Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Bette Midler - bette midler, comedy
Released earlier this year, Baby Mama covers the same emotional territory but in much broader slapstick terms, while this 2008 serio-comedy is driven far more by character than situation. In this case, the protagonist is 39-year-old April Epner, a New York kindergarten teacher who was raised in a close-knit Jewish family and desperately wants the biological connection of a birth child before her alarm clock goes off. She marries fellow teacher Ben, an inarticulate schlub with a terminal case of the Peter Pan Syndrome. After a brief time, he wants out of the marriage, and at almost the same time, April's adoptive mother Trudy dies. Not even a month goes by before April's biological mother suddenly shows up in the form of the brazenly overbearing but genuinely likeable Bernice Graves, a cable talk-show hostess who is something of a local media celebrity. If life was not complicated enough, April also finds herself drawn to Frank, the single father of one of her pupils. Unlike Ben, he feels the same about April but is fighting his own bitterness about his own recent divorce.
Not only does Helen Hunt star as April, but she also co-wrote the screenplay with Alice Arlen and Victor Levin and makes her big-screen directorial debut. Granted she's more impressive as an actress than a filmmaker, but as a director and writer, she makes the most of a storyline that stacks the deck a bit like a Lifetime TV-movie. There are enough realistic surprises that take the plot off the rails in a good way. Looking gaunt and avoiding much make-up, Hunt is really playing a variation of the beaten-down waitress she played in As Good As It Gets, as she carries that same constantly pained expression of disappointment and looks about to explode during moments of emotional duress. However, a decade later, Hunt inhabits the character more naturalistically this time and with a deeper sense of vulnerability and haggard exhaustion. Perhaps to minimize any unnecessary dramatic risk, Hunt cast the other principal roles with actors playing familiar parts. Matthew Broderick effectively portrays Ben as the perpetually dazed man-child he is, while perennial love interest Colin Firth gives texture to the seemingly ideal suitor Frank, especially as he edges toward the breaking point in tolerating the sum of April's foibles.
In one of her increasingly rare screen appearances, Bette Midler gives a scene-stealing performance as Bernice. She lights up the movie with the character's unfettered sense of abandonment while gradually exposing the secrets that threaten to undermine her newly found relationship with her daughter. Other parts are played with minimum fuss - Ben Shenkman as April's physician brother Freddy feeling put-upon for having a biological tie to their mother, and Salman Rushdie (yes, the controversial author of The Satanic Verses which brought him a death sentence from the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989) as April's doctor. Hunt provides the principal actors, especially herself, plenty of good, meaty scenes with opportunities for bravura moments, and they do deliver. It just doesn't quite come together as a whole by the end, and that may be that Hunt is so used to the sitcom format of the long-running series, Mad About You. The incomplete result is that some laughs feel a bit contrived, some scene transitions seem jarring, and some expected character revelations are given short shrift. Nonetheless, the dramatic developments toward the end carry the emotional impact necessary to make the movie truly affecting, and Hunt should be given full credit for a most auspicious debut as a filmmaker. Then She Found Me
In a featurette on the DVD release version of THEN SHE FOUND ME writer (with Alice Arlen and Victor Levin) /producer/director Helen Hunt shares a ten year journey to have a film made of a novel by Elinor Lipman. Her cast shares in the very sentimental story of Hunt's devotion and seemingly endless charisma and abilities. The explanation for making this budget film are in many ways more successful than the film, a work the cast seems determined to classify as a comedy but a work that is far more a human drama.
April Epner (Helen Hunt) is married to fellow schoolteacher Ben Green (Matthew Broderick) and longs to have a baby before her advancing age prevents her dream. April was adopted as an infant by a Jewish couple who subsequently gave birth to April's brother Freddy (Ben Shenkman): April has always longed to have been Freddy's biological equal, wondering what it would feel like NOT to be adopted. April's busy life implodes: Ben has decided he doesn't like his life and leaves April, April's mother dies, April meets Frank (Colin Firth) a recently divorced writer and father of two children, and April is contacted by a man who can put April in touch with her birth mother - popular TV talk show hostess Bernice Graves (Bette Midler). And if these turns of events weren't traumatic enough, April discovers that she has become pregnant by Ben and Ben is unsure whether he can handle the restructuring of his life to accommodate April. Cautiously April and Frank begin a rather tenuous courtship which is almost immediately threatened by April's discovery of her pregnant state. April and Bernice meet, exchange backgrounds, and make pacts to test their biologic relationship. How each of these characters makes promises that eventually damage each other and then resolve in unexpected ways becomes a study of the meaning of love and compassion among fragile human beings.
While not a satisfying story on every level and a film too cluttered with inconvenient editing choices, the cast is strong and obviously committed, and the story (neither a comedy or a drama but a mixture of the two) tests credibility. But there are some fine moments and the lessons in human behavior are worth examining. Not a great movie but a strong little small budget film. Grady Harp, September 08 - Comedy - Drama - Bette Midler - Movie'
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Fleece - hoodie, fleece
Its really good, I think this may be an older model though as the inner linings are puffy and a bit different from the newer models so its subsequently not as soft or comfortable as the ones you`ve seen in stores. Its fine though, definitely worth the money and i`m pretty sure its real because it has the American apparel tag on the neck. American Apparel F497 Flex Fleece Zip Hoody - Cranberry F497 S
i ordered the cranberry in xs and im so glad i did! im 5'6 120 pounds and it fits perfect. small would have been way too big. the sleeves fit fine, a little more baggy than the rest of the hoodie but its actually better that way. i received it WAY quicker than i thought i would! it said the delivery date was january 24th and today is the 15th and it shipped on the 13th by ground shipping. and it is indeed from american apparel, there is a tag on the inside near your hip that says american apparel on it. i will definitely order from here again. quick shipping and so much cheaper than ordering it from AA directly.
EDIT** - i ordered the mermaid green hoodie in xs a few days after receiving the cranberry one, and it fits WAY different! the cranberry one was fitting like a normal girls small sweat shirt would. and the green one was a lot tighter around the shoulders and the torso area, and the sleeves fit tighter than the cranberry one. and also the AA tags are in a different place.. on the regular neck/shoulder area as opposed to the hip area like the other one. but regardless, the shipping was quick and you cant beat the price! PLEASE RESTOCK THE OTHER COLORS IN XS!
I have one of these hoodies (gray colored). It's very comfortable and looks pretty nice as well. It has a bit lighter weight than many sweatshirts, which makes it ideal for having around to wear indoors when the building temperature is just a little bit colder than you would like. One thing to note is that it has more of a slim fit than most sweatshirts. I have a fairly average to skinny build (5'11" tall and 165 pounds), and the large size fits me pretty well. The length is about perfect. If I were any bigger around, however, it would probably feel a bit too tight on me.
I got this hoodie in forest green. I'm 5'6'', 135 lbs and I ordered a small. It fits really well. I could have gotten the x-small but I like it not skin tight. I am very very pleased with the service from the seller and the condition of this hoodie. It's comfortable and adorable!!! - Hoodie - Fleece - Womens'
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10x Optical Zoom - wide angle lens, digital camera
Having owned many pro-level cameras in the past, it was difficult for me to find a solid and versatile point-and-shoot. This camera has everything I was looking for and just a bit more.
Pros:
I am impressed with the amount of control the H55 gives me.
Panoramic imaging built in (its nice to see the results right away rather than just eyeballing it) .
Image quality - wow @ 14MP, the images are gorgeous.
Color accuracy is great with good lighting.
The camera handles quite nicely and is very easy to navigate.
The wide angle lens is fantastic at this price. As a pro I would have spent a couple hundred on the lens alone.
Excellent range on zoom. I was quite happily surprised.
Battery life seems much more adequate than the W330 I previously purchased and returned.
Cons:
The flash is far from balanced and seems too hot to be used for fill. I'm new on this camera and I'm used to pro-level equipment, so I'm sure I'm expecting too much here. That, or I just don't yet have the hang of it.
Color accuracy breaks down at lower light levels. Since I didn't have a real meter with me, I couldn't tell at which precise number breakdown begins to occur. I would guess around 4 lux is about as good as it gets. Beyond around that, it gets pretty noisy. I'll experiment with some night shooting when I have it on a tripod. But I won't get my hopes up.
Doesn't seem to allow you to manually close the lens. Not a dealbreaker, but it would seem a fairly simple feature to offer. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 14.1MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle Optical Zoom with SteadyShot Image Stabilization and 3.0 inch LCD (Black)
This camera has an excellent Optical 10X zoom, images can be seen clearly and with rich colours. Also using the 20X digital zoom photos have many details, you can apreciate like lines in a wall or symbols in a stone. 720p video looks great when played in my laptop and it does not have blur or moving lines like in other camera's brands, thanks for the mp4 format, very, very portable. Nice panoramic photos, I use them as wallpapers. Only one thing I couldn't do with this camera was shooting the moon or filming it, may be I have to
read the manual with more calm. SD Cards supported, nice move!
Good: outdoor lighting, fantastic - nice color saturation, quick response, sharp images, panoramic motion interesting
Bad: slow, slow, slow in low light or indoor conditions
There was a noticeable lag especially in lower lighting when the flash went off. I have never returned a camera, and this one went back. I was disappointed in the indoor condition performance as compared to previous W-series Sony Cybershots and Canon PowerShots especially. I returned the H55 for a Canon S90. It's too bad because the outdoor lighting photos came out beautifully.
I have been looking for a replacement to my previous Sony 5.1 MP camera for which i paid the same amount that I paid for this camera. It's amazing to see a sea change in the quality of the pictures especially under relatively lower light conditions and outdoors. The zoom is outstanding. I can agree with the previous reviewer that the picture blurs, but I have a different take. If the object moves or if the hand shakes a little. In my view this is OK becasue multi-burst function has been disabled by default. But, I have taken moving pictures and it comes out fine most of the time.
A word of caustion that do not purchase this camera primarily becasue it has HD recording. The picture quality of HD recording indoor under medium to low light is noisy. And even in outdoor, the movie function can't replace what a full blown HD camcorder can do.
I recommed this camera to anyone who is looking for shooting great quality indoor/outdoor pictures. The smaller pocket size of the camera is really a big plus compared to it's predecessor, H-20 model.
I haven't utilized all it's features. I will right more when get to know more about this camera. One last thing that the black plastic housing looks cheap. I wish Sony had added some metal and hardness to the body of the camera. Overall, I give it 5 stars becasue the camera excels in its bottom line functionality which is to take excellent shots.
Well, I have some bad news. After a week of use, I noticed that the camera is washing away the colors if the person is wearing lighter colored clothings like light blue, light green, light yellow, or cream colors. It happens when taking pictures indoor. The lighers-colors in iMode settings don't come exactly the same. They appear whashed away. I am having a second thoughts about this camera. Not to mention that the outdoor pictures are perfect and even the indoor pictures are great if the person is in dark colored clothes.
This has been covered to death, so a few brief comments on my personal experience. I bought this to use as a point-&-shoot, and did not expect to get more than I paid for, but was pleasantly surprised.
1 - extremely easy to set up and use. Charge the battery, install a media card, and turn it on.
2 - Battery / memory card door is pretty cheesy.
3 - takes good pictures. pics have good color and brightness, need little to no post-processing.
4 - low light pictures are -really- good (for low-light pictures), waay better than I expected. Bravo twilight mode.
5 - panorama mode works well and is priceless if you do much shooting in tight quarters, or of large groups - however, no zoom. Wide-angle only, which maximizes cylindrical distortion. I still love it.
6 - I do mostly stills and had little interest in movie mode. Very much appreciated saving $100+ from the HX5V.
7 - Works as advertised. If this is what you want, buy with confidence.
. - Sony Cybershot - Cybershot - Digital Camera - Wide Angle Lens'
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Ecco Bella
Almost anyone who wears concealer and has sampled a few knows there is a very wide range of types and quality in this type of makeup.
This is especially true when trying to find natural products.
This is the first concealer I have found in any of the natural makeup product lines that really works well with my combination skin.
It doesn't clog the pores of my oily T-zone area, and it blends smoothly without tugging or collecting in fine lines in the dry sections of my skin.
My skin is quite fair and the beige blends in well with my coloring and looks natural.
My mother has very dry skin a medium complexion and uses medium beige for her skin which also blends very well and doesn't irritate her sensitive skin the way most concealers seem to, so we are both happy to have found the Flowercolor Cover Up. Ecco Bella Medium Beige Flowercolor Cover Up
I have been using this for several years. I like the fact that it does not have a lot of chemicals or fragrances in it and that the color works well on my skin. Also, while some concealers are opaque, so you look like a raccoon in photographs, this looks natural.
Given the price, it is a great product.
Absolutely THE best concealer out there! Using this concealer anywhere, under the eyes, around the nose, on blemishes on the face is stunning in its results to cover up naturally.
Using Ecco Bella concealer is like an instant face lift. It literally takes years off of your look. Try it!
I have to go to my local health foods store in order to order this and it's totally worth it.
This concealer works great ! I love it! It is not heavy or greasy and it covers well, it is a bit pricy but worth the money because you are getting an all natural product without any harmful chemicals like most concealers that can actually contain harmful and even toxic chemicals that can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. This concealer doesn't cause any skin irritation and very very natural looking ! :)
LOVE this product. Goes on smoothly, blends easily, great base under powder-type foundation. I have very red, sensitive skin, this product does not irritate. Unless you are extremely fair-skinned, be sure to get MEDIUM beige.'
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120hz Refresh Rate - led tv, 120hz
I purchased this Samsung after returning a 2010 46" Sony EX500. Sony was always a standard in quality for me, but something has really gone amis in the past few years. The television just lacked the deep black levels and crisp whites that make an impressive picture. That aside, this model Samsung was a downgrade in screen size, but a big increase in quality.
The picture is amazing. Although there are some issues with extremely fast movement, creating "artifacts", the picture quality is superb. The LED back-lighting is new in my household, so we weren't sure what to expect. The blacks are inky, and the brights could sear eyeballs if you turn the brightness to maximum. Compared to the Sony, changing channels is super quick and the remote control feels lighter and has a more intuitive layout. What's interesting to me is that the picture this Samsung produces is much smoother than what I've witnessed on any other TV. Whatever the difference their video-processing provides, I like it. This may sounds strange, but if you stare at this Samsung, versus almost any other maker, you'll be able to recall more of what you saw in the picture. Maybe the picture is easier on your eyes, but in the end it "just works".
Don't expect everything to be perfect though. In extremely fast scenes, the "artifact" issues are noticeable. There is also a screen uniformity issue on my unit where the bottom right and left tend to bloom with light when the screen should be deep black and the LED back-light is on. (Dear Samsung: if you can fix my unit, I'll up my score from FOUR stars to FIVE).
Overall, I would recommend this television for consumers looking for a 3-5 year television investment. 3-D televisions are going to be the next big thing, but if you don't want to spend a fortune paying off 3-D TV makers development costs, this is the TV for you. Samsung UN40C6300 40-Inch 1080p LED TV - Graphite
First, let me start by saying I was lured in by Samsung's reputation from years past. They really did make some fantastic televisions and I was caught up by the hype.
The number one most grating flaw of this television is caused by what has been termed the "panel lottery". Basically Samsung no longer produces all of the panels it uses in this model, instead outsources to different manufacturers.
I ended up with a CN02 panel which is by a chineese manufacturer and is considered the bottom of the barrel and can agree. What caused me to learn of this lottery was internet research as to why my TV looked so awful compared to the ones in the stores.
What really destroyed this TV for me was horrible, (AND I MEAN HORRIBLE) backlight bleeding/flashlighting. Uniformity on the CN02 panel is the worst I have ever seen on any LCD including computer monitors. I had a distinct X pattern from all 4 corners including circles ranging in diameter from a baseball to a marble scattered all throughout the image.
