanting to watch Clash Of The Titans was a big plus.) Something in that movie clicked with me.

My classmates knew the latest sexual innuendo and I knew the Olympians. They had access to cable without adult supervision. I had access to the Kankakee Public Library's children section. Oh it was marvelous. I would love to walk down the dull stone stairs turn and be blasted by the primary intensity of colors. There was a series of books covering the myths of the world. Those were my go-to books. I would be lost in the stories. When waiting for class to begin I would devour these stories of heroes and monsters from afar-ago. There was a realness, without being real if that makes sense, that the Bozo Show lacked. (Side note: as I type this I am trying to decide if I just drank a glass of urine or bad smelling water.)

"You should be playing Dungeons and Dragons," Kevin Ryan's nephew said to me as I explain the myths that were cobbled together to build Clash Of The Titans' narrative.

Wow, was he right. I LOVED it. Loved it like how you love your your first girlfriend and don't notice her flaws but everyone else does. Yeah. Like that. I bought the red Basic Set and it was brought to a new world. A place where I had powers and weapons. A world with no homework, gym class, indifferent classmates, and angry fathers.

2. Would I watch the movie again? MAYBE
I enjoyed all of the book but only most of the movie. The divergence in the character of Luke from the book to the movie gives me pause. Patriarchal rage is converted to blind megalomania. It cheapens the character and also reduces the power of the "absent parents" theme running through the movie.

Extraordinary Measures

Harrison Ford is one of those actors who has been in a lot of good movies, but not many great ones (aside from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series). He really deserves to have an Oscar winning role at some point, although he will now have to win it in what might be the final decade of his career. It will not happen for his role in Extraordinary Measures, however, which is another good film with Ford, but far from great. He costars with Brendan Frasier, the latter of whom plays a father desperately trying to save his son and daughter from a disease known as Pompe. All the doctors say there is no cure, so Frasier decides to contact Ford, who plays a researcher trying to develop an enzyme treatment for the disease. There are really no surprises here, but this is a feel-good film that made me aware of a disease I never knew existed. If you think of it, Redbox it next time you shop for groceries.

Date Night

Steve Carrell first caught my attention in Bruce Almighty as a news anchorman who was suddenly controlled by the Godlike powers of Jim Carrey. After the 40 Year Old Virgin and the hilarious TV show The Office, I was hooked on Carrell's brand of humor. Here he teams up with fellow NBC comedian Tiny Fey. Together they play a couple that tries to spice up their marriage by going to a really expensive restaurant. However, when they pretend to be another couple in order to get a table, the evening takes an unexpected turn into a night of danger. I smiled quite a few times during this film and was pleasantly entertained for the evening, which was enough for me to recommend it. This is not a pee-in-your-pants comedy but it is fun, especially for fans of the two leads.