Weekend Adviser

It's May! Here in Hog Heaven it's time to plant the corn that will grow up to be ethanol and pork chops. That is, if the fields are dry enough. Farming is a lot of waitin' and worryin' sandwiched between a couple of slices of intense activity.

But, real farmers are few and far between. Even here in Iowa—the heart of farm country—most of us don't know a rootworm from a corn borer. And, just like everybody else, we just wanna have fun. So, for all those who're still trying to fill their weekend planner, here are a few suggestions.

If you can't get enough of comic book heroes, you're in luck. The latest in the X-Men franchise, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," opens today. It stars Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and it has fan boys everywhere in a lather. Industry estimates predict gonzo opening-weekend box-office in the $100 million range. Early reviews have been mixed, but this genre is immune to movie criticism. That said, you can check out "Variety's" take here: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940156.html?categoryid=31&cs=1

The main competition is romantic comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner. In a caustic review, critic Nick Schager dismisses it as "formulaic" and an "assembly line studio rom-com" here: http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film review.asp?ID=4256

For the stay-at-home movie crowd, the selection of newly-released DVDs is also limited this week. Besides the forgettable romantic comedy, "Bride Wars," there's not much other than re-releases. "Bride Wars" stars Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as best friends forever until they schedule their fairy-tale weddings in the same venue on the same day.

Given that May is Sweeps Month, even TV offers slim pickings this weekend. ABC's got "Harry Potter 3" on Saturday night, but who needs all those commercials? Rent the DVD if you must and save yourself forty-five minutes. HBO has the continuing saga of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" on Sunday night, and Showtime features "The Great Debaters" on Sunday evening.

Sports fans fare a bit better. The best-known horse race in the U.S., the Kentucky Derby, comes down the home stretch on NBC late Saturday afternoon. It's the perfect entertainment for an attention-deficit nation: two weeks of sizzle and two minutes of meat.

Later on Saturday evening, HBO will televise the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton junior welterweight championship fight from Las Vegas. Where else?

Elsewhere, the never-ending NBA and NHL playoffs continue. Wake me when they're over.

Given the paucity of entertainment choices, I'm going to suggest something radical: Read a book. And, I've got one in mind: Jim Sheeler's Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives. It's just out in paperback this week, and it's a powerful, unforgettable experience. It's the story of some of the young Americans who have paid the ultimate price in the War on Terror and the families they left behind. I reviewed the book when it came out in hardcover in 2008 here: http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf-honoring-heroes

With Memorial Day coming along at the end of the month, you might want to pass it along when you're finished.