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Atonement [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, James McAvoy, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
directed by: Joe Wright

February 04, 2008
This film is boring and badly acted especially by Miss Knighty. The story not clear and missing vital information from the book well not so much missing but not making it clear.

I looked forward to taking my wife to this and wished I had not it was truly truly bad. She like myself had read the book at some time but seriously felt let down.

Would not recommend at all, stay at home with your feet up and watch paint drying its more fun honest!

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The Jane Austen Book Club [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Kevin Zegers, Jimmy Smits, Maria Bello, Kathy Baker, Hugh Dancy
directed by: Robin Swicord

March 17, 2008
I can tell is an ok movie recommended for women to watch and who have read Jane Austen's books.

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Pride And Prejudice : Complete BBC Series - 10th Anniversary Edition [1995]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth, David Bamber, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Anna Chancellor

September 12, 2005
After all the hype surrounding the charming Mr Firth and Miss Ehle, I looked forward to seeing this newer version of P&P, only to be sadly disappointed. In comparison to the excellent 1980's BBC version adapted by Fay Wheldon (why oh why have they not released it on region 2?)there were many aspects of this more recent production that made me cringe. The strength of the 80's production lies chiefly in the superb casting of ALL the characters and the fine balance found between the many connective relationships - and here lies the weakness of this newer version. Some key characters are played with attitudes or behaviour which seemed a little too modern, and lacking in the necessary 'manners' of the time - a major oversight considering that P&P is essentially ... Read More:

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Lark Rise to Candleford: Complete BBC Series 1 [2008]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Dawn French, Julia Sawalha, Liz Smith

April 07, 2008
I loved everything about this production based on a book I had always meant to read, but somehow had never got around to it.

The series was like a breath of fresh air - an escape from the never-ending diet of real-life violence and murder stories, and the dreaded cheap reality shows that seem to be all pervasive these days. I found myself so looking forward to it, I rearranged my social life so as not to miss it. This is real quality TV, and I only wish there was more of it. This is British drama at its best. Julia Sawalha was absolutely brilliant, as always, and the ladies' costumes were outstanding. I don't usually buy DVD's because I tend to not watch programmes more than once - but this is a classic and I will definitely be watching it again ... Read More:

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Elizabeth: The Golden Age [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Rhys Ifans, Abbie Cornish
directed by: Shekhar Kapur

February 25, 2008
This film was okay, but why wasn't Sir Francis Drake given more of a platform? He was surely the helmsman at the defeat of the Spanish Armada; famously 'singeing the King of Spain's beard.' As a Plymouthian, I was hoping to see more of him and less of Raleigh.

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The Tudors: Season 2

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Natalie Dormer, Jeremy Northam, Henry Cavill, Maria Doyle Kennedy
directed by: Michael Hirst

October 13, 2008
This is a soap, not a serious historical drama.

If you can get over the stunning lack of regard to history and enjoy it for what it is you might find yourself being mildly entertained. I acknowledge that this is not to everyone's taste; it is bawdy for the sake of it, the acting is at times laughable and it takes itself a bit too seriously. But I love it. I tried to resist the first series but this is a great piece of tat to enjoy at the end of a long day. If you would rather spend an hour in the evening reading a history book, that's fine. I think some reviewers of series one are simply out to show how much they know about the Tudor period by cataloguing the show's errors. If that's how you get your rocks of, fair enough.

However, I know ... Read More:

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The Other Boleyn Girl [2008]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Natalie Portman, Ana Torrent, David Morrissey, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana
directed by: Justin Chadwick

June 30, 2008
I am absolutely fascinated with the Tudor period and so I ignored previous reviews I had read about this film...and I was very wrong to do so. I cannot begin to understand how a film based on such a captivating story, and a enthralling part of English history, could be so dull! The characters weren't developed at all, in fact considering the film is called 'The OTHER Boleyn Girl', Mary Boleyn is barely seen. The underlying plots in the book of family politics and the three Boleyn siblings barely get mentioned, and a story which should have been played out over 15 years (including the reformation of the English church!), seemed to whizz by. In fact, the film barely had any similarities to the original novel and was littered with historical inaccuracies, which would have been ... Read More:

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Northanger Abbey [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Felicity Jones, JJ Feild, Carey Mulligan, Liam Cunningham

March 26, 2007
Yes, it was witty and enjoyable. I am glad that I have added this to my Austen Collection. Loved the photography in Bath. I wasn't so impresed with the acting but overall a good interpretation. Our Jane was quite a racy woman.

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The Other Boleyn Girl [2003]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Yolanda Vasquez, Jared Harris, Natascha McElhone, Steven Mackintosh, Jodhi May
directed by: Phillipa Lowthorpe

October 06, 2008
This is a super tale with some real strong acting. I have waited for some time for this to come out on DVD and have not been disappointed.

At times the truth has been changed a little -but that does not take away from a great film.

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Miss Austen Regrets (BBC) [2008]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Period
starring: Olivia Williams, Greta Scacchi, Hugh Bonneville, Jack Huston

April 28, 2008
This production was a genuine surprise. As a biopic of the later years of Jane Austen's life as she approaches 40 and of her niece Fanny as she approaches marriage, it doesn't always stick to (what is assumed to be) the truth and allows itself a rather obvious dig at 'Becoming Jane'. Yet it is a much more intelligent work than that overblown and toe-curling biographical portrait. Refreshingly, it centres on the female relationships in Austen's life (although there is of course a lot of talking about men and marriage and some "profligate and shocking dancing and sitting down together").

Imogen Poots plays Fanny brilliantly, as does Hugh Bonneville in the role of Reverend Brook Bridges. I found Olivia Williams played Austen too manneredly and self-consciously, but the choice ... Read More: