Reviews

I just viewed the first episode of the new British comedy "Big Top" and it will be the last time I will ever watch this show. It features a traveling circus full of misfit clowns and incompetent performers managed by the only competent person on the show, Lizzy, an attractive female ringmaster. Boyco, the acrobat character is almost unbearable to watch with his horrific Eastern European accent. The jokes are second rate retreads, and overused clichés. I had to force any of the few laughs I had while watching it. I've seen some great British comedy series such as "Spaced", "Peep Show", "The It Crowd", and "The Office" and this series just makes me appreciate them more.

This movie is tailor made for bleeding hearts! Just check out the stories of a family business going under and the segment on overseas sweat shops. I am currently a Wal-mart worker and I was really excited to watch this DVD but my first thought after seeing it is "BLEEDING HEART OVERKILL".

It's clear objective is to smear Wal-mart's reputation and they beat that dead horse into a fine pulp.

The thing is that as a Wal-mart worker I was hoping that this would be a movie that could drive other workers off our couches and into the streets for employee rights and that would be quite a feat since we are always understaffed and therefore always tired.

There are some really good points made but they are lost like a needle in a haystack of unsubstantiated figures and questionable character interviews. C.E.O. Lee Scott is shown saying, "Yes, I can keep the prices low and raise the employee wages but I have an obligation to my share holders". Why don't we write to all the Wal-mart shareholders (of which I am one) and ask them if they would do something humane like convince Lee Scott that it's okay to raise the employee wages. Wal-mart can always find ways to trim other costs. It can be done and it should.

"Invasions barbares, Les" or "Barbarian invasions" is a treat for those who truly appreciate fine dramatic cinema. The story is about Remy, a college professor diagnosed with terminal cancer. His ex-wife informs their very successful son, Sebastian who reluctantly visits him in his overcrowded hospital room. Realizing the finality of the situation and feeling quilt for their estrangement, Sebastian throws his money around any way possible to ensure his father's last days will be as comfortable and satisfying as possible. This involves moving him to a separate room, soothing his pain with illegal drugs, and contacting friends and relatives he hasn't seen in ages to visit. This action is what drives the plot as he interacts with his friends and they reminisce about their past and try to justify their present. Remy is eventually moved to a friend's lake house where he spends his final days and his friends say good bye, providing an extremely touching scene. The cinematography is as beautiful as its story and the ensemble cast is magnificent.