The Secret Garden (1993) Review

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(More customer reviews)After watching the 1987 version, I was very disappointed with the acting and decided to definitely watch the 1993 production. The acting is superior and the setting more realistic. If someone could take the best qualities of both movies and put them into one, to me that would be the perfect Secret Garden movie.
The 1987 version taught lessons more easily to younger children, while this newer one will be enjoyed more by older children and adults. Colin's father (played by John Lynch) is a much more human portrayal. We can truly empathize with his sorrow and Colin's need to have his father in his life.
Mary Lenox was also played in a more serious light by Kate Maberley. She portrayed her character extremely well. Her story begins in India and we learn she is emotionally neglected, yet spoiled and physically well taken care of. She loses her parents in a massive earthquake. (In the 1987 film it is a plague.)
Since she can no longer stay in India, she is literally shipped off to her uncle. As she enters the monstrosity of a castle, we feel she is doomed to be neglected, hated and locked away. Even Mrs. Medlock (the housekeeper played by Maggie Smith) is not impressed or sympathetic. Mary is told "not to go wandering and poking about." Mary's natural curiosity compels her to discover a way out of her room and soon she finds secret doors, staircases, rooms and gardens.
At first Martha (a maid) is her only friend, then she soon learns to like Martha's brother Dikon. He shares her love of gardening. Martha and Dikon seem to be the only truly happy characters for the entire first half of the movie. All the actors have wonderful accents and reveal the positive and negative aspects of each character.
When Mary meets Colin, she has in fact met her match. He is her cousin who is bedridden, spoiled and annoying! His hysterical screeching makes him most unlovable. Mary shows Colin that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it. She also says something profoundly beautiful at the end of the story.
I found the magic spell casting in this version a bit intense in comparison to the 1987 version, where dancing around the fire was a fun time. There is something about the 1987 version which I think appeals more to children, as the characters seem to have a bit more fun overall. This 1993 version has a much better ending. I recommend this version for those who want a high-quality movie, and the 1987 version for those who can overlook the acting. I think there is something to be learned from both movies.
~The Rebecca Review

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The enchanting classic about a young girl who brings an English country house's garden - and the people it touches - magically back to life. Maggie Smith and John Lynch star. Year: 1993DVD Features:Interactive MenusProduction NotesScene AccessTheatrical Trailer:Three theatrical trailers

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The Secret (Extended Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Secret is one of the best produced and edited DVDs of its kind that I have ever seen. And the line-up of teachers and presenters is top-notch. There is only one reason I give this DVD four stars instead of five. The Secret is about the Law of Attraction, and how we can use that Law to "attract" into our lives anything we want. But it spends 95% of the time talking only about being focused on what you want (rather than what you don't want), and generating positive feelings about that. It only spends 5% of the time making it clear that what we really attract into our lives is the people, circumstances, and opportunities that lead us to what we want. In other words, when we utilize the principles mentioned in The Secret, doors open. But we have to recognize those doors for what they are and go through them. And that involves action. Many people who watch The Secret walk away with the impression that visualization and positive feelings is all it takes. It isn't. You still have to do something. As long as you keep that in mind, The Secret contains information that can be life altering. Enjoy!
Steven Lane Taylor, Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide For Living Life In The Divine Flow

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The new "extended edition" of this ground-breaking feature length movie presentation reveals The Great Secret of the universe. It has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries... to reach you. This is The Secret to everything - the secret to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted. In this astonishing program are ALL the resources you will ever need to understand and live The Secret. For the first time in history, the world's leading scientists, authors, and philosophers will reveal The Secret that utterly transformed the lives of every person who ever knew it... Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare, Einstein.Now YOU will know The Secret. And it can change your life forever.

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Celtic Woman: A New Journey - Live At Slane Castle (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Slane Castle is the perfect backdrop for the second Celtic Woman concert on DVD. The castle is all lit up and the Celtic WomEn are in top form. This was the first appearance of Hayley Westenra as the newest member of CW. I have to admit when I heard she was joining the group, my first thought was "if it's not broke, why fix it?" I will tell you now, happily, I was wrong. I really enjoyed listening to her sing and thought she made a nice addition to this group of extraordinarily gifted women.
The music is as wonderful as I had expected and I watched the DVD twice today. I had the opportunity to see Celtic Woman in concert this summer. There were several songs that they performed that night that I had never heard them sing. I remember thinking, I hope they are going to record these. They did.
The one song I really wanted them to record was "At the Ceili" a fun little song about women going to a Ceili (party) and seeking out men. It is upbeat and impossible not to want to clap along or tap your foot. Meav, Lisa and Orla sing that song and they really look like they are having a good time doing it.
Another favorite was the "Pacific Slope." Mairead is playing her fiddle, with the accompaniment of two dueling bodhran players. I love when they do that. The audience is clapping along, while Mairead is dancing around barefooted. She is quite the performer.
I really expected to hate the song sing out, because other reviewers talked about how cheesy it was. I didn't hate it. It's a little chipper, but it didn't make me want to hit the skip button or anything.
This is a wonderful DVD and Slane Castle is a beautiful backdrop. I only gave it 4 stars because of the repeat of songs from the previous DVD and CD. They once again performed Orinoco Flow, Danny Boy, Somewhere and You Raise Me Up. While I love those songs, I was sorry to see them appear again. The arrangement and everything remained the same. I would have preferred four new songs.

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DVD TRACKLIST: 1. The Sky & the Dawn & the Sun 2. The Prayer 3. Calendonia 4. Newgrange 5. Orinoco Flow 6. Dulaman 7. The Blessing (not in TV broadcast)8. Scarborough Fair 9. Granuaile's Dance 10. Over the Rainbow 11. Beyond the Sea12. At the Ceili 13. Laschia Ch'io Pianga 14. Carrickfergus 15. Sing Out 16. The Last Rose of Summer 17. Spanish Lady 18. Panis Angelicus (not in TV broadcast)19. Shenandoah-Reels 20. The Voice 21. Danny Boy 22. Somewhere 23. Mo Ghile Mear 24. You Raise Me Up (not in TV broadcast)25. Ceili Playout (not in TV broadcast) Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes live show + additional 20 minutes "Makingof" bonus feature

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