text
stringlengths 114
22.4k
| label
int64 0
2
| label_text
stringclasses 3
values | sentences
sequencelengths 10
828
|
|---|---|---|---|
I've used an OXO salad spinner for years. It finally wore out and I ordered this "newer" version. The PR states how OXO has identified problems and improved this spinner version. Baloney! The following are my observations:
1. This version of the spinner comes without a lid as opposed to the previous version that did come with a lid. You are supposed to use the spinning mechanism as a lid after collapsing its handle. The protrusion of the mechanism into the bowl takes up several cubic inches and thereby reduces the amount of salad you can store in the bowl.
2. The lid that came with the previous version of this spinner allowed you to easily shake the bowl to toss the salad. With the protrusion of the mechanism into the bowl as mentioned above, this is no longer possible.
3. The colander that spins in the bowl is configured slightly different than its predecessor. It is more difficult to dry with a dish towel.
4. The instructions with this spinner say the lettuce will stay fresher if you leave the salad in the colander for storing in the bowl. Again, limiting the volume of what can be stored in the spinner.
5. The spinning mechanism is flimsily constructed and may not hold up as its predecessor version. Other Amazon reviewers have mentioned that it failed after relatively short usage or attempting to disassemble it for cleaning as per OXO instructions.
6. The only improvement that I discerned in this spinner version is the wider base of its bowl.
Bottom line: Is this a good product? Overall, yes it is a good product. However, because of what I have alluded to above, I cannot in good conscience give it more than three stars. Sorry OXO, you generally make wonderful products of which I have many. Not this time. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've used an OXO salad spinner for years.",
"It finally wore out and I ordered this \"newer\" version.",
"The PR states how OXO has identified problems and improved this spinner version.",
"Baloney!",
"The following are my observations:\n\n1.",
"This version of the spinner comes without a lid as opposed to the previous version that did come with a lid.",
"You are supposed to use the spinning mechanism as a lid after collapsing its handle.",
"The protrusion of the mechanism into the bowl takes up several cubic inches and thereby reduces the amount of salad you can store in the bowl.",
"2.",
"The lid that came with the previous version of this spinner allowed you to easily shake the bowl to toss the salad.",
"With the protrusion of the mechanism into the bowl as mentioned above, this is no longer possible.",
"3.",
"The colander that spins in the bowl is configured slightly different than its predecessor.",
"It is more difficult to dry with a dish towel.",
"4.",
"The instructions with this spinner say the lettuce will stay fresher if you leave the salad in the colander for storing in the bowl.",
"Again, limiting the volume of what can be stored in the spinner.",
"5.",
"The spinning mechanism is flimsily constructed and may not hold up as its predecessor version.",
"Other Amazon reviewers have mentioned that it failed after relatively short usage or attempting to disassemble it for cleaning as per OXO instructions.",
"6.",
"The only improvement that I discerned in this spinner version is the wider base of its bowl.",
"Bottom line: Is this a good product?",
"Overall, yes it is a good product.",
"However, because of what I have alluded to above, I cannot in good conscience give it more than three stars.",
"Sorry OXO, you generally make wonderful products of which I have many.",
"Not this time."
] |
This game is different. Requires a bottle of wine and a notepad. Turn the lights out. Crank up the audio. Prepare for some tedious searching and running back and forth, but that's what it's all about. Works in a psychological way that takes you by surprise. The puzzles (or things required to implement a logical progression of the story) make sense and work in your favor. It builds on you... takes you into its own little claustrophobic world, and begs you to solve its mystery. The ending works wonderfully if you pay attention to what its all about. The Blair Witch jolt comes to mind. Give in only if you like unsettling moments achieved through sheer, frustrated, mystery solving determination, and enjoy feeling those Goosebumps on your face. | 1 | neutral | [
"This game is different.",
"Requires a bottle of wine and a notepad.",
"Turn the lights out.",
"Crank up the audio.",
"Prepare for some tedious searching and running back and forth, but that's what it's all about.",
"Works in a psychological way that takes you by surprise.",
"The puzzles (or things required to implement a logical progression of the story) make sense and work in your favor.",
"It builds on you...",
"takes you into its own little claustrophobic world, and begs you to solve its mystery.",
"The ending works wonderfully if you pay attention to what its all about.",
"The Blair Witch jolt comes to mind.",
"Give in only if you like unsettling moments achieved through sheer, frustrated, mystery solving determination, and enjoy feeling those Goosebumps on your face."
] |
Any more than casual jazz fan will have listened to the trumpeter Blue Mitchell--he was a regular of Horace Silver's group during its best years at Blue Note--but perhaps hasn't sampled his work as a leader. If so this is a good place to start, with Mitchell, unusually, the sole horn supported by a trio of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones & Roy Brooks (another Silver-associated player, though he later went on to become associated with the 1960s avantgarde). Mitchell had only a modest technique, about which he was unduly selfconscious--he had a great personal sound on his instrument, & is one of the most unmistakeable players of the period. Like Miles Davis, he turned a deficiency into an advantage: though he lacks Davis's piercing melancholy & mournfulness, Mitchell has a nicely introvert, melodic style that I find quite charming. (If one's inclined to make a case study one could do worse than comparing Mitchell's very pretty version of "When I Fall in Love" with Davis's more lacerated & fragile version for Prestige of a few years earlier.)
This is solid, enjoyable jazz that, if it is no masterpiece, is certainly eminently playable. Mitchell's limitations are exposed a bit over the course of the album--he is not a widely expressive player, & he often resorts to repeated licks (astonishingly, the banal "Country Gardens" bop quote crops up 3 times in the space of the album's 41 minutes). I also feel that Wynton Kelly is taking it rather easy--compare his work here with that on contemporary albums by Mobley, Coltrane & Davis, & you'll see what I mean. But in any case it's a very likeable album. One interesting feature of note is a cover of a Rocky Boyd tune, "Avars"--Boyd recorded one album as a leader with Kenny Dorham & had an eyeblink tenure in the Miles Davis band (see the passing reference in Davis's autobiography). I otherwise know nothing about him, & I don't think anyone else does either as he's faded from the annals of the music. | 1 | neutral | [
"Any more than casual jazz fan will have listened to the trumpeter Blue Mitchell--he was a regular of Horace Silver's group during its best years at Blue Note--but perhaps hasn't sampled his work as a leader.",
"If so this is a good place to start, with Mitchell, unusually, the sole horn supported by a trio of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones & Roy Brooks (another Silver-associated player, though he later went on to become associated with the 1960s avantgarde).",
"Mitchell had only a modest technique, about which he was unduly selfconscious--he had a great personal sound on his instrument, & is one of the most unmistakeable players of the period.",
"Like Miles Davis, he turned a deficiency into an advantage: though he lacks Davis's piercing melancholy & mournfulness, Mitchell has a nicely introvert, melodic style that I find quite charming.",
"(If one's inclined to make a case study one could do worse than comparing Mitchell's very pretty version of \"When I Fall in Love\" with Davis's more lacerated & fragile version for Prestige of a few years earlier.",
")\nThis is solid, enjoyable jazz that, if it is no masterpiece, is certainly eminently playable.",
"Mitchell's limitations are exposed a bit over the course of the album--he is not a widely expressive player, & he often resorts to repeated licks (astonishingly, the banal \"Country Gardens\" bop quote crops up 3 times in the space of the album's 41 minutes).",
"I also feel that Wynton Kelly is taking it rather easy--compare his work here with that on contemporary albums by Mobley, Coltrane & Davis, & you'll see what I mean.",
"But in any case it's a very likeable album.",
"One interesting feature of note is a cover of a Rocky Boyd tune, \"Avars\"--Boyd recorded one album as a leader with Kenny Dorham & had an eyeblink tenure in the Miles Davis band (see the passing reference in Davis's autobiography).",
"I otherwise know nothing about him, & I don't think anyone else does either as he's faded from the annals of the music."
] |
As a band, Rush has been constantly reinventing itself, experimenting with new styles, progressing and growing as musicians. This album is where it began. And comparing it with their latest, you can see how after nearly 30 years together, they've gone so far from where they started, they may as well be a different band. And personnel-wise, they are indeed different, as this album doesn't have Neil Peart's drumming or lyrical talents. Percussion is handled ably by John Rutsey, who left the band shortly after this album.
This one gets a bad rap from a lot of people, but it's not so bad. I enjoy listening to it every once in a while. In a few songs, you can really hear the oft-repeated "Led Zeppelin influence." It's there, but while their roots are clear, they also manage to produce their own musical style that departs from the influences. This is purely a hard rock album, not venturing into the progressive styles that became their trademark later on.
Of course, this is the album with the concert standard "Working Man" on it. That's always fun to listen to. And despite some truly awful lyrics in some songs, the music is great throughout the album.
Not their best, barely like the other albums at all, but still one I play occasionally. | 1 | neutral | [
"As a band, Rush has been constantly reinventing itself, experimenting with new styles, progressing and growing as musicians.",
"This album is where it began.",
"And comparing it with their latest, you can see how after nearly 30 years together, they've gone so far from where they started, they may as well be a different band.",
"And personnel-wise, they are indeed different, as this album doesn't have Neil Peart's drumming or lyrical talents.",
"Percussion is handled ably by John Rutsey, who left the band shortly after this album.",
"This one gets a bad rap from a lot of people, but it's not so bad.",
"I enjoy listening to it every once in a while.",
"In a few songs, you can really hear the oft-repeated \"Led Zeppelin influence.",
"\" It's there, but while their roots are clear, they also manage to produce their own musical style that departs from the influences.",
"This is purely a hard rock album, not venturing into the progressive styles that became their trademark later on.",
"Of course, this is the album with the concert standard \"Working Man\" on it.",
"That's always fun to listen to.",
"And despite some truly awful lyrics in some songs, the music is great throughout the album.",
"Not their best, barely like the other albums at all, but still one I play occasionally."
] |
I could swear that there were a couple of different scenes when I saw this film in theatrical release.
There was at least one more scene in the Eiger Hotel where Pope confronts Eastwood, and Eastwood slams his hand in the door. That explains the extra irony when Eastwood later steps on Pope's hand in their outdoor fight, and Pope cries out "ow, my hand, my hand!".
Also, the scene where the little dog jumped into Eastwood's jeep in the desert was omitted in the original. Instead, when George Kennedy later informs Eastwood that the county sheriff has found Milo's body in the desert, he concludes with: "...and the damnedest thing..." "What's that?" "They say that he ate a dog" to which Eastwood returns his best insouciant smile. I could see that they might have taken that out for today's animal-rights PC-crowd. Which means that they must have filmed both versions and used the more rude one in the original release. Does anyone else remember it that way?
Anyway, the film is still a lot of fun, even if they took away some of its 70's edginess. | 1 | neutral | [
"I could swear that there were a couple of different scenes when I saw this film in theatrical release.",
"There was at least one more scene in the Eiger Hotel where Pope confronts Eastwood, and Eastwood slams his hand in the door.",
"That explains the extra irony when Eastwood later steps on Pope's hand in their outdoor fight, and Pope cries out \"ow, my hand, my hand!",
"\".",
"Also, the scene where the little dog jumped into Eastwood's jeep in the desert was omitted in the original.",
"Instead, when George Kennedy later informs Eastwood that the county sheriff has found Milo's body in the desert, he concludes with: \"...",
"and the damnedest thing...",
"\" \"What's that?",
"\" \"They say that he ate a dog\" to which Eastwood returns his best insouciant smile.",
"I could see that they might have taken that out for today's animal-rights PC-crowd.",
"Which means that they must have filmed both versions and used the more rude one in the original release.",
"Does anyone else remember it that way?",
"Anyway, the film is still a lot of fun, even if they took away some of its 70's edginess."
] |
This sounds like a great product and, to be honest, I like the way it makes my skin feel. But also, to be honest, I'm not sure it makes my skin feel all that much better than other products I have used at much, much less the price.
One thing I don't like about this pricey emulsion is the numerous ingredients. I count about 36 or so. First ingredient is water, of course, as is usual for many skin products, and there are also many innocuous and even good ingredients, such as those that are fruit derived and also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, for example.
However, I'm not all that happy to find titanium dioxide, even if it is the last ingredient in the listing. Also sodium hydroxide, which is also known as lye or caustic acid, can be a skin irritant and is never a favorite of mine. And there's mica, which, although not usually a skin irritant, has its dark side because of the use of child labor in its mining in much of the world.
Granted, I imagine that none of these ingredients in the amounts of the formulation of the lotion will be harmful. This seems to be a reputable company and most probably follows health and safety guidelines. So I'm mainly rating this product based on bang for buck.
In that respect, I say it's just okay. I haven't noticed any lessening of dark spots and that's supposed to be a main attraction of using this emulsion. I will say that it does make my skin feel soft and smooth. But I can get the same result with less expensive products. For me any skin lotion with a good amount of hyaluronic acid works the same way on my skin. | 1 | neutral | [
"This sounds like a great product and, to be honest, I like the way it makes my skin feel.",
"But also, to be honest, I'm not sure it makes my skin feel all that much better than other products I have used at much, much less the price.",
"One thing I don't like about this pricey emulsion is the numerous ingredients.",
"I count about 36 or so.",
"First ingredient is water, of course, as is usual for many skin products, and there are also many innocuous and even good ingredients, such as those that are fruit derived and also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, for example.",
"However, I'm not all that happy to find titanium dioxide, even if it is the last ingredient in the listing.",
"Also sodium hydroxide, which is also known as lye or caustic acid, can be a skin irritant and is never a favorite of mine.",
"And there's mica, which, although not usually a skin irritant, has its dark side because of the use of child labor in its mining in much of the world.",
"Granted, I imagine that none of these ingredients in the amounts of the formulation of the lotion will be harmful.",
"This seems to be a reputable company and most probably follows health and safety guidelines.",
"So I'm mainly rating this product based on bang for buck.",
"In that respect, I say it's just okay.",
"I haven't noticed any lessening of dark spots and that's supposed to be a main attraction of using this emulsion.",
"I will say that it does make my skin feel soft and smooth.",
"But I can get the same result with less expensive products.",
"For me any skin lotion with a good amount of hyaluronic acid works the same way on my skin."
] |
I actually bought this game when reading a review of it. Ubisoft is pumping out some very good games this year but i DON'T recommend buying this one. There is no problem with the graphics. They are awesome every thing is fluid, from running on the walls to gymnastic flipping on the horizontal poles. The charecter physics are great. The camera is tricky sometimes but once you get the basics of what is physically possible on the game you work past the flaky camera. The combat system is suprisingly involved and fun, especially when you can turn your opponents into sand. The idea for the game along with the story is original (ie. speeding up time and rewinding it). long story short the game IS fun.
I beat it in a weekend though with a total of 7 hours of game play. DON'T BUY IT, RENT IT!! | 1 | neutral | [
"I actually bought this game when reading a review of it.",
"Ubisoft is pumping out some very good games this year but i DON'T recommend buying this one.",
"There is no problem with the graphics.",
"They are awesome every thing is fluid, from running on the walls to gymnastic flipping on the horizontal poles.",
"The charecter physics are great.",
"The camera is tricky sometimes but once you get the basics of what is physically possible on the game you work past the flaky camera.",
"The combat system is suprisingly involved and fun, especially when you can turn your opponents into sand.",
"The idea for the game along with the story is original (ie.",
"speeding up time and rewinding it).",
"long story short the game IS fun.",
"I beat it in a weekend though with a total of 7 hours of game play.",
"DON'T BUY IT, RENT IT!!"
] |
i liked the story that this book contained. it had an interesting premis. i just wish it had been fleshed out more. i like my books to have a little more depth.
there were times it seemed to move so fast that i did not really know anything about the characters. that being said the author coulld be purposely writing like this kind of like a throw back to the old alfred hitchcock mystery mag or plain old pulp fiction. so if you like your detective novels bare bones amd all action this is for you. if you like something a little meatier pass this up.
the only part that really stuck to me, that almost made me quit reading was how the police reactted to the missing children. they told the parents 48 hours had to pass before they could do anything. that law is for adults. children they start looking imediately. | 1 | neutral | [
"i liked the story that this book contained.",
"it had an interesting premis.",
"i just wish it had been fleshed out more.",
"i like my books to have a little more depth.",
"there were times it seemed to move so fast that i did not really know anything about the characters.",
"that being said the author coulld be purposely writing like this kind of like a throw back to the old alfred hitchcock mystery mag or plain old pulp fiction.",
"so if you like your detective novels bare bones amd all action this is for you.",
"if you like something a little meatier pass this up.",
"the only part that really stuck to me, that almost made me quit reading was how the police reactted to the missing children.",
"they told the parents 48 hours had to pass before they could do anything.",
"that law is for adults.",
"children they start looking imediately."
] |
I bought this and returned it the next day. I was fortunate enough to purchase a Danelectro Dan-echo for my first ever delay pedal, way back when I started buying guitar pedals a couple decades ago (thank you random music store salesman). I'm still not sure that anything out there emulates the 60s-era tape echo as well as the Dan-echo. It's lush and warm and perfect in every way. So.. I thought about buying one of those again. But, my combined love of all other MXR pedals (they really do things right most of the time) and having seen so many positive reviews on this pedal, I decided to grab this. I also liked the slimmer design and my pedal board space is nearly maxed out.
I plugged it in and as expected, the tone was beautiful and the more I played with it, the more I liked the sounds I was getting, and then.. I kicked in the distortion. What the heck happened? I started checking all my settings, trying to figure out where I went wrong. No matter what I did, it was horrible sounding. I started researching online and finally realized this simply doesn't work for distortion no matter what you try. It's a "clean sound" pedal.
This has me perplexed as to the number of 5-star reviews and I have to wonder if many people just get this as their first delay pedal and think this is the way it is for all delay pedals? It's not! The best part of owning a really good delay pedal is turning it on during a solo after kicking in the distortion. It's about getting that big John Petrucci delay sound - putting air around all the notes and getting a sound that makes you want to stay in your room and play for hours. You will never come close with this pedal.
I emailed my Sweetwater rep with my finding and he replied with the same response.. "oh yeah, definitely not you want for soloing". He recommended the Faux Tape Echo v2. I started to decline and go look for the Dan-echo that brought me so much joy years ago but the one thing about the Dan-echo is that plastic pots are used and they break on every one of those pedals ever made. If you play and gig a lot, you can get about a year out of them - 2 if you're lucky. If they would ever replace that with a metal part, they would be gold. The Faux Tape also had one other feature I was really interested in.. tap delay. Tap your foot to the beat of the song and click it on and you've got a perfectly timed delay every time. I checked out some vids (with distortion) and loved what I heard. I ordered and have never looked back. The Echo is perfect for that sound I was looking for. I'll say it's 95% of the sound the Dan-echo gave me and that's darned good.
So I'm giving the Carbon Copy 3 stars. MXR makes quality stuff and this pedal is no exception. I also realize that many will simply want/need a "clean sound" delay only and for this, I couldn't recommend a pedal anymore. It's beautiful on clean sounds and everything I had hoped.
I hope MXR buys a Dan-echo someday and tries it out for a dirty solo. They'll quickly realize what the Carbon Copy is missing and no doubt, they could create an even better sounding pedal than Danelectro did all those years ago.
SUMMARY: Get the Carbon Copy if you want a great clean sounding delay. If you play a harder style of music and want to add delay to your solos, this is not the delay for you. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought this and returned it the next day.",
"I was fortunate enough to purchase a Danelectro Dan-echo for my first ever delay pedal, way back when I started buying guitar pedals a couple decades ago (thank you random music store salesman).",
"I'm still not sure that anything out there emulates the 60s-era tape echo as well as the Dan-echo.",
"It's lush and warm and perfect in every way.",
"So..",
"I thought about buying one of those again.",
"But, my combined love of all other MXR pedals (they really do things right most of the time) and having seen so many positive reviews on this pedal, I decided to grab this.",
"I also liked the slimmer design and my pedal board space is nearly maxed out.",
"I plugged it in and as expected, the tone was beautiful and the more I played with it, the more I liked the sounds I was getting, and then..",
"I kicked in the distortion.",
"What the heck happened?",
"I started checking all my settings, trying to figure out where I went wrong.",
"No matter what I did, it was horrible sounding.",
"I started researching online and finally realized this simply doesn't work for distortion no matter what you try.",
"It's a \"clean sound\" pedal.",
"This has me perplexed as to the number of 5-star reviews and I have to wonder if many people just get this as their first delay pedal and think this is the way it is for all delay pedals?",
"It's not!",
"The best part of owning a really good delay pedal is turning it on during a solo after kicking in the distortion.",
"It's about getting that big John Petrucci delay sound - putting air around all the notes and getting a sound that makes you want to stay in your room and play for hours.",
"You will never come close with this pedal.",
"I emailed my Sweetwater rep with my finding and he replied with the same response..",
"\"oh yeah, definitely not you want for soloing\".",
"He recommended the Faux Tape Echo v2.",
"I started to decline and go look for the Dan-echo that brought me so much joy years ago but the one thing about the Dan-echo is that plastic pots are used and they break on every one of those pedals ever made.",
"If you play and gig a lot, you can get about a year out of them - 2 if you're lucky.",
"If they would ever replace that with a metal part, they would be gold.",
"The Faux Tape also had one other feature I was really interested in..",
"tap delay.",
"Tap your foot to the beat of the song and click it on and you've got a perfectly timed delay every time.",
"I checked out some vids (with distortion) and loved what I heard.",
"I ordered and have never looked back.",
"The Echo is perfect for that sound I was looking for.",
"I'll say it's 95% of the sound the Dan-echo gave me and that's darned good.",
"So I'm giving the Carbon Copy 3 stars.",
"MXR makes quality stuff and this pedal is no exception.",
"I also realize that many will simply want/need a \"clean sound\" delay only and for this, I couldn't recommend a pedal anymore.",
"It's beautiful on clean sounds and everything I had hoped.",
"I hope MXR buys a Dan-echo someday and tries it out for a dirty solo.",
"They'll quickly realize what the Carbon Copy is missing and no doubt, they could create an even better sounding pedal than Danelectro did all those years ago.",
"SUMMARY: Get the Carbon Copy if you want a great clean sounding delay.",
"If you play a harder style of music and want to add delay to your solos, this is not the delay for you."
] |
I have literally this minute completed Quake 4, and thought I'd write a review of the game to let you know my feelings.
I have got to say, first of all, that Quake 4 is a big improvement on Doom 3. Not just because the graphics are far, far better, which they are, and not because some of it is set outdoors in daylight, but also because the gameplay is a wee bit more fun.
Let's start at the beginning <SPOILERS COMING>
You start as Matthew Kane, a space marine. You are mute it seems, as you never speak even when your name is spoken. So, you have as much personality as a dead fish. However, you appear to be popular with your squad mates, due to past history.. hey, you're a hero!
Anyway, while en route to the Strogg planet in a drop-ship, guess what happens? Yes, your ship is shot down and your squad suffers heavy losses (am I the only one who wonders why they didn't just nuke the place?)
You wake up, injured. A medic comes to your aid. What a surprise. What I have described is exactly the same intro as in Half Life: Opposing Force from 6? years ago. You would have thought Raven would have done something more original.
So anyway, you rejoin your group, and from there on it's a case of following your objectives and completing tasks. Don't be fooled by ID's claim of "squad combat" - Operation Flashpoint, this is not.
You won't see Call Of Duty-like mass assaults on enemy positions. You won't see armoured divisions defending positions under heavy attack from Strogg walkers. You WILL see scripted set pieces that occur just as you walk through a door or pick up an object - sound like another recent ID game you know?
I think Raven missed a massive opportunity here: I got the impression they never tried to depict a massive war of Human vs Strogg because they wanted to concentrate on the graphics and not overload the CPU with too many objects moving around. Or the AI to do it would be too difficult. I think, and I may be wrong, that the most marines I've seen on screen at once, is 4.
So, most of the time you will be alone, performing the usual "press this button", "destroy this object" tasks, issued to you by an arbitrary leader.
I must say, it's really weird, every time you complete a task, you go back to your leader and he says, "Kane, go take a look down there, we'll stay here and..." - what is the point of being in a squad if you're going to do everything alone? I just thought it was a cop-out on Raven's behalf, and ruined the realism. As you don't speak, you can't remonstrate.
Every time backup arrives - they're killed before you meet them. Time after time. Trust me on this. Don't break sweat trying to get to them faster, you can't save them.
A welcome plot twist occurs when you get captured in a great scripted sequence. After various body parts are amputated and replaced by bionic equivalents, Kane *almost* becomes a Strogg but is rescued by a group of marines before his governing neural implant is activated.
Kane passes out.
Kane recovers in a medical room surrounded by various doctors discussing his condition.
I'm surprised that Kane didn't decide to shoot himself when he realised he was half-man, half strogg, and doubly surprised that he didn't run off to do it when he was told his condition was irreversible by medics. On hearing the bad news, Kane never said a word of complaint, nor did he break down in tears. Must be marine conditioning, eh? I know this is a game. But games are supposed to make you identify with the lead characters, not think "yeah, right".
Kane, despite being physically ravaged, is released to go back to the fight.
So off you go again, but this time you can access places that humans can't - don't get too excited though, I don't mean you can climb on the walls or hang from the ceiling.
I won't say what happens next but suffice it to say it's more of the same. Run, shoot, run... the AI's not much different from Doom3 either, except that the enemy sometimes hides - BADLY!!!
The game is still far more fun to play than Doom3 though, in fact I thought it was more fun than HalfLife 2 to be honest.
It's hard to explain why I like this game, maybe it's the fact that you don't really expect much from this release - well, I didn't, as soon as I heard the game used Doom3 technology I knew it wouldn't be that intense. Maybe it was just the desire to see new graphics (they are incredible. Its only near the end of the game do they get a bit "samey")
Then again maybe it's the fact the game is REALLY EASY. Yes folks - it's a walkover on normal level. Only the size and number of "levels" to go through makes this game last. Really difficult sections are few and far between. For old-timer gamers like me, it's compulsive to get to the next level!
So, to summarise: Quake 4 is a great game for those who aren't the fastest. Casual gamers will love it.
I would wait for it to hit the bargain bucket though, if truth be told, because at heart it's just the same as every other 3rd person shooter this year. But check out the GRAPHICS!!!! | 1 | neutral | [
"I have literally this minute completed Quake 4, and thought I'd write a review of the game to let you know my feelings.",
"I have got to say, first of all, that Quake 4 is a big improvement on Doom 3.",
"Not just because the graphics are far, far better, which they are, and not because some of it is set outdoors in daylight, but also because the gameplay is a wee bit more fun.",
"Let's start at the beginning <SPOILERS COMING>\n\nYou start as Matthew Kane, a space marine.",
"You are mute it seems, as you never speak even when your name is spoken.",
"So, you have as much personality as a dead fish.",
"However, you appear to be popular with your squad mates, due to past history..",
"hey, you're a hero!",
"Anyway, while en route to the Strogg planet in a drop-ship, guess what happens?",
"Yes, your ship is shot down and your squad suffers heavy losses (am I the only one who wonders why they didn't just nuke the place?",
")\n\nYou wake up, injured.",
"A medic comes to your aid.",
"What a surprise.",
"What I have described is exactly the same intro as in Half Life: Opposing Force from 6?",
"years ago.",
"You would have thought Raven would have done something more original.",
"So anyway, you rejoin your group, and from there on it's a case of following your objectives and completing tasks.",
"Don't be fooled by ID's claim of \"squad combat\" - Operation Flashpoint, this is not.",
"You won't see Call Of Duty-like mass assaults on enemy positions.",
"You won't see armoured divisions defending positions under heavy attack from Strogg walkers.",
"You WILL see scripted set pieces that occur just as you walk through a door or pick up an object - sound like another recent ID game you know?",
"I think Raven missed a massive opportunity here: I got the impression they never tried to depict a massive war of Human vs Strogg because they wanted to concentrate on the graphics and not overload the CPU with too many objects moving around.",
"Or the AI to do it would be too difficult.",
"I think, and I may be wrong, that the most marines I've seen on screen at once, is 4.",
"So, most of the time you will be alone, performing the usual \"press this button\", \"destroy this object\" tasks, issued to you by an arbitrary leader.",
"I must say, it's really weird, every time you complete a task, you go back to your leader and he says, \"Kane, go take a look down there, we'll stay here and...",
"\" - what is the point of being in a squad if you're going to do everything alone?",
"I just thought it was a cop-out on Raven's behalf, and ruined the realism.",
"As you don't speak, you can't remonstrate.",
"Every time backup arrives - they're killed before you meet them.",
"Time after time.",
"Trust me on this.",
"Don't break sweat trying to get to them faster, you can't save them.",
"A welcome plot twist occurs when you get captured in a great scripted sequence.",
"After various body parts are amputated and replaced by bionic equivalents, Kane *almost* becomes a Strogg but is rescued by a group of marines before his governing neural implant is activated.",
"Kane passes out.",
"Kane recovers in a medical room surrounded by various doctors discussing his condition.",
"I'm surprised that Kane didn't decide to shoot himself when he realised he was half-man, half strogg, and doubly surprised that he didn't run off to do it when he was told his condition was irreversible by medics.",
"On hearing the bad news, Kane never said a word of complaint, nor did he break down in tears.",
"Must be marine conditioning, eh?",
"I know this is a game.",
"But games are supposed to make you identify with the lead characters, not think \"yeah, right\".",
"Kane, despite being physically ravaged, is released to go back to the fight.",
"So off you go again, but this time you can access places that humans can't - don't get too excited though, I don't mean you can climb on the walls or hang from the ceiling.",
"I won't say what happens next but suffice it to say it's more of the same.",
"Run, shoot, run...",
"the AI's not much different from Doom3 either, except that the enemy sometimes hides - BADLY!!!",
"The game is still far more fun to play than Doom3 though, in fact I thought it was more fun than HalfLife 2 to be honest.",
"It's hard to explain why I like this game, maybe it's the fact that you don't really expect much from this release - well, I didn't, as soon as I heard the game used Doom3 technology I knew it wouldn't be that intense.",
"Maybe it was just the desire to see new graphics (they are incredible.",
"Its only near the end of the game do they get a bit \"samey\")\n\nThen again maybe it's the fact the game is REALLY EASY.",
"Yes folks - it's a walkover on normal level.",
"Only the size and number of \"levels\" to go through makes this game last.",
"Really difficult sections are few and far between.",
"For old-timer gamers like me, it's compulsive to get to the next level!",
"So, to summarise: Quake 4 is a great game for those who aren't the fastest.",
"Casual gamers will love it.",
"I would wait for it to hit the bargain bucket though, if truth be told, because at heart it's just the same as every other 3rd person shooter this year.",
"But check out the GRAPHICS!!!!"
] |
I was excited about this game and I figured since Bethesda was behind it, the makers of the "Elder Scolls" series, I figured they could finally make a good Star Trek game that would not only appease fans but have crossover appeal. What we have is Star Trek Legacy, a game that seems more last gen then next gen on the 360. This game is at times fun to play, but you get frustrated with the controls for one thing and the missions are sometimes ridiculously hard or ridiculously easy. For me the biggest sore note was the controls. The larger ships like the Galaxy Class and the other battleships are a pain to manuever. You end up getting killed without just trying to go after an enemy ship. The smaller ships basically lay waste to a battleship. The Klingon ships are very weak which I found surprising. The Romulan ships are stronger than the Klingon ships which was also kind of odd. The power balance is obviously skewed. The story, a rogue Vulcan scientist c'mon, has that not been done numerous times before in various episodes and movies. It would've nice to play the game from the prospective of the other races and to simply have more races to choose from like the Dominion, Cardassians, The Orion Syndicate, The Breen, The Bajorans etc. This game seems incomplete and unfortunately joins the long list of awful Star Trek games. Shame on you Bethesda! THIS GAME IS BOLDLY GOING TO THE DISCOUNT BIN! | 1 | neutral | [
"I was excited about this game and I figured since Bethesda was behind it, the makers of the \"Elder Scolls\" series, I figured they could finally make a good Star Trek game that would not only appease fans but have crossover appeal.",
"What we have is Star Trek Legacy, a game that seems more last gen then next gen on the 360.",
"This game is at times fun to play, but you get frustrated with the controls for one thing and the missions are sometimes ridiculously hard or ridiculously easy.",
"For me the biggest sore note was the controls.",
"The larger ships like the Galaxy Class and the other battleships are a pain to manuever.",
"You end up getting killed without just trying to go after an enemy ship.",
"The smaller ships basically lay waste to a battleship.",
"The Klingon ships are very weak which I found surprising.",
"The Romulan ships are stronger than the Klingon ships which was also kind of odd.",
"The power balance is obviously skewed.",
"The story, a rogue Vulcan scientist c'mon, has that not been done numerous times before in various episodes and movies.",
"It would've nice to play the game from the prospective of the other races and to simply have more races to choose from like the Dominion, Cardassians, The Orion Syndicate, The Breen, The Bajorans etc.",
"This game seems incomplete and unfortunately joins the long list of awful Star Trek games.",
"Shame on you Bethesda!",
"THIS GAME IS BOLDLY GOING TO THE DISCOUNT BIN!"
] |
Anybody who tells you that this is the greatest game ever made is just plain wrong. It is good, but not great. Some issues with controls and the camera severely hinder the gameplay. The fighting system is very basic, thus making it quite repetetive. The gameplay is fun if you don't sit and play for a long time because when you get into bullet time gun fighting, Matrix fans will be in the purest state of bliss. Unfortunately, the A.I. and animations of A.I./main characters are weak. The levels, though sprawling, are filled with pointless objectives, and lots and lots of useless empty space. Trying to vary gameplay is good, but the car levels just aren't very good. They suffer from a lack of refinement. In general, this game suffers from the aforementioned. Maybe if they had not been so pressed to release this with the movie, it could have been much, much better. I will say this, though, you simply cannot have a better presentation with cut scenes written, directed, and filmed with the actual actors by the Wachowski Brothers themselves. The presentation gets a definite 10. Everything else, though, is a good C+. | 1 | neutral | [
"Anybody who tells you that this is the greatest game ever made is just plain wrong.",
"It is good, but not great.",
"Some issues with controls and the camera severely hinder the gameplay.",
"The fighting system is very basic, thus making it quite repetetive.",
"The gameplay is fun if you don't sit and play for a long time because when you get into bullet time gun fighting, Matrix fans will be in the purest state of bliss.",
"Unfortunately, the A.",
"I. and animations of A.",
"I./main characters are weak.",
"The levels, though sprawling, are filled with pointless objectives, and lots and lots of useless empty space.",
"Trying to vary gameplay is good, but the car levels just aren't very good.",
"They suffer from a lack of refinement.",
"In general, this game suffers from the aforementioned.",
"Maybe if they had not been so pressed to release this with the movie, it could have been much, much better.",
"I will say this, though, you simply cannot have a better presentation with cut scenes written, directed, and filmed with the actual actors by the Wachowski Brothers themselves.",
"The presentation gets a definite 10.",
"Everything else, though, is a good C+."
] |
It's ok, but have bought sturdier folders. I just put together the whole 25 folders with the tabs and Out of those 5 cracked. They cracked right in the middle either leaving a jagged piece of plastic or a hole where the plastic fell out. Mind you I was not over bending it either, just the normal arc one uses to put the tabs in the slots. After that breakage I gingerly tried to work the rest in, but still had some folding type bends left in the tab. Whatever they use for the plastic does not hold up to slight arcs. It is a decent price for colored folders but would be a better deal if the tabs were better quality. Either way, if you are looking for nice visually appealing folders these might not work. They will be nice colors with severely damaged tabs and/or plastic edges to jab you. Until this is fixed I would say skip it. | 1 | neutral | [
"It's ok, but have bought sturdier folders.",
"I just put together the whole 25 folders with the tabs and Out of those 5 cracked.",
"They cracked right in the middle either leaving a jagged piece of plastic or a hole where the plastic fell out.",
"Mind you I was not over bending it either, just the normal arc one uses to put the tabs in the slots.",
"After that breakage I gingerly tried to work the rest in, but still had some folding type bends left in the tab.",
"Whatever they use for the plastic does not hold up to slight arcs.",
"It is a decent price for colored folders but would be a better deal if the tabs were better quality.",
"Either way, if you are looking for nice visually appealing folders these might not work.",
"They will be nice colors with severely damaged tabs and/or plastic edges to jab you.",
"Until this is fixed I would say skip it."
] |
Well I think my title says it. I was very excited to play this game at first, then I was confused. Why am I not fighting anyone? That was the question I asked myself after a few hours playing the game. This game can be very dumb, like asking the same question over and over again. It's new to the people your asking in the game, but not for you. Then, of course, there is the constant wandering around, trying to find people. Then when you find them, they don't tell you anything. They just tell to go find some other shop and waste some more time. Dissapointed | 1 | neutral | [
"Well I think my title says it.",
"I was very excited to play this game at first, then I was confused.",
"Why am I not fighting anyone?",
"That was the question I asked myself after a few hours playing the game.",
"This game can be very dumb, like asking the same question over and over again.",
"It's new to the people your asking in the game, but not for you.",
"Then, of course, there is the constant wandering around, trying to find people.",
"Then when you find them, they don't tell you anything.",
"They just tell to go find some other shop and waste some more time.",
"Dissapointed"
] |
India Iran to step up cooperation on Afghanistan
"We both will work for restoring peace stability prosperity and a pluralistic system in Afghanistan " Modi said after holding talks with Rouhani in New Delhi on the final day of Rouhani 's three-day visit.
Rouhani said Iran and India "are prepared for joint ventures in gas and petroleum sectors." He sought India's investment in these areas as well as in the industrial and mining sectors.
Rouhani 's visit to India came at a time when President Donald Trump has threatened to scuttle an international deal reached with Iran in 2015 over its nuclear program that ended economic sanctions imposed on the country.
Rouhani referred to Trump's threat on the nuclear deal and said that "politics without adhering to one's commitment and promises cannot resolve the conflicts and problems of the current world."
He also accused the United States of intervening in the internal affairs of countries in the Middle East.
"Why did they (U.S.) invade Iraq? Why are they in Syria now? Why have they occupied a part of Syria now?" Rouhani asked while giving a speech at the Observer Research Foundation an Indian think-tank.
"We know that selling arms is a very profitable business " he said. "We are aware that the factories that produce arms need customers." | 1 | neutral | [
"India Iran to step up cooperation on Afghanistan\n\"We both will work for restoring peace stability prosperity and a pluralistic system in Afghanistan \" Modi said after holding talks with Rouhani in New Delhi on the final day of Rouhani 's three-day visit.",
"Rouhani said Iran and India \"are prepared for joint ventures in gas and petroleum sectors.",
"\" He sought India's investment in these areas as well as in the industrial and mining sectors.",
"Rouhani 's visit to India came at a time when President Donald Trump has threatened to scuttle an international deal reached with Iran in 2015 over its nuclear program that ended economic sanctions imposed on the country.",
"Rouhani referred to Trump's threat on the nuclear deal and said that \"politics without adhering to one's commitment and promises cannot resolve the conflicts and problems of the current world.",
"\"\n He also accused the United States of intervening in the internal affairs of countries in the Middle East.",
"\"Why did they (U.",
"S.) invade Iraq?",
"Why are they in Syria now?",
"Why have they occupied a part of Syria now?",
"\" Rouhani asked while giving a speech at the Observer Research Foundation an Indian think-tank.",
"\"We know that selling arms is a very profitable business \" he said.",
"\"We are aware that the factories that produce arms need customers.",
"\""
] |
FILM: Ok, you should know you're in trouble when the movie you're watching includes a love triangle with a guy formerly known as Marky Mark, a human female slave with a great body, and a cute, ultra-liberal chimp--erhh, sorry, I mean ape! HAAA!! I agree with everybody's criticism of Mark Wahlberg as Leo Davidson, he is woefully miscast and certainly seemed uncomfortable tryng to carry this film as lead man. I never cared for his character one bit, and he seemed to have great difficulty emoting or relaying the shock someone would have crash-landing onto a planet of ticked-off TALKING APES!!! Nevertheless, there are some good performances in this film--both Paul Giamatti and Michael Clarke Duncan give great performance as apes(actually Giamatti's character, Limbo, is an orangutan). The film itself is basically a two-hour morality play telling you that humans have mistreated animals, slaves, Indians and whoever else you want to throw in there. To me, it got kind of tiresome after the first thirty minutes. Tim Burton does a decent job directing this movie--not one of his more memorable outings. He certainly wasn't helped by the fact that the screenplay is pretty bad: all the characters are very one-dimensional and the dialogue is somewhat flat. In retrospect, he probably shouldn't have taken this project on, but I'm sure he thought it would turn out to be something special instead of a movie that was almost instantly forgotten two weeks after it was released. Two big positives were the makeup (the apes looked absolutely fantastic), and some of the locations were breathtakingly beautiful. But that's not enough to make this more than an average to below-average film.
DVD: The extras on this disc are infinitely more interesting than the film itself! Especially good was 'Ape School' which the actors had to through to learn how to walk and act like an ape. Also, to watch the actors go through the three hours of makeup was interesting, and it certainly didn't look too comfortable. Another interesting feature was the multi-angled scenes, where you get to see Tim Burton working with the actors to try and get a scene shot, and there is also an option to change camera angles yourself. Lastly, the quality of the picture and sound on this DVD is undeniably good. | 1 | neutral | [
"FILM: Ok, you should know you're in trouble when the movie you're watching includes a love triangle with a guy formerly known as Marky Mark, a human female slave with a great body, and a cute, ultra-liberal chimp--erhh, sorry, I mean ape!",
"HAAA!!",
"I agree with everybody's criticism of Mark Wahlberg as Leo Davidson, he is woefully miscast and certainly seemed uncomfortable tryng to carry this film as lead man.",
"I never cared for his character one bit, and he seemed to have great difficulty emoting or relaying the shock someone would have crash-landing onto a planet of ticked-off TALKING APES!!!",
"Nevertheless, there are some good performances in this film--both Paul Giamatti and Michael Clarke Duncan give great performance as apes(actually Giamatti's character, Limbo, is an orangutan).",
"The film itself is basically a two-hour morality play telling you that humans have mistreated animals, slaves, Indians and whoever else you want to throw in there.",
"To me, it got kind of tiresome after the first thirty minutes.",
"Tim Burton does a decent job directing this movie--not one of his more memorable outings.",
"He certainly wasn't helped by the fact that the screenplay is pretty bad: all the characters are very one-dimensional and the dialogue is somewhat flat.",
"In retrospect, he probably shouldn't have taken this project on, but I'm sure he thought it would turn out to be something special instead of a movie that was almost instantly forgotten two weeks after it was released.",
"Two big positives were the makeup (the apes looked absolutely fantastic), and some of the locations were breathtakingly beautiful.",
"But that's not enough to make this more than an average to below-average film.",
"DVD: The extras on this disc are infinitely more interesting than the film itself!",
"Especially good was 'Ape School' which the actors had to through to learn how to walk and act like an ape.",
"Also, to watch the actors go through the three hours of makeup was interesting, and it certainly didn't look too comfortable.",
"Another interesting feature was the multi-angled scenes, where you get to see Tim Burton working with the actors to try and get a scene shot, and there is also an option to change camera angles yourself.",
"Lastly, the quality of the picture and sound on this DVD is undeniably good."
] |
Now that the nightmare of putting this together has faded I gave it 3 stars instead of the 2 I was telling myself I was going to give it. I mean really the WORST assembly ever. I mean first of all, I should not have even needed to LOOK at the instructions for something this simple, right? I mean, just look at the parts and the picture of the finished product and it should all come together in your head, shouldn't it? Well, to me in a well thought out product, it should. But this would not be a good example of one of those. None of the parts were labelled and when trying to put it together, the order and instructions were critical. You had to partially tighten this while you held these pieces together and then fed these rods threw and tried to line these pieces up also. You needed more than two hands ideally and I didn't have them. However, I did finally get it all put together and now it is solid and quite useful and while I would not call it a thing of beauty, it surely serves its purpose and I like how much it will hold and get off the surface of my desk without risk of buckling or bending. | 1 | neutral | [
"Now that the nightmare of putting this together has faded I gave it 3 stars instead of the 2 I was telling myself I was going to give it.",
"I mean really the WORST assembly ever.",
"I mean first of all, I should not have even needed to LOOK at the instructions for something this simple, right?",
"I mean, just look at the parts and the picture of the finished product and it should all come together in your head, shouldn't it?",
"Well, to me in a well thought out product, it should.",
"But this would not be a good example of one of those.",
"None of the parts were labelled and when trying to put it together, the order and instructions were critical.",
"You had to partially tighten this while you held these pieces together and then fed these rods threw and tried to line these pieces up also.",
"You needed more than two hands ideally and I didn't have them.",
"However, I did finally get it all put together and now it is solid and quite useful and while I would not call it a thing of beauty, it surely serves its purpose and I like how much it will hold and get off the surface of my desk without risk of buckling or bending."
] |
f you like WIll Farrell's other movies, you'll like Land of the Lost. While not as good as Kicking and Screaming, it's actually pretty funny. And, remarkably, it's not all sex and fart jokes. This isn't a PG movie - obviously, Will Farrell is the star. But a lot of the jokes are just dry humor, rather than Old School-style comedy. I also found all the abuse Chakra took pretty hilarious. Danny McBride has some funny scenes too.
I felt like one of the things preventing this from being a 5-star movie was the quality of the special effects. The parallel universe seems a bit empty. The dinosaurs aren't anatomically correct - even compared to Jurassic Park. The CG seems a cartoonish. The Tyrannosaur drags its tail close to the ground, an obviously inaccurate portrayal. I think the film was trying to go for a classic Land of the Lost: The Complete Series. However, as a natural history aficionado, it would have been nice if the dinosaurs looked more realistic.
On the other hand, the Sleestaks look awesome. They have a retro look - they look like guys in lizard suits, but done really well.
Overall, Land of the Lost is definitely worth checking out. Good for a few laughs. | 1 | neutral | [
"f you like WIll Farrell's other movies, you'll like Land of the Lost.",
"While not as good as Kicking and Screaming, it's actually pretty funny.",
"And, remarkably, it's not all sex and fart jokes.",
"This isn't a PG movie - obviously, Will Farrell is the star.",
"But a lot of the jokes are just dry humor, rather than Old School-style comedy.",
"I also found all the abuse Chakra took pretty hilarious.",
"Danny McBride has some funny scenes too.",
"I felt like one of the things preventing this from being a 5-star movie was the quality of the special effects.",
"The parallel universe seems a bit empty.",
"The dinosaurs aren't anatomically correct - even compared to Jurassic Park.",
"The CG seems a cartoonish.",
"The Tyrannosaur drags its tail close to the ground, an obviously inaccurate portrayal.",
"I think the film was trying to go for a classic Land of the Lost: The Complete Series.",
"However, as a natural history aficionado, it would have been nice if the dinosaurs looked more realistic.",
"On the other hand, the Sleestaks look awesome.",
"They have a retro look - they look like guys in lizard suits, but done really well.",
"Overall, Land of the Lost is definitely worth checking out.",
"Good for a few laughs."
] |
Despite what people may say, the comparisons of Killzone to Halo are completely justified. Besides the setting, (Killzone takes place in realistic, war-torn human worlds), many elements that defined Halo are here as well. You get a limited weapon carry limit, (three here, compared to Halo's two), you'll be fighting alone and alongside a few others depending on the situation, and you will find yourself locked up in an intense fire-fight almost all of the time. You can wield enemy weapons in addition to your own, and if you get within arms reach within an enemy (the Helghast), you can melee attack them with your weapon for an instant kill. Like Halo, mission objectives are simple, and are more a reason for explaining why you need to gun your way from one end of a level to the other - there is not anything complicated to do here that might interrupt the shooting and killing.
Not that that is entirely a bad thing. The action in Killzone is fast, and intense, from the minute you pick up the controller. Enemies are smart, even on Easy mode, and will pick you off with fire before you can even locate them. They will attack you in groups, outnumbering you, and they will drop in from dropships in the sky. Once you fix the aiming controls, (which are ridiculously overesponsive on the default setting but can be altered with a simple venture through the options screen), the controls will feel comfortable.
The problems with this game are as follows: only one enemy throughout the entire game, the Helghast, and one variation on the basic Helghast soldier that is tougher to kill. Fighting the same thing over and over gets repetitive, and I found myself wishing there were other enemies with different strenghts and weaknesses, like in Halo. Also, the farmerate will occasionally drop, which can easily be dealt with, but might annoy some. The graphics are very impressive indeed, particularly for the PS2, which porbably explains the slowdown.
Multiplayer is fun, though I am unable to talk about the online gameplay, due to the fact that I cannot play my PS2 online. However, if the online gameplay is anything like the two-player matches, and there is not too much slowdown, I would imagine it would be fun and strangely addicting.
My advice: either rent it, or wait for it to drop in price and pick it up then. It is a fun game that kept me coming back until I finished it. | 1 | neutral | [
"Despite what people may say, the comparisons of Killzone to Halo are completely justified.",
"Besides the setting, (Killzone takes place in realistic, war-torn human worlds), many elements that defined Halo are here as well.",
"You get a limited weapon carry limit, (three here, compared to Halo's two), you'll be fighting alone and alongside a few others depending on the situation, and you will find yourself locked up in an intense fire-fight almost all of the time.",
"You can wield enemy weapons in addition to your own, and if you get within arms reach within an enemy (the Helghast), you can melee attack them with your weapon for an instant kill.",
"Like Halo, mission objectives are simple, and are more a reason for explaining why you need to gun your way from one end of a level to the other - there is not anything complicated to do here that might interrupt the shooting and killing.",
"Not that that is entirely a bad thing.",
"The action in Killzone is fast, and intense, from the minute you pick up the controller.",
"Enemies are smart, even on Easy mode, and will pick you off with fire before you can even locate them.",
"They will attack you in groups, outnumbering you, and they will drop in from dropships in the sky.",
"Once you fix the aiming controls, (which are ridiculously overesponsive on the default setting but can be altered with a simple venture through the options screen), the controls will feel comfortable.",
"The problems with this game are as follows: only one enemy throughout the entire game, the Helghast, and one variation on the basic Helghast soldier that is tougher to kill.",
"Fighting the same thing over and over gets repetitive, and I found myself wishing there were other enemies with different strenghts and weaknesses, like in Halo.",
"Also, the farmerate will occasionally drop, which can easily be dealt with, but might annoy some.",
"The graphics are very impressive indeed, particularly for the PS2, which porbably explains the slowdown.",
"Multiplayer is fun, though I am unable to talk about the online gameplay, due to the fact that I cannot play my PS2 online.",
"However, if the online gameplay is anything like the two-player matches, and there is not too much slowdown, I would imagine it would be fun and strangely addicting.",
"My advice: either rent it, or wait for it to drop in price and pick it up then.",
"It is a fun game that kept me coming back until I finished it."
] |
As others have noted, make sure your door fits the required measurements. The most unusual requirement is that the door be of particular width. None of the doors in my house fit the measurements. All of my doors are too narrow. However, the device still works in narrow doors, just wrap a towel around the metal that touches the door frame.
What's not as easy to workaround are the painful hand grips. They're this dense, sticky foam that simply rips into your hands like nothing I've ever felt before. Every part of the hand that contacts this torturous material will be red and burning after you complete a set. I think that because the foam is slightly conforming, it's rubbing against my hands where there are no callouses from a normal metal pull up bar. Ouch! Makes me not want to do pull ups.
That said, compared to other door pull up bars, this ones very high quality and solid. I never feel afraid the thing is going to break. | 1 | neutral | [
"As others have noted, make sure your door fits the required measurements.",
"The most unusual requirement is that the door be of particular width.",
"None of the doors in my house fit the measurements.",
"All of my doors are too narrow.",
"However, the device still works in narrow doors, just wrap a towel around the metal that touches the door frame.",
"What's not as easy to workaround are the painful hand grips.",
"They're this dense, sticky foam that simply rips into your hands like nothing I've ever felt before.",
"Every part of the hand that contacts this torturous material will be red and burning after you complete a set.",
"I think that because the foam is slightly conforming, it's rubbing against my hands where there are no callouses from a normal metal pull up bar.",
"Ouch!",
"Makes me not want to do pull ups.",
"That said, compared to other door pull up bars, this ones very high quality and solid.",
"I never feel afraid the thing is going to break."
] |
Had one of these over thirty years ago for my two boys. The main frame of this item was broken when it arrived. Was flimsy compared to the original one we had. Cost of returning ranged from over $20 USPS to over $40 UPS. Amazon issued a UPS pick up. Haven't heard from Amazon yet what thery will refund on shipping. Orginally was told $7.90. Only time will tell. Was not happy as this was to be a birthday gift for my granddaughter | 1 | neutral | [
"Had one of these over thirty years ago for my two boys.",
"The main frame of this item was broken when it arrived.",
"Was flimsy compared to the original one we had.",
"Cost of returning ranged from over $20 USPS to over $40 UPS.",
"Amazon issued a UPS pick up.",
"Haven't heard from Amazon yet what thery will refund on shipping.",
"Orginally was told $7.",
"90.",
"Only time will tell.",
"Was not happy as this was to be a birthday gift for my granddaughter"
] |
I received this product and immediately set it up inside my home to make sure it all worked and the order was right. The directions were straight forward. One white pole that goes horizontally and two black poles that go vertically. I had some trouble with one of the black poles being slightly longer than needed which made getting it into the little holder slot very difficult. Getting it back into the package was a tight fit with moderate hassle. Which is why I knocked off two stars. Other than those two things I enjoy the tent. It fits two adult size chairs and belongings as well. It came with nice accessories and zips up to close the entire thing into a tent if necessary. Great portability. | 1 | neutral | [
"I received this product and immediately set it up inside my home to make sure it all worked and the order was right.",
"The directions were straight forward.",
"One white pole that goes horizontally and two black poles that go vertically.",
"I had some trouble with one of the black poles being slightly longer than needed which made getting it into the little holder slot very difficult.",
"Getting it back into the package was a tight fit with moderate hassle.",
"Which is why I knocked off two stars.",
"Other than those two things I enjoy the tent.",
"It fits two adult size chairs and belongings as well.",
"It came with nice accessories and zips up to close the entire thing into a tent if necessary.",
"Great portability."
] |
These are 2-to-a-sheet postcard pages. They are perforated so you can bend at the lines and easily break off the extra material. The resulting cards are thicker than regular paper but not as thick as commercial postcards.
It's easy to find templates on Avery dot com as long as you don't mind signing up. You provide your email address and name. I wasn't crazy about doing this because I get too much email already, so I opted out of getting their announcements.
Once on the Print page of the Avery site, enter the product number (5389) and you'll see sample postcard designs and a list of categories. I found that "Blank and Text Only" has a couple of options for printing a photo with just one or two lines of text. I created and printed a card with a black and white photo of my dog and it turned out decently, although shadows printed too dark. There was an option for printing on the back but I decided not to at this time.
Next I printed a picture of two people with just one line of text. The image came out with blotchy-looking skin and again the shadows were too dark.
On the plus side, the card stock went through the laser printer easily and the ink did not smear. The directions are easy to follow if you are already website-savvy. I think this product is suitable for event announcements and recipes. It is not a good choice for marketing photography or anything that requires a quality photo.
I don't think these postcards would impress potential customers because they are a bit thin. However, they can be good for other uses. They remind me of the business cards of the same brand: adequate for some things but not impressive. | 1 | neutral | [
"These are 2-to-a-sheet postcard pages.",
"They are perforated so you can bend at the lines and easily break off the extra material.",
"The resulting cards are thicker than regular paper but not as thick as commercial postcards.",
"It's easy to find templates on Avery dot com as long as you don't mind signing up.",
"You provide your email address and name.",
"I wasn't crazy about doing this because I get too much email already, so I opted out of getting their announcements.",
"Once on the Print page of the Avery site, enter the product number (5389) and you'll see sample postcard designs and a list of categories.",
"I found that \"Blank and Text Only\" has a couple of options for printing a photo with just one or two lines of text.",
"I created and printed a card with a black and white photo of my dog and it turned out decently, although shadows printed too dark.",
"There was an option for printing on the back but I decided not to at this time.",
"Next I printed a picture of two people with just one line of text.",
"The image came out with blotchy-looking skin and again the shadows were too dark.",
"On the plus side, the card stock went through the laser printer easily and the ink did not smear.",
"The directions are easy to follow if you are already website-savvy.",
"I think this product is suitable for event announcements and recipes.",
"It is not a good choice for marketing photography or anything that requires a quality photo.",
"I don't think these postcards would impress potential customers because they are a bit thin.",
"However, they can be good for other uses.",
"They remind me of the business cards of the same brand: adequate for some things but not impressive."
] |
Bombshell: 'Over Dozen Congressional Members May Resign' Over Sex Scandals » Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!
What started as an attack on then-candidate Donald J. Trump leading into the 2016 Presidential election appears to have been flipped completely on its head as scores of media music movie and political resignations over sex scandals have left shock waves across the country.
2. According to Lisa Bloomâs blog the $750 000-for-sex-assault-claims story was held onto by Trump / his lawyers and leaked by *them*. This is reasonable and probably true even if she hates them.
3. So WHY did Trump release that 750k story today? He likely had that saved for 9months+. He often saves up his attacks for the right moment. He rarely plays a card on its own â he saves up full hands of cards then plays them all at once to totally overwhelm the opponents. Sun Tzu says to do this.
4. What am I getting at? I am saying that Trump is behind the upcoming major sex scandal shit thats about to rock the House in 72 hours. He is insulating himself from splashback.
5. Remember the stories yesterday about suddenly Paul Ryan is about to retire from the House in early 2018? Convenient timing huh. Might be him publicly surrendering from a huge sex scandal swamp drainage aiming to leave gracefully with his reputation intact so he has a chance in the business world. Werenât Cochran and McCain also hospitalized two days ago?
It makes one wonder whether President Trump may have been working behind the scenes to expose and hit back at the various interests attempting to unseat him via impeachment proceedings surrounding allegations of sexual impropriety and his purported but as of yet unproven illegal connections to Russia.
Earlier this year former Trump adviser and Breitbart editor Steve Bannon left the White House under murky circumstances prompting the media to announce that Bannon and Trump were now enemies.
And within two weeks of this declaration of war high profile individuals that had feverishly worked to defeat Trump started falling like dominoes. | 1 | neutral | [
"Bombshell: 'Over Dozen Congressional Members May Resign' Over Sex Scandals » Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!",
"What started as an attack on then-candidate Donald J.",
"Trump leading into the 2016 Presidential election appears to have been flipped completely on its head as scores of media music movie and political resignations over sex scandals have left shock waves across the country.",
"2.",
"According to Lisa Bloomâs blog the $750 000-for-sex-assault-claims story was held onto by Trump / his lawyers and leaked by *them*.",
"This is reasonable and probably true even if she hates them.",
"3.",
"So WHY did Trump release that 750k story today?",
"He likely had that saved for 9months+.",
"He often saves up his attacks for the right moment.",
"He rarely plays a card on its own â he saves up full hands of cards then plays them all at once to totally overwhelm the opponents.",
"Sun Tzu says to do this.",
"4.",
"What am I getting at?",
"I am saying that Trump is behind the upcoming major sex scandal shit thats about to rock the House in 72 hours.",
"He is insulating himself from splashback.",
"5.",
"Remember the stories yesterday about suddenly Paul Ryan is about to retire from the House in early 2018?",
"Convenient timing huh.",
"Might be him publicly surrendering from a huge sex scandal swamp drainage aiming to leave gracefully with his reputation intact so he has a chance in the business world.",
"Werenât Cochran and McCain also hospitalized two days ago?",
"It makes one wonder whether President Trump may have been working behind the scenes to expose and hit back at the various interests attempting to unseat him via impeachment proceedings surrounding allegations of sexual impropriety and his purported but as of yet unproven illegal connections to Russia.",
"Earlier this year former Trump adviser and Breitbart editor Steve Bannon left the White House under murky circumstances prompting the media to announce that Bannon and Trump were now enemies.",
"And within two weeks of this declaration of war high profile individuals that had feverishly worked to defeat Trump started falling like dominoes."
] |
While the purpose was obviously educational about the English slave trade and how slave-stealing affected Africa as well as slaves themselves, this wasn't up to Gregory's usual standard as a novelist. As an American, I knew of the horrific conditions slaves endured aboard ship and in both America--including the North before the Civil War--and the even worse treatment of slaves and high mortality rate in the Sugar Isles. I didn't know how Africa was being stripped of so many healthy people, those left to maintain societies there were so few the whole continent was adversely affected. The story, however, is quite thin. Mehuru, the African priest stolen as a slave, is the most interesting character. Frances, the near asexual spinster white governess who marries a slave trader to function as a slave trainer, is not Gregory's usual full-blooded female character. Their attraction comes out of nowhere after his first impression of her is how ugly she is. Stockholm syndrome? We don't get a hint of that in the book. They couple once, and she conceives--usually rather unlikely--as her husband is impotent. The husband gets his just deserts, Frances suffers for her passion, and we get an Afterward saying how many escaped slaves in England were sheltered by working people, inbred with the English, and are ancestors of a lot of English people who are not aware of it today. Probably true in America and other places where slavery existed, though there was more of a stigma to marry a black person in the US going way back. Hardly justified, but the reason Thomas Jefferson let his children by Sally Hemmings go north and pass as white. Gregory's motives are good, her storytelling gifts overwhelmed by her convictions in this book. | 1 | neutral | [
"While the purpose was obviously educational about the English slave trade and how slave-stealing affected Africa as well as slaves themselves, this wasn't up to Gregory's usual standard as a novelist.",
"As an American, I knew of the horrific conditions slaves endured aboard ship and in both America--including the North before the Civil War--and the even worse treatment of slaves and high mortality rate in the Sugar Isles.",
"I didn't know how Africa was being stripped of so many healthy people, those left to maintain societies there were so few the whole continent was adversely affected.",
"The story, however, is quite thin.",
"Mehuru, the African priest stolen as a slave, is the most interesting character.",
"Frances, the near asexual spinster white governess who marries a slave trader to function as a slave trainer, is not Gregory's usual full-blooded female character.",
"Their attraction comes out of nowhere after his first impression of her is how ugly she is.",
"Stockholm syndrome?",
"We don't get a hint of that in the book.",
"They couple once, and she conceives--usually rather unlikely--as her husband is impotent.",
"The husband gets his just deserts, Frances suffers for her passion, and we get an Afterward saying how many escaped slaves in England were sheltered by working people, inbred with the English, and are ancestors of a lot of English people who are not aware of it today.",
"Probably true in America and other places where slavery existed, though there was more of a stigma to marry a black person in the US going way back.",
"Hardly justified, but the reason Thomas Jefferson let his children by Sally Hemmings go north and pass as white.",
"Gregory's motives are good, her storytelling gifts overwhelmed by her convictions in this book."
] |
Er, let's see... The other reviews here seem to go from one extreme to another. I'll have a stab at it. The live tracks are worth having for the nice versions of 'Turn Of The Century' and 'And You And I'. Although, this version of 'Close To The Edge' seems a bit sleepy, with Steve Howe in particular probably bored with the song by now. It just doesn't fire, especially when you compare it to the version from 'ABWH: An Evening Of Yes Music Plus'. The studio tracks? 'Mind Drive' is okay but is just too darn long. 'Footprints' and 'Bring Me To The Power' are accomplished, but I feel the vocal harmonies of 'Footprints' are a bit too busy. After this album, Rick Wakeman jumped ship. Here's hoping he changes his mind one day. | 1 | neutral | [
"Er, let's see...",
"The other reviews here seem to go from one extreme to another.",
"I'll have a stab at it.",
"The live tracks are worth having for the nice versions of 'Turn Of The Century' and 'And You And I'.",
"Although, this version of 'Close To The Edge' seems a bit sleepy, with Steve Howe in particular probably bored with the song by now.",
"It just doesn't fire, especially when you compare it to the version from 'ABWH: An Evening Of Yes Music Plus'.",
"The studio tracks?",
"'Mind Drive' is okay but is just too darn long.",
"'Footprints' and 'Bring Me To The Power' are accomplished, but I feel the vocal harmonies of 'Footprints' are a bit too busy.",
"After this album, Rick Wakeman jumped ship.",
"Here's hoping he changes his mind one day."
] |
I been trying to setup a discus thank, I have more than 2 months trying to achieve the best water quality for discus that my budget allows. I do use other Seachem products like Prime and Purigen with great results. This product, Seachem Discus Buffer has a problem that you need to be aware off: it is Phosphate based. Phosphate means algae bloom risk, I have had a fight with algae for a long time and is usually produced by high phosphate in the water column. I wasn't aware that this product would introduce high concentrations of phosphate to my thank. I don't have the algae bloom yet but before it happens I will try to clean the water of phosphates before introducing Discus, that means I need to start over. Not fun. To lower the PH of the tap water I will give a try to Acid Buffer from Seachem also. The info says that it doesn't includes phosphate. Some would said get a RO system: to expensive, to wasteful; Peat: unsightly. I hope to give 5 stars to Acid Buffer and a good review. | 1 | neutral | [
"I been trying to setup a discus thank, I have more than 2 months trying to achieve the best water quality for discus that my budget allows.",
"I do use other Seachem products like Prime and Purigen with great results.",
"This product, Seachem Discus Buffer has a problem that you need to be aware off: it is Phosphate based.",
"Phosphate means algae bloom risk, I have had a fight with algae for a long time and is usually produced by high phosphate in the water column.",
"I wasn't aware that this product would introduce high concentrations of phosphate to my thank.",
"I don't have the algae bloom yet but before it happens I will try to clean the water of phosphates before introducing Discus, that means I need to start over.",
"Not fun.",
"To lower the PH of the tap water I will give a try to Acid Buffer from Seachem also.",
"The info says that it doesn't includes phosphate.",
"Some would said get a RO system: to expensive, to wasteful; Peat: unsightly.",
"I hope to give 5 stars to Acid Buffer and a good review."
] |
I generally use software like this for digital artwork. I've always gravitated to Photoshop because it was really the only software available when I started. Like many have stated, the price of the software is a bit ridiculous so I'm always on the lookout for cheaper software that I can use to get the same results.
Unfortunately, even though this is called PaintShop, it's really photo editing software through and through. I knew that when I got it, I'm not saying that Corel falsely represented their software. In terms of photo editing it's very nice. The price is unbeatable. The interface is well laid out and professional looking. It's easy to use for the novice and there are a lot of features for the professional.
I would definitely recommend this for the novice photographer just starting out. It's cheap so you're not breaking the bank on something you may not stick with, but it's robust so you won't have to keep spending money on progressively better software. It has the easy auto adjustment features, but then as you get more skilled, it has all the features available for you to white balance and correct contrast and add your own artistic flare.
Digital painters, stick with PS or Painter. | 1 | neutral | [
"I generally use software like this for digital artwork.",
"I've always gravitated to Photoshop because it was really the only software available when I started.",
"Like many have stated, the price of the software is a bit ridiculous so I'm always on the lookout for cheaper software that I can use to get the same results.",
"Unfortunately, even though this is called PaintShop, it's really photo editing software through and through.",
"I knew that when I got it, I'm not saying that Corel falsely represented their software.",
"In terms of photo editing it's very nice.",
"The price is unbeatable.",
"The interface is well laid out and professional looking.",
"It's easy to use for the novice and there are a lot of features for the professional.",
"I would definitely recommend this for the novice photographer just starting out.",
"It's cheap so you're not breaking the bank on something you may not stick with, but it's robust so you won't have to keep spending money on progressively better software.",
"It has the easy auto adjustment features, but then as you get more skilled, it has all the features available for you to white balance and correct contrast and add your own artistic flare.",
"Digital painters, stick with PS or Painter."
] |
I read many reviews on these Intex pumps, and the problem that seems to plague them is a cheaply made plastic impeller that moves (pumps) the water. So listen up folks... if you buy a replacement pump, or even buy a pool set for the first time, BEFORE you even use the pump for the first time, take it apart until you can remove the impeller. This is pretty simple requiring only about 4 or 5 screws be removed... just make sure you pay attention to how it comes apart (especially the washers around the impeller). Then go down to walmart, home depot, lowes, or any auto parts store and buy some EPOXY. This should be two different liquids (or gels) that come in two different tubes that you must mix together. This stuff is SUPER STRONG, and most are rated for 2,500 to 3,500 lbs per square inch of strength... like steel almost. So what your going to do is get a small paint brush, and "paint" the impeller with epoxy, making a SUPER STRONG coat over the cheap plastic. Just make sure you don't get any on the inside of the hole in the center of the impeller where it slides onto the metal rod. Allow it 24 hours to dry (depending on what type of epoxy you use), and then reassemble the pump. I guarantee this will save you money and headaches in the long run. Also if any other plastic parts break on the pump, you can use this epoxy to fix/repair/strengthen them as well. | 1 | neutral | [
"I read many reviews on these Intex pumps, and the problem that seems to plague them is a cheaply made plastic impeller that moves (pumps) the water.",
"So listen up folks...",
"if you buy a replacement pump, or even buy a pool set for the first time, BEFORE you even use the pump for the first time, take it apart until you can remove the impeller.",
"This is pretty simple requiring only about 4 or 5 screws be removed...",
"just make sure you pay attention to how it comes apart (especially the washers around the impeller).",
"Then go down to walmart, home depot, lowes, or any auto parts store and buy some EPOXY.",
"This should be two different liquids (or gels) that come in two different tubes that you must mix together.",
"This stuff is SUPER STRONG, and most are rated for 2,500 to 3,500 lbs per square inch of strength...",
"like steel almost.",
"So what your going to do is get a small paint brush, and \"paint\" the impeller with epoxy, making a SUPER STRONG coat over the cheap plastic.",
"Just make sure you don't get any on the inside of the hole in the center of the impeller where it slides onto the metal rod.",
"Allow it 24 hours to dry (depending on what type of epoxy you use), and then reassemble the pump.",
"I guarantee this will save you money and headaches in the long run.",
"Also if any other plastic parts break on the pump, you can use this epoxy to fix/repair/strengthen them as well."
] |
This is my first time reading this author's work. While the story was sweet, how read and received it was just ok.
Neal was at a low point a year ago in his life. With the help of his personal assistant Amana, he was able to get through his hardship, physically and professionally. Amana has also been recovering from the death of her husband two years prior. After being on top again, Neal wanted to take Amana out to thank her for being the only one that stood by his side. Asking Amana if there is anything he could do to repay her, Amana informs Neal that she wants a baby.
Thought it was a cute story but it was just ok. I didn't feel excitement reading about Neal and Amana. Honestly, reading about Amana, she didn't seem desirable, exciting or sexy to me; I could only see her as the personal assistant. I think the build up leading to the decision for both Neal and Amana was dragging along. You do get a sense of their relationship in the beginning, but you slightly got a bit of information that let you know that Neal thought she was sexy, I didn't get anything from Amana. I think that added to me not believing their romance.
Storyline: FAIR
Intimacy: FAIR
Enjoyment:FAIR | 1 | neutral | [
"This is my first time reading this author's work.",
"While the story was sweet, how read and received it was just ok.",
"Neal was at a low point a year ago in his life.",
"With the help of his personal assistant Amana, he was able to get through his hardship, physically and professionally.",
"Amana has also been recovering from the death of her husband two years prior.",
"After being on top again, Neal wanted to take Amana out to thank her for being the only one that stood by his side.",
"Asking Amana if there is anything he could do to repay her, Amana informs Neal that she wants a baby.",
"Thought it was a cute story but it was just ok.",
"I didn't feel excitement reading about Neal and Amana.",
"Honestly, reading about Amana, she didn't seem desirable, exciting or sexy to me; I could only see her as the personal assistant.",
"I think the build up leading to the decision for both Neal and Amana was dragging along.",
"You do get a sense of their relationship in the beginning, but you slightly got a bit of information that let you know that Neal thought she was sexy, I didn't get anything from Amana.",
"I think that added to me not believing their romance.",
"Storyline: FAIR\nIntimacy: FAIR\nEnjoyment:FAIR"
] |
Before I start, I'll point out that my hair is thick and difficult to manage. Even if its cut short, gels don't tend to hold it all day. I was looking for a solution that would help me tame the wyld beast. Currently I use Schwarzkopf's Got2B Glued, essentially Elmer's Glue for the hair.
So a little about Baxters. The name is for Bxter Finley, who invested Super Shape in 1965 and, with that success, went into all kinds of products for men: toner, creams, soaps and shaving creams.
My first experience with this Pomade was not positive. It didn't turn my hair orange, or make it stick straight out. Instead, it simply vanished. I put it on, rubbed it in and that was it. No hold that I could tell, no shine, just simple disappearance. The second time, I used more and saw some shine (or thought I did). The third time, I mixed it with my normal gel (Got2be...) and that did the trick. I had the hold and the shine came out. In short, it looked good.
Its possible that different hair types will have different reactions or results. Simply, your mileage may vary.
But for my own hair, I'll use this as a supplement to my regular hair regimen, finding that it doesn't do much for me on its own. | 1 | neutral | [
"Before I start, I'll point out that my hair is thick and difficult to manage.",
"Even if its cut short, gels don't tend to hold it all day.",
"I was looking for a solution that would help me tame the wyld beast.",
"Currently I use Schwarzkopf's Got2B Glued, essentially Elmer's Glue for the hair.",
"So a little about Baxters.",
"The name is for Bxter Finley, who invested Super Shape in 1965 and, with that success, went into all kinds of products for men: toner, creams, soaps and shaving creams.",
"My first experience with this Pomade was not positive.",
"It didn't turn my hair orange, or make it stick straight out.",
"Instead, it simply vanished.",
"I put it on, rubbed it in and that was it.",
"No hold that I could tell, no shine, just simple disappearance.",
"The second time, I used more and saw some shine (or thought I did).",
"The third time, I mixed it with my normal gel (Got2be...",
") and that did the trick.",
"I had the hold and the shine came out.",
"In short, it looked good.",
"Its possible that different hair types will have different reactions or results.",
"Simply, your mileage may vary.",
"But for my own hair, I'll use this as a supplement to my regular hair regimen, finding that it doesn't do much for me on its own."
] |
***1/2
"Enchanted" is a fish-out-of-water tale that is also an homage to "Snow White," "Sleeping Beauty," "Mary Poppins," and countless other Disney classics that have come before it. Here, a fairy tale princess (Amy Adams) crosses over from the world of animation to the world of live-action, without losing her cheery disposition and otherworldly charm in the process.
On the day she is to be wed to her long-awaited Prince Charming, the beautiful Giselle is tossed out of the storybook kingdom of Analasia by a jealous evil queen (Susan Sarandon) who has no intention of letting some pretty little upstart usurp her throne. When Giselle finally finishes falling, she lands smack dab in the middle of a live-action Manhattan that is only a tad less immaculate and a shade less colorful than the cel-animated world she calls home. The plucky heroine is both dazzled and a bit confused by this strange looking world where the people don't seem quite as friendly or optimistic about life as the inhabitants of Analasia. Giselle is befriended by an unromantic, decidedly commitment-phobic divorce attorney (Patrick Dempsey) who doesn't know quite what to make of this odd, undoubtedly deranged creature who, when she isn't inspiring critters to help her tidy up the apartment or breaking out into full-throated, spontaneous song, is extolling the virtues of true love and declaring her undying faith in happily-ever-after endings.
Most of the fun of "Enchanted" lies in watching this almost impossibly cheerful, utterly imperturbable former cartoon character going up against the harsh realities of the real world (as harsh as the "real world" in any Disney film can be, that is), yet maintaining her sunny disposition throughout. The filmmakers have devised some spot-on parodies of the typical Disney musical number, replete with high-pitched warbling, a chorus of singing animals, and lyrics that reflect an unquenchable conviction that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds. At times, the idea of the film is better than its execution, opting, as it often does, for silliness and strained slapstick over sophistication and wit. And sometimes, even the concept itself falls flat, as when we are left to ponder whether these creatures, with their weird behavior and exotic garb, would really be all that out of place in Times Square. And, regrettably, the filmmakers couldn't resist throwing an utterly superfluous, CGI-generated dragon into the mix at the end.
Yet, for the most part, the movie is clever, bright and beguiling, and boasts a wonderfully ditzy performance by the lovely Miss Adams that brings the whole sugarcoated confection to life. The material many be stretched a bit beyond its breaking point, but "Enchanted" casts a spell over its audience anyway. | 1 | neutral | [
"***1/2\n\n\"Enchanted\" is a fish-out-of-water tale that is also an homage to \"Snow White,\" \"Sleeping Beauty,\" \"Mary Poppins,\" and countless other Disney classics that have come before it.",
"Here, a fairy tale princess (Amy Adams) crosses over from the world of animation to the world of live-action, without losing her cheery disposition and otherworldly charm in the process.",
"On the day she is to be wed to her long-awaited Prince Charming, the beautiful Giselle is tossed out of the storybook kingdom of Analasia by a jealous evil queen (Susan Sarandon) who has no intention of letting some pretty little upstart usurp her throne.",
"When Giselle finally finishes falling, she lands smack dab in the middle of a live-action Manhattan that is only a tad less immaculate and a shade less colorful than the cel-animated world she calls home.",
"The plucky heroine is both dazzled and a bit confused by this strange looking world where the people don't seem quite as friendly or optimistic about life as the inhabitants of Analasia.",
"Giselle is befriended by an unromantic, decidedly commitment-phobic divorce attorney (Patrick Dempsey) who doesn't know quite what to make of this odd, undoubtedly deranged creature who, when she isn't inspiring critters to help her tidy up the apartment or breaking out into full-throated, spontaneous song, is extolling the virtues of true love and declaring her undying faith in happily-ever-after endings.",
"Most of the fun of \"Enchanted\" lies in watching this almost impossibly cheerful, utterly imperturbable former cartoon character going up against the harsh realities of the real world (as harsh as the \"real world\" in any Disney film can be, that is), yet maintaining her sunny disposition throughout.",
"The filmmakers have devised some spot-on parodies of the typical Disney musical number, replete with high-pitched warbling, a chorus of singing animals, and lyrics that reflect an unquenchable conviction that all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.",
"At times, the idea of the film is better than its execution, opting, as it often does, for silliness and strained slapstick over sophistication and wit.",
"And sometimes, even the concept itself falls flat, as when we are left to ponder whether these creatures, with their weird behavior and exotic garb, would really be all that out of place in Times Square.",
"And, regrettably, the filmmakers couldn't resist throwing an utterly superfluous, CGI-generated dragon into the mix at the end.",
"Yet, for the most part, the movie is clever, bright and beguiling, and boasts a wonderfully ditzy performance by the lovely Miss Adams that brings the whole sugarcoated confection to life.",
"The material many be stretched a bit beyond its breaking point, but \"Enchanted\" casts a spell over its audience anyway."
] |
.......bought this game not knowing much about it.....
.....definitely not a game for your small children or grandmother.....
........it is fun to play............... | 1 | neutral | [
"....",
"...",
"bought this game not knowing much about it....",
".",
"....",
".",
"definitely not a game for your small children or grandmother....",
".",
"....",
"....",
"it is fun to play....",
"....",
"....",
"..."
] |
I could have fell in love with this game, that is could have. This game has so many great features in it and as you read reviews you can read why. i'm sure I'm one of the few people who gave this game such a low rating and I might be the first one you have come across. Well like I said this game had potential to be great, the plot was awesome and there weren't any loop holes. The battle system was great and the charaters were pretty good. The love story behind it wasn't so great, two people on two sides of a war meet, fight together and one day say "oh... I'm going to sleep with you now lay down byotch!" Anyways that isn't the reason why I didn't like this game. The thing is it involved too much reading. I wasn't reading a book! I was playing a game and I found myself waking up with a sore thumb from pressing the X button for hours and still not through all the dialog from one part. Of course I'm exaggerating; It didn't take hours but sometimes it was close to an hour. There are times when the game gets you prepared for battle. Someone in the game stands up and says "Enough with us talking let's go kick some...!" But instead of you the so-called player of this game, going and causing havoc, you get to watch someone sit in a chair and descibe how the battle went... Disappointing and doesn't appeal to my A.D.D. | 1 | neutral | [
"I could have fell in love with this game, that is could have.",
"This game has so many great features in it and as you read reviews you can read why.",
"i'm sure I'm one of the few people who gave this game such a low rating and I might be the first one you have come across.",
"Well like I said this game had potential to be great, the plot was awesome and there weren't any loop holes.",
"The battle system was great and the charaters were pretty good.",
"The love story behind it wasn't so great, two people on two sides of a war meet, fight together and one day say \"oh...",
"I'm going to sleep with you now lay down byotch!",
"\" Anyways that isn't the reason why I didn't like this game.",
"The thing is it involved too much reading.",
"I wasn't reading a book!",
"I was playing a game and I found myself waking up with a sore thumb from pressing the X button for hours and still not through all the dialog from one part.",
"Of course I'm exaggerating; It didn't take hours but sometimes it was close to an hour.",
"There are times when the game gets you prepared for battle.",
"Someone in the game stands up and says \"Enough with us talking let's go kick some...",
"!",
"\" But instead of you the so-called player of this game, going and causing havoc, you get to watch someone sit in a chair and descibe how the battle went...",
"Disappointing and doesn't appeal to my A.",
"D.D."
] |
I love most of Jim Steinman's compositions... it's Jim Steinman's singing voice that does injustice to his work. This album is tolerable, yet I am constantly thinking of howmuch better they would (and have) sounded in the hands of more competent vocalists. "Left In the Dark" was stunningly performed by Barbra Streisand on her "Emotion" album. The song really rocks and she is backed up by members of Bruce Springsteen's "E Street Band".
I would love to see a Jim Steinman tribute album that would include:
1) Left in the Dark (Streisand)
2) Read Em & Weep (the newly hot again Barry Manilow)
3) Total Exclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)
4) Total Exclipse of the Heart (Nikki French dance version)
5) Making Love Out of Nothing At All (Air Supply)
6) Paradise by the Dashboard Lights (Meatloaf)
7) Holding Out For A Hero (Bonnie Tyler)
8) Loving You's a Dirty Job... (Bonnie TYler & Todd Rundgren)
9) Two Out of Three Aint Bad (Meatloaf)
10) I Would Do Anythng For Love... (Meatloaf)
As well as almost anything from "Pandora's Box".
I always felt that Jim Steinman's best work was on Bonnie Tyler's grossly underated "Secret Dreams & Forbidden Fire", one of my all time favorite albums that is now back in print!
Great work on the songs Jim... I'd love to see you do more work for other artists... like Melissa Etheridge. You work seems best showcased with artists who have "raspy" type voices. Something for Laura Branigan might be VERY interesting... | 1 | neutral | [
"I love most of Jim Steinman's compositions...",
"it's Jim Steinman's singing voice that does injustice to his work.",
"This album is tolerable, yet I am constantly thinking of howmuch better they would (and have) sounded in the hands of more competent vocalists.",
"\"Left In the Dark\" was stunningly performed by Barbra Streisand on her \"Emotion\" album.",
"The song really rocks and she is backed up by members of Bruce Springsteen's \"E Street Band\".",
"I would love to see a Jim Steinman tribute album that would include:\n1) Left in the Dark (Streisand)\n2) Read Em & Weep (the newly hot again Barry Manilow)\n3) Total Exclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler)\n4) Total Exclipse of the Heart (Nikki French dance version)\n5) Making Love Out of Nothing At All (Air Supply)\n6) Paradise by the Dashboard Lights (Meatloaf)\n7) Holding Out For A Hero (Bonnie Tyler)\n8) Loving You's a Dirty Job...",
"(Bonnie TYler & Todd Rundgren)\n9) Two Out of Three Aint Bad (Meatloaf)\n10) I Would Do Anythng For Love...",
"(Meatloaf)\nAs well as almost anything from \"Pandora's Box\".",
"I always felt that Jim Steinman's best work was on Bonnie Tyler's grossly underated \"Secret Dreams & Forbidden Fire\", one of my all time favorite albums that is now back in print!",
"Great work on the songs Jim...",
"I'd love to see you do more work for other artists...",
"like Melissa Etheridge.",
"You work seems best showcased with artists who have \"raspy\" type voices.",
"Something for Laura Branigan might be VERY interesting..."
] |
Jonathan Mostow's intense chase thriller features an increasingly frustrated Kurt Russell running after his lost wife Amy, a poor lady who accepted a truck ride from a stranger in order to get help and ends up paying the ultimate price. The performances by all those involved are strong and really help to make "Breakdown" something special.
A clever melding of the horror, suspense, and chase genres, "Breakdown" is an excellent suspense movie that builds genuine tension and excitement for its entire length, even as it flirts with genre clichs and pulls a viewer down an endless series of roads. Manipulative, and extremely intense in its violence and mounting frustration, the film gets viewers on Russell's side very quickly, and the results lead up to one of the most provocative missing persons films ever made. The movie's decided lack of greatness is the very thing that makes me feel that it is a great viewing experience; it was exciting, angering, and ultimately action-packed. Thankfully, the movie doesn't attempt to say very much, it simply intends to wow with hyperkinetic filmmaking, and on that level it's a real success. The late J. T. Walsh goes over the top in this one, but he's as effective as ever. If you like this genre, "Breakdown" will be one of your favorite movies without question.
The DVD, though, is grievous (to be polite about it). My older VHS tape was a lot less grainy in appearance than this new DVD transfer. I don't know if "Breakdown" has made it to Blu-Ray yet but it is certainly one that should. I hope that newer transfer will have a much cleaner picture, a better array of extras, and a more sound packaging design. Certainly one of Kurt Russell's better performances, but also (strangely) one of his most overlooked, probably due to the fact that the film has that B-movie, genre based pretension about it. But if you enjoy exciting movies, miss this one at your own risk. | 1 | neutral | [
"Jonathan Mostow's intense chase thriller features an increasingly frustrated Kurt Russell running after his lost wife Amy, a poor lady who accepted a truck ride from a stranger in order to get help and ends up paying the ultimate price.",
"The performances by all those involved are strong and really help to make \"Breakdown\" something special.",
"A clever melding of the horror, suspense, and chase genres, \"Breakdown\" is an excellent suspense movie that builds genuine tension and excitement for its entire length, even as it flirts with genre clichs and pulls a viewer down an endless series of roads.",
"Manipulative, and extremely intense in its violence and mounting frustration, the film gets viewers on Russell's side very quickly, and the results lead up to one of the most provocative missing persons films ever made.",
"The movie's decided lack of greatness is the very thing that makes me feel that it is a great viewing experience; it was exciting, angering, and ultimately action-packed.",
"Thankfully, the movie doesn't attempt to say very much, it simply intends to wow with hyperkinetic filmmaking, and on that level it's a real success.",
"The late J.",
"T.",
"Walsh goes over the top in this one, but he's as effective as ever.",
"If you like this genre, \"Breakdown\" will be one of your favorite movies without question.",
"The DVD, though, is grievous (to be polite about it).",
"My older VHS tape was a lot less grainy in appearance than this new DVD transfer.",
"I don't know if \"Breakdown\" has made it to Blu-Ray yet but it is certainly one that should.",
"I hope that newer transfer will have a much cleaner picture, a better array of extras, and a more sound packaging design.",
"Certainly one of Kurt Russell's better performances, but also (strangely) one of his most overlooked, probably due to the fact that the film has that B-movie, genre based pretension about it.",
"But if you enjoy exciting movies, miss this one at your own risk."
] |
If you are lucky enough to get one of these that works, then they work well, producing a steady stream of hundreds (if not "gazillions") of bubbles from each fill. The unit is, however, very cheaply made and fragile. Although kids like the result, it's not something you want to let kids get their hands on, if you want it to keep working. Two of the three units I purchased did not work initially, and it took a lot of fiddling to get them to work even half-way as intended.
Everything depends on the purple bubble-fluid reservoir fitting correctly, since that both holds and aligns the bubble wands. Unfortunately, the only thing holding the reservoir to the rest of the unit is a tiny plastic tab at the front bottom. Besides being easily broken off, on two of the three units I bought this tab didn't even fit properly to begin with. I was only able to get the units working by duct-taping the reservoir to the motor, but really, that's a bit awkward.
Also, the reservoir is the only thing that keeps the bubble wands aligned with the motor, and the fit is so loose that the wands wobble, jam up, and frequently stall, and have to be restarted by hand. Again, I was able to get around this, somewhat, through judicious use of duct tape.
If the toy cost $5 - $10, I'd just shrug this off.
But... for $17, you shouldn't have to use duct tape on something this simple.
With very little change in design they could turn this into a reliable, well-made toy. But they haven't done it yet.
Buy with caution. | 1 | neutral | [
"If you are lucky enough to get one of these that works, then they work well, producing a steady stream of hundreds (if not \"gazillions\") of bubbles from each fill.",
"The unit is, however, very cheaply made and fragile.",
"Although kids like the result, it's not something you want to let kids get their hands on, if you want it to keep working.",
"Two of the three units I purchased did not work initially, and it took a lot of fiddling to get them to work even half-way as intended.",
"Everything depends on the purple bubble-fluid reservoir fitting correctly, since that both holds and aligns the bubble wands.",
"Unfortunately, the only thing holding the reservoir to the rest of the unit is a tiny plastic tab at the front bottom.",
"Besides being easily broken off, on two of the three units I bought this tab didn't even fit properly to begin with.",
"I was only able to get the units working by duct-taping the reservoir to the motor, but really, that's a bit awkward.",
"Also, the reservoir is the only thing that keeps the bubble wands aligned with the motor, and the fit is so loose that the wands wobble, jam up, and frequently stall, and have to be restarted by hand.",
"Again, I was able to get around this, somewhat, through judicious use of duct tape.",
"If the toy cost $5 - $10, I'd just shrug this off.",
"But...",
"for $17, you shouldn't have to use duct tape on something this simple.",
"With very little change in design they could turn this into a reliable, well-made toy.",
"But they haven't done it yet.",
"Buy with caution."
] |
Although their two albums of the 90's were greeted with conciderable commercial success, the "80s Metal Band Slump" phenomena cought up with Maiden by the middle of the decade. By this time they had lost 2 key members in guitarrist Adrian Smith (departed prior to 1990's "No Prayer for the Dying") and vocalist Bruce Dickinson (left a bit after 1992's "Fear of the Dark"). Replacing Bruce with ex-Wolfsbane frontmant Blaze Bayley, band leader and bassist Steve Harrist headed to the studio to record their tenth effort.
The resulting album is a strange and uneven point in their career. The X Factor starts off similar to the previous "Fear of the Dark", with 3 great songs, perhaps the best in the album. Epic 11-minute opener "The Sign of the Cross" is simply a breath-taking rock n roll epic. The 2 singles follow it. "Lord of the Flies" does justive to the novel, while "Man on the Edge" is simply a great fast rocker. Both have great hooks and are the usual Maiden Metal fare. But after these tracks, the album begins to sputter as the following 7 songs are all similar-type songs with varying degrees of success. They are intense, eerie, gothic-tinged at best (2 A.M.), but faceless Candlemass clones at their worst (Look for the Truth, The Aftermath, The Edge of Darkness). In between these we find "Fortunes of War", which tries to replicate the previous' album's "Afraid to Shoot Strangers", but fails. We also find "Judgement of the War" which is more upbeat and in the vein of "Lord of the Flies" but not quite as catchy, and "Blood on the World's Hands", which starts with an interesting jazz bass intro and a good verse, but fails to deliver a good hook. The album tries to redeem itself much too late with closer "The Unbeliever", which enjoys great guitarwork and melodies.
Fans and Critics alike were dissappointed with this album, and it's not hard to see why as it is a hard album to embrace. It's evident the loss of Adrian and Bruce left a big songwriting gap, which left Steve to spread similar ideas throughout the album and making way for too much filler. He tried to write a style that fits Blaze Bayley, but Bayley's singing voice just did not fit with Maiden, or was not used properly by Steve. Blaze himself has trouble hitting many of the notes in the album.
The bottom line: Despite the filler, this album does display many great songs worthy of Maidendom, and with enough time and listens, hardcore fans and completists will find it to be a good addition, but the casual fan will probably find no use for "X Factor" and will probably not miss it.
The Sign of the Cross- 10/10
Lord of the Flies- 9.5/10
Man on the Edge- 10/10
Fortunes of War- 4.5/10
Look for the Truth- 5.5/10
The Aftermath- 5/10
Judgement of the War- 6.5/10
Blood on the World's Hands- 6.5/10
The Edge of Darkness- 4/10
2 A.M.- 8.5/10
The Unbeliever- 9/10 | 1 | neutral | [
"Although their two albums of the 90's were greeted with conciderable commercial success, the \"80s Metal Band Slump\" phenomena cought up with Maiden by the middle of the decade.",
"By this time they had lost 2 key members in guitarrist Adrian Smith (departed prior to 1990's \"No Prayer for the Dying\") and vocalist Bruce Dickinson (left a bit after 1992's \"Fear of the Dark\").",
"Replacing Bruce with ex-Wolfsbane frontmant Blaze Bayley, band leader and bassist Steve Harrist headed to the studio to record their tenth effort.",
"The resulting album is a strange and uneven point in their career.",
"The X Factor starts off similar to the previous \"Fear of the Dark\", with 3 great songs, perhaps the best in the album.",
"Epic 11-minute opener \"The Sign of the Cross\" is simply a breath-taking rock n roll epic.",
"The 2 singles follow it.",
"\"Lord of the Flies\" does justive to the novel, while \"Man on the Edge\" is simply a great fast rocker.",
"Both have great hooks and are the usual Maiden Metal fare.",
"But after these tracks, the album begins to sputter as the following 7 songs are all similar-type songs with varying degrees of success.",
"They are intense, eerie, gothic-tinged at best (2 A.",
"M.), but faceless Candlemass clones at their worst (Look for the Truth, The Aftermath, The Edge of Darkness).",
"In between these we find \"Fortunes of War\", which tries to replicate the previous' album's \"Afraid to Shoot Strangers\", but fails.",
"We also find \"Judgement of the War\" which is more upbeat and in the vein of \"Lord of the Flies\" but not quite as catchy, and \"Blood on the World's Hands\", which starts with an interesting jazz bass intro and a good verse, but fails to deliver a good hook.",
"The album tries to redeem itself much too late with closer \"The Unbeliever\", which enjoys great guitarwork and melodies.",
"Fans and Critics alike were dissappointed with this album, and it's not hard to see why as it is a hard album to embrace.",
"It's evident the loss of Adrian and Bruce left a big songwriting gap, which left Steve to spread similar ideas throughout the album and making way for too much filler.",
"He tried to write a style that fits Blaze Bayley, but Bayley's singing voice just did not fit with Maiden, or was not used properly by Steve.",
"Blaze himself has trouble hitting many of the notes in the album.",
"The bottom line: Despite the filler, this album does display many great songs worthy of Maidendom, and with enough time and listens, hardcore fans and completists will find it to be a good addition, but the casual fan will probably find no use for \"X Factor\" and will probably not miss it.",
"The Sign of the Cross- 10/10\n\n Lord of the Flies- 9.",
"5/10\n\n Man on the Edge- 10/10\n\n Fortunes of War- 4.",
"5/10\n\n Look for the Truth- 5.",
"5/10\n\n The Aftermath- 5/10\n\n Judgement of the War- 6.",
"5/10\n\n Blood on the World's Hands- 6.",
"5/10\n\n The Edge of Darkness- 4/10\n\n 2 A.",
"M.- 8.",
"5/10\n\n The Unbeliever- 9/10"
] |
Tampa Bay star Winston faces groping probe
Miami (AFP) â The NFL confirmed Friday it is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston after a female Uber driver complained of being groped by the star last year.
BuzzFeed News reported that the driver had alleged Winston grabbed her crotch during a ride in Scottsdale Arizona in March 2016. Winston has denied the allegation.
Winston is now being probed by the NFLâs special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel who had written to the quarterbackâs accuser.
âThe League has been informed that you may have been the victim of such a violation perpetrated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jameis Winston â Friel wrote in the letter.
Winston 23 issued a statement in response to the BuzzFeed report denying the allegations.
âA news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago â Winston said.
Winston is in his third season with Tampa Bay after being the top pick in the 2015 draft.
His college career had been dogged by controversy including a 2012 allegation of rape by a fellow student at Florida State. Winston did not face charges following the incident. | 1 | neutral | [
"Tampa Bay star Winston faces groping probe\nMiami (AFP) â The NFL confirmed Friday it is investigating an allegation of sexual assault against Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston after a female Uber driver complained of being groped by the star last year.",
"BuzzFeed News reported that the driver had alleged Winston grabbed her crotch during a ride in Scottsdale Arizona in March 2016.",
"Winston has denied the allegation.",
"Winston is now being probed by the NFLâs special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel who had written to the quarterbackâs accuser.",
"âThe League has been informed that you may have been the victim of such a violation perpetrated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jameis Winston â Friel wrote in the letter.",
"Winston 23 issued a statement in response to the BuzzFeed report denying the allegations.",
"âA news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago â Winston said.",
"Winston is in his third season with Tampa Bay after being the top pick in the 2015 draft.",
"His college career had been dogged by controversy including a 2012 allegation of rape by a fellow student at Florida State.",
"Winston did not face charges following the incident."
] |
I used to be the biggest TMNT fan back in the early 90's, and one particular found memory about it was standing around with other kids of all ages for hours on end at the local video store as we all played the TMNT Arcade game. That game's only port to a home console was to the Nintendo, but it was not the same game... it's graphics weren't as good, the sound was different, it had extra stages etc, etc... I may have had the game on MAME for some time now, but I always felt this arcade game should have been released to a home console. Well, FINALLY, after so many years, it has finally happened. The Arcade Game is now something that can be unlocked as a bonus game with this installment of TMNT 2; Battle Nexus.
I didn't take a liking to this new version of the Turtles, so I basically just wanted to rush through the game to unlock the Arcade game. Unfortunately to do so, you have to reach level 9-1, and suffer through 100 other stages to get there. You learn to use hard and light weapon usage, dashes, wall jumps and super moves, but to be honest, by the end of the first few levels, I wished they had more moves to do, because I was so bored of the same thing over and over again that I just used a turbo pad to hold the button down and let the turtle swing away at enemies. You make your way through a 3D environment, to a certain point where you can clear the level. For the most part, all you are doing is making your way from the start to finish, you don't even need to touch the enemies. Then a couple of stages you do need to beat up every single enemy on the screen to open a door or advance... quite annoying if you ask me. Then there are a few boss stages, and a couple of almost bonus stage feeling games where you race along on space ships in a Star Wars kind of feel, trying to collect coins and dodge obstacles in the way.
It too me about 3 or 4 hours of the same thing over and over again to finally reach level 9-1, and I managed to get the arcade game open. There is still a couple of other stages I can play in Nexus after that, but to be honest, I don't want to, I did what I wanted to get, and the game was not that great of an experience that it made me wanna continue playing that version some more.
The port of the Arcade game plays just like the Arcade. Like I mentioned before, we stood around that machine for hours all those years ago, but I don't remember the game being so quick to be able to complete. It's probably because you have as many continues as you want here, where as we needed coins back in the day to keep going... even tho I clocked the game in 10-15 minutes last night, it probably would have cost me $50 had I been using money and not the O button to feed the game more coins.
I'm not disappointed with the purchase, Nexus is a game that repeats itself too much, but then again, I guess Arcade did that too. I probably would be more ok with NEXUS had I not had to spend so much time to unlock the Arcade. I really wanted a code to unlock it, but there is none. At least there is invincibility! | 1 | neutral | [
"I used to be the biggest TMNT fan back in the early 90's, and one particular found memory about it was standing around with other kids of all ages for hours on end at the local video store as we all played the TMNT Arcade game.",
"That game's only port to a home console was to the Nintendo, but it was not the same game...",
"it's graphics weren't as good, the sound was different, it had extra stages etc, etc...",
"I may have had the game on MAME for some time now, but I always felt this arcade game should have been released to a home console.",
"Well, FINALLY, after so many years, it has finally happened.",
"The Arcade Game is now something that can be unlocked as a bonus game with this installment of TMNT 2; Battle Nexus.",
"I didn't take a liking to this new version of the Turtles, so I basically just wanted to rush through the game to unlock the Arcade game.",
"Unfortunately to do so, you have to reach level 9-1, and suffer through 100 other stages to get there.",
"You learn to use hard and light weapon usage, dashes, wall jumps and super moves, but to be honest, by the end of the first few levels, I wished they had more moves to do, because I was so bored of the same thing over and over again that I just used a turbo pad to hold the button down and let the turtle swing away at enemies.",
"You make your way through a 3D environment, to a certain point where you can clear the level.",
"For the most part, all you are doing is making your way from the start to finish, you don't even need to touch the enemies.",
"Then a couple of stages you do need to beat up every single enemy on the screen to open a door or advance...",
"quite annoying if you ask me.",
"Then there are a few boss stages, and a couple of almost bonus stage feeling games where you race along on space ships in a Star Wars kind of feel, trying to collect coins and dodge obstacles in the way.",
"It too me about 3 or 4 hours of the same thing over and over again to finally reach level 9-1, and I managed to get the arcade game open.",
"There is still a couple of other stages I can play in Nexus after that, but to be honest, I don't want to, I did what I wanted to get, and the game was not that great of an experience that it made me wanna continue playing that version some more.",
"The port of the Arcade game plays just like the Arcade.",
"Like I mentioned before, we stood around that machine for hours all those years ago, but I don't remember the game being so quick to be able to complete.",
"It's probably because you have as many continues as you want here, where as we needed coins back in the day to keep going...",
"even tho I clocked the game in 10-15 minutes last night, it probably would have cost me $50 had I been using money and not the O button to feed the game more coins.",
"I'm not disappointed with the purchase, Nexus is a game that repeats itself too much, but then again, I guess Arcade did that too.",
"I probably would be more ok with NEXUS had I not had to spend so much time to unlock the Arcade.",
"I really wanted a code to unlock it, but there is none.",
"At least there is invincibility!"
] |
This is from a woman's point of view. This product cleans my husband. That is always a plus. He doesn't smell like a dead mouse. Again, a plus. Fresh scent? Definitely not the same "fresh" as other products. But not an unpleasant smell. When I put long lasting in the title I meant it. I can still smell it on his clothes when I wash, even if I let the laundry pile up for a few days. For the price it is worth it for your husband not to smell like butt. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is from a woman's point of view.",
"This product cleans my husband.",
"That is always a plus.",
"He doesn't smell like a dead mouse.",
"Again, a plus.",
"Fresh scent?",
"Definitely not the same \"fresh\" as other products.",
"But not an unpleasant smell.",
"When I put long lasting in the title I meant it.",
"I can still smell it on his clothes when I wash, even if I let the laundry pile up for a few days.",
"For the price it is worth it for your husband not to smell like butt."
] |
This is Gran Turismo 4. Rated E for everyone this was being compared to Halo 2 as the best video game anywhere. It was number 2 next to Halo 2 (now it is number 1). I was expecting a lot from this game. But this game disappointed all the hype I heard about this game. The graphics are atroicous and I didn't feel like I was behind the wheel in this game. The game's slogan states that it is a real driving simulator. They will have to do better than this. All the hype disappointed me and let me dow. Good luck Sony but I am not sold. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is Gran Turismo 4.",
"Rated E for everyone this was being compared to Halo 2 as the best video game anywhere.",
"It was number 2 next to Halo 2 (now it is number 1).",
"I was expecting a lot from this game.",
"But this game disappointed all the hype I heard about this game.",
"The graphics are atroicous and I didn't feel like I was behind the wheel in this game.",
"The game's slogan states that it is a real driving simulator.",
"They will have to do better than this.",
"All the hype disappointed me and let me dow.",
"Good luck Sony but I am not sold."
] |
I have a 360 in a 81 CJ7 with a Howell Injection System. Test your old one by looking on UTUBE for instruction how to test it. This and a new MAP Sensor helped my fuel problem as the ECM was sending info to the TB Injectors to push more fuel out. Now the fuel pressure guage shows the right amount of fuel pressure. Make sure you disconnect your ground when changing out any sensor to reset the computer (ECM) allowing ot to relearn or your new sensor will cause your vehicle to run like poop !!!! O2 sensors need to be changed out often and sense I have a high performance application Im buying another for back-up when 6k gets put on the one I just bought.
2-8-2013 - I have only about 2000 miles on this sensor and only about 11 months of use and it's taken a dive which in turn is screwing with my MAP Sensor as well. Tested this O2 sensor and it's toast. Bought another one since it's so cheap. I figure, a new O2 sensor once a year is worth it for the conditions I use my Jeep. I'm taking it down to 3 stars instead of 5 due to the problem. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have a 360 in a 81 CJ7 with a Howell Injection System.",
"Test your old one by looking on UTUBE for instruction how to test it.",
"This and a new MAP Sensor helped my fuel problem as the ECM was sending info to the TB Injectors to push more fuel out.",
"Now the fuel pressure guage shows the right amount of fuel pressure.",
"Make sure you disconnect your ground when changing out any sensor to reset the computer (ECM) allowing ot to relearn or your new sensor will cause your vehicle to run like poop!!!!",
"O2 sensors need to be changed out often and sense I have a high performance application Im buying another for back-up when 6k gets put on the one I just bought.",
"2-8-2013 - I have only about 2000 miles on this sensor and only about 11 months of use and it's taken a dive which in turn is screwing with my MAP Sensor as well.",
"Tested this O2 sensor and it's toast.",
"Bought another one since it's so cheap.",
"I figure, a new O2 sensor once a year is worth it for the conditions I use my Jeep.",
"I'm taking it down to 3 stars instead of 5 due to the problem."
] |
FYI - I ordered this directly from Voiceprint and received it last week.
I picked up the VHS video shortly after it came out and was thrilled to have this piece of ABWH history. The one thing that bothered me about the video, and the later CD release, was Jeff Berlin's bass being almost non-existent in the mix. I missed the DVD when it was first released in the late 90's.
I was so excited to get this new release. In this day and age, I fully expected to get a 5.1 mix (either Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS) and hoped to hear Berlin's bass. However, I didn't get either of them. It's still in DD 2.0 and the bass is still missing.
Considering the premium I had to pay to import it, I feel sadly disappointed. At least I have a better picture and "clearer" sound.
Update 3/6/07 - I guess I wasn't paying attention before, but Voiceprint has also edited out almost all of the between song dialogue. I read about it in someone's review at a German site, and confirmed it last night. It's hard to believe the band had any input into this release. | 1 | neutral | [
"FYI - I ordered this directly from Voiceprint and received it last week.",
"I picked up the VHS video shortly after it came out and was thrilled to have this piece of ABWH history.",
"The one thing that bothered me about the video, and the later CD release, was Jeff Berlin's bass being almost non-existent in the mix.",
"I missed the DVD when it was first released in the late 90's.",
"I was so excited to get this new release.",
"In this day and age, I fully expected to get a 5.",
"1 mix (either Dolby Digital 5.",
"1 or DTS) and hoped to hear Berlin's bass.",
"However, I didn't get either of them.",
"It's still in DD 2.",
"0 and the bass is still missing.",
"Considering the premium I had to pay to import it, I feel sadly disappointed.",
"At least I have a better picture and \"clearer\" sound.",
"Update 3/6/07 - I guess I wasn't paying attention before, but Voiceprint has also edited out almost all of the between song dialogue.",
"I read about it in someone's review at a German site, and confirmed it last night.",
"It's hard to believe the band had any input into this release."
] |
I perpetually have lots of yellow post-it notes by my desk and organization of these important notes is always a challenge. I love the idea of Rocketbook (it can scan your notes which are written in the Rocketbook and send them to the cloud so you never lose the notes and you can stay organized). My criticism of the Rocketbook is that scanning from the iPhone app isn't so easy. It will literally take 30-60 seconds for the app to register the note and then scan it. It is very important to have good lighting, but even with good lighting it isn't a simple snap of your camera. for the 30-60 seconds (and it is closer to 60 seconds if not more), you need to keep steady but at the same time move the phone ever so slightly until the app detects the note. It is a little bit of a hassle and not quick or easy. The rest of the stuff is good. I opened multiple folders on my cloud service- one for important #'s, one for file notes, one for personal notes, etc, and you can designate which folder you want a note to scan to. I love that. The pen it comes with, a frixion .7mm pen is just okay. This is my personal preference. I prefer a wider, darker pen and this is a pretty fine point. Overall, this is a great idea, but with the two exceptions noted here. | 1 | neutral | [
"I perpetually have lots of yellow post-it notes by my desk and organization of these important notes is always a challenge.",
"I love the idea of Rocketbook (it can scan your notes which are written in the Rocketbook and send them to the cloud so you never lose the notes and you can stay organized).",
"My criticism of the Rocketbook is that scanning from the iPhone app isn't so easy.",
"It will literally take 30-60 seconds for the app to register the note and then scan it.",
"It is very important to have good lighting, but even with good lighting it isn't a simple snap of your camera.",
"for the 30-60 seconds (and it is closer to 60 seconds if not more), you need to keep steady but at the same time move the phone ever so slightly until the app detects the note.",
"It is a little bit of a hassle and not quick or easy.",
"The rest of the stuff is good.",
"I opened multiple folders on my cloud service- one for important #'s, one for file notes, one for personal notes, etc, and you can designate which folder you want a note to scan to.",
"I love that.",
"The pen it comes with, a frixion.",
"7mm pen is just okay.",
"This is my personal preference.",
"I prefer a wider, darker pen and this is a pretty fine point.",
"Overall, this is a great idea, but with the two exceptions noted here."
] |
Everyone who got into video games prior to 1990 most likely remembers SEGA CD. It was a great add-on and probably would have sold millions if not for two little problems: The $300 price tag and the fact that you couldn't use it without the then $150 Sega Genesis, sold separately. The Game Boy Player sells for about a half-a-Benjamin Franklin, requires no additional AC power plug, and can be secured tightly to the Gamecube's bottom with two metal screws.
Worried that the analog in the shoulder-buttons might make L&R actions a little slippery? Not a problem. You can assign the GBA's L&R fuctions to the Y and X buttons on the Gamecube controller.
Unfortunately for LAN (Local Area Network Fans), the manual states that connecting multiple GBP's together with link cables won't work. I haven't tested that theory, but I haven't known Nintendo to lie about these sorts of things. Luckilly, you can still plug other GBAs into the GBP via cables for multi-player fun. Remember, it's the game-link cable, not the GBA-to-GC cable.
Unfortunately, the GBP does not seem to work with PS2 controllers connected through third-party adapters from Nyko or Innovation.
Also, some games, such as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (confused yet?), allow rumbling. Cool.
Okay, that little piece from Children's Software Revue made absolutely zero sense. In case it's gone by the time you read this, it said, "This fun, complex, humorous and creative flying simulation sends players on missions to exotic places, as they compete in flying dogfights or stunt flying missions. "Pretty funny" content includes 13 characters, eight songs, and different locations. For 1 or 2 players in head-to-head combat. The Teen rating comes from the suggestive themes of the busty babes, and the overall fighting theme." It's not a flying similator, there are no busty babes, or what-have-you. It must be for some video game. Now I'm curoious. Must be a really diverse game. | 1 | neutral | [
"Everyone who got into video games prior to 1990 most likely remembers SEGA CD.",
"It was a great add-on and probably would have sold millions if not for two little problems: The $300 price tag and the fact that you couldn't use it without the then $150 Sega Genesis, sold separately.",
"The Game Boy Player sells for about a half-a-Benjamin Franklin, requires no additional AC power plug, and can be secured tightly to the Gamecube's bottom with two metal screws.",
"Worried that the analog in the shoulder-buttons might make L&R actions a little slippery?",
"Not a problem.",
"You can assign the GBA's L&R fuctions to the Y and X buttons on the Gamecube controller.",
"Unfortunately for LAN (Local Area Network Fans), the manual states that connecting multiple GBP's together with link cables won't work.",
"I haven't tested that theory, but I haven't known Nintendo to lie about these sorts of things.",
"Luckilly, you can still plug other GBAs into the GBP via cables for multi-player fun.",
"Remember, it's the game-link cable, not the GBA-to-GC cable.",
"Unfortunately, the GBP does not seem to work with PS2 controllers connected through third-party adapters from Nyko or Innovation.",
"Also, some games, such as Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros.",
"3 (confused yet?",
"), allow rumbling.",
"Cool.",
"Okay, that little piece from Children's Software Revue made absolutely zero sense.",
"In case it's gone by the time you read this, it said, \"This fun, complex, humorous and creative flying simulation sends players on missions to exotic places, as they compete in flying dogfights or stunt flying missions.",
"\"Pretty funny\" content includes 13 characters, eight songs, and different locations.",
"For 1 or 2 players in head-to-head combat.",
"The Teen rating comes from the suggestive themes of the busty babes, and the overall fighting theme.",
"\" It's not a flying similator, there are no busty babes, or what-have-you.",
"It must be for some video game.",
"Now I'm curoious.",
"Must be a really diverse game."
] |
This is a fun game, no doubt. You could very much enjoy the whole 10 chapters of the game for the first play-through. The glaive is a unique weapon, especially with the Aftertouch power, which could be controled by using SIXAXIS function. The special powers and upgrades are fun to use. The difficulty is just right, plenty of ammo. The gameplay succesfully manages to keep player interested by gradually bringing in new stuff along the way throughout the entire game.
But that is all. The only unlockable you get after finishing the game is Brutal Mode. Aside from no new stuff, upgraded weapons and money don't carry over to the next game. Money is scarce, you could only upgrade or buy a few guns in one playthrough. The powerful guns become available late in the game, which means you have to save up from the first chapters if you want to try them, or start playing over again from the beginning if you already spent all you money. And once you applied an upgrade item on the gun, it's permanent and you couldn't check the effectiveness of each upgrade to the specific gun. If you applied the upgrade and you don't like it, the only options are sell that gun and buy a new blank gun or restart checkpoint.
In conclusion, this game could give you a fun experience. But maybe not a game you keep playing over and over. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is a fun game, no doubt.",
"You could very much enjoy the whole 10 chapters of the game for the first play-through.",
"The glaive is a unique weapon, especially with the Aftertouch power, which could be controled by using SIXAXIS function.",
"The special powers and upgrades are fun to use.",
"The difficulty is just right, plenty of ammo.",
"The gameplay succesfully manages to keep player interested by gradually bringing in new stuff along the way throughout the entire game.",
"But that is all.",
"The only unlockable you get after finishing the game is Brutal Mode.",
"Aside from no new stuff, upgraded weapons and money don't carry over to the next game.",
"Money is scarce, you could only upgrade or buy a few guns in one playthrough.",
"The powerful guns become available late in the game, which means you have to save up from the first chapters if you want to try them, or start playing over again from the beginning if you already spent all you money.",
"And once you applied an upgrade item on the gun, it's permanent and you couldn't check the effectiveness of each upgrade to the specific gun.",
"If you applied the upgrade and you don't like it, the only options are sell that gun and buy a new blank gun or restart checkpoint.",
"In conclusion, this game could give you a fun experience.",
"But maybe not a game you keep playing over and over."
] |
Scarlett, the No-Fun-Nun, has woken up from her wild, one-night stand in Vegas. She was a children’s book author that just had sex with Gavin Bain, famous rock n’ roll star. And if that wasn’t shocking enough, she also realized that she married him in Vegas. Yikes! So she became a Bride on the Run, and it was captured on film all over the media. He needed to save his bad boy image for his record deal. She needed to spice up her good girl rep and money to help out her father. Could the two stay married and pretend to be in love? I liked that the characters felt real and endearing. Story was well-written and easily-read, however, it gets a little slow, turning mediocre towards the ends. Life of a husband/wife on a TX farm was not all that stimulating. I mean, an author and a rock star were like oil and water. But I guess this would be an okay romance. | 1 | neutral | [
"Scarlett, the No-Fun-Nun, has woken up from her wild, one-night stand in Vegas.",
"She was a children’s book author that just had sex with Gavin Bain, famous rock n’ roll star.",
"And if that wasn’t shocking enough, she also realized that she married him in Vegas.",
"Yikes!",
"So she became a Bride on the Run, and it was captured on film all over the media.",
"He needed to save his bad boy image for his record deal.",
"She needed to spice up her good girl rep and money to help out her father.",
"Could the two stay married and pretend to be in love?",
"I liked that the characters felt real and endearing.",
"Story was well-written and easily-read, however, it gets a little slow, turning mediocre towards the ends.",
"Life of a husband/wife on a TX farm was not all that stimulating.",
"I mean, an author and a rock star were like oil and water.",
"But I guess this would be an okay romance."
] |
Hi folks its Vince the radioman . I have a large selection of radios and love to do compares and share my thoughts. This radio is good for the casual listener who doesn't want to spend a lot of money but would like to hear some SW along with AM/FM . The FM section is the best part of this radio .The AM section is filled with images and noise for the DXers out there . For local AM its pretty good. The built in sound and sound slection modes are surpisingly good. The overall construction and quality is fair at best and the radio is a battery hog . The SW section is fair. If you want to hear the big broadcasters , ok , anything else is static. There is no fine tuning . The YB300 and the Eton e 100 are far better for tuner sensativity and battery life. Its not a bad radio but others are better. How about 2 and half stars. | 1 | neutral | [
"Hi folks its Vince the radioman.",
"I have a large selection of radios and love to do compares and share my thoughts.",
"This radio is good for the casual listener who doesn't want to spend a lot of money but would like to hear some SW along with AM/FM.",
"The FM section is the best part of this radio.",
"The AM section is filled with images and noise for the DXers out there.",
"For local AM its pretty good.",
"The built in sound and sound slection modes are surpisingly good.",
"The overall construction and quality is fair at best and the radio is a battery hog.",
"The SW section is fair.",
"If you want to hear the big broadcasters , ok , anything else is static.",
"There is no fine tuning.",
"The YB300 and the Eton e 100 are far better for tuner sensativity and battery life.",
"Its not a bad radio but others are better.",
"How about 2 and half stars."
] |
This is a neat, well made, durable kids computer. I wanted a computer that my 2-2.5 yr old could mess around with while I'm on the computer...she will for a little while, but she's too young to understand how the mouse, game options, etc work. She's more interested in turing the volume up and down, hitting buttons, and moving the mouse. I'm not sorry I bought it b/c she does ask for it when I get on the computer, but she's too young to really use it. The letters are listed in ABC order - I understand why, but part of me wishes they were laid out like a real computer since this isn't for 'babies'...help them learn skills they will use later. The volume is a little loud and annoying, but if you can sneek your hand in to turn it down a little, it's not worse than most toys...future manufacturer improvement would be to adjust the volume so it gets very quite and won't get too loud. I like the handle and how the mouse nests under the toy. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is a neat, well made, durable kids computer.",
"I wanted a computer that my 2-2.",
"5 yr old could mess around with while I'm on the computer...",
"she will for a little while, but she's too young to understand how the mouse, game options, etc work.",
"She's more interested in turing the volume up and down, hitting buttons, and moving the mouse.",
"I'm not sorry I bought it b/c she does ask for it when I get on the computer, but she's too young to really use it.",
"The letters are listed in ABC order - I understand why, but part of me wishes they were laid out like a real computer since this isn't for 'babies'...",
"help them learn skills they will use later.",
"The volume is a little loud and annoying, but if you can sneek your hand in to turn it down a little, it's not worse than most toys...",
"future manufacturer improvement would be to adjust the volume so it gets very quite and won't get too loud.",
"I like the handle and how the mouse nests under the toy."
] |
I had bought of these about 20 years ago when it was a better quality gun but a lot more expensive. MY old one had cracked seals and didn't work that great anymore so I figured I couldn't go wrong for under $30 now. When I got it I could clearly see why it was cheaper. It was made in China and wasn't as "durable" I would say as the original. I mixed my paint tested it out, on a piece of cardboard and it laid out a nice beautiful pattern. I got it adjusted and started painting my tractor and about 2 minutes later the trigger fails off because the bolts had been overtightened on the hinge and it broke. I had already mixed my paint so i couldn't stop. I found a nail and stuck in through the trigger to hold it on and finished painting. I called Campbell Hausefeld, sent them the reciept and they said they would send me some new bolts. I haven't gotten them yet and that was 2 weeks ago so I am glad I didn't need them in a hurry. You get what you pay for. I would have gladly paid $60-80 for the quality of the original instead of this turd. We will see if it lasts beyond the 2nd use. | 1 | neutral | [
"I had bought of these about 20 years ago when it was a better quality gun but a lot more expensive.",
"MY old one had cracked seals and didn't work that great anymore so I figured I couldn't go wrong for under $30 now.",
"When I got it I could clearly see why it was cheaper.",
"It was made in China and wasn't as \"durable\" I would say as the original.",
"I mixed my paint tested it out, on a piece of cardboard and it laid out a nice beautiful pattern.",
"I got it adjusted and started painting my tractor and about 2 minutes later the trigger fails off because the bolts had been overtightened on the hinge and it broke.",
"I had already mixed my paint so i couldn't stop.",
"I found a nail and stuck in through the trigger to hold it on and finished painting.",
"I called Campbell Hausefeld, sent them the reciept and they said they would send me some new bolts.",
"I haven't gotten them yet and that was 2 weeks ago so I am glad I didn't need them in a hurry.",
"You get what you pay for.",
"I would have gladly paid $60-80 for the quality of the original instead of this turd.",
"We will see if it lasts beyond the 2nd use."
] |
About a month ago, my old Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset finally died. Over the last month or so I have tried four different headsets until I finally found one that met all of my needs. I am including my brief opinions about each of them for comparison, and to hopefully help some of you narrow your selection down, if you are considering any of these.
MOTOROLA H720
PROS: Easy to use, flip to talk makes answering calls easy. Comfortable.
CONS: Floppy feel. Noise canceling does not work very well.
MOTOROLA HX550
PROS: Flip to talk makes answering calls relatively easy. Its Comfortable. Noise canceling works very well while on calls.
CONS: Noise canceling does not work for voice commands. The compact nature of this headset makes it more difficult to flip open than the H720.
PLANTRONICS M165
PROS: It looks good. Deep sleep mode means you don't need to turn it on and off every time you want to use it.
CONS: Noise canceling not nearly as good as either the HX550 or any of the Jawbone headsets.
JAWBONE 2:
PROS: Noise canceling works very well, both for calls and voice commands.
CONS: Hidden buttons are hard to use. Plastic cover over buttons eventually fatigues and cracks. Turning on headset requires holding hidden button down for three seconds, followed by another three seconds to connect to the phone, causing missed calls.
JAWBONE ICON HD:
PROS: Noise canceling works well, both for calls and voice commands. Single multi-function button is MUCH easier to find and use than on the Jawbone 2. Power switch is easier to use than the hidden button on the J2. Time to connect to an incoming call from power-off is about 1 second, so no more missed calls. 10 days of standby time, so probably won't turn it off anyway. "mytalk.jawbone.com" provides an easy to use interface to the headset. Downloadable voice personalities are fun. Ability to reconfigure multi-function button for volume control or enabling/disabling Noise Assassin is nice.
CONS: Slightly less comfortable to wear than HX550 or M165 in-the-ear, but not bad for short duration. Would probably use over-the-ear hook for extended use. | 1 | neutral | [
"About a month ago, my old Jawbone 2 Bluetooth headset finally died.",
"Over the last month or so I have tried four different headsets until I finally found one that met all of my needs.",
"I am including my brief opinions about each of them for comparison, and to hopefully help some of you narrow your selection down, if you are considering any of these.",
"MOTOROLA H720\nPROS: Easy to use, flip to talk makes answering calls easy.",
"Comfortable.",
"CONS: Floppy feel.",
"Noise canceling does not work very well.",
"MOTOROLA HX550\nPROS: Flip to talk makes answering calls relatively easy.",
"Its Comfortable.",
"Noise canceling works very well while on calls.",
"CONS: Noise canceling does not work for voice commands.",
"The compact nature of this headset makes it more difficult to flip open than the H720.",
"PLANTRONICS M165\nPROS: It looks good.",
"Deep sleep mode means you don't need to turn it on and off every time you want to use it.",
"CONS: Noise canceling not nearly as good as either the HX550 or any of the Jawbone headsets.",
"JAWBONE 2:\nPROS: Noise canceling works very well, both for calls and voice commands.",
"CONS: Hidden buttons are hard to use.",
"Plastic cover over buttons eventually fatigues and cracks.",
"Turning on headset requires holding hidden button down for three seconds, followed by another three seconds to connect to the phone, causing missed calls.",
"JAWBONE ICON HD:\nPROS: Noise canceling works well, both for calls and voice commands.",
"Single multi-function button is MUCH easier to find and use than on the Jawbone 2.",
"Power switch is easier to use than the hidden button on the J2.",
"Time to connect to an incoming call from power-off is about 1 second, so no more missed calls.",
"10 days of standby time, so probably won't turn it off anyway.",
"\"mytalk.",
"jawbone.",
"com\" provides an easy to use interface to the headset.",
"Downloadable voice personalities are fun.",
"Ability to reconfigure multi-function button for volume control or enabling/disabling Noise Assassin is nice.",
"CONS: Slightly less comfortable to wear than HX550 or M165 in-the-ear, but not bad for short duration.",
"Would probably use over-the-ear hook for extended use."
] |
I just moved into a new apartment, and bought this for all my baking needs. It was great at first! Stuff really won't stick to this guy. It was a little difficult to get the brown spots that... some common ingredient in baked goods... causes off, but in general I was happy.
But every time I baked, even when nothing burned, my smoke detector would go off! At first, it was obvious to me that it was the electric oven; it was just too hot and I was used to gas.
But that didn't seem right. Everyone else can bake with an electric oven and keep the smoke alarm from going off! ...It must be the baking mat. Sure enough, it was. The next time I baked frozen Pilsbury cinnamon rolls (which sent the smoke detector into a high-pitched rage last time) with nothing but aluminum foil on my cookie sheet, everything was fine. Needless to say, I am disappointed. | 1 | neutral | [
"I just moved into a new apartment, and bought this for all my baking needs.",
"It was great at first!",
"Stuff really won't stick to this guy.",
"It was a little difficult to get the brown spots that...",
"some common ingredient in baked goods...",
"causes off, but in general I was happy.",
"But every time I baked, even when nothing burned, my smoke detector would go off!",
"At first, it was obvious to me that it was the electric oven; it was just too hot and I was used to gas.",
"But that didn't seem right.",
"Everyone else can bake with an electric oven and keep the smoke alarm from going off!",
"...",
"It must be the baking mat.",
"Sure enough, it was.",
"The next time I baked frozen Pilsbury cinnamon rolls (which sent the smoke detector into a high-pitched rage last time) with nothing but aluminum foil on my cookie sheet, everything was fine.",
"Needless to say, I am disappointed."
] |
PURCHASED A PAIR OF THESE IN JULY 2012 FOR MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA WITH "SPORT" MIRRORS.
THEY WORK TO MY EXPECTATIONS, WITH LITTLE VIBRATION & DECENT VIEWING ANGLES.
THE ONLY DRAW BACK, IS THE THREE RUBBER MOUNTING FEET FOR EACH MIRROR. THESE DETERIORATE
VERY QUICKLY & WILL ONLY LAST ONE SEASON, IF THAT. REPLACEMENT FEET ARE AVAILABLE,
BUT AT A TYPICAL COST OF $7 - $10 + SHIPPING PER SET & INCLUDE A FEW OTHER PIECES & PARTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY, BECAUSE ITS A PARTS PACKAGE. REPLACING THESE RUBBER FEET EACH SEASON @ THAT KIND OF COST IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. WITH A BIT OF SEARCHING AROUND HARDWARE STORES I LOCATED A GOOD SUBSTITUTE THAT SEEMS TO WORK WELL & IS CHEAP. THE ITEM I FOUND IS CALLED "SCREW BUMPERS" MADE BY MINTCRAFT. THEY ARE 1" ROUND RUBBER BUMPERS WITH A HOLE IN THE CENTER, SKU # 410-1267. A PACKAGE OF 4 COST $1.39 | 1 | neutral | [
"PURCHASED A PAIR OF THESE IN JULY 2012 FOR MY 98 DODGE DAKOTA WITH \"SPORT\" MIRRORS.",
"THEY WORK TO MY EXPECTATIONS, WITH LITTLE VIBRATION & DECENT VIEWING ANGLES.",
"THE ONLY DRAW BACK, IS THE THREE RUBBER MOUNTING FEET FOR EACH MIRROR.",
"THESE DETERIORATE\nVERY QUICKLY & WILL ONLY LAST ONE SEASON, IF THAT.",
"REPLACEMENT FEET ARE AVAILABLE,\nBUT AT A TYPICAL COST OF $7 - $10 + SHIPPING PER SET & INCLUDE A FEW OTHER PIECES & PARTS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY, BECAUSE ITS A PARTS PACKAGE.",
"REPLACING THESE RUBBER FEET EACH SEASON @ THAT KIND OF COST IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.",
"WITH A BIT OF SEARCHING AROUND HARDWARE STORES I LOCATED A GOOD SUBSTITUTE THAT SEEMS TO WORK WELL & IS CHEAP.",
"THE ITEM I FOUND IS CALLED \"SCREW BUMPERS\" MADE BY MINTCRAFT.",
"THEY ARE 1\" ROUND RUBBER BUMPERS WITH A HOLE IN THE CENTER, SKU # 410-1267.",
"A PACKAGE OF 4 COST $1.",
"39"
] |
I wish they would stop messing with the software. The change in entering information is confusing and tedious to use.
I use it because I have used it for years but am thinking that it may be a time for a change. I do not use it for tax preparation, but for keeping track of my expenditures. The program is not as good as the previous version. There is no way to reformat the way the registers are listed on a side panel. You can't change the font or color of the entries in a register. If there is a way, I wish I knew. Also the colors are disconcerting on the registers.
I found the change in reconciling my accounts to be a problem. There are some of the categories that are a pain to enter or making the category stay as you want it to. Also, the program will sometimes redefine your category entry if you need to enter a different category for the same payee.
Reconciling is not as good even though is looks better. I do not like the register but it is simpler in some ways than past editions. It just seems cumbersome if a program can be cumbersome..
I had to buy the new software update when I encountered difficulties .
The support staff was good and very patient which eliminated my frustration before buying the update.
While I am not happy with all of the aspects found in the software, I do use it.
It does what I want it to and solving the software problems will be ongoing but the support staff is helpful. | 1 | neutral | [
"I wish they would stop messing with the software.",
"The change in entering information is confusing and tedious to use.",
"I use it because I have used it for years but am thinking that it may be a time for a change.",
"I do not use it for tax preparation, but for keeping track of my expenditures.",
"The program is not as good as the previous version.",
"There is no way to reformat the way the registers are listed on a side panel.",
"You can't change the font or color of the entries in a register.",
"If there is a way, I wish I knew.",
"Also the colors are disconcerting on the registers.",
"I found the change in reconciling my accounts to be a problem.",
"There are some of the categories that are a pain to enter or making the category stay as you want it to.",
"Also, the program will sometimes redefine your category entry if you need to enter a different category for the same payee.",
"Reconciling is not as good even though is looks better.",
"I do not like the register but it is simpler in some ways than past editions.",
"It just seems cumbersome if a program can be cumbersome..",
"I had to buy the new software update when I encountered difficulties.",
"The support staff was good and very patient which eliminated my frustration before buying the update.",
"While I am not happy with all of the aspects found in the software, I do use it.",
"It does what I want it to and solving the software problems will be ongoing but the support staff is helpful."
] |
Yep, these animals stink! And badly...like something toxic from a foreign country. I have aired them out for awhile now and they still stink, so I'm waiting for a nice hot day to let them bake in the sun and, hopefully, get rid of the stink once and for all. I would definitely NOT give these to a child without airing them out first or to a child who may put them in their mouth...who knows what kind of toxic stuff they might ingest. The only reason I'm not giving these animals one star & returning them is because they are a very nice size for little hands to hold. And it's not easy to find substantial farm animals to play with that are not choking hazards for little ones. They are a great size to play with and easy to hold. The faces are ok. If you're willing to air them out, the animals may be a good buy for you. If you avoid toxic-smelling toys at all costs, then definitely pass these up! | 1 | neutral | [
"Yep, these animals stink!",
"And badly...",
"like something toxic from a foreign country.",
"I have aired them out for awhile now and they still stink, so I'm waiting for a nice hot day to let them bake in the sun and, hopefully, get rid of the stink once and for all.",
"I would definitely NOT give these to a child without airing them out first or to a child who may put them in their mouth...",
"who knows what kind of toxic stuff they might ingest.",
"The only reason I'm not giving these animals one star & returning them is because they are a very nice size for little hands to hold.",
"And it's not easy to find substantial farm animals to play with that are not choking hazards for little ones.",
"They are a great size to play with and easy to hold.",
"The faces are ok.",
"If you're willing to air them out, the animals may be a good buy for you.",
"If you avoid toxic-smelling toys at all costs, then definitely pass these up!"
] |
I bought this unit several years ago for a 1989 Chevy K-1500 pickup I had for 3 years. It was then moved to a 1999 GMC Jimmy SLT almost 5 years and now it is in my 2001 Ranger pickup. It's been in that truck for over 5 years now and I have yet to replace the lithium battery. It has been giving me many good years of satisfied service. Never had any issues with it losing it's calibration. The only part is the inside temp seems a bit on the warm side, especially when the sun hits it. The voltage reading seems a bit low, but being plugged into the power port, that could be the reason for the lower voltage. The outside temperature is extremely accurate mounted in behind the grill out of reflected sunlight and shielded from the radiator. The part I do like allot about this product is the backlighting that runs off of the vehicle power. No batteries I have to replace often.
Since I had such good service with the one in my Ranger pickup, now I have a 1998 Jeep Wrangler for winter driving and summer off roading, I wanted to have the same product in my Jeep too. But this time it will be wired to the factory existing ignition switched circuit. So when I start the Jeep or turn the switch to accessories, the compass will come on.
Update: As with allot of other complaints, it does not hold the heading. It hangs up in whatever direction. Unlike other people whom sent to product back, I just hit the recal button on the back and it works for a while and then locks up again. It does not work nowhere near as good as the old one I have. But it gives me other info such as the temp outside and the battery voltage - which is darn close to being accurate. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought this unit several years ago for a 1989 Chevy K-1500 pickup I had for 3 years.",
"It was then moved to a 1999 GMC Jimmy SLT almost 5 years and now it is in my 2001 Ranger pickup.",
"It's been in that truck for over 5 years now and I have yet to replace the lithium battery.",
"It has been giving me many good years of satisfied service.",
"Never had any issues with it losing it's calibration.",
"The only part is the inside temp seems a bit on the warm side, especially when the sun hits it.",
"The voltage reading seems a bit low, but being plugged into the power port, that could be the reason for the lower voltage.",
"The outside temperature is extremely accurate mounted in behind the grill out of reflected sunlight and shielded from the radiator.",
"The part I do like allot about this product is the backlighting that runs off of the vehicle power.",
"No batteries I have to replace often.",
"Since I had such good service with the one in my Ranger pickup, now I have a 1998 Jeep Wrangler for winter driving and summer off roading, I wanted to have the same product in my Jeep too.",
"But this time it will be wired to the factory existing ignition switched circuit.",
"So when I start the Jeep or turn the switch to accessories, the compass will come on.",
"Update: As with allot of other complaints, it does not hold the heading.",
"It hangs up in whatever direction.",
"Unlike other people whom sent to product back, I just hit the recal button on the back and it works for a while and then locks up again.",
"It does not work nowhere near as good as the old one I have.",
"But it gives me other info such as the temp outside and the battery voltage - which is darn close to being accurate."
] |
Okay, so I just posted a review for another product that I bought along with this one. I figured that two products that were so highly rated would definitely do the job........and that's a bunch of BS because both products we're not rated properly. I went to fakespot and this is not a four-and-a-half Star product and the other one wasn't a three and a half Star product. I'm not going to mention the other products name because it looks like I'm bashing one and praising another and I don't shill for anybody.. my reviews are always true and honest. you'll find my other review if you look, because there aren't very many products that do this, and the other product will come up on the same page when you do a search. I hated that product. It's totally useless. This product actually works, but with a caveat. That caveat is the scratches have to be absolutely hairline. Mine were and although it doesn't hide them completely it certainly hides them enough to take your eye away from them when you look at the car in its entirety.. I was actually surprised. The key to this product is to follow the directions. You put it on with a swirling motion and although they say you can use a buffer I wouldn't. In my mind it might make the problem worse. U-Swirl it on with the pad that comes with it and you use light to medium pressure. The key comes when wiping it off. Microfiber towel and very very gently. That's the way it works. And I laid a coat of meguiars NXT over all those areas and I did it very gently and the product held up beneath the NXT. Anything more than a micro thin light scratch will not be affected by tinted product and it will not work. True and honest review. Heads up to everybody! Fakespot is a good app. It works trust it. This product doesn't get four and a half Stars. Fakespot shows it at approximately 3 stars. I would give it 3.5 stars on micro scratches but I wouldn't give it any stars if you're dealing with real scratches,, I mean the deep kind.. the manufacturer's hyperbole is just that. Just a bunch of hype. Good luck to you all who are trying to cover the scratches on your pretty black SUV .....😉😉 | 1 | neutral | [
"Okay, so I just posted a review for another product that I bought along with this one.",
"I figured that two products that were so highly rated would definitely do the job....",
"....",
"and that's a bunch of BS because both products we're not rated properly.",
"I went to fakespot and this is not a four-and-a-half Star product and the other one wasn't a three and a half Star product.",
"I'm not going to mention the other products name because it looks like I'm bashing one and praising another and I don't shill for anybody..",
"my reviews are always true and honest.",
"you'll find my other review if you look, because there aren't very many products that do this, and the other product will come up on the same page when you do a search.",
"I hated that product.",
"It's totally useless.",
"This product actually works, but with a caveat.",
"That caveat is the scratches have to be absolutely hairline.",
"Mine were and although it doesn't hide them completely it certainly hides them enough to take your eye away from them when you look at the car in its entirety..",
"I was actually surprised.",
"The key to this product is to follow the directions.",
"You put it on with a swirling motion and although they say you can use a buffer I wouldn't.",
"In my mind it might make the problem worse.",
"U-Swirl it on with the pad that comes with it and you use light to medium pressure.",
"The key comes when wiping it off.",
"Microfiber towel and very very gently.",
"That's the way it works.",
"And I laid a coat of meguiars NXT over all those areas and I did it very gently and the product held up beneath the NXT.",
"Anything more than a micro thin light scratch will not be affected by tinted product and it will not work.",
"True and honest review.",
"Heads up to everybody!",
"Fakespot is a good app.",
"It works trust it.",
"This product doesn't get four and a half Stars.",
"Fakespot shows it at approximately 3 stars.",
"I would give it 3.",
"5 stars on micro scratches but I wouldn't give it any stars if you're dealing with real scratches,, I mean the deep kind..",
"the manufacturer's hyperbole is just that.",
"Just a bunch of hype.",
"Good luck to you all who are trying to cover the scratches on your pretty black SUV....",
".",
"😉😉"
] |
I realy like this cabinet. It looked just like it did in the photo. It's a really nice piece and I love the way it looks. It was packed perfectly, covering all corners and sides, even the door handles were wrapped nicely. Which brings me to this. The back right corner looks like it was damaged but with the way they protected it in shipping, it had to have happened before it was shipped. It also looks like the damage was filled in as if someone tried to fix it or cover it up. Not cool at all! I will keep it, the broken part is on the back right corner. But I'm not happy that they would do that to somebody. You can see the what I'm talking about by my pictures. I show the left side 1st which is in great condition, then I show the broken right side. This was my first time purchasing furniture on line. You never know how it's going to arrive! Disappointed with the broken corner but overall I like it. | 1 | neutral | [
"I realy like this cabinet.",
"It looked just like it did in the photo.",
"It's a really nice piece and I love the way it looks.",
"It was packed perfectly, covering all corners and sides, even the door handles were wrapped nicely.",
"Which brings me to this.",
"The back right corner looks like it was damaged but with the way they protected it in shipping, it had to have happened before it was shipped.",
"It also looks like the damage was filled in as if someone tried to fix it or cover it up.",
"Not cool at all!",
"I will keep it, the broken part is on the back right corner.",
"But I'm not happy that they would do that to somebody.",
"You can see the what I'm talking about by my pictures.",
"I show the left side 1st which is in great condition, then I show the broken right side.",
"This was my first time purchasing furniture on line.",
"You never know how it's going to arrive!",
"Disappointed with the broken corner but overall I like it."
] |
A fine first effort with high marks for historical accuracy, so far as I can tell. Master and Commander is stiff in places, but a must-read for anyone who wishes to enjoy the rest of the series. I perhaps am not the typical reader of what is essentially a war-on-sea story with a sad dearth of feminine characters, and I found it somewhat plodding. That said, I liked Jack Aubrey's bold simple character, and I found Dr. Stephen Maturin's eccentric personality quite interesting. I was captivated by their first meeting; as soon as they nearly came to blows I knew that they would establish a fast friendship - remember how D'artagnan irritatates all three of the Musketeers when first they meet, agreeing to dual each at 15-minute intervals? Of course D'artagnan and the Musketeers become life-long friends. Jack and Stephen start their friendship in much the same way. But this doesn't turn out to be a buddy-novel. It's mostly about life at sea and in battle. It's factual, not emotional, a bit dry, but very realistic.
I liked this book, and if I could I would give it 3.5 stars, but I didn't love it as some do. The second book is much better but you really must read the first book first. I recommend this to anyone, even women like myself. | 1 | neutral | [
"A fine first effort with high marks for historical accuracy, so far as I can tell.",
"Master and Commander is stiff in places, but a must-read for anyone who wishes to enjoy the rest of the series.",
"I perhaps am not the typical reader of what is essentially a war-on-sea story with a sad dearth of feminine characters, and I found it somewhat plodding.",
"That said, I liked Jack Aubrey's bold simple character, and I found Dr.",
"Stephen Maturin's eccentric personality quite interesting.",
"I was captivated by their first meeting; as soon as they nearly came to blows I knew that they would establish a fast friendship - remember how D'artagnan irritatates all three of the Musketeers when first they meet, agreeing to dual each at 15-minute intervals?",
"Of course D'artagnan and the Musketeers become life-long friends.",
"Jack and Stephen start their friendship in much the same way.",
"But this doesn't turn out to be a buddy-novel.",
"It's mostly about life at sea and in battle.",
"It's factual, not emotional, a bit dry, but very realistic.",
"I liked this book, and if I could I would give it 3.",
"5 stars, but I didn't love it as some do.",
"The second book is much better but you really must read the first book first.",
"I recommend this to anyone, even women like myself."
] |
I've watched Hitchcock's Rope, Rear Window, Psycho and Vertigo. Honestly, North by Northwest is perhaps the least bright among all. It doesn't have the suspense of Psycho, camera-work of Vertigo, smart setup as Rear Window and witty banter as Rope. In fact, with the blockbuster movie like that, I'm surprised at the slow moving storyline, even the explosion of the airplane was not thrilling.
I'm not going to give a summary of the movie since others have done it aptly, but there are flaws in the movies which they fail to point out; the most obvious one is that the movie did not once attempt to explain why the thugs think that Cary Grant is an FBI agent. Sure, it was a case of mistaken identity, but why him in particular?
Also, there were some parts, which are unneccessary at all, and would not suffer if they were edited out; all the better they should be edited out because it would only slow the pace of the over-2-hour movie. Such scenes, I can easily think of, are the scenes with Cary Grant waiting in the open fields, as if he was cruising.
Hitchcock seems to want to play with the Oedipal relationship between Cary Grant's character and his mother but this doesn't seem to work out. The relationship has only slight undertones of Oedipal, yet it offers no insight to Grant's character development and it doesn't carry through the movie. The mother disappears 1/3 through the movie, as if there wasn't such a character at all. The Oedipal relationship is, in another words, quite useless to the development of the plot.
Not Hitchcock's finest. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've watched Hitchcock's Rope, Rear Window, Psycho and Vertigo.",
"Honestly, North by Northwest is perhaps the least bright among all.",
"It doesn't have the suspense of Psycho, camera-work of Vertigo, smart setup as Rear Window and witty banter as Rope.",
"In fact, with the blockbuster movie like that, I'm surprised at the slow moving storyline, even the explosion of the airplane was not thrilling.",
"I'm not going to give a summary of the movie since others have done it aptly, but there are flaws in the movies which they fail to point out; the most obvious one is that the movie did not once attempt to explain why the thugs think that Cary Grant is an FBI agent.",
"Sure, it was a case of mistaken identity, but why him in particular?",
"Also, there were some parts, which are unneccessary at all, and would not suffer if they were edited out; all the better they should be edited out because it would only slow the pace of the over-2-hour movie.",
"Such scenes, I can easily think of, are the scenes with Cary Grant waiting in the open fields, as if he was cruising.",
"Hitchcock seems to want to play with the Oedipal relationship between Cary Grant's character and his mother but this doesn't seem to work out.",
"The relationship has only slight undertones of Oedipal, yet it offers no insight to Grant's character development and it doesn't carry through the movie.",
"The mother disappears 1/3 through the movie, as if there wasn't such a character at all.",
"The Oedipal relationship is, in another words, quite useless to the development of the plot.",
"Not Hitchcock's finest."
] |
Yeah George, I know; writing is really hard to do well. And I am a huge fan. I mostly only review books that I liked. I LOVED the first three. I read this and it didn't give me that feeling of satisfaction that I get from a really good feast. I'm trying to figure out how this one advanced the story. Maybe these were set ups for later stuff? Who knows? WHEN "A Dance With Dragons" comes out, I have faith that it will be on par with, and maybe even better than the first three. But where does that leave the "Feast". Let's face it, if your read the first three and then read the fifth (WHEN it's out), you have to read the fourth, just to know what was in it. It did have its moments. After all, the author is one of the greatest writers in the world. Even Shakespeare probably wrote something that wasn't as good as everything else he wrote. Ummmm... I am trying to be supportive of the author here, because I really want to read the next book. That is, whenever he feels that it is READY to be shared. I hope it is not another feast for crows. | 1 | neutral | [
"Yeah George, I know; writing is really hard to do well.",
"And I am a huge fan.",
"I mostly only review books that I liked.",
"I LOVED the first three.",
"I read this and it didn't give me that feeling of satisfaction that I get from a really good feast.",
"I'm trying to figure out how this one advanced the story.",
"Maybe these were set ups for later stuff?",
"Who knows?",
"WHEN \"A Dance With Dragons\" comes out, I have faith that it will be on par with, and maybe even better than the first three.",
"But where does that leave the \"Feast\".",
"Let's face it, if your read the first three and then read the fifth (WHEN it's out), you have to read the fourth, just to know what was in it.",
"It did have its moments.",
"After all, the author is one of the greatest writers in the world.",
"Even Shakespeare probably wrote something that wasn't as good as everything else he wrote.",
"Ummmm...",
"I am trying to be supportive of the author here, because I really want to read the next book.",
"That is, whenever he feels that it is READY to be shared.",
"I hope it is not another feast for crows."
] |
As displayed on the cover, this was definitely a Quickie. A Quickie doesn't give a lot of room for character building or even building up tension, so this went sort of headlong into the sexing. We start out with Kasey inadvertently giving Skylar a show while she pleasures herself. She doesn't think he's home since there are never any lights on and does it with the blinds pulled up. (She's the only other house besides Skylar's on a cul-de-sac.) Next day, Skylar introduces himself to Kasey and offers to be a live test dummy -- basically propositions her for sex within about 10 minutes of meeting her! Luckily, he's god-like and she can't resist him, so there they go. Skylar won't open up about himself, which begins to be a problem.
The sex was steamy, though it was hard for me to really feel the attraction between the two main characters, probably because it was so short. It felt like it was more tell than show, if that makes sense. It was still a cute story and ended in an HEA, or at least a HFN. | 1 | neutral | [
"As displayed on the cover, this was definitely a Quickie.",
"A Quickie doesn't give a lot of room for character building or even building up tension, so this went sort of headlong into the sexing.",
"We start out with Kasey inadvertently giving Skylar a show while she pleasures herself.",
"She doesn't think he's home since there are never any lights on and does it with the blinds pulled up.",
"(She's the only other house besides Skylar's on a cul-de-sac.",
") Next day, Skylar introduces himself to Kasey and offers to be a live test dummy -- basically propositions her for sex within about 10 minutes of meeting her!",
"Luckily, he's god-like and she can't resist him, so there they go.",
"Skylar won't open up about himself, which begins to be a problem.",
"The sex was steamy, though it was hard for me to really feel the attraction between the two main characters, probably because it was so short.",
"It felt like it was more tell than show, if that makes sense.",
"It was still a cute story and ended in an HEA, or at least a HFN."
] |
My case was cracked and there was no map ... NO MAP. I can deal with a cracked case, I can deal with the manual being in a PDF although I would've preferred the booklet other people got. But NO MAP, shame on you Ubisoft and shame on Amazon for showing a different version of this game on the ad. The one I got has Ubisoft on the box (Bethesda probably got them to distribute it at some point) and the one they show in the picture is the original Bethesda box which I know has a paper manual and a MAP. I found a map on Ebay for a few dollars ... but I should not of had to.
That being said, The Elder Scrolls are 5 star games ... see rating for "how much fun is this game" ... whether if its Daggerfall, Morrowind, or Oblivion (I never played Arena) The Elder Scrolls are maybe the only 5 star RPGs out there. Not since Lord British's original Ultima series (I-VI, way before EA bought out Origin Systems and made it Ultima Online) has there been such an engrossing computer RPG. If you like single player (this is NOT an MMO) and totally modable RPGs (there are still new mods coming out for Morrowind and it was '02 ... '03 for GOTY version) then you will love The Elder Scrolls whether if its Morrowind or Oblivion. | 1 | neutral | [
"My case was cracked and there was no map...",
"NO MAP.",
"I can deal with a cracked case, I can deal with the manual being in a PDF although I would've preferred the booklet other people got.",
"But NO MAP, shame on you Ubisoft and shame on Amazon for showing a different version of this game on the ad.",
"The one I got has Ubisoft on the box (Bethesda probably got them to distribute it at some point) and the one they show in the picture is the original Bethesda box which I know has a paper manual and a MAP.",
"I found a map on Ebay for a few dollars...",
"but I should not of had to.",
"That being said, The Elder Scrolls are 5 star games...",
"see rating for \"how much fun is this game\"...",
"whether if its Daggerfall, Morrowind, or Oblivion (I never played Arena) The Elder Scrolls are maybe the only 5 star RPGs out there.",
"Not since Lord British's original Ultima series (I-VI, way before EA bought out Origin Systems and made it Ultima Online) has there been such an engrossing computer RPG.",
"If you like single player (this is NOT an MMO) and totally modable RPGs (there are still new mods coming out for Morrowind and it was '02...",
"'03 for GOTY version) then you will love The Elder Scrolls whether if its Morrowind or Oblivion."
] |
Weingarten to Trump : You met with labor bosses on trade. Now meet with leaders of teachers unions.
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to President Trump on Wednesday telling him that teachers oppose his proposal to give them weapons to carry in the classroom and asking him to meet with teacher union leaders to discuss how to keep schools safer.
Since the Feb. 14 shooting deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla. Trump has called for some teachers to be armed saying that would serve as a deterrent against anyone trying to enter a school armed with a gun and malicious intent. His call has prompted a national debate with survivors of the Parkland shooting urging him to retract his position.
Recently Trump met with six leaders of unions including Teamsters President Jim Hoffa to discuss trade pacts a meeting referenced by Weingarten.
Weingarten and Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa president of the National Education Association the largest union in the country have been vocal against Trumpâs education policies and critical of his education secretary Betsy DeVos. DeVos attended this weekâs Supreme Court hearing to listen to arguments in a case viewed as a serious threat by organized labor including the teachers unions.
[ Governor tells Trump to stop tweeting so much and listen to teachers who donât like his plan to arm them ] | 1 | neutral | [
"Weingarten to Trump : You met with labor bosses on trade.",
"Now meet with leaders of teachers unions.",
"American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to President Trump on Wednesday telling him that teachers oppose his proposal to give them weapons to carry in the classroom and asking him to meet with teacher union leaders to discuss how to keep schools safer.",
"Since the Feb.",
"14 shooting deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla.",
"Trump has called for some teachers to be armed saying that would serve as a deterrent against anyone trying to enter a school armed with a gun and malicious intent.",
"His call has prompted a national debate with survivors of the Parkland shooting urging him to retract his position.",
"Recently Trump met with six leaders of unions including Teamsters President Jim Hoffa to discuss trade pacts a meeting referenced by Weingarten.",
"Weingarten and Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa president of the National Education Association the largest union in the country have been vocal against Trumpâs education policies and critical of his education secretary Betsy DeVos.",
"DeVos attended this weekâs Supreme Court hearing to listen to arguments in a case viewed as a serious threat by organized labor including the teachers unions.",
"[ Governor tells Trump to stop tweeting so much and listen to teachers who donât like his plan to arm them ]"
] |
worse than Jurassic Park. Stuck square in anonymity, this book would never have had more than a handful of reviews if not for the author. Attach a big enough name to anything that isn't awful and some people will love it.
Others have summarized it, you can read those reviews as well as you can this one, so I will save time and point out what is right and what is wrong.
First, the good. The characterization is better here than it is in most Michael Crichton novels. This is refreshing, although he still can't write an intelligent and dynamic female character to save a novel. Strangely. In any case, Jack Forman, our protagonist, is much more three dimensional than previous, and later, Crichton characters. It was too bad that it was really a one-time thing.
The bad. The ending was lame. Really lame. I saw it coming about halfway through the book. And it could have been so much better, too, which was even worse. Also, all of the characters except for Jack Forman are awful. Truly, jaw-droppingly bad. Many of them are retreads from other books by Crichton. As if his Word file says, "Insert ubiquitous fat, obnoxious, computer expert guy here."
The science in this one is also bad. No matter how you build nanotechnology, Escherichia coli cannot live in the desert. It is too dry, there is too much UV light, etc. At least this time, though, the people who he has villainized are merely a single company, and not an entire business, like lawyers or molecular biologists. It is more reasonable that a half-dozen people could fall into the mental traps that appear in this book than the entirety of an academic discipline, which is just awful.
Worth reading, but probably only once. Worth owning for Crichton fans, who will like it.
C
Harkius | 1 | neutral | [
"worse than Jurassic Park.",
"Stuck square in anonymity, this book would never have had more than a handful of reviews if not for the author.",
"Attach a big enough name to anything that isn't awful and some people will love it.",
"Others have summarized it, you can read those reviews as well as you can this one, so I will save time and point out what is right and what is wrong.",
"First, the good.",
"The characterization is better here than it is in most Michael Crichton novels.",
"This is refreshing, although he still can't write an intelligent and dynamic female character to save a novel.",
"Strangely.",
"In any case, Jack Forman, our protagonist, is much more three dimensional than previous, and later, Crichton characters.",
"It was too bad that it was really a one-time thing.",
"The bad.",
"The ending was lame.",
"Really lame.",
"I saw it coming about halfway through the book.",
"And it could have been so much better, too, which was even worse.",
"Also, all of the characters except for Jack Forman are awful.",
"Truly, jaw-droppingly bad.",
"Many of them are retreads from other books by Crichton.",
"As if his Word file says, \"Insert ubiquitous fat, obnoxious, computer expert guy here.",
"\"\n\nThe science in this one is also bad.",
"No matter how you build nanotechnology, Escherichia coli cannot live in the desert.",
"It is too dry, there is too much UV light, etc.",
"At least this time, though, the people who he has villainized are merely a single company, and not an entire business, like lawyers or molecular biologists.",
"It is more reasonable that a half-dozen people could fall into the mental traps that appear in this book than the entirety of an academic discipline, which is just awful.",
"Worth reading, but probably only once.",
"Worth owning for Crichton fans, who will like it.",
"C\n\nHarkius"
] |
When I started reading this, I couldn't put the book down. The way Stine paints conversations between people and integrating their thoughts from both viewpoints is fantastic. It moved the story along. The dialogue was great. I knew this might have a strange ending, but not what it wound up being. I liked the character of Milton, but it seemed as if his only purpose in the book was to serve as a distraction from Liam, to make the reader think that he was possibly the murderer, and also to sexually harass those that worked under him as Dean of Students. Some of that backstory just didn't flow along very well.
The whole sister thing with Liam was just weird too. And I was not expecting Sara to marry this guy! I thought it would be a climax at the end where she finds out what is truly underneath him and knows it has to be over between them, and there is no marriage. She just came from a bad relationship right into this one with Liam, how am I, as a reader supposed to feel that she has grown in the story and learned from her mistakes? I don't know any more about Sara now than I did in the beginning. And what about the release of demons at the end. Isn't that just a bit selfish and self-serving on Liam's part, to make Sara have his baby so he could be free? Free to do what, exactly?
Page 376 - "We loved you, Sara, because you were going to free us. You were going to have my child. The child would inherit the demons and free me from my grasp. Your child would take the demons away." And Sara wakes up in a hospital and finds out she's the new carrier of evil. I still can't quite grasp the premise of this book. | 1 | neutral | [
"When I started reading this, I couldn't put the book down.",
"The way Stine paints conversations between people and integrating their thoughts from both viewpoints is fantastic.",
"It moved the story along.",
"The dialogue was great.",
"I knew this might have a strange ending, but not what it wound up being.",
"I liked the character of Milton, but it seemed as if his only purpose in the book was to serve as a distraction from Liam, to make the reader think that he was possibly the murderer, and also to sexually harass those that worked under him as Dean of Students.",
"Some of that backstory just didn't flow along very well.",
"The whole sister thing with Liam was just weird too.",
"And I was not expecting Sara to marry this guy!",
"I thought it would be a climax at the end where she finds out what is truly underneath him and knows it has to be over between them, and there is no marriage.",
"She just came from a bad relationship right into this one with Liam, how am I, as a reader supposed to feel that she has grown in the story and learned from her mistakes?",
"I don't know any more about Sara now than I did in the beginning.",
"And what about the release of demons at the end.",
"Isn't that just a bit selfish and self-serving on Liam's part, to make Sara have his baby so he could be free?",
"Free to do what, exactly?",
"Page 376 - \"We loved you, Sara, because you were going to free us.",
"You were going to have my child.",
"The child would inherit the demons and free me from my grasp.",
"Your child would take the demons away.",
"\" And Sara wakes up in a hospital and finds out she's the new carrier of evil.",
"I still can't quite grasp the premise of this book."
] |
As far as I'm concerned, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire have been in the works for a very long time, but I have got to report the following pros and cons to you. Here they are folks:
Pros:
1. The backgrounds look impressive.
2. More badges and Pokemon to capture in your Poke balls, including the legendary robots like Greudon and Kyogre, and the legendary birds like Latios and Latias.
3. Up to 4 players can play.
Cons:
1. The 2-on-2 battle mode can throw you off course.
2. The characters look terrible.
3. You can't trade Pokemon between GBC and GBA, which means, you'll have to redo your whole team from scratch. Ouchichi!
4. The price is way off course.
5. Why would the whole Pokemon saga want to go on like this?
Even though the total number of Pokemon is 351, buying all of these accessories and mastering the rest of Pokemon will become an impossibility! Beware! You'll need 2 GBAs, Ruby+Sapphire, and a link cable to complete mission 3. Good luck! | 1 | neutral | [
"As far as I'm concerned, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire have been in the works for a very long time, but I have got to report the following pros and cons to you.",
"Here they are folks:\nPros:\n1.",
"The backgrounds look impressive.",
"2.",
"More badges and Pokemon to capture in your Poke balls, including the legendary robots like Greudon and Kyogre, and the legendary birds like Latios and Latias.",
"3.",
"Up to 4 players can play.",
"Cons:\n1.",
"The 2-on-2 battle mode can throw you off course.",
"2.",
"The characters look terrible.",
"3.",
"You can't trade Pokemon between GBC and GBA, which means, you'll have to redo your whole team from scratch.",
"Ouchichi!",
"4.",
"The price is way off course.",
"5.",
"Why would the whole Pokemon saga want to go on like this?",
"Even though the total number of Pokemon is 351, buying all of these accessories and mastering the rest of Pokemon will become an impossibility!",
"Beware!",
"You'll need 2 GBAs, Ruby+Sapphire, and a link cable to complete mission 3.",
"Good luck!"
] |
Lovedrive is where it completely fell apart as far as getting any kind of enjoyment out of the Scorpions goes. Starting here, they were obviously going for a more commercial sound and in the process, completely disregarding quality songwriting, vocal melodies, guitar solos and riffs. The Scorpions would never again return to their glory years when songwriting was their number one biggest concern. Now it's all about popularity, selling albums, and gaining success... and making the music significantly worse.
It's clearly obvious from the first song. "Loving You Sunday Morning" is almost impossible to sit through thanks to a terribly bland guitar riff, verse melody, and what strikes me as an average attempt to try and fool listeners with a chorus that isn't the least bit interesting. It *tries* to be interesting though, but it's too late- the signs of going generic and bland have officially been made clear.
"Always Somewhere" honestly makes me gag because it tries to be an emotional power ballad but... it's not the least bit emotional. A failed attempt to make me tear up, and nothing more. Everything down to the terrible vocal melody makes me sick. I normally enjoy power ballads too, but this... this? The Scorpions were a HECK of a lot better than this just a few years earlier.
The title song has a chorus that borders on mindlessly simplistic and downright annoying thanks to the lead singer sticking exclusively to a high-pitched range, and "Holiday" is probably the best cut here (though it wouldn't hurt to cut down on its length by a minute or so). "Coast to Coast" is a pretty good guitar instrumental. It's quite heavy and melodic, something I can't really say about the rest of the material.
I personally will remember the Scorpions for their early days when the songwriting, the excitement and the vocal melodies added up to one really cool experience. Unfortunately most people are apparently just the opposite- they choose to remember the Scorpions for their successful hair metal days while ignoring the early stuff which, quite frankly, is disturbing. | 1 | neutral | [
"Lovedrive is where it completely fell apart as far as getting any kind of enjoyment out of the Scorpions goes.",
"Starting here, they were obviously going for a more commercial sound and in the process, completely disregarding quality songwriting, vocal melodies, guitar solos and riffs.",
"The Scorpions would never again return to their glory years when songwriting was their number one biggest concern.",
"Now it's all about popularity, selling albums, and gaining success...",
"and making the music significantly worse.",
"It's clearly obvious from the first song.",
"\"Loving You Sunday Morning\" is almost impossible to sit through thanks to a terribly bland guitar riff, verse melody, and what strikes me as an average attempt to try and fool listeners with a chorus that isn't the least bit interesting.",
"It *tries* to be interesting though, but it's too late- the signs of going generic and bland have officially been made clear.",
"\"Always Somewhere\" honestly makes me gag because it tries to be an emotional power ballad but...",
"it's not the least bit emotional.",
"A failed attempt to make me tear up, and nothing more.",
"Everything down to the terrible vocal melody makes me sick.",
"I normally enjoy power ballads too, but this...",
"this?",
"The Scorpions were a HECK of a lot better than this just a few years earlier.",
"The title song has a chorus that borders on mindlessly simplistic and downright annoying thanks to the lead singer sticking exclusively to a high-pitched range, and \"Holiday\" is probably the best cut here (though it wouldn't hurt to cut down on its length by a minute or so).",
"\"Coast to Coast\" is a pretty good guitar instrumental.",
"It's quite heavy and melodic, something I can't really say about the rest of the material.",
"I personally will remember the Scorpions for their early days when the songwriting, the excitement and the vocal melodies added up to one really cool experience.",
"Unfortunately most people are apparently just the opposite- they choose to remember the Scorpions for their successful hair metal days while ignoring the early stuff which, quite frankly, is disturbing."
] |
For reasons known only to the author, Bram Stoker's Dracula never included the line "Sergeant, I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of s**t that there's a little piece of hash at that party, and if there is, I've got them.", but the early 70s saw that particular oversight put right. Dracula A.D. 1972 saw Hammer trying to pump new life into the old Count with a new creative team whose big idea was basically to rehash the plot of Taste the Blood of Dracula in the 1970s with Christopher Neame in the Ralph Bates role as Johnny Alucard, here conning a thrill-seeking group of with it kids (Michael Kitchen and Caroline Munro among them) into making a date with the Devil with a Black Mass at the deconsecrated church that not only holds Lawrence Van Helsing's body (Lawrence? Whatever happened to Abraham?) and Dracula's ashes. "Okay, okay. But if we do get to summon up the big daddy with the horns and the tail, he gets to bring his own liquor, his own bird and his own pot."
As with the Godzilla films, the main attraction is kept off the screen for most of the running time - top-billed Christopher Lee's role is probably smaller in this than any other in the series, four brief scenes probably totalling no more than ten minutes. Worse still, looking more like Peter Sellers than Transylvanian aristocracy, he brings nothing except continuity to the part: he does what is asked of him with professionalism, but that's about it. Instead the bulk of the film is carried by Neame's Malcolm McDowell wannabe, second-billed Peter Cushing as Van Helsing's grandson Lorimar, Stephanie Beacham and Michael Coles' open-minded cop ("There is a Satan." "Of course. Otherwise we wouldn't need a police force, would we?"). Yet despite the clumsily handled prologue and finale it's fairly entertaining even if it is completely derivative, perhaps even more entertaining now than when it was released because its hip and happening trappings are far funnier than the intentional comic relief - not least Johnny Alucard urging "Dig the music, kids!" during the black mass - and it's a lot better than Dracula 2000.
The DVD also includes the wonderfully over the top trailer - "Are you ready? He's ready. He's waiting to freak you out - right out of this world!" - but not the short making of documentary from when the picture was still called Dracula Today (other rejected titles included Dracula Chases the Mini Girls and Dracula Chelsea '72!). | 1 | neutral | [
"For reasons known only to the author, Bram Stoker's Dracula never included the line \"Sergeant, I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of s**t that there's a little piece of hash at that party, and if there is, I've got them.",
"\", but the early 70s saw that particular oversight put right.",
"Dracula A.",
"D. 1972 saw Hammer trying to pump new life into the old Count with a new creative team whose big idea was basically to rehash the plot of Taste the Blood of Dracula in the 1970s with Christopher Neame in the Ralph Bates role as Johnny Alucard, here conning a thrill-seeking group of with it kids (Michael Kitchen and Caroline Munro among them) into making a date with the Devil with a Black Mass at the deconsecrated church that not only holds Lawrence Van Helsing's body (Lawrence?",
"Whatever happened to Abraham?",
") and Dracula's ashes.",
"\"Okay, okay.",
"But if we do get to summon up the big daddy with the horns and the tail, he gets to bring his own liquor, his own bird and his own pot.",
"\"\n\nAs with the Godzilla films, the main attraction is kept off the screen for most of the running time - top-billed Christopher Lee's role is probably smaller in this than any other in the series, four brief scenes probably totalling no more than ten minutes.",
"Worse still, looking more like Peter Sellers than Transylvanian aristocracy, he brings nothing except continuity to the part: he does what is asked of him with professionalism, but that's about it.",
"Instead the bulk of the film is carried by Neame's Malcolm McDowell wannabe, second-billed Peter Cushing as Van Helsing's grandson Lorimar, Stephanie Beacham and Michael Coles' open-minded cop (\"There is a Satan.",
"\" \"Of course.",
"Otherwise we wouldn't need a police force, would we?",
"\").",
"Yet despite the clumsily handled prologue and finale it's fairly entertaining even if it is completely derivative, perhaps even more entertaining now than when it was released because its hip and happening trappings are far funnier than the intentional comic relief - not least Johnny Alucard urging \"Dig the music, kids!",
"\" during the black mass - and it's a lot better than Dracula 2000.",
"The DVD also includes the wonderfully over the top trailer - \"Are you ready?",
"He's ready.",
"He's waiting to freak you out - right out of this world!",
"\" - but not the short making of documentary from when the picture was still called Dracula Today (other rejected titles included Dracula Chases the Mini Girls and Dracula Chelsea '72!",
")."
] |
The original classic Muppet Movie has finally arrived on DVD. Unfortunately, it did not get the treatment it deserves. The only special feature of note is "Jim Frawley's camera test" (which I found pretty entertaining). The so-called "Muppetisms" are just a couple of very brief jokes from Kermit and Miss Piggy. The picture, for whatever reason, is very grainy most of the time...but at least the colors are bright and vivid. The sound is low when the characters are talking and louder during musical numbers, requiring frequent volume adjustments. The disc contains the preferred widescreen version of the film on one side, and a completely unnecessary pan-and-scan version on the other. Folks, I ask you, wouldn't you rather have a plethora of special features on that second side? How about 2 or 3 episodes of The Muppet Show? Why not some sort of a commentary on the film? Perhaps a biography of Jim Henson? The Muppets (and Jim Henson) deserve a Special Edition, and this disc is far from it. | 1 | neutral | [
"The original classic Muppet Movie has finally arrived on DVD.",
"Unfortunately, it did not get the treatment it deserves.",
"The only special feature of note is \"Jim Frawley's camera test\" (which I found pretty entertaining).",
"The so-called \"Muppetisms\" are just a couple of very brief jokes from Kermit and Miss Piggy.",
"The picture, for whatever reason, is very grainy most of the time...",
"but at least the colors are bright and vivid.",
"The sound is low when the characters are talking and louder during musical numbers, requiring frequent volume adjustments.",
"The disc contains the preferred widescreen version of the film on one side, and a completely unnecessary pan-and-scan version on the other.",
"Folks, I ask you, wouldn't you rather have a plethora of special features on that second side?",
"How about 2 or 3 episodes of The Muppet Show?",
"Why not some sort of a commentary on the film?",
"Perhaps a biography of Jim Henson?",
"The Muppets (and Jim Henson) deserve a Special Edition, and this disc is far from it."
] |
3.5 stars.
I only read a couple of m-preg romance, and one I didn't like at all, the other had other themes which were more important and I liked it better. I was reluctant about this particular book. It was good, though. The process through which males can get pregnant and then give birth is explained in a way I found more believable and almost logical in the evolutive history of that world.
I must confess that I thought the story would be more violent and angsty, but even if there was a lot of drama, it never really reached unbearable peaks. It was a bit difficult to get into the story at the beginning, because the odd names worked against my reading, then the story became more interesting, with political intrigue and heartache.
The main couple was sweet, but unfortunately I wasn't really impressed. Lassen was too good, too passive. I think it was because he was conscious of his role as a concubine and didn't want to play outside his role at court. I didn't really like Rohyr, the King. At the end of the story, when many details were revealed, I couldn't help wondering why he did what he did.
***spoiler*** The mate thing brought everything into perspective, but it was as if it came as a second thought, a bit out of nowhere, and I didn't feel it was worked into the story so well.***end spoiler***
The world building was very interesting and rich. The author thought the hystory, politcs, biology, of these people in a very creative way. I would recommend it if you want to read about m-preg and you like fantasy. If you want your characters strong, it could be a bit disappointing. | 1 | neutral | [
"3.",
"5 stars.",
"I only read a couple of m-preg romance, and one I didn't like at all, the other had other themes which were more important and I liked it better.",
"I was reluctant about this particular book.",
"It was good, though.",
"The process through which males can get pregnant and then give birth is explained in a way I found more believable and almost logical in the evolutive history of that world.",
"I must confess that I thought the story would be more violent and angsty, but even if there was a lot of drama, it never really reached unbearable peaks.",
"It was a bit difficult to get into the story at the beginning, because the odd names worked against my reading, then the story became more interesting, with political intrigue and heartache.",
"The main couple was sweet, but unfortunately I wasn't really impressed.",
"Lassen was too good, too passive.",
"I think it was because he was conscious of his role as a concubine and didn't want to play outside his role at court.",
"I didn't really like Rohyr, the King.",
"At the end of the story, when many details were revealed, I couldn't help wondering why he did what he did.",
"***spoiler*** The mate thing brought everything into perspective, but it was as if it came as a second thought, a bit out of nowhere, and I didn't feel it was worked into the story so well.",
"***end spoiler***\n\nThe world building was very interesting and rich.",
"The author thought the hystory, politcs, biology, of these people in a very creative way.",
"I would recommend it if you want to read about m-preg and you like fantasy.",
"If you want your characters strong, it could be a bit disappointing."
] |
I might not have been surprised by joy as I read this book - it was far to factually autobiographical for me, and not what I expected - but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed parts of it.
Both Lewis's description of his childhood education (and the hotbed of homo-eroticism that private boys-only schools were) was brilliant and non-judgemental and his glossed-over, but no less harrowing, account of his experience in WW1, provided an intriguing glimpse into a byone era.
Perhaps this was my biggest problem with the book - I expected a deeply inspiring, imaginative and very personal account of his spiritual awakening. Instead, this book is mainly autbiographical with a few paragraphs here and there covering his spiritual journey. Emotion was thin on the ground - intellectual scholarship was densely packed into each sentence.
Thanks to my long ago classical studies I could wade through the allusions without getting too lost, but still ... I wanted to be inspired, to feel what Lewis felt as he journeyed back to his God.
Instead, it took me nearly two weeks to struggle through it because as a rule, I don't read autobiographies. Ultimately, this was more biographical than it was spiritual and thus SURPRISED BY JOY didn't meet my expectations as a reader.
(This review is for the Kindle edition) | 1 | neutral | [
"I might not have been surprised by joy as I read this book - it was far to factually autobiographical for me, and not what I expected - but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed parts of it.",
"Both Lewis's description of his childhood education (and the hotbed of homo-eroticism that private boys-only schools were) was brilliant and non-judgemental and his glossed-over, but no less harrowing, account of his experience in WW1, provided an intriguing glimpse into a byone era.",
"Perhaps this was my biggest problem with the book - I expected a deeply inspiring, imaginative and very personal account of his spiritual awakening.",
"Instead, this book is mainly autbiographical with a few paragraphs here and there covering his spiritual journey.",
"Emotion was thin on the ground - intellectual scholarship was densely packed into each sentence.",
"Thanks to my long ago classical studies I could wade through the allusions without getting too lost, but still...",
"I wanted to be inspired, to feel what Lewis felt as he journeyed back to his God.",
"Instead, it took me nearly two weeks to struggle through it because as a rule, I don't read autobiographies.",
"Ultimately, this was more biographical than it was spiritual and thus SURPRISED BY JOY didn't meet my expectations as a reader.",
"(This review is for the Kindle edition)"
] |
I do enjoy watching Titanic on my 46" television in all its visually and auditory pleasing splendor, but after repeated viewings I get the feeling that I may not have just been served chicken when I see this flick. The characters in Titanic are way too stereotypical and the people portrayed have too much of a 2 dimensional as compared to 3 dimensional feel about them. I will use Rose, Cal, and Jack as examples. Rose serves as a kind of simplistic bridge between the rich and poor. She seems all too ready to drop the rich lifestyle with not much more foundation for that behavior than a bit of pre-wedding jitters. She is extremely ego-centric. Cal is not evil enough. He is in the worlds of the zany Dr. Evil from Austin Powers, quasi Evil. Sure he is only interested in showering Rose with material possessions and has a distaste for those who don't make their own luck. I stress there are worser fates than that. Jack is a very unrealisticly optimistic guy who is no more than a drifting artist with no home and no future. Rose is attracted to the fact that Jack offers her an undetermined future as well as a chance for a way out of her family responsibility. By marrying Cal her family stays rich and her mother doesn't have to work-yet another ego-centric character is Rose's mother. This movie seems to promote that looking out for numero uno is the correct way to approach life even if it costs you a great deal of money. That is just implausibly unrealistic. Sometimes that just gets you into more of a hassle than you tried to avoid. It's almost welcome when the boat sinks and foils the plans of Jack and Rose. The real untold story of this Hollywood Titanic is how Rose survived on her own after the ships sinking. I'm sure that would be a real box office smash as well. Titanic is such a promising movie with an awfully poorly written plot. This is an exploitation of the true victims of the sinking of the Titanic. | 1 | neutral | [
"I do enjoy watching Titanic on my 46\" television in all its visually and auditory pleasing splendor, but after repeated viewings I get the feeling that I may not have just been served chicken when I see this flick.",
"The characters in Titanic are way too stereotypical and the people portrayed have too much of a 2 dimensional as compared to 3 dimensional feel about them.",
"I will use Rose, Cal, and Jack as examples.",
"Rose serves as a kind of simplistic bridge between the rich and poor.",
"She seems all too ready to drop the rich lifestyle with not much more foundation for that behavior than a bit of pre-wedding jitters.",
"She is extremely ego-centric.",
"Cal is not evil enough.",
"He is in the worlds of the zany Dr.",
"Evil from Austin Powers, quasi Evil.",
"Sure he is only interested in showering Rose with material possessions and has a distaste for those who don't make their own luck.",
"I stress there are worser fates than that.",
"Jack is a very unrealisticly optimistic guy who is no more than a drifting artist with no home and no future.",
"Rose is attracted to the fact that Jack offers her an undetermined future as well as a chance for a way out of her family responsibility.",
"By marrying Cal her family stays rich and her mother doesn't have to work-yet another ego-centric character is Rose's mother.",
"This movie seems to promote that looking out for numero uno is the correct way to approach life even if it costs you a great deal of money.",
"That is just implausibly unrealistic.",
"Sometimes that just gets you into more of a hassle than you tried to avoid.",
"It's almost welcome when the boat sinks and foils the plans of Jack and Rose.",
"The real untold story of this Hollywood Titanic is how Rose survived on her own after the ships sinking.",
"I'm sure that would be a real box office smash as well.",
"Titanic is such a promising movie with an awfully poorly written plot.",
"This is an exploitation of the true victims of the sinking of the Titanic."
] |
I found it fitting that "Firefox" is recommended to accompany this film. But there are differences. An equally fitting choice to go along with this would be "War Games", which came out the same year and shared John Badham as the director. What this and "War Games" have in common and don't have in common with "Firefox" or this reviewer is a distrust of our government.
There are other things I didn't like about "Blue Thunder". It had unnecessary R-rated language. It had some sensuality that may entertain some, but it did not help me relate to or root for the characters.
I will say that it did include Roy Sheider, who has always been one of my favorite actors. Additionally, it introduced me to Daniel Stern, who I liked better in the "Home Alone" movies. Furthermore, it was an exciting thriller, with good (though sometimes improbable) action.
I'll close by commenting that it may be Badham saw or read "Firefox", and liked the concept of a super flying machine, but not liking the Russians being the bad guys, and remade the story to be more sleazy and to make the U.S. the villains. Too bad. | 1 | neutral | [
"I found it fitting that \"Firefox\" is recommended to accompany this film.",
"But there are differences.",
"An equally fitting choice to go along with this would be \"War Games\", which came out the same year and shared John Badham as the director.",
"What this and \"War Games\" have in common and don't have in common with \"Firefox\" or this reviewer is a distrust of our government.",
"There are other things I didn't like about \"Blue Thunder\".",
"It had unnecessary R-rated language.",
"It had some sensuality that may entertain some, but it did not help me relate to or root for the characters.",
"I will say that it did include Roy Sheider, who has always been one of my favorite actors.",
"Additionally, it introduced me to Daniel Stern, who I liked better in the \"Home Alone\" movies.",
"Furthermore, it was an exciting thriller, with good (though sometimes improbable) action.",
"I'll close by commenting that it may be Badham saw or read \"Firefox\", and liked the concept of a super flying machine, but not liking the Russians being the bad guys, and remade the story to be more sleazy and to make the U.",
"S. the villains.",
"Too bad."
] |
On my list of movies that took me by surprise, this ranks pretty high. It wasn't what I expected at all.
The previews for the movie focused pretty heavily on the "party animal" character, as if he was one of the main characters. That's why the previews looked as though the movie would be god-awful. The movie is actually a lot different, though.
The first thirty minutes are basically a moral story about what can happen when a college student forgets his responsibilities and stops studying. That's when the suicide plot line appears, which you've probably read in other reviews.
For the next half hour, our heroes try to perfect their plan while avoiding detection. It isn't until the 60 minute mark that they meet the "party animal" guy - and he disappears pretty quickly. The other victims of their plot are actually funnier characters (particularly the "Bill Gates" guy).
I'd recommend this movie as a rental, because some of the stuff later in the movie is rather funny. Unfortunately, the first 30 minutes or so are extremely dull, and there's a sizeable dose of lame gay jokes scattered throughout. | 1 | neutral | [
"On my list of movies that took me by surprise, this ranks pretty high.",
"It wasn't what I expected at all.",
"The previews for the movie focused pretty heavily on the \"party animal\" character, as if he was one of the main characters.",
"That's why the previews looked as though the movie would be god-awful.",
"The movie is actually a lot different, though.",
"The first thirty minutes are basically a moral story about what can happen when a college student forgets his responsibilities and stops studying.",
"That's when the suicide plot line appears, which you've probably read in other reviews.",
"For the next half hour, our heroes try to perfect their plan while avoiding detection.",
"It isn't until the 60 minute mark that they meet the \"party animal\" guy - and he disappears pretty quickly.",
"The other victims of their plot are actually funnier characters (particularly the \"Bill Gates\" guy).",
"I'd recommend this movie as a rental, because some of the stuff later in the movie is rather funny.",
"Unfortunately, the first 30 minutes or so are extremely dull, and there's a sizeable dose of lame gay jokes scattered throughout."
] |
I have quite a few DS games, and this is the only one I have to avoid. If I play it for even five minutes my eyes have trouble focusing. They feel crossed. It doesn't matter what distance or angle I play at, and it happens every time. I've never worn glasses, I have good eyesight, I'm 29 years old. I've never had eye crossing problems with any other game ever and I've played manhy different games on many different systems. If anyone knows why this is please e-mail me.
I did enjoy pac man and mappy before making the definitie connection between fuzzy vision and this game. It's really not the same. I'd like to buy the pac man arcade game and have it in my house, because that's really the only way to play pac man. Also, my friends and I didn't care much for the pac man vs. It looks like fun, but it's oddly executed.
As for the other games on here. Galaga is fine, but not the same as on the big screen. I loathe dig dug 2, what is going on with that game?!? The tower of druaga is weird, pretty boring. I'm not fond of xevious either. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have quite a few DS games, and this is the only one I have to avoid.",
"If I play it for even five minutes my eyes have trouble focusing.",
"They feel crossed.",
"It doesn't matter what distance or angle I play at, and it happens every time.",
"I've never worn glasses, I have good eyesight, I'm 29 years old.",
"I've never had eye crossing problems with any other game ever and I've played manhy different games on many different systems.",
"If anyone knows why this is please e-mail me.",
"I did enjoy pac man and mappy before making the definitie connection between fuzzy vision and this game.",
"It's really not the same.",
"I'd like to buy the pac man arcade game and have it in my house, because that's really the only way to play pac man.",
"Also, my friends and I didn't care much for the pac man vs.",
"It looks like fun, but it's oddly executed.",
"As for the other games on here.",
"Galaga is fine, but not the same as on the big screen.",
"I loathe dig dug 2, what is going on with that game?!",
"?",
"The tower of druaga is weird, pretty boring.",
"I'm not fond of xevious either."
] |
White person claims to be 'transracial ' identifies as Filipino
Ja Du a transgender white person from New Orleans also claims to be transracial and identifies as Filipino.
Du was born Adam Wheeler and grew up loving Filipino food and culture -- so much so Du now identifies as Filipino even driving a purple motorized rickshaw Du called a Tuk Tuk an Asian-derived vehicle used for public transit in the Philippines.
âWhenever Iâm around the music around the food I feel like Iâm in my own skin â Du told WTSP. âIâd watch the history channel sometimes for hours you know whenever it came to that and you know nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture.â
The comments make Du a member of a small but growing community of people who consider themselves transracial -- meaning to be born one race but identify with another.
âI think things that made no sense to most people make sense to us on an individual level in almost every person like a swelling feeling you feel when you listen to dramatic music â Du told the Huffington Post. âItâs all sound and vibration but something in it relates to your soul on such a subconscious level that you connect with it and [thatâs] how I feel about the Filipino culture.â
Many members of the Filipino-American community however are not pleased with some even expressing outrage at Duâs assertion saying Du is overlooking the hundreds of years of struggle Filipinos have endured.
âJa Du says he feels like himself when heâs around Filipino food and music and that is fabulous but to then say you are that race is both unrealistic and problematic â she said. âBeing Filipino means enduring racism discrimination and micro-aggressions all the time.â | 1 | neutral | [
"White person claims to be 'transracial ' identifies as Filipino\nJa Du a transgender white person from New Orleans also claims to be transracial and identifies as Filipino.",
"Du was born Adam Wheeler and grew up loving Filipino food and culture -- so much so Du now identifies as Filipino even driving a purple motorized rickshaw Du called a Tuk Tuk an Asian-derived vehicle used for public transit in the Philippines.",
"âWhenever Iâm around the music around the food I feel like Iâm in my own skin â Du told WTSP.",
"âIâd watch the history channel sometimes for hours you know whenever it came to that and you know nothing else intrigued me more but things about Filipino culture.",
"â\nThe comments make Du a member of a small but growing community of people who consider themselves transracial -- meaning to be born one race but identify with another.",
"âI think things that made no sense to most people make sense to us on an individual level in almost every person like a swelling feeling you feel when you listen to dramatic music â Du told the Huffington Post.",
"âItâs all sound and vibration but something in it relates to your soul on such a subconscious level that you connect with it and [thatâs] how I feel about the Filipino culture.",
"â\nMany members of the Filipino-American community however are not pleased with some even expressing outrage at Duâs assertion saying Du is overlooking the hundreds of years of struggle Filipinos have endured.",
"âJa Du says he feels like himself when heâs around Filipino food and music and that is fabulous but to then say you are that race is both unrealistic and problematic â she said.",
"âBeing Filipino means enduring racism discrimination and micro-aggressions all the time.",
"â"
] |
This book would make an excellent reference if one were writing a paper on the transition pornography (and law enforcement's approach to dealing with it) made from quick 8mm loops and bachelor party smut into home video production with sophisticated filming techniques. In the mid to late 1970s, porn did what it does best. It led the way for Hollywood. This is not a lightly-made claim and most students of film are quite aware that while Hollywood may purchase the bus, porn has always been the driver. Just to cite one example among many, despite the fact that betamax was a higher quality product with better picture quality and sound, pornographers found it quicker and easier to duplicate VHS so it became the winner of the first video wars. Additionally, by adhering to the law of supply & demand, porn set the early price points for home video rental product. While such decisions made hundred of millions of dollars for the porn industry, Hollywood started measuring profits in tens of billions.
However, the events covered in "Skinflicks" largely took place 30-35 years ago. It was a time of mob involvement, seedy red-light districts zoned by the cities and packed with strip clubs, adult toy stores, peep shows, and aged theaters running a constant stream of whatever could press the borders of obscenity laws without quite crossing the line. Women were exploited, used up, drugged up, and then tossed aside as looks faded and fickle audiences demanded an endless parade of the young and beautiful.
If you are picking this title up to learn what the industry is like today, you're wasting your money. There are numerous other books that are more up to date and relevant that can provide what you seek. Ron Jeremy has written an excellent autobiography, just to site one example.
On the other hand, if you are looking for information about the control organized crime once had over the business and how it got that way in the first place, you will find "Skinflicks" to be very informative, if not very engrossing.
Apart from the age of the book itself, the biggest problem is that the author doesn't seem to ever decide whether he wanted to write an investigative expose' ala "All The President's Men" or "60 Minutes" or write tale of titillation and exploitation. As a result, the reader gets neither. Large sections of the book cover trials and legal cases - both famous and all but unknown - and the impact they had on the industry itself. Then others focus on the changes made by the film makers in reaction to or anticipation of the ever shifting laws. Much of it would be utterly absurd if it weren't true. Editor's would peruse film frame by frame trying to decide when something crossed the line. Without getting too specific in a public forum I'm literally talking about things like "how many knuckles constitute this term" and how many toes will cross the line of decency and dip into the pool of "obscene."
For most folks such things are of mild interest at best. Still, if you purchase this and read it thinking of it as something of a snapshot of the early days or a time capsule of the birth of what is now an industry where women not only get paid well, but sometimes start their own media mini-empires, it's well worth the cost. Just know what you're buying before you begin. Hopefully I've managed to help you in that process. | 1 | neutral | [
"This book would make an excellent reference if one were writing a paper on the transition pornography (and law enforcement's approach to dealing with it) made from quick 8mm loops and bachelor party smut into home video production with sophisticated filming techniques.",
"In the mid to late 1970s, porn did what it does best.",
"It led the way for Hollywood.",
"This is not a lightly-made claim and most students of film are quite aware that while Hollywood may purchase the bus, porn has always been the driver.",
"Just to cite one example among many, despite the fact that betamax was a higher quality product with better picture quality and sound, pornographers found it quicker and easier to duplicate VHS so it became the winner of the first video wars.",
"Additionally, by adhering to the law of supply & demand, porn set the early price points for home video rental product.",
"While such decisions made hundred of millions of dollars for the porn industry, Hollywood started measuring profits in tens of billions.",
"However, the events covered in \"Skinflicks\" largely took place 30-35 years ago.",
"It was a time of mob involvement, seedy red-light districts zoned by the cities and packed with strip clubs, adult toy stores, peep shows, and aged theaters running a constant stream of whatever could press the borders of obscenity laws without quite crossing the line.",
"Women were exploited, used up, drugged up, and then tossed aside as looks faded and fickle audiences demanded an endless parade of the young and beautiful.",
"If you are picking this title up to learn what the industry is like today, you're wasting your money.",
"There are numerous other books that are more up to date and relevant that can provide what you seek.",
"Ron Jeremy has written an excellent autobiography, just to site one example.",
"On the other hand, if you are looking for information about the control organized crime once had over the business and how it got that way in the first place, you will find \"Skinflicks\" to be very informative, if not very engrossing.",
"Apart from the age of the book itself, the biggest problem is that the author doesn't seem to ever decide whether he wanted to write an investigative expose' ala \"All The President's Men\" or \"60 Minutes\" or write tale of titillation and exploitation.",
"As a result, the reader gets neither.",
"Large sections of the book cover trials and legal cases - both famous and all but unknown - and the impact they had on the industry itself.",
"Then others focus on the changes made by the film makers in reaction to or anticipation of the ever shifting laws.",
"Much of it would be utterly absurd if it weren't true.",
"Editor's would peruse film frame by frame trying to decide when something crossed the line.",
"Without getting too specific in a public forum I'm literally talking about things like \"how many knuckles constitute this term\" and how many toes will cross the line of decency and dip into the pool of \"obscene.",
"\"\n\nFor most folks such things are of mild interest at best.",
"Still, if you purchase this and read it thinking of it as something of a snapshot of the early days or a time capsule of the birth of what is now an industry where women not only get paid well, but sometimes start their own media mini-empires, it's well worth the cost.",
"Just know what you're buying before you begin.",
"Hopefully I've managed to help you in that process."
] |
I'm a fan of Ultimate products. This is a great stand for acoustics and for light- to moderate-weight electrics. If that's what you have, I recommend it. It works great with my Telecaster! But it makes me nervous with my '73 Gibson Les Paul. The Les Paul is so bottom-heavy that it's too easy to tip the stand and guitar forward, and the pendulum effect of the free-hanging guitar takes over and it all falls forward. (Don't try this at home unless you're standing right there in front ready to stop the pendulum!) In other words, the design of the stand allows the guitar to hang too close to vertical, and if the guitar is extra heavy, it can be tipped forward with a relatively light-to-moderate bump from behind. Front-to-back and side-to-side stability is very good even with the Les Paul and even with pretty solid bumps. I'm no engineer, but I would redesign this stand with four legs, adding a second leg in the back, and increasing the backward tilt of the stand. | 1 | neutral | [
"I'm a fan of Ultimate products.",
"This is a great stand for acoustics and for light- to moderate-weight electrics.",
"If that's what you have, I recommend it.",
"It works great with my Telecaster!",
"But it makes me nervous with my '73 Gibson Les Paul.",
"The Les Paul is so bottom-heavy that it's too easy to tip the stand and guitar forward, and the pendulum effect of the free-hanging guitar takes over and it all falls forward.",
"(Don't try this at home unless you're standing right there in front ready to stop the pendulum!",
") In other words, the design of the stand allows the guitar to hang too close to vertical, and if the guitar is extra heavy, it can be tipped forward with a relatively light-to-moderate bump from behind.",
"Front-to-back and side-to-side stability is very good even with the Les Paul and even with pretty solid bumps.",
"I'm no engineer, but I would redesign this stand with four legs, adding a second leg in the back, and increasing the backward tilt of the stand."
] |
I've seen this film many times over the years, have read the other reviews and now offer my own. First off, the film is based on a novel...i.e. it is fiction, and is not intended as an accurate portrayal of historical events. So when you don't recognize the names of people, ships, or places...calm down. Having said that, a picture released in 1965 but set in 1941-42 should at least be dressed/designed appropriately. This film opens with a straight-haired girl go-go dancing to hot jazz wearing a form-fitting knee-length dress...8 seconds after a title card shows "December 6, 1941". Understandably, some reviewers were a little put-off by this, and other anachronisms contained in the picture.
We quickly move to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor...which shows no devastation, lasts all of 5 minutes, elicits virtually zero panic from those on the bridge of a ship escaping the harbor, and is followed in short-order by a scene at another dance. This sets the theme for the next 2 hrs 30 minutes of this epic...periodic battle action...some of it decent...cast against multiple mini-melodramas...most of them bad although, somewhat, intertwined.
I won't summarize the entire picture but will recommended it for viewing...on a slow day...for the following reasons. The cast, and for the most part the casting, is excellent...although the performances themselves are rather shallow and unevolved. Maybe this was Preminger's intention. For Wayne, maybe it was because by the time filming ended, he was coughing up blood and within a few weeks had to have a cancerous lung and a few ribs removed to...well...stay alive another 15 years and win a couple of Oscars, one honorary. I felt the chemistry between Wayne, Douglas, and Meredith was believable...especially considering that Wayne and Douglas had never met prior to this picture and were polar opposites politically. Meredith was even blacklisted for a time. But these professionals put aside those differences and played well together on screen. Patricia Neal was great, but the temperature between her's and Wayne's characters was luke-warm at best. Again, they were older, saltier generational military and maybe the actors were reflecting this in their performances.
Adequate added support from the likes of Henry Fonda, Carroll O'Connor, Paula Prentiss, Dana Andrews, Slim Pickens, even Larry Hagman (briefly) rounds-out this World War II Epic...the last old-school one filmed in glorious Black and White and also Wayne's last B&W film. Very good cinematography, a decent score, inconsistent quality special effects, some of them down-right bad (the added smoke just hangs and meanders at times). Video and sound all superb in the version I am reviewing. Enjoy! | 1 | neutral | [
"I've seen this film many times over the years, have read the other reviews and now offer my own.",
"First off, the film is based on a novel...",
"i.",
"e. it is fiction, and is not intended as an accurate portrayal of historical events.",
"So when you don't recognize the names of people, ships, or places...",
"calm down.",
"Having said that, a picture released in 1965 but set in 1941-42 should at least be dressed/designed appropriately.",
"This film opens with a straight-haired girl go-go dancing to hot jazz wearing a form-fitting knee-length dress...",
"8 seconds after a title card shows \"December 6, 1941\".",
"Understandably, some reviewers were a little put-off by this, and other anachronisms contained in the picture.",
"We quickly move to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor...",
"which shows no devastation, lasts all of 5 minutes, elicits virtually zero panic from those on the bridge of a ship escaping the harbor, and is followed in short-order by a scene at another dance.",
"This sets the theme for the next 2 hrs 30 minutes of this epic...",
"periodic battle action...",
"some of it decent...",
"cast against multiple mini-melodramas...",
"most of them bad although, somewhat, intertwined.",
"I won't summarize the entire picture but will recommended it for viewing...",
"on a slow day...",
"for the following reasons.",
"The cast, and for the most part the casting, is excellent...",
"although the performances themselves are rather shallow and unevolved.",
"Maybe this was Preminger's intention.",
"For Wayne, maybe it was because by the time filming ended, he was coughing up blood and within a few weeks had to have a cancerous lung and a few ribs removed to...",
"well...",
"stay alive another 15 years and win a couple of Oscars, one honorary.",
"I felt the chemistry between Wayne, Douglas, and Meredith was believable...",
"especially considering that Wayne and Douglas had never met prior to this picture and were polar opposites politically.",
"Meredith was even blacklisted for a time.",
"But these professionals put aside those differences and played well together on screen.",
"Patricia Neal was great, but the temperature between her's and Wayne's characters was luke-warm at best.",
"Again, they were older, saltier generational military and maybe the actors were reflecting this in their performances.",
"Adequate added support from the likes of Henry Fonda, Carroll O'Connor, Paula Prentiss, Dana Andrews, Slim Pickens, even Larry Hagman (briefly) rounds-out this World War II Epic...",
"the last old-school one filmed in glorious Black and White and also Wayne's last B&W film.",
"Very good cinematography, a decent score, inconsistent quality special effects, some of them down-right bad (the added smoke just hangs and meanders at times).",
"Video and sound all superb in the version I am reviewing.",
"Enjoy!"
] |
LaVar Ball Says He'd Probably Thank China's President Over Donald Trump
LaVar Ball suggested President Donald Trump stay in his lane Monday night during an interview with CNNâs Chris Cuomo.
âIf you help you shouldnât have to say anything â Ball said of Trump âs involvement in orchestrating the release of his son UCLA basketball player LiAngelo Ball. LiAngelo was one of three UCLA basketball players arrested and jailed earlier this month for shoplifting in China.
âLet him do his political affairs and let me handle my son and letâs just stay in our lane â the elder Ball added.
The outspoken father continued to be skeptical that Trump was responsible for the release of the three basketball players all of whom returned to Los Angeles safely last week. The players have been suspended indefinitely from the team.
Last week Trump slammed the players for not publicly thanking him for their release. The men then held a press conference and thanked the president.
âDid he help the boys get out? I donât know â Ball said. âIf I was going to thank somebody Iâd probably thank President Xi. He âs the president in China. Somebody can make a suggestion and somebody can do something.â
Trump called Ball âvery ungratefulâ in a tweet on Sunday and said the father was not taking the allegations seriously enough after he downplayed the presidentâs involvement in his sonâs release.
âI should have left them in jail!â Trump tweeted.
The White House later walked back Trumpâs comment saying he did not mean the comment and was responding to the elder Ballâs skepticism in the presidentâs direct involvement. | 1 | neutral | [
"LaVar Ball Says He'd Probably Thank China's President Over Donald Trump\nLaVar Ball suggested President Donald Trump stay in his lane Monday night during an interview with CNNâs Chris Cuomo.",
"âIf you help you shouldnât have to say anything â Ball said of Trump âs involvement in orchestrating the release of his son UCLA basketball player LiAngelo Ball.",
"LiAngelo was one of three UCLA basketball players arrested and jailed earlier this month for shoplifting in China.",
"âLet him do his political affairs and let me handle my son and letâs just stay in our lane â the elder Ball added.",
"The outspoken father continued to be skeptical that Trump was responsible for the release of the three basketball players all of whom returned to Los Angeles safely last week.",
"The players have been suspended indefinitely from the team.",
"Last week Trump slammed the players for not publicly thanking him for their release.",
"The men then held a press conference and thanked the president.",
"âDid he help the boys get out?",
"I donât know â Ball said.",
"âIf I was going to thank somebody Iâd probably thank President Xi.",
"He âs the president in China.",
"Somebody can make a suggestion and somebody can do something.",
"â\n Trump called Ball âvery ungratefulâ in a tweet on Sunday and said the father was not taking the allegations seriously enough after he downplayed the presidentâs involvement in his sonâs release.",
"âI should have left them in jail!",
"â Trump tweeted.",
"The White House later walked back Trumpâs comment saying he did not mean the comment and was responding to the elder Ballâs skepticism in the presidentâs direct involvement."
] |
Austen's Ahhhs # 1
An "alternate" Pride and Prejudice in which Mr. Darcy is injured in a carriage accident after writing his sister Georgiana that he intends to propose to Elizabeth at Rosings.
No alternate P&P I have read has managed to keep the characters true to Austen's original, and sadly this book continues the trend. The worst inaccuracy in this particular story is having Elizabeth rely on prayer. While I strongly agree with that approach to life, Austen's Elizabeth did not. Although Georgiana long ago left school, Louise has her doing lessons with a governess. Louise significantly changed most of the characters; her Mr. Bennet is much more forceful, "gentlemanly" Colonel Fitzwilliam is snide, Georgiana is manipulative. Louise does not grasp the manners of the era. The ladies refer to servants as "Mr. Winston" and "Mr. Durnham;" as their social superiors, the ladies would have only used the servants' surnames. Elizabeth keeps calling Mr. Darcy "Sir" (yes, capitalized). I'm honestly not sure how Austen would have handled Louise's Darcy/Lady Catherine confrontation, but the scene in the book feels modern and therefore unauthentic. In general, there is way too much 21st century infringing on the supposedly 18th century characters. Elizabeth's prayers would fit right in any evangelical church today. She relies on a special tea as a "pick-me-up." All the edge and danger of Austen's original is gone. Louise indulges in too many classic sappy romance scenes for my taste, although modern romance fans will probably enjoy it. The cutesy guest appearance of Rev. Austen and his author daughter Jane, complete with a LLLOOOONNNNGGG prayer actually written by Jane and completely irrelevant to the story, was egregiously awful. And in spite of all these problems, I finished the book - I'm really not sure why except Louise made me want to see what would happen next, in spite of her reliance on classic romance formulae. There are occasional grammar and word usage errors. "The house staff usually did a very proficient job." "Elizabeth ... slinked into it." The title is quite relevant. The hardcore alternate-P&P fans (and there seem to be a lot of them) will love this story, but the inaccuracies will drive any serious history fan bonkers. | 1 | neutral | [
"Austen's Ahhhs # 1\n\nAn \"alternate\" Pride and Prejudice in which Mr.",
"Darcy is injured in a carriage accident after writing his sister Georgiana that he intends to propose to Elizabeth at Rosings.",
"No alternate P&P I have read has managed to keep the characters true to Austen's original, and sadly this book continues the trend.",
"The worst inaccuracy in this particular story is having Elizabeth rely on prayer.",
"While I strongly agree with that approach to life, Austen's Elizabeth did not.",
"Although Georgiana long ago left school, Louise has her doing lessons with a governess.",
"Louise significantly changed most of the characters; her Mr.",
"Bennet is much more forceful, \"gentlemanly\" Colonel Fitzwilliam is snide, Georgiana is manipulative.",
"Louise does not grasp the manners of the era.",
"The ladies refer to servants as \"Mr.",
"Winston\" and \"Mr.",
"Durnham;\" as their social superiors, the ladies would have only used the servants' surnames.",
"Elizabeth keeps calling Mr.",
"Darcy \"Sir\" (yes, capitalized).",
"I'm honestly not sure how Austen would have handled Louise's Darcy/Lady Catherine confrontation, but the scene in the book feels modern and therefore unauthentic.",
"In general, there is way too much 21st century infringing on the supposedly 18th century characters.",
"Elizabeth's prayers would fit right in any evangelical church today.",
"She relies on a special tea as a \"pick-me-up.",
"\" All the edge and danger of Austen's original is gone.",
"Louise indulges in too many classic sappy romance scenes for my taste, although modern romance fans will probably enjoy it.",
"The cutesy guest appearance of Rev.",
"Austen and his author daughter Jane, complete with a LLLOOOONNNNGGG prayer actually written by Jane and completely irrelevant to the story, was egregiously awful.",
"And in spite of all these problems, I finished the book - I'm really not sure why except Louise made me want to see what would happen next, in spite of her reliance on classic romance formulae.",
"There are occasional grammar and word usage errors.",
"\"The house staff usually did a very proficient job.",
"\" \"Elizabeth...",
"slinked into it.",
"\" The title is quite relevant.",
"The hardcore alternate-P&P fans (and there seem to be a lot of them) will love this story, but the inaccuracies will drive any serious history fan bonkers."
] |
Can this really be considered a game?
Indigo Prophecy is a movie. It says so right in the main title screen. Fortunately, it was made in video game form because I don't think it would've done too well on the big screen. However, as a video game, it makes for a great dramatic presentation. The characters are believable, the voice talent is some of the best I've heard in a while, and the story is simply gripping. As I was playing, I truly felt for the characters in the story, especially the ones you control. The game sort of plays out like the sims (without the action sequences of course). You control your character and pretty much have free will as to where they go and what they interact with. Unlike the sims, however, your story will eventually end the same every time.
That being said, this game isn't really that fun as a "game." The action sequences and question choices seem more like a tedious task than enthralling gameplay. In fact, it's the game's biggest downfall. I can overlook the character graphical detail and the mouth movement that is worse than a Neversoft game, but I can't overlook the fact that the action sequences where I am forced to "DDR" with my joysticks or repeatedly pull the left and right triggers seem so unnecessary and unexciting. Plain and simple, this game is not fun. It has a great stroy, one of the best in a while...but it fails as a game because the gameplay is horiffic. I wish that I felt like I was controlling the character (which, as the creator says in the tutorial, is the idea), but I just feel like I'd rather do it myself than being rewarded for "bopping it" correctly.
Rent it. | 1 | neutral | [
"Can this really be considered a game?",
"Indigo Prophecy is a movie.",
"It says so right in the main title screen.",
"Fortunately, it was made in video game form because I don't think it would've done too well on the big screen.",
"However, as a video game, it makes for a great dramatic presentation.",
"The characters are believable, the voice talent is some of the best I've heard in a while, and the story is simply gripping.",
"As I was playing, I truly felt for the characters in the story, especially the ones you control.",
"The game sort of plays out like the sims (without the action sequences of course).",
"You control your character and pretty much have free will as to where they go and what they interact with.",
"Unlike the sims, however, your story will eventually end the same every time.",
"That being said, this game isn't really that fun as a \"game.",
"\" The action sequences and question choices seem more like a tedious task than enthralling gameplay.",
"In fact, it's the game's biggest downfall.",
"I can overlook the character graphical detail and the mouth movement that is worse than a Neversoft game, but I can't overlook the fact that the action sequences where I am forced to \"DDR\" with my joysticks or repeatedly pull the left and right triggers seem so unnecessary and unexciting.",
"Plain and simple, this game is not fun.",
"It has a great stroy, one of the best in a while...",
"but it fails as a game because the gameplay is horiffic.",
"I wish that I felt like I was controlling the character (which, as the creator says in the tutorial, is the idea), but I just feel like I'd rather do it myself than being rewarded for \"bopping it\" correctly.",
"Rent it."
] |
I bought this on Amazon for $23 a couple of months ago, now it's $50+ ...? Hmm.
Needless to say Robocop 1 is awesome. This set of all three for $23 is still awesome, even though I basically hated #2 and #3. But now that it's above $50, i can't really recommend it... when you can get Robocop 1 on Blu-ray right here on Amazon for under ten bucks, why would you fork out another $40 for two garbage sequels...? I wonder if they are preparing a new "version" of this, making this Trilogy version tougher to find...? | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought this on Amazon for $23 a couple of months ago, now it's $50+...",
"?",
"Hmm.",
"Needless to say Robocop 1 is awesome.",
"This set of all three for $23 is still awesome, even though I basically hated #2 and #3.",
"But now that it's above $50, i can't really recommend it...",
"when you can get Robocop 1 on Blu-ray right here on Amazon for under ten bucks, why would you fork out another $40 for two garbage sequels...",
"?",
"I wonder if they are preparing a new \"version\" of this, making this Trilogy version tougher to find...",
"?"
] |
Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in 1897. It was the year that marked Queen Victoria's 60th year on the throne, the birth of Frank Capra (Director of It's A Wonderful Life), the death of the German composer Johannes Brahms and the foundation of Italian football giants Juventus. 1897 also saw the Australian cricket team defeat England 4-1 in the Ashes. An interesting year then, but not the most interesting. I feel the same could be said for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
The first section of the book where Jonathan Harker goes to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula in making preparations to buy a property in England is atmospheric, creepy and somewhat disturbing. Unfortunately, this only comprises less than a quarter of the book. The rest of it is a combination of diary entries and notes from the various other characters in the novel (including Harker but not including Count Dracula) and as such is reminiscent of other Victorian novels such as The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.
Unlike The Moonstone, I found the characters in Dracula to be largely insipid and one dimensional. There is the gung-ho American, the stiff-upper lip Englishman, the love-lorn Doctor, the courageous Lord and women who do nothing but adore these men in a thoroughly pathetic fashion. And then there is Van Helsing - a 72 year old Dutchman who is a self-proclaimed expert in Vampires and a sort of supernatural Sherlock Holmes. I have to say that I found the passages from Van Helsing to be at times unreadable with the author obviously attempting to proclaim Van Helsing's foreign roots by having him write his entries with constant errors in grammar. For a world-renowned Professor I would have thought he would have been a better linguist to be honest.
I found the writing to be stilted at times and the vehicle of the various diary entries serves only to negate any possible tension that is created. The singular exception is Renfield - a wonderful character whose demise really signified for me the demise of my interest in the book.
For a book that is supposed to be the seminal book on Vampires, It seems the invocation and general worship of 'God' is more prominent than any blood sucking fiend. Stereotypes abound. God is all-powerful, men are strong and brave, women are fortunate to be in such company and any foreign threat is to be disposed of in the name of virtue.
"How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and so brave! And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of money! What can it not do when basely used. I felt so thankful that Lord Godalming is rich, and both he and Mr Morris, who also has plenty of money, are willing to spend it so freely."
In summary, I found Dracula to be lacking in drama, humour and flow. It was overwrought at times, melodramatic and, for a huge fan of 19th Century Literature such as myself, ultimately annoying. It had none of the depth and emotion of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley nor any of the poignancy of Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stephenson. The timing of the publication is what I think has propelled Dracula into the public conscience, coming as it did at the beginning of the film industry - the perfect example of 'right time, right place', where sensationalism and shock value would in time overcome any deficiency in style substance and worth. The Daily Mail was published for the first time, just a year earlier, in 1896. A co-incidence? Maybe... | 1 | neutral | [
"Bram Stoker wrote Dracula in 1897.",
"It was the year that marked Queen Victoria's 60th year on the throne, the birth of Frank Capra (Director of It's A Wonderful Life), the death of the German composer Johannes Brahms and the foundation of Italian football giants Juventus.",
"1897 also saw the Australian cricket team defeat England 4-1 in the Ashes.",
"An interesting year then, but not the most interesting.",
"I feel the same could be said for Bram Stoker's Dracula.",
"The first section of the book where Jonathan Harker goes to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula in making preparations to buy a property in England is atmospheric, creepy and somewhat disturbing.",
"Unfortunately, this only comprises less than a quarter of the book.",
"The rest of it is a combination of diary entries and notes from the various other characters in the novel (including Harker but not including Count Dracula) and as such is reminiscent of other Victorian novels such as The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.",
"Unlike The Moonstone, I found the characters in Dracula to be largely insipid and one dimensional.",
"There is the gung-ho American, the stiff-upper lip Englishman, the love-lorn Doctor, the courageous Lord and women who do nothing but adore these men in a thoroughly pathetic fashion.",
"And then there is Van Helsing - a 72 year old Dutchman who is a self-proclaimed expert in Vampires and a sort of supernatural Sherlock Holmes.",
"I have to say that I found the passages from Van Helsing to be at times unreadable with the author obviously attempting to proclaim Van Helsing's foreign roots by having him write his entries with constant errors in grammar.",
"For a world-renowned Professor I would have thought he would have been a better linguist to be honest.",
"I found the writing to be stilted at times and the vehicle of the various diary entries serves only to negate any possible tension that is created.",
"The singular exception is Renfield - a wonderful character whose demise really signified for me the demise of my interest in the book.",
"For a book that is supposed to be the seminal book on Vampires, It seems the invocation and general worship of 'God' is more prominent than any blood sucking fiend.",
"Stereotypes abound.",
"God is all-powerful, men are strong and brave, women are fortunate to be in such company and any foreign threat is to be disposed of in the name of virtue.",
"\"How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and so brave!",
"And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of money!",
"What can it not do when basely used.",
"I felt so thankful that Lord Godalming is rich, and both he and Mr Morris, who also has plenty of money, are willing to spend it so freely.",
"\"\n\nIn summary, I found Dracula to be lacking in drama, humour and flow.",
"It was overwrought at times, melodramatic and, for a huge fan of 19th Century Literature such as myself, ultimately annoying.",
"It had none of the depth and emotion of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley nor any of the poignancy of Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stephenson.",
"The timing of the publication is what I think has propelled Dracula into the public conscience, coming as it did at the beginning of the film industry - the perfect example of 'right time, right place', where sensationalism and shock value would in time overcome any deficiency in style substance and worth.",
"The Daily Mail was published for the first time, just a year earlier, in 1896.",
"A co-incidence?",
"Maybe..."
] |
With a fragrance more reminiscent of a lime flavored green lollypop than the iconic drink, this mojito inspired lip balm applies easily. The slant tip applicator is easy to use but I would describe it as a gloss rather than a balm. It does make the lips feel soft and smooth but it is a bit sticky and shiny. It does not last which mandates frequent application.
Although Baxter of California produces skin care products for men, I think this one misses its mark. I know few men who would wear a lip product this glossy. The need for constant reapplication makes it impractical. Additionally I did not see an SPF which would render it undesirable for outdoor activities. While it does contain some healthy natural ingredients (aloe, macadamia nut, coconut, jojoba and grape seed oils, butchers broom), it also contains retinyl palmitate, a potential carcinogen. While the container design is appropriately spare, its print and its packaging are almost impossible to read.
This is an acceptable gloss but wanting as a balm. I wasn't crazy about the lime scent and I think most men would be put off by its shininess. | 1 | neutral | [
"With a fragrance more reminiscent of a lime flavored green lollypop than the iconic drink, this mojito inspired lip balm applies easily.",
"The slant tip applicator is easy to use but I would describe it as a gloss rather than a balm.",
"It does make the lips feel soft and smooth but it is a bit sticky and shiny.",
"It does not last which mandates frequent application.",
"Although Baxter of California produces skin care products for men, I think this one misses its mark.",
"I know few men who would wear a lip product this glossy.",
"The need for constant reapplication makes it impractical.",
"Additionally I did not see an SPF which would render it undesirable for outdoor activities.",
"While it does contain some healthy natural ingredients (aloe, macadamia nut, coconut, jojoba and grape seed oils, butchers broom), it also contains retinyl palmitate, a potential carcinogen.",
"While the container design is appropriately spare, its print and its packaging are almost impossible to read.",
"This is an acceptable gloss but wanting as a balm.",
"I wasn't crazy about the lime scent and I think most men would be put off by its shininess."
] |
Retro gamming is not for everyone. I like to play old games, well, because I just have a problem with nostalgia. If you your not worried about graphics and you want to explore the early years of the "SIMS" universe, then it would not hurt to drop a couple of bucks for this pack of games.
Be warned, I could not get all of the games to run on my system, which is still 6 months away from not being modern anymore. But since the price was reasonable I still felt it was worth the three games I was able to run.
The original Sim City is just stupid fun. It's so easy to build a quick city and it's still easy to fail. This is a no frills, time killing game.
Sim Copter was by far my favorite. Talk about a game that had so much potential, but it still turned out to be fun to play. Maxis should have gone out of house on this one, like to MICROPROSE (while they lasted). The people inhabiting the cities are like the original "Sims" and funny to hear where I think the simesse language came from considering what's it's evolved to today.
Sim Tower was a dirty little pleasure. Who thought that building and office tower with apartments, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. could be soo much fun?!
Sim Island, just throw it away when you open the box.
Like I said, the game only costs a few bucks so why not give it a try. Worst case is you loose a few dollars from what you paid when you sell to the pawn shop. | 1 | neutral | [
"Retro gamming is not for everyone.",
"I like to play old games, well, because I just have a problem with nostalgia.",
"If you your not worried about graphics and you want to explore the early years of the \"SIMS\" universe, then it would not hurt to drop a couple of bucks for this pack of games.",
"Be warned, I could not get all of the games to run on my system, which is still 6 months away from not being modern anymore.",
"But since the price was reasonable I still felt it was worth the three games I was able to run.",
"The original Sim City is just stupid fun.",
"It's so easy to build a quick city and it's still easy to fail.",
"This is a no frills, time killing game.",
"Sim Copter was by far my favorite.",
"Talk about a game that had so much potential, but it still turned out to be fun to play.",
"Maxis should have gone out of house on this one, like to MICROPROSE (while they lasted).",
"The people inhabiting the cities are like the original \"Sims\" and funny to hear where I think the simesse language came from considering what's it's evolved to today.",
"Sim Tower was a dirty little pleasure.",
"Who thought that building and office tower with apartments, restaurants, movie theaters, etc.",
"could be soo much fun?!",
"Sim Island, just throw it away when you open the box.",
"Like I said, the game only costs a few bucks so why not give it a try.",
"Worst case is you loose a few dollars from what you paid when you sell to the pawn shop."
] |
I didn't play the game very long so maybe it gets better but it just didn't impress me. There did not seem to be any way to zoom in or out. I could never get a look at my whole settlement, just pieces of it at any one time. Time itself was either on or paused, no faster or slower speeds. Buildings were constructed instantaneously, just popping up like mushrooms when you decided to construct one. If you were short on workers you could just "turn off" some buildings and the workers would go to another one. People were interchangeable, a fisherman could become an acrobat, a musician could become a farmer, etc. Also, you had to put up "roadblocks" to keep people from wandering off aimlessly. It seems like that was just a way to compensate for poor programming. There seems to be a lot of micromanagement necessary to play the game. If you are o.k. with that then the game is worth a look. Otherwise I can't recommend it. | 1 | neutral | [
"I didn't play the game very long so maybe it gets better but it just didn't impress me.",
"There did not seem to be any way to zoom in or out.",
"I could never get a look at my whole settlement, just pieces of it at any one time.",
"Time itself was either on or paused, no faster or slower speeds.",
"Buildings were constructed instantaneously, just popping up like mushrooms when you decided to construct one.",
"If you were short on workers you could just \"turn off\" some buildings and the workers would go to another one.",
"People were interchangeable, a fisherman could become an acrobat, a musician could become a farmer, etc.",
"Also, you had to put up \"roadblocks\" to keep people from wandering off aimlessly.",
"It seems like that was just a way to compensate for poor programming.",
"There seems to be a lot of micromanagement necessary to play the game.",
"If you are o.",
"k. with that then the game is worth a look.",
"Otherwise I can't recommend it."
] |
I enjoyed TWPGS2K3. This has everything locked down. Why should I have to BUY a SWEATER for my player for $15,000 that will... Improve my driving accuracy???
I despise lunacy like this. do the EA guys play actual golf??
If the guys that made the MS Links games ever make a golf game... Id switch.
Having said that, its a fair way to pass the time on PS3. Just don't pay full price. | 1 | neutral | [
"I enjoyed TWPGS2K3.",
"This has everything locked down.",
"Why should I have to BUY a SWEATER for my player for $15,000 that will...",
"Improve my driving accuracy???",
"I despise lunacy like this.",
"do the EA guys play actual golf??",
"If the guys that made the MS Links games ever make a golf game...",
"Id switch.",
"Having said that, its a fair way to pass the time on PS3.",
"Just don't pay full price."
] |
(UPDATE of May 30, 2013: I updated this review to correct an error or two and to further emphasize some of my thoughts. Original review was April 10, 2012.)
Although I was not a fan of this saga in the beginning - and it's still not in my top ten - I have these episodes in my VHS collection so I thought I knew the story, although I obviously haven't watched them in a while. After I got through *this* series (on Blu-ray), I seemed to be a bit disoriented and - yes - disappointed. To paraphrase a GWB Secretary of Defense, there were things I knew I knew, things I thought I knew, things I didn't know I knew, things I knew I didn't know, and things I absolutely didn't know. It made me appreciate the *Star Trek* series even more than I already did. Then again, maybe all the progress in video production and display, e.g., Blu-ray, flat-screen TV's, etc., has magnified the pimples and pockmarks of past portrayals.
Just a few things I remembered differently, perhaps incorrectly due to the passage of time: the portrayal of the time Luke Skywalker spent with his aunt and uncle (didn't remember it like this); the light saber duel between Luke and Darth Vader (it seemed strange); Luke's introduction to Yoda; the bar scene with all the alien creatures (not as fascinating).
I could be wrong; my mind may have meshed and melded these scenes with those from other episodes. However, I cannot escape from the idea that I may have been hoodwinked and lured (perhaps not by Amazon, but by 20th Century Fox or Lucasfilm or George Lucas himself) into a purchase of something that is, like many purported antiques found to be fakes, an unreasonable facsimile of the original.
On the other hand, I enjoyed getting reacquainted with all the fascinating, unique, timeless, and humorous characters, including R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Yoda, the Ewoks, and Darth Vader (you've got to admit that sometimes you laughed at some of the things Vader said and did).
All in all this trilogy is a less-than-satisfying regurgitation of a self-proclaimed classic. It made the recent Star Trek prequel all the more satisfying to me, as well as my recent TV series acquisitions, Battlestar Galactica, and Firefly.
Although I had not seen even one episode until I purchased it recently, Battlestar Galactica has become one of my favorite TV series (alongside Stargate SG-1). Even so, like Stargate, it got a bit convoluted and plodding in its later episodes. Paraphrasing a now-deceased friend of mine, they finished those series a long time before they quit.
Firefly has also earned a spot in my list of favorites. Though a bit off-beat and short (having been abruptly and inexplicably terminated by its parent company, to the utter consternation of its fans), it has a captivating premise and intriguing character development, and the roles couldn't have been cast better.
Check these series out, especially if, like me, you were disillusioned by Star Wars Episodes IV-VI. | 1 | neutral | [
"(UPDATE of May 30, 2013: I updated this review to correct an error or two and to further emphasize some of my thoughts.",
"Original review was April 10, 2012.",
")\n\nAlthough I was not a fan of this saga in the beginning - and it's still not in my top ten - I have these episodes in my VHS collection so I thought I knew the story, although I obviously haven't watched them in a while.",
"After I got through *this* series (on Blu-ray), I seemed to be a bit disoriented and - yes - disappointed.",
"To paraphrase a GWB Secretary of Defense, there were things I knew I knew, things I thought I knew, things I didn't know I knew, things I knew I didn't know, and things I absolutely didn't know.",
"It made me appreciate the *Star Trek* series even more than I already did.",
"Then again, maybe all the progress in video production and display, e.",
"g., Blu-ray, flat-screen TV's, etc.",
", has magnified the pimples and pockmarks of past portrayals.",
"Just a few things I remembered differently, perhaps incorrectly due to the passage of time: the portrayal of the time Luke Skywalker spent with his aunt and uncle (didn't remember it like this); the light saber duel between Luke and Darth Vader (it seemed strange); Luke's introduction to Yoda; the bar scene with all the alien creatures (not as fascinating).",
"I could be wrong; my mind may have meshed and melded these scenes with those from other episodes.",
"However, I cannot escape from the idea that I may have been hoodwinked and lured (perhaps not by Amazon, but by 20th Century Fox or Lucasfilm or George Lucas himself) into a purchase of something that is, like many purported antiques found to be fakes, an unreasonable facsimile of the original.",
"On the other hand, I enjoyed getting reacquainted with all the fascinating, unique, timeless, and humorous characters, including R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca, Yoda, the Ewoks, and Darth Vader (you've got to admit that sometimes you laughed at some of the things Vader said and did).",
"All in all this trilogy is a less-than-satisfying regurgitation of a self-proclaimed classic.",
"It made the recent Star Trek prequel all the more satisfying to me, as well as my recent TV series acquisitions, Battlestar Galactica, and Firefly.",
"Although I had not seen even one episode until I purchased it recently, Battlestar Galactica has become one of my favorite TV series (alongside Stargate SG-1).",
"Even so, like Stargate, it got a bit convoluted and plodding in its later episodes.",
"Paraphrasing a now-deceased friend of mine, they finished those series a long time before they quit.",
"Firefly has also earned a spot in my list of favorites.",
"Though a bit off-beat and short (having been abruptly and inexplicably terminated by its parent company, to the utter consternation of its fans), it has a captivating premise and intriguing character development, and the roles couldn't have been cast better.",
"Check these series out, especially if, like me, you were disillusioned by Star Wars Episodes IV-VI."
] |
Number one - I love to blow stuff up and wipe out entire armies. That's my idea of a good computer game. This is not that kind of game.
Pluses
1) The graphics are good
2) The user interface works well like other FPS
3) Good weapons choices and usage
4) Loved the music
Minuses
1) Too much baloney between action scenes. Only losers would say "I replayed the game just to hear the conversations."
2) See one again - especially the doggone training labs. Where's the skip button?
3) Reference one again - too much setup in the story. Get me armed and let me exercise extreme prejudice.
Read the positive vibes. Many admit they don't normally like FPS games. This might appeal to the wine and whine club, but if you want a real game - stick in the realm of unreal, half life, and quake. | 1 | neutral | [
"Number one - I love to blow stuff up and wipe out entire armies.",
"That's my idea of a good computer game.",
"This is not that kind of game.",
"Pluses\n1) The graphics are good\n2) The user interface works well like other FPS\n3) Good weapons choices and usage\n4) Loved the music\nMinuses\n1) Too much baloney between action scenes.",
"Only losers would say \"I replayed the game just to hear the conversations.",
"\"\n2) See one again - especially the doggone training labs.",
"Where's the skip button?",
"3) Reference one again - too much setup in the story.",
"Get me armed and let me exercise extreme prejudice.",
"Read the positive vibes.",
"Many admit they don't normally like FPS games.",
"This might appeal to the wine and whine club, but if you want a real game - stick in the realm of unreal, half life, and quake."
] |
Suspira has alot of happy memories for me from when i was a teenager and first discovering the enjoyment of a horror cinema. I first discovered Dario Argento when i got my mother to hire me the heavily cut VHS version that was only avalible in Australia, (the uncut version has only been avalible here for a short time). When i watch the film for the first time i was caught up with the visual contexts of the film and thought the story of a covern of witches at a school was wicked !!!
From there i went on to see all his other films of Dario and thought over time his direction seems to have got weaker. However, you know that your in for an interesting viewing if its directed by Dario.
Anyways, to my delight Suspira was released on DVD uncut and full of extras this year and i purchased it straight away. After 10 years i watched this film again and the following is based on this viewing not just happy horror memories from yester year.
I still believe that for Italian cinema in the 70's this was one of the best films. It is accessible to international audience due to its mixture of italian and english dialogue and actors. However, i did notice that the english over dubbing was over dramatic and made some tense scenes simply laughable.
Furthermore in the scene with the girl and the wire, (its not barbed people, i mean it just looks like what it , large amounts of un-barbed wire in circle formations), how she didn't see the wire before jumping in is beyound me. It nearly a fully lite room and the wire is only about a metre down from her postion. Its like seeing a shark fin in a tank and jumping in. This was my first real " oh for the love of god" moment of this film and made me question the creditabilty of the film somewhat.
Furthermore in the first murder how do we go from the girls room to the rooftop. There is no transion scene from point a to b to c. We just go from the room to the what i guess is just below the roof top as she falls through the centre of the window on the ceiling of the main foyer. It just didn't make sense and hurt any antipation or horror at the scene.
I mean when i watch a horror movie i have to be caught up in the atmosphere and the story so that my mind and body begin to tense up but when u are in this state and suddnely you get a muddled scene like this is just changes the mood instantely.
Apart from this though the film still held up to my adult eyes and i still really enjoyed the visual style to the movie. The best thing though to come from this movie though is the music. I believed when i was teenager and i still believe today that the chantting of ' witch witch witch' is damn spooky and the way in which the electronic tone increases as the movie goes on is effective, (however get a load of the guys that composed the track on one of the extras, what a joke !!!! the word SAD comes to mind).
Overall, the film is a piece of quality italian horror and if u classify yourself as a horror expect you will have already added this too your collect. If your new to it all u may just find it all a bit hokey as the next generation of horror shows how dated this film is. Horror, like everything changes, and what was impactful in the late 70's and early 80's just doesnt cut it with some of the more recent horror films avalible and the new generation who watch them but for a piece of classic horror history, intriguing storyline, (its not as bad as some reviewers have stated), the interesting and spooky sound track and the visual style of Dario, its a worthy purchase.
However, i recommend that if your not familar with it to rent first. | 1 | neutral | [
"Suspira has alot of happy memories for me from when i was a teenager and first discovering the enjoyment of a horror cinema.",
"I first discovered Dario Argento when i got my mother to hire me the heavily cut VHS version that was only avalible in Australia, (the uncut version has only been avalible here for a short time).",
"When i watch the film for the first time i was caught up with the visual contexts of the film and thought the story of a covern of witches at a school was wicked!!!",
"From there i went on to see all his other films of Dario and thought over time his direction seems to have got weaker.",
"However, you know that your in for an interesting viewing if its directed by Dario.",
"Anyways, to my delight Suspira was released on DVD uncut and full of extras this year and i purchased it straight away.",
"After 10 years i watched this film again and the following is based on this viewing not just happy horror memories from yester year.",
"I still believe that for Italian cinema in the 70's this was one of the best films.",
"It is accessible to international audience due to its mixture of italian and english dialogue and actors.",
"However, i did notice that the english over dubbing was over dramatic and made some tense scenes simply laughable.",
"Furthermore in the scene with the girl and the wire, (its not barbed people, i mean it just looks like what it , large amounts of un-barbed wire in circle formations), how she didn't see the wire before jumping in is beyound me.",
"It nearly a fully lite room and the wire is only about a metre down from her postion.",
"Its like seeing a shark fin in a tank and jumping in.",
"This was my first real \" oh for the love of god\" moment of this film and made me question the creditabilty of the film somewhat.",
"Furthermore in the first murder how do we go from the girls room to the rooftop.",
"There is no transion scene from point a to b to c.",
"We just go from the room to the what i guess is just below the roof top as she falls through the centre of the window on the ceiling of the main foyer.",
"It just didn't make sense and hurt any antipation or horror at the scene.",
"I mean when i watch a horror movie i have to be caught up in the atmosphere and the story so that my mind and body begin to tense up but when u are in this state and suddnely you get a muddled scene like this is just changes the mood instantely.",
"Apart from this though the film still held up to my adult eyes and i still really enjoyed the visual style to the movie.",
"The best thing though to come from this movie though is the music.",
"I believed when i was teenager and i still believe today that the chantting of ' witch witch witch' is damn spooky and the way in which the electronic tone increases as the movie goes on is effective, (however get a load of the guys that composed the track on one of the extras, what a joke!!!!",
"the word SAD comes to mind).",
"Overall, the film is a piece of quality italian horror and if u classify yourself as a horror expect you will have already added this too your collect.",
"If your new to it all u may just find it all a bit hokey as the next generation of horror shows how dated this film is.",
"Horror, like everything changes, and what was impactful in the late 70's and early 80's just doesnt cut it with some of the more recent horror films avalible and the new generation who watch them but for a piece of classic horror history, intriguing storyline, (its not as bad as some reviewers have stated), the interesting and spooky sound track and the visual style of Dario, its a worthy purchase.",
"However, i recommend that if your not familar with it to rent first."
] |
We are not as impressed with this item. If your child gets bored with tv, they might get bored with this table. There is alot going on with this item but our daughter gets bored with it easy. She preffers her cube that has several activities on it instead. Also, if the child is learning how to stand up on their own it will slide across the carpet and hard floor from being pushed on. Our daughter has flipped this while holding on to this table while standing and she flipped it the opposite direction on herself while trying to pull up on it. The legs come off pretty easy, it's great as a toy to sit down and play with. The little door breaks off fairly easy, it's not difficult to put back on, though. Our nephew who is 6 weeks older than our daughter and a pro at standing, crawling, cruising, ect. has no issues with this item flipping over. We'd reccomend this item for babies who have those milestones down extremely well. It's not worth more than $20 to us. | 1 | neutral | [
"We are not as impressed with this item.",
"If your child gets bored with tv, they might get bored with this table.",
"There is alot going on with this item but our daughter gets bored with it easy.",
"She preffers her cube that has several activities on it instead.",
"Also, if the child is learning how to stand up on their own it will slide across the carpet and hard floor from being pushed on.",
"Our daughter has flipped this while holding on to this table while standing and she flipped it the opposite direction on herself while trying to pull up on it.",
"The legs come off pretty easy, it's great as a toy to sit down and play with.",
"The little door breaks off fairly easy, it's not difficult to put back on, though.",
"Our nephew who is 6 weeks older than our daughter and a pro at standing, crawling, cruising, ect.",
"has no issues with this item flipping over.",
"We'd reccomend this item for babies who have those milestones down extremely well.",
"It's not worth more than $20 to us."
] |
The mythology of this seems quite strange, and it seems as if clearing this up right at the start (which this film teases, but does not) might very well be the correct way to do it. After eating too many humans, some panthers have acquired human form and start living among humans. If they have sex with a human they revert to panther form, and when they kill (or maybe eat?) a human they can go back to human form. Not too illogical. Therefore they can only have sex with their own kind* (since a woman calls Irena 'sister' we are to assume that there are others out there, thus contradicting the later point that Irena is now the last one - with no choice for a mate once Paul is dead.)
Irena, one of these cat people, visiting New Orleans starts on a quest to find out the truth about her origins. Unfortunately for her she falls in love with a regular human, chooses not to kill and is doomed to live in a zoo in cat form (spoiler alert.)
There are some incogruities: Irena's brother Paul (McDowell) lives a serial killer life with a housekeeper (?) named Female (for some reason much is made of this fact, with no bearing on anything.) His dungeon is sorta found out in some unexplained manner (a dog barks, and all of a sudden we are shown it.) A whole movie could be made of this element, but here it is just kinda thrown out there. Most of the time Paul is in cat form (once before he has sex) or is on the lam.
In the meantime Irena gets a job at the zoo (and a sad excuse for a zoo it is with miniature cages and apes next to the cats.) She falls in love with a keeper (Heard,) finds out the truth from her brother in person (and in dreams, once Paul is killed.) Realizes she is doomed and leaves town with the last of her money (a scene later she is back in town with no explanation.) She stalks the other female interested in the zoo keeper (in cat form? - just what the hell is going on in this scene?), has sex with him, turns into a cat, kills, asks him to have sex again - to which he agrees!!! She turns into a cat again and is thrown in the pokey for the rest of her existence.
If Heard is not one of the most despicable characters in Horror film history I'll eat my hat.
Based on his performance on If.... (1968), one scene in particular, I can see why someone would think that Malcolm McDowell is perfectly cast for this movie. But even if he is fine in the part he seems weirdly out of place. Kinsky also seems well suited for the role of a foreigner or cat woman. John Heard has always seemed a slimy guy to me, and this may be the very movie where the feeling originated. Heard (decades before he was fighting Sharknados) is in what clearly is a thankless role. Also with Ed Begley and John Larroquette. Director Schrader seems to be going for a Joe Dante approach (cat cartoons, music, commercials, etc. are constantly in the fore and background, whether they have anything to do with the tone or not,) hammering the cat theme which is in direct contradiction of the subtlety of Torneur. Why bother even attempting to repeat whole sequences from the 1942 film?
All in all this movie seems like many potentially good things that might work, but ultimately do not quite jell into a whole.
This film might be enjoyed if seeked out as one of the more perverse & unusual fantastic films out there, but in terms of normal, straightforward horror it is an utter failure.
*The cat/incest theme here is what possessed Stephen King to write Sleepwalkers(1992). | 1 | neutral | [
"The mythology of this seems quite strange, and it seems as if clearing this up right at the start (which this film teases, but does not) might very well be the correct way to do it.",
"After eating too many humans, some panthers have acquired human form and start living among humans.",
"If they have sex with a human they revert to panther form, and when they kill (or maybe eat?",
") a human they can go back to human form.",
"Not too illogical.",
"Therefore they can only have sex with their own kind* (since a woman calls Irena 'sister' we are to assume that there are others out there, thus contradicting the later point that Irena is now the last one - with no choice for a mate once Paul is dead.",
")\n\nIrena, one of these cat people, visiting New Orleans starts on a quest to find out the truth about her origins.",
"Unfortunately for her she falls in love with a regular human, chooses not to kill and is doomed to live in a zoo in cat form (spoiler alert.",
")\n\nThere are some incogruities: Irena's brother Paul (McDowell) lives a serial killer life with a housekeeper (?",
") named Female (for some reason much is made of this fact, with no bearing on anything.",
") His dungeon is sorta found out in some unexplained manner (a dog barks, and all of a sudden we are shown it.",
") A whole movie could be made of this element, but here it is just kinda thrown out there.",
"Most of the time Paul is in cat form (once before he has sex) or is on the lam.",
"In the meantime Irena gets a job at the zoo (and a sad excuse for a zoo it is with miniature cages and apes next to the cats.",
") She falls in love with a keeper (Heard,) finds out the truth from her brother in person (and in dreams, once Paul is killed.",
") Realizes she is doomed and leaves town with the last of her money (a scene later she is back in town with no explanation.",
") She stalks the other female interested in the zoo keeper (in cat form?",
"- just what the hell is going on in this scene?",
"), has sex with him, turns into a cat, kills, asks him to have sex again - to which he agrees!!!",
"She turns into a cat again and is thrown in the pokey for the rest of her existence.",
"If Heard is not one of the most despicable characters in Horror film history I'll eat my hat.",
"Based on his performance on If....",
"(1968), one scene in particular, I can see why someone would think that Malcolm McDowell is perfectly cast for this movie.",
"But even if he is fine in the part he seems weirdly out of place.",
"Kinsky also seems well suited for the role of a foreigner or cat woman.",
"John Heard has always seemed a slimy guy to me, and this may be the very movie where the feeling originated.",
"Heard (decades before he was fighting Sharknados) is in what clearly is a thankless role.",
"Also with Ed Begley and John Larroquette.",
"Director Schrader seems to be going for a Joe Dante approach (cat cartoons, music, commercials, etc.",
"are constantly in the fore and background, whether they have anything to do with the tone or not,) hammering the cat theme which is in direct contradiction of the subtlety of Torneur.",
"Why bother even attempting to repeat whole sequences from the 1942 film?",
"All in all this movie seems like many potentially good things that might work, but ultimately do not quite jell into a whole.",
"This film might be enjoyed if seeked out as one of the more perverse & unusual fantastic films out there, but in terms of normal, straightforward horror it is an utter failure.",
"*The cat/incest theme here is what possessed Stephen King to write Sleepwalkers(1992)."
] |
In my review of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, I stated that I'd given the game nearly 100 hours of my life (to play both dark- and light-side characters and endings) and didn't begrudge them.
I gave The Sith Lords 50. I begrudge somewhere around the last 15.
It's easy to be overly harsh with a game like this. KOTOR (as I'll call the first game) was a masterpiece, a smoothly flowing story with hours of well-written dialogue, interesting characters, a solid and fun system, and an excellent overall feeling of interacting with a dynamic universe that you as a player could make a real difference in.
TSL (the second) builds off of a virtually identical engine. So, half the work was practically done for Obsidian already, right?
Well...
From the outset, let me state I never experienced any of the hardware failures that have plagued some players. Nor do I share the feelings of some that TSL managed to take the same engine and make a worse-looking game. Visually, I'd call the games about equal.
The game begins promisingly enough, with the player cast as a sort of Jedi exile injured and virtually abandoned on the Ebon Hawk, the Millenium Falcon-like starship of the first game. Characters are introduced, the plot thickens, the search begins.
Early on you will start to discover the changes between the two games. Items are now composed of elements, and can be broken down and recomposed into new items, if the skills necessary are available. Items found in the game are now more randomly determined and distributed, theoretically giving the game more replay value, Diablo-like. There is also a new role-playing contrivance called "Influence"; basically, if your character acts in ways another character approves of, you increase your influence with that character, and they're more likely to tell you of their back-story or otherwise act on your behalf.
Also, story-wise, TSL takes a slightly different tack. While KOTOR had you rediscover the hero's lost past, TSL lets you define your own past to a degree as you tell other characters your own back-story.
Strange, then, for all how the new options and ideas seem to have been created with the notion of giving the player more freedom, it ends up feeling like less.
The ability to breakdown items is interesting, if you go for that, but I suspect most people would rather throw thermal detonators than make them. It's there if you want it, but no particular loss if you don't, and given the skills needed, I suspect most players won't spend a lot of time with it.
The random items are, in a word, ridiculous. They do an excellent job in harming the player's suspensions of disbelief. "Oh, look... This random box contained *another* [armor piece] of [famous Star Wars' character's third cousin once removed]... Pile it with the others, will you?"
The Influence question is more problematic. Meant to lend more depth to the conversations, it instead makes them feel less organic and more like another kind of hidden number-crunching, like combat. Given the player is already trying to guide his responses according to a Force morality, to deny players the meat of portions of the story based on their responses seems unnecessarily cruel, and actually takes away from the role-playing aspect rather than allowing the player to indulge in reacting the way they feel their protaganist would. Further, reading FAQs available online indicates that the system is highly susceptable to abuses in places, and my own experience has lead to some baffling turns (you've radically altered your life to follow me, turning your back on all you knew before, but you're still not going to tell me the last of your backstory?!)
And while the idea of telling others your story is neat, where your story heads is less so. Without giving too much away, KOTOR's story amounted to: "This is who you *were*. Knowing that, now, who do you choose to be?"
TSL is more "Everyone is reacting to you this way because of what you are, which is *this*. So, now what?" (Or, if you wanted to be more harsh, "Whatcha gonna do, cry about it?") It's less satisfying. More reactive than decisive.
After putting in a significant amount of time, you will get to the portions of the game that I'm sure have been amply commented upon in other reviews. The portions where you say, "Someone had a skeleton outline and a tight deadline, and ended up slapping fragments together to meet that deadline." I reached to a point where I literally asked, "Why am I boarding this star cruiser?" To face the villain, of course. Now, if only it ended there. Like many sequels, the desire to improve upon the predecessor means that TSL just keeps going, long after there is pleasure to be gained by doing so. And in this case, long after solid content was generated to justify the extension.
So you'll face the villain, and defeat them in a rather confusing and vaguely exposited way, and then you'll face another villain, and another, both rather anti-climactically, and then there's some more exposition, and then you fly off (roll credits.)
Huh?
Sadly, while that description is accurate, it doesn't quite capture the full drudgery of the final hours of the game. You see, having become an incredibly powerful character, you will now wander through a series of rooms seemingly strung together with cut-and-paste, filled to the brim with identical dark jedi and their flunkies, to *reach* those anticlimaxes.
(sigh)
There are suggestions of a great game here. There are plot threads that could have been truly intriguing. There are moral ambiguities that are commented upon, but never integrated. There are relationships that could have, should have gone interesting places... But apparently they didn't get time to get written.
If I never had played KOTOR, I'd still think TSL was a flawed game. But I wouldn't see it as as much of a tragedy of over-reaching and deadlines. Scrap the item composition, the influence, and just give me real conclusions with the characters who've been watching my back for all these hours, and I would have been happy. Alas, it wasn't to be.
There's still some great stuff here. The dark, melancholy tone, the reams of dialogue which must still surely have taken many, many hours to write and coordinate, moments of excitement and grandeur and real, interesting choices.
A pity it ends not with a bang, but a whimper.
I still have to recommend this game, especially if you can get it for $15 or less. But don't play it if you haven't played KOTOR. And if you only play one, KOTOR should be it.
The servant has *not* eclipsed the master. | 1 | neutral | [
"In my review of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, I stated that I'd given the game nearly 100 hours of my life (to play both dark- and light-side characters and endings) and didn't begrudge them.",
"I gave The Sith Lords 50.",
"I begrudge somewhere around the last 15.",
"It's easy to be overly harsh with a game like this.",
"KOTOR (as I'll call the first game) was a masterpiece, a smoothly flowing story with hours of well-written dialogue, interesting characters, a solid and fun system, and an excellent overall feeling of interacting with a dynamic universe that you as a player could make a real difference in.",
"TSL (the second) builds off of a virtually identical engine.",
"So, half the work was practically done for Obsidian already, right?",
"Well...",
"From the outset, let me state I never experienced any of the hardware failures that have plagued some players.",
"Nor do I share the feelings of some that TSL managed to take the same engine and make a worse-looking game.",
"Visually, I'd call the games about equal.",
"The game begins promisingly enough, with the player cast as a sort of Jedi exile injured and virtually abandoned on the Ebon Hawk, the Millenium Falcon-like starship of the first game.",
"Characters are introduced, the plot thickens, the search begins.",
"Early on you will start to discover the changes between the two games.",
"Items are now composed of elements, and can be broken down and recomposed into new items, if the skills necessary are available.",
"Items found in the game are now more randomly determined and distributed, theoretically giving the game more replay value, Diablo-like.",
"There is also a new role-playing contrivance called \"Influence\"; basically, if your character acts in ways another character approves of, you increase your influence with that character, and they're more likely to tell you of their back-story or otherwise act on your behalf.",
"Also, story-wise, TSL takes a slightly different tack.",
"While KOTOR had you rediscover the hero's lost past, TSL lets you define your own past to a degree as you tell other characters your own back-story.",
"Strange, then, for all how the new options and ideas seem to have been created with the notion of giving the player more freedom, it ends up feeling like less.",
"The ability to breakdown items is interesting, if you go for that, but I suspect most people would rather throw thermal detonators than make them.",
"It's there if you want it, but no particular loss if you don't, and given the skills needed, I suspect most players won't spend a lot of time with it.",
"The random items are, in a word, ridiculous.",
"They do an excellent job in harming the player's suspensions of disbelief.",
"\"Oh, look...",
"This random box contained *another* [armor piece] of [famous Star Wars' character's third cousin once removed]...",
"Pile it with the others, will you?",
"\"\n\nThe Influence question is more problematic.",
"Meant to lend more depth to the conversations, it instead makes them feel less organic and more like another kind of hidden number-crunching, like combat.",
"Given the player is already trying to guide his responses according to a Force morality, to deny players the meat of portions of the story based on their responses seems unnecessarily cruel, and actually takes away from the role-playing aspect rather than allowing the player to indulge in reacting the way they feel their protaganist would.",
"Further, reading FAQs available online indicates that the system is highly susceptable to abuses in places, and my own experience has lead to some baffling turns (you've radically altered your life to follow me, turning your back on all you knew before, but you're still not going to tell me the last of your backstory?!",
")\n\nAnd while the idea of telling others your story is neat, where your story heads is less so.",
"Without giving too much away, KOTOR's story amounted to: \"This is who you *were*.",
"Knowing that, now, who do you choose to be?",
"\"\n\nTSL is more \"Everyone is reacting to you this way because of what you are, which is *this*.",
"So, now what?",
"\" (Or, if you wanted to be more harsh, \"Whatcha gonna do, cry about it?",
"\") It's less satisfying.",
"More reactive than decisive.",
"After putting in a significant amount of time, you will get to the portions of the game that I'm sure have been amply commented upon in other reviews.",
"The portions where you say, \"Someone had a skeleton outline and a tight deadline, and ended up slapping fragments together to meet that deadline.",
"\" I reached to a point where I literally asked, \"Why am I boarding this star cruiser?",
"\" To face the villain, of course.",
"Now, if only it ended there.",
"Like many sequels, the desire to improve upon the predecessor means that TSL just keeps going, long after there is pleasure to be gained by doing so.",
"And in this case, long after solid content was generated to justify the extension.",
"So you'll face the villain, and defeat them in a rather confusing and vaguely exposited way, and then you'll face another villain, and another, both rather anti-climactically, and then there's some more exposition, and then you fly off (roll credits.",
")\n\nHuh?",
"Sadly, while that description is accurate, it doesn't quite capture the full drudgery of the final hours of the game.",
"You see, having become an incredibly powerful character, you will now wander through a series of rooms seemingly strung together with cut-and-paste, filled to the brim with identical dark jedi and their flunkies, to *reach* those anticlimaxes.",
"(sigh)\n\nThere are suggestions of a great game here.",
"There are plot threads that could have been truly intriguing.",
"There are moral ambiguities that are commented upon, but never integrated.",
"There are relationships that could have, should have gone interesting places...",
"But apparently they didn't get time to get written.",
"If I never had played KOTOR, I'd still think TSL was a flawed game.",
"But I wouldn't see it as as much of a tragedy of over-reaching and deadlines.",
"Scrap the item composition, the influence, and just give me real conclusions with the characters who've been watching my back for all these hours, and I would have been happy.",
"Alas, it wasn't to be.",
"There's still some great stuff here.",
"The dark, melancholy tone, the reams of dialogue which must still surely have taken many, many hours to write and coordinate, moments of excitement and grandeur and real, interesting choices.",
"A pity it ends not with a bang, but a whimper.",
"I still have to recommend this game, especially if you can get it for $15 or less.",
"But don't play it if you haven't played KOTOR.",
"And if you only play one, KOTOR should be it.",
"The servant has *not* eclipsed the master."
] |
I feel as though I have my own focus group in my house. Two cats and a chihuahua. One cat and the dog loved to be brushed by anything from the furminator to a regular comb. The second cat is another story. He hates to be brushed with anything. I thought perhaps the furminator was too rough for him so I bought this product. Unfortunately, he hates it as well. Note that this cat also is very particular about the way he is pet as well. He prefers feet to hands - I suspect he was abused by a former owner. He is 20 lbs and 13 years old so he's set in his way. It seems he just likes to keep his fur to himself.
As for this product, the other animals love this brush, but it doesn't remove much of their fur. That being said, I am used to the furminator. This brush is definitely more calming so I will switch off when I start to see bald spots from the furminator!
Overall for the low price, I think this product is worth it. Easy to hold, 2 out of 3 animals enjoy it and it's cute. | 1 | neutral | [
"I feel as though I have my own focus group in my house.",
"Two cats and a chihuahua.",
"One cat and the dog loved to be brushed by anything from the furminator to a regular comb.",
"The second cat is another story.",
"He hates to be brushed with anything.",
"I thought perhaps the furminator was too rough for him so I bought this product.",
"Unfortunately, he hates it as well.",
"Note that this cat also is very particular about the way he is pet as well.",
"He prefers feet to hands - I suspect he was abused by a former owner.",
"He is 20 lbs and 13 years old so he's set in his way.",
"It seems he just likes to keep his fur to himself.",
"As for this product, the other animals love this brush, but it doesn't remove much of their fur.",
"That being said, I am used to the furminator.",
"This brush is definitely more calming so I will switch off when I start to see bald spots from the furminator!",
"Overall for the low price, I think this product is worth it.",
"Easy to hold, 2 out of 3 animals enjoy it and it's cute."
] |
I am a big fan of screwball comedies and this film is just an average entry in the genre; I also like
Hitchcock, and some of his films are among my favorites ( Shadow of a Doubt), but this is not one of his more memorable films. Hitchcock had a great sense of humour, and it comes through in many of his movies, but he does not seem able to do more than a journeyman's job with this typical screwball premise; despite the talents of Ms Lombard.
We begin the movie with a sophisticated married couple (Lombard and Montgomery) who are frequently embroiled
in very unsophisticated marital quarreling. What sets this movie on its "slow" journey is a legal technicality has invalidated their marriage after having lived as man and wife for 3 years. The husband fails to rectify the matter as romantically and expeditiously as possible, at least as far as his spouse is concerned, and so we have a separation; and a comic setup about the husband trying to win his wife back. Hollywood comedies were built around these simple formulas ( boys wins back girl) and with the right script, cast, and direction sometimes the results were spectacular, but more frequently they were like "Mr and Mrs SMith" .... mildly entertaining.
The film lacks the quick tempo of good farcical comedy, and drags on from one contrived scene to another.
Lombard delivers a typical good performance, and Montgomery occasionally exhibits some deadpan charm, but
the movie just never gets out of second gear. By the time we get to the scenes in Lake Placid, I was desperately hoping this "3rd act" would double down and deliver some surprises, but it doesn't happen. It all ends up pleasantly without any great laughs or memorable lines.
This is not a bad film and it has some "cute moments" and gags, but there are too many good screwball-type comedies to see before I would recommend this one. I give it 3 1/2 stars mostly for Ms Lombards talents and that fact that she always looks great in an evening gown. | 1 | neutral | [
"I am a big fan of screwball comedies and this film is just an average entry in the genre; I also like\nHitchcock, and some of his films are among my favorites ( Shadow of a Doubt), but this is not one of his more memorable films.",
"Hitchcock had a great sense of humour, and it comes through in many of his movies, but he does not seem able to do more than a journeyman's job with this typical screwball premise; despite the talents of Ms Lombard.",
"We begin the movie with a sophisticated married couple (Lombard and Montgomery) who are frequently embroiled\nin very unsophisticated marital quarreling.",
"What sets this movie on its \"slow\" journey is a legal technicality has invalidated their marriage after having lived as man and wife for 3 years.",
"The husband fails to rectify the matter as romantically and expeditiously as possible, at least as far as his spouse is concerned, and so we have a separation; and a comic setup about the husband trying to win his wife back.",
"Hollywood comedies were built around these simple formulas ( boys wins back girl) and with the right script, cast, and direction sometimes the results were spectacular, but more frequently they were like \"Mr and Mrs SMith\"....",
"mildly entertaining.",
"The film lacks the quick tempo of good farcical comedy, and drags on from one contrived scene to another.",
"Lombard delivers a typical good performance, and Montgomery occasionally exhibits some deadpan charm, but\nthe movie just never gets out of second gear.",
"By the time we get to the scenes in Lake Placid, I was desperately hoping this \"3rd act\" would double down and deliver some surprises, but it doesn't happen.",
"It all ends up pleasantly without any great laughs or memorable lines.",
"This is not a bad film and it has some \"cute moments\" and gags, but there are too many good screwball-type comedies to see before I would recommend this one.",
"I give it 3 1/2 stars mostly for Ms Lombards talents and that fact that she always looks great in an evening gown."
] |
Cool looking stapler. It works fine so far, though it required a bit of investigative work to find out how to change it to bulletin-style. There's a metal push/hinge thing at the bottom that needs to be pressed while you extend the stapler. Previously, the staplers I've used could be extended without this.
I appreciate how heavy it is and the solid construction. I docked off a star because the material is not fingerprint-proof. In the light, the smudges are very noticeable and the chrome finish doesn't look as sharp. I would have been content if it were metallic silver plastic. I recently saw there was a gold version of this stapler. If returning this product wasn't such a hassle, I would opt for that instead. Though I suspect it would not be fingerprint-proof. | 1 | neutral | [
"Cool looking stapler.",
"It works fine so far, though it required a bit of investigative work to find out how to change it to bulletin-style.",
"There's a metal push/hinge thing at the bottom that needs to be pressed while you extend the stapler.",
"Previously, the staplers I've used could be extended without this.",
"I appreciate how heavy it is and the solid construction.",
"I docked off a star because the material is not fingerprint-proof.",
"In the light, the smudges are very noticeable and the chrome finish doesn't look as sharp.",
"I would have been content if it were metallic silver plastic.",
"I recently saw there was a gold version of this stapler.",
"If returning this product wasn't such a hassle, I would opt for that instead.",
"Though I suspect it would not be fingerprint-proof."
] |
I have both this one and the CaseLogic version. They both work fine, though I prefer the smooth faux-leather outer covering of the CaseLogic to the rougher, more fabric-like feel of this one. Just a personal preference, though.
These books work really well for cutting down on the amount of space that CDs and DVDs take up. The little CD booklets fit in the slots too, so you can put those in there beside the disks to make them easier to find.
They make these in different sizes, but this is a pretty good compromise in terms of size and weight. The larger folders will save more space vs. multiple smaller ones, but the CDs and DVDs really get heavy in the higher numbers.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Koskin-DVD-Binder-200-Capacity/dp/B000JJSQ3K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Koskin DVD Binder 200 Capacity .</a> | 1 | neutral | [
"I have both this one and the CaseLogic version.",
"They both work fine, though I prefer the smooth faux-leather outer covering of the CaseLogic to the rougher, more fabric-like feel of this one.",
"Just a personal preference, though.",
"These books work really well for cutting down on the amount of space that CDs and DVDs take up.",
"The little CD booklets fit in the slots too, so you can put those in there beside the disks to make them easier to find.",
"They make these in different sizes, but this is a pretty good compromise in terms of size and weight.",
"The larger folders will save more space vs.",
"multiple smaller ones, but the CDs and DVDs really get heavy in the higher numbers.",
"<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Koskin-DVD-Binder-200-Capacity/dp/B000JJSQ3K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Koskin DVD Binder 200 Capacity.",
"</a>"
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.