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half mast, all great
In brief, this story is about a teenager, who after several years of torment (though "torment" is an understatement) at the hands of a bully/school football star, decides to get even in the most drastic way you can.

He puts his plan in action a month or so before his tormentor is about to graduate and presumably leave his life for good. I was reminded of the Columbine shootists, who performed their unforgettable carnage shortly before they were to graduate, too. You might wonder why they couldn't hang on a little longer, but I think the book does a superb job of showing how each act of bullying piles up until you start seeing things in either/or terms.

Some of the bullying seemed so extreme and unbelievable, but I'm willing to chalk that up to the fact that I've never been a teenage boy. I also had some trouble with how indifferent the protagonist's parents seemed - even when the evidence that there was something seriously wrong going on in their son's life was staring them right in the face. What happened to the protagonist seemed to go far, far beyond even what the most indifferent would chalk up to "boys being boys."

Kudos to the author for resisting the urge to make his protagonist and his friends wealthy and famous while all the baddies got their comeuppance.

The next time something like Columbine happens, those who are looking for at least a few answers to the question of "why?" should read this book. Better yet, they should go talk to their kids.

riveting
This is a book to treasure - exceptionally well-written.A solid plot with a troubled yet engaging lead character - I have no negative comments about this book.It is simply AWESOME.

So much better than I expected
A very tight, well written story about bullies, victims, and high school that kept me turning pages well past bed time. The victim, Alex, is a completely believable recreation of an teenage kid pushed well past his breaking point. The story was so convincing I was flashing back to high school the entire time I read it.

I think the best part of it was that author didn't take sides in the book. Because of that you are left thinking about the characters and the story well after you have finished reading it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0972098100
Sales Rank: 739778
Subjects: 1. Action & Adventure 2. Fiction 3. Fiction / Psychological 4. Revenge 5. American First Novelists 6. Bullying 7. Generation X 8. High school students 9. Murder 10. Psychological 11. Young adults

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
by JUDY BLUME
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Paperback (15 March, 1976)
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Editorial Review

Passed on from babysitters to their young charges, from big sisters to little brothers, and from parents to children, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and its cousins (Superfudge, Fudge-a-mania, and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great) have entertained children since they first appeared in the early 1970s. The books follow Peter Hatcher, his little brother Fudgie, baby sister Tootsie, their neighbor Sheila Tubman, various pets, and minor characters through New York City and on treks to suburbs and camps.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first of these entertaining yarns. Peter, because he's the oldest, must deal with Fudgie's disgusting cuteness, his constant meddling with Peter's stuff, and other grave offenses, one of which is almost too much to bear. All these incidents are presented with the unfailing ear and big-hearted humor of the masterful Judy Blume. Though some of her books for older kids have aroused controversy, the Hatcher brothers and their adventures remain above the fray, where they belong. (Peter's in fourth grade, so the book is suitable for kids ages 8 and older.) ... Read more

Reviews (139)

All about the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
I thought that the book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing was O.K.It was a little funny and confusing but fun to read .If you like being suprised and like to read funny things, then I recommend this book.

Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing
I didnt realy like it. The only part I Iiked is when peter got a new puppy. So I guees it was ok.but not 1 of my favoritesbeacause it needs more action. It also needs more of a story because like every chapter was differnt,and didnot make anysense

please read this book
I would want you to read the Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing.Because it is a funny book that tells alot about a normal family.And becauseit is a suprisng story and a pretictible story sometimes.Also because theres action every page.Plus its very exicting.This is a great book.So come on and read The tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing its waiting for you. ... Read more

Isbn: 044048474X
Subjects: 1. Brothers and sisters 2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General 3. Children: Grades 4-6 4. Family - Siblings 5. Family life 6. Fiction 7. Humorous Stories 8. Juvenile Fiction 9. Social Situations - General 10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / General

$4.99

Less Than Zero
Director: Marek Kanievska
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DVD (07 June, 2005)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Editorial Review

Dreary, pointless late-'80s novel by literary poseur BretEaston Ellis focused on listless, shiftless, drug-sniffing, sex-swapping, dead-end California teens with too much money and time on their hands. Which just about sums up this movie, though it's not nearly as interesting as that. This is mostly due to the ridiculously cleaned-up script and lifeless direction, which whitewashes the baser depravity and replaces it with perversion-lite and fashion shows. It doesn't help that director Marek Kanievska is saddled with Brat Pack lesser (make that least) lights Andrew McCarthy and Jami Gertz. The only things that lift this film above the muck are the performances by James Spader as a particularly heinous drug dealer and Robert Downey Jr. as a rich-kid addict with no self-control. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

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Color
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Reviews (70)

cannot think of a title
I consider this film on par with "Rebel Without a Cause," "To Live" by Yimou Zhang and "Terminator 2 Judgment Day," and would rate it higher than "Requiem for a Dream," "GATTACA," and "Garden State."
A couple of love scenes might have been too intense, but I don't want to be picky because
the character Julian is convincing; so are those of Clay and Blair, especially when Clay checks with his hand or pulse on Julian's neck but Blair places her head on Julian's chest.
The literary devices, such as Clay leaving Julian in a playground and allusions to the Bible, are not heavy handed.
The portrayal of relationship is subtle, substantial, and effective. I remember how Blair says "miss you" after Clay has left her room for a while, the tension between the ex wife and her successor at the fancy Christmas dinner party, the awkwardness of Julian's uncle giving into -- maybe giving up on -- Julian, how Julian tried to cope with his mother's death, how his father responded.
The music is apt and admirable. I like the Bangles's rendition of "A Hazy Shade of Winter," "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison's "Life Fades Away," and Julian singing "Silent Night" interjected by Blair's teasing remark.
The scene of Julian's passing away evokes my memory of Southern California, its chaparral and sometimes semiarid landscape, the open sky, the rural highway, the sun setting behind a field of wind turbines.

I wish there was an option for zero stars.
One of the most dreadful, terrible, awful, horrid, wretched pieces of garbage I have ever watched.I must have blocked out Weekend at Bernie's & Mannequin- it's the only excuse I can give for forgotting how terrible of an actor Andrew McCarthy is.Robert Downey Jr. & James Spader were the only reasons I was able to stomach this inaccurate piece of tripe.The storyline consists of decadent, beautiful cokeheads who sit around being beautiful until Andrew McCarthy comes home to save everyone!Oh yippee!Just when you think the movie can't turn into any more of an mid-80's cliche, it gets worse.If you need to watch some loosely veiled "anti-drug" propaganda, pick up a copy of Traffic instead.

