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Anne Of The Thousand Days [1969]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Richard Burton, Geneviève Bujold, Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos
directed by: Charles Jarrott

March 06, 2006
"Anne of the Thousand Days" is a 1969 costume drama directed by Charles Jarrott. The film is based on the Broadway play with the same title of 1948. It had to wait over 20 years to be filmed because the themes of adultery, illegitimacy, and incest would not have been acceptable to the production code. In the main roles are Richard Burton as King Henry VIII and Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn. Irene Papas plays Catherine of Aragon.

The film received 10 Oscar nominations in 1970, but won only one for Best Costume Design. 7 Golden Globe nominations, winning four, including Best Motion Picture Actress -Drama - for Geneviève Bujold and Best Motion Picture - Drama - already indicates this is a great movie. The movie captivates its audience ... Read More:

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Judex/Nuits Rouges [Masters of Cinema] [1963]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Edith Scob, Jacques Champreux, Channing Pollock, Francine Berge
directed by: Georges Franju

August 25, 2008
Franju's Judex is a strangely faithful remake of the 1916 Feuillade serial. Strangely because Franju seems not to have seen the original when he made it, but based it on a novelisation and stills. The remake adds poetic touches, the bird masks, most obviously, but it follows the original in a lot of details, but compresses about 8 hours into 90 minutes!

It's most valuable as a tribute that makes you go back to the original. The original is only available on Region 1 at the moment - but it's a beautiful and inventive (but very long) masterpiece. The original has an astonishigly poetic style for uts period and has actually funny comic relief. If you can't play Region 1 get "Les Vampires" which is wonderful fun - but you have to give it time ... Read More:

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (2 Disc Special Edition) [1975]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn
directed by: Jim Sharman

February 09, 2001
No matter what anyone says, and no matter what happens, no other musical can beat the one and only "Rocky Horror Picture Show"! Seriously! I know I may be exaggerating, but tied with the Baz Luhrman classic Moulin Rouge!, this is THE greatest musical of all time!

What I like most about "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is the fact that it has its own inventive style. I mean, look at musicals like Mary Poppins and Sound of Music (both good films by the way). While they have people singing nice lovely songs aimed at families, RHPS tells about a "Sweet Transvestite" and his servants whom dance to "The Time Warp". How many musicals use THAT idea? Also, the characters are brilliant, the story is well thought-out and the songs are all-singing, all-dancing ... Read More:

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Doctor Who - Battlefield

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
by: Doctor Who

December 29, 2008
This review is solely to give a more balanced account than the ones already posted. I think Sylvester Mccoy is awesome, I remember watching this one back in the day as a primary-school kid and thinking it was brilliant. And I think anyone who grew up with Sylvester would agree. Ace was an awesome assistant, in that she occasionally got to blow things up. Now, any doctor who reviews you read should be taken with a pinch of salt, as they are mostly written by the over-40s, who seem to think that anything after 1976, in a programme that is based on constant change in actor, assistant, producer and writing team, is going to be substandard. It ain't. Doctor Who has always been camp silly nonsense, and it seems a little weird that the duffers who complain about post ... Read More:

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Henry V [1989]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Paul Scofield, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson
directed by: Kenneth Branagh

June 17, 2002
Shakespeare's Henry V is lavish, poetic and dramatic. The plot is simple: Young Henry V lays claim to the French throne and invades France to claim it. The rag tag English army make their way through France conquering city after city. On their way to Calais, they are met by superior, better equipped and better trained French army at Agincourt.

The English, aware of their inferior numbers and training, begin to despair. Henry V, the leader that he is, inspires his men in the famous words:

If we are marked to die
We are enough to do our country loss
And if [we are] to live the few men the greater share of honour
God's will I pray thee wish not one man more
He who outlives this day will stand a-tiptoe when this day is ... Read More:

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Italian Job, The [1969]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Michael Caine, Noel Coward, Benny Hill, Raf Vallone, Tony Beckley
directed by: Peter Collinson

September 15, 2003
Michael Caine stars as Charlie Croaker, a newly realised prisoner, who sets about putting into motion a plan to steal a fortune, $4,000,000, in gold bars from the Italians. Until certain events come to pass, he is unable to set the plan into motion. He sneaks into the prison, where he interrupts Mr Bridger's nightly toilet break. Once undue reparations have come to pass onto the unfortunate Charlie Croaker, Mr Bridger finds an interest in the scheme. Once he, Croaker, has selected the team, and carried out rudimentary training he transports them to Italy; where they encounter the Italian Mafia. The Mafia, take it upon themselves to re-enact the credible incident that had befallen Croaker's predecessor's, who had planned the Job in Italy, untimely demise. From here the plan, is put into ... Read More:

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Whisky Galore (Single Disc) [1949]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Basil Radford, Catherine Lacey

November 13, 2006
I've only seen this film once, and I have no doubt that when I watch it again it will only improve. Previous reviewers who have given the film 5 stars may well be right.

It concerns the shortage of Whisky on a Scottish Island. Fortunately a boat containing 50,000 bottles runs aground and a plot is hatched to steal the liqeur from the boat. Opposed to this plan is a local Home Guard Captain, Waggett (wonderfully played by Basil Radford). He is somewhat officious and does everthing in his power to thwart there attempts to get the liquer. In fact I wondered if this was an influence on Captain Mainwaring in Dads Army. The other noteable performance is from Jean Cadell as the terrifying Mrs Campbell, who opposes her sons (Gordon Jackson) plan to marry and is reminisent of the mother in ... Read More:

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Seven Samurai [1954]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki
directed by: Akira Kurosawa

November 22, 1999
"Seven samurai" (1954) is arguably Akira Kurosawa's best film, and my favourite of those made by that wonderful Japanese director. The plot of this movie is simple enough, but it is developed in a way that enriches it, by adding depth to the characters and making the spectator realize that there is more to them than meets the eye. The rigid cast division that characterized 16th century Japan is shown, and the whole period is brought to life thanks to outstanding cinematography and excellent acting.

The story begins when the inhabitants of a very small rural village start discussing what to do about the bandits that attack them from time to time, taking everything of value with them. The farmers have very few resources and hardly any food left, but need to find a solution to their urgent ... Read More:

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Catherine Cookson Complete Collection (24 Disc Box Set) [1956]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
by: The Catherine Cookson Collection

August 21, 2006
Purchased Product as a present but found discs that kept sticking and one in the set was completely corrupt. Had to return goods on several occasions but cannot fault Customer Services. I ended up buying several individual discs from another stockist to make up the set. Poor

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A Bridge Too Far (2 Disc Special Edition) [1977]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Olivier, Ryan O'Neal, Maximilian Schell, Liv Ullmann
directed by: Richard Attenborough, Sidney Hayers

May 24, 2004
This is almost a classic war movie, with A Cecil B DeMille "cast of thousands", including a multiplicity of stars as noted by other reviewers. At the time of release (1977), it was critiqued as "an hour too long" by some reviewers, which is too harsh a verdict for such a detailed overview of one of the much-analysed battles of World War 2.

The film has both narrative and action which capture the viewer and character performances which are finally toned, remembering that many of the key participants were still alive at the time of release. The battle scenes are well done, albeit with very obvious use of 1970s artillery pieces and tanks in certain scenes.

The major flaw in the movie is its obligation to the 1970s Zeitgeist of the "all war is evil" movement. In the film, war is effectively ... Read More: