Drama > E Drama > up to 5 GBP

A Force To Be Reckoned With

Advantages: Very entertaining view of a period of history
Disadvantages: ...although its not very factual

...exploring issues issues that Queen Elizabeth faced during her life. The film starts by demonstrating that there is religious and political turmoil between the Catholics and the Protestants in England. Such a powerful turmoil, that it dominants almost every decision that people make. The film illustrates this throughout the film but it is most obvious when it shows the division of the royal family, when Queen Mary asks Elizabeth (her successor) to ...
...England. In a tactical move, Elizabeth says, she will follow as her conscience guides her. In addition to the political religious turmoil, highlighted is the role of women in society as second class citizens. This is ironic as the monarch is the most powerful being in the country. The division between womens roles is particularly highlighted when her advising counsil keep on pressurising her to marry inorder to produce a heir to secure the throne. ...

silvajade 16.04.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Elizabeth (DVD)

Alfie (original 1965)

Advantages: a product of its time. highly watchable
Disadvantages: slow in places

...performance is just brilliant. Alfie is a story of a young cockney limo driver who is out to have a good time. Set in the 1960's, when single people - who perhaps, single men were a lot more relaxed about commitment. Of course, the perspective of the film is definitely a male one, and the women in the film do not share the same relaxed views about commitment, in fact quite the opposite. This film was made in 1965 - two years before the Abortion ...
...abortionists' - and the original 1965 Alfie offers this true raw sense of realism. The re-make whilst being highly watchable and entertaining,just did not have the same effect. In the 1965 version, Alfie's guilt and self -loathing is visible, he truly did want to change his ways in that moment. ...

obsessive 22.10.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Alfie (DVD)

romance

Advantages: unexpected twists
Disadvantages: none

...they are quite young, and the oldest child called faith played by cameron diaz who was the closest to the father startes to get in with the hippie movement and becomes quite wild. Then she meets the love of her life. A man that is involed with drugs peace love and unity, this character is played by Christopher Eccleston. Faith decideds to go to see the world so her and her partner head off. A few years later the mother and the younger sister get ...
...to retrace her tracks useing the postcards her sister had sent her when she was alive. She then meets up with her sisters ex boyfriend and she finds out some of the things that her sister got upto. She is shocked at what she hears and falls in love with her sisters ex boyfriend who has settled down from the wild lifestyle! this is a good film with a lot of unexpected twist bound to keep you on the edge of your seat! i would recoment this film to ...

sophies1703 27.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Invisible Circus (DVD)

Another Cracker

Advantages: Gripping story, great performances
Disadvantages: The ending is not as well tied up as it could be

...in the US version of Cracker and it wasn't overly successful. The great thing about Fitz is that, despite his occupation, he is completely inable to lead an ordinary life. He is overweight, drinks, smokes, gambles and flirts. He treats his wife appallingly. Despite this, he is oddly vulnerable and endearing and gets away with murder. Robbie Coltrane manages to make this all convincing via an outstanding performance in both this episode and all others ...
...her more light-hearted roles before Cracker - I particularly remember her in Open All Hours as the milkmaid and The Beiderbecke Affair along with James Bolam. As Judith though, she is really great and I just wish we saw more of her in this episode. Geraldine Somerville is also good as DS Jane Penhaligon, although, to my mind, she was much better in Men Should Weep, where she had a much meatier role. The most outstanding performance, apart from Robbie ...

sunmeilan 01.03.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Cracker - One Day A Lemming Will Fly (DVD)

Obscure but brilliant

Advantages: Thoughtful acting and direction
Disadvantages: Not as well known as it should be and very depressing

...was the thought of doing Jude the Obscure, on which this film is based. But when the other evening I was having trouble sleeping and I turned the television on, the film about to start was Jude and I thought "oh well it's got Christopher Eccleston in it, it'll be nice to look at, at least". Well it certainly didn't help me to sleep afterwards and nice to look at is not a phrase that I would really say captures this film. Uncomfortable to look at, ...
...Sarejevo, 24 Hour Party People), Jude (Christopher Eccleston) follows the story of a late 19th century man who in pursuit of his dreams finds barriers put in his way at every turn to sometimes devastating effect. All he wants is acceptance for his family and as a scholar and a man but ends up utterly rejected in every respect and Eccleston portrays him brilliantly. He shows him to be thoughtful but with rough edges and you always feel that Jude is ...

Suzela 28.08.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Jude (DVD)