castle

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Folding Princess Castle
$99.99
If your child loves pretend play and all things princess this is the toy for you! My daughter uses it for Disney princess figurines and the Playmobil princess sets. Because it opens up, it's easy for her to use all of her figurines. The drawbridge and dungeon are a lot of fun and there are many places to set up scenes for play. After looking at all of them - I'm glad we went with this one.

The Castle
$9.99
The Castle is a very funny film that easily ranks as one of the best and most memorable films I've ever seen! The casting was very well done and the acting couldn't have been better. The cinematography works wonders for the film and the choreography impressed me, too. The plot moves along at a very good pace and I was never once bored--I was too busy laughing! The musical score enhances the film all the more, too.

When the film starts, we quickly meet the Kerrigan family who live in Melbourne, Australia right next to a major airport. The planes may fly directly overhead as they take off and land; but the Kerrigans are blissfully happy anyway and they cherish their home. Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) is the father who has his own small business as a tow truck operator, and his wife Sal (Anne Tenney) always gets compliments on her cooking even when she really didn't do anything more than just make meat loaf! The Kerrigans have children, too. We meet Tracey (Sophie Lee), who marries Con Petropoulous (Eric Bana in his film debut), Dale (Stephen Curry), Wayne (Wayne Hope) who is in prison for armed robbery and Steve (Anthony Simcoe).

Their happiness is shattered, however, when they get a letter in the mail that they are being compulsorily evicted; they will get money for their home but they desperately want to stay put. Their neighbors Farouk (Costas Kilias) and the elderly Jack (Monty Maizels) are also being forced out against their will.

Darryl's first step is to go to solicitor Dennis Denuot (Tiriel Mora); Dennis tells Darryl that this is not his area of expertise but Darryl relentlessly pushes Dennis to defend him. Dennis is unable to sway the judge and just when all hope seems lost Darryl meets Lawrence Hammill (Charles 'Bud' Tingwell), a retired but caring Queens Council lawyer who takes an interest in the Kerrigans and their neighbors.

When they get to Australia's highest court, Darryl and Dennis are sweating bullets and although Lawrence keeps his cool, it seems that whatever he says in defense of Darryl and the others is immediately and brilliantly countered by five lawyers for the huge and impersonal conglomerate that works with the Australian government to do things like forcibly buy people's homes and land for a few extra feet of airport runway. It's not at all clear that Darryl will win his case.

The plot can go in different directions from here. What happens when a pretty nasty, threatening looking tough guy arrives at the Kerrigan's doorstep late at night and tells them there will be "consequences" for them if they don't immediately leave their home? And, if they do have to leave, what happens to Farouk--and Jack who is too frail to withstand the stress of moving? Lawrence is polished as polished can be; but can he take on and win his case against the five lawyers for the huge, huge company that is in cahoots with the government? No spoilers--watch and find out!

I am sorry to read in other people's reviews that there were edits of this film before they released it to American audiences; I hope they can re-release this film on DVD exactly as it was originally made. However, don't let that turn you off and steer you away from this DVD--it's still excellent as it is. I highly recommend this film for anyone who loves feel--good comedies with some drama; they would do well to add this DVD to their collections.

Castle
$9.95
With incredibly detailed pen and ink drawings, author-artist Macaulay recreates the planning and construction of a castle in 1280 AD in Great Britain, and the complete town at its perimeter. About 100 master craftsmen were the overseers for more than 3000 workers, who labored for 10 years to complete the walled castle/town complex. With surprising cutaway and birdseye views, this Caldecott Honor book is enjoyable for all ages.

The Mentalist: The Complete First Season
$59.98
This show is awesome - all of the characters compliment each other well- Cho being the best. As I watched last season and tonight's episode it occurred to me that there is a very good chance Patrick Jane is Red John. That would be a great twist, twists like that made season 1 great and hopefully is something to look forward too in the future seasons