Advantages: Extrodinary plot; original concept
Disadvantages: I wouldn't agree with all of the chracters actions

...Ouch! As all men reading around the country, cross their legs and wince at the thought! Those of a nervous disposition would be well advised not to read Angela Carter’s The Passion of New Eve. But then again…you should! By now, you must know what a surreal taste in literature I have. Generally, the more surreal, the better. This novel didn’t disappoint me and gave a good balance between fantasy and reality with a number of themes that crop up. British born Evelyn arrives in New York amidst an America that is on the brink of civil war. He sees first hand, a barricade being built around Harlem, rats infesting the city, murders, muggings and the violence from vigil-anti groups like the “angry women”: feminism at its ugliest. He is then enchanted by Leilah, a prostitute, who he misogynistically... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: decent acting, nice style
Disadvantages: a few holes, directors style over substance

...With a meagre $14 million take at the US box office Get Carter was considered a flop and not even a film worthy of screening for critics. Of course it was also a nail in the coffin of Sly Stallones career. With this failure a swift R1 dvd release means that I git the chance to see the film before it comes stright to video on these shores in the next few months. I had read no good reviews of the film and so wasn't expecting much although i had liked the trailers I saw whilst in the states this summer. Let me say it isn't nowhere as bad as you may have read and it isn't Stallones fault. The film follows Jack Carter, a loan shark enforcer who comes back to Seattle after the death of his estranged brother. Left behind are his brothers daughter and wife and some questions about how his brother died. Jack takes it on himself... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Samuel L Jackson, Feel good movie, uplifting
Disadvantages: bits can feel manufactured, clichéd

...The Movie The real life coach (Ken) Carter made the news in 1999 for closing the Gym and banning any basketball activities because several of the students in his team were not doing well in the classroom. The reason he took drastic action was because all the students on the team signed contracts that they would meet a minimum criteria which encompassed all of their education, not just the basketball side of it. Six years later in 2005 Samuel L Jackson steps into Carter's shoes for the movie where he transforms an unfit, uneducated, uncaring bunch of delinquent kids who won 4 basketball games the previous season into winners. Not only winners in terms of them being undefeated within their chosen sport, but also winners in that he instilled pride into what was until recently a mob of unruly kids. Of course the kids initially... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A warm, touching story with adrenalin fuelled scenes that keep you watching !!
Disadvantages: You can kind of guess the storyline but its still just as great!!

...I first decided to watch this film as I knew it had Samuel L Jackson in it. I'm not a big sports fan so didn't particularly think it would interest me. However I soon realised that it wasn't really all about basketball but the underlying problems of todays youth and found the messages it sends to be heart warming and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Ok, so what's it about ? The film is inspired by a true story about a man called Ken Carter (Samuel L jackson). He is offered a job as head coach of a struggling basketball team at his former school in Richmond. His job description is not as easy as it looks. As well as transforming a bunch of unruly teens from slacking players to state champions he also has to encourage them to improve their neglected studies and become head of class. As expected this does not go down well... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: unique - I don'tlike sports films but loved this one
Disadvantages: very easy to follow story line but

...I was not really interested in watching this film as would not normally appeal to me, however, was I bowled over or what. Completely different to any other sports film I have seen and with a great story line. The story is about an ex basketball player who is asked to go back and coach his old school team (yes I can hear you groan, see it, been done before). However he has very strict and you could say, old fashioned, ideas of how to do this. The story starts with the ususal good basketball team, appear to the the jocks with very little accemdemic achievements and not likely to achieve. Also the basketball team are portrayed as being from a poor background and being very street wise. Coach Carter arrives on the scene and lays down his ground rules of ' my way; or the high way. typuically you have the student... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A Colourful, vibrant, rich novel
Disadvantages: the author's lack of moral conduct

...Angela Carter's Wise Children is the life story of show businesses Chance Sisters. Dora Chance, twin sister of Nora, narrates throughout the story. She tells their colourful life tale upon the commencement of the twin's seventy- fifth birthdays. The story is set mainly in England. The twins spend a great deal of their lives based at their childhood home in Brixton, South London. I think Angela Chance has chosen this setting to exaggerate and highlight the twin's illegitimacy. The North and South divide of social London were very clear at the time of the books setting. The "Right side of the tracks is the North and the wrong side, the South. There is to be no overlapping of borders, as the sides are very definitely separated by the river. At the time of the twin's births, there was a huge stigma attached to being illegitimate... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some fun, catchy tracks, he co-wrote some of the tracks
Disadvantages: Some tracks are a bit weak and unmemorable

...*Please note:-* I'm not sure that I can really think of much to say for this album compared to the group albums but I wanted to give it a shot and I may edit this review later, if I think of more to add but for now, here's what I've come up with:- - Introduction/Background Information - Now or Never is Nick Carters debut solo album. This was released in 2002, when many fans of the Backstreet Boys worried about what the future of the group may hold, with Nick going solo and the group postponing working on their next album, so there were those that were opposed to his album simply from the point of view that it might lead to them not releasing any more group material. Now or Never features a pop/rock sound, with some faster and some slower tracks. Nick made music videos to three tracks from this album, which are Help Me, Do I... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Amazing film, great extras
Disadvantages: Poor soundtrack

...Since I heard about this basketball-related film, I've wanted to see it, but never got round to watching it, until now. When I finally saw it, I realised that I had been missing out. "Coach Carter" is a 2005 film starring Samuel L. Jackson, distributed by Paramount, produced by MTV Films. The plot is based on a true story which followed the actions of Coach Ken Carter and his 1999 Richmond (, California) High-School basketball team. Plot The film is based on a true story and it is surprising how many of the scenes are based on actual events which occurred in real-life. You won't believe them until you actaully see th real Ken Carter in the extras, talking about the real events. Just so you know, this contains spoilers. The film is set in Richmond, California in a inner-city public school. As we begin the film, we... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: good storyline, interesting characters
Disadvantages: none

..., Carole is forced to carry a secret throughout her teenage years and in doing so, alienates herself from her family, who cannot understand why she has become so withdrawn. But won't she have to confront her demons at some point? Secrets never stay buried for long … 'If the three of us keep our mouths shut, nobody will be the wiser'. * Verdict * This is an excellent debut novel, which encaptures a soured friendship, with Naomi continually betraying Carole, even years later. The three central characters are very well developed, and Pam Lewis brings in a surrogate family for Carole - her friend Rachel, with her hippy boyfriend and free spirited children, and Will, Carole's boyfriend. These new friends know nothing of her past life, and Carole has played her part well, giving very little away about herself. I really enjoyed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Bright and colourful with a pleasant story.
Disadvantages: Slightly dated fashion

...This is another one of my Big Books that I use at school. Written in 1980, this book has stood the test of time and is still enjoyed by children of today. It is one of a series of books written by Pam Adams about Mrs Honey. - The story - It would come as no great surprise that this book is about Mrs Honey and her hat and what a hat!! It's quite something, full of feathers, cherries, ribbons and proves to be just too tempting to lots of animals! It begins on Monday when Mrs Honey takes her grandson to the park. Unbeknown to Mrs Honey, Peter sneaks round the back of her and takes the feathers from her hat to make his arrows fly faster. While doing this he accidentally leaves his bubblegum on the rim of her hat.................'but Mrs Honey didn't notice.' On Tuesday she visits a friend when some birds swoop down and take... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful