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The soybean is a crop of global importance and is one of th ... Read more

The soybean is a crop of global importance and is one of the most frequently cultivated crops worldwide. It is rich in oil and protein and is used for both human and animal consumption as well as for industrial purposes, such as biofuels. Soybean crops also play an important role in crop diversification and benefit other crops due to its addition of nitrogen to the soil during crop rotation. With contributions written by researchers from around the world, "The Soybean" provides a concise coverage of recent research on all aspects of this significant crop. Chapters discuss the history and importance of soybean production in agriculture followed by details of the plant's physiology and developments in breeding and genetics. The diverse cropping systems used in production are highlighted alongside crop management and protection strategies. Technology for processing and utilization, soybean's nutritional value and the outlook for global marketing and trade are also addressed. It is suitable for researchers and students in plant science, crop science, and horticulture. Minimize

Heath Ledger stars as Alex Bernier, a young priest and prot ... Read more

Heath Ledger stars as Alex Bernier, a young priest and protegee of the excommunicated head of a mysterious order known as the Carolingians, who has recently died under mysterious circumstances. Alex is sent by Father Driscoll to Rome to investigate the death; once there, he uncovers evidence pointing to the existence of a mysterious being known as a sin-eater, a being that exists outside the jurisdiction of the church and performs "last rites" on people who have been exiled by the Church. But as Bernier, aided by his old friend Father Thomas (Mark Addy) and an artist upon whom he once performed an exorcism (Shannyn Sossamon), gets closer to the sin-eater, he is besieged by doubt as to what it really is; human or beast, evil creature that preys upon humans or renegade angel who provides fallen sinners a last chance to make it into heaven. Minimize

Could these be any cooler? Exact reproductions of the actua ... Read more

Could these be any cooler? Exact reproductions of the actual gloves worn by Detroit's top stars. They may look a little funny, but they got the job done. Made from full grain American steerhide. (Glove F) No wonder baseball players used to suffer from alot of broken fingers. The first type of gloves worn by ball players were worn on both hands, but did little to protect them from serious injury. One Pair. Minimize

The Nutrition Secret is the new nutrition video encyclopedi ... Read more

The Nutrition Secret is the new nutrition video encyclopedia for the 21st Century. Everything you need to know to start eating healthy. Stop the confusion regarding how to eat for fitness, wellness health, weight loss and fat loss. Imagine yourself being able to enjoy living in the body you are proud of. Imagine you walking through life in the lean, sexy healthy body you thought was reserved for someone else. Imagine you walking on the beach with people watching feeling envious, because people of the opposite sex have you on their minds when they see you. Imagine the confidence, esteem and well being you would bring to your life, relationships and family if you had energy to burn. Would this improve your life? I believe so.Life up to now has probably been filled with diet after diet after diet after diet, with the results being the same. You start the diet. At first you lose some weight. The diet becomes too difficult to maintain. Start to cheat a little. You get totally off the diet. You return to your previous eating habits. You put the weight back on. You weigh the same as you did originally and maybe more. You get frustrated and depressed. Does this sound familiar?I am sure that it does. That is because diets don't work. In actuality they are not intended to work. That is why you go on a diet. If you go on it you will eventually....go off of it.This is not the first time you have probably heard that diets don't work. The challenge it that no one has given you an alternative up to now. Up to now you have been going from diet to diet, pill to pill, program to program and not seen the long-term results you have been searching for.You have been frustrated and disappointed. You have felt deceived and lied to. Yes, it is true. You have been lied to. You have been lied to by an industry that wants you to succeed a little and then fail miserably. Why you ask? Because the multi-Billion dollar diet and weight loss industry knows that as long as you see short lived success followed by miserable failure...you'll keep coming back. They know you'll try another diet. You'll try another weight loss center. You'll read another book. The industry is actually taking advantage of your frustration. The industry is actually taking advantage of your depression. The industry is actually taking advantage of your lowered sense of esteem every time you try and fail. They do this because they know you will keep search and spending and searching and spending and searching and spending.The SECRET they've kept from youIf I were you I would be upset. No forget that I would be outright mad. I was mad when I realized that I as well as the general public had been taken advantage of by the diet and weight loss marketers. I was mad when I discovered the secret and found out how simple it was. I was mad when realized that I could use it in my own life and teach it anyone and help them to change radically.Yes, I was mad, that quickly turned to joy when I realized that I now had a tried and true secret in my palms that could powerfully help people not only change their bodies, but their lives and lives of their families. So I set out on a quest to deliver this information. Of course I communicated with my clients who immediately saw benefit. Next, I started delivering the information through seminars and workshops. However, I felt limited because I could get the secret out to people unless I was physically present. I started writing a book, but I thought to myself wouldn't people just say, "Not another Diet Book!"Next I thought what way could people get this information in a manner that would be easy to follow and simple to learn. The idea woke me up out of my sleep one night. "Put it in a video." "Hey", I thought, "That makes sense. People could learn the secret while sitting at home leisurely watching television. Anyone could do it." So I spent the next two years researching and producing the video "The Nutrition Secret."This product is manufactured on demand Minimize

Find the recipes for healthy eyes within the pages of The E ... Read more

Find the recipes for healthy eyes within the pages of The Eye and Nutrition by Dr. Lucio Buratto.A healthy diet is fundamentally important for the body in general and for good vision in particular. Like every other structure in the body, the eye must be nourished with the correct nutrients and in the correct amounts, in order to perform optimally.A healthy diet can also reduce the appearance of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, as well as contribute to the prevention of many ocular diseases. With gorgeous photos, The Eye and Nutrition is a unique book that provides scientific information along with culinary recipes to produce an interesting mixture of science and excellent cuisine.The first and second parts of this engaging book by Dr. Lucio Buratto contain a detailed description of the optimal diet for the eye, metabolism of the eye, and an analysis of the basic nutrients for good vision. The third part of The Eye and Nutrition is a series of delicious recipes that will provide the eye with all the nutrients and micronutrients it requires.The Eye and Nutrition is a delectable book to have on one’s coffee table, by your side in the kitchen, to give as a gift, and in waiting rooms. This tasty book contains the following sections: • Snacks • Risotto • Pasta • Soups • Meat • Fish • Vegetables • Meat sauces and pasta condiments • Fruits • Juices, shakes, and smoothies • DessertsSome appetizing recipes that are sure to please the palate: • Bruschetta with tomato • Risotto with strawberries • Penne pasta with Mediterranean garden vegetables • Cream of Belgian endive lettuce soup • Filet of beef in balsamic vinegar • Swordfish, salmon or tuna tartare • Lemon sauce for poached fishOphthalmologists will not be the only ones to enjoy this book. It is perfect for anyone interested in healthy living and being on the road to optimal eye health.Bon Appétit!  Minimize

A simple, powerful idea that's reinventing the way smart, a ... Read more

A simple, powerful idea that's reinventing the way smart, adaptive companies do business. Most businesses follow the same basic formula: create a product or service, sell it, and collect money. What Lisa Gansky calls "Mesh" businesses throw this model out the window. Instead, these companies use social media, wireless networks, and data crunched from every available source to provide people with goods and services at the exact moment they need them, without the burden and expense of owning them outright. The Mesh gives companies a better understanding of what customers really want. Already, hundreds of successful Mesh companies are redefining how we interact with the people, goods, and services in our lives. These businesses are easier to start and spreading like wildfire, from bike sharing and home exchanges to peer-to-peer lending, energy cooperatives, and open source design. Consider: ? ZipCar profits from streamlined car sharing ? Kickstarter connects artists with funding from enthusiastic supporters ? Music Gym makes finding a recording studio as easy as joining a gym The Mesh reveals the next wave of information-enabled commerce, showing readers how to plug in and profit. Minimize

This multimedia CD-ROM is intended for all involved in heal ... Read more

This multimedia CD-ROM is intended for all involved in health care, whether practitioner or patient, designed as it is to introduce the skilled use of herbal medicines within a holistic perspective. In addition to the expansive text, written by David L. Hoffmann, it contains beautiful color photos, songs and verse by Jim Duke and narration by David Hoffmann describing the herbs and their medicinal uses. For thousands of years medicinal plants have been at the core of alleviating human suffering and promoting health and well-being through the use of common plants. The essence of this accumulated knowledge on medicinal plants is practiced in Europe under the name of Phytotherapy. David L. Hoffmann a leading authority on Phytotherapy, is a clinical herbalist from Britain where he was a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and faculty member of the School of Herbal Medicine. He was the inaugural president of the American Herbalist Guild and has taught Phytotherapy throughout the English speaking world. David brings hands-on experience to his wealth of detailed knowledge and practice of Herbal Medicine. As a teacher, author and herbal consultant in North America, he blends the experience of generations of herbalists with the insights of modern medicine making accessible the powerful healing tool for today's healthy living. David is the author of many popular books, including The New Holistic Herbal, An Elders Herbal, An Herbal Guide to Stress Relief, and The Elements of Herbalism. The Herbalist(r) Version 2.1M CD-ROM covers the following information: Basic Principles: Herbalism, Gaia in action, Selection Criteria - How to choose the right herb, Phyto-Pharmacology, The Classification of Medicinal Plants, The Formulation and Preparation of Herbal Medicines, Action Strengths, and Sources of Phytotherapeutic Information Human Systems: The Digestive System (ulcers, gastritis, hiatus hernia, constipation, diarrhea, appendicitis, the liver, diverticulitis, jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, hemorrhoids, cholecystitis, and more), The Cardio-Vascular System, The Lower Respiratory System (cough, bronchitis, pertussis, asthma, emphysema), The Upper Respiratory System (common cold, influenza, hay fever, sinusitis, laryngitis, tonsilitis, and more), The Nervous System (stress, relaxation, depression, insomnia, headache, tinnitus, motion sickness, shingles, and more), The Urinary System (diuretics, frequency, dysuria, hematuria, cystitis, water retention, edema, urinary calculus, and more), The Reproductive System (menstrual problems, child birth, miscarriage, PMS, menopause, infertility, endometriosis, and more), The Musculo-Skeletal System (arthritis, systemic lupus, gout, bursitis, tendinitis, and more), The Skin (lesions, eczema-dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, dry skin, dandruff, bruises, and more) Immunity, Holism and Phyto-therapy (immune system and its specific problems, an herbal contribution to preventive medicine, the herbal possibilities in immunology, infections, shingles, fungus, cancer, and more), Phyto-therapy and Children (measles, chicken pox, colic, constipation, indigestion, nausea, hyperactivity, diaper rash, cradle cap, mumps, impetigo, ear infections, bedwetting, fever, and more), Phyto-therapy and the Elderly (prescription drug reactions, body systems, spiritual and socio-economic issues, psychology of aging, toning and nurturing health in elders, and more). Actions: Main Herbal Actions and Their Activity Mechanisms, Primary Herbal Examples, Secondary Actions. Materia Medica Agrimony, Aniseed, Angelica, Arnica, Astragalus, Balm, Balm of Gilead, Balmony, Barberry, Bayberry, Bearberry, Birch, Black Catechu, Black Cohosh, Black Haw, Black Horehound, Black Root, Blackberry, Bladderwrack, Blood Root, Blue Cohosh, Blue Flag, Bogbean, Boldo, Bo Minimize

THE RESISTANCE The Resistance is a very intense social dedu ... Read more

THE RESISTANCE The Resistance is a very intense social deduction game for 5-10 players. While it shares similiarities with games like Werewolf, Mafia and even Battlestar Galactica it has many very unique features such as a quick 30 minute play time, no moderator required and no player elimination. Set in the near future, The Resistance pits a small group of resistance fighters against a powerful and corrupt government. The resistance has launched a series of bold and daring missions to bring th Minimize

Introduced in 2006, The One by Dolce & Gabbana perfume is t ... Read more

Introduced in 2006, The One by Dolce & Gabbana perfume is the perfect representation of lavish style and classic shapes. It is a warm, floriental with modern sensuality--it radiates with sun-touched citrus, while warm fruity notes of luscious lychee and succulent peach add to the delight. The passionate heart evokes an exploding femininity, with an opulent floral soul. An unexpected hint of plum glows as the base blooms with the lasting warmth of vanilla and sweetened ambery-musk notes. Conceptualized by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, The One's bottle, beaming in gold, pays homage to perfumery tradition, as the solid gold cap crowns a delicately colored fragrance, held intact by soft curves. Minimize

