Average Rating:

.

Persuasion : Complete BBC Adaptation [1995]

starring: Amanda Root, Ciarán Hinds, Susan Fleetwood, Corin Redgrave, Fiona Shaw
directed by: Roger Michell

November 01, 1999
Persuasion is my favourite book and this adaptation does it justice. The tone of the film matches the tone of the book: whistful. Anne is beautifully portrayed by Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds is wonderful as the charismatic Captain Wentworth. It's far subtler than the more recent ITV adaptation, and because of that all the more beautiful. Scenes in this film would melt the hardest of hearts, yet it is still funny. The perfect comfort film.

Average Rating:

.

Mansfield Park [1999] [2000]

starring: Hannah Taylor-Gordon, Talya Gordon, Lindsay Duncan, Bruce Byron, James Purefoy
directed by: Patricia Rozema

June 15, 2006
I have to say that I am astonished to see how poorly this film is rated by many other reviewers.

I've read a Jane Austen or two, but not Mansfield Park. Consequently, when I saw this film for the first time I thought it was great, and I still do because I still haven't read the book.

It's clear from reading the many other reviews that the makers of this film have greatly upset the Austen purists by substantially altering the story and characters and bringing in non-original elements such as the references to slavery, which anyone could guess was where the family money must have come from.

However, the fact remains that this is a very, very decent film in its own right. Frances O' Connor's Fanny Price - whether ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

King Lear

starring: Ian Holm, Amanda Redman, Victoria Hamilton, Timothy West, Barbara Flynn
directed by: Richard Eyre

March 20, 2006
I have to say that I am astonished to see how poorly this film is rated by many other reviewers.

I've read a Jane Austen or two, but not Mansfield Park. Consequently, when I saw this film for the first time I thought it was great, and I still do because I still haven't read the book.

It's clear from reading the many other reviews that the makers of this film have greatly upset the Austen purists by substantially altering the story and characters and bringing in non-original elements such as the references to slavery, which anyone could guess was where the family money must have come from.

However, the fact remains that this is a very, very decent film in its own right. Frances O' Connor's Fanny Price - whether ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Goodbye Mr Chips [2002]

starring: Martin Clunes, Victoria Hamilton, Conleth Hill, John Wood, Patrick Malahide
directed by: Stuart Orme

January 27, 2003
This version of Goodbye Mr Chips is in my opinion a superb production and by far the best version yet made. The story is familiar, a strict disciplinarian schoolmaster who mellows with age and wins the love and respect of everyone around him.

Martin Clunes was an inspired choice for the part of Mr Chipping, and his powerful performance was the most touching thing I have ever seen.... ever! I defy anyone with half a heart to watch this film and remain unmoved by it.

Martin Clunes played Chips from a young twenty-something, through to a caring and much beloved headmaster in his late eighties, and not only is his performance thoroughly believable, the make-up department also did a bang-up job in making him look totally genuine ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Shell Seekers [2006] [1990]

starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Prunella Scales, Alastair Mackenzie, Victoria Hamilton, Victoria Smurfit
directed by: Piers Haggard

August 06, 2007
The first Shell Seekers with Angela Lansbury, although enjoyable, was a bit 'light and fluffy' so I looked forward to watching this version with Vanessa Redgrave - how wrong can you be? Some of the acting was 'wooden' as though the actors had forgotten their lines and most of the film was stilted and boring. Very disappointed - even the scenery wasn't up to much. Won't watch it again. The book on the other hand is great and well worth reading.

Average Rating:

.

Before You Go [2002]

starring: Julie Walters, John Hannah, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Patricia Hodge, Tom Wilkinson
directed by: Lewis Gilbert

April 28, 2003
This is a fantastic film. It evokes memories of childhood and of losing one's parents. It also makes you view how you yourself will be remembered by your own children. A many layered film with brilliant actors - everyone a gem. A film to be watched many, many times. Reminded me of the sadness and unintentional humour that was there when my own mother died. The interplay of the characters is done with such insight, clarity and wit. This is a must see film. Love John Hannah but he managed to make me dislike his character in this film! Julie Walters catches her distress and humour so well - as always. Joanne Whalley and Victoria Hamilton pitched their characters just right. And, of course, Tom Wilkinson portrayed Frank as world weary just brilliantly. ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Scoop [2006] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Charles Dance, Julian Glover, Ian McShane, Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson
directed by: Woody Allen

November 21, 2006
This is not the angst-ridden 'Crimes and Misdemeanours' nor is it 'Annie Hall' but still it is sheer pleasure - the new Woody Allen murder mystery with the bizarre introduction.
Well, bizarre from some directors but not from our Woody.

Ian McShane, perfectly unkempt and rough looking, comes back to earth a few times as Joe Strombel, whose funeral provides us with the opening shot, to notify Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johannson) that he has a perfect scoop for her, one which he would have loved to have had but unfortunately now that he has the disadvantage of being dead, he cannot use.

She is a wonderful, gauche young would-be reporter who sees the ghost of Strombel, and so does Sid Waterman (Woody Allen) and together they devise ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Victoria And Albert [2001]

starring: Victoria Hamilton, Jonathan Firth, James Callis, Diana Rigg, Patrick Malahide
directed by: John Erman

August 05, 2002
I purchased the set (without actually watching it) upon the reccommendation of a friend and the reviews written on this production.
I'm so glad to own this production.
At first I was not sure what to expect and I was not at all impressed with it when I first viewed it. Thinking on the production and viewing it again the second time I have come to apperciate the production and the leading actors do an amazing job as Victoria and Albert.
I especially like how Albert married Victoria even though he was not in love with her as Victoria was with Albert. But he took his marriage vows very seriously and he grew to love Victoria and was faithful to her.
Victoria and Albert were very moral people and they as the first family wanted to set the example to ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Time Of Your Life [2007]

starring: Genevieve OReilly, Geraldine James, Robert Pugh, Olivia Colman, Joe Duttine
directed by: David Blair

July 30, 2007
It's slow - the plot is thin - the script uninspiring. A woman wakes up in extraordinarily good nick - no sign of muscle waste, no bedsores - leaps from her tubes & life support after an 18-year coma into a contemporary wardrobe, & runs through the streets looking for nothing in particular. Her friends & family faff around like headless chickens. A birthday party appears to organise itself. Yawn!

Average Rating:

.

To The Ends Of The Earth

starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Sam Neill, Jared Harris, Victoria Hamilton, Joanna Page
directed by: David Attwood

September 19, 2005
Golding was fascinated with what happens when a group of humanity is thrown on their own, isolated from other humanity and forced to recreate their own society. He studied this in Lord of the Flies, and in a great way in the sea trilogy that this film is based upon.

The story involves maturation of Edmund Talbot, an aristocrat who takes ship from England for Sydney, Australia, to take up a post sponsored by his influential Godfather. It's also the story of a group of people of disparate backgrounds who are jumbled into the cramped confines of an elderly, leaky man o' war, with all of the effluvia of 50-year-old ballast and the constant suppuration of slimy bilge water, and packed humanity crammed between the decks. Finally, it's a story about class and status, ... Read More: