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Binding: DVD EAN: 0782410088495 Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Digital Sound, Full Screen, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, NTSC Label: CBC Radio-Canada Manufacturer: CBC Radio-Canada Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: CBC Radio-Canada Region Code: 1 Release Date: November 01, 2004 Running Time: 60 minutes Studio: CBC Radio-Canada Theatrical Release Date: 1987 Editorial Review: Description: The Man Who Planted Trees tells the story of a solitary sheperd who patiently plants and nurtures a forest of thousands of trees, single-handedly transforming his arid surroundings into a thriving oasis. Undeterred by two World Wars, and without any thought of personal reward, the sheperd tirelessly sows his seeds and acorns with the greatest care. As if by magic, a landscape that seemed condemned grows green again. A film of great beauty and hope, this story is a remarkable parable for all ages and an inspiring testament to the power of one person. Related Items:      see moreAverage Rating:
 Rating:  - The Man Who Planted Trees.This is a lovely story, beautifully told and narrated. The illustrations wonderfully understated, and all the more special for that. Christopher Plummer tells a story so well. Long may he be asked to do so!! Rating: - The cutest movie ever madeThis is a set of animated movies by the Canadian Frederic Back. It contains 9 movies including 2 Oscar winners and one more nominee, and interviews. Each cel is crafted as a piece of art, something rarely seen. The title story is one of the Oscar winner, a remarkably timeless tale from 1953 of a French Johnny Appleseed. The DVD has an interview with the author, Jean Giono. My favorite is Crac, the other winner. It is a loving story from a simpler time, of a rocking chair, its life, death and rebirth, set to Nova Scotia dance music. Look for elaborate visual gags, bits of Canadian Indian lore and a hilarious ending in a museum of abstract art. Through it all flows a strong sense of respect for nature. On the downside: I spent a long time figuring out the menu. You have to mouse over and wait for a square icon to appear, then click it, otherwise it just cycles through a short preview over and over while you scratch you hair. Rating: - The Man Who Planted trees DVDSuperb content!!! The only slight niggle is that the DVDs were floating in the box when it arrived and although being brand new are already scratched ;-( Rating:  - box set reviewI am pleased with the actual DVD product content, but the packaging is as bad as noted in previous reviews. The DVDs were all loose within the unopened package due to defective packaging and were all scratched up. I watched the one I particularly wanted (The Man Who Planted Trees) and it was clear to watch with no skips, so I kept the whole set. It would be nice if they improved the packaging since the DVDs are so good. Rating:  - Excellent content - I despair of the packaging.The animated films presented here are of the highest quality and will be enjoyed by all ages. I saw 'The man who planted trees' on UK TV in the late 1980's and have desired a copy ever since. Only the fictitious nature of the story lets it down but hey... However, I'm giving this item 1 star because of the ridiculously poor quality packaging. Amazon have sent me two of these sets from the USA to the UK and both times they've arrived damaged with all the discs heavily scratched. This is not Amazon's fault. The discs are contained within a normal sized DVD box which has two spindles per side. The spindles are the pop on type and the two discs overlap, 4 discs in total. Unfortunately the discs easily come off the spindles and rattle around inside the box. My two examples also had broken plastic on the box which would have happened with the manufacturer because it was inside the shrink-wrap. Eventually, rather than risk a third disaster, Amazon refunded my money and showed their usual good quality service. Quality is not a word I'd use for the DVD box though so beware! |
All three principals sing eloquently and with a fine sense of the opera's structure and context. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is in even better voice than Domingo, and Giorgio Zancanaro heads an expert supporting cast. The Covent Garden Chorus, directed with distinction by Michael Hampe, gives a memorable impression of the revolutionary mob. Julius Rudel's conducting is totally idiomatic. --Joe McLellan
Lotfi Mansouri spared no effort or expense in making this production special. He personally directed the staging, and handpicked an outstanding cast (right down to the very young and then-unknown Ben Heppner in the small role of Hervey). The visual elements--sets, costumes, and camera work--are also handled with great care, and Sutherland's positive response to this dedication can be sensed in her performance as the unfortunate wife of King Henry VIII. James Morris is best-known as a Wagnerian singer--perhaps the leading Wotan of our time--but he is equally at home in many of the villainous roles that are the fate of bass- baritones (Iago, Scarpia, Don Giovanni). In this sinister tale of an innocent woman ruthlessly destroyed, he shows a surprising knack for the bel canto style. Judith Forst is also excellent in the role of Jane Seymour. --Joe McLellan
