CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Windsor Castle - A Royal Year

starring: Barbara Flynn, Queen Elizabeth II, Edward Griffiths, Jodie Kidd, Ray Wheaton
directed by: Matt Reid (II)

Release Date March 14, 2006
I bought this as I am both fascinated and repelled by the British monarchy. The pomp and ceremony are quite interesting and way over the top (Christmas caroling to the queen's horses in the royal stables!). QE2 comes off as stodgy and not in touch with the real world. As an American, after viewing this DVD, I really cannot decide which is worse -- spending thousands of dollars for a toilet on a US government jet or having a guy on the government payroll whose entire career is dedicated to raising the flag once a week at the exact moment the Queen's limo is entering Windsor Castle. What a great gig! The volunteer bell ringers were also funny -- ringing away in honor of the birthdays of various members of the royal family. Very entertaining.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Gumball 3000: 6 Days in May

starring: Adrien Brody, Tony Hawk, Chris Eubank, Rob Drydeck, Jodie Kidd
directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Release Date January 31, 2006
Having seen all the marginal to very bad US films about this race (Gumball, Gumball Rally, Cannonball, and Cannonball Run I & II) it's great to see the actual race documented. By the way the only decent "Hollywoodization" of this race is the original Gumball. I still prefer 3000 Miles to this film but it's a nice companion piece. By the way the actual Gumball 3000 race in August 2008 will start in San Francisco and got to LA, San Diego, Vegas, and eventually North Korea and China for the Olympics.