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This feed is subject to our terms of use: http://www.epinions.com/help/rss_terms http://www.epinions.com/user-mike.holmes Recent reviews written by member mike.holmes en-us 121 37 http://www.epinions.com/ http://img.epinions.com/images/epi_images/logos/epinions_121.gif http://www.epinions.com/content_490764078724?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - "Heat Wave" is written by a famous mystery writer, Richard Castle, as the first in a new series of books.  Castle has written several bestselers featuring Derrick Storm but the author grew tired of Storm (and killed him off as Doyle tried to do... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~490764078724 Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:25:28 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_490764078724?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_490519236228?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've been a fan of The Manhattan Transfer since they first started singing in the early 70's.  The quartet has remained the same since 1979:  Cheryl Bentyne, Tim Hauser, Alan Paul and Janis Siegel.  The group has specialized in vocalese... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~490519236228 Wed, 4 Nov 2009 02:15:36 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_490519236228?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_490266267268?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - This is the fourth book in the William Monk detective series written by Anne Perry.  It's also the fourth review I've written.  Once again, Ms. Perry, who also wrote another popular Victorian period mystery series involving Thomas and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~490266267268 Sun, 1 Nov 2009 22:09:42 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_490266267268?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_490044755588?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've looked forward to this film since I saw the first trailers for the movie.  In the first place, I don't believe that there could have been a better choice than Hilary Swank for the role of the Amelia Earhart.  I was somewhat stunned... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~490044755588 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:24:56 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_490044755588?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489965325956?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I was lucky to see Grant Stewart in person in Midland, Texas when he played with a group that included fellow sax player Harry Allen.  This is my second review of a Grant Stewart CD and, once again, the young man from Canada (originally) has... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489965325956 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:46:36 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489965325956?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489732607620?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I thought that I had reviewed at least one previous Michael Buble CD but I was wrong.  The young man from Canada has been singing since his teen years.  With the help of his family, he moved from smoky bars all the way to a gig at Madison... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489732607620 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:32:15 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489732607620?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489463058052?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I was somewhat stunned to see that this is the first review for this film.  It's been out for two weeks but it's not exactly bringing the large box office numbers.  But, I thought somebody would have reviewed it.  The film is a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489463058052 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:23:35 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489463058052?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489300987524?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - Although I had seen the trailers for this film, I knew nothing of the source material for the movie.  That source material is a series of books by Darren Shan which evidently starts with "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" (the official title... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489300987524 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:04:42 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489300987524?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_489138065028?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - Buzz Bissinger (aka H.G. Bissinger) is best known for "Friday Night Lights" which covered the 1988 football season of my home town team, the Permian Panthers.  That book caused quite a stir here in Odessa, Texas although for the most part Bissinger... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~489138065028 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:04:15 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_489138065028?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488954171012?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - The title to my review is intentionally misleading.  Gretchen Parlato is indeed a jazz vocalist, but, as far as I know, she doesn't play an instrument.  However, as her website bio points out, Ms. Parlato "blurs the line between singer and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488954171012 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:03:42 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488954171012?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488621772420?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've heard that this movie was made for an unbelievably low $15,000.  It's been compared to "Blair Witch Project" and "Cloverfield".  I found the film superior to both of those movies.THE PLOTThe opening scene of the movie shows... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488621772420 Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:15:37 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488621772420?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488505249412?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've wanted to see this film since the first trailers came out.  I'm a fan of both Jamie Foxx ("Ray", "Collateral", "Dreamgirls") and Gerard Butler ("300", "The Phantom of the Opera", "Gamer") and the plot certainly looked interesting.  I read... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488505249412 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:58:16 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488505249412?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488283803268?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - This is a fairly difficult review to write without mentioning why I read the book in the first place.  I married a very wonderful woman 10 years ago (after a not-so-great first marriage of 30 years).  My wife and I have been very happy for most... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488283803268 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:48:11 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488283803268?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_488040533636?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - Twenty years ago, I started DJ'ing "All That Jazz" on my local NPR station, KOCV.  At that time I thought I knew a lot about jazz since I had been listening to it for the greater part of 40 years.  I wanted to "teach" my fellow West Texans... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~488040533636 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:27:06 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_488040533636?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_487849299588?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - Although the trailers for this film were funny, I wasn't all that sure I wanted to see the movie.  I love good horror films (although I don't care much for most slasher films anymore).  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~487849299588 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:35:57 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_487849299588?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_487659966084?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - This is the second Tom Braxton CD that I've reviewed.  It was released a few days ago and my wife and I are going to see Mr. Braxton's "debut concert" for the CD in two days in Midland, Texas.  Tom is originally from Lubbock, Texas where he... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~487659966084 Thu, 8 Oct 2009 23:43:44 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_487659966084?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_487393758852?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've never been a big fan of fantasy novels.  I love science fiction but, for some reason, fantasy just didn't appeal to me.  While I was recently picking up another book at Barnes and Noble, I saw "The Law of Nines" in the new book area. ... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~487393758852 Tue, 6 Oct 2009 15:38:51 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_487393758852?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486974459524?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - While the concept for this film is not entirely original, the film nevertheless works for the most part.  The premise for the film is that man never learned to lie.THE PLOTAfter a brief narration offscreen,  Mark Bellison (Ricky... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486974459524 Fri, 2 Oct 2009 19:14:52 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486974459524?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486881857156?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - As I wrote in my previous review of the Charles Tolliver big band album, 2007's "With Love", Mr. Tolliver is one of those "overnight success" stories who has taken decades to be recognized.  Tolliver was born in 1942, started playing trumpet (or... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486881857156 Fri, 2 Oct 2009 00:02:05 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486881857156?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486656740996?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - Harry Connick, Jr. is one of the top selling jazz aritists of all time.  Born in 1967, he started learning the keyboard at 3, playing in public at 6 and recording at 10.  Although he is known primarily as a jazz player and singer (in his music... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486656740996 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:28:47 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486656740996?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486494539396?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I enjoyed both "Angels & Demons" and "The Da Vinci Code" although I must admit that neither of the books qualify as great literature.  However, both books, and this one for that matter, are exciting with a nice mixture of "reality" with Brown's... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486494539396 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:44:30 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486494539396?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486317526660?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - This movie had some excellent trailers that convinced me to see it.  For one thing, I like Dennis Quaid ("Frequency", "The Rookie", "Enemy Mine") although I wasn't thrilled with his other new film, "G.I. Joe".  Although Quaid is the biggest... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486317526660 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:21:27 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486317526660?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486200282756?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I had some hope for this film.  I like Bruce Willis ("The Sixth Sense", "Twelve Monkeys", "Pulp Fiction") and the beautiful Radha Mitchell ("Silent Hill", "Visitors", "Finding Neverland").  The premise seemed promising:  a world of... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486200282756 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:27:39 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486200282756?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_486117838468?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I was pleasantly surprised last week when I discovered this CD in my local music shop.  Count Basie is one of the all-time greats of jazz but we lost him in 1984 just after he had reached 80.  I was lucky enough to see him with his big band on... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~486117838468 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:13:50 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_486117838468?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_485963828868?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author mike.holmes - I've wanted to see this film since I first heard about it and saw the trailers.  Director Steven Soderbergh has made some excellent serious films including "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" and a number of humorous films such as the "Ocean's 11, 12... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~485963828868 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:25:18 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_485963828868?linkin_id=8003929