Welcome to the second Epinions Community Commentsment* Write-Off
Writers with experience on Epinions.com -- a Web site on which people post reviews about everything from books to beer, movies to modems, cars to cosmetics -- are taking time around Dec. 15, 2001 to read works by new writers and to encourage their participation on the site by leaving constructive comments on the newcomers' writing. Most of the writers taking part were fortunate to have someone leave encouragement and advice on our early reviews, and this is one way for us to try to repay those kindnesses.
Links to reviews by new writers and to the Epinions profile pages of the veteran writers are provided below and on a second page. This page will have links to reviews by writers who wrote about books and movies.
NEW Epinions writer cletta1201 offers an argument that Michael Rappaport, one of the stars of Boston Public on Fox TV, deserves more recognition, especially for his performance in John Singleton's Higher Learning, which she recommends strongly. "Despite the fact, that in this movie, Rappaport has a role that doesn’t allow you to see his complete range and skill as an actor, you feel sad for him because in his innate desire to want to belong to some group, he ends up making the worst decision of his life. As a supporting actor, I believe that Rappaport steals the show away from his co-stars (Omar Epps, Kristi Swanson, Tyra Banks) and shows us as viewers why he’s so good. In this role he shows us isolation, pity, desire, love, hatred, disgust. He runs the gamut on the emotions meter and shows you some of his skills. He might not be the lead actor in this movie, but he certainly holds his own."
VETERAN Epinions writer LEDOMAINE finds cletta1201's argument convincing: "You did a great job with your argument for Mr. Rappaport. I'll have to consciously watch for his performances from now on. You've piqued my interest, and the name is familiar. Thanks."
NEW Epinions writer tigger500 enthusiastically recommends Urbania: "Urbania is a rumination on grief. Probably the best film to really deal with and make real and whole that feeling, the loneliness, the randomness of perspective and mood. It's all here, you just gotta pay attention. We follow Charlie through one night as he goes from a rather simple spacey nice guy to a completely broken and haunting individual. This film demands a lot from you and if you aren't caught up in it, then I don't have anything to tell you except...I'm so so sorry."
VETERAN Epinions writer LEDOMAINE says that tigger500 has written "another great review": "Your insight into film is superb [guess, maybe THAT's why you chose Film as your major? **lol**]... I especially am impressed with your reviews when you make statements like: [and I quote you] "Every person is in here for a reason. Even if they don't fit into a neat narrative, tonally they breath life into Charlie's world and each of them is vital to the whole.
"We don't like Samuel Ball's Dean, rather, we aren't supposed to like Dean. It is a testament to Ball's portrayal that Dean doesn't become a symbol or a punchline."
NEW Epinions writer dijinn enthustiastically recommends The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco: "I do hope that you will take the opportunity to read The Name of the Rose critically and ponder it, but if you only read it for mere entertainment sake it is a worthwhile story. It is very impressive in scope and style. The first 100 pages are admittedly a little rough, but they were designed that way intentionally – you are entering the Abbey and your pace is beginning to match theirs… slow and methodical. Leap this hurdle and you will enjoy this novel regardless of your reading level."
VETERAN Epinions writer jsgoddess admires dijinn's expression of his appreciation for Eco's work, although she doesn't share that enthusiasm: "I'm off to read more of your reviews. I enjoyed this even though I kept saying to myself, 'No no no!'"
NEW Epinions writer drjonslater, whose brief review can be read only by people who are logged on to Epinions, enthustiastically recommends Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny by Robert Wright: "Underlying the book is the idea that societies evolve because they confer a survival advantage to their members. Technology allows greater levels of social complexity. Wright considers the implications this has for our present apex of society, the nation state, as well as institutions such as democracy, liberty and equality which we now value."
VETERAN Epinions writer hadassahchana commends drjonslater's writing, but suggests this review needs more detail: "Your review was very interesting, and the book itself sound intriguing. I'd have preferred to read a bit more about it, hence my lower rating than your writing would normally get."
NEW Epinions writer jukka51 enthustiastically recommends Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook by Anya Von Bremzen and John Welchman: Von Bremzen "gives you a very interesting insight on Russian food, history of some traditions, how to eat certain dishes and why. The authors also compiled lists of dishes that go well together, and some traditional menus, and this makes it easy for a person who is not familiar with Russian cuisine to decide how to combine various dishes in one dinner. There are plenty of cooking tips in the books, some quotes from Classic Russian literature, and a bunch of humorous articles on how to eat this or that."
VETERAN Epinions writer theeye is impressed with this critique by jukka51, whose native language is Russian: "What a wonderful review, filled with delicious details and persuasive analysis. And despite your apologetic start, I find that your command of English is quite good!
"I do hope you'll share a few more of your likes (and even dislikes) with us. Welcome to epinions!"
NEW Epinions writer kaochan recommends (with reservations) Exquisite Corpse, a novel by Poppy Z. Brite: "There's no happily ever after in this book, there isn't even a quietly upbeat or even ambiguous ending - it's bleak, bleak, bleak, but there's a twisted feeling of romance to it."
VETERAN Epinions writer pageclot commends kaochan's review: "Although kaochan's written only 5 reviews, there's a passion in her writing, especially about books, that takes her reviews to a higher level, engaging the reader. She almost made me want to read a couple of books that appeal primarily to goths, a genre I don't normally read very much. I look forward to reading more of her reviews!"
NEW Epinions writer scrptrjn316 enthustiastically recommends The Joyful Christian by C.S. Lewis: "Lewis was, in my opinion, one of Christianity's finest theologians and it's no surprise that his work is still popular nearly 40 years after his death. He wrote about theology in away that makes it easy for even the newest Christian to understand, while still staying within orthodoxy. He had quite a way with words, and one of the most unique things about his writing, I think, is the metaphors he used to justify Christian beliefs."
VETERAN Epinions writer jsgoddess sees promise in scrptrjn316's review: "It's nice to see someone reviewing one of my favorite authors, especially his more 'serious' work. I have a couple of suggestions that might make this review even better than it is, if you're interested. Don't get me wrong, it's a good start."
NEW Epinions writer zoned233 emphatically does not recommend The Wonderland Murders by Kent Braithwaite: "My opinion (or epinion) is this: It is drivel. It is rubbish. It is cardboard characters spewing hackneyed lines in settings which come off as having no more depth than the paper they’re printed on. And speaking of paper, I’m reminded of the old (and pretty hackneyed itself, sorry) reviewer’s line which goes something like: 'One suggested use of this book’s pages would be for the lining of birdcages.' I wouldn’t suggest this, however, lest you risk the ire of PETA. And if your bird happens to be a parrot…well, I shudder to think what words it might screech at you for your offense."
VETERAN Epinions writer eplovejoy is impressed with zoned233's first (and so far only) review: "I appreciate the brazen glee which you bring to pointing out Braithwaite's ineptitude."
* Commentsment, the name for which was suggested by Sloucho, could turn into a series of similar events. If so, the next one would be in the spring, around April 13.
The main page for the first Commentsment is here. Please contact: pww5@columbia.edu if you would like to be notified about possible upcoming Epinions Community Commentsments. Participants in Commentsment2 will be notified automatically if there is a third, although participation in this one does not, of course, presume participation in subsequent ones.
Another forum in which writing by newcomers to Epinions can be promoted is the "New and Noteworthy" section of Epinion Addicts, a free discussion board open to writers on Epinions.
