Reviews of Documentaries & Biographies »

Big Wing

Advantages: Stunning aerial sequences, great score, entertaining account
Disadvantages: Too many cooks

The 1969 all-star big budget extravaganza 'The Battle of Britain' is recently arrived to DVD, albeit on region 1 only for the moment. Never fear though, it's an MGM release, and region 2 releases are never too far behind. It's arrival on DVD is extremely welcome, as a buffed up widescreen print finally allows one to be totally smitten with the flying sequences. Presented as intended, and making full use of the scope process, the air battles are ...
...Hamilton (Goldfinger, The Ipcress File) brings the same effortless flow to the film that he used succesfully in his 1964 Bond outing. In recounting the heroic efforts of both the RAF and the Luftwaffe, he never lets the action overwhelm the story, while equally he never lets historical fact bog down a 133 minute production. Wilfred Greatorex and James Kennaway have assembled a mostly hit but sometimes miss screenplay, often bending the truth and ...

dadmancat 02.08.2003 · Read full review
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Review of The Battle Of Britain (DVD)

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The Blue Planet, David Attenborough

Advantages: interesting images, informative, good price
Disadvantages: can be repetative, dull in places

The blue planet is the comprehensive tv series, on the history of the oceans. Narrated by David Attenborough, there are some fantastic images and you will discover creatures that you have never seen or heard of before. This series looks at the various different types of habitats and how each of the creatures living in them survive. The soundtrack is composed by George Fenton and really fits in well with the images adding drama and suspense when ...
...1: The Blue Planet This is basicly an overview of all the different aspects of the oceans to show the scale, force and complexity of our planet. 2: The Deep This was by far my favourite episode it explores the depths of the ocean where no sunlight reaches, the fish down here are well, ugly, really ugly and id never seen anything like them before. The footage they have managed to capture, using a special submarine that can withstand the pressure ...

ronniwonni 09.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Blue Planet (Special Edition) (Box Set) (DVD)

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Brilliant film.

Advantages: Joyful and evocative documentary. Great music.
Disadvantages: None.

...used to play in the Buena Vista Social Club. The result is a poignant tale of them getting the first chance to perform in many years. They may have been forgiven, therefore, for being a little rusty. However, the music carries the listener away. I did not know the names of the musicians involved, but the Buena Vista apparently hosted some of Cuba's best bands. They had not forgotten their talents, even after a span of nearly 50 years. Most of the ...
...living in poverty, yet are all blissfully happy and full of energy. There is no clash of egos, just the joy of sharing in a wonderful musical experience. So get hold of a copy and get a small glimpse behind the long-closed doors of the Buena Vista Social Club. ...

drewish 29.11.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Buena Vista Social Club (DVD)

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A true legend never to be forgotten

Advantages: Nice insight into parts of his life
Disadvantages: Not really long enough to go into alot of detail

If you've never heard of Bruce Lee then frankly you must have been living under a rock for the past 40 odd years, Bruce Lee was to martial arts what Elvis Presley and The Beatles were the modern music. His impact of the world of martial arts was unprecedented and since his legacy no one has ever managed to replicate the mammoth success that he had. Without Bruce Lee there would be no Jackie Chan or Jet Li as he managed to change the way people see ...
...across the globe. Bruce Lee was born on the 27th November 1940 in America yet all his family were of Chinese origin. He started practising the art of Wing Chun which is a popular style of Kung Fu and quickly became a master at his craft. After appearing in TV Shows and several Hollywood blockbusters which were centred around his craft, he became a legend in the industry before his untimely death on the 20th July 1973 at the age of 32, there have ...

Great_reviewer07 30.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Bruce Lee - Martial Arts Master (DVD)

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Elite Documentary about an Elite unit.

Advantages: makes you think, can be motivating
Disadvantages: none

...faced bunch of Royal Marine Commando recruits all the way through 32 weeks of basic training. With complete access to every part of the training process he follows the good times and the bad of each of the recruits and something that I felt made the documentary that little more exciting was that he also took part in the training himself, Chris Terrill was 55 years old. The Program was originally aired in 2007 for ITV; at the beginning you see the ...
...of becoming a Royal Marine Commando and receiving the coveted Green Beret so that they can become elite soldiers that look a million miles away from the guys that they were 32 weeks earlier. After the 32 weeks training Chris follows a few of the successful soldiers when they are posted to Afghanistan for a tour of duty, as well as a new officer who takes up his post in Afghanistan for his first tour with a mainly rookie company of men. I managed ...

sjp1966 17.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Commando - On The Front Line - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

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