Goodbye Mr Chips (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)Though I may not have seen this DVD, I just saw the same exact movie on PBS only minutes ago. After it ended, I knew I had to get it, so I look it up on trusty Amazon.com, and to my amazement I find it here! Sadly, I'll have to wait to get it, but I must say that this was the most beautiful and moving cinema I've ever seen! The movie was absolutely genious and Martin Clunes, a favorite British comedy actor of mine from Men Behaving Badly, suited the character absolutely flawlessly. I cannot stress how highly I think of this movie, though I only saw little more than an hour of it. I can't wait to see the rest once this DVD comes out. I reccommend it to anyone who can comprehend something a bit deeper than an action flick of today, something rare I find. Still, this movie is great and you will love it if you have any sense of film appreciation at all!

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He went from teacher to legend in one lifetime.Arthur Chipping, the Latin master at an English boys’ boarding school, is as awkward as he is stubborn. The eccentric schoolmaster lives a full, rich life within the cloistered school, defined by his role as the intellectual shepherd of generations of young students. Then, everything changes.When Mr. Chipping travels through the countryside on summer holiday, he unexpectedly falls in love with the unconventional Kathie (Victoria Hamilton, Mansfield Park). The love and devotion of his new wife ignites his passion and brings him out of his shell, revealing the sensitivity lying beneath his gruff exterior. But after tragedy strikes, Chips’ true character is put to the test in the most difficult examination of his life. Ultimately, it is a lesson that will last a lifetime.Goodbye, Mr. Chips is a tender, heartwarming story that spans over 50 years in one passionate life. Portraying the storied Arthur Chipping in James Hilton’s classic tale of love and transformation, Martin Clunes (Shakespeare in Love) turns in a bravura performance in a film filled with countless noteworthy turns.

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Tom Brown's Schooldays (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Tom Brown's Schooldays" was originally published in 1857. Thomas Hughes had attended Rugby School, an English public school for boys from 1834 to 1842, but it seems the title character was based on his older brother George. The book is considered the first in the genre of school novels, spawning a host of imitations during the Victorian era, the most successful of which would be the Harry Potter novels of the 21st century. The BBC did a mini-series version of "Tom Brown's Schooldays" in 1972, where as this 2005 television adaptation by ITV runs only 93 minutes. I was going to say that this was by far the shortest BBC literary adaptation I had ever seen, but it turns out it was by ITV.
The relative short length of this production is especially interesting since it omits the chapters at the start of the novel dealing with the childhood of Tom Brown in his home in the Vale of White Horse. There young Tom spends days riding his pony and leading a happy, carefree existence, before being sent to the living hell of his schooldays. Instead, the script by Ashley Pharoah takes the two major stories that make up the actual school days, Tom being bullied by Flashman and Tom being told by Dr. Arnold to look after young George Arthur, and weaves them together instead of having them comprise separate parts of the story. So in this version Tom Brown (Alex Pettyfer) shows up at Rugby School and immediately becomes the target for the bullying Flashman (Joseph Beattie, and, yes, this is the character that George MacDonald Fraser made the "hero" of his "Flashman" historical novels). Meanwhile, headmaster Dr. Thomas Arnold (Stephen Fry) is trying to reform the rowdy school into a more Christian place, insisting that he will take the students at their word, just like he would a grown man, a policy that Flashman will sorely put to the test.
The conflict between Tom and Flashman is at the heart of this version, featuring an escalation of effronteries by the older boy that exceed what is in the novel. Flashman's big crime in the novel was to get exceedingly drunk, and Pharoah's script comes up with bigger and badder things in this version to expedite the villain's demise. The problem is that while I like the way the script makes Flashman's bullying a lot more threatening to a contemporary audience, the twist regarding George Arthur (Harry Smith) changes the ending way too much. Instead of thinking of the lessons that young Tom Brown has learned from his schooldays, I am watching the final credits wondering if this is supposed to be an implicit rejection of George Arthur's Christian idealism. Just because I appreciated some of the major changes in the story does not mean that I do not think there are certain lines you should not be crossing over, and I have to round down because of the line this one crosses at the end.
Young Pettyfer does not have to do much as Tom beyond reacting to the indignities heaped upon him by Flashman and the others and coming to the defense of Tadpole (Dane Carter) and other younger classmates who are the prey of the older bullies. Beattie plays Flashman with great relish, both when he is bullying the little boys and when he lies right to the face of Dr. Arnold. The key performance is that of Fry, who does a nice job of playing restrained anger when he finally lowers the boom on Flashman. My favorite scene is when the good doctor learns a lesson in irony as to what happens when you believe a liar and do not believe someone who is telling you the truth. But primarily "Tom Brown's Schooldays" is about a bully getting what is coming to him, and I hope the kid who terrorized my life when I was the same age as Tom got his own comeuppance sooner or later. At the very least, I would like to believe that Hughes is completely right on that score.

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This new adaptation of Thomas Hughes' famous novel tells the tale of a young boy's courage in the face of vicious bullying. Set in Rugby Public School during the mid-1800s, the eponymous Tom transforms from timid, homesick schoolboy to courageous student as he learns to confront his fears, stand up for his friends, and hurdle the obstacles of adolescence.

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Sensitive Skin - The Complete Seasons 1 and 2 (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this dvd series because I so enjoyed Joanna Lumley in AbFab and wanted to see more of her work. Two things struck me about this BBC series: First, this is a realistic telling of what it is like to be in your 60's today. We were "the me generation," it is hard to believe we are in our 60's now--we were important, we set the rules, we partied and we thought we'd go on forever. We still think of ourselves that way. Being 60 today is not like when my Grandmother turned 60. We still drive sports cars, bikes, hike, party, drink, some do drugs, and have sex. Seeing flirting and sexual appetites still strong in people in their 60's is common today--just you wait! The Second thing, I felt was that I really knew these people. Joanna's character's discussions with her halucinatory visitors is typical of someone who is trying to come to terms with getting older. How does it affect me, and how should it affect me? What are the boundaries? How should I be living my life now and how should I represent that. It's totally weird to realize that if you are still waiting for things to happen to you, you have missed most of your life! Mr. Blick, who is writer, director and producer has done an incredible job. He is either 60 or he understands that generation extremely well. This is a wonderful series. The actors are first rate, Joanna Lumley is terrific. When you remember Patsy from AbFab, and see Ms. Lumley in this, you realize what a good actor she is. If you are a fan of hers, grab it.

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Al (Denis Lawson) and Davina Jackson (Joanna Lumley)seem to have the perfect life. At 60, they both look great, enjoy their work (he's a music writer for a newspaper; she works in an art gallery) and having finally said au revoir to their son, are ready to indulge themsleves with a funky centeral London apartment and a retro 70s Silver Shadow Rolls Royce. Still, something, somewhere, somehow doesn't feel quite right. Is it that their 30-year-old son Orlando refuses to acknowledge adulthood? Or that Davina's sister Veronica and her husband Roger intimidate them with their confident grasp of life and comprehensive pension plans? And don't forget the sexual temptation, the professional jealousy and that burning question: is this the life I wanted?

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City of Vice (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Koch Vision and BBC presents "CITY OF VICE:COMPLETE FIRST SEASON" (14 January 2008) (236 mins/Color) (Dolby Digital) --- Splendidly acted this drama is unlike any other it make you feel you are part of the mystery as it tells stories of these crimes --- But also has the makings of other crime dramas such as Cracker and Prime Suspect --- Historical true crime series CITY OF VICE pits magistrate Henry Fielding (Ian McDiarmid) and his brother John (Iain Glen) against the teeming criminal underworld of 18th century London --- The five part series follows the duo's attempts to police the city and rid its streets of prostitutes, violent gangs, and bands of thieves is dark and dusty streets and basic poverty --- But this story brought to life Georgian England, it's not your usual period drama.
Under the production staff of:
Justin Hardy - Director & Executive Producer
Dan Reed - Director
Clive Bradley - Screenwriters
Peter Harness - Screenwriters
Justin Hardy - Executive Producer
Lachlan MacKinnon - Producer
Rob Pursey - Producer
Richard Blair-Oliphant - Original Music
Story line set in the late 18th century, City of Vice tells the story of London's first police force the Bow street runners lead by John (Iain Glen) and Henry Fielding (Ian McDiarmid) --- London is a centre for debauchery with pick pockets, thieves, murderers and prostitutes, plus gang warfare combines the excitement of contemporary crime drama with actual historical events, this graphic, five part series follows magistrate and author Henry Fielding, his blind half brother John and the Bow Street Runners on their quest to clean up the streets of 18th century London amidst a population of prostitutes, pimps, gangs and villains --- Was very much impressed by the filming of the streets in that three dimensional dark style, the general Gothic- feel of depressingly, stifling despair is fantastic --- A great atmosphere! --- The two brothers are great actors and fascinating figures representing morality and justice, one Anglican one catholic, one blind one seeing. Great contrasts and characterization --- BBC and Koch Vision release.
the cast includes:
Ian McDiarmid ... Henry Fielding
Iain Glen ... John Fielding
Francis Magee ... Saunders Welch
Steve Speirs ... William Pentlow
Alice O'Connell ... Mary Fielding
Sam Spruell ... Lord Newcastle
Sean Francis ... Daniel Carne
Peter McDonald ... Tom Jones
J.D. Kelleher ... Quin
Ian Peck ... Talbot
Juliet Aubrey ... Jane Fawkland
SPECIAL FEATURES
1. The Making of Vice featurette
BIOS:
1. Ian McDiarmid
Date of Birth: 11 August 1944 - Carnoustie, Tayside, Scotland, UK
Date of Death: Still Living
2. Iain Glen
Date of Birth: 24 June 1961 - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Date of Death: Still Living
Great job by Koch Vision --- looking forward to more high quality titles from the BBC Collection film market --- order your copy now from Amazon or Koch Vision where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.
Total Time: 236 mins on DVD ~ Koch Vision KOCV-6534 ~ (6/10/2008)

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In the mid-eighteenth century London's perilous streets were overrun by notorious gangs, prostitutes, pimps and corrupt night watchmen. Out of this dark underworld, emerged two Westminster magistrates - novelist Henry Fielding (Ian McDiarmid) and his blind half brother, John (Iain Glen). These unlikely crime-fighters organized the infamous Bow Street Runners and introduced law and order to the crime-riddled city. Combining the excitement of contemporary crime drama with the detail of actual historical research, this graphic, five-part series tells the true story of London's first police force.

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Torchwood: Children of Earth (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)For the first two series Torchwood was your standard solve the horrible situation of the week series but that all changed with series three. First and foremost, the bigggest difference is that there are only five episodes instead of the usual 12 but that is because all five episodes comprise one mini-series mega event where the BBC showed one episode each weeknight during a single week as opposed to one show a week. Those are the minor technical differences and here are the stylistic differences.
Previous incarnations of Torchwood were a mix of frivolity, political thriller, and science fiction while series three puts the political thriller aspect front and center with the jokes and scifi taking supporting roles. The tone is emotionally taut, psychologically upsetting, and decidedly dark--all perfect motifs for a show designed only for adults. If you are wanting a Dr. Who style trip into the imagination where you get a bit scared but return with a smile on your face this is not going to be to your liking at all because this time Torchwood takes us into a nightmare realm where many of the humans in charge seem more alien and threatening than the actual aliens, who are definitely scary themselves, and that insures you won't return from this journey with a smile unless you're a sadistic freak. Does the darkness overwhelm the show? Not at all! As I said the political thriller aspect is front and center and its pacing almost feels like this is Torchwood 24, especially seeing how each episode represents one day of time so that by the end of this series only five days have passed for the Torchwood crew.
Should you buy Torchwood series 3? Well if you are more of a fan of Dr. Who and only watch Torchwood because it is a Who spin-off I'd wait and watch it as it airs to make sure it isn't too realistic to be enjoyable for you. If you prefer Torchwood over Dr. Who then definitely put your order in as you're not likely to be disappointed with the direction RTD has taken the show this time. Personally, this has been the best science fiction on the small or large screen this year (I haven't seen Moon yet so that could change) and keep in mind I am a huge Trekkie and adored the new Star Trek movie! That's right, a die hard Trekkie said Torchwood series 3 was better than Star Trek the Reboot. Granted, Trek had better blockbuster visuals and space battles but Torchwood, by far, told the better story. I also think the acting was better in Torchwood than Trek although there isn't as big as a distance between the two as there was in plot quality.

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TORCHWOOD:SEASON 3 CHILDREN OF EARTH - DVD Movie

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MI-5, Vol. 6 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Maybe The Best Ten Hours of Spy TV I Have Ever Seen!!! (Maybe the best TV of ANY GENRE!)
I have watched every episode of MI5 available through DVD - the only way U.S. viewers should do it in order to get the whole story. Season Six was riveting beyond any TV experience, including 24, which I have ever seen for this type of show. It was hard to stop watching, and a couple of nights I stayed up way later than I should have because I had to find out what happened next. Every episode flowed into the next to make what, in effect, was a ten hour movie.
One of the major factors that make MI5 so exciting, and probably somewhat real, is that no one, no one, is safe. They may not all die, but the "service" can take its toll in so many ways.
This can be very heartbreaking because another aspect of MI5 that makes it special is the characters. We come to identify and appreciate these folks because they are humanized more than is usually seen in these types of series - warts and all! Far from shining heroes in all their affairs, these spooks make all kinds of mistakes both on and off the job, they lie, cheat, steal, behave badly and come apart at the seams as the stress eats away at their psyches. In other words, they're just like you and me, only with a much tougher job description.
As a result, these all-too-human secret agents don't always win. They get played all the time, especially by other intelligent groups who are supposed to be allies. It is truly a looking glass world. Indeed, this is a major theme of Season Six.
Sadly, as mentioned in other reviews, the relentless action and intrigue pushes the private lives of Adam, Harry, Ross, Jo and others to the side. Unlike earlier seasons, there isn't a lot of down time. They may need to get back to that in future seasons or they risk losing a vital element.
As an American, I am interested in seeing my country through the eyes of others. At first, it came as a surprise to see the anti-American thread in the show, but as the legacy of Bush-Cheney has rolled out over this decade can anyone really be surprised by this? Season Six makes sure we don't miss that point. The season finale, involving two agents facing long torture and horrible death, virtually editorializes this as one of them, not surprisingly, loses their mettle faced with the terror. Despite the agitprop - I agree but it was facile - this was a powerful moment.
This is great television, start with Season One and sleep when you can.


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he award-winning, edge-of-your-seat spy drama is back with another white-knuckle ride through the perilous world of deadly terrorists, international cover-ups and treacherous double-agents. Having survived the bombing of the Thames Barrier, Adam and Ros recover to find London facing an even greater threat. While attempting to thwart an attack that could jeopardise a historic peace accord between Britain and Iran, the team unwittingly unleash a deadly killer. But with a virus that mimics the pneumonic plague, there can be no negotiation. And when Zaf is kidnapped by armed mercenaries, the team realise that in a game of the highest stakes they hold none of the cards. As the stuff of nightmares becomes increasingly real, London faces total devastation...

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Gavin and Stacey: Season One (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Absolutely adore this show. The humor, characters, storyline are all top notch.
I do not think there is someone who can't relate to one of the characters on one level or another. Sitting on the edge of seat for the release of the next season. Please make it soon.

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Gavin is an ordinary boy from England, Stacey is an ordinary girl from Wales. They speak every day on the phone at work, and yet they've never met... until now. But when Gavin and Stacey finally meet and their ordinary worlds come together, we see, through their families, their friends and their differences, that there's no such thing as 'ordinary' after all.

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MI-5, Volume 3 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had known about MI-5 for almost a year before I decided to fork over the $39.95 or whatever it was for the first season (or as the British say, first "series") box set. Honestly not knowing what to expect, I put on the first episode...and was immediately hooked. If you like your drama complex, with complicated, all-so-human characters (i.e. fallible)who confront conflicts that are never black-and-white but always gray, where the "good guys" are as prone to ethical and moral compromises as great as the "bad guys", then this is the show for you. This is indeed akin to 24 and Alias, genre-wise, but it really bears a greater resemblance to the best shows on HBO like The Sopranos and The Wire, as well as those edgy FX dramas like Rescue Me and The Shield. The series is broadcast on A&E but edited for length, language, and violence. The best way to watch this is on DVD. I bought the season one box set as Christmas presents for two great friends and it took them all of one episode to be as devoted to it as I am. So buy or rent the first two seasons, watch it as quickly as you can (and you will watch it quickly because you'll want to know what happens next to Tom and Zoe and Danny), get this third season, and devote an hour every night until you finish it. Your only regret will be you have to wait for season 4 whenever A&E broadcasts it. It's one of the best shows on television.

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Worlds collide and nothing is what it seems in the thrilling new installment of MI-5. Tom has been branded a traitor and has disappeared, while Harry is in the hospital, seriously wounded. There's dissension in the ranks as Danny and Zoe are determined to clear Tom's name and an enemy they never thought possible has put the entire service at risk. An enigmatic agent, Adam Carter (Rupert Penry-Jones) has been recruited from MI-6 to help pick up the broken pieces but with his track record nobody will be safe.

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William and Mary: Seasons 1 & 2 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a midwife, I have no time to watch television - but I watched this series, every minute of it - and loved it. It was alternately warm, funny, silly, ridiculous, predictable, not predictable, and wonderful! In addition, with the exception of one very short segment, it portrayed the life of a midwife extraordinarily well. The writing was terrific, and the juxtaposition of Mary's work as a midwife, and William's work as an undertaker, especially in episodes 6 and 7(or was it 7 and 8?!)was brilliant. The acting is great and the characters (okay, Mary's mother is a little overdone!) engaging. The development of the relationship between William and Mary is outstanding, and her portrayal of midwifery noteworthy. I made time to see every episode, and it was well worth it each time -relaxing, fun and touching. My partner liked it, too - when it was all over, he asked if now I would sit and watch 12 episodes of something like "The Terminator" with him - of course, the answer was no! - but he actually was the one who would often say to me, "So, do you want to watch the next William and Mary tonight?"

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William Shawcross (Martin Clunes, Shakespeare in Love, Men Behaving Badly) is looking for love, but few women are excited at the prospect of dating an undertaker. William sees Mary on a dating service video and is captivated - only she's too busy bringing people into the world as a midwife to date someone whose job is to see them out. Julie Graham (Dirty Tricks, Butterfly Collectors) co-stars in this brilliantly written, quirky and often moving British TV comedy about two people tripping down the imperfect path of romance together. You'll laugh, cry and cringe with embarrassment through the six episodes of this complete set!

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My Family: Seasons 3 & 4 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I watch My Family on PBS. I decided to go online to see if I could purchase this TV series on DVD from Amazon which I have. I have purchased Seasons 1 & 2 and enjoy them very much. Season 3 & 4 have the charactor Nic on them. The actor who plays this charactor is very funny and entertaining. He is the main reason I watch the series. The other actors are just as wacky and fun to watch. This is a very difuctional and funny family. I give seasons 3 & 4 a thumbs up.

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Item Name: My Family: Seasons 3 & 4; Studio:BBC Warner

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Monarch of the Glen - Series Four (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Monarch of the Glen, having finished as a series in Great Britian, is trickling out slowly on DVD to the States. I have seen the fourth series thanks to our Canadian cousins, and can assure viewers the series continues to feature clever thematic writing to go along with the outstanding cast and unsurpassed scenery. The almost effortless merging of several plot lines continues to move each Episode along. The show's writers have shown a willingness to move the story in different directions, while most of the fine cast of regulars are starting to open out their roles. Particularily impressive has been the symbolic expansion through the wolves project - one does not expect this degree of art from a television series.
Frankly one has to go back to the days of Brideshead Revisited for a television show of such richness.

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As Molly MacDonald comes to terms with becoming a widow, Lexie and the estate employees must come to terms with her new position in life as fiancee of the laird, Archie. Meanwhile, Glenbogle has a new wildlife center -- and the inevitable teething troubles when a wolf goes missing; an interesting love triangle develops between Golly, Irene and Duncan; and Molly and Archie get the shock of their lives when a young man arrives in search of his past. And did we mention that Archie's former girlfriend, Katrina, makes an appearance? This DVD includes all ten episodes from the fourth series.DVD Features:BiographiesFeaturette

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Doc Martin: Series 1 (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)I absolutely LOVED this series. I had heard Martin compared with House, and I think that's a bit unfair, albeit understandable. However, I prefer to think of him as a strange cross between House and James Harriot. Although James was just nice, nice, nice (ad nauseum), the situations in which they find themselves are really very similar - close-knit countryside full of bizarre natives with bizarre rituals. In personality he is much more like House, with one huge difference: House is a rude, insensitive jerk simply because he enjoys it, while Martin, not a jerk at all, frequently acts like one because he doesn't seem to know any better. Like House, Martin's dry, deadpan comebacks are hilarious.
Each episode of Season 1 is better than the one before, culminating in an ending so funny I think I had tears in my eyes. He just never learns, does he?
I still can't quite put my finger on what makes Martin so charming, since I'm not sure I would enjoy knowing him in person. Probably (and due in large part to the brilliant Martin Clunes) it is because he is so very real, and you can't help but identify with his out-of-place, misunderstood persona. Haven't we all been there?
Simply a brilliant show - extremely funny, while taking itself seriously.
Can't wait for Season 2!

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Make an appointment with the brilliant but socially awkward and neurotic Doc Martin (Martin Clunes). When Martin develops an aversion to blood, he abandons his career as a celebrated London surgeon and becomes the only doctor in a sleepy small town where his tactless manner soon has the whole town in an uproar. You'll laugh out loud as you watch Martin get to know the town's hysterical mix of quirky residents and find new ways to put his foot into his mouth! Catch all six episodes of this delightful show's first season. London's Evening Standard has diagnosed this hit British comedy "absolutely bloody hilarious!"EPISODES: Going Bodmin / Gentlemen Prefer / Sh*t Happens / The Portwenn Effect / Of All the Harbours in All the Towns / Haemophobia

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MI-5, Volume 1 (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)There've been some uncommonly intelligent spy films produced by British television: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE (both starring Sir Alec Guinness as the owlish George Smiley), and THE SANDBAGGERS miniseries. In all three, the agency involved is Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service (MI-6). The operatives are a tweedy lot, and the headquarters, either at the old "Circus" or the more modern Century House, are, like the remains of Empire, comfortably shabby. Thus, it was with some misgivings that I began MI-5, the ongoing glitzy miniseries featuring the SIS's less glamorous sister also known as the Security Service, which like America's FBI, deals with domestic intelligence, anti-subversion and counter-terrorism. The glitz is of Hollywood proportions - almost, for me, an instant turn-off. I'm glad I stuck with it.
The lead "spook" is Tom Quinn, played by Matthew MacFadyen. He runs an undercover operations team, the most prominent members of which are Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes) and Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo). The interior of MI-5's London HQ, Thames House, is ultramodern and high tech; the CIA probably never had it so good. Tom's boss is the hardboiled and sphinx-like Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth.
Admittedly, I didn't become engaged until episodes three and four, when I realized that the intricate scripts, fast-paced and tautly presented, transcended the glitz. I'm now hooked, and eagerly await the DVD release of the Season 2 episodes in late 2004. My only remaining complaint is the too clever lead-in to each episode which requires excessive button-pushing on the remote to navigate. I mean, just get on with it. Prince Charles will become King in a shorter time.
The storylines are contemporary: embassy take-overs by militant nationalists, insidious plots by Arab terrorists, illegal arms deals by enterprising Russians involving Whitehall cabinet officers, and the occasional appearance of IRA bombers. Gone are the good old days of KGB machinations on behalf of the Evil Empire. The episodes are slickly written with surprising plot twists. And MI-6 across the river maintains a scheming and patronizing presence.
Part of the show's attraction is that it doesn't paint its MI-5 heroes as perfect. They have relationship problems; they embezzle money from the Service; and perhaps have dark secrets in the past that invite blackmail during intra-office power struggles. Why, it sounds like any company I've ever worked for!
The end of the last episode in Series 1 is one of the best I've ever seen. It'll make you think twice before installing that elaborate security system on your house, or at least make you aware of the dangers posed by a small child when catalyzed by chocolate icing.

