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Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Enell Women's Wire-Free Sports Bra; Brand: Enell; Review: I'm full figured and have tried for years to find a comfortable and supportive bra. I saw the Enell sports bra and read some of the reviews and even though the price made me swallow hard, I decided to try it. I was hoping to find something that was supportive and comfortable. I was so disappointed when I tried it on. If you call being mashed flat, it's supportive. Comfortable...not after you hook it up. I loved the fabric and the way it fits across the back, but there just isn't enough room in the front. Pass on this if you wear a DD or bigger like I do.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Playtex Women's Plus Size Full_Coverage; Brand: ; Review: Do Men design bras? Why is it so hard to find a really comfortable and attractive bra if you're full size? This bra felt so good when I first put it on, but within an hour, the straps had climbed halfway up my neck and the bottom front edge was digging into my flesh. The straps are way too close together so they don't stay put, and the back should be a bit wider to stop that. I don't know what would help the bottom hook edge...it was so irritating I had a red mark there for several days after I wore it. I am so tired of trying to find a decent bra.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Snap Front Fleece Robe - Long; Brand: National; Review: This robe is so pretty and very comfortable. It's warm and I love the cuffed long sleeves. It's like having a full length sweatshirt and the snapped front makes it so easy to put on. I would have given it 5 stars but the sizing seems a bit off, (runs small IMO). I went up 2 sizes since I like loose robes and because of the fabric and it fits perfectly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Sport Women's Breathe Easy Memory Foam Fashion Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: I loved these shoes...the color and the look. However the bottom strap has no give at all and cut into my foot, (had it broken years ago). So I had to return them. But these are awesome shoes and you'll love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Compulsions Womens Leather Sneakers; Brand: ; Review: Really really like the straps instead of the bungee cord laces that Bikers normally have. Fit was good and would love some other colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shadowline Women's Plus-Size Petals 53 Inch Sleeve Long Gown; Brand: Shadowline; Review: Size is right on and it's very comfortable and pretty. Washed up great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Woman Within Plus Size Plush Velour Tunic Sweatshirt; Brand: ; Review: Haven't worn it yet but the sizing seems good and the color is gorgeous. They're very soft and should be comfortable. They're pretty shapeless so I'll probably add a sash or belt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Agan Traders 102 B Gypsy Medieval Renaissance Top Blouse; Brand: Agan Traders; Review: The color is great and this is actually a pretty blouse but the fit is terrible....too big in places, not enough in others. It gapped at the buttons and was cut way too low across the front. The flare on the sleeves is too big and I think they would end up in your food or whatever you were doing. You can't even wash your hands without the sleeves hanging in the sink. I didn't wash it since I intended to send it back after trying it on, but the embroidery had a lot of loose threads hanging and probably would unravel when washed. And did I mention wrinkles...definitely need an iron for this one.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Bikers - Indian Summer Ankle Bootie; Brand: ; Review: These are wonderful shoes. Comfortable and very nice looking.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women On-The-Go Edge Lightweight Fashion Boot Shoe; Brand: ; Review: These shoes are lightweight and look to be well made. I ordered my usual size, but found them to run a bit large although with thick sox, I could have made them work. I would definitely recommend them if you like the style but after putting them on, I didn't. And they're hard to get on and off, (lots of lacing up and down), and I'm just not willing to take the time to do that. I doubt I will ever wear them so am returning them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Women's Relaxed Fit Bikers Traffic Loafer; Brand: ; Review: Shoe is very attractive...unfortunately the relaxed fit made them too big and I had to return them. Love that texture of the leather and the color.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riders by Lee Indigo Women’s Plus Size Bella Easy Care ¾ Sleeve Woven Shirt; Brand: ; Review: These are pretty shirts and the fit is great...not loving the tiny hidden buttons so I put it on over my head. My biggest complaint is the fabric makes a noise similar to taffeta whenever I move. Even after 2 washings...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Womens Bifocal Lens Sunglasses Oversized Square Rhinestone Frame; Brand: JuicyOrange; Review: I love the look of these glasses but unfortunately they're bent so bad I can't wear them. Also the bifocal on one side is not where it should be, nor is it level. Impossible to wear...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Texbo Vintage Full Grain Cowhide Leather 15.6 Inch laptop Briefcase Messenger Bag Tote; Brand: Texbo; Review: Bought this for a gift and it is gorgeous! My son loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: AquaTop Quartz Glass Submersible Heaters (50W-300W); Brand: AquaTop; Review: Leaked within 10 minutes of plugging it in. The second one lasted one full day.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: SUNSUN Submersible Circulation Wave Maker Water Pump for Aquarium; Brand: SUN; Review: Very satisfied. Plenty of power, almost completely silent, good suction adhesion, moderate focus of the current that both generates a strong stream and agitates about a 30 degree cone of water. Worth more than the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mingdak LED Aquarium Light, Tank Light Submersible Crystal Glass Lights; Brand: Mingdak; Review: Small, bright, focused, nice switch. Very nice and appears to be durable. Suction cups, of course, don't work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Odyssea Aquarium Heater Submersible 100W 200W 300W 500W; Brand: Odyssea; Review: This is the fourth heater for a new reef aquarium, and the first to work at all. Kudos for that! The "precision" control, however, set for 78, bounces the temp back and forth between 76 and 82 degrees. Unacceptable. It is 200 watts in a 40 gallon tank plus 10 gallon sump, so it's not over-sized. Just low quality. Such imprecision would be a challenge for fresh water, but disastrous for marine applications.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: uxcell Plastic Fish Tank Aquarium Air Oxygen Stone Bubble Wall Tube 18 Inch Long; Brand: uxcell; Review: Works exceptionally well, consistently across the length of the tube. The hose fitting accepts standard 1/4" hose without the massive leaks or impossible tightness of other air stones, and because of the material, the service life should be entirely reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Cumpun Guest House; City: Chiang Mai; Review: The owners are sweet and helpful, but i think i had the worst room in the place. The actual room was dark and dingy. The violin player practicing in the room next door and the bad karaoke from some party below did not help. There is a lounge area downstairs that was not as dark and depressing as the room, but it was occupied by the owner and his family most of the time. I found a much better place at a much lower rate once I had a chance to look around Chiang Mai. Positives: 150 baht taxi ride from the airport Close to the night market Best thing about this place is the Japanese Street food stall a little up the road - some of the best food i have eaten in 45 countries! Good standard for a back packers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unicorn Guest House Resort; City: Pai Mae Hong Son Province; Review: I stayed in Unicorn for more than a week during my visit to Pai. While there, I tore the ligaments in my foot. Because of this had some special needs. Positives: The manager, Kim, is friendly and available to help with special requests. This included letting his staff drive me to the hospital, bank and shops. The pool is wonderful to cool down during the hot days. A kettle and coffee station on the sweet little balcony. Great position to get to some wonderful restaurants and coffee shops. Crisp clean white cotton bed linen. Fresh drinking water daily Negatives: The shower was a bit temperamental. The price was a bit high (admittedly during peak season) There was no cupboard to store clotting in my unit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sindy Guest House; City: Chiang Mai; Review: I was drawn here by the reviews that made it seem like a lovely place to spend my last night in Thailand. The room I was offered was truly one of the worst rooms I've encountered in 45 countries. I understand that this is "budget" travel, but I have experienced infinitely better at the same price in both Chiang Mai and other cities in Thailand. When I asked if there was another room i could see, I was told they are all the same. When I checked the shower, there was no hot water. When I said that I would look for a different guest house, the guy offered me another and far better room. Seems their rooms aren't same-same, but very different for the same price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chiang Mai Inn; City: Chiang Mai; Review: At 250 baht a night, I didn't have huge expectations - I was satisfied! Supportive staff who gave good travel advice. In a quiet road but well located for the city as well as night market. Ask for a room close to reception for a strong wifi signal.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MECASA Hotel; City: Boracay Malay Aklan Province Panay Island Visayas; Review: This is an affordable little hotel with comfortable rooms in a good location. I liked the trendy decor and modern feel of the hotel. It was an easy walk to beaches on both sides of the island and there are many places to eat in the area. The staff were incredibly friendly. This is always a huge plus, but I have a sense that they are also very inexperienced and not quite comfortable communicating in English. Don't stay here if wi-fi is important to you! I had to find a restaurant with working wi-fi to book my flight tickets. The staff just shrugged about the wi-fi and I understood that they never have a reliable connection. Also - the way their list of "costs" for "possible" damage to or loss of hotel property is handled at check in sucks! After a 26 hr journey, I didn't feel happy to listen to a long list of potential costs. Finally - PLEASE note - if you, like me, enjoy more than ONE cup of coffee with your breakfast you will be advised to "walk down the road" to a restaurant, because the staff are only allowed to serve ONE cup of coffee per guest. Even offering to pay more I was told it's the "rule". Very shortsighted of the owner!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Suites Makati; City: Makati Metro Manila Luzon; Review: I arrived after a difficult travel day with many delays to find the check in process smooth, easy and friendly. The room offered everything I could expect including a choice of firm or soft pillows. The service of the hotel as well as the conference staff was commendable. Great attention to detail and often trying to do a little more than expected. Both the breakfast and lunch buffets were exceptional. It's great to have standard fare as well as regional delicacies available and the variety was delightful. The door staff were very helpful to flag down reliable taxi's for evening adventures. However, if you would like to stay close, there are many wonderful dining options within a short walk from the hotel. Thank you and congratulations!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Parkview Inn Motel; City: Canon City Colorado; Review: Don't let the outside fool you like the other review stated. When I'm on vacation traveling with my grand child before checking out of a hotel I'm looking on the floor, under the beds and in the corners of the room looking for stuff like socks, shoes etc. I usually find more than my share of stuff left by bad vacuuming and leftovers from previous guest, but checking the cracks in this hotel proved to find little to no dirt or trash. This place was clean, clean, clean and the service was very good and friendly. It does have wireless internet service which was fast and easy to connect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Lookout Mountain; City: Chattanooga Tennessee; Review: Looks good from the outside and from the front desk, but room lack attention to detail and maintenance. Sat on toilet and it rocked like a boat, Beds looks like two 500 lbs bananas had laid on them, minimum vacuuming in the corners of room, chair marks on wall and the door knob to room entry had broke hole on plaster.Hints of cigarette smoke through building.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites; City: Scott Lafayette Parish Louisiana; Review: Soft plush beds and pillows, clean bathrooms and floors, well maintain and good breakfast. Good staff. Looks like new facility. Keep it clean. Car parking in full view of front door. Restaurants and gas stations convenience stores all in walking distance. Will stay again with family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleep Inn Suites; City: Rapid City South Dakota; Review: Special thanks to Steve Habit who wrote a welcome note that showed great concern in fulfilling his guest needs:-). Clean hotel rooms, friendly maids and helpful staff behind desk that went out of there way to help me locate old volkswagens, nice pool, good food, hotel easy access to highway and road to Mt. Rushmore. Gas stations close but use your Gas buddy to fin cheaper stations.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn; City: Draper Utah; Review: Could use some detailing to make better such as getting the vaccum in the corners and Bleaching the Sheets. Sheets and pillow cases were turning yellow. Towels were white and clean to include the bathroom. No strange smell in room. Hotel Located In quite area near waterpark and shopping. They offered free entry to waterpark for those who booked thru Choice hotel.com. My GPS gave wrong location about 1000 yds down the street from actual location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Buffalo Bill Village Resort; City: Cody Wyoming; Review: Clean, good smelling room, very nice and helpful front desk staff:-). But know this for those who have disabilities, you must leave the buillding to eat breakfast and walk about 500 yds pass the front of the Holiday inn to the rear of a gift shop to eat. The possitive is a bigger eating area. The swimming pool is shared with the holiday inn and located at the holiday which is about 500 yds away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Suites Speedway Kansas City; City: Kansas City Kansas; Review: Good stay in good neighborhood and good breakfast:-). Bed was a little unlevel and tilted foward and manager seem concerned. No smells in room and clean:-). Will stay again. Hotel located beside racetrack but no races on the we arrived which gave us all access to pool.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn and Suites Durango; City: Durango Colorado; Review: The young lady that was working on the night of 10 July 14 was outstanding and very hard with phones and customers. The hotel halls and room was clean but I did have a pet smell in my room but not unbearable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites Beachfront; City: Galveston Galveston Island Texas; Review: Good breakfast, but some people think it's all you can eat buffet in whitch staff kept up with keeping food in stock, Beds were exceptable, rooms clean with no hint of smoke or mildue, best rooms on 2 top floors, Fast food in walking distance, cross street to get to ocean and pleanty of parking in back for camper or oveflow cars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Downton Abbey: Series 1-3 + Christmas Special; Brand: ; Review: Enjoyed it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse: World War I; Brand: ; Review: great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Story: World War I; Brand: ; Review: great item; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The History Channel Presents The Crusades - Crescent & The Cross; Brand: Various; Review: great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Access: The Vatican; Brand: Various; Review: Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Canon CLI-251 Black Invidivudla Ink Tank, Compatible for MX922,iP8720,iX6820,MG7520, MG6420, MG5620, and MG5721 Printers; Brand: Canon; Review: easy to put in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon PGI-250/CLI-251 Combo Pack; Brand: Canon; Review: Easy to put in; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CANON MG7520 Wireless Color Cloud Printer with Scanner and Copier, White (Discontinued By Manufacturer); Brand: Canon; Review: Works great so far; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Azar Displays 326043 12" W by 8.5" D Three-Tier Acrylic Step Display, 4/Pack; Brand: Azar Displays; Review: Work Great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Canon CLI-251 GY Gray Ink; Brand: Canon; Review: Makes good photos and copies; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Office_Products |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Propper Unisex Boonie; Brand: Propper; Review: brim is stiff. could be good or bad depending on preference. well constructed. its lasting with minimal color fade after much use.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's ComfortBlend Crew (Pack of 6); Brand: ; Review: She must be happy cuz I never heard a complaint and I see her wearing them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trainmen Bandanas 27'' X 27''; Brand: Rothco; Review: fades color small bit but wearing in good; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rothco Solid Colors Bandana; Brand: Rothco; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pit Bull Plain Colors Flat Bill Visor Fitted Hat Baseball Cap (25+ Colors 9 Sizes); Brand: Pit Bull; Review: good price. true to size; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Raising Steam (Discworld); Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Pratchett Page; Review: A bit too black and white, and too rosy as well, compared to the other 39. Everyone is either altogether good or, in the case of the grags, altogether bad. But not an unenjoyable read, all considered.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Way of Kings; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: The premise is a classic: dark forces rise, the end of the world is nigh, and the heroes must awaken the lost powers of the ancients to fight them. That does not mean that the story is predictable or formulaic. Sanderson's vast imagination keeps things fresh and interesting. The world, the characters, and their viewpoints are portrayed in vivid technicolor, and the story is set up as to maximize the want-to-know-what-happens-next-itude.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Words of Radiance: The Stormlight Archive Book Two; Author: ; Review: It is obvious that Brandon Sanderson had fun writing this, and his enthusiasm is contagious. An engrossing read, of the same high quality as The Way of Kings.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Magician's Land: A Novel (Magicians Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Lev Grossman Page; Review: I would say that the book has good plot, good pacing, and good characterization. A solid and thoroughly enjoyable retelling of the hero's journey that does not take it itself too seriously.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Leviathan Wakes; Author: Visit Amazon's James S. A. Corey Page; Review: Hard SF written well. I'm impressed. If the rest of the series is half as good, I'm in for a treat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Amoa Resort; City: Savai i; Review: We stayed as a family for four nights and found alot to love about this little place. The grounds are lovely, really well planted, and the fales are well spread out so you feel private. The fales have nice furniture, nice firm beds and lovely opening windows on all sides so you could catch the beeze with ease. The pool is gorgeous and the swim up bar is a touch of luxury that was very nice. The snorkelling is good and the beach is nice (albeit small and across the road). Most of all the staff are fantastic - very warm, welcoming and caring. On the disappointing side, however, the resort is not being well maintained so it will go downhill over time. Lots of things needed repair - out aircom was incredibly loud, and stuck on one speed - high - with a faulty temperature gauge. The blinds werent hung properly, there was a hole in our bathroom door and for security you used a tiny hook and eye lock to close up the bathroom (about as secure as a rubber band). TVs are fuzzy and discoloured and definitely not the cable advertised. Some of the pool furniture was broken as was the door to the loo poolside. None of these things on their own are a worry (Ok maybe the aircon) more they are a sign of lack of care which in time is likely to result in less and less that works! Our biggest gripe was the food. Breakfast was OK - although the coffee machine was broken (and no sign of any interest in fixing it) and we were only able to get guava juice despite fresh fruit being in abundance. Dinner was the main problem with a menu that was quite limited and when you asked, up to half the menu wasnt actually available!! Same with the wine and cocktails - lots on the list, but very little available in reality! And all the cocktails made with syrup not fresh fruit or juices. The cooking was pretty disappointing - most of our meals were over cooked, dried out, drowned in cheese or sauce and one even came with a live slug! The time to be served was also problematic - even when the only diners, it was a min of 40 min to get any food. We would have happily stayed and dined elsewhere - only problem is there isnt anywhere else for 10-15 miles! If you have no car, you are stuck.... So please Siufaga - fix your restaurant and pick up the maintenance - and then youll really have a great resort; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Le Lagoto Resort Spa; City: Fagamalo Savai i; Review: Just back from 3 nights at Le Lagoto. Its a great spot with a beautiful beach, good snorkelling, and nice fales. Its quite tightly laid out with not much privacy or garden type area however the restaurant area is nice and rolls out onto the beach which is a real asset. The fales are spacious and well laid out with everything you could need, and the menu at the restaurant (including the cocktail menu!) is extensive for all courses. The only exception is the kids menu which is tiny and the same for every meal! Very wierd.... The staff are pleasant though not as friendly as some places, and they do take kids to feed the fish which was fun. The main shortfall is the price of things - especially the meals. Not sure that the standard of the place really warrents the high price tag?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airport Lodge Samoa; City: Manono Island; Review: A simple place with good service that is perfectly adequate for an overnight stay. The fales are clean and tidy albeit a little cosy and with noisy aircom. The pool isnt very pleasant - even the kids said no to swimming in it! On the up side, the staff are friendly, the breakfast was both hearty and cheap and its only 10min from the aiport. They told us there was a 12pm ferry and were keen to ensure we checked out at 11am - however when they took us to the ferry building it turned out we had 3 hrs before the ferry went! Not a great service! All said, id stay here again to avoid the steep prices elsewhere bit it is a one night only kind of place.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lotte Hotel Jeju; City: Seogwipo Jeju Island; Review: Its hard to believe you are in Korea when staying here. Its a great place to stay however be prepared, the prices are definitely steep! The hotel is lovely, has a great pool, great beach, great restaurants (we only had breakfast though) and great rooms. There is a nightly fire show (very entertaining and typically over the top!) which is best viewed from the outdoor restaurant (beware the prices at this one!) or from a room that is pool facing on the lower levels (ie 2-5). The hotel is huge - our team were spread from one end to the other with some having rooms a good 5-10 min walk from the lobby! The staff are just great, welcoming, friendly and helpful. There are a couple of other restaurants close by that are worth a look - an entertaining Korean and a great chinese. Worth noting this area is really set up for conferences - there is very little else around to make it worth your stay. Overall a great place to stay if the company is paying and you're attending a nearby conference.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kellys Beach Resort; City: Bargara Queensland; Review: We stayed a night here on our way north. A cute place with great facilities for kids (nice pool, tennis courts, fooz ball, pool, outdoor movies etc). Villas were OK, good basic facilties, kids loved the mezzanine floor however wouldnt suggest small children for them as the ladder was a little bit steep! There is a nice beach a block over but really nothing else nearly. Its quite a way from any shops and a little hard to find so you need a car for sure. There are definitely more central places which are closer to the beach. Other issue was the meal we had on site was pricey and not much chop really - bit disappointing and not good value. Overall a bit mixed; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Five 3 Five The Beachside Barracks; City: Urangan Hervey Bay Fraser Coast Queensland; Review: We stayed at the Beachside cottage which is run by the same crowd - and just down the rd from the Barracks. Its a great spot, owner lives behind the cottage and is very hospitable and welcoming. Even gave us freshly laid egss! Place was beautifully decorated with everything you need for a great stay. Spotlessly clean and very comfortable. Lovely to have the spa to use, and also to be able to get bikes/kayaks etc from just up the road. All that plus free wifi and cable tv made it a real hit for the kids. Great location too - just over the road from the beach and a short wal to the shops and to the marina as well. Would definitely return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: L Amor Holiday Apartments; City: Yeppoon Queensland; Review: We stayed here for one night on the way back from GKI. They allowed us to park our car there free of charge while we went over to GKI - Manager even dropped us off at the ferry! Nice apartment, all the facilitaties you could want, a little out of town with nothing close by, but a pleasant place to stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aquana Beach Resort; City: Port Vila Efate; Review: Aquana is a great resort if you have young kids - lots to do, nannies to keep you entertained, great games and shows. It's a wee way off the beaten track and the lagoon isn't the most beautiful but it certainly makes for a restful holiday for parents. Recommend the snorkelling trip! Like all of Vanuatu it seems prices are very very expensive - it cost more per day than Europe! That said, good fun holiday.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Tmvel TVM-UK2 Universal 2-in-1; Brand: Tmvel; Review: Perfect condition, perfect usability, delivered as promised. Couldn't ask for anything better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Protective Case 77-22522 for Apple iPhone 5 (not for 5s or SE) 'Defender Series' + a Belt; Brand: OtterBox; Review: as described; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Defender Series Case with Realtree Camo for Apple iPhone 5 Xtra Orange black - Case Only; Brand: OtterBox; Review: as described; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: OtterBox Defender Series Case with Realtree Camo for Apple iPhone 5 Xtra Orange black - Case Only; Brand: OtterBox; Review: as described; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omars iPhone Charging Cable, Apple Cable 4ft - [Apple MFi Certified] Sync & Charging Cord Compatible with iPhone X; Brand: Omars; Review: works perfectly with my Apple iPhone 5; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2-Pack 10X Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Wireless Headset Compatible with iPhone, Samsung, Motorola and all Bluetooth Enabled Devices; Brand: Delton; Review: works beautifully with my iPhone 5. I use it in the car for hands free driving.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: In Style Eyes® Stylish Bifocal Sunglasses; Brand: In Style Eyes; Review: Love, love, love them! Would buy them again. Nice fit and style. I will buy more in different colors and styles.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Women's Moab Ventilator Hiking Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: Comfortable and fit just right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BGSD Women's Pauline Hooded Faux Shearling Maxi Coat; Brand: ; Review: Very warm and a good fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Style Eyes Circle Power, Nearly Invisible Line Bifocal Sunglasses; Brand: In Style Eyes; Review: A Little bit heavy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Babyonline Office OL Wear to Work Long Sleeve Bodycon Casual Party Pencil Dress; Brand: Babyonlinedress; Review: Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finejo Women's Vintage 3/4 Sleeve Office Work Business Party Bodycon Dress; Brand: ; Review: Love it got lots of compliments.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: By Its Cover: (Brunetti 23); Author: Visit Amazon's Donna Leon Page; Review: Donna Leon's books are at their core about the ordinary life of a police inspector in Venice. We share his family life, his views on life death and the cosmos, his relationships with his work colleagues and his beloved city, Venice. In this book as in all the other books, Inspector Brunetti methodically works through a crime. Reading a "Brunetti" book is akin to curling up with a cup of tea and fluffy slippers. Leon writes well, the structure and story line are familiar but gripping. Things don't always turn out well, but Brunetti displays the type of pragmatism which mirrors the reality that is life.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Northanger Abbey; Author: Visit Amazon's Val McDermid Page; Review: I associate Val McDermott with crime writing. She writes clever crime/ psychological thrillers which can be real page turners. It's was with some interest that I pick up this book and what a disappointment. It was tedious to say the least. For me, re inventing a "classic" in a modern setting didn't work. In future I will closely scrutinise anything written by Val McDermott before reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Paris Letters; Author: Janice MacLeod; Review: I picked up this book because I was attracted by the cover and at that time I wanted something "light" to read. However, what a surprise, this was a delightful book. Janice MacLeod examined her life and found it lacking. Through some introspection, soul searching, decision making, goal setting etc she makes major life decisions which take her out of her comfort zone and which find her heading on a European adventure more specifically Paris. Along the way she has some insights into the direction her life might take. She also finds love. This did not make the book "syrupy". There were lessons for life in this book which resonated with me or maybe I was in a similar frame of mind (as Janice); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and a Spy; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Harris Page; Review: At the heart of this book was the investigation (by our protagonist) of the evidence given in court and which convicted Alfred Dryfus of treason. He was sentenced to complete isolation, in exile, on Devil's Island. Even today, over one hundred years after the event, the Dryfus case is used in anti government demonstartions, especially in France. My interest was piqued! What was it about this case that makes it so inflamatory even today. Robert Harris wove the facts so well into this work of fiction, that at times I needed to remind myself that it was indeed a work of fiction.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trick or Treat; Author: Visit Amazon's Kerry Greenwood Page; Review: I am a huge fan of Kerry Greewood's character Corrina Chapman. I am "sucked in" from page one and all of my senses are charged, poised to smell, taste, feel and see Corinna's piece of Melbourne. Corrina is literally a larger than life character. She has an ecclectic group of friends, a lusty lover Daniel and together they champion the underdog. In this book, its the case of good witch versus bad witch,a spate of "strange" deaths, and the appearance of a beautiful rival for Daniel's affections. Definitely worth staying up all night to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terminal City (An Alexandra Cooper Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Fairstein Page; Review: If you want to know about the history of New York's Grand Station then this is the book for you. However if you were expecting a nail biting thriller, forget it. I must be coming to the end of my limit with Ms Cooper.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Close Call: A Liz Carlyle Novel (Liz Carlyle Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Stella Rimington Page; Review: A good read for a wet rainy weekend if you have nothing else to read. Twists and turns as you would expect in a Liz Carlyle book but nothing that makes you hold your breathe.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ides of April: A Flavia Albia Mystery (Flavia Albia Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsey Davis Page; Review: Historical facts interwoven into a genuinely good read. Another winner from Lindsey Davis following in the tradition of Falco. I sincerely hope that there are more and that Albia gets her man!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Plessas Palace Hotel; City: Alykanas Zakynthos Ionian Islands; Review: Just returned from 11 nights here. The rooms are clean and comfortable and you really are made to feel part of the family. The food is good (especially the breakfasts) and the service is warm and friendly, nothing is too much trouble. Maria, Nikos and the rest of the team go out of their way to make it a home from home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Russell Court Hotel; City: Bournemouth Dorset England; Review: I stayed here for three nights whilst visiting friends in Bournemouth. The room was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. Yes, the decor is a bit tired, but at the price I paid this was not an issue. All staff were helpful and friendly. I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andreas Apartments; City: Kato Gouves Gouves Crete; Review: What a wonderful place. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. Drinks and snacks are great value. The room was spotlessly clean and comfortable. Local restaurants are good and the beach is great. Would highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Admiral Cunningham Hotel; City: Bracknell Berkshire England; Review: I needed somewhere clean and comfortable to sleep for three nights, and that is what I got. No frills, no fuss, helpful, friendly staff. If you are looking for somewhere to take the Mrs for your wedding anniversary, this probably isn't it, but this is reflected in the price!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Riu Karamboa; City: Boa Vista; Review: Spotlessly clean, comfortable and friendly staff. Ideal for a restful break. Spa is excellent, but you are paying London prices. Great food with lots of choice, thought the Asian and African resteraunts were really good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marietta Hotel Apartments; City: Pastida Rhodes Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: Clicky? Don't think so! Begining to wonder if I am staying in the same place. Have been treated like a family member since I arrived, even though I have never been here before. Think that some reviewers need a reality check as I paid 3 star prices for 5 star service. The room is spotless and really comfy. Marietta and family cannot do enough for you. The food is faultless and excellent value, and the bar has excellent choices. I'm not someone to visit the same place twice, but would make the exception for this place!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anastasia Hotel; City: Kos Town Kos Dodecanese South Aegean; Review: Small, friendly hotel. Close to dolphin square, but ideal if you want peace and quiet. The staff are amazing and will take great care of you. The bar closed at 11pm, so no issues getting a good nights sleep.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: LEGO City Police Helicopter 7741; Brand: LEGO; Review: We are just adding to my grandson's collection and making him a very happy 9 year old. He can be as inventive as he wants. We love Lego's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO Mobile Police Unit 7288; Brand: LEGO; Review: We are trying to help our grandson learn about the parts of what makes a city works. He really loves this one that does more than just sit there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO City Motorcycle 60000; Brand: LEGO; Review: My grandson loves Lego of all kinds. He was so happy to start his new collection with this item. We are long time friends of Lego's and Duplo's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO 626 Green Building Plate (10" x 10") (Discontinued by manufacturer); Brand: LEGO; Review: We just keep adding to his collection of plates so he can make his Lego's stay steady. He just love's to keep building.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hungry Hungry Hippos Game Replacement Marbles-20 Pieces (19 Red and 1 Yellow Marbles); Brand: Hasbro; Review: I am so glad we could get these replacement balls. My grandson lost most of the balls on Christmas day last year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Junior Miles From Tomorrowland Blodger Exclusive 9" Plush; Brand: Disney; Review: Would have liked it smaller as with the other characters.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel Towers; City: Hong Kong; Review: stayed at the Sheraton and was dissapointed. In need of a revamp,its old and worn. The staff over all are ok but the cleaning of the room was not good (rooms look old and dated) I think the staff must see the hotel as a bit run down and sort of fit in to that slot themselves. Food was ok and right at the start of Nathan Road is a good location to be. I only arrived at the Sheraton as i could not get into the hotel we stay in when in Hong Kong. Go to the Intercontinental Grand Stanford and avoid the Sheraton. its far better and also cheaper just a few mins further down the road from the ferry; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund; City: Shanghai; Review: We live in Shanghai but as part of my Birthday celebration my wife booked us in to the Waldorf for a night. I am a great fan of the "long bar" there and have had many good times there, it is i think one of the best bars in the world. This is the reason for the over night stay so we could have a full Waldorf experience. We checked in early and out late with with no problem at all and no extra charge. The room we were in was one of the top end rooms, a deluxe river suite and it really was superb. Fantastic views over the river and everything about the room was pure class and style. Hermes toiletries, Belgium chocolates oh and a butler, all go to make for a luxury stay at the Waldorf. I would say all of the staff here are very well trained and all seemed to want to make your stay a special one. A very nice touch was a hand written welcome card from the General Manager Dirk De Cuyper. Also the birthday cake and bottle of Moet that arrived in the room was very much appretiated, thank you. We also had dinner at the Waldorf and that was also very good indeed and suprisingly good value. They have a deal at a set price for two or three courses that you choose from the main menu. Also i think a 25% off offer on wine at the time. So you could eat at the Waldorf with better food,better service and good wine for less than some of the surrounding so called top restaurants and that came as a bit of a surprise.Breakfast was a delight. They have a buffet for all the cold items but a menu for hot food so it is cooked to order, this is a rare thing in this day and age. I think the standard room prices are a bit more than other 5 star hotels in Shanghai but would also say the Waldorf is more than other 5 star hotels in Shanghai so its the old story. You get what you pay for. Would i recommend the Waldorf. without a shadow of doubt.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Regent Beijing; City: Beijing; Review: This was my second stay at the Regen and we decided to upgraded to the club floor. we had booked a good deal for a standard room rate of 1000rmb and the upgrade was an extra 450rmb. Had a large room on the 13th floor really was a good size for the price with everything you would expect. for the extra 450rmb we had this large room, free drinks and food from 6-8pm in the club,news papers and soft drinks the rest of the time in the club. Also you had free use of a meeting room for 2 hours per day that came in very handy, free pressing of two items of clothing per day and free internet. I must say this really was a good deal.The hotel was a good standard with great breakfast buffet.We could walk to the forbidden city in 15 mins also lots of shops and restaurants close by. This is a very good hotel at a very good price. I was once told when due to stay in Beijing "just stay at the Regent its the best deal around that area" I agree; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Peninsula Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: We stayed at the Peninsula for 4 nights and had a great time. A great location just the other side of the river. Some say its the wrong side of the river but its a two min ferry ride in the hotel ferry to the other side and thats great fun so for me perfect. We had a balcony room that was a bit smaller than we expected but was very well appointed and no problem at all. i would note though due to the balcony rooms being set into the building you are overlooked by the rooms either side but again this was not a problem just something to note. Great views over the river watching the world go by. The room had all the mod cons with state of the art tv/audio station, remote controlls for everything including electric curtains. Bathroom again very well done with the best bath tub i have had for a while with a tv set in to the wall. Only down side was no tea/coffee facilities in the room, apparently you have to request these for some reason. Last thing on the room was the maid, who was the best i have seen and i have stayed in lots of hotels. The room was always spotless. It was even cleaned again at turn down and this always happened not like in some hotels where turn down is done by six so if your in the bath you miss out on the service. The service with a smile at the peninsula was constantly good in all areas, all very willing to help you. Breakfast was very good overall with a large selection to suit all tastes and eating outside next to the river was a pleasure. The one complaint i have with the breakfast is the eggs Benedict. Something that not all good hotels offer so was great to see. However the eggs Benidict is pre made then kept in a warmer so when you try to eat it its a rubber egg with dried hollandaise and really not good at all. in fact its so poor that if they cannot get this right they need to stop doing it as its brand damaging-manager please take note. Lastly we very much enjoyed our airport transfers in the hotel Rolls Royce, a very Peninsula way of A to B at a price that was reasonable. You also have a airport rep from the hotel to help you when you arrive and depart but i think this comes when you book a car with the hotel. I would be happy to recommend this hotel to my friends and that says it all; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund; City: Shanghai; Review: We visited the Waldorf for Sunday brunch after many visits to the long bar and were very impressed. The price for this at first seemed expensive as we would normally go to the Westin and the Waldorf was about £20 more for the full drinks package. I must say however we all found it very much worth the extra. Starting off with champagne Oysters and other seafood delights in the fantastic long bar was a superb way of starting Brunch. Them moving through to the main dining room for a mouth watering array of food. Here you start again with starter, mains and desserts. The big difference here is its not just buffet and you can also order off a very tempting menu that is freshly cooked to order and i must say was truly delicious. With the full drinks package you have champagne (two types) and also choice of red and white wine and soft drinks.For us thirsty types as much as you would like. I would also say the service there is the best in Shanghai. We had a dedicated waitress from start to finish and thats a really nice way to do things. Polaris (great name) was our delightful waitress and even sang a song to us during dinner. Wonderful. Linda the restaurant manager was fantastic both during brunch and in arranging our booking. Many thanks. Go there, do it. Its fantastic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chantecler Hotel; City: Le Mans Sarthe Pays de la Loire; Review: I was a bit worried when i booked this hotel due to some reviews on TA but went ahead anyway. Must say it was a great little hotel for the price.I think it has had a very recent revamp as all the rooms we had were freshly painted (3) and in good order. Free parking was a plus as this is not the norm and that made it good value. Good French breakfast and great service. The owner ( lovely lady) even gave us a round of drinks on the house. It was about 10 mins walk into the town area where all the bars and restaurants can be found as not too much directly around the hotel. Had a great meal there in a restaurant recommended by the owner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sport Hotel Hermitage Spa; City: Soldeu Canillo Parish; Review: This really is an excellent hotel by any standard. Perfect accommodation for a skiing holiday, always warm in all areas. Add to that excellent food and service. If you are on half board you can also have dinner in one of there other restaurants just down the road. More rustic in style but again lovely food and service. The location is also perfect for the lifts up the mountain just 2 mins walk down the road to their VIP locker rooms right next to the gondola station. The locker rooms are to a very good standard with staff fetching your boots and skis for you. Also hot coffee, pastries and a bottle of brandy waiting for your return after a good days skiing. This will set you up nicely for a return to the hotel spa. Really enjoyed that, a perfect way to unwind and again to a very good standard. There has been the odd negative comment about the spa not allowing children in but i totally agree with the hotel policy as who wants children running around and making a noise when you are relaxing. after all it makes it clear on their web site that there is a minimum age for entry! The skiing in Soldeu i have always found to be very good for all skill levels so overall the perfect package.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont The Palm; City: Dubai Emirate of Dubai; Review: We stayed at the Fairmont last week for 3 days and had a perfect relaxing time. The hotel is about 25mins from the airport. Arrived at 05.45 so a bit on the early side but no problem. We checked in and had a short wait to be taken to the gold lounge that opened at 6.30 for breakfast, there we waited just under an hour for our room to be ready, so very well done. Not all hotels would do this, we were treated like we mattered. Very happy to have been upgraded to a suite overlooking the beach on the 10th floor. Perfect. Very large and well laid out with a great double balcony. The gold lounge was a good standard with breakfast from 6.30, sandwiches and such 2-4 and drinks and canapés 6-8. I think the gold service is good value here. The pool and beach were perfect with many sun beds so never a problem finding a space and water provided whilst there by the very helpful guys who looked after you. Food and restaurants to a great standard so no complaints at all. If you want to use wifi you will pay for it unless you are gold or join the Fairmont Presidents club (do this online before you go) Would mention Michelle our butler for looking after us so well and Frederic Bellone for helping me before we arrived. Thank you. We normally stay at the Al Maha when in Dubai but have now found a new home when in the country. Would defiantly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Yangtze Boutique Shanghai; City: Shanghai; Review: Good hotel and value for money We stayed at the Yangtze for 4 nights in November. Its central location is great if you want to be right in the action in Shanghai. Shops and restaurants right on the doorstep and in vast numbers. It’s around a 25 min walk to both Xiantiandi and the Bund. Peoples square is about 10 mins and Nanjing Road 5. It’s about a 40 min taxi ride from the airport. The hotel is an old colonial building but well maintained. When I lived in Shanghai it was owned by The Langham Group. Rooms are a very good size with large bathroom and huge bath tub with separate shower room. It could be said the rooms are a little dated but in good order. The only negative on the room was the standard of cleaning of the shower. They just need to get in there with a scrubbing brush every so often. All other aspects of cleaning were good. Had only one dinner there and that was fine and reasonably inexpensive. There are just so many restaurants to try on the doorstep. Buffet breakfast good with enough choice for all tastes. Overall a good stay for a good price and I will return to this hotel when next in Shanghai.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Laguna a Luxury Collection Resort Spa Nusa Dua Bali; City: Nusa Dua Nusa Dua Peninsula Bal; Review: Stayed for five nights in May in a pool villa and had a great time. I have seen some reviews that say the hotel is a bit run down but I did not see anything like that. Our villa was just right with good accommodation and a lovely garden with pool, set back from the main hotel. The service was good in all areas especially in the villa area. They have golf buggies available and are happy to drive you around the resort to where you need to go. The grounds and gardens really are kept well and are lovely to walk around. The gardening team deserve great credit for keeping everywhere looking so good. The pools in the resort are very well laid out with many areas to sit for the day or the beach if you prefer. A short walk or free bus ride down the road to the Bali collection you will find many shops and restaurants. Its great to be able to easily eat away from the hotel for a change of location. Its also a lot cheaper there for food and wine. Its not that the hotel is an expensive place to eat as most 5 star hotels charge more, its just that Bali is relatively cheap by international standards. The only area I think that could improve would be the buffet breakfast. It was a bit hit and miss when it was full as some are but they needed to coordinate it better. There was no orange juice one day. Not run out, just not offered that day! Really. If your changing money, as ever you will get a better rate away from the hotel. The rates do vary from place to place so just keep an eye open for the best one. The US dollar was accepted in most places but again check out what the conversion rate is as most of the time restaurants and shops do not give a good rate. In summary. Would I recommend. yes. Would I go back. Yes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Andara Resort and Villas; City: Kamala Kathu Phuket; Review: Spent last week at the Andara and had a great time. The accommodation is very good overall, we had a one bedroom pool villa. I think it was a two bed with the second bedroom locked off so maybe that’s how they do it. A very good size with a massive kitchen that for us was a bit of a waste as we don’t cook when on holiday. Lovely furnished deck area to sit out on and enjoy the view. The staff were all happy, smiling and willing to help you with whatever was needed. Some didn’t speak very good English but we got by. The Andara is about a 50 min drive from the airport Location was great. A lovely beach just down the road (public) and small backpack type village very close. There are two restaurants just outside the hotel with fantastic views and great food and service. Also a very reasonable price when compared to the hotel. Try the nearest restaurant (The Deck) about 200 yards down the road it’s great. Also a 7-11 supermarket 3 mins walk away to stock up on beers and such as required. The start of the village is about 7 mins walk away along the beach and is full of bars and restaurants. As I have said we had a great time there but I would make a few suggestions to make it even better. 1/ we booked the hotel transfer from the airport. We were allocated and charged for what must have been a 12 seat mini bus on the pickup. This was a con as they have cars that are cheaper and that is what we had on the way back to the airport. Only two of us? 2/ The deck and pool in our villa at no point during the day gets any sun at all. Consequently the pool is very very cold as is not heated and never warmed by the sun so not really usable. We were room 411 but guess that block is all the same so if you want sun don’t have this block. 3/ Aircon is weird. It is not a constant temperature. You are blasted with cold then it heats up then starts again. Really old style basis system. 4/ The restaurant is ok but not great. Had the first meal there when we arrived late so just wanted a pizza. Very bland and basic. Like a supermarket economy pizza. The price of wine is very silly. I know there is a big tax on wine but it’s mainly profit making. The Deck restaurant down the road you can get a decent bottle of red for 750B plus tax. It’s vastly more in the hotel. 5/ The gym is great but please get them to turn the aircon on before they open the doors at 7.00 as if you get there when they have just opened it’s like an oven.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel Cotai Central; City: Macau; Review: Just spent a good couple of days at the Sheraton on the club level over the holiday weekend. I would recommend this hotel due to good customer service overall especially the club lounge set up. They were without exception courteous, friendly and very helpful. A good breakfast served and 2 hour happy hour from 5.30 to 7.30 with outside seating if required. They also have some nibbles and sandwiches available at lunch time. The hotel is centrally located on the strip and is joined to the Venetian centre by a walk way. There is a cheap and cheerful food court on the 3rd floor as an alternative to restaurants. shops and casino on the lower levels. Free coach transfers from and to the ferry and airport terminals that run about every 15 mins. The only fail was with the house keeping management. I say management due to the friendly and helpful cleaners doing a great job. The problems were- Due fresh fruit and welcome drink which never arrived. No turn down service on either night even with us being out of the room by 4pm. Asked for the morning clean to be brought forward one day but nothing happened. So yes a fail there. Shame really as they let down what is overall a good offer. Many thanks to the great team at the club lounge for a good stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vana Belle A Luxury Collection Resort Koh Samui; City: Chaweng Bophut Ko Samui Surat Thani Pr; Review: A good hotel in a nice area. We enjoyed our 5 night stay back in September. Location great. It was good to be able to walk out of the hotel to the main road and have a choice of nearby bars and restaurants within an easy (7 mins walk or 3 if you got a buggy to the main road) Also a couple of supermarkets to stock up on beer and snacks instead of paying the exorbitant mini bar prices (same in most hotels) I always look for this kind of location as don’t want to spend all my time confined to the hotel or have to start getting cars to go out at night. Best restaurant we found was Sean Ogs just up the road. Great food, prices and a very lovely lady that looks after you there. Highly recommended. The hotel was overall good with mainly happy smiling staff. We stayed in an ocean view suite that suited us well, although the view of the beach is a bit obscured by the trees. The room had everything we needed and was very comfortable. Liked the cookies that were replenished often, lovely with a cup of tea on the patio. The only two things I had a problem with were the aircon that cut out when it reached temperature but did not turn on again until the temperature had risen greatly. Very strange. Also would have liked a bath indoors not out on the patio. The bathroom was huge and could easily accommodate this. Never understand why you would want a warm bath in 30c heat get out and be bitten by mosquitos. We had a butler who looked after us well and was very friendly. Had nice chats at the bar at night where you can get nibbles and one free drink only. The breakfast was also a bit hit and miss. The seating and tables are not good to eat at with many either sofa type or relaxing type chairs. Only a few tables with proper dining chairs there. There was also the odd unfriendly type person there who really seemed that they did not want to be there at all. Had to send my poached eggs back 2 out of 5 times as they came totally solid and not runny as I asked for. This I thought was poor as an egg is the easiest thing in the world to cook as it reacts to time and temperature exactly the same every time, so just poor cooking. Having said that the food and drink offer was good and would suit all tastes. Especially nice to finish off breakfast with a glass of bubbles. The stand out at this hotel was the housekeeping. Absolutely first class and up to Oberoi standard. I like my room made up when I am ready so would phone them up to let them know when I was ready. Without fail someone was there within five mins every day. They always did a brilliant job and were all smiles, first class, outstanding. Would I; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shangri La s Rasa Sayang Resort Spa; City: Batu Ferringhi Penang Island Penang; Review: We stayed in the Rasa wing during Chinese New Year for a week. Enjoyed our time there. Overall, we were happy with the experience and would consider going back next new year. We stayed in a premier room and were surprised how big it was with a lovely balcony and great shower room. The furniture looked a bit dated but all in good order except for the funny / mouldy smell in the room. Perhaps the aircon filters need changing or the carpets cleaning but it wasn’t too overpowering. Lovely big, comfortable bed. Oh – the hair drier was a waste of time – no power so bring your own. The turn down service always left a sweet treat in the room which is nice but some of the things were a bit weird. You can’t go wrong with a chocolate. Housekeeping was very good and made the room up each day when requested. Went to the gym each day. Was a bit small but as not many people use it so there was no problem apart from the equipment not being cleaned very much. If you use the same equipment each day for a week you tend to notice stains and such that are not cleaned. The grounds and pools were lovely with some fantastic, very old trees providing cover from the sun. Really stunning trees. I would however look at the age-old problem of people reserving sun beds and not turning up to use them for hours. Same everywhere I suppose. Breakfast at the Rasa was good but was limited for choice and variety. We did try the spice market buffet but that was a bit of a zoo at times with questionable service. Thought I had turned invisible at one point when trying to get a cup of tea. This actually was a let-down compared to other Shangri La buffets. Evening drinks were very good with an hour and half each evening, hot and cold nibbles and really good service. Afternoon tea also good with again excellent service. We didn’t eat dinner at the hotel as there are so many local restaurants just a short walk outside the hotel. Good food at very low prices. Try magic, Andrews or the food court you won’t be disappointed. All at a fraction of the cost of the hotel. It’s just what I like to do, venture out in the evenings The only other problem we had was check in. Took forever (totally excessive) and not what you want after long flights and such.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Li River Resort; City: Yangshuo County Guangxi; Review: We were a party of 4 and had two rooms at this great little hotel last weekend. If you are visiting the area (and why not its lovely) I would totally recommend booking this hotel. The hotel has recently been refurbished so the rooms are as new. Well appointed with all you need and large in size. We also had a balcony and this was great to sit out and chill whilst taking in the epic scenery. The hotel is located just outside the town so is on its own in a quite area. It is however just a 15 min walk or 5 min bike ride into town. I would normally look for a hotel with restaurants and such immediately around it but on this occasion as the food, drink and general set up is so good and reasonably priced it was a pleasure to eat at the hotel. They have a terrace where you can eat outside and that’s always a pleasure. The menu is extensive ranging from Chinese to Spanish and lots of western dishes as well, excellent. It’s always good to find a hotel where all the staff go out of their way to make your stay a good one. The team here are really good under the guidance of the head man Alf. Great chap (Australian) who has been in the area for many years and will have the answer to any question on the area you may have. Alf will advise and arrange anything you may want in a knowledgeable and caring way. Top guy. We would most certainly return to this hotel.Clive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Bagues; City: Barcelona Catalonia; Review: This is a really lovely little boutique hotel about 25 mins from the airport. Its situated bang on and in the middle of La Rambla so you can walk to most of the main attractions. The market is just meters away and a treat to visit. There is an underground train station just a few steps away when you need it to go farther afield to look at the cathedral and the castle. We stayed in a jewel suit for 3 nights and it was well presented if a little compact but I think most of the rooms in hotels around would be on the small side as the buildings are mainly period. Housekeeping were great and kept the room perfectly clean and tidy for us. The overall interior of the hotel has been decorated and furnished to a very high standard so its quality rather than quantity. On the roof there is a bar and very small pool with a good view of the street below. Breakfast at the hotel was small buffet and al a carte order. Limited to turnover and space but perfectly done. Everything I would have wanted was there, eggs bacon and sausage were delicious. You really must try the sausage it was totally delicious. All of the staff without exception were friendly, knowledgeable and fun. A lovely lady on reception has some great non-tourist restaurants to recommend and reasonably priced. I would recommend this hotel and will no doubt be returning for another stay next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa; City: Mohali Mohali District Punjab; Review: We stayed here for a couple of nights on our way from Delhi to Shimla and it was a real treat. We were lucky to be able to stay in both types of rooms, the standard luxury and the super luxury tents. Enjoyed them both totally, everything you could possibly need was included. Even a hot water bottle to warm the bed for when we returned from dinner. The general manager introduced himself on the first night and made us feel very welcome and gave us all the local infomation we needed, a very customer focused manager who clearly makes the hotel totally customer focused. Every member of staff there was happy, smiling and wanting to make your stay a good one. Two restaurants there and both were excellent in turns of food and service, thouroughly enjoyed them. A great stay and an excellent example of Oberoi excellence.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi; City: Hanoi; Review: We had a very good stay in the heritage wing last week. Lovely old colonial building full of wood panelling and charm. When checking in we were asked if we were members of the hotel brand loyalty scheme which we were and that will get you a free drink in the bar there so worth looking at. Not often you get a perk like that in my experience. Used the gym a few times and that was very good by hotel standards with newish life equipment of all descriptions and not very crowded when we were there. The service in the gym was exemplary. As soon as you went on a piece of equipment the attendant was there with towel, water and turned the equipment on to whatever level you required and stayed until he was sure you were happy in its use. The room was great with everything you needed and we even had a balcony to enjoy the view. Only down side were the pillows that were very soft indeed, went totally flat when you put your head down. Breakfast was first rate with an extensive range on offer to cover all tastes. Service was excellent apart from when it was busy as there seemed to be the same number of staff on duty no matter how many people were in the restaurant. Not too far out from the action but a good 10 mins walk to get to the main area of the old quarter with all the restaurants and bars. A point to note if you are arranging any taxi pick ups is that the hotel has two entrances, the Opera wing and the Colonial so make sure you tell them what end you want picking up from. All in all a great stay in a lovely hotel with service minded staff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: One Hoof in the Grave (Thorndike Press Large Print Clean Reads: Merry Abbott Carriage-Driving Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn McSparren Page; Review: I am a new retired Mayor of Moscow, Tenn and I relate to these stories and the surroundings. I believe I live close to the author and wish to say Thank You. The book and all of her writtings about animals are delightful and rewarding. Keep them comining; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good Braider: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Terry Farish Page; Review: I enjoy learning the strong will people have. It is so overselling to think of what damper go through to have what we take forgranted; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fortune Quilt; Author: Visit Amazon's Lani Diane Rich Page; Review: This was nothing like I expected. It was a book I burnt midnight oil on. Passed around to friends also; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Return to Willow Lake (The Lakeshore Chronicles); Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Wiggs Page; Review: I enjoyed the book. Nice spring break read this is a feel good book for wishing to be there to live; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home Vegetable Gardening; Author: F. F. Rockwell; Review: Planting guide was very out stated. I d I d not enjoy it. Need to update book or explain it is old; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Violets of March: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah Jio Page; Review: This book was so drawing into your soul. Once you started you could not place it in a closed position.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Women of Magnolia; Author: Visit Amazon's Marlene Mitchell Page; Review: This is a story that could be in today's life. Many families and many question end with the same goals; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calling Me Home: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Kibler Page; Review: Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Why can the people of our times say one thing and do another. Calling me home is truly a full and complete love story that few ever experience; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The BOOK THIEF; Author: Visit Amazon's Markus Zusak Page; Review: Being from a grandparent that fought as German and a father that that fought as a new American soldier this renewed the memories if war in the Germany we all know now. Very well written and heartfelt memories abundant; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Labor Day: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joyce Maynard Page; Review: I was mistaken about the book. I did not know it would only b boys view. I expected a Madiaon County type book; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last MacKlenna; Author: Visit Amazon's Katherine Lowry Logan Page; Review: Very well written. Up to date challenges for mid-life and love for them. Interesting twists and turns. Definitely a warm blanket and cup of tea book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird; Author: Visit Amazon's Harper Lee Page; Review: Wonderful to read the classics. Everyone should renew their first readings.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ruby Brooch: Time Travel Romance (The Celtic Brooch Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Katherine Lowry Logan Page; Review: I enjoyed the book and lived the book as I read it. The people were not too far gone as in some time travel books. Looking forward to the next journey; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mountain Angel (Northstar Romances) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Suzie O'Connell Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the book it was mind-boggling and quiet I look forward to the others in the series; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Novelist; Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Hunt Page; Review: This was a first read of this author. I was very pleased with the book. Very intriguing I could not put it down.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Emerald Brooch: Time Travel Romance (The Celtic Brooch Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Katherine Lowry Logan Page; Review: The whole series was great. The time zones very interesting. I could not put down; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Tea Tuesdays; Author: Visit Amazon's Ashley Farley Page; Review: Fatal illness in a normal family should b handler this way very fast moving book. Charming book and super resukplts; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bando 6PK2200 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt; Brand: Bando USA; Review: Good stuff. Fits like a glove to 08 scion XD; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bando 6PK2385 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt; Brand: Bando USA; Review: Good stuff. Fits like a glove to 08 scion XD; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hiflofiltro HF171C Chrome Premium Oil Filter; Brand: Hiflofiltro; Review: I am not sure if this is the same quality filter as oem or not. I bought and installed this to my 02 softail. When I took the old one out and compare it with this new one side by side, I could see my old one had more springs etc for the bypass valve. This is a cheaply made filter. I do like the good deals as much as anyone else but next time I ll get a different brand. Just doesn't worth taking the risk for only a few dollars in my opinion.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: SYLVANIA 9007 XtraVision Halogen Headlight Bulb, (Contains 2 Bulbs); Brand: Sylvania; Review: cheapest out there, no one can beat this price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Milwaukee Motorcycle Clothing Company Mens Afterburner Boots (Black, Size 8); Brand: Milwaukee Motorcycle Clothing Company; Review: too large, too many small emblems and stuff; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mobil 1 104361-UNIT 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart; Brand: Mobil 1; Review: Always used this for my 02 softail transmission.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: VCAN V531 Cruiser Solid Flat Black X-Small Half Helmet; Brand: VCAN; Review: I was ok with looking like a mushroom man but it is just not a good design. What I mean by that is,this thing does not sit tight on your head. Feels like gonna fall of( even though I have gotten the correct size and it s snug) just a weird design. Not recomended by me.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Twilight Zone VHS; Brand: Rod Serling; Review: "The Dummy" is about a ventriloquist who honestly believes that his dummy is alive (though he drinks a lot) and soon gets taken over in way reminiscent of DEAD OF NIGHT (1945). "The Lateness of the Hour" is a bizarre yet original tale of robots as an elderly gentlemen's personal assistants. The first episode is chilling, the second is strange, both are memorable (especially "The Lateness of the Hour," though, since it has the surrealistic visual style also found in "Long Distance Call").; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Night of the Hunter VHS; Brand: Robert Mitchum; Review: And it is hilarious! This is a marvelously surreal, occasionally horrific thriller, and one of the most brilliant ones of all time. But few people see that this gem has a sense of humor, such as the scene when Robert Mitchum tricks the country folk with his blasphemic and hypocritical "sermons." And what about the opening gag when "respected pastor" Harry Powell is picked up in a strip joint! It may be awful for a psychopath to try and cut children's throats for ......... in cash, but it is also darkly comical (don't miss Peter Graves within the first fifteen minutes). This movie was also frank in its sexual subject matter (Mitchum's best line: "Alright, you can come to bed now.") during its initial release. The movie wasn't as suspenseful or as shocking as I (personally) thought, but it is still a gruesome and enthralling experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Twilight Zone - Vol. 28; Brand: Rod Serling; Review: "The Dummy" is about a ventriloquist who honestly believes that his dummy is alive (though he drinks a lot) and soon gets taken over in way reminiscent of DEAD OF NIGHT (1945). "The Lateness of the Hour" is a bizarre yet original tale of robots as an elderly gentlemen's personal assistants. The first episode is chilling, the second is strange, both are memorable (especially "The Lateness of the Hour," though, since it has the surrealistic visual style also found in "Long Distance Call").; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator VHS; Brand: Russell Crowe; Review: Alas, it is not the mercilessly bloody and cold story that you hear from prudish minds, but rather an engrossing and action-packed tale. Of coarse, the film is basically Russell Crowe-and he is magnificent. Some of the film's battle sequences (especially the first harrowing encounter with the gladiators inside of an arena) are stomach-churning, but they are increasingly operatic...and important in character revelation. A truly good movie, while not a five-star "masterpiece," that should be recommended (and enjoyed) by everyone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dreamscape VHS; Brand: Dennis Quaid; Review: Forget about "The Man Who Fell to Earth" by Nicholas Roeg. The TV movie "V" is good, but it must be pushed aside to this studio production. This is one of the most original and exciting science fiction movies to come along in a long time. It is intriguing, surreal, and imaginative without being off-putting or overlong. It has everything, right down to the romantic sub-plot. Still questionably underrated, this brilliant film about the process of 'dreamlinking' and helping people get over their nightmares is a very interesting idea. Performances are good and the special effects amazing. Everything I expected it to be and more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Belleza Americana American Beauty VHS; Brand: Kevin Spacey; Review: What are we (as an audience) supposed to make of a film that shows Spacey masturbating in the shower in the first five minutes? Obviously we are dealing with a perverted family, but we're also dealing with a very serious message that Ball (inadvertently?) stated. The things I saw in this movie reminds me of what I see (or hear about) in the real world. It suffers from cliches at times (can't Hollywood dock the "f" word?) and it is not for prudes, but this movie has a fine point even though watching it is difficult. Anyway, Spacey, Benning, and Bakula are peerless here. I am truthful with my MPAA reasons, so this movie is rated R for profanity, suggested sex, gore, violence, nudity, drug use, sex references, simulated sex, and mild adult situations. There is so much beauty in the world...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Predator 2 VHS; Brand: Danny Glover; Review: Don't waste your time, unless you like gore. That's about all there is here, except for some perversity.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Man with Bogart's Face VHS; Brand: Robert Sacchi; Review: Andy Fenaday's scipt follows self-employed detective (Scacchi, who's incredible) as he gets wrapped up in a MALTESE FALCON-type mystery. Heavy doses of amusing dialog, crammed with old movie references, this movie is better than FLETCH. A lot of fun and worth repeated viewings. A must for movie buffs. Good family viewing, with older kids. Rated PG for profanity, violence, and mild sexual innuendo.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pianist; Brand: Adrien Brody; Review: Masterpiece tells of Warsaw Jewish pianist who must hide from the Nazis during the invasion of Poland. Incredible writing, first-rate acting, and utterly compelling direction breathe life into this moving, intensely personal, exciting, and important film. Beginning filmmakers should study this film long and hard to see how to create artful storytelling and overall subtlety. Brody is superb, but the entire production is magical. Ironically, I first watched this after I finished Mel Brooks' THE PRODUCERS. Rated R for wartime violence (but it is remarkably restrained).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beatles - He ! VHS; Brand: John Lennon; Review: Well, it may not be a film you would give five stars, but the fact is you can't beat the Beatles. No pun intended really. This crazy plot, about Ringo getting chased by nutty mystics, is really an excuse for humor and pot-smoking (but you won't see that any where except on the cutting room floor). Great songs, hilarious situations, I mean hey it's The Beatles. You can't complain, so just enjoy the fun. I did!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines; Brand: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Review: If you have a problem with this "third installment", then get over it. I couldn't have done a better job with this movie, and I am not really an action fan! Oh well, personally I may give this movie five stars just because it was so much fun. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself more at the movies. James Bond's action scenes can't, well, begin to compare. Schwarzenegger is terrific, and Loken adds some well needed eye candy for guys sick of the pure testosterone in the last two. So much action I can't describe it, but you'll have fun garaunteed. I couldn't see why more people didn't want to go watch it again, because I want to! It moves so fast the first time! This is a great movie for the franchise, and it does justice to it as well, because it is great fun for kids and just plain exciting for adults. This is the kind of science fiction I (need) and want to see (let's hope Mostow makes more); but what can you say about that ending? Either way, it is hard to say you don't like it. Rated R (unfairly?) for nonstop action violence and excitement, and language.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines; Brand: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Review: If you have a problem with this "third installment", then get over it. I couldn't have done a better job with this movie, and I am not really an action fan! Oh well, personally I may give this movie five stars just because it was so much fun. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself more at the movies. James Bond's action scenes can't, well, begin to compare. Schwarzenegger is terrific, and Loken adds some well needed eye candy for guys sick of the pure testosterone in the last two. So much action I can't describe it, but you'll have fun garaunteed. I couldn't see why more people didn't want to go watch it again, because I want to! It moves so fast the first time! This is a great movie for the franchise, and it does justice to it as well, because it is great fun for kids and just plain exciting for adults. This is the kind of science fiction I (need) and want to see (let's hope Mostow makes more); but what can you say about that ending? Either way, it is hard to say you don't like it. Rated R (unfairly?) for nonstop action violence and excitement, and language.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2; Brand: Rosemary Harris; Review: Terrifically charged and different than its predecessor, Spider-Man 2 is a must for lovers of the comic book and anyone who enjoys emotional and enriching storytelling. The special effects can either wow you or make you smell cheese, but that isn't important here. This time out, we get a level of emotion unlike anything seen on the screen in the past year and a line-up of incredible action sequences. MaGuire and Dunst are great young actors who need their proper credit. Anyone who misses this summer blockbuster should be jealous--it is truly a good film, even if you aren't into fantasy, with laughs, sadness, and action movie fun and intensity all balanced out by a sweet romantic subplot that is nearly THE plot. Now, I am actually hoping for a great sequel!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Manchurian Candidate; Brand: Denzel Washington; Review: As if we needed another Hollywood fiasco to prove once and for all that today's filmmakers shouldn't mess with a perfect and powerful movie classic. Yet they will anyway, and they did here. I can say only two things in the movie's defense, but even these aren't altogether positive things. It is nothing like the original in truth and Streiber makes a good Raymond Shaw. However, every character that mattered in the original is painfully underdeveloped, the plot is not clear or riveting, and the idea of torture and murder depicted by this movie will undoubtably turn your stomach. Being a former SERIOUS movie fanatic, I went into this new release believing that I was watching pure sacrelige, and felt guilty for a while, but after about an hour I realized that the new Hollywood is lacking that one thing that old Hollywood had so much of--direction. The film is rated R, and with good reason because of the violence, but the language isn't as strong as most war movies and the incestuous mother/son angle is almost as subtle as it was in the original. As a matter of fact, just watch the original and be thankful that we have that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last Waltz VHS; Brand: Robbie Robertson; Review: "The Last Waltz" (thankfully) became my new 'phase' movie, replacing "Saving Private Ryan", but thanks to the Band it will become something more than a phase and certainly something that will last a lot longer. I first saw the movie because of Scorsese, then got into it because of the Band, and now I am only into it for the Band. As great as the movie is, as strangely comforting as it is to hear music like this, and as thankful as I am that it does exist...I have several reservations about it that I feel people are overlooking. First of all, if you've heard the soundtrack album, then you know that these songs have been edited down SEVERELY for the movie, and not just the verses of the songs. They cut out several of Robbie's most moving and lengthy guitar solos ever, and even had the audacity to excise some passages from "Mystery Train". Of coarse, the greatest travesties are the Band songs "It Makes No Difference" and "The Shape I'm In", and I guess it would have killed people to sit through Richard's final verse of the latter. It is an exciting film to watch, so maybe people just overlook this because of that, but this is a music film and how many fans do you know that would have complained about the movie being a half an hour longer?! Other qualms of mine include the fact that the Band simply don't do enough of their own material. Now that I've heard all of their albums, and got familiar with all of the other great songs and material that they had, I am inclined to think that the records are a more rewarding listening experience (although Robbie's guitar never sounded rougher). Richard has the best voice ever, and it's obvious that we have a special rythmn section and guitarist, so why do they treat the show like it's for the guests instead of them? Maybe Richard couldn't have sang all night, but where are the great Band songs? If you don't understand what I'm saying, just imagine if "Rock of Ages" would have been filmed. The Band had great songs, and I know Robbie said that it was originally supposed to be just them, so what gives? And a question for Scorsese the genius--why do we get a minute and a half intro to what looks like a rocking version of "Chest Fever" and never see any more of it? Why weren't the other film performances included? So what if the whole performance wasn't filmed, or if it looked bad, they could have squeezed in "Acadian Driftwood"! What a heartbreaker! I mean, if only I could have seen "Time to Kill". I'm not going to gripe about Robbie's face being all over the thing--I like Robbie, and frankly the rest of the guys looked like they had been hibernating for ages and were sad that the crew woke them up for interviews. Robbie is cool, even if he destroyed the Band's road career, and at least he talks without trying; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jimi Hendrix: Experience; Brand: Jimi Hendrix; Review: The Experience film is none too impressive, but certainly worth viewing for its live performances and amusing commentary. The sound is just weak and the image unclear. The extras featuring Jimi are marvelous--Stockholm, "Hey Joe" promo, "Wild Thing", and Popside are all worth your money and time. But the film that the DVD is really selling isn't nearly as good as the longer and better looking bonus features. Hendrix was probably the best guitar player in the world at this time, but it may take WOODSTOCK or JIMI HENDRIX to prove that to you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beatles Anthology Collector's Set VHS; Brand: John Lennon; Review: This DVD is essential whether you're only slightly interested in rock or you love it, because the Beatles are shown throughout and you have more video clips, interviews, audio files, and photos than you could find anywhere else. Watch the "Revolution" video at full blast, and catch rare White album studio performances, and see the roof top concert in all its glory. The Beatles' music holds a special place in my early life, and watching this brings back many great memories, but their albums, of coarse, are just as essential.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Batman Begins; Brand: Christian Bale; Review: For these kinds of films? Well, Nolan's first major film since INSOMNIA is a nice combination of action and horror (believe it or not)and it provides an interesting thesis on human being's repsonses to fear. It is not so unfortunate that Burton's vision has been moved aside, but it may be unfortunate that this Batman movie is a serious drama and has little of the fun for the people who enjoyed Micheal Keaton's films. So you'd better get that out of your head before watching this. Also, don't take small children or squeamish adults to this movie, because it is loaded with darkness and some truly unsettling images and nightmarish moments. Christian Bale hasn't really had any decent acting roles until this, but although he is a fine actor and a competent new star for my generation, Batman is simply too strong for its own good. Here we get the rundown on the League of Shadows and that stuff, and Bruce Wayne's history and condition is explained from the beginning. There are slow moments, but also many jarringly violent scenes, so it is ultimately hard to access once its over. Plus it goes on for a lot longer than any other Batman film. Arty, original, and highly impressive production-wise, this movie isn't for all tastes but it is a unique picture for those who want a new Batman and for a new vision of a superhero. The greatest superhero movie ever it is NOT, but if you can handle its brutality and nightmarish realism (basically), you may find it to be the best film of the year. It will certainly take you by surprise.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I Am Legend; Brand: Will Smith; Review: Disappointing but not entirely invalid film follows Will Smith as a lone virologist named Robert Neville in a post-bacterial holocaust New York City in which he is the only one able to become the savior for what remains of the human race--the "living" are now called "dark seekers", mutated, rabies-infected fiends who go on the prowl for blood at night, and of course their "attacker", Mister Neville. What follows is half-brilliant and half-delusional filmmaking, but all in all it is an entertaining ride and not as bad (in context) as come of its harshest critics have noted. What strikes a viewer most strongly is how much this post-9/11 allegory feels in terms of its heavy-handed spirit of loss; Smith's Neville is a far cry from the one in the Richard Matheson story, but that is/was a different story altogether so we can't use that as a measuring rod of this film's impact. Smith's Neville is not a loner by nature, and he genuinely feels like he is a part of the human race--in this film, it's a tragedy to lose the human population, separate from the feeling offered by the novel that bears this title. Also, there is a much more Evangelical Christian feel to the ending, a sense that humanity will always have a savior that is willing to sacrifice himself for humanity. I can see why a great deal of critics found this intolerable at the time, but in hindsight it's actually a more interesting picture to think about. The CGI "infected" creatures are actually terrible, both in conception and in their comic book-style execution, but it is Smith's rather intense performance that anchors the film instead. Some seemed to find the picture scary in many ways, but it is certainly lightweight in that area (at least for those who watch horror films) and it doesn't have the kind of harsh, misanthropic tone that most effective horror movies command. I seriously felt that director Francis Lawrence desired to make a mournful commentary upon the September 11th attacks, and he made the most of what was left over from the Ridley Scott/Mark Protosevich abandoned film that was never made (see the excellent book by David Hughes about the Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made). This feeling of mourning is aided much by James Newton Howard's light piano score. In short, "I Am Legend" is a Will Smith vehicle, and it is not a horror film really, which is why so many were upset by its "adaptation." But, for what it is, I enjoyed much that the picture had to offer--there is a great set piece that was kept from the original script that Scott was going to do, and that is when Smith chases his dog into the dark building where some nasty dark seekers await--this scene is genuinely suspenseful. So with all of the heavy spirit of Matheson's ideas bled out from this story, it is a lot more optimistic (or "post-apocaloptimistic") than a genuine vampire story would have been, looking as if all the heaviness in heart had been taken; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman: Gotham Knight; Brand: Corey Burton; Review: This DVD is a waste of time and money, folks. This film looks like it was conceived and validated by a one million dollar computer without a trace of (or input from) a human hand. I don't know how anyone can believe that this is animation. We are becoming increasingly desperate in our entertainment choices, but I can't even classify this as entertainment. All of you illiterate and history-hating people probably do not comprehend the fact that this is NOT Batman, but is instead a true and unabashed perversion of the character (like those unmentionably bad Christopher Nolan films that tried to change and distort Batman into a "realistic" character). This DVD is shameful to say a polite word about it. This is not Batman; this is more like bad Japanese anime (and like all Japanese animated attempts, it lacks style, creativity, originality, and uniqueness). The "stories" here are not even stories, but are instead half-assed vignettes (something that illiterate people wouldn't notice). Watch "Batman: The Animated Series" if you want the REAL Batman. I will be discarding my copy of this dreck as soon as I can find someone to pay me for it. How sad that we have turned Batman into this drivelous insanity. A dark night indeed, folks. In a CGI world that thinks animation is done on a computer, I am not surprised that so many of you feel that this is acceptable work. I am here to say that it most certainly is NOT.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Moon Zero Two / When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth; Brand: ; Review: This DVD is rare nowadays (because in the 21st century there are STILL people who get easily offended by brief nudity) but if you can snag a copy please do so. These movies do not necessarily represent 'good' science fiction (by any means) but if you are looking for a couple of fun nostalgic pictures then you couldn't do better than these. Bless Warner Bros. for finally putting them out; now if we can only get the Puritans to stop pulling them off the shelves, everyone can enjoy the Dinosaurs!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Possession of Joel Delaney VHS; Brand: Shirley MacLaine; Review: If you're on this page, you pretty much know what the plot is all about, but the movie is still worth seeing for its slow pace and uncomfortable atmosphere. You may have to enjoy the old 70s movie feel in order to fully appreciate this one. I always find it interesting that Shirley MacClaine was going to star in "The Exorcist" but that did not pan out. Anyway, this is a much more subtle kind of movie that people remember nowadays mostly for that horrific dance number near the end (which, by the merciful grace of God, has been panned and scanned out on this new DVD issue). The picture is quite good, and I detected no trouble with the sound presentation...it is a bit deplorable that these classic films are arriving without any extras because quite frankly there should be something available to offer DVD consumers in terms of this content; I would even welcome a commentary track by a film historian, something. Other than that, though, this is your chance to own this rare, subtle horror film on a quality DVD format.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ghoul VHS; Brand: Boris Karloff; Review: The DVD is good, picture and sound are quite clear... The movie itself, though, is bizarre. It starts out in a fashion that is spooky and one is truly led to believe that something mysterious is going to unfold throughout the picture. It might surprise one to learn that by the picture's end what has developed more strongly than a thriller is a romantic comedy/love story. Karloff is okay, but man he's just not on screen long enough. A few good scenes, but the picture changes its mind in midstream, loses the horror idea for one of levity and chase sequences, and ends with a man carrying a woman in his arms (with Karloff seemingly dead). So, in sum, not a bad picture per se, but definitely NOT what a horror fan would expect!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maniac VHS; Brand: Joe Spinell; Review: Then I'm afraid you have no choice but to purchase this bloody mess of a film! This is definitely not the kind of picture that I typically enjoy, but there is a rather important part of underground cinema history connected with it, all of which is well explained in the copious extras offered on this 30th Anniversary DVD set. The story may be quite sick and not well fleshed out, but it's one of those oddities that one has to look at on occasion. I am no fan of slasher movies, but this one IS different--the strange score by Jay Chattaway, the creepy "underground" camera angles, the moving and deeply troubling acting of Spinnell--and it makes an impression even on timid viewers by utilizing buckets of blood and scenes of grotesque suspense. But, in any case, there is a more important reason for owning this particular edition of the much damned "Maniac", and the reason is the second disc. If you are a film history buff, an enthusiast, or even one who thinks that movies and TV still contain far too many scenes of violence and sadism, then this extra disc is loaded with must-see critical footage that you will certainly enjoy. Apparently, critic Gene Siskel was so sickened by the brutality that he walked out of the theater in an angry state. The trouble is that it is very difficult to defend "Maniac" as art, and there certainly are few redeeming moments in terms of characterizations. Yet this second disc puts everything into perspective--interviews with directors like Joe Dante and critics such as Charles Champlin make it a film buff's haven of rare interviews and insights. It's too bad that other rare movies don't come with these kinds of extras because "Maniac"--while rare nowadays and not a movie to put in if you have polite company over--is no exception when it comes to redefining the underground efforts of independent filmmakers. "Maniac" does have gore, but if you judge this one by its cover you might mislead yourself (oh there is violence, but not at the kind of level where you have to keep reaching for the trash can...); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planet of the Vampires; Brand: Barry Sullivan; Review: The picture of the DVD is quite good. I believe that the sound is equally as strong. This is not really a film about vampires, but that's besides the point (it was released under several different titles, but I personally prefer "Demon Planet" out of all of them). Recommended for fans of this kind of stuff--the look and feel of the film is a bit surreal, and the story can be frightening at times (in that old-fashioned way). Worth a watch at least.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Triple Feature: It's Alive / It's Alive 2: It Lives Again / It's Alive 3: Island of the Alive; Brand: Various; Review: If you're here, then it's pointless to cover well-treaded ground again... A wonderful 3-DVD set that has more killer demonic babies than you could ever wish for. Larry Cohen is a talent, but he's had mishaps over the years (it was his fault for discovering Bruce Willis, as Cohen candidly admits in one of these wonderful audio commentary tracks), and I still can't believe "they" produced his nothing of a script entitled "Phone Booth." Be assured, the original "It's Alive" story is no treasure, but there's 70s nostalgia value for old movie buffs (like myself). Good for laughs if you need to eat up that bag of elderly popcorn. The picture and sound quality are great, and you can't beat it if you can get it for under $10.00.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: There Will Be Blood; Brand: Daniel Day-Lewis; Review: This film contains Daniel Day-Lewis at his most frightening and his most moving. Rarely do we see real actors in movies anymore, but here is one, and boy is he on his game in this classic! P. T. Anderson's script wisely avoids trying to be too entertaining, as the atmosphere and scope of the movie more than make up for its more internal journey. If you love Day-Lewis then I have to say that, for my money, this is his best performance ever, doing one better than "My Left Foot" and far surpassing the subtlety of his "Lincoln." The history of oil drilling in itself is a fascinating subject, and what a subject for a film that it is. After years of suffering through idiotic sequels, arty films that are more farty than arty, comedies that think humor is about being grotesque, and dramas that drag their feet to the guillotine, this is one film that more than makes up for the lack of Interesting Cinema that we've been experiencing. There is no need for me to rehash the plot, the characters, etc. Just watch it. If Plainview isn't one of the most striking misanthropic characters in film history, then I've missed something. Scarier than Bill the Butcher, more driven than Newland Archer, and more interior than Lincoln, Plainview is a representation of one character's suffering and hatred that builds to an almost unthinkable confrontation. Truly unique among the files of modern American cinema.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rolling Thunder VHS; Brand: William Devane; Review: I have not watched the old DVD-R version of this title, but the BluRay is nice indeed. Since the picture is an older one, the definition is not top notch on a widescreen TV, but it is satisfactory considering. The extras are nice to see, especially the interviews with Schrader and the principal players, but an audio commentary would have made this a knockout. The song "San Antone" is mentioned in the DVD commentary on "The Ninth Configuration", another classic film that they just don't make anymore--at all, sadly. In any case, the sound and color and very good, and the package (including the pulpy cover art) is astonishing. As for the film itself, I am truly impressed. I agree with Gene Siskel that this film was one of the best from the class of '77. If you are used to these hormone enraged junk movies of today (like the unmentionable "Transporter" series) then you may be too impatient to appreciate the impact of the climactic shootout, probably the best of its type ever filmed--it rivals "Scarface" (1983) (I would say surpasses it even) for intensity in a climactic shoot out sequence for its choreography (I was perspiring, so I know that the ending works). Great acting by Devane, and it's Paul Schrader of "Taxi Driver" notoriety, so why carp? Once again, THANK YOU SHOUT FACTORY!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Town That Dreaded Sundown VHS; Brand: ; Review: Or...scream and scream again! Thank you so much to SHOUT! FACTORY for these sensational new releases--finally the movie god seems to be smiling down upon the BluRay and DVD markets. The picture quality on this BluRay is fantastic--this title was made in 1976, and it seems to have a great quality of remastering. I enjoyed the audio commentary track (which is admittedly a bit dry), the trailers included, and the interviews with two of the film's stars were nice to watch. Plus, you get Brian Albright's excellent, if short, essay on the films of Charles B. Pierce--this is not a visual essay, you simply navigate through the prose with your remote control, but it is worth a read for genre/regional enthusiasts. The bonus DVD includes this title as well as THE EVICTORS, which, for my taste, is not quite a true horror film but is nonetheless fascinating in retrospect--this is technically how a horror film should be made (a sense of mystery, eerie music, little blood/gore but a lot of scares) and yet the end result is not technically "horror". As for "The Town that Dreaded Sundown," the widescreen transfer of this title appears to be the correct shooting aspect ratio, and the image is quite clear on a widescreen TV. Shout! must have done their homework on this one. Overall, it's another high quality presentation that I find little to complain about. As for the movie itself, I think that it will improve through repeated viewings, so don't be put off if you find that it isn't to your liking at first. I think the film is something of a neglected classic, despite the fact that (for me personally at least) it ended a bit abruptly and didn't seem to have a very long running time. Maybe it didn't need to be very long, however. In any case, it is a suspenseful movie, and worth adding to your collection if you like these old titles--the atmosphere is quite intense, and the characters are likable (well, most of the characters!). It is unfortunate that Pierce did not develop his directorial capabilities further, because his understanding of how to create mood and suspense seems to me to be genuine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowling For Columbine VHS; Brand: Michael Caldwell; Review: This should probably be noted as a quasi-documentary, as much of the "facts" are presented in such a non-linear fashion (and in a short-attention span format more akin to viewers accustomed to watching cartoons rather than adult information stations--and I don't mean CNN folks!), but it is nonetheless entertaining; however, Moore is an entertainer, and his film (to me anyway) comes off as more of a joke rather than a true portrait of a corrupt country. While Moore nicely avoids the real problem at stake in terms of the tragedy of the title (these two boys did not shoot up a high school cafeteria just because they owned guns) he nonetheless takes time to satirize enough political figures and famous faces to make the insulting trip worthwhile. America has problems, yes, but that's not what permitted the Columbine tragedy. Moore can be funny, but the climactic attack on Heston seems both unfair and unnecessary; I am a bit biased here because I like Heston, but I'm equally tired of people complaining about children getting killed by guns but having no issue living in a gun-toting country--can you spell "contradiction"? As for the presentation on the DVD, the picture is a bit rough, but no worse than VHS quality. The extras make it worthwhile, however. The Charlie Rose segment is worth watching, but a bit brief in my opinion. For kicks, the Marilyn Manson video has been included. Moore has, like the much touted Quentin Tarantino, become a fixture on the comedic celebrity circuit, and it is, probably, better than working for a living. However, the intellectual bankruptcy is apparent from the very beginning, so be warned. He's out to amuse and to insult, not to inform or to inspire. Nonetheless, he's the cash king on the quasi-documentary circuit. Is "Bowling for Columbine" a must? Absolutely not. It promises to dissect the effects of violence upon community, and does just the opposite. It purports to be educational, but I can't imagine any serious-minded teacher using (with a straight face) in his/her class. But if you are looking for a definition of how sick and ill-informed our media has become, this might be the ticket--Moore at times sounds reasonable, and then you watch his films and you realize that he really doesn't have that much to say--or, more importantly, ask.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Obsession VHS; Brand: ; Review: The movie is brilliant. It's still a shame that we do not have Paul Schrader's completed script on film, but De Palma is a far more interesting director in hidnsight than his critical reception suggested during his heyday. The picture is nice, and there is a nice documentary feature (though Schrader is snubbed quite a bit in it as well), and the overall package, cover art, and content is pristine. Finally, a service that will due justice to powerful exploitation and cult cinema titles. However, I have a major caveat: this disc will not play in standard players. I have a portable DVD player and that is the only device this disc will play on. Forget your BluRay player--the disc is not formatted to playback its encoded information. Also, on my copy alone (am I right?), the film skips and freezes in certain places, and I also noticed some subtitles cropping up at incorrect points during the film's duration--even though I did not have the subtitles turned "on." However, I am grateful to have this rare title under any condition, as most of the film did play fine, but it's still upsetting for such a classic film as this. Maybe my disc just needs cleaning, but I don't know. Anyway, what really upsets me is that "Obsession" has not been given a proper (read: major studio) DVD/BluRay combo pack release, with even more (and better) extras. Could they get the mortally wounded Schrader to do a commentary track explaining his disappointment in the production? And couldn't De Palma record one? I appreciate this cult series, but I thought another major studio would have remastered and rereleased this title by now--even Shout! Factory could do it justice, as they did the "Walking Tall" trilogy. But to have this title on such an obscure format...as I said, I'm grateful for it, but I don't think this title has been given the respect that it deserves, considering how many violent, video-game inspired crap-fests that we are constantly being subjected to on the modern movie market these days. The accompanying booklet is okay, but the critical essay really isn't all that insightful. Please, someone, rerelease this title and do it justice--for all!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Body Snatcher VHS; Brand: Boris Karloff; Review: As most probably know, this set is fantastic. Val Lewton, producer/novelist/story editor/screenwriter, was a troubled talent, a genius of sorts, who had too much talent and too little direct vision. His films are special, sometimes apparently lost (except to film scholars), and always watchable. "Cat People", in fact, is still imminently watchable today, which is amazing, especially since the ads sell it as a straight horror film--we know that it is anything but. As for the set itself, it's a fantastic offering of classic films. The two documentaries that are included are must-haves for everyone and anyone who really appreciates cinema, with the "Shadows in the Dark" documentary being my pick for the most outstanding classic film documentary ever. Even Harlan Ellison and Ramsey Campbell are included. My ONE major complaint is that "The Ghost Ship," the infamous troubled production that includes perhaps the greatest themes that Lewton ever worked into his filmmaking, has NO commentary or mini-documentary included with it. If ever a film deserved a commentary track, it was this one! And, apparently, they blew it. That would have been the best audio commentary listen. However, the Kim Newman track for "...Zombie" is fun, and Friedkin (who blew it big time with his epic failure during the audio commentary for "The Exorcist," of all things) does a decent enough job walking us through "The Leopard Man" without just describing everything that is happening on screen (as I remember...). But, overall, a quality picture and sound, and decent enough transfers, plus there are so many classics here: "The Seventh Victim," "The Ghost Ship," "The Body Snatcher," etc. But I cannot believe no commentary for "The Ghost Ship." Why? Otherwise, this set is a true keeper.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fly VHS; Brand: Jeff Goldblum; Review: When I was small, I had nightmares about Brundlefly jumping through the window and kidnapping me. This movie is still truly disturbing after all these years, and this is Cronenberg's genius here--he knew how to make horror disturbing (something that even the most graphic of thrillers today have forgotten how to do effectively). Also, the film has an excellent idea of how to incorporate science fiction and fantastic elements into a script that works--a story that is set in reality but has one particular element in it that could only have escaped from someone's fantastic nightmare. I find the film moving, and Goldblum's performance overlooked even today, and yet most people only remember the disgusting parts. If there is a criticism of Cronenberg's enterprise, it is that his film feels and looks cold, from the 1980s modern dcor of Veronica's apartment/office areas, to Seth's dirty, grunge-tinged warehouse/apartment. This device is effective, but it is also draining--"The Fly" is too brisk, too concerned with its cold science, to ever really get into the characters deeply enough or to present us with a story that provides criticism of a world view that posits scientific fact above everything else in life. However, this movie is still unforgettable, and since it's a childhood favorite, I can do nothing but love it. As for the DVD presentation, this one is a keeper. The audio/visual layout on the first disc is fine, with the aspect ratio correctly transferred and the Cronenberg audio commentary worth your ears (at least once, c'mon people!). The sound is fine as well. Also, the second disc is worth your time if you are a nerd about sf/horror films like I am. The documentary about the making of the film is cool, and you get the great Brundlefly natural history museum piece which I find interesting (but, again, I am a nerd). If you are looking for the AMC documentary "The Fly Papers," you will need to seek out the special edition DVD of "The Fly II", but other than that every great piece on this film is included on this second disc. Overall, if you are a fan of the film, get this edition. I have not seen the film on BluRay, but I cannot imagine it adding much to the experience. These were the days of puppetry (which I still miss greatly), NOT CGI crap, so you (if you are a young person) might be disappointed with the special effects. But of course this is a love story. The reason not everyone can respond to it is because it is a Cronenberg love story, where the world is a colder place, and where (without syrup) we watch a loved one disintegrate and die of cancer (in effect) before our very eyes. This is Cronenberg's version of a Hollywood love story. Yet, for all of that, it remains a science fiction classic for a reason. Donut, anyone?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Born Innocent VHS; Brand: Linda Blair; Review: I don't know, this is one of the saddest movies I've ever seen. The music is oppressive, Linda's character is tragic, and the supporting cast of young ladies don't seem to add much to this film to me (despite the fact that they are essential, considering the setting). Linda was, and always will be, beautiful, and she is a real doll in this film. However, there is not that much pleasant going on here, despite whatever good drama that the situation might make for. I still have to give it 4 stars for Linda alone. The Hen's Tooth DVD is top notch, though, and the film is uncut (which, despite what perverts might think, is not the best way to view the film, although as a completest I suppose I am glad that the film is finally restored). The image and sound qualities are great, and I'm glad some of Linda's old classics are coming back. But boy, is this story depressing...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cobra VHS; Brand: Sylvester Stallone; Review: "Cobra" is an interesting film for its 80's politics and "police vs. the scumbag criminals" attitude that it so vehemently makes clear. While the bad guys in this film certainly deserve to be wiped off the face of the Earth, the politics are too obvious, the dialogue too silly, the story too protracted, and the music too pop-oriented. If you like Stallone you'll like it of course, but this isn't a pleasant film, and yet it is nonetheless enjoyable on a violent, ignorant kind of level, where one's brain is hijacked by a sense of exuberance on the level of watching a traffic accident--you feel guilty, but you look anyway. It's also hard to take George Cosmatos seriously as a filmmaker (obviously), but I did like his "Of Unknown Origin" and that film was rewarding on many levels. "Cobra" I will watch just for its nostalgic value, its over-the-top villains, its fast pacing, and its attempt to work from a literary source (a Paula Gosling novel that the film doesn't resemble in the slightest--but I hope Paula got paid well at least). What is also interesting is how this film's politics compare to those of "Dirty Harry"--Stallone's Marion Cobretti isn't quite Eastwood's Harry Callahan, but they both are preserving that Wild West attitude of cowboys gunning each other down in the streets (so to speak). "Cobra" continues these conservative politics in a serious way, but Stallone's character is less brutal, and he also is fairly humorless. It's his job to kill these bad guys, but for Callahan it was a passion, a pleasure (even here in this violent study we can detect society's softening attitude towards violent criminal justice, best represented in the film by Robinson, who played a great psycho himself in the original "Dirty Harry"). I always thought it interesting that Siskel and Ebert used to discuss the most pointless films at the greatest length, probably because simple-minded films like this tend to do well at the box office. Whether their cult status holds up years later on DVD and home video and BluRay is another matter, but "Cobra" is fun as a Stallone vehicle, much more unpleasant and absurd in its paranoia-driven plot details. The Warner DVD is great, as usual, and the commentary by Cosmatos is a fun listen, but it isn't an essential purchase unless you enjoy nostalgia. Since I remember it from childhood, I have to watch it every once in a while. I know...I have an attitude problem. But it's just a little one...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cobra; Brand: Sylvester Stallone; Review: "Cobra" is an interesting film for its 80's politics and "police vs. the scumbag criminals" attitude that it so vehemently makes clear. While the bad guys in this film certainly deserve to be wiped off the face of the Earth, the politics are too obvious, the dialogue too silly, the story too protracted, and the music too pop-oriented. If you like Stallone you'll like it of course, but this isn't a pleasant film, and yet it is nonetheless enjoyable on a violent, ignorant kind of level, where one's brain is hijacked by a sense of exuberance on the level of watching a traffic accident--you feel guilty, but you look anyway. It's also hard to take George Cosmatos seriously as a filmmaker (obviously), but I did like his "Of Unknown Origin" and that film was rewarding on many levels. "Cobra" I will watch just for its nostalgic value, its over-the-top villains, its fast pacing, and its attempt to work from a literary source (a Paula Gosling novel that the film doesn't resemble in the slightest--but I hope Paula got paid well at least). What is also interesting is how this film's politics compare to those of "Dirty Harry"--Stallone's Marion Cobretti isn't quite Eastwood's Harry Callahan, but they both are preserving that Wild West attitude of cowboys gunning each other down in the streets (so to speak). "Cobra" continues these conservative politics in a serious way, but Stallone's character is less brutal, and he also is fairly humorless. It's his job to kill these bad guys, but for Callahan it was a passion, a pleasure (even here in this violent study we can detect society's softening attitude towards violent criminal justice, best represented in the film by Robinson, who played a great psycho himself in the original "Dirty Harry"). I always thought it interesting that Siskel and Ebert used to discuss the most pointless films at the greatest length, probably because simple-minded films like this tend to do well at the box office. Whether their cult status holds up years later on DVD and home video and BluRay is another matter, but "Cobra" is fun as a Stallone vehicle, much more unpleasant and absurd in its paranoia-driven plot details. The Warner DVD is great, as usual, and the commentary by Cosmatos is a fun listen, but it isn't an essential purchase unless you enjoy nostalgia. Since I remember it from childhood, I have to watch it every once in a while. I know...I have an attitude problem. But it's just a little one...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hammer Horror Collection: 3 Film Set; Brand: Christopher Lee; Review: The first movie and the last one are the best, the middle one is mediocre, sort of a time filler (or killer). Here's my gripe: the old edition of "Dracula: Prince of Darkness" had great bonus features, including the commentary by Lee. Is it too much to ask to be awarded these great features on these bargain priced offerings? It was on one disc, c'mon! It just seems a cheat. Also, other great Hammer classics (such as "Demons of the Mind" and "The Vengeance of She") are now hard to find at good prices, so why not release collector's editions sets of those instead of these? I'm grateful, but it's very disappointing in a way. There should at least be a way to please us nerds without distributors having to lose money on the offerings. Heck, I'd go fifteen easy to get collector's editions of all of these titles, but that's not to be apparently.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scream Factory: All Night Horror Marathon (Whats the Matter with Helen, The Vagrant, The Godsend & The Outing); Brand: Bill Paxton; Review: Too many reviewers have given you their two cents on the picture and sound, so I'll just put in my say quickly about these films: "What's the Matter with Helen?" I understand was added in place of an Italian horror film that was supposed to fill its slot, so I am disappointed that it's included here. However, I probably wouldn't have ordered the "Who Slew Auntie Roo?" disc from Midnite Movies either, and the picture/sound is good on this one. A fairly obvious, but creepy, shocker involving a clearly deranged Shelley Winters. "The Vagrant" I could not sit through, but I didn't put much effort into it. A silly film from Chris Wallis, whom we should demand more from considering all of his great work on the "The Fly" and "The Fly II." An idiotic time waster. "The Godsend"--while I have yet to read the novel that this film is allegedly based upon, I have to say that the film is ripe to be rediscovered by historians. One view posits that the film is boring and pointless, not to mention slow. I think the filmmakers tried to make a serious drama (for the most part) and sold their film as "horror" which ultimately did not do the film a service. The performances are interesting, but there is not much else here to recommend the film--"The Bad Seed" this is not, but I think there may be a more interesting film here than most people have posited. "The Outing"--Okay, another disappointment. I was hoping for "The Lamp" to get a proper, special features-packed U. S. DVD release. What a dreamer, right? If you Wikipedia Warren Chaney you will be floored by the amount of work and productions that this guy has been associated with, and I'm not just talking films/movies. This guy is obviously smart and a hard worker, to put it mildly. However, this junky script is not his best work, and the cast/crew (including Chaney himself) obviously didn't put much thought or effort into the effects or into the (weak) story. For a church-going man of commitment, Chaney's work here is trashy and too much involved with playing to the teen/silly nudity/gory scares crowd. But what upsets me is the lack of story development. Geez. The picture and sound appeared okay to me, but the other complaints on here on not without merit. But apparently "The Lamp" is a better edit (not to mention a better film, that allegedly makes more sense) so maybe some day we will get a Warren Chaney film set...won't we? Oh forget it...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Halloween 3 - Season of the Witch VHS; Brand: Tom Atkins; Review: Irwin Yablans really wants fans to know that, when they pick up their weapons and come after the creators of this movie, that he had absolutely NOTHING to do with its creation! Okay, then he's a simpleton. "Halloween 3" is brilliant, the only one of this rather disreputable series that I enjoy. Talk about a case of money-grubbing greed and ignorance supplanting an opportunity for genuine artistic integrity. I'm not delusional, I know how this capitalism thing works (and, ironically, the film seems to be satirizing consumerist gullibility as well). But the fact that the franchise was moved from its "Night Gallery"/"Thriller" destination of presenting nifty anthology stories in a new Halloween-themed tale for every subsequent new film just breaks my heart. For those who think it's silly and superfluous to argue so passionately about films, consider the kind of intellectual hijacking that occurred during the production of this series. It makes me ill. "Halloween 3" is, for me, the only quality entry in this series, and the only one that truly understands that horror and satire must work hand-in-hand to make a genuine reproduction, like man on woman. I have nothing against a serial killer/stalker movie plot, and I even enjoy some minor pictures that fans of "Halloween" might consider to be retread in themselves (I still enjoy "When a Stranger Calls"), but if you want to talk serious film criticism then give "Halloween 3" it's due. I can't understand the amount of bad vibes and deconstructive criticism that is proffered on these fabulous extras (which make the purchase of this new DVD edition worth the price alone). What are you apologizing for guys?! As for the presentation, the picture is good (at least to me), and the bonus features really make up for anything lacking in the specialties of the transfer. If you are a fan of this genre, you deserve to treat yourself to this movie. If you think "Halloween" is synonymous with that stalker in the Kirk mask, then avoid giving your brain a new charge of intelligent fun. You may not be able to handle it after all. "Halloween 3" doesn't set out to disgust us in the same way, and it was way ahead of its time with its dark themes of cruelty towards children and the uprising of superstitions in modern times. Tom Atkins is a fine, underrated genre movie actor, and this is one of his best roles I think. And we've got that catchy, weird jingle ("Silver Shamrock"!) that will be stuck in your head for ages. And how about that villain! Dan O'Herlihy is the prime example of how to play a creepy movie villain, absolutely pristine. Plus, Stacey Nelkin is gorgeous. And, I cannot neglect to mention the architecture of Nigel Kneale's brilliant source story (although he nearly rejected the project for, being an intelligent man, he did not appreciate the simple-minded and misogynistic ideas of the first two movies, but Carpenter allowed him to start with his own--rather brilliant--ideas that were, apparently, laid down originally by Debra Hill, who also; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cat People VHS; Brand: Nastassja Kinski; Review: The DVD itself is fantastic and is a collector's item. These older horror films are enjoyable, and this is the kind of story that I find worthwhile. Picture is very good, and the sound is fine, with a dark, menacing score by Moroder, and a color palette that is both sensual and troubling. Schrader's version of this story, though, is intellectually aloof and not without passion. His camera seems to be more in love with Irena than with the plot details (not that this is a bad thing, as the original film's Simone Simon was also a knockout), and this leads to an overwhelming sense of voyeurism as opposed to a complete investigation of the film's characters. The film has been accused of being pornographic, but that's not a fair criticism, as we've seen much worse elsewhere. I don't really think this film was trying to be offensive in any way, despite the scenes of sexuality and nudity. So, in sum, not Schrader's best moment but, as with Universal's current DVD release of "Dracula" (1979), this is a keeper of a DVD. Whether or not you find it better than the Lewton version is insignificant because this film is both fun and disturbing in its own way, and not truly a contribution to the horror genre as it is academically defined. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepfather; Brand: Terry O'Quinn; Review: SHOUT! Factory's DVDs and BluRays are sensational. I can't say it any more plainly than that. The picture on "The Stepfather" appears a bit dirty and unpolished, the sound a bit under-produced. Yet even in this state I find the movie a collector's item. Before there was Hannibal Lecter and the American Psycho (and after Henry), there was the stepfather, a perfect role for the breakout actor Terry O'Quinn, who does steal the show here--he is genuinely terrifying here. As a film, "The Stepfather" isn't perfect--but it's one of the best of its type, certainly more chilling than gross out, which is saying something. It probably doesn't fit under the label "horror" very neatly, but it is subtly disturbing and memorable. The Shout! DVD also includes a neat making of featurette, which shows author Brian Garfield's thoughts, among other ideas from the filmmakers. It's a keeper bonus feature. Since we are so inundated these days with slasher movies and gross out effects, to say that "The Stepfather" is essential is superfluous. But as a suspense movie, it's quite thrilling--if not terribly surprising. The film does, however, have good economic sense, a belief that smaller is okay after all, the intelligence to make more out of less, and it features fine performances and a good script. Director Ruben should have continued making abnormal psychology studies such as this rather than turning his hand to cheap exploitation shockers that inspire bad thoughts and behavior (such as the very regrettable "The Good Son"). "The Stepfather" is violent to watch, but you know who the bad guy is, and you know to be afraid of him. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pit/Hellgate; Brand: Richard Alden; Review: You can read about Stuart's problems with his script being changed by the producers here on the good ole Internet, but overall I didn't find the movie to be THAT bad. I enjoyed it on a goofy, not terribly critical level. The performances are fairly good, and the creature effects, while amateurish, are sort of comical, and I feel this helps this little movie. I mean, c'mon, we can't take it THAT seriously, and on that level, it works! It's not everyone's type of story, but "The Pit" is blackly humorous and unusual, and that goes a long way for me, as it never really stoops to slasher movie or monster movie clichs. It is, albeit, rather hastily resolved, with a twist ending that is superfluous--I mean, really, what are the odds that the little girl has...oh never mind. "Hellgate" has been termed unwatchable by some reviewers here, but I don't know that that's entirely true. Oh sure, it's silly, but it's not worse than "The Outing", another 80's offering that could have used some script supervision! Overall, this DVD set is nice, collectible, with an insert, trailers, and quality prints of these two films with good sound on both. It's the perfect night at the drive-in without leaving your home TV. So, don't be too hard on these, they weren't meant to be for everyone anyway. Geez...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Left Foot; Brand: Daniel Day-Lewis; Review: This is a touching true story based upon the book of the same title, and I think every family would enjoy it (it carries an 'R' rating because there are a few 'f' words scattered about, but nothing too extreme...and sometimes it's difficult to understand the profanities anyway). Today, it might even be PG-13. Overall, the impact of Christy Brown's story is powerful and inspirational, and the film was obviously a labor of love for all involved. But my one caveat concerns the performance of Day-Lewis. I realize that the man put his heart into this (and won an Oscar for his trouble), and I am a fan, but his performance as Christy is too broadly stroked, it comes off more as a distorted parody of Christie rather than a genuine representation. To me, Day-Lewis did not pitch this performance accurately, and he is obviously over-playing it, trying too hard. In this case, I actually think a less-talented actor would have been better for the role. Which is a shame, because "My Left Foot" is a very good (and now collectible) movie, but it's hampered by this performance. I like good human stories like this, and it's a shame we don't have more gems like this one in the old movie cabinet. As for the Miramax DVD, the extras are good, with a couple of brief documentaries included, and a few reviews from noteworthy critics, such as Pauline Kael who went ape over the film (these are presented as literary--not video--extras, which you can navigate through with your remote). The picture and sound are terrific, and the film is a must-see due to its story. Fortunately, Day-Lewis would come into his own in later years with performances in "There Will be Blood" and "The Age of Innocence", but here he has yet to find that perfect pitch. And the cover on the DVD is not the Daniel you will see in this movie!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Q - The Winged Serpent VHS; Brand: ; Review: Larry Cohen is an enigma...he's more businessman than artist, but today that's commonplace as opposed to shocking. I find his early sf/horror films to be near-miss classics though, despite the fact that they really are scratching and clawing their way towards quality. "Q" is one of those movies that I always wanted to love, but this crap is just too violent for my taste. I suppose if seeing a man cut open from the chest on down spells "good times" to you, then you might like this, but I actually thought that the violence spoils the story in this case. Why have all this blood when we have a winged beast to watch? I was also disappointed in this crap because it wasn't scary or intense enough. Yeah, it was violent--but not scary, even in the apartment-invasion scene toward the end where the cult member holds up Moriarty at knife-point. This was simply not working. That being said, it does have good economical sense, a good cast, and a fun set-up. But why the story wasn't better worked out and developed is a mystery. This could have been good. The actual lizard in the movie looks like a lizard face, not the demonic beast on the cover! The DVD is good, with a commentary by Bill Lustpig and L. Cohen, but it is more of a case of Lustpig complimenting Cohen for his economic practicality than for his storytelling abilities (I agree with him for the most part, but this gets silly after a while, and since he made "Maniac" I think you understand what I mean). I still can't forgive Cohen though for discovering Bruce Willis, like that's going to be something to put on his tombstone.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pack VHS; Brand: Joe Don Baker; Review: "The Pack" is an unusual case. I did like the set-up at first, but the movie is too involved in animal cruelty and exploitation for my taste. I think the movie "White Dog" goes much further in exploring issues of animal ethics than this dreck does. These poor dogs are starving because of human idiocy, so I didn't think the ending was just with them getting burned to death in the boat house. The final image is touching, but I found the simple-minded pull towards a "Jaws"-feel to be silly. This was a potentially powerful story spoiled by much overdoing of the hostile situations. Joe Don Baker is a reliable actor, a Charles Bronson-type of sorts, who is very good in smaller supporting roles even ("Cape Fear," no?). I am an animal lover, so some of this was tough to watch, even though I wanted to like the message of the story. The Warner Archive presentation is clean, with good picture and quality sound, but overall, the picture just isn't essential. I was happy to see all of these rare titles coming out again, but until we see "The Boy who Cried Werewolf" on special edition archive DVD, I won't be going through the roof over these reissues. But I suppose I should be thankful that it's now available.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beast Must Die VHS; Brand: Calvin Lockhart; Review: The DVD is good, with a very good booklet, a film script based upon a good literary source (a Jim Blish story for Pete's sake!), a good casting choice in Pete Cushing (he is underused to a fault, damn it all), and a memorable trailer to sell this heap. Unfortunately, the story moves more slowly than molasses through a worm's belly. I have never seen such a pitiful script in my life. I didn't want an action story, I wanted suspense, scares, I don't know...logic! None of which, however, is to be found here. I appreciated the Blaxploitation angle, but to me it really doesn't work here. Is this a Gothic film or a Shaft picture? What gives? I am all for cross-pollination in genre building, but this is one attempted intercourse that just doesn't reproduce results. So, in short, a great DVD, but a terrible, non-essential movie. However, the trailer IS a good item...it sold the movie to me. But once you've watched the trailer, you can take the DVD out of the machine!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Trilogy of Terror VHS; Brand: Karen Black; Review: Okay, the Zuni doll episode is a bit silly (to me at least), but I like all of these stories! They are really like watching episodes of "Night Gallery" or some of the old anthology thriller TV shows from the silver age. I think these offerings are among the better selections from Richard Matheson's short story library. And what a showcase for the amazing Karen Black! This is a fun show to watch, it's nostalgic and thrilling. The special edition DVD is wondrous. The DVD includes an audio commentary with the thoughts of William F. Nolan, plus Ms. Black is also along for the reminiscence. There is also a short video interview with Richard Matheson in which he basically explains that no thriller film has ever reached the heights of the satirical "Rosemary's Baby" again (and I agree with him there, but that was mostly a case of ingenious marketing strategies). The picture is great, and the sound quality is good for a program from the mid-70s. Overall, this is a classic and a keeper.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mountain of the Cannibal God; Brand: Ursula Andress; Review: Ursula Andress (or 'undress'?) is okay in this shock movie starring Stacy Keach. It is hard to defend a film such as this--there is actually a scene of bestiality that I pray was simulated--but overall, it's not anymore gross or hard to take than the mainstream Hollywood idiot-themed mess. I suppose there's something to say for the filmmakers's chutzpah--but for God's sake, do we need that awful, wretched, wigged out music to accompany our depravity watching? The extra on the disc includes an interview with the director in which he explains movies such as this as being "counter-educational"--now what that means in a movie where native weirdos are flaying open an alligator only to make a quick repast out of him is repulsive enough to educate one against skinning and eating alligators from there after, so I suppose that's educational enough. I should hate this movie because of its savagery, its endangerment of animals, and its overlong running time...but it's so weird, and the X-rated cut is collectible, so it's hard to get too enraged. And also, I'm a fan of Stacy Keach, so while this isn't "The Ninth Configuration" it's at least a rare film in the Keach catalogue (he probably regrets being in it now, since he's recording audio versions of the Bible!).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chosen Survivors / The Earth Dies Screaming; Brand: Willard Parker; Review: I love B-movies (it wasn't "Gone with the Wind" that got me into cinema, but rather titles such as these) but these two titles are really regrettable. "Chosen Survivors" is a potentially good story premise but it is spoiled by a really bad script, ham acting, and too many lulls. I was actually upset that this one didn't go anywhere. "Earth Dies Screaming" is not as unpleasant as it sounds, but I found it too empty to be really enjoyable--and brevity is not always a good quality; I felt a bit cheated. The DVD picture and sound are okay, but the packages offer only a couple of trailers, no extras or commentaries of any merit; "Chosen Survivors" isn't the deepest film, but I can imagine what a social context/historical POV audio commentary would have added to the quality of this offering on DVD. Again I don't like to badmouth the 'B''s, but it's really unfortunate that these two films didn't offer more in the way of quality. Not essential in any way for a collection of more unusual sf/horror titles.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Prometheus; Brand: Noomi Rapace; Review: "Prometheus" is a fun movie because we have experienced a large drought in terms of acceptable sf movies as of late. (I am laughing repeatedly that the attempt at "At the Mountains of Madness" adaptation has dived repeatedly, and that the "Alien" franchise has languished in a development hell that would make Satan's secretaries sit up on their hooves and take notice.) I like it on its own terms, but I don't think it's a coherent venture. I really feel like the kitchen sink could have been tossed in in order to completely distort this picture! It is noteworthy, though, because it's a film that advocates abortion (check out that surgery scene guys!), and questions the productive aspects of sexual intercourse (this would be funny, if there weren't always something alien or insect lurking beneath the eyes of the fornicator on the morning after). "Prometheus" suffers from the gladiatorial combat syndrome; it wants to be big, it wants to be bad, but it flexes its muscles for the wrong audience, while pouncing around as an unofficial prequel (of sorts) to "Alien". Well, I don't know about that. I don't see much of "Alien" in this. However, it irks me more that Scott didn't try to make an actual prequel to that movie! This looks like hodgepodge. But, since we are never going to see Strazincysky's film remake of "Forbidden Planet" (a dubious undertaking I would say, since the backstory of that movie leaves a lot to be desired), "Prometheus" will have to do for those of us who are starved for big-budget science fiction-themed epics. Oh, I've got it, why don't they remake "The Thing?" Oh wait...they did, and it sucked. At least we can't speak of "Prometheus" like we can that unfortunate travesty. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scream Factory: All Night Horror Marathon - Volume 2; Brand: Jeffrey Combs; Review: Maybe one star is unfair, because I like the packaging and the deal (for 5 bucks, c'mon), but these films are really bad in a very bad way! "Cellar Dweller" is the most ignorant movie I've seen in ages, and I usually like the crap when it's layered over the quality. But really, this is a silly story! Not that "The Dungeonmaster" is much better, because it's very dark and disturbing and very late 80's. It does have the nudity that so many guys are commenting about here, but to me that didn't make it worth the purchase alone, geez! "Contamination .7" is the most interesting film conceptually, but it too is pretty much inept. Lastly, there is "The Catacombs," a weird film that features some bizarre imagery set in the underground world of a monastery. It's not any more ridiculous than any other title here, but it's filled with cheap shocks and no heart--and I can't forgive it! Overall, I love the Scream/SHOUT DVDs, and I missed these weird titles back when the VHS tapes first emerged from the gates of Hell. But man, if you are looking for tolerable movies...go elsewhere. This is really pathetic. I am sorry if I offended the lovers of these films, but I have to tell it like it is.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Timeless Horror - Movies 4 You; Brand: n/a; Review: "The Face of Marble"--a fun voodoo-themed film, not essential for a study of the horror genre, but fun nonetheless! "I Bury the Living"--I like this one. The plot twist at the end is idiot, but I enjoyed the premise (it should have been more). "The 4 Skulls of Jonathan Drake"--Oh where oh where have these great pulp films gone? A fun scary movie (well, scary for its time) about a man plagued by a vengeful curse involving flying metaphysical skulls. Oh just watch it... "The Snake Woman"--Watch it while inebriated...S. J. Furie directed some good horror films (1981's chilling "The Entity" is an example of a classic one) but this is an amateurish effort with a rather weak story to support its shock ambitions. It is an interesting curio to watch, but I didn't find it essential. Nonetheless, it's a passable snake-themed thriller. This is a nice package and I am grateful to the MGM library, it's about time is all that I can say. These aren't the most essential buys, but I like the fact that they are rare, and I look forward to better releases in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Age of Innocence VHS; Brand: Daniel Day-Lewis; Review: "The Age of Innocence" is one of the most beautiful films ever produced, with cast, crew, and design being all of A-list caliber. From the editing to the music scoring, this is an enrapturing experience. How Martin Scorsese fell from doing competent literary adaptations such as this to the perilous trash of today (the DiCaprio travesties "Shutter Island" and "The Wolf of Wall Street") is a mystery that my mind does not care to comprehend. I guess everyone can get lost if he looks at the map too long. Do know, however, that this film is not for the short-attention span, peanut gallery-audience, so if your brain has been turned to swamp dust by these "high concept" action movies flooding the cinemas today, then you may not appreciate the powerful subtlety of this classic. This film features the best of Day-Lewis, and his interpretation of Newland Archer is one of the most powerful literary translations available on the movie market. The ending is a weeper, especially for Prufrocks out there, and Day-Lewis captures the internal torture of Archer splendidly. And how about Winona as May? I was impressed. And Michele Pfeifer--well, I just can't believe she didn't go on to do better things than she did on film. This was an auspicious performance indeed. A madman like Scorsese is so difficult to find in a relaxed and studied state, so this film is a must-see for that reason alone. If you love movies, then you are obligated to love "The Age of Innocence". The DVD, though, is disappointing. I expected more extras, what gives? A 4-part documentary (featuring interviews with Scorsese, Day-Lewis, Pfeifer, and Jay Cocks) is available on YouTube, but not here! And why no up to date interviews? I'm not demanding a kidney here. But the picture and sound presentation are breathtaking, so that almost makes up for the lack of goodies...almost. I miss the early 90s, but at least this film is a window back into that more prosperous and creative time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orca: The Killer Whale VHS; Brand: ; Review: "Orca" is an interesting movie about a killer whale who is fed up with that mean old river fool Mr. Harris killing his mate and going after other sea life. This movie is far more entertaining than "Jaws", and it is also more thoughtful--there is the suggestion that whales have primacy on a par with human consciousness, and it's not just a simple minded action movie like "Piranha." The DVD really could have used an audio commentary and some extras--I know it's hard work guys, but geez--but otherwise the picture and audio quality is very good, with a widescreen transfer that will look terrific on a widescreen television. And yes, Bo Derek gets her leg bitten off--big deal. I only wish this one would have been available earlier. Whereas Spielberg's film is so cynical that it cannot think about anything other than how to manipulate the emotions of the viewers, "Orca" asks the braver questions and takes its time. It may not be considered a classic, but it probably just needs more time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Other VHS; Brand: Uta Hagen; Review: "The Other" is rural horror at its finest. It isn't spoiled by too much blood or tomfoolery, its' simply a thriller. Others have written enough about the plot that I needn't rehash it, but if you are looking for an interesting look at childhood psychology, start with "The Other." The DVD is terrific in its sound and image presentation, but a shocking lack of extras take its down a star. No audio commentary from Mulligan? No interviews with the stars? No documentary from 20th century fox--even a shortie? Are you kidding? This movie is better remembered than that, especially since it features a small role for John Ritter. But other than these complaints, this is still a good movie, more mysterious and better paced than your average dung heap horror films that are now littering the DVD markets like cigarettes upon pavement.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vigilante; Brand: Robert Forster; Review: Robert Forster is a great B movie actor, and I really enjoy all of his performances ("Alligator" is another classic title). Even the sadly forgotten Joe Spinnell is on hand for this one, But Lustig's "Vigilante" is an exploitation movie so full of ugly language, bloodshed, nasty moments, and distasteful plot developments that it's practically impossible to enjoy it. I think there are a couple of good revenge sequences, and a prison fight (in the shower, of all things) that is memorable, but overall this is a disturbing film that tries to be serious but fails because its violence and attitude is so over the top and exploitational. It feels odd to have to complain about this movie because the Blue Underground disc is very good indeed, with a quality picture and sound to boot (and a fun audio commentary by Lustig and Forster that is worth a listen if you're bored), but this story is simply not redeemable. Unlike a classic such as "Rolling Thunder" or even "Death Wish", we have little reason to care about these characters, and even Forster's character seems to be without redeeming qualities by the end. So, not essential by any means, but if you're in an angry mood and want some dark, brutal action, add this one to your list. It certainly isn't a good time by any means.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Walking Tall Trilogy VHS; Brand: Bo Svenson; Review: If you have seen these films, then you know what you are in for. The original "Walking Tall" is one of the most violent films ever made, and even now it has the power to make you feel a bit sick. I still love it. The sequels aren't bad, but they are softer, probably because, whereas Joe Don Baker was a brute force of rising anger and hideous untapped violent potential, Bo Svenson is a teddy-bear football star-type. Not that the sequels are bad, they just shouldn't be confused as being like the original. Shout! Factory's DVD set is complete with many great extras, interviews, trailers, and collectible packaging. After years of being off the market, the original nightmare masterpiece of nonstop violence is back and more restored than ever. Get the popcorn, get ready to grit your teeth, and make a dent in your armchair. The original film is still a must-own, even today.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark VHS; Brand: Kim Darby; Review: Maybe I just have a fondness for this story, but I think this is one of the scariest movies ever committed for TV! I even like the Del Toro remake which some seem to have a diametrical opposition towards. Kim Darby (a girl with true grit) is cast as a woman besieged in her house by little minions, who proceed to terrorize her whenever her husband or friends are not around to hear her distress calls. This is sort of like one of the old "Night Gallery" programs, except it is a bit more frightening, with the dark music and dark photography, it's chilling! I guess some find the story silly, but I have always responded to this type of story better than ones that feature over the top violence. This is a clear cut case of psychology versus shocks and it works. The Warner Archive DVD is good, with a great picture presentation and sound, but the audio commentary is a fan track--fun, but not essential. I wanted a few interviews with the cast or something, since this film is such a cult favorite. Otherwise, this is a great find on DVD!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Dog; Brand: Kristy McNichol; Review: This is Sam Fuller's disclosed diatribe against public hatred delivered through a metaphorical story about a girl and her dog. There is much to be read into this film, and it's one of my favorites. Several scenes make me tear up. Yes, animal cruelty is grotesque in any case, and this is a case of it being psychological which is, to some, even more disturbing. But if you love cinema, and the movies of S. T. Fuller, then you have to own this Criterion disc. The film offers plenty for discussion and critical analysis. I guess you need to be an animal lover to really get into this one or to understand it fully, but I think it's one of the best ethical discussions for a case for animals ever committed to celluloid, and to me that means something. The Criterion disc has some great extras, a 55 minute making of piece which is a must see, featuring writer Curtis Hanson. The other great piece is the booklet, which has two fine critical pieces included in it. This is a melancholy, fascinating film, not for every taste perhaps, but it's in my list of the top ten films of all time. The picture and sound on the disc is terrific, and I think Fuller fans will be pleased that this rare--and horribly misinterpreted--film has finally made it onto a high quality DVD. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Endangered Species; Brand: Robert Urich; Review: "Endangered Species" is one of the best Warner Archive DVDs, and I think it demands repeated viewings. How sad that good thrillers such as this one are getting so hard to find, like virgins in the soiled seas. I love Robert Urich's performance, and Jo Beth Williams (fresh off the brilliant "Poltergeist") turns in a competent performance too--why didn't she continue on in the horror/sf/mystery film vein that she occupied during the early 80s? The script is taut, like a sailor's rope, the suspense is fine, and the pacing is deliberate. A keeper for sure, but I have little else to add about the DVD, other than the presentation is of good quality from what appears to have been a VHS tape transfer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ninth Configuration VHS; Brand: Stacy Keach; Review: This is the kind of movie that will alter the way you decide to choose your movies, whether or not you are for it or against it. To me, this is the best film ever made, harrowing, humorous, underappreciated, and absolutely unforgettable (ironic, for a film that is always watched more than once--that right there should tell you something about the level of quality at work here). I find it fascinating how many reviewers are comparing this movie to today's market offerings; they seem to point out the acting, the pacing, and the story. And they are right because "The Ninth Configuration" represents a by-gone era of great filmmaking and great acting that will never be repeated in this way ever again. I can't say anything more about it. The DVD edition does have an annoying hissing/mist sound traversing through the first half of the movie; the sound is not remastered at all, and the picture seems to be a sub-standard transfer. In my dreams, I am seeing a newly released BluRay with a new audio commentary by Blatty and Keach, a three-hour 'making of' feature with never before seen footage; a complete 4 minute cut of the fight sequence in the bar, and a new interview with Scott Wilson about the film, and an archived one from Jason Miller. Plus, additional radio spots and TV trailers. Oh, if only...What is most annoying is that my old VHS copy seems to have better sound and picture than this current release, and I am very upset with that aspect of the DVD. However, the Mark Kermode/Blatty commentary track offered here is very good indeed and very much worth hearing; the deleted scenes are welcome but could have used Blatty's video introduction to each; the very short 'making of'/introductory piece is good, but not nearly extensive at all. Hopefully one day Blatty will issue a definitive BluRay cut of his masterful film. I am a fan of "The Exorcist" too, but "The Ninth Configuration" stands head and shoulders above the rest of rare and unusual movies that are out there. I'm acting on orders so to inform you...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Tango in Paris; Brand: Marlon Brando; Review: I read some material that claimed that the stars of this film were apparently hurt and damaged by some of the things that Bertolucci made them do (one incident involves a creative use of a butter stick) but I think that must have been a lot of hoopla to promote the film as an erotic after-dinner movie. Erotic, however, is not a great word to use for this movie. Probably best known now as being the film in which Brando had to utter some of his more distasteful dialogue, the movie is, in final analysis, a rather memorable love story. While you might be able to boil its plot down to dead rats and casual sex, there is a lot more going on underneath the surface of the adult themes in this movie, with two of the most emotionally aloof characters you will ever meet in the movies. While I think that Pauline Kael might have been a little too embracing in her initial review, "The Last Tango in Paris" is something unique in movie history, distressing, weird, profane, bitter, and heartbreaking. The DVD itself features a passible print of the film, but it has not been restored or cleaned up one bit (but, actually, the gritty look of the image seems to match the gritty interior lives of these characters). I really wish an audio commentary would have been included (either by a film historian, or by Bertolucci himself--I have no idea as to why one was not included), but that would have been suffice. A 'making of' documentary on this film might have spoiled the intensity of the movie. Otherwise, the sound is good, and the DVD insert is collectible, if not terribly special. While not nearly as scandalous now as it was at the time of its initial release, the film's obscene language, grueling foreplay, bare front nudity, and obsequious emotion seems to place it somewhere near the front rank of tremendous drama scripts about the tremors of interior (and sexual) love. There really is no other film quite like it--you may not like it, but it is quite an experience.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Entity VHS; Brand: Barbara Hershey; Review: Barbara Hershey is never less than watchable in this intense, creepy film about one woman's struggle to overcome what might be interpreted as a series of demonic attacks. This film is able to be read upon many levels--is it her psyche, her memories of past traumas, or is there a real specter after her? One of the most frightening of all films, and definitely the best work of director Sidney J. Furie, who had only dabbled with horror themes in the past in less convicted fashion ("The Snake Woman" is a curio, but not much else). "The Entity", while anything but a satire, thoroughly understands how effective that thriller stories are when they include very sad themes about the human condition, and this film has one of the saddest endings I can recall from a film (she is able to face her demon, but he's still with her, never wanting to stop terrorizing her as long as she lives). This is moving, very intense drama. The DVD is very good indeed, with very good sound (and a creepy music score), and a quality picture presentation. The extra feature is nice, but Furie seemed a bit hesitant to do interviews about this film. Definitely a keeper. Just see it. It may not be for every taste, but it's fascinating, sad, and essential.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Death Wish Triple Pack (Death Wish 2 / Death Wish 3 / Death Wish 4); Brand: Michael Winner; Review: This 3 Pack action set is very good indeed, with picture and sound being presentable, and I had no trouble with any audio synchronization on my particular copy. No trailers, no audio commentaries, no previews, no interviews, no nuttin'. Just the movies themselves, and that is pretty much what is to be expected. The old Blockbuster video guides panned these pictures, and I no longer allow their opinions to drive my taste in film collecting/viewing. However, in terms of this series, their reviews are mostly dead on. Bronson really doesn't react much in these movies, he merely responds. Like Clint Eastwood, he is not much of an actor, but he is a tremendous presence, and that presence is nearly lost here. These films really do feel like fly-by-night screenplays. My problem here is that the original film was NOT an action movie, but in the sequels, they've drained these characters of all feeling and mystery and replaced them with ultra-violent contexts. I have no idea if a study of film history will find any use for these pictures; "Death Wish 3" is really repugnant, and "Death Wish 4" is a going-through-the-motions affair, not passionate, not logical in the slightest. While I can understand someone having Bronson's reaction to having a loved one assaulted and/or killed, it's a good thing not everyone grieves in the way that he does or we would have several wars going on in the streets! Of course, these films are really fantasies more than realistic commentaries upon social problems, but even in this context of revenge-fantasy storytelling the movies are not really successful. Bronson meanders through each performance instead of using his facial features to grand effect like he did in the original. While other reviewers are right that "Death Wish 2" is the best film of the lot, by the end we are left asking, what's the point? If you watch and own the original "Death Wish" film, you pretty much have all you need of this show. I keep wondering about how Brian Garfield feels about these sequels, because his original story (for the original film) was so altered for the film version that he is probably embarrassed that these works are so tightly connected with his cinematic legacy. While charlatans were busy working on the fourth film, Garfield was busy working on a great under-appreciated film like "The Stepfather", a very scary movie that is better than any of this dreck here. So, while I don't like to under-value the B-movie/exploitation aesthetic, and while I don't like the Blockbuster or Maltin guides much any more, these two films are known for their intentional flouts of quality, which has, unfortunately, had such a strong influence upon the meat-headed marketplace of today. What happens to Bronson's family is very sad, and he should be more devastated than he seems here, and the sequels seem to have forgotten that his family has been killed, along with every other love of his life. By the time of "Death Wish IV: the Crackdown" it's like we are watching a different; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Embryo; Brand: Rock Hudson; Review: Not the best movie you'll ever see, but a very good premise, and strong performances. The DVD picture is pretty crappy, but it's not the worst I've ever seen (if that makes you feel any better). This title is available on about a hundred other bargain bin DVD sets (anything with "sci-fi" label on it and chances are "Embryo" is stuffed away on there somewhere) but I wanted the single DVD edition because I'm a chump. Barbara Carrera is a doll, and she's on full display here at a couple of points, but this really isn't an offensive movie. The ending, while typically tragic, is also very 70's: unpredictable, unusual, and effective. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Psycho Legacy; Brand: Anthony Perkins; Review: Anthony Perkins was very entertaining, and this retrospective DVD set gives you a chance to listen to him reminisce about his 'psychotic' days in detail. This won't please everyone out there, but it was a good DVD set. Worth owning indeed. I have been a fan of "Psycho" for many years, and the sequels to the film aren't all that bad, certainly not heinous in the way that most sequels to major films are (the "Death Wish" sequels are especially nefarious). Thanks Shout! Factory! A; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Jetee / Sans Soleil [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]; Brand: Chris Marker; Review: Then you must enjoy yourself while watching Chris Marker's work. This Criterion DVD set is fantastic--the booklet, a fun, interesting combination of Marker's own thoughts, critical pieces, and cultural context writings, all aid the viewer in understanding the rich, literary, and deeply photographic background of Marker's visionary work. What a shame that such a powerful filmmaker has been placed into such obscure positions for us historians. I mean, Marker might not have considered himself a visionary of great significance, but this new Criterion DVD sets the record straight. (Not that it's important, but Marker considered the vision of Terry Gilliam and complimented him for making a redo of "The Jetty"--I, personally, could not make it through half of the movie "12 Monkeys", as my brain was becoming fried from the lack of interesting scenes, characters, or situations on display, but then I'm not a Bruce Willis fan either). "The Jetty" is one of the best short futuristic films ever, and this is not hyperbole. I found the film to be genuinely enriching. I also enjoyed the story. Marker proves here that he understood what film is supposed to do, as a medium, and this record of his thinking at that time is more than welcome for those of us who truly love cinema history. He is not caught up in ignorant star-making films; his works genuinely have perspective, and a point. "Sunless" is one of the most beautiful cinematic adventures in all of world cinema, and it is presented here on a pristine print that genuinely shows the color, technique, and pacing that Marker wanted to preserve. This narrative journey through the imaginary letters of a documentary cameraman is a prime example of what cinema should do in its understanding of human empathy, cinematography, and technical detail. If you didn't get it the first time, watch it again...I promise it will be one of the most rewarding movie experiences that you will have. There is never a dull moment in this sensitively written, beautifully photographed experience. Outside of seeing great documentaries on butterflies or other animals (such as the sometimes painful but always great "The Last Lions"), Marker's "Sunless" is one the more moving cinematic journeys of my recent viewing memory. My only complaint about the set is that it did not include a copy of Marker's short documentary film entitled "Statues also Die"--it's about as important a film as one can find on the transition of tribal 'primitive culture' art into newer colonial "understandings" that one can find, and it's essential for understanding how Marker viewed the history of art as well. But, other than that quibble, Criterion has done right to the legacy of the always elusive Chris Marker; several great (if brief) documentary pieces are here, and you just have to watch them all if you are interested. There's a lot of goodies on this disc. Overall, one of the best purchases you can make if you are interested in the idea of Cinema. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night Gallery; Brand: ; Review: "Night Gallery" Season 2 has been given a supreme treatment on DVD. Some of the episodes require your patience, but this is not a bad thing, even in the crazy, everything's-a-brief-commercial world of entertainment that we have nowadays. This great series represents the best era of real television programming, and this season 2 set is probably the best of the "Gallery" on display. I will offer some brief thoughts of my own. First, I think this is a far better show than the preachy, over-written "Twilight Zone" series, as each one of those pounded home the moral with a sledge hammer and always featured a hokey twist-ending and childish characters. Not so in "Night Gallery." With Laird at the controls, the series became more like a mini-film festival every week, featuring the very best of fantastic storytelling and teleplay writing. The marriage between Serling and Laird is not the "embarrassment" that some critics think it is. "Night Gallery" was a more mature show, slowly paced at times, always scary, always on target--it may feel a bit dated at spots, but mostly it's a timeless foray into the bizarre. "The Boy who Predicted Earthquakes" is chilling. No one would film and release an episode like that for TV today. "The Class of '99" is Serling's best script for the show, and it is punctuated by Vincent Price's thoroughly restrained performance. "Since Aunt Ada Came to Stay" is probably the scariest witch story ever done for television; the cast and the direction are on target. "Silent Snow, Secret Snow" and "Brenda" are forerunners of great problem-child movies (such as "The Exorcist", for example) from the 70s, in which parents begin to lose their grip upon their children, and a "lost" generation emerges from the conservative womb of older times and enters a new land of sluggishness, hippiedom, alternate religious beliefs, paranoia, disillusionment, detachment, and deformity. These two episodes are probably the most sensitively written of the lot; I think that "Night Gallery" was the first television show to take seriously the idea of child autism (here, it seems, specifically dealing with variations on Asperger's syndrome), and what it feels like to be an outsider in a world that always wants to be "in." These are two of my favorites. "The Devil is Not Mocked" represents a great adaptation of the Manly Wade Wellman short story of the same title (what a boon it would have been to be a story editor for this show, obdurate decisions being inevitable on occasion, yet I think Laird helped pick some of the best 'weird' literature authors to adapt). "House with Ghost" is a pretty good adaptation of August Derleth, featuring a rare horror-themed performance by the irrepressible Bob Crane. "Pickman's Model" is a great adaptation of Lovecraft, sensitively acted, well-constructed too. "Cool Air" is also good. "There Aren't Any More MacBanes" is a terrific thriller, that one will keep you on the edge, with some pretty good special effects at the end (for their time). "A Feast of Blood" is a fun one starring Sandra Locke, if; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Thin Red Line VHS; Brand: Jim Caviezel; Review: Terrence Malick is a director who always wants us to see something unique, and with "The Thin Red Line" he has finally become the kind of visionary that all great movie lovers have been anticipating. I won't rehash what others have said, but I have to say that, as a director, Malick commands color, image, photographic style, and cinematic flow with apparent ease. Some may argue that the performances are too subdued and the cast too "loaded" (in a film with so many familiar faces, who is really the "star"?), but I think that this pretentious lineup only serves to offset the beauty of Malick's nature film (there are as many shots of animals in the film as there are of people, and this, to me anyway, indicates that Malick is working on a different level than other so-called philosophical moviemakers), which also can only go to prove that Malick understands beauty and power on a photographic level. I won't compare this movie to "Saving Private Ryan" because there is NO comparison; Spielberg's was a sensationalist, video-game inspired bloodbath (fun on one level, due to its great sound effects, but poor on many other levels, such as having a point), while Malick's is a sensitive, slowly paced, far more watchable picture. Like all great art, it will not please every taste, but to those of us who appreciate its design, it means something more than most war films ever will (probably because the art of war is not the principle concern of Malick in this script). Zimmer's sweeping music score is also more melancholic and memorable than the one chosen for "Saving Private Ryan"--in its tones, you can hear the truth about the human condition trying to get out. The Criterion disc is loaded with great options to choose from (if you aren't one who has a great deal of time), but the interviews with the principle players are great fun to watch (especially Penn's comments). The audio commentary is also very good, worth a listen any time. The booklet features a great piece by author Jones on the inadequacies of Hollywood war movies, and a critical piece that is worth investigating (by critic David Sterritt). However, my booklet smelled like it had been dropped into a crater of trench foot socks and then drug through the sands of Iwo Jima after having been sitting in the men's room at Slappy's for eight days in the broiling sun. It even stank up the DVD case! Other than that odious oversight, however, this is a keeper of a DVD set. Thank you Criterion for giving Malick the due that he deserves. I can't wait to get to "Days of Heaven." A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hellstrom Chronicle; Brand: Lawrence Pressman; Review: "The Hellstrom Chronicle" is an insect film that has deserved a DVD release for some time (not just for inspiring entomologists who lean towards the speculative literatures in their leisure hours) but the Olive Films release, while merciful, is not nearly as high of quality as it should have been. The transfer of the film is a bit grainy, a bit off color, and obviously not remastered. I am so disappointed that Green was not asked to contribute an audio commentary. I realize that sounds nerdy to some, but he is a great documentary director (known today for providing the story for Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch") and conceptualist. He could have at least been interviewed. Why Seltzer wasn't interviewed either is still a mystery. I can't believe that there are no archived interviews about this title--it was unique in its day because it was a film (maybe the first?) that blended the genres of science fiction thriller and quasi-documentary film for a truly unique approach to crafting a film experience. The script really is fun, as it blends fact, fiction, and paranoia, as well as entomological commentary. I can't give the product (DVD) three stars--the rating that this issue deserves--because I so love the film itself--Green allows us to dip low into the insect world and, truthfully, there is never a lack of interesting images to see in this picture. Even the somewhat interjecting comments by Nils Hellstrom do not distract from the fascinating insect footage. We've seen so many improvements in close photography and computer-printed movies that it seems as if this title will only be treated as 'archaic' by film historians when they head back to it in future. But, for me, it's a timeless divergence into the little seen world of insect production and (as Seth Brundle would say) politics. Not the best DVD that we could have gotten, but at least the wait is finally over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Venom; Brand: Sterling Hayden; Review: "Venom" is the 1981 movie based upon the novel by Alan Scholefield (or, as he's known in America, 'who?'), and is not a bad adaptation of said work. I like the performances (Oliver Reed is typically phoning in his lines, but Hayden and Kinski try their best; George isn't in this long enough to really get a solid performance up), the approach to the material (it's slow build, if not always logical, it's at least suspenseful), and the snake footage itself, though not omnipresent, is an effective feature that makes the movie worth seeing. One might think the premise is too difficult to pull off but that is simply not the case. This movie won't slither its way to everyone's heart, but it's better than I initially thought it would be. Nothing too sensational for the eyes this time so it's actually a film that could be viewed by anyone adventurous enough to try it (there's no nudity, very little bad language, and very restrained violence). I don't think I can call it essential--the once great Nicol Williamson feels a bit lost here but not unwatchable exactly--but it's a fun film to add to a collection of more obscure titles. The Blue Underground disc features a typically fine transfer of the film, but there are few extras; trailers and an audio commentary (good but not noteworthy) are the major special features. Overall, I enjoy it on many levels. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Poltergeist; Brand: JoBeth Williams; Review: If you've grown up with the film fantasies of Steven Spielberg (read: do you own a television and watch it often?), then you might still be capable of feeling that special pulse of terror that runs throughout the illogical, convoluted, crazy, slam-bang, and clearly operatic "Poltergeist". Yes, it's true, this is not so much story, but it is a lot of roller-coaster--if you are scared of the idea of ghosts, then "Poltergeist" is probably not for you! The performances are good, but aren't really meant to be as deep as all that. As to the other reviewers on here who are saying that this is not a 'horror' movie, I think it very much is a supernatural thriller (so it all depends upon what you include under the 'horror' umbrella), although it obviously isn't a stupid blood and death film either. SPOILER ALERT: I think the whole point of "Poltergeist" is that no one dies or gets hurt by the end yet the entire movie is ABOUT the threat of death. That, to me, is a pretty intense 'horror' idea. I initially thought "Poltergeist" was going to be a comic-book idea and only moderately frightening, but it really is scary; I had the worry that it might be too much like "E. T." but it is most definitely the dark shadow of that movie. It is an illogical story, and it has the Spielberg feel to it, but it's an amazing seizure-inducing light and effects show nonetheless. The picture on the DVD is fantastic, as well as the sound--you really have to watch it in the dark with the sound cranked, or otherwise there's no point. It is a pretty dark film, and that element still works I think. I have not witnessed any of the sequels to this, but the original was more frightening--and more surprising--than I expected going in to it. B; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: They Live; Brand: Roddy Piper; Review: John Carpenter's "They Live" is the most fun of his science fiction movies, featuring Roddy Piper in a movie role that actually fits him like a Malaysian toboggan. I actually felt that with "The Thing" Carpenter was losing his way, but that film actually shows that he understands how to do remakes successfully and add something unique to them along the way. "They Live", despite its obviousness and striving for a social message, is a restoration of respect for Carpenter, who pulls out all the stops here. Not nearly as insulting as its reputation would suggest for a "sci-fi" programmer, the script plays with ideas about subliminal messages and red herrings and shows that not all action-spectacle movies have to be completely idiot. There isn't much of a message to his "message", but Carpenter has fun with the actors, the set pieces, and the film's paranoid sense of humor. This is not an essential film, but it's another interesting curio of Carpenter's. The Shout! release is the typical extraordinary work that they usually display, and the interview with Carpenter is enjoyable (he produces a unique response after being asked if any efforts were made to trim the ridiculously over the top "fight sequence"). Overall, this is a light film with some interesting ideas going on in it, but there's enough entertainment value to keep one watching. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vanishing Point VHS; Brand: Barry Newman; Review: "Vanishing Point" is Sarafian's classic film about the dashed hopes of a young man in the late sixties/early seventies counter-culture whose life is taking unusual turns as he becomes a car-runner who decides (just for the hell of it) to get to his destination in record time despite being well ahead of the due date (driving his white 1970 Dodge Challenger, a cinematic symbol of phallic testosterone-driven dominance if there ever was one). That's the extent of the plot, sort of, but there are so many unusual counter-culture oddities in "Vanishing Point" that it should be made must-see viewing for students of drive-in era cinema. One suspects an allegory to Vietnam, a lament for lost love, and a longing for finding a niche to fit in to a world that absolutely has lost its ability to shape itself according to the past. This is the great thrill of "Vanishing Point"--it is a film that questions where humanity had come up to this point (1971), and where it may be heading in future. Although it has the flavor of a hippie-oriented second cousin to "Easy Rider," Newman's Kowalski is the staple figure of a post-conservative worldview that was struggling to see the future in a haze of free sex, rapidly increasing drugs, disillusioned youth, and angry Protestant-like parents and authorities. A viewer is caught up in Kowalski's angst about human loss and the destiny of his own life, and as his paucity of endurance arrives, it leads to a shocking, splattering conclusion which illustrates how the Vietnam, post-hippie generation was about to explode into a nitroglycerin meltdown of utter anxiety and death. But...this movie is still a good time. There is much to see in this film--from Gilda Texter's fully nude run on a mini-bike (and beyond) to the beautiful, powerfully photogenic landscapes of the American Southwest (with the Nevada locations looking especially lush here)--and historians should have fun trying to locate the cultural significance of this often-overlooked character study. While it may not be to every taste, and it certainly remains "dated" as a product of a by-gone era, "Vanishing Point" is a corner stone for understanding how to reassess the classic drive-in titles of yesterday. A-; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cosmopolitan Fat Burning Workout VHS; Brand: ; Review: SHOUT! releasing is causing me to give five star reviews to what might otherwise only be two or three star films in themselves. However, in the case of "The Burning", I actually enjoyed it. It is conceived with a bit more intelligence than the brain basher that remains "Friday the 13th", but really no one should be comparing these two titles. "The Burning" is a movie that can stand up on its own. Much has been written on the intensity of its violent scenes, but really they are nothing short of effective. "The Burning" shows strong signs that some elements of creativity went into it, plus the film was beautifully shot and remains an item of visual interest among movie lovers. It has the same outdoors, natural scenery that infested 1982's "Swamp Thing", and sometimes both of these feel similar in a way (at least to me). I miss the days of eighties horror, when comic book-style plots didn't have to come with the same level of self-consciousness that they do today (when it's just not accepted for one to make a silly story and be proud of it, much less try to sell it in a serious fashion--oh I miss those days). There's not much more to say about the acting, the writing, or the music, other than to reiterate that I enjoyed this one for the most part. The SHOUT! release is nothing short of splendiferous, and the TLC handling of this spectacular exploitation movie is superbly realized by the production team. It's about time that someone realized the value in these old titles and began to preserve and distribute them for us nerds. The picture and sound on the set is superb. It is almost as if SHOUT! is creating a new film package every time they set out to remaster an older title--simply amazing work. The interview with Savini is priceless good fun to listen to. The interview with Cropsy is also amusing. I really enjoy the audio commentary tracks--yes, there are two of them, both fun. No complaints from me on the widescreen picture and the sound presentation. I don't like all slasher movies out there, but this one is definitely a keeper, with many creepy moments, many great gore effects shots, and plenty of, believe it or not, suspense. My reviews on this site take into consideration the quality of the product being sold (the item that I am reviewing) AS WELL as the content that makes up the movie experience (what I call the "movieness") of the film itself, and I try to weigh both the scores evenly before doing the grading. So, once again, this is an easy A for Shout! Factory/Scream!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Slugs; Brand: Michael Garfield; Review: "Slugs" is based upon the Shaun Hutson novel, but it's not a terribly literate script version in itself. Nonetheless, the movie is meant to be merely an entertainment focused upon the plight of a certain randy group of characters who discover that they are sitting on top of an old toxic waste dump where some special, er, nasty creatures await. As preposterous as all this sounds, there are many involving moments due to the interlocking structure of these characters and their individual stories. I enjoyed much of the film, but I wouldn't by any means call it essential. However, if you've found yourself watching re-runs of "Matlock" in the evenings, then this film might be the tonic you need in order to start discovering other titles that are awaiting your viewing pleasure. The Image DVD release is good; there is a trailer, and many previews at the beginning, and a relatively good transfer. But, again, I have to nitpick a little, as an audio commentary would have been nice to hear in this case (I realize it's probably asking too much to want for a 'making of' featurette to go along with it). At least this is widescreen and overall a nice DVD. But if this doesn't look like your cup of tea, then don't bother. "Slugs" is rated R--there is a fairly graphic scene of intercourse (about thirty seconds), some very brief nudity, "God-damn" is said quite harshly about nine or ten times, some shocking gore scenes, and some fairly intense horrific moments--and, as bad as all of that sounds, it is a fairly tame movie otherwise. I wanted to like it even more than I did. C-; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Manitou; Brand: Tony Curtis; Review: This DVD is really nice. The picture is in widescreen and the sound is very good. The only thing missing here is an audio commentary. My idea of a good set of extras would have been: an interview with author Graham Masterton about the origins of writing "The Manitou"; an audio commentary with Girdler and Curtis; a 'making of' featurette from the time of the picture's release; and a gallery of lobby cards and alternate posters. But hey...I'm a dreamer. For what we have here, which basically boils down to a high quality print of the film, is pretty damn good. It's a great occult thriller from the late 70's, something that you won't see much of anymore. Let's get it straight--this is not the kind of film that most people are going to take seriously. In today's warped culture, we have an idea that entertainment must somehow match the personalities of a picture's stars, and serve to exploit them rather than the film's story. Not so back in the 70's, the absolute best decade ever for the movies (and, yes, there were many films that exploited the stars back then, but they had story and ideas to back up their flaunting). Now while there may be a few silly moments (even for this kind of story!), this is a mostly enjoyable presentation, with an interesting mystical tale that is absolutely outlandish, darkly funny, and creepy all in equal measure (although I thought it was far more humorous in places rather than scary). The ending is pretty outlandish, but it's hard to deny the fun that is at work in this movie. A-; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs VHS; Brand: Jodie Foster; Review: Jonathan Demme was in a unique position when he made this quasi-art film back in 1991. A director more accustomed to comedies and "normal" mainstream projects, he was probably not the first choice to guide the reins of this out-of-control monster movie (but, as it turned out, he was the best choice). Sometimes, placing a horror film director behind the scenes of a straight drama film can work wonders, and occasionally putting a musical director behind the chariot of a blockbuster thriller can provide small miracles. It's a matter of reconstituting the elements in a different frame. Sometimes, the layered skills of a director can provide the same decent palette strokes upon a previously non-traversed canvas as it can upon familiar stomping grounds, but often this will produce more effective results. Move the mind of a musical adapter into the playing field of a horror story and you may get something spectacular as a result. "The Silence of the Lambs," as a result, almost gets there. The most obvious thing to say is that Jodie Foster is both desirable and stirring in her role; she has never been better, or more attractive (at least not in my opinion). Anthony Hopkins, however, takes a previously literary character and moves his ghostly mind play into an empirical creation that would have worked better from the shadows than with definable features but, nonetheless, here we go again. Critic Gene Siskel attacked this one because of its gruesome subject matter, and, more importantly to relate, "The Silence of the Lambs" does not have much to offer on the visual side of things (other than the radiant Foster), as its bleak, distressing, and bloody canvas becomes a bit too much to take at times. The purpose of Demme's film was to transfer the big ugly monster that is serial killers on the loose in modern society into the mindset of a mainstream Hollywood thriller script, and lure audiences into the debate by using hyper-violent and sensationalized characterizations to overstress the point. What history will make of a film that tries to build the anxiety of modern living by introducing fear of the unknown person (those hidden individual killers amongst us) is quite difficult to assess at this point. In the age of increasing technology and social media, the job of the serial killer is now (thankfully) more difficult in modern society, but there's also something human that we are going to lose by giving up so much of our privacy and our renegade sensibilities. Rather than questioning this aspect of modern police work and FBI tampering with the lives of citizens, "The Silence of the Lambs" ends up being about the unreliable aspects of basic thriller filmmaking. It really doesn't have much to do with reality, and this aspect is very disturbing to me (as a critic). Serial killers had become the new vampires and werewolves back in 1991, and this film goes towards that sensibility with full-steam ahead. I also did not care for the Buffalo Bill character. Demme did a great job in building the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: O Lucky Man VHS; Brand: Malcolm McDowell; Review: Sad to report that the cinema styling of Lindsay Anderson is now almost gone from the world of film enthusiasm. He is forgotten, obviously, because he just wasn't sensational enough for American audiences. But "O Lucky Man!" is a kind of unique fantasy story, both masturbatory and culturally significant, because of its fine slow pacing, its quiet story, its rowdy scenes inside of an adult club (Anderson was never too afraid to show nudity and sexual content but, as always, there was a point to it all), and its fantastic music score from the hot and bothered Alan Price and his rocking band. "O Lucky Man!", in fact, reminds me of what I enjoy so much about movies, and why I still can't get over them to this day. If you are looking for action and adventure and silliness typical of American vehicles here, you won't find it. Anderson was always too much of a pessimist to move that far outside of reality, and God bless him for that! This film is so much more entertaining because it is laid back, because it does not rely upon violence for its effectiveness, and because it has a strong sense of humor and deliberate pacing that is both adult and ridiculous in its own way. In short, this is the kind of eccentric, oddball, and masterfully written movie that we probably won't see any longer, because this kind of relaxed, humorous sensibility is almost gone in the contemporary age. McDowell is fantastic here, and I think it is deeply sad that he has had to remain so underused in modern movies. Anyone who thinks he can't go deeper than the gleeful sadism of "A Clockwork Orange" (another movie that I love because of its "movieness" alone) should watch his performance here before judging the man--but most have, sadly, forgotten this title. Any film where a grown man can end up lying on his side while breast suckling a grown adult woman in the storehouse of some orchard is obviously worth your time. We won't be seeing another Lindsay Anderson. The DVD is great, although I was a bit put off that the movie is split right down the middle on 2 separate discs. However, the extras more than make up for this. There is a great audio commentary that is worth the price alone--one simply has to hear it, it explains itself. There is also the great feature "O Lucky Malcolm" which is essential for film completists. And, finally, a great featurette on the making of this film which is actually quite a rare find. It's about time that a great transfer of this fine title came to DVD, with a widescreen format and a great soundtrack. If you are tired of the violence and sickness of our modern movies, and you have a desire to return to the old days of great moviemaking (the 70's) where the anxieties of modern life were less and the proliferation of technology was not as great, then "O Lucky Man!" is the escape for you--providing that you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs; Brand: Jodie Foster; Review: Jonathan Demme was in a unique position when he made this quasi-art film back in 1991. A director more accustomed to comedies and "normal" mainstream projects, he was probably not the first choice to guide the reins of this out-of-control monster movie (but, as it turned out, he was the best choice). Sometimes, placing a horror film director behind the scenes of a straight drama film can work wonders, and occasionally putting a musical director behind the chariot of a blockbuster thriller can provide small miracles. It's a matter of reconstituting the elements in a different frame. Sometimes, the layered skills of a director can provide the same decent palette strokes upon a previously non-traversed canvas as it can upon familiar stomping grounds, but often this will produce more effective results. Move the mind of a musical adapter into the playing field of a horror story and you may get something spectacular as a result. "The Silence of the Lambs," as a result, almost gets there. The most obvious thing to say is that Jodie Foster is both desirable and stirring in her role; she has never been better, or more attractive (at least not in my opinion). Anthony Hopkins, however, takes a previously literary character and moves his ghostly mind play into an empirical creation that would have worked better from the shadows than with definable features but, nonetheless, here we go again. Critic Gene Siskel attacked this one because of its gruesome subject matter, and, more importantly to relate, "The Silence of the Lambs" does not have much to offer on the visual side of things (other than the radiant Foster), as its bleak, distressing, and bloody canvas becomes a bit too much to take at times. The purpose of Demme's film was to transfer the big ugly monster that is serial killers on the loose in modern society into the mindset of a mainstream Hollywood thriller script, and lure audiences into the debate by using hyper-violent and sensationalized characterizations to overstress the point. What history will make of a film that tries to build the anxiety of modern living by introducing fear of the unknown person (those hidden individual killers amongst us) is quite difficult to assess at this point. In the age of increasing technology and social media, the job of the serial killer is now (thankfully) more difficult in modern society, but there's also something human that we are going to lose by giving up so much of our privacy and our renegade sensibilities. Rather than questioning this aspect of modern police work and FBI tampering with the lives of citizens, "The Silence of the Lambs" ends up being about the unreliable aspects of basic thriller filmmaking. It really doesn't have much to do with reality, and this aspect is very disturbing to me (as a critic). Serial killers had become the new vampires and werewolves back in 1991, and this film goes towards that sensibility with full-steam ahead. I also did not care for the Buffalo Bill character. Demme did a great job in building the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsieur Verdoux; Brand: Irving Bacon; Review: Chaplin's films might have been the catalyst that got me so interested in film history, and, to me, "Monsieur Verdoux" (along with his other talkie "The Great Dictator") is a film that can be watched ad infinitum. Chaplin was brave enough to transition from the silent picture to the sound movie, and in doing so he undoubtedly began to understand the shift that was occurring in the cinema's translation of politics and ideas. (To me, this is the kind of picture that moves those of who us who want to discuss movies as film; lesser critics tend to discuss movies as movies.) Undoubtedly Chaplin began to understand, too, the new demands of the cinematic idiom, and, by all critical standards, "Monsieur Verdoux" could have succeeded just as well had it been a stage production. Although Chaplin flirts with innovations in voice over narration, camera angles to heighten mood and tension, and pacing that juxtaposes well with the musical flavorings, there is still the frustrating reminder that he has yet to fully understand how to exploit the language of sound movies. Nonetheless, I would never debate his genius, as few have had such experience in laboring in the medium of cinema, be it short films, features, or industrial efforts (Chaplin was a work-a-holic, and a terrific producer). I, however, list "Monsieur Verdoux" amongst my favorite films--it is leisurely paced, suspenseful, very well written, competently acted (by all, c'mon), and truly dangerous and dark in its subject matter. This is the most moving of Chaplin's films and, rather than spoil it for you with content and thematic analysis, I would recommend just watching the film. It's a tonic for much of what we have pouring into the movie theaters in the present day! If you are interested in the ethical questions posed by the Verdoux character, and want to understand Chaplin's personality change as both actor and director, then I must point you towards Neil Sinyard's tremendous book "Classic Movie Comedians", a great work that explains the depth behind the older comedies and how character actors like Chaplin took humorous material to a new level of performance. The Criterion disc is an immaculate and wonderful presentation. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, a wonderful cinema critic, has contributed an insightful essay about the film and it is included proper in the booklet. The picture and sound transfer is absolutely wonderful. This is the treatment that Chaplin's film deserves. The documentary footage included on the extra is also wonderful, analyzing the political effect that Chaplin's movie had upon the film watching community at large, particularly in America. They had doubts about the sentiments of Chaplin, and the paranoia begins to show--absolutely chilling. Overall, one of the most moving, engrossing, and memorable of Chaplin's experiments, preserved here in a great DVD (and/or) BluRay package. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EXORCIST:BEGINNING; Brand: ; Review: "Exorcist: the Beginning" is my least favorite film in the series, partially because it goes for the jugular of the scare factor in the audience (making it the most obvious, manipulative, and unsettling entry in the series). I still like arguing that the original film is not horror so much as it is drama (there is a thin line here, I realize). Harlin's film, however, is all out horror--and if you aren't scared to death by the idea of floating demons and abandoned crypts and hidden underground churches, then you might enjoy following poor Father Merrin into the depths of Hell itself. I love the character--and Skarsgaard does a great job with him (he's the most intelligent element of the production)--and the archaeological aspect of these stories have always made them enjoyable for me. The scene where Merrin finds himself standing in front of the Pazuzu statue in the pits of the buried sacrilegious church (while the bats fly madly about him) is a classic movie image--but no less illogical than most other horror fictions that have no deeper intentions than to shock. The voodoo elements (one frightening scene involving a child's invocation into terror) and the music are pretty good, but this one is probably too creepy (and too crappy) for its own damned good. This one is bloodier (and more violent), with more "subliminal" flashes of demonic faces and ghostly activity (yes, there's even Tarot cards here!), and a much more fevered pace than any self-respecting "Exorcist" fan should like, and because of these facts I just can't recommend it. There are a few moments, but mostly it is an overdone special effects fiasco that should have embarrassed both Paul Schrader and William Blatty in equal measure. I like these religious-themed occult movies, and sometimes it's right to make this content deeply troubling, but this is one effort that just doesn't have enough of a point to it. I like the buried church, and some of the spookiness, but do not confuse this tripe with the dramatic power held in the original (which, by this time, has been diluted by so much parody and over-exposure, that it's hard to get anyone to take its script as seriously as it should be taken). The DVD is fine, with a good widescreen transfer and a fine picture presentation, and a good audio commentary track (as a nerd, I tend to look for these extras and try to always find the time to consider them if I can--most commentary tracks are great fun to listen to). It's unfortunate, though, that the series finally had to degenerate into utter chaos and submit itself to crappy CGI effects and horror-studded clichs. If it didn't show signs of video-game mentalities, I might have bumped up its grade a little, but really this is just not possible. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: No Country For Old Men; Brand: Tommy Lee Jones; Review: Again, the Coen Brothers prove that they are very much style over substance folks, taking the mental miscarriage that was Cormac McCarthy's original screenplay and refashioning it into a screenplay of their own (they were really working from the popular novel version that was published, but I suspect that they had access to McCarthy's original script before he reworked it as the literary source that this film is based upon). The pacing of the film is interesting, but it's mostly a lot of disgusting violence and bloodshed (some of which is, I confess, entertaining) with some hit and miss performances thrown in. I had high hopes for the Coen Brothers when they began (I remember having fond memories of seeing the bizarre "Blood Simple" for the first time), but in this case they have hijacked the powerful McCarthy story and turned it into a narrative misnomer of a movie. As well photographed as the picture is (by Roger Deakins), there really is not that much to see here except for the violence--and the typical insulting characterizations that Joel and Ethan are known for. Overall, this DVD is fine, but the movie is a headlong plunge into meaninglessness. The film features a bad and way over-the-top performance by Javier Bardem (whose acting coach was a robot, no?), and an outstanding acting job by Brolin. At the very least, this is a more interesting and nihilistic movie than the idiotic "O Brother, Where art Thou?", but that still doesn't mean it's an essential. C-; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Django Unchained; Brand: Jamie Foxx; Review: Christoph Waltz is a very good actor indeed, and Tarantino has exploited his abilities very well here. In my opinion, he makes this movie. I think Tarantino has become much more interested in framing his compositions--Robert Richardson has really outdone himself with these beautifully lit outdoor shots--and I love the 35 mm filming. Tarantino deserves praise for rejecting this cultural pull towards the digital age, because his movies usually end up looking like real movies at least (unlike these other travesties that have been coming out as of late). However, his writing is still not quite writing yet--he is still frankensteining a great deal of plot and dialogue and rewiring things that he loves instead of trying to invent too much. Sometimes, though, this half-assed approach works and sometimes it's enjoyable, admittedly, but I can't quite give it a high recommendation as a result. Tarantino is a master of style, however, and this is his best-looking film thus far. While not as hopelessly violent as (the stronger film) "Inglorious Basterds", there are hyperkinetic moments when the film merges outlandishly into "splatter porn" sequences which are way too stylized for my taste in judgment. However, on a better note, Tarantino's dialogue (while not all that original) is pretty amusing, and his patience has stretched a lot since the days of "Reservoir Dogs" in terms of developing watchable scenes. But, overall, I'm still waiting on the mature Tarantino to emerge--and he may one day. The DVD is okay, with great picture and sound, and nothing extraordinary in terms of extras. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Don't Be Afraid of the Dark; Brand: Guy Pearce; Review: This film is one of the better efforts of Guillermo del Toro that I have witnessed to date. (I will confess that I am no fan of "Pan's Labyrinth"--a film that should have been more frightening, and less concerned with graphic violence, than it ultimately was.) The casting of Katie Holmes might be the only caveat for the critic, because overall I found the film to be frightening and enjoyable. Ostensibly based upon the 1973 TV feature of the same title (del Toro still refers to it as one of his personal favorites), "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" succeeds beautifully in the areas of art direction, pacing, suspenseful story construction, music scoring, and script writing--so what's to complain about? I don't give it five stars--because there were some special effects efforts that could have been less computeresque--but for the most part I'd rather watch this film than most other horror efforts as of late (with the exception of anything "Exorcist"-related). I especially enjoyed the literary linking to the fictions of Welshman Arthur Machen (a legendary 'weird' fiction writer if there ever was a pre-Lovecraftian one), and, to me, the film is ultimately more about fear than it is about horror--nonetheless, the effect is still quite horrific! By the way, this does not operate on real-world logic, but rather fairy tale logic, and the whole film was spooky, involving, with many creepy scenes, and a lot of interesting mythological background to suggest the terrors that await in the shadows. The single-disc DVD is quite good in the presentation, very nice picture transfer (in widescreen--get this version!), and a great sound separation on the stereo track. The bonus feature (which includes an interview with del Toro) is quite nice, although by no means in depth. Overall, this is a fun watch if you are interested in the idea that there is a hidden world among us, and that there are more things in Heaven and in Earth than we have yet learned about (like the "little earth people")...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Django Unchained (2012); Brand: ; Review: Christoph Waltz is a very good actor indeed, and Tarantino has exploited his abilities very well here. In my opinion, he makes this movie. I think Tarantino has become much more interested in framing his compositions--Robert Richardson has really outdone himself with these beautifully lit outdoor shots--and I love the 35 mm filming. Tarantino deserves praise for rejecting this cultural pull towards the digital age, because his movies usually end up looking like real movies at least (unlike these other travesties that have been coming out as of late). However, his writing is still not quite writing yet--he is still frankensteining a great deal of plot and dialogue and rewiring things that he loves instead of trying to invent too much. Sometimes, though, this half-assed approach works and sometimes it's enjoyable, admittedly, but I can't quite give it a high recommendation as a result. Tarantino is a master of style, however, and this is his best-looking film thus far. While not as hopelessly violent as (the stronger film) "Inglorious Basterds", there are hyperkinetic moments when the film merges outlandishly into "splatter porn" sequences which are way too stylized for my taste in judgment. However, on a better note, Tarantino's dialogue (while not all that original) is pretty amusing, and his patience has stretched a lot since the days of "Reservoir Dogs" in terms of developing watchable scenes. But, overall, I'm still waiting on the mature Tarantino to emerge--and he may one day. The DVD is okay, with great picture and sound, and nothing extraordinary in terms of extras. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof; Brand: Kurt Russell; Review: With "Inglourious Basterds", I thought that Tarantino did a fine job with allowing his narrative structure to unfold--the chapter headings were far less incongruous than they were in the overly praised "Pulp Fiction," and his nostalgia for cinema (and the older army movies and exploitation classics that he loves too) was on competent display in that film. Shocking it was, then, when I encountered "Death Proof", an adrenaline shot of a movie that hurtles at the speed of light to nowhere, all in a rapid pace, but alternating with many elaborate scenes of talk and chatter which I (contrary to others) find to be enjoyable as opposed to being "slow." However, "Death Proof" is, in my opinion, the most violent Tarantino film, and this is not a compliment. Its foul language, its punk filming style (I kind of like the grainy, pops-and-cracks homage to 70's drive-in theater exploitation film reels, but it's a gimmick and not a necessity here), and its distasteful sense of sexuality (one scene includes a smoking hot lap-dance that seems out of place) all contribute to the film's make it or break it leanings, and, for me personally, it doesn't quite work. If it weren't so persistent in trying to be offensive, I might have enjoyed it more, but the violent sequences (while not always frequent) are pretty hard to take. I did, however, enjoy seeing Kurt Russell in this movie, it felt like a comeback of sorts (although my favorite film of his is still 1998's "Breakdown"). It seems as if Tarantino wanted to make a girls vs. boys movie, and as such, I think it's too much of a joke that is not funny, hence my interest in the film is lessened due to this. I thought I might have enjoyed it more since other critics seem to think is Tarantino's poorest effort but, oddly enough, I think I agree in this instance. It's just too much of everything that adds up to so little in the end--which is a shame, because Tarantino is quite an interesting (if not inventive) writer and his love of cinema is genuine. Unfortunately, "Death Proof" is not my idea of a fun slasher/thriller flick, so I felt it did not work as well as it could have. Maybe in time I will like it more, but as of now I don't think of it as being worthwhile. The 2-disc DVD is fine, with several fun extras, but since this is a "throw away" project, there's nothing terribly important to be discussed in terms of the film's story or its characters. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Inglourious Basterds [Region Free] [UK Import]; Brand: ; Review: "Inlgourious Basterds", despite what some critics have written, is, I believe, the best of Tarantino's writing so far. The man stated in interviews that he felt it was his best writing thus far, and I agree with him--the passion for movies really shows up here. I don't like comparing his work to his previous or future efforts because they are all a little bit different in many places. But, really, the writing and imagination is on spot here, with elements of satire, horror, mystery, and violence all thrown together into one great exploitation hodgepodge that works every time. This one feels very much like a movie to me, and that makes all the difference! I keep thinking of a film like "To Be or Not to Be" by Mel Brooks (a remake, no less), and this film reminds me of what I liked about that film. Here, Tarantino has not abandoned his sense of humor, and the scenes are much more patiently written and equally intense. Maybe I like it a lot more because it is like a love letter to the movies--and historical accuracy (and all these complaints about misrepresentations of war crimes on racist oriented grounds) is not what counts here. I was skeptical at first about the casting of Brad Pitt and Eli Roth, but I enjoyed them both here, probably because they entered into it with a sense of humor as well. It might be absurd in its plot, but the complaints about the film including multi-lingual scenes with subtitles are unfounded because this is what great fun cinema is about. I enjoy the films set in World War 2, even though is a complete fantasy, but it's revenge story is pretty neat--Pitt is hilarious in this film, and even though the Americans (and Jewish-Americans) vs. the Nazis calls up the same old simple-minded views about good and evil in the human heart, one never gets the sense that "Inglourious Basterds" is supposed to be harmful--it's just well-paced, violent, and memorable good times, taking a pretty strong satirical view of revenge. The DVD is a bit light on the extras (no commentary track from a historian or even Tarantino, that would have been neat), but I may eventually spring for the 2-disc for this one, and I usually don't care too much about the extras on Tarantino's films. Overall, though, I had no problems with my disc, and the picture and sound were fantastic. I'm kind of sorry that I passed this one up when it was out at the theaters, but I feared another "Pulp Fiction" or "Reservoir Dogs"--this one is certainly more distinguished (and less brutally profane) than those other two. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Brand: George Clooney; Review: Idiotic film about a motley crew of escaped convicts (lead by the shyster supreme Clooney) who attempt to locate a cache of riches that the Clooney character has buried for himself. He is anxious to get off the chain gang so that he can retrieve his wealth, but long before the script can get to what it's about, it takes some absurdly inconsistent detours, one in a hick music recording studio, one in a KKK meeting (this part is actually disturbing), and one in a vintage movie theater...but if you're still interested in seeking the treasure by this time, then you don't understand what the Coen Brothers are doing here. And, in point of fact, I'm not sure that I want to. Religious beliefs, backwoods dialects, race, gender, and even talent are all parodied in a VERY insulting fashion here, all without the graphic and demonic violence that the Coen Brothers are usually all too happy to include in their efforts at telling narrative stories on screen--something they obviously have yet to perfect, in any case. Most of these performances are very silly, and I have no idea as to why this film became as popular as it did. Some of the music is okay, but not of the kind of best-selling, "oh my gosh you must hear it" variety. It is an unusually framed and colored movie, but you have to have a pretty strong mind to handle the assault upon basic intelligence that this film proffers. Another pile of hand-me-down hogwash from the Coen Brothers, who actually manage to offend fans of Preston Sturges along the route of their cinematic destruction course. If you are interested in gaining wisdom instead of jumping upon the bandwagon, read the write-up by the accredited university professor near the back of Ronald Bergan's published biography of Joel and Ethan (in which the professor derides these guys because he explains that "the message is that there is no message"--he can help you to understand why the Coen Brothers and their films are utterly pointless). It will tell you all that you need to know about these intellectually dishonest moviemakers, and will hopefully set viewers upon the proper path of rejecting movies such as this one. D-; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium; Brand: Queen; Review: Freddie Mercury is my pick for the number one vocalist of all time (in the realm of the rock/pop fields at least), and this DVD shows why his loose, beer-fueled, crowd-pumping performances were among the most watchable rock/pop spectacles ever given. The sound on this disc is fantastic, and the visual presentation is equally as good. If you are into rock and you have previously been prejudiced against this music group, it's time to let the sound fill your ears and clean out the poor and undernourished vocals of other lesser singers that you may have been feeding upon. This is an absolutely incredible performance. If you have been in search of a heavy but still pop-driven rock show, "Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium" might just be the ultimate musical orgasm that you have been waiting for.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: United 93; Brand: David Alan Basche; Review: Paul Greengrass's "United 93" is a harrowing, intense docufiction about what apparently happened inside the flight on that fateful day of 9/11 (sadly, a day that many Americans have already put behind them), and the director was brave enough to show the Americans as brave souls who were willing to fight back against the mentally ill cowards who took over the plane for a purpose that I find unspeakable--and eternally unforgivable, period. The film hurtles forward through the old clich of "real time", but in this movie it works--the editing, the sound design, the music, the acting, and the violence all work towards a brutalizing but dramatically powerful effect. The film does raise the issue of just exactly what purpose that movies should serve (the touching extra on the suffering of the American families who lost loved ones on that day is especially telling and is a must watch for everyone) today, but the story is so heartbreaking (and to me, upsetting) that it really deserves a hearing despite what my ideas about cinema's function may be. I don't know if it was ethically sound to release a film like this due to the tragedy that accompanied this unfortunate historic incident, but Greengrass isn't afraid to step on toes, and his courting of controversy shows an intrepid sensibility that I admire in filmmakers. But it will be up to you if you find it watchable or simply horrible. In any case, may the world never forget--and never forgive. The DVD is a great presentation alone, and it has terrific sound and image indeed. The picture is very clear, and I had no trouble with my copy. The widescreen presentation is perfect for catching the intense editing of this film, which helps to enhance its appeal for lovers of suspenseful film construction. I can't say that this film is a pleasant experience (Greengrass does show a talent for riling one to great heights of anger and outrage, and it's hard for me to describe the great filmmaking talent here as a result), but it is necessary viewing for all Americans, and a powerful tribute to the brave men and women who lost their lives on that day. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boston Strangler, The - Studio Classics [Import anglais]; Brand: ; Review: "The Boston Strangler" was savagely criticized in a review by Roger Ebert, who says (as can be read on the Wikipedia page) that "the movie should not have been made at all." What he means here is that he has a serious problem with taking a nonfiction source (the excellent book by Gerold Frank) and translating it into the film medium, a source of entertainment whose purpose is to give pleasure rather than facts. But in the case of Curtis's electrifying performance, I would argue that the film is both entertaining and disturbing, and director Fleischer keeps a quasi-documentary feel going throughout so that one does not become completely overwhelmed by the exuberance of knowing that this is a fictionalization of serious subject matter. Curtis may not have been robbed of his Oscar (please, Tony, those awards are fixed, so political as to be a parody of themselves), but he probably was robbed of a Golden Globe award, seeing as to how his fellow craftsmen (and craftswomen) should have recognized his skill in working in their profession. Edward Anhalt (who did once win Oscars for his great screen stories) was robbed of his Edgar Award for his screenplay adaptation, though, because he does a good job of keeping the mystery storytelling going by using the proper amounts of dialogue, humor, and shocking details to move along the case. A dark, fascinating story that provides an opportunity for future film historians to see a memorable, startling turn by Curtis, and a terrifically subdued one from Fonda. The DVD includes the AMC Backstory episode, which has footage of the real DeSalvo case, as well as words from Richard Zanuck and a clearly disappointed Tony Curtis (who seemed to want more out of his movie career than he ever successfully received). As far as picture and sound are concerned, this is a good enough transfer, perhaps one that could have been sharper, but overall pretty good and in widescreen. Is "The Boston Strangler" a good exploitation title? This is a question of taste, of course, but for me it has the feel of a nostalgic, memorable police procedural that does not quite deplete the seriousness of this true life case with its entertainment-driven structure. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gravity 2013 Region Free; Brand: George Clooney; Review: I have to say that this is my favorite George Clooney movie. This was the perfect amount of time for him to be on screen; I didn't get upset once. Sandra Bullock is intense here, and she looks lovely and in charge, as usual. However, this is a showcase for special effects and a spectacle set in space, nothing more. A better script would have helped to get viewers involved, but maybe the Oscars will sway people into losing common sense in terms of accurately criticizing this film. I happen to like films that are set in space (well, mostly ones that don't include aliens, but also don't mire us into outright boredom--as in the case of "Apollo 13"--talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk), and "Gravity", for all of its 'turn the camera on and see what happens' approach, is pretty interesting visually, but so thin in plot and understanding of humanity that I wonder why everyone made the fuss that they did about such a simple premise. Maybe I needed to see it in 3D, but I doubt that I would change my opinion even so! The DVD looks great and sounds great, and mine plays like a charm. I had no problem with the special features, or the overall presentation. Again, this is not science fiction storytelling, but as a drama, it works moderately well, with great special effects indeed but little else to recommend it despite the presence of Sandra. C average; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Captain Phillips Steelbook; Brand: ; Review: Paul Greengrass is raising questions about what film is capable of, and his own "docufictions" have been both disturbing and problematic in their approaches to such subject matter as is on display in "Captain Phillips." To me, this is an exploitation movie that is not quite exploitative enough to be successful. We are having a dry spell at the box office, so I am trying to be nice about the kind of adulation that is being heaped upon this title; however, as suspenseful as some of this is, one can't help thinking that we've seen all of this before. However, it has to be said that this movie is harrowing and, as per Greengrass's almost sadistic want, very unpleasant at times to watch. There may be an allegory here about the pirating of movies too (if so, the joke is not very funny), but there are certainly signs that the Cineplex is being controlled by pirates! In any case, Hanks is good as far as the movie goes, but his all too familiar presence seriously depletes the dramatic power of this otherwise tightly constructed script. The extra 'making of' feature is too informative for my taste and could have been edited a bit, but otherwise the disc is a good package overall. If this movie is to your taste...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: House; Brand: William Katt; Review: The "Midnight Madness" series of DVDs all feature great image transfers and correct aspect ratios (as others have pointed out on this page), but they are cheating consumers in terms of extra content. If you research the older DVD release of this title, you will find that it had the audio commentary, stills gallery, and other features, whereas the "Midnight Madness" series apparently had licensing issues with adding these extras (or transferring them over from earlier releases). Image has produced good DVDs, but this lack of extra content is inexcusable. All that this issue contains is a trailer (along with some bonus trailers tagged on at the beginning). Those of us who care about getting deeper inside of a film's creation appreciate these features, but they aren't to be found on this disc. As for the movie itself, "House" is of course a lot of fun--even when it strains credibility (the hot next-door neighbor capriciously dropping off her son for a crazed Vietnam War vet to babysit!), gets pretty bizarre (the bathroom window into the darkest aspects of the sub-conscious mind), the apparition of the protagonist's ex-wife becoming a hideous creature after at first appearing to be normal--but this is a great fantasy construct (conceived by the strangely forgotten Fred Dekker) and the movie works in many ways. It's half serious, and half horror, but even for all of this it never loses its central drama (and painful reality) of a family having been torn apart. The movie itself I would rate a strong B+. But I can't give the DVD any higher of a marking because I think the lack of extra content is simply lazy. "House" got tagged (unfairly?) with an R-rating; there are a few choice words here and there, and some frightening creature effects, but overall this is an entertaining, fairly mild effort from the better end of the 80's horror TV/film market (this isn't the deplorable kind of horror movie that we have nowadays, like the openly empty and antagonistically sadistic "Saw" travesties or that kind of "we see no potential in the future of the human race" kind of "horror")--I see a lot of great 80s/90s TV comedy stars here (if you watch "Cheers" or "Night Court", you'll see) and it's nice to find a funhouse horror effort that has heart, humanity, and humor at its center. I definitely recommend the movie. (I bought this after seeing the trailer on the "Slugs" DVD, so this movie's trailer illustrates how a movie is supposed to be sold.); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Alligator VHS 1980; Brand: Robert Forster; Review: Finally, a high quality DVD print (with extras, thank Heaven) of the classic 1980 title "Alligator." All I could remember before this Heaven-sent remastering on DVD was the older print that was shown on USA channel back in the early 90's (but here, it's uncut, commercial free, and more revelatory about its making). The extra featuring John Sayles is a real treasure--this man was a true independent cinema genius (and remains one, actually) and here he speaks of how he wrote "Alligator" very quickly and injected ideas into it from his own childhood experiences. I actually think his rushed script for the film "The Howling" is rather mediocre, but here his writing is more fresh and more directed. Plus, the great Robert Forster is on board--one of the absolute best of American B-movie actors, "Alligator" is another opportunity for him to shine. I am admittedly shocked that no one has tried to remake "Alligator" on a bigger scale, and release a glorified remake in 3D into mainstream theaters...but the more I think about it, maybe I don't really want to see that after all! The Lewis Teague original is obviously THE alligator movie to see, and finally we have a respectable print on an affordable DVD to enjoy. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 4 Film Favorites: Draculas (Dracula A.D. 1972, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, Horror of; Brand: Christopher Lee; Review: A brief run-down will follow: "Horror of Dracula"--this one is a classic and deserves its reputation. Lee is my favorite Count, despite some purists complaining that he is too handsome for the role and that he shouldn't have blood dripping from his teeth (please!). "Dracula has Risen from the Grave"--this one is a personal favorite. I like the story about an atheistic young man learning to believe in the mysteries of ancient superstitions, by way of coming across the Count. As good as an entry as you'll find from the Hammer vampire archives, this one is always entertaining, with many beautiful women on display, and a lot of creepy atmosphere (this is one horror film that understands HOW atmosphere is supposed to be used, building tension rather than simply layers of fog). "Taste the Blood of Dracula"--this one is not as tasty as its title promises. Nonetheless, the Satanic ritual angle is somewhat fresh, but no less disgusting, and the Count is underused in this one. Not at all in the vein of the classic stories concerning the Count; Lee is good here, but he's used differently, and the story is dark without being terribly scary. This is a C- effort if anything. "Dracula, A. D., 1972"--Despite its intriguing premise concerning an allegory of the Highgate Vampire case (check your records), this one is simply parody. Good to see Peter Cushing back on board, but this is an even more pathetic entry, still a good black magic/Devil worship ceremony set-up (to invoke all of the ghastly ghouls back into the empirical world of the 70's), but nothing much revelatory about the ending. Cushing is good here, but even he can't save the grotesque deformity that is the script for this item. Stoker's "Dracula" was about modern science being able to combat disease and viral plague by way of re-interpreting old superstitions in a modern (maybe secularized?) way--there is nothing in this film that cares about vampire mythology, so you're pretty much stuck with a fairly good cast but not much else in terms of story development. Overall, the DVD is very good though, and one can't beat the purchase for the price. The first disc is obviously the better but it's worth the price tag to get 4 (now hard to find) film classics. If you like horror titles, you need this set! The picture and sound transfers are very good (much improved image compared with the grainy VHS releases from years back), and the double-sided discs do not bother me that much. A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom VHS; Brand: Harrison Ford; Review: This movie scared the you know what out of me as a kid (I still think Mola Ram is one of the all time darkest of movie villains) and the action was so breathless that I felt my stomach turn at several points. This movie is constructed like a roller coaster--when it starts to get dark, it gets really dark(!), and when it starts to redeem itself, boy does it ever! Indiana Jones is a post-modern, cinematic composite character--an archetype of my childhood memories, and one of the most entertaining film characters to ever emerge from the bowels of Hollywood. Unfortunately, George Lucas later lost his mind in a scary way, cinematically speaking (does he really think that the development of movies needs to be pulled completely towards the visual effects/CGI world, involving all of these silly Star Wars things?), but here, he maintains his enthusiasm for more honest movie adventures (if he now lacks the passion of an equally incoherent writer/producer/director like Quentin Tarantino, he nonetheless has proof that at one point in time he had it together). This movie is so action-packed, so exciting, so visually arresting, so fast-paced, and so frightening and absurd that one almost wants to forgive it for all of its bypass impulses (sure, they wouldn't have survived the opening plane crash, but this film has more "movieness" about it than ten other titles that are supposed to be so much better). Child-like, and at times childish, "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" pushes a viewer to the edge of what movies can do, making it a front runner in the series and possibly making other cinematic comparisons look boring and sluggish by comparison. This new DVD print looks worlds better than my old VHS tape copy (which was grainy and red looking) and the sound design (such an integral part to the success of any horror film worth its weight in salt) is absolutely ear-filling. The images are much more crisp--the hellfire blowing up from the pits still appears a bit computerized, but overall this is a vivid, extremely imaginative visual design that makes one question why other talented filmmakers have such trouble creating bizarre worlds as the filmmakers did here. You can now finally see this crazy spectacle on a format that does it cinematic justice. P.S. Some young viewers apparently don't find this film that scary, but you should be aware that the original poster had a caption reading "This film may be too intense for children." Well, and for movie lovers! A+; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wicker Man VHS; Brand: Edward Woodward; Review: I love Ingrid Pitt and Britt Ekland--and they are the two primary reasons to witness 1973's "The Wicker Man." Yes, Edward Woodward is quite strong here (he wouldn't be the Equalizer if he weren't), and I respect the great Christopher Lee as a horror movie villain. But people on this webpage are snowing you most likely. "The Wicker Man" is a one-joke idea (sort of like "Rosemary's Baby," which is another film about religious paranoia), playing up the idea of an idiot-detective being duped by a colony of neo-Pagans who are ten times more intelligent than he is. It is sort of insulting to Christianity, but more so towards ancient religions--which is not a problem for me (since I find sacrifice, particularly animal sacrifice, unbearably horrible and primitive to a point beyond idiocy). The problem is, the climactic joke is not funny, and the supposedly clever twist is not that, well...clever. If you like a script that spends its time building up a ton of details and suspenseful sequences all for naught, then this movie is for you! It was a short film concept expanded to feature length. However, the Lion's Gate DVD is hilarious. The extra feature spends A LOT of time explaining why certain scenes got cut, but then the distributors ended up putting the edited version on the disc (so genius boys) as opposed to the version that our mouths have been whetted to see by the detailed documentary. Sheesh... On the bright side, the film has a lot of color, along with beautiful ladies on display (but I think if you want a better bathing scene with Ingrid in the tub, check out "The Vampire Lovers" instead), and some lovely background scenery to accompany its sick joke plot. The acting is generally good (don't think I didn't spot Deltoid from "A Clockwork Orange"!) and the music is unique too. If it weren't so creepy in a negative sense, it would have been a more enjoyable movie. I appreciate its unusual qualities, but this is not a film that should be known as the "Citizen Kane" of horror flicks (as Bernard Herrmann was rumored to have told Friedkin when he asked the legendary composer to write him a better score for "The Exorcist" than he did for "Citizen Kane," Herrmann replied "Why didn't you make a better picture than "Citizen Kane"?) Indeed. C-; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives VHS; Brand: Katharine Ross; Review: Ira Levin's novel was a crystalized satire about the control factor between male and female relationships and marriages--it is no secret that this is a 70's product in every way, concerning as it does the breakaway of liberated females from their controlling and brutalizing husbands who (naively) expect them to play the subservient feminine role faithfully forever. This very 70's reaction of the male dominating class was to keep their wives in their cages by actively setting up traps for them--in effect, tightening their grip upon society's woman before she gets too far "out of her place." In the novel, this demented premise acts as a nice follow-up to "Rosemary's Baby", which furthers the male control factor in humorous and chillingly ironic ways. In the film version, produced during the early days of "Saturday Night Live," we see how very 70's that it remains in terms of its humor. There are a FEW chilling scenes to be found here, but mostly the film takes itself too seriously without really catching the ebullient satire of Levin's source material. Not to say that this film is less noble than the travesty that remains the 2004 remake, which replaced subtle satirical jibes with outright comedy which, obviously, defeats the point, and is an insult beyond words to women everywhere. One has to question why Levin did not take an offer to work on a Hollywood film--as the opportunity must have been offered to him many times--but I personally respect him more for remaining intellectually honest and not trying to repeat what he already said in his novels (even though he might have gotten richer, he instead managed to preserve his self-respect). The DVD has a nice 'making of' piece which is not terribly revealing, but is quite fun to look at. It is a nice piece to own. The cast in the film is interested in the history of the production and that helps. The picture and sound transfers are all good. With a good cast, a reasonably subtle script, and a nice 70's movie flavor, "The Stepford Wives" film translation offers a more approachable entrance into the realm of the horror film, if you are interested. Not an essential movie, but interesting, and creepy for the concept that it represents. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives; Brand: Katharine Ross; Review: Ira Levin's novel was a crystalized satire about the control factor between male and female relationships and marriages--it is no secret that this is a 70's product in every way, concerning as it does the breakaway of liberated females from their controlling and brutalizing husbands who (naively) expect them to play the subservient feminine role faithfully forever. This very 70's reaction of the male dominating class was to keep their wives in their cages by actively setting up traps for them--in effect, tightening their grip upon society's woman before she gets too far "out of her place." In the novel, this demented premise acts as a nice follow-up to "Rosemary's Baby", which furthers the male control factor in humorous and chillingly ironic ways. In the film version, produced during the early days of "Saturday Night Live," we see how very 70's that it remains in terms of its humor. There are a FEW chilling scenes to be found here, but mostly the film takes itself too seriously without really catching the ebullient satire of Levin's source material. Not to say that this film is less noble than the travesty that remains the 2004 remake, which replaced subtle satirical jibes with outright comedy which, obviously, defeats the point, and is an insult beyond words to women everywhere. One has to question why Levin did not take an offer to work on a Hollywood film--as the opportunity must have been offered to him many times--but I personally respect him more for remaining intellectually honest and not trying to repeat what he already said in his novels (even though he might have gotten richer, he instead managed to preserve his self-respect). The DVD has a nice 'making of' piece which is not terribly revealing, but is quite fun to look at. It is a nice piece to own. The cast in the film is interested in the history of the production and that helps. The picture and sound transfers are all good. With a good cast, a reasonably subtle script, and a nice 70's movie flavor, "The Stepford Wives" film translation offers a more approachable entrance into the realm of the horror film, if you are interested. Not an essential movie, but interesting, and creepy for the concept that it represents. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Day of the Animals; Brand: Christopher George; Review: While more could have been done to make this a better science fiction story construct, "The Day of the Animals" is an exciting, funny, and bizarre movie that probably holds a special place in movie goers' lives for what the script did to Leslie Nielsen. When he attacks a giant grizzly bear and yells "c'mon, you bastard," I almost lost it. This was the most ridiculous performance I have ever witnessed in a movie. The extra feature on this DVD has the cast of the film recalling what a super guy that Girdler was, and they were being honest; anyone who can make films like this has a special outlook on life. I, however, enjoy the films of this neglected director, neglected because he worked along the margins of American cinema, attacking the B-movie and horror film markets in earnest but making a mark almost nowhere else. I gave "The Manitou" 5 stars as well, because it was equally entertaining and absurd, but in a way that we just won't find anymore. This DVD is quite good--you get both versions of the film (including the release version entitled "Something is Out There") along with some good audio commentary. While this isn't the kind of film that animal rights campaigners can use to further their case against human bungling, I sympathize with the animals in this movie--and they do wipe out a great deal of idiot people in this. This plot is very absurd but fun in an old-fashioned, 1970's drive-in way. If you don't like this title, then you've no business being here. There's no way to damn it or defend it really. I have to add a word about Schifrin's music score, though--I think this is his best score since 1971's "The Hellstrom Chronicle". The man obviously had an ear for eerie natural horror music writing, and here he has allowed his imagination to soar. His music sets the tone for this picture in a perfect way. As for the picture and sound transfer, the print is pretty clean, and the sound comes across clearly--the overall presentation is a bit grainy, but this is to be expected from a drive-in title. Whether or not I am going to eventually spring for the new BluRay print will depend upon how annoying this old DVD print gets--if I find myself watching it very often. A-; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No Blade of Grass; Brand: Nigel Davenport; Review: Cornell Wilde's "No Blade of Grass" is a supposed adaptation of the Samuel Youd novel (which I have not read, yet) about a post-apocalyptic world in which grass is dead, and everything else that is living soon starts following the lead of the earth's green...this is a dark, impressionistic, somewhat bizarre movie. It has some nostalgic value to it, but the back cover of the DVD makes it sound like the picture will show a real bloodbath, when, in fact, the violent scenes are rather tame here. Wilde uses a "flash forward" style of cutting that seems to telegraph the tragedies that lie ahead, but this England-based thriller is more dense, dialogue-driven, and steadily paced than I thought it would be simply from observing the cover of the DVD. Wilde's other films that fit credibly into this trilogy of terror (the others being "The Naked Prey" and "Beach Red") are more action-driven than this title--there is plenty of gunplay and intense scenes, but they are rather light by our modern standards, and may not shock and revolt in the same way that they once did. However, you do get to see a live baby pulled from the bleeding and syrupy-looking "area" of a female on the operating table, and that right there is still pretty shocking to witness! Eeeck! The Warner Archive DVD is distressingly bare-bones (again, sheesh), whereas an audio commentary would have made this a knockout (as the picture transfer is actually very good). I wonder what Youd (and the producers) thought about the finished film, but really a commentary track done by a British film historian would have been as valuable. It is perhaps wise that Wilde started to hang out behind the camera rather than in front of it (in his later career), as he further began to get out of his own way in his creative endeavors. Yet I think what the problem is here is that the script is too lax, and the genre out of Wilde's ultimate intellectual control. Nonetheless, its analysis of human nature is (sadly) spot on, and the ethics of the movie are far less preachy and obvious than the old "Twilight Zone" episodes. So, again, not an essential, but a pretty good finish to a very Wilde trilogy. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manborg; Brand: Matthew Kennedy; Review: "Manborg" has an outstanding B-movie DVD cover art package that really led me to believe that something unique was going on inside of the film's content. Unfortunately, this is not a film, but rather a glorified video game. It's far dumber than I was expecting it to be. Now I can sympathize with the filmmakers and their intention (they are clearly 80s/90s video store nerds, and I understand where they're coming from really) but considering the fact that there is no script, only ham acting, poorly designed sets (which were professionally created on a cheap computer set-up), and slop-shop dialogue (along with some of the silliest characters I've ever seen in any film), I would be ballot-stuffing if I gave this heap anything other than 2 stars (and that's for the packaging!). Starts out promisingly (sort of) with a war sequence which leads a viewer to believe that this will be a warped Dracula movie set during a World War 2 era, but then things quickly go haywire, and we learn we are now in the future (?). Nothing here makes much sense. Too bad, because the initial concept could have been a tribute to sick cinema (such as "Robocop") but as such it's just crap. The DVD has some good extras, but nothing terribly interesting. And what do I think of "Bio-Cop"? Sick! D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sheena VHS; Brand: Tanya Roberts; Review: It is the job of a film critic to assess what works visually upon the screen, and in that respect, 1984's "Sheena" has much to offer! Tanya Roberts is at her beautiful best--not what you would call a performance, traditionally, but if you are interested in a good time, "Sheena" offers it in spades. Yes, the plot is soap-opera influenced, and some of the dialogue is (intentionally?) silly, but again it comes down to what there is to see. One not only gets an eye-full of the delightful Roberts in all of her natural glory (there are two or three fully nude scenes of her that expose her real talents) but one also gets to see the gorgeous location photography in Kenya (today, filmmakers would probably go for CGI instead of actually going out into the field to do the work). Pauline Kael actually recognized the merits of this picture, and she was probably one of the few critics at the time of the film's release to successfully do so, pointing out the excellent cinematography and adventure scenes. The music score too, composed by Richard Hartley, (which is now a very collectible CD pressing) elevates the drama of the picture without going for a bloated superhero movie sound. While the script, the directing, and the story might not impress you at all, this is one visual experience that cannot easily be forgotten, whether it is in your will to take it seriously or not. My major complaint rests with the quality of this DVD print. My copy looks grainy and speckled, as if a ratty VHS print has been used to transfer the title onto a full-frame DVD format. "Sheena" is definitely a picture that needs to be seen in widescreen! Like another mid-80's classic that is now sadly neglected, "The Emerald Forrest" also suffered a full-frame transfer to VHS instead of getting the fair widescreen transfer treatment that it deserved. There is also a shocking lack of extras--I think a 'making of' on "Sheena" would have been great fun to see, and I know that HBO must have done some interviews with the stars of the film--and why, oh why, is there no audio commentary? Does everyone feel such contempt for this film that they don't want to remember it? Geez. So, overall, I like the movie a lot but this is a disappointing DVD version. More than just a young boy's masturbatory fantasy, "Sheena" is interesting for its humor, its cinematography, and for its ultimate ideas (which, admittedly, don't always come across). Sadly, though, like the great Swamp Thing character, no one seems to know how to treat the Sheena character when adapting her to the big (or small) screen. But this movie is a memorable experience. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: AVP: Alien vs. Predator; Brand: Sanaa Lathan; Review: I own all of these things on BluRay discs (I mean, Predator is a favorite character of mine ever since childhood), but this crossover attempt is just plain ridiculous. This marriage is far too cynical to be successful. Now, on the positive side, the BluRay is great looking, and the script does have a wealth of interesting source ideas within it. However, none of these positive qualities successfully translate into a totally redeeming package. For one thing, we see way too much of the Alien (the Queen especially) in this film which, although terrific looking, is simply plain obvious and not in any way frightening. In fact, it seems to me that the Predator and Alien universes are more disparate than most realized; the Predator is an action movie character, and the Alien is a weird/sf story character, and neither of these two really come together in an exciting way. And that is the film's greatest sin. I do not understand how a laborer in the field of "sci-fi" and horror film franchises of Ronald Shusett's caliber can become so desperate as to pull from the well of Erich von Daniken in order to receive inspiration, but here he's done it--"At the Mountains of Madness" this ain't, but there are a couple of good adventure scenes here and there that make it worth watching...once. Whereas the original "Alien" and "Predator" films are unique and quite watchable many times over (as most Americans know), this one is not nearly as durable a product as the originals are. The Predator character is always creepy, always terrifying, but here he is put into such a silly plot that it's difficult to take either him or the Alien character(s) completely seriously. I seriously don't think that this whole concept was a good idea, but that's just my opinion. Sad, too, because this film was/is based upon a comic book series that had potential, although maybe it would have been best to rework such an attempt into an animated series as opposed to a live-action continuation of two very (again) disparate original films. Ridley Scott, according to Wikipedia, claims that he isn't ready to "take the step" of watching these new mash-ups, and he's probably most wise--this is not the Alien that I came to fear and respect from the 1979 classic and this fact, alone, hurts (instead of being used as a metaphor for disease, the Alien is here merely a side-character playing war games with the more hostile-looking Predators). The filmmakers here are attributing a mythological step for the Predator character that I don't think he can quite take, considering the whole Aztec link (I thought, oh no, not again!) and all that junk. These movies seem to be adding fuel to the fire of an already deluded public's interest in pre/post-apocalyptic occurrences, and more public anxiety is the last thing that we need (in my opinion). This should have been more fun but, considering how we had come to think of each of these characters up to this point, the film had to be; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Godzilla [DVD] [2014]; Brand: ; Review: The trailers that I witnessed in the theater (especially the one for the upcoming Disney dark fantasy "Maleficent") looked amazing in their 3-D form, and for the most part, the beginning of "Godzilla" was the same experience. And yet, as the movie went on, it became increasingly obvious that something was not quite right in the presentation. By the time of the final battle between you know who and the other you know who, I did not feel that I was in the middle of a monster fight at all but rather that the effect of the 3-D quality had lost its steam (in effect). There is a terrific sequence where two or three soldiers are seen walking out over a wrecked railroad/bridge and nearly fall off into a long drop below, and the 3-D during this part was terrific. I don't get it. At some points, the bugs and the people were right in my face. At other times, especially (and most disappointingly) during the climax, it felt as if the film retreated into a 2-D scheme. However, kudos to whomever crafted the Gojira (?) monsters, because those beasts were sensational looking, the stuff of nightmares if anything ever has been. I can't believe these reviewers on here explaining to you why the film is good or bad in their opinion--you know if you like monster movies or not, and there is nothing special (or special in human terms) about a silly movie such as this. I enjoyed it on the level of a pure summer drive-in monster/invasion film, but there is seriously nothing further to be read into this madness. I think the hype about films like this is too overblown, and I actually like the Godzilla character, but I didn't once wet myself in anticipation of seeing it on the BIG SCREEN. So, again, the 3-D effects were most interesting, but I'm hoping that the Disney/Jolie movie will get it right and give me a 3-dimensional experience of a fantasy nether world for the entire movie's duration. "Godzilla" was, in some sense, a noble attempt, but not quite the jaw-dropping experience (in effects terms) that I thought it would be. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Commando VHS; Brand: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Review: "Commando" is not the kind of film that takes itself very seriously, but when it rocks, it really rocks, and you feel the blood-and-thunder effects of a great old R-rated shoot 'em up that has now become a practical lost art in our age of cinematic CGI atrocities. When I read on Wikipedia recently that some misguided souls are plotting to ruin the film's legacy by funding an ill-advised remake of this title, I shook my head in disbelief that they intend to take a "serious approach" to the script. Oh sheesh, I say. (Sure, the original script was probably more serious and less Arnold-fied, but who cares? "Commando" is a kill 'em all movie that is fun for a reason. The filmmakers who try to make it "serious" are spoiling the sexist, macho, overly unrealistic structure that makes these movies fun for all guys who are still boys at heart--the point is that these are fantasies (as at ease on the SyFy channel as it is on TNT, for instance) in that they make no bones about their unbelievable elements. Is it an Oscar-worthy effort, a great movie? No. Would I rather watch it than a rerun of "Gone with the Wind"? Sign me up! The picture and sound quality of the movie (and the widescreen presentation) are fine, very good through a nice pair of headphones. The director's commentary (available on the theatrical cut only) is quite fun, but not as informative as I would have preferred...but then again, the movie doesn't require much thought or explanation anyway. Rae Dawn Chong is hilarious (and quite racially insensitive!) on her interview segments, whereas director Lester is also interviewed extensively on the film's two featurettes. Joel Silver apparently had a warped sense of humor (he was the one who told Black to tell those, ahem, lady jokes in "Predator") and his vision is thoroughly preserved on this 1985 classic. The best parts of the deluxe DVD are the deleted scenes, in which you see a longer version of the shed attack scene...watching this on TV when I was younger, I knew some stuff was drastically cut, but this is the most complete scene you'll get of this. Overall, the extras aren't all that revealing, but if you're a real fan, buy this edition, don't just settle for the old bare bones edition (which is currently going for cheap at Wal-Mart stores). A-; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Octagon; Brand: Alan Belkin; Review: Some folks apparently have a problem with Norris's lack of personality or capabilities as an action screen persona, but it's too ridiculous to overthink a film like "The Octagon"--it's one of the most exciting action/martial arts films ever made and, despite the fact that many don't care for films based around this specialty, "The Octagon" goes forward with telling a story, and makes the action more than stand up to the narrative thread. It's simple, sure, but the action is complex, inventive, and tough in the extreme. A TV favorite of the late 80s/early 90s, "The Octagon" is the kind of action movie that we simply won't see anymore--low in budget, simple in execution, and extreme in action and choreographed effects. In short, it's a real movie, and that goes a long way for me. I also want to add that Norris seems to work well with the electronic voice over effect here. His internal thoughts and concerns are better conveyed through this device rather than having him try to talk through the whole thing; like Eastwood, he is better at staring than speaking, but it works here better than it has elsewhere. A childhood favorite of mine (mainly for that climactic invasion of the fortress) and still a film that remains enjoyable. It's pure pulp--and won't appeal to those who think that "Titanic" and "Gone with the Wind" are perfect movies--but it works every time, and this DVD transfer is quite good for a print that is this old and underfunded to begin with. One of the best things about the DVD is the documentary footage about the creators of American Cinema. These folks were doing independent cinema before it was officially invented, making films that would really only appeal to special interest groups at the time of their release, but nonetheless managed to gather some mainstream appeal as time went on (and now, for us amateur and even professional archivists, become important cultural documents of note). The documentaries cover the aspects of most of this film, but also of others too. It was interesting to hear about the origins of one of my childhood favorites. "The Octagon" may remain a special appeal type of movie (there's not as much straight action as there is in most mainstream genre films, but the climactic battle is super exciting), but to those of us who get it (and appreciate the unusual movie marketing aesthetic from whence its kind stems) it will remain a terrific movie experience.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Without Warning; Brand: Jack Palance; Review: Greydon Clark's "Without Warning" has finally made it to the Shout!/Scream lineup, which will at last give historians a chance to see what an early alien/hunter story looked like oh so long ago. (This isn't "Predator" (1987), make no mistake; Jim and John Thomas wrote that one as a military style film in which an alien invader comes on the scene, whereas "Without Warning" is very much about character, as poorly developed as some of these characters may be in fact.) So don't go into this film expecting the violence and intensity of the 1987 Schwarzenegger blockbuster; in fact, tracing the "author" of this initial idea of the outer space trophy collector of humans may be difficult, since it probably originated in a pulp magazine from days long since gone (sadly). I certainly can't think of a film that predates this one that may have used this concept (?). However, Clark's film really doesn't do much with the concept: the camera moves slowly if methodically, looking around for interesting things to happen to these rather lethargic characterizations; the music score (which is quite good overall) doesn't really conduct the emotions of viewers in a truly directed fashion; the alien (while menacing, featuring the tall Kevin Peter Hall) is not on screen very long, and while he may represent a threat, he is more of a nuisance-type rather than the gruesome, overwhelming threat that most hostile alien creations are (think "Predator"). Do I find the film boring? Well, no...but that's because I am a film historian and I enjoy watching these older titles, seeing what exactly was going on in the history of genre pictures and B-movies (and especially horror films). I think a lot of the film is fun, despite the fact that there is not that much happening on screen, yet this is a far more subtle approach than today's idiotically hyper-violent action pictures--today, "sci-fi" translates as "action picture" (this film may not be considered "watchable" by present day horror and sf film enthusiasts, but that's their loss if so). "Without Warning" is rated R, which certainly shocked me, despite the fact that it is a terrific exploitation film concept (there is no nudity or sexuality, very little swearing (if any), and violence is certainly kept to a minimum and mostly off screen--all of this I was very much pleased with, since I love these thriller stories on film but really wonder why other filmmakers can't get creative and stop showing us so much nastiness, gruesome violence, inappropriate sex scenes, along with so much unnecessary strong language--"Without Warning" is probably a film that your conservative grandfather can watch with you, despite the rating on the packaging). Still, for all of its good qualities, it is a film that can't seem to get itself going, routinely wasting the performances of Landau, Meeker, Brand, and especially Palance (who is the film's hero). Nonetheless, it is fun to have so many screen legends on hand here. The real problem with the film is the script itself (I defer you to Greydon's audio commentary and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A.I. - Artificial Intelligence; Brand: Haley Joel Osment; Review: Sandwiched between the praised but poisonous bloodbath of "Saving Private Ryan" and the radical future-noir thriller "Minority Report" (which, in truth, is a depressing affair indeed to sit through), the much-anticipated (at least by film champions) collaborative effort between visionaries Kubrick and Spielberg is a rather rushed affair in tone--and, actually, it's devastating to think of how the more intense, and more immediately "plot-heavy" darkness of "Minority Report" completely washed this better film effort out of the mind of the Spielberg-watching public. In fact, my feeling is that no one understood what "A. I." was supposed to do or supposed to be; the historians contemplated it, the public eventually dismissed it, and the filmmakers had other things to do (poor Kubrick died before he saw it fulfilled even). Yet, with the passage of time, the film will prove even more so to be a Spielberg masterwork. Maybe the public cannot accept films that even remotely criticize the onslaught of technological progress. Because it does not contain raw violence (as the blood-thirsty public got so much of in the exploitative "...Ryan") and because it carries a rather dim, melancholy tone about a world completely over-thrown by technology and its robotic counterparts, I have to confess that I am duly impressed how Spielberg could keep all of this together in his own head, while not going the route of the redundant (Gilliam's "Twelve Monkeys") or taking the path of the savage (Scott's "Blade Runner"). It may be true that this film does not contain the fun of the Indiana Jones pictures, nor the sentiment of the misguided "Schindler's List" (the "Flesh Fair" in the film is both ironically sad and destructively chaotic, Holocaust-metaphor or not; actually, it is a case of Spielberg returning to his Serling/"Twilight Zone" television style metaphorical roots, in which fantasy themes say something truthful about human reality), there is still an empty, languid tone to the film that speaks of the dry emotions of the characters in this rather unique world that Kubrick, Spielberg, Winston, and so many others have constructed for us, a world in which characters have to constantly struggle to get back their humanity (yes, even the robots!). All of this is anchored by an extraordinary performance by the boy with six senses, Haley Joel Osment, who provides a Pinocchio pathway back to discovering the self that he never had, with the tears, laughter, and fear of his parents accompanying his pet-oriented abandonment in the backwoods of humanity, left to join a world in which only the adjacent "Blue Fairy" can change him back into a real boy so that he can make his "parents" proud. Yes, folks, there is a lot of Spielberg to this, and I doubt Kubrick would have pulled off anything close to this. In any case, it is also a great example of how a literary source work (by Brian "the brain" Aldiss, in this case) can be used to launch a film project that eventually exists fully as a visual work of its own origin, something which video and film can; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crazies VHS; Brand: Lane Carroll; Review: Excellent job of remastering from Lustig's BLUE UNDERGROUND company (one of the few historical film companies that still care about the quality of B-movie presentations on digital format), and the film itself--easily one of Romero's more hectic efforts--comes closer to greatness in its narrative than "Night of the Living Dead" even. I have not watched the remake of this title because I don't care to watch films that I can't follow easily; the original is leisurely paced, gripping, and obviously more focused upon character than upon ridiculous special effects. The transfer onto DVD is immaculate and rewarding viewing, if you enjoy these older exploitation titles. The DVD's best extra is the commentary track by Lustig and Romero, both of whom enjoy themselves quite a bit while watching the film again. Romero offers insights for today's filmmakers (although, like Cohen, he isn't particularly optimistic about the business any longer) as well as pointing out the numerous technical errors that this film contains; he mentions the problems involved with creating special effects, eye-line shots, rapid editing techniques, etc. Overall, this audio commentary is worth a listen and is quite informative too. It is amazing how much of an effective world that Romero was able to build merely through the power of extras and editing techniques. (Although Paul McCollough's script was apparently overhauled and reshaped by Romero into his own personal story, it would be interesting to read the original source work entitled "The Mad People".) Romero knows how to make commercials and documentary films, and his efforts at shaping a unique visual style are on full display here. Overall, a quality DVD release, and certainly an interesting stop along the back-roads of horror fiction on film (although this is an older offering and, unlike these silly remakes, one must pay attention to story and characters in order to become invested in the movie). A; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; Brand: Harrison Ford; Review: Following the rigid but right hellspawn that was (my favorite entry in the series) "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", the third installment in the Jones trilogy remains watchable but by no means anything else but a nearly complete compromise. If you are one who merely watches movies and cares nothing about how they are made (if you are a person who merely eats what's inside of the sandwich without inspecting it first), then you will give this title a strong notice, and probably find it entertaining; however, if you are aware of any part of the complicated history concerning this script (who we kidding folks, it was a lot of scripts!) then you may want to hesitate before you click that five star button. As a fan of Dr. Jones, I find the third one interesting, certainly amusing, but it's not really an Indiana Jones movie, and that bothers me. The original attempts (by writers Chris Colombus, and Diane Thomas, respectively) actually had the film going in the right direction, but then Lucas and Spielberg (in their watered down refusal to return to the bowels of fun but nasty-minded terror on display in the first two movies) decided to hire "Funny Farm" scribe Jeffrey Boam to "family-proof" the story and this, in turn, destroyed what was (for me) the fun aspects of an Indiana Jones screen adventure (Boam, though a quality screenwriter, did not seem to understand the danger/mercenary nature of the Jones character at all). What viewers are left with, then, is retread and repeat; the AMAZON editorial claims that this film is closer to the James Bond-oriented tribute that the series was initially intended to be, but even though Connery himself is on board here, it all feels too light, too homage-heavy, and too labored to be really effective. While "...Temple of Doom" simply offered slam-bang fantasy, "...Last Crusade" toys with the public's mental stability by committing the impardonable sin of actually giving the dumb beast what it wants, and therefore the movie is neither intellectually honest nor seamless but instead a genuine effort to remain more "realistic." I don't know about you, but I don't watch Indiana Jones for realism, but rather for fantasy. I shouldn't have to re-open my class to explain that fantasy does not have to include dragons and demons in order to be genuine fantasy in terms of literary (or cinematic) concept, but oh well. The movie was made and that's that. If you like it, you must like it for a reason, but I think there's too much unnecessary humor, too little mayhem and carnage (I don't mean gore), and far too few opportunities to pay tribute to the overly fantastic pulp magazines and movie serials which were the true inspirations for this character and his films. Harrison Ford does his usual immaculate job as the character, but the movie is cowardly, weak in the plot department, and too afraid that it will offend its audience. If Spielberg wants to make a weepy movie about a father-and-son relationship, he should do it; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Boys 2014; Brand: ; Review: Definitely a film in Eastwood's style, "Jersey Boys" is a fun movie to watch, and while I cannot judge the source work (the aforementioned stage musical) in comparison to this film, it seems a classy act in itself. While the film is narrated by Vincent Piazza (playing Tommy DeVito), the film's point of focus is the personal life and career of Frankie Valli (portrayed amiably by John Lloyd Young) and this is a none-too-flattering portrayal of the man. However, the script itself is not vindictive at all; if you enjoy listening to oldies and you like the sound of the Four Seasons, you will enjoy this. At first, I was a bit worried about Young when he started to soar up into those soprano female registers that the real Frankie ascended to with graceful ease, but actually he does a pretty strong job on the vocals, even though it is clearly the case of him trying to make the songs his own rather than trying to parody Frankie (which is probably a good thing). As with all film biopics, this film skips too many lengthy periods and attempts to squeeze the universe into a ball without making it bleed; nonetheless, what remains is enjoyable, but do not go into the film expecting anything groundbreaking. I believe this film's cool critical reception has something to do with the fact that this is not typical Eastwood action and/or drama, but the man enjoys music too, and is an accomplished musician himself. Other actors do a fine job with the material, and cinematographer Tom Stern gets it right in capturing the period detail. The one negative thing is that there is too much biography/story for my taste and not enough bombastic musical numbers; for example, the film only really catches fire in the closing "Oh What a Night", and the "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" number is filmed a bit too often in close-up (not really to my taste). As a plus, the closing credits have a couple of the Four Seasons's best original numbers playing, and for my money "Rag Doll" was one of their best songs ever, so appropriately it closes the film's credits proper, reminding one of how astoundingly high that Valli's vocals are on that track. As for the DVD, the picture and sound are pristine, and there is a brief extra feature included that shows how the final dance number was choreographed. "Jersey Boys" is rated R, and there are a great many f-words flying about, but really if you are not offended by that word then there is no reason that you can't watch this one with the family. There is nothing else objectionable about it. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Targets VHS; Brand: Boris Karloff; Review: Peter Bogdanovich himself admits (on this rather interesting but not always insightful DVD commentary track) that he is no fan of the horror genre, and this can clearly be seen in the film "Targets", which is more of a restrained thriller rather than a truly horror-inspired flick. Nonetheless, this is an essential film to see if you are into Bogdanovich's early career--if not, it's a rather light Karloff affair, using the manically good performance of Tim O'Kelly to anchor the film in a grim--and thoroughly unpleasant--reality. Karloff fans should own this title for sure, but don't expect it to be a truly great film because it isn't (I still like it though). Now it was a clever idea to do a Karloff "horror" title without giving Karloff a scary role or to use much horror stew at all, but this bit of cinematic invention seems a clich to watch now (but it was original at the time). "Targets" has some very disturbing scenes of gun violence, and yes this is the original theater shoot-'em-up story--Bodganovich might be ill after what happened in Aurora, Colorado in 2012 during that silly "Dark Knight Rises" movie, but why he feels any responsibility over that tragedy is beyond me because "Targets" is at least a minor suspense classic if nothing else--but for today's young, I have little doubt that it is all but completely forgotten. "Targets" on DVD is rather incomplete (to my way of thinking, as a collector). Why no documentary upon Charles Whitman? Wouldn't this have been an appropriate cultural history piece to include here, since he was obviously the inspiration? Why no commentary by a film historian (rather than director/co-star Bogdanovich)? Why no trailer gallery? And, most significantly, why no little "making of" featurette? There must have been one released by Paramount...right? It was Karloff's later period, after all. The picture seems to have been transferred from the source VHS, which is disappointing in terms of transfer--the sound is nothing special either. I doubt this one is up for a Blu-Ray redux. So, overall, if you need a copy of "Targets" by all means purchase it, but to me, it's a rather disappointing package. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Producers VHS; Brand: Zero Mostel; Review: Outstanding deluxe DVD set features an interesting (and very amusing) introduction to the film that started the ball rolling that would make a name for Mel Brooks in cinema--it also houses interviews with the resigned Gene Wilder, the irreprisable comic genius Kenneth Mars (what a unique actor he is), and Brooks himself, all of whom explain the challenges and joys of getting "The Producers" on film. I have not watched--and will not watch--the new version of "The Producers" (there's a trailer here that reveals the obvious attempts at humor and over the top performances of both Lane and Broderick) because for my money no one can top what Wilder and Mostel have done here, now preserved for the ages on this nice new DVD set. It is easy to see why Brooks's unorthodox sense of humor didn't catch on right away; even now, the Nazis remain difficult fictional subjects for some people to deal with. What Brooks has actually contributed to cinema history is difficult to gauge realistically: there's "The Elephant Man", "The Doctor and the Devils", "The Fly", and there's also "Blazing Saddles"...Brooks may be more useful as a producer than a director, but who cares in terms of evaluating his early work? These older movies are more sophisticated and far less idiot in their comedy than today's travesties, but times change, I guess... Good quality of picture and sound on these discs, and it's nice to have a copy of this in a newer Widescreen transfer. It may not be to your taste, but the original film "The Producers" is both funny and pointed in its plot (I keep thinking that Brooks lifted this plot from either a literary or filmic source, but maybe I'm wrong?). A; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eaten Alive; Brand: Neville Brand; Review: Fueled by an undeniably eccentric and psychotic performance by the great Neville Brand, "Eaten Alive" is one of those forgotten, greasy, drive-in horror classics that belongs in every true film collector's stash of titles, and DarkSky Films has done an absolutely fantastic job on this set. While the print quality of the film is not necessarily re-mastered (it's an oldie, recall) in terms of cleaning and sharpening, this is a collector's item of a release if anything is. You probably won't be finding this one at Wal-Mart around Halloween. Tobe Hooper (whose "Poltergeist" was simply too stylish to have been concocted entirely by his own hands, but we needn't get into that here) has perfected his gritty, underground, exploitation filmmaking style with this one. Now, read me here, "Eaten Alive" is not for every taste...if you enjoy today's hyper fast editing and silly filmmaking techniques which go FLASH! and AH! at you as if you are a short-attention-spanned geek on "medication," then you won't be in this audience for long, but if you appreciate slower building tension, films that focus upon acting rather than special effects presentations, and movies that have truly lower-brow but nonetheless honest drive-in theatrical intentions, then you may end up endearing to this one as I have. Brand's performance elevates what could have been seedy material into the 'must-see' category--has there ever been a more reliable character actor than him in Western cinema? Viewers should know that there are a couple of nude scenes in the film, that come rather late into the movie...nothing too graphic (for this kind of story) but I'm giving you a heads up--still, Hooper does not eroticize these sexual situations, and that right there tells you something about his more serious intentions as a horror filmmaker. Of course, there is also some blood and gore flying about, but nothing as drastic or hair-raising as in the "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (another classic which used sound to great effect rather than expensive blood buckets). There is some screaming going on (of course), but it's not as annoying here as it is in other horror films--a cheap effect which I feel depletes the tolerability of some horror films which house pretty intense and serious narratives otherwise. And let's not forget that alligator! "The Alligator People" was not nearly as much fun as this. The DarkSky extras on this release are equally collectible and intense. Quality interviews with star Robert Englund and Marilyn Burns are very nice to listen to, while the documentary upon the real-life crazy who inspired this story is fascinating and well-done indeed (kudos to producer Michael R. Felsher, who has done a lot of great work in preserving interest in these old movies via his Red Shirt "making of" productions--titles of which also turn up on recent Blu-Ray and DVD release by the unbeatable Shout/Scream factory). This is the way that an extras disc should be done! Also, a rare (but not terribly revealing) interview with director Hooper is included...he is apparently a rather reclusive and hard to track down figure upon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Machete; Brand: Danny Trejo; Review: First truly starring role for legendary action movie sideman Danny Trejo explodes across the screen with a sensationally hyper-violent (and briefly sexy) opening, which makes promises that it does and does not keep throughout the rest of its rather inflated running time (and I'm usually a reviewer who complains about the abundance of deleted scenes in these products!). Rodriguez is working with a stellar fun line-up of a cast (there's Seagal--whom I actually enjoy watching in movies--the smoking Jessica Alba, the uncredited Rose McGowan, a very funny Don Johnson, and a great turn by DeNiro who seems to be enjoying his satirically edgy material in the script) and he has an unusual command of the cinema medium as a director who is acutely aware of how cinematography works on the theatrical screen...but the material, while both self-aware and satirical (in its immigration reform plot), is too much a victim of hyper-violent, quasi-video game influenced editing and absurdly unreliable pacing. Far from the days of the more subdued "El Mariachi" (and even the sex-is-violence-violence-is-sexy style of 1996's "Desperado"), Rodriguez appears to be off the hinges in this one, abandoning good sense for injections of splatter-porn style scenes that either work or simply falter; oh it's entertaining as all hell in places (with interruptions of nudity, swearing, and an even a gut-ripping scene that will make your stomach go whoops) but not enough to sustain its misguided plotting and rambunctious sensibility. It can be fun in its ultra-violence, and one needs to understand how violence in pictures like this is meant to be taken (it's pure fantasy, it's not meant to appeal to those who are truly anti-social), because it's intentionally over the top for a reason and I get this...but great exploitation films can be more--and less, at the same time. Rodriguez and Tarantino are the architects of post-post-modern retro drive-in theater exploitation cinema homage, and I am now a fan of the hyper-sexy and hyper-violent "Death Proof" with Kurt Russell, but sometimes too much can be made out of a good thing. This movie is really about violence, and if you aren't a fan of movie violence, then don't bother...but I also have to quibble about the cuts in the violence this time. Rumor has it that Rodriguez is going to release an even more violent cut of this film on upgraded Blu-Ray soon so why do this for marketing purposes, seriously? Simply put an unrated label on the original print! If there are more deleted scenes that need to be put back in that's fine, but why release two separate copies with one containing extended violence and gore? If Rodriguez would have slowed the pacing of the action scenes down I might have enjoyed this more, but as such it's an entertaining effort but not an absolute essential to me. By the way, the deleted scenes that are included here are inconclusive but fun to see once, offering nothing terribly revealing other than the "Twins" angle which seems to have been cut from the plot of the theatrical release entirely. The; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Last Dinosaur VHS; Brand: Richard Boone; Review: This Warner Archive DVD is yet another fine purchase if you are a collector of fantasy/horror/adventure/sf movies (as I am), and this oldie from the golden year 1977 remains a perfect comedy/adventure thriller that sends Richard Boone out on a B-movie safari to the land of the unknown prehistoric critters that only the most hardened cinematic skeptic would find unwatchable. In fact, the script is actually pretty entertaining until the picture falls apart after the second half of the film's overly long running time, but even then Richard Boone still gets in quite a few hysterical one-liners. There is even a low-budget dinosaur fight that is as entertaining as all get out, and far more enjoyable to watch than the modern CGI atrocities which try to make things look "real" (which is basically a way of insulting audiences on a higher and more disturbing level, which plays with a viewer's psychology by making appear real what the audience understands to be NOT real, and then having them pay for a chance to see it become REAL...or something). To me, these older movies are far more honest than the psychologically confused pictures of today (which house audiences who no longer have any idea as to what they really want). And to be fair to the filmmakers here, these dinosaurs (though admittedly rubber) actually look pretty damn cool to me. It's really too bad that the American and Japanese film companies cannot work together more often to do more of these lower budget adventure film offerings for television movie packages because this one was certainly satisfying enough. My main complaint is that the DVD did not include the alternate versions of this movie, as with the digital formatting that we have now so many more hours of bonus content can be included. The version you are watching here is the original theatrical run of the film, NOT the one originally shown on television in the West. There is, therefore, at least thirty some odd minutes of additional footage that is missing (but is included in the Japanese prints). William Overgard was a cartoonist with a decidedly humorous aesthetic of life (he worked on "ThunderCats"), and his screenplay is what holds this messy but wondrous B-movie glue together. Watch it, laugh, listen, and enjoy. Now this is what fun movies about outlandish subjects should be, and what inventive story collaborations are all about. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Damnation Alley VHS; Brand: Jan-Michael Vincent; Review: 1977 will remain in memory as the year that moviegoers wanted fantasy ("Star Wars") as opposed to real science fiction offerings, and Jack Smight's (never a director with a real sense of artistic pulse) picture was rushed out (it feels to me) in order to compete at the palace of misnomers known as the Cineplex (a place where some dreams live, but where others just as easily die). And, in truth, "Damnation Alley" really isn't very much fun, and its non-mutability towards the architecture of fantasy genre spiraling is one of the great failings of the movie. Also, sadly enough, the narrative doesn't seem to know what it really wants to be, or what it wants to say, and the performances (if we can call them that) suffer deeply as a result. I had hopes for this movie when I ordered it, because I do like real science fiction when it is filmed successfully, and I have much more confidence in rediscovering these older titles more so than I do in anything being offered today. Unfortunately, while "Damnation Alley" might be light years better than films such as "A Boy and His Dog" or "Zardoz", it is difficult to locate the joy that the filmmakers found in putting it together, and therefore a viewer must suffer too as a result of this indirection. Alan Sharp, who has an interesting interview piece in the extras offered on the DVD, seems to me to be nothing more than a hack, and it's no great mystery as to why competent storytellers such as author Roger Zelazny were not welcomed in Hollywood (why Zelazny didn't file suit after seeing what had become of his source novel is beyond me, but since this picture didn't earn back enough audience support at the time, it probably wasn't worth the investment of a good entertainment lawyer to even pursue the matter). "Damnation Alley" should have been ideal for late night TV revival showings (there is also an alternate TV print of this title that was aired on the NBC network in the early 80's), but it really has no sense of cinematic shape, or much dramatic momentum for that matter, to keep it interesting. It is clear in looking back at it that 20th Century Fox spent far too much on promoting a movie that didn't have half as much "idiot appeal" as the more simplistic "Star Wars" picture had. They should have read the script more carefully, that's my opinion. But, to be fair, the giant radioactive bugs are fun to see, but there's not enough of them. Shout! Factory's typically pristine work is great as usual, offering a great audio commentary track by Paul Maslansky, as well as some information given by the producer about how challenging that the overall creation of the movie really was (no wonder Zelazny was skeptical of working for the movies, as this title really had a tough time at the hands of the studio henchmen, forcing even director Smight out of the way towards the end of schedule and radically transforming; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jeepers Creepers; Brand: Gina Philips; Review: Unnecessary teen film has echoes of a lot of older horror film products (from "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" to "The Silence of the Lambs") but lacks the urgency and imagination of those older titles, so essentially it remains quite an empty experience. It is interesting that Francis Ford Coppola has attempted to transfer himself into the Godfather of underground horror (acting as a long distance cousin executive producer, no less) but here, he has not created a paradigm for himself in a critical sense at all. Director Salva has a lot of enthusiasm, but due to a shaky budget, he was forced to cut down the final act of his script dramatically, and thereby short-changing the audience of any suitable finish to the story. However, this development did not seem to hurt what was essentially a rather tepid bit of tripe from the get-go; Salva thinks that it was wise to not explain anything about the film's dominating monster figure, but really it only renders this story even more ridiculous than it is. If you're younger, you might find the opening scenes a bit disturbing, but this is not at all that scary, and it really is not an essential stop along the back roads of horror movie history either. The cast (especially the vibrant, beautiful Gina Phillips) is quite appealing really, and for a rushed affair sometimes the film builds up a genuinely taught pace and energy. But really, there is so little to recommend the film, despite the beginning scenes which feature some lush cinematography. The MGM DVD has a passable widescreen transfer, and the film comes with an audio commentary by Salva in which he talks you through the making of the film and offers some insights about the production (I did find it amusing that he put himself up on the wall as one of the serial killer's many victims; those who create horror are usually the first victims of such things, Salva seems to be saying, and I can appreciate his black sense of humor here). A good DVD presentation as far it goes, but it can't save this wannabe children's film hiding in the skin of an adult horror movie and masquerading around as a potentially fun picture. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Warriors VHS; Brand: Michael Beck; Review: Alarmingly shallow but fast moving film about an urban street gang known as the Warriors (of the famous title) who all must do battle with various other warring gangs of their region when a psychotic man murderers an important gangland figure, a figure who wanted to lead the other rival gangs on a road to unity in the hopes of combatting the small armies of police. Although the film looks great, I am eternally suspicious of any film made by Walter Hill (although "Southern Comfort", despite its weak box office returns, is an interesting film) as a product of someone who was one foot away from sliding over the edge of moviemaking plausibility (if not, to my reasoning, respectability). To me, "The Warriors" is far too 80s rather than 70s (though the release was in 1979, this does not FEEL much like a true 70s movie, and it was admittedly ahead of its time with its apparent idea that the story (if there is one) doesn't count and that the important thing to do is to get on with it anyway). Not a great influence upon cinema (if you ask me), but an influential one nonetheless. "The Warriors" is far too musical to be a good action story, and yet it is not grim enough (or violent enough) to be a classic genre entry either. But this is because, I suspect, that Walter Hill wanted to make a film that was more moody (and less gory) than other gangster pictures, and don't be surprised if you get a "Flashdance" or "Saturday Night Fever" feeling from some of this..."Death Wish" this is certainly not. It is astoundingly light in tone and in texture for an alleged gangster picture, and it certainly doesn't stand up as well under that influence, despite the unfortunate Greek history references that open (the new version of) the movie, and the role of David Patrick Kelly (who would go on to become one of cinema's better mainstream movie crazies). At times it feels inauthentic as a street movie, and at other times it seems as if Hill's uncertainty and hesitation about the genre is holding him back from achieving any kind of greatness here. Pauline Kael's review praised it (and as Hill says in one of the sections of the 'making of' documentary offered on the DVD, the longer print reviews were more positive in their readings), but I find the film to be lacking in both dramatic weight and creativity to give it a truly passing grade. However, this new "comic book" Ultimate Director's Cut is the only one version of this picture that I have seen, so I have not had a chance to watch it in the original version (nor have I read the Sol Yurick's source novel for the original screenplay, but I gather from what I have read about the film that the book was not kept in tact in the apparent translation). Hopefully, however, Yurick collected some money for having sold the book rights, but I suspect that the later gang war outbreaks; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Sam VHS; Brand: ; Review: Disappointingly violent but nonetheless creative film from the celluloid-engulfed pen of Larry Cohen tells the pointed but not entirely serious story of a combat soldier returned home in a coffin--but old Sam may not be ready to take that final plunge into the stomach of the Earth, leading to much confusion, much madness, and much murder (some killings of which are not entirely unjustified here, considering the story's content). Actual veterans may be slightly offended by it, and others may think that the film is simply too low in scale for their tastes, but essentially this is both a dark and funny movie (with a few gory after-kills and some brief female nudity thrown in) that could only have been dreamed up by the minds of both Cohen and director William Lustig. But I do agree with others that, on the whole, the film is disappointing. I have to confess that Lustig's "Maniac" was simply too anti-story for my taste, and while Cohen's script is more interested in narrative possibilities (a speech made by the Isaac Hayes character near the beginning is quite poignant really), this time there is simply a falling out of potential as the storyline progresses, as the movie continues to degenerate into a kind of slasher-movie-cum-revenge-story that is toying with the possibility of losing audience sympathy by the time it reaches its (rather predictable) conclusion. Larry Cohen may actually be weakening as a film writer, but he is far better than most mainstream screenwriters, even when he is at his most aloof--or rushed. Again, though, what makes the disc a keeper for me (and almost made me consider boosting the star count up to four) is the wonderful audio commentary track, which features Lustig, Cohen, and a couple of other guys who worked on the movie. They talk and talk (and at one point Cohen even does a swell impression of Humphrey Bogart--catch Cohen's intros to the TRAILERS FROM HELL series if you haven't already done so) and give many, many insights into the movie business and what it's like to produce a low-budget, cost-effective genre picture these days (as you may have predicted troops, the results ain't pretty, but at least there is a light of hope for aspiring and committed moviemakers who are serious about learning the requirements of these markets). Anyway, it is a great audio commentary recording for a movie that probably didn't deserve one this good. Also, Blue Underground's treatment is typically immaculate and stylized, offering great insert artwork and DVD cover art, terrific trailer galleries, and a very nice widescreen picture and digital sound transfer. It's very difficult to complain about their work, even though "Uncle Sam" was not the hidden gem that I was hoping it would be. C-; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocketeer VHS; Brand: Billy Campbell; Review: Alarmingly over-budgeted (and overly marketed) film is essentially a stillborn tribute to the 1930s movie serial (this movie began life in 1982 and did not come out until 1991) and as such it is a hit and miss affair indeed. I have particularly fond memories of it from younger days, but analyzing the film now produces much more uncomfortable results for me. Cliff Secord is a stunt pilot with a beautiful girlfriend (the vivacious Jennifer Connelly, who was young and luscious here) and a helpful but wisecracking mechanic friend named Peevy, and they both become embroiled in a plot involving a secret Nazi agent, a bunch of gangsters, the F.B.I., Hollywood, and even Howard Hughes, all leading up to a sensational (but somewhat unspectacular) sequence aboard a zeppelin. To give anyway anymore about the plot would be utterly superfluous. Disney apparently believed that they had another "Indiana Jones" style hit upon their hands with this one (but like 1994's "The Shadow" and 1996's "The Phantom", the bomb was in the hatch from the point of conception), but the film is too clearly homogenized in the hopes of appealing to a kid-friendly market, and I usually would not complain about that aspect alone. However, in the case of "The Rocketeer", there is simply the case of too much studio tinkering, too many watered down dramatics, and not enough emphasis upon the visual excitement offered in the original Dave Stevens comic series (Bettie Page fans know what I'm referring to). In point of fact, "The Rocketeer" is an oddly slow-moving film, not uninteresting but awfully calculating, with not enough action or enough big thrills to keep the Indiana Jones crowd (let's face it, children essentially, be they young or old) on their toes. However, in time, the film may be more appreciated for its lavish production design, and really, as something to simply look at and admire, the film is successful in many ways. Perhaps if it had not been marketed as an action film it would have done better than it did upon its initial release, but again, in time, it may prove to be an enjoyable entertainment for the performances alone: Terry O'Quinn is great as Howard Hughes, Timothy Dalton is really on with his Errol Flynn-type role, and Tiny Ron Taylor (doing something of an impression of Rondo Hatton's character from pictures such as Universal's "House of Horrors" from 1946) really do help to keep the film in conversation with movies of the past, and I admire it for attempting to have a dialogue with old movie serials and utilizing the references to the stories of these golden (or silver, you fill in your own element) age movie stars. But the travesty of all this is that the film might have been more substantial had the trio of Stevens/De Meo/Bilson been able to get some funding to produce the film as a low-budget, black and white experiment as they had initially intended to--it too may not have been great, but I think it would have been interesting. Still, despite Disney's disappointment; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gymkata VHS; Brand: Kurt Thomas; Review: Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas kicks, whips, chips, chops, and shackle-hoofs his way through a rather cardboard script in the film "Gymkata", which uses a little read novel called "The Terrible Game" by Dan Tyler Moore (I know it's little read because I still haven't read it!) as a springboard for a non-stop martial arts chaos fest, and the results are fun if terribly insubstantial. But really, do you crave a script very much in a movie filled with this much chase, violence, and thrilling action? This is one of those action/martial arts pictures that was shown on TBS back in the good ol' days (when films like "Bloodsport" and "I Come in Peace" were on every other day), so I have partially fond memories of it; however, I have to say that it is crammed with wall-to-wall music and noisiness after hearing it on the DVD transfer, and it is a loud and fast moving romp (not to be taken completely seriously, but it's patriotism and ambitions are in the right place). I was positively exhausted after watching all of the non-stop action in this one, so it may be too much of a good thing, but in many ways I still like it a lot, as a go-for-broke martial arts/Olympic medalist kind of B-movie example (I do like the way that the film looks), and it calls to mind other non-stop chase/fight movies such as the pedal-to-the-medal action of "Game of Death II" (a Bruceploitation classic). As for the Warner Brothers issued DVD, there is a very noisy (but not extremely clean) soundtrack transfer, and the picture is a good enough quality to pass for an Amazon.com distribution poll (reminds of Edgar Wright demanding that they release "Super Cops" on DVD because otherwise there would be a serious re-release injustice taking place). Alright guys, since Amazon.com is getting into the movie business now, who is going to be the first to write a sequel to "Gymkata"? C'mon, any takers? (A theatrical trailer is included.) C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Barb Wire VHS; Brand: Pamela Anderson; Review: Regardless of your politics on good acting and what the skeptics refer to as the old "t and a" quotient, there is no denying the visual beauty that Pamela Anderson (in her heyday) brings to this magnificently silly screenplay; and, if you can get through the first ten minutes of this "unrated" version without rewinding twenty times to re-watch, then you deserve a medal for self-control! In actuality though, the film is probably not as erotic as all that--Pam's upper half is on display quite a bit, but there's nothing hardcore about this movie. In fact, if you watch past that open scene for very long, you will find a ridiculously campy and incomplete narrative--Ebert gave the film a passing mark (if I am remembering this correctly) but he co-wrote "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls", so what did he know? I'll tell you what he did know, and that was the look of a beautiful woman--and Pam certainly fits that bill. It's tragic to me that her career never really worked in a respectable sense; sure, she was no great actress, but she could have done better than movies that tended to ridicule her instead of giving her an opportunity to branch out (and I don't mean pornographic roles!). I have always adored her, despite her disreputable moments and the shameful press that seems to follow her around doggedly. The movie tries to keep up the action quite well, but I'm so distracted by Pam and that blonde hair that I can't critique too much else of any substantial interest. The "unrated" DVD version is good enough with its picture and sound presentation and there are a few extras included, but essentially you must buy this if you like Pam, and her beauty overwhelms pretty much everything else here. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zombie VHS; Brand: ; Review: Fulci's "Zombie" (actually "Zombie 2") is actually a genuinely scary movie, one of the better zombie pictures to emerge from the gates of Hell from which they come (how's that for some hyperbole?). Blue Underground has done a great job with this transfer, as the picture and sound are absolutely fantastic here. The film makes the zombie mythology work for me--exotic locations, Haitian rituals, appropriate music, a lot of gore, and some very beautiful women on display--some clothed, some not! It certainly qualifies as a fun horror movie, with my only criticism being that some of the violence is difficult to watch and over-the-top, but it's a zombie picture and not a kid's film so I will try to meet it halfway on that count. Unfortunately, this copy does not feature any extras other than the trailers and bios, but for a single copy of the movie itself, this was a good purchase (certainly not something that you see on TV movie channels every night). B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fathom; Brand: Anthony Franciosa; Review: Lightweight but highly enjoyable comedy/spy picture features every guy's favorite bikini-wearer Raquel Welch in a role that was clearly designed to exploit her, um, assets more than anything else involved in the movie, but what's wrong with that? Today's pictures really are intense, and not in emotionally positive ways either. Watching this offering from 1967, it is easy to see why it's so enjoyable, nowadays especially. Watching Raquel strut around in that little green bikini, it's hard to focus on the aspects of the movie, but as a spy plot it's not that bad at all--just don't expect this to add up to very much content wise. But let's be honest here. What we really watch movies like this for are the scenery, and there is plenty of that kind of visual splendor on display here, from the great outdoors to the beautiful women (but it's mainly Raquel's show, no complaints from me). Visually, it's an amazing movie. Also, there is a bit of violence since it's a spy movie, but it's a movie that almost anyone can watch and not be emotionally taxed by. Larry Forrester's novel "Fathom Heavensent" was apparently never published (according to Wikipedia) but his initial book "A Girl Called Fathom" is probably still available at used bookstores (if you happen to be interested in this character). The picture and sound on the DVD is very good indeed, it all seems clear enough to me. I only wish that Fox would release other hard to find titles from this period, such as "Hello Goodbye", "Justine," "The Secret Life of an American Wife," and others. Still, Raquel has never looked as vivacious as she does here, and this a movie that can be enjoyed anytime. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anniversary Series - Wolf - 20th Anniversary; Brand: Jack Nicholson; Review: Sophisticated entry in the Mike Nichols canon features intriguing performances by James Spader, Michelle Pfeiffer, and especially Jack Nicholson, who oddly enough stays fairly tight in the role of a New England-based book editor who happens to have a "Misery"-style accident on his way home one night and ends up hitting a wolf. But not just any wolf--this one has issues. Issues that he longs to give to someone else. And Nicholson is the candidate. The rest that unfolds reveals nothing significantly new added to the werewolf genre, save for the fact that these wolves are actually wolves and not, ultimately, human/werewolf hybrids which is what horror genre fans are used to. But Nichols's film is not horror but instead a dramatic mystery tale, and as such it is blazingly effective (and yes, the film is humorous at times too). The period in the early 90's (which featured films like "The Age of Innocence", "Batman Returns," "Bram Stoker's Dracula," among others) featured really entertaining movies that tended to play around with the confines of genre; while this film toys with some of the established mythology of traditional werewolf lore, the most significant change is that lycanthropy (as depicted herein) is no longer treated as something tragic but rather as something to be desired--something akin to a gift (though Nicholson says one character would rather be "damned" than to die, it is clear what the message is when this character asks Nicholson to help give him immortality anyway). If you feel you are getting into "Twilight" territory with this movie, let me correct you now by saying that this is not a juvenile film that aims to have pointless characters running around doing supernatural things when they should be focused upon character and story--"Wolf" is really a carefully composed drama that happens to contain some werewolf myth in its story. When literary and film critic Leonard Wolf wrote of the Coppola Dracula film from 1992, he mentioned that the film really proved how secular (in a cultural sense) that present day mythology had become, and in many ways, the mature, subdued, and wisely inconsistent "Wolf" goes in a very similar direction, proving that you don't need a belief in the supernatural in order to enjoy a great werewolf tale. And this, I think, is what troubled Leonard Wolf--there is a lack of piousness and quixotic reverence for things supernatural in a world that has lost a need to tell stories that are fantastic ("Wolf", to me, says that humans are capable of being evil, but NOT werewolves themselves--if one is bitten by a werewolf, this doesn't mean that one will become "wicked" any longer necessarily...now this is a subtle shift for the genre, but it does change the nature of fear while simultaneously offering a newer perspective upon Nature as being benevolent rather than hostile, and it also eradicates the notion that it is the Nature inside of Man which makes him evil). In the movie "Wolf", we can't depend upon the old laws of religious instruction or superstition to tell us who; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bluebeard; Brand: Richard Burton; Review: Fabulously mounted but not always joyous quasi-adaptation of the legendary fairy tale villain's biography (this is NOT Charles Perrault, just in case you are wondering) features a tiresome but stern Richard Burton soaking up the scenery (this movie's eye-filling buxom ladies, I mean) and murdering every wife he manages to seduce--is he impotent or just insane? Or both? Most likely you won't really care, because it's the outdoor scenery and the beautiful (and international) cast of drool-worthy women that make Dmytryk's "Bluebeard" such a visual delight. Richard Burton never accepted the best acting roles for his career, but boy he sure knew which parts were going to have the most sexy women (just think about how many gorgeous females were in this guy's pictures)! Other than a "tutorial" scene (involving the luscious Sybil Danning) that ends in a grisly fashion, there is not an excess of sexual situations in the movie, but there is nudity, and of course if you're offended by anything it will probably be Burton's personality as this character (or his acting). The original fairy tale (folk tale) was a misogynistic warning to newly wedded wives to keep their noses out of their husbands's business (because he is probably up to some sneaky, private affairs, and it's best if women don't know about it-but it's okay, because he is a man and he has a right to be nasty!), and this film is equally misogynistic in tone (women and animals are mistreated equally). Therefore, it's difficult to say how this film might play before an audience today, but I suspect that there may be a few raised eyebrows (if not walk-outs) during the screening. (Of course, to me, being offended by randy material in a fiction film is the equivalent of getting pissed off when someone puts an extra dollop of ice cream onto your cone, but that's just my jollies talking.) Although as a movie it's best to appreciate it for the beautiful women and camera work, on a side point I have to say that the screenwriters didn't do a very good job at filling in the biography of the Bluebeard figure. Audiences still do not get a real clue as to why he possesses such out-of-date ideals and has to exercise a sense of brutal control (although the writers hint at the fact that he has Norman Bates-like mother issues, the opportunity to create an inventive fictional biography of the character was lost, and therefore again it becomes a simple film that one watches mainly for the ladies on display). This DVD looks gorgeous--it's Lionsgate's typically wonderful picture and sound transfer, and this is a good Widescreen print indeed, especially for a 1972 picture. There is a scene of animal slaughtering near the beginning (by a hunting party) that nearly put me off, but the surplus of beautiful women coming after it saves the picture--but Burton and the rest appear to be hard on animals, so know that before you watch this (I'm sensitive to this aspect of movies, although I believe the killings were simulated).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Anxiety VHS; Brand: Mel Brooks; Review: Unnecessary but undeniably funny Mel Brooks movie is, ironically, one that can be watched over and over, a film which translates rather dark and seedy subject matter into absolutely outrageous comedy. Not quite as lighthearted as other Brooks movies, but equally as lightweight, this one features a great cast (check out Rudy De Luca as a psycho assassin!) and proves that any movie with Ernest T. Bass in it (okay, Howard Morris) is going to be funny no matter how much its total sum adds up to. In fact, the ensemble cast all works incredibly well with what they are given to do (especially Harvey Korman and an absolutely outrageous looking Cloris Leachman, who is sensational here) and Brooks himself even does capably well in the lead role (his performance walks the tightrope between glib delivery and astute comedic restraint). Really, it's another great older comedy movie to watch along with "The Man with Bogart's Face" and "The Black Bird" (among others) if you are in the mood for some macabre (or mystery film parody) humor. "High Anxiety" proved that Brooks could handle low-budgets and turn a box-office profit at that time of the film's release--reportedly, it made back its initial budget many times over in box office earnings. The film is very funny though, and despite the fact that it is not so much about Hitchcock reverence as it is its own cinematic animal, Brooks does a fine job building suspense in a story that has no desire to be taken seriously at all. And on this level "High Anxiety" is an easy film to take seriously as a major attempt at film comedy. If it's to your taste, then you'll love it. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood - Men in Tights VHS; Brand: Cary Elwes; Review: Funny but far too sequenced comedy from Mel Brooks warrants a review due to the wonderful comic performance of Richard Lewis, whose amusingly effective parody of the Prince John baddie-type is worth the admission price alone. The rest of the cast does quite well in general, but the script that they are given is a true hit-and-miss affair (a clichd phrase, but appropriate here). However, the rest of the film is made up of moderately funny periodic moments, some of which stick in the mind, others of which fall reasonably flat, but I can say that this film will stand the test of time far better than the Kevin Costner interpretation which it is unabashedly inspired by. Although it is only me nit-picking as a critic, I must point out that the scripts for Brooks's films are typically constructed of spare parts taken from outrageous jokes, humorous sight gags, and various knee-slappers that ultimately add up to feature-length movies that end up feeling merely like a bunch of juvenile skits tied together (rather than a more mature approach to comedy in which the humor is built into the story, Brooks's movies are full-tilt parody from first frame to the last). Although to my taste the film is only intermittently successful, I still appreciate a lot of the movie's humor. But it's not quite as successful as the earlier Mel Brooks comedy films overall. Again, it seems to me that Mel is more valuable as a producer (and maybe screenwriter) than he is as a director, but when the public comes to expect such shenanigans from him as a filmmaker, what else can he do really? Finally, after the devastating cancellation of his short-lived 1970s TV show "When Things Were Rotten", Mel Brooks has been able to restore his vision of Robin Hood to the cinematic world once and for all. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone Fishin VHS; Brand: Joe Pesci; Review: Idiotic film about two childhood friends who are now even more inept as "grown-ups" dead-set upon completing a fishing trip to the Everglades...but as you have probably already guessed, there is some murder, stolen money, and disastrous mishaps included. None of which, sadly enough, are funny in any way. I really did want to like this one. In general, the setup is not at all bad, but the script needed about twelve more rewrites. If you enjoy watching Pesci kick a (rubber?) alligator in the gut then this is your idea of good fun. The fault undoubtedly lies with J. J. Abrams's increasingly juvenile screenplay, and while some scenes are memorable (Gus using the blow-drier in the dead of night, for example) most are simply forgettable exercises in attempted lightweight comedy. At least it's clean and suitable for all ages, but as I have seen far too often, this doesn't ensure that it's going to be a good movie. Not by a long shot. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Conversation; Brand: Gene Hackman; Review: Intellectually empty film about a surveillance expert who records what may be a murder plot through his sound equipment--and as far as the plot and/or story goes, that's it. No, I mean, that's really it. Everything else surrounding the film reveals a moral and emotional breakdown on behalf of the Gene Hackman character (don't forget it's clever here, he's named Harry Caul after all), but his paranoia and self-doubt soon becomes a nuisance for all lovers of 1970's fiction films. Overly praised and under-plotted film is supposedly one of the major cinematic golden eggs that Coppola laid in his early career, but it is a nausea-inducing and spoiled-tasting affair. Sadly, there is so little cinematic scope to any of this; it's dangerously low-budget, claustrophobic, and too pretentious for its own good. Undoubtedly a thought experiment by Coppola that simply does not work, I can understand why certain reviewers are finding the movie intensely difficult to muster (or, let's be honest, even sit through). I do love the 70's movies, but this one is really a defunct project from the beginning and I can find no redeeming value to any of it. It's too bad that so many critics and viewers have been fooled by this one. As interesting as the film's comments about privacy may have been at the time of its initial release, it soon becomes clear that Coppola's film really has no ideas to discuss at all, and its anti-entertainment agenda is too heavy for its own good. I have seen lawn-mowing competitions that are more entertaining than this picture. As an added insult, the DVD features an absolutely worthless making of clunker entitled "Close Up on The Conversation", a historian's guffaw moment as it reveals nothing except for the fact that Coppola liked to sit around shaking his feet on a stool while smiling like a lunatic at the camera. The DVD also includes a moderately informative commentary by the director, but if you feel compelled to listen to all of this then you had better check your pulse in the process. Leonard Maltin's movie and video guide raved and raved about this one in its four-star review. Hopefully, no one else will be taken in by this lethargic, under-written pap. Hackman gives one of the most intense non-performances that you will (hopefully not) ever see in the movies (he plays this way too straight for my taste). You're better off finding a copy of Antonioni's "Blow-Up", an equally bad (but less litigious) film. This is not homage Mr. Coppola, it's merely crap. I hope I can muster the fortitude to check out Coppola's silly vampire "drecksterpiece" entitled "Twixt," but I am not intellectually prepared to take that step now that I've sat through "The Conversation." It's a shame that Coppola did not film the project as a comedy instead, which I suspect may have been the film's original ambition (now this is one Mystery Science Theater episode that I'd actually watch). F+; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Breakdown VHS; Brand: Kurt Russell; Review: 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.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Species; Brand: Natasha Henstridge; Review: Time-wasting enterprise features a nifty little sf premise about extraterrestrial life on Earth, a premise that unfortunately lacks any plot or story to follow up its rather threadbare antics with. Sadly, what plot there is seems to have had a great amount of potential but it has been reduced to a mere skin-fest (not that I'm complaining about Natasha) that has little to redeem its potentially intriguing setup. It appears to me that Dennis Feldman's original story began life with some tremendous ideas, and then thanks to so much rewriting and tinkering (probably by the studio geniuses who got involved) his concepts became so watered down that there was little vitality left to any of the ones that survived these revisions. While Henstridge is a glorious visual treat, the only other aspect of the film that registers is the awe-inspiring designs of the phantasmagorical H. R. Giger, whose "train" design is the stuff of pure nightmare. Still, his "Alien"-clone model at the film's end doesn't redeem a script featuring such trite and imbecilic characters, such thin storytelling, and such poor cinematic drive--plus, the alien is a bit too CGI-enhanced for my judgment, something that the original 1979 "Alien" creature certainly was not. It could have been a new addition to the science fiction movie canon, but as it stands now "Species" is merely a dud that never hatched. Of all the potential big money dollar Hollywood remakes that are on deck, this is the number one title that deserves to be first in line (alongside rewrites of Larry Cohen's "Q: the Winged Serpent", and the original German version of "Horrors of Spider Island", which could actually be intensely sexy if done correctly). Visually, "Species" is not completely devoid of interest, but it is a major disappointment overall. In fact, if you are interested in the story itself, I suggest you get hold of a copy of Yvonne Navarro's novelization; apparently it was written with Feldman's close cooperation, and it contains more content and details than this incomplete screenplay version. The extras on the disc are worth seeing--especially the one featuring the making of Giger's alien designs for the movie in which we are given a virtual tour of his creative workshop (now this guy has one of the most operative minds working in the arena of fantasy art and film), but the others are only moderately interesting depending upon how much you actually enjoy the film. There are intriguing things to look for, but if you are a genre enthusiast, you'll most likely find something else to watch soon enough. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Exorcist III; Brand: George C. Scott; Review: A plague upon all thriller/horror film franchises is that audiences expect to be fed more of the same with each subsequent entry, and creators cannot wait to confound and divert expectations but often end up with cold shoulders instead of warm receptions (just ask John Carpenter). In truth, there was no real way to follow up what William Friedkin did with 1973's "The Exorcist" whether or not you love it or hate it (think it's a good movie or think it's a bad movie) but under any prime judgment it was not the kind of film that either warranted or setup a sequel. Then, the world was introduced to the humanist/fantasist visions of British director John Boorman who wowed (or at least disturbed) the movie world with "Exorcist 2: the Heretic," a film that carried little (if any) of the threat-inducing unpleasantness and naughtiness of the Friedkin original, and audiences could not see what the point was due to the film's failure as a true exploitation venture. The Boorman film is still shocking to critics--it employed an unusual choice for its director, it relied upon the sexiness of a young Linda Blair for its main appeal, it gave a wobbly Richard Burton a big paycheck but no essential role with any meat on it, and it gave composer Ennio Morricone the opportunity to create some unusual soundscapes inspired by the weird but hardly frightening narrative (and really, Boorman's film is the most beautiful of the series, what with cinematographer William A. Fraker's amazing lighting work alongside close-ups of Linda's pretty face, but its sense of aesthetic quality minus true on screen shocks alarmed many at the time of its release). In 1980, William Blatty (whose choice of a career in the entertainment business is still unusual even though it was always a dream of his to be involved in movies, and in book publishing to boot), whose thrilling and ultimately terrifying novel began the exorcism craze in popular culture, released his "official" follow-up to "The Exorcist" with (I think the rather brilliant) "The Ninth Configuration", a film that will either change your life or leave you scratching your head saying "how could anyone ever like this crap (?)"--but the bottom line is, "The Ninth Configuration" did not connect with its intended audience at all, but to me this only proved how challenging (and self-assured) of a filmmaker that Blatty had actually become (though he was known as a writer and literary figure after the novel came out, Blatty's old stomping grounds had actually been screenwriting and film productions, I suspect with an eye towards theater). He ultimately proved with "The Ninth..." that his vision was more idiosyncratic and less simplistic than some realized after watching the movie known as 'the one.' "The Exorcist 3" does not really belong to the horror genre at all but instead to the psychology mystery/thriller genre, and the fact that Blatty attempted to have the project setup as a TV series first certainly makes it easier to understand the "Matlock"/"Night Stalker" combination of aesthetics that are at; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eraser VHS; Brand: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Review: Fast paced and intriguing Schwarzenegger vehicle that follows Arnold as a U. S. Marshall (in a role that thankfully wasn't offered to Tommy Lee Jones) who helps people "disappear" for the WITSEC and ends up getting involved with a senior executive (Williams) for a defense contractor who is not playing fair in the game of protecting the United States. Some unnecessary interjection of CGI effects almost spoils the taste of what is an otherwise very exciting action film, with one hair-raising sequence following another, with the prerequisite blood and violence thrown in for good measure. Schwarzenegger is very watchable here, and Vanessa Williams gives a rather underwritten role some credibility with her onscreen presence. So quickly paced and intense that one is willing (hopefully) to overlook the inconsistencies in its plot. James Caan is chilling, however, in the most villainous role he's played (in my opinion). Stand under the light of ignorance too long and you will always be seen, but don't let anyone fool you: this is not a boring, glorified episode of "Law and Order", but like those who think of the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" as a routine 'slasher film', those who see Arnold's name above the title might think it predictable, but in final analysis it is quite exciting and even surprising. No doubt the script doctoring of the multi-lingual, hyper-educated, and sensibly well read Walon Green helped strengthen the proceedings in this case. B-; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Soldier; Brand: Kurt Russell; Review: Talk about a case of intellectual constipation! Apparently, David Webb Peoples's original script had been sitting atop the desk of an executive who scratched his head and stared at it for over fifteen years before deciding not to slide it off into the waste basket. Thus, when the hands of the gods began to move in the script's favor, Kurt Russell came aboard to reign in the box office receipts worldwide but the film can only be what it is--and in my estimation, it's not much. Considering the script's DNA and its inherent biological relation to the 1982 gem "Blade Runner," it is oddly unremarkable that Paul W. S. Anderson was attached to direct this instead of a director who could capably handle the fantasy aspects of futuristic movies (a la Mr. Scott). But the moronic, speedy Gonzales-inspired framing of "Soldier" recalls the furious dolt-mentality of "Starship Troopers" more so than it does the effervescent "Blade Runner", and there is so much violence and brutality (both aimed at and also issued by Russell's intentionally dummied up character) that it makes a sensitive viewer long for the poetry and level headedness of the Harrison Ford vehicle. It is my advice to those screenwriters wishing to "make it" in the industry that they study seriously the career of David Webb Peoples. Learning of the many battles that this man has had to fight over the years ("Unforgiven," "The Blood of Heroes", "Ladyhawke", "Twelve Monkeys", etc. to mention only a handful) is a thoroughly sobering lesson for all. Still, as slim as its chances are of being taken seriously by science fiction film historians, "Soldier" (where are you Harlan Ellison, they took your title!) remains a watchable film for the sheer physicality of Russell's performance, and for the general interest that is insinuated in its original script. But be warned, I suspect that very little of that script remained at the time the cameras stopped popping and clicking off--it becomes a hideously over the top special effects shriek show much more than an actual intelligent movie. But if you like ridiculous action spectacles, this one will pass a Saturday night like a pebble through a garden hose. Unfortunately the film is flashy without displaying any real visual sense of imagination that could elevate beyond a level of routine action adventure (here, the future is merely furniture rather than being integral to the emotions of the story). The DVD is, as usual, an unspectacular effort; I would love to have heard an audio commentary from Peoples, or from a historian, someone. But, as such, we must be left to sort out these unending production mysteries by use of the strength of our perceptive imaginations alone. And yet in the case of "Soldier," I get the uneasy feeling that most involved are now simply too embarrassed to comment. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hollow Man; Brand: Elizabeth Shue; Review: Dreadful "reworking" of the standard Herbert George Wells invisibility idea finds Kevin Bacon as a research scientist who is tampering with an experimental invisibility formula in the hopes of finding away to make his light (and mind) bending project a success. Unfortunately, that is where the logic of the film begins and ends. Depressing effort from "Spetters" director Paul Verhoeven that actually makes one ponder the meaning behind its very existence, as nothing fresh or exciting is really added to this standard, worn out idea of the "invisible man as ghostly presence" concept. Some gorgeous female specimens on display cannot save this sadly exploitative film, with Bacon's character serving as a sadistic excuse to move around raping women and terrorizing his fellow nerds (other than the Bacon character's alleged sadism--which I did not buy from him as an actor, by the way--there is zero depth to this standard "bad guy" personality on screen). There is seriously nothing in this film that could not have been shot for a television movie instead, and Verhoeven is right in saying that any other filmmaker could have handled this content (I think, if you'll pardon me, better to boot). Some flamboyant special effects work, while far too heavy on the CGI, is somewhat memorable, but it is all to no avail since this story is hackneyed, routine, and surprisingly uninterested in its own ideas (which is the most heinous part, if you ask me). At the very least, the filmmakers could have tried to make it scary in some way, but as such it as a fairly D.O.A. affair. Hollywood poured an absurdly misspent amount of money into this fairly illiterate extravaganza; even if the director had the print taken from him by distributors and suffered the loss of his initial vision, I suspect that the real fault here lies in Gary Scott Thompson's "original" screen story (which is a pretty hollow-minded conception in and of itself). And the film's greatest transgression is that it simply isn't much fun, and not nearly as stunning as all that money should have made it. But, as Randy Newman might say, you've got to have a hollow woman when you're a hollow man! And in that respect, the lovely Elizabeth Shue might be the best thing about this picture, but even that is only half of a compliment. D-; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Collateral Damage VHS; Brand: ; Review: Ridiculous actioner features the usually reliable (except among movie snobs) Arnold Schwarzenegger as a hard-working fireman whose wife and child are attacked by a fanatical Columbian terrorist Claudio Perrini, and who then ends up pursuing his family's attackers by boat and plane and everything in between in order to revenge those who were taken from him for reasons that he doesn't entirely grasp. The rest is all parlor tricks as Arnold pursues the baddies, which includes some unusual but oddly dry violence and a strange employment of a "coral" snake (let me just say that this scene will be pretty hard for most viewers to swallow). In any case, this action movie is not as much fun as it should be; despite the grim, real world issues of terrorism that it incorporates into its plot, it is perhaps too serious in its adventure efforts to emerge as a convincing portrait of revenge. Rather than take the opportunity to properly satirize terrorism in its geographical context and attempt to tell an actual story, Andrew ("I directed 'Under Siege' and you didn't!") Davis instead puts poor Schwarzenegger through the motions of a routine action picture, and the strange thing is that it might have worked had the picture had a better script (credit, or, rather, discredit the screenwriters David Griffiths and Ronald Roose for this thoroughly inane dialogue and unconvincing plotting). Tragically, a solid action film seems to have been in the works at one point, but all film lovers (historians, critics, consultants, distributors) should pay heed to the warnings offered by anti-war activist Stan Goff and his opinion about this attempted film--if you can read anything that he has written about his experiences being a consultant for this movie, it may just change your mind about the old Hollywood meat grinder approach to filmmaking and its insidious marketing worshipping techniques. Goff seemed particularly hurt by the outcome of the rather routine proceedings, and the movie, when all is said and done, is too heavy on the top and too light on the bottom to register any genuine credibility for me. There is a "twist" that occurs near the end that would make Captain Obvious sit up and boo at the screen for its unabashed ignorance (however, judging from the box office grosses, Western audiences actually enjoy being insulted without complaining about it, but hey, if you are willing to pay for the privilege...) The Warner DVD is saddled with many extras, which makes little to no sense given the "doh!" reaction to the film from critics and audiences (and especially from the hideously disrespected Goff). The "Behind the Scenes" and "Hero in a New Era" extras offer some insights into the making of the picture, but they are not revealing at all in terms of how the 'hero' in American film is going to rise up against the overwhelming forces of terrorism and anti-American sentiments and take back the country from the misguided and ill-informed youth. Additional scenes are worthwhile, but only if you really like the movie. Lastly, Davis's lengthy commentary track; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 3:10 to Yuma [Theatrical Release]; Brand: ; Review: James Mangold (that's Man and Gold combined, whom you either know from "Walk the Line" or "Copland") directed this competent remake (or more accurately, a reimaging) of the 1957 film of this title (both of which use the short story by Elmore Leonard as their starting point), a blood and fire Western that combines the best elements of both high drama and low-brow gunfight serials. Even though he is not (as he proclaims himself to be) "the greatest actor in the world," Russell Crowe is a fairly subdued performer here, offering a competitive but nonetheless relaxed effort at playing Ben Wade, a brutal but not entirely antagonist robber and murderer of the West. To describe what happens between him and quasi-disabled rancher Dan Evans as they end up journeying to the town of Contention to wait for the 3:10 train to Yuma would deprive you of the urge to watch the film itself. What I can say is that there seems to have been a philosophical realignment of values this time, with the "pulp" ambitions of the original story changed somewhat for this screen adaptation; rather than a mere fiction, "3:10 to Yuma" makes some serious points about family, the idea of manhood, and the wasted efforts at revenge. Though the film has a downbeat conclusion, there is some sense of vindication in the ending, with Crowe's character taking a surprising turn indeed. Undoubtedly too heavy morally and too packed with drama to revitalize the real genre of the Western as it used to exist in film and in literary magazines, Mangold's film is in many ways head and shoulders above the other offerings spewed out by Hollywood's poop culture machine. If you are in the mood for action, you'll love it, but expect some heavy emotions along the way. Extras include a fine audio commentary by the director, and a couple of simple 'making ofs' that explore how the meat was made. Also of note is the cast, including a sullied Peter Fonda doing a great turn as an aging lawman. Definitely a film worth considering, and even the usually intolerable Bale makes an 'A' for effort here. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: I, The Jury VHS; Brand: Armand Assante; Review: TV-like in scope, but cinematic enough in its flavor, Richard T. Heffron's film of the old Mickey Spillane crime potboiler is in many ways a very good movie to watch. And by this, I mean that there is plenty to see here: beautiful naked Playmate-like women, a bizarre sex clinic scenario, a few chillingly violent murder scenes, some rampaging car chases, Armand Assante toting a M-16 rifle while chasing down bad guys, and a steamy as winter windows love scene between the gorgeous Barbara Carrera and Assante. Visually, the picture offers much, but story wise, it seems to go for an "I'm too sexy for my script" approach and loses some of the menace that came with earlier black and white films involving the Hammer character. In fact, it seems in the end that "I, the Jury" depends upon the sexual appeal of its great cast more so than it does a commitment to Spillane's grim source material, despite the fact that the film has some slasher-movie moments and some harrowing chases that attempt to elevate it beyond the usual erotic thriller film. Nonetheless, the movie is a quality mystery in many ways, making a good double feature with something like "The Big Sleep," or "The Man with Bogart's Face," or even the old Mitchum sleeper "Farewell, My Lovely." Beginning life as a screenplay composed by Larry Cohen, the production's troubled history is documented elsewhere, but I enjoy this final remnant of the American Cinema company--despite the fact that films like "The Octagon" and "Dogs" aren't necessarily on the higher end of film preservation lists, American Cinema did give the world many memorable titles...despite its ultimate corruption of Cohen's written material, I doubt that it was ever possible to "miscast" Mike Hammer (considering the fact that Ralph Meeker, Darren McGavin, Stacy Keach, and even author Spillane have essayed the role of the character at one time or another, on both the big and small screens). However, Assante does play Hammer a bit more flippantly than Robert Bray in 1957's "My Gun is Quick", for example, lacking the savagery and misanthropic detail that others put into him; yes, the picture is rushed, unrealized, and scattershot, but even though it may be a real loose canon of a film, it is still entertaining enough to register (no matter how "cheap" and inconsequential it may ultimately be). Still, "I, the Jury" is a good example of Hollywood ambition at its sexiest; Assante is attractive, the women are unbelievably hot, and the pacing is pretty intense. While the violence is not quite as graphic as I recalled in my memory, some of it is still pretty vicious (and I don't remember if the Fox Movie Channel version was a widescreen print or not), and this is an old-style detective picture that is better than any of the dehumanizing films that we are being fed today (sadly, there do not seem to be any good lone individual private eye movies being made of this caliber anymore). If you are offended by the nature of the film's graphic; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I, the Jury (Armand Assante); Brand: ; Review: TV-like in scope, but cinematic enough in its flavor, Richard T. Heffron's film of the old Mickey Spillane crime potboiler is in many ways a very good movie to watch. And by this, I mean that there is plenty to see here: beautiful naked Playmate-like women, a bizarre sex clinic scenario, a few chillingly violent murder scenes, some rampaging car chases, Armand Assante toting a M-16 rifle while chasing down bad guys, and a steamy as winter windows love scene between the gorgeous Barbara Carrera and Assante. Visually, the picture offers much, but story wise, it seems to go for an "I'm too sexy for my script" approach and loses some of the menace that came with earlier black and white films involving the Hammer character. In fact, it seems in the end that "I, the Jury" depends upon the sexual appeal of its great cast more so than it does a commitment to Spillane's grim source material, despite the fact that the film has some slasher-movie moments and some harrowing chases that attempt to elevate it beyond the usual erotic thriller film. Nonetheless, the movie is a quality mystery in many ways, making a good double feature with something like "The Big Sleep," or "The Man with Bogart's Face," or even the old Mitchum sleeper "Farewell, My Lovely." Beginning life as a screenplay composed by Larry Cohen, the production's troubled history is documented elsewhere, but I enjoy this final remnant of the American Cinema company--despite the fact that films like "The Octagon" and "Dogs" aren't necessarily on the higher end of film preservation lists, American Cinema did give the world many memorable titles...despite its ultimate corruption of Cohen's written material, I doubt that it was ever possible to "miscast" Mike Hammer (considering the fact that Ralph Meeker, Darren McGavin, Stacy Keach, and even author Spillane have essayed the role of the character at one time or another, on both the big and small screens). However, Assante does play Hammer a bit more flippantly than Robert Bray in 1957's "My Gun is Quick", for example, lacking the savagery and misanthropic detail that others put into him; yes, the picture is rushed, unrealized, and scattershot, but even though it may be a real loose canon of a film, it is still entertaining enough to register (no matter how "cheap" and inconsequential it may ultimately be). Still, "I, the Jury" is a good example of Hollywood ambition at its sexiest; Assante is attractive, the women are unbelievably hot, and the pacing is pretty intense. While the violence is not quite as graphic as I recalled in my memory, some of it is still pretty vicious (and I don't remember if the Fox Movie Channel version was a widescreen print or not), and this is an old-style detective picture that is better than any of the dehumanizing films that we are being fed today (sadly, there do not seem to be any good lone individual private eye movies being made of this caliber anymore). If you are offended by the nature of the film's graphic; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ordinary People VHS; Brand: Donald Sutherland; Review: Intellectually honest film is an emotionally brutalizing but powerfully acted narrative involving a young man's trials and tribulations at coming to grips with his earlier attempted suicide, and the loss of his brother--which he blames upon himself. The tragic loss is also something that his disaffected mother and non-confrontational father are finding difficult to deal with as well, to the point that the remaining family's wires of psychological connectivity are shown to be ever more fragile the more that time moves on without them. Director Robert Redford wrings nearly every ounce of power out of his strong supporting cast, including the appropriately flat Judd Hirsch and the astonishingly revealing Mary Tyler Moore (whose performance is a noteworthy example of how restraint can take a player into previously unexplored psychological territory). "Ordinary People" is a slow-moving picture that will not appeal to everyone, but it is very gripping and unusually sad once one takes the time to get invested in its characters. In age when video game movies seem to be replacing stories with real human characters and valuable humanistic insights--not to mention devaluing human life with these endless parades of onscreen violence--"Ordinary People" is a reminder that the common people in life have more to say about its urgency and meaning than those who are "above" the psychological stress that so easily fractures others. And in this way, "Ordinary People" is an essential film to watch and to learn from (especially for aspiring filmmakers, who need to understand that sensation is not the only path to travel). Although the film was deliriously over-praised upon its release--due in no small part to its Oscar sweep and unending media attention--"Ordinary People" survives thanks to the heartfelt performances and a story that becomes more engrossing and tragic as it progresses. Tragically, the Paramount DVD includes no extras to speak of (actually, an audio commentary by Judith Guest would have been welcomed, and why no retrospective?). Guest has been interviewed many times about the book and film, but there are no archival portraits offered here. The picture is fairly good on a widescreen TV, and the image is sharper on smaller screens. The sound is not spectacular, but it is passable for a film that has not yet received a decent treatment on home media as of yet (although Pachelbel's Cannon still sounds lovely). B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dressed to Kill VHS; Brand: Michael Caine; Review: While the climactic summary scene inside of the police station is so obviously lifted from the ending of Hitchcock's "Psycho" that it makes a film aesthete wonder aloud "seriously?", the beginning scenes and the characterizations are intriguing enough and even somewhat original in their framing that it is possible to give De Palma a fair hearing for this one I think. Be warned that the Blu Ray is the "Unrated" cut, which means that all of the filth that had been included in De Palma's original dialogue is now restored in this print--if you watch "Pulp Fiction" a lot, you won't even notice it, but some of the language is still pretty strong even for today. I did enjoy Angie Dickinson's performance (and yes, they used a double for those opening shots in the shower!), and while she is obviously a Marion Crane-type of character device used for the plotting, she adds a layer of subtlety to her performance that is actually quite good. And Michael Caine has finally met a director who understands how to use him properly on camera--in the past, I've always found Caine to be an annoying presence whenever he tries to carry the entire film himself, but in "Dressed to Kill" his performance is more mannerism than talk, and he delivers a far more subdued level of skill than I recall seeing from him before. Nancy Allen, though, proves to be the real knockout here (check out that black lingerie!), and her acting shows considerable strengths (even though De Palma had personal reasons for being skeptical of her casting). The quality of the Blu Ray presentation is detailed by other reviewers on here, so I will only add that the picture and sound are quite astonishing considering the age of this negative, with the sound coming through as being particularly lush. "Dressed to Kill" may not be the paradigm of screen originality (even its title is overly used!), but for suspense fans and fans of Brian De Palma, it is difficult to overlook even so. While "Blow Out" may be De Palma's major classic (John Lithgow made an even more intimidating villain figure in that one), "Dressed to Kill" is exciting in a visual way, with a camera that is ever seeking but never coming to the full knowledge of the narrative, with a deceptively perverted but still enjoyable aesthetic concerning the women in danger genre (that is still thought by many to be so disreputable). Feminists really hated men again after this one came out (the liberal press darling Harlan Ellison acted particularly babyish when writing his put-down about this fantasy-like film), but today De Palma's shocker looks almost classy in comparison to other horror films, and a lot more polished than it needed to be. Extras here are quite good for a film that may be more inconsequential to historical appreciation than most film collectors realize. The "Slashing Dressed to Kill" extra goes in depth about the conception, casting, producing, and marketing of the eventual film. Dickinson and Allen are both interviewed here extensively, as; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: It Follows; Brand: Maika Monroe; Review: Director David Robert Mitchell has been wowing the Illiterati with his new, supposedly fresh take on the zombie/ghoul genre, but for my money, the picture is simply another time killer, not worthy of the praise that it is currently being given. While the idea of seeing naked people isn't particularly frightening to me (well, okay, some I would most definitely NOT wish to see nude), the director of this film seems to think that naked people walking is the most chilling thing on planet Earth. But, what truly irks me about this story is the lack thereof--there is no narrative, no context, no mythology, no history, and ultimately no point. I hate to sound like the old fuddy duddy complaining about these youngins, but how can it be fun to watch a movie that is bled of any ideas? Even in print, John Carpenter has explained that his plotting behind the original "Halloween" (the main influence upon this film according to Mitchell himself) did NOT involve any ideas about teens who are having premarital sex being followed up by vengeful deaths as retribution. But Mitchell, since he is not telling a story here of any kind, is ultimately unable to avoid pushing that point down our horror hungry throats. And, sadly enough, if you are a tried and true horror fiction fan, you will understand instantly that "It Follows" is anything other than scary--unless, of course, you are a prepubescent young girl afraid of boring jump scares. No, I'm very sorry, but I don't think original film is going to survive by way of pictures like this one--in order for the horror genre to progress, we are going to need more stories, not more carp about how unoriginal that all the other ones are. While the cinematography of Mike Gioulakis is interesting initially, it becomes apparent soon enough that "It Follows" is intellectually bankrupt in its critiquing of other horror movies. And to add insult to injury, there is no ending! We are just supposed to rise from our seats and leave, believing that this damn "curse" just keeps going and going and going....Well, this one was made by tweens for teens, and if you aren't in that crowd, I'd suggest sticking with tried and true classics, such as "The Mummy" (1932), "I Spit on Your Grave" (1978), "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974), and "Jacob's Ladder"--there is something in each of those films to chill you to the bone. The only thing I did after "It Follows" was laugh a bit while leaving the theater, wondering aloud to myself why I talked myself into believing that it would be good. But the truth remains, the movies are dry of imagination and risks. Exhibit A, folks. Exhibit A. F+ P.S. Photographer Gregory Crewdson may be able to follow a lawsuit in accordance with Mitchell's blatant plagiarism of some of his photographs. If you look into his published book "Beneath the Roses," the similarities are quite plain indeed. It is interesting how everyone else seems to be overlooking this fact about this allegedly; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Miller's Crossing VHS; Brand: Gabriel Byrne; Review: The Coen Brothers have some fooled into thinking that they are significant filmmakers (pardon me while I chuckle) in today's age, but (as the failed novelists that they are in reality) they hoodwink the movie nerds into thinking that their screenplays are pieces of brilliance when in fact they are some of the most emotionally aloof, structurally confusing, and coldly photographed pictures in recent memory (please, let me tell you about the dark side first, okay?). And there is no screenplay more confusing than "Miller's Crossing," which actually uses the story's confusing aspects to its advantage--it's not that I don't understand what is going on, but I wonder why the Coen's try to mask the story's shallowness by making it so convoluted and empty intellectually? Albert Finney is of course very watchable here, and his performance is a bit like watching a hungry dog searching for a piece of ripe meat inside of a screenplay that only provides him with a few bits left on the bone. But at least the Coen Brothers do not try to hide their blatant sadism and intellectual grave-robbing. "Miller's Crossing" elevates violence to grim and severely unpleasant levels--teeth are loosened, there are brutal beatings and fist-fights that will make your jaw sore just by watching them, there are shoot-outs that would give Scorsese nightmares, and there are sadistic jokes (ranging from a man whacked in the chops with a chimney sweep to a man hurling up odious bile thinking that his ass may be grass in a matter of moments for not having done what he was supposed to, the ass) but the moment that takes the cake is when Finney blows the toes, feet, and chest biblits out of a gangster hit man with a tommy-gun that not once ever has to be reloaded. The Coen boys have an obsession with head wounds, and Finney gets in a good one here (as good as Storemare's headshot to the copper in "Fargo") against a hit man stalking him. Don't watch this one right after you eat--I forgot how brutal this one actually is and heck I like violent movies! As far as the film's story, there is nothing original here AT ALL, other than the style of the picture, and I confess that Barry Sonnenfeld's lush lighting and crisp cinematography is the picture's major selling point overall. But the movie merely pays lip service to Dashiell Hammett and James M. Cain rather than trying to seek out its own voice. Maybe the newer fans can get behind the Coen Brothers's "originality", but there are those of us who refuse to be fooled. However, there is a plus side to all of this. Marcia Gay Harden (as Verna) is drop dead gorgeous here--her lips and hair are incredible, and what a figure! She is easy upon the eyes and kept me watching. Another face worth mentioning is J. E. Freeman--he is an extraordinary film noir-type/gangster picture actor who truly has the menacing look and tall physique to make this particular character come to life. "Miller's Crossing" doesn't; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman:Mask of the Phantasm Spanish Edition VHS; Brand: Kevin Conroy; Review: The streets of a cinematic Gotham City will never look the same as they did back in 1993 (boy, were those the days of great superhero movies at the Cineplex, or what?) when the Radomski/Timm animation team and crew turned their skills towards a feature length episode of one of the Dark Knight's many adventures, and thereby illustrated for the world to see how a real animated picture was meant to be done. Between flashbacks of Bruce Wayne training for power to become the Dark Knight and present day scenes of his current troubles when an old flame of his returns to Gotham, "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" delves deeply into the emotions of Bruce Wayne and his complex psyche as he attempts to thwart a new menace in town and keep this new Phantom (whom everyone thinks is the Bat) from wiping out the city's mob kingpins (and the unraveling tale is a doozy, with both Batman and the Joker getting some bloody punches in at each other during the finale). When I first watched the picture, I felt that it was a bit too slow moving, and (when I was younger) I thought that the plot was a little complex considering how clever and punchy that the animated series episodes were. "Batman the Animated Series" (which aired from September 5, 1992 until September 15, 1995--to me, a very dark day, since this is still my favorite television show ever) is the best animated television show of all time (and, to me, the best of all time period), encompassing quality storytelling, shaped characterizations, literary and popular cultural references (that would have been above the heads of youngins), tremendous action, quick pacing, exciting villains, grippingly dark animation, and a thrilling sense of style and sensitivity that never allowed the show to become depressing or too black (there were colorful villains from the DC Comics library that visually recalled the ridiculous television program of the 60's with Adam West without compromising the integrity and serious mental imbalances of the villains themselves with a layer of adult-minded seriousness of tone that never destroyed the playful sensibility of good cartooning; also, the show was one of the only ones--if not THE only one--to really understand how fantasy storytelling works, combining surreal moments with realistic looking backgrounds and real human emotions). Sadly, perhaps due to a bum marketing campaign at the time and a rather hasty decision by Warner Brothers to release the film at the eleventh hour, "Mask of the Phantasm" crapped out at the movie theater, with even fans of the show missing it (I know this because I missed it when it first came out, and I watched the TV program religiously). Because the film was not intended for a big screen release, it plays tremendously well upon a home screen (as does the fantastic series itself). Now, at least, we have a DVD in which Alan Burnett's stinging story (assisted by Michael Reaves, Martin Pasko, and Paul Dini), Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm's amazing directing, Shirley Walker's energizing score, and especially the; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deep In The Darkness; Brand: Dean Stockwell; Review: Insidious thrills (and a few genuine scares) enliven what may have been a rather routine adaptation of Michael Laimo's "penny dreadful" novel of the same name, with Sean Patrick Thomas playing a city doctor who moves with his wife out to the country to run a private practice (have you heard this one before?) and finds out that the locals are demanding odd things from him and, when he refuses after a particularly grisly request, bad things start to get rough for him...but if I say much more, there's no point in watching it! I can only say that he should have been more suspicious of this move from the start, especially after his wife refuses to treat him like a human being after a time. All of it eventually leads to the doctor being asked to perform some strange miracles for a tribe of "Isolates" (which, I admit, could have gone into a more interesting place than where it eventually ends up), and ultimately cops out with a "Rosemary's Baby"-like finish...but this Chiller Network original is a lot more incisive (at least visually) than most of the horror and thriller pictures that are coming out at the movie houses. If there is a criticism that I must share, it is simply that networks like Chiller are coming into the trap of buying up titles and books that really are not being given enough time to gestate properly before making their entrance into the world of the airwaves (this script could have been improved upon but, to its credit--and I confess that I have not yet read Laimo's book--it is apparently a much stronger visual story than what was written in the source novel). The picture is not especially complicated (like a lot of other "mature" films today are trying to be) but it still seems to be using the old "let's scare 'em" aesthetic of the horror genre rather than trying to work towards being a genuine weird tale (on those terms, I would rather read "The White People" by Arthur Machen for the fifth time, or read Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" again). A reviewer on the Amazon website (on the NOVEL'S PAGE, not this one) known as Just InForm posted a review from abberanthology.com about the scientific implausibility inherent in Laimo's Leisure fiction novel, and I will reprint what the writer claimed below: "...Cayle is so absurdly unbelievable a doctor that I truly believe that Laimo did absolutely no research regarding the profession of his protagonist, whatsoever...How could I possibly assert such an accusation? Well, for starters, Cayle states he has a Ph. D. Alright. But, he'd still need a M.D., which he never says he has. Also, in one of the rare moments where Cayle talks about medical procedure, he refers to administering "a penicillin vaccine." Unfortunately, penicillin is an antibiotic, not a vaccine - one prevents disease, the other treats them. The most remarkable instance of Cayle's ineptitude (and evidence of Laimo's research, presumably, consisting of little more than a cursory Google search) comes during the; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Blessing; Brand: Maren Jensen; Review: Wes Craven has always been an enigma to me as a filmmaker. He has an academic background and he seems to put intellectual content into each of his new screenplay projects, but the resulting movies that he either writes or directs usually end up being intellectually shallow and only half-rewarding as scare film pieces--and scares are all that seem to make it into the final soup. Well, in the case of "Deadly Blessing", it was not Craven's original idea or screenplay, but his directorial hand seems to be grasping for a firm grip on the material throughout. "...Blessing" was written by Matthew Barr and Glenn M. Benest as an original script (that's "story" to the WGA), based upon a National Geographic article about the Amish (don't laugh) and their peculiar anti-society living methods, and the idea was to write an independent horror film since Barr had always been an aspiring filmmaker and Benest had a background in poetry writing and theater. Still, it's a shame that Craven's reworking of their initial draft (he claimed that their were "structural problems" when he spoke rather dismissively about the original story on the audio commentary track offered here) seems to have diluted their main source of ideas--I have no idea what the original hand-written script contained, but I have an inkling that the resulting picture is quite a bit removed from its initial source play. Craven's movies are always interesting conceptually, but sometimes the resulting films themselves are a little lacking. "Deadly Blessing" is something like a murder mystery film that feels as if a tacked on shock ending were included merely for the purpose of getting more die-hard horror fans into the theaters to rally behind it--the tactic didn't work, since "Deadly Blessing" almost immediately fell between the sheets of cinematic obscurity. Although Craven complains in the audio commentary that the women are "too glamorous" (and there is a bit of nudity on behalf of actress Maren Jensen--what a little hottie!), I think it is by now obvious that the three beautiful leads are what sell this picture, and even the lovely Lois Nettleton turns in a solid performance here as yet another pretty face on display (she was in a "Twilight Zone" episode, and I think even a "Night Gallery" or two...). Anyway, if you don't like spiders and snakes in your movies (and some gore), "Deadly Blessing" will not be for you, but for the most part it is a clever horror film, suspenseful, uneasy, and inventive, with an apostate son returning to his Hittite family in the middle of nowhere, which sets off a chain of events that lead to the unraveling of a strange murder mystery case. Although the plot can be a bit confusing for a horror film, James Horner's chilling and choir-driven score gives this one a proper layer of menace that it may not have had otherwise. The extras on this Scream Factory disc are typically impressive and prove to me once again why it is never a waste of time or money to invest in their; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: White Line Fever - 40th Anniversary Series; Brand: Jan-Michael Vincent; Review: Jonathan Kaplan's 1975 action favorite features the then up-and-coming actor Jan Michael Vincent as an independent-minded trucker who battles corporate corruption and anti-union delegates as he attempts to create a dream life for his family but can't stop getting in trouble with those who want to see his rebellious spirit crushed. A rather convoluted plot for a mid-70's action picture, Kaplan goes overboard on a few of the set pieces, but the film is exciting, action packed, and it has a positive working class message that supports integrity rather than compromise. A real movie from the days when films drew in real actors and used real 35 mm and 75 mm lens cameras, "White Line Fever" is a forgotten drive-in favorite now (how's that for a paradox?), but if you love B-movies or action movies, Kaplan's film still has much to recommend it to audiences today. The great supporting cast includes L. Q. Jones, Slim Pickens, R. G. Armstrong, and even Martin Kove, all of whom do a superb job playing their old reliable roles as crooked hoods and dirty villains. Old-fashioned, and more TV-like rather than cinema-like in scope, "White Line Fever" is fun simply because its style and sense of pacing is of the kind that viewers simply will not see anymore. The Mill Creek DVD is, as others have stated, bare bones, but the picture is not bad and the sound transfer is better than I expected. In summary, if you are an action movie fan, get it. We probably won't see pictures like this one again. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Van Damme: Four-Feature Film Set (Hard Target / Lionheart / Sudden Death / The Quest); Brand: Jean-Claude Van Damme; Review: For my money, this is a two good/two mediocre set, but worth the very decent price if you are a fan of Van Damme and want to see some quality action movie vehicles. You wouldn't be after these if you don't already realize what you are in for but, for my taste, the price alone makes this set a more than sustainable purchase. I will review each film separately in the set and offer my opinions: "Hard Target" (Universal, 1993, John Woo) -- 2 stars out of 5 Supposedly one of the "better" action pictures that starred Van Damme near the pinnacle of his movie career, I find "Hard Target" to be a nearly indigestible film. Personally, I don't care for the style of this film. I saw Woo's picture "Windtalkers" (with the dreadful Nicholas Cage starring) and found it to be one intense war picture in its bloody combat scenes. But in the earlier "Hard Target," Woo has attempted to tailor himself to Van Damme, and I for one do not believe that this director's style is palatable to Western audiences. The slow motion techniques are annoying beyond toleration. Van Damme gets ONE good kick-butt scene near the beginning (in which he borrows an arm-breaking move from Steven Seagal) but otherwise this movie makes light of his typically tough marital arts scenes (which is why I watch Van Damme movies in the first place). Sadly, "Hard Target" begins pretty well and has an intense flair until the mid-point (with villains Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo making awesome adversaries here) but it quickly runs out of ideas near the mid-point, and the over-the-top set piece in the abandoned circus prop warehouse is ridiculous to me (not a great set piece in my opinion). For me, the action scenes weren't all that creative or groundbreaking, and I thought there would be more outdoor scenes and a longer chase at the end. Although Richard Connell (were he alive) should have been compensated for offering the germ for Pfarrer's screenplay, this movie has little to do with "The Most Dangerous Game" and is nearly as implausible as most other street action movies--but more so when all the silly action pieces are put together as a whole, and the plot itself is completely disregarded near the finish. If it weren't so silly it might have been tolerable, but for me it was a lot of effort wasted. Not that these movies deliver the kind of "realism" in action scenes that make them believable, but the idea of chasing down and shooting homeless guys all over the place is a little too far fetched even for me. While there are scenes that are passable in intensity, mostly the picture attempts to hang its over-the-top violence on a very thin plot. To me, the second half and the first half of the movie don't mix, and in the end all the effort just doesn't seem worthy of either Van Damme or his director. Which is all very unfortunate too because the film has a polished look and an; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic World; Brand: Chris Pratt; Review: To my eyes, the 3-D technology is quite seamless in this picture, and it's nothing short of the fun that a good summer adventure movie should be. I am not a big supporter of CGI abundance (although I realize we live in an age when it's going to be used often and without restraint), and yet the computer work done here is nothing short of sensational. I also saw "Mad Max: Fury Road" (which at times appeared to be a great blur across the eyes), but it was in no way as seamless and as right as this movie. I suppose we should credit director Colin Trevorrow (interesting name, this one) for guiding the summer theme park and thriller movie back to its roots as a cliffhanger serial. Now, don't get me wrong, this is not a perfect picture, but it's not supposed to be really--some of the dialogue is corny (or just plain unnecessary), some of the characters are wasted, and some of the plot is a bit silly as it should be (I mean, no one would reopen Hammond's park project without thinking that SOMETHING has to go wrong, but if you are caught up in that logic I suppose you are no movie fan of any stripe). Even when the silly Indominus Rex character broke out (sorry for the spoiler!), I wanted to get up out of my chair, throw my popcorn off my lap, and stand up and applaud right there in the theater. Why? Because finally a movie has come along that understands the perimeters of the cinematic medium's scope. Not everyone likes dinosaurs (and there are some poor souls who find this picture "scary" or something), but if you do love movies you are obligated to witness the splendid action and thrills of "Jurassic World" in a theater. I saw it in IMAX 3-D and I'm still awed and amazed. And mind you, the original "Jurassic Park" was not perfect. I could see the CGI carpentry in the early dinosaur scenes in that movie. And it took far too long to get into the action. And it was softened in many ways, especially the scenes of death and violence. "Jurassic World" isn't overly gory, and it moves a little too quickly at times, but it raises the level of violence (some scenes of which I suspect had to be trimmed for the PG-13) so as to actually give dino fans more of the bloodthirsty action that they (and I myself) crave. Great raptor scenes in this picture, and that alone makes it more fun than most other pictures this year. Most movies try to pay attention to the niceties of plot, story, and thematic nuances, but "Jurassic World" goes right for the jugular and it doesn't take too long to get into the exciting parts, and then it just goes up from there. And, most importantly, there is a great dino fight at the end of this picture that more than makes up for the recent "Godzilla" movie travesty (what a dark and depressing picture that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poltergeist II and III Double Feature; Brand: JoBeth Williams; Review: Rather tragically, after the pathetic hijacking of the original film's title for the "Insidious"-like movie entitled "Poltergeist" that came out summer of 2015, these two sequels have been repackaged yet again but without any extra content at all (with the blaring exception of two rather silly trailers) and without much improvement in terms of picture and sound. However, maybe the new Blu-Ray sets at least LOOK better...so if you are going to spring for these two sequels, I say go for the Blu-Rays (if you have a Blu-Ray player)...I saw both at Best Buy recently, and not only do you get more packaging but you also will probably get a better presentation overall. Below are my reviews of the two movies that are packaged here: "POLTERGEIST 2: THE OTHER SIDE" (1986, MGM) Oh boy. So apparently, the Grais-Victor team returned for this alleged sequel (this writing team has since parted ways but, since I can note films like "Death Hunt," "Marked for Death," and "Poltergeist" as being products of their writing hands, I think this is rather sad) to the Spielberg-directed original (c'mon, you know it's true), but this time the story is a complete bust. (Ken Russell should have directed this film, not Brian Gibson!). I think Grais-Victor certainly understand genre cinema, but there is one thing very glaringly wrong with it--IT ISN'T REMOTELY SCARY IN ANY WAY! Not that I enjoy being terrified all the time, but the terror and intensity of the Spielberg original got away, and it has been replaced by a creature feature fun house movie that features way too many special effects wrapped around a rather incomplete (and incompetent) story. I really don't know what the point of this movie is. I can only hope that the executives approached Grais and Victor first and that things didn't happen the other way around. In fact, the picture opens like a cross between "The Trial of Billy Jack" and "Altered States," and certainly has nothing to do with "Poltergeist". The film uses the frame tale of a diabolical cult leader leading his flock to the desert for a suicide cult thing (a charming reference to the Jonestown travesty, I suspect), and it is the figure known as Kane who we eventually learn is the Beast (but we all know that the real beast is the one who approved this idiotic screenplay). The movie is simply ruined by too many special effects. Spielberg's original was a light and sound show with an involving sense of emotion about it; here, we are watching a parade of monsters and weird images that are anything but truly frightening. The tale weaves in some of the Native American mythos into its mix, but sometimes it's better to not tell us everything about a mystery (actually, some of H. R. Giger's monster concepts are good, but his anxiety about going to the set really did hamper their operation on screen, and as a result the picture looks a lot more comical than it should...the abandoned 3-D idea didn't help, as sequences of flying chainsaws; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Shaun The Sheep - The Movie 2015; Brand: ; Review: Funny, sad, sometimes a bit crude but always enjoyable children's (or is that adult-children's?) film about everyone's favorite barnyard sheep character, who ends up taking "a day off" and running around the big city instead of going through the dreadfully ordinary routine at the family barn. It's all fun and games (and laughs) until Shaun is captured by a maniacal animal catcher who appreciates his job a bit too much--but in the clink, Shaun meets some new friends, and that's where the adventure (along with a few tears, and innumerable sight gags) begins. As usual, chaos ensues... Sunny and lightweight adventure claymation/CGI venture is executive produced by Nick Park, the creator of the Shaun character--but I suspect that a few of the toilet humor gags were courtesy of directors Richard Starzak and Mark Burton, who lower the material somewhat and remove a layer of innocence from an otherwise enjoyable script (which is why I lowered my rating by a star). Still, seeing Shaun back on the big screen is hugely enjoyable under any circumstance, and as noted above I was moved by many scenes; this is quality filmmaking under any circumstance, but not quite as inventive (or as flamboyant) as the original Nick Park-directed Wallace and Gromit features (I gave the "Were-rabbit" film an easy five stars). To me, the Shaun character has been hijacked by the filmmakers and tinkered with to be made a bit more acceptable to present day audiences, who demand a bit more of John Hughes-type ribald humor rather than the innocent G-rated material that made the original Wallace and Gromit pictures so warm and lovable. But without such carping, it's nice to see a mostly family-friendly picture in theaters that actually has some venerability about it, after having suffered through so much hardcore R-rated material and unpleasant action films in recent years it is nice to get back to some more lighthearted fare. Aardman animation has created some wonderful images here, and even if the material is a bit off-base at times here, the images alone are more unique and interesting that what you'll find in any other film this year (even if Nick Park stepped out of the director's chair). Sadly, "Shaun the Sheep: the Movie" seems to have missed the mark with Western audiences; in fact, a lot of the people that I watched the original Wallace and Gromit movies with seemed to have not enjoyed them as much as I did. I suppose they are for kids too, but certainly not for kids alone. Forbes has described the picture as faltering with modern audiences, but perhaps that's okay after all--not every picture is for every taste (apparently this picture has not arrested the family audience like it should have, probably because they misunderstood the humor--some of the more outrageous gags seem to me to have been added as an afterthought) and that's as it should be. In an age where the next new thing is hot for about five minutes only, when animation seems to have taken the dual path between video game-inspired trash; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Swimmer; Brand: Burt Lancaster; Review: "The Swimmer" by Grindhouse Releasing gets a well-deserved five stars for the transfer and the extras alone, but the film is still tough to watch, moderately acted, and a bit too oppressive in terms of its drippy music score; nonetheless, it is a fascinating curio in its own right. I honestly believe though that if Lancaster hadn't accepted this part that we probably wouldn't remember this picture at all. But Lancaster did accept the role, and now we have a spectacular new scan to revisit the film with (light years beyond the ratty print that THIS TV cable station has been using for their Sunday afternoon screenings of this title). Both director Perry and author Cheever (and the screenwriter Eleanor Perry) have cameos in the picture, so this is kind of a nice time capsule for that reason alone. SPOILERS!!! (Don't read further UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM!!!) My theory is that Ned's daughters may have drown in a swimming pool and it may have been his responsibility and therefore he is suffering from a guilty conscience--there are many clues in the film that lead me to this conclusion, but I may be wrong about this. I believe Ned's wife is alive, but she left him after the death of his two daughters. Watching "The Swimmer" is a bit mysterious really, because the viewer has to be the detective to figure out exactly what is going on with the main character...but rest assured, the veneer cannot cover sins for long, and the revelations that occur between these characters are fascinating indeed. While the picture seems to comment upon the fractured nature of the American Dream during the Vietnam-era suburbs of hometown America, "The Swimmer" is both dated and timeless in that it certainly remains a product of its time but also transcends all time and peoples with its poignant story about what it means for a person to have true self worth in a society that only values money, competition, and promotion. In any case, I'm inclined to say that I like this film more than THE GRADUATE, and that is due in no small part to Lancaster's intense performance (which does have a lot of subtle qualities about it). I'm not entirely sure that we can take Ned as a "reliable" narrator, but the resulting drama is tragic even if you don't feel you have all of the pieces to create the appropriate picture. Certainly today--and not even then--no major studio would finance a risky picture such as this one, but in the end it emerges as an enthralling (yet painful) portrait of one man's inconsistency in becoming himself, a man who carries an albatross around his neck constantly--showing that his problems are more than simply monetary. A must-see film (though a bit of an endurance test nevertheless) is the "Story of The Swimmer" documentary included upon this Grindhouse Releasing set, a picture that takes you through every backstroke that it took to pull off this seemingly small movie miracle. Sadly, there does not appear to be any footage left from; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Inferno; Brand: Lorenza Izzo; Review: Unexpectedly suspenseful grindhouse/gore "pulp" tale (story by the director, Eli Roth) features the lovely Lorenza Izzo as a routine college student who gets inadvertently suckered in to joining a gang of nave, idealistic fellow students whose motto is "don't think...act"--and when Justine (portrayed by Izzo) decides to act and allow herself to get involved, she becomes part of a doomed expedition to stop the devastation of an Amazon rainforest that is being exploited by the West. If I say anymore, you may as well not even bother with watching the picture, but rest assured it is never less than gripping, revolting, and unexpectedly surprising. Be forewarned, if you are at all squeamish about the idea of cannibalism even, then you had best stay away from this movie--but Roth's savage and unrelenting brutality actually presents one of the best metaphors for animal rights that I ever been forced to stomach in a film. While indescribably cruel on some levels, Roth's method of introducing you to characters that you can get involved with and then jerking their safety out from underneath your feet is as effective a cinematic storytelling device as one can hope for. I had to turn my head slightly during some scenes, and at times felt as if my lunch were going to start traveling the wrong way, but I endured it and I am grateful for the experience. If you don't enjoy tension, suspense, and savagery, then please don't watch this (certainly not alone, like I did!), but if you can take it, it is certainly one of the best adventure pictures that I have seen in some time. Some have been griping about the lack of grim extremities that they think Roth held back on here--and be sure, the film does not include genital mutilation or severe animal cruelty that the old Deodato and Lenzi classics contain, but for my taste I'm glad that the film didn't go to the outer limits of bad taste (and, for Western audiences, I think we've seen the last of THAT kind of Italian exploitation brutality in mainstream theaters). It's best not to think of Roth trying to remake "Cannibal Holocaust" here, because this is an original story and one that takes its own path into the hell of a world that the modern day civilians of the present time cannot even imagine. This is probably about as savage a film as we will get in a mainstream theatrical setting, and while Roth's vision does use delay and avoidance in specific things that MIGHT have been shown, I think this only goes further in building the graphic gut-twirling suspense. It may not be as visually sick in mind as the Deodato classic, but it is probably worse than some of those Deodato-influenced Italian films in its impact upon the psyche (certainly the more fragile ones amongst us). In the end, it is the feeling that counts here, not the onscreen blood and guts, and for that intensity and power I am awarding this film an outstanding rating. I also have to add that; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Visit; Brand: Ed Oxenbould, Deanna dunagan, Peter McRobbie, Kathryn Hahn Olivia DeJonge; Review: To me, when one sits down to plan (dream up, write, organize, finance, and pre-photograph locations, etc.) a film, one is really keeping an eye towards the cultural barriers of financing and advertising. Books may well end up being subjective in the favor of their authors, but films are mostly all tied up in their advertisements aimed at appeasing more than a few masses of people--what I am saying is that a movie is only as good as its advertising potential indicates. In the case of this new M. Night Shyamalan travesty, we find the once persistent writer and director of pictures like "Signs" at a falling off point of his career, unable to provoke either a good ad campaign or a scare in his audience. Reverting to the rather tiresome angle of using handheld "home movie" cameras to tell his story, Shyamalan seems to be working out some of his love for making movies through the Rebecca character (herself a wannabe documentarian) and some of his contempt for modern day youth through her brother, the Tyler character. The problem is, at least for this reviewer, that the movie is never once funny, scary, or interesting (obviously, some of the juveniles who were seated before me at the theater don't share my opinion--"that was a great movie!" one of them exclaimed after it was over), and all that Shyamalan is left with is his same old bag of tricks that worked wonders before a gullible public back in the days of "The Sixth Sense" but today merely seems childish (much like the film itself), stale, and unimaginative. Why he has the Tyler character as an obsessive rapper is beyond me, but these reaches for moments of quality humor fall so flat, one after the other. And unless you are an easily (and I do mean EASILY) frightened or jumpy person, then you won't find "The Visit" very much to endure for a horror film at all--scenes of the crazy grandmother growling at close-up in front of the camera, carrying a Bates-model butcher knife around the house after dark, and urinating and even puking (oh my God, I had a nauseating sense that "IT FOLLOWS" had some type of insidious influence upon this new sickening trend of physical sickness in thriller films) never once managed to get me, despite the fact that I tried to remain invested in the story. Nonetheless, it did not take long for me to start nodding off and I paid to watch the damned thing! Any attempts at suspense were rendered incompetent due to the fact that the film keeps pulling us out of the tension with a fragile emotional tale of a strange, messy divorce and its impact upon the poor kids who are always the victims of something bigger than themselves in these cases. And, the grievous twist at the end of the movie was totally unexpected--but once I found out what it was, I was concerned at the level of imaginative poverty that it contained. I don't always agree with the scattershot Mark Kermode, but; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and A Gentleman VHS; Brand: Richard Gere; Review: Douglas Day Stewart's rousing military romance picture follows a young and up-and-coming Richard Gere as he trains as an AOC under the brutal but right hand of Louis Gossett Jr.'s drill instructor--he's not as unrelenting as Sergeant Hartmann (for example), but he's just as tough, and willing to see his men through some devastating personal hardships as they train for the "prize." The emotionally involving backstory to Gere's Zachary character, and the personal investment that we are asked to make in the lives of these men, make "An Officer and a Gentleman" an exemplary film achievement in the area of quality narrative drama. Zach's gently unfolding love for his conquest Paula--a meager factory worker who would like nothing more than to have a shot at a better life with a man who can provide for her in full. I am mainly deducting a star from this movie due to the fact that I do not find the DVD transfer to be of top-notch quality--the picture is a bit grainy here and there. Also, a few reviewers on this page are complaining that the "director's cut" version has a different feel than the original theatrical release, but since I have only the DVD copy to go on for the purposes of my review, I find the cut that we have here to be quite solid indeed. The love song "Up Where We Belong" is a legendary piece of music for a reason, and a guitar driven instrumental track of that music flows throughout the film (I initially thought that it was merely a single piece of music played on pop radio stations, but it also works alarmingly well as instrumental music in the movie). Of course, that song did deserve the Oscar that it got. Also, the movie has a serious dramatic tone about it, minus the rather evil tone found in a lot of movies made after 2000 and beyond. While some may think it is too explicit, the sex scenes in "Officer..." are more relaxing than erotic (I mean, the love story is in full bloom here, and I found nothing offensive about the picture at all), and that is a good thing because the nudity doesn't pull us out of the story by becoming a distraction. All of the performances are top-notch, and director Taylor Hackford proves his working class approach to cinema is probably the one to go after if you desire watching an intellectually honest motion picture. Maybe the script isn't as brilliant as some believed it to be at the time, but it's the kind of movie that you can watch any time and settle in to watch, and that's worth something. The rather audacious ending alone proves that this is probably Hackford's best film, and one of the more important mainstream American movies from the 1980's. And while the fight scene between Gere and Gossett is not quite as rough as I thought it was going to be, it's still pretty intense to watch. Extras include a commentary track that is involving listening for fans of; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trespass; Brand: Nicolas Cage; Review: Nicholas Cage is not a bad actor, but rather a terrible one. In 2011's TRESPASS, he goes the absolute distance in showing just how dreadful that he can be as a so-called performer. If Joel Schumacher is attempting to salvage what remains of his directorial career, he had probably best pick projects in future that actually have scripts attached to them. This film is little more than loudness, screaming, continual swearing, and unnecessary twists that make us think that someone cared enough to point out how absurd that they actually seem and then just left them in the film anyway. As distracting as Nicole Kidman's lips are here, I still think that she is a sensationally beautiful and photogenic woman for all time, but having to watch her next to Nicholas Cage actually hampers both her performance and her on screen sex appeal. Barefoot and forced into a myriad of awkward positions, Nicole is never less than intensely watchable. But if Cage had taken his performance a bit more seriously yet, it might have gone down in history as one of the funniest, most ridiculous acting jobs ever. As such it just seems annoying and unbelievable. Nicole is the only saving grace in the film, and even she cannot save it this time. It is truly a mean and unpleasant movie that adds nothing new to the home invasion thriller genre. It frustrates me when so many smaller films sink beneath my viewing radar, but in this case I almost wish that this one would have gotten away from my attention. Sadly, it did not. Millennium ended up distributing this one, but that's no points for their company. Picture quality on this DVD is quite mediocre, but the sound is quite good. But if you want a really watchable thriller for the evening, try looking elsewhere. This one simply doesn't deliver anything other than frustration and clich. Ugh. D+ (for Nicole); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Peak [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: In a time when acting seems to have disappeared from the horror film and sophistication of thought seems to be on its way out of the movie theater (at least here in the West), director Guillermo del Toro reinvents the wheel of the Gothic romance spectacle with the new "Crimson Peak", a film intelligent enough to play the fraudulent 19th century conception of ghosts (read Shenstone if you have not yet) by putting the psychology back into the equation and yet also a film not confident enough to dispense with the PAN'S LABYRINTH-style graphic violence that seems to be continually unbalancing its aesthetic nature (it may not be quite as sickening here, but it's every bit as brutal). Just in time for the Halloween season but not quite honestly a horror movie, "Crimson Peak" is really the story of a tragic brother/sister relationship and a particular young lady's psychological fears of being taken hostage by the Gothic mansion of the title, lured there, of course, by the promise of sex and a fulfilling romance with a particular gentleman savior. But what must be said is that del Toro's film does not dominantly rely upon the penny dreadful quality of its narrative (perhaps that new television show entitled "Penny Dreadful" encouraged the studio's confidence in putting this one out--but the box office take doesn't look promising for the filmmakers unfortunately) so much as it does upon the tranquil cinematography of Dan Laustsen, a shadowy and token visual style that is not so much freaky as it is antique. "Crimson Peak" may ultimately end up doing better on DVD and Blu-Ray than it will at the theaters currently; it is my shame in admitting it, but I fell asleep briefly during the love scene and dozed a while thereafter before returning in time to get in on all the violence near the climax (I should have known better than to attend the late night screening). Anyway, I did take in a lot of the film and what I saw was rather beautiful and articulate, and I think that many are criticizing the story elements more so than the visual scheme; there are ghosts and creepy things running around in the movie, but tragically the television ads and theatrical trailer have again sold a rather solid drama movie short by presenting it instead as hardball horror (what is up with film marketing these days?), implying that trailers may have to lie to us in order to plant our asses in the theater to watch a two hour movie. But the women are all photographed beautifully, there is an elegant costume design, performances (especially those of Wasikowska, Chastain, and Hiddleston) are all immaculate, and the style of the film is quite sophisticated even the story is more pulpy than the first edition of a Shadow magazine. On home media, this movie will find a life, right alongside other Halloween/spooky favorites such as Horror of Dracula (1958), Let's Scare Jessica to Death, The Shining (1980), and others. Del Toro comes from a "Night Gallery"-esque point of view; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Peak; Brand: Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam Mia Wasikowska; Review: In a time when acting seems to have disappeared from the horror film and sophistication of thought seems to be on its way out of the movie theater (at least here in the West), director Guillermo del Toro reinvents the wheel of the Gothic romance spectacle with the new "Crimson Peak", a film intelligent enough to play the fraudulent 19th century conception of ghosts (read Shenstone if you have not yet) by putting the psychology back into the equation and yet also a film not confident enough to dispense with the PAN'S LABYRINTH-style graphic violence that seems to be continually unbalancing its aesthetic nature (it may not be quite as sickening here, but it's every bit as brutal). Just in time for the Halloween season but not quite honestly a horror movie, "Crimson Peak" is really the story of a tragic brother/sister relationship and a particular young lady's psychological fears of being taken hostage by the Gothic mansion of the title, lured there, of course, by the promise of sex and a fulfilling romance with a particular gentleman savior. But what must be said is that del Toro's film does not dominantly rely upon the penny dreadful quality of its narrative (perhaps that new television show entitled "Penny Dreadful" encouraged the studio's confidence in putting this one out--but the box office take doesn't look promising for the filmmakers unfortunately) so much as it does upon the tranquil cinematography of Dan Laustsen, a shadowy and token visual style that is not so much freaky as it is antique. "Crimson Peak" may ultimately end up doing better on DVD and Blu-Ray than it will at the theaters currently; it is my shame in admitting it, but I fell asleep briefly during the love scene and dozed a while thereafter before returning in time to get in on all the violence near the climax (I should have known better than to attend the late night screening). Anyway, I did take in a lot of the film and what I saw was rather beautiful and articulate, and I think that many are criticizing the story elements more so than the visual scheme; there are ghosts and creepy things running around in the movie, but tragically the television ads and theatrical trailer have again sold a rather solid drama movie short by presenting it instead as hardball horror (what is up with film marketing these days?), implying that trailers may have to lie to us in order to plant our asses in the theater to watch a two hour movie. But the women are all photographed beautifully, there is an elegant costume design, performances (especially those of Wasikowska, Chastain, and Hiddleston) are all immaculate, and the style of the film is quite sophisticated even the story is more pulpy than the first edition of a Shadow magazine. On home media, this movie will find a life, right alongside other Halloween/spooky favorites such as Horror of Dracula (1958), Let's Scare Jessica to Death, The Shining (1980), and others. Del Toro comes from a "Night Gallery"-esque point of view; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ishtar VHS; Brand: Warren Beatty; Review: Insensitive but still enjoyable (certainly when compared to today's movies) film about two bums (essentially) who think that they are the next wave in Simon and Garfunkel-tinged songwriting partnerships but are only playable in a remote region of Morocco, where tensions among middle East nations are flaring and a complicated conspiracy plot is about to unravel (somewhat amusingly, since screen great Charles Grodin is also on board here). Although a critically damned picture ever since its release, "Ishtar" is actually not a bad film intrinsically, just frustrating and slow moving at times, with a story that is not filled with knee-slapping comedy (as most seem to believe for some reason) but rather carefully controlled political/pop culture satire. Elaine May, tragically, seems to have been cajoled by Beatty into doing a different kind of movie than the initial one that she had in mind, and the picture suffers because neither the performances nor the story are given enough room to breathe. I really feel that if this picture would have been about an hour longer it would not only make more sense but the rather lackluster bum performances by the two principles would be easier to appreciate as well. May was on the verge, I feel, of creating a new kind of screen comedy with this film but sadly her fortunes were lost after the film's financial and critical bombing after its initial release--probably a comedy that was more mature and yet more lethargic at the same time! Hoffman has never been much of an actor to me (even though I do own and watch a lot of his movies), but here he is somewhat enjoyable, and Beatty is always fun to watch even when he is uninspired to act well--but considering these characters, I don't think that these guys were acting poorly. "Ishtar" is not the great unseen classic comedy that I thought it might have been, but compared to today's filthy, unfunny, and youth-oriented "comedy" films, this one nearly looks like cinematic gold by comparison. And, at the very least, the story itself is very human, even if you do not empathize with these two quasi-losers...and humanity is also something lacking in today's films. Filmmakers/comediennes like Elaine May are hard acts to come by these days, so it is tragic that "Ishtar" never got the fair hearing that it deserved, despite the fact that the viewing public and newspaper critics didn't seem to get anything out of the movie at all. Now all this being said, I can understand why viewers are shocked by this movie because it does feel at times as if no one involved is really trying here...but that's part of the deal. May's humor is very different, and I suspect that she was very much a pessimist about the movie industry (especially after having seen what she went through on "A New Leaf" and "Mikey and Nicky"). What we have here is not so much a comedy in the traditional sense but a funny, oddball, slow moving trip through the lives of two strange characters with a; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max: Fury Road; Brand: Tom Hardy; Review: The problem with video games nowadays is that their pernicious influence has spread to the medium of the commercial mainstream film, a genre of both entertainment and social commentary that used to be capable of taking itself more seriously. Rather than looking like a comic book (or the pretentiously labeled "graphic novels"--I love that one) as intended, George Miller's newest take on the Max Rockatansky mythos carries none of the beauty of a silent film but it carries a lot of graphic video game-oriented ugliness. My problems with this new film are legion, so follow along with me, and we shall list: a) This film is a major disappointment to exploitation film fans. If you go to a Mad Max picture, you expect Mad Max, no? It's all been replaced by an annoying political correctness, which to this reviewer spells unadorned cowardice on the part of the filmmakers. b) The "practical" effects in this movie are done on high tech computers and the whole film is whitewashed in CGI and the like. c) Along with "Shaun the Sheep" and other films I witnessed this summer and fall, there is a growing trend of spoon feeding illiteracy that these filmmakers are trying to push down the throats of viewers--silent films were very literate indeed, remember? d) Just because there is very little blood spill (compared to many other cinematic atrocities that I've watched lately) does not mean that the same malicious sensibility of violence is not as strong in this picture as it is in the others. e) This is an anti-patriarchy film, which borders on an anti-American sensibility that I cannot quite put my finger on but whatever looming presence that is hovering over this film is one of utter contempt for (and persistent mistrust of) men in general. f) The action itself--which is really all this film has to sell--is boring, dull, and moving-so-quickly-that-I-couldn't-see-what-in-hell-was-going-on style that will please ADD children and short attention span "adult-children" but discriminating viewers no. g) The naked lady. Yes, she is naked--but it's hard to see much, and the camera doesn't linger on her flesh. Why? Because this is a mockery of the old exploitation films, in which nudity--mostly female--was a way of life. Does the word cowardice fit? h) Mad Max is a woman-like figure here, a mid-wife if you will. He is only allowed to stay with the women at the end after he has been made sensitive by the feminist politics that this movie projects. He begins the film as a gagged damsel-in-distress, ends up being saved by a herd of pretty women, and is not even given the consolation of defeating the main villain (because that wouldn't be emasculating enough to keep him in character). In many ways, the women are allowed to be tougher than he ever is. If you release a film called Mad Max, why not allow him to be, oh I don't know, MAD??!!! Why? Because the movie ticket buyer is ripe for being insulted, so here it shall be. i) Wasting Charlize Theron. This woman is a; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max : Fury Road - Edition limitée 3D - Coffret Voiture [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: The problem with video games nowadays is that their pernicious influence has spread to the medium of the commercial mainstream film, a genre of both entertainment and social commentary that used to be capable of taking itself more seriously. Rather than looking like a comic book (or the pretentiously labeled "graphic novels"--I love that one) as intended, George Miller's newest take on the Max Rockatansky mythos carries none of the beauty of a silent film but it carries a lot of graphic video game-oriented ugliness. My problems with this new film are legion, so follow along with me, and we shall list: a) This film is a major disappointment to exploitation film fans. If you go to a Mad Max picture, you expect Mad Max, no? It's all been replaced by an annoying political correctness, which to this reviewer spells unadorned cowardice on the part of the filmmakers. b) The "practical" effects in this movie are done on high tech computers and the whole film is whitewashed in CGI and the like. c) Along with "Shaun the Sheep" and other films I witnessed this summer and fall, there is a growing trend of spoon feeding illiteracy that these filmmakers are trying to push down the throats of viewers--silent films were very literate indeed, remember? d) Just because there is very little blood spill (compared to many other cinematic atrocities that I've watched lately) does not mean that the same malicious sensibility of violence is not as strong in this picture as it is in the others. e) This is an anti-patriarchy film, which borders on an anti-American sensibility that I cannot quite put my finger on but whatever looming presence that is hovering over this film is one of utter contempt for (and persistent mistrust of) men in general. f) The action itself--which is really all this film has to sell--is boring, dull, and moving-so-quickly-that-I-couldn't-see-what-in-hell-was-going-on style that will please ADD children and short attention span "adult-children" but discriminating viewers no. g) The naked lady. Yes, she is naked--but it's hard to see much, and the camera doesn't linger on her flesh. Why? Because this is a mockery of the old exploitation films, in which nudity--mostly female--was a way of life. Does the word cowardice fit? h) Mad Max is a woman-like figure here, a mid-wife if you will. He is only allowed to stay with the women at the end after he has been made sensitive by the feminist politics that this movie projects. He begins the film as a gagged damsel-in-distress, ends up being saved by a herd of pretty women, and is not even given the consolation of defeating the main villain (because that wouldn't be emasculating enough to keep him in character). In many ways, the women are allowed to be tougher than he ever is. If you release a film called Mad Max, why not allow him to be, oh I don't know, MAD??!!! Why? Because the movie ticket buyer is ripe for being insulted, so here it shall be. i) Wasting Charlize Theron. This woman is a; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Krampus; Brand: ; Review: Novel approach to the horror/Christmas genre (c'mon, you can't see the similarity between the two?) finds a bickering, embittered family on the cusp of continual dysfunction when the quasi-Uncle Eddie extended family types show up to celebrate the holidays with them--but someone else is on the way for Christmas this year, and he ain't human boy! Unusual to see this Christmas time horror/mystery film subgenre still flourishing, it most likely happened because the world in today's time feels less safe and more on edge than it has in the past...nonetheless, "Krampus" is both fun and suspenseful enough (despite some really unprofessional dialogue writing) that it counts for me...and it is certainly impressive in a visual sense (despite the "Coraline"-oriented stop motion animation sequence that explains the grandmother's "history" with Krampus paying a visit to the family on Christmas night long before he returns for another new nightmare in the present day). "Krampus" serves as both a moral warning and a darkly amusing satire, walking a careful line between these two genres. I predicted (correctly?) that the film would be a big hit for this late 2015 season, but apparently Universal decided to waylay the release of the (positive) reviews in advance so a "major" box office intake was prevented as a result (isn't this proof of the studio's prejudice against unique films that aren't presold in advance by major marketing research?). Sheesh, take a chance guys, at least once in a while! In any case, this is far better than Michael Dougherty's other low-budget hit "Trick 'r Treat" (a movie I've never been crazy about) and it should become a minor cult film on home video eventually. It was pretty creepy in parts, and the narrative is basically straightforward with some comical bits sprinkled atop of it. The cast is actually pretty good overall too. In the end, you won't learn much about the actual mythology of Krampus himself, and the movie is a basic mainstream and family-friendly horror picture overall, but after years of bright and sunny (and essentially empty) Christmas films, it was nice to see this cinematic variation of Krampus come along to piss on the parade a bit. Peace! B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films 2014 NON-USA FORMAT Reg.B Germany; Brand: Mimi Rogers; Review: Australian produced documentary film (by the kinetic director Mark Hartley) about the wild and (until now) untold story of the Cannon Group gets my vote for the best documentary of the year--and maybe for one of the best documentaries about film for all time. The tale of the 'go go' boys (Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan) is emphasized over other contributors to the Cannon legacy, but there are still many important comments given by other screenwriters, producers, and actors who were affiliated with films financed and distributed by this company. The work ethic of Menahem and Yoram (referred to by one of the actresses interviewed as "Mayhem and Urine") was absolutely incredible really, and should serve as a much needed shot-in-the-arm to the bone lazy, sluggish habits of today's "filmmakers," such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and (especially) Christopher Nolan. (At least Menahem showed what a creative filmmaker is really supposed to be like!) Moving like lightning and yet containing more interviews and more information than you could want out of five full-length documentaries, "Electric Boogaloo" is more like a business education film than a history of the cinema, but no matter what label you want to slap on it, it is nonetheless the most essential film I have ever seen about the business of moviemaking and wheeling and dealing to get films made. While Golan and Globus were working out a lot of their methods in the early days, this film is quite educational if you are interested in figuring out how to fund your own movie, or if you have designs of your own about entering the business. While a majority of the comments are offered by ignorant and abrasive snobs (I'm looking at you, Frank Yablans!), whose own prejudiced anti-Semitism they can barely contain while discussing Cannon's history, it is the proud and prolific team of Golan/Globus who will enjoy the last laugh in the end. Yablans says "where's the quality?" I could tell him but he wouldn't understand--in fact, only true movie lovers will. I can watch "The Delta Force," "Over the Top," "Bloodsport," and "Enter the Ninja" over and over again, but once you've seen "Citizen Kane," "Good Will Hunting" and "Titanic" once, there is NEVER any reason to watch them again. Golan/Globus understood well the rise of commercial TV and cable stations, and they played to the strengths of these smaller markets like nobody's business. While the picture contains sarcastic and sometimes quite vicious assessments of the Cannon Group's business practices, the negativity offered by some of these talking heads actually works towards the favor of the Cannon Group's future longevity in terms of rediscovery. I love the bit about "The Delta Force", one of my favorite action movies--the talking heads want "political correctness," but with the rise of Isis and other terror cells in our current day, I find it difficult that any sane person will deem the killing of the enemy as "politically incorrect." I love the power of these old Cannon movies because they illustrate a vision of America as it should; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films; Brand: Sam Firstenberg; Review: Australian produced documentary film (by the kinetic director Mark Hartley) about the wild and (until now) untold story of the Cannon Group gets my vote for the best documentary of the year--and maybe for one of the best documentaries about film for all time. The tale of the 'go go' boys (Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan) is emphasized over other contributors to the Cannon legacy, but there are still many important comments given by other screenwriters, producers, and actors who were affiliated with films financed and distributed by this company. The work ethic of Menahem and Yoram (referred to by one of the actresses interviewed as "Mayhem and Urine") was absolutely incredible really, and should serve as a much needed shot-in-the-arm to the bone lazy, sluggish habits of today's "filmmakers," such as Quentin Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and (especially) Christopher Nolan. (At least Menahem showed what a creative filmmaker is really supposed to be like!) Moving like lightning and yet containing more interviews and more information than you could want out of five full-length documentaries, "Electric Boogaloo" is more like a business education film than a history of the cinema, but no matter what label you want to slap on it, it is nonetheless the most essential film I have ever seen about the business of moviemaking and wheeling and dealing to get films made. While Golan and Globus were working out a lot of their methods in the early days, this film is quite educational if you are interested in figuring out how to fund your own movie, or if you have designs of your own about entering the business. While a majority of the comments are offered by ignorant and abrasive snobs (I'm looking at you, Frank Yablans!), whose own prejudiced anti-Semitism they can barely contain while discussing Cannon's history, it is the proud and prolific team of Golan/Globus who will enjoy the last laugh in the end. Yablans says "where's the quality?" I could tell him but he wouldn't understand--in fact, only true movie lovers will. I can watch "The Delta Force," "Over the Top," "Bloodsport," and "Enter the Ninja" over and over again, but once you've seen "Citizen Kane," "Good Will Hunting" and "Titanic" once, there is NEVER any reason to watch them again. Golan/Globus understood well the rise of commercial TV and cable stations, and they played to the strengths of these smaller markets like nobody's business. While the picture contains sarcastic and sometimes quite vicious assessments of the Cannon Group's business practices, the negativity offered by some of these talking heads actually works towards the favor of the Cannon Group's future longevity in terms of rediscovery. I love the bit about "The Delta Force", one of my favorite action movies--the talking heads want "political correctness," but with the rise of Isis and other terror cells in our current day, I find it difficult that any sane person will deem the killing of the enemy as "politically incorrect." I love the power of these old Cannon movies because they illustrate a vision of America as it should; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rapture VHS; Brand: Mimi Rogers; Review: Fatalistic film features a distraught and unhappy mid-career woman (played superbly by Mimi Rogers) who spends her weekends drowning her sorrows in meaningless "sexcapades" and orgiastic behavior, clearly a woman who is not "satisfied" in more than the physical sense. She gets a knock on her door from some Evangelical boys who convince her that the Lord is on his way soon, and before you can say Jerry Falwell she is under the spell of a mysterious quickening of spirit that convinces her that Jesus may be coming back sooner than the world thinks (her final previously promiscuous lover, played by the X-Files standby David Duchovny, has an especially tragic and memorable role in her life). After much searching of spirit she finally decides to take her daughter out to the desert to look for signs of the Second Coming, and signs she does indeed witness... As a film critic, I cannot quite make up my mind about Michael Tolkin. He is unquestionably an ingenious satirist (I still enjoy the "lightweight" humor of THE PLAYER) but I wonder if he doesn't have more quality dramatic material within him that Hollywood is simply too afraid to touch (the fact that THE RAPTURE got made at all is a triumph in itself). In the rather disappointing audio commentary track (with the exception of some fun comments from Duchovny and Rogers) Tolkin doesn't explain in much detail the story's genesis, but I gather that he was taken with the fiery rhetoric of the Baptist strain of Christian eschatology and dispensational truth, and he set out to write a story that would examine the paradox of religious faith in the world of the secular West (the fact that Christians are upset by this movie is simply more proof that they are incapable of separating the sin from the sinner, at least in terms of their seemingly hateful condemnation against "sinners"). But Tolkin's THE RAPTURE is smarter than any other religious picture I have watched because it doesn't tell a viewer how to think about the paradox of the scriptures and those seeking God's love but rather it shows one the journey that a person takes from sinner to a person of faith, and it examines the psychology of the Rogers character in a lot of menacing detail. And the ending...despite its tragedy, I really did like it and I found it quite chilling. I found the Rogers character to be fascinating because she is not trying to undo the shackles of religious indoctrination imposed upon her but rather trying to find a way to fit into those beliefs after having lived life in a wholly nihilistic fashion beforehand. It is too bad that Tolkin probably won't be allowed to make more expensive films because he can draw solid performances out of his actors and he can tell gripping emotional stories. The DVD offers terrific picture and sound (this was made in 1991) and it is (to my knowledge) the complete version of the film. So if you are not easily offended by religious stories that look; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love & Mercy Digital; Brand: Elizabeth Banks; Review: Distressing movie attempts to sanctify the "lost years" of the emotionally turbulent Brian Wilson (known to most as the author of the song "God Only Knows") by turning him into a loveable sad sack manipulated by a maniacal and, uh, "unsatisfied" therapist who treats Wilson like an odious sack of dog stuff throughout the film. Sadly, though, this picture continues the "let's just blame those around them" attitude given by those who don't want to believe that "artists" should take responsibilities for their own actions (when clearly the opposite is the case). In any event, this picture arrives without humor, without irony, and with much respect for the fragile Wilson himself, and with two over-the-top performances by Paul Dano (who sort of looks like Wilson from a distance) and John Cusack (who doesn't look like Wilson either up close or from a thousand yards away). Cinematically, there is so little going on here, other than the hyper-pretentious use of the 16 mm Arri 16SR3 to add the 1960's "flavor" to the proceedings. But, overall, so much is missed here--opportunities for humor, opportunities for satire (this was the 1960's, guys), and mostly opportunities for the music, which although faithfully rendered in representation, is too dark and joyless as it focuses upon Wilson's "poor me" attitude that creates an atmosphere of dread and defeat during the rehearsal and recording scenes (as if making music were the equivalent of hoeing the farm fields or mining for oil in the southwest in the early days). Therefore, we come to think of the Beach Boys music as being full of Wilson's panic and anxiety (as he was feeling when he created the recordings) more so than the feeling of joy and breeziness that the music hitherto reminded us of. If you bleed all the joy out of your movie, you get the (usually baffled) Academy to give you an Oscar but the audiences won't be there for you in the future. Pohlad's film is a creatively strait-jacketed affair, as if Wilson himself were hovering over the production to see that it gets done right. Robert Yoeman's cinematography is rendered unremarkable here due to the positively depressing tone of the movie itself. I realize Wilson's mental state was fragile, but this movie is so afraid to take any chances that I think after awhile it becomes very easy to simply stop caring. D+; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Revenant; Brand: ; Review: Physical endurance test stars a wearied but clearly driven DiCaprio as he plays a bear trapper roaming the wilderness (just after the Louisiana Purchase) and manages to draw down on the wrong cub, with dire consequences. Eventually left for dead and colder than a democrat in the upcoming 2016 election, DiCaprio's Hugh Glass nears death and is aided by his son Hawk (an "adopted" child from a Native American woman, who Glass raised into adulthood himself) as he is abandoned by the crew of trappers and hunters who have vowed to give him a rightful death when the time comes. But when something nasty happens to Glass's son, the iceman ultimately vows to take revenge, no matter how many dead animal carcasses he has to sleep inside of to keep warm along his way back into town... Simple and tiresome revenge tale is elevated somewhat by the beautiful, washed out (and chilling) period scenery (shot in 2.35:1 aspect ratio by the talented Emmanuel Lubezki) which no doubt takes us deep within the world that the Glass character inhabits...but this is all terribly overlong and probably not a solid choice for a film to begin with! I did not see the movie "Birdman" with Michael Keaton (a picture with an idiotic premise) but I can clearly see that director Inarritu has his eyes on the Oscar gold and little else. I'll bet that when Leo was sinking on Cameron's Titanic that he didn't envision himself chomping on the bloody ass of a freshly killed buffalo (with a hungry Indian who throws him a bone) all these years later (he does spit up a bit after eating the thing, but humans simply don't have the guts to handle eating raw meat with it being cooked...but I'll bet that a few people back in these days did just what we see here in this movie). To call the film ambitious is correct, but it is far too much of an endurance test to count for much (in my opinion). The problem with these "good" movies is that after they win the coveted golden statue the pictures themselves are often forgotten (I'll be watching and enjoying B-movies long after pictures such as this one have fallen into the wastebasket of the public's short memory), and as a result all of the charm, humor, and interesting side stories of these tales are pushed aside so that viewers can enjoy watching the star suffer. Because suffering is all that this movie is about. I suppose Leo enjoys being tortured like this (he is an actor, after all), but the movies have become all about torture and suffering in the hope that they are creating what they hope is "art"...but we all have to suffer when this kind of suffering takes precedence over everything else. And nobody knows about suffering more than today's movie reviewer. So while it is a pretty joyless and simple affair, it might be interesting to you if you like Westerns, but make no mistake in understanding that this movie will quickly be forgotten after; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: From a Whisper to a Scream; Brand: Vincent Price; Review: Labor-of-love project horror anthology picture features four sinister tales of the macabre wrapped around a frame story involving the Oldfield (named in tribute to the musician Mike Oldfield) town historian Vincent Price relating his many found secrets to a reporter named Beth Chandler, a rapacious but quietly sinister woman out to expose the truth about the town, and maybe Julian White (the historian) himself... FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM may not scar many viewers today, but for its time it completed the fears of many moral watchdogs who felt that the 1980s video store horror boom was going to damage their children for sure, what with those lurid VHS tape covers and the seedy narrative terrors that awaited them on the small screen; ironically, FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM did receive a theatrical release (albeit not on a wide scale) but it was really geared more to make back its investment in the video stores after a wide home media release. Best among the film's segments, though, is the episode with Clu Gulager (doing a cinematically unforgettable combination of George McFly, Ted Bundy, and Delbert) playing a frustrated man who lives with his sister (yeesh) and works an unfulfilling job as a grocery clerk but ends up turning to both murder and necrophilia in order to break his dull plight in life--and things only get more seedy and fantastic from there! This segment inspired the title THE OFFSPRING (which was not christened upon the film by the creative team but rather by the early distributor The Movie Store) but I have always preferred Jeff Burr's original title myself. Other anthology segments offer a few provocative thrills, but FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM is really more about the process of people trying to make a movie more so than it is about people who know how to avoid every narrative trap in sight. Still, it's a picture that remains entertaining and worthwhile, due to its nostalgic flavor and for its TV-movie like style, which calls to mind programs such as "Matlock", "Tales from the Darkside," and the 1990s TV series "Swamp Thing" as well. I first saw this picture on DVD (packaged with a copy of "Theater of Blood", also featuring Vincent Price) and even then I knew it was an unusual horror offering (mostly because of Clu's grotesque segment). It was obvious that the picture was not put together by the Hollywood factory and that an independent series of minds was instead behind its creation. There is a criminal lost in the voodoo flavored swamps segment, a cannibalistic children segment, and even a glass-eater at the circus segment, some of which do reflect Gothic literature of the American South, some of which reflect the late-night B-horror film, but all of these segments reflect the love and labors of their creators. If you haven't thought much of the movie prior to this release, Scream Factory will put it all into perspective for you and show you how to better respect and appreciate these lower-budget, genre related films. Scream Factory's scholarly; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rocky 5 VHS; Brand: Sylvester Stallone; Review: Sylvester Stallone is, if anything, a writer of film plays worth considering. He may not be the best actor, sure, but he cornered the character of Rocky like no one else could and throws knockout performances each time he dons the trademark role that made him famous the world over. ROCKY V doesn't have the sensationalism of the fourth entry (or a syrupy climactic speech that makes you slide a hand over your eyes in recoil), but it does have a sad, sobering, but not truly depressing story--not truly depressing because, like Rocky says in the fourth one, we can't change who we are. Rocky started with small pay and big struggles, and so he ends up back in that same role. Clearly he couldn't handle the fame and fortune. It's depressing to see anyone take a financial fall, but Rocky is a survivor. ROCKY V returns Stallone to the role of the dramatist, and puts director Avildsen back into the director's chair. In many ways, ROCKY V contains the most positive message of all the Rocky movies, namely that money isn't everything, and that if you dummy up a little (like Rocky) to the reality of what it is that you've lost you can get by just fine. Mickey wasn't wealthy, and neither is Paulie or Adrian. Apparently, the original script was a bit different, and the studio decisions to change it up showed real panic on the behalf of the studio, who feared that the ROCKY series was about ready to punch itself out. Stallone claims to have made the picture out of "greed" (the rhetoric in the late 80's was that "greed is good," don't you know) but after viewing the film I can't help but feel that he was trying to return himself to the role of the respected Hollywood screenwriter. Critics have been unfair and unkind towards the film, but it is very engrossing and does return the ROCKY narrative to its roots and to its (supposed) conclusion. I have not yet viewed the film CREED, but I do have to say that ROCKY BALBOA, while I didn't dislike it per se, was almost absolutely pointless. By the time 1994 or 1995 rolled around, I think we had made peace with the fact that the ROCKY films had already climaxed. But apparently Stallone was working tirelessly behind the scenes on a continuation of the story for many years thereafter, and it wasn't until he found a producer who would hear him out that he finally managed to get Balboa back up and swinging again. But without Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, and especially the great Burgess Meredith, the ROCKY films just don't have the same heart, and that's a great shame indeed. ROCKY V has many great elements in it that the critics overlooked--the performance of Sage Stallone as Rocky's son (imagine that), the narrative interest generated by Rocky's dramatic personal and financial decline (and his "brain damage"--which was intended to defer people from going headlong into boxing, since it really does smart), and especially the ostentatious performance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Walt Disney's Classic The Jungle Book Clamshell; Brand: ; Review: Unnecessary rehash of the Disney animated favorite finds Mowgli (played here by newcomer Neel Sethi)--a boy literally raised by wolves--being hunted by the redolent Shere Khan, a Bengal tiger with a particularly good reason for being mistrustful of (and spiteful towards) mankind (even "man cubs"). From there on out, the screenwriters (of which only Justin Marks receives a screen credit) have attempted to merely rearrange certain elements of the original 1967 Walt Disney swansong, without really shedding any new light upon the narrative. The film adapts the older 1967 screenplay by Clemons/Wright/Anderson/Gerry/Norman/Peet more so than the Kipling novel, and therefore we must draw comparisons between this and the final movie that Disney himself worked on. Surprisingly, the latest incarnation of "The Jungle Book" really suffers from an identity crisis in terms of cinematic reinvention. Some of the animals can speak, some of them can't. The film includes some of the familiar songs from the old cartoon movie, but it doesn't feel much like a musical this time--in fact, some might argue that it takes itself too seriously. Portions of the film threaten to be scary, but nothing ever really materializes (sadly, Scarlet Johannsson is wasted in her role as Kaa--a role that originally had a male in the speaking part). The film tries to be funny in parts, but much of the jokes in the dialogue fall flat. Christopher Walken is the one bright spot, playing a cool CGI version of King Louie, but even his role is less that what it could have been. I hate to use that old critic's term uneven, but that's the only way I can describe the feel of this picture. If you are going to make an adult film, make an adult film! If you want to pay homage to the cartoons of yesterday, pay homage to the cartoons of yesterday. Alas, today's filmmakers are finding out that they cannot eat their cakes and have them too. Somewhat tragically, "The Jungle Book" cannot maintain its hoped for balance between the adulterated real and the childlike imagination. Bagheera, here, is drained of the rather compelling personality that he had in the original film. Bill Murray as Baloo didn't work for me either. After listening to director Jon Favreau describe Walken's Gigantopithecus as a kind of homage to Marlon Brando's Kurtz from the movie APOCALYPSE NOW, I suddenly became aware of the kind of cinematic anxiety of influence that this picture is fond of exhibiting. Can you see Brando launching into a rendition of the song "I Wan'na Be Like You" in front of Martin Sheen's Willard? Hmmm, funny, I can't either. Therefore, the tone is broken and the feeling is uncertain. Although the idea of animals respecting animals recalls something of Kipling's original story (bow before the elephants), the resulting movie has too many influences upon it for its own good. There's no denying that the effects team have gone out of their way to bring us into a world that we haven't seen before, but when one strips the picture of all of these computerized; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: STORIES WE TELL (Sarah Polley); Brand: ; Review: Surprisingly subjective (and probably honest) documentary film by writer-director (and actress) Sarah Polley, which examines the relationship between her own mother Diane (a showy, flamboyant, and vivacious type) and her father Michael (a quiet, literary, unassuming type), and the discovery she makes along the way concerning her real dad--film producer and businessman Harry Gulkin (whom you probably don't remember from the credits of the 1975 movie "Lies My Father Told Me"). What makes this documentary so interesting is watching how Polley manages to bring us into the lives of her subjects in ever more in-depth fashion; while the picture is undeniably depressing at times, it still manages to be an inspiring portrait of lives that intersect in strange (and sometimes romantic) ways. See what Harry Gulkin looks like in the present day (still rocking his Albert Einstein hairdo), and get a narrative voice over written as a journal entry by the surviving Michael himself. Much of this is very moving, and every family has a story to tell. Maybe not everyone will care about this family's history, but given the style of the movie alone I'd say that it's a good bet you will be drawn into it. Some may call it pretentious and self aggrandizing, but it's bittersweet nostalgia theme is still somewhat touching overall. I may consider purchasing this title later on, but for the time being it was an interesting watch--it certainly lags during the last thirty minutes and will undeniably not be for every taste. But for those who care, it is an interesting human experiment in both subjective and objective emotional surrender. The DVD has adequate picture and sound, and is certainly worth a look if you like slowly paced, level-headed documentaries that rely upon interviews and archival footage to achieve their ultimate emotional impact. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stories We Tell; Brand: Joanna Polley; Review: Surprisingly subjective (and probably honest) documentary film by writer-director (and actress) Sarah Polley, which examines the relationship between her own mother Diane (a showy, flamboyant, and vivacious type) and her father Michael (a quiet, literary, unassuming type), and the discovery she makes along the way concerning her real dad--film producer and businessman Harry Gulkin (whom you probably don't remember from the credits of the 1975 movie "Lies My Father Told Me"). What makes this documentary so interesting is watching how Polley manages to bring us into the lives of her subjects in ever more in-depth fashion; while the picture is undeniably depressing at times, it still manages to be an inspiring portrait of lives that intersect in strange (and sometimes romantic) ways. See what Harry Gulkin looks like in the present day (still rocking his Albert Einstein hairdo), and get a narrative voice over written as a journal entry by the surviving Michael himself. Much of this is very moving, and every family has a story to tell. Maybe not everyone will care about this family's history, but given the style of the movie alone I'd say that it's a good bet you will be drawn into it. Some may call it pretentious and self aggrandizing, but it's bittersweet nostalgia theme is still somewhat touching overall. I may consider purchasing this title later on, but for the time being it was an interesting watch--it certainly lags during the last thirty minutes and will undeniably not be for every taste. But for those who care, it is an interesting human experiment in both subjective and objective emotional surrender. The DVD has adequate picture and sound, and is certainly worth a look if you like slowly paced, level-headed documentaries that rely upon interviews and archival footage to achieve their ultimate emotional impact. C+; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Curve; Brand: Julianne Hough; Review: Julianne Hough in a horror picture? Yep! And we spend a lot of time with her on her back in this one, as she plays a flighty bride-to-be on her way to the middle of nowhere for a wedding rehearsal. Of course, she experiences some car trouble, then she is helped by a stranger, and then she stops and gives the stranger a lift, and gradually comes to regret it... Some hilariously nasty minded dialogue (it's not all that offensive, but it is funny) motivates a rather routine suspense-thriller with elements that are in many ways too familiar...if you've seen DUEL, BREAKDOWN, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, or DEATH VALLEY, or--you get the idea--then you sort of have an idea as to what you are in for. Still, Hough is very watchable, and Teddy Sears is suitably creepy as the villain. The ending is a bit too predictable, and when the revelation comes it really isn't that exciting, but all in all it does keep you watching. The script, by Kimberly Lofstrom Johnson and Lee Patteson, is pretty interesting for a movie that seems like it was in a hurry in terms of its production schedule, but (probably in Jason Blum's opinion) the more titles you can squeeze in per year the better! The Universal DVD is pretty good for a movie that doesn't have any great consequence about its entry into the horror/thriller canon. Sadly, there is no audio commentary track, an item which might have boosted my rating by a star. But as is, we really don't know enough about the movie's origins to really appreciate it from the critical perspective. However, there is a fun "alternate storyline" extra, a feature which veers off the main road of the original (?) story and takes us somewhere else momentarily. For writers, this feature is quite interesting and worthy of an investigation, but there are no other extras of note. Still, I thought Julianne did a good job, and she comes off as being as sexy and as cute as always. C+ Lee Patteson; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepfather II; Brand: Terry O'Quinn; Review: Terry O'Quinn returns (after much contractual recapitulation of needs) in the role of Harry Morrison/Jerry Blake/Bill Hodgkins/Gene F. Clifford (a.k.a. The Stepfather) and this time wrecks havoc on Carol Grayland and her son Todd when he escapes a rather lax psycho ward at a state prison and insinuates himself into the lives of the lonely lady and her offspring. But Gene Clifford doesn't have this murder/invade/infiltrate gig down pat yet, and (just like the doomed Jerry Blake) he soon gets his facts mixed up, starts whistling in front of an older blind man with an impeccable memory, and takes a fancy bottle of wine from one of his victims (the great B-movie queen Caroline Williams, who was so good in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2), ultimately setting himself up to fall for his wedding day which, as you may have guessed by now, doesn't go exactly as planned. Directed by the brilliant genre movie favorite Jeff Burr, STEPFATHER 2 comes complete with a DVD cover and packaging art scheme that makes it look a lot more gruesome than it ultimately is; the new Synapse special edition DVD is a must have item for all genre buffs, especially since Red Shirt Productions has wisely chosen to continue the chronicling of the saga's production histories. Here, director Burr and producer Darin Scott recount the rather harried production of the film, how it was made within a very compressed time limit, and how the script (begun by the rather proficient John Auerbach) underwent a few changes on its way to the screen. Scott, who also briefly discusses the tragic demise of actor Jonathan Brandis, explains the process of being hired by ITC alongside of Burr, and the two relate how the creation of a new genre horror division afforded them a job opening here. Burr relates his frustration at being berated (by the Weinstein kids!) because he didn't put enough blood and thunder into the shooting of this "horror" movie--but the DVD includes a nice selection of deleted scenes so that the viewer can get a better idea of what kind of film that Burr himself really wanted to create. Still, if the Weinsteins had not gotten involved the picture would have suffered minor distribution instead of getting a proper theatrical release (as it ultimately did)--nonetheless, one cannot help sympathizing with Burr in his estimation that the picture was fine in his originally imagined version. The documentary also closes with a great hand-made recording of O'Quinn performing his song "Bad Daddy Blues" over the closing credits--and this is a fantastic find! O'Quinn has a hilarious sense of humor, and the rhythm will get your foot tapping while the song's dark, ironic lyrics can't help but make a horror fan smile. Now, while the picture does contain blood, it isn't really as over the top as it could have been, and O'Quinn's amazing performance again elevates the already intriguing material into a new realm of genre film greatness. As Burr himself mentions in the making of featurette, following the original STEPFATHER movie was from the get go; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sentinel; Brand: Cristina Raines; Review: Scream Factory continues their blazingly good high definition video transfer work with a digital upgrade of Michael Winner's 1977 quasi-shocker THE SENTINEL (not to be confused with the Michael Douglas thriller of the same surname), a picture that has (until now at least) been consigned to the viewing menus of indiscriminate classic horror fans. Although the extras appear to at first to be rather minute for a current day Scream release, potential buyers of this item should be aware that this release ranks within the top tier of the Shout!/Scream Blu-Ray offerings, especially considering the fact that there are no video interviews with the stars or director included here. But what is offered is nothing other than revelatory and essential for the serious film collector. Ralph S. Singleton's lengthy interview clip is an essential watch for any aspiring filmmakers out there, and he is nothing less than candid in describing what it was like to work with the great Michael Winner and his crew, how he got started in the picture business (after having been inspired by a screening of Kubrick's 2001: a space odyssey), and what people do when trying to sell and market movies these days. Singleton is down to earth and insightful in his rather telling commentary upon the movie business. There are three absolutely fantastic audio commentaries included here that help to make this Blu-Ray one of the most special releases in the Scream Factory cannon. Writer/producer Jeffrey Konvitz (led by commentator Nathaniel Thompson) is involved in a terrific commentary track in which he candidly explains the origins of the movie's source novel, the rather hazardous journey of the book from page to screen, and what he is doing nowadays in the both the book publishing and film distribution worlds (Konvitz offers some incisive comments upon the business of proving intellectual property law cases, and the track delves quite deeply into the rather tendentious nature of the moviemaking business itself--tellingly, Konvitz admits that he doesn't like Michael Winner as a director, and he is in fact rather mournful about the whole movie adaptation process concerning THE SENTINEL). Actress Christina Raines is also guided through a hilarious audio commentary track in which she mostly describes Winner's relationship with her on the set as "unpleasant" and how the whole atmosphere of the picture was out of her league in terms of the picture's genre. And, of course, there is a wonderful (and wonderfully amusing) reminiscence track by Winner himself, who blazes through his recording session telling the audience countless on the set tales about the movie, how he got into a contract with Universal, how he came to work with Chris Sarandon on the film, and even a brief memo about how he ended up falling out of bed one morning after having slept with a beautiful model the night before in a ritzy hotel room! Other miraculous and wondrous anecdotes and vignettes await you on Winner's track and it too is an absolute keeper. There is also a fantastic, 1080 pixel image transfer of the film, coded in 1.78:1; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nest VHS; Brand: Robert Lansing; Review: Director Terence H. Winkless (from Illinois originally, not born and raised in the land of celluloid) guides this roach-infested monster flick under the banner of Roger Corman's company, who saved what was (seemingly) an already flailing project. Initially started before Winkless came aboard the production (Winkless discusses, on his very informative audio commentary track, how he got chosen as the director--basically because no one else really desired to make a picture about cockroaches!), Corman eventually put Winkless under contract, and managed to get the lovely and gorgeous Lisa Langlois to come aboard (I didn't even realize she was in this picture until after I ordered it, but I was pleasantly surprised--jackpot!). This is a standard, let's experiment with the cockroaches on an abandoned island type of story, but overall the picture is a lot of fun to watch. There are some creative gore effects, not too much profanity, and some really humorous moments (and outrageously misplaced dialogue). Winkless mentions that the movie was inspired by "The Fly"--and one scene in particular is purely derivative of that earlier film. But other than that, the cat-roach creature, and the final monstrosity that appears near the climax, is worth the price of admission alone. The real reason to purchase this neat little Blu-Ray/DVD reissue of THE NEST is to listen to the director's commentary. He mentions that the production basically included his friends and some family members (probably any director's preferred way of casting!), and that, if cell phones had been around so prevalently in these older days, Winkless wouldn't have gotten the job because some top brass at the company never officially approved of him to direct at all! But we must not dwell upon the wonderful old days of loose and independent free market filmmaking, else we might wind up getting depressed. And THE NEST, despite a few animals in distress moments, is not a joyless picture at all. It is clichd at times, and it basically follows a kind of outdoor adventure scenario (with many interior scenes kept brief), but overall it is a worthwhile B-movie. Especially when we start to get more creatures after the rather lugubrious first half. Somewhat tragically, Scream Factory neglected to track down and include an audio (or even video) interview with the author of the original source novel, Eli Cantor (1913-2006) (who published fiction under the pseudonym Gregory A. Douglas), a cultural item that would have been worth something to us nerds. Cantor was a successful businessman, a composer (one of his string quartets was choreographed by the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, and later performed), a writer, and even an artist/sculptor. His early short stories also won acclaim by literary folks, and his interest in journalism even led him into a career as a fiction editor at a major magazine. According to Cantor's daughter, the man was pleased with this movie (though it didn't really follow his novel very closely), and it's a shame that we didn't get his thoughts about his work being adapted for film. Winkless doesn't bother mentioning the source novel on his; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nice Guys; Brand: Russell Crowe; Review: Unconscionably sleazy private detective movie follows brusier-for-hire bum Jackson Healy (a passable turn by Russell Crowe) as he mistakenly crosses paths with harried father and burnt out private eye Holland March (played amiably by Ryan Gosling) as they get involved in solving a high-class series of crimes involving pornography, larceny, and murder. Either I'm losing my mind or the rest of the movie watching public have simply closed their eyes to what is going on in this movie, but to say that this film is an endorsement of pedophilia is, in a word, putting it mildly. Child actress Angourie Rice (who is only fifteen here) is presented as mature, attractive, and wise-beyond-her-years, and clearly she is supposed to be "mother to the man" in the case of Gosling's goofy father character. The problem is that she's made up to be the attractive one here, only placed in the "mature" part so that she can appeal to the leering perverts in the audience (and this covers most of the people in Hollywood California). The movie makes futile attempts at being funny, but this type of child exploitation is borderline psychotic on behalf of the filmmakers. Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy private eye fiction, even the old Mickey Spillane pot boilers mind you, but there is a difference in style and attitude that makes the objectionable content of other detective fiction easier to digest because of an acceptable moral framework. Such a framework is lacking in this movie, however, and I suspect that this advertisement for the creepy world of pornography was sold in order to further corrupt the taste of viewers who might have mistakenly come to this picture in the hopes of finding a new genre movie classic. Hollywood has been on thin ice with me for quite a long time, but usually I can roll with the punches of adult content in these productions...however, THE NICE GUYS has a distinctly sleazy and unapologetic feel that makes its filthiness a little bit harder to shake off after the picture is over. The plot in itself is also a bit convoluted, and to me the movie felt overlong and predictable. There is an effort at capturing the grotesque nostalgia of late 70's L. A. but it's too morally diseased for my taste. L.A. CONFIDENTIAL this ain't! All of this is especially disheartening considering that it was Shane Black's hand that guided this movie; unfortunate, since I am going to continue holding out hopes that his newest (planned for 2018) release of THE PREDATOR will be a movie done the right way and with honest intentions--but now this enthusiasm has been hampered by my knowledge of his current work in the Hollywood "wet dream factory." Cinematographer Phillipe Rousselot does a grand job of catching most of the period detail, but the story and characters are so corrupt that it's difficult to find any enjoyment here, unless you have an unhealthy thing for prepubescent girls. Under any circumstances, pornography is not something to be taken so lightly, even in a fictional, "throwback"; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Howling; Brand: Dee Wallace; Review: Pretty near complete in its Blu-Ray packaging, this re-issue of Joe Dante's 1981 gem THE HOWLING features a nice transfer of the original film negative and a whopping horde of extras that will have fans giving their howls of thanks every time there's a full moon. THE HOWLING is a creepy film, but there's practically as much comedy and cinema buff in-jokes as there are moments of fright, but Rob Bottin's transformation effects in this picture are just about unequaled in terms of their quality (what baffles me is that 1981 had three great werewolf pictures in cinemas, and today there are none to speak of; oh well, the good old days). I imagine that the Eddie Quist transformation scene was pretty shocking for viewers in 1981, and really the effects work here remains pretty imaginative today. While scary in concept, THE HOWLING is constantly messing with your head, throwing in a parade of jokes and quasi-humorous references to other movies, and even featuring cameos (Roger Corman, Mick Garris, co-writer John Sayles, and Dick Miller spring to mind) that make you go "Oh!" in the middle of the picture. Of course, there is the sexy and visually arresting Elisabeth Brooks to capture your eyes here, as well as some interesting werewolf characters (like Slim Pickens!) to make you gasp every now and then. While a fun movie, THE HOWLING lacks a great deal of action that might have made it even more intense, but what survived the cutting room floor is pretty good. While the movie has become a staple of the genre for horror fans, its real contributions have to do with the effects on display and the unusual concepts found in the movie itself, and how Dante cleverly reworks the genre for a new (and more tolerant) generation. While I personally didn't find the picture all that offensive (there is a high-concept werewolf sex scene that is fairly explicit but not overly shocking, and apparently this is the one scene that author Gary Brandner enjoyed from the movie), there are moments that will definitely make fans of the original 1941 WOLF MAN wince. But compared to other werewolf-themed films, this one goes a long way towards redeeming itself by not taking its efforts too seriously, and by providing some pretty freaky moments overall. And the ending is, well, a scorcher! While some of the extra content included on Scream Factory's new release can be found elsewhere, the company has yet again gone above and beyond the call of duty in presenting us fans with some really nice extra content. Chief amongst these new offerings is an exemplary interview with effects creator David W. Allen (I want one of those werewolf figurines!) in which he explains why his work for Dante was not used in the movie (with the exception of about two seconds worth of footage that comes near the end) and how he went about designing his own werewolf creatures under contract for the picture (best of all is the cut footage in which we get a glimpse of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swamp Thing - The Series; Brand: Mark Lindsay Chapman; Review: I know you're wondering why it's taken me so long to get around to reviewing this release, but wait no more, here comes my detailed analysis below: While he's long been one of my favorite comic book characters, my exposure to Swamp Thing has mostly been through other media rather than the comics: namely, novelizations, movies, fan art, and especially television. In any case, Swampy has had a particularly rough ride in terms of the cinema, where his characterization remains both underused and misunderstood. However, the psychologically traumatized screenwriter Joseph Stefano managed to develop a television series pitch back in the 80's for this particular show and, once it was greenlighted in the early 90's, the series took off for a not-so-spectacular run (for three seasons), and yet when it debuted it was apparently the highest rated program to appear on TV at that particular time. And make no mistake, SWAMP THING: THE SERIES is a show very much of its time, but to my way of thinking this isn't a bad thing. In fact, I enjoy the rather laidback tone of the show, even though it essentially relegates the Swamp Thing character to the background and focuses upon a parade of human characters, chief amongst these being the mightily dysfunctional Kipp family, who seem to keep surprising themselves with revelations as the show progresses as well as the viewers. Swampy, of course, is not quite the same type of "superhero" figure as Batman (for example), and really the show gives the character a rather complicated sense of ethics and moral initiatives (Swamp Thing will not kill the swamp's great nemesis, Anton Arcane (played here by the strong Mark Lindsay Chapman, who raises this material to a level that it really doesn't require), but he does "tree" a particularly nasty man in the show's opening episode "The Emerald Heart," which leads me to believe that the show's "bible" was not thoroughly set in stone by the time the cameras started to roll. You might best imagine SWAMP THING: THE SERIES as a kind of Louisiana bayou "swamp opera," with some hammy acting, some over-the-top (and poorly introduced) creatures, and a dark sense of humor, all governed over by the mysterious creature that the lead protagonist Doctor Alec Holland has turned into. I was initially going to complain about seeing Chapman's face all over this show, but to be fair, they do give us a fair amount of the beautiful (and now sadly forgotten) Carrell Myers (playing the often bewildered Tressa Kipp), a lovely lady who lends the show a strong air of beauty and sex appeal (I suppose the same could be said of the lovely Abigail, who is a particularly strong presence on the last two discs in this set). But even with all of these good looking people aboard, I personally would have been happy with more Swamp Thing, but again it was Stefano's and the network's choice to make the show more of a human drama rather than a muck-encrusted show about the beasties alone, and on this level; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hitchcock; Brand: Anthony Hopkins; Review: Absolutely unnecessary film about the great rotund film director (everyone's favorite visual artist of classic-style British and British-American suspense pictures) and his long-suffering spouse Alma (portrayed here by the once radiant Helen Mirren) as they come upon many marital road-blocks and speed bumps as Hitch decides to pursue his dream project--the filming of an un-filmable "trashploitation" novel by Robert Bloch entitled "Psycho", a story about a "queer who dresses up like his mother." This is all well and good, but soon enough the studio doesn't want to make the movie, and they aren't sure about Hitch's choice for a screenwriter (played nervously here by Ralph "The Karate Kid" Macchio, doing a none-too-kosher lampoon of the set-upon Joseph Stefano, whose best film work most likely occurred on TV). Allegedly "primped" for an A+E television miniseries presentation, Hollywood executives--in some unknown fit of anxiety--decided to purchase the rights to Stephen Rebello's source nonfiction story and gave it the ol' greenlight for a studio feature film instead. Big mistake. I mean seriously, I'm left scratching my head more than anything these days. What are these Hollywood types thinking?! I mean, it's all good for Rebello that he was able to get something produced, but sheesh! How about something, I don't know, different perhaps? With all due respect to Anthony Hopkins, I just don't get what he was trying to do in this performance. He carries a stomach sack on him throughout the picture and attempts to act as if he could muscle down a whole steak and two bottles of sweet wine for lunch every day, but I just didn't buy it. His performance made me wish for the total and complete demise of the Academy Awards (just in general). Helen Mirren, the once luscious star of 1969's "Age of Consent", here has turned into a still fine actress but a none too commanding one, given the role. For years, this nice lady's talent has been misused (or simply ignored) on film, and now Hollywood is throwing paycheck after paycheck at her and making her degrade herself in junk-food fiascos like the movie RED. It's sickening, if you ask me. Finally, Scarlett Johansson is NOT Janet Leigh. 'Nuff said. I guess my intention with all of this carping is to alert you to the fact that I just don't think we (as a species) need any more of these movies in which Hollywood is looking back at its old perverted past all the time. It is simply unnecessary. Apparently Rebello himself has done time in the Egyptian House of the Dead (I'm speaking of the Disney offices) in which he's worked on some fresh story material over there--needless to say, these projects probably won't be seeing the light of day, but HITCHCOCK, well, they greenlighted this sucker in a hellfire hurry! And why not? It's got the stench of Oscar bait all over it, and the hovering aroma of freshly caught bass to boot. Apparently it was Rebello's rewrites of this picture that made the story more about a tangled, simple-minded love tiff ("The Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Killing Them Softly; Brand: Brad Pitt; Review: Degenerative, confusing crime drama follows hitman Jackie Cogan (played fairly straight here by Brad Pitt) as he attempts to straighten out the situation surrounding an upper end card game heist that went down in a style similar to a hijacking that occurred years before. But as he gets closer to completing the job, Cogan becomes more of a revisionist philosopher than he does a true, no-nonsense hitman. Sad to report, KILLING THEM SOFTLY is really too stylish for its own good, with the camera playing tricks upon the audience, and with the actors trying to mess around with different vocal accents and styles of performance that for me didn't land. Post-GOODFELLAS Ray Liotta gets in over his head in this film, and is savagely beaten to a pulp in an unusually disgusting scene that is a bit shocking for a mainstream film. And yet the majority of the movie runs at a snail's pace, trying to offset the lack of action occurring onscreen by presenting low-life characters who attempt to chew the cud and discuss the current economic crisis of 2008 rather than trying to live meaningful lives. At a mere 97 minutes in length, the word around the Hollywood campfire is that director Andrew Dominick initially prepared a longer cut of the movie that ran in excess of two and a half hours, and might have made more sense than this cramped, unusually empty-headed version that we have here. Although one would be stretching it a bit to refer to Brad Pitt as a technical actor, this role gives him a chance to act tough but really doesn't give him as much to do as you might at first think. In any case, the wonderful (and now unfortunately deceased) James Gandolfini gives what is perhaps the picture's best performance, playing an unconscionably sleazy parolee who is supposed to help Pitt's character get things done (but who only wants to booze it up and visit with the ladies instead). Overall, the picture is too post-modern and too "cool" for its own good--I'd rather be entertained rather than get 'clevered' to death, but clever and subdued is what this movie is really all about. A project handled by the Weinstein brothers, this movie deserves its R rating 100%, containing some brutal violence, several cold-blooded killings, and some rather ear drubbing (and filthy) dialogue that no other pre-requisite gangster movie can quite prepare you for. And to add insult to injury, there is the typical preachiness involved in the movie's last scene, a race-baiting effort to shame Thomas Jefferson through revisionist lies and to attack our nation for being more "business" than actual country. Some in the audience will undoubtedly cheer on this moment, but I personally found it offensive and (narratively speaking) unnecessary. This one was made by a filmmaker who thinks he understands what it means to make gangster cinema but really only has an academic climatician's sense of what is out there in the atmosphere. It takes more than rain and bloodshed to make a good neo-noir folks. The picture and; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: American Psycho VHS; Brand: Christian Bale; Review: Self-assured, wealthy, and eminent investment banker Patrick Bateman seems to have the perfect young man's life--entering various clubs at a whim, taking advantage of anyone who is in his way, preaching one thing and living in yet an entirely different style--but his dating habits are most unusual, especially when he gets the chance to get any young lady he can find back into his apartment at American Gardens... Richly detailed script writing and Christian Bale's iconic (and often very funny performance) cannot erase the fact that AMERICAN PSYCHO simply will not be everyone's cup of tea; in fact, it might be one of the most unusual mainstream pictures you will ever see. Descending as it does into the crippled psyche of Patrick Bateman, Mary Harron's film allows itself to go a long way towards exploiting the angst that lives inside the head of most guys in the modern world but, thankfully, most of them don't have the kinds of harrowing fantasies that Bateman himself suffers from. Because America, in particular, is suffering from a kind of spiritual sickness that no mere smattering of giggles can fumigate, it feels awkward to be laughing at the kind of degradation that Bateman indulges himself in continuously, and yet we do laugh in his presence (partly at the fact that he just can't seem to get himself caught, and partly at the fact that he is himself an utter wreck looking for the perfect outward disguise). Although the Bateman character is the quintessential Reptilian villain of the modern Cineplex, it is strange that author Bret Easton Ellis's source material was not followed a bit more closely (Ellis did write several drafts of the movie in advance of its production, and initially executive producer Pressman wanted to go for an X rating and just limit the film's mass appeal from the get go); still, Harron's film is hardly the most subtle for a picture directed by a woman. While a male director undoubtedly would have done things differently here (and Harron's helming position seems to have been fated due to the studio's desire to quell the flaming furor over the source material's alleged politics), Harron and her co-writer Guinevere Turner fashion a credible attempt at a man's breakdown on screen. Because we are never entirely sure whether AMERICAN PSYCHO is strictly psychological or partially pragmatic, viewers may end up finding the film a very frightening one on first watch, but do be assured that, for whatever reason, the movie does get funnier the more viewings of it that you allow yourself to suffer through. While it would be irresponsible of me to recommend this picture to Christians or to the casual film student (probably wouldn't show this to many of my close friends, either), I do have to say that AMERICAN PSYCHO, when viewed responsibly, is actually a stalwart satire of the current post-80's Western climate of materialistic hedonism and is a tolerable exercise in imagined psychosis (despite the sometimes unnecessary sex scenes and the rather downplayed instances of graphic violence and carnage). In the end, this; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An American Werewolf in London; Brand: David Naughton; Review: Creepy yet occasionally amusing movie finds two American backpackers wandering around the North York Moors (after the curfew, no less) and getting savagely chewed up by a vicious attack dog of some kind--or so it seems. While one of the men doesn't fare so well, David (played by the likeable everyman David Naughton) ends up having dreams about the occurrence, and it soon becomes apparent that all is not going to be well when another full moon rises in the night sky. AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON is not so much a traditional approach to werewolf cinema but is more so a modern day take on the theme of demonic possession (in the laidback audio commentary on this disc, actor Naughton explains that he actually had nightmares himself while playing this character!), featuring the case of a man whose physical and spiritual being is overtaken by a force beyond human comprehension. American-Jewish director Landis is both a kidder and a goofball (and there's a reason why directors of his ilk mainly make comedies...I suspect that it has something to do with having the last laugh, so to speak), but he doesn't try to hide this fact nor disguise it in his approach to film directing, and as a result AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF... feels like an attempt at a serious movie that its maker can't quite take all that seriously. But this is not to say that I dislike Landis himself, but this material leaves something to be desired for sure. While the film's makeup effects won an Oscar for the fascinating and knowledgeable artist Rick Baker, there is no doubt in my mind (after having carefully reviewed them both yet again) that the werewolf transformations in Joe Dante's THE HOWLING are the superior werewolf scenes captured on celluloid. Somewhat ironically, effects creator Rob Bottin (who did THE HOWLING at one studio, while Baker was hard at work on this picture) was an understudy of Baker's, and his transformation of the Eddie Quist character in THE HOWLING is the scariest werewolf transformation ever seen in a movie: while the Landis movie has a makeup job that revolves around far too many cut-aways, close-ups, and obvious changes, the Bottin transformations in THE HOWLING are all done in-camera (too) without having any noticeable edits in the film (witness the Eddie Quist transformation late in that film). And Bottin's effects were slow-building and equally well-lit--the transformation footage was not only eye-popping and highly detailed, but you could see it all happening right before your eyes and it was scary as hell to boot! But, if this movie proves anything, it's that sometimes the student is better than the teacher. And this is not to say that David's transformation isn't good. It's just that I disagree with others who have taken the party line claiming that this film has the better effects stuff. The cast are all very good in the film (the long suffering Griffin Dunne certainly deserves a nod, and the beautiful, tenderly sexy Jennifer Agutter is never anything to complain about), but other than; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swamp Thing: The Series, Volume 2; Brand: Dick Durock; Review: One of the more interesting series to come out during the heyday of the USA television network, SWAMP THING: THE SERIES is not for all tastes but will undoubtedly appeal to those who want something more unusual to look at, especially in this day and age in which everything comic book related seems to emerge as a visual effects fest from the most creatively deprived corners of Hollywood. While my initial reaction to these second box of episodes was a bit lukewarm (I recall that I once referred to the show as "cruel"), in hindsight I can now appropriately look at it for its entertainment value, and in truth the series is pretty entertaining even while it nearly prompts you to shout the word "absurd" over and over throughout its progression. Well, the show is actually absurd in places--characters drop in and drop out like sorority students, the pacing is quick in some episodes and quite slow in others, the actual monster itself (whom most people expect to see if they purchase this set) is seen only sporadically throughout each episode and therefore the series begins to feel more "swamp opera-ish" than action/adventure spectacle. But this show had many things going for it really, including the great rustic soundtrack (with music by Christopher L. Stone) to the unusually good makeup effects done for the show's many creatures. Now, while the product listing might tell you that this series has been finally released in its "proper chronological order," an astute viewer can tell right off the bat that the narrative sequence of these episodes is not actually in order (see the Wikipedia listing for the episodes in this series if you want to sit down and watch each episode in the official order of their air dates). SWAMP THING: THE SERIES, VOLUME 2 allegedly picks up after the episode entitled "The Shipment" (which we saw was the last episode in the first box set) and thrusts us even further into a narrative arch that seems to make increasingly less sense as the series goes on. Most frustratingly, the beautiful and vivacious Carrell Myers (oh how I would have made love to that woman!) is credited mostly as a "guest star" in the few episodes that she's in, and in general the series seems to constantly veer off into its own direction by trying to contain these little individual short stories in each episode that are not truly related to the main story arc (from season one and the first half of season two) at all. Also, the attractive Kari Wuhrer appears in a couple of episodes but not thereafter, making us sad to see yet another familiar (and pretty) face go. And yet the familiars are not the only ones whom we see less of here; in fact, guest stars on the show seem to appear for one episode and then fall out as if the all of the world's problems can be solved in a simple span of twenty-two minutes! And this problem points out one of the great failings of this; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall; Brand: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Review: Gruesome film follows futuristic construction laborer Doug Quaid as he decides to take a "vacation"--an oddly prophetic concept (for the time) that involves people getting their time off only through implanted memories rather than through actual physical experience (as I said, this concept was quite prophetic)--but winds up getting his head mauled over by accident (or was it?) and discovers that his true life involves something much more complicated than that of a simple everyman construction worker, and that he may not be the man that he thought he was. Now on the run from those who would subdue him, Quaid ends up taking a cinematic journey into a nightmarish future world in which air (that's right, air to breathe!) is one of the most precious commodities of all. Sickeningly graphic effects and an unusually over-the-top "performance" from everyone's favorite movie muscle man dampen what was initially a pretty good concept for a science fiction/thriller/adventure film. Tragically, Philip K. Dick (who was certainly a visionary even if he was never considered to be an author of literature, per se) never got to reap the cultural acclaim or financial awards that his work so richly deserved in his own time, and seeing how Hollywood actually began to treat his work in subsequent years is not really all that gratifying of a 'thank you,' at least not from my perspective. In any case, TOTAL RECALL doesn't represent Dick's work as a source. Rather, Ronald Shusett and Dan O'Bannon created an original screenplay draft based upon Dick's original tale back in the 1970's, but of course the financing fell through before the picture could be made while the iron was still hot (back when it should have been made in the first place, before all these crazy producers had time to second guess their baser impulses). Dino De Laurentiis attempted to produce a big-budgeted cheapie of the script himself, with Bruce Beresford (helmer of such sci-fi classics as DRIVING MISS DAISY and CRIMES OF THE HEART) attached to direct! (I'll bet Shusett was sweating this deal for a brief period.) While the Heavens mercifully caused that version of this picture to collapse underneath its own misguided weight, brother to the machine David Cronenberg came aboard to write and direct the project himself--sounds like a match made in Heaven, right? WRONG! Cronenberg was always very specific about his stars, and when the backers threw up their stop signs when Cronenberg suggested the brilliant William Hurt to take the lead, the director of THE FLY promptly had his wings clipped by the studio henchmen (even though he had completed upwards of eleven drafts of his own screenplay version in under a year). When Shusett (who was not only acting as the creative developer of this movie but was also busily working on other script material for others at this time, such as the movie NICO, which ended up starring Steven Seagal) informed Cronenberg that the movie was supposed to be RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK GO TO MARS instead of some intellectual thriller (a la Philip K.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Zootopia; Brand: Ginnifer Goodwin; Review: Wistful, fluffy bunny Judy Hopps blatantly disregards the wisdom and concerns of her bunny rabbit parents and fulfills her lifelong (four or five years? I don't know...she's obviously seventeen or so in human metaphorical years) goal of heading to Zootopia (a play on the word Utopia, in case you missed it), a multicultural metropolis in which every animal and every gender get along equally and no one has any problems ever. But such is not really the case, even in CGI cartoonville, and soon enough Judy (who demands that she not be called "cute" by anyone, because apparently that's offensive or some nonsense) is moved from lower-rung traffic cop to ambitious public detective. Along the way, she meets a con artist named Nick, a fox who refuses to be out-foxed (it's a stereotype thing, get it?) and even begins to fall for the attractively drawn little bunny himself after the two share many adventures together. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are more than adequate as voice actors here, and the Disney animation is about as sharp as it has been of late. The animal designs, too, are well done, featuring a plethora of species that roam the city in brightly lighted full color clothing and elaborate CGI designed sets. I will admit that these characters are well-designed (Judy is a cute character). I will admit that I even laughed a few times throughout. I will confess to having enjoyed some of the humorous interplay between Nick and Judy. The movie should, in all seriousness, be all out fun and not be thought of as a by-product from these fevered film producers's wild and weird imaginations. But, in truth, ZOOTOPIA is a film with a harmful message. Not only is Judy marketed to emerging young girls in this country (whose heads have already been corrupted by such publically tolerated malignities as Feminism) who will now not only be encouraged to think of their parents as "slow," "resentful," and "not in step with the times," but also to go running towards the same multicultural sub-center that the "Zootopia" in the film represents...namely, Hollywood, California! While it might be obvious what the pedophilic community has in mind for the younger people that they are trying to attract to head on out there and "see everything," such subliminal messages will go unnoticed amongst very young children. And not only is ZOOTOPIA guilty of trying to promote the equality agenda, but it is also a movie aimed more at adults and children alike. When did the movies aimed at children decide to become so politicized? And why do ticket buyers think that such things are a good idea? Anyway, perhaps the real backlash against this release will come with a plaintiff's case filed only yesterday, Tuesday, March 21st, 2017. It seems that writer Gary Goldman (you know him from his work on MINORITY REPORT and TOTAL RECALL) has alleged that the Disney company lifted several ideas and characters from a project that he had pitched to the Disney executives in both 2000 and 2009, respectively, but was; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Willard VHS; Brand: Bruce Davison; Review: Willard Stiles is a repressed, fairly unsociable type of guy, working a desk job that he was shoehorned into by his late father, and saddled with looking after his ailing mother (played by the irrepressible Elsa Lanchester) and caring for a house that is well beyond its prime. He suddenly discovers, much to his delight, that he can make friends with the neighborhood rat population, and one by one he begins to raise, then collect, and then ultimately befriend these rodents, two of whom become his chief allies in his war against boredom, failure, and, especially, his boss... Apparently having been tied up in litigation for many years and remaining unavailable to those thirsty fans who have so longed to see it again (there was a VHS release--I think by Paramount--quite some time ago, but that was your only option for viewing this movie properly until now), WILLARD is roughly forty-six years too late in making its resurgence, particularly for those fans who have, unfortunately, passed away before they got a chance to see this movie come to Blu-Ray. And, despite its Edgar Award nomination and all of the hype that its clever advertising campaign brought its way years ago when it did boffo business in the theaters, WILLARD teeters uncomfortably between psychological melodrama and black comedy without ever threatening to become a horror film. Perhaps it stands as a grand example of why certain novels simply do not translate well to the medium of film (Herbert's book THE RATS made no feasible mark when transferred to filmmaking hands either), and if you've read Stephen Gilbert's original novel you'll know that the original story was more of a psychological thriller that was probably destined to have a grand career simply by remaining imprisoned upon the printed page. WILLARD, although it means well, is simply too literal and too cartoonish to work successfully as a thriller. However, I personally get a sense of nostalgic joy out of watching it. Ernest Borgnine has a very memorable role in the picture, as does the lovely Locke (during her "Night Gallery" period) and the dour Davison (Davison's performance, in fact, is what I feel most hampers the movie--he takes the role to dramatic extremes that are uncalled for, and I feel that he was still trying to find this character, in truth--and yet without him the movie just wouldn't be what it is). WILLARD at times has that TV Movie of the Week feel to it, but this isn't so much a complaint as it is a caution to anyone who may be coming to it anew. As we all know from Glen Morgan's disastrously ill-conceived rehash of this title, the gentle innocence of a picture such as WILLARD simply doesn't translate to modern audiences (although I personally enjoyed Morgan's movie as well) and the end result is a typically languid response from today's video game-indoctrinated crowd. And yet despite its one unwatchable death scene (I'm not talking about the humans in the movie, sadly), WILLARD has a far too breezy and inoffensive feel to it,; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: They're Playing With Fire VHS; Brand: ; Review: Tenacious (and indescribably sexy) professor Diane Stevens coaxes her glassy eyed student (played none too amiably here by "Mama's Family" regular Eric Brown) Jay Richard into helping her and her husband (portrayed by the great character actor Andrew Prine) scare two elderly family members away from a large property in order to convince them that the nursing home is the proper place to be. Stupidly, Richard agrees to this because he has an instant fixation on the spicy professor, but his efforts at doing a small favor for her lead him into an afternoon of seduction, an under-rehearsed break in, and a whole lot of other unexpected situations... Kino Lorber should give themselves a pat on the back for releasing a nice new print of this Howard Avedis-directed favorite. Danning herself mentions, in the brief interview included on this disc, that she initially thought that the script (an original, written by Avedis and his wife Marlene Schmidt) was a bit too "convoluted" for her taste. I am inclined to agree with her--but, even so, the picture has a sense of mystery and threat about it without ever becoming too heavy-handed or too mired in any kind of horror film mentality. Actor Paul Clemens (whom you may recall from THE BEAST WITHIN) portrays Richard's friend Martin Johnson, an innocent looking young man who may or may not have something to do with the plot. But what is most memorable about the movie is, as others have said, the beautiful body of Sybil Danning. If you are easily aroused, let me just issue a brief warning before you attempt to watch this one with company. Sybil carries herself so well one often forgets just how interesting of a performer that she is to watch. Any movie with her is worth your time, in my opinion. So, while the mystery within the plot is certainly interesting, Sybil is so sexy in her scenes that even the most astute viewers are going to find themselves distracted. Maybe, in some ways, that was the point. I was, however, pleasantly surprised that the movie kept me as engaged as it did. In her interview segment, Sybil also mentions her affection for the picture's cinematographer Gary Graver, a cinematographic legend who worked with everyone from Orson Welles to Roger Corman and shot some amazing footage until his untimely death in 2006. THEY'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE is a well-shot and well-edited picture indeed, so it is a bit unfair to mark it off as yet another B-movie. And with Sybil aboard, well, wow! Just wow. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: They're Playing with Fire; Brand: Sybil Danning; Review: Tenacious (and indescribably sexy) professor Diane Stevens coaxes her glassy eyed student (played none too amiably here by "Mama's Family" regular Eric Brown) Jay Richard into helping her and her husband (portrayed by the great character actor Andrew Prine) scare two elderly family members away from a large property in order to convince them that the nursing home is the proper place to be. Stupidly, Richard agrees to this because he has an instant fixation on the spicy professor, but his efforts at doing a small favor for her lead him into an afternoon of seduction, an under-rehearsed break in, and a whole lot of other unexpected situations... Kino Lorber should give themselves a pat on the back for releasing a nice new print of this Howard Avedis-directed favorite. Danning herself mentions, in the brief interview included on this disc, that she initially thought that the script (an original, written by Avedis and his wife Marlene Schmidt) was a bit too "convoluted" for her taste. I am inclined to agree with her--but, even so, the picture has a sense of mystery and threat about it without ever becoming too heavy-handed or too mired in any kind of horror film mentality. Actor Paul Clemens (whom you may recall from THE BEAST WITHIN) portrays Richard's friend Martin Johnson, an innocent looking young man who may or may not have something to do with the plot. But what is most memorable about the movie is, as others have said, the beautiful body of Sybil Danning. If you are easily aroused, let me just issue a brief warning before you attempt to watch this one with company. Sybil carries herself so well one often forgets just how interesting of a performer that she is to watch. Any movie with her is worth your time, in my opinion. So, while the mystery within the plot is certainly interesting, Sybil is so sexy in her scenes that even the most astute viewers are going to find themselves distracted. Maybe, in some ways, that was the point. I was, however, pleasantly surprised that the movie kept me as engaged as it did. In her interview segment, Sybil also mentions her affection for the picture's cinematographer Gary Graver, a cinematographic legend who worked with everyone from Orson Welles to Roger Corman and shot some amazing footage until his untimely death in 2006. THEY'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE is a well-shot and well-edited picture indeed, so it is a bit unfair to mark it off as yet another B-movie. And with Sybil aboard, well, wow! Just wow. B+; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Neighbors VHS; Brand: John Belushi; Review: From the moment I finished watching 1981's NEIGHBORS and left the screening room, I immediately wanted to take the DVD downstairs and watch it in the dark by myself--that is, I instantly wanted to watch it again! There is something very quirky and unidentifiable about this movie. Since you probably have come to this film based upon the star power of its two (or, for my money, three--Cathy Moriarty is a sexy-as-hell icy blonde fox who commands my attention every time that she's on screen) leads, and if indeed you have you might want to know in advance that this isn't your average "funny" comedy in the fashion of "The Blues Brothers" or "Doctor Detroit." Of course, Dan Aykroyd has always been a notably oddball figure who has appeared in a lot of, er, offbeat productions over the years, but in NEIGHBORS he takes his sense of the outlandish to the next level. Despite all of the chaos and harassment that was (allegedly) going on behind the scenes during the film's production, NEIGHBORS emerges as a kind of unorthodox masterpiece about modern paranoia and modern day hysteria. It's not really so much funny as it is psychologically engrossing, but because of the comic nature of the two leads (both of whom "switched roles" in midstream, allegedly, and wound up creating even more unique characterizations as a result) and because of Avildsen's haphazard direction the picture emerges as one of the most unique comedies of the 1980s. And herein lies a rather sad commentary upon the state of American film--it was around this time that the makers of comedies started to lose confidence in themselves and decided that it wasn't okay to experiment with scenes that weren't utterly ribald (or, in today's case, grotesquely offensive) in comedy film stories, thus sacrificing the genuine "human" comedy films for ones that were increasingly unrealistic and offered little human qualities whatsoever. Even Saturday Night Live, when it first began, was much more of a satirical show more so than an overt comedy program, and as a result the earlier sketches were much edgier (and much funnier) than they are today (not that I watch SNL anymore, but you get the idea). NEIGHBORS is neither knee-slappingly funny nor is it always all that serious, and therefore you will be as unbalanced as the filmmakers and the actors themselves were when you watch it...but it is by way of this truly unbalanced view that a very entertaining commentary upon the nature of human relations in the 20th century emerges. As the familiar phrase goes, "they just don't make 'em like this anymore." Mill Creek's DVD transfer is moderate but the picture looks about as good as I remember it looking years and years ago. There are no extras included (a real shame, considering how much fun that a cast audio commentary track would have been!), but the package (including the cover art on the insert sleeve) has some TLC about it, and it was enough to sell the DVD to me, at least. Now that I have seen; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swamp Thing-The Series: Vol 3; Brand: Jennifer Beals; Review: After having purchased this set back in late 2011, I quickly watched all of the episodes in a few sittings and managed to feel sort of empty by the time the show was over. SWAMP THING--THE SERIES, after all, had turned out to be one of my favorite and most anticipated viewing experiences, despite some of the quirky plotting that was done during the series' run (that ultimately made me question just exactly what it was that the writers of this show were smoking), and after it was finally over I had the feeling that the show was over before its time. After recently discovering that the show was supposed to have ran for 100 episodes (instead of the meager 72 shows that we now have in this nice new DVD set) I decided to go back and re-watch the episodes this year. If you have read my extensive reviews of volumes one and two previously published here on Amazon, you already have a general sense of how I feel about the show's content, so below I will offer you some insights about this particular DVD set. Things begin near the middle of season three (which we were already well into by the time the second DVD box set ended), so what we have here is the conclusion to the third season. The DVD transfers included here are excellent, and the sound is a quite good overall. We get four DVDs included in this set, with six episodes included upon each disc. The DVD case is a clear plastic standard box, with the DVDs held inside by a snap-in disc holder that can be turned back and forth inside of the box. The cover art is quite good, and the DVD insert sleeve is a double-sided offering with each episode listed on the inside of the insert sleeve (which you can view through the clear case itself once the box is opened), but the episode titles are not included on the DVDs themselves (which is the same presentation as the older discs). The disc menus are similar to the other discs in this series of DVD releases, which allows viewers to select each individual episode (no chapter headings included here since the episodes themselves are only twenty-two minutes in length per title). Overall, the third season is not nearly as memorable as the previous two seasons were, but the episodes themselves are just as entertaining. If you are in a blue mood and need a change, this series will have you turning green in no time. Also, a viewer should be aware that the following episodes are collected here in the order that they were initially supposed to have been sequenced in terms of the overarching narrative (not that we can truly follow the bricolage-wielding style of these series writers anyway!) and NOT in the order that they first appeared back on the USA channel in the early 90's. The conclusion of the third season begins with an episode entitled "Lesser of Two Evils," in which Tyne Daly guest stars as a; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Way to Start a Day; Author: Visit Amazon's Byrd Baylor Page; Review: The illustrations add so much to the simple beauty of this book. The story is sweet and uplifting. Well done.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Believe in Me: A Book of Affirmations; Author: Visit Amazon's Connie Bowen Page; Review: A beautifully written and illustrated book for children. It containes lovely confirmations that each child is a gift to the world. What better gift you a special child in your life? Award winning for good reason.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bright Baby Touch & Feel Baby Animals (Bright Baby Touch and Feel); Author: Visit Amazon's Roger Priddy Page; Review: Soft, sensory stimulation for baby as he/she learns "Where is the -----?" Interactive board book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Giraffes Can't Dance; Author: Visit Amazon's Giles Andreae Page; Review: Written in rhyme and encouragement to use jumping and bouncing skills in order to 'dance!'. He loves it read to him over and over. Resists the mouthing as it is heavy cardboard.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Noisy Trucks (My First Touch and Feel Sound Book); Author: Tiger Tales; Review: My grandson loves the noises and at 7 mo. can make it go by trial and error. Cute and motivating for a toddler.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Aviator (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Village (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Samurai (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Mountain (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Racing Stripes (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fiddler on the Roof (1971); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tarzan (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coach Carter (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Good Company (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Out of Time (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: North to Alaska (1960); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rick Steves' Europe: Ireland (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Mirage (The Oregon Files); Author: Visit Amazon's Clive Cussler Page; Review: Just another great read, I especially enjoy the Oregon File books; however, I have come to like them all and download the Cussler books as them become available; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Michael Vey 4: Hunt for Jade Dragon; Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Paul Evans Page; Review: I have been following the series having read the first three volumes and find them to be excellent reading for young adults and the author does a fine job of placing you in the middle of the action; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill O'Reilly Page; Review: Long time fan of Patton, this book has high lighted areas that were new in placing them into context. Have read all four of O'Reilly's Killing series and consider all four as being well written I favor this one above the others that doesn't take anything away from the others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Revere and the American Revolution: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans; Author: Visit Amazon's Rush Limbaugh Page; Review: A unique presentation of early American history; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dreamers and Deceivers: True and Untold Stories of the Heroes and Villains Who Made America; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn Beck Page; Review: The book opened some insight that I had not previously encountered in relation to the personality covered; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Third Target: A J. B. Collins Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Joel C. Rosenberg Page; Review: As usual, this is another work of fiction that could easily be pulled from the news of the day with regard to the state of affairs in the Middle East; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Piranha (The Oregon Files); Author: Visit Amazon's Clive Cussler Page; Review: Loved it as I have all of the Oregon File books, I know it is a fictional work but it would be great to tour the ship Oregon, just saying; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Earth in the Beginning - Revised and Enlarged Edition; Author: Eric N. Skousen; Review: This is a book for study rather than "reading", the reader will come away with a new perspective with time well vested with study.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Intimidation Game: How the Left Is Silencing Free Speech; Author: Visit Amazon's Kimberley Strassel Page; Review: The content is a warning to an unexpecting public and the lengths that to some in politics will stupe to...; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: MTD Genuine Parts .080" SpeedSpool Precut Trimmer Line; Brand: Ryobi; Review: My string trimmer ran out of string and I order refill. I refilled the trimmer and has used it since.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gilmour 813004-1001 TV165753 2-Way Connector, Brass; Brand: Gilmour; Review: I use this to provide water to both front and back yard. I use two hoses rather than one walking front and back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gilmour 801364-1001, 1 Pack, Red; Brand: Gilmour; Review: What can I say about rubber washers? It prevents leaks between connection and it works. All I can say its okay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nelson Cast Iron Circular Spray Pattern Stationary Sprinkler Head 50950; Brand: Nelson; Review: I bought this one to replace my old one that did not provide even pattern of water. This still does not provide even pattern as it favors one side. Its a bit better than the old one, but not much.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ShelterLogic Quick Clamp Canopy (Green); Brand: ShelterLogic; Review: When the package came and I open it, it was evident that this was used with leaves and duct tape holding the poles together. When I call up to complain, the dealer was most helpful and ordered a replacement that was brand new. The dealer was most helpful and made a bad experience into a good one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All Natural Rodent Defense Spray –Effective Repellent For Mice,Rats,Squirrels,Rabbits,Gophers,Raccoons&Most Small Animals –Outdoor &Indoor Mouse Deterrent For The; Brand: Exterminators Choice; Review: It worked well for a short time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: OFF! Mosquito Clip-On Fan Starter, 3-Pack; Brand: OFF!; Review: This is handy, but it only does a fair job in keeping mosquito away.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BugzOff Electric Fly Swatter Racket - Best Zapper for Flies - Swat insect repellent, Wasp, Bug; Brand: Bugzoff; Review: It works as describe, but is not very durable in that it broke after one season.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Olympik Tristar; City: Prague Bohemia; Review: we stayed here as part of a group tour. its far from city centre, and in a not so nice looking location. abt 10min walk to metro which is oretty good and takes you right into the heart of prague. no restaurants or anything to do around the hotel. the room was just ok, dusty, not too clean, but in working order, same with the bathroom, it was functional though not the cleanest. breakfast was nothing to write about, below aeverage continental. we had dinner at restaurant one nigth as part of tour and that was pretty bad. lifts are slow and hotel caters a lot for younger tour groups of school kids, the 2 nites we were there they made such a racket in the hallway, running from room to room, banging doors and just being loud that we couldnt get any sleep. there is a large open space in front of lifts on each floor and they were playing with a soccer ball in that area. a few ppl from our tour grouyp and also hotel customers went dwon to complain, i think the kids were told to quieten down and they would do so for some time, then start up again. most annoying; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Causeway; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: i stayed here for a couple of times, for a couple of nightes each late last year for work. interms of value, not sure since work paid. service was good on first visit, where they stowed my bag since i was early, and checkin checkout was smooth. the next visit however strange thing happened the bathrooms in room didnt have any cold water!! while i was showeering, the cold water just went away and i was left with hot water only, i cudnt shower like that. called reception after getting out of shower and they said its been happening to other customers as well, they didnt know what the issue was and just offered to let me use another room to shower. so not much help ther, but in the end i figured out how to solve the problem by running the hot water in the basin while showering somehow gave a decent temp, anyway, was big mess, not happy. rooms were decent sized, i think i had executive room, so comfortable bed. stained carpets, but i dont really care for such things, room was decent, same with bathroom except for the water thing. breakfast was usual continental with cold meat and cheese, tea coffee, breads. no hot food. very quiet. location excelltnt on litle collins st, everything i needed was around like cafes, restaurants, bars, shopping etc. ok for a short 1-2 stays if the price is reasonalble. nothing outstanding abt it, its just ok; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Arno Bellariva; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: we stayed here as part of a tour group. the hotel is on the budget side. we got a family room with a double and 2 single beds for me and my partner, so room was large though cluttered with the beds. bathroom was tiny, a bit moldy, and the thinnest towels i have ever seen. Couldnt even use them to dry my hair. breakfast i dont even remember, so must have been mediocre. Service was nice, polite and the guy at reception remembered which rooms you were staying in so gave you the key as you entred (you have to elave room key at reception when leaving) it was noisy with thin walls. location was excellent with the main florence centre within walking distance of the hotel (15mins to the main piazza) Our walking tour of Florence began abt 10mins from hotel, and we walked everywhere so location was excellent; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pension Haus Alpenblick; City: Kirchberg Tirol Austrian Alps; Review: we stayed here as part of a group tour and it was a one night stopover, this area and bnb would be busier during the skiing months, at the time we went our group were the only ppl there, and the area was very wuiet as well with just a few locals, quiet streets, not much open. there is not a lot to do in the area, but its charming and peaceful and nice. we went for a walk in the afetrnoon, saw lovely views, walked into a pub which was cute. the actual room that we got was so cute, and romantic. it was roomy with a day bed next to the window and a dining table and chairs with cute curtains and windows facing the front of bnb. bathrrom was decent with big enuf shower. a very cute room, but thi smust have been a 'deluxe room' because we saw the twin room of another person in the group and hers was quiet small. and another couple who had their room at back of bnb had a shower in the actual room, and smaller. other then that everyone else seemed happy with the rooms. the hosts were so friendly and helpful, loved him. breakfast was very good, with eggs and sausages and continental, lovely breakfast. for one night passing thru it was very romantic, would not stay for longer during this time as not much to do in immediate area, but if we had a car and were independant travellers, then you could explore the countryside from this base; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pension Alte City; City: Berlin; Review: we stayed here as part of a group tour and were quite happy with it. its basic, clean and comfortable. from entry doorway you have to climb some stairs to get to reception hallway, there are some room on this floor and more rooms up more flightes of stairs, no lift. luckily me and my partner got a room on the reception hallway so only needed to carry bags up one flight of stairs. our room was decent, not too small, with ok functional bathroom. windoes looked onto the street which got a little noisy as there was a bar next door. but we stayed out at the bar our selves so not too fussed. breakfast was in a ncie little cafe next door which was ncie, continental food, plentiful and decent. location is excellent, near zoo, local attractions, plenty of shopping, bars and restaurants. plus only a few of minutes from the underground metro which is fast and efficient, so very convinient location. loved being so close to everything; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rigi Kaltbad; City: Rigi Kaltbad; Review: we stayed in this hotel as part of a group tour. The hotel is quite cute, the room we had was an older one at the back that had not been refurbed so altho it was pleasant when we entered, we realsied the beds were too lumpy and didnt get a good nights sleep while there. the other rooms in the front were refurned and so I'm not sure about the bed quality there, most likely better. the bathroom was decent and clean. Hotel is located quite a fair way up on mt rigi, location was very quite when we went during early summer. it would be busier during skiing season. not much to do around the place at all, evenings we spent in the cosy hotel bar drinking. to get anywhere u have to take the cable car down (or the train) and then u can take the ferry to lucerne. breakfast was ok, the quiet at that time on the mountain was too much, but the hotel is warm and cosy with one pf for internet (not free). couple of shops around, nothing else. the views from the hotel and around were breathtaking, like postcards pictures.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Giotto; City: Rome Lazio; Review: we stayed here as part of a group tour. Upon arrival we were given our room keys and ours was on the top floor. we realised the lift didnt even go to this fllor, so we had to get off at the latest floor the lift got to (8 i think) and then walk another 2 flites of staris with our luggage to get to the room. when me and my partner entered out room we thought there had been a mistake as the room was clearly for a single person. i could tell from the layout, the headboard for a single bed, and the fact that the second single bed had been shoved into the room so the 2 beds didnt even line up, next to each other or the wall. I had to go over my partner to get out of bed. no place to put anything down, dusty room. moldy and tiny bathroom. when we went down to complain we ran into another couple from the tour who took were complaining abt their room. we went to see their room and the bathroom in their room was horrible. the shower was over the toliet!!! when we saw this we didnt bother complining abt our room. breakfast was poor, boring and not memorable. i dont even remember what I had, if anything. location is pretty bad, its like 50mins-1 hour away from rome city centre via metro and then a bus. nothing to do in the area, one bar across the road which closes at 9, nothing else open. there is a roof top u can access at the hotel, so our group just gathered there on the last nite having puchased some alcohol from the bar oppositie earlier and hung around there. it was noisy as when we left early to go to bed, we could hear them all.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Centrale; City: Mestre Veneto; Review: we stayed at this hotel as part of a tour group, and I would rate it a comfortable 2 star hotel. The room was cosy, cute. bathroom was small, bit moldy, room was a bit hot but not on bothersome. stairs were weird, in the way they went up and down and up to get to yr room, all with luggage. location was ncie enuf, away from venice centre area but we were taken there on bus so not sure abt public transport system, but plenty of restaurants and shops around walking distance from hotel, u can walk around, safe area. we had dinner locally on both nites we were there, amazing pizza place around the corner but forget the name. breakfast at hotel was a joke, we had the standard continental breakfast, when we entered the breakfast room we were shocked to see just some cling wrapped cake and something that looked like soem grain bread, but nothing else. I remember walking out of there with the rest of the group and everyone just got something outside the hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Netanya Noosa; City: Noosa Sunshine Coast Queensland; Review: The Netanya apartments were much above expectations. we stayed in one of the Garden Suites, which is a one bedroom suite with private rooftop 'jacuzzi' and entertaining area. The rooms were excellent, with balcony, comfortable bed, plenty of towels provided for swimming pool as well. Do note that they advertise these suites with private rooftop jacuzzi but the garden suites they are not jacuzzi's but just big spa baths with no heating, u just fill them up with hot water and its just a regular spa bath. we complained to management cos we only stayed here due to jacuzi, they were very nice and gave us access to a beach front rooftop penthouse where they did have a proper jacuzzi with the bubbles and heating. So only the beach front suites have the proper jacuzzi's. also shower in the room tended to flood a bit so I was always standing in a puddle, other then that the rooms were excellent, they all have entertaining area on the rooftops with bbq etc. Clean, excellent location, can walk right onto beach from pool area or on hastings street with plenty of cafe's and restaurants. it was lovely, we ate out both days we were there, and there were plenty of chopices. June is low season so it was quiet, but I loved it and would definitely come back and stay at Netanya again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Palace of the Golden Horses; City: Sri Kembangan Petaling District Selangor; Review: We were put up here by malaysian airlines as our flight to Rome was delayed. Hotel is 45min from airport. Can't say what is around the area as we didn't go out. The hotel looks grand but it needs a refurb. We had buffet dinner provided by airline at hotel which was ok, not much variety but we were too tired to care. Access to rooms is a long walk past doorways and going in and out on the upper levels. Bathroom was spacious but old, with old toilet and the tap in basin sprayed water everywhere. Shower had a constant puddle while showering and there was no hot water. Beds were fine, comfortable. Spacious room, not many toiletries provided and what was provided was poor quality. Would rate it 3 star and not recommended for long stay. For one night was ok. Plus was free as airline put us there; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Napoleon; City: Rome Lazio; Review: Let me start by saying that the service at this hotel is fanastic. Absolutely lovely. Everyone In the staff was so friendly and welcoming. It was our honeymoon so the manage sent us a lovely bottle of champagne which was great. On checkout day, we left our luggage with then and went out, then came back at 2pm to pick up our luggage. It was nice to be able to leave our luggage while we got more sightseeing done. They were extrmely helpful and even got us a taxi to take to our next hotel from where we were starting our tour and the conceirge made sure that the cab driver knew where to go. Location is great, near markets and restaurants and right next door to the metro. Room was very clean and spacious. Plenty of room to place like 10 suitcases on the floor. Bathroom was small was not cramped, this is a standard room we stayed in. I am not fond of shower curtains which the shower/bath had. Also my rating for the room is based on my personal sense is space. The room had a window which looked onto nothing. Hence it was closed at all times and there wasn't much natural light. As such I felt a bit boxed in the room. Breakfast was lovely. One thing o found annoying was that I arranged for private transfer to the hotel from the airport. The car was a shuttle bus for me and my husband. Price was 48 euros. I though it was a bit pricey as I was under the impression that it would be nice sedan like private car. Also it's not the hotel's shuttle bus as I had to pay the driver directly in cash while I was aging thinking I'd be able to settle the bill with card at the hotel. When the driver gave me the receipt for 48 euros, I gave him a 50 euro note and he pocketed the entire money with no change of 2 euro. Now 2 euro to us is not much, but I was annoyed at the principal. I would be happy to tip the driver but it's my choice, the driver should have given me the change and then it's my choice to tip him. It is inappropriate of the driver to assume the tip with the money given so this is a complaint agaisnt the driver and not the hotel. I would recommend the hotel to friends and family as ery resonably priced in good location and excellent service where u are made to feel so welcome.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Amalia Hotel Olympia; City: Olympia Elis Region West Greece; Review: Terrible hotel this is definitely not a 4 star hotel. We stayed here as part of a trafalgar tour for one night. The hotel is 15-20 min walk from the village of Olympia. The rooms and general hotel is so old. The whole hotel smelled of like damp, I think it was the carpets. The rooms were terrible as well, so old with old furniture, ugly lumpy chairs and bed and the matteress was so bad we didn't get a good sleep. The bathroom was dated as well wig ugly orange tiles and again those awful shower curtains. Breakfast and dinner were decent enough. Not a hotel I would recommend to anyone.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kima Villa; City: Oia Santorini Cyclades South Aegean; Review: We stayed here after hopping off a cruise for one night. We booked the hotel at the Athenia port. We paid 150 euros for a suite not including breakfast. The villas are very traditional and charming. Our suite was just lovely with a separate roomy master bedroom, the sitting/dining area was quite nice and a private balcony overlooking the entire caldera (cliff side). The views were breathtaking. No intrusions, just postcard perfect views from our private balcony. We also had a loft style second bedroom which we did not use. The villas are down a number of steps, so you will have to carry your luggage. Restaurants and cafes etc are located within easy walking distance. The guy at reception was so friendly and informative. We followed both his recommendations for dinner (Blue Sky) and breakfast (Flora) and those places were amazing with great food. He was also willing to organize other little excursions for us but we didn't have another night to spend in Santorini. Villa was clean, 2 things that you should note. Firstly there was just a hand held shower, not fixed on the wall. Second the bed is on a concrete base so is quite hard. We thought it was very good value and we traveled at low season. Highlight of our trip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amalia Hotel Delphi; City: Delphi Phocis Region Central Greece; Review: We stayed here as part of a trafalgar tour and the hotel is only slightly better then it's sister hotel at Olympia. I gave it one more star then Olympia mainly due to location. The hotel is just a 2 mins walk from the Delphi village and has great views of the mountains. Other then that the hotel rooms and hotel services are similar to Olympia. The rooms are dated with old decor, small old tv and uncomfortable bed. Bathroom slightly newer but the horrible shower/bathtub curtain is still there. Hairdryer is a joke. Again breakfast and dinner were fine. Both amailia we stayed at cater to coach tour groups so all you get is huge groups of noisy people during dinner. But you have nice views. Hotel needs to be updated. Not recommended; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Amalia Hotel; City: Athens Attica; Review: We stayed here for one night after finishing a tour with Trafalgar. This hotel was the best Amalia that we had stayed in, far bypassing the ones in Delphi and Olympia. The hotel is modern and I belive was refurbed a few years ago. We had a standard room whcih was spacious with comfortable bed, flat screen tv and decent bathroom. Service was pleasant. We had to leave early nrxt morning to catch a flight so didnt try the breakfast. Location is excellent, near Plaka and shopping, restaurants etc. Plus the metro and the bus stops are right next door. The sirport shuttle bus stop is about 2 mins walk aroound a corner which was excellent for us. At AUD $200 for the night including breakfast it was very good value, I would stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Medusa Hotel BoutiqueSpa; City: Castellammare Di Stabia Province of Naples Campania; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights as part of Trafalgar Tour. The hotel is gorgeous. Its a beautiful villa with amazing gardens. First the one and only bad thing about the hotel is location, it is in the middle of a not so desirable location, away from town. But I remember reading at reception that they offer complimentary shuttle service into town a couple of times a day. We never had to use it as we were transferred everywhere via coach. We had a beautiful room on Level 2 with a window overlooking the gardens and pool in the back. The view was quite nice. Rooms were charming, comfortable bed with good clean bathrooms and rainshower in the bathroom. Service was polite and warm. Breakfast was lovely, in their restaurant. It was like having breakfast and high tea combined. On one of the evenings we were there a wedding was taking place. The villa was so romantically decorated with candles and lamps and flowers and just driving into the villa driveway was very pretty. Definitely recommended for couples especially, very romantic.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jonah s; City: Whale Beach Pittwater Greater Sydney New South Wales; Review: Jonah's was absolutely beautiful and relaxing. It is expensive, so more of a special occasion place for us, but very relaxing. We did the whole return seaplane from Rose Bay, overnight stay at Jonah's, 3 course dinner and breakfast package over a Sunday night. I believe onah's is quiet a boutique hotel with 8-10 rooms only, and I think they were full for the Sunday night. Everything from the moment you enter Jonah's and calm, peaceful. They pciked up the guests, including us from where the seaplane was for a short ride to Jonah's. Check in was fast and efficient. The room was gorgeous: comfortable bed, spa bath looking out over the view from balcony, large balcony with beautiful views over the water, lovely molten brown toiletries, shower had both wall mounted massage shower head and a rain shower, both of which could be turned on at the same time. Everything was clean and nicely made. One suggestion is to replace the towels, as they appeared well worn and frayed. Replace with some plush luxurious towels. Also the shower did leak quite a bit, not sure why as the door was always closed. Not much of an issue though. Staff are extremely helpful and nice, they'll do anything to make your stay pleasant. We had cocktails on the terrace facing the beach. It was a bit chilly at that time given how Sydney weather as been in Oct, but would be absolutely lovely to sit there for long periods during warmer times. Dinner was faultless, filling, absolutely beautiful. We had the scallops for entree, I had cod and my husband had the duck for mains, I had the chco dessert and hunny had cheese platter for dessert. Every course was delicious. Highly recommended. From the beautiful views, the ambience, the impeccable service, the divine food, it was a lovely meal, very romantic. Even though the restaurant was 3/4 full, service never wavered. Staff were very helpful in helping me choose my main, and also in wine selection as their wine list is extensive. After a comfortable sleep, we went to a quiet breakfast which is served in the restaurant as well. 2 course breakkie, with croissants, breads, drinks etc. Varied selection, and they can change the dishes to your liking. Again, very nice and filling breakfast. Overall we had a lovely night/morning at Jonah's and being a boutique retreat, there is great attention to detail. We defintiely recommend this place for a relaxing break and will be back. One suggestion would be to make it adults only retreat. I'm guessing Jonah's majority of clientele are adults, couples etc, and for that reason, it would be nice to be an adults only retreat. We love kids, but on this occasion there was another couple with a particularly annoying kid, possibly 5 yrs, who cried and whined a lot during the trip to Jonah's in the bus, at breakfast and on the sea plane. He was quite misbehaved at breakfast, running around, thumping etc. It spolied the experience a bit for us as those; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duckmaloi Farm; City: Oberon Blue Mountains New South Wales; Review: We stayed at Duckmaloi for Friday and Saturday night. Our friends had the house, and we were in one of the cottages Wombat. The place is extremely relaxing, quiet, secluded. The house had everything you would need to for a stay, it really i a home away from home. The kitchen was fully stoked with all appliances you could need, you could bake a cake from scratch. Spacious rooms, 2 master bedrooms with ensuite and 2 bedrooms for kids with a seperate bathroom. We had all meals at the house since they had the big kitchen, all emals were prepared fresh. The cottage was very cute, with windows all around the small living/dining area giving views of the valley. Very serene. Small tv, which we didnt use. Small selectionof books to read, and on arrival they had some nice new age music playing to make it all the more peaceful. Small kitchen with some basic appliances provided, small fridge, eggs, cereal, milk, tea and coffee were all provided however we didnt use them at all since we ate at the house. Bathroom had plenty of towels and spa bath with shower over the spa. One annoyign thing was that when showering I had to keep the shower pressure low, if I had high pressure then it would not drain fast enough and I was left standing in a couple of inches of dirty water. Master bedroom was nice as well, with electric blankets provided and a small oil heater. Second bedroom we didnt use. There was another heater in the lounge/dining as well. In the mornings it got quite cold, and with the small heater in the bedroom it was necessary to sleep with it on all night so as to warm the room up as it took ages to warm up. I think the heater in the lounge could be timed, I'm not sure. We didnt use the fire in the cottage. Ironing board and iron were also provided. Yes, there were plenty of signs around with rules and warnings, but it wasnt really annoying. Pretty common sense stuff so not a bother. We saw horses, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, cows, ducks/tyrkey/chickens, 1 pig and 1 rabbit. Good for children. Feed shed only had chicken feed in it, no carrots or stuff for the other animals, so we went and bought some carrots ourselves. The nearest town of Oberon was about 15-20 mins away. Walkway through the animal paddocks will get you between the house and the cottage. At night, since it was cold, we would drive to and from the house, and on way back to cottage we could see lots of wallabies sitting/jumping around being startled by the headlights. You could see them in early morning as well from the cottage as it has views over the valley. I found the bed in the cottage a bit hard which is uncomfortable for me, and the pillows pretty thin. Overall we found the stay to be very relaxing and enjoyed the getaway with some friends who had kids. The kids enjoyed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: I stayed here for 1 Saturday night in a normal city side room. It is a decent 5 star hotel, no complaints really, nothing extraordinary. Room is decent size, pretty comfortable. No view, just another building but I had the blinds down most time. Confortable bed, bought my own dvd's to watch at night. Nice bathroom, seperate walk in robe. No slippers provided so I did have to ask for them. Room was clean, service was pleasant. The lobby is pretty at this time with the christmas trees up and check in was a breeze. I used the fitness centre which is small but decent, no one else was there when I was using it except for the attendant. Did not try the restaurants or spa. Hotel location was great as I could walk to pitt st mall in 2 minutes. Rooms were quiet though, even with being in centre of city didnt have any noise disturbance. I opted for express checkout, do make sure you check your bill after as I was charged $50 for valet parking when I did not drive to the place. Which is why i only gave the hotel 4 stars as this type of mistake should not happen at a 5 star hotel. I did call and they called back later and said it has been rectified and apologised for thier mistake.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Woden Hotel; City: Canberra Australian Capital Territory; Review: Stayed here for 2 nites, bed config was a queen and a single. Room and bathroom decor was dated but clean. Bed was very lumpy and uncomfortable but price was cheap so can't complain really. Hotel has only one small excruciatingly slow lift, we ended up using the stairs as it was a long wait. Not for older ppl if you are in a hurry. Breakfast was ok, not much service, not much choice and no refilling, but very cheap if bought with room package.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ramada Resort by Wyndham Flynns Beach; City: Port Macquarie New South Wales; Review: This was my first stay at a wyndham resort. We went with another couple, and stayed in their top accomodation level, a 3 bedroom apartment for 4 nights. The apartment was roomy and clean, master with ensuite, tv and king bed, second bedroom with tv and queen bed and 3rd bedroom with 2 single beds. The main bathroom was spacious as well. The apartment was basic. I was expecting hotel luxury but this was self contained units so my expectations were too high. Basic toiletries like soap was provided, not refilled. You have to ask for more. You empty your own bins as their is no room service. Washer and dryer were in the main bathroom but u provide yr own washing powder. Kitchen was clean and well stocked, there was a nesoresso coffee machine with no pods, you had to purchase from reception for 50c per pod. Bed was comfortable and room was quiet. It rained 2 days we were there, we went to the games room which was a joke. They had a table tennis table which was the only item you didn't need to pay for. The other games were a pool table, a table hockey game, and 2 arcade game machines that were 20years old, all paid. The pool and spa area were nice, pool was decent sized and slightly heated, not enough to make any difference. No restaurants on site, a couple of local ones that were busy on Saturday nites so make sure you book. Resort is 5 mins walk from beach which was good as our 2 yr old enjoyed the beach. Not much else to do locally, we drove in to town for most meals. There is one parking space per apartment and also only one lift which serviced guests and staff so was quiet slow.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Naisoso Island Resort Villas; City: Nadi Viti Levu; Review: We stayed for 3 nites in villa 105 as part of a wedding party. The villas are beautiful, there were 4 big identical bedrooms on top floor, all with balconies, ensuite bathrooms (showers only, no bath), king beds and individual air con units in all 4 bedrooms. Downstairs there was another smaller room with a king bed and TV, no air con and no ensuite. There is a powder room (toilet) downstairs for guests but no full bathroom which is silly as obviously there is a bedroom so ppl were staying there, but they had no place to shower and had to use one of the bathrooms in the rooms upstairs. Poor design there. There was a full laundry and kitchen as well, large outdoor entertaining area and a private pool with sun loungers around it. The pool was good, half of it was steps so good for kids and half was deep for the adults. The kids in the party spent most of the time in the pools. Place was clean and tidy, housekeeping came everyday. Toiletries were not refreshed as we were told villa guests are provided toiletries on arrival and after that it's up to guests to purchase own toiletries. You are also supposed to wash and dry your own towels as you have a fully functional laundry. But we were there for a wedding and were extremely busy with wedding related functions and preparations so didn't have the time to do that. Housekeeping were nice enough to wash and dry our towels when they came. The villas are apart from the resort/hotel, and are self contained mainly. The villas are 10mins from nadi airport and far from any shops so you do need cars or someone to drive you around. The nearest grocery store is 5mins drive away and is a tiny little shop which dosent have much. The bigger grocery shop is 15mins away by car. The villas have a view of the beach, we didn't go to the beach, friends did and they liked it. It's a very short walk to the beach. It's very hard to identify villas as there is no numbers on the front. Most of the area is still under construction and there is a handful of villas and the rest is all empty plots. More villas are being built though. The villas are 20mins drive from denarau.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Radisson Blu Resort Fiji Denarau Island; City: Denarau Island Viti Levu; Review: We stayed here for 4 nights in a 1 bedroom garden suite with breakfast included. Location is fine as Bula bus comes every 10mins to take you around the the other resorts and the marina. Resort is lovely with lots of pool area nicely landscaped. There is a family pool with a swim up bar, and sun sails across a 1/3 of the pool so you can swim in the shade. There is sand/beachy area around the family pool for kids to play and sun loungers on the sand strip. As this was low season we always found free sun loungers whenever we went. Sun loungers are wood with no cushions so you do need towels. The family pool connects to the adult pool via a rock path, I didn't see any kids in the adult pool. They have a jacuzzi/hot tub in the adult pool. The family pool also connects to the water slide pool and next to the water slide the toddler wading pool and also a small infant pool with a tiny slide, so very family friendly. You get pool towel cards upon check in which gets u 1 pool towel per person that you collect and return to the towel hut. As Blu restaurant is closed for refurb, breakfast is served in Chatara restaurant for ppl with breakfast included package and the brekkie is nice usual resort style. Lots of breads and pastries, fresh fruit fruit punch else bottled juices and cereals etc, hot food options plus and egg and omelette station. We liked it, kids eat free with a full paying adult. There is also some work going on in the lobby for new light installation and the noise from that can get annoying during brekkie but it's understandable since they have to do maintenance work during low peak season. We tried neptunes a couple of times, they do nice pizza and everything was charged back to the room. Kids club looked tired, our girl is not yet 3 so too young to be left in kids club which is for 4+ year old. But she played in the sand pit. We didn't eat at cross or Chantara other then brekkie or try the other facilities. Resort prices though a little $$ are still comparable to the others resorts around. Now the room, it was spacious and nice with some issues. Bathroom had double vanity and seperate shower and bath. Shower and shower head was annoying as shower head could not be adjusted for height and very little room to adjust angle. It had only 2 settings, pressure or no pressure, pressure setting was too hard and no pressure setting really had no pressure. Also the shower cubicle leaked as it had a gap between door and wall. Room included washer and dryer, dryer looked stained on the inside. Bedroom was spacious and had a king bed and TV, I found the bed comfortable, my husband did not as it was too soft for him. Lounge, dining and kitchen were also ok, plenty of room. The dishwasher; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Mercure The Vintage Hunter Valley; City: Rothbury Cessnock Greater Newcastle New South W; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights to see the hunter valley garden lights. We stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment, my brother and his family stayed in the 2 bedroom apartment above us. Apartment was very spacious, very modern. Big kitchen and dining table, comfortable couches. One bedroom with nice big sized bathroom ensuite. Second bedroom slightly smaller but still good size, and a second bathroom. Hidden laundry. Sliding glass doors opened to small garden area which was enclosed in the back. Room was clean, the location and summer humid time meant lots of bugs around which did end up finding their way inside occasionally. We had a lockup garage but we needed up using the parking spaces instead as they were more convenient There is a small pool in complex but with no shade over pool in summer it was much too hot for kids. They have a second indoor pool in the club which is further away so we didn't use that. We didn't do breakfast or eat at the club, we did go for a drink at the club and they had a free wine tasting which was nice. Would recommend to family and friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mowbray Park Farmstay Holidays; City: Picton New South Wales; Review: Hi, we stayed here for 1 night last weekend. We were 2 adults and 2 kids, aged 5 and 1. I'm going to write this review taking both our adult perspective and the kids perspective into account Pros The kids loved loved loved it. My older daughter warmed up to the activities immediately. We arrived Saturday evening, and she enjoyed the bush dance, the activities next day, hay ride, boomerang throwing and whip cracking. We spent an hour after lunch on Sunday in the animal nursery with the rabbits. My daughter would not leave them, she fell in love with the small gray rabbit in the rabbit pen and I had to drag her away after an hour of sitting with the rabbit. She still misses and talks of that rabbit, and is making a card for the rabbit as I write this review. Lots to do, staff are all friendly and lovely, and it really is a great experience for kids Cons Now kids don't care about the littler stuff that we as adults do, so that's where the cons come in. Our room was rather small, room 9 in barkers lodge. It had a queen bed, 2 single beds, 1 bedside table with a fan on it. That's it. Bathroom was large but had a very unpleasant smell about it. There was one towel rack. That's it, no storage or hooks or anywhere to hang 3 wet towels, all out winter coats and clothes etc. so we dumped them on the beds. That needs to be addressed. Also a bedside lamp would be nice so you can read when kids are asleep. Communal area was fine. Biggest concern for me and my husband was food. Saturday dinner was a roast, there was also a veggie salad, pizza, soup. The meat I found was very tough and fatty, kids couldn't eat it. I asked my husband if he enjoyed the food, he didn't. I just had soup which was fine. Breakfast and lunch was fine/average on Sunday. They normally have 3 options in hot food. I did mention our concerns to staff but couldn't talk directly to owner as he wasn't there. We were booked for 2 nights, but ended up leaving on the Sunday night after we tried the dinner. There were only 3 families there on Sunday night including us in the dining hall, 1 person doing all the cooking and serving and clearing up. Understaffed. Dinner plates came, steamed green beans, potato mash and chicken drumsticks. The meat was so rubbery and could not be cut. We could not eat it, kids were hungry so we packed up and left that evening and got food on the way. I talked to staff member next day on phone, who did confirm that Sunday nights dinner was not up to normal standards and she did apologize. I'm giving it 4 stars due to 2 reasons: kids enjoyment and customer service. We were able to come to a satisfactory resolution to the issue of the second night that we didn't stay; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fairmont Resort Spa Blue Mountains MGallery by Sofitel; City: Leura Blue Mountains New South W; Review: We stayed here over the weekend of 7th and 8th December in a standard room with 2 queen beds. The room was basic, older. Beds were lumpy, bathroom was old with sink that splattered water everywhere. Also shower over bathtub combo which I dislike with very little water pressure in shower. Room was already expensive as it is. However it was comfortable for the short stay. We didn’t try the pools or gymnasiums but they do have a heated indoor lap pool. Kids loved be 2 play areas, the mirror maze and arcade games. They spent a bit of time everyday there. The younger kids play area could do with some lighting and it was very dark, the older kids play area was too cold in my opinion. The favorite for the kids was the twice daily run kids activities: fairmont express, merry go round and the electric cars. We did the activities both days. The train is very cute takes kids around the grounds. We had breakfast at jamisons which was your usual buffet breakfast with many options, and you could get omelettes cooked fresh. We ate dinner at Embers which was fantastic both nights, excellent service and very kid friendly, they have a small kids activity pack to keep them occupied. They have pony rides here but we didn’t try them. Grounds are very pretty, and it’s 10mins max to most tourist sites so location is great. Staff and service were excellent. They also have their own cinema where my older girl watched the lion king. Excellent hotel for kids, they loved their stay. For us, accommodations could be better. Would recommend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sea World Resort; City: Main Beach Gold Coast Queensland; Review: We stayed here for 2 nights outside of school holidays, 2 adults and 2 kids. We booked a standard double room and were upgraded to a premier double room with views of the water, splash park and pool which was really amazing. The room was spacious enough, bathroom a bit dated but reasonably clean. When you closed the balcony door the noise from the pool area was non existent, bed were comfortable. Staff absolutely lovely and friendly and helpful. The pool and splash park were fantastic and kids didn’t want to leave the area, not even to go to sea world. They would happily have spent the time there. It was noisy and lots of kids pool side but that’s expected. We had buffet breakfast which was average, I preferred a la carte breakfast at the lounge. We had dinner at the lounge and lunch at the waterfall cafe and and food was reasonable to good, quite pricey although. Easy to get to sea world with the 5 day pass we went in and out of sea world. Absolutely fantastic family friendly resort; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mt Hay Retreat; City: Berry Shoalhaven New South Wales; Review: Loved loved loved this place. Reasonably priced, quiet, beautiful gorgeous views and such lovely hosts. I had a few requests, like iron and extra toiletries, nothing was a problem. The indoor heated swimming pool was great and I got a chance to have a swim and use the spa. I also used the outdoor bath which was such a peaceful experience I could have stayed there for hours. Berry town was less then 10mins away. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Helen Fielding Page; Review: This was a GREAT book. It was maybe the most fun book I have read. If you want a good laugh, then read this book. I actually laughed out loud and thought I was going to wake the house up! It was so much better than I thought it would be. I can't say enough about it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cell (Spanish language) (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen King Page; Review: ...and thought it was really good. I took me less than a week to read, and stayed up way too late one night to finish it. I normally don't like the way Stephen King ends his book, but I liked this one. It was a bit of an odd story, but was a good one none-the-less. If you like Stephen King, you will enjoy this book. It was one of the better books of his I have read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Dog Who Spoke with Gods; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Jessup Page; Review: This was a wonderful book. A little far-fetched on a few things, but sooooo good. If you love dogs (especially pit bulls), and you hate the way they are treated by most people, you will like this book. Good read!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Husband: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: This was one of the best books I have ever read. Whether you like Koontz or not, you should LOVE this book. I hadn't read that many of his books (but have since) and I don't think I could recomend a better book. If you love to read exciting, heart-pounding books... then pick this one up. There is no boogey-man in this, its just a man trying to get his wife back from a kidnapper. But the twists and turns are unbelievable!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Asking for Trouble: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Young Page; Review: Great book! Only one problem: the language can be a bit hard to understand. The book was originally published in the UK, so it is understandable that some words and phrases went over my head, but very good none-the-less!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austenland: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Shannon Hale Page; Review: Short but good book. Exciting plot twists. Loveable characters. Wish it had been longer but liked it anyway. This book will be re-read again many times. Glad I bought it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Invisible; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Jensen Walker Page; Review: This was a wonderful book. I had never read anything by Walker, but I have now ordered another one of her books. She is an great writer that really knows how to grab ahold of the reader. Miss Invisible was a very fun book to read. I was sad to finish it, but I look forward to when I start the next book of hers. Buy it. Read it. You won't regret it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Match (Lauren Holbrook Series, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Erynn Mangum Page; Review: This was an okay book. I actually bought all three books (not sure why). This first one started out okay, but got cheesey quick. By the time I started the second book (Rematch) I wanted to sucker punch "Laurie-girl" and then choke the life out of her (okay, so that is a bit angry). I had quite a few problems with the book and wish I had not bought them to begin with. They would certainly be good books for teens/young adults who are looking for Christian themes (and a little light romance), but for a pushing-30's woman... well, nah. On the other hand, these are the authors first books and she was in her early 20's when she wrote them. Who knows what the future holds for her.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Taking; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: Great book. I can't say enough about it! If you like Dean Koontz, you will love The Taking. It is VERY "out there". You have to have a good imagination, but WOW! One of my favorite books! It freaked me out like few books ever have... maybe more than any other book I have read! Excellent, excellent, excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Rage Page; Review: I recieved PILATE via e-mail (an e-book) and began reading it right away. I read the whole thing that night. I can say that it was a great story, but I think it needs some work. First, it needs an editor. I found many missing words (the, his, her, on, etc) and while most readers could simply figure it out, it did slow down the story playing out in my mind. Having to re-read a sentence to solve the missing word was a little road bump. The other problem, in my opinion, was the use of words such as "nigga", and "shorties", [...] I do agree that certain language is needed to accurately portray a character (what kind of bad-guy uses phrases like "gosh-darn" and "shucks"), but I don't think it fits when the author him/herself uses those words to describe someone or something. It seems careless, or not thought out... maybe even a little trying-too-hard. An author is a master of words and should write as such, while the characters should speak in a fitting way to who they are. The conflict between a very touching, though non-traditional for certain, story of Jesus... and then the violent/gutter/evil scenes are interesting. I read all types of books, and I rarely read something that is true to life (in terms of good and evil). When reading a Christian literature book about someone finding their way to God, you never get the real nitty gritty dirt of their previous life. Or, when reading a girly romance novel, you never are told the unpleasantries. Things are mostly good in a good book, mostly scarey in a scarey book, mostly (fill in the blank) in a (fill in the blank) book. This book goes from one end of the spectrum to the other. There were parts in the book that I would want my grandmother to read (I really enjoyed the entire modern Jesus interpretaion), but there were also parts that would make me never speak of the book in her presence (for fear she would try to read it!). Other than the few things I would have changed before releasing it (if it had been my own book) I did enjoy PILATE. It is certainly NOT the creep-show that some people made it out to be. I was not cringing in overwhelming disgust (well, maybe once). It wasn't the shock I thought it would be, but it was worth reading. I am glad I found it. I will watch for other books by this author and I look forward to seeing where his career takes him. This is certainly a good start. Oh, and this is also the first official "bizarro" book I have read, so take my review for what it is worth. I am a newbie to this genre and am certainly no expert!!!!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terror: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Simmons Page; Review: ... it was way too jargony (I know that probably isn't an actual word!). The book was amazing, but I couldn't read it because I do not know nautical terms. I have never put down a book I wanted to actually finish this bad. I didn't get very far (its a freakin' huge book) but I was amazed by it. Reading about all the things those poor sailors had to go through in the everyday was good enough to keep me reading (even without the scarey stuff it would have been a wonderful read). Unfortunately I was overwhelmed with terms I didn't understand. I don't know one side of a boat from another and I had no idea what a man line or a rat line was. So, imagining some of the scenes became hard. I gave the book to a boat-person who even had some trouble. I almost went out and got a nautical dictionary to read along with The Terror. The only reason I had to give it a 3 star rating was being unable to read it... I can read Sophocles, Dante, Austen, Koontz... just about any author from any time period... but this book would have been a JOB. I wish I could have finished it. It has made me want to read non-fiction about the voyage... and I don't like historical fiction. I will look for more books by this author, and maybe try The Terror again one day. If you know boats this would be a great book to read!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fools Rush In; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristan Higgins Page; Review: I have just finished my second Kristan Higgans book (but I have already bought the others). While it might be slightly predictable in areas, this book is really great! If you are looking for a fun, romantic, quick read... pick up some books by Higgans! This book made me laugh out loud. At times, I was slapping the book on my lap (or something close by), saying "OH... MY... GOSH!!!". I can't wait to read the next one on my shelf, and I hope Higgans keeps them coming!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cop's Passion; Author: Visit Amazon's Angela Verdenius Page; Review: I really wanted to like this book. Though I did enjoy some parts, and I did love Mike, I really couldn't like Maddy. She was rude and just too moody for my taste. I gave this book three stars because I'm sure some of my dislike for it was simply that I didn't enjoy the main character, and that plenty of other people would. Also, the flirting between Mike and Maddy was annoying, unrealistic, and cheesey. It got very old, and I found myself rolling my eyes and laughing at things simply for their stupidity. I bought this and one other book from this author at the same time. Now I wish I hadn't spent the money for the other one. Had I waited till I finished this one, I would NOT have bought the other.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Humanity Is The Devil; Author: Visit Amazon's Jordan Krall Page; Review: Were the other reviewers bribed? This book is unreadable! What is a "banana porcupine sunspot veil pottery bomb"? And what's with the sentences that are just lists of random words? Hey, Jordan Krall, I can do that, too! Pumpkin, cup of tea, dog, wine bottle, truck, Netflix, pine cone. Seriously, these other reviews completely conned me into buying this book. As I am (trying to) read it I just keep thinking about everything else. I am usually glued to whatever book I am reading... staying up until the wee hours of morning. But I am having to force myself to pay attention (and reread most of it right after I finish it). It's trying too hard to be cool and different, but really just being vague and difficult. It feels like Krall had a really amazing idea, never took it past the bare-bones, and filled in the holes with random garbage. I am utterly disappointed. the most horrifying part of this book is that it was published (and then gathered so many 5 star reviews). I can't help but think these reviewers are Krall's friends... or paid for their reviews.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Sorrow King; Author: Visit Amazon's Andersen Prunty Page; Review: Do you enjoy reviews that are short and to-the-point? Look no further: Pros: -interesting story -pleasantly dark -easy read Cons: -the ending sucks! (it didn't fit with the rest of the story and felt rushed and too neat-and-tidy) -never gave me a real scare, and I was not left with a sense of doom or fright Overall: -I enjoyed it and would not avoid reading another of Prunty's books... but I probably won't go searching for one either; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ass Goblins of Auschwitz; Author: Visit Amazon's Cameron Pierce Page; Review: This book is NOT for everyone... or even most people. It is very disturbing, very weird, somewhat confusing, and frequently disgusting. Having said that, I really enjoyed it. I'm worried about what that says about me! Haha. If you enjoy the over-the-top weird stuff that bizarro fiction has to offer, then you should thoroughly enjoy this one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sad Monsters: Growling on the Outside, Crying on the Inside; Author: Visit Amazon's Frank Lesser Page; Review: This is a short read, but so hilarious and worth every penny. I passed it along to friends who also loved it. It's good-quality, smart-assed humor!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Vampire Vol. 8; Author: Scott Snyder; Review: I'm torn with how to rate this. The series is good for the most part. There are some serious flops (I think it was Volume six that sucked HARD), but there are some really good ones as well. This last one was actually pretty great, and the end became probably the best page-turner yet... and then they just ended it. These guys clearly shot their wad before they could finish, and then had nothing else to offer. I hear there will be a conclusion in 2019. It's taking them 3 years to finish?! By that point I won't even care what's going on anymore. This is why I ted to avoid a series that isn't finished.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Haunt; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Lee Bahr Page; Review: I was able to finish it, and the binding was superior (don't you hate books that fall apart on you?). True, it is original and unique, but that's all it has going for it. This book was not enjoyable at all. I kept wanting it to just be over. I didn't care at all about the characters. I was waiting for some mind-blowing twist or revelation, but it was just a huge let down. There are so many loose ends in the book that leave the reader completely unsatisfied. I will definitely not be reading anything else by this author and I would never recommend it to a friend.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture; Author: Visit Amazon's Martin Fowler Page; Review: I buy this for a friend and is a really good book that goes deep on the subject of the enterprise patterns; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SOA with .NET (The Prentice Hall Service-Oriented Computing Series from Thomas Erl); Author: Thomas Erl; Review: I buy this for a friend and is a really good book that goes deep on the subject of Azure with SOA; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microsoft Application Architecture Guide, 2nd Edition (Patterns & Practices); Author: Microsoft Patterns & Practices Team; Review: I buy this for a friend and is a really good book that goes deep on the subject of the Architecture for applications.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transformers Vault: Showcasing Rare Collectibles and Memorabilia; Author: Visit Amazon's Pablo Hidalgo Page; Review: This books is great the colors are excellent, the stories in it are unbelievable so much stuff that I didn't know about my favorite toys. The book comes inside a protective frame that allows you to store like the most valuable book inside your collection, was so useful this for me that I let it fall by accident and the frame holds all the damage (a bumper in the corner) while the book stills in perfect shape. Is an interactive book so in some pages you can expand a huge picture on other can you read the parameters of some Transformers with the red visor, there are photos of how the build process of the old toys took place and more. I still don't believe how cheap this great piece of work is, by knowing its contents I would have paid more for it. So this is great great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia; Author: Patrick Thorpe; Review: I got into the Zelda games just a couple of years ago, at college I end the Legend Of Zelda, Ocarina of Time (1998), but I never return to this saga until I buy my Nintendo Wii. So I start by the end, with The Legend of Zelda, Skyward Sword (2011) I got immersed on that wonderful story and amazing game play. So I use again Wii to complete the story of The Legend of Zelda, Twilight Princess (2006), and fall in love with these games, then I complete the story of The Legend of Zelda, The Wind Walker (2003), and each of this games are pieces of Art, the story is kind the same on all of them the realm of Hyrule in danger, and a current boy takes the role of the hero but the games are full of details, are fun for kids or adults (I'm 35 years old now) but each game has been great for me. So as soon as I knew that there is a book with the signature of the one and only Shigeru Miyamoto, I get it, so now I know what was behind this games and I'm really happy the book is in hard cover, bright paper and full of amazing pictures of the development of each of the games full of details beyond the making of the games. So now I'm looking forward to get and complete the remainder games of this saga that I haven't played yet. And this amazing piece of art is also inexpensive so there is no excuses to not get one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Introduction to JavaScript Object Notation: a to-the-point guide to JSON; Author: Visit Amazon's Marie Taylor Page; Review: Good way to enter the Json world; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Transformers Volume 7: Chaos; Author: Visit Amazon's Mike Costa Page; Review: Nice book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transformers: Regeneration One Volume 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Simon Furman Page; Review: Nice book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black ButterFly; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert M. Drake Page; Review: This was a gift for my older niece, she loves the author and well she loves this book as well.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Suite Princess; City: Taurito Gran Canaria Canary Islands; Review: We were looking for somewhere warm/hot and quiet where we could just chill out and read by the pool for one week. Having never been to the Canaries before, or on a Thomson's package, we were worried we would be surrounded by Wayne and Waynetta with screaming kids. Unfortunately sat next to the very same on the flight outward (not Thomson's fault, but selling us earphones that a) did not work for my husband's seat and b) my side of the plane had faulty video screen so couldn't see the film, was!). Anyway very pleasantly surprised by hotel: attractive, very clean everywhere, good food, lots of choice (particularly at breakfast) and excellent service. Not that many English people staying at the hotel, mostly Spanish and Swedish - perhaps a good recommendation if 'locals' come here for their holidays. However, clientele was very much 60+ (great for us as it was very quiet). Not recommended for those wanting nightlife - it's exceedingly limited in Taurito. We had room 9034 - great views, very quiet and not overlooked by any other balcony! Plus great exercise walking up and down several times a day. Only minus: 12 euros (+ 5 euro deposit) to use fridge, ditto sunbeds on balcony (each!) and another 12 euros for the safe. Take your own kettle or it's another 12 euros!! Lido next door is 9 euros and sunbeds on beach 3 euros. Reasonably stocked supermarket about 5 mins stroll from hotel (the cava at 2.99 euro not bad!). As booked as Thomson's Premier clients we got the outward direct airport-hotel transfer which only took about 35 minutes. Coming back it was on a large coach stopping off at all other resorts on the way; whilst it took about 1.5 hrs we did see quite a few other places and thought ' thank heavens we picked the Suite Princess'!! Also got the complimentary in-flight meals (which not everyone on the plane did) - slightly better quality than usual. In summary, it's great if you want somewhere quite, peaceful and relaxing at this time of year. We didn't think the holiday would match our expectations - it did and we would definitely return again. PS. When buying anything on the plane, pay in Sterling, eg Bombay Sapphire Gin - costs around £22 in the UK, it was only £12 on the plane, but if you paid in euros 18. Even better than that, they had an offer on it: 2 bottles for £20 (less than half price for the same in the UK!). Nice ending to the holiday!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Country Inn Hotel; City: Kallithea Kassandra Halkidiki Region Central Macedonia; Review: Great little hotel - wonderfully quiet but within easy walking distance of Kallithea (10 minutes along a quiet tarmac side road) and Afitos (25 minutes in opposite direction on same side road). Hotel spotlessly clean - lovely continental breakfast and good cocktails. Lovely pool, ample sunbeds for everyone and a short (but rather steep) path to the beach. Only minus is the bathrooms - typically Greek!! Highly recommend Taverna Elena in Kallithea - good prices and food and Tomatoes & Peppers Taverna in Afitos. Yellow Bar on the beach (part of the Margarita Hotel) does very reasonable meals although it looks like it might be expensive). Meals not as cheap as we hoped (!) - a bottle of Makedonika Rose (or something that sounds like that!) varied from 10-20 Euros and dinner of bread, two mains and a bottle of said Rose about 33 euro. Fantastically well stocked supermarket in Kallithea. If you're looking for somewhere to relax and chill by the pool, this is it! We only heard one mobile ringing all week (bliss!). Went with Thomsons and very impressed with everything (flights, booked exit row seats, quick and easy transfer - 1.5 hrs - hotel completely as described - good selection of trips if you wanted and good rep availability). All in all a great week for re-charging the batteries. Finally, having Wi-Fi availability was much appreciated.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel De La Ville Sorrento; City: Sorrento Province of Naples Campania; Review: How do you choose from so many hotels in Sorrento? We highly recommend the Grand Hotel De La Ville. Spotlessly clean, decent sized room and large bathroom, air con, mini fridge and safe. Great location (overlooking the sea although not sea front, and lemon groves (for those booking side and front sea view) and with good access to the centre of Sorrento and the station (7 min stroll). Two areas for sunbathing, one ground level with a very inviting clean pool (I often had the pool to myself for several of my 100 length sessions!) and ample good comfortable sun beds with attached shades plus parasols and small trees for dappled shade. The other area was the roof top terrace with a plunge pool - fantastic views and with a bar for drinks. Towels provided. Meals were lovely and always very hot (makes a change from lots of restaurants in the UK). Pasta and risottos, plus the daily specials were delicious - try the ossobuco if available. They also suggest wines, some of which we had not tried before and they were very good. One night we ordered a bottle of white and a red to match our different meals: we only drank 1/2 a bottle each (only!) so they were stored overnight and produced at the next night's meal (a good way to let the red mellow!). Ample breakfast selection plus there really is Prosecco available!! Happy Hour cocktails were very slurpable and came with either nuts/nibbles or a selection of home made canapes. Sitting in the gardens (where you can eat breakfast/lunch or have a drink) with the beautiful flowers, oranges/lemons overhead and a view of Vesuvius was just perfect. The dining room was beautiful - huge picture windows, cotton tablecloths and napkins, shiny cutlery, sparkling glasses. You could feel comfortable dressing up or being more casual (no shorts/vests though). What makes this hotel so good is the pride that all the staff clearly take in offering a really good attentive and friendly service - it's not stuffy or overbearing. Extra special mention goes to Enzo, the maitre d' and his 2nd in command, Carmine and their dining room team (Salvetore, Dino, Mario, just to name a few) who made our visits to the restaurant relaxing and pleasant - with some good laughs. Some additional info: we had room 305 - distant sea side view - it cornered the front of the hotel so we did have a very good view of the sea, lemon grove and Vesuvius. Non-sea view rooms would overlook the ground floor pool, the garden dining area (heavily pergola-ed) or residential streets - and yes, you will see washing hanging out of the windows but given that buildings tumble into one another and they don't all have gardens it's just part of the character of the town (and there's more space in Sorrento than say, Positano, which is a lot more expensive!). By train, it's 30 mins to Pompeii, 45 to Herculaneum with both sites within 5 minutes stroll - recommend mid afternoon arrival to avoid; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Crewe West Hotel; City: Crewe Cheshire England; Review: You get exactly what is described: good comfortable rooms and beds, pleasant functional furnishings, friendly and efficient service, good breakfast. Good value for money. Can't think of anything else I would expect at this price and accommodation level. Just book, turn up, sleep, eat and go - so easy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Seasons Resort; City: Bartlett New Hampshire; Review: This is our 3rd year in 11F and yet again a very comfortable 10 day stay. We came for the excellent cross country skiing in the local area and after disappointing snow in 2016 we were really looking forward to the great conditions and weather predicted for our stay. However, not to be .... husband pulled his back (whilst shopping at the very good Hannaford in Settlers' Green) 4 hours after our arrival in the States! Unfortunately this meant NO skiing at all, but on the plus side our condo (11F) was extremely comfortable and homely - despite being there 24/7 for the whole of our holiday. It's spacious so we didn't feel claustrophobic, warm and with good furnishing. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner in the condo so it very useful having a well functioning kitchen, fully stocked with ample crockery, cutlery, utensils and glasses, etc. There's a good selection of games, DVDs, etc although we bought our own from home (on a memory stick). There's lashing of hot water and on all our visits, the condo has been spotless. I made use of the fitness facilities in the Clubhouse. The rating of four is to reflect the Clubhouse which could possibly do with a little bit of updating, rather than the actual condo we stayed in. Booking and paying for the condo each year has been hassle free and any queries promptly responded to by the owner. We'll be back again next year - hopefully with a fully fit husband and great snow conditions!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Pippin VHS; Brand: Ben Vereen; Review: Upon tthe first appearance of Ben Vereen in this play, I knew i was going to have some fun watching it. As everyone knows this play is Bob Fosse record breaker. (As we know he became the first director to win a tony / Oscar/ and Emmy for directing in the same year.) And now I can see why. The script is a delight and bursting with laughter, and the story is a remarkable tale of self discovery. How lesser is greater and greater is lesser. and being conveyed with Stephen Schwartz's score. Though original the music definitely is, however the orchestrations cause it to bear resmeblance to Godspell. (Also by Schwartz) but I refuse to deduct points for this video. (On the CD maybe) But this video is just fun all throughout the way and aided by Fosse's excellent interpretive dances to promote discretion for the sex scenes. Which instead makes it something to laugh at. I can confirm that you'll have an exhilarating 1 and 40 minutes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clerks VHS; Brand: Brian O'Halloran; Review: Being an employee of a video store, I've come to this frightening realization that this film was a warning that I would end up being bombarded by the monotonous barrage of stupid questions and not to mention the vast array of cinematic illiterates (Oooh Navy Seals.) This film has given me the desire to vent my frustrations. Apart from that, it's just devillishly funny. This here is Kevin Smith nest egg. His platform onto bigger endeavors into the realm of independent film. Never have I encountered a script writer with such an aggressive wit. I don't know how he manages to make cuss words flow so fluenty from his characters, and supply us with a blunt, direct and surprisingly profound. Name any other comedy that actually probes the pathetic superficiality of the Star Wars trilogy, or has the gall toviolate a corpse at a wake, or even show pride in the insubordination of customer service. I'll face facts, these characters are my heroes. I hope one day to be allowed to spit water into an annoying customer's face. that would be sooooo beautiful. In the mean time I'll revel in this excellent DVD, complete with a ... load of special features. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Just remember "Title does NOT dictate behavior."; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats - LaserDisc; Brand: ; Review: This film was beaten by bad press, low box-office grosses, and left for dead. Now, with this excellent special edition DVD. This finally is getting the respect it deserved. Looking back Mallrats was very simple, but ultimately original comedy. I think the reason this was not a critics darling, whilst writer/director/actor Kevin Smith's other films are extolled by every critic on the roll call, is because this one didn't have a point to make. It pretty much repeated the points made in "Clerks." Points in which stated that the characters needed to find the drive to change their station in life. Only in this case they do so, just to get their girlfriends back. Once again Smith employs his usual aggressive wit, which now in this case discusses the coital ability of Superman all the way to the difference between the food-court stores and autonomuos units for mid-mall snacking. But the only reason I'm deducting points because of the simplicity upon the comparison to Smith's other outing. Outings that had a driving force aided by a sly smart script. In this case, it's a simple premise aided by a sly, smart script with an excellent cast list, With the exception of Jeremy London who gave a totally annoying performance. Points would be deducted but fortunately he supplies the foundation to the enjoyably well-timed performance of Jason Lee. His debut performance as Brodie is a comedic dynamo which is only upstaged by Smiths immortal characters Jay and Silent Bob, whose scenes are humorously cartoony which will stay with me forever. This DVD has stuff that can only be viewed and enjoyed in this format. Ranging from deleted scenes to a wildly funny commentary from most of the main cast. This film was Kevin Smith's commercial experiment. Too see how a studio film would be handled under his wing. There's nothing wrong with that. "Mallrats" is a worthy effort, which boasts memorable scenes, characters, and dialogue. Finally this film has gained the cult status it deserves, right next to "Dune" and "Hudson Hawk." To see "Mallrats at it's finest, buy this DVD.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats VHS; Brand: Shannen Doherty; Review: This film was beaten by bad press, low box-office grosses, and left for dead. Now, with this excellent special edition DVD. This finally is getting the respect it deserved. Looking back Mallrats was very simple, but ultimately original comedy. I think the reason this was not a critics darling, whilst writer/director/actor Kevin Smith's other films are extolled by every critic on the roll call, is because this one didn't have a point to make. It pretty much repeated the points made in "Clerks." Points in which stated that the characters needed to find the drive to change their station in life. Only in this case they do so, just to get their girlfriends back. Once again Smith employs his usual aggressive wit, which now in this case discusses the coital ability of Superman all the way to the difference between the food-court stores and autonomuos units for mid-mall snacking. But the only reason I'm deducting points because of the simplicity upon the comparison to Smith's other outing. Outings that had a driving force aided by a sly smart script. In this case, it's a simple premise aided by a sly, smart script with an excellent cast list, With the exception of Jeremy London who gave a totally annoying performance. Points would be deducted but fortunately he supplies the foundation to the enjoyably well-timed performance of Jason Lee. His debut performance as Brodie is a comedic dynamo which is only upstaged by Smiths immortal characters Jay and Silent Bob, whose scenes are humorously cartoony which will stay with me forever. This DVD has stuff that can only be viewed and enjoyed in this format. Ranging from deleted scenes to a wildly funny commentary from most of the main cast. This film was Kevin Smith's commercial experiment. Too see how a studio film would be handled under his wing. There's nothing wrong with that. "Mallrats" is a worthy effort, which boasts memorable scenes, characters, and dialogue. Finally this film has gained the cult status it deserves, right next to "Dune" and "Hudson Hawk." To see "Mallrats at it's finest, buy this DVD.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; Brand: James Earl Jones; Review: "How Does The Fate of the World hang on a Coca-Cola Machine?" "Why Did U.S. H-Bombers attack Russia?" "What is the Doomsday device?" "Why was Gen. Jack D. Ripper so obsessed with fluids." "Why did Dr. Stranglove want 'Ten Females to each Male?" "Where was the Red Premier When The Hot-line Rang?" Well, guess what. you're never going to be able to answer these questions unless you watch this cinematic masterpiece. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Who is, by far one of the greatest directors in the history of the Motion Picture. To prove it, three of his films are even on the AFI's top 100 greatest films. 2001, A Clockwork Orange, and of course this movie milestone. jam-packed with an excellent ensemble cast topped with the triple-threat performances by Peter Sellers as Mandrake, The Prsident, and the eccentric ex-nazi, Dr. Strangelove. and also joining a vast array of notable talent, including, George C. Scott playing the pure blood american General Buck Turgidson, Slim Pickens as the sharp Major Kong, who rides the 40 megaton nuclear bull down to it's target, Sterling Hayden as the liquid loving Gen. Ripper, and Even a very young James Earl Jones. Kubrick had alot of gall to make a comedy about nuclear paranoia right in the midst of a time of nuclear paranoia. But the movie ended up surprisingly well-recieved. Kubrick had spanwed a comedy that could only be summed up in one word... INSANE!!! The story begins with Gen. Ripper ordering a nuclear attack on Russia which, in effect would cause a massive retaliation back at the U.S. Now it's a race against time to prevent a nuclear holocaust, and still keep good relations with Russia. "Dimitri, I understand how you feel. How do you think I feel?" After all these years "Strangelove" is still one one the funniest films to ever be made. It's also one of the more pure comedies ever made. It's rare you come across a comedy without the use of perverted jokes consisting of rude bodily functions and dirty sex. "Dr. Strangelove" possesses a wonderful balance of verbal and physical comedy. An example being a hilarious scene where Strangelove is promoting an absurd notion of reproducing the human race in bunkers while dueling with his malignant right hand. It doesn't get better than that. The special edition DVD pays an excellent tribute to both Staney Kubrick and The film with two highly in-depth behind the scenes featurettes, and along with an also humorus theatrical trailer. This is one of the most influential films ever made so please watch it and see what I mean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Brand: John Cameron Mitchell; Review: I see a light on the horizon. A light that I have not seen in a long time. And that light, my friends is the genre of Movie Musicals. Finally after almost a 10 year dormancy. the genre is coming back and this movie is one of the best movie musicals I've seen in a long time. Based on one of the most risque Off-broadway musicals, This production was adapted, directed, and even starring John Cameron Mitchell one of the shows original creators. Mitchell has managed to adapt his work with seeming ease. The camera working is colorful, energetic, and intense. It doesn't miss any of the important details, and manages to make every scene a unique experience. The Story goes like this... Hansel, a homosexal, east german boy, is eager to escape the opressive atmosphere of East Germany. One day he meets a soldier. They want to get married and escape to America. But unfortunately Hansel needs a sex change operation. The operation is botched, leaving him with the so called "Angry Inch". well upon arrival in Kansas. The now titled "Hedwig" is abandoned by his husband. Well soon afterwards we follow Hedwig's turbulent rise to glory as a rock star. Mitchell's work on this film is truly visionary, as well as original, striking, moving, and brilliant. You don't often see a film that will mercilessly tell a story with such sensitive subject matter. While at the same time dare to make a film from a genre that most cinematic ignoramuses think is dead and gone. WELL Guess what you pathetic "Freddy Got Fingered" fans. Your immature flatulence jokes will never reign as long as there are independent filmmakers, daring to make films that the neutered Hollywood Studios wouldn't dare to touch! Do yourself a favor, forget the multiplexes, go find yourself a small independent film theatre and see this exciting and inventive movie musical!!! Be sides, it's not like Hollywood has the gall to make anything original.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Brother, Where Art Thou?; Brand: George Clooney; Review: Joel and Ethan Cohen have taken us into the inner depths of Americana. From the Cold recesses in the Midwest in "Fargo," the bland suburbs of LA in "The Big Lebowski" and the solitude of the deserts in "Raising Arizona". Now The Coens have taken us into the heart of the Deep South in the 1930's in an imaginative and surrealistic telling of one of the original novels in the history of writing. Obviously it took the Coens a while to properly concieve Homer's "Odyssey" not only in a different setting but as a comedy which boasts a surprisingly piquant wit. Well they've managed to do it in an almost seamless manner. As you can see the Coens wasted no time in setting the scene. Opening with sweeping crane, and still shots of a chain gang singing their haunting melody. Then soon we jump to a montage of our heroes Ulysses Everett McGill, Pete Hogswallop, and Delmar O'Donnell, making a discreet yet clumsy escape from "The Farm" while incorporated with richly authentic, old-timey music. It shows us that these three men obviously have a long difficult path to follow. Then post-credits we are immediately supplied with a hilarious physical gag right out of the gate. Then soon we finally get the taste of the trio's personalities. spontaneously you see that Everett is a proud man who attempts to be intellectually inclined. Then you have Pete, who's highly rough-around-the-edges. The there's the clueless but good-hearted Delmar. Immediately they set up the characters likeability within the first five minutes with the sparkling dialogue. Which has become a staple in the Coen Brothers' illustrious careers. Aside from the films delightful surprises you get to see some of our favorite actors, new and old, playing charaters that go beyond unique. Probably the one most worth mentioning is George Clooney as Everett. The casting job couldn't have been more perfect(Clooney now has a Golden Globe to prove it). As you watch him boast and brag you see the constant look that states that he's so sure that he is right all the time. When in reality the opposite is the truth. Next there's John Tuturro as Pete. His stance and his gruff tone display his harsh, rough upbrining. Which explains his tendency to lash out. finally there's Tim Blake Nelson (Director of "O") and his performance as Delmar. Nelson's performance is dead-on target. even when he's handing George "babyface" Nelson his Tommy Gun, he still asks what George's profession is after George opens fire on the police giving chase then on helpless livestock. And you can see the childlike innocence on his face when he whimpers "Oh, George, Not the Livestock." And even the otherwordly characters from the basis novel. make unique and symbolic appearances from the blind wandering prophet, the Cyclops (played to perfection by Coens Alumi John Goodman.), plus the standout scene of the three sirens singing seducing and sedating our three heroes. "Those Sirens loved him up and turned him into a... Horny Toad!" You gotta love the utter creativity and originality that was; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hannibal; Brand: ; Review: I was prepared upon walking into "Hannibal" I, like everyone else had the pleasure of viewing "Silence of the Lambs" in order to prepare myself for the upcoming sequel. After watching "Silence" I was looking forward to it, and I wasn't disappotinted. Because upon watching it I realized the this was Hannibal's movie. He was no longer going to be the madman confined away, spouting eerie rhetoric. Now The cannibal is loose and you'd better brace yourself if you intend to follow him. I think the problem people had with "Hannibal" was that they were expecting another "using Hannibal to track another serial killer" movie. Well I knew that it was going to nothing of the sort. I knew that if we're tracking Hannibal, we were going to be playing an all new ball game. We follow him from Florence, Italy, living the quiet life as Museum curator Dr. Fell. Story-wise I couldn't think of a more appropriate place to find him. It was elegant, beautiful, but yet bears a darker side, traits that equate that of Hannibal Lecter. Even the movie itself has those traits. Director Ridley Scott obviously knew what he had in mind when he took on this project, because the whole film I felt as if I were peering into his being. The look of Hannibal is sleek, delicate, and intense. Ridley Scott knows how to create the atmosphere. Take for example. Probably the most standout scene in the film is the dinner scene. The camera working was simple. It didn't require Matrix-like cinematography. But the one shots were all bust shots looking at each characters from the shoulders up. It displays the energy passing between Starling, Lecter, and Krendler as the shots switch from character to character, and in the middle of it all you have sadistically slow shots of Hannibal digging into Paul Krendler's cerebrum and cooking the pieces. The sequence in itself made me squirm numerous times in my chair. It's a beutiful thing when a film can affect you in so many ways. But don't get me wrong, it wasn't just that little blip that made this film great. The film as a whole is unique in it's fashion. And tread a completely different path than the previous outing. Even Hopkins himself take the role down new avenues. Throughout "Silence" Hopkins is confined in a cell for most of the way. Well, as previously stated, HE'S OUT! Hopkins flawlessly managed to show us Lecter's taste, his style, his beaming intelligence, and ultimately his lethal nature. I was charged to watch what would ensue when Clarice and Hannibal would meet face to face, without glass in between. I was not disappointed. All of a sudden the same feelings I had watching those classic scenes from "Silence" but then there's the additional sense of Alert and caution because now he could do anything. Hannibal is an unpredictable man so don't bother trying to read him. Though the most controversial change was Julianne Moore. What controversy? She is one of modern cinema's most solid and professional actresses.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail; Brand: Graham Chapman; Review: On the outside it looks like your average, everyday, special edition two-disc set, with two audio commentaries by 5 of the 6 surviving Pythons, with trailers, sing alongs and- OKAY it's not the average special edition two-disc set, with two audio commentaries by 5 of the 6 surviving Pythons. Monty Python and the Holy Grail delivers the dream DVD for a quintessential cult classic. But with this DVD the Pythons don't let it go untainted. You can still sense their sinister, humorous presence, and the irony is that's only when you're on the Main Menu. You're already laughing [a lot] and the movie hasn't even started yet! I'm not even gonna start with praising the movie. I wouldn't be writing this review if I didn't consider this one of the funniest films ever made. Fact of the matter is if you haven't heard of Monty Python (You poor idiot) this is the best film to start you off with. The humor is manic, intelligent, and incredibly unorthodox. Never in your life will you ever encounter anyone or anything else with this brand of humor. This is what you get when you combine five british comedic geniuses and one american animator with some whacked out visions. You get this comedy masterpiece. Also fact of the matter when it comes to a comedy of this caliber, accept no less than the best when DVD's are involved. This DVD has everything even little Lego figures singing and dancing. Even the REAL Holy Grail isn't even half the treasure that this DVD. Please make this a must on your DVD wish list. Rush over to a video store within a sawllow's flight (african or European it doesn't matter) to grab this DVD!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead; Brand: Simon Pegg; Review: It saddens me when The horror genre is excluded from all the award ceremonies. Granted a really good one is fewand far between but "Shaun of the Dead" to me screams at least golden globe noms for best actor and best picture in comedy. One thing I can definitely vouch is that there haven't been that many worthwhile comedies in 2004 to begin with. Well I can truly say that Shaun of the Dead is the real deal when it comes to a solid comedy, and also a solid horror flick to boot. It's well known that a truly great comedy can blend different genres of comedy. "Shaun" combines verbal wit, with physical comedy, and also satire. Additionally written with an understanding of the minutiae of the zombie genre. For me, the funniest running gag is how the characters shirk to call zombies, well... Zombies, simply because it sounds ridiculous. It's funny because when you look back at every great zombie movie they never call them zombies. The always call them "Undead" or "creatures." another bit of satire which is truly inspired is the opening credits which brilliantly mocks how there have been zombies, long before there are zombies (if you catch my drift.) To call "Shaun of the Dead" a spoof, would actually be a misnomer, because a spoof relies strictly on the comedy and nothing more. "Shaun of the Dead" on the other hand is part of a small (but notorious) breed of horror known simply as comedy / horror. Other notable titles in this genre are Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead Trilogy," Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive," and Don Coscarelli's "Bubba Ho-Tep" The difference between this and a spoof if that a horror/comedy actually has potent moments of horror which have the power to jolt the audience. And Those traits are ever present in "Shaun of the Dead." The standard issue horror jolts are perfectly placed and imaginative. Meanwhile all the scenes where the zombies attack in full force actually invoke a lack of comfort that comes from being surrounded by things that want to kill you. Not to mention since this takes place in Britan and the posession of firearms is looked down upon over there, it's thoroughly enjoyable to see how our heroes cope, starting by throwing small items, then onto a brilliantly hysterical sequence where they're bickering over which records to launch and the intruding zombies. "Purple Rain?" "No" "Batman soundtrack" "throw it!" Another success of "Shaun of the Dead" is it's characters. All the characters, including the ones you're supposed to hate are appealing and extremely well written. Shaun, played by Simon Pegg, flawlessly plays the everyman thrown into the macabre situation, but what affects me more about his performance was how Pegg conveys the emotional roller coaster Shaun goes on, as he copes with trying to keep his friends and family alive and simultaneously winning back his girlfriend. Next to him Nick Frost's Ed, is rude, disgusting, moronic and lazy... but that's why we love him. Ed, represents the lovable lug that we all know and; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead; Brand: Kate Ashfield; Review: It saddens me when The horror genre is excluded from all the award ceremonies. Granted a really good one is fewand far between but "Shaun of the Dead" to me screams at least golden globe noms for best actor and best picture in comedy. One thing I can definitely vouch is that there haven't been that many worthwhile comedies in 2004 to begin with. Well I can truly say that Shaun of the Dead is the real deal when it comes to a solid comedy, and also a solid horror flick to boot. It's well known that a truly great comedy can blend different genres of comedy. "Shaun" combines verbal wit, with physical comedy, and also satire. Additionally written with an understanding of the minutiae of the zombie genre. For me, the funniest running gag is how the characters shirk to call zombies, well... Zombies, simply because it sounds ridiculous. It's funny because when you look back at every great zombie movie they never call them zombies. The always call them "Undead" or "creatures." another bit of satire which is truly inspired is the opening credits which brilliantly mocks how there have been zombies, long before there are zombies (if you catch my drift.) To call "Shaun of the Dead" a spoof, would actually be a misnomer, because a spoof relies strictly on the comedy and nothing more. "Shaun of the Dead" on the other hand is part of a small (but notorious) breed of horror known simply as comedy / horror. Other notable titles in this genre are Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead Trilogy," Peter Jackson's "Dead Alive," and Don Coscarelli's "Bubba Ho-Tep" The difference between this and a spoof if that a horror/comedy actually has potent moments of horror which have the power to jolt the audience. And Those traits are ever present in "Shaun of the Dead." The standard issue horror jolts are perfectly placed and imaginative. Meanwhile all the scenes where the zombies attack in full force actually invoke a lack of comfort that comes from being surrounded by things that want to kill you. Not to mention since this takes place in Britan and the posession of firearms is looked down upon over there, it's thoroughly enjoyable to see how our heroes cope, starting by throwing small items, then onto a brilliantly hysterical sequence where they're bickering over which records to launch and the intruding zombies. "Purple Rain?" "No" "Batman soundtrack" "throw it!" Another success of "Shaun of the Dead" is it's characters. All the characters, including the ones you're supposed to hate are appealing and extremely well written. Shaun, played by Simon Pegg, flawlessly plays the everyman thrown into the macabre situation, but what affects me more about his performance was how Pegg conveys the emotional roller coaster Shaun goes on, as he copes with trying to keep his friends and family alive and simultaneously winning back his girlfriend. Next to him Nick Frost's Ed, is rude, disgusting, moronic and lazy... but that's why we love him. Ed, represents the lovable lug that we all know and; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Only Time Will Tell; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Archer Page; Review: Fascinating! This book keeps you interested all the way thru. I couldn't put it down and I am on to Book 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cometh the Hour: Book Six Of the Clifton Chronicles; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeffrey Archer Page; Review: Loved the series!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When I'm Gone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Bleeker Page; Review: I loved the story but the ending disappointed me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The House by the Lake; Author: Visit Amazon's Ella Carey Page; Review: Loved this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Breath Becomes Air; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Kalanithi Page; Review: Well written....challenges the reader to think about the meaning of life and death.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iris & Lily: Book One; Author: Angela and Julie Scipioni; Review: A wonderful story about sisters, family, religion and the Italian culture and geography. A little wordy but beautifully written.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Apollo 13 (1995); Genres: Adventure, Drama, IMAX; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman (1989); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Batman Forever (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard: With a Vengeance (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clear and Present Danger (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin (1992); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dumb & Dumber (Dumb and Dumber) (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stargate (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: Generations (1994); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and the Beast (1991); Genres: Animation, Children, Fantasy, Musical, Romance, IMAX; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Outbreak (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cliffhanger (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fugitive, The (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: GoldenEye (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Net, The (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waterworld (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994); Genres: Drama, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Natural Born Killers (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crow: City of Angels, The (1996); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twelve Monkeys (a.k.a. 12 Monkeys) (1995); Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven (a.k.a. Se7en) (1995); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Judge Dredd (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Specialist, The (1994); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Genres: Action, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995); Genres: Action; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Demolition Man (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mortal Kombat (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Knight (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Johnny Mnemonic (1995); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crow, The (1994); Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Desperado (1995); Genres: Action, Romance, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last Action Hero (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (a.k.a. ID4) (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eraser (1996); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ransom (1996); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rock, The (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cold Comfort Farm (1995); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heat (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Screamers (1995); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996); Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys (1995); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quick and the Dead, The (1995); Genres: Action, Thriller, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wyatt Earp (1994); Genres: Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strange Days (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hard Target (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Drop Zone (1994); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Highlander III: The Sorcerer (a.k.a. Highlander: The Final Dimension) (1994); Genres: Action, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shadow, The (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Striking Distance (1993); Genres: Action, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Musketeers, The (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Days of Thunder (1990); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Genres: Action, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Escape from New York (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terminator, The (1984); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Highlander (1986); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aliens (1986); Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2 (1990); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Siege (1992); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timecop (1994); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodfellas (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien (1979); Genres: Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rising Sun (1993); Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alien³ (a.k.a. Alien 3) (1992); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns (1988); Genres: Action, Comedy, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The (Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il) (1966); Genres: Action, Adventure, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Blue, The (Grand bleu, Le) (1988); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns II (1990); Genres: Action, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godfather: Part II, The (1974); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Henry V (1989); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Last of the Mohicans, The (1992); Genres: Action, Romance, War, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ben-Hur (1959); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mask, The (1994); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fish Called Wanda, A (1988); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Back to the Future (1985); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994); Genres: Action, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blues Brothers, The (1980); Genres: Action, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sting, The (1973); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sneakers (1992); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serial Mom (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Horror; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maverick (1994); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Genres: Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brazil (1985); Genres: Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally... (1989); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 1-6; Brand: Various; Review: A must have for any looney tunes fans... so many rememorable classics. hours of timed classics that are fading into history.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Three Stooges: The Ultimate Collection; Brand: Moe Howard; Review: Nothing beats curly larry and moe. this is a wonderful addition to my library of dvds. Get this now while you still can; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stroker Ace VHS; Brand: Burt Reynolds; Review: Burt Must Have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Last Castle; Brand: Various; Review: Robert Redford Must Have; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hysteria - The Def Leppard Story; Brand: Nick Bagnall; Review: great rocker movie, wished there were more; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Domino Principle/march Or Die; Brand: Gene Hackman; Review: gene hackman classic; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Dream Of Jeannie Complete DVD Television Series; Brand: ; Review: truly great classic, great cast, wonderful add to my collection; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The King of Queens: The Complete Series; Brand: Kevin James; Review: laugh my tail off series, great collection; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drop Zone / Hard Rain; Brand: Wesley Snipes; Review: good movies, great cast; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 4 Film Favorites: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Departed, The Aviator, Mean Streets); Brand: ; Review: love these 4 film favorites; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Flying Scotsman; Brand: Jonny Lee Miller; Review: great story, one of his best pics; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reign: S3 (DVD); Brand: Various; Review: Great cast and scripts... come on season 4; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coby MP620-8GBLU 8GB 1.8-Inch Video MP3 Player with FM Radio (Blue) (Discontinued by Manufacturer); Brand: Coby; Review: Overall, and within its specs, it's an acceptable player, though it makes me not sorry I spent a lot more for the Philips I bought a while back. The deal-breaker for me is that, while all the documentation says it plays WMA, it hasn't played any I've tried. I bought the player for listening to audiobooks downloaded from the library; some are available only as WMAs, not as mp3s. Overdrive Media Console told me, when it came time to transfer, that the device wouldn't play WMAs. When I inquired via Coby's email contact link on their website, I received no response. I telephoned the next week, and the person I spoke with said that Coby won't play copy-protected files. I pointed out that these were library books, files designed for letting me listen to them. The Coby rep had me look at the properties of one of the WMA files, where everything said "Permitted." She said, "Hmm. Well, all I can tell you is that, I don't know why, but whenever I try to play WMAs on Coby products, they won't play if they're copy-protected." Everything else of mine that ought to play downloaded library files, including WMAs, has done so without complaint; Coby's response to my inquiry doesn't make sense. In practice, in my experience, this mp3 player doesn't play WMAs, and Coby wants me to believe both that it's not a problem with my particular device, and that it's not a problem in general. It is a problem, so the player's going back to Amazon.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: LG Tone Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Headset - Retail Packaging - Black/Orange; Brand: LG; Review: This headset was a hassle to use with my TaoTronics transmitter; every time I turned them on, there was a bit of choregraphy required or they wouldn't pair. Also, the sound sometimes cut out, even at quite close range. But the LG had no such trouble with the iPad, so I blame that stuff on the TaoTronics. One charge would get me through a whole day of intermittent listening (several hours of actual listening), almost every time. I used it mostly for audiobooks, once I figured out that bluetooth sound quality isn't good enough for music for me, and once I figured out that the slight delay makes it no good for watching movies. Still, the sound quality was better than most of the wired headphones I've tried. The form factor was occasionally troublesome, but I don't know how they could have done much better. Long hair, as someone else has mentioned, got involved, but it's not LG's fault that I have long hair. When wearing a thick, collared shirt, like flannel, I found that the band of the headphone pressed against my neck uncomfortably, and I would sometimes fuss with it enough to get the band outside the collar, but that wasn't ideal either. Still, though not perfect for me, it seemed like a good idea in general. The cords felt fragile, but there are very handy clips to help manage them. The clips let go easily when there's any tug, but they're a good first-degree protection. I had no trouble with the cords; I just felt protective of them. The main trouble is that eventually it quit holding a charge. At first it charged quickly and well -- just a couple of hours from nearly zero to full -- but the last few mornings I found its charging light still on, after being plugged in all night. Then I realized that the light was slowly cycling on and off, once every couple of minutes. I didn't understand why, but carried on using it as usual, until one morning it gave its low-battery beep after only a minute or two of listening. LG's manual says there's a one-year warranty, and that I should return it to the seller if there's a problem. I bought it last August, so of course I couldn't just initiate a return through normal Amazon channels. I contacted Amazon, and they said they'd make a "one-time exception," and accept the return. Amazon's customer service is, in most ways, unparallelled in my experience, and it's hard to imagine them not coming across in a case like this, but it's a little irksome and worrisome that they have to make an exception in order to honor a warranty. Maybe I got a lemon, but it might be worth paying attention to whether other buyers find theirs still working a year later.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit, up to 200Mbps (TL-PA2010KIT); Brand: TP-LINK; Review: I'd had bad luck with the comparable item from Actiontec, so I was very pleased to find that this one works so well. I plugged in the adaptors; since then, I haven't had to think about them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ACTIONTEC 500 Mbps Powerline Ethernet Adapter and 4-Port Hub Kit (PWR514K01); Brand: Actiontec; Review: These adapters just weren't reliable for me. The connection kept dropping. I kept thinking there must be something wrong with my outlets. The adapters didn't fit snugly, and soon began hanging away from the outlets, and I thought that must be causing the connection trouble, but even when both adapters were freshly shoved into place, and still in place, I couldn't count on the connection being there. I could find no pattern or cause for the connection's presence or absence. Amazon sent a replacement set, which was no better, so I returned the second set as well, for a refund. I bought a comparable TP-LINK item, and it has worked flawlessly.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: BoxWave Capacitive Stylus for Apple iPad 3, new iPad (3rd Generation), iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod; Brand: BoxWave; Review: If no stars were an option, I'd still give this a star, but I won't give it two. It looks good and feels good, though the enclosed lanyards seem worthless in both design and materials. The real trouble was that the stylus required a bit of pressure to work. A bit of pressure becomes a problem after a while; even my shoulder became involved, and my hand began to hurt from having to grip the thing. I had used cheap, rubber-tipped styli, and learned with them not to press, since it was unnecessary and also shortened the life of the tip. This stylus occasionally worked with little-to-no pressure, but not usually, and the inconsistency wasn't helpful either. Very bad for gaming! I contacted the seller, asking whether they'd had a bad batch. They did wonder whether I'd gotten a defective one, and took it back for a refund. They also suggested that perhaps my screen protector was too thick, but I use no screen protector. I had looked forward to not using my finger, but found it a real relief, after a couple of weeks, to return to finger use. It's the only mesh stylus I've tried. Based on this experience, I'm not eager to try another.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ARCTIC P311 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones, Integrated Microphone, 20-Hr Playback - Pink; Brand: ARCTIC; Review: I've had the P311s for about a year and a half. I use them every day, and they're as solid as the day they arrived. The sound is good, and the range is good enough for moving around a small house (but the claimed 30-meter range doesn't apply across all barriers; I can't listen in the metal garage right next to my house unless I bring the source device inside with me). I haven't timed the battery life, but it lasts a good long time, and recharges quickly, compared to similar devices I've owned. The form factor is the only real problem for me. I was dubious about the over-the-ear support -- ears don't seem well designed for this sort of mild pinching plus weight resting right on the nook between ear and head -- but these seemed the best quality Bluetooth headphones I could get in my price range, so I took a chance. It took a long time -- months -- to decide I really could/would tolerate the feel of them, and they've never become actually comfortable. I can wear them for hours at a time, but it's always a small relief to take them off. (My preferred form factor is earbuds, but I haven't seen anything similar to earbuds with Bluetooth.) The discomfort escalates whenever there are other things competing for space, like glasses and hats. Obviously, long hair makes these a bit more of a hassle, and thick (heavy) hair puts a bit more pressure on sensitive earflesh. Also, the little flap to cover the charging port hasn't stayed put since the first time I pulled it out to charge, no matter how I coax it. It's annoying, though obviously not essential to function -- though if I used these out in weather I'd be more concerned. The P311s aren't any more comfortable when riding around my neck, when I unhook them from my ears to give the cartilage a rest; it's just a different kind of mild discomfort. Overall, they seem well made. The hinges that allow them to get smaller for storage in the nice case remain solid, and the covered cushion ear cups show no signs of age or wear.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Closer; Brand: Kyra Sedgwick; Review: I discovered The Closer late, in the 3rd Season. The dialogue, stories, and especially the perfect casting have made it my favorite show. I now own all 4 seasons and will buy more as they become available. I can't recall any recent show with more interesting and well developed characters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Parental Guidance; Brand: Marisa Tomei; Review: I haven't purchased a movie in months and I LOVE movies!! But I'm sick of all the dirt and don't want it in my home. This one really is worth owning if you want a feel good movie that has a good script and likeable chaaracters, no ugly demonized family members. Of course it's about 'out of touch' grandparents, but it doesn't condemn them to the stupid pile, as most do. They are appreciated and respected in the end, bringing a valued dimention to otherwise chaotic, materialistic and stressed family. The relationships are refreshing, especially between the grandparents as a couple. Finding movies that are not filthy has become a challenge; I appreciate this one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Private Benjamin; Brand: Goldie Hawn; Review: I loved this movie the first time....years ago. I still love the message. Even though we live in a different decade from when this was made, girls still are pushed into the man-pleaser role regardless of the media claims to the contrary. Case in point: look at the clothing styles promoted for our girls: there was a time that current fashions would have been a sign of a girl who was "easy", or tacky, or what is now called a "ho". It's always refreshing to see the transformation of a girl when she realizes she is being diminished and takes control of her life. If you are a woman, you will identify in so many of the manipulations. The wedding scene in this movie is a great climax. I wonder how a man would like this; I doubt he'd consider it seriously meaningful, which it is!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Easy Yoga: The Secret to Strength and Balance with Peggy Cappy; Brand: Peggy Cappy; Review: This is just good stuff for people who appreciate yoga. I have been going to yoga classes at a local gym for a few months and my back is feeling better. This is my at-home option. I'm 68 and like knowing I'm doing something for my physical and mental health. I always feel better when I do these sessions. She is an excellent instructor and I appreciate that there are 2 others with her showing how to do it if you want a lighter or more difficult workout.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Savannah; Brand: Jim Caviezel; Review: The sound quality was not good for me. I had trouble understanding many words. Usually I can use the subtitle option but this DVD had no option for that. Very disappointed. The story was interesting, no real plot, just tracking the life of ain't erecting but troubled mans life. The scenery was very beautiful. The cast and acting excellent...but since I cannot understand about 50% of the dialog! I'm donating mine to Salvation Army with my next load.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: God's Not Dead; Brand: Kevin Sorbo; Review: Best Christian movie ever...great acting, excellent writing and casting. Kevin Sorbo is my new favorite actor. Many characters we can care about in this one. Every one should see this because it offers clear defense of The Bible as a reliable account. I have taken a few college courses and even with such limited exposure, I was ridiculed by a professor for my faith in front of the whole class, regularly. I recommend all high school age kids see this; they will not be disappointed. Great entertainment, great resource for life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Apex Women's Athletic; Brand: Apex; Review: Ordered 2E width but shoes are marked W. They are not 2E! Had to return.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Apex Women's Boss Runner Periwinkle Sneaker; Brand: Apex; Review: Ordered 2E width but shoes are marked W. They are not 2E! Had to return.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Timex Cavatina Expansion Band Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: I bought this watch because I was having right hand surgery and wanted a watch that would be easy to slide onto my left hand. The watch was loose on my wrist so it never was stretched at all. Yet, two weeks ago, the strap came apart. Link bracelet detached from the watch face. The return limit is 30 days so I am out of luck. I would not recommend this watch to anyone.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats for Walking, Jogging, or Hiking on Snow and Ice; Brand: Yaktrax; Review: Perfect for the ice and snow in Portland OR; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brooklyn Basix Premium Vented Travel Umbrella - Auto Open/Close - Gift Box; Brand: Brooklyn Basix; Review: I need and umbrellla that would open and close easily. This does both and is also stylish.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Anita Maternity Women's Microfiber Underwire Nursing Bra #5068; Brand: Anita; Review: First of all- bra is bit too small ( cup size). I saw oder reviews and they said that cup size's run small, so i ordered one size up, but still didn't fit right! Other thing is. Not so happy about the material of this bra! Seams so syntetic to me! I am keeping this bra, because i do need it but i wish it would be a bit better. I would tell my friends about it ( have lots of sizes ), but i also would tell to get bigger cup size!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DC Women's Chelsea Zero Low W; Brand: ; Review: These are very cute! I got the bright blue ones. Collor looks exactly like the picture! They seemed a bit tight at first but not after wearing them for 5 minutes! And for the price, they are great! Great for running after kids in style :)); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bioworld Men's Batman Bat Signal T-Shirt; Brand: Bioworld; Review: I Got this for my hubby. And it fits right (XL) looks great too! He likes it and i like how he looks in it! Nice, light shirt for summer!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 300 The Movie Deluxe Spartan Costume; Brand: ; Review: my hubby wanted this costume despite the bad reviews... well, should of skip on this one! The helmet part will be unusable we will buy a better one whats made of hard plastic instead of rubber),it was folded on half and when You put it on your head it just look very bad :( the robe does look like a dress but we will make use of it, "man" it up somehow. but for the price its allright, for one time use i can live with it :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saucony Kids' Baby Jazz H&l-K Sneaker; Brand: Saucony; Review: i got these shoes for my 4 year old. he loves them, and i love them too. they look very cool and seams comfy too. and he can put them on by himself! definetly would buy them again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blues Brothers Vintage Dark Black Sun Glasses (More Colors); Brand: moda; Review: I received the glasses today. I bought them for my son ( when searching "kids glasses" on amazon these came up, but they are not even close to be for kids, at least not for 5 year old kid ). so we were excited to get him new shades, since he lost exactly the same ones we bought while on vacation! opening the box, I could see already that they are not kids size. and other issue was that right side lens was cracked thru the middle... :( they might of been ok shades ( what do You expect for 3 bucks? ) but since they are broken, even I can not wear them :( not sending them back, because its not worth the 3 bucks :(; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Panache Women's Underwire Sports Bra; Brand: Panache; Review: This sports bra is wonderful. Sometimes I don't want to take it off how well it fits and feels. can jump and run and do mountain climbers and my beautiful bosoms stay in the bra lol :) definitely would recommend everyone ( large or small ) I need to order couple more. and I love the option where you can snap the straps together for extra support and lift :D; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angelina Novelty Assorted KNEE HIGH Socks; Brand: Angelina; Review: Super cute, soft and colorful socks for my baby girl. Love the socks. I wish they came In adult size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kali Footwear Little Girl's Zello Glitter Pom Pom Boots; Brand: Kali Footwear; Review: Cute and soft. I love that they are not too tight, so you can put your child in socks and pants or tights and the boot will still fit easily ( the calves ) . Light in weight.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Angelina Novelty Assorted KNEE HIGH Socks; Brand: Angelina; Review: Super cute, soft and colorful socks for my baby girl. Love the socks. I wish they came In adult size.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: zeroUV 8025 Retro Matte Black Horned Rim Flash Colored Lens Sunglasses, Black Fire, 50mm; Brand: zeroUV; Review: Great glasses for a great price. I wasn't upset when they got scratched after a while, because I had a reason to order new ones lol. They do get scratched pretty east but so does most of the glasses. Love all the colors of these glasses. And the style is great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pink Platinum Little Girls' Double Breasted Trench Jacket; Brand: Pink Platinum; Review: This is a cute little jacket for my 3 year old. The material is bit stiff , but just because it's thick and waterproof. We live in souther California, so we don't get much rains, but when we do, this will be perfect. It seams warm too, but always make sure to wear layers. This jacket has a nice large hood, but when the wind blows ,the hood goes lol. There is no ties or buttons to keep the hood snug.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SANDALUP Elastic Ankle Strap Flat Sandals for Women; Brand: SANDALUP; Review: Love this sandal. When you want to wear something better then a flip flops all summer, get these. Easy to slip on, light weight and comfortable. I'm going to order another pair.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trailmaker Boys' Shark Camo, Multi, One Size; Brand: Trail maker; Review: What a great backpack for my kindergartner. If you don't want to be like 50 other kids in school with a same back pack from a local supermarket, get this. It's fun and unique. It only has two pockets, the man big one where you can put your kids papers or lunch. And a little pocket in front for a snack. Also has a side pocket for a water bottle. And every time you touch or bump the bag, the shark lights up. 4 months of school and the bag looks almost as new :) pretty durable for a kindergarten.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: etnies Fader Vulcanized Skate Shoe (Toddler/Little Kid/Big Kid); Brand: ; Review: Loved the shoe for my 6 year old. My only issue was that one sho had 4 shie holes and the other had 5. So I guess That explained the price. Durable shoe for school and fun.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Emmalise Women's Cotton Blend Racerback Tank Top with Sexy Laced Back; Brand: Absolute Clothing; Review: I'm giving this shirt 4 stars, just because it's too small. If the size would been right, I would give all 5 stars. I received the shirt today. It's very light weight , perfect for summer. Since I haven't tried it on, I can not tell how it feels on, but just touching it, this shirt feels soft and comfortable. I am not sending it back, not worth it for the price. I'm going to give it to a friend. I wish it came in bigger sizes. I ordered L ,but if I had an option I would order 2 sizes up for the looser fit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: chinatera Little Girls' Cute Long Sleeve Cat Dotted Cotton Princess Tutu Dress …; Brand: chinatera; Review: I ordered size 4 for my almost 4 year old, it's it's still quiet large. But I don't mind, better bigger then smaller right? She have wore this dress few times already, and every single time she had compliments on her cute dress. Friends had asked me where have I bought it. Almost want to keep it a secret ;) . Over all great buy, would definitely recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OshKosh B'Gosh Eden Boot; Brand: ; Review: Very cute boots. have received many compliments about them. Fit true to size. My only issue was, how quick the toes of the boots got worn and lost the color. it might be just my daughter, how she walks and plays, but after one week the boots looked pretty worn. other than that, super cute!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Oxidized Leaf Fashion Feather Ring New .925 Sterling Silver Band Size 3-12; Brand: ; Review: I am in love with this little ring. I have it on my pointer finger, and its very feminine and dainty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paramour by Felina Women's Plus-Size Captivate Bra; Brand: Paramour; Review: Beautiful design on this bra. Only thing is it runs a little small. The wires kind of dig in a little bit in my sides. But i love the look of this bra.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HUUSA Sexy Womens Black Mesh Unlined Mock Neck Corset Bodysuit; Brand: HUUSA; Review: Arrived with holes :( that's really not a sexy look.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Spectrum Diversified Peace Bookends, Black; Brand: Spectrum Diversified; Review: These are really nice! Heavy weight, not flimsy at all. I'm very pleased with them.they look really nice on my counter.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magnolia Organics Estate Collection Sheet Set - King, Silver Snow; Brand: Magnolia Organics; Review: These sheets are beautiful! They are well made and have a crisp feel like a fine hotel. I was afraid the pockets would not being deep enough for My pillow top mattress but I was pleasantly surprised that the pockets, were so generous. I bought 2 sets one king and one full. I highly recommend them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Culligan CW-F Sediment Replacement Cartridge Polypropylene Cord-Wound, 10 Micron, 12,000 Gallon Capacity, 2-Pack; Brand: Culligan; Review: Great sheet set. Very deep pockets. Nice crisp feel like a fine hotel. I will be ordering more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toter 025532-R1BLU 32Gal Wheel Recycle Bin, 32 Gallon; Brand: Toter; Review: Very nicely built sturdy good looking. The only thing is I wish it was larger but it definitely is worth the money I will have it for years.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HONEYMOON HOME FASHIONS Twin White 3M Scotchgard Bed Sheet Set; Brand: HONEYMOON HOME FASHIONS; Review: Nice sheets they were a little on the silky side color is off-white but nice the only problem is I find with a lot of sheets the pockets on long enough so every morning I have to put them back on the mattress. Mattresses are so thick nowadays these companys should know to make the pockets just a little bit longer so they stay on the bed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HONEYMOON HOME FASHIONS Twin White 3M Scotchgard Bed Sheet Set; Brand: HONEYMOON HOME FASHIONS; Review: Nice sheets they were a little on the silky side color is off-white but nice the only problem is I find with a lot of sheets the pockets on long enough so every morning I have to put them back on the mattress. Mattresses are so thick nowadays these companys should know to make the pockets just a little bit longer so they stay on the bed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Egyptian Bedding Luxurious 800 Thread Count Hungarian Goose Down Comforter Duvet Insert - Full/Queen Size, 750 Fill; Brand: Egyptian Bedding; Review: Very good quality goes down comforter. Highly recommended; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deny Designs Randi Antonsen Sun Throw Pillow, 16 x 16; Brand: Deny Designs; Review: Very nicely made pillow. Zipper on the side for easy cleaning when needed. Very cute!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Artaste 59380 Rain 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware 36-Piece set, Service of 12; Brand: Artaste; Review: Great quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Flash Furniture 24'' High Backless Cherry Wood Counter Height Stool with Black Leather Swivel Seat; Brand: Flash Furniture; Review: Look great, A tad pricey but most bar stools are way overpriced. Only slightly tedious to put together, look as good as the photos, in fact here they are in one of our homes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sharp R-530ES 2-Cubic-Foot 1200-Watt Microwave, Stainless Steel and Black; Brand: Sharp; Review: JUNK JUNK JUNK! Bought it in 2012, a 2010 model (had no clue it was nearly 2 years old until we received new in box) made in Taiwan it says. The glass door? Is degrading, it jams, and it acts as if it is 20 years old. We had a WOLF, found out Sharp was manufacturing for WOLF, it is GARBAGE!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: GreenLife Soft Grip 16pc Ceramic Non-Stick Cookware Set, Black; Brand: GreenLife; Review: For the price, solid, we use at rental properties. If you want for long term use, and you cook daily, I give it 6.5 out of 10. For abuse and use by rental guests, PERFECT; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BISSELL CleanView Deluxe Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum with Reach, 1322 - Corded; Brand: Bissell; Review: Good for light duty; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: United Solutions TB0007 Thirty Two Gallon/121.1 Liter Round Trash Can in Black-32 Gallon Black Garbage Can; Brand: United Solutions; Review: Perfect for my needs; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flicker Flame Light Bulb Imitates The Look Of A Flickering Candle (Pkg/10); Brand: National Artcraft; Review: Nice works well seems good quality and they were outdoor in the rain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hamilton Beach 755263231981 (33182A) Slow Cooker, 8 Quart, Black; Brand: Hamilton Beach; Review: So far so good, but with any appliances made today, let's see how long it lasts.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterilite 19324306 20 Quart/19 Liter Gasket Box, Clear with Blue Aquarium Latches and Gasket, 6-Pack; Brand: STERILITE; Review: BY FAR THE BEST totes I have purchased the past 3 years. I have 8 different varieties and manufacturers if you want something that will seal up clothing or other home items from mold mildew air tight and sturdy? GET THESE; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SunrisePro Supreme Knife Sharpener for all Blade Types | Razor Sharp Precision & Perfect Calibration | Easy; Brand: SunrisePro; Review: AS advertised, excellent. have some beat up DULL Chicago Cutlery this bad boy made them good as new. I have used, stones, and other types love this. And it is sweet the suction cup adheres strong which is good for safety. TOP quality definitely recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jenin 7 Pieces Complete Bedding Ensemble Beige Brown Gold Luxury Embroidery Comforter Set Bed-in-a-Bag Queen Size Bedding- Yasmen; Brand: Jenin; Review: As advertised good quality for a great price; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 Piece Set Mountain Wolves Soft 3d Comforter Set (08) (King); Brand: BEDnLINENS; Review: Very pretty good quality nice comforter for the price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 7 Piece MYA Red Bed in a Bag Comforter Sets- Queen King Cal. King Size (Queen ); Brand: BEDnLINENS; Review: Not the greatest or heaviest material not bad for the money; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: (4) Poker Chips Drink Coaster Bar Set,6062445" />; Brand: Brybelly; Review: Good quality better than I had imagined. Would buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterilite 19889804 70 Quart/66 Liter Ultra Latch Box, Clear with a White Lid and Black Latches, 4-Pack,Sterilite,19889804" />; Brand: STERILITE; Review: For the size EXCELLENT value, handles could fit tighter otherwise 5 stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Duck Brand Select Grip Easy Liner Shelf and Drawer Liner, 12-Inch x 10-Feet, Red Sedona; Brand: Duck; Review: Excellent top quality liners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mop Cleaning Towels - (16 by 19 inches) Pure Cotton White Kitchen Towels, Restaurant Cleaning; Brand: Utopia Towels; Review: Like this alot, think of CLEAN new shop rags for your bar or kitchen. Wash well, we will see how they hold up at rental home after 6 months use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kingdom Traditional Long Chocolate Runner Rug 32 Inch X 15 Feet 6 Inch Design #121; Brand: Kingdom; Review: Good quality nice thickness good backing; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duck Brand 280873 Select Grip Easy Liner Non-Adhesive Shelf Liner, 20-Inch x 6-Feet, Lichen It/Green; Brand: Duck; Review: Excellent top quality liners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Non-Slip Memory Foam Bath Mat 18'' x 28'', Dark Brown; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Solid bath mat; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dyna-Glo BF30PMDG 30,000 BTU Liquid Propane Blue Flame Vent Free Wall Heater; Brand: Dyna-Glo; Review: Solid heating up 560 square foot kitchen in a barn in Southern Wisconsin; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dyna-Glo Vent-Free Wall Heat Fan; Brand: Dyna-Glo; Review: Works as advertised finding these propane heaters are rare or adds nearly $75.00 to $150.00 to the unit if built in. Love this fan; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Can Opener - Premium Quality - Built in Bottle Opener - Heavy Duty Stainless Steel; Brand: My Cozy Home; Review: So far so good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LINENSPA Memory Foam Pillow with Removable, Washable Cover - Low Loft Plush - King; Brand: Linenspa; Review: Nice sure the heck a lot cheaper than MY PILLOW. For renters, and tons of use and abuse, good stuff; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lasko 2264QM 20″ High Velocity Fan with QuickMount, Black - Easily Converts From a Floor Fan to Wall Fan; Brand: Lasko; Review: I like these! METAL< ALUMINUM, only plastic is the logo and the switch. Forget those pedestal pieces of garbage for $19.99 that burn out after a year or less. Forget those WIND MACHINES or WINDMERE all plastic floor piece of junk. These are as close to industrial floor fans that cost 3-4 times more at not only a fair price but these things MOVE SERIOUS AIR FLOW. Yes these are not whisper quiet folks, you will have to set to lowest if you want some quiet. At level 3 they sound like a small Cessna. But when it's hot, humid, no breeze outside and your house is getting warm, stagnant air? Fire these babies up. Simple less than 3 minute set up, click the feet, screw in the controller, has the safety blue 3 prong plug feature, you are up and running. DISCLAIMER, we run these for our home & 4 dogs at least 8-12 hours PER DAY, I have had for less than 30 days will update in 90 days but so far blows away any other fans purchased in the past 10 years at this price point!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lasko H20610 20" High Velocity Floor Or Wallmount Fan, Black 20; Brand: Lasko; Review: I like these! METAL< ALUMINUM, only plastic is the logo and the switch. Forget those pedestal pieces of garbage for $19.99 that burn out after a year or less. Forget those WIND MACHINES or WINDMERE all plastic floor piece of junk. These are as close to industrial floor fans that cost 3-4 times more at not only a fair price but these things MOVE SERIOUS AIR FLOW. Yes these are not whisper quiet folks, you will have to set to lowest if you want some quiet. At level 3 they sound like a small Cessna. But when it's hot, humid, no breeze outside and your house is getting warm, stagnant air? Fire these babies up. Simple less than 3 minute set up, click the feet, screw in the controller, has the safety blue 3 prong plug feature, you are up and running. DISCLAIMER, we run these for our home & 4 dogs at least 8-12 hours PER DAY, I have had for less than 30 days will update in 90 days but so far blows away any other fans purchased in the past 10 years at this price point!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patton PUF1810C-BM 18-Inch High Velocity Fan; Brand: Patton; Review: Other than the noise, these fans are well worth the purchase. Wasted too much money buying cheap or so called higher end pedestal fans! Our 4 dogs want cool comfort in summer, these are well built, worth the money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dinner Tray - Wooden Breakfast in Bed Foldable Portable Serving TV Table with Stand - 20.5"; Brand: Juvale; Review: Quality item, better made than I thought. Grandma loves for days she is under the weather.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: GOLD INN Adrema Hotel; City: Berlin; Review: We stayed at the Adrema for 3 nights having booked a "Top Secret Hotel Deal" with lastminute and were very pleased. Clean, friendly and good value. The City centre was in walkable distance through the lovely tiergarten and along the Strasee des 17 Juni towards the Brandenburg gate. Two S Bahn stations (Tiergarten and Bellvue) and a U bahn station (Hansaplatz) are even closer and we returned via these in the evening. It was also convinient for visiting the many attractions in Charlottenburg. The hotel staff were friendly and helpful - we were delighted to be allowed to check in on arrival much earlier than the stated time - after a 2.30am start a power nap at lunch time was greatly appreciated. The rooms were fairly standard, clean and modern and unremarkable. Slightly disturbed by the strange "spy holes" (Circles of clear rather than misted glass) between the bathroom and bedroom? Overall a good hotel for a good price, contributed towards a very enjoyable break.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Munich Bayerpost; City: Munich Upper Bavaria Bavaria; Review: We recently stayed at the Sofitel Bayerpost Muich for the last night of a 4 night trip to Munich. After days of walking around the city and exploring the countryside it was just the relaxing finish we needed. The service was friendly and professional throughout, especially in Sophie's Bistro where we dined in the evening. We had a junior suite which was very comfortable, with a pleasant living area and excellent view of the city. The only drawback was that the super king size bed was actually two singles pushed together. The swimming pool was an interesting feature tucked underneath the reception with a small tinted window you could look through into reception, the modern design was fun and combined with the sauna & steam room was the start of a relaxing evening. Only drawback to these facilities was the tiny changing rooms - more than 2 people and you were constantly tripping over each other. The location was very convinient for the main station which meant we could leave our check out as late as possible before having to leave for the flight home. With the city centre only 15 minutes walk away there is plenty to do and see nearby. The dining experience at Sophie's Bistro was relaxed and friendly with simple food served well - steak was cooked to perfection :) it was a little on the pricey side, though much of that is probably perception due to the weakness of the pound at the moment. Overall our favourite things were the swimming pool and room, least favourite (probably the only drawbacks) were the bed in the room and the changing rooms for the spa. We will definitely be visiting again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prom Country Lodge; City: Foster Gippsland Victoria; Review: Stayed for one night following a day trip to Mt Oberon in Wilsons Prom. Room was fine and functional - when we ran a bath the pipes seemed to dump an accumulation of rust so we had to run another one. Hotel is conviniently situated just off the main road at the small town of Foster. Staff were friendly and helpful.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Martinique on Macrossan; City: Port Douglas Queensland; Review: We stayed at the Martinique for 5 days at the end of a 3 week holiday in Australia and were extremely impressed. Hosts Antonia and Fred were friendly and helpful - talking through the options for places to go without pushing us towards any tour operators. The rooms were good - seperate bedroom and living area with balconies along with a small kitchenette which we mainly used for breakfasts! The on site swimming pool was pleasant and a welcome respite from the tropical heat and humidity. We definitely plan on visiting again some time :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Melbourne on Collins; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: Stayed for one night in the Sofitel as a bit of a treat during a 3 week Australian trip. We stayed in a junior suite which was spacious and luxurious! The bed was huge and the bathroom also spacious. The in room entertainment controls were a bit strange - everything was controlled by a small pad on one side of the bed which could not be moved around the room meaning that if you sat anywhere else you had to get up to change the channel on the tv! We were put off dining in due to the high prices - think it was $47 for breakfast! The most spectacular feature was the amazing views - on the 39th floor we had an almost panoramic view of the city and spent ages just looking out!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vivaldi Luxury Rooms; City: Rome Lazio; Review: Vivaldi rooms were ideal for our long weekend trip to Rome. Rooms are situated on Via del Corso just metres from the Hotel Mozart that they are linked to. We had a Prestige room which had large double bed and plenty of space. Was an ideal place to retreat to during the heat of the Rome afternoon. Room was clean and comfortable with buffet breakfast a good way to start the day. Bathroom was clean with a jacuzzi bath and a stand alone shower. Only slight problem was a leak when running a bath. Staff were friendly and helpful at all times. An added bonus was the proximity to a music college with the sounds floating across the Rome afternoons. Would definitely recommend it for a stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swissotel The Stamford Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: We stayed at the Swissotel in December, breaking up our journey from the UK to Melbourne with 36 hours in Singapore. The Swissotel proved to be an ideal hotel for this - we were delighted when after a long flight we were able to check in early (before lunch) to relax and shower before going off to explore. The Swissotel is situated in a really convinient location for exploring the city with easy MRT access at City Hall and many attractons within walking distance. The room was clean with an amazing view of the City and a decent sized bed. Staff were freindly and helpful at all times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eastern Beach Holiday Units; City: Port Fairy Victoria; Review: We stayed in the Eastern Beach Holiday Units for one night whilst driving the Gt Ocean Road in December. The Unit consisted of a living room with kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. All were clean, tidy and well maintained. Adrian was welcoming and helpful on arrival giving us useul advice for our brief stay including info about Griffiths island which we had a lovely walk around the next day. Our stay was excellent value - one of the least expensive stops in our holiday yet with room for plenty more. Our only area for improvement would be a larger double bed. However overall the Eastern Beach was spot on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Checkpoint Charlie; City: Berlin; Review: We recently had a city break in Berlin and stayed at the Adina Checkpoint Charlie. We had a one bedroom apartment which was ideal - having the kitchen facilities gave us the extra flexibility to have a small breakfast before an early start. The rooms were clean and well presented with plenty of space. The leisure facilities, though small, were good. We were the only people in the swimming pool / sauna area when we used them. Staff were friendly and helpful. There is a very useful Lidl and bakery nearby for purchasing breakfast items and any cakes / pastries for little treats. We would definitely recommend the hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Das Falk Apartmenthaus; City: Nuremberg Middle Franconia Franconia Bavaria; Review: My son and I had a lovely long weekend stay in Nuremberg at the Das Falk apartments. Our room (one bedroom) was spacious with good facilities - the kitchen was great for inexpensive breakfasts (plenty of shops nearby with both a REWE and an organic supermarket within 5 mins walk). It was conveniently located for town, either a 15 min walk or quick tram ride. Clean and well maintained we will definitely stay here again if we come to Nuremberg.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn London St Pancras Hotel; City: London England; Review: We stayed for 1 night as part of a quick London city break - 2 adults, 2 children and baby made for a full room but with enough space. Standard premier inn offering in this busy area of London - most things were clean and tidy though we did have to swap one of the pillows which was stained! . Check in desk was busy when we arrived at 1.30pm (before the official check in time of 2pm) but fortunately our room was available and we could put our bags down and have a cup of tea before heading out to explore. Staff were helpful at all times - breakfast is more expensive here than most Premier Inns so we decided to pop out and get a much cheaper breakfast from one the many local options. Overall it did what you would expect from a premier inn.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Wrong Turn 2: Dead End; Brand: Erica Leerhsen; Review: excelente pelicula, muy escalofriante y con bastantes momentos de terror, lo mantiene a uno sentado esperando loq ue sucedera a continuacion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Final Destination 5 (DVD); Brand: Nicholas D'Agosto; Review: excelente pelicula, muy escalofriante y con bastantes momentos de terror, lo mantiene a uno sentado esperando loq ue sucedera a continuacion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friday the 13th / Nightmare on Elm St / Freddy Vs; Brand: Various; Review: excelente pelicula, muy escalofriante y con bastantes momentos de terror, lo mantiene a uno sentado esperando loq ue sucedera a continuacion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coraline by tim burton; Brand: tim burton; Review: excelente pelicula, muy escalofriante y con bastantes momentos de terror, lo mantiene a uno sentado esperando loq ue sucedera a continuacion.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delgo; Brand: Freddie Prinze Jr.; Review: package in excellent condition, I like all the features of the page were correct and the shipping came at the right time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Quality Suites; City: Moab Utah; Review: We had wanted to "eat in" this evening and the accommodations made this fun. There was a counter top space to lay out all our buffet style foods on and we could easily eat at a small table near the window. There were even chairs to use at the table, and a couch with a coffee table/ottoman. The room was comfortable and clean. Wifi was great until a tour bus arrived full of guests, then competition for wifi made it impossible to connect. Staff did what they could to remedy, but no solution while we needed it. The tour bus group seemed to have been given an earlier breakfast start time than we were given so when we arrived at 6:30am sharp we found the tables all filled. Staff kept the food selections well stocked even with the large crowd.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Bellingham; City: Bellingham Washington; Review: We wanted a short two day, mini vacation in Washington state and decided on visiting the Bellingham area solely because it had a La Quinta. And we were so pleased with this hotel. Clean, modern, quiet, safe, comfortable! The breakfast selection was varied and very delicious. The staff is friendly, helpful, professional. We didn't see any chain restaurants nearby as we hoped, but there were a couple fast food places in a short walking distance. The one we chose across the street was exceptional for a fast food place. There is also a superstore right next to the hotel that was very handy for restocking the cooler and other supplies. Easy hotel to get to right off I-5.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Sugarland Inn; City: Sugar Land Texas; Review: Our room was very clean and comfortable and the breakfast choices were delicious. The view out our window at the front of the building was of a beautiful park. Only problem with the stay was the access roads. Highway and frontage roads are one way, multiple lanes and in rush hour traffic it comes to an almost complete standstill. We tried to go out a back way and ended up back at congested frontage road or a toll road. Traffic not so bad during the day and later in the evening. Motel is within 5 minute walk to grocery store for refreshing drinks and some fresh air. Nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Vernon College Area Hwy 287; City: Vernon Texas; Review: So many positives at this hotel! Easy access from highway, and a main road in Vernon. We were greeted at check in with a very warm and friendly employee that made us feel like we were home. The rooms were spacious, clean, comfortable. Our room came with a little kitchenette-like cabinet and countertop area with refrigerator, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, and small sink for light dish washing. Beds and the quiet air conditioning were comfortable. Breakfast was an anticipated event every day…hot cinnamon rolls (hmmm), plus wide variety of hot and cold food choices, and fresh fruit. Really appreciated them allowing us use of their WiFi after check out time to get our boarding positions in that 24 hour window that unnamed airline requires. We plan to stay here on our next visit to Vernon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Home2 Suites by Hilton Austin Cedar Park; City: Austin Texas; Review: Chose this hotel because of its close proximity to the airport, as we had a flight out the next day. Able to fill up the rental car just across the overpass from hotel, and just head up the road to rental car return and airport. Nice! Even with all the highways and airport nearby the room was quiet and we slept very well. Bed gave good back support, with a pillow-soft top layer. Rooms very comfortable and beautiful. Breakfast area offered the usual range of items. Hot foods included DIY waffles and microwaveable egg casserole and omelets only. Be sure to look down below counter top for refrigerated yogurts and similar...almost missed it myself. Breakfast bar seating area had charging stations right at the table...great for last minute charging before traveling. Looking forward to staying again on next trip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham Austin Airport; City: Austin Texas; Review: Close to airport, room clean, short walk to a couple restaurants. Room with one queen bed was shockingly small as I was not familiar with Microtel Inns. Felt like a stay in a camper. Bed comfortable, air conditioning was pleasant and not disruptive to sleep, and provided white noise to block airport sounds. Wall are thin and could hear noises from neighboring rooms and door slams in the hallway. Breakfast has very good hot foods as well as standard fruit choices, yogurt, cereals, waffles, etc. Only frustrating disappointment was in making my reservation. Had trouble with website functioning and had to make reservation over the phone. The Inn’s representative booked wrong size room (2 queens) rather than the one I asked for (1 queen) for a higher charge. I called to correct and they did change the room to single queen but kept the higher price. I thought I could clear up the charge mistake in person when I arrived. I showed the representative at the desk my first confirmation, the second confirmation with the right room wrong price plus the dated screenshot of the webpage matching my confirmation dates, confirming the price I should have paid. He brushed me off as there was nothing he could do, the price was set. After seeing the room size I should have kept the 2 queen bed room since I ended up having to pay for it anyway.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Still Life with Bread Crumbs: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Anna Quindlen Page; Review: I loved the character development, but the ending was a little to trite for my tastes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Storyteller; Author: Visit Amazon's Mario Vargas Llosa Page; Review: Really cool story that shows the origins and the draw of storytelling through humanity. We as humans sometimes need to go back to our origins of happiness.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mechanically Inclined: Building Grammar, Usage, and Style into Writer's Workshop; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeff Anderson Page; Review: A great books for middle school teachers, but also useful at high school level. Lots of activities and theory. Just the right balance of both. Highly recommended.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Japanese Lover; Author: Visit Amazon's Isabel Allende Page; Review: This story deftly weaves the life of family members, both born and adopted into, a wealthy California family. Allende balances mystery and familiarity with each member, so the reader gets to know the characters like the family members get to know each other.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Underground Railroad; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles L. Blockson Page; Review: Well written and fun to read. Tells the history you know in a personal and intimate manner. You can't help but root for Cora.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pachinko (National Book Award Finalist); Author: Visit Amazon's Min Jin Lee Page; Review: Lee is a smooth and effortless writer. Character development is strong, and I learned a lot about the conflict between Japanese and Koreans. I read this book while traveling in Japan, which added an extra dimension.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness: `The Literary Read of the Summer' - Time; Author: Visit Amazon's Arundhati Roy Page; Review: I struggle with a rating for this book, as it is beautiful, thought provoking, and elegant. But between the multiple narrators and the stream of consciousness style, it is a tough read. I recommend those who are advanced readers, and who can handle the complicated narration. But if you aren't an English teacher or a bibliophile, this book will probably make you crazy. It was even tough for me to get through the first third of the book. If you stick with it, and get use to the flow of her writing, you won't regret it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: OctoRose 4 Poster Bed Canopy Netting Functional Mosquito Net, Red; Brand: OctoRose; Review: nice product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Goplus 4 Corner Post Bed Canopy Mosquito Net Full Queen King Size Netting Bedding; Brand: Goplus; Review: nice product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Musical Notes With Piano Waterproof Fabric Polyester Bathroom Shower Curtain with 12 Hooks 60"(w) x 72"(h); Brand: FMSHPON; Review: nice product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ambesonne Artsy Shower Curtain Abstract Bath Decor; Brand: Ambesonne; Review: nice product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OctoRose Black 4 Poster Bed Canopy Functional Mosquito Net Full Queen King; Brand: OctoRose; Review: nice product; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Devon & Jones D500W Ladies' Long-Sleeve Titan Twill; Brand: Devon & Jones; Review: beautiful shirt...can't believe the quality for the price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Eastland Women's Seneca Boot; Brand: Eastland; Review: Great shoes...wear them all day standing in retail. Thanks for the great service and super fast shipping!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Women's Sporty String Bikini Panty (Pack of 3); Brand: Hanes; Review: Excellent quality for the price...thanks for the service!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HOKA ONE ONE Mens Challenger ATR Running Sneaker Shoe; Brand: HOKA ONE ONE; Review: Excellent running shoes...the best I've ever had!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zagone Studios Two Bit Roar Gorilla Mask; Brand: Zagone Studios; Review: The mouth moves up and down easily...as advertised. Don't forget to hydrate as ANY mask will make you sweat...great quality, great price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zagone Studios Men's Gorilla Feet; Brand: Zagone Studios; Review: Fit my size 10.5 feet fine (elastic should make them fit most feet. I wore black socks underneath and it felt like I was walking barefoot...which I liked.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zagone Studios Men's Gorilla Gloves; Brand: Zagone Studios; Review: A little small for my big mitts, but nonetheless a perfect completion of the entire costume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASICS Women's GEL-Venture 5 Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: My fav shoes for running or walking!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yoyorule Women Summer Lace Sleeveless Blouse Tank Tops Shirt; Brand: Yoyorule; Review: Beautiful blouse and unbelievable price!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zagone Studios, Llc - Gorilla Shirt; Brand: Zagone Studios; Review: I was surprised it fit so well with my 48" chest! It even breathes so was not as warm as I expected...the mask is another story :-) I've never had a mask on that didn't make me sweat. So, make sure you hydrate well when wearing the mask with this Gorilla shirt!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Robert Graham Men's Pyramid-Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirt; Brand: ; Review: I love all my Robert Graham shirts...they are the best in quality and style...and you can get them for half the price on Amazon.com.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: love the belt but its way too small, I have a 36 waist but had to get a 42 belt; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dickies Men's Double Prong Belt; Brand: ; Review: love the belt but its way too small, I have a 36 waist but had to get a 42 belt; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sanuk Men's Beer Cozy 2 Flip-Flop; Brand: ; Review: my kid lives in these things but they break easy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hot Leathers WLB1001 BLACK, 4" Classic Black Wallet with Chain (BLACK, 4"); Brand: Hot Leathers; Review: This wallet is fine if you only need to carry a 5 dollar bill, your student ID and moms savings account card. But this is useless for a working adult. Only a couple small areas for cards, cheap clip connectors to the chain, and flimsy. Low quality all the way around. I gave it to my teenager immediately.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hot Leathers WLC2005 BROWN, 6" Classic Brown Bi-Fold Wallet (Brown, 6"); Brand: Hot Leathers; Review: This wallet is fine if you only need to carry a 5 dollar bill, your student ID and moms savings account card. But this is useless for a working adult. Only a couple small areas for cards, cheap clip connectors to the chain, and flimsy. Low quality all the way around. I gave it to my teenager immediately.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 2 In 1 Combo SET; Brand: BlueSkyBos; Review: I love the shape of these mats and colors are awesome too. I use them as tea coasters and they are good for hot pans too. And they look great in the kitchen and on the table!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2 In 1 Combo SET; Brand: BlueSkyBos; Review: I love the shape of these mats and colors are awesome too. I use them as tea coasters and they are good for hot pans too. And they look great in the kitchen and on the table!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Natural Activated Charcoal Odor Absorber Air Purifier - for Closet Fridge Car Pets - Remove Smells and Eliminate Moisture; Brand: Sagano; Review: It saved my old fridge I inherited from previous owners of the apartment - it smelled like somebody died there but now I can smell my food :). So I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holmes HAPF624RUC 12" Oscillating Floor Fan w/Remote, Breeze Modes, 8hr Timer; Brand: Holmes; Review: I absolutely love it! It is small but effective. And it does not produce a lot of noise! And it is easy to carry it around - in my tiny apartment all these thing are HUGE benefits. We cannot have air conditioning (stupid HOA) but this one helps - it is not the same of course but it helps to bring nice breeze to the apartment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holmes 12-Inch Fan | Blizzard Rotating Fan with Remote Control, Black; Brand: Holmes; Review: I absolutely love it! It is small but effective. And it does not produce a lot of noise! And it is easy to carry it around - in my tiny apartment all these thing are HUGE benefits. We cannot have air conditioning (stupid HOA) but this one helps - it is not the same of course but it helps to bring nice breeze to the apartment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Synchronicity Key: The Hidden Intelligence Guiding the Universe and You; Author: Visit Amazon's David Wilcock Page; Review: If you enjoy living in a bubble and pretending that reincarnation and astrology are not valid, this book is not for you. If you are not a serious student of history and prefer not to understand the repeating patterns of conflict we willingly participate in as a species, this book is not for you. If, however, you like using your brain, thinking for yourself, and understanding the way the cosmos, our society, and the elite operate, this book is a good primer. It's basic, but excellent material, cohesively integrating what seems to be opposing and unpopular ways of looking at the universe, history and synchronicity in a way that is impossible to ignore - unless you try. There are plenty of clues in here for lightworkers who want to make a difference by directing their energy to places it can do the most good right now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5-Minute Chi Boost - Five Pressure Points for Reviving Life Energy and Healing Fast (Chi Powers for Modern Age); Author: Sifu William Lee; Review: This excellent book outlines a simple but effective way to clear and tonify the body's qi (energy). You could get benefits from doing some of the exercises outlined here, but it really is best to learn the whole routine and commit it to memory so you can do the protocol once a day at least. Well worth the read, but it will be a waste of money unless you're willing to actually do the exercises every day. If you want the health benefit, this isn't something you can do for a few days and forget about it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands; Author: Visit Amazon's Gertrud Hirschi Page; Review: I had a hard time putting this book down. For anyone obsessed with mantras, this is the book for you. I have recommended the prana mudra to all my patients on the first visit, and find that if I instruct them and have them perform the mudra before treatment their acupuncture session is more effective. Personal experience, however, not something I can prove. Excellent photos and explanations; while reading this I felt like I was truly given a gift, and not just reading something that someone wrote to make a quick buck.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel Energy: How to Harness the Power of Angels in Your Everyday Life; Author: Visit Amazon's John Randolph Price Page; Review: John Randolph Price is a great writer, and I love how he approached contacting angels by their functions, not their names, which are incomprehensible to us anyway. I feel that learning to contact angels by function is a more precise way to call on the angelic energy you wish to work with. Nice book for beginners.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prosperity Secrets of the Ages; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: Catherine Ponder is one of top ten favorite nonfiction authors. This is one book I read over and over again to keep me on a prosperity mindset. Chock full of affirmations and information to help you attract the best life has to offer. Ponder is a Unity minister; this book reads very nondenominational, so it is appropriate for Christians and non-Christians alike, though the frequent Bible quotes and references may put some people off. I personally thought her interpretations of the Scriptures made a lot of sense and helped me understand the Bible in a new light.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Your Body's Many Cries for Water; Author: F. Batmanghelidj; Review: It's nice to see an MD focus on simple lifestyle changes for chronic conditions, and drinking more water is about as simple as it can get. Batmanghelidj outlines several conditions that can be improved with a more dedicated routine of drinking water. I definitely agree that chronic dehydration is a chronic and silent issue for many people. If you suffer from headaches, low back pain or high blood pressure, you may want to give this a read and try what he says. The worst that can happen is that you could be properly hydrating yourself for once; best case - maybe it will improve your health.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Open Your Mind to Receive - NEW & UPDATED; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: Catherine Ponder's books stand alone, and can be read in any sequence. This one focuses on receiving, and it's a subject a lot of people have a hard time allowing. This is a good manual on how to allow prosperity and blessings to come into your life. Her series of books teaches people that you can be Christian (or another faith) and still be prosperous. and that there is no bonus for suffering financially.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: And Nothing Happened...But YOU Can Make It Happen!; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven A. Ross Page; Review: I couldn't finish this. It was just too dull, and couldn't keep my interest. If there was a point to this book, I didn't make it far enough into the book to find it. As I am a definite believer already in the pharmaceutical and AMA conspiracy and an obsessive reader, this is really saying something.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dare to Prosper!; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: All of Catherine Ponder's books have the same theme - that it is OK to prosper, and God says through the Bible that it is OK, and even your duty, to prosper. Ponder's books teach you how to do that by discarding old belief systems such as "spiritual people should be poor." This Unity minister has put a lot of thought and Biblical research into her writing, mixing it with real-life stories of people who have turned their thoughts, and their lives, around. Dare to Prosper!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prospering Power of Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: Love is the root of abundance in all its forms. This book talks about developing a deeper connection to the Divine power of love within you and why that is so important. With plenty of affirmations and Biblical references, Catherine Ponder makes a powerful argument that God loves you, wants you to do your best to love Him, yourself, and other people, and that this is the path to true prosperity on all levels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies (2nd Ed.); Author: Visit Amazon's Volker Scheid Page; Review: If you are studying Chinese Medicine, you are probably going to end up buying this book. This is one of those books you'll want to keep handy in your practice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maine Miracles; Author: Visit Amazon's Joanie Hileman Page; Review: This was a really inspiring and light read. If you need a pick-me-up, and a dose of real-life miracles, this is the book for you. Restores your faith in a higher power amid a world where everyone seems to focus on the negative.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lives in the Balance: Nurses' Stories from the ICU (Kaplan Voices Nurses); Author: Visit Amazon's Tilda Shalof Page; Review: Loved this behind-the-scenes look at the nursing field, and what those caregivers go through on a day to day basis. It takes a special breed of person to become a nurse. Read this book and find out why. The story of the hit-and-run woman broke my heart, but her nurse surely has a place in Heaven when it's time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magic's Pawn (The Last Herald-Mage Series, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Mercedes Lackey Page; Review: This book stands out as one of the few I've purchased that I can remember exactly where, and when I bought it, and how much of an impact it made on me when I read it. Back when this was first published, I bought it from an independent book store based solely on the fact it had a beautiful embossed cover and was a fantasy novel (hey, I was a kid - and marketing works). Lackey took a real chance making her main character gay, but that's not why this book is so awesome - it's the way she puts us in Vanyel's head and makes us live his pain and estrangement and his semi-triumph over it. And it has a solid understanding of magic principles. Some reviewers comment on the fact that the good vs. evil theme seems arbitrary and the plot thin. I think this mirrors real life pretty accurately. Most people's lives lack a plot, and it certainly seems that evil people randomly enter innocent people's lives and cause havoc and destruction. To me, it made her books more believable. This series could be the next Harry Potter on the silver screen if someone had enough balls to produce it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clean Needle Technique Manual for Acupuncturists: Guidelines and Standards for the Clean and Safe Clinical Practice of; Author: Collaboration; Review: You are buying this for the test, because for some reason it is required for you to do, not once, but twice (at least it was in Florida). Personally, I think if you complete this course during your time at school then you should get tested then and get your certificate instead of having to take a second course outside of school (which is exactly the same). It's a bit of a scam having to do this twice.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Secret of Unlimited Prosperity; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: I love all of Catherine Ponder's books. It's refreshing to hear a Christian perspective about how prosperity is a God-given gift and birthright, not something to be feared or scorned. Ponder makes plenty of Biblical references to back up her philosophy, as well as affirmations to change your thinking. She also stresses the importance of tithing, which is an often misunderstood, but essential, practice for abundance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manifest Your Millions!: A Lottery Winner Shares his Law of Attraction Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Eddie Coronado Page; Review: I love this book; easy to read and flows well. I do not agree with his assessment of astrology, but I do agree with him that astrology alone does not dictate your fate; it is your actions and mental/emotional mindset that do. Astrology merely gives you a roadmap to your current life so you can understand your purpose and your challenges easier. I'm glad he focuses on mental/emotional discipline as the key to success with the Law of Attraction. Many people don't seem to grasp that. I've gotten some great ideas on how to reword my affirmations and it gave me confidence that I should keep trying till I do manifest everything I want.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Animal-Speak Runes; Author: Visit Amazon's Ted Andrews Page; Review: Ted Andrews Animal-Speak Runes are a nice departure from tarot/totem divination systems, and I think it's a good pairing. He is certainly one of the top authors in the totem animal field, and has spent plenty of time learning about the actual animal as well as the spiritual aspects of the animal. Some totem books I've read you can definitely tell the author didn't spend much time with animals outside, but that's not the case here. The book is a great little reference and easy to carry around, and makes a great gift, especially for the new-age male in your life. There isn't much in that field marketed for them, and although this is a unisex divination system, it seems well-suited for male energy and rugged journeys. They certainly travel better in less-civilized places than a paper deck does and it's quite easy to use them outside. Something to keep in mind if you like to do outdoor rituals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Contact Cards: An Extraterrestrial Divination System; Author: Darryl Anka; Review: I've been reading professionally for about 16 years, and although I loved the concept of this deck, I didn't find it suitable for readings. I think it has more use as a personal oracle deck, i.e., pick up to three cards for insight on your day or a particular situation, but as other reviewers suggested, this deck does not lend itself to easy interpretation, nor do I think it encompasses the human condition enough to be an in-depth divination tool. There are much better decks out there for either oracle or in-depth readings. Although I love aliens, I found it hard to relate to the aliens in the deck, specifically, and certainly did not see a connection between the alien cards and most people in the real world (as opposed to regular tarot, where it is easy to type people according to their suit). It's a nice collectors item, but ultimately just gathered dust in my drawer.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North American (Peterson Field Guide); Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Foster Page; Review: I was disappointed in this field guide. I concur with other reviews that this book is fairly useless. The photos are little to no help since they are so small and not always placed near its entry. It would have been nice to see Chinese medicinal names as a cross reference, but I would not identify a medicinal plant in the wild based on this book. Moreover, it made me question the identity of plants I thought I did know in my area, as the entries in this book look nothing like what I am used to seeing. I rarely use this book.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Prospering Power of Prayer; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: Catherine Ponder's books are a wealth of insights about prosperity consciousness. A lot of people think the Bible preaches poverty as a virtue; but the Bible is also a manual for prosperity. Ponder skillfully guides readers to a new way of thinking about prosperity as a birthright for everyone, not just a chosen few. Well worth reading.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Animal Spirit Guides: An Easy-to-Use Handbook for Identifying and Understanding Your Power Animals and Animal Spirit Helpers; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven D. Farmer Page; Review: I ended up giving away my copy of Animal Spirit Guides because I felt the author only had a superficial connection to each spirit animal. When reading the various entries in this book, I didn't feel like I had a good handle on each animal's medicine either. Granted, the only way to truly know an animal's medicine is to work with it on an ongoing basis, and I think it's obvious in Ted Andrew's books that he has, in fact, done exactly that. To me, Steven Farmer's books are like white-bread totem medicine. It's a good first book or quick reference into the subject, but if you're serious about learning this stuff, try Ted Andrews instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Facelift at Your Fingertips: An Aromatherapy Massage Program for Healthy Skin and a Younger Face; Author: Pierre Jean Cousin M.B.Ac.C; Review: This books helps people keep their face looking youthful and vibrant. Love the exercises. Easy to do and very quick once you get the hang of it. The poster is nice; I suggest laminating it to keep it nice because you'll probably use it a lot. Book includes recipes to make your own essential oil serum for use in the routine. I personally recommend you go to your local skin care professional and purchase a bottle of 24K gold serum. Yes, as in real gold. It has done wonders for my rosacea and works for all skin types. My only beef with this book is that as an Acupuncture Physician, I know the real names of the points the author is using. It would have been nice if that info had been included as well. Also, you can't expect facelift miracles if you aren't willing to clean up your diet and drink plenty of water; everything you eat shows up in your complexion. You'll get results equal to the effort you put into it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: En Route: A Paramedic's Stories of Life, Death, and Everything in Between; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven ""Kelly"" Grayson Page; Review: Loved this memoir about life as an EMT. Gritty, heartwarming, and real. If you're in the medical field, you can totally relate to this book. Would absolutely love to see Grayson write more about his experiences.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Zak Page; Review: Teas (infusions or tisanes) have more healing properties than we've been lead to believe. This book is an excellent beginner's guide to the use of herbal teas to improve health. It includes a brief history of the herb, it's indications, contraindications and beneficial constituents. This is not a substitute for medical advice, though. Also, I do not recommend taking any tea on a constant basis or mixing teas if you are not an experienced herbalist; teas are meant more for acutely adjusting your health concerns than long-term use. If you do decide to try herbal teas, you should also tell your doctor in case it interferes with your meds.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aliens eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's William McFee Page; Review: To be clear, this is not the novelization of the popular movie, nor is it about extra-terrestrials. This dreadful prose seems to be all about the main characters observing and remaining politely apart from immigrants while in the midst of very dull dialogue. This is one of those books that makes me glad I gave up fiction. If you read other reviews, it will be clear which of the authors actually took time to read through even a little bit of the book. Immediately removed from my Kindle; it's not worth the electrons it uses up on my device.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Prosperity Secret of the Ages; Author: Visit Amazon's Catherine Ponder Page; Review: Unity minister Catherine Ponder couples the power of affirmations with Biblical references in the Old Testament to show readers how God intends to prosper each of us. Her refreshing interpretation of the Old Testament stories weaves a powerful narrative on how to achieve lasting success with the power of faith. I purchase several copies a year of this out-of-print book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Abundance Book; Author: Visit Amazon's John Randolph Price Page; Review: One of the best books to train your brain to accept prosperity in your life, the Abundance Book by John Randolph Price provides a 40-day step-by-step guide to inviting new blessings into your life. If you are prepared to follow the journaling and meditation program outlined in this little gem, you will reap the rewards. Have I won the lotto? No. But each time I do the program, I find myself a little bit luckier in raffles, acquiring the things I need a little easier, and in general attracting good things all around. Some people quoted in the book have big results. I have small, consistent results, enough to repeat this program over and over to refine my vibration and thoughts of prosperity.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety; Author: Simon Y Mills; Review: This book is the closest I've seen to a Bible for herb/drug interactions. The level of research and ease of use is unparalleled in any book I've read about herbs up to this point. While other lay guides to herbs talk about general contraindications, the specificity of interaction data and/or use in pregnancy could save lives. All professional herbalists and TCM practitioners need to have this in their library. As for the public, there is a general consensus that natural means safe. This book provides data that proves we can never be too careful about herb and supplement use. For instance, even with all my years of schooling, I had not read anything about pau d'arco not being safe for pregnancy/conception. In fact, according to the research and the monograph in this book, it is a Category D, or substantial risk to a fetus. (There's only one more level to go, after that, and that's X). That's pretty important information. If you take herbal supplements on a regular basis, don't rely solely on Internet research to determine safety. This book is well worth every penny you spend on it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Magickal Angels: Instant Contact With the Angels of Power; Author: Visit Amazon's Damon Brand Page; Review: I've been a student of magick for about 20 years, and this is one of the best books I've worked with. Get great results. He dispels a lot of "new age" nonsense about tithing and not working for your own good. The new age field has its own brand of brainwashing about just letting the universe manifest things for you and working always in the best highest good so you don't create bad karma by infringing on other people's free will. Quite frankly, if that's all it took to have a great life I'd be rich and not have any life problems. Walking through life on eggshells so you don't create karma is load of crap. As long as you aren't going out of your way to be malicious or careless you have every right to use the tools that will make your life better. And that includes magick. My suggestions would be 1) I got a little too enthusiastic about "sharing the results of your magick" and found I was manifesting really awesome things for my friends and relatives but only getting subtle results for myself. For instance, working with Ariel and hidden treasure, I manifested more small wins on lotto tickets, good finds at thrift stores and whatnot, and my sister ended up with a $7,000 per night penthouse suite when she went to Vegas. So yeah, the magic works. Don't forget to make it work for you, though. 2) Make the sigils yourself. That's the one aspect of the system that I don't feel connected to, but the second book gives you extra tips on how to activate them better either way. 3) Try to do the workings at the same time every day. I haven't done that because of my schedule, and I feel the magick is sluggish for me because of that. (My own personal observation, however.) I worked with a lot of the angels in this book before writing this review, and I think I'll be working with this system for a long time. The possibilities are pretty limitless, especially with the recent publication of the companion book The Greater Magickal Angels. UPDATE: So I finally manifested something big for me - a used high-end car and totally financed under my own name without a cosigner. I have 150k in student loan debt, and I literally can't finance a comforter at Macy's, but now I have a late-model snazzy new ride that fits my kids and their stuff without squishing them like sardines. And my business has been good. In the interest of fairness, however, I will say there is only one area where these rituals have failed me so far, and that is in the legal area. It was the first ritual I worked on when I started this system, and I occasionally added others to help the situation along over the past few months. Long story short, we are screwed, and no one understands why, since my fianc was not at fault. In every other working, however, I have seen subtle, steady improvements...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mutant Message Down Under; Author: Visit Amazon's Marlo Morgan Page; Review: I am appalled that this book actually got 55 percent of people to give it high ratings. Not only is it abundantly clear that this is a work of fiction and isn't even inspirational fiction, it doesn't even make an attempt for authenticity anywhere. I destroyed my copy of this book because it was a shame trees died for this. This book is a slap in the face to the Aboriginal people.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Moloka'i: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Brennert Page; Review: I loved learning the history of Molokai & all about the leper colony from a story of a girl that grew up there!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Drowning Guard: A Novel of the Ottoman Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Lafferty Page; Review: This is an excellent book of historical times in the Ottoman Empire. It is suspenseful, exciting, well written & even has romance in it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nero Decree; Author: Visit Amazon's Gregory Lee Page; Review: The story line is ok , but it seems to drag on & you wonder if main character will ever get through it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Following Atticus - Forty-Eight Peaks, One Little Dog and an Extraordinary Friendship; Author: Partners/West Book Distribution; Review: Very enjoyable book! It had comedy, love, & relationship between man & his dog. Loved it! Very descriptive of scenery!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: On Gold Mountain; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa See Page; Review: Very good book. Saga of the See family coming to America from China, all parts of the family & trials they go thru in new world! It is stuffed with detail & it gets a bit hard to stay with it in parts, but do as it is worth it. Lisa See, the author is really writing a memoir of her ancesters up to the present day.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love and Glory; Author: Visit Amazon's Jeane Westin Page; Review: Great book. ! Story of 4 Wacs that go seperate ways during WW II & how they deal with their lives during a difficult time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amber Beach (Donovan, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Lowell Page; Review: Very exciting, suspenseful, drama about the theft of amber from Russia, & how it affects an American family. It also has a romantic development. It is hard to put down, once you get immersed in.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic (P.S.); Author: Visit Amazon's Hazel Gaynor Page; Review: Excellent story of one of the Titanic survivors as told to her granddaughter. The author does an excellent job of how she relates that fateful night & what happens to the characters involved.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth Street; Author: Visit Amazon's Laurie Fabiano Page; Review: Historical saga of a strong woman & her family that immigrate to New York City from Sicily. Their lives are harassed by the Italian mob, and many events are both exciting & dangerous. The continuation of the family into latter part of 20th. century, is something I could associate with & enjoyed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Eternal Wonder: A Novel (Deckle Edge); Author: Visit Amazon's Pearl S. Buck Page; Review: We'll written book about the life of a special person !the book ended kind of abruptly but was interesting & entertaining !; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Corpse Reader; Author: Visit Amazon's Antonio Garrido Page; Review: The time period is the 1200's and story takes place in China . It is a grueling story of hardships endured and joys by the main character. It is a developing saga of the corpse readers life & his family. A real page turner, very interesting !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Midnight Train to Paris (A Paris Time Travel Romance); Author: Visit Amazon's Juliette Sobanet Page; Review: Good mystery that takes you back & forth from the past to the future. It is a very intense adventure & mystery that keeps you hanging on !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Greenhouse; Author: Audur Ava Olafsdottir; Review: Was kind of a strange story, starting off, but as the book goes on, it grabs you & you get into it. Is a very emotional story about people that cannot express love, and lose it, because of that ! It also never tells you where it takes place, so I just guessed by some clues that were given !; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pact: A Love Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Jodi Picoult Page; Review: This is a very exciting riveting story of a young couple in a relationship, that had known each other since childhood! The young lady decides she wants to die, & her lover does everything he can to talk her out of it ! She is successful at suicide & her lover, Chris ends up in court on first degree murder charges. This is a very emotional story regarding his defense & helping him put closure to whole thing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winter Journey; Author: Visit Amazon's Diane Armstrong Page; Review: Riveting page turning book which takes place in Poland after World War II. The main character is a forensic dentist from Australia who had been born in Poland & ran with her mother to Australia as a small child. The journey that she takes in trying to find her heritage, while unmassing a mass grave where many polish jews were buried, is an exciting story. I would rate this book, excellent.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trail of Broken Wings; Author: Visit Amazon's Sejal Badani Page; Review: Excellent story of a complex family relationship; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Tazzina Di Gelato; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: The gelato is delicious and the service was excellent. They even have a patio for dogs! We'll bring our Boxer, Augie, next time. The individual flavors very realistic, especially the limoncello. You'll love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calle Tepa; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: This is the first time I have been here; The grilled Mahi enchilada with creamy chipotle sauce were delicious. The rice and pinto beans were tasty as well! I will definitely be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Molinito Restaurant; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: Don't get the fish tacos! Tasteless, dry! Overlooked! Definitely the wrong choice! I've had the chicken many times before hoping for better but it's always dry and tasteless! The only thing I recommend is to go refried beans by the quart and flour tortillas, which are really good. Perhaps the green corn tamales!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shish Kebab House of Tucson; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: The giro with fresh salad was delicious. The salad was the best I've had with big chunks of tomato. I'm coming back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guadalajara Grill - Fiesta, Best Mexican Restaurant in Tucson; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: The Chimis Chile Verde were really tasty. Seevice was great and now we're having Flan, my favorite! Delicious!. John DeWitt; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Lobster; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: Fabulous. Unbelievably delicious! The Lobster-shrimp Overboard was sooo good. The tomatoes were amazingly tasty. We loved it. Lobster and shrimp, how can you beat that!!!!! Delicious!!!! Roxanne, our server, was attentive and very helpful. We had the Vanilla Bean cheesecake. Our tastebuds are still savoring it. Again, thanks to Roxane!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BZ's Pizza and Italian Kitchen; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: BZs makes a good pizza, service is horrible. I ordered it at 6:00 and they said it would be ready at 6:45. It wasn't ready until 7:15. There were two people at the bar/service and full of customers. I'm not sure if it's worth it!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A1 Garage Door Service; City: Tucson, AZ; Review: They did an exceptional job pitting in a new garage door. There were problems with delivery of the door. It was in the middle of the Covid Pandemic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 19 Mysterious Old Home Features That Aren't Useful Anymore; Abstract: Many old homes have perplexing features that baffle their modern-day owners. Here we've solved 19 of those mysteries!!; Category: lifestyle
Title: Trump's 'bombshell' offer to family of British teen killed in car crash: Diplomat's wife is in next room; Abstract: "The bombshell was dropped not soon after we walked in the room: Anne Sacoolas was in the building and was willing to meet with us," Dunn's mother said.; Category: news
Title: Award-winning TV shows that ended in controversy; Abstract: Stacker curated this slideshow of 15 award-winning television shows with season finales that were met with controversy. All programs must have won at least an Emmy or Golden Globe in at least one category.; Category: tv
Title: Felicity Huffman Is Scheduled to Be Released from Prison on October 27 After Serving 13 Days; Abstract: Felicity Huffman's Release from Prison Set for Oct. 27; Category: news
Title: Photo of emotional nurse after 'particularly hard day' goes viral; Abstract: Her sister revealed that she had just wrapped up four days worth of work that included assisting in the delivery of a stillborn baby.; Category: health
Title: Jennifer Aniston's 'Friends'-filled first Instagram post crashes her feed, plus more news; Abstract: Jennifer Aniston's "Friends"-filled foray into Instagram goes kerpluie, plus more celebrity news for Oct. 15, 2019.; Category: entertainment
Title: The 100 Best Snacks You're Not Making; Abstract: This extensive collection of snacks ranges from savory to sweet to everything in between.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: The Best Celebrity Halloween Costumes Ever; Abstract: Some celebrities bring their A-game year after year.; Category: entertainment
Title: 20 Made-For-TV Movies Featuring Surprising A-List Stars; Abstract: These are all the soapy, hilarious, and occasionally excellent made-for-TV movies that famous actors starred in before they made it big.; Category: tv
Title: Trump, in Texas, bashes Democrats as 'crazy,' unpatriotic; Abstract: DALLAS (AP) President Donald Trump tried to turn impeachment rancor into a political rallying cry Thursday, using a Texas rally to bash Democrats as "crazy" and unpatriotic as they push forward with their investigations.; Category: news
Title: Two Stars, One Look! The Best Fashion Faceoffs; Abstract: Fashion Faceoff: See Two Stars Rock One Look; Category: entertainment
Title: A former royal protection officer told us how Prince William and Kate Middleton's bodyguards will warn them of potential threats in Pakistan; Abstract: The couple's visit to Pakistan will be their "most complex tour" to date, Kensington Palace said in a statement.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Halloween movies you can watch on Netflix now; Abstract: Spend your October weekends curled up with a good scare.; Category: movies
Title: Stars who've debuted shocking hair colors or styles; Abstract: See some of Hollywood's wildest and weirdest hair transformations.; Category: entertainment
Title: Prince Harry Reassures Meghan Markle About Her Post-Baby Body 5 Months After Giving Birth; Abstract: The Duke of Sussex gave his wife some encouragement at this week's WellChild Awards.; Category: lifestyle
Title: An architect who built his dream tiny home in Colorado shares photos; Abstract: Creating a customized tiny house is a big task. From sketches to real-life infrastructure, here's how an architect builds and designs tiny houses.; Category: finance
Title: Warren warns Facebook may help reelect Trump 'and profit off of it'; Abstract: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday over a speech he made that day at Georgetown University, alleging that the social media founder's comments show "how unprepared Facebook is to handle the 2020 election."; Category: news
Title: Woman Spots Deadly Animal Hiding In Photo Of Her Kids; Abstract: Her unsuspecting children weren't the only ones posing for the pictures.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Must-See Fashion Police Moments to Check Out This Week; Abstract: ; Category: entertainment
Title: Two Stars, One Look! The Best Fashion Faceoffs; Abstract: Fashion Faceoff: See Two Stars Rock One Look; Category: entertainment
Title: Local News Anchor Discovers She Has Rare Form of Cancer Caused by Pregnancy: 'It's Very Complicated'; Abstract: A Las Vegas TV news anchor is candidly revealing to the world how she went from being an expectant mother to a cancer patient.; Category: health
Title: The Reason You Should Think Twice Before Charging Your Phone in Bed; Abstract: We know that cellphones at bedtime will disrupt your sleep, but this time it has nothing to do with sleep quality.; Category: health
Title: 25 Stars You Didn't Know Got Their Start in Commercials; Abstract: Most stars have to pay their dues before hitting the big leagues. Find out which A-listers got their start in ads for Burger King, Lisa Frank, and more!; Category: tv
Title: Justin Bieber Shares New Photo of Wife Hailey Baldwin from Wedding Weekend: 'Sexy Wifey Alert'; Abstract: Justin Bieber Shares Rehearsal Dinner Photo of Hailey; Category: music
Title: Kate Middleton Wore a Chic Print Dress for a Private Appearance at Kensington Palace; Abstract: The Duchess of Cambridge even met Camila Cabello at the event.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Japan's ancient and mysterious royal regalia; Abstract: Tuesday's enthronement ceremony will feature a sword and jewel so sacred that they've never been seen in public.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Reduce Stomach Bloating: 9 Daily Habits That Flatten Your Belly; Abstract: Kale and caffeine are just two of the surprising culprits behind why you're feeling fuller than a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade float.; Category: health
Title: This Is 1 Symptom You Should Never Ignore After Sex, According to an Ob-Gyn; Abstract: Sex should leave you feeling euphoric, but if your stomach has ever felt unsettled afterward, it's important that you get to the bottom of it.; Category: health
Title: 'Go back to work': Outcry over deaths on Amazon's warehouse floor; Abstract: Billy Foister died last month after a heart attack at work. The incident was just one in a series of recent accidents and fatalities; Category: finance
Title: Body of missing Alabama girl found; 2 being charged; Abstract: Investigators searching through garbage found the body of a 3-year-old girl who was missing more than a week, and authorities are charging two people with murder, police said Tuesday.; Category: news
Title: Indicted Giuliani Associate Ties Case to Trump; Abstract: One of the two indicted associates of President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, on Wednesday tied the case to the president himself, saying that some of the evidence gathered in the campaign-finance investigation could be subject to executive privilege. The unusual argument was raised by a defense lawyer in federal court in Manhattan as the two associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they...; Category: news
Title: No, Hailey Bieber Didn't Throw Shade at Selena Gomez's New Song; Abstract: The model responded to fans claims that her Instagram story was a reaction to the recent release.; Category: music
Title: Kelly Ripa Jokes Son Michael Is Experiencing 'Extreme Poverty' in Brooklyn; Abstract: Kelly Ripa Jokes Son Michael Is Experiencing 'Extreme Poverty' in Brooklyn; Category: tv
Title: The 30 Most Iconic Celebrity Halloween Costumes of All Time; Abstract: From Heidi Klum's Princess Fiona to Christian Siriano's Cruella de Vil, these are the best celebrity Halloween costumes of all time.; Category: entertainment
Title: Ever wake up to a numb, dead arm? Here's what's happening.; Abstract: Beyond pins and needles why falling asleep on an arm can make it feel "dead."; Category: health
Title: 5 Changes I Made in My Life to Lose Face Fat and Get Healthy; Abstract: These are the five things I did to lose face fat, and feel more confident and healthier than ever.; Category: health
Title: Why You Should Always Close the Door Before You Go to Bed; Abstract: It could save your life in the event of a house fire.; Category: health
Title: First lady speaks on opioids in only solo trip to Congress; Abstract: Melania Trump is marking the one-year anniversary of a federal law that that increases access to treatment for people addicted to opioids.; Category: news
Title: Bed, Bath and Beyond Pulls 'Blackface Pumpkins From the Shelves; Abstract: The pumpkins were removed from stores after an upstate New York community filed complaints.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Designer says these $20 million shoes are the world's most expensive; Abstract: Antonio Vietri debuted The Moon Star Shoes earlier this month in Dubai Marina as part of MIDE (Made in Italy, Designed in Emirates) Fashion Week.; Category: finance
Title: Caterpillar just flashed the latest warning sign for the global economy; Abstract: The construction equipment titan a bellwether for global industry posted a 6% drop in sales and an 8% drop in profit per share.; Category: finance
Title: CNN Poll: Biden's lead in Democratic primary hits widest margin since April; Abstract: Former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the race for the Democratic nomination for president has rebounded, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS.; Category: news
Title: Betsy DeVos blasts 'Tinseltown' for ignoring a movie she likes and calls her critics 'bullies'; Abstract: DeVos's speech came at a celebration of the only federally funded voucher program in the country, the one in Washington.; Category: news
Title: Kate Beckinsale is a knockout in corset dress adorned with white feathers at 'Farming' premiere; Abstract: Kate Beckinsale isn't too chicken to wear head-to-toe feathers.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Serena Williams Just Wore the Coolest Sneakers with This Affordable Bridesmaid Dress; Abstract: Serena Williams's bridesmaid dress is from Azazie. Find out all of the details here. Plus, see pictures of the champion athlete's daughter in her adorable flower girl outfit.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 25 candid photos of icons who shaped pop culture; Abstract: Photographer Oscar Abolafia captured images of Elvis, Madonna, Robert Redford, Lucille Ball, and many more.; Category: entertainment
Title: TV shows we're most excited about for the rest of the year; Abstract: From HBO originals like "His Dark Materials" to the new season of Netflix's "The Crown," here are some of the shows we can't wait to watch.; Category: tv
Title: These fall recipes will brighten up the darker days; Abstract: As the days get cooler and sadly, a little shorter, it's time to start thinking comfort food nourishing meals which make the most of the new season but don't take hours to prepare and cook. We're thinking grilled cheese sandwiches, spicy noodles and stir-fries, succulent steaks and hearty pasta sauces. With 30 of our favourites to choose from, there's a dish for everyone.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: I tried to eat like Kate Middleton for a week, but I couldn't get through it without cheating; Abstract: Following Kate Middleton's diet helped me feel energized throughout the week, but there were some meals I could only stomach once.; Category: health
Title: Celebrity kids then and now: See how they've grown; Abstract: See what the children of Bobby Cannavale, Ray Liotta, Jude Law, Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, James Gandolfini and more stars look like now.; Category: entertainment
Title: If You're a Fan of French Fries, You'll Love This Healthy Italian Alternative Made From Chickpeas; Abstract: An old-school Sicilian street food called panelle like standard potato fries but made from chickpeas can be an elegant fry alternative. Panelle differ in that they're healthier, have an airy-crisp bite free of meaty density, and pack a more delicate, nuanced flavor that channels the spirit of the fresh legume.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 1-ton boulder known as 'Wizard Rock' that disappeared from forest 'magically' returns; Abstract: Wizard Rock, a famed 1-ton boulder in one of Arizona's national forests, has "magically" returned after visitors reported it missing last month.; Category: news
Title: 1 dead, 10 sickened after multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef; Abstract: A multistate salmonella outbreak caused one death and sickened 10 people in August and September. The outbreak is linked to ground beef.; Category: news
Title: Severe weather shifts boat stuck on Niagara Falls rocks for 101 years; Abstract: A barge that has been stuck atop some rocks in Niagara Falls for more than 100 years has finally shifted as a result of severe weather.; Category: news
Title: Even 'Project Runway' Couldn't Save Zac Posen; Abstract: Back in 2002, a young designer, just shy of 21 years old, was discovered by a store that was famous throughout the land for crowning the new princes of fashion.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: Here's what you need to know; Abstract: Responding to a paparazzi photo that captured her walking with her cane, Lena Dunham explained she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome -- a group of disorders affecting the joints and skin.; Category: health
Title: This Foster Kitten Smiling for a Photo Will Make Your Friday; Abstract: Blossom the cat clearly loves her new foster family. Photos of the kitten smiling for the camera have gone viral and melted hearts everywhere.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Cause determined in Jessi Combs' fatal speed record crash; Abstract: Occurred at speeds near 550 mph; Category: autos
Title: The Queen just made history by officially ditching the use of real fur for the first time in her 67-year reign; Abstract: Her Majesty has faced criticism from animal welfare groups for wearing real fur to royal engagements.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Man dies after stabbing in Maryland Popeyes; fight over chicken sandwich, sources say; Abstract: A man was fatally stabbed Monday evening while inside a Maryland Popeyes following a fight over a chicken sandwich, a source told Fox News.; Category: news
Title: 50 states, 50 places: The top natural wonder in your state; Abstract: Breathtaking settings are all around you, and each one of the 50 states is home to a natural site that will stop you dead in your tracks.; Category: travel
Title: Meghan Markle's estranged brother says 'she is only in Buckingham Palace with Harry because of her dad' after he 'paid for her education and fancy clothes'; Abstract: Earlier this year, Thomas Markle Sr. leaked a private letter Meghan sent to him to the Mail on Sunday.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Convicted ex-NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II has CTE symptoms, his attorneys say; Abstract: Attorneys for former NFL tight end Kellen Winslow II will present evidence of his cognitive impairment before his February sentencing for sex crimes.; Category: sports
Title: The 50 best films of the 2010s; Abstract: These 50 movies are the ones that helped us cope with or, at times, escape our confounding everyday lives.; Category: movies
Title: Texas inmate set to be executed for 2002 strangling death; Abstract: A white supremacist gang member on Texas' death row faces execution Wednesday evening for strangling a woman nearly 20 years ago over fears she would alert police about his drug operation. Justen Hall, 38, was condemned for the October 2002 slaying of Melanie Billhartz.; Category: news
Title: Air Force airman missing after fall into Gulf of Mexico from C-130 aircraft; Abstract: A U.S. Air Force airman went missing Tuesday after falling from a C-130 aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico, according to reports.; Category: news
Title: Before his execution, a death row inmate told his victim's family he forgives them; Abstract: Charles Rhines, who was convicted of murder in the brutal stabbing of a 22-year-old man in 1992, was executed in South Dakota Monday, the state's attorney general said, after the Supreme Court denied a last-ditch appeal of his case.; Category: news
Title: The son of a Chinese billionaire has been banned from flying first class, playing golf, buying property, or going clubbing; Abstract: Wang Sicong, the heir of Chinese real estate mogul Wang Jianlin's estimated $12.5 billion fortune, is said to have a personal debt of $21.6 million.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: White Lodge Motel; City: Pantai Cenang Langkawi Langkawi District Kedah; Review: You want accommodation in Pantai Chenang? This place is good. Close to everything you'd like (beach 5-10mins, shops (5 mins), underwater world (5mins), bars & food (5 mins)) this ticks all the boxes. Everything you need and nothing you don't, forget the frills. Bed, shower, toilet, small fridge, A/C and fan, wifi.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ipoh Boutique Hotel; City: Ipoh Kinta District Perak; Review: Stayed here for a night after exploring Ipoh and seeing the art & heritage buildings before going to the Cameron highlands. Desk staff were polite and helpful. Room presented was of good size with a comfy bed and good shower in the bathroom. The room we received had no windows so it would be worth checking upon booking as we had no idea and thought we would have a view! Stained towels but everything was clean and hygenic. Very high standard for Malaysia.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bee Garden Motel; City: Alor Setar Kota Setar District Kedah; Review: Foolishly we booked a night here online to explore Alor Setar before heading to the national park the next day. We arrived around 9pm. Upon entering the motel we thought it would be nice as per the reviews on another website and the general appearance of the minimal lobby. The receptionist girl was helpful and gave us our key along with poor directions to the room (to be fair, when she said top floor she was correct so I can't fail her on that). After roaming the corridors to find our windowless room we entered to witness the cockroaches running away under the bed and television. Eurgh. The bedding looked filthy and the towels stained. The glasses provided had some disgusting looking liquid surrounding them and the shared bathroom facilities were an awful state. Needless to say we walked out, got our deposit back then jumped in a taxi (presumably owned by the same bee group) who then rinsed us 15 for the 3 minute trip back to the bus station. The condition of this hole (yes, hole) ruined my trip as we had to cancel the park to head back to Butterworth at 10pm. Book elsewhere.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Vintage Inn; City: Singapore; Review: My partner and I stayed here for one night while doing a weekend tour of Singapore. The facilities were as advertised and it was fresh and clean. The provided breakfast is poor but who cares, if you wanted a good breakfast you'd pay for a hotel! Be sure to get the AC on as soon as possible as the unit is perhaps not strong enough for the size of room, once cool though its ok. The provided wifi was also good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nipah Bay Villa; City: Pangkor Pulau Pangkor Manjung District Perak; Review: We're just back from a 2 night stay in the Nipah bay villa two person chalet. We had room 12 and as such my review is based on this fact. The room was an acceptable size with a double bed, tv, table, wardrobe and fridge. Along with an AC unit that worked well. The attached shower room was a good size and in reasonable state. Everything was as clean as can be expected, don't mind the wee ants. You're on a tropical island it's to be expected! Staff were helpful when required. In house scooter rental is a bonus however it should be cheaper at this point in the season. Downsides: There was no kettle in the room! thats a big bad tick in my books. The pillows were awful and lumpy. The A/C's external unit is mounted outside the chalet and just above the bed, it is very noisy when trying to sleep if you need it on, which I did! They should have mounted it elsewhere. We came off season so the breakfast options were limited to their buffet which didn't suit either myself or partner. But that's a personal choice thing so no marks off as you can't expect them to be fully stocked when on minimum client numbers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sri Packers Hotel; City: Sepang Sepang District Selangor; Review: Stayed here for a night after landing late at KLIA before heading in to KL. Pre booked via Agoda and requested a shuttle pick up for 10mr(bargain). It's in Sepang near the racetrack and not much else, so I wouldn't book for more than one night unless you're planning on doing something in the area. The bed was large and clean. We were in the mixed dorm which has a seperate toilet and shower along with a seperate sink. Extra toilets and showers are down the hall. The staff were all very well mannered and super helpful. They also ran us a shuttle in to KL Chinatown the next day. Very nice experience overall.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Bridge Inn; City: Ratho Edinburgh Scotland; Review: I used to live in Ratho so was once lucky enough to claim this as my local. The food is great, as are the selection of draught drinks. It's a bit expensive for a 'country' pub, but not ridiculously so. Braw.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: YHA New Forest; City: Burley Ringwood New Forest National Park Hampshire Hampshire England; Review: Booked online in advance, a good off season rate for one night of accommodation with a shower. Group room was fine bar the strange man in his bunk playing on his phone from 6pm - 830am when I left! Of course this had nothing to do with them it's just amusing to share. I opted for dinner and breakfast, both were acceptable and pleasant for the price. The important bits: Group room 3 review, bed - nice, firm and most importantly clean. Room overall - clean. Windows - opened easily for fresh air. Sink in room for brushing teeth and drinking water. Not many plug sockets for charging phone however there were enough in the lounge. Bathrooms and showers - clean and hot. Would stay again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roof Top Guest House Melaka; City: Melaka Central Melaka District Melaka State; Review: Recently stayed here for 2 nights 3 days while visiting Melaka. Bed in mixed dorm was comfortable enough and clean. Rooftop shower was lovely and the free coffee was appreciated. Great central location near most of the tourist sights.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roof Top Guest House Melaka; City: Melaka Central Melaka District Melaka State; Review: I had a great stay here in early 2017. Good position within Melaka to see the sights by foot. Lovely rooftop shower and the room I had (mixed shared) was clean and comfortable with good sized lockers and ample power sockets.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Postal Exam Book for Test 473 and 473-C; Author: Albert B. Kim; Review: Grandson is studying books, he is pleased with them. THANK YOU; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Fortune to Die For (White Oak Book 1) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Liza O'Connor Page; Review: Good story, really liked the fact there were no pages and pages of sex. I read many with too much sex (which I skip over) or if the story is bad I do not read it at all. Thanks I did enjoy the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Collateral Attraction (Fire and Ice) (Volume 1); Author: Liz Madrid; Review: Good read kept my interest, some sex not overly done...I skipped over some of it. Read was entertaining kept me interested.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unwanted Wife; Author: Visit Amazon's Natasha Anders Page; Review: The book was good story with romantic scenes, not sexy and over done. Enjoyable romantic happy ending. Happy reading everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Trump Prophecies: The Astonishing True Story of the Man Who Saw; Author: Mark Taylor; Review: Interesting. Keep your bible handy for cross referencing, tells you where to look.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Big Buddha Women's Wayne; Brand: Big Buddha; Review: These boots are very comfortable and are true to size. Lots of compliments on them. I would recommend these. Thank you Amazon.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nine West Women's Pattycake; Brand: ; Review: Yes, I would recommend these boots. beautiful and very stylish. very comfortable. I get compliments where ever I go. great color and love the sliver tips.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adrian amazing sheer patterned tights Artemis 20 Denier.; Brand: Adrian; Review: just wish they were a little longer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hanes Lounge Pajama Sleepwear Mens ComfortBlend Cotton Knit Pant; Brand: ; Review: perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PattyBoutik Women's Poppers V Neck Asym Hem Top; Brand: ; Review: really cute top...love it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sock It To Me Relatively Cool Einstein Mens Crew Socks, Black, 7-13; Brand: Sock It To Me; Review: these make a big hit; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PattyBoutik Women's Color Block Crewneck Keyhole shirt; Brand: ; Review: very cute top, love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hot Sox Men's Novelty Classic Man Crew Socks; Brand: Hot Sox; Review: great socks for the guitar player in your life; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: K. Bell Socks Men's Friendly Words; Brand: ; Review: My husband played guitar in his band...perfect socks. I have given these to some guitar playing friends. everyone loves them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alexander Del Rossa Womens Solid Color Satin Pajamas, Long Button-Down Pj Set and Mask; Brand: ; Review: doesn't look like picture, disappointed; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Plum Feathers Rich Solid Colors Cashmere Feel Winter Scarf; Brand: Plum Feathers; Review: Love this scarf, not too heavy, just right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PattyBoutik Women's 2 in 1 Style V Neck Sweater; Brand: ; Review: very flattering, love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EVBEA Skull Necklace for Women Long Gothic Jewelry Cool Cross Rock Necklaces; Brand: ; Review: Just ok, wouldn't recommend it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: LovelyJewelry Braided Leather Wrap Bracelet Sideways Infinity Skull Music Note Girls Wristband Bracelets; Brand: LovelyJewelry; Review: Hard to put on and take off; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: Maui Jim; Review: Nice glasses, very light, ....love Maui Jim they are the best; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mens Maui Jim Lighthouse Polarized Sunglasses (Rootbeer Frame/Hcl Bronze Lens); Brand: Maui Jim; Review: Love, love Maui Jim; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: 17 photos that show the ugly truth of living in a tiny house; Abstract: From cramped lofts that are hard to access to small appliances, this is what it's really like to live in a tiny house.; Category: lifestyle
Title: What 25 dogs were bred for; Abstract: Stacker looks at 25 dogs and what they were bred for. Some breeds are thousands of years old, while others were just recently recognized by the American Kennel Club.; Category: lifestyle
Title: The ice used to protect them. Now their island is crumbling into the sea.; Abstract: Shrinking ice, rising sea levels and fierce storms are damaging the Magdalen Islands. Residents are trying to fend off the water in some places, and retreat from it in others.; Category: weather
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Man's trip to a cheese shop helps unravel missing persons case; Abstract: Kris Zocco's whereabouts the morning Kelly Dwyer was reported missing would be the first in a series of clues as to what may have happened to the 27-year-old woman; Category: news
Title: The 50 Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time; Abstract: Not every successful artist stays successful. Here are the best one-hit wonders from the 1950s all the way through the 2000s.; Category: music
Title: Mayfield's postgame outfit gets all the memes; Abstract: Social media had a field day with Baker Mayfield's postgame attire.; Category: sports
Title: Chevrolet Somehow Makes One (1) Electric Pickup Truck; Abstract: Chevy, a company that does not sell an all-electric mass-produced pickup truck despite being literally the best-prepared company on earth to do so, finally made one. Literally just one.; Category: autos
Title: Woman accused of embezzling from Camp Fire victim surrenders; Abstract: Investigators say the 29-year-old Oklahoma woman embezzled $63,100 in insurance money from a 75-year-old victim of California's deadliest fire ever.; Category: news
Title: Police Surprise Woman Who Anonymously Baked Pizzelle Cookies for Years in Heartwarming Video; Abstract: Once the Medford Police learned the identity of the mystery woman who baked for them, AKA the "Pizzelle Lady," they surprised her in this sweet viral video.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Dad Goes Viral By Performing His Daughter's Exact Cheer Routine From the Stands; Abstract: Even cheerleaders need fans, and one dad from Yorkville, Virginia, took his support for his daughter to the next level. Rolland "Hekili" Holland, aka "Cheer Dad," high-kicked his way into internet stardom after enthusiastically performing his daughter Mackenzi's cheerleading routine from the stands last Friday during a high school football game. Another parent, Scott Willard,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Antonio Brown is exposing Roger Goodell's unchecked power to shut players out of the NFL; Abstract: ; Category: sports
Title: Dog Throws A Total Tantrum When She Realizes Mom Wants To Take The Stairs; Abstract: Aurora Angel Beste Nala has always been the friendliest dog, and loves going out on adventures and meeting new people.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Jennifer Hudson Transforms Into Aretha Franklin for Upcoming Biopic Respect; Abstract: Jennifer Hudson Transforms into Aretha Franklin for Biopic; Category: movies
Title: Oops! Olivia Munn Didn't Mean to Debut Relationship With Tucker Roberts; Abstract: Oops! Olivia Munn Didn't Mean to Debut Relationship With Tucker Roberts; Category: movies
Title: Chrissy Teigen Apologizes for Her 'Tone Deaf' Joke About Her Mom; Abstract: "I'm sorry and I will do better to not be such an a------."; Category: tv
Title: Buggy bills: Horse-drawn carriages need lights, Michigan lawmakers say; Abstract: A set of companion bills introduced in the Michigan House and Senate would require horse-drawn buggies to display lights while operating on the roads at night. Both bills were put forward by Republican lawmakers on Thursday, Nov. 7. They propose that horse-drawn buggies would need two lights on the front, two lights on the back and two amber warning lights. The lights would need to be illuminated at night or during times of low visibility and...; Category: news
Title: The 50 cheapest places to buy land in America; Abstract: Find out where you can get parcels of land for $10,000 or less.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Columbia River Knife and Tool 5510K K.I.S.S. in the Dark 2.25-Inch Serrated Blade Knife, Black; Brand: Columbia River Knife & Tool; Review: Good build quality. Unique design. This was my EDC for a year while I lived and worked in Chicago. Its a very sturdy and strong knife, though if I were to do it again, I would get the one without serrations. Any instance I imagine you would need the serrations, this knife wouldn't cut it. And even if you wanted them "just in case" they end up taking away from the total blade length of the entire knife. I still have this knife and it probably needs sharpening but I continue to get compliments on how unique it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Mountain Products Single Resistance Band - Door Anchor and Starter Guide Included; Brand: Black Mountain; Review: I worked out once back in '08. I picked up some 40 lb weights and was like - "too easy". So then I grabbed some resistance bands and almost broke them. Now I've been recommended Black Mountain products because they are very durable. I've had a set of the 25 lb red resistance bands for 3 months now and they look as good as when I first got them after an hour of use every day except Sunday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Plano ProLatch StowAway Utility Boxes; Brand: Plano; Review: I have hit this thing with a dead weight hammer and it stayed locked and none of the pieces scattered out of place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunny Health & Fitness Door Way Chin Up; Brand: Sunny Health & Fitness; Review: I installed this in my bedroom bathroom's door frame. I've committed to using it whenever I pass through it. Lucky for me, I have 2 bathrooms in my apartment. Loophole! Anyway, I prefered this one over the iron gym type because I wanted to leave it up on a more permanent basis and still be able to close the door. I'm a rock climber and this this stays in place no matter what crazy things I do while on it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gerber 31-000346 Mini-Remix, Fine Edge; Brand: Gerber; Review: I love this design. It gets many compliments. The ring in the middle is distinctive and a fun 'handling' element. This is my new everyday carry replacing a CRKT knife I bought less than a year ago.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Special Sales: Yes4All Premium 1/2-Inch Extra Thick w/ 68" / 72" x 24-Inch High Density Durable Close-foam Tech. Exercise Yoga Mat w/ Carry Strap - Best Quality In Class; Brand: ; Review: A really simple mat. I can see that if you are rough with it, it would fray and deform. As a casual or beginner yoga mat, it is a great starting point. It is also great for general use. I sometimes keep it unrolled in front of the closet to provide comfort when getting dressed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Trump frustrated as White House effort to defy impeachment inquiry fails to halt witness testimony, advisers say; Abstract: The president is angry that his efforts to stop people from cooperating with the probe have so far collapsed in the face of congressional subpoenas, according to multiple aides and advisers.; Category: news
Title: Judge: Brad Pitt, others can be sued over New Orleans homes; Abstract: The Times-Picayune/ The New Orleans Advocate reports Pitt and other foundation directors asked the court to remove them from the lawsuit, saying they weren't personally responsible for the construction.; Category: movies
Title: Trump is claiming he can't be impeached based on an inaccurate map; Abstract: Trump claims an incorrect 2016 election map shows an impeachment inquiry is futile. It does not.; Category: news
Title: Ex-CIA Director Critiques Trump for Claiming Baghdadi Was 'Bigger' Than Bin Laden: 'There Wasn't a Competition'; Abstract: Former acting CIA Director Michael Morell said President Donald Trump's assertion that Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death was "bigger" than the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was not how the situation should be viewed.; Category: news
Title: The Democratic establishment is right to panic; Abstract: With Sanders and Warren ascendant, the donor class feels its power in the party slipping.; Category: news
Title: Impressive Trump ad shows how he will fight impeachment and other attacks; Abstract: Trump's new ad shows the path for his reelection.; Category: news
Title: Fact Check: Trump's Syrian mission-accomplished moment; Abstract: A look at the president's rhetoric on that topic and other subjects over the past week, as well as a sampling of statements from the latest Democratic presidential debate.; Category: news
Title: New national poll shows top Democratic candidates holding edge over President Trump; Abstract: Trump trails Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris by widening margin in head-to-head national matchup; analysis from Fox News politics editor Chris Stirewalt.; Category: video
Title: The big news next year: Trump loses election or maybe not; Abstract: On the surface, Trump's political future looks grim... but he has a significant important intangible.; Category: news
Title: Lindsey Graham isn't listening to 'quid pro quo'; Abstract: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) gets read the riot act for saying what he's NOT going to read. CNN's Jeanne Moos reports.; Category: video
Title: Trump on impeachment hearing: 'I hear it's a joke'; Abstract: President Trump again said he hasn't watched any of Wednesday's hearing not even for "one minute" and denounced the ongoing probe as a "witch hunt" and a "sham.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Van Helsing; Brand: Hugh Jackman; Review: very good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UFC: Ultimate Fighter Season 18; Brand: Anthony Gutierrez; Review: very good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: UFC: 1; Brand: Ronda Rousey; Review: very good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Candle; Brand: John Hannah; Review: ABSOLUTELY PERFECT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Regression; Brand: Ethan Hawke; Review: Emma"s performance is nothing short of perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silent Witness: Season 17; Brand: Various; Review: not use to british tv, but it was a good show.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Originals, The: S2 (DVD); Brand: Joseph Morgan; Review: excellent; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Calphalon Classic Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10-Piece; Brand: Calphalon; Review: Good quality !now I can understand why people buy this ! I burn somefood and then got big stain on the pan but it was removed very easily which is never happened on the other pans...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Adjustable Bib Apron with Pockets - Extra Long Ties, Commercial Grade, Unisex - Black/White Pinstripe (33 x 27 Inches); Brand: HOMWE; Review: Looked like water proof!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cheese Board Set - Set Includes 3 Piece Cheese Knife Set & 4 Small Cheese Serving Forks; Brand: Decodyne; Review: Good quality and pretty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prepworks by Progressive Herb Keeper; Brand: Progressive; Review: Idea of this item is good but the quality is not really good... just reasonably price :); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Container, Small and Large, Green, 2-Piece Set 1951433; Brand: Rubbermaid; Review: Goof quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KANGAROO BRANDS Original 3/4" Anti Fatigue Comfort Standing Mat Kitchen Rug, Phthalate Free, Non-Toxic, Waterproof, Ergonomically Engineered Floor; Brand: Kangaroo Brands; Review: Good quality !! And big and long enough !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Oster Cordless Electric Wine Bottle Opener with Foil Cutter, FFP; Brand: Oster; Review: Comfortable and works well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ritz Kitchen Wears 100% Cotton Checked & Solid Hanging Tie Towels, 2 Pack, Biscotti, 2 Piece; Brand: Ritz; Review: Good quality ! Will purchase again very soon; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tosnail 10-Pack Wooden Pant Hanger, Wooden Suit Hangers with Steel Clips and Hooks, Natural Wood Collection Skirt; Brand: Tosnail; Review: Peared off ... not a good condition; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gorilla Grip Original Patented Bath, Shower, Tub Mat (35x16) Machine Washable, Antibacterial, BPA, Latex, Phthalate; Brand: Gorilla Grip; Review: Very good quality; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Havaianas Women's Slim Sandal; Brand: ; Review: I don't know if my feet are just really thin, but the straps were way too wide on top. When I walked, there was so much room, they made extremely loud flopping sounds and they felt so heavy. I don't necessarily want a tight strap fit on the top of my feet, but I certainly don't want an inch and a half of extra room. I would not recommend.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Top Moda Women's Strappy Open Toe Platform Wedge; Brand: Top Moda; Review: Cute shoes but they rubbed against my toes and gave me a blister after awhile. Comfortable platform style though and the fabric was nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SCARF_TRADINGINC Floral Light Weight X-large Infinity Scarf; Brand: Scarf_tradinginc; Review: Very cute scarf! Nice soft material and colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SCARF_TRADINGINC Floral Light Weight X-large Infinity Scarf; Brand: Scarf_tradinginc; Review: Very cute scarf! Nice soft material and colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tapp Collections™ Premium Soft Multicolor Sheer Infinity Scarf; Brand: Tapp Collections; Review: Super cute scarf and made of decent material!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ayliss 10Pairs Flower Pasties Breast Nipple Cover Stick on Bra Disposable; Brand: Ayliss; Review: Good product! Not as good as the silicone covers, but decent in a pinch.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tidetell Pasties Nipple Covers- Reusable Adhesive Silicone Nipple Breast Cover; Brand: Tidetell; Review: Ridiculous how great these are. I have never bought anytihng like this, but they allow small chested girls to wear backless clothing etc without a normal bra. They are very sticky and stayed on for numerous hours. I have used them about 7 times and they seem to be almost as sticky as the first use.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cleanrance! WILLTOO 2015 Women Leg Warmer Knit Boot Socks Topper Cuff; Brand: WILLTOO; Review: Cute product and look great under boots! They were small in a way that fit me, but I wouldnt recommend for people with larger legs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sejora Fleece Lined Leggings High Waist Compression Slimming Warm - Many Colors; Brand: ; Review: These leggings were very soft and comfortable but they were a little bigger than what I expected.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Body Candy 316L Stainless Steel Glittering Double Drop Dangle Belly Ring; Brand: Body Candy; Review: Was pleasantly surprised! This piece of jewelry is adorable and it's been a month or so and hasn't broken. I've had some bad luck with pieces in the past, but I think this one is of good quality. It's very sparkly and shiny. It is a little heavy, but it's very worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carlos by Carlos Santana Women's Maiko Wedge Sandal; Brand: Carlos by Carlos Santana; Review: Pleasantly surprised! These shoes were a great price and were far more comfortable than I expected. The platform made the heel height comfortable and the way the straps were provided great ankle support. A bit of an interesting bronze color, but looks exactly as it is shown in the picture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: FreshTrends Clear Rose Gold-Tone Bow 316L Stainless Steel Dangle Belly Ring; Brand: FreshTrends; Review: Great product! This piece was so cute. THe rose gold eventually tarnished, but it took almost a year and for the price, I don't expect it to last forever. The crystal eventually fell off also, but again, it lasted for a year and I am hard on jewelry as I am very active and it has a tendency to possibly get caught in my shorts. I would recommend and buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rachael Ray Universal Thermal Carrier, Fits 9"X13" Baking Dishes, Insulated Casserole Carrier for Hot and Cold Transport, Green Stripe; Brand: Rachael Ray; Review: You must SLIDE a hot dish into this carrier through the SIDE. The top does not unzip. I tried to slide an empty dish into it, and that was difficult. I won't take a chance with a full hot dish. It's going back.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fox Run 4723 Non-Stick Baking Mat, Silicone, 16.5-Inch x 24.5-Inch; Brand: Fox Run; Review: Bought this for my daughter. I had one many years ago (when I baked) and loved it . She loves hers, too. Makes counter cleanup much easier, and rolling dough outis easier, too; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Bed Group Affinity Metal Headboard Panel with Straight Spindles and Detailed Castings, Blackened Taupe Finish, Full; Brand: Fashion Bed Group; Review: Very nice headboard- very pretty and simple. It is as advertised, the decorative metal is 1" thick. I wish they had made it at least 1-1/2" thick, as I think it would have added to the beauty, and it would have looked more sturdy. It is obviously decoration only.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fashion Bed Group Affinity Metal Headboard Panel with Straight Spindles and Detailed Castings, Blackened Taupe Finish, Queen; Brand: Fashion Bed Group; Review: Very nice headboard- very pretty and simple. It is as advertised, the decorative metal is 1" thick. I wish they had made it at least 1-1/2" thick, as I think it would have added to the beauty, and it would have looked more sturdy. It is obviously decoration only.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MALOUF Double Brushed Microfiber Super Soft Luxury Bed Sheet Set - Wrinkle Resistant - Cot Size - Black; Brand: MALOUF; Review: These are very soft, wash up nicely, and are wonderful. I was very pleasantly surprised at how they feel. I always steered clear of microfiber because I expected a very thin, flimsy, and stretchy sheet, but these are the absolute opposite. They are substantial, but not at all heavy, and certainly not flimsy. These sheets have converted me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LUCID Premium Hypoallergenic 100% Waterproof Pillow Protector - 15 Year Warranty - Vinyl Free - Queen; Brand: LUCID; Review: Very lightweight and soft, no sound at all with movement. I haven't tried the waterproof part yet, wish I had done so before putting it on the bed. Very economical and good quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Household Essentials 144222 Over The Door Small Ironing Board with Iron Holder | Natural Cotton Cover; Brand: Household Essentials; Review: Nice board, sturdy, great for limited space. I can't store my iron on top shelf provided, as my iron is too big, but that's a minor problem.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Titanic (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Children of the Corn (1984); Genres: Horror, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zero Effect (1998); Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Best in Show (2000); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Almost Famous (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Random Hearts (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mulan (1998); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simple Plan, A (1998); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Usual Suspects, The (1995); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Matrix, The (1999); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: She's So Lovely (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible II (2000); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Return to Me (2000); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 28 Days (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Patriot, The (2000); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Jane (1997); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (Shall We Dansu?) (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: House on Haunted Hill (1999); Genres: Horror, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Out of Sight (1998); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Limey, The (1999); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Shakespeare in Love (1998); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elizabeth (1998); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angela's Ashes (1999); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Contender, The (2000); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wonder Boys (2000); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Traffic (2000); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disclosure (1994); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (2000); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Run (2000); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Genres: Action, Comedy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: U-571 (2000); Genres: Action, Thriller, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dr. T and the Women (2000); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cell, The (2000); Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Goodfellas (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grifters, The (1990); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Avalon (1990); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wings of the Dove, The (1997); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: English Patient, The (1996); Genres: Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Jacob's Ladder (1990); Genres: Horror, Mystery; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eve's Bayou (1997); Genres: Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Education of Little Tree, The (1997); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Boot, Das (Boat, The) (1981); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whole Nine Yards, The (2000); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave (1995); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit, A (1989); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Life Is Beautiful (La Vita è bella) (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clueless (1995); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fisher King, The (1991); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hudsucker Proxy, The (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (a.k.a. Waking Ned) (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Commitments, The (1991); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bullets Over Broadway (1994); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wag the Dog (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bug's Life, A (1998); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swimming with Sharks (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Trust (1990); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Aphrodite (1995); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy, Texas (1999); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jurassic Park (1993); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dances with Wolves (1990); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: War, The (1994); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mask of Zorro, The (1998); Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Galaxy Quest (1999); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rock, The (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Six Days Seven Nights (1998); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waterworld (1995); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Fugitive, The (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thin Red Line, The (1998); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heat (1995); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cyrano de Bergerac (1990); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thelma & Louise (1991); Genres: Adventure, Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Get Shorty (1995); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (a.k.a. MIB) (1997); Genres: Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Negotiator, The (1998); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Backdraft (1991); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Desperado (1995); Genres: Action, Romance, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Buffalo '66 (a.k.a. Buffalo 66) (1998); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Thomas Crown Affair, The (1999); Genres: Action, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Heavenly Creatures (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sling Blade (1996); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sixth Sense, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Grave (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Rock West (1992); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mariachi, El (1992); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller, Western; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Genres: Action, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cape Fear (1991); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Green Mile, The (1999); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanish Prisoner, The (1997); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Death and the Maiden (1994); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Firm, The (1993); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Malice (1993); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Perfect Murder, A (1998); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pelican Brief, The (1993); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dolores Claiborne (1995); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Red Corner (1997); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Copycat (1995); Genres: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scream (1996); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: River Wild, The (1994); Genres: Action, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Alien³ (a.k.a. Alien 3) (1992); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Double Jeopardy (1999); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Royal Tenenbaums, The (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghost World (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Big Lebowski, The (1998); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Business of Fancydancing, The (2002); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rock Star (2001); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The (2006); Genres: Adventure, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 16 Blocks (2006); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Short, The (2015); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Zootopia (2016); Genres: Action, Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deadpool (2016); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Trainspotting (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chocolat (2000); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Godfather, The (1972); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Martian (2015); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Spotlight (2015); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Room (2015); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ex Machina (2015); Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sicario (2015); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Django Unchained (2012); Genres: Action, Drama, Western; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Edge of Tomorrow (2014); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Hero 6 (2014); Genres: Action, Animation, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bend It Like Beckham (2002); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Full Monty, The (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: WALL·E (2008); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Brooklyn (2015); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fury (2014); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Inception (2010); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Clockwork Orange, A (1971); Genres: Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The (2013); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Prestige, The (2006); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982); Genres: Children, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Now You See Me (2013); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Star Trek Into Darkness (2013); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The (2012); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Creed (2015); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Whiplash (2014); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 3:10 to Yuma (2007); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: True Grit (2010); Genres: Western; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010); Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Stranger than Fiction (2006); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush (2013); Genres: Action, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Imitation Game (2014); Genres: Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Amadeus (1984); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Kings (1999); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sting, The (1973); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intouchables (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Rear Window (1954); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deer Hunter, The (1978); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billy Elliot (2000); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gravity (2013); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wizard of Oz, The (1939); Genres: Adventure, Children, Fantasy, Musical; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Train Your Dragon (2010); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Fantasy, IMAX; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Easy A (2010); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shining, The (1980); Genres: Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Adjustment Bureau, The (2011); Genres: Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Breakfast Club, The (1985); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skyfall (2012); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nightcrawler (2014); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Book of Eli, The (2010); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bridge of Spies (2015); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015); Genres: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014); Genres: Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Argo (2012); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: North by Northwest (1959); Genres: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Revenant (2015); Genres: Adventure, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wreck-It Ralph (2012); Genres: Animation, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Princess Bride, The (1987); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Interstellar (2014); Genres: Sci-Fi, IMAX; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Predestination (2014); Genres: Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lawrence of Arabia (1962); Genres: Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moneyball (2011); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: About Time (2013); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Limitless (2011); Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Great Escape, The (1963); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cool Hand Luke (1967); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scent of a Woman (1992); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Help, The (2011); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chinatown (1974); Genres: Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Bourne Ultimatum, The (2007); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Dallas Buyers Club (2013); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: King's Speech, The (2010); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fighter, The (2010); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cinderella Man (2005); Genres: Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drive (2011); Genres: Crime, Drama, Film-Noir, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lincoln Lawyer, The (2011); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Last King of Scotland, The (2006); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Walk the Line (2005); Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers (1993); Genres: Animation, Children, Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mystic River (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La La Land (2016); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016); Genres: Adventure, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2004); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sing Street (2016); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Genres: Comedy, Documentary, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Blow (2001); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Accountant (2016); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Hacksaw Ridge (2016); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sully (2016); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Nice Guys (2016); Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Captain Fantastic (2016); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Artist (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit: The Best of Aardman Animation (1996); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Game, The (1997); Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crying Game, The (1992); Genres: Drama, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Crash (2004); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005); Genres: Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 21 Grams (2003); Genres: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Win Win (2011); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 42 (2013); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: The Witch (2015); Genres: Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: '71 (2014); Genres: Action, Drama, Thriller, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McFarland, USA (2015); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Safety Not Guaranteed (2012); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What We Do in the Shadows (2014); Genres: Comedy, Horror; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Amelie (Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le) (2001); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Genres: Action, Crime, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Genres: Comedy, Horror; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost in Translation (2003); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last Samurai, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, War; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Moulin Rouge (2001); Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pianist, The (2002); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: 28 Days Later (2002); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Gangs of New York (2002); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terminal, The (2004); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Panic Room (2002); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy at the Gates (2001); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016); Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Philomena (2013); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Kids Are All Right, The (2010); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Way, Way Back, The (2013); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Milk (2008); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 12 Angry Men (1957); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Others, The (2001); Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robot & Frank (2012); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kon-Tiki (2012); Genres: Adventure, Documentary, Drama; Rating: 4.5/5.0
Title: Cabin in the Woods, The (2012); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Isle of Dogs (2018); Genres: Animation, Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Huion H610 Pro Graphic Drawing Tablet with Carrying Bag and Glove; Brand: HUION; Review: Gift for my daughter. Was very happy with the size & accessories. And my daughter loves it . I have heard no complaints but since I don't use it I can not offer much more than it was a good value & a great gift for a budding artist type.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SmartGuard 13-Month Tablet Accident Protection Plan ($175-$200) Email Shipping; Brand: SmartGuard; Review: Really they are still selling this scam? It is sold & a drop & spill policy. But when you get your confirmation e-mail it clearly states these are NOT covered. This is a scam-do not buy; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: HamiltonBuhl SchoolMate Deluxe Stereo Headphone with 3.5 mm Plug and Volume Control; Brand: Hamilton Buhl; Review: Use them for metal detecting-they work very well even on Minelab. Having the volume control is nice & so far the cable is more pleasant than the coiled variety-and seems fine for durability. Good outside noise silencing-better than most others specifically made for detecting. Good value!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BOSS Audio 636CK Single Din, MP3/USB/SD AM/FM Car Stereo & 6.5 Inch Speaker Package; Brand: BOSS Audio Systems; Review: Unbelievable value.... But I will say the AM reception is poor & signals get lost easy. But for the money I replaced a dead unit & 2 dull speakers-that is hard to beat. Sound is good in FM-have yet to try the USB SD slot but that is a good option. Did not expect much but I'm very pleased.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thermaltake Mobile Fan II Adjustable Speed External USB Cooling Fan with One-touch Retractable USB power cable box for Notebook Laptop; Brand: Thermaltake; Review: Great little gizmo. I have a dying PC & figured some extra air could possibly keep it from overheating in the summer. Fan works fine but my pc is still a old pile. It also works as a small personal fan and it is not noisy. Variable speed is a nice touch. Been on for over 2 months straight no problems so I'd say it is durable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 Desktop with Intel Core2 Duo 3.0 GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 2 TB Hard Drive; Brand: Lenovo; Review: What a disappointment! Bought this for my daughter. It arrived and looked great. But when we tried to start the unit-fail. Multiple attempts all had no success in loading or booting the PC. Not even able to get to the product registration sequence. Seems stupid to send a dead computer across the country-but that is what happened. The seller should properly test these-one slipped or failed-whatever. I had to package it up & return it. Then I went to a box store and spent much more just to get my daughter a PC she can actually use. Avoid like the plague.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics Lightweight On-Ear Headphones - Black; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Good sound & simple wired connector. But the wire is a bit shorter than I needed & had to use an adaptor to get the length for use with my old brick PC.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Perry Ellis Men's Black Cord 2 Button Side Vent Suit Separate Jacket; Brand: Perry Ellis; Review: Looked nice! I got a phone call from my college son that he needed a suit cause he'd told a girl he'd go to some "spring fling" dance-- in a week. HA! He doesn't have a car so doesn't get around too well at college so our options were for me to drive 4 hours to take him shopping or try to find one online. We looked at ebay and all the shipping times were way out there. We decided to look on Amazon where we found this Perry Ellis Suit Jacket. The reviews said it had a slim fit so we thought it would work. We were worried about what size to get cause he'd never gotten a suit coat but the size chart was a big help. But it was just the jacket--- no pants. As we looked we found that many of the slacks were not hemmed or weren't offered in his size, but we were able to find the actual ones that matched the jacket! And they were hemmed and came in his size so JACKPOT! The whole suit --pants and jacket--was $140 which I didn't think was a bad price at all. He thought there was a little too much padding in the shoulders but I think it looks great. He wore it to his sister's wedding with a skinny tie and looked fantastic!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE Men's Stain Resistant Relaxed Fit Flat Front Pant; Brand: ; Review: Pants are good quality and would fit a regular guy-- son just needs more of a slim cut I think.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE Men's Stain Resistant Relaxed Fit Flat Front Pant; Brand: ; Review: Pants are good quality and would fit a regular guy-- son just needs more of a slim cut I think.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: I love this bra! This is the one style I wear mainly. I like that it doesn't have a wire and it supports on the sides and back-- also the straps are nice and wide and don't bind. I have it in brown, nude and white-- wish my size came in several other colors. It's easy to wash, and the elastic and fabric doesn't get stretched out. At this price I'll definitely be buying more of these! Got black.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palladium Men's Baggy Leather Gussett S Winter Boot; Brand: Palladium; Review: My son is a college student who walks quite a distance to class. Since winters are pretty harsh and cold in Iowa, he needed a pair of boots that would keep his feet warm and dry and of course they had to be 'in style'. He said it was hard to concentrate on class with soppy cold shoes. He's been very happy with these and wears them whenever inclement weather is predicted-- rain or snow. He likes the color, style and fit also!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Money Belt - Fanny Pack for Travel – Premium Waist Bag for Phone. Best Accessories for Men & Women; Brand: Simply4Travel; Review: Pockets and room galore! This has got room for everything from my phone-- and it's a big one with an otter case--, keys, headphones, credit cards, id, money, snacks and toys for the kiddos, teenager's phone, husband's wallet-- good grief people--carry your own things! Of course if you're putting all that stuff in it, you have to wear it on outside of shirt/ pants as it gets pretty heavy. If you want to wear it more like a money belt and be unseen, you wouldn't be putting quite all those bulky things in it LOL!. But I like it as a great way to be able to keep things close and safe when I'm out shopping or going to garage sales. And I don't care really if someone sees me wearing it-- they can know that I have my stuff where they can't get it, so back off! The belt fits me, my husband and my teenager and has a heavy duty buckle. They like to borrow it for when they go running and biking because they can run their headphones in to plug into their phone. It was free for me to test and review.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Performance Womens Go Walk 3 Crazed Walking Shoe; Brand: ; Review: I took these on vacation so there was a lot of walking. I was surprised at how comfortable they were and easy to slip on too. I usually wear an 8.5 but read about them being wide so ordered just an 8 and they fit fine without socks. I also ordered a pair in an 8.5 in a different color to wear socks with in the fall and spring. I got a lot of compliments on them too!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MUKAZOM Money Belt for Travel, Hidden Fanny Pack RFID Blocking Waist Wallet for Passport (Khaki); Brand: MUKAZOM; Review: This is a great hands free option for carrying all your stuff! A month ago we flew to San Diego for daughter's wedding and we were looking for a money belt. The one we finally settled on was a big disappointment-- didn't hold as much as we thought it would and the zipper broke right away. :( So when we were offered this travel belt at a reduced price to be able to try it out and review it, we were happy to test it out. Over the weekend we used it on our walk and shopping. There was plenty of room for our cash, cards, id and phone. Lots of pockets to stuff all those little things you might need-- kleenex, gum, etc. It can be worn on inside of clothes or outside-- you can't put big bulkier things in it if you don't want to be seen though. The zippers all worked great. The belt is adjustable so I could wear it and my husband could too. He liked that he can wear it with khaki pants and it blends in better than a black one does. It worked out great when I went shopping cause I didn't have a purse to worry about.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TOVIER Genuine Leather Slim Zipper Minimalist wallet, Credit Card, ID & Cash Holder; Brand: TOVIER; Review: This Tovier Genuine Leather Slim Zip Around Bifold Wallet is very classy looking. I like the dark blue leather-- very soft. The wallet is small and fits nicely in the inside pocket of a jacket. It's supposed to be for coins but I really don't think people are carrying around many coins anymore. Also the zipper needs to go further around the wallet as it's a little hard to get things in and out of it. I was offered this wallet at a reduced price so I could try it out and review it fairly. Thanks!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Slim RFID Blocking Front Pocket Wallet FV06 with Exterior ID Window; Brand: FULL VOYAGE; Review: This Slim RFID Blocking Front Pocket Wallet is a nice quality wallet. The leather is soft and pliable. Dollars will fit without having to be folded. It will hold several credit cards but they are kind of tight and hard to get in and out. It's supposed to be RFID Blocking but I have no idea if it is... I was offered this wallet at a reduced price so I could try it out and review it fairly -- thanks!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rodan + Fields ENHANCEMENTS Lash Boost (5mL/0.17 US fl.oz.); Brand: Heel Inc.; Review: Looks very nice!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good (Mitford); Author: Visit Amazon's Jan Karon Page; Review: How delighted I was to see Jan Karon had added another book to the Mitford Series. What I was not prepared for was how it would exceed my expectations. Jan Karon not only out does herself in meaningfully continuing the story, but expanding it as well. It is filled with life and hope. I just finished it and will restart it again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Light: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Donna VanLiere Page; Review: This book is delightful, filled with light and hope, in the midst of real life struggles and darkness. It instills hope.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Light: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Donna VanLiere Page; Review: This book is delightful, filled with light and hope, in the midst of real life struggles and darkness. It instills hope.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miracle: When Christ Touches Our Deepest Need; Author: Visit Amazon's Flora Slosson Wuellner Page; Review: This is one of my favorite books, and I have handed it out like water. I have just about every book Flora Slosson Wuellner has written. She is extremely gifted. In this book, she gives an in depth view and a behind the scenes glimpse as it were to several of Jesus' miracles. She aids the reader to see deeper, to what is underneath the needs with which Jesus was presented. This book is insightful, inspiring, and healing. I highly recommend it and any of her books to those who are desiring healing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enjoying the Presence of God: Discovering Intimacy with God in the Daily Rhythms of Life (Spiritual Formation Study Guides); Author: Visit Amazon's Jan Johnson Page; Review: This is one of my favorite books of all time and I have handed it out like water. In this book, Jan Johnson outlines in practical ways how to practice the presence of God in everyday moments and in everyday situations. Through this book, praying without ceasing became plausible and so meaningful. It deepened my intimacy and experience with God. This book is transformative, and I cannot recommend it enough.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Nightingale: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: Kristin Hannah did it again. This may be her best novel yet. It is riveting, challenging, heartbreaking, and inspiring. She continues to write complex story lines as well as to write about strong women characters. This particular story which is such an important part of our human history. She writes about it with great sensitivity and care, and gives us an inside glimpse of one the most tragic and stirring moments of our times.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Temporary Agent (The Agent); Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Judson Page; Review: I found the plot interesting, yet there were a number of times when he went into great detail about someone loading a gun, the number of bullets in it, releasing the safety, etc that distracted me from the story. There were a few times I considered putting the book down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Temporary Agent (The Agent Book 1) eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Daniel Judson Page; Review: I found the plot interesting, yet there were a number of times when he went into great detail about someone loading a gun, the number of bullets in it, releasing the safety, etc that distracted me from the story. There were a few times I considered putting the book down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Retreat: A Tale of Spiritual Awakening; Author: Visit Amazon's Jacci Turner Page; Review: This is a refreshing book that gives an inside glimpse into spending a week at a retreat center. I loved the realness of people's lives and the wrestling with present day issues. The book lets the reader experience a variety of spiritual practices through the telling of the story which is delightful. This book is a treasure and I highly recommend it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Origin: A Novel (Robert Langdon); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Brown Page; Review: I ended up skipping some chapters that had nothing to do with the plot. Spreading his philosophy seems to be a hallmark of Dan Brown.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Great Alone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristin Hannah Page; Review: This book like all of Hannah's other books is a gift to open and savor. Her descriptions of the land in its beauty and harshness draw you in. Her character development is exquisite. The plot is beautifully complex, taking twists and turns so you don't know where it will end. The strength of her women characters always stands out and is a gift. I cannot recommend this book more. Hannah fans will love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silent Victim; Author: Visit Amazon's Caroline Mitchell Page; Review: The premise of the book about the murderer, once you know the story a bit, is questionable. And I found some passages easy to skip over that really didn't contribute to the plot. I don't think I'll be reading any more books from her.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Vol. 2; Brand: Kazuhiro Furuhashi; Review: I'm a huge Unicorn fan. Getting this series made getting a Bluray player worth it. In fact its the reason I bought a blu ray player in the first place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam Uc 5 [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: I'm a huge Unicorn fan. Getting this series made getting a Bluray player worth it. In fact its the reason I bought a blu ray player in the first place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angel - Seasons 1-5; Brand: David Boreanaz; Review: I missed out during high school on my favorite Tv series and this was one of them. Good memories!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Invisible Man: Season One; Brand: Vincent Ventresca; Review: During high school years, I was always a fan of the Sci-Fi channel and the new spin on old invisible man story line got me hooked!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Part 1; Brand: Kazuhiro Furuhashi; Review: Great OVA series!!! stunning visuals, great music, good story line, deep introspective protagonist.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: The Volcano; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: My wife and I saw the Volcano show last week while in Vegas. We found it quite enjoyable. There's a lot going on in it, so its worthwhile to appreciate it from differing angles.
The did one of the shows in honor of the Golden Knights about to start their playoff run.
Downside - The Sunday evening show, someone tried to pickpocket both my wife and me. Yelling at him "are you trying to pick my pocket" made him run away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Treasure Island; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: We stayed at Treasure Island or TI for my wife's birthday and our anniversary. I normally stay on the other end of the strip, but my wife wanted to stay here "because the girls from work said it was good".
Check-in was a breeze, and was quick. I tried the $20 sandwich trick and there were no complimentary upgrades available.
Our room was clean, the sheets and bathroom were clean. We had a northern view for our King room - so we could see the Wynn and the Fashion Show mall.
We did not use the pool or the spa. I will do separate reviews of the restaurants we dined at. (Gilley's, Corner Market, The Coffee Shop / Pho, and the Golden Circle.
This is one of the older casinos on the strip so the gaming floor ceilings are a low compared to the newer establishments, so the smoke smell is more noticeable. I wish that vaping were banned in the casino. If I punched out every guy who expectorated vape smoke in my face on this trip, I'd be doing a lot of jail time. We played some casino games, and did ok, but were here more for shows.
The staff was totally helpful - we got a rewards card quite easily, and there was always someone around to help us find our way around.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gilley's; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: We ate a "light" dinner here on our last night in Vegas. We had a red-eye out of town, and there was no wait for a table here at 6:00pm on a Wednesday
I'm curious, but doubt that this restaurant is related to Country Music Legend Mickey Gilley as his website doesn't make mention of this restaurant.
My wife chose Gilleys and as we entered through the saloon, I thought my wife was rewarding me with a meal from the Gilleys Girls. Sadly, my wife chose to eat on the restaurant side of the establishment. So I cannot comment on the Saloon and Breastaurant, just the restaurant out front.
We did not have a window seat so my view was of my wife.
Again, light meal so I had a burger and my wife had the fried chicken. As you'll notice from the photo - my wife's fried chicken must have been half of the chicken - there were 4-5 pieces of chicken and she couldn't finish it.
I had the Lone Star burger. The burger I had for lunch at Gordon Ramsey's Burger restaurant was better, but this one was $5 cheaper and came with a side. It was yummy and filled with hillbilly goodness. Judging by the other reviews, I really should have tried the BBQ
Overall - we had a good dining experience. Its not haute cuisine here, its comfort food, and boy were we comfortable!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gordon Ramsay Burger; City: Las Vegas, NV; Review: So I like Gordon Ramsay, from his television shows - Kitchen Nightmares actually has been my favourite of the bunch. My wife is more of a Hell's Kitchen devotee as she is addicted to reality TV.
Gordon Ramsay Burger is located along the "miracle mile" at Planet Hollywood Casino. It was our wedding anniversary and we waltzed in here at 1pm on a Wednesday with no wait. Our seats kinda sucked though - located between the bar and the greeter's podium
As an appetizers we had the Kettle Chip Nachos. They were divine, the combo of the shredded beef and sour creme, would make even the Cookie Monster a fan of nachos. For our main my wife had the Backyard Burger and I had the Stout Burger. I loved mine - it was probably one of the top three burgers that I can remember eating.
That said my one complaint is that its $16 US for a burger. You don't get fries or salad with that. Or in our perspective that's $23 CAD for a burger. $15 CAD gets me a pretty good Burger, Fries, and Drink at Hero Burger.
Still a good meal was had by both of us.
Tip: you can pick up Sephora's free WiFi here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PetSafe SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser; Brand: PetSafe; Review: When the cat plays with it, the food just rolls EVERYWHERE and leaves a mess.. I'm sure that's the purpose (which is why I'm leaving 3 stars) but I didn't like the mess.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soft Claws Feline Nail Caps - 40 Nail Caps and Adhesive for Cats; Brand: Soft Claws; Review: Worked pretty well! One kitten got them off within 3 days, the other we had to clip them off. Was very nerve wrecking to try and hold a kitten down and pinch their feet while holding super glue tiny rubber things.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Petmate Replendish Gravity Waterer w/Microban; Brand: Petmate; Review: Only problem is, its VERY light, and my cat likes to knock it over causing 1 gallon of water to go everywhere in my kitchen. Suggest painting the jug so the animal can't see the bubbles rising and try to play with it. I also put it in a larger tub so if it does get knocked over its contained.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Petmate Two Door Top Load Dog Kennel - Assorted Colors; Brand: Petmate; Review: LOVE this kennel. I have two kittens and now they are cats, they still both fit in it. Top part is very useful at vets, or on long trips; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Litter Genie Plus Pail, Ultimate Cat Litter Disposal System, Locks Away Odors, Includes One Refill, Silver; Brand: Litter Genie; Review: LIFE SAVER; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Our Pets Wonder Bowl Selective Pet Feeder; Brand: Our Pets; Review: Stopped working after two weeks. I couldn't find the box and it was too much of a hassle to try and return it.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: CarPET Scratch Stopper - Stop Cats From Scratching Carpet at Doorway; Brand: KittySmart LLC; Review: such a good cat scratch protection!! SAVED my new apartment!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Trump's Syria letter reportedly made Erdogan so angry, he threw it in the trash; Abstract: Trump's letter attempting to convince Erdogan not to attack U.S.-allied Kurds in Syria drew both condemnation and ridicule from critics in Washington.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: How Much Power Does the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Really Make? We Take it to the Dyno and Find Out; Abstract: A lot more, it turns out; Category: autos
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: Final 'Star Wars Episode IX' trailer arrives; Abstract: On what would have been Carrie Fisher's 63rd birthday, the final trailer for 'Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker', which will mark her last appearance on film, dropped on Monday (October 21) during halftime of the Patriots and the Jets American football match on ESPN. Ryan Brooks reports.; Category: movies
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: TV shows we're most excited about for the rest of the year; Abstract: From HBO originals like "His Dark Materials" to the new season of Netflix's "The Crown," here are some of the shows we can't wait to watch.; Category: tv
Title: The Case for a Honda Accord Type R Sport Sedan? How Does 350-HP-Plus Sound?; Abstract: It wouldn't be hard for Honda to build the sportiest factory Accord that's never existed; Category: autos
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news
Title: The News In Cartoons; Abstract: News as seen through the eyes of the nation's editorial cartoonists.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sawasdee House; City: Bangkok; Review: It's cheap, staff are friendly and its close to Khao San Road. The room is small, basic, hardly any light, there's no private bathroom, but hey, it's 300b a night. Who cares? It's just a bed. I was here for one night and it did the trick. You want luxury? Stay away. You want a bed to rest your head close to all the action that's cheap as chips? This is the place for you.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Diva Guesthouse; City: Chiang Mai; Review: We stayed there in December 2014 for 3 nights and we received a warm welcome as soon as we arrived. We hadn't booked, but turned up at 8am after catching the train from Bangkok. We booked a private room with a double bed, hot shower and fan. We were on the second level just next to the upstairs balcony which is awesome for some chill out time with couches and chairs. Staff were fantastic, room was basic, but it was cheap. We never ate here, but it always looked busy with food customers. I'd go back again if I had the chance, just for the staff and friendly service. Staff organised our tours (the exact ones we wanted, not tours of their choice) so it made the whole process pretty seamless and easy. The only problem was that the walls were paper thin, so you could hear everyone else outside your room, but all the guests were pretty respectful and kept quiet at night time. All in all, I'd recommend Diva's; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Madam Cuc 184; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: Not much bothers me when I travel. I'm pretty easy going. But I do love my showers. In SE Asia, it's pretty hard finding a decent one, and I've stayed in many places. This place (we stayed in room 201) has an amazing shower. Hot, powerful, plenty of room and the water doesn't leak everywhere. We had a free breakfast each morning which was sufficient - eggs, bread roll and fruit. Nothing special, but at least we didn't have to leave the hotel. The coffee is traditional Vietnamese, so pretty sickly sweet. We stayed for 4 nights, and the room was large, clean, and had two double beds. It was perfect for what we wanted, close to the main touristy area and quiet at night time. You can't hear anything from outside, or the other guests. We booked a couple of trips with them, which were just as cheap as the travel agents around town. I also booked a taxi to the airport with them which arrived promptly and was clean. The morning we left we had to get up earlier than the breakfast time (we had to leave at 7am and breakfast starts at 7am) so the lady on reception said we could have breakfast at 6.30am which was great. I loved that. All in all, I'd go back there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mojzo Inn; City: Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Province; Review: Stayed at Mojzo for 3 nights back in December. We arrived at 11pm at night after 12 hours on the train, and the reception we got on arrival was unbelievable. It made my day and put me in such a good mood. We knew we'd picked the right place to stay at. The room we stayed in was on level 3, and it was a well kept room that was clean and tidy. Bathroom was sufficient and there was a hot water shower. TV was included (not that we watched it), free WIFI and free breakfast in the morning. When we went for breakfast, the smile and 'good morning' we got just made you smile. The staff actually want to know how you are, and they are always up for a chat. It's amazing. We booked three activities t with Mojzo - the Mudbaths, VinPearl and a cooking class. At no stage did they ask us to 'try another one', these activities and places were where we wanted to go. The staff there are always friendly, and give you so much advice. If I ever go back to Nha Trang, I am staying there again. Absolutely amazing experience. Loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Villa Kayu Raja; City: Kerobokan North Kuta Bali; Review: Booked our stay for 5 nights through ScoopOn. We were picked up at the airport on time and driven in an air conditioned van to the Villa. Welcome drink on arrival and the friendliness by staff was amazing. We were then shown to our rooms. The first thing I noticed was a pool in our room. Unbelievable! So much fun having a pool in your room. The room was double story, so go had to walk upstairs to your sleeping quarters. The room was clean, neat and tidy. The king size bed was so comfortable. Bedroom is air conditioned but the 'family' room downstairs only has a fan. We were there for NYE so we had a buffet dinner and the entertainment was a couple of guys on a guitar who let us sing a few songs, so that was fun. We were treated to two complimentary massages for our stay and a complimentary dinner (3 course) also at Nebula. Food was amazing. The best thing about this place is the staff, they are genuinely friendly and want to have a chat. I would go back there just for the staff (and the pool in the room). The only downside is that there is no common area pool, so I probably wouldn't take kids there, but you do have access to the Canggu club for free. I would recommend this place for couples.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kuta Station Hotel; City: Kuta Kuta District Bali; Review: We had an 11pm flight from Denpasar and had to check out of our Ubud hotel at 10am, so we used Kuta Station as a base for our last day in Bali. We got there at 11am and booked a room (we didn't pre-book) and got the price down from 650k to 350k. (They don't do half-day bookings) We chose Kuta Station as it was very close to Waterbom and the airport. (We went to Waterbom on our last day so we didn't have to stay in the hotel all day) We literally stayed there so we could have a shower and a quick snooze before our flight as it was so cheap. I personally would only use this hotel for this reason, it's pretty grimy and loud. The room wasn't fantastic, but it was clean, and the staff were really friendly. I couldn't stay here longer than a night as the music from the downstairs bar was pretty loud (but we didn't stay the night, so it might be turned down late at night). We asked to borrow a towel for Waterbom but they refused, so I thought that was pretty weird, they must be used to people stealing from them? Every other hotel I have been to lets you borrow towels for outside activities. Would I stay here again? Yes, just because it is in the heart of Kuta and only if I was only there for half a day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cannon Fort Cat Ba Hotel; City: Cat Ba; Review: Stayed here for 2 nights. The staff are extremely friendly, and the price was a ridiculous $10 a night. The bed was the BIGGEST bed I have ever been on, it was like a super super king size. We had a private room with a shower. The facilities were clean, the staff clean the room to perfection, you get a free bottle of water every day and they have the BEST ham and cheese omelette in the morning. I would stay here again for sure.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Between You and Me; Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa Hall Page; Review: Not to sure what to say about this book... It was hard to read because of the negative and heavy subject. I could only handle it in bits. I am not one to just stop reading a book though. I am hesitant to read any more by this author.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Becoming Magic: A Course in Manifesting an Exceptional Life (Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Genevieve Davis Page; Review: All three of these books are a must read if you are anyway interested in improving your thoughts and life! It is the 3rd book that brings it together but I promise 1 and 2 have their purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Year One (Chronicles of The One); Author: ; Review: Was not great. Definitely was not worth the price. The way this book was written I had to reread lines to understand what she was trying to get across. It lacked rythmn, it did not flow. She wrote too much in some chapter then not enough in others.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Undead. Day Two (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's R R Haywood Page; Review: Action packed. Fun characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Undead Day One; Author: Visit Amazon's R R Haywood Page; Review: Fast paced. Action packed. Fun characters.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Station Breaker; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Mayne Page; Review: Fast paced and funny! Lots of action. Easy to read. Main character is kind of MacGyverish. Fast thinking and witty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Samsung Replacement USB Data Charging Cable for Samsung SPH-M330, SCH-R100, SGH-T939, and SCH-R850 (Bulk Packaging); Brand: Samsung; Review: It's been in use for years now. No complaints. Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung OEM Micro USB Data Charging Cable (5 ft/1.5m) for Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch, Skyrocket, Galaxy; Brand: Samsung; Review: We have used this USB cord for years. It still works. "Nuff said."; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: [Pure Crystal] - Obliq LG G2 Screen Protector Zeiss Pure - 3 Pack - Premium Japanese Film; Brand: Obliq; Review: The thing is about multiples of these long lasting products...I used the first one and misplaced (read: never found again) the other two! Value? I dunno.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HHI Dual Armor Composite Case with Stand for LG G2 (At&t, Sprint, T-Mobile) - Orange; Brand: Handhelditems; Review: See my review on the E LV Hybrid Dual Layered Hard & Soft High Impact Amor Defender Kickstand Case Combo for LG G2... My bad.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LG G2 Case, GMYLE(R) Wallet Case Simple for LG G2; Brand: GMYLE; Review: This is an excellent buy! I had to wait a bit because they were out of stock in this color (brown). Worth the wait. I haven't bought anything on ecommerce in a while with this kind of style and value. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vilight Wireless Charging Receiver Qi Standard Module for LG G3; Brand: VILIGHT; Review: I wanted a wireless charging receiver for my LG (like the picture?), but they sent me some clunky, hard plastic phone case! Doh!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mr Shield [2-Pack] for LG G3 [Tempered Glass] Screen Protector with Lifetime Replacement Warranty; Brand: Mr Shield; Review: The "hinges" are brilliant! I did, however, get the "lower left hand smudge" as other reviews mentioned.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monoy@ 60 Watt (12 Amp) Max Output 3.5 Amp 10-Port Family-Sized Desktop USB Rapid; Brand: Monoy; Review: For $8 I would have expected a charge cord...!; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Struggle for Democracy, The, 2014 Elections and Updates Edition, Books a la Carte Edition; Author: Edward S. Greenberg; Review: This book is packed with information, it IS a textbook after all, but it's all information the we, as Americans, should know and understand.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Dance with Dragons; Author: Visit Amazon's George R.R. Martin Page; Review: This is an outstanding fantasy series written by a Master storyteller. I won't see the TV series as I started to read this years before it came to cable. The author and I create something greater than any movie, or series, ever made. This edition is great for your library, and easily carried with you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Song of Ice and Fire: The Story So Far (5 Volumes); Author: Visit Amazon's George R. R. Martin Page; Review: This is an outstanding fantasy series written by a Master storyteller. I won't see the TV series as I started to read this years before it came to cable. The author and I create something greater than any movie, or series, ever made. This edition is great for your library, and easily carried with you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Introduction to Physical Anthropology 2009-2010 Edition; Author: Robert Jurmain; Review: I had to get this book for a class I'm taking. So far it's very interesting. I'm glad this particular edition is still available for students.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Stephenson Page; Review: This series is fabulous. It's long but a reader doesn't mind long and the second book in the series,"The Confusion" is one of the best adventure novels I've read in a long time!! Neal Stephenson is an awesome author!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Stephenson Page; Review: You HAVE to read this...one of the best SciFi/fantasy/suppositions I've read. One has to pay attention to the the first book but by the second book you're off and running. Can't say enough. The second book, can't recall the title at the moment is one of the best 'adventure' books I've read in a long, long time!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indesign Type: Professional Typography With Adobe Indesign Cs2; Author: Visit Amazon's Nigel French Page; Review: Great book, great price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gardner’s Art through the Ages: Backpack Edition, Book A (with CourseMate Printed Access Card); Author: Fred S. Kleiner; Review: It's a text book but its a very valuable resource for artists and art historians.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Special Ops: A Brotherhood of War Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's W.E.B. Griffin Page; Review: As I said you simply can't beat Mr. Griffin for a very good story!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shogun; Author: Visit Amazon's James Clavell Page; Review: Read it and you'll understand. There's also a miniseries, made awhile ago, but it doesn't touch the book. If you love ancient Japan and it customs and peoples, you'll love this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Promise (An Elvis Cole Novel); Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Crais Page; Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre. Robert Crais is a great author and tells a compelling story! You won't put it down, I assure you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Confusion (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Neal Stephenson Page; Review: The second book in The Baroque Cycle is one of the best adventure stories you'll ever read....and I just finished reading it for the second time. Mr. Stephenson is a darned good writer that makes the Age of Enlightenment vivid and lively and unforgettable. I urge you to read it, learn and enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Early Medieval Architecture (Oxford History of Art); Author: Roger Stalley; Review: Again, got it for school, its what the instructor called for and no waiting and no lines. Got the Kindle edition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Early Medieval Art (Oxford History of Art); Author: Visit Amazon's Lawrence Nees Page; Review: needed it for school....got it here. No lines or wait.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Way of Kings; Author: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: I'd give the author TEN stars. If you're contemplating this book...you need to read it and the second book n the Triology. I'm eagerly awaiting the third volumn. I'd urge any reader to read Sanderson's Mistborn Triology as well....you 'll read em one after the other, I promise you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Cold Day for Murder (Kate Shugak Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Dana Stabenow Page; Review: This author is terrific. I LOVE the Kate Shugak novels and am on my third time!! Read em, you'll love em.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: City Rooms NYC Chelsea; City: New York City New York; Review: I don't often write reviews but felt the need to say how impressed I was with this place. The owners are potentially the nicest people in the world and super helpful. The rooms are clean and the mattress is incredibly comfortable. They're small but this is Manhattan and they have everything you need including a big fridge. Shared facilities were no problem. The location is amazing - short walk from Penn Station (great access to JFK) and very near subway line 1. Fast free wifi. Really good value overall - I will be back next time I'm in NYC.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Midland; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: I have nothing but praise for the Midland. Every time I have stayed, the rooms have been immaculate and very comfortable, breakfast is superb and the staff couldn't be more helpful. The spa just adds to the overall experience. The Midland is top of my list of places to stay in Manchester - thank you for some great stays.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grange Guest House; City: Bishops Stortford Hertfordshire England; Review: Stayed for one night for a local wedding. Very handy for station. Lovely people, great room, and really good breakfast. Shared bathroom not a problem. Really good value for money. Definitely recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Macdonald Manchester Hotel Spa; City: Manchester Greater Manchester England; Review: Stayed for one night in an executive room. Fantastic location, right beside station, and lovely big room and bathroom. Very clean throughout. We ate in the hotel restaurant, a steak house, and it was a brilliant dinner. Highly recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Orangers Beach Resort Bungalows; City: Hammamet Nabeul Governorate; Review: We spent a week at Les Orangers in November 2018 as part of a package with Thomas Cook. We found it hard to reconcile some of the negative reviews on here with our experience. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful and beautifully maintained. We paid slightly more for a deluxe sea view room and it didn’t feel tired at all – it was big and bright with a good bed, a sitting area and a large balcony with a fabulous view (see photos). The bungalows down on the beach looked even better. We tended to alternate between the outdoor pool and the beach – no trouble finding loungers at either. We tried the Tunisian and Italian a la carte menus, and they were great, but the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinners were really impressive too. At breakfast they make you amazing fresh omelettes, and at lunch you can get pizza or noodle dishes made in front of you. We had wine with most meals and it was good too. As most people have mentioned the staff are brilliant and can’t do enough to help. We tipped a few dinar whenever we could. Mohammed Ali was the Thomas Cook rep at the hotel and he was great too. All in all an excellent holiday, and highly recommended. Great to see Tunisia getting back on its feet with British tourists.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Follow You Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Edwards Page; Review: Perfect villains, not so perfect heros and heroines. Excellent story and storytelling. Like a Dean Koontz novel but not quite up to Koontzian wordcraft. It was very hard to put down. I highly recommend it and will be reading more from this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood on the Tracks (Sydney Rose Parnell); Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Nickless Page; Review: Many parallel story lines, every one possible as the main plot. Plenty of room left for the next books in the series and I plan to read every one; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Everything We Keep: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Kerry Lonsdale Page; Review: I guess this book my be typical of the romance genre. The characters are simple and superficial as are the story lines. Pedestrian narration by a self-indulgent female lead. The book club pop quiz at the end left me with an impression of the author as an educated but underachieving boring housewife trying to impress family and friends while seeking self-redemption. Either get some deeper emotions and experiences, real and imagined, or stick to fancy coffee a scones.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Timebound (The Chronos Files); Author: Visit Amazon's Rysa Walker Page; Review: Tight story line, decent character development, excellent historical research for background settings. Common time travel theme but an enjoyable read overall.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ripper: The Secret Life of Walter Sickert; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page; Review: This book expands heavily on Cornwell's first Ripper book giving us comprehensive insight into the thoughts, actions, and extreme murderous violence of a sociopathic serial killer. Reading this I get the sense that Patricia Cornwell, the person more so than the author, is chronicling the extreme effort she has taken in forming her conclusion that Walter Sickert and Jack the Ripper are one in the same. Her tone in recreating and reporting her research methods and conclusions suggests a struggle with self-doubt spawned by her Ripperologist critics. In the end Cornwell's review leaves her even more convinced that ever of her original conclusion. While Secret Life is certainly documentary rather than novel, there is an obvious artistic narrative woven into the fabric of a forensic investigation report - typical Cornwellian magic. Once past descriptions of paper analysis I could sense Patsy's self-doubt melting away just I could not possibly doubt the compelling evidence. Jekyll and Hyde references scattered throughout result a subtext weave binding author, subject, readers victims, and investigators in this insidiously thought-provoking historical psycho-thriller.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Sullivan Page; Review: Wow! A masterfully presented telling of heroic history nearly left untold. Having read almost every WWII accounting I can get hold for over 50 years, I have recently taken to accounts from other than the Allies. Setting battle-scarred northern Italy against Alpine grandeur, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a wonderfully crafted rendition of pre-war and post-war history, contrasting beauty and tragedy, both natural and artistic. Be prepared for sleepiness nights compelled to face good versus evil and virtuous love versus mindless hatrid. You will be well rewarded!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Center Point Large Print); Author: Mark T Sullivan; Review: Wow! A masterfully presented telling of heroic history nearly left untold. Having read almost every WWII accounting I can get hold for over 50 years, I have recently taken to accounts from other than the Allies. Setting battle-scarred northern Italy against Alpine grandeur, Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a wonderfully crafted rendition of pre-war and post-war history, contrasting beauty and tragedy, both natural and artistic. Be prepared for sleepiness nights compelled to face good versus evil and virtuous love versus mindless hatrid. You will be well rewarded!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Naturalist; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Mayne Page; Review: Mayne had me constantly speculating about the next turn the story would take. You just have to keep turning pages to find out. Constant redirection but no baseless misdirection. A straight-ahead relentlessly logical pursuit of a maniacal killer by a quirky and a bit nerdy and entirely unlikely hero. Lacks the artful wordcraft and literary device mastery I like so much in a Dean Koontz novel but the (mostly) linear plot had plenty of kinks and twists to keep me truly interested. This author manages to use scientific reason, albeit greatly stretched, to lead the reader through a richly textured fantastical thriller with just enough plausibility to avoid the insult of the idiot plot. I look forward to seeing how Andrew Mayne plies his craft in future endeavors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dead Stop (Sydney Rose Parnell); Author: Visit Amazon's Barbara Nickless Page; Review: I really liked the first book in this series. I liked this second one even more. The number of highlighted passages is a good indication of how many other Kindle readers share my impression. I sense that Nickless is coming to understand the depth and breadth of our heroine's character with the writing of every new page. There is a lot left to know in Sydney Rose Parnell's marathon journey and I plan to be there for the telling of it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daughters of the Night Sky; Author: Visit Amazon's Aimie K. Runyan Page; Review: I was hoping for and expecting a more rigorous historical accounting but was disappointed to find not much more than a typically cliched and rather pedestrian romance novel. I believe that better stories are to be told about the 588th Bomber Regiment. I do at least appreciate Runyan for bringing this fine outfit of heroes into greater light.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea; Author: Visit Amazon's Masaji Ishikawa Page; Review: Think of "The Killing Fields" multiplied many times over. I delude myself into thinking I am pretty aware of world events but I had no idea of the post-WWII forced repatriation of Koreans brought to Japan as forced laborers during imperial times. This story exposes ethnic cleansing as a consequence of the post-war rebuilding of Japan. Nor did I have any real appreciation of the current plight of milions in North Korea. Masaji Ishikasa's heroic accounting of his tragic ordeal provides one of few glimpses the outside world will likely ever get into conditions in North Korea hidden from us by the Kim dynasty. Don't expect to feel good after reading this man's autobiography, but please read it anyway.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Criminal Defense (Philadelphia Legal); Author: Visit Amazon's William L. Myers Jr. Page; Review: A very interesting crime drama but maybe too complicated to believe. That being said, I stuck with the book and finished it quickly because I didn't put it down.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Girl from Krakow: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Rosenberg Page; Review: Having read so many mostly historical accounts of war from the perspectives of "victors" I have taken in recent years to trying to understand the horrors and realities experienced and perceived by the defeated and those unwittingly entangled. "The Girl from Krakow" is a great construction and epic telling of a young woman's odyssey across WWII Europe and the relationships, great and small, that she formed with the people, places, and circumstances of her journey. The tale is interesting, plausible, and entertaining throughout - a thoroughly enjoyable read without overly grandiose themes of solicitous righteousness and patriotic self-congratulation. Very much to the contrary is the very powerful philosophical subtext whose sources and purposes are perhaps best exposed in the brief "About the Author" appendix. This thought-provoking novel will definitely lead me to undertake some of Rosenberg's non-fiction works even as the girl from Krakow lingers in and likely instructs my memories.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Rose, Black Forest; Author: Visit Amazon's Eoin Dempsey Page; Review: This story kept me interested throughout. Very believable insight into what life could have been like for some people in WWII Germany.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Hundredth Queen; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily R. King Page; Review: Fantasy is not one of my go-to genres but Emily King has earned my respect and gratitude for a very enjoyable book. King has obviously made the kind of lifetime investment required to create a fantasy world complete with complex histories, rich and robust cultures, as well as conflicted characters and relationships that continue to develop throughout the story. I am sure to continue with the Queen's series one adventures. If you are all interested in fantasy you will be well please to indulge your passion in The Hundredth Queen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Helmet for My Pillow: From Parris Island to the Pacific; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Leckie Page; Review: I've known of Robert Leckie from other readings and was expecting much better. Leckie is obviously a brave veteran who deserves our thanks and reverence. He also obviously has great command of the English language and I enjoyed the occasional examples and flourishes of excellent wordcraft. However, the story was kind of flat. I was most annoyed by the poor quality of the editing and proofreading of this e-book. It seems like someone scanned the pages of a hard copy edition then did a really poor job of correcting the OCR errors. If you're looking for a good read on a parallel story I strongly recommend "With the Old Breed" by E. B. Sledge.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pushing Brilliance (Kyle Achilles); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Tigner Page; Review: A former Olympian cum CIA operative quits spying for hire and decides to go free-lance after his family is murdered as part of an international plot. With the help of his brother's brilliant widow our hero seeks revenge against a varitey of villains who are driven by motives ranging from megalomania to greed to seemingly misguided altruism. No shortage of dead bad guys or extraordinary acts of super-athletic heroism. Many clues are hidden and discovered across the globe to advance a rather fantastic plot. Tigner allows his characters to share their brilliant analysis at every step, simultaneously engaging the reader as almost a co-analyst. If you love the genre, rest assured you'll love this book and almost certainly the entire Achilles series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dead Key; Author: Visit Amazon's D. M. Pulley Page; Review: 'History repeating' as a literary device lends interesting and somewhat intriguing subtext in the telling of two young heroines separated by barely one generation. Drawing on her own real life experiences and ghostly imagination D.M. Pulley guides us through a big money bank robbery executed over more than two decades. Set in a roughly historical context of Cleveland in rust belt decline, greed-driven powerful men are brought low by only mildly corruptible young women. With just a bit of self-awareness you may end up thanking the author for leaving you to judge each cast member by the quality of their character. Well done!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Daily Word: Love, Inspiration, and Guidance for Everyone; Author: Visit Amazon's Colleen Zuck Page; Review: for a budding new Christian. I gave this publication as a gift last year and I have been able to reap in it's rewards myself. As mentioned by another reviewer, the fact that everything is indexed is very helpful. Everyday is enriched as this helps guide you on your journey.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: From Book Idea to Bestseller: What You Absolutely, Positively Must Know to Make Your Book a Success; Author: Kim Baker; Review: I actually heard about this book as a result of sending a query to Michael Snell. He sent my "proposal" back with a nice note and a recommendation to get this book. It wasn't available in any of the bookstores in my area without use of special order, so I was a skeptic at first. I obtained a copy of this book and eagerly flipped through the pages. Not only did I learn that I hadn't the slightest idea about what I was getting myself into, but I also learned that I had a lot of work ahead of me if I wanted to be a success. I've been recommending this book as a jumping off point for other authors I know looking for agents and publications. This book, of course, doesn't guarantee you'll be a success in your venture . . . but it does a wonderful job showing you what steps to take. Will I get published as a result of this book? Only time will tell, but I remain optomistic now that I've got the right tools.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Street Smart Writer: Self Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World; Author: Visit Amazon's Jenna Glatzer Page; Review: . . . honestly, I wish I had a book like this when I first started out. It would have saved me a lot of headaches, heartaches and frustrations. I'd often ask seasoned writers what it was "really" like in the trenches and I never received what I thought was an honest answer. After awhile, I stopped asking. Now, this book is here -- answering all those questions with all the truth and straight-forwardness new writers need (and crave). Writers don't have to worry about who ask or where to go for advice -- it's in this book. This is a very useful guide for both fresh and seasoned writers to benefit from.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The 100 Year Lifestyle: Dr. Plasker's Breakthrough Solution for Living Your Best Life - Every Day of Your Life!; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Plasker Page; Review: This book entered my life at the perfect moment! I've been looking for an "all in one" resource pointing me down the right path toward a quality life. I've felt as though I've been in a rut for years and now I know how to dig myself out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to Be the Artist You Truly Are; Author: Visit Amazon's Danny Gregory Page; Review: When I flipped through this book, I was in love with the typography and art featured at first glance. I decided to take an "educational" approach when I started working with this book because I really wanted to take his teachings and instructions seriously and make it all work. I'm glad I did because achieving my goals through use of this book became second nature. I've been recommending this book to everyone I know!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage and Book Artists (Quarry Book); Author: Visit Amazon's Lynne Perrella Page; Review: I love the ability to take this book with me wherever I want to go to fuel my inspirational fires whenever needed. This slim book is about the size of a magazine, so it'll go into a backpack or any other kind of "carrying bag" with ease. Even though there are few pages compared to some art books, this book is FULL. Not one centimeter of this book was left untouched by the talents of the artists collaborating on this project. I'm hungry for more and will certainly be making future purchase from any one of the artists listed in this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Bowerman Page; Review: Finally, a book containing real advice from a real professional actively working in the self publishing industry. I've been working with self published authors since 2003 and, while I just started dabbling in self publishing my own books this year, I've been around the block and back in this industry. Each and every time I took on a new project, I wished there was a first-hand account and guide built into one to direct my clients to when they couldn't grasp certain facts of the business. Now I do. Not only do I have this guide to direct them to, but also Mr. Bowerman's Biz-in-a-Box. What a time saver this package is! These tools not only save a lot of time and frustration, but they're presented in a manner that is less than dry and more than witty. Boring? No way. Informative? Absolutely. Recommended? Extremely. There's no getting away from the trials and tribulations associated with learning how to become a successful self published author. There's no gettng around the fact that writing is just a small part of being a self published author. This is a business. This is work. Bowerman teaches, explains, refers and advises. Listen. He knows what he's talking about. He's been in the trenches longer than most of you have been considering taking this step and starting this business.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How To Win Top Writing Assignments; Author: Visit Amazon's Jenna Glatzer Page; Review: . . . do I rely on? Over and over again, I've been asked which books I turn to time and time again for reference. I can't believe I have talked about this book on here yet - I've been raving about it all over the Internet ever since its release. So, here I am, a bit late with a lot to say. When it comes to venturing through the freelance writing world, it's not uncommon to take the first step with fear and a sort of sick feeling in your gut. You want to feel secure, want answers to all the hard questions, and you want your hand held. Well, Jenna's done all of that in this guide. Don't let how slim this guide fool you at all. It isn't because it's lacking material, information and resources. On the contrary, it's bursting at the seams with everything a freelance writer needs to run a successful business. The key is that there's no fluff. Sure, there's a LOT of humor and personal experiences injected in just the right places. You won't find a lot of useless information just thicken the book up, though. When I first started my business in 1999, I searched HIGH and LOW for an all-in-one reference to guide me through the process and never coule really find what I was looking for. Now, when I come across new writers in search of the same thing, I direct them to this book. And, each time they've talked to me about what they've learned from reading and USING this book, they've raved about how glad they were to have it right from the beginning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Mortgage Broker: Insider Secrets You Need to; Author: Visit Amazon's Patricia Hughes Page; Review: Let's face facts; there are more people who are looking for work in our lives than who aren't. This reality surrounds us, and is even part our own realities, whether we like it or not. Rather than wallowing in the "woe is me" syndrome, though, it's time to take the bull by the horns! For those with experience in the real estate industry and who are looking to start their own business, why not venture down the path of that of a mortgage broker? In Patricia Hughes' book, The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Mortgage Broker: Inside Secrets You Need to Know, you are guided in a non-nonsense factual manner down the path toward becoming a mortgage broker. Not only does she spell out exactly what a mortgage broker does, but she also breaks down how to become one in a step by step manner. Using this guide will not only put you on the path toward being gainfully employed, but it will also help set you up in a lasting career. We don't want to just "have a job," we want to create stability and a foundation to grow upon. While this business venture may not work out for everyone, it is certainly the key for those who have a background or interest in this type of work.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Social Security and Medicare Handbook: What You Need to Know Explained Simply; Author: Visit Amazon's V.R. Leonard Page; Review: Picture it: you've worked hard throughout your life and you're on the cusp of retirement. You have no known health issues, but you are certain they are on the horizon for one reason or another. Say your only retirement plans are to collect Social Security benefits and use Medicare to supplement your health insurance plan. What's the problem? Many of us have absolutely no idea what any of this means or how about obtaining information about the process involved with receiving these benefits. V.R. Leonard has written an informative, yet easy to understand book entitled, The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Mortgage Broker: Inside Secrets You Need to Know. Within the pages of this publication, readers can learn about: The history of Social Security, and exactly what it is. The different programs associated with Social Security benefits, and how people qualify for them. How to apply for Social Security benefits. Explanations about Medicare benefits. What to do if you're denied for either Social Security or Medicare There are several things I really liked about this book. Number one was the fact that it was set up in an easy format of "what is this," and "what do I do when" type questions and answers. Number two was the summaries at the end of each chapter. This allowed me to peruse quickly through subjects that were of interest, and find others that I didn't realize were part of the process. And, number three, learning insights from professionals is always a benefit for me no matter what subject I'm reading about and I found it particularly useful in this case.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Pantry Cleaner: Chemical Free Cleaning; Author: Visit Amazon's Mysti Reutlinger Page; Review: When I saw Mysti offering her book as a pre-order WITH an autograph, I knew that was too good to pass up! I love holding books in my hands, particularly when they're such a good resource like this one. One day, I'll have an e-reader. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my print books. The Pantry Cleaner: Chemical Free Cleaning is just what our family ordered. My husband suffers from pancreatitis and now has issues with his liver. My youngest son has severe allergies. So, finding ways to keep the family healthy is high on our list of priorities - including how we clean. I've been interested in natural cleaners for two reasons: (1) I've read that they're more cost-effective, and (2) I've also read that if you can't eat it you shouldn't be using it to clean with. Mysti's compiled a collection of cleaning recipes that will allow me to venture from room to room with ease. I'm keeping this book in my kitchen with my cookbooks. Even though it isn't a cookbook, per se, this kitchen guide is a useful addition to the rest of the go-to guides I want my family to frequent. Its slim size makes it easy for tucking into my household binder, too, so I might put it there. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Stolen Life: A Memoir; Author: Jaycee Dugard; Review: . . . and had difficulty putting it down. It was difficult for me to separate the fact that she's not a professional writer, per se, but rather a storyteller recounting her experiences throughout the years. When taking that into consideration, this book works well. It surprises me she was able to write this book so soon after her rescue, to be honest, considering how fresh and uncertain everything really is for her and her daughters. That shows so much strength and courage. I hope, in the future, she'll write another memoir. I'd love to read her thoughts after she's been out of the situation for awhile and living free without worry (aside from the regular day-to-day worries we all experience, of course).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Santa Shop (The Samaritans Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tim Greaton Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book! Have you ever started reading a book and felt an immediate connection with the characters? That's exactly how I felt as I paged through this relatively quick read. And, by quick read I don't mean a book you skip passed pages just to get through - I mean quick read in the sense that, one you start reading, you cannot put the book down! It's nearly impossible! I finished this book in two sittings. It's not a long book, though I wish it were because I didn't want it to end. I'm hoping I'll find a sequel in print and, if there isn't one, I'm hoping Mr. Greaton is writing it NOW. While I wait, I'll continue highly recommending this book to everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rapid Recipes for Writers . . . And Other Busy People eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Marsha Ward Page; Review: This is the first year in awhile I've decided to take the plunge back into NaNoWriMo madness. However, I can't neglect my family's stomachs - or mine, for that matter. Keeping up with the day job, and the NaNo'ing after leaves little time for cooking, so this book is EXACTLY what I need. I've read through the recipes and a lot of the ingredients I already have on hand - and what I don't have is simple enough to pick up. I'm considering cooking some of this up ahead of time, and throwing it in the freezer!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Write a KILLER LinkedIn Profile... And 18 Mistakes to Avoid; Author: Visit Amazon's Brenda Bernstein Page; Review: I downloaded this book to my Kindle Cloud eReader a little over an hour ago, and I've already started implementing many of the tips suggested throughout the text. I'm trying to improve my Linkedin profile, and I know this ebook will help me continue doing so. The easy to follow instructions helped me work on this task without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Flicker: Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Melanie Hooyenga Page; Review: I can't wait for the second book to come out now that I'm finished with the first! I had a difficult time slowing myself down while reading because I couldn't wait to read what would happen next - very interesting plot and I loved getting to know the characters. I highly recommend this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shy Writer Reborn: An Introverted Writers Wake-up Call; Author: Visit Amazon's C. Hope Clark Page; Review: ...I wasn't sure it could be topped. I was curious as soon as I found out this second version existed. This book arrived in my life exactly when I needed it most. I've marked up the pages, highlighted passages and did my homework. I love the personal stories throughout, as well as the informative tips. I've been a professional freelance writer since 1999, and Hope touched on so many of the issues I've struggled with for so long. I'll be posting a longer, more formal review on my blog because this book is helping me explore areas of my career I didn't think I could touch upon previously.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Be Not Dismayed: A Story Of Spiritual Triumph; Author: Visit Amazon's Bob Havey Page; Review: My children are twelve and fourteen, and my stepdaughter is thirteen. The entire time I was reading Bob's story, all I could think about was how I couldn't imagine going through this with any of my children. This story recounts such an emotional journey and, even though it is short and to the point (I was able to read it in two sitting because I just couldn't put it down!!!!), it is powerful. I'm so glad Bob shared his story - it's one everyone should read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Substitute Teacher's Organizer: A Comprehensive Resource to Make Every Teaching Assignment a Success; Author: Jane Herbst; Review: This is exactly what I was looking for - I love that the book pulls apart and that readers can reproduce the pages. I was able to put my binder together and get everything organized in no time at all. My favorite parts about this book are the suggestions for the substitute teacher's "bag of tricks," as well as the tips for how to stay on task when the teacher's lesson plan has gaps and the substitute needs to find time fillers. I've supplemented this binder with some of my own printables found on teacherspayingteachers.com but, all in all, this is an excellent resource I'll be using every year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mostly Dead Melvin; Author: Visit Amazon's Foinah Jameson Page; Review: Not only is the book well-written, but it is hilarious! I really didn't expect such a humorous twist in a vampire book and it is such a welcomed change in comparison to so many of the others currently crowding the market right now - I LOVED this story! Jameson created a really fun read and it's one I highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Burn Baby, Burn Baby; Author: Visit Amazon's Kevin Craig Page; Review: I absolutely loved this book - so much that, after being invited to participate in the book's blog tour, I purchased the book on it's release date. If that doesn't say something about the book, I don't know what does. I couldn't wait to get this book on my Kindle so I could read it AGAIN. There are few books I like reading more than once, but this is going on to that list. I read a LOT of YA titles (my Goodreads list attests to this fact) and I'm not afraid to tell it straight when an author's plot is shaky, if the characters don't pull me in, or if I simply can't finish the book because it turns me off. I didn't have any of these issues with this book because I quickly fell in love with the characters, I was immediately drawn into the plot (nope, I'm not going to reveal spoilers), and I read this book in one sitting - and yes, I want MORE. I highly recommend Craig's work!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Crayola Beginnings Baby 20ct Jumbles; Brand: ; Review: I originally got this toy to take along to restaurants for my 1.5 yr old. I find them to be very sturdy. However, I think at this point, they're a bit advanced for her age and may be better when she can push things together more. She's more interested in carrying them around in her mouth than putting them together. Even with me aiding in play, she's not too interested in them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Beginnings Baby 20ct Jumbles; Brand: ; Review: I originally got this toy to take along to restaurants for my 1.5 yr old. I find them to be very sturdy. However, I think at this point, they're a bit advanced for her age and may be better when she can push things together more. She's more interested in carrying them around in her mouth than putting them together. Even with me aiding in play, she's not too interested in them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Beginnings Baby 20ct Jumbles; Brand: ; Review: I originally got this toy to take along to restaurants for my 1.5 yr old. I find them to be very sturdy. However, I think at this point, they're a bit advanced for her age and may be better when she can push things together more. She's more interested in carrying them around in her mouth than putting them together. Even with me aiding in play, she's not too interested in them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crayola Beginnings Baby 20ct Jumbles; Brand: ; Review: I originally got this toy to take along to restaurants for my 1.5 yr old. I find them to be very sturdy. However, I think at this point, they're a bit advanced for her age and may be better when she can push things together more. She's more interested in carrying them around in her mouth than putting them together. Even with me aiding in play, she's not too interested in them.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fisher-Price Little People Disney Princess: Ariel's Coach; Brand: Fisher-Price; Review: My daughter in nearing 4 and very interested in the Disney princesses. That said, I am not sure the age span for this as noted "5yrs"...Little people products are very durable and have held up nicely in the past, but do seem a little for younger children. That said, my daughter is more interested in the "character" aspect of Ariel and Eric than anything. She'll play with this for a good amount of time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Play House! Reusable Sticker Pad; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Really cool idea- my 5 year old was very entertained by all the page choices and clothing pages. The reusable aspect was appealing to me. I had purchased this for a road trip...NOT useful in the car. This pad is too large for a lap. The reusable clothes pages were first, then the doll pages. The top was not spiral bound and it kept flipping back down. After some use, the pages starting coming apart from the binding. This would be a great gift idea for prek thru 1st grade. I've seen them at TJMaxx too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Play House! Reusable Sticker Pad; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Really cool idea- my 5 year old was very entertained by all the page choices and clothing pages. The reusable aspect was appealing to me. I had purchased this for a road trip...NOT useful in the car. This pad is too large for a lap. The reusable clothes pages were first, then the doll pages. The top was not spiral bound and it kept flipping back down. After some use, the pages starting coming apart from the binding. This would be a great gift idea for prek thru 1st grade. I've seen them at TJMaxx too.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Kindred in Death; Author: Visit Amazon's J. D. Robb Page; Review: I kept waiting for the snappy, often hilarious interplay between Eve and the wonderful cast of characters and it was not there! The case was interesting, but the interactions between Eve and the other characters that makes the series so enjoyable was simply not there. Disappointing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dragon Keeper (The Rain Wild Chronicles); Author: R. Hobb; Review: Not as good as some of her earlier series; not much of a page-turner and seems like a slow-start. While I realize there is a second book being released in May, the book should still stand on it's own and it doesn't. There is no resolution, no anticipation of the next part of the story. The ending of the book feels like someone picked a random page out of a larger book and just stopped; as though I only got a portion of the book and not the whole work. I would suggest waiting until the next part is released before buying.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Story (Dresden Files, No. 13); Author: Visit Amazon's Jim Butcher Page; Review: Anxiously awaited this book and have been curious to see the direction Jim Butcher is going to take Harry. In Changes, Dresden is stripped of just about everything - home, girlfriend, car, office, his trademark leather duster, his new-found daughter and with his deal with Mab he lost control of his very future. In Ghost Story, Harry is condensed down to only his soul; the pure essence of Harry Dresden as in death, he is now separated from his remaining family, friends, and even his magic. From here Jim Butcher has begun rebuilding Harry Dresden. Harry is introspective in this book recognizing the events that shaped him to be the person he is today and maybe seeing outside influences at work that had previously gone unnoticed. By the end of the book, I felt that Dresden, perhaps for the first time, has a solid grasp of exactly who he is, how he got there and of his own formidable strength of mind and spirit. Of course, there was plenty of action while Harry tries to help a friend, battle unfriendly spirits and an old enemy all while trying to solve his own murder. I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the Dresden Files; it kept my interest, the plot was original and not predictable, it was thoughtfully and intelligently done. Agree with some other reviewers that it would have been nice to have had more resolution between Harry and some of the other characters but Jim has said he plans on writing several more Harry Dresden books so this is something that I suspect he plans for the future. The Dresden Files are one of my favorites and I read a LOT of books. Jim, please keep them coming; the quicker the better but please not at the expense of your usual high standard of quality. This one did not disappoint!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's Edge; Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsay Buroker Page; Review: Lindsay Burokers is an excellent story-teller and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Quite a page-turner. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Currents: The Emperor's Edge Book 2 (The Emperor's Edge Fantasy Adventure); Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsay Buroker Page; Review: Excellent story - Ms. Burokers is the consummate story-teller. Enjoyed all of her books that I have read and look forward to enjoying more of her writing in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Encrypted; Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsay Buroker Page; Review: Once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down. Very well written, excellent story. Look forward to seeing more of her work in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sterling (Mageri Series: Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Dannika Dark Page; Review: Good read! Enjoyed the story and the characters and definitely left me wanting more. The book could use some editing as there were spelling and grammar errors but excellent story. I look forward to future installments.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TWIST A Mageri Series Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dannika Dark Page; Review: In this sequel to Sterling, Silver is trying to find more information about the Mage that captured and tortured her in Sterling. There is more than one unexpected twist in this book but I don't want to give any spoilers. I can say it is a good read and does not disappoint. Look forward to the next installment!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doubletake (Cal Leandros); Author: Visit Amazon's Rob Thurman Page; Review: Other reviewers have given a good overview of the storyline so I won't repeat that here. Learned more about Cal and Niko's childhood and there was definite character growth for Cal in this book. What I have some issues with, though, is I found a lot of repetitive material in the story and I didn't much care for the description of activities at the Puck reunion and felt the Grimm internal dialogue was too lengthy and also seemed to say the same thing over and over. The overall story was excellent but felt the book needed some additional editing as the story seemed to really bog down at times. This is the first Rob Thurman book that had these problems so hope the next one is back to her usual level of excellence.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Defiance: A Significance Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Shelly Crane Page; Review: I love the Significance series and I enjoyed the overall storyline in Defiance but when I read there is also a "reality check" meter working and it failed more than once in this book. For me, this brings me out of the story. For example, without giving too much of a spoiler, there is a point in the story when Maggie's enemies turn events requiring her to give blood for a medical test. They also manipulate it so one of their people draws the blood. Maggie agrees to this, knowing it is a ploy to get more of her blood. Why not agree to the test but only if someone not an enemy draws her blood? There is a simple solution to the problem but it's not even considered. To me this book just felt like there were too many loose ends and I didn't feel like the overall quality was up to the first two books. This said, though, the overall story was good, it had a very satisfying ending, and I am looking forward to the fourth book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mageborn: The Archmage Unbound: (Book 3) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael G. Manning Page; Review: Book 3 of the Mageborn series does not disappoint! The story captured my attention and didn't let go. Michael Manning skillfully brings you into the world he has created and the action and the characters keep the reader entertained and wanting more. In this installment, we learn more about Mordecai's abilities and also more about his and his country's history. And, of course, there are intrigues and battles that must be faced. The books are a well-rounded mixture of magic, action, light romance, and political maneuvering with good doses of humor mixed in. I really appreciate the intelligence and thought that the author brings into these books and I look forward to the next installment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bakkian Chronicles, Book I: The Prophecy; Author: Jeffrey M. Poole; Review: The book started out really slow and the dialogue between the two main characters didn't flow too well for the first half of the book but about midway, the book took off. Definite improvement in writing in the last half of the book. Overall, a good story, interesting characters, liked the world, am currently reading Book II and enjoying it so far.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood Song: Book 1 of Raven's Shadow; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Ryan Page; Review: This book was a very pleasant surprise. Extremely well-written story of a young warrior. The depth of the characters was astonishing, the story grabbed me and wouldn't let go. I wanted to keep reading but will have to wait til the next book is out. I very highly recommend this book. Just one request to the author - please be careful with "rein" and "reign"; "reign" was misused a lot for "rein" - just a very minor notation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Impulse (Mageri Series: Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Dannika Dark Page; Review: I have read several series written by many different authors and many of them really seem to lag in the middle - almost seems like they are just filling in until they get to the conclusion. There is no lag in this series, the story just keeps moving. What I really appreciated about this book was the author not only gave us action and storyline movement, but she also managed to include considerable background information about some of the favorite characters in the series which helped understand them and their motivations much better but not at the expense of the storyline. If you haven't read the first two books by Dannika Dark, Sterling and Twist, you will want to prior to reading this book as this book builds on the two prior novels.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Iron Butterfly (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Chanda Hahn Page; Review: Chanda Hahn is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I found the story very engaging, original, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought she did an excellent job of conveying emotions that resulted from torture and loss of memory. If you have no memory of your family, where do you start to look for them? How do you even begin to rebuild your life? I can understand how a young girl would want to find some kind of relationship as an anchor in a strange and new environment. Yes, there was some "cute guy, bitchy girl in school" but it was by no means the entire book or even the main storyline. I immediately bought the second book in the series, The Steele Wolf, and found it equally engaging. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deadly Sting (Elemental Assassin); Author: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Estep Page; Review: Overall, I really liked this book - full of action, well-written, kept my interest. I agree with some of the other reviewers that I am impressed that Ms. Estep is able to keep fresh ideas for Gin since Mab's death. My two big concerns with this book are Gin's relationship with Owen and some of the fight scenes. First about Owen (spoilers ahead). His actions just seem so out of character from what was shown of his personality and feelings towards Gin in prior books. He was always so accepting of her role as an assassin, seemed to love her for who she is and seemed like a solid presence in her life. I can see him being a bit put off with Gin killing Salina, but come on, the woman was bad news through and through and needed to be put down. If Gin gets back with him after the way he has treated her in this book, she needs someone to sit her down and point out this guy has been a real jerk and she may want to rethink her relationship with him. He needed to be there for Gin and he wasn't. Even at a crucial fight scene, he left her alone to fight by herself. I did get a bit frustrated with some of the fight scenes, I kept wondering if this woman was such a great assassin, why did she have such a hard time killing some of these giants? It seemed like she was always a moment too slow, slipped, or was somehow awkward and missed her mark. There was one scene on the balcony where the protagonist was an easy target for a bullet in the head, Gin and three of her companions all had guns, and no one took the shot. Will I continue reading the series - absolutely! Would I recommend this and the other books in the series - big yes there too! Just couldn't give this one five stars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Change; Author: Visit Amazon's Melissa Stevens Page; Review: There was much to like about this book - the main characters were for the most part likeable and I enjoyed the shifter world the author built. The biggest problem I had with this book was I kept expecting some action, some story to develop, something besides descriptions and explanations of the "change". Just didn't happen.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Kitty in the Underworld (Kitty Norville); Author: Visit Amazon's Carrie Vaughn Page; Review: In Kitty in the Underworld, Kitty is kidnapped by a small cult who, it turns out, is determined to destroy Roman. I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I have past offerings by Carrie Vaughn. I think my biggest problem is that it wasn't much of a page turner. There were pages and pages of Kitty having internal thoughts about everything that happened without much else going on and not much being resolved by all this internal woolgathering. I am not sure how this book moved the storyline forward. There were no new revelations, no progress in finding Roman, very little interaction between Kitty and her support group. All in all, a bit of a disappointment.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cast in Sorrow (Chronicles of Elantra); Author: Visit Amazon's Michelle Sagara Page; Review: I have really enjoyed this series but was disappointed with this book. I felt lost in a great deal of it as so much of it seemed abstract and in much of the dialogue it was difficult to know who was speaking. For the first third of the book I wasn't really sure exactly what was happening. If you are a fan of the series, I think you will need to read this installment of the story just be prepared to be confused.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mageborn: The Final Redemption: Book 5 (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Michael G. Manning Page; Review: I have enjoyed this whole series and have eagerly awaited each new book and was never disappointed. Book 5 is not a disappointment either. The story keeps moving, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you never know what the next page is going to disclose. There are very well-written fight scenes, suspense, drama, magic, tragedy, and fantasy. Well done and highly recommended. I would suggest reading the series in order.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Undead Pool; Author: Visit Amazon's Kim Harrison Page; Review: I have been a big fan of the Hollows books for many years, anxiously awaiting each new installment. I have to say The Undead Pool is my favorite by far. The action keeps moving, great character development for many of the main characters, and just a feeling of things finally coming together. Thoroughly enjoyable read and one of the few books I really look forward to re-reading! Excellent job Ms. Harrison!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Capturing Cara: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 2: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's S. E. Smith Page; Review: I thoroughly enjoy sci fi and fiction and throw in a little romance and I am a very happy reader but this book was just silly. I didn't even finish reading it. This girl is a mechanic but is also surprisingly some sort of computer genius who can figure out an alien computer system in an alien language in just a matter of minutes and successfully hide from high tech security systems?? Like I said, silly.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Six Months (Seven); Author: Visit Amazon's Dannika Dark Page; Review: Huge fan of Dannika Dark, love the Mageri Series and Seven Years is my favorite book of hers to date. That said, I just could not get into this book and found it very difficult to read. The main female character just had so much BAD happening to her it was depressing and I couldn't relate to any of her decisions on how to handle her problems. I do love the shifter world Dannika is making, though, and have high hopes for future installments.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Song of the Sea Spirit (The Mindstream Chronicles) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's K.C. May Page; Review: Thoroughly enjoyed this new book by KC May. It is entertaining, fast paced, original, and everything I love about a good fantasy novel. The characters were engaging, the world she built was fascinating and I am eager to read the next installment. If you are looking for a good book - get this one - you won't regret it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood Charged (Dragon Blood) (Volume 3); Author: Lindsay A Buroker; Review: Another excellent effort by Lindsay Buroker who is steadily becoming one of my favorite authors. Like all her books, this one is full of interesting, complex, and mostly likable characters who are the framework of a fast-paced, sit on the edge of your seat, good story. One thing I really like about Ms Buroker's writing style is she doesn't use shortcuts or worn out plot lines to weave her stories. There is just a really great story that quickly captures your interest and pulls you into the world made from the authors imagination.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Book of Life: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy); Author: Visit Amazon's Deborah Harkness Page; Review: There were so many unanswered questions, so many pauses in the storyline, I can't really understand all the five star reviews. I finished the series trying to see why so many people found this series so special and while I did finish reading the books, at the end I was left scratching my head because in a lot of ways many of the plot points made no sense. POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD: The romance between Matthew and Diana was interesting, the problem faced by the creatures was fascinating but not really adequately explained or resolved (especially for the vampires), the mystery of "the book" was left a mystery, no explanation or understanding of how Benjamin had so many supporters among the witches, and the list goes on.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Lammas Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Katherine Kurtz Page; Review: I just finished Lammas Night. Like the Adept series, I couldn't put it down. This book at the end is a real tear jerker. However the abiding love between the characters more than makes up for the ending. I highly reccomend this book. I just wish she would write more about John Graham. He is a character with a lot of depth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Younger Gods; Author: Visit Amazon's David Eddings Page; Review: I have always been a fan of David Eddings. I have bought every book of his that has come out. However, The Younger Gods, was very disappointing. The ending was too contrived. With everything that has hppened, how does it just become a dream. The characters were okay, but he could have expanded on a lot of them. The plot became wooden. I hope his next book is better than this one was.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Don't Die, Dragonfly (The Seer Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Linda Joy Singleton Page; Review: I enjoyed reading this book because the main character is different. She has a gift that many people don't understand or is afraid of. She is kicked out of school and home and sent to live with her grandmother who is also psychic. I guess I really like the way she uses her gift for good. I am not a teenager, but I remember those years. I enjoy reading how Sabine copes with every thing going on.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter (4 Volumes set); Author: Visit Amazon's J. K. Rowling Page; Review: In my humble opinion this final installment is a real page turner. The ending, without giving it a way was nail biting excitement. But you all will have to read it yourself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book 2; Author: J.K. Rowling; Review: In my humble opinion this final installment is a real page turner. The ending, without giving it a way was nail biting excitement. But you all will have to read it yourself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7; Author: J.K. Rowling; Review: In my humble opinion this final installment is a real page turner. The ending, without giving it a way was nail biting excitement. But you all will have to read it yourself.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Serial Killing Mom : The True Story of Janie Lou Gibbs; Author: Jane Carlisle; Review: The book was okay. It did tell the story of Janie Gibbs, but it was boring and not worth reading.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Down and Dirty (A J.J. Graves Mystery) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Liliana Hart Page; Review: I chose the rating of four because of typos. The book is interesting and kept my attention. I liked the ending about the wedding. JJ talked about what she would remember. I would highly recommend this book and hope we see more of Jack and JJ.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: ProfilHotels Calmar Stadshotell; City: Kalmar Kalmar County; Review: Location is excellent, close to shopping and culture. I also liked the breakfast menu, but the big room that it is served in is a bit cold. The staff is proffessional and friendly. Rooms are a bit warm in my taste, but if you open the window it works fine. Shampoo and such feel low budget and smell much so make sure to bring your own. We ate lunch, dinner and coffe here, and that was good quality. Mini cooler in the room is cold and nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Ideon Gasteri; City: Lund Skane County; Review: First impression was sadly that it was extremely hard to find using a map and a car! With a GPS it's easier though. This hotel is located in the center of the university campus area. That is probably great if you have buisniess in the area, but if you have other reasons to visit Lund you might consider another stay if u like to walk to "everything". Otherwise it is great! With the hotel bicycle you can easily get anywere in town fast. Some of the staff was extremely helpful and friendly, I much appriciated that. The room was also nice, freash, new TV and it was easy to feel at home there. My room had a bath tub, could be a plus if you like that. Breakfast held high quality, but not containing "everything" that you might expect, but it was very good anyway.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clarion Collection Hotel Fregatten; City: Varberg Varberg Municipality Halland County West Coa; Review: This hotel is located very close to the Varberg fortress, only a few minutes walk. The same with the city center. It offers an evening buffé, a "fika" buffé and a breakfast buffé, food is plenty that is. The complete food experience was kind of average though, not everything was presented in a apeticing way. The hotel feels overall very fresh and is probably rescently renovated inside. From the outside it looks a bit boring, and the view from my room was a parking garage, but it was OK. Intreresting and fitting design in the hallways and in the rooms, a feeling of seaside/harbour. Rooms are nice, especially the bathrooms, but my television was old, so no HDMI there sadly. The staff made some blunders when I stayed there, such as disturbing me in my room and not remembering that I provided a voucher at arraival. No big deal, but still rememberable since I am not used to it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hanoi Hibiscus Hotel; City: Hanoi; Review: Perfect location and very helpful staff. Not high end quality, but priceworthy and very much how I like it. We stayed in two different rooms (since we had one night i Sapa in between). There are rooms with a window facing the street and there are those that face the building backside, you should probably specify that you want a room facing the street. It is a quiet street (almost no mototrbikes and no cars allowed). We got nice help booking a two day tour to Sapa and also train tickets south when we were leaving.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ngoc Anh Hotel; City: Ninh Binh Ninh Binh Province; Review: Helpful staff and very clean room. Location does not really matter in this town, but I think it was okay. Just on the other side of the street there was a very good restaurant for tourists. The hotel arranged the perfect day tour with two motorbike drivers, we loved it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Hotel Gyllene Hornet; City: Tallberg Dalarna County; Review: We celebrated a 60 year birtfay here and had dinner buffé. It was really good and worth every penny. The staff were proffessional and nice. Unfortunally we did not stay at this hotel, but we probably will next time we want to have a weekend in Dalarna.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: First Hotel Billingehus; City: Skovde Vastra Gotaland County West Coast; Review: The view from the restaurant is top notch, especially when it is dark and the city is glowing. Breakfast and the food was also very good. We did unfortunally have one unpleasant experience with one of the waitresses, she was unfriendly and a bit rude to say the least. Also, when we returned to our rooms on day two, all of our cards were wiped, so we could not get in. We did get help, but I had to go to rthe reception twice to fix this problem. Most of the staff provided excellent service and had a big smile. The building itself is a piece of art, so that alone i a reason to visit the hotel. Also, in the cellar there is a SPA with a nice wimming pool in a relaxed atmosphere. Room was okay, but the TV was from the neolitic stone age.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dol Aur Bed And Breakfast; City: Harlech Snowdonia National Park North Wales Wales; Review: We stayed here two nights for taking hiking trips in the mountains. Loved it. Angela was very welcoming and easy to talk to. Harlech town is kind of small with limited number of restaurants, but as long you are prepared for that it is fine. The view from this house is amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: De Vere Tortworth Court; City: Tortworth Gloucestershire England; Review: From arraival to check out we were feeling a bit like "this is to good to be true", but I guess it was true. The lobby is amazing, castle feeling and stylish hotel at the same time. The staff was very kind to us, even though I felt not as fancy as the place was. The room was quiet and the standard was above most hotels I ever visited. Good food too! I highly recommend this place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elite Stora Hotellet; City: Orebro Orebro County; Review: Highly recommended! The staff was very friendly and we felt that they wanted us to be happy. Our room was one of the better ones I have stayed in. Breakfast with waffles and palm oil free nutella, I wouldn't ask for more. Location is also 5/5.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Kidzlane Durable Kids Play Dishes - Pretend Play Childrens Dish Set - 29 Piece with Drainer; Brand: Kidzlane; Review: Dishes arrived very quickly! I purchased this dish set for my daughters new kidkraft kitchen & they are a lot bigger than I expected. Very good quality!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mommy & Me TWIN Doll Pram Back to Back with Swiveling Wheels & Free Carriage Bag - 9668; Brand: Mommy & Me Doll Collection; Review: Very nice stroller! I was worried about this stroller being too short as my 6 year old is tall for her age but it fits perfectly with the adjustable handle. Stroller was very easy to assemble and my daughter absolutely loves the swiveling wheels. Highly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug Slice-and-Bake Wooden Cookie Play Food Set, Pretend Play, Materials, 28 Pieces, 10.5" H x; Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Purchased as a Christmas gift for my six year old and she loves it! She has been baking cookies for us since Christmas morning. Very cute and durable set.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KidKraft 18-Inch Dollhouse Doll Manor; Brand: KidKraft; Review: This was my daughters big Christmas gift this Christmas. She was speechless and in love! This house is massive and at 5'6 a little taller than me. The pieces are huge so it didn't take us long to put together maybe 1 hour and 30 min. Great quality furniture it's all solid wood.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KidKraft Deluxe Big & Bright Kitchen; Brand: KidKraft; Review: Purchased this for my 7 year old for Christmas and its the perfect size. She loves the bright colors! The phone and the clock were definitely a bonus for her. Like most Kidkraft kitchens, there are a million pieces to put together but its so worth it. Kitchen is very sturdy. Great quality overall.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Mommy Sweet As Me Modern Princess Baby Doll; Brand: Little Mommy; Review: My daughter loves little mommy dolls sweet as me dolls so she was happy with this doll. However, as the person who purchased it I was disappointed that the doll pictured is not what we received. There is no sequined top its more of a sequin print on a regular cotton top.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DG Eyewear Designer Vintage Oversized Women's Sunglasses / Celebrity Shades - Chanpagne; Brand: moda; Review: I bought these for a 70's party, they were perfect! They take up half of my face and everyone loved them and wanted to try them on. I did not wear for a long period of time but they seemed comfortable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rubie's Super Size Blond Afro Wig, Yellow, One Size; Brand: ; Review: This wig is huge! It is more like a shower cap in nature cause it is puffy sort of and has a built in piece of foam. You could stuff it if you wanted to fill it out but I did not. I wore it for a 70's party with a scarf tied around it. Great purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Urban Identity Women's Sweetheart Lace Sleeveless Dress; Brand: Urban Identity; Review: This is a heavy knit with a lining. Seemed good quality, a little on the short side. I am 5'4" and have longer legs than body. I wore this with thin leggings for a costume.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 70th Birthday Gifts Made 1949 All Original Parts T-Shirt; Brand: ; Review: Arrived on time. Seems good quality. My father in law loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bank-77 Kids Slouchy Leatherette Rhinestone Button Mid Calf Flat Motorcycle Boots; Brand: Lucky Top; Review: My daughter loves these. We bought in black. I did not notice an odor. They fit true to size. We have had over a month. They have scuffs but not more than normal wear. Happy with our purchase and would buy again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunzel Waist Corset Weight Loss Sport Body Shaper Tummy Fat Burner; Brand: Sunzel; Review: They arrived fast and seem fine and should work for hanging things on my fridge but I am not sure I would consider them heavy duty.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: These are soft and have well placed pockets. I ordered an xs tall. I am 54 and 130 but I do have long legs and short rise. I still have plenty of room in the seat, legs and rise, but I have slim hips and a flat butt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Koi Women's Lindsey Cargo Scrub Pant; Brand: ; Review: These are soft and have well placed pockets. I ordered an xs tall. I am 54 and 130 but I do have long legs and short rise. I still have plenty of room in the seat, legs and rise, but I have slim hips and a flat butt.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Be Cool (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Constantine (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Final Cut (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: City of God (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: House of 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sin City (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Swimming Pool (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Snatch (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legends of the Fall (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Troy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trainspotting: Collector's Edition (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lock (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Way of the Gun (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Professional (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost in the Shell (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The City of Lost Children (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American History X (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Killing Zoe (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brazil (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Unleashed (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret Window (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hours (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ray (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fallen (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sophie's Choice (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: House of Sand and Fog (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Omega Code (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Little Women (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Crimes (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Buddy Holly Story (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Family Man (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Evelyn (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rock Star (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Agnes Browne (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Charlotte Gray (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Capture the Castle (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wit (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: All or Nothing (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Olio; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I love this restaurant. The atmosphere is intimate and the service is great. The cocktails are inventive and the food is amazing. I definitely recommend trying the egg salad, the beet salad, and the octopus. Highly recommend!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladue Nail and Spa; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I previously went to this Ladue Nails location and they did an ok manicure and pedicure. I came a few days ago and got a shellac manicure. If started peeling off four days later. I called and the person who answered the phone said the manicure was "guaranteed to last 2 weeks" and said to come in to fix it. I came in and the manicurist was horribly rude. She rushed through my pedicure and quickly re did my nails (which they did poorly in the first place). She was actually hurting me at some points to the point where I thought my fingers might be bleeding. She made me quite uncomfortable because she was clearly angry. She then told me that I should have come back right away of the shellac was peeling. I told her that I did come the day after I called. She then said it could last for 2 weeks. I told her that her co worker told me that it was guaranteed. Luckily someone came over and said it was fine and they took care of it. The main point is - RUDE EMPLOYEES. Terrible service.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clayton Nail Spa; City: Clayton, MO; Review: The BEST nail spa in Saint Louis. I have been to many other nail salons and they can not compare. The staff at Clayton Nail Spa are friendly and professional. Above all, they do a fabulous job. My shellac manicures last at least 3 weeks!! Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sugarfire Smoke House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The best brisket in St. Louis! We did a blind taste test with other bbq brisket in town (because some friends were non believers) and Sugarfire won unanimously. It is delicious and consistent. We have ordered for several parties that we've thrown and sugarfire never disappoints. Highly recommend!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Akar; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Love! The restaurant was very intimate (seats 12 inside). The food was perfection. We loved everything we ordered (which we split all the small plates). Service was great. We will Be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tani Sushi Bistro; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The service was great. I really liked that they were accommodating and wrapped my sushi in cucumber instead of rice. Thanks and I'll be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pastaria; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Pastaria is always on point. The service is great and I always love everything I order. It's also the best place for kids. We go early (before the crowd) and the food comes out right away. It's my sons favorite! Thanks!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Rewa House B B; City: Tairua Coromandel Peninsula Waikato Region North Island; Review: Staying 3 nights at Rewa B&B redefined the meaning of High Quality B&B for us. Hosts Trish & Jeff are the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and after a day or two you feel as if you have been friends for years. The rooms are beautifully furnished, meticulously clean and so comfortable. Our 3 breakfasts were the best I've ever had the pleasure of consuming with so many options offered whilst enjoying entertaining conversations at the same time as being served by these delightful hosts. Local knowledge of all the attractions and facilities made a big difference to the pleasures of our day trips. Trish helped out with several of the bookings and general advice on routes to take and things to do. These included the Coramandel Railway, a Cathedral Cove boat trip, the Lost Springs hot pools and restaurant, the Twin Tides restaurant in Tairua, for which Trish kindly drove us to and picked us up after a delicious dinner, a local massage and the Hot Water Beach, for which Jeff thoughfully provided us with a shovel to dig our hole with. If you go to New Zealand dont miss the Coramandel Peninsula and if you are lucky enough to get the opportunity to stay at this superb B& B you'll add an amazing experience to a fabulous holiday.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok; City: Bangkok; Review: For our first visit to Bangkok we chose this hotel simply because it has the number one rating on Tripadvisor. The location is great, made better by the excellent free ferry service to and from the Skytrain Station. Due to the recent drop off in tourist numbers we were given a free upgrade to a River View room, superb views and amazing value for the quality. The only restaurant we tried at the hotel was the Barge View. They provide a fantastic "all you can eat" dinner in which you can help yourself to the buffet and order whatever you like from the menu as well. Small tasty portions which you can reorder as many times as you like. Take care if you are drinking wine though. As for all Thailand hotels wine is expensive, our 2 glasses each of one of the cheapest wines on the menu cost us more than double the cost of the meal. Like all hotels we stayed at in Thailand 17% is added to the bill for service charge and government taxes so you need to remember this when ordering drinks. Chatrium's breakfast offers an outstanding range of food, spoilt a little by running out of much of that on offer after 9.30am and although generally replenished it took some time for this to happen. Small problem also when my wife and I ordered poached eggs at the same time. We were told to return to our table and they would be delivered to us. Hers arrived after 5 minutes but I had to return to the chef twice, being told each time "one moment please" with the chef disappearing to the kitchen and reappearing to return to his omelette station without giving me an answer as to what happened to my order. Worth waiting for though as when they appeared 15 minutes later they were cooked to perfection. I have advised Chatrium's management of my minor complaint regarding replenishing supply and they have assured me they will fix it. We were interested to read of an odd experience encountered by another recent guest as the same thing happened to us. After alighting from the Chatrium boat at the skytrain station a lady approached us and said "Hi, don't you remember me? I work at the Chatrium Suites, in the office" We hadn't seen her but struck up a conversation and she asked us where we were going. We told her the MBK shopping center and she advised us it doesn't open until 1.30pm (a lie) and suggested we get a tuk tuk to the Thai Trade Centre as "today only they have a 30% discount and you can get almost anything there". She marked it on the map and the tuk tuk driver took us to a very expensive jewelery store. We'd been through this the day before after a temples tour and were wary of the pressure they put on you to buy so fortunately were not taken in by this but it is a scam. As a general tip don't believe anyone who; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough; City: Scarborough Stirling Greater Perth Western Australia; Review: We are regular visitors to this hotel as we love the location, and it is one of the few 4 or 5 star hotels available at Perth beachside location. Perth has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches but quality accommodation nearby any of these is very limited. If it is your first visit to Perth and you only have a week or so you would be better to split your accommodation between hotels in Perth city and Fremantle. If you’ve done the tourist bit and want a relaxing break by a lovely beach then this is hard to beat. Most of the rooms are well placed with fabulous views up and down the coast. The rooms are a decent size, a little dated but comfortable though flat screen TV’s are yet to be introduced. The hotel has a fabulous day spa, which for us is the main attraction. After a heavenly 90 minute massage at Vanilla Spa you don’t feel capable of driving anywhere so staying overnight is the way to go. The hotel service is mediocre and could be easily improved. On each of our stays we have requested a late check out on our booking form and again at check-in. Instead of logging in this request we are always told to make the request again the next morning. We thought this shouldn’t be necessary but made the call anyway. As on every previous occasion we were told the hotel was fully booked the next night and so no late checkouts were being allowed. With little effort this could be changed as check out is 3 hours before the first check in is allowed and from 10am to 11am the queue to check out averages 10 people or more. No doubt the cleaners are kept busy for the full 3 hours so why not allow the small percentage of people who want to stay till midday or 1pm to do so? Especially those who request it in advance, who could all be allocated to a single floor and that floor being the last one cleaned – can’t be too hard! We have always previously enjoyed breakfast at this hotel but this has sadly deteriorated beyond belief. If you turn up at 9am on a Sunday you are faced with long queues for everything available. The food counters which used to have cereals, fruit, juices and hot food on separate counters are now all together and it is a long wait to get any of these items. Omelettes, poached or scrambled eggs are no longer on offer and if you are really lucky some oily fried eggs will be left when you reach the end of the queue. Coffee, which was always delivered to your table previously, is no longer served and another long wait is necessary to get to a complex machine from which you can make your own (first 4 star hotel we have visited around the world which doesn’t serve coffee to their guests at their tables). If the management can improve the breakfasts and add a little; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Settlers House York; City: York Avon Valley Western Australia; Review: My wife and I returned to this hotel 28 years after a lovely weekend there in September 1983. It’s a nice drive from Perth, the location is good, right in the middle of this lovely town. The gardens and courtyard are lovely and the outdoor eating area very nice for lunch. We went on an overnight package which included champagne and chocolates. On arrival the champagne was brought to our room at our request. When I asked about the chocolates I was told “Oh, I think we are out of chocolates”. I said I’d been looking forward to them and was told “I’ll have a look”. The lady then left without explanation and returned about 20 minutes later with some chocolates. The rooms and fittings are old and could do with some improvements. Even with the curtains open and all lights on the room was so dim it was almost impossible to read anything, unless one went into the bathroom. The TV reception was so bad you couldn’t possibly watch it. I was told by the staff “our aerial came down in the storm a few weeks ago” and “it is always bad in York”. Odd because the large screen TV in the bar has a perfect reception. Dinner at the restaurant was the saviour of this trip. They have a very good chef and the food was superb. Sizzling garlic prawns were fresh and plentiful and the 70’s style “reef and beef” was outstanding with a heap of fresh prawns and a delicious sauce over tender meat. The lamb rack was a little tough but tasty and the sticky date pudding a real treat. The restaurant service was friendly and efficient. As a result of seeing what other reviewers have said I checked the bill on our departure to find we had been overcharged by $20. Even after this was deducted some of the extras were extreme eg we were charged $24 for 2 Gin and Tonics we had at the bar in the afternoon. This was billed as “2 Gin - $17” and “2 Soda Waters - $7”. I mentioned we didn’t have any soda water and was told “that was for the tonic water in the gin”. We were also charged $16 for 2 cups of coffee each at breakfast. I said I was surprised as I expected the package breakfast would have included coffee. I was told it didn’t but after rereading the package deal after going home I found it should have been included. We were also charged $8 for 2 orange juices. I advised the receptionist “it is $3.50 on the menu. She checked it and said “so it is but that is wrong it is $4”. I couldn’t be bothered arguing about that one but charging more than the stated price is a great way to lose customers. Overall the package is reasonable value as the restaurant food alone was worth going for but the management and customer service is below expectations. A few tiny improvements and we’d be regulars but due to the charging; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Katathani Phuket Beach Resort; City: Kata Noi Beach Karon Phuket; Review: After being totally spoilt by spending 3 nights at The Shore we moved to Katathani Beach Resort and paid extra for an Ocean View Room. The room, right on the ocean edge, was fabulous, the view just amazing and all the resort facilities about the best we have ever seen. Breakfast offered a huge variation of fresh fruits, western food, tasty Thai plus fresh from the oven pastries and breads. The staff were friendly and service excellent. We didn’t eat at the hotel restaurants, preferring instead to try the local restaurants. Of these we tried several and found two to die for. The first of these was Kan Eang Seafood over at Chalong. Never mind paying the 400 Baht the hotel taxis charge to get there. The food is sensational and you save the taxi fare due to the lower prices. It’s a large place on the pier and highly recommended. The second is Bella Vista, just over the hill past Mom Tris. We’d had a lovely anniversary dinner at Mom Tris but were out of pocket 6,000 Baht and you can get better food, in an even better setting for about ½ the price at Bella Vista. My wife and I are addicted to massages and tried a few local centres before we discovered the best of the best. It’s called Kata Day Spa (not to be confused with Kata Beach Spa Massage). It’s a little hard to find, about 100 metres off the main road near Thai Boxing, but if you want a massage that is total bliss then find it. The ladies are professionally trained, polite and lovely and after our first visit we returned for a 90 minute aromatherapy massage every day. The cost is about ¼ what you would pay for the same in Australia (give the ladies a decent tip – they deserve it). For the staff at Katathani we cannot speak highly enough. Whether it’s a pool boy, a gardener, a cleaner or a receptionist you are greeted with a warm welcome every time you pass or catch their eye (most of the security guards greet you with a salute and a big smile). The rooms are thoroughly serviced and beds remade at the evening turndown service plus wet towels replaced. We just can’t wait to return next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shore at Katathani; City: Kata Beach Karon Phuket; Review: We have stayed at 5 star hotels and resorts in several countries but none compare with this. As many other reviewers have stated these villas are just as good as the brochure stays and leave you breathless when shown in by the welcoming staff. Breakfast delivered to the room on our first morning was amazing (see photo) and the facilities in the room second to none. I forgot to give a special thanks to the staff who created fabulous displays with the towels (Swans, Crabs, Elephants and Rabbits) and for leaving us wedding anniversary cakes on our 35th anniversary but I can assure them they were greatly appreciated. We stayed in Villa 8871 which I would highly recommend as there is no unit directly in front and the privacy in the infinity pool is total. The only minor negative with this unit is that it is positioned such that you can’t see the sunset. No real problem though as it has an easy shortcut access to the beach and there are plenty of places to watch a sunset from. Another plus was the fireworks. These displays seem to happen whenever there is a wedding or a special event and whilst shot from the beach they exploded just in front of our unit where we sat in the relaxation pit or the pool and watched these fabulous explosions of colour. Apart from the breakfasts, which were excellent, as were the restaurant staff, we didn’t eat at the resort, preferring to try several of the local restaurants. The best of these is Bella Vista, which we thought better than Mom Tris in food and setting and about 70% of the price. If you want a fantastic massage try Kata Day Spa. It is a little difficult to find as it is about 100m off the main road (a few hundred metres from Thai Boxing) but was the best we tried by far and after finding it we returned for a 90 minute aromatherapy massage every day. The ladies are lovely and professionally trained, which makes a huge difference in the quality of the massage. Check their website. Staying at The Shore was a wonderful experience we will never forget but if you had to pay the “shelf” price it would be just too expensive. We hope to return but will need another special deal to be able to justify it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MerPerle SeaSun Hotel; City: Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Province; Review: We didn't stay in this hotel but went there for a massage this morning. After a similar experience in Hoi An 6 months ago we very carefully checked our money before entering the spa. I left our money in my wallet in a locker and after a 1 hour massage, sauna and shower we checked our money to find we were 1 Million Dong short! We insisted the 800,000 Dong we had paid in advance for the massage be returned to us. This was returned to us immediately but we still wanted to make the management aware that this was happening. We then called for the manager, who was away, but the guest relations manager came to see us. We argued for an hour and asked for the police to be called. He would not call the police and insisted there is only one key to the locker (I find this hard to believe). I accepted my key was on me the whole time but vigorously disagreed I had "lost" the money. Eventually, we agreed to give up 600,000 Dong for the massage, which was 200,000 Dong short of the fee. We finished 800,000 Dong out of pocket (approx US$40). We do not know if the massage girls stole the money but have no doubt there is another key to locker No 5 somewhere. (we recall we were allocated that particular locker, not by choice). There is no doubt whatsoever someone accessed this locker and stole 1 Million Dong from my wallet. We are very careful about making wrongful accusations but as it is without doubt we want to warn other travellers about this. The guest relations manager was adamant this has never happened before and that the girls were innocent. He explained they only earn 2 million Dong per month and because there is only one key they could not have taken the money. Nevertheless, someone did! And the massages - My wife and I are massage addicts and enjoy massages daily whilst in Vietnam. Here our massages were given by untrained girls and the quality was very poor.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Palm Garden Beach Resort Spa; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I stayed 4 nights at the Palm Gardens resort last week. We had an upstairs Ocean View Room and loved it. The views are a little restricted as most units are located between and behind beach front bungalows. The room itself, balcony and bathroom were great. Well equipped too. Free high speed Wi-Fi was excellent. We used it at least twice a day and never had a problem with it dropping out or being unavailable. My only complaint is I often like to read at night and there wasn’t enough light from the bedside lights to read by. Luckily I had downloaded a flashlight App onto my smart phone and was able to use this as a torch to enable reading. The only other negative was we felt the tiny half size complimentary water bottles should be abolished and at least 500ml bottles per day provided. We wouldn’t bother crossing the road to buy water at 1/10th the price of the mini bar water if they did that. Also, we would much prefer it if the prices on all the menus showed the total price, instead of having to add the 15% mentioned in small print at the bottom of the menu for taxes and service charges. The pool and gardens are beautifully maintained and the staff friendly and helpful throughout. We were told the resort was almost full but it seemed almost empty. The staff appeared to outnumber the guests and there was never a problem getting a poolside or ocean front deck chair under an umbrella. Standout staff members with whom we had contact were Mathew, Vo, Tommy and all the ladies on the front desk. Waitress staff at breakfast were all good too. An excellent shuttle service runs 4 times a day to and from Hoi An central and taxis are cheap. The hotel provides an excellent private SUV taxi to Hoi An for only 104,000 Dong (under $5 Australian). So why would you bother going outside looking for a taxi? We also used their private vehicle for our return trip to Danang. The extra A$6 above the cost of a street taxi was well worth paying for the air conditioned comfort. Good cheap laundry service operates across the road ($2/kg ironed) but don’t bother with their massages. We tried one and the untrained ladies chatted non-stop until we cut it short and left. We are regular visitors to Vietnam and we intend staying at the Palm Gardens Resort again next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Katathani Phuket Beach Resort; City: Kata Noi Beach Karon Phuket; Review: We have returned to Katathani for our second Phuket holiday in 6 months. We love this place and can’t see a better place to stay in Phuket. The Staff are helpful and friendly throughout and the location is the best we have come across here. Our junior suite room on the ocean wing overlooks beautiful Kata Noi beach – a lovely spot though more beautiful in late November and December as the ocean is very rough at the moment. There are a few things we think the hotel could improve on and I’d like to pass on a few tips to visitors as well. The gardens and pools are stunning and very well maintained. There is a large number of sun lounges but because the hotel has a first in first served policy these are often difficult to get. Selfish guests put their beach towels on lounges at 7am, claim them for the day but often only spend an hour or so there the whole day. On some occasions my wife and I were unable to get a lounge despite about ½ of them being unused. We recently stayed at several resorts in Vietnam and none had this problem. The answer is for the pool attendants to remove towels that have not been used for 2 hours or better still to change the towel issue system. Beach/pool towels can be handed out as required by pool attendants and collected or returned when guests leave the area. Another way we have seen work is to book the towels against room numbers and guests to be responsible for looking after them. They should be able to exchange them for fresh towels when needed. Snacks and Drinks:- Be careful where you shop for extra snacks and drinks. The K mart across the road from the hotel lobby charges almost triple some other shops for small items. Examples- Tonic water, Ginger Ale, Coke etc cost 35 Baht each ($1.20). The same at any of the numerous Family Mart and 7-11 stores are 14 Baht each. A 300ml Water at K mart is 35 Baht. 1.5 litres of water at Fresh Mart over the hill is 15 Baht. These ratios are typical for anything. Most expensive are the plush air conditioned Bamboo Mart and Mini Mart in Kata. These charge 45B for small cans of drinks. Shop at Family Mart, 7-11 or Lotus stores for consistent low prices. Massages – My wife and I are massage addicts and have tried many places. The poolside massages are OK and the Katathani Spa is very good but expensive. If you want a fantastic massage at 1/3 the price of the resort spa go to Kata Day Spa and try a 90 minute “between the sheets” massage. We are having them every day. It is about 2km from Katathani. The only problem is the place is very difficult to find so here are some directions: From Kata Noi take the main road north towards Patong. Turn right onto a dirt track 2 streets past Thai Boxing, at the corner of; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Palm Garden Beach Resort Spa; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: We are enjoying our fourth holiday in Vietnam in the past 2 years and have happily returned to the Palm Gardens resort which we last stayed at in March. We requested one of the ocean front deluxe double rooms with a sea view and were delighted to be allocated one of the rooms we requested. The resort is beautiful, gardens superbly maintained, pool and beach fabulous and all areas very well serviced. There seems to be more staff than guests here. It's quiet too, which suits us. Breakfast is great, best we have had in Vietnam, but as for most 5 star resorts the resort restaurants are pricy compared to those outside. The staff are lovely and helpful, especially in the reception area. Most smile and greet you cheerfully around the resort. Guest relations officer Vu is particularly helpful. The rooms are spacious and well equipped. Our only gripe is the lighting over the beds in the rooms isn’t good enough to read by. If you have a smart phone, download a flashlight app and use it for reading. This worked for us. In Hoi An old town we would recommend Ganesh Indian Restaurant, which has Lamb Korma and Garlic Naan bread to die for, and Miss Ly Restaurant, where the Fried Wantons are just amazing. Directly across the road from the resort try the Golden Lotus Restaurant. Sisters Linh and Phuong are delightful hosts, happy, friendly and they dish up fantastic Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices. My favourite was Steamed Vietnamese Snapper, a whole fish approx 0.6kg, absolutely delicious and believe it or not, under $6 US. We were so taken by the fish flavour we returned yesterday to take cooking classes from Linh the owner, who is a gorgeous lady. This is a treat not to be missed. Linh takes you to the markets, buys all the ingredients whilst explaining everything and showing you around, you then return to the restaurant to cook the food then sit and eat it all. The all up cost is about half what you would pay for the food alone in Australia and you learn exactly how to cook it. Do it! We would also recommend the ladies at the Golden Lotus for your laundry. They do a lovely job, wash and iron everything, all for around $2/kg. We are sad to be leaving today. Last night we sat on the edge of the resort enjoying a quiet drink whilst watching the full moon rising over the ocean, between the palm trees. So magical. The Palm Gardens is a perfect location to enjoy Hoi An from whilst living in luxurious rooms and surroundings. We’ll be returning for our third stay next year and can’t wait to come back here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tropicana Motor Inn; City: Cowes Phillip Island Victoria; Review: My wife and daughter and I stayed 3 nights in Room 1 here last weekend and fully enjoyed our visit. The room had a queen size bed and 2 singles. The website states maximum 3 people but I’m sure they would happily accept 4 for a small extra charge (or why have the other bed?). The room was very clean, the bathroom lovely and recently rebuilt, the furnishings comfortable and adequate. The only negative we could find is that whilst they provide a toaster, there were no plates or cutlery. Standard jug, tea, coffee, and biscuits one expects in a motel were provided. The reception staff were helpful and friendly and if you stay several days they will even allow free wi-fi, which should be the case as in most places in Asia but hard to find in Australian accommodation. It’s just a 2 minute walk to the beach and a 5 minute walk to the centre of town. We are happy to recommend this motel, the pricing is very reasonable and we will definitely choose to stay there if we return to Phillip Island.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: La Rose Boutique Hotel Spa; City: Phnom Penh; Review: The rooms and the food are very good but what makes this hotel one of the best is the staff. Throughout the hotel they are all polite, friendly and helpful. Punleu was excellent, arranging our check-in and check-out, bus tickets to Siem Reap and a fantastic massage in the hotel Spa. \hineth and Sreyoun are two gorgeous ladies we took a special liking to – it was always a treat to get their assistance at the front desk. We also had a soft spot for Phireak, the bell boy who always around to help (with a huge smile) and even ran a few errands for us. (I hope I got their names right). Our cleaning lady too, was a lovely woman, who, very cheerfully, cleaned up a mess we made by accidentally smashing a full bottle of wine on the concrete floor. We are massage addicts and chose the 90 minute aromatherapy massage. Our therapists, Mealea and Kimlin, gave us possibly the best massages we have ever had. Before the massage we were given a delicious fruit drink, followed by a foot bath. The massage itself was in a lovely massage room and I observed the time we were actually massaged for exceeded the 90 minutes allocated. After the massage we were given a refreshing hot cup of ginger tea. We recommend this high quality spa, as I see many of the other reviews also have. The manager, Many, is always around and keeps a close eye on guests and staff to ensure everything is OK and all guests are well looked after. He was always helpful and even took some photos of us posing with a local driver we hired to show us the sights. We paid US$120/night, which is expensive for this region but worth the money due to the high standard of the staff. You must be proud of them Many!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: The quality and service in this hotel exceeded our expectations and we absolutely loved our 4 night, 5 day stay there. Our 30th floor room had spectacular views over Bangkok and was extremely well equipped even including a kitchen area with hotplate, toaster and utensils. The large bathroom included a huge bath, separate shower recess and luxurious extras down to a heated toilet seat. A very comfortable king size bed, heaps of wardrobe and cupboard space, comfortable sitting area table and chairs, a large flat screen TV and electronically operated blinds added to the “wow” factor of the room. We loved the huge outdoor infinity pool, separate sauna and Jacuzzi and availability of lounges around the pool. We were particularly impressed with attendant Somsal, who initially showed us around the whole facility and was very helpful throughout our stay, even introducing us to the General Manager. It was a pleasure to meet Somchai Meesri, the GM. He was also very helpful and accessible and obviously likes to see his guests are well looked after. With direct access to the Asoke MRT and Skytrain from the hotel and at least 100 places to eat within 300 metres, we think this hotel is the best location in Bangkok. There is a fabulous shopping centre and spa in the same complex. We just had one mishap. On our departure the hotel bellboy, a nice, helpful young man, arranged a hotel taxi to take us to the airport for 400 Baht. Unfortunately, he sent us to the wrong airport and we nearly missed our flight. He had asked us where we wanted to go and we said “International Airport”, unaware there are two. On our arrival we asked the driver to stop at the Air Asia terminal and he said it was a 1 hour drive away at another airport and he wanted another 1,200B to take us there. We switched to a meter taxi and made it on time, paying an extra 600B including toll fees and a decent tip for the driver, who drove like Sebastian Vettel to get us there on time. The bellboy really should have asked “which one?” We enjoyed our stay so much we are about to book our next holiday here, late February 2014.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: We have stayed in some fabulous hotels in our six holidays in Vietnam, including several five star resorts. This hotel, for us, ranks Number 1 overall. The staff throughout are very friendly, beautiful people who always go out of their way to help their guests. This is a family run business and obviously a very happy team, always smiling and making guests feel welcome and comfortable. Owner Cam (meaning “Orange”, hence the name) is a wonderful man, always around to meet and greet guests and to ensure their stay is a happy experience. Lam, Luu and Dayana are also family members, well spoken and very helpful. The Guest Relations Manager Linh is also a very nice man and always accessible to all guests should they require assistance in any way. The front desk staff Midu (pronounced “Me-You”), Xoan (So-Ann), Vi (Vee) are all lovely young ladies who speak English very well and are always eager to help with any tourist advice or problems. They go the extra mile too, for example Midu even came up to our room to show us how to cut and eat unusual Vietnamese fruits which were given to us as a gift by local people. As Cam says “This is a three star hotel with five star service”. Going to breakfast is always a treat, not just for the quality but to be served by two of the most gorgeous young ladies you could ever wish to meet, Trang (pronounced “Chan”) and Van (Vung). These girls greet everyone with a huge smile and are very happy, helpful and chatty every time we see them (I also managed to keep them giggling at my feeble attempts to speak Vietnamese to them but they patiently taught me the correct way to say a number of simple things). The hotel is only five months old, the rooms are beautifully furnished with high quality cupboards, chairs and desks, flat screen TV with about 100 channels, the beds are extremely comfortable, lighting and accessories all first class and most of the higher rooms have widespread views across Da Nang. This hotel is amazing value for money and has left us wondering why we ever stayed at the five star hotels and resorts in our previous five visits to Da Nang. We stayed 5 nights this visit and are already looking forward to our next stay in October this year as we already view the Orange Hotel as our home away from home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: We returned after spending a few days here last November as it was easily the best of several 5 star Bangkok hotels we have stayed in previously. The location is perfect, right at Asoke Skytrain and MRT stations and adjoining hundreds of shops and restaurants in the Terminal 21 shopping centre. The rooms are stunning and better equipped than any hotel we have ever stayed in eg they include a large fridge and freezer and a well equipped and super modern kitchen with microwave and quality utensils. As a regular lap swimmer I loved the 30 metre infinity pool, always spotlessly clean and plenty of sun lounges etc. The staff are very helpful and the hotel well managed by Mr Somchai Meesri, who was there to greet us when we checked in and were served a nice welcome drink. After checking out we caught a public taxi to the airport. 15 minutes after being dropped off I realised I had left my glasses in the taxi. I usually record the number of the taxis I travel in but didn’t on this occasion. I called the hotel who tracked the taxi down, the driver found my specs on the back seat and the hotel sent him back to the airport. A special thanks to Ms Saithon, who smoothly arranged for the driver to return them to me and kept me informed, ringing me on my international number, without any request for payment for the calls. Before we arrived we had some concern about the political protests but shouldn’t have worried. Although they have shutdown the nearby major intersection it is all peaceful and a good atmosphere prevails around it. Hundreds of people have set up their tents on the street and the food and souvenir vendors have moved in to capitalise on the crowds. The lack of traffic actually made it easier to move around the area. We look forward very much to staying here again in October this year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Nadia; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: The hotel is very central and in a fabulous location just 5 minutes walk from the main square and about 15 minutes walk from the Central Railway Station. We arrived with our son and daughter in law who stayed the weekend with us, leaving us to stay an extra two nights. My wife and I are in our 60’s and we struggled with the 30 to 40 extremely steep stairs up to the reception area. The staff were very helpful from the start though and carried all our luggage from street level. We had been allocated a top floor room but the reception staff managed to rearrange the booking and after a welcome drink and a short wait in the breakfast room we were all allocated rooms on the first floor. Much appreciated. We had balconies, which we think are great despite the noise of the traffic and the trams. The rooms are extremely compact, quite cluttered and very stuffy. A small TV and a good fridge are included as well as a fan. The bed was soft and not too comfortable but we enjoyed our stay thanks to the helpful staff, who also gave us a drink on the house on our departure and again carried our luggage down the steep stairs, which we were very happy to leave behind us.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cooperage; City: St Austell Cornwall England; Review: We received a warm welcome from Lyn the moment we arrived and after showing us to our beautifully furbished room she put on a pot of tea and a cake for us, which was most welcome after a long drive. The location is good, just a short drive to all the shops and restaurants though it pays to have a GPS or Google maps as we found it is quite easy to get lost in this place. The room was very comfortable, with a luxurious ensuite and abundant accessories (even a hot water bottle in the wardrobe!). A fridge too was provided as well as fresh bottled water, a chocolate and biscuits, replenished daily. The place throughout is spotlessly clean and well maintained too. Breakfast was delicious, a good selection is offered and cooked to perfection. The smoked Haddock in particular was exceptional. Definitely the best breakfast we have had in our 4 weeks of touring. Lyn was very helpful throughout, even offering to help us look for lost keys and she made us feel welcome throughout our visit. For local food we would recommend the Harbourside Inn, in Charlston, where they do excellent pub meals at reasonable prices. All in all it was a very enjoyable stay and we would recommend it to everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: King Arthur s Arms Inn; City: Tintagel Cornwall England; Review: This was the perfect place for us to stay to enjoy sightseeing in Tintagel and a visit to Port Isaac. The location is ideal, right in the middle of this lovely village and just a short walk to the Castle. Parking is free for guests in the large car park adjacent to the hotel. Our room was huge, sunny, spotlessly clean and very well fitted out. The ensuite was beautiful and larger than the bedroom of a hotel we recently stayed at in Amsterdam. This was by far the best room we stayed in during our four week holiday in England and Amsterdam. Breakfast was quite good and the hotel serves up good evening meals which we also enjoyed. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and if we return we will definitely stay here again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Downsfield; City: Carbis Bay St Ives Cornwall England; Review: The standard of several B&B’s we have stayed at during our Cornwall holiday has been surprisingly good but this is the best of them. Hosts Sharon and Phil are 2 of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet and made us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived until we departed, unfortunately after only one night. Phil was SO helpful, going the extra mile by driving us to the St Ives Leisure Centre when we didn’t want to drive there. Sharon did everything to make our stay more enjoyable too and we only wish we’d booked for longer. The room was lovely, quiet, beautifully furnished, views across the bay and a tidy little ensuite attached. A bonus was the view we had of Phil’s pet pigs in their backyard pig pen. Cutest little things we’ve ever seen. Although the B&B is well signed, we missed it the first two times we passed it due to having to concentrate on the chaotic Cornish traffic. It on the right, just before the Carbis Bay railway station turn-off, a great location with bus stops just 30 metres down the road (we recommend taking a bus into St Ives as parking is often difficult and expensive, everywhere in Cornwall). Breakfast was delicious, cooked to perfection and a good range of options offered with the cooked breakfast. The town centre, on the bay is always buzzing, thousands of tourists wander through and the atmosphere is great. I’ve never seen so many Cornish pastry and icecream shops in my life. When we return to Cornwall this will be our first choice for accommodation, in the meantime we will recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Penrose Guest House; City: Penzance Cornwall England; Review: We only stayed one night and regret we didn’t book longer as there is a lot to see in this area and the Penrose is a lovely place to stay. The location is excellent, just a few minutes walk from the railway station and a pleasant walk from numerous local pubs, restaurants and the harbour. We loved the peaceful atmosphere of the place and the continuous sound of the gulls too. Anne and Marc are nice, helpful hosts and Anne gave us plenty of advice on all the local attractions. They provided us with a pack of brochures, maps and discount vouchers for these and the guest room folder lists all their recommended eating places. From these we tried the Dolphin Tavern which does tasty meals all day long. The guest house is spotlessly clean, freshly painted throughout and very well maintained. The room was very comfortable and well fitted out with accessories, even an LED torch is provided. The only negative was the lack of a fridge but it wasn’t a problem for us staying only one night and I have no doubt Anne would provide fridge space if requested. Breakfast was first class, lots of choices and cooked to perfection. A brief but most enjoyable stay for us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sun Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our seventh holiday in Vietnam and as we get to know this wonderful country we are finding the best value places to stay. The Seasun Homestay is one of these places. We’ve previously stayed at 4 other nearby homestays and resorts in the Cua Dai beach area but the nicest of all has been this one. Value for money it is exceptional – it cost us half what we paid for staying at the nearby Sea and Star Homestay and it was better all round. Managers Van and Thao are lovely ladies, always smiling and friendly, they speak excellent English and cook a terrific breakfast. Van was especially helpful, recommending a very good tailor, exceptionally good massage places to us and providing extra items we requested for our room. When we needed to go out in heavy rain Van went to her house and brought back 2 umbrellas for us to go out with, which is a example of the great service provided by these ladies. Our room had a separate living area and kitchen, plus a good size ensuite with a bath. The location is perfect. Just 100 metres from the beach and close to loads of excellent shops and restaurants. If you want the best food, eat at the Boa Han restaurant just at the end of the laneway. We think it is the best restaurant in Hoi An and it is cheap too. The Blue Wave, also on Cua Dua Road is also excellent. Avoid Kim Lien restaurant on the beachfront, it’s a shocker. For a massage we recommend Simon’s, just 300 metres from the Homestay on Cua Dua Road. We had massages their almost every day. My Ly Beauty Salon Spa is also exceptionally good though a couple of km away along the beach road. We are returning to Vietnam for our next holiday in February 2015 and will definitely be staying at the Seasun Homestay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our seventh holiday in Vietnam and returning to the Orange Hotel was like a wonderful reunion with old friends. On our first 5 holidays in Danang we stayed at 5 star hotels but the quality and service of the Orange hotel is so much better we wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else now. We have stayed in 3, 4 and 5 star hotels around the world over the past 40 years and the staff at the Orange Hotel is the best we have ever encountered. They are the nicest, friendliest and most helpful group you could ever wish to meet and their service is second to none. Owner Cam (means Orange in Vietnamese) is a wonderful man who is always around to ensure his guests are being well looked after. Front desk ladies Xoan (pronounced “So An”), Vi, Nga (pronounced “Nnn-ya”), Thao, Deuong, Yen, Hang, Quyun and Sales Manager La are all beautiful, happy, friendly people and do a superb job looking after all their guests. Breakfast is delicious and it’s a real treat to be seated and served by Hoa (pronounced Hwar) (two off but have different tones) and Ha (also 2 off) and Hang. A special thanks to Hoa Pham, a gorgeous and charismatic lady who spent quite a lot of time with us teaching us some basic Vietnamese, as did several of the other ladies, all so lovely and helpful. There is an excellent choice of Western and Vietnamese options and the smoothies they serve up are amazing. The rooms are spotlessly clean and beautifully fitted out. The beds are very comfortable, excellent lighting and there are plenty of accessories including a computer with free Wi-Fi. We were very sad to leave these lovely people and are already looking forward to our next stay there in 2015. Give yourself a treat and stay here, the experience redefines the word “Service”.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: We recently returned for our third holiday in this hotel. After trying several other 5 star hotels in our 10 visits to Bangkok we wouldn’t stay anywhere else and it was SO nice to return here. The location is perfect, right at Asoke Skytrain and MRT stations and adjoining hundreds of shops and restaurants in the Terminal 21 shopping centre. The rooms are stunning and better equipped than any hotel we have ever stayed in eg they include a large fridge and freezer and a well equipped and super modern kitchen with microwave and quality utensils and electrically controlled blinds. The ensuite is beautiful too and even has an electrically heated and operated toilet seat. As a regular lap swimmer I love the 30 metre infinity pool, always spotlessly clean and plenty of sun lounges etc. The staff are very helpful and a special thanks to General Manager, Mr Somchai Meesri, who arranged our booking for us. We highly recommend this hotel as the perfect location to stay in Bangkok and we look forward very much to staying here again in our next visit to Bangkok in 2015.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sense Resort; City: Phu Quoc Island Kien Giang Province; Review: My wife and I have just enjoyed 4 nights at this resort. We barely left the resort and ate all our meals there. It’s still quite new, has a lot going for it but also some obvious faults. I give it 3 stars because I have just found out we paid a lot more for our Ocean Front Room than many of the other guests. I’d have only give it a 2 star rating but for some very good, hard working staff. Whilst you need good facilities and location it is the staff that determine the quality of a resort and some of the staff here made quite an impression on us. Those that stood out to us were: - Bar Attendant Selina (Hien), who served us well and taught us some basic Vietnamese, whilst we were the only customers at the pool bar on a few occasions. - Pool attendant Jack (Truong), very friendly and helpful. - Restaurant staff Nancy Johnny (Hung), is a bright young man with a good future, who returns out of time off to talk to guests to improve his English. Also, William (Oanh), a very cheerful, nice young man, always smiling and eager to help. - Receptionist Nancy (Ngoc), is a gorgeous young lady who is always cheerful and helpful, plus she goes the extra mile to make guests feel welcome, even changing her shift so she could say goodbye to us. - Managers Ben (Tan) who was always around to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. Also the conscientious Thomas (Son), even though we did have a dispute with him over our bill, as one day the beer in our mini-bar wasn’t replenished and they wanted to charge us for beers we didn't have. Overall….. The Pros….. • The beach front rooms are fabulous with full width window so you can lie on your bed looking at the ocean, directly in front. • It’s a beautiful spot, quiet and peaceful. • The pool is really nice and kept spotlessly clean. We expect it of resorts like this but it is better than anything else in the other nearby resorts. The bar is also very good and serves good food. • The food in the restaurant is quite good. Ask for the Vietnamese Menu. There is more to choose from. Breakfast is average. We’ve had much better and much worse in our many visits to Vietnam. • The staff are generally nice and friendly. We are OK with the fact that communication is often difficult; after all it is their country. They love it when you attempt to communicate in Vietnamese and are eager to help teach you some basics. The Cons….. • On our arrival the sea in front of the resort was full of garbage. Most seems to have come from the fishing boats. It’s a disgrace and you really wouldn’t want to swim in it. Fortunately, after 2 days the staff started cleaning it up and we were advised it occurred because of a recent storm. • The resort is remote from; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: My wife and I have enjoyed 11 holidays in Bangkok. On our first 5 we tried 5 different 5 star hotels but after finding this one we always stay here now. The rooms are super modern, with extremely well equipped kitchens and bathrooms, the views over Bangkok are amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful throughout. We think this is the best location to stay in Bangkok as well. The hotel adjoins the Terminal 21 shopping complex, containing hundreds of restaurants and specialty shops. The MRT and the Asoke Skytrain stations are next door and there are some fabulous massage places nearby (Try Lavana Spa on Soi 12). The hotel has a fantastic Pool, Gym and Spa. The pool is very well maintained, has plenty of sun lounges and it is 30 metres long so also good for lap swimmers. We give special thanks to General Manager Mr Somchai Meesri, who personally assisted us with our booking. We are already looking forward to our next visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sun Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our eighth holiday in Vietnam and we have had a wonderful return visit to the Seasun Homestay. We’ve previously stayed at 4 other nearby homestays and resorts in the Cua Dai beach but in value, friendliness, comfort and location, this is the best one. Managers Van and Thao are lovely ladies, always smiling and friendly, they speak excellent English and cook a terrific breakfast. These ladies are very helpful and generous and go out of their way to keep their guests happy and comfortable. The location is perfect. Just 100 metres from the beach and close to loads of excellent shops and restaurants. For great food at excellent value, eat at the Boa Han restaurant just at the end of the laneway. On the beachfront, No. 9, the Hon restaurant is the one to go to. Manager Lien is only too happy to allow you free use of the seaside deckchairs during the day and the food there is the best in the vicinity. For a massage we recommend Simon’s, just 300 metres from the Homestay on Cua Dua Road. We had massages their almost every day. We are already looking forward to our next holiday in Vietnam and to staying at the Seasun Homestay again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our eighth holiday in Vietnam and it is always a treat for us to return to the Orange Hotel. On our first 5 holidays in Da Nang we stayed at 5 star hotels but the quality and service of the Orange hotel is so much better and the staff are always so lovely, we always stay at the Orange hotel now. This is a family business and Owner Cam (means Orange in Vietnamese) and his son Luu always to their very best to meet all the guests and to ensure they are being well looked after. Front desk ladies Xoa An (pronounced “So An”), Vi, Nga (pronounced “Nnn-ya”), Hang, Ha, Hoa and Duong are lovely ladies, always helpful and do a superb job of running the hotel. Thanks also to Quynh, in the office, who helped us with our bookings (All are very good, apologies to anyone I have missed or misspelt). Breakfast is delicious and the ladies there make a big effort to chat to the guests and to make them feel at home. Thank you to Ha, Hang, Be and Tuyen for always making us feel so welcome.f There is an excellent choice of Western and Vietnamese options and the smoothies they serve up are amazing. The food is great and they all speak English but show some patience as they are still learning about western culture and sometimes get a little confused about the orders. The rooms are spotlessly clean and beautifully fitted out. The beds are very comfortable, excellent lighting and there are plenty of accessories including a computer with free Wi-Fi. We stayed 5 nights this visit and recommend at least a few days to discover the culinary delights of Da Nang. Ask the ladies at the front desk and they will tell you where to go for the best, authentic, Vietnamese food. We are already looking forward to our next stay there later this year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sun Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our ninth holiday in Vietnam and love returning to the Botanic Beach homestay, which we now make our longest stay in our holidays here. We have stayed at nearby 4 and 5 star resorts including the River Beach Resort and Palm Gardens but for about ¼ the cost this is where the value is. We have also stayed at the nearby Sea and Star Homestay which is curiously rated much higher on TA and is more expensive but is nowhere near as good as the Botanic Homestay. The location is perfect, being 100 metres from the beach and just a couple of hundred metres to some great restaurants and Simon’s Spa, our favourite place for our now compulsory daily massage. Managers Van and Thao are lovely ladies, always smiling and friendly, they speak excellent English and both cook a delicious breakfast. They run the homestay very well and are always eager to help with any minor problem or to give local advice. Each morning we enjoyed a long walk along the beach, a relaxing time on the lounges of Hon Restaurant on the beach and a swim in the ocean. We are already looking forward to our next visit in 5 months’ time. Each of our stays gets longer and next time we hope to be bringing our family with us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: Currently enjoying our ninth holiday in Vietnam, my wife and I just love returning to the Orange Hotel and wouldn’t miss it. The staff here are SO lovely and welcoming. By Tripadvisor’s profile I have visited 284 cities and the service at the Orange Hotel is the best of all the 3, 4 and 5 stars hotels and resorts we have ever stayed in. This is a family business, extremely well managed by the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. Owner Cam (means Orange) goes out of his way to meet and welcome all the guests and to ensure all is well with their accommodation and service. Some of the staff that we were very impressed with were….. On Reception: Xoan – again a huge help as she has been on all four of our stays here. Also Tiep, Hang, Hoa, Linh and Nguyen. A special thanks to Han and Thuy who made a number of calls to recover my phone, which I had left in a Mah Linh taxi. At Breakfast: Thuy, Lien, Nhah and 2 others that I can’t recall the names of. All were welcoming, friendly and we loved our chats with all these wonderful ladies. Also kitchen manager My. Thuy Nguyen helped us with our booking and we enjoyed several discussions with her (perfect English too). San, also from the office, was a big help sorting out my computer problems. Another special treat for us was to be served by Lien and Nga, who made us amazing cocktails. Don’t miss this treat and their fabulous company! Finally, Manager Luu, who is a super guy who has become a valued friend. Luu has hotel qualifications from Australia and is always looking after all the guests and staff – doing a superb job! Thanks Luu, we can’t wait to return next year, hopefully with ALL our family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: My wife and I have enjoyed 12 holidays in Bangkok. On our first 5 we tried 5 different 5 star hotels but after finding this one we always stay here now. The rooms are super modern, with extremely well equipped kitchens and bathrooms, the views over Bangkok are amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful throughout. The lobby and public areas are always spotlessly clean and beautifully maintained. We think this is the best location to stay in Bangkok as well. The hotel adjoins the Terminal 21 shopping complex, containing hundreds of restaurants and specialty shops. The MRT and the Asoke Skytrain stations are next door and there are some fabulous massage places nearby. The hotel has a fantastic Pool, Gym and Spa. The pool is very well maintained, has plenty of sun lounges and it is 30 metres long so also good for lap swimmers. We give special thanks to General Manager Mr Somchai Meesri, who personally assisted us with our booking. The general day to day operation of this hotel is smoother and more efficient than any other 5 star hotels we have stayed at, this probably being due to high quality management. We are already looking forward to our next visit in a few months’ time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hung Cuong Hotel; City: Chau Doc An Giang Province; Review: We stayed at this hotel whilst on a 3 day tour of the Mekong area. It appears this hotel is run by a bus company. Most of the ground floor is taken up by a ticketing office for a bus company and the remaining area is the hotel reception. Check in was OK and one of the receptionists very nice. The breakfast staff though were rude and unhelpful. One of the ladies (dressed in black and white, not the traditional outfits) snatched our breakfast voucher out of my hand - no smiles or thankyou’s here. The breakfast was basic and the serving sizes stingy, a tiny serve of scrambled eggs, a baguette without butter, half a cup of coffee, no juice or anything else. The rooms are OK, quite new, clean and cheaply furnished though the bathroom and shower was very good. The bed was almost as hard as the floor. At 4am the noise from the adjacent mosque began. Comments by other contributors suggest taking ear plugs – a good idea! The Wifi was free but it was patchy and limited. I had to call the reception to reset their modem. To eat, the hotel recommended the Bay Bong restaurant – the only one on the Hotel’s area map (owned by the hotel?). We tried it but the food and service were below standard. Tripadvisor’s rating of this hotel surprises us. Of the dozens of hotels and homestays we have stayed in during our 9 holidays in Vietnam we would rate this one the lowest. If you can get it for US$20 a night or less it would be good value – if not, stay somewhere else.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: Currently enjoying our tenth holiday in Vietnam, my wife and I just love returning to the Orange Hotel and wouldn’t miss it. This is a family business, extremely well managed by the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. Owner Cam is a wonderful man who has built this hotel from humble beginnings. Cam is a very approachable man who goes out of his way to meet and welcome all the guests and to ensure all is well with their accommodation and service. In all our travels we have never encountered such lovely ladies on the staff. Always friendly, helpful and smiling we loved seeing them all every day. Some of the highlights for us during this stay were….. • Seeing old friends Xoan and Vi again on reception. • Enjoying delicious cocktails made by Nguyen and Lien • Being taught basic Vietnamese at breakfast by the two Liens • Having several cups of coffee made by An, a truly lovely young trainee • Being served fresh face towels and teas by all the ladies on reception including Linh, Thao, Hanh. Also trainee, Linh who greeted us at the airport and Qua from the office It was fabulous to see Cam again and his manager son Luu as well as Cam’s lovely wife Tuoi (apologies if spelt incorrectly). After 5 visits this family have become genuine and highly regarded friends. We are already looking forward to our next visit, early next year and we hope to bring all of our family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: My wife and I have enjoyed 13 holidays in Bangkok. On our first 5 we tried 5 different 5 star hotels but after finding this one we always stay here now. The rooms are super modern, with extremely well equipped kitchens and bathrooms, the views over Bangkok are amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful throughout. The hotel is always spotlessly clean throughout and also beautifully maintained. We think this is the best location to stay in Bangkok as well. The hotel adjoins the Terminal 21 shopping complex, containing hundreds of restaurants and specialty shops. The MRT and the Asoke Skytrain stations are attached to the complex and there are some fabulous massage places nearby (try Lavana on Soi 12). The hotel has a fantastic “Infinity” Pool, a well equipped Gym and Spa. The pool has plenty of sun lounges and it is 30 metres long so also good for lap swimmers. We give special thanks to General Manager Mr Somchai Meesri, who personally assisted us with our booking. Mr Meesri has the hotel running like clockwork and any problems are always quickly attended to. We are already looking forward to our next visit in October this year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nhi Nhi Hotel; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: Currently enjoying our tenth holiday in Vietnam, my wife and I have stayed at 7 or 8 Hoi An Hotels but having discovered the Nhi Nhi Hotel, we will be regulars in future. We discovered this hotel from staying at Da Nang’s Orange Hotel, which has been our favourite hotel to stay at in Vietnam for several years. It has the same owners, who are lovely people and their ability to provide extremely high quality service shows in both of these wonderful hotels. During our stay we were very well looked after by Manager Thuy, a delightful young lady, always smiling, friendly and helpful. Thanks Thuy for your lessons in basic Vietnamese – it was so much fun learning the correct phrases and tones from you. Thanks also to you and Lien too for the fabulous cooking lesson you gave us. Thuy seemed to be working almost around the clock and after saying goodnight around 9pm she greeted us on our departure at 5.30am the next morning. It was too early for breakfast in the hotel but Thuy provided us with delicious Banh Mi’s and fresh fruit to take with us. All the ladies on the staff were excellent. Unfortunately, we only stayed four nights, which wasn't long enough to get to know all of them but Trang and Ngan were also very helpful, especially at breakfast. The rooms in the hotel are high quality, well furnished and very comfortable. We are already looking forward to our next visit, early next year and we hope to bring all of our family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Saigon Boutique Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: My wife and I have just completed our tenth holiday in Vietnam and always start and finish our Vietnam holidays with a stay in this hotel. After staying at 5 star hotels on our first 3 visits we discovered the Beautiful Saigon 3 Hotel and we always stay here now. The 3 or 4 Beautiful Saigon Hotels in the group share the beautiful swimming pool, which was a wonderful addition almost a year ago. The pool is 13.8 metres long so long enough to swim laps or just to cool off from the Saigon heat. The staff here are excellent and very helpful with local advice and tour bookings. Miss Y, who always looks after our bookings, was as helpful as ever and it is always a treat to see her and chat to her. On our earlier visit, 4 weeks ago, Miss Y also arranged to have us moved when we advised we weren’t happy with the room we had been allocated. Bellboys Kha and Le were also very helpful. For a fantastic massage we recommend the Beautiful Saigon Spa in Bui Vien Street. We highly recommend the 90 minute hot stone massage with Quyen or Thanh. The Spa is part of the group so ask the hotel staff for a discount voucher (30% off). We look forward to staying here many more times in the future and are already looking forward to our next stay in February next year, hopefully with our whole family next time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sun Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are now enjoying our tenth holiday in Vietnam and have just enjoyed our fourth stay at the Botanic Beach homestay, where we stay longer every visit. The location is perfect, being 100 metres from the beach and just a couple of hundred metres to some great restaurants and Simon’s Spa, our favourite place for our now compulsory daily massage. Managers Van and Thao are lovely ladies, always smiling and friendly, they speak excellent English and both cook a delicious breakfast. They run the homestay very well and are always eager to help with any minor problem or to give local advice. Each morning we enjoyed a long walk along the beach, a relaxing time on the lounges of Hon Restaurant and we enjoy a swim in the ocean, by a beautiful beach which was previously washed away, but has been recently restored by the Vietnamese Government. We are already looking forward to our next visit, which sadly won’t be until February 2017, but we hope to bring our whole family with us next time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Clifton Grittleton Lodge; City: Bunbury Western Australia; Review: For the past 20 years my wife and I have enjoyed breaks to Bunbury, which we think is very underrated as a short term holiday destination. During this time, we have enjoyed staying at “The Clifton” which in our view offers the best value in Bunbury. The location is perfect, just a short walk to the beach and the restaurant strip in Victoria Street. Over the past few years all the rooms have been refurbished and offer spacious, comfortable accommodation. We have noticed big improvements during the past year. The free Wifi, which used to be a problem, has been upgraded and is now superfast and reliable. The breakfast menu has been upgraded and is now a treat not to be missed (try the Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon). The owners are friendly and helpful and we look forward to many more visits in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Executive Inn; City: New Lambton New South Wales; Review: I stayed at the Executive Inn for 4 nights recently, as part of a group from Perth, in Newcastle for the National Winter Swimming Championships. The room and facilities were good and access to the attached Wests Leagues club was excellent. Whilst it takes a while to find one’s way around {without getting lost) there are numerous bars and places to eat. The bar staff are friendly and efficient and the food in most of the restaurants very good and reasonably priced. I would particularly recommend the Chinese Restaurant (delicious banquet) and the Mexican Restaurant (tasty food and huge servings). The only real negative was there was no Wi-Fi available in our room. The 2 ladies on reception at the time were “Elisha”(not sure if spelt correctly) and “Annie”. Both are exceptionally good and had already been very helpful at the check-in. Both did their best to reset the Wi-Fi and Elisha came to my room to try and get us up and running. We tried phones, iPads and computers to no avail so the ladies offered to change us to another room. First I checked with our teammates in the adjacent room and they couldn’t access the Wi-Fi either, apart from connecting in the reception area. Later in the day I tried again but still unable to connect and returned to the front desk. Manager “Emma” apologised but wasn’t very helpful just saying the IT technician didn’t turn up. Receptionist “Julie Ann” was very good, came to my room and soon discovered we could connect, though only when next to the entrance door. In today’s environment, failing to address Wi-Fi problems with some urgency, is simply not good enough and is reason enough to switch to another hotel. It’s all about attitude and whilst the young ladies I’ve mentioned are first class, friendly and efficient, this doesn’t seem to be the case with their managers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel; City: Chiang Mai; Review: We have just enjoyed 4 nights at this fabulous hotel. The rooms are a decent size, well fitted out and the beds very comfortable. The gardens are very well maintained and there is a very nice pool, well located in the shady side of the hotel. The staff here are exceptionally good. The ladies on reception, the restaurant staff and the security guys are friendly and helpful and make their guests feel very welcome. Front Office Manager Ms Bussara was particularly outstanding and gave us so much assistance with directions and bookings for local Spas etc. Thanks also to the older security guy out the front who hailed us quite a few tuk tuks and red van taxis and negotiated a good price for us. Perhaps the only disappointment was the pricing structure of the hotel Spa. We had read the Spa is excellent but in our opinion the services offered are overpriced. My wife and I are massage addicts, we each enjoy a 2 hour massage daily but we could not do this at the hotel within our budget. If the prices were 30% lower we would have enjoyed booking there every day of our stay. If you enjoy a massage then our recommendation is to try the Fah Lanna Spa in the night markets area, opposite the Downunder Pub. It is fantastic. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to the night markets. This is the place to be in the evenings as there are food halls with cheap Thai food to die for and if you want clothing or souvenirs then this is the place to get it. If you are there on a Sunday go to the walking street at night but be warned. The crowds are huge and it will take you an hour or two to walk from one end to the other. Overall, we have loved our stay here. Many thanks to all the staff who helped make it a holiday to remember for us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grande Centre Point Terminal 21; City: Bangkok; Review: My wife and I have enjoyed 14 holidays in Bangkok. On our first 5 we tried 5 different 5 star hotels but after finding this one we always stay here now. The rooms are super modern, with extremely well equipped kitchens and bathrooms, the views over Bangkok are amazing and the staff are friendly and helpful throughout. The hotel is always spotlessly clean throughout and also beautifully maintained. We think this is the best location to stay in Bangkok as well. The hotel adjoins the Terminal 21 shopping complex, containing hundreds of restaurants and specialty shops. The MRT and the Asoke Skytrain stations are attached to the complex and there are some fabulous massage places nearby (try Lavana on Soi 12). The hotel has a fantastic “Infinity” Pool, a well-equipped Gym and Spa. The pool has plenty of sun lounges and it is 30 metres long so also good for lap swimmers. We give special thanks to Resident Manager Mr Pongsak Warasai and Reservation Officer Ms Puangpen P. who gave us direct assistance with our booking. Also Mr Somchai Meesri, who always helped us with our previous bookings but has now moved to another hotel in the chain. We are already looking forward to our next visit in March next year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nhi Nhi Hotel; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: Currently enjoying our eleventh holiday in Vietnam, my wife and I have stayed at 7 or 8 Hoi An Hotels but this is our first choice when we stay at the Old Town. Anyone who has had the pleasure of staying at the Orange Hotel in Da Nang will know the service here is going to be exceptionally good, because The Nhi Nhi hotel is owned by the same family and the staff are trained the same way. Owner Mr Cam Luuyen is a wonderful man and his ability to choose great staff who provide extremely high quality service shows in both of these fabulous hotels. Manager Thuy is as lovely as ever and her happy, friendly nature always brightens our day. All the staff were excellent and so helpful, the receptionists, the breakfast staff, the bellboy and the cleaning staff. The rooms in the hotel are high quality, well furnished and very comfortable. We are already looking forward to our next visit, in October this year.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Sun Homestay; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are currently enjoying our eleventh holiday in Vietnam and we are presently enjoying a 6 night stay at Sea Sun, where we always spend part of our holiday. Manager Van is as lovely as ever and brightens our day with her cheerful nature, not to mention providing the best breakfast we have encountered at a homestay. For beach lovers concerned about the reports of the typhoon destruction of Cua Dai beach, we are delighted to report that due to government repairs the beach is back and we are enjoying daily swims directly in front of the homestay (access it via Hon restaurant, just across the road). Whilst here we always meet several of the other guests and make new friends – it’s just that sort of place. We look forward to many more happy stays at this wonderful place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hien Hoa Villa; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: My wife and I are currently enjoying our eleventh holiday in Vietnam and we always spend a few days at the Cua Dai Beach area. We chose to stay at this homestay due to recommendations from local business owners and it met our high expectations. Thuy and Man are lovely people and were excellent hosts. The homestay is named after their 2 cute little girls Hien and Hoa. The rooms are nicely furnished, near new and very clean. We had use of a fabulous common balcony from which you can see the ocean, just 100 metres away. Double rooms are available which would be perfect for 2 couples travelling together. Breakfast was good with a selection of fresh fruit, a fruit juice, coffee and cooked choices of Western or Vietnamese. We also recommend their restaurant “Man”, which is just across the road. Try a delicious grilled snapper, which Man will fish out of their tank and have it on your plate within 20 minutes. For concerned beach lovers, we are happy to report the sand has returned to the beach and there is now an excellent swimming beach directly in front of Man restaurant. We look forward to staying here when we return with our extended family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: My wife and I are currently enjoying our eleventh holiday in Vietnam and have just enjoyed our sixth stay in the Orange Hotel. Over the past 45 years we have stayed in hundreds of hotels in over 40 countries and the service at the Orange Hotel is the best we have ever encountered. The ladies in reception and in the restaurant are always smiling, extremely helpful and make every guest feel welcome. Owner Cam (means Orange) is a wonderful man who is always going out of his way to meet his guests and to ensure all is well with their accommodation and service. Whilst every single one of the staff we met were very good, the exceptionally good ladies we had most dealings with were, on reception - Xoan, Vi, Thinh, Uyen and Hang. In the Restaurant Lien, Mi, Vi and An were all excellent. IT man Phi was also extremely helpful fixing minor problems in our room, unlocking the safe and various other chores he helped with. Two examples of exceptional service we encountered are….. 1. Waitress An, after finishing her day’s work and going home, returned to the hotel in her own time to make us cocktails, as we had earlier mentioned we would be going to the bar for cocktails in the “happy hour” time of 6pm to 7pm. 2. After leaving the hotel and not realising we had left our passports behind, Phi came by motorbike in the rain to bring them to us several km away where we were visiting friends. It was raining at the time and he was soaking wet by the time he arrived but gave them to us with a smile and wished us all the best. We love staying at this hotel, we love the staff and the owners and we hope to return later this year with our extended family.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nhi Nhi Hotel; City: Hoi An Quang Nam Province; Review: On my 12th Vietnam holiday, this time I brought my whole family, including my daughter and her husband from Australia and my son, his wife and baby, Hugo, from England. The staff at this hotel (as for it’s sister hotel, The Orange Hotel, in Da Nang), are so friendly and helpful it is always a treat to stay here. Manager Thuy (pronounced Twee), is exceptionally good, she is a lovely young lady, she is efficient, friendly and always available to help the guests. Receptionist Nga is another lovely young lady, with a beautiful smile and she was very helpful in giving us advice about the hotel, the city and a number of other queries she helped us with. I don’t know the names of the breakfast staff and the bell boy, but they were also very good. The rooms in the hotel are high quality, well furnished and very comfortable. My family and I are already looking forward to our next holiday in Vietnam and if we stay in the Hoi An Old Town we wouldn’t stay anywhere else.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: I am currently enjoying my twelfth holiday in Vietnam and I always stay at the Orange Hotel whilst in Da Nang. For many years this has been my favourite place to stay and this year I have brought my whole family here, 3 of us coming here from Australia and my son and his wife and baby coming here from England. The ladies in reception, led by Xoan and Vi, are always smiling, extremely helpful and make every guest feel welcome. Owner Cam (means Orange) is a wonderful man who is always going out of his way to meet his guests and to ensure all is well with their accommodation and service. It was also a pleasure to meet Cam’s lovely wife Tuoi again, along with daughter Thao. Lien leads the way in the restaurant and like several of the others has excellent English. The food at breakfast is delicious, with a huge buffet of choices, whilst omelettes and pho can be ordered when desired. Phi, one of the drivers and also an excellent maintenance man is always around to help, is very cheerful and makes all the guests feel very welcome. Huong made us some great cocktails, which we enjoyed on three of our nights at the hotel, a nice treat during happy hour, before going out to some of Da Nang’s excellent restaurants. I love staying at this hotel, my family all loved it to and all of us look forward to returning as soon as we can.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orange Hotel; City: Da Nang; Review: Currently enjoying my 13th holiday in Vietnam, I always stay at the Orange Hotel when in Da Nang. The hotel is well located, spotlessly clean, the rooms are very nicely furnished and breakfast is outstanding with a wide range of choices between Vietnamese and Western food. However, my main reason for this is the staff are the best I have encountered anywhere in the world. Receptionist Vi is a lovely, delightful lady, always willing to help, always smiling and makes all her guests feel so welcome. Hoa and Trinh were also excellent and quick to provide a cold drink and a wet towel whenever my friend and I returned to the hotel. Driver and general helper Phi is a very nice, high quality young man with whom we enjoyed a fabulous day trip to the Bana Hills resort – a day trip I would highly recommend taking. My friend and I had a lovely time and lots of fun enjoying cocktails with Huong and Tam, who made delicious drinks for us in “happy hour”. Office manager, Lien, was also excellent. She arranged my bookings and provided prompt and informative communication as she always does. I would like to make a special mention of Tam. Yesterday, when we left the hotel, I left some of my valuables, including my home house and car keys, in one of the drawers at the hotel. Last night Tam turned up at the beachside hotel we moved on to, with the bag of my belongings, to return them to me. This is typical of the exceptional service the Orange Hotel provides. Any other hotel I have ever stayed at would have just advised me to go and collect them or to arrange for postage. I now look forward to my return to this hotel and its friendly, professional staff on my 14th holiday in Vietnam next year, when I hope to arrange to bring my whole family back again for another stay here. I also look forward to seeing it’s wonderful owner Cam and his lovely wife Tuoi again, as they were away with family in the US during my visit this time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant; City: Tampa, FL; Review: ¿Dónde está la fiesta? Right here on Davis Islands! This was an excellent Friday night end to hub's nephew's wedding earlier that morning. Since we had dinner a few hours prior to coming here, drinks were the only thing on our minds. Located on E. Davis Blvd in Davis Islands, Margaritas was all that and then some. We sat outside. Period. Plus coming from NY, the palm trees and weather all said, "Tropics in December"- much appreciated. There was no way to argue that since this was our first time in Tampa. The server accommodated us right in front of the Latin salsa band and to be honest, the music wasn't thumping in our ears like you'd think. To add, we were talking for hours on end the entire night without yelling and popping a jugular. Two large complimentary tortilla chip baskets and salsa were placed on both end of the tables. Chips were large- but on the thin side and salsa had good flavor- but loose. Frozen Margaritas ordered were packed real good and my classic-ish, salted rim, French Chambord Margarita had a nice kick too. Sounds like their food isn't a standout, but for a Friday night drink spot, it did nicely.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nature Shop; City: Tampa, FL; Review: This takes the cake for a downtown Tampa florist shop that made a lovely flower arrangement I presented to my nephew in law's fiancée the day of their small wedding. Nature Shop has a quaint and almost rustic style for Tampa standards I feel. Leland, Troy and the rest of the folks were patient with my request. Because it was a wedding, I wanted some soft blues, you know a Hydrangea had to go in there and some pretty fillers to bring the arrangement to life. While I hardly lean towards loud flower colors in a bouquet and Nature Shop didn't have any soft antiquey blues, I bent a little this time and got a bluish-purpleish delphinium to blend in my soft hue bunch. These folks went over and beyond with the bouquet to brighten my day as well as gift the soon-to-be bride with something she didn't expect. And at $25, I couldn't beat that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Restaurant; City: Tampa, FL; Review: My friend Susan from Tampa had messaged me to give me the 411 on this place and said the "food is overrated". Damn right she was right. Since a couple of other restaurants my nephew-in-law selected for a Friday night post-wedding dinner celebration were booked, Columbia came up as 'the' only one of his choices with availability. Between the restaurant itself and their specialty market in Ybor City, Columbia looks like it could take 1/2 a block. We waited a bit in a separate room while they cleared out some tables to accommodated our party of 9 in one of their dining rooms. No doubt this place is grand. But with all of Columbia's grandeur, furniture isn't kept up. Metal chairs are lower than standard. Worse, the fabric cushion backing and seating are old and reeked. The restaurant itself smelled like mildew and dampness. I totally get Columbia's history, but somehow, the 'Spanish' food these folks are whipping out, doesn't do Spain real justice. Plus, I continuously rely on Sevilla in NYC in the West Village as my master plan for all things Spanish tapas and Paella. The seafood-only paella I ordered was "for 1". Come to find out, it's not presented to you in either a typical paella pan or a 'caldero' but on a plate- which was odd. And at $38 "for 1", this wasn't worth it. All it was- was rice and a bunch of what tasted like bagged, frozen seafood mix. Breathe. To add, hubs ordered a nicely seasoned Mahi Mahi but was rock-hard- plus my sister in law complained about the 2, small 1/2 portion meat Empanadas she ordered for $18. Service was nice and our waiter was patient with our party. Lively restaurant it is. But while hubs and I (including the bride & groom+family) uncovered the true depth of this place, it's not a place I will return to when I go back to Tampa.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place; City: Tampa, FL; Review: We intentionally didn't want to splash out on an expensive $300+per-night hotel stay in Tampa. ESPECIALLY since it was really a 2-night stay to take part in my nephew-in-law's Friday morning wedding. But I also didn't want to compromise on quality. Out of all the hotels I looked at back in early November for hubs and I, my sister in law, her 12 yr old grandson and my auntie-in-lw, this Hyatt Place in downtown Tampa saved us because many had no availability for 2 rooms plus they were at that $300 mark. (The other folks shared a room with double beds). Our room was equipped with the essentials- yet super spacious for hubs and I. Linens on both beds were clean and crisp and sofa nook seemed comfortable. The bathroom was good and simple but with an awkward high tub climb. To be honest, the lobby, check-in area, even the lounge had a creative boutique feel with a colorful design of a velvet bench, botanical pattern arm chairs and woods. There's a very welcoming and cozy atmosphere. The staff is young but relaxed and quick to help out. Its stellar location makes it super easy to get to Tampa Riverwalk within a moment's time- no doubt. But honestly, our visit wasn't even a vacation one at that, so we drove to most areas that were 4-5 blocks away. Another plus is that there's complimentary breakfast of scrambled eggs, diced fried potatoes, bacon or sausage, dry cereal, fruit salad with some Tropical fruits and a few other items. This is a good choice if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and staying for an extended stay- and the price was right at about $170 a night. Hotel sounds very amenity-rich on their website but I'd check beforehand especially nowadays.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Corazon Restaurant And Bar; City: Tampa, FL; Review: In the past, I'd give hotel restaurants a bad rap. But that was then and this is now. Located in the Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Tampa, is Corazon restaurant- the definition of a relaxed vibe with a sophisticated soul. After a hectic and early Friday wedding ceremony, food was excellent when we had the chance to sit down and catch our breath a bit. Think Latin-themed menu filled with seafood, some plantains, green salad with Avocado, etc (with non-Latin foods as well). The bar is large, there's enough seating available and the style is banging too. Our server was wonderful, upbeat and boy... did my girl know the menu left and right because she didn't even write anything down. So much so, there was a curveball where my sister in law asked our server if the kitchen can whip up a plain personal pizza for her 12 yr old grandson and it was a "yes". My Truffle Fries were delicious. You know how you order "Truffle Fries" from some places and taste nothing like it? Not here. They were DELICIOUS. My only regret was not taking a second basket up to my hotel room! My Grouper Bites appetizer could've been a main meal- I kid you not. Those were plump, held their shape and the batter had the right amount of salt with a faint taste of heat in the back. While hubs and his sister shared a Charcuterie Board and enjoyed it. Not for nothing- but for our 1st time, Corazon sealed the deal instantly.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alessi Bakery; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Chewing over which bakery in Tampa to visit for a small wedding cake was tiring day in and day out leading up to our flight. And the fear of disappointment of buying a stale, tasteless cake was real. When hubs found out his nephew and his new wife didn't plan on having a wedding cake (¯\_(ツ)_/¯) after dinner, I came across a few that were closed for the Holiday season- but we certainly lucked out on this one on Cypress St in West Tampa. Hubs stepped it up and got them one they would appreciate to celebrate their special day. Aside from the long-standing history here, hubs ordered and paid by phone from NY with ease. And when we came here to pick up the cake, the smell of sweets was all around even with my mask on. Glass shelving with fig bread, cookies and unusual pastry+fruit combinations I've haven't seen at any NYC Italian bakery I've been to. The price is right, service is plentiful from any counter you go up to and the Strawberry Shortcake hubs got for his nephew was very good. The cream seemed like a lot on top- but it was actually good, the cake itself was spongey-soft and strawberries tasted like strawberries. I may not be Italian, but I feel like a neighborhood isn't complete without a family-run spot for fresh-baked bread, cannolis, cakes, zeppoles, paninis, Pignoli cookies and the obligatory rainbow cookies. This one is it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Watervue Grille; City: Tampa, FL; Review: Just a short bridge over from downtown Tampa into Harbour Island is all it took to come here and enjoy what we thought will be a lite nosh before our flight to NY. I had been eyeing Watervue on Harbour Island for my family as well as my nephew-in-law and his wife for lunch, but since our trip was an extremely short one, lunch without the newlyweds before flying, was in order. I almost feel Watervue is a hidden Harbour Island gem because there weren't that many people dining in. Or maybe it was the time we came in. But its full frontal view of the water, adds a dramatic pop when you're dining in or out. Randy was a sweetheart over the phone and she gave me the green light for my party of 5 to come right over. Watervue's layout is grey, black woods, glass windows (and lots of it) and the hexagonal dark grey tiles, add another showy pop. The menu is simple, not incredibly big- but sounds very nice. Hubs loved his sandwich Cubano that was filled with perfectly thin sliced meat. His auntie had the Fish & chips and loved it, hub's sister had the Lobster Fritters, her 12 yr old grandson had a burger and I loved my Arugula Salad topped with Shrimp, my Truffle Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan cheese were exceptional. I also ordered the Lobster Fritters- but they should've been called 'Lobster Hush Puppies'. No ill feelings- I just expected a bigger lobster presence in the 'Fritters' because they were either microscopic or had the 'flavor' of lobster. Good though- with that slight crunch outside and moistness inside. Randy was awesome and was patient with my sister-in-law's grandson's burger request. Overall, the food was awesome and Watervue offered us a moment of calm before heading to the airport.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Rush Creek Creations Rustic Double Sided Rolling 16 Fishing Rod Storage Rack; Brand: Rush Creek Creations; Review: I like the look of the unfinished pine and it was relatively easy to assemble. I haven't yet used the supplied wheels and like the fact that it helps to keep my rods organized. Worth the money.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buck Knives 0225BLS Silver Creek Large Fishing Fillet Knife with Sheath; Brand: Buck Knives; Review: I haven't used the knife yet, but it feels good in hand and I like the flexibility of the blade. The handle is a bit small but feels to have just enought of a tacky quality to hopefully help in keeping a firm grip while filleting fish. I'm also counting on Buck quality to be up to standard regarding the blade.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Danielson Galv Anchor Fluke; Brand: Danielson; Review: The 18lb anchor was what I needed to help keep my 22' boat in place. It replaced my 10lb fluke that I was told was all I needed. I haven't checked the angle, but I'm sure it's well within the 32 degrees it should be. Quality galvanizing and solid welds. I have every confidence that it'll hold up to use in the Gulf.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Mike's Gun-Tite Resealable Adhesive, 6-ml Tube; Brand: Uncle Mike's; Review: I've used Loctite's Gun-tite before and liked it. My first time using an off brand, Uncle Mikes, but I'm familiar with their products and I have every confidence that it'll work as advertised and expected (I haven't used the product yet). Received it promptly and in new condition.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mace Brand Self Defense Pepper Spray Magnum Pepper Gel; Brand: Mace; Review: Fits perfectly in my pocket. I haven't had to use it and I hope I never have to, but it's a nice backup to my concealed carry. Especially when there are places you don't want to or can't carry. I plan to test it to see how accurate and far the stream goes. The light is a nice added touch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hoppe's Boresnake .40, .41 Caliber Pistol and Revolver, Clam E/F; Brand: Hoppe's; Review: I've purchased several of these for the different caliber firearms I have in my safe. So much nicer and easier to use than the old rod and brush system. These do an excellent job. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Butler Creek, Rifle Sling, Easy Rider, Black; Brand: Butler Creek; Review: Truly limited slip on your shoulder. Solid, well made with strong stitching. Easy to adjust and install. The basic black fits perfectly with the stainless barrel and laminate multi-color stock on my .308 Marlin Express.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hoppe's Boresnake Viper .308 - .30 Caliber Rifle, Clam E/F; Brand: Hoppe's; Review: I've purchased several of these for the different caliber firearms I have in my safe. So much nicer and easier to use than the old rod and brush system. These do an excellent job. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SeaSense Usa Flag, 12-Inch x 18-Inch; Brand: SeaSense; Review: I should have read closer. I got what I paid for and ordered. It's not embroidered, made of thin, cheap material and just not worth putting it on my boat. I didn't send it back because I figured I wouldn't get much after shipping was deducted. Read thoroughly if you're looking for greater quality. Pass this one up!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Mike's SS BL Nickel Quick Detach Sling Swivels; Brand: Uncle Mike's; Review: A nice fit for my stainless Marlin rifle. Solidly built and functional.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Nathan Trek 22-Ounce Angled Holster Hydration Waist Pack; Brand: Nathan; Review: Flimsy feeling bottle and the belt tends to loosen on its own. No other issues so far. I would recommend looking around for a better system at a better price, this one is on the pricey side for what it offers.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: YETI Rambler Replacement Lids for 20/30 oz Tumblers, 14 oz Mugs and 10 oz Lowballs; Brand: YETI; Review: Quality made and almost a necessity for any tumbler. Just disappointed that the 10oz tumbler isn't priced with the lid included.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sesame Street: Old School - Volume 1; Brand: Various; Review: Season 1, Episode 1 Letter is REALLY strong, big repetition within the episode, but not a big deal. Oscar was ORANGE at one time? Whoa, now I know why classic drawings of Big Bird looked funky--his head didn't get filled out till Season 2 I suppose. So Ernie and Bert live in the basement--I'd forgotten that! Season 2, Episode 131 This season spun up more of what I remember from my childhood! All the muppet characters have the incarnations that I remember. Season 3, Episode 276 More characters enter the cast. I hardly remember any of the human ones though, even when they interacted with muppets--the bit in Mr. Hooper's store with the soda is perfect: I remember Bert and Ernie, but not the others. Ah, and there's Spanish being spoken in this one.@Snuffy has funky eyes. Season 4, Episode 406 It's at this point that the show appears to hit stride, with improved quality all around. It also has th opening song that I remember th most clearly and really associate with the show. HEY, the letter is D, and that's my name--I love this show. Snuffy is as I remember him--I'd remembered his voice being deeper and not so whispery; oh well. Season 5, Episode 536 Now I'm worried, because the letter D has resurfaced! My vision of each letter of the alphabet being released is dashed. I really like the idea of the format, with the first episode of each of the seaons provided. Each episode is preceeded by Robert, a little cartoon that leads the episodes. It was nice seeing the songs and character skits I remember. It was fascinating to see the storylines of the episodes--I hardly remember them, which is only understanable. I also don't remember many of the live actor skits, and they were cool to see. I was surprised how strong the themes for the episodes were. It brings a smile to my face to see the multiple ethnicities without the distillery that has occurred over the years. I imagine the next set in th series will provide all the episode 2's? Very cool. Just seeing the episode information makes me realize that it would be all but impossible to release EVERY episode...but maybe they'll try... With all the good, I do have one complaint: I have to agree with everyone that the COST of these is a little ridiculous. $20 should be sufficient. Especially because: Some have complained that there is too much repetition. Call me crazy, but there always was repetition!(The show is ONE HOUR long! That's a lot of time to fill!) But: If I were Sesame Street, I'd have concentrated on the alphabet for a season (assuming each season completed it), and then maybe put the rest out, sans the repeat items--just to be able to see the progression of the unique Sesame Street stuff... Still, seeing the full episodes is satisfying, and fulfills the stickler in me... It begins to be clear maybe why these weren't released before now! Tough! Still, I have the feeling that they may only; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Real Ghostbusters: Complete Collection; Brand: Various; Review: LOVED this series as a kid and have waited a long time for it. Got this set when I first saw it, and was lucky enough to get it from Amazon at 50% off. Worth it? Oh, yeah! Now, when I say I loved this, what I loved was The Real Ghostbusters, not Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters, and certainly NOT Slimer. I remember the show changing, but had no idea at the time what was going on or why. This boxed set collects everything (or at least, everything that I remember) and PLENTY that I don't. The cool thing is that I can see the transition of the show as it went from prime time to kiddy time. The commentary by the actors, writers, and staff really help to illuminate a bit what those folks felt was going on. And just watching the episodes is tale enough. One of the reasons that I loved TRG so much was that it wasn't a kid show, at least, not at first. The jokes were deadpan, dry, and what kiddy humor was there was exercised more in the situations or in the ghosts (yup, Slimer was the ectoplasmic bugger joke). The series, of course, changed, but with all the episodes you can really SEE it. That's just cool. There were plenty of mysteries in the show for me as a kid. I remember when Janine changed, not just her voice but her look. WHAT happened? Well, you get the actual skinny from the folks, but IN the series you actually get an episode that not only recognizes the change but makes it WORK! How cool is that? Even with the whole series in my hands (and now completely watched over the past few weeks), there are still a few mysteries to go with all the nostalgia (Sandman! Samhein! Boogeyman!), pleasant surprises (The return of ghosts! Continuity between episodes! Great references to the movie!), and great discoveries(authentic Japanese language when the Ghostbusters go to Japan!)--like, did anyone else notice the Japanese on the technical drawings? For people that enjoyed this series, I highly recommend this set. Just seeing it all again brought back so much, and seeing the people behind it bravely keeping the show going as best as they could gives the show an added humanity that, as a kid, I could only really see in the episodes that changed. Now, details of the disks. Almost every episode has special features of some kind. Some are odd (everything but dialogue) and some got the royal treatment (commentaries both pre and during). No subtitles anywhere, but I didn't expect them. The video is good--at least, as good as I remember it being on my ratty TV. The sound is also nice (interesting to see how the music changed as they left prime time). Note, however, that there was some music slowdown in the first disk of my volume 3 or 4 (can't remember which). Dialogue is completely unaffected, but all of the music is slowed, as are the intro and end animations, but the epsidoes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devil May Cry: The Complete Series S.A.V.E.; Brand: Reuben Langdon; Review: If you've played the video games, killing everything in sight, then you know that the levels pretty much stay empty. And that's about where this series takes off. Nothing happens. Seriously. Nothing. Oh, there's atmosphere--about as much as looking at the nice art CAN give. Stuff is happening SOMEwhere, but not on camera. To perfectly sum up what goes on, our hero is traveling with a totally clueless girl blathering on about nothing; a tiny monster appears out of nowhere and the hero kills it; the girl does not notice. Completely forgettable and a chore to watch, especially if you have any kind of expectations for action--ACTION? Did SOMEone say action? They must be playing the video games because this is a snore. ZZzzzzzzzzZzzzzZZZZzZz; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. Superbit Collection; Brand: Samuel Jackson; Review: Finally saw this. I like action movies, but this one didn't have enough going for it to make it worth watching again, let alone earning. Some good actors here, but ultimately, the random pacing and poor plot build up just killed it. And for action, these are unforgivable misses. The pacing was slowed down by attempts at character building that had nothing at all to do with the plot, and when the betrayal happened I couldn't help but feel that it came out of nowhere. The escape of the bad guy was too well orchestrated with no basis at all. Where did those resources come from? The people? What brought them together? Money? I certainly watched it to the end, but now that I've seen this, I couldn't recommend anything about it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: In the Name of the King Theatrical Release; Brand: ; Review: Plenty of people have said why this movie is terrible, or why they think it's terrible. They're all right. My review only collects the major problems I had with it. The enemies have a certain Power Ranger quality to them. They're too plastic to be taken seriously, like mutated mutant ninja turtles. Throw this against the wild casting, and there lies the greatest imbalance. Throw in bizarre visuals (cheap and silly and random), some terrible acting/scripting, and a decidedly childish sense of choreography/filmatography (was the director specifically trying to use every angle and camera trick possible and as quickly as possible and including removing cohesive flow?). And WHAT is up with the never ending imposition of the soundtrack, trying to squeeze epic out of the mundane? The film just reeks. I was 20 minutes in when I decided to accept the film for the "done-over-the-weekend quality", and have what little fun is to be had by seeing such a crazy collection of actors--some bound to be favorites from other films. This is a badly made-for-TV-movie in quality. But it is rather nice to see more fantasy films being made, even throw-away ones.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Red; Brand: Bruce Willis; Review: Plenty of great reviews. Just wanted to throw my stars on. This movie rocks. Comedy. Action. PG-13. Are you kidding? Excellent. Go. Buy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: KNIGHT AND DAY RENTAL READY; Brand: Tom Cruise; Review: Action movies can stretch credulity. Action sequences, situations, storylines. As action movies go, KaD delivers a solid performance in the fun adventure category. Well worth the purchase despite the standard stretches. The movie only really suffers one unforgivable bit of fiction: At the beginning of the movie, our heroine has her luggage inspected by a TSA agent--and he gives her absolutely no grief what-so-ever. W...o...w. On sighting the badge I felt my toes and lip curl, but no trouble? Really? Whoo. Despite that awesome flub, you can sit back and enjoy the usual action movie goodness. Not a perfect movie, or a classic, but good. Solid. Fun. If you can forgive the TSA fiction. And I can. Movies are, after all, supposed to help us forget reality.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I Dream Of Jeannie Complete DVD Television Series; Brand: ; Review: Watched this as a kid in my grandparent's house. I don't remember any specific episodes, but I remember the opening well. The series made leaps and bounds as it advanced. Early on, sets end or the painted backdrops are a bit too painted, but throw in trips to Hawaii and actual footage of various Air Force and NASA instillations definitely improves things. Several musical and other entertainment guest stars appear, which was a surprise. Fun to see the era in this show. As for the seasons overall, there are some moments where I just hate Roger for trying to steal Jeannie, but he's forgivable in the end. The episodes and seasons progress well. Early on the episodes seem more interested in connecting and really playing on being discovered. This occasionally resurfaces, but the series has crazy fun. Becoming a rodeo, piano, and every other kind of virtuoso only for the episode appears a lot. I wish there were chapter skips within the episodes to skip the opening song (though, I watched it plenty of times). Not enough series do this. No big deal. My only real disappointment with the series itself is that there is no real end. You watch the last episode of the season, and it doesn't wrap up anything. This is odd considering that the last season does include an episode that seems to do just that--and ends up being a dream sequence. Huh. Other than this, everyone's disappointment over the packaging is about right. I never keep such things so I didn't mind this. All in all, if you ever saw the show, this is a good buy. I'm glad that I got it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Linebarrels of Iron: Complete Series S.A.V.E.; Brand: Josh Grelle; Review: I love mecha and was aware of this series for awhile, but didn't get around to it. The mecha are cool, the hairstyles are suitably different, and we get plenty of mysteries about the mecha, the pilots, etc. But it was hard to keep watching this. The women are universally endowed, which is downright bizarre, but it's the completely Un-likable main character that gave me a sour taste in the mouth. We get the formulaic wimp getting power (hate this boring junk), but instead of remaining a wimp he becomes a complete ass. Complete. But it is actually a different take on the whole kid gets power thing, so good. I was not quite sure what the purpose of the series was. Where Gurenn Lagann was a tribute to mecha anime that went for over awing human potential, this one was a tribute of a different kind, of motivation. Women are scattered around with completely disposable personalities, and balanced against the main character, who becomes a jerk... Who grows in as realistic a way as the anime could allow. His growth is the focus, but others grow too. Interestingly, the series has some real heroes and some real moments put into it, which seem placed specifically to bring more attention to their choices. Bizarre. Until you see how they are playing with the motivations of the characters. Interesting. But give the series a chance. It dedicates to its core ideas well in attempting to make a different motivating force for the characters. There are plenty of surprises, and some truly satisfying turns. I felt that it was just too short, that if it had had more time the development and focus could have been balanced a bit better. There's so much that could be expanded upon! By the way, I never did fall in love with the music. in the end, the series doesn't become a classic, but it's definitely a worthy addition to your mecha anime collection. Because unlike classics like Evangellion, this one has ultimately positive motivations behind some terrible events.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aquarion: The Complete Series; Brand: Christopher Bevins; Review: From the are to the movement, camera work to the construction of the world, this is an anime full of surprises. The moments come quickly, but there are a lot of them. Lavish, indeed. The character development is pretty standard fare, with kid suddenly able to do all kinds of things and the usual cast. It doesn't waste time or apologize for getting to the meat and especially the flavor of the rest of the show. But continuity and logic aren't completely discarded either. I like mecha anime and this one is definitely different, employing chakras, transformation, and combining different than anything I've seen. The additional layers of myth and techno magic really punch it up. Good music. The skips are ok, but you cannot skip the opening track. Every moment of the anime is so obviously well made and interwoven that I felt secure the entire time I watched this that I was getting a good show. If you like mecha anime, this is a must have.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Constantine; Brand: Keanu Reeves; Review: From the visuals to music, effects to the interplay of actors, I enjoy this one. Light occult, light action, fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Constantine [Blu-ray] [Blu-ray] (2008); Brand: Keanu Reeves; Review: From the visuals to music, effects to the interplay of actors, I enjoy this one. Light occult, light action, fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Constantine; Brand: Keanu Reeves; Review: From the visuals to music, effects to the interplay of actors, I enjoy this one. Light occult, light action, fun.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 Idiots; Brand: ; Review: Strong characters and a story that tears tears from the heart, and really drive this one home. Especially if you've struggled at school or work or the status quo. The dance numbers, a staple of the Bollywood scene, fits pretty well into the story. The music is great, if a bit heavy handed at times for dramatic effect. Not to be missed for the comedy, the heart, and the positive messages.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: REDLINE; Brand: ; Review: Lavish animation that reminded me of the tour de force, Akira. But I never liked Akira. It was dark and ugly. Redline is anything but. It is full of color, piling on the stakes, racing to the end. It builds right up to a big finish that had me wishing for more. Worth watching again to see what I missed. The characters are simple and clear. If there's anything else to want, it is a bit more resolution and twist, as there is fertile ground here for both. But, in the end, it's about the race, and it delivers. Get this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The World God Only Knows: Season 1; Brand: Hiro Shimono; Review: A well put together anime. It flows from episode to episode so smoothly; stories easily are finished in a single episode or are done over several. There's no feeling of filler, just exploration of this interesting world. The story centers around a kid that plays dating simulation games. But a contract with a devil forces him to use his skills in the real world. It's surprisingly tastefully done, and I'm glad that they take the time to do more than date girls 'to drive the demons out'. The anime looks at this culture of gaming, and does a good job of exploring the main character as he tries to save the girls. He is a gamer that hates the real world, and by the end of the first season - and a terrible singing number totally in line with the story - this is emphasized. Has he grown? In the end, I think not, so a second season is definitely in order. The end was a firm reminder of the character, but not satisfying. But in a good way. I want more. Really, the only distracting thing were the homages to various films/tv shows in various scenes. While these mostly fit the scenes, they hardly seemed necessary - the main character is a video game freak, not a movie one. It was cool to see things like posters and book titles in the series also paying tribute, but the easter egg hunt became an unwelcome distraction for me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last Witch Hunter Digital; Brand: Vin Diesel; Review: It's nice to see a movie with a great mixture of real locations, objects, and people. The CG is the artificial, the magic, and I especially like the bar, where no one is human. So it's legal. There are all kinds of details crammed into this movie, so much, that I wish it was extended to 3 hours, or a miniseries. What's here races along, and I wish there was more! It's a fun movie, set in the modern day, with a take on religion and witches that feels fresh, but never forgets that it has a story to get done. Easily 4 stars, but 5 for leaving me wanting more of everything it has!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gatekeepers:for Tomorrow VHS; Brand: ; Review: I like it enough to buy it. But the beginning (with arrest) is ridiculous. Get past that, and it's good. Would have preferred the armor of the manga, even the start of the manga, but good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Assassination Classroom: Season One Part Two; Brand: Sonny Strait; Review: Wow, I can't remember the last time an anime did something completely unexpected, but true to its world. And this one has done it multiple times. This second season overturned quite a few expectations, like our natural assassin being foiled. But it emphasized itself as well, reiterating that even betrayal is forgiven because it is a tool - so long as you continue to improve. The stories and characters are better, and my soft spot for teachers in anime are truly satisfied. It's still got random humor, like tribute to the Japanese television show Before After was hilarious, as I love that show. Truly, though, this second season gets back on the rails after the wild leap of the 2nd part of the first season when they went on vacation. And it's obvious that things are being tightly wound and focused. The school is the battleground, and graduation/the end of the world are coming. How will the second half of the 2nd season end? I can't wait to see!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shaolin Soccer; Brand: Stephen Chow; Review: A bit edited down from the original. For example, it's missing the locker room scene from the past where the Golden Leg takes the money and wipes his shoe on the other guy's head. But this one includes good CG edits into English, of the tattoo on Golden Leg's stomach and of the business card, for examples. A good clean transfer too. It's a great movie, and definitely worth watching, whether or nor you like or dislike kung fu and/or soccer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Chronicles of Riddick; Brand: Vin Diesel; Review: I like this movie. Great sets, pacing, characters and caricatures. I bought the unrated version, though, and was disappointed. The only real difference I saw was in remixing battle scenes. No real additions to plot nor characters nor setting. A letdown. If you own the original, no reason to buy this.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Season Of The Witch; Brand: ; Review: Good sets, locations, wardrobes, characters, pacing, makeup. The list goes on, with noteworthy details all over the place. The performances were good. I appreciated that the leads didn't really try for accents or anything. Solid effort until the end with the full CG demon. With such good physical effects throughout, they might have been better served with a physical effect here, perhaps augmented with CG. Still, a good movie that I hot at a bargain price.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: R.I.P.D. Brigade fantôme Region B Sous-titres français; Brand: ; Review: For me, this felt like a Men in Black film. The station was too new, the world in general too clean, the characters too cartoony. It can work in a comic book adaption, like I suppose Guardians of the Galaxy did, but where this one flopped was in finding its own brand of silliness, rather than owing to MIB, which I was never a huge fan of. Not that I loved GotG, either. Not a fan of the choices of actors either, with the exception of Bridges.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Outcast; Brand: Nicolas Cage; Review: After seeing the preview, I was curious about the mash-up of crusaders and China. Well done. Good sets and action pieces, even stunts I'd never seen before. The characters and dialogue were good, too, though I found the expediency of everyone speaking English a little odd at first. I was hoping for more cultural touches in their behavior, as this movie had Muslim, Hindu, Christian and other backdrops and characters, but not bad. The flashbacks weren't too obnoxious, though I found the timing weird. For example, the main character says he didn't kill the women and children, that the women had killed thier own children and then themselves, but this flashback is only at the very end.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yes or No? (Collector's Edition); Brand: Aom Sushar Manaying; Review: Misunderstanding is always a silly device in movies, but here it's more like the characters accept them because it's easier than being brave about truths. Not just of who we are as individuals, but who we are in relation to others. And especially of love. A nice story, with the backdrop of a tech college, some good characters and side characters, and dialogue that feels real. A good movie not only to watch, but to own. Only just misses a star because of the odd dual-couple-but-not-a-couple that lasted for much of the movie: I couldn't decide if it was cultural or basic human or what, but that core of misunderstanding just didn't quite sell the story to me as much as the quiet pace and cinematography of the film.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Attack of the Mousers VHS; Brand: ; Review: Don't dig the narrative in the opening theme song, but this is a good season. April gets her jumpsuit, the Triceraton stories are a mix of new and old-inspired, and Honeycut is a niftier chatacter. It's a long season, cramming a lot in. The last episode could have probably been two, but it's not too rushed. It was kind of weird to see the turtles using blasters and laser blades, and I'm not a fan of their space suits, but in the main an enjoyable season. Is another season on the way? Will treads left dangling on Earth get wrapped up, or will this incarnation of the turtles continue? Interestingly enough, I feel like all the original comic cannon stuff has been satisfied. We'll see where they go from here!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire City: End of Days; Brand: Tobias Jelinek; Review: I watched this because I supported this on Kickstarter. The movie kind of all over the place, with narration and inner monologues and some windy dialogues. Pushing a disturbing vibe. Like assaulting a child. I'm not a fan of such things, but the slaps and general menace are well portrayed. Real creature effects are always good to see, and there are a lot of them. But I felt like some didn't do well, like long fingers wrapped around gun grips, or faces not reading well in the dark lighting. In the end, it's ok. Effort was put into it, maybe crammed into it. I hear it's part of a series, so hopefully it'll settle down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dead Like Me - The Complete First Season; Brand: Ellen Muth; Review: It's difficult to sit through the first episode, I gave up on the series. It's squarely in the head thoughts of a complete loser that makes everyone else's lives miserable, and full of judgment and laziness to fill the constant stream of thought. I suppose it's a 'realistic' look at the way the world is, in an entitled main character cares about nothing. I'm sure there's growth potential for this character, but I just kept waiting for the promised death by toilet, when I realized that she would probably linger on like this for at least one more episode. Most likely more. And I didn't want to deal with another second. Pass.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Michiko & Hatchin - Complete Series - S.A.V.E.; Brand: Monica Rial; Review: Apparently, there are no simply good people, just various types of bad. The cops are no more than a variety of gangster, and whether a priest, cook, or swindler, everyone is just out there doing their thing. Lies, cheats, violence, profanity, abuse, murder, all of it is mashed together with dreams and hopes. The story moves as the main characters basically snap, the woman busting out of prison, and the little girl from her foster family. The anime basically follows their search for the woman's man, who would be the girl's father. I didn't enjoy this anime. The art is certainly good, but the dialog, situations and characters aren't pleasant at all. I found the little girl's pursuit of goodness all the more awful against the pervasive rotten core of humanity. Not graphic, but certainly bleak. Not my thing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Good Luck Girl!: The Complete Series; Brand: Brina Palencia; Review: This anime is all over the place. One second sad, another fighting. It's a bit inconsistent too, as the main character is supposed to be a super lucky girl. But she doesn't seem that lucky, though, that may be the point, as the reasons for who she is are revealed. This drives much of the stories, so I ended up liking this one ok. But because they crammed so many pop culture references with all the gear shifts, I kept thinking that there could have been a bit more to the series. I was rather surprised that the end advertises a second season, but I'd get it. I want to see the main characters fleshed out more. The series had enough surprises with all the madness to keep me interested. Not great but certainly good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gunbuster 2, Vol. 2; Brand: Yukari Fukui; Review: Far too rushed for an attempt at epic. Good animation, good Japanese voice acting - the only DVD set I've gotten that only seems to have Japanese language bu default. But way too short. The characters don't feel truly developed, especially when they drop lines like, wanting to be with everyone and such. This aside, it looks like they focused in on their message as much as possible within these few episodes, but because of everything else crammed in, it lacked punch. Could have easily been a single disk.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: NIGHT WARRIORS: DARKSTALKER'S REVENGE OVA COLLECTION; Brand: ; Review: It can't be an instant classic because it's far too short, but what's here is quite good. Most characters only appear in montages, especially at the beginnings or between episodes, and it follows only the main characters of the game. But that's fine. The story that's here, the episodes that are part of the set are solid, with good Japanese voice acting, action, art, and stories. Actually, out of the all the classic fighting-game-inspired animations I've ever seen, this is easily the best. I always liked the premise, of re-imagined monsters fighting it out. Definitely leaves me wishing that they'd put together a full season.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Selector Infected Wixoss: Complete Series; Brand: Jamie Marchi; Review: An adult card game anime. That's not to say there's fanservice or anything like that. It's a drama, centered in pain and some more adult themes. It's a horror, without gore or any of those traditional trappings. This anime feels very different, focusing on the dark side of not only losing, but winning. It's uncomfortable. It was a little hard to watch, but I kept at it because it is definitely unpredictable. Where would it go? I'm glad I kept at it. The game reality, and the reality outside of it, truth and wishes, it's a good anime. Where other card anime focuses on cards, this anime focuses on the story, well paced - and the twist is crazy. It puts the whole thing in a different light, making me rethink the motivations and dialogs of the previous episodes. Definitely the mark of a good anime. And the ending? What's going on? Another twist, a cliffhanger that only the second season will answer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cat Planet Cuties Asobi Ni Iku Yo! Complete Series; Brand: Tia Ballard; Review: This anime jumps right in to alien cats and dogs. And jumps right out again - it doesn't so much end, as stops. It doesn't really build up to anything, just kind of goes. The Japanese voice acting is good, the characters are fine. There are occasional breasts and bikini shots, but didn't feel all that in your face until the very end, when they're stripping constantly. The boy isn't totally useless, but he's not much of a stretch from the usual bore. All in all, a basic kind of anime. I wish they'd developed the dog and cat rivalry in a more interesting way. The potential was there, as the dogs were already on earth. But that got dropped quickly. Centering on nobody admitting their feelings didn't do it for me. Got it for a good price, ok to watch, but not especially memorable.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Godannar: Complete Collection; Brand: ; Review: Bright colors, direct dialogs, dramatic turns, from the very fist, it's obvious that they're going all out for this one. It's a melodrama first, a mecha anime second. The shouting got a little annoying, as it seems every other word is belted out. Anger, sadness, surprise, challenges, not a single opportunity is missed. I like the second season over the first, mostly because it looks at pilots from other countries a bit more, and even the mechanics get the spotlight. It's got fanservice, complete with tight outfits over man a woman parts. I never really understood the point of the rogue mecha pilot. It just felt like a contrived conflict - weren't all the robots known? Government sponsored? And weren't all the pilots known to each other? And the pacing is unrelenting, fight monsters, fight mecha, personal issues, more monsters - geeze! I rather like that this feels like a classic mecha anime that's been updated, but such a major plot hole is too much, especially when coupled with all the shouting and unrelenting melodrama. An anime with good Japanese voice acting, fun designs, solid production, but one that couldn't make me really care about the characters. Ends up a 3 because I'd have to talk myself into watching it again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fractale: The Complete Series; Brand: Alexis Tipton; Review: Touches of technology and a culture to figure out. Bumbling henchmen, happy-go-lucky women that defy the logic we're learning about. The story reveals more and more of the world, its bright and pastoral designs mixed with both high and low tech in a way both subtle and overt. No fanservice to distract from the ride. Where's this going? But when the shooting begins, the lines are drawn pretty quickly as the answers ro the mysteries pile atop new questions. A well paced anime with good Japanese voice acting and great visuals. The tone feels off kilter, though, and at odds with the art style - people getting shot "looks good" like the flying machines, religious objects, town designs, and costumes. Instead of being a light, weird trip, it dares to bare fangs. There's an ugliness here, in humanity, but the ending is good.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heroic Age: The Complete Series; Brand: Caitlin Glass; Review: A good drama and action anime, with mecha, monsters, and a fair balance of soap opera and science fiction. The only thing that stops this from being an instant classic for me is the rather confusing relationship between all the "tribes" and the "conditions". The story hinges on these ideas enough that they should be clearer-but they aren't. And how the heck did the moron brothers escape arrest, and get back into command?! Still, good designs, Japanese voice acting, emotions, and story keep this series moving well. No fanservice. Solid, with no over the top evil or disturbing images.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shattered Angels: The Complete Series; Brand: ; Review: Talk, talk, talk. This anime is filled with inner dialogs, monologs, narrative - and dialogs. As the words are prince this and flowery protestations that, complete with over saturated light, this was rough to start. Then the new guy bared the heroine's bra, giant mecha started battling, and action started to replace the sap. Much better. Still, this anime is so focused on cool boys, flamboyant clothing and soapy opera that I couldn't really get into it. The Japanese voice acting is good, but breathy and too much in the cool range. Animation is best during the action, but otherwise washed out with soft light and pastels.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dance in the Vampire Bund: Complete Series; Brand: ; Review: The first episode shows off a Japanese variety show vibe, with lots of details, dating the anime, but not in a bad way. Some really good animation here, with good slow motion and action shots. It occasionally feels a bit overdone, but it never gets annoying. A bit of fanservice, but it doesn't overtake the story, characters, or plot. Good Japanese voice acting and a main male character that is refreshingly good, though, he's a bit of an idiot. They're all quite good. There's a ruthlessness to it that rears up and sets up tragedy. There's a sudden, fake out ending in the middle that could have been built up to a series finale. Where it goes is ok, though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Majin: The Complete Series S.A.V.E.; Brand: Brandon Hearnsberger; Review: Action, Japanese voice acting, and animation are all good. The characters are pretty standard kids, but the other side characters are a nice variety. My biggest issue is with the timeline. The first episode jumps right in, complete with the death of side characters that I thought were main characters. Then the story jumps backward, and everyone is alive, but not friends. So things go forward from this point, but there are battles that aren't finished, arguments that apparently started off camera, like the art dealer guy says that he told the students to fight together. When? This anime seems to just pick up whenever it wants. It's got good enough points for 4 stars, but feels like pieces are missing, and that's annoying.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: C - Control: The Complete Series; Brand: Scott Freeman; Review: The jump cuts are annoying. But the animation is otherwise good. There's a bit of fanservice. The Japanese voice acting is good, and so is the story. It's an anime that turns the financial into battles. It's different from what I've seen, with plenty of colorful characters and designs. The changes in the past and present, and the fixation on the future make it interesting, along with the interaction and development or revelations. It can be a bit sad at times, especially as the results are revealed. Money is certainly evil stuff.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Girls Und Panzer: TV Collection; Brand: Caitlynn French; Review: Simple anime with girl schools in competition tank battles. The tanks look great, and there are many other interesting pieces of equipment, like the jeeps and the aircraft. Lots of details in clothing, food, etc. My favorite thing to love and hate is the aircraft carrier schools - the scale is way off, but the idea is cool - more than tank battles as a school club, these aircraft carriers make me interested in this world. And the townspeople are ok with tanks tearing through their property? The tank cafes and shops are also pretty cool. The battles in regular old neighborhoods are my favorite, but there's a nice variety of locations. The girls come in a dizzying variety, with some overlapping designs, like the flower girl and sleepy genius are a bit too similar. But there is some attempt at character development crammed into this short series. It's a simple anime with good Japanese voice acting. And, surprisingly, I can't really think of any fanservice, besides a public bath or two. Good and I'd like to watch more.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: D-Frag: Complete Series; Brand: Austin Tindle; Review: Deceptively random, gear shifting anime. I like the game making club as the center of the sunshine madcap stories. It's a fun series with good Japanese voice acting, hilarious one liners, and sudden changes in situations that got a lot of laughs out of me. The ending, though, is too abrupt. Hope there's another season.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blade Dance of the Elementalers; Brand: ; Review: This one has a lot of hemlines and breast talk, but that's pretty much the extent of the fanservice. Lots of skin. Despite all that, I like it pretty well. The characters build up well. While it's obvious that they'll get together and make a team, it was pleasantly paced. I find anime that revolve around one boy - that protests the attention, and naked women offering themselves to him - annoying. But this guy is almost likable. He's got his mind on other things, and if the series had emphasized those a bit more, I'd have liked him more. He is a demon reborn, a cross dresser, someone that tested himself - but all of those things are part of his past. He's not quite developed in the now. I like the world they have going here. Obviously, the series is only 12 episodes, so there's a lot left out. The ending shows the team made, and they're off to the blade dance tournament. I'd like to see more of this series. Good animation, and, in a departure from most anime I've bought in the US, absolutely no English dubbing! Awesome. Just hit play at the menu.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Juden Chan; Brand: Kaori Fukuhara; Review: So packed with fanservice that it could border on the absurd, but this was a fun anime to watch. The main male character is a good one, hard-working, reasonably irritated when the situation calls for it, and a good guy. So rare in anime of this type. His nose design is a bit distracting. Still, he can see the women from a parallel world that visit earth to recharge sad humans. That part of it isn't explained so well, but it's so different from other anime of this type. Refreshing. There are enough glimpses into this parallel world to keep my interest. I'd enjoy seeing more of the series. The Japanese voice acting is good, with the option right on the menu screen. Nice. The charaters are pretty standard, but well done enough. Towards the end, it seems more and more details and charaters pour out of the parallel world, like the creators finally felt they could share it. Looking forward to the next installment.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ben To: The Complete Series; Brand: Austin Tindle; Review: This one is a good time, especially if you're familiar with half price bento: you might get lucky and get a great one, or one that's not so popular. This series removes the luck and bases it on fights. The overall good nature and honor give the series a good feel. There are some funny choices in the characters, like the large breasted woman who remains faceless to the teenage protagonist. There are odd choices, like the fiction writing girl those prose is occasionally a skewed counterpoint to the action. The tone is light; the only laugh out loud moment for me was when the bad luck girl cooked a bento with completely off flavors. A nice series with occasional innuendo, but aside from a few bouncing breasts and bathing, I don't remember any other fanservice. Definitely worth checking out, though it lacks serious punch to elevate it to classic status.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Seventh Season; Brand: Sarah Michelle Gellar; Review: Cemented my hate for Dawn. Did she embody anything positive? Certainly not enough to balance all the negatives. Buffy has always been very annoying, but Dawn is repellent. I only preserve through the season when I get the urge to marathon all of them. While on the topic of negatives, Spike being crazy isn't so convincing, but better than mooning Spike of previous seasons. Otherwise, there's some good stuff in here. Very cool that Anya's troll boyfriend returned in a flashback (though, oddly out of place in the episode, they got the original actor), and there is a refreshing lot of references to previous seasons and lots of new characters to fill oit the world - they're mostly disposable, but it's nice, nonetheless.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Invaders of the Rokujyoma; Brand: ; Review: Unexpected. It has a boy that isn't useless. He's surrounded by women that aren't all in love with him. I kept waiting for it to collapse into that usual formula, but it doggedly resists. In fact, while there's a beach episode, I can only think about a few fanservice moments during the entire series. It's more focused on friendship and the interaction of the wide range of female characters, including a futuristic space princess, a ghost, a magical girl, a shrine maiden from the bowels of the earth, etc. They're all bound together by the mysterious power of the guy's room, and various background developments hint at more connections. I like it. It's such a break from the norm, so a bit weird. Worth watching again just to relax into it. The only real issue I have with it is that the conflicts really lack bite. Still, it's nice to find a relaxing anime. The ending is rather abrupt, and I get the feeling that there's more. Hope so, because there's certainly plenty more to explore. Good animation and Japanese voice acting; no dub, though I wish there was an option to kill the subtitles.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Magikano; Brand: ; Review: Sub-par animation and characters, centered around a useless boy with 3 sisters, who are witches. And then another witch moves in to make the boy a man. Ugh. It's totally random, with forgetfulness and magic and throwaway gags crammed in. It was quite difficult fo me to go through it. It just feels cheap, with a washed out quality to the art and boring designs. Though I like Japanese voice acting, the main guy's voice and charater was annoying. Escapes 1 star only because I like lighter anime.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Wanna Be the Strongest in the World! Complete Series; Brand: Ayana Taketatsu; Review: For the love of - how many times did the main character have to lose in exactly the same way? All that whimpering was as boring to me as it was for the audience in the anime. One theme: Don't give up. Nothing subtle about this one. A combination and comparisons between the two worlds of idols and professional wrestling make this a weird anime. As the majority of the dialogue feels like whining or crying out, it's difficult to enjoy the Japanese voice acting. So much crying out is not my thing, it made this very difficult to watch. The animation is ok, with a fair bit of fanservice - especially if you're into zooms of crotches. The characters and story are pretty poor. Where is the coaching?! 50 loses? It was an interminable four episodes before the main character finally stopped whining. Perhaps a real amateur would find themselves losing to the same move, but this was boring. And the reward to the viewer for getting past this? More losses, but it finally moves on to the training montages, better fighting back, and the slow return of her fans from her idol days, plus some wrestling fans. And then the wrestling turned into K1? The set-up, with the collision of wrestling and idols, especially with its focus on various characters affected by the choices, could have been really good. But the series lacked punch. The characters and pacing sapped the emotional impact from it. I do like that no one is evil, just doing their thing. Could be 3 stars, because it clings to the idol side, giving it a better dimension. But all that screaming drops it to 2.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable Machine Doll: Complete Series; Brand: Bryn Apprill; Review: Good stuff. Steampunk England, but more focused on magical dolls, a series that layers in the backstory, background, and plot pretty well. It rushes breathlessly forward, with highly detailed fights, jump cuts, and frenetic pacing. Like, the main character protects his doll, jump back to a flashback where he did it in the past, in he goes for an operation, and he's back on his feet to save the day again. In the meantime, others are fighting, conspiracy is afoot, and the world order is in danger of collapsing. Exposition is refreshingly brief, with only just enough explained - visuals serve instead. I like it. The characters are pretty stock, but the main guy is actually pretty fascinating; I'll buy the manga to see if there's more to him. The anime starts collecting girls, bit it doesn't feel like a harem anime. Though, it doesn't miss a chance for some fanservice either. But it is only just one more thing added to the headlong rush that drives the series. It does lose instant classic status for being just a bit too loose. For example, it's primarily set in a British school for these magical engineers, but there are few rules or adults truly interacting with the main characters - think about Hogwarts without strong professors or rules about magic. And the levity feels pretty awkward, though it helps contrast against the pace. The adults mostly watch, stepping in only as necessary. It's a bizarre, hands off approach, but does keep the action focused where it should be, the teens. I rather like the multi-episode stories, too. Good animation that is consistently making good decisions - more detailed for battles and emotions, less so for shadowy talking. Good Japanese voice acting, with good dialogue, even if the translation is markedly different at times. Would enjoy another series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Martian Successor Nadesico: Complete Collection; Brand: Spike Spencer; Review: Was in the mood for an older series, so picked this one up. The mecha designs are nothing special, but the center of the series is in the characters. The Japanese voice acting is good; subs are good. The typical cast of characters isn't the usual batch we'd see nowadays, with a large cast, including a number of folks that don't appear. The story is ok, with an alien invasion, the relationships between the characters, and the emergence of a few mysteries, including why our main character guy teleported from Mars colony. I'm not such a fan of the pacing and tone, because they feel crammed in. One moment the guy is in his derelict mech, floating towards his ship, and the next he's got the love triangle girls in there with him. I thought I'd fallen asleep for a minute, but the story does that a few times, as if a few minutes of animation were removed. Otherwise, one moment it's serious, then they cram in jokes, romance, and even just weird character quirks. It's jarring and distracting, but thankfully mostly at the beginning. I couldn't get invested in the love triangle either. It comes out of nowhere, goes nowhere, and everyone comes off a bit touched in the head. An anime of a different time indeed. Good animation, a nice show-within-a-show send off, and an unmistakable taste of 90s anime.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Husqvarna Craftsman 162803 Lawn Tractor Bagger Attachment Lower Chute; Brand: Husqvarna; Review: I bought this for my Craftsman 42" deck mower. The chute fits perfectly to the deck and the bagger. Recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Craftsman 532109808 Mower Bagger Hood Latch; Brand: Craftsman; Review: Well, not too much to say about a latch. It fits and does the job. It comes with the necessary screws to fit onto the bagger. If you need a latch for a bagger chute then this is it. Enough said.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Husqvarna 532160793 Latch Grass Chute With Hook For Husqvarna/Poulan/Roper/Craftsman/Weed Eater; Brand: Husqvarna; Review: "Does the job". Well, not too much to say about a latch. It fits and does the job. It comes with the necessary screws to fit onto the bagger. If you need a latch for a bagger chute then this is it. Enough said; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lifetime 60103 Deck Storage Box, 80 Gallon; Brand: Lifetime; Review: Bought this for our boat slip. Lag bolted to the dock and use a stainless steel lock for the lid. This has been out in the Florida sun, salt air and tropical storms and has kept everything dry. Gas struts on the lid make opening and closing easy. Good sturdy construction. Much cheaper than a 'marine' box and does exactly the same thing. Save your money and buy one these.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intex FBA_28003E Deluxe Maintenance Kit for Above Ground Pools, 1, Blue; Brand: Intex; Review: This is a good kit for the pool. We use it with our above ground Intex. The vacuum is so much better than the original one and much easier to use. Nothing lasts forever in Florida, so a good price is essential on pool equipment and this fits the requirement.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Classic Accessories Ravenna Full Coverage Round Fire Pit Cover - Premium Outdoor Cover with Durable and Water Resistant; Brand: Classic Accessories; Review: A good quality, well made cover with good adjustment t and strapping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 in 1 Grill Cleaning Brush By All Times Finest - Extra Long Handle (18”); Brand: All Times Finest; Review: Fast delivery and we'll packed. This cleaner is great, it actually cleans the grill, which isn't always the case with some cleaners. Well made and works great, recommended.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pillow Perfect Indoor/Outdoor Red/Brown Striped Tufted Seat Cushion, 2-Pack; Brand: Pillow Perfect; Review: Well made and comfortable replacement cushions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chapin International 20000 Garden Sprayer, 1-Gallon, Translucent White; Brand: Chapin International; Review: Does the job, but I wish it had a pressure relief valve. When it gets empty of liquid you have to 'crack' the main filler to release the pressure, whixh oftens results in spray shooting upwards. Other than that it works well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hongso SBB411 (4-Pack) Stainless Steel Gas BBQ Grill Replacement Grill Pipe Tube Burners for BBQ Grillware, Broilmate, Charmglow, Master; Brand: Hongso; Review: These work well and fit my Master Forge gas grill. The originals lasted about 4 years, we'll see how these do...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grill and Smoker Thermometer; Brand: Man Law BBQ Products; Review: My only issue is condensation within the display. Not bad, but it is there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Patio_Lawn_and_Garden |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Caterpillar Men's Hydraulic Mid Cut Steel Toe Boot; Brand: ; Review: these shoes are of excellent quality, I really like are too comfortable, I use it every day, and all day from 6 am until 5pm and walk a lot because my job is walking and standing almost all day. the purchase I was hooked. and are caterpillar that more could you want.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nautica Men's Short Sleeve Striped Polo Shirt; Brand: ; Review: the shirt is too pretty, I love shopping. I recommend it. made just to fit. nautica. Great shirt nicely, not too thin or too loose, good quality fabric, washed very well and great deal. This is a great shirt for a good price. I use it all the time. I strongly recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Levi's Men's 501 Jean Drainpipe; Brand: ; Review: I loved this purchase, I have over 10 years using levis and I think that is the best jeans in every way, I bought more than 10 on amazon and in various colors, I would rather they put more colors to keep buying them because the I have almost all. are very quality and fit perfectly. I recommend it 100%.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers USA Women's Bikers-Adorable Open-Toe Flat; Brand: ; Review: I am very happy with this purchase, as it were perfect shoes my mother and it was a good gift. feel very comfortable with their new acquisition lol really good I recommend it for those women who want to feel comfortable. excellent purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberland Men's City Adventure-Front Country Slip-On; Brand: ; Review: these shoes are the best, timberland shoes are the pioneers in use for many years timberland shoes and these are impressive finish, texture and Comfort are designed for the perfect hike. Good quality product highly recommended 100%. I particularly my last long these shoes and I say they are all timberland. already and had three pairs of the same shoe and I will continue buying while they are.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberland Men's Rime Ridge Boot; Brand: ; Review: These boots are the best, timberland shoes are the pioneers in use for many years timberland shoes and these are impressive finish, texture and Comfort are designed for the perfect hike. Good quality product highly recommended 100%.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberland Men's Rime Ridge Mid Waterproof Boot; Brand: ; Review: These boots are the best, timberland shoes are the pioneers in use for many years timberland shoes and these are impressive finish, texture and Comfort are designed for the perfect hike. Good quality product highly recommended 100%. I particularly my last long these shoes and I say they are all timberland.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merrell Men's Rant Knoll Lace Walking Shoe; Brand: Merrell; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Men's PFG Bahama II Short Sleeve Breathable Fishing Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: Excellent shirt size to fit me like a very happy purchase; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Men's PFG Bahama II Short Sleeve Breathable Fishing Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: Excellent shirt size to fit me like a very happy purchase; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Women's Bonehead Long Sleeve Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: excellent shirt very pleased with my purchase measure, if possible volvere to buy. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 514 Straight Fit Pant; Brand: ; Review: something big for me, I'm used to using levis 501, and buy this to try since I do not get that color levis 501, but it was not useful buying because I remain very wide.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Sportswear Bait Caster Short Sleeve Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: excellent shirt very pleased with my purchase measure, if possible volvere to buy. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timberland Men's EK Gorham Low Waterproof Oxford; Brand: ; Review: timberland shoes, very comfortable and nice 100% recommended 8.5 M size is excellent for me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Polo Assn. Men's Solid Pique Polo Shirt; Brand: U.S. Polo Assn.; Review: excellent shirt very pleased with my purchase measure, if possible volvere to buy. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Bahama Ii L/S Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: Excellent shirt size to fit me like a very happy purchase; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Columbia Men's Super Bahama Long Sleeve Shirt; Brand: Columbia; Review: excellent shirt very pleased with my purchase measure, if possible volvere to buy. I recommend this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: very nice and good quality product. happy!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gerber Baby Girls' 2 Pack Zip Front Sleep 'n Play; Brand: ; Review: very nice and good quality product. happy!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Calvin Klein Baby Girls' Assorted Short Sleeve Bodysuit (Pack of 5); Brand: ; Review: very nice and good quality product. happy!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney Baby Girls' Minnie Mouse 3-Piece Footie, Bodysuit, and Bib Set; Brand: ; Review: very nice and good quality product. happy!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE Men's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Jean; Brand: ; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: Columbia; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Skechers Men's Diameter Vassell Casual Sneaker; Brand: ; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Timex Full-Size Ironman Essential 10 Watch; Brand: Timex; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Casio Men's W735H-1AVCF Super Illuminator Watch With Black Resin Band; Brand: Casio; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEE Men's Relaxed Fit Straight Leg Jean; Brand: ; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nautica Men's Pique Solid Deck Polo Shirt; Brand: ; Review: very good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Park Tower a Luxury Collection Hotel Buenos Aires; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: I spent three nights here before heading to Antarctica. The hotel is clean and the staff pleasant. The service at the cafes and restaurants in the Sheraton (connected hotel) is extremely slow. We asked for the check at least three times each time we had drinks. The food – nothing to write home about. The pool is nice except again for the food options. A great place to get some sleep. Order food in if you are tired or head out for real food in town!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Loft Hotel; City: Montreal Quebec; Review: Amazing stay! Our only regret is we only had one night to stay at this wonderful hotel! Room: huge! Full kitchen, dining room table, sofas, large plasma TV, bedroom = all exceptional! Despite the typical late check-in, the hotel staff arranged for us to occupy the room at 12:30 PM. They also gave us the option of a 1 PM check-out. Parking is connected to the hotel via a door to the lobby. The main entrance is a little challenging to find by vehicle. If you’re parking a car, head directly to the parking garage and eliminate the cul-de-sac turnaround. Day or night, coffee and tea are available. Great breakfast included in the room rate. Internet = fast. Seriously, we can’t find a single thing to complain about! Awesome place to stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lone; City: Rovinj Istria; Review: We could write pages and pages about the Lone! In all honesty, we didn’t have huge expectations. But – WOW! Upon check-in, we received a free upgrade. Swimming pool on our balcony?! Really? AMAZING! The room was perfect! Everything has been carefully designed, thought of and implemented! The only part of the room we “fixed” was the see-through bathroom. We asked for an extra sheet and created a drape to allow for privacy between the bedroom and enormous bathroom. I am two meters tall and happily relaxed in the bath tub! The separate shower was also quite roomy. We spent many a night on our private balcony, either relaxing in the Jacuzzi or simply gazing at the stars. Feeling romantic? This is your place! Our final meal was served by Markos. BEST LOBSTER we’ve ever eaten! And it was just the starter! Do not forget to use the spa! Deep tissue massage? Also amazing!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Albion House Ramsgate Hotel; City: Ramsgate Isle of Thanet Kent England; Review: The Albion House made our trip to Ramsgate! After a long journey to the UK and immediate drive to Kent all I wanted to do was sleep. I entered the room and passed out on a wonderful bed in a room that somehow radiated “home”. After a nap, I met my friend at the Town Bar downstairs. The atmosphere was amazing! Surveying the room I quickly figured out Town is the place to be and be seen! My friend and I chatted with several of the bar patrons: friendly, informative, and wonderful! We also had our first local dining experience at the hotel’s restaurant. The restaurant noticeably strives for exceptional taste, décor and service. The staff succeeded on all points! Albion House sits in the perfect location for travelers who enjoy being part of local nightlife, but also in a quiet neighborhood. The bars at the harbor are a mere five minute walk down a hill. Later we learned a lift directly across the street from Albion House also takes one down to the promenade! Parking was a bit difficult given we stayed during Victory in Europe Day celebrations. It’s hard to offer advice to Albion House on how to improve the hotel or service. I felt welcomed from the moment I entered the building. Looking back, a few towel hooks or a shelf in the bathroom to place toiletries would have been welcomed. However, the oversized bath tub made me forget any shortcomings on where to place my toiletries. At six foot four inches tall, I felt as if I could swim in the bath tub! Owners Emma and Ben are down-to-earth, soulful people with whom I’d enjoy speaking for hours! They are active Ramsgate community members, seeking to grow the city in a sustainable and positive manner. The world needs more “Emma and Ben” people! Thank you for sharing your stories; I will be back to visit!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: International Hotel Killarney; City: Killarney County Kerry; Review: The International Hotel is perfectly located downtown Killarney. It’s literally around the corner from the main pub and restaurant streets! I stayed four nights in one room; my friend had another = both on the second floor. Her room had air conditioning, so if that’s important to you ensure to ask ahead of time! My room did not have AC, but was also half the cost of her room! I loved my stay with the window providing all the cool air I needed. Unlike my friend’s room, I had a stand-up shower AND a Jacuzzi bathtub. She had a combo Jacuzzi tub with shower. The room was very spacious (mine actually a little bigger than hers). I would’ve appreciated a refrigerator to keep drinks cool. Emergency late-night snacks are limited to cold sandwiches, but the turkey sandwich was spectacular! Look for a terrace balcony via a meeting room on the first floor. It’s a great place to people watch from above street level. The hotel doesn’t mind if you take cocktails out there too. It’s also a better option for smokers than the street and remains accessible until 10 PM. The staff is VERY pleasant and truly caring. I made my reservation solely by email and had an excellent and prompt experience with correspondence. Some rooms offer US electrical outlets in the room area (not just the bathroom, very unusual). The man that works the nightshift is not the typical friendly Irishman. I bring this up simply because another guest who said he stays at the International Hotel a few times each month for work commented to me on the elevator about the nightshift employee. While he is not actually rude; he is not cheerful and pleasant like every other hotel staff member. The fellow guest went on and on about the poor attitude the night shift guy has. He mentioned there used to be a young man working the night shift who was wonderful and cheerful (like most Irish!) The bar and restaurant are very lively at night! The music is loud inside the bar, but you will not hear a sound in the rooms! We did not eat at the restaurant since there are so many options around the corner. But, we did indulge on numerous bottles of champagne (fair cost) and the bartenders readily fulfilled requests for ice buckets to take to our rooms. Parking: there is a parking lot easily accessible directly behind the hotel (one euro per hour from 9:00 AM to 6 PM). The traffic police work from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM so that offers some flexibility. An alley located to one’s left (back facing hotel) takes you right to it (with a convenience store nearby) in less than three minutes. Two other parking lots are cheaper (three euros daily) but much further away. Overall = fantastic hotel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: JOY OF COOKING; Author: Visit Amazon's Irma S. Rombauer Page; Review: A must for every kitchen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Cook Everything Fast: A Better Way to Cook Great Food; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Bittman Page; Review: Great cookbook. Lots of helpful information. The instructions are some of the best. Very easy to follow. PR; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Joy of Cooking: A compilation of reliable recipes, with an occasional culinary chat; Author: Visit Amazon's Irma S. Rombauer Page; Review: A must for every kitchen.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simplicity Simply the Best Sewing Book: The Essential Reference for All Home Sewers; Author: Simplicity; Review: This is a great reference book for sewing. I have had an older edition and refer to it often. I bought the new edition for my Granddaughter. Hopefully it will encourage her to sew. PR; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Books of the Bible: A Survey of the Old and New Testaments; Author: John Hayes; Review: A good study for an overview of the Bible.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fire HD 6 User Guide - Newbie to Expert in 2 Hours; Author: Visit Amazon's Tom Edwards Page; Review: The information was helpful but did not all apply to the Kindle Fire 6.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie; Author: Visit Amazon's Laura Joffe Numeroff Page; Review: Great children's book, and children love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? (A Bill Martin instant reader); Author: Visit Amazon's Bill Martin Page; Review: Great children's book and children love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 10 Little Rubber Ducks Board Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Eric Carle Page; Review: Great children's book. All of Eric Carle's books are wonderful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Our Souls at Night (Vintage Contemporaries); Author: Visit Amazon's Kent Haruf Page; Review: Quick read, very sweet book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Casa Caburlotto; City: Venice Veneto; Review: stayed for a week at Casa Caburlotto . The sisters are nice and the room was clean. But would not stay there in the future, because of the atmosphere , too somber and dark for my likeness. Knew the price was good, but there are places for the same price that are warm and more lively and also didn't like the curfew. Wouldn't recomend to any of my friends.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mason Beach Inn; City: Santa Barbara California; Review: Have been to Santa Barbara many times and stayed in different places. But this time we decided to try this new place, and we are glad we did. Very well located, just a block from the beach, clean, nice size rooms with a refrigerator and a microwave. A very nice young lady at the front desk named Elsie, was very helpful and friendly. The continental breakfast was plentiful and in a very nice area. There were seating areas by the pool that have a very nice look of the gardens and overall we loved the place. Will come back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tuscany Suites Casino; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: we will be going at the end of the month. But forgot to write about my past experience with this great place. Stayed for two nights and completely enjoyed it. Beautiful hotel,and casino. Has a gym and swimming pool , The customer service was excellent., The rooms are very spacious and have a kitchenette. It is at walking distance from the strip, but we actually got better luck playing at this casino. What I really like the most is that having stayed at so many different places in Vegas for the price this is by far a super deal. You are in Vegas, but you are at a clean, super comfortable place that offers entertainment, good food and a break from the super crowds that you always encounter in Vegas...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tuscany Suites Casino; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: this was my second stay at this wonderful hotel and we were absolutely happy with the place which is clean. beautiful and smoke free. Had a very nice room with the details that I liked, like a clean carpet, a very nice clean bedspread, great customer service. We enjoyed eating at Marilyn's cafe, which serves very good food and in general we love the atmosphere of the place. They have a lounge for watching football, music and just to have drinks. a couple of also good places to eat . You can tell they give maintenance to this big place, you see employees taking care of it and everybody was very nice, from Ramisi who helped us when we check in to all in general. Have stayed in many places in Vegas through the years, but this is from now on, our number #1....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Tintoretto; City: Venice Veneto; Review: stayed only for one night, but was pleasantly surprised for the excellent service of the desk personnel. very friendly and courteous. The room was comfortable and clean and they offered breakfast early in the morning, so I was able to get a bite before heading to the train station.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Carmel Fireplace Inn; City: Carmel Monterey County California; Review: We loved the location, the wonderful place, the room that even if it was small since it was the only one available had everything we needed it . The front desk were always friendly and helpful specially Mimi who helped me on the phone and while we were there with different questions we had. Breakfast was plentiful and service was great!. walked to the beach and stores and parking was easy. Overall we were very pleased, next time will prefer room downstairs .......Our choice next time for sure........; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marina Beach Motel; City: Santa Barbara California; Review: Stayed at this wonderful place for the second time and were very satisfied with the room which included a kitchenette with all needed, a spacious modern bathroom with double size shower, a continental breakfast that included plenty to choose from, free use of bikes which we didn't get to use because was a little cold and an area for eating, reading, etc right in the middle of a beautiful grass area. This is our favorite place to stay from now on, could walk to beach or main street in no time... and of course the friendly persons working at the front desk Alan and John which were always ready do assist you and make you feel welcome.......; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Khloé Kardashian Celebrates Kim's 39th Birthday: 'You've Written Your Own Set of Rules'; Abstract: Kardashian Sisters Celebrates Kim Kardashian's 39th Birthday; Category: tv
Title: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 21-25, 2019; Abstract: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 21-25, 2019; Category: entertainment
Title: Giada De Laurentiis Admits She Was So Nervous To Cook For Prince William And Kate Middleton; Abstract: "It was nerve-wracking cooking a meal for actual royalty."; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 21-25, 2019; Abstract: Week in celebrity photos for Oct. 21-25, 2019; Category: entertainment
Title: The Royal Tiaras Are Out in Full Force at Emperor Naruhito's Enthronement Celebration; Abstract: Royals from around the world have traveled to Japan to mark the occasion.; Category: lifestyle
Title: This fast food chain has the best fries, according to customers; Abstract: We asked our readers who has the best fries in all of fast food, and Five Guys' fries snatched the potato cake right from McDonald's greasy grasp.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Why President Trump's kids are probably celebrating his move to Florida; Abstract: The No. 1 reason billionaires decide to move.; Category: finance
Title: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce Days After Split Announcement; Abstract: Ian Ziering's Wife Erin Ludwig Files for Divorce; Category: tv
Title: Why Prince Harry Wore His Remembrance Poppy Differently from the Rest of the Royal Family; Abstract: Why Prince Harry's Poppy Was Worn on His Cap; Category: lifestyle | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: LG GOOGLE NEXUS 4 XtremeGUARD© FULL BODY Screen Protector Front+Back (Ultra CLEAR); Brand: XtremeGuard; Review: Is tricky to put on but it looks nice after is on but it arrived in an envelope with no instructions.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Poetic Borderline Bumper case for Google Nexus 4 Smart Phone E960 LG Black/Gray(3 Year Warranty from Poetic); Brand: Poetic; Review: Great idea, i liked the look and feel of the bumper on the phone. However, the rubber can unglued from the hard plastic in a week. I got a refund but you do get what you pay for on this item.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: ChargerCity Exclusive Bike Bicycle Motorcycle Handle Bar Mount with Large Smartphone Water Restistant Case for Samsung Galaxy Note 1 2; Brand: ChargerCity; Review: The product was a bit bulky. Be careful if you have a screen protector on your phone because it will stick to the clear plastic and you will loose your screen protector. It was not water proof and it came with some parts missing.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: USB External Battery Pack UPGRADED 4 Port 15600mAh 5V/4.2A (Limefuel Blast L156X; Brand: Limefuel; Review: So far is working as advertised. The light comes in quite handy when camping. I was quite impressed with the build quality (is not slippery like all the others) and it seems to charge my phone much faster than other regular chargers.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PowerBot PB1080 Qi Enabled Wireless Charging Pad w/ 8000mAh External Battery Pack, 2.1A Output,; Brand: Eyecandis; Review: Is a good buy for the price. You have to be very precise when using the wireless charging part else it will slip off and you won't get it charging. Also, the shiny, slippery material of the charger makes it hard to keep the thing on one place. if your phone happens to ring it will fall off the charging plate. It gets scratched really easily too. but for the price, I think is not a bad product, but I am sure there are other ones out there comparable to this one without the slippery surface.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Cell_Phones_and_Accessories |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The God I Never Knew: How Real Friendship with the Holy Spirit Can Change Your Life; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Morris Page; Review: I just received this book and haven't had a chance to read it yet but I enjoy other things by this author and I know I will enjoy this book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crucified Again: Exposing Islam's New War on Christians; Author: Visit Amazon's Raymond Ibrahim Page; Review: I haven't had a chance to read the book yet but I'm sure I will appreciate the effort put in to researching and writing it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back; Author: Visit Amazon's Todd Burpo Page; Review: I believe in heaven and I have many family members and friends who are already there and this book helped me to know for certain that Heaven Is For Real.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should Know; Author: Visit Amazon's O. S. Hawkins Page; Review: I love this book. It is a real help in memorizing and understanding what the scriptures mean. I have always loved reading my Bible and this book helps.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fallen Angels; Author: Visit Amazon's Ken Johnson Page; Review: Interesting reading. Don't know if I agree with everything written though. I don't have anymore to say about the book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America's Future (Thorndike Christian Mystery); Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Cahn Page; Review: Absolutely love this book. It is a real eye opening and I have shared it with as many as I could.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Harbinger Companion With Study; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan Cahn Page; Review: It is very helpful in studying the Harbinger and understanding it. The pictures make it easier to understand and brings clarity to the book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Super 8 Floresville; City: Floresville Texas; Review: New and nice super 8 , rooms with kitchen , clean , we stayed here 1 night and it was perfect , probably this was the nicest super 8 that I have ever been , no smokey room , they have a place with a grill and chairs , tables , price is a little expensive but it worth; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Jackson Ridgeland; City: Ridgeland Mississippi; Review: Well I was staying at this hotel , while I was working and the hotel is really nice , is closer man shoppings and restaurants , nothing to say about thart , the only bad thing was the internet connection , it was really really bad , The only bad thing , I hope they can fix this !; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Historic Melrose Hotel; City: Grand Junction Colorado; Review: Be carefull when you book this hotel , it shows something when you rea gonna book it but when you get there , there is no parking space , the bathroom is to share , I expected more for the money I paid , the only good thing is the location , but other than that be careful.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Studio 6 Duchesne; City: Duchesne Utah; Review: This Hotel in Duchesne , UT has everything to be a 6 Star hotel , is cheap and the rooms are very modern , first time statying at this hotel , the room has a kitchenet and is very big with a table and chairs , this was a very good deal; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Sunland Park Inn; City: El Paso Texas; Review: I stayed just one night at this hotel and it was cheap , very clean and it is closer to the Highway , very good deal for the money , the locations could not be better and it was very very clean , I will stay at this hotel If I have to stay in El Paso , no doubt !!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Travelodge by Wyndham Milford; City: Milford Utah; Review: This hotel was cheap , very clean and quiet , It has a restaurant in the front where you must check in and out , they have excellent breakfast , If you are around Milford you should stay here , attention was wonderful too , really good deal we got !!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aspen Square Condominium Hotel; City: Aspen Colorado; Review: We were staying at this hotel for Memorial Day , This hotel is really awesome , close to everything , friendly staff , great location, very very clean ...... how we like !!!!!!!!!! we will be back soon to Aspen and of course to this hote !!!!!!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motel 6 Memphis Downtown; City: Memphis Tennessee; Review: For the price I was more than satisfied, very very close to downtown, it was rey clean , it was quiet, I think that If all what are you gonna do at the hotel is sleep and take showers you will be perfectly fine, I think it was a good deal , If I go back I will stay here ,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Place Jackson Ridgeland; City: Ridgeland Mississippi; Review: I stayed here a couple of times and it is a nice business hotel, it has a gym a pool and a nice bar with food , it is clean , ca not complaint about it, it is closer to the offices around Ridgeland , that makes things easier for business traveling ,,,,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Conroe; City: Conroe Texas; Review: This is a really nice hotel , right by the highway and close to restaurants , you do not even have to drive to go for dinner , such a good place ! Good breakfast , clean really nice pool , I will stay here next time if I have to stay in a hotel in Conroe !!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Houston North Spring; City: Spring Texas; Review: Very nice hotel over I-45 In Conroe, Texas, it is very clean, location is good, crossing the street there is a huge outback, it has a big pool in the back of the building, very very comfortable hotel ,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Courtyard by Marriott Albuquerque Airport; City: Albuquerque New Mexico; Review: Me and my wife booked this hotel for a night on a weekend and we do not have nothing bad to say, simply, you get what you pay and that is not bad because the location is fine and the hotel is kinda clean so; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cities of Gold Casino Hotel; City: Santa Fe New Mexico; Review: I booked this hotel for one night when I was working in the Santa Fe area, and you get what you pay, the hotel is clean and is fine but remember you get what you pay, that is pretty much it, not much to say,; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comanche Red River Hotel Casino; City: Devol Oklahoma; Review: I was driving from Durango, Colorado to Jackson Mississippi and I was really tired so I booked this hotel really quick, I booked just for one night and I have to say this is a really nice , big and clean hotel; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Budget Host Inn Williams; City: Williams Arizona; Review: You get for you pay, nothing bad to say about this hotel, cheap, quiet, clean, good attention, I would stay here again if some da I go back to Williams Arizona, this is a good hotel to stop and rest if you are travelling around; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Studio 6 Duchesne; City: Duchesne Utah; Review: Well I have been here before, but i love this hotel, it has a kitchen a big bathroom , very clean !!! it is pretty new and the price is very accesible, I recommend this hotel if you are travelling around; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette; City: Lafayette Lafayette Parish Louisiana; Review: I love this hotel, Location, close to the airport, the pool, the gym, the bar ! peoples normally are ver friendly at this hotel, Well Louisiana is friendly , I will be back if some I day i go back to Lafayette; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center; City: Aurora Colorado; Review: I went to Denver for just 2 nights and I booked this hotel, clean, big, the attention is awesome , nothing bad to say about this hotel , I will be back here if I have to go back to Denver, no doubt !!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Quinta Inn Suites Conroe; City: Conroe Texas; Review: This is a good and well located hotel in Conroe, good breakfast , good attention , it is close to I45 , the rooms are good and they have a pool and a bath on the ground floor, a McDonald's next door , so everything is close , I will stay here again if I have to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shalimar Hotel of Las Vegas; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: Nothing good and nothing bad to say about this hotel. You get what you paid, period. Oh uh I almost forgot to mention that the mattress that I got on mi bed was the worst mattress that I have ever tried so far in my entire life, Intink a mattress in Alcatraz would have been more comfy hahah! Sad but true.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Loews New Orleans Hotel; City: New Orleans Louisiana; Review: One of the best hotels I have ever stayed. Amazing views to the Downtown and to the Mississippi River !!! very clean and attention is good , I highly recommend this hotel if you are around New Orleans !; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Houston The Woodlands; City: The Woodlands Texas; Review: I was traveling to San Antonio for work so I decided to stop here for a few nights and I had a really good experience at this hotel, price was fine room was good, breakfast was really good check in ok; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Karnes City Lodge; City: Karnes City Texas; Review: I was working in Karnes for a few days and I Came across this hotel on the Internet. I have to say the place was very clean, quiet and the room was big the bed very comfortable and the pice even better; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sterling; City: Madrid; Review: I went to Madrid for the first time to see River Plate vs Boca Juniors and I ended up here at sterling hotel and I have to say I had a really good experience, staff was good breakfast good , the location was perfect , I highly recommend this hotel; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Precalculus: Mathematics for Calculus- Text Only; Author: James Stewart; Review: yes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holt McDougal Library, High School with Connections: Individual Reader Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas; Author: HOLT MCDOUGAL; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Prayer for Owen Meany; Author: Visit Amazon's John Irving Page; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People, Volume 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Alan Brinkley Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (The Penguin American Library); Author: Visit Amazon's Nathaniel Hawthorne Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being; Author: Rudolph E. Tanzi Ph.D.; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reading the American Past: Volume II: From 1865: Selected Historical Documents; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael P. Johnson Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 7th Ed, Vol. 1 (Packaged with Media Companion); Author: M. H. Abrams; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Day No Pigs Would Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Newton Peck Page; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intervention and Reflection: Basic Issues in Medical Ethics; Author: Visit Amazon's Ronald Munson Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Electricity and Magnetism; Author: Elisha Gray; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: History Of The United States; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Austin Beard Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The American Promise, Value Edition, Volume 2: From 1865; Author: James L. Roark; Review: good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The American Promise, Value Edition, Volume 1: To 1877; Author: James L. Roark; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Intervention and Reflection: Basic Issues in Medical Ethics (Philosophy); Author: Visit Amazon's Ronald Munson Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Snowmancer: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Godsbane Prince Book 1) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Olivia Helling Page; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The State of Texas: Government, Politics, and Policy; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherri Mora Page; Review: yes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Story of Alchemy and the Beginnings of Chemistry; Author: M. M. Pattison Muir; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Chemical History of a Candle; Author: Michael Faraday; Review: ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aliens eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's William McFee Page; Review: boo; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: College Algebra and Trigonometry (2nd Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Dugopolski Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Writing Fiction and Nonfiction; Author: Visit Amazon's Alice LaPlante Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Hidden Fire: Elemental Mysteries Book 1; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Hunter Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Backworlds; Author: Visit Amazon's M. Pax Page; Review: Ok; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Starliner; Author: Visit Amazon's David Drake Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy; Author: David Gerrold; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus, Newest Edition; Author: Merriam-Webster; Review: Had to download several times. Slow to open and find words. Very useful for college. Don't have to carry a big book or an inadequate pocket size.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Everflame; Author: Visit Amazon's Dylan Lee Peters Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dark Space; Author: Visit Amazon's Jasper T. Scott Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The God King (Heirs of the Fallen) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's James A. West Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Legend of the Firewalker; Author: Visit Amazon's Steve Bevil Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wanderers: Outworlder (Part I); Author: Visit Amazon's Joe Vasicek Page; Review: Ok; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OMEGA Exile; Author: Visit Amazon's Stephen Arseneault Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Titans; Author: Visit Amazon's Edward W. Robertson Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Logic to the Rescue; Author: Visit Amazon's Kris Langman Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: To the Stars; Author: Thomas C. Stone; Review: Ok; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Fringe Worlds: Book 1 of The Human Chronicles Saga (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's T.R. Harris Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Date Night on Union Station (EarthCent Ambassador); Author: Visit Amazon's E. M. Foner Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Perception (The Perception Trilogy) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lee Strauss Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Harbinger of Doom (Volumes 1 - 3): Three Book Bundle; Author: Visit Amazon's Glenn G Thater Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemistry for Engineering Students; Author: Lawrence S. Brown; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Digital Planet: Tomorrow's Technology and You, Complete (10th Edition) (Computers Are Your Future); Author: Visit Amazon's George Beekman Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Food of the Gods: And How It Came to Earth (Dover Thrift Editions); Author: Visit Amazon's H. G. Wells Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2013 (The Best American Series ); Author: Visit Amazon's Dave Eggers Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; Author: Vicente Blasco Ibanez; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Introduction to Corporate Finance: What Companies Do (with CourseMate, 1 term (6; Author: John Graham; Review: Ty; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Cobb's Anatomy; Author: Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chemistry for Engineering Students; Author: Lawrence S. Brown; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Right Ascension; Author: Visit Amazon's David Derrico Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elements of the Writing Craft: Robert Olmstead; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Olmstead Page; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elements of Chemistry, In a New Systematic Order, Containing all the Modern Discoveries eBook; Author: Antoine Lavoisier; Review: Ty; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day God Winked eBook; Author: Mark Jacobs; Review: Ty; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Eternals eBook; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristie K Shafer Page; Review: Crap; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Handwork in wood; Author: William Noyes; Review: TY; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Woodwork Joints - How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used.; Author: William Fairham; Review: TY; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Woodworking: Complete Woodworking Guide for Beginners With Step by Step Instructions (Volume 1); Author: Ted Woodrow; Review: O.K.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Being Mortal; Author: Visit Amazon's Atul Gawande Page; Review: It made me remember the good times and the passing of my grandparents. I suggest everyone read it. We are all mortal after all.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Roma; City: Marghera Veneto; Review: My family have stayed in this hotel many times over the years. Very convenient for visitors to Venice and only a short bus ride away from the hustle and bustle of hotels in Venice itself. Staff are always ready to help, the prices are very reasonable and the facilities all you need. This establishment gets a 5 star recommendation from us. We would add don't be put off by the distance from Venice. Public transport is excellent and you just need the No. 6 from around the corner. From the Airport, if you haven't got a mass of luggage, take the number 15 and ask to get off at the first stop on Via Beccaria. If you have any spare time, there is also a good Street Market every Tuesday and Saturday in Marghera, less than 5 minutes walk from the hotel. So there you have it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inter Hotel L Haut Aile; City: Coquelles Pas de Calais Hauts de France; Review: This Hotel appears to be brand new. The staff are very friendly and helpful and the hotel is spotlessly clean, with good size rooms. Very convenient if you go shopping in Cite de Europe or the group of shops near the Auchan supermarket. Both can be reached in 5 minutes. The beds are very comfortable, the rooms well heated and the British need for tea making facilities catered for! The area is very quiet and peaceful. I note the critical comments of others relating to breakfast and the 9 euro charge. My guess is that if the place does consistently fill up, the staff complement and variety of food will change to meet the need. I think this hotel is in "start-up" mode so there are bound to be the odd hiccups, but for 59 euros we thought it was very good. Breakfast at 9 Euros was OK and in our case adequate with eggs, cheese and ham available if we wanted it. Admittedly it would have taken a five loaves and two fishes trick to feed everyone but c'est la vie and it will get better. Each time we go shopping in Calais we stay overnight and this place is very convenient, reasonably priced, clean, comfortable, lots of free parking and just the ticket.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Inter Hotel L Haut Aile; City: Coquelles Pas de Calais Hauts de France; Review: The most convenient stay for shopping at Auchan or Cite Europe as well as a getaway stop if travelling onward in Europe by car. Easy to find, in a very quiet location with pleasant staff, nice rooms and an OK breakfast. An added bonus is that the prices are more than reasonable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Melton Mowbray Hotel; City: Melton Mowbray Leicestershire England; Review: This Premier Inn opened in February and is very well located for local shopping. The building faces a main road but the rooms are soundproofed so you don't hear a thing. The staff are all very good, the restaurant adequate and the beds excellent. Above all it is very good value. This is the first time we have used Premier Inn and it won't be the last!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Premier Inn Melton Mowbray Hotel; City: Melton Mowbray Leicestershire England; Review: Situated centrally in Melton Mobray, this place is convenient for everything Melton Mobray has to offer. It is very quiet, isolated from the noise of the road, has good parking facilities. Staff always very helpful. Prices vary according to the day you book but still very reasonable. Rooms all spotless ans comfortable. All the usual Premium Inn facilities are available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Barbie & Her Sisters in The Great Puppy Adventure; Brand: Kelly Sheridan; Review: really cute and fun to watch, even for an adult with no kids. Sometimes we adults need to be able to watch something that isn't reality based.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rock-A-Bye Baby VHS; Brand: Jerry Lewis; Review: Loved this movie when I would catch it on TV. I adore the fact there's no commercials on DVDs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Barrowman NTSC; Brand: John Barrowman; Review: Fun to watch and listen to songs you've heard hundreds of times before from CD's and hear stories you've never heard. John is such a fantastic entertainer. I found myself wishing the concerts were longer. Good thing there's two concerts in this set. John's Scottish accent is hilarious to listen to, since I'm used to his using an American one on Torchwood and Arrow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Woo's Once A Thief - The Complete Series; Brand: Sandrine Holt; Review: So grateful to have this series finally. I watched it on TV and really missed most of the episodes. I also have the single disc versions, but it wasn't enough. No special features except the alternate ending, but you can't have everything.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cosby Show - The Complete Series; Brand: Bill Cosby; Review: I really liked this show when it aired on TV and wanted it on DVD for a while. Not happy with what's in the news, but I hope some of the profits go to the other actors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Christmas Detour; Brand: Candace Cameron Bure; Review: Fun to watch. Kind of had to cringe at some of the hokier moments, but still liked it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crown for Christmas; Brand: Danica McKellar; Review: I watch this every time it comes on the TV. I know it only premiered this year, but I've seen it at least three times. Terrific story. Cheered at the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doc Martin Bundle Package; Brand: Martin Clunes; Review: Actually got these as they came out, but still wanted to highly recommend these to anyone who likes watching British comedy as I do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sentinel: The Complete Series all 4 Season 65 Episodes; Brand: *; Review: adored this show when it aired. Even waited for it every week. Was thrilled when this came out because I'd been watching the first season over and over.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samson & Delilah VHS; Brand: Dennis Hopper; Review: Actually got this as part of a 6 movie Bible collection. Enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legend - The Complete Series; Brand: Richard Dean Anderson; Review: Five stars isn't enough. I loved the concept of this show. I just wish it had gone on longer.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel's Captain America: Civil War; Brand: Chris Evans; Review: First movie I went to see in theaters in about a decade. Totally worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hallmark Holiday Collection A Very Merry Mix-Up, The Christmas Ornament, Hitched For the Holidays, Come Dance With Me; Brand: Alicia Witt; Review: loved all these movies on TV and actually bought them individually. Still, a terrific set for those who waited.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital; Brand: Kiara Muhammed; Review: All right, I'll admit it. I'm a grown-up and I adore this show. It's fun and really great to see after watching the news for two and a half hours. No kids in my house except the young-at-heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Biggles - Adventures in Time; Brand: Neil Dickson; Review: One of the few movies I loved as a child and will still watch twenty-some years later. Highly enjoyable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Playing It Cool; Brand: Chris Evans; Review: Great movie. Watched it and laughed at all the antics of the characters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superboy: The Complete Second Season; Brand: Gerard Christopher; Review: Having already watched the first season time after time, I was ready for the rest of the series. This didn't disappoint in the least.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Season 2 (Amazon Exclusive) [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: Loved this show and am still waiting for the next ones to come out on DVD.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Touched By an Angel: Season 7; Brand: Brandon DiCamillo; Review: Adored this series when it was on TV in first-run and am thankful it's now coming out on DVD so I can enjoy it without commercials.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills 90210 - Seasons 1-3; Brand: Jason Priestley; Review: This is only season 1 - 3, just so you know. It's still better than getting each season separately.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Night Before; Brand: Keanu Reeves; Review: watched this movie on TV and loved it then, Even more funny now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chances Are & Only You; Brand: Marisa Tomei; Review: Fun to watch Robert Downey Jr. before he was Iron Man in these two films.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cagney & Lacey: The Complete Collection; Brand: Sharon Gless; Review: Loved this show when it first aired and love it now. The fashions have changed, but the issues presented are still relevant.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Good Witch; Brand: Catherine Bell; Review: Love the series and adored the movies that preceded it. This is the first one and really gave you a terrific basis for all that came after.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tekwar: The Complete Series by Greg Evigan; Brand: Greg Evigan;Eugene Clark;William Shatner;Torri Higginson;Maria del Mar; Review: I was intrigued when I saw this was on DVD and waited for so long to get it. It was worth the wait. A little cheesy at times, but what isn't?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Puncture; Brand: Chris Evans; Review: Interesting and provocative. Based on a true story and absolutely terrific acting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vegas: The Complete Series; Brand: ; Review: richly entertaining; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Name of the King Collection; Brand: Jason Statham; Review: already had one and two and decided to get it just for three. still a good bargain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In the Name of the King 3: The Last Mission; Brand: Daria Simeonova; Review: Didn't watch the first two, but still enjoyed this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stoker; Brand: Nicole Kidman; Review: Odd but thought-provoking on what is normal behavior.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Avengers: Volume 3 - Iron Man Unleashed; Brand: Rick D. Wasserman; Review: Nothing like the modern MCU, but still fun to watch. Highly stylized animation.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Touched By An Angel: The Ninth and Final Season; Brand: America Ferrera; Review: Loved this show when it was on television and so glad they finally let it all out on DVD. It was my weekly crying jag I could feel good about. Still at little strange to see some of the actors who have left us, like Della Reese and John Dye, but it was also like they just joined their characters to help others.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vikingdom Combo; Brand: ; Review: A sword and sorcery movie with a slight twist. Not a big blockbuster, but good to watch on a rainy day when you have nothing else to do.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Touched by an Angel: Complete Series Pack; Brand: ; Review: This was my weekly tear jerker show for so long. Great Catharsis. A little preachy for some people, but still good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Loft; Brand: Karl Urban; Review: Classic whodunit with modern actors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nanny Christmas Special - Oy to the World VHS; Brand: Fran Drescher; Review: Great Series. Just wish they had some special features to go with the eps on the seasons.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Daniel's Big Feelings; Brand: .; Review: Cute series. Worthy continuation of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood's characters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Incredible Hulk; Brand: Lou Ferrigno; Review: Cheesy, but in a good way. It's a trip down memory lane for those of us who either watched it in first run, or have seen re-runs on late night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Monte Codeno; City: Varenna Lake Como Lombardy; Review: This is a solid no frills place to stay in the most wonderful town. You can walk to it from the train pretty easily which was a big plus. While not in the center of town it's literally a 2-3 minute walk. The morning breakfast was pleasant. Would definitely stay here again. If you have a higher budget there are more high end places available, but Monte Codeno is a nice option to have; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: North South Lake Campground; City: Haines Falls New York; Review: but i was a bit afraid to find out if this was true. No incidents, but we heard on the morning of our 2nd day that a bear was seen at 2 sites near to ours. While driving out of the campground I saw one crossing the road. Other than walking around at night in constant terror, the campsites are terrific and the park is very beautiful. The lake is wonderful and our site was just near a stream, exactly like we thought from the map on the reservation website.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Union Gables Inn; City: Saratoga Springs New York; Review: Stayed in the Cindy room a suite with 2 rooms. The beds were extremely comfortable and everyone slept really comfortably. Breakfast was very, very good. Pool table in the parlor was a really nice added bonus. The worst thing I could say is that they need to but 1 or 2 new pool cues as the one full sized on they have is broken. All in all an excellent stay and we'd definitely go back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crescent Moon Cabins; City: Saint Paul Parish Dominica; Review: Our stay at Crescent Moon was wonderful. As much as it is a great spot for a Honeymoon, we brought our 15 year old daughter and she thought it was the greatest place she'd ever been. Her words were "I can't believe a place like this even exists." The setting makes you feel like you are in another word, and in fact you are. The meals were exquisite, and most of the ingredients are home grown on the premises or from the island. The coffee is roasted on site - it is potentially the best coffee I've ever had, and I'm very picky. We were picked up at the airport and took advantage of the local guide to bring us all over the island every day for 5 days. Everything was terrific and the family who runs the place did everything to make us feel welcome and at home.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Panorama Hotel; City: Bologna Province of Bologna Emilia Romagna; Review: While this hotel seemed a bit unusual to me, being the 4th floor of an office &/or apartment building, it was quaint and cozy enough, and I felt like I was in a small B&B or motel. The first place I've stayed with a shared bathroom in many years and it was no problem at all. Baths were super clean and available 99% of the time. For the price this place cant be beat. The location was as central as you can get. It's about 2 blocks from the main square, and if you walk in the other direction I discovered a hidden away bunch of lively restaurants for dinner and apertivo. All in all, super happy and would stay here again in a second. Service was good too. They were helpful, spoke fine english and called me a taxi when I needed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Quality Inn Lake George; City: Lake George New York; Review: Our stay at the Quality Inn was a very pleasant experience overall. It is located a short walk from the village and just down the street from the great Adirondack Pub and Brewery. The room was completely functional and adequate. Beds were comfortable, not sink-into-the-middle like many others. Housekeeping was excellent and unobtrusive. They "patrolled" the rooms every morning and waited for people to step out so they could run in and clean up without bothering guests. The swimming pool and hot tub were meticulously cleaned and maintained every day. Our daughter spent several hours each afternoon at the pool and loved it. The continental breakfast was OK, nothing great, but edible. The TV in our room sometimes made a loud ringing noise after being on a few minutes; I suspect it was just an older TV. My only real complaint about an otherwise very nice hotel is the WiFi. Our room was upstairs on the wing opposite the office and the wireless internet connection was horrible - very low signal strength and constantly dropping out. Even if I took my computer down to the pool (middle of the hotel), reception was still barely OK though the connection was more reliable. All things considered I would still recommend this hotel as a good place to stay in Lake George.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Washington Capitol; City: Washington DC District of Columbia; Review: The best thing this hotel has going for it is location. It is a couple of blocks from the Mall and within walking distance to most of the downtown museums and monuments. This is a big plus. That said, everything else about the hotel was mediocre or disappointing. The internet connection in the room looks like it's based on some kind of hybrid phone modem/DSL hookup that is frustratingly unreliable and took me at least 30 minutes to get connected initially. The wallpaper was peeling in parts of our room. The bed mattresses were so soft, my wife and I kept rolling together into the middle (and we're small people, not heavy). Even several floors up from the street, it was still noisy, though fortunately we were on the side away from the train tracks. I'm not a city person, so maybe the downtown noise is normal. The hotel had bus loads of tours and school groups loading and unloading at all hours of the day and night with associated noise of people yelling and idling buses. Based on the website and price, I had the impression I would be staying in a premium downtown hotel and what we got was an overpriced average hotel. They charge guests to use the underground parking deck; I would have expected parking fees waived for guests. The on-site restaurants/delis are not bad. We all found plenty of decent food to eat at reasonable prices and they were accommodating with child-friendly meals. There was nothing really horrible about our stay here, but I expected much better for $300 a night.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn O Hare Airport; City: Schiller Park Illinois; Review: We booked this hotel for two nights with some trepidation given the mixed reviews. Unfortunately, our experience goes on the not-so-good end of the scale. The hotel is conveniently located off major highways not far from O'Hare. While checking in, we noticed a lot of airline staff also using the hotel, which I thought might be a good sign. Well, not really. The building is old and could use some major renovation. Our room was dark, damp and smelly. The A/C unit worked but was very noisy and rattled. The walls have no sound insulation. We were awakened several times by neighbors with a crying baby and having loud sex. The noise from local traffic is constant at all hours. The pool looked not bad, but my daughter found a cigarette floating in it. The hotel restaurant looks like a trashy bar/lounge. On the plus side, the free continental breakfast was very good. Staff was just OK, not overly friendly, but not rude. I didn't sleep well at all here and was glad to be gone.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Suites; City: Oakwood Village Ohio; Review: This was our first visit to Cleveland and we needed a place to stay on the way to another destination. We've had mixed experiences at Holiday Inns in the past, but this one was a positive. The staff was very friendly. The room was clean, quiet and well appointed with refrigerator and microwave. The indoor pool was clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this Holiday Inn.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Econo Lodge; City: Mifflintown Pennsylvania; Review: We needed to be in this area for a family event and, really, there's just nothing else out there. Nevertheless, our stay at this hotel was not disappointing. The room, bathroom and linens were clean. We had a refrigerator which was a nice plus. The lobby has a free drink machine for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. WiFi was free and sufficiently fast. I liked the fact that first floor rooms have both an interior corridor door and an exterior door that opens to the parking lot. You can park right in front of your room. The hotel shares the large lot with a restaurant, gas pumps and convenience store, so it's a good all-in-one stop if you need to be in this area. Note, the restaurant, "The Stop," is not vegetarian-friendly. You have to remember, you're in meat country out there.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
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