Reviews written by Rose

A friend of ours asked us to watch this with them over the weekend. Three months ago, another friend had had us watch Koyaanisqatsi with them. Make no mistake, they are definitely different versions on the same theme. We loved the Philip Glass music score to Koyaanisqatsi, but man, that movie is an hour longer than it should be. It was exhausting to watch the constantly repeated images and repeated takes of rolling clouds, traffic and assembly lines. My husband and I were rather shocked to see the exact same scenes replayed in Baraka. I kept wondering why there hadn't been a copyright infringement lawsuit, until I read that the same person had worked on both films.

What we enjoyed about Bakara was the superior filming technology, as well as the variety of architecture and cultures portrayed in this version. I was particularly struck with the beautiful religious buildings, and the cultural practices such as the chanting and most notably the cremation scenes from India.

What was particularly annoying were all the scenes that were pretty much image for image taken from Koyaanisqatsi. The rolling clouds, the long segments showing people staring at the camera, the assembly line scenes, the scenes of the streets with the traffic filmed in time-lapse. My husband and I couln't believe how similar the two films were. I am sure that it wouln't have taken such a negative twist if we hadn't seen Koyaanisquatsi first, but alas we did. But yes, they are pretty much the same, there is still the clear message of a disintegration of humanity, and loss of spiritualism. I agree that the message is important. I think we just felt cheated by the fact that they are marketing this as something completely new, and it is clearly not.

I had this film on an old VHS tape and have enjoyed it many times over the years. It has been on a list I keep of movies I own that I want to upgrade to DVD format, this fall I finally purchased this little gem. The cast and performances on this production are superb. What was of particular wonder to me is the clarity of the film print in this DVD version. I was simply in awe at the detail I could observe in the costumes etc., such an amazing improvement over the old video! The sound was impressive as well. The richly orchestrated soundtrack as well as the spoken dialog were clear and full. In conclusion, it was totally worth the investment in this DVD edition, I will enjoy it for many years to come.

I saw this interesting product in a catalog and wanted to try it just to see if the patches change the way they say they will. I really wasn't expecting to notice any effect on my body from using these patches, but here is what I have personally experienced.

My husband bought my first box of the 30 count patches and I used them fairly regularly, but not every night. I noticed after the first week that I slept much more soundly when wearing the patches (normally I tend to wake up anywhere from 5-8 times each night, just long enough to turn over, but I always become completely conscious when I wake). While using the patches, my waking up in the night was drastically reduced and on some nights, completely eliminated. The patches do turn black as described in the add. This made me curious,why would they do this?? So I took 2 of my patches and did some experiments on them. The first was to cut open one of the patches, thinking perhaps the powder inside was dark all along, but just didn't show. Nope, the ingredients are not dark black at all. Second experiment, perhaps the patch ingredients just "turn black" if they are exposed to the moisture of a sweaty foot. Nope, tried moistening a patch,no color change experienced at all.

Okay, this is the most interesting effect I have noted about using the patches. Normally my period is on a sporadic schedule, never "on time" and never the same amount of days apart per month. While using the patches, my period has started exactly on the 28th day it is due, like clockwork, also I noticed that my period is shorter while using the patches, only 3 days instead of 5. When I have gone an extended amount of time without using the patches, my period reverts to it's sporadic mind of it's own. I can not explain this, but I have experienced it first hand.

Also, I have tried other brands of foot patches (sold at Bed Bath & Beyond). I have found Jungong to be the superior brand. They do have an odd, strong smell, reminds me of the smell of BBQ sauce. The Bed Bath & B patches are quite different in the material constructing the patch, and they have a lavender scent. I found them to be much more mild smelling than the Jungong, but also I did not experience the dramatic benefits that I did with the strong smelling patches.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend the Jungong detox foot patch to anyone. I would be curious to know what other benefits users have experienced.

[Update] 4/2010

I had run out of patches and not used them for a better part of a year. I had a heath issue come up that I thought the patches might help with, concerning an inflamed gland in my breast. I figured it couldn't hurt to try them, since the ibuprofen and hot compresses I had been using for over a week had done little to alleviate my pain and swelling. I got my new box of 50 piece foot patches, I put the first set on. My period was supposed to be due that week, for the better part of the year it has been running about a week to 10 days late. After only one night in the patches, my period came that day of the week it was due, so weird!

I still noticed tenderness in my sore breast for another week, but the pain was less and less. And about 4 days into using the patches, I was able to discontinue the use of the ibuprofen. Once again, I have no scientific proof about these patches, but I can tell you first hand that they have helped regulate my cycle, I still notice deeper sleep while using them too.

Well, this was the strangest thing I have ever read, a book (or part of a book) that is a carbon copy of the first book with minimal added details. I am not even sure what else to say, except perhaps that if Mrs. Meyer wanted people to know Edward's thoughts, she should have put those in her original story and cut the extra crap out. Seriously, how many times does someone have to be "chagrined".

This was a fun story, but I didn't like it as much as The Secret Garden. I found the character of Sarah to be just a bit too unbelievably self sacrificing and well, at times out right annoying. There is a magical element to the story that is enjoyable at times, and you come to absolutely hate Miss Minchin. So there is definitely some strength to the writing, personally I just found it a bit too preachy.