To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor, pushing the R rating with such unabashed...... more

To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor, pushing the R rating with such unabashed ribaldry that you'll either be appalled or surprised by its defiant celebration of the young-adult male libido. Females will be equally shocked or delighted, because like American Pie this appealing, character-based comedy puts the women in control while offering a front-row view of horny guys in all their dubious glory. Which is to say, American Pie is mostly about sex--or, to be more specific, breasts, genitalia, "potential" lesbianism, blue silicone sex toys, crude methods of seduction, "the rule of three" (just watch the movie), a shower of "champagne," phone sex, tantric sex, and, oh yeah... superglue. In the case of college freshman Jim (Jason Biggs), performance anxiety plagues his upcoming reunion with sexy Czech exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), but his buddies from American Pie have a solution: rent a Lake Michigan beach house for the summer, throw wild parties to lure the local "hotties," and score big-time. Beach Party this ain't: blessed with a complete cast reunion from AP1 (including Eugene Levy as Jim's dad), this sequel is anything but innocent, and with the exception of drugs (which are conspicuously absent), pretty much anything goes. The gags are almost nonstop, and director J.B. Rogers (recovering from his debut debacle Say It Isn't So) handles them with laudable precision, allowing his young cast (particularly Biggs, who epitomizes comedic good sportsmanship) to run with lines that most people wouldn't dare utter aloud. The result is a liberating and eminently good-natured comedy that needn't apologize for its one-track mind. --Jeff Shannon

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Kudos to the home-video exec who came up with the "Presents..." prefix to keep a movie franchise going, even though it has almost no relation to the entries...... more

Kudos to the home-video exec who came up with the "Presents..." prefix to keep a movie franchise going, even though it has almost no relation to the entries that came before. This is number five in the series that started with American Pie, an unexpected hit of a teen sex romp that kept the box office and DVD grosses (not to mention gross-outs) coming. The last entry, American Pie Presents: Band Camp, was the first non-theatrical release, which gave the filmmakers more "anything goes" freedom in the "unrated" department than ever. The Naked Mile kicks it up another notch with more gratuitous female nudity, bodily fluid flinging, and sexual overtones than anyone thought could be topped. Pubescent boys and those with minds forever stuck in that dimension, get ready to ogle babes and roar at puerile humor like you never have before. The only American Pie connections are in the form of the Stifler family, filled with a never-ending string of sex-crazed high school and college boys, and Eugene Levy as family friend Mr. Levenstein, who pops in for a (presumably) hefty paycheck and a couple of lines of sexual wisdom about the connection between promiscuity and growing up. Our hero, Erik Stifler, is on a weekend vacation at the local college where his cousin knows all the hot babes. He's in possession of a "free pass" from his virginal girlfriend to lose his own virginity. His visit just happens to coincide with the college's traditional Naked Mile run, an excuse to fill the screen with raw young flesh and stupid drunken frat kids engaging in silly sexual deviance that some people may find funny. And let's face it, if they're going to find the nudity and sordid sex play offensive, they're not going to have this DVD in their hands. All ends as it should: Erik finds true sex--ahem, love--with his girlfriend and everyone else finds it with whoever is handy. Mostly importantly, the cycle is left open with everything ripe for another sure-to-be classic in the American Pie Presents series. --Ted Fry

... less

A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a...... more

A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a new trash-talking teen takes the lead. His name is Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) and he's Steve Stifler's younger brother (and despite the dark hair, Hilgenbrinck does resemble Seann William Scott--without the impish charm). There's nothing the football playing party boy hates more than bandies, the geeky members of the high school band. After he gets caught "punking" his favourite victims, he's sent to the guidance counselor, a redheaded gent known as the Sherminator (Chris Owen), who recommends band camp as penance. Since Steve has moved on to become a Girls Gone Wild impresario, Matt decides he'll make his own R-rated opus, "Bandies Gone Wild." This means spying on the well endowed camp counselors and other unwitting campers while they're showering, sunbathing, etc. When the not-so-bright triangle player gets caught yet again, his new friends abandon him, leading Stiffmeister Jr. to believe he just may have gone too far. Band Camp, which was released straight to DVD, plays more like Porky's than American Pie, and features Eugene Levy as Mr. Levenstein, AKA "Jim's Dad," the camp's conflict resolution officer and ex-porn star Ginger Lynn Allen as the camp nurse. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor, pushing the R rating with such unabashed...... more

To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor, pushing the R rating with such unabashed ribaldry that you'll either be appalled or surprised by its defiant celebration of the young-adult male libido. Females will be equally shocked or delighted, because like American Pie this appealing, character-based comedy puts the women in control while offering a front-row view of horny guys in all their dubious glory. Which is to say, American Pie is mostly about sex--or, to be more specific, breasts, genitalia, "potential" lesbianism, blue silicone sex toys, crude methods of seduction, "the rule of three" (just watch the movie), a shower of "champagne," phone sex, tantric sex, and, oh yeah... superglue. In the case of college freshman Jim (Jason Biggs), performance anxiety plagues his upcoming reunion with sexy Czech exchange student Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth), but his buddies from American Pie have a solution: rent a Lake Michigan beach house for the summer, throw wild parties to lure the local "hotties," and score big-time. Beach Party this ain't: blessed with a complete cast reunion from AP1 (including Eugene Levy as Jim's dad), this sequel is anything but innocent, and with the exception of drugs (which are conspicuously absent), pretty much anything goes. The gags are almost nonstop, and director J.B. Rogers (recovering from his debut debacle Say It Isn't So) handles them with laudable precision, allowing his young cast (particularly Biggs, who epitomizes comedic good sportsmanship) to run with lines that most people wouldn't dare utter aloud. The result is a liberating and eminently good-natured comedy that needn't apologize for its one-track mind. --Jeff Shannon

... less

One of the most comforting foods is pastry and it is an ingredient used the world over. Pastry started life as a simple ground grain and water paste that was...... more

One of the most comforting foods is pastry and it is an ingredient used the world over. Pastry started life as a simple ground grain and water paste that was baked around a substantial filling to act as protection from contaminants - more like an ancient cling film or foil than a food. In fact, the pastry casing wasn't even eaten, it was broken off and discarded, leaving the filling unharmed and perfect for eating. Over the years, the recipe for pastry has been developed into something that is as equally delicious to eat as the filling or topping it houses. Many of us have at least one family member who has made or makes a great pie, and it seems to be one of those dishes that instantly bring to mind a great foodie memory to anyone who loves home baking. The book will include recipes for sweet and savoury pies, pastries and tarts, and will include dishes from all over the world, from American apple pie to French tarte aux pommes to delicate sweet pastries from the Middle East. Packed with over 100 recipes and 50 stunning recipe photographs, this will be a cookbook to cherish. It is suitable for keen home cooks looking to expand their repertoire, and those cooking for friends and family - a pie is the perfect dish for sharing.

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A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a...... more

A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a new trash-talking teen takes the lead. His name is Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) and he's Steve Stifler's younger brother (and despite the dark hair, Hilgenbrinck does resemble Seann William Scott--without the impish charm). There's nothing the football playing party boy hates more than bandies, the geeky members of the high school band. After he gets caught "punking" his favourite victims, he's sent to the guidance counselor, a redheaded gent known as the Sherminator (Chris Owen), who recommends band camp as penance. Since Steve has moved on to become a Girls Gone Wild impresario, Matt decides he'll make his own R-rated opus, "Bandies Gone Wild." This means spying on the well endowed camp counselors and other unwitting campers while they're showering, sunbathing, etc. When the not-so-bright triangle player gets caught yet again, his new friends abandon him, leading Stiffmeister Jr. to believe he just may have gone too far. Band Camp, which was released straight to DVD, plays more like Porky's than American Pie, and features Eugene Levy as Mr. Levenstein, AKA "Jim's Dad," the camp's conflict resolution officer and ex-porn star Ginger Lynn Allen as the camp nurse. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

... less

American Pie: Band Camp A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the...... more

American Pie: Band Camp A spin-off rather than a sequel, Band Camp is the fourth entry in the American Pie franchise, but the first without the original cast. Instead a new trash-talking teen takes the lead. His name is Matt (Tad Hilgenbrinck) and he's Steve Stifler's younger brother (and despite the dark hair, Hilgenbrinck does resemble Seann William Scott--without the impish charm). There's nothing the football playing party boy hates more than bandies, the geeky members of the high school band. After he gets caught "punking" his favorite victims, he's sent to the guidance counselor, a redheaded gent known as the Sherminator (Chris Owen), who recommends band camp as penance. Since Steve has moved on to become a Girls Gone Wild impresario, Matt decides he'll make his own R-rated opus, "Bandies Gone Wild." This means spying on the well endowed camp counselors and other unwitting campers while they're showering, sunbathing, etc. When the not-so-bright triangle player gets caught yet again, his new friends abandon him, leading Stiffmeister Jr. to believe he just may have gone too far. Band Camp, which was released straight to DVD, plays more like Porky's than American Pie, and features Eugene Levy as Mr. Levenstein, AKA "Jim's Dad," the camp's conflict resolution officer and ex-porn star Ginger Lynn Allen as the camp nurse. --Kathleen C. FennessyThe 40 Year Old Virgin Cult comic actor Steve Carell--long adored for his supporting work on The Daily Show and in movies like Bruce Almighty and Anchorman--leaps into leading man status with The 40 Year-Old Virgin. There's no point describing the plot; it's about how a 40 year-old virgin named Andy (Carell) finally finds true love and gets laid. Along the way, there are very funny scenes involving being coached by his friends, speed dating, being propositioned by his female manager, and getting his chest waxed. Carell finds both humour and humanity in Andy, and the supporting cast includes some standout comic work from Paul Rudd (Clueless, The Shape of Things) and Jane Lynch (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind), as well as an unusually straight performance from Catherine Keener (Lovely & Amazing, Being John Malkovich). And yet... something about the movie misses the mark. It skirts around the topic of male sexual anxiety, mining it for easy jokes, but never really digs into anything that would make the men in the audience actually squirm--and it's a lot less funny as a result. Nonetheless, there are many great bits, and Carell deserves the chance to shine. --Bret Fetzer

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Kudos to the home-video exec who came up with the "Presents..." prefix to keep a movie franchise going, even though it has almost no relation to the entries...... more

Kudos to the home-video exec who came up with the "Presents..." prefix to keep a movie franchise going, even though it has almost no relation to the entries that came before. This is number five in the series that started with American Pie, an unexpected hit of a teen sex romp that kept the box office and DVD grosses (not to mention gross-outs) coming. The last entry, American Pie Presents: Band Camp, was the first non-theatrical release, which gave the filmmakers more "anything goes" freedom in the "unrated" department than ever. The Naked Mile kicks it up another notch with more gratuitous female nudity, bodily fluid flinging, and sexual overtones than anyone thought could be topped. Pubescent boys and those with minds forever stuck in that dimension, get ready to ogle babes and roar at puerile humor like you never have before. The only American Pie connections are in the form of the Stifler family, filled with a never-ending string of sex-crazed high school and college boys, and Eugene Levy as family friend Mr. Levenstein, who pops in for a (presumably) hefty paycheck and a couple of lines of sexual wisdom about the connection between promiscuity and growing up. Our hero, Erik Stifler, is on a weekend vacation at the local college where his cousin knows all the hot babes. He's in possession of a "free pass" from his virginal girlfriend to lose his own virginity. His visit just happens to coincide with the college's traditional Naked Mile run, an excuse to fill the screen with raw young flesh and stupid drunken frat kids engaging in silly sexual deviance that some people may find funny. And let's face it, if they're going to find the nudity and sordid sex play offensive, they're not going to have this DVD in their hands. All ends as it should: Erik finds true sex--ahem, love--with his girlfriend and everyone else finds it with whoever is handy. Mostly importantly, the cycle is left open with everything ripe for another sure-to-be classic in the American Pie Presents series. --Ted Fry

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Anyone who's watched just about any teenage film such as American Pie knows that the greatest evil in this world isn't chemical warfare,...... more

Anyone who's watched just about any teenage film such as American Pie knows that the greatest evil in this world isn't chemical warfare, ethnic cleansing, or even the nuclear bomb. The worst crime known to man is in fact virginity and while many of these films have given the topic a bad name, American Pie quietly sweeps in and gives sex some of its dignity back. The plot may be typical, with four high-school friends swearing to "score" before the prom, yet the film rises above the muck with its superior cast, successful and sweet humour and some actually rather retro values about the meaning and importance of sex. The comedic timing hits the mark and lessons are learned in this genuinely funny film, which will probably please the adult crowd even more than it will the teenage one. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor. You'll either be appalled or surprised by its defiant celebration of the young adult male libido. Females will be equally shocked or delighted, because like American Pie this appealing, character-based comedy puts the women in control while offering a front-row view of horny guys in all their dubious glory. The gags are almost non-stop and director JB Rogers (recovering from his debut debacle Say It Isn't So) handles them with laudable precision, allowing his young cast (particularly Biggs, who epitomises comedic good sportsmanship) to run with lines that most people wouldn't dare utter aloud. The result is a liberating and eminently good-natured comedy that needn't apologise for its one-track mind. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Anyone who's watched just about any teenage film such as American Pie knows that the greatest evil in this world isn't chemical warfare,...... more

Anyone who's watched just about any teenage film such as American Pie knows that the greatest evil in this world isn't chemical warfare, ethnic cleansing, or even the nuclear bomb. The worst crime known to man is in fact virginity and while many of these films have given the topic a bad name, American Pie quietly sweeps in and gives sex some of its dignity back. The plot may be typical, with four high-school friends swearing to "score" before the prom, yet the film rises above the muck with its superior cast, successful and sweet humour and some actually rather retro values about the meaning and importance of sex. The comedic timing hits the mark and lessons are learned in this genuinely funny film, which will probably please the adult crowd even more than it will the teenage one. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com To the horror of prudes everywhere, American Pie 2 is even funnier than its popular predecessor. You'll either be appalled or surprised by its defiant celebration of the young adult male libido. Females will be equally shocked or delighted, because like American Pie this appealing, character-based comedy puts the women in control while offering a front-row view of horny guys in all their dubious glory. The gags are almost non-stop and director JB Rogers (recovering from his debut debacle Say It Isn't So) handles them with laudable precision, allowing his young cast (particularly Biggs, who epitomises comedic good sportsmanship) to run with lines that most people wouldn't dare utter aloud. The result is a liberating and eminently good-natured comedy that needn't apologise for its one-track mind. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness,...... more

Sometimes you just don't need to change the recipe. Like its predecessor, American Pie 2 is superficially full of gross-out laddishness, but theres a moral tale lurking beneath all the jokes about masturbation, voyeurism and men's sexual prowess--or their lack of it. Jim (Jason Biggs) spends his first summer home from college trying to get himself ready for Nadia, the Czech woman he almost slept with in the first film. He goes to Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), his actual first partner, for pointers on technique--and learns lessons he did not expect. His friends--Finch, Oz, Kevin and the appalling Stiffler--are similarly educated during their summer vacation. This is a film that boasts many profoundly dirty jokes, but gets away with this lewd, crude and rude behaviour due to its charm and charisma.On the DVD: the DVD is packed with special features, including commentaries by director James B Rogers, writer Adam Herz and various cast members as well as an outtakes section, some deleted scenes and a music video. Theres a standard "making of" ("baking of") feature with some likable cast interviews that stress the friendliness of the set. There are subtitle options in English and Hindi, and the feature is presented in an anamorphic widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound that does justice to both the raucously loud rock score and the sparky dialogue. --Roz Kaveney

... less

One of the most comforting foods is pastry and it is an ingredient used the world over. Pastry started life as a simple ground grain and water paste that was...... more

One of the most comforting foods is pastry and it is an ingredient used the world over. Pastry started life as a simple ground grain and water paste that was baked around a substantial filling to act as protection from contaminants - more like an ancient cling film or foil than a food. In fact, the pastry casing wasn't even eaten, it was broken off and discarded, leaving the filling unharmed and perfect for eating. Over the years, the recipe for pastry has been developed into something that is as equally delicious to eat as the filling or topping it houses. Many of us have at least one family member who has made or makes a great pie, and it seems to be one of those dishes that instantly bring to mind a great foodie memory to anyone who loves home baking. The book will include recipes for sweet and savoury pies, pastries and tarts, and will include dishes from all over the world, from American apple pie to French tarte aux pommes to delicate sweet pastries from the Middle East. Packed with over 100 recipes and 50 stunning recipe photographs, this will be a cookbook to cherish. It is suitable for keen home cooks looking to expand their repertoire, and those cooking for friends and family - a pie is the perfect dish for sharing.

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