Creativity - coloring, crayons

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The colors are vibrant and there is an assortment of fabulous colors. However, the waxy material is more crayon-like than a pencil. Unlike regular crayons, I had to use more force than I wished to exert in order to achieve the consistent vibrant color that I sought. I found it impossible to achieve any shading from dark to light. I don't completely regret my purchase, as it is another medium for kids to experiment and be creative, but I can't highly recommend this as a TOY because you have to press hard to get good results, and I can't recommend this as an ART material because you can't achieve the results that can be achieved with real pencils. Crayola 30ct Twistables Colored Pencils

I had bought a bunch of Crayola Twistable pencils for my kids, who love to color. One the one hand, the pencils were very convenient because they didn't need sharpening. On the other hand, they were only convenient for older kids who could be trusted with them...and who probably could sharpen pencils on their own, anyway. My older kids got the concept of not twisting the lead out too far, but the younger ones liked to push their luck. Inevitably, I'd find long pieces of broken off leads, and the waste would drive me crazy.



So, how do you possibly recycle those long, broken-off pieces? It just so happens that the lead size of the Twistable pencils is the same lead size that's used by the the Pentel Eight Color Automatic Pencil. This is one of the coolest clutch pencils because it holds eight different colors at once. But the price for lead for it if you buy it from Pentel directly is highway robbery. It struck me that the pencil leads looked close in size, and I substituted one from a Twistable into the Pentel. It fit perfectly, and the Pentel can use lead lengths as short as 3/4", so even leads that before seemed unusable become usable again.



Hope that helps someone!

Although this is a reasonably good idea, in my book it sits right alongside the electric can opener and electric pepper mill in terms of necessity. If you think about it, Crayola took a regular color pencil which is pretty ecologically neutral (wood, graphite, pigment, etc) and made a plastic version of it that is not refillable nor recyclable. When the lead breaks inside--and it does--the Twistable is basically useless. The only problem I see it solving is when your kid presses too hard and breaks the point, she can twist the end herself, extend the point and keep drawing without having to bother you.

I purchased these thinking they'd be worth the higher price than just plain colored pencils that have to be sharpened, but unfortunately, I am so disappointed. I bought the 30-piece set, and the ones that still work are great and lots of fun to use, but unfortunately I've had to throw away over half of them (barely used), as the twisting mechanism kept breaking. I took one apart to see if I could fix it or see what the problem is or if I was doing something wrong (all you do is twist it, so there's not a LOT I could have been doing wrong), but to no avail. The twisting mechanism just seems to get stuck, so you end up twisting harder to see if that's the problem, and it just ends up breaking the lead inside and jamming the whole thing up. I have emailed Crayola just to let them know - maybe product development can find the feedback helpful in improving the product, but for now, it's a thumbs-down for us. Still love the ones that haven't broken yet...as long as they keep working...

I'm the one who likes the Crayola Twistables! My kids prefer traditional colored pencils. I use Twistables to illustrate for work and in my journal. Crayola products render more saturated color and the leads and crayons are softer which means more color is left on the paper with less effort. As a design professional, I prefer Prismacolors for color drawing, but Twistables pack better when its time for drawing on the go, and I don't tense up as much about losing or misplacing them.



I think my children prefer the colored pencils because they are more forgiving when dropped. Once the crayon portion of a Twistable dislodges from the base, the product is useless. Their first pack of Twistables didn't last as long as they would have liked. If you have young children and supervise their drawing time, this probably won't be an issue.



Tips and tricks:



- Show children how to expose only a small amount of crayon at a time and never extend it fully out of the casing.



- To get a fine point, hold the Twistable at shallow angle. Scrape the tip along a piece of paper while rotating the pencil.



- Encourage older children to blend colors, warm up the product by drawing on scrap paper first. Then rub the pencil back and forth lightly on your art work in layers.



- The white pencil looks great on black construction paper and so do the blues and oranges.



- Help young coloring book artists use Twistables for small areas like eyeballs, belts, and shoes. Demonstrate how crayons are good for large areas like lawns, oceans, and the sky.

Young children quickly outgrow an interest in crayons. Too messy, not easy for them to draw what they want and nothing discourages an interest in art quicker than having your art come out "wrong" in your own eyes.



Colored pencils are much better at detail but sharpening becomes an issue if they don't do it right, plus the sharpener does have a razor in it...



Enter, the Twistables! Colored pencils that need no sharpening. Perfect.



Well, almost perfect. Crayola should include ALL their colored pencils as Twistables, but they don't. I'd give them 5 stars if they did. They tend to include the more vibrant colors and exclude the earth tones, which is a shame. But overall, great for kids and young adults.



I prefer smooth paper for these too, the paper listed as "sketch" doesn't hold the color as well. - Crayons - Pencils - Art - Coloring'

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Psi Woodworking - turning tools, hardware

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This product is simply excellent. The quality of the steel is excellent. I am amazed with the results.



I bought this set 5 years ago and I've been using it daily since than. You don't need to buy fancier or more expensive tooling thinking that they would work better. The truth is that this set works and delivers. The steel is really good and I don't have to resharpen that often. I am using exotic hardwoods and it is fine.



I am amazed that this product is so good that I haven't had the need to buy any other set during these 5 years. I still have a lot of metal in my tools that make me think that I won't need to buy another set for myself in many years to come! PSI Woodworking LCPM3 3 Piece HSS Pen Turning Lathe Chisel Set

Very usable set of Midi turning tools. They are a very nice size for pen and other small work. They were fairly sharp upon arrival, but like all edged tools would benefit from a good honing before use.



Seem to hold an edge well, and the wooden box was a nice plus.

Really nice little pen set for the price. The handles were a little rough on the finish and ink blemished on the stamping. The HSS steel is nice and sharp and the carry case is a positive. Overall i'm pleased with them.

I purchased this beginner chisel set at the same time I ordered a pen turning lathe. I found them to be an excellent value. They are of sufficient quality to get you started in the craft. They're not professional grade but they're not junk either. They are of reasonable quality and great for the beginner to learn what their preferences are. Then later they can purchase higher grade chisels with the confidence of knowing just what they want. I recommend this set to anyone who's on a tight budget and not sure what they need. - Pen Turning - Woodturning - Hardware - Turning Tools'

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Thomas Engines - train, kids

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If you have seventy-five dollars burning a hole in your pocket and you just have to have a Thomas the Tank Engine rolling suitcase, please, please, please take fifty of it to the mall first. Then, with the last twenty-five, go to ANY other seller of this cheaply made novelty product and knock yourself out. You will have a cute, overpriced rolling duffel bag that your kids will absolutely adore plus another 50 bones worth of merchandise of your choice.



The bag is essentially a toy that is marginally useful as a light-duty travel bag as well. You would never check it, but the kids will love rolling it through the airport. It's cheap and thin; I have some made-in-China cosmetic cases that are tougher than this. The zipper seems frail and you wouldn't want to overtax it by filling the bag to the point of stuffing. The handle works great for about four seconds and then sticks thereafter, making it impossible for a young child to extend and retract on their own. No big deal; you can always help them... but every time, you'll wonder if it's about to break, because it's flimsy and struggles to perform. Count on losing the steam funnel the first time it's pulled on, but this doesn't affect the use.



All in all, it's a piece of "luggage" worth about ten bucks, and you're paying another fifteen for the character licensing. If your kids will swoon over it, it may be worth the 25 (as it was for us), but never EVER pay what they're asking here. It's honestly triple the going rate. Usually amazon is a deal, but not this time. Thomas the Tank Engine Rolling Luggage Travel Bag

My son loves pulling this bag around the home and airport. However, after one trip the zipper and chimney broke. I have been spending the last few days looking for products to fix the chimney and zipper. We received this bag as a gift and I can't believe how much it cost! Wow, even though the bag is very cute, I can't believe it costs $75, it is worth $25.

This is a fantastic little piece of luggage. My just turned 4 yr old loves Thomas, as most kids do. When we picked this package up, we had to open it right away and he pulled it back to our vehicle. The shipping was so fast I could not believe it.He said to me" Momma, can we please take an airplane ride with my new Thomas suitcase",and " I am never using any other suitcase again", so there it is. He loves it, I booked a flight for us to travel to see his Mima and Papa, who live 4500+ kms away.What a great fins, great company, and great site. Thanks to all. Laura

This was sent to my two year old grandson in Vermont. He has a couple of trips coming and I thought it would be perfect for him on the plane so that he can pack his books and toys for the trips. He loves Thomas Train so when I saw this, I knew it was perfect for him. When it arrived, he packed it immediately with toys and pulled it around the house. So, think the bag was a perfect selection for him. I don't know yet how durable it is going to be but my daughter thinks it is a sturdy bag and will be great.

I started flying alone with my back and forth from Texas to either Iowa or Minnesota since he was 9 months old. As son as he could walk we had one on the smaller rolling backpacks for him to play with. I would take it with me on the plan for "his toys", Well then one time when we flew he wanted to roll it.

At 2 1/2 years he out grew that one and I found this one and he loves it. At three we added a baby sisiter to the equation which made him able to be responsible for his own "on the plane" bag even more important. We have made anywhere between 6-8 trips with it including a trip to Mexico. Most of our trips include taking two plans to get to our destination.

He loves rolling it through the airport, and smiles whenever someone comments one it. Even when he gets tired becasue of the shape it lays very easy across the top of the stroller for our newly born daughter.

While I do admit you can't over stuff it and yes on the last flight the stack ripped, and sometimes the handles stick it doesn't out weigh the positives:

It has a side opeing zipper, that when stuffed under the seat of both larger and the smaller "puddle jumpers" planes you can still access the stuff inside. The inside is quite roomy as well, he will usually pack a DVD player,case of DVD's earphones, Coloring books with crayons, MP3 player a bag with 4-5 trains and cars, a container of snacks, his bunny and even a small blanket. We use the straps on the outside to attach his travel pillow.



I have thought about getting another type of "on the plane" suitcase but he doesn't want one yet, I only hope this one last until he is ready for a different type of one, as I am going to have a hard time locating one.



For me it's been worth the $20 or $30 dollars I spent on it. - Kids - Cheap - Character - Train'

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Emergency Blankets - survival, backpacking

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Okay, look at the reviews for this product, and look at the dates. It was stated some time ago that a buyer orded Quake Care blankets, you know- LIKE THE PICTURE! But that buyer got EverDixie blankets. Now, all this time I later, I paid my money for the Quake Care blankets listed in the description and shown in the picture yet I too was sent the ED ones. I haven't yet opened one to see if it's worthwhile...it sort of defeats the purpose to waste one to see if it's usable (I already know the QC product is, I've used them before).



Maybe the product I got is decent but it's not the product I was sold. Given that this bait and switch is an ongoing affair, I can see no other word to use but fraud. Did I send them back? They were $5 bucks, not worth messing with. That's probably what the vendor figures...no one will bother. So no, I didn't send them back but I will at least alert potential buyers that this vendor is knowingly, willingly defrauding buyers by sending them a different product than they agreed to purchase.



Amazon.com should ditch this sleezy, disreputable seller. And if that seller simply doesn't realize their copy is outdated, this should be the notice they need to correct it. But since they've been doing this for quite a while I imagine they just don't care. Emergency Thermal Blankets (4 Pack)

I have used mylar "space" blankets for the past 30 years for near innumerable projects. Want to make a solar oven? here's a tool to allow that. Increase the rating on your sleeping bag by 20 degrees (put the mylar INSIDE the bag), I've made emergency ponchos from them while backpacking. Ground cloths, signal devices, sun awnings (in this mode they help provide cooling), insulation for coolers, animal shelters, a lining for an incubator.



They don't have to wait around in your car or "read bag" to find uses! However, I carry them in each vehicle, I have one in each of my various (depending on purpose) "ready bags", in emergency kits made for the kids and in all the first aid kits in the house, vehicles, the ranch and other such haunts.



This little piece of plastic may well be one of the premier tools of all time.

I've played with a couple of different brands of space blankets and these blankets are of fine quality. They suffer the usual short comings of this material (tears spread easily) but on the grand scale of space blanket brands, you are getting one of the better quality blankets. For example, one of the cheaper brands I have tried experienced flaking of the mylar coating after (admittedly) rough handling. The brand being reviewed here did not suffer from this flaking. Definitely recommended.

If you are setting up a "grab & go" pack - the kind of thing that lives in your car or at your office, insurance against a manmade disaster like a terrorist attack or a runaway nuclear reactor; or a natural catastrophe like an earthquake or a hurricane - you cannot get along without these mylar blankets. You can use them as blankets, cloaks, tents, groundcloths and signal panels. They are almost weightless and as noted, very versatile. They belong in every survival kit, automobile glove compartment, and hiker's pack. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I did not receive the Quake Kare Emergency Thermal Blankets that I ordered. Because I had read from previous reviews that BP Supplies have played Bait and Switch before, I made a screen shot of the order page before I ordered showing that I was being promised, specifically, Quake Kare blankets. These are a well known brand and of very good quality.



Instead I receive a cheap, knockoff- Ever Dixie "no-name" brand Emergency Blankets from China. I know absolutely nothing about this brand. They're going in the trash. They look very, very cheap and I sure wouldn't trust my safety to these, And as I told the representative at Amazon, this Bait and Switch is especially reprehensible on BPs part because these are Emergency supplies and someone could loose their life from using an unknown, inferior or faulty product in an Emergency. This is serious business.



For those of you who have been ripped off by BP Supplies before with their Bait and Switch, I would strongly encourage you to report this directly to Amazon. It doesn't matter if you just write it in a review that you've been ripped off. You have to speak with an Amazon rep who forwards that info to the powers that be who determine which companies are allowed to sell on their site. And if enough customers complain, BP Medical Supplies will not be allowed to sell on Amazon's site and continue to rip off people.



For those of you who have never ordered from BP Medical Supplies- STAY AWAY- THEY ARE BAIT AND SWITCH SCAM ARTISTS. I am very disappointed and very, very angry.

I have carried mylar thermal blankets along with me during my hikes to the north country here for decades. In addition to the many other uses mentioned here by others, I have used them before to actually sleep with just to experience it. And even though they are like curling up all cozy with a large plastic bag, they are nothing less than amazingly warm. Quite simply put, they enable you to radiate back as much of your own body heat as several wool blankets are capable of. However, there is one thing I feel I must add about sleeping with these blankets on a cold ground that doesn't seem to be covered by other reviewers. Remember that to keep warm, you must have as much insulation under you as over. At home, our mattress more than does the job. Out in the wilderness on the cold ground we are forced to improvise. If it comes a time that you really are in a survival situation, or just forced by whatever causes to be sleeping directly on a cold ground, remember to put as many of these thermals, (or any kind of blanket) under you as over. You would not believe the number of hikers and campers I have encountered that pile on the blankets on top of them, while putting just one underneath. And then wonder why they spent the entire night nearly freezing to death. In conclusion, one cannot recommend having these along on a hike or camping trip enough since they are so small and easy to tote along. Carrying one 4 pack of these thermals on any outdoor excursion is equivalent to toting 10 full size blankets. Something near impossible to manage in a back pack outing even if you wanted to. Considering their low cost, versatile uses, and life saving possibilities, one would be foolish not to pack them on any wilderness excursion, or include them as an essential addition in any survival kit. My own recommendation is don't leave home without them, and, buy them here on Amazon in bulk rather than at a sporting goods store, where they can easily cost you twice as much... - Survival - Backpacking - Emergency Kit - Emergency Supplies'

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Tactical Vest - holsters, vest

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Working cargo at an airport in the extremely early hours in Seattle I see my share of bad weather. I bought these pants for the grenade pockets, so I would have a place for my winter gloves. They work great for that, but the fabric is what I like most about them. They breathe well, and they keep the water out.

They don't stain or winkle, or snag on crates. They blouse into your boots easily without too big a pleat at the boot-top, and they don't have those thick seams that cause a hard lump just over your ankle bone. They wash clean with no stains and they dry fast and wrinkle free.

The pockets are great for keeping track of things. With nine pockets you can have dedicated compartments for everything you carry. It is like wearing a roll-top desk. You know where to reach for your pen or your flashlight. And you can keep specific paperwork in specific pockets every time.

Hey, what do you want from a pair of pants, world peace? Mens Black E.M.T. Zipper Fly Pants with 9 Pockets (Large)

I ordered these pants from their sizing chart and they pretty much match my jeans at home when i recerived them they said they were the right size on the tag but i couldnt fit them over my thighs they were about six sizes to small. they need to revamp their sizing charts.

These pants appear fairly sturdily made BUT you need to have the right body type to fit them well---i.e., slender and thin with not much in the way of hips. Due to the dearth of decently priced women's duty trousers in this multi-pocketed style I have pretty much resigned myself to having to buy men's pants. I have several pairs of men's pants of the same style by another manufacturer that are very comfortable, but I can no longer find them, so I opted to try the Rothco brand. I usually buy a small/regular but that size by this manufacturer is uncomfortably tight in the seat and thighs, though the waist fits. I tried a medium and although it is still somewhat snug in the hip and seat, I can tolerate it. The waist is too big and the length is too long but with a duty belt and with wearing boots it's not too noticeable. So if you are built fairly up and down with little curvature or like your pants snug, these might fit the bill. Otherwise, try another brand.

I have had the pants only a short time...perhaps they have been worn/washed 6-8 times. The other day I put my hand in my left front pocket only to have it tear along the seam. I do not put many items in this particular pocket. I was a little disappointed. Otherwise, the FIT, etc has been acceptable with these Pants. I was considering another purchase of this item...however, if they are going to do this I will make another selection.

I recently decided to buy these pants for work. when I got them I found that the sizing was so wide range that when I "fit" them to my waist, they were bunched up on the sides. considering that I have to tuck my white shirt in for work (like MOST EMTs do) I would have been walking around with pants that were obviously too big for me... even though they were supposed to fit between 5 different sizes. too bad. - Vest - Duty Belt - Holsters - Tactical Vest'

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Articulating Wall Mount - wall mount, lcd wall mount

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This mount is about the best I have seen yet. Looking locally, I couldn't find anything for less than $60 -$80 (even walmart). This came home for about $25. It mounts easily, comes with all hardware, it is black, just like the TV I mounted and the cables I strap to it to get them out of the way. The swing is very smooth, there is very little rock (side-to-side). The tilt (pitch) is very sturdy but adjustble. I don't have a single complaint about this unit. VideoSecu Articulating TV Wall Mount Bracket for VESA 100 LCD LED Flat Screen Monitor TV 1E9

Nice product, fairly well built, and attractive black powder coating. I mounted a 26" HDTV (22.8 lbs) on our bedroom wall. As others have mentioned, no rotation after installing makes it important that you measure carefully before drilling. Here's a couple tips that should help your install.



Before proceeding, I suggest that you tighten the arm hinges (using the supplied Allen wrench) to where you think they should be. They were fairly loose on the mount that I received. Reason being ... Their tightness changes the level of the TV bracket.



1st tip: First thing I noticed was that the top of the bracket that mounts on the TV was NOT parallel with the mount's arms when the mount was folded flat. Therefore, I mounted the vertical wall bracket (plate) so that the TV bracket was level; this meant that the wall bracket was NOT perfectly vertical, but just a "scosh" off vertical.



2nd tip: Even doing this, the TV was still not exactly level; close, but not "perfect". This time I took a round file to the screw holes on the TV bracket and elongated them to correct the rotation required to make the TV perfectly level. It didn't take much filing; less than 1/8".



That did it! TV hangs perfectly level now when flat against the wall, which is where it is used mostly. Swinging the TV out to "max" position from the wall, due to the slight "give" others have mentioned, the TV is a gnat's off from level, but this is low priority and tolerable.



One other point: If your TV/monitor is wider than 26", you won't be able to get it completely perpendicular to the wall, something to consider.

I purchased this mount to hang a 15" LCD TV, weighing less than 9 pounds (the specifications rate it up to 33 lbs). I carefully measured and used a level to mount the swing arm on the wall, but when I hung the TV, the position of the arms and the small amount of "give" between the arm segments caused the TV to hang at a slight, but noticable, angle. You can tighten the arm segment joints, which helps the problem somewhat, but you won't be able to swing the arm around once tightened. The swivel adjustments only allow you to change the side-to-side angle and the vertical tilt, there is no way to fix the rotation of the set.

This monitor arm is pretty cool, and great price point. I mounted a 26" LCD TV weighing like 32 LBS. Have not had a problem with it. I did need to make a trip to the hardware store for some longer screws than what was provided to connect to my TV.

I tend to be the engineer type, so looks don't win me over if a product is flawed below the surface. This mount looks good, if and when you catch a glimpse of it but most important to me, it is designed well. The joints lock and hold positions well because the design provides enough flat mating surface area. All of the major parts are solid cast, forged or machined.

Finally, after you have mounted a monitor or TV, this mount does not demand or call your attention back, it just does its job, `quietly', behind the scene.

I purchased this wall mount on the basis of other reviews. It was perfect for our need. Installation was very easy, the bracket was well made, moves easy (side to side, up and down). I put a 15" tv on it and I am well satisfied compared to other brackets that are 3 & 4 times the price. I give this bracket a 5 star rating.

I own 8 flat panel TV's, all of them wall mounted, for two (26"ers) of them I am using this particular bracket. I like the flexibility of these brackets, however, they are quite "wobbly" and that leaves me with great concern each time I adjust them. Only time will tell if they will hold up to the moderate usage they receive.

In one of the other reviews someone said something about the mount being lose or having some "give", I am thinking they may have recieved a bad mount and should send it back. I have a 23" LCD mounted with this bracket and its tight and holds the TV right where I set it. Now I can see where if you mounted it maybe a little off center where you could complain that they should have put a rotation(tilt) adjustment on it. But alas if you mount it level then you should have no problems. It was easy to mount and does what it should. A mount like this at a box store will cost you about $80, so you can't beat this price. The product is also very durable - Tv Wall Mount - Lcd Wall Mount - Monitor Wall Mount - Wall Mount'

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Based On The Play - jake gyllenhaal, mathematics

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Proof of a mathematical equation and proof of madness are the two driving forces in John Madden's film. Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow) who cared for her brilliant mathematician father Robert (Anthony Hopkins) is afraid that she's inherited his other "gift"-mental illness. Catherine cared for her father Robert during the end. When Claire (Hope Davis) Catherine's sister arrives home for the funeral she expresses concern for Catherine's mental state. Catherine begins to doubt her own teetering sanity. Robert's assistant Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal) rummages around Robert's papers the night before and after the funeral trying to find an important equation her father was working on before he died. Featuring a group of strong performances, "Proof" is a compelling drama about grief, madness and emotional seclusion. Although Madden's drama suffers from the stage origins of the play but the emotional high wire act the cast performs makes it worthwhile. Whether or not there's "proof" of this film being a "great" film is based on how drawn into the drama you are by the appealing cast. A warning about some of the other reviews here--there good reviews but some of them have spoilers that give away a lot of the plot of the film. If you want to be surpised and enjoy the ride then I'd suggest you skip reading these reviews.



"Proof" looks extremely good here with natural skin tones, sharp image quality and nice definition. The 5.1 audio isn't exactly designed for the format since this a dialogue driven film but there is nice ambient sounds evident in the other speakers.



A clinical but interesting commentary track by John Madden is interesting to listen to but would have been enlightened by the cast's contribution. We also get deleted scenes none of which are revelations "From Stage to Screen" covers the adaptation of the stage play to film. One of the challenges was staying true to the stage roots while opening up the player and making it less stage bound. Producer Allison Owen makes an interesting comment-she imagined the film as the type of film that would have been made in the 70's where moving and powerful drama was still king in theaters. The cast and Madden discuss their characters and what attracted them to the project. Madden comments that many audience members thought that the play was like watching a movie which is a bit unusual but that was because of the fact that the play was told from a variety of different points of view and the staging.



A fine film that touches on madness, emotional isolation and the fear of what lies down the road for anyone; "Proof" is a fascinating drama that works amazingly well due to the strong performances. Madden who worked with Paltrow in "Shakespeare in Love" clearly connects with Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins. Proof

It's interesting that most people tend to have a problem with the screenplay for this movie, when it is almost word for word the stage play, which is renowned for its elegance and simplicity. Perhaps the issue comes up in the flashbacks and the ending, both of which disagree with the play. Still, as a stage adaptation to film, Proof does the job beautifully. The characters remain true to their original 2-dimensionality; it is the apparent lack of emotion that actually lends itself to intense feelings from the viewer.

PROOF is one of those rare films that transfers a superb play directly to the screen without losing a bit of the power of the play, but enhancing the story with the advantages of the camera. With a tough story like this one it takes a brilliant cast and director to fine-tune the work and in this instance it all works to perfection.



The story is well known from all the PR of the theatrical screening: recounting it in a review does not add or subtract the importance of the film or the experience of the viewer. The premise, mathematician Robert (Anthony Hopkins) and his caretaker daughter Catherine (Gweneth Paltrow) who also is an uncommonly bright 27-year-old mathematics mind and has spent the glowing years of her youth caring for her recently deceased father. They converse in flashbacks, a means of realizing the closeness of their bond emotionally, mentally, and probably parallel mental illness proclivities. Robert left notebooks filled with thoughts and clues to a complex mathematical proof and Hal (Jake Gyllenhaal), a devoted admirer of Robert's genius, is organizing the thoughts and deciphering the meanings of Robert's scribblings. Catherine's estranged sister Claire (Hope Davis) arrives to 'settle' the matters left by Robert's demise and becomes the camera that brings focus to the fact that Catherine has inherited not only her father's genius but his mental fragility as well. How this quartet - Robert, Catherine, Hal, Claire - serve to unravel the findings of Robert's (and Catherine's) legacy is the essence of this gripping tale.



A more powerful group of actors for this film would be difficult to find. One expects the brilliance of Paltrow's performance since she had time with the character on the stage, and Hopkins can toss these bizarre characters off with grace and aplomb. But it is the pleasure of seeing Davis and Gyllenhaal rise to the same level of expertise that makes the film glow. This is an example of ensemble acting of the highest form and director Madden conducts the performance with sensitivity and momentum. The result is a treasureable, intelligent, powerful film that challenges the mind while entertaining all the senses. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 06

John Madden, who directed Shakespeare in Love (1998), and David Auburn, who wrote the script (adapted from his play), have put together a moving story about mathematical genius admixed with mental instability much in the manner of the life of John Nash who was the subject of A Beautiful Mind (2001).



Nash was a paranoid schizophrenic who was tormented by voices in his head warning him of dangers and conspiracies that didn't exist. Like Nash, Robert (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant mathematician who, having done spectacular work in his early twenties, goes crazy. Unlike Nash he is never able to regain control of "the machinery," as he calls his mind, and is never able to do any worthwhile work again.



Or is he? As he is taken care of by his mathematically astute daughter, Catherine (Gwyneth Paltrow in a most affecting and beguiling performance) he fills scores of notebooks with intense writings. At one point he seems in remission and at another point Catherine rushes home to find him in out in the backyard in the middle of a snowy night fired with enthusiasm about his latest work. At another point, he and Catherine work together on a project. And herein lies the crux of the matter. As we discover, this project turns out to be a proof of a difficult mathematical theorem or conjecture that will be internationally celebrated if it is correct.



Jake Gyllenhaal plays Hal, one of Robert's students who is going through his mentor's papers in the hope of discovering something wonderful. Catherine tells him that among the 103 notebooks that her father filled during his days of mental instability there is not a single one that has anything of value in it. But when Hal wins her heart she produces a notebook that was locked away in a drawer. It turns out that this notebook contains that most amazing proof mentioned above. And it is here that Catherine says--in line that is so very well set up that her expression fairly takes your breath away--"I wrote it."



Well, did she or didn't she? Because the work seems to be in her father's handwriting and seems to be well beyond her abilities, her sister Claire, played in that clever but somewhat annoying style that Hope Davis has so perfected (About Schmidt; American Splendor), claims that Catherine is deluded and couldn't have written it. To Catherine's grievous disappointment Hal reluctantly agrees, and this seeming lack of faith in her sends Catherine toward the precipice of insanity. This is the key question of the plot. Who wrote the proof? Its resolution will be the denouement of the story.



Clearly Claire believes that Catherine is so like her father that she is about to go crazy herself. So she tells Catherine she wants to sell the house now that their father is dead and bring Catherine to New York where she lives so that she can take care of her.



Will Catherine go or will she trust her heart and begin a life with Hal?



This movie does not play well with some audiences I think because the wonderment that some of the characters feel--the absolute awe that transfigures them when they behold a great mathematical proof, is not entirely appreciated by the average person. Madden makes sure that Catherine, Hal and one of the mathematicians form on their faces an expression something akin to a religious enthrallment when they understand the thrilling logic of the proof. I suspect that for many viewers something was lost in the translation. Consequently, although many others, including myself, believe this to be one of the outstanding movies of 2005 it only rates a 7.0 at IMDb and was not nominated for any Academy Awards. Paltrow won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Shakespeare in Love, also directed by Madden (he seems to bring out the best in her), and that award was richly deserved. But here in Proof I believe she was every bit as good (in a different way) although she was only nominated for a Golden Globe award and did not win.



Another thing about this movie is that it is strangely affecting emotionally. You might find yourself misting up a bit as you watch. I know I did.



See this for Gwyneth Paltrow, a gifted actress giving one of her best performances, and for John Madden, a director who makes beautiful movies with style and finesse. - Mathematics - Jake Gyllenhaal - Drama - Anthony Hopkins'

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