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Comment on Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker by Jennifer Black

Jennifer Black — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:57:36 +0000

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Romance Take on the Vampire Classic, June 24, 2010

Jennifer Black (Wyoming) -

This review is from: Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker (Paperback)

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Syrie James pens an interesting spin on the classic vampire novel with "Dracula, My Love". Commendable for its expansion of the character of Mina and ability to draw the reader into her story, while maintaining the original storyline's cohesiveness, the book is a nice, modern spin on the tale.

My largest critique comes of the handling of the Dracula character. Instead of maintaining the characteristics of the original Stoker representation, James chooses to present her antihero as a little too misunderstood for his own good; instead of a dark, tortured hero who Mina loves in spite of herself, Dracula gets a treatment which makes him a little too sanitized. The conflict is erased too easily; for a more compelling story, I think the vampire should have been left a little more of his villainous traits, with Mina falling for him anyway.

The other major issue I had with the novel was the blending of the Stoker content with James'. Especially in terms of dialogue, there is a distinct schism between what James has written and what was in the original novel; either James should have rewritten more of the Stoker dialogue to blend better with her own book, or made her own verbiage a little more antique.

Aside from these points, this was a satisfying read. I like getting into the brain of Mina and getting more backstory on her, while still having the same tale presented by Stoker. Fans of modern paranormal romances who want to get back to where a lot of the genre tropes began should enjoy this book; fans of the original looking for a more cerebral adaptation might be a little less enthralled, but still entertained.

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Comment on The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice: First Journals and Poems 1937-1952 by Midwest Book Review

Midwest Book Review — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:46:49 +0000

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Essential keys for a through, in-depth understanding of his writings., December 11, 2006

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) -

This review is from: The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice: First Journals and Poems 1937-1952 (Hardcover)

The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice: First Journals and Poems 1937-1952 is edited by Bill Morgan and Juanita Lieberman-Plimpton and offers a rare view of the poet during his formative years rather than the more commonly covered later life works. As such, this will serve as a fitting and important introduction for both college-level and casual Ginsberg enthusiasts, surveying the contents of candid journals allowed to see publication only after his death, and including conversations with Jack Kerouac and other notable contemporaries. In packing in elements of his personal life and family relationships, succeeds in displaying many hitherto-unrevealed aspects of Ginsberg's life and personality - essential keys for a through, in-depth understanding of his writings.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

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Comment on Anne Frank – The Whole Story by Travis Dockweiler "tdockweiler"

Travis Dockweiler "tdockweiler" — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:29:27 +0000

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

Very well made movie and better than the original, August 19, 2006

Travis Dockweiler "tdockweiler" (kalamazoo, mi USA) -

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This review is from: Anne Frank - The Whole Story (DVD)

In the past year I had been wanting to learn about the story of Anne Frank. I kept passing up the original movie at the video store because I thought it'd be "boring" and that some people said it was too much like your typical Hollywood film.

I didn't care for the original at all and thought the actress who played Anne Frank was miscast to say the least. Not only that, but very annoying. After watching the original movie I bought the book and read it immediately. After finishing it I purchased this movie and was extremely impressed with it. I liked it so much that I immediately loaned it to my mother and she loved it too.

They seemed to keep all the smallest details of the book and the person who played Anne Frank was much better than the actress from the original movie. I believe this was a TV movie, but you can hardly tell. One sign of a good movie is if you think about it weeks and even months later it must be good. It's only been 3 months since I saw this last and I really want to watch it again.

Trust me, get this movie. You'll like it!

I'd also suggest the movie "Anne Frank Remembered".

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Comment on Anne Frank – The Whole Story by Jody Mosier

Jody Mosier — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:29:23 +0000

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

One Awesome movie!!!, May 19, 2003

Jody Mosier (Wichita, KS) -

This review is from: Anne Frank - There's More To Her Story Than You Ever Imagined [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one of the best films that I've ever seen! In some films that are based on a true story, directors twist the plot line around to suit their whims. But in this one, the producers stuck close to the real story, portraying each character and event as they really were. Actual footage from WWII was inserted in certain points of the film, giving it an authentic air. Also, some of the consultants were people who knew the real Frank family, people like Miep Gies (who to my knowledge is still alive in Amsterdam today) and Jacqueline Van Marsen, one of Anne's childhood friends. The actors and actresses acted out their roles superbly, and I was especially impressed with Hannah Taylor Gordon's performance. Not only does she bear a striking resemblence to the real Anne Frank, but she also acts very much like I believe Anne would have acted. I also appreciate the fact that, even though the film's setting is a very harsh time in history, the producers managed to show the brutality of the Nazi occupation without resorting to blood and gore. Anne's story is a sad one, but one worth watching, because it reminds us that the people who died in the holocaust were just normal human beings with hopes and dreams, whose lives were abruptly snuffed out by people who were blinded by racism and extreme nationalism. I would recommend this film for any history buff. It's definitely the best portrayal of Anne Frank on film. Thumbs up for this movie!

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Comment on Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Complete Season Two [Blu-ray] by K. Driscoll

K. Driscoll — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:29:10 +0000

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Now I don't have to squint like Clint., October 25, 2010

K. Driscoll (San Diego, CA USA) -

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This review is from: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Two [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

I received this from Amazon the day before its release. Yay USPS! It looks really good on my PS3. I immediately noticed a difference from the TV version, aside from the sharper image; there's letterboxing (2.4:1) that was removed from the Cartoon Network presentation of the show. It now has a more cinematic feel on the Blu-ray (as well as a bit more image on the left and the right). The packaging is similar to the first season, though the book can now be removed from a sleeve. Strangely, the cover of the book reads: "le GUERRE dei CLONI". I thought for a moment that I had the Italian version of the book, but the cover art and the artist's note inside the front cover made it clear that it was an homage to the spaghetti western. Thankfully, there are no games among the extras. There are several different language options, but no commentaries that I could find. Good package overall.

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Comment on Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season Two by K. Driscoll

K. Driscoll — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:20:50 +0000

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

Now I don't have to squint like Clint., October 25, 2010

K. Driscoll (San Diego, CA USA) -

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This review is from: Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season Two [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

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Comment on Anne Frank – The Whole Story by James Hiller

James Hiller — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:14:59 +0000

152 of 156 people found the following review helpful:

Our Anne, April 18, 2004

James Hiller (Beaverton, OR) -

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This review is from: Anne Frank - The Whole Story (DVD)

As i write this review, this film is just finishing up, and I must say, this is one of the most moving accounts of Anne Frank that I've seen to date. We all know the story of Anne Frank, how it started, and what a complete tragic end of her life; and more importantly, what hope she brought to the world that killed her. This film is a remarkable, incredible retelling of the life of Anne Frank.

The reasons why this film soars, aboslutely soars, are numerous. First, the film tells the complete story, from before the Franks hid in the Annex, until her final days in the concentration camp. Whereas some films tend to linger solely on Anne's days in the Annex, this wider focus gives us the larger picture. Anne's time in captivity is heart wrenching; we have fallen in love with the tempestuous, darling girl and to see her solely fade away is devastating. It serves as a testament both to the millions lost, and the one girl that would write a book to change the world.

Secondly, the performances in this movie are amazing. Ben Kingsley and Brenda Blethyn lend their star-stature names to this project, and turn in performances that are real and dignified. Favorite Lili Taylor, who is one of America's most talented actressses, gives a quiet, powerful performance as Miep Gies. It's Hannah Taylor Gorden, as Anne, brings Anne to life with complexity and grace. Gordon honors Anne in every scene, never deifying the girl, but making her real, human. She even writes the way Anne did, holding the pen as Anne would have held it. That attention to detail does not go unnoticed by those of us who love Anne. It was a perfect match of actress and role.

Third, this film is visually beautiful. Often, you expect a "lower" standard of technical excellence in a television film. Rightfully so, ABC and the director, Robert Dornhelm, give this film a professional style. There are several scenes where you are just in awe, apart from the incredible story.

It was sad for me to learn that this film was not endorsed by the Anne Frank Foundation, because the film was based on a biography not approved by the foundation. Whereas I think its important to have the Foundation so Anne's life can be told in a honest way, they should have seen the film before making a judgment. This movie is a beautiful testament to a beautiful life, and it should be free from any political wranglings like this.

By the final scene, when Miep gives Otto Frank his daughter's diary, and he travels back into the Annex to look at it, my heart was breaking. Anne didn't live to see the effect she'd have on the world, but I think for all of us, we have adopted Anne as our own daughter or sister. She belongs to the world now, and we are responsible to take care of her, to make sure her story is told generation after generation, to honor her life by ensuring nothing like this ever happens in history again.

