diveinthedark-89834

The other day I stumbled across a VHS in the charity shop of 'Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny' from this series; 1st time seeing this production since the early-mid 90's I guess ! If 'Peter and Benjamin' was the 1st in this series, they made (8?) other programmes of Beatrix Potter tales.

I forgot just how classy and refined this series was. It was beautifully animated; true and accurate to the style of Beatrix Potter's illustrations, with no caricatured/digital plasticity.

I particularly liked the live-action segments at the start and end of the cartoons, portraying Beatrix Potter- played by the highly cute Niamh Cusack - at her farmhouse home, inspired by her beloved pets to write the stories of the animals.

The music featured during the end credits of the early programmes from 1992 is also worth mentioning; a tender, refined folky number, sung by Miriam Stockley of Adiemus fame.

All in all, I will have to give this production a full 10/10 for its beauty, perfection and nostalgic element, the latter evoking the good ole' early 90's we all remembered and loved !

I saw every episode of this back in 1993 when it premiered on the BBC,and it's fascinating watching it 25 years later as a 35- year- old!

These were the days when the media (and children alike) still appreciated period authenticity on TV; no modernisation or trendiness (save the future scene!).

Based on the classic Children's Book 'Five Children And It',it tells the story of 4 children in 1910's England who stay with their (dowdy spinster) Aunt Marchmont while their younger sibling/s have Scarlet Fever. They meet the Sand Fairy, or 'Psammead' (who's easy to mistake for a Jim Henson Puppet!) who makes all their wishes come true. That's ALL their wishes,even the ones they make as a mere figure of speech: "I wish I was invisible"; Aunt Marchmont's wish to be a child again,etc!

For the sake of this being a period but early-90's production, a favourite episode is the one where they wish to go (80 years?) into the future. They visit their house - now upgraded with refrigeration and electrical appliances - where a supposed great- granddaughter has a junior acid-house party; plenty of sloppy clothes and curtains to boost!

An considerable cast were adopted. Anna Massey plays the Aunt; think the French woman in Darling Buds Of May. The young actors who played the children were perhaps infinite unknowns; Laura Clarke and Toby Ufindell-Phillips each appear to have acted in only 1 other production. I suppose it displays the BBC's genuine pursuit of scouting fresh new talent from an basic, non-prestigious outlet.

I was also interested to find out that this production was quite big in the USA (where it was directly titled 'Return Of The Sand fairy); I'm glad they're fond of BBC TV over there!

All in all, I'll give it 9/10 for being genuine, authentic, upfront, funny, and a simply delightful production from an time when UK TV was at its climax of class,entertainment and overall quality.

If you come from a dirty city centre like I do (Central Norwich, UK in my case !) you'll love this !

Quite an dark,sinister plot. Gary Oldman has to protect a Russian hit woman as a cop, but kill her as a member of a mob. Naturally the sleazy,erotic style of the film involves him 2-timing his wife, not only with the hit woman but also with Juliette Lewis (a waitress).

Plenty of dirty urban landscapes/structures for all you other city rats! Plenty of scantily dressed girls in sexually uncompromising situations ! Plenty of violence, especially dismemberment! Yes, this is the ultimate dirty,violent + generally nihilistic metropolitan film !