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Tag Archive | Amazon Prime
July 15, 2019  

“The Professor And The Madman” (2019) Movie On “Amazon”: A ‘B-‘ For Effort, A ‘D’ For Veracity.

by Anura Guruge

Click image to access the IMDb.com listing for this 2019 movie.

Official Trailer on YouTube.

Click image to access the Amazon listing for the BOOK.

OK, I will admit upfront that I am not your typical audience for this movie — which is about how the classic ‘Oxford English Dictionary‘ came to be created.. For a start, one of the settings in this movie is my old school, Mill Hill (in London). Moreover, I have read THE book (by Simon Winchester on which the movie is based), know additional bits about the history of the Dictionary and furthermore adore ‘THE OXFORD’ and what it stands for. So, I was not going to be an easy customer to please — though I desperately wanted the movie to WOW I. Alas, it did NOT.

For a start, it misrepresented the history involving Mill Hill and the scene they show involving Mill Hill does NOT show anything close to what Mill Hill looks like! And that was how the movie started. So, I was not impressed. It would NOT have been difficult to have shot the scene at Mill Hill since the buildings, from the time, are still there. Plus, they show Dr. Murray’s son playing field hockey. Yes, we played hockey at Mill Hill but the school is more of a rugby and cricket school. So, that was part irritating. Then the movie gets the dates and facts WRONG! The Murrays did not move to Oxford as soon as he became Editor. The first five-years of the Dictionary were at Mill Hill. So, the movie misrepresents that.

Yes, it is NOT an easy story to tell and the ‘Madman’ (viz. Dr. William Chester Minor (who cuts off his penis)) was not as central as the movie makes him out to be. Yes, he contributed, much — but so did thousands of others. It is the typical conflict between a good book and a movie that tries to tells its story. In this case, as it happens so often, the movie falls short.

My recommendation: skip the movie, read the book!

Related posts:
Search on ‘movie’.

by Anura Guruge

 

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July 7, 2019  

“Shetland” Detective Series On ‘Britbox’ & ‘Prime’ — Just Amazing, The Best Of The Lot, Better Than ‘Vera’!

by Anura Guruge

Yes, I know that it is probably sacrilegious to say ‘better than Vera‘ — BUT, it is! We, as always, serendipitously, stumbled upon it on ‘Britbox‘ when they started advertising Season 5 (a couple of months ago). We watched Episode 1. It was good. But, we had to wait a whole week to see Episode 2. That was good too. We were hooked. Couldn’t wait another week. So, we watched Season 4, which was also available on ‘Britbox’ — all the way through. Loved it. Better than ‘Loch Ness‘, ‘Then There Were None‘ etc. etc. Better than Vera. Did I already say that?

Then went back to Season 5. Now we were hooked.

Found Seasons 1, 2 & 3 on Amazon Prime. You had to buy them (and they were NOT ‘cheap’). But, hey … you have to pay for quality. So, we watched all of that too.

We have watched ALL of it. Now we are lost.

Very, very good show. Amazing stories. Very good acting. Great drama. Breathtaking scenery. Fast moving. Cleverly done. Must watch.

Highly recommended.

Related posts:
Search on “Acorn TV“.

by Anura Guruge

The Diary Of Anne Frank

June 18, 2019  

“Scottish Mussel” (2015) Movie On “Amazon”: Cute Enough Story, BUT Kicker Is Learning About Scottish Pearls!

by Anura Guruge

Click to access ‘IMDb.com’ listing.

Click to access this Website and learn about Scottish pearls.

Click to access this Website and learn about Scottish pearls.

Despite my Scottish heritage and all the time I have spent in Scotland I had never heard of Scottish pearls! I know that for a fact, because it isn’t something I would have forgotten.

This movie, ‘Scottish Mussel‘ appeared in my Amazon Prime Video recommendation list. It looked vaguely promising. So, the other night when we decided we should try a comedy to get a break from murder-mysteries we gave it a spin.

And then we learnt about Scottish pearls and, boy, am I glad. I felt that there was a gaping hole in my knowledge.

Movie is not something to write home about. Some magnificent shots of the eternal beauty of bonny Scotland and there are some funny bits. But, we watched it to the end because the Scottish pearl angle was so intriguing.

So, don’t watch it as a comedy. Instead treat it as an amusing documentary of Scottish pearls.

Related posts:
Search on ‘movie’.

by Anura Guruge

 

February 1, 2019  

“Life Itself” Movie (2018), On Amazon Prime — Cerebral, Complicated, Yet Mesmerizingly Compelling.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE.

Click image for IMDb.com listing.

This is the polar opposite of a mindless flick. It is not a movie that you should watch if you are not going to concentrate on it. Very clever and complex plot, some very profound dialogue sprinkled with brilliant humor. Keeps you guessing and intrigued.

I was not sure what to expect and what I got was nothing like what I would have ever expected. It was, in the end, awfully rewarding. Three very separate, but interwoven stories. How it all comes together is pretty amazing.

So, if you want a movie that will entertain through its cleverness this is for you. Pay close attention. Because, quite literally, ‘BANG’ — it is not what you expect.

Highly recommended, albeit with the caveat that this not going to be mindless flick. Even if you try switching off it will bring you rushing back … with a BANG!

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Category ‘arts’.
Search ‘movie’.

by Anura Guruge

July 18, 2018  

I Got A Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Prime Lens For My Sony a7 II — Not Sure If I Am Blown Away.

by Anura Guruge

NO post-processing whatsoever.

Click pictures to ENLARGE.

Attribution WILL be enforced.







The biggest handicap I have with my full frame Sony a7 II (which I have now had for over a year) is the lack of any decent lenses. Now that I sold my Sony a6500, and the two kit lenses I got with it, (very quickly on eBay) I decided to treat myself and get this ‘new’ (i.e., released in February 2017) Sony full frame (FE) 85mm f/1.8. People have been raving about it and the reviews are gushing.

I got it today — from Best Buy! Amazon had it on a 2-month backorder!

Today, was not the greatest day to try out a new lens. We have had storms passing through all day and the rain has been constant. So, the light was not great.

I am NOT sure that I have been blown away. It is OK — but, doesn’t seem that much of an improvement on my Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS. Plus, the 24-240mm obviously covers that focal length, albeit at f/4.x. The 85mm is also definitely NOT for macro. Minimum focusing distance is nearly a yard.

So, not sure what to do. I can obviously return it.

Got a GREAT Lightning Deal (on Amazon Prime Day) on the Samyang 35mm f/2.8. I got it for $212! The regular price is $267. Supposed to get that on Friday. Let’s see how that performs.

Related posts:
Check Categories ‘Sony’ & ‘Six Images’.

by Anura Guruge

July 13, 2018  

Amazon Kindle Paperback Proof vs CreateSpace Proof.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and study closely.

With this, my latest book, I ended up ordering proofs from both Kindle KDP and CreateSpace. Nothing to stop you from doing so. You can’t publish the book with BOTH — but I haven’t published it at yet! I am at the ‘order proof’ stage with both and that is perfectly kosher. I did this with my last book too — except at that juncture I couldn’t order paperback proofs from Kindle KDP. I got the proofs from CreateSpace and eventually published with Kindle! They are BOTH Amazon companies so it is by no means robbing Peter to pay Paul.

So, both proofs printed by Amazon — and they both came in Amazon Prime boxes.

But, can you tell the difference, and whose is whose. A very obvious difference right up front.

Yes, the KDP proof as the ugly ‘Not for Resale’ banner. CS has never done that. Instead, they print a BIG ‘PROOF’ on the last page.

But, also an obvious difference in the quality of the cover. You can tell even in these photos. The CS cover is brighter and more detailed. That is crazy.

CS proofs were published in Columbia, South Carolina; Kindle in Middletown, Delaware.

Related Posts:
Check Category ‘books’.

by Anura Guruge

July 1, 2018  

Amazon Kindle Paperback Option & Ordering Proof Copies.

by Anura Guruge

Click to ENLARGE and study here. The order details from Amazon.

Click to ENLARGE. Click here to access: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G202059560

The Amazon Kindle PAPERBACK program is NOT an oxymoron or an April Fool’s joke. It is now over a year old and I already published my last book, “Quick & Easy Meditation“, last September, in paperback and ebook form via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). I had to jump through some hoops but I did manage to get it done.

Last September the KDP program did NOT offer the option of ordering PROOF copies. That was a bummer. But, I, a veteran self-publisher, CHEATED and got the proof copies I needed. I am NOT going to tell you hear how I did that! {Smile}

As of earlier this year KDP did start offering Proof copies — albeit in BETA test form, the whole paperback program a beta as well.

The KDP Paperback program is temperamental and has BUGS. You have been warned. More than likely it will object to your cover size even if you FOLLOWED their requirements!

Ordering Proofs is not straightforward either. You cannot do it right away. They send you a link via e-mail — and they tell you that it can take up to 4-hours to get the link. Then you have 24-hours to order the Proofs!

I got my e-mail in about 2 hours.

Your order through Amazon BUT it does NOT recognize PRIME! So, you have to pay for shipping.

Even though I ordered yesterday (i.e., June 30, 2018), I might not get the Proofs until July 10. That is crazy and unacceptable.

Anywho …. this is a heads up.

So, now the mystery is solved and the cat is out of the bag. My latest book is now at the galley proof stage.

Kind of funny, just in the last 2 weeks my wife and a friend both asked me whether I had stopped writing books! That was rather strange coming from folks who know me. If I am up and about, I am writing a book! That is how it goes. Yes, this book has taken me 9-months to write, but it is 475 pages in length and required extensive research. Just because I typically publish two books a year does NOT mean I have to always do so. {Smile}

So ….

More to come.

Related Posts:
Check Category ‘books’.

by Anura Guruge

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