CD-Charts Position 1
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Mamma Mia! [2008]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters
directed by: Phyllida Lloyd

Release Date November 24, 2008
Point one: I don't really like musicals but I watched this with my dearly beloved because she'd heard it was good fun.

Point two: I love Abba and was a big fan way back then and I still think they were just about the best pop group of the 70's.

But this film was just plain nonsense. Of course it wasn't to be taken seriously and was supposed to be fun and light-hearted. But that is no excuse for a) there being NO plot, b) some of the worst casting I have ever come across (Pierce Brosnan?), c) just about the most awful bunch of cover versions of some of the most-beloved songs in recent history.

Sorry, but this is one of the worst cases of exploitation of the value of "star pull" that I have ever come across. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Mamma Mia! [Blu-ray] [2008]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters
directed by: Phyllida Lloyd

Release Date November 24, 2008
Just finished watching the movie and pretty much all the extras! Absolutely loved the movie (which has already been reviewed many, many times) - best movie musical I've seen since Moulin Rouge. And the Blu Ray - sound and picture - is just stunning. Having been to Skiathos and Skopelos, where this was partially filmed, made me want to go right back. Forget the DVD, buy the Blu Ray. Money well spent...

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Viva La Diva - Darcey Bussell and Katherine Jenkins (NTSC)

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
by: Various

Release Date November 10, 2008
Full marks to Bussell and Jenkins for putting together and performing this high-quality and fun show, but boo-hiss for the camera operator and the editor for a barely adequate final product.

The camera work is somewhat frenetic, resting on a shot for only a few seconds. While this doesn't really detract from Katherine Jenkins' performance, where we concentrate on her voice, it completely fails for Darcey Bussell's dance, as it would for any ballet or modern dance.

And it's in fuzzy NTSC format, making the show look rather like something by Turner. As for the Extras! What were they recorded on? The images are too often smudged, as though they are compiled by imperfect predictive software.

Perhaps this DVD will ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2 Disc) [2007]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
starring: Johnny Depp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall
directed by: Tim Burton

Release Date May 19, 2008
This has rapidly become one of my favourite films of all time! Bloody Brilliant!

Johnny Depp and Helena Bohnam Carter are fantastic, I was wary of their singing to begin with, but soon you forget and are immersed in the story and I couldn't imagine anyone else in their roles.

The visual effects are amazing, I love the use of dark, dingy colours followed by the vibrant splash of scarlet blood splattered everywhere! If you are a bit scared of blood I would watch out, as it is quite graphic! It does have an 18 certificate for a reason!!

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Katherine Jenkins - Katherine In The Park [2007]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
by: Katherine Jenkins

Release Date November 19, 2007
One of the first things we experience on this wonderful DVD is Katherine Jenkins' sense of humour, natural warmth, and un-diva-ish personality, which shine through the whole performance. And talk about pride in being Welsh! :-) Good for her! This DVD is a treat from beginning to end. Wonderful picture quality; super sound; and then there are Katherine Jenkins, Juan Diego Flórez, Serendipity, and the National Symphony Orchestra, all giving of their best. Fantastic!

For three of the Extras, just close your eyes and listen--the picture quality is truly abysmal, but that voice, that voice....

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Across the Universe [2007]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Bono, Jim Sturgess, Salma Hayek, Eddie Izzard
directed by: Julie Taymor

Release Date February 11, 2008
I watched about 20 minutes of this film and then decided to go to my kitchen and chaw out my eyes with a rusty fork which proved a lot more entertaining than the movie!!

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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James Last - Live At The Royal Albert Hall [2007]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
by: James Last

Release Date March 31, 2008
this is the latest of my JAMES LAST dvds and i didn;t think it would better the ones that i already have but i was wrong it;s absolutely brilliant. i noticed that the majority of the musicians and singers were the same as on some of my dvds that was recorded some years ago, surely this proves that they enjoy playing for this great band leader and it shows in the way that they throw themselves into the occasion.how the violinists can play so beautifully whilst dancing around is truely amazing.i sincerly hope that james can carry on for many more years yet, the music world would;ntbe the same without him.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Rick Wakeman - Amazing Grace (NTSC)

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
directed by: Robert Garofalo

Release Date April 02, 2007
I picked this DVD up over the weekend and was really impressed with it. The visuals against the music are ideal and are broken up with live footage of Rick on the piano. The live footage is relaxing and compliments the true genius that Rick Wakeman is on the piano. This is a must have for all. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Il Divo - Live At The Greek Theatre [2006]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
by: Il Divo

Release Date December 04, 2006
Il Divo, well what can I say? Lovely music, great songs, fabulous voices and a good looking bunch of guys im in heaven!! This dvd and others I have purchased are a fans dream! I could look and listen to them for hours! I cant wait until Monday and I come home from work and their new cd will be waiting for me!! I have all their albums on my mp3 player here and I never get fed up of listening to them.. hope they are here for many years to come yet... (this is written on behalf of my wife! who adores them!)

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Il Divo Encore [2006]

CD-Charts > DVD > All Classical Music
starring: Il Divo, Simon Cowell

Release Date December 05, 2005
These 4 young men take my breath away and I am in my 70's. I fell in love with them the very first time I saw them on the Ellen show. Simon Cowell found the very best. I put their CD in my player at night and they sooth me right to sleep
Are they going to come to the states again soon? Next CD please.... I have them both and the Encore. Is there another one out there. Thank you Carlo's, David ( by the way My Maiden name is Miller) (Just thought I'd throw that in)Sebastien and Urs for giving us this beautiful music and your wonderful style of your performance on stage.
Shirley Sigafus Hayward Wisconsin