Today's News

Phoenix News

• Maryvale celebrates wrestler's triumph
  Friends, teachers and coaches gathered in west Phoenix to celebrate the triumphant journey of a former student wrestler who earned a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics Tuesday morning.
  
  
• Task force busts Phoenix chop shop
  A Phoenix chop shop operation that dealt in stolen motorcycles has been smashed by the DPS-led Arizona Vehicle Theft Task Force.
  
  
• Phoenix police search for homicide suspect
  Cesar Gervacio Rodriguez, 42, is wanted in connection with the shooting death of 45-year-old Isaac Lara-Flores.
  
  
• W. Phoenix could get brand-name outlet center
  A North Carolina-based shopping center company plans to open an upscale outlet center in Phoenix. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers Inc. hopes to build a mall that will house at least 80 brand name stores in 330,000 square feet.
  
  
• Help sought to identify homicide victim
  He was found behind a business on the morning of June 21.
  
  
• Fundraiser to rally against school unification
  A group called Preserving Phoenix School Districts invited parents, educators, community supporters and Maricopa County leaders to a fundraiser Wednesday in Phoenix.
  
  
• Forums are cancelled on school unification
  Public forums scheduled across Arizona to inform voters about school district unification, which will be on the Nov. 4 ballots, have been cancelled.
  
  

The Phoenix Suns

• Dragic: Suns a 'dream come true'
  Goran Dragic passes a physical and talks about joining the Suns for the first time. | {snl} Profile
  
  
• Dragic may not sign until September
  Goran Dragic really wanted to be a Suns player, considering what he was willing to do financially.
  
  
• USA hoops completes romp past Germany
  The U.S. put away Nowitzki and Germany in a hurry.
  
  
• Dragic expected to sign 4-year deal
  Contract for guard was expected to start at nearly $2 million, using part of the midlevel exception.
  
  
• 76ers re-sign Ex-UA player Iguodala
  The Philadelphia 76ers re-signed former University of Arizona forward Andre Iguodala on Sunday to a six-year contract worth a reported $80 million.
  
  

Republic Front Page

• A Valley wrestler, an American dream, a Beijing gold
  Henry Cejudo, the son of undocumented immigrants from Mexico has overcome early hardships to become, at 21, the youngest U.S. wrestler to win an Olympic freestyle gold medal.
  
  
• Brazen attacks in Afghanistan
  In the worst single-incident loss of life in at least three years for Western troops in Afghanistan, insurgents ambushed and killed 10 French soldiers and wounded 21 others in a sustained assault a short distance from the capital, military officials said Tuesday.
  
  
• Mexicans are wary of both U.S. candidates
  For Mexico, McCain vs. Obama is a tough choice.
  
  
• Revolutionary way to create blood is found
  Scientists said Tuesday that they have devised a way to grow large quantities of blood in the lab using human embryonic stem cells, potentially making blood drives a relic of the past.
  
  
• Evacuated tribe members return to Canyon mess
  The Havasupai people are returning to their village of Supai at the bottom of Havasu Canyon today.
  
  
• ''Give space to base,'' Aug. 17, Viewpoints, V4
  CORRECTION: The editorial incorrectly stated that the state military installation fund was established to offer compensation to property owners for loss of value. It should have said the fund is used to purchase properties surrounding military facilities from willing sellers at appraised value. Money is also available for local military-preservation or enhancement projects.
  
  

Movie Reviews

• 'The Rocker'
  How much you like this story of a passed-over drummer getting another shot at the big time with his nephew's band depends on how much you like Rainn Wilson (Dwight on The Office). The songs are good and there are some funny bits, but Wilson's best enjoyed in smaller doses. (PG-13 - 102 minutes) P, S.
• 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'
  'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' ***(Kerry Lengel) This computer-animated spin-off follows the adventures of Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker between Episodes II and III of the live-action series. The herky-jerky visuals won't have Pixar shaking in its CGI boots, but there's still plenty of laser-blasting excitement for the target audience, which is probably under the age of 13. (PG - 98 minutes) V.
• 'Barcelona'
  'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' ** (Richard Nilsen) Another Woody Allen misfire, and perhaps the film to finally kill off the Scarlett Johansson mystique. She and Rebecca Hall are Americans in Barcelona finding love - or sex - with Spanish painter Javier Bardem and danger with his ex-wife, Penélope Cruz. Tin-eared dialog and pretentious piffle sink this boat. (PG-13 - 96 minutes) S.
• 'Fly Me to the Moon'
  'Fly Me to the Moon' {2stars} The 3-D animation in this story of three flies - yes, flies - sneaking aboard the Apollo 11 moon landing is astounding. Director Ben Stassen just needed more dimensions to the weak story, which will make you appreciate Pixar all the more. Includes the voices of Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry and Ed Begley Jr. (G - 84 minutes).
• 'Bottle Shock'
  'Bottle Shock' {2stars} (Randy Cordova) Based on a true story, Bottle Shock tells about a small California Chardonnay that beat more renowned wines in a prestigious French competition. Unfortunately, too many clichés pile up, the stereotypes run deep and director Randall Miller (he also co-wrote the script) lets thing amble on without a lot of momentum. On the plus side, it does give reliable Bill Pullman a lead role. (PG-13- 110 minutes) P, V.
• 'Henry Poole'
  'Henry Poole is Here' {4stars} (Randy Cordova) A terminally glum man (Luke Wilson) buys a home in which one of the outside walls has a stain. A neighbor (Adriana Barraza of Babel) insists the discoloration contains the image of Jesus, and questions of faith and redemption are raised. Well acted comedy-drama is quietly compelling and quite surprising coming from director Mark Pellington, best known for such taut thrillers as Arlington Road and The Mothman Prophecies. (PG - 100 minutes) P.
• 'Tropic Thunder'
  'Tropic Thunder' {3halfstars} Ben Stiller wrote, directs and stars as a fading action star involved in a war movie that unexpectedly becomes real, thanks to drug lords who don't know the actors are faking it. Robert Downey Jr. is great as a method actor who goes to extremes, and there is a great extended cameo by a major star. But the film doesn't quite reach the heights it might have. (R - 107 minutes) P, V.
• 'Man on Wire'
  (Richard Nilsen) Documentary about funambulist Philippe Petit and his infamous 1974 high-wire walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center. The film is told with the suspense and tension of a heist film, detailing each step of the planning and execution as if it were a Mission: Impossible. In English and French, with some subtitles. (PG-13 - 94 minutes) N, S.
• 'Hell Ride'
  (Randy Cordova) Quentin Tarantino executive produced this piece of junk about two motorcycle gangs and a mysterious key that will open a safety deposit box that is buried in the desert. In between come lots of graphic violence and enough oiled-up female nudity for a soft-core flick. But, strangely enough, the movie is never exciting or sexy. (R - 83 minutes) N, P, S, V.
• 'Sisterhood'
  (Randy Cordova) Overlong, underfed sequel to the charming 2005 hit about four young women tied together by friendship and a mystical pair of pants. The actresses are solid, but the story lines are often less than compelling. (PG-13 - 117 minutes).