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A Room With A View (Special Edition) [1985]

starring: Maggie Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Rupert Graves, Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench
directed by: James Ivory

October 29, 2007
This film is so romantic and well acted. If you have not seen it is a must have if you like period drama's, I have watched it time and again and never bored.

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Ace Ventura - Pet Detective/Ace Ventura - When Nature Calls [1993]

starring: Jim Carrey, Sean Young, Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Dan Marino
directed by: Tom Shadyac, Steve Oedekerk

October 22, 2007
Just a quick review to warn buyers that 'Ace Ventura - When Nature Calls' is cut by one minute thirty eight seconds to achieve a PG rating (As are all versions available in the UK). Several of the edgier/cruder jokes have been either reduced or removed.

If that doesn't bother you then buy this boxset without hesitation, but if you want the films completely uncut then buy the region 1 DVDs from America.

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Four Weddings And A Funeral [1994]

starring: Hugh Grant, James Fleet, Simon Callow, John Hannah, Kristin Scott Thomas
directed by: Mike Newell

January 29, 2001
Very entertaining stuff, a (mostly) superb cast and an absolutely cracking script.
The whole thing is let down by Andie MacDowell. WHY does this woman get work? She couldn't act if she had a gun to her head. Her delivery of the line "Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed" is so cringemakingly bad it's hilarious. In fact her entire performance is utterly dire. It'd be a 4* film if it had a different female lead. Anyone would do. Lily Savage would have been preferable, really.

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The Phantom Of The Opera

starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver, Miranda Richardson
directed by: Joel Schumacher

May 02, 2005
As I have never seen the stage show, I cannot compare the two. I have heard the music many times and always wanted to see it, now that I am able to I can say that it is one of the best musicals I have ever seen. The story is dramatic and sends shivers up your spine every 2 minutes. It takes you back in time to the point where I came out thinking that I should be wearing a corset and have my best puffy dress on. I love the attention to detail, not one thing looks out of place. The theatre looks amazing and the cinimatography is very good. I also thought that the actors fitted the roles perfectly, and their voices surprised me. Gerard Butler's voice was amazing, even though he had not sung before, he was the best phantom I've heard (though I am not ... Read More:

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Roman Mysteries - The Complete Series One [2007]

starring: Simon Callow
directed by: Paul Marcus

July 07, 2008
My daughter adores the Roman Mysteries books and avidly watched the BBC series when it came out, now she can enjoy them again and again.
Great production and cast. Looking forward to series 2 next.

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James And The Giant Peach [1996]

starring: Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Jane Leeves, Joanna Lumley, Miriam Margolyes
directed by: Henry Selick

October 25, 1999
Watched this a few years back but couldn't get on with the animation style. It was bought as a present for my 4yo who loves it. On re-watching I didn't have the same animation prejudice simply because Tim Burton has made it more 'acceptable'. Shallow of me I know but there you go.
The Aunts are fantastic in the 'real-life' section although I couldn't get on with the boy. Pete Postlethwaite still gives me the creeps (although that's from the Sharpe TV series rather than this film).
In the animated section the bugs are all pretty good and the boy gets better.
The songs are OK but I didn't find them particularly catchy.

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Shakespeare In Love [1999]

starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Simon Callow
directed by: John Madden

February 02, 2004
This film will change your whole perspective on love. It has the ability to move you to both laughter and tears, and that reason alone places it in my top five of all time.

The acting is superb, as is the set design, choreography, script and costume. This film is packed with talent in the actors; Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow are brilliant throughout. But I love it when a film has not so big characters, yet the actors who play them make them their own and really make the most of it. Examples in this film would include Martin Clunes, Simon Callow, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Colin Firth and above all Judi Dench.

I could rant on all day about the beauty of the script and the way in which Shakespeare is so characterised.
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Lynda La Plante - Trial And Retribution - 5 To 8

starring: David Hayman, Kate Buffery, Victoria Smurfit, James Fox, Charles Dance
directed by: Aisling Walsh, Ferdinand Fairfax, Charles Beeson, Paul Unwin

March 14, 2005
Insp.North (Kate Buffery) was a totally credible charactrer as a police officer just like Jane Tennison. Unfortunately her replacement, Victoria Smurfit is quite beyond belief. She has no credibility whatsoever as a polce officer (in episodes 7 and above).

She spoils an outstanding series - Don't bother with the more recent short episodes..

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Amadeus -- Director's Cut 2-Disc Special Edition [1985]

starring: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice, Simon Callow
directed by: Milos Forman

October 14, 2002
This is unquestionably a great film - a masterpiece, as other reviewers have already commented on at length. I would however draw people's attention to the fact that the Region 2 (Europe) version of this DVD is one of those incredibly irritating 'flipper' DVDs that you have to turn over towards the end (and climax!). Very frustrating - hence the deduction of two stars. If you have a multi-region DVD player you can buy the Region 1 (North America) version.

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Four Weddings And A Funeral [1994]

starring: Hugh Grant, James Fleet, Simon Callow, John Hannah, Kristin Scott Thomas
directed by: Mike Newell

November 29, 2004
Very entertaining stuff, a (mostly) superb cast and an absolutely cracking script.
The whole thing is let down by Andie MacDowell. WHY does this woman get work? She couldn't act if she had a gun to her head. Her delivery of the line "Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed" is so cringemakingly bad it's hilarious. In fact her entire performance is utterly dire. It'd be a 4* film if it had a different female lead. Anyone would do. Lily Savage would have been preferable, really.