A Dance to the Music of Time

Amazon.com

There'll always be an England--and Anglophiles shall be forever grateful. A Dance to the Music of Time is a sumptuous, leisurely portrait of a time in Britain's history (from the 1920s to the '60s) that epitomizes the pinnacle of romance. At the center of this Dance is Nicholas Jenkins, the narrator of the tales of intrigue, infidelity, queer friendships, and ruthless ambition that intersect throughout the series. Jenkins is played by the appealing James Purefoy, who, with starring turns in the likes of the film Vanity Fair and the HBO series Rome, clearly has not met a period drama he could not master. Flawed but clear-eyed, Jenkins observes the machinations of the upper crust from a bit of a remove, as if watching a play unfold.

And unfold it does. The plot is far too intricate to encapsulate, and in the end, plot isn't the appeal of British drawing-room dramas, anyway. Instead, it's the evocation of a time bound by intricate, unspoken rules--which participants seem to spend as much time and furtive energy trying to break as they do abiding by them. Notable characters include the greasy Widmerpool (played by the BAFTA-winning Simon Russell Beale), who, despite being utterly unremarkable, manages to build quite a career in the British government and military. John Gielgud is riveting as the novelist St. John Clarke, whose books are wildly popular but sniffed at by serious critics, and Miranda Richardson is the devilish Pamela Flitton.

The miniseries bears more than a passing resemblance to the much-beloved Brideshead Revisited, and in fact the cast of characters is so complex that the boxed set includes a "cheat sheet" guide to the most prominent 15 of them. But keeping tabs is less important than simply being swept into the lush period of time and allowing its gorgeous details wash over the viewer. For Anglophiles, the experience of watching A Dance to the Music of Time is truly transcendent. --A.T. Hurley

Description

"Performances and cameos by virtually every classy act in British theatre" -- Vanity Fair

A brilliant adaptation of a literary masterpiece -- often compared to the landmark miniseries Brideshead Revisited in scope and impact -- A Dance to the Music of Time chronicles a half century of British upper-class life through the eyes of protagonist Nicholas Jenkins (James Purefoy, Rome). From the 1920s through the 1960s, friendship, adultery, ambition, and failure play out against the backdrop of London's social, political, and artistic life.

Based on the 12-novel cycle by Anthony Powell called "the absolute quintessence of Englishness," and adapted by Emmy®- and BAFTA-winner Hugh Whitemore (My House in Umbria, The Gathering Storm, Breaking the Code), the lavish eight-hour drama debuted in the U.K in 1997 to critical and popular acclaim. Also starring Miranda Richardson, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Alan Bennett, John Standing, Zoë Wanamaker, Eileen Atkins, and Simon Russell Beale, who won a BAFTA for his portrayal of the owlish and viciously ambitious Widmerpool.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE character guide, photo gallery, Anthony Powell bio, and cast filmographies.

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING once you get through Disc One!.......2007-09-13

This is perhaps my favorite set of novels. Given that, I was very skeptical as to the dramatization of Powell's 12 book "cycle." It is brilliant! HOWEVER: since there are at least 20 personae to keep up with, Disc One is almost entirely squib outlines. Think of these as random memories from Nick Jenkin's youth that are robustly completed in the series' remaining five and a half hours. For an additional bonus, read the books afterward - they are perhaps the best use of the written English vocabulary. Pullulate and palimpsest - what great words!

Brilliant adaptation.......2007-08-05

A Dance to the Music of Time is a series of twelve novels by the English author Anthony Powell, a fictionalized version of his own life that invites comparisons to Proust's In Search of Lost Time. The running time of seven hours for the adaptation, therefore, is not surprising given the enormous scope of the project, which charts the life of its semi-autobiographical protagonist, Nick Jenkins, from his schoolboy days through to his old age in the burgeoning cultural revolution of the 1960s. This series was first shown on TV in 1997 when I was living in Australia, and so I have had the opportunity to watch it three times already. I can therefore say with some authority that this is perhaps the best literary adaptation that I have ever seen. The first episode can be a little off-putting, as characters seem to keep bumping into each other at random, but you soon realize that this is not a silly device on the part of the novelist, but an accurate reflection of the incestuous nature of the upper class in England at this time (or really, any time). The production is sumptuous, and the acting is universally good. Stand out performances include Simon Russell Beale, the victim/villain of the piece (he will be fixed in my mind forever as the definite image of Widmerpoole) and, coming later in the series, Miranda Richardson in brilliant form as Pamela Flitton, a twisted maneater. Richardson, who too often gets cast in shrill, nasty roles, is in top form here, chewing up the scenery with seductive viciousness. You don't really need to read the novels to follow what is going on (although I recommend them highly), and the first episode, simply because it has to set everything up, demands a certain level of attention. But overall I love this adaptation, and I'm glad that I can finally own it on DVD.

Though (of necessity) considerably abbreviated..........2007-07-30

Still a wonderful adaptation of the novels. In my view, far more successful than the BBC's attempt at "Brideshead" almost a decade earlier.

Average customer rating:

take a look
Daniel Craig shows why he is 007
Great version of Layer Cake

Layer Cake [Blu-ray]
Starring: Daniel Craig , Kenneth Cranham , Dexter Fletcher , Michael Gambon , and Colm Meaney
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000IFQLG4
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Product Description

Planning to retire and begin a new life, Mr. X (Daniel Craig, Casino Royale), a successful West End drug dealer, has been asked for one last favor: to negotiate the sale of one million hitsof Ecstasy. Unfortunately for Mr. X, the pills were stolen from a Serbian drug lord who'll cut offhis head if he sells them. And with a London crime czar (Michael Gambon, Open Range & The Insider)promising to retire him permanently if he doesn't, Mr. X may be rightfully concerned about his future. Nothing worth losing his head over.

Customer Reviews:

take a look.......2007-08-08

i had no idea what this movie was about when i bought the blu-ray disc. i was very pleased with it. it delivered throughout the entire movie, including a pretty good soundtrack. i think you will like this one.

Daniel Craig shows why he is 007.......2007-07-03

A fine movie that displays why Daniel Craig was chosen for the latest 007 films. One of the best of the recent British mobster movies, it is difficult to understand the Queen's English, but the action and storyline are far better than most of this genre.

Great version of Layer Cake.......2007-05-19

This is a A+ version of Layer Cake. The picture is stunning. If you want to own this movie definitely by this over a DVD.

Average customer rating:

The must-see drama of the year!
Incredible
"Your comments are interesting and tough to answer.",per Sigourney Weaver!
A Gem
DONT MISS THIS ONE

Snow Cake
Starring: Selina Cadell , Kim Cattrall , Jayne Eastwood , David Fox , and Alan Rickman
Director: Marc Evans
Manufacturer: Ifc
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ASIN: B000R7HY00
Release Date: 2007-09-11

Amazon.com

Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver form the quintessential indie-film odd couple in this intimately observed drama that makes a memorable detour from the usual high-concept, special effects-laden studio fare. Rickman is in his element as Alex, a morose, laconic ex-con just released from prison. A tragic twist of fate brings him to a Canadian small town and the doorstep of Linda, a functional autistic woman with a decidedly anti-social personality. Weaver is a wonder in a fiercely committed, vanity-free performance. "I don't like normal people," Linda states, and neither does Snow Cake, the heart of which is clearly with the outcasts and misfits, including Vivienne (Emily Hampshire), Linda's vivacious, hitchhiking daughter, who bums a ride with Alex because he looks lonely ("Lonely people have the best stories," she observes) and Linda's neighbor, Maggie (Carrie-Ann Moss), a nurturing type who is very quick to take damaged soul Alex into her bed. This is a palpably heartfelt project (screenwriter Angela Pell has an autistic daughter) that--the unfortunate title notwithstanding--mostly manages to avoid the cloying or manipulative. The smiling faces pictured on the DVD cover suggest an upbeat romantic comedy, but Snow Cake is a slice of something much more filling. --Donald Liebenson

Description

Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Alan Rickman star in this film about what happens in the aftermath of a young woman's death. Recently released from prison, Alex (Rickman) offers a ride to a hitchhiker, only to have her killed instantly when their car endures a brutal accident. Alex then approaches the girl's mother, and the events that unfold change his life and other around him dramatically.

Customer Reviews:

The must-see drama of the year!.......2007-09-13

This movie was fascinating and full of little surprises that made me laugh and cry alternately. One of the unique aspects of Snow Cake is that the cast is made up of sci-fi/action heavyweights! Sigourney Weaver is all too used to dousing slimy aliens with flamethrowers; Alan Rickman generally chews scenery as the sorcerer Severus Snape; and Carrie-Anne Moss will go down in history as the leather-clad, cool-shades-donning femme fatale of the Matrix trilogy. Yet here we get to see an overwhelmingly tender and subtle side to these actors, who are all absolutely brilliant in a small drama as well as their usual big box office outings. I urge anyone who has an interest in the human condition to watch this movie.

Incredible.......2007-09-08

I absolutely loved this movie. I fell in love with the characters immediately. The plot was amazing. I also work with Autistic children and loved the way the movie was so accurate with the behaviors of people with autism. Heart touching movie everyone should see!

"Your comments are interesting and tough to answer.",per Sigourney Weaver! .......2007-09-06

My name is Andre Jonathan, and I had the pleasure to see the premiere screening with the Cast,Director, and Writer of this movie at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. In addition, I was chosen from a few to comment, and ask a question to Sigourney Weaver personally during the Q&A. Moreover, my comment and question,along with my presentation I guess,to my surprise, was the only one to get applause and laughter from the audiance;in which Ms. Weaver's response was "that's a tough and interesting question to answer",and then she began elaborating for at least three(3)minuets to my question/comment). I don't quite remember what I said per se, but it had something to do with her advertent and/or inadvertent comedic skills I thought she displayed in a serious character role as an autistic woman! By the way, I thought the movie was touching, moving, serious, semi-provocative, and at times ackwardly funny! Furthermore, the overall CAST was COMPLIMENTRY & GREAT!!

Thanks,
Andre Jonathan
ajonathan1@yahoo.com

A Gem.......2007-06-24

I saw this movie on PPV and had been waiting for it a long time. I initially wanted to see it because of Alan Rickman (Alec). He was wonderful as usual, but his real genius in this film was to sit back and let Sigourney Weaver (Linda) play off of him. Not that Rickman didn't have his moments, but Weaver was really outstanding. In one scene, Alec is sobbing uncontrollably and Linda looks at him quizzically and asks if there is something wrong with the tea. That's just one little gem of a scene.

Don't look for romantic fireworks or a dramatic ending in this movie. It's just the story of three people with their own secrets brought together by a tragic event. I found myself drawn into their lives, as they were drawn into each other's lives.

Once you see this movie, you will understand why I say it was "dalzious."

DONT MISS THIS ONE.......2007-06-18

A long overdue reminder that it all starts with the script, quirky interesting.Nothing like this film will be coming out of Hollywood.Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver are both Amazing in there performances.

Average customer rating:

Great Ending
The Ending is Unexpected, The Story is Great!!!!!!!!!!
very good
There Was Cake?
This cake falls flat

Layer Cake (Widescreen Special Edition)
Starring: Daniel Craig , Tom Hardy , Jamie Foreman , Sally Hawkins , and Burn Gorman
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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ASIN: B0009X7BDC
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Description

Planning to retire and begin a new life, Mr. X (Daniel Craig, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider), a successful West End drug dealer, has been asked for one last favor: to negotiate the sale of one million hits of Ecstasy. Unfortunately for Mr. X, the pills were stolen from a Serbian drug lord who'll cut off his head if he sells them. And with a London crime czar (Michael Gambon, Open Range & The Insider) promising to retire him permanently if he doesn't, Mr. X may be rightfully concerned about his future. Nothing worth losing his head over.

Amazon.com

As its title suggests, Layer Cake is a crime thriller that cuts into several levels of its treacherous criminal underworld. The title is actually one character's definition of the drug-trade hierarchy, but it's also an apt metaphor for the separate layers of deception, death, and betrayal experienced by the film's unnamed protagonist, a cocaine traffic middle-man played with smooth appeal by Daniel Craig (rumored at the time of this film's release to be on the short list for consideration as the next James Bond). Listed in the credits only as "XXXX," the character is trapped into doing a favor for his volatile boss, only to have tables turned by his boss's boss (Michael Gambon) in a twisting plot involving a stolen shipment of Ecstasy, a missing girl, duplicitous dealers, murderous Serbian gangsters, and a variety of lowlifes with their own deadly agendas. As adapted by J.J. Connolly (from his own novel) and directed by Matthew Vaughan (who earned his genre chops as producer of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch), Layer Cake improves upon those earlier British gangland hits with assured pacing, intelligent plotting, and an admirable emphasis on plot-moving dialogue over routine action. Sure, it's violent (that's to be expected) and not always involving, but it's smarter than most thrillers, and Vaughan's directorial debut has a confident style that's flashy without being flamboyant. This could be the start of an impressive career. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Great Ending.......2007-08-25

Before Daniel Craig became James Bond he starred in this british crime drama. The ending is great and unexpected.

Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows

The Ending is Unexpected, The Story is Great!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-08-12

Alright, I think I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that this movie is only getting some street cred because it has the blond bond in it. Yeah, I know people went back and rediscovered this thing. But the movie is good on its own terms. It really is a good flick. It involves the struggles of a drug-dealer trying to get out of the underworld. While he is trying to get beyond the limits of his life, his life takes an unexpected turn. In the process of dealing with these new unexpected challenges, the main character is taking ion a rip-roaring adventure. In the end, though, you find that his effort were all for not because of the unexpected ending. So, get the movie and see what I am talking about. It's worth it, I promise.

very good.......2007-08-05

So what did I like about Layer Cake? Well, Daniel Craig is... well look at him. The man is so hot he should be leaving a smoke trail every time he's on screen. Next, I loved how this movie does not glamorize the drug trade. Yeah, there's a fortune to be made but you pay for it and if you aren't smart you die and usually in a really painful, nasty way.

Craig's character, Mr.X is cool, oh so smart and sick of the life he's living. He wants out and only has to do his boss a "favor" in order to be able to retire. It seems so simple, so clear cut but Mr. X discovers that is not the case. Two scenes stayed with me long after I watched the movie. First, when X has to kill a man and his reaction to that. Watching Craig try to get some sleep, try to drug and drink his memory away was fascinating. The second memory scorcher is the very last scene which I won't describe. I'll only note that it's amazing how much emotion Craig can register with just his eyes.

Buy Layer Cake it's worth the money.

There Was Cake? .......2007-07-27

This movie is not about cake. I was waiting for the nice table and cake party, but all in the movie these men do is walk around serious and look at each other. They smoke and talk funny, and sometimes sit at a table and drink drinks. They need ballons and hats!!! The movie made me feel like small because I was always looking from under a table or behind a napkin on the floor and even through the cigigrates smokes (maybe that's why they all die in the end; remember, smoking hurts you!!) Even when they sit in nice club with girls there was no cake. I think this movie is tricky that way, because you think cake, party, and nice talkings, you have no talkings, just sad music and people who are mad and hurt. Maybe the movie is a lesson on why cake is important. Eat cake!!!! (Three more stars if even one slice, but only two today!!!)

This cake falls flat.......2007-07-26

"Layer Cake" begins with a long, long voiceover - always a red flag for a movie of any genre. When the movie begins by telling you about itself, rather than showing exposition through dialogue and action, you're in for trouble. And the intro is classic cliche: an honorable criminal who wants to retire gets into one last gig that goes horribly wrong.

But even cliches can be the basis for a good movie if done right. Sadly, they are not done right here. In "Layer Cake," the actors cannot be faulted; they do a great job with the material. The cinematography is interesting and very good. But the direction sucks the energy and life out of the material, and the material is a muddled, overcomplicated script that leaves you scratching your head about critical plot points.

"Layer Cake" is a pale imitation of better US and UK movies, "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" being the better example of the genre that springs immediately to mind. This movie is watchable, but just barely. This is a desperation call at 11 pm on Friday night at the video store. At least it's better than whatever TV has to offer in that time slot.

Average customer rating:

Stephen King and George A. Romero's great tribute to 50's horror comics
KIND OF COOL
GREAT MOVIE WITH A PLAYFULL SPIRIT!!!
"Where's my cake!?!".
You will have nightmares.

Creepshow
Starring: Hal Holbrook , Adrienne Barbeau , Fritz Weaver , Leslie Nielsen , and Carrie Nye
Director: George A. Romero
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0790744295
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Amazon.com

Inspired by the controversial E.C. Comics of the 1950s--which also provided the title and inspiration for the popular Tales from the Crypt TV series--director George Romero and screenwriter Stephen King serve up five delightfully frightful stories. Utilizing comic-book panels, animated segues, and exaggerated lighting and camera angles, Romero and cinematographer Michael Gornick come very close to replicating a horror comic in film format. The results mix fine acting with the morbid sense of humor and irony that made the E.C. books so popular in their heyday. Actors such as Leslie Nielsen, Hal Holbrook, Ted Danson, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Harris, E.G. Marshall, and even King appear in the stories, which include tales of a sinister father's day celebration, a mysterious meteor, seaweed-draped zombies, a monster in a crate, and a cockroach-phobic millionaire. Fiendishly fun fare from one of horror's most famous directors. --Bryan Reesman

Description

Five spooky stories, written by Stephen King, are shown in a format based on the popular horror comics of the 1950's.

Customer Reviews:

Stephen King and George A. Romero's great tribute to 50's horror comics.......2007-08-09

This is a classic horror film. I'm not the kind of person who uses 'classic' just to describe any "old" film. "Creepshow" is justified as a classic because 1.) it is the successful teaming of two veteran masters of the macabre, Stephen King & George A. Romero, and 2.) Not only is it funny, scary, disgusting, but the best thing about it is that it combines live action with the comic book style of the '50's on which the film is tributing....
1.) Father's Day *** out of ****
Starring Viveca Lindfors; The corpse of an evil murdered father returns from the grave for his Father's Day cake along with revenge. This is a standard but good 'thing from the grave' story.
2.) The Lonesome Death Of Jordie Verrell *** out of ****
Starring Stephen King; A dim-witted farmer touches a metorite and grass starts growing on him at a rapid rate. It is a humorous little story and somewhat terrorfying in the way of 'imagine if this was happening to you?'. The title is taken from a Bob Dylan song "The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll".
3.) Something To Tide You Over **** out of ****
Starring Leslie Nielson & Ted Dansen; The best story in the film! A possessive husband decides to get revenge on his wife who wants a divorce and her lover. He tortures them by burying them up to their heads in the sand while the tide comes in. Both Leslie Nielson and Ted Danson give dynamic performances which help to make this story the best of the bunch.
4.) The Crate ***1/2 out of ****
Starring Hal Holdbrook, Fritz Weaver & Adrienne Barbeau; The second best story here. A century old crate is discovered underneath the staircase of a university and the blood thirsty creature inside. It seems like an air-tight way for a professor to get rid of his shrew of a wife. Great performances and several horrifying scenes (the creature biting and clawing the student's face).
5.) They're Creeping Up On You! *** out of ****
Starring E.G. Marshall; This story is the creepiest and scariest! An evil, eccentric old millionaire with a bug phobia is attacked by six-jillion roaches. It's more terrifying for me because I'm grossed out by and scarred of bugs (especially roaches), so the final scene is very disgusting. What I like most about it though is the evil sense of humor the guy has that's shown through speaker phone conversations with his employees and the wife of the man who he drove to suicide. They really paint an unflattering portrait of this guy so that the roach attack in the end is justified.
As a whole, I give the film ***1/2 out of ****. It's not so much that the first two stories and the last story could have been better, they were what they were and they were all enjoyable, but it was the third and forth stories that gave it much more weight for me. All together, the film was a very enjoyable horror film, and one of my favorites.
Also see my reviews of "Creepshow 2", "Twilight Zone - The Movie" & "Tales From The Darkside: The Movie"....

KIND OF COOL.......2007-07-06

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SEE THIS MOVIE WAS KIND OF MIXTURE BETWEEN SCARY & FUNNIEST ONLY FOR TRUE COLLECTORS.-

GREAT MOVIE WITH A PLAYFULL SPIRIT!!!.......2007-06-09

I have been watching horror movies for a long time, and I remember when this movie was released(my mother took me to the movies to see it; I still don't know whether that was a good or bad thing?!?!). Years had gone by and one day I saw this movie at the video store and just had to have it. This movie is graphic but very playfull(comicbook roots). Ther are five storys: First, A murdered father showing up for Father's Day. Second, A man (Steven King) discovers a meteor(intresting fact, This story is based on H.P.Lovecraft's "The Colour Out Of Space")Third, A man seeking revenge on his wife and lover. Fourth, A janitor and a college proffesor open a crate that the janitor found to a grizzly consequence. Last, and greatest, A hypocondriac in a germ free apartment gets an unwelcome visit by several thousand little unwanted guests. If you like horror comedy then check out this classic. well worth the time.

"Where's my cake!?!"........2007-03-31

This was just a great and fun anthology horror film from George A. Romero, it was also writen by Stephen King so you probably know what to expect when you have these two geniuses of the horror genre together this was deffinetely a high quality film. Creepshow was inspired by the horror comics Tales from the crypt from EC comics which were released during the 50's and were quite unique and a bit controversial during that period, these five tales were quite good and alot of fun to watch especially on halloween but still you could watch them at any time, during the beginning the title sequence is shot like a comic book and has some nice animation and then the live scenes happen where a bratty kid is playing around with his horror comic book then his dad finds out and gets angry and upset and well the story resolves at the end of the film when the boy gets his revenge, the boy was played by Stephen King's son so watch out for some bad acting these stories are not really scary but you wouldn't mind since they're alot of fun to watch anyway here is a short summary of these five stories:-

Father's day involves a family reunion, an ashtray and an unnatural desire for cake. Watch out for Ed Harris's corny dance sequence and the zombie that rises from his grave, very good storyline about revenge and retribution "Where's my cake!?!".

The lonsome death of Jordy Verill features Stephen King as a dorky and dumb farmer who discovers a meteor with all sorts of growth and fungus and decides to touch it, not a good idea since now hes about to turn into a plant. This is one of the worst storylines but the good thing is its short and doesn't take to long, there were some funny parts though.

Something to tide you over tells of Leslie Nielson's interesting plan of vengeance against the man who stole his wife played by Ted Danson. This was a very good and suspensfull storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Leslie buries Ted Danson's character in the sand.

The crate was one of my favorites and it has some wonderful special fx done by Tom Savini who made the effects for the monster in the crate that looks like its from another world and is quite creepy, the story is about a college professor who has a very loud and obnoxious wife played by Adrienne Barbeau who keeps embarissing her husband infront of everyone untill an opritunity comes along to get rid of her, this story has alot of twisted dark humor in it and some gore.

They're creeping up on you is about a rich and greedy eccentric executive type who has to deal with a roach problem, this is a very nice storyline that wraps up everything. Overall the film was a classic 80's horror film and is the best George Romero flick since he was more known for his living dead trillogy this film also showed that he could do other things beside that, great stuff and highly recommended. Make sure that you also watch the sequal along with this back to back, the best storyline IMO was The raft where the college kids get eaten by a creature in the lake.

You will have nightmares........2007-03-10

This film is essentially 4 stories woven to create equally frightening tales in true comic book format. Stephen King's brilliance shines in all four tales of murder, tragedy, love, betrayel and desperation. "Father's Day" still gives me the creeps. "Meteor Man" will leave you questioning yourself. "The Sea Lovers" will frighten you. Enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Rome in transition
Great acting, great landscapes
Anachronistic sword and sandal
My Brain is Melting
Lacking historical accuracy! Why???

Empire
Starring: Vincent Regan , Emily Blunt , James Frain , Christopher Egan , and Jonathan Cake
Director: Greg Yaitanes , Kim Manners , and John Gray
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000AJJNLI
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Amazon.com

The lavishly produced six-hour mini-series Empire aspires to capture the flavor and grandeur of Rome--or, failing that, the flavor and grandeur of Gladiator, a highly successful movie about Rome. Most writers, including Shakespeare, use the assassination of Julius Caesar as a climax; Empire opens with it, then follows a fictional gladiator named Tyrranus (Jonathan Cake, Inconceivable) as he protects and substitute-parents Caesar's nephew Octavius (Santiago Cabrera, Love and Other Disasters), fated to be emperor of Rome. Many have complained about how Empire plays fast and loose--very, very loose--with historical truth (the series labored over accurate details while running amok with preposterous turns of plot, ranging from Octavius hiding out in a gladiatorial prison to the emperor-to-be's romance with a rosy-lipped vestal virgin). Of course, Shakespeare did his own embellishing and it worked out fine; alas, the writers of Empire are not our modern Shakespeares. The machinations of Rome play out with cheesy speeches and cornball declamations; even a powerhouse actress like Fiona Shaw (Empire obeys the Hollywood rule that hot-tempered Romans must only be played by emotionally repressed Brits) can't inject fire into this pompous, ponderous dialogue. The scheming between Octavius and Marc Anthony (Vincent Regan, Unleashed) briefly harkens back to the genuinely thrilling duplicities of I, Claudius, but only briefly. Cabrera looks like he'd be more comfortable with the machinations of The O.C.; Cake musters some dignity but in the last few hours does little but grimace, as if wondering where he'd parked his car. The dvd release has reintegrated some unrated, unaired scenes, but don't get your hopes up. The gladiatorial combat has all the finesse and suspense of locker room buddies snapping towels at each other; the lone orgy scene works hard at fleshpottiness, but nothing kills decadence like effort. There are only two extra features: A typically self-lauding making-of doc, accompanied by a demonstration of how Rome was assembled in a computer. --Bret Fetzer

Description

The epic event of the year comes to DVD in the mini-series EMPIRE. Complete with unrated and extended scenes, EMPIRE is presented for the first time as a seamless feature. The Roman Empire is plunged into chaos when Julius Caesar is assassinated and his power is passed on to his 18-year-old nephew Octavius. With his guardian, former gladiator Tyrannus, Octavius is forced into exile to escape those who wish to sever Caesar's bloodline permanently. Under Tyrannus' tutelage, Octavius prepares to face off against the treacherous Marc Antony and fulfill his destiny as the leader of Rome. EMPIRE boasts "powerful acting," says the Wall Street Journal, with a hot young cast that includes James Frain (24), Colm Feore, Jonathan Cake, Santiago Cabrera, and Emily Blunt. Filmed entirely in scenic Italy, EMPIRE tells the thrilling story of a hero's rise amidst the greed, intrigue, and lust of ancient Rome.~

Customer Reviews:

Rome in transition.......2007-02-03

This is quite an ambitious, entertaining and interesting work of historical fiction. The story opens just before the Ides of March and takes us through the beginning of the reign of Octavion (who would come to be known as Caesar Augustus). At the outset, it needs to be admitted that there are a great many liberties taken with history in this film. Even calling it a "representation" of what actually took place would be a bit of a stretch.

The story centers on a fictional gladiator named Tyrannus who is assigned to be Octavion's body guard after his uncle Julius is assasinated. One of the things that this movie DOES get right (historically) is that Octavion is portrayed as being right around 18 years old. That is entirely accurate. Octavion was this age when he went to Rome to claim his inheritance. Most movies I have seen that deal w/this time period portray Octavion as a grown man, which is false.

The movie does a good job of invoking some personages and cultural institutions of Rome that don't normally get a lot of air-time in movies about Rome. Among these are Octavion's best friend and best general, Agrippa. Another is Rome's greatest orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero. The tradition of the Vestal Virgins is also tied into the story in a clever way.

A curious omission to this time frame is the character of Cleopatra. There is an Egyptian girl in the movie, but we're not told her name and she has such a bit part as to be almost an afterthought. Obviously the storyline demanded that they go in a different direction, but it's still somewhat odd to look at this period w/out Cleopatra being involved.

All in all, this is a fairly well done effort. The acting is solid and the direction is pretty good. The biggest fault that I can see is that it seemed incomplete. They failed to tie up some loose ends, and I found that irritating. The ending to me seemed to fizzle out somewhat instead of being dramatic. However, all-in-all, it's a good investment if you're a big fan of the history of Rome.

Great acting, great landscapes.......2007-01-09

A fine mixture of young and experienced actors, and the story of the Roman Empire is always interesting. Great landscapes.

Anachronistic sword and sandal.......2006-07-14

I enjoy Roman history, so I rented "Empire" on netflix. I admit, I could barely sustain my interest as I watched a group of gladiators fight (one with a full facial tribal tattoo), versus our hero, anachronistically attired Tyranus. Come on people. This is the height of the Roman empire. Characters are dressed like braveheart extras or rejects from the world wrestling federation.

Next, we see young Octavius flirting with a vestal virgin. Come on people? A vestal virgin? They were kept under lock and key and chaperoned. Roman women were not roaming around on the streets and speaking their minds to rich upperclass men unless they were loose.

This was overall, pretty cheesy, and worse boring- I'm having trouble maintaining my interest.

My Brain is Melting.......2006-05-26

GARBAGE! GARBAGE! GARBAGE! AAIIIEEEEEEE! My brain is melting.I have never written a review on Amazon before, but after sitting through this Turkeyosaur (I can't believe I watched the whole thing, I think I was mesmerized and rendered unable to respond by hitting the off-switch by an evil spirit)I felt it my duty to my fellow man and woman to warn them about it. This is the most ludicrous and ridiculous piece of junk ever reduced to celluloid. It makes Plan Nine from Outer Space look like a combination of Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird and Ben-Hur. Everybody associated with this thing would be banned from the film industry for life if there were any justice. It bears no semblance to history after the first twenty minutes, the only things even remotely historical are the names of the supposedly historical characters. The writing is awful, the acting is awful and everybody looks like they are walking through a grungy music video. Can't anybody make a decent historical costume drama anymore? The only decent ones of the last fifteen years have been Tombstone and Master and Commander, but this one is by far the worst. Has everybody's brain turned to jello? They're laughing at us, folks! Please, please don't support these fools and dumbdowners by buying this! I'm burning the copy I have as a sacrifice in an attempt to appease the muse of drama. My only regret is that Amazon won't let me post a lower rating.....

Lacking historical accuracy! Why???.......2006-05-08

Empire brings to the screen the rise to power of one of the most well known historical figures: Roman Emperor Octavius Augustus.
Nevertheless, it is a series that brings to life the director's version of how he would have liked Octavius' rise to be. The movie does not faithfully follow the sources associated with the well known Roman emperor (even though historians should have been hired to do just that), rather it is a film BASED on and INSPIRED by the legendary emperor, and therefore has a great deal of flaws and deviations from the truth.
One could list one after another the discrepancies that occur, and for those that have read/studied Roman History, it is common knowledge that the list would be very long indeed, some will say too long... From this very long list the most important alteration was in relation to the historical discrepancies regarding the "disappearance" of the co-regency between Octavius and Marc Anthony that seems to have miraculously slipped the writers' minds, not to mention that Julius Caesar is to have perished on the Senate steps, and not while sitting inside the Senate.
As other reviewers have also pointed out, the series starts off pretty well and it is mainly in the second half that Empire goes "Xena" on us.
Therefore, once it is established that this is a work of fiction and not an historical adaptation things change, though the problems do not go away, they just transform;
1) To start with, Empire is very biased against the Senate, the Patricians, and even/especially Marc Anthony!
2) Where is the piety and sternness associated with Augustus?
2) Octavius seems to be getting out of too many impossible situations too often.
3) The slave out of nowhere, Tyrannus, attempts to provide a Spartacus/Gladiator feel that does not need to be present in a film about Octavius.
4) No one recognized Tyrannus or Octavius in the Gladiator School (!!!)
5) Magonius was a little too dark to be a Roman General (of the 4th Legion).
6) The "Legendary 3rd" while interesting (!) was like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean and LOR's Return of the King more than anything else.
7) The nurse at Marc Anthony's villa was more Nubian than Egyptian.
8) Marcus Agrippa was a teenager!
And the list goes on and on...
On the positive side, the acting and cast are very good (overall).
Moreover, the setting, the dialogues and the costumes are also commendable!
Even though this is a Hollywoodish production and one should be more flexible and lenient when dealing with adaptations, one should also keep in mind that this is Octavian Augustus in question and not some petty, modern leader. Therefore, the only real problem arises when the majority of people (and most people have NOT read/studied the sources) who see the series start believing that events happened the way the film depicts/portrays and not the way they actually occurred. Consequently, due to these distortions, the movie establishes a very serious threat of producing armies of misinformed people who think they have accurate knowledge of Octavius Augustus when they really do not. That is NOT good!
The dead heroes would be turning in their graves if they knew what is being written and said about them by people who are either misinformed or are purposely out to distort the truth in following their own personal agendas.
Hopefully, more films will be made set in the ancient times, as the demand for them is definitely there, but please let's make them accurate.
In a nutshell, though not a masterpiece, Empire will provide for an evening's entertainment, especially for those with a soft spot for History and all things Roman, though you might not want to go as far as purchasing it.

