Radio Days DVD

Advantages: Warm and nostalgic
Disadvantages: Nothing major

Radio Days is a film directed and written by Woody Allen in 1987. Allen does not appear in the film but he does feature as a narrator. Radio Days is inspired by Allen's childhood in the forties and is a nostalgic and bittersweet comedy about an era when radio was the most influential and popular medium and everyone gathered around their sets at night to listen to serials and comedy shows. The film has two broad strands that tie it together. The frst ...
...Allen has said that Radio Days is an exaggerated view of his childhood with many autobiographical traces. He did live by the beach (Long Beach) for a time and characters in the film were inspired by some of the relations he grew up with. He wanted to pick out a group of old songs that each evoked a memory and make a film about how important and glamorous radio seemed when he was a child. In Radio Days we meet little Joe's eccentric but warm family ... Read review

Advantages: A Gem.
Disadvantages: Can't think of one.

...Woody Allen made Radio Days in 1987, on the back of Hannah and Her Sisters, and right before his Bergmanesque offerings (September and Another Woman - 1987 and 1988 respectively) which were not so great (partly because Bergman did them much better himself). Radio Days is Woody Allen's tribute to his childhood, growing up in the Rockaway area of Brooklyn, listening to the radio and playing with his friends. We follow the young Woody Allen, played ...
...followed in second by the radio and the songs it has made famous, songs that I'm now, in 2004, and big admirer of. Woody Allen does not physically appear in this film. He does, however, talk the audience through the changing scenery and comments adheringly about the songs that shaped his childhood. Those memorable songs include September Song (Harry James), Body and Soul (Benny Goodman), In the Mood (Glenn Miller), and I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over ... Read review

Advantages: Allen is still the best
Disadvantages: none

In tribute to the lost radio stars of the 1940s Woody Allen has produced a witty, atmospheric and captivating movie. This departure from pure comedy has led to a story where the characters are more important than the jokes; which is not to say that this isn't a very funny film, it is. However, the story is unusual in that it follows the twin themes of Radio and growing up during the WWII years rather than a purely linear plot. The central character ...
...and other eccentric relations. The radio is always on and Little Joe's favourite performer is the Lone Ranger... ...and this is the key - every vignette that Allen casts his loving eye over has a connection to the radio. For instance, we hear the tale of Sally White (Mia Farrow), a Bronx cigarette-girl with dreams of becoming a radio star. The only drawbacks are her lack of talent, abysmal accent and lack of class - nothing that can't be changed ... Read review

Advantages: A picturesque quality not captured by his other films
Disadvantages: He isn't actually in it, only the narrator - allows for lots of jokes though

...to that, which late night radio dj's strive for. It also allows joke after joke from himself, even though he is not physically present. There is one scene in a particular that is extremely funny in which the the boy (woody allen) is taken to see the rabbai having been caught with stolen property, the scene concludes with the rabbai, the father, and the mother taking it upon themselves to physically educate the child, whilst illustrating to one another ... Read review

Advantages: Amazing footage of the world's biggest band
Disadvantages: Bono droning on occasionally!

...This DVD sees U2 returning to their native Irish roots, playing a massive sold out gig in the beautiful setting of Slane Castle. The moment the camera cuts to the band approaching the stage sends a shiver down your spine - you know that this will be a memorable occasion. The minute they walk onto the stage the crowd go beserk. The band rip into hit single 'Elevation'. This is an amazing opening to a gig, a feat that U2 pull off with remarkable ease. Straight away, Bono and co have the audience in the palm of their hands. A place they stay for the next 120 minutes. This is basically a greatest hits set. 'Beautiful Day' follows the opener. Despite the fact that this song has been overplayed on the radio and elsewhere, the rendition on the DVD is incredible. Imagine 100,000 people singing along to a classic tune - that's what you've got... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: The star of the show doesn't speak!
Disadvantages: Limited appeal

...Your 2 year old boy is into cars and loves Brum. But Brum isn't on regular tv or Sky that often. So what do you do? Trawl round endless shops looking for a flamin Brum DVD......only to find it whilst doing your food shopping.RESULT! Brum is an old fashioned little car, who lives in what looks like a car museum.His amusing little adventures take little effort to watch and provide a little respite from Toddlerdom for a little while.Joy. He looks like Chitty chitty bang bang and acts like Indiana Jones.Everyone loves Brum and they all wave as he drives by. You can be sure that if there is trouble in town then Brum will save the day. In this dvd Brum has five adventures.Because brum can't speak, and is a rather complex radio controlled car, there is little dialogue in this show. The colours are bright, there are plenty of Humans over... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful