Reviews

3 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
The Woodwright's Shop
The Woodwright's Shop (1979– )
9/10
Unique craftsmanship & talent makes TWWS stand out
25 June 2011
I have watched "The Woodwright's Shop" on PBS for most of its 30-year run. The entertaining demeanor of host Roy Underhill engages viewers as he takes a project to near completion during the 27 minutes, or the episode will demonstrate woodworking concepts or methods.

Roy has worked at Colonial Williamsburg, and his passion for historic preservation permeates every minute of the show. This lends to the unique niche for "TWWS" in that Roy uses no power tools; there are no electrical outlets or cords, and his tools are usually handmade antiques. The viewers see woodworking as it was done 150 years ago.

Each episode in the shop is normally done in one continuous shot/take (with multiple camera angles), which is a testament to Underhill's presentation skill as well. Occasionally an episode is Roy's "field trip" to visit a water-powered sawmill, or the shop of another rustic woodworker.

I recommend searching for episodes online, or check for viewing via PBS's website, or your local listings.
12 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Raid on the Reactor
Raid on the Reactor (2006 TV Movie)
8/10
Fascinating telling of a not-so-well-known event
26 August 2010
I saw this on the Military Channel. The story fascinated me because I had never heard of this mission to destroy an Iranian nuke plant. It was a top secret operation, but I did not know it had happened. The backstory was well put-together. Saddam's involvement made it all the more compelling. I did not know much about The Mossad before this; those guys were bad-asses! The way that the Israeli Air Force prepared for the raid expressed the desperation of their situation. Quite dramatic up to the finish. It is intriguing that a member of this Raid was on the ill-fated Space Shuttle mission. Conspiracy theorists might scratch their heads on that one.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Nanny McPhee Returns
Nanny McPhee Returns (2010)
6/10
Not bad, but a few awkward scenes
22 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Production and art direction was good. The special effects were adequate. Warning if you like to sit right down & start eating your popcorn; the first part of the movie has lots of sloppy manure to set up the farm scene. I almost hurled! I'd say the minor roles by R.Fiennes and E.McGregor were jerky, and seemed more like cameos.

Kids may enjoy it, even to LOL a few times. However I would say this sad part was, in a word, cruel: **SPOILER** during a picnic, a telegram arrives saying that soldier Dad was killed in action --bummer! The children don't believe he is dead, so the boys visit the "War Office" to find out for sure; turns out the telegram was a forgery by Mom's evil brother so he could get her to sell the family farm. Quite shi++y for a kid's story, eh? This was a big wet blanket compared to the rest of the film's high-jinks. I almost forgot-- a stray "enemy bomb" falls into their barley field, unexploded, and the children rush over to disarm it. Good parenting. Are the kids successful, or not? I wouldn't spoil that scene for you.
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Clear your history

Recently Viewed