The Library: Revised and Condensed

Reviews


Movie Reviews

Basic Instinct Review
Basic Instinct Review
Citizen Kane Review
Die Hard Review
Donnie Darko Review

Erin Brockovich

Lance: It made me think of the Constitution—particularly the part about cruel and unusual punishment. One thumb down, one gun in my mouth

The Godfather

I’m confused. Was I supposed to root for or against the fat Italian guy? Two stars

Gone with the Wind

Jack: Back in the old days, movies had meaning, depth, and actual storylines. Thank God those days are over. One star

Lost in Translation Review

Pulp Fiction

Steve: It lacked a plot, it lacked realism, it lacked Elmer Fudd references, and it lacked order—and I was fine with all of that. But I found the lack of nudity to be completely unacceptable! Two stars

Reginald: If the Royale with Cheese is actually a metaphor for man’s struggle to overcome the mass production programming of society, then this is the hands down greatest movie of all time. If not, then this is the stupidest crap in the history of stupid crap. One or four stars

Gordon: Brilliant, innovative, deep, meaningful, and clever. Take the opposite of all of those words, and you’ll be left with a pretty good description of this movie. One star

Pulp Fiction Review

Rocky

Sharon: I’m not really into sports—but I am into sweaty, shirtless men. Three stars

Thomas: I’m confused. Was I supposed to root for Rocky or Apollo? Two stars

The single most overrated piece of trash in the history of cinema (—aside from the other 5,455 movies I’ve called the single most overrated piece of trash in the history of cinema).

Scarface

I normally don’t care much for super BS, over-the-top, death-a-minute action films—but as far as they go, this one was awful. One star

Star Wars Review

Titanic

Heath: Reminds of the titanic crap I took last week. One star

Steve: I’m not so sure there’s much to say about this one. A guy pursues a girl on a ship, we see a couple of seconds of nudity, and then the ship sinks. Maybe if they extended the nude scene to 190 minutes and covered everything else in five, it would’ve been pretty good (and not nearly as expensive)—but as it is, it focuses a bit too much on its plot and characters. Two stars

When Harry Met Sally

Steve: A feel good romantic comedy that made me feel like vomiting. One star and three hundred chunks up

Sharon: This used to be my favorite movie of all time—until it made me realize how dull and unromantic my own marriage is. One star

Jack: A word of advice: If your girlfriend drags you to this one, bring along a pair of earplugs and binoculars, stick the former in your ears, and keep the latter on Meg Ryan’s butt the entire time—because that’s the only way you’re going to be able to get through this movie without slitting your throat. One star


Book Reviews

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Carl: Poo-poo with a capital P. For starters, I thought the Cat character was unrealistic, one-dimensional, and a complete doo-doo head. Plus, the book was way too vague at times. And worst of all, it never bothered explaining why the cat was in a hat. I mean, I’m tempted to think the author just put him in a hat because it happens to rhyme with cat!! What’s next? The Goat in a Boat? The Ape in a Cape? The Crab in a Cab? The Whale in a Pail? The Whale in a Pail! I can just see it now. The long awaited follow up to The Cat in the Hat, featuring a walking, talking whale who, for no goddamn reason whatsoever, happens to spend time in a pail! Never mind the fact that whales don’t fit in pails, never mind the fact that whales can’t talk—this particular whale defies all the laws of nature for reasons that go entirely unexplained. I’d like to know where this Seuss fella got his degree, because I think they’re handing out diplomas to anyone who shows up at their door. One star

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Hugh: The first amendment does have its drawbacks—and that’s made apparent by pages 1 to 277 of this freakin' nonsense. One star

Simone: If you like pointless books, I hold you responsible for the success of this crap. One star

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Review

Ulysses by James Joyce

Terry: Reminds me of Seinfeld… in the sense that it’s about nothing. Reminds me of a piece of crap… in the sense that it’s a piece of crap. One star

Ulysses: If you’re looking for a book that offers instant gratification, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a book that offers delayed gratification, keep looking, bub. In fact, if you want any type of gratification whatsoever, I’d suggest burning this crap after you read the first page. One star

Where’s Waldo? by Martin Handford

Ulysses: The plot was nonexistent, the characters were underdeveloped, the chapters were repetitive—and I never understood my motive for finding Waldo. I mean, does Waldo even need to be found? Although, I suppose that might be the point of the book. Maybe we all spend our lives chasing Waldos like money, fame, and approval, while neglecting the more important things in life. We immediately start looking for that cap wearing lunatic, without realizing that our search only leads to leads to an unfulfilling life. … You know, on second thought, this is the greatest book of all time. Where’s Waldo? Out of my life, and out of my mind. I can just leave this book on my coffee table without every having the urge to look for that %@!(^$#)@^%!!. If I could, I’d kill that striped piece of crap! In fact, I’m going to hunt down that guy just to erase every single one of his images from my copy, and make sure I’ll never be distracted by him again. Four stars


Music Reviews

The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

John: We have the Beatles to thank for just about every new musical act to come out since the 1960s—including and especially, New Kids on the Block, N Sync, 98 Degrees, The Backstreet Boys, and Color Me Badd. Thanks a lot! One star


Art Reviews

Leonardo da Vinci Mona Lisa

Michael: Is she looking at you? Is she smiling? Do I care? A—I don’t know, I don’t know, no! One star

Leonardo da Vinci Last Supper

Robert: If I wanted to see a bunch of Jews eating a meal, I’d be at my grandma’s house right now singing Shalom Aleichem. One star

Sarah: A Bible themed painting? How original. One star.

Michelangelo Universal Judgment (Sistine Chapel)

Jesus: A little too busy for my taste. Two stars

Tia: I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Pope Julius II had in mind when he hired Michelangelo. And I’m pretty sure this isn’t what God had in mind when he released the Bible. Two stars

Salvador Dali Persistence of Memory

Kolby: This one would’ve been a bona fide masterpiece—if it weren’t for all of those clocks! Two stars

Jesus: Should be retitled Forgettable. One star

Pierre-Auguste Renoir Luncheon of the Boating Party

Jesus: The expressions on their faces remind me why I hate the French so much. Four stars


Religion Reviews

Judaism

Sal: I can’t believe the people responsible for Seinfeld and Blazing Saddles also gave us Numbers and Deuteronomy. One star

Moshe: The scriptures contain way too much filler, the food contains way too much fish, and the emotions contain way too much guilt. Two stars

Christina: Kosher for Passover soap, separate meat and dairy utensils, a full day’s fast every year—it all seems like too much of a hassle to me. I do, however, like the folk songs. Two stars

Jenna: I started losing interest after Exodus, I started falling asleep during Joshua, and I was ready to worship false idols by Kings. One star

Christianity

Paul: I liked it back when I was an eight year old getting gifts and hunting for eggs—but I’m not so sure this religion has much to offer adults. Two stars

Sal: I’d rather spend my Sundays watching football. Two stars

Jenna: “Love your enemies” might seem fine in theory—but if this Jesus guy actually knew my enemies, he’d be singing a much different tune. Two stars

Christian: The cross might be effective against vampires, but it sure does a lousy job of keeping blood sucking clergymen away. One star

Stan: Isaac Newton was a Christian, Bugsy Siegel was a Jew, Joseph Stalin was an atheist, and 99.9% of Muslims are terrorists. I rest my case. Four stars

Islam

Paul: I don’t care much for the religion itself—but I love the idea of hating everyone else. Three stars

Sal: The good will go to Heaven and the evil will go to Hell? How cliché is that? Two stars

Christina: Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Jesus—where have I heard those names before? Two stars

Jenna: The only thing I like to do five times a day is open the refrigerator. One star

Gina: Naming 90% of the population Muhammad pretty much defeats the purpose of first names. One star

Hinduism

Hal: I don’t mind the reincarnation—but did I have to come back as such a selfish bastard? Two stars

Paul: If it were any good, it would’ve made it past India’s borders a long time ago. One star

Buddhism

Sid: I used to be into it—until I found out that the Buddha was actually a thin Indian guy. Two stars

Hal: The Buddha would make an interesting pro wrestling character—but I’m not so sure I like him as a religious leader. Two stars

Agnosticism with a side of Weak Atheism

Jenna: Based on what I know, I’d say it may or may not be bull. ? stars

Extra Strength Atheism

Sal: And I thought Islamic fundamentalists were intolerant. One star

Gina: Even if God doesn’t exist, he probably doesn’t want you to become an atheist. One star

Jehovah: God is like soooo 1980s. Four stars

Paul: After living the last two years with a bossy real wife, I have no desire to live with a bossy imaginary God. Four stars


Misc.

The Total Gym

I don't actually use the Total Gym--but I've owned one for a really long time, and I still don't look anything like Chuck Norris. I even grew a beard. Actually, I got the beard before the Total Gym.

But I'm not happy about my purchase. I defintely have good reason to be upset with Chuck. I should go to his house and return it--but I don't know. He looks like a tough, crazy guy. He might challenge me to a Kung Fu fight--and I don't like my odds.

But I'm not so sure I can recommend the Total Gym. Maybe the people who have actually excercised on it have experienced different results--but if you're planning to just buy it and stare it, it's probably not going to transform your body.