Reviews Written By: A5495Z5QZL2QVprovided by Amazon.com |
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 | Child of God (Vintage International) | |
 | "Road Lovers, Start Here" | 2008-09-18 |
| If you found the minimal, bleak, tone-poem style and sometimes-horrific subject matter of The Road to your liking, then you can do no better than to turn to this early McCarthy tale, written in 1973.br /br /Here the protagonist is some kind of freaky, Southern gothic nutjob, with a penchant for bizarre and/or murderous activities amid the locals. It's evident from the very first page that Cormac is a master storyteller with a highly unique style, although his roots do include Faulkner among others. br /br /This is an excellent airplane book, short, portable, and something that can be finished on a single trip. But I wouldn't call it beach reading. | ||
 | The Wave | |
| "All Older Children and Young Teens Should Read This Book" | 2008-09-10 |
| This book is a fascinating effort to bring home the horrors of the Holocaust and the pernicious effects of branding people as the "other." A must-read for our divisive, soulless times, I read this with my two older children and we all learned something from it. You will, too. | ||
 | Chato's Land | |
 | "Lean, Mean, Revenge Western" | 2008-08-25 |
| This one -- directed by the man who helmed the later Death Wish series -- is an early template of that revenge fantasy, except transposed to the Wild West. If possible, this one is leaner, meaner, and more focused than the Death Wish films, in that there is little in terms of plot other than exposition and set up, and then a slow, methodical execution of the revenge theme, brilliantly done. I particularly enjoyed the characterization of the members of the doomed posse -- a motley crew of a few good souls, some in the middle, and quite a few on the wrong side of the tracks. Bronson is silent, deadly, and in fine form. | ||
 | Outside Providence | |
| "Superior Coming of Age Flick" | 2008-08-11 |
| For gosh sakes, why is this out of print? This is one of the better coming of age films I have ever seen -- sweet, funny, poignant, with a bravura performance from Alec Baldwin as the damaged, working class Dad. Great soundtrack, as the film is set in the mid-70s, and some classic prep school fish-out-of-water scenes. And of course the head disciplinarian is a classic. Look also for a young Amy Smart as the lady of the young man's dreams, and you pretty much have a fine film that is begging to be re-released immediately. | ||
 | The War of the Worlds | |
| "Powerful, Imaginative, Menacing, and Thrilling" | 2008-08-07 |
| Having recently rewatched this film in the new edition, I must confess I was unprepared for the power and seriousness of this classic adaptation of the HG Wells story. In particular, the presence of religion, both as a bridge to peace and a comfort against the unknown, is very powerfully rendered in striking images -- of the pastor holding the Bible and reciting the Lord's Prayer as he seeks peace with the aliens, or the congregation praying for redemption in Los Angeles as the shadow of the aliens destroying the city comes into view through the stained glass. Many images are simply unforgettable. New dimensions, perhaps aided by time and my own development, also come into view -- for example, there is an element of man and human intellect over machine and might, in that the US military is completely powerless despite high-tech bombs and planes, while the scientists through observation and deduction latch onto a simple biological line of attack before they are foiled by looting, marauding, panicked civilians. This one gets better with age and certainly make the Tom Cruise remake suffer by comparison. | ||
 | The War of the Worlds | |
| "Powerful, Imaginative, Menacing, and Thrilling" | 2008-08-07 |
| Having recently rewatched this film in the new edition, I must confess I was unprepared for the power and seriousness of this classic adaptation of the HG Wells story. In particular, the presence of religion, both as a bridge to peace and a comfort against the unknown, is very powerfully rendered in striking images -- of the pastor holding the Bible and reciting the Lord's Prayer as he seeks peace with the aliens, or the congregation praying for redemption in Los Angeles as the shadow of the aliens destroying the city comes into view through the stained glass. Many images are simply unforgettable. New dimensions, perhaps aided by time and my own development, also come into view -- for example, there is an element of man and human intellect over machine and might, in that the US military is completely powerless despite high-tech bombs and planes, while the scientists through observation and deduction latch onto a simple biological line of attack before they are foiled by looting, marauding, panicked civilians. This one gets better with age and certainly make the Tom Cruise remake suffer by comparison. | ||
 | BRIDGE TOO FAR : THE CLASSIC HISTORY OF THE GREATEST AIRBORNE BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II | |
| "Why Is This Out of Print?" | 2008-06-16 |
| One of the best-written WWII accounts of war, focusing on a disastrous Allied military operation near the end of WWII, I am absolutely flummoxed as to why this classic is now out of print. With millions sold, did no publisher think this great book might continue to generate interest? As many here have already noted, this book is a must-read. Pick it up from a online seller or go to your local used bookstore, but don't miss this fine dissection of a huge strategic misfire. | ||
![Carly Simon - Film Noir [ECD]](product_images/165000/165690_thumb.jpg) | Carly Simon - Film Noir [ECD] | |
| "Van Dyke Parks, Jimmy Webb, and Carly -- A SoCal Dream Team!" | 2008-05-16 |
| This is an offbeat Carly record, but one that grows on you. The inspired pairing of Carly, Jimmy Webb, and Van Dyke Parks help to create memorable soundscapes, intended to evoke the tone and mood of classic film noir. While this is very interesting for a few songs, I find that the record lags a bit by the time it is finished. Also, Carly's voice is somewhat more mannered than usual, in keeping with the theme of the record. Still, this cd is full of highlights and fantastic moments, with lush, sophisticated arrangements and sweeping, deeply-felt vocals and performances. It is well-worth picking up before it goes out of print. | ||
 | The Silver Jews - American Water | |
| "Quirky, Understated, Laid Back Folk-Rock" | 2008-05-01 |
| This is an odd and highly entertaining amalgam of Lou Reed vocals, twisted lyrics, and laid-back song structures that are married to country-rock and modern rock arrangements, and somehow what comes out of it all is a very relaxed, enjoyable record. I think if you go into this not expecting to be overwhelmed, you will find yourselves pleasantly surprised. It's clear that all the significant talent that came together to make this cd really enjoy singing and playing with each other. The results are fresh, unique, and at times, memorable. Put this on one Sunday morning, open up the newspaper and sip your coffee, and enjoy. | ||
 | Valerie Carter - Just A Stone's Throw Away | |
| "What A Talent -- Thank You Japan!" | 2008-04-15 |
| Why do I have to order all my favorite lost records from the Japanese? Who cares -- thank you! This one is a lost gem, a treasure to be savored with a fine wine and some cheese, lights low, candles flickering, with the loved one of your choosing. Valerie's voice is an amazing instrument- at turns warm, powerful, soulful, playful, enchanting. Great arrangements and fine song selection make this a powerhouse record that will surprise and delight you. Please make some more records Valerie! | ||
 | Warren Zevon - Learning To Flinch | |
| "A Great Record of A Great Tour" | 2008-03-18 |
| I had the pleasure of catching Mr. Zevon on this solo tour, which he called his "heavy acoustic" set. I had seen him several times before, but this was a wholly different experience -- intimate, personal, and a showcase for his varied instrumental and lyrical talents. Listening to this again after putting it away for a few years, I was brought back immediately to that wonderful night, and how great a talent the world has lost. If you want "raw" Zevon, pick up this record. He rips through his catalog with gusto, pulling out chestnuts and restoring war horses to their furied, personal best. I especially like the epic "Roland," which unfolds with great drama, and which showcases the words in a way the studio version does not. He switches from acoustic to electric guitar, even pulling out a slide for "Worrier King," and plays some sharp piano as well. This is an aggressive Zevon on stage, not at all some kind of weak-kneed "unplugged" record. Zevon fans rejoice -- there is a document that captures a side of him that will reveal layers to his songs, and to his personality. This record is it. I hope this one stays in print, because it is a keeper! | ||
 | Heat : An Amateur Cook in a Professional Kitchen | |
| "A Rollicking Culinary Ride" | 2008-02-22 |
| Much has already been written about how delightful this book is -- the author has a great sense of humor, a keen eye for observation, and his travels and adventures make for great reading.
But boy -- I had no idea Batali was such a nut and free spirit! Playing Hendrix on his guitar in a small village in Italy, drinking and carousing copiously wherever he wound up, Batali lived, learned, experienced and conquered. Immensely satisfying and entertaining, whether you like to make food or simply consume it, this book of travels and adventures in and around kitchens from New York to London to Italy and back will leave you smiling, shaking your head -- and somewhat hungry. | ||
 | Heat | |
| "A Rollicking Culinary Ride" | 2008-02-22 |
| Much has already been written about how delightful this book is -- the author has a great sense of humor, a keen eye for observation, and his travels and adventures make for great reading.
But boy -- I had no idea Batali was such a nut and free spirit! Playing Hendrix on his guitar in a small village in Italy, drinking and carousing copiously wherever he wound up, Batali lived, learned, experienced and conquered. Immensely satisfying and entertaining, whether you like to make food or simply consume it, this book of travels and adventures in and around kitchens from New York to London to Italy and back will leave you smiling, shaking your head -- and somewhat hungry. | ||
 | Heat | |
| "A Rollicking Culinary Ride" | 2008-02-22 |
| Much has already been written about how delightful this book is -- the author has a great sense of humor, a keen eye for observation, and his travels and adventures make for great reading.
But boy -- I had no idea Batali was such a nut and free spirit! Playing Hendrix on his guitar in a small village in Italy, drinking and carousing copiously wherever he wound up, Batali lived, learned, experienced and conquered. Immensely satisfying and entertaining, whether you like to make food or simply consume it, this book of travels and adventures in and around kitchens from New York to London to Italy and back will leave you smiling, shaking your head -- and somewhat hungry. | ||
 | The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse - Criterion Collection | |
| "Creepy, Engrossing Fritz Lang Classic" | 2008-02-19 |
| This, the last film by Lang before departing Germany, bears Lang's obsessive attention to precisely calibrated scene composition, and to groundbreaking use of black and white shading and lighting. The plot, detailed elsewhere, is crime thriller 101 with an added element of veiled criticism of creeping fascism within Germany at the time (1931).
A must-see, little-known classic by a film master, this one will leave you gasping for a return to such professionalism and artistry. | ||
 | Testament of Dr. Mabuse | |
| "Creepy, Engrossing Fritz Lang Classic" | 2008-02-19 |
| This, the last film by Lang before departing Germany, bears Lang's obsessive attention to precisely calibrated scene composition, and to groundbreaking use of black and white shading and lighting. The plot, detailed elsewhere, is crime thriller 101 with an added element of veiled criticism of creeping fascism within Germany at the time (1931). A must-see, little-known classic by a film master, this one will leave you gasping for a return to such professionalism and artistry. | ||
 | Rush - Hold Your Fire | |
 | "Their Weakest Mercury Effort" | 2008-01-15 |
| There are a few memorable tracks here, including "Time Stood Still," and "Mission," but this album suffers from weak melodies and dated production.
Nobody plays the drums better than Peart, but his over-reliance on electronic drums, coupled with Geddy's overuse of the synthesizer on too many tracks, date this record immediately. Unfortunately, the guitar is too often buried in the background as a result. What you are left with is a record that screams 1987, and it shows. I'll take Grace Under Pressure over this one every time. | ||
| Friday | |
| "Heinlein, Sex, and a Pretty Cyborg" | 2007-10-10 |
| Hey, what more do you need? Listen, this is not going to win any Hugo awards, but it is a fun, enjoyable futuristic adventure through Heinlein's wild imagination. A rollicking Bond-like female cyborg protagonist loves and kills her way through a typically Heinleinian future, replete with rogues, double agents, robots, despotic leaders, and that rare good human.
Any book that can advertise with a straight face that it was Playboy Book Club's alternate selection of the month can't be all bad. | ||
 | Friday | |
| "Heinlein, Sex, and a Pretty Cyborg" | 2007-10-10 |
| Hey, what more do you need? Listen, this is not going to win any Hugo awards, but it is a fun, enjoyable futuristic adventure through Heinlein's wild imagination. A rollicking Bond-like female cyborg protagonist loves and kills her way through a typically Heinleinian future, replete with rogues, double agents, robots, despotic leaders, and that rare good human.
Any book that can advertise with a straight face that it was Playboy Book Club's alternate selection of the month can't be all bad. | ||
 | The Animals - Before We Were So Rudely Interrupted | |
| "Nice Blues Workout By The Boys" | 2007-09-28 |
| Ok, this isn't the best stuff the Animals ever put out, but it's an enjoyable, booze-soaked nighttime gig, with classic songs and performances.
Burdon seems to be enjoying himself, wailing through old standards like "Please Give Me Someone to Love," and the Leiber/Stoller classic, "Brother Bill." Great keyboards by Alan Price add to the enjoyment, though this stripped-down set has no organ accompaniment. If you're a fan, you can't go wrong with this one. | ||
 | Joe Walsh - You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind | |
| "Awesome Throwback, A Feel-Good Concert" | 2007-09-20 |
| I bought this on a lark at the checkout at my local CVS. Boy, was I surprised! This concert absolutely rocks, Walsh and company are at the top of the game as they rip through concert staples and a few surprises. My only gripe -- I wish it were longer. I know on Youtube there are clips from this concert, including an amazing take on James Gang's epic, "The Bomber." But for what is here, this is a feel-good, throwback, enjoyable old good time. | ||
 | Roger Waters - The Wall: Live in Berlin, 1990 | |
| "Sure It's Dated But It's Also Timeless" | 2007-09-05 |
| I agree with those who find some of the guest stars to be a bit dated (Bryan Adams, The Hooters) but can you argue with their performances?
To me, not having heard some of these songs since the heady days of high school, this is a revelation. Kudos especially to Garth Hudson, of The Band, who delivers a great sax and accordian solo. Joni sounds amazing, Van The Man rocks it, and while I can do without Jerry Hall, in context it really doesn't sound too bad. But the songwriting, and arrangements, sound as great as ever. If you like the original, you really should pick this up for a second look at these timeless classics. | ||
 | Isaac Hayes - Hot Buttered Soul | |
| "Of Its Time, No Longer a Timeless Classic" | 2007-08-30 |
| I normally don't write negative reviews, and if I hadn't listened to this recently I would have agreed with all the superlative reviews, basically because that's how I remember this record too. But I just finished listening to this and..... (It's not that good.) By that I mean it's about as good as "Within You Without You" from Sgt Pepper. Groundbreaking for its time, genre-shifting, radical, risk-taking, and exotic. But today, in 2007, can you say you really love listening to "Within You Without You"? Or would you just rather wait for it to be over so you can hear "Lovely Rita"? This record has that same kind of feel. Let's be honest -- the guitarist is mediocre at best, his leads are really just awful, especially when he searches for notes upward. Although "Walk On By" has the reputation for being nasty funk, it's really very mild. The extended jams lack imagination, Isaac's organ keeps hitting the same two chords, the horns are repetitive and unimaginative. I like Isaac's singing, and the back-up singers sound pretty good. But come on, that extended rap on "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" is enjoyable today purely as kitsch, if that. I hate to say this, but this is a time capsule record, in a piece with legendary misfires like Muddy Waters' "Electric Mud" or Bo Diddley's "Black Gladiator." Good for a goof but don't expect James Brown or P-Funk grooves or performances here. | ||
 | The Deer Park | |
| "Setting Good, Story Not So Good" | 2007-08-13 |
| It's interesting to see Mailer's take on the Hollywood witchhunts, directors testifying before Congress and forced to name names, and the goings-on of the Hollywood rich and famous. But the first-person framing device is tiresome and cliched, and Mailer has done much much better. Read this if you are a big Mailer fan or love Hollywood in the 50s, otherwise I'd take a pass and move on to greener pastures. | ||
 | Rollercoaster | |
| "Jaws in an Amusement Park?" | 2007-08-01 |
| I vividly remember seeing this movie in the theater as a kid -- it was summer and a few years after Jaws. The gimmick was "Senssurround!" but we really believed it -- it did seem like the theater shook during some of the rollercoaster scenes. Watching it now, many years later, it holds up well as a Jaws-inspired 70s film. In the summer people love to go to the beach....or to an amusement park. Imagine Timothy Bottoms as the shark -- the director surely does -- as he swims around the amusement park, while Lalo Schiffrin provides a Jaws-like menacing score, before Bottoms slowly and methodically strikes again. George Segal makes a decent Brody, though it's impossible to look at his performance now and not think it's a bit camp. You have the same crew of town elders like you do in Jaws, seeking to suppress and downplay the threat due to business concerns. And you have the same summer kids, in their 70s outfits and feathered hair, enjoying what should be innocent fun...until Bottoms strikes again. As a reviewer mentioned, there is a short clip of Sparks performing at Magic Mountain in the final showdown, which is a plus. And a very cute and very young Helen Hunt. In all this is an enjoyable, slightly campy, view down memory lane, when all it took to scare you was a land shark and some big speakers. | ||
 | Fury | |
| "Mob Mentality Yes, But This Film is Also About "The Other"" | 2007-07-24 |
| I agree with the many reviewers who focus on the lynching aspect of the morality tale spun so expertly by Fritz Lang. But having watched this recently, I also found much that was directly relevant to our modern times. In particular, the film really exposes how the heartland, the community, can be exclusionary and vicious to those it perceives as "the Other," whether that person is a suspected kidnapper, a gay person, or some other person selected by the town elders to be the subject of ridicule, disdain, and marginalization. Consider those who raised objections to the war in Iraq, and how they were treated by the media and the "town elders" in Washington. They were reviled, shunned, marginalized, and forgotten, victims of a mob mentality that drove us to war and to celebrate on the nightly news our conquests and destruction. Lang's point is a larger one, and one that applies as much today as it did when the noxious practice of lynching was rampant across our country. As the barber slyly notes, it is the "impulse" that must be controlled, lest it burst out and consume us all. | ||
 | The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter - Criterion Collection | |
| "Chilling, Thrilling, and Impossible to Forget" | 2007-05-29 |
| This is not merely one great rock documentary -- it is one of the finest pieces of documentary filmmaking I have ever seen. The directors and cinematographer have truly captured the wildness, the drugs, the sense of abandon, hope, mystery, fear, violence, and joy -- all of it wrapped in a remarkable rock music event marred by the Hells Angels' tragic violence. The sense of foreboding as the filmmakers capture the haphazard planning for this free Altamont concert is palpable -- I love the way the Stones' lawyer, Melvin Belli (wearing a very wide tie), attempts to negotiate a last minute concert site. There are so many impossible to forget images -- the Stones' listening to a play back of "Wild Horses" at Muscle Shoals studio; the stoned-out kids moving from amazement to horror as the violence unfolds; the boys listening to Sonny Barger call in to a radio station and justify the violence because the fans were "messing with our bikes." There is great onstage concert footage too -- the Flying Burrito Brothers kick it off in fine fashion, then Tina Turner turns in a sexy performance, practically deep-throating the microphone, but by the time Jefferson Airplane gets on stage you just know something is about to go very, very wrong. As the violence unfolds, to the onstage antics of "Sympathy for the Devil," things get very weird. Mick, onstage, calling for cool. Fans crying, mouthing to Mick "why?" silently, Keith and the boys still riffing as the beatings mount -- all captured brilliantly by the filmmakers. The final piece -- Mick and the boys watching the concert footage in the studio -- is equally priceless and equally revealing. Bravuro filmmaking! | ||
 | The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter | |
| "Chilling, Thrilling, and Impossible to Forget" | 2007-05-29 |
| This is not merely one great rock documentary -- it is one of the finest pieces of documentary filmmaking I have ever seen. The directors and cinematographer have truly captured the wildness, the drugs, the sense of abandon, hope, mystery, fear, violence, and joy -- all of it wrapped in a remarkable rock music event marred by the Hells Angels' tragic violence. The sense of foreboding as the filmmakers capture the haphazard planning for this free Altamont concert is palpable -- I love the way the Stones' lawyer, Melvin Belli (wearing a very wide tie), attempts to negotiate a last minute concert site. There are so many impossible to forget images -- the Stones' listening to a play back of "Wild Horses" at Muscle Shoals studio; the stoned-out kids moving from amazement to horror as the violence unfolds; the boys listening to Sonny Barger call in to a radio station and justify the violence because the fans were "messing with our bikes." There is great onstage concert footage too -- the Flying Burrito Brothers kick it off in fine fashion, then Tina Turner turns in a sexy performance, practically deep-throating the microphone, but by the time Jefferson Airplane gets on stage you just know something is about to go very, very wrong. As the violence unfolds, to the onstage antics of "Sympathy for the Devil," things get very weird. Mick, onstage, calling for cool. Fans crying, mouthing to Mick "why?" silently, Keith and the boys still riffing as the beatings mount -- all captured brilliantly by the filmmakers. The final piece -- Mick and the boys watching the concert footage in the studio -- is equally priceless and equally revealing. Bravuro filmmaking! | ||
 | The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter | |
| "Chilling, Thrilling, and Impossible to Forget" | 2007-05-29 |
| This is not merely one great rock documentary -- it is one of the finest pieces of documentary filmmaking I have ever seen. The directors and cinematographer have truly captured the wildness, the drugs, the sense of abandon, hope, mystery, fear, violence, and joy -- all of it wrapped in a remarkable rock music event marred by the Hells Angels' tragic violence. The sense of foreboding as the filmmakers capture the haphazard planning for this free Altamont concert is palpable -- I love the way the Stones' lawyer, Melvin Belli (wearing a very wide tie), attempts to negotiate a last minute concert site. There are so many impossible to forget images -- the Stones' listening to a play back of "Wild Horses" at Muscle Shoals studio; the stoned-out kids moving from amazement to horror as the violence unfolds; the boys listening to Sonny Barger call in to a radio station and justify the violence because the fans were "messing with our bikes." There is great onstage concert footage too -- the Flying Burrito Brothers kick it off in fine fashion, then Tina Turner turns in a sexy performance, practically deep-throating the microphone, but by the time Jefferson Airplane gets on stage you just know something is about to go very, very wrong. As the violence unfolds, to the onstage antics of "Sympathy for the Devil," things get very weird. Mick, onstage, calling for cool. Fans crying, mouthing to Mick "why?" silently, Keith and the boys still riffing as the beatings mount -- all captured brilliantly by the filmmakers. The final piece -- Mick and the boys watching the concert footage in the studio -- is equally priceless and equally revealing. Bravuro filmmaking! | ||
 | The Bunker | |
| "Fascinating, Carefully-Researched, Unforgettable" | 2007-05-22 |
| I haven't seen the movie, but my father gave me an old, pre-film copy of this book, which I have not been able to get out of my mind. Not only is this incredibly researched, with copious, original interviews and substantive document analysis, Mr. O'Donnell is an gifted writer with a keen feel for observation and mood. The last days of Hilter's Reich come chillingly alive, as Adolf descends into the bunker below Berlin for the very last time. Images and passages are unforgettable, and ominous -- Speer's abandoned plot to poison Hitler through the vent shaft; Magda Goebbels bringing her six children into the bunker, with the impending promise of certain death; Hitler kissing Eva on the lips at a staff meeting in the very last moments, as bombs and air raid sirens signal the end. Impossible to put down, this is a must-read for any WWII buff. | ||
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