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shinypate1
-2 Masters and post-graduate work
-Financial Planner for primarily governmental employees and teachers. Retired Naval Officer.
-former Film and music critic (UCLA Bruin)
-married 30 years with two grown children. Sing in opera (10 years) and teach as a hobby.
-will answer respectful emails. First, remove nospam from addy.
Reviews
American Sniper (2014)
Complex and layered well crafted and acted story of Chris Kyle
There are a lot of reviews on this film by people politically opposed to the war, who cannot fairly evaluate a film because they find the subject distasteful. They can be discounted. There are those who are war supporters and they likewise can be discounted. Let's dispense with both political sides, and talk as if it is a film. Because as a film, it's one of the year's best. Those like me who have been in the military will say they got the tone completely right. This is not a John Wayne war, this is as it really is, down to the blood and the dirt. When we go on patrol, we feel the anxiety. When a friend is hit, we are shocked. This film does not glorify war, it glorifies humanity. The humanity of a man who is raised to be a sheepdog, to protect the sheep, and who continues that mission to the end. Lighting is mostly natural, with effective use of camera angles and quick cuts in many action sequences. Comparing this with Eastwood's prior work, it's on par with Million Dollar Baby, as a character study. Sound and props are spot on, and the military must have helped considerably with vehicles. Moving as a small story in a large war, and it does help you understand the man who could not completely forget what happened to him there.
I take away points only for the story not being one of full context, as it does not give political speeches, it's only about telling a story. Anyone who gives it less than a 7, with the scoring you see on other titles, either hasn't seen it, or has a political ax to grind. Having seen many titles rated in the 8s, I feel this is between an 8 and a 7.5 in technical ability and story.
Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease (2003)
An excellent workout and oh, yeah, you get a routine!
How would you like to learn how to strip? This series will teach you basics to total routine. If you want a tough aerobic workout, go with Tae-Bo, but if you want to learn a routine that will turn heads, and incidentally develop a body that will hold that stare, this will do.
This series consists of 5 DVDs, each about an hour in runtime. The first in the series (and the subject of this review) introduces you to basic dance moves and will help you build a couple dance routines. Carmen will break the moves into smaller parts, a help with those unfamiliar with dance, so that it's possible to use this at a learner's level. Additionally, there is little to no actual stripping; you have to read between the lines. It's accessible to men and women both, and I believe it would be used mostly by women and watched mostly by men.
Do you need to learn stripping to help your partner? These days, I guess you gotta have a gimmick! (nod in Gypsy Rose Lee's direction) If you are in good shape... you won't get much of an aerobic workout, because there isn't much jumping. It's mostly on the floor, with some good basic stripping movements and a little hip-hop too. Pretty good music, though, and variety too.
I don't have any complaints about the value, it's good quality and worth what they charge for it (all 5 for under $40). The video picture is top-notch, there are a good assortment of extras, lots of routines, favorite moves, etc. You won't get tired of it soon. Unless you're just watching it.