To The Last Man

I listened to the audio book version of this novel and was mesmerized by it. Philip Bosco's reading is extraordinary and ads immensely to a book that is already very well written. Shaara is a great author who writes about war and the personal drama of it very well.

This book follows a handful of American warriors during the First World War, including pilots, infantry, and officers. The personal stories of these men is both horrific and heart-wrenching.

In fact, if you don't have tears in your eyes as the last few lines unfold, you're not human. That's how great this book is. Highly recommended.

Fearless

This is one of Jet Li's most recent movies and by far one of his best. Obviously, I am a big fan of his, and he's only getting better and better. I've been a fan of Li's and of Jackie Chan's (who's been stagnating, basically making the same movie over and over, with less and less comedy) for a long time. The bulk of my video collections are made up of their movies. A while ago I reviewed Li's movie "Unleashed" and "The Hero" (click here to see those), which are also on my favorites list.

Anyway, this film is about the legendary Chinese hero Huo Juan Jia who inspired the Chinese nation at the turn of the century. It's masterfully done with great effects in the fight scenes and an awesome, inspirational storyline.

The movie follows the life of wushu master Huo from boyhood to adulthood, where his love of martial arts and devotion to being champion trumps his responsibilities as head of household and father. Tragedy unfolds, because of his selfishness, and he is forced to grow up and realize that there is more to life than himself. His life's journey then changes for the better and his real heroism unfolds as he finds his true self.

This is a great film and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. Jet Li has also said that this is his last wushu (purely martial arts) film.

Letters From Iwo Jima

I watched this film last night and then...I watched it again. This is by far one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. It's gripping, engaging, and very gut and heart-wrenching.

In the movie, you follow half a dozen Japanese military men in their efforts to hold the island of Iwo Jima from the US invasion force. This is a side of the war that we Americans rarely see.

The personalities and actions of those depicted are not so different from our own. From the reluctant warrior to the flag-waving dogmatic killer. The story is srong, well-told, and will get you right in the soul. Clint Eastwood (who produced and directed this movie) is only getting better with age. A great film.

The Ballad of Carl Drega

The Ballad of Carl Drega by Vin Suprynowicz - The first reviewer on Amazon.com™ hit the nail on the head when he wrote "It would be very fair to say that "The Ballard of Carl Drega" is one of the most revealing and insightful books to be published in years. Authored by Vin Suprynowicz, one of the world's most celebrated and syndicated libertarian writers of the century, this title leaves no stone unturned." This book is easily the greatest collection of abuses and outright thievery by the current American government. It is not half-truths and heresay, but verifiable, documented fact. I would also recommend Vin's book, Send In The Waco Killers. If you can, read his weekly columns in newsprint around the country and the Internet. He is easily the best libertarian writer living today.