Jacob's Ladder [Blu-ray] [1990]

Jacob's Ladder [Blu-ray] [1990] review

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
In Jacob's Ladder, Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins) thinks he is going insane. Or worse. When his nightmares begin spilling into his waking hours, Jacob believes he is experiencing the after-effects of a powerful drug tested on him during Vietnam. Or perhaps his post-traumatic stress disorder is worse than most. Whatever is happening to him, it's not good. Director Adrian Lyne sparks our interest and maintains high production values, but this confusing film chokes on its "surprise" ending. It owes much to Ambrose Bierce's haunting and more straightforward short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek. Written by Bruce Joel Rubin, who also explored the "other side" in Ghost and My Life, Jacob's Ladder ultimately feels like an exercise in self-indulgence. A spirited performance by Elizabeth Peña outshines Robbins, who is surprisingly lethargic. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Synopsis
Adrian Lyne's JACOB'S LADDER moves in time and space between Vietnam and New York with hallucinatory force. Something bad happened on the Mekong Delta, on October 6, 1971, and it is still affecting war veteran Jacob (Tim Robbins) in Brooklyn as he attempts to live a normal life with coworker and girlfriend Jezzie (Elizabeth Pena). Louis (Danny Aiello), an understanding chiropractor, tries to help him cope with his nightmarish visions--some of which occur at night, while others intrude into his daily life. When Jacob gets a call from Paul (Pruitt Taylor Vince), who was with him in Vietnam, it seems that Jacob is not alone in his visions. The film offers impressive and compelling performances by Pena, Aiello (no ordinary chiropractor), and Ving Rhames and Eriq La Salle (the latter of ER) as Jacob's comrades from Vietnam. Macaulay Culkin appears uncredited as Jacob's young son, Gabe. Director Lyne also guides an unerring interpretation of Bruce Joel Rubin's screenplay in Robbins's powerfully restless, searingly searching performance as Jacob; brilliant editing additionally rounds out this engrossing, disturbing film. JACOB'S LADDER is a jolting experience that is not easily forgotten.

Jacob's Ladder [Blu-ray] [1990] Directed by Adrian Lyne Price: £9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 18 new or used available from £8.29 Average customer review:

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Driving Aphrodite [DVD] [2009]

Driving Aphrodite [DVD] [2009] review

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The combination of the appealing Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and the breathtaking location shooting in Greece make Driving Aphrodite (My Life in Ruins) the perfect film escape. The film works as a feather-light romantic comedy, with Vardalos's character, Georgia, facing burnout in her job with a cut-rate tour company in Greece. Georgia knows there's magic in the Greek countryside and history, yet the grind of her job has drained her. Happily for Georgia, her latest group of semi-challenging tourists will help her shed some of her hard-built personal armor, guiding her to cut loose as the tour progresses (a journey mirrored in Vardalos's hairstyle, which starts out prim, and ends up attractively tousled). The strong supporting cast includes Richard Dreyfus, seeming very comfortable playing an old coot, Rita Wilson, and the dreamy Greek actor Alexis Georgoulis, a bus driver with the soul of a poet. And possibly a secret crush on the oblivious Georgia. But the true star of the film is Greece itself, from the coastline to the mountains, from the Acropolis to the Parthenon. That so few American films are shot on location makes this summer treat even more appealing, as sweet as fresh baklava. --A.T. Hurley

DVD Description
Georgia (Nia Vardalos) came to Greece to follow a man. A few years later, she's been cast aside, alone and adrift in a foreign land. Eventually, her passion for history leads her to a job as a tour guide. But Georgia is bored, and has lost her 'kefi' (Greek for mojo) to boot. When taciturn sasquatch Poupi (Alexis Georgoulis) replaces the regular driver at the last minute, the frazzled tour guide thinks that her luck has just hit rock bottom. Thankfully, Georgia's latest batch of tourists is a more lively bunch than she's anticipated, and in between bouts with rival tour guide Nico (Alistair McGowan), she manages to form a genuine connection with wisecracking widower Irv (Richard Dreyfuss), a solo vacationer who maintains a jovial facade despite the fact that he misses his late wife dearly. With a little help from Irv, Georgia comes to realize that true love may be closer than she thinks, if she could just recapture her kefi and open her eyes.

Driving Aphrodite [DVD] [2009] Directed by Donald Petrie Price: £3.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 37 new or used available from £2.62 Average customer review:

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Gattaca [DVD] [1998]

Gattaca [DVD] [1998] Directed by Andrew Niccol Price: £3.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 83 new or used available from £0.01 Average customer review:

Product Description

Columbia, TriStar, Region 2 1997 106 mins

Customer Reviews

Inspired
Genetic defectives have been a staple of science fiction ever since the discovery of DNA. But until 'Gattaca', the powerful symbolism of future genetics for present day racism never made it onto the silver screen.

This is raised to an inspired level by writer/director Andrew Niccol's decision to film it as if all the flashbacks had taken place in our own past. In written SF, this could only have been achieved by a complicated alternate reality setting. But, in cinema, Niccol's careful choice of fifties clothing styles, haircuts, and black-and-white family snap-shots powerfully evokes a past for the protagonist, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), which mirrors our own past.

I had expected this film to be bleak and oppressive. The premise, and the first half-hour, create an air-tight world where Vincent is condemned to second-class servitude because his conception was natural rather than genetically screened.

But Niccol skilfully switches the 1984 style bleakness into an ultra-tech murder-thriller, with the murder of the mission-director, moments (in film time) after we learn of the meticulous plan by which Vincent will pass as genetically perfect and achieve his dream of space-travel.

Suspense builds from this point on. On the first time of watching I was convinced Vincent would be caught, right up to the final moment.

The core of this film is in Vincent's words: "There is no gene for fate", although the official tag-line was "There is no gene for the human spirit". It becomes an enormously positive affirmation that sheer guts and determination will take anyone to reach their dream.

This is an excellent film, but it will not please everyone. It is essentially a short-story created in perfect detail for cinema. SF fans will appreciate the purity of the vision. But the film lacks the epic scope which most people associate with modern science-fiction cinema. And anyone wanting a special-effects laden space-romp should look elsewhere.

But, in its own scale and its own terms, Gattaca is virtually flawless.

"Do you really want to go in there ?"
"Gattaca" is one of the better science-fiction films that I have seen in recent years. It looks stylish ,it is filmed superbly and it is well acted. It is an atmospheric and thoughtful futuristic film ,not of the high octane, pumping soundtrack variety . The premise of the film is interesting and also quite credible , namely that in the future genetically engineered human beings will be given preferential treatment in the job market and "normal" humans will be allocated menial occupations. As in the films "1984" and "Brazil" ,for example , "Gattaca" is about one man's resistance to an oppressive , stratified social system which interferes intolerably with personal liberty. It is a cautionary tale and perhaps also a parable about life in today's transnational organisations. The Gattaca Corporation , with its robotic, dehumanised compulsive achievers lined up in front of their PC's like well groomed battery chickens, mirrors the typical modern day open plan corporate office. "There is no gene for the human spirit" indeed.

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The Cabin Movie [DVD] [2005]

The Cabin Movie [DVD] [2005] review

THE CABIN MOVIE is a darkly comic look at the nature of desire, the challenge of monogamy and the definition of sexuality. Three very different couples travel to a secluded cabin in an attempt to revitalize their lives through a series of bizarre sex games. Katherine, an unemployed housewife who has not had sex in a year is intent on getting some with or without her repressed husband Marks involvement. Jason, a happy go lucky cool guy, has shown up without his long term girlfriend, but with Ginny, a party girl he met the previous weekend. Ken and Maria, a stable common law couple, are caught in the middle somewhere between discovery and sexual panic as they try to keep things on track while wrestling with issues of their own. With the sexual tension hitting boiling point by the end of the night, all their relationships will be called into question and pushed to the very limit.

