Couples Retreat: a total carcrash of a movie.

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Everything.

...I watch 50-60 films a year, not counting TV and DVD, and I haven?t seen a worse film than this in the past 5 years. I shared a cinema with 19 other people and there wasn?t a single laugh. The characters were all stereotypes and caricatures; the script was so clunky you could hear the punctuation marks; the editing was done-with-a-penknife clumsy; the film was shot in glaring, garish colour that hurt the eyes; and, yes, there was even a repellent small child ? the kind that you could only find in American films. The whole premise of the film and storyline are unbelievable, and you just hate all the people in it. The plot revolves around Jason Bateman?s character and wife having a hard time conceiving so that want to go to an island retreat to re-bond, but it?s so expensive they can only afford to go if three other couples go...

quelconque 01.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Couples Retreat

Rings Around the World

Advantages: Compelling plot, interesting style
Disadvantages: Occasional lame dialogue

...Singularity's Ring is a science-fiction novel exploring concepts of identity and group minds. In the future, or so the story goes, humanity will be bound together in groups or pods of two, three, four and sometimes five. Although pod members retain their individual names, skills and personalities, these are expressed primarily within the pod and they are capable of only limited independent activity. Author Paul Melko has drawn a convincing world where these group minds have taken over humanity democratically (because each member of each pod has a vote) and the remaining 'singletons' live somewhat resentfully in enclaves. We gradually learn that the pod culture has followed something called the Gene Wars, and the Community, an attempt at creating a gestalt entity from six billion humans that went disastrously wrong. The Community...

Olly_Plimsoll 27.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Singularity's Ring - Paul Melko

Ring of Brodgar

Advantages: Impressive, Neolithic site
Disadvantages: That concrete filling, which to be fair is not noticeable

...The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic henge and stone circle thought to have been erected between 2500BC and 200BC on the mainland island of Orkney and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apparently henges (that is the circular flat area and surrounding bank/ditch) do not usually have stone circles in them and therefore this site along with Stonehenge are anomalies. Unfortunately because of the prominence of Stonehenge and the fact that a flat circular bit of land from Neolithic times doesn't really look like much, the unusualness of the site is rather overlooked as people flock to see yet another stone circle. Of the probable original 60 stones, 27 remain in a huge circle in an otherwise unremarkable field. The circle is 104 metres in diametre which is a massive distance when you are standing in the centre of it. Whilst I have...

flyingllamas 16.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ring of Brodgar, Mainland

Couples Negril

Advantages: Service, Style and Quality
Disadvantages: Adult only

...I have been to this hotel twice and am due to go back for the third time! It really is All Inclusive from the moment you step off the plane and stroll to the in airport couples lounge for your first drink, to the shuttle to your hotel, and resort excursions. The service here is warm, friendly and attentive without being in your face or imposing. The rooms are well furnished and comfortable and I loved leaving my case at reception only for it to appear at my door a few minutes later, no tip require (or allowed) the resort is not too big and the beach here is stunning, I loved the red flag system on the beach to get your drink refreshed. If you want quality, style and service I would recommend Couples Negril every time....

travelexpert 07.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Couples, Negril

Bored of the Rings

Advantages: Just a truly great realisation of a truly great novel - most of the effects, acting and setting is spot on and I couldn't have asked for more
Disadvantages: May not suit non-fans, is rather long, the troll, I have to wait a year for the sequel

...My Story I must begin by confessing, I'm a bit of a Lord of the Rings nut. Now, I know many people going won't have read the book, or may have done so (or started doing so) years ago and forgotten it. Well, I was read The Hobbit as a child, after enjoying a spoof computer game 'Bored of the Rings' at the age of 10-11 I read Lord of the Rings for the first time. Since then, I've read it two more times, plus other Tolkien books (including The Silmarilion and Book of Lost Tales), played the games, seen an animated version of LOTR (as it shall henceforth be know) and to be honest, I was rather apprehensive about whether the film could live up to expectations. Well, I went to see it with three friends tonight (Genny, George and James) and I needn't have feared - we all really enjoyed it. Despite a variety of backgrounds (me being...

a-true-ben 23.12.2001 (03.09.2005) · Read review
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Review of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Couples Retreat: Fun and entertaining, bound to get some laughs!

Advantages: Funny, a little different from the usual romcom.
Disadvantages: Somewhat predictable.

...Couples Retreat was released in the UK on the 14th October 2009, starring Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Faizon Love, Jon Favreau, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Peter Serafinowicz and Jean Reno who plays Eden's (the resort) owner. This romantic comedy tells the story of four couples who travel together with a group package to Eden, a resort to relax and find adventure. The trip was organised by Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), who feel they are close to getting a divorce, but think they can seek help by travelling to this resort. The idea is that they can take the couples therapy, while the other couples get to do the fun stuff such as wind-surfing and sunbathing. On their arrival Joey (Jon Favreau) discovers that there are two sides of Eden: Eden West and Eden East. Of course...

MissDanaBanana 23.10.2009 · Read review
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  Paradise honeymoon at Couples, Ochos Rios

Advantages: No kids, loads to do
Disadvantages: American tourists, strange booking system for activites

...We chose the Couples resort for our honeymoon because, as well as sun and sand, we wanted a resort where there would be plenty to see and do (yes, even on honeymoon ;-)). This was certainly true of Couples. We travelled with Unijet (now part of First Choice I believe) from London Gatwick to Montego Bay airport. Since we were flying charter and the flight is around 8 hours long, we booked a "premium upgrade" for around £300 which gave us a longer seat pitch, free drinks, a choice of meals with real cutlery and seat back entertainment. Arrival at the airport was a little chaotic. On clearing customs, there were LOTS of porters offering to carry our bags. My advice is not to bother because it is literally only a few feet to the Couples desk and then out to the bus. Yes, I did say bus. OK, it had air conditioning, but it was a bone...

Ali1000 19.12.2004 (15.04.2007) · Read review
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Review of Couples Ocho Rios Resort (Jamaica)

BOARD (not bored) OF THE RINGS

Advantages: Great family board game
Disadvantages: Not for the very young, a little complicated to set up

...With the massive interest generated by the brilliant film adaptations of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (LOTR) it was inevitable that there would be a huge market for LOTR products especially games that could reproduce the feel of the original books. A very successful set of PS2 games was released but for the more traditional gamers an intelligently designed and very playable board game is also available. The Lord Of the Rings board game is made by Fantasy Flight games probably the leading manufacturers of Strategy board games. The game was created by the innovative designer Renier Knizia. THE IDEA As in any adaptation of a book the idea is to appeal to the current fans but also make it accessible for people who might be new to the genre. The gameplay must follow the original story but it must also be at a level that non-fans can...

Mauri 01.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Lord Of The Rings

  Bored of the Rings Too

Advantages: Some nice monsters and sets
Disadvantages: Boring locations, boring story, abrupt ending...I could go on...the movie certainly does!

..., with their own expectations and visualisations. But I can't help feeling that this film has been so well received because people refuse to be disappointed by it. They were determined to like it, no matter what. When Star Wars: The Phantom Menace came out a couple of years ago, many people were disappointed by it. I loved it! I ignored the hype, sat myself down in my seat, regressed to a twelve-year-old, and thoroughly enjoyed the movie that that nice Mr. Lucas had presented for me. I went and saw it FOUR times, which is unheard of for me! Now, I think, I know how those fans felt. Betrayed, let down, lied to. I don't think they could have put up with that disappointment again. And so the myth of The Lord of the Rings begins anew... As most of you know, New Zealander, Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, Meet The Feebles, The Frighteners, Heavenly...

Crazy-Christian 24.12.2001 (21.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Tesco Onion Rings

Advantages: Good value for money and taste good.
Disadvantages: High in calories

...Tesco Onion Rings (150g) Since Christmas I have been trying to fight off the temptations of chocolate. I fear that this will not last much longer though, with Easter fast approaching! So, in my quest for a non-chocolate snack I couldn?t help notice the price of Tesco?s onion rings. I must admit that I do have a weakness for these and try not to buy them too often, but I couldn?t resist on this occasion. I notice that they are listed on Ciao as Onions Rongs, but there is nothing (w)rong with these! Brief Facts * This product is produced in the UK. * The Best Before date on my pack was 4 months from when I bought it. * It is suitable for vegetarians. * Storage ? in a cool dry place. * The product contains no artificial colours or flavours or monosodium glutamate. Allergy Alert * It says that the product...

bryspy 12.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Tesco Onion Rings