Eunuch Of The Western Palace DVD

Advantages: Great cast, superb acting, well developed story and relationships
Disadvantages: Went on for a while!

...I am not normally someone who sits down for nearly 2 hours on a Sunday evening to watch a television drama. However, the constant adverts for Joe's Palace on the BBC channels managed to capture my interest enough for me to put it in my Sky planner, so when the reminder came up, I decided I'd watch the first half hour and see how it went. I actually ended up watching the whole thing, which for someone who dislikes these long dramas is no mean feat, and I must credit that to the wonderful programme I sat and watched. Joe's Palace has been widely advertisted across the television I think because it has been written and directed by the renowned television drama writer Stephen Poliakoff. Now I will be honest and say that I have not seen anything else Poliakoff has written, so I didn't know what to expect from one of his shows... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Extremely educational and entertaining
Disadvantages: WW1 at times grim and depressing

...This item was originally sold for £9.99, but Amazon prices it at £5.97. The DVD is a single disk containing the film, no extra features which is a little disappointing. * * * * * I'm doing lots of World War 1 literature for my English A-level. But among all the videos, poems, biographies, and documentaries, this is one of my favourites. 'All Quiet on the Western Front' first grabbed my attention because it sounds so poetic, so familiar. However the deepest irony is that the front was never quiet, constantly bashed into craters by heavy shell-fire. Before this DVD (a 1979 remake of the classic black and white film) I had no idea what the trenches were really like. What is somewhat unique is that this story is seen from the German perspective. What is heartwarming and depressing is that it is very much like our own story... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent performances in a perfect setting
Disadvantages: Very minor quibbles

.... There is a little biographical information about both artists in the DVD booklet, but not much - something which I'll be coming back to later... But here is some more info: http://www.harrisonparrott.com/artists/GilShaham.asp http://www.orlishaha m.com/ DVD: This DVD was filmed as part of the celebration year in Austria during 2006 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. One of the most unique things about it is that rather than choose a concert hall for the performance, the artists are seen playing in a room in one of Vienna's many beautiful palaces - the Palais Daun-Kinsky - which adds a tremendous amount of grandeur and atmosphere to the whole viewer experience and sets the music perfectly into the context of when it was composed. Here's some pictures of the palace - http://www... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful