Stranger In Moscow

Advantages: A unique and interesting experience, some fascinating sights
Disadvantages: Can be a confusing and not as beautiful as most European capital cities

...General Impressions Let me start this review by saying nothing in Moscow is easy. We spent a great deal of time in confusion! This is partly because of the language barrier. In France, Italy or Spain you can make out at least some of the written word or you find you actually remember something from school after all. Russian cyrillic is, however, incomprehensible to the English eye. Then there's the fact that Moscow isn't really set up for tourists at all. Nobody "tells" you anything. Nothing is signposted or explained. For example there did not appear to be a single sign pointing to the Lenin Mausoleum (and I wish I could tell you where he was now, but I still don't know, we never found him), the metro stations are often unmarked and unsigned and there is nothing explaining the three different types of ticket that can be bought...

Tricia24 19.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of Moscow (Russia)

State Of Monotony

Advantages: Decent storyline
Disadvantages: Very dull, drags on alot, too long

...When a thief is shot dead in Washing DC one night, no one knew that it would lead to a web of corruption deep in the heart of the US Congress. Right at the centre of this breaking story is Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck) who has been having an affair with one of his staff members who dies due to a suspected suicide at a train station. Top journalist Cal McAffrey (Russel Crowe) is an old college roommate of Stephen Collins and when Collins approaches Cal with some shocking information Cal vows to investigate and get to the bottom of the misconduct. Therefore Cal sets off to find any information possible to solve this case with the help of young, enthusiastic yet inexperienced journalist Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) however when evidence arises which leads straight back to Collins it seems that things aren?t as straight cut as...

Great_reviewer07 19.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of State Of Play (DVD)

Moscow - Must Go.

Advantages: A unique cultural experience which you will never forget. A high "WOW!" factor.
Disadvantages: Without local knowledge or a grasp of the language, it could possibly be pretty intimidating

...One of my biggest regrets is never having to been to Berlin whilst the wall was up. Amanda, my wife, once managed to visit East Berlin - with no papers - but that's a different story! Since the demise of Communism, I've been behind the former Iron Curtain twice. On this occasion, we visited Moscow. There's a lot to say about Moscow and I won't be able to say it all here, naturally - but I'll do my best to give an informative glimpse of this fantastic city. I can't comment on hotels because we're lucky enough to have friends who own a flat in Moscow, and that's where we stayed. Let me try to tempt you, anyway! I guess the first thing to say is that the currency is a little confusing - in the sense that you're never quite sure whether to use US dollars or Russian roubles. Most of the time it's fairly obvious but it helps if you...

andymcf 01.11.2002 · Read review
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Review of Moscow in general

Moscow - the practicalities

Advantages: Fascinating city, diverse mix
Disadvantages: Expensive, arbitary opening hours, queues

...If you want a review to romance about Moscow and tell you about the glistening streets of the Arbat, you'll have to go elsewhere, because this review is aimed at telling you more practical hints for going to Moscow. I only went for 5 days, so there will be lots of places that went unexplored but it's also a good amount of time to see all the major sites. We flew with BA into Domodedovo airport and made the decision to take a taxi into the city. There is a train as well which takes about 45mins and which stops at a railway station out in the West. But we booked a cab at one of the stalls and it cost us about £20. Not cheap but ok. We stayed at the Radisson SAS Slayvanskaya, which is supposed to be a 5* hotel but wasn't extremely luxurious. It was quite expensive at £100 a night but we wanted to have an International Brand name...

sekyc 12.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Moscow (Russia)

What state of mind thought of this one...???

Advantages: 5 for £10.00 deal for 4 nights at blockbusters... so i didn't feel too ripped off
Disadvantages: dull, boring, tedious, un-thrilling (if that's a word), and drawn out.

...I have been watching a few DVDs recently, mainly because blockbusters are having a bit of a good deal on at the moment, although not as good as the deal they had on over the school summer holidays. Anyway, one of the ones I rented was called ?State of Play? starring a few well known faces, and coming highly recommended by the short bald guy behind the counter, plus the outstanding claims on the DVD box itself? ?Unmissable? stated the Daily Mirror? ?Scorching? claim the Daily Mail? ?An outstanding thriller? shouted the Telegraph? ?Electrifying? gasped James King of Radio 1 (who?) So, with all this good press, and the recommendation from the guy behind the counter at blockbusters, I thought that this political thriller of a movie should enter my choice of 5 for a tenner for four night offer. So the other night I...

blissman70 29.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of State Of Play (DVD)

Hotel Pekin Moscow

Advantages: Central
Disadvantages: Its a dump

...Hotel Pekin Moscow I have read many reviews on this hotel & most of them are bad... very bad. I was there September 2007 & the staff are terrible. I have never been treated with such utter contempt. Not one person will help you. They are utterly useless & often aggressive. I booked my room in advance. I faxed the details, they faxed my confirmation with room cost & reservation number. I confirmed all this by email but when I got there a few days later they knew nothing of my reservation, I showed them their own fax & they still had no clue. After staying two days they decided to put the rate up & the manager told me 'Give me that paper' when I showed her the fax. When I complained this was insane to put the cost up after we had agreed the rate, she just started making out going phone calls & glared at me. To add to the prison camp...

bud82 27.09.2007 · Read review
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Review of Pekin (Moscow)

State of Play - a superb drama

Advantages: Superb acting and clever story
Disadvantages: None!

...HAT IS IT: State of Play is a six part BBC drama first shown in 2003. It has recently been adapted into a Hollywood film starring Russell Crowe and Helen Mirren. The original series began with two seemingly unrelated deaths: the shooting of a young man thought to be drugs related and the death of a young female political researcher. As the series develops, a complex network is established which draws in the drugs underworld, the press and important political figures. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil this fantastic series for anyone; sufficed to say themes of corruption and betrayal abound across the press, government and police force. CAST: State of Play has one of the best casts I think I have ever seen in one drama. David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Marc Warren, Kelly MacDonald and James McAvoy all feature...

jesperado77 24.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of State Of Play - Series 1 (DVD)

Time to get in a State

Advantages: Amazing views, iconic building
Disadvantages: Queues!!!

...This year Mr Tart and myself found ourselves in New York (well, I mean we had planned to be there!). I?d been a couple of times before but Mr Tart had never been so I designated the Empire State Building (ESB) as a must see. SOME FACTS: The ESB was built in 1930. At the time it was the world?s tallest building and it is still up there in the tallest buildings list (currently number 15). The ESB is 1472 ft tall (if you include the antenna) and there are 102 floors. LOCATION: Ok so you may have guessed that the ESB is in New York City! It is at 350 5th Avenue and the intersection with 34th Street. Trust me you can?t miss it! The nearest subway station is 34th Street/Penn. PRICES: The ESB is one of America?s most visited attractions so it?s never going to be that cheap to visit. The visit costs $20 for adults...

tartlette83 10.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Empire State Building, New York

A state of suspense...

Advantages: Another amazing thriller from Katzenbach
Disadvantages: none at all

...*** Background *** The story is set in America, in a time when violent crime is the norm and the children are feared more than any serial killer. There exists only one truly safe place - the Fifty First State, guaranteed crime free. Here doors can be left unlocked and the streets are safe to walk along. To get into the Fifty First State though, you have to go through strict security checks, have an exemplary record - and pay a large fee. A fee that those who are able to afford are only too willing to pay for their safety, and that of their loved ones. But now the safety of this modern Utopia is threatened? *** The Story *** Susan Clayton is a single woman who lives with her terminally ill mother. She writes complex puzzles for a magazine. One day Susan finds a strange note in her mailbox at home when she returns...

wolfatgoogle 24.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of State of Mind - John Katzenbach

MOSCOW AND ST PETERSBURGH GUIDEBOOK.

Advantages: Help you to find your bearings and plan your day.
Disadvantages: I found it useful as a guide, but tended to put it away during the day.

...Several years ago, I went for a trip to Moscow and St Petersburgh, and went prepared with my Guide book, hoping not to miss a lot of the sites that I would not have otherwise known about. The Cadogan Guides to different Cities have always been concise and this one is no different, although to me, visiting a country or a new town is not so much about reading a guidebook, as exploring and finding out for yourself what a city has on offer. The guide is detailed and gives you details of transportation, details of walks which was fascinating, and of course full details of the historic buildings that make up cities of the world, their background, and information that perhaps you may miss on a guided tour. MOSCOW I followed the map the first day, and took myself into Red Square. I wanted to see it. I wanted to feel the ambiance...

thingywhatsit 05.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Cadogan Guide to Moscow & St Petersburg - Cadogan