Following in Orwell's footsteps on The Road To Wigan Pier.

Advantages: An Glimpse into Britain's Social history
Disadvantages: Not light reading!

...Review of 'The Road To Wigan Pier' by George Orwell. I am reviewing a paperback edition of the book, published by Penguin Classics; 272 pages, cover price £9.99. The book was first published in 1937 by Victor Gollancz. My copy was published in 2001. I picked up the The Road to Wigan Pier in a book exchange facility that I often use when travelling on my narrow boat. I had read Orwell's well known classics, 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' many years ago and seeing this book decided to re visit George Orwell's writing. The Book First off, how can I describe The Road To Wigan Pier? Well, it is not a novel, nor is it a work of non fiction in the way of a true life story. It is basically an account of the findings of George Orwell's tour of the industrial areas of Britain in the 1930s. I have to be honest...

brittle1906 05.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Road to Wigan Pier - George Orwell

Road To Perfection

Advantages: Looks fantastic, acting is great, interesting story
Disadvantages: Slightly predictable towards the end

...For such a famous director, Sam Mendes has made very few films. Only two in fact; the multi-Oscar winning American Beauty and this 2002 follow-up, Road To Perdition. Although follow-up isn't really the right term, as this is completely different. I was surprised to find that this did not win any major Oscars, although it was nominated for about six, because it really is a brilliant film. I was also surprised that for such a great film, it was not advertised very well; I didn't really know anything about this film before I saw it, and I bet lots of people don't know about it at all, which is a shame. The story tells of a hit man for the Irish mafia, Mike Sullivan (played by Tom Hanks). He and his two sons have a close relationship with the godfather John Rooney (played by Paul Newman). Sullivan keeps his job a secret from his...

l-m-n-o-p 28.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Road To Perdition (DVD)

On the Road to Kandahar

Advantages: Good Book
Disadvantages: Can't think of any worth mentioning

...Jason Burke gives a good account of the middle east, of Kurdish Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria and the Muslim world of South East Asia. According to the Guardian: "From Algeria to Thailand, Burke, formerly The Observer's chief reporter in the region, moves through every quadrant of Islam, drawing out profound differences between the communities. This is no homogeneous surge of Muslims massing to rise as one against the West. His vivid contacts with Kurdish, Arab and Asian Muslims reveal complex issues, inter-communal and international, that far outstrip the 'war on terror's' capacity to provide analysis or answers." The book is well written, clear and easy to understand. Jason Burke is also the author of Al - Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam....

Nazuku 17.07.2006 (22.08.2007) · Read review
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Review of On the Road to Kandahar - Jason Burke

Road to the Oscars

Advantages: Every frame, virtually
Disadvantages: Far too superb for any

...This is not a Tom Hanks movie. If any of you have ever been put off by his presence in a film before, then cast that bias aside. This will change your opinion of the man completely, and you will be humming his praises as well as everything else about the flick. Tom Hanks plays a minor gangster, Michael Sullivan, in the US at the dawn of the 1930s. Now, none of us I am sure would have thought of casting him in such a role, unless one were deliberately gunning for those golden statuettes. But here any kind of grand-standing is knocked on the head, leaving a decent, assured performance. In appearance, he looks a lot bulkier than normal. Brilliantly, his dodgy moustache makes him look suitably macho at the beginning of the film, and immediately vulnerable when the time arises. And even more surprisingly, when he needs to be...

theediscerning 20.09.2002 · Read review
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Review of Road To Perdition (DVD)

Road to Wii adventure

Advantages: Fun, easy to use and versatile
Disadvantages: slightly poor graphics

...I purchased the wii for my son a few months ago it came with wii sports one controler and the nunchuck. What a sensational games console, immediately everybody fell in love with it. Anytime we have guests for dinner, almost guaranteed the wii will make an appearance. It has become very competitive in our houshold especially with the ten pin bowling. The price I paid was £179.99, via an internet price comparison site. The graphics are a little crude, if you have been used to playing on other rival consoles, but for sheer fun, this little gem cannot be beaten. The console can be conneceted to the internet via a wireless router, this is not a major part of the gaming experience at present, but will become so in he future as more wii games are produce. At the moment on our console we have the wii weather channel which can be set for your own...

jazebe 25.04.2008 · Read review
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Road to heaven

Advantages: Varied, great lyrics
Disadvantages: Not recognised enough!

...Chris Rea is a name most people recognise, but only in relation with two songs – Road To Hell, and Driving Home For Christmas. Luckily, these aren't his only good songs – in fact, he has such an excellent musical repertoire that it's perhaps surprising that he isn't more famous. The Road To Hell isn't a Greatest Hits album by any stretch of the imagination, but it might as well be. Every track is a classic, it's hard to fault them in any way. The guitar work and composition is excellent, and I love the structure of the lyrics, they give you a true mental image of what Chris is talking about. "I was lost in the deep and darkest night, no direction, not a single hope in sight, when I saw a fire burning brightly through, the storm that raged above, in the shadows of your warm and tender love". Each song has it's own distinct...

Excelle 23.01.2001 (31.01.2001) · Read review
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Review of Road To Hell, The - Chris Rea

The Road to Guantanamo: Essential Viewing!!!

Advantages: Very moving, deeply emmotional viewing of the true nature of Guantanamo Bay
Disadvantages: Some bad language.

...Directed by: Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross Cast: Riz Ahmed, Farhad Harun, Waqar Siddiqui, Arfan Usman, Shahid Iqbal <<< Short synopsis >>> Four young men travel from England to Pakistan for a wedding and holiday but are caught up with the American forces fighting terrorism (In Afghanistan 2001, shortly after 9/11) . This is the true story of the plight of a group of friends who later became known as the Tipton Three, who experienced first hand the conditions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The friends were held for three years without legal representation under extreme conditions before their eventual release in 2004. ****Winner of the Silver Bear For Direction at the 56th Berlin Film Festival**** This review is of the documentary/film 'The Road to Guantanamo' which is based on the true story of the 'Tipton Three'. I...

dblock 09.07.2006 (21.12.2006) · Read review
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Review of The Road To Guantanamo (DVD)

THE ROAD TO WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

Advantages: Fantastic in parts.....
Disadvantages: .....but lacking in others.

...and visual imagery, but seems to be in desperate need of a viagra boost (the 100mg dose if possible) to give it that bit of oomph that could have set the screen alight, and the mind engaged and mesmerised. The story lacked any real twists (I worked out the ending a fair time before it unfolded in front of me, and I’m hardly the brightest of God’s creatures). The characters, on the whole, were crying out for that bit more to tackle and convey across, and despite some graphic violence scenes, the brutality of 1930’s American gangsters life was left looking somewhat whimpish. Really disappointing as the film’s other features and camera work deserved more. In summary, Road To Perdition is a good, decently directed movie. Excellent in parts, annoyingly wanton of more fat to chew in others. I have not seen American Beauty...

kleft 28.09.2002 (29.09.2002) · Read review
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Review of Road To Perdition (DVD)

The Road To Pneumonia

Advantages: Powerful performances
Disadvantages: Slightly lacking pace

...I can’t remember how many times I’ve been to the cinema or watched DVDs since I wrote about Moulin Rouge, and there’s no special significance in the fact that I’ve chosen to write about The Road To Perdition. It’s just that I’ve been reminded that I haven’t written for pleasure for quite a while. This film constitutes director, Sam Mendes’ next big break into US films, his first being the soar-away success, American Beauty which I really loved, although if I’m honest, anything with Kevin Spacey in it is “OK” by me, and that’s a slight understatement! Top billing goes to Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law. Set in 1931, Newman plays an Irish mob-boss (I presumed in Boston, as Chicago and New York would probably have been the “turf” of the Italians – I don’t remember actually picking up on where it was strangely enough – put me...

Roodles 01.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Road To Perdition (DVD)

The Road To Hell

Advantages: Great Easy Listening, Nine Quality Songs!
Disadvantages: AAD Disc Reproduction

...Like I have just read on another a review? Who is ?Chris Rea?, let alone ?The Road To Hell?! Chris Rea is the one that?s always in the background of the BBC?s ?Eastenders?, (at least once a week anyway). Some of the more popular songs of his are; ?The Road To Hell? which was nominated for the 1990 Brits Award, and is now classed as a 'DriveTime Classic', ?Driving Home For Christmas? is featured on practically all the Christmas compilations, ?On The Beach? was turned into a 90?s Dance Re-Mix, ?Fool if You Think Its All Over? is one of the all-time classic love songs and of course the duet with Sir Elton John, ?If You Were Me?, which is available on Chris? album Espresso Logic or obviously Elton?s ?Duet? album. Chris has also written music for the following movies and TV programmes; Steel River Blues (2004) TV Yugoslavia...

alan74 14.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Road To Hell, The - Chris Rea