John Grisham novels are difficult to rate as movies. On one hand Grisham’s work translates to well to pop culture that his books are almost cinematic. On the other, the “book-is-never-as-good-as-the-movie”-ism applies. Some of Grisham’s books have been quite good- “The Firm” was a terrifically exciting movie (Tom Cruise was letter-perfect for the role of Mitch McDeere), and “The Rainmaker” (which gave Matt Damon his start) certainly surprised me with a touching story of an underdog who upsets the system. Some have been mediocre to bad- “The Pelican Brief” and “The Chamber” fit the latter category, “The Client” the former. “A Time to Kill”, in my opinion, is the best of them all because the author gives his audience a tough choice to make about what justice is. Pack in some sterling acting performances and this is one pretty darn good movie.

The plot? After his young daughter is viciously raped and assaulted by rednecks (no, John Rocker doesn’t have a cameo), Samuel L. Jackson guns down the two assailents on their way to court. He is subsequently put on trial by the local DA, and defended by an idealistic white attorney. Jackson’s trial becomes a swirling tempest for local hatreds to be aired.

Director Joel Schumacher certainly surprised me with good work, despite being the man who made “Batman & Robin”. It helps to assemble some serious acting talent- Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey (the DA) are both recognized actors (Spacey having won an Oscar for “The Usual Suspects”, and Jackson is *long* overdue for getting one himself), so the big surprise was Matthew McConaughey’s sterling performance as the idealistic, passionate attorney who defends Jackson. McConaughey is a terrific actor- laid back, easy-going but with just enough passion and intensity. This movie put him on the map and it is easy to see why he is a talent in demand. Sandra Bullock and Ashley Judd have roles here but don’t make much of an impression. Donald Sutherland and Keifer both have parts too- the former as Matthew McConaughey’s mentor (a role he’s quite good in, incidentally) and the latter as a local redneck.

Finally, a word about the plot: the best movies give us a sticky problem that can’t be resolved easily. The tricky choice in “Crimson Tide” is a beautiful example of a decision that could go either way and gives the audience something to debate about afterwards. Here we’re given a tricky choice- vengeance or justice? Do we acquit Samuel L. Jackson because in our hearts he did what we all would do in his place? Or do we punish him for taking the law into his own hands? It’s a rough choice to make, and the movie refuses to give us an easy answer.

Well done.

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http://iqmediagroup.com/archives/1663/comment-page-1#comment-36903 Daniel A Lorek Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:59:17 +0000 http://iqmediagroup.com/archives/1663#comment-36903 <div style="margin-left:0.5em;"> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> 103 of 119 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <span style="margin-left: -5px;"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-3-0._V192240710_.gif" width="64" alt="3.0 out of 5 stars" title="3.0 out of 5 stars" height="12" border="0"/></span> <b>Don't believe the marketing hype...</b>, <nobr>September 21, 2011</nobr></div> <div style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <div><div style="float:left;">By </div><div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A29JN79QTCYL9/ref=cm_cr_if_pdp/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&tag=spiritualco-20&linkCode=xm2" target="_top"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel A Lorek</span></a> (San Diego, CA United States) - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A29JN79QTCYL9/ref=cm_cr_if_auth_rev/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&tag=spiritualco-20&linkCode=xm2&sort_by=MostRecentReview" target="_top"></a></div></div><div style="clear:both;"/> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <span class="crVerifiedStripe"><b class="h3color tiny" style="margin-right: 0.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</b><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase/185-7243787-6753500" target="AmazonHelp" onclick="amz_js_PopWin('http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase/185-7243787-6753500', 'AmazonHelp', 'width=400,height=500,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,toolbar=0,status=1');return false; ">What's this?</a>)</span></span> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:0.5em;"> <b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder (Newest Model) (Camera)</b> </div> I've only used the camera a couple of times so far... the first of which was during a consistent light rain while mountain biking out on the trails here in the Pacific Northwest. In the product description you'll find a whole paragraph describing how this unit is "super tough" and how the "ContourROAM is made to withstand encounters with everything from eating mud puddles", etc. After one outing in not super tough conditions I wound up with the front glass (or plastic, not sure what it's made of) having scratches in it from me wiping it clear while riding down the trail so that I could film. <br/><br/>This is not a huge deal for me as most surfaces will scratch when rubbed with wet dirt, fine, I get that. So, I contacted Contour describing what happened and asked if I could order some replacement glass for the front or if the existing lens refresh kits would work. Here's the reply from Contour:<br/><br/>There are currently no replacement lenses available. I'm told that opening the ROAM camera will lose it's waterproof rating and thus void the warranty. The ROAM does however come with a protective lens cap for when the camera is not in use. <br/>We do hope to have a different scratched lens solution for the ROAM that does not void the warranty in the near future. Thank you for being patient.<br/><br/>A different scratched lens solution? Sounds like there is no lens scratch solution so buyer beware. <br/><br/>I am pleased with the video quality but think the HD model with the 60fps mode would have been a better choice specially when you can find them for 40% cheaper than this non-serviceable model. There's a reason why the GoPro's are so successful. <br/><div style="padding-top: 10px; clear: both; width: 100%;"> <div style="float:left; padding-right:15px; border-right:1px solid #CCCCCC"><div style="padding-bottom:5px;"><b class="tiny" style="color:#666666;white-space:nowrap;">Help other customers find the most helpful reviews</b> </div><div style="width:300px;"> <a name="RIWM7XFDJ50B1.2115.Helpful.Reviews" style="font-size:1px;"> </a><span><span class="votingPrompt">Was this review helpful to you? </span><a rel="nofollow" class="votingButtonReviews" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/Helpful/1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&token=1C09CAFEB9AC8FD1EB614D47D62A4C920B172198&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDA1R0xGU1lRL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTg1LTcyNDM3ODctNjc1MzUwMD9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjAmdj0yJmxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZhc2luPUIwMDVHTEZTWVEmdHJ1bmNhdGU9NTAwMCZha2lkPUFLSUFKRUpTRjJSN0NFR1dCTUdRJnNpZz12aTNJZXRNZjZHOTNQVXUlMkZDZkNMa0J2JTJCc0xHRm9Pa1hNbHNyTzJORVQzSSUzRCZleHA9MjAxMi0wMi0xMVQxMyUzQTQzJTNBNDdaJmF0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjA&voteAnchorName=RIWM7XFDJ50B1.2115.Helpful.Reviews&voteSessionID=185-7243787-6753500"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-yes-sec-md._V192249951_.gif" width="35" alt="Yes" style="vertical-align:middle;" height="18" border="0"/></a> <a rel="nofollow" class="votingButtonReviews" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/Helpful/-1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&token=728B56BCE83E8EB5E1BF20C405A1B7403EF5127D&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDA1R0xGU1lRL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTg1LTcyNDM3ODctNjc1MzUwMD9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjAmdj0yJmxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZhc2luPUIwMDVHTEZTWVEmdHJ1bmNhdGU9NTAwMCZha2lkPUFLSUFKRUpTRjJSN0NFR1dCTUdRJnNpZz12aTNJZXRNZjZHOTNQVXUlMkZDZkNMa0J2JTJCc0xHRm9Pa1hNbHNyTzJORVQzSSUzRCZleHA9MjAxMi0wMi0xMVQxMyUzQTQzJTNBNDdaJmF0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjA&voteAnchorName=RIWM7XFDJ50B1.2115.Helpful.Reviews&voteSessionID=185-7243787-6753500"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/reviews/btn-no-sec-md._V192249949_.gif" width="35" alt="No" style="vertical-align:middle;" height="18" border="0"/></a> <span class="votingMessage"/></span> </div></div><div style="float:left;"><div style="padding-left:15px;"><div style="white-space:nowrap;"><span class="tiny"> <a name="RIWM7XFDJ50B1.2115.Inappropriate.Reviews" style="font-size:1px;"> </a><span class="reportingButton"><nobr><a rel="nofollow" class="reportingButton" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/voting/cast/Reviews/2115/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/Inappropriate/1/ref=cm_cr_ifvoteyn/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&token=39596C7E2BBBB9F498C750CB04C38A913C6E5008&target=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL3Byb2R1Y3QtcmV2aWV3cy9CMDA1R0xGU1lRL3JlZj1jbV9jcl9pZnZvdGVyZHIvMTg1LTcyNDM3ODctNjc1MzUwMD9fZW5jb2Rpbmc9VVRGOCZzdW1tYXJ5PTAmYWxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZ0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjAmdj0yJmxpbmtDb2RlPXhtMiZhc2luPUIwMDVHTEZTWVEmdHJ1bmNhdGU9NTAwMCZha2lkPUFLSUFKRUpTRjJSN0NFR1dCTUdRJnNpZz12aTNJZXRNZjZHOTNQVXUlMkZDZkNMa0J2JTJCc0xHRm9Pa1hNbHNyTzJORVQzSSUzRCZleHA9MjAxMi0wMi0xMVQxMyUzQTQzJTNBNDdaJmF0YWc9c3Bpcml0dWFsY28tMjA&voteAnchorName=RIWM7XFDJ50B1.2115.Inappropriate.Reviews&voteSessionID=185-7243787-6753500"></a></nobr></span> </span> <span style="color:#CCCCCC;">|</span> <span class="tiny"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/ref=cm_cr_if_perm/?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005GLFSYQ&nodeID=&tag=spiritualco-20&linkCode=xm2" target="_top"></a></span></div><div style="white-space:nowrap;padding-left:-5px;padding-top:5px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/ref=cm_cr_if_cmt/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005GLFSYQ&nodeID=&tag=spiritualco-20&linkCode=xm2#wasThisHelpful" target="_top"><img src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/comment-sm._V192250344_.gif" width="16" alt="Comment" hspace="3" align="absmiddle" height="16" border="0"/></a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/review/RIWM7XFDJ50B1/ref=cm_cr_if_cmt/185-7243787-6753500?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B005GLFSYQ&nodeID=&tag=spiritualco-20&linkCode=xm2#wasThisHelpful" target="_top">Comments (16)</a></div></div></div><div style="clear:both;"/> </div> <br/></div>

