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Floor Plans and Pricing
2 Bedrooms
|Interior - Controlled Access
|$899 - $1025
|2 Bathrooms
|950 Sq. Ft.
Two bedrooms and 1 ¾ bath homes come complete with full-size washer/dryer, gas fireplace, spacious closet, a fully equipped kitchen, and private patio/balcony. All buildings are controlled access; amenities include 2 fitness centers, outdoor swimming pool, playground and access to bike/walk paths.
|Exterior - Private Entrance
|$899 - $1065
|2 Bathrooms
|930 Sq. Ft.
Two bedrooms and two full bath homes come complete with private entrance, an eat in fully equipped kitchen with pantry, gas fireplace, full size washer&dryer, and private patio/balconies. Amenities include 2 fitness centers, outdoor swimming pool, playground, and access to bike/walk path.
Property Features
- Property Overview
- Special Features
- Community Features
- Apartment Amenities
- Local Schools
- Pet Policy
Polo Club Apartments in West Des Moines, IA
The Polo Club Apartments has taken great care to combine quality and efficiency into this quiet setting with exceptional amenities you must see. Our spacious two bedroom, two full bath homes come complete with a full size washer/dryer in every unit and your kitchen is equipped with full appliances. The neutral, professionally designed interior gives you the opportunity to make our apartments, your new home. Our courteous and professional on-site management team is available for your convenience. We provide 24-hour responsive on-call maintenance and emergency services. We are also a Certified Iowa Crime-Free Housing Community.
Stay active on the neighboring trail and nearby bike path or visit our 24-hour fitness center. Relax next to the sparkling swimming pool with an extraordinary sun deck or have some fun at the playground and putting green. Garages with opener are available to house your vehicle or for extra storage.
Take advantage of the nearby entertainment, shopping, and restaurants in Jordan Creek or West Glen Town Center. Access to anywhere in the metro is a breeze with I-235 and I-80 just around the corner.
Special Features
- 2 months free rent
- Near West Glen Town Center
- On DART Bus Line
- Waukee School District
- Controlled Access or Private Entry
- Jordan Creek Area
- 2 workout facilities
- Swimming Pool
- Full- size Washer & Dryer
- Gas Fireplace
- ADA Compliant
- Private Patio/Balcony with Storage
Community Features
- Accepts Electronic Payments
- Apartment
- Club House
- Controlled Access
- Corporate Housing
- Disability Access
- Fitness Center
- Freeway Access
- Garages
- Market Rate
- Playground
- Pool
- Public Transportation
- Short Term Lease
- Standard
- Surface Lot
- View
Additional Information
Year Built: 1999
Apartments in Community: 277
Apartment Amenities
- Air Conditioning
- Broadband Internet Access
- Cable or Satellite
- Carpet
- Ceiling Fan
- Dishwasher
- Extra Storage
- Fireplace
- Furnished Available
- Hardwood Floor
- Internet Access
- Microwave
- Patio or Balcony
- Vaulted Ceiling
- Walk In Closets
- Washer Dryer In Unit
- Window Covering
Local Schools
- Prairieview School
- South Middle School
- Waukee Senior High School
- Woodland Hills Elementary School
We believe school data to be accurate, but do not guarantee that. Please be sure to verify where your children will attend school before making your housing decision.
Pet Policy
Maximum of 2 cats per household.
- Cats Allowed
Contact Polo Club Apartments
Polo Club Apartments
Office HoursMon-Fri: 8:30-6:00 Saturday: 9AM-3PM By Appointment Only
Luxury Apts with 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths, complete with washer and dryer and fully equipped kitchens. This community features a 2 fitness center, swimming pool and bike paths.
Polo Club is conveniently located at the corner of 60th and E.P. True Parkway.
As you search for your perfect apartment, please keep in mind that rental rates (including specials and discounts) and availability are very fluid in the apartment industry. Based on many factors, the rental rates (including specials and discounts) and availability can actually change not just daily, but hourly, if not even more quickly. While our advertisers do take steps to keep their information current, the rental rates or availability you may find here now at ForRent.com may not be the same as when you contact the communities.
Quick Links For Your Apartment Search
- Des Moines metro
- West Des Moines area
- West Des Moines
- 50266
- See Also

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I am a full-time ceramic artist, running my own production studio for over a decade. I also write, do yoga, garden, ride my bike everywhere, cook, and travel across the globe for the sole purpose of drinking belgian beer in Belgium. Totally worth it! My favorite activities involve friends, food, great wine, and a large body of water nearby. If I can't have my friends or husband for company, I am fine with a book.
I am a very neat person and a respectful guest. I treat the places I stay like they are my own home.


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Welcome to Fort Lauderdale.gov
- 03/25/2015 Now for the Rest of the OIG Story! Read More »
- 03/20/2015 Mayor Seiler's Statement on Police Terminations Read More »
- 03/20/2015 Police Chief Adderley's Statement on Police Terminations Read More »
- 03/20/2015 City Manager Feldman's Statement on Police Terminations Read More »
- March 31 Tortuga Festival Public Meeting Read More »
- April 07 City Commission Regular Meeting Read More »
- April 21 City Commission Regular Meeting Read More »
- May 05 City Commission Regular Meeting Read More »
A to Z Guide of Services
Looking for something?
Find it quickly with our alphabetical directory.
City Commission
Mayor and Commissioners
MayorJohn P. 'Jack' Seiler
Commissioner District 1Bruce G. Roberts
Commissioner District 2Dean J. Trantalis
Commissioner District 3Robert L. McKinzie
Vice Mayor
District 4
The mission of the Fort Lauderdale City Commission is to represent the public interest; promote quick and courteous response to neighbor concerns; provide leadership and direction for the City's future; and assure Fort Lauderdale's present and future fiscal integrity.
At your service
The City of Fort Lauderdale is committed to providing quality service around the clock. Neighbors can use Lauderserv to submit a customer service request or access useful information. Access the online portal, download the smartphone app, or call us to request a new garbage cart, report a street light outage, inquire about volunteer opportunities, and more! We're proud to introduce the new utility bill pay feature on the smartphone app!
Download our FREE smartphone app from the Apple App Store or Google Play
Dial 954-828-8000 to reach our 24-Hour Customer Service Center
We Build Community
Fast Forward
The City has developed a Vision Plan, the heart of which is our 2035 Vision Statement. Our Vision Statement is an inspirational view of the future and what our community wants to become. We invite you to journey with us to the Fort Lauderdale of 2035, as envisioned by you, our neighbors.
We Build Community
The City of Fort Lauderdale is a close-knit community. You can help us enhance the overall quality of life by sharing your ideas with us. If you have a comment or suggestion about a City service, program, or event, we encourage you to share your input and help us build an even better community.


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Slashdot videos: Now with more Slashdot!
We've improved Slashdot's video section; now you can view our video interviews, product close-ups and site visits with all the usual Slashdot options to comment, share, etc. No more walled garden! It's a work in progress -- we hope you'll check it out (Learn more about the recent updates).
Comment: Re:We're all mind readers (Score 1) 441
Developing Nations Crippled By Broadband Costs 239
from the holy-crip-it's-a-crapple dept.
Comment: Re:Incoming 1st Amendment Challenge (Score 1) 587
I would argue that having your body penetrated against your will is an inherently violent act.
Yes, it is. However, the person you're replying to is talking about consensual intercourse where one of the participants is considered legally incompetent. That kind of rape is not violent. It is, however, still immoral and sleazy.
Don't Copy That Floppy! Gets a Sequel 523
from the not-the-jailhouse-fantasy-I-signed-up-for dept.
Comment: English. (Score 1) 997
'Death Star' Aimed at Earth 400
from the don't-destroy-earth-that's-where-i-keep-my-stuff dept.
Apple QuickTime DRM Disables Video Editing Apps 448
from the what-is-this-uninstall-you-speak-of dept.
+ - Toads Mate across the Species Barrier
+ - Facism, Orwellian, surveilance->
Link to Original Source
+ - OpenDocument Foundation closes down
+ - Facebook under Fire over Breastfeeding Photos-> 4
Link to Original Source
GIMP 2 for Photographers 471
from the crop-better dept.
Sony BMG Says Ripping CDs is Stealing 767
from the well-big-shock-here dept.


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Mariner of the Seas Cruise Review by Tucson54: An Expensive Disappointment
Member Since 2009
174 Posts
Member Rating
Compare Prices on Mariner of the Seas South America Cruises
An Expensive Disappointment
My husband & I were passengers on Mariner from LA around Cape Horn to Santos, Brazil. RCI has changed drastically since we sailed a few years ago. They have cost cutting in place - no hair conditioner or lotion - no shower cap on the first leg. These items did show up on the second leg.
The food was below par - beef too tough to chew - fish either over or under cooked. Very difficult to get any fruit suitable for cold cereal. Windjammer was typical steam table fare - guests were calling it the "trough."
I have never heard of passengers moving from one cabin to another having to pack up & put their luggage out by 11PM. We moved from cabin 9342 to 8670. Usually (ALWAYS)the staff move you - Not this time!!!My luggage was lost & I couldn't get any staff to help me. My husband & I searched the decks & found 1 bag all the way forward on deck 7. I went to Guest Relations to ask for help. The young lady rolled her eyes, sucked her teeth & said "What More do you want me to do? It's not my fault." That was the attitude from Guest Relations for most of the cruise - very condescending & unpleanant. My luggage showed up at 9PM.
The Ice Show was outstanding!! Skaters very talented & enthusiastic! The rest of the entertainment left much to be desired. Like the last stop on the Vauddeville Circuit. The production shows were very low end - the singers seemed bored. There is much more that could be said - surfice it to say this was not our first RCI cruise - it is certainly our last. Less
Published 02/27/11
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Cabin review: Mariner of the Seas
Port and Shore Excursions
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S. America Grand Voyage
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Budget trip to Antartcica. Get...
Met our expectations especiall...
First-time experience at Royal...
Wonderful experience
The "Grandeur" is still grand!
Loved the ship but they need t...
Awesome time!!!
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An amazing-looking rear is in sight with these football-inspired moves. See the video » Which move worked you the hardest? Give us the deets in the comments below.
more slideshows
Healthy Weekday Breakfasts for Busy MorningsDon't sacrifice quality (or add unwanted calories) because you've got
36 New Sneakers To Top Off Your Spring WardrobeSometimes, the accessories make the outfit.
7 Yoga Moves for Strong, Gorgeous ArmsA quick, effective yoga flow that targets your arms, back
KEYWORDS: Butt,Cardio,football,Lower Body,resistance bands,Toning,Workouts


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|Teeny Bopper Club
Click here to visit site
|Short review: Teenybopper Club is the ultimate teenie member's web-site! These 18 yr old beautiful women are posing for the first time on the Internet. You won't find them on other internet-sites, these fresh faced teenages are unique to this internet-site. Featuring hard-core bangin, oral sex, solo stroking and other first time things these babes will try! Some of them are so naive and inexpert, they learn from this session!


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Short final.
Turning onto the runway for departure.
First visit to MAN wearing this superb silver scheme.
Nice Swiss jet :)
Lining up on 23 Right, departing back to Geneva... One of the highlights of the month at MAN, photographic wise !
About to land after a flight from Geneva, in a superb looking scheme.
This superb looking 757, now wearing new colours, taxiing to the hold of 23 right for departure.
This superb looking 757, now wearing new colours, lining up on 23 right for departure.
Holding at Juliet 1 before departing on Rwy 23R
The great looking Privatair B752, ready to speed off down 23R in great light! (1600px)
Final approach to Rwy 23R


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After a lot of blood, sweat and tears, your company is ISO-certified … well hopefully not too much blood. So, what now?
Colin McGlinchey October 11, 2013
3 ways to get the most out of your company's ISO certification
Filed Under: Compliance, In this week's e-newsletter, Legal issues, Operations, Quality, Regulatory Tagged With: certification, ISO, Quality Leave a Comment
Colin McGlinchey May 20, 2013
How to tackle 3 tricky – but common – ISO auditor questions
ISO audits are like sets of fingerprints, no two are exactly the same. Still, that doesn't mean we can't learn a thing or two from those who've been there before.
Filed Under: Compliance, In this week's e-newsletter, Operations, Quality, Regulatory Tagged With: audits, ISO, questions Leave a Comment
Colin McGlinchey May 6, 2013
ISO 9001: 3 ways to make certification run more smoothly
If getting ISO 9001-certified isn't on your radar yet, there's a good chance it will be in the not-too-distant future.
Filed Under: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Quality, Regulatory Tagged With: certification, ISO, standards Leave a Comment
Alex Irwin July 16, 2012
ISO on the go: Group announces app
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently made it a little easier for Quality pros and other standards gurus to access its Focus+ publication.
Filed Under: Communication, In this week's e-newsletter, Quality, Technology Tagged With: android, app, Focus+, ipad, ISO, technology Leave a Comment


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Spartan hockey team to play in Summer Classic
Superior Telegram
Members of the Superior High School boys hockey team will play in the Lakeview Summer Classic Varsity Boys Hockey Tournament this weekend at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth.
The Spartans open against Benilde at 11 a.m. Saturday. They play again at 6 p.m. if they win and 8:15 p.m. if they lose.
Are you a newspaper subscriber but you don't have a Digital Access account yet? https://secure.forumcomm.com/?publisher_ID=40&event=subscriber/lookup.
You will need your subscription account number and phone number. Not sure if you have an account? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can help you.


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1987 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL 3.8 LITRE TURBO V6 2 OWNERS YEAR: 1987 MAKE: BUICK MODEL: GRAND NATIONAL BODY: HARD... More
Take a look at this BEAUTIFUL - RARE - SURVIVOR - 1962 Buick Special Skylark Two Door Hardtop !! We just purchased this BEAUTY... More
1967 Buick Riviera1967 Buick Riviera matching numbers wild cat engine engine runs great. The car is in very good condition runs great. Needs some... More
1967 Buick California GS1967 Buick California GS all original 350 hydro transmission Posi rear end. Everything. Matching numbers one owner. Ripe to restore. A... More
Here's a 1964 Buick Special Convertible (Car will be taken to the Portland Swap Meet the second week of April) Northwest Classic Auto Mall advertises this... More
1976 Buick Le Sabre Custom Sport CoupeIn the seventies all American vehicles became luxurious, so Buick came with his Le Sabre.The paint and chrome... More
1974 Buick Lesabre Convertiblebreath taking fully detailed restored with the original 350 V-8 engine 4 barrel CarbAutomatic TransmissionFactory Spoke Wire Wheel CoversPower Convertible TopWorking... More
For sale here is a very clean and sharp 1962 Buick Skylark convertible. Currently on display at the Murphy Automobile Museum in Oxnard, California,... More
This 4 door V8, with the Super Automatic Transmission is a fabulous example of the 1957 Buick. In 1957 the Super used the new... More
Convertible Luxury... More
GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1968 Buick Riviera Sport Coupe for purchase. The Riviera was designed by GM legend Bill Mitchell... More
FOR SALE Up for sale is a redone 1985 Buick Regal T-Type. Powered by an upgraded 3.8 liter V6 tuned to 12 lbs... More
This 1963 Buick Wildcat packs a ton of style at an attractive price point. Clad in correct Granada Red, the paint is nice driver... More
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SKYLARK CONVERTIBLE. THE BUICK HAS GOOD LOOKING PAINT. THE CHROME AND BRIGHTWORK ON THE CAR ARE EXCELLENT. THE CAR... More
1970 Buick GS Coupe, True GS 350, Now Has 455 Stage I V-8 Big Block, Factory 4 Speed, Factory F&R Spoilers, Factory tach, PS,... More
Good, Solid Condition - Buick GS Convertible Tribute Just repainted in our Restoration Shop. Nice top - clear rear window. ... More
We are pleased to present this Rare and ultra-original 1953 Buick Super Rivera Sedan. This car was harvested from the car friendly climate... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
~CALL US FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CAR! WE DO A 150+ POINT CHECK ON EACH VEHICLE AND ARE HAPPY TO SHARE... More
Up for sale is a 1972 Buick Skylark GS. This beautiful car is the classic muscle car setup with a 455/340HP big block coupled... More
GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this 1971 Buick Gran Sport sports coupe for purchase. With GM's introduction of the Pontiac GTO trim... More
1961 Buick Invicta Sport Sedan, 68,000 miles, totally rust free, all original, beautiful Arctic White paint, excellent original Tri-tone Tan cloth interior, gorgeous chrome,... More
Midnight Teal Metallic ... Black vinyl interior ... Power windows ... Power seat ... 430 CID V-8 ... 74,600 original miles ... "You've always known... More
We all knew someone in our neighborhood with a car like this 1970 Buick Skylark. It was stashed away in the garage, peeking out... More
Passing Lane Motors, LLC, St. Louis's Premier Classic Car Dealer, is pleased to offer this convertible 1986 Buick T-Type for sale! Highlights Include: 3.8L V6 Engine Automatic... More
GR Auto Gallery is pleased to present this ultra rare and exclusive 1968 Buick GS 350 California Coupe! Buick touted the California as ''The... More
Just arrived, this very rare car is in incredible, rust free condition. This car is the nicest 1960's Buicks we have had in seven years... Sold... More
1979 Buick Electra Limited Landau coupe, ultra low 14,200 original miles, one owner car, spectacular. Powered by the optional 403 ci. 6.6 litre V8,... More


text:
13729Re: Hi,
Expand Messages
- Oct 7, 2009--- In firstname.lastname@example.com, "esapress@..." <esapress@...> wrote:
>Hello, Terrie. Thanks for stopping by and offering your encouraging comments. It seems that a lot of us are busy, too.
> Just wanted to add that I enjoy the historical and academic efforts/research of/in this group; truth is history is very important, especially so in religious fields, and/but getting our facts as accurate as is actually possible is, yup, no small task.
> Best wishes,
> Terrie
> http://www.esapress.com/
Getting facts straight is certainly no small task. It's an ongoing process. We appreciate members bringing questions and comments to the board, so we can research together and offer each other feedback.
- << Previous post in topic Next post in topic >>


text: In dealing with Workplace Savings Programs, there can be a lot of confusion with the difference acronyms in the financial industry. One of the common misunderstandings is knowing the difference between LIRAs and RRSPs. What is an RRSP? RRSPs are very common. As a result most people have heard of them, know something about RRSPs


text:
Seek God's Kingdom Part 2 - Ministry Videos
Embed klptv.org 2371 views 2010-10-01T22:54:46 Part 2 - If you love God you will obey His commandments, and His grace gives you the power to do it. Seek First His Kingdom explains the truth behind Christ's words, "If you love me, keep my commandments," by actually living your life focused on the most important thing, serving God and advancing His Kingdom. Everything else takes a minor role in comparison! This message is from Christ's commands in Matthew 6 - Seek First God's Kingdom. Pastor Randy Bell DelRioCommunityChurch.org
More Ministry Videos
- Spectacular Performance Of 'The Old Rugged Cross' Will Give Your Goosebumps Gooseb...Music Videos
- 2 ADORABLE Toddlers Sing He Arose - It Will Melt Your Heart!Cute Videos
- BibleStudyTools.com: What is unique about the Book of Genesis?-Byron YawnEducation Videos
- Easter Version of 'Hallelujah' Will Give You ChillsMusic Videos
- 27-Year-Old's Breathtaking Performance Of 'Hallelujah' Will Give You GoosebumpsMusic Videos
- Teens Win Talent Show With Impressive Drum Line RoutineMusic Videos
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- Talented Group Gives Irish Dance A Modern MakeoverMusic Videos
- 40 Irish Dancers STUN An Entire Mall With Incredible Flash MobMusic Videos
- 'Revelation Song' – Phillips, Craig And Dean And Kari Jobe's Breathtaking Performa...Music Videos
- Danny Gokey Shares Heartbreaking Inspiration Behind 'Tell Your Heart To Beat Again...Inspirational Videos
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After a brief lull, the Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to firing along the Indo-Pak International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a Border Security Force officer said on Wednesday.
A high-level delegation of border guarding Pakistan Rangers is set to arrive here later this month for talks with its Indian counterpart BSF after a long spell of strained ties between the neighbours over a spate of ceasefire violations.
The government on Tuesday said it has regularly taken up with Pakistan at the highest level the issue of ceasefire violation along the International Border and the Line of Control and the need for upholding sanctity of the border and abide by the ceasefire commitment of 2003.
In the second instance of ceasefire violation within 24 hours, Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on a Border Out Post along the International Border in Jammu district on Friday.
Pakistan violated border ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 685 times during the last eight months, resulting in death of 24 people, including eight security forces personnel, government told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
US Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday blamed separatist fighters and Russian forces in condemning the violation of a three-day-old ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, and warned of increased costs to Russia.
Watch: Fast N Facts @4pm on Zee News.
Pakistan resorted to fresh ceasefire violation on Sunday morning at the RS Pura sector of the International Border (IB) here, hours after they had fired two to three mortar shells in Nowapind border outpost area yesterday night.
Ahead of India-Pakistan World Cup cricket match, both the countries on Saturday traded accusations of violating ceasefire along the border area.
Expanding footprint of terror groups in neighbouring Pakistan, and their link with terror activities in India, is a "major security challenge", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday.
Pakistani Rangers indulged in heavy firing and mortar shelling overnight on eight border outposts and some villages along the international border in Jammu district, leaving one person injured.
Pakistan Rangers Thursday resorted to unprovoked firing at a Border Security Force (BSF) outpost along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, an officer said here.
Three people were injured on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Jammu district following heavy shelling by Pakistan Rangers on the international border, police said. The Border Security Force retaliated to the firing.
Pakistan Rangers overnight targeted Border Security Force (BSF) posts on the International Border in Jammu, a source said on Wednesday.
Hours before US President Barack Obama's arrival in India, Pakistani Rangers resorted to small arms firing along the International Border in Jammu district, forcing the BSF to retaliate.
Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing on three BSF posts in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday which followed their overnight firing at another BSF post in Jammu district.
Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing at BSF posts on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, police said.
Apprehending attack by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) on forward posts and patrol parties in the run up to Republic Day, Army has sounded an alert along the boundary with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag on Tuesday said that Pakistan is supporting proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir despite suffering casualties in their own country.
China on Thursday voiced concern over the recent exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops along the International Border and called for restraint.
Day in Pics: 2nd April
Showbiz World - April 2, 2015
Katrina Kaif's wax statue at Madame Tussauds unveiled!


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The telepathic desktop: apps are out, people are inSubmitted by srlinuxx on Friday 21st of November 2008 07:24:18 PM Filed under
siltala.net: This article is a humble opinion piece of a GNOME user who wishes to stop using communication software and just be in touch with people. I want to write mail to, chat with, talk to, and have video conferences with real people without worrying about applications and technology.
Software Selection Tips: StarOffice Vs. OpenOfficeSubmitted by srlinuxx on Friday 21st of November 2008 01:40:03 PM Filed under
bmighty.com/blog: Now that Sun has released StarOffice 9, it's a good time to answer an important question: What, exactly, is the difference between OpenOffice.org and StarOffice?
Speed up your Internet access using Squid's refresh patternsSubmitted by srlinuxx on Thursday 20th of November 2008 06:52:21 PM Filed under
linux.com: Bandwidth limitation is still a problem for a lot of people who connect to the Internet. You can improve your available bandwidth by installing Squid caching proxy server on your network with configuration parameters that will increase your byte hit rate, giving you about 30-60% more bandwidth.
OpenX: the Unknown VariableSubmitted by srlinuxx on Thursday 20th of November 2008 06:49:49 PM Filed under
computerworlduk.com: The open source company OpenX, which is behind the free ad server of the same name, is something of a mysterious beast. Things have not been helped by the fact that it has gone through so many names changes - phpAds, phpAdsNew, MaxMediaManager, Openads – that it's been hard to keep up.
SoftMaker Office 2008 focuses on compatibility with Microsoft OfficeSubmitted by srlinuxx on Thursday 20th of November 2008 06:46:23 PM Filed under
linux.com: The free and open source office suite OpenOffice.org might be a killer app for many, but its inability to properly display documents created in the proprietary Microsoft Office formats hinders its widespread acceptance in multi-OS business environments with many legacy .doc and .xls files. If changing over to an open document format is not an option, try SoftMaker Office.
Noted: Silverlight coming for LinuxSubmitted by srlinuxx on Wednesday 19th of November 2008 10:20:01 PM Filed under
Sun wrestles itself with StarOffice 9Submitted by srlinuxx on Wednesday 19th of November 2008 08:15:30 PM Filed under
linux.com: StarOffice 9 reminds me of the classic Monty Python skit in which Graham Chapman wrestles himself. Although StarOffice is being aggressively presented as an alternative to Microsoft Office, it seems to be equally marketed and bundled to compete against OpenOffice.org.
Ubuntu Tweak: Useful and EasySubmitted by srlinuxx on Wednesday 19th of November 2008 06:22:08 PM Filed under
tuxgeek.me: A new version of Ubuntu Tweak has just been released and continues to make tweaking easier and fun for Ubuntu. Thanks to Ubuntu Tweak you don't have to hack deep into the terminal for making many useful changes to your Ubuntu setup.
OSS ReloadedSubmitted by srlinuxx on Tuesday 18th of November 2008 03:01:38 PM Filed under
yatsite.blogspot: 2008 was without doubt a very exciting year. Open Source keeps stirring the still waters of IT industry. So, let's see which major applications made major releases this year:
Review: Opera Mini 4.2 BetaSubmitted by srlinuxx on Tuesday 18th of November 2008 10:53:15 AM Filed under
reddevil62-techhead.blogspot: USING a mobile phone to access the worldwide web has rarely been a pleasant experience. But then along came Oslo-based Opera with their Mini 4.2 browser - and all that changed.
More in Tux Machines
- Highlights
- Front Page
- Latest Headlines
- Archive
- Recent comments
- All-Time Popular Stories
- Hot Topics
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text:
Louisiana officials speculating about the potential effect of President-elect Barack Obama's expected energy policies on their economy expressed optimism that the new president will be moderate when considering offshore drilling. Natural gas may gain wider use in Obama's presidency, said spokesmen for the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Natural Gas Supply Association.
View Full Article in:Daily Comet (Thibodaux, La.)
Published in Brief:


text:
Perpetua & her Companions
Timothy the Confessor
St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 8:28-39
Brethren, we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called ... |
Luke 10:19-21
The Lord said to his disciples, Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and ... |
Now that we have reached the setting of the sun and behold the evening light, we sing to God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Subscribe to the Daily Readings List to receive daily emails containing Scripture readings and Lives of the Saints
Document Actions
Monthly Calendar of Saints and Feasts
In 2015 Orthodox Pascha (Easter) falls on April 12
Find out what date Orthodox Pascha falls on in:
How the Date of Pascha is Determined
View Daily Scripture Readings by Month
2015 Kanonion:
English | Greek
2014 Kanonion:
English | Greek
Greek New Testament
The authorized 1904 text of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
On a Thankful Heart
by Fr. Andrew Demotses


text:
But it doesn't have to be.
Continue Shopping.
iHerb Customer Reviews
Wonderful products!
Posted by Reviewer1706667 on Nov 28, 2011
Perfect for day and night! Very light!
Alba Botanica, Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Free
Posted by Reviewer2081791 on Feb 16, 2012
Wonderful cream, good smell, moisturizes great!
Best I've tried
Posted by Reviewer3286052 on Mar 13, 2012
Highly recommend this moisturizer
For my husband and he likes it...
Posted by Reviewer2496189 on Mar 27, 2012
My husband needed a new moisturizer and wanted to try a natural one. This was the logical choice as he likes Alba products.
never regret
Posted by Reviewer2670900 on Apr 08, 2012
This is practically the first cream that really suits my problem oily skin and keeps it fresh for relatively long time.


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How early do you plant seeds??
Many seed packs and gardening books say to plant (certain seeds) "as soon as the soil can be worked". I'm zone3a in Northern Ontario. I garden in raised beds and my soil certainly can be worked, but we still have very cool nights and some cool days ( high of 11 C today). Do any of you in these lower zones plant this early? Thanks for any input.
Hi, I'm also in zone 3 in Alberta. I have raised veggie beds and I have planted my parsnips, garlic, onions, peas, swiss chard, and spinach (which is up) all of these are considered cool season crops and can tolerate some frost. But the main thing is that they germinate better when it is cooler. I find it is easier to cover in case of a hard frost when the plants are small (in the early season) rather than when they get bigger. Cheryl
We are also in zone 3 in northern Ontario. My test for planting is when you can pick up a handgul of dirt and it feels warm. This year because of the wierd winter and spring we will be a little later than usual, but here is a general rundown of our planting times. All the ones that bdgardener mentioned plus lettuce can go in now.
Other seeds go in somewhere around the 24th of may. it will take about 2 weeks before they are up Tomato and pepper plants go in after the last frost which is usually the second week of June--right around the new or full moon.
A good investment for you with raised beds would be row covers or garden blankets. These are sheets of a special light material that come in sheets 67 inches by 20 feet and cost about $16 You can cut them to fit your raised beds. It is about 2 degrees warmer under them and the light and water goes right through them. I do find that when wet however they tend to flatten the plants so I put upturned flower pots here and there. They can be rolled back and then put on when frost threatens. I rinse mine off and use them again the next year and they last about 3 summers


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<translate> Search engine friendly (SEF), human-readable or clean URLs are URLs that make sense to both humans and search engines because they explain the path to the particular page they point to. Since version 1.5, Joomla! is capable of creating and parsing URLs in any format, including SEF URLs. This does not depend on URL rewriting executed by the web server, so it works even if Joomla! runs a server other than Apache with the mod_rewrite module. The SEF URLs follow a certain fixed pattern, but the user can define a short descriptive text (alias) for each segment of the URL.
Internally, the local part of a SEF URL (the part after the domain name) is called a route. Creating and processing SEF URLs is therefore referred to as routing, and the relevant code is called a router. </translate>
This article addresses SEF URLs under the popular, open-source Apache webserver. SEF URL implementation is possible under Microsoft's IIS webserver as well, please see SEF URLs on IIS.
In Joomla! 1.6, basic SEF urls are enabled by default.
In prior versions you need to use the Global Configuration to enable them. The instructions below still apply if you want to use Apache's mod_rewrite.
LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so
See also Why does your site get messed up when you turn on SEF (Search Engine Friendly URLs)?
If No Avail please see How to check if mod rewrite is enabled on your server
I believe the following are among the most common possibilities for how URLs look in Joomla 1.5 or 1.6. Someone who knows better please confirm if the below is true:
non-SEF (Joomla 1.5 default):
This is typical of the easiest Non-SEF URLs to understand. See SEF Ugly for disadvantages. These are a result of Joomla generating dynamic webpages and the need ensure their URL's are unique. With Joomla 1.6 you are more likely to see SEF Ugly than this because of the new default Global Configuration settings.
SEF Ugly (Joomla 1.6 default):
These are findable by search engines but ugly to remember and harder for a visitor to paste in an email. Their length may break a pasted URL in an email, causing lost visitors. Most websites link to other pages of the same site. Admin must paste those links into your site, the easiest way to do that with SEF Ugly links is to browse to the target page while editing the other page, much more trouble than with SEF Pretty URLs. Even with the Global settings above, you may get this if your hosting service has not correctly installed the appropriate server change.
SEF Pretty URL:
This is findable by search engines and easy to remember. It is easier for Admin to type into another page of site or for a visitor to type in an email. This requires Joomla 1.5 or 1.6 with the three SEF settings as above, plus the appropriate server change installed. Notice for these Admin is responsible for ensuring alias names are unique for each page of your site. If there are two pages with the same alias, browsing to either is unpredictable.
You want SEF Pretty URLs as early as possible. They will bring visitors because they remember it or a friend sent them an email about it. Converting from non-SEF or SEF Ugly can be a lot of URL retyping in your site. Search engines rate the URL itself worthy as a search result. Changing the URL later will lose historical search value for that page unless you take more technical measures.


text: Murine leukemia virus (ATCC® VR-1551AS-Gt™) Classification: Retroviridae,Gammaretrovirus,Mammalian virus group / Product Format: frozen General Information Culture Method History Documentation Print Email Share Share this product Facebook Twitter Google+ Classification Retroviridae,Gammaretrovirus,Mammalian virus group Agent Murine leukemia virus Strain antiserum against Murine leukemia virus p15 (AKR type) Common Name Murine leukemia virus Biosafety Level 1 Product Format frozen Storage Conditions -20 or below Cryopreservation Storage temperature: -20 or below Name of Depositor National Institutes of Health Special Collection ATCC References Purified AKR leukemia virus p15 polypeptide #75V000536 with a protein concentration of 50 mcg/ml was prepared at BDRC by guanidine HCL agarose chromatography on 12/08/75. A non-tumored goat was injected i.m. with 1 ml AKR leukemia virus p15 polypeptide #75V000536 and Freund's adjuvant. Whole untreated serum (#76S00056) was collected 1/29/76 and had protein concentration of 71.0 mg/ml. AKR leukemia virus was prepared in NIH Swiss 3T3 cells (#75V000249). Reid #75F000633 Basic Documentation Product Sheet Certificate of Analysis SDS


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Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals coach says Andre Ellington is 'a game-time decision' for Philadelphia
TEMPE, Ariz. -- It came as a bit of a shock when Andre Ellington's name appeared on Thursday's injury report for the Arizona Cardinals.
Coach Bruce Arians said the rookie "tweaked" his left knee near the end of practice Thursday and is a "game-time decision" after missing practice Friday.
Arians said Ellington's injury isn't serious, but "we want to be careful with him."
Ellington said he hurt the knee when he turned to make a cut toward the end of Thursday's practice, but noted he feels better Friday than he did the day before.
"I'm good to go," he said.
Granted, that kind of goes against what Arians said, but Ellington is banking on the next couple of days giving him enough time to heal.
"That's a lot of rest, two days," he said. "I'm going to continue to rehab and get to Sunday and kind of get out there and run around a little bit."
A sixth-round pick out of Clemson last April, Ellington has emerged as one of the team's most dynamic playmakers. A running back, he has gained 441 yards on just 73 carries and caught 28 passes for 247 yards. He's scored three total touchdowns.
Should Ellington miss the game, Rashard Mendenhall and Stepfan Taylor would figure to pick up the slack, with Alfonso Smith also being in the mix for some additional work.
"Just one guy out," Arians said of the blow that would be not having Ellington. "There's still a bunch of guys who are capable of taking his place, and we'll make our adjustments that we need to make."
The coach, though, admitted there are about five or six plays that would have to be removed from the game plan if Ellington is unable to go because no one else on the team can do them.
"Other than that, just keep on rolling."
Most Popular
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- Kurt Warner- NFL Network analyst - Tuesday March 31Kurt Warner describes what he saw at Jameis Winston's pro day.
- Daniel Jeremiah- NFL Network analyst - Friday March 27Daniel Jeremiah could see the Cardinals drafting a running back in a round after the first round.
- Kevin Guy, AZ Rattlers head coach - Friday March 27Coach Guy talks about losing players to the NFL and the challenges the Rattlers face this season.
- Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports NFL reporter - Tuesday March 24Charles Robinson believes that Adrian Peterson's relationship with the Vikings will only get worse.
- Sal Paolantonio- ESPN NFL analyst - Tuesday March 24Bruce Arians told Sal Paolantonio that there are "no serious discussions" about trading for Adrian


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Articles on this issue "homosexual"
For more than 30 years, the Courage apostolate has been offering pastoral care to men and women with same-sex attraction, helping them to withstand a culture which increasingly demands …read more
Responding to the needs of a group of people who often feel alienated from the Church, the Courage apostolate ministers to men and women with same-sex attraction by helping them to move …read more
Violating God's laws by legislating in favor of same-sex 'marriage' is a threat to human civilization, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has said. Speaking after a liturgy on Sunday …read more
Spanish prosecutors have opened an investigation into newly chosen Cardinal-desginate Fernando Sebastian Aguilar after a homosexual-rights group accused him of hate speech for calling …read more
A Maltese bishop has said Pope Francis is "saddened" by legislative proposals in Malta to extend equality legislation to homosexual couples and reiterated his view that same-sex marriage is …read more
Responding to the decision by the New Mexico Supreme Court to redefine marriage and the decision of the U.S. District Court in Utah declaring Utah's marriage amendment unconstitutional, …read more
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, and Archbishop William Lori of …read more
The US bishops' leader on promoting and defending marriage says it's "disgraceful" that lawmakers have misused quotes from Pope Francis to support a legal recognition of same-sex "marriage." …read more
Here is the statement from Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu regarding this week's passage of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill in the State Legislature. * * * November 13, 2013 It is very sad that …read more
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, responded today to the bill passed by the Hawaii …read more
Illinois is now set to become the 15th US state to legalize same-sex "marriage," as the state House approved legislation on Tuesday with a vote of 61-54. The governor, Pat Quinn, has promised …read more
Three chairmen of U.S. bishops' committees outlined their opposition to the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 (ENDA) in a letter to the U.S. Senate. That letter sent to …read more
Responding to the Irish Cabinet's decisionNov. 5to hold a referendum on the issue of same-sex "marriage", Bishop Denis Nulty said the debate is "not about equality or about the false …read more
A press briefing was held today at the Holy See Press Office on the upcoming Synod of Bishops, which will focus on the theme: "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of the New …read more
The persecution of Christians is "the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century," according to the latest book by religion reporter John Allen. In "The Global War on Christians: …read more


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I'm from Italy and i'm a bank employee.
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Marco and his merry friends were wonderful guests! They are a very respectful and lively group - I hope the rest of their trip in Cali/Vegas went well! Thanks once again - I will definitely see you in Naples :)


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Man Who Walks 21 Miles to Work Gets Free Car
Forget a mile. You should try to walk 21 miles in this guy's shoes.
2-Year-old Girl Goes Ballistic When Her Baby Sister Is Born
And so begins a sibling rivalry.
This Cute Dog Was Framed for a Crime It Didn't Commit
The evidence was pointing against him, but all is not what it seems.
This Is the Absolute Easiest Way to Peel a Hard-Boiled Egg
A culinary crisis has been resolved.
Barber Gives Misbehaving Kids Terrible 'Benjamin Button' Haircuts
This is a hair-raising punishment.
Coast Guard Saves Helpless Dog That Fell Into Icy Water
The Coast Guard saves the day!
84-Year-Old's First Time Bowling Could Not Possibly Go Any Better
Beginner's luck?
This Gallon of Milk Does Something Truly Magical
Milk may do a body good, but it can also do some amazing things to your eyes.
Dog Has to Make the Most Difficult Choice Ever
Being a dog is all about choices.
Irate Beauty Pageant Loser Grabs, Tosses Winner's Tiara
Beauty pageant contestants are supposed to be known for their grace and composure. Well, maybe they shouldn't be.
Swaying Lampposts Make Winter Driving a Soulful Nightmare
Mother Nature isn't only wreaking havoc in the US this winter.
What Does Punxsutawney Phil's Groundhog Day Prediction Say?
Do we need to keep bundling up or is spring in the air?


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Insurance News
Treasury Committee: FCA has not "fully grasped" failings revealed in Davis report
The Treasury Committee has criticised the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for not addressing the failings identified by Clifford Chance partner Simon Davis in his report into a market leak last year.
Parabis expands insurer relationships with RSA ABS partnership
Insurance giant RSA has launched an alternative business structure (ABS) to take its first steps into the legal market, teaming up with Parabis to obtain a licence.
Keoghs' LLPs: 19 per cent profit decline with 4 per cent drop in turnover to £54.9m
North West insurance firm Keoghs has reported a 19 per cent drop in its net profit for the 2013/14 financial year, coupled with a 4 per cent decline in turnover.
Covington expands Californian presence with Los Angeles office
Covington & Burling is set to open an office in Los Angeles next week (9 March 2015) with a 15-strong lawyer team including two senior lateral hires from Pillsbury and O'Melveny & Myers.
Marketform appoints new general counsel McKay from Aspen Re
Lloyd's of London underwriter Marketform has appointed Alastair McKay as its new general counsel.
DAC Beachcroft Claims Solutions chief Bill Paton exits for RSA
DAC Beachcroft (DACB) Claims Limited chief executive Bill Paton is set to exit the firm at the end of March to join insurer RSA as UK and Western Europe claims director on 1 May.
Shearman, Slaughters and SullCrom advise on Fairfax takeover of Brit
Shearman & Sterling, Slaughter and May and Sullivan & Cromwell (S&C) have played key advisory roles on today's (17 February) £1.22bn takeover bid by Fairfax Financial Holdings for insurance company Brit.
RPC kicks off management consultancy business with Towers Watson hire
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HFW elects Marcus Bowman as managing partner
BLM offers all London staff flexible working contracts
Novae Group appoints RSA lawyer as first group general counsel
DAC Beachcroft departures stack up in Madrid
BLM senior partner Mike Brown re-elected to oversee international expansion strategy
HFW gears up for March managing partner election
Clyde & Co's James Burns: "I've always thought of management as a team sport"
DAC Beachcroft insurance head Pollitt on the firm's push into Latin America
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Debevoise, Skadden and Slaughters take key roles on XL Group's $4.2bn acquisition of Catlin
Kennedys enters co-operation agreement with Chinese firm AnJie
Clyde & Co announces 5 per cent growth in revenue at half-year
Insurance Briefings
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Review of the latest cases and issues affecting the lending industry.
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Serbia: liberalising the insurance market and getting in line with the EU download subscription
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Professional indemnity: Misunderstanding PII
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Special report: Professional indemnity insurance – A survival guide
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There were so many positive reviews of this product I wondered if I got the wrong item. These pillow cases are left smooth texture then 100 percent cotton, don't feel at all like they are 1000 thread count, and the construction is not quality, as each of the two pillowcases has a pleat at the seam near the hem, so they are narrower than most pillowcases I've bought and don't fit a plump pillow easily. They also attract more lint than other sateens that are truly 1000 etc and truly wrinkle resistant. If someone else in the household have not opened them and wash them before I had a chance tolook at them, I would have returned them before they were laundered.
These pillow cases were so large I could fit another pillow inside the case. The quality was good, but like the duvet is not wrinkle free.
The pillowcases are fine and do come out of the dryer without a lot of wrinkles. I still like to iron them, to have them very smooth. What I don't like is that the fabric isn't as silky and smooth as 100% cotton cases. Even though they have 1,000 count fabric, I think the polyester content makes them a bit rough to the touch.
These sheets are wonderful. They are excellent quality. They are thick and heavy but still soft just like antique linens. And best of all they don't pill or wrinkle. I dry them on low and they never need ironing. My only regret is that I didn't buy more
I am in love with these sheets. Very soft, but not to thin and flimsy. I would recommend.
Unfortunately the sheets I purchased these to go with are so huge I can't use them.
Lovely feel. Rich and smooth. Colors are true and easy to wash.
These are great quality. Good buy.
The pillowcases were ok and they were as described and I don't have 50 characters to write on this. This is stupid
Beautiful color and a great fabric. Very smooth. Not a thin fabric, thick and would think they will wear extremely well. I am happy with this product and I highly recommend the pillowcases.
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Crime, courts and legal issues in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin
Driving for justice: Lawmobile hits Milwaukee streets
Volunteers have been helping low-income residents with civil legal problems for years through a free clinic at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, but now, they're going mobile.
No, not with a smartphone app, with a bus.
The Milwaukee Justice Center's mobile clinic is the first in Wisconsin and one of the few in the country, and its making its making its official debut on Saturday in northwest Milwaukee, after a quiet test run last month at a nearby location.
Michael Gonring, a partner at Quarles & Brady long active in pro bono activities, and the indirect catalyst of the lawmobile, said its the kind of thing people would often talk about at conferences about equal access to justice as one of those "Wouldn't it be great if...?" dreams.
"We've had small victories" in bringing legal assistance to low income people he said. "But this is like a 'wow' thing, it's so symbolic."
Two of Gonring's friends and fellow partners at Quarles, Frank Daily and Julianna Ebert, wanted to do something to honor his long commitment to pro bono legal work last year. After discussing various ideas, Gonring said, he mentioned a "justice bus" almost as an afterthought.
But they loved the idea, and over the next year, things moved steadily. "This came together like it was meant to happen," he said.
The benefactors made a gift to Marquette Law School - their and Gonring's alma mater -- and the bus was located, retrofitted with two small offices and a new paint job. The law school and the Milwaukee Bar Association jointly operate the courthouse clinic with Milwaukee County, which also has hours at the House of Peace Community Center and the county's Veteran's Service Office in West Allis.
The volunteer lawyers and law students don't fully take on client's complex cases but do offer first-level advice and make referrals regarding civil cases. The clinic does not address any criminal law issues.
Gonring said that as successful as the clinic has been since its launch in 2009, transportation can be an issue for likely users in more remote parts of the county, and the courthouse can be an intimidating place.
He said he always thought the northwest corner of the city was one of those spots, and that's why the mobile clinic is making its first stop at a community center on N. 91st St., north of Brown Deer Road, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
If the experiment is a success, Gonring expects service to expand to other areas on more weekends. This year, it is only planned for Saturdays at the 91st St. location once a month.
"For those of us who have labored on how to close the justice gap, this is really terrific," Gonring said.
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Skyfall (2012)
007 returns with a thrilling anniversary film (SPOILERS)
When "GoldenEye" was released in theatres in 1995, it was praised as having supposedly rejuvenated the Bond franchise with its bold new style. In fact, the film plays very much as a big homage to the older films and really changes nothing of the tried and tested formula. Fast-forward seven years to 2002 when "Die Another Day" is unleashed upon fans of the series. Intended to be a celebration film that evokes the past films within a goofy science fiction-inspired plot, the film actually ends up being more of an insult to the series. It is within this context that "Skyfall" arrives on the fiftieth anniversary of the film series. "Skyfall" is not so much a celebration film but a tribute film and in that regard is far more successful than either "GoldenEye" or "Die Another Day" in commemorating the character and the series as a whole.
The film begins with a crackling pre-title sequence that features James Bond (Daniel Craig) and fellow agent Eve (Naomi Harris) on a mission in Turkey to retrieve a hard drive containing the names of every undercover British agent around the globe. Unfortunately, the mission goes awry and Bond is accidentally shot by Eve and presumed dead. Months later, MI6 comes under attack and Bond returns to Britain, vulnerable and in less than stellar form. His search for the still missing hard drive and the terrorist behind the attacks brings him on a collision course with a madman from M's (Judi Dench) past.
The film is very much about the past and present, not only of the series itself but of the characters (principally Bond and M) as well. There are references to past Bond films, but they are not overwhelming like in "Die Another Day". More importantly, they don't detract from the narrative, which is set in the modern day word of computers and technological wizardry. Bond is a lone warrior, using supposedly old-fashioned methods to fight terrorism and initially represents everything that the new Chief of the Committee of Intelligence Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes) deems archaic.
There are countless contrasts between traditional and modern and the film attempts to reconcile the past with the present to inform the future of the series. The references to how long Bond has been operating are perhaps too self-conscious (not to mention puzzling considering the series recently went through a reboot; then again, continuity was never a strong point in the series), but go a long way establishing the overall message of the film. Beloved characters such as Q (Ben Wishaw) and Moneypenny finally return and their appearances more than anything demonstrates how new blood is needed in this new modernity. In the end, it works; the last scene especially is an absolute treat to long-term Bond fans, bridging old and new. After 50 years, the series has truly come full circle and is still relevant.
The film is obviously theme and symbolism heavy, but it works just as well as a Bond film. It is also a very British film that portrays the empire in a troubling and intriguing way. The first half is classy while the second half is absolutely brilliant. While it has an unconventional narrative structure compared to most films in the series, the elements are all assembled: there is a casino scene that is sure to go down as one of the best in the series; fight choreography suits Craig's more hard-edged Bond and is well done; the film's cinematography is stunningly beautiful and varied and Roger Deakins manages to make even the most mundane scenes engaging to look at; Adele supplies a surprisingly haunting and beautiful song that perfectly compliments Daniel Kleinman's gorgeous title sequence; Sam Mendes' direction hits all the right notes and the film never really drags; finally, Thomas Newman's score, while not reaching the level of John Barry's contribution to the series, is serviceable and makes great use of the James Bond Theme after it was slightly underused in Craig's previous two entries. The action cues are respectable even though I felt the absence of David Arnold's bombastic scores.
The cast itself is quite good. Fiennes, Harris, Wishaw, and Rory Kinnear as Bill Tanner are a joy to watch all fit quite nicely into the plot. Bardem as the villain is a cross between Christopher Walken's Max Zorin, Sean Bean's traitorous agent 006, and Heath Ledger's Joker. He has little screen time (perhaps too little) but creates a memorable and strangely sympathetic character. Judi Dench has an unusually integral connection to the plot and is once again good, even though she has gotten a bit too much screen time in the role of M. Last but not least, Daniel Craig has finally convinced me that he is James Bond. The film very much depends on how well Craig can portray Bond's emotional inner turmoil and he rises to the occasion with a top five (perhaps even top three) Bond performance. This Bond is dangerous, charming, enigmatic, confident, and yet also so very realistic and fallible. Whether he is toasting his would-be killers or adjusting cuff links after a dangerous stunt, Craig has endeared himself to me as a fantastic 007 after two films in which he grasped the essence of the character without necessarily always conveying it. The character is a symbol of conflicted righteousness and Craig plays the part flawlessly.
While the problems I have with the film are small, they are nevertheless still present. The story is incredibly ambitious for an overall small-scale plot and that causes there to be some minor unexplained plot holes that never completely pan out. Silva's plan also operates on a plot that in hindsight is too coincidental and creates inconsistencies. Finally, the lack of any real location shooting in some scenes (Macau, Shanghai) is slightly disconcerting considering the history of locations in the series. Overall though, Skyfall is a welcome addition to the series that is supremely entertaining and consistently exciting to watch. 8.5/10
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Not as good as "Casino Royale", but an entertaining action film nonetheless (SPOILERS)
Expectations for the 22nd James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace", were exceptionally high following the success of 2006's "Casino Royale". This comes to no surprise, as not only was "Casino Royale" a genuinely brilliant film, but it was a monumental success worldwide. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson pretty much cursed themselves by making CR so good; questions arose almost immediately how they could possibly follow-up such an amazing film. However, the potential to make a better film was still there and the entire crew gave it their all to make Daniel Craig's second outing just as good.
Unfortunately, the fact remains that "Quantum of Solace" simply can't top its predecessor. By choosing director Marc Forster to helm the production, the producers hoped to bring a realistic human element to the film in conjunction with the classic Bond elements such as humour, action, and romance. But Forster is not an action film director and even though he was an interesting and even daring choice, perhaps someone with experience in the field should've been chosen instead.
What really sets the film apart from the rest of the Bond series is that it is the first real sequel (a strong case can be made for "From Russia with Love" being a direct sequel to "Dr. No", however). As such, one would be well advised to have seen "Casino Royale" beforehand, at least to be aware of the general plot line shared between both films. "Quantum of Solace" picks up shortly after Bond's apprehension of Mr. White, one of the chief antagonists in the previous outing. One is immediately treated to a car chase in which the motivation of the villains isn't made too clear, but it is assumed that White's bodyguards are trying to retrieve their boss. From then on, the film moves at a lightning fast pace as Bond zips across the globe trying to uncover who is behind the mysterious organization known as Quantum (a modern day SPECTRE) and to avenge the death of his lover, Vesper Lynd.
The greatest detriment of the film is that it feels the need to rush things along when a little more contemplation would have been appreciated; at 106 minutes, QoS is the shortest film in the franchise. A lot of criticism was leveled against "Casino Royale" for being "too slow" or "too long", but the deliberate pace of the film is one of it's best assets. Its almost as if the producers reacted in response to this criticism and tried to make QoS as fast as possible and lost a little bit of coherence along the way. Granted, Forster does manage to adequately convey a lot of information and events into a short amount of time and if one is ever confused, it's because they weren't paying close enough attention. In reality, "Quantum of Solace" is one of the most plot dense and intelligent films in the series, but this can't hide the fact that Marc Forster's action scenes are almost incomprehensible.
In short, the editing in the film is frequently much too frantic for one to decipher what is going on. The opening car chase, the Siena rooftop chase, and the plane chase in particular suffer from the MTV-inspired editing that plagues most modern day action films and its obvious that this was done to disguise Forster's lack of experience in the genre. If the editing had been a little bit slower and focused, the action sequences in the film could've been amazing; as they are, they simply rank as average. The film is almost non-stop action and some tightening of these sequences in favour of perhaps fifteen more minutes of plot exposition would have benefited the film.
Other the sloppy editing and the rushed feel of the finished film, "Quantum of Solace" does have a lot of things going for it. The lack of any real gadgets so common in the previous films is similar to CR and it's refreshing to see Bond have to rely on his improvisational skills. The dry humour works especially well for Craig's Bond and the actor makes the comedic scenes work while the locations of the film are, for the most part, well chosen and beautifully filmed by Roberto Schaefer. My only real complaint is that the time constraints of the narrative demand that Bond only makes brief stops in Italy, Austria, and Russia.
David Arnold continues to show that he is a good successor to John Barry with a score that adapts to the ever-changing storyline (even if the Bond Theme could've been used more often). I also liked all of the subtle nods to the previous film and seeing familiar faces such as Jeffrey Wright and Giancarlo Giannini return establishes nice continuity between CR and QoS. The entire cast performed very well, even though the character of Fields was completely unnecessary and underdeveloped while the villains of the film (except Mr. White) are forgettable and nonthreatening. The two leads, Daniel Craig as Bond and Olga Kurylenko as Camille are especially brilliant. Craig infuses Bond with both enthusiasm and grit while Kurylenko makes Camille a memorable Bond girl that would be a welcome return in any future film. Both of the actors participate actively in the film's stunts and this adds credibility to the action scenes, even if the romantic angle between these two could've been better developed.
In short, it was clear from the outset that "Quantum of Solace" wouldn't be able to top its predecessor, either commercially or critically, yet the expectations for the film were still unreasonably high. Choosing a more experienced director who could properly edit the action scenes and who could flesh the story out more would've helped tremendously. However, the finished film definitely grows on a person and it helps to watch "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace" together as they each tell one half of a two-part story. 7/10
Casino Royale (1967)
A jaw-dropping disaster (SPOILERS)
Before getting to the actual review of the film, a word of warning: 1967's "Casino Royale" has nothing to do with the superior 2006 adaptation of Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel. In fact, it's not part of Eon Productions "official" series of films because it was made without any input from the producers at the time, Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Salzman. Unfortunately, that's not the only reason that it's largely been forgotten by mainstream audiences; it probably has more to do with the fact that the film (a term I use very loosely because the plot is so episodic) is almost unwatchable.
When asked to name a spy spoof, most people usually think of Mike Myers' "Austin Powers" series or "Die Another Day" (sorry, turns out that's an "official" entry in the Bond franchise). But predating Mr. Myers' and his "unnecessarily slow-moving dipping mechanisms" was this movie, produced by Charles K. Feldman and directed by no less than 5 people (that right there should be an indicator of the movie's quality). Since Feldman had little to no chance against the official series if he was to make a "straight" adaptation of the 1953 book, he decided to produce a film that was the exact opposite: a spoof that parodied the exaggerated ridiculousness of the Bond films. I can appreciate this--I enjoy the "Austin Powers" movies because they're clever and sometimes hysterical. The problem with "Casino Royale" isn't just that it's not in the least coherent, but that it's just not funny.
Surprisingly, the first ten minutes of exposition sets up a good situation. The real Sir James Bond (David Niven) is enjoying his retirement from the Secret Service when agents all over the world start dying. M (or McTarry, who knows?), played by John Huston, calls on Bond to find out what's going on. He refuses, and for some reason, his mansion is blown to smithereens and I believe M dies (since he's absent for the rest of the movie and I read somewhere that he does. I obviously couldn't have gotten this while watching the movie, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention). The remainder of the movie easily explains why marijuana is recommended while viewing, with scenes making little sense and everyone being codenamed 'James Bond' by the end.
Most of the film plays out like an extended, recent episode of "Saturday Night Live". The scenes in the McTarry Mansion are especially dreadful and tiresome, adding nothing to the plot except 15 minutes of unfunny padding, while the Casino Royale, which is where the movie gets it's title from, is shoehorned into the script and only seems like an excuse to have Orson Welles show up and play Le Chiffre in a less than interesting gambling scene. But nothing compares to one of the most bizarre and ludicrous endings I've ever seen. And you've guessed it, it's painfully unfunny and cringe-inducing.
Believe it or not, buried within this mess are three things that save the movie from getting a big fat zero. Half a star goes to the musical score by Burt Bacharach, which is a breezy soundtrack that fits the sporadic nature of what's unfolding on screen. The other half goes to the amazing cast, which includes Niven, Welles, Huston, Peter Sellers, George Raft, Jacqueline Bisset, Deborah Kerr, Woody Allen, a cameo by Peter O'Toole and (according to IMDb) an appearance by the then unknown David Prowse. On top of that, there's apparently 7 actors that could be found in an official Bond movie: Ursula Andress, Angela Scoular, Vladek Sheybal, John Hollis, Burt Kwouk, Caroline Munro, and Milton Reid. So it's too bad that everyone, especially Allen, seems to be doing what ever they want. Finally, the auction scenes are the best in the movie, not that they follow any logical narrative, but because they offered the only chuckles during the entire running time, which is 130 minutes too long. The only other times that I was laughing was at the ineptness of every other production value.
With a small army of writers and directors, it's hardly a surprise that the plot (or plots) is/are uneven, characters switch sides without reason, and every joke/gag falls flat on it's face because of poor timing. The point of a comedy is to make us laugh, which is what something like the "Scary Movie" films succeed in. I bring them up because while they have the same scatter-brained humor of "Casino Royale", at least you can actually follow what's going on! The troubles that plagued the production, including Peter Sellers being fired before he finished shooting and the budget going way out of control, prove how durable the Bond series is, because "Casino Royale" still managed to rake in some money. Just goes to show how such a misfire like this, along with every criminal mastermind, cannot kill our favorite spy. 1/10
Commando (1985)
A classic pure action movie (SPOILERS)
In the world of movies, there are some that are so bad they're good, meaning that no matter how stupid they seem, someone will manage to get some enjoyment out of them. 1985's "Commando", Arnold Schwarzenegger's first top billed film, is the single greatest example of that. The movie is so ridiculously over-the-top that I can't imagine anyone not having a smile on their face during every single scene.
Some films, like "Batman & Robin" should be seen just once to experience how bad they are, but "Commando" never falls into that trap, being as fun the first time as it is the 100th. Why? The combination of dead-on performances, quick direction and pace, great action/fight scenes, hilarious one-liners, and Arnie's presence make the movie so fun that as soon as it ends, you'll want to see it again.
No one coming to see these kind of movies expects a plot, and the filmmakers realize that, making it as simple as possible. Retired Colonel John Matrix (Arnie) just wants a simple life alone with his daughter Jenny (pronounced "Chenny"). Unfortunately, General Arius, an exiled dictator from Val Verde, wants control of the (fictional) country again. Helping him is Bennett, a former soldier of Matrix who "was thrown out of the unit". Together, they unwisely decide to kidnap Chenny and use her as a hostage to get Matrix to kill the new leader of Val Verde. Naturally, Arnie finds a way around this and eventually gets to Arius and Bennett.
While none of this is particularly complex, the way it all plays out is inventive and a blast to watch. Matrix is literally on his own and he has very little time to find Chenny, and this fact shows how tough and resourceful this guy is. Not to mention any bad guy that gets in his way, let it be Hendriques, Sully, Cooke or dozens of useless soldiers are easily disposed of with at least ten witty remarks. Arnie delivers his lines perfectly and his over exaggerated muscles lend to the image of Matrix or just about any character he's ever played.
Vernon Wells brings a manic energy to Bennett, and the fact that this guy is pudgy, out of shape, and wears a chain mail vest throughout the whole film makes it difficult for anyone to take him seriously, but that makes him all the more awesome. Every henchman is clearly defined and gets a memorable send-off, but none more so than David Patrick Kelly as Sully. Rae Dawn Chong is the typical female sidekick, but after an awkward (to say the least!) introduction, she becomes important to the plot, helping Ahnuld in trying to save Jenny, played by Alyssa Milano, who brings a sweet innocence to the role.
The musical score by James Horner is fantastic, giving the impression that our hero is lost in a kind of modern jungle. This is heightened by the fact that the music is heavily based on the rousing, raw-sounding main theme. The script is littered with instantly quotable lines, and to say any of them here would just ruin their effect in the finished film. Not only that, the movie is balanced nicely with light direction that calls for no morals to be addressed, just that we sit back and enjoy the fun of it all.
It must however be noted that "Commando" is definitely for a niche audience. There are some glaring continuity errors/general goofs and I get the feeling that the people involved behind the scenes didn't intend for the movie to be as hilarious as it actually is. Aside from that, it's a breezy 90 minutes that just flies by and requires no thinking on the behalf of the audience. Other action films come and go, but none can quite reach the level of camp and fun that "Commando" inherently possesses. In the end, anyone watching this movie would come out thinking that they spent their time well on an excellent action romp. 10/10
Climax!: Casino Royale (1954)
A respectable first attempt at James Bond (SPOILERS)
While 1962's "Dr. No" was the first time James Bond appeared on movie screens, it was actually this 1954 television adaptation that the character was first seen at all. Since this was on American television, though, Bond's nationality was changed so he became Jimmy Bond, a Yank. Besides this distracting update, the story is very close to Ian Fleming's novel and most of the scenes are lifted directly from their source.
A banker for SMERSH, Le Chiffre (played by Peter Lorre) has lost precious funds and has turned to a game of Baccarat to win it back. Bond is ordered to beat Le Chiffre so that his bosses would eliminate their own agent, causing great embarrassment to the organization. Helping Bond is Brit Clarence Leiter (another change from the novel) and Valerie Mathis, a former lover.
It's fairly obvious that this was a live made-for-TV movie, with some technical screw-ups showing up here and there and the lack of a lot of different sets. That being said, the hour long episode moves quickly, with Baccarat being explained for anyone who doesn't understand at the start. There are also some funny bits, such as when Leiter manages to keep money away from one of Le Chiffre's henchmen.
The small cast works well together, even though the acting gets appropriately too theatrical at times for my taste. Lorre is chilling as Le Chiffre, and fits Fleming's description quite nicely. Michael Pate as Leiter is pretty solid and a believable ally, while Linda Christian is the only weak link in the chain. So what's the verdict on Barry Nelson, the first James Bond? He's definitely no Sean Connery, but handles himself well before the image of the secret agent was created in the film series. His relaxed attitude helps to distract from the fact that Bond isn't British here.
So even though the ending is a bit too tame (Fleming's torture from the book would never have reached TV audiences from 1954), the mini-movie makes up for it with a tense battle at the card table, some good acting, and a great espionage feel throughout. Any Bond fan should at least try to find this and the average movie goer should do the same, just to see how James Bond's first mission played out. 7/10
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993)
A reason to stay up
In the current world of late night talk shows, 2 hosts are always compared: Jay Leno and David Letterman. Does it have to do with quality? No. Is it because they can make you laugh until your sides hurt? No. It's because of an earlier time slot. That's right, an hour makes a huge difference, even for people who aren't awake in the first place. With that in mind, I add a third name to that list: Conan O'Brien. Sure, Jay and Dave have their moments, but nothing comes close to the amount of laughs I get 5 out of 7 days of the week when I watch "Late Night". There's no point in going into great detail, but it's enough to say that Conan can make me smile even after a big fight, or a disappointment, or whatever. From the short (but off the wall) monologues, to the "improvised" conversations with band leader Max Weinberg, to the hilariously unique interviews, the show hits hight marks in all categories. Where else would you get characters like "The Interrupter", "Vomiting Kermit", "Sears Tower dressed in Sears clothing", and, of course, "The Masturbating Bear"? And while everyone from Johnny Carson to Leno have comedy skits, they usually aren't as funny (In my opinion, of course) as "Celebrity Survey", "If They Mated", or "The Walker Texas Ranger Lever". In conclusion, about the only bad things I can say about Conan and the show in general is that there are some things that are too randomly stupid to be funny and Carson Daly comes on right after. 10/10
Casino Royale (2006)
The nay-sayers are wrong, completely wrong (SPOILERS)
If you were a Bond fan in Febuary 2005 and you didn't know that, A) Pierce Brosnan was no longer playing 007 and B) The next film was going to be an adaption of Ian Fleming's 1953 novel "Casino Royale", then you were either living under a rock or would not accept that Brosnan wasn't Bond anymore. Unfortunately, some people optioned #2, and when it came to the casting of Daniel Craig as the sixth actor to play James Bond in the 21st movie in the 44 year old film franchise, they went berserk. These fan boys were and still are obviously insane, making countless postings on internet forums and going so far as to make crude "website" (I use this term very loosely) against poor Craig. The film was "debated" (Again, this couldn't be further from the truth) for over a year and a half, but finally, it opened in theaters on Friday, November 17. Even way before that, a few anonymous critics came forward, saying that they had seen the film and had loved it. But really, from all the coverage, would we expect anything less than a great film?
In the end, Craig and the producers had nothing to worry about. I have no problem saying that "Casino Royale" is the best Bond film since "Licence To Kill" and almost completely makes us forget the bland Brosnan era. What makes this film so good? After the dismal "Die Another Day", Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson decided to go back to the basics, which meant doing a reboot and making the story somewhat plausible this time around. The film starts out with a stylized black and white pre-title sequence, showing Bond kill two targets, earning him a 00-licence to kill. His first mission takes him to Madagascar to spy on a terrorist named Mollaka. After a breath-taking chase, Bond kills the man and runs off with vital evidence that eventually leads him to terrorist banker Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). After thwarting an attack on a huge airliner (In another spectacular action set piece), 007 is forced to go to Montenegro, where Le Chiffre will try to recoup his lost funds in a high stakes poker game, otherwise he will be killed by his own organization.
While there, Bond meets treasury agent Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) and two allies, Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) and René Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini). For anyone who's read the book it's based on, some of this is nothing new, but the last act is not only inspired, but the very end had me cheering. The gambling scenes are very tense, and even though a bit long, add character to Bond and Le Chiffre. The audience has to pay close attention to the plot, as it moves very quickly and it's extremely tight even at 144 minutes. The entire cast looks as if they're having fun, especially Mikkelsen. Le Chiffre is not only a menacing villain, but we come to feel sorry for him.
Other aspects, such as the title song "You Know My Name", production values, and action all score high points. One chase at the beginning is so brilliantly edited and choreographed that it stands up to multiple viewings and excites every time. Then there are the fights, which are well-staged and get fairly bloody. The story itself stays close to the plot and themes of Fleming's book and even improves on some parts. It's nice that many scenes that could've dragged, go by quickly, but gives the audience time to enjoy them. One example is the hiding of the Ugandan bodies in the truck of a bad guy's trunk. Plus the title sequence is refreshingly old-fashioned, being the best since the earlier efforts of the great Maurice Binder.
Then, there's of course the target of all those months of abuse: Daniel Craig. Watching the film, I got the sense that not only did he like what he was doing, but he tried to make the character relevant to our time. The James Bond of "Casino Royale" is raw and violent, but when we need humor, Craig is there, so we know that he has the capability of pulling off one-liners. One scene is made less painful because of the actor, but is still able make people wince. Probably my only complaints of this excellent film are that some things came and went far too fast (Bond's first two kills and the Aston Martin car chase, which are basically spoiled in the trailers) and the gun barrel was, well... completely different from what we're used to. (I have to admit, though, if this was a one time thing, I'd actually like it more). When all is said and done, it's obvious that James Bond is back with CR, and I wouldn't mind seeing something like this in Bond 22. 9.5/10
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Hardly the classic it's been built up as (SPOILERS)
When Sean Connery left the role of James Bond after the release of "You Only Live Twice", most critics agreed that the spy would finally die. Connery was seen as the glue that held the series together and while he was a fantastic Bond, the actual quality of the films was what made them classics. Producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Salzman realized this and started looking for a new man for their next epic film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". After a lengthy auditioning process, they found Australian model George Lazenby, hoping that he would eventually sign a seven year contract. Unfortunately, this was not to be and Lazenby quit before the film was released.
In the ensuing years OHMSS was seen as a massive financial flop when the opposite is true. The film went on to become one of the top-grossing of 1970, but to this day the critical merits of the film are being debated. Some criticize Lazenby's performance and the love story; others go on to say that it's a masterpiece. I have overall come to appreciate it as a good entry into the series, even though it fails in some departments.
My main gripe with the movie is the plot line, which is faithful to Ian Fleming's (overrated) novel. From the beginning, there's already a setback: Bond saves a girl from suicide and then meets her again in a casino. The problem with this is that in the book's time line, it's the other way around. By not following this outline, the fight with the thugs makes no sense (a half-baked explanation is given, but it's barely enough to answer this jump in logic). We're presented with a similar situation when another heavy attacks Bond in a hotel room for seemingly no reason other than to throw in a fight scene. Both cases end up looking like ridiculous coincidences. Incosistencies like this are rampant throughout the first half.
On the subject of the fights, they're probably the most interesting in the series. Unfortunately, "interesting" in this case doesn't equal "comprehensible". Like "Quantum of Solace", the sped up editing in these scenes is bizarre and jarring. It's a shame too, because the choreography is great. Anyway, Bond is soon on the trail of his arch nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (this time played by Telly Savalas of "Kojak" fame) and travels to the gorgeous Swiss mountains to investigate, discovering that the madman is plotting biological warfare this time around.
As I said, the plot is taken directly from the Fleming work and is one of the least remarkable in the whole series. Blofeld's entire plan relies on whether or not a dozen naive girls can follow his exact instructions. While it provides a convenient cover for his alias, wouldn't some SPECTRE agents be able to carry it out? How would they distribute the poison? Would it spread? Why is Bond wearing a kilt? These questions (except maybe the last one) riddle the plot with so many holes that it becomes impossible to take the threat seriously. The film also features a love story with Tracy, played by Diana Rigg. The novel crowbars it into the narrative and we don't get a good idea of their relationship, but director Peter Hunt puts a large focus on it, even going so far as to include a montage with Louis Armstrong's "We Have All The Time In The World" playing over the images. This helps define the Tracy character as a strong-willed woman who's more than a match for 007, even though (and I realize that this is probably a controversial statement) I find Rigg to be uneven at times.
Besides the romantic sub plot, the other most mentioned aspects of OHMSS are the ski chases. Although they're no doubt great, they go on far too long and interrupt the "serious" tone of the movie. These scenes, along with the one where Bond breaks into a lawyer's office to find important information, could've been edited down for a more compact final cut. The latter, especially, while it contains one of John Barry's finest cues, might as well have been replaced completely with a shorter scene, where Bond gets the information he needs from the Heraldry, not that I mind the running length anyway.
The verdict on George Lazenby is unfairly negative. He did a good job considering the pressure on him, his lack of acting experience, and the supposed lack of support from Hunt. The final scene in the movie works partly because of his heartfelt performance and with time, he would have matured into a great Bond. His main failing (being dubbed over by another actor) isn't even his fault; Hunt sometimes went overboard by dubbing in someone's voice when the character's mouths didn't even move. Furthermore, Lazenby's vulnerability works perfectly for the film. Supporting players like Savalas (the best Blofeld), Gabriele Ferzetti as Tracy's mob boss father Draco, and Ilse Steppat as the villainous Irma Bunt all hit the right notes, while John Barry composes one of his best film scores and Maurice Binder creates another mesmerizing title sequence.
The climactic final battle at Blofeld's lair is exciting, but the real climax is when Tracy is brutally gunned down. While James Bond obviously isn't going to settle down, the bleak nature of how her murder comes about is expertly handled by all (except when the James Bond theme plays immediately after), so it's a shame that it's completely ignored in the proceeding camp fest, "Diamonds Are Forever". So while the series' time line is thrown completely out of whack, the sense of realism coming off of the previous entries in the Bond canon is a refreshing return. My opinion towards the film has changed over time and while I still don't see it as a masterpiece, it's not as terrible as I once thought it was and I would definitely now recommend it. 8/10
The Village (2004)
Undoubtedly, Shyamalan's magic touch has worn off (SPOILERS)
*WARNING: This review contains spoilers that reveal the movie's "big" twist*
Was the twist for 1999's "The Sixth Sense" that much of a shocker that people would ignore the other problems with the film? Admittedly, "Unbreakable" and "Signs" were a lot better in comparison, but still weren't anywhere near classics. Then Shyamalan goes and makes "The Village", a movie so pointless and dull it makes me wonder if Ed Wood was really all that bad. At least his films are entertaining.
In my opinion, Shyamalan is an overrated hack whose reputation far exceeds his actual talents as a director. Sure, he clearly loves movies and has a knack of making his films appear more frightening than they really are through marketing, but he fails in creating an actual atmosphere for his individual projects. Even the standard "boo!" moments associated with horror films aren't effective; the set-up is there, but the pacing is off. Viewed a second time, these scenes come off worst because the audience can think about the plot holes. Two such scenes are when the monsters attack the village for the first time and the scene where the protagonist, Ivy (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) has a confrontation with a monster.
Regardless, the movie actually does have a decent premise: the citizens of a mysterious, late nineteenth-century village supposedly have a truce with demonic beings that live in the woods surrounding the town. As long as the townspeople stay away from the woods, the creatures would leave them alone. Unfortunately, some children venture into the forest, thereby breaking the truce and angering the monsters. Soon after the creatures attack the village as punishment, one of the villagers, Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix), is critically injured and Ivy has to go out in search of medicine that can save him. Her quest is impeded with the fact that she is blind and because of her attraction to Lucius.
All this unfolds at a ridiculously slow pace as Shyamalan sets up the characters and their situation. After developing this narrative for an hour and a half, Shyamalan, as expected, comes up with a twist: it's revealed that not only are there no monsters at all, but the villagers are in fact living in a present day park preserve. By this point, it is terribly obvious that Shyamalan is willing to do just about anything to catch the audience off guard, but this laughably absurd resolution is just too much. Why not just tell a straightforward drama about a few seniors fooling their offspring into living an Amish-like existence instead of trying to pawn the film off as a horror movie?
The answer to that question is actually quite simple: Shyamalan has the reputation of being a "thriller movie" director and he has to maintain this illusion; thus the pretext of "The Village" looking like a horror movie for most of the running length and it being marketed as such. Of course, this misguided approach destroys any chance of there being a rewatchability factor: why bother to see the movie again if we know that Noah (of all people), played by Adrien Brody, is the one who dresses up as a monster to keep the townspeople away from the woods? What is really the point of structuring an entire movie on one single plot twist?
Shyamalan also tries to build up tension in certain scenes, but he's no Hitchcock. His previous movies all had at least a couple of good scary moments, but everything here is just so dull it is hard for a viewer to get invested in the characters and their plight. Are we really supposed to care about some paper-thin villagers being chased down by anonymous monsters, especially when we know there are no monsters at all? The director simply cannot create enough suspense for the movie to work even the first time around. Shyamalan's best effort, "Unbreakable", doesn't try to fool the audience into thinking it's a horror movie; it works on it's own and not by playing on the audiences' expectations.
Of course, among the mess of a narrative, there are nonetheless a few bright spots. James Newton Howard delivers a haunting score that adjusts to whatever the movie is pretending to be at that moment. Roger Deakins' cinematography is wonderful and it at least gives us something to look at while we're being bored out of our skulls. Finally, while Shyamalan's reputation seems only to get worse with every proceeding film he makes, he still manages to attract a rather good cast, which includes Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, and Brendan Gleeson. All of these actors manage to rise above the material, but they cannot save the movie.
"The Village" is no doubt one of the most uneven and lifeless films of recent times. It was painfully clear in 2004 that Shyamalan was way past his "best by" date, yet he has gone on to make two more atrocities: 2006's "Lady in the Water" and 2008's "The Happening". These three films, taken together, confirm one thing: that M. Night Shyamalan has no business making movies and should seriously consider pursuing other ventures; anything to spare movie audiences from having to bear another one of his catastrophes. 1/10
Never Say Never Again (1983)
A pointless exercise in retelling the same story (SPOILERS)
Bond fans from 1983 must've had to decide which Bond film they were going to see; there was the Roger Moore "official" Eon Bond outing "Octopussy" and Sean Connery's return to the role that made him famous in "Never Say Never Again". Watching these two films today, and the choice seems obvious: Moore's "Octopussy" is a fun, energetic film with an involving story while Connery's effort is so lifeless and dull that it would take the audience a few cups of coffee and multiple viewings just to get through it once.
"Never Say Never Again" was made because it's Kevin McClory's only claim to fame. He clung to his minimal rights of James Bond for as long and stubbornly as possible, proving to be a major thorn in everyone's side by suing the Bond producers for everything they did with the organization SPECTRE and depriving the fans a proper send-off to arch-villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. The film is a loose remake of the 1965 film "Thunderball" and of the novel by Ian Fleming, so details of the two are mixed into this film along with a lot of original ideas. There lies the problem with the movie: it doesn't have that larger-than-life feel that the Eon films combined with the original novels, and ends up desperately needing a pulse.
It all starts with an average pre-credit sequence of sorts that unfortunately doesn't compare to the ones from the official series. This scenes also features an earsplitting song that ranks as one of the worst in the Bond canon, official or not. The one thing the beginning, and the rest of the film, does well is show a Bond that's older and not as physically strong, providing a vulnerability that's never exploited to its full potential. But then the question would be why would MI6 keep an agent that should've collected his pension by now? (to be fair, it's nice that they updated the character for Connery's older age) Like "Thunderball", "Never Say Never Again" follows an almost identical path with Bond trying to prevent a plot by SPECTRE to blackmail NATO with a threat of two nuclear detonations somewhere in the world. It's basically the same, but the section at the health clinic is shortened so that it barely resembles what happened in "Thunderball". Consequently, more time is focused in the Bahamas and with Lorenzo Semple Jr.'s original ideas than following the book or film.
This can be seen as positive, because enough material is new so that we don't get a sense of déja vu. Some of these additions are good, like Bond having to train/get check-ups at the clinic and the scene in the casino where he makes a guard believe that his cigarette case is a bomb. Others, like the "Domination" challenge and Domino exercising in leg warmers, are cheesy in the way only dated 1980's films can be.
The cast is of the hit-and-miss quality. Sean Connery, returning 12 years after "Diamonds Are Forever", is great as Bond. He actually looks like he's interested and enjoying himself, even though the characterization is almost missing. Klaus Maria Brandauer gives a much more energetic personality to Largo than Adolfo Celi did in the original version and manges to make the character his own, while veteran actor Max Von Sydow gives class to Blofeld.
On the flip side, Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush is too over-the-top to fit in with the rest of the film and Kim Basinger does nothing to stand out as Domino. Then there's the MI6 staff, who's so boring that it's an insult to think that Bernard Lee plays the same character as Edward Fox. And Rowan Atkinson shows up as comic relief that, while pretty funny, again seems out of place.
The film is also hurt by the fact that there are no Bond trademarks (gun barrel, theme music, etc.), the score is instantly forgettable, the direction is uninspired and too quaint, and the action is all pretty dull, especially the motorcycle chase and underwater ending. Finally, the spark needed to keep interest is unsurprisingly missing and the movie feels twice as long as it actually is, even though it's already too long in the first place!
So, in the end, "Never Say Never Again" falls into the decent range. It's not terrible, but it isn't worth your while and no one should actively go out looking for this movie unless they're Bond die hards. "Thunderball" is easily the superior version of the story, but to rank this film along with the 1967 utter failure, "Casino Royale", is grossly unfair. The movie is only recommended for Connery's presence, but don't expect a classic like "From Russia With Love". 5/10 do '67 CR