Elizabeth Taylor The Signature Movie Collection


If you are looking for some of Elizabeth Taylor's best movies, you may want to consider buying a boxed set like the Elizabeth Taylor Signature Collection.  It contains four interesting and noteworthy films, including National Velvet, Father of the Bride, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Butterfield 8. 

National Velvet is the movie that launched the 12 year old Elizabeth Taylor to stardom, although it was not her first movie. This movie was so well received that it planted Taylor firmly in the hearts of movie goers everywhere.

Father of the Bride features Elizabeth Taylor with another legendary actor, Spencer Tracy. This movie had such a good story that it launched almost as many remakes as Taylor had marriages.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features Elizabeth Taylor with Paul Newman, a pairing I am anxious to see. Nominated for six Academy Awards, this movie was one of the films that saw Taylor moving on to adult roles.

Finally, Butterfield 8 saw Taylor nominated for and WIN her first of two Academy Awards.  It is a story taken from a 1935 book written by John O'Hara, which was in turn based on a true story -- that of a 1920's New York City call girl.  Amazon customer reviewer Michael C. Smith sums Taylor's performance up, calling it a PERFECT Oscar scene and adding that Taylor "gave it to us with both barrels blazing."

Individually some of these DVDs are very inexpensive. However, the presence of Butterfield 8 makes this set worth buying because Butterfield 8 alone is selling for about $50 used and even more if you find a new copy.  If you are interested in purchasing BUtterfield 8, buying the entire Elizabeth Taylor Signature Movie Collection from Amazon by clicking here may be the best way to do it because it adds four movies to your collection for not much more than the price of one. 

And by the way, I have been unable to find any Elizabeth Taylor movies on blu-ray. If you find one that I've missed, I would be thrilled to hear about it.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Read more about The Best Elizabeth Taylor Movies.



Beyond The Blackboard A New Hallmark Movie 2011

Another great film, Beyond the Blackboard Hallmark Movie

Beyond the Blackboard is a new Hallmark Hall of Fame movie set to come to your television screen on April 24, 2011.  Luckily for those who do not own the Hallmark Channel, it is having its world premiere on CBS meaning that we will be able to watch it with the rest of the world.

The story promises to be a timely one with a young teacher finding herself teaching a school full of homeless children. Not a situation one expects to encounter and quite possibly not a situation that you have even thought about before but definitely one worth contemplation.

Based on a true story written by the real life hero Stacey Bess called "Nobody Don't Love Nobody: Lessons on Love from the School With No Name," it looks like it could be another moving Hallmark production.

Beyond the Blackboard stars Emily VanCamp, Timothy Busfield and Treat Williams. Stay tuned for more details.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

When Is Jane Eyre movie in 2011 Being Released?

When will the new Jane Eyre movie be released at the local movie theatre? 

A frustrating subject for me. Was it for you, too?

I was given the mistaken impression that the new Jane Eyre movie starring Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre and Michael Fassbender as Edward Rochester was being released on March 11, 2011. However, that turned out to be just plain WRONG, at least in part.

The movie was apparently released in SELECT THEATRES on that date but the rest of us have to wait until April 1, 2011. I suppose that would not be so frustrating if I hadn't been so keen on seeing it last week...

In the meantime, I have settled for watching two other Jane Eyre movies and now can say that I know the storyline pretty well and at least much better than I did originally.

The first one that I watched was Masterpiece Theatre's Jane Eyre 2006 Miniseries and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am assuming the new version will be at least as good as this one given the big names associated with the new production and what I assume is a big budget since it is a movie being made for the big screen rather than the television.

The second was the A& Home Video 1997 version of Jane Eyre, which I also enjoyed, particularly once I got over the difference in cinematography.

If you asked me to pick between the two, I would have to choose the 2006 version although I did enjoy the 1997 version, too.

Here's to a hugely successful new Jane Eyre movie in April!

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

HOP 2011 A New Easter Bunny Movie

Hop 2011 A New Easter Bunny Movie

HOP promises a new adventure for the Easter Bunny this year.  I stumbled across him by accident and was totally impressed by the artwork.  The movie, looks to be a comedy although the poor little bunny gets struck by a car...

The story line is that of a little bunny who doesn't really want to assume his duties of Easter Bunny, even though we all know that the job duties aren't too difficult...work one day a year, travel the world, plenty of candy...what else could a bunny want?

Anyway, after he is struck by the car, the human driver takes him in and must help salvage Easter. In the process both bunny and man grow up a bit.

And as a bonus, this movie will help you learn where jelly beans come from...although you really might NOT want to know.  You can buy your copy of HOP on Amazon by clicking right here.

I WANT CANDY!

See you at the movies,
Brenda

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Movie with Exclusive Dobby Bookend

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows DVD with Exclusive Dobby Bookend


Remember this?

The most important of dates is drawing near...the release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. If you have been waiting and waiting to own this movie, your wait is almost over as it will appear on shelves on April 15, 2011 and it is, of course, available (complete with price guarantee) for pre-order right now.

I remember the arrival of the movie version of J.K. Rowling's The Deathly Hallows vividly. Even though the text shown above is obviously out of date, collectors who are still looking for this version of the movie with the exclusive Dobby bookend can buy it from Amazon by clicking right here

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Hallmark Movie

Hallmark Hall of Fame's movie is about a young woman who worked tirelessly during World War II to save, in the end, 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.

Recently I watched an exceptional Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie called The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler and I was impressed. This movie is about a young woman who worked tirelessly during World War II to save, in the end, 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland.

The movie was well done, taking into account that it is a made-for-television movie, which really only means that it is not a big budget movie and that it might perhaps be a little easier to watch than something made for the big screen.

The story was good enough to make me want to read the book, which was released in 2005. The real Irena Sendler, was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 2007 and, unfortunately, passed away in 2008 before the movie was released in 2009.

If you are interested in learning something about a largely unsung female hero or heroine, you should check out The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler. It is not available on blu-ray but it is readily available on DVD.

See you
at the movies.
Brenda

Quick Links:

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler movie review.
Buy your copy of The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler from Amazon.


The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold, A Rankin and Rass Production

Yesterday I watched and was VERY impressed by the 1981 Bankin and Rass production of The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold.

The storyline follows a young boy sent from a passing ship to find a Christmas tree. The young lad named Dinty Doyl finds himself on an unknown Irish island and manages to set free a banshee from her prison.  Fortunately, Leprechaun Blarney Kilakilarney realizes that the Banshee will soon be after his gold and, aided by Lord Patrick king of the wee folk, both he and Dinty try to fool the Banshee.

Voiced by Art Carney and Peggy Cass and featuring one of my favorite Irish songs, Christmas in Killarney, this television show was really lovely. Technically more of a Christmas story but perfectly suitable for St. Patrick's Day viewing, too.

Amazon customer reviews are enthusiastic although a bit focused on achieving the release of this movie on DVD so I was amazed to discover that you CAN buy The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold as part of a boxed set on DVD. For the price of not much more than a single disc, you get nine timeless Classic Christmas Favorites including The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

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Grease IS Available On Blu-ray Disc

This weekend we went to see the movie Grease at the Mayfair Theatre in Ottawa. The Mayfair is a vintage movie theatre that offers its facilities for rent during the day for fundraisers and my son's Grade 12 Canterbury High School drama class was hosting a showing of Grease.

My husband and I enjoyed the 1978 film; I am not sure my son was as enthusiastic.  For us (or at least for me) it was a journey back in time. Judging by his somewhat lukewarm response, I would say that Grease is not for your average teenage guy, even one who enjoys musicals and drama.

All of the music from the Grease soundtrack is music that was popular when I was younger...and of course, Grease is a movie that I have seen once or twice before.

Watching Grease raised several questions in my mind like how-the-heck old was Olivia Newton-John when she played Sandy?  My brother-in-law was kind enough to point out that she was 29!  Unbelievable! I mean, she looked older than a senior in high school -- heck my son is a high school senior and there's nary a wrinkle on his face -- but 29 is really 'old' for that role. 

And then I discovered that Stockard Channing was 33!

Both women had absolutely amazing voices but I  really don't believe that they would cast individuals that are so 'old' in a movie as such a young person today. Do you?

Anyway, we were watching a well-loved copy of the film at the Mayfair and I found myself wondering if there is a blu-ray version available and, lo-and-behold, there IS

What then of the quality? Is it a movie I should be adding to my blu-ray movie collection? 

I consulted with my favorite movie resource, Blu-ray.com, and they said that the quality of the blu-ray IS worth an upgrade for Grease fans. Of course, at $14.99 on Amazon (just $1 more than the DVD price) you might as well buy the blu-ray disc unless, of course, you don't have a player.

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your copy of Grease on blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.

Toy Story 3 Movie Review

Toy Story 3 Movie Review

We finally put the Toy Story 3 blu-ray disc that I received for Christmas in the blu-ray player this weekend and we were WOWED

What a movie!

It was funny...and the quality of animation was truly AMAZING. (No wonder Toy Story 3 made the list of the best blu-ray movies from 2010.)

The story, however, was overwhelmingly sad for at least one member of our family and I was not prepared for that. Mind you, I knew that people thought it was going to be a sad film because it was the end of an era for a certain generation. 

My son's girl friends were quick to tell me that this movie IS about THEM.  They grew up with Toy Story and this is their final year of school which means that they, like Andy, are off to college this year.

However, I don't really remember my sons being big Toy Story fans. Oh sure, they knew Woody and Buzz Lightyear and they could "to infinity and beyond" as well as the next child, one son carried a wicker cowboy hat all the way to the Woody's Roundup at Disneyland in California so that he could dress up as Woody and none of us will ever forget seeing REAL little green army men while eating our lunch at a diner at that same park in California.

But Toy Story wasn't a movie that we owned and it wasn't one we saw more than maybe once or twice and lo and behold my son wasn't blown away by the fact that it was the end of the franchise but rather that the toys were so poorly done by...this from a young man whose childhood bear is bearly (misspelling intended) attached by a thread...

Anyway, I had no idea that this movie would be such an emotional roller coaster.  I laughed and enjoyed myself while my son grew sadder and sadder...

The next day I asked him if I could sell the Toy Story 3 blu-ray disc in my eBay store figuring there was no way he would EVER want to watch THAT movie again...and he said a resounding "No!"  Go figure!

How about you? What did you and your family think of the Toy Story 3 story?

See you
at the movies!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order your copy of Toy Story 3 from Amazon.
See the movies available in my eBay store.

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