Calendar Girls (DVD)

...This Women's Group produces a calendar each year based around scenes of the Yorkshire life. In 1999, one of the ladies husbands became ill with leukemia. Set in the picturesque village of Napely, we meet 50-something best friends Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters). They belong to the local, traditional, boring and silly Women's Institute. Their annual fund-raising event is selling a calendar with photos of food and flowers. Ill husband ...
...decide to make an alternative calendar of themselves nude, hoping to sell a few hundred copies locally and buy something nice [a sofa] for a loving husband. This calendar in fact became a worldwide sensation, out-selling Britney Spears and Cindy Crawford. The ladies went for a tour in USA with it. Each of them of course has to lead their own life, with their own family. Some husbands approve, some not. Some children enjoy in such popularity some ...

barefoot777 14.11.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...have a passing interest in Calendar Girls. So might you, should you have similarly puerile interests. Should you, however, aim to see the best-acted, breeziest and most bitter-sweet British-set comedy of the year, then Calendar Girls will fit the bill. Life as a member of the WI can’t be incredibly exciting, however often you like to tirelessly sing through Jerusalem at the start of each meeting. Sure, there is a range in the topics of the talks ...
...For, of course, such a calendar exists. However, the disclaimer at the end, and much of the press launching the film into our awareness, is heavily guarded, and openly stating this is an approximation of what went on, with characters changed, events truncated and heightened for the cinematic effect. Why, even the name of the WI branch has changed (from Rylstone to Knapeley). However, to worry so much about the veracity of what we are seeing is to ...

theediscerning 04.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...the awards were the real Calendar Girls the Women’s Institute of Rylstone & Cracoe Great Britain. In the late 1990’s a remarkable eleven women from this institute bared there nude bodies and I say nude not naked to form the Women’s Institute Charity calendar, in aid of Leukaemia Research. Little did they know that their actions who be the inspiration to the 2003 film The Calendar Girls, staring the likes of Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. STORYLINE ...
...of creating a nude WI calendar in aid of charity. Instead of being totally appalled by the idea, other members of the group soon come around and see the calendar as art not pornography, nude and not naked. With no front bottoms involved they set to work finding a photographer that not only has talent, but that can also handle a handful of naked over 50’s women. This person comes in the form of Lawrence a porter/struggling photographer from the hospital ...

SexySOS 17.03.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...calendar. This was no ordinary calendar though, as all the women who agreed to appear, appeared nude! At the time, back in 1999, there was huge publicity surrounding this venture, so it was really no surprise that the story was made into a film in 2003 starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Although the film is based on the true story, a lot of the elements are purely fictional. The two main characters are Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie ...
...the idea of the nude calendar emerges and the two women set about recruiting their different months and finding a photographer. The scenes where the women are being photographed are very amusing - it's difficult to tell who are more embarrassed - the women themselves or the somewhat shy amateur photographer Lawrence (played by Phillip Glennister) All the women pose in extremely tasteful ways with their modesty covered up by the host of WI activities ...

kingfisher111 28.03.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...the film for anyone. Calendar Girls is based on a true story of a group of women from a WI group in a small town called Skipton. They had record sales of a calendar with a difference. "It's not naked, it's nude"! The film stars Helen Mirren as Chris - the brains behind the operation and Julie Walters as Annie with a few other famous faces scattered among the cast too such as Penelope Wilton as Ruth, Linda Bassett who was also in the Martins and ...
...an idea after seeing a calendar in a garage with semi naked young girls on it. She takes the idea to Annie and the both of them try to enrol other members from the Womens Institute. Luckily for them, quite a few of the other women are up for getting their kit off. They find themselves a photographer and start on the long process of trying to get the calendar off the ground. When the photographs come through, they are sent off immediately to the printers. ...

t_winkle23 20.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

Calendar Girls, 2003, Rating 12A, Runtime 108 mins The Story: Calendar Girls is a great film that combines a serious subject with the art if comedy, this film will make you laugh and cry, and at some points cry with laughter. This Film is based on the women of the Rylstone and District Women's Institute near Skipton, North Yorkshire. In keeping with the original story the film is set in the village of Knapely, Yorkshire England and follows the ...
...year the WI make a calendar to raise money, Annie's husband had died of Leukaemia and after some inspiration from her son's dirty magazines Chris comes up with a idea to raise some money for The Leukaemia Trust. My Thoughts: This story touches the heart in so many ways, it covers so many areas, friendship, loss of a love one, older women embracing life, all together showing you that with love and determination you can achieve so much. The acting ...

LIZKEMPO 27.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...I suggested that we watch Calendar Girls on a rainy Sunday afternoon on their last visit, I wasn’t expecting the unanimously positive response that I ended up with. The initial problem with this story is that it occurred in very recent memory and was so newsworthy that a lot of people know the detail of the plot. This potential problem was countered by bringing in some real heavyweights (in thespian terms) of British acting: Julie Walters, Helen ...
...the money? A girlie calendar catches Chris’ eye in a garage and gives her the idea to use the WI members to create their own version. Getting WI approval is not easy but after a heartfelt plea at the National Annual meeting, approval is granted. What follows is a great passage of comedy in the recruiting of the models, the hiring of the photographer and the shooting and production of the calendar. The characters really get across the sense of camaraderie, ...

petea101 23.04.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

I really wanted to go and see this at the cinema but didn't so i bought it on DVD, the fact that it had in my mind an all star cast of some of the best britsh actress's we've had was a must in seeing this film, and the fact it is based on a true story about couragous women was another. To name a few here are some of the stars, Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Annette Crosbie, Linda Bassett and Penelope Wilton. When watching the film you really need the ...
...laughing you are crying. Some of the women that are members of the local WI decide that they need a new fund raising scheme, the calenders before have been of the local area and pictures of lovely views but in an aid to raise more cash they decide to a calender of them naked YES NAKED !!!! Now i would never dream of doing this so i have great admiration for these ladies, they all rally round, they manage to get sponsership and cut price deals for ...

miamartin 23.02.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...for charity, using their annual calendar sales. Annie and her best friend, Chris (Helen Mirren), decide to shake things up a bit - instead of the usual pictures of the women gardening and baking sweets, they want to pose nude. Chris' son (John-Paul Macleod) is horrified by his mother's behavior, but the women go forth with their plan and soon have 10 other volunteers. The ladies want to get in shape, break the news to their husbands, and build up ...
...As the popularity of the calendar increases, they are even invited to America to appear on "The Tonight Show" and a tabloid paper gets the inside scoop from "Mr. January", Chris' husband Rod (Ciaran Hinds). All this attention presents problems for some of the women and gives others a newfound strength - but will the fame go to their heads? This is a very funny movie; grounded to reality with incredibly touching moments like the thank you letters ...

KathrynPowell 14.04.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

Calendar Girls, Calendar Girls.....not something that at 21 someone of my age would really consider watching as thier first choice of films but my mum insisted that I buy her this DVD for her xmas and like any loving daughter would I did just that.......... Over the xmas and new year period while I was at home one night my mum suggested watching this film... I was very hesitate but finally agreed once that I had prepared myself to be bored stiff ...
...Calendar girls follows 12 women on a journey of trying to raise some cash for the Womens Institute, they had only set out to raise a couple of thousand pounds but had no idea how they were going to do, I mean the usual making cakes and Jam certainly that wasnt going to raise what they needed. So after a couple of them had a look though some "Calendars" one of the ladies decided to do a very tasteful Womens Instiute Calendar, at that moment she whips ...

lorraine_lorraineuk 23.03.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...jam jars in their yearly calendar and the pair cook up the idea that they should do a nude calendar. After rally around and lots of persuading they get enough people together that agree to be in the calendar. The film is based in a small town in North Yorkshire so this causes lots of shocks and some very heart-warmingly funny scenes. Once they get a photographer and agree how the poses should be done, including tastefully posing as if they are doing ...
...of media interest and the calendar starts selling out. Could all this success drive a wedge between the two friends as the original idea of raising funds goes out of sight? Watch this to see the conclusion. This film really is a remarkable tale of the struggles of overcoming grief and the determination of a group of feisty & inspiring women. If you purchase this on DVD it includes interview with the real women of this true story. I hope you have ...

starcreature99 21.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...the breathtaking splendour of Yorkshire, Calendar Girls is probably the closest we've come to the next 'The Full Monty' in years - not least because of the shedding of clothes. It's not nearly as funny, but it has every bit as much heart. And, much to my own disgust, I loved it. But then there's really nothing here to dislike. It's warm, it's spirited and, more than anything, it's utterly, uttely harmless. My first gripe: it does lack pace. While ...
...I did walk out thinking that it might be more suited to the small screen. It's a good film, but it would have been a far better TV drama. My only other bone with it is that the sub-plot involving Chris's (Mirren) teenage son seems to be forgotten by the end. One minute it's there, the next it's dismissed with a casual aside. Pity, cos that lad needed a slap round the head. What is it with teenagers and this whole business of hating their parents ...

aubernguy 07.09.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...the idea of the naked calendar in order to raise money for charity. The relationship between the women and their families is so true to life and the film makes you laugh at times and feel sad at other times. Also, the beautiful countryside adds to the feel good factor. This must qualify as one of the best films of the year. Expect to see this shown on tv at Christmas in the near future! ...

nonickname 16.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

The Calendar girls is an absolutely amazing, must see film! It definately is one to see at the cinema and one to take home with you! If you haven't really heard much about this film you probably just think it is about a bunch of old people getting naked, but it's not. The film is about a Woman's Institute just outside of Skipton who decide to make a calendar to raise money for cancer - a nude calendar. Well not rude as such, cleverly done, the girls ...
...day to day activities such as baking, painting, playing the piano, gardening etc. One of the husbands of the lady in the WI dies of cancer, so she decides to raise money to buy a sofa to go in the relatives room to provide comfort in their horribles few hours left with their beloved. It is based on a true story and is truely inspiring. Funny and witty throughout, you cannot miss this. Starring Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and Celia Imrie. ...

cheekymonkey8 25.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)

...usually the women create a calendar with pictures of the Yorkshire Dales throughout however Annie Clarke and her best friend Chris Harper decide to raise money for Leukemia research by taking pictures of themselves in the nude rather than the Dales for the latest calendar. They were hoping for many local people to buy the calendar however it ended up being a worldwide seller !! I personally think this film is absolutely amazing and i highly recommend ...
...forget your tissues Cast: Helen Mirren - Chris Harper Julie Walters - Annie Clarke John Alderton - John Clarke Linda Bassett - Cora Annette Crosbie - Jessie Philip Glenister - Lawrence Sertain Ciarán Hinds - Rod Harper Celia Imrie - Celia Geraldine James - Marie Information: Genre: Comedy Running time: 108 Mins Released : 12th September 2003 Cert: 12A (nudity, strong language) Writer: Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi Director : Nigel ...

chris-greenfield 25.11.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Calendar Girls (DVD)