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Superman Returns movie review

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“Superman Returns” (2006) Directed by Bryan Singer Written by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris Story by Bryan Singer, Michael Dougherty, and Dan Harris Based on the DC Comics character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, James Mardsen, Frank Langella, Parker Posey, Sam Huntington, Kai Penn Lex Luthor: Do you know the story of Prometheus? No, of course you don't. Prometheus was a god who stole the power of fire from the other gods and gave control of it to the mortals. In essence, he gave us technology, he gave us power. Kitty Kowalski: So we're stealing fire? In the Arctic? Lex Luthor: Actually, sort of. You see, whoever controls technology controls the world. The Roman empire ruled the world because they built roads. The British empire ruled the world because they built ships. America; the atom bomb. And so on and so forth. I just want what Prometheus wanted. Kitty Kowalski:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Blu-ray review

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(C) 2016 Buena Vista Home Entertainment/Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Star Star Star Star On April 5, Buena Vista Home Entertainment released the much-anticipated Blu-ray/DVD set of director J.J. Abrams’ blockbuster hit “ Star Wars:The Force Awakens. ” The first installment of the long awaited Sequel Trilogy and seventh live-action film in the “ Star Wars ” saga, “The Force Awakens” was last year’s biggest box office hit. Now, the Force seems to be with the Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm, as “The Force Awakens” is the best-selling Blu-ray/DVD combo set on  Amazon.com  and other sellers. “Visionary director J.J. Abrams brings to life the motion picture event of a generation. As Kylo Ren and the sinister First Order rise from the ashes of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is missing when the galaxy needs him most. It's up to Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, a defecting stormtrooper, to join forces with Han Solo and Chewbacca in a desperate search fo

Philip Nolan: The Man Without a Country book review

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Photos courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Press Chuck Pfarrer Star Star Star Star Star In 1863, at the height of the Civil War,  The Atlantic  published Edward Everett Hale’s short story  “The Man Without a Country”  in its December issue. Set in the early part of the 19th Century, Hale recounts the remarkable story of Philip Nolan, a young Army officer who, during his court-martial, angrily renounces his country and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life aboard U.S. Navy ships at sea. Since Nolan had shouted “"D——n the United States! I wish I may never hear of the United States again," the government orders the ships’ captains to treat Nolan in a courteous manner – but to make sure that he hears or sees no news of his country. Although Hale’s story is historical fiction that’s partly based on real events, it was also a highly effective piece of wartime propaganda. Hale wrote “The Man Without a Country” to increase public s

Star Wars: The Force Awakens review

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On Friday, December 18, 2015, millions of “Star Wars” fans around the world watched J.J. Abrams’ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the highly anticipated first installment in the new Sequel Trilogy of films set “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.”  Co-written by Abrams with Lawrence Kasdan (“The Empire Strikes Back” and Michael Arndt, “The Force Awakens” is an exciting thrill-ride that promises to reinvigorate the “Star Wars” saga and recapture the cinematic spark of magic of George Lucas’s original 1977-1983 trilogy. “The Force Awakens” is set some 30 years after the events shown in “Star Wars – Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”  Emperor Palpatine and his infamous henchman Darth Vader are dead, but the remnants of the Galactic Empire still haunt a war-torn galaxy under the banner of the First Order. The former Rebel Alliance, now known as the New Republic, finds itself backing a group of freedom fighters called the Resistance. In this time of crisis, Luke Skywalker,

Book Review: Miss Harper Can Do It

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Pros:  Annie Harper's humor; nice insights into a young teacher's life Cons:  It didn't bug me, but some readers may get tired of the footnotes-as-narrative tool technique. Ask anyone who knows me well - or read enough of my online missives and musings - about my reading habits, and you'll probably come away with the impression that I don't read too many books written by women unless they are  Star Trek  or  Star Wars  authors. And for the most part, your impression would be proven  mostly  correct; I tend to gravitate more toward fiction that echoes my love of military history and technology (I've got a pile of novels by Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts, Harold Coyle and Larry Bond in my bookshelves).  I also like non-fiction books that reflect my interest in world affairs, politics and geography/travel. But among my many volumes about war, espionage and escapist movie tie-ins, you'll be surprised to find a few books written by