Friday, December 2, 2011

Fair Game

  • Jessica, a beautiful young woman, alone on an isolated outback farm in Australia, becomes the unwilling participant in a series of dangerous games with three shooters. At first they are content to tease and shock her, but when they star shooting on her land and endangering wildlife she is forced to take a stand. One by one, Jessica's avenues of escape are destroyed and she is forced to fight f
From the director of The Bourne Identity comes this riveting thriller inspired by the experiences of real-life CIA officer Valerie Plame (Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts). When Plame's retired ambassador husband Joe Wilson (played by Academy Award® winner Sean Penn) writes a newspaper article challenging the basis for the U.S. war on Iraq, the White House leaks Plame s undercover status leaving her international contacts vulnerable, her career in shambles and her life in danger. Crackling with shar! p dialogue, gripping intrigue and heart-pounding suspense, Fair Game is the adventure that s so unbelievable, it can only be realThe skullduggery surrounding the Valerie Plame affair is already the stuff of an espionage thriller, even if at the time of the making of Fair Game many details of the incident remained murky. Naomi Watts plays Plame, a longtime CIA agent whose classified status was exposed to the world by columnist Robert Novak in 2003. The move was widely seen as retaliation for the fact that Plame's husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), had just written an op-ed piece contradicting an assertion in President Bush's State of the Union address--an assertion that was part of the Bush administration's drum-beating enthusiasm for the Iraq War. The movie can't answer all the questions about who wanted Plame exposed, but at the least it could create a convincing piece of Beltway intrigue. Instead, Fair Game steers in the direction of domestic melod! rama, as the marriage between Plame and Wilson is severely tes! ted by t he unwanted notoriety. It's not that the actors are unable to bring this situation to life; Penn is forceful (and he cleverly suggests the vanity of a longtime cocktail-party maven), while Watts, though quite capable, is somewhat frozen by her character's mixed, ambivalent reactions. The main problem is simply that these relationship scenes tip the balance, as though the Plame-Wilson marriage carried greater weight than allegations of weapons of mass destruction and the ramp-up to the Iraq War. Meanwhile, director Doug Liman tries to whip up some spy-movie "energy" with lots of noise and cutting, all of which feels increasingly hollow as the movie goes along. A calmer, cleaner documentary on the same subject might do a superior job someday. --Robert HortonPlames status as a cia agent was revealed by white house officials allegedly out to discredit her husband after he wrote a 2003 new york times op-ed piece saying that the bush administration had manipulated intellige! nce about weapons of mass destruction to justify the invasion of iraq. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (summit) Release Date: 03/29/2011 Starring: Naomi Watts Sean Penn Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Doug LimanThe skullduggery surrounding the Valerie Plame affair is already the stuff of an espionage thriller, even if at the time of the making of Fair Game many details of the incident remained murky. Naomi Watts plays Plame, a longtime CIA agent whose classified status was exposed to the world by columnist Robert Novak in 2003. The move was widely seen as retaliation for the fact that Plame's husband, diplomat Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), had just written an op-ed piece contradicting an assertion in President Bush's State of the Union address--an assertion that was part of the Bush administration's drum-beating enthusiasm for the Iraq War. The movie can't answer all the questions about who wanted Plame exposed, but at the least it could create a convincing pi! ece of Beltway intrigue. Instead, Fair Game steers in t! he direc tion of domestic melodrama, as the marriage between Plame and Wilson is severely tested by the unwanted notoriety. It's not that the actors are unable to bring this situation to life; Penn is forceful (and he cleverly suggests the vanity of a longtime cocktail-party maven), while Watts, though quite capable, is somewhat frozen by her character's mixed, ambivalent reactions. The main problem is simply that these relationship scenes tip the balance, as though the Plame-Wilson marriage carried greater weight than allegations of weapons of mass destruction and the ramp-up to the Iraq War. Meanwhile, director Doug Liman tries to whip up some spy-movie "energy" with lots of noise and cutting, all of which feels increasingly hollow as the movie goes along. A calmer, cleaner documentary on the same subject might do a superior job someday. --Robert HortonAN ATTORNEY AND A COP ON THE RUN FROM A HIGH TECH CRIME RINGTHAT CAN TRACK THEIR EVERY MOVE.She's a lawyer. He's a cop. Som! e former KGB-types with a wide variety of slippery accents and enough sophisticated technological surveillance gadgets to make one wonder how the Soviet Union could have possibly failed, want her dead. The cop (William Baldwin) is the only man who can save her. It helps that the high-powered attorney is played by Cindy Crawford, who gives new meaning to the phrase "habeas corpus." So the plot doesn't make any sense: First they try to kill her, no questions asked. Then they capture her and spill their guts about all the details of their nefarious plan. But logic is not what Fair Game is about. It's about explosions, car crashes, and more explosions. The only pauses in the action are for showers (one for Baldwin, two for Crawford) and a change of clothing (Crawford slips out of a tight T-shirt into an even tighter tank top). The best feature of the DVD is the addition of a Gallic track. With very little actual sex in the movie, having the main characters ! conversing in French definitely adds some sauciness to the di! alogue s cenes. --Richard Natale

Patricia Briggs, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson novels, "always enchants her readers." (Lynn Viehl, New York Times bestselling author) Now her Alpha and Omega series-set in a world of shifting shapes, loyalty, and passion- brings werewolves out of the darkness and into a society where fear and prejudice could make the hunters prey...

They say opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son-and enforcer-of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant alpha. While Anna, an omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles.

Nevertheless, Charle! s and Anna are sent to Boston, when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves-all of them were. Someone is targeting their kind. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer's sights...

FAIR GAME - DVD MovieOn July 6, 2003, four months after the United States invaded Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson's now historic op-ed, "What I Didn't Find in Africa," appeared in The New York Times. A week later, conservative pundit Robert Novak revealed in his newspaper column that Ambassador Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was a CIA operative. The public disclosure of that secret information spurred a federal investigation and led to the trial and conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and the Wilsons' civil suit against top officials of the Bush administration. Much has been written about the "Valerie Plame" story, but ! Valerie herself has been silent, until now. Some of what has b! een repo rted about her has been frighteningly accurate, serving as a pungent reminder to the Wilsons that their lives are no longer private. And some has been completely false -- distorted characterizations of Valerie and her husband and their shared integrity.

Valerie Wilson retired from the CIA in January 2006, and now, not only as a citizen but as a wife and mother, the daughter of an Air Force colonel, and the sister of a U.S. marine, she sets the record straight, providing an extraordinary account of her training and experiences, and answers many questions that have been asked about her covert status, her responsibilities, and her life. As readers will see, the CIA still deems much of the detail of Valerie's story to be classified. As a service to readers, an afterword by national security reporter Laura Rozen provides a context for Valerie's own story.

Fair Game is the historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth! to power.On July 6, 2003, four months after the United States invaded Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson's now historic op-ed, "What I Didn't Find in Africa," appeared in The New York Times. A week later, conservative pundit Robert Novak revealed in his newspaper column that Ambassador Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was a CIA operative. The public disclosure of that secret information spurred a federal investigation and led to the trial and conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and the Wilsons' civil suit against top officials of the Bush administration. Much has been written about the "Valerie Plame" story, but Valerie herself has been silent, until now. Some of what has been reported about her has been frighteningly accurate, serving as a pungent reminder to the Wilsons that their lives are no longer private. And some has been completely false--distorted characterizations of Valer! ie and her husband and their shared integrity.

Valerie ! Wilson r etired from the CIA in January 2006, and now, not only as a citizen but as a wife and mother, the daughter of an Air Force colonel, and the sister of a U.S. marine, she sets the record straight, providing an extraordinary account of her training and experiences, and answers many questions that have been asked about her covert status, her responsibilities, and her life. As readers will see, the CIA still deems much of the detail of Valerie's story to be classified. As a service to readers, an afterword by national security reporter Laura Rozen provides a context for Valerie's own story.

Fair Game is the historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.



Read the First Chapter from Fair Game

Joining the CIA
Our group of five--three men and two women--trekked through an empty tract! of wooded land and swamp, known in CIA terms as the "Farm." It was 4 a.m. and we had been on the move all night. Having practiced escape and evasion from an ostensible hostile force--our instructors--we were close to meeting up with our other classmates. Together we would attack the enemy, then board a helicopter to safety. This exercise, called the final assault, was the climax of our paramilitary training. Each of us carried eighty-pound backpacks, filled with essential survival gear: tents, freeze-dried food, tablets to purify drinking water, and 5.56 mm ammunition for our M-16s. The late fall weather was bitter, and slimy water sloshed in our combat boots. A blister on my heel radiated little jabs of stinging pain. My friend Pete, a former Army officer, usually ready with a wisecrack and a smirk, hadn't spoken in hours, while John, our resident beer guzzler, carried not only his backpack but at least fifty extra pounds of body we! ight. His round face was covered with mud and sweat.
!

Read the Publisher's Note and First Chapter from Fair Game




FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE BOURNE FILMS COMES THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING SEAN PENN AND NAOMI WATTS

Based on Fair Game, Valerie Plame Wilson’s historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.On July 6, 2003, four months after the United States invaded Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson's now historic op-ed, "What I Didn't Find in Africa," appeared in The New York Times. A week later, conservative pundit Robert Novak revealed in his newspaper column that Ambassador Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame Wilson, was a CIA operative. The public disclosure of that secret information spurred a federal investigation and led to the trial and conviction of Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, Scooter Libby, and the Wilsons' civil suit against ! top officials of the Bush administration. Much has been written about the "Valerie Plame" story, but Valerie herself has been silent, until now. Some of what has been reported about her has been frighteningly accurate, serving as a pungent reminder to the Wilsons that their lives are no longer private. And some has been completely false--distorted characterizations of Valerie and her husband and their shared integrity.

Valerie Wilson retired from the CIA in January 2006, and now, not only as a citizen but as a wife and mother, the daughter of an Air Force colonel, and the sister of a U.S. marine, she sets the record straight, providing an extraordinary account of her training and experiences, and answers many questions that have been asked about her covert status, her responsibilities, and her life. As readers will see, the CIA still deems much of the detail of Valerie's story to be classified. As a service to readers, an afterword! by national security reporter Laura Rozen provides a cont! ext for Valerie's own story.

Fair Game is the historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.



Read the First Chapter from Fair Game

Joining the CIA
Our group of five--three men and two women--trekked through an empty tract of wooded land and swamp, known in CIA terms as the "Farm." It was 4 a.m. and we had been on the move all night. Having practiced escape and evasion from an ostensible hostile force--our instructors--we were close to meeting up with our other classmates. Together we would attack the enemy, then board a helicopter to safety. This exercise, called the final assault, was the climax of our paramilitary training. Each of us carried eighty-pound backpacks, filled with essential survival gear: tents, freeze-dried food, tablets to purify drinking water, and 5.56 mm ammunit! ion for our M-16s. The late fall weather was bitter, and slimy water sloshed in our combat boots. A blister on my heel radiated little jabs of stinging pain. My friend Pete, a former Army officer, usually ready with a wisecrack and a smirk, hadn't spoken in hours, while John, our resident beer guzzler, carried not only his backpack but at least fifty extra pounds of body weight. His round face was covered with mud and sweat.

Read the Publisher's Note and First Chapter from Fair Game




FROM THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE BOURNE FILMS COMES THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING SEAN PENN AND NAOMI WATTS

Based on Fair Game, Valerie Plame Wilson’s historic and unvarnished account of the personal and international consequences of speaking truth to power.Jessica, a beautiful young woman, alone on an isolated outback farm in Australia, becomes the unwilling participant in a se! ries of dangerous games with three shooters. At first they are! content to tease and shock her, but when they star shooting on her land and endangering wildlife she is forced to take a stand. One by one, Jessica's avenues of escape are destroyed and she is forced to fight for her life. Jessica sets up whatever makeshift defenses she can and waits for the inevitable showdown. In the mayhem of the climax her farm is reduced to smoking ruins, but her courage and endurance proves to be a match for the brute strength of man and machine

Barbie Pink 3-Story Dream Townhouse

  • Include a pink personal elevator, and lights and sounds on every level!
  • Roaring fireplace and pop up flat screen tv
  • Ultra-luxurious Barbie signature bathroom
  • Charming light-up tiki lights and outdoor whirlpool tub
  • Sounds include doorbell, kitchen timer, crackling fireplace, shower humming, and flushing toilet.
When Lauren Smith begrudgingly returns to the small Vermont town where she grew up to arrange for the sale of her late grandmother's old farmhouse, she has everything she's always worked for. Lauren drives a Mercedes. She's engaged to one of the most powerful businessmen in the country and wears a three-carat diamond ring to prove it. She lives in a penthouse on Central Park West. Yes, Lauren has everything she considers important. She is smugly prepared for any eventuality in dealing with these country people so Lauren isn't surprised when the hot water ! isn't working at the old house. No problem. She simply looks in the phone book and calls the local plumber. The moment Caleb Cochran steps through the old screen door to fix the hot water, the glittery facade that masquerades as Lauren's life begins to crumble around her. Though she tries hard to deny their mutual, magnetic attraction, Lauren is finally forced to reevaluate her focus and come face-to-face with her true self. Small Town Girl is a story of discovering the true meaning of life and love.When Lauren Smith begrudgingly returns to the small Vermont town where she grew up to arrange for the sale of her late grandmother’s old farmhouse, she has everything she’s always worked for. Lauren drives a Mercedes. She’s engaged to one of the most powerful businessmen in the country and wears a three-carat diamond ring to prove it. She lives in a penthouse on Central Park West. Yes, Lauren has everything she considers important. She is smugly prepared for any event! uality in dealing with these country people so Lauren isn’t ! surprise d when the hot water isn’t working at the old house. No problem. She simply looks in the phone book and calls the local plumber.

The moment Caleb Cochran steps through the old screen door to fix the hot water, the glittery facade that masquerades as Lauren’s life begins to crumble around her. Though she tries hard to deny their mutual, magnetic attraction, Lauren is finally forced to reevaluate her focus and come face-to-face with her true self. Small Town Girl is a story of discovering the true meaning of life and love.When Lauren Smith begrudgingly returns to the small Vermont town where she grew up to arrange for the sale of her late grandmother’s old farmhouse, she has everything she’s always worked for. Lauren drives a Mercedes. She’s engaged to one of the most powerful businessmen in the country and wears a three-carat diamond ring to prove it. She lives in a penthouse on Central Park West. Yes, Lauren has everything she considers important. She i! s smugly prepared for any eventuality in dealing with these country people so Lauren isn’t surprised when the hot water isn’t working at the old house. No problem. She simply looks in the phone book and calls the local plumber.

The moment Caleb Cochran steps through the old screen door to fix the hot water, the glittery facade that masquerades as Lauren’s life begins to crumble around her. Though she tries hard to deny their mutual, magnetic attraction, Lauren is finally forced to reevaluate her focus and come face-to-face with her true self. Small Town Girl is a story of discovering the true meaning of life and love.This debut album by the small-town girl with the big, powerhouse voice showcases two distinctly different sides of Kellie Pickler's music. The hard-riffing uptempo material recalls the heartland rock of Bob Seger and John Mellencamp, with Pickler providing a good-ole-girl twang. Among the highlights are the emancipated strut of "Red High Heels," t! he playful humor of "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind," an! d the to mboy bluesiness of "One of the Guys." Yet the American Idol finalist turns pure diva on the over-the-top balladry of the album's other half, with swelling strings and arrangements that overpower rather than enhance "I Wonder" and "I'm on My Way." On such cuts, producer Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks) never gives Pickler a chance to show the subtlety and nuance that makes music more an art than a competition. --Don McLeeseEnter the world of Barbie! These three stories of fabulousness include a pink personal elevator plus lights & sounds on every level! Enter through the front door to a warm and glowing light-up chandelier, dining area and fully-stocked kitchen. Entertain in the second-level living room with roaring fireplace and pop up flat screen TV, plus an ultra-luxurious Barbie signature bathroom. On the third floor is a posh bedroom suite with canopy bed and balcony with charming light-up tiki lights & outdoor whirlpool tub! Sounds include doorbell, kitchen ti! mer, crackling fireplace, shower humming, and flushing toilet. (Doll not included.)Be a part of Barbie's luxurious lifestyle in her new 3-Story Dream Townhouse. Designed for ages three and up, the Dream Townhouse stands over three feet tall and comes fully furnished -- including lights and sounds on each level! Your child will enjoy having role-playing adventures with Barbie and her friends in this fancy new townhouse.

At a Glance
    Ages: 3+

    Require! s:
  • 3 "AA" batteries (not included)
  • Philli! ps screw driver
  • Adult assembly
What We Think

Fun factor:
Durability:
Ease of assembly:
Educational factor! :
Novelty factor:

The Good: Great new Dream Townhouse for the Barbie lover in your home.

The Challenging: Many of the elevator parts are similar and can be confusing.

In a Nutshell: Fun, new Barbie dream home with plenty of lights, sounds, and activities.


The Dream Townhouse is over three feet in height and comes with over 55 p! ieces and accessories. View larger.

Real Sounds and Lights
Barbie's Dream Townhouse is decorated throughout in classic Barbie pink, with lifelike intricate details, lights, and sounds. With over 55 pieces and accessories, the house has five fully furnished, deluxe rooms with chandeliers, tiki lights, a fireplace, and a refrigerator that all light up. Sounds include Barbie "humming" in the shower, the kitchen timer, the doorbell, the fireplace crackling, or the toilet flushing.

Along with the realistic lights and sounds, the townhouse also features a pink, personal elevator -- which easily moves from floor to floor with a pull string, and an outdoor spa area with a whirlpool tub and light-up tiki lamps.

Besides the whirlpool, Barbie can entertain her friends by cooking something in the fully stocked kitchen, watching a movie on her pop-up flat-screen TV, or even just snuggling up by the warm, crackling fireplace.

Hours of Interactive, Role-playing Fun
Barbie's 3-S! tory Dream Townhouse is the play-set for the Barbie lover in your home. The townhouse provides a setting for interactive, role-playing adventures, and includes everything Barbie could need to entertain her guests, or have a quiet night at home by the fire. Your child will love pulling the elevator to each floor, filling up the whirlpool for pool parties, and playing with all of the realistic lights and sounds.

As a side note: While assembling the townhouse, be sure to follow the directions for the elevator carefully, since the parts look similar and could be confusing.

What's in the Box
House pieces, stickers, and over 55 pieces and accessories. (Batteries not included.)




Fall asleep in the luxurious master bedroom..! . View larger.


...or take a dip in the working jacuzzi. View larger.


Away We Go

  • Condition: New
  • Format: DVD
  • AC-3; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; Subtitled; Widescreen; NTSC
Writer/Director Zach Braff delivers "an Oscar®-worthy performance" (CBS-TV Chicago) opposite a "wacky and endearing" (Newsweek) Natalie Portman in this quirky, coming-of-age comedy. Twentysomething, emotionally detached Andrew "Large" Largeman (Braff) hasn’t been home to New Jersey in nine years. Now, as Large attempts to re-connect with a variety of odd acquaintances â€" including his father â€" he decides to risk getting high on the most potent and unpredictable drug there is…life! Co-starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm and Method Man, Garden State is "marvelous fun" (Rolling Stone)Zach Braff (from the TV show Scrubs) stars in his writing/directing debut, Garden State--normally a doomed act of hubris, but Braff pulls it off with unassuming charm. An emotionally numb acto! r in L.A., Andrew (Braff) comes back to New Jersey after nine years away for his mother's funeral. Andrew avoids his bitter father (Ian Holm, The Sweet Hereafter) and joins old friends (including the superb Peter Sarsgaard, Boys Don't Cry) in a round of parties. Along the way he meets a girl (Natalie Portman, Beautiful Girls) with demons of her own; bit by bit the two offer each other a little healing. Plotwise, Garden State is familiar stuff, a cross between The Graduate and a Meg Ryan movie, but Braff has an eye for goofy but resonant visual images, an ear for lively dialogue, and a great cast. The result is surprisingly fresh and funny. --Bret FetzerJohn Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) star in the heartfelt film that explores the comedic twists and turns in one couple’s journey across contemporary America. Anticipating the birth of their first child, longtime couple Burt (Krasinski) and Verona (R! udolph) embark on an ambitious itinerary to visit friends and ! family i n order to find their perfect home. Featuring a remarkable soundtrack and an incredible ensemble cast â€" including Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O’Hara and Jim Gaffigan. It’s the hilarious, witty film that critics are hailing as “absolutely extraordinary!” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone)Away We Go has an incredible mix of ingredients: A script co-written by Dave Eggers (author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius), directed by Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road), starring the not-hugely-famous-but-always-excellent Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) and John Krasinski (The Office), and featuring an astounding supporting cast that includes Catherine O’Hara, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Jim Gaffigan, and more. What’s even more incredible is that all these ingredients blend together into a truly marvelous but very non-traditional romantic comedy. For one th! ing, Burt (Krasinski) and Verona (Rudolph) are already a couple and expecting their first child. What they don’t know is where they’re going to live--so they set off on a tour of disparate locations (Tucson, Montreal, Miami) where they have friends or relatives, sampling not only different cities and climates but also different families. The social and emotional collisions that follow are sometimes very funny and sometimes heartwrenching. Away We Go starts quietly and, through subtle yet consistently delightful scenes, builds to a surprisingly potent end. This is a gem of a movie, not to be missed. --Bret Fetzer

Koch 3191593 1-1/2 Cable Block Swivel Eye, Zinc Plated

  • Cable block has a swivel eye and is zinc plated
  • Sheave diameter is 1-1/2-inch
  • Maximum rope size is 3/16-inch
  • Capacity is 420 pounds
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Newsweek columnist takes on the presidents Bush, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton, Y2K, 9/11, trickle-down economics, Brooks Brothers suits, the essence of golf, and of course, those damn Yankees.

