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Doctor Who - The Brain Of Morbius [1976]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen
directed by: Christopher Barry

July 21, 2008
The Brain of Morbius is a good all round Doctor Who, even though it takes place in the studio. It is well paced, and keeps you on your toes most of the time.

In this era of Who this is one of the best ones made mainly because it makes you think as you go along "What's going to happen next?"

So for these things i would recommend you watch it all the way through if you have a couple of hours to spare.

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Les Miserables (2 Disc Collector's Edition)

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Michael Ball, Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Ruthie Henshall, Jenny Galloway
directed by: Gavin Taylor

November 14, 2005
This is a concert with actors from all different countries around the world coming together to celebrate this performance. The music is beautiful & the songs moving. The more I watch this DVD the more I enjoy it. The stage show I have seen countless times & still look foward to going again.I wish I had been at this gala, but sadly missed it, but to have it on dvd is a bonus & a must.Buy, watch & enjoy. It will be a regular disc in your player..Guaranteed.

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Marx Brothers Collection: A Night At The Opera / A Day At The Races / At The Circus / Go West / The Big Store / A Night In Casablanca [1935]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: The Marx Brothers, Diana Lewis, Kitty Carlisle, Allan Jones, Maureen O'Sullivan
directed by: Charles Reisner, Edward Buzzell, Archie Mayo

August 23, 2004
This boxset contains 5 wonderful Marx Brothers films. The picture quality & sound on all of them is superb. If, like me, you are a Marx Bros. fan, then this really is a fantastic set of films to own. It is difficult for me to choose a favourite from the 5 movies here, simply because they are all hilarious & the quality of the jokes & gags is incomparable.

Worth mentioning are the extra features, which are excellent because they are on all 5 movies. For example, on "Day at the races", there are 3 cartoons with a horse theme. I enjoyed these, & I found myself laughing almost as much as when I was watching the actual movies. Other non cartoon extras include short films involving a couple whose trip to the cinema becomes a chaotic ... Read More:

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Evita [1997]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail
directed by: Alan Parker

May 21, 1999
I've never seen Evita on stage, but from watching this film it becomes very obvious that that is where this story belongs, and although certain musicals have translated very well into films ('the Phantom of the Opera' and 'Hairspray' being two that spring immediatley to mind), this is one of those that I feel should have been left on stage. Saying that however, watching this film has made me very keen to see the musical in it's original format one day, and it is just a shame that it is no longer being shown in the West End.

Whenever Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice get togther for a musical, you know you're going to be in for a treat, and no matter what other reservations I have about this film, there is no doubting that musically, it is a masterpiece. There ... Read More:

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Great Expectations [1946]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: John Mills, Tony Wager, Valerie Hobson, Jean Simmons, Bernard Miles
directed by: David Lean

April 12, 1999
This excellent production truly captures the spirit of a Dickens classic. And it's WAY ahead of its time for 1946! Long movies were expensive to make in those days yet this adaptation runs to almost 2 hours.

The orphan Philip Pirrip - or "Pip" - lives with his violent, merciless sister and his kindly though unrefined brother-in-law Joe, a blacksmith. On visiting his parents' grave one night Pip has a chance meeting with an escaped convict called Magwitch, who bullies the child into stealing him some food. He also visits a strange mansion inhabited by the fabulously rich but wildly eccentric "Miss Havisham", abandoned on her wedding day years earlier and now living in seclusion and wallowing in perpetual self-pity. There Pip falls in love with the pretty but brash ... Read More:

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A Matter Of Life And Death [1946]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: David Niven, Kim Hunter, Robert Coote, Kathleen Byron, Richard Attenborough
directed by: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

September 14, 1998

This film has a fabulous opening sequence, and a lovely opening scene featuring David Niven as 'Peter Carter' and Kim Hunter as 'June'.

This is a fascinating movie with an interesting topic, and as so many have said before; this is a film way ahead of its time. The fact that this was filmed using both black and white and colour adds to the 'Special Effects'.

'Peter Carter' gets a second chance at life and love when he has to jump from a crashing Aeroplane during the War.

Marius Goring stars in one of his most 'colourful' roles as the 'Conductor 71' character. Also stars Raymond Massey.

An entertaining movie.

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Night Mail - Collector's Edition Presentation Box [1936]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
from: Bfi Video

November 26, 2007
Night Mail, which contains several other "shorts" as well as the title film, is a short collection of digitally remastered documentaries made in the 1930s and beyond concerning the travelling postal services on our railways. It is enjoyable to watch - you can almost smell the steam - and to listen to as well, with the characteristic clipped tones of documentary commentaries from the era. I wouldn't call it nostalgic as I wasn't born until the late 1950s, but it does make you feel somewhat wistful for a time when we took pride in our services like the railways and the mail, and importance was attached to them. Other shorts in the DVD depict related topics like the electrification of the Southern Railway.

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How The West Was Won [1963]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Carroll Baker, James Stewart, Eli Wallach, John Wayne, Richard Widmark
directed by: Henry Hathaway, John Ford, George Marshall

September 29, 2008
What a fantastic print we now have of this film since the original cinerama has now been restored and the three joins of the original can no longer be seen. Finally the film can be seen in glorious depth and colour with both images in the foreground and background in crystal clarity.

A fantastic commentary is also added by filmmaker David Strohmaier, Director of Cinerama, Inc. John Sitting, Film Historian Rudy Behlemer, Music Historian Jon Burlingame and Stuntman Loren James which throws so much new light on the making of the movie.

For those who have never seen the film; sit back and enjoy.

For those who have seen the film many times on TV or video, and longed for the day.....welcome for the first time to "HOW THE WEST WAS WON" as it should be seen. ... Read More:

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Much Ado About Nothing [1993]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves
directed by: Kenneth Branagh

May 21, 1999
Flicking through my recommendations on Amazon today I came across this. Well I bought it when it first came out on DVD so thought I would add my voice to those other reviews about the quality. I won't say to much about the film. For me it was very, very enjoyable. Well acted (a pleasure to see so many British stars mixed with those from across the pond), well directed (the scene where Beatrice and Benedict are 'captured' by the trap is superb), with good music and wonderful scenery.

Such a shame then that the DVD is so sloppily put together. In Mono only! No scene selection. No 'making of'. No directors' comments. Surely the time has come for a new edition?

I have most of Kenneth Branagh's work and enjoyed immensely his comments on 'Loves Labours Lost' and ... Read More:

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Kelly's Heroes [1970]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Classics
starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland
directed by: Brian G. Hutton

June 01, 2006
I sometimes wonder about what is a review and what is a history lesson or what is a rehash of the entire film. Basically I think that in this scenario we should look at; Is it a good film? does it make you want to see more? ARE YOU ENJOYING IT? or are you so busy nit picking that you miss the whole context of what is going on? Do not watch this film with anything other than an open mind and an acute sense of outrageous humour. woof woof.