http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/review/ en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:29:32 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2418497/posts Sherlock Holmes hails as the most portrayed movie character of all time with 75 actors providing their unique spin to Doyle’s legendary character in over 200 films. Having grown up reading some of the Holmesian “canon”, I always found Basil Rathbone’s, who always portrayed a great antagonist too, portrayal very “true” to the literary characterization of the great detective – as much as I longed for some sardonic wit. I have a friend across the pond who swears Jeremy Brett’s rendition of this classic figure in the 80s and 90s for British television was the most true- to-form. Yet, due... Thoughts From A Texan http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2418497/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:29:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418180/posts The White House is standing by Obama's pick to conduct his watchlist review, White House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan, though he served as interim director of one intel agency under review, and more recently, served as president and CEO of a company on contract with the NCTC to do watchlisting, POLITICO's Carol E. Lee and I report in a story today: President Barack Obama promised a “thorough review” of the governmentÂ’s terrorist watch-list system after a Nigerian man reported to US government officials by his father to have radicalized and gone missing last month was allowed to board a Northwest... Politico.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418180/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:01:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414053/posts I know Jim DeMint has requested a ruling on the Constitutionality of the HealthCare bill but, doesn't the Supreme Court automatically review legislation? And given that the makeup of the court is still in our favor, for the most part, don't we stand a good chance of having the whole thing ruled as un-Constitutional even if we do lose the final vote? Checks and balances, you know? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414053/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:24:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2412911/posts Epic sci-fi crap typically ain't my cup of tea. I get a lot of angry e-mails from people whose bottle of Mountain Dew it is. The notes are usually pretty threatening, as though me not liking something these people love is a matter of utmost importance. As though the fact some as***le with a web site doesn't care for what they do threatens the substance of their passion. My nephew Jimmy is one of these people. He is spurred to action only when someone insults the s**t he likes. Then, his first reaction is to insult whomever doesn't share his... BigEmpire.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2412911/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:57:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409438/posts The last year has been a whirlwind. From the economic fall to America's lost position on the world stage to the attacks upon those “un-American, bigoted, religious hate mongers who are attempting to keep America in the shadows of progressive accomplishment”. Time magazine, as every year, has chosen their Person of the Year. Was it someone that has done good for the country, like members of our Armed Forces or Emergency personnel (Firemen, police, EMS, first responders) that place their lives on the line day in and day out? No Huntington Political Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409438/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:54:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407248/posts “Invictus” means “unconquered.” The poem of that name, by 19th century Scotsman William Ernest Hensley, is said to be Nelson Mandela’s favorite. As the title of Clint Eastwood’s new film, which opened last week in the U.S., the word has a dual significance. Mandela, played to perfection by Morgan Freeman, claims that it helped carry him through his 27 years of incarceration at the hands of the Apartheid. When Mandela writes out the verses and gives them to Springbok team captain Francois Pienaar --- another perfect portrayal, this by Matt Damon--- they become the symbol and inspiration for the South... History News Network http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2407248/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:13:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405353/posts Movie events don’t get bigger than this. James Cameron’s long-awaited follow-up to Titanic, the most successful film to date, is immense in every way: from the ambition and scope of its vision, to the ground-breaking technological wizardry, to the staggering size of its budget. ...................................... It’s a world that takes a little getting used to. Cameron’s vision owes something to Hayao Miyazaki’s meticulous fantasies and something to the 1992 Australian animation FernGully: The Last Rainforest. ................................................... Sully finds himself a pawn, caught between two camps: the empathetic scientists led by Sigourney Weaver and the corporate guns for hire who want... London Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2405353/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:28:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2397105/posts The subtitle "an American Life" describes the book perfectly. As I read the book I kept noticing similarities to people I have known. Sometimes I was reminded of Grandma Smith, from rural Tennessee. Sometimes Sarah sounded like my sister. A couple times I was reminded of Prime Minister Thatcher. I believe most of Sarah's fans see important people in their lives reflected in this wonderful story. Sarah, you magnificent patriot, I read your book! (Apologies to General Patton) www.daveweinbaum.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2397105/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:59:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391904/posts The “Precious Blind Side” By justinwashingtontheblogger Seeing these two movies one day apart was a major juxaposition — a clash of what the world can be in two completely different ways. “Precious” is a deeply dark and depressing world; a huge, young, black, underaged girl who finds herself pregnant for the second time (!) by her own father, living in a two-story, run-down Section 8 (government) housing project with an incredibly abusive “mother” (played beyond belief by actress Mo’nique who had better win an Academy Award for this indelible performance). Precious’ mother is supported by (government) welfare programs; she is... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391904/posts#comment Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:52:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383230/posts If the standard, boring, 1001bhp, open-top Veyron Grand Sport is just too commonplace for your exacting standards, how about a one-off Grand Sport Sang Bleu? Bugatti unveiled this special edition convertible Veyron at Pebble Beach over the weekend. As the Sang Noir special edition Veyron featured a black-on-black livery, so the Sang Bleu – yep, it means ‘blue blood’ in French – is decked out in blue carbon fibre and polished aluminium. Mechanically, the Sang Bleu identical to the standard Veyron Grand Sport – though it’s tough to argue with a thousand-bhp 8.0-litre W16 engine and a 0-60mph time... Top Gear.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383230/posts#comment Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:09:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2379764/posts The Men Who Stare at Goats, the latest George Clooney fiasco, is like getting stung by a wasp on the inside of your eyelid. You are blinded to all reason and the agony lasts for days. Despite Mr. Clooney’s easygoing charm and obvious good looks, his film choices point to an appalling lack of both intelligence and taste. He just doesn’t seem interested in narrative movies that make sense, and even worse, he has an exasperating tendency to turn his projects over to buddies and basketball cronies, whether or not they have any talent. (In George Clooney movies, talent is... New York Observer http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2379764/posts#comment Fri, 6 Nov 2009 06:36:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363689/posts The new Interior Department looks into a move to lock in beneficial royalties and regulations for companies with leases on public lands -- denounced by some as a massive giveaway to the oil industry. Reporting from Washington - The Obama Interior Department is reviewing a decision made by the Bush administration in its final days that attempted to lock in lucrative royalty rates and favorable regulations for oil companies holding leases for oil shale development on public lands. L.A. Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363689/posts#comment Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:26:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2360943/posts Team Sarah is a diverse coalition of Americans dedicated to advancing the values that Sarah Palin represents in the political process. The Team is setting up a process whereby people volunteer to review specific pages of health care bills and provide anaylsis of the implication of the language in those pages in real time. The review team and process is being set up so that any bill presented can be analyzed by Team Sarah reviewers in its entirety in a matter of a couple hours! End Stalinism Now! Step up! The Team Sarah Organization http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2360943/posts#comment Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:28:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358913/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House has been presented intelligence estimating Taliban-led forces battling U.S. troops in Afghanistan have nearly quadrupled since 2006 and are increasingly independent of leaders in Pakistan, officials said on Friday. A U.S. intelligence assessment, showing the number of fighters in the insurgency has reached an estimated 25,000 from 7,000 in 2006, spotlights Taliban gains and the tough choices facing President Barack Obama in trying to reverse the trend. Some of Obama's advisers see a more concerted crackdown by Pakistan on militants on its side of the border as key to turning the tide in Afghanistan,... Reuters on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2358913/posts#comment Fri, 9 Oct 2009 19:46:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318851/posts Twilight - Giving heed to fables… By: Pastor Bill Randles Why “Twilight” is spiritually fatal, and what it shows us about the state of Christian youth. “…and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:4) If someone would have told me 25 years ago, that one day a popular series of “vampire romance” books would be accepted and promoted by evangelical ministries, I wouldn’t have been able to believe it. That’s why I was shocked to read this article by Christian documentarian and researcher, Caryl Matrisciana and Paul Villanueva, http://carylmatrisciana.com/x2/content/view/81/1/... believersingrace.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318851/posts#comment Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:43:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2312575/posts Movie Review: The Hurt Locker by: Brandon Friedman Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 08:45:00 AM EDT And now for something not-so-serious. I don't typically write book or movie reviews, but after this weekend, I really felt compelled to. This movie just stuck in my craw. But take heed: This is a review for military people. So if you've never been in the military or never been to Iraq, just stop reading this. Because if you keep reading, I'll probably ruin what could be a pretty good action flick for you. The Hurt Locker is a high-tension, well-made, action movie that... VetVoice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2312575/posts#comment Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:07:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2307041/posts Writer, Gail D. Welborn's review of The Watchers, by Mark Andrew Olsen. Withing this review, Gail says, "Christy award finalist, Mark Andrew Olsen’s new release is an unusual title that mixes spiritual genealogy and the supernatural to produce a mind-blowing twist. His fresh, innovative-plot and characters are anything but typical." TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2307041/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 14:02:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2291120/posts WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has ordered his national security team to investigate reports that U.S. allies were responsible for the deaths of as many as 2,000 Taliban prisoners of war in Afghanistan. Obama told CNN in an interview that aired Sunday that if the United States violated international norms, he wants to know about it. He also says he will make a decision how to proceed after he has all the facts breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2291120/posts#comment Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:07:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274887/posts WASHINGTON – A federal judge said Thursday that he wants to look at notes from the FBI's interview with former Vice President Dick Cheney during the investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan's decision to review the documents followed arguments by Obama administration lawyers that sounded much like the reasons the Bush administration provided for keeping Cheney's interview from the public. Justice Department lawyers told the judge that future presidents and vice presidents may not cooperate with criminal investigations if they know what they say could become available to their political opponents... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274887/posts#comment Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:56:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2254641/posts Quentin Tarantino has made an eye-catching return to the Cannes Film Festival with Inglourious Basterds, an epic World War II movie set in Nazi-occupied France. Tarantino swaps fact for pulp fiction in Inglourious Basterds, a comic revenge fantasy about Jewish freedom fighters bringing down the Nazis in 1944. Brad Pitt plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine, the leader of a gang of Jewish-American soldiers operating in occupied France whose self-proclaimed mission is "to kill as many Nazis as possible". They succeed in Tarantino's usual grisly-comic fashion, carving swastikas into the foreheads of any German soldier they do not scalp. The plot culminates... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2254641/posts#comment Wed, 20 May 2009 13:48:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239729/posts WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has ordered an internal review to determine how the decision was made to send of one of his official airplanes on a low-flying photo op past the New York City skyline. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that deputy chief of staff Jim Messina will lead the review. Gibbs said the point is to determine "why that decision was made and to ensure that it never happens again." Gibbs said Obama was "furious" when he heard about the incident. Obama has called it a mistake. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2239729/posts#comment Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:45:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2231878/posts NEWPORT, Rhode Island (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department will take a "hard look" at whether it needs a projected $13.2 billion General Dynamics Corp program designed to hurl combat-ready Marines from ship to shore, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday. Widening a drive to reshape the U.S. military for what he sees as its most likely future fights, Gates raised questions about the "expeditionary fighting vehicle," or EFV, an amphibious tank being developed by General Dynamics for the Marine Corps. breitbart http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2231878/posts#comment Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:19:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2230823/posts Patriots predicted a financial meltdown and the ensuing chaos. Now it’s a bestselling manifesto. Survivalist James Wesley, Rawles talks to Sara Nelson from an undisclosed location. Every once in a while, a book you’ve never heard of by a writer you’ve never heard of comes out of the woodwork to become a bestseller. That was the story with the Tim LaHaye Left Behind novels of the 1990s, and with last year’s The Shack, by William P. Young. Both “faith-based,” and both originally either self- or tiny-house published, these books would never be reviewed by the likes of any of the... Daily Beast http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2230823/posts#comment Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:33:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2200142/posts Whew! Tinseltown's go-to graphic-novel guy didn't ruin Watchmen. But he doesn't get it either. The most eagerly anticipated (as well as the most beleaguered) movie of the year (if not the century), Watchmen is neither desecratory disaster nor total triumph. In filming David Hayter and Alex Tse's adaptation of the most ambitious superhero comic book ever written, director Zack Snyder has managed to address the cult while pandering to the masses. Warner Bros., which battled Fox for possession of the property — from which author Alan Moore has, typically, removed his name — is marketing Snyder, who remade George Romero's... Houston Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2200142/posts#comment Thu, 5 Mar 2009 22:01:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2154784/posts Dave Barry Year in Review: Bailing out of 2008BY DAVE BARRY Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson How weird a year was it? Here's how weird: • O.J. actually got convicted of something. • Gasoline hit $4 a gallon -- and those were the good times. • On several occasions, Saturday Night Live was funny. • There were a few days there in October when you could not completely rule out the possibility that the next Treasury Secretary would be Joe the Plumber. • Finally, and most weirdly, for the first time in history, the voters elected a president who -- despite... Miami Herald http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2154784/posts#comment Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:14:26 GMT