925 Sterling SilverMeasures 5/16" by 1/2" by 1/2"Weighs 2.8 gramsMade in the USAArrives Gift Boxed!
925 Sterling SilverMeasures 5/16" by 1/2" by 1/2"Weighs 2.8 gramsMade in the USAArrives Gift Boxed!
< Sterling Silver MUSTARD SEED Amulet of Faith CHARM Religious Pendant GIFT BOXED >
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Easily opens up to 30 bottles fully charged with the touch of a button!; Includes a foil cutter to remove sealsCordless operation with recharging base included for convenience and mobilityDesigned to fit all traditional wine bottlesOpens a bottle in seconds with no effort allowing you to spend more time with you guestsStylish and ergonomically designed with soft grip handle to fit the palm of your hand for a firm grip < Oster 4207 Electric Wine Opener > < Vacu Vin Wine Saver Extra Stoppers, Set of 4 > < Vacu Vin 3-Piece Wine Saver Gift Pack, White > < Metrokane Wine Pourer with Stopper, Black > < Orka Wine Pourer and Stopper > < Presto Pro EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener > < Stemless Red Wine Glasses Set of 4 >   price：Oster(2006-03-17) Usually ships in 24 hours customer 's review (Electric wine opener)  (Wine Lovers New Cork Remover) (Wow you're friends) (Great product) (Great wine opener) This is a very cool product. Nice looking and very easy to use. It makes a great gift. If you want a device to open your wine easily, this is the product for you. It has a self-charging base and with the press of a button it removes the cork from the bottle and with another press will hand you the cork. I have given two of these as gifts. It's FUN! Now you can wow your friends with the amazing Oster Electric Wine Opener. No more broken corks. No more spilled wine. No more frustration in removing any wine cork. Just press the button and the job is done. This is a great product. It works on cork and plastic corks. I love it! I love this wine opener so much, I keep it out on the bar all the time. The one aspect of this opener I did not understand when I first tried to use this opener is you have to hold onto the bottle until the opener stops "humming". Also, I just found out if the bottle opening is very large, this opener will not work, but only ran into this issue once, in the 30 plus bottles of wine I have opened since receiving this opener. This makes a great present for wine lovers. Features: Cordless tool opens a bottle of wine in seconds, and all you have to do is push a button. On a full charge, it pops the cork off up to 30 bottles. Works withall traditional winebottles. Includes a charging base and a foil cutter for removing seals. 13.85Hx5.43Wx8.25L". Rerations < Oster 4207 Electric Wine Opener > < Vacu Vin Wine Saver Extra Stoppers, Set of 4 > < Vacu Vin 3-Piece Wine Saver Gift Pack, White > < Metrokane Wine Pourer with Stopper, Black > < Orka Wine Pourer and Stopper > freaks .925 Sterling SilverMeasures 5/16" by 1/2" by 1/2"Weighs 2.8 gramsMade in the USAArrives Gift Boxed! < Sterling Silver MUSTARD SEED Amulet of Faith CHARM Religious Pendant GIFT BOXED >   price：Heirloom Charms This sterling charm with moveable mustard seed in acrylic bubble makes a great gift! The reverse of the charm features the Bible verse Matthew 17:20 "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . Nothing can be impossible to you." Around the bezel is written "Amulet of Faith". The mustard seed is free-moving inside the bubble. Wine Lines - I.D. tags for your stemware.Soft, stretchable, washable, reusable synthetic rubber.Easy to slip onto a wineglass and unobtrusive once in place.12 different color tags in a party pack.12 witty and amusing vocabulary expanders. < Fred Wine Line Reviews, Set of 12 > < Fred Personality Traits Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Bombed Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Mine Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Toothpick Holder, Ouch Gray > < Wine Lines Waterproof Colorful Drink Tag Markers for Parties, Euphemisms for Drunkiness >   price：Fred Usually ships in 24 hours customer 's review (Never drink wine that is not thine!) That's what it advertises on the package :) I generally don't have a problem with doing that, but I just thought these tags were funny. I gave them as a gift to a friend to spare her from the horrors of drinking community wine. I really don't know how useful these really are, unless you have large wine drinking parties, but if you're just looking for a comical conversation starter, then these are great. "Nutty with a kick, subtle but noseworthy, lingers on your palate, fruity firm&well packed, delivers complexity, modest yet confident, easily approachable, quietly dignified, mellow but charming, mild yet not bland, undemanding yet delivers,&competent but laid-back." Rerations < Fred Wine Line Reviews, Set of 12 > < Fred Personality Traits Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Bombed Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Mine Beerbands, Set of 12 > < Fred Toothpick Holder, Ouch Gray > freaks < A New Journey (Deluxe Package w/bonus tracks + Irish charm) > < Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland > < Celtic Woman > < A Christmas Celebration > < Celtic Woman > < Lisa > Celtic Woman   price：Manhattan Records(2007-01-30) Usually ships in 24 hours 1.The Sky and the Dawn and the Sun 2.The Prayer 3.Newgrange 4.Over The Rainbow 5.Granuaile's Dance 6.The Blessing 7.D 8.úlaman 9.Beyond The Sea 10.The Last Rose of Summer 11.Caledonia 12.Laschia Ch'io Pianga 13.Carrickfergus 14.Vivaldi's Rain 15.The Voice 16.carborough Fair 17.o Ghile MearBonus Tracks: 18.Sing Out! 19.Shenandoah - The Pacific Slope (Live from Slane Castle) 20.At The C 21.éili (Live from Slane Castle) 22.Spanish Lady (Live from Slane Castle) customer 's review (Memories of my father) (Celtic Woman) (It was wonderful) (beautiful!) (Celtic Woman's Charming Hamonies) My father was a mason and a carpenter who spent a good portion of his life building homes in the village where he was born and in the neighboring villages. One evening, on his way back home, he heard singing voices of some women. To him - the songs and voices were angelic and never heard before. He decided to wait and see the approaching singers thinking that these singers might be equally angelic beautiful girls as their songs and voices were. To his great disappointment - he met a group of ugly, sweaty, old women going back to their homes from a work in fields. My father died twenty six years ago - but his expectation to see the girls of angelic beauty and voices would be met with the Celtic Woman - for sure. This is an awesome CD. It is a great band to listen too and I recommment it highly. I loved both the video and the cd they could have come a little sooner but they came within the 7-10 day period promised. If you like celtic music or just love music with full body sound these are the ones to buy. The rich sounds of voices surounded by celtic music is a pleaure to listen to. Celtic Woman Presents Chloe: Walking in the Air If your not sure ... purchase it! It is the most wonderful dreamy music. Price is great also. All in all, this was a good purchase on my part. I enjoy the music and the charm, the only down side being that the CD cut out too many of the songs from the original performance. I realize that there is only so much room on the CD, but the choices made by the "professionals" didn't do the best job. Aside from that, the CD is excellent, and I would reccomend it. Second only to Riverdance as an international Irish showbiz phenomenon, previous installments of this Platinum-selling extravaganza have become beloved PBS standards. The original buxom quartet of female singers, Lisa, Maev, Orla, and Chloe, have duly been joined by Hayley and are, as usual, backed by a full symphony orchestra and choir, plus enough traditional instruments (the house fiddler, Mairead, is a powerhouse) to keep things legit. The material ranges from folkloric ("Dúlaman" is best known from Clannad's legendary rendering), to a standard from another Celtic nation ("Caledonia," Dougie McLean's love letter to his native Scotland), to classical lite (Handel's poignant "Laschia Ch'io Pianga"), to movie hits ("Somewhere Over The Rainbow" in a delicately lovely, acappella, close-harmony treatment), to homegrown New Age (Enya's "Newgrange"). Most tracks are produced to turn, presented in the aural equivalent of Technicolor or day-glo, in which colors pop while diverging ever so slightly from nature. In short, although the album offers fresh material, it covers old ground -- but this is exactly what the act's target audience expects and desires. Fans of acoustic folk would likely find the prevailing aesthetic a touch garish, but fans of Sarah Brightman and Il Divo will be diverted and thrilled. The deluxe package offers four bonus tracks, three of them live, plus a silvercladdaghcharm. --Christina Roden Celtic Woman Photos
More from Celtic Woman
Rerations < A New Journey (Deluxe Package w/bonus tracks + Irish charm) > < Celtic Woman - A New Journey: Live at Slane Castle, Ireland > < Celtic Woman > < A Christmas Celebration > < Celtic Woman > freaks |
< Charmbracelet > < Butterfly > < Rainbow > < Daydream > < Music Box > < Mariah Carey > Mariah Carey
price： 401
Island(2002-12-03)
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1.Through The Rain 2.Boy (I Need You) feat. Cam'Ron 3.The One 4.Yours 5.You Got Me feat. Jay-Z and Freeway 6.I Only Wanted 7.Clown 8.My Saving Grace 9.You Had Your Chance 10.Lullaby 11.Irresistible (Westside Connection) 12.Subtle Invitation 13.Bringin' On The Heartbreak 14.Sunflowers For Alfred Roy 15.Through The Rain (Remix) feat. Kelly Price and Joe
("You're no superhero...")
(Underrated and Unappreciated : But Also Unlistenable : A Curious Oddity)
(Definitely her second worst release...but has some of her best songs.)
(Great album!!)
(A Beautiful And Personal Album)
Charmbracelet by Mariah Carey is anything but a treasure. This was the album after her so-called breakdown and the music here is mostly filler, the songs are just messy and uninspiring. I used to love Mariah's albums but this one is her second worst after the horrific Rainbow. The only song with spunk and a sense of humor is the Eminem diss track, Clown. Bringin' on the Heartache is a so-so cover and Through the Rain is a complete snooze fest. I hate her r&b style songs, wish she would go back to her pop roots, this is one album to dispose of.
"Charmbracelet" confuses me. Something tells me I'm SUPPOSED To like it, since I usually like anything by Mariah, but its the only album in her catalog that I have consistently tried to revisit, but somehow can't quite get into it. I consider her soundtrack to "Glitter" superior to this.
The problem is that either Mariah thought she could blend way too many genres together, or she just wasn't very interested. Either way, its evident that the primary reason this ranks low in her catalog is due to the lack of good tunes. Simple as that. Almost nothing here has a catchy chorus or is singable, and her ballads, often Mariah's strong point, are almost always overwrought, oversung and way too dramatic to take seriously.
"Through The Rain" was supposed to be her comeback single. I remember the era well. MTV's TRL was doing a fine job promoting the song, and the video had an extended intro of a biracial family and their struggles. The song is just average, but Mariah for some reason wanted to strangle all the emotion out of it, so it becomes a farce.
"Boy" (I Need You) samples a summer hit by Cam'Ron, so it cant really be called original. However, some solid tracks do come up right after this one. Primary contendors would be "Clown", "Yours" and the beautiful "My Saving Grace". Did I mention that the production on this CD is tight throughout?
"Bringin' On the Heartbreak" is easily the most accessible song on this. A straight cover of the rock song, it bewildered many at first, but has gone on to become a much loved Carey track. Towards the end of the album, the song selection tends to droop. I mean, I don't know why Mariah thought it wise to record and release a duet with Ashanti of all people, but you have that song here as well. The "Through the Rain" remix at the end isn't bad, but considering the original song itself was average, its really nothing to write home about.
And thats the problem with this album. Every Mariah record has a WOW moment - a couple of REALLY good tracks, a standout single, some introspective songwriting, but here, there is really none of that. What we have in its' place is very average, same-sounding songs of the pop/R&B variety. Think of something released by Nivea, Olivia or even Amerie (early years) and you can possibly comprehend the vibe of the CD. I am guessing it even sold as much as it did only because of the Carey tag, because otherwise there is very little here that seems compelling.
My main concern with this album, is that despite owning every Mariah album in existence, this is the one I can never quite seem to WANT to play. It lies there, but I can't pick it up. Why? Because I know theres no pay off. As a Mariah fan, it would be easy for me to give this five stars, but I am conscious of her grand mis-step here, and while I won't call this a big mistake, its certainly her most unlistenable musical experiment.
Pros - Great Production, Some good vocals, a Couple of Standout tracks
Cons - No cohesiveness, Poor Melodies, Poor songwriting, Too many 'vocal sighs' from Mariah, and a lack of musical direction
All in all, this is monumental because it reintroduced some edgy production into Mariah's albums, but at the same time it was a huge disappointment as Mariah's 'comeback' would have to wait at least a couple of years more. So should you buy "Charmbracelet". My answer would be - try some audio samples. If you like most of Track 1-6, then do get it. However, if you don't, skip this entirely, as you won't be missing much, honestly.
Three Stars.
1. Through The Rain - Decent, but not her best.
2. Boy (I Need You) feat. Cam'Ron - Bad vocals. OK lyrics.
3. The One - OK.
4. Yours - Good song.
5. You Got Me feat. Jay-Z and Freeway - Catchy.
6. I Only Wanted - OK. A bit too mushy.
7. Clown - Very, very good.
8. My Saving Grace - Nice song.
9. You Had Your Chance - OK
10. Lullaby - OK.
11. Irresistible (Westside Connection) - Filler.
12. Subtle Invitation - OK, but nothing special.
13. Bringin' On The Heartbreak - Nice remake. Her best high note EVER is in this song!
14. Sunflowers For Alfred Roy - Classic and meaningful.
15. Through The Rain (Remix) Feat. Kelly Price and Joe. Filler.
Decent - 7
Meh - 6
Ugh - 3
Vocals: 5.25 (She whisper-sings like nobody's business. I miss her singing/belting. I hate what she does now.)
Composition: 7.75
Guest Stars: 7.75
Album Art: 8
One good thing I must say is that it has a lot of good midtempos.
3.6 stars.
I really loved this album. My favorite tracks were "The One", "Clown", "Lullaby", "Through The Rain" and "You Had Your Chance"...all her albums are great and this one was no different. She has THE best voice in the industry and never fails to amaze people with what she can do next. The biggest problem with this album in my opinion was that she covered "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" by Def Leppard...who is my favorite band/artist of ALLL time. They can't be touched and she kinda murdered that song...but other than that (LOL) this is a good record and I do think it was awesome of her to like Def Leppard enough to wanna cover them but I think she could have done a lot better. "Clown" is supposedly a response to Eminem and his allegations...I guess we'll never know what happened there but nonetheless, it's a really good song. "Lullaby" is probably my absolute favorite..just the beat of it, the way it's sang...all of it. It's just great. Anyway, buy it, you'll love it! :)
All I can say is that this album was Overlooked. This album got bashed by Critics and Fans, but it didn't deserve to be. It is a Very Good Album. I Loved "Emancipation" and skipped this one to listen to that album instead. I'm glad I went back and listened to this one. Fans of Albums such as 1995's "Daydream" and 97's "Butterfly" will no doubt enjoy this ballad laced piece of work.
This Album is just as beautiful, and more personal. It is soothing for the soul to hear the songs on this album.
I am only giving it a 4 Star rating because I only enjoyed 10 out of the 15 songs on the album. Thats not bad though. I didn't enjoy any of the rapping songs, and preffered the Ballads and Jazz songs.
My Favourite Tracks are the Beautiful "Throught The Rain" a song that talks about holding on and getting through personal problems and difficult times. The Lyrics are beautiful
"Saving Grace" is undeniabbly one of the best songs on the Album. It is Beautiful and Very Inspiring. It talks about finding that someone special and being saved by them and the love they give. In Carey's case this is God, as she states at the end "Lord, My Saving Grace Is You". The Lyrics go "I've Loved A Lot. Hurt A Lot. Been Burned A Lot. In My Life, Been Times, Been Precious Years. Wrapped Up In Fears. With No End In Sight. Until My Saving Grace. Shined On Me. Until My Saving Grace. Set Me Free". This song is Very Uplifting.
"Sunflowers For Alfred Roy" is without a doubt the Album's most personal song. In fact it's Mariah's most personal song she has ever recorded. It is a Hymn for her late father Alfred Roy Carey. It talks about meeting him up in heaven, and has wonderful imagery."Thinking of the Mounains and the Lakes and Clouds. I'm Picturing Us There Right Now, As The Crystal Cascade Showers Down". I could not help but get a little teary eyed as I heard it.
"I Only Wanted" is another one of my favourite songs on the album. I love the Spanish Guitar and Water Effects. I Think that's the best part of the song. It's Very Warm sounding.
"The One" is a good R'n'B song, and one of the Albums Best. Very Catchy. I also enjoyed "Yours" which is a sweet ballad. The Lyrics go "You Brighten Up The Moon and Stars At Night. Keep Me Seeing Rainbows In The Sky. You Bring New Meaning To My Life. Now I Believe in Miracles, cos Baby I'm Forever Yours"
I Also liked the jazz sounding "Subtle Invitation" and "Lullaby". They are both very relaxing and catchy at the same time.There is also a decent remake of Def Lepperds "Bringin' On The Heart Break".
Mariah Carey's ninth album has been touted as her comeback album, coming as it does after the belly flop that produced the overwrought soundtrack to her ill-fated film,Glitter. WithCharmbracelet, Carey goes out of her way to fix all those aesthetic glitches, tempering the overblown vocals, simpering lyrics, and uninspired funk covers of her last album and returning to what she does best--showcasing her magnificent five-octave voice and pillaging her lift history for inspiration. After her breakup with superstar Luis Miguel, MTV meltdown, hospitalization for exhaustion, and the death of her father, Carey had a lot of emotional baggage to sift through. She has and, as a result, has created an inspired and diverse 15-song opus that finds her skipping from an impassioned Aretha Franklin-like gospel ("Saving Grace") to an impish cover of Def Leppard's power ballad "Bringin' on the Heartbreak." Though he's not mentioned by name, rapper Eminem is given a pointed drubbing on "Clowns" for hinting in the press and in his own song "Superman" of a relationship with Carey. There hasn't been such a compelling musical soap opera since Carly Simon's '70s romanà clef, "You're So Vain." However, the disc's most inspiring moment comes on "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy," a wistful elegy for her father that recounts his final days in his hospital room. This is a stunning return to form for Carey.--Jaan Uhelszki
Rerations
< Charmbracelet > < Butterfly > < Rainbow > < Daydream > < Music Box > freaks
< Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour&Sincerity > < 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Burl Ives > < The Wayfaring Stranger > < Return of the Wayfaring Stranger > < A Little Bitty Tear > < Have a Holly Jolly Christmas > Burl Ives
price： 1398
Jasmine Music(2000-11-14)
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1.The Doughnut Song 2.Blue Tail Fly 3.I Know My Love 4.Lavender Cowboy 5.The Big Rock Candy Mountain 6.The Little White Duck 7.The Goat And The Train 8.Mr. Rabbit 9.The Fox 10.It Makes No Different Now 11.Cowboy's Lament (Streets Of Laredo) 12.I've Got No Use For Women 13.Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) 14.Venezuela 15.I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes 16.On the Grand Canyon Line 17.Sweet Betsy From The Pike 18.Mr. Froggie Went A-Courtin' 19.Rodger Young 20.Foggy, Foggy, Dew 21.Little Mohee 22.Frankie And Johnny 23.The Riddle Song 24.Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend) 25.I'm Goin' Down The Road
customer 's review
(A True Delight)
(Finally a great Burl Ives compilation!) Most of this is an adult album with some of the most common-sense and beautiful singing you will ever hear. Many of the cuts were recorded in 1960 with just Burl, his guitar and a few special effects. The songs are American standards and Burl's interpretation is marvelous throughout. His penetrating, unique voice will send shivers down your spine with his rendition of Riders in the Sky. There are some curious omissions, like Mule Train, John Henry and Lindy Lou. You can buy"Wayfaring Stranger"for those gems.
Ives is a master at singing these songs and this is a honest, stripped-down, unadorned masterpiece. They don't make music like this anymore, and as far as this genre goes, this is as good as it gets.
This CD is advertised as having charm, humour and sincerity. All true. My husband has been telling me for over 20 years about Burl Ives singing Ghost Riders in the Sky, but I didn't pay much attention. I mean, I have heard that song by other artists before, and it didn't impress me. Then finally, one day I was trying to think of some little gift for him to show that I love him so much, and this song came to mind. I went on Amazon, typed in the song and artist, and there it was. Clicked "Buy It Now", and promptly forgot about it. In short order, there it was in the mailbox, and hubby out of town. I opened it (remember, it was bought as a present for HIM), and just sat and smiled and smiled and smiled as I listened. The Riders In the Sky brought tears to my eyes. I have heard that song before, but never like this version!! Every song is a feast to the ears. Pure listening pleasure. I suspect I will have to order my own since we have separate offices!!!
Burl fans have waited years for a quality CD which includes most of his great songs. Though this compilation omits a few of his treasures, it's still the best Greatest Hits package out there. If you own only one Burl Ives album, then make it this one. Unfortunately, current marketers rehash many of Ives' worst songs, the ones geared towards small children, basically novelty songs. Unfortunately, there are a couple of these clunkers of this album, but you can easily skip over those.
Rerations
< Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour&Sincerity > < 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Burl Ives > < The Wayfaring Stranger > < Return of the Wayfaring Stranger > < A Little Bitty Tear > freaks
< The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie > < Viridiana - Criterion Collection > < Un Chien Andalou > < Diary of a Chambermaid - Criterion Collection > < Breathless > < Luis Bunuel's L'Age d'Or >
Home Vision(2001-09-21)
customer 's review
(Buñuel's best film.)
(The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie)
(Incredible Charm of Surrealism)
(Odd, But Pretty Good)
(Bunuel social commentary)
This is arguably Buñuel's best film. Described as "a complex, shifting, virtually plotless web of dreams within dreams within dreams," Luis Buñuel's 1972 Academy Award winning surrealist film, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie) chronicles five derailed dinner parties of a group of three affluent Parisian couples, intermixed with four dreams dreamt by different characters. The sextet of friends includes Rafael Acosta (Fernando Rey), François Thévenot (Paul Frankeur), Simone Thévenot (Delphine Seyrig), Florence (Bulle Ogier), Alice Sénéchal (Stéphane Audran), andHenri Sénéchal (Jean-Pierre Cassel). Although they constantly arrive for dinner parties, they never actually eat. Whether they arrive on the wrong night, or there's a corpse in the next room, their plans are always thwarted by some absurd complication. Meanwhile, secrets involving adultery, perversions, boredom, hypocrisies, military maneuvers, and drug smuggling are revealed beneath the surface of their "polite," bourgeois facade. Buñuel breaks all the narrative rules in this film. Dreams interrupt scenes and unpredictabile surreal twists interrupt the film's narrative in a way that might be described as Monty Python at its most extreme. While other filmmakers are retired at age 72, Buñuel was at his charming best.
Criterion's two-disc edition of this masterpiece includes a new high-definition film transfer, El náufrago de la calle de Providencia (The Castaway on the Street of Providence, 1970): a 24-minute documentary homage to Buñuel by his friends Arturo Ripstein and Rafael Castanedo, A propósito de Buñuel (Speaking of Buñuel, 2000): a new 98-minute documentary on the life and work of Buñuel by Jose Luis López-Linares and Javier Rioyo, the original theatrical trailer, and new and improved English subtitles. Highly recommended, must-see cinema.
G. Merritt
One of the Spanish master's funniest films, the Oscar-winning "Charm" gleefully savages the manners and mores of the upper crust, employing bizarre plotlines and fanciful farce to attack the well-heeled scions of respectable society as vain, decadent, elitist, and thoroughly amoral. Rey, Seyrig, and New Wave icon Ogier head the stellar ensemble cast, with Julien Bertheau standing out as a pompous, not-so-holy bishop. Buñuel's dream-within-a-dream sequences, which involve ghosts, terrorists, and sundry other characters, are simply brilliant, and bring this sublime, extended joke to the verge of divine absurdity.
There are not many artists who could tell the same joke over and over again and get away with it creating the film as brilliant, funny, absurd, witty, and clever as Buñuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie", 1972. The story of six friends who try to arrange and have a nice dinner together but cannot complete (or even start) their meal does not sound very exiting but wait until you watch this comedy. I've always known how interesting surrealism is but I never thought how funny it could be. I've seen the film four or five times - it only gets better with each viewing. Highly recommended.
Winner of the 1972 Oscar for Best Foreign Film "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" is a strange little film that is really quite enjoyable. The setup is incredibly simple; Rafael Acosta, the ambassador of Maranda shows up to the house Senechal house for dinner, along with Francois Thevenot, his wife Simone Thevenot, and her sister Florence. Henri Senechal is not there, but his wife Alice is and she informs them that they were not to meet until the following night. They dispute this claim, but quickly see what they can do.
So begins these characters constantly trying to sit down and enjoy a meal together. This will take them to a restaurant, where the owner has recently died (and is in the room with them); Will bring the Senechal's gardener to murder, and a whole bunch of other wackiness. A lot of the stuff is imagined, some of the events occur in dreams that lead you to believe it's real until something unbelievable happens and a character wakes up. There's also a funny "sub-plot" involving Rafael believing that a terrorist is attempting to kill him (the terrorist is a woman, he belives in involved with a group of men, who stands in front of his building attempting to sell small mechanical dogs). The movie is funny and seems almost like a play sometimes. It's an absurd film, but it's not just the story that won it Best Foreign Film. An equal amount of kudos go to cinematographer Edmond Richard, the cinematography is really great. And of course, screenwriter/legendary director Luis Bunel ('Belle De Jour'&'The Exterminating Angel') who's direction fits the film so much and is truly flawless. Since it's got a word in the title that most people won't be able to pronounce ('bourgeoisie') and it's in French, a lot of people won't see this movie. Hopefully, since it's in The Criterion Collection more people will take notice. It's not a perfect film, but it's definitely one worth checking out.
GRADE: B+
Spanish surrealist director Luis Bunuel once again is critical of various aspects of society in his 1972 Oscar winner "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.
Bunuel focuses on a group of six individuals, who are members of the upper crust of society. Fernando Rey, the most recognizable actor portrays the cocaine smuggling Don Rafael, a diplomat from the fictitious Latin American country of Miranda. Throughout the film they attempt to share a meal but a series of bizarre interruptions prevent them from consumating the repast. While many attempts are made to share dinner the net reult is a failure. Try as they might the efforts of these bourgeoisie accomplish exactly nothing.
The plot is admixed with a series of dream sequences involving several characters that result in surreal happenstances.
Bunuel pokes fun at both the military and the clergy. He represents soldiers, who are on manuevers are pot smoking automatons. He lambastes the clergy when he depicts a priest after giving a dying man last rites, ironically kills him with a shotgun blast. The man apparently years ago had killed the priest's parents, a crime for which he had just been absolved after confessing.
We get the idea that Bunuel is not exactly enamored with the society is which he lives.
What can be more enjoyable then a meal among friends and family? In Luis Buñuel's surrealistic comedyThe Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisieit is this common ritual a sextet of upper-class friends repeatedly attempt, only to be obstructed by one obscure event after another. Masterfully balancing the dichotomy of class vs. debauchery Buñuel delivers a ripping critique of the upper class. It is clear from the beginning that the lives Buñuel'sBourgeoisieare living are not what they seem. Eventually, their true colors begin to shine; not in actual actions but in haunting dreams. What is real and what lies in the subconscious becoming exceedingly blurry and in order to deliver his message, surrealism must take over. It is hard to pigeonhole Buñuel's classic that won him the Oscar forBest Foreign Language Film 1972: An absurd odyssey? A discreet satire? Not necessarily, but definitely charming.--Rob Bracco
This wicked Academy Award(tm) winning film from Luis Buñuel(Belle De Jour, Tristana)is a priceless satire on the absurd lifestyle of the upper class. As six well-to-do Europeans attempt to have a 'civilized' meal, their plans are continuously thwarted by unlikely, if not outrageous, circumstances. In a classic Buñuelian display, time and space gradually become meaningless, dreams and reality become indistinguishable, while the characters-remaining true to their nature and each other-continue along their chosen path. For Buñuel, who pioneered Surrealist cinema nearly five decades ago earlier, winning an Oscar® for this masterful send-up was long overdue.
Rerations
< The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie > < Viridiana - Criterion Collection > < Un Chien Andalou > < Diary of a Chambermaid - Criterion Collection > < Breathless > freaks
< The Goddess Workout With Dolphina: Bellydance for Fitness: Body, Mind and Spirit > < The Ancient Art of Oriental Belly Dancing 1 >
price： 2765
Sea Siren Productions, Inc.
(very pleasantly surprised)
(Dolphina)
I read some of the other reviews on this dvd, and was expecting ... maybe a dud ... but I was pleasantly surprised. I don't find Dolphina's references to religion, chakras, or any of the other less-than-commercial ideologies to be detrimental - more her personal view of the inner workings of the dance. I enjoyed it, and found it to be well planned and beautifully presented. Some of the production values - sound, and camera angles, could have been better... (sometimes you can't see her feet, for a move, sometimes the crashing ocean makes her words difficult to hear), but overall I found it to be an excellent value, an enjoyable session, and probably a lot more akin to the dances of our ancient mothers, in character, than some of the Raqs Sharqi instructionals structured in discipline like a modern ballet class.
Teru
I have to admit Dolphina is quite the character but once you get past her random references to chakras, past lives and exercises that make,"magical things happen" you realize that it's a pretty ok DVD. It has a warm up, exercises, routines and a cool down. It adds a little spice to what would normally be boring and mundane squats, lunges and ab work but because you're dancing and focusing on your body's movements, you're less aware of the burn you feel when you get a good work out. It's not incredibly intense but some dances are challenging and I'm thinking, Dolphina slow down -like when she just goes off the deep end shimmying into oblivion. You get better each time you do the dvd, you are exercising but it's fun.
More than a mere body workout, The Goddess Workout is for the body, mind and spirit. Dolphina brings a new exercise program to women craving an innovative, exciting and fun way to obtain a total body workout. A descendent of Bulgarian gypsies, Dolphina has studied and crafted the art of Bellydance her entire life. She now translates her dancing know-how into the fitness world. Dolphina provides a creative cardiovascular exercise routine that increases flexibility while toning and contouring your body.
Rerations
< The Goddess Workout With Dolphina: Bellydance for Fitness: Body, Mind and Spirit > freaks
< Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie > < Viridiana - Criterion Collection > < Un Chien Andalou > < Diary of a Chambermaid - Criterion Collection > < Breathless > < Luis Bunuel's L'Age d'Or >
price： 2499
Cinematheque Collection(1992-07-24)
(Buñuel's best film.)
(The Discreet Charm Of The Bourgeoisie)
(Incredible Charm of Surrealism)
(Odd, But Pretty Good)
(Bunuel social commentary)
This is arguably Buñuel's best film. Described as "a complex, shifting, virtually plotless web of dreams within dreams within dreams," Luis Buñuel's 1972 Academy Award winning surrealist film, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie) chronicles five derailed dinner parties of a group of three affluent Parisian couples, intermixed with four dreams dreamt by different characters. The sextet of friends includes Rafael Acosta (Fernando Rey), François Thévenot (Paul Frankeur), Simone Thévenot (Delphine Seyrig), Florence (Bulle Ogier), Alice Sénéchal (Stéphane Audran), andHenri Sénéchal (