If you love Robert Downey Jr....
Get this movie!I think it's one of his best. ... Read more

Asin: B00005V9IH
Subjects: 1. Feature Film-drama

$9.98

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
by CharlesSeife
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Hardcover (07 February, 2000)
list price: $24.95
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Editorial Review

The seemingly impossible Zen task--writing a book about nothing--has a loophole: people have been chatting, learning, and even fighting about nothing for millennia. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea, by noted science writer Charles Seife, starts with the story of a modern battleship stopped dead in the water by a loose zero, then rewinds back to several hundred years BCE.Some empty-headed genius improved the traditional Eastern counting methods immeasurably by adding zero as a placeholder, which allowed the genesis of our still-used decimal system. It's all been uphill from there, but Seife is enthusiastic about his subject; his synthesis of math, history, and anthropology seduces the reader into a new fascination with the most troubling number.

Why did the Church reject the use of zero?How did mystics of all stripes get bent out of shape over it? Is it true that science as we know it depends on this mysterious round digit?Zero opens up these questions and lets us explore the answers and their ramifications for our oh-so-modern lives. Seife has fun with his format, too, starting with chapter 0 and finishing with an appendix titled "Make Your Own Wormhole Time Machine."(Warning: don't get your hopes up too much.)There are enough graphs and equations to scare off serious numerophobes, but the real story is in the interactions between artists, scientists, mathematicians, religious and political leaders, and the rest of us--it seems we really do have nothing in common. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (88)

It would have been better without the hyperbole
This book is about the history of zero, from ancient times to modern concepts.It's quite interesting and encompasses a lot of mathematics and philosophy as well as a bit of physics.

Although the book reads well, is nicely documented, and extensively researched, the author has a style that I found aggravating; his frequent use of poetic hyperbole.This limits the book's value for someone unfamiliar with basic concepts in mathematics and physics.

I'm not sure why Seife choose this style.There seems to be a movement (hopefully short lived) among science writers to dress up science and mathematics in poetic, flowery language.Whatever the reason, science has good reason to use strict meanings for words and a disciplined approach to scientific concepts.When authors poetically use words in technically incorrect ways they can make the prose pretty, but they often create confusion.

For example, Saif says "Zero and infinity are eternally locked in a struggle to engulf all the numbers.Like a Manichaean nightmare, the two sit on opposite poles of the number sphere, sucking numbers in like tiny black holes." [p. 145]

From a mathematical point of view this is pure gibberish.If one's intent is to educate others about mathematics, such poetic hyperbole is not only useless, but counter productive as well.For folks who don't already know a bit about mathematics, Seife's book is as likely to confuse as to educate.For those who already understand the concepts, the poetry might be pleasing, but from an educational point of view the hyperbole found throughout this book is a definite stumbling block.

Another problem I had with this book is the way Seife misstates some key aspects in modern science.For example, on page 171 he asserts the classical definition of a vacuum: "The vacuum, by definition, has nothing in it - no particles, no light, nothing."He then describes the quantum mechanical view of the vacuum, and the zero-point energy.Part of this explanation includes a nice description of the Casimir effect [p. 172], which is a measurement of the literal existence of the "virtual" particles predicted by Quantum Mechanics.What these experiments show is that these "virtual" particles actually exist, and can be detected by the force they exert on closely spaced metal plates.This is actually a beautiful example of how science changed our concept of the vacuum.Classically, we thought of the vacuum as having "nothing in it," but Quantum Mechanics tells us that the classical vacuum cannot exist.But even after his nice explanation of the Casimir effect, Seife goes and spoils it with this absurd statement:

"Casimir realized that he had felt the force of nothing." [p. 172] "This is the force of the vacuum, a force produced by nothing at all.This is the Casimir effect."

It's as if someone asserted that the space around us has "nothing in it," and then rejoices when the wind touches his face, and runs off spouting "I've felt the force of nothing."What the Casimir effect teaches us is that what we thought was "nothing at all" really is something, and that calling them "virtual" particles is just as silly as early mathematicians who called the square root of negative numbers "imaginary."

There are other mistakes as well.For example, on page 178 he says: "The speed of light is the ultimate speed limit; you cannot reach it, much less exceed it.Nature has defended itself from an unruly zero."

But this simply isn't true.Even a casual reader knows that the statement "you cannot reach it" is wrong.After all, photons travel at the speed of light all the time.Furthermore, scientists have known for years that, given the right materials, both the phase velocity and the group velocity of light can exceed the speed of light in a vacuum [Optics and Photonics News, June 2002].All this is consistent within the framework of relativity, but Seife's hyperbole is likely to mislead the novice.Indeed, recent experiments showing these phenomena have resulted in all sorts of pundits on the Internet claiming that relativity had been falsified.

By getting all wound up with poetic hyperbole about nature "[defending] itself from an unruly zero" the author has, I fear, unwittingly contributed to the confusion of non-scientists about the science of relativity.

I don't mean to give the impression that this is a bad book.I actually found most of it readable and pleasant.I enjoyed the historical aspects and appreciated how the author illustrates the influence of philosophy, and especially religion, in either advancing or retarding cultural acceptance of the concept of zero.I thought he did a particularly nice job of explaining the development of the calculus, and how the concept of zero played its part.As usual, the primary distractions were related to his use of poetic hyperbole, as well as careless analogies.For example, on page 126 he writes:

"... using calculus was as much an act of faith as declaring a belief in god."

This absurd statement was almost certainly made without thinking.After all, even though early mathematicians could not explain why the calculus worked - at least not with rigorous logic - they could demonstrate that it *did* work.Furthermore, anyone could use it.A person didn't have to believe in calculus or work themselves into an emotional frenzy to calculate the volume of a sphere.The same cannot, of course, be said of god.

This could have been a really great book.The subject matter and story of zero are fascinating.Unfortunately, Seife uses too many analogies that are either poor, extreme, or misleading.And his persistent tendency toward exaggeration was a real distraction for me.For these reasons I'd not recommend the book to someone not already somewhat knowledgeable about mathematics and physics - I think it would be too confusing.For those who can read between the lines of poetic hyperbole, though, I think the book is worthwhile.

Amazon doesn't allow "zero" stars
In fact, the author goes on so many fanciful tangents, I was actually surprised that he didn't mention that zero stars are not allowed in the Amazon rating scheme, because it would crash the whole system. And that's pretty much the tone of this breezy math/science/history book: The number zero or the concept of zero or the acknowledgment of zero challenges, frightens, destroys, and generally wreaks havoc wherever it appears, and, at the same time, the number zero is necessary and important, both in math and in the real world. Frankly, I was disappointed in this little book, though at times it can be charming and there is some interesting history. The book just didn't live up to the hype about the "danger" of zero. I wanted excitement and adventure; I got the history of an interesting number. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had "zero" expectations.

"O" ( know "0")
If you think Zero is nothing then you might be right till you understand that nothing took centuries for man to discover and more centuries will go before we completly understand it. This book is a great work from Charles which goes from 300 BC to big bang and "Black Holes". I believe his great work could have been extended to ohter sides of zero like why is zero written as "O' ... why are heavenly bodies round and why mathematically area of circle is greater than Square which is greater than a trianglewhile the circumfrence of circle could be equal to parameter of Square which could be equal to parameter of a triangle.... as we know this is because the figure with highest number of sides will have maximum area and in case of circle the number of sides is infinite ... nothing has infinity inside !! The spiritual aspect too of zero needs more investigation ... All the best to the readers of this book for it has so many thought provoking information.. enjoy "Zero" and you might discover nothing with infinite hue of colors... ... Read more

Isbn: 067088457X
Subjects: 1. Arithmetic 2. History & Philosophy 3. Mathematics 4. Number Theory 5. Philosophy & Social Aspects 6. Science/Mathematics 7. Theory Of Numbers 8. Zero (The number) 9. History / General

Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold
by Tom Shachtman
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Hardcover (01 December, 1999)
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Editorial Review

Ancient minds imagined the benefits of technological advances that wouldn't be realized for hundreds of years: "heavier-than-air-flight, ultrarapid ground transportation, the prolongation of life through better medicines, even the construction of skyscrapers and the use of robots." But as Tom Shachtman points out in his Alfred P. Sloan-funded science history Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold, no one could conceive of how or why humans would make use of intense cold. "Cold was a mystery without an obvious source, a chill associated with death, inexplicable, too fearsome too investigate."

But as we now know, the mastery of cold has yielded innumerable advances, from the ubiquitous presence of refrigeration and air-conditioning to phenomenal leaps in superconductivity and subatomic research--in 1999 alone, Shachtman cites, a Harvard team used laser cooling to create an environment 50-billionths of a degree above zero, slowing the speed of light to just 38 miles per hour!Absolute Zero guides us skillfully through the fitful, nascent growth of this misunderstood, bastard branch of science, from the early accomplishments of Boyle, Joule, William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin), and other lesser-knowns like Anders Celsius and Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit to the 20th century, the integration of ultracold research with quantum theory, and the most recent accomplishments in the field. Shachtman's approachable voice proves equally facile with both the science of cold and the mundane history of its technical and commercial uses, including the global ice trade and the work of one of cold's greatest commercial pioneers, a chemist named Clarence Birdseye. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Utterly annoying and scientifically misleading
I got the distinct impression that the author lost interest in his own work somewhere after the third chapter, but had already spent his advance and was forced to finish writing it.The science is misleading (I think he mentioned "vaccuming off lighter molecules" of the same gas in the Kammerleigh Onnes section, maybe forgetting that identical molecules all have the same molecular weight unless we are talking isotopes, but hey, who wants to bother getting the scientific fundamentals straight when we can gossip about Tydall and Dewar's little falling out...).This book is a exaggerated People magazine retelling of the search to attain Absolute Zero.The author would have been wise to try speaking to a few living scientists to get a feel for the real challenges, frustrations, and joys of doing research rather than investing so much energy in "he said, she said" stories. I think the telling of this story would best have been left to someone with a better understanding of physics and the art of doing scientific research. From my own experience, research is no more a "wild ride" than gardening, or a long hike.It's joys are subtle but persistent, not a point this author ever seems to have understood.

Very Well Written Understandable Yet Technical Book
This is a very interesting book. The technology discussed is complex, but the complexity never gets in the way or leaves the reader wondering what the author is talking about.I highly recommend this book especially for those interested in the history of industrial revolution, or in the sequence of discoveries leading to the discovery of super conductors. ... Read more

Isbn: 0395938880
Subjects: 1. History 2. History Of Science 3. Low temperature research 4. Low temperatures 5. Mechanics - Dynamics - Thermodynamics 6. Science 7. Science/Mathematics 8. Science / History

$25.00

High/Low
Average Customer Review:

Audio CD (18 June, 1996)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.98
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Reviews (24)

The one that started it all
Yes this album will probably always be remembered for the hit signle "popular", but this album has some damn good tunes.The opening track "Deeper Well" sucks you right in and pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the album.Right after that is "The Plan" which keeps the rock going.The album continues to pick up steam as it rolls along, and "Psychic Caramel" and "Zen Brain" are the 2 best tracks in my opinion.

This album is enjoyable and easy to listen to, and I would highly suggest checking out Nada's other efforts to see how much they have grown from the days of High/Low.

A beautiful and relatively unknown gem of 90's rock
I, like many people, was first exposed to Nada Surf from the music video of "Popular". I first saw it when i was 10 or 11 and thought it was a great video. I seem to remember seeing a Kurt Loder MTV news thing about it as well, talking about a controversy surrounding it because the catholic high school where it was filmed was mad because of the homosexual wink from one football player to another at the end of the video. I didnt buy the cd then and accidentally taped over the vhs copy i had taped of the music video, but then several years later around 1999 i got the cd off the internet. I really liked the song popular but the rest of the cd seemed to be to formulaic and just kind of inaccessible. Man was i wrong though, as this is now one of my favorite records of all time, and one of the best records of the 1990's in my opinion. The first song i really fell in love with is Zen Brain, its one of those songs you'll listen to while not paying attention and then find yourself singing in the car later without knowing where it came from, this probably stems from the fact that the first minute and a half is so much different from the rest of the song. Zen Brain is one of the catchiest, most beautiful, moving songs ever written in my opinion. As Matthew Caws sings "you wait for the summer and then you wait for the winter, but there's a total lack of splendour" the drums build up in a Nirvana-like frenzy, and the song bursts into the chorus. It is an utterly brilliant peice of music making. It is hard enough to appeal to any "grunge"(dumb term, i know) fan, catchy enough to appeal to any casual pop rock liker, and hauntingly beautiful and lyrically brilliant enough to be loved by all indie rock afficiendos. The soft/loud dynamic and the chorus make the song somewaht reminiscent of "I'm A Creep" by Radiohead, but it is more melodic and nostalgic. This is one of my 3 favorite songs of all time, along with "Waiting for October" by Polaris and "Drain You" by Nirvana. "Deeper Well" and "The Plan" were two of the songs most touted and played after "Popular" but I would personally say that "Stalemate" is better than either. Every song on the album is good though, and there are no throwaways whatsoever. Its also the kind of album you will listen to over and over again and find something new with each time, as many of the songs (like Zen Brain) change during different parts of the song, and the lyrics are all heartfelt and ambiguous enough that you will keep finding new things within them. I also like the fact that the album doesn't take the easy road like many bands do by having the token "Girl Cuts herself" song, and "boy violently revenges himself on his family/school" and all the other overused song themes used by bands like Pearl Jam and Ten Foot Pole(no offence to fans of those bands), who make good music but that after listening to a couple times loses all its mystery. Nada Surf is more reminiscient of Nirvana(although still very different overall) in that way because the songs dont really have clear cut meanings, you can interpret them in different ways, unlike a song like "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam that although a superb song, is immediately understandable and specific in its meaning. Anyway, I would reccomend this as one of the top five or ten cd's of early to mid-nineties rock music, it is musically well-crafted, great lyrically, and has the two unforgettable songs "Popular" and "Zen Brain" cushioned among 8 other great tracks.

