"The Sapphires" is missing a lot — detailed characters, a unique narrative arc, half-plausible scenes of the Vietnam War — but it's got two uncommon things going for it: genuine charm and Chris O'Dowd. They are not mutually exclusive.

In a rare show of bipartisanship, Senate Democrats and Republicans will hold a joint meeting next month to mark the 40th anniversary of Sen. John McCain's release from a North Vietnamese prison.

Up there with “Stoker” and “Like Someone in Love” as one of the best films to hit theaters this spring, “War Witch” is devastating, beautiful and truly not to be missed. An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, this gut-wrenching tale of a child soldier has been reeling in the accolades: Best Actress awards for young star Rachel Mwanza at both the Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, along with a whopping 10 honors (including Best Picture) at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

When the ninth-annual Southwest Military Transport Show was initially scheduled for this coming weekend, it was done so specifically not to conflict with the annual Luke Air Force Base open house and air show – traditionally one of the largest such draws in the Southwest.

It was 10 years ago that Colorado filmmaker Larry Cappetto first came to the East Valley to interview combat veterans for his series of World War II documentaries.

With lion dances, firecrackers, games and more, the Mesa Amphitheatre, 263 N. Center St. will host a two-day celebration of the 2013 Lunar New Year. The event will be held 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Now that President Obama’s reelection has been finalized by his inauguration, has Ted Nugent relocated out of the country yet?

Gilbert teen Toan Ngo remembers well his past and hard work that’s led to the honor he received this week — a $150,000 military scholarship — and his future as a Marine.

With the recent Newtown tragedy we are again forced to look at the question of our current gun control legislation. We have lost count of the victims of these horrific events and yet they continue. How can we accept the approximately 30,000 deaths each year from firearms (murders, suicides and accidents) without it screaming to us that “Enough is enough”! Have we become so immune to these events that it doesn’t matter any more? That is almost the equivalent of the U.S. Vietnam dead repeated every year.

Americans are rightly concerned about going over the fiscal cliff. But they got their eyes on the wrong cliff. The Little Cliff that is in the news is man-made, a mixture of spending cuts and tax hikes intended to be so onerous that Washington politicians would have to “do something” meaningful to reduce the national debt.

"Trickle-up poverty, aka socialism, means everyone will be getting crumbs."

Gift giving feels good, and can feel even better if you know your purchase is helping those less fortunate. Luckily, a number of home décor retailers partner with charitable organizations; many do so year-round, with additional initiatives during the holiday season.

Gift giving feels good, and can feel even better if you know your purchase is helping those less fortunate. Luckily, a number of home décor retailers partner with charitable organizations; many do so year round, with additional initiatives during the holiday season.

“Here is a great way to boost our economy. Everyone with a foreign car should go out and buy either GM, Ford or Chrysler. That way your money will give the economy a big boost. Americans should support the USA, not Japan or Korea. When you buy foreign cars they tell you that the cars are made here, which is wrong, the cars are assembled here. Another point: When you buy a foreign car some of your money goes to that country.”

Never before in U.S. history have the American people held its military in such (unrealistic) esteem. Possibly, it is partially due to false images portrayed by the for-profit 24/7 cable-news organizations; possibly, it is partially due to the general American public’s lack of experience, and knowledge — i.e., we’ve lost our grip on reality.

If what you know of United States history came out of school textbooks, prepare to be enthralled by our shared past as never before.

On a sun-splashed Higley High School football field blanketed with a warm autumn breeze on Friday, more than 3,000 people came to celebrate military veterans for their service and sacrifices they made through the decades for the freedoms we enjoy today that did not come for free.

Jack Jarzynka had driven past American Legion Post 39 in Gilbert “about 100 times,” so one Saturday night after he and his wife, Kathy, had dinner about six years ago, he decided to stop in for a 1950s and 60s dance.