Rashomon On Elm Street
583624
The idea behind 2006's "JFK: The Assassination Debates" seems valuable and overdue: A comparison of viewpoints regarding the murder of President Kennedy, between those who believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone and those who don't. A shame it winds up being a repetitive, simplistic explanation of the author's point of view, with some worthwhile points lost amid the clutter.

Author Michael L. Kurtz explains his view at the beginning that there was a conspiracy, but that his own view has shifted. He isn't trying to make up anyone's mind, he says, but offer "a solid basis of information upon which...they can make up their own minds."

There are two chapters that seem to take this approach, one presenting the established lone-gunman view and the other being a sort of generic conspiracy viewpoint, about which Kurtz notes there are many tangents. Kurtz doesn't push his particular view here, and does a fair job establishing both positions.

The rest of his book is less successful. Abandoning the "two-sides" approach which would seem to be the basis for the book's title, he offers his reasoning for disputing the official story.

At times, he does a good job, too, especially when noting the conflicting stories regarding the condition of the President's head when his body reached Parkland Hospital. It's true he doesn't prove anything, but he raises questions regarding why the shattered skull seen on the Zapruder film didn't turn out so shattered when it lay on an operating table some minutes later.

Kurtz makes his best points with the Zapruder film, finding fault in this respect with both lone-gunman supporters and the harder-core conspiracy believers. Why does Kennedy's head fly backward if he was shot from behind, while footage of other such headshots shows the victim falling in the direction from which the bullet was shot? If the Zapruder film was actually tampered with, as some conspiracists now claim, why wouldn't it have been done in a way to make a shot from the rear seem more probable?

As a person who believes Oswald acted alone, I found Kurtz's viewpoint occasionally challenging and worthwhile. But he kept returning to make the same points chapter after chapter, sometimes within the same chapter. He doesn't mention key points like Kennedy's back brace, and diminishes others like the fact the doctors at Parkland Hospital in the first minutes after the shooting were less interested in establishing a clear evidentiary path than in saving the life of a president.

He never adequately explains Oswald in the larger context of things. He's willing to allow Oswald probably shot Officer J.D. Tippit less than an hour after the president was hit, and may have shot at Kennedy as well, just that he wasn't alone or responsible for the killing hit. But who was he, and why is he at the center of every theory, often conflicting, that Kurtz expounds upon? Was he really a traitor, helping the Soviets shoot down a U-2 spy plane? Was he played as a patsy by right-wing conspirists, as New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison claimed?

Kurtz calls Garrison's investigation flawed but wants to chew over the notion that he was following a worthy trail, of midnight meetings and a mysterious office at 544 Camp Street, an address he frequently repeats as "the infamous 544 Camp Street address" or "the notorious 544 Camp Street" in case you don't get the point that something pretty bad went down there. Kurtz offers a lot of eyewitness testimony in this regard, including his own, but what he presents boils down to Garrison's original case. If Garrison was a bad investigator, doesn't this all constitute fruit from the poisoned tree?

Reviewing a book for what it isn't is bad sport, but it feels like "The JFK Assassination Debates", by not living up to its title as a sort of side-by-side comparison of viewpoints regarding key elements of the assassination, misses the mark as a noteworthy contribution to a crowded field.
3779523
A more weird story than I was looking for (based on a novel by Truman Capote). It's interesting to see what New York City looked like in 1961, two decades before I first saw it.
3656390
winter Wonderland took me back many years. I worked at JL Hudson's and I remember walking by the windows that were all decorated so beautifully. I loved working at Hudson's. I remember Vernors at the foot of Jefferson Avenue. and I also remember the Pontiac Rescue Mission and I didn't know Mabel and Harry personally but I knew a lot of their kids who all worked the PRM. I enjoyed the book very much and I look forward to more of Diane's books. Lorraine Cooke-Pieschke
3661433
Love it, house is dark and it looks sweet from the street.  Ok ATMOS It's time to make another film with the 8 reindeer and the slegh,  So I can figure out how to project them onto the roof.  Together it would be amazing!
2444326
If you like Elmore Lenard, you will love the book. What a story teller!  Whether he is taking you to Detroit, L A or South Florida, he is always fun to read.
1192123
The incarnation of Freddy is a leaner, meaner one taken from Wes Craven's New Nightmare. Wes brought Freddy back to his horror roots and lost the stand-up comedy character that we were stuck with through so may of the sequels and the design of this figure reflects that. The iconic sweater and glove are here but seriously tweaked. His glove is more of an extended bio mechanical claw that is bladed even on the thumb. His black trench covers his sweater but the lining matches the red/green pattern, although it seems a bit bright compared to the film version. The hat is removable and scaled correctly so that it actually fits when you go to put it on. The head sculpt is perfect as well as the paint apps. Sideshow does it's monsters well.
Overall this is a great figure and a worthy addition to any collection.
1995743
I loved this dvd. Ive been an avid Nightmare on Elm St fan since as far back as i can remember and ive always wanted a dvd like this to come along. Its cool how they made these doc dvds for the two other reigning horror titans (fans know which im speaking of), but they saved the best for last (like so many lying ad campains for the friday the 13th series). Really anything you could possibly care to know abt these movies is explored, and if they withheld any info, maybe bc warner n new line aren't finished milking us fans quite yet. i suppose until they release a proper unrated cut of nightmare five the quest is never ending. Fantastic doc though, if i were too name any critisms, some of the key actors from alot of the sequels didn't show up ( could Craig Wasson have really been that busy he couldn't give up an hour to talk) but other than that, and the length, i cant really think of anything negative to say. I mean i love the fact that they gave us four hours of wonderful info and insight, its hard to take in one sitting after already viewed. Still tho its irrevelavnt. IF your even reading my review or have come to this page then you have a love for everyones fav psychotic sandman, so answer this, Do u love nightmare on elm enough to warrant 8 hours of freddy filled fun? Of course you do, so pick this up asap! One more thing, props to amazon for even having this bc i absolutely couldn't find this in any store in western pennsylvania, which was annoying bc i swear i looked in every store that would carry dvds in western pa, but it was a great moment when i pulled this from my mailbox. this was my first review, so keep that in mind.
2807637
Yes,I have been inside and it is every bit as fabulous as the doc portrays this retail icon.  If you have ever worked in retail or have aspirations to become part of the fashion world this is the doc you want  to see.  There are many department stores in NYC however as the doc says this is where the designers want to be!
4758667
My grandson loved it! I had origionally purchased a TMX Elmo for him,.. but,.. they have to push a button somewhere on the TMX for it to continue,.. my grandson is 2 almost 3  and his attention span is not that great,.. Elmo knows my name was the perfect replacement for the TMX,.. and ordering from Amazon was a Snap~!!

Thanks to all~!

Shannon Crone
1515988
Now i believe a nightmare on elm street pt 3. should have actually been used as pt2 instead of freddys revenge(sucked) it bring backs nancy and her father, unlike the 2nd and most sequlas the storyline is great the heros have good personalities and the setting for this movie rocks! I think to keep freddy as popular as he is today they had to make this movie as well as they did or freddy might have slipped into the abyssof 1 movie wonders but this movie saved that from happening. This is where freddy begins to get his witty humour. So if you loved the 1st you will enjoy this sequal!!!
1730824
I visited with many people today, the review of China Dolls.  I  have not had the opportunity to read China Dolls yet, but it sounds intriguing to me.  You mentioned the Oki Family on Micheltorena Street.  I have been a friend of the family since 1947 and have frequently visited their home.  I have heard from someone, I don't really know who but it was mentioned that during the internment the family rented out their home, but we didn't know to whom.  Now after hearing your review of the book that it was a Chinese Family who rented the Oki's house.

I love to read books and will probably get the other books wrfitten earlier.  Thank you for the review.

Adeline Manzo
308390
My 8-year-old son is a long-time fan of Jonathan Kruk's Hudson Valley tales. We picked up Barkface and Rootnose when we saw him perform live this spring at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow. See Jonathan Kruk in person if you can -- but if you don't have that chance, keep Barkface and Rootnose in the car. His telling of these fables is filled with humor that appeals to both younger children and their parents.
3517852
I love these ready to dress dolls. My grandson received this for Christmas. I fell in love with Elmo. Under his jacket is a picture of a fish bowl. The zipper zips, buttons button. And Elmo is his cute self.
2489691
4.5 out of 5

A group of friends head out to the town of Moodley for a "boys only" weekend in an attempt to get away from their significant others back home and also rediscover themselves. All is well and good. Drinks are had before they left, a fun roadtrip, jokes, ribbing--but everything changes when they find the town of Moodley deserted.

Soon it is discovered the only folks left are the women--and they have a deadly appetite for human flesh. Grotesque female monsters send the boys on the run and into a battle for survival in this throwback to classic horror.

And that's what really sums up this flick for me: classic horror. Prosthetic monsters, excellent makeup, and good old-fashioned blood and guts, along with a storyline that carried with it a sense of depth ala Shaun of the Dead.

This is one of those flicks that are worth watching again because the writing is quite good, with each line feeding off the other--whether subtly or overtly--references to earlier lines/comments, objects and people. Extremely well done.

Not only that, but the cast also had great chemistry and created a buddy-horror flick that reminded me a lot of hanging out with my friends back in the glory days of all-night partying and crude jokes (minus the cannibalistic women, of course).

The '80s-style soundtrack gave this flick an eerie mood that reminded me of the old Nightmare on Elm Street stuff, really setting the tone.

Really happy with this film, and would recommend it in a hot minute.

A.P. Fuchs
Canister X
1729729
I was delighted with the purchase.  It arrived in a timely manner and was in perfect condition.  I haven't stopped listening to it since then.  It brings back such wonderful memories.  "Totoro" is my favorite character, and I love the soundtrack for that movie, but the songs from "Kiki's Delivery" just fill me with a child like joy.  Thank you so much.  Doomo arigatioo gozaimasu.

Footnote:  I have been searching for an old Japanese "soap opera" called "101 Proposal."  It is about 18 years old.  I, also, had one of my Japanese children's drawing books stolen from school.  It was part of a set.  I do not know the name write now, but I would love to replace it.  I don't know what your contacts are.  Doomo.  Thank you.
699994
My kids bought this for me for Christmas a couple years ago.  I still play with it. (I'm in my 40's). Have been looking for one for my granddaughter and can't seem to find one anywhere.  I don't want to give her mine. Elmo, gives you a good belly laugh & starts out your day with a smile.  I'd recommend it to anyone of any age! Smile on!!!
27095
This toy is interactive and fun to watch. I bought it for my 2 yr old grandson and he loves it! I think that he thinks this Elmo is really alive. He talks to Elmo and of course, Elmo throws kisses, talks, dance, and sits. I would recommend this toy for any child who loves Elmo.