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Lassie [2005]


RRP: £19.99
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**** LASSIE COMES HOME ****
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 8 out of 10

I bought this for my daughter and we sat and watched it together and both loved it. It is a surprisingly good family movie with a superb all star (mostly) British/Irish cast, including Peter O'Toole, Samantha Morton, John Lynch, Kelly MacDonald, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Robert Hardy, Edward Fox, Gregor Fisher and Steve Pemberton (The League of Gentlemen) who makes a fantastic bad guy.

It is a traditional heartwarming family story of a boy being seperated from his dog and overcoming exceptional odds and many hurdles to be re-united. It has highs and lows, beautiful scenery and some great performances. Certain to pull on the old heart strings this is one I highly recommend for all family viewing. A surprising little gem, everybody I have loaned this to has loved it but you'll need to buy some tissues as there wont be a dry eye left in the house.

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Reviews


Loved the film, hated the swearing
Review date: 2007-01-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

This was on at our local cinema last Saturday, and, as parents go free I thought I'd endure it for the sake of some cheap entertainment for my 7 year old daughter.

I was amazed by how much we both enjoyed the film - I was expecting some trite American nonsense, but it was rather magical.

However, I have to agree with the reviewer above - the first line of the film has Peter O'Toole shouting "Bugger", and there were an awful lot of "Damn"s and "Bloody"s too - NOT what I want my daughter to hear. Despite what some may think, I work at my daughter's school and this is NOT the sort of language that she encounters there or at home.

The swearing was perhaps included to make the film sound more gritty and northern - it was unnecessary.

Gorgeous dogs - and the dog that played Toots deserved a best supporting Oscar - I was in tears.



"You have to remember him in your heart!"
Review date: 2006-12-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

This absolutely gorgeous re-imagining of Lassie brings the story back to its roots, reclaiming Eric Knight's 1940 novel about the famously determined collie's obstacle-ridden trek from Scotland and Yorkshire to rejoin the bereft young master, whose down-on-their-luck parents were forced to sell his best friend to the rich to pay for food.

Visually sweeping, beautifully paced with some of the most understated acting I've seen, Lassie would have to be one of the most emotionally heartbreaking films to come out in recent years not just in its portrayal of this willful and loyal canine who is determined to come home, but in its comments about class and kindness and the uncertain dread that hangs over England on the eve of World War 2.

When the local coal mine closes, Yorkshire coal miner Sam Carraclough (John Lynch) and his stoic and kindly wife Sarah (Samantha Morton) have no option but to sell their son Joe's (Jonathan Mason) beloved dog Lassie to the dotty Duke of Rudling (Peter O'Toole). Spied on a foxhunt, the Duke decides this spirited girl will make a fine pet for his granddaughter Cilla (Hester Odgers) while also hoping to use her to breed some offspring.

Lassie however, has other ideas and keeps escaping from his new kennel and returning home to his beloved master Joe. Fed up, the Duke takes him all the way to Scotland where she has to endure the supervision of His Lordship's repellent kennel supervisor (Steve Pemberton).

But Cilla helps spring Lassie loose, which begins a long, perilous journey back to Yorkshire where she has lots of adventures in town and country - some good and some bad - and where she hooks up with a kindly traveling player (Peter Dinklage, doing great work here) and his lovable dog.

From the outset the film makes the most of the gorgeous English vistas from Scotland, through the Midlands to Yorkshire as Lassie makes his perilous journey back home. Director Charles Sturrage really brings out the stories themes of loyalty and love and courage whilst also never shying away from the fact that while Lassie endures much, these are also hard times for England.

The acting is superlative, with O'Tool, Dinklage, and Lynch and of course the lovely Samantha Morton being standouts - their characters aware that sacrifices must be made, yet they also come to realize the healing power of love. Modest, unpretentious and magnificently told, this version of Lassie will ensure that there is nary a dry eye to be had. Mike Leonard December 06.


Magical film, but the swearing surprised me
Review date: 2006-06-05 Rating: 6 out of 10

This new version of Lassie is really rather magical, from the sighting in Loch Ness to the Christmas eve scene.

The only thing that spoilt it for me were the "bloodies". Is it me or should a film aimed essentially at children contain language like this?

Grab your tissues
Review date: 2006-05-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

Any pet lover will shed a tear at this new version of the old classic Lassie. Lassie has changed not one iota if only we all aged so gracefully. The story revolves around a young boy who loves his dog - Lassie but times get hard when his father is laid off from the mines and Lassie is subsequently sold.

The dog is shipped of to Scotland but will he's homing instinct allow him to make it back to his original home further south? Or will Lassie die along the way?

My wife loves a weepy and was crying near enough all the way through the film, where as I being so much tougher (yeah right) only shed one tear!

If you liked the old Lassie stories or if you like a weepy then this film is for you...Not my type of film as a rule but I made an exception and enjoyed it.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ian Hart
Gregor Fisher
Kelly MacDonald
Peter O'Toole
Samantha Morton

Creators:
Peter O'Toole (Primary Contributor)
Kelly MacDonald (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239193767
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-04-10
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005
Language: English (Original Language)

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