Movie Review - Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

It's been way too long for Indiana Jones to whiplash his way back to the silver screen and only Spielberg could bring alive the persona of Indiana Jones, hat, boots, bull whip and all. For the uninitiated let me first give a small history lesson. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, two of the hottest talents of the seventies decided to come together to make a movie which at the time was promoted as "the return of high adventure". The movie, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" was directed by Spielberg & produced by Lucas, and went on to be one of the highest grosser of all time. Set in the time of 2nd World War, the pulsating story of the search for the Ark of the Covenant moved from US to Nepal and climaxed in Egypt.

It was followed by the not so good "Indiana Jones & the Temple of the Doom". Amrish Puri made a forgettable Hollywood debut but the romance of Indy's adventures remained alive. The third "Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade" is my second favorite because it had the unflappable Sean Connery who plays Indy's father. The search of the Holy Grail is one of my all time favorite yarns.
The common thread in all the above movies was the swash buckling, devil may care Indy Jones who got into and out of the most impossible situations with charm and panache. He plays a professor of archaeology who goes after the most difficult searches for old and forgotten relics, fights the bad guys, gets the girl and always has a happy ending.

The latest offering is all of the above but hey, Indy is twenty years older and yet hasn't seem to have lost his appetite of jumping over unjumpables and avoiding the million bullets that chase him. But then he has an illustrious contemporary in our own Rajnikant who can do all of this and more.
The movie is set in the mid fifties when US saw a commie behind every pole and the obsession of UFOs was coming of age. However Spielberg's obsession with aliens continues to be unrelenting as ever. So this time we have a sword brandishing Kate Blanchett, a protégé of Stalin, who with a little help of stoic faced hoodlums manages to get hold of Indy to guide them to the high security warehouse where the US Govt. stores all its rare, unexplainable artifacts. Those who have seen Raiders of the Lost Ark would remember the last scene where the Ark is being wheeled into this warehouse to its new and anonymous residence. The desired object this time is, well what else, a crystal skull which is the key to untold knowledge and unlimited power. Indy scores in round one and escapes, only to resume the chase later in the time honored tradition of the perennial adventurer.

Accompanying him this time is a John Dean look-alike teenager with an attitude. As it turns out he is Indy's son and from whom? Surprise, surprise, its Karen Allen, the vivacious, hard drinking, kick ass girl friend from the first edition of the series. Like Indy she has aged but the passion remains alive. It was great watching her all over again.

The end is predictable. The special effects from Lucas's factory Industrial Light & Magic are awesome, especially the aliens sequence at the end. And Indy decides to settle down with his old lady love and the new found progeny. I loved his reply when asked by Karen if there were other women in his life and why he didn't marry them. The man says"Yes there were some but all of them had the same problem. None of them was you". Here's a toast to old love and fairy tale endings. Cheers !

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Book Review - Red Sky Morning by Andrew J Rafkin

Fast Moving True Life Non Stop Adventure

Andrew Rafkin has a tremendous respect for the ocean and a love for sports fishing. In his new book "Red Sky Morning" Rafkin relives the summer he turned 17 in this coming of age fast moving true to life adventure story of life on a commercial tuna fishing expedition.

Andrew relates his story in a first person narrative. A gifted story teller, Andy drew me into the story taking me back to my own teen years, as a younger Andy relates the adventure from his viewpoint. Interwoven throughout the story are interludes with Rosa, Lauren, Nicole, and Erin. These liaisons add an element of romance to Andy's 17th summer. The climax of the story is set two years later in a sports fishing incident that turned a dream opportunity into a recurring nightmare.

Rich in information on the back ground of sports fishing and the history of commercial fishing Andrew takes the reader From Monterey to San Diego on the West Coast all along the East Coast from Florida to Massachusetts. He describes the Western Ace as a "Navy seagoing tug that was converted to a modern day purse seiner. She was 176 feet long and cruised at 11 to 12 knots...she had the capacity of 800 tons of fish."

I experienced a kinship with the fourteen members of the crew as Andy described their reaction to the delays in port, the thrill of the catch, the tropical rain storms, the hurricane force winds, and the crashing waves battering against the ship. I learned that the life of a commercial fisherman is death-defying and is the most dangerous of all professions with more fatalities per year than any other vocation.

I was especially touched as Andy told of the importance of the summer as a bonding experience with his father. "...one of the best things was the time I spend, with my father, who, prior to this summer, I only saw a few days between fishing trips. Spending the whole summer with him gave me the opportunity to get to know him in his domain...I gained a tremendous amount of respect for my father, and came to understand what an awesome amount of responsibility he had being captain."

"Red Sky Morning" is a compelling seafaring adventure story that will be enjoyed by sports fishermen, by anyone who loves the ocean, and those who own or have dreams of owning their own catamaran, yacht, or boat.

Outskirts Press, 978-1432719425

As review by Richard R. Blake for Midwest Book Review

Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Book Store Owner

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Top 10 Most Wanted Toys For Christmas 2008 - Put These Under Your Tree

Figuring out what the top 10 most wanted toys for Christmas are is very important if you want to make sure that Santa gets things right this year. These toys are flying off the shelves with increasing fervor, so it's definitely best to act sooner rather than later so your shopping cart doesn't look sadly empty.

Toy #1 - Elmo Live

The first toy you need to make sure you have is Elmo Live. Elmo is a beloved character for the young and old alike. This Elmo is so lifelike you won't believe your eyes. For such a lifelike toy you'll be surprised at how low the cost is!

Toy #2 - Bakugan Starter Pack

The next toy you need to have on your list for the Christmas 2008 season is the Bakugan starter pack. Children love the anime series Bakugan, so you definitely can't go wrong when you decide to pick up these packs. They are also incredibly inexpensive, and make great stocking stuffers.

Toy #3 - Kidizoom Digital Camera

For that little photographer in your life, you'll want to buy the Kidizoom Digital Camera. This camera is incredibly tough and durable for even the most carefree of children. It also contains features you'd expect on an adult- and much more expensive- camera. This one is probably less than you think.

Toy #4 - Flip Video Camera

The Flip Video Camera. Okay, so this one is technically not a toy. Still, this is a great first video camera for kids because it's inexpensive, small, and very easy to use.

Toy #5 - Busy Ball Popper

For that baby or toddler in your life you'll definitely want to look for the Busy Ball Popper Toy. This one is great because it has colorful balls that go through a tube and pop into the air! Tons of fun for your little one.

Toy #6 - Furreal Friends Biscuit

Furreal Friends Biscuit Dog is a real winner for this holiday season. You can't help but fall in love with this little pup because he is so lifelike. This one is on the expensive side, but the expense is well worth it to see the look of happiness your little one has on his face.

Toy #7 - Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles

Eyeclops Night Vision Stealth Goggles are next on the list because they are fun for everyone. It's hard to believe, but this toy delivers in a big way by offering real night vision.

Toy #8 - Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii is perhaps an obvious choice, but it's a great one! The Wii has been out for a couple of years now, but it's still hard to find. The interactivity and excitement is something your whole family will love.

Toy #9 - Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer

Star Wars Clone Trooper Voice Changer is another great option. This toy allows your child to change their voice just like in the movies! It's great fun, and sure to bring some laughs.

Toy #10 - Little Big Planet

Last but not least, one of the top 10 most wanted toys for 2008 is Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3 console. This is one of the most innovative, interesting and fun games that has come out in years. You can't go wrong with this title.

Figuring out which toys are hot is half the battle! Now you've got to narrow down your list and choose the best Christmas toys for your own child this year. It also helps to learn about the best pricing deals so you can save money this year. Visit http://bestchristmasgiftsonline.com for more details.

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Elmo Live Vs Hasbro's Fur Real Biscuit Doll - Which is the Better Gift

There are two top 'robot dolls' fighting for the spot of Top Christmas Gift in 2008. These two battling it out are Elmo Live on one side, and Fur Real Friend's Biscuit: My Lovin' Pup on the other. But both of them represent a decent investment of money... so which one should you get? The answer of course lies in each doll's features and how they relate to you and your child personally.

First of all, both Elmo Live and Biscuit: My Lovin' Pup react to their owner's actions, but in different ways. Elmo Live will do things like sneeze when you pinch his nose, or laugh and shake and go 'That tickles!' when you tickle him in the stomach. Biscuit, on the other hand, will do things like lie down in you pat him on the back, or some to you when you call him. So Elmo Live's reactions are just a little bit more tender and personal than Biscuit's, whose main strength lie in doing things like interacting with his bone and learning tricks.

So speaking of tricks, Biscuit can recognize and react to a variety of commands, like speak, sit, and lay down. He does this to imitate and act like an actual real live puppy dog, which he succeeds at. Meanwhile, Elmo Live doesn't react to spoken commands, but he does do another kind of trick; mainly he tells stories and jokes, just like the real Elmo character does on his TV show. The stories are pretty funny, and are based an fairy tales and stuff that appeals to young children.

Of course, we would be amiss if we didn't take into account Elmo's attraction and fame from Sesame Street. For many very young children, this is bound to be the make-it-or-break it factor, as meeting Elmo in person is going to be a huge thing for them. Obviously the same child would be much less impressed by meeting Biscuit, although he might still like it. The puppy doll doesn't fall too far behind though, since slightly older kids who wouldn't be as impressed with Elmo Live are often at the age where they would be very impressed indeed with the idea of owning a puppy.

So all in all, we can say that if your child is on the slightly younger side, you're really best advised in going with Elmo Live, while if your kid is a bit older or he's never watched Sesame Street, your better choice is definitely Fur Real Friend's Biscuit. Whichever gift you choose from these two is bound to make a huge impression anyway, so don't sweat it too much.

Have a safe and happy Christmas by becoming informed on every gift you buy this year! Simon Schwartz advises on every worthwhile Christmas toy in 2008, including Elmo Live at Fisher Price Elmo Live and Biscuit the animatronic puppy at Fur Real Biscuit My Lovin Pup.

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