In his farewell address, President Eisenhower warned about the dangers of allowing the military-industrial complex too much power and government influence. This documentary examines the close ties between defense contractors, government officials, and large corporations. We see the evolution of American foreign policy and the profitability of military action.

Grade: A-.

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Based on a best-selling novel, this drama about a girl’s downward spiral into depression and addiction is rambling and self-indulgent. Some parts are difficult to watch, some are just whiny. Empathizing with the protagonist or her shrill mother is nearly impossible. The 95 minutes here consitute an endurance event.

Grade: C-.

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This dystopian science fiction thriller turns a small budget into a visual feast. A Korean film, the crew in this homage to Blade Runner gets very creative with the lack of American special effects houses. The story trudges in some spots, but the script is engaging and the acting believable.

Grade: B.

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With the ambience of a made-for-TV movie, this biopic of Ambrose Bierce ineptly presents three of his most famous short stories. The acting is barely passable, the costumes and makeup work are absurdly amateurish, and the hacks that wrote this utterly infuriating screenplay should quit writing such garbage.

Grade: D+.

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In a fuel-starved country where government officials, corporations, and consumers are scrambling for alternatives to fossil fuels, there have been successes and failures. This documentary examines the electric car project, from its initial success to its ultimate demise. The DVD also features lots of interesting deleted scenes and interviews.

Grade: B.

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Edward James Olmos stars in this look at thirty years of the Mexican Mafia in Los Angeles. The picture never pulls its punches, depicting in startling realism the gangster life and the experience in prison. Many of the actors and extras in this feature actually live in this violent world.

Grade: B.

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Software guru, Paul Graham, presents a number of insightful, interesting essays that discuss how engineering happens, how technology affects our society, and how small, passionate groups of geeks can take on large entrenched corporations. This engaging piece of work has world-changing ideas aplenty, for the technical and non-technical alike.

Grade: A.

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A multi-generational epic, this powerful piece of cinema features a stunning all-star cast and follows the joys and sorrows of a Mexican-American family. Gregory Nava wrote a beautiful story and draws powerful performances from the actors. This was a thoroughly enjoyable film, evoking the full range of emotions.

Grade: A-.

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The visual effects in this action-adventure flick are astonishing. Unfortunately, the script is predictable, full of clichés, and totally forgettable. Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth are both hopelessly miscast in this utterly unnecessary waste of money. This just felt like an unreasonably modernized remix of the original 1978 classic.

Grade: C-.

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A delightful set of standards and original compositions from the late 50s, this eight song CD features Toots on both harmonica and guitar, accompanied by solid rhythm section and Pepper Adams on baritone sax. Every track on this record is beautiful and the musicians effortlessly play off and complement each other.

Grade: A.

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