Alexander McCall SMITH

Advantages: A good writer
Disadvantages: none

...Alexander McCall Smith who is known as Sandy was born on the 24/8/1948. In a place called Bulawayo,he is a Rhodesian born British writer.The first stage of his education was at CBC Bulawayo then moved to Scotland where he studied Law at University of Edinburgh.. After that Alexander moved back to South Africa and at the University of Botswana he taught Law. Then after a while he then returned to Edinburgh where he still lives today a long side his wife Elizabeth and they had two daughters Lucy and Emily.Also in the late twentieth Century Alexander became a very repected person and an expert on medical law and bioethics and he has been on a number of committees for Britain and Internationally. He was a former Chairman of the British Medical Journal Ethics Committee and he was there until 2002. Vice-Chairman of the Human Genetics...

ruth1957 01.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander's dramatic soundtrack

Advantages: beautiful music to a great film, very touching, cheap
Disadvantages: carelessly made booklet, weird extra track

...Today I will tell you all about the soundtrack to the epic movie Alexander by Vangelis What is it? This is the soundtrack to the movie "Alexander" by Oliver Stone. The movie came out in 2004 and recieved mixed review - some loved it, some hated it. But most reviewers agreed on the soundtrack, composed by Vangelis, being a work of art. Who is Vangelis? Vangelis is a greek composer and a pioneer regarding electrical music. He has started to compose electric music that sounds like a whole epic orchestra, putting a lot of feeling into it. He was born in 1943 and surprisingly also composed the music to "Bladerunner". What's "Alexander"? "Alexander" is a movie about Alexander The Great. About 350 before Christ, he was the son of the Macedonian king Philip. After his father died, he became the king of Macedonia, later...

morticiaaddams 29.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alexander (Original Soundtrack) - Vangelis

Listen carefully for Angus the BFG

Advantages: A lovely little book that is so quick and easy to read
Disadvantages: None

... DREAM ANGUS Alexander McCall Smith Alexander McCall Smith is probably best known for the series of books 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency'. He is though a prolific writer who has written over sixty books that have been translated into forty-two languages. His books include works on medical law, criminal law and philosophy, as well as numerous books for children, collections of short stories, and novels. Dream Angus was written in 2006, it is actually listed as one of Smith's children's book but I would have thought that it was more an adult's book. The book is part of Canongate Myth Series is a series of short novels A series of books from authors from all over the world writing about a mythological being of their choice. The project was conceived in 1999 by Jamie Byng, owner of the independent...

oldchem 20.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dream Angus - Alexander McCall Smith

Smith

Advantages: -----
Disadvantages: -------

...partner, or love of your career ? ... Mr and Mrs Smith are a couple in love, who seem to co-operate well with each other, even though they are each keeping a massive secret from the other. The fact that the two main characters are together in real life, I think it makes it better and somehow more realistic. The casting for these roles were obviously well thought about and in my eyes, both parts could not have been cast together. Brad Pitt plays John Smith, while Angelina Jolie takes up her role as Jane Smith. The fact is, they just work so well together it is almost realistic in fiction. Being a man, I am not as big a Brad Pitt fan as some people out there, but I would still say, he is one of the better actors available in the film industry and plays his role very well in this hit. He is the 'cooler' of the couple, whereas she is...

hhf657467 13.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mr And Mrs Smith (DVD)

Mr & Mrs Smith

Advantages: Ok film and it features Brad Pitt
Disadvantages: Bit cheesy and unbelievable in places

...Mr & Mrs Smith is a film first released in June 2005. It has been described as an action/comedy/adventure/romance film so has something for everybody. The film was directed by Doug Liman and runs for 122 minutes. It is certified as a 15 due to some moderate sexual references and quite a bit of violence. ------- PLOT ------ The film begins with Mr & Mrs Smith seeking marriage guidance counselling with the film going on to explain how the married couple ended up needing counselling. To the outside world Mr & Mrs Smith seem like an average married couple leading ordinary lives but behind closed doors its a very different story. The pair lead completely separate lives away from home and each has a secret job of which the other has no idea what. Eventually each learns of the others past and current secrets and the film...

bexx0907 06.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mr And Mrs Smith (DVD)

Not just for Sundays

Advantages: A book with crime, love, and lots of details on Edinburgh
Disadvantages: Not everyones taste

...Do you know the difference between good and bad? Isabel Dalhousie, the philosopher and editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, certainly does and this is what makes her a good amateur sleuth. Living in Edinburgh, Isabel with the help of her many friends, her attractive deli owning niece and her housekeeper called Grace solves what actually did happen when a young man plunged to his death after a concert at the Usher hall. The Sunday Philosophy Club is written by Alexander McCall Smith, my copy cost £7.99 according to the back cover, but I borrowed it from my husband who received a selection of Alexander?s books at Christmas. The 280 pages kept me entertained for a few hours of holiday reading. Can you imagine seeing someone fall from the Upper circle whilst you are standing in the grand circle below, and as you look over the edge...

jo145 16.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Sunday Philosophy Club - Alexander McCall Smith

ALEXANDER: Director's Cut

Advantages: A must see for all lovers of long historical epics.
Disadvantages: Could have shown more detail in the battle scenes.

...This is an impressive looking production with sumptuous costumes and sets and a rousing score from Vangelis. The Director's Cut includes extra footage, as is to be expected. Oliver Stone chose a largely European cast for the film, with Colin Farrell as Alexander and Anthony Hopkins as Ptolemy. In this film there are several Irish actors, including Farrell, so the main accent is of course Irish, which makes a change from the (by now) traditional British accents in film epics. It would be refreshing if a director had his historical cast adopt an accent authentic to the time and place i.e. in this case Macedonian or Greek. Val Kilmer, who plays Philip, Alexander's father, does change his, but to an Irish one like Farrell. Angelina Jolie, who plays Alexander's manipulative mother, is the only one who attempts a Mediterranean delivery...

Thormod 07.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alexander (Director's Cut) (DVD)

Can a friend be a lover too?

Advantages: easy reading
Disadvantages: Sometimes alittle slow

...Friends, Lovers and Chocolate. I borrowed this book from my husband who was given a huge pile of Alexander McCall Smiths books at Christmas. Isabel Dalhousie has many friends, she is a spinster Philosopher living in Edinburgh, and is the Editor of "the Review of Applied Ethics", she enjoys a "Genteel" life, with housekeeper Grace looking after her, although she doesn't live-in. Grace is more down to earth but does enjoy going to spiritualist meetings and has met a nice man there. Jamie is a young Musician, a bassoonist and he teaches adolescents in his home and also plays in chamber orchestras when needed, he like many others enjoys a friendship with Isobel who treats her guests to glasses of wine and often meals. He had a friendship with Isabel's niece, but it fell through, although he remained friends with Isabel. Isabel...

jo145 04.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Friends, Lovers, Chocolate - Alexander McCall Smith

Was he really that great? - Alexander

Advantages: Good story, Loads of factual information
Disadvantages: Nearly 3 hours long!

...Alexander Running Time: 175 Minutes Released: 7 January 2005 Directed By: Oliver Stone Certificate: 15 Cast: Alexander - Colin Farrel Hephaistion - Jared Leto Ptolemy - Elliot Cowan Philotas - Joseph Morgan Antigonus - Ian Beattie Cassander - Jonathan Rhys Meyers Leonnatus - Garrett Lombard Crateros - Rory McCann Roxane - Rosario Dawson Old Ptolemy - Anthony Hopkins Scribe - David Bedella Child Alexander - Jessie Kamm Olympias - Angelina Jolie Philip - Val Kilmer Nurse - Fiona O'Shaughnessy Young Alexander - Connor Paolo Young Hephaistion - Patrick Carroll Wrestling Trainer - Brian Blessed Young Nearchus - Peter Williamson Young Cassander - Morgan Christopher Ferris Young Ptolemy - Robert Earley Young Perdiccas - Aleczander Gordon Aristotle - Christopher Plummer Cleitus - Gary...

Gangsta-ash 05.02.2008 (12.03.2008) · Read review
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Review of Alexander (Special Edition) (DVD)

Scones for Tea? A great book you'll Agree!!!

Advantages: Witty, warm and a great read
Disadvantages: none

...I have been an avid fan of Alexander Mccall-Smith, since I borrowed on of his books from the library last year. Each time a new novel comes out I am out buying it as soon as it hits the bookshelves. The book I am about to review has just recently come out in hard-back. "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones" is the fifth in the succcesful "Scotland Street" series......... **About The Author* Alexander McCall-Smith is a former Professor of Medical Law and taught at Edinburgh University. To date he has written over 60 novels, receiving recognition and great plaudits in the late 1990's for his "No1 Ladies Detective Agency" novels, the first of which has recently been made into a movie for Television. His novels have received Global recognition and translated into many languages. The "Scotland Street" series started out as...

kath66-2008 16.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Unbearable Lightness Of Scones - Alexander Mccall Smith