class_index
int64 1
5
| review_title
stringlengths 1
38
⌀ | review_text
stringlengths 975
1.01k
| length
int64 975
1.01k
| sentences
sequencelengths 1
101
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | No Running Please | You can't run with this on your arm, it will fall of and break and you will cry. For biking however this arm band is pretty good . The thing is the Vision M is a heavy object and the velcro strap that comes with this FlexiSkin only covers about 20% of the back making it very unsecure. The FlexiSkin itself is a good protector and I would recommend gettign some sort of PDA cover aswell to protect from scractches. But for running i'd either wait a while until some company comes out with more accesories for this relatively new product or go to an outdoor type store, find some backpack straps and fashion a better strap for this thing. The reason it gets 3 stars is because when you buy somethign with an armband its primary function is to stay on your arm while doing some sort of physical activity and it doesnt really do that well for running... the most common on those physical activities. It is also very overpriced from amazon but secondary sellers are selling it for decent prices. | 991 | [
"You can't run with this on your arm, it will fall of and break and you will cry.",
"For biking however this arm band is pretty good.",
"The thing is the Vision M is a heavy object and the velcro strap that comes with this FlexiSkin only covers about 20% of the back making it very unsecure.",
"The FlexiSkin itself is a good protector and I would recommend gettign some sort of PDA cover aswell to protect from scractches.",
"But for running i'd either wait a while until some company comes out with more accesories for this relatively new product or go to an outdoor type store, find some backpack straps and fashion a better strap for this thing.",
"The reason it gets 3 stars is because when you buy somethign with an armband its primary function is to stay on your arm while doing some sort of physical activity and it doesnt really do that well for running... the most common on those physical activities.",
"It is also very overpriced from amazon but secondary sellers are selling it for decent prices."
] |
3 | More of the same.... | While the first Knights of the Old republic kept me interested, this one seemed to fall short of my expectations. This game used almost the exact same formula as the previous. The same basic game mechanics are there, you run around and make decisions that guide you to either the Light or the Dark side of the force, and your team is influenced by your alignment. Different options are available based on these decisions and how you build your character up. It took almost half the game for the story line to peak to a point where I was able to keep my interest. I played as a Jedi throughout, and for me the ending was incredibly disappointing. The end villain was long-winded and boring in their final speech. While the ending leaves the series open to a third installment, I'm not sure I would really care if one was made after this one. If your a die hard Star Wars fan or a really big fan of the first KOTOR, then I would recommend you look into this one, otherwise I would say skip it. | 991 | [
"While the first Knights of the Old republic kept me interested, this one seemed to fall short of my expectations.",
"This game used almost the exact same formula as the previous.",
"The same basic game mechanics are there, you run around and make decisions that guide you to either the Light or the Dark side of the force, and your team is influenced by your alignment.",
"Different options are available based on these decisions and how you build your character up.",
"It took almost half the game for the story line to peak to a point where I was able to keep my interest.",
"I played as a Jedi throughout, and for me the ending was incredibly disappointing.",
"The end villain was long-winded and boring in their final speech.",
"While the ending leaves the series open to a third installment, I'm not sure I would really care if one was made after this one.",
"If your a die hard Star Wars fan or a really big fan of the first KOTOR, then I would recommend you look into this one, otherwise I would say skip it."
] |
3 | A step up, kind of | I rated the band's first album as 3 stars as well, but this album is a better kind of three stars. BB runs into many of the same problems here as they did on their debut; too many sound-alike tracks, minimal variation on guitar sound and quality, and the fact that BB really sounds like they're forcing their toughness. When they slow down on "Rain Song", they hit gold; the melody really carries the emotional pull of the song, and we see the band for what they really are. While a number of pounding tracks manage to be good by way of songwriting, I can't help but think they're trying to force themselves into a square when they're actually a circle. They have a more rounded personality that they should really let out more.Overall, it's a step up. They try a couple new things, go for some different moods, and they had Billy Corgan to push them along, so they gets points there too. But the band is plagued by their inability to show what they really are, and the album suffers for it. | 991 | [
"I rated the band's first album as 3 stars as well, but this album is a better kind of three stars.",
"BB runs into many of the same problems here as they did on their debut; too many sound-alike tracks, minimal variation on guitar sound and quality, and the fact that BB really sounds like they're forcing their toughness.",
"When they slow down on \"Rain Song\", they hit gold; the melody really carries the emotional pull of the song, and we see the band for what they really are.",
"While a number of pounding tracks manage to be good by way of songwriting, I can't help but think they're trying to force themselves into a square when they're actually a circle.",
"They have a more rounded personality that they should really let out more.Overall, it's a step up.",
"They try a couple new things, go for some different moods, and they had Billy Corgan to push them along, so they gets points there too.",
"But the band is plagued by their inability to show what they really are, and the album suffers for it."
] |
3 | Mood music | 'On The Ellipse' is one of those albums that gradually builds and crafts a mood throughout, never letting a note break the feel. Lilting, sleepy vocals drift over pastoral acoustics and howling distortions on a psychadelic, dream-like canvas. Like Sonic Youth meets Mogwai, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd and Opeth and together they are swept into a night-time dreamworld where everything is slowed and buzzes like a different reality. My only criticism of the album is that it rarely varies style and all 6 of the long pieces here follow the same sort of a structure. It feels like it could be a movie soundtrack: for an eerie, cyber-alternate, drugged-up underworld of a film. The way flutes sit over resounding, deafening over-distorted guitars really is heavenly. This is a wonderful underground recording which though too specialised to be appealing to everyone, or even the majority of people, and only right for certain moods, is glorious for those of us that do enjoy this sort of music. | 991 | [
"'On The Ellipse' is one of those albums that gradually builds and crafts a mood throughout, never letting a note break the feel.",
"Lilting, sleepy vocals drift over pastoral acoustics and howling distortions on a psychadelic, dream-like canvas.",
"Like Sonic Youth meets Mogwai, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd and Opeth and together they are swept into a night-time dreamworld where everything is slowed and buzzes like a different reality.",
"My only criticism of the album is that it rarely varies style and all 6 of the long pieces here follow the same sort of a structure.",
"It feels like it could be a movie soundtrack: for an eerie, cyber-alternate, drugged-up underworld of a film.",
"The way flutes sit over resounding, deafening over-distorted guitars really is heavenly.",
"This is a wonderful underground recording which though too specialised to be appealing to everyone, or even the majority of people, and only right for certain moods, is glorious for those of us that do enjoy this sort of music."
] |
3 | kinda cheap | Corners are cut in the construction. Mostly through the use of plastic parts instead of metal. Not minor parts either but major ones such as having a snap on plastic connector for the water lead in hose instead of brass threaded connectors, not secure connection but doesn't leak. Even the retractable hose for the pullout faucet was plastic instead of braided steel mesh. This concerned me because the sink cutout has sharp metal edges and turning the spigot back and forth would cause the plastic to be cut rather easily. I remedied this by using duct tape to cover edges and left some tape stick towards the center so that the hose was pushed away from the edges. Bad/cheap design definately not ment to last. Color coded water temp indicator is not flush with handle. It appears popped out but I can not push it back in, ugly. I can even see some sort of hex screw shape indentation on other side the gap is so big. But it was cheap and came with soap dispenser that was why I bought it. | 991 | [
"Corners are cut in the construction.",
"Mostly through the use of plastic parts instead of metal.",
"Not minor parts either but major ones such as having a snap on plastic connector for the water lead in hose instead of brass threaded connectors, not secure connection but doesn't leak.",
"Even the retractable hose for the pullout faucet was plastic instead of braided steel mesh.",
"This concerned me because the sink cutout has sharp metal edges and turning the spigot back and forth would cause the plastic to be cut rather easily.",
"I remedied this by using duct tape to cover edges and left some tape stick towards the center so that the hose was pushed away from the edges.",
"Bad/cheap design definately not ment to last.",
"Color coded water temp indicator is not flush with handle.",
"It appears popped out but I can not push it back in, ugly.",
"I can even see some sort of hex screw shape indentation on other side the gap is so big.",
"But it was cheap and came with soap dispenser that was why I bought it."
] |
3 | ehh... | This is definitely not the best recording of this work. First of all, the bass is pushed way too high; It feels like the work was recorded in a giant cathedral, rather than the intimate setting one expects for chamberworks. The actual performance is not bad, but it isn't great either - the lento of the "American" isn't slow enough and lacks the necessary level of emotion, and the finale is taken way too fast. In my opinion, this recording suffers as a result, as the pacing just seems to be off. If you are looking for another option for #12, I would suggest either the Prague String Quartet on DG or the Talich Quartet on Calliope (which is part of a set that includes the Piano Quintet, String Quintet op. 97 and Quartets 11 - 14). Another fine performance is that of the Amadeus Quartet on DG Originals - it's an older recording but it sounds great, with the added bonus being that it's a double-disc which also includes all of Brahms' quartets at the same price you'd pay for 1 disc. | 991 | [
"This is definitely not the best recording of this work.",
"First of all, the bass is pushed way too high; It feels like the work was recorded in a giant cathedral, rather than the intimate setting one expects for chamberworks.",
"The actual performance is not bad, but it isn't great either - the lento of the \"American\" isn't slow enough and lacks the necessary level of emotion, and the finale is taken way too fast.",
"In my opinion, this recording suffers as a result, as the pacing just seems to be off.",
"If you are looking for another option for #12, I would suggest either the Prague String Quartet on DG or the Talich Quartet on Calliope (which is part of a set that includes the Piano Quintet, String Quintet op.",
"97 and Quartets 11 - 14).",
"Another fine performance is that of the Amadeus Quartet on DG Originals - it's an older recording but it sounds great, with the added bonus being that it's a double-disc which also includes all of Brahms' quartets at the same price you'd pay for 1 disc."
] |
3 | Hard to Follow | Even with a background in theoretical physics, I struggled to follow the mathematical arguments of this book. One has to have a good grasp of mathematical statistics to follow this book's mathemtaical reasoning. On the other hand, the conclusions are quite clear; speciation cannot be supported within these models but minor variationscan.The author does mention the idea of punctuated equilibrium but points out the absence of plausible mechanisms for it. He then proceeds to mention his hypothesis of "Evolution from Space" (his book, "Cosmic Life Force" goes into more detail) as a possible mechanism; that is, genetic fragments are constantly falling to Earth from outer space and getting incorporated into DNA of various species - sort of like the novel "The Einstein Intersection" by Samuel R. Delany.I think the book is worth reading and struggling through; it is a very dense introduction to mathematical genetics and has a good discussion of the short-comings of standard Darwinism. | 991 | [
"Even with a background in theoretical physics, I struggled to follow the mathematical arguments of this book.",
"One has to have a good grasp of mathematical statistics to follow this book's mathemtaical reasoning.",
"On the other hand, the conclusions are quite clear; speciation cannot be supported within these models but minor variationscan.The author does mention the idea of punctuated equilibrium but points out the absence of plausible mechanisms for it.",
"He then proceeds to mention his hypothesis of \"Evolution from Space\" (his book, \"Cosmic Life Force\" goes into more detail) as a possible mechanism; that is, genetic fragments are constantly falling to Earth from outer space and getting incorporated into DNA of various species - sort of like the novel \"The Einstein Intersection\" by Samuel R.",
"Delany.I think the book is worth reading and struggling through; it is a very dense introduction to mathematical genetics and has a good discussion of the short-comings of standard Darwinism."
] |
3 | Burstrick Review | I had to try this one... I mean how can you pass up ANY Playstation game..., let alone one that is based on our favorite sport. Let me start off by saying that there is a reason that this game is ... there just isn't that much to it. After sitting down for 1/2 hour at lunch I had already completed the whole game. I am not telling you not to buy this one... in fact, I'm saying buy it. It is worth the $. The tricks are sick and they are even pretty realistic. The game really reminds me of the early Coolboarders games. How could they make it better? Burstrick definitely needs a better soundtrack, give us pro rider selection, real boards to choose from, and maybe let you tour to certain hotspots like Shasta, Canyon Lake, Lake Powell, & OWC. I'm hoping for a few of these options from Shaun Murray's ActiVision game due out this summer. Oh yeah...could you tell that the rider on the cover is aVR version of Gregg Necrasson ridin' his Trip? Man, I'm a geek... I need to get on the lake! | 991 | [
"I had to try this one... I mean how can you pass up ANY Playstation game..., let alone one that is based on our favorite sport.",
"Let me start off by saying that there is a reason that this game is ... there just isn't that much to it.",
"After sitting down for 1/2 hour at lunch I had already completed the whole game.",
"I am not telling you not to buy this one... in fact, I'm saying buy it.",
"It is worth the $.",
"The tricks are sick and they are even pretty realistic.",
"The game really reminds me of the early Coolboarders games.",
"How could they make it better?",
"Burstrick definitely needs a better soundtrack, give us pro rider selection, real boards to choose from, and maybe let you tour to certain hotspots like Shasta, Canyon Lake, Lake Powell, & OWC.",
"I'm hoping for a few of these options from Shaun Murray's ActiVision game due out this summer.",
"Oh yeah...could you tell that the rider on the cover is aVR version of Gregg Necrasson ridin' his Trip?",
"Man, I'm a geek... I need to get on the lake!"
] |
3 | Next | Marketed as a sci-fi-action movie, "Next" was a huge box office failure. And it's a somewhat strange mix of genres. It starts out as more of a drama about a psychic, Cris (Nicolas Cage), working in Las Vegas, who meets Liz (Jessica Biel), a woman he's previously seen in visions. We're also introduced to Agent Ferris (Julianne Moore) and her team, who are looking for a missing bomb and asks Cris for help. He reluctantly helps them when he realizes Liz may be in danger.Then the viewer is rather abruptly thrown into fast, but quite uninspired action scenes with lots of shooting. Sometimes, Cris's special gift of seeing into the future seems a bit too convenient a way for him to get out of trouble. Before long, the movie is over, and the ending is something of a letdown."Next" felt like a pretty short movie, and it was not a bad way to spend an hour and a half, although I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for a non-stop action movie. It's entertaining, but not without flaws. | 991 | [
"Marketed as a sci-fi-action movie, \"Next\" was a huge box office failure.",
"And it's a somewhat strange mix of genres.",
"It starts out as more of a drama about a psychic, Cris (Nicolas Cage), working in Las Vegas, who meets Liz (Jessica Biel), a woman he's previously seen in visions.",
"We're also introduced to Agent Ferris (Julianne Moore) and her team, who are looking for a missing bomb and asks Cris for help.",
"He reluctantly helps them when he realizes Liz may be in danger.Then the viewer is rather abruptly thrown into fast, but quite uninspired action scenes with lots of shooting.",
"Sometimes, Cris's special gift of seeing into the future seems a bit too convenient a way for him to get out of trouble.",
"Before long, the movie is over, and the ending is something of a letdown.\"Next\" felt like a pretty short movie, and it was not a bad way to spend an hour and a half, although I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for a non-stop action movie.",
"It's entertaining, but not without flaws."
] |
3 | practical not perfect | This mirror has been around a few years. The negative comments are true. It breaks to easily, it jiggles too much, but it is inexpensive, and you can easily put it on to ride, take it off to transport or do repairs. It has a good wide field of view which I like and having it on the brake post means I don't have to look down to view. The drop end mirrors are ok, but not easy on/off and you do look down if you are riding in traffic. Out in the country where I might drop down in position the bar ends are fine, but in town where I am looking all around for danger I like this Blackburn road mirror. I have broken two, well actually the wind blew my bike over once, and my wife knocked my bike over in the garage once, but I could replace it in seconds. One caution, make certain the strap does not impede the brake lever shifters moving side ways. I think the company could make the plastic arm stronger and the ring to tighten the adjustment work better. Maybe they will read the reviews. | 991 | [
"This mirror has been around a few years.",
"The negative comments are true.",
"It breaks to easily, it jiggles too much, but it is inexpensive, and you can easily put it on to ride, take it off to transport or do repairs.",
"It has a good wide field of view which I like and having it on the brake post means I don't have to look down to view.",
"The drop end mirrors are ok, but not easy on/off and you do look down if you are riding in traffic.",
"Out in the country where I might drop down in position the bar ends are fine, but in town where I am looking all around for danger I like this Blackburn road mirror.",
"I have broken two, well actually the wind blew my bike over once, and my wife knocked my bike over in the garage once, but I could replace it in seconds.",
"One caution, make certain the strap does not impede the brake lever shifters moving side ways.",
"I think the company could make the plastic arm stronger and the ring to tighten the adjustment work better.",
"Maybe they will read the reviews."
] |
3 | A Look to Another Side | I Have Arrived Before My Words: Autobiographical Writings of Homeless Women is an eye opener for those fortunante enough to have a stable life. The memoirs of the homeless women in this book: Gayle, Dionne, Ann, Georgia and Angie are both painful and inspiring to the reader. This is a book about hardship and survival for these 5 homeless women. Their stories range from being abused as children, being addicted to drugs to having mental illnesses and being poor. Some of the memoirs are inspiring to those more fortunate in their lives. After reading these memoirs and having to write a few papers on them, I have really felt blessed for the life that I have. These women have had to experience more struggles than that of the average human being. I realize even more that the homeless have feelings too. They are human just like me and have feelings and emotions. Reading these memoirs has made me more compasionate to the homeless. You never know how they ended up living on the streets. | 991 | [
"I Have Arrived Before My Words: Autobiographical Writings of Homeless Women is an eye opener for those fortunante enough to have a stable life.",
"The memoirs of the homeless women in this book: Gayle, Dionne, Ann, Georgia and Angie are both painful and inspiring to the reader.",
"This is a book about hardship and survival for these 5 homeless women.",
"Their stories range from being abused as children, being addicted to drugs to having mental illnesses and being poor.",
"Some of the memoirs are inspiring to those more fortunate in their lives.",
"After reading these memoirs and having to write a few papers on them, I have really felt blessed for the life that I have.",
"These women have had to experience more struggles than that of the average human being.",
"I realize even more that the homeless have feelings too.",
"They are human just like me and have feelings and emotions.",
"Reading these memoirs has made me more compasionate to the homeless.",
"You never know how they ended up living on the streets."
] |
3 | A Mixed Bag | One key thing to remember about the O'Reilly Developer Notebook series ... be prepared to supplement your learning with other material. I knew this going into the new book on Spring, so I wasn't surprised that much of the information was brief. I did find that the book contained useful information and got me up to speed with Spring fairly quickly. I like the example driven nature of the Developer Notebook series.Unfortunately, there's a downside. This book is littered with errors and typos and the examples presented are largely incomplete. (I'm compiling a list at the moment to submit to the errata page for the book at O'Reilly.) Also, do not go to the O'Reilly web site looking for the samples to download, they are available only on author Justin Gehtland's web site.Ultimately, the book provides a good and very brief introduction to many elements of the Spring framework ... but prepare yourself for frustration after frustration when trying to get the examples working yourself. | 991 | [
"One key thing to remember about the O'Reilly Developer Notebook series ... be prepared to supplement your learning with other material.",
"I knew this going into the new book on Spring, so I wasn't surprised that much of the information was brief.",
"I did find that the book contained useful information and got me up to speed with Spring fairly quickly.",
"I like the example driven nature of the Developer Notebook series.Unfortunately, there's a downside.",
"This book is littered with errors and typos and the examples presented are largely incomplete.",
"(I'm compiling a list at the moment to submit to the errata page for the book at O'Reilly.) Also, do not go to the O'Reilly web site looking for the samples to download, they are available only on author Justin Gehtland's web site.Ultimately, the book provides a good and very brief introduction to many elements of the Spring framework ... but prepare yourself for frustration after frustration when trying to get the examples working yourself."
] |
3 | good but not great | I've owned the sylvania DVR90DE for about 10 months. It was incredibly easy to set up and use. I have never had a problem recording TV programs and it works great for making DVD copies of my VHS tapes. I do find that the picture quality gets pretty suspect if I record at more than 6 hours per disc. I mostly use DVD-RW media and I prefer to record at 4 hours.I would give this recorder 4-5 stars except for the fact that it doesn't work on DVD-Rs rated above 4X and DVD-RWs above 2X. That means it won't record or even play a DVD that is rated above 4X, even if its recorded at 4X. I would not have bought this unit if I had known this in advance. Having said that, it hasn't been too big of a problem yet as i am able to get 1-4X DVD-Rs. However, these DVDs are getting harder to find; I have to order online as I can't buy them in stores anymore. Also, if I was to try to play a DVD-R that someone else recorded, it most likely won't work as most people are using the higher speed DVD-Rs. | 991 | [
"I've owned the sylvania DVR90DE for about 10 months.",
"It was incredibly easy to set up and use.",
"I have never had a problem recording TV programs and it works great for making DVD copies of my VHS tapes.",
"I do find that the picture quality gets pretty suspect if I record at more than 6 hours per disc.",
"I mostly use DVD-RW media and I prefer to record at 4 hours.I would give this recorder 4-5 stars except for the fact that it doesn't work on DVD-Rs rated above 4X and DVD-RWs above 2X.",
"That means it won't record or even play a DVD that is rated above 4X, even if its recorded at 4X.",
"I would not have bought this unit if I had known this in advance.",
"Having said that, it hasn't been too big of a problem yet as i am able to get 1-4X DVD-Rs.",
"However, these DVDs are getting harder to find; I have to order online as I can't buy them in stores anymore.",
"Also, if I was to try to play a DVD-R that someone else recorded, it most likely won't work as most people are using the higher speed DVD-Rs."
] |
3 | SICK & TWISTED | Watch out folks! This is one mean and NASTY flick! It starts out like a 'Paranormal Activity' clone with some SERIOUSLY SCARY moments (including a single scary shot that is really haunting) but eventually turns into a series of nasty serial killings recorded on video. The entire movie is shot in POV and it's about a guy who is trying to get evidence of a haunting in this creepy house. Without ruining the twist I'll just say that it's worth checking out ONLY if you are ready to see some very nasty kills that look like a faux sn*ff film.Unfortunately the FX are really bad which ruins the authenticity of some of the kill scenes but the ideas and the execution of the scenes are textbook examples of how to shock your audience with no budget. The main guy does tend to ramble on at times and is a bit obnoxious but thankfully the scenes of horror aren't too far apart. As long as you know what you're getting into you might like it, but it's also easy to understand why some may hate it. | 991 | [
"Watch out folks!",
"This is one mean and NASTY flick!",
"It starts out like a 'Paranormal Activity' clone with some SERIOUSLY SCARY moments (including a single scary shot that is really haunting) but eventually turns into a series of nasty serial killings recorded on video.",
"The entire movie is shot in POV and it's about a guy who is trying to get evidence of a haunting in this creepy house.",
"Without ruining the twist I'll just say that it's worth checking out ONLY if you are ready to see some very nasty kills that look like a faux sn*ff film.Unfortunately the FX are really bad which ruins the authenticity of some of the kill scenes but the ideas and the execution of the scenes are textbook examples of how to shock your audience with no budget.",
"The main guy does tend to ramble on at times and is a bit obnoxious but thankfully the scenes of horror aren't too far apart.",
"As long as you know what you're getting into you might like it, but it's also easy to understand why some may hate it."
] |
3 | Old School | This is a typical 80's type of Slasher film. You have your killer(Kane), you give him a little back story in the way of flashbacks. Torturous childhood with huge doses of religion. In this case he is raised to believe that he is the hand of God to murder the evil. Then you throw in a bunch of sex upped, drug using beautiful teens into a place they can not easily get out of. These are kids in lock up that are cleaning up an old hotel to get time off of their sentences. Let loose the killer and have everyone make incredible dumb. This is a quick 80 minute or so movie that is more into the gore than trying to be scary. They should have released an unrated version for maximum blood. Overall it is just okay. As a fan of the slasher film, this one would just be a middle of the road entry. It's nice to see a film with a decent budget give a try a the genre in a serious way without any wisecracking villans, but there are way too many faults in this movie to make me rate it any higher. | 991 | [
"This is a typical 80's type of Slasher film.",
"You have your killer(Kane), you give him a little back story in the way of flashbacks.",
"Torturous childhood with huge doses of religion.",
"In this case he is raised to believe that he is the hand of God to murder the evil.",
"Then you throw in a bunch of sex upped, drug using beautiful teens into a place they can not easily get out of.",
"These are kids in lock up that are cleaning up an old hotel to get time off of their sentences.",
"Let loose the killer and have everyone make incredible dumb.",
"This is a quick 80 minute or so movie that is more into the gore than trying to be scary.",
"They should have released an unrated version for maximum blood.",
"Overall it is just okay.",
"As a fan of the slasher film, this one would just be a middle of the road entry.",
"It's nice to see a film with a decent budget give a try a the genre in a serious way without any wisecracking villans, but there are way too many faults in this movie to make me rate it any higher."
] |
3 | Not much magic here | Even Sandra Bullock's best performance since "While You Were Sleeping" couldn't get this movie up and going. I kept waiting for it to get started and grab my interest, which never quite happened. It's too bad, really, because this film had all the potential ingrediants needed to be a success - great story, stars and director.On another note, for those of you, like myself, who enjoy the addition of a commentary to a DVD's "special features" section, this one is a good example of the kind of commentary not to do. After listening to 15 minutes of composer Alan Silvestri talk about his music and Griffin Dunne filling us in on the great relationship he has with producer Denise Di Novi, I turned it off. They just seemed more interested in themselves than the film I was watching. This was a shame because I really wanted to hear what Sandra Bullock (who was practically non-existant in the commentary protion I listened to) had to say about the making of the movie and acting in general. | 991 | [
"Even Sandra Bullock's best performance since \"While You Were Sleeping\" couldn't get this movie up and going.",
"I kept waiting for it to get started and grab my interest, which never quite happened.",
"It's too bad, really, because this film had all the potential ingrediants needed to be a success - great story, stars and director.On another note, for those of you, like myself, who enjoy the addition of a commentary to a DVD's \"special features\" section, this one is a good example of the kind of commentary not to do.",
"After listening to 15 minutes of composer Alan Silvestri talk about his music and Griffin Dunne filling us in on the great relationship he has with producer Denise Di Novi, I turned it off.",
"They just seemed more interested in themselves than the film I was watching.",
"This was a shame because I really wanted to hear what Sandra Bullock (who was practically non-existant in the commentary protion I listened to) had to say about the making of the movie and acting in general."
] |
3 | OK | "The Fourth Hand" concerns a blithe TV reporter who loses his left hand on air to a lion attack and consequently finds love in the Midwestern widow of a hand donor. Clever story, really. Because I work in journalism, there was a special delight in the novel's contempt of 24-hour cable news, specifically, and of media sensationalism in general. And because I treasure all my body parts, it was intriguing to read a tightly researched book centered on a character who has lost one of his. But somehow the three story lines (Wallingford's rising and falling career, his lost hand and his found love) seem preposterously stitched together - kind of a Frankenstein book about too many things. Irving is a master writer of particular renown, but "The Fourth Hand" has virtually no surprises and offers up only middling literary value after the first act. The very arc of the story announces itself relatively early on and the characters, because they stay so rigidly on course, fail to interest. | 991 | [
"\"The Fourth Hand\" concerns a blithe TV reporter who loses his left hand on air to a lion attack and consequently finds love in the Midwestern widow of a hand donor.",
"Clever story, really.",
"Because I work in journalism, there was a special delight in the novel's contempt of 24-hour cable news, specifically, and of media sensationalism in general.",
"And because I treasure all my body parts, it was intriguing to read a tightly researched book centered on a character who has lost one of his.",
"But somehow the three story lines (Wallingford's rising and falling career, his lost hand and his found love) seem preposterously stitched together - kind of a Frankenstein book about too many things.",
"Irving is a master writer of particular renown, but \"The Fourth Hand\" has virtually no surprises and offers up only middling literary value after the first act.",
"The very arc of the story announces itself relatively early on and the characters, because they stay so rigidly on course, fail to interest."
] |
3 | Ride the Express | Pineapple Express is not quite as good as I expected; one could say I compared it a tad unfairly to Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Knocked Up, my 2 favorite Apatow movies. But this was advertised in comparison with those movies, so I don't think my comparison was that unfair.This doesn't have much of the brains, importance, or *dare I say it*charm*nevermind* of the previous two, but it most likely wasn't meant to. I didn't care that much about the characters (they were getting shot left and right and doing pretty bad things, i.e. selling weed to kids), so there leaves that. The anti-pot moments(yes, Seth Rogen makes an anti-pot speech, I was surprised too) of the film don't really follow to the end. But at the same time, thecertain parts of this movie were just too damn funny for me to not recommend this movie in some way. Though, the last half hour or so truly goes overboard with Tarantino-level expliotative violence. All in all, it was fun I guess, but nothing really special. | 991 | [
"Pineapple Express is not quite as good as I expected; one could say I compared it a tad unfairly to Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Knocked Up, my 2 favorite Apatow movies.",
"But this was advertised in comparison with those movies, so I don't think my comparison was that unfair.This doesn't have much of the brains, importance, or *dare I say it*charm*nevermind* of the previous two, but it most likely wasn't meant to.",
"I didn't care that much about the characters (they were getting shot left and right and doing pretty bad things, i.e. selling weed to kids), so there leaves that.",
"The anti-pot moments(yes, Seth Rogen makes an anti-pot speech, I was surprised too) of the film don't really follow to the end.",
"But at the same time, thecertain parts of this movie were just too damn funny for me to not recommend this movie in some way.",
"Though, the last half hour or so truly goes overboard with Tarantino-level expliotative violence.",
"All in all, it was fun I guess, but nothing really special."
] |
3 | It's Adequate | I bought this timer to control a little crock pot I want to cook soup with for 6 hours before I return from work. It works OK. Be aware, though, that the resolution is only 1hour. You can set each hour of the day to be either ON or OFF. My main gripe with this item, though, is the override wheel. It's a plain red wheel that toggles on and off 4 times. In other words: turn the wheel 1/4 turn, and it turns off - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns on - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns off again - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns on again. There's no light to indicate whether or not the override switch is set to ON or OFF. So, if you spin that wheel an unknown number of times and then plug in your crock pot which also does not have an ON light, you have no idea whether or not your timer is turned on. If it's OFF, you're going to come home to cold, uncooked soup. I had to bring over a little desk lamp to ensure the override switch was set to ON. | 991 | [
"I bought this timer to control a little crock pot I want to cook soup with for 6 hours before I return from work.",
"It works OK.",
"Be aware, though, that the resolution is only 1hour.",
"You can set each hour of the day to be either ON or OFF.",
"My main gripe with this item, though, is the override wheel.",
"It's a plain red wheel that toggles on and off 4 times.",
"In other words: turn the wheel 1/4 turn, and it turns off - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns on - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns off again - turn the wheel another 1/4 turn, and it turns on again.",
"There's no light to indicate whether or not the override switch is set to ON or OFF.",
"So, if you spin that wheel an unknown number of times and then plug in your crock pot which also does not have an ON light, you have no idea whether or not your timer is turned on.",
"If it's OFF, you're going to come home to cold, uncooked soup.",
"I had to bring over a little desk lamp to ensure the override switch was set to ON."
] |
3 | Not a cd to focus on. | This cd is good for playing without headphones while you do something else. It's difficult to just listen to front to back all the way through with total focus. All along the watchtower is fairly unrecognizable to me, but most of the cd is very pretty. Common margins is probably the song that's most distinguished from the rest of the cd. Tim Reynolds isn't pulling off any solos and the guitar isn't any more powerful or clear than the piano, it is equal parts piano and guitar and if any instrument is more active during the playing time it's the piano. Not a guitar album. Don't buy this because of DM and TR's Luther college cd, it's really not like it at all. I give it a three because the music is beatiful, but still keep in mind it's strictly improv and no overdubs and touch-ups, and for the most part it's hard to tell certain songs from each other. It's not like a normal studio album at all. Good but not great-not like work with DM and theDMB or even like Tim Reynolds own cds. | 991 | [
"This cd is good for playing without headphones while you do something else.",
"It's difficult to just listen to front to back all the way through with total focus.",
"All along the watchtower is fairly unrecognizable to me, but most of the cd is very pretty.",
"Common margins is probably the song that's most distinguished from the rest of the cd.",
"Tim Reynolds isn't pulling off any solos and the guitar isn't any more powerful or clear than the piano, it is equal parts piano and guitar and if any instrument is more active during the playing time it's the piano.",
"Not a guitar album.",
"Don't buy this because of DM and TR's Luther college cd, it's really not like it at all.",
"I give it a three because the music is beatiful, but still keep in mind it's strictly improv and no overdubs and touch-ups, and for the most part it's hard to tell certain songs from each other.",
"It's not like a normal studio album at all.",
"Good but not great-not like work with DM and theDMB or even like Tim Reynolds own cds."
] |
3 | Mixed bag | Tracy Kidder did an excellent job of capturing the many facets of Northampton. Unfortunately, the story didn't capture my attention like I had hoped.Perhaps I'm too biased from having visited Northampton so many times in my life. I kept thinking, "Yeah? So what's the big deal?" Perhaps I know too many people like the main characters? Perhaps I've lived in too many other towns like Northampton. Granted, I've never found a town QUITE like Northampton but I've found similar places with their own complex webs of history, shame and quirks.I have a feeling the "flatness" of the story probably had something to do with the fact that Kidder was reporting reality. I couldn't help but wonder if Kidder was manipulating any of the characters in his book to get a better story. (I doubt it but the thought did cross my mind)Kidder took on a difficult task and I suppose he did about as well as he could.It's an interesting, voyeuristic read and it really does reflect the reality of Northampton. | 991 | [
"Tracy Kidder did an excellent job of capturing the many facets of Northampton.",
"Unfortunately, the story didn't capture my attention like I had hoped.Perhaps I'm too biased from having visited Northampton so many times in my life.",
"I kept thinking, \"Yeah?",
"So what's the big deal?",
"\" Perhaps I know too many people like the main characters?",
"Perhaps I've lived in too many other towns like Northampton.",
"Granted, I've never found a town QUITE like Northampton but I've found similar places with their own complex webs of history, shame and quirks.I have a feeling the \"flatness\" of the story probably had something to do with the fact that Kidder was reporting reality.",
"I couldn't help but wonder if Kidder was manipulating any of the characters in his book to get a better story.",
"(I doubt it but the thought did cross my mind)Kidder took on a difficult task and I suppose he did about as well as he could.It's an interesting, voyeuristic read and it really does reflect the reality of Northampton."
] |
3 | chinese perspective. | This book was well written. but not so as many people would say. To understand my meaning you need to look at this in a chinese perspective. In china at the time girls were of no use to a family. girls would be married and take their husbands name. this was true especially is your birth had killed your mother. The step mother Niang, had every right in chinese perspective to do every single thing that she did. the same goes to her father. The children of Niang would of course have a better life. this is just chinese tradition. the author of this book should not have critizied the stepmother and father as she did. Also, boarding schools were only for the rich and were very expensive. for her father to have sent her to one is actually a sort of honor. I did feel alot of pity for her when i first read this book then thought about it and realized the above. over all though it is well written and very touching for such a small little girl to have lived through her life like she did. | 991 | [
"This book was well written.",
"but not so as many people would say.",
"To understand my meaning you need to look at this in a chinese perspective.",
"In china at the time girls were of no use to a family.",
"girls would be married and take their husbands name.",
"this was true especially is your birth had killed your mother.",
"The step mother Niang, had every right in chinese perspective to do every single thing that she did.",
"the same goes to her father.",
"The children of Niang would of course have a better life.",
"this is just chinese tradition.",
"the author of this book should not have critizied the stepmother and father as she did.",
"Also, boarding schools were only for the rich and were very expensive.",
"for her father to have sent her to one is actually a sort of honor.",
"I did feel alot of pity for her when i first read this book then thought about it and realized the above.",
"over all though it is well written and very touching for such a small little girl to have lived through her life like she did."
] |
3 | cheap fun... | For cheap thrills, Tropico is a good game. By now, it can be bought in most stores for around $10. While the premise of being the dictator of your own island is an intruiging one, there are a couple of quirks that keep the game from really living up to its promises.Asassinate a rival political candidate to ensure your victory in the upcoming election and another person instantly steps up to run against you. Kill the new candidate and another volunteers! Don't they get the hint?!The game is too short. You can only rule for a maximum of 70 years. (Isn't Castro going on year 115?) On the more difficult settings, it is almost impossible to make any cool progress in this amount of time. Freighters arrive to buy exports only a few times a year and large buildings take forever to build (especially if they are built away from the center of your town, like airports and hotels)For the price of a cheap dinner out or a few video rentals, Tropico delivers some enjoyable and silly gameplay. | 991 | [
"For cheap thrills, Tropico is a good game.",
"By now, it can be bought in most stores for around $10.",
"While the premise of being the dictator of your own island is an intruiging one, there are a couple of quirks that keep the game from really living up to its promises.Asassinate a rival political candidate to ensure your victory in the upcoming election and another person instantly steps up to run against you.",
"Kill the new candidate and another volunteers!",
"Don't they get the hint?!",
"The game is too short.",
"You can only rule for a maximum of 70 years.",
"(Isn't Castro going on year 115?",
") On the more difficult settings, it is almost impossible to make any cool progress in this amount of time.",
"Freighters arrive to buy exports only a few times a year and large buildings take forever to build (especially if they are built away from the center of your town, like airports and hotels)For the price of a cheap dinner out or a few video rentals, Tropico delivers some enjoyable and silly gameplay."
] |
3 | Where is the Agression | Embers to inferno was very good, Ascendency was great (top notch progressive metal with great timely vocals and brilliant sweeping leads). What in the world happened to them in this album and what were they thinking? My first thought was that their trying to go radio freindly and also trying to sound like Iron Maiden.. case and point the song "We are Fire" does it get any more Iron Maiden then that? Any way I dont understand why they decided to go in that direction, their last album they sounded unique.. In this album they sound just dry and boring at many moments.. There are moments that the music picks up and gets charged but, it never attains a climax like they accomplished in Ascendency... If trivium is trying to be the next Metallica they better realize that metallica didnt get lazy until they reached mainstreem recognition after the black album.. Trivium is a long way from that so they better start realizing who they are and what they represent which is aggressive metal. | 991 | [
"Embers to inferno was very good, Ascendency was great (top notch progressive metal with great timely vocals and brilliant sweeping leads).",
"What in the world happened to them in this album and what were they thinking?",
"My first thought was that their trying to go radio freindly and also trying to sound like Iron Maiden..",
"case and point the song \"We are Fire\" does it get any more Iron Maiden then that?",
"Any way I dont understand why they decided to go in that direction, their last album they sounded unique..",
"In this album they sound just dry and boring at many moments..",
"There are moments that the music picks up and gets charged but, it never attains a climax like they accomplished in Ascendency... If trivium is trying to be the next Metallica they better realize that metallica didnt get lazy until they reached mainstreem recognition after the black album..",
"Trivium is a long way from that so they better start realizing who they are and what they represent which is aggressive metal."
] |
3 | A Solid Effort! | Richard J. Leider believes everyone needs to find an individual sense of unique purpose. When you have this sense of purpose, you can use it as a central core of direction to guide your life and give it meaning. The book is simply written, easy to understand and targeted to a general audience. However, it also seems quite repetitious, in that the same ideas are explained many different ways. Some of these concepts are quite familiar, echoing some basic ideas about the importance of having a sense of mission, path, and goals, much like Laurie Beth Jones' book, The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement.... Finally, while some readers may respond deeply to Leider's spiritual and religious references, others may find them problematic, given the split in the business community about spirituality in the workplace. We... recommend this book for readers who have not yet considered this mission-focused dimension of life planning and for managers who wish to understand this perspective. | 991 | [
"Richard J.",
"Leider believes everyone needs to find an individual sense of unique purpose.",
"When you have this sense of purpose, you can use it as a central core of direction to guide your life and give it meaning.",
"The book is simply written, easy to understand and targeted to a general audience.",
"However, it also seems quite repetitious, in that the same ideas are explained many different ways.",
"Some of these concepts are quite familiar, echoing some basic ideas about the importance of having a sense of mission, path, and goals, much like Laurie Beth Jones' book, The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement.... Finally, while some readers may respond deeply to Leider's spiritual and religious references, others may find them problematic, given the split in the business community about spirituality in the workplace.",
"We... recommend this book for readers who have not yet considered this mission-focused dimension of life planning and for managers who wish to understand this perspective."
] |
3 | Good Game, Bad Mouse | My older sister got this game when it came out in 1992, when I wasn't even a year old. It's original, fun, but I hate the Super NES mouse, that you have to use! It comes with a pad that you scroll it on, but I lost that 4 years ago. No I have to use notepads, dictionaries... Ahhhhhhh!!! So I gave it to my younger sister when we plugged up our secod Super NES in her room. Yet, it's still a fun game where you draw using an alive brush with a face, arms, and legs. There are a couple of mini-games also. In one of them you can your own song using Mario heads, baby Yoshis, Mushrooms, Starmen, and lots of other items, once you finish Mario plays it. This is called Paino Keys. The other one is called Coffee Break, where you use the mouse as a fly swatter and you try to get hit flies, bees, wasp, Bob-Omb spiders, and then a huge robotic grey wasp with every attack and you have to hit it like 8 to 18 times depending on what level your on (there are 3 levels). Overall it's a medium game. | 991 | [
"My older sister got this game when it came out in 1992, when I wasn't even a year old.",
"It's original, fun, but I hate the Super NES mouse, that you have to use!",
"It comes with a pad that you scroll it on, but I lost that 4 years ago.",
"No I have to use notepads, dictionaries... Ahhhhhhh!!!",
"So I gave it to my younger sister when we plugged up our secod Super NES in her room.",
"Yet, it's still a fun game where you draw using an alive brush with a face, arms, and legs.",
"There are a couple of mini-games also.",
"In one of them you can your own song using Mario heads, baby Yoshis, Mushrooms, Starmen, and lots of other items, once you finish Mario plays it.",
"This is called Paino Keys.",
"The other one is called Coffee Break, where you use the mouse as a fly swatter and you try to get hit flies, bees, wasp, Bob-Omb spiders, and then a huge robotic grey wasp with every attack and you have to hit it like 8 to 18 times depending on what level your on (there are 3 levels).",
"Overall it's a medium game."
] |
3 | Fun but not enough | I agree with the reviewer below. It's one of the few books on this subject (I've only seen one other) so we have to live with it. On the other hand it's small, it's a bit scattered in its approach, and it feels like a museum gift-shop item/show catalogue of sorts. I would like to see someday a huge, profusely illustrated, and text-rich book on the complete history of portraying the future (positively) which is an historically recent phenomenon. It died probably around the time of the '64 World's Fair and depictions of the future since then have been largely dystopian. Nowadays they're downright awful. This is something we need to address because unless you can conjure up imagery of an upbeat future you're not likely to even try to create one. This book made me miss the days when people thought more positively and hopefully about many things, regardless of how bad it was at the time. Imagine the images in the mind of the average contemporary young person of the "World of 2050." | 991 | [
"I agree with the reviewer below.",
"It's one of the few books on this subject (I've only seen one other) so we have to live with it.",
"On the other hand it's small, it's a bit scattered in its approach, and it feels like a museum gift-shop item/show catalogue of sorts.",
"I would like to see someday a huge, profusely illustrated, and text-rich book on the complete history of portraying the future (positively) which is an historically recent phenomenon.",
"It died probably around the time of the '64 World's Fair and depictions of the future since then have been largely dystopian.",
"Nowadays they're downright awful.",
"This is something we need to address because unless you can conjure up imagery of an upbeat future you're not likely to even try to create one.",
"This book made me miss the days when people thought more positively and hopefully about many things, regardless of how bad it was at the time.",
"Imagine the images in the mind of the average contemporary young person of the \"World of 2050.\""
] |
3 | Who's in charge? | After Ralph's wife Carolyn dies from a brain tumor, Ralph finds he is waking up earlier and earlier each night. He is encountering what some people term "hyper-reality" where he sees auras around people and objects, and the world is more colorful. He can tell just from looking at people and their auras what they are thinking, what they are afraid of, etc. A neighbor, Ed Deepneau seems to also have a similar power, but he has aligned himself with the local "Right to Lifers" and is becoming increasingly violent and scary. Ralph is even threatened at knifepoint in the public library. Ralph encounters the author's idea of who or what is in charge of when, how and why we die, i.e. the grim reaper. With the help of fellow insomnia-sufferer and newfound love, Lois Chasse, he is charged with saving a little boy from dying before his true time. Some other characters in the book are Helen and Nat Deepneau, Dorrance, Bill McGovern, Clothos, Lachesis, Atropos, the Crimson King, Susan Day. | 991 | [
"After Ralph's wife Carolyn dies from a brain tumor, Ralph finds he is waking up earlier and earlier each night.",
"He is encountering what some people term \"hyper-reality\" where he sees auras around people and objects, and the world is more colorful.",
"He can tell just from looking at people and their auras what they are thinking, what they are afraid of, etc.",
"A neighbor, Ed Deepneau seems to also have a similar power, but he has aligned himself with the local \"Right to Lifers\" and is becoming increasingly violent and scary.",
"Ralph is even threatened at knifepoint in the public library.",
"Ralph encounters the author's idea of who or what is in charge of when, how and why we die, i.e. the grim reaper.",
"With the help of fellow insomnia-sufferer and newfound love, Lois Chasse, he is charged with saving a little boy from dying before his true time.",
"Some other characters in the book are Helen and Nat Deepneau, Dorrance, Bill McGovern, Clothos, Lachesis, Atropos, the Crimson King, Susan Day."
] |
3 | OK | This is a nicely printed book with attractive sturdy laminated boards. The contents appear serviceable but not outstanding. As apparently inevitable in book of this kind the chapter on "structure of wood" has many small (sometimes not so small) inaccuracies, but these refrain from overwhelming the usability of the chapter. The Gallery of Popular Wood also seems serviceableful, but also has its share of errors (especially the 'lacewood' item was pretty terrible, reflecting the confusion of the US woodworker in this respect).For my money the 'Good_Wood_Handbook' by Jackson & Day is the better choice for somebody wanting an allround introductory book on wood, mainly because it has more and better color pictures. However I can see how the indivual woodworker might prefer this because of the friendly style of writing. Maybe it boils down to this: the text-oriented reader should consider this book, while the more visually oriented reader can go straight for the 'Good_Wood_Handbook'. | 991 | [
"This is a nicely printed book with attractive sturdy laminated boards.",
"The contents appear serviceable but not outstanding.",
"As apparently inevitable in book of this kind the chapter on \"structure of wood\" has many small (sometimes not so small) inaccuracies, but these refrain from overwhelming the usability of the chapter.",
"The Gallery of Popular Wood also seems serviceableful, but also has its share of errors (especially the 'lacewood' item was pretty terrible, reflecting the confusion of the US woodworker in this respect).For my money the 'Good_Wood_Handbook' by Jackson & Day is the better choice for somebody wanting an allround introductory book on wood, mainly because it has more and better color pictures.",
"However I can see how the indivual woodworker might prefer this because of the friendly style of writing.",
"Maybe it boils down to this: the text-oriented reader should consider this book, while the more visually oriented reader can go straight for the 'Good_Wood_Handbook'."
] |
3 | avatar 3d packaging | I got this item I purchased in great time, barely a week from the purchase date. However, when I opened the shipping packaging I found my several problems. 1 was the sticker residue on the DVD sleeve. Personally, I like the artwork and packaging on a DVD as much as the DVD itself, and I'm sure I'm not alone on this. 2, one of the two clasps on the actual case was broken so the case does not close properly, making it rather difficult to put back into the sleeve without destroying the edges and just overall a pain in the butt because the case should snap shut and it does not. 3, when I opened the case, one of the discs was actually out of it's holder. That can probably be dismissed to shipping, but still it's annoying because I don't know if that happened to damage the disc in any way. The disc does play excellent but the packaging was unacceptable. The seller informed everyone the item was in "awesome condition". This is not the case. This DVD is in "average" condition at best. | 991 | [
"I got this item I purchased in great time, barely a week from the purchase date.",
"However, when I opened the shipping packaging I found my several problems.",
"1 was the sticker residue on the DVD sleeve.",
"Personally, I like the artwork and packaging on a DVD as much as the DVD itself, and I'm sure I'm not alone on this.",
"2, one of the two clasps on the actual case was broken so the case does not close properly, making it rather difficult to put back into the sleeve without destroying the edges and just overall a pain in the butt because the case should snap shut and it does not.",
"3, when I opened the case, one of the discs was actually out of it's holder.",
"That can probably be dismissed to shipping, but still it's annoying because I don't know if that happened to damage the disc in any way.",
"The disc does play excellent but the packaging was unacceptable.",
"The seller informed everyone the item was in \"awesome condition\".",
"This is not the case.",
"This DVD is in \"average\" condition at best."
] |
3 | Slasher Shocker | I should qualify my comments by saying up front that I am not a shock/slasher fan and prefer more atmospheric style horror films. My favorite horror film is a ghost story starring George C. Scott, called "The Changeling". Very, very, scary and no blood, knives, or deranged psycho-killers are included.With several adventures involving different groups of people on one Halloween night, Trick 'r Treat came across a bit under-developed to me. I liked how the stories intertwined, sort of a Halloween Pulp Fiction, but some segments did seem stunted by their brevity. The Red Ridinghood segment in particular seemed more like a (albeit effective) punchline than a well presented story.I can't say Trick 'r Treat was bad, and there were a few elements I liked, but there was very little that made you think or feel anything other than the jolts of shock or disgust with grizzly human behavior. I'd prefer if they put the knives away and came up with a more creative approach to scaring people. | 991 | [
"I should qualify my comments by saying up front that I am not a shock/slasher fan and prefer more atmospheric style horror films.",
"My favorite horror film is a ghost story starring George C.",
"Scott, called \"The Changeling\".",
"Very, very, scary and no blood, knives, or deranged psycho-killers are included.With several adventures involving different groups of people on one Halloween night, Trick 'r Treat came across a bit under-developed to me.",
"I liked how the stories intertwined, sort of a Halloween Pulp Fiction, but some segments did seem stunted by their brevity.",
"The Red Ridinghood segment in particular seemed more like a (albeit effective) punchline than a well presented story.I can't say Trick 'r Treat was bad, and there were a few elements I liked, but there was very little that made you think or feel anything other than the jolts of shock or disgust with grizzly human behavior.",
"I'd prefer if they put the knives away and came up with a more creative approach to scaring people."
] |
3 | The Final Verdict | This is Svala's first single, well what do I think about it? Lets just poot it this way, if I was a little 12 year old girl who adored Britney Spears and such pop queens, then in that case I would appreciate and like the new single from Svala. I personally dont recognize this pop style as being real pop and real music in general, i recongnize it as being pop for little girsl of the maximum age og maybe 14.So if you ar looking for real artisitic pop then in that case this should be your choice because infact what this single is, is nothing more to me then just an average Britney Spears clone. What also bothers me about this sort of Pop is that the messages never seem to change, every single song is always about a girl who whants some dude really badly, and it is very clear that this is xectly what little 13 years old girls think about.So the final verdict is that this album is nothing more thatn a moderately poor Britney Spears imitation. Buy it if you are 10 - 14 years of age. | 991 | [
"This is Svala's first single, well what do I think about it?",
"Lets just poot it this way, if I was a little 12 year old girl who adored Britney Spears and such pop queens, then in that case I would appreciate and like the new single from Svala.",
"I personally dont recognize this pop style as being real pop and real music in general, i recongnize it as being pop for little girsl of the maximum age og maybe 14.So if you ar looking for real artisitic pop then in that case this should be your choice because infact what this single is, is nothing more to me then just an average Britney Spears clone.",
"What also bothers me about this sort of Pop is that the messages never seem to change, every single song is always about a girl who whants some dude really badly, and it is very clear that this is xectly what little 13 years old girls think about.So the final verdict is that this album is nothing more thatn a moderately poor Britney Spears imitation.",
"Buy it if you are 10 - 14 years of age."
] |
3 | well well | ms woodiwiss has written many books that are both electrifying and capture the reader this however for me is not one i loved the dialogue of the main lead especially when he expressed how he felt as a male but that was few and far between the girl came across as extremely immature and though ms woodiwiss wanted to portray as feisty she was more irritating than ever switching her emotions with a flip of a hat another issue i had was that this book was more centered on the plot than the romance which kind of got boring after a while as i wanted to read a historical romance my final peeve was it was loaded down with German or English with a German mix now if that doesnt kill romance and in a crucial scene where the guy gives a stern command to men threatening his woman its all in German a real mood killer as i still dont know what he said to them!?i gave it three stars and not two simply for the guy Maxim he was well written pity the rest around him let the book down!!!!!!!!!!!!! | 991 | [
"ms woodiwiss has written many books that are both electrifying and capture the reader this however for me is not one i loved the dialogue of the main lead especially when he expressed how he felt as a male but that was few and far between the girl came across as extremely immature and though ms woodiwiss wanted to portray as feisty she was more irritating than ever switching her emotions with a flip of a hat another issue i had was that this book was more centered on the plot than the romance which kind of got boring after a while as i wanted to read a historical romance my final peeve was it was loaded down with German or English with a German mix now if that doesnt kill romance and in a crucial scene where the guy gives a stern command to men threatening his woman its all in German a real mood killer as i still dont know what he said to them!?",
"i gave it three stars and not two simply for the guy Maxim he was well written pity the rest around him let the book down!!!",
"!!!",
"!!!",
"!!!",
"!"
] |
3 | Obvious Villian | While the writing in this novel, technically speaking, was very sharp, the villian was obvious from the moment he entered the action. Granted, the author spent the rest of the book unraveling the "why" of the plot, but he made no effort to disguise the bad guy. I listened to the unabridged version of this book and early into Tape 2, I realized that I had four tapes to go and already knew the identity of the killer. The author describes every element of the killer's dress, mannerisms and even puts him in a suspicious light. At no point in the book do you suspect anyone else.While this might be a good "beach read" for those who don't read often, for a regular reader, it's pretty bad. The plot is somewhat implausible and the author spends a lot of time on characterization backstory that has little or no bearing on the action of the novel.If suspense is what you are looking for, skip this one. If you like a lot of needless backstory and an obvious killer, this is the book for you. | 991 | [
"While the writing in this novel, technically speaking, was very sharp, the villian was obvious from the moment he entered the action.",
"Granted, the author spent the rest of the book unraveling the \"why\" of the plot, but he made no effort to disguise the bad guy.",
"I listened to the unabridged version of this book and early into Tape 2, I realized that I had four tapes to go and already knew the identity of the killer.",
"The author describes every element of the killer's dress, mannerisms and even puts him in a suspicious light.",
"At no point in the book do you suspect anyone else.While this might be a good \"beach read\" for those who don't read often, for a regular reader, it's pretty bad.",
"The plot is somewhat implausible and the author spends a lot of time on characterization backstory that has little or no bearing on the action of the novel.If suspense is what you are looking for, skip this one.",
"If you like a lot of needless backstory and an obvious killer, this is the book for you."
] |
3 | Hackett to bits | First of all ... I am a hard core Genesis fan and have been for the past 28 years, so needless to say, I like them. The first box set was great for me, it brought me back to more than a few concerts that I had seen and experiences I have had. This set is a harder pill to swallow. I understand calling it the "Collins" years focused set - but there should be a much larger representation of the Trick of the Tail to Duke years. The biggest sin in my mind is how Steve Hackett disappears in this set (one song???). I realize that Tony Banks and Hackett are not the biggest pals, but there is a wealth of music(live and the like) that would be really nice to hear in this set. There are things that I really like(last seven songs on disc 2 are the highlights of the set in my mind) - but to omit some musicianship over ego is a shame at best. Anyway - the hardcore Genesis fan should pick the set up - if you like the Banks/Rutherford/Collins version of the band, then this is the set for you! | 991 | [
"First of all ... I am a hard core Genesis fan and have been for the past 28 years, so needless to say, I like them.",
"The first box set was great for me, it brought me back to more than a few concerts that I had seen and experiences I have had.",
"This set is a harder pill to swallow.",
"I understand calling it the \"Collins\" years focused set - but there should be a much larger representation of the Trick of the Tail to Duke years.",
"The biggest sin in my mind is how Steve Hackett disappears in this set (one song???",
").",
"I realize that Tony Banks and Hackett are not the biggest pals, but there is a wealth of music(live and the like) that would be really nice to hear in this set.",
"There are things that I really like(last seven songs on disc 2 are the highlights of the set in my mind) - but to omit some musicianship over ego is a shame at best.",
"Anyway - the hardcore Genesis fan should pick the set up - if you like the Banks/Rutherford/Collins version of the band, then this is the set for you!"
] |
3 | Tired and drawn out | I really enjoyed Lahiri's collection of short stories and was looking forward to her novel. However, I was very disappointed in her story telling and drawn out descriptions of particular characters. I was particularly annoyed with Gogol's pointless relationships, and therefore the pointless and excrutiating details Lahiri describes about them, ie, what these women ate, bought, wore, etc... Instead of creating clear images of the characters, her technique becomes droll and painful to read. Why does it matter to the central plot or theme?I was particularly excited at the prospect of teaching this novel in my Immigrant Literature class as I have used Interpreter, but the themes of family, culture and immigrant experience in The Namesake felt poorly developed.One thing that really bothered me was the repetative style Lahiri employs when she uses a comma instead of an "and", this really bugged me.If you want to read anything of Lahiri, stick to her short stories and avoid this one. | 991 | [
"I really enjoyed Lahiri's collection of short stories and was looking forward to her novel.",
"However, I was very disappointed in her story telling and drawn out descriptions of particular characters.",
"I was particularly annoyed with Gogol's pointless relationships, and therefore the pointless and excrutiating details Lahiri describes about them, ie, what these women ate, bought, wore, etc... Instead of creating clear images of the characters, her technique becomes droll and painful to read.",
"Why does it matter to the central plot or theme?",
"I was particularly excited at the prospect of teaching this novel in my Immigrant Literature class as I have used Interpreter, but the themes of family, culture and immigrant experience in The Namesake felt poorly developed.One thing that really bothered me was the repetative style Lahiri employs when she uses a comma instead of an \"and\", this really bugged me.If you want to read anything of Lahiri, stick to her short stories and avoid this one."
] |
3 | Viable product | This second Brady album delivers more of the same, with a slick pro band backing the kids as they do their best to sing together and with solos. Notable winners include the TV-famous "It's a Sunshine Day" and "Keep On", the rather intricate vocal stylings of the catchy "Merry Go Round," a funny but interesting version of "Love Me Do," and the rockin' "Candy" which the good liner notes (indeed, all these Brady rereleases have pretty good background info) justly describes as borderline obscene. The rest aren't as memorable, with "You Need that Rockn'Roll" as a particular low point. It is interesting to note that this kind of teen dream phenomenon is still going on; Sabrina the Teenage Witch, for example, has her own spinoff saturday morning cartoon show and rock music album, except they only make her sing one song, having learned the Brady lesson. And yet, dated though much of this stuff is, the Brady kids did a remarkably good job under high pressure and ill-conceived ventures. | 991 | [
"This second Brady album delivers more of the same, with a slick pro band backing the kids as they do their best to sing together and with solos.",
"Notable winners include the TV-famous \"It's a Sunshine Day\" and \"Keep On\", the rather intricate vocal stylings of the catchy \"Merry Go Round,\" a funny but interesting version of \"Love Me Do,\" and the rockin' \"Candy\" which the good liner notes (indeed, all these Brady rereleases have pretty good background info) justly describes as borderline obscene.",
"The rest aren't as memorable, with \"You Need that Rockn'Roll\" as a particular low point.",
"It is interesting to note that this kind of teen dream phenomenon is still going on; Sabrina the Teenage Witch, for example, has her own spinoff saturday morning cartoon show and rock music album, except they only make her sing one song, having learned the Brady lesson.",
"And yet, dated though much of this stuff is, the Brady kids did a remarkably good job under high pressure and ill-conceived ventures."
] |
3 | Full of Lead | First of all Johnny Angel above has no idea what he is talking about. Zan left the band of his own free will thinking that he could have a better solo career without them. The band was then forced to look for a new singer but found one in their bassist Tim Skold which is not really a stretch since he shared lead vocal duties on the first Cd anyway. This Cd is a set of demos including a cover of The Ramones "53rd and 3rd" from the second coming disc recordings which has nothing to do with the change in style that they took on in the bands 3rd and final effort Violent New Breed which only had Skold and Harry from the original line up on it. Violent New Breed is more industrial driven where as Second Coming and this I Want More EP are pure rock driven tunes with catchy riffs and hooks and a rhythm section that is missing from the other two. There is a lot more focus on the music than the first disc and Violent New Breed. Over all this is a great companion to the Second Coming cd. | 991 | [
"First of all Johnny Angel above has no idea what he is talking about.",
"Zan left the band of his own free will thinking that he could have a better solo career without them.",
"The band was then forced to look for a new singer but found one in their bassist Tim Skold which is not really a stretch since he shared lead vocal duties on the first Cd anyway.",
"This Cd is a set of demos including a cover of The Ramones \"53rd and 3rd\" from the second coming disc recordings which has nothing to do with the change in style that they took on in the bands 3rd and final effort Violent New Breed which only had Skold and Harry from the original line up on it.",
"Violent New Breed is more industrial driven where as Second Coming and this I Want More EP are pure rock driven tunes with catchy riffs and hooks and a rhythm section that is missing from the other two.",
"There is a lot more focus on the music than the first disc and Violent New Breed.",
"Over all this is a great companion to the Second Coming cd."
] |
3 | A very short term fix | We bought this screen for our dogs to use to come and go as they please in the summer. They got the hang of using it quite easily and that was the best part about it.As far as the durability goes, not so good. Many times if the dogs saw a squirrel in the yard and they went tearing out the screen, the force of their heads hitting the screen would pull the tension rod right down.The velcro that attaches to the sides of your opening does not stick for long. We have tried sanding, and using products such as goof off to take the slickness off of the vinyl that the velco wont attach to, but still it ends up coming away.Thirdly, the magnet that is supposed to swing the screens back together, doesnt always hit perfectly and you are left with a gap for bugs to get in.The concept is good but it needs to have a more permanent way to adhere to your opening and it needs to be able to stand up to more wear and tear from your pets and from you using it to enter and exit your home through it. | 991 | [
"We bought this screen for our dogs to use to come and go as they please in the summer.",
"They got the hang of using it quite easily and that was the best part about it.As far as the durability goes, not so good.",
"Many times if the dogs saw a squirrel in the yard and they went tearing out the screen, the force of their heads hitting the screen would pull the tension rod right down.The velcro that attaches to the sides of your opening does not stick for long.",
"We have tried sanding, and using products such as goof off to take the slickness off of the vinyl that the velco wont attach to, but still it ends up coming away.Thirdly, the magnet that is supposed to swing the screens back together, doesnt always hit perfectly and you are left with a gap for bugs to get in.The concept is good but it needs to have a more permanent way to adhere to your opening and it needs to be able to stand up to more wear and tear from your pets and from you using it to enter and exit your home through it."
] |
3 | None more vile.... | This is GG's magnum opus (at least of his later career). It features such ditties as "Suck My A-- it Smells", "Die When You Die", and my personal favorite "Commit Suicide" (a song that actually encourages suicide and is very catchy!)The music itself is some of GG's better later material, and the "Bulge" backing band manages to make a noise that is somewhere in between mid era Black Flag, the Ramones or Motorhead but more raw in many ways.The production is much better than some of the trashy sounding singles/splits that GG was also a part of during this period, and the lyrics are mostly intelligible which makes it all the funnier. The highlight though, is Suck My A-- it Smells. It only features one line "Suck My A-- It Smells" repeated over and over. Fans of the film Hated will also recognize this song as the one they played for GG's high school music teacher! This is essential GG, no matter how disgusting, vulgar, and bigoted the lyrics are. The man was nuts so enjoy the show! | 991 | [
"This is GG's magnum opus (at least of his later career).",
"It features such ditties as \"Suck My A-- it Smells\", \"Die When You Die\", and my personal favorite \"Commit Suicide\" (a song that actually encourages suicide and is very catchy!",
")The music itself is some of GG's better later material, and the \"Bulge\" backing band manages to make a noise that is somewhere in between mid era Black Flag, the Ramones or Motorhead but more raw in many ways.The production is much better than some of the trashy sounding singles/splits that GG was also a part of during this period, and the lyrics are mostly intelligible which makes it all the funnier.",
"The highlight though, is Suck My A-- it Smells.",
"It only features one line \"Suck My A-- It Smells\" repeated over and over.",
"Fans of the film Hated will also recognize this song as the one they played for GG's high school music teacher!",
"This is essential GG, no matter how disgusting, vulgar, and bigoted the lyrics are.",
"The man was nuts so enjoy the show!"
] |
3 | one of Williams best? | I wouldn't consider it one of John William's best scores, but it does have some wonderfuly written peices like Hegwarts Theme to just name one. The beginning of the soundtrack is very good (that's why it give it a 3 rating) but as you get towards the end of the soundtrack, you lose interest in the music because the melody isn't has strong as the beginning nor does it have enough difference between intraments. This is rather unusal for Williams because he usalley is very good at doing this.I think Williams does better at the non childrens movies like Schindlers list, Jurrasic Park, Jaws, Indian Jones, ect. The songs from those have a more deeper 'realistic sound' then much of the Harry Potter CD which seems to lean towars the more childis, almost 'corney' sound that doesn't seem to do well.The good side is that he created a WONDERFUL theme song to this movie that does goes well with the movie and I think it will be a remembered peice like the Jurrasic Park theme, or Jaws theme. | 991 | [
"I wouldn't consider it one of John William's best scores, but it does have some wonderfuly written peices like Hegwarts Theme to just name one.",
"The beginning of the soundtrack is very good (that's why it give it a 3 rating) but as you get towards the end of the soundtrack, you lose interest in the music because the melody isn't has strong as the beginning nor does it have enough difference between intraments.",
"This is rather unusal for Williams because he usalley is very good at doing this.I think Williams does better at the non childrens movies like Schindlers list, Jurrasic Park, Jaws, Indian Jones, ect.",
"The songs from those have a more deeper 'realistic sound' then much of the Harry Potter CD which seems to lean towars the more childis, almost 'corney' sound that doesn't seem to do well.The good side is that he created a WONDERFUL theme song to this movie that does goes well with the movie and I think it will be a remembered peice like the Jurrasic Park theme, or Jaws theme."
] |
3 | It's Cool. | Basically...The Fryer was a little too big for my taste...but it fries just the right amount in time for my family of 4.When we first received the Fryer...the latch for the filter area broke..so we had to send it back.Also, when you push the open button...WARNING: the top lid portion springs up really fast...causing the spine of the attached area too much force tension ....will probably break sooner if you don't hold onto the lid everytime you open it to prevent it from springing up too fast.When we fried something in it for the first time...there was a horrible plastic smell....but only for the first time. Also, would recommend that you place the whole thing on your stove top when frying for the first time because it puts off alot ...I mean alot of smoke....after reusing the oil for the second and third time etc...it didn't smoke that much...and worked GREAT.Easy to clean and use..and I love the size and shape of the wire basket. I wish the lid mechanism was different though. | 991 | [
"Basically...The Fryer was a little too big for my taste...but it fries just the right amount in time for my family of 4.When we first received the Fryer...the latch for the filter area broke..so we had to send it back.Also, when you push the open button...WARNING: the top lid portion springs up really fast...causing the spine of the attached area too much force tension ....will probably break sooner if you don't hold onto the lid everytime you open it to prevent it from springing up too fast.When we fried something in it for the first time...there was a horrible plastic smell....but only for the first time.",
"Also, would recommend that you place the whole thing on your stove top when frying for the first time because it puts off alot ...I mean alot of smoke....after reusing the oil for the second and third time etc...it didn't smoke that much...and worked GREAT.Easy to clean and use..and I love the size and shape of the wire basket.",
"I wish the lid mechanism was different though."
] |
3 | Distubing | I just watched this film and feel as if I need a shower. This is an emotionally drainiing film about two very sick and twisted people: the mother and the daughter. The mother is like Mama Rose in Gypsy, totally focused on her daughter and unwilling or unable to let her go. The daughter is so damaged she cannot break away from her mother and at the same time is sexually repressed and turns to porno to relieve her repression. But it really doesn't release her. At times I felt like strangling that mother but that mother is so sick I felt ashamed at how I felt.This film will stick with you, whether you like it or not and I'm not sure. I watched it through until the end (which means I didn't hate it or I would have walked away). Isabelle Huppert is magnificent (as she always is) and no one plays a repressed woman on the verge of eruption (see La Ceremonie).Even her feelings about Schubert are twisted.I still would say it's worth a rental. You will not forget this movie, I promise. | 990 | [
"I just watched this film and feel as if I need a shower.",
"This is an emotionally drainiing film about two very sick and twisted people: the mother and the daughter.",
"The mother is like Mama Rose in Gypsy, totally focused on her daughter and unwilling or unable to let her go.",
"The daughter is so damaged she cannot break away from her mother and at the same time is sexually repressed and turns to porno to relieve her repression.",
"But it really doesn't release her.",
"At times I felt like strangling that mother but that mother is so sick I felt ashamed at how I felt.This film will stick with you, whether you like it or not and I'm not sure.",
"I watched it through until the end (which means I didn't hate it or I would have walked away).",
"Isabelle Huppert is magnificent (as she always is) and no one plays a repressed woman on the verge of eruption (see La Ceremonie).Even her feelings about Schubert are twisted.I still would say it's worth a rental.",
"You will not forget this movie, I promise."
] |
3 | Style over substance. | Feynman was one of the most accomplished physicists in the 2nd half of the 20th century. His publications speak for themselves. However, as represented in this set of lecture notes, I do not find him as a pedagogue more enlightening than others. I bought and read this book in grad school, and found it to be a nice quick intro to several topics (spin waves and such). I did not, and still don't find the exposition physically exceptionally profound. One difference though, is the fact that Feynman, with his fame, could afford to be rather informal in his presentation. Any unsatisfactory aspects would be accepted as the mysterious ways of a 'genius'. If you are a student and would like to learn to solve problems on your own, forget this one. What this book gives you is a little 'attitude', aside from a quick intro, which most of us haven't earned the right to put on, of doing physics. Try it. Try to be as unorthodox and informal as he was, and you will mostly end up with nonsense. | 990 | [
"Feynman was one of the most accomplished physicists in the 2nd half of the 20th century.",
"His publications speak for themselves.",
"However, as represented in this set of lecture notes, I do not find him as a pedagogue more enlightening than others.",
"I bought and read this book in grad school, and found it to be a nice quick intro to several topics (spin waves and such).",
"I did not, and still don't find the exposition physically exceptionally profound.",
"One difference though, is the fact that Feynman, with his fame, could afford to be rather informal in his presentation.",
"Any unsatisfactory aspects would be accepted as the mysterious ways of a 'genius'.",
"If you are a student and would like to learn to solve problems on your own, forget this one.",
"What this book gives you is a little 'attitude', aside from a quick intro, which most of us haven't earned the right to put on, of doing physics.",
"Try it.",
"Try to be as unorthodox and informal as he was, and you will mostly end up with nonsense."
] |
3 | Who cares anymore? | Every Stones album released since their "reunion" back in 1989 has been predictable. I love the band, but I think there needs to come a point where you say, "enough is enough."The ballads are enjoyable and the rockers are fun, but I feel sad when I listen to a new Stones album. I guess the way I would feel sad if Baryshnikov attempted a new dance routine. You admire the determination, but you question the necessity.I also dislike the length of the CDs the Stones keep releasing every five to ten years. "A Bigger Bang" is longer than most of their truly great albums from the '60's and '70's.I underestand Keith wanted to keep the old warhouse plugging away, the way Muddy and John Lee Hooker kept plugging away when they were in their 70's and beyond. But I do think there is glory in knowing when to throw in the towel. Of all the rock bands in history, I think The Beatles had the best idea... quit while you're at the top of your game. Too bad most rock bands don't understand this. | 990 | [
"Every Stones album released since their \"reunion\" back in 1989 has been predictable.",
"I love the band, but I think there needs to come a point where you say, \"enough is enough.\"The ballads are enjoyable and the rockers are fun, but I feel sad when I listen to a new Stones album.",
"I guess the way I would feel sad if Baryshnikov attempted a new dance routine.",
"You admire the determination, but you question the necessity.I also dislike the length of the CDs the Stones keep releasing every five to ten years.",
"\"A Bigger Bang\" is longer than most of their truly great albums from the '60's and '70's.I underestand Keith wanted to keep the old warhouse plugging away, the way Muddy and John Lee Hooker kept plugging away when they were in their 70's and beyond.",
"But I do think there is glory in knowing when to throw in the towel.",
"Of all the rock bands in history, I think The Beatles had the best idea... quit while you're at the top of your game.",
"Too bad most rock bands don't understand this."
] |
3 | What happened??? | This was the 4th Italian prog cd I ever purchased. After buying the 1st two PFM cds and being blown away, I was disapointed with Le Orme's Contrappunti and this, and gave up on the Italian scene for a couple of years (I know, I gave up too soon). Looking back I would have to rate this as far inferior to PFM's first two, but not as bad as I originally thought. I think the biggest thing is that not understanding Italian it is harder to differentiate between the songs than on english language albums, and when every song on the album doesn't work, it is harder to appreciate what does. The best italian albums flow together as one linked work. This PFM release doesn't do that. As other have mentioned, the opening chorus, and the english sung Is My Face on Straight are throwaways, but the last two songs, the beautiful ballad Dolcissima Maria and the fusion influenced Via Lumiere are very good. So, this does have its moments, but is nowhere near as complete as Storia and Per un Amico | 990 | [
"This was the 4th Italian prog cd I ever purchased.",
"After buying the 1st two PFM cds and being blown away, I was disapointed with Le Orme's Contrappunti and this, and gave up on the Italian scene for a couple of years (I know, I gave up too soon).",
"Looking back I would have to rate this as far inferior to PFM's first two, but not as bad as I originally thought.",
"I think the biggest thing is that not understanding Italian it is harder to differentiate between the songs than on english language albums, and when every song on the album doesn't work, it is harder to appreciate what does.",
"The best italian albums flow together as one linked work.",
"This PFM release doesn't do that.",
"As other have mentioned, the opening chorus, and the english sung Is My Face on Straight are throwaways, but the last two songs, the beautiful ballad Dolcissima Maria and the fusion influenced Via Lumiere are very good.",
"So, this does have its moments, but is nowhere near as complete as Storia and Per un Amico"
] |
3 | Easy reading true crime | I guess this is why they say First prize is a week in Chicago, Second prize is two weeks in Chicago. I like this book because it gives a large cross section of a large and rough city's Police department. While there a million yarns about the NYPD, I do believe that for a long period of time Chicago was A LOT rougher than NYC. I believe it has something to do with grinding urban poverty coupled with the influx of all the rural, tiny and poort elements of the American heartland (Tennessee and Kentucky, etc.) coming together. This has always been true of Chicago's history, even from its gangland days, I believe. The stories in the book run the gamut, from dead children, wild shootouts, and bizzare and sadistic murders. This book would send any surbanite fleeing back out of a City. Now in this supposedly 'reduced urban crime epoch' the young should read this book when they head to a hip urban campus and always keep in mind what most U.S. metro areas degenerate to, RATHER QUICKLY. | 990 | [
"I guess this is why they say First prize is a week in Chicago, Second prize is two weeks in Chicago.",
"I like this book because it gives a large cross section of a large and rough city's Police department.",
"While there a million yarns about the NYPD, I do believe that for a long period of time Chicago was A LOT rougher than NYC.",
"I believe it has something to do with grinding urban poverty coupled with the influx of all the rural, tiny and poort elements of the American heartland (Tennessee and Kentucky, etc.) coming together.",
"This has always been true of Chicago's history, even from its gangland days, I believe.",
"The stories in the book run the gamut, from dead children, wild shootouts, and bizzare and sadistic murders.",
"This book would send any surbanite fleeing back out of a City.",
"Now in this supposedly 'reduced urban crime epoch' the young should read this book when they head to a hip urban campus and always keep in mind what most U.S. metro areas degenerate to, RATHER QUICKLY."
] |
3 | Useless Documentation | It does not come with a manual other than the warning sheet telling you to not to play music too loud or get it wet with saltwater or run in traffic etc..No diagrams or written instructions on how to adjust it in your ear or what to do with the excess length of cables. The box only has marketing fluff.You just have to use trial and error to figure it out.I still don't understand what you are supposed to do with the uneven length cables. I saw people asking that question followed comments saying they guess you should probably run it behind your neck. However they were all ambiguous in how to do that. It drags and pulls it out of my ear if I put it behind my neck, so that makes no sense. If you put it in front, it's in your way and looks weird.I can't find a single photo anywhere clearly showing someone actually wearing it and what they did with the cables. Not even the Sennheiser website.If it was spelled out in the manual with diagrams, no one would be asking these questions. | 990 | [
"It does not come with a manual other than the warning sheet telling you to not to play music too loud or get it wet with saltwater or run in traffic etc..No diagrams or written instructions on how to adjust it in your ear or what to do with the excess length of cables.",
"The box only has marketing fluff.You just have to use trial and error to figure it out.I still don't understand what you are supposed to do with the uneven length cables.",
"I saw people asking that question followed comments saying they guess you should probably run it behind your neck.",
"However they were all ambiguous in how to do that.",
"It drags and pulls it out of my ear if I put it behind my neck, so that makes no sense.",
"If you put it in front, it's in your way and looks weird.I can't find a single photo anywhere clearly showing someone actually wearing it and what they did with the cables.",
"Not even the Sennheiser website.If it was spelled out in the manual with diagrams, no one would be asking these questions."
] |
3 | better than expected | I know I'd probably get a lot of "flak" for this, but I think "Ten" is the only good album that Pearl Jam ever released. It was a masterpiece. However, with each following release, PJ became so boring and formulaic in their never-ending quest to sound like a typical "garage band." Plus their annoying political aspirations are such a turn-off. They never captured my attention again. After "Ten" they were a major "let-down." Of course, every once in a while, they'd release a decent song or two that I'd like. The only problem was that these few songs were "sandwiched" in between a bunch of crap.Thankfully, with this release, we have most of those decent songs now without having to buy the mediocre albums that they first appeared on. I'm especially pleased that they included the two singles off of the "Singles" motion picture soundtrack.My major complaint with this collection are the "remixes" of the songs from "Ten" that Brendan O'Brien re-tooled. The songs were perfect "as is." | 990 | [
"I know I'd probably get a lot of \"flak\" for this, but I think \"Ten\" is the only good album that Pearl Jam ever released.",
"It was a masterpiece.",
"However, with each following release, PJ became so boring and formulaic in their never-ending quest to sound like a typical \"garage band.\" Plus their annoying political aspirations are such a turn-off.",
"They never captured my attention again.",
"After \"Ten\" they were a major \"let-down.\" Of course, every once in a while, they'd release a decent song or two that I'd like.",
"The only problem was that these few songs were \"sandwiched\" in between a bunch of crap.Thankfully, with this release, we have most of those decent songs now without having to buy the mediocre albums that they first appeared on.",
"I'm especially pleased that they included the two singles off of the \"Singles\" motion picture soundtrack.My major complaint with this collection are the \"remixes\" of the songs from \"Ten\" that Brendan O'Brien re-tooled.",
"The songs were perfect \"as is.\""
] |
3 | more remixed singles | Sure, Karen's voice is great, and a lot of these songs are great. Richard's contributions to their original recordings were also substantial. What's so disappointing about this release, however, is that many of these songs have been remixed with musical parts recorded after Karen's death. Richard has done this many times before. Despite the original album mixes FINALLY coming out on cd, I guess he just couldn't help himself here and felt he had to remix their singles, once again. Unfortunately several of their original singles differed from their lp versions, and in some cases those single versions have yet to see a proper reissue on cd. I anticipated that this collection would do so, since it came out just after the album remasters series. Very disappointing.This is therefore a collection for two groups: Carpenters completists who want everything and those who just want most of the Carpenters' biggest hits but don't care if they don't sound exactly like the original singles. | 990 | [
"Sure, Karen's voice is great, and a lot of these songs are great.",
"Richard's contributions to their original recordings were also substantial.",
"What's so disappointing about this release, however, is that many of these songs have been remixed with musical parts recorded after Karen's death.",
"Richard has done this many times before.",
"Despite the original album mixes FINALLY coming out on cd, I guess he just couldn't help himself here and felt he had to remix their singles, once again.",
"Unfortunately several of their original singles differed from their lp versions, and in some cases those single versions have yet to see a proper reissue on cd.",
"I anticipated that this collection would do so, since it came out just after the album remasters series.",
"Very disappointing.This is therefore a collection for two groups: Carpenters completists who want everything and those who just want most of the Carpenters' biggest hits but don't care if they don't sound exactly like the original singles."
] |
3 | Gotta be pragmatic... | Sure, it has MANY shortcomings, it is the Stepford wife handbook...but the fact of the matter is this: in a marriage, ideally, each partner would continually be working on diminishing his/her own behaviors that cause disharmony, and ignoring his/her spouse's faults. Ideally, men and women would do this equally. In the real world, this will never happen. How many MEN do you picture reading a book about how to make their WIFE feel happy and loved? I checked...there are 100 reviews of "Fascinating Womanhood", and of "Man of Steel and Velvet", the man's version...nine reviews.Give up on feminism--life's not fair and it's never going to be. You don't have to get married, but if you decide you want to, you as the woman are going to have to make it work, all on your own, if you can. Men just aren't interested.Now, you want to write a book for men on how they can convince every barely-legal beautiful girl they think they deserve, to have sex with them--then you'll have a best-seller! | 990 | [
"Sure, it has MANY shortcomings, it is the Stepford wife handbook...but the fact of the matter is this: in a marriage, ideally, each partner would continually be working on diminishing his/her own behaviors that cause disharmony, and ignoring his/her spouse's faults.",
"Ideally, men and women would do this equally.",
"In the real world, this will never happen.",
"How many MEN do you picture reading a book about how to make their WIFE feel happy and loved?",
"I checked...there are 100 reviews of \"Fascinating Womanhood\", and of \"Man of Steel and Velvet\", the man's version...nine reviews.Give up on feminism--life's not fair and it's never going to be.",
"You don't have to get married, but if you decide you want to, you as the woman are going to have to make it work, all on your own, if you can.",
"Men just aren't interested.Now, you want to write a book for men on how they can convince every barely-legal beautiful girl they think they deserve, to have sex with them--then you'll have a best-seller!"
] |
3 | Over the Hill | I have only listened to this album twice straight-through, but to me, it's like every other rush album since Grace Under Pressure. There are a handful of solid tracks, but listening to the whole thing in it's entirety is painful. Matt Cameron and Ben Mink compliment Geddy in a unique way that separates itself from RUSH, but there chemistry is not enough to make any of this music groundbreaking. I fell in love with Geddy's musicianship as a result of his RUSH work between '74 and '81. RUSH's progressive spirit and ambitious approach brought out the best in all of them, Geddy included. This stature is now a thing of the past. One might say that they have evolved to where they are now, but I'm not sold on that.I think that Neil's lyric's to Losing It may have subconciously spoke for the whole band Geddy included. Keep in mind that what's subpar for Geddy is leagues above most other rock music out there. The disc is a must-have have for RUSH's, Soundgarden's and Ben Mink admirers | 990 | [
"I have only listened to this album twice straight-through, but to me, it's like every other rush album since Grace Under Pressure.",
"There are a handful of solid tracks, but listening to the whole thing in it's entirety is painful.",
"Matt Cameron and Ben Mink compliment Geddy in a unique way that separates itself from RUSH, but there chemistry is not enough to make any of this music groundbreaking.",
"I fell in love with Geddy's musicianship as a result of his RUSH work between '74 and '81.",
"RUSH's progressive spirit and ambitious approach brought out the best in all of them, Geddy included.",
"This stature is now a thing of the past.",
"One might say that they have evolved to where they are now, but I'm not sold on that.I think that Neil's lyric's to Losing It may have subconciously spoke for the whole band Geddy included.",
"Keep in mind that what's subpar for Geddy is leagues above most other rock music out there.",
"The disc is a must-have have for RUSH's, Soundgarden's and Ben Mink admirers"
] |
3 | Not for me | I am not vehemently opposed to this book; certainly many moments struck a key, but I believe this book just isn't for me. I saw George Martin's blurb, read the glowing reviews, and even heard people talk about the book in regular settings. I picked up the book as fast as I could.Unlike other reviews, I loved the first 100 pages. I just didn't find anything special about the tale. In some instances I feel like the description paragraphs were overdone, which is surprising for me to say since I fancy elaborate prose. There was also a few moments where the profanity appeared forced. I have no personal objections to obscene language in books, but unless the book is meant to be a jarring read (like Fight Club), it should come off natural - just like anything, really.Character sympathy extended to half of the crew. On a personal level I "liked" Bug, Jean, and the Priest more than I did Locke.I definitely think this was a good first effort, though. The cover art is beautiful as well. | 990 | [
"I am not vehemently opposed to this book; certainly many moments struck a key, but I believe this book just isn't for me.",
"I saw George Martin's blurb, read the glowing reviews, and even heard people talk about the book in regular settings.",
"I picked up the book as fast as I could.Unlike other reviews, I loved the first 100 pages.",
"I just didn't find anything special about the tale.",
"In some instances I feel like the description paragraphs were overdone, which is surprising for me to say since I fancy elaborate prose.",
"There was also a few moments where the profanity appeared forced.",
"I have no personal objections to obscene language in books, but unless the book is meant to be a jarring read (like Fight Club), it should come off natural - just like anything, really.Character sympathy extended to half of the crew.",
"On a personal level I \"liked\" Bug, Jean, and the Priest more than I did Locke.I definitely think this was a good first effort, though.",
"The cover art is beautiful as well."
] |
3 | Advanced for beginners | Let me start off by saying that I am not a network/telephony person. I have no background in it and I have very little work experience in that arena. Thus, I was looking for a book that would teach me the fundamentals of how telecom networks are structured in a clear and simple manner, but also deal with advanced topics. I was disappointed in this book because the author assumed a great deal of prior knowledge. The text was littered with acronyms and terminology from the very beginning, making it hard to follow. Also, the progression of the chapters did not make much sense to me. A person with a baseline familiarity of telecoms may have an easier time with the text. Also, I found the writing style difficult to follow. The text was very dry and the paragraphs seemed to jump around a lot; there was not a clear flow of ideas. If you're a total beginner, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you're familiar with telephony and want a deeper understanding, this might be a good choice. | 990 | [
"Let me start off by saying that I am not a network/telephony person.",
"I have no background in it and I have very little work experience in that arena.",
"Thus, I was looking for a book that would teach me the fundamentals of how telecom networks are structured in a clear and simple manner, but also deal with advanced topics.",
"I was disappointed in this book because the author assumed a great deal of prior knowledge.",
"The text was littered with acronyms and terminology from the very beginning, making it hard to follow.",
"Also, the progression of the chapters did not make much sense to me.",
"A person with a baseline familiarity of telecoms may have an easier time with the text.",
"Also, I found the writing style difficult to follow.",
"The text was very dry and the paragraphs seemed to jump around a lot; there was not a clear flow of ideas.",
"If you're a total beginner, I wouldn't recommend this book.",
"If you're familiar with telephony and want a deeper understanding, this might be a good choice."
] |
3 | Over Hyped Mumbo Jumbo | *Short and Simple Review*Charles Dickens was payed for each word, and with that being said that explains why most people will be extremely turned off by this book. What I mean by that is Charles over describes and repeats lots of matters that dont need to be. Also with little dialogue in long periods of the books, the book tends to get boring, monotonous to read, and easy to get lost in.Difficulty wise this book is hard for those who are not proficient or advanced readers not only because of the confusing old style language, but also because of those long paragraphs i mentioned earlier. Plot is pretty straightforward and predictable throughout the book if you understand it.Overall this book is not as good as a book as i thought and i think its over hyped simply because its Charles Dickens.PS If it is required for you to read this book go to spark notes not only for summaries, but also to read their No Fear Literature section (Translates the whole novel into readable english!) | 990 | [
"*Short and Simple Review*Charles Dickens was payed for each word, and with that being said that explains why most people will be extremely turned off by this book.",
"What I mean by that is Charles over describes and repeats lots of matters that dont need to be.",
"Also with little dialogue in long periods of the books, the book tends to get boring, monotonous to read, and easy to get lost in.Difficulty wise this book is hard for those who are not proficient or advanced readers not only because of the confusing old style language, but also because of those long paragraphs i mentioned earlier.",
"Plot is pretty straightforward and predictable throughout the book if you understand it.Overall this book is not as good as a book as i thought and i think its over hyped simply because its Charles Dickens.PS If it is required for you to read this book go to spark notes not only for summaries, but also to read their No Fear Literature section (Translates the whole novel into readable english!",
")"
] |
3 | Check for specification | HDD Enclosures are always confusing as there are so many available in the market with so different ways of connecting peripheral/auxiliary devices. I went through a large list of HDD Enclosures and after couple of days purchased this item - waited for couple of days only to find out that this enclosure does not fit my internal hard disk. The board had some soldering blemishes but never had a chance to test the connectivity. The build looks pretty ok and it was a great ide to include the screw driver as part of the package - It was really helpful. Be sure of what Hard disks you are using - SATA is common these days. I ended up buying a SATA to USB cable that served the purpose of transferring data from my old hard disk to a newer one. This product may be good for the price advertised but ensure that this one serves the purpose. This would fit only HDD of laptops cos its 2.5inch and would not work with the bigger solid state drives - the ones which are normally used for desktop | 990 | [
"HDD Enclosures are always confusing as there are so many available in the market with so different ways of connecting peripheral/auxiliary devices.",
"I went through a large list of HDD Enclosures and after couple of days purchased this item - waited for couple of days only to find out that this enclosure does not fit my internal hard disk.",
"The board had some soldering blemishes but never had a chance to test the connectivity.",
"The build looks pretty ok and it was a great ide to include the screw driver as part of the package - It was really helpful.",
"Be sure of what Hard disks you are using - SATA is common these days.",
"I ended up buying a SATA to USB cable that served the purpose of transferring data from my old hard disk to a newer one.",
"This product may be good for the price advertised but ensure that this one serves the purpose.",
"This would fit only HDD of laptops cos its 2.5inch and would not work with the bigger solid state drives - the ones which are normally used for desktop"
] |
3 | How much? | One of Jack Higgins' earlier novels, "Pay the Devil" is nevertheless an entertaining if uneven read. Unlike his later novels, "Pay the Devil" weaves not the same level of intrigue, but this is tempered by frequent bouts of action.The narrative involves the return of Colonel Clay Fitzgerald to Ireland following the American Civil War to inherit the house left by his Uncle. Once in Ireland, however, Clay fast becomes outraged at the unfair treatment of the tenant workers. Adopting the mantle of the legendary outlaw Captain Swing, the Colonel sets out to avenge the peasant workers.Unfortunately, for all its pace, the novel has its fair share of inconsistencies. Firstly, the syntax is simple and often without sufficient description. Secondly, the plot is uneven and often unsatisfactory, with the reader left without the knowledge of "Who was the original Captain Swing?"All facets considered, While certainly an interesting diversion, "Pay the Devil" has too many flaws to recommend. | 990 | [
"One of Jack Higgins' earlier novels, \"Pay the Devil\" is nevertheless an entertaining if uneven read.",
"Unlike his later novels, \"Pay the Devil\" weaves not the same level of intrigue, but this is tempered by frequent bouts of action.The narrative involves the return of Colonel Clay Fitzgerald to Ireland following the American Civil War to inherit the house left by his Uncle.",
"Once in Ireland, however, Clay fast becomes outraged at the unfair treatment of the tenant workers.",
"Adopting the mantle of the legendary outlaw Captain Swing, the Colonel sets out to avenge the peasant workers.Unfortunately, for all its pace, the novel has its fair share of inconsistencies.",
"Firstly, the syntax is simple and often without sufficient description.",
"Secondly, the plot is uneven and often unsatisfactory, with the reader left without the knowledge of \"Who was the original Captain Swing?",
"\"All facets considered, While certainly an interesting diversion, \"Pay the Devil\" has too many flaws to recommend."
] |
3 | Have seen better..... | The first thought that I had in watching this movie was: this must be the attempt at a feminine edition of Indiana Jones. Unfortunately, Angelina Jolie just isn't very convincing. Granted, the story was pretty good. The idea of the Illuminati wanting to take over the world through the Triangle of Life seems good enough. However, what really did this movie in was the special effects, or lack thereof. Everything felt sooo...."video-gamish". It was so predictable. Croft would find objects so easily, and then from out of nowhere, would be monsters that she would have to fight and annihilate....and she would....then move on to the next adventure. It just seemed that the flow of the movie was so predictable....it really hurt the story's credibility. Don't get me wrong, if you are in the mood for a good romp...then by all means watch this movie. Just don't expect an intellectual thriller. Indiana Jones is a much better series for that kind of thing. Just sit back and ENJOY this one! | 990 | [
"The first thought that I had in watching this movie was: this must be the attempt at a feminine edition of Indiana Jones.",
"Unfortunately, Angelina Jolie just isn't very convincing.",
"Granted, the story was pretty good.",
"The idea of the Illuminati wanting to take over the world through the Triangle of Life seems good enough.",
"However, what really did this movie in was the special effects, or lack thereof.",
"Everything felt sooo....\"video-gamish\".",
"It was so predictable.",
"Croft would find objects so easily, and then from out of nowhere, would be monsters that she would have to fight and annihilate....and she would....then move on to the next adventure.",
"It just seemed that the flow of the movie was so predictable....it really hurt the story's credibility.",
"Don't get me wrong, if you are in the mood for a good romp...then by all means watch this movie.",
"Just don't expect an intellectual thriller.",
"Indiana Jones is a much better series for that kind of thing.",
"Just sit back and ENJOY this one!"
] |
3 | Lacks direction | I'm still not sure about the "Dark Nest Trilogy." "The Unseen Queen" isn't bad. It's just not good. Not enough happens to give the story direction. Luke and Han are captured by the Killiks. Leia and Saba are captured by the Galactic Alliance.Jacen discovers something from Tenel Ka that changes his course. This is a character I no longer recognize. Jaina and Zekk follow him against their better judgement. I don't understand that. Can someone who's read this explain to me how their plan is supposed to provoke the Chiss to attack the Killiks? The logic just doesn't follow.Jaina and Zekk are Joiners. How does the hive not know what they are thinking? Isn't that a security risk? No one is worried?And what in the worlds is happening between Luke and Lomi Plo? How is it that Lomi Plo is so much more powerful than Luke? It's not even a fair fight.It's the middle book. There is no ending. It should point us somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Please let it end soon. I can't stand bugs. | 990 | [
"I'm still not sure about the \"Dark Nest Trilogy.\" \"The Unseen Queen\" isn't bad.",
"It's just not good.",
"Not enough happens to give the story direction.",
"Luke and Han are captured by the Killiks.",
"Leia and Saba are captured by the Galactic Alliance.Jacen discovers something from Tenel Ka that changes his course.",
"This is a character I no longer recognize.",
"Jaina and Zekk follow him against their better judgement.",
"I don't understand that.",
"Can someone who's read this explain to me how their plan is supposed to provoke the Chiss to attack the Killiks?",
"The logic just doesn't follow.Jaina and Zekk are Joiners.",
"How does the hive not know what they are thinking?",
"Isn't that a security risk?",
"No one is worried?",
"And what in the worlds is happening between Luke and Lomi Plo?",
"How is it that Lomi Plo is so much more powerful than Luke?",
"It's not even a fair fight.It's the middle book.",
"There is no ending.",
"It should point us somewhere, but I'm not sure where.",
"Please let it end soon.",
"I can't stand bugs."
] |
3 | Ringy-dink fight flick | When the fight scenes in a boxing movie lack punch, as they do in SPLIT DECISION, it's the cinematic equivalent of a TKO.This is the story of an Irish-American family from NYC's Hell's Kitchen. Patriarch Dan McGuinn (Hackman) is a retired boxer and son of a former pugilist (McLiam). His two boys have followed in the family trade. Ray (Fahey) is a small-time pro middleweight and the younger Eddie (Sheffer) a Golden Gloves winner with Olympic aspirations.Ray is accidentally beat to death after he defies corrupt promoter Benny Pistone (Tolkan) and refuses to lay down against 'Snake' Pedroza (Velez). Eddie abandons any gold medal dreams for a chance to avenge his brother in the ring against Snake.(Note: Jennifer Beals has a minor role here; she is not trying to save L.A. from destruction!)Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.(5.5) Split Decisions (1988) - Craig Sheffer/Jeff Fahey/Gene Hackman/John McLiam/Jennifer Beals/Eddie Velez/James Tolkan | 990 | [
"When the fight scenes in a boxing movie lack punch, as they do in SPLIT DECISION, it's the cinematic equivalent of a TKO.This is the story of an Irish-American family from NYC's Hell's Kitchen.",
"Patriarch Dan McGuinn (Hackman) is a retired boxer and son of a former pugilist (McLiam).",
"His two boys have followed in the family trade.",
"Ray (Fahey) is a small-time pro middleweight and the younger Eddie (Sheffer) a Golden Gloves winner with Olympic aspirations.Ray is accidentally beat to death after he defies corrupt promoter Benny Pistone (Tolkan) and refuses to lay down against 'Snake' Pedroza (Velez).",
"Eddie abandons any gold medal dreams for a chance to avenge his brother in the ring against Snake.(Note: Jennifer Beals has a minor role here; she is not trying to save L.A. from destruction!",
")Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.(5.5) Split Decisions (1988) - Craig Sheffer/Jeff Fahey/Gene Hackman/John McLiam/Jennifer Beals/Eddie Velez/James Tolkan"
] |
3 | Varying quality | A good overall look at the available color footage during the war. The commentary is quite good as well. Unfortunately, much of the footage is not as good as it could be. The first program on the first disc has a disappointing black level, and as a result, much of the footage looks too bright and washed out. While the next two programs improve on this, other DVDs such as "The Third Reich in Color" have presented color European theatre and Third Reich footage more carefully. However, none can compete all at once with this two disc set.The color footage shot during actual battles and preperation for D-Day are high points, as well as the seven minutes or so of Eva Braun home movies on the end of the disc. Pacific theatre buffs will feel shortchanged; I'd say 80 to 85% of the material concerns Europe. This DVD set is certainly worthwhile if you wish to see a large quantity of period color footage with informative commentary. It succeeds in bringing the war and the period to life. | 990 | [
"A good overall look at the available color footage during the war.",
"The commentary is quite good as well.",
"Unfortunately, much of the footage is not as good as it could be.",
"The first program on the first disc has a disappointing black level, and as a result, much of the footage looks too bright and washed out.",
"While the next two programs improve on this, other DVDs such as \"The Third Reich in Color\" have presented color European theatre and Third Reich footage more carefully.",
"However, none can compete all at once with this two disc set.The color footage shot during actual battles and preperation for D-Day are high points, as well as the seven minutes or so of Eva Braun home movies on the end of the disc.",
"Pacific theatre buffs will feel shortchanged; I'd say 80 to 85% of the material concerns Europe.",
"This DVD set is certainly worthwhile if you wish to see a large quantity of period color footage with informative commentary.",
"It succeeds in bringing the war and the period to life."
] |
3 | Outer Limits is limited | THE OUTER LIMITS-THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIESThis is, without a doubt, one of the best series ever on television. Some reviews complain that there are no closed captions, but that is a minor problem. My only serious complaint is that while all of the episodes are listed on each plastic container, some episode are NOT, in fact, available. For example, on Disc One, episodes 33-40, the information says that Side B contains four episodes, beginning with the classic, "Demon With the Glass Hand". That side has only two episodes instead of the listed four. There are other strange exclusions with no warning. There are no liner notes to explain these exclusions.BUT, as a series, The Outer Limits had some of the best writing and (occasional) acting for its time. For truly creepy and scary atmospherics, this can't be beat. The productions are magnificent, even with the obvious budgetary restrictions faced by the creators. Some are masterpieces of "film noir". All in all, a joy to watch. | 990 | [
"THE OUTER LIMITS-THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL SERIESThis is, without a doubt, one of the best series ever on television.",
"Some reviews complain that there are no closed captions, but that is a minor problem.",
"My only serious complaint is that while all of the episodes are listed on each plastic container, some episode are NOT, in fact, available.",
"For example, on Disc One, episodes 33-40, the information says that Side B contains four episodes, beginning with the classic, \"Demon With the Glass Hand\".",
"That side has only two episodes instead of the listed four.",
"There are other strange exclusions with no warning.",
"There are no liner notes to explain these exclusions.BUT, as a series, The Outer Limits had some of the best writing and (occasional) acting for its time.",
"For truly creepy and scary atmospherics, this can't be beat.",
"The productions are magnificent, even with the obvious budgetary restrictions faced by the creators.",
"Some are masterpieces of \"film noir\".",
"All in all, a joy to watch."
] |
3 | BEGINNING OF THE END | This show lasted 11 seasons...The 1st 6 seasons were great...Season 7 is the beginning of the end....This was when the show transformed into a full blown cartoon.....One major reason is Ron Leavitt left the show (Ron Leavitt and Mike Moye created the show)The kid Seven was a disaster....Al became a full blown Homer Simpson.....The storylines started to get sillier..the show lost its nastiness and became slapstick.....The seasons 8-11 are complete disasters......There are still some good reasons to get this season....Even though the show started to decline, there were still enough solid episodes to keep this season respectable.....Christina Applegate never looked better, and the episodes that focused on Kelly were great....Faustino also had a very solid season with storylines...Jefferson also had his best season.......So it is still a good season, but not great.....As far as I am concerend the show ended after this season..the next four seasons are not even worth talking about | 990 | [
"This show lasted 11 seasons...The 1st 6 seasons were great...Season 7 is the beginning of the end....This was when the show transformed into a full blown cartoon.....One major reason is Ron Leavitt left the show (Ron Leavitt and Mike Moye created the show)The kid Seven was a disaster....Al became a full blown Homer Simpson.....The storylines started to get sillier..the show lost its nastiness and became slapstick.....The seasons 8-11 are complete disasters......There are still some good reasons to get this season....Even though the show started to decline, there were still enough solid episodes to keep this season respectable.....Christina Applegate never looked better, and the episodes that focused on Kelly were great....Faustino also had a very solid season with storylines...Jefferson also had his best season.......So it is still a good season, but not great.....As far as I am concerend the show ended after this season..the next four seasons are not even worth talking about"
] |
3 | PILOT NUMBER ONE | The first TV pilot of COLUMBO, PRESCRIPTION: MURDER, was broadcasted on Feb. 20th, 1968, more than three years before the broadcasting of the first episode. It's also possible to see this pilot in the DVD standard by purchasingColumbo - The Complete First Season. Gene Barry, the first mean guy who ever confronted Columbo, is mostly appreciated by movie buffs because he starred in two Samuel Fuller films :Forty GunsandChina Gate.We have to accept it: there is a huge difference between this pilot and the Columbo episodes of the first season. For example, PRESCRIPTION: MURDER looks a lot more like a stage play and still belongs to the TV world of the sixties. But there are also in it a few sparkles that announce the grandness of the first episodes. I'm specially thinking here about the scene when Dr. Ray Flemming, a psychiatrist, dissects the way and the recipes Columbo uses with the suspects. This scene alone is worth the 99 minutes of this TV movie.A VHS for the Columbo buffs. | 990 | [
"The first TV pilot of COLUMBO, PRESCRIPTION: MURDER, was broadcasted on Feb.",
"20th, 1968, more than three years before the broadcasting of the first episode.",
"It's also possible to see this pilot in the DVD standard by purchasingColumbo - The Complete First Season.",
"Gene Barry, the first mean guy who ever confronted Columbo, is mostly appreciated by movie buffs because he starred in two Samuel Fuller films :Forty GunsandChina Gate.We have to accept it: there is a huge difference between this pilot and the Columbo episodes of the first season.",
"For example, PRESCRIPTION: MURDER looks a lot more like a stage play and still belongs to the TV world of the sixties.",
"But there are also in it a few sparkles that announce the grandness of the first episodes.",
"I'm specially thinking here about the scene when Dr.",
"Ray Flemming, a psychiatrist, dissects the way and the recipes Columbo uses with the suspects.",
"This scene alone is worth the 99 minutes of this TV movie.A VHS for the Columbo buffs."
] |
3 | Good Sunday Matinee | First let me say I own all of Harryhausen's movies. I love his work so if I seem a little critical on a couple it is only because I know how great he can be. This movie may not be Harryhausen's best stop motion animation, but it is still a fine film. The hair on the centaur seems to move a little odd and the motion in the Centaur and Griffon fight scene is not as natural looking as the skeleton fight scenes in "Jason and the Argonauts". Otherwise this movie is very well done and packed with creatures. I especially liked the job he did on the magicians familiars. It entertains and has good locations and a decent cast. Those fans of Tom Baker in Dr. Who will enjoy him as an evil magician. It is good Saturday afternoon fare for the entire family. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys movies like "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad", "Clash of the Titans", "Willow", and "Krull". I bought this on DVD in the Sinbad Collection set and I am very happy with how well the transfer to DVD was done. | 990 | [
"First let me say I own all of Harryhausen's movies.",
"I love his work so if I seem a little critical on a couple it is only because I know how great he can be.",
"This movie may not be Harryhausen's best stop motion animation, but it is still a fine film.",
"The hair on the centaur seems to move a little odd and the motion in the Centaur and Griffon fight scene is not as natural looking as the skeleton fight scenes in \"Jason and the Argonauts\".",
"Otherwise this movie is very well done and packed with creatures.",
"I especially liked the job he did on the magicians familiars.",
"It entertains and has good locations and a decent cast.",
"Those fans of Tom Baker in Dr.",
"Who will enjoy him as an evil magician.",
"It is good Saturday afternoon fare for the entire family.",
"I recommend it to anyone that enjoys movies like \"The 7th Voyage of Sinbad\", \"Clash of the Titans\", \"Willow\", and \"Krull\".",
"I bought this on DVD in the Sinbad Collection set and I am very happy with how well the transfer to DVD was done."
] |
3 | not just hitchcock | Wife and I saw it on MGM showcase high-def cable channel-- (1) We had no expectations. (2) We enjoyed it. (3) I'm no cineaste, but while it's certainly a Hitchcock homage (Streep had fun being a Hitchcock blonde), there are also clear hat-tips to other psych-out thrillers, notably "Don't Look Now" and "Cat People." (4) Overall, a lesser effort from the director and cast, and as folks say fairly cold, but glimpses of young naked Meryl Streep were hot, the denoument turned out to be a surprise after all, the dream sequence was gripping and creepy, and despite a certain by-the-numbers quality, including a few too many sudden "gotcha!-made-ya-jump!"s, it was genuinely suspenseful, with a couple of unexpected turns.Movies on TV are like diners in a strange town you're passing through: in this one the food was edible-to-tasty, and I was glad I'd stopped. While I wouldn't drive very far out of my way, and I'd probably try something else from the menu, I'd stop at such a diner again. | 990 | [
"Wife and I saw it on MGM showcase high-def cable channel-- (1) We had no expectations.",
"(2) We enjoyed it.",
"(3) I'm no cineaste, but while it's certainly a Hitchcock homage (Streep had fun being a Hitchcock blonde), there are also clear hat-tips to other psych-out thrillers, notably \"Don't Look Now\" and \"Cat People.\" (4) Overall, a lesser effort from the director and cast, and as folks say fairly cold, but glimpses of young naked Meryl Streep were hot, the denoument turned out to be a surprise after all, the dream sequence was gripping and creepy, and despite a certain by-the-numbers quality, including a few too many sudden \"gotcha!",
"-made-ya-jump!",
"\"s, it was genuinely suspenseful, with a couple of unexpected turns.Movies on TV are like diners in a strange town you're passing through: in this one the food was edible-to-tasty, and I was glad I'd stopped.",
"While I wouldn't drive very far out of my way, and I'd probably try something else from the menu, I'd stop at such a diner again."
] |
3 | More Caffeine, Please | Set in 17th century Amsterdam, this book concerns itself with on Miguel Lienzo, a Portugese Jewish commodities trader....In an attempt to rebuild his fortune and reputation, Miguel goes into partnership with a comely Dutch widow in a scheme to corner the market on some new-fangled thing called Coffee...and the games begin...Financial skulduggery, personal vendettas, comely lasses in doorways, and the ruling body of the Jewish community, all conspire to thwart Miguel at every turn. but he is his own worst enemyi was disappointed in this book, more for its pacing than anything...with a wealth of historical information and obviously thorough research...the "story" started to drag about halfway through..and , while i finished the book it was a chore..too bad, that because the ending is very good...given that no character herein was very appealing...none was repulsive...in the end Miguel may have recovered his position...but he lost much more..... not his self-confidence, however. | 990 | [
"Set in 17th century Amsterdam, this book concerns itself with on Miguel Lienzo, a Portugese Jewish commodities trader....In an attempt to rebuild his fortune and reputation, Miguel goes into partnership with a comely Dutch widow in a scheme to corner the market on some new-fangled thing called Coffee...and the games begin...Financial skulduggery, personal vendettas, comely lasses in doorways, and the ruling body of the Jewish community, all conspire to thwart Miguel at every turn.",
"but he is his own worst enemyi was disappointed in this book, more for its pacing than anything...with a wealth of historical information and obviously thorough research...the \"story\" started to drag about halfway through..and , while i finished the book it was a chore..too bad, that because the ending is very good...given that no character herein was very appealing...none was repulsive...in the end Miguel may have recovered his position...but he lost much more..... not his self-confidence, however."
] |
3 | Too Deep | Wow. This movie had so many interesting parts, but it failed to all come together like in the really great movies by this director that my professor made us watch: Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Elephant Man, and even Eraserhead (which I got during the class discussion, but did not get, to be honest, when I first watched it). Now I know all of the symbolic things that were going on, picked up a few as I watched it, picked up the rest during class discussion, but as a movie there were too many subplots he edited in just because they were cool. The one that really angered me (despite its symbolic value) was the Cowboy; he was so interesting and had so much promise, but as far as the film was concerned, he was outside the plot and therefore superfluous. The thing that saved the movie, was the lesbian sex. Those scenes were hot. Sent me to the shower. I watched them numerous times long after the class had ended, and you will too. It's why I bought the DVD despite not LOVING the film. | 990 | [
"Wow.",
"This movie had so many interesting parts, but it failed to all come together like in the really great movies by this director that my professor made us watch: Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Elephant Man, and even Eraserhead (which I got during the class discussion, but did not get, to be honest, when I first watched it).",
"Now I know all of the symbolic things that were going on, picked up a few as I watched it, picked up the rest during class discussion, but as a movie there were too many subplots he edited in just because they were cool.",
"The one that really angered me (despite its symbolic value) was the Cowboy; he was so interesting and had so much promise, but as far as the film was concerned, he was outside the plot and therefore superfluous.",
"The thing that saved the movie, was the lesbian sex.",
"Those scenes were hot.",
"Sent me to the shower.",
"I watched them numerous times long after the class had ended, and you will too.",
"It's why I bought the DVD despite not LOVING the film."
] |
3 | The Fatal Flaw | In a short comment about this book, I mentioned a fatal and sloppy flaw in the story. Since then a few people have sent me e mails to ask what this flaw is. I had decided not to post it here as those who had not yet read the book may be let down, but here goes: Wife #1 in America(the real wife if wou will)discovers the 2nd wife in London. OK. Good so far. BUT toward the very end of the book we hear that Wife #2 stood trial and is in jail. Now during this trial Wife 2 would have been asked what her relationship to the piot was. And she would have replied, rightly, "his wife". And THAT would have got out. There would be NO hiding it after that. Hence Wife #1 could not have kept it a secret from her daughter. Or indeed anyone. It boggles me how the author and editor allowed this to pass by. Sloppy and it cheats the reader terribly. Anita Shreve is a good writer, but how she allowed this to slip past is beyond me. I know my editor would have come down me heavily. Not good enough. | 990 | [
"In a short comment about this book, I mentioned a fatal and sloppy flaw in the story.",
"Since then a few people have sent me e mails to ask what this flaw is.",
"I had decided not to post it here as those who had not yet read the book may be let down, but here goes: Wife #1 in America(the real wife if wou will)discovers the 2nd wife in London.",
"OK.",
"Good so far.",
"BUT toward the very end of the book we hear that Wife #2 stood trial and is in jail.",
"Now during this trial Wife 2 would have been asked what her relationship to the piot was.",
"And she would have replied, rightly, \"his wife\".",
"And THAT would have got out.",
"There would be NO hiding it after that.",
"Hence Wife #1 could not have kept it a secret from her daughter.",
"Or indeed anyone.",
"It boggles me how the author and editor allowed this to pass by.",
"Sloppy and it cheats the reader terribly.",
"Anita Shreve is a good writer, but how she allowed this to slip past is beyond me.",
"I know my editor would have come down me heavily.",
"Not good enough."
] |
3 | disappointed | Like most people, we bought the Dora House for our daughters for Christmas. We were bummed out to discover the furniture was no where to be found. Instead of paying hugely inflated prices on some websites, we waited...and waited for the furniture to be stocked in stores. FINALLY, the day came (in February) when we found the dining room and bedroom. What a BUMMER! Yes, the tabe does a cool conversion thing, but none of the people can sit at the table. It's almost like the furniture sets are too small for the people. The bunk bed set is a bummer too. The bed looks like a single twin bed. You push a button and the top bed pops up to uncover a second bed underneath. Pretty cool at first, then you realize you can barely fit a doll on the bottom bed. Also, if you put a doll on the top bunk, the weight of the doll pushes the "spring loaded" bed down. My daughters LOVE dollhouses and they are completely UNinterested in this set. I recommend Fisher Price Loving Family Doll House sets. | 990 | [
"Like most people, we bought the Dora House for our daughters for Christmas.",
"We were bummed out to discover the furniture was no where to be found.",
"Instead of paying hugely inflated prices on some websites, we waited...and waited for the furniture to be stocked in stores.",
"FINALLY, the day came (in February) when we found the dining room and bedroom.",
"What a BUMMER!",
"Yes, the tabe does a cool conversion thing, but none of the people can sit at the table.",
"It's almost like the furniture sets are too small for the people.",
"The bunk bed set is a bummer too.",
"The bed looks like a single twin bed.",
"You push a button and the top bed pops up to uncover a second bed underneath.",
"Pretty cool at first, then you realize you can barely fit a doll on the bottom bed.",
"Also, if you put a doll on the top bunk, the weight of the doll pushes the \"spring loaded\" bed down.",
"My daughters LOVE dollhouses and they are completely UNinterested in this set.",
"I recommend Fisher Price Loving Family Doll House sets."
] |
3 | A Solid Effort! | Taylor Cox Jr. and Ruby L. Beale offer readings, case studies and structured activities for developing individual and organizational diversity skills. The readings often focus on specific groups, but the underlying ideas can easily be extended to others. By focusing on the economic benefits of diversity management, the authors make a persuasive case that these ideas are strategically relevant, especially for companies that are trying to compete in the global economy. Some of the ideas are complex and take some real study, but they are presented clearly and concisely. The book offers little original research, but that is not the authors' goal. They mean to unite existing research and to put those ideas into action - a task that they perform very well. We at getAbstract recommend this book to human resource professionals, managers who must handle diverse workforces (especially executives who work outside their home country) and anyone struggling with diversity in the workplace. | 990 | [
"Taylor Cox Jr.",
"and Ruby L.",
"Beale offer readings, case studies and structured activities for developing individual and organizational diversity skills.",
"The readings often focus on specific groups, but the underlying ideas can easily be extended to others.",
"By focusing on the economic benefits of diversity management, the authors make a persuasive case that these ideas are strategically relevant, especially for companies that are trying to compete in the global economy.",
"Some of the ideas are complex and take some real study, but they are presented clearly and concisely.",
"The book offers little original research, but that is not the authors' goal.",
"They mean to unite existing research and to put those ideas into action - a task that they perform very well.",
"We at getAbstract recommend this book to human resource professionals, managers who must handle diverse workforces (especially executives who work outside their home country) and anyone struggling with diversity in the workplace."
] |
3 | Mediocre Misfits | First I'll say that I love this band. Walk Among Us is one of my all time favorite albums. I think the strategy of combining doo-wop with hard rock simply genius. Add to it schlocky horror movie titles to the songs as well as a deranged but subtle sense of humor and its pop music heaven. So I have to say that this bandwagon-jumping hardcore album is a bit dissapointing. First the lyrics aren't very good. What happened? Did Glenn simply forget how to write. Is this the same guy who wrote songs like "Bullet" and "She"? Also there's not much melody to the songs, it's all gutteral yells. I think by trying to sound bestial or scary the singer borders on self-parody. The saving grace is the guitars, which actually do sound ominous (feedback and down-tuning)and, well not scary, but effective. The sound on this album might be suitable for bands like Black Flag but The Misfits had an altogether different approach which unfortunately they compromised to appease the then current trends. | 990 | [
"First I'll say that I love this band.",
"Walk Among Us is one of my all time favorite albums.",
"I think the strategy of combining doo-wop with hard rock simply genius.",
"Add to it schlocky horror movie titles to the songs as well as a deranged but subtle sense of humor and its pop music heaven.",
"So I have to say that this bandwagon-jumping hardcore album is a bit dissapointing.",
"First the lyrics aren't very good.",
"What happened?",
"Did Glenn simply forget how to write.",
"Is this the same guy who wrote songs like \"Bullet\" and \"She\"?",
"Also there's not much melody to the songs, it's all gutteral yells.",
"I think by trying to sound bestial or scary the singer borders on self-parody.",
"The saving grace is the guitars, which actually do sound ominous (feedback and down-tuning)and, well not scary, but effective.",
"The sound on this album might be suitable for bands like Black Flag but The Misfits had an altogether different approach which unfortunately they compromised to appease the then current trends."
] |
3 | Just okay | Am still in the process of watching all the DVDs. So far, I've been a little underwhelmed at the choices of her favorite episodes.I am a huge fan of Carol and her shows.I assumed I would put in the first one and not want to stop watching until I got through all of them. So far, not enough "Tim" and not enough funny skits. Several serious ones and too much Roddy McDowell and Nancy Walker and apparent friends of Carol's. Of course, this is labeled her favorites...just not a lot of mine. Still enjoying it, but not like I thought I would. I've got one more disc to watch and I hope the clips picked are funnier.I'll do another review, once I get all the way through.The discs have 2 or 3 partial shows on each one. There could have been a lot more included, or at least the entire show.It does show the opening where she takes questions from the audience. Those are very entertaining. It's also nice to see all the beautiful gowns Bob Mackey created for her.I'm still glad I purchased it. | 990 | [
"Am still in the process of watching all the DVDs.",
"So far, I've been a little underwhelmed at the choices of her favorite episodes.I am a huge fan of Carol and her shows.I assumed I would put in the first one and not want to stop watching until I got through all of them.",
"So far, not enough \"Tim\" and not enough funny skits.",
"Several serious ones and too much Roddy McDowell and Nancy Walker and apparent friends of Carol's.",
"Of course, this is labeled her favorites...just not a lot of mine.",
"Still enjoying it, but not like I thought I would.",
"I've got one more disc to watch and I hope the clips picked are funnier.I'll do another review, once I get all the way through.The discs have 2 or 3 partial shows on each one.",
"There could have been a lot more included, or at least the entire show.It does show the opening where she takes questions from the audience.",
"Those are very entertaining.",
"It's also nice to see all the beautiful gowns Bob Mackey created for her.I'm still glad I purchased it."
] |
3 | Disappointed | I bought this polarizing filter to use on my Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8 lens and while I think it is superbly constructed, I admit to being disappointed by the results. Other reviews talk of the filter bringing out the blue sky and making colors pop. But, I find the differences so subtle that I'm actually having trouble using the filter. While I can see subtle - and desirable - differences when I view pics on the computer, it is very difficult to see the effect when composing thru-the-lens and while viewing the pic on the camera's display. That has also led me to wish that the filter had setting marks that could be used to determine just how it is set. Instead, the outer lens can be rotated infinitely, and, without the ability to really see what's happening thru-the-lens, results are hit and miss. One other slight complaint is that I find it can be difficult to unscrew the filter from the lens since the outer ring turns, making it necessary to try and grasp the very fine inner ring. | 990 | [
"I bought this polarizing filter to use on my Nikon 24-70 mm f2.8 lens and while I think it is superbly constructed, I admit to being disappointed by the results.",
"Other reviews talk of the filter bringing out the blue sky and making colors pop.",
"But, I find the differences so subtle that I'm actually having trouble using the filter.",
"While I can see subtle - and desirable - differences when I view pics on the computer, it is very difficult to see the effect when composing thru-the-lens and while viewing the pic on the camera's display.",
"That has also led me to wish that the filter had setting marks that could be used to determine just how it is set.",
"Instead, the outer lens can be rotated infinitely, and, without the ability to really see what's happening thru-the-lens, results are hit and miss.",
"One other slight complaint is that I find it can be difficult to unscrew the filter from the lens since the outer ring turns, making it necessary to try and grasp the very fine inner ring."
] |
3 | Just a Side Note | I have never listened to this album, or this band 'cept a few songs. Thats not really what I am after here. There is a guy mr.punk rocker...... Christ man.... This guy He calls his self punk dissing this band while he listens to the Clash and Green Day... While I do like Green Day, I will be the first person to admit that they are not punk, they may have originally been inspired by bands like the Descendents and Screeching Weasle, which is oldschool pop-punk(please excure my run on sentances and speeling errors I happened upon thisat 3:00am). Well This guy rants in his other reviews about how punk Green day is.....You want some punk don't listen to him, check out Black Flag(Keith Morris as the singer), Circle Jerks, Agent Orange(first album) TSOL, 7 seconds, Millions Of Dead Cops , Bad Brains, Early Bad Religeon,The Exploited. Any ways from the samples on this site the afformentioned Taking Back Sunday has some cool vocal stylings........ So enough ranting. Carry on Children. | 990 | [
"I have never listened to this album, or this band 'cept a few songs.",
"Thats not really what I am after here.",
"There is a guy mr.punk rocker...... Christ man.... This guy He calls his self punk dissing this band while he listens to the Clash and Green Day... While I do like Green Day, I will be the first person to admit that they are not punk, they may have originally been inspired by bands like the Descendents and Screeching Weasle, which is oldschool pop-punk(please excure my run on sentances and speeling errors I happened upon thisat 3:00am).",
"Well This guy rants in his other reviews about how punk Green day is.....You want some punk don't listen to him, check out Black Flag(Keith Morris as the singer), Circle Jerks, Agent Orange(first album) TSOL, 7 seconds, Millions Of Dead Cops , Bad Brains, Early Bad Religeon,The Exploited.",
"Any ways from the samples on this site the afformentioned Taking Back Sunday has some cool vocal stylings........ So enough ranting.",
"Carry on Children."
] |
3 | Not what I expected. | I purchased this book right when it came out. I usually like to wait until books come out in paperback before I buy them, but I was so intrigued by this author and book, that I purchased it right away.What I found, was the book is written at a very basic educational level. Because I have a BA in Psychology, I have already heard about most of the phenomenon's he discusses in the book. So, most of the book was a repeat of my undergraduate social psychology course. Also, most of these phenomenon's and methods for testing have technical terms in psychology. Instead of using any of these terms, he makes up his own terms as if he read a few research papers and then decided to write an entire book about a subject that he doesn't know a lot about.If you didn't go to college, or haven't had any psychology courses, then you will probably enjoy this book. But, if your background is similar to mine, then avoid reading this book. It reads like really bad cliffs notes from an old textbook. | 990 | [
"I purchased this book right when it came out.",
"I usually like to wait until books come out in paperback before I buy them, but I was so intrigued by this author and book, that I purchased it right away.What I found, was the book is written at a very basic educational level.",
"Because I have a BA in Psychology, I have already heard about most of the phenomenon's he discusses in the book.",
"So, most of the book was a repeat of my undergraduate social psychology course.",
"Also, most of these phenomenon's and methods for testing have technical terms in psychology.",
"Instead of using any of these terms, he makes up his own terms as if he read a few research papers and then decided to write an entire book about a subject that he doesn't know a lot about.If you didn't go to college, or haven't had any psychology courses, then you will probably enjoy this book.",
"But, if your background is similar to mine, then avoid reading this book.",
"It reads like really bad cliffs notes from an old textbook."
] |
3 | 3 and 1/2 Stars | This is not a bad book, but for an Arthur C. Clarke novel, it is something of a disappointment. Although the concept of sub-plots is common in Clarke's works (and indeed, in all of science fiction) it is taken too far here. The whole long sections about the M-Set, the Millennium Bug, the inventions of Roy Emerson, and the homelife of the Craig family have no relevance to the actual plot of the book, and those sections encompass the heart of the book. Yes, the M-Set is interesting, but it should've been allowed it's own book if it is this important (even a 15+ page essay on it is included after the story). Meanwhile, the Titanic saga is relegated to almost side story status. Now, don't read all that and think I didn't like the book. I did. It's just that most of Clarke's other works are so much better (even the oft-critized 3001). Not a bad Clarke, but for the love of God don't start your collection here. Spring for Childhood's End, 2001 or 2010, or Rendezvous With Rama first. | 990 | [
"This is not a bad book, but for an Arthur C.",
"Clarke novel, it is something of a disappointment.",
"Although the concept of sub-plots is common in Clarke's works (and indeed, in all of science fiction) it is taken too far here.",
"The whole long sections about the M-Set, the Millennium Bug, the inventions of Roy Emerson, and the homelife of the Craig family have no relevance to the actual plot of the book, and those sections encompass the heart of the book.",
"Yes, the M-Set is interesting, but it should've been allowed it's own book if it is this important (even a 15+ page essay on it is included after the story).",
"Meanwhile, the Titanic saga is relegated to almost side story status.",
"Now, don't read all that and think I didn't like the book.",
"I did.",
"It's just that most of Clarke's other works are so much better (even the oft-critized 3001).",
"Not a bad Clarke, but for the love of God don't start your collection here.",
"Spring for Childhood's End, 2001 or 2010, or Rendezvous With Rama first."
] |
3 | Unquiet mind | I 'painfully' got thru this book. Having read 'An Unquiet Mind' I was looking forward to some insights from a brilliant person. But, there was no thesis, just repetition of same points supported by out of context 'quotes galore' In essence the author 'was all over the place' and I couldn't help but think she wrote it in a 'manic' state. I know that sounds awful, but I think I needed a dictionary for every other paragraph and I thought I had knowledge of the english language. It reminded me of my graduate school days where I would get so carried away collecting research that I had lost sight of my original thesis. Having a manic-depressive personality, not unlike the author, it was uncomfortable reading this book. I came away with the knowledge that brilliant minds can also have low points, or that scientists and health professsionals are passionate about their work. Ah duh. I think that point was made 112 times! Sorry to be so negative but I hate having false hopes on a book. | 990 | [
"I 'painfully' got thru this book.",
"Having read 'An Unquiet Mind' I was looking forward to some insights from a brilliant person.",
"But, there was no thesis, just repetition of same points supported by out of context 'quotes galore' In essence the author 'was all over the place' and I couldn't help but think she wrote it in a 'manic' state.",
"I know that sounds awful, but I think I needed a dictionary for every other paragraph and I thought I had knowledge of the english language.",
"It reminded me of my graduate school days where I would get so carried away collecting research that I had lost sight of my original thesis.",
"Having a manic-depressive personality, not unlike the author, it was uncomfortable reading this book.",
"I came away with the knowledge that brilliant minds can also have low points, or that scientists and health professsionals are passionate about their work.",
"Ah duh.",
"I think that point was made 112 times!",
"Sorry to be so negative but I hate having false hopes on a book."
] |
3 | modern day Tom Sawyer | Although I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I did when I read it at 14, I still felt it was a great coming of age Sci-Fi novel. In short the story is about a young boy's travels across america and a parallel land called the territories. He's forced to make this journey in order to find a cure for his mother's cancer.During his travels he incounters both fantastical and realistic evil. He also encounter allies within both worlds. The best part of this novel is the development of the young naive Jack (young lead character) to the strong and confident jack at the end. As the reader, I felt afraid for him in the beginning during this journey and wondered how could a young 12 year old boy survive? By the end, I felt completely confident of jack's abilities and didn't doubt that he would succeed.Although there have since been better sci-fi novels (Tad William's,, Otherland series). The Talisman is still one of the best novels to merge the coming of age story with science fiction. | 990 | [
"Although I didn't enjoy this novel as much as I did when I read it at 14, I still felt it was a great coming of age Sci-Fi novel.",
"In short the story is about a young boy's travels across america and a parallel land called the territories.",
"He's forced to make this journey in order to find a cure for his mother's cancer.During his travels he incounters both fantastical and realistic evil.",
"He also encounter allies within both worlds.",
"The best part of this novel is the development of the young naive Jack (young lead character) to the strong and confident jack at the end.",
"As the reader, I felt afraid for him in the beginning during this journey and wondered how could a young 12 year old boy survive?",
"By the end, I felt completely confident of jack's abilities and didn't doubt that he would succeed.Although there have since been better sci-fi novels (Tad William's,, Otherland series).",
"The Talisman is still one of the best novels to merge the coming of age story with science fiction."
] |
3 | A roller coaster ride | Ladder of Years was the first book I read by Ann Tyler. Needless to say, the book was like being on a roller coaster ride with my emotions. I absolutely loved Delia for making a stand and having the courage to leave everything behind. Although at first, I thought she was very irresponsible for leaving her family like she did. Yet, the first page confirms all her reasons to leave, no one really knew her. Delia felt like she was being used, abused and living in the shadows of her husband and father. I believe Delia did what some of us would only fantasize about doing. Since most of us would be afraid of what other people would think. I applauded "Miss" Grinstead's new life, she was finally doing what she wanted, when she wanted. I cheered for her all the way until the end. However, I was very disappointed with the ending of this book. After she had come so far in her new life, to have Delia fall back into her old "habits" was a devastating blow to an otherwise fairy tale story. | 990 | [
"Ladder of Years was the first book I read by Ann Tyler.",
"Needless to say, the book was like being on a roller coaster ride with my emotions.",
"I absolutely loved Delia for making a stand and having the courage to leave everything behind.",
"Although at first, I thought she was very irresponsible for leaving her family like she did.",
"Yet, the first page confirms all her reasons to leave, no one really knew her.",
"Delia felt like she was being used, abused and living in the shadows of her husband and father.",
"I believe Delia did what some of us would only fantasize about doing.",
"Since most of us would be afraid of what other people would think.",
"I applauded \"Miss\" Grinstead's new life, she was finally doing what she wanted, when she wanted.",
"I cheered for her all the way until the end.",
"However, I was very disappointed with the ending of this book.",
"After she had come so far in her new life, to have Delia fall back into her old \"habits\" was a devastating blow to an otherwise fairy tale story."
] |
3 | A Good Film, But... | This was a good film. Platoon does a much better job than its predecessors (most notably the Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now)of bringing the realities of the Vietnam War home for an average viewer, just as Vidor's The Great Parade did for the Great War in 1925. It shows the hypocrisy and immorality of the Vietnam war. But despite all the preparations Stone put his actors through, I could never take their performances seriously; they just looked and felt too Hollywood. While I recognize its poignancy, Charlie Sheen's narration still felt contrived and unnatural. The scene where Berenger is over Sheen about to kill him when the bombs hit looked like pure Hollywood hokum. Thus, while this film is more important than its earlier Vietnam rivals, its ultimately less successful at being a great film (Oscars not withstanding). Finally, this isn't even Stone's best film of 1986... that honor certainly goes to Salvador for a gripping story and a performance of a lifetime by James Woods. | 990 | [
"This was a good film.",
"Platoon does a much better job than its predecessors (most notably the Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now)of bringing the realities of the Vietnam War home for an average viewer, just as Vidor's The Great Parade did for the Great War in 1925.",
"It shows the hypocrisy and immorality of the Vietnam war.",
"But despite all the preparations Stone put his actors through, I could never take their performances seriously; they just looked and felt too Hollywood.",
"While I recognize its poignancy, Charlie Sheen's narration still felt contrived and unnatural.",
"The scene where Berenger is over Sheen about to kill him when the bombs hit looked like pure Hollywood hokum.",
"Thus, while this film is more important than its earlier Vietnam rivals, its ultimately less successful at being a great film (Oscars not withstanding).",
"Finally, this isn't even Stone's best film of 1986... that honor certainly goes to Salvador for a gripping story and a performance of a lifetime by James Woods."
] |
3 | a fun read | this is the latest dr. who novel from chris boucher, writer of several dr. who scripts during the 4th doctor/leela time period of the series. overall, it's a fun read. parts of it were genuinely spooky and suspenseful, although several of the stock-suspense sequences weren't as successful, perhaps because of their stock-ness. the characters are witty, although at times the wittiness got a bit annoying--the characters are perhaps a little too pleased with themselves. oddly, the characterization of the doctor and of leela seem off to me, albeit not by much--although boucher created leela to begin with! still, the characterization is strong in places, and there are some laugh-out-loud lines, especially near the end, that i can pretty much hear tom baker saying (no spoilers here, but they're the lines to the rats and regarding evolution). i found the ending a bit of a letdown, but i was quite pleasantly entertained throughout, and although i could put it down, i eagerly returned. | 990 | [
"this is the latest dr.",
"who novel from chris boucher, writer of several dr.",
"who scripts during the 4th doctor/leela time period of the series.",
"overall, it's a fun read.",
"parts of it were genuinely spooky and suspenseful, although several of the stock-suspense sequences weren't as successful, perhaps because of their stock-ness.",
"the characters are witty, although at times the wittiness got a bit annoying--the characters are perhaps a little too pleased with themselves.",
"oddly, the characterization of the doctor and of leela seem off to me, albeit not by much--although boucher created leela to begin with!",
"still, the characterization is strong in places, and there are some laugh-out-loud lines, especially near the end, that i can pretty much hear tom baker saying (no spoilers here, but they're the lines to the rats and regarding evolution).",
"i found the ending a bit of a letdown, but i was quite pleasantly entertained throughout, and although i could put it down, i eagerly returned."
] |
3 | An odd confectionery | The Doctor takes Ace to Terra Alpha to investigate disturbing rumours, they are soon plunged into the political intrigue of the planet: a dominating leader, secret police, the chief torturer, and a suppressed native race add up to a standard-style story, but here presented as an interesting confectionery.Taking a leaf out of the Second Doctor story 'The Macra Terror', the environment of enforced bonhomie manages to make being happy somehow threatening. It also has a nod to Franz Kafka - like Josef K in 'The Trial', all the inhabitants of the planet have a single letter as their surnames.Containing several obvious swipes at the British Government under Margaret Thatcher, although one would hesitate to try to name who the Kandy Man represents! The Kandy Man is the chief executioner of Terra Alpha, and specialises in death by confectionery.A little bit odd, a little bit traditional, a little bit over-sweet. You might like it, but it may also be a little bit rich for some tastes. | 990 | [
"The Doctor takes Ace to Terra Alpha to investigate disturbing rumours, they are soon plunged into the political intrigue of the planet: a dominating leader, secret police, the chief torturer, and a suppressed native race add up to a standard-style story, but here presented as an interesting confectionery.Taking a leaf out of the Second Doctor story 'The Macra Terror', the environment of enforced bonhomie manages to make being happy somehow threatening.",
"It also has a nod to Franz Kafka - like Josef K in 'The Trial', all the inhabitants of the planet have a single letter as their surnames.Containing several obvious swipes at the British Government under Margaret Thatcher, although one would hesitate to try to name who the Kandy Man represents!",
"The Kandy Man is the chief executioner of Terra Alpha, and specialises in death by confectionery.A little bit odd, a little bit traditional, a little bit over-sweet.",
"You might like it, but it may also be a little bit rich for some tastes."
] |
3 | An interesting read | I found this book to be quite entertaining. However, it�s hard to tell what it is beyond that. Moore does an excellent job of pointing out the flaws of the American people, striking down everything from the 2000 election to our sad attempts at recycling. He states that there are more problems to this country�problems that have been around for many years�than just our current president. However, it is rather hard to take him seriously. Moore takes a very humorous approach to the issues (he has a section titled "How Men Can Avoid Extinction"), such that it is often easy to forget that he actually has facts to back up his points. I think it�s interesting to see what he has to say, although I don't know how seriously this book should be taken. However, this book did make me aware of some of the issues that this country is faced with. Moore raises many issues that that make you think a little and they, if nothing else, make this book worthwhile to read. | 990 | [
"I found this book to be quite entertaining.",
"However, it�s hard to tell what it is beyond that.",
"Moore does an excellent job of pointing out the flaws of the American people, striking down everything from the 2000 election to our sad attempts at recycling.",
"He states that there are more problems to this country�problems that have been around for many years�than just our current president.",
"However, it is rather hard to take him seriously.",
"Moore takes a very humorous approach to the issues (he has a section titled \"How Men Can Avoid Extinction\"), such that it is often easy to forget that he actually has facts to back up his points.",
"I think it�s interesting to see what he has to say, although I don't know how seriously this book should be taken.",
"However, this book did make me aware of some of the issues that this country is faced with.",
"Moore raises many issues that that make you think a little and they, if nothing else, make this book worthwhile to read."
] |
3 | Complete waste of money | I reviewed this about a year ago and said that its limitations were starting to annoy me. Know I would say this thing in no way is worth buying for the listed price. It is pretty much junk. Here are my pros and cons.ProsGood SoundLightFlash basedRuns on AA batteriesCons-Big-Doesn't read most ID3 tags-Bundled software always crashes, and it doesn't work well with 3rd party software.-Uses obsolute SmartMedia cards that only go up to 128 MB-Despite manufacturer's claims, firmware has not been updated to support formats other than MP3 or wMA.-Can't use playlists-Bundled headphones are poor-Menu of tracks listed by file name (and then only the first 7 characters) so if you have a lot of tracks named similarly (like from the same album or artist) they will all read "Led Zep~" So you can't tell one from the other.-Very small amount of memory. 256 MB max is only good for about 4 albums.-Belt clip is bulky and loose.That this thing still costs more than the new iPod Shuffle is a joke. | 990 | [
"I reviewed this about a year ago and said that its limitations were starting to annoy me.",
"Know I would say this thing in no way is worth buying for the listed price.",
"It is pretty much junk.",
"Here are my pros and cons.ProsGood SoundLightFlash basedRuns on AA batteriesCons-Big-Doesn't read most ID3 tags-Bundled software always crashes, and it doesn't work well with 3rd party software.-Uses obsolute SmartMedia cards that only go up to 128 MB-Despite manufacturer's claims, firmware has not been updated to support formats other than MP3 or wMA.-Can't use playlists-Bundled headphones are poor-Menu of tracks listed by file name (and then only the first 7 characters) so if you have a lot of tracks named similarly (like from the same album or artist) they will all read \"Led Zep~\" So you can't tell one from the other.-Very small amount of memory.",
"256 MB max is only good for about 4 albums.-Belt clip is bulky and loose.That this thing still costs more than the new iPod Shuffle is a joke."
] |
3 | Once upon a time....... | I finally made my way through this tome. I have read all five in the series within the last few months, so I have been able to do it with some continuity in the characters and plot lines. This is a delightful continuation of the saga, but I found it much more cumbersome than the previous volumes in the series. Thus it took me longer to read this one than the previous ones. The author is obviously showing some maturity in her writing since the first volume, but this one was definitely not my favorite. I found it plodding in many places and it seemed all too often mired in minutea at times when the plot needed to move along. Ms Gabaldon seems determined to hang on to some plot lines that would have been well-served to have been resolved and moved on to others. To take this many pages and only move the characters along such a short period of time was a bit disappointing. Still if you are a fan of the series it is worth the time to read it. But there is obviously more to come.... | 990 | [
"I finally made my way through this tome.",
"I have read all five in the series within the last few months, so I have been able to do it with some continuity in the characters and plot lines.",
"This is a delightful continuation of the saga, but I found it much more cumbersome than the previous volumes in the series.",
"Thus it took me longer to read this one than the previous ones.",
"The author is obviously showing some maturity in her writing since the first volume, but this one was definitely not my favorite.",
"I found it plodding in many places and it seemed all too often mired in minutea at times when the plot needed to move along.",
"Ms Gabaldon seems determined to hang on to some plot lines that would have been well-served to have been resolved and moved on to others.",
"To take this many pages and only move the characters along such a short period of time was a bit disappointing.",
"Still if you are a fan of the series it is worth the time to read it.",
"But there is obviously more to come...."
] |
3 | romance as usual | Other people's reviews gave me high hopes for this unfamiliar author. And I suppose she did better than many. If I'm going to read a Regency romance, I prefer some historical accuracy. I flinch when people immediately call each other by their first names. I call for hartshorn when ladies and gentlemen run around unchaperoned, even when, as in this case, the lady is a widow, not a maiden. Our heroine is interesting. Her family forced her at 17 into marriage with a rich merchant in his 60s, and she has just finished her year of mourning and gone to visit a childhood friend in London. The earl, on the other hand, is not so interesting. We are told he's a rake, and I am very very tired of heroes who are rakes. But he doesn't act like a rake--he acts like a man who lets his sisters boss him around. He never quite manages to have a personality, though we are assured that he is extremely good looking. I hope he doesn't bore the heroine to death. You can't just look at a guy forever. | 990 | [
"Other people's reviews gave me high hopes for this unfamiliar author.",
"And I suppose she did better than many.",
"If I'm going to read a Regency romance, I prefer some historical accuracy.",
"I flinch when people immediately call each other by their first names.",
"I call for hartshorn when ladies and gentlemen run around unchaperoned, even when, as in this case, the lady is a widow, not a maiden.",
"Our heroine is interesting.",
"Her family forced her at 17 into marriage with a rich merchant in his 60s, and she has just finished her year of mourning and gone to visit a childhood friend in London.",
"The earl, on the other hand, is not so interesting.",
"We are told he's a rake, and I am very very tired of heroes who are rakes.",
"But he doesn't act like a rake--he acts like a man who lets his sisters boss him around.",
"He never quite manages to have a personality, though we are assured that he is extremely good looking.",
"I hope he doesn't bore the heroine to death.",
"You can't just look at a guy forever."
] |
3 | strange romance | The Italian version is the one to see in this collection...the Americanized version The Wanton Contessa is B-movie fare, and a horribly edited version at that.Visconti's scenography in Senso is probably more interesting than the romance between Farley Granger and Alida Valli, which never seems to exude raw passion. With all those Italian men at her disposal, she falls for an Austrian soldier, who is about as vapid and uninspired a male lover as you could imagine. Her betrayal of the Italian independence movement for this cold shoulder lover belies believability. As a result, Valli's character plummets into a kind of neurotic grasping for some meaning, and is not only undone, but totally humiliated. It's odd because she never falls back on her pedigree to get her through it, and in the end, succumbs to a petty revenge that finishes off this love affair at the hands of a firing squad. She's a Chekhovian aristocrat in a melodrama of neurotic passion that has more fire than heat. | 990 | [
"The Italian version is the one to see in this collection...the Americanized version The Wanton Contessa is B-movie fare, and a horribly edited version at that.Visconti's scenography in Senso is probably more interesting than the romance between Farley Granger and Alida Valli, which never seems to exude raw passion.",
"With all those Italian men at her disposal, she falls for an Austrian soldier, who is about as vapid and uninspired a male lover as you could imagine.",
"Her betrayal of the Italian independence movement for this cold shoulder lover belies believability.",
"As a result, Valli's character plummets into a kind of neurotic grasping for some meaning, and is not only undone, but totally humiliated.",
"It's odd because she never falls back on her pedigree to get her through it, and in the end, succumbs to a petty revenge that finishes off this love affair at the hands of a firing squad.",
"She's a Chekhovian aristocrat in a melodrama of neurotic passion that has more fire than heat."
] |
3 | Imaginative but hollow | Warning--this review will give away key happenings in the novel. Interesting & imaginative story about a group of college-aged kids trapped on a hill, one-by-one falling victim to a voracious plant, thanks in part to Mayan locals who are determined to keep them stuck there. You figure out pretty early on who the villain in the novel is & how others have fallen prey prior to them, but the unraveling of a mystery ends there. No explanation of the plant's origins, no clues in the archaeologists' tent, which is what I'd expected. Also I kept thinking to myself that they'd use fire to their advantage, since it worked in the mine shaft, and that's what kept me reading this novel, but that never happens & instead a bloodbath ensues. So it was a page-turner for me, but for all the wrong reasons. Also I thought the talking, laughing plant was ridiculous. Interesting concept but limited by a hollow plot, predictably morbid ending, and no one's surprised that the Greeks finally arrived. | 990 | [
"Warning--this review will give away key happenings in the novel.",
"Interesting & imaginative story about a group of college-aged kids trapped on a hill, one-by-one falling victim to a voracious plant, thanks in part to Mayan locals who are determined to keep them stuck there.",
"You figure out pretty early on who the villain in the novel is & how others have fallen prey prior to them, but the unraveling of a mystery ends there.",
"No explanation of the plant's origins, no clues in the archaeologists' tent, which is what I'd expected.",
"Also I kept thinking to myself that they'd use fire to their advantage, since it worked in the mine shaft, and that's what kept me reading this novel, but that never happens & instead a bloodbath ensues.",
"So it was a page-turner for me, but for all the wrong reasons.",
"Also I thought the talking, laughing plant was ridiculous.",
"Interesting concept but limited by a hollow plot, predictably morbid ending, and no one's surprised that the Greeks finally arrived."
] |
3 | FYI | "Ansen Dibell" is Nancy Dibble, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, MENSA member, and native of Staten Island. She writes sci-fi/fantasy novels. Given her genre & personality, it's not surprising that readers find this book more affective than cognitive, more subjective than objective, more random than systematic. Those who share these qualities find value in the book; those who don't are critical--as reviews on this page indicate. Non disputandum. The telling point is that Dibble uses fiction to solve ill-formed problems that she is confronting in her life. Using creative writing as an instrument of growth isn't unusual, for those with a Romantic disposition; but using fiction to work out personal problems or as wish fulfillment enters the realm of Psychology or even pathology, even when imagination succeeds in transforming experience into fables. There's a danger in working in Middle Earth: The return to reality can be downhill.She died March 7, 2006 in Cincinnatti OH. | 990 | [
"\"Ansen Dibell\" is Nancy Dibble, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, MENSA member, and native of Staten Island.",
"She writes sci-fi/fantasy novels.",
"Given her genre & personality, it's not surprising that readers find this book more affective than cognitive, more subjective than objective, more random than systematic.",
"Those who share these qualities find value in the book; those who don't are critical--as reviews on this page indicate.",
"Non disputandum.",
"The telling point is that Dibble uses fiction to solve ill-formed problems that she is confronting in her life.",
"Using creative writing as an instrument of growth isn't unusual, for those with a Romantic disposition; but using fiction to work out personal problems or as wish fulfillment enters the realm of Psychology or even pathology, even when imagination succeeds in transforming experience into fables.",
"There's a danger in working in Middle Earth: The return to reality can be downhill.She died March 7, 2006 in Cincinnatti OH."
] |
3 | Tusk | With bar set so high for Fleetwood Mac after the enormous success of their last studio album "Rumours" it was surprising just how different a direction they took musically. It has long been known that most people treated this album as mediocre album however die hard fans and even non fans found this harder edged rock in roll album quite good. "Tusk" was the idea of guitar player / singer Lindsey Buckingham who wanted to make an album on a smaller budget and the result is a 2 record set with a varying degree of songs. "Tusk", the albums title track recorded with the USC Marching Band is a great rock tune while the ballads "Storms" and "Sara" are magical songs that prove just how much of an enchanting voice Stevie Nicks has. Christine Mcvie fares best with "Brown Eyes" and "Never Forget" while Buckingham does a good job with the hit single "The Ledge". Overall the album is good, but since allot of the material is radically different then the usual hits it makes it a tough sell. | 990 | [
"With bar set so high for Fleetwood Mac after the enormous success of their last studio album \"Rumours\" it was surprising just how different a direction they took musically.",
"It has long been known that most people treated this album as mediocre album however die hard fans and even non fans found this harder edged rock in roll album quite good.",
"\"Tusk\" was the idea of guitar player / singer Lindsey Buckingham who wanted to make an album on a smaller budget and the result is a 2 record set with a varying degree of songs.",
"\"Tusk\", the albums title track recorded with the USC Marching Band is a great rock tune while the ballads \"Storms\" and \"Sara\" are magical songs that prove just how much of an enchanting voice Stevie Nicks has.",
"Christine Mcvie fares best with \"Brown Eyes\" and \"Never Forget\" while Buckingham does a good job with the hit single \"The Ledge\".",
"Overall the album is good, but since allot of the material is radically different then the usual hits it makes it a tough sell."
] |
3 | A good start but... | After loving their new album, Hello Avalanche, I was very eager to get their first album to see how they began. First the good. There some excellent jams, rhythms, and riffs throughout the album. It ranges from laid back to frenetic paces. Overall it's a lot of fun. The bad? The song writing. Although you can here the genius behind the musicians, at this point they hadn't figured out how to turn that into 4 minute songs. Many compositions here meander aimlessly or stay stuck on one riff too long. Another distraction is their deliberate attempt to be "lo-fi". Too much on purpose noise infiltrates the mix. At one point I thought my speaker was blown. Nope, just a "cool" sound effect. One song would be great if it weren't for the incessant cymbal hiss masking the great work beneath it.I wanted to love this album. Instead it was an interesting and promising beginning for Octopus Project. But ultimately, get Hello Avalanche and enjoy their unique mix of music and pass on this one. | 990 | [
"After loving their new album, Hello Avalanche, I was very eager to get their first album to see how they began.",
"First the good.",
"There some excellent jams, rhythms, and riffs throughout the album.",
"It ranges from laid back to frenetic paces.",
"Overall it's a lot of fun.",
"The bad?",
"The song writing.",
"Although you can here the genius behind the musicians, at this point they hadn't figured out how to turn that into 4 minute songs.",
"Many compositions here meander aimlessly or stay stuck on one riff too long.",
"Another distraction is their deliberate attempt to be \"lo-fi\".",
"Too much on purpose noise infiltrates the mix.",
"At one point I thought my speaker was blown.",
"Nope, just a \"cool\" sound effect.",
"One song would be great if it weren't for the incessant cymbal hiss masking the great work beneath it.I wanted to love this album.",
"Instead it was an interesting and promising beginning for Octopus Project.",
"But ultimately, get Hello Avalanche and enjoy their unique mix of music and pass on this one."
] |
3 | Curious movie | This movie in true scifi form was quite ahead of its time as far as its theme goes, a tv show in which contestants become assassins of each other and earn a living that way. Last few years, a couple of American movies were made around the same topic. However, they don't have Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni in it and that wonderful 60's wacky visual interpretation of what the future would look like.Will it ever go this far on tv to satisfy the ever increasing and by the media itself ever stimulated need for thrills and kicks, without which people don't seem to be able to sense they're alive anymore or so we're given to believe? The cynical me and optimistic me have not finished that debate as yet to give an answer.The acting in this movie is not exactly mindblowing and the movie's main subject is not exactly deeply explored, but it has a lot of curiosity value in that it is rather unique in its depiction of what may be in store for us and is quite entertaining at that. | 990 | [
"This movie in true scifi form was quite ahead of its time as far as its theme goes, a tv show in which contestants become assassins of each other and earn a living that way.",
"Last few years, a couple of American movies were made around the same topic.",
"However, they don't have Ursula Andress and Marcello Mastroianni in it and that wonderful 60's wacky visual interpretation of what the future would look like.Will it ever go this far on tv to satisfy the ever increasing and by the media itself ever stimulated need for thrills and kicks, without which people don't seem to be able to sense they're alive anymore or so we're given to believe?",
"The cynical me and optimistic me have not finished that debate as yet to give an answer.The acting in this movie is not exactly mindblowing and the movie's main subject is not exactly deeply explored, but it has a lot of curiosity value in that it is rather unique in its depiction of what may be in store for us and is quite entertaining at that."
] |
3 | Good, but.... | So I started out not knowing anything about knitting. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. I started reading and thought "this doesn't look so hard" I followed all the directions (which were sometimes vague)and started knitting my first row, then I got to the second...that's when I stared at frustration at the tangled mess of my needles. So I undid it and started again and again and again, this went on for a while until my lovely husband says to me, "Why don't you just youtube it?". To be honest the video I watched on youtube made much more sense than the techniques in Stoller's book. I think that the book has some interesting ideas and once you get the general idea of how to freakin' knit, then you can figure out the cool stitch's she has to offer. So the final verdict is, get it, but supplement with youtube otherwise you may end really unhappy with that awesome shiny yarn and needles you just bought.P.S. As a personal tip, I found a 6mm needle and chunkier yarn to be easier to start with. | 990 | [
"So I started out not knowing anything about knitting.",
"Nothing.",
"Nada.",
"Zilch.",
"I started reading and thought \"this doesn't look so hard\" I followed all the directions (which were sometimes vague)and started knitting my first row, then I got to the second...that's when I stared at frustration at the tangled mess of my needles.",
"So I undid it and started again and again and again, this went on for a while until my lovely husband says to me, \"Why don't you just youtube it?",
"\".",
"To be honest the video I watched on youtube made much more sense than the techniques in Stoller's book.",
"I think that the book has some interesting ideas and once you get the general idea of how to freakin' knit, then you can figure out the cool stitch's she has to offer.",
"So the final verdict is, get it, but supplement with youtube otherwise you may end really unhappy with that awesome shiny yarn and needles you just bought.P.S. As a personal tip, I found a 6mm needle and chunkier yarn to be easier to start with."
] |
3 | Remastered Premiere | There's only so much remastering can accomplish with Van Halen's early catalog if not remixing from scratch. And make no mistake --these CDs are AAD, not ADD-- which is ancient CD nomenclature for digitally remastering an old analog stereo master. But this time they used a better analog master, or so the story goes, until they find a better one.But a complete remastering would have had little impact on Van Halen I if digital gurus were faithful to the original mix. Because let's face it; Ted Templeman was a pretty ... producer --packing Eddie's guitar off hard on one side of the mix and submerging Michael Anthony's pedestrian bass playing below audible levels. And for all of Eddie's talking up his "brown sound", his guitar sounds more or less like an overdriven AM radio drenched in cheap echo on this CD.That's not to say the performances aren't top drawer, though completely dated and a bit off the cuff, and the CD is sure to please anyone who only wants one Roth Van Halen CD. | 990 | [
"There's only so much remastering can accomplish with Van Halen's early catalog if not remixing from scratch.",
"And make no mistake --these CDs are AAD, not ADD-- which is ancient CD nomenclature for digitally remastering an old analog stereo master.",
"But this time they used a better analog master, or so the story goes, until they find a better one.But a complete remastering would have had little impact on Van Halen I if digital gurus were faithful to the original mix.",
"Because let's face it; Ted Templeman was a pretty ... producer --packing Eddie's guitar off hard on one side of the mix and submerging Michael Anthony's pedestrian bass playing below audible levels.",
"And for all of Eddie's talking up his \"brown sound\", his guitar sounds more or less like an overdriven AM radio drenched in cheap echo on this CD.That's not to say the performances aren't top drawer, though completely dated and a bit off the cuff, and the CD is sure to please anyone who only wants one Roth Van Halen CD."
] |
3 | NOT AT ALL SIMPLE | While Bill has some very good ideas, this book is almost unreadable. Pages suddenly move from 12 pitch to 16 pitch to 20 pitch type, numbering is reversed to suit a point at will, double and triple line spaces come and go, bold type is spread here and there - it will give you glasses if you read it in one session.Secondly, while part of the title, no where does the concept of Competitibve Advantage get defined - Read Jay Barney "Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage" Addison-Wesley 1997 to get a good start on what exactly you are looking for.Bill's core points are spread out over the 210 pages - if you cut out the quotes the book would be 25% shorter and much better for it.What he says is great - know exactly what you want to do, why you want to and what success will look like, and tell others in terms they can understand, and make sure they understand.I would suggest that you read someone elses copy before you think about purchasing this book. It's good but not great. | 990 | [
"While Bill has some very good ideas, this book is almost unreadable.",
"Pages suddenly move from 12 pitch to 16 pitch to 20 pitch type, numbering is reversed to suit a point at will, double and triple line spaces come and go, bold type is spread here and there - it will give you glasses if you read it in one session.Secondly, while part of the title, no where does the concept of Competitibve Advantage get defined - Read Jay Barney \"Gaining and Sustaining Competitive Advantage\" Addison-Wesley 1997 to get a good start on what exactly you are looking for.Bill's core points are spread out over the 210 pages - if you cut out the quotes the book would be 25% shorter and much better for it.What he says is great - know exactly what you want to do, why you want to and what success will look like, and tell others in terms they can understand, and make sure they understand.I would suggest that you read someone elses copy before you think about purchasing this book.",
"It's good but not great."
] |
3 | Thought-provoking... | What do I really think Heaven is like? This is the question I have been asking myself since reading The Lovely Bones, narrated by Susie Salmon, a murdered teenage girl residing in her own version of Heaven.Susie lives in a perfect place surrounded by coveted objects from her most vivid imaginings, yet she is still aware of and emotionally involved in the lives of the friends and family she left behind. She is omni-present and is able to facilitate the unfolding plot from a ubiquitous perspective.Her loved ones' lives are shattered as a result of her death, and, try as she might, she can do nothing to intercede. She is left to see the harsh unraveling that she incidentally caused.The Lovely Bones is a thought-provoking effort from a first-time author; however, I feel the resolution of the story (without giving it away) is too forced and inconsistent with the rest of the novel. Overall, though, this book left me asking myself some great questions, which makes it worth the read. | 990 | [
"What do I really think Heaven is like?",
"This is the question I have been asking myself since reading The Lovely Bones, narrated by Susie Salmon, a murdered teenage girl residing in her own version of Heaven.Susie lives in a perfect place surrounded by coveted objects from her most vivid imaginings, yet she is still aware of and emotionally involved in the lives of the friends and family she left behind.",
"She is omni-present and is able to facilitate the unfolding plot from a ubiquitous perspective.Her loved ones' lives are shattered as a result of her death, and, try as she might, she can do nothing to intercede.",
"She is left to see the harsh unraveling that she incidentally caused.The Lovely Bones is a thought-provoking effort from a first-time author; however, I feel the resolution of the story (without giving it away) is too forced and inconsistent with the rest of the novel.",
"Overall, though, this book left me asking myself some great questions, which makes it worth the read."
] |
3 | Entertaining enough | I was attracted to this by the rescue scenes in "The Perfect Storm", which alerted me to the fact that US Coast Guard swimmers actually jump into raging seas to rescue people.So, was this a fitting tribute to the courageous men and women of the US Coast Guard who put their lives on the line for mariners in distress? To be honest, I thought they deserved better than this rather formulaic, predictable story (especially the odd beginning and matching end). The sea rescue scenes are well done, and you cannot help but admire the people who really do this for a living. In that regard, the film succeeds very well. The training/rivalry/romance bits are just the usual old Hollywood boilerplate grafted on, things you've seen many times before. Kevin Costner, who can be very good, does a sort of strong, silent wooden Indian impersonation, and the young hotshot is, well, a typical Hollywood hotshot.Nevertheless, there are worse ways of spending a couple of hours (it was rather long too). | 990 | [
"I was attracted to this by the rescue scenes in \"The Perfect Storm\", which alerted me to the fact that US Coast Guard swimmers actually jump into raging seas to rescue people.So, was this a fitting tribute to the courageous men and women of the US Coast Guard who put their lives on the line for mariners in distress?",
"To be honest, I thought they deserved better than this rather formulaic, predictable story (especially the odd beginning and matching end).",
"The sea rescue scenes are well done, and you cannot help but admire the people who really do this for a living.",
"In that regard, the film succeeds very well.",
"The training/rivalry/romance bits are just the usual old Hollywood boilerplate grafted on, things you've seen many times before.",
"Kevin Costner, who can be very good, does a sort of strong, silent wooden Indian impersonation, and the young hotshot is, well, a typical Hollywood hotshot.Nevertheless, there are worse ways of spending a couple of hours (it was rather long too)."
] |
3 | "Femme Fatigue" | When I saw this movie in the theater, I thought I was in France. It felt like one of those erotic thrillers you'd see at Cannes Film Festival. Really, "Femme Fatale" is insanity. A dream within a dream? Laure or Lily (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) was a jewel thief who robbed a film festival and cheated her lover in the process. After she left to France many years later, a photographer named Nick (Antonio Banderas) believed that the rich wife of an important invidual was in fact this jewel thief. I forgot to mention that her partners in crime were after her. Understand? The movie should've been called "Femme Fatigue." It's that tiring and you'll probably stop concentrating after ten minutes. Of course I get it, I'm brilliant. People may have more fun studying for the SATs than to watch this movie. I have to point out that the cinematography is eye catching and mesmerizing. I'm giving it three stars because it was something fresh that was released recently and it deserves to be seen. | 990 | [
"When I saw this movie in the theater, I thought I was in France.",
"It felt like one of those erotic thrillers you'd see at Cannes Film Festival.",
"Really, \"Femme Fatale\" is insanity.",
"A dream within a dream?",
"Laure or Lily (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) was a jewel thief who robbed a film festival and cheated her lover in the process.",
"After she left to France many years later, a photographer named Nick (Antonio Banderas) believed that the rich wife of an important invidual was in fact this jewel thief.",
"I forgot to mention that her partners in crime were after her.",
"Understand?",
"The movie should've been called \"Femme Fatigue.\" It's that tiring and you'll probably stop concentrating after ten minutes.",
"Of course I get it, I'm brilliant.",
"People may have more fun studying for the SATs than to watch this movie.",
"I have to point out that the cinematography is eye catching and mesmerizing.",
"I'm giving it three stars because it was something fresh that was released recently and it deserves to be seen."
] |
3 | Almost Bangleicous | The disc starts top-heavy with its best music. The rocking title track and harmoneous "Stealing Rosemary" lead into the highlight of the album, the made-for-heavy-rotation-on-every-pop-station "Something That You Said". Unfortunately, things go downhill from here.It's not that the rest of the disc is bad...it's filled with solid tracks and a couple of gems (especially "Ride the Ride"), but the momentum is just lost with Tracks 5 and 6, the Bangles' take on Vicki Peterson's other band's "Rain Song", and the dreadful "Nickel Romeo". Everything past these two tracks could have held my momentum for the duration, but it's just gone.If The Bangles get a US distribution deal, they would be best served to lose these two tracks completely. Even without the (alleged) bonus tracks at the end, it would be a much better disc. I would just dub a copy with the two tracks omitted, but the copy protection (which also makes the disc skip in about a half dozen specific places) ruined that idea. | 990 | [
"The disc starts top-heavy with its best music.",
"The rocking title track and harmoneous \"Stealing Rosemary\" lead into the highlight of the album, the made-for-heavy-rotation-on-every-pop-station \"Something That You Said\".",
"Unfortunately, things go downhill from here.It's not that the rest of the disc is bad...it's filled with solid tracks and a couple of gems (especially \"Ride the Ride\"), but the momentum is just lost with Tracks 5 and 6, the Bangles' take on Vicki Peterson's other band's \"Rain Song\", and the dreadful \"Nickel Romeo\".",
"Everything past these two tracks could have held my momentum for the duration, but it's just gone.If The Bangles get a US distribution deal, they would be best served to lose these two tracks completely.",
"Even without the (alleged) bonus tracks at the end, it would be a much better disc.",
"I would just dub a copy with the two tracks omitted, but the copy protection (which also makes the disc skip in about a half dozen specific places) ruined that idea."
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.