Basically complicated

Advantages: Brilliantly directed and acted film
Disadvantages: Slightly unbelievable towards the end

...Director John McTiernan is well known for action films such as The Hunt For Red October (1990) and Die Hard: With A Vengeance (1995). His 2003 film Basic is a thriller with a twist: not so much an action film, although there are moments of action, it being a military-based film. The Plot Tom Hardy is a Drugs Enforcement Agent with ties to the military from his days as an Army Ranger. When he gets a call from an old friend, asking for help solving the disappearance of a special forces instructor, Sergeant Nathan West, and various members of his squad. Hardy soon realises that all is not as it seems, as he has a minimum of resources and witnesses, and it will take all of his experience to extract the information from marines hiding secrets! Set in Panama, Hardy has to battle against the conditions as well as some underhand goings...

pmcds 24.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Basic (DVD)

Basic? Not Likely.

Advantages: Good storyline, good idea
Disadvantages: little action

...I quite fancied seeing this film when it was released in the cinema but for one reason or another I missed it and had to wait for the DVD to be released. When the DVD came available for rent I eagerly rented it and settled in for a nights entertainment. I wasn?t disappointed, although I was entertained in quite the same way as I was expecting. ** Background ** Basic was written by James Vanderbilt and is directed by John Tiernan (Die Hard, The Hunt For Red October). It is based in Fort Clayton on the edge of the Panama Canal but was filmed in Jacksonville in Florida. Master Sgt Charles Fails (G.I. Jane) was the technical advisor on the set and added the realism. ** Story Outline ** Tom Hardy is a DEA agent who is currently suspended for an alleged bribe he took. Before joining the DEA he was a Ranger and still has a few...

jonesri 18.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of Basic (DVD)

Basic Instinctive Nonsense

Advantages: The men will like Sharon Stone
Disadvantages: Terrible storyline, terrible acting

...Best selling crime/erotica author Catherine Trammel (Sharon Stone), originally from San Francisco but now living in London is interrogated by the police after a tragic accident leaves her car in the bottom of the sea with her male passenger dead. Trammel wants to prove her innocence but as a previous murder suspect this isn?t going to be easy. She is forced to be evaluated by experienced psychiatrist Dr Michael Glass (David Morrissey) however it?s clear right from the start that he?s not going to have an easy task on his hands. With Trammels blatant sex appeal and manipulative ways it?s not long before he finds himself enamoured by her however when people start to die around them Trammel is once again the prime suspect but what does she really want with Michael? This is the follow up to cult classic Basic Instinct released way...

Great_reviewer07 23.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Basic Instinct 2 (DVD)

With A Plot Thats Anything But Basic

Advantages: Good interesting Storyline that keeps you guessing
Disadvantages: The DVD Extras are a big let down

...One of the best onscreen partnerships has to have been Samuel L Jackson and John Travolta from Pulp Fiction, the way they seemed to gel together really added something to the film. Well when I saw they had been teamed up for the first time since for Basic I had to see it. It seemed to slip past me when it was in the cinema despite having seen a couple of adverts I didn?t realise it was out until last week in Asda I saw it on DVD and took a chance for £11.99 to see if it was actually any good. The film opens on the Panama ship canal, where a team of 6 US Rangers are on their way to a live training exercise with their training officer Sgt. Nathan West (Samuel L Jackson). It cuts to another helicopter a few hours later looking for the Rangers who failed to make the pickup contact. As the helicopter circles overhead one of the troops...

Andy.mack 29.01.2004 · Read review
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Review of Basic (DVD)

A basic wholemeal bread from Sainsburys

Advantages: Reasonable in price, nice tasting bread
Disadvantages: The soft crust and thinnish slices may not appeal to some.

...Review of Sainsbury's Basics Wholemeal Bread The Product I am reviewing Sainsburys Basics Wholemeal Bread, one of the many lines introduced to the supermarket's budget range of foodstuffs and household goods. Packaging, Storage Advice, Taste and Texture The 800g loaf of medium sliced bread is simply packaged in a transparent polythene wrapper. The wrapper bears the distinctive Sainsbury's Basics logo in a white font on an orange flash with the product description in orange on a white flash. The wrapper also carries the ingredients, nutritional values, allergy advice and storage instructions on the reverse. The packaging can be recycled in larger branches of Sainsbury's should your local refuse collection not cater for polythene. This bread should be stored in a cool dry place away from sunlight and strong odours. We keep...

brittle1906 13.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sainsbury's Basics Wholemeal Bread

Basic But Not Unacceptable

Advantages: They will come out for an airing now and again!
Disadvantages: They can't match the quality teas but what can you expect for this amount of money.

...80 teabags for 28p? It seems to be such a ridiculous price that most people will just by pass them in favour of a brand name. Last week we had a walk to Sainsbury's and the Other Half was sussing out the Basics range with a keen eye. I could see him eyeing up the Basics teabags and as much as I tried to steer him away and change the conversation it just wasn't going to work. In the end we reached a compromise, The Other Half put his pack of 80 Sainsbury's Basics teabags into the trolley and I bought my usual brand too. I tend to be a bit sceptical where cheap turns into give-away! I wouldn't say that I had no interest in his little experiment because that would be fibbing. But first of all I wanted to examine the box and read the details. As surmised the box is plain and simple, a very flimsy white cardboard box...

Sarahjh1 13.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sainsbury's Basics Teabags

It's Basic Stuff

Advantages: Nice Idea, Nice DVD Transfer & Sound
Disadvantages: Poor Execution, Muddled, Predictable

...When you call your film Basic then you?d better make sure it?s great otherwise critics are going to use the name in every way possible to sum up it?s mediocrity. All the elements are here, Travolta and Jackson together again after Pulp Fiction, A-list action director John McTiernan. However it?s best to remember that McTiernan?s previous film was the awful Rollerball remake and the screenplay is from the writer of Darkness Falls. The story sees taskmaster Sergeant West (Jackson) leading a training operation into the jungle during hurricane weather. Six hours later only two soldiers have survived, West is dead and a lot of questions need answering. In comes DEA officer Tom Hardy (Travolta) to get some answers. Immediately he clashes heads with a female Lieutenant (Connie Nielsen) but the pair work together to uncover secrets. However...

utero 23.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Basic (DVD)

Back To Basics

Advantages: Amazing Album
Disadvantages: None Really, Maybe Ive Got Trouble

...Back To Basics is Christina Aguilera's most recent album, released in 2009, it shows a more mature woman and singer with still that sexy and fun side that we all love her for. Back to Basics has been inspired by songs from the past, jazz and soul artists from the 30's 40's are said to have given some inspiration for the whole album and her new look. This is a great album that is made up of 2 cds combined holding 22 great tracks. You can pick this album up in most good music stores for around £5 to a £10 which is amazing value for 22 great songs. The track listing on this song is: CD 1 1.) Back To Basics (Intro) 2.) Pray 3.) Back In the Day 4.) Aint No Other Man 5.) Understand 6.) Slow Down Baby 7.) Oh Mother 8.) F.U.S.S. (Interlude) 9.) On Our Way 10.) Without You 11.) Still Dirrty 12.) Here To Stay 13...

lorrainek90 11.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Back to Basics - Christina Aguilera

Lightweight Rubbish? Try Sainsbury's Basics Refuse Sacks

Advantages: Cheap and cheerful, some of the plastic replaced by chalk
Disadvantages: Too thin for heavy or garden rubbish.

...Review of Sainsbury's Basics Refuse Sacks The Product Bin bags, or to give them their Americanised name, Refuse Sacks are a necessary evil. We have the Wheelie Bin system in our town so no longer use them as much as we used to, but they are still sometimes required, mainly for wrapping objects to store in the shed or for garden waste that cannot be composted. I object heartily to paying good money for something that I am ultimately going to throw away and plastic sacks are not very environmentally friendly. I spotted Sainsbury's Basic range now includes refuse sacks at just 71p for a 30 bag roll and decided to try them as this was around half the price of others on the supermarket shelf. As with many of Sainsbury's Basics products, these were located on the very bottom shelf, closest to the floor. I think that they do this...

brittle1906 29.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sainsburys Basic Refuse Sacks

It's Far From BASIC

Advantages: Great Storyline, Actors and Performances.
Disadvantages: A Bit Confusing.

...Basic Certificate: 15 Released: 2004 Ex-army Ranger and now Drugs Enforcement Agent Tom Hardy, is contacted by a friend from the past, informing him that Sergeant Nathan West and some of his men, are missing, and is asked to help solve the case. He quizzes the found members of Sergeant Wests' team, and has to work out who is telling the truth about what happened as each persons story is different. John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson star as Tom Hardy and Sergeant West respectively, with both giving excellent performances and making the film their own. There is also strong support from the other actors with all of them convincing with there versions of what happened, making it difficult to know which of them are telling the truth. Overall this is a very good movie with a few good twists and great performances by all actors. I...

Leigh36295 02.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Basic (DVD)