Excellent Business Class Hotel

Advantages: Good location, view from some rooms
Disadvantages: Back-facing rooms don't have a good view

...From the outside, the hotel doesn't look impressive, especially when compared to other hotels in Hangzhou such as the Radisson, in the city centre, or the Grand Hyatt, which is right by the lake. One thing that does beat the hotels based in the city centre, is the location. If you have ever been to Hangzhou, then the West Lake area is the best area to stay in - simply because the West Lake is beautiful. Sofitel Westlake isn't right by the lake itself, but take a 2-3 minute walk, and you're there. So for lake viewing, it is more than convenient enough. I stayed on the business-class floor, and the service was fantastic there. Located on the same floor is also the business lounge, which provides snacks and beverages - and also a really lovely balcony which gives a great view of the lake. The room was spacious, basic, but very...

emimiao08 22.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sofitel Westlake, Hangzhou

Deadly Passion

Advantages: Magnificent vocals, great guitar power.
Disadvantages: Instrumentally unexciting and unadventurous.

...'Deadly Passions' is the second studio album from the Kentucky based rock band that is Hydrogyn. The band was formed in 2003 and as well as having released two studio albums the band has released a live album also. The band is fronted by Julie Westlake and it's therefore her vocal tone which hits you throughout this album; she has a great voice and puts an awful lot of power behind it in order to belt out the ten tracks of this album. The guitar riffs also possess great strength and although not hugely exciting; the instrumental side of things is still quite pleasant to listen to here. The album gets off to an explosive beginning with opening number 'Rejection', the track possesses a fast tempo and really kicks the album off with great power. Hyrogyn here storms through the track and executes it absolutely excellently. The vocals...

RazzaLazza 27.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Deadly Passions [Digipak] - Hydrogyn

World Superbike Farce

Advantages: Good visuals
Disadvantages: Shocking commentary excluding Jamie Whitham

...What a farce from British Eurosport on the WSBK and MotoGP coverage this weekend! Having to flick between two channels on Sky, putting the World Touring Cars on in between races, having to change to BBC to see the main MotoGP race live..someone in scheduling needs a good kicking! As for the commentary, Jack Burnicle is a catalogue of incompetence, i feel sorry for James Whitham who spends most of his time correcting his colleague. Jack can't remember who's on what bike, and where and as for the corners - James must have corrected him 50 times in Superpole and the 2 races - the corner before the Mineshaft at Kyalami is Wesbank Jack! Not Westland (- James kept referring to his helicopter connection, Jack didn't get it) or Westlake, not West anything! The meaningless, inane drivel and stats that he waffles on about is mind...

Battrs 20.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Eurosport

Highly Under-Rated Comic Book Adventure

Advantages: see review
Disadvantages: see review

...Whilst most comic book franchises hit the silver screen with a resounding thud, bringing with them months of publicity and hype which almost automatically guarantees them success, Darkman, sneaked in the back door with relatively little exposure. Coming shortly after the first Batman movie was released, Darkman takes the franchise of a much lesser known comic book, with a far smaller budget and with virtually no advertising whatsoever - and kicks its butt. Peyton Westlake(Liam Neeson) is a scientist working on the formula for a new form of artificial skin. His girlfriend(Frances Mcdormand) however is a lawyer who unwittingly discovers that her newest client is an insane megalomaniac who intends to take over the city(yes the usual comic book fare). Unfortunately, he finds out that she knows and goes to Westlake's laboratory to find...

wampyrii 05.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Darkman (DVD)

Dark living man

Advantages: great entertainment
Disadvantages: none

...Dr Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is on the verge of a major break through in replacement skin. A gang led by Robert G Durant (Larry Drake) enters the doctor’s laboratory one day, and destroys almost everything within. Westlake’s colleague, they then place a ‘bomb’ inside the lab, and as Westlake runs to try and stop the inevitable disaster – it explodes! Throwing him right out of the window, and into a nearby lake. His friend Julie (Frances McDormand) is convinced his is , and at the funeral they bury just an ear, which they found. However, the doctor somehow survives the blast and beating his has taken to take revenge on his tormentors. Gradually one by one he recalls the gang who beat him and killed his colleague, and one by one he seeks revenge in different ways. He has gained...

dabmim 16.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Darkman (DVD)

Bye Darkman, Bye Bye

Advantages: Ummmm
Disadvantages: Ummmm

...movie and really this is a movie made solely for the fans of the first two movies which judging by the lack of interest in the first movie and the abysmalness of the second, must have been quite thin on the ground. Basically, The Darkman is Dr. Westlake, a man horribly disfigured in the first movie and with enormous physical strength brought on through anger and stess. Westlake is on a quest to formulate liquid skin to cover his horrific burns which continues throughout this movie. The actual plot of Darkman III doesn?t add anything to the franchise whatsoever, but basically continues down the same road of Westlake looking for liquid skin, this time by teaming up with another doctor who wants to use his as a guinea pig for her research which would give him back his feeling(his nervous system is disconnected too) in return for him being...

wampyrii 28.06.2002 · Read review
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Review of Darkman 3 - Die Darkman Die (DVD)

Classic's don't age,they mature

Advantages: Lee Marvin fans will love it
Disadvantages: Non Lee Marvin fans might not see the true meaning

...would themselves become dated. Based on a novel by Richard Stark (Donald Westlake).POINT BLANK directed by John Boorman is more than a movie in that it makes meaningful social and universal observations. The time lapses and flashbacks suggest another storyline in which Walker dies in the opening scene and the entire film is just a dream and he never really gets to revenge his enemies. Even in it's day the way Walker goes about his retribution is an outmoded style in 60's L.A. is brutal and poignant. There is more to this movie as you see, you just have to look beyond the mayhem. 1967 running for 92minutes rated 18...

Neolad2020r 25.02.2003 · Read review
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Review of Point Break (DVD)

Cry Wolf - Lie till you Die

Advantages: A Good Script, very clever
Disadvantages: the accents are not always clear

...- (Tour with Julian Morris) Tower of Babble - The awarding winning short film which led to the film-making of Cry Wolf Commentary by the Film makers Deleted and Alternate Scenes ******************************************************************* The film starts late at night in a dark wood, a young girl named Becky is running from a figure in the distance. She hides, but is soon found. Days later her body is found, she has been shot and it looks like the local wildlife have been feeding on her since her demise. Enter Owen Matthews, a teen boy who has been expelled from most of the schools he has ever been involved with. In a last ditch attempt, his father sends him to Westlake Prep (the school from which Becky was a student). Westlake is a highly prestigious school specialising specifically in the rich kids society...

allyoxley 24.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Cry Wolf (DVD)

A Potted History of Beatrix Potter

Advantages: Charming and romantic family film. Beautiful cinematography.
Disadvantages: Lingers on Potter's love life and not enough on her writing and illustrating.

...lakes. The costumes designed by John Bright and Anthony Powell are faultless. The set decorations created by Tina Jones are detailed and worthy of commendation. The soundtrack mainly composed by Nigel Westlake is suitably romantic, gentle and pleasing. The orchestral theme tune is delightfully enhanced vocally by lyrics by Mike Batt. The song is ably performed by Katie Melua. Just like her story books, Miss Potter is charming and warm. The film is rated PG for the use of some strong language ?however this is brief . Just 85 minutes in duration, the film is short and sweet giving just a glimpse of the unique personality of Beatrix Potter. Closing statements detailing the final episodes of Potter?s life and love leave a satisfying and admiring glow. The DVD is widely available to rent and to buy. It currently retails for about...

MAFARRIMOND 13.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Miss Potter (DVD)

I'm Potty about it

Advantages: Charming and magical, wonderful story, lovely llustrations
Disadvantages: None

.... The scenery of the film was absolutely beautiful, really capturing the essence of how London and the countryside was in the 1900s with some amazing scenic views and atmosphere about it. Filming actually took place on the Isle of Man, the Lake District and Cumbria, showcasing some of Britain's beautiful locations perfectly, with some fantastic scenes of an authentic steam train being shot at Bluebell Railway in Sussex, really capturing the period of time wonderfully. Something I never usually mention in a movie review is the soundtrack, but I'll make an exception here. The wonderful music used throughout only serves to accent and bring to life a fairytale movie, with its tinking, charming melodies throughout spreading its magic. The composer Nigel Westlake has really captured the essence of the film in its soundtrack, and I just found it a pleasure...

mummy2harry 04.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Miss Potter (DVD)