After creating the visually impressive film THE CELL in 200 ... Read more

After creating the visually impressive film THE CELL in 2000, director Tarsem Singh dropped his last name to become simply Tarsem. His follow up, THE FALL, is just as beautiful as his previous work and features a stamp of approval from David Fincher and Spike Jonze. Like those celebrated directors, Tarsem got his start in the highly visual medium of music videos, and THE FALL is appropriately one of the most striking films to hit the screen in recent memory. Set in Los Angeles in 1915, the story revolves around a five-year-old girl (Catinca Untaru) named Alexandria, who wanders around a hospital after breaking her arm. There she meets bedridden Roy (Lee Pace of PUSHING DAISIES), a Hollywood stuntman who is paralyzed after an ill-fated attempt to impress a woman. Roy beguiles Alexandria with a tale that mirrors his own failed romance but his imagination takes it to new levels. People in the hospital appear in the story la THE WIZARD OF OZ, but it's a surreal, fantastic epic that enchants Alexandria and convinces her to bring morphine pills to Roy so he can commit suicide. Based on the Bulgarian film YO HO HO, THE FALL is an excellent example of a triumph of style over substance. The plot is interesting and the acting is solid particularly the work from first-time Romanian actress Untaru but it's hard to pay attention to any of that when Colin Watkinson's cinematography and Ged Clarke's production design are so stunning. Though Tarsem is working in a vein similar to Guillermo del Toro and Terry Gilliam, THE FALL is a uniquely gorgeous work that will impress anyone who values beauty in film. Minimize

The Watch is a survey of the best vintage and contemporary ... Read more

The Watch is a survey of the best vintage and contemporary men’s wristwatches that is as visually compelling as it is informative to read. A well-made man’s wristwatch combines inspired design, technical innovation, and precise craftsmanship. Vintage watches are filled with sentiment and history, and are often passed from wrist to wrist across generations. Today, designers use cutting-edge techniques and materials to create some of the most complex miniature machines ever attempted. Ranging from Patek Philippe and Rolex to Seiko and Swatch, and covering fifty brands in depth, the book provides essential wisdom on buying, collecting, and maintaining these timepieces. Illustrating the text are more than 500 photographs of men’s watches, including remarkable details of dials and movements, selected for their beauty and diversity from collections around the world. Minimize

The HISTORY of Christianity and its GLOBAL IMPACT Over the ... Read more

The HISTORY of Christianity and its GLOBAL IMPACT Over the last two millennia, Jesus of Nazareth--an itinerant Jewish preacher who was publicly executed--impacted history more than any other human being. Once a persecuted minority, his followers conquered nations, created artistic and architectural masterpieces, and committed atrocities. In this sweeping 13-part documentary, Bamber Gascoigne examines Christianity not as a religion, but as a potent historical force that continues to shape our world. Filmed on location in more than 30 countries around the globe, The Christians shows how one faith has influenced a vast array of cultures and, in turn, how it has adapted to diversity. It takes a penetrating look at emperors and evangelists, monks and madmen, artists and inquisitors as it reveals the conflicts, reconciliations, and controversies of one of the world’s most pervasive religions. BONUS FEATURES: A new introductory segment by host Bamber Gascoigne 16-page viewer’s guide includes highlights, questions to consider, avenues for further learning, timeline, and more. The Cultures of the Cross and Christ in Art photo galleries Architects of the Faith, select bios of people influential to Christianity SDH subtitles Longtime host of the popular British quiz show University Challenge, Bamber Gascoigne studied at Cambridge and earned a Harkness Fellowship at Yale. He has hosted several historical documentaries and written over a dozen books. Minimize

Director Mike Nichols's THE GRADUATE is the satirical comin ... Read more

Director Mike Nichols's THE GRADUATE is the satirical coming-of-age comedy that became an emotional touchstone for an entire generation. In the mid-1960s, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a confused college graduate, is pulled in myriad directions by family, friends, and associates just days after receiving his degree. Seduced by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), an older friend of the family, Ben carries on an affair with the married woman even as he falls for her daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross). However, Ben and Elaine's attempts at romance are threatened by the spiteful rage of Mrs. Robinson, who proceeds to hastily arrange Elaine's marriage to someone else, leading up to one of the most memorable endings in cinema history. With its striking photography and clever editing, THE GRADUATE established Nichols as a major director. The film also made a star out of young Hoffman, who gives an understated portrayal of the perplexed Ben--the actor's first role in a Hollywood film, which he almost didn't get because he wasn't Waspy enough. Outstanding performances by the rest of the cast are highlighted by Bancroft's sexy, embittered turn as Mrs. Robinson and Ross's endearing presence as the gorgeous yet innocent Elaine. The film's impact on popular culture is immeasurable: "Plastics" will live on eternally as depressing but solid career advice, and older women will never eye younger men without fear of becoming a "Mrs. Robinson." Buck Henry (who appears briefly in the film) cowrote the influential screenplay, based on the novel by Charles Webb, and the soundtrack by Simon and Garfunkel remains a movie classic. Minimize

From 1933 until 1941, as totalitarianism took hold in Germa ... Read more

From 1933 until 1941, as totalitarianism took hold in Germany and Italy, hundreds of scholars, intellectuals, and artists fled Europe for America. The story of these emigres, many of whom found safe haven in the United States, is the subject of The Exiles. Recapturing an extraordinary chapter in twentieth-century life, this compelling documentary chronicles the most significant rescue of oppressed artists and intellectuals in modern times and highlights their far-reaching contributions to culture and scholarship in their adopted country. Divided into two hour-long segments, The Exiles, an Emmy Award winning documentary, spans nearly six decades of Euro-American history. Its chronology begins with the pre-World War II conditions that first prompted the emigres to leave their homelands and concludes with their present-day reflections about mankind's future. For insights into the refugee experience, the film interweaves candid recollections of surviving exiles with those of individuals who aided in their escape. Friends, colleagues and cultural historians describe how these Europeans left their indelible mark on a wide range of academic disciplines and fields of endeavor. This richly detailed account of the quest for intellectual and artistic freedom also draws on a wealth of period footage and archival material, combined with evocative reenactments of major rescue efforts that brought the exiles to the United States. A dramatic reading of emigre poet Hans Sahl's work "We Are the Last Ones," which punctuates the opening and closing of the program, underscores the currency of its subject for the latter part of our century. Minimize

Paul Newman shines as cocky poolroom hustler "Fast" Eddie F ... Read more

Paul Newman shines as cocky poolroom hustler "Fast" Eddie Felson in Robert Rossen's atmospheric adaptation of the Walter Tevis novel. Newman's Felson is a swaggering pool shark punk who takes on the king of the poolroom, Minnesota Fats (a cool, assured Jackie Gleason in his most understated performance). After losing big and crashing into a void of self-pity, Eddie meets down-and-out Sarah (Piper Laurie in a delicate performance), an alcoholic blue blood who's dropped into Eddie's world of dingy bars and seedy poolrooms. Eddie regains his confidence and attracts the attention of a shifty, calculating promoter, Bert Gordon (George C. Scott at his most heartless), who offers to bring Eddie into the big money--but at what cost? Rossen brings his film to life with the easy pace of a pool game, giving his actors room to explore their characters and develop into a razor-sharp ensemble. Eugen Schüfftan earned an Academy Award for his shadowing black-and-white cinematography, as did art directors Harry Horner and Gene Callahan for their deceivingly simple set designs. Even in the daylight this film seems to be smothered by night, lit by the dim glow of a bar lamp or the overhead glare of a pool-table light, an appropriate environment for this tale of one man's struggle with his soul and his self-esteem. Newman returned as an older, wiser, cagier Felson 25 years later in Martin Scorsese's Color of Money. --Sean Axmaker Minimize

THE RESISTANCE $18.00 The Resistance is a very intense soci ... Read more

THE RESISTANCE $18.00 The Resistance is a very intense social deduction game for 5-10 players. While it shares similiarities with games like Werewolf, Mafia and even Battlestar Galactica it has many very unique features such as a quick 30 minute play time, no moderator required and no player elimination. Set in Minimize

After the rugged rodeo drama JUNIOR BONNER, the impetuous S ... Read more

After the rugged rodeo drama JUNIOR BONNER, the impetuous Sam Peckinpah reteamed with Steve McQueen for this down-and-dirty heist picture. McQueen stars with his soon-to-be real-life bride Ali McGraw (with whom he fell in love during the film's production) as the beautiful, but dangerous, married couple Doc and Carol McCoy. After being released from prison for reasons Doc would rather not acknowledge Doc shacks up in a hotel with Carol to plot a small-town bank robbery. Of course, the heist doesn't go as smoothly as planned, resulting in an action-packed journey that sends the lovers on a reckless romp through the beautiful Texas landscape. Peckinpah's big screen adaptation of Jim Thompson's novel features the trademark qualities that helped to make him such an alternately reviled and revered figure: namely, his vision of a world in which even the good guys are bad guys. Lucien Ballard's gorgeous cinematography contrasts wonderfully with the gritty subject matter, lifting the potentially standard picture to a more artistic plateau. The chemistry between the incomparably cool McQueen and the magnetic McGraw also confirms THE GETAWAY's status as a defining film of the genre. Minimize

Based on Will Eisner's classic 1940s and '50s comic series ... Read more

Based on Will Eisner's classic 1940s and '50s comic series and written and directed by his acolyte Frank Miller, THE SPIRIT follows the adventures of the crimefighter of the title (Gabriel Macht), a former cop mysteriously brought back from the dead. Hiding his identity as Denny Colt behind a mask and a fedora, the Spirit, now seemingly indestructible, protects his beloved Central City from his mortal enemy, the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson), while contending with the many women in his life, including the doting Ellen Dolan (Sarah Paulson) and the dangerous Sand Seref (Eva Mendes). Credited with co-helming the film adaptation of his renowned SIN CITY comics (with Robert Rodriguez), Miller turns to one of his primary influences for his solo directorial debut. Not surprisingly, he uses the hyper-stylized SIN CITY look as a template for THE SPIRIT, allowing Eisner's pulpy vintage aesthetic to merge with SIN CITY's gritty atmosphere. Macht is well cast as the brooding Spirit, who has a habit of talking to himself at length, while Jackson gleefully chews scenery and burns through costume changes as the quirky, egg-obsessed Octopus. Although Paulson, Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, and others are largely relegated to "Bond girl" status, they play their roles with declarative verve, making THE SPIRIT an enjoyably campy addition to the pantheon of comic-book movies. Minimize

Two men who were part of the al-Qaeda terrorist network loo ... Read more

Two men who were part of the al-Qaeda terrorist network look back on their past with strongly mixed feelings in this documentary from director Laura Poitras. Before the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., made Osama bin Laden and his jihad against the West known to nearly every American, Abu Jandal was one of bin Laden's bodyguards, and he helped recruit Salim Hamdan, who served as bin Laden's personal driver. Jandal was able to escape prosecution and fled to Yemen, where he now makes a living driving a taxi. Jandal still regards America as a sworn enemy, but also views his days in al-Qaeda with little nostalgia, and he anticipates no hopeful future before him. Jandal also feels deep regret over the fate of Hamdan, who ended up in the United States military prison at Guantanamo Bay and was tried as a terrorist, despite his insistence he was bin Laden's chauffeur and nothing more. Hamdan's family and legal team struggle on his behalf without any illusions about his likely fate, and when Jandal speaks out to the press in his old friend's defense, Hamdan sends him a sharply worded letter asking him to stop. THE OATH was an official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Minimize

A family struggling with the loss of a loved one may have f ... Read more

A family struggling with the loss of a loved one may have found him in rather unusual place in this drama from writer and director Julie Bertuccelli. Dawn (Charlotte Gainsbourg) is a stay-at-home mother to her four children Tim (Christian Bayers), Lou (Tom Russell), Simone (Morgana Davies) and Charlie (Gabriel Gotting) and a loving wife to her husband Peter (Aden Young). Peter is out of town on business when he suffers a fatal heart attack; Dawn is emotionally shattered by the news, and isn't sure at first how to get by on her own. The children are supportive to their mom, Tim gets a part-time job to help bring in some extra cash and Dawn begins working at a plumbing supply store run by kind-hearted George (Marton Csokas), but while they're all trying to move on, they still wish they could have Peter back in their lives. Simone, who is eight, has taken to climbing the big tree in front of the family's house, and she soon explains why to Dawn she says she can hear the voice of her father rustling through the leaves. Before long, Simone builds a tree house and spends most of her time listening to her father's phantom voice, and while Dawn understands how she feels, she's not sure how to get her daughter to let go of her father's ghost, especially when Simone reacts poorly to the news that Dawn and George are dating. THE TREE was adapted from the novel OUR FATHER WHO ART IN THE TREE by Judy Pascoe. Minimize

