Georgian Movie Reviews

Heart-warming, great cast & excellent acting. All of them embody the characters so well. There are a few new faces, Jadu Wali and Ruby Cherrytree as Mildreds friends.

I also love the sets, very authentic. The castle is really brilliant, It makes me want to live there.

Kate Duchene is wonderful as the dreaded Miss Hardbroom. I think she has great comic timing and really embodies, and perhaps brings even more to the part. She seems to enjoy the role too. And Una Stubbs is so endearing and charmingly quirky as the eccentric Miss Bat.

Felicity Jones is the PERFECT match for Ethel Hallow! She is absolutely mean. Poor Mildred runs afoul of her on her first day. I also like Holly Rivers as Ethel's sidekick and partner in crime, Drusilla Paddock.

I wanted to point out that if you play the dvd on number four (British English) in the audio section, you hear a lot more than the "American English" audio track. In episode 4 (A Mean Halloween) for example, when Mildred creates a voice changing potion, in the American English version you really can't hear much of a difference, but in the British English version her voice is REALLY high-pitched and squeaky (it's a lot funnier), plus I'm POSITIVE they've removed lines on the American audio track, because it was filmed originally British English. Anyways...

THIS IS A FANTASTIC SERIES! Much, MUCH better than the Fairuza Balk film version! It gives me warm fuzzies...:-)Goes great with cocoa. ;-)

The Main character, Mildred, is always in trouble, but manages to mantain her values and kindness towards all living creatures. She has a zest for battling the odds and coming through, even when she is prepared to truly give up. All of us have a little Mildred in us, hopefully, and the power to act and move forth. Bravo!

I have viewed all five of the AFT [Box 1] and found BUTLEY to be the worst, in terms of transfer. The long shots are slightly blurred and there seems to be a slight bumping in the print used for video transfer which occurs periodically. It is a minor fault however.

Alan Bates performance is a wonder of nuaince. Ben Butley is a middle-aged college professor whose life is a disaster. Simon Gray's play incisively presents a harrowing and usually hilarious profile of a decent man gone wrong. That you actually can deeply care about Butley is due to Gray's marvelous script for the film version of his play. Alan Bates, who won both the London and Tony awards for this performance, is as great as Jason Robards' justly legendary performance in "The Iceman Cometh."

And Harold Pinter, who directed the play, also directs this film. He does a world-class job directing his first film. Everything here works to the aim of the play.

AFT's three years of production would have been worth it just for "Butley." Without AFT there would be no record at all of this extraordinary original production.

If you love drama that hits the jugular with deft, knowing and compassionate, but never sentimental, veracity, this is for you.

The entire cast couldn't be better with Jessica Tandy perfect as Butley's unaware academic nemesis.

If most of the increasing idiocy of commercial film as made movies off limits for you, this series--and especially "Butley"--is waiting to alleviate your craving for civilized drama that doesn't shy at cutting deep.

I can't wait to see the other titles in this series again.

This DVD is a great, charming, NOT CHEESY & A MORE MODERN adaption of the Jill Murphy books, starring GEORGINA SHERRINGTON as Mildred Hubble, the cute bumbling witch.

A co production from Canada/United Kingdom-for HBO family.

This is the second DVD---Battle Of The Broomsticks being the first----it contains three episodes. And is definitely viewable NOT JUST ON HALLOWEEN---

A MEAN HALLOWEEN----In the first episode, the girls learn that the school is preparing to put on a play for the grand wizard ---Miss Bats wants to do this hip Halloween song, but Miss HardBroom insists it be traditional.

Miss HardBroom's class has been chosen to represent the school, which makes her a little wary, because Mildred's in her class--To choose who will play the good witch Lucy who rescues the suffering peasants from a tyrannical Baron in the play, Miss HardBroom wants to be fair and picks the name out of a cauldron---and wouldn't you know it, it's Mildred!

Mildred's part means she has to brush up on her Broom flying skills. And she can't fly very well, on HER broom---since in the first episode it was broken in half and clumsily repaired with packing tape-- so Ethel reluctantly offers her broom, but she just can't be nice to poor Mildred and casts a spell on it --subsequently ruining the presentation when Mildred crashes in to the grand wizard.

Now everyone thinks it's Mildreds fault the school was humiliated--Mildred runs away

EPISODE TWO--DOUBLE DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE
Is a continuance of episode one---Mildred discovers a plot to overtake the school by over-hearing three witches in the forest---one of whome looks remarkably like Miss Cackle---

Their plan is to sneak into the school and turn all the students and teachers into toads, since after Halloween it's a tradition for everyone to oversleep, it may have been easy if it weren't for Mildred!

In the third episode---MONKEY BUSINESS---
We meet new comer Enid Nightshade, Mildred is in charge of showing the new girl around. Enid is kind of quiet at first.
And she thinks the castle is pretty boring, no matter how exciting Mildred tries to make it sound.

But she's making trouble for Mildred--she purposely sings off key in chanting class, making Mildred laugh.
Mildred finds out she keeps a monkey "Coco"---

And she after she sees how mean Ethel is, Enid sabotages a stage set to fall right on her head----of course Miss HardBroom thinks it was Mildred--she gives Enid and Mildred the chore of scrubbing the staircase---but Enid ditches the job to have more fun

Mean while, Mr. Blossom is battling some kind of mutant fungus growing on the castle walls (yuk!)

And Enids monkey escapes from her room--going out Ethel's window, and putting on her school uniform tie in the process of climbing out on to the roof---Mildred has to chase after it on her broom---and we know flying isn't Mildred strong suit----

When HB sees Coco wearing Ethel's school uniform tie she thinks it's Ethel------Well we eventually see Enid isn't all that bad, when she comes to clear every thing up

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This is a delightful, whimsical and nicely presented----

If you're familiar with this series from HBO (and like it) THAT'S GREAT! --If you're not; check it out!

Great for children and people young at heart---beautifully filmed with great sets and outdoor scenes shot in the gorgeous Canadian countryside and forest---and with a wonderful cast--- VERY CUTE, WHOLESOME and LIKEABLE

MM & BB ;-)

Definitly a must for nostalga and will live on in generations to come!

WHEN WE FEAST AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
Mildred and her friends plan a midnight raid on the kitchen, prompted by the disgusting school menu. Which is no fault of Miss Tapioca, the cook. She has to follow the school book of regulations on what to serve. And it always gets cold, on the long journey to the dining room.
Because of the complaints, Miss Cackle decides to eat the same food as the students. And discovers just how gross it is.
The girls' midnight feast is scheduled for the last night of Sir Walter's Wet Week, a time when a ghost is supposed to wander the corridors of the spooky old castle.

PIG IN A POKE
Mr. Blossom's nephew Charlie comes for a visit, and Ethel is being particulary snotty to Mildred. Especially after the cat presentation ceremony & Mildred is given cute tabby kitten, instead of the traditional black one, because they ran out. Ethel can't resist teasing. Mildred is pushed too far, and turns Ethel into a pig by accident (she was trying for a frog...)
Then Ethel trots off, getting lost, and Mr. Blossom takes her to a local pig farmer, who is taking his pigs to market that day!

Charlie takes an active part in the rescue, he knows a reversing spell, kind of..

Based on the books by Jill Murphy and presented in the U.S. on HBO. This is an incredible series. Heart warming, wholesome, and witty. I don't think it's for an specific age group, people of all ages will enjoy it. The scripts are very well written, very humorous. And the cast is excellent. They all seem to enjoy their roles very much. Georgina Sherrington will charm you, she's the perfect match for Mildred Hubble.

And that spooky castle is really cool. I wish there was a school like that. :-)

And I wish and hope that BFS video and Granada will put more episodes on vhs and dvd. There are more than what's in the two collections, including one of my favorites "It's a Frog's Life".

Each episode is a half hour long, and there are three in this one---

BATTLE OF THE BROOMSTICKS-the series pilot. Shows Mildred Hubble (charmingly portrayed by Georgina Sherrington) she's running late for her first day at the academy, and she almost immediately runs afoul of Ethel Hallow, Mildred's nemesis in the series.
While Ethel is fashionably late, Mildred makes a mess of her first appearance, having to fly over the gate and crashing to some trash cans nearly missing the headmistress and Mrs. HardBroom.
Luckily she makes fast friends with the soft spoken Maud Moonshine.
She'll need moral support to get through the broomstick
aptitude test!

Episode 2- WHEN WE FEAST AT THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
Mildred and her friends must contend with the awful school food. Maybe if Mrs. Cackle eats the same food for a week she'll consider changing the menu..... Mildred decides she and her friends should have a midnight feast, going down to the kitchen past curfew, during "Sir Walter's Wet Week" when a ghost is supposed to wander the castle corridors.

Episode 3- PIG IN A POKE
Mr. Blossom brings his nephew Charlie for a visit to the school. Charlie decides to borrow Drusilla's cape and hat, to blend in, sneaking a peek at the big book of spells and attending the cat presentation. Mildred has to accept a cute tabby cat instead of a black one, since they ran out of them.
And Ethel of course has to bully Mildred, daring her to turn her into a frog, Mildred accepts the challege except turns her into a pig..Ethel then trots off, getting lost & mistaken as a stray pig from a local farm....Mildred can't remember the reversal spell, luckily Charlie knows one, but they better hurry and find Ethel.
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If you've read the books, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the adaption.

I think the best audio to play it in is "British English" which I'm sure it was filmed in, and sounds better in.

I also like the set, the outdoor scenes, actually shot outside, in beautiful woods or countryside...

This is great for children and those young at heart---be sure to get the Halloween episode 'A MEAN HALLOWEEN'

And I look forward to having my favorite two part episode "A Frog's Life" on DVD soon!

MM & BB ;-)

It all starts innocently enough, with the lovely Sean Bean attending to Beauty from his birth and throughout his training and though I was a bit annoyed that the fox hunt was cut I could understand why something so brutal was left out. From thereonin it was all downhill. Absolutely pointless changes were made, nobody is permitted to die, they simply get fired or move to the country, and if we aren't shown anything an offhand remark tells us that 'all the other horse were saved too'. I can understand not wanting to frighten children but for heaven's sake, animals died in Babe didn't they?

Black Beauty was not intended to be a kids' book, it was meant to draw attention to animal cruelty of the time period and for it to be so dumbed down is annoying. We are told Ginger is vicious, and there is an offhand comment about previous bad owners but that's about it. Only Beauty is given a voice and Merrylegs' and Ginger's stories are left frustratingly untold, replaced with overlong shots of them frolicking that will have even children getting antsy. And how annoying is it that Ginger is bizarrely made into a love interest? At least with the other Black Beauties the changes were apparent enough from the start that you weren't expecting much later on.

Weird edits give us random shots of doors as scenes end or shots of Beauty tossing his head for minutes on end. The movie is 87 minutes long but because of the extended horse footage it seems to take forever. You know there's a problem when I'm counting down the minutes to when David Thewlis pops up instead of swooning over the horsies.

I'm not so heartless as to not admit that the film made me cry, twice no less, but those were the only times I felt anything other than apathy or annoyance. It's too bad, because this really had the potential to be like Nightmare Before Christmas or Spirited Away and have a crossover appeal to young and old audiences. If you want a good horse film you won't have to suffer too much through, get Misty instead and, for a lush children's period piece, pick up the '95 incarnation of A Little Princess. Either way you'll have a nice family movie that will encourage kids to pick up a book without insulting your intelligence in the process.

It's been a while since I read "Black Beauty" but as far as I can remember the movie is for the most part true to the book. The horses are beautiful, and the ending is happy.

There is one thing, however, that I must complain about. It's that the movie opens on the night of Black Beauty's birth--with the result that we must watch the actual birth of a foal. (It can be rather sickening.)

Nonetheless, this is definately a movie worth seeing. Any horse lover will be estatic about it.

A Must buy!

Sarah Brightman is in excellent voice in this concert in Florida, and she has great stage presence. Her movements are very graceful and fit the songs well, and her dancers do a great job as well. The setting of the stage is brilliant and makes one feel the "moon" atmosphere Sarah wants the audience to perceive (similar to but better than the red theme of the "One Night in Eden" concert). There's even a globe in the front of the stage, as if the stage Sarah is performing on is the moon.

If you love Sarah's voice, see her at her best, performing live! This DVD is a must!

La Luna is Sarah's most recent album of contemporary musical artistry, and the DVD version of her La Luna concert is an outstanding performance of the music from that album and many of her earlier works as well.

The DVD offers a number of audio format options, including DTS, Dolby 5.1 / AC-3, and PCM. The extra features included are similarly ample, including subtitled lyrics, a behind the scenes featurette, a music video, and more. The only complaint viewers may have regards the appearance in places of MPEG compression artifacts in the video; one may wonder if perhaps offering such a wide selection of sound formats slightly compromised the video encoding. However, said artifacts are not noticable to the average viewer and shouldn't detract from this outstanding performance.

I remember seeing this movie in the 2nd grade in the mid-80's on video and it haunted me for many years. I recently saw it again with a friend in college and we were both freaked out! This movie has a great cast, a thoughtful director, and a wonderful plot. The movie has a great pace, and it keeps you interested. I especially appreciate the early 80's feel of the film. It is an especially scary movie because it has an uncontrollable supernatural element.

To this day, I sometimes am scared to see a blind-folded girl reaching out to me in the mirror! The lines, "Nearly too late ... hardly ever happens," and the name Narek will stick with you once you watch this movie!