103 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

Don’t believe the marketing hype…, September 21, 2011

By 

Daniel A Lorek (San Diego, CA United States) –

Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

This review is from: ContourROAM Hands-free HD Camcorder (Newest Model) (Camera)

I’ve only used the camera a couple of times so far… the first of which was during a consistent light rain while mountain biking out on the trails here in the Pacific Northwest. In the product description you’ll find a whole paragraph describing how this unit is “super tough” and how the “ContourROAM is made to withstand encounters with everything from eating mud puddles”, etc. After one outing in not super tough conditions I wound up with the front glass (or plastic, not sure what it’s made of) having scratches in it from me wiping it clear while riding down the trail so that I could film.

This is not a huge deal for me as most surfaces will scratch when rubbed with wet dirt, fine, I get that. So, I contacted Contour describing what happened and asked if I could order some replacement glass for the front or if the existing lens refresh kits would work. Here’s the reply from Contour:

There are currently no replacement lenses available. I’m told that opening the ROAM camera will lose it’s waterproof rating and thus void the warranty. The ROAM does however come with a protective lens cap for when the camera is not in use.
We do hope to have a different scratched lens solution for the ROAM that does not void the warranty in the near future. Thank you for being patient.

A different scratched lens solution? Sounds like there is no lens scratch solution so buyer beware.

I am pleased with the video quality but think the HD model with the 60fps mode would have been a better choice specially when you can find them for 40% cheaper than this non-serviceable model. There’s a reason why the GoPro’s are so successful.

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