Romantic DVD box set will dazzle mom
Forget the potted geranium or macaroni necklace. Nix the runny eggs and undercooked bacon.
If you really want to wow mom — or grandma — this weekend, this box set pulls together in one collection some of the best romance classics from literature and history.
Although the collection is pricey, coming in at slightly less than $100, its eight miniseries/movies (on 14 discs) run more than 30 hours for plenty of enjoyable entertainment.
The updates of these romance favorites, from the BBC and A&E, brim with gorgeous period costumes, beautiful locations, superb acting from famous and not-so-famous actors and even some swordplay.
Included in this treasure trove is the well-known "Pride and Prejudice," starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, as well as the lesser known "Victoria and Albert," staring Victoria Hamilton and Firth's brother, Jonathan.
The movies are:
• PRIDE AND PREJUDICE — The well-done 1995 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic won a boatload of awards but perhaps is most memorable for Colin Firth's complex portrayal of the mysterious Mr. Darcy.
• VICTORIA AND ALBERT — Released in 2001 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Queen Victoria's death, the epic presents history in the form of the love story between the British queen and her German prince consort.
Victoria Hamilton's nuanced, sympathetic performance of Victoria is well worth the time you'll spend watching this miniseries. Hers is a human portrayal of an unprepared and overprotected teenager who assumes the throne and then manages to evolve into a strong monarch who restores dignity to the crown.
Jonathan Firth is excellent as Albert, who married his first cousin in an arranged marriage but grew to love Victoria and become her closest adviser. Among the stellar supporting cast are Peter Ustinov (King William IV), Diana Rigg (Victoria's governess, Baroness Lehzen) and Nigel Hawthorne (Prime Minster Melbourne).
Extras: Cast biographies and filmographies; 2 discs
• EMMA — This is the 1996 version of Austen's classic "Emma" stars Kate Beckinsale, not Gwyneth Paltrow, and is arguably the better of the two. As Emma Woodhouse, Beckinsale insists on playing matchmaker for her friend, Harriet (Samantha Morton) with Mr. Knightley (Mark Strong).
Extras: Jane Austen biography; 1 disc
• JANE EYRE — Charlotte Bronte's 1847 Gothic novel has fascinated generations of female readers and has had several film interpretations, including the classic 1944 black-and-white version with Orson Welles as the brooding Mr. Rochester of Thornfield and Joan Fontaine as the unhappy orphan. British actress Deborah Findlay, who currently is in "Cranford" as Miss Tomkinson, stars as Jane while Ciaran Hinds is the mysterious master of the manor.
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