The Last Contract (Sista kontraktet) (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is an absorbing drama based on the assassination of Olof Palme, and has divergent stories: the killer himself, and the one investigator in particular trying to solve it, and having difficulties thrown in his way.
Michael Kitchen is superb and Mikael Persbrandt is a marvel in this. The ending was a complete surprise!


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Last Contract (Sista kontraktet) (1998)

Click here for more information about The Last Contract (Sista kontraktet) (1998)

Read More...

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was a pleasant surprise. We thought it would be the usual kung foo action film, instead found it to be full of gentle humor, Chinese medicine, and interesting characters. Adam Baldwin(Dr. Jekyll) and Chang Tseng(Dr. Chau) relate extremely well to each other and have a unique student-teacher relationship. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Click here for more information about Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Read More...

Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This English version of Charles Stuart's attempt to seize the British crown from the House of Hannover, is disjointed and relatively unexciting. The crucial Battle of Culloden Moor is talked about, but not depicted. David Niven, as the Young Pretender, is very sincere, and does a good job, but he is betrayed by the script and the editing. The highlight of the film are the Scottish Highlands themselves. The color photography is breath taking. A word of caution on the VHS tape. The edition available is issued by Republic Pictures of Canada. It is in the EP mode, and the audio is TERRIBLE. One literally has to turn the volume to Max to hear anything.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948)

Click here for more information about Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948)

Read More...

Wives and Daughters (2002) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a superlative period piece and a brilliant adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's 1865 novel of the same name. This BBC mini-series is a superb costume drama with stellar performances by the entire cast. Set in rural England, the film centers around Molly Gibson, the seventeen year old daughter of a country doctor. Richly drawn portraits of Molly's neighbors and friends quickly emerge and weave an absorbing tapestry of nineteenth century life.
Molly and her father, a widower for most of Molly's life, have an exceptionally close and loving relationship. Their relationship is put to the test when he decides to marry a widow and former governess, Hyacinth, who is a pretentious, self absorbed, ridiculous woman. She has a grown daughter named Cynthia, a beautiful young woman, close to Molly in age, but as different from Molly as night and day. Cynthia is best described as a Marilyn Monroe of the Victorian age. Cynthia and Molly become fast friends, while Molly barely tolerates her nigh intolerable step-mother.
The series really revolves around Molly's relationships with all the characters in the production and her handling of the various everyday situations in which she finds herself. Richly drawn, memorable characters, as well as intrigues, secrets, and romance, make this a highly absorbing drama and one that those who love period pieces and lush, well acted costume dramas will enjoy. It is simply a masterpiece.
With stunningly crisp visuals and beautiful clarity of sound, the production value of this three disc, five hour DVD is simply first rate. It is also value laden with some very interesting features. There is an engaging fifty five minute portrait of Elizabeth Gaskell, the author of the novel upon which this mini-series is based. There is a also a twenty minute documentary on the making of the film which is entertaining, as it gives a bird's eye view of the thought that went into the making of the film and the development of the characters. There is also a who's who guide to the performers. This DVD is well worth having in one's collection.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wives and Daughters (2002)

From the team that brought you "Pride and Prejudice." Set in a richly portrayed society well-stocked with eccentric nobles and gossipy villagers, the story centers around 17-year-old Molly Gibson, the only daughter of a respected country Doctor.

Click here for more information about Wives and Daughters (2002)

Read More...

David Copperfield (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A sumptuous, wonderful adaptation; unexpectedly and disarmingly excellent.
I was a little hesitant going into this: having read the novel a couple of times and declared it my own, I had long fondly imagined the scenes and characters without any need for assistance, thank you very much.
Consequently, I felt the way many Tolkien fans must have felt before those three recent movies came out: leery that my coveted imaginings would be sullied by what might prove to be a jarrring and irreversible contamination.
These fears were misplaced, however. The full vitality of Dickens's bittersweet classic -- all the heaping joys and sorrows of life -- comes through quite powerfully in this handsome BBC version. After about 25 minutes I was literally on the edge of my seat.
Oh, and speaking of this version: they spent some money on it, you'll be happy to know. It's not one of those innumerable stuffy BBC dramas that take place (for budget considerations if nothing else) in an intolerable series of drawing rooms and antechambers. No, they did this one right: the blokes went outside and built some proper sets, and it shows.
Yes, though fully prepared to dislike it, I find myself here with little ammunition for complaint. I wish Traddles hadn't suffered deletion; he is one character I have difficulty picturing and could have used some help. Also, the actress who played Dora was not exactly my conception of her . . . but this is nitpicking.

Click Here to see more reviews about: David Copperfield (2000)

The classic David Copperfield was not just Charles Dickens' favorite work. It has been the most popular of his books since it was first published 150 years ago. Micawber, Peggotty, Betsey Trotwood, Uriah Heep, Mr. Creakle, Mrs. Crupp, and Mr. Dick... never were so many of Dickens' famous and vest-loved characters gathered together in just one of his works.They are all brought to life by a world-class cast including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), Oscar-winner Maggie Smith (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie), Bob Hoskins (Hook), Nicholas Lyndhurst (Bullshot) and Pauline Quirke (The Elephant Man) in this sparkling adaptation.The most autobiographical of Dickens' work, David Copperfield often echoes the writer's own life. It tells a moving story of David's journey from birth to maturity, a journey which inextricably links his life with some of Dickens' most colorful and extraordinary families.Special DVD features include: Cast list; Masterpiece Theatre poster gallery; access to David Copperfield Web site featuring production notes, interviews with the cast and crew, a Dickens timeline, a guide to the featured characters, and more; scene selection; English audiotrack; and closed captions.One one DVD9 disc.Region coding: All regions.Audio: Dolby stereo.Screen format: Widescreen (Anamorphic)

Click here for more information about David Copperfield (2000)

Read More...

The Mill on the Floss (1978) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It would be unreasonable to review the BBC miniseries without having a sound relationship with the novel or the author of the novel, for the entire premise of the production rests on it being faithful to the novel. In fact it is masterfully adapted by James Andrew Hall, who is a purist in the full sense of the term, and directed deftly by Ronald Wilson.
The dry nature of the tale is bewildering and draining of the influx of tenderness that George Eliot infuses her writings with. If this was by design it is reprehensible; if by accident unfortunate. The 8 episodes are a quick watch and dramatized expertly, but for a few liberties which are inevitable and must be forgiven. If we are to judge the work independent of the novel it ought to receive one star. It lacks a sense of momentum and remains indifferent to the flow of the narrative which it chooses to highlight and substantiate through an episodic definition and by strength of allusions strewn strategically throughout the period drama. I fear the accuracy and representational realism stops at the recreation of a style, but cannot claim likewise when it comes to the mood of the era, which is all-too-often dramatized as dry and restrained, empty and distant, privileged and scarcely populated. I beg to reason that it is an imagery that has now become branded as accurate, but caters only to the prejudiced imagination we give sway to.
If the production attempted to stay faithful to George Eliot and the novel then it baffles one completely. Why was the end so shoddily patched? Why have so many (actually all) of the events and vignettes of an ostracized Maggie find no place. You watch the previous 7 episodes and appreciate much of the recreation, then you watch the last episode and wonder what happened to the preceding (read: missing) one. It is as if all that follows after Maggie's return from her "eloping" (here treated as Stephen's doing outright and exculpating nature completely) has no bearing on the narrative. And religion is relegated to the vague presence of a Bible when in Eliot's masterpiece it spills into the very fiber of everyday life in ways that are comical, tragic and overtly critical of the church's relationship with the townspeople.
This miniseries is an undeniably appreciated effort which inexplicably falls short of its intention. The casting is practically perfect. Indeed it is. Even Mr. Wakem, here much more loving towards his son than we may like to interpret (but happy to become engaged into the critical dialogue). Stephen, Lucy, the adult Tom and the aunts and uncles are extraordinarily portrayed and the three stars are a testament to the excellence of the cast and the skill they display.
One more episode and it would be a huge success.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Mill on the Floss (1978)

The tragic tale of Maggie Tulliver, the miller's daughter, who defies her embittered brother in standing by the man she loves - shocking the stifling society in which she lives - in an attempt to pursue her blighted dreams. Drama, romance, tragedy and humor all have a place in this most popular of George Eliot's novels.

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about The Mill on the Floss (1978)

Read More...

Bleak House (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For once, I am happy to find a remake of a fine old Masterpiece Theatre offering that is as good as the original. "Bleak House" is currently available on an DVD with Diana Rigg as the most familiar name; and except for some incomprehensible line readings by a young character named Joe, it is a very good account of the Dickens novel. Having already appeared on Public Television, the remake has Gillian Anderson (yes, the one from "X-Files") as Lady Dedlock, and a cast of 80 speaking roles, many of which are played by actors that will send you searching the cast listings that go by too quickly at the end of each episode.The eight parts will be shown so that the first and last will run two hours and the four in between an hour each. I found the complex plot actually easier to follow in this version than I did in the earlier one. And while I prefer Rigg to Anderson, I think I can easily recommend this new adaptation over the other.The story--lawyers will hate it--involves the infamous Court of Chancery in which disputes over estates can be buried for years until the lawyers' fees make further legalizing unnecessary. Against this background, the case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce being a major part of it, we have the story of John Jarndyce (Denis Lawson), his ward Ada (Carey Mulligan), her companion Esther (Anna Maxwell Martin), and Ada's beloved Richard (Patrick Kennedy).The latter becomes obsessed with the case, while Esther becomes involved in the mysterious past of Lady Dedlock, who happens to recognize the handwriting on some legal documents delivered by the utterly immoral family solicitor Tulkinghorn (Charles Dance). I will not reveal any more of the plot, lest it spoil your enjoyment. You will wind up guessing much of it, but it is a lot of fun--unless you are a lawyer.Peripheral to the plot are the usual cast of Dickens "characters": Krook the junkman (Johnny Vegas) who finds some incriminating letters (and dies the strangest death in all fiction), Smallweed the moneylender (Phil Davis) who cannot walk by himself and must be "shaken up" by his weird niece every few minutes and who gets the letters, and Miss Flite ( Pauline Collins) who looks forward to "judgment day" when her case will finally be settled and she can set her birds free.Most interesting of all is the policeman Bucket (Alun Armstong), the first real detective in English fiction. Although he looks like a toady for the rich, he does his job and does it well, solving a murder case and being considerate to a certain lady who would suffer if her connection with the case should come out.Of course, the arm of coincidence in Dickens is a long one; and while a good deal of the plot does strain credulity, the acting and period ambience are of the highest level. The only thing that annoyed me was the director segmenting his "establishing shots" (exterior views of buildings to let us know where we are) into two or three rapid cuts with some electronic "whoosh" for each one. Pretentious and irritating after the first dozen or so.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Bleak House (2005)

An all-star cast comes together to bring to life some of Dickens?s most famous creations. There is the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock (Gillian Anderson), who faces the revelation of her dark past once Mr. Tulkinghorn, her husband?s sinister lawyer, catches wind of it. Then there?s Esther, whose own background, shrouded in mystery, begins to come to light after the murder of a strange man. Adopted by the kindly John Jarndyce, Esther acts as chaperone to wards Ada and Richard. But will the passionate young love of Ada and Richard survive Richard?s obsession with Jarndyce and an obscure legal case which seems to have no resolution in sight and threatens to destroy all who become entangled in it?

Click here for more information about Bleak House (2005)

Read More...

Great Expectations (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (1999) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This movie is excellent. I stumbled onto it on the Net accidentally because of the leading actor (Ioan Gruffudd) and his earlier portrayal of another classic character--Hornblower. Great Expectations is by far my favorite of Dickens and of all other classic literature, and this movie portrays the book wonderfully! Every scene--nearly every WORD can be found in some form in the book, from the younger Pip's nervous recital of Old Clem, to Orlick's reappearance and attempted revenge. As with all adaptations, there are a few drawbacks (and for this reason I would HIGHLY reccomend reading the book itself!). But I've seen very few movies adapted as accurately as this. Very very fine!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Great Expectations (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (1999)

Ioan Gruffudd, Justine Waddell and Charlotte Rampling star in this adaptation of Charles Dickens' enduring classic Great Expectations, the story of a young orphan named Pip who lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband, Joe.One day Pip is sent to play at the residence of Miss Havisham, a frightening, elderly woman who seems locked in the past. She wears ancient bridal attire and never moves from the dusty upper rooms of her home. Miss Havisham's beautiful but contemptuous ward, Estella, makes Pip feel appallingly inferior, creating in him a desire to better himself-changing his life forever. But despite his efforts to improve himself, the frustrated Pip seems destined to remain Joe's apprentice. Until one day a lawyer calls to inform Pip that he has "great expectations:" Pip is to be released form his apprenticeship and educated in London as a gentleman! The benefactor who has made this life transformation possible, however, wishes to remain anonymous.

Click here for more information about Great Expectations (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (1999)

Read More...

Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I think young kids 6 years old and younger would really like this movie. Little kids love animals, let alone animals they think are talking! OK, it doesn't exactly follow the Rudyard Kiplings "Jungle Book" version, but I think this was suppose to be light and fun for young children to enjoy, not so much for us adults. My kids enjoyed watching this video over and over again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998)

Get 1% OFF

Click here for more information about Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998)

Read More...

Straight From the Heart (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm more of an "Aliens" sort of girl than a romance fan, but I have to admit to absolutely loving this movie. I guess I'm just a sappy romantic at heart. This film's been airing on the Hallmark Channel, and I find myself watching it over and over, to the point where I came here to find out if it was on DVD. Thank goodness it is!
I particularly appreciated the cinematography and settings, and well... okay. I really appreciated Andrew McCarthy in his jeans. :) As a mustang adopter and advocate, I can't say that the depiction of mustangs and the BLM (called the "DLM" in the film) is really terribly accurate, but I'm EXTREMELY gratified to see a film even approaching the question of wild horse management in such a positive way. (Of course, when it comes to training mustangs, I wouldn't try this at home; while we see Tyler using some pretty decent training methods, he's also working with a domestic quarter horse rather than a range-fresh mustang; the real thing doesn't tend to go that fast or easy. ;))
I think they did a nice job of making the characters both believable and likeable, and the various conflicts and situations actually make sense, unlike too many films where things could just be resolved if the characters would stop behaving like morons. :) Andrew McCarthy does a really nice job as a gruff cowboy type... and he certainly sits a horse well, too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Straight From the Heart (2003)

Item Name: Straight from the Heart; Studio:Good Times Video

Click here for more information about Straight From the Heart (2003)

Read More...

A Christmas Carol (1984) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you watch at least one version of A Christmas Carol, and this is by far my favorite. George C. Scott gives one of the greatest performances I have ever seen an actor give; he truly becomes Ebenezer Scrooge to the fullest degree possible. Scott can say more with just the slightest hint of a facial movement than many actors can say during the course of an entire movie. All of the performers here are excellent, bringing to life adored characters such as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's nephew Fred. All four spirits are remarkable, none more so than Scrooge's old partner Jacob Marley; having Marley's jaw drop after untying the burial cloth holding his mouth closed is an important aspect of the story and certainly does make an impression on the viewer. This is just one example of the moviemakers' faithfulness to Charles Dickens' original story; another would be the inclusion of the two miserable children, Ignorance and Want, beneath the robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present.
This timeless tale works extremely well on its own, but the unsurpassed acting skills of Scott make it almost more than real. The change wrought in him during the course of the night, as he changes from a man of crass materialism and unkindness to a repentant soul pleading for a chance to change his ways, is powerfully presented and really touches the viewer emotionally. The simple happiness revealed in the lives of Bob Cratchit and others are as heart-warming as the forgotten mistakes and pains of a younger Scrooge are agonizing. If there is any heart out there that is not touched by the goodness and courage of Tiny Tim, I don't even want to know about it. No matter how many times you watch this movie, it proves itself capable of bringing a tear to your eye, a lump in your throat, and ultimately the very spirit of true holiday cheer and Christian charity that Dickens intended it to convey.
I cannot say I have seen every adaptation of A Christmas Carol, but I really cannot believe any other version could exceed the quality and emotional impact of this one. No matter how many times I read the story or watch the movie, it remains a source of eternal joy to me. This is more than a movie for me; it is an important and necessary part of each and every Christmas holiday season.

Click Here to see more reviews about: A Christmas Carol (1984)

Christmas elicits nothing more than "Bah, humbug!" from Ebenezer Scrooge (Scott), a miser whose sole pursuit of financial success has left him a bitter and lonely old man. But a ChristmasEve visit from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future ultimately teaches him to open his heart to the spirit of Christmas and to the joys of friends and family.

Click here for more information about A Christmas Carol (1984)

Read More...

Oliver Twist (1997) (1997) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As others have said, if you want a quality retelling of Dickens' "Oliver Twist," then turn to David Lean or the glorious musical version, and not this bland re-hash with possibly the weakest Oliver (not to mention writing and direction) that I have ever seen for this story. There are only two characters that partially redeem it: an earthy, maternal Nancy and an Artful Dodger that, as portrayed by Elijah Woods, may not be what Dickens had in mind, but certainly becomes someone you care about and want to save - much more so than the annoying Oliver, who has two facial expressions (wide-eyed and not wide-eyed), a shrill voice, and an unhealthy obsession with his mother's locket, which stalls the plot at the most unlikely moments. The double irony is that this rather stupid, greedy child (who discovers a conscience quite late) is rescued from the streets to enjoy a life of ease and comfort, while the infinitely more promising Artful Dodger (whose tender response to Oliver's bout of conscience is the most moving two minutes in the film) is carted off to jail - a quip from him being enough to stop this Oliver making any move to save him! It's enough to make you want the REAL film buried here - the one about Woods' Artful Dodger, caught between confused loyalties, sensitive and intelligent in a world merciless to both, protective of both Nancy and Oliver but powerless to help either, trying desperately to seem more callous than he is and to pretend to himself that he has chosen this life.... It's his tragedy that is almost buried in this dull film, but it's hard not to be grateful it was made, if only for those scenes lit from within by Woods' amazing talent.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Oliver Twist (1997) (1997)

Get 7% OFF

Click here for more information about Oliver Twist (1997) (1997)

Read More...

Adam Bede (1992) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It is just too bad that they condensed this fantastic story into so short a film. What they have done is done well, but there are so many layers to the characters that are just left out. I think if I had not read the book some of the character's choices and actions would have seemed too sudden or unjustified, due to the lack of character development.
I really enjoyed the portrayal of the characters and the acting itself with one exception. Patsy Kensit, though a fine actress, is too old to be playing Hetty. She also plays her as too worldly wise. Hetty is passionate and selfish, yes, but in spite of her desire to be worldly wise she is still very naive. She is described in the book as being like a soft downy peach with the stone hidden inside. I think the vain ignorance of her own naivitee is sadly lacking in this portrayal and makes you wonder what Adam ever saw in her at all.
Again, the rest of the movie is wonderful. Dinah and Adam and the other characters are spot on, but there needs to be more--especially if you have not read the book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Adam Bede (1992)

Beneath the tranquil surface of George Eliot's tale, passions run deep and the bitter gall of betrayal is all too prevalent. Adam Bede is a hard-working carpenter, with his heart set on marrying his sweetheart, the pretty dairymaid, Hetty Sorrel. Unfortunately, Hetty's affections are captured by the local squire, Arthur Donnithorne.

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Adam Bede (1992)

Read More...

Muppet Treasure Island (1996) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've seen all the muppet movies, but this one is my favorite. Granted, the first Muppet Movie had awesome songs by the great Paul Willaims, and the Great Muppet Caper was a terrific spoof on classic Hollywood films. But this movie is different.
I believe it was Brian Henson who said that the difference in this movie is the world that we see. In the previous muppet movies, the muppets were strange creatures living in the human world. But in Muppet Treasure Island, it's the humans who are the odd ones. This is a "Muppet World" through and through. The first clue as to the validity of this statement is the opening credits. The main characters are played by Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, the Great Gonzo, and the other muppets. Not by puppeteers. By muppets.
Despite the fact that the movie stays pretty true to the book Treasure Island in terms of plot, the execution of it is completely wild muppet madness. Anything and everything is made fun of in this movie (including the fact that it's a movie!) For instance, in several of the excellent songs sung by the muppets (and a wonderful Tim Curry playing Long John Silver), the characters make reference to the fact that it IS a musical number.
And speaking of musical numbers, the songs in this movie are absolutely great. My family bought the soundtrack, and they listen to the songs all the time (especially "When You're a Professional Pirate"). And let's not forget the excellent background music by Hans Zimmer, who still knows how to crank out a good old-fashioned film score.
This movie is filled with all sorts of wackiness, right down to the names of some of the charcters (old Tom, real old Tom, Dead Tom), and jokes made in the movie come back later to make them ever funnier ("Dead Tom's Dead! Long John shot him!"). But this movie is more than just great fun. It's a well scripted, well acted, and in general well made film. It's got everything. Action, adventure, romance. And of course, singing. It's great family entertainment, with a lot of heart and a wonderful message about friendship. If you love the muppets, definitely see this movie. Especially if you like the story of Treasure Island...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Robert Louis Stevenson's classic pirate tale takes on a life of its own in the hands of the hilarious Muppets(TM)! MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND(TM) -- the Muppets' very first action-adventure -- is the fun-packed, music-filled, high-seas swashbuckler the entire family will enjoy over and over. It all begins when young Jim Hawkins inherits a long-lost map to a pirate's treasure. Jim hires the great ship Hispaniola where he meets the good Captain Smollett (Kermit the Frog) and the evil yet charming Long John Silver (Tim Curry). With adventure in their hearts and treasure chests of gold in their eyes, they set sail on the bounding main only to discover danger at every turn -- including Benjamina Gunn (Miss Piggy), Treasure Island's worshipped love goddess who's dressed to kill! Featuring a rollicking musical score by Academy Award(R)-winning Hans Zimmer (THE LION KING, 1994), MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND is a real gem that "explodes with wit, weirdness, and wildy inventive fun." (New York Post)

Get 26% OFF

Click here for more information about Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

Read More...

Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (2000) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The poor reviews this movie has received (in both the DVD and VHS formats) I feel are totally unwarranted. This is my favorite put-to-film Dickens novel (except for the various "A Christmas Carol's" out there), and I am ecstatic that this version is finally available on DVD.
Now, in this adaption, I believe the prequel works very well. I think it makes this a much more comprehensive movie and gives the characters involved (especially Monks) much more depth. And, because of the length of this version that I am reviewing, it allows the viewer to get to know each character much deeper than the other filmed versions available. We get to know Oliver's parents and Aunt Rose up close, although it is done through liberties taken by the producer and not necessarily Dickens himself. I do feel, however, the great novelist would not particularly mind in this case.
The acting is as good, if not better, than pretty much most period epics I have seen. The actors play off of each other well - they match their roles perfectly. The costumes and sets are excellent. They have captured the early Victorian period so well - both the good and the bad - it's almost as if the viewer is peering through a looking glass into the past.
As for the story following Dickens' original novel...well, I have yet to see any movie follow a novel to a "T." It just doesn't happen, unfortunately, with virtually any put-to-film novel. But this follows the original, as a whole, much much closer than the other versions I have seen - definitely more than "Oliver," and infinitely more than the Disney version with Richard Dreyfuss, which was made into a totally different story than what Dickens had intended.
Don't let the nearly 6 hour length scare you off - there is no time during this whole version where one is bored (unless they are a child - definitely not a children's movie!). Being a fan of epic period movies, I found this to be as enticing as any other epic novels put to the screen.
Bravo to all involved!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (2000)

Get 43% OFF

Click here for more information about Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999) (2000)

Read More...

Treasure Island (1990) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Brilliant, wonderful adaptation of R. L. Stevenson's classic seafaring tale -- this is beyond doubt THE best pirate film to have yet been made. Bar none. If you don't clap this one to your heart, ye be a false-sworn landlubber, by thunder, and here's my affydavy on that!
Update, October 2010: See the comments section -- it is being reported that a DVD release may finally come in 2011. Yarrr! And about time, too. Tremendous cast, sterling production values, brilliant cinematography, rousing musical score, crack screenplay, and vibrant performances make this an enduring classic.
I also want to put in a plug for the greatest pirate film to star a swashbuckling female, "Anne of the Indies" (aka "The Pirate Queen"), which has sadly never been released to home video in No. America but has aired on cable TV and is available on PAL Region 2 DVD (as Die Piratenkonigin) in Germany. If you have an all-region DVD player, you should run, not walk, to Amazon Deutschland and pick this up. It's the original English-language release, just switch off any German language options or subtitling. Jean Peters stars as Captain Anne Providence and gives her all in a wonderfully engaging, if corny, color production from about 1951. Peters is genuinely athletic, beautiful, and obviously loved this role. Anne of the Indies beats all other pirate queens hands down.
Now, if only they'd make a film about Grania O'Malley, we'd be splicin' the mainbrace!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Treasure Island (1990)

Click here for more information about Treasure Island (1990)

Read More...

Wuthering Heights (MTV, 2003) (2003) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I saw this movie on mtv the first time they ran it. I waited for months and months. Immediatly after I saw it I wanted to see it again. It's that good.
I finally found it for 2 dollars at iggle video.
I'm sure you all know this is a modern twist on Wuthering Heights. It's not exactly like the book. But it is a wonderful love story and it will make you cry. From some of the reviews I'm wondering if anyone even saw the same movie I did or if they saw that it said MTV so they decided to rate it bad.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wuthering Heights (MTV, 2003) (2003)

MTV'S WUTHERING HEIGHTS - DVD Movie

Get 74% OFF

Click here for more information about Wuthering Heights (MTV, 2003) (2003)

Read More...