A Brief Book Review for 'I: Reality and Subjectivity' by Author Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D. (2003)

Book: 'I: Reality and Subjectivity' (2003)

Author: Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.

Published: 2003 

This book is another metaphysical masterpiece by Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D., and it is all about reality, the universe, God, consciousness, metaphysics, etc. and addresses just about every topic you can come across. I just finished reading in a third time and I highly recommend this book to everyone. I believe that most of you readers out there will find it compelling, even if you are not privy to the science of applied kinesiology, and you will still find that you begin to have deeper understandings about the nature of our reality and of consciousness after reading this book. I personally feel that this book has expanded my own reality and understandings of it, along with many other authors and books (i.e. Walsch, Tolle, Ruiz, Roman, ACIM etc.) of a similar genre, and has really helped to round out the extraneous factors and questions I've always had about the meaning of life, God, metaphysics, philosophy, etc.. If you are seriously considering checking this book out I would firstly recommend reading Dr. Hawkins's Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior book first, as the two read together deliver a powerful understanding. Check this book out even if it doesn't sound interesting, there is something beneficial for everyone who reads it.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Never Let Me Go' (2010)

Movie = Never Let Me Go (2010)

Director = Mark Romanek

Rating = 3/5 Stars ***

This movie is a sci-fi movie about a group of kids who are raised in a fictional society that makes them donate their organs to their "sponsors" until they die. This allows the sponsors to live extra long lives at the expense of this group of people who are raised specifically to be used as organ donors and then done away with. The story follows a couple of friends as they grow up in a fancy British private school and eventually learn they will be sacrificed as donors (by force, which seems more like extrication then donor-ship to me) when they reach a certain age. This sort of ethical situation is probably not all that far off from how it would really be if the wealthy-class thought they could get away with something like this to extend their own lives at the expense of others. Interesting movie and it will make you think, although definitely not too much humor in this one.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Conversations With Other Women' (2005)

Movie = Conversations With Other Women (2005)

Director = Hans Canosa

Rating = 3.5/5 Stars ***'

This movie is about a ex-couple who have reunited after 9 years, and find out what they each have been up to and how they both still harbor feelings for each other. They use the split-screen technique which is rarely seen, annoying at first, but actually effective as you get to see both actors faces during conversations (which is what this movie is all about) and thus get more out of them. Check this one out, its worth watching, although I doubt I'd watch again.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Shades Of Ray' (2008)

Movie = Shades Of Ray (2008)

Director = Jaffar Mahmood

Rating = 3/5 Stars ***

Shades Of Ray is a romantic comedy about an American with a Pakistani father and Caucasian mother, and focuses on his struggles with being bi-racial and how that affects his romantic life. Good movie, the characters get a little irritating at times and are somewhat believable, but I do think this movie addresses issues of race and ethnicity well, in that it shows how despite the world being supposedly past racial/ethnicity issues that there are still massive hurdles that romantic partners and everyday people of different backgrounds have to deal with that makes their lives harder than they already are. Also it is a romantic comedy so its not that serious.

A Brief Movie Review for 'White On Rice' (2009)

Movie = White On Rice (2009)

Director = Dave Boyle

Rating = 3.5/5 Stars ***

White On Rice was refreshing for me to watch just because it is actually different from the typical formulas. The movie revolves around hyperactive (almost ADD) Jimmy, a Japanese expat living in America (as well as an ex-movie-actor out of work) with his sister and her family whom he manages to drive up the wall on a regular basis. You don't see many English movies (although not all of this is in English) about Asian-American families, and that is really what made this movie entertaining and interesting for me. I would watch it a second time.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Adrift In Manhattan' (2007)

Movie = Adrift In Manhattan (2007)

Director = Alfredo De Villa

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **

This is a film worth watching about a group of New Yorkers whose lives unknowingly become intertwined. The individual stories of each of the characters makes the movie a slow one, but it is interesting and a little weird too, but I suppose that is more like real life in a way. It is not the most entertaining movie to watch, so just be prepared for a slow and awkwardone if you sit down with it. I wouldn't watch it a second time.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Tom Jones' (1963)

Movie = Tom Jones (1963) 

Director = Tony Richardson

Rating = 3/5 Stars ***

I was surprised that this movie won the best picture in 1963 as it seems altogether too goofy to be taken seriously as a contender for the Oscar, but apparently it did. Tom Jones is the bastard child adopted by a wealthy English-noble (or so we are led to believe) who womanizes and causes lots of trouble amongst the drunken-noble class of the 1700's English countryside. Lots of humor for a change, which I must say is a relief as so many of the modern-day movies are ultra-serious and this one is anything but a stone-faced movie. Good fun.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Yesterday' (2004)

Movie = Yesterday (2004)

Director = Darrell Roodt

Rating = 4.5/5 Stars

Yesterday (2004) is no doubt an educational drama about a young mother living in South Africa with her daughter and husband who works afar and is only home a few times during the year. Main character Tuesday (is her name) struggles with the discovery that she is HIV positive, poor, and must find a way to guarantee some sort of future for young daughter who faces losing both of her parents to AIDS. Not a lite-film, so if you are in a fragile mood don't watch, but it is something people should watch to raise awareness that AIDS hasn't gone anywhere. Too heavy for me to watch again, but don't let that keep you from watching it.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Feed The Fish' (2009)

Movie = Feed The Fish (2009)

Director = Michael Matzdorff

Rating = 2.5/5 Stars **

This movie is about a children's books author who moves from Los Angeles to a rural and wintry Wisconsin to get inspired to write. During his trip he meets a new girl and starts to get to know a few of the locals in the small town. Not a new plot outline by any means, but the movie is entertaining and lacks any real acting quality (mostly amateur actors I would guess) by any of the actors/actresses, but its really just a feel-good flick anyways, and oh yes, I do review every movie I watch and I know...I know.......

A Brief Book Review for 'The Art of Learning' by Josh Waitzkin (2007)

Book = The Art of Learning (2007)

Author = Josh Waitzkin

Rating = 5/5 Stars ****

I recommend that everyone read this book! Its a auto-biographical work about the author's life, and his approach to learning new skills and achieving excellence in his 2 primary fields of Chess and Tai Chi Chuan. Author Josh Waitzkin is not your average bear, he was a child-prodigy at chess (many time world champion and in various tournaments), as well as a world champion in the martial art of Tai Chi Chuan, and all of this before the age of 30! Whilst being a high-achiever is not for everyone, it is still inspiring to read this book because the author details his own personal experiences and how he worked through his various challenges, which is probably the most helpful way that a person can share an experience with others. I find this very approach to be important as it is the true-experience and method of a real person, and not just the common beliefs that society holds about how true learning and achievement of the highest order is actually attained. Thanks to the author we get a window into that world, which is no doubt a wonderful contribution. If you are striving for excellence or trying to learn new things (most of us are I would hope) then this book holds something for you, so check it out. For more info on the book the author has a website you can visit HERE.

A Brief Movie Review for 'Mr and Mrs Smith' (1941 version)

Movie: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Rating: 2/5 Stars **

A somewhat funny movie, and entertaining to say the least. I don't however really find the whole 'cutesy lover's quarrels' to be all that funny or cute, although I can tell that they are supposed to be, I guess I just don't get the humor there. For context, this film was shot during the great depression and WWII so perhaps people were just looking for pure escapist flicks which is understandable. I know they made a new version with Pitt and Jolie where they just add guns and lots of punching and kicking, but I doubt its much better. Not your typical Hitchcock flick, but check it out if you like the whole lover's quarrels bit.

Fashionable Frangrances: A Review for 'Dior Homme Cologne for Men' (Eau De Toilette)

Fragrance/Cologne = Dior Homme for Men (Eau De Toilette Spray)

Designer/Brand = Christian Dior

Rating = 5/5 Stars ***** 

Dior Homme cologne (for men) is delightfully pungent (in a good way) and it lasts all night long. This fragrance is not for those of you who want to have just a hint of scent, but rather for those wishing to turn heads (and noses) when you walk by, as well as getting asked what it is you are wearing? I highly recommend this cologne for those who want everyone to know you've entered the room. Be sure to store the container properly as this bottle tends to leak if on its side and it seems to evaporate relatively quickly(more so than my other colognes) as well, so use it. Also note that there is a sport version of this fragrance. Head over to the Christian Dior website HERE for more information and to order.

A Brief TV-Series Review for 'Around the World with Orson Welles' (1955)

TV series = Around The World With Orson Welles (1955)

Directed by and Starring = Orson Welles

4/5 Stars ****

An interesting British TV-series directed by, and starring the legendary Orson Welles, and maybe one of the first travel shows of its kind?? (anyone, anyone?) He visits and interviews interesting citizens in Paris, Basque-Spain, Britain, and Madrid in this series. Welles does a great job at making everyday interviews with the common people interesting and also humorous while at the same time teaching us a little about the character and culture of each region. If your looking for some entertainment involving travel in the 1950's then check this series out. Apparently some of them are up on youtube too?

A Brief Review for 'Paths of Glory' (1957)

Movie = Paths of Glory (1957)

Director = Stanley Kubrick

5/5 Stars *****

This movie is one to watch, although it is not for the light-hearted as it is a war-movie. Kubrick does a brilliant job showing us another side of war not often talked about or shown in movies, and by that I mean the internal politics that ravages the very structure of the military itself. Like all human organizations, when the big egos clash their is a price to pay and it is usually in the form of sacrifice by the lower-ranking infantry. Of course the powerful do this all in the petty search of their own egoic and short-lived personal glory. I must disagree to those critics (most of them) who say it is an anti-war film, it is a war-film, and it depicts situations of war that are not uncommon, so if having a hint of realism means a war-movie is anti-war then maybe they are right. I won't say any more here, other than that Kirk Douglas and George Macready both do an excellent job in their roles and so cheers to them both. Good one to watch for sure.