THE CABIN MOVIE
The cabin movie is about would be swingers couples trying to spice up they etiher boring problematic lives or looking for new sexual experiences but not quite sure how to deal with it.It shows how this kind of sexual experiences can be sole destroying and unimaginable consequences.All of them expected to gain something but giving nothing in return,so naturally it was not working for them. I found this movie interesting with a good story,but bit slow at times. The couples involved where very ordinary people ordinary looking and very believable in they acting. What a mess of they lives they created and for it alone I give them 4 stars.Good viewing!

The Cabin Movie [DVD] [2005] Directed by Dylan Akio Smith Price: £4.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 7 to 11 days Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 6 new or used available from £2.65 Average customer review:

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Caligula: Uncut Edition [DVD] [1979]

Caligula: Uncut Edition [DVD] [1979]

Directed by Bob Guccione, Giancarlo Lui, Tinto Brass

Price:	£7.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

The Most controversial film ever made as you have never seen it before.

From the moment he ascends to the throne, the Emperor Caligula enforces one of the most depraved reigns in history. Depicting his descent into madness and immorality with graphic sex and violence, this unprecedented uncut edition presents a bolder and more revealing Caligula than ever before, with a pristine new transfer from recently uncovered film.

Featuring a stellar cast including Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O Toole and John Gielgud this unflinching look at the decadence of Ancient Rome will startle and amaze like no other film before.

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Carve Her Name With Pride [1958] [DVD]

Carve Her Name With Pride [1958] [DVD]

Customer Reviews

A must for everyone
For me this is one of the very best "True War" Stories.
It proves that the women of the Second World War did more than sit at home knitting glove.balalavas and socks as so many people thought.

BE WARNED - before viewing make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
It is a real "weepy" movie but at the same time it fills you with pride
especially if you are a British woman. I am proud just to own this DVD.

A very brave young woman in WW2
I had heard of the Violette Szabo and meant to read about her for years.
This year I bought both the book Carve her Name with Pride and the dvd. I have not been able to get her story out of my head ever since. I wonder how anybody can have been so brave. How a young girl could volunteer to be parachuted or be landed by plane in occupied France knowing how the Germans were likely to treat them when and if they were captured.......is supreme courage.

The dvd is excellent as is the book. It is based on fact which makes it serious reading. There were many other young people who did what she did and I have a great admiration for them all. Thank goodness there are books to read and dvd's for the next generation to see so that they are not forgotten.

Top British war film- one for the ladies
There were a glut of these films in the 1950s. The memoirs were coming out and they were selling well. after all we had won the war. People now wanted uplifting films depicting ordinary people doing their bit.

They could be regarded as sentimental and unrealistic with posh actresses like Virginia McKenna playing working class girls who worked in Woolworth's marrying a Frenchman then volunteering to do her bit for the war effort. She loses her husband but has a daughter to bring up.

As an aside Woolworth's failed in the last few days but int he film it is shown as flourishing and she had to be careful that the supervisor did not catch her not working. It obviously didn't work s now it has gone bust.

It is in the same vein as Town Like Alice where ordinary British girls do their best against appalling odds. Another reviewer commented that Round the Horne used to parody these films which was true. At the time it was what people wanted to show how we all pulled together and bear the enemy against appalling odds.

People who lived in ordinary streets in London risked their lives by being dripped into occupied Europe. When I was younger I used to go to the pictures to watch these films and rarely did they feature women. It was usually Douglas Bader or chaps planing to escape from prisoner of war camps.


Perhaps they should show it to people today who claim that women should not being the front line. It could be a feminist tract for the promotion of equality of women.


All films are Dirty dozen you have the training phase whereby you meet the characters so that you know them all and you can identify with them. They then go into battle and the mission succeeds but has problems and maybe a few come home. Unfortunately Violette Szabo didn't come home

She could not tell her parents what she was doing and her dad Jack Warner found her wings and realised that she was not serving tea and driving lorries. That scene could make you cry as Dad and daughter were reconciled

Trivia


Michael Caine appears briefly as one of the prisoners on the train. As Violette starts to escape he leans forwards and calls out for water.

The code-poem used in the film was the real code poem used by Violette Szabo while she was sending messages back from occupied France. The poem was written by 'Leo Marks' who was a cryptographer for SOE and often used poems like this for agents to use.

The life that I have is all that I have, The life that I have is yours.

The love that I have of the life that I have Is yours and yours and yours.

A sleep I shall have, A rest I shall have Yet death will be but a pause.

For the peace of my years In the long green grass Will be yours and yours and yours

Another reviewer said they found the film slow and boring and I can see what they mean as the story unfolds and is quite wordy. After she is captured there is a bit of action but it is mainly chat and we get to the moving sight of her daughter receiving a medal from the King.

It is worth persevering with as it is a great war film and is amongst the British top 100 war films.

A must see film.

Carve Her Name With Pride [1958] [DVD] Directed by Lewis Gilbert (II) Price: £4.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 23 new or used available from £4.99 Average customer review:

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Rogue Trader [DVD] [1999]

Rogue Trader [DVD] [1999]

Customer Reviews

True Story, well paced drama
This film tells the true story of Nick Leeson, the floor trader on Simex Singaopre, who singly handedly broke Barings Bank, in the mid '90's. Of how one mans ambition was overcome by pressures, and in turn, reckless gambling.

An incredible aspect of this case was to me, how Leeson covered up for so long, and hoodwinked so many, who it seemed, according to the film, were so wrapped up in their own company rhetoric they simply wanted to believe in Leeson. The regional manager in Singapore had never even heard of the name of the brokerage house Leeson used to "invent" a trade to cover the missing and ever increasing deficit being incured in the "88888" account, a supposed customer account, but in reality, an back office error account.

The pace of the story is very well done here. My only gripe is, for a film with excellent supporting cast, why did they take so little care over the choice of the leading players? McGreggor is convincing as Leeson only when the sickly scenes with his wife are not on screen, the hoplessly miscast Lisa.

Some may find the numerous and fast financial terms not easy to follow. But a fascinating story, with great use of background music.

Corporate Complacency
As an entertaining film this one is as good as any; whether it is re-watchable is doubtful but nonetheless it is good entertainment. Ewan McGregor does the film justice but it was difficult to believe in Anna Friel's part as Lisa. It is, of course, a docudrama in style.

There is more than one theme weaving its way through this story the main one being the complacency of institutional management closely followed by incompetence of those whose responsibility is to ensure the efficiency of the organisation's operations so it is an expose of the fissures of monolithic management structures. It is the same tale as the story of the 'Million Dollar Bubble' that occurred in the US a few years ago.

The culpability for this disaster and its criminal aspect lay with Leeson's immediate supervisor and the prevailing corporate cultural attitudes and certainly not with Leeson who was used as the 'sacrificial lamb' to placate our sense of justice.

In addition to being a good story it is also a model of human vulnerabilities and in this respect it is well deserving of 5*.

I enjoyed watching the film and recommend it as worthy entertainment and may it be said, educational too.

Rogue Trader [DVD] [1999] Directed by James Dearden Price: £3.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 40 new or used available from £1.68 Average customer review:

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Villa Amalia [DVD]

Villa Amalia [DVD] review

Isabelle Huppert headlines this sumptuous, passionate tale, adapted from the acclaimed novel by Pascal Quignard (All the Mornings of the World). Huppert stars as Ann, a gifted and brilliant musician whose sense of security falls to pieces when she witnesses her husband kissing another woman. Without hesitation, she abandons him and takes a headlong rush into the arms of a new beginning, embarking on a transnational journey that ultimately takes her to an isolated villa on the secluded island of Ischia, Italy. Once settled, Ann insists on goading herself to fresh extremes, and takes it upon herself to swim out as far into the ocean as possible. Fainting under the scorching summer rays, her floating body is pulled out of the water by local woman Giulia, with whom Ann begins to explore a whole new facet of life.

Extras:

• Image Gallery
• Interview with director
• Benoit Jacquot

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Ever After: A Cinderella Story [1998] [DVD]

Ever After: A Cinderella Story [1998] [DVD]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Take away the Fairy Godmother, and what have you got left from the Cinderella fable? The story of a girl for whom a bad stroke of luck is no match for her internal strength and purity of heart. Drew Barrymore plays Cinderella's alleged inspiration, Danielle, in this romantic drama that purports to tell the "facts" behind the Grimm brothers' story. One of three daughters of a man (Jeroen Krabbé) who dies and leaves her fate in the hands of a conniving stepmother (Anjelica Huston), Danielle is cast into the lowly role of a servant. Meanwhile, her sisters are evaluated as possible mates for a French prince (Dougray Scott), but he's far more intrigued with Danielle's intelligence and beauty--not to mention her way with a sword and fist. Directed by Andy Tennant (who directed Barrymore in TV's The Amy Fisher Story), Ever After has that rare ability to win the heart and mind of a viewer simply by being committed to its own innocence, particularly where Barrymore's luminous performance is concerned. A contemporary take on an old, virtually forgotten Hollywood convention--the costume adventure with middling artistic ambition but real audience appeal--Ever After is a surprisingly delightful film. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Original Theatrical Trailer
Czech\Danish\English\Finnish\Hebrew\Hungarian\Icelandic\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Swedish

Synopsis
Danielle, orphaned by her father's death, is raised by a wicked and snotty stepmother and her two daughters. When she accidentally stumbles onto Prince Henry, the future King of France, the two inspire one another to resolve their respective troubles at home in this romantic fable.

Ever After: A Cinderella Story [1998] [DVD] Directed by Andy Tennant Price: £2.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 57 new or used available from £0.96 Average customer review:

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The Shooting Party (Collectors Edition) [DVD] [1985]

The Shooting Party (Collectors Edition) [DVD] [1985] review

Synopsis
In October 1913, a group of aristocratic men and women gather for a shooting party at an estate in the heart of the English countryside. Assured and opulent, they move through the elaborate rituals of an Edwardian country house party. But times are changing and the values that have ordered their glittering world will no longer have any meaning in the new age about to dawn.

The Shooting Party (Collectors Edition) [DVD] [1985] Directed by Alan Bridges Price: £2.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 34 new or used available from £2.50 Average customer review:

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The Descent

The Descent [DVD] [2005]

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
A group of girls seek adventure on a caving expedition. Deep inside underground caves they find themselves cut off from the world and off the map. Battling to get back to the surface they realise that they are being hunted by an unknown cannibalistic force. Now they must pull together and fight for their very survival.

The Descent [DVD] [2005] Directed by Neil Marshall Price: £3.49 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 80 new or used available from £0.88 Average customer review:

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Katyn [DVD] [2007]

KATYN is the story of Polish army officers murdered by the Russia secret police in the Katyn forest during the Second World War and the families who, unaware of the crime, were still waiting for their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers to return. It is a film about the continuing struggle over History and memory, and an uncompromising exploration of the Russian cover up of the massacre that prevented the Polish people from commemorating those that had been killed.

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
Celebrated Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda takes the helm for this Oscar-nominated drama detailing the harrowing events surrounding the 1940 massacre of captured Polish army officers in the Katyn Forest. A unique blend of conventional narrative and documentary-style filmmaking, KATYN opens in the spring of 1940, just as the Soviet Secret police execute a group of Polish officers. On September 1, 1939, Germen forces had descended upon Poland, paving the way for the Red Army to occupy east Poland as part of the Hitler-Stalin pact. As the Red Army assumed control of east Poland, all officers in the Polish army were placed in Soviet custody. Determined to remain loyal to the army despite the growing danger, Polish officer Andrzej refuses to flee with his wife, Anna. It isn't long before invading forces begin arresting professors in Cracow, and as the detainees languish in prison camps, their families start to fear that they'll never see their loved ones again. Flash forward to April 1943, and the Germans announce the discovery of mass graves. While Anna is relieved not to hear her husband's name on the list of bodies discovered, countless others are left to grieve their losses with no explanation or consolation. January 18, 1945: Cracow is liberated by the Red Army, and propagandist newsreels from the Soviet Union blame German forces for the massacre at Katyn. It is at that point that the fine line between collaboration and resistance within the People's Republic of Poland becomes exceptionally blurred. As the details surrounding the massacre gradually begin to emerge, Wajda reveals precisely how this horrifying massacre unfolded by flashing back to the spring of 1940 for an extended sequence in which Polish officer internees are transported by railroad to Smolensk and methodically dispatched before being casually buried in a mass grave.

Katyn [DVD] [2007] Directed by Andrzej Wajda Price: £6.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 22 new or used available from £6.28 Average customer review:

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This Is England (2 Disc Edition)

This Is England (2 Disc Edition) [DVD] [2006]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
If there’s a more exciting and diverse a film director currently working in the UK than Shane Meadows, then it’s reason to truly celebrate. In fact, the sheer quality of Meadow’s own output is enough reason to be enthused, not least his finest film to date, This Is England.

Set in the early 1980s, This Is England initially focuses on 12-year old Shaun (played by Thomas Turgoose, a real find), as he befriends a group of skinheads. Shaun bears the scars of the 80s, with his dad lost in the Falklands War, and his relationship with his new friends develops carefully across the first half of the film.

But it’s in the second half where This Is England soars. It’s not easy watching, as is the usual drill with Meadows’ best films, From a stunning tirade about the state of Britain, to moments of real unease and tension, it’s a terrific piece of cinema, and one destined to enjoy a healthy life on DVD. It’s also one that should, if there’s any justice, provide a major career springboard for its primarily unknown cast, and one that should get Meadows far more of the recognition he absolutely deserves.

Bluntly, not only is This Is England the best British film of the year. It’s a standout contender for the best film of 2007 full stop. It’s utterly superb, and it’d be remiss not to see it. --Jon Foster

Special Features
Commentary with director Shane Meadows, producer Mark Herbert and lead actor Thomas Turgoose Behind the scenes Deleted scenes Interviews with Shane Meadows Interview with Mark Herbert Production Departments: Hair, Make-up and costumes Crew interviews and Rehearsals Production Design Essays on Skinheads and The Falklands War Cast Biographies Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis
Set during the summer of 1983, THIS IS ENGLAND is the poignant story of Shaun (Thomas Turgoos) an unpopular kid who discovers a sense of belonging among a group of peaceful skinheads. Having lost his father during the Falklands Conflict, Shaun sees something of a father figure in Woody (Joseph Gilgun), the gang's leader. However, the warmth and affection is short-lived, as Combo (Stephen Graham) – a former member of the group, and radical right-wing racist is released from prison and divides the friends with his deeply disturbed outlook. Whereas Woody had strived to bring everyone together through their love of music, Combo seeks to mobilise a force, with his sights set on spreading chaos and hatred. At only 12 years of age, and of volatile frame of mind, Shaun is susceptible to Combo's charismatic, yet gravely dangerous philosophising. As adulthood beckons and with Combo's rage manifesting into stark violence, Shaun will have to decide which side of the line he's going to stand. The sixth feature from writer/Director Shane Meadows (A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, DEAD MAN’S SHOES), THIS IS ENGLAND is a bitter-sweet rites of passage tale that is destined to be remembered for years to come.

This Is England (2 Disc Edition) [DVD] [2006] Directed by Shane Meadows Price: £6.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 24 new or used available from £3.35 Average customer review:

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Movie [DVD] [1990]

Customer Reviews

One Of The Most Underated Movies Of A Generation
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not to be confused by the 1986 cartoon series was a masterpiece of it's time. Highlighting on its more dark and edgy early comic days, this film certainly had it all. Action, comedy, thrills and spills it was packed for 90 minutes of enjoyable entertainment that on it's release sparked a media frenzy worldwide for it's violent content. Although the film was categorised as PG and certainly not aimed at the children. The story is strong and the true meaning of combat is highlighted. Their master come father Splinter trying to enlighten their teenage mind in the art of ninjitsu as a way of life, fighting the forces of evil, whist still trying to make them understand the reality that is the surface of modern day America and that their lives would always be different of that of normal average Human.

