Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl movie review

"Perhaps, on the rare occasion, pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy," one character says at the end of this exciting movie. Right or wrong, this quote certainly describes the movie perfectly.

The theater darkens. The title comes and goes. Then we're treated to a ship coming through fog. A girl on the deck is singing "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" when she is stopped by a sailor employeed by the Royal Navy. He warns her that "accursed pirates sail these waters." He, in turn, is rebuked by Leftenant James Norrington for doing so. Elizabeth Swann later spots Will Turner, a boy about her age, floating unconscious on a wooden board. She alerts nearby men who haul him aboard. The superstitious sailor, Joshamee Gibbs, swears as he gazes at a blazing vessel. The captain and several men go out in a longboat to investigate. Elizabeth stays with Will, learns his name, and finds a medallion with a skull imprinted on it. Worried that he might be considered a pirate and treated as such, she takes the medallion and keeps it hidden.  Years later, a grown Elizabeth is living with her father in his mansion at Port Royal, and Will is apprenticed to a drunken blacksmith.  That night, Port Royal is attacked by a pirate crew.  Elizabeth takes it upon herself to parlay with the pirate Captain Barbossa, but is taken captive.  Will, deeply concerned for her safety, enlists the aid of intrepid pirate Captain Jack Sparrow to find her and bring her back.  Jack has his own reasons for finding Barbossa, as we come to find out.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is an enjoyable movie meant solely for entertainment.  It is mostly an action/comedy, although there are a few horror themes involved.  It's rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual references.

Emperor movie review

When I saw the trailers for Emperor, I knew I wanted to see it.  I'm a World War II buff, so a movie about the American occupation of Japan sounded interesting to me.

The plot is this: General MacArthur (played with good, old-fashioned American swagger by Tommy Lee Jones), put in charge of the occupation of Japan, is faced with rounding up war criminals for the Allies to place on trial.  The main problem he faces is that one of these suspected war criminals is Emperor Hirohito, who is guarded by soldiers who are willing to fight to the death to protect him from any intruders.

General MacArthur orders General Bonner Fellers (Michael Fox), who is familiar with Japan and Japanese customs, to investigate the emperor's role in the war.  Did Emperor Hirohito order the attack on Pearl Harbor?  Was he responsible for the atrocities Japanese soldiers committed during their occupations of Pacific islands and Asian countries?  While General Fellers is investigating this, he is also searching for the Japanese woman he loves.

So what can we glean from Emperor?  One thing is that the truth isn't always what we think it is at first.  Because of anti-Axis propaganda, Americans believed that Emperor Hirohito, being the monarch of Japan, should be held responsible for the actions of the Japanese military; however, they didn't understand the customs Japan had concerning its aristocracy.  There's also a Christian theme at the end, but I'll let you find it yourselves if you watch the movie.

The movie itself seems to be geared toward history buffs.  There isn't much action, but there's a lot of dialogue and several flashbacks to General Fellers' time with his Japanese girlfriend.

Captain America movie review

All Marvel superheroes have one thing in common: they were popular guys before becoming superheroes. Think about it. Thor, the god of thunder and lightning, was already destined for greatness when he was born; he's the son of a king. Mr. Fantastic (of the Fantastic Four) earned acclaim for his scientific efforts. Iron Man was a man of popularity, fame, and fortune. Steven Rogers, however, is a different story.

In "Captain America," Steven Rogers is a teenager living in 1942, a time when America was involved in World War II. He desperately wants to volunteer to serve in the army because, as he tells one character, he hates bullies "no matter where they're from." The problem? He's skinny, short, and he has multiple health issues. When a military scientist learns of this young man's determination, he makes arrangements for Steve to be placed in a special army division which, its colonel tells his men, "will escort Adolf Hitler to the gates of Hell."

We live in a culture where the "heroes" are the strong, the athletic, the good looking. Nobody really thinks about the secretary who's sitting at a desk typing memos, answering phone calls, and making schedules. What we tend to think about is the boss who runs the company like a well-oiled machine. Everybody thinks about the doctor who saves patients, not about the transcriptionist who types up the doctor's dictations so the doctor can get more work done. As the military scientist says, it's time for the little guy to step up. And step up he does. Even before he's given performance enhancers (surprise, surprise), Steve shows us his mental prowess, his unrelenting determination, and his courage in the face of death.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, another performance-enhanced man is working on world domination (no surprise there). His name is Johann Shmidt, the head of the Nazi's technological division called HYDRA; however, HYDRA is preparing to break free of Hitler and conquer the world on its own. It even has its own salute.

Back in America, Steve has become famous, but not in the way we'd expect. Because of a mishap with the performance-enhancing formula, the experiment is considered a failure. A senator who witnessed the experiment, however, uses Steve as a stage actor to boost war bond sales. Steve doesn't mind, but he knows he's destined for something better.

Questions:

The military scientist tells Steve that a strong man knows the value of power and, consequently, loses respect for that power. Do you see that happening today? If so, how and were?

The military scientist and the colonel have a small argument over who should be chosen to receive the formula. The scientist insists that it be Steve. The colonel insists that it should be the strongest, fastest guy in the battalion. In the end, who is more worthy of the formula? Why?

Captain America is rated PG-13. It contains war violence, a character getting punched, and the villain executing some men. A character makes a suggestive remark to a woman ("we gonna wrestle? 'Cause I've got some moves that you'll really like"). An officer throws a grenade at his own men to test their courage. A character holds an emotional conversation with a woman while he's going down in a plane.

Tintin movie review

Indiana Jones has returned! What? It's not Indiana Jones? Well, he doesn't have the fedora or the bull whip, but he does have a nose for adventure and the courage to follow through on every expedition.

Tintin is a journalist who has been on various escapades. This time around, he stumbles onto a treasure hunt when he buys a model ship christened "The Unicorn." By the time his apartment is ransacked and the model is stolen, Tintin knows something's up. But what is it? What's so special about The Unicorn? Although he doesn't know it yet, Tintin is about to embark on the most exciting escapade yet, and meet a new friend in the process.

If you take the treasure hunting of Indiana Jones and throw in the swashbuckling action of Pirates of the Caribbean and the faithfulness of Lord of the Rings, you've got Tintin. The movie is rated PG for adventure violence and some drinking. A man is shot to death in one scene, but the only blood seen is the blood used in his dying message. There is fighting between good guys and bad guys, including a duel using cranes (the machines, not the animals). A character is addicted to alcohol, but gets dry before the film ends. This same character says the reason he gets drunk is so he can forget what his grandfather told him about his heritage, which is a good explanation for why people turn to alcohol in the first place.

Thor movie review

Cinema has seen its fair share of superhero movies, from the hilarity of The Incredibles to the darkness of Watchmen; however, "Thor" is the first movie in which the hero is a god (okay, he's not a god, but the Vikings thought he was). Honestly, I have to say that the creator of Marvel comics, Stan Lee, is having a stellar career having his comic-book heroes come to life on the big screen (and making cameos in them). There are more on the way.

In "Thor," the mystic kingdom of Asgard is under the benevolent rule of Odin "Allfather." After defeating his enemy, the kingdom of Jotenheim, Odin returns to Asgard to reign in peace and to raise his two sons, Thor and Loki, to succeed him. Fast forward two decades and we see that Thor has become an esteemed warrior and Loki a master trickster. As Odin is about to name Thor his successor, he learns that four warriors from Jotenheim have sneaked into the palace to steal a powerful weapon. These warriors are stopped, but Thor isn't satisfied. He takes Loki and four warriors to Jotenheim to exact vengeance for the deed. As they are overwhelmed by a massive force (and a massive creature), Odin arrives and saves his sons and their friends. When they return to Asgard, Odin chastises Thor for his arrogance and recklessness. Thor responds by calling his father an old man and a fool. Odin answers regretfully that he was a fool for thinking that Thor was ready to rule Asgard. He strips Thor of his power and banishes him to Earth. He speaks an incantation into Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir, and throws it after his son.

"Thor" is a story of learning humility. Once a proud warrior, Thor is forced to reckon with his circumstances while interacting with humans. Meanwhile, back in Asgard, Loki realizes that certain facts about himself have been kept from him. As we watch, we learn that Loki's trickery extends beyond mere mischief. On Earth, Thor stays with three humans: Jane Foster, who thinks he's crazy, but is still interested in him for astronomical reasons; her science partner Darcy (the only applicant); and Jane's uncle, Erik Selvig, who believes that Asgard is merely legend.

Questions

1. How does Thor use his hammer, Mjolnir at the beginning of the movie? How does he use it at the end? What is the right way to use a weapon?

2. Erik Selvig doesn't believe that Thor is who he says he is until he sees him in his true form. Were there any signs before then that would convince Erik that Thor was telling the truth? What evidence is there that proves that what God says in His word is the truth?

3. We see in the movie that Loki is a master of guile. Is using trickery a good thing? In what ways? In what ways are using trickery bad?

4. A long time ago, the Vikings believed that Odin, Thor, and Loki existed, and they worshiped them. Compare these three "gods" with the one true God. Who is more powerful? Who is more worthy of worship?

"Thor is rated PG-13 for scenes of intense sci-fi action and violence. There are several battle scenes. There is one battle scene in which a warrior is wounded. No blood is seen and the warrior survives. In the same battle, the six Asgardians face an overwhelming force AND a monstrous creature that will give small children nightmares. Another battle scene involves Asgard's deadly guardian, The Destroyer, which destroys anything that's hit by its infernal blast. Knowledge of Loki's treachery may cause children to feel a bit uneasy when it seems as if nothing will be done about it.

Invictus movie review

Question: What's more impressive than a former freedom fighter being elected President after being released from prison? Answer: That same man being willing to forgive the people who imprisoned him. Welcome to "Invictus," the story of President Nelson Mandela and the South African Rugby team's momentous victory in the (Rugby) World Cup. The movie begins with the Rugby team witnessing Mandela's release. "Remember this day, boys," the racist coach says. "This is the day our country went to the dogs." His sentiments reflect the views of many white people living in South Africa, especially those government employees who were employed by President DeClerk, who supported "apartheid." President Mandela, however, is quick to assure them that he wishes for them to work for him. He even hires DeClerk's former bodyguards to bolster security, much to the chagrin of his three native security guards. Meanwhile, Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African Rugby team, faces the challenge of leading the South Africa Springboks to victory in the midst of the change in government. Then, one night, he receives a phone call inviting him to have tea with President Mandela the following day. During his visit, Pienaar gets the impression that President Mandela wants the Springboks to win the World Cup. So begins the attempt to win while facing heavy odds. "Invictus" is a story of forgiveness and learning to forgive. It takes the African security guards a while to forgive the men they are working with. "Not long ago, these men tried to kill us," one of them tells Nelson Mandela, wondering why he had hired them. "Forgiveness starts here," the president answers. It takes a while for the rugby players, with the exception of Peinaar, to accept the change in government. "Our country is changing," the captain says. "And we need to change as well. "Invictus" is rated PG-13 for brief strong language. "f---" is used. A player complains that a can of beer tastes like "sh--," and Peinaar says the same thing when he tastes the beer. There is a scene where people are drinking in a bar. There is some sports violence, which is to be expected in a rugby match. There are a couple of scary scenes: one at the beginning initially looks like there's going to be an assassination attempt, but it turns out to be two men delivering a stack of newspapers, and one near the end in which an airplane pilot looks like he's going to crash into a rugby stadium, but he pulls up at the last minute.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets movie review

For those of you who have "National Treasure" on DVD, you may have seen the alternate ending. In it, producer Jerry Bruckheimer says that this ending was cut from the movie because the staff didn't want to give the impression that a sequal was coming. Indeed, a sequal wasn't planned. But, as with all successful movies based on fiction, a sequal was inevitable. After finding the Templar Treasure in the first movie, Ben Gates has restored honor to the family name. His father, Patrick, once skeptical of the treasure's existence, has had his faith restored. When we first see them in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the father/son team is finishing a presentation about Patrick's great-grandfather Thomas' heroism in preventing a slave-state extremist group called Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) from finding a vast amount of gold, and dying while doing it. The group included John Wilkes Booth, whose diary is missing some pages. After the presentation, a man in the audience holds up one of the missing pages from Booth's diary and claims that Thomas was, in fact, the mastermind behind the Lincoln Assassination. When the page fits in the diary, Ben and Patrick are compelled to find the treasure that Thomas died to protect, in order to clear his name. The sequal to "National Treasure" is entertaining and it provides some historical information that people may find fascinating. However, there are some points that people will find a bit unethical (breaking into the Queen's office, stealing a car, and abducting the President come to mind). These are done by the heroes. But if you watch the movie, you will see that the third unethical thing is not as bad as it sounds. "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" is rated PG for some violence and action. Four characters are forced to work together to balance on a very unstable platform. A man drowns (offscreen). We see John Wilkes Booth shoot Lincoln in Ford Theater. We see Thomas Gates get shot after burning some of Booth's diary pages.

The Blind Side movie review

Sometime's it is nearly impossible to see what God has planned when a career-ending injury is dealt to somebody. Case in point: What did God have in mind when He planned the end of Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann's career. A clip of that infamous play is shown at the beginning of The Blind Side, the movie adaptation of the book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game." Michael "Big Mike" Oher (pronounced "Oar") is a homeless African-American teenager who usually stays at friends' houses. But there comes a time when those friends' wives want him to leave (Benjamin Franklin was correct in saying "Fish and visitors stink in three days."). One day, according to the movie, one friend gets his son and Michael into Wingate Christian Academy. Michael is almost rejected because of his extremely low GPA (0.6), but the football coach, Burt Cotten, intervenes. "Look at [our emblem]," he says. "'Christian.' We either take that seriously or we paint over it." His motives are revealed to be questionable later in the film, though. Enter the Touhys, a wealthy family whose head, Sean, runs a chain of Taco Bells. They give Michael shelter and later become his legal guardians. Based on a true story, The Blind Side focuses on Michael Oher's relationship with the Touhy family. Although it isn't considered a "Christian" film (such as Facing the Giants), The Blind Side is loaded with Christianity. There is a scene where the Touhy family prays before eating. There is also a Bible verse inscribed on the gate of Wingate, although it is slightly wrong ("With man, this is possible, but with God, all things are possible). It should be "With man, this is impossible." There are also signs of grace under peer pressure shown with Leigh Anne Touhy and her daughter Collins, as they face disapproval from their respective friends due to their taking Michael into their home. The Blind Side is rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, and drug and sexual references. One of Michael's old buddies in an area of town called Hurt Village is part of a drug ring. He provokes Michael into a fight, which proves to be an easy win for Michael. Sexual scenes are not explicit. The most sexual you'll see is a husband and wife beginning to get it on.

Hero movie review

"Hero" is a fictional movie based on semi-actual events. Allow me to explain. There was a time when China was divided into warring states. During that time, the king of the state of Chin, Chin Shi, made it his divine mission to conquer all the other states and unite the country. During that mission, there was an attempt on his life by an assassin who failed. However, that assassin was not from the state of Zhou, as this movie tells us. Therefore, using this movie for learning history is not a good choice. Using the movie for entertainment, however, is a very good choice. The movie begins with a brief written dialogue about what is happening in Warring States-era China. It ends with "In every war, there are heroes on both sides." Then we see a man who introduces himself to us as "Nameless" (because he was never given a name due to orphanage) being escorted into the presence of Chin Shi. He is being honored for slaying three people who previously tried to assassinate Chin Shi. The king tells Nameless to give an account of his battles with these three. However, is his account really what happened? In order to find out, you'll have to watch the movie. This movie is purely for entertainment. However, there are some discussion questions you can consider: Chin Shi plans to unite the warring states by conquering them. Is his method acceptable? Why or why not? Near the end of the movie, one of the characters says that Chin Shi must not be assassinated. He later explains that having the states united would save many more lives than if the states kept fighting. Nameless shamelessly admits that his motive is revenge for his family's death. Is either character right?

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon movie review

"A sword by itself does not rule. It is manipulated by skillful handling." This line in director Ang Lee's international classic, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," sets the tone for this movie, which I recommend to any Martial Arts fan.

Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat) is a legendary swordmaster in China's Jiang Hu (a class of warriors). He wields the awesome straight sword Green Destiny, which is sharp enough to sever a blade from the hilt. Master Li is currently in turmoil, first because he had a painful experience while meditating on Wu Dan mountain, secondly because he has yet to avenge the murder of his beloved mentor Master Pen by Biya Hu Ri (Jade Fox). As a result, he decides to leave the Jiang Hu world and entrust the Green Destiny to a good friend, Bel Lai Ye. His former compatriot and love interest, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), who runs Sun Security Escort, offers to take the Green Destiny to Bel Lai Ye in Beijing and wait for Li to arrive after visiting his mentor's grave. In Beijing, Shu Lien meets Yu Shao Long (Zhang Ziyi), the daughter of recently appointed Governer Yu. That night, a thief steals the Green Destiny and gets away, despite being confronted by Shu Lien.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon has quite a few plot twists that will have you wondering what's next. There are lessons to be learned from this movie, such as forgiving someone who has spited you, and learning self-control. "There are many things you can learn to do with the Green Destiny," Li Mu Bai tells another character. "But first you must learn to hold it in stillness." Even today, people wield powerful weapons, from the tongue to the tank. How often do we fail to hold our tongues in stillness?

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality. The sex scenes are few and far between. The violence is mostly kicking/punching action and swordplay, but there is a scene where a character takes a thrown bladed weapon to the forehead and another scene where a character stabs another character with a sword (although in this scene the camera is behind the stab victim).

Discussion:
1. In one part of the movie, a character uses the martial arts to attack people in a building. Why is it never right to attack people? In what ways should the martial arts be used?
2. Li Mu Bai has never professed his love for Yu Shu Lien, although he does love her. Or does he? In what ways do we see Li Mu Bai loving Shu Lien? Should love be kept hidden at any time? Why or why not?
3. Soon after we find out who Jade Fox is, we learn that she has been training a student with a stolen martial arts manual. How do we discern good teachers from bad teachers (in terms of morality)? If you were in this student's place, would you trust Jade Fox?
4. During a part in the movie, Shao Long's wedding parade is interrupted by a former lover. Does this lover really love Shao Long? Why or why not?

Braveheart Movie review

I remember watching "Braveheart" for the first time. It was the first R-rated movie I ever watched. For sure, Braveheart deserves its R rating, but that is no reason to avoid this movie. In fact, I recommend it to people in their late teens on up. It's certainly a profile on courage in the face of heavy odds.

It is the 14th century. Scotland has long been under the thumb of its more powerful neighbor, England. The Scots have been feeling that "thumb" more than ever in recent times, thanks to England's current monarch, King Edward "Longshanks." The movie begins with two Scots searching for a friend, who was part of a party of nobles gone to discuss peace terms with King Edward. The two discover that Longshanks' promise of peace talks was in reality a death trap. These two are father and older brother to the movie's hero: William Wallace (played mostly by Mel Gibson). After the two of them die in battle shortly afterward, young William is taken in by his Uncle Argyle, who teaches him how to use his brain as well as a sword. Years later, after the unjust execution of his wife, William Wallace starts leading a rebellion against the tyranny of England.

As I said before, "Braveheart" deserves its R rating. The movie is heavy on bloody battles and laced with obscene language ("Jesus" is used more than once, and so is "b****rd. "Arse" is used several times). There is one scene where the silouhette of a naked woman with a naked man is shown (although this is soon after a secret wedding, so this can be considered a tribute to the beauty of a wedding night) and two scenes of one or more Scots showing distain for the English army by showing it their bare buttocks. There is a scene where a man tries to rape a woman. There is a part in the movie where William is being tortured and disembowled.

Even so, "Braveheart" is a story of courage in the face of oppression. Just make sure kids aren't watching while you're watching.

National Treasure movie review

"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security." Before I watched Disney's "Nationial Treasure," I didn't know that this was in the Declaration of Independence. This sentence from one of our "national treasures" sets the tone for the entire movie.

Ben Gates (played magnificently by Nicholas Cage) is a member of a family of treasure hunters (although Ben would say they're treasure protectors) whose passion for seeking a particular treasure, called the Templar Treasure, has made him unpopular with scholars. When Ian Howe (Sean Bean) agrees to fund an expedition to the arctic to find a ship known as the "Charlotte," Ben takes him, tech-savvy Riley Poole, and others to find it. He doesn't find the treasure, but he finds a clue that leads him to believe that the treasure map is hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Ben is reluctant to steal the Declaration, which he would most certainly have to do in order to find the map. Ian, on the other hand, is willing to do anything to get his hands on the treasure. All of a sudden, Ben has a rival who wields a gun and three cronies. After getting back to the States, Ben and Riley try to warn the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and American History specialist Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger), but their warnings go unheeded. Ben then sees he has no choice but to steal the Declaration in order to preserve it.

"National Treasure" is heavy on action and American history. It also begs the question "Is it right to steal something when you've warned those responsible for its care of the lurking danger?" One lesson that's definitely learned from this movie is "Don't give up just because you're told it can't be done." In the words of Thomas Edison, "I found a thousand ways to not make a light bulb. I need to find only one way to make it work." Ben is told twice that something couldn't be done: Riley told him that the Declaration couldn't be stolen because it was too heavily guarded and his father, Patrick Gates (Jon Voigt) tells him he can't find the treasure because it doesn't exist.

"National Treasure" is rated PG for Action Violence (including shooting and a man falling to his death) and Some Scary Images (including frozen skeletons on board a wrecked ship). The movie is well worth the rating, however.

Expelled movie review

"We are losing freedom in one of the most important sectors of society: science," Ben Stein tells us in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," his documentary on the war between Darwinism (Evolution) and Intelligent Design. He then shows us clips from interviews he had with prominent scientists and one neuro-surgeon who had been cut loose from the scientific community simply because they had dared to question the theory of Evolution in public. "I was viewed as an intellectual terrorist," one scientist told Ben. His act of terrorism? He had published an article by Dr. Steven Meyer, a well-known supporter of Intelligent Design (ID). The other interview clips go by fairly quickly, each one ending with an "Expelled" stamp on a "rap sheet."

Ben goes on a journey that spans from Seattle to Germany, covering Biola University, Paris, and other places. Along the way, we learn some interesting scientific facts that the public school textbooks don't tell us, such as the Miller Experiment being a failure. Ben also goes to Germany when he's told that Charles Darwin's theory influenced Hitler's "final solution." We're introduced to Eugenics, which is still around under the name of Planned Parenthood.

Ben's message is not "Get rid of Evolution and replace it with Intelligent Design." It's more along the lines of "Let both sides of the Evolution/ID debate be heard." The side Ben picks is obvious as the documentary progresses. Still, he has a point. If both sides were equally heard, people could discuss both sides rationally instead of just one side pushing the other side out the door and locking it out of public institutions.

Star Trek movie review

"I am and ever shall be your friend." Those were the last words spoken by Spock to Captain Kirk in "Star Trek II-The Wrath of Khan." Like "Star Trek," Star Trek II helped save the Star Trek franchise that was started by Gene Roddenberry. As a result, Star Trek fans went on to enjoy Star Treks III, IV, V, and VI, as well as Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek Voyager. After 9/11, Star Trek went back to the beginning. The problem was it went too far back. Star Trek Enterprise didn't last long on the air and it seemed as if Star Trek was about to pass into history, where every man has gone before. Then J. J. Abrams stepped in. Whether or not you've heard of him, you've certainly heard of his works, which include the popular TV series "Lost" and the movie "Armageddon." Star Trek starts with the death of Lieutenant George Kirk, who dies holding off a vastly superior foe while the rest of the crew and passengers escape, including George's wife, who is going into labor. As the fight continues, we witness the birth of George's son, James Tiberius. As the movie progresses, we see Jim become a rebel without a cause from growing up with an abusive step-father (we hear verbal abuse that contains threats of violence over the phone in one scene). After an ugly confrontation in which Kirk deliberately provokes four husky Starfleet cadets into a fight, Captain Christopher Pike, who worked with George Kirk before George's death, implores Jim to join Starfleet. Jim's story isn't the only story we're exposed to. On Vulcan, Spock is constantly being picked on by his peers for being half-human. Spock takes it fairly well until one of the boys insults Spock's mother. Spock attacks him after that. After the fight, Spock is reprimanded by Sarek, his father. "Control your feelings so that they do not control you," he says. Years later, Spock is ready to join the Vulcan Science Academy. He had also applied to Starfleet. He explains to the members of the board that it was logical to consider more than one option. When one of the board members (the only board member in the scene who talks) regards Spock's "human mother" as a weakness, Spock politely declines entrance into the VSA and instead joins Starfleet. Kirk and Spock meet in an unfriendly way: Kirk has been caught cheating on the Kobiashi Maru, a simulation program that Spock designed. The hearing is cut short due to a distress signal from Vulcan. As the advertisments for this movie say, this isn't your father's Star Trek. How right they are. There is more violence (including a man being impaled and a Vulcan being crushed), some strong language (the strongest word used is b****rd), and one sex scene that involves Kirk and a female student. All in all, the movie is entertaining, although there isn't a moral lesson behind it ("save the whales" and "don't follow blindly" come to mind from Star Trek IV and V, respectively). I give this movie 4 stars out of 5.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 6

Nathan hung up the phone for the twentieth time that day. Twenty times he had called different city and federal sources, none of them very helpful. He leaned back in his chair in thought. This could be a wild goose chase. But Pete was seldom wrong when it came to "saving the world." He had to assume his younger brother was right about a Eugenics project being in the works. Why the American government would experiment with Eugenics after condemning it years before was beyond him. Unless... Congressman Petrelli picked up the phone and dialed Noah Bennett, the one man alive who he knew would know about what the Company was up to.

"I've been looking into the same thing," Noah told Nathan. "I know that somebody in the Company's involved." "I'd think more than one person's involved in a project of this magnitude," Nathan answered. "We're talking about the intended sterilization of a lot of people." "Let me assure you that I'm not involved in this project," Noah said. "Pete told me that Hiro Nakamura had a dream about this," said Nathan. "Any ideas where they mmay have come from?" "I know who gave him that dream. I helped him develop his gift." "Then you know where he is?" "No. He and two other people like him left the company. I haven't seen him since." Noah hadn't seen Dreamer since he had been sedated and locked away presumably because he had become too powerful to control. Now, Noah considered, it may have been because he had stumbled onto this project. How, he had no clue. "Do you have any idea who might be behind this," Nathan asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Bob Bishop made the motion to dispose of him," Noah answered. "That motion wasn't seconded, however." It was true. Noah had averted that second by suggesting that they merely sedate Dreamer. Bishop had accepted it. They had used the Hatian, whose ability to negate superpowers and erase memories had proved invaluable to the Company over the years, to accomplish this. "I'll start with Bob, then," Noah promised.

Claire's capture was accomplished with some difficulty, but with no witnesses. Bob Bishop, Elle, and two henchmen drove Claire, handcuffed and blindfolded, toward the re-education center. Bob silently breathed a sigh of relief. Their plan was succeeding without a hitch. Soon, he saw the tunnel through the mesa that they had to pass through. They were on an abandoned road, so they were pretty much home free. Elle turned on the headlights before entering the tunnel. Bob didn't believe in ghosts, so when he noticed a figure of a man in a stetson hat and overcoat, he thought he was hallucinating. As they got closer, the man raised his head, revealing his face. It was Ivan. Elle tried to brake, but it made no difference. The car flipped upside down and skidded to a halt in front of the renegade. The car then flipped sideways so they were right side up, then it was pushed against the left side of the wall, their right. Elle exited the car and motioned for the agents to do the same. The agents dragged Claire along. Elle grabbed Claire by the back of the neck and faced Ivan. "Move out of the way, Ivan," she said. "The girl will get the shock of her life if you don't." The gunshot was deafening and completely unexpected. One of the agents fell with a thud, dead before he hit the ground. A hand grabbed her left shoulder from behind and a gun pressed against her back. "You're in no situation to bargain," Ivan answered. "Let her go and things will be a lot easier," a woman's voice said from behind. In the car, Bob climbed to the back seats and exited through the back door. He instantly found himself in a cell in the Company. Dreamer was standing at the door. "Sweet dreams," he whispered. Then he closed the cell door. In the real world, Elle watched as a third figure entered the tunnel. "Let Claire go and walk to the car," a voice said in her mind. Her muscles complied. The figure moved closer. Elle was transported to her childhood. She saw many happy memories being played out. How long was it taking? Minutes? Days? Months? No matter. Memories long forgotten, buried by an interrupted childhood thanks to her father experimenting with her power, were flooding back. She didn't want it to end.

Martial Arts Resumes: Studio Websites

The Internet has been available for public use for years now. As a 25 year old, I am old enough to remember the days when the only way to get online was with a dial-up modem. When I was a hyperactive youngster (verses the somewhat less hyper young adult I am today), my family had a computer from the 80's. It had no Internet browser, no video card, no LAN (Local Area Network), no USB (Universal Security Bus) Port, and no mouse. I can hear the gasps of shock from the younger people of my generation.

Now that we have all these things, martial arts studios have sent us their resumes. Have you ever created a resume? You put down all the good stuff about yourself: your academic accomplishments, your hobbies, and your work experience, just to name a few. You don't put down the bad stuff: "I was coached during my last job," "I prefer to work at my own pace," "I failed two coarses at Sumold University." No, you want your prospective employer to consider you and, ultimately, hire you.

Martial arts studio websites do the same thing. There are two martial arts studios in my area, and both have websites: The Kung Fu Center and Villari's Studio of Self Defense.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 5

New York Councilman Nathan Petrelli was a man of principal, or so his campaign ads said. His past, however, told a different story. But, Nathan thought to himself in his office, this was the present. From now on, things were going to be different. This line of thinking came after a call from his mother, telling him of a plot against special people that possible involved Eugenics. His thoughts were interrupted when his secretary announced over his private intercomm that Pete was here to see him. "Send him in," Nathan told her. When Peter told him the story, Nathan nodded. "If I'm hearing you right, this project needs to be stopped. But we have no idea where it is," he said. "Appanently, somebody knows," Peter answered. "He might choose to reveal himself." "And if he doesn't," asked Nathan. "Then we fight when whoever our enemies are come to get us," Pete answered. "The thing is, Pete, we don't know when they'll come. We either stand together or we lose," Nathan said. "In the words of Ben Franklin, 'We either hang together or we hang seperately.' But we can't gather everybody and then wait around. People have jobs to work and places to go. We can't keep them holed up somewhere with no idea when this is going to happen." Peter thought about that. "Then we just have to hope whoever gave Hiro that dream shows himself to us," he said. "We can't count on that, Pete. I'll see if something like Eugenics is being cooked up by government agencies," Nathan said. Peter nodded. "Keep me informed," Nathan told him. "I'll help as best I can."

Bob Bishop had worked at the Company since it was created. Ivan, he had thought, was loyal to the Company. Well, he had been proven wrong. Now it was time to start replacing what had been lost. "How's he doing," he asked his daughter Elle as they watched Ivan's replacement through one-way glass. "Cory Knight is adjusting to his role very well," Elle said. "But he has this love of Poker. He carries that deck of cards with him everywhere." "There's a reason for that other than his love of Poker," Bob told her. He flipped the intercomm switch. "Let's see how he's doing with target practice," he said into it. Elle watched skeptically as the wooden target was set up. Cory took out a card, held it for a second, and then threw it. Elle's skepticism became amazement as the card embedded itself in the target. "Cory's special," Bob said as he turned off the intercomm. "He can re-align an object's molecules to make it rigid or flexible. In his hands, a playing card becomes a deadly weapon, like a throwing star. He'll be replacing Ivan as Jon Langley's partner." "Who will replace Mellissa as Kari Shmidt's partner," Elle asked. "I have someone in mind, but we have to go get her," Bob answered. "Claire Bennett would be a magnificent replacement." Elle snorted. "Even if her father were to agree, which I seriously doubt," she said. "We'd still have her to contend with. She'd never cooperate." "Getting special people to the Company has never been a problem for us," Bob said. "As for the other problem, we have a re-education center in Odessa." Elle remembered that facility. Her father had given her a tour of it. It was where the uncooperative people were sent. She knew that Cloaire, strong though she was, would comply after being taught there.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 4

Hiro and Ando teleported to New York. Perhaps, Hiro hoped, "Flying Man" (Hiro's nickname for Nathan Petrelli) would be able to provide some answers. "This is pointless, Hiro," Ando told him for the third time. "Nathan Petrelli has always been reluctant to help in the past. What makes you think he'll help us now?" "He's the only hero I know where to find," Hiro answered. "And if he doesn't help, we can ask him where his brother is." "Peter Petrelli is definitely more helpful than Nathan Petrelli," Ando agreed. "But what if he doesn't tell us?" "Then we find a way to discover who has been giving me these dreams," Hiro said. The last dream had been frightning. He didn't know what those men circling the table were doing, but it didn't look good. "He'll have all the answers we need." "Hiro, we don't even know where to look," Ando exclaimed. "That won't stop me," Hiro said with resolve. "Whatever these dreams are about, it seems to be very important." "I'm not arguing with that, but we don't know where to start looking." "Flying Man might know. He knows a lot of things about politics, and his brother is a nurse. Maybe he'll tell us where he is." "Where who is," asked a voice from behind them. They both turned to find who it was: Peter Petrelli. Several minutes later, in a sub sandwich restaurant, Hiro told Peter the story. Peter frowned while he listened. "This sounds like people are going to be operated on for some reason," he said after Hiro finished talking. "But it could just be somebody having his tonsils removed. Did you see who was having the operation?" "No," Hiro answered. "The doctors were surrounding the table, so I couldn't see who was on the table." "But you're sure there was someone there?" "They were definitely working on something, and they were wearing caps, gloves, masks, and coats." "Well, that's as good a reason as any. You wsaid that the surgeouns were surrounding the table. Did any of them look young, like they were still in college?" "Many of them, yes," Hiro said, thinking back. "Then it could just be a normal operation. Students and interns are allowed in the operating room so they can learn by example." "It didn't look like they were just watching," Hiro explained. "They were helping with the operation." "Hiro, I want you to think about your dream," Peter said. "I'm going to try to read your mind so we'll be on the same page." Hiro nodded. He thought about his dream, brtinging the picture into focus so Peter would see it clearly. "What's that machine that looks like a computer from the '70s," Peter asked when he had finished. "I don't know," Hiro said. "It could be something from the past," Ando suggested. "No. The rest of the technology is too advanced," Peter answered. "I'll talk with Nathan and see if he'll help us."

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 3

Angela Petrelli, mother of New York congressman Nathan Petrelli, couldn't shake the memory of the dreams she had received two weeks ago: A door with "164" nailed on it and then a room with an operating table and a maching she couldn't identify. The room then became occupied by surgeons surrounding the operating table with all its equipment. The unknown machine was still there. The vision then changed to an old clip from a 1940's reel. It didn't show for long, but Angela knew from the moment she saw it that it was Dachau, a nazi concentration camp. Her dream then went dark and then lighted on the room. A voice from nowhere said, "Gaze on the monster you helped create, Angela Petrelli." Angela didn't know who was sending her this cream, but she did know it had to have something to do with room "164." She picked up the phone and dialed Noah Bennett.

When Chaire heard the phone ring and when she heard her dad answer it, she considered letting the conversation continue without her interest. But she wanted to know if it had to do with Dreamer, so she picked up the phone upstairs. It was Mrs. Petrelli. "What's significant about room 164 in the Company right now," she was asking. "Special cell number 164 was used for six months to keep one of "them" from becoming a danger to everybody," her father answered. "I had a dream that included a clip of Dachau," Mrs. Petrelli told him. "What project is the Company working on that involves Eugenics?" "The Company has no such progect as far as I know," Claire's father said, his voice sounding troubled. "Is special cell 164 still occupied," Mrs. Petrelli asked. "Two of "them" escaped, taking him with them. One is a shape-shifter, the other is telekinetic. Both are powerful." "What about 164's occupant?" "He's telepathic, and his power is beyond any other telepath's." "What crime was he being held for?" "None. I had thought that he was being held for being a potential threat to everybody, but if there's a Eugenics project that I don't know about, the Company could have had an entirely different reason for sedating him." "It also means that someone in the Company's top tier doesn't want perople with abilities to survive. Do you think you can discover who?" "I'll find him. Everybody in the Company trusts me." "Do it quickly. We need to stop this project before it goes into effect." Claire put down the receiver and sat on her bed. Her father would do what he could to protect her, she knew, but he had no qualms about sacrificing other people who were special in order to protect her. She had that in mind when she went to sleep that night. This time, her dream was different. The young man stood facing her. "Your father's a lot of things, Claire," he told her. "But he would never support or accept a project that involved Eugenics." "What is Eugenics, exactly," she asked him. "Eugenics is a science that believes that only the "strong" should be able to produce offspring," he answered. "That's close to their definition. What they really mean is that only people like them should reproduce. For this reason, people in the Company want to sterilize us special people. Eugenics is an idea long past, but it hasn't died, since some people still believe in it." "Evil leaders come and go, but ideas never die," Claire quoted the proverb. "How many people in the Company are in favor of this project?" "Nobody special knows about it except my friends and me," he answered. "As for the rest of the Company, I can't account for all of them. I know that your father would be against it if he knew. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if the other "normal" company associates were involved. They live a morally gray lifestyle." Claire nodded in her dream. "What can I do," she asked. "Tell your dad to be careful at the Company. The people heading this project are fanatical." "You know who they are?" "I know whjo one of them is. In order to get the names of the others, I have to be in the same area he is. Now listen carefully, since I don't have much time left talking to you tonight." Claire listened.

Heroes: Alternate Universe part 2

It was midnight, and Noah Bennett couldn't sleep. The news he had received that evening was absolutely terrifying. "Noah, there's been a revolt," Bob Bishop had said. "Melissa and Ivan escaped an hour ago." Then he gave the devastating news: "They took Dreamer with them." The shuffle of feet turned his eyes to his office door. Claire occupied the doorway. "What is it, Claire-bear," he asked, calling her by his pet name for her. "I've been having this dream since last week," Claire answered. "I think it's being caused by someone who's like me. Do you know anybody who can give dreams?" Noah nodded soberly. "Yes, I do. He was taught to control his ability at the Company." "Was he abducted like the others," Claire asked sardonically. "No. He came to us. An agent of the Company who was a friend of his pointed us out to him. I was given the task of helping him." "What's his power," Claire asked. "Telepathy. He complained that he was hearing voices. He thought he was schizophrenic at first, but after we conducted some tests, he discovered his power," Noah answered. "So he's got Matt Parkman's power," Claire said, remembering the telepathic policeman. "Yes, but Dreamer's more advanced in his power than Parkman is," Noah said. "Compared to him, Parkman's just scratching the surface of his ability. Anyway, I helped him learn to control his power. After that, Dreamer began to advance in his pwer at a rapid pace. It got to the point where the Company considered him too much of a threat and they had him sedated and locked away. But now two of his friends inside the Company got him out. Once he recovers fully, he'll come after the Company." "It's not like the Company deserves to survive," said Claire with obvious disdain. "We've been over this, Claire. In order to protect you, I have to make the Company think I support it. Now why don't you get some sleep? Dreamer would never hurt or destroy an innocent person." Claire left the office. Noah decided to follow his own advice. As he walked to the master bedroom, he reflected on his former charge. Dreamer had been a grade-A student in high school, before he began to experience his ability. He was an excellent tactician whose strategies had helped the Company in nurerous ways. But the Company had betrayed his trust. Now it was going to suffer the consequences. Dreamer would find a way to destroy an institution that was impenetrable, that much was certain, but how and wen? Noah knew he would find out sooner or later.

One month later, at a Giant store outside Odessa, Texas, the cashier flashed a friendly smile at the elderly woman as she paid for her groceries, and she watched as she headed for the exit. Outside, the woman signaled for a taxi. Arriving at her destination ten minutes later, she paid the driver, an Indian named Mohinder Suresh, and carried the two paper bags full of groceries into the Victorian house. Inside, the woman's features began to change. Her wrinkles disappeared, her gray hair darkened and grew long until it reached the middle of her back, her fat torso shrank several sizes, and her eye color changed from greenish blue to brown. Melissa hurried to the bathroom where attire more fitting for a woman her age (19) awaited. The clothes she was wearing were too large. A few minutes later, she walked into the kitchen, where two men stood. One was pulling a stretchy band that was tied to a chair. The other was watching and making sure that the chair didn't move. "How's he doing," Melissa asked. "He's improving," the watching man said with a thick Russian accent. "But his muscles still need rehab." "Six months of not moving will do that to you." That was spoken directly to Melissa's mind. She looked at the excercizing man. "I understand," she answered. She shouldn't be asking Ivan about Dreamer; she should ask Dreamer directly. "When do we strike at the Company," Ivan asked. "That is not your responsibility," Dreamer thought to him and Melissa. "I have something different planned." Melissa hesitated, then spoke the question that had been mulling around in her mind. "What of Mr. Bennett? Who will confront him?" "Noah Bennett will be left alone," she heard in her thoughts. "He was the only one among the bigshots who was against the motion to sedate me for life." "You knew of this and you let them do it," Ivan asked. "Why?" "I had my reasons. One of them was so I could start the Company's destruction without their knowledge," Dreamer answered in their minds. "How," Melissa asked. Dreamer just smiled. An apple floated from one of the grocery bags and traveled to Ivan's outstretched hand. "What do we do in the meantime," he asked. "I still have some work to do before it's time," Dreamer answered in their thoughts. Melissa frowned. Dreamer was able to speak verbally. So why wasn't he? There were alone here. She mentally shrugged it off. Drewamer was amazingly bright; he knew what he was doing.