Terrifying but essential viewing

Laurence Rees is one of the BBC's outstanding historical documentary producers and one of his principal interests is the havoc wrought in Europe by Hitler and his henchmen. Ten years ago, he gave us the six-part series"The Nazis, A Warning from History". This series, homing in on one aspect of Nazism, was broadcast on the BBC around the time of the 60th anniversary of Auschwitz' liberation by the Red Army in January 1945. When it was broadcast I was unable to tear myself away from the screen and I seized a copy of the 2-DVD set as soon as I saw it in the shops.
The series mixes actual footage, interviews with victims and perpetrators and computer generated images of the two main camps (the"administration centre" at the confluence of the Sola and Vistula rivers in Auschwitz itself and the later Auschwitz-Birkenau some 3km away, where most of the mass murder took place).
Rees, ably supported by series consultant Professor Sir Ian Kershaw, traces the story of Auschwitz from its beginnings in April 1940 to its liberation in January 1945. They show how its development was a reaction to different Nazi priorities as World War II progressed. It was only after the infamous Wannsee conference in January 1942 that it developed as an extermination camp, but throughout its life it was a centre for Polish political prisoners, Russian prisoners of war and only later did it become a death camp as well.
It is one thing to watch old, blurred black and white pictures and scratched films, but quite another to follow a CGI image through the dimly-lit changing rooms into an underground gas chamber, one of the four that were the final destination for over a million victims of Auschwitz. This is disturbing viewing, definitely not for the faint hearted, but neither should it be ignored if we are to avoid repeating this black episode in recent history.
One thing that struck me was a CGI view of the yard between blocks 10 and 11 of the main camp, the so-called"death yard". I watched the DVD to remind myself of Rees's comments a few days after a visit to Krakow in March 2007. During that visit I took the 60km or so journey to Auschwitz and was able to pause my DVD player at that stage, point to a particular spot on the screen and say"I stood right there a few days ago". That brought it home to me that this is living history.
At times frightening, at times heartbreaking, but always completely riveting.

Fantastic Documentary

Love were hugely underrated. Testified by the amount of musicians who cited Love and/or Arthur Lee in his own right, as a big influence; ranging from The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Syd Barrett, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix - in short, successful artists.
As the other reviews state, this brilliant documentary is a real tribute to the band and quite simply the best music docu I've watched. It lets the story tell itself. Having Arthur take the cameras on a tour of The Castle, or the walk to Capitol he did each day as a teenager are brilliant images of his inner drive.
Hard to rate this highly enough; I purchased the book by Michael Stuart, the drummer recently, titled"On The Pegasus Carousel with the Legendary Rock Group Love". This dvd will be a great visual accompaniment.

Grand Designs is finally back on DVD

I had emailed Channel 4 a few weeks ago about Grand Designs being released on DVD and they said they had no plans to do so. Well, here we are and Fremantle Media has announced that Series 4 will be released in May. This is excellent news. This is the best property show ever made and is very, very engaging. If you have never seen the show before then I recommend you pick up series 1 on DVD and see if it is for you. Kevin McCloud presents the show with good humour and interesting ideas. Has to be one to own! Here is to the rest of the seasons being released on DVD soon!

Fascinating and real value for money

David Dimbleby takes you around Britain using paintings to track the landscapes. He eloquently and charmingly explores not only the landscape with the people who live there. It gave me an excellent insight into parts of Britain I know little of. Maybe next time I am there, I will try to find some of these beautiful and interesting places.
Sometimes the background music dominates the programme (especially in the fifth episode - The Home Front). It is quite annoying when music is playing at the same time as David is trying to speak, and the use of odd noises really is distracting. I can see no point in playing music over the sound of crashing waves when it drowns out the natural sounds of the sea.
However, a great series of programmes that are pleasant to watch, and presented brilliantly. As an addendum - David I loved your boat, it is just like the one I want!

all hail mr clarkson

jeremy clarkson does it again in this excellent dvd boxset. and outstanding value for your money. jeremy clarkson is what this country has been waiting for. no other motoring presenter has what jeremys got..style, guts, and an honest take on life.

buy this now youll have years of entertainment. watch over and over again youll never get tired

lee frayling herefordshire england

Adventures in ancient religious monuments, mostly

This series has been badly titled, to my mind. It is not so much"Adventures in Architecture" as"Mostly Visits to Historical Religious sites" with Dan Cruckshank. Dan dashes around the world, wearing his hat and scarf, saying `golly' a lot, generally being over-awed by some large, ancient religious buildings and shrines and occasionally acting a little bit brusquely, or awkwardly toward his hosts - generally through lots of bowing and saying"very good" to people speaking languages at him that he clearly has no understanding of.

Sometimes, Dan himself seems to completely forget what the series is called - easy to do given the content - and gets involved in a Hindu festival or visits an old Indian woman in her `dying chamber' in Varanesi. The thing is, Dan's an historian, not an architect, so you get a fair bit of history and not a lot of architectural comment. His love of the past is particularly evidenced in his visit to Dresden where he commends the faithful reconstruction of the historic centre destroyed by Allied bombing in WW2, replacing some `inappropriate' - to use his description - Modernist buildings which have emerged since the end of the war. A true engagement with architecture would be less automatically dismissive of Modern architecture when pitted against ancient monuments.

Another attack on Modernism comes when Dan visits Brasilia and witnesses the inequality there. There are a few comments how"most people don't like Modernism". I get the impression that Dan may be being a little anachronistic here, but that's not surprising, he's getting on himself in years, and he's an historian. I would have hoped Dan would have recognised that urban planning is a tough nut to crack, and even his beloved ancient sites are so loved and habituated because of the passage of 1,000s of years.

It is disappointing that the series did not give more time to secular architecture or non-monumental architecture - the world is full of fantastic vernacular architecture which, if Dan is unwilling to engage with the contemporary, he could have brought some of his insight into the background to everyday, folk architecture which can be just as engaging, or often more so - than a ruined temple or a remote Siberian church.

My final gripe is also relating to the title of each episodes - Beauty, Death, Paradise, Disaster, Connections - again, all very loose and nebulous and arguably frequently interchangeable given the content of each show. Its almost like the crew went around the world, filmed some interesting stuff, then had a brainstorm at the BBC afterwards to decide which footage should go into which episode and thereby fashion a series out of it, rather than consciously thinking up decent themes in advance and then actually going out and finding the most appropriate material for that episode. It could have benefitted from more coherence.

Against this, there are some wonderful visits to buildings you would never likely get to see inside, and the occasional non-religious visit -San Francisco with City Hall on Springs, the new bridge with its sacrificial steel `fuses". And the visit to the remote minaret in Afghanistan is something else! After a lot of monumental religious focus in the first three or four episodes, the series does seem to be evolving into a broader view of architecture for its final two episodes, so its worth sticking with. 7/10

An incredible release.

Only April and already we have THE finest DVD release of the year (although Fremantle's"Absolutely Everything" box comes close!). Would/could any company other than the BFI lavish this kind of care and attention on such a wide range of rarely seen films? Painfully nostalgic and of immense social importance the films in this set are a history lesson in a box and the superb content is matched only by the packaging and book that is included with the release. A sturdy box houses a fold out digipack (please use thin-paks next time BFI) and it's accompanying book. Don't be fooled by descriptions of this as a"booklet", it is a substantial piece in it's own right - something anyone interested in the subject would be happy to pay £5+ for on it's own and for what you get the set as a whole is bargain-priced even at full RRP. Even the mighty Criterion would struggle to match the quality and assurance of this staggering release. Highly recommended (as is their"Free Cinema" release).

Gorgeous to look at but not a lot more

I'm not sure that this series really stands repeated viewing. Griff Rhys Jones is an entertaining chap and the landscape of Britain's high places is stunning, but the repeated formula of going somewhere bleak, scrambling up a hillside, making some witty comments, and delving briefly into the history or geography of the area wears a bit thin if you watch several epiosdes at once.

The theme was an admirable one, and there's no doubt that the photography of the UK's wild (and tame) mountains is beautiful to behold. However, like so many programmes produced for BBC1, 'Mountain' is weighted more towards entertainment than information or education. You get some tantalising snippets from each area, maybe a human interest story or two -- and then it's over. Back to Griff manfully struggling up another gurt big hill. (And he does brilliantly for a chap of his age, tackling some daunting climbs. But then the programme suddenly becomes about Griff, and not about the landscape).
I suppose it's the difference in having a 'celebrity' presenter, rather than having an expert presenter. I'd rather have a geographer or historian explain things to me in great depth.

If you're looking for an enjoyable gift which can't possibly offend then this series would do the trick. But for real history of Britain try any of Michael Wood's 'In Search Of...' series, and for proper natural history you should stick to Coast. If you want UK landscapes, the Nicholas Crane's Great British Journeys is far superior. All of those series inspire me to go and explore for myself or learn more on the subject; this one didn't make the grade.

'Mountain' was just too frothy for my tastes. There seems to be a lot of rushing around for not much depth or detail. Looks great; not a lot of substance once you get into it.

Intresting story about special forces and training for actual combat

For the first time you get inside informatation about special forces training, real training and no fiction or stories. You see how a group ocf young men are transformed to soldiers capabel to take combat action in Afganistan. Ten points to Chris Terrill, a 55 years old film maker that went through all four commando tests, the bonus material about this is intrestning. I think this movie is a must for all of you intrested in military training and combat situations. Terrill takes the wiewer to Afganistan in the last parts of the serie. And I will asure you that you almost feel the combat adrealine in the pictures... Greetings from an Special Forces fan in Finland!

Excellent Set

What a great buy!! 6 DVDs of facinating experiences for Bruce Parry the watcher... could not stop watching and although I have seen some episodes before on TV, still found them utterly fantastic, would definately recommend and cannot wait for the next box set! Well done Bruce and the team!!

how wonderful

what a lovely film. The penguins are adorable, i found myself laughing and crying along with them. They are beautiful animals and morgan freeman narrates the story incrediably well!a must watch film!

Lynda La Plante - The Commander - Vols. 4-6

Realling looking forward to this box set as I think these 3 stories are even better than in the first box set BUT as the previous reviewer said


Just one question though: What happened to Blacklight? I want that one on DVD and that part came before these three and its not on the first DVD set...



what is with leaving it out, doesn't make sense???????????

Amazing - Simply Brilliant!

This DVD box set is an amazing set of documentaries. A must buy for all you wildlife and/or David Attenborough lovers!

Moore may be patronising, but the issue is essential

He is patronising, irritating and his schtick can grate, but this is Michael Moore's best film. Bowling was unfocused and had no answer for the question it posed. Fahrenheit was even more unfocused, inaccurate and sprawling. In contrast, Sicko is much cleaner and clearer.

One-sided? Of course it is. But it is an antidote to the media and political message that is even more one-sided the other way. Without antagonists like Moore there would be no message to counter the big corporations and their media puppets (don't fool yourself, the media outlets are owned and controlled by the big corporate entities Moore is attacking).

The film, like so many docos about the US is terrifying. America is so geared around profit and money there is no room for humanity. At least Moore's films are a wake-up call, so the US can find its roots again.

scary,scary man!!!

Derren is brilliant once again.............if you have been to see him live this year like I did,then you will love this DVD,he is probably the scariest man alive!!!!
Brilliant,award winning stage show.

A Must See Movie

This is a must see documentary and is so much more than a documentary.
I was fortunate to see this movie whilst on holiday in the US. It is the most amazing film I have ever seen, I don't think I been so affected by a film, nor has a film ever compelled me to get out there and do something to help like this film did. I am in total awe of what Rob has achieved with Sharkwater and hopeful that this is the beginning of an amazing crusade to save the sharks.
This was the most beautifully shot piece of cinematography I have ever had the fortune to watch. Even so, this beauty was nothing compared to the utterly tragic and desperately moving discoveries the film documented. Rob Stewart cannot be thanked and praised enough for this film and it marks the beginning of something crucial. This must be stopped and this film is what is needed to educate and amaze people. I cannot wait to watch it again and encourage everyone I know to watch it. It literally changes you

Congratulations to you Rob and to all your colleagues. I would urge EVERYONE to buythis movie and I will certainly be encouraging all of my friends to do so.

A must have for all science lovers - should be 6 stars!

I was enthralled by this series when it was originally broadcast on TV. I waited years for it to come out on DVD, putting up with an increasingly fuzzy VHS home recording, even writing to the BBC to implore them to publish it. So imagine how pleased I was when it was eventually released on DVD!

Aubrey Manning's velvet broadcasting style takes the viewer on a deceptively deep and fascinating journey into one of the great mystery areas of science - the nature, composition, origins and working mechanisms of our home planet. Seemingly inaccessible principles are covered effortlessly, principles which are difficult to find anywhere except in the most specialist text books. The mechanics of plate tectonics, subduction and ocean floor spreading, mantle convection, mountain root drop, rebound and flow away, all are explained clearly in a relaxed, informative and entertaining style. How else would we learn so delightfully of the large scale fluid behaviour of seemingly-solid rock, the long term carbon cycle, the role of water in maintaining the dynamic nature of the Earth's deep interior, the unique partnership between life, water and geology which has given us the one habitable world we know of.

You know this stuff is good for expanding your mind, but it's so nice and easy and great to watch. It's like eating bran that tastes of chocolate, spinach that tastes of lemon sorbet, exercising that feels like a caress.

A truly great documentary series, a must have for all science lovers. I would award 6 stars out of 5 if I could!

Educational, not erotic!

As a virgin (ahem) to The Lovers' Guide, I had no idea what to expect, except that the series is intended to be more of an educational tool than sex scenes to arouse.

This new release is different to those that have gone before because it's an Interactive DVD, meaning you can pick and choose which sections you want to watch, and in which order.

The DVD is broken down into several sections; Making Sex Better, Overcoming Problems, Facts & Information, Sex Quiz and Intercourse in 3D. Many of these sections are then broken down further, so if necessary, you can just watch which sections are relevant to you. Basically, though, this DVD is aimed at heterosexual couples. I can't see there being much relevance for single or gay people.

It's a great educational tool, though. If you're inexperienced with sex in relationships, or sex in general, then there is a great deal of information here that you will find incredibly valuable. However, if you are experienced in the bedroom, then it's likely to have you rolling your eyes and saying"Yeah, yeah!"

There's a total abundance of information covering everything sex-related, right from masturbation through oral sex and intercourse. There's even a fascinating section which shows what sex looks like from the inside - using the same machines used giving pregnant women scans! The quiz is great fun to test you, particularly if you think you're a bit of a know it all! You may find you're not, after all.

In summary, I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who's after porn, you're barking completely up the wrong tree. There are naked people doing naughty things, but there's voiceover etc, and it's not erotic, simply educational. This is ideal for a new couple looking to explore all aspects of their sex life, and I think it could be particularly useful for men who don't want to read books. The quiz is an excellent way of testing if they've been paying attention, too! A couple of downsides were the inconsistency in sound volume, meaning I was constantly messing around with the remote control, and some video clips had poor recording quality.

Classic Palin; Except episode 5

I'm a long-time fan of Michael Palin and personally believe that Pole to Pole is his finest work. Michael's latest series, New Europe, is an entertaining and informative journey through Eastern Europe (and Turkey). The formula which has worked so well in the past worked fairly well again; exploring new countries, meeting new people and having key 'informants'. I have only one gripe; Episode 5 is just horrid. He spends far too long with hippies living in a house shaped like a pyramid. While they are interesting, I would rather meet and see sights more indicative to the country (Lithuania). Whoever proposed this scene should be fired. My impression after that episode was that I really should give Lithuania a wide birth; apparently there is nothing there worth filming.
Aside from episode 5 I found yet more amazing places I want to visit. I don't know if there will be another series, but I would push for one focusing on Central/South America!