Average customer rating:

Once the shooting starts, it's great
Excellent
Piece of cake is good realism
Thinking about the war 30 years on
Squadron life

Piece of Cake
Starring: Tom Burlinson , Neil Dudgeon , Jack McKenzie , Tom Radcliffe , and George Anton
Director: Ian Toynton
Manufacturer: Bfs Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004W5P1
Release Date: 2000-10-01

Customer Reviews:

Once the shooting starts, it's great .......2007-06-12

If I could describe "Piece of Cake" in a single phrase I would use "off-centered." As noted by other reviewers, a good deal of the story unfolds in the Phony War period. This is not altogether boring, but frankly, the series should have concentrated on the 1940 Battle of France and the Battle of Britain (the latter of which gets dealt with rather peremptorily).

This being said, the flight scenes and combat are first-rate. For me, a particularly haunting bit was the last flight of the squadron commander Rex. The notion of a badly wounded man high as a kite on morphine trying to lead a squadron of fighters into the buzz saw of the Luftwaffe is sobering and pathetic to say the least.

So for anyone who rents or buys this, I would say if you get bored in the first several hours start fast forwarding it to the combat. You won't be bored watching that.

Excellent.......2007-05-28

I recalled watching this series many years ago and am delighted I now own the set of episodes. All WWII aviation buffs need to see this series.

Piece of cake is good realism.......2007-05-14

Let me say it was good - and why. I thought it was a movie and found it was a collection of a series of stories set in WW2. The realism was excellent in that it was not a modern day romance, but factual in how people related to one another a half a century or more ago.

Friends who have watched the movie with us liked it too...even though one said that she probably wouldn't.

My husband's only critic of the movie was that the Spitfires that they used were Mark 9's and not Mark 1&2's..as was the case in the time period of the movie.

The air combat scenes were excellent.

Thinking about the war 30 years on.......2007-02-13

Years ago I had a boyfriend whose dad had flown with the RAF. As we were in the midst of the VietNam War I'm ashamed to say that I viewed his stories with disdain. Thirty years and a lot of experience later, I realize that he and his companions sacrificed a lot and movies like Piece of Cake show that, while they were by no means paragons of virtue, what they did deserves our admiration and yes, our thanks. Like others, I was fascinated by the storyline and with every episode I tried to figure out who out of the original squadron was still left. And again I was reminded of my friend's dad and the few friends that he said came home with him. I agree with the person who wrote how frustrating it was not to be able to figure out who was shot because we often weren't sure, outside of the main characters like Rex and Moggy and Fanny and Chris, who was who. I do have one question which is who was the other flyer who was left? I think it was 'Haggis' but I thought that Haggis had been shot down in Episode 3 or 4. Oh and thanks to the reviewer who mentioned that 'Flash' became 'Inspector Lynley'!! It had driven me crazy trying to think where I'd seen him before!

Squadron life.......2007-01-11

A nice serie. Can enjoy the life of a Squadron in the times of War. Different caracters enjoyable. Flew Spitfires a little too early in time.

Average customer rating:

out of the ashes
Utterly absorbing!
Absolutely spellbinding and unforgettable
Excellent Movie!
One Million Stars***************************************************************************************************************

Out of the Ashes
Starring: Christine Lahti , Beau Bridges , Richard Crenna , Bruce Davison , and Jonathan Cake
Director: Joseph Sargent
Manufacturer: Showtime Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001DMW9S
Release Date: 2004-04-20

Description

In Out of the Ashes, one woman is forced to choose between two horrifying acts of evil, and ultimately finds the courage to make the right choice. Based on actual events that occurred during World War II that chronicles the life of Dr. Gisella Perl, a woman who lost her entire family and was forced to start life over in America.

Customer Reviews:

out of the ashes.......2007-03-24

A moving story, well told. Superb acting. Realistic and well produced. An invaluable adddition to any study of the holocaust

Utterly absorbing!.......2007-03-13

I missed this excellent show when it was on Showtime, so I got it when it was released on DVD. The story is a true account of a Holocaust survivor, made unique by the fact that the survivor was no ordinary person, but a gynaecologist, Dr Gisella Perl, who loses her family to the gas chambers, and has to do what is necessary to survive amidst the worst conditions imaginable...by working alongside the infamous butcher doctor, Josef Mengele. The movie is told via flashbacks, as in the present day, Dr Perl is interviewed by a panel considering her application for US citizenship and allowing her to practise medicine in the US. Although I sympathised with her character [played brilliantly by Christine Lahti], there were moments where I questioned some of her choices as a doctor in Auschwitz. BUT, this movie does make you think...how far would you go in order to survive? Would one's moral compass remain intact in the face of such cruelty, evil & banality? The story is one that is definitely worth viewing, the scenes at the camp are really gut-wrenching, and horrific, and the acting is excellent, so is the cinematography, evoking the hopelessness of the time. Worth multiple viewings.

Absolutely spellbinding and unforgettable.......2006-10-23

This film, based on the memoirs of Dr. Gisella Perl, is an incredibly powerful, moving, soul-searing, and unforgettable experience. Some people feel that there are too many books and movies about the Shoah, or that after awhile they all start to seem the same because the tale of horror is all-too familiar, but this film is moving proof that that's not the case at all. Every person's story was different and unique in some way. How often have we got something from the perspective of a survivor who was a doctor, and a female doctor no less, at a time when men largely dominated the medical field? Additionally, this story is told in the present day, with flashbacks inserted every so often, instead of told in a linear format or just starting in the present and then having the bulk of the movie be one long flashback before reverting back to the present.

Dr. Perl became the first female doctor, and the first female Jewish doctor at that, in her native village of Sighet in Hungary. Even though her father initially disapproved, ever since she announced her plans as a young girl, she proved to him that she could be an observant Jew, a good doctor, a wife, and a mother. Becoming a doctor didn't cancel out her faith or a more traditional female role, as her family had feared. She was well-liked and trusted by her patients, and was doing very well for herself and for her family. In addition to being an inspiration for having survived what she did, she was also living proof that women can have both a career and a family, instead of just one or the other.

In the present day (a few years after the war), Dr. Perl is being examined for American citizenship. Though she passed all of her medical boards to be allowed to practise medicine in the United States, the question remains of her character and if she collaborated with the Nazis. There's an ocean of misunderstanding between her and her three interrogators, men who were living comfortable lives while she and her family were being treated like sub-humans, while she lost her entire family and had to do the unthinkable to try to save her own life. People who were in the camps often had to do things that many in the outside world would consider immoral, uncivilised, or unthinkable, but one must understand that this was another planet, with its own set of rules and morals. No one should judge anyone else for having done something to preserve one's own life. It's not as though these things were done willingly or voluntarily. "Dr." Mengele seemed to have a great deal of liking and respect for Dr. Perl, and made her work in the excuse of an infirmary at Auschwitz, even once assisting with a Gypsy patient who was pregnant with her second set of twins, a woman who was later murdered after giving birth and taken to be dissected. She was also once called upon to give the infamous sadistic Irma Grese an abortion. However, Dr. Perl did far, far more good than harm, often risking her life to save her patients, doing things that she would have been shot for had she been discovered doing, such as hiding a sick woman during selections in the infirmary and using her and the other doctors' blood as the pretended blood sample of a woman who had typhus. And since her specialty was in gynecology and obstetrics, she gave about a thousand women abortions, performed without any tools no less. She knew that this would save these women's lives, and that if they survived, they could go on to bear another child someday, a child who would be born in freedom. Her goal, her driving force for surviving, was to continue helping to bring life into the world, keeping these Jewish women alive so they would keep their people alive and produce children who would continue to propagate their people, replenishing their ranks after how many people the Nazis slaughtered, a million and a half of whom were just children. It is this message that she is trying to get across to the men deciding her fate as an American citizen and as a doctor.

I'd highly recommend this film, both for its moving and gut-wrenching story and for its unique perspective and structure, quite different from what one usually expects from a film about the Shoah. Christine Lahti as Dr. Perl gives an absolutely brilliant performance, and everything is brought to life so vividly that one can almost feel as though one is right there in that moment, place, and time. I was even moved to tears a few times, something that rarely happens when I watch a film. It's the kind of thing that stays with one for a long time afterward.

Excellent Movie!.......2006-08-10

Showtime made some amazing movies. This is one. Christine Lahti plays Dr. Gisella Perl a gynecologist who was interred in Auschwitz. It's the story of how she saved other women and herself but how women also died partly due to her (which haunted her greatly). She was used by the evil Dr. Joseph Mengele and she tried and sometimes succeed in saving woman from his horrid "experiments". Her story is told in flashbacks while told to three men who are part of the INS. She wanted to be an American citizen and a doctor again.

I do not and can not understand how the German people allowed all the things that happened under Hitler's regime. I don't think they are any worse than any other people. If I did, I wouldn't have married my husband who is one fourth German-American and taken his German name. And America had "camps" for the Japanese-Americans. We didn't murder or torture them but they still had their freedom taken away. I think all people are capable of evil and it comes out in mob mentality.

I wish that we could see ourselves as one people and equal to each other. Today in America, I see the hate toward new immigrants, especially Hispanics. My son may marry a Puerto Rican and I'm sickened by the idea that she may be mistreated by idiots who hate her for being a Latina.

Will humanity ever evolve beyond such petty differences and allow each other to be who they are?

This is an excellent movie and Christine Lahti gives an outstanding performance.

One Million Stars***************************************************************************************************************.......2006-07-09

Christine Lahti's acting as Dr. Perl is the finest acting I have witnessed in my life. Thanks to the uncanny acting ability of all the cast and flawless production and typescript, one tumbles into the cummulative anguished soul and stays speechless and awestruck throughout. This film so aptly corners every conceievable theme of humanity I am awestruck as to how it all was accomplished. Lahti's acting defies Hollywood skillsets - there is a power within her coiling and striking each nano second throughout.

Average customer rating:

Not for fans of the novel
Rebecca
Rebecca
Eyes like a snake
Rent don't buy

Rebecca
Starring: Anthony Bate , John Branwell , Jonathan Cake , Tom Chadbon , and Lucy Cohu
Director: Jim O'Brien
Manufacturer: WGBH BOSTON
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00008DDRZ
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Description

Daphne du Maurier's classic tale of romance, suspense and jealousy, Rebecca, is brought to you in this lavish adaptation. Set in elegant Monte Carlo and dramatic Cornwall in the 1930s. this drama stars Charles Dance (Gosford Park, The Jewel in the Crown)as the sophisticated Maxim de Winter and Emilia Fox (Pride and Prejudice) as the young woman who becomes the second Mrs. de Winter.

When Maxim de Winter proposes to such a young woman nobody is more surprised than the circle of society friends who learn the intriguing news, especially as his new wife is the opposite of Maxim's first wife, the beautiful Rebecca, who mysteriously died in a tragic drowning accident.

After Maxim takes his new wife back to his home, the ancient and magnificent Manderley, it soon becomes evident that the shadow of Rebecca is all-pervasive, nurtured all the more by the sinister gothic housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Diana Rigg, The Avengers, Mother Love, A Hazard of Hearts).

The new Mrs. de Winter beings to uncover the darkness of the past that taints the present and threatens to haunt her future...

Special DVD features include: Q&A with Diana Rigg; select cast filmographies; Masterpiece Theatre poster gallery; access to Masterpiece Theatre web site; scene selection; English audiotrack; and closed captions.

On one DVD9 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Full screen

Customer Reviews:

Not for fans of the novel.......2007-08-21

Having seen this version, the Hitchcock film, and the 1979 BBC version, as well as having read the novel umpteen times, I can say very objectively that this particular version would disappoint fans of the du Maurier classic. Charles Dance, though a fine actor, was not my vision of Maxim at all; firstly, being too old (Maxim is only 42), and secondly being blond (in the novel, his second wife-to-be is inexorably drawn by Maxim's medieval, dark broodiness). The only thing I have to say about Faye Dunaway is that whoever cast her made a huge mistake, and whoever thought her character should be a fading flapper -- well, I can't offer any possible reason for that. Although I adore Diana Rigg, her Mrs. Danvers was a bit too elegant for me. Emilia Fox looked right, but her mother, Joanna David, was not only physically perfect for the role, but gave her character the perfect amount of shyness and insecurity (and without the nervous mannerisms of Joan Fontaine).
This BBC version also affords us physical glimpses of Rebecca herself (a mouth here, back of the head there), which is my biggest complaint about this version. Du Maurier took great pains in retaining Rebecca's elusiveness, and that, I think, is the best thing about the novel. All we know of Rebecca is that she was "very tall and slim, with that cloud of dark hair and the face of a Botticelli angel", and even that is secondhand information from other characters in the book. Rebecca is the real villain of the story, and she is much more menacing to the second wife as well as to the reader when she remains shrouded in mystery.
The 1979 BBC version with Jeremy Brett and Joanna David (and the splendid Anna Massey as Mrs. Danvers) is the most faithful to the novel, and the most perfectly cast. Too bad it isn't available. (Is it because of copyrights for all the Debussy pieces used in the score?)

