A TRIO OF REVIEWS.

A bit of a three in one post today for I'm going to be reviewing a CD (a first for me) and not one but two DVD's.
A few weeks back I made a big 'boo-boo' whilst reviewing the book PRIMAL FEAR, stating that it would make an excellent FILM (Doh! Of course it already has been made into one starring RICHARD GERE as lawyer, Martin Vail). Anyway, never having seen it (OR heard of it as it turns out), a copy was duly rented and watched. So how did I find it?

Disappointing I think just about sums it up, with none of the tension of the book, scenes were missed out that I thought were central to the story.

Character wise I thought Gere played the part well, with the sexual tension between him and prosecuting lawyer, Janet Venable (played by LAURA LINNEY) positively sizzling but much more impressive was EDWARD NORTON who, in his debut role as Aaron Stampler, was quite spectacular, none more so then in the final few scenes.

Next, MEAT LOAF's eleventh offering, HANG COOL TEDDY BEAR.

Inspired by Kilian Kerwin, a friend of Meat Loaf, the CD is "the story of a soldier (who has been) in battle and he's lying face down on the ground. He can't move, but he turns his head and starts to see blood run across the ground, and so he thinks he's going to die. They always say you see your life flash backward when you're about to die. But his life flashes forward - into what possibly could happen. He sees what his life could be: the good and the bad. The songs are the different scenarios he finds himself in. It's not always the same time or the same place, but it's always the same woman.”- Meat Loaf (click HERE for more.)

Now I'm a big fan of Meat Loaf and thought the CD was wonderful, the best one for a while if I'm being honest - even Husband dearest enjoyed it which is saying something. With songs like 'If I can't have you', 'Like a rose' and my personal favourite 'Did you ever love somebody?' (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN) there really is something for everyone.

And so onto NEW MOON.

I'm a self confessed glutton for punishment (an idiom that means to willfully take on difficult or disagreeable tasks that may be very uncomfortable) so it's no huge surprise that despite disliking the first offering, TWILIGHT (I seem to remember the words 'anti-climax' being used. Click HERE to see my review), I still went back for more. No, what surprised me was that Husband dearest actually settled down to watch it with me without having to be bribed, threatened or tied to the chair.

So did we enjoy this film any more?

For myself I have to say Yes AND No. Better than the first offering, I was slightly less bored.

Remaining largely true to the book, I still had the problem that most of the characters weren't as I had imagined them but that said some, Jacob (MEET HIM HERE) in particular, are growing on me though I have to confess that I spent much of the film wondering whether or not the 'long haired Jacob' and the 'short haired Jacob' were played by the same actor - they are so I'll just have to content myself with the fact that it's amazing the difference a hair cut can make.

What about Edward then? More likable than in the books, he didn't come across quite as moody as he did in Twilight.

No, all the brooding was left to Bella this time round, simpering, pathetic and overly moody, I wanted something awful to happen to her just to put her out of her (and my) misery.

However most impressive and making the film for me was actor MICHAEL SHEEN who played VOLTURI leader ARO. Dark and menacing, there was none of the politically correct, sensitive, new age vampire about him, he really was a vampire of the 'old school'.' PW

As for himself? Click HERE for his thoughts on the film.