"The times I have the most to say...
...are the times when i can't talk"

I firmly believe that Nada Surf's debut album is one of the best rock albums of all time.I bought this album cos I'd heard "Popular" on MTV2 a few times, and thought I might throw it on a few compilation tapes - what I didn't expect was that the rest of the album would be so good, and so unlike Popular!Each song on here is unique and brilliant in it's own right.The lyrics are written from a detached outsiders point of view, but often stuffed with spite and hatred.While some reviews on here rather unfairly compare the band to Weezer, I'd say that "The Get Up Kids" are a better comparison.Weezer have never sounded this vicious, and that Nada Surf do it with only 3 members makes it even better.The song writing and guitar playing are particularly self assured, with time changes and other experimental traits pushed to the forefront - for example, one song uses distorted vs undistorted guitar to create a riff out of one note.Genius.
Also, like all good albums it gets better with each listen, and I should know, as I've been listening to it at least once a day for about a month now.Maybe I'm biased, maybe I'm hypnotized, maybe I need to get out more, but this album shines like an undiscovered and unpolished gem from one of American music's worst years of recent times. Try it and see.
Sadly the band have been going down hill since this peak, with neither "Proximity Effect", nor "Let Go" recapturing the angst and the anger vented on this disc. ... Read more

Asin: B000002HM6
Sales Rank: 19089
Subjects: 1. Alternative Pop/Rock 2. Pop 3. Post-Grunge 4. Punk-Pop 5. Rock

$9.98

Being And Nothingness
by Jean-Paul Sartre Hazel E. Barnes
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Paperback (01 August, 1993)
list price: $17.00 -- our price: $11.56
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Editorial Review

Jean-Paul Sartre, the seminal smarty-pants of mid-century thinking, launched the existentialist fleet with the publication of Being and Nothingness in 1943. Though the book is thick, dense, and unfriendly to careless readers, it is indispensable to those interested in the philosophy of consciousness and free will. Some of his arguments are fallacious, others are unclear, but for the most part Sartre's thoughts penetrate deeply into fundamental philosophical territory. Basing his conception of self-consciousness loosely on Heidegger's "being," Sartre proceeds to sharply delineate between conscious actions ("for themselves") and unconscious ("in themselves"). It is a conscious choice, he claims, to live one's life "authentically" and in a unified fashion, or not--this is the fundamental freedom of our lives.

Drawing on history and his own rich imagination for examples, Sartre offers compelling supplements to his more formal arguments. The waiter who detaches himself from his job-role sticks in the reader's memory with greater tenacity than the lengthy discussion of inauthentic life and serves to bring the full force of the argument to life. Even if you're not an angst-addicted poet from North Beach, Being and Nothingness offers you a deep conversation with a brilliant mind--unfortunately, a rare find these days. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (48)

Must See TeeeVeee...oh Wait a Minute!
Before writing this review I read through Ross Browne's review of the book. It's been about six months now since I, once and for all, read Being and Nothingness. Mr. Browne gets it all right. You must sacrifice to get through this tome. The advice to begin reading this book around page 500 isn't bad advice. Not at all. Around that point of the book comes the section titled "Concrete Relations with Others." Up until this point in the book, it is chock-full of the most intense sort of philosophical jargon and what are really technical, technical details. Which you should familiarize yourself with before reading this book. Otherwise you're pretty much screwed.

So begin the book more than halfway through. In the second half Sartre focuses more closely on human daily life and psychology. His usage of common human feelings of uneasiness, embarrassment, horniness, and malice which makes Being & Nothingness the kind of work which will seriously alter your outlook.

Many consider this book the beginning of the end of philosophy. There are a couple of points where Sartre will say something that seems flat out untrue, but one can perhaps attribute this to inevitable translation-errors/cultural-disconnects. This lends it an air of BS-ness, but all the same, it is a milestone in philosophy.

If you want to know more look up Sartre in the wikipedia and you should be able to figure out if you want to learn more about him. Or check out other Sartre titles like Nausea or his play No Exit.

Sartre's Cartesian View of Heidegger - Back to Husserl
From a discussion with Brian Magee and Hubert Dreyfuss in the book entitled, The Great Philosophers, An Introduction to Western Philosophy, on page 275, the following:

Sartre started out as a Husserlian, an d as a phenomenologist he wrote a good novel called Nausea, which is a first-person description of a person's world breaking down. Then he read Heidegger and was converted to what he thought was Heideggerian existentialism. But as a Husserlian and a Frenchman he felt he had to fix up Heidegger and make him more Cartesian. So he starts with the individual conscious subject, but writes about Death, Anxiety, In authenticity, Being and Nothing - all the things that Heidegger talks about. The result, Being and Nothingness, is a brilliant misunderstanding of Heidegger's Being and Time. If the story that we've been telling is right, Heidegger was precisely trying to free us from our Cartesian assumptions. When I went to visit Heidegger he had Being and Nothingness on his desk, in German translation, and I said, "So you're reading Sartre?, and He responded, "How can I even begin to read this muck?" (His word was 'Dreck'.) That's pretty strong, but I think accurate, since if you treat Heidegger as if he were talking about subjects you turn him back into Husserl. What Sartre wrote was an edifying existentialist version of Husserl. Sartre's for-itself (consciousness) is like Husserl's transcendental ego - an individual subject that gives meaning to everything by way of its intentionality. Because consciousness gives all meaning, anything can have meaning for it. There isn't any restraint, any facticity or thrownness, as Heidegger would call it. It follows that we can give meaning to whatever values we choose. To take Sartre's example, if I decide this moment not to be a gambler, the next moment I can give that decision a new meaning, say that it was a foolish decision, and go right on gambling. I am, in Sartre's terms, pure spontaneity, pure lightness, pure freedom, pure nothingness - absurdly free. Sartre holds that consciousness is 'beyond freedom' and human being is the absurd and doomed attempt to find some stable meaning in life.

Phenomenal Book
I've read this book twice now, and it remains for me one of the greatest and most influential books I've ever read, certainly in philosophy. Is it a difficult read? Yes, certainly, but it's no more difficult than many other massive philosphical tomes out there such as Heidegger's Being and Time, Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind, or Marx's Capital. Sartre didn't write the book with the general public in mind; what he wanted to do was describe and explain a formal existential philosophy for those who wanted to really get into the technical nuts and bolts. One of the reasons he wrote so many novels, plays and essays is because he wanted to illuminate his philosophy in living scenarios that would be more easily digested by the general public. If you've never read a philosophy book before, then this book is not the best place to start, if only because, in addition to its density and length, it presupposes a certain familiarity with other philosophical sytems. If you're interested in Sartre, you'd be better off starting with his thin essay book "Existentialism", or his novel "Nausea", or one of the popular existentialist anthologies such as Walter Kaufmann's, or William Barret's excellent study "Irrational Man".

I disagree with an earlier commentor's suggestion that you skip the first 2/3 of the book. I think it's important to start at the beginning (especially with Hazel Barnes' excellent introduction!) because Sartre methodically builds upon the ontology and the theory of consciousness that he lays out in the earlier parts of the book, and I think it's important to understand that fully before moving on.

Incidently, one of the remarkable things about the book, in terms of today's thought, is the way Sartre's theory of consciousness so closely anticipates much of today's cognitive nueroscientific theories of consciousness (see for example Nobel prize winner Gerald Edelman's new book). Sartre helped me to understand that consciousness is not an entity, as virtually all philosphy since Descartes has maintained, but an embodied process. Think of it this way: digestion is not an entity separate from the stomach; it is a process in the stomach. Similarly, consciousness is a process of the brain; it does not exist separate from the brain.

Well, I didn't intend this to be a long rambling commentary, so I'll cut it here. But if you're not afraid of a philisophical challenge, and if you are interested in existentialism, then this book is well worth the investment in time and mental energy. It truly is, in my opinion, the principal text of existential philosophy. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671867806
Subjects: 1. Existentialism 2. History & Surveys - Modern 3. Metaphysics 4. Philosophy 5. Sartre, Jean-Paul 6. Philosophy / General

$11.56

Much Ado About Nothing
Director: Kenneth Branagh
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DVD (20 January, 1998)
list price: $27.95
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Kenneth Branagh's 1993 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a vigorous and imaginative work, cheerful and accessible for everyone. Largely the story of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson)--adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other--the film veers from arched wit to ironic romps, and the two leads don't mind looking a little silly at times. But the plot is also layered with darker matters that concern the ease with which men and women fall into mutual distrust. Branagh has rounded up a mixed cast of stage vets and Hollywood stars, among the latter Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton, the latter playing a rather seedy, Beetlejuice-like version of Dogberry, king of malapropisms. The DVD release has optional full-screen and widescreen presentations, Dolby sound, optional Spanish and French soundtracks or subtitles.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

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Reviews (135)

Shakespeare does Mel Brooks!
Well, the title is a bit of an exaggeration but "Much Ado About Nothing" is a wonderful exercise in "faux pas," blended with the tongue firmly placed in cheek.

It is Shakespeare for the masses!

The acting is top notch, especially from the always underrated Michael Keaton, hilarious as "the constable".Long after the film is over, one will fondly remember a line associated with him.

The only minor "flaw" is the closing song, sung by most of the principals and extras, at the film's conclusion. The film was lighthearted enough, without the addition of the "sappy" ditty.

A Dainty Dish.
Since his Oscar-nominated "Henry V" adaptation, Kenneth Branagh has come up with a simple, effective recipe:Blend 3 parts English actors well-versed in all things "Bard" with 1 or 2 parts Hollywood, sprinkle the mixture liberally over one of Shakespeare's plays, lift the material out of its original temporal and local context to provide an updated meaning, and garnish it by casting yourself and, until the mid-1990s, (then-)girlfriend Emma Thompson in opposite starring roles.

In "Much Ado About Nothing," that formula works to near-perfection.A comedy of errors possibly written in one of the Bard's busiest years (1599) - although as usual, dating is a minor guessing game - "Much Ado" lives primarily from its timeless characters, making it an ideal object for transformation a la Branagh.Thus, renaissance Sicily becomes 19th century Tuscany (although the location's name, Messina, remains unchanged); and the intrigues centering around the battle of the sexes between Signor Benedick of Padua (Branagh) and Lady Beatrice (Thompson), the niece of Messina's governor Don Leonato (Richard Briers), and their love's labors won - initially the play's intended title; Benedick and Beatrice are a more liberated version of the earlier "Love's Labor's Lost"'s Biron and Rosaline - as well as the schemes surrounding the play's other couple, Benedick's friend Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) and Beatrice's cousin Hero (Kate Beckinsale) become a light-hearted counterpoint to the more serious, politically charged intrigues of novels such as Stendhal's "Charterhouse of Parma" and "Scarlet and Black:"Indeed, the military campaign from which Benedick and Claudio are returning with Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon (Denzel Washington) at the story's beginning could easily be one associated with Italy's 19th century struggle for nationhood.

While according to the play's conception it is ostensibly the relationship between Hero and Claudio that drives the plot - as well as the plotting by Don Pedro's illegitimate brother, Don John (Keanu Reeves) - Beatrice and Benedick are the more interesting couple; both sworn enemies of love, they are not kept apart by a scheming villain but by their own conceit, and are brought *together* by a ruse of Don Pedro's (although even that wouldn't have worked against their will: "Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably," Benedick once tells Beatrice.)And while Don John's machinations create much heartbreak and drama once they have come into fruition, the story's highlights are Benedick's and Beatrice's battles of wits; the sparks flying between them from their first scene to their last: even in front of the chapel, they still - although now primarily for their audience's benefit - respond to each other's question "Do not you love me?" with "No, no more than reason," and when Benedick finally tells Beatrice he will have her, but only "for pity," she tartly answers, "I would not deny you; - but ... I yield upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption" - whereupon Benedick, most uncharacteristically, stops her with a kiss.

Branagh's and Thompson's chemistry works to optimum effect here; and while every Kenneth Branagh movie is as much star vehicle for its creator as it is about the project itself, Benedick's conversion from a man determined not to let love "transform [him] into an oyster" into a married man (because after all, "the world must be peopled.When I said I would die a bachelor I did not think I should live - till I were married"!) is a pure joy to watch.Emma Thompson's Beatrice, similarly, is an incredibly modern, independent young woman; and scenes like her advice to Hero not to blindly follow her father's (Don Leonato's) wishes in marrying but, if necessary, "make another courtesy and say, Father, as it please *me*" only enhance the play's and her character's timeless quality.

Yet, while the leading couple's performances are the movie's shining anchor pieces, there is much to enjoy in the remaining cast as well:Richard Briers's Don Leonato, albeit more English country squire than Italian nobleman, is the kind of doting father that many a daughter would surely wish for; and what he may lack in Italian flavor is more than made up for in Brian Blessed's Don Antonio, Leonato's brother.Kate Beckinsale is a charming, innocent Hero and well-matched with Robert Sean Leonard's Claudio (who after "Dead Poets Society" seemed virtually guaranteed to show up in a Shakespeare adaptation sooner or later); as generally, leaving aside the appropriateness of American accents in a movie like this, the Hollywood contingent acquits itself well.Washington's, Leonard's and Brier's "Cupid" plot particularly is a delight (even if the former might occasionally have gained extra mileage enunciation-wise).Keanu Reeves, cast against stereotype as Don John, is a bit too busy looking sullen to realize the role's full sardonic potential: "melancholy," in Shakespeare's times, after all was a generic term encompassing everything from madness to various saner forms of ill humor; and I wonder what - but for the generational difference - someone like Sir Ian McKellen might have done with that role.But as a self-described "plain-dealing villain" Reeves is certainly appropriately menacing.Michael Keaton's Dogberry, finally, is partly brother-in-spirit to Beetlejuice, partly simply the eternal stupid officer; the play's boorish comic relief and as such spot-on, with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.

The cast is rounded out by several actors who might well have demanded larger roles but nevertheless look ideally matched for the parts they play, including Imelda Staunton and Phyllida Law as Hero's gentlewomen Margaret and Ursula, Gerard Horan and Richard Clifford as Don John's associates Borachio and Conrade, and Ben Elton as Dogberry's "neighbor" Verges.(In addition, score composer Patrick Doyle stands in as minstrel Balthazar.)With minimal editing of the play's original language, a set design making full use of the movie's Tuscan setting, and lavish production values overall, this is a feast for the senses and, on the whole, an adaptation of which even the Bard himself, I think, would have approved.

SUBERB MOVIE...
I do like William Shakespeare literature pieces and I do like this movie too. The actors are great, the atmosphere is fantastic. Especially, my favourite actress Emma Thompson shown a great performance. Shakespeare was a genuis writer that, he hide little secrets and things into even a single word. If you love Shakespeare, if you want to see this mystical and wonderful literature wonder reflected on the seventh art and if you want to see why Shakespeare called "genuis", I think you should watch this film. ... Read more

Asin: 0767802594
Subjects: 1. Feature Film-comedy

The Summer That Saved Baseball : A 38-Day Journey to Thirty Major League Ballparks
by Brad Null Dave Kaval
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Paperback (01 March, 2001)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
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Reviews (20)

There just a bunch of Pansys wining
They wine about how Master Card copied them I want to go to all 30 Major League stadiums with my freind and I would reccommend Joe Mocks guide to Baseball

Before this, I wanted to take my kid to all the ballparks
Before this book, I wanted to take my kid to all the ballparks. But now I am thinking twice.

The author does little but whine about everything.His travelmate, the 60s/70s parks, the 80s parks, the 90s parks.The food.The few times he did not get free stuff.The times when he did get free stuff.I suspect that life is always half-empty for the author.And that is not the right person to write about such an event.

On second thought, I am going to take my kid to all the ballparks.Just so folks like the author don't spoil it for all of us.

give a kid a chance
These guys might be amateur authors and half the ballparks might have torn down by now, but Kaval and Null have so much heart and so much energy it's hard not to be taken in by their travelogue.In the end, the hot dogs are less interesting than the road trip tales, but if you've ever spent 48 consecutive hours in a car with someone else (much less a month!), the story should resonate with you.Besides, if they hadn't saved baseball, we wouldn't have been able to listen to listen to all those ball players whine and almost go on strike in 2002. ... Read more

Isbn: 1581821875
Sales Rank: 483031
Subjects: 1. 1975- 2. Baseball - Essays & Writings 3. Baseball - General 4. Baseball fields 5. Essays & Travelogues 6. Kaval, Dave, 7. Null, Brad, 8. Sports 9. Sports & Recreation 10. Travel 11. United States

$11.53

Between Nothingness & Eternity
Average Customer Review:

Audio CD (25 October, 1990)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $10.99
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Reviews (19)

Jaw Dropping Swan Song
Ahhh, 1973, a magical year where musical exploration is concerned! Certainly in the realm of the jazz-rock fusion arena, it was positively nuclear!! One of fusion's most nuclear proponents would release a jaw-dropping swan song. This ladies and gentlemen, is that swan song.

Ultimately blown apart by internal tensions, the Mahavishnu Orchestra in its brief existence blazed a brave trail and its influence on others is undeniable (Brand X and Deus Ex Machina as just 2 examples).

Taped in New York's Central Park one summer night in 1973 in front of an alternately restless and dumbstruck audience, TMO is shown in full fury stretching out and showing its spontaneous side far more than the studio albums could hope to capture. Here is where the band's amazing blend of Coltrane, Hendrix and Indian ragas hit its peak. 4 strikes of a large gong introduce "Trilogy" with McLaughlin's churning 12-string laying a foundation for the band to roar in with a raga inflected main theme. From here, McLaughlin and Hammer engage in a lively dialogue that darn near threatens to blow itself to bits and then BOOM, the band nails that main theme out of nowhere! The second section finds Goodman and Laird laying down a loping haunting unison melody supported by McLaughlin's chiming 12 string and Hammer conjuring up exotic bird calls from another world as Cobham unleashes firestorms of percussive brilliance. All quiets down for a moment, and then a machine gun snare drum blast from Cobham kicks the band into a hyper-speed 4-way jam and then the whole band miraculously nails that raga-like main theme once again and ends with a stunned audience roaring its approval.

"Sister Andrea" is as close to a blues shouter as the Mahavishnu Orchestra would get (save for "Dance of the Maya" on IMF). But before long, the shout of the blues gives way to otherworldly ruminations paving the way for a spectacular McLaughlin raga-drenched solo guitar outburst, cushioned by Hammer's swirling Rhodes. It all builds to a white-hot frenzy as the band roars back in for a series of blues-drenched exchanges between Hammer and Goodman before ending spectacularly, again to the audiencees delight.

And finally, the mother of all MO epics, "Dream". Starting with a dreamy, mysterious ostinato figure by Hammer and Laird, Goodman's violin enters playing long haunting phrases as McLaughlin flutters madly just underneath. Hammer continues to unleash mysterious chords and arpeggios as the band builds up to a driving main section with a loping melody that would make your head spin as McLaughlin and Goodman lock together in a frightening unison! From there, a metal-meets-raga- section ensues as McLaughlin and Cobham fire phrases back and forth in a manner not unlike Coltrane and Elvin Jones years earlier. After this exchange, the band roars back in for a spectacular restatement of the main theme and on to a spine-chilling conclusion. McLaughlin and Goodman make searing interjections in a manner not unlike King Crimson (the Wetton/Bruford/Cross lineup). The two bands did draw a lot of comparisons and discussion. One by one, the instruments drop out until only Hammer is left conjuring up mysterious chords and colors. There is stunned silence and then the audience roars again, and tries to put its jaws back in their sockets. WHHOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAA!

Now, after all that brilliance, does this Owl have any quibbles?

Well, I have 2, and these are not directed at the band, but rather towards the record company!!

A) The muddy sound quality!!!! It has about all the sound quality of a worn 8-track tape! Someone at Sony DID NOT do a very good job of transferring this to CD. GET THIS THING INTO REMASTERING ON THE DOUBLE!!!!!

B) I wonder, was this the entire concert or was there more to it and was it taped? If so, STOP SITTING ON IT AND RELEASE IT! This was a GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!!

But gripes against Sony aside, this is one mind-blowing fusion experience not to be missed. It's enough to make me really wish time-travel was possible! Just to be putting my jaw back in its' socket!

insanely brilliant fusion
This is the third release from the jazz/rock fusion group Mahavishnu Orchestra. This CD alows you to here the mahavishnu orchestra as it was supposed to be heard, live. The only down side of this album is that it has only three tracks. These three tracks however are enough to satisfy any fan. McLaughlin and Cobham dominate on this album completely. It is a must listen for any guitarist or drummer. The Cobham/ McLaughlin solo on dream is one of the most intese things i have ever heard. After listining to Dream, any guitarist can easliy tell that John McLaughlin is by far the most technically advanced guitarist ever. But it is not just these two powerhorses on this album. Jan Hammer takes an amazing solo on his song Siter Andrea. Goodman isn't too spectacular on Sister Andrea, however. his use of wah-wah doesnt help much. McLaughlin then takes a twelve-string solo which is pure beauty. Trilogy is also a very good song. La Mer de la Mere is very beutiful. All in all, any guitarist of fusion fans record collection would be incomplete without this gem.

Blistering fusion, faster than the speed of light
You can call this album the live version of "The Lost Trident Sessions," the third Mahavishnu studio album for Columbia, unreleased until 1999. Recorded in New York City's Central Park, August 5, 1973, when they were the loudest and fastest band on the planet, it is the last recording (available) with the original line-up.

"Trilogy" is a good song--a nice composition with mellifluous harmonies. McLaughlin's distorted broken chords sound wonderful; the initial exhange in "The Sunlit Path" between him and Jan Hammer's Rhodes offer much more than just speed. There's a delicacy to this first part of "Trilogy" that I find absolutely charming. The second part, "La Mere de la Mer," is equally enchanting--what a wonderful theme, played on the violin, and followed by some really impressive but controlled drumwork. The last part, "Tomorrow's Story Not the Same" (and it's nice to see they corrected the spelling--"Trident" spells it "tommorow"), is a hard rocker with the double bass, and Goodman soloing whileHammer, McLaughlin, and Laird repeat the melody as a rhythm. Then, Hammer and McLaughlin get it on with the Moog and the guitar, and that's always good. What a trip.

"Sister Andrea," a standard jazz-rock-fusion tune (and as a composition therefore uninteresting), written by Jan Hammer, is one of those songs written to showcase the soloing talents of Hammer, Goodman, and McLaughlin. Especially Goodman seems a bit lost among all this violence and fury (and using a wah-pedal doesn't help him much here), but the emotional highpoint of the song, McLaughlin's solo, which doesn't even seem to need the band behind him (in fact, the spatial vista opened up by the band not playing a real 'tune' behind him reminds me of Miles Davis), is incredible, and reaches a height he couldn't even begin to aspire to on the studio album--I'm glad to have this song played live; the speed, the distortion, the arpeggios, and the gut-wrenching dissonances are amazing.

I like "Dream" much better as a composition. There's a mystery to it, a quietness that I'm surprised they managed to convey in an outdoor show. McLaughlin starts off acoustic; Goodman really comes out nicely in the song's first part. When they pick up the second, faster, theme, beautiful and violent things start to happen, beginning with Hammer on the Rhodes, in an almost free-jazz exercise, until the trademark Mahavishnu melody line--fast and furious, and elegant. The development of this song is great, even when it slipts into the standard groovy repetitive theme halfway through, featuring Goodman again, thoroughly in charge. They really get it going here, as tight as on any studio recording: this is a seemingly superhuman effort. And I love the end, with the single notes from McLaughlin screaming out from a quiet passage, leading into yet another, final, explosion.

Of course, it's not just the three big guys--Laird is solid on the bass, and more inventive than people tend to give him credit for, but then, it can't be easy to play behind the trinity. And Billy Cobham, I love Billy Cobham. He's a beast on the drums, with a violent beauty and unsurpassed skills in his line of work. I wonder about that ride cymbal of his: it sounds absolutely beautiful, and I've never heard one like it.

This is a great album. The sound may not be perfect, one of the songs may be an average composition, but the skills displayed here are about more than technical proficiency. These guys are at the top of their game in Central Park, and their game dazzles me every time. ... Read more

Asin: B00000252D
Sales Rank: 17018
Subjects: 1. Jazz 2. Pop

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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
Average Customer Review:

CD-ROM (23 March, 2004)
list price: $29.99 -- our price: $29.99
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COUNTER-STRIKE is the #1 online action game in the world. After a one-year public Beta, Counter-Strike was commercially released in Fall 2000. It has gone on to sell over 1.5 million copies worldwide, been named Game of the Year by several gaming publications, and is the headliner at competitive gaming tournaments around the world.

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Counter-Strike: Condition Zero advances this award-winning series by introducing objective based single-player action, the official CS bot, and special enhancements for online play. CS:CZ is a tactical action game that challenges you to compete with and against cunning computerized opponents in a Tour of Duty across the globe.

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As a squad leader in an elite counter-terrorist operative, use new intel and weapon skills to complete an incredible collection of single-player missions. Lead your team in increasingly challenging scenarios -- from harsh jungle environments to severe arctic terrains, unforgiving deserts to dangerous international city streets. Rescue hostages. Escort VIPs to safety. Locate and defuse bombs. A collection of entirely new objectives challenge your ability to think quickly and strategically.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero introduces new game technologies including highly-detailed locations; atmospheric enhancements, such as snow and rain; and more dynamic special effects -- taking the #1 online action game into new territory. Also, play your favorite classic CS maps, now visually upgraded.

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Condition Zero contains never-before-seen elements to the game series, such as the official CS bot, which allows for both offline and online multiplayer simulations. In addition, CS:CZ includes an arsenal of advanced weaponry and equipment, including upgraded firepower, bulletproof riot shields, and more.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is a co-production by Valve and Turtle Rock Studios. In the collaborative spirit of CS, Valve and Turtle Rock have tapped the creative talents of mapmakers and technology designers in the CS community. And several of the tools and technologies created in the making of CS:CZ will be released to the MOD community after launch. ... Read more

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More Maps, More Models, More Fun
I used to play CS:Source all the time until I got this. In my opinion, Source is a freebie with HL2 and this is the real deal. I don't care much about graphics, so no complaints here. Besides that I find the people on CZ servers to be altogether friendlier than the n00bs and haxors playing on Source. Long Live CZ, Source is just a pretender to the throne.

Ausome!
this is the best game ever! buy it!grat online play and good graphics.dont listen to what other people say!it is ausome and plus you get counterstrike with it when you type in your CD key on steam you just have to download it!dont waste your money on CS when you can buy Cs CZ for 10 bucks more.

Condition Zero review by Dave Clarke
This game is cool I have a link between my Brothers and My Computer so i get to kill him (ha ha ha ) Thsi really brought CounterStrike to life .

So you CS Lovers get here and but it

Dave ... Read more

Asin: B00005Y0IW
Subjects: 1. Computer Games 2. Action 3. Shooters (Shooter) 4. Havas

$29.99

The Producers (Special Edition)
Director: Mel Brooks
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DVD (08 August, 2003)
list price: $24.98
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Editorial Review

Mel Brooks's directorial debut remains both a career high point and a classic show business farce. Hinging on a crafty plot premise, which in turn unleashes a joyously insane onstage spoof, The Producers is powered by a clutch of over-the-top performances, capped by the odd couple pairing of the late Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, making his screen debut.

Mostel is Max Bialystock, a gone-to-seed Broadway producer who spends his days wheedling checks from his "investors," elderly women for whom Bialystock is only too willing to provide company.When wide-eyed auditor Leo Bloom (Wilder) comes to check the books, he unwittingly inspires the wild-eyed Max to hatch a sure-fire plan: sell 25,000 percent of his next show, produce a deliberate flop, then abscond with the proceeds. Unfortunately for the producers (but fortunately for us), their candidate for failure is Springtime for Hitler, a Brooksian conceit that envisions what Goebbels might have accomplished with a little help from Busby Berkeley.

Truly startling during its original 1968 release, The Producers does show signs of age in some peripheral scenes that make merry at the expense of gays and women. But the show's nifty cast (notably including the late Dick Shawn as LSD, the space cadet that snags the musical's title role, and Kenneth Mars as the helmeted playwright) clicks throughout, and the sight of Mostel fleecing his marks is irresistibly funny. Add Wilder's literally hysterical Bloom, and it's easy to understand the film's exalted status among late-'60s comedies. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

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Reviews (173)

"The Fruer Was A Great Dancer"
After seeing the Broadway show and now owning the movie I have come up with the opinon that the movie is actually better than the smash-hit Broadway show despite the fact it only contains two songs-- one of which was cut from the Broadway show. So if you expect it to be anything like the Broadway show your in for a rude awakening!

In this Motzel and Widler give great performances along with the hippie who sings the song "Flower Power" at his audition and manages to get the role of Hitler in Bialy's "Springtime For Hitler." The jokes in this movie never fail to make me laugh along with the hilliarous ex-Nazi who is now a pigeon collector. There is not a bad scene in this movie and Wilder gives his best performance.

The quality of the DVD is good and it's a movie I watch over and over again! If your a fan of good dialouge and old comedies this movie is at least worth a look at! All in all buy or rent this one!

The greatest comedy of all time?
I've got to say I was very excited about watching this movie.It had got 5 stars in the TV guide.Talking about how a re-make is being made and how there is a Broadway show of it.My wife was feeling ill so I thought it's the perfect day to watch this "greatest comeday of all time".

Within ten minutes we were wondering if there was any point in watching more.As the movie was supposed to be so good we continued to watch.Repeatidly saying "this is stupid!".

To put it bluntly it is the worst movie I have ever seen.Perhaps we don't have a sense of humour, perhaps we just don't understand art.I would strongly recommend not buying this movie!

For a truly funny movie I would recomment "Harold and Maude" (1971) by Hal Ashby.

thoroughly tasteless...thouroughly hilarious
Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder (and crew) make this movie version so very special.(More than the stage musical).They team up in a scam to make financially floundering Max(Mostel) bounce back by creating a play that is sure to fail...at least that's the plan.

In bad taste and hilarious, revealing the comic genius of Mostel, Wilder, Brooks etc. in satire even more likely to offend than that in Brook's 'Blazing Saddles'. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JK45
Subjects: 1. Feature Film-comedy

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