Rather then play the lottery again since you cannot specify which panel you want inside the television, I set up an exchange through amazon which was fantastic and purchased an LG model instead which cost the same, is slightly bigger, and has many more features. Best off, the LG models seem to use one uniform IPS panel instead of these god awful CN panels samsung is trying to get away with.
I'm not saying this set will be horrible for everyone. Maybe I just got horribly unlucky with a bad panel, but based on the numerous online discussions regarding samsung's quality control issues and panel lottery, i'd rather not take the chance on another.
Goodbye Samsung.
Purchased this via Amazon.com and have now had for about a month. This is a great High Definition TV(my 3rd) especially where space is a limitation. The picture quality is excellent - very clear and the image nearly jumps off the screen. It is ultra sharp with little to no processing artifacts. I also have a Sony BRAVIA LCD 40" which is 2-3 years old but the picture is no where near as clear and free of artifacts as the Samsung 40" LED-LCD and the Samsung generates less hear - i.e. uses less power. Highly recommended in this screen size class.
after some research, I bought this samsung (non-3d, non-240hz) due to the ratings and seeing it at several retail outlets. the ratings had the biggest drawback being the price ( originally $1950 ? ), so as the price tumbled it seemed a good deal. I bought it for $1259+ nj tax from best buy; bought it online and picked it up( no shipping). what jumps out at you first is the plate glass front and the thinness--very stylish tho that's secondary to performance for me.
it was jarringly clear from the getgo, making ordinary shows like "The Tudors" look like they were filmed on videotape and not film or digital.
it was actually a little distracting and I had to turn down the clarity. the most amazing attribute is that on some shows it betrays the set lighting effects. you can detect the the keylight on actors faces.
my one gripe is that samsung has not as yet given purchasers any direction in customizing the settings and they NEED customization. it is left on the consumer to figure it out with no guidance about "jutter" or why the info box says 60hz when the specs say it should be 120hz.
the calibration websites have nothing on these models yet either and the danger is that they will skip over these models and focus on the new 3D sets coming out.
so after all that griping, I still wouldn't send it back despite it not being perfect, its 'imperfection" still leaves an amazing picture, can't wait to see how the NFL games look.
This TV blew me away when I first set it up (no tweaking). I turned on some random nature show (high def of course) and it nearly looked 3D. The color, clarity, and contrast were outstanding. And with my PS3/blue ray player movies have that theater like quality. Watching Avatar was actually better than the theater!! The only issue is the sound. However, if you are getting a TV like this you should be hooking it to surround sound!
Oh yea, even the low def channels look good. - Samsung - Led Tv - 40 Inch - 120hz'
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Adjustable - adjustable, ankle weights
In the Spring of 2006, I purchased the 10 lb adjustable Ankle weight set, which is the same as the 5 lb set, save for additional weights. Two weeks ago, one of the acrylic cinchs that the velcro strap slides through broke. I called GOFit's customer service line, and explained what had occurred. The pleasant and helpful rep took all of my information, and said they would send me another set of ankle weights. I was stunned. I assured the rep that wasn't necessary, and all I desired was one replacement. No weights, etc. She said that was fine.
Today I received an entire replacement set for both ankle's, and additional weights! GoFit went far and above my expectations, and I am pleased to leave them this revue of their fine product! GoFit GF-5W Adjustable Ankle Weights (5 lb)
I've worn many an ankle weight in my time and I have to say this is a quality product. The construction is durable and well made. The weights weigh what they are supposed to. The zipper is easy to manuever and the weight sacks are easy to remove and put back in again. The best ankle weights are the kind with a hook and slide through velcro strap. The strap is long and the velcro stays put. They seem like they'll last a long time and won't easily fall apart on you. The price is low and is a great deal for what you get.
A couple of cons however include one mind-boggling conundrum. I am a woman. My ankles, with socks, measure 9 inches around. My lower calf is 11 inches. The go-fit weights, not including strap are 12 1/2 inches long. However the diameter, when closed, does not make it all the way around my ankle. There is a 2 inch gap between the ends of the weight that is nothing but strap. As such and unfortunately, the weight is left hanging by nothing but two inches of strap. You can pull it as tight as possible and still it won't make it all the way around. This causes the weight to eventually slip and is left hanging off one side of your foot. It can get quite uncomfortable. My ideal weight would be at least 14 inches long and have two long pull through straps, one near the top and one near the bottom.
Another con, is the weights are very noisy and can only be used when "working out". When you walk, all you hear is slosh, slosh, slosh. I prefer to be able to wear my weights any time under my pants when I'm running errands or doing alot of walking but these are too noisy to go unnoticed. My ideal weight would have thin, solid removable weights instead of the bean-bag type.
This product is four-star but I gave it only three because unless there is an upgrade in style design, I probably won't buy these weights again.
These weights work pretty well. I like the adjustability of the weights (1-5 lbs per leg). It works great for my physical therapy program. They aren't too hard to change in and out of the pockets either like some similar products. The only problem I have had with them is getting them tight enough to stay on my ankles and not slip down, but I do have pretty small ankles. I can put a washcloth under the weights to keep them in place, so I can work with it.
Overall, I am pleased with them and the price is reasonable for what you get.
There's not much to these ankle weights so not much to go wrong. They are just as described. Easy to put on and take off, and they don't just fall off. They seem to be the correct weight. What more could I ask?
I started using these weights as part of my physical therapy after I had surgery on both knees. The fit was good for me, though there was a gap of about 1 1/2" at the point of closure. The canvas casing has a zipper at the top and you can insert the appropriate weights to customize it to the weight needed. In my case, I started out with about a pound in each weight and I upped the overall weight in each as I gained strength in my knees/legs. The zipper manages to support the clever design (which has pockets for the individual weights) and the weights stay securely in place.
The construction seems fairly good. They are used daily and they still look new after 6 months of use. Given the price and flexibility, this was a good choice for me.
I bought these weights to help me with exercises to strengthen my knee after physical therapy. They work perfectly for me, but my husband found them to be way to light for him. They are 2.5 pounds each, so that's the max. I'm thinking now that maybe I should have gotten the weights that were 5 pounds each, since they are adjustable and I could have taken the extra weight out until I was ready for it. But the point is if this is the weight amount you're looking for and you don't want anything heavier, then these should work fine for you.
I bought these ankle weights to use in conjunction with my Powerblocks. The Powerblocks are adjustable dumbbells that go from 5 pound per dumbbell to 45 pounds per dumbbell in 5 lb. increments. I needed an in-between each increment and so these weights fill the gap. If I need an 18.5 pound weight, I just slip these on, set my weights to 15 and there I have it. The weights are very high quality. The velcro stays firmly in place. They're great. - Exercise - Walking - Ankle Weights - Adjustable'
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Super Mario Bros - video games, mario
I grew up on Super Mario Bros... Super Mario Bros 2... Super Mario Bros 3... Super Mario World... Super Mario 64... and then for a while I quit playing Nintendo. It was the time of PS2 and XBox, and I have not played a Nintendo game in several years now.
I bought my youngest son a Nintendo DS not long ago - and this was one of the games I got him for it.
Unlike most nostalgic feelings - this has been a real treat to revisit this part of my childhood. My son was playing it, and asked me to get him past a certain part. I was immediately hooked and continued playing until I had beat several more levels. Since then I have been grabbing his DS at every opportunity and playing further along - and am about halfway through the game so far.
It is classic Mario - if you ever played any of the original games you'll know the score - however new music, some new moves (downward slams, wall jumping, etc.) as well as delightful moments such as getting the super big mushroom which makes Mario as tall as the screen - while you laugh like crazy and burst through everything - walls, blocks, enemies, etc. like King Kong on crack add a whole new depth to the game - and keep the 80's classic fresh in its newest form. If you grew up on the old games like I did - you will squeal with delight when you see a new enemy that was only in a select level or two from one of the older games - that brings the memories back fresh.
I am extremely pleased at how such a classic character can be brought back in a fresh new way - and invigorate this franchise which is still going strong after two, nearly three decades.
I had absolutely no interest in the Nintendo DS and only bought my son one because he had been really good this year. Now that I've tried out this game - I find myself browsing through Amazon for new DS games to try.
I wholeheartedly recommend this game for the DS... although I will warn you that you will find yourself wanting to feed your new addiction with more games for the system. New Super Mario Bros.
There are sometimes where you look at classic video games, and how much they've impacting the gaming industry. While there are great games out there that have been well-receieved like Halo, Doom, Madden '06, and others that've really shown a great depth of universal appeal. That has definitely also been the case with Mario. Since 1981, as Jumpman in Donkey Kong, Mario has been the most universal of all the video game characters and personas ever, and continues to develop with the times. That also has been shown with the Nintendo DS as well. The breakout success of Nintendo's latest handheld system has really been a great transition to how we play video games on hand with the stylus, and appeal of the dual screen action. Now, Mario is set to have that classic feeling all over again.
New Super Mario Brothers for the Nintendo DS brings a updated appeal to Mario, loosely based on the classic 2-D games he has been widely known for from Super Mario Brothers 1, 2, 3. and Super Mario World from the Super NES era. The object is just like the object from before, as you play Mario or Luigi, and try to go after Bowser and Bowser Jr. from stealing Princess Toadstool a.k.a. Peach. The game features over 80 different levels of exciting, and enjoyable gameplay. The game includes the classic moves from previous titles like the ground pounding (Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine), and the carrying turtle shells to defeat Koopa Troopas and Goombas (Super Mario Brothers), as well as new features like the mega mushroom which can turn Mario into a King Kong size, to really pound and knockout your competition. The graphics and the gameplay are just absolutely breathtaking and amazing, and really delivers what had been done from the early Mario titles before, while the sound is just purely classic. The control also is percise and in tune to each movement of Mario and company.
All in all, this is the second full length Mario adventure title to really deliver well for the Nintendo DS. Like what happened with Super Mario 64 DS did to showcase the brilliance of the DS, New Super Mario Brothers delivers the fun and appeal of a classic game, to a whole new generation of gamers. I definitely think this is one of the most definitive titles available for the Nintendo DS, and I really definitely think it should be a standard to your Nintendo DS library.
Graphics: A
Sound: A-
Control: A+
Fun & Enjoyment: A+
Overall: A 1/2+
I need to warn everyone that my wife and I are both old enough to have been fans of the orginal Mario... but we are still young to love the newest version in the series.
Sometimes you just have to get back to the basics - and that is exactly what happens with this newest Mario installment. Nintendo has taken the best features of the first three Super Marios (with some new features too!) and blended them into one great game.
Pros-
- All new version of an great favorite
- Interesting twists
- nice graphics for a hand held game
- Decent game length
- very fun mini games
Cons-
- Game isn't too challenging for your average gamer
- Most of the mini games are repeats
As a whole - the game is well worth the $35 and will supply many hours of great game play.
In the beginning Nintendo created Mario, and he was good. So good in fact that he's often credited with saving video gaming in the mid 80's. Mario wrote the book on side scrolling platformers but after years of ruling the roost decided to move on to the realm of 3D leaving others to carry on the tradition. Some pretenders to the throne were good and some not so good but in the back of our collective minds we all knew that Elvis had left the building. Well, the King is back and it's as if he never even left.
The oddly named "New" Super Mario Bros launches players' right into the action. After a short 10 second cut scene of the princess being kidnapped (AGAIN) `World 1-1' is ready to go and it feels so right after 15 years of waiting. There are Goomba's and Koopa Troopa's, toadstools and green pipes, swimming levels and fire plants and coins galore. To all those people who think that the graphics are only a slight improvement on Mario's previous side scrolling adventures I would urge them to pop Mario 2 or 3 into the DS and be amazed at the difference. The new adventure is much more vibrant, colorful and organic with toadstools that dance and sway and water graphics that are absolutely stunning. Mario has some new snazzy moves including the ability to bounce of walls and my favorite, the [...] stomp. Instead of smashing bricks from the bottom Mario can now drop from above and in the case of multi-coin bricks Mario can smack down on it and coins just pour out. Both of these are awesome additions that open up all new playing potential.
I have a few slight issues with the game. First, the side to side movement doesn't seem as tight as I remember from previous Mario games. Mario doesn't stop on a dime anymore, he kind of slides to a stop as if the levels were coated in a thin layer of ice. I suppose this is more realistic but it gave the game sort of a loose, floaty feel until I got used to it. The other issue I have is with saving. Rather than saving after every level you save intermittently when you cash in coins or finish a tower or castle. I'm not sure why they made this change but it seems like a rather poor decision on a system that's intended to be played in potentially short bursts.
Despite a couple of griping points NSMB may well be the greatest side scroller ever and a welcome addition to the Mario legacy. I can't tell you how much joy it brought me to play a new side scrolling Mario game and this has definitely been one of the toughest games on the DS to peel myself away from. Go get it and relive the glory years of Mario with an all new adventure. - Super Mario Bros - Mario - Video Games - Nintendo Ds Games'
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Shrink To Fit - boot cut, levis
I am a Levi's 505 customer of 25+ years and like an earlier reviewer, I was always gratified to be able to buy these jeans either online or in a store, sight unseen, confident that the color and fit would always remain the same. But these have apparently been recently redesigned in some subtle ways.
I just bought my first pair in at least two or three years. First, they are now marked as "Straight Fit" (notice the tag inside the waist on the back) and not "Regular Fit" as they always used to be. You'll also notice that while the inseam is completely comparable, the color is a little duller - and the new Straight Fit now sits AT LEAST AN INCH LOWER ON THE WAIST than the old Regular Fit. I tried on a couple of pairs and found this to be consistently the case. (I also tried on 501 Straight Fit for comparison, and noticed the same thing.)
I suppose that Levi's is trying to increase its appeal to the adolescent demographic (which obviously prefers the lower rise, for reasons that escape me). Well, I'm 40 and I don't wish to dress like a teenager. So this is a very undesirable development. Thankfully I'm physically fit and could still wear the Straight Fit, even with its slightly lower rise - but I don't like where this is heading. Caveat emptor.
Customer Note: The original Regular Fit style is still available in stores, mixed in with the Straight Fits (I was fortunate to find three such pairs at my local Sears last night, and bought them all), so this is apparently a fairly recent development.
It's easy to tell the two apart: In addition to checking the inside back label (Regular Fit, vs. Straight Fit), you can check the manufacturer tags and plastic sizing stickers on each pair, which will also say either "Regular Fit" or "Straight Fit". So if you're partial to the old Regular Fit, your best bet now appears to be to actually go to a store and find them on the shelf while they are still available. Levi's Men's 505 Straight Fit Jean, Good Old Blue, 31X32
I've been wearing Levi 505's exclusively since the early 70's. They fit me perfect. I could just walk into a store and pick up my size and buy without trying them on. Best jeans around.
Well not any more! Without any notice they have changed the "Regular fit" 505's to "Straight fit" jeans which means they are no longer 505's at all. The waist is larger, the crotch is higher and you must now wear them down on your hips as kid do with their jeans. These are no longer meant for adults or anyone who wants pants that fit properly. I also don't like 550 relaxed jeans as they are too baggy.
I'll be looking for a different brand and returning the two pair I just bought. Hopefully Levi will lose enough faithful customers to make them rethink this rude abandonment of loyal customers.
Warning! Be advised that the new 505 Straight Fit jeans have replaced the original 505 Regular Fit jeans. They are not the same. Try these on in a store before ordering online or you will be disappointed. Apparently, somebody at Levi's had the bright idea of changing a tried and true style rather than creating a new one; a classic example of "if it aint broke, don't fix it".
My fiance loves these jeans and I always thought he was nuts that he had to try on the same 505's in the same size but found out you need to read the tag where they were manufactured. At the same store in the same size the same jeans were made in different countries resulting in a different fit. So now we know to look for the country that made them before we buy. They are still a favorite of both of ours as long as we get the same cut.
Hopefully my purchase today will be the right ones! This is a test I guess. - Boot Cut - 501 - Jeans - Levis'
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