Venus Beauty DVD

Advantages: Superb performances. Beautiful soundtrack.
Disadvantages: Too many close-ups. A little shudder-inducing in parts.

.... The frequent close-ups extenuating the ageing stars' yellowed teeth and wrinkled skin seemed a little over-the-top. We got the message! The soundtrack, a collaboration between singer-songwriter Corrine Bailey Rae and film composer David Arnold, is low key and not integral to the film. It is however quite beautiful and melodic - worth taking notice of. The music in the main, is composed for the film. It is a mix between Rae's songs (listen out for Put Your Records On and Another Rainy Day), David Arnold's score (he performs keyboards himself) and some classical favourites (Mozart, Dvorak, and Satie). Only released in the cinema in December 2006, the DVD release is not due until 22nd May 2007. I would recommend watchingit when it does. The acting is superb and the film is an excellent character study. The subject matter... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Beatiful release of a lost movie
Disadvantages: Thin on story, but great on looks

...Shameless Films 5th DVD release is the little seen (nowadays anyway) Venus In Furs, not to be confused with the 1969 Jess Franco edition currently available on the redemption label. This version from director Massimo Dallamano is based more accurately upon the novel by Leopold Sacher-Masoch who's name believe it or not is where the word masochism originates from. The story here is delivered into modern times, well if you classify 1969 as modern. Venus In Furs tells a story about fetishist Severin (Regis Vallee) a man who likes to watch people making love, and has done since being a child. While living his life in a sort of holiday camp by a beautiful lake his attention is drawn towards a young woman called Wanda (Laura Antonelli) a artists model who has decided to take vacation there. Luckily Severin is residing in the room next... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Simply Disney
Disadvantages: You may wear the DVD out.

...When someone says Sleeping Beauty my first thought is the ballet. I saw the Royal Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty a few years ago at the ENO whilst the ROH was being refurbished and it was magical. I completly forgot Disneys classic, although I must have watched it a hundred times as a child, how soon we forget but how lovely to discover again. So how does a cartoon compare to to the Ballet, quite simply it doesn't and shouldn't. In time honoured fashion the Disney Film captures the story with all the elements you'd expect. Fantastic score which you just can't help singing along to, loveable characters and sinister characters. The story is told with all the flair and artistry one comes to not only expect but is an absolute must from Disney. Young or old this is a film that could quite easily keep you entertained for an hour... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful