Documentaries & Biographies > R Documentaries & Biographies > Entertainment Biographies > up to 5 GBP

Not what it says on the tin (this is for the bin)

Advantages: Door stop sized
Disadvantages: Dissapointing

This was a great show on TV which each hour long episode followed a different celebrity on a travel back through their families past exploring the past of their grandparents and great grandparents and revealing family secrets which had been forgotten through the ages. Celebrities featured in the first series include: David Baddiel, Jeremy Clarkson, Leslie Garrett, Ian Hislop, Sue Johnstone, Bill Oddie, Amanda Redman, Vic Reeves, Meera Syal and Moira ...
...managed to catch in this series and was particularly impressed with Jeremy Clarkson, Bill Oddie and Vic Reeves episodes so thought this an excellant chance to catch up. BIG MISTAKE THIS IS NOT EACH AND EPISODE IN FULL BUT RATHER SHORT SNIPPETS FROM THE SERIES. It is 10 hours of TV reduced to 76 mins - why? It would have been so much better to have each episode in full. With the 76 min feature (as sold here as an added extra) which is all it really ...

gizmoregis 09.09.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Who Do You Think You Are? - Series 1 (DVD)

In Sickness and in Health

Advantages: Interesting and entertaining, Great interview with Tony Benn
Disadvantages: Some subjects are arguably exploited, Does not consider disadvantages of socialised healthcare

"Sicko" (2007) - FILM ONLY REVIEW Writer: Michael Moore Director: Michael Moore Running Time: 123 minutes Certificate: 12A (UK) / PG (Ireland) / PG13 (USA) It has become something of a cliché to describe Michael Moore as a controversial, polarising character. To some, he is the White Knight of the left whose regular-guy approach to discussing uncomfortable subjects should be applauded, while to others he is a man who has exploited vulnerable interview ...
...picture he wants to make his attention-grabbing documentaries a success. An entire industry has grown up attempting to discredit Moore's work and has given his reputation something of a battering over recent years, but while some of the criticism he has received has I think been justified, this has not prevented him producing his highly entertaining 2007 documentary "Sicko" about the American medical industry. In many ways, this has proved to be ...

Collingwood21 13.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sicko (DVD)

He Was Never Any Good At Hide & Seek

Advantages: sensitive adaptation of the biography of the same name, good acting and character portrayal
Disadvantages: a bit soppy at time, events not in order in which they happen in the book

[Film Only Review] A few weeks ago I wrote about the amazing biography by Brad Cohen, how he overcame the stigma of Tourette syndrome* (TS from herein) and became a teacher and motivational speaker. Today I want to talk about the movie that actually first introduced me to Brad Cohen, who is not just a character in a movie but a real person. Brad Cohen developed TS in early childhood and was stigmatised by most of his peers, as well as some family, ...
...fulfil his ultimate dream, to become a teacher, the teacher he never had when he was at school. *Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's disorder, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or, more commonly, simply Tourette's or TS) is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic; these tics characteristically ...

Tempus_Fugit 03.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Front of the Class (DVD)

A film of EPIC Proportions

Advantages: A great experiment, interesting
Disadvantages: A bit sick in places

A film of EPIC proportions. Before I start this review I must just firstly say that I like McDonalds, I would probably go so far as to say that I love McDonalds. Sometimes a Big Mac, fries and an diet coke is all that will hit the spot, but only once in a while and certainly not every day, not even every month but unfortunately some people do not seem to understand this and treat McDonald's like their everyday menu. This creates a country full of ...
...sue McDonalds for making them eat burgers everyday and then wonder why they are fat. Why is America so fat? This is the question that Morgan Spurlock sets out to answer in his documentary Supersize me. If you ever want to eat at McDonalds again I would recommend approaching this film with caution as there are some parts that will turn your stomach but saying that I have watched it a few times and yes, do still like the golden arches thankgoodness! ...

Spottydog11 02.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Super Size Me (DVD)

The Late Great Townes Van Zandt

Advantages: Archive footage, interviews, live performances
Disadvantages: None

...previous comment on the great Townes Van Zandt, or has heard and enjoyed his music, this DVD is a must see. If neither is applicable to you but you are interesting in an insight into the tragic workings of a genius, this is also a must. This is the an often heartbreaking, sometimes amusing, always fascinating account of the life and times of Townes Van Zandt: Texan troubadour, manic depressive, misunderstood drunk, lovelorn poet and close friend ...
...Everyone who meant anything to Townes (who hadn't passed away themselves) is covered from ex-girlfriend to son to numerous musicians both influenced by Townes and friends of his. All offer insightful and moving accounts of his enigma. Archive footage, some seen for the first time, shows Townes in more relaxed circumstances and at home. This gives the greatest insight into his torment, which you can sense even when Townes is at play. This is most ...

Nixu1980 06.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Townes Van Zandt - Be Here To Love Me (DVD)