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* 300 (Kit Johnson review) *****
A scant few years ago, a niche graphic novelist named Frank Miller was relatively unknown. But -- largely due to the lack of original ideas coming out of Hollywood -- studio execs have turned to buying up all comic book and graphic novel rights. Five stars. [More]

* Aveeno Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum (Garber review) ****
Says Anne Garber: "during a brief testing period (I tried it on myself; ah, vanity thy name is woman), it proved to live up to its claims." Four stars. [More]

* Classic Greetings' Unique Gift Baskets review *****
What makes a successful business really succeed? Well, number one on my list would have to be great word-of-mouth.

[More]

* Deuce (Garber review) *****
Smaller portions -- somewhere between tapas and full entrée size -- and an open and airy environment make Executive Chef Courtney Burnham's Deuce worth a visit to North Van's Upper Lonsdale. Five stars. [More]

* Drogheria Infused Oils (Garber new food product review) *****
Drogheria & Alimentari are the best selling spices and aromatic herbs in grinders worldwide. And this gourmet product wins evalu8.org's top rating, five stars! [More]

* Epicureal.com, Qualifirst and Far-Met *****
Hard to find gourmet food item? Good news: Now you can shop online for those heretofore hard-to-find specialty food items! [More]

* Grindhouse (Garber review) *****
I have no hesitation recommending this one with a full five-star rating. Go see it in theatres -- it will not translate as well to the small screen. [More]

* Grindhouse (Kit Johnson review) *****
I was told that our policy is that if you would recommend a film to 10 out of 10 people, it rates five stars. Hell, I would recommend this movie-duo to DEAD people! Go see it. . .NOW! [More]

* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Garber review) ****
If Harry Potter already has you spellbound, you will enjoy the magic and the vision of this adventure. [More]

* Hotel Confidential: Hyatt Regency Vancouver *****
Recently refurbished at a cost of $18 million, the Hyatt Regency Vancouver is one of Vancouver's finest hotels -- and it boasts an on-site restaurant (Mosaic Bar & Grill) that has earned evalu8.org's highest rating. [More]

* In Bruges (Keyes review) ****
Two hitmen spice up the picturesque Belgian town of Bruges with filthy language, in this not-for-the-kiddies dark comedy. John Keyes gives it four stars. [More]

* Nicola's Bodycare (Kelowna) (Garber review) *****
I recommend you try this confidential, no-risk service. Because we all need a little "perfecting". . . and pampering. Five stars. [More]

* OGIO Commuter bag, style 611128 (Keyes review) *****
The search for the perfect travel bag is a quest that sits somewhere between an obsession and an illness . . . reviewer John Keyes takes us on the quest for the best! [More]

* OGIO Terminal bag, style 711401 (Garber review) (plus OGIO Layover) *****
The best carry-on bags for business we've ever found! Five stars. [More]

* Stardust (Garber review) *****
An exceptional new fantasy quest-film rivals The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Five stars. [More]

* Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (Garber review sans Quicktime trailer) *****
Here's the same five-star review sans embedded trailer. [More]

* The Grove Caribbean Lime Avocado Oil (Garber new food product review) *****
Here's a recipe using this product. [More]

*Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle -- Hauru no Ugoku Shiro (Garber review) *****
Director Hayao Miyazaki (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) again creates a world apart from our own, yet jarringly resonant of the terra firma we know. A brilliantly haunting feature-length animated adventure-of-the-spirit. Five stars. [More]

8 Minutes in the Morning to a Flat Belly Kit (Ramsay new fitness product review) ****
Clear pictures and instructions provide the total beginner, intermediate and more advanced athlete with a variety of effective exercises. [More]

8 Minutes in the Morning to Lean Hips and Thin Thighs Kit (Ramsay new cosmetic product review) ****
Jorge Cruise's reputation as guru of online fitness and fitness expert on Oprah gives credibility to these comprehensive fitness kits which guarantee that you can lose up to six inches in fewer than four weeks. [More]

A Game to Play on the Tracks: The unravelled sleeve of life **** 1/2
Is there something in the ventilation system of the University of Victoria? In the past five years, two faculty members and one student have been nominated for prestigious literary awards. [More]

A Long Short War, Why Are We at War? & Dreaming War -- Three intellectuals in search of an empire *** 1/2
Golden-age fantasists like to say rhetorical standards have lately declined, along with everything else, from baseball to the weather; and no doubt this is true if, for instance, one compares a George W. Bush press conference with the Lincoln-Douglas debates. [More]

A mobile workspace that works *
Notebook computers are fantastic tools (and toys) for people on the go, but recreating a useful desktop when you're not at your own desk can be difficult. It can be done, though, and here are some gadgets I've come across that should appeal to self-respecting road warriors. [More]

Adobe Photoshop Album **** 1/2
Photoshop Album was created with the same dignified intelligence that went into Photoshop Elements — they are both consumer products that do not treat the consumer like a Neanderthal who needs cute and "user-friendly" cartoons to jolly the process along. [More]

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising *
Over all, this game is the total package — it's a great strategy game that will keep you playing for a long time, and is definitely a title GBA owners should pick up right away [More]

Against the Ropes: A one-way ticket to palookaville ** 1/2
Inspired by the gutsy life of taboo-smashing female boxing manager Jackie Kallen (Meg Ryan), Against the Ropes wobbles like a punch-drunk fighter. [More]

Alphabet: Pen pals *
A new inside-the-joint book [More]

Arabian Nights 1914: A Scheherazade in the Great War *
Eric Koch has been explaining German culture to North Americans for years. The most recent four of his 14 books have been historical fictions with a German setting; Arabian Nights 1914 is the most outrageous. [More]

Backstage Vancouver: A Century of Entertainment Legends (Keyes review) ****
You don't have to be a Vancouverite to get a kick out of Backstage Vancouver, although certainly most of the book's buyers will be from the Lower Mainland, or else they'll be homesick ex-pat Vancouverites desperate to savour a slice of local history. [More]

Bandbox: GQ for flappers *
You'd almost think Bandbox, Tom Mallon's jaunty novel about a men's fashion magazine, was written in the 1920s, never mind set in it. But don't be misled by its jazzy tone into assuming you can give the book just a light read. The plot is as thick as its office politics, and requires close attention, or you'll muddle the art director with the stylist and have to backtrack to see how a koala bear got on a boat to Australia. [More]

Bath Time Adventures (Lassau review) ****
Four stars: New children's bath toys encourage cleanliness and creativity. evalu8.org's Parenting Editor Marissa Lassau rates them at four stars. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

Batman Begins (Garber review) ****
Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins prequel explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. [More]

Beatles Book Is Fab! (Keyes review) *****
John Keyes says: "If you're looking for a last-minute Christmas present, I can't think of a reader who wouldn't find The Beatles: The Biography interesting. [More]

Best Friends: Infidelity's tired tropes ** 1/2
The literary grocery list of the writer who would like to please critics, if not peers, most typically begins with your standard ration of no-name infidelity. [More]

Bowdabra (Garber review) ****
Designed by self-proclaimed "craft-challenged" Sandy Sandler, the Bowdabra® is an easy-to-use crafting tool used to make bows. We give this product a hearty four stars! [More]

Burgers Etc. BBQ House (Garber review) ***
Voted best burgers by CTV viewers, according to the banner in the window, this place just begged for a fair trial. [More]

Burgoo Bistro (Garber review) ****
Burgoo-the-restaurant serves every stew imaginable, from rich Irish stew with lamb simmered in Guinness to Hungarian goulash and Malaysian laksa. . .a veritable "feast of stews." [More]

Cachet Sugar-free Belgian Chocolate Orange Bar (Garber review) *****
We found this Belgian chocolate-and-orange cream bar satisfying and delicious. [More]

Campbell's Gardennay soups ****
"Sweet butternut squash simmered with carrots and herbs to a soft, velvety texture, and blended with a touch of cream for a rich, full flavour that you would expect only when dining out." A realistic claim? [More]

Capones Restaurant & Live Jazz Club (Garber review) ****
Besides the changes in Yaletown over the years, Capones owner, Rob Gietl proved to be something of a visionary, bringing his own changes to the restaurant and club aspects of the establishment. [More]

Chic Geek: High-tech hi-fi *
So you've embraced the digital age and converted your music collection to MP3 or WMA files, and now there are enough tunes on your computer's hard drive to support a small radio station... [More]

Chick Lit puts on a new face -- A round-up of Chick-Lit *
A round-up of the new "Chick Lit" for your summer reading pleasure. . . [More]

Cocktails: Shaken and Stirred (Garber review) *****
Stylishly photographed and scrupulously detailed, this is a book that every aspiring bartender will consider a must-have; and it's attractive enough to stand as a coffee-table volume for a gift. [More]

Creative Wireless Music ****
If you're looking for a way to stream audio alone from your PC to your stereo system and you don't want to have to turn on your TV all the time to see a menu, the Creative Wireless System is a great music player. [More]

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time: A barnacle on the side of Darwin studies *
If Sherlock Holmes were a 15-year-old autistic kid in Swindon, could he overcome his fear of strangers to investigate the death of a neighbourhood poodle? Could chaos theory and prime numbers help him do it? And if he uncovered a dangerous deception, how would he survive? [More]

Daredevil vs. Spider-Man (Animated Series) DVD ** 1/2
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why this suddenly popped up on the shelves. [More]

David Adams Richards: Virtuoso of inebriation **** 1/2
In close to 20 novels, David Adams Richards has created a rich cast of outsiders, many of whom struggle with addiction. He talks to SANDRA MARTIN about the seductive lure of drinking and smoking, and the love of writing that helped him overcome his own demons [More]

Dead Like Me (Garber review) *****
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anything good on television, it seems. Well. . . anything television-like that has been good. You see, today’s DVD review is from a television series, but most of us have not yet seen it on the tube. [More]

Deals Only Store number 2 *****
This wonderful companion store to the original Deals Only is crammed with furniture, décor accessories and loads and loads of clothing!
[More]

Deluxe Moderne Burger (Garber review) ****
If fifties-era diners still have a place in our world, you will likely only find them reincarnated with any degree of authenticity in very few places. One of these exceptions-to-the-rule is Deluxe Moderne Burger in Vancouver's Kitsilano. [More]

Derma Fend: Ordinary Looking Ball Cap 'Transforms' Into Personal Shade System *
The cap is the first practical solution to offer men, women and children unique protection against a significant and growing disease that affects millions of North Americans every year. [More]

DermaFend Daily Projuvenator *
Just in time for the busy family travel season, here's a brand new sunscreen that comes in ultra-convenient personal-sized, tear-open packets -- perfect for Mom's beach bag or ski jacket pocket. [More]

Dinner Games & Activities (Garber review) ****
Now it's okay to play while you eat, which does make for a family mealtime in which everyone shares some of the spotlight. A new "family game" brings entertainment to the table. [More]

Down at the Seaweed Café ****
An ideal bedtime book, the Seaweed Café's sunken treasure, sea monsters and tsunamis will charm readers of all ages [More]

Dragon of Heaven: The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China **** 1/2
The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China -- Highlighted by breathtakingly beautiful "portraits" by Regina-based fine artist Zhong-Yang Huang, David Bouchard's tale of the real-life Empress of China is re-imagined (as they say) in vivid detail that displays a true love of language. [More]

El Gitano: Five stars for The Gypsy *****
El Gitano is absolutely our favourite Mexican restaurant outside of Texas! Or Mexico! [More]

Elementalities: Carrot Soap (Garber new cosmetic product review) ****
This soap has a pleasant carrot-y scent, and lots of coconut oil for a good lather. All-natural, of course. We're all in favour of small businesses in the natural products category, and this one positively shines! [More]

Elementalities: Peppermint Soap (Garber new cosmetic product review) ****
This soap contains essential oil of peppermint, coconut oil and castor oil in a moisturizing soap base. It is to fight fatigue, and is excellent for "tired" skin -- and spirits. [More]

Elementalities: Tea-tree Soap (Garber new cosmetic product review) ****
This product does everything it claims: It smells great, it lathers well and it washes clean. [More]

Empire Lite: Living with the big guy *
The U.S. is morphing from republic into empire -- at some cost to its own democracy. But it will only crush Canada if we let it, says political scientist JAMES LAXER [More]

ENtanglement: The Greatest Mystery in Physics ****
While Einstein referred to his phenomenon quite colourfully as "spooky action at a distance," how could he have guessed that -- within only a couple decades of his death -- entanglement would be observed up close in the laboratory? [More]

Escape from Intimacy ****
While critics may find Schaef's style somewhat controlling, proponents are likely to say it changed their lives -- especially if they see themselves in her work. A 12-step program to getting over your addiction to relationships. [More]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Groen review) *
Anatomy of a lover's mind... [More]

Eurotrip: The kids don't even swear ** 1/2
Ha, here's a laugh: One of the hottest properties around Hollywood a few summers ago was The Ugly Americans, the story of four innocents abroad, chasing through France and Germany in search of fraternité and frauleins.More]

Evenflo Manual Breast Pump (Chung review) *
Save your money and invest in a good quality pump that will help maximize your milk flow, avoid pain and frustration. Not recommended! [More]

Fahrenheit 9/11 (Garber review) **** 1/2
I'm going to step out of character a little today and get political. Let's just say that today -- only a few days before the Canadian National election takes place -- is the perfect time for all Canadians to see this Michael Moore film. [More]

Feenie's now open ****
Yes, "Feenie-weenie" as his friends used to call him, has finally, officially opened his wonderful lo-dough, hi-retro eatery at the other end of the Lumiere flagship block, right across from the White Spot, where Chef Feenie has been known to eat a hamburger or two, himself. [More]

Find a Husband After 35 Using What I Learned at Harvard Business School: When cupid turns headhunter *
Can't find a romantic partner? Take some tips from a Harvard MBA grad on how to find the perfect match [More]

Finding Neverland (Garber review) ****
This wonderful Johnny Depp vehicle is bound and determined to put an end to the questions and controversy surrounding the life of James M. Barrie and his relationship with the family that inspired his stage play, Peter Pan. [More]

Flavours of Cooper's Cove Guesthouse (Garber review) *****
One of my great criticisms of contemporary cookbooks by masters of the kitchen is that the regular home-based cook cannot accomplish the recipes. Yet even the recipe for French toast with plum compôte is "dressed for company" by a few simple (i.e. easy) touches that make all the difference. Five stars. [More]

Food Stuff: Hickoryworks Pure Brown County Shagbark Hickory Syrup (Garber review) ****
We really liked this truly unique flavour, and will be recommending this product to our friends: Four stars. [More]

Food Stuff: Silicone spatulas (Garber review) *****
You never know that you NEED gadgets like these in your kitchen until you try them. Suddenly, they can become indispensable. Silicone as a cooking item is making waves in the marketplace these days, because the gadgets generally deliver on their promises. [More]

Food Stuff: Tuna can-strainer ****
A handy gadget to spare your fingers and reduce mess. [More]

Fueling the Future: It's oil over now *
More than one wag has smartly suggested that the best solution to our energy mess lies in burning studies on the subject. Such tomes are, after all, as thick as logs and as cheap as paper. [More]

Game Review -- Grand Theft Auto: San Andeas (Kit Johnson review) ****
You have muscle, stamina, sex appeal, vehicle skill, weapon skill, and the list goes on. If you have ever been a fan of the previous GTA games, you'll get to loving this game and pumping hours and hours into very entertaining play. [More]

Game Review: F-Zero GX *** 1/2
Arcade racing fans who aren't afraid of a challenge should check this title out. [More]

Game Review: Halo 2 (Kit Johnson review) *****
Xbox's Halo 2: Kit Johnson gives the multi-player version top marks. [More]

Game Review: Metroid Prime Pinball (Kit Johnson review) ****
Battle deadly enemies and experience a number of special modes such as Clone Machine Multiball and the Wall-Jump Challenge while you blast and bomb your high score into a state of pure pinball pandemonium. Play tables across two screens at the same time using the touch screen to nudge the pinball table. Four stars. [More]

Gerber Electric Breast Pump (Chung review) *
Half-star rating: Perhaps it is inexpensive and compact, but do not waste your money, time, and endure suffering by inflicting injuries to your breasts and hands which may cost you massage and physiotherapy expenses. Not recommended. [More]

Gillette Fusion (Kit Johnson review) ***
When all is said and done, there's really nothing special about this unit, except for the single blade meant for trimming. The precision trimming blade is worth the entire price of admission. . . [More]

Gillette introduces Next Generation of Oral-B® toothbrushes ****
Oral-B® CrossAction® Power Combines the Best of a Manual and Power Toothbrush; Oral-B® CrossAction® Vitalizer(tm) -- Reduces Gingivitis in Just Four Weeks -- winning them evalu8.org's four-star rating. [More]

Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar **** 1/2
Myriad dining experiences can be found in this 100-person restaurant. If high-energy ambiance and creative food is your mandate for a fun night out, Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar in Yaletown is the destination of choice. Superior wine list and service. [More]

Good Bye, Lenin! (Groen review) ***
Remembrance of East past... [More]

Groundhog Day DVD (Garber review) *****
Groundhog Day is not only one of the best comedies of the 1990s, but also one of the best comedies of all time. It's a truly original movie concept. [More]

Hair Pudding Texturizing Cream (Ramsay new cosmetic product review) ****
Nice smell, good control and ‘easy to style with’ characterize the Hair Pudding. [More]

Hammond World Travel Atlas (Keyes review) ****
Hammond's clever cartographers have come up with a coffee-table tome that marries detailed maps with small photographs illustrating 14 or so sites worth seeing on each area depicted. [More]

Hastings House, Salt Spring Island and the elusive Crab (Alexander Moser feature) ****
Alexander Moser discovers that one does not need to travel far afield from Vancouver for a deep-sea adventure -- and luxury. [More]

Hefty Serve 'n Store Everyday (Garber New Product Review) *****
A brilliant new idea finds its way onto Pacific Northwest grocery shelves. [More]

Hellboy (Groen review) ***
If you like your movies inspired by comic books — and who among us does not — then Hellboy is quite the little treat. [More]

Herb's Crushed Garlic *****
Herbert Kim's special engineered process enables him to maintain garlic's flavour, aroma, texture and appearance -- all without the use of any preservatives. [More]

High-end, Malls & Bargain Shopping (and consignment stores) in Naples, FL *
Shopping is a pleasure in this clean, sunny and relaxed "snowbird" destination. [More]

Hisita Booster Seat (Lassau review) *****
Five stars: What a smart invention for children transitioning from the high chair to a regular chair -- but who aren't quite tall enough to reach the table. Parenting Editor Marissa Lassau rates them at five stars -- our highest rating. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

Hollywood North: Would-be satire quickly heads south (Lacey review) ***
The Canadian movie industry is always a ripe subject for satire. Year after year, tax-supported pseudo-commercial films are justified by dubious claims of cultural worthiness. The industry has been mocked before, on television by SCTV and in the Paul Donovan movie, Paint Cans (1994). Now we have Hollywood North from Peter O'Brian, himself a veteran producer of the darkest days of the tax-shelter period of the late seventies. [More]

Hostess Gift: Mum's Creations new packaging for Party Picks (Garber review) *****
I cannot think of a handier item to have available for last-minute dashes to parties and dinners, now that the festive season is almost upon us. [More]

Hotel Confidential: NH Hotel Frankfurt City *****
Comfort -- when you most need it -- awaits you at Frankfurt's "NH Hotele" [More]

Hugo Restaurant ****
A new addition to the City Hall area dining scene -- and a welcome one, if the flocks of patrons are any indication. [More]

Ideazon Zboard (Ian Johnson review) *** 1/2
A really cool idea to make life easier for those who want to get the most out of complex programs, and it can give gamers a big edge. [More]

Il Giardino di Umberto Ristorante *****
Il Giardino is definitely a see-and-be-seen meeting place. You'll spot movie personalities, social luminaries VIPs and smartly dressed "ladies who lunch." And of course, lots of business types, heads close together talking sotto voce. Why, the deals that have been finessed here have kept Vancouver ticking like a clock for years. [More]

Incredible India -- For Body, Mind & Soul *****
We have discovered an India today that offers not only tremendous travel deals, but also suggests possibilities you may never have considered. [More]

Indigo Bistro in the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel *
Being here is like actually being in an art picture. Indigo's colourful décor features tapestries, artworks by local artists and artisans (paintings and blown glass), wood floors and white table linens. The lunch menu changes every Monday, affording something new and different each week. And the bar offers over 40 single- and double-malt scotches, with a wine list of over 150 wines ranging from $30 to $750 per bottle. [More]

Isotoner Totes pile-lined suede gloves (Garber review) *****
Isotoner® therapeutic gloves ease hand pain, hand swelling, and joint soreness. But they can be beautiful, too. This particular product is the recipient of evalu8.org's once-a-year Award of Distinction for 2006. Five stars. [More]

J.J.'s Fine Dining (JJ's) ****
One of those well-known "secrets" in town, JJ's closed for massive renovations, which were completed late in the year 2000. Gone are the old velvet draperies; the new look is light, bright and elegant. [More]

Jeffery Deaver's The Cold Moon (Garber review) ****
Fresh on the heels of last year's The Twelfth Card, suspense-master Jeffery Deaver is back with the seventh instalment in his best-selling Lincoln Rhyme series . . . [More]

Jersey Girl (Groen review) ** 1/2
By his own admission, Smith has no feel for the camera, and that hasn't changed — even Vilmos Zsigmond, the great cinematographer, can't seem to help him here. [More]

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth ****
Introducing a new evalu8.org column: Graphic Comics. "It surprised us when we heard it, but until Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth, the last comic or graphic novel to win a serious literary award was nearly ten years ago, when Art Spiegelman got a Pulitzer for his concentration camp memoir Maus." [More]

Kate Remembered: Parlour games ****
Biographer A. Scott Berg's 20-year relationship with Katharine Hepburn began with a unique set of initiation rites. Once they were passed, Hepburn promised to tell him all, with one stipulation: He could not publish until she had died, GAYLE MacDONALD writes [More]

Kavalier and Clay: My love and I had words, and then it was all over **** 1/2
Falling in love with a book in the summer is a bit like falling in love with a girl in summer. As I recall. [More]

Kill Bill (Groen review) **** 1/2
The most influential director of the 1990s is back with a dazzling kung fu actioner [More]

Kill Bill 2: Relax, it's just play-acting (Groen review) *** 1/2
Although Tarantino doesn't quite deliver the goods in part two of Kill Bill, there's lots to savour. [More]

Kitchen Stories (Lacey review) ****
Kitchen Stories, set in Norway of the early 1950s, is a comedy, albeit of the Scandinavian deadpan variety, with a chuckle beneath a solemn exterior. [More]

Kiwi Pie Company's minted New Zealand lamb and butternut squash pie (Garber review) *****
Salina Beaudoin and Cliff Mytton have created a winner in this meat pie. [More]

Knorr carrot & coriander soup (Garber new food product review) **** 1/2
I have to admit that these soups are simply excellent. They are so good, in fact, that I immediately dashed out to our neighbourhood IGA to BUY some. . . [More]

Köhlr Baby Napsack & TAG Bag (Chung review) ****
Four stars: A practical Canadian design for baby helps protect your little one from getting tangled up in bedclothes, and is recommended by the SIDS Alliance. Four stars from hard-nosed reviewer (and new mom) Agnes Chung. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

Köhlr Baby Sleep Sack (Chung review) ****
Four stars: A practical Canadian design for baby helps protect your little one from getting tangled up in bedclothes, and is recommended by the SIDS Alliance. Four stars from hard-nosed reviewer (and new mom) Agnes Chung. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

L'Emotion ****
The word on the streets of the North Shore is that you don't have to drive across the Lion's Gate Bridge for a wonderful French dining experience. For years, the locals have made the journey over the water for an evening out, but no more. [More]

La Baguette et l'Echalote **** 1/2
La Baguette et l'Echalote features fresh breads and pastries baked daily, cakes for every occasion, home made baguette sandwiches, imported cheeses and delicacies from France. You can even order a Mother's Day cake with your own mom's photo on it! [More]

La Régalade ****
La Régalade is the classic example of truly fine French bistro food -- in the heart of West Vancouver, BC [More]

Lennon Legend (Keyes book review) **** 1/2
This fab (as in Fab Four) coffeetable book is an absolute must-have for the boomer Beatles fan, especially if your favourite was John Lennon. [More]

Lies and the Lying Liars: Judge denies Fox TV's attempt to block book sales *
A U.S. federal judge denied Fox News Channel's request Friday for an injunction to block humorist Al Franken's new book, whose title mocks the Fox slogan "fair and balanced." [More]

Listerine PocketMist (Garber review) ****
The format is very handy, but I would check current carry-on regulations before taking it onto an airplane -- I would hate to lose my new breath-freshener to the security bin! [More]

Logitech Premium USB Headset 300 (Johnson review) **** 1/2
The Logitech Premium USB Headset 300 lives up to its name. It's comfortable, well-made, features true plug-and-play, and the sound quality is superb... [More]

Logitech QuickCam Orbit ****
Logitech was shipping only very limited quantities at the time this review was written, too, so it may be hard to track one down... [More]

Lost in Translation: Lost and found in Tokyo ****
In Sofia Coppola's captivating second film, two lonely hearts in limbo connect and Bill Murray really hits his stride, LIAM LACEY writes [More]

LOTR: Return of the King (Lacey Review) ****
The Ring thing is back, with kings and eagles and flying dragons, and wraiths and mountain fortresses and at the heart of it, a couple of plucky little boy-men out to save the world. [More]

Love Actually: Feel the love, over and over *** 1/2
Romantic comedies don't usually run in excess of two hours, though a quick glance at the cast of this homage to love British-style will offer a clue to the reason for its length. [More]

Luck (Groen review) *** 1/2
This hockey film wins until it loses... [More]

Man on Fire (Groen review) ** 1/2
Revenge served tepid... [More]

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga ****
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a surprising game in many ways. Although the game is a lot of fun, it's not for everyone, as you probably have to be a fan of the series to truly appreciate it. [More]

Master & Commander: Dashing derring-do (Groen review) ****
Peter Weir's high-seas yarn has red-blooded swashbuckling for the lads and Russell Crowe striking manly poses on the prow for the lasses. [More]

Maurya Indian Cuisine **** 1/2
Incredibly impressive food, service and atmosphere -- our new favourite Indian restaurant. [More]

Medela Pump In Style Advance (Chung review) ****
Four stars: A great pumping machine to use to achieve maximum milk flow. One of the best features is you can regulate the pumping using the adjustable speed and vacuum control, thus preventing sore nipples. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

MemoryFrame Deluxe **** 1/2
If you can get past the sticker shock, this is one of the most feature-packed and user-friendly LCD picture displays available. [More]

Michael Ignatieff: Writer, thinker, action man ****
Michael Ignatieff is back with a new novel, RAY CONLOGUE writes, a result of 'intellectual post-traumatic shock' he suffered after witnessing the horrors of Bosnia [More]

Mick Foley: Wrestling with his muse *
Mick Foley, known as Mankind on the WWE circuit, tells REBECCA CALDWELL that giving birth to his three books was more painful than being brutalized in the ring [More]

Microsoft's new Office suite may be a gamble *
This week, Microsoft Corp. gave its business customers an incentive to upgrade their Office suite to the 2003 version, set for release in October. [More]

MiRoamer Internet Radio (Garber review) ****
A new online platform allows you to better organize your listening pleasure -- regardless of the devices you might want to use as you travel. Four stars. [More]

Moleskine notebooks (Garber review) *****
Moleskine is the legendary notebook, used by European artists and thinkers for the past two centuries. [More]

Mona Lisa Smile (Groen review) ***
First things first: As one of my wise editors noted, no person who can flash as many teeth as Julia Roberts should ever star in a movie called Mona Lisa Smile. [More]

Monsieur Ibrahim: Sharif still has the touch (Lacey review) *** 1/2
A warm, if somewhat wooly, coming-of-age fable set in Paris of the early sixties, Monsieur Ibrahim explores the friendship between a Jewish teenager (Pierre Boulanger) and an elderly Muslim shopkeeper (Omar Sharif), who teaches him wisdom from the Koran. [More]

Montagne Jeunesse Eucalyptus and Camphor Anti-Cold Bath (Garber review) ****
Again, this Montagne Jeunesse product does what it claims, and I must say that the soothing vapours went a long way toward helping with my chest congestion during a recent bout of bronchitis. [More]

Montagne Jeunesse Frizz Miracle Conditioning Hair Mask (Garber review) *****
Amazingly, this product does exactly as it claims. [More]

Montagne Jeunesse Morello Cherry & Iced Mint Tired Leg Gel (Garber review) ****
My only criticism about this product was that I didn't really care for the cherry scent. A little too cloying for my senses. [More]

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (Garber review) **** 1/2
Does a whiz-bang job of cleaning stubborn surface soil and stains! [More]

Music's teenage satirist *
She's just 19, but Nellie McKay has written some of this year's wittiest songs, writes ROBERT EVERETT-GREEN. [More]

My Architect: A Son's Journey: Journey behind a father's façade ****
Five years in the making, and currently nominated for an Oscar, My Architect: A Son's Story is a twofold story of heroic achievements and personal failings. Both stories are about the architect Louis Kahn, a major figure in modern architecture and, as we discover, a lousy dad. [More]

My Baby's Daddy: Idea or two outnumbered by bodily-function jokes (Lacey review) ** 1/2
When studios choose not to show movies to the press ahead of their theatrical release, the usual reason is that they're trying to limit losses by keeping the negative buzz to a minimum (remember The Avengers?). [More]

My Boxing Day Shopping Plans *
Anne Garber reveals her secret Boxing Day sale plans... [More]

My Date With Drew (Garber review) ****
The premise of the film is that 27-year-old Brian Herzlinger is out of a relationship, out of work, out of the loop and pretty much out-of-it in general, but he has not given up on his dream: To get a date with Drew Barrymore. [More]

Mystic River: A current of darkness ****
Clint Eastwood's latest imbues grim life in a poor Boston neighbourhood with the relentlessness of classical tragedy [More]

Nando's Chickenland *
If you've never tried Nando's Chickenland's spicy chicken or various peri-peri sauces, you don't know what you're missing! [More]

Napoleon Dynamite & Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story --Revenge of the nerds revisited (Lacey reviews) ** 1/2
The movies' continuing fascination with nerds, geeks, dweebs and dufusses represents a substantial strain of doubt in America's win-win culture. [More]

NASCAR 3D: The Imax Experience: Days of blunder, but in 3-D at least (Groen review) ** 1/2
With its huge camera and its vast screen, the Imax "experience" (as the billing goes) is big on big things, fond of exploring the world at its inflated extremes -- the extreme of outer space, the extreme of Titanic depths, the extreme of belching volcanoes. [More]

Neat Nets (Lassau review) ****
Four stars: "I've always said that toy manufacturers make so many products with small pieces but don't provide any storage ideas to go with them." evalu8.org's Parenting Editor Marissa Lassau rates them at four stars. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

Neutrogena Colour Defending Shampoo & Conditioner (Garber review) *****
We all want our hair to bounce with clean shine. We love the feeling of squeaky-clean hair moving in the summer breezes. All that lifestyle stuff. And we don't want to use products that will dry out our hair or leave it looking lifeless and flat. [More]

Neutrogena Micromist Tanning (Ramsay new cosmetic product review) ****
Neutrogena Micromist is a great product -- especially for the legs -- to free you from the necessity of wearing pantyhose. [More]

Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Patch ****
All in all a very effective treatment, worthy of a very high rating: Recommended. [More]

Neutrogena Visibly Firm face lotion **** 1/2
Neutrogena launched another winning product line! [More]

New Product: Quicken XG ****
Pen, paper, chequebook and the neighbourhood ATM are all I have needed to manage my money and limited investments. Recently my husband and I joined our bank accounts for the first time; now there are too many variables for me to remember and balance in my head. [More]

Nibbling at the junkie food chain (Cole review) ***
On the Corner is convincingly staged, and filmmaker Geary deftly captures the junkie food chain in an early sequence that finds the just-arrived teenager Randy Henry trying to bum a smoke from one of the Pennsylvania Hotel's mid-level entrepreneurs, Cliffe, a wild-eyed crack dealer. [More]

Nickelback: Give the people what they want *
Nickelback has its critics, but it couldn't care less. Millions of fans love what they do, and the band isn't about to let them down [More]

Nikon Coolpix 5400 digital camera ***
The Nikon Coolpix 5400 will be an excellent choice for beginners and savvy amateurs -- but not if the savvy amateurs think they might want more camera than that in the near future. [More]

Nothing More Comforting (Garber review) ****
Dorothy Duncan's ode to Canada's Heritage Food wins kudos . . .and four stars from Anne Garber. [More]

NOW PLAYING -- Friday, January 9, 2004 - Thursday, January 15, 2004 *
Current movies -- Friday, January 9, 2004 - Thursday, January 15, 2004 [More]

O'Pair fanny pack (Lassau review) ****
Four stars: A new "fashion accessory" helps keeps children close at hand. evalu8.org's Parenting Editor Marissa Lassau rates them at four stars. Mother-recommended in actual use. [More]

Oates harvests fresh delights from Garden ****
But the reworked novel is not the first case of literary history being rewritten [More]

Oral-B Pulsar (Keyes review) ****
One of the best things about the Pulsar is its versatility. You can forget to turn it on, or you can remember, and either way you get your teeth exactly the way you want, although forgetting seems to take somewhat longer. [More]

Oral-B Vitality (Thom Johnson review) ***
This entry into the increasingly crowded toothbrush market joins a whole slew of dental-hygiene products, vying for Happy Tooth recognition. [More]

Organic Coffee company (Garber review) ****
Suggested retail price for a two-pound bag of "Java Love" (my personal favourite -- it's a mild, "nutty" blend) is $16.95 (USD) from this site. [More]

Pirates of the Caribbean (Game review by Marc Saltzman) ****
Overall, Pirates of the Caribbean is an enjoyable, open-ended adventure that successfully combines combat with commerce — especially for those with an affinity for this kind of swashbuckling adventure. [More]

Pirates of the Caribbean -- Dead Man's Chest (Garber review) *****
LOVED it! Five Stars. [More]

Polar Express in IMAX 3D *****
An unbelieveable sensory experience earns THIS version of Polar Express an unqualified five stars! [More]

Provence Marinaside (Provence 2) ****
Perhaps the most wonderful taste of the summer, the Provence Marinaside is a beautiful venue delighting diners with the wonderful flavours of the season, the south of France and the Pacific Northwest. [More]

Quirky eye from the DVD guy *
WARREN CLEMENTS looks at the year's odd offerings and not-so-special features. [More]

Ratatouille (Garber review) *****
In the new animated-adventure, Ratatouille, a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great French chef despite his family's wishes and the rather obvious problem of, well, being a RAT -- in a kitchen. [More]

Real stories for real teens *
We were prepared for eternal darkness and bone-numbing cold. We'd shut down the summer house around the bay and hit the malls for school supplies. Then the radio said it would be 30 degrees on the weekend. A Newfoundland heat wave in mid-September. There's snow in Calgary, the radio said. I threw back my head and laughed. The radio said, I wouldn't laugh too loud if I were you. Okay, I'm sorry for Calgary, but quick, grab the bathing suits and picnic coolers -- everybody back in the car. [More]

Recommended DVDs: Finally, something to get animated about **** 1/2
For discs that go the extra mile, WARREN CLEMENTS recommends you find Pixar's Nemo set and a Warner Bros. tribute to Bugs, Daffy and friends. [More]

Rogers' Chocolates No-sugar added chocolate truffle selection (Garber review) **** 1/2
My favourite is the dark-chocolate-enrobed orange cream. [More]

Rogers' Chocolates No-sugar added dark chocolate bar (Garber review) *** 1/2
I found this delicious dark chocolate bar satisfying and delicious. [More]

Rogers' Chocolates No-sugar added milk chocolate bar (Garber review) *** 1/2
A Rogers no-sugar-added chocolate bar is a guilt-free pleasure. [More]

Salmon: The Cookbook (Garber review) *****
High in omega-3 and low in fat, salmon is the world's healthiest and most popular fish. The best salmon recipes from Whitecap Books are here in one indispensable volume. [More]

Sandisk Picture Viewer ***
The Sandisk Picture Viewer is picture-perfect for the digital photo buff, and the most phobic technophobe will have it running in seconds. It's portable, it's affordable, and it works like a charm ... anyone want a good deal on a used slide projector? [More]

Sandman: Not just a comic-book hero *
Neil Gaiman, author of the groundbreaking Sandman series, now frightens kids, including his own, LUMA MUHTADIE finds [More]

Schick's new Quattro for Women razor (Garber review) *** 1/2
I found that this razor delivered what it promises: A closer shave, with the potential for far fewer nicks and cuts. [More]

Schick's new Quattro Midnight razor (Johnson review) **** 1/2
I've often thought that the currently fashionable idea that "more is better" when it comes to razor blades was tending to the ridiculous. However, Schick's new Quattro Midnight razor set me up with a bit of a surprise. [More]

Sin City (graphic novel) ****
Watch for evalu8.org's review of the Sin City movie in the next few days. [More]

Sin City (Kit Johnson review) *****
In cinema, what Spiderman has achieved for comic books, Sin City will undoubtedly do for graphic novels, says Kit Johnson. He also calls it an "instant classic." Five stars, no less. [More]

Slow Cooking: not so fast food (Keyes review) ****
You don't have to be a world traveller or belong to the pretentious Slow Food Movement to relish the pleasures of nutritious food prepared, cooked and served in a leisurely fashion. [More]

SonoWave Wireless Internet Radio and Media Player (Johnson review) ***
Probably of more interest to an older demographic than the one our Kit Johnson represents (the 18 to 24 male group); but quite a useful accessory for baby-boomers. Three stars. [More]

South of the Border: El Gitano reigns *****
How many of us know that there's a vibrant and active -- and very large – Mexican community south of Bellingham and north of Seattle? [More]

Spartan: Starts strong. Goes all wonky (Groen review) ***
If fiction is a forgery, if art is a con, then David Mamet is a con artist extraordinaire. [More]

Spider-Man: A perfect entry for the spin cycle (Groen review) **** 1/2
From pricey action to deliciously cheap sight gags, the acrobatic arachnid turns out to be even better on the second go-round. [More]

Spoken Here...Last words? *
Only 30 people speak fluent Mohawk, but Manx is making a slow comeback. Montreal writer Mark Abley has travelled the world in search of the human stories behind dying languages, RAY CONLOGUE writes. [More]

Star Trek Elite Force II review (Ingram) *** 1/2
Some parts of this game are well done, and it is not unpleasant to look at or to play overall. But at the same time, there are some flaws that only a true Star Trek fan will be able to overlook. [More]

Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones - The IMAX Experience ****
...coming to the big, big screen... [More]

Statement falls flat ***
Despite its high-profile cast, this is a thriller that lacks suspense, and a story of moral urgency that moves at a snail's pace. [More]

Stealth (Kit Johnson review) ** 1/2
"Just enough plot to keep the special effects coming," is how I would sum up this action thriller. Don't get me wrong: There's plenty about the movie to like. It's gripping, edge-of-the-seat fun, but it certainly won't make your brain hurt in any way. [More]

Stuck on You: One double-edged joke ***
It's always a debate whether the latest Farrelly brothers comedy represents a new high or a new low for the reigning kings of sugar-coated gross-out. [More]

Sunbrushed Tan Fooled Snowbirds (Ramsay review) *****
The colour fooled my snowbird friends at the gym -- they accused me of sneaking off to Hawaii -- five stars. [More]

Sweetie Pie buttons latest fashion must-have *****
The pinback button is back this year, in a big way. [More]

Sybaritic Scotland **** 1/2
For years, if you asked someone what Scotland is most famous for, they would probably say Scotch. And until recently, they were right. But now Scotland is leading the market in another kind of pleasure that makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. [More]

Sylvia: Life inside the bell jar (Groen review) *** 1/2
Sylvia refuses to point fingers as it portrays the hellishly fertile period of Plath's union with Ted Hughes [More]

Taking Lives (Cole review) ****
Jolie sparkles in dark thriller... [More]

Tech at home: What's in store for 2004? *
Tech-related predictions are risky. Technological change moves faster than a greased cheetah on steroids, but the industry can also end up chasing its own tail when it comes to getting consumers to accept new ideas. Nonetheless, I'm going to stick my neck out and say that when the dust settles in 365 days, 2004 will be remembered as the year the computer invaded and conquered the family room. [More]

Tech Review: Smartdisk firelite portable hard drive (Garber review) *****
An essential piece of technological back-up. We reviewed the 80 GB USB 2.0 Firelite Portable External Hard Drive (model #USBFLB80). [More]

The real conspiracy of The Da Vinci Code (Garber commentary) *****
In the beginning, there was the book. And the book was The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown's juicy thriller involving the Holy Grail, violent sects, wild sex, a Vatican-sanctioned cover-up and, at its heart, the core belief that "almost everything our fathers taught us about Christianity is false." [More]

The Alamo: Pioneer Texans' patriotic act (Lacey review) *
"People expect things," says an apologetic Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton) on the eve of his death at the Alamo, by way of explaining to a fellow soldier that he's not really the river-jumping, bear-strangling wild man from Tennessee of his legend. [More]

The Aristocrats (Madelyn Miller review) *** 1/2
Warning: Not exactly a movie spoiler, but this review contains words and describes situations that are strictly for adults. Reader discretion is advised! [More]

The Big Book of Breakfast: Serious Comfort Food for Any Time of the Day ****
Breakfast -- it's not just for breakfast anymore. [More]

The Big Bounce: Caper is short on bounce *
Despite its robust cast, this movie often feels content to be second-rate -- underachieving and proud of it. [More]

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi -- Traipsing around the blood (Lacey review) *** 1/2
Takeshi (Beat) Kitano's shamelessly entertaining new martial-arts drama, The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi, has a fresh craziness that evokes the spirit of Felix the Cat -- violent, capricious, musical and endlessly inventive. [More]

The Butterfly Effect (Groen review) ** 1/2
Say this, and not much else, for The Butterfly Effect: It definitely makes good on that title. [More]

The Cat in the Hat: Yikes -- This Cat is on drugs (Lacey review) **
A semi-intriguing abomination, the movie The Cat in the Hat takes a piece of classic childhood Americana and turns it into something garish, dumb, ugly and senseless. [More]

The Cheesecake Factory, Seattle (Garber review) **** 1/2
This Seattle location is probably John's and my favourite, as it is right downtown, so there's lots to look at while we endure the inevitable wait for a table. [More]

The Chic Geek -- LCDs evalu8-ed *
Liquid-crystal displays are nice to have and the prices are crashing, but beyond the "cool" factor, it's still a bit difficult to justify paying several hundred dollars more for a 15-inch LCD over a comparably sized cathode-ray tube monitor. The LCD won't save you all that much space in the grand scheme of things for that size of monitor, and the picture quality is comparable. But now that 17-inch LCDs are coming down in price, the argument for flat panels gets a whole lot more compelling. [More]

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Garber review) *****
Controversy swirls around The Chronicles of Narnia and its author C.S. Lewis, but there's no denying this is a first-rate film, with some of the best special effects ever seen on the big screen. Five stars. [More]

The Company: Company worth keeping ****
Robert Altman takes a risk but lands on his feet with this affectionate, fly-on-the-wall look at performers who put their egos and bodies on the line. [More]

