La Belle Helene - Offenbach (DVD)

Advantages: A rich score, articulate singers and athletic dancers. As close to a 'live' experience without being there
Disadvantages: Makes you long to be 'live'

...Felicity Lott who explains candidly how she enjoys France and the French despite being an English lady. The standard DVD case also contains a sixteen page booklet which has a track listing and an introduction to the operetta and the works of Offenbach in English, French and German. On my test bed (see below) this DVD gave a superbly crisp picture. Apart from the first, the accompanying pictures are screen captures from the DVD performances. DAME FELICITY LOTT Born in Cheltenham in May 1947 she has studied in at the Royal Holloway College, University of London and Royal Academy of Music. She has studied in France and is fluent in French. She has sung in opera at Covent Garden and Glyndebourne. She has been awarded the French Legion of Honour and was made a DBE in 1996. LA BELLE HÉLÈNE: TDK DVD (2001) DV-OPLBH Amazon... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A nice, magical film
Disadvantages: Definately aimed at a younger audience!

...wonderfully ?Tinker Bell? was animated. We all know Tinker Bell from Peter Pan, so it was quite nice to learn a little bit more about her life and how she started off. There are two songs in the film, one at the start and one at the finish. I find that these still sound very ?Disney?. They are not pop songs and I think they still have the Disney magic about them. This is definitely a little girls film! I can?t imagine any boys wanting to sit down and watch this. And I also think once you get past the age of 8 or 9 you won?t want to watch this anymore. The film has a runtime of 78 minutes. I think this was a good length. The film didn?t drag on and my attention was held throughout! The DVD is available from Amazon right now for £11.68. I certainly won?t be buying it, and I won?t go out of my way to see it again, but it is a nice little film... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Certificate PG so it's suitable for nearly everyone
Disadvantages: The cinema is expensive and this film is very average

...This film is due on general release in the UK shortly but I thought I'd write about it as I had a sneak preview. This PG film directed by Garry Marshall stars Kate Hudson as Helen Harris, a woman who "inherits" guardianship of her nieces and nephew when her sister and brother-in-law die in an accident. Joan Cusack and John Corbett co-star. The children are played rather well by Hayden Panettiere (Audrey), Spencer Breslin (Henry) and Abigail­ Breslin (Sarah). Helen's glamourous New York modelling world is turned upside down as she tries to be a parent. Her sister Jenny already has children and can't resist interfering. Gradually the two women come to an understanding, as they also come to terms with the loss of their other sister. Jenny doesn't work and she's rather self-righteous but she's actually quite jealous of her sister... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful