Zero Dark Dirty 2014

Zero Dark Dirty 2014

Zero Dark Dirty 2014

Zero Dark Dirty tells a well-rounded story with fun characters (some likeable, some not), entertaining gags, and a decent amount of soul. Many of the jokes are at the expense of extremists (American and otherwise), but the social and political commentary is done with sincerity and kindness, and never at the expense of the story.

I give the film extra credit for being an indie production. I don't know what their actual budget was, but the acting is as good as any mainstream big-name Hollywood comedy, and the writing is much better. Honestly, I often get frustrated at big-name movies for having huge effects budgets but predictable and uninteresting stories. Is it really so hard to write a good story? I imagine that it is, but the fact that the ZDD crew successfully created a good story on a small budget shows that good stories *are* possible. Shame on Hollywood, and good for ZDD.

I came to the movie expecting to find a ham-handed caricature of arrogant American imperialism, something along the lines of Borat or Team America. So, I was expecting to dislike it. I was wrong. Turns out, Zero Dark Dirty is an honestly fun movie.

See the review 
Zero Dark Dirty 2014

Camper Women's PEU Cami Fashion Sneaker,Dark Beige,36 EU6 M US

Camper Women's PEU Cami Fashion Sneaker,Dark Beige,36 EU6 M US

Camper Women's PEU Cami Fashion Sneaker,Dark Beige,36 EU6 M US

Camper is more than a shoe company, it is the dream of a Majorcan family who have been manufacturing shoes since 1877. It is a Mediterranean dream that establishes a way of being, of living and of feeling. Their dream combines traditional roots with an industrial vocation and has lead Camper throughout the world. Camper shoes have a spirit and personality of their own, presenting a diverse range of footwear that combines design with imagination and functionality. They are unique and original, and constantly surprise. The slogan "Walk. Don't Run" expresses the Camper philosophy of slow living and their appreciation and attention to detail. These are values that are found in the original designs created with the passion and flavor of the Mediterranean.

Camper Women's PEU Cami Fashion Sneaker,Dark Beige,36 EU6 M US

Glow in the Dark Flat Shoelaces

Glow in the Dark Flat Shoelaces

Glow in the Dark Flat Shoelaces

I bought the green and pink laces for me and a friend. At the time we worked in a nursing home kitchen with a dress code of any combo black and beige with black shoes preferred. We being in our early to mid twenties, found this lack of color stifling. For my friend's birthday I bought her a black pair of shoes for crews (amazing non-skid shoes) and put the pink laces in hers and the green in mine. We both love them and still wear them in our new position as nursing assistants. We get comments all the time from coworkers and residents. Even our boss liked our shoes/laces! They glow in the dark pretty brightly, so much so that it's easier to see where you're walking! And when it's light out they still look cool. I will probably buy these again sometime. When the glow in the dark feature stops working I will update my review.

Glow in the Dark Flat Shoelaces

Zero Dark Thirty [Soundtrack]

Zero Dark Thirty [Soundtrack]

Zero Dark Thirty [Soundtrack]

As this score from Alexandre Desplat is neither bombastic nor feeble, the composer strings together one of 2012's best film scores. The London Symphony Orchestra hums together pieces that emphasize deep bass with a hint of string instruments that make way for unique pieces of music. Juxtaposition is stressed throughout the entire soundtrack as the overlying music creates a dark vibe until Desplat brings in the main musical theme of the score with a wide variety of instruments that makes the score unlike any other. This musical theme, fleshed out with string and harp sounds to an extent quite electronic, but knowing that it came to life through symphonic instruments is the true beauty of it.

Desplat introduces the electro theme, which exerts a Middle-Eastern vibe, yet not as flamboyant as Desplat's 'Argo' film score, in the first track 01. Drive to Embassy. The pounding bass sets the tone for the rest of the score and midway Desplat's theme is introduced. About halfway through the track, Desplat's main theme is introduced, and this theme is evident in about two-thirds of the soundtrack's listings. In my opinion, the composer's decision to exert this theme often makes for a coherent score that does not stray off path. No outliers that disrupt the mood are present and each track feels related in a sense to the other tracks. The string and harp instruments are also used to imprint a sense of resplendence and majesty. The pounding bass would be rather flat without those aspects. Thankfully, the end result is a magnificent and organized musical piece that ranks among Desplat's best work. Read more

Zero Dark Thirty [Soundtrack]

"Zero Dark Thirty" (2012 release; 157 min.)

"Zero Dark Thirty" (2012 release; 157 min.)

I have read and heard so much about this movie in the last 3-4 months, including that fantastic trailer, that I literally couldn't wait to see it for myself. I saw it this past weekend here in Cincinnati.

"Zero Dark Thirty" (2012 release; 157 min.) brings the story of "the greatest man hunt in American history". As the movie opens we hear (but don't see) voices in distress as 9/11 is happening. The movie then moves to 2003, to a CIA "black site", where we get the first of a number of "enhanced interrogation scenes", including the infamous waterboarding techniques. We get to know Maya (played by Jessica Chastain), a young CIA operative who is tasked with trying to find Bin Laden. The years come and go, with very little progress. Then finally comes a breakthrough. Even though you know how it all ends, I don't want to give further plot details as it really woudl ruin your viewing experience.

Several comments: the last hour and 10 min. of the movie is nothing short of riveting, truly the best movie-viewing you can get, but I felt that the first hour and a half were a bit excessive in length, and had that been edited tighter, it would've made for even a better movie. The "enhanced interrogations" scenes have proven to be quite controversial for many, but I thought it was an eye-opener to see what 'waterboarding' actually is. That aside, I am really glad that the movie makers have kept the politics out of the movie, and strictly focus on the nitty-gritty details of the hunt for Bin Laden. Last but not least, the real heroes of the movie are of course the Navy SEALs who come in at the end and take care of business, seemingly without as much as breaking a sweat. We owe these guys a ton of gratitude! Bottom line: even though it's a bit long for its own good, "Zero Dark Thirty" is a MUST-SEE movie, period.

Zero Dark Thirty 2012

Zero Dark Thirty 2012

Zero Dark Thirty 2012

"I want to make something absolutely clear. If you thought there was some working group coming to the rescue well I want you to know that you're wrong. This is it. There is nobody else hidden away on some other floor. There is just us and we are failing." -CIA Officer

There's a reason Zero Dark Thirty was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, the movie is just that good. It may not be a movie for all audiences. If you go see this movie expecting to see a movie that looks like a James Bond or Jason Bourne action extravaganza, you might find yourself sorely disappointed. Likewise it's not a Tom Clancy techno thriller. Zero Dark Thirty is an honest drama showing the CIA's decade long struggle to find the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

The main character of the movie is CIA analyst named Maya (played by Jessica Chastain); no last name is given. Maya enters the hunt for Osama Bin Laden at an undisclosed CIA facility where captured terrorists are being held and questioned. She arrives to witness the "enhanced" interrogation of Ammar, a courier for Saudi terrorists. Through Ammar's interrogation and many others, Maya begins to piece together information on Osama's network, learning of a senior courier named Abu Ahmed who had direct access to Bin Laden. Finding Abu Ahmed in Pakistan is like looking for a needle in a haystack. But look Maya does, every spare moment, for a decade. Even though she's an analyst, not a field agent, the mere presence of an American woman in Pakistan puts her in danger. She survives an assassination attempt by Islamist gunmen. Some of her friends aren't so lucky.
Zero Dark Thirty 2012

Dark Thirty Dark Thirty (Sun Tracks) Paperback

Dark Thirty  Dark Thirty (Sun Tracks) Paperback

Dark Thirty  Dark Thirty (Sun Tracks) Paperback

Writing sometimes in dialect, sometimes in gunshot bursts, sometimes in sinuous lines that snake across the page, Santee Frazier crafts poems that are edgy and restless. The poems in Dark Thirty, Frazier’s debut collection, address subjects that are not often thought of as “poetic,” like poverty, alcoholism, cruelty, and homelessness. Frazier’s poems emerge from the darkest corners of experience: “I search the cabinet and icebox—drink the pickle juice / from the jar. Bologna, / hard at the edges, / browning on the kitchen / table since yesterday. / I search the cabinet and icebox—the curdling / milk almost smells drinkable.

Dark Thirty  Dark Thirty (Sun Tracks) Paperback

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

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• Actors: Jason Clarke, Reda Kateb, Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Ehle
• Directors: Kathryn Bigelow
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, Multiple Formats
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Spanish

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 19, 2013
• Run Time: 157 minutes

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Zero Dark Thirty reunites the Oscar winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) for the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man.

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Dark Thirty Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + UltraViolet Digital Copy) (2012)

Dark Thirty Southern Tales of the Supernatural

Dark Thirty Southern Tales of the Supernatural

Dark Thirty Southern Tales of the Supernatural

I am a middle school reading teacher who was given a copy of this book when it was first released. I fell in love with the stories as did my students! Each school year I start by reading "The Chicken Coop Monster" with every emotional fiber in my body. I require my students to write down the 10 rules randomly disclosed in the through out the story. This school year the book is completely worn out and I purchased another! No story will disappoint you in this book. This book leaves my students in awe as I read the stories each year! Equally pleasing is the art work by Brian Pinkney.
Dark Thirty Southern Tales of the Supernatural