Humanity's home planet hardly merits the name-check in "After Earth," M. Night Shyamalan's sci-fi survival tale whose shipwreck action could (with the exception of a scene where our hero scrawls a crude map over Lascaux-like cave paintings) take place on any old life-supporting globe in the cosmos. The disappointingly generic film, which strands a father and son (Will and Jaden Smith) on Earth a thousand years after a planet-wide evacuation, will leave genre audiences pining for the more Terra-centric conceits of "Oblivion," not to mention countless other future-set films that find novelty in making familiar surroundings threatening. Will Smith's presence, not just as co-star but as originator of the story, seems likely to carry box office receipts beyond the benchmark of Shyamalan's previous picture, the wretched "The Last Airbender," but those hoping for a franchise should navigate elsewhere.

Mango is a sweet love bug. He enjoys giving hugs and relishes his time walking. Mango delights in belly rubs and will reward you with big kisses. He is very intelligent and knows basic commands such as sit and stay. Mango has an abundance of personality and aspires to be the family comedian. His tail never stops wagging and he is a jolly and joyful boy. He will make an excellent addition to a fun-loving, energetic and loving family. Mango is great on a leash and understands basic commands. He is a bit of a clown but is a well-tempered dog. He is going to make a great family member. Mango is looking for an active home with daily walks/jogs, weekend hikes and playtime at the dog park. Another canine friend would be great, too. Of course love for a big lap dog is a must for this love bug.

With the onslaught of Oscar contenders that debuted last November, there’s a good chance that a little-seen indie gem, “Starlet,” managed to fall off your radar during its short, theatrical run. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2011 SXSW film festival, “Starlet” explores the unlikely friendship between a cheerful, aspiring actress (played by the winsome Dree Hemingway) and a cantankerous, elderly widow (the late Besedka Johnson).

If you watch the trailer for “Renoir” – a new period drama from French filmmaker Gilles Bourdos – a variety of adjectives are bound to come to mind: conventional, humdrum, lackluster. Sure, they’re trying to sell the story of one of the all-time great painters in a mere two minutes, but nothing about it grabs your attention – let alone, compels you to sit through the actual film. Luckily, this is not exactly the case for the movie itself, which is exquisite to look at but unfortunately devoid of any real insight into Pierre-Auguste Renoir. You come wishing to learn about the artist and his work, but instead leave dwelling on the film’s more engaging supporting characters.

When speaking about business success it doesn’t come from one individual.

Remember how director Todd Phillips just half-heartedly remade “The Hangover” in “The Hangover Part II?” Remember how lethargic, lame, and tedious it felt having to sit through the same movie over again with fewer laughs? That’s the best way to describe “21 and Over.” The film marks the directorial debut of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the writing team behind the original “Hangover.” They’ve basically recycled their smash hit comedy beat for beat. Where “The Hangover Part II” at least had three laugh-out-loud moments though, there’s nothing even remotely funny in “21 and Over.” It’s a comedic dead zone from its opening scene all the way through.

Stephanie Ann Kuells went to be with our angels on Wednesday, Feb. 20. She was born on Aug. 3, 1988, to Jennifer and Keith Kuells at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. This happened to be her father’s 30th birthday. What a beautiful gift! Stephanie had many challenges in her short life, but she tackled each one with determination, beauty and grace.

Arizona is facing a literacy crisis and it begins in early childhood.

My guns are for the purpose of protecting innocent life from deadly violence should the occasion arise in which I have the opportunity to intervene. It is my simple moral responsibility to the assailant’s targets in that instant and later and indeed to the common good and to gentle civilization itself that I do so if I am able. If that occasion arose, and if I failed for not having carried my gun, my life would become a living hell of remorse and guilt.

In what’s been an otherwise tremendous year for movies, 2012 still brought us quite a few stinkers nevertheless. One general question film critics are asked is how they feel when ripping a movie apart. It may sound mean-spirited and arrogant to criticize a movie that a lot of people invested their time and money into. Anybody that has endured the 10 movies listed below however can understand that such criticisms are justified.

"The Beautiful Ruins” started off as a little frivolous and fun — a nice break from a serious novel. How wrong could I be.

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The second Sally Meyerhoff 5K run will be on Dec. 8 at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. A Mountain Pointe graduate and former Pride coach, Meyerhoff was an aspiring Olympic runner and this run was started to keep her legacy alive after she was killed in a training accident in Maricopa in March 2011.

Imagine a woman who aspires her entire life to earn her dream job. She hopes to help others and is dedicated to her profession and community. Then it all comes crashing down, not because of her behavior, but due to co-worker sexual harassment, intimidation and supervisory neglect.

The Brophy football team brought its firearm to a gunfight, it just happened to be an antiquated six-shooter.

The community is invited to the Third Annual Palo Verde Award Gala on Saturday, Nov. 3, starting at 6 p.m., at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd. in Chandler. The event will feature the presentation of the Palo Verde Award, honoring the 2012 Business Woman of the Year and recognizing a female chamber member’s personal achievements in business and community service.

Democrat Richard Carmona said Wednesday he would not have supported the federal Affordable Care Act as pushed through by President Obama.

As the country prepares to enjoy the 108th Baseball World Series, even those who may not be true baseball fans are often caught up in the spirit of America’s national sport. If you are indeed a die-hard baseball fan, “The Art of Fielding,” by Chad Harbach might be just the book for you. But don’t discount it even if you don’t know first base from a knuckle-ball pitch. Described by one critic as the “greatest baseball novel in a generation,” the sports theme is metaphorically much grander — that of the human condition.

Age: 64

Foothills Acceleration and Sports Training (FAST) joins forces with Aspire Volleyball Club to offer their volleyball players a complete package for success.

This year, four candidates for the Kyrene School District Governing Board each face tight rivalry, as they compete for three available seats on the board.

Cheeky and snarky but with an infectious energy, “Pitch Perfect,” a comedy set in the cutthroat world of competing college a cappella groups, makes us fall in love with the very thing it’s making fun of. It’s ridiculous and predictable but also just a ton of fun, so you may as well give up and give in to your inner musical theater geek.

ASU Polytechnic officially opened Citrus Dining Pavilion and Century Residential Hall on Sept. 18, the first new dorm on the east Mesa campus.

Whenever Kaimarr Price had his doubts, and there were many, he always found something to refocus on his goals.

The Olympic year always seems to make the pool a little more crowded at the high school level.