The budget was not the biggest in the world, but I think that only aids to the film. Jim Hensons workshop were involved on the animatronics and special effect which undoubtedly added to the films success. the movement of the puppets aimed with the character vocals worked a treat

The film is dark, quite edgy and at times strikes a blow. The script is clever with catchphrases and styles of the time Full or sarcasm, great action spots, fantastic martial arts scenes and an ending that surely couldn't be considered for children? You'll see when you see?

If you simply think it would be a bad remake of a cartoon, think again. This certainly is a film for the older market. Although I first saw this movie at the age of 9, 16 years later this remains one of my all time favourite moves and only now did I see the more depth in the meaning of the writing that could never have been touched on in the children's cartoon. The concept of fitting in, being different and the people of society in their ways and thinking.

Even said, it's still a fun movie, full of one liners and a good little movie that seems to have stood the sand of time. Even if you never saw the cartoon, or knew what the craze was all about, the film covers all that in detail

A good little movie, try it, even sceptics changed their mind about it.

Never pay full price for late pizza!
In my opinion, this is a great film and one of the best comic book adaptations ever. It sticks a lot more closely to the original material than the 1990's animated series did, although there are a couple of minor references to the cartoon, such as April O Neill being a news reporter and the Turtles love of pizza. The film is also much more watchable nowadays, as when it was originally released in UK cinemas (and later on VHS), almost every scene with Mikey's nunchukus was either edited or blurred out.....which is very noticeable in the fight scenes and makes a huge difference to the confrontation with Shredder at the end....but the BBFC have now seen sense and the censored footage has now been restored for the DVD.

Basically, the plot is a simple one of good versus evil and old vendettas....Shredder (a Darth Vader style bad guy, all scary mask and gruff voice) is attempting to take over New York with his clan of ninja thieves and the Ninja Turtles are out to stop him under the guidance of Splinter, a rat who's master was killed by Shredder many years before. But it is unusually dark and emotional for a film that is perceived to be aimed primarily at children. All kinds of themes are dealt with....coping with isolation from the outside world, anger, loss, and generally growing up and coming of age...and the characters are explored in a fair amount of detail and shown to be unique personalities who deal with situations in their own way. The fight scenes are also a lot of fun too, the restored scene where Mikey takes on a `fellow `chucker' is particularly amusing, as well as being a prime example of just how much the BBFC ruined the overall feel of the film by censoring it so much back in 1990.

The acting, well it's not going to win any Oscars, but Corey Feldman lends himself well to the voice of Donatello, Kevin Clash does manage to portray Splinter as a wise and venerable creature and Elias Koteas puts in a solid performance as Casey Jones. Judith Hoag is a little weak as April O' Neill but she was replaced by Paige Turco (of American Gothic fame) for the 2 sequels.

But for entertainment value, laughs, and memorable quotes, Cowabunga says it all.

COWABUNGA!
I heard about this region 1 dvd about 6 months ago, been a guy who grew up watching the cut version on a regular basis, i was very intrigued to buy it just to see what they cut out of it in the early 90's.

When the film came to my door, i was expecting to see an extended version of that film.
What i saw was a completely different movie, not only had the uncut bits been restored into the movie, but nearly every single frame of film was different, this was due to BBFC super-inposing on what was seen at the time (offensive pictures) michaelangelo nun-chuku's, which were taken out in every frame.

Fantastic dvd 14 years on from it's original release.
The only down side is that the region 2 dvd has a better picture quality than that of the region 1 version.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Movie [DVD] [1990] Directed by Steve Barron Price: £3.93 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 11 to 14 days Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 29 new or used available from £1.99 Average customer review:

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Turn it Up [DVD] [2008]

Turn it Up [DVD] [2008]review

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
TURN IT UP is the second instalment of the CENTER STAGE franchise. Kate Parker has been dreaming of becoming a member of the American Ballet Academy since her childhood spent in cold and dull Detroit. After she is cast for an entry audition something goes wrong and her application is rejected. Kate has to face the harsh reality that talent isn’t enough to make it in the dance universe, you need