Hallelujah. Factory and the Hacienda live again

Advantages: One of the best British films to be made so far
Disadvantages: Jumpy, Jerky opening and closing credits....headache city (which I guess was the point after all)

...DV), with not a single iota of dynamism lost. Concerning Coogan's casting as Wilson, Hooky (New Order) said it best, (only half-jokingly) "...The second biggest w**ker in Manchester playing the first". I was actually expecting to see a rehashed Alan Partridge, but was pleasantly surprised, and after a certain point, I even forgot it was Coogan I was watching, so believably did he make the character his own. Was Wilson *really* that arrogant? The sets on this movie are fantastic, the set of the Hacienda interior being the best, having being built as the real Hac had been demolished before shooting started, You can believe it to be the actual club itself. All in all, with the exception of the necessary dark moments (Curtis' death being the most poignant) 24HPP is a most enjoyable and irreverent romp through and over the annals...

Cubz 09.04.2002 · Read review
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Review of 24 Hour Party People (Vanilla Version) (DVD)

A charming inn near a lovely city

Advantages: beautiful historic inn at a reasonable price
Disadvantages: the beach is 40 minutes away

...I have stayed at this wonderful hacienda inn twice, in March 2005 and March 2006. And I am going back again in January 2008. It just gets better each time. What I like most about the 400-year-old restored hacienda are the lovely grounds, staying in a pretty room just a few steps from the large pool, the hospitailty of the owners, and the wonderful breakfast (included) on the large covered terrace each morning: fresh orange juice, fruit, eggs anyway you like them, ham, bacon, etc. This is a charming, peaceful place, where you can spend hours by the pool and listen to all the birds, or head into Merida, which is just 10 minutes away by taxi ($6) or 20 minutes by bus (a few cents). The hosts go out of their way to make families comfortable, with toys and activities for the kids, and there also are very pretty private suites where you...

setauket 31.08.2007 (01.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of Hacienda San Pedro Nohpat, Merida

Simply amazing place

Advantages: Clean, close to beach, plenty to do, kids club, staff very helpful and speak english
Disadvantages: 9 hour flight!

......

Mark_K 25.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus, La Romana

Lovely hotel near the beach and all restaurants and bars

Advantages: Location, price, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Close proximity to the mountains meant a lot of cloud

......

emidyem 14.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Hacienda San Jorge, La Palma

A Superb hotel

Advantages: Give it a go
Disadvantages: Not much

...than 5 star, with mini bar, FREE when we stayed. 2 double beds and various views, we had one of the arrival area containing a bronze (I think) statue of a bull. You have the usual options of double with sea view, partial etc and then there are the Jnr suites which looked very dapper, would stay in one of those if we went again. The restaurants are however top notch and although you will need to book for 3 of them in advance the other serve good food for all the family. They are the Mexican cuisine (à la carte; buffet starters and dessert) ,Grill and steakhouse (à la carte), Asian restaurant (buffet) and the general large dining room, La Hacienda, for those unlucky enough not to get a booking. Trips are a must here but be warned the food included is not good. Take a bit of your own and take plenty of water. My wife felt very faint...

Maximus-Qualitus 13.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Riu Yucatan, Playa Del Carmen

Lost Souls - Hidden Treasure!

Advantages: Lose yourself in this dark, atmospheric musical symphony
Disadvantages: Deserves your full attention from start to finish

...Lost Souls? The Doves finest, as is often the case with debut albums - this is a classic and probably my favourite album of all time. A chilled out listen with great lyrics and amazing vocals from Jimi Goodwin. It's an album that transcends a specific period in ones life, rising above musical genres, impervious to clichés. I'm talking specifically about Britpop culture and the 'Madchester' scene to which Doves (or sub-sub as they were formally known) were born, formed in the wake of an acid house craze that swept through their hometown of Manchester, leading to a chance encounter between old school friend Jimi Goodwin and brothers, Jez and Andy Williams where else but the Hacienda club? cue: a band was born. Standout tracks include: Here it comes, Lost souls, Catch the sun and Cedar room. From start to finish a gloriously dark...

pedro_gavino 25.09.2008 · Read review
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Review of Lost Souls - Doves

Want to hear a story?