The Cooler: See a film without a compass at your own risk ** 1/2
It's a comedy, it's a romance, it's a gangster flick. The Cooler is all of that and much, much less. This is a movie without a compass, switching pace and direction as haphazardly as a caffeinated SUV driver on a cellphone.
Yeah, but what did you really think, Mr. G? For the record: We at evalu8.org liked this film a whole star more than Rick Groen did! Maybe you have to be into Vegas as much as we are. [More]

The Corporation: God Save us from the corporations ****
Corporations are wonderful things, if you own shares and they're up. But, as Enron's chief financial officer marched off to 10 years in prison this week, many agree that all is not well in the corporate world. Is it a question of "bad apples," or is the tree rotten? [More]

The Da Vinci Code (Garber review) *****
Sure, Tom Hanks is pretty much a "sure thing" in any new movie, and you can usually count on Ron Howard to deliver the goods, too, but with all the controversy surrounding the release of the movie, I admit I exhaled a sign of relief that it lived up to my expectations. [More]

The Day After Tomorrow (Groen review) ***
Freud would have a field day with Roland Emmerich. Born in Germany yet beloved in Tinseltown, Emmerich is a director who earns a fat living making big movies that trash American monuments to the sheer delight of American audiences. In the vapid Independence Day, he blew up the White House. In the god-awful Godzilla, he razed the Chrysler Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and Madison Square Garden. Now, in The Day After Tomorrow, he shreds the Hollywood sign, buries the Statue of Liberty up to her celebrated torch, and then gets seriously cold-hearted — turning everything above the Mason-Dixon line into one massive popsicle. Hmm, ponder the subtext only if you dare. [More]

The Dead Zone ***
Never one of Stephen King's most celebrated novels, his 1979 offering The Dead Zone, has proven to be one of his most enduring. [More]

The Dreamers: Bertolucci's ménage à blah (Groen review) *
Paris, May, 1968 -- sex is in the air, violence is in the streets, the revolution is on. But don't ever mistake the setting for the mood. [More]

The Fog of War: Older, but is he any wiser? (Lacey Review) *
Forever linked to the Vietnam War, Robert McNamara retouches his past in a gripping character study by filmmaker Errol Morris. [More]

The Girl Next Door: Risqué, but also risk-free business ***
The mainstream prominence of pornography gets a shove forward with the teen comedy, The Girl Next Door, an improbably-not-terrible teen sex comedy. [More]

The Housekeeper: The middle-aged follies (Lacey review) *
A hugely messy Paris apartment, clothes and bottles and plates strewn here and there, a flat-screen television where a tiny man silently plays the piano. The camera turns to see a middle-aged man, lying shoes-and-all on his sofa, suddenly waking up. He drags himself to his bedroom, hugs his pillow and falls asleep again. [More]

The Human Body (IMAX) *
Three years in the making, The Human Body reveals the incredible story of life. [More]

The Incredibles (Garber review) *****
From the Academy Award-winning creators of Toy Story, Monsters, Inc. and Finding Nemo, comes this hilarious, action-packed animated adventure about superheroes forced to try to blend in as "normal folks." [More]

The Ladies' Room Reader revisited ****
This book is ideal for a quick pick-up and put-down (if you can -- put it down that is) in the loo. Which also makes it a fun Valentine's gift for the girl-with a sense-of-the-bizarre. [More]

The Ladykillers (Groen review) *** 1/2
The Coens' direction does take a gorgeous first step. Their opening sequence is a weird and wonderful prelude to a recurring joke, but the sights go downhill from there. [More]

The Last Samurai: Pacific Cruise (Lacey review) *** 1/2
This western has travelled so far west it has become an eastern -- and a vehicle that takes a U.S. Civil War hero to Japan to find his inner samurai. [More]

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: It's the Lost Late Show Outtakes of the Fifties! (Lacey review) ** 1/2
The movie is the blockbuster antithesis, a celebration of vintage fifties and early sixties sci-fi schlock at its most pointless, although "celebration" is a bit too enthusiastic -- recapitulation would be more accurate. [More]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show: The Complete First Season DVD set ***
ISBN:B00005JLIC
Some missing elements, but still a solid collection. [More]

The Matador (Waldman Film Review) ****
Smooth as silk. Stirred but never shaken. Phrases like these sum up the persona of Pierce Brosnan. After being unceremoniously dumped by the James Bond producers, the man many consider the real heir to Sean Connery's coveted throne rebounds nicely in The Matador, a dynamic and hip tale of troubles galore. [More]

The Matrix Revolutions: The Matrix short-circuits (Lacey review) ** 1/2
The once-interesting concept has turned into a tired franchise where even the computer-generated heroics feel hackneyed. [More]

The Missing: Lost on the range ** 1/2
Looking for a film to match John Ford's vision? Keep searching, as Ron Howard misses the mark with this supernatural western. [More]

The Navigator of New York ****
Is this novel going to collect major awards and park itself on bestseller lists for months? [More]

The Perfect Score: A perfect waste of your time **
Oh, it's perfect all right. In fact, The Perfect Score is a flawless example of the classic January movie release -- the kind of studio picture that even the studio loathes, and so consigns to the dumping ground of the year's frosty first month. [More]

The Polar Express (Garber backgrounder) *****
The Academy Award-winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump," "Cast Away") reunite for The Polar Express, an inspiring adventure based on the beloved illustrated children's book by Chris Van Allsburg (Jumanji). [More]

The Pool (Alexiou review) ** 1/2
If you are planning to have your friends over for drinks and mindless fun, and want something on the TV that doesn't demand too much attention, than you could do worse than The Pool. Of course, you could do a lot better. [More]

The Prince & Me (Groen review) **
Royal meets rural: a stale tale. [More]

The Punisher: Characters aren't alone in getting punished here (Cole review) * 1/2
"Go with God," a sympathetic rescuer advises FBI special agent Frank Castle after hauling him in from the sea. Frank could use some help steering. He just took two in the chest from a gang of assassins. [More]

The Romantic: Raising a glass to the literary alcoholic ****
The Romantic, released in the spring of this year and long-listed for the Booker, is about the relationship between an alcoholic musician, Abel Richter, who drinks himself to death and the young woman who loves him. [More]

The Singing Detective: Potter's magic too great for big screen (Groen review) ***
When it first aired back in the eighties, The Singing Detective became an instant landmark in long-form television, proving what could be accomplished when the medium's generous expanse of running time got harnessed to a singular (and single) creative talent -- in this case, Britain's Dennis Potter. [More]

The Snow Walker (Groen review) ****
Love story is worth gnawing on. [More]

The Stepford Wives: Even the satire seems fake (Lacey review) * 1/2
There goes the neighbourhood -- the 2004 remake of a mid-seventies cult classic, The Stepford Wives, comes across as a vapid clone, just like its female characters. [More]

The Terminal: This turkey just doesn't fly (Groen review) **
Not even the golden touch of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg can clear the lame script and static visuals for takeoff. [More]

The Triplets of Belleville (Groen review) **** 1/2
Every good movie isn't necessarily hard to describe, but every movie that's hard to describe is necessarily good. I'm talking about films so wedded to their medium, so tightly a fusion of sight and sound, that they dodge the explanatory lasso of mere words. Being John Malkovich is a fairly recent example — even its plot has to be seen to be appreciated. Now add The Triplets of Belleville to that short list. And did I mention it's a cartoon? [More]