"It has taken me sixty years to identify the three keys to a happy life," writes George Will. "A flourishing family, hearty friends, and a strong bullpen." The title of this book -- Will's seventh collection of newspaper and magazine pieces, book reviews, speeches, and occasional writings -- is taken from the W. H. Auden poem "The Horatians," which dictates that we look at this world with a happy eye but from a sober perspective.

And so it is with a happy eye indeed that Will shares his vision of ! America just before and after the birth of the twenty-first century. Featuring five years' worth of observations on politics, current affairs, and international relations, With a Happy Eye But...is a brilliantly diverse collection from America's most widely known commentator at his sober, happy, and controversial best.Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Eye," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Eye in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Eye when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech! (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and conte! xts, inc luding pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Eye, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain.

Mr. Bean's Holiday (Widescreen Edition)

  • Features include: -MPAA Rating: G -Format: DVD-Runtime: 90 minutes
THE BOARD OF A FAMED BRITISH MUSEUM HAS FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO DISPOSE OF THEIR MOST USELESS EMPLOYEE,MR. BEAN,BY SENDING HIM TO AMERICA WITH THE PAINTING OF WHISTLER'S MOTHER. BEAN ISLOOSE AND LOS ANGELES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!Translating Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean character from British television to the big screen takes a bit of a toll, but there are some hilarious sequences in this popular comedy. Bean, a boy-man twit with a knack for getting into difficult binds (and then making them worse and worse and worse), is a London museum guard who is sent to Los Angeles in the company of the famous painting Whistler's Mother. He's mistaken as an art expert by the well-meaning curator (Peter MacNicol) of an L.A. museum, but Bean's famously eccentric behavior soon causes the poor guy to almost lose his family and j! ob. The insularity of Bean's TV world is sacrificed in this film, and that change diminishes some of the character's appeal. But Atkinson is a man naturally full of comedy, and he doesn't let his fans down. --Tom Keogh Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English, Blackadder) stars as the iconic Mr. Bean, who never fails to leave a trail of merry mayhem and side-splitting laughter in his wake. His exploits have earned MR. BEAN a slew of awards and an international cult following, and now every one of his live adventures is conveniently packed up in one tidy box.

Included in this collector s set are all 14 episodes of the landmark original series that introduced Mr. Bean to an adoring, if confused, world, as well as his two feature films Mr. Bean: The Movie and Mr. Bean s Holiday. And if that s not enough, a bonus helping of Mr. Bean: The Animated Series features him in the role he was drawn to play. It all adds up to the ultimate serving of Bean, so pull up a chair and dig ! right in.

Contents Include

THE WHOLE BEAN
BEA! N: THE M OVIE
MR. BEAN S HOLIDAY
BONUS: THE ANIMATED SERIESBEAN THE MOVIE Call him hilarious. Call him laugh-out-loud funny. But whatever you do, call him BEAN. In the comedy that rocked America, Rowan Atkinson is the outrageous Mr. Bean, sent on a mission to California to escort the world famous painting of Whistler's Mother to its new home in the Grierson Gallery. He's also clumsy, crazy, wacky, wild, and certainly not someone you'd entrust one of the world's most valuable paintings to. With only hours to go before the official unveiling by the museum's benefactor, General Newton (Burt Reynolds), something terrible has happened to Whistler's Mother and only one man has the power to put it right. The only problem is... that man is BEAN. JOHNNY ENGLISH He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows… nothing! When the priceless Crown Jewels are stolen, bumbling Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is the only secret agent in the country (literally!) who can solve the crime. His pri! me suspects: a sinister businessman (John Malkovich) and a beautiful woman (Natalie Imbruglia) with a mysterious interest in Johnny's top-secret mission. Can the clueless superspy save the day without denting the nation's pride… or his super-cool Aston Martin?He captured the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide. His movie grossed nearly a quarter of a billion dollars worldwide. He's been called the most embarrassing man on the planet. Now the entire Mr. Bean series, the British comic phenomenon created by Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder, Four Weddings and a Funeral), is finally available in one complete package.Bean, Bean, maniacal nut / The more you watch, you bust a gut! First unleashed in 1989, this sketch series was embraced by PBS viewers in the United States. In the tradition of the great silent clowns, Rowan Atkinson created a character with universal and multi-generational appeal (the sketches have little dialogue and are driven by often inge! nious physical comedy). Like Bart Simpson, the resourceful, mi! schievou s, and sometimes malevolent Bean is the inner child incarnate who acts on the impulses polite society normally represses. Atkinson has described Bean as "a 9-year-old boy, with an apparent lack of worldly experience, but an ingenuity that is quite clever in dealing with problems presented to him." These problems include not knowing a single answer on an exam, tactfully disposing of a revolting restaurant meal, changing into his swimsuit at the beach without first removing his pants, and, most hilariously, getting a turkey stuck on his head (a classic bit reprised in the ill-conceived 1997 feature film).

Atkinson has enjoyed some mainstream success stateside. He was the nervous minister ("...your awfully wedded wife") in Four Weddings and a Funeral, and the voice of Zazu in The Lion King. But he mainly enjoys cult status among British comedy aficionados as a founding member of Not the Nine O'Clock News and the star of the Black Adder series. B! ean is his crowning creation. In addition to all 14 episodes, this generous boxed set contains previously unaired sketches, Comic Relief appearances, and a segment about Bean's creation, which serves as a nifty introduction for the uninitiated. It also contains a preview for the new Mr. Bean animated series. This seems redundant. As this collection hilariously demonstrates, Bean is already animated enough. --Donald LiebensonRowan Atkinson (Bean, Love Actually, Johnny English) returns to his iconic role as the comical and endearing Mr. Bean in this outrageous comedy adventure! Mr. Bean (Atkinson) can't believe his luck when he wins a camcorder and an all-expense-paid vacatio Welcome back, Mr. Bean! After a too-long hiatus, it's a breath of fresh air to see you out and about, innocent as ever, unwitting in the havoc you wreak and clueless in the chaos you cause. In Mr. Bean's Holiday (the title echoes Jacques Tati's breezy 1953 classic Mr. Hulot's Hol! iday), the resourceful man-child Bean (Rowan Atkinson) win! s a chur ch raffle that packs him off to the beaches of the south of France. But getting there is all the funny, as he is detoured by one mishap after another. En route, he comes to the "aid" of a Cannes Film Festival judge's young son, who is separated (no thanks to Bean) from his father at the train station. Bean also stumbles upon a commercial shoot directed by a stereotypical egomaniacal American filmmaker (Willem Dafoe), and crosses paths with an aspiring actress (a charming Emma de Caunes) also on her way to Cannes. Mr. Bean's Holiday, an upgrade over the 1997 feature Bean, was a box-office smash around the world, but in the States, not so much. Here, the shock gag has replaced the sight gag, and this G-rated Holiday might be considered by more jaded viewers as out of step with contemporary tastes (unlike Borat, there is not a mean-spirited bone in Bean's gangly, malleable body). But in the classic tradition of the silent-movie clowns, Bean's visual ! comedy is universal and requires little translation (there are limited subtitles in this film). Younger children will find a kindred spirit in Bean, who exists in some kind of state of grace, whether trying to digest a disgusting seafood dinner or hilariously lip-syncing to an opera in a public square. --Donald Liebenson

Playskool Poppin' Park Eelefun Busy Ball Popper

  • Once The Balls Pop Out Of The Elephant's Trunk, It's Anybody's Guess Which Way They'll Roll - Into The Belly For Put-And-Take Play, Across The Room For Baby To Crawl After, Or Back Through The Trunk For More Poppin' Surprises.
  • With 10 Fun Tunes To Play And This Elephant's Trunk Controlling The Poppin' Direction, The Play Is Exciting, Engaging And, Most Of All, Fun!
  • With 10 fun tunes to play and this elephant's trunk controlling the poppin' direction, the play is exciting, engaging and, most of all, fun! Includes elephant, stability base, ear attachment, 5 balls and instructions.
  • Lively air-powered, ball-poppin? elephant features fun, upbeat music and comes complete with five balls!
  • Elephant figure plays 10 tunes! Start the action with easy push-button activation. Includes elephant, stability base, ear attachment, 5 balls and instructions.

This busy ball popp! er is re-imagined into an adorable elephant building off the character of Elefun. Baby will squeal with delight as the balls pop out of the Elephant trunk, onto the floor or through the ears and his belly. With a moveable trunk, mom can now control the level of chase-me play to grow with her child. It includes an easy-press activation button, ten songs and five balls.

  • Product Dimensions (inches): 6.4 (L) x 13.1 (W) x 18 (H)
  • Age: 9 months and up

Engage your baby in put-and-take play with the lively Playskool Elefun Busy Ball Popper. Designed for children 9 months and older, this elephant will delight young children with its upbeat music and engaging ball-popping action. Easy push-button activation allows your child to choose between 10 songs. The toy's baby-friendly design also encourages young children to reach, grab, and crawl.

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Poppin Park
Elefun Busy Ball Popper
  • Ages: 9 months and up
  • Requires: Adult assembly; 4 D batteries; Phillips screwdriver
At a Glance:
  • Air-powered elephant pops balls out of its trunk
  • Toy engages children in put-and-take p! lay
  • Child can choose between 10 upbeat tunes
  • Includes five colorful, lightweight balls
  • Sturdy construction ideal for young children
Playskool Poppin Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper
Control the level of play with turning a trunk 360 degrees. View larger.
Playskool Poppin Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper
Helps develop hand/eye coordination. View larger.
Toy Encourages Coordination and Motor Skills

This toy helps your child practice hand-eye coordination and deve! lops fine motor skills through grabbing balls from the elephan! t's tumm y and dropping them in the elephant's ears. It also provides a fun way for children to learn cause and effect. When a child drops balls into the toy, the balls pop out in a different place.

Even babies will enjoy grabbing the colorful, lightweight balls from the elephant's tummy and watching them pop up through its trunk.

Lively Music Engages Children

This toy plays a variety of upbeat music for your child to enjoy. A large button on the elephant's hand makes it easy for your little one to switch between songs. One young tester loved the noise, but was startled by the popping balls.

The noise made by the toy--akin to a vacuum cleaner in a video arcade--may become tiresome to adults with extended play. Fortunately, children can engage in put-and-take play even when the toy is in the "off" position, but an adult will need to tip the elephant over to dislodge balls placed in its trunk. Even when the toy was turned on, our tester found that balls oc! casionally did not pop as they were supposed to and required adult intervention.

Sturdy Construction Ideal for Young Children

The sturdy design of the plastic elephant makes this an ideal toy for babies eager to practice sitting, crawling, and pulling up. Your child can sit and watch the elephant as it shoots balls from its trunk or crawl after the colorful balls. The toy is also stable enough that your child can use it to assist in pulling up.

The toy's movable, air-powered trunk can be positioned to pop balls towards one of the ears or across the room. An adult will need to move the trunk into place as it is too difficult for a child to manipulate. During assembly, the stabilizer and ears also required a large amount of force to click into place. That said, the setup was straightforward and quick, taking less than 10 minutes, and required just four D batteries (not included).

What's in the Box

Elefun Busy Ball Popper, five balls, fou! r D batteries, and instructions.

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Beerfest (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

  • After a humiliating false start in Germany's super-secret underground beer competition, America's unlikely team vows to risk life, limb and liver to dominate the ultimate chug-a-lug championship. The laughs are on the haus!Running Time: 116 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR Age: 085391102076 UPC: 085391102076 Manufacturer No: 110207
After a humiliating false start in Germany's super-secret underground beer competition, America's unlikely team vows to risk life, limb and liver to dominate the ultimate chug-a-lug championship. The laughs are on the haus!

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurette
Interviews
Other

While it didn't quite spark a trend in chug-a-lug brew comedies, Beerfest is the kind of zany time-killer that's a lot funnier if you're within reach of a six-pack and Doritos. In ! other words, this is yet another low-brow laff-a-thon from the Broken Lizard gang (Super Troopers) that's likely to draw a bigger audience on DVD than it did in theaters, especially since there's a lot of duds (and flat suds) to sit through while waiting for the next big beer-belly-laugh. It's the kind of movie that thinks masturbating frogs are funny (OK, you decide), while serving up a gang of guzzling Americans (the aforementioned Broken Lizard troupe, who also write this stuff with director Jay Chandrasekhar) who compete in an epic beer-drinking contest against the nefarious German challenger Baron Wolfgang Von Wolfhausen (played by German actor Jurgen Prochnow, whose starring role in Das Boot inspires one of this movie's better jokes). When it's not trying to top itself in terms of sheer stupidity and juvenile humor, Beerfest satisfies its target audience (basically, frat-rats and party animals) with some gratuitously bare-breasted babes, rampant consumpt! ion of alcohol, and the welcomed appearance of Cloris Leachman! , who so rt-of reprises her "Frau Blucher" persona from Young Frankenstein. So basically what you've got here is a dim-witted but energetic comedy called Beerfest that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a movie with that title. Who says truth in advertising is dead? --Jeff Shannon

Household Tales by Brothers Grimm

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