Reviews Written By: A1MV8LXEXO8EWCprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition) | |
 | "Intelligent, Crafty, and Human" | 2009-05-29 |
| I thought this is a movie for people who like action and also have an interest in observing effective, and ineffective leadership qualities in action. On the effective side, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), the captain of HMS Suprise, shows the qualities of an effective leader in this movie -- respect for his men, the ability to administer discipline, kindness, intelligence, as well as the ability to think about all sides of an issue before taking action. He demonstrates how to inspire others to give their all in pursuit of a worthy cause, and shows the effective use of humor to relate to others, without becoming too familiar. On the ineffective side, you see Hollum, one of Aubrey's midshipman, whose personal qualities and decisions make him an ineffective leader, disliked by the men, and garnering negative reviews from his captain. The action is great -- and the Captain's ploys, deceptions and battle plans to outsmart the captain of another ship are phenomenal and intelligent. Out gunned by a newer enemy ship, with twice the men, more guns, and a hull that can't be penetrated, Aubrey comes up with a plan that exploits his own capabilities and capitalizes on the few weaknesses of his opponent. The battle scene is great, as is the friendship and conflict between Aubrey and the ship's Doctor. I wish they'd made a sequel to this one -- or even a series. I'd be a loyal fan.... | ||
![Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray]](product_images/4943000/4943987-master-and-commander-the-far_t.jpg) | Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World [Blu-ray] | |
| "Intelligent, Crafty, and Human" | 2009-05-29 |
| I thought this is a movie for people who like action and also have an interest in observing effective, and ineffective leadership qualities in action. On the effective side, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), the captain of HMS Suprise, shows the qualities of an effective leader in this movie -- respect for his men, the ability to administer discipline, kindness, intelligence, as well as the ability to think about all sides of an issue before taking action. He demonstrates how to inspire others to give their all in pursuit of a worthy cause, and shows the effective use of humor to relate to others, without becoming too familiar. On the ineffective side, you see Hollum, one of Aubrey's midshipman, whose personal qualities and decisions make him an ineffective leader, disliked by the men, and garnering negative reviews from his captain. The action is great -- and the Captain's ploys, deceptions and battle plans to outsmart the captain of another ship are phenomenal and intelligent. Out gunned by a newer enemy ship, with twice the men, more guns, and a hull that can't be penetrated, Aubrey comes up with a plan that exploits his own capabilities and capitalizes on the few weaknesses of his opponent. The battle scene is great, as is the friendship and conflict between Aubrey and the ship's Doctor. I wish they'd made a sequel to this one -- or even a series. I'd be a loyal fan.... | ||
 | Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Full Screen Edition) | |
| "Intelligent, Crafty, and Human" | 2009-05-29 |
| I thought this is a movie for people who like action and also have an interest in observing effective, and ineffective leadership qualities in action. On the effective side, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), the captain of HMS Suprise, shows the qualities of an effective leader in this movie -- respect for his men, the ability to administer discipline, kindness, intelligence, as well as the ability to think about all sides of an issue before taking action. He demonstrates how to inspire others to give their all in pursuit of a worthy cause, and shows the effective use of humor to relate to others, without becoming too familiar. On the ineffective side, you see Hollum, one of Aubrey's midshipman, whose personal qualities and decisions make him an ineffective leader, disliked by the men, and garnering negative reviews from his captain. The action is great -- and the Captain's ploys, deceptions and battle plans to outsmart the captain of another ship are phenomenal and intelligent. Out gunned by a newer enemy ship, with twice the men, more guns, and a hull that can't be penetrated, Aubrey comes up with a plan that exploits his own capabilities and capitalizes on the few weaknesses of his opponent. The battle scene is great, as is the friendship and conflict between Aubrey and the ship's Doctor. I wish they'd made a sequel to this one -- or even a series. I'd be a loyal fan.... | ||
 | Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Special Two-Disc Set) | |
| "Intelligent, Crafty, and Human" | 2009-05-29 |
| I thought this is a movie for people who like action and also have an interest in observing effective, and ineffective leadership qualities in action. On the effective side, Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe), the captain of HMS Suprise, shows the qualities of an effective leader in this movie -- respect for his men, the ability to administer discipline, kindness, intelligence, as well as the ability to think about all sides of an issue before taking action. He demonstrates how to inspire others to give their all in pursuit of a worthy cause, and shows the effective use of humor to relate to others, without becoming too familiar. On the ineffective side, you see Hollum, one of Aubrey's midshipman, whose personal qualities and decisions make him an ineffective leader, disliked by the men, and garnering negative reviews from his captain. The action is great -- and the Captain's ploys, deceptions and battle plans to outsmart the captain of another ship are phenomenal and intelligent. Out gunned by a newer enemy ship, with twice the men, more guns, and a hull that can't be penetrated, Aubrey comes up with a plan that exploits his own capabilities and capitalizes on the few weaknesses of his opponent. The battle scene is great, as is the friendship and conflict between Aubrey and the ship's Doctor. I wish they'd made a sequel to this one -- or even a series. I'd be a loyal fan.... | ||
 | The Real Book | |
 | "Not Nearly As Many Good Songs as Volumes 1 and 2!" | 2009-04-18 |
| I play bass in a jazz rehearsal band and we're working through a list called "The New York Ninety", which a gigging New York jazz musician put together. It represents all the tunes you just have to know if you want to gig seriously on the New York Jazz scene.
Not one of the tunes on the New York Ninety appears in the Real Book Volume 3. Volumes 1 and 2 cover a ton of the New York ninety, with The Real Book Volume having the lion's share. A lot of the new York Ninety are found in the New Real Book series by Chuck Sher. There were some tunes I recognized in The Real Book Volume 3, like What a Wonderful World, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Norwegian Wood, Continuum (Pastorius), Teen Town, Watermelon Man, A Taste of Honey, Java Jive, Just a Gigolo, Just the Two of Us, and Harlem Nocturne. But not a compellling number of tunes that I found really useful for a band trying to break into the "just show and gig" jazz scene. I bought Volumes 1 and 2 of the Real Book and didn't feel at all disappointed, but with Volume 3; I wish I'd have spent the money on something else. It's almost as if Hal Leonard is trying to cash in on the popularity of The Real book brand to keep the series going with a Volume 3. I'd think REAL HARD before buying Volume 4, if one comes out eventually -- my guess is they'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel of jazz tunes to create a good Volume 4 -- and I'd have to see the list of songs before I put my money down for that one. So, the Real Book Volume 3 was a real disappointment for me. I'd rather someone put out a fake book of contemporary smooth jazz artists so bands can start playing some new music along with the old standards that have been played and played and played.....transcribing all that new stuff is just way too time consuming. | ||
 | Enemy at the Door - Series 1 | |
| "Thought-Provoking, Apparently Fair Look at the German Occupation of a Channel Island" | 2008-10-25 |
| This series features the unwelcome German occupation of a Channel Island called Guernsey in World War II. The series ran for only two seasons, so it highlights conditions before the worst conditions asserted themselves later during the occupation. The film has an intellectual, managerial flair to it, and explores the politics, managerial decision-making, and injustices that happened during the occupation. It shows both the brutality and racism of some members of the German occupation forces, as well as some very decent, principled German commanders who tried to be as fair as their mandate allowed. It's quite talky in spots, but well-written with very realistic dialogue, exploring real issues you would expect to happen when a foreign power occupies another. The series is filmed in color, but it's a kind of "washed out" color. The coloring preserves the black and white flavor of the era that we see in pictures, while providing enough color to give it a modern look and feel. There are no subtitles, unfortunately -- something us North American viewers appreciate when the British speak quickly and with an accent that makes certain words unintelligible. But unlike many other British Television series, this was only a minor inconvenience. The actors all do a great job of their roles, the only criticism is the use of British actors for German soldiers -- at times I laughed when the German General on the island said "Good Heavens!" in upper-crust British accent -- sometimes it made it hard to determine who was German, and who was British. However, I was so engaged in this series, that I bought the second boxed set, and I've watched several of the episodes twice, the dialogue is so rich, and the way problems were resolved, so intelligent. | ||
 | Doc Hollywood | |
| "First Rate Movie, with Stellar Acting All Around" | 2008-01-11 |
| This is a gem of a movie, with Michael J Fox successfully pulling off a character that is full of contradiction -- arrogant, rude, humble, vulnerable, in command, embarrassed, cute, love struck, hurt, compassionate, abrasive, exposed, depressed, angry, and principled. Fox masterfully pulls off all of these conflicting characteristics in a believable way.
His facial expressions are subtly humorous and memorable, and five of the six sections of dialogue between him and Julie Warner alone are charming, witting and riveting. Every one of the supporting cast members give equally stellar performances, and the reasons for the various types of conflict in the story are believable and heart warming. I'm surprised Julie Warner's career didn't go further after this, and I would've loved to see other romantic comedies starring both Fox and Wagner together, as we've seen with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers etcetera. There appeared to be chemistry between them that sets the television on fire every time I watch it. I bought this video after checking it out from the library, and I expect it to be one of these videos I turn to when I want to lose myself in the world these two create for us. And this in spite of the fact that I don't naturally gravitate to romantic comedies. I have two criticisms of the movie -- one has to do with the lack of emotion that Warner sometimes shows during critical moments in her relationship with Fox -- for example, when they finally unite, she ends this kiss with the statement "nice tonsils". While this was funny, I thought it sort of spoiled the moment and didn't do justice to the fact that fox had just given her unconditional love on her own terms. And second, there is a scene where Fox and Warner start urinating all over different parts of a forest to deter deer from approaching a deer blind. Initially, Fox reacts with confusion, which lends credibility to the scene (as this is exactly what I felt), but it seemed unfitting for Wagner's character, and hardly an experience that would trigger the affection and love for one another that eventually leads to their relationship blossoming. But this is a minor criticism -- I know of no other movie that has had such a riveting effect on me, and I think it's one that belongs in just about any collection. | ||
 | Doc Hollywood | |
| "First Rate Movie, with Stellar Acting All Around" | 2008-01-11 |
| This is a gem of a movie, with Michael J Fox successfully pulling off a character that is full of contradiction -- arrogant, rude, humble, vulnerable, in command, embarrassed, cute, love struck, hurt, compassionate, abrasive, exposed, depressed, angry, and principled. Fox masterfully pulls off all of these conflicting characteristics in a believable way. His facial expressions are subtly humorous and memorable, and five of the six sections of dialogue between him and Julie Warner alone are charming, witting and riveting. Every one of the supporting cast members give equally stellar performances, and the reasons for the various types of conflict in the story are believable and heart warming. I'm surprised Julie Warner's career didn't go further after this, and I would've loved to see other romantic comedies starring both Fox and Wagner together, as we've seen with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers etcetera. There appeared to be chemistry between them that sets the television on fire every time I watch it. I bought this video after checking it out from the library, and I expect it to be one of these videos I turn to when I want to lose myself in the world these two create for us. And this in spite of the fact that I don't naturally gravitate to romantic comedies. I have two criticisms of the movie -- one has to do with the lack of emotion that Warner sometimes shows during critical moments in her relationship with Fox -- for example, when they finally unite, she ends this kiss with the statement "nice tonsils". While this was funny, I thought it sort of spoiled the moment and didn't do justice to the fact that fox had just given her unconditional love on her own terms. And second, there is a scene where Fox and Warner start urinating all over different parts of a forest to deter deer from approaching a deer blind. Initially, Fox reacts with confusion, which lends credibility to the scene (as this is exactly what I felt), but it seemed unfitting for Wagner's character, and hardly an experience that would trigger the affection and love for one another that eventually leads to their relationship blossoming. But this is a minor criticism -- I know of no other movie that has had such a riveting effect on me, and I think it's one that belongs in just about any collection. | ||
 | Building a Jazz Vocabulary | |
 | "Good theoretical reference for the intermediate player, not a good practice book" | 2006-09-10 |
| I'm a fretless electric bass player, and I've played in jazz/fusion bands with competent, formally trained musicians for a few years. I can improvise walking bass lines freely over fast-moving chord changes, and can do some modal improvisation. I also studied classical piano for 8 years. So, I approached this book with the intermediate knowledge the author says you need to understand it. I'm also a university teacher with about 12 years of experience teaching non-music courses. With this background, I think a good text has the theory explained in simple concepts, with many very clear examples. A good book also has a significant number of practice exercises after each theory section. These exercises should allow the student to master the individual concepts, integrating them later on. The practice exercises should also provide answers, where applicable, so you can check your work. Further, a good book presents material so the student sees an increase in their ability to improvise as quickly as possible -- this increases their motivation to persist with the remaining exercises in the book. Against these criteria, I find Building a Jazz Vocabulary to be a fair, but not excellent book. Its premise -- that there is a common jazz vocabulary that the students can use to "imitate, assimilate, and innovate" is interesting and sound. The author's explanations of the components of this common vocabulary are well explained, and he provides for simple and multiple examples often. On the other hand, I found the book to be sorely lacking in carefully crafted practice exercises that help the reader practice the concepts. The author provides Etudes (studies) but they are long and sometimes complicated. Further, there are times there are no chord changes over the staff, which makes it hard to understand how the notes fit in with the overall harmony of the song. The author repeatedly puts the onus on the reader to find their own practice exercises, with exercises like "find a jazz solo and analyze it for four-note cells". Also, there is no CD with the book, so you have to use your own play-along software like Band in a Box if you want to practice at home, which will cost you an extra $50-60 or more if you don't already have it. In terms of providing motivation, I also found the book wanting. Like many books on improvisation, the author insists that one must learn a concept in "all keys" immediately. This presents the reader with an instantly boring and daunting task, which has no immediate return on investment. I think the author would have done better to provide play-along exercises in concert keys C, Bb and Eb, throughout the entire book. This would help the reader see some results immediately, which would further his or her motivation to keep practicing with the book. At the end of the book, he could have then encouraged the student to extend the knowledge gained to all other keys. I think there could have been some theoretical, written practice exercises too, with answers provided. So, this is a book a good theoretical reference -- exposing the elements of basic jazz vocabulary in a fairly well-explained and simple fashion. But it doesn't put enough effort into providing you with practice exercises to help you get the concepts into your mind and hands. | ||
 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | |
| "A Modern Collection of The Adventures" | 2005-11-22 |
| This well-bound hardcover book is a medium brown color without the dust jacket, and has gold lettering on the spine. There's also a lightly embossed picture of the front cover on the hardcover. The inside pages are made of high quality paper, and there are about 11 illustrations throughout the book, including the front cover. The illustrations are printed in color on glossy paper, and are not the original illustrations. They look like oil paintings, mostly of the characters in the book, and the faces have an intentionally "blotchy" but artistic look to them, in higher contrast than portraits meant to capture real life. The print looks to be about medium height (say, 10-12 point) printed without columns on each page. Each page has a fairly wide margin -- almost like a textbook designed to allow the student to take notes. At a few points in the book there are footnotes that describe words that may not be understandable to the modern reader. For example, in The Man with the Twisted Lip, there is a footnote to the phrase "mouseline de soie". The footnote clarifies that this means "silk muslin". The book's weight and size makes it comfortable to hold and carry around with you if need be. If you're looking for a book that captures the feel of the Strand magazine, along with the original illustrations, this is not the book for you. But if you'd like a good quality book with a modern feel, I think you'll be very happy with this edition's construction. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes contains some of the best stories in the collection such as the Red Headed League, A Scandal in Bohemia, The Five Orange Pips, The Man with the Twisted Lip, The Blue Carbuncle, and The Speckled Band. There are 12 stories in all, as well as an Afterward that describes the growing popularity of the stories as well as some parallels between the author, Arthur C. Doyle and John Watson. Given the quality of the stories, I think the beginner or the veteran Holmes enthusiast will enjoy reading this book, and will think it money well spent for its entertainment value. | ||
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