Capsule reviews of 'Transformers, 'Larry Crowne' and other new releases

“Larry Crowne” — You can have two of the most likable, bankable stars on the planet together, but strong writing is crucial to making them shine. Even the combined, blinding brilliance of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts cannot salvage the corny, contrived script — which Hanks, who also directed the film, co-wrote. His longtime friend Nia Vardalos (”My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) was his collaborator, and the shticky nature of her style is just overpowering. Main characters behave in unbelievable ways and say just the right poignant things at just the right times, while supporting players are relegated to one-note roles that are straight out of a sitcom. But the main problem is that Hanks is as bland as the film’s title. Larry Crowne undergoes a major life change when he finds himself downsized out of his job at a behemoth superstore; middle-aged and divorced, he decides it’s finally time to go to college. But there’s not much momentum, and it’s hard to get a handle on who he is beyond his generically pleasant demeanor, so his transformation lacks the punch it should have had by comparison. Roberts co-stars as the professor who becomes Larry’s unlikely love interest, while Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays the impossibly gorgeous fellow student who gives him a makeover. Running time: 98 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

— Christy Lemire, AP Movie Critic

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon” — Director Michael Bay serves up another loud, long, bruising and wearisome onslaught of giant, shape-shifting robots. Bay tries to inject more flesh-and-blood consequence this time, but the human element arises largely from archival footage involving the 1960s moon race, along with images that may disturb younger kids as screaming, scrambling humans are vaporized by the ‘bots like insects in a bug zapper. In 3-D, too, so you get to wear those clunky glasses for the franchise’s longest movie yet. Puny humans Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro and Tyrese Gibson again are caught up in the war between benevolent Autobots and evil Decepticons, joined by new cast members Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Patrick Dempsey. Leonard Nimoy provides the voice of an Autobot elder, his age-old, gravelly vocals proving the most human element in the movie. The visuals are dazzling, but Bay lets the battles grind on so long that the motion and noise turns numbing. PG-13 for intense prolonged sequences of sci-fi action violence, mayhem and destruction, and for language, some sexuality and innuendo. Running time: 154 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

Writing school reports tips « Report card comments

Writing school reports can be a laborious process, especially if you are a teacher who teaches a large number of children.

Here are our top 10 tips for writing school report cards comments :

Start early in the term and give yourself plenty of time – this will result in less stress and better quality reportcards. Collect all of the data you need before you begin rather than doing it bit by bit. Consider using a mail merge to help speeding up data entry – see here for more details. If you have never written comments on a school report card before then take a look at some samples that your colleagues may provide you with. Consider using a comment bank such as the one here . Try and put yourself in the shoes of a child – the report should not only point out their weak points but also their strengths and what the have to do to improve. Do not make any insulting comments on the report card – keep those thoughts to yourself. Keep report cards secure – they contain personal information and if you lose them you could be fined 0r lose your job. Proof read everything – mistakes can be costly and make you look stupid - checkout this story about school reports and spelling. Think carefully about the pupil – what impact will it have on them ?

rec'd 2000 comments from patients/consumers with in writing the report.

Listening to is the only thing getting me through writing report card comments.

writing report on module feedback, really appreciate constructive comments, not so useful to get neg. scores with no suggested improvements

Writing effective report card comments

At last, here is a practical book that gathers time-saving tips from teachers on writing effective report card comments.

Writing Effective Report Card Comments

Just the Right Words: 201 Report Card Comments, Short Narrative Comments, Word Lists, and Sentence Starters That Cover Any Situation, Let Parents Know How Their Kids Are Doing-and Save You Time!

The Principal's Companion, Strategies for Making the Job Easier

A report card manual, prepared for the teachers, was distributed as a guideline to assist in the development of report card comments. ...

Standard for Auditing Computer Applications

Audit-Report-Writing Program Audit ... Write a draft report. Comments: Have draft reviewed by others. Comments: 6. Rewrite report. Comments: 7. 8. ...