CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Shakespeare in Love (Miramax Collector's Series)

starring: Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Tom Wilkinson, Antony Sher, Martin Clunes
directed by: John Madden

Release Date December 07, 1999
Others reviewers have taken issue with how historically inaccurate "Shakespeare in Love" is, and even if they're right on every count, they're missing the point. This movie spins its own story, giving an improbable yet poignant context to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It's not meant to be a documentary of the writer's life, nor does it boast that it tells a true story. The most history buffs could expect are a few grins here and there, what with the scene Christopher Marlowe plotting out "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" that nods to the "Shakespeare didn't write his own plays" theory, the inclusion of the sadistic child John Webster, and the many lines of dialogue Shakespeare hears and later incorporates into his plays. These are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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
I remember watching "The Luck Child" over and over on VHS after recording it from TV when I was young and the series had just been released. As a HUGE fantasy fan it was all I could ask for. Many years later, long after the tape had been lost and DVDs had become the commonplace I had never forgot the joy this series had brought me in my youth and after much research found this DVD. This disc is NOT for the people who are looking for flawless animatronics or modern CGI technology... however, if you want delightful stories of myth and fantasy that are told by a witty storyteller and his "fearless" dog by the hearth then buy this today!!

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Mrs. Brown

starring: Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer, Antony Sher, Gerard Butler
directed by: John Madden

Release Date June 15, 1999
Prince Albert is dead and Queen Victoria (Dench) is inconsolable). The servants don't know what to do. No one can get her out of her mourning.

Because her husband was so fond of him, Victoria sends for John Brown (Billy Connolly), a Scotsman who was one of her husband's attendants. Being a stubborn Scot, he doesn't take 'no' for an answer and waits out in the courtyard until Her Majesty finally decides to go out on a pony ride. Gradually, they develop a friendship--or is it more? That's a question asked by historians and fans of the royal family throughout the years.

Meanwhile, there's a political struggle going on. The Prime Minister (Antony Sher) wants the Queen back in the reins. Bertie, the Prince of wales, (David ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

starring: Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, John Hurt, Patrick Malahide, David Morrissey
directed by: John Madden

Release Date February 05, 2002
Captain Corelli's mandolin is within a 2 hour period one of most wretched turds i have seen in quite some time. This world war two love story set in an idealic Greek island attempts to place a shallow love interest between Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz, both tragically caught in a conflict outside of their control. Captain Corelli (Cage) is commander of a group of Italian lovers (not soldiers) who are occupiers of the island on behalf of the fascist axis powers. Penelope Cruz plays a local who is wooed by Corelli after struming a mandolin, playing with semi naked women on a nearby beach and delivering a flower to her door step drunk. I've had wet dreams with more romance than this contrived masterpeice. Along with cookie cutter brutish Germans, wise old ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Prime Suspect 4

starring: Helen Mirren, Beatie Edney, Robert Glenister, Lesley Sharp, Tracy Keating
directed by: John Madden, Paul Marcus, Sarah Pia Anderson

Release Date April 20, 2004
As for the DVD: Helen Mirren is just tops as an actress. Beyond her acting, the entire cast does a fantastic job,with a great story line.

However, the container, carrying the two disc set was damaged beyon repair. The two disc were not, however, damaged. I reported the damage to Amazon and they forwarded a case with a one disc. compartment----not a biggee. P.S.---We are now located in Fernley, NV, not Merced, CA. Don

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Proof

starring: Hope Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, Gary Houston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Roshan Seth
directed by: John Madden

Release Date February 14, 2006
If you are a mathematician, you will hate this movie -- nothing in it will remind you of the math world you know. Just think a minute: How many people in your math department look like Gwyneth Paltrow? Or even Jake Gyllenhaal? That should give you a hint to how realistic this movie is.

I found the movie so frustrating, I had to turn it off after about 20 minutes. Examples:

High-school-level conversation about insanity between two people who are both supposed to be exceptional mathematicians.

Ridiculous back-and-forth between Paltrow and Gyllenhaal where they keep changing attitudes and even personalities. I know it's based on a stage play, but couldn't they calm it down a bit for the screen?

Lazy screenplay shorthand for ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Ethan Frome

starring: Liam Neeson, Gil Rood, Tate Donovan, Stephen Mendillo, Phil Garran
directed by: John Madden

Release Date January 14, 2003
I am in LOVE with Liam Neeson. Now, that being said, this is still a wonderful film. The acting is very good. The story, by Edith Wharton,is a tragedy and ends tragically. But it's beautiful nevertheless. The setting is so wonderfully New England, chilly and gray at times. So get out a box of tissues, a platter of chocolate chip cookies for comfort, and sit back uninterrupted to watch this film. You'll be aware that you are watching a classic.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Shakespeare in Love

starring: Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Tom Wilkinson, Antony Sher, Martin Clunes
directed by: John Madden

Release Date August 10, 1999
Others reviewers have taken issue with how historically inaccurate "Shakespeare in Love" is, and even if they're right on every count, they're missing the point. This movie spins its own story, giving an improbable yet poignant context to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. It's not meant to be a documentary of the writer's life, nor does it boast that it tells a true story. The most history buffs could expect are a few grins here and there, what with the scene Christopher Marlowe plotting out "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" that nods to the "Shakespeare didn't write his own plays" theory, the inclusion of the sadistic child John Webster, and the many lines of dialogue Shakespeare hears and later incorporates into his plays. These are all quite enjoyable, and should ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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 10
Average Rating:

Golden Gate

directed by: John Madden

Release Date 1994
Although certainly not a great film, Golden Gate is a passable film Noir. Spanning 3 decades, this film follows the story of a rookie FBI agent who imprisons a Chinese laundryman during the Commuinism scare in 1952. Ten years later, he finds himself romantically involved with the daughter of the laundryman, as he tries to make amends for the tragic consequences of the false imprisonment.

Matt Dillon and Joan Chen create a steamy romantic chemistry in this film. Although the ending is a bit weird, this is a passable film noir featuring some great panoramic views of San Francisco.