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Defending their country, deceiving their friends, MI-5 takes us into the secret world of the clandestine UK security service and the people who make up the elite team. This exciting, fast paced drama, full of split screens and technical wizardry, explores the passion, jeopardy and intrigue of people who have to lie for a living and deceive their loved ones about what they do. DVD Features:Audio Commentary:Commentaries on all episodes!BiographiesDeleted ScenesFeaturette:Numerous Behind-the-Scenes featurettes on the making of the programInterviews:Exclusive interviews with the cast and crew!

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Skins, Vol. 3 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Excellent season, different from the previous 2, but pretty good. Great themes BUT do not get the BBC America because scenes are deleted and the music is completely different--you're better off watching it on youtube.

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Skins is back, and the critical darling now has a brand new cast! It\'s another year at Roundview College and it brings with it a new class of drug-fuelled, party-seeking, sexually inquisitive teenagers. The new queen bee is the beautiful and mysterious Effy. The charming but volatile Cook and his best mate Freddie have fallen under her spell, leaving their friend JJ caught in the middle as they fight for her attention. Identical twins Katie and Emily aren\'t as similar as they look – Katie wants to gain her individuality, and when Emily is abandoned by her, she finds a friend in the beautiful idealist Naomi. Kooky Pandora is the group\'s sweetheart, she finds love with Thomas; but is their relationship over before it has begun?
DVD Features:BEHIND THE SCENESFeaturetteInterviews

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Men Behaving Badly - Season 2 (British TV Series) (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife and I LOVE this British SitCom! Season Two- WOW! It is the Best! Warm and funny, really great! Tony and Gary (the two main characters) are about as "Guy" as you get! You feel touched by these characters even while you laugh at their lame brain antics! Dorothy and Deborah play the love intrests and outsmart the guys every time! The rest of the supporting cast is great also, full of wit and funny banter- It is a bit brash, slightly off-color, and VERY VERY FUNNY! London hilarity! All the characters are unforgetable and you will love each of them! You'll find yourself watching it over and over! AND- You'll find yourself saying "Classic" in no time! Thank You Warner Video for bringing us this wonderful english romp! Thank you Amazon for offering it! I will buy every season offered! 5 STARS EASY!

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MEN BEHAVING BADLY:COMPLETE SERIES 2 - DVD Movie

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Lovejoy: The Complete Collection (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Lovejoy was one of the best television series ever offered on BBC and later shown in America. It had cult followings in both the UK and U.S. during its television showings. I watched almost every episode. Lovejoy (Ian McShane) is a "divvie," a person who can instinctively tell if an antique is authentic and valuable without consulting books or doing research. The term comes from the word "diviner" and it's a talent that few if any others possess. With such a talent Lovejoy is a natural for the antiques business, but his several character flaws prevent him from making a fortune. Instead, this lovable rogue gets himself in situations that are humorous, mysterious, and often exciting. Sometimes these involve crimes committed by others or by Lovejoy himself! In other episodes, Lovejoy helps to solve curious mysteries or helps some person in distress who seeks him out. Wonderful old antique objects are always a part of the plot and Lovejoy is not above sometimes creating or improving these in ways that satisfy a customer, pay off a debt, or get hilarious revenge on an unscrupulous adversary.
Lovejoy's friends--Tinker Dill, Eric Catchpole, and Lady Jane Felsham--are also amusing, often hilarious. Tinker is Lovejoy's inebriated sidekick who knows quite a bit about the antique business himself. Eric's character is really funny: a sullen, sometimes resentful assistant whom Lovejoy does not always treat with respect but who's actions always gets laughs. Lady Jane is Lovejoy's wealthy but married female friend who likes to hang out with the lovable rogue; she often financially aids Lovejoy and willingly and sometimes unwillingly helps facilitate his plots. There is an ambiguity about their personal relationship that continues throughout the series. Are they interested in each other romantically or not? Lovejoy is set to get married to someone else in the final episode of the series but with hilarious results. In fact, both Lady Jane and Eric disappear as characters in Series 6.
All of the episodes in the Lovejoy series were shown on television in the U.S. during the 1990s. Current viewers may know Ian McShane only from his character in Deadwood or perhaps the short-lived Kings. McShane is a really fine actor who completely envelopes his character and creates very satisfying drama. If you love British drama such as the popular murder mystery series (Inspector Morse, Foyle's War, Inspector Lewis) or historical dramas (Reilly, Ace of Spies, Love for Lydia, Brideshead Revisited, I, Claudius) or comedies (Rumpole of the Bailey), you will certainly love Lovejoy. I always eagerly watched each episode.
Now that the series is complete, I highly recommend that you purchase this complete collection. It is encoded for Region 1 and was converted from its original PAL format in which it was created to the NTSC format used in the U.S. From reviews I have read, it appears the conversion was accomplished satisfactorily. The complete Lovejoy collection has been available in PAL format in Great Britain since 2004, so it apparently took five years to get the conversion done properly. You can buy the complete PAL Lovejoy, in All Region format, from Amazon.co.uk for the same price as here. If you have only a Region 1 DVD player as most of us do you in all likelihood cannot play PAL DVDs because of Region locking (not a problem with this PAL set since it is All Region) and because the great majority of Region 1 DVD players have had their PAL playback ability disabled. Also, most NTSC display devices cannot display PAL images. For U.S. customers, it is probably better to just buy this new NTSC set and not worry that the PAL set (higher resolution than NTSC and originally shot in PAL) is probably better and available at the same price. I haven't seen the PAL set so I can't personally judge.
Note: Do not buy the Lovejoy Christmas Specials DVD if you buy this complete collection as Amazon suggests in its "Frequently Bought Together" section. The Lovejoy Complete Collection already includes the two Christmas specials.
Here is the Lovejoy episode list with original air dates:
Series 1
1-1 10-Jan-1986 The Firefly Cage
1-2 17-Jan-1986 The Axeman Cometh
1-3 24-Jan-1986 The Sting
1-4 31-Jan-1986 Friends, Romans and Enemies
1-5 07-Feb-1986 The Judas Pair
1-6 14-Feb-1986 To Sleep No More
1-7 21-Feb-1986 The Real Thing
1-8 28-Feb-1986 The March of Time
1-9 07-Mar-1986 Death and Venice (1)
1-10 14-Mar-1986 Death and Venice (2)
Series 2
2-1 06-Jan-1991 Just Desserts
2-2 13-Jan-1991 The Italian Venus
2-3 20-Jan-1991 Bin Diving
2-4 27-Jan-1991 Montezuma's Revenge
2-5 03-Feb-1991 Who Dares, Sings
2-6 10-Feb-1991 One Born Every Minute
2-7 17-Feb-1991 National Wealth
2-8 24-Feb-1991 Sugar and Spice
2-9 03-Mar-1991 Raise the Hispanic
2-10 10-Mar-1991 Lily's Pearls
2-11 17-Mar-1991 The Black Virgin of Vladimir
(recut into a two part episode on later transmissions, with the first part listed in the opening credits as "Riding in Rollers")
Series 3
3-1 12-Jan-1992 Friends in High Places
3-2 19-Jan-1992 Out To Lunch
3-3 26-Jan-1992 No Strings
3-4 02-Feb-1992 Angel Trousers
3-5 09-Feb-1992 The Benin Bronze
3-6 16-Feb-1992 Eric of Arabia
3-7 23-Feb-1992 Scotch on the Rocks
3-8 01-Mar-1992 Loveknots
3-9 08-Mar-1992 Smoke Your Nose
3-10 15-Mar-1992 Kids
3-11 22-Mar-1992 Members Only
3-12 29-Mar-1992 Highland Fling (1)
3-13 05-Apr-1992 Highland Fling (2)
Special S-1 26-Dec-1992 The Prague Sun
Series 4
4-1 10-Jan-1993 The Napoleonic Commode
4-2 17-Jan-1993 The Ring
4-3 24-Jan-1993 Second Fiddle
4-4 31-Jan-1993 The Colour of Mary
4-5 07-Feb-1993 Fly the Flag
4-6 14-Feb-1993 Judgment of Solomon
4-7 21-Feb-1993 The Galloping Major
4-8 28-Feb-1993 God Helps Those
4-9 07-Mar-1993 They Call Me Midas
4-10 14-Mar-1993 Irish Stew
4-11 28-Mar-1993 Dainty Dish
4-12 04-Apr-1993 Taking the Pledge
4-13 11-Apr-1993 Lovejoy Loses It
Series 5
5-1 05-Sep-1993 Pig in a Poke
5-2 12-Sep-1993 Who is the Fairest of Them All?
5-3 19-Sep-1993 A Going Concern
5-4 26-Sep-1993 The Kakiemon Tiger
5-5 03-Oct-1993 Three Men and a Brittle Lady
5-6 10-Oct-1993 Ducking and Diving
5-7 17-Oct-1993 Stones of Destiny
5-8 24-Oct-1993 Poetic Licence
5-9 31-Oct-1993 The Peking Gun
5-10 07-Nov-1993 Goose Bumps
5-11 14-Nov-1993 Swings and Roundabouts
5-12 21-Nov-1993 Never Judge a Book By Its Cover
5-13 28-Nov-1993 The Price of Fish
Special S-2 27-Dec-1993 The Lost Colony
Series 6
6-1 02-Oct-1994 Fair Exchange
6-2 09-Oct-1994 Day of Reckoning
6-3 16-Oct-1994 Somewhere Over the Rainbow
6-4 23-Oct-1994 Double Edged Sword
6-5 30-Oct-1994 Guns and Roses
6-6 06-Nov-1994 The Last of the Uzkoks
6-7 13-Nov-1994 Breaking the Broker
6-8 20-Nov-1994 Fruit of the Dessert
6-9 27-Nov-1994 Holding the Baby
6-10 04-Dec-1994 Last Tango in Lavenham

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For the first time ever, every Lovejoy episode and Christmas special is available together in this 22-disc gift set including over 63 hours of heart-stopping intrigue!
Just call him Lovejoy.Ian McShane (Deadwood) stars as the irresistible rogue with a keen eye for beauty... and trouble!This antiques dealer and part-time detective scours the murky salesrooms, auction halls, and stately homes of Britain, always on the lookout for a find. Lovejoy has a particular weakness for a good sob story or a pretty face, either of which is enough to send him off in pursuit of villains and help victims recover their property.Whether it's a priceless old master or a pretty young lady, his love of beauty is sure to land him in trouble wherever he goes.

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Skins, Vol. 1 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been watching TV for as long as I can remember, and I've never seen a show quite like "Skins".
The program centers around a group of teenage friends living in England. They smoke, they drink, they do drugs, they party, they have sex. They do what teenagers around the world do (or more often, especially with the sex part, merely wish they were doing). Pretty standard fare for most teenage dramas, actually, except that since this is British TV, they don't censor everything; you actually get to see bits of the sex, hear lots of the swearing and see quite a bit of naked flesh.
Nothing like a bit of titilation.
But had the show been nothing but titilation, it wouldn't have kept my interest. From the very first episode, I found myself really drawn into the storylines, and coming to like most of the characters. I started to care about them and their lives.
Consider for example the character of Tony. He seems initially to be just a total wanker, but as the show goes you see that he actually has some layers to him, ones he doesn't know are there.
Or consider Anwar, a reasonably devout Muslim who finds himself torn between faith and friendship due to the fact that his best friend, Maxxie, is gay.
Or consider Cassie, an anorexic girl who is falling rapidly in love with Sid, who happens to be in love with Michelle, who happens to be Tony's girlfriend. Who Tony might be in love with the viewer is welcome to guess, though I'm inclined to suspect it's both Michelle and Sid...
Or consider Jal, the sweet young clarinet player. Or Chris, a wonderful young man with more teeth than brain cells. Or Michelle. Or Maxxie. Or Sid. Any of the characters, all the of characters, are fascinating.
The show isn't without its imperfections, of course. It's a bit exaggerated and unrealistic, but who cares? Most TV is. On the other hand, "Skins" is daring, entertaining, effed-up and wonderfully brilliant! What other show would've given such a "WTF?!" ending to the first series as this one did?
"Skins" isn't for everyone, but I loved it, and can't wait to own it on DVD!
*** UPDATE ***
So amazingly I got the DVDs today, the day before the street date. I won't tell if you won't tell. :) Because of this, I can answer all the questions we've been wondering. Well, most of them, anyhow. I don't know if the music was left intact from the broadcasts cause I never really paid attention.Anyhow, the DVDs are not the episodes as they were broadcast here in the USA. They are not censored for language or nudity, which is a plus for those of me who like to see these sorts of things as they were intended!
There is one thing that was completely cut out from the DVDs however. At the end of the last episode of series one, there was this very odd, very surreal moment where the cast, more or less in character, were singing Cat Stevens' song "Wild World". Due to copyright issues that entire scene is cut. You get the moments right before and right after, but the scene itself is gone. Happily that's what the YouTube is for and if you go there, you can see the last scene as it was meant to be.
Sadly there's no commentary on the DVDs, but you do get the video diaries and ancillary storylines the Brits got, so that's all good. Overall, a package well worth getting your hands on!

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Skins. A brand new British drama follows a group of raucous teenagers who get high, get drunk, get laid and get up for their A levels. They really grab life by the balls and give it a twirl. Tony (Nicholas Hoult, About a Boy) is the best looking boy in town. His sidekick Sid is less successful with the ladies, much less until bonkers anorexic case Cassie turns up. But Sid's in love with Michelle, the school fittie, who goes out with Tony, of course. Then there's sassy musician Jal, party animal Chris, Maxie and best mate Anwar, who manages to combine the pills, the thrills and the spills with his faith, well sort of.

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