Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted from the wildly popular book by... read more

Here's an event movie that holds up to being an event. This filmed version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, adapted from the wildly popular book by J.K. Rowling, stunningly brings to life Harry Potter's world of Hogwarts, the school for young witches and wizards. The greatest strength of the film comes from its faithfulness to the novel, and this new cinematic world is filled with all the details of Rowling's imagination, thanks to exuberant sets, elaborate costumes, clever makeup and visual effects, and a crème de la crème cast, including Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman, and more. Especially fine is the interplay between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his schoolmates Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), as well as his protector, the looming Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane). The second-half adventure--involving the titular sorcerer's stone--doesn't translate perfectly from page to screen, ultimately because of the film's fidelity to the novel; this is a case of making a movie for the book's fans, as opposed to a transcending film. Writer Steve Kloves and director Chris Columbus keep the spooks in check, making this a true family film, and with its resourceful hero wide-eyed and ready, one can't wait for Harry's return. Ages 8 and up. --Doug Thomas (hide)

Jude the Obscure created storms of scandal and protest for the author upon its publication. Hardy, disgusted and disappointed, devoted the remainder of his life to poetry and... read more

Jude the Obscure created storms of scandal and protest for the author upon its publication. Hardy, disgusted and disappointed, devoted the remainder of his life to poetry and never wrote another novel. Today, the material is far less shocking. Jude Fawley, a poor stone carver with aspirations toward an academic career, is thwarted at every turn and is finally forced to give up his dreams of a university education. He is tricked into an unwise marriage, and when his wife deserts him, he begins a relationship with a free-spirited cousin. With this begins the descent into bleak tragedy as the couple alternately defy and succumb to the pressures of a deeply disapproving society. Hardy's characters have a fascinating ambiguity: they are victimized by a stern moral code, but they are also selfish and weak-willed creatures who bring on much of their own difficulties through their own vacillations and submissions to impulse. The abridgment speeds Jude's fall to considerable dramatic effect, but it also deletes the author's agonizing logic. Instead of the meticulous weaving of Jude's destiny, we get a somewhat incoherent summary that preserves the major plot points but fails to draw us into the tragedy. Michael Pennington reads resonantly and skillfully, his voice perfectly matching the grim music of Hardy's prose, but this recording can only be recommended for larger public libraries.
-John Owen, Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. (hide)

An inexpensive paperback Bible priced for purchase in large quantities.

An inexpensive paperback Bible priced for purchase in large quantities. (hide)

For millennia, the Jade Moon and the Ual-leen have fought in the murky underworld of the galaxy. Most people remain unaware of them, but their struggle spares no... read more

For millennia, the Jade Moon and the Ual-leen have fought in the murky underworld of the galaxy. Most people remain unaware of them, but their struggle spares no one—not even the innocent.

Maya and Ihy raise Ianus, a young monk orphaned when he was two, in a Jade Moon monastery far away from the dangerous life in the underworld that killed his parents. Ianus comes to accept his adopted parents as his own flesh and blood.

When he receives a vision of Ihy's murder, Ianus plunges deep into the underworld. With the help of his friends, he determines to face the people who murdered his birth parents. But Ianus fails to realize the Ual-leen's real goal—to steal an ancient and powerful relic.

Now Ianus must save his dying father and recover the relic. Will he be able to navigate the underworld successfully, or will he fall victim to the murderer's plot? In a rush to save Ihy and his friends, Ianus must wrestle with far greater principles: do we have free will or are we slaves to our circumstances? More importantly, is it worth sacrificing life and freedom for order and security?

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