It's been a long, strange trip since Darren Aronofsky last ... Read more

It's been a long, strange trip since Darren Aronofsky last invited viewers into his cinematic world six years in fact but THE FOUNTAIN is sure to enchant, beguile, and inspire intense debate among his patient fans. During the frustrating gap since 2000's REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, Aronofsky has struggled to bring THE FOUNTAIN to the screen, principally because leading man Brad Pitt dropped out of the project. The complex tale is split into three different time periods, beginning in the 16th century, when a conquistador named Tomas (Hugh Jackman) strives to find the Tree of Life. The second part of the story finds Jackman playing a Buddha-like character who zips through outer space and dreams of a woman named Izzi (Rachel Weisz). And the third part, which consumes most of the film's screen time, is set in the present day and sees Jackman playing a doctor named Tommy, who is married to the terminally-ill Izzi. In this third section Tommy strives to find a cure for Izzi's brain tumor, and makes some progress after experimenting on a monkey with a substance discovered in a tree in South America. Meanwhile, Izzi has been writing a book that she calls THE FOUNTAIN, but has left the final chapter for Tommy to write. As Aronofsky pushes and pulls his sepia-tinted film between the three time periods, he weaves a deeply thoughtful, special effects-laden story that touches on themes of mortality and self, and requires a great deal of work from the director's audience. Movies such as Kubrick's 2001 and Tarkovsky's SOLARIS come to mind as Aronofsky gets deep into philosophical waters, and the various story strands of THE FOUNTAIN are as inconclusive and open to interpretation as the films that have clearly influenced it. The film makes for uneasy and sometimes confusing viewing, but will find its audience among intrepid souls who are fully prepared to let go and immerse themselves in Aronofsky's peculiar, daring, and thoughtful cinematic universe. Minimize

Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mount ... Read more

Opening with spectacular aerial shots of a beautiful, mountainous landscape, Stanley Kubrick's horror classic THE SHINING sucks the viewer into his frightening tale with quiet, relaxing visuals but the ominous soundtrack warns that all is not right at the gorgeous Overlook Hotel. Based on Stephen King's best-selling novel, the film stars Jack Nicholson at his eyebrow-raising best in his portrayal of Jack Torrance, a Vermont schoolteacher working at the Overlook as a winter caretaker. The glorious early-20th century resort only operates in warm weather because the snowy roads deny access in the colder months, so Jack brings his wife, Wendy (Shelley Duvall), with him, as well as his young son, Danny (Danny Lloyd), who possesses some unique psychic powers. As the Torrances settle in for the long, lonely months ahead, strange, unexplainable things start occurring in the hotel and in every scene Jack seems to be growing a little more evil and dangerous.... Cinematographer John Alcott (who also worked on BARRY LYNDON and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE) allows his Steadicam to float eerily through the deserted halls and corridors of the hotel, creating a creepy air of tension as Jack plummets into madness. Kubrick's obsessive eye for detail is prevalent throughout; the famous scene where Danny rides his toy buggy through the hotel is remarkable for Alcott's gliding camerawork and the desolate sound of the wheels alternately scraping across the hardwood and carpeted floors. Nicholson and Duvall are outstanding throughout, with both actors running the full gamut of human emotions as the film races towards a thrilling conclusion. Supplemented by an oddball cast of dead twin girls, suicidal ax-murdering ghosts, Scatman Crothers as the hotel cook, and many other weird and wonderful figures, Kubrick's film is a pulse-racing treat that is among the best in his inimitable body of work. Minimize

Kevin Costner is idealistic federal agent Eliot Ness, whose ... Read more

Kevin Costner is idealistic federal agent Eliot Ness, whose assignment to clean up Prohibition-era Chicago leads to violence and manly questions about upholding the law. Initially powerless to stop the flow of booze into the city (the police force is corrupt and everyone in town seems to be on the mob's payroll), Ness finds guidance from an older streetwise cop (Sean Connery, who won an Academy Award for this role) who convinces him he'll need to break some rules if he wants to bring down head mobster Al Capone (Robert De Niro). Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith play Ness's other recruits, who together must stand tall against a city full of assassins. Director Brian De Palma (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE) packs the film with violence and creative camera movements while David Mamet's intelligent script capably dodges clicht every turn. There's a real sense of what's at stake for these characters on a personal level, which contrasts nicely with the futility inherent in enforcing Prohibition in the first place. The film is based on the autobiographical book by Ness (cowritten with Oscar Fraley) and the 1959-63 TV series; Ennio Morricone (THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY) composed the uninhibitedly bombastic score. Minimize