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I was mesmerised by this book. Of course, one often takes biographies with a grain of salt, but I was most impressed with the way that Taylor handled her career like a man -- how she was able to go on despite the pressures of her situation. The love story between Burton and Taylor shines through, and I think I understand a little more about love, even though theirs was a tumultuous one. She is a role model for people in the performing arts who turn their attention toward great and needy causes, and I respect her immensely. Also, the photographs in this book illustrate the fact that Liz was -- and still is -- the most luminous raven-haired beauty in Hollywood. Long may she rule as the last star of Hollywood.

In the book The Life of Elizabeth Taylor, Alexander Walker captures the extraordinary beauty's life in every way. Fans will absolutely love this book. It is a thorough in depth biography filled with more than 30 amazing photos of Elizabeth throughout the years.
It starts from the beginning of her life in London where her mother's strong willed attitude pushes Elizabeth forward. Alexander focuses on her success in many movies such as National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, and Cleopatra. The Oscar winning performance she gave in Butterfield 8 and the two academy awards that made her a legend are depicted.
Along with all the positive aspects of her life also came the long downfalls that have intrigued us over the years. Elizabeth's eight marriages are uncovered along with her conniving personality that broke apart other people's marriages. Her obsessions of jewelry, clothing, and sex are exposed. The truth behind her ongoing drug and alcohol abuse is revealed. Elizabeth's suicide attempt at age 29 along with the 73 total hospitalizations throughout her life is publicized. This book shows us the real Elizabeth outside of the glamour. The dramatic experiences with facing the public with the on going scandals and personal tragedies is drawn out for the readers.
This book gives a true insight in Elizabeth Taylor's life. From the high points to downfalls, her life is captured by Alexander Walker to its fullest. Elizabeth's life has been an often-tragic fairytale that people have followed throughout the past 50 years.

For anyone who loves Kathleen Battle's voice, this is a real treasure, she never sounded better and more radiant.
This is a selection of well-known sacred songs but they sound fresh and lovely when sung by Kathleen. She performs two Ave Marias, one very famous, by Bach, and another which is rarely performed, written by Mascagni, and this one is really stunning. Mozart's Laudate Dominum and Pie Jesu from Faure's Requiem are also oustanding. The spiritual "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" is another highlight. Several movements from Bach cantatas, including the famous Bist du bei mir, and Handel's "O Had I Jubal's Lyre" and "Rejoice greatly" will remind you of how incredible Battle is when she sings virtuosic Baroque music.
And isn't the cover just beautiful? But get this album for the music, and you will rejoice greatly.

While I agree with an earlier reviewer who recommends her Levine disk, I must disagree with the claim that this "Rejoice Greatly" is inferior to her two other recordings of it. Her conception is identical in all three performances, but to my ear this is by far the best. In her full Messiah with Andrew Davis, the recording has her so recessed there is no feeling of intimacy. In her Handel recital disk, she is better placed and in better voice, but her rhythm is insecure in the sixteenth-notes; she seems to be nervously pushing ahead of the beat. But on "Grace" she gets it just right. For whatever it may be worth, a fellow fan once had the chance to ask Battle herself about this, and as I understand it her response was, "Yeah, I don't know why, but I haven't been able to do Rejoice before or since as well as it went on Grace."

Kathleen Battle's voice is exquisite and is suited for most of the pieces on the CD. Her rendition of Mascagni's Ave Maria is perhaps the best track, with the Schafe Konnen from Bach's Cantata No. 208 coming in a close second. Another highlight is the Laudate Dominum, delivered with so much skill and feeling.

Less successful was Rossini's Laudamus Te. Battle has a flexible, clear and delicate voice, but not one that's full-bodied enough to accommodate the style of music found in a piece as grand and strident as the Laudamus Te. There is a sense of strain when she sings it, though it is by no means entirely unsuccessful.

I really like this movie and the charachters in it. I even bought the dvd, and I don't own many. Especially "comedies".

When I first watched Napoleon, the blandness and the rudeness took me by surprise at the beginning. And the immaturity. I didn't see the appeal of the film at all. Then, Napoleon danced. To help his friend, Pedro. You sense he didn't want to do it and wasn't sure about what to do, but he did it anyway and didn't hang around afterwards to soak in any glory or appreciation for himself. And the film let Pedro have his moment of disbelief and astonished joy. He comes alive. Then, I liked Napoleon much better. Whenever I have a bad day, I watch the dance and Pedro's reaction afterwards. Everything else up that occurs up to that point becomes almost forgivable, because under all the pettiness there is a heart to this movie. Which almost got lost. If it wasn't for Pedro and Nap's friendship, the movie would have been a zero.

What would have made it better? I think more depth with why Napoleon was so frustrated with life and relationships in his family. He's still half asleep even at the film's conclusion. I'm not asking for him to be drastically changed, but for at least for the poor fellow to gain some self awareness or lesson learned from his ordeal with life.

I did like LaFawnduh. I keep reading how there is no sex in this movie. The relationship she had with Kip was full of chemistry, which saved it from teetering between "yew" and too cutesy. The fact that he took off with her was centered completely on sex. Although Kip finally developed in that aspect of his life, it didn't mean that he grew up. It remains to be seen if LaFawnduh becomes another substitute for Grandma, or if Kip steps up to the plate and delivers on his potential under LaFawnduh's positive influence.

Deb was perfect. I liked the fact that film gave her a chance to tell Napoleon off, even though she was mislead by Uncle Ric. It's good to know she was learning to speak her mind instead of running off. And that Nap was willing to take responsibility and make amends with her with a "freshly caught bass" even though Uncle Ric was ruining his life. I was hoping that Deb's poise and maturity was softening Napoleon's rough edges.

So, I enjoyed it, but it could have been a better movie.

5 stars, don't know why, don't know how, but my new, fresh, lovely, sweet, flippin' roommate brought the DVD into the hacienda..................and I can't get enough of this movie. Plus I've developed a problem with trying to score 'tots' at all hours of the day and night.

The entire concept for this movie, the whole source of its comedic depth, is that social outcasts are funny. That's it. If you think that steroetypes of people who don't quite fit into social norms are the epitome of humour, then you'll love this movie.

Americans seem capable of only laughing at people who are somehow less sophisticated or fortunate than they see themselves as being. Hence all the movies about dumb people, nerds, people hurting themselves, and so on. The only thing that Americans can't laugh at is themselves, which is truly a pity, since there is such a wealth of material there.