Serious Reservations

Advantages: A decent performance from Abigail Breslin.
Disadvantages: Zeta-Jones can't do comedy and neither can the director.

...and strings that suit the frothy subject matter. His chiming piano and strutting strings reflect the order Kate requires in her kitchen, though Glass then undermines himself by turning them syrupy. He employs syncopated piano motifs that resemble a heartbeat for her bedside vigil, which becomes steadily darker as it progresses. He tends towards the mawkish with sad piano and flute sections that seems a calculated attempt to push our emotional buttons. The most effective use of music comes with the jazzy brass and frantic themes for when Nick and Zoe are making pizza. It's a shame the rest of the soundtrack doesn't match up, with Michael Bublé's version of "Sway", refrains of "S'Wonderful" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" sitting at odds with Glass' solid groundwork. "No Reservations" is a syrupy chick flick that will appeal if you like its leads...

afy9mab 12.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of No Reservations (DVD)

* No Reservations Here *

Advantages: Plot , Jokes , Set
Disadvantages: None!

...No Reservations is an American Romantic Drama film starring Catherine Zeta Jones. The film was released in the United Kingdom on August 21st 2007. Running time of this movie is one hundred and four minutes. This movie is a PG. Kate is a ?top? chef. She is extremely dedicated to her job and even goes out of her way in her ?off duty? time , to improve her performance in the kitchen. She is a star at the restaurant she works at ; everyone praises her excellent talent. However , what will happen when her sister dies and so her niece goes to live with her ? There?s a new chef too ; what will he be like ? Watch No Reservations to find out. First of all , I didn?t know until after I had seen this movie , is that this movie is based slightly on a German film called Mostly Martha. I myself , hadn?t heard of that movie until now , and havn...

xdonzx 16.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of No Reservations (DVD)

A Dozen Reservations

Advantages: er.....
Disadvantages: Story, delivery, actors......

...There comes a time when you feel you have awoken in a parallel universe, around Christmas time I awoke to watch the highly acclaimed No Reservations a movie that's advertising could not be missed anywhere last summer. When I say I awoke, I generally work nights and mid shift always go off somewhere quiet for a short power nap. Upon waking up I felt something was unusually wrong, but having asked my work colleagues it appeared everything was right, better still all required tasks were done so it was quite simply a case of watching a DVD and making myself available as or when required. My choice of movie was this apparent Blockbuster that had audiences "in stitches". First I must add No Reservations is a remake of a German movie called Martha AKA Bella Martha, to me the fact that a movie from another country (or no doubt as its viewed...

sghawken 03.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of No Reservations (DVD)

Reserve your copy now!

Advantages: Well acted, good cast, nice story, good pace
Disadvantages: Zeta Jones never seemed to look like she was working in a hot kitchen!

...I passed my driving test last week (yay!!) and went for a nice drive around with Harry after I got home to celebrate. We found ourselves in town so I popped into Woolworths and decided to buy myself a little celebratory present. I saw this film on the shelf called "No Reservations" and I remembered my mum telling me she'd seen it and thought it was good, so for only a fiver, I bought it and sat down to watch it last weekend. Chef Kate Armstrong has got her life sorted. She's got a great job as a head chef, a lovely little apartment and she thinks life is great, even though she's in therapy. But Kate's life changes completely when her sister is killed and she becomes full time carer of her niece Zoe. Kate has to alter her job and life to accomodate the little girl, and when new sous-chef Nick starts to look after Kate's kitchen when...

mummy2harry 23.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of No Reservations (DVD)

Minsmere Nature Reserve

Advantages: Lots of wildlife, good facilities for the disabled
Disadvantages: Admission charges

...Minsmere is one of over 200 nature reserves in Britain managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Established in 1948 it is also one of Britain's oldest nature reserves. Back in those early post war days it was known as the Minsmere Bird Reserve and covered only a fraction of the 150 acres that it now spans. Today, Minsmere Nature Reserve covers the whole of east Suffolk from the estuary of the River Blyth to its north down to Minsmere River on its southern boundaries, this area now also forms a part of the much larger Minsmere - Walberswick Special Protection area and is also an area of outstanding natural beauty. In addition to its birdlife, it is also an important habitat for flowers, plants, insects and mammals. In September 2004 a previously unknown species of moth was found here, which was given the name...

micksheff 26.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Minsmere Nature Reserve, Suffolk

No Reservations - Bland & Tasteless

Advantages: The food looks good?
Disadvantages: Where do I begin...

...and love. Kate, unable to give the child what she needs, attempts to win her over the only way she knows how - with food. Unfortunately, Zoe's tastes are not as refined as Kate's, and she refuses to eat anything Kate serves her. At a loss, Kate's inability to get close to her niece begins to affect not only her strict routine, but her life as well. When the owner of the restaurant hires another chef in order to help her, Kate is upset by the competition, and fears losing her job. The truth is, Kate lacks self-confidence, is afraid of relationships - and confronted by both, her life begins to crumble. 'No Reservations' is a light-hearted attempt at drama that is neither compelling nor well-acted. Catherine Zeta-Jones is not at her best, and overlooks the intended depth of her character by focusing too much on the 'cooking' aspect...

GoFigure 19.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of No Reservations (DVD)

Blackburn Meadows Nature Reserve

Advantages: A Haven For Wildlife, Educational For Local Schoolchildren
Disadvantages: Industrial Location, Some Vandalism

...on it but the subsidence created by the open cast removal of the Coal deposits had lowered the level of this land even further. Vegetation had begun to establish itself but it was the creation of the Tinsley Sewage Works that was to provide the catalyst and create the most remarkable change to this area, transforming it from an Industrial wasteland to the Wildlife haven that it is today. The Sewage lagoons attracted huge numbers of migrating and wading birds that stopped off here to feed on the vast numbers of insects that the sewage began to attract. Once this trend of visiting birds had been realised the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust stepped in to try and get this area designated as a local Nature Reserve and their applications were granted. Blackburn Meadows is now managed by a consortium that includes the Sheffield and Yorkshire Wildlife...

micksheff 28.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Blackburn Meadows Nature Reserve, South Yorkshire

Leighton Moss Nature Reserve

Advantages: Lots of Wildlife, Unique Habitat
Disadvantages: Admission Charges For Non RSPB Members

...Leighton Moss is an area of extensive reed beds and salt marshes near Morecambe in Lancashire. It is the largest remaining habitat of its type in the north west of England and the whole site is owned and managed by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). I have some very fond memories of this Nature Reserve as a young Child, when my Parents used to bring me here en route to our holidays in the Lake District. This vast expanse of reed beds was always something magical to me, with its footpaths that cut between these reeds, which at over ten feet high must have appeared huge when I was so small. In later life I have visited similar habitats in Norfolk and Suffolk and especially around the Norfolk Broads but when I first started to come here this type of vegetation was unique to me. There is certainly nothing of this...

micksheff 05.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve

Blacktoft Sands Nature Reserve

Advantages: Lots Of Wildlife
Disadvantages: Not Free For Non RSPB Members, No Buses On A Sunday

...Blacktoft Sands is a Nature Reserve that is managed by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It lies next to the tiny Village of Ousefleet eight miles to the East of Goole in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Ousefleet lies at a point where two of the largest Rivers in Yorkshire, the River Ouse and the River Trent meet, and flow into the Humber Estuary. Blacktoft Sands lies at the very point where these two great Rivers meet. The Reserve covers an area of 474 acres of tidal Reedbeds, Saltmarsh, Mudflats and Brackish Lagoons. These tidal Reedbeds are the largest in England and therefore provide an important Habitat for many rare Birds. There are very few Saline lagoons in Europe and these attract a number of rare Breeding Birds including Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tit, Bittern and Avocet. During the Spring and Autumn...

micksheff 30.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of RSPB Blacktoft Sands Nature Reserve

A terrific Reserve Ruby Port

Advantages: Good value for money, smooth and supple flavour, good with a cigar
Disadvantages: Not widely available

...On a recent visit to Lisbon I decided to indulge in some of Portugal?s most famous fortified wine, Port, which is a favoured tipple of myself and many other Brits over the years. Glancing across the wide range on offer in a Portuguese supermarket I picked up a 75cL bottle of Fonseca Bin no.27 Fine Reserve Port for 10.44 euros (around £7.20; I think it also available in the UK from Waitrose supermarkets for £8.60). This Port is a Reserve Ruby which means it is made from better quality grapes and aged for longer before release than regular Ruby Ports which are generally the cheapest on sale. Fonseca is a British owned Port house which I?ve heard has a good reputation and when a friend and I tucked into the bottle we began to understand why. In my opinion it was a very good example of an extremely drinkable, supple and smooth Port which...

zallin 19.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of Fonseca Bin No. 27 Fine Reserve Port, Bin 27