Advantages: A concise snapshot of the enigmatic mancunian pioneers
Disadvantages: Was made during a low point in their career

...The New Order story is a fascinating rockumentary, and was released on DVD in 2005, although it had firstly been released on videa back in 1995. The story is both told by the band from their own perspective, and also by many of the people who they annoyed or were alongside on the way. It captures the band shortly after the release of 'Republic', just as things turned really sour for the rest of the 90s. The demise of Factory records, tours, band fall outs and the imminent financial collapse of their nightclub/folly The Hacienda had taken their toll, and all was pointing to the end for the band. Tensions were strained, friendships were frayed, and all looked a bit sticky. Only New Order could make an optimistic enigmatic drama out of such a situation, and still belt out the hits. Bernard Sumner is asked at one point if New...

kevduts 31.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of New Order - New Order Story (DVD)

24 Hour Exhiliration

Advantages: Exciting, Funny, Great Acting, Great Music
Disadvantages: None for me

...24 Hour Party People (Strapline: How Manchester Became Great) is the true(ish) story of how Manchester became one of the coolest places in the universe. It takes us from the punk years, through the creation of Factory Records, through the life and times of the (in)famous Hacienda and the Madchester phenomenon. It is a superb British movie. At the centre of the film is Tony Wilson (played by Steve Coogan), presenter of Granada local news programmes, music enthusiast, trend vulture, founder-partner of Factory Records and the Hacienda. Wilson is a strange and fascinating mixture: clean-cut though remarkably erudite presenter by day, bringing us features on ducks that can round up sheep and the oldest canal-worker in Manchester as well as the news, and unspeakably fashionable clubber, gigger, drug-dabbler and chance-spotter by night...

sandrabarber 27.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of 24 Hour Party People (Vanilla Version) (DVD)

Have It Large

Advantages: Funny, Good Story, Good Music
Disadvantages: Doesn't show the success of Madchester in the UK

...was that it wouldn't sell much anyway, history now shows the record as being on of the best selling 12"'s with 140,000 copies shifted. Factory were also behind 'The Hacienda' nightclub which was always packed in the height of the music scene but no money was made because no one drank, they just gave their money to the drug dealers instead. Micheal Winterbottom's film is part documentary/part comedy and works very well indeed. Tony Wilson is an absurd character in real life and Coogan plays him brilliantly. Some would even say that part of Alan Partridge is actually modelled on Wilson. There are many comic moments throughout such as Wilson's sexual encounter in the back of a van through to his many clashes with erratic producer Martin Hannet (Andy Serkis). Winterbottom plays out the whole film through Wilson and even goes as far as...

utero 14.05.2003 · Read review
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Review of 24 Hour Party People (Vanilla Version) (DVD)

Wise men say only fools rush in...

Advantages: Gentle, heart-warming comedy
Disadvantages: Nothing out of the ordinary...

...and adheres to a lot of customs that Alex doesn't understand. Perhaps it is because I have been part of a mixed race couple before, or perhaps it is just that I have a penchant for things that are foreign, but either way, I really enjoyed having a glimpse into what it is like to be a mixed couple in America. Based in and around Las Vegas, there are some stunning shots of the desert throughout the film, including the magnificent Hoover Dam in Nevada. There are also some great shots of the Grand Canyon National Park. What I liked best though were the shots of her grandmother's hacienda - I love seeing how other people live and this was a great opportunity to see her beautiful home. None of this was strictly necessary, but I did really enjoy seeing it and it makes the film a little more memorable than the average chick flick. I also really liked...

sunmeilan 17.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Fools Rush In (DVD)