Reviews

Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror

As the former Terrorism Czar of the United States National Security Council, Richard Clarke is perhaps America's foremost authority when it comes to analyzing the reactions of presidential administrations to terrorist activity over the past twenty years. As head of the NSC(National Security Council)'s counterterrorism project for 10 years, Richard Clarke had practically made Osama Bin Laden into his white whale. His recent testimony before the 9/11 Commission has been the most damning indictment to date regarding the involvement of George W. Bush's regime with the events surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. His new book, Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror, expands on his testimony and provides an honest and unflinching look at what the White House knew before, during and after 9/11. Thus, Clarke's book regarding the issues surrounding 9/11 and the Bushmen's subsequent invasion of Iraq is an illuminating read for any behind-the-scenes investigation into al-Qaeda and the Bush regime.

Usagi Yojimbo Book One - The Ronin

Miyamoto Usagi is a ronin, a masterless samurai, who encounters all kinds of villagers, monsters and eccentrics as he wanders the countryside of feudal Japan. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that Usagi happens to be a rabbit? Usagi is Japanese for rabbit and Yojimbo can be translated as bodyguard, hence these are the tails--urm, tales--of the "Rabbit Bodyguard."

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower

This may come across as heretical, but I think A & E's screenplay adaptions of the Horatio Hornblower novels may be an improvement to C.S. Forrester's original prose. Ack! I can hear the broadsides flying my way already. But, consider...

The Second Coming of Steve Jobs

Bill Gates may be wealthier, Michael Dell may be cleverer and Scot McNealy may be fiercer, but few can deny that Steve Jobs is probably the most enigmatic and fascinating CEO in Silicon Valley. Capable of casting his enthralling "Reality-Distortion-Field" upon the most hostile of his critics, Steve Jobs' presence and notoriety in the computer industry commands attention even from the mainstream media. In some stories he's a digital guru, envisioning stylish technologies with the esoteric sensibilities of an ex-hippie. In others he's l'enfant terrible, a dreadful tyrant whose obsessions blind him to his ruthlessness. Alan Deutschman has written a detailed biography of Steve Jobs that delivers its narrative on an insightful middle-ground between both extremes.

The Return of the King

There's just so much to process after three hours and twenty minutes of Middle-Earthen goodness. I sat gobsmacked through frenetic battles, stunning landscapes and moving heroics. The Return of the King treated me to a magnificent standard of elegant storytelling. Peter Jackson & Co have hit upon so many emotional elements in the series with a combination of precision and class befitting the first story I ever treasured. So much compassion is evoked from Tolkien's narrative that, at several points while in the theatre, my previous and current experiences with Middle-Earth fused and --don't tell any one about this--I just cried... like a baby.

I'll try to post my collected thoughts in full after I get the chance to take-in another viewing during this holiday season.

Hail to the King Baby!

Matrix Revolutions

Matrix Revolutions is a fitting end to the Matrix trilogy. Not everything is resolved explicitly and this is more of a gift than a curse. At the same time, Revolutions is not as consistently stylish, engaging or groundbreaking as the first and second movies. It's certainly a movie you'll begin to appreciate more the day after you see it, but not likely one you'll want to watch repeatedly for its visceral thrills. There are substantial issues with the narrative that feel like oppurtunities lost, yet, in the end, it is a clever and appropriate conclusion to the saga of the Matrix.

*** Spoilers ***