Lark Rise to Candleford: The Complete Collection (DVD)

Like Downton Abbey or Poldark, that British production set up at the end of the 19th century in the country, reaches perfection: actors, clothes, houses (real or fake like the extras explain). It’s also funny to see actors from Downton Abbey or Call the midwife. For a few years years, we follow the people from a small hamlet and those from a bigger town close by. They know each other because they go to the market or to the post office, center of the activities. With their problems, sentimental or work (or lack of work sometimes) we care for them.And since it was done in 2008 and a bit later, we don’t have the mandatory colored actors or the gay couples and no torrid sex scenes, just simple kisses.I enjoyed the 14 discs (4 seasons) a lot and recommend absolutely this serie that comes in a large box.Only small negative point, the plastic pieces holding the discs in their center break easily when you remove the disc to watch. After watching each one, I had to fix them 2 by 2 with tape otherwise they could be scratched.

If you've ever wanted to turn on the television and be thoroughly uplifted, entertained, touched, made to laugh, possibly even inspired, and, generally, just allowed to escape and be pulled in to a very good story...time and again, each and every episode, then don't look any further than the 'Lark Rise' series. My wife and I are in our late 20s/early 30s, and this is easily the best program we have ever watched. Hands down.As the previous reviewer eloquently said, it is excellent family viewing, but ONLY because it's naturally wholesome, clever, fun, beautifully shot (the cinematography is truly breathtaking -- each frame looks like a painting from this period), handsomely scored, and all of those other attributes she mentioned -- it doesn't "try" too hard to fit into the family genre -- it just naturally fits. So much of "family entertainment" seems like it was put together by a committee who are very fickle and trendy, as if the committee's #1 goal and bottom line was to ensure to appeal to the "flavor of the month" themes in entertainment (Where's the originality in that?). THIS show, on the other hand, was clearly written by those who recognize the enduring and universal themes of family, friends, community, love, and basically, the things that make a memorable, good story -- the kind of story that brings you back for more.The acting is superb. The Brits seem to have this natural ability encoded in their genome. You don't even feel like you're watching good actors -- you feel like you're a fly on the wall watching REAL people with real emotions, real interactions, real losses, real senses of humor, real relationships...oh, it's so refreshing. One of the only other television series that comes close to the superior quality of LRtoC are the "All Creatures Great and Small" series ( All Creatures Great & Small: The Complete Collection (Repackage) ) another family favorite which also happens to be a BBC production, starring Robert Hardy (of "Harry Potter" movies and  Sense & Sensibility (Special Edition)  fame).Having the time to write a review for products you really appreciate, and to do it some justice, takes time I wish I had more of. As they say, you vote with your dollar, but you also vote with your time. So, I've cast in my vote!I hope that many others will be introduced to this excellent program about the many charmingly told comings and goings of two Oxfordshire communities, and the individuals who lived there (in Flora Thompson's memoirs), set in the late 1800s. I only wish that more seasons were in the works, but I am indeed grateful for what they have made in these four seasons. Many of our home videos in our collection we grow tired of after a few viewings. However, I know that "Lark Rise to Candleford" will be a rare treasure in our household for years, if not decades.

One of the best DVDs I own, and I have hundreds. I had the season one, before it was labeled season 1, for years on the shelf. I didn't realize the gem I had and after finally finished a lot of Dickens stories and decided to watch it. It didn't take long to realize "why did I wait so long" - and had to order the whole boxed set. given the modest extra $ from getting the other 3 seasons, I also knew I could give away season one and have a family member owe me one. This is indeed a great story line. I also watched both seasons of "The Paradise" about this time and couldn't miss the similar styles - to understand that look up who was involved.The others talk about the story lines per se. I won't second guess the author's original works, but I thought this was great story. The special features do a great job providing background on this - what they did, how they pulled from the 3 books, the costumes and settings and in the final season actually going to the real village where the author lived - that is a real treat that many movies or miniseries never do. If you buy this, and you should, don't miss the special features, this one in particular.The postmistress is the real centerpiece of the whole story, and that makes sense when you know that the real postmistress Flora once worked for was the biggest influence on her life, especially imparting wisdom. In this production, the viewers will enjoy that - it is often feels like being there. From Sir Timothy in season one to James Dowling in season 2 to the other characters who come in during seasons 2 and 3 (a half season - according to Wikipedia they couldn't continue because the driving force of the soul of this, the producer or director, had left and nobody could keep the style).I really enjoyed how they did the final episode, bringing a great closure to 3 of the main characters' story lines. It is a great ending. If only all stories ended so well. Congrats to the crew and cast.

The first episode is a little slow getting into however, it begins the story of the series so, if you can sit through the first episode you will then begin enjoying the series as I have. I do not regret purchasing this set at all.

Dos discos de la segunda temporada estan rallados.

Enjoying the quality and stories of this era.

If you like British period pieces, you will love this series. Each actor has brought their character to life on screen! I like it better than Downton Abbey since it brilliantly mixes the society classes together.

I purchased large DVD set from Amazon Australia but it was from the US thus US region. Thus does not work in Australia on an Australian set DVD player. I think as I was purchasing through Australian Amazon it should of warned me that the region was US thus would not play. It was a gift for my mum and quite expensive so very disappointed.