CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Adventures Of Elmo In Grouchland [2000]

starring: Kevin Clash, Mandy Patinkin, Vanessa Williams, Sonia Manzano, Roscoe Orman
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date March 08, 2004
I'm not sure why as it certainly dons't appeal to me but my son - just turned two - will sit and watch this constantly if you let him!
He finds it hilarious - he also has a blanket like Elmo and has taken to kissing it 'like Elmo' and can recite most of what Elmo says.
He had never watched Elmo before this but it still appeals.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Everybody Loves Raymond: Complete HBO Season 9

starring: Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Patricia Heaton
directed by: Gary Halvorson, Jerry Zaks, Kenneth Shapiro

Release Date November 12, 2007
I first saw this on Channel 4, in the morning before setting of before college. I never thought I'd end up liking it so much, that I'd make it part of my daily routine.
Ray Romano stars as Raymond, the man with all the luck compared to his brother Robert who's life is a failure. Hance the title Everybody Loves Raymond.
Ray is married and has 3 children and his parents live across the road, much to the annoyance of his wife Debra.
The is a comedy about family life, something that most of us can relate too, making it more funny.
There is some great one liners and word play, aswell as the odd bit of physical comedy from Brad Garrett (Robert).
It originally took me a while to get into it, but once I was in the zone I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Everybody Loves Raymond: Complete HBO Season 8

starring: Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, Peter Boyle
directed by: Gary Halvorson, Kenneth Shapiro, Jerry Zaks

Release Date July 16, 2007
I first saw this on Channel 4, in the morning before setting of before college. I never thought I'd end up liking it so much, that I'd make it part of my daily routine.
Ray Romano stars as Raymond, the man with all the luck compared to his brother Robert who's life is a failure. Hance the title Everybody Loves Raymond.
Ray is married and has 3 children and his parents live across the road, much to the annoyance of his wife Debra.
The is a comedy about family life, something that most of us can relate too, making it more funny.
There is some great one liners and word play, aswell as the odd bit of physical comedy from Brad Garrett (Robert).
It originally took me a while to get into it, but once I was in the zone I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Puccini - La Boheme [2008]

starring: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Richard Pearson, Paul Plishka, Renée Fleming, Angela Gheorghiu
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date September 15, 2008
I first saw this on Channel 4, in the morning before setting of before college. I never thought I'd end up liking it so much, that I'd make it part of my daily routine.
Ray Romano stars as Raymond, the man with all the luck compared to his brother Robert who's life is a failure. Hance the title Everybody Loves Raymond.
Ray is married and has 3 children and his parents live across the road, much to the annoyance of his wife Debra.
The is a comedy about family life, something that most of us can relate too, making it more funny.
There is some great one liners and word play, aswell as the odd bit of physical comedy from Brad Garrett (Robert).
It originally took me a while to get into it, but once I was in the zone I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Everybody Loves Raymond: Complete HBO Season 5

starring: Brad Garrett, Ray Romano, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Patricia Heaton
directed by: Gary Halvorson, Jerry Zaks, Kenneth Shapiro

Release Date July 03, 2006
In my opinion, probably the funniest American Import we've had. I first started watching this when i was off work sick and decided to put channel 4 on at 8 in the morning and have been hooked ever since. Everybody Loves Raymond has got to be one of the most under-rated sitcoms of all time in the UK and i dont understand why considering it was one of the biggest or probably the best in the states. The show started off in 1995 before the last ever episode was screened in 2005 with over 200 episodes made. I suppose if the media would hype this sitcom up like it did with the likes of Frasier, Friends or Seinfeld then i wouldn't be suprised to see a bigger viewing figures.

All characters you will love. Ray Barone's (Ray Romano) life consists ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Bryn Terfel - Don Giovanni - Mozart [2000] (NTSC)

starring: Renée Fleming, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Paul Groves, Hei-Kyung Hong, Sergei Koptchak
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date March 14, 2005
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us from believing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Britten - Peter Grimes [2008]

starring: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Felicity Palmer, Anthony Dean Griffey, Bernard Fitch, Anthony Michaels-Moore
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date September 15, 2008
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us from believing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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The Merry Widow: Franz Lehar [2003] (NTSC)

starring: Yvonne Kenny, Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Curtis Sullivan, Bob Amaral
directed by: Christine Clark Bradley, Gary Halvorson

Release Date August 19, 2003
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us from believing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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The Drew Carey Show: The Complete First Season [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader, Kathy Kinney, Ryan Stiles, Christa Miller
directed by: Drew Carey, Bob Koherr, Brian K. Roberts, Dennis Erdman, Gary Halvorson

Release Date April 24, 2007
This is one of the best versions of Mozart's masterpiece presently available in DVD. Its greatest attraction is obviously the presence of Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel. Ms Fleming's interpretation of Donna Anna is truly exceptional: the candor and purity of her voice make a perfect expression of the pain and suffering of that noble woman who's father has been killed by the man who tried to rape her. Bryn Terfel is undoubtely a great singer, but he is not a credible Don Giovanni. His voice lacks that touch of evil that makes of the Don the seductor that everybody admires and fears at the same time, specially when he seduces Zerlina and sings below Donna Elvira's balcony. Mr. Terfel's physical appearance is the other factor that prevents us from believing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Bellini - I Puritani [2007]

starring: Eric Cutler, Renée Fleming, Margaret Juntwait, Anna Netrebko, John Relyea
directed by: Gary Halvorson

Release Date January 21, 2008
The previous review seriously underplays, I think, the many virtues of this marvellous production. The sets are very good, the orchestra is first class, the conducting excellent, and the atmosphere strong. All the main singers are high quality. Anna Netrebko, to my mind, gives an amazing performance, full of characterization and beautiful singing. Her coloratura is not quite in the Sutherland league - but I have recently re-watched/listened to the latter and, while the high notes of Sutherland's voice are peerless, overall Netrebko's voice + acting + appearance tilt the scales clearly in her favour.
This is a bargain of a DVD.