An homage to the past
931698
In this day and age, 3D is becoming more and more popular. It began with Journey To The Center of the Earth, then more and more began following the 3D trend.

And then came Avatar.

Avatar is the project that Cameron has been trying to make his career. 12 years after Titanic, and who would have known he had topped the movie in every single way possible. I went to go see the movie in IMAX on opening weekend with my girlfriend- we got up super early and got to the theater at 9 AM. One interesting note is that there were people dressed as Na'Vi- we thought it was pretty funny and cool! As for the movie: was it worth the hype and the wait?

Definitely.

Of all films, James has followed his craft spectacularly with Avatar. Remember when we all saw Jurassic Park and were all blown away? Well this is that times a thousand. James creates a spectacular movie with beautiful visuals and a plot that pays homage to similar movies of this plot, like Dances With Wolves, The Matrix, and Pocahontas to name a few.

It is the near future. Jake Sully, a paraplegic soldier has awaken from 6 years in cryo. He is chosen to replace his recently deceased brother on a new mission: To travel to Pandora to wipe out the entire population: An alien type species called Na'vi. However, while there, he also discovers the joy of being a Na'vi through a technology that gives people Na'Vi bodies called "Avatars". While on a mission one day, he is saved by Neytiri, a Na'vi lady who leads him to the village she lives in. After some pretty bad first impressions, Jake begins to slowly assimilate, but finds himself torn between whether or not he should continue the mission or be a Na'vi.

This is an excellent movie. At 162 minutes it doesn't feel padded out or fleshed out. J-Cam takes an interesting concept, and crafts it beautifully here. Beautiful visuals, and a wonderful story are to be found here- the movie also compels you to question spirituality in a way you haven't before. The conflict between the Na'vi and Humans is stunning, the relationship between Jake and Neytiri is beautifully handled.

Also, like I said, James pays tribute to similar assimilation type movies. Influences from Dances With Wolves, The Last Samurai, Pocahontas and other movies are seen, and it's like when all combined together, they create a beautiful story. People have claimed it is a ripoff of all of those but I couldn't disagree more. Sure it's not the most original movie ever made, but then again what is? nowadays?

The only drawback for me is the Leona Lewis song at the end, but other than that, I enjoyed this movie a great deal.

IN TOTAL:

Entertainment: 10/10
Sex: 1/10
Violence: tons/10
Prettiness: 10/10
I want to be a Na'vi: 10/10
J-Cam: Welcom back! We missed you
Influences: Plenty to be seen here

***You either love it or you hate it- whatever it may be, see for yourself***
3074555
If you are a lover of old New York, this book is a very detailed depiction of days past.  The writing style is dated and not particularly captivating, but the jewel of authentication into the past is most likely worth it.
1713849
I loved this book.  The two main characters, one from the early 20th century and one from the 1960s, are brought beautifully to life.  The author captures the historical times as well.  I grew up in the 1960s and the images are spot on.
10859
The writing is good. It has been out a while, so the photos seem a bit dated at this point. That said, I have referred back to it and when I gave it away I ended up going to look for it at a library and will likely end up buying it new again to refer back to the writing again. Even with the dated photos, there is some good inspiration in the images.
2544443
When you read Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past" (or, more accurately, "In Search of Lost Time") there are many, many references to works of art. One of the main characters, Charles Swann is, after all, an art collector and critic working on an important essay on Vermeer. Though the descriptions of persons and situations are among the best in all world literature, seeing reproductions of the actual works of art enhances greatly the experience of reading the novels. The most recent time I read the work, I kept this book beside me at all times and very much enjoyed seeing the paintings mentioned. The reproductions are, necessarily, a bit small and sometimes hard to appreciate, but they are of the kind necessary and proper for such a complete and yet low-priced reference.
3685513
A nice selection of music that may have been heard in olden times as well as now - a reminder of the times of  'Master and Commander"
1357332
Reading this book was like going back in the memory of time. It was like walking back a journey that seems very familiar to me.
Thanks, Karen it is a lovely book.
1078761
Columbus is the capital city of Ohio, a place with rich history. While many of its residents pledge loyalty to Cleveland or Cincinatti due to their professional sports teams, natives have plenty of reasons to take pride in the city.

This book explores some of the history of Columbus through vintage photographs. Many of the buildings shown no longer exist or have been updated over the years, but several survive, and many of the businesses will sound familiar to longtime residents. Companies like Big Bear and Lazarus no longer exist, but their presence played an important role in the development of Columbus and they are paid tribute here. Vintage photos of the Kahiki restaurant in Whitehall (carelessly demolished in favor of a Walgreens) and an exhibit on the origins of man at the original COSI (foolishly discarded in the move to a new building) will resurrect memories for those who were lucky enough to enjoy these unique places.

Residents will feel a new appreciation for the downtown area and the plentiful buildings that have stood there for a century, in varying conditions. Tourists will find hidden treasures in a city that if often dismissed as boring.
3557805
This is one from back in the day but still has a present day purpose.
381432
This was a pleasurable and easy read.. an historical and nostalgic visit to the developing past of a community which was most evidently meaningful to the author.
3514991
Charles Bell's images will be attractive to those with some nostalgia for childhood and the accoutrements of childhood, e.g., wind-up toys.  The images feature marbles, old-fashioned roller skates, bubble gum ball machines, Donald Duck pull toys, wind-up rocket ships, hopping bunnies, and seals.  Most of these objects comprise painted metal, though the paintings also include cloth Raggedy Ann dolls.  The nostalgic aspect is reinforced when one realizes that metal wind-up toys are not much manufactured any more, and that pinball machines have been replaced by games with computer screens and software.  The paintings are in the photorealist style.  The quality of the work seems similar to that of the Flemish masters.  Possibly, Charles Bell's name should be a household word, just as Jan van Eyck (Wedding Portrait) is a household word.  My own analysis of photorealism is as follows:  A man might spend a minute or so gazing at a chrome plated napkin holder, ketchup bottle, or grocery window, losing himself in the reflections, and the plurality of layered reflections, taking a mental journey through adjacent zones of color.  However, most people do not do this sort of thing with these objects, or even with photographs of these objects.  On the other hand, when rendered as a photorealist painting, the resulting painting is a format that invites the eye to explore.  Even if the photorealist painter refrains from altering the image of a photograph of the napkin holder, bottle, or grocery, the resulting painting on canvas places the image in a format that invites gazing and visual exploration.  (That is my analysis).  If you admire Richard Estes, Ralph Goings, or Don Eddy, there is little question that you'll like Charles Bell.  The book being reviewed is authored by Henry Geldzahler.  According to Pop Art by Anne Umland, Mr. Geldzahler, as a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of art in 1962, helped to identify and legitimize the pop art movement.  Umland writes that at the time Mr. Geldzahler argued that pop art: "still carried on art's task of self-criticism . . . maintaining a dialog with itself . . . and was therefore connected to the most advanced contemporary art."  Thus, the book being reviewed was authored by an established art critic.  Harry N. Abrams, Inc. is the publisher.  This publisher is responsible for art books of high quality, e.g., Photorealism at the Millennium (2002) by Louis Meisel or Desert (1999) by Jack Dykinga.
36043
I again am being very retro and want to revisit that which has gone before.  there are things happening in my life where I need to address his poems and his life from a historical standpoint.  very interesting since I've not looked at Longfellow since highs school
723386
This delightful read brought back so many happy memories of that time.  It is a vivid reminder of how life has changed in many respects, but not the important one of a tightly knit community of resourceful and determined people.
2593183
This "photo album" is great!  It made me feel like I had gone back in time to the land of my great-grandparents.
4167152
This book is a wonderful 'window' into a lifestyle long since gone. It's photographs show beautiful rooms that represent the craftsmanship that is almost nonexistent today. It is sad to know that many of the homes represented here have been demolished and replaces by greatly inferior buildings or even worse, parking lots and such!!

If you love the Victorian era, and want a peek into that era's homes, then you will truly enjoy this book.
1542732
"Imperceptible" is a pleasant collection of tales and photographs of a real-life community and its history, captured before it's forgotten. The students who wrote this book sought out the unnoticed members of their small town and attempted to retell the sagas of everyday life in the city's past. This book is not particularly eloquent or artistic, but it shares some heartwarming views on life and provides a reminder to all of what our culture used to be like not so long ago.

There are some errors in the typing of this book, which may have been corrected in later copies. The errors are confusing at first but the book can still be read as intended by the author(s).

All in all, great first book, MHS Class of 2012! Keep writing!
4968532
An enjoyable march back through time. Set at the end of the 1960s, I remember much of this period although I was still a little young to be part of it and was more of an onlooker to this explosion of youth power. In all truth, I found the hero of the story, Scott, a bit dishonest, playing with the two girls' emotions as he did, but I suppose this was normal for the time, rock stars being what they were. That said, we never find out what Scott is thinking and only have the diary entries of the two girls who love him to go on as well as the comments made by his band mates. However, the story aside, it was fun to be reminded of the clothes, music and products of the time and the book is well-written and very easy to read. A good collaboration between Jane Risdon and Christina Jones.