Twist

Starring:Twist
Studio: Strand Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Cinderella and the Prince are destined to be together, but have you ever wondered what would have happened if the glass slipper that was left behind after the royal ball fit someone other than Cinderella? Cinderella's Stepmother and Stepsisters Anastasia and Drisella change history when Anastasia steals the Fairy Godmother's magic wand and her mother uses it to turn back time and then cast a spell on the glass slipper so that it will fit on Anastasia's foot. The Prince immediately realizes that something is amiss, but a quick zap from the magic wand convinces him that Anastasia is his rightful bride-to-be and it looks like nothing that Cinderella or her mouse friends Jaq and Gus can do will set things right. Two questions remain: what will become of Cinderella and can Anastasia ever find true happiness by marrying someone who will never love her for who she really is? This 74-minute animated tale follows the classic Cinderella and its sequel Cinderella II--Dreams Come True and features nice animation, new conflicts between familiar secondary characters like the evil cat Lucifer and mouse friends Jaq and Gus, lots of new songs, and a suspenseful story line. (Ages 3 to 9) --Tami Horiuchi

Description

What if the slipper didn't fit? Experience the wonder and the majesty of Cinderella's classic fairy tale with a spectacular twist in Disney's all-new motion picture CINDERELLA III: A TWIST IN TIME. When her evil stepmother gets hold of the Fairy Godmother's magic wand and turns back the hands of time, Cinderella must try to find Prince Charming and break through the evil spell. Gus, Jaq and all your favorite characters return in an exciting and hilarious new take on one of the most celebrated films of all time. Bursting with show-stopping music and more magic, wonder and suspense than the original, CINDERELLA III is enchanting entertainment for the entire family.

Customer Reviews:

Loved this movie!.......2007-06-22

I was not sure about this movie when I bought it but my 4 year old and I sat to watch it together. We both love it! The twist is very clever and is a great "what If". The chacter voices are similar to the orginial and the animation is really good. The cat still causes trouble and is just as funny as in he first movie. The Stepmother is the evil familar character that is in the first movie. I like the fact that even though there are bad people out there, it shows that they can have a change of heart. This movie is definately worth buying especially if you like the first Cinderella.

Everyone is fawning over the new sequel, as usual...*yawns*.......2007-05-19

This is about Cinderella going back in time, hence "what if the slipper didn't fit?". It "answers" a lot of questions that you didn't ask. This was an insult to the original Cinderella in short. If this were truly all that great, it would have:

1: been released in theatres by disney

2: would have made a killing in sales

3: would have TONS of toys and commercials based on it

But since it doesn't... You have to wonder, despite all the reviews, why it doesn't attract more attention than it does. This is a typical disney sequel folks, so that means that you have to sift through the reviews and use your common sense.

Amy, 10

MUCH better than I thought it would be.........2007-05-13

I rented this movie from netflix because I just love renditions of the Cinderella story. I thought that this would be something purely tacky that Disney was merely trying to make a profit on. Well, I dont doubt that they are at least trying to make a profit, but it was surpisingly better than i anticipated.
I LOVE the twist on the story in which Cinderella needs to save herself and work without magic to win the prince. It has a stronger feminist message. I also love how the ending uplifts the idea of wanting a man to love someone for who she truly is as well. It has a stronge feminist message as a result which i fully appreciate. But it does not take away any of the fun or emotional sense of magic within the underlying message.
The reason I gave it four stars is because even though I enjoy the twist on this, its really hard to beat a classic!

Fantastic!.......2007-05-11

This movie was great! Especially after the HORROR of Cinderella II, which was so bad that it was traumatic! This is the true sequel to the classic Cinderella story.
The story is interesting and moving. You really get wrapped up in Cinderella's plight as the Stepmother's level of evil goes through the roof.
Prince Charming finally gets a personality, and he is such a wonderful character! The animation and voices were so well done that I believe this could have made it in the theaters!
Even the songs were very enjoyable, though Disney sequel songs often leave a great deal to be desired.
Skip Cinderella II and go right to this movie!

Good enough for a 4 year old.......2007-05-10

This is a nice addition to any little girl's Princess video collection. Not an Academy Award winner, but certainly not as bad as some of the Disney sequels.

The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)

Average customer rating:

Dickens Package 1
Dickensian Delights
opinion
lovely , region 1 only
Good value

The Charles Dickens Collection (Oliver Twist / Martin Chuzzlewit / Bleak House / Hard Times / Great Expectations / Our Mutual Friend)
Starring: Ben Rodska , Scott Funnell , Eric Porter , Frank Middlemass , and Lysette Anthony
Director: Gareth Davies , Pedr James , and Ross Devenish
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Charles Dickens Collection, Vol. 2 (David Copperfield / The Pickwick Papers / The Old Curiosity Shop / Dombey and Son)
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Middlemarch
The Shaw Collection (Pygmalion / The Millionairess / Arms and the Man / The Devil's Disciple / Mrs. Warren's Profession / Heartbreak House)
Bleak House

ASIN: B0009PVZMS
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Amazon.com

As can be clearly seen from the care lavished on these six BBC adaptions of Charles Dickens' novels, the British love their Dickens! And why not--Dickens is ideally suited to television, with his elaborate but vigorous plots, each a compendium of comically odious personalities (and one or two nice folk, just to keep things from getting too awful). Actors dig into these meaty roles with zeal, delighting in the hairpin turns from macabre horror to sweet sentiment. The more popular (and most frequently adapted) of the books at hand--Great Expectations and Oliver Twist--are the most conventional. The 1981 mini-series Expectations (in which young Pip learns the pitfalls of wealth through his relationship with the rich and bitter Mrs. Havishamand and her warped ward, Estella) is dutiful to its source but not adapted with much inspiration. Twist, from 1985, fares better; it's a zippy treatment of this tale of childhood deprivation and juvenile delinquency, and the horrors of Victorian orphanages will raise your hackles. The adaptation is capable but a little flat--still, any story where an undertaker observes, "Every tear is another shilling in the till," is clearly not lacking in wicked wit.

Fortunately, the others are considerably juicier: Martin Chuzzlewit, a lesser-known but richly satirical book, has a star-studded production from 1994, featuring Paul Scofield, Tom Wilkinson, Pete Postlethwaite, and Julia Sawalha, among others. The wealthy Martin Chuzzlewit, deeply suspicious of all mankind due to being hounded by greedy, grasping relatives, threatens the happiness of his ward Mary and his namesake grandson. In addition to the sterling and energetic cast, Chuzzlewit has outstanding production values, as does the 1998 version of Our Mutual Friend, which goes to great lengths to evoke the textures of life in Dickens' London. The mysterious death of a man about to inherit a great fortune sets in motion a complex plot that intertwines two love stories (it's one of Dickens' most romantic works), social scheming, and murderous obsession. The names aren't quite as famous (such as Paul McGann, Timothy Spall, Anna Friel, and Keeley Hawes), but the performances are top-notch and the script is particularly dynamic.

Bleak House, a Kafka-esque story of young innocents caught in an all-consuming, multi-generational lawsuit, cultivates a rich and potent Gothic horror; the 19th century seems like an unnerving alien world, through which lawyers and policemen stride like cruel predators. Diana Rigg is the most famous face in this 1985 production, but strong performances abound. The final component of this box set is the most curious: A 1994 version of Hard Times starring Alan Bates and Richard E. Grant, which turns this dark story--about a schoolmaster/politician who raises his children on reason at the expense of all feeling and finally reaps the bitter rewards--into a compact, theatrical feature film that's so swift it's almost jaunty. Adapted and directed by Peter Barnes (writer of The Ruling Class), it's the most stylized production of the bunch, and while lacking the depth and narrative detail of the others, it effectively cuts to the essence of Dickens. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Dickens Package 1.......2007-06-27

This collection is an embarassment of riches. Each story is divided into several episodes which take time to view and absorb. So far we have only viewed "Bleak House" and "Our Mutual Friend". Both are excellent and capture the steamy world of Dicken's London. I think I am constantly amazed at the attention to detail that the Brits recreate in historical drama. And of course there is the wealth of character playing for which Britain has always been famous. A really excellent series.

Dickensian Delights.......2007-06-02

This collection is wonderful, you can "watch" these novels over and over, faithful to Dickens in tone, plot and spirit -- Highly recommended.

opinion.......2007-06-02

I've just bought the collection, I've seen 3 movies so far, they're great, faithful to the books I've read. They come with cc(closed caption)so it helps the understanding. I watch a film and read the book. They're perfect for those who are really into literature. I highly recommend them.

lovely , region 1 only .......2007-05-08

The dark stories about the impossible lives of the unfortunate makes it a kind of films that will glue anyone to the chair. BBC serieses are not like any other film, and I simply escape to anothr world every time I watch.
Had to watch it in my computer though, since it was not my region( not even after I changed the region in my "region free" DVD player ) which also means I had no subtitles either. A good computer screen is needed for that purpose.

Good value.......2007-03-28

My husband and I are major fanatics when it comes to literary
pieces brought to film. We have been renting some of these classic BBC films from an online rental business. We finally decided to buy the set. My husband, being a english teacher, loved several of these films. The best two out of the set is Martin Chuzzlewit and Our Mutual Friend. It is a shame that Hard Times did not live up to the book and was only roughly based off of it. We just finished Oliver Twist, not knowing the story at all, we were on the of our seats just waiting to hear the big twist and to see how the plot works itself out. Highly recommended, even with Hard Times being not faithful to the book.

The History Channel Presents The War of 1812

Average customer rating:

Every American needs to see this.
Not bad
The Forgotten War
Who's History?
Well... um.....

The History Channel Presents The War of 1812
Starring: Mark D. Hutter , Sally E. Bennett , Dave Fagerberg , H. David Wright , and Craig Fisher (II)
Director: Gary Foreman
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The American Revolution (History Channel)
The War That Made America - The Story of the French and Indian War
The French Revolution (History Channel)
When the Forest Ran Red (Special Edition)
The History Channel Presents The Presidents

ASIN: B000742G0G
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Description

From a seemingly disastrous decision to declare war to the glory of the stars and stripes, THE HISTORY CHANNEL® PRESENTS: THE WAR OF 1812 chronicles of one of america's most defining moments. Only 30 years after gaining independence, the upstart United States found itself once again battling Great Britain. At stake were the future of emocracy and America's Manifest Destiny. Pitted against the world's most powerful nation, victory seemed unlikely. But then Andrew Jackson's brilliant leadership, a lone sniper, and one of the most lopsided victories in military history turned the tide of the war. THE HISTORY CHANNEL® PRESENTS: THE WAR OF 1812 is the authoritative chronicle of one of America's most defining moments. THE HISTORY CHANNEL® PRESENTS: THE WAR OF 1812 contains the following programs: FIRST INVASION: THE WAR OF 1812--President James Madison declares war on Great Britain, a decision that at first appears disastrous. SAVE OUR HISTORY: THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER--The history of the stars and stripes and the poem penned as a tribute. THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS--General Andrew Jackson leads American forces to improbable victory. ANDREW JACKSON: A MAN FOR THE PEOPLE--A&E BIOGRAPHY® unveils the man behind the leader, from General to President. THE IRONCLADS--A revealing look at the battleships put to sea in the War of 1812. DVD FEATURES: Behind the Scenes of "First Invasion: The War of 1812"; "Surviving an 1812 Battleship" Episode From Extreme History, hosted by Roger Daltrey; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Customer Reviews:

Every American needs to see this........2007-06-22

The History Channel's "War of 1812' is two DVD disk's long, but it is not one long documentary. What it is is several different documentaries that are connected by the themes of the war. The first is a 90 minute of the war; from it's beginning from the British capturing American sailors and inciting Indian revolts against America; continuing through the rough start of the first years of fighting; the assault of Fort McHenry; the burning of Washington D.C.; and the last battle of the war, The Battle of New Orleans (fought after a peace treaty had been signed by Americans and the English).

The next program is about Francis Scott Key writing The Star Spangled Banner and it's progression through American history. The third program is about Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans and future president. Another program is about the Ironclads, a very important navel innovation that was actually a small part of the War of 1812; it really came to prominence during The American Civil War. And there is a short show about what life was like on a ship during the War of 1812. (Warning: This is an interesting documentary, but because of Roger Daltrey's one track mind, it's a little salty for younger kids.) All of these are very interesting and informative; I'd recommend these programs for schools as class room aides.

A great series about `The Forgotten War', this needs to be seen. The War is little understood and regarded as an unimportant war by lay persons. It's a shame because this war was as important to America's independence as The Revolutionary War was.

Not bad .......2006-06-27

I am really sick of the many negative reviews this documentary has been given. In case you didn't know The History Channel is a channel that makes it's shows for the GENERAL AUDIENCE. It is not a channel made for historians only. I love history, and I love studying it. Yes, the show was a bit short and I do not like the fact that they didn't talk much about the war on the frontier (especially how they only briefly mentioned the capture of Fort Mackinac in Michigan.) But for god's sake! If they made this show into an 8 hour long historian's dissertation they would first run out of money, and two only attract historians. I think that shows like these are supposed to be used as staring points in terms of getting into history. So, I recommend this show for new history buffs, new amateur historians, the general public, and grade school and high school classrooms.

The Forgotten War.......2006-03-12

I purchased this to view with my students while discussing the War of 1812. It did a fantastic job of laying out the second war with Britain and its implications. The students were able to listen to noted historians on the subject, and view "film footage" created to re-enact the various major moments of the war.

The film did an admirable job of laying out the blunders and lack of good judgement that was often associated with this particular war. It also brought into its story the creation of the poem "The Battle of Fort McHenry" written by young lawyer (Francis Scott Key) that would later become our national anthem, and the unforgetable battle of New Orleans that made Andrew Jackson an icon and helped to push our country into the "Era of Good Feelings".

Well written and interesting. There were a few "dry spots" but they did not last over long. Great for someone who is studying this particular aspect of American History.

Who's History?.......2005-09-30

Neither side in the 1812-1815 war emerged victorious, although you might think one side did from watching this documentary. The US came close to defeat several times and it was only the occasional victory (Fort McHenry) that saved the US. Had the US navy not secured victories in the northern lakes, then the US army would have been in serious trouble.

With Napoleon defeated, Great Britain started to transfer large amounts of ships and experienced troops to America. There was no opposing great power like France, Spain or Holland to come to it's aid this time. Had the war not ended, then there is every chance the United States would have gone bankrupt and lost some of the states. New England was close to breaking away.

The Treaty of Ghent ended the war but resolved none of the issues that started it. This documentary is interesting for some of the details, but the overall slant is biased and could have provided so much more details.

Not sure why Ironclads are on the dvd since all ships were still made of wood in 1815.

Well... um............2005-07-09

I've studied this war a bit and read some interesting books on the topic by some of the top historians, and I have to say that the producers of this film did not try very hard to fit in some key details in the time slot they alloted for this documentary. Many key events were completely ignored in favor of a popular view of history. It does not address the notion of the United States' overpowering desire to sieze Canada, nor of the intense unpopularity of the war in New England. Could have been done a lot better, as were many of the earlier documentaries done by The History Channel when it first premiered (check out The American Revolution - quite excellent!).

Average customer rating:

Don't compare Polanski's Oliver to Lionel Bart's.
Highly Underrated -- Kingsley is King!
Pretty good...but not the best
Good movie about the classic novel!
A Great Film

Oliver Twist (2005)
Starring: Barney Clark , Jeremy Swift , Ian McNeice , Richard Durden , and Timothy Bateson
Director: Roman Polanski , and Laurent Bouzereau
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
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The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)
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ASIN: B000C20VU0
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Amazon.com

If Charles Dickens were alive to see Roman Polanski's faithful adaptation of Oliver Twist, he'd probably give it his stamp of approval. David Lean's celebrated 1948 version of the Dickens classic and Carol Reed's Oscar®-winning 1968 musical are more entertaining in some ways, but Polanski's rendition is both painstakingly authentic (with superb cinematography and production design) and deeply rooted in the emotional context of the story. Both Polanski and Dickens had personal experiences similar to those of young Oliver (played here by Barney Clark) -- Polanski in the Nazi-occupied ghettos of Poland during World War II, and Dickens during his hard-scrabble youth in Victorian London -- and this spiritual kinship lends a certain gravitas to the tale of a tenacious orphan who escaped from indentured servitude in London society and is taken in by Fagin (Ben Kingsley) and his streetwise gang of pickpockets. As the evil Bill Sykes, who exploits Oliver for his own nefarious needs, Jamie Foreman is no match for Oliver Reed (in the '68 musical) in terms of frightening menace, but even here, Polanski's direction hews closer to Dickens, while the screenplay by Ronald Harwood (who also wrote Polanski's The Pianist) necessarily trims away subplots and characters for the sake of narrative economy. All in all, this Oliver Twist rises above most previous versions, and with the benefit of Kingsley's nuanced performance, Polanski arrives at a compassionate conclusion that captures the essence of Dickens' novel in a way that viewers of all ages will appreciate for many years to come. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Roman Polanski directs the classic Charles Dickens story of a young orphan boy who gets involved with a gang of pickpockets in 19th Century London. Abandoned at an early age, Oliver Twist (Barney Clark) is forced to live in a workhouse lorded over by the awful Mr. Bumble, who cheats the boys of their meager rations. Desperate yet determined, Oliver makes his escape to the streets of London. Penniless and alone, he is lured into a world of crime by the sinister Fagin (Academy-Award® winner Sir Ben Kingsley) -- the mastermind of a gang of pint-sized pickpockets. Oliver's rescue by the kindly Mr. Brownlow is only the beginning of a series of adventures that lead him to the promise of a better life.

Customer Reviews:

Don't compare Polanski's Oliver to Lionel Bart's........2007-05-18

This is obviously much darker than the musical, and therefore closer to Dickens. Where affection could be developed for Ron Moody as Fagin, I found Polanski's Fagin competely repellant; leering corruption -if that was what the actor was trying to convey, full marks to him.

It was a worthwile watch and Rachel Portman's score was delightful.

Highly Underrated -- Kingsley is King!.......2007-05-08

This little-noticed gem came and went quickly from our screens. It deserves another look. Polanski has teased out a faithful, compelling retelling of the Twist story, and has populated the film with memorable characterizations.

Particularly wonderful is Leanne Rowe as Nancy, and of course Ben Kingsley really steals the movie as the nuanced, deeply conflicted Fagen.

The camera work is superb, London is recreated in all its tawdry, highly stratified glory, and the brisk pace moves this film along much better than earlier versions of the Dickens' classic.

I love this film; it is surprisingly entertaining and a fine entry in the Polanski canon.

Pretty good...but not the best.......2007-04-13

Not bad. It's nice to see some of the details of the novel rendered clearly on film. The character of Nancy is particularly well done and wholly believable. But David Lean's version is superior as film making and much more watchable. It's a better film. Be sure to see it too. Why anyone likes the musical made from this story is beyond me!

Good movie about the classic novel!.......2007-03-11

I am the fan of "Roman Polanski". I watched the movie from the theatre and now I broguht the DVD too! It is a movie about the life and adventure of a kid and I really enjoy the movie although it only focus on a few key actors. You should also watch the special features from the DVD. I own the 2 Disc version.

A Great Film.......2007-02-17

I had trouble getting to see this movie in the theatres. It was only in the first run theatres about 1 week and when I went to see it at the cheap theatres, the projector had broken down and they weren't showing it that day. It left soon after. Watching this movie on DVD, I am stunned that it didn't get better showings or press. This movie is great and it deserved better treatment than it got. Yes, I love the David Lean version too, but that doesn't lessen the impact of this film. I liked it better than The Piano and it could turn out to be one of Roman Polanski's greatest films. One of the great under appreciated films.

Average customer rating:

Kitchen fun with all your mates
Totally Mesmerising!
Perfect for cooks of any level
No matter who you are.....you'll LOVE this DVD!
just a fan

Oliver's Twist 2
Starring: Jamie Oliver (II)
Director: Brian Klein
Manufacturer: Capital Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Jamie Oliver - Jamie's Kitchen
Jamie Oliver - Happy Days Tour Live!
Jamie Oliver - Oliver's Twist
Jamie's Italy
Simply Ming - The Complete Collection (Discs 1-3)

ASIN: B000A0D1JW
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Description

Whether making a classic Irish dish or an authentic Brazilian feijoada, Jamie Oliver shows us how to shop for the freshest ingredients then it's back to his flat where he rustles up some tasty dishes for his friends. Let the party begin.

Customer Reviews:

Kitchen fun with all your mates.......2006-12-21

If you liked Steve Irwin (RIP), you're gonna love cookin' with Jamie. He fills the kitchen with the same sort of exuberance, but more youthful. No question that he is a likable bloke with passion and talent, but to me, his TV shtick - "Hey, I'm gonna meet some of my mates down at the pub, and we're gonna to do some gourmet cooking while skateboarding" -- is a little phony.

Television cooking has had a few wooden characters whose skill and precision were more intimidating than inspiring. But that seems to me hardly the rule. It is not like Jamie is filling a huge need to show people how to loosen up and have some fun in the kitchen.

Jamie is subliminally appealing to the common conceit of youth that all that is needed for art (culinary art, or any other worthy accomplishment) is the chaos of youthful enthusiasm. I know that Jamie is a very successful chef and restauranteur. I do not believe for one moment that he has achieved that success without some adult seriousness.

Unfortunately, Jamie's insistence on his scooter-riding, fun-loving persona gets in the way of teaching much of anything about food. The show is fast-paced and chaotic, much more about Jamie's madcap style than about the food itself.

Because he does convey what I believe is a genuine passion, and perhaps genius, for cooking, and is likable and amusing, I give him more stars than I could ever justify if the criteria were closely tied to the DVD's value as a teaching/learning tool.

Totally Mesmerising!.......2006-08-23

Day off, time on my hands, this DVD just arrived. Popped it into the Dell computer and was totally enchanted and entertained all day! By the end of the first episode I was just craving some good food! I don't know why I waited until now to start buying Jame Oliver's cookbooks and DVDs. I guess I saved the best for last. I now have virtually everything on amazon with Jamie's name on it. Really looking forward to his new Italian cookery book for sure. I always loved watching his shows on Food Network. It's even better in the comfort of your own home. I was astonished at all of the handy-dandy (or easy-peasy) cooking tips he gives on these episodes. Be sure and have a pencil and pad by your side as you watch each segment because you are going to want to jot these down for future cooking experiences. Fish, veggies, meat, herbs, cheeses, you name it, he's got it. So simple. All the food is affordable and easy to cook. Of course you'll notice some products we can't get here in the US but there are equally good substitutes available. So simple, so easy to follow, so very entertaining. Want to just give him a big hug! I just ordered the first DVD. Can't wait!

Perfect for cooks of any level.......2005-09-20

I am a chef and was interested in this DVD because I believe that Jamie Oliver is not only talented but inspiring in a way. I don't usually buy cooking shows on DVD but decided to give this one a chance, and I'm thrilled that I did.

It's not just the recipes that Jamie takes us through that makes this DVD so valuable, but it's the WAY in which he approaches cooking. He's a proponent of buying local, organic food and cooking it in fresh, fast and interesting ways. Sure, he has a certain charm about him, but that charm, I believe, comes from his love of what he does (more than the way he looks). That love of food and cooking is infectious, and that is what gives this DVD power.

I think that this DVD would be a lovely gift for anyone who is interested in cooking. (I bought it as a gift for myself and have thanked me repeatedly!) This has certainly changed my mind about cooking DVDs and I'll now be purchasing the rest of the Jamie Oliver catalog as well!

No matter who you are.....you'll LOVE this DVD!.......2005-09-15

This DVD set is packed full of wonderful recipes and of course, Jamie Oliver's infectious style. He's out and about on his moped in London, stopping off at shops and cooking for all kinds of people. My daughter always sings along to the theme song when I play this DVD. To sum up, this is a fun, colorful and informative DVD. There are some great tips and the recipe cards included are a bonus. For anyone that has never watched one of Jamie's show, or if you just wish they'd show more on Food TV, this DVD is a money well spent!

just a fan.......2005-08-12

If this is anything like the first one, which I am sure it is, it will be most brilliant, the dishes fantastic, and simply entertaining from start to finish! We put this on when we have friends over to get their mouths watering before we serve one of Jamie's dishes for dinner!! Cheers!

Oliver Twist (1948) - Criterion Collection

Average customer rating:

Oliver Twist
A Gift Purchase
THE GENIUS OF DAVID LEAN
The best version of Dickens' immortal story on film.
Bleak and black, a heart of light in a world of night !

Oliver Twist (1948) - Criterion Collection
Starring: Robert Newton , Alec Guinness , Kay Walsh , Francis L. Sullivan , and John Howard Davies
Director: David Lean
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
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Great Expectations (1946) - Criterion Collection
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Oliver Twist (2005)

ASIN: B00000F17A
Release Date: 1999-01-12

Amazon.com

David Lean's 1948 version of Charles Dickens' classic novel begins with a bang: the young hero's pregnant mother fighting her way through a storm, a perfect metaphor for Oliver's difficult road ahead. Set in a world of slums in the shadow of Victorian England, the story traces the boy's life in a workhouse and then with a gang of little pickpockets. A stark but good-looking film shot around some impressive sets, Lean's immortal adaptation is perhaps best known for Alec Guinness's remarkable (and slightly controversial) performance as Fagin, the old mentor to the gang of boy thieves. --Tom Keogh

Description

Expressionistic noir photography suffuses David Lean's Oliver Twist with a nightmarish quality, fitting its bleak, industrial setting. In Dickens' classic tale, an orphan wends his way from cruel apprenticeship to den of thieves in search of a true home. Here Alec Guinness is the quintessential Fagin, his controversial performance fully restored in Criterion's new digital transfer.

Customer Reviews:

Oliver Twist.......2007-06-25

This masterful adaptation of a Charles Dickens novel was the second for Lean, who abridged the author's long-winded story about a young orphan's changing fortunes in Victorian England into a beautifully paced two-hour film. Among a splendid cast, Guinness and Robert Newton are truly exceptional, respectively playing the captivating Fagin and his evil accomplice, Bill Sikes, with gusto. Also fun to watch is young Anthony Newley as the Artful Dodger. Essentially a tale of triumph in a world of degrading poverty and repellent class bias, "Oliver Twist" is a first-rate drama brimming with hope, pathos, and fury, from opening shot to last.

A Gift Purchase.......2007-06-01

I purchased this for my son-in-law's birthday. He is very happy with it and consideres it the best version of "Oliver Twist" that he has ever seen!

THE GENIUS OF DAVID LEAN.......2007-04-25

David Lean is best known for his super epics, like Lawrence Of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Bridge On The River Kwai. But earlier in his career, he did some outstanding films based on the plays of Noel Coward (like Brief Encounter) and on the works of Dickens (like Great Expectations). His film Oliver Twist, from 1948, is an early masterpiece.

You can see the genius of Lean in every frame; but there is one scene in particular that stands out. It is the one in which Bill Sikes is beating Nancy to death for giving the names of him and the rest of their gang to Mr. Brownlow. Lean doesn't show the actual beating, but he shows the reaction to it by someone else in the room: Bill Sike's dog. All you hear are the girl's screams and all you see is the dog, terrified, frantically trying to get out of the room by clawing his way through the door. It is one of the most terrifying scenes I've ever watched, and yet you don't see one bit of violence. It is incredible.

Eventually, Sikes lets the dog out, and he leaves in a panic. Later, Sikes finds the dog in the streets, and he cowers before his master. I've never seen a dog tremble like he does in this scene. It, too, is incredible, and the dog should have gotten an Oscar.

Genius finds new and more effective ways to accomplish things that would normally be considered distasteful or inappropriate.

The other scene that stands out to me is near the end, when the crowd is coming to get Sikes. It is the climax of the film, and it is powerful. I've never seen a crowd scene more spectacular, or a climax more suspenseful. There's also never been a more terrifying villain than Bill Sikes (played menacingly by Robert Newton), especially in the eyes of a boy. He contrasts nicely with Oliver Twist (played by John Howard Davies) and his innocence.

Oliver Twist was banned in this country (it's British) when it came out in 1948 because the Film Board felt Alec Guinness' portrayal of Fagan was anti-Semitic. It is over-the-top, especially the nose. But Guinness is genius. Kay Walsh as Nancy, Francis L. Sullivan as Mr. Brumble, Henry Stephenson as Mr. Brownlow and Anthony Newly as the Artful Dodger are also outstanding.

Waitsel Smith

The best version of Dickens' immortal story on film. .......2006-07-12

This film of Dickens' "Oliver Twist" from 1948 is still the best that has ever been done. The choices made to tell the story in two hours are quite amazing in the detail and sub plots and choice dialogue from the book that they still keep in. David Lean can do all this because of his masterful work with the camera. The scenes are so evocative of London Dickens paints in the novel. There is faceless barren despair in the workhouse, smoke and decay in London slum near St. Paul's Cathedral, and the light and beauty of Clerkenwell (that was back then) where the wealthy Mr. Brownlow lives.

The black and white filming actually adds to the light and shadow of the story and helps evoke the right moods as much as any musical score. I think it is actually a plus for this film even though it is a bit of a chore getting young people to cue in on the contributions of black and white over color pictures. Still, my youngest son could clearly see why this was a great telling of the story.

Here we have a thirty-three year old Alec Guinness made up in a way that probably would not work nowadays and emphasizes Fagin's Jewishness, but doesn't make Fagin out to be anything more than he is as a person. Guinness does NOT make Fagin out to be bad because he is a Jew, but rather that he is a miserly criminal who happens to be Jewish. It is a fine portrayal of Fagin and masterfully acted.

Robert Newton is very threatening as the monster Bill Sikes. He pulls the job off quite well and we get a very complex picture of his attitudes towards Fagin, Nancy, and the world. As an aside, Newton was a very popular actor who harmed his career and shortened his life with drink, as did Oliver Reed who portrayed Sikes so well in "Oliver!". Just a strange coincidence.

Kay Walsh does a fine job with Nancy, who is portrayed more as she is in the book rather than the heroine she is made to be in the musical and in some sloppy versions on film or for TV. She was married to Lean at the time although they divorced in 1949. John Howard Davies really does look the part of the small and slight Oliver Twist and acts out the role quite well. He had a fine career but mostly as a director and producer including Monty Python's Flying Circus in 1969.

We also get to see the young Anthony Newly (all of sixteen) as the Artful Dodger and many other wonderful character actors as well as a huge cast of extras. Remember, this was only a couple of years after World War II and there were a lot of people grateful for any kind of work for any length of time.

This is an immortal story that millions still love to read, hear, and see. This is a telling of the story that is awfully good. While I still recommend the book most of all, if you are going to watch a film version, this is the one I would start with and recommend most highly.

Bleak and black, a heart of light in a world of night !.......2006-06-10

This 1948 version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist is one to remember. First you have Dickens and his vision of the world, a black and white vision, good and evil at the same time in the same society but not in the same people, though at least one woman has been forced to be bad but she was not and she will betray her tormentors who will kill her. The murderer will hang for it. Then there is the poor and how Dickens' society treats them, deals with them in the famous parish workhouses, and among these poor Dickens concentrates on the young, the children. No education, work as soon as they are nine, if not even earlier with menial tasks in the workhouse, lean by starving, not to death but to survival. In contrast the rich, or the wealthy who stuff themselves into apoplexy, selfishness and inhumanity. Yet this society is also inhabited and haunted by the good who are not necessarily among the wealthy or the poor. The good are spread out in the whole society and it is when some good ones meet across the divide of wealth that miracles can happen. Oliver Twist is such a miracle. We will never know why his mother fled her family but we know Oliver's future is in the hands of fate, some call it God, and his genes. Fate will be the accidental if not incidental meeting of Oliver with his grandfather on a street in London when the boys who have picked him from the gutter are trying to rob this grandfather in front of a bookstore. Dickens of course adds another element that is difficult to swallow with grace : the boss of the thieves, Fagin, is an obvious Jew and the movie does not need to say so, it shows it with his crooked nose and his avariciousness. In 1948 that was no courage to keep that detail, no fidelity to Dickens either because it could have been made discreet and it is not, it is as visible as the nose in the middle of the face. That leads me to the film. Black and white, it is a marvellous masterpiece. This black and white universe of the film is in perfect agreement with Dickens' social and human vision. It emphasizes the bleakness of this universe and it can concentrate on the main color of London at the time of coal, soot, smog and some other evils of coal-burning : it was black, so black that even the red color of the bricks was no longer visible. This blackness reflects the shadow that has crept and invaded the human soul in this victorian society. You just add rain, constant rain, all kinds of stairs and scaffoldings, misery, poverty and dirt, absolute discomfort, cold, dampness, miserable food, alcoholism, and you have it all, except must I say consumption. A miracle is possible and a miracle happens. Oliver Twist is reunited with his grandparents.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne

Average customer rating:

A decent take-off on a classic
Heartwarming Movie
Definitely a Twist of Fate
A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE - SIMPLE BUT ENORMOUS
Let's face it, Steve Martin is a hack

A Simple Twist of Fate
Starring: Steve Martin , Gabriel Byrne , Laura Linney , Catherine O'Hara , and Alana Austin
Director: Gillies MacKinnon
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008979G
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Amazon.com

A Simple Twist of Fate, Steve Martin's second adaptation of a classic (after his Roxanne-ization of Cyrano de Bergerac), is a melancholy, dramatic comedy about a recluse coming out of his shell. Suggested by George Eliot's Silas Marner, this isn't a cutesy picture akin to Father of the Bride. It's much more heartfelt, gentle, and satisfying, as long as you accept its traditional and predictable conclusions. Scorned by life, Michael McCann (Martin) lives in an auburn-tinted town and goes on with his colorless life. That is, until an abandoned child is left on his doorstep, and he adopts her. A custody battle ensues years later with far too many cheap, unconvincing courtroom dramatics in which money is the root of all evil, but the tone and wholesomeness of the story are special. Gabriel Byrne pulls off a nearly unplayable role as the town's aristocrat with fine underplayed support by Catherine O'Hara and youngster Alana Austin. The wonderful score is by Cliff Eidelman. --Doug Thomas

Description

Big-screen favorite Steve Martin (FATHER OF THE BRIDE) shines in this heartwarming motion picture about a single dad who discovers the joys and pain of fatherhood after adopting a daughter. All is well with this special relationship until a local politician attempts to come between them. As they fight to remain a family, the bond between father and daughter is strengthened. With an all-star cast that features winning performances from Gabriel Byrne (POINT OF NO RETURN), Stephen Baldwin (THREESOME), and Catherine O'Hara (HOME ALONE), A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE is a captivating movie treat that's sure to entertain you!

Customer Reviews:

A decent take-off on a classic.......2007-04-02

To Rana Blue: This movie is a take off on George Elliot's masterpice, Silas Marner. In that book the girl decides for herself that she will stay with her father rather than go to her biological father's home, but that girl is 16 and there is no custody battle in court (the story is set in England in the 1800s). However, in that story, as in this one, the brother steals the gold and then falls in to the lake and drowns. Mr. Newland didn't remember that he had thrown his brother into the lake because he didn't do it. Just as Matlida could have fallen in when she was a toddler, the brother -- drunk, in the dark and having just left a girl to die in his car -- left McCann's home and stumbled over the cliff. Do you not think a man would remember where he illegally buried his dead brother? The truth is, he didn't know that his brother was dead, and he was probably happy to be rid of him because the brother was the only adult alive who knew the truth about the baby, so he didn't bother to search for him. And the other truth is that the judge let Matilda stay with McCann because he was her father, and once he got his money back and all things were equal between the two men, there was no question as to where Matlida belonged.

Heartwarming Movie.......2007-04-02

This is a great heartwarming movie. I think that Steve Martin is a great actor, and his role in this movie showed that he can play serious, as well as comedy roles. I feel that Steve Martin was the only "real father," in the movie...not the politician who only cared about himself, and only wanted to look impressive in society. And the politician's wife was even worse. I don't want to give away too much information about the movie, but I guarantee that it is well worth buying, and if you sit down and watch the movie from beginning to end, you will enjoy it.

Definitely a Twist of Fate.......2007-03-29

This is a wonderful movie. Steve Martin plays a man who is more interested in his coin collection than he is in human life. Then one night, this all changes. His coin collection is stolen and a baby literally walks into his life. He adopts her because nobody in town will claim her. She's actually a married senator's illegitimate daughter, but he doesn't admit it until the child is 10 years old. This is a movie about the struggle to keep something that is extremely important: human life. It is about the fact that love is more important than the amount of money a person has. I won't say anything else about the movie because you really need to see it for yourself. I looked and looked for this movie for two or three years before it was put onto DVD and is well worth the price that Amazon charges. Buy it today and you'll be glad you did.

A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE - SIMPLE BUT ENORMOUS.......2007-02-20

WATCH THIS MOVIE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN.
I CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS MOVIE AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN WHEN YOU WATCH IT.
EXCELLENT CAST - ONE MAKES THE OTHER BETTER AND THEY ARE ALL PHENOMENAL!
SIMPLY THE BEST!

Let's face it, Steve Martin is a hack.......2006-08-30

As I've said before, I'm a mild Steve Martin fan, but I'm getting tired of his little pretentious efforts at writing.
His writing is so blunt and thick sometimes, it's like getting hit with a shovel... not so pleasing. The story is pasted together and the dialogue has an artificial feel. Also, any time a story can be best described as a "morality tale", it's going to be boring and obvious. I didn't care to finish the movie. Martin's writing consistently lacks any nuance, cohesion and originality. Passable only as a generic heart tugger this one.

Average customer rating:

Fun and stylish
2nd best French comedy I ever saw.
My Favorite Movie
French Twist
Very funny!!

French Twist
Starring: Victoria Abril , Catherine Alias , Sylvie Audcoeur , Véronique Barrault , and Michèle Bernier
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008L3SQ
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com

Josiane Balasko wrote, directed, and costars in this lightweight French comedy about a lesbian (Balasko) who falls for a housewife (Victoria Abril) seething over the philandering of her husband (Alain Chabat). The latter is outraged about his spouse's same-sex affair, but over time, the two rivals make peace with the situation--causing Abril's character to throw a hissy fit of her own. This is a cute film that becomes, thank goodness, more interesting as it goes along, challenging comfortable notions about love as a haven from other challenges to the heart. --Tom Keogh

Description

Sassy, sexy, and utterly outrageous, this comedy treat received outstanding critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination! Saucy suburban housewife Loli is furious when she discovers her playboy husband is a wild womanizer who has been cheating on her left and right for years! But things take an unusually funny turn when the van of a tough-talking, tender-hearted woman named Marijo breaks down in front of Loli's house! From then on, expect the hilariously unexpected as Marijo and Loli's relationship develops into much more than just a friendship ... and between the two of them, they devise the perfect revenge!

Customer Reviews:

Fun and stylish.......2007-05-07

A feelgood movie that only the French could make. Or maybe the Italians. I saw it on TV and hugged myself with so much glee I bought the DVD. The clothes are stylish, the setting sunny and the outcome just right. Alain Chabat is marvellous as the spoiled but charming cuckold, and the two women are perfectly cast for sparks to fly. A romantic comedy for the 21st century.

2nd best French comedy I ever saw........2007-02-07

See this only if you are not a homophobic homohating person or with someone who is. It is delightfully funny. Next to Les Visiteurs, the largest ever attended comedy film in France, this movie is one big laugh after another. The movie holds your attention throughout its play and does not drag at any spot. It has a story line flow which is easily followed. Well worth the view. I have seen it twice. Now shopping for it on DVD to show to my new wife.

My Favorite Movie.......2007-01-10

This movie is the greatest. The story is just fabulous and the sound track is gorgeous and romantic. Alain Shabat, who plays the male lead, & husband, is one of the most talented actors I have ever seen. His facial expressions, and body language are perfect. I love this movie. I watch it again, and again, whenever I want to laugh and be happy.
If you are a woman, and you have been "wronged" by your man, this movie will make you feel exceedingly happy, when you see the tables turned on the cheating husband. It is so, so entertaining. It's my favorite movie of all time!

French Twist.......2006-01-31

Plot was a little far fetched for American viewers. Someone who understands European mentality can appreciate it more.

Very funny!!.......2005-11-11

I liked this movie alot! It was very entertaining! Probably the only thing I didn't like about it was that the dyke the girl is seeing is old and ugly! My girlfriend usually doesn't like movies if she doesn't think the characters are attractive but this is is just to weird and funny to pass up!

Average customer rating:

don't waste your money
Good content but poorly produced
Sucks!
Usefull

Twist of the Wrist
Starring: Keith Code
Manufacturer: Code Break
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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A Twist of the Wrist 2: The Basics of High-Performance Motorcycle Riding
Twist of the Wrist: The Motorcycle Roadracers Handbook
Soft Science of Roadracing Motorcycles: The Technical Procedures and Workbook for Roadracing Motorcycles
Faster
Twist of the Wrist II -4 Volume Audio CD

ASIN: 0965045064

Book Description

This DVD puts you on the bike with eight different, exciting camera positions. With nearly 400 action shots, not only on the bike but also from trackside and high above the rider, you see correct and incorrect riding. Drawings, diagrams and computer animations and demonstrations bring your visualization of riding into a crystal clear understanding of cornering and braking. No one has taken more time and care in developing the cornering arts than California Superbike School Director Keith Code. "Ride for fun or ride for fame, cornering is still the name of the game," he says.DVD, 107 minutes'

Customer Reviews:

don't waste your money.......2007-06-16

This dvd is terrible. I bought it in the hopes that it would be presented differently than his books, but it is just the same. Keith uses ten-cent euphmisms like "products" and "points of timing" and whatnot, when all he is talking about is negotiating a turn. Pick your braking point, your turn in, and go. Simple. Faster the better.

Keith has a promising career in middle management ahead of him.

Also, the "humorous" bits and the pauses between them account for WAY too much of this vid.

Good content but poorly produced .......2007-03-15

The information contained in the video is good. The info will be useful for new riders and people that are trying to focus more on how to corner.

The one thing I wasn't happy about was the lack of instruction on how to do things better. They do a great job of telling you what to do and what not to do, but don't spend time on telling you how to do it. In lots of situations they tell you to figure out what works best for you. I thought the focus of the video should have been on teaching us what Keith knew and what he would do.

I do need to worn you about the jokes in the video. They make all types of attempts at humor in the video and every time they did my wife and I made a funny face at each other. I hope Keith's sense of humor is better in person. If not the two day camp I am doing is going to be torture.

As for the quality of the video it was poor. The video was shoot in the 80s and the production of the video is poor by today's standards. To say it needs updating is an understatement.

If you are lazy and don't like to read then watching the video is the way to go. If you don't mind reading then I would get the book and focus on one section at a time. I would back the book up by doing some track time and applying what you have learned. Just so you know Keith has classes all over the US and everything they teach in the books and video are taught in his classes. Being I am a hands on type of guy I would much rather learn from him at the track.

Sucks!.......2007-03-14

First of all, it's old, so the of course it's going to be cheesy. I was willing to look past that. But most of the DVD shows guys drawing how they're going to enter a turn and to pick out certain points in the road... they repeat it over.. and over....and over... and over.. I had to stop the DVD before I even made it half way through. I finally decided to start watching it again the next day.. and guess what?.. more drawing! I have learned more watching videos on YouTube than I did from this video - nothing.

Usefull.......2007-01-26

This product is usefull for beginners, however, the same concepts IMO can be learned from reading the book, a Twist of the wrist. I sat through and watched the DVD for the full length, I am not sure if i picked up anything by watching a graphic version of the book, which is basically what this is.

Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999)

Average customer rating:

great film
supernal
An ersatz production of a dickens masterpiece
A fine drama, but you must not call it Dickens
A good adventure.

Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 1999)
Starring: Sam Smith (III) , David Ross , Julie Walters , Roger Lloyd-Pack , and Ger Ryan
Director: Renny Rye
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001WTUJE
Release Date: 2004-04-13

Description

In this extraordinary production, storyteller Alan Bleasdale broadens the scope of Charles Dickens' classic tale of an orphan in 19th century England—and the characters who influence his destiny.

Oliver's mother, Agnes, struggles against the tragic circumstances that ultimately leave Oliver a penniless orphan. At the Parish Workhouse, he is forced by other boys to ask for more food, and as a result, is sold as an apprentice to a miserly undertaker. He runs away and is taken in by master thief Fagin, who is in league with a murderous pair determined to see that Oliver never inherits the fortune he deserves. Life twists and turns again and again for Oliver, landing him in alternately dangerous and hopeful circumstances.

Oliver Twist is a drama of dark comedy, astonishing vivacity and soaring imagination, but ultimately, it is a story that celebrates the resilience and triumph of a little boy's spirit.

Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the Masterpiece Theatre Web site; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On three DVD5 discs. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Customer Reviews:

great film.......2007-05-23

i'v seen oliver twist before,bur never so good and,whit great actors like this.fans off dickens must really see this one.and of corse Michael Kithen
in a brilliant rool,but he is a very good actor and my favorit

supernal.......2007-05-14

Having no life, I make a point of trying to see every "Masterpiece Theatre" or BBC-type historical drama that I can.

And I would have to say, this is probably the best I've ever seen. It's just so shattering, so beautiful, so emotionally exhausting to watch. It's one of those movies that are so good that you forget you're really watching a bunch of actors, with lights, cameras, clapboards, etc. You find yourself totally immersed.

One thing you should know is that, whether you get this movie on DVD or on VHS, there are three parts, each about 2 hours.

Surprisingly, though, only the second and third parts are, strictly speaking, adapted from Dickens's novel. The first part is the prequel: in the novel, the exact circumstances of Twist's provenance are left murky. The first part of this series, made only for this "Masterpiece Theatre" production, is a two-hour spelling out of where he came from. They've definitely taken some license there.

But incredibly, the first part -- the one not based directly on Dickens's writings -- is for me the most gripping and well-written of the three! I can't believe how good it is. Fits right in and then some.

One other note: I'm probably not giving away anything by announcing that in the end, everything is set right and just desserts are apportioned to all. Yet so crushing and infuriating is the Hell through which the waif Oliver must pass, that one is left to wonder if, even though the bad guys do get what's coming to them, the horrors we have seen are really made up for.

To tell you the truth, notwithstanding my regard for this production, I find myself unable to sit through it a second time. The actors playing Monks, Bill, and Fagin do such a convincing, harrowing job of being evil to Oliver, that I simply can't take it, even though I know everything will be all right in the end. It's just too much for me.

I also find this true of the book. It's probably the only work of Dickens that leaves me with the feeling, when I put it back on the shelf, that the moral universe is still fundamentally out of whack.

An ersatz production of a dickens masterpiece.......2007-04-11

I was thoroughly disappointed in both Masterpiece Theater and its production of Oliver Twist. The lengthy first disk contained virtually nothing out of the original Dickens novel. The characters behaved and spoke their lines as if they acting in a contemporary period made-for-TV melodrama. Oliver's father's wife seemed to trying out her lines for a voiceover as Disney's Cruella Deville. As far as a realistic portrayal of early Victorian life, viewers should remember that any man who took an umarried middle class woman's virginity was not, and never could be, a gentleman. The prtrayal of the Beadle and the other characters in the workhouse scenes were farcical. I ceased to watch at this point. For a classic depiction of the novel on film watch the 1948 British production directed by David Lean.

A fine drama, but you must not call it Dickens.......2007-03-11

I greatly enjoyed this DVD series for what it was -- a fine drama. The production values are high and the acting is uniformly good. (Andy Serkis is especially loathsome as Bill Sykes.) However, the television "adaptation" merely borrows some characters and situations from the novel. All of the first 90 minute episode takes place before the novel even begins. It's interesting, and entertaining, to see what the script writer has made of the pre-history of young Oliver Twist. But after he enters on the scene in the second episode, the drama strays farther and farther from the story Dickens wrote. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the story this film tells is a good story, and well told. It's just not Dickens. It bears a resemblence to Dickens, but only such resemblence as chicken soup bears to the roasted fowl. Whilst wholesome and tasty, it's not the same thing.

Enjoy this for what it is, but look for the older BBC dramatisation for a truer representation of Dicken's novel.

(Note: my review is based on the ITV version as released in the UK. I'm not sure if the programme was broken into the same episodes for US television.)

A good adventure........2006-08-19

Oliver Twist is a great adventure story of the struggles of a poor boy in England in the 1800's. The characters are realistic, interesting, people you don't meet everyday. Never a dull moment. I have seen five versions of Oliver Twist, and liked them all. You are taken to another time and place of adventure.

Other great period, adventure movies are "Tom Brown's School Days 1935", "David Copperfield 1940 & 2000", "The Prince & the Pauper", "At Swords Point 1952", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1938", "The Three Musketeers 1939", and "The Scarlet Pimpernel 1935".

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