- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 3
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: CLASSICAL
- DVD Release Date: 22 Sep 2008
- Run Time: 292 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B001EM1E3K
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
6,302 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #6 in Film & TV > Musicals & Classical > Ballet & Dance
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
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Anyone buying this set will probably do so with some foreknowledge of Matthew Bourne's productions. His Swan Lake is an ingenious and very freudian updating, with distinct homo-erotic overtones, of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet in which a handsome prince falls in love with a beautiful young woman who has been transformed by magical arts into a swan. In the Bourne version the prince is a neurotic and unhappy young fellow who has a difficult relationship with his indifferent and flighty mother, the swan figure that invades his fantasies has a nice pair of pecs and a six-pack, and the usual corp-de-ballet of young girls in tutus is replaced by some fit young guys in swan costumes. It's clever, even witty at times, but ultimately tragic and quite moving. The Nutcracker is rather further removed from the Tchaikovsky original in which a young girl is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas which morphs into a handsome youth who then whisks her off to a fantastic fairyland. In the Bourne version the tale concerns a group of downtrodden inmates of a repressive early 20th century orphanage who eventually find love and freedom although before this happens they too visit a fantastic world of sweets and knickerbocker glories. Carman, a sweatier and steamier affair altogether, is set to the music of Bizet's Carmen, and has noirish elements of movies like The Postman Always Rings Twice with a handsome and mysterious stranger drifting into town and stirring up the hormones of both sexes with fatal consequences. The quality of Bourne's creative imagination and the vigour of the dancing have a tendency to obscure the sometimes mundane choreography, but whether you're interested in classical ballet or modern dance, or neither in particular, I'm pretty sure you'll find this an enjoyable trio. It should be clear, however, from the foregoing that this is not the most appropriate ballet fare for grans to watch with their 8 year old granddaughters.
Presentation-wise, this looks quite a handsome set but in fact it's a lazy and indifferent production with no extras (apart from a brief interview with Bourne) and wretchedly thin background notes.There aren't even proper synopses of the plots with the result that there were occasional moments in the Nutcracker where I couldn't understand what was going on. And whilst two of the discs have artwork one of them does not. So 5 stars for the ballets, 3 for presentation, 4 stars overall. Highly recommended all the same.
Presentation-wise, this looks quite a handsome set but in fact it's a lazy and indifferent production with no extras (apart from a brief interview with Bourne) and wretchedly thin background notes.There aren't even proper synopses of the plots with the result that there were occasional moments in the Nutcracker where I couldn't understand what was going on. And whilst two of the discs have artwork one of them does not. So 5 stars for the ballets, 3 for presentation, 4 stars overall. Highly recommended all the same.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
I was recently blown away by Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome - (I was haunted for days by the images of the beautiful but cruel male swans) and I also remembered Adam Coopers brief but spectacular appearance at the end of Billy Elliot. Having discovered I could own both in a DVD via Amazon, I ordered as soon as it came back into stock.
Oh ladies! Send the men out to the pub, (Tell them you're watching Swan Lake. They won't get out the door fast enough!) get the girlfriends/gay mates around, open a bottle of wine and you have the perfect ingredients for the best night in ever.
You don't even have to like ballet as its not strictly ballet. Adam Cooper with his top off for two hours. What more can a girl/gay guy ask? (although he looks pretty sexy in a dinner jacket too!) It's fast become my secret, guilty pleasure. Not so secret now obviously!
Swan Lake comes with two other ballets so you get three for the price. The Car Man is well worth a look but my 7 yo found it a bit bloody. You can't help feeling sorry for the stagehands and wardrobe mistress who has to clean up afterwards!
Oh ladies! Send the men out to the pub, (Tell them you're watching Swan Lake. They won't get out the door fast enough!) get the girlfriends/gay mates around, open a bottle of wine and you have the perfect ingredients for the best night in ever.
You don't even have to like ballet as its not strictly ballet. Adam Cooper with his top off for two hours. What more can a girl/gay guy ask? (although he looks pretty sexy in a dinner jacket too!) It's fast become my secret, guilty pleasure. Not so secret now obviously!
Swan Lake comes with two other ballets so you get three for the price. The Car Man is well worth a look but my 7 yo found it a bit bloody. You can't help feeling sorry for the stagehands and wardrobe mistress who has to clean up afterwards!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
I bought this dvd specifically for Car Man, as I already had the other two titles on individual dvd. Matthew Bourne can do no wrong for me. His Swan Lake will always be the definitive version of this strong story. Nutcracker I just love because its different. Car Man is every bit as exciting as I thought and I am so glad I found it at last.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Matthew Bourne is the Best!
Haven't actually had time to watch these yet but have seen them all before at the theatre and on someone else's DVD. The Nutcracker is wonderful with some nice humour. Read more
Published 28 days ago by ElaineM
star
can some one tell me who stars in the dvds as i have seen Swan lake on stage and on tv(Christmas Just gone)amd both stared Richard Winsor his he in the dvds? Thank you
Published 4 months ago by Paul
Non Delivery
This product was ordered and dispatched within 6 days but did not arrive. After 2 weeks contacted Amazon who were unable to supply a replacement and issued a credit note. Read more
Published 17 months ago by R F
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