Search results for: hobbit
Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
MOVIE REVIEW: THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Peter Jackson’s second helping — The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug — written and directed by Peter Jackson with flavoring from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel is more confident than the first helping of An Unexpected Journey. It is the #1 movie of the opening weekend, scoring 74%…
Read MoreMovie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
MOVIE REVIEW: THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY Even if I had been told The Hobbit was the worst movie ever made, I still would have gone to see it. It wasn’t. But even after seeing it twice my feelings remain mixed. In talking to friends who have been to it, reactions to the movie seem…
Read MoreHistory of French Fries: Are They Really French?
HISTORY OF FRENCH FRIES: NATIONAL FRENCH FRY DAY Today is National French Fry Day. While no one knows who began this celebration, placing it on July 13 is significant because the important French holiday is the next day, July 14, for Bastille Day.
Read MoreMovie Review: Dune
MOVIE REVIEW: DUNE Spice! I met Frank Herbert, author of Dune, over 40 years ago at “Comics and Comix” a premier comic and book store in Berkeley that was a favorite haunt of mine at the time. Of course, I got him to sign my paperback, but he was interested in talking…
Read MoreHistory of St George and the Dragon
HISTORY OF ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON Saint George’s Day is April 23, likely the day of his martyrdom. He is often depicted as a knight in armor. He is the patron saint of England, and his day has been celebrated there from the 9th century and more recently throughout the British Commonwealth… though he…
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Bill Petro, technology sales enablement executive: writes on History, Popular Culture, Tech Trends, and Travel History of Woodstock: Over 50 Years Ago August 15, 2022 HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK August 15 marks the anniversary of the “3 Days of Peace & Music” held in 1969 at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel,…
Read MoreHistory of J.R.R. Tolkien: A 100-Year Love Affair
HISTORY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN: A 100 YEAR LOVE AFFAIR I’m reading J.R.R. Tolkien‘s latest book published in June, Beren and Luthien which he began writing 100 years ago. How is that possible, when he died in 1973? His youngest son and literary executor — Christopher Tolkien who is now 93 — has been publishing his…
Read MoreHistory of Martin Luther: Part 6 – Monk Marries Nun
HISTORY OF MARTIN LUTHER: PART 6 – MONK MARRIES NUN When Martin Luther returned from the Wartburg Castle to Wittenberg, he had much to do (see Part 5). The religious unrest and political protests that had occurred in the city while he was in seclusion needed to stop. At the beginning of Lent, he resumed…
Read MoreMovie Review: Les Miserables
MOVIE REVIEW: LES MISERABLES Go see this movie. If you’ve never seen the stage play, this is the way to catch a faithful version of it in your local cinema. If you’ve already seen the stage play, then you already know. It was more than I expected, and I had high expectations. This is…
Read MoreMovie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Movie Review: X-Men Origins: Wolverine When I read comic books in my youth, I always loved the “origin of” issues, which told me about he beginnings of my favorite super heroes. I was a big reader and collector of X-Men comics, of course, and have enjoyed the previous three movies to greater and lesser degrees.…
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Bill Petro, author and technologist. Writes about History, Popular Culture, and Tech Trends. Contributing writer to the books Product Management to Product Leadership: The Advanced Use Cases and Invitation to Church History, Vol 1 & 2 History of Woodstock: Over 50 Years Ago August 15, 2022 HISTORY OF WOODSTOCK August 15 marks the anniversary of the “3…
Read MoreMovie Review: Lord Of The Rings – The Fellowship Of The Ring
Movie Review: Lord Of The Rings – The Fellowship Of The Ring [My long-lost review from December 19, 2001 of the movie and an essay on the appeal of J.R.R. Tolkien and his magical world.] “Exciting, dramatic, passionate, beautiful, chilling, palpable evil, breathtaking vistas…” These are all words I’ve used to describe this movie to…
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