Monday, November 7, 2011

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (P.S.)

  • ISBN13: 9780060731335
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!

Which is more dangerous, a gun or a swimming pool?

What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common?

How much do parents really matter?

These may not sound like typical questions for an economist to ask. But Steven D. Levitt is not a typical economist. He studies the riddles of everyday lifeâ€"from cheating and crime to parenting and sportsâ€"and reaches conclusions that turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Freakonomics is a groundbreaking collaboration between Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist. They set out to explore the inner workings of a crack gang, the truth about real estate agents, the se! crets of the Ku Klux Klan, and much more.

Through forceful storytelling and wry insight, they show that economics is, at root, the study of incentivesâ€"how people get what they want or need, especially when other people want or need the same thing.

Economics is not widely considered to be one of the sexier sciences. The annual Nobel Prize winner in that field never receives as much publicity as his or her compatriots in peace, literature, or physics. But if such slights are based on the notion that economics is dull, or that economists are concerned only with finance itself, Steven D. Levitt will change some minds. In Freakonomics (written with Stephen J. Dubner), Levitt argues that many apparent mysteries of everyday life don't need to be so mysterious: they could be illuminated and made even more fascinating by asking the right questions and drawing connections. For example, Levitt traces the drop in violent crime rates to a drop in violent crimi! nals and, digging further, to the Roe v. Wade decision that pr! eempted the existence of some people who would be born to poverty and hardship. Elsewhere, by analyzing data gathered from inner-city Chicago drug-dealing gangs, Levitt outlines a corporate structure much like McDonald's, where the top bosses make great money while scores of underlings make something below minimum wage. And in a section that may alarm or relieve worried parents, Levitt argues that parenting methods don't really matter much and that a backyard swimming pool is much more dangerous than a gun. These enlightening chapters are separated by effusive passages from Dubner's 2003 profile of Levitt in The New York Times Magazine, which led to the book being written. In a book filled with bold logic, such back-patting veers Freakonomics, however briefly, away from what Levitt actually has to say. Although maybe there's a good economic reason for that too, and we're just not getting it yet. --John Moe
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Egyptian Hand Blown Glass Aromatherapy Scented Oil Burner, Golden Rays

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Calle 54 ~ A Love Affair with Latin Jazz (Original Theatrical Release) [Import, All-region] (Dvd)

  • This is the ORIGINAL theatrical release (exacctly as intended by the director) - acclaimed as one of the very best motion pictures ever made about music!
  • "...a glorious Latin jazz documentary from Oscar-winning Spanish director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) ...Sexy, too. This is one summer movie with real sizzle." ROLLING STONE
  • "Lovers of Latin jazz will have a ball with 'Calle 54'..." VARIETY
  • "There's not been a more infectious jazz performance screen treat since 1959's classic Jazz on a Summer's Day." MIKE CLARK, USA Today
  • Import from Korea made for the USA/Canada marketplace (NTSC, All-Region)
A behind the scenes glimpse into the lives of Grammy Award winner Tito Puente and some of the greatest Latin musicians of our times! Experience the passion of Latin Jazz. It is a musical journey that captures the heart and soul of an entire culture. It is an innova! tive tapestry of sound and imagery, styles and rhythms-from samba to pambiche to flamenco. In Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title takes its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in Manhattan, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary, and the most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, who were separated by Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arr! anger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master! Tito P uente. Simply put, Calle 54 is a documentary that dances. --Eugene Holley Jr."The Buena Vista Social Club" guitarist Ry Cooder s celebrated album featuring the recently re-discovered talents of Cuba s foremost folk musicians sold millions of copies and earned a Grammy Award. Now Cooder teams up with acclaimed director Wim Wenders (Paris Texas) to reveal the astonishing life stories vibrant personalities and unforgettable music of the brilliantly talented but long-overlooked performers who collaborated on this now-legendary recording. Form the crumbling barrios of their native Havana to their triumphant sold-out concerts in Amsterdam and New York s Carnegie Hall it s an unforgettable deeply emotional journey into the passion pride and humanity of the artists whose music sparked a worldwide musical phenomenon!System Requirements:Starring: Ry Cooder Ibrahim Ferrer Rueben Gonzalez Eliades Ochoa Omara Portuondo and Compay Segundo. Directed By: Wim Wenders. Running! Time: 105 mins color. This film is presented in "Standard" format. Copyright: 1999 Artisan Live Entertainment.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating:  UPC: 012236101765 Manufacturer No: 10176In 1996, composer, producer, and guitar legend Ry Cooder entered Egrem Studios in Havana with the forgotten greats of Cuban music, many of them in their 60s and 70s, some of them long since retired. The resulting album, Buena Vista Social Club, became a Grammy-winning international bestseller. When Cooder returned to Havana in 1998 to record a solo album by 72-year-old vocalist Ibrahim Ferrer, filmmaker Wim Wenders was on hand to document the occasion. Wenders splits the film between portraits of the performers, who tell their stories directly to the camera as they wander the streets and neighborhoods of Havana, and a celebration of the music heard in performance scenes in the studio, in their first concert in Amsterdam, and in their second and final concert at Carnegie H! all. The songs are too often cut short in this fashion, but Buena V ista Social Club is not a concert film. Wenders weaves the artist biographies with a glimpse of modern Cuba remembering its past, capturing a lost culture in music that is suddenly, unexpectedly revived for audiences in Havana and around the world. Wenders makes his presence practically invisible, as if his directorial flourishes or off-screen narration might deflect attention from the artists, who do a fine job of telling their own stories through interviews and music. It's a loving portrait of a master class in Cuban music, with a vital cast of aging performers whose energy and passion belie their years. --Sean AxmakerIn Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title takes its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in Manhatta! n, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary, and the most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, who were separated by Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arranger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master Tito Puente. Simply put, Calle 54 is a documentary that dances. --Eugene Holley Jr.In Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title tak! es its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in ! Manhatta n, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary, and the most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, who were separated by Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arranger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master Tito Puente. Simply put, Calle 54 is a documentary that dances. --Eugene Holley Jr.In Calle 54, Madrid-based filmmaker Fernando Trueba explores the wide and wonderful world of Latin jazz: a hybrid genre that fuses the clave, samba, flamenco, merengue, and other rhythms from Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and the Americas. The film's Spanish title take! s its name from Sony Music Studios located on 54th Street in Manhattan, where a who's who of musicians were filmed and recorded. They range from Brazilian bombshell keyboardist Eliane Elias and enigmatic Argentine tenor saxophonist Gato Barbieri, to the fiery rumba group Puntilla y Nueva Generacion. The music and musicians of Cuba and Puerto Rico dominate this documentary, and the most touching scene is the emotional father-and-son reunion of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés, who were separated by Fidel Castro's revolution. Sadly, the film features the last onscreen appearances by the late composer-arranger Chico O'Farrill and the legendary timbales master Tito Puente. Simply put, Calle 54 is a documentary that dances. --Eugene Holley Jr.The vibrant Calle 54 offers an incredible behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of Grammy Award winner Tito Puente and some of the greatest Latin Jazz artists of our time! Whether it's created in hot backstr! eet clubs or recording studios from Miami to Havana, the Bronx! to Anda lusia, the pulsating sounds of Latin Jazz capture the heart and soul of an entire culture! Showcased in a series of extraordinary performances, Latin legends use their immense musical talents to weave an innovative tapestry of sound, style and rhythm that becomes a passionate celebration of life! From the direction of the Academy-Award®-winning Belle Epoch -- featured artists includes the late "godfather of Latin music" Titi Puente, barefoot Brazilian pianist Elaine Elias, Argentinean tenor sax great Gato Barbieri, Paquito D'Rivera and many more you don't want to miss!
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Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters for DVD

  • The Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie establishes the origins of the Aqua Teens and attempts to explain the back story to some age-old mysteries that have surrounded the Aqua Teens. Or does it? No one really knowsRunning Time: 166 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: R Age: 053939791921 UPC: 053939791921 Manufacturer No: T7919
The Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie establishes the origins of the Aqua Teens and attempts to explain the back story to some age-old mysteries that have surrounded the Aqua Teens. Or does it? No one really knows

DVD Features:
Alternate endings
Deleted Scenes
Featurette
Music Video
Other
Photo gallery
Theatrical Trailer

Fans of Cartoon Network’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force series (part of the cable channel’s Adult Swim programming) know what they’re in for with this feature! -length extension of the nearly-indescribable animated show. Set in a rundown, Jersey suburb, Aqua Teen concerns the misadventures of three human-size characters who happen to be fast food refuse: the crude Master Shake, a discarded milkshake in a cup similar to those from McDonalds; skeptical Frylock, a flying, cardboard box of french fries; and the personable Meatwad, a piece of expired, red beef of unknown origin. Together, they go in search of a missing piece of an exercise machine that happens to be more than an exercise machine, placing them on a collision course with the likes of Oglethorpe and Emory, a pair of jagged, ridiculous creatures from the future who travel with a robot companion claiming to be the Ghost of Christmas Past. They also encounter Dr. Weird, a mad scientist given to disguises and who seeks revenge against the Hunger Force; McPee Pants, a rapping spider who wears a shower cap and diaper; and the hilarious Ignignokt and Err, two-dimensional ! villains from the ancient days of pokey, Atari video games. Da! ve Willi s and Matt Maiellaro, series creators and writers-directors on Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, are wildly entertaining class clowns, but they expect the rest of us to follow them into their surreal world of postmodern animated nuttiness. The rewards, however, are plentiful. --Tom Keogh
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The Beach Boys - Good Timin' - Live at Knebworth, England 1980

  • Featuring: The Beach Boys.
  • Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Special Edition, NTSC.
  • Language: English.
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only).
  • Run Time: 70 minutes.
Get your paws on this "irresistible" (The Philadelphia Inquirer) family adventure starring Molly Shannon, Liam Aiken and Kevin Nealon! Featuring a hilarious four-legged cast Ã"â?" with voices by Matthew Broderick, Delta Burke, Donald Faison, Cheech Marin, Brittany Murphy, Vanessa Redgrave and Carl Reiner Ã"â?" this heartwarming tale is a "furry romp that both kids and parents can laugh at together" (The Seattle Times)! Twelve-year-old Owen (Aiken) has a new dog, Hubble (Broderick), who can not only sit, stay and roll over he can also speak Ã"â?" literally! Turns out Hubble is an interplanetary agent from the dog star Sirius. Now Owen is about to discover that Hubble and all his canine buddies are o! n a mission to rule the world!A young boy named Owen learns the startling truth about dogs: They're actually from outer space, sent here to rule mankind. A canine agent from the star Sirius (voiced by Matthew Broderick) gets rescued from the pound by Owen (Liam Aiken) and named Hubble. As Hubble desperately tries to train a motley crew of dogs from Owen's neighborhood to behave like conquerors before the Greater Dane arrives and decides the planet's fate, the outer space pooch slowly bonds with Owen and discovers why dogs may have joined forces with humans instead of dominating them. Good Boy! will charm dog lovers in particular, but the movie has enough clever touches to engage most viewers, and it manages a sweet tone without turning cloyingly saccharine. Featuring the voices of Carl Reiner, Brittany Murphy, Delta Burke, Donald Faison, and--of all people--Vanessa Redgrave as the Greater Dane. --Bret FetzerThis DVD was recorded at the Beach Boys historic con! cert at Knebworth House on June 21st 1980. It proved to be th! e last t ime that the original Beach Boys: Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Alan Jardine, would appear together on any stage.

The Beach Boys are one of the most successful groups of all time, selling over 10 million records in the U.S, with Pet Sounds being generally regarded as one of the all time great albums.

The DVD includes virtually all the Beach Boys classics such as Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda, Sloop John B, Lady Lynda, I Get Around, Barbara Ann, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Surfin' USA, California Girls and of course Good Vibrations.

Track Listing:
1. Good Timin'
2. California Girls
3. Sloop John B
4. Darlin'
5. School Days
6. God Only Knows
7. Be True to Your School
8. Do it Again
9. Little Deuce Coupe
10. Cotton Fields/Heroes and Villains
11. Heroes and Villains
12. Keepin' the Summer Alive
13. Lady Lynda
14. Surfer Girl
15. Help Me ! Rhonda
16. Rock & Roll Music
17. I Get Around
18. Surfin' USA
19. You Are So Beautiful
20. Good Vibrations
21. Barbara Ann
22. Fun, Fun, FunIt's entertaining, nostalgic, even poignant... not much more one could ask for from a Beach Boys concert. This 70-minute concert was the last time the complete group (brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Bruce Johnston, plus backing musicians) would appear in the U.K., performing a mix of oldies ("California Girls," "Help Me Rhonda," "Fun, Fun, Fun," etc.) and some newer material. And if the show itself is somewhat pedestrian, it's still marvelous to see the three Wilsons together onstage, especially in view of the subsequent deaths of Dennis (in '83) and Carl (in '98), and Brian's eventual triumphant recovery from mental and emotional problems. To hear Carl sing so beautifully on "God Only Knows," or Dennis play drums with such power and emotion, or Brian, v! acant but game, contribute a few lines to "Surfer Girl"... wel! l, it mi ght just bring a tear to your eye. --Sam Graham The Beach Boys live in concert at Knebworth Park, Hertfordshire on 21st June 1980 was the last time all six Beach Boys - Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Alan Jardine and Bruce Johnston would appear together, singing and playing, on a UK stage. This special DVD+CD collectors' edition captures this memorable event.DVD TRACKLISTING :
Intro (Good Timin')
California Girls
Sloop John B
Darlin'
School Days
God Only Knows'
Be True To Your School
Do It Again
Little Deuce Coupe
Cotton Fields /
Heroes and Villains
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Lady Lynda
Surfer Girl
Help Me Rhonda
Rock & Roll Music
I Get Around
Surfin' USA
You Are So Beautiful
Good Vibrations
Barbara Ann
Fun, Fun, Fun

CD TRACKLISTING:
INTRO
California Girls
Sloop John B
Darlin'
School Days
God Only Knows
Be True To Your School !
Do It Again
Little Deuce Coupe
Cotton Fields /
Heroes And Villains
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Lady Lynda
Surfer Girl
Help Me Rhonda
Rock & Roll Music
I Get Around
Surfin' USA
You Are So Beautiful
Good Vibrations
Barbara Ann
Fun, Fun, Fun

Also includes
The Beach Boys
On The Beach Boys Songs
Contemporary comments from the band on some of the songs performed at Knebworth.It's entertaining, nostalgic, even poignant... not much more one could ask for from a Beach Boys concert. This 70-minute concert was the last time the complete group (brothers Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Bruce Johnston, plus backing musicians) would appear in the U.K., performing a mix of oldies ("California Girls," "Help Me Rhonda," "Fun, Fun, Fun," etc.) and some newer material. And if the show itself is somewhat pedestrian, it's still marvelous to see the three Wilsons togethe! r onstage, especially in view of the subsequent deaths of Denn! is (in ' 83) and Carl (in '98), and Brian's eventual triumphant recovery from mental and emotional problems. To hear Carl sing so beautifully on "God Only Knows," or Dennis play drums with such power and emotion, or Brian, vacant but game, contribute a few lines to "Surfer Girl"... well, it might just bring a tear to your eye. --Sam Graham

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Sterling Silver Japanese "Godsend" Kanji Symbol Charm

  • solid sterling silver with high polish finish
  • translation engraved on the back
  • hand cast in the USA exclusively by DragonWeave
  • gift box included
  • ships immediately
The trials of parenthood are at the forefront of this murky horror effort that recalls 1970s child-possession hits like AUDREY ROSE ('77) and The EXORCIST ('73). Inner-city school teacher Paul (Greg Kinnear) and his wife Jessica (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) are distraught after losing their eight-year-old son David (Cameron Bright) in an accident. At the funeral, Jessica's old science professor Dr. Wells (Robert Deniro) offers them a chance to rebuild their lives: a mansion in the country near his DNA clinic, a private school teaching job for Paul, and an exact clone of their dead son. Sworn to secrecy and facing all sorts of moral issues, the grief-stricken couple accepts Wells' offer. All goes well unt! il the new David passes the age he previously died, then comes ghostly visions of burning children, and premonitions of murder. A creepily unobtrusive score and the film's drab look help maintain a welcome low-key, character-driven mood here, with the result that GODSEND works both as a standard horror film and a darkly psychological meditation on the uncertainty, misgivings, and sheer terror involved with child rearing. Deniro is great, as usual, and the gorgeous Romijn-Stamos proves herself adept in an unglamorous, tensely dramatic change-of-pace role as the split-apart mother.While it preys on the emotions of grieving parents, Godsend serves up a few minor shocks in an otherwise frightless supernatural thriller. Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are the once-happy couple whose 8-year-old son (Cameron Bright) has been struck and killed by a car. When a fertility and genetics expert (Robert De Niro) offers them an opportunity to resurrect their boy through a se! cret, illegal cloning procedure, they don't know that the doct! or's hid den agenda will have horrifying repercussions when the "new" son passes his eighth birthday and begins having "night terrors" about another boy who'd suffered a similarly unfortunate fate. Any casual viewer will catch the plot twist early, after which Godsend presses its flimsy premise past the breaking point. There are some eerie moments involving the kid (and Bright has effectively disturbing presence), but wretched dialogue and derivative plotting undermine the talented leads, all of whom seem to be slumming in the B-movie cellar. --Jeff ShannonDark Town:
A quiet suburban town is overrun by vampires! The once-idyllic picture of the typical American family now hosts spectacles of carnage behind every picket fence, as the neighbors prowl the streets feasting on the dead and dying. Jen and Rakeem are the only two left to fight their way out of the suburban slaughterhouse...will they survive?

Godsend:
Following the death! of their eight-year-old son. Adam, devastated parents Jessie (Rebecca Romijn) and Paul (Greg Kinnear) are desperate to do anything to resurrect their beloved child. Befriended by a doctor on the forefront of genetic research (Robert DeNiro),they are offered a chance to reverse the rules of nature and clone their son. The experiment appears successful under the doctor'swatchful eye, and Adam grows into a healthy, happy, young boy...until his Eighth birthday. Then the night terrors and frightening flashbacks are only the beginning. Reaching the age at which the original Adam died, the new Adam begins to change, and a new sinister personality emerges.

Martin:
From Director George A. Romero comes a dynamic gothic original. Martin is a misunderstood young man who happens to be a vampire...maybe. The sun really just bothers his eyes a little, garlic and crosses have no effects and he has no fangs. He also doesn't haveany vampiric powers which makes acqui! ring blood and extremely harrowing experience for all involved! .
Modern Vampire:
Los Angeles has a discreet community of tortured bloodthirsty creatures of the night. But when a mysterious vampire (Natasha Gregson Wagner) enters the scene, The Count wants this blood sucking seductress eliminated before her rampage of death exposes the cult.Her only chance at immortality lies in the fangs of Dallas (Casper Van Dien, Starship Troopers). But when a distraught mortal, Dr.Frederick van Helsing (Rod Steiger), seeks revenge on the vampires that damned his son, he vows to kill them all, slowly. Togetherwith a band of vampire hungers, Dr. Van Helsing declares war on the underground church of damnation. Welcome to Transylvania in the Hollywood Hills.rian Cathcart, a 27-year-old black man, is a private investigator of a different sort. He only takes serious cases that the police have abandoned. When asked what kind of laws he might break, Brian counted on his fingers while saying, "Illegal phone taps, bribery, extortion, as! sault, blackmail, threats--"

After solving a missing persons case, which turned out to be a 12-year-old homicide, Brian hardly has time to celebrate. His girlfriend is killed and his assistant is shot in the chest, so he wants to close Godsend Private Investigations before the agency can even get started good. But then something changes his mind: A wealthy couple offers him $600,000 for the return of a kidnapped child. And since Brian himself is the father of an adorable little girl, he decides that his agency shoud exist as a necessary evil. This time he may break a law called homicide.rian Cathcart, a 27-year-old black man, is a private investigator of a different sort. He only takes serious cases that the police have abandoned. When asked what kind of laws he might break, Brian counted on his fingers while saying, "Illegal phone taps, bribery, extortion, assault, blackmail, threats--"

After solving a missing persons case, which turned out to be a 12-yea! r-old homicide, Brian hardly has time to celebrate. His girlfr! iend is killed and his assistant is shot in the chest, so he wants to close Godsend Private Investigations before the agency can even get started good. But then something changes his mind: A wealthy couple offers him $600,000 for the return of a kidnapped child. And since Brian himself is the father of an adorable little girl, he decides that his agency shoud exist as a necessary evil. This time he may break a law called homicide.While it preys on the emotions of grieving parents, Godsend serves up a few minor shocks in an otherwise frightless supernatural thriller. Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are the once-happy couple whose 8-year-old son (Cameron Bright) has been struck and killed by a car. When a fertility and genetics expert (Robert De Niro) offers them an opportunity to resurrect their boy through a secret, illegal cloning procedure, they don't know that the doctor's hidden agenda will have horrifying repercussions when the "new" son passes his eighth birthday! and begins having "night terrors" about another boy who'd suffered a similarly unfortunate fate. Any casual viewer will catch the plot twist early, after which Godsend presses its flimsy premise past the breaking point. There are some eerie moments involving the kid (and Bright has effectively disturbing presence), but wretched dialogue and derivative plotting undermine the talented leads, all of whom seem to be slumming in the B-movie cellar. --Jeff ShannonNo Description Available.
Genre: Horror
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 3-JAN-2006
Media Type: 3\ Mini DVD for PH"While it preys on the emotions of grieving parents, Godsend serves up a few minor shocks in an otherwise frightless supernatural thriller. Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are the once-happy couple whose 8-year-old son (Cameron Bright) has been struck and killed by a car. When a fertility and genetics expert (Robert De Niro) offers them an opportu! nity to resurrect their boy through a secret, illegal cloning ! procedur e, they don't know that the doctor's hidden agenda will have horrifying repercussions when the "new" son passes his eighth birthday and begins having "night terrors" about another boy who'd suffered a similarly unfortunate fate. Any casual viewer will catch the plot twist early, after which Godsend presses its flimsy premise past the breaking point. There are some eerie moments involving the kid (and Bright has effectively disturbing presence), but wretched dialogue and derivative plotting undermine the talented leads, all of whom seem to be slumming in the B-movie cellar. --Jeff ShannonGodsend:All Jokes aside.

The sixth book of the Godsend Series, Ramona Hartley has been missing for three years and someone has to pay for it. The focus will be on Zavius Shotglass Grant, the best free-form comedian in America. But it is no laughing matter when Brian Cathcart and two of his Godsend trainees run up on a violent China-man and his two henchmen. An unexpe! cted shootout in Ojai Valley, California, will even have readers ducking, especially when Brian goes against the norm to extinguish the situation.

Echo is training Kiandra, a fine black woman from Watts who is no stranger to danger. He agrees to help her get personal revenge against a big-time Crip member and rapist; but if you've been keeping up with Echo, you know what it will cost her. After some trickery with a Ramona Hartley witness and some gunplay in Compton, Echo and Kiandra try to surprise three Crip members in a South Lake Tahoe motel. The surprise doesn't work for the leader, and of course there will be blood in the snow. As for Ramona, her disappearance may not have been much of a mystery to someone close to her in New York.
Godsend:All Jokes aside.

The sixth book of the Godsend Series, Ramona Hartley has been missing for three years and someone has to pay for it. The focus will be on Zavius Shotglass Grant, the best free-form comedian in! America. But it is no laughing matter when Brian Cathcart and! two of his Godsend trainees run up on a violent China-man and his two henchmen. An unexpected shootout in Ojai Valley, California, will even have readers ducking, especially when Brian goes against the norm to extinguish the situation.

Echo is training Kiandra, a fine black woman from Watts who is no stranger to danger. He agrees to help her get personal revenge against a big-time Crip member and rapist; but if you've been keeping up with Echo, you know what it will cost her. After some trickery with a Ramona Hartley witness and some gunplay in Compton, Echo and Kiandra try to surprise three Crip members in a South Lake Tahoe motel. The surprise doesn't work for the leader, and of course there will be blood in the snow. As for Ramona, her disappearance may not have been much of a mystery to someone close to her in New York.
Hand cast sterling silver silhouette-style charm of the Japanese kanji symbol for "godsend." In Japanese, it is pronounced tenyo. The word "godsend" i! s engraved on the back, as a translation. Charm is 1 1/8" (29mm) long, 2/3" (16mm) across, and 1mm thick. Comes on a 6mm split ring, suitable for wearing on a charm bracelet or necklace chain, for a total length of 1 3/8" (35mm). Lovingly handcast in the USA exclusively by DragonWeave. High quality - accept no substitutes!
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Hannibal Rising (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

  • In Red Dragon we learned who he was. In Silence of the Lambs, we learned how he did it. Now comes the most chilling chapter in the saga of Hannibal Lecter the one that answers the most elusive question of all why? Written by Thomas Harris, the best-selling author of the Hannibal book series, this fascinating and terrifying journey into the making of a monster (Pete Hammond, Maxim), reveals for the
(Horror/Suspense) The terrifying Silence of the Lambs prequel that reveals the history of the infamous Hannibal and how he came to be a cannibalistic murderer.Though Hannibal Rising's Lecter (Gaspard Ulliel) is a pussycat compared to Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs, this sequel's story of revenge is grizzly enough to satisfy lovers of Thomas Harris's epic tale. After young Hannibal (Aaron Thomas) is forced to watch his little sister, Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska), devoured by s! tarving soldiers in his homeland Lithuania, Hannibal vows to avenge his sister's death by slaying those who committed not only war crimes against the Lecters, but also against other families during WW II. In detailing Hannibal's revenge plan, the film investigates the psychological implications of witnessing cannibalism to justify Hannibal's insatiable appetite for human flesh. The most interesting aspect of Hannibal Risingâ€"its analytical connections drawn between Hannibal's childhood traumas and his murderous adult obsessionsâ€"is also the film's weak point. The links oversimplify Lecter's complex character. For example, though titillating to see flashbacks of Lecter's sister hacked up and boiled while Lecter visits a Parisian meat market, the reference is too obvious. One learns why he excels in his medical school classes dissecting cadavers, and we're given explicit explanation for why he slices off and eats his victims' cheeks. The story only complicates when H! annibal interacts with his sexy Aunt, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li).! When Mu rasaki educates him in the art of beheading, the viewer sees Hannibal's sword fetish as a manifestation of physical lust. --Trinie Dalton
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As You Like It

  • Emmy award winner Kenneth Branagh, the man who redefined Shakespeare for a whole new generation with Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, brings the Bard's most delightful comedy to sensational life!Rosalind is a young woman living in the court of her uncle when she falls in love with Orlando, a young gentleman of the kingdom. When Rosalind is banished, she flees into the forest of Arden di
Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare! books

Essay by Susan Snyder

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit www.folger.edu.

Emmy award winner Kenneth Branagh, the man who redefined Shakespeare for a whole new generation with Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet, brings the Bard's most delightful comedy to sensational life! Rosalind is a young woman living in the court of her uncle when she falls in love with Orlando, a young gentleman of the kingdom. When Rosalind is banished, she flees into the forest of Arden disguised as a man...only to encounter Orlando who has also been exiled! But can she win his heart, disguised as she is? With a setting inspired by 19th century Japan and a star-stud! ded cast including Kevin Kline (Dave, A Prairie Home Companion! ), Bryce Dallas Howard (Spider-Man 3, The Lady In The Water) and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, The Da Vinci Code), AS YOU LIKE IT once again proves that all the world's a stage. Come enjoy!If you think stuffy old Shakespeare could be livened up with some ninjas, Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein) has heard your call. Adapter/director Branagh has set the pastoral comedy As You Like It in feudal Japan, where the characters are still British (they live in a community established by Western merchants) but now have reason to dress up in lush Japanese fabrics and engage in sumo wrestling. Due to a feud between two noble brothers, Rosalind (Bryce Dallas Howard, The Village) is banished and ends up disguised as a man in a nearby forest. There she tests the faith of her beloved (and also banished) Orlando (David Oyelowo, MI-5), who can't recognize her because she looks like a Dickensian ragamuffin. Meanwhile, a variety of other star-crosse! d lovers romp around the forest and zen gardens, sparring about love and melancholy. Branagh, never a subtle director, takes every opportunity to squeeze in slapstick and action (like the aforementioned ninjas), but he also keeps the language clear and the movie is beautiful to look at. The strong cast includes Kevin Kline (who previously frolicked in a movie adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream), Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Frida), Romola Garai (I Capture the Castle, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights), and Adrian Lester (Hustle, Love's Labors Lost). --Bret Fetzer
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