Arts

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

I must confess — I’ve never seen the 1976 “A Star is Born,” starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. That’s not particularly shocking to my… Continue reading

‘A Star is Born’ — Less sappy than the original, with better music

Poet’s corner: One-moon planet

One-moon Planet By Hedy Huss Planet Jupiter trumps all the rest. In numbers, it the best with 63 moons! So many moons … Their dozens… Continue reading

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere

I’ve always been a big science fiction fan, but lately I’ve been really into a subset of that genre, the so-called “hard” science fiction. This… Continue reading

‘UFO’ — If you’re looking for engaging sci-fi, look elsewhere
Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star in ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls.’ (Universal Pictures)

‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’ never lives up to its potential

There are many things to like about this week’s amusing and affable horror-lite kids movie, “The House with a Clock in Its Walls.” For one,… Continue reading

Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star in ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls.’ (Universal Pictures)

Poet’s Corner: The Last Rose of Summer

The Last Rose of Summer By Dave Thompson Kenai, Alaska The thunder rolls in tempo on this September day Signaling the Autumn as Summer fades… Continue reading

Poet’s Corner: Bittersweet

Bittersweet By Lori Lindsay, Soldotna I didn’t know my life could change, I didn’t know it needed to. But you were an unexpected miracle That… Continue reading

A woman ties a ribbon to a memorial to Katie Kennedy at this year’s Burning Basket, Dream, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The photo shows Kennedy placing her bra in the 2017 Burning Basket. Kennedy died of breast cancer this year. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

An intimate view of the Burning Basket from formation to flames

The image came via text in early June: a lilac-painted 1972 Volkswagen van set against a picturesque backdrop of nettles and fireweed. Not a bad… Continue reading

A woman ties a ribbon to a memorial to Katie Kennedy at this year’s Burning Basket, Dream, on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 at Mariner Park in Homer, Alaska. The photo shows Kennedy placing her bra in the 2017 Burning Basket. Kennedy died of breast cancer this year. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Poet’s Corner: Florence

Florence The Name Means Flourishing Prosperity (Perhaps It’s An Offer From God…) by Norm Olson Fires in the west and storms in the east While the middle… Continue reading

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares

This time of year, heading into the Halloween season always makes me think about my own relationship to horror movies. I remember catching bits of… Continue reading

‘The Nun’ — a rollercoaster of scares
Janet Klein, left, holds her grandson, Sylas Reising, 4, while she visits with her daughter, Deborah Klein, center, and son-in-law George Reising, right, at Bishop’s Beach, Homer, Alaska, on Aug. 9, 2018. Not shown is Kai Reising, 6. Silas and Kai were the inspiration for the Klein’s “color and learn” book, “Alaska’s Dinosaurs and Other Cretaceous Creatures.”

Kleins publish new book on Alaska dinosaurs

A new children’s book out this month fulfills a request made by two Seward boys to their mother. Kai, 5, and Sylas Reising, 4, had… Continue reading

Janet Klein, left, holds her grandson, Sylas Reising, 4, while she visits with her daughter, Deborah Klein, center, and son-in-law George Reising, right, at Bishop’s Beach, Homer, Alaska, on Aug. 9, 2018. Not shown is Kai Reising, 6. Silas and Kai were the inspiration for the Klein’s “color and learn” book, “Alaska’s Dinosaurs and Other Cretaceous Creatures.”
Joan Brown Dodd, left, and Doug Dodd pose for a photo at the Homer News on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Author couple publish new books

Homer has long been known for its support of new and established authors. Through college classes, readings, workshops and writers groups, local literary artists teach… Continue reading

Joan Brown Dodd, left, and Doug Dodd pose for a photo at the Homer News on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
This still released by Apelles Entertainment, Di Bonavntura Pictures and Flagship Entertainment Group shows Shuya Sophia Cai in “The Meg.” (Photo courtesy Apelles Entertainment, Di Bonavntura Pictures and Flagship Entertainment Group)

In the spirit of B-movies, ‘The Meg’ is simple entertainment

“The Meg” I’ve done a lot of thinking about B-movies lately, and how much of what makes a bad movie good is actually bad. When… Continue reading

This still released by Apelles Entertainment, Di Bonavntura Pictures and Flagship Entertainment Group shows Shuya Sophia Cai in “The Meg.” (Photo courtesy Apelles Entertainment, Di Bonavntura Pictures and Flagship Entertainment Group)