Rebecca.......2007-01-12

Dear Sir or Madam,

I cannot comment on this DVD, since I encountered a bad seller, and I did not receive the DVD. I cancelled my order in the end.

Rebecca.......2006-08-15

It looked like brand new and came pretty quickly. Thumbs up for me.

Eyes like a snake.......2006-07-30

There should be some sort of rule that if Alfred Hitchcock did it, then it should never be adapted or remade again -- you only compare it unfavorably to his work. In the case of the BBC's "Rebecca," it's high on story fidelity but lacking in gothic atmosphere, very slow, and with a cast that is hit-and-miss.

A young girl (Emilia Fox) is at Monte Carlo with her employer, where she meets and befriends the wealthy Maxim de Winter (Charles Dance). When she's due to leave, he asks her to marry him -- though he was supposedly heartbroken over his wife Rebecca's death -- and whisks her back to Cornwall, to his ancient family estate Manderley.

But Manderly is haunted by Rebecca's presence, partly because of the ominous housekeeper (Diana Rigg), who is still obsessively devoted to Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter believes that Maxim still love Rebecca -- until the horrific secrets of Rebecca's life and death are revealed. And a smashed boat with a body has been found in the nearby bay.

One thing you can't fault "Rebecca" with is fidelity to Daphne DuMaurier's original novel. This miniseries sticks like glue to the words and events of the book. Unfortunately it sticks a little too slavishly at times, which leads to the miniseries being rather long and kind of dull at times.

Not to mention the famed "window-suicide" scene, when Danvers tries to hypnotize her new mistress into walking out of a window. It's a powerful scene, but I'd love to see anyone try to spontaneously commit suicide from a tiny, high-up window about ten feet off the ground.

The BBC has always been terrible with ominous atmosphere. There is zero gothic flavor, no suspense, and that is what "Rebecca" should be about -- not a murder mystery. They stick to what they know, with lots of sumptuous British sets and period details, especially in the artificial glamour of Monte Carlo's hotels, and the costume ball.

The casting is spotty -- Emelia Fox is excellent as Ms. de Winter, looking mousy and childlike, but gaining new strength as she realizes how much Maxim needs her. Dance gives an enthusiastic but rather pallid performance. And Rigg does an amazing job with a terribly written character: Mrs. Danvers is turned into a pitiful figure rather than a frightening one, who breaks down crying in front of everyone.

But there is another big flaw -- we see all of Rebecca in bits and pieces. The power of the character is in never seeing this uber-femme fatale, and so seeing her entire body, bits of her face and hearing her voice all take away from it. Rebecca's "power" over Manderley seems to die when we see her.

Faithful but dull, "Rebecca" loses a lot of what should have made it shine, like gothic atmosphere, drama and an absent namesake. It's passable as a BBC miniseries, but try the Hitchcock version instead.

Rent don't buy.......2006-06-05

Since the Hitchcock version is out of print,I bought this version.It lacks the sinister atmosphere,suspense,and foreboding of the book and Hitchcock version.Lacking these qualities, the movie is plodding and rather boring. While Diana Rigg is intriguing as Mrs. Danvers, the portrayal of the characters of Maxim and the second Mrs. DeWinter are unsatisfying.The two have no chemistry, and I care about neither. Ultimately,I read the reviews to judge if I should purchase the movie.I will pass this version on to a friend but will not keep it in my library.Wish I would have rented it instead.

The Martha Stewart Cooking Collection - Martha's Baking Favorites

Average customer rating:

Good for the beginner.
Very good value for the money!
My Review
Wowzer! What a Gem!
Love Martha Stewart!!!!

The Martha Stewart Cooking Collection - Martha's Baking Favorites
Starring: Martha Stewart
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BNTMJQ
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Description

Martha makes everything special, and baking is no exception. Martha's Baking Favorites features Martha Stewart's best recipes - from cakes and pies to cookies and so much more. Consumers will learn the best techniques and tips for creating delicious treats.

Customer Reviews:

Good for the beginner........2007-09-12

As a beginner in the realm of baking ( i mostly dabble in alchemy - turning wood into sawdust, gold into goldfish, etc.), this is a pretty helpful video. Of course, if you don't like Martha, you won't be able to get over the "martha-ness" of the whole thing. But, it shows you some simple techniques that are the basis of many baked goods. I would have liked more cookies, as well as more tricks of the trade - especially ways to substitute ingredients for slightly lower fat or sugar versions. still, not bad overall and complements some of the recipes in the baking handbook pretty well.

Very good value for the money!.......2007-05-16

The DVD is very good. I especially like the printable recipes.
It makes everything look so easy, but I have the feeling Martha is not telling everything there is to know about the tricks one needs to get the same results... I am not 100% sure though as I have not had time yet to try any of the recipes out. Hopefully I am wrong.

My Review.......2006-04-07

Although there are some good recipes, I did buy the video to learn the techniques such as cake decorating, etc. I am unable to pull up this section of the dvd. It refers me to a web link to solve technical issues, but the link does not exist. Perhaps this is because I have a Mac. I'm not sure.

Wowzer! What a Gem!.......2006-03-24

Although I have Martha Stewart's new book on baking, I also purchased the DVD. This is such a warm and cozy DVD. I play it on my computer. There are nights when I just don't want to look at re-runs, and watch this instead. I call this my 'Baking class.' And that's what it is. A private one-on-one baking class with Martha! She has guests for some of the segments and they have lots of interesting things to share. The Red Velvet Cake is made by a lovely lady from down South who shares her secrets with not only Martha, but you. You feel as if you have pulled up a chair in the kitchen and are sitting there with them. A wonderful, wonderful learning tool. She goes all out to make sure you have all the pans and other items you will need to get started. Helpful hints, hands-on demonstrations. Some recipes with the hand-held mixer and some in the stand mixer. And even some by hand. I wish I had this DVD in 1991 when I first started baking for the first time. I cannot praise this DVD highly enough. It is an absolute must for anyone who is not a real pro yet but wants to be. You have such a long list of episodes to watch. And you can watch them over and over and over again. It's the next best thing to having Martha right there in your kitchen with you. This is better. You're in HER kitchen, and you don't have to do the dishes afterwards! How great is that?! Love this DVD. Please buy one for yourself and friends. You'll get a big hug if you do.

Love Martha Stewart!!!!.......2006-03-14

I was very excited when I found out that Martha would be releasing a series of DVD's. Every product that Martha Stewart puts her name on is of the highest quality. Fans will love this DVD!!!!

DVD: