CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Jim Henson's the Storyteller - The Definitive Collection

starring: Michael Gambon, Brian Henson, Trevor Peacock, Justine Glenton, Mark Ashman
directed by: David Garfath, John Madden, Paul Weiland

Release Date May 23, 2006
This is one of those things I vividly remember from childhood that I think all children should be exposed to. The fanciful stories aren't all puppy dogs and rainbows, and I think that's very important for kids to learn. No matter what the story was, there was always a positive note at the end to keep kid's imaginations and hopes alive. The creatures are still just as spooky as they were when I was a child, and the stories are still just as breathtaking as they were. The only difference is that now as an adult, I can truly appreciate the vocabulary.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Fred Claus

starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz
directed by: David Dobkin

Release Date November 25, 2008

i have to say, i'm surprised by the just awful reviews this movie got.
i'm not a film critic, by any stretch, but i think that this is the perfect example of people expecting too much from a film.

this is a fun, family style, christmas movie with enough humor for the adults to have a good time, too. i enjoyed all the actors, by and large, and thought they were having a good time, which maybe was what helped me enjoy it so much. i mean, how can you not like vince vaughn's smarmy bulls***??? ok, i know a lot of people who don't - but then you're not gonna like it anyway! if you do like vaughn, this is him but PG style.

if you're going in expecting It's a Wonderful Life, you're going to be disappointed. if ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

A Christmas Carol

starring: Richard E. Grant, Joel Grey, Ian McNeice, Saskia Reeves, Desmond Barrit
directed by: David Hugh Jones

Release Date November 07, 2000
This movie was the closest Ive seen in comparison with the book. I love this famous Christmas story, and since there are so many different variations out there, I couldn't help but read the book. I was very impressed with how close this was with the book. I really love this version.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Fred Claus [Blu-ray]

starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz
directed by: David Dobkin

Release Date November 25, 2008

i have to say, i'm surprised by the just awful reviews this movie got.
i'm not a film critic, by any stretch, but i think that this is the perfect example of people expecting too much from a film.

this is a fun, family style, christmas movie with enough humor for the adults to have a good time, too. i enjoyed all the actors, by and large, and thought they were having a good time, which maybe was what helped me enjoy it so much. i mean, how can you not like vince vaughn's smarmy bulls***??? ok, i know a lot of people who don't - but then you're not gonna like it anyway! if you do like vaughn, this is him but PG style.

if you're going in expecting It's a Wonderful Life, you're going to be disappointed. if you ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

The Mayor of Casterbridge

starring: Ciarán Hinds, Juliet Aubrey, Jodhi May, James Purefoy, Polly Walker (II)
directed by: David Thacker

Release Date September 30, 2003
Three actors of HBO's "Rome" (Cirian Hinds, James Purefoy and Polly Walker) make this movie a tragic and twisted joy to watch. You find yourself sympathizing and then hating each of the characters (save one) from one moment to the next. Everyone lies for selfish ends and yet no one seems to fully get what they desire.

Cirian Hinds is masterful in his role, and it is up to YOU to decide whether you ultimately felt sorry for him, or if he gets what he deserves....

Only 2 things keep me from giving this film 5 stars - James Purefoy gives a laughable Scottish accent, and Jodhi May (the innocent girl in the film) irritatingly snarls her mouth when she is emotional. BUT the overall movie is a twisted tale - that was delightful to watch ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere

starring: Gary Bakewell, Laura Fraser (II), Hywel Bennett, Clive Russell, Paterson Joseph
directed by: Dewi Humphreys

Release Date September 09, 2003
I have long considered "Neverwhere" to be the best of Neil Gaiman - a true jewel. But I'm an American and did not know until I moved to Europe that the book was written AFTER the mini-series.

True to his characters, Mr. Gaiman has created a brilliant visual perspective of the world Down Below. The series is visually stunning and just dark enough to be enjoyable by everyone. The humour is Brit-dry but still makes even the darkest character comic. "Tube" humour is pervasive (Mind the Gap!) but doesn't keep anyone from enjoying the overall wackiness of the story and company of players.

It is a joy to watch.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Sunshine

starring: Ralph Fiennes, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz, Jennifer Ehle, Deborah Kara Unger
directed by: István Szabó

Release Date May 08, 2001
Although this movie is beautifully filmed, I felt disappointed in the end and wished that I hadn't spent three hours watching it. It is interesting from a historical point of view, but there is only one genuinely good character in this movie (the father) and he dies fairly close to the beginning. Other characters seem to change drastically with no explanation. You have to sit through a gruesome torture scene and several incredibly ridiculous sex scenes and to me, in the end, it just wasn't worth it.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths

starring: Michael Gambon, Brian Henson, Trevor Peacock, Justine Glenton, Mark Ashman
directed by: David Garfath, John Madden, Paul Weiland

Release Date September 07, 2004
I remember growing up reading many of the most famous Greek and Roman myths in my Junior Classics set. As a parent I am always leary of how film makers put out stories like this, as to whether my kids are old enough or will be frightened. Because this collection of short films has the puppeteer style technology, instead of computer generated images, it is perfect because my kids aren't overwhelmed by scary, overly done, and too real graphics. And they aren't picky about the perfection of TV images, so they love the characters. They even like the minotaur, who is a little scary. But their favorite story is that of Icarus. This has been a perfect family video and is introducing my kids to the Greek myths.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

For Roseanna

starring: Jean Reno, Mercedes Ruehl, Polly Walker (II), Mark Frankel, Trevor Peacock
directed by: Paul Weiland

Release Date June 14, 2005
This little movie is a jewel of a film. Jean Reno is at his absolute very
best as Marcello, a man driven by love to extreme measures. The rest of the cast is also superb. It is funny and bittersweet at the same time.
Everyone should see "For Roseanna" for a good video experience.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Don Quixote

starring: John Lithgow, Bob Hoskins, Isabella Rossellini, Vanessa Williams (VII), Lambert Wilson
directed by: Peter Yates

Release Date
The movie is reasonably made and it somewhat sticks to the original story. However, the casting of Vanessa Williams as Dulcinea is wrong. Dulcinea was a Spaniard from La Mancha in the city of El Toboso. 99.9% of Spaniards are white, mostly with dark hair but light to olive skin and fine facial features. Vanessa Williams is a mulata (a mix of white and african black). The Cervantes story originates in the 15th century (around the time of Christopher Columbus' Discovery). The mulatos did not come into being until the 17th century and much more in the 19th century and later. This was when the Black African slaves mixed with the European (French, British, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese) whites. Therefore, this is like picking Tom Hanks to play Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his ... Read More: