Mean Girls (DVD movie review)

Mean Girls, starring Lindsay Lohan. This movie, based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabees," leaves a bit to be desired, yet Lohan is winning as the girl who starts at a new school and must learn the savage ways of teenage girls. Grade: B

Star Wars (DVD movie review)

Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Everyone knows this was the first "Star Wars" film, but according to Lucas it's part 4 of the story. It may be a treat for fans or first-time viewers, but it didn't hold up that well for me. The biggest positive is the quality of the image, which has been cleaned up for the DVD and is superb. The DVD also offers English subtitles, so you can catch subtleties of dialog you may have missed before. Grade: B

Man on Fire (DVD movie review)

Man on Fire, starring Denzel Washington. Jazzy cinematography can't disguise retro script, which is a pretty much standard revenge drama. Set in Mexico, with Denzel playing a bodyguard hired to protect a young girl (Dakota Fanning) from kidnappers. Grade: C

Camouflage (book review)

Camouflage, by Joe Haldeman (2004). Haldeman, author of "The Forever War," produces readable, old-fashioned science fiction. "Camouflage" is not a great work of literature, but it is a great read for science fiction fans. Two ancient aliens, both able to change their appearance, have lived undetected on Earth since prehistory. One learns to be more human, while the other lives to kill. By the end of the book, they will meet each other in a climax with a couple of nice twists. Grade: B+

Shadow Divers (book review)

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (2004). One of the best books I've read in a long time, this is a nonfiction account of the discovery and exploration of a previously unknown German U-boat that sank off the New Jersey coast during World War II. Kurson goes beyond the narrative of the dive and search of the U-boat to delve into the lives and background of the characters who partake in the quest, and this is what makes the book so compelling. Grade: A

Jersey Girl (DVD review)

Jersey Girl (2004) starring Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Raquel Castro. Jennifer Lopez stars early in the film as Affleck's wife, who dies in labor. Affleck must come to terms with single fatherhood, and Liv Tyler is appealing as the young woman who helps bring him back into the world of the living. A pretty good cast is wasted in this movie, in which the script hits wrong note after wrong note until you might just want to scream. Grade: C-

The Ladykillers (DVD review)

The Ladykillers (2004) starring Tom Hanks. Occasionally amusing, mostly disappointing caper film about a group of would-be robbers who gather in an old woman's cellar for the purpose of tunneling from her house to the money room of a casino. The thieves are bumblers, as one would expect, but their bumbling is mostly irritating instead of funny. Even Tom Hanks, as the leader of the gang, hits a sour note in his portrayal by going a bit over the top in his acting. Grade: B-

Finding My Balance (book review)

Finding My Balance by Mariel Hemingway (2003). Hemingway, granddaughter of the famous author, writes somewhat movingly about her life, which has certainly contained its fair share of tragedy. She uses yoga as a framing device, starting and ending each chapter with a description of one of her favorite yoga positions. This sounds like it might be interesting, but unless you're already into yoga it probably won't be. Mariel Hemingway is a beautiful woman, a successful actress, and rich to boot. In this book, however, she comes off sounding rather simple-minded and occasionally a little shallow and self-absorbed. Grade: C

Truth and Beauty (book review)

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett. Dedicated to Lucy Grealy, 1963-2002. Patchett and Grealy are both well-known in literary circles, and this book is a very intimate and touching look at their friendship of many years. It makes a good follow-up to Grealy's book, "Autobiography of a Face," in which she describes her childhood cancer and the aftermath of the many operations she underwent to try to repair the damage it did to her face. Read "Autobiography" first if you get the chance. Grade: A

Rain Man (DVD review)

Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise star in the 1988 winner of the Best Picture Oscar. Although the film seems a little dated now, it still has many comic moments and evokes deep feelings about the relationship between the two brothers. Great soundtrack, too. Grade: A

The Passion of the Christ (DVD review)

(2004) As most movie-goers probably know by now, this is Mel Gibson's production of a film depicting the brutal torture and crucifixion of Jesus at the hands of Romans and Jews. Viewers will have to decide for themselves whether they want to venture into this territory. It is bloody and violent, but there are also a few moments of tenderness and compassion. Grade: B

The Girl Next Door (DVD review)

(2004) A sexy young woman moves in next door to a lonely high-school boy. To his surprise, she shows interest in him. Everything is fine -- until he learns that she is a porn star. Then the movie goes flying off the rails into bad taste and poor script. Execrable. Grade: D-