A Very Fine Recreation of THE LION IN WINTER
931057
Showtime Television has more sophistication in building films than most commercial movie studios and nowhere is that fact more evident than in the 're-make' of THE LION IN WINTER.  Though some would say, "Why make another version of the 1968 Hepburn/O'Toole award winning movie", to those I would ask, "Why continue to reprise the the superb play by James Goldman in theaters around the country?" Simply, the play is just that good - an exciting mix of history as explored through the dysfunctional family syndrome tying it all together.
The photography of France (as viewed through Slovakia and Hungary settings) in the late 12th century is magnificent, both in exteriors ( Eleanor's entrance on the barge is as grand as Cleopatra's any day!) and in the dank and dark interiors that serve the plot so well.  Glenn Close is radiant and in pitch perfect form as Eleanor of Aquitane, the Queen of England to Henry II's King (Patrick Stewart is fine fettle) and  who has been imprisoned for 10 years for 'treason'.  The couple  has three sons and one must be named Henry's successor, but which one - Richard (historically to be known as The Lionhearted), the wily Jeffrey, or the buffoon but beloved of Henry,  John? (All three of these roles are in capable hands). Eleanor is released from her prison castle for a Christmas Celebration and the entire play takes place during these two stormy days.  The struggle of equally powerful wills of Eleanor and Henry are superimposed on the greed of the three sons, and made more pointed by the arrival of the King of France, Philip (played with complete credibility by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers).  Intrigue abounds, secrets long held are made known, and treachery is omnipresent.  But in the midst of this fascinating exposure of monarch history between France and England author Goldman has written dialogue so razor sharp that it suggests Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe": the duets between Eleanor and Henry, the trios and quartets among the brothers and parents, and especially moments like the revelation of the homoerotic relationship between Richard and King Philip are pure theater in the finest sense of the term.  This version of the play is 2 1/2 hours of intense and intensely entertaining bravura acting and direction.  It deserves to be seen , and to be in the libraries of collectors when it becomes available for purchase.
3052858
I just received this for Christmas and couldn't be happier.  I am a big Disney and Jim Shore fan so this is a lot of fun for me.  It is a nice size piece, not terribly big, but not so small that  it gets lost among other things.

I really enjoy figures with both Mickey and Minnie showing their love, and there are a few details about this I particularly like.

First, I like the color scheme.  It is mostly red with just a touch of "natural" (mistletoe and vines) green.  This makes it really Christmasy but not too busy.  It is also true to the characters.

Second, I love the way each figure stands--it is very natural the way Minnie is leaning in for a kiss, but twisting the plate away.  The fact that Mickey is the one initiating the kiss is a bonus since it seems to be portrayed the other way more often.

Third, I love the little details that add to the Christmas charm like the cookies, apron and Santa hat.  It's a winner!
3302205
This book reminds me of my own winter explorations growing up in central Maine where my only limitations were the rising and setting of the sun.  Lyn's mastery of the written word brings you into the winter elements in this story of Bailey's excursion into the Maine woods after a snowstorm.  She takes the reader along a path where you can feel the cold on your cheeks and hear the snow under your feet.  Follow Bailey as he discovers a new friend in his own backyard. This beautifully illustrated book will delight curious readers of all ages.
2981852
This is so cute and the painting on the background is very clear.  The stitches are smaller than I had expected, but very doable.  Some of the detail may not get the "proper" treatment, but it is really fun to see it come together.  A good winter project...good to have time before next December!
1153535
"The Deep and Snowy Wood" by Elwyn Tate is a superbly illustrated poem for children, which leads up to the revelation that it is Christmas time. Various woodsy wildlife are going somewhere, but nobody seems to know where they are going. In the end, of course, they end up on a piece of high ground 100 miles from the North Pole, where they are in a position to see Santa and his sleigh, pulled by his 8 tiny reindeer across a full moon.

The poetry is not bad; not at all contrived like so many poems are in childrens' books. But the big sales point in this book is the marvelous collection of wonderful illustrations which accompany each line of verse. Some of the illustrations would make very suitable Christmas cards, although others include wildlife not normally associated with Christmas, such as a bat or a mole. One cute component of each illustration is the mufflers worn by each of the animals in "The Deep and Snowy Wood". After all, it IS the middle of winter in the deep and snowy wood.

This is a book your pre-schoolers and younger grade school children will enjoy year round, in spite of - or perhaps because of - its Christmas theme. I really think this is one book your kids will wear out. Definitely a well-deserved 5-star recommendation. Just in case you're interested, Elwyn Tate has written and illustrated a few other childrens' books, too.
926068
This is probably the best made mammoth I have seen for the price. The other reviews were right--it is very realistic and has a lot of weight to it. I was so impressed that I'm considering having a pendant made from the outline of it. It's hard to find mammoth figures anyway, let alone well-made ones. This is an EXCELLENT representation of an extinct species.
4873388
This cat sculpture is nicely done, and is signed on the bottom by the creator, Nengah Sudarsana, from Bali.  The one I received is nearly identical to the picture on the Amazon page, but is in a darker (less reddish) brown than the example shown on the Amazon page.  The color is fine with me, but the warning that each one will be slightly different in color is certainly correct.  I attach two pictures of the cat on a Teak table.  The sculpture is carved out of Suar wood, which is a fast-growing, non-endangered hardwood.  This wood has a very nice , rich grain which enhances the cats features.  The face of the cat (see closeup) captures the arrogant nonchalance of our late cat perfectly, and my wife and I love it.  It adds a charm and nostalgia to our bedroom.
3052295
After Fall of 1152, I had to see where the Guard would go in the winter. I am definately hooked! The artwork is superb, and could easily be the talking point of a personal art collection.

In this installment you get to see other parts of the world in which the Mouse Guard occupy and the dangers in which they were established.
228104
This is one of my favorite pieces to the International Santa Collection.  She is beautifully detailed and has beautiful features.  The sleigh is preciously painted. It is a nice weight and for the price was a great find as they don't make these anymore.
3559341
"Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall" offers up exquisite collage illustrations by Leo Yerxa.  These consist of tissue paper dyed with acrylics, inks, and watercolors and help tell the story of a parent and child who travel through forests, down rivers, over lakes and ponds as they experience the primordial beauty of the world through which they are passing.  The pictures and lyrical text create a dreamlike voyage that captures the moment when fall turns into winter.  As a child on the Little Eagle Reserve near Fort Frances in northern Ontario, Yerxa spent a lot of time hunting and fishing with his father; certainly these experiences have informed "Last Leaf First Snowflake to Fall."  Readers of any age will be enthralled by these collages, but be warned that younger readers are going to want to try their hand at this particular art form.  As someone who lives in a land where winter lasts from Halloween until Easter (i.e., half the year), this picture book does a wonderful job of capturing the period of transition from one season to the next.
3014532
beautifully printed well enough to view from either side, on very nice fabric. I like the design, which can be used before & after Christmas to continue celebrating the beauty of the winter season & its wildlife & plants.
2270992
This one combines a literary classic with classic-style Disney animation - how can you lose.  It is a one-hour adaptation of Dickens Christmas classic, with familiar Disney characters playing all the familiar parts.  For me, however, I could watch the whole production just to see the animation backgrounds; they form a homage to Disney's "Grand Ol' Men" who put together Pinocchio and  Snow White.  The backgrounds of early-nineteenth-century London are just amazing.  This one's worth your money.
1087183
I can see that I will use this fireplace a lot this winter. With the fire burning and some soft music in the background, I have a relaxing, intimate setting for myself or guests. I love the fact that the fireplace looks real and its easy to imagine it heating the room.  I put it on and forget about it for two hours. No smoke or mess.  It has sound effects of fire cracking and logs settling.  WELL done.  Brings back memories.
1806503
This version of SNOW WHITE was originally filmed in Germany as SCHNEEWEISSCHEN UND DIE SIEBEN ZWERGE in 1955, and later dubbed into English by the Childhood Productions company for it's series of popular kiddie matinee features in 1965.

Pretty young Snow White (Elke Arendt) is banished into the forest by her evil stepmother the Queen (Addi Adametz).  Snow White finds a home with seven little men, before the jealous Queen, armed with a poisoned apple, decides to ensure that she remains the fairest in the land...

This version of SNOW WHITE is noteworthy for it's genuine European storybook atmosphere and some great location photography.  Elke Arendt is perfection in the title role and the dwarfs are played (in a very ususual move) by children.  Addi Adametz plays the Queen with flair.

The Childhood Productions' English-dubbings were always well-achieved, and this SNOW WHITE is enlivened by a score from Ann and Milton Delugg, as well as gentle narration from Childhood Productions stalwart Paul Tripp.

Well worth tracking down.
4336109
http://readpicturebooks.wordpress.com

I find it rather difficult to find quality picture books related to winter or  to Christmas, but I finally found one! Snowmen At Work is such a great story about a boy who builds a snowman and then wonders what kind of jobs they do. Each of the following pages explores these different jobs including a dentist, a pet store owner, a teacher, or even a magician! The rhyming, rhythmic text of the story is incredibly enchanting and flows very well. I was surprised at how well the words rhymed, how nothing interrupted the flow of the story, and how fun this book is to read.

The text combined with fantastic illustrations is what really makes this book. The illustrations are brightly colored, cute, eye catching, and just plain brilliant! I just can't get over how everything is snow man related including the cute snow animals in the pet store. Not only are there tons of things to look at and discuss on each page, there are also wpid-new-doc-40_1.jpg.jpegsome hidden pictures including a rabbit, a cat, a t-rex, and a mouse that appear in every painting! This would be a lot of fun for older readers! Parents and children would have to work together to find these items on the pages because some are very difficult to find; I haven't even found them all.  Anyway, these are some of the best paintings I have seen in a children's book!

My son and I really enjoy this book and I am sure you will too! I highly recommend getting this for children 2 and a half and older as a fun winter time read! It will be enjoyed for many years!
4169446
Sunsout large piece puzzles have consistently large pieces, bright colors, and clearly defined imagery that form a very entertaining puzzle.
Just enough challenge, mainly from all the horses, to make things interesting, but not so much it's frustrating. I loved all the different things going on in this picture, and all the representations of the spirited Christmas season, from poinsettias to a Christmas tree decorated in town, to one tree being carried home in the back of a wagon, and Christmas wreaths, happy shoppers, and kids carrying their sled, probably out of town to a big hill. The store windows and lamp posts are festive with decorations, too. Christmas is definitely in the air in this great picture by artist Joseph Burgess.  Once completed, the large 18X 24 format size made viewing and admiring a real pleasure. I am not a senior, or a child, but still prefer these large piece puzzles over the sometimes frustrating smaller pieced puzzles.
3822966
I work for a wild cat sanctuary, have known a snow leopard, and this book truly captures their incredible above-the-world spirit.  The story is as an old legend retold and the illustrations capture all the magic in the story.