2/29/2012

Hey Mr. Producer: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (2006) Review

Hey Mr. Producer: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh (2006)
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"My Fair Lady", "Oliver", "Les Miserables", "Phantom of the Opera", "Cats", "Miss Saigon" all packed in one DVDs. My favourites include Jonathan Price as Professor Higgins singing "I've grown accustomed to her face, "You've got to Pick a Pocket or Two" from Oliver, "send in the clowns" by Judi Dench, "Oh! What a beautiful morning" from Oklahoma and the lovely melodies from Les Miserables. Though the performances were dated back in 1998, the star studded performances made a lasting impression nevertheless. The songs were enchanting melodies but it's the presence of the singers and the great chorus that maded this DVD truly special. And the line up of seven songs from "Les Miserables" highlighted the great work of Cameron Mackintosh. A wonderful treat.

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Item Name: Hey Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh; Studio:Well Go Asia

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Sense and Sensibility (2009) Review

Sense and Sensibility (2009)
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This 1971 production is the first of the BBC's 3 adaptations of Sense & Sensibilty and as far as I am aware is presented here on DVD for the first time. It's a passable effort, the casting could be better and it has a somewhat stagey feel, but overall is alright but not outstanding. It runs for about 3 hours, the video and sound quality are excellent and it has subtitles. It's presentation on DVD is marred by advertising and the failure to edit out the inter-episode credits. Probably only for Jane Austen die-hards. Now, what about the 1967 version of Pride & Prejudice (with Celia Bannerman and Lewis Fiander)?

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SENSE AND SENSIBILITY - DVD Movie

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Lord Peter Wimsey - The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1973) Review

Lord Peter Wimsey - The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1973)
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As many of us that were eternally grateful to Acorn Media for reissuing after too many decades the Lord Peter Wismey "Clouds of Witness," just so many and perhaps more can welcome back with the incomparable Ian Carmichael whose idea it was to film the series in the first place and who almost did not get the part!
Like the other four in this series, this is a low budget, shot mostly in the studio, affair; but it is impeccably "period" in décor, dress, and even idiom. The plot involves at first not a "who done it?" but a "when was it done?" Since the vast inheritance depends on the timing of the deaths of an elderly brother and sister, the hour if not the very minute of the former's demise is the Big Question. Surprisingly, that mystery is revealed half way through the story; but by then we have a murderer to find and...well, I will not spoil things for you and urge you to see for yourself.
Carmichael's Wimsey is ever the aristocrat, here ready to quote W.S. Gilbert and W. Shakespeare (though not nearly as frequently as Rumpole will quote his favorite poets), even though he must apologize now and then for being over the heads of some of his less well-educated acquaintances. In this story the grinding poverty of one of the interested parties is shown in striking contrast to Wimsey's luxurious accommodations and ability to be very generous with his money (which after all was never earned by any workaday sweat of his brow exept when he posed as an employee of an advertizing agency).
As with all of this series, the minor characters are extremely well drawn, right down to a patron of a tea shop who becomes all flustered in meeting "a lord." While the two opposing lawyers might border on the Dickensian, they are both shown to be intelligent and honestly working for the good of their clients. And even the villain is basically a very Good Person in all other respects! But such is the universe created by Dorothy Sayers and it is treated with respect and intelligence in this fine series.
Now we can only hope that Acorn Media will accelerate the releases of "Murder Must Advertise," "Five Red Herrings," and "The Nine Tailors."
Oh by the way, they are releasing at the same time some of the Poirots that have been butchered by A&E to make room for their insultingly frequent and overlong piggyback commercials. See the webpages for those. And by the way again, a comparison of Poirot and Wimsey would make a fascinating study.

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2/28/2012

Lehar - Das Land des Lachelns / Kollo, Pitsch-Sarata, Koller, Zednik, Liewehr, Ebert, Stuttgart Opera (1974) Review

Lehar - Das Land des Lachelns / Kollo, Pitsch-Sarata, Koller, Zednik, Liewehr, Ebert, Stuttgart Opera (1974)
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A fine performance of a good operetta. The singing of Rene Kollo is especialy good, and he looks great, even in fake oriental makeup. His rendition of "Dein ist mein Ganzes Herz", the hit tune from the show, is far better than the version recorded by Giuseppe di Stefano. Dagmar Koller as Princess Mi is delightfuly athlethic, with some amusing and faintly erotic dance numbers. The rest of the cast is OK. Birgit Pitsch-Sarata looks fabulously Viennese as Lisa, but is not quite the singer she ought to be as the female lead.
The camera work is not quite up to the standards of US musical films of the era and the direction by Authur Maria Rabenault is occasionally awkward, but the photography is crisp and colorful and the setting in a pseudo-Siamese country is visually appealing, if not authentic either to the operetta or the period.
Lehar's story of the clash between oriental and western culture may have resonated with audiences of post-WWI Vienna, but today, it seems a bit dated. Still, much of the music is wonderful, and if you like this sort of thing, it is worthwhile just to hear Rene Kollo at his youthful best.

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Ultimate DVD Platinum (1999) Review

Ultimate DVD Platinum (1999)
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This is a mediocre "set-up" cd. The majority of the audio set-up utilities are not explained well either on the dvd itself or in the included text. There are minimal to no directions given on using the setup tools. The setup section is a waste of time. It does have some pretty cool audio demonstrations though, for DTS and Dolby Digital (5.1 & 2.0). It's a good comparison DVD for the 5.1 surround setup. You can definately determine the superior sound quality of DTS over DD. There are some interesting videos (i.e. "implosions")included as well, not anything you have to see more than once or twice though. One thing not mentioned in the stats on this title, is that it is a double disk set. Hope this helps!

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A Touch of the Poet (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1974) Review

A Touch of the Poet (Broadway Theatre Archive)  (1974)
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"A Touch Of The Poet" is probably the best O'Neill play you've never seen or read, and so it is fortunate that this production has been preserved by the Broadway Theatre Archive. The two leads, Roberta Maxwell and Fritz Weaver, are amazing, and Nancy Marchand is splendid as the passively adoring and long-suffering wife. The story, which is set in the era of the rise of Andrew Jackson, has a startlingly contemporary feel, evoking both the immigrant experience as well as the rise of the American industrial society. An amazing work, the only completed play in what O'Neill's planned as an eleven play cycle. Buy this, and enjoy.

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2/27/2012

Cradle Will Rock (2000) Review

Cradle Will Rock (2000)
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The time was 1936-the painful apex of the Great Depression. This was the world inhabited by the plethora of characters in this film. Most of them were real people-augmented by fictional counterparts. Composer Marc Blitzstein was real-as was his Brechtian musical. Its opening night is still considered the most extraordinary night in the history of American theatre. Rockefeller, Hearst, Diego Rivera, Orson Welles, and John Houseman were all real-and they did have a struggle with Actor's Equity and Federal Theatre Project (1935-39).
Tim Robbins, director, kept the film moving at a frenetic pace-flowing smoothly-overlapping several sub-plots and vignettes-and pulling it all together for the opening night of the landmark Marxist musical play. He cast his lovely lady-Susan Sarandon, in the small part of Mussolini's mistress Margherita. She shined as usual. Hank Azaria was very intense and effective as the composer Blitzstein-who heard "music" while immersed in the strife of the times. Ruben Blades played the artist Diego Rivera quite effectively-but that part will always belong to Alfred Molina after his turn in FRIDA (2002). John Cusack played NY mayor Nelson Rockefeller. Angus MacFadyen hammed it up a bit much as the young tiger-Orson Welles. Carey Elwes played John Houseman with a bit of a limp wrist. Cherry Jones was very good as Hallie Flanagan-head of the FTP. Vanessa Redgrave had a ball playing Countess LaGrange. Philip Baker Hall was the fictitious steel magnate-Gray Mathers. Bill Murray did a grand job playing ventriloquist-Tommy Crickshaw. Joan Cusack was prissy-good as muckraker Hazel Huffman. Emily Watson lifted our spirits playing down-on-her-luck Olive Stanton. John Turturro stood out as the young actor and family man-Aldo Silvano. The supporting cast was huge. It included Bernard Hughes, John Carpenter, Gretchen Mol, Jack Black, Paul Giamatti, Bob Balaban, and Harris Yulin.
Robbins has created an epic film with multiple narrative threads-endeavoring to encapsulate an entire world in turmoil-and set it to music. He adopted the point of view of the artist-the prince of players at the head of his troupe of swirling acrobats, jugglers, singers and actors. But when these many plot lines and battalions of characters are thoroughly mixed-and the denouement emerges-he pulled everything together into a precarious balance-performing a kind of performance magic. Based on the film's BO records (modest revenues)-a lot of people out there did not have the patience, education, stamina, or motivation to hold on for the full ride. It is not a film for the faint of focus. It takes a throbbing love of theatre and film to ride it full-tilt to the final buzzer and roll of credits.


