November 21, 2003

Summary of some major stories on inside pages; booking photo of singer Michael Jackson, arrested in Santa Barbara on child molestation charges

Republican party to run first presidential campaign commercial, portraying Pres Bush as fighting terrorism while Democrats try to undermine him; first hint of campaign theme shows Bush during last State of the Union address, invoking Sept 11 terrorist attacks; television ads will run in Iowa and probably New Hampshire around time of Democratic debates; Bush campaign has sought to put off overt electioneering but some Republicans acknowledge worry about his popularity and avalanche of Democratic critiques (M)

It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how. This vulgar, unimaginative adaptation of Dr. Seuss' first "I Can Read" book is a compendium of how not to. Mike Myers, as the anarchic feline, has the manner of a Borscht belt comedian telling toilet jokes, and he helps to drag a great work of literature through a sewer of pandering, cynicism and crude sentimentality. Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning, as the two children whose dreary day at home is disrupted by the cat, are smart young actors, but they have little to do besides stand around and gawk, and then learn valuable lessons at the end. Parents tempted to expose their children to this bottom-feeding attempt to cash in on Dr. Seuss' reputation should heed the advice of the skeptical fish: "Make that cat go away. Tell that cat in the hat you do not want to play." — A. O. Scott

The United States and Brazil abruptly called an early end on Thursday to talks aimed at creating a 34-nation trade agreement in the Western Hemisphere after concluding there was little left to discuss here aside from a vague framework that allows officials to continue negotiating. The talks had originally been scheduled to end on Friday.

ONCE, road bingo, reading and rummy were about all that parents had to keep children occupied on long car trips. Now, the back seat is becoming a rolling multiplex with the help of video gear from VCR's to satellite TV systems. Page 8.