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Comment on The Fog (Special Edition) by Brett D. Cullum

Brett D. Cullum — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:12:04 +0000

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

The Fog at last!, June 26, 2000

Brett D. Cullum (Houston, TX United States) -

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This review is from: The Fog [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I am so glad this got a re-release on video! I have been searching for this movie for years. Okay, so this one is not the classic that Halloween was but look at the cast... Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Adrianne Barbeau, Hal Holbrook, and Nancy Loomis. It's a mood piece (not too much happens quickly)...pure and simply put it's just a creepy movie. But the scenes with Adrianne Barbeau as a deejay pleading for anybody who can hear her to help her son "get out of the fog" are worth the price of the video alone. It's a wonderfully fun film that any John Carpenter fan will enjoy! The signature music is there, and the cinematography is great too! It's not your typical "slasher" movie. THE FOG aspires to be something more...or maybe something less depending on how you see it. It opens with a man telling a ghost story around a campfire about a ship of un-dead lepers exacting their revenge on the inhabitants of a small coastal town. Well, that's what this is! It's a ghost story that you might hear around a campfire. Primal and scary, and not really all that gory or violent. It's a wise purchase for any horror fans out there!

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Comment on Yoga Journal’s Power Yoga Total Body [VHS] by M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge"

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:11:34 +0000

239 of 243 people found the following review helpful:

Great Weight-Loss Tool, September 30, 2005

M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) -

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This review is from: Power Yoga - Total Body Workout (DVD)

My primary reasons for taking up yoga were to lose weight, reallign my back, increase flexibility, and achieve more relaxed breathing. Yee's Total Body Workout, a little over an hour, achieves all my goals. First, let me say you need to have about six months of basic yoga in order to do these moves and you probably can't be more than thirty pounds overweight; many of the moves require a body that is reasonably muscular. I've got six months of yoga and thirty years of bodybuilding (both a blessing and a curse) behind me so I can do 90% of the moves. Secondly, you should invest in a thick yoga mat; they go for about forty dollars and if you sweat a lot like I do, place a beach towel over the mat so you don't slip. The only other piece of equipment you might need is a ten-dollar strap or just a belt for some of the lying leg stretches.

I like Yee's screen persona. He is authentic, direct, and clear. He spares you New Age pretentiousness, self-aggrandizement, and any other affectations.

The workout is vigorous and fast-paced. For the first five minutes, a warm-up period, you think you're going to get off with an easy workout but within twenty minutes you're sopping with sweat. The first couple of times you might just have to figure out what Yee is doing. By the third workout, you should be able to follow along seamlessly. It's worth the work. You'll burn between 500-700 calories per workout; that's over a pound of fat a week or fifty-two pounds a year.

On a more subtle note, I've noticed my breathing is more relaxed throughout the day and there appears to be a connection between relaxed breathing and less consumption of food. I've always been cursed with a voracious appetite, and while my daily hour of yoga hasn't totally cured it, my hungers are lower, I'd say 10% less than without the yoga.

Also with bodybuilding and cardio at the gym, I come home exhausted and must nap for a good hour before I can do anything productive. With yoga, I don't need a nap. I'm already energized.

It's important to change your yoga workouts so you don't go stale. I'd recommend checking out the Bryan Kest DVDs, especially his Power Yoga, which has three workouts on one DVD.

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Comment on Charlie Rose – Walter Mossberg / Ken Auletta (January 23, 2008) by Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:10:08 +0000

The Ken Auletta Google segment, April 28, 2008

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) -

This review is from: Charlie Rose - Walter Mossberg / Ken Auletta (January 23, 2008) (DVD)

Auletta is the world's great expert on Google. He comes to talk about Google and an article he has written about it for a recent'Ananals of Communication for 'New Yorker' magazine. This is an extremely interesting conversation. Auletta explains why Google in its Search and Advertising operations is the world's predominant power. He speaks about the culture of Google created by Page and Brin. He also speaks about CEO Martin Schmidt and his relations with the Google's co- founders in running the firm. He also explains the relationship between Microsoft and Google, and how the latter has in a sense stolen the fire of the former. He talks about Google's great ambitions , and speaks about the opportunities presented by the Cellphone business. Auletta talks about the secretiveness of Google, about their being an engineering culture. Rose and Auletta speak humorously about Google's accomodating the rulers of China in regard to the news business, and search in regard to it. Money beats Democracy and Freedom. Minus One for Google. Auletta alludes to but does not go into detail about the possible abuses of power and invasion of personal freedom involved in Google's massive collection of data regarding each and every individual's personal searches. So again this is a very interesting conversation but one that does not cover really the many ethical questions in regard to what Google is doing.

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