After a little break to have a baby I am back writing and reading reviews
After a little break to have a baby I am back writing and reading reviews
Member since:28.12.2005
Reviews:126
Members who trust:43
This was my Mum's favourite film and when it was first released on VHS all those years ago, she bought it immediately. My Mum loved this film so much that she got me and my sister involved in watching it with her. I have seen it so many times now I know all the words.
The Story ========
Shirley Bradshaw (Pauline Collins) is a middle aged English housewife who has lost the person who she once was as a girl; she was Shirley the Brave, Shirley Valentine.
Through Shirley we get introduced to her children (Brian & Miranda), friends and husband, Joe. We are also taken back to her teenage rebellious years and how he used to pick on Marjory Majors. In a turn of events Shirley meets up with Marjory in her later years (played by Joanna Lumley) and discovers some shocking news!
Shirley has two friends in her life Jane and the wall; she talks the wall quite regularly. At one point Joe even starts it as well!
Shirley's friend Jane wins a competition for a fortnight's holiday in Greece for 2 and she wants Shirley to go with her. Shirley desperately wants to go but feels that she is too old until her neighbour Gillian comes over.
Jane abandons Shirley at the airport in Greece and on her own see discovers herself again and meets Costas (Tom Conti) who wants to take her on his brother's boat and tour the island. Shirley Valentine is back.
Characters ========
Pauline Collins does a great job as Shirley; I think she was given a Tony Award for her performance in this film. Pauline Collins makes the character believable and someone who many of use can relate to.
Joanna Lumley does not appear very long in the film but her performance is perfect for the character of Marjory Majors.
Tom Conti as Coatas is so funny; he plays a Greek god like man who many women would drool at first sight.
Extras =====
I am very disappointed that there are no extras on this DVD but I suppose, with this film being released back in 1989 there was not all they could have put on.
I have done a search over the Internet and prices are from £5 to £10 for this DVD. I have no idea what this cost as my partner bought it for me. I had kept going on about this film so much that my partner got fed up with me and bought it. I only get to watch it on the condition that he is not around.
Overview ========
This is still one of my favourite films as every time I watch it brings back memories of my mum, sister and I sitting on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon. The most disappointing element of this film is that they have changed in it.
Since I know all the words, so does my sister, we can tell where the changes have been made but if you have not seen this before it will not make a difference. When I saw my sister at Christmas this year we discussed this new version and how it was not as entertaining as the original because of the changes.
The changes are below if you want to know:
Clay the Veggie Dog - veggie burger hound is new as it used to be Nut Rissole Hound Brian's Job - previously busker poet not street poet Shirley Discussing Sex with her friends - the car used to be Ford Cortina now a Ford Escort. In Greece Jeanette got her Jacuzzi from MFI not Kaymart.
I know these changes are tiny but to me it makes a difference. Whenever I watch this I always speak in the proper words.
Many women would love this film as Shirley's humour and wise cracks are fantastic. For anyone who has seen this film surely cannot forget the Eleventh Commandant declared my Moses. Also I wonder if her F Plan diet would work, if you would like to try please let me know the results.
There is lots of comedy in this film and you will not be able to stop yourself from laughing.
Thanks for reading.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
sounds like a film that i would watch stephaniexx good review
n13roy 17.01.2006 12:37
Nice easy to read and very informative review, on a real feelgood film indeed. Saw it in the Cinema when it came out, and many times since, although not enough to know they changed the script slightly............Roy....
donnabroom 17.01.2006 02:36
I watched this film at school as part of my GCSE English course work. I have not watched it since but I did enjoy it. Good review. Donna x
Pauline Collins repeats her stage success as the character Shirley Valentine, a married ... more
woman who decides in her middle years that she wants more out of life. Leaving her spouse behind, she heads to Greece, where she grows close to a low-key local blok...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Pauline Collins repeats her stage success as the character Shirley Valentine, a married ... more
woman who decides in her middle years that she wants more out of life. Leaving her spouse behind, she heads to Greece, where she grows close to a low-key local blok...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Shirley Bradshaw has always been able to see the funny side of any situation. She was a ... more
high-school rebel and now she's a housewife and mother who one day looks back at her life and realises that she has lost touch with her dreams. When her best friend...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
In the role that won her Broadway's acclaimed Tony Award, Pauline Collins is the ... more
hilariously endearing Shirley Valentine, a wisecracking, completely unpredictable English housewife who proves it's never too late to recapture your dreams.Bored with her ...
![Shirley Valentine [DVD] [1989]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78507868.jpg "Shirley Valentine [DVD] [1989]")
very helpful by (80%):
helpful by (20%):
