Jessica Shepard (Ashley Judd), newly promoted homicide inspector, daughter of John Mills’s (Samuel L. Jackson) partner who died in murder-suicide with wife. Mills raised Shepard since age six to be a cop. Alcoholic Shepard repeatedly blacks out, drinking wine, poring over crime scene photos of dead dad in dumpster.

Shepard’s first case involves a lover. During blackouts, one by one, her former hook-ups killed, implicating her. Kaufman deftly drops clues throughout, leaving viewers in dark as to killer’s identity: Shepard? Partner Delmarco (Andy Garcia)? Shepard’s police psychiatrist? And so on.

Blackouts-tiresome. Delmarco’s attempts at initiating sex-lame. Delmarco and Mills-flat characters. Conclusion-anti-climactic.

Collection of short comics about orange tabby, Michael. Recurring characters: Richard Kimbly, fugitive veterinarian; Catzilla-overweight calico; Popo-Michael’s sometime girlfriend/wife; and his various owners, though not passed from one to next. Belongs to several households, it seems. Almost like he has-heh heh-nine lives going on simultaneously. Unlike Bucky Katt or Heathcliff, Michael doesn’t walk on two legs or speak to humans, i.e. Pluto : Goofy :: Michael : Garfield. Interacts with people as a real cat would. Simple lines, little detail, but excellent cat drawings, down to how kitty bodies quiver when pooping.

Follows a trio of Roadrunners and three Montegnards during tour of duty in ‘Nam—code name Cat Shit One (play on Dog Shit One, reference to West Point lowerclassmen). Mission to destroy Ho Chi Minh Trail. Americans and Vietcong portrayed as rabbits and cats. Whimsical yes, but serious stories. Scenery and dialogue contribute to “realism.” Historical info. in sidebars and gloss for military slang. No interest in Vietnam War history, and admittedly purchased because of cute cats and rabbits. However, Kobayashi’s art and writing are engrossing, as well as educational. Always a good mix. Not for kids under 16.

Cheesy but funny. Chow’s character’s too silly, prefer hardened hitman persona. Disappointingly, action nowhere near John Woo’s two-gun goodness of either Chow’s or Woo’s other movies.

Although The Prestige is categorized as science fiction, there are no spaceships, alternate galaxies, or aliens. I believe it falls into that category because science, albeit early 20th-century science, is a major part of the plot. It did receive the World Fantasy Award in 1996, but there are no dragons or elves here, either.

The only other information I had before reading the book was of a rivalry between two magicians, so I assumed the title word, “prestige,” connoted the fame and fortune associated with performers. Rather, it refers to “the effect (emphasis added), or…the product of magic” (73), which is important to keep in mind as you read.

The Prestige is written in first person from different characters’ points of view, and is divided into five parts. The story itself takes place in 1990s England and begins in that era, narrated by adoptee Andrew Westley. He knows his birth name is Nicholas Borden and that he is the great-grandson of the magician Alfred Borden.

Kate Angier, great-granddaughter of Borden’s rival, Rupert Angier, lures Andrew to her estate that has long been in the family’s possession, and where her great-grandfather grew up, to put an end to the feud between Alfred and Rupert, even though the rivalry has no impact on either Kate’s or Andrew’s current lives. However, she also seeks answers to something she witnessed as a child—something that involved Rupert’s greatest illusion, as well as a young Nicholas Borden.

The portions narrated by Rupert and Alfred are from diaries each man kept. The novel itself spans only one night, so it may be assumed that as the reader reads the magicians’ accounts, Andrew is reading them for the first time, alongside the reader, which, in a way, makes the reader part of The Prestige. This narrative technique makes the novel unconventional and almost ground-breaking: who is the protagonist? The antagonist? Perhaps there is neither. Perhaps there is both, which changes depending on the present narrator.

As confusing as that sounds, the story itself is easy to follow. I think the only reason it took me so long to finish has to do with my mood disorder(s) and current inability to concentrate, rather than the novel’s quality. The conclusion, unfortunately, is rushed and abrupt. It doesn’t end in a nice, neat package, but then again, the book isn’t written that way. Perhaps that’s what makes it unique.

Tonight we’re going to see the movie version, starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale.

We haven’t played Battlefront II as much as I thought we would this weekend, so we haven’t completed a Galactic Conquest. However, we’re almost done playing a historical campaign, which in this version covers the battles in Episode III. The last one takes place in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, and that’s where we are now. In the historical campaign, you’re part of the 501st Legion. Temuera Morrison narrates it as a former trooper looking back on those battles. The man has a supercool voice and accent to go along with it, but it isn’t quite the same as in Republic Commando (“get yourself some bacta, soldier”). So unlike in Battlefront where sometimes you’re the CIS and sometimes you’re the Republic, you’re always a clone trooper. Anyway, here are the main differences between I and II that I’ve been able to determine so far:

1. You begin with only the Clone Trooper class, and must purchase/recruit the other soldier classes as you go, with credits earned through gameplay. Also, there are a couple of new soldier classes. This applies only to Galactic Conquest.

2. The purchase of bonuses, such as the ability to carry extra rounds of ammo, armor, etc., again, this is only in Galactic Conquest.

3. In Rise of the Empire, which is the historical campaign, you have mission objectives.

4. You can now switch soldier classes without having to respawn. Go to your own command post, press Y, and choose.

5. Earn enough hero points (not sure how this works) and you can play as a Jedi. Unfortunately, the Jedi are too weak and die easily, even Yoda and Anakin.

6. Earn special weapons depending on how well you do on the battlefield. I think this is tied in with your promotions. Not sure how that works, either, but I started out as a private and I’m now a sergeant.

7. I was really looking forward to the space battles. Thankfully, these are optional. Total, total bummer. Control over your craft isn’t as precise as it could be, like in Jedi Starfighter. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised because the game developer is Pandemic, who also developed Clone Wars. What was the thing I hated most about that game? Control over the spacecraft.

Battlefront II isn’t a vast improvement over Battlefront, which I loved. Then again, after playing three or four Galactic Conquests, it got kind of boring. So if you didn’t like the first one, you definitely shouldn’t get the second one. But if you liked the first one, I recommend the second one, if only to experience the difference in gameplay and new planets they’ve added.

I, Robot is based on the Isaac Asimov novel of the same name. The year is 2035, the setting: Chicago. U.S. Robotics (USR) is a highly successful manufacturer of robots. These robots have not only made some jobs obsolete, they’re becoming household appliances as well, tending to their owners’ needs so long as they comply with the 3 laws of robotics:

1. A robot may not harm a human or, by inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second law.

Del Spooner (Smith) is a detective prejudiced towards robots, unlike the rest of the population. We learn where this prejudice stems from as the story unfolds, but in the meantime, Spooner’s colleagues think he’s paranoid when it comes to robots.

Spooner receives a phone call and goes to the USR offices to find Dr. Alfred Lanning (Cromwell), the robots’ designer, has committed suicide. The detective is convinced it was murder, and furthermore, that the murderer was a robot. With the help of Dr. Susan Calvin (Moynahan), a USR staff psychologist whose specialty is robotic psyches, Spooner attempts to solve the case.

I have a fondness for movies set in Chicago, and this is no exception. The city is recognizable, but buildings have been added and the el is updated. Many elements remain familiar, such as the interiors of people’s homes. This sense of familiarity makes the viewer comfortable with the idea that robots could easily be a part of our everyday lives.
The robots are agile and capable of physical feats that make them seem like very powerful insects, especially when gathered in large numbers. The computer animation is excellent.
A really fun movie if not a little predictable. Would make a great stocking stuffer, though!

the latest novel in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, begins shortly after the events of Ep. III. as always, James Luceno’s prose style is excellent. unfortunately, the novel disappoints.

Vader doesn’t appear as early as i would have liked. this is supposed to be the story of Vader’s rise to power, and it is. however, it’s just as much, if not more, the stories of Jedi Master Roan Shryne and Padawan Olee Starstone, who eluded Order Sixty-Six. Dark Lord is their first and possibly last appearance in the EU, which is a shame because as usual, Luceno has created very interesting and likeable characters.

his-and i hate to use this word since Luceno is one of my favorite EU novelists-failure is with Vader’s story. though Shryne’s and Starstone’s tales seem complete, Vader’s does not.

there wasn’t enough Vader. though the novel is supposed to mark the completion of his transformation, there wasn’t enough detail. (for example, how/why/when did Anakin/Vader begin speaking so formally? ;)) in a book whose title refers to Vader, i expect to read plenty about him. if the title referred to Shryne and Starstone, i’d be satisfied with the book’s content. the story is well written, but the parts that include Vader could use more fleshing out. a major disappointment, especially when compared to Labyrinth of Evil.

some favorite characters make appearances, and the groundwork is certainly set for Ep. VI. even though i expected more, no Star Wars fan should go without reading this, especially if they plan to do well in Daily Star Wars Trivia tournaments. hint, hint.

this is more of a summary than a review, so…

SPOILERS

The Freedon Nadd Uprising is a continuation of the battle on the dark-side imbued planet of Onderon (see review of Knights of the Old Republic). despite the presence of Jedi Master Arca and his three apprentices, brothers Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma and Tott Doneeta, as well as newly arrived Jedi Oss Wilum, they are unable to fend off the Naddists, worshippers of the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd who once ruled Onderon. although Ulic defeats the armored dark side apprentice Warb Null, who looks like a cross between a Transformer, a Bionicle, and a Shogun Warrior-but with a lightsaber-the planet’s dark power is so forceful that it weakens Master Arca. King Ommin, the “dying” old ruler of Onderon, and father of Princess Galia, is actually a dark side master who has plans for Master Arca.

Princess Galia, the heir to Iziz, is now married to Odon Kira, son of Beast Rider Lord Modon Kira. the Beast Riders have been long-time enemies of the Iziz citizens, and despite the union, the two cultures aren’t necessarily at peace—a perfect opportunity for the Naddists to begin their uprising. while Princess Galia is whisked away to safety among the Beast Riders, a group of Jedi who were studying at the academy on Ossus are chosen to be sent to Onderon to help.

these Jedi are Dace Diath, Shoaneb Culu, Qrrrl Toq, Kith Kark, and Nomi Sunrider. Nomi has finally embraced her role as a Jedi and has been under the tutelage of Master Vodo-Siosk Baas on Ossus, where she successfully constructed a lightsaber, a weapon she was once reluctant to wield.

yet the Sith power on Onderon is so strong that even Nomi’s Battle Meditation ability is affected. Cay loses his arm again during a battle, but fortunately, it was the prosthetic. Ulic looks more and more troubled—like Master Arca, his skin tone has darkened as though dark side power is permeating his body.

while chaos reigns on Onderon, two young aristocrats, cousins Satal Keto and Aleema Keto, heirs to the Empress Teta System, have begun dabbling in Sith magic and even dubbed themselves and their friends the Krath. on a visit to a museum on Coruscant, Satal manages to acquire a Sith book. unable to translate it, he and Aleema travel to Onderon, ignoring the planet’s current turmoil. there they meet the spirit of Freedon Nadd, who provides them with a talisman that allows the cousins to read the book, as well as with other Sith treasures. the two manage to leave Onderon with their new prizes in hand. stay tuned for the next installment! heh.

published in 2005, The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul, and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles is the most recent account of the infamous Black Dahlia case. the author, Donald H. Wolfe, was 15 when the murder occurred. he grew up in Beverly Hills, behind Bugsy Siegel’s house, who the author suggests was involved in Elizabeth Short’s murder. Wolfe’s assertions are based on Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles District Attorney’s files regarding the case, that have only been released approximately 2003. some of the relevant files still remain sealed, possibly because of the 1940s L.A. “bigwigs” involved, and the cover-ups in the case. Wolfe also makes connections between Short’s murder and other, similar unsolved cases involving other young women at the time.

The Black Dahlia Files is intelligently written and not sensationalistic as other true crime books can be. if you’re interested in the factual details of the Black Dahlia case, this is the book to read.