What may be the crowning glory of Branagh's adaptation comes when the dazed leader wanders across the battlefield, not even sure who has won. As King Hal carries a dead boy (a young Christian Bale) over the hacked bodies of both the English and Fr...
Fabuloulsy rousing, 2010-02-04
This is the kind of Shakespeare production where even the most cold hearted towards Shakespeare will find their hearts enflamed - this is really stirring stuff - Branagh shines as Henry V, both as King and as lover to his then wife, Emma Thompson.

There are so many delights to director Joe Wright’s take on the story, and his direction is a strong place to start. In spite of having to condense the tale to fit a movie running time, he nonetheless injects a real energy and intelligence to his retelling, and he’s served supremely well by his cast. Backed up by strong support by the likes of Brenda Blethyn and Donald Sutherland, it’s Keira Knightley in the lead turn who’s a real surprise here. Her performance is a real joy, and very much at the core of the film’s success.

The film inevitably draws comparison with the superb 1995 BBC adaptation, and while arguably it doesn’t quite scale the same peaks, it’s to the credit of the filmmakers that their version still holds strong. For this is a tremendously enjoyable drama, and one that should continue to find an audience for a long time to come. An excel...
Pride & Wonderful, 2010-02-11
Wonderful movie adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. If you have never read Jane Austen's book settle in for a cozy two hours of a young woman's romance. You will enjoy this version of her book.

The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even
Shakespeare in love, 2009-09-08
Shakespeare in love and so am I! I saw the film first when it was released and subsequently bought the video. Since I no longer use the VCR I just had to have the DVD. To me this is a classic that should be found in overone's possession.

The key asset Cranford has in its corner is that aforementioned cast. It’s lead by the marvellous Dame Judi Dench, and she’s in fine company alongside Dame Eileen Atkins, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon, Julia Sawalha and Imelda Staunton. They’re just some of the residents of Cranford in the 1840s, a town in the north of England on the verge of potentially dramatic changes.

In the midst of the general feeling of unrest comes a new Doctor, Frank Harrison (played by Simon Woods). His presence further unsettles matters, thanks to his appeal to the town’s female contingent, and also his differing methods. From here, Cranford goes on to deliver an engrossing cocktail of humour, emotion and raw drama that’s quite brilliantly put together.

Cranford is, ultimately, the kind of lavish production that we’ve come to know and admire from th...
Cranford DVD., 2010-01-20
I was given this as a Christmas present, and it is worth
every penny! Arrived in very good time and in excellent order.

Juliette Binoche is perfect in the role of the sensuous, captivating Vianne--a masterstroke of casting matched by the performance of Judi Dench as the splendidly grumpy but ultimately inspiring matriarch Armande. Very much an ensemble piece, the whole cast are indeed excellent, with Johnny Depp (making a fair fist of an Irish accent) superb as the drifter Roux, the one man capable of unlocking Vianne's own desires. From its majestic opening swoop to the final, joyous scene, Lasse Hallström's film, based on the bestselling novel, is nothing short of a masterpiece.

On the DVD: As befits such a film, the DVD is an elegant, well thought out package. The movie itself is a...
Chocolate heaven... you'll be seduced!, 2009-10-24
This great film picks you up and takes you far away. A girl arrives with her son in an old-fashioned French village, and opens a shop selling chocolates with a real difference - and a hidden agenda. Then it ticks all the boxes, with a good strong storyline and some surprises as the villagers give in to temptation, wonderful scenery, believable characters (especially if, like me, you grew up in a village in the country), and great supporting actors. It makes you feel good, too. And of course, there's the astonishing chocolate of the title - really mouthwatering stuff. Add lovely Juliette Binoche and smouldering Johnny Depp, and what's not to like? It's a film you will probably keep on your shelf. Enjoy!

The prestigious film-making trio of producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala had made other critically acclaimed films before A Room with a View was released in 1985, but it was this popular film that made them art-house superstars. Splendidly adapted from the novel by E.M. Forster, it's a comedy of the heart, a passionate romance and a study of repression within the class system of manners and mores. It's that system of rigid behaviour that prevents young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) from accepting the loving advances of a free-spirited suitor (Julian Sands), who fears that she will follow through with her engagement to a priggish intellectual (Daniel Day-Lewis) whose capacity for passion is virtually non-existent. During and after a trip to Italy with her protective companion (Maggie Smith), Lucy gradually gets in touch with her true emotions. The fun of watching A Room with a View comes from seeing how Lucy's thoughts and feelings finally arrive at the same romantic conclusion. Through an abundance of humour both subtle and overt, the film rose to an unexpected level of popular appeal. The Merchant-Ivory tea...
Speedy service, 2010-02-12
Couldn't believe it when this arrived on my doorstep the next day - such good service. And of course a fantastic film - you can't get better than Florence!