The perfect catch
Catch Me If You Can
Stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler.
Rated M

At 17, Frank Abagnale was the most successful bank robber in American history.
Today he is a highly respected and immensely well-paid security consultant to those same banks as well as to the FBI and even to Australian and other foreign banks.

Dying to be friends
New Best Friend
Stars Mia Kirshner, Meredith Monroe, Dominique Swain. Columbia TriStar. Rated MA. 87 mins
Reviewer :: Ben Caddaye

New Best Friend poses the question “How far would you go to fit in?”

Where we were in Vietnam
Vietnam revisited
By Michael P. Kelley. Hellgate Press. 520pp. $90
Reviewer :: Pte John Wellfare

The Vietnam War has generated a great deal of interest over the years and served as the topic of many books, both fiction and non-fiction.

K-9 Soldiers: Vietnam and after
Life with Suzie, a reliable working girl
By Paul B. Morgan. Hellgate Press. 190pp. $38.50
Reviewer :: Pte Simone Heyer

When books with slightly different views of the military and various wars are published, they are refreshing; both to read and to review so that others will read them.

Cutting Edge: MS Tampa – Refugees at Sea

Tuesday, March 4, 8.30pm, on SBS
Reviewer: Ben Caddaye

When the Norwegian freighter MS Tampa went to the aid of a boat in distress in the waters off Christmas Island in 2001, it sparked a controversy that would span the globe.

On that August day, Tampa skipper Arne Rinnan thought his task would be simple – pick up 438 Afghan refugees from a sinking vessel and transport them to Christmas Island.

What transpired proved to be much more complex, with the Tampa’s actions causing a diplomatic storm that would involve the United Nations and impact on the federal election.

MS Tampa – Refugees at Sea follows Captain Rinnan on his last voyage at the helm of the Tampa, tracing the exact route he took in 2001.

The documentary also catches up with some of the Tampa refugees who were sent to New Zealand.

It’s a fascinating story, which offers a different perspective on an issue that divided the Australian community.

The only problem was the preview copy I was issued with didn’t contain any subtitles – and my grasp of Norwegian and Arabic is, well, non existent.

A fascinating hour of television nonetheless.