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Powerful and sweeping, the critically acclaimed CRADLE WILL ROCK, starring Hank Azaria, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Bill Murray, and Susan Sarandon, takes a kaleidoscopic look at the extraordinary events of 1930s America. From high society to life on the streets, director Tim Robbins (DEAD MAN WALKING) brings Depression-era New York City to vivid life. It's a time when DaVincis are given to millionaires who help fund the Mussolini war effort and Nelson Rockefeller commissions Mexican artist Diego Rivera to paint the lobby of Rockefeller Center. A time when a young Orson Welles and a troupe of passionate actors risk everything to perform the infamous musical "The Cradle Will Rock." As threats to their freedom and livelihood loom larger, they refuse to give into censorship. Based on actual events, CRADLE WILL ROCK will move you.

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Home (Broadway Theatre Archive) (1972) Review

Home (Broadway Theatre Archive)  (1972)
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Winner of the New York Critics Best Play of the Year Award in 1970, this hilariously funny but ineffably sad, five-character play by David Storey, directed by Lindsay Anderson, pairs Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Gielgud as two proud men who meet and talk in the garden of what appears to be some sort of assisted living facility. Well-spoken Jack (Richardson) and Harry (Gielgud), dressed in jackets and ties and carrying a cane and gloves, are clearly men of some status as they meet and make small talk--about the news, the clouds, varieties of chrysanthemums, whether Vale Evesham in England is the Garden of Eden, and the fact that their wives are not going to be visiting that day.
When they go off for a walk, two raucous and uninhibited women (brilliantly played by Mona Washbourne and Dandy Nichols) take their places in the garden, completely changing the mood. Kathleen (Washbourne) and Marjorie (Nichols) are obviously from a different background, with different accents, casual attitudes towards clothing and hygiene, bawdy humor, and a willingness to say absolutely anything. The fact that the women joke about having had shoelaces and belts removed and to being admitted involuntarily, one for the second time, ironically change our view of Jack and Harry, who they really are, and why they may be there.
When the men and the women all meet in the garden after lunch, their need to communicate, when they have so little in common, is touching. The men stay true to their class and upbringing and the women true to their own backgrounds, but all get teary at various times, and as they try to help each other, despite the fact their paths would never have crossed in "real" life, their universal need for companionship and understanding is highlighted. As the characters begin to confuse their stories, the viewer becomes aware that despite our hopes, the characters probably belong where they are.
Author David Storey, a Booker Prize winner for his novel Saville, has won innumerable awards for his plays, and this one is breath-taking. The actors are flawless, feeding off each other to make the play come alive. Small gestures and camera close-ups, especially with Richardson and Gielgud, make the drama intimate and powerfully affecting, and the final scene, accented by silent tears, is unforgettable. Productions like this are what theater is all about. Mary Whipple


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Barrage - The World on Stage Review

Barrage - The World on Stage
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In the lineage of "Stomp", "Blue Man Group" and "Blast", this group of talented violinists, guitarist, percussionists, and bassist are breaking new ground with the use of the violin. The music is stunning, and their personalities are enchanting. It is really wonderful to see excellent musicians having a great time making music. I use this as a teaching tool for my elementary music classes, and the students love it!!!! The guitarist is phenomenal and the selection of music is perfect. Own this, you won't be sorry!

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2/26/2012

Black Belt Theatre: Choy Lay Fut/Tiger's Claw Review

Black Belt Theatre: Choy Lay Fut/Tiger's Claw
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Now first the picture quality. Choy Lee Fat is somewhat widescreened with bad picture. I have seen worse and have to say that personally, I had no problem with it. It is somewhat widescreened and dubbed in English so I don't have to squint to read the subtitles. Tiger's Claw is full screened and picture isn't as bad as CLF. Though I have to say the dubbign is much worse on Tiger's Claw.
CHOY LEE FUT KUNG FU- I will review be reviewing the Rarescope version here since it is much better than the Groundzero version. It is a bit longer on top of other things that make it much better.
Cliff Lok stars as a young man who is taken on secretly by a teacher of Choi Lee Fut. Some practicioners have told me that Cliff Lok was not suited for this role and while he is not quite as fluid as some of the greats his form is still terrific and his acrobatics are very good. The movie starts out showing Philip Ko as the evil warlord who takes down a group of rebels and 2 teachers of kung fu survive, one being a monk. Cliff Lok goes to learn from the monk after he has learned all he can from the first teacher. The movie is just above average all the way through with some good comedy. You will recognize the cross eyed officer form Jackie Chan's 'Young Master'. "Your sword!". He is funny just looking at him. I was rolling on the floor he had his shirt off and asked Cliff to wipe his sweat off for him.
The best part of the movie is when one of the greatest female fighters ever shows up. Yang Pan Pan just starts tearing up everybody. While the movie is pretty good all the way through, it is not great. Luckily the final fight gets is outstanding. It starts off with the girl vs.Phillip Ko and then CLiff Lok. Total of about 10 minutes and some great action going on. The end of the fight is billiant. They shows the various techniques that Lok is doing subtitled on screen and it is slow mo for about three minutes. Truly awesome stuff. 4.5/5
Rarescope has given us this movie fully letterboxed and though the picture is faded and there is noticeable damage on the film print it still looks about twice as good as the Groudzero version. The subtitles can be read pretty easily most of the time. The original Mandarin track is the way to go and has GREAT sound quality. The Engish dubbing is fine though the sound quality doesn't compare a lick to the Mandarin.
Special feature included is a Cliff Lok interview and also he is being intervied form the late great director of the movie- Chan Siu-pang. Lok looks amazing even at being at least 50 and gives a very good interview. Rarescope does a good thing in my opinion and has us waiting for part 2 of the interview when they release Lok's 'Best of Shaolin Kung Fu'. I would be lieing if I said I was not ecstatic about that future release.
There is also a small photo gallery form the movie with some black and white pics. There is also the same Rarescope trailers we saw on their first release. I am waiting anyday now to preorder '3 Famous Constables'(which I heard will come out under another name), 'Ninjas in Ancient China', 'and 'Sword of Justice'. Rarescope(BCI) has proven to be one of the best martial arts DVD companies and I eagerly await more and more.
TIGER'S CLAW-this is your run of the mill kung fu flick. Cliff Lok starts out the movie beating down everyone and then he goes home to rest with his wife. He then hears about this guy who always used to win his fights, he breaks the Tiger-actor Shih Kien(guy with the claw in Enter the Dragon) out of jail and tells him he did so so that they could fight. While I know you are yawning right now, shih kien puts on a very good acting performance that I wasn't really expecting. The kung fu is pretty sloppy but does get pretty good in the final fight. I was told by a kung fu friend of mine that shih kien is using 7 mantis style. I have studied shaolin kung fu and maybe that is why I thought 'Choy Lee Fat'(the movie) was so good, but while the mantis style is used well in this, it is just too sloppily choreographed. But my mantis friend thinks it is great, and I have neevr really tried mantis, so defintely pick it up for his opinion! The end in Tiger's Claw is a little too standard but I enjoyed the fact they actually put real emotions in to it and made it an almost enjoyable story. I give it a 2.5.
So I got this double pack for $4.99 at the used store. I cannot recommend this though becasue rarescope has released this now, but get it for Tiger's Claw if you want, a very good double feature.

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Ipi Ntombi: An African Dance Celebration (1998) Review

Ipi Ntombi: An African Dance Celebration  (1998)
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I have audio cassettes for Ntombi Marhumbhini. My friend gave them to me when I was in Malawi. When I came to the US, I wanted if I could find a VHS for the audio cassettes I have only to find Ipi Ntombi. I read the reviews, and I did not hesistate to buy it.
This movie is great. The way they sing and dance depicts African originality. Their voices are so sharp that I do not see it boring throughout. If you haven't watched this movie, please try to. You will not regret like I am not regretting having bought it. If you have watched Namu Lwanga from Uganda, it is almost at par. Namu Lwanga holds shows in colleges and universities all around United States.
Finally, I would advise to look for this movie and see for yourself.

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Originally created by mother/daughter team Bertha Egnos and Gail Laiker, IPI NTOMBI (pronounced Ippy-Intombee and meaning "where are the girls") opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1974 and then played to standing ovations all over the world for the next six years. Now, more than 20 years later, this new, updated version sizzles with its return to the stage, blending the traditional rhythms of Africa with the modern heartbeat of its people. The company of 50, some of whom are direct descendants of the original cast members, dance the story of the Johannesburg mine worker, who sings of his love for the girl back home and his sense of separation from his tribal roots. The show has restyled the musical's most popular numbers and added some new ones, including the exhilarating "Four Important Porters from Potgietersrus."

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The Woman in White (1998) Review

The Woman in White (1998)
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I find it unusual that the reviews of this movie are so skewed at the very ends of the continuum of great to horrible. Whenever this happens, I am tempted to see the movie and judge for myself. That is what I suggest to viewers here. I have both read the book and seen the movie, and I, unusually it seems, like both. I obviously do not require pedantic faithfulness to the book in order to have a resulting good story.
It would take a lengthy mini-series to present this story as Wilkie Collins wrote it, and it is a magnificent book, in conception as well as in execution. It is written from the perspective of several characters in the book, and the differing viewpoints and their presentations are remarkably well done by Collins. The Moonstone may be the more popular of the two books, but Collins himself recognized the literary grandeur of The Woman in White, noting his authorship of it, not of The Moonstone, on his tombstone.
It would be immensely difficult, in my opinion, and probably would cost too much, to bring the book faithfully to the movie or television screen. This version is as good as we are likely to see, and, again in my opinion, this is a good version. If one has not read the book, and, as a practical matter, I think most viewers will not have, one will find this a compelling story, well told and uniformly well acted. Why should not those who have not read the book become familiar with Collins and this story and be entertained by it -- even if it is not entirely, or even largely, faith to the book? After all, there are many books that are not faithfully brought to production, but that does not necessarily mean that the story, as revised to fit time and pecuniary restraints of production, will not be entertaining. This story is.
So try it for yourself, even if you have read the book, and judge for yourself. Whenever I see such emotionally negative reviews, and when they are so intensely stated, resulting in so obviously distorted a view of the subject movie, I wonder if there is a reason, such as a somewhat narrow and tiresome attempt at display of learning (e.g., the reviewer, among few others sufficiently erudite, knows that this movie is quite different from the book), that accounts for the negativism, with no thought being given to the entertainment value of the movie, which should be the primary criterion of review.

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Set in the late 19th century, this adaptation of Wilkie Collins' mystery thriller is a slowly unraveling nightmare that reveals a dark world of powerful and dangerous men.A young drawing master, Mr. Hartright (Andrew Lincoln), is hired by the fretful Mr. Fairlie (Ian Richardson) to teach his two nieces, Marian (Tara Fitzgerald) and Laura (Justine Waddell). On his way to their house, Hartright is startled by a mysterious encounter with a ghostly woman dressed in white.When he meets Fairlie's nieces, he is struck by Laura's resemblance to the woman in white, and tells Marian and Laura of the ethereal woman. Determined to learn all they can about the woman in white, the girls find themselves drawn into a vortex of secrets, crime and treacherous involvement with the fascinating, but sinister, Count Fosco (Simon Callow).

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2/25/2012

The Typists (Broadway Theatre Archive) Review

The Typists (Broadway Theatre Archive)
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Saw this show years ago on TV when it was first shown. Enjoyed it then for its excellent performance by great actors. The story interesting as the characters age before your eyes throughout the show. Great actors, interesting script and a real jewel of a performance.

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Ray Bradbury Theater Review

Ray Bradbury Theater
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This is the exact same product at the DVD set listed as the "Ray Bradbury Theater Complete Series" but for less money and comes with a collectible tin. This was $18 vs. $31 for the other version. When you open the tin up, the package inside looks exactly the same as the picture for the other version, and even lists the copyright date as 2004.
I haven't watched all the episodes yet, but if you like Ray Bradbury, you can't beat this set for this price. The complete series on 5 DVDs with all 65 episodes for under $20-you can't go wrong.

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Ballet Shoes Review

Ballet Shoes
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BALLET SHOES (starring Emma Watson... celebrated for her lead roles in the Harry Potter films...along with an all-star acclaimed ensemble cast) is absolutely wonderful. I personally am in love it. Targeting a very large and underserved audience which is best defined as "moms and their daughters", Ballet Shoes is a film about realizing ambitions; a film where its tag line `dreams do come true' is really the `spot on' underlying message of the film... and the storyline. I believe it is destined to be a huge success for it is a tale of inspiration indeed.
A big-budget Granada film production, originally for the BBC, Ballet Shoes is based on the literary classic penned by Noel Streatfeild that women especially are very familiar with as key reading material from their childhood. A costume drama with absolutely stunning cinematography, the film portrays 1930's London with a sense of dreamy realism. For those who recall the box office smash "You've Got Mail", the book is the one being sought after that Meg Ryan launches into a verbal expose about. Ms. Ryan was right on the money, as is this adaptation of the tale.
Ballet Shoes is the story of three orphan girls; Petrova, Posie and Pauline (Emma Watson) who are raised as sisters after being brought together by a rich, world traveler as babies. As they grow up, each girl develops a dream of their own. Pauline wants to be an actress; Petrova longs to be an aviator; Posie wishes to dance. Circumstances bring them together, and together they vow to go down in the history books. "We three Fossils vow...". This vow launches the three Fossil sisters on their voyage, a journey that they travel individually as well as together, one that can only serve to inspire any young girl who watches the film.
On a personal note, I watched this film with my 8 year old daughter and 6 year old son. While my son fought to pay attention (not surprising), my daughter was riveted throughout the film. The appearance of `Hermoine' as a teen brought her into focus early on, and then the tale itself kept her eyes and ears wide open. She's asked repeatedly to watch Ballet Shoes again, which of course she has. My son, of course, is back to watching `his thing', Spiderman, Superman and The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers...
Ballet Shoes, in a certain sense, is a long form faerie tale, and I recommend it with no reservations whatsoever as superb family viewing.


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Includes three units of: Ballet Shoes (KOC-DV-6545)

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2/24/2012

Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch (1998) Review

Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch (1998)
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Dame Edna's neighbourhood watch is well worth the money. It's one of the most imaginative TV shows you'll ever see. Her wit is at top form here. You'll laugh and laugh and cry for more when it's finished. Why in the world this show was never brought to the US I'll never know. Dame Edna's humor must be just too sophisticated for a wide US audience. You have to listen closely and be really sharp to get all the inside jokes. This tape will become one of your favorites. Buy it will confidence that your money will be well spent!

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Is nothing too private or too sacred? "Welcome to the dame show that's a game show." With her familiar greeting of "Welcome, possums!!," Dame Edna uses her purple possum picker to find three contestants from an all-female audience. Unbeknownst to the three, a camera crew is poised in front of one of their homes, ready to invade her bedrooms and bathrooms, her drawers and cabinets. Dame Edna's camera crew peeps into every nook and cranny accompanied, of course, by her biting and witty commentary. Embarrassing? You bet!

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The Irish R.M. - Complete Series Review

The Irish R.M. - Complete Series
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Major Sinclair Yeates (Peter Bowles) leaves the army and becomes a Resident Magistrate in late-Nineteenth Century Ireland. There he encounters a people so foreign to his way of thinking that he often finds himself befuddled and hopelessly confused. Surrounding him are such people as the formidable Mrs. Cadogan (pronounced "Caydo-gone"), the forceful and self-confident Mrs. Knox, and the leprechaun-like Flurry Knox. Major Yeates, though outmaneuvered and outthought by Flurry at almost every point, comes to appreciate the people he now lives amongst, and their charming culture.
The stories in this series are expertly done, and the cast is masterful at their parts. Indeed, Bryan Murray (who plays Flurry) steals the show as if he were born to the part. This show is great for family viewing containing nothing objectionable. This show is great if you like British humor, period drama, family entertainment, et cetera, ad infinitum!

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All 18 episodes of the much-loved Masterpiece Theatre series Peter Bowles (Rumpole of the Bailey, To the Manor Born) stars in this light-hearted drama series as Major Sinclair Yeates, a retired English army officer who becomes a Resident Magistrate in pre-independence West Ireland. Living in a ramshackle country house surrounded by the community's eccentric inhabitants, Major Yeates struggles to apply judicial logic in a country where "the inevitable never happens but the improbable frequently does." Shot entirely on location in County Kildare, the series captures the beauty of the lush Irish countryside. Also featuring Beryl Reid (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), Bryan Murray (Perfect Scoundrels), Niall Toibin (Ballykissangel), Anna Manahan (All Dogs Go to Heaven), and Sarah Badel (John le Carré's A Perfect Spy).

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