Okay, so we all like each other. Well, mostly. S-o-o-o, it does stand to reason that each and every one of has an outstanding DVD to recommend for me ( & the rest of the forums gang) to rent for viewing over the holidays:
Two categories:
1.) Seasonal DVD that we must watch
2.) Non-seasonal any genre DVD that will make our holiday viewing.
Thanking you in advance.
I want a small car, but one with some utility for carrying things. My wife would like me to get one with 4WD or AWD since I ski a lot. I'm not really sold on that due to the lower gas mileage, but I've researched the CR-V and the RAV4 and neither one has a manual transmission as an option anymore. I'm personally eyeing the Mazda 3 hatchback and a stick is available on that model.
I happen to think that the American mentality of driving automatics stems from our roadways. We have no autobahn and the majority of US drivers spend their time in traffic where speeds change constantly. It is understandable that people would prefer automatics in these circumstances. In many parts or Europe there are still open stretches of road in which drivers can let their cars stretch their legs and drivers can really be "drivers". Many Europeans see cars as driving machines while most Americans see them as transportation to and from work. We live oceans apart but our lifestyles and driving habits are worlds apart.
I spent some time in Germany a couple years ago, and while there got to drive a friend's BMW 540i equipped with the 6 speed Tiptronic automatic. The friend was stereotypically snobbish about his driving and car, and was in fact one hell of a good driver. (The car was, of course, to die for.) He made no apologies for loaning me an automatic to drive, and I found it was a riot both in town and on the autobahn.
Came home and bought an Audi Quattro with the same transmission. It's been a great ski car. Take a look at the Audi Avant wagons or the All-Road.
Oh yeah, sorry Cruise, movies, right.
Anything by Hal Hartley. I thought Simple Men was his best; most crtitics liked Henry Fool. The Christopher Guest mockumentarys -- the timeless classic Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman (Parker Posey is amazing), Best in Show, Mighty Wind -- are hysterical. Bottle Rocket (the Wilson brothers debut, I believe), and Life Aquatic are very good.
Seasonal: Charlie Brown Christmas is about the only one I can sit through, although the beginning of Dennis O'Leary's The Ref, which is set at Christmastime, has some funny moments. Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack for Charlie Brown Christmas perfectly captured the conflicting emotions of the season, giving the familiar melodies jazzy, introspective readings that are not afraid to be melancholy.
I want a small car, but one with some utility for carrying things. My wife would like me to get one with 4WD or AWD since I ski a lot. I'm not really sold on that due to the lower gas mileage, but I've researched the CR-V and the RAV4 and neither one has a manual transmission as an option anymore. I'm personally eyeing the Mazda 3 hatchback and a stick is available on that model.
I happen to think that the American mentality of driving automatics stems from our roadways. We have no autobahn and the majority of US drivers spend their time in traffic where speeds change constantly. It is understandable that people would prefer automatics in these circumstances. In many parts or Europe there are still open stretches of road in which drivers can let their cars stretch their legs and drivers can really be "drivers". Many Europeans see cars as driving machines while most Americans see them as transportation to and from work. We live oceans apart but our lifestyles and driving habits are worlds apart.
I spent some time in Germany a couple years ago, and while there got to drive a friend's BMW 540i equipped with the 6 speed Tiptronic automatic. The friend was stereotypically snobbish about his driving and car, and was in fact one hell of a good driver. (The car was, of course, to die for.) He made no apologies for loaning me an automatic to drive, and I found it was a riot both in town and on the autobahn.
Came home and bought an Audi Quattro with the same transmission. It's been a great ski car. Take a look at the Audi Avant wagons or the All-Road.
Oh yeah, sorry Cruise, movies, right.
Anything by Hal Hartley. I thought Simple Men was his best; most crtitics liked Henry Fool. The Christopher Guest mockumentarys -- the timeless classic Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman (Parker Posey is amazing), Best in Show, Mighty Wind -- are hysterical. Bottle Rocket (the Wilson brothers debut, I believe), and Life Aquatic are very good.
Seasonal: Charlie Brown Christmas is about the only one I can sit through, although the beginning of Dennis O'Leary's The Ref, which is set at Christmastime, has some funny moments. Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack for Charlie Brown Christmas perfectly captured the conflicting emotions of the season, giving the familiar melodies jazzy, introspective readings that are not afraid to be melancholy.