The trouble with Harry (Groen review) ***
The hero's getting older -- his hormones kick in with this third instalment -- but the Potter franchise isn't getting better. In fact, despite a new director, this is a case of diminishing returns. [More]

The Vision: Green Stone of Healing Book One (Garber review) ****
There must be legions of writers out there who read Dune and Lord of the Rings as children (and Harry Potter as adults) who said to themselves: "Hey, I can write a complex multi-volume story peopled with exotic, well-drawn characters and an air of magic and healing." C.L. Talmadge actually achieves this end with a fascinating first-of-a-series book. . . [More]

The Whole Ten Yards (Cole review) ** 1/2
Should have quit while ahead by nine. [More]

Thirty Days: Tony Blair and the Test of History-- This 'poodle' is not for turning *
At 7:30 a.m. on the morning of April 7, 2003, as the newly-captured Baghdad airport was receiving its first U.S. planes and British troops were securing the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Tony Blair was playing with a toy train set. [More]

Tibet: Cry of The Snow Lion (Lacey review) ****
Cry, the beloved kingdom... [More]

Time to embrace the wicked witch *
The dastardly sorceress spices Sleeping Beauty, writes WARREN CLEMENTS, while an earlier Titanic hits the iceberg of melodrama. [More]

Timeline: Where are Monty Python when you need them? ** 1/2
The 13th century, in case you hadn't noticed, rocks. First there was cute Heath Ledger, breaking bread with Chaucer in A Knight's Tale; then there was Martin Lawrence as Sir Jamal in Black Knight, teaching a 13th-century court how to shake their medieval booties. [More]

Tom Hanks Drives The Polar Express *
Tom Hanks talks about his animated holiday film, The Polar Express. . . [More]

Tool Review: Google Toolbar *
It's an addictive tool, especially for those who really work the Internet as a research resource. And it's free. [More]

Toronto International Film Festival: The best . . . and the rest *
MINI REVIEWS: The following assessments of major films at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, are by Rick Groen (R.G.), Liam Lacey (L.L.), Ray Conlogue (R.C.), James Adams (J.A.) and Mark Peranson (M.P.) [More]

Toronto twist to Dickens keeps it down and dirty (Groen review) ***
Twist is a contemporary retelling of the Dickens classic -- Oliver Twist, of course -- that squeezes from the book most of the humour and all of the hope and anything resembling a happy ending. [More]

Touching the Void: Out of touch, out of time ****
Interviews and dramatic scenes recount a legendary climb in the Andes that became a harrowing struggle to survive. [More]

Tracy Chevalier: Girl with the pearl history *
Author Tracy Chevalier talks to RAY CONLOGUE about a new film, a new book, and an old label. [More]

Trader Joe's comes to Bellingham area *
Yes, the rumours are true: Trader Joe's is coming to Bellingham. [More]

Travel gadget: BagFinder (Luggage tags) & HandleWraps (Garber review) *****
These are luggage tags and identifiers that really work, helping your same-as-everyone-else's luggage really "stand out in the crowd." [More]

Tundra Russian-style hats (Garber review) *****
Drawing from his experiences with the family business, Aras Baskauskas put a decidedly unique twist on the Russian fur hat. Five-star rating for this super product. [More]

Twisted (Groen review) ** 1/2
Done in by a thin script... [More]

Under the Tuscan Sun: Reno' romance a fixer-upper ***
The golden landscapes of Tuscany are the background in Under the Tuscan Sun, an improbable reworking of Frances Mayes's best-selling non-fiction book about a woman's midlife romantic awakening fantasy. [More]

Valentine Treats, recipes and crafts for the whole family ****
ISBN:0811825922
Even the littlest cherubs will join in the fun with simple nosegays and no-fuss "Peanut Butter with Love Sandwiches." [More]

Vij's **** 1/2
[More]

Vintage Humor For Wine Lovers ****
Wine and humor are a formula for friendship [More]

Vistas Revolving Restaurant ****
Originally opened as the Top of the Inn Restaurant in '75, this restaurant has undergone renos, re-namings, closings, and re-openings to re-emerge and reinvent itself in 2002 as Vistas Revolving Restaurant, the ideal combination of excellent cuisine, elegant atmosphere and panoramic views. Naturally tourists will flock here, but Lower Mainland residents are sure to designate Vistas as the special occasion restaurant. One complete 360° revolution of the restaurant takes about an hour, affording diners plenty of time to take in the amazing scenery of Coal Harbour, East Van, Burnaby, Richmond and Tsawwassen, UBC, the West End, and Stanley Park. [More]

VIVA LAS HOCKEY *
"Teeth: Another Thing to Lose in Las Vegas." That slogan on the back of the T-shirt of a fan in front of us on the escalator up to the game between the Las Vegas Wranglers and the visiting San Diego Gulls spoke volumes about the positive, feisty, no-hold's-barred attitude toward hockey in America's fastest-growing adult playground. [More]

War of the Worlds (Keyes review) ** 1/2
Cruise stars as Ray Ferrier, a divorced dockworker and less-than-perfect father. Soon after his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) and her new husband drop off his teenage son Robbie (Justin Chatwin) and young daughter Rachel (Dakota Fanning) for a rare weekend visit, a strange and powerful lightning storm touches down. John Keyes advises: Wait for the DVD. [More]

Weekday Wonders (Garber review) ****
Here's a book that will take the stress out of dinner. Healthy time saving meals with suggestions for a month of menus, as well as make-a-head tips for every recipe. Rose Reisman's flair for great flavours (with health in mind) will make this a favourite in the kitchen. In keeping with Reisman's heart-healthy tradition, the palate-pleasing, waist-watching and time saving collection of recipes featured in this new collection (over 175), include many which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Other books by Reisman include The Art of Living Well, Divine Indulgences, Rose Reisman's Enlightened Home Cooking, and Light Cooking. [More]

Welcome to Mooseport: Does anybody love Romano's Mooseport? ** 1/2
Everybody loved Ray, but this flick needs a better script. [More]

Western exposure: Artist Robert Smithson **** 1/2
Artist Robert Smithson had a taste for the magnificence of nature, SARAH MILROY writes, and British Columbia fit the bill. A current exhibition tells the tale of his four visits [More]

Win a date with Tad Hamilton (Lacey review) *** 1/2
Sweet but clumsy, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton is a youth film with an appealing cast and not much idea what to do with it. [More]

Wordplay (Keyes review) ****
The editor of the NYT puzzles since 1993 has been a genial cryptologist named Will Shortz, whose avowed mission is to "stretch people's brains and bring joy to their lives." John Keyes gives this new movie four stars. [More]

Yellow Dog: Swiftian Amis right on target *** 1/2
By the time he published Gulliver's Travels in 1726, Jonathan Swift was presumed by many to be a misanthrope, a hater of his own species... [More]

You Got Served: Dance frenzy bookends dour drama *
There ain't much to You Got Served, but at least this teensploitation flick is bookended by two frenzied sequences that fully exploit the visual potential of street dancing. [More]

Zako's Deli (Garber review) ***
The place is modest, but scrupulously clean (I even checked the well-stocked and spotless restroom), the prices are very reasonable, and there's a nice "community vibe" about the room. [More]

Secondary Sites:
* Deja Vu (Déjà Vu -- Garber review) *****
Gripping, entertaining and a real work-out for your brain, this new release delivers on all counts. Five stars. [More]

* Globe & Mail Movie Look-up *