5 comments about Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet.

1. This is the best version of the Nutcracker I have seen. Have you seen Lezhnina's on-point? Absolutely impeccable. And, Baranov is not appreciated in the world of ballet. Is he a Baryshnikov? No, but I'd take his consistently well-executed performances any day. These two together are perfectly matched and suited for their roles and the corps de ballet are, well, only what you would expect from the Kirov. Anyone who would give this video a thumbs down must be too critical for my tastes. As anyone who has read my other ballet reviews, the Kirov gets all the footwork down to a tee. I've already watched The Nutcracker 10 times in the last two weeks. That's how much I love this version. And to think I hated this ballet when I was a kid!



2. This is an excellent film. Beautifully photographed. Russia as I imagined it at that period in history Very well acted.



3. As soon as you have corrected the review problem, please delete this review. Too many of the reviews attached to this product:
   
   Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet
   
   are reviews of other products. Some of them are as far away from this product as, 1) biographical material on the composer and 2) a performance of Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin.
   
   Other reviews located here when they should appear elsewhere are performances by other companies of The Nutcracker, or of performances of other ballets. One reviews a performance of The Nutcracker which had nothing in common with this performance -- not even the choreographer -- but the composer and his music.
   
   I recommend that you correct this as soon as you reasonably can in the course of business, preferably by attaching the reviews to the products which they do review. Rss28's review of a Swan Lake performance is missing from that product and would be very useful if it were posted there.
   
   Thank you for any attention you can give this suggestion.



4. A product of the late Soviet era, this film is a cluster of near-perfection in visual, sound and scenario, all of which with persuading Russianness.
   One can hardly believe that all one sees are actors; Piotr is Piotr, in appearance and manners, so are Madame von Meck, Rubinstein and other characters.
   The story is rather focused on the relationship between Piotr and Madame von Meck. Obviously the director wanted the film a work of art, not a documentary. Profound words of life's anguish and joy are unforgettable, and persuasive enough to explain the secrets of his music.
   Visuals are aesthetic and deliberate. Interesting is the sound; rather than threading perfect recordings of familiar works, one often hears unfamiliar arrangement or unusual patchworking of tunes, as if they were resonating in the composer's head.
   In short, this film makes one experience what it is like to be a contemporary of the great composer, or to be himself.
   
   
   
   



5. I have not seen this Thaikovsky Symphony #6 yet. I was just wondering why ALL the reviews on this DVD are of "Swan Lake" and/or "The Nutcracker"?
   Is there a routing problem at Amazon? This many people couldn't have ALL critiqued the wrong item- Could they have?

3 comments about Lena's Holiday.

1. There's only 1 thing to view in this movie, her perfect and beautiful body. Don't you think so?



2. This is a cute movie that is entertaining enough to keep your interest, but not one that ranks among the great romantic comedies of our time. There are a number of lesser-known bit actors in it (how long has it been since you've seen Bill Dana in anything?), and Nick Mancuso is clearly enjoying himself as he overacts playing the lecherous, famous, and rich Hollywood photographer. But the beautiful Felicity Waterman steals the movie with her charismatic charm. I'm surprised she hasn't become a more famous actress, as her presence lights up every scene (even if her fake German accent gets annoying after a while).

   The widescreen transfer to DVD is decent, but not great. This movie is worth a viewing, and you may fall for Felicity Waterman, as I have, but it probably isn't one you'll add to your collection.




3. Released in '90 'Lena's Holiday' is a unchallenging but well-intentioned, mildly entertaining film. Predictable storyline, plodding script and no surprises at the end. However what it does have and the reason why it receives a 3 star rating is solely for the presence of the exceedingly lovely Felicity Waterman as Lena Jung. Who could resist falling in love with this naive, vulernable beauty with the cute accent who finds herself all alone in Hollywood with the wrong suitcase and a couple of murderers in hot pursuit. Also starring Chris Lemmon (Jack's son) as Lena's love interest. His physical resemblance, mannerisms and voice are so like his Father it's spooky.
   
   Make no mistake about it, if you watch this film to its conclusion it's because you, like me, have fallen completely in love with Lena.

1 comments about Holidays in American Sign Language, Vol. 1.

1. As an aspect of everyday life, holidays and occasions revolve the lives of every individual. A professional Deaf ASL teacher will teach you over 250 useful vocabulary words for 21 easy-to-follow chapters. These holidays will be as follows:
   
   Christmas Day
   Columbus Day
   Easter
   Election Day
   Father's Day
   Graduation Day
   Halloween
   Hanukkah
   Independence Day
   Kwanzaa
   Labor Day
   Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
   Memorial Day
   Mother's Day
   New Year's Day
   Passover
   President's Day
   St. Patrick's Day
   Thanksgiving Day
   Valentine's Day
   Veterans Day
   
   Learning all the vocabulary words will be quite convenient as this DVD will work best for families, students, interpreters and professionals.

4 comments about Santabear's High Flying Adventure.

1. I'm not certain but I think this is one of those holiday specials that was basically promoting a stuffed animal that already existed. I remember when it was first shown on television back when I was a kid, on CBS...or was it ABC? Anyway, after that I think it came on Disney a few times. It's been a long time. The thing about it I'll never forget was how weird the voice casting was, or at least the acting of the voice actors. It was all so monotone. And then there was Santa, he was thin, and he sounded like Dave from Alvin and the Chipmunks, the 80's version. The story as best as I can remember, deals with Santabear having to deal with a villain named Bully Bear who was trying to steal Santa's toys. There was something else odd about the sound in this movie, and if memory serves me correctly I think it was a total lack of background music, with the possible exception of one song sung quietly by Santabear's girlfriend. Anyway, the only reason I could possibly think of to purchase this movie is if you are a nut for Holiday Specials (as I am, though it'll probably be a while before I ever get this one) or you just remember seeing this one before and want to bring back memories. On the whole it's not very good, but who can resist those little Christmas specials? Even the lame ones!



2. I love this movie! It is so cute and great for kids! The moral is that the meaning of Christmas is love and giving, not just getting presents. John Malkovich and Kelly McGillis do two of the voices.



3. WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD(1987) MY GRANDMOTHER TOOK ME TO DAYTONS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS AND PURCHASED ME A WHITE BEAR WITH A PILOTS JACKET AND FLYING GOGGLES. THE BEARS NAME IS SANTABEAR. ALONG WITH THE BEAR, I ALSO GOT A MOVIE CALLED "SANTABEARS HIGHFLYING ADVENTURE". WHICH IS BY FAR MY MOST FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE EVER. EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AS SOON AS THE SNOW FLIES AND THE FAMILY GETS TOGETHER, WE (YES, EVEN THE ADULTS)ALL HUDDLE CLOSE TO THE TELEVISION AND GET LOST IN THIS CHRISTMAS MASTERPIECE. I HIGH-FLYING-LY RECOMMEND IT!



4. I remembered watching this as a kid, so I searched the Internet to find it again. I hadn't seen it in over a decade, but it is still just as good as I remembered. This was an underrated special that should have been played every year, just like the classics of Rudolph, Frosty, and Garfield. Anybody of all ages will enjoy watching this. It is only 23 minutes, but you'll end up watching it over and over.

No comments about The Wiggles: Yule Be Wiggling.

5 comments about Rick Steves' European Christmas.

1. Festive Fun! The video quality on this DVD is excellent.
   Bonus Features: 45 minutes of extra content, including full-length choir performances, Pope John Paul II's last midnight Christmas Mass, interview with the Christkind, Italian manger scenes (presepi), and a musical slide show of European Christmas images.
   Running Time: 1 hour + bonus features. Widescreen (16x9) NTSC format, all region compatible.



2. For once Rick displayed a bit of originality and accomplishment in a travel show and set himself apart from the pack. Do not be fooled by his past travel DVDs- this one is worth sitting through.
   
   Straying away from the camcorder and attempts of scripted humor, for once, Rick and his family travel all around the continent to experience the Christmas traditions of a variety of European cultures. From ice skating in London, sledding in the Swiss Alps, to the ultimate Christmas celebration at St Peter's Basilica with footage of Pope John Paul II's last midnight mass. The shots are breathtaking and make you wish you were actually there. The only flaw is it's too short.
   
   I recommend this DVD to those unafraid of celebrating Christmas nowadays and cherish holiday traditional around the world. Buy it now before Amazon renames it Rick Steves's European Holiday DVD.



3. This DVD was an entertaining piece of Christmas fare but disppointing in the limited number of countries and customs shown.



4. i like to collect dvd's, books and c.d.s for christmas time and i was really happy to find this one available this year. i guess before it was only available by pledging money to pbs? and i do, but i never take a thank you gift. i love teaching my children about other countries and cultures, and showing them all the different ways christmas can be celebrated is an exciting way to bring different cultures to their attention.



5. I cannot recommend this DVD enough! My family has sat down to this program for the past two years and everytime I find something new to appreciate about it. Rick Steves takes us on tour in his usual style through several European countries and their unique customs. This time however we are allowed into the homes and traditions of the native peoples families. 7 european cultures are explored through their Christmas and holiday traditions. Italian, Swiss, British, French are to name a few of the places Rick takes us to on Christmas eve and the preceding days of celebration. What I like about the DVD most is the way you are shown each countries holiday traditions seperatly right up to Christmas eve then you are treated to the mounting Christmas eve excitment from all countries as they get ready for Father Christmas's visit or for some cultures the pinnacle of the season that evening. It shows the flashy city wide celebrations as well as what the average family does for seasons greetings. If you want to see humanity at its best this DVD will surely do your heart some good to see the common excitement in all childrens eyes and in the adults voices. Like I said I can't say enough. However, I will break a cardinal rule here and tell you that I would splurge here a little and go to www.ricksteves.com and purchase the Christmas set which includes the DVD, the book that the other two reviewers are refering to, as well as the matching CD that contains all of the carols that are in the DVD. Belive me once you see the performances you will want the CD! This package sells for around 35 dollars and is well worth it! Wishing you a happy holidays whatever time of the year you read this!

5 comments about Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.

1. Timely delivery of a timeless Christmas video from my childhood. No problems of any sort with order, delivery, payment or product. Thanks Amazon!



2. Yousa! This show seems to have eluded airplay at xmastime by the networks, both cable and over the air. It is absolutely charming.... I have missed it enough to buy it. The music is delightful, and Jim Backus is wonderful. Tiny Tim puts a tear to my eye every time!
   
   It is a classic, & I am glad to have it!



3. This is the greatest film in the history of the universe. It's an epic masterpiece and a sublime accomplishment that will be remembered for centuries. It is art at its finest, right up there with the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven or Shakespeare. I last watched this months ago and I can still taste the razzleberry dressing. Jacob Marley even visited me in my sleep the other night.
   
   It's a family tradition for us, but unless you have been exposed to it from an early age, you may be like our in-laws and just not get it. I don't know that there's any middle ground. It either becomes a part of you or you fall asleep while watching it.



4. I was well satisfied with the VHS tape of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. The color was good, and as always, Jim Backus' voice was excellent. This was a good addition to my seasonal tapes and DVDs. Anyone who already enjoys this tale by Dickens would like this. It was a good match to have Mr. Magoo portray Scrooge.



5. There are dozens of versions of the Dickens Christmas classic, and hundreds if not thousands of stage productions have been done. What does this one have that the others do not? Music. GREAT music. And the songs support and put a new twist on the well-known story. You'll be singing (or humming) the tunes all year long. It's great fun for the whole family. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missing something wonderful.

5 comments about The Judy Garland Show, Vol 03 - The Christmas Show (Show 15).

1. This episode of The Judy Garland Show is indeed my favorite of the 26. Judy seems to be at her best, with incredible voice (as always). Guest stars are Jack Jones, Mel Torme, Tracy Everitt, Liza Minnelli, Lorna and Joe Luft. Songs include, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Consider Yourself", "Little Drops of Rain", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Where is Love?", "Alice Blue Gown", "Steam Heat", "The Christmas Song", "Lollipops and Roses", "Wouldn't it be Loverly", "Holiday Medley", as well as Judy's signature, "Over the Rainbow", which she sings with much love to her two youngest children, Lorna and Joe, at the end of the show on the couch in their nightclothes. Her affection to her kids is greatly shown in this film; constantly hugging and kissing them. This DVD is a must-have for any Judy Garland fan, or if a family is looking into buying a good holiday film to watch. It's a great film anyway. I recommend it highly!



2. They don't make Christmas specials like this anymore. The Judy Garland Christmas Show (which aired December 22, 1963) is an intimate, informal night at home with Judy and the kids, a few guests, a group of carolers, and a troupe of skinny, dancing Santas. There are a few small gaffes here and there on the part of several individuals, but everyone just laughs them off and goes on singing; that does much to create the atmosphere of charm surrounding the whole presentation. As the show opens, we find Judy sitting in front of the windowsill of her "home" with her two youngest children, young Joe and Lorna Luft, to whom she sings Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - this song alone makes the show worth seeing. The kids seem a little nervous (this was recorded in front of a live studio audience, of course), but there is no end to the affection displayed by Judy as she sings. After this opening number, Judy opens the door to welcome us inside, whereupon she and the kids do a walk-around performance of Consider Yourself, during which daughter Liza arrives with her beau Tracy Everitt to join in the fun. Judy, ever the doting mother, then asks her son to sing Where Is Love? from Oliver. This can be rather painful to listen to and is luckily fairly short, as little Joe proves that singing ability can sometimes skip a generation.

   Things get a little weird and less Christmas-y at this point, as Liza and Tracy show Judy the new song and dance number they have been working on - Steam Heat doesn't really scream Christmas. Finally, we get Judy to ourselves again singing Little Drops of Rain while all the kids are putting the final touches on the Christmas tree. No sooner is she finished than guest Jack Jones arrives singing Wouldn't It Be Loverly, after which he sings, at Judy's request, Lollipops and Roses. Lorna then climbs up on Jack's lap and does a wonderful version of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; once she gets started, she really lets the sound pour out of her, making this my favorite part of the entire show. After Liza sings Alice Blue Gown, she, Jack, and Judy launch into a medley of Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, It Happened in Sun Valley, and Winter Wonderland. Judy pretty much lets Liza and Jack sing It Happened in Sun Valley, but she delivers a beautiful solo of Winter Wonderland.

   Mel Torme is the next to arrive, with a whole troupe of carolers in tow. Torme arranged a lot of the music on The Judy Garland Show, and he also wrote the holiday classic The Christmas Song. He actually sings a new verse for the song on this night, after which Judy sings the famous chorus. She does mess up a couple of times, but it's no big deal at all (and one can sort of forgive her for singing "rainbow" instead of "reindeer"). Out comes the eggnog, and then the whole gang launches into another medley of songs. Judy's solo performance of What Child Is This? is simply beautiful. Jack Jones and Mel Torme give us a harmonized duet of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Liza and Tracy sing It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, and Lorna and Joe team up to sing a slightly imperfect version of Silent Night. After the guests leave and the kids are put to bed, Lorna and Joe come back out to tell Judy she forgot to do something that she does every year for them at Christmas. Watching Judy sing Over the Rainbow to her two youngest children makes for a perfect conclusion to the night's festivities.

   If you love both Judy Garland and Christmas, this is a great holiday video you can enjoy every year. If you're not a Judy Garland fan, you most likely won't enjoy the show. Several of the songs really have little to do with Christmas, some of the children's dialogue is rather wooden (they're just kids, of course), Joe's solo can be rather frightening, and even Judy and Jack Jones miss a word or two along the way. As I said, this makes it all the more charming to me, but a non-Judy fan might think otherwise. On a final note, let me say that I am happy that the world can get a glimpse of Judy and her kids all together in this special show; the obvious love and affection she has for Joe, Lorna, and Liza do much to dispel the negative impression some people today may have of Judy Garland due to all of the troubles she battled throughout her adult years. Do, as Judy says, consider yourself part of the family and make The Judy Garland Christmas Show a holiday tradition in your own household.




3. ...it will tear your heart out. What a fantastic performer she was. What a tragic life. God bless her.



4. Okay, I love Judy and think she is in a league by herself. Check out my other reviews and you know I'm a huge fan. However, it is very clear she is struggling on this show. Her face is lined, her eyes lack sparkle, she is clearly pushing herself to be charming and enthusiastic. Her voice while fine and and her performances sometimes reaching the expected Judy heights, lacks the thrill and sparkle of other occasions.
   
   I give her kudos for giving it her all. She clearly is and despite the rap on Judy that she only performed when she wanted to, here I'm sure she would have preferred to wait but had no choice. Still, I find it painful to watch Judy push herself to appear okay when its clear she wasn't.



5. The Judy Garland Show was a television staple in the early 1960's, featuring one of America's foremost talents in the singing biz. Able to garner some fabulous stars via hr celebrity icon status, Judy's shows were a potpourri of old and the new, the standards and the innovative, merging together for one enjoyable ride. This is clearly evident in her "The Christmas Show" episode from the series, released on DVD.
   
   Guest stars of Jack Jones and Mel Torme spotlight the various numbers that inhabit this 50 minute special of song and dance. Jack's number with Judy and Liza is priceless, even though it was clearly evident he was looking at cue cards constantly. Mel's rendition of his song with Judy "The Christmas Song", is quite touching, with Judy making a small error in the lyrics and Mel playfully pointing it out. Great television!
   
   Lisa's "Steam Heat" dance number still rocks the house, with her partner "and beau" Tracy Everitt, and her pairing with her mother made for a terrific combo whenever the two sang together. Judy's youngest kids, Lorna and Joey, each get their own spotlight as well, although Joey's life as a singer was clearly at odds with his somewhat painful rendition of "Where is Love?". God bless him for trying that song as a seven year old!
   
   However, it's Judy that steals her own show. Every time the camera land on her, she a delight to watch. Equally at ease singing a solo, or handing the scene over to another performer, Judy's joy of music is evident. Just watch her as her kids sing, or as Mel or Jacks sings; she's positively, genuinely radiant. Which is even more of a feat considering the country was reeling from the assassination of JFK just a week before.
   
   Judy's Christmas special is one that I'll watch every season, once, twice, and even three times. We all miss Judy, but we can have a little piece of her, in our living rooms, every holiday season.

No comments about Sakura Petals Sakura Petals: Emperors and Geishas.

No comments about Jewish Life Cycle.