Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Noted director Mike Leigh's latest film, the critically acclaimed Another Year, will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday, June 7.  The film revolves around the lives of the couple Tom and Gerri (played by Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen) as they go about their daily lives and interact with friends whose lives aren't as settled.

SYNOPSIS: 

From seven-time Oscar® nominee Mike Leigh comes this critically acclaimed slice of life starring Academy Award® winner Jim Broadbent (Best Supporting Actor, Iris, 2001), Lesley Manville and Ruth Sheen. A happy couple for over thirty years, Tom (Broadbent) and Gerri (Sheen) act as a steady anchor to their unmarried circle of family and friends. But as the seasons change and another year passes, Tom and Gerri’s support is put to the test in this masterful look at life, love and the meaning of friendship.

Here is the trailer for the film:



Special Features on the DVD Include:

- Commentary with Director Mike Leigh & Actress Lesley Manville

- The Making of Another Year

- The Mike Leigh Method

Don't miss your opportunity to own this film which is sure to become a classic!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

According to news reports, nearly 23 million people in the U.S. set their alarm clocks to get up early and watch the Royal Wedding last month.  If (as happened to me) work schedules made viewing the entire spectacle difficult, now you can own the DVD of the ceremony and catch up on anything you might have missed!

You can purchase your own copy of the DVD for only $7.98 at the BBCAmerica Shop

The BBCAmerica shop gives this overview:

The royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton was the event of a lifetime. BBC Video is making available this beautiful, commemorative DVD of the event on sale on May 24th! This wonderful keepsake will capture all of the pomp and pageantry of the historic occasion like no other memento.  The DVD will include the complete ceremony plus highlights from the official BBC pre- and post-wedding coverage.  Also included is the special bonus program, “William and Kate: A Royal Engagement,” presenting the story of William and Kate’s relationship via interviews with colleagues, friends and family.  Lovers of the crown will want to own this special, commemorative DVD of this most delightful of events, the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

I really loved watching the whole ceremony again.  The excited crowds, the lovely (and unusual) ensembles the ladies were wearing, the gorgeously decorated church:  it's all here to savor again and again!  If you simply *must* have your own copy of Princess Beatrice's hat, you can freeze the picture until you're able to note all the details! 


I'm still amazed at the poise and grace shown by the new Duchess of Cambridge.  She displayed absolutely no trace of nerves, just a serene and calm presence which I'm sure greatly influenced the other members of the wedding party.  The carriage ride the couple took back to Buckingham Palace was also exhilarating.  The horse drawn carriages added to the fairy-tale splendor of the day.  It was wonderful to see so many excited, happy people lining the streets to offer their best wishes to the newly married couple.

Of course, everyone was waiting for the big moment when the newlyweds would share a kiss on the balcony:


I'm very happy that such a wonderful DVD is available at such an affordable price!  The royal watchers can enjoy the ceremony and join in the celebration of the marriage of a beautiful young couple.

Disclaimer:  I was provided with a review copy of The Royal Wedding by the BBC

Final Verdict for The Royal WeddingFive Gherkins, for being a magical look at a fairytale wedding!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Congratulations to the three winners of my "The Human Planet" giveaway!  They were:


Susan M.


Elsie


devotus

All the winners have been contacted and the prizes have been sent.  Thanks to everyone who entered, and watch for the next giveaway!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Once again the BBC has produced an amazing series with stunning camera work and compelling stories! From the highest, coldest mountain peaks to the hot, dry tropics, this series takes a look at how humans live on this varied planet.  Human Planet arrived on DVD and Blu-ray April 26, just two days following the broadcast conclusion.

Here is a synopsis of the series:

Human Planet is the first BBC/Discovery Channel co-production to focus solely on human behavior. Since premiering in the UK, the series has received overwhelming critical acclaim including The Telegraph proclaiming, "it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before" and The Sun stating that it’s "visually stunning and utterly fascinating, this is seriously impressive stuff." From the makers of Planet Earth, Life and Blue Planet, Human Planet focuses on humanities amazing, complex and profound relationship with nature. It weaves together 80 stories, many never told before, to illuminate humanity’s uncanny ability to adapt and live in every corner of our diverse world. Each episode centers on a particular habitat, and by using innovative and cutting edge filming techniques, reveals how its people have created astonishing solutions in the face of extreme adversity.

The Discovery Channel version will be presented by Charles Parnell and consists of six episodes that will take viewers to the farthest reaches of the globe culminating with, Life at the Extremes, a "best of" episode. The Human Planet DVD and Blu-ray will include all eight episodes from the original UK broadcast version, presented by John Hurt, extending the home viewing experience with three hours of footage not seen in the North American broadcast. It will include the episode, Cities, which will be exclusive to the DVD and Blu-ray. Additionally, the DVD and Blu-ray will take viewers deeper into the heart of Human Planet with its set of ten Behind the Lens "making of" bonus features, and, exclusive to Blu-ray, a further "making of" feature called, Zanskar, accessible via BD-Live. Zanskar showcases the astonishing life struggles of a resilient group of people living at the edge of the Himalayas.

Here is a preview of some of the amazing video you can see in this series:



Visit Human Planet on Facebook!

Thanks to BBC, I have 3 copies of this gorgeous DVD series to give away!  To enter, just leave a comment with the most amazing place you've ever visited.  That's it!  The giveaway will end on May 13.  Please be sure that your email address is listed in your comment or your Blogger profile so I can contact you.  Open to residents of the USA and Canada.  I will choose the winners with random.org and the winners will have 3 days to contact me with their addresses, or I will have to choose alternate winners.

Good luck!


Disclaimer:  I received 3 copies of Human Planet from BBC to use as prizes in this giveaway.
Thanks to everyone who entered to win the Upstairs Downstairs DVD giveaway!  The winner, chosen by random.org was:

mummytotwoboys


Congratulations!  Thanks again to BBC for providing the prize.

Watch for more giveaways coming soon!

About Me

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I'm a librarian who is interested in all things British. I try to visit London as often as possible, and am always planning my next trip. I lived in Sweden for a few years with my Swedish husband, so the occasional Swedish reference may occur . . .

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