Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)
Director: George Lucas
Average Customer Review:
DVD (22 March, 2005)
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Editorial Review

If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins. Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking. All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (2072)

Great Movie
The Second Film in the Star Wars saga. We see Anakin grown up and his starting to turn to the dark side after his mother dies. Qui Gon is dead so Obi Wan is Ani's master. And the ultimate villain in this film is Count Dooku played by Christopher Lee.

Rated PG For Sci-Fi Action and Violence.

Running Time: 142 Minutes

Not a good film
I thought I would review episode II in light of the theatrical release of episode III. Let's just say it straight out, this movie is pretty poor. The visuals are amazing, but pretty much everything that happens in the foreground - the acting and the dialogue are wretched.

The plot for what it's worth involves Obi Wan & Annakin uncovering a conspiracy to create a clone army and attempts to assassinate Amidala. In the process Annakin & Amidala become close and it closes with the beginning of the clone war. There are a few set-piece scenes such as the show down between Count Dooku and Yoda, and the initial opening melee but it's a fairly pedestrian affair.

This could have all been made interesting, but the performances are so cardboard that you never believe for a second that anything is really happening. The actors say their lines in front of blue screens and the action is put in around them later by computers. The visuals are pretty good it must be said but they still look phoney.

The net result is something that feels aloof and dull. It would not surprise me in the least if Lucas re-edits the prequels to perk them up a bit. He has done this in the past, sometimes to correct his mistakes but more likely as a cynical ploy to re-sell the same movie to fans keen to own every edition. Unless you're a hardcore fan, I'd say skip this.

Continues this saga does...
And the review continues...so the hero has been chosen and it is time for Anakin to begin his legendary adventure in that galaxy far far away. It has been 10 years since he was found by the now deceased Qui-Gon Gin and began his Jedi training under Obi-Wan Kenobi. Just when things were going well who just happens to show up. Padme Amidalla the now Senator for her home planet Naboo...and the wackiness ensues!!! `Attack of the Clones' is a step up above `The Phantom Menace' as all second chapters are in the great stories. The characters have been introduced and now its time to give them a problem. Unfortunately this episode is another disappointment to the obsessed fans of this story because what is featured is the love story between Anakin and Padme the to be parents of Luke and Leia, but don't count this one out so quickly my friends there some great things to be seen.

In this movie I loved that we got to see Courosant in its grandeur after being one of the biggest teases Mr. Lucas gave his fans with the special edition of `Return Of The Jedi' I loved the night clubs, the traffic and even the dinner...I felt very proud to be a New Yorker watching that. We also get to see how the system of Jedi training works and now we understand that Yoda really did instruct Obi-Wan because he trains every single Jedi. I also loved how we finally get to see the origin of the most mysterious character in the story to date...of course I'm talking about Boba Fett and I was amazed how his role in the story was much more complex than many had thought. There are also a few other pieces that are revealed which of course we all left hanging in the air just waiting for the next 3 years to pass for the space to be filled with Episode 3.

Altogether the movie is enjoyable unless you spent all your life living in your parents' basement and downloading scripts trying to spend hours upon hours memorizing every single level of the death star. It still however lacked that one little piece which we all had to wait another 3 years to see. Not even the great signature BMF lines from Sam Jackson, or Yoda's surprising fight scene at the end couldn't keep me satiated. Otherwise...the force was still with Mr. Lucas at that point in time and once again another fun film put in the books.
... Read more

Asin: B00006HBUJ
Subjects:  1. Science Fiction   

The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)
Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Average Customer Review:
DVD (14 September, 2004)
list price: $19.96 -- our price: $14.97
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Editorial Review

Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (1470)

And behind Door Number Three....
For some reason I have a bad habit of never following up on sequels until years later.It's a flaw that occurs when I like something, but not quite enough to wait in lines at theaters or reserve copies at a rental store when I'm never quite sure of my schedule.The Matrix falls into that category, very well done and imaginative, no doubt, but it didn't stir me enough to rush to see the sequels.

Now I've seen Reloaded, and I continue to be impressed, not so much by the raw imagination of Matrix, but by it's ability to skirt the obvious paradigms that the viewer expects and hare off instead in entirely new directions.Of course, the wild chases and fight scenes are here in all their glory.At a certain point, they actually become abstract and tedious extravaganzas.The Wachowski's put everything they can into Neo's acrobatics, coming closer and closer to a bloodbath that never actually happens.Unfortunately this means stretching them out until they cry for editing.

In spite of all this showmanship, it is the plot and characters that really make this film.Neo struggles to discover what he needs to do Morpheus seeks after the Oracle, and a whirl of voice enhance characters sweep across the screen like Dune revisited.New characters like Merovingian and Persephone liven things up.And Agent Smith turns into a cast of thousands all by himself.

Doom is descending to destroy Zion, and Neo must decide what is important, what is real, what is maze, and what is purpose.Zion itself comes to life beautifully, and we finally get an understanding of how this culture of rebels really works.My only irritation is that the film ends in a total cliffhanger, which somehow smacks of cheating.I mean, I would have gotten to Matrix Revolutions sooner or later anyway.

RELOADED:More action than you can imagine!!
With Reloaded, The Matrix saga continues, introducing a wide array of characters in a futuristic setting while still keeping some things of this world in check (the key maker, who makes your standard door and truck keys, or so it would appear).

This movie has THE BEST chase scene I have ever seen, of course with the help of some CG that is.Trucks, sport bikes, SUV's getting into wrecks..oh just watch the movie!Great Science Fiction saga that has a backdrop for one of the best told stories of it's time.

Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) have been summoned by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to join him on a voyage to Zion, the last outpost of free human beings on Earth. Neo and Trinity's work together has been complicated by the fact the two are involved in a serious romantic relationship.
Upon their arrival in Zion, Morpheus locks horns with rival Commander Lock (Harry J. Lennix) and encounters his old flame Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith). Meanwhile, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) has returned with some surprises for Neo, most notably the ability to replicate himself as many times as he pleases. Neo makes his way to The Oracle (Gloria Foster), who informs him that if he wishes to save humankind, he must unlock "The Source," which means having to release The Key Maker (Randall Duk Kim) from the clutches of Merovingian (Lambert Wilson). While Merovingian refuses to cooperate, his wife, Persephone (Monica Bellucci), angry at her husband's dalliances with other women, offers to help, but only in exchange for a taste of Neo's affections.

With The Keymaker in tow, Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus are chased by Merovingian's henchmen: a pair of deadly albino twins (Neil Rayment and Adrian Rayment).

Longest Ray Ban Commercial I Ever Saw,
Unbeleivable disappointment, where did the story go? what about the plot, why does everyone wear sunglasses 24/7? the dialog in Matrix was flawless and not one wasted line, this one is nothing but one liners that a second grader could have strung together, Link? what was that about? commander and niobi? well script writing 101 says you have got to have conflict, something for everyone sure took all the flavor out of this sequel, where is James Cameron when you need him, this sequel was dead when it started out the movie by showing the ending as the hook.

two thumbs down.

but the sunglasses are great looking, i want a pair that can survive getting punched in the face repeatedly. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AXE8I
Subjects:  1. Science Fiction   

Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 1, Episodes 2 & 3: Where No Man Has Gone Before/ The Corbomite Maneuver
Director: James Goldstone, Murray Golden, James Komack, Don McDougall, Robert Butler, Marc Daniels, John Meredyth Lucas, Leo Penn, John Erman, David Alexander
Average Customer Review:
DVD (17 August, 1999)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $17.99
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Editorial Review

This first DVD volume of episodes from the original Star Trekbegins with a show that saved the series even before it launched. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" was actually the second Trek pilot produced byGene Roddenberry after NBC rejected "The Cage" (now a subject of cultfascination). A retooled cast now included William Shatner as Captain James R. Kirk (the middle initial T came later), Leonard Nimoy asMr. Spock,George Takei as Ensign Sulu, and James Doohan as Chief Engineer MontgomeryScott. (DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, and Walter Koenig signed on insubsequent episodes.) A lot of thought went into scriptwriter Samuel L.Peeples's story about a crewman named Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) who has aclose relationship with Kirk and some natural ESP abilities. When theEnterprise approaches an energy barrier at the edge of the galaxy,Mitchell metamorphoses into a godlike being with silver eyes, awesome psychicabilities, and a rapidly developing ego. As Mitchell becomes an increasingthreat to the ship, Kirk is faced with making a terrible choice to save his crew.

The episode locked in the very character and themes of Star Trek:science fiction stories told in mortal terms, the conflict betweenrelationships and duty, and a strong emphasis on exploring personalities.Lockwood's disciplined, modulated performance was a big plus. (He went on, ofcourse, to play astronaut Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey.)

The second show in this volume was the tenth to air, "The CorbomiteManeuver." While exploring an uncharted region of the galaxy, the Enterpriseencounters a cube-shaped alien probe (a predecessor of Borg vessels?) thatKirk promptly destroys. That action brings the wrath of a spaceship calledthe Fesarius, which locks the Enterprise in a tractor beam fromwhich itcan't escape. The show is perhaps best known for something of a surpriseending when the "captain" of the Fesarius (played by Clint Howard,brother of Ron and child star of TV's Gentle Ben) is revealed. Directed by JosephSargent (Colossus--The Forbin Project). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby

Reviews (78)

Strong episodes
"Where No Man Has Gone Before" was actually the second pilot episode and the first featuring Captain Kirk (William Shatner).In it, a mysterious energy barrier at the edge of the galaxy transforms two crewmembers (Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman) into dangerous beings with god-like powers.Here we see series creator Gene Roddenberry's fascination (obsession?) with omnipotent beings that caused Harlan Ellison to lament that Roddenberry had only one idea-that God is mad.

In "The Corbomite Maneuver," the Enterprise resorts to a bluff in order to escape destruction by a more powerful alien craft.More TOS regulars, such as McCoy (DeForest Kelly), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and Sulu (George Takei), make their first appearances.There is some good interaction between the crewmembers regarding the enormous pressures that accompany space exploration.

A couple of good, solid Trek episodes.

WNMHGB is tremendous
Although it's more silent in audio nature than the rest of the eps that followed, WNHGB is exciting, well-acted, interesting and powerful. Shatner is excellent and memorable in his first outing as Kirk. But as big a fan as I am of him the ep really belongs to the guest characters of ESP mutants Mitchell and Dehner (Gary Lockwood and Sally Kellerman). They are so dead on perfect in their roles it's a pity we never got to see either of them again on TOS. The rest of the crew (cast) doesn't have much to do. I feel bad we didn't get anymore of comely Andrea Dromm as Yoeman Smith on TOS either. But can't have EVERYTHING.

Stop screwing around! Release the box set already!
I've already got the other sets. What's the holdup? ... Read more

Asin: 6305513406
Subjects:  1. Television   

Bill Gates (Biography (Lerner Publications Company).)
by Jeanne M. Lesinski
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 2000)
list price: $7.95 -- our price: $7.95
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Reviews (3)

One of the Worst
I bought this book because its on Bill Gates, and was I disappointed or what? The style of writting is very bad, and suits a small article not a book. It is not a biography at all, but an absurd trick to cash in on Bill Gates' Name.
You are much better off reading other books on Microsoft and Bill Gates, which go into at least some details on the events of both the company and the man himself. This book was more like a brief news item.

For me it was a waste of money. The only reason I am giving it a one star is because I cannot give it any less.

Bill Gates
I would give this book a five-star rating. The title is Bill Gates and the author is Jeanne M. Lesinski. Bill Gates had a dream. His dream was to create his own computer. Bill does complete his goal. On different kinds of computers he created, he did them with other friends. Throughout the story, it tells about his life, his wife, and three kids. Read the book and find out about his life and the start of Microsoft.

An excellent read.
A & E produces a daily Biography show about famous people in all categories, this book is based on that series. Bill Gates is more than a story about the richest man in the world, is an accounting of where this fame and fortune came from and the vision of the future of the softwaregiant.

While the book is only about 100 pages there is enough informationabout Gates' roots, his ride to the top of the software industry and hisrecent battles with the Justice department to give this reader a new lookinto the man himself.

The author gives you pictures from early childhoodto his start with Microsoft in Albuquerque to his work with the Bill GatesLibrary Foundation. I must admit most of the photos have already been seen,however they're a few new and interesting ones, especially his newhouse.

I personally liked the way the author put together the story, notrunning over of boring you with details in any one are. The storyline flowsfrom start to finish. Granted there is a lot more that could have gone intothe book, however this one was an excellent read. ... Read more

Isbn: 082259689X
Sales Rank: 99259
Subjects:  1. 1955-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Science & Technology    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Business    7. Business & Economics    8. Businessmen    9. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    10. Computer software industry    11. Computers - Software    12. Gates, Bill,    13. History    14. Juvenile literature    15. United States   

Microsoft Xbox Console with Controller S
Average Customer Review:
Video Game
list price: $199.99
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Editorial Review

Take the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.

The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, and who knows what else?

But Xbox has more going for it than fancy innards. The Xbox's Windows-based operating system is a breeze to program on, earning it grateful accolades from Electronic Arts, Infogrames, THQ, and other game producers. The less time developers spend struggling with the operating system means the more time they spend tweaking gameplay, which ultimately results in better games. And games are what it's all about.

Well, games and the fun of owning a green-glowing game console that looks like it came from Darth Vader's living room.--Mike Fehlauer

The Xbox Video Game System with Controller S includes the Xbox console, the popular "S" style Microsoft controller, and all necessary cables. A DVD kit (sold separately) is required to access DVD playback ability.

... Read more

Reviews (278)

Notable features
*Games save directly to HD.
*able to rip audio CDs to HD.
*most games use 5.1 digital surround(with compatible hardware).
*DVD video REQUIRES remote control.
*Odd controller layout

Best system EVER
This is freakin awesome!I love the xbox!I can just play it for hours and never get bored.The best games are definatley halo, halo 2, and fable.If you get an x box you should get those titles.The graphics are incredible, everthing is just so smooth and crystal clear.If they'd let me give this system more than 5 stars, I would!

Waste of money
If you can give me a list of 3 video games that are only in the Xbox and are good I'd buy it. However it seems that whenever I ask this question to a Xbox user they just change the subject.

All the good games that Xbox users can be proud of are already available for the PC, with better graphics, better everything.

So unless you're one of those 9 year old kids that have rich parents that let him do whatever they want and live like in a TV soap opera, skip this product.

Besides most computers already have DVD players. And you can upgrade computers, customize them, make them more powerful than an Xbox.

Skip it. It's a waste of money. ... Read more

Asin: B00008H2IY
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Xbox (x box)    3. Microsoft    4. Consoles   

Nintendo Gamecube Console - Limited Edition Platinum
Average Customer Review:
Video Game
list price: $149.99 -- our price: $99.99
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Editorial Review

Though it looks like a toy, don't be fooled: the Nintendo GameCube is a powerful video game console that rightly deserves its place among the other next-generation game systems. In fact, its playful, appealing design and small size (the unit is a not-quite-cubed 6 inches) aren't the only features that set it apart from the others.

For starters, Nintendo has quite clearly made this a game-only machine. It doesn't try to play your CD collection, run your movies, read your e-mail, or store your MP3 files. The company has concentrated its efforts on games. All the prelaunch titles we've seen play smoothly, with bright, fast graphics and great sound. Nintendo says its engineers have removed traditional bottlenecks that have, in the past, slowed down processing. New components designed by IBM and MoSys, as well as a large-capacity secondary memory cache, keep instructions moving through the system's microprocessor (MPU) at peak levels. In English: the GameCube is optimized to push speed up while pushing costs down; hence its position at the lower end of the price spectrum.

The GameCube is the first Nintendo video game system to use a disc-based medium rather than cartridges for its games. Moving the software to disc media generally means lower development costs for the publishers, which, in turn, trickles down to the consumer not only in price, but also in availability and quality, as it's then easier to try out untested game ideas (Pikmin, anyone?). While most other systems likewise have their games stored on discs, the GameCube's 3-inch format is smaller than everyone else's, and is so designed to fit in a shirt pocket as much as to deter would-be software pirates.

Of course, the main advantage of the GameCube is that it's the home field of one of the world's premier game designers: Nintendo. While powerhouses Electronic Arts and Sega make games for all systems (including this one), you can play Nintendo games only on a Nintendo system. And Nintendo, you might recall, has been hitting them out of the park since it started with Donkey Kong. In fact, here's a roll call of characters and series you won't find on the other consoles: Mario, Legend of Zelda, Perfect Dark, Metroid, Kirby, and, of course, Pokémon. A few names that the GameCube will share with the other guys: Madden, Tony Hawk, Sonic, Batman, and Star Wars.

The system also comes with four built-in controller ports, so you can easily plug in extra controllers and let friends join in for the multiplayer games--it's even got a built-in handle so you can easily move it to a friend's house. It comes with two memory card slots for saving your progress through games, and there's the capacity for future expansion into the world of online gaming.

In short, the GameCube isn't an all-in-one entertainment system, and neither is it the most powerful of the modern video game consoles. But for video game enthusiasts who want to stick with their favorite characters, its value cannot be beat. --Porter B. Hall

Unit Specifications

• MPU (Microprocessor Unit): 485 MHz custom IBM PowerPC Gekko
• Graphics Processor: 162 MHz custom ATI/Nintendo Flipper
• Texture-Read Bandwidth: 10.4 GB per second (peak)
• Main Memory Bandwidth: 2.6 GB per second (peak)
• Pixel Depth: 24-bit color, 24-bit Z buffer
• Sound Processor: 81 MHz custom Macronix 16-bit DSP
• Sound Performance: 64 simultaneous channels, ADPCM encoding
• Polygon Performance: 6 to 12 million polygons per second (peak)
• System Memory: 40 MB
• Main Memory: 24 MB MoSys 1T-SRAM
• Disc Drive: 128 ms CAV (Constant Angular Velocity) system
• Data Transfer Speed: 16 Mbps to 25 Mbps
• Media: 3-inch, 1.5 GB capacity disc
• Controller Ports: Four
• Memory Card Slots: Two
• Audio-Video Output: Analog and digital
• Dimensions: 4.3 by 5.9 by 6.3 inches (height by width by depth)

... Read more

Features

• MPU("Microprocessor Unit")
• IBM Power PC "Gekko".
• Manufacturing Process 0.18 microns Copper Wire Technology
• Clock Frequency 405 MHz.
• CPU Capacity 925 Dmips (Dhrystone 2.1).

Reviews (484)

Highly recommended.
Any fan of the Nintendo 64 needs this console to add more depth and knowlegde to their already large collection of games. I highly recommended a Gamecube for any fan. And soon the Gamecube Revolution will be released making another ultimate console due out in the future.

listen up, fanboys...
all you nintendo fanboys are cramping up the xbox reviews. thats our turf! :p but anyway,you say "oh, the crapbox (wow thats clever) is so bad, all the games are just rippoffs, and they're all for pc, and the controller is huge, and this and that and whatever" well, gamecube stinks even worse. i mean, what games do you have for it? animal crossing? pokemon staduim? please. what's that? there are 'mature' games for it? resident evil series, thats it. name ONE 1st party nintendo game that's rated M. you can't. conker doesnt count, he's from rare. or perfect dark, thats rare too. and rare went over to microsoft anyway when they saw how bad gamecube was doing. even the system itself looks like a Playschool product. who makes a purple console? and to the one who said 'xbox players are losers and loners with no friends', that's gamecube's territory. i'm not gonna call the guys over to play a heart-pounding game of butterfly catching on animal crossing. oh, and nintendo STILL HASN'T GONE ONLINE. xbox live is the greatest online gaming service around. and the xbox controller has gotten progressively smaller as time has gone by. and 3rd parties make controllers that are even smaller than gamecube's. so lets see, if i want Billy Hatcher's Giant Egg i'll get gamecube. if i want GTA AND Halo 2 AND just about every other game you could want, i'll get xbox.

Fanboys, get some perspective.
Some of these reviews...Seriously.

Just because you like one console, doesn't mean you have to hate the others. Play what all consoles have to offer, you don't have to be a fanboy to one system...

Anyway, I bought my Gamecube on release, along with Smash Bros Melee. Now, I am a huge Nintendo fan, but I also own an Xbox so rest assured, I play games, not the consoles they come on. I don't care what game the console is on, it's the games that count.

Whilst the 'Cubes selection of games isn't as vast as the PS2s, the quality is a lot higher. Games like Mario, Zelda, Metroid Prime, Smash Bros cannot be matched, and can only be bought for the Nintendo Gamecube. This is main reason to buy a 'Cube, Nintendo games. There are other fantastic games available only to the 'Cube too, like Tales of Symphonia, and Viewtiful Joe.

If you are a casual gamer, get a PS2. The 'Cube has a lot of games for the more pro gamer; don't be fooled by the "child" like graphics, Nintendo games are all about gameplay.
Still put off by the child like graphics? Check out Metroid Prime: Echoes and Resident Evil 4, exclusive to 'Cube.

Finaly, anyone concerned about graphic power of Gamecube, it is much prettier graphically then the PS2. Resident Evil 4 has the best graphics of any console game made, even surpasing games of Xbox, which is more powerful.

So, to sum up, the 'Cube is a powerful console, with a great selection of exclusive games and a controller that is confortable to hold. If you don't play games that often, you might be better with a PlayStation 2, but if you consider yourself a pro gamer, check out the Nintendo Gamecube.
You won't regret it =) ... Read more

Asin: B00006IJJI
Subjects:  1. Video Games    2. Gamecube (Game Cube, Game-cube)    3. Consoles    4. Bundles   

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (Vintage)
by DAVE EGGERS
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (13 February, 2001)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.17
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Editorial Review

Dave Eggers is a terrifically talented writer; don't hold his cleverness against him. What to make of a book called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: Based on a True Story?For starters, there's a good bit of staggering genius before you even get to the true story, including a preface, a list of "Rules and Suggestions for Enjoyment of This Book," and a 20-page acknowledgements section complete with special mail-in offer, flow chart of the book's themes, and a lovely pen-and-ink drawing of a stapler (helpfully labeled "Here is a drawing of a stapler:").

But on to the true story. At the age of 22, Eggers became both an orphan and a "single mother" when his parents died within five months of one another of unrelated cancers. In the ensuing sibling division of labor, Dave is appointed unofficial guardian of his 8-year-old brother, Christopher. The two live together in semi-squalor, decaying food and sports equipment scattered about, while Eggers worries obsessively about child-welfare authorities, molesting babysitters, and his own health. His child-rearing strategy swings between making his brother's upbringing manically fun and performing bizarre developmental experiments on him. (Case in point: his idea of suitable bedtime reading is John Hersey's Hiroshima.)

The book is also, perhaps less successfully, about being young and hip and out to conquer the world (in an ironic, media-savvy, Gen-X way, naturally). In the early '90s, Eggers was one of the founders of the very funny Might Magazine, and he spends a fair amount of time here on Might, the hipster culture of San Francisco's South Park, and his own efforts to get on to MTV's Real World. This sort of thing doesn't age very well--but then, Eggers knows that. There's no criticism you can come up with that he hasn't put into A.H.W.O.S.G. already. "The book thereafter is kind of uneven," he tells us regarding the contents after page 109, and while that's true, it's still uneven in a way that is funny and heartfelt and interesting.

All this self-consciousness could have become unbearably arch. It's a testament to Eggers's skill as a writer--and to the heartbreaking particulars of his story--that it doesn't. Currently the editor of the footnote-and-marginalia-intensive journal McSweeney's (the last issue featured an entire story by David Foster Wallace printed tinily on its spine), Eggers comes from the most media-saturated generation in history--so much so that he can't feel an emotion without the sense that it's already been felt for him. What may seem like postmodern noodling is really just Eggers writing about pain in the only honest way available to him. Oddly enough, the effect is one of complete sincerity, and--especially in its concluding pages--this memoir as metafiction is affecting beyond all rational explanation. --Mary Park ... Read more

Reviews (801)

Definite Worth Picking up!
Eggers tells of the death of both his parents to cancer. He shares his deep love for his mother, and his feelings of ambivalence towards his father. Eggers' story is one of numbing loss. He writes of his mother's death with brutal honesty, but somehow manages to mix in an amazing amount of humor that keeps his book from becoming too painful to read. His book shares his feelings of love and responsibility towards his brother, his anger, and his resentment towards his loss of freedom. The book starts with his mother's death, winds through a number of events and adventures in Dave's young adult life, and ends at a point where he has found some healing and closure.

"A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" is based on Eggers true-life story, and while liberties have been taken to change some facts, the book is very effective in sharing the story of a young man struggling with great loss and awesome responsibility. The loose storytelling style is not a mark of "sloppiness" in my opinion, it simply imitates natural speech, a kind of oral story-telling (which makes me wonder if Eggers used oral transcription to write some of this [there's all sorts of software out there for this kind of thing]); in any event it's a very entertaining (dare I say "important") book, my favorite since "High Fidelity" by Nick Hornsby and "The Losers Club: Complete Restored Edition" by Richard Perez

this deserves a read
Caution!Plot spoilers below!

Dave Eggers, best known for his position on the editing staff of the humor magazine McSweeney's, makes a stunning debut as an author in AHWOSG, as he has nicknamed this book.He uses several writing styles in this modernist take on the traditional memoir, including stream-of-conscience and plain diction, all in varying tenses.Also making the book interesting are scene shifts as well as shifts in and out of character to establish the big picture.The only detractors from the book's effectiveness are overuse of stream-of-consciousness, mostly at the end, and overanalyzation of his motives in writing the book.He tries to steer clear of pretension by breaking out of character to acknowledge it and explain why he didn't tell the story a different way, but this unfortunately, this does not always help.
AHWOSG is the story of Dave's life after the deaths of his parents within the same month.He and his twenty-something-year-old siblings move from Chicago to California to begin new lives and raise their eight-year-old brother away from the memories of their parents and the gossip about their misfortune.
The first chapter details the deaths of Dave's parents, remaining in present tense until the death of Dave's mother turns the mood hazy and indefinite, marked with a tense change:"We will leave when they take her away and when we come back the bed will be gone, too.We will move the couch back against the wall where it was before the bed came."The reader sometimes does not realize these things are actually happening for a few paragraphs, but the changes keep the book from becoming monotonous.One of Eggers's most outstanding accomplishments is keeping this 375 page autobiographical book from becoming boring.Unfortunately, some of the techniques he uses to do this become tiring themselves.By the end, for example, Eggers' habit of slipping into stream-of-consciousness seems almost an overindulgence.Some of the poignancy is lost as he details his brother's Frisbee-throwing technique and its significance with regard to the fate of humanity:"...I am there, ready to cradle it as it spins just for a second until it stops.I am there.I was there.Don't you know that I am connected to you?"
Another of Eggers' unorthodox techniques is interrupting the story by allowing one of his characters, usually his younger brother Toph, to break out of character and challenge Eggers' writing style or actions within the book.For example, in one scene, Dave is cutting ten-year-old Toph's hair and explaining an idea he had for a piece in the magazine he edits.The idea is to write a fake eulogy of ex-TV star Adam Rich, with his permission, ostensibly to expose people's base nature and scavenger-like dependency on the media for a feeling of worth.Dave explains this to Toph, and Toph replies, "`Huh.Well, to tell you the truth, I think it's kind of sick.'"Toph's responses become more and more sophisticated until the reader realizes he has broken out of character and is providing a voice for Dave's own self-doubt.
For the most part, Eggers' book is well-written, and well, heart-breaking.Despite some less-than-poignant parts, this book definitely deserves a read, maybe even two or three.Eggers gets an A+ for using highly experimental techniques to create a fantastic book that is, sarcasm aside, a heartbreaking work of staggering genius.

One of my all-time favorites
There are only a few books that warrant five stars, I believe, and A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is definitely one of them.

One of the reviewers here mentioned that one must be in his or her twenties to appreciate this book-- and, he added-- if one is over 30, he or she would dislike it.I have to disagree. As a woman in my late thirties, whose life couldn't be more different than Dave Eggers', I found this book to be excellent-- excruciatingly honest and a most poignant memoir.

One can't help but feel for what the Eggers family goes through.The reader cheers and cries from the sidelines.I was surprised at the vehemence of my emotions when reading this.Dave Eggers certainly drew me in to his and his family's life, and there were so many times that, as a parent, I wanted to find them all and parent them myself.

I would recommend this book, wholeheartedly, to everyone.People have compared Eggers to David Sedaris.As much as I enjoyed the one Sedaris book I read, Running with Scissors, I would put Eggers' book on another plane entirely.Sedaris' life is also interesting, but Dave Eggers is clearly a better writer and more honest with his emotions. ... Read more

Isbn: 0375725784
Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Brothers    6. Death    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. Eggers, Dave    9. Literary    10. Parents    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Psychological aspects    13. Biography & Autobiography / General    14. Reading Group Guide   

The Kid Stays in the Picture
by Robert Evans
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 July, 2002)
list price: $17.95
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Reviews (29)

5 stars for sheer enjoyment...
And what more can you ask for in a book but sheer enjoyment?In a stressful world, this book is a great antidote.Dear Bob: Thanks so much for the drama.And that includes all the fabulous movies you made available to us.For one thing, I agree with you that POPEYE is one of the greatest and most underappreciated movies ever made.An artistic triumph...Just the fact that Evans was behind this movie makes me love him.I loved hearing the book read by the man himself.He's a wise guy-rabbi and a hell of a story teller.But Bob - I gotta know: who's the "seductress" in the cornball poem?And what's the "other lie" Sharon Stone told about you?Also: I agree with others who have loved this book but complained: why have you been villified?I have never figured this out.Is it just the whole mishagus about the Cotton Club?Your (very human) coke problem?Or is it just that, as you told us yourself, producers are "the enemy" in Hollyrude?

Anyway, a lot of people were happy to hear your story from the horse's mouth, and we want more, more, more!I know you read these comments, Evans - we all know that...you're an egomaniac with an inferiority complex, as they say of us addicts.So keep it coming, and soon, please.We need the magic!Love, love, love, peace and healing to you, a very loveable guy.

Oh, by the way - are you really Italian?That would make sense, but I guess the whole world is Jewish anyway, cause wasn't it Adam who offered Eve "a little piece of fruit?"
(Threw that in to make YOU laugh, Bob...a thanks.)

The audiobook is awful
The guy has a speech problem, and it is amazing that he decided to read the book himself. You have to pay lots of attention so you won't miss any of the words he simply babbles.

What You'd Expect - 4 Stars, Recommended
Ok. He's a bit self-absorbed. But that's what you expect of Robert Evans. "The Kid Stays In the Picture" is an interesting book about his rise and fall from fame. It is similar to Rikki Lee Travolta's "My Fractured Life" with not quite the same writers flair. It's still interesting though. At times Evans muddles in his self-aggrandizing,but eventually he gets back on path. If you enjoyed "My Fractured Life" "Hollywood Animal" and "Postcards From the Edge" you should enjoy this one too. ... Read more

Isbn: 1893224686
Sales Rank: 207515
Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Movie Directors    6. Personal Memoirs   

Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

When Devo's debut album came out in 1978, nobody knew what to make of the mutant new-wave quintet from Akron, Ohio. With Brian Eno's skillful production, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Jerry and Bob Casale, and Alan Myers emerged fully formed and outrageous with their razor-sharp social commentary and exhibition of subversive media savvy.Beyond their industrial uniforms and pseudo-devolved demeanor, Devo also happened to be a rocking little band. Classic rave-outs like "Mongoloid," "Jocko Homo," and "Uncontrollable Urge" illustrate the band's perky-jerky intensity. On their inimitable cover of the Rolling Stones' youth anthem, "Satisfaction," Devo's avant-garde robot funk takes the song to a new level of alienation and discontent. While the band went on to greater fame, this was the only album they made that truly mattered. --Mitch Meyers ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Devo - 'Are We Not Men?We Are Devo!' (Warner Brothers)
Stunning 1978 debut effort by these new wave mutants.I remember seeing the guys play two numbers on the old Saturday Night Live tv show,including their weird cover of the Stone's "Satisfaction" and I just didn't know what to think.I never expected these guys to last as long as they have.All I know is that whenever I listen to this CD,I let it play all the way through.Other squirmable/dancable tunes are "Uncontrollable Urge","Mongoloid",the space age misfit song "Jocko Homo" and "Shrivel Up".A new wave classic.Highly recommended.

grrrrreat!
Mark Mothersbaugh has possibly the sexiest voice ever when he sings "something 'bout the way you taste makes me wanna clear my throat" in Got a Gut Feeling.This album is Addirol to the ears.If you like Talking Heads or Television, this is a must-have.I want this played at my funeral.But only if I live long enough to die amongst robots.

Either you hate it, or you're like me
I can't tell you how many of my freinds hate this album. They just don't know what they're talking about. Dispite being put into the new-wave or punk categories, Devo sound really nothing like any other band in the genre. Their electronic sound and Zappa-like satire set them off from their peers. They also pretty much invented the "music video", which was more of a curse than a blessing, but they were innovaters nonetheless. The cover of "Satisfaction" is at least ten times better than the original, and the commentary of "Jocko Homo" is still briliant. The best new-wave album. ... Read more

Asin: B000002KJ1
Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock   

Revenge of the Nerds/ Revenge Of the Nerds II - Nerds in Paradise
Director: Jeff Kanew
Average Customer Review:
DVD (06 August, 2002)
list price: $19.98 -- our price: $15.98
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Widescreen

Reviews (23)

DVD aspect ratio
I just bought the DVD version of this movie, looking forward to seeing the complete picture in widescreen format. When I compared the DVD to my old VHS copy, I found the DVD does not have any more picture on the sides, rather the tape has more picture on top and bottom. So, did the VHS tape include a matted-off portion of the original negative, or did they take a pan-and-scan version and simply cut off the top and bottom to make a "wide-screen" DVD version of the movie?

NERDS!
80s sex comedies are some of the most enjoyable guilty pleasures ever made.I grew up with HBO, so I got to see many of them time and time again.My parents had designated the television as my babysitter, so I was able to watch all of these raunchy movies undetected.Porky's is probably the king of this genre, but my personal favorite without a doubt is Revenge Of The Nerds.You watch this film and think, "How in the hell could a person not like this movie?"It's funny, sexy, pointless, and it gives the underdog the opportunity to sleep with the cheerleader.Who can forget Booger at the belching contest, the panty raid on the sorority, Ogre, the Liquid Heat in the jocks, Poindexter smoking a joint or the catchy rap tune that wins them the talent contest?If you grew up in the 80s these are classic moments you'll never forget.Plot?Well, Nerds Vs. Jocks on a college campus, that's about all.Who needs plot in these kinds of films?Highly, highly, highly recommended.Part 2?Well, one trend I remember in the 80s was PG-13 sequels to successful R-rated films.If the sequel is PG-13, it's just common knowledge it isn't gonna be as good coz rather than living up to the first film or trying to go beyond, it's automatically watered down due to the rating.The police acedemy movies suffered the same fate, yet they did have their moments.Porky's always remained true though.Nerds 2 isn't a terrible movie, and it sure has it's share of laughs, but it was a doomed project from the getgo.Besides, it's a nice little bonus considering you're probably buying this dvd for the first film anyway.Buy it, Relive it, Enjoy it!

You Just Got Your Asses Whipped by a Bunch of Goddamn Nerds!
John Goodman is king. This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Dirty, raunchy, and completely unsuitable for teenage viewing, this movie makes it fun to remember what it was like when comedies actually contained full frontal female nudity! The locker room speech by John Goodman is one of the funniest things I have ever heard. BUY THIS MOVIE NOW! P.S. "What is hairpie?" or "Step Aside Mama, I Wanna See Some of That Muff".
... Read more

Asin: B000056BSD
Sales Rank: 3468
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Sony VAIO PCG-FRV25 Notebook (2.66-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)
Average Customer Review:
Personal Computers
list price: $1,399.99
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Editorial Review

Far from the smallest mobile computer in Sony's notebook lineup, the VAIO PCG-FRV25 is nevertheless extremely powerful and nicely equipped. If size and ease of portability are not overriding factors, the capable VAIO PCG-FRV25 is a wise and cost-effective choice.

By today's ever-decreasing standards, the 13 by 10.8 by 2.26 inches, 7.72 pound VAIO PCG-FRV25 is of slightly above-average size. It is, however, more powerful than many desktops. Featuring a muscular 2.66 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 512 KB Level 2 cache, a 533 MHz system bus, 512 MB DDR SDRAM memory (upgradeable to 1024 MB) and a 64 MB ATI Radeon IGP 345M graphics chipset, the unit will quickly carve through most any task it is given, including many 3-D games and applications.

Sony has fitted the system with an adequate 40 GB hard disk and an internal CD-RW/DVD drive through which you can burn and listen to audio CDs, backup important files and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. You'll monitor your activities on a large 15-inch XGA TFT display capable of 1024x768 resolution.

Other desirable amenities include an internal V.90 modem for low-speed e-communications, an Ethernet interface for high-speed connectivity, headphone and microphone ports, an 86-key QWERTY keyboard with electro-static touchpad, and a pair of stereo speakers with surround-sound imaging. Home movie and digital picture buffs in particular will appreciate the unit's two high-speed USB 2.0 ports and single IEEE 1394 interface, through which they can quickly transfer video and still images.

Sony has pre-installed an impressive variety of software, including Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Money 2003, Microsoft Works 7.0, and a broad array of audio, video and photo utilities. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

very poor customer service, below average hardware
I have had the Vaio for several months, and the software installed on Vaio has finally crashed out completely. Sony now freely admits the cd recovery disk program included with the machine does not work, in fact has never worked, and they still want you to shell out 60 bucks for the cd recovery kit, which takes up to four weeks for delivery.

The Keyboard on my unit arrived with the 'delete' key not working, and Sony told me that since I had purchased it mail order, I would have to send it to them for repair, and it would take three mothns MINIMUM to fix. I have instead learned to live without a delete key.

Overall, a very poor experience with Sony. I will stick to Toshiba or Dell in the future, companies who were far more supportive of their products and customers.

Vaio thoughts
Fastest machine I've ever used for video games and programming. Hooked up with a Cable Connection and high speed internet action, I've got state-of-the-art power.A little large for a laptop, but probably because of its speakers, built in.Performance of XP on it is very reliable, crashing at most once a week.When it does crash, not very graceful.Sometimes when it has been on a while, it refuses to shut down, and must be DQ'd.Otherwise, no complaints really.Does NOT appear to come with adequate virus protection.Figures.I've compared and considered about 15 machines since, including popular items such as HP and Dell, and even after 6 months, I still have no regrets.Two and a half thumbsup.

Good - but more of bad
Bad things:-
1. All usb ports on the left side - make sure to buy a mouse with long cable
2. External cable connection next to CD drive - why complicate things dear SONY
3. Many keys not working - Just after two months. Am still try to figure out the SONY dealer in ISRAEL.
4. There is no International free one year service like what TOSHIBA offers. ... Read more

Asin: B00009EEIS
Subjects:  1. Notebooks (Note Books)    2. Notebook Computers    3. Laptops (Lap Tops)