A Romantic and Magical Town on the Serra

Advantages: A Town and Mountain area of sheer beauty
Disadvantages: Steep Climb to the Palacio da Pena

...and mansions it has its own microclimate and when the sun is shining all over Portugal, a bank of cloud will probably shroud this small mountain region by the coast transforming it into a ghostly but charming land. In high summer the Serra da Sintra is considerably cooler than Lisbon and over the centuries it has become popular with wealthy city dwellers. Two royal palaces and countless country mansions built by the nobility bear witness to that. The moist microclimate creates the ideal soil conditions for an abundance of vegetation, and English poets such as Lord Byron have expressed their love of the countryside around Sintra. For him it was a 'glorious Eden' and if you ever visit you will know exactly what he meant. When in the 19th century, landscape gardening became a fashionable pursuit for the wealthy middle classes, a number of amateur...

Praski 01.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sintra in general

São Paulo

Advantages: São Paulo
Disadvantages: São Paulo

...The city of São Paulo officially became a city in 1711. In the 19th century, it experienced a lot of economic prosperity, brought about by coffee exports, which were shipped abroad from the port of the neighbouring city of Santos. It is one of the big 5 cities that exist in the world. It is the business centre of Brazil and, has many of the down sides of any big city: São Paulo is located on a plateau that is part of the Serra do Mar. Although there are no beaches in Sao Paulo there are places along the coast of Sao Paulo State. Rainfall is abundant, especially in the warmer months. One of the biggest financial centers of Brazil and the world. São Paulo is the most ethnically diverse city of Brazil....

Nazuku 06.07.2006 (26.07.2006) · Read review
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Review of São Paulo

House Of Wax

Advantages: Good film
Disadvantages: Paris Hilton

...House of Wax features a cast apparently chosen from their headshots rather than any particular ability or connection to the material. Loosely remade from the Vincent Price classic, Paris Hilton herself says this film's major improvement is that "The original didn't really have a hot cast." Says it all really !! Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, This is his 1st film that he has done. In my opinion he's done a good job. The main plot is a group of teenagers on a road trip to go see a football game the next game. Of course they have to camp out in the middle of know where. This is when strange things happen. Though I would have like to have seen more strange things happen. Like kill Paris off in the 1st few minutes would have been nice. Of course with most teen horror the car breaks down and of course they have to go and find...

Bens__mummy 07.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of House Of Wax (DVD)

The Journey Continues... Sending You To Sleep

Advantages: Some of the original cast are back
Disadvantages: Seems too much like an extended soap

...an episode of Dream Team or Footballers Wives is highly evident in the second. While the story is still following the same characters it just feels like a feature length episode of a TV soap with a big budget. In fact the cheesy to be continued at the end of the film just made the realisation that they've lost the way with these movies after only the second outing was very disappointing. Of course I think the main reason for this has to be the change of director. The reins have been taken over by Jaume Collet-Serra of the appalling House of Wax fame. Had I known this before I watched Goal 2 I think it's fair to say I'd have given it a very wide berth. After the first film had seemed like a feature film, Serra has made this one feel like the cheesy soap the first one probably should have been. There are no really serious issues and the script...

Andy.mack 20.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Goal 2 - Living The Dream (DVD)

The Fifth Element

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...I loved this movie. Many people seem to compare it to Star Wars so I am and I think The Fifth Element is definitely BETTER than any of them. Maybe it's because I never grew up with Star Wars. The first time I saw SW, I was bored to hell, overly long and was only good at the time. Anyway, here is how I rate THE FIFTH ELEMENT: Cinematography: Wonderful. Music: Fantastic, you gotta love CHAPTER 27 on the DVD, (BUY Eric Serra's Soundtrack, so you can listen to the movie whenever you can't watch it) Art Direction: Brilliant, I've never so much color and detail put into everything. Costumes: Superb, LOVE that orange. Acting: Well, I love Milla, the stewardesses and you gotta love Chris Tucker. Plot: Pretty good, but done very well with the parallel editing to different people/scenes. Picture Quality: PERFECT(9.5/10). AUDIO Quality: PERFECT(10...

ros145 12.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)

In My Element

Advantages: Great Cast and Film
Disadvantages: None

...you can imagine what sort of dresses they wear. She drops into Corbone Dallas' (Bruce Willis) cab and he takes her to a priest who is the only one who knows about her power. The story unfolds from there and I don't really want to ruin the film for you. The story is powerful and original and the special effects are superb. The film is set in the future so there are a few cool gadgets to look out for, especially the small arsenal Bruce Willis keeps in his kitchen cupboard. The cast emphasizes and compliments the story line. With roles from Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm and Chris Tucker. (Yes the bloke with the amusing squeaky voice). The soundtrack is strong however I thought went a bit unnoticed in a few scenes because you were so indulged in the story. The music is by a chap called Eric Serra. The Film is Directed by...

cortex101 20.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of The Fifth Element (DVD)

Gears Of War

Advantages: Amazing Fun, Good Multiplayer
Disadvantages: Too short story also has no real meaning, not enough game modes.

...The most anticipated game of 2006, Gears Of War follows the story of hero Marcus Fenix who was later in life jailed for treason. Whilst in jail an alien race storms the humans new home Serra on a day called Emergence Day, The story starts with Dom, Marcus' best friend breaking you out of jail and fighting of a few of the locust. We then get to go into some constant action/mild horror parts of the game. The game is split up into 5 acts. The first act is probably the best. It has the best story and some amazing scenes. The second act involves us looking around the slums district and then nightfall, where a evil locust race called the kryll comes out. The story then goes on to destroying the locust horde by going underground and I'll leave my story description there as I don't want to spoil anything. The single player is quite...

JackCanning 11.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Gears of War (Xbox 360)

A romantic Hotel for a romantic place

Advantages: Location, old design!
Disadvantages: Foggy during most winter.

...Seteais is part of the amazing set of the Serra de Sintra (Sintra Mountain, in English), not more than 30 km from Lisbon. For those who don't now this area, Sintra is a very special place. Is the highest mountain (300 m only) near Lisbon and at the same time it's close to Cascais and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean coast. This proximity to the ocean gives to Sintra its only microclimate, foggy and wet, with a mystic touch, no matter what. That's why Sintra is such an exuberant place, where everything is green and fresh throughout the year. That was also the main reason why Sintra became the place where most nobles and even the Portuguese royal family build their summer houses. Seteais is on the low part of the mountain, but has an amazing view to the Palácio da Pena on the top, and to all surroundings. Before talking of the hotel...

R_A_C 15.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Tivoli Palacio de Seteais, Sintra

I wish I was a Dolphin

Advantages: scenery, subject
Disadvantages: plot

...- you cant take them seriously with the pitch of the voices. Personally I watch the film and find that I have lost myself in the underwater scenery and even the very 1980's score by Eric Serra doesnt detract from my enjoyment (I in fact own the soundtrack on CD but without the images on screen find it annoying and overly synthesised). The fact that Jean Marc-Barr is not entirely unattractive possibly also has an effect on my enjoyment also. Though after writing this I am once again left questioning what it is that I love about the film exactly, I cant answer the question well enough to explain so it must simply be enough that I can still say I do love it even after questioning why. There are no real special features on the DVD, though personally I would have liked to have found information on the real life Enzo and Jacques on whom this...

scuba_angel 14.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Big Blue (Long Version) (DVD)

A mountain restaurant surrounded by olive trees

Advantages: Good location with stunning views and excellent mountain cuisine.
Disadvantages: You can miss the sign for the restaurant very easily

...anywhere. I love the crusty top that sometimes is so sharp it can cut the inside of your mouth and the soft doughy centre is scrumptious. Another meal that I have eaten on several occasions and is still a favourite is Pato assada - this is duck cooked in the oven with port and seasoned with herbs, pimento and lemon. You can eat this dish with small roasted potatoes or as I do with rice. Extremely delicious and filling. Monchique's famous Serra ham is presunto and again the best air dried ham I have tasted. Slices are very thin and fragile; the taste is smooth and creamy with a hint of salt but not too much. Per serving you usually get about 5 or 6 slices on a plate and this is accompanied by a basket of crusty bread. Mountain cheeses are delicious and always served as a starter with olives of the purple variety. Cakes, pastries and puddings...

Praski 14.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Jardim Das Oliveiras, Monchique