Ben-Hur (DVD) Review

Ben-Hur (DVD) Review

by: Britt Gillette

Winner of eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Ben-Hur is widely considered one of the greatest films of all-time. Combining powerful acting performances, unique set design, colorful costumes, and unrivaled visual effects for its day, Ben-Hur is a pleasure to watch. Like Lawrence Of Arabia, it’s one of those rare films from yesteryear which remains a top-tier film to this day (i.e. the film itself doesn’t seem old, nor do the special effects look amateurish). If you enjoy classic films like Spartacus, Cleopatra, or Casablanca, then Ben-Hur is a definite must-see for your list. Like Gladiator (2000), Ben-Hur manages to bring the Roman Empire into vivid display on the big screen.Charlton Heston plays the title role of Judah Ben-Hur, an Israelite prince during the reign of Tiberius. Young and wealthy, Ben-Hur enjoys the finer aspects of life in the era of Pax Romana. When his old friend Messala (Stephen Boyd) arrives in Jerusalem to serve as the Roman Governor, the two are reunited and enjoy each other’s company. However, the two quickly find that their political views have created divisions between them, and when a brick falls from the house of Ben-Hur during a parade (almost killing Messala), Ben-Hur and his family face the wrath of the Roman governor. Intent on sending a message to the Jews that he will have zero tolerance for rebellious behavior, Messala jails Ben-Hur’s mother and sister and sells Ben-Hur into slavery. As Ben-Hur is taken away from his native land, he plots his escape and eventual return to exact vengeance on his sworn enemy… Ben-Hur’s arrival in Jerusalem coincides with the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. Charlton Heston makes quite an impression in his title role of Ben-Hur, following up well on the heals of his mesmerizing performance as Moses in the equally successful film, The Ten Commandments. Heston’s resounding voice bodes well for hero characters pulled from the myths of ancient times. His larger-than-life persona conjures images of Arnold Schwarzenegger, but without the accent. Heston’s performance is complimented by a series of action sequences which set the tone for its designation as an epic film. One such series involves a battle between the slave ship on which Ben-Hur resides and another ship which attacks it. The other, and most memorable, scene from the film is when Ben-Hur engages Messala in a chariot race (which even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve probably seen this part). Overall, Ben-Hur lives up to its hype as an Oscar Award-winning blockbuster (it still holds the record for most Academy Awards, although the record has since been tied). However, the film itself is beginning to show its age in that modern epics such as Gladiator are far better in terms of entertainment value. The length of Ben-Hur is probably an hour to an hour-and-a-half longer than it should be. The plot can be slow and droning at times. Nevertheless, Ben-Hur remains a Hollywood classic and a definite must-see movie.

American Beauty (DVD) Review

American Beauty (DVD) Review

by: Britt Gillette

Nominated for eight Academy Awards, and winner of five including Best Picture, American Beauty is one of the best films of all time. Exploring the depths of the American Dream – a good job, a nice house, the perfect marriage, etc. – the film is dripping with symbolism and satire. A cinematic study of societal dysfunction, American Beauty will affect a broad range of emotions within its viewing audience, and it’ll make you laugh as well. This is a great movie, and although some people will shy away from it, everyone should see American Beauty at least once so they can form their own opinion.Kevin Spacey plays the role of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged suburban resident who seemingly lives the American Dream. He and his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) have a nice house, a beautiful daughter Jane (Thora Birch), and successful careers. But things aren’t always as they seem. In reality, the Burnham’s are the definition of dysfunctional. They fight over everything, screaming at the dinner table about ridiculous things such as vegetables. Carolyn is engaged in an affair with rival real estate broker Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher), and Lester is suffering from a creeping depression/mid-life crisis. Meanwhile, Jane is developing an infatuation with the strange boy who recently moved in next door, Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley) – a drug dealer/homespun director with a homophobic Marine Corps father, Frank. When the source of Frank’s homophobia bubbles to the surface, we learn that – just like the Burnham’s – most of the neighborhood is living a different life from that which shows on the outside… Kevin Spacey follows up his amazing performances in The Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential with his Academy Award for Best Actor in this film. Some of the funniest scenes in American Beauty involve the depressed Lester Burnham and his mid-life crisis meltdown. The way in which Spacey walks out of his job is utterly hilarious, and his weed-smoking, weight-lifting regimen in an effort to get pumped up and impress his daughter’s friend is classic. But Spacey’s performance is not alone. His brilliant role is complimented by Annette Bening’s Oscar-caliber transformation into Lester’s bitchy, cut-throat real-estate broker wife, Carolyn Burnham. Together, the two can stage an onscreen fight like no other fake married couple in cinema history, and it’s a true pleasure to watch. American Beauty is further strengthened by Chris Cooper’s role as the Burnham’s homophobic neighbor (October Sky, The Patriot, Seabiscuit) and Mena Suvari’s role as the big-talking school girl Angela Hayes, object of Lester’s desires (Kiss The Girls, American Pie). American Beauty is a film bursting with stage talent, one that benefits from solid direction, a well-designed screenplay, and superb dialogue. Odds are, you’ll either love it or hate it. But irrespective of your final take, American Beauty will invoke passion one way or the other. That’s why this film ranks as a definite must-see.

Finding Nemo (DVD) Review

Finding Nemo (DVD) Review

by: Britt Gillette

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Finding Nemo continues the Disney tradition of producing high-quality, blockbuster films that entertain audiences of all ages. Featuring the wonders of the Pixar animation technology, the film is a breathtaking window into the future of animated pictures, with borderline 3-D visual effects and the introduction of original animated film techniques certain to influence future masterpieces. Boasting a slew of talented voiceovers such as Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, and John Ratzenberger, Finding Nemo is certain to maintain a place in the hearts of children of all ages for generations to come.The epic story begins somewhere in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Australia. A clown fish named Marlin (Albert Brooks) lives a wonderful life in a peaceful underwater colony of fish and other fascinating sea life with his wife. However, that serene setting is demolished when a vicious predator attacks their home, killing his wife. Distraught, Marlin takes comfort in the egg left behind which grows into his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). Because of this early trauma, Marlin is extremely overprotective when it comes to Nemo. He follows a step behind everywhere his son goes, makes Nemo stay in the house whenever possible, and remains quite apprehensive about his son going to school. Marlin’s fears are realized when Nemo is captured on his first day of school and taken away to live in a fish tank on land. Intent on freeing his son, Marlin sets out on a bold and daring quest to retrace the path of the abductor’s boat. Wandering through the ocean depths, he meets up with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) – an absent-minded, yet friendly – fish who remains determined to help her new friend recover his lost son. Together, they encounter a pack of sharks and a countless array of diverse and fascinating underwater creatures. Meanwhile, Nemo is plunged into a dentist office fish tank overlooking Sidney Harbor where he meets a number of new and exciting friends. The other aquatic life, long confined to the tank themselves, initiate Nemo into their fraternity, revealing the history of their attempts to escape. Enlisting Nemo as their point man (or fish), they concoct a number of schemes such as clogging the tank’s filter so they can make a break for it when they’re taken out for the tank cleaning. With the threat of the dentist presenting Nemo as a present to his nerdy niece, the stakes are raised for our young hero and time is of the essence. Sporting one of the best written animated screenplays of all-time and a breathtaking original score by Thomas Newman, Finding Nemo is a pleasurable affair for both parents and children. The writers pull off an admirable job of combining adult and kid humor throughout the script in such a way that it doesn’t detract from the experience for either age group. With a number of likeable characters, the audience will find itself rooting for Marlin, Nemo, and all their friends to accomplish the task before them. Overall, this is a must-see film for all age groups, not only because of the great story and artful performances, but if anything, simply because the animation is a wonder in-and-of itself.

The Beauty of Playstation 2 Games

The Beauty of Playstation 2 Games

by: Morgan Hamilton

Can you remember the first videogames that introduced the world to the joys of videogames?  I’m talking about the ones that were introduced in the 80s. We had the ever-popular Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Centipeed. Those outstanding innovations were the bomb!  I remember how I used to play pitfall on my Atari and it was great fun.It is really cool that it has gotten even better now.  It amazingly just keeps getting better and better. Those amazing electronics and graphics always improve.  It really is an endless source for fun and relaxation. For example, check out some of the more recent playstation 2 games. Wow, what a difference from the old-school Atari. I mean, the game depths alone are amazing.  It is startling to think that there are people all over the world that love playing PlayStation 2 games. Do you have it too? Are you a big PS2 fan?  When the council first came out I was blown away. The big pitch didn’t only concern the playstation 2 games, but also the DVD option.  PS two was actually a flexible enough to use as a DVD player. Folks loved this convenient option. Suddenly they didn’t need to purchase a DVD player. You could actually watch movies with the period It was an all-in-one deal.  How cool is that? I recall the first time I headed over to my brother’s house to take a look at his new PS2 and his new playstation 2 games. Being out of the video game loop since the first Nintendo, I was utterly flabbergasted at the realistic graphics and sound effects. These new playstation 2 games are just so real.  It is such a quantum improvement over the classic Atari games that it isn’t even funny. No more stick men. There was anything from martial arts games to sports games to spy adventures. It looked incredibly lifelike.  Who wouldn’t love playstation 2 games? Now people all over the world take great pleasure in playstation 2 games. They compete against friends and strangers alike, and battle the bad guys for as long as Mom and Dad allows it. One of the great benefits of the PS2 is the versatility. Regardless if you had a PS1, you could still play the games on your PS2 as well.  How many other products can you do that with? If you’re on the lookout for new playstation 2 games, you can always find a huge selection at your local Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores, or simply go online where you’ll find the best deals.  Buying used PlayStation 2 games really add up to considerable savings. With the world at your fingertips, you will surely find that playstation 2 game you’re searching for.

How to Watch Movies on Your PSP

How to Watch Movies on Your PSP

by: Neil Wallace

If you’re like most people who own one of Sony’s beautiful PlayStation Portables, you’re probably in love with it. But you also want to be sure you get the most out of your investment and enjoy every one of its incredible features. And that includes the ability to watch all your favorite movies.Sony’s PlayStation Portable or PSP, built primarily for gaming, comes fully equipped with superb multimedia features. So if you thought it was just for playing games, think again. Not only can you play multiplayer games over the Internet, you can also watch movies, listen to music, browse the Internet, and more. It uses a small, yet powerful, Memory Stick PRO Duo, and the performance is superb due to advanced technology using Mp4 encoding. Mp4, also known as MPEG-4, is the global multimedia standard defined by the Moving Picture Experts Group that delivers professional-quality audio and video streams over a wide range of bandwidths. Mp4 enables DVD-quality video to be delivered at lower data rates and smaller file sizes, and that’s very important on smaller devices with limited storage capacity. Your PSP comes ready to play music and movies in Mp4 format. Transferring music and movie files to your PSP is easy. First, download the files you want from the Internet to your PC. Second, ensure any movies are in mp4 format. Third, transfer the files to your Memory Stick PRO Duo. Your PSP instruction manual offers several ways to do that.  Finally, insert the Memory Stick PRO Duo in your PSP and select either video or music from the home menu. This is a beautiful device and it would be a shame to use it only for one purpose and to miss out on all its other uses. So I guess now you’ll be watching movies, listening to music and playing games, all day long. Who’s going to get any work done?

The Lion King (DVD) Review

The Lion King (DVD) Review by: Britt Gillette   Winner of two Academy Awards for Best Music, both Original Score and Original Song, The Lion King would have won Best Picture had it not been an animated film. Arguably the greatest full-length animated Disney feature of all time, The Lion King is a drama of epic proportions, and a film that forever extended the boundaries of the animation genre. Hans Zimmer creates an original score that is second to none in cinematic history, and Elton John’s hit single “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” swept the nation upon the film’s release. With powerful and often mesmerizing visual sequences, the use of a timeless plot device, and brilliant direction, the film will stand the test of time as one of the best movies ever produced.The Lion King takes place in Pride Rock, a serene jungle paradise on the African plain. In Pride Rock, every animal lives as part of a harmonious ecosystem, ruled by the greatest animal of all, the strongest and wisest lion, King Mufasa. When Mufasa’s wife gives birth to the lion cub Simba, the young heir’s Uncle Scar hatches a plot to overthrow his brother and take the kingdom by force. Forming a conspiracy with a pack of wild hyenas, Scar’s evil plan is to lure Simba and Mufasa into a valley where the hyenas stir up a herd of wildebeests which end up trampling Mufasa and leaving him clinging for his life on the edge of a cliff. With Mufasa’s life hanging in the balance, Scar seizes the opportunity to send his brother hurling to a bloody death. With the king gone, and Simba too young to defend the kingdom, Scar and the hyenas ascend to power. Pride Rock is soon reduced to a desolate wasteland as its newest rulers ravage the landscape, while Simba is forced into exile. Fleeing to a faraway land free of predators, Simba befriends Pumbaa and Timon, a warthog and meerkat who live carefree lives feasting on grubs and insects. But as time passes, a chance encounter reunites Simba with his childhood destiny. Can Simba return to Pride Rock and reclaim his rightful position as king, or will he succumb to the temptations of an easy life, free from conflict and responsibility? Widely regarded as the greatest animated film in Disney’s arsenal, and certainly the best of the computer-generated era, The Lion King is a cinematic masterpiece in any medium. If you tend to shy away from animated films as childlike or simply just not your cup of tea, you would be well advised to make an exception for The Lion King. It’s quite simply an extraordinary epic, replete with dazzling choreography, well-blended musical scores, and characters the audience loves to root for. In one particular scene, the Disney animators’ use of Leni Riefenstahl’s patented camera angles to capture the hyenas marching in lock-step under the singular review of Scar creates an abundance of subconscious images reminiscent of Hitler and the Third Reich. This illusion plants a manifestation of evil in the mind of the viewer that is instantly connected to Scar and his evil intentions… That’s the type of symbolic and all-engrossing power Disney utilizes in this wonderful masterpiece – loved  by children, yet replete with deeply probing themes and breathtaking visual images for the adult audience. A perfect 10 of a movie.

Bambi (DVD) Review

Bambi (DVD) Review

by: Britt Gillette

Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Music – Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Bambi is a true animated classic of the silver screen. Long before the public’s introduction to Aladdin, The Lion King, or Finding Nemo, Walt Disney single-handedly conjured the full-length animated feature film out of nothing and into an enduring, well-respected genre – creating one family classic after another, starting with Snow White (1937) then Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), and Dumbo (1941) before creating this gem in 1942. Directed by David Hand, a longtime Disney animator and supervising director of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Bambi is a masterpiece of color, motion, and the beauty of life. Its relative simplicity harkens to a time long past when such movies focused on symbolism, emotional breadth, and challenging the boundaries of artistic creativity, instead of catering to a perceived audience demographic. The result is a truly remarkable and memorable family experience.Bambi begins with the forest birth of a young fawn (Bambi) who comes into the world surrounded by an anxious crowd of admirers. Hailed as the “great prince of the forest,” Bambi is thrust into an exotic world of animal and plant life, complete with all the highs and lows experienced in the world of reality. One of the film’s most powerful scenes (and the one most often referenced in regard to Bambi) is when the dreaded “man” (i.e. a band of hunters) enters the forest and kills Bambi’s mother. Although the scene takes place off camera, Disney manages to convey all the emotional trauma of the event in the brevity of a few bold and powerful brushstrokes. As Bambi seeks to recover from his mother’s death, he must learn to grow from a fumbling fawn into a fearless buck. The charming scenes of Bambi bumbling across a frozen pond are soon overshadowed by the power of his maturation into a formidable leader. Assisting him on his journey is a parade of unique personalities, the most notable of whom is a rabbit named Thumper. Thumper’s vocal velocity and eagerness to befriend Bambi threaten steal the show, but the growing deer never loses his deserved spotlight. Throw in a skunk named Flower and a beautiful doe named Faline (Bambi’s love interest), and the film comes together in its own right, creating a combination of tragedy and triumph all ages can enjoy. In stark contrast to its contemporary peers, Bambi is a refreshing exit from today’s highly commercial animated features. Although Thumper provides the necessary comic relief, the film is more than just a deluge of juvenile one-liners – and boasts absolutely zero fart jokes. Instead, Bambi wraps a timeless story of a life’s journey to adulthood in the majesty that is mother nature. Its ingenious illustration of a forest teeming with wildlife and the dangers encountered by its inhabitants is truly awe-inspiring. In short, Bambi has all the makings of a tinsel-town classic – one that should make today’s Disney creations utterly green with envy.

Classic Christmas Songs

Classic Christmas Songs

by: Morgan Hamilton

Christmas songs are as assorted and diverse as anything I can think of.  But what exactly do I mean by that statement?  Well just think about the incredible variety of Christmas songs that have been produced throughout the years and I think you’ll agree.  If you grew up in snowy regions you may recall going for sleigh rides or caroling around a snow-covered tree.Of course, roasting chestnuts on an open fire is something you may have not only done, but also listened to Bing Crosby saying about. And of course hearing sleigh bells in the snow and dreaming of a white Christmas are ageless lyrics that will endure forever. If you had any number of Christmases from 1969 through the early seventies, the early eighties, the early nineties, or the early oughts—that is, through the Vietnam, Granada, Gulf War, and current wars you may think of how much meaning the song I’ll be home for Christmas has.  And who can forget all of those wonderful Perry Como and Bing Crosby Christmas specials that were filled with beautiful Christmas songs. And, of course, many of us will fondly recall at least an earful of kids’ songs, chattered by The Chipmunks, lead vocalist Alvin notwithstanding; “All I Want for Christmas (is My Two Front Teeth);” and the racy “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” But Christmas songs like so many other things continue to evolve.  From the beautiful and stirring classics like “O Holy Night” (which is my personal favorite) and “Little Drummer Boy,” sung by cute little kids in Christmas pageants or pious choirs once a year without fail and simple ditties about food and presents and figgy pudding and nog, Christmas songs have gone into penetrating, challenging, bonding, and spiritually elevating realms.  Just hearing the sounds can bring back a flood of wonderful memories. John Lennon, I think, started the trend of a Christmas song with a higher consciousness—with “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?” and “And so this is Christmas (war is over), for weak and for strong (if you want it), the rich and the poor ones, the road is so long….”  Imagine (or remember) how those frolicky, campy, or solemn and religious Christmas songs now had the words “war” and “fight” directly stated rather than implied?  This just goes to show you that even Christmas songs can contain political statements just as they contain statements of peace and love. And then came the unusual duo or unlikely star remake trends for Christmas songs, which were, really, equally moving:  Bing Crosby joined David Bowie to remake “The Little Drummer Boy.” Which is one of my all-time favorite songs, by the way.  And how about the king, Elvis Presley belting out “Blue Christmas”, how could you not love that? And for a few years we have strayed from lyrics, per se, and have indulged in the saintly sounds of chanting Monks.  I love these original options, as much as I still get chills when I hear original or other versions of those songs that had such limited meaning when I was kid doing solos for the elementary school parents.  Everyone is different of course, and our tastes in Christmas songs is no exception.  But for my money I’ll take the old classics because as I see it these are not only beautiful Christmas songs but some of the sweetest sounds you’ll ever hear.

Tupac And Biggie: I Shake My Head

Tupac And Biggie: I Shake My Head

by: Redemption Mosala

I shake my head not because it ended bad.When I think of all the talent that they had. My sadness stems from all the troubles that they were close to ending. The badness in the ghetto’s was what they thought they were mending. Yet they became victims of their own predicament, when their destiny was bent. Black people are made weak by borders, those borders create new world orders. The one side feels strong in fighting the other side, and they’ll never be “down to ride!” Africa has so many tribes with a very close link. Yet they’ll never admit to being part of the same click. An African foreigner is met by negative hysteria, Which is delivered by way of xenophobia. They said it was all about the east side and the west side: which one was the best side? I say who’s east coast and who’s west coast, who are we to boast? Ultimately we are all just visitors to the earth. Which is symbolized by our birth. We spend so much time fighting about the smaller things like who’s better than who and Yet we forget that we all share the same fear, where did we come from and where are we going? Yet the important thing is what on earth are we doing. Pac and Biggy were icons not because they had the illest rhymes, but because they spoke of the times. Whoever you are if you let down the blinds of preprogrammed propaganda. You will see they had an intense agenda. It was personal yet social; it may have been their hands and voice used, But yet they spoke for all the people who had been abused. I shake my head because they were victims of what they had to maintain. They were black men in America and thus could not escape the mordern day lash of the gunshot. Their hatred for each other is what killed them is the story we bought. But I don’t, it just makes no sense how Tupac could be killed in the busiest street in Vegas one of the biggest nights, a Mike Tyson fight night! You can’t tell me because it was night time and blacks were involved no one saw anything, because I know the road was packed. Whatever the case may be their legend can never be shot down or lashed and for that I honour their memory. TWR www.beyond2010.co.za

Letters of Reference – Writing Power Phrases

Letters of Reference – Writing Power Phrases

by: Shaun Fawcett

As a result of writing literally hundreds of letters of reference over the years, I am aware that there are certain common elements and approaches that are applicable to almost all such letters.If you look closely at most reference and recommendation letters you will notice that there are certain “types” of phrases that recur over and over again, throughout the various letters. These statement types can be grouped into three major categories: opening statements, assessment statements, and closing statements. These statements are the three key components of any letter of reference. If you formulate these phrases well you are guaranteed to have an excellent letter. OPENING STATEMENTS The opening statement in a letter of reference should state the name of the person being recommended. It can also explain why you are the person writing the letter. The opening statement should normally be one short sentence and should never exceed two sentences. Following are three generic typical opening statements for inclusion in reference letters: • “I am writing this letter at the request of [name of requestor].” • “This is in response to your recent request for a letter of reference for [name].” • “I am pleased to be able to write this letter of reference for [name].” ASSESSMENT STATEMENTS Assessment statements in a letter of reference are those sentences and phrases that contain the recommender’s specific assessment of the performance, characteristics, and attributes of the person being recommended. Normally an assessment statement will be followed up by one or two specific performance-related examples backing up the statement just made. Following are three generic typical assessment statements for inclusion in letters of reference: • “In my opinion, [name] is a hard-working self-starter who invariably understands exactly what a project is all about.” • “[name] consistently produces high quality work in a timely fashion.” • “The only area of weakness that I ever noted in [name]’s performance was…” A typical letter of reference will normally include three to four assessment statements. CLOSING STATEMENTS The closing statement in a letter of reference should be one or two sentences at most, and it should make a clear statement of recommendation that flows logically from the points made in the assessment part of the letter. They will often begin with transition phrases such as: “In summary…”, “In Closing,…”, “Based on the foregoing,…”, “Accordingly,…”, etc. Closing statements in reference letters are generally positive, but in some circumstances they may be qualified, or sometimes, even completely negative. Following are three generic typical closing statements for inclusion in reference letters: • “I am therefore very pleased to be able to recommend [name] for…” • “Based on my time working with [name], I recommend her very highly for…” • “I respect [name] as a colleague, but I must say that in all honesty, I cannot recommend him for …” In summary, mastering these three types of “reference letter power phrases” is one of the keys to writing all types of letters of reference. As such, knowledge of how to write typical opening, assessment, and closing statements, as illustrated above, is essential to writing effective letters of reference. That’s why I have included more than 150 generic “Reference Letter Power Phrases” in the latest Revised Edition of Instant Recommendation Letter Kit – How To Write Winning Letters of Recommendation. Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett