Drama > J Drama

Advantages: Amazing acting, strong story
Disadvantages: None to speak of

The Gathering Storm charts the course of events from Winston Churchill's Wilderness Years during Baldwin's National Government in the mid-to-late 1930s, until his return to office as First Lord of the Admiralty at the outbreak of the Second World War. = PLOT SUMMARY = Winston Churchill has become a backbencher, increasingly ridiculed as yesterday's man, a man of no-judgement and a war-monger. It is the mid-1930s, and no-one seems to have ...
...Churchill desperately seeks solace during his Black Dog moods at Chartwell, writing prolifically to pay the bills, while casting around for ways to draw the public's attention to the very real danger he senses. This film charts Churchill's struggles through these dark times, where he gets assistance from well-placed people inside the civil service in Whitehall. It shows how Ralph Wigram (a foreign office official) struggles with his conscience and ... Read review

Advantages: Agatha Christie-like
Disadvantages: Too many characters

Introduction As soon as I heard about this film, I knew it would be right up my street. Described as a murder mystery, it is set in a stately home in 1930s England. With a large number of famous actors and actresses, including Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Helen Mirren, Charles Dance, Stephen Fry and Clive Owen, it couldn't really go much wrong. And I wasn't disappointed, well, not too disappointed anyway - it takes a while before any action ...
...it's a must-see for anyone that enjoys crime fiction by writers such as Agatha Christie. The director Robert Altman, who came up with the idea for the story, along with Bob Balaban, was born in Kansas in 1925. He has written, directed and produced a number of films, although the majority of them are not particularly well-known. He is probably best-known for directing Alfred Hitchcock's TV show and writing the script for MASH. The plot Sir William ... Read review

Advantages: great story, with great actors
Disadvantages: need to know the background of the story and a bit of old english

I think Kenneth brannagh is the best 'Hamlet' since Mel Gibson, he is very funny, interesting and weird in this production. With Kate winslet as his girlfiend, they both make a good pair as they both turn mad...(not to give the plot away) i would recommend this version to anyone who needs to watch 'hamlet' for school use, private use or any other purpose.... Although every version has a different way of portraying hamlet's character, in my opinion, ...
...is in old english, you should know the background of the story and a bit of old english, otherwise it is easy to understand. I believe it is one of Shakespeare's best plays. It also sticks to the original play very well but in alot of ways it is better. Also, nominated for 4 oscars so then you know its good!! ... Read review

Advantages: Educational, entertaining and historical.
Disadvantages: Iambic pentameter isn't for everyone. Almost no extra features.

Henry V is available on DVD in a 1989 production directed by, and starring, Kenneth Branagh. This is a direct and edgy story about England’s war with France in which the flower of the French aristocracy were slaughtered in the mud of Agincort beneath a rain of arrows from English longbow men. Derek Jacobi is the chorus who introduces the stage on which this ‘muse of fire’ will burn, and it is a modern one with electric lights and props. I’ve seen ...
...who favoured his company in Henry IV Part One, has now rejected his lower connections and assumed the mantle of royal responsibilities. Derek Jacobi appears on the White Cliffs of Dover to introduce a scene in which three English lords, Scroop, Richard, and Grey, are revealed to be traitors. Henry pretends to be on good terms with them, and then sentences them each to death. The working class subplot continues with Bardolph, Nym, Mistress Quickly, ... Read review

Advantages: Uncompromising, Enthralling, Great performances
Disadvantages: Uncomfortable viewing at times

...from her. She in turn promptly goes to buy it back, thus indirectly feeding and maintaining his addiction. Requiem For A Dream is a terrific and traumatic vision that perceptively captures the subconscious minds of people whose dreams are eating away at them. Please note - published elsewhere ... Read review