Before and After

• Two of Hollywood's brightest stars, Meryl Streep (THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, DEATH BECOMES HER), and Liam Neeson (SCHINDLER'S LIST) deliver spellbinding performances in this riveting, suspense-filled thriller! A small, close-knit community is rocked by a shocking murder -- and the only suspect is the teenage son of a respected local family. Suddenly, Dr. Carolyn Ryan (Streep) and her h

Before and After magazine's focus on clarity, simplicity, and elegance has won it legions of fans--fans who will welcome this second volume of the definitive Before and After Page Design by John McWade. Truly an icon of the graphic design community, his insistence on approaching design not as mere decoration but as an essential form of communication is vividly apparent in this cohesive primer on page design and layout. And you could not hope for a better, more qualified teacher. McWade shows r! eaders how to arrange and present information using today's powerful graphics tools. Readers will learn how to design single-page and multi-page documents, brochures, and ads; why one typeface works better than another; and much more. Best of all, they'll discover how to think visually transforming the images in their heads into something that communicates effectively on the page.Two of Hollywood's brightest stars, Meryl Streep (THE HOURS, ADAPTATION), and Liam Neeson (GANGS OF NEW YORK, SCHINDLER'S LIST) deliver spellbinding performances in this riveting, suspense-filled thriller! A small, close-knit community is rocked by a shocking murder -- and the only suspect is the teenage son of a respected local family. Suddenly, Dr. Carolyn Ryan (Streep) and her husband, Ben (Neeson) are faced with a gut-wrenching dilemma: Whether to risk everything on their son's innocence ... or protect him from his possible guilt! Devastating yet powerfully entertaining, you're sure to agree wi! th critics everywhere who found BEFORE AND AFTER thrilling fro! m beginn ing to end!Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep play a couple going through a parents' nightmare: Their son (Edward Furlong) is accused of murdering a local girl. What's worse, he's gone into hiding, seeming to lend credence to the charges. Neeson, as a passionate, intuitive artist, tries to take matters into his own hands; when he finds what appear to be blood-stained clothes in the kid's car, he cleans the whole thing up and winds up destroying evidence, making matters increasingly worse. Before and After is a solid if stolid drama, with a strong, controlled performance by Streep as the worried wife and mother, while Neeson comes off as overwrought playing the controlling father. Given the subject matter and the presence of director Barbet Schroeder, this movie should be a lot more interesting than it is. --Marshall Fine

Hatchet (Unrated Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]

• HATCHET BLU-RAY (BLU-RAY DISC)

Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 02/01/2011 Rating: NrThere's probably no better visceral creep-out than a close-up eye gouging (just ask Luis Buñuel). Director Adam Green learned this well by using the old thumb-in-socket shot as the climax of his 2006 cult hit Hatchet, and he repeats it as the opener of Hatchet II. This micro-budget sequel picks up just as the original ends, with the aforementioned eye still belonging to the deformed swamp monster Victor Crowley (again played by ace stuntman and Friday the 13th alumni Kane Hodder). The thumb belongs to demure Marybeth (Danielle Harris), who turns out to be the sole survivor of the first film's tour-boat cruise through Louisiana's most disgusting swamp. She escapes Crowley's one-eyed clutches and finds her way back to New Orleans and the lair of voodoo conman Reverend Zombie (Tony To! dd, of Candyman fame), where a posse of redneck morons is quickly assembled to return to the swamp and squash the innards and legend of Victor Crowley for good.

All this Victor Crowley and innards-squashing business will be familiar to fans of Hatchet, of which there are legions. Indeed, it feels as though Green has made Hatchet II as a love letter to them, raising the bloody-disgusting body count and creative means of murder--outboard motor, super-size chainsaw, belt sander--strictly to satisfy an urge felt only by the supremely devoted. Billed as an unrated director's cut, the DVD version will surely send them swooning with even more latex guts and buckets of Kool-Aid-colored blood than they might remember from midnight theatrical shows. Even the commentary tracks and making-of documentary are filled with backslaps dedicated to the exclusive Hatchet groupie club. Green is intentionally riffing on slasher films not only with the comic dialo! gue and dopey characters, but also by employing icons of the g! enre as actors. In addition to Hodder and Todd, Tom Holland, director of fanboy favorites Fright Night and Child's Play, turns up in another key role. Unfortunately, Green's sense of insider humor and commitment to a limited demographic seems to have clouded what could have been a more interesting movie. But you're probably not watching Hatchet II to see an interesting movie. You're watching to see a giddy homage to the glory days of practical gore effects and enjoy the goofy fun of howling at senseless characters that lose their heads and countless other body parts in ever more creative ways. --Ted FryStudio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 02/01/2011 Rating: NrThere's probably no better visceral creep-out than a close-up eye gouging (just ask Luis Buñuel). Director Adam Green learned this well by using the old thumb-in-socket shot as the climax of his 2006 cult hit Hatchet, and he repeats it as the opener of Hatchet II. This micro-budget s! equel picks up just as the original ends, with the aforementioned eye still belonging to the deformed swamp monster Victor Crowley (again played by ace stuntman and Friday the 13th alumni Kane Hodder). The thumb belongs to demure Marybeth (Danielle Harris), who turns out to be the sole survivor of the first film's tour-boat cruise through Louisiana's most disgusting swamp. She escapes Crowley's one-eyed clutches and finds her way back to New Orleans and the lair of voodoo conman Reverend Zombie (Tony Todd, of Candyman fame), where a posse of redneck morons is quickly assembled to return to the swamp and squash the innards and legend of Victor Crowley for good.

All this Victor Crowley and innards-squashing business will be familiar to fans of Hatchet, of which there are legions. Indeed, it feels as though Green has made Hatchet II as a love letter to them, raising the bloody-disgusting body count and creative means of murder--outboard motor, ! super-size chainsaw, belt sander--strictly to satisfy an urge ! felt onl y by the supremely devoted. Billed as an unrated director's cut, the DVD version will surely send them swooning with even more latex guts and buckets of Kool-Aid-colored blood than they might remember from midnight theatrical shows. Even the commentary tracks and making-of documentary are filled with backslaps dedicated to the exclusive Hatchet groupie club. Green is intentionally riffing on slasher films not only with the comic dialogue and dopey characters, but also by employing icons of the genre as actors. In addition to Hodder and Todd, Tom Holland, director of fanboy favorites Fright Night and Child's Play, turns up in another key role. Unfortunately, Green's sense of insider humor and commitment to a limited demographic seems to have clouded what could have been a more interesting movie. But you're probably not watching Hatchet II to see an interesting movie. You're watching to see a giddy homage to the glory days of practical gore effects ! and enjoy the goofy fun of howling at senseless characters that lose their heads and countless other body parts in ever more creative ways. --Ted FryGet ready for one of the most talked-about, red- blooded American horror movies of the past 20 years: When a group of New Orleans tourists take a cheesy haunted swamp tour, they slam face-first into the local legend of deformed madman Victor Crowley. What follows is a psycho spree of seat-jumping scares, eye- popping nudity, skull-splitting mayhem and beyond. Joel David Moore (DODGEBALL), Deon Richmond (SCREAM 3) and Mercedes McNab (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) star â€" along with horror icons Tony ‘Candyman’ Todd, Robert ‘Freddy Krueger’ Englund and Kane ‘Jason’ Hodder â€" in this screamingly funny carnage classic that Fangoria hails as “a no-hold-barred homage to the days when slasher films were at their reddest and wettest!”Adam Green's Hatchet is a goofy, gory gas that pays tribute to the slasher ! boom of the 1980s by placing more hapless teens in the path of! an inde structible maniac. Said killer is Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder, Jason in many of the later Friday the 13th entries), a deformed Louisiana swamp dweller who returns from an apparent fiery death to lay waste to a mixed bag of tourists and Mardi Gras revelers who've wandered into his turf on a "haunted swamp" tour. Hatchet doesn't exactly surpass the movies it's spoofing; Green's characters are dopey ciphers, and Crowley's indiscriminate killing spree negates his sympathetic origins. But the dialogue is glib and the performances funny (especially Parry Shen as the tour's unlikely guide and Joel David Moore as the lovelorn hero), and '80s horror aficionados will appreciate John Carl Buechler's outrageously gross effects (which get more screen time in this unrated cut). There are also cameos by genre vets Robert Englund and Tony Todd, as well as Joshua Leonard from The Blair Witch Project. The widescreen DVD includes commentary by Green and several of his play! ers, as well as featurettes on the making of the film, its villain and his elaborate makeup, and a scene breakdown of one of the film's most jaw-dropping effects. A gag reel and a conversation between Green and Twisted Sister frontman and horror fan Dee Snider rounds out the commentary. -- Paul GaitaStudio: Tcfhe/anchor Bay/starz Release Date: 09/07/2010 Run time: 84 minutes Rating: NrAdam Green's Hatchet is a goofy, gory gas that pays tribute to the slasher boom of the 1980s by placing more hapless teens in the path of an indestructible maniac. Said killer is Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder, Jason in many of the later Friday the 13th entries), a deformed Louisiana swamp dweller who returns from an apparent fiery death to lay waste to a mixed bag of tourists and Mardi Gras revelers who've wandered into his turf on a "haunted swamp" tour. Hatchet doesn't exactly surpass the movies it's spoofing; Green's characters are dopey ciphers, and Crowley's i! ndiscriminate killing spree negates his sympathetic origins. B! ut the d ialogue is glib and the performances funny (especially Parry Shen as the tour's unlikely guide and Joel David Moore as the lovelorn hero), and '80s horror aficionados will appreciate John Carl Buechler's outrageously gross effects (which get more screen time in this unrated cut). There are also cameos by genre vets Robert Englund and Tony Todd, as well as Joshua Leonard from The Blair Witch Project. The widescreen DVD includes commentary by Green and several of his players, as well as featurettes on the making of the film, its villain and his elaborate makeup, and a scene breakdown of one of the film's most jaw-dropping effects. A gag reel and a conversation between Green and Twisted Sister frontman and horror fan Dee Snider rounds out the commentary. -- Paul Gaita

The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life

• ISBN13: 9781590526705
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Where Do You Worship?

Not everyone may frequent the church on the corner, but we each have a place of worship. For some, it’s at the office. For others, before the mirror. Still others, on the basketball court. You were created to worship! So you naturally find a place to do it. But to worship anything less than God robs both Him and us. It’s at the foot of the cross where we reel, trying to comprehend how a holy God could chase us down with kindness and redeem us from an eternity of futile gods. In this newly revised and refreshed edition of the original The Air I Breathe, you’ll find your sense of worship increasing beyond church walls or a Sunday routine. Soon all of ! life becomes your delighted response to God!

Everybody Worships Something

What captures your time and attention?

We are all worshipers…of something. But are we spending our lives and filling our days with what matters most?

Newly revised, The Air I Breathe will awaken you to the reality that worship is more than a service on Sunday. It’s every moment reflecting God’s glory and grace.

“Some of the most inspiring teaching on worship I’ve ever heard has come from Louie Giglio. This book has inspired me as a worshiper and as a worship leader.”
-Matt Redman, Author of The Unquenchable Worshipper and The Heart of Worship

“It’s about time we had a book from Louie Giglio! Read it, and find out why.”
-Beth Moore, Bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Living Proof Ministries

“A message that has sent shock waves through the church.! ”
-Andy Stanley , Senior pastor, North Point Community! Church

“Don’t read The Air I Breathe unless you want to reexamine your life to see whom or what you are truly worshiping on a daily basis.”
â€"Billy Ray Hearn, Founder of Sparrow Records


From the Hardcover edition.Where Do You Worship?

Not everyone may frequent the church on the corner, but we each have a place of worship. For some, it’s at the office. For others, before the mirror. Still others, on the basketball court. You were created to worship! So you naturally find a place to do it. But to worship anything less than God robs both Him and us. It’s at the foot of the cross where we reel, trying to comprehend how a holy God could chase us down with kindness and redeem us from an eternity of futile gods. In this newly revised and refreshed edition of the original The Air I Breathe, you’ll find your sense of worship increasing beyond church walls or a Sunday routine. Soon all of life becomes your del! ighted response to God!

Everybody Worships Something

What captures your time and attention?

We are all worshipers…of something. But are we spending our lives and filling our days with what matters most?

Newly revised, The Air I Breathe will awaken you to the reality that worship is more than a service on Sunday. It’s every moment reflecting God’s glory and grace.

“Some of the most inspiring teaching on worship I’ve ever heard has come from Louie Giglio. This book has inspired me as a worshiper and as a worship leader.”
-Matt Redman, Author of The Unquenchable Worshipper and The Heart of Worship

“It’s about time we had a book from Louie Giglio! Read it, and find out why.”
-Beth Moore, Bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Living Proof Ministries

“A message that has sent shock waves through the church.”
-Andy Stanley , Senior pastor, North Point Co! mmunity Church

“Don’t read The Air I Breathe unless you want to reexamine your life to see whom or what you are truly worshiping on a daily basis.”
â€"Billy Ray Hearn, Founder of Sparrow Records


From the Hardcover edition.Where Do You Worship?

Not everyone may frequent the church on the corner, but we each have a place of worship. For some, it’s at the office. For others, before the mirror. Still others, on the basketball court. You were created to worship! So you naturally find a place to do it. But to worship anything less than God robs both Him and us. It’s at the foot of the cross where we reel, trying to comprehend how a holy God could chase us down with kindness and redeem us from an eternity of futile gods. In this newly revised and refreshed edition of the original The Air I Breathe, you’ll find your sense of worship increasing beyond church walls or a Sunday routine. Soon all of life becomes your delighted response to God!

Everybody Worships Something

What captures your time and attention?

We are all worshipers…of something. But are we spending our lives and filling our days with what matters most?

Newly revised, The Air I Breathe will awaken you to the reality that worship is more than a service on Sunday. It’s every moment reflecting God’s glory and grace.

“Some of the most inspiring teaching on worship I’ve ever heard has come from Louie Giglio. This book has inspired me as a worshiper and as a worship leader.”
-Matt Redman, Author of The Unquenchable Worshipper and The Heart of Worship

“It’s about time we had a book from Louie Giglio! Read it, and find out why.”
-Beth Moore, Bestselling author, speaker, and founder of Living Proof Ministries

“A message that has sent shock waves through the church.”
-Andy Stanley , Senior pastor, North Point Community Church

“Don’t read The Air I Breathe unl! ess you want to reexamine your life to see whom or what you ar! e truly worshiping on a daily basis.”
â€"Billy Ray Hearn, Founder of Sparrow Records

Devil's Diary

• In the hands of high school kids, even an innocent diary can cause trouble. But when a group of small-town teenagers finds the Devil s Diary, a book that embodies the evil of Satan by physically manifesting any evil thought that is written in it, all hell breaks loose. Unearthed after centuries of concealment, the Devil s Diary wreaks havoc and destruction on the high school students who found it,

Trapped in an elevator high above Philadelphia, five people discover that the Devil is among them â€" and no one can escape their fate. This chilling, supernatural thriller from M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs) will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to a heart-stopping ending with a truly wicked twist.Five people trapped in an elevator, and one of them is the Devil--it's an intriguing launch pad for a movie, and in the hands of producer M. Night Shyamalan, it has all th! e makings of a first-class supernatural thriller. Unfortunately, Shyamalan's concern is more with the mechanics of the story--how to pull off that celebrated final-act switcheroo--than in presenting flesh-and-blood characters or dialogue that reeks of pulp. There's a moral high-handedness to the proceedings that's also off-putting--there's a reason why these five strangers are trapped in the lift, and why Detective Messina (the very likable Chris Messina from Julie & Julia) is summoned to rescue them, and why every character is set in motion in Shyamalan's Skinner box of a plot, but it hinges on very well-worn territory, which bites deeply into the story's novel conceit. The cast is uniformly fine--in addition to Messina, there are fine turns by such underrated actors as Bokeem Woodbine, Jenny O'Hara, Geoffrey Arend (in the elevator), and Matt Craven and Caroline Dhavernas (outside)--and the direction by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine), who coproduced with brot! her Drew and Shyamalan, does an impressive job of keeping the ! action f luid in the confines of the setting. But the central conceit of Devil is comic book material tarted up as an event picture, which doesn't elicit much hope for the rest of Shyamalan's Night Chronicles trilogy, of which this is the first entry. --Paul GaitaTrapped in an elevator high above Philadelphia, five people discover that the Devil is among them â€" and no one can escape their fate. This chilling, supernatural thriller from M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs) will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to a heart-stopping ending with a truly wicked twist.Five people trapped in an elevator, and one of them is the Devil--it's an intriguing launch pad for a movie, and in the hands of producer M. Night Shyamalan, it has all the makings of a first-class supernatural thriller. Unfortunately, Shyamalan's concern is more with the mechanics of the story--how to pull off that celebrated final-act switcheroo--than in presenting flesh-and-! blood characters or dialogue that reeks of pulp. There's a moral high-handedness to the proceedings that's also off-putting--there's a reason why these five strangers are trapped in the lift, and why Detective Messina (the very likable Chris Messina from Julie & Julia) is summoned to rescue them, and why every character is set in motion in Shyamalan's Skinner box of a plot, but it hinges on very well-worn territory, which bites deeply into the story's novel conceit. The cast is uniformly fine--in addition to Messina, there are fine turns by such underrated actors as Bokeem Woodbine, Jenny O'Hara, Geoffrey Arend (in the elevator), and Matt Craven and Caroline Dhavernas (outside)--and the direction by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine), who coproduced with brother Drew and Shyamalan, does an impressive job of keeping the action fluid in the confines of the setting. But the central conceit of Devil is comic book material tarted up as an event picture, which do! esn't elicit much hope for the rest of Shyamalan's Night Ch! ronicles trilogy, of which this is the first entry. --Paul GaitaIn the hands of high school kids, even an innocent diary can cause trouble. But when a group of small-town teenagers finds the “Devil's Diary,” a book that embodies the evil of Satan by physically manifesting any evil thought that is written in it, all hell breaks loose. Unearthed after centuries of concealment, the Devil's Diary wreaks havoc and destruction on the high school students who found it, and their entire community. Can their town be saved from complete ruin?

Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection (David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934)

• MARIE ANTOINETTE The woman who was France! Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power headline an opulent saga of royalty and revolution.DAVID COPPERFIELD Based on the best-selling book by Charles Dickens. W.C. Fields is Micawber, and Freddie Bartholomew is young David in a splendid version of Dickens' most autobiographical work.A TALE OF TWO CITIES From the famed author Charles Dickens. "It was the best of t

Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a lifelong resident of the tiny, tradition-steeped Bronx enclave of City Island. A family man who makes his living as a corrections officer, Vince longs to become an actor. Ashamed to admit his aspirations to his family, Vince would rather let his fiery wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) believe his weekly poker games are a cover for an extramarital affair than admit he’s secretly taking acting classes in Manhattan. When Vince is asked to reveal his biggest secret in clas! s, he inadvertently sets off a chaotic chain of events that turns his mundane suburban life upside down. Winner of the Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, City Island spins a web of misrepresentations, misinterpretations and misunderstandings into a smart and charming comedy about a family that stops at nothing to avoid the truth.

City Island is chock-full of the simple pleasures to be gleaned from a warm, generous, and skillful script, performed with humor and charisma by a talented cast. Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia, Ocean's Eleven) is a prison guard--or "corrections officer," as he prefers--and has a family full of secrets: his son has some atypical desires and his daughter has been kicked out of school, while his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife) is powerfully attracted to the hunky young ex-con on parole that Vince has brought to stay with them. But Vince has some potent secrets of his own, including taking acting cla! sses. He tells Joyce he's playing poker, which leads her to be! lieve he 's having an affair--and when she meets his acting partner (Emily Mortimer, Lovely and Amazing), she thinks her fears are confirmed. This plot could easily have been melodramatic or sentimental, but thanks to the relaxed and confident guiding hand of writer-director Raymond De Felitta and the grounded, unfussy performances of the actors, City Island is engaging and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. --Bret FetzerVince Rizzo (Andy Garcia) is a lifelong resident of the tiny, tradition-steeped Bronx enclave of City Island. A family man who makes his living as a corrections officer, Vince longs to become an actor. Ashamed to admit his aspirations to his family, Vince would rather let his fiery wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) believe his weekly poker games are a cover for an extramarital affair than admit he’s secretly taking acting classes in Manhattan. When Vince is asked to reveal his biggest secret in class, he inadvertently sets off a chaotic c! hain of events that turns his mundane suburban life upside down. Winner of the Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, City Island spins a web of misrepresentations, misinterpretations and misunderstandings into a smart and charming comedy about a family that stops at nothing to avoid the truth.

City Island is chock-full of the simple pleasures to be gleaned from a warm, generous, and skillful script, performed with humor and charisma by a talented cast. Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia, Ocean's Eleven) is a prison guard--or "corrections officer," as he prefers--and has a family full of secrets: his son has some atypical desires and his daughter has been kicked out of school, while his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife) is powerfully attracted to the hunky young ex-con on parole that Vince has brought to stay with them. But Vince has some potent secrets of his own, including taking acting classes. He tells Joyce he's playing poker,! which leads her to believe he's having an affair--and when sh! e meets his acting partner (Emily Mortimer, Lovely and Amazing), she thinks her fears are confirmed. This plot could easily have been melodramatic or sentimental, but thanks to the relaxed and confident guiding hand of writer-director Raymond De Felitta and the grounded, unfussy performances of the actors, City Island is engaging and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. --Bret FetzerStudio: Tcfhe/anchor Bay/starz Release Date: 09/20/2011 Rating: Pg13City Island is chock-full of the simple pleasures to be gleaned from a warm, generous, and skillful script, performed with humor and charisma by a talented cast. Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia, Ocean's Eleven) is a prison guard--or "corrections officer," as he prefers--and has a family full of secrets: his son has some atypical desires and his daughter has been kicked out of school, while his wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife) is powerfully attracted to the hunky young ex-con on par! ole that Vince has brought to stay with them. But Vince has some potent secrets of his own, including taking acting classes. He tells Joyce he's playing poker, which leads her to believe he's having an affair--and when she meets his acting partner (Emily Mortimer, Lovely and Amazing), she thinks her fears are confirmed. This plot could easily have been melodramatic or sentimental, but thanks to the relaxed and confident guiding hand of writer-director Raymond De Felitta and the grounded, unfussy performances of the actors, City Island is engaging and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. --Bret FetzerMARIE ANTOINETTE The woman who was France! Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power headline an opulent saga of royalty and revolution. DAVID COPPERFIELD Based on the best-selling book by Charles Dickens. W.C. Fields is Micawber, and Freddie Bartholomew is young David in a splendid version of Dickens' most autobiographical work. A TALE OF TWO CITIES From the fam! ed author Charles Dickens. "It was the best of times, it was t! he worst of times." Ronald Colman stars in the lavish story of the French Revolution...and one man's redemption. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Based on the best-selling book by Jane Austen. Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier) sets maiden hearts aflutter - except for that of unimpressed Elizabeth Bennett (Greer Garson). Austen's masterwork! TREASURE ISLAND Based on the unforgettable book of the same title by Robert Louis Stevenson. Avast, me hearties, for the swashbuckler about a boy with a treasure map - and a pirate (Long John Silver) with a scheme. The Champ's Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper reunite!For an accurate look at how things were at MGM in the glory days, go directly to Motion Picture Masterpieces, a DVD box with five literary-minded A-list productions. MGM liked to think of itself as the studio of class, and its highbrow aspirations (mixed with plenty of old-fashioned hokum) are on lavish display in this collection.

Louis B. Mayer ran the studio, and boy wonder Irving Thalberg! supervised production. However, another strong-willed producer, future Gone with the Wind CEO David O. Selznick, was responsible for guiding a pair of highly enjoyable Dickens adaptations, both released in 1935. David Copperfield is a wonderful condensation of the sprawling novel, crammed with memorable evocations of Dickens' roster of eccentrics. Freddie Bartholomew, who became a star with this role, plays the young David; equally indelible are W.C. Fields as Mr. Micawber, Basil Rathbone as Murdstone, and especially Edna May Oliver as Besty Trotwood. Director George Cukor's empathy and craftsmanship keep the movie humming with Dickensian wit. A Tale of Two Cities followed shortly thereafter, with Ronald Colman in one of his signature roles as the drunken romantic Sydney Carton, whose throttled love for the beautiful Lucie Manette leads to the French Revolution's guillotine. Jack Conway directs in tight, brisk fashion, and once again the supporting cas! t (Oliver and Rathbone return from Copperfield) is flav! orful. < p> The French Revolution also figures in the rather preposterous Marie Antoinette (1938), an eye-popping production about the bride of Louis XVI. The project was a pet of Thalberg and his wife Norma Shearer, and MGM proceeded with the overstuffed production even after Thalberg's early death. Marie gets an extramarital affair (with the young Tyrone Power) and an incredible parade of gowns and wigs, but not too much blame for the peasants starving. Robert Morley steals the show as Louis XVI, with John Barrymore in rascally form as his grandfather. Shearer's ordinariness somehow fits her out-of-it character.

Treasure Island (1934) casts Jackie Cooper as young Jim Hawkins and Wallace Beery as that one-legged seadog, Long John Silver (the pair had scored a huge hit in The Champ three years earlier). This is a lot of people's favorite adaptation of the marvelous Robert Louis Stevenson novel, and Victor Fleming's manly directing approach manages to take s! ome of the sheen off the MGM house style (by the way, art director Cedric Gibbons, credited on all these films, is one of the stars of the box set).

Pride and Prejudice (1940) is a respectable take on Jane Austen's oft-filmed novel, with Greer Garson as the headstrong Elizabeth Bennet and Laurence Olivier as the difficult Mr. Darcy. MGM liked to corset Garson in fine-lady roles, but here she lets some of Elizabeth's sauciness come through; actually, Olivier's elaborate performance is the movie's too-theatrical weak spot. But boy, does this movie tell a good story--and that's rather the point of these (Marie excepted) solid literary adaptations. --Robert Horton

0 comments

Sony VAIO EJ2 Series VPCEJ28FX/B 17.3-Inch Laptop (Charcoal Black)

• Box Contents - Sony VAIO(R) VPCEJ28FX/B Notebook, Standard Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery (up to 5 hours and 20 minutes), AC power adapter, Power Cord; Pre-installed Software - Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit, Microsoft Office Starter (purchase a Product Key to activate a full Microsoft Office suite), Norton Internet Security 2012 30-Day Trial Offer, 1-Year Limited Warranty
• Intel Core i5-2430M 2.40GHz Processor with Turbo(R) Boost Technology up to 3.00GHz
• 3MB Smart Cache
• 4GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM (8GB max.)
• 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

A hilarious rockumentary in the laugh-packed tradition of THIS IS SPINAL TAP -- critics everywhere are howling the praises of HARD CORE LOGO! The punk rock band Hard Core Logo is back -- reunited and hitting the road on a last-gasp tour across the western part of the nation. As magnetic lead singer Joe Dick holds the whole tour toget! her through sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle come bursting hilariously to the surface! Featuring a memorable appearance by punk rock legend Joey Ramone of The Ramones -- settle in and enjoy this offbeat comedy as it really cranks up the laughs!Hard Core Logo is often compared to This Is Spinal Tap--and for marketing purposes, that makes sense: both are pretend documentaries about rock bands (a self-important heavy metal crew in Spinal Tap, a self-destructing punk mob in Hard Core Logo). But though Hard Core Logo can be cuttingly funny, it's not really a comedy; it's a piercing examination of friendship and betrayal, success and self-hatred, and everything that fueled punk rock. Lead singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon) uses false pretenses to convince guitarist Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) to reform Hard Core Logo for a reunion tour across Canada, followed by a film crew (featuring director ! Bruce McDonald, whose other films include Roadkill and ! Highw ay 61, as himself). Tallent agrees, but only because he expects to be joining a much more successful rock group very shortly and sees this as a favor to Dick. As they travel from town to town, their relationship unravels, as does the psyche of bass player John Oxenberger (John Pyper-Ferguson). The performances are astonishingly genuine; even the oafish drummer Pipefitter (Bernie Coulson) becomes three-dimensional. By the end, you'll believe in them so much as people that the band's disintegration is truly wrenching. A remarkable film, both comic and sad. --Bret Fetzer Filmmaker Bruce McDonald's adaptation of Michael Turner's novel Hard Core Logo is about a fictitious Canadian punk band's reunion tour through the great North. Times have changed since the great punk era of the late '70s. Two decades later the music is still high-energy, but the folks playing it are a bit long in the tooth and out to prove otherwise. The music is provided by Hugh Dillon and Sw! amp Baby, who deliver punk fare such as the accusatory "Who the Hell Do You Think You Are?," the obvious "Rock 'n' Roll Is Fat and Ugly," and the drug-infested "China White (Ten Dollar F**k)." A take on the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer" lacks the focus of the original, but the inclusion of the Ramones ("Touring"), Teenage Head ("Bonerack"), and Chris Spedding ("Wild Wild Women") adds a touch of authenticity. --Rob O'Connor

Hard Core Logo, first published in 1992, is an epistolary novel acclaimed for its realistic depiction of the life of a punk rock band. Consisting of monologues, conversations, letters, interviews, photographs, and related paraphernalia, Hard Core Logo tells the story of Joe Dick, an unrepentant, true-blue punk rocker whose scarred ideals are renewed when his band reunites for one last shot at rock 'n' roll glory. Hard Core Logo was made into a feature film in 1996; a sequel went into production in February 2010. Michael Tur! ner's other novels include The Pornographer's Poem (Sof! t Skull Press).

Hard Core Logo is often compared to This Is Spinal Tap--and for marketing purposes, that makes sense: both are pretend documentaries about rock bands (a self-important heavy metal crew in Spinal Tap, a self-destructing punk mob in Hard Core Logo). But though Hard Core Logo can be cuttingly funny, it's not really a comedy; it's a piercing examination of friendship and betrayal, success and self-hatred, and everything that fueled punk rock. Lead singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon) uses false pretenses to convince guitarist Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) to reform Hard Core Logo for a reunion tour across Canada, followed by a film crew (featuring director Bruce McDonald, whose other films include Roadkill and Highway 61, as himself). Tallent agrees, but only because he expects to be joining a much more successful rock group very shortly and sees this as a favor to Dick. As they travel from town to town, their rela! tionship unravels, as does the psyche of bass player John Oxenberger (John Pyper-Ferguson). The performances are astonishingly genuine; even the oafish drummer Pipefitter (Bernie Coulson) becomes three-dimensional. By the end, you'll believe in them so much as people that the band's disintegration is truly wrenching. A remarkable film, both comic and sad. --Bret Fetzer

Hard Core Logo, first published in 1992, is an epistolary novel acclaimed for its realistic depiction of the life of a punk rock band. Consisting of monologues, conversations, letters, interviews, photographs, and related paraphernalia, Hard Core Logo tells the story of Joe Dick, an unrepentant, true-blue punk rocker whose scarred ideals are renewed when his band reunites for one last shot at rock 'n' roll glory. Hard Core Logo was made into a feature film in 1996; a sequel went into production in February 2010. Michael Turner's other novels include The Pornographer's Po! em (Soft Skull Press).

Hard Core Logo, fir st published in 1992, is an epistolary novel acclaimed for its realistic depiction of the life of a punk rock band. Consisting of monologues, conversations, letters, interviews, photographs, and related paraphernalia, Hard Core Logo tells the story of Joe Dick, an unrepentant, true-blue punk rocker whose scarred ideals are renewed when his band reunites for one last shot at rock 'n' roll glory. Hard Core Logo was made into a feature film in 1996; a sequel went into production in February 2010. Michael Turner's other novels include The Pornographer's Poem (Soft Skull Press).

Hard Core Logo is often compared to This Is Spinal Tap--and for marketing purposes, that makes sense: both are pretend documentaries about rock bands (a self-important heavy metal crew in Spinal Tap, a self-destructing punk mob in Hard Core Logo). But though Hard Core Logo can be cuttingly funny, it's not really a comedy; it's a piercing exa! mination of friendship and betrayal, success and self-hatred, and everything that fueled punk rock. Lead singer Joe Dick (Hugh Dillon) uses false pretenses to convince guitarist Billy Tallent (Callum Keith Rennie) to reform Hard Core Logo for a reunion tour across Canada, followed by a film crew (featuring director Bruce McDonald, whose other films include Roadkill and Highway 61, as himself). Tallent agrees, but only because he expects to be joining a much more successful rock group very shortly and sees this as a favor to Dick. As they travel from town to town, their relationship unravels, as does the psyche of bass player John Oxenberger (John Pyper-Ferguson). The performances are astonishingly genuine; even the oafish drummer Pipefitter (Bernie Coulson) becomes three-dimensional. By the end, you'll believe in them so much as people that the band's disintegration is truly wrenching. A remarkable film, both comic and sad. --Bret Fetzer Show off your a! llegiance to HUSTLER NATION with this authentic HUSTLER HARD C! ORE LOGO Belly Ring. 14 Gauge (1.6mm), 7/16" Length (11mm), 316L Surgical Grade Stainless SteelGenuine Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1 64-bit. Intel Core i5-2430M. 2.40GHz with Intel(R) Turbo Boost Technology up to 3.00GHz. 640GB (5400rpm). Blu-ray Disc Player. Internal Intel HD Graphics 3000. 17.3” (1600x900). Intel High Definition Audio Sound System. USB 2.0: 4. HDMI Output: 1.

Built with the features and performance you need every day to stay connected and be entertained, the Sony VAIO EJ2 series laptop (model VPCEJ28FX/B) in black sports an extra-wide, theater inspired 17.3-inch display with a native 720p HD resolution that provides deeper blacks, brighter whites, and true-to-life color. The isolated keyboard includes an integrated number pad. And with a pleasant feeling textured touch pad that is integrated into the palmrest, your hands and fingers will be happy to compute.

See larger image.

 

See larger image.

It's powered by a second-generation Intel Core i5 dual-core processor with updated Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, which increases speed automatically for whatever you're doing.

This EJ2 series laptop includes a read-only Blu-ray Disc drive for viewing movies in crystal-clear HD resolution, and the Blu-ray drive includes an integrated dual-layer DVD±RW drive for creating your own DVDs and CDs. You can connect this VAIO to a compatible HDTV via the HDMI port to display your creations to a larger audience via a single cable.

I! t also includes Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11n), which o! ffers ul tra-fast speeds, wider range, and compatibility with 802.11b/g networks as well. And the integrated camera with face-tracking technology and microphone makes it easy to video chat with family, friends, and co-workers.

This VAIO laptop comes pre-installed with the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium and it includes Microsoft Office Starter 2010 with limited-functionality versions of Word and Excel (learn more below).

Second Generation Intel Core i5 Power

As the most popular family member, the second generation Intel Core i5 processor delivers visibly smart PC performance that values time as much as you do. Intel's Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workl! oad--providing more performance when you need it the most. And Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking. It also comes equipped with Intel Quick Sync Video, which provides accelerated encoding, decoding, and transcoding features (for converting video for portable players or online sharing).

One-Touch Ease

This VAIO notebook comes with three unique hardware buttons--WEB, VAIO and ASSIST--that help get you to where you want to go with a touch of a button. Quickly access the Internet, without full boot up into Windows, by simply pressing the WEB button. Troubleshoot any issues or facilitate simple do-it-yourself PC maintenance procedures by pressing the ASSIST button and launching the included VAIO Care software program. Finally, launch directly into Sony's Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button to create high-qua! lity home movies and enjoy your music in a whole new way.

!

See larger image.

Take It to the Big Screen with HDMI

Whether you're watching an HD movie or enjoying your own video creation, this VAIO laptop allows you to play back HD content on your compatible big screen HDTV with a high level of resolution. The HDMI output delivers both your video and audio via a single HDMI cable (sold separately), providing the optimal digital connection to your HDMI-enabled HDTV so you can enjoy HD entertainment on the big screen without a myriad of extra cables and wires.

Easy Photo and Video Management

Sony's PMB (Picture Motion Browser) VAIO Edition makes managing your photos and home videos as easy as taking them. Instantly sort and search using the magic of Sony’s intelligent a! nalysis technologies--PMB eliminates the clutter and automatically organizes content by person, place and date. And new and intuitive navigation features make it fast and easy to find your favorites.

The PMB VAIO Edition software also helps you produce your own high-quality home movies and slideshows quickly. Sony breaks complex movie production into three simple steps, freeing you from tedious hours spent mastering difficult and expensive video editing software. Just import your photos and videos, choose a theme and soundtrack, and then click finish. PMB VAIO Edition does the rest, generating a professional-looking movie complete with special effects, smooth cinematic transitions and a perfectly timed soundtrack.

---

Key Specifications 17.3-inch LED-backlit display with 1600 x 900 resolution for native HD 720p viewing 2.2 G! Hz Intel Core i5-2430M processor (3 MB L3 cache) ! 640 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM) 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1333 MHz; 8 GB maximum) Intel HD Graphics 3000 for casual and mainstream gaming (supports Microsoft DirectX 10). Blu-ray Disc drive (read-only; also includes integrated multi-format CD/DVD drive) Built-in stereo speakers Up to 5.15 hours of battery life at default brightness with standard battery (4.5 hours at maximum brightness; 3.33 hours of DVD playback) Dimensions and Weight: 16.11 x 10.79 x 1.5 inches (WxDxH); 6.85 pounds

Wireless & Networking Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) for ultra-fast connectivity to home and ! business networks. Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) Connectivity & Expansion 4 total USB 2.0 ports HDMI port for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable. VGA video output (analog, RGB) Memory Stick Duo slot Secure Digital memory card slot (compatible with MMC cards) Microphone and headphone jacks Environmental Specifications Energy Star 5.0 Gold EPEAT for reducing environmental impact. RoHS compliant restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

What's in the Box

Sony VAIO EJ2 laptop (model VPCEJ28FX/B); standard lithium-ion battery ! (4000 mAh); AC adapter; power cord; operating instructions

!

Inc luded Software

Microsoft Office Starter with reduced-functionality versions of Word and Excel; VAIO Care; Media Gallery; PMB VAIO Edition; Norton Internet Security 2012 (30-day trial offer)

Warranty

1-year limited hardware warranty, and 1-year of toll-free telephone technical assistance (onsite/in-home service and international service availability).

---

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

The Best Entertainment Experience On Your PC

Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, and rewind TV or record it to watch whenever and wherever you want. For the best entertainment experience, choose a PC with Windows 7.

Peek behind open windows to get a quick look at your desktop (see larger image).

Windows 7: Your PC Simplified

Simplifies everyday tasks, works the way you want, and makes new things possible.

• Improved desktop navigation features like Snap, Peek, and Shake, make it easier to manage all of your open windows.
• Creating a home network has never been easier. You can even share files and printers with all the PCs with Windows 7 on the network.
• Find virtually anything on your PC--from documents to songs to email--just by typing a word or two with Windows Search.
• Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
• Watch, pause, rewind and record TV with Windows Media Center to watch whenever and where ever you want*.

 

Create, Connect and Share with Windows Live

Windows 7 and Windows Live bring it all together for free. Get the free set of programs that make it simple to create and share amazing photos and movies, organize mail, and stay connected with your closest friends.

• Get 25 GB of free online storage with Windows Live SkyDrive.
• Sync files on your PCs automatically with Windows Live Mesh.
• Share photos during video chats with Windows Live**
• Easily edit photos and combine the best parts of multiple photos into one perfect photo with Photo Fuse.

Windows Live is available for free at download.live.com.

Complete your PC Experience with Microsoft Office 2010

• Microsoft Office Starter 2010 includes reduced! functionality versions of Microsoft Word and Excel with advertising. (Note that PowerPoint or Outlook are not included.)
• Purchase Office 2010 today and get the most out of your new PC.

* Additional hardware may be required. Not available in all countries. (See windows.microsoft.com/products/windows-7/system-requirements/ for more information.)
** Requires a compatible microphone, speakers or headset, webcam, and broadband connection.

0 comments

How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less

• ISBN13: 9780767922715
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Now a New York Times Bestseller!

From sharing a bathroom with 40 people to sharing lecture notes, The Naked Roommate is a behind-the-scenes look at everything students need to know about college. This essential guide is packed with expert advice, plus outrageous stories from students on over 100 campuses.

Through his advice column, college tour, and website, Harlan Cohen has reached thousands of students with his message of being yourself and making the most of the college years.

"One of the best and most practical college advice guides I've read." -Andrew Tinnin, University of Michigan

"The most useful guide on college life."
-The Daily Orange ! (Syracuse University)

(20110510)

The updated edition of the must-have resource for any student applying to college

This thoroughly revised and updated edition of the bestselling book Admission Matters demystifies the college application process and offers practical advice for choosing the right school, writing an effective essay, navigating financial aid, and more. This handy resource will help any college-bound student whether they attend well-funded private schools or cash-strapped public schools. Filled with helpful suggestions, ideas, and advice, the new edition also includes tips for home-schooled students who are preparing to attend college.

• Helps all students who are applying to college understand the process and find the school that fits their needs
• Expanded information on testing, early decision/early action, applying as a home schooler, and tackling the dreaded college essay
• Up-to-date advice on financial aid! in tough economic times â€" how it works and how to maximize ! your cha nces of getting aid
• Authors bring the multiple viewpoints of college admissions officer, high school counselor, and parent of college-bound students

This book gives any college-bound student the information they need to make the application process run smoothly.

Looking to jumpstart your GPA? Most college students believe that straight A’s can be achieved only through cramming and painful all-nighters at the library. But Cal Newport knows that real straight-A students don’t study harderâ€"they study smarter. A breakthrough approach to acing academic assignments, from quizzes and exams to essays and papers, How to Become a Straight-A Student reveals for the first time the proven study secrets of real straight-A students across the country and weaves them into a simple, practical system that anyone can master. You will learn how to:

Streamline and maximize your study time
Conquer procrastination
Absorb the material quickly and ef! fectively
Know which reading assignments are criticalâ€"and which are not
Target the paper topics that wow professors
Provide A+ answers on exams
Write stellar prose without the agony

A strategic blueprint for success that promises more free time, more fun, and top-tier results, How to Become a Straight-A Student is the only study guide written by students for studentsâ€"with the insider knowledge and real-world methods to help you master the college system and rise to the top of the class.

0 comments