A Merchants Tale

Advantages: Lovely surroundings and great food
Disadvantages: The location of the toilets

...I think that you could eat out for a year in Lancaster and be able to find somewhere new to eat everyday. One place that you must not miss out on if visiting the city is the wonderful little pub that has recently changed it's name from The Merchants to Merchants 1668. Built in 1688 ( hence the name!!) the building was originally used as a wine cellar for Lancaster Castle and is part of the same building as the tourist information office. This tiny little pub is in Market Street just a stone throw away from the railway station in the road to the Castle and Priory. Set in Castle Hill opposite the main post office in Lancaster it is lovely little pub full of character and old world charm. Recently taken over by new management the Merchant offers an incredible menu of locally produced food - and fits into the Gastropub bracket...

oldchem 07.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Merchants, Lancaster

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York

Advantages: Lots of history
Disadvantages: Admission charges

...I have been to York many times but prior to my most recent visit I had never been to The Merchant Adventurers Hall. I had seen the signs for it but I was never too sure what it was and since its tucked away out of sight from the main thoroughfares it's a place I always forget to check out. A friend recently told me that this is a 14th century timber framed building that is the largest building of its type and age in Britain so I figured that this time around I ought to check it out. Built as a medieval guildhall in 1368 this is probably the oldest surviving building in York, although in an historical city like York there are several other places that also stake this claim. It is not to be confused with the nearby Merchant Taylor's Hall, which was a mistake that I initially made. The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is tucked away down...

micksheff 09.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York

'Merchant' shows Will power

Advantages: Great story; fine acting from main characters
Disadvantages: Modern viewers may find Anti-Semitism disturbing

...***This opinion reveals major details about the film's plot, but they can be avoided.*** The time Mid to late 16th century. There is tension between the Jews and the Christians. The Jews can lend money and demand interest; the Christians cannot. The place Venice, place of barges, canals and far more water than modern viewers will be used to; also home to a gaggle of bare-breasted prostitutes who appear occasionally The players Antonio, the merchant after whom the play and film are named: Jeremy Irons His protégé, Bassanio: Joseph Fiennes Bassanio's friend Gratiano: Kris Marshall Lorenzo, another member of Bassanio's retinue: Charlie Cox Shylock, a Jewish moneylender: played magnificently by Al Pacino Portia, Bassanio's love interest: Lynn Collins Nerissa, Portia's maid: Heather Goldenhersh Jessica, Shylock's daughter...

rappinhood 05.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Merchant Of Venice (DVD)

Death Magnificent!

Advantages: A return to form, but with better production
Disadvantages: None

...album, and thinking of 'Load' and 'Re-load,' I think I may well have just pulled an 'Ah, well? so what,' face, with a slight shrug to go with it. But the bird in question (actually, it was my brother-in-law, and I think he would be quite mad to know that I referred to him as a bird, so I will drop that), said it was a return to the old stuff, allegedly. I set sail for YouTube to check out the new single, 'The Day that Never comes,' and I was dumbstruck, awe-struck, thunderstruck? heck, all kinds of 'struck,' in fact! I fell in love with it immediately and thought if the rest of the new album was half as good I would be a very happy bunny. The day for the album's - 'Death Magnetic' - release did finally come and I purchased my copy in HMV for a lovely £9.99. It took me a while to make up my mind about this album, though: I liked it, but...

Borg 12.10.2008 · Read review
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Review of Death Magnetic - Metallica

Death magnetic

Advantages: great album
Disadvantages: few tracks that are dislikeable

...Metallica Death Magnetic: 11 Tracks Heavy Metal Released 12/09/2008 In my honest oppinion this is an amazing album, ive not been a fan long but i have heard all of their albums they are simply an amazing band. When i first listened to this album i wasnt so sure how i felt but it grew on me now i listen to it quite a few times a day. The tracks are 5 mins+ That was just your life: For the first Track i have to say what a brilliant opening to the album, Great guitar rhythm that really gets you going...imagine being in a mosh pit with that playing :D The end of the Line: This one didnt get my attention straight away. I think it has one of those beats that gets me all hyped up but once it gets further into it i get kinda bored. Broken, Beat and scarred: I love the Start of this track it gets my feet going to...

rockchick2k7 19.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Death Magnetic - Metallica

Death Ship, it's no Ghost Ship

Advantages: Good idea
Disadvantages: Badly executed

...The Film Death Ship is a 1980 horror film that opens on the sea with an old ship storming across the waves. It?s seemingly controlled by ghosts and a German voice is heard over the intercom. At the same time on an apparently near by cruise liner a party is going on. The captain of the ship (George Kennedy) is just about to retire and hand over control to Marshall his second in command played by Richard Crenna. The two ships are apparently on a collision course but this is really badly created in the film as whenever you see the old haunted ship its daylight but whenever you see the cruise liner is in pitch darkness. The two ships have clearly been filmed at two different times of day and it?s such an obvious mistake that the audience can?t miss. Anyway, the ships crash and the cruise liner is seen to suffer a lot of damage...

Phelthew 04.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Death Ship (DVD)

A certain death!

Advantages: A good read
Disadvantages: none

...Operation certain death is written by Damien Lewis and was published in 2004 and is the inside story of the SAS's greatest battles. Damien Lewis is an award winning author and filmmaker whose documentaries have appeared on the BBC, Channel 4 and a host of other networks. Operation certain death is the real life story of eleven Irish Ranger soldiers who where taken hostage in sierra Leone in 1999 by the west side boys after a routine mission to the UN base and a trip to offer the WSB friendship turned horribly nasty. The west side boys are an infamous rebel group who had a well known history of drug taking, alcoholism, rape and buggery, cannibalism and many other monstrosities, the west side boys are a break away group of the RUF that rose to power violently and took control of the government in Free Town Sierra Leone's capital...

leofluffy69 15.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Operation Certain Death - Damien Lewis

The Merchant of Venice

Advantages: Shakespeare's timeless genius.
Disadvantages: A difficult read for some.

...King Lear claims to be a man 'more sinned against than sinning' and in 'The Merchant of Venice' we meet Shylock the Jewish money lender who fits that description perfectly. The decadent adventurer, Bassanio, has lost the money his friend, Antonio has lent him and has the cheek to borrow more. Antonio is forced to borrow off Shylock in order to make the loan. The condition Shylock stipulates is a pound of flesh should the loan not be repaid when agreed. It's an odd choice but the Christians are pretty nasty to him so he is very bitter. Off Bassanio goes in search of a rich wife again and does very well. He meets Portia who is loaded and all he has to do is pass a guess-the-casket test to win her heart. She fancies him so she cheats the test with a poem in which all the rhymes end in 'ed' and therefore point him to the lead...

FlameDruid 12.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare

The Art of Death

Advantages: Good second half, some interesting details
Disadvantages: Clunky plot, a bit meandering

...halfway through it was much better. The main character is Adelia - "The Mistress of the Art of Death" - i.e a forensic pathologist. Her struggle to conceal her profession is quite prominent in the plot as female doctors were unusual in the twelfth century. She is helping Simon of Naples discover the killer through the clues left on the bodies of the victims. I found this quite interesting although I'm not sure how realistic it would be in the twelfth century. The plot does wander a bit as it is so concerned with Adelia and her origins and training. The character of Rowley (the King's so-called tax inspector) is ok but the romance seems to have been thrown in as a bit of an afterthought and didn't add anything to the story for me. Mansur and Gyltha offered some light relief as the servants as did Gyltha's grandson Ulf. Simon of Naples was...

mogdred1 27.01.2009 · Read review
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Review of Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin

death becomes her

Advantages: great comedy and side splitting horror
Disadvantages: none

...Director and Producer: Robert Zemeckis Writers: Martin Donavan and David Koepp Stars: Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis. Released in 1992 this dark comedy is surprisingly funny with some cracking special effects. **THE PLOT** When Madeline Ashton, (played by Meryl Streep) steals the lover, Ernest Menville, (played by Bruce willis) from Helen Sharp, (played by Goldie Hawn), the two women become bitter rivals, even to the point of death. Things become more hateful for when Madeline and Ernest get married, leaving the depressed Helen looking for revenge. The movie spins on many years later, showing the audience how successful and still beautiful Helen has become whilst her rival, Madeline, has sadly aged with Ernest becoming a highly paid mortician and alcoholic. Madeline soon discovers the secret to Helens...

blissman70 13.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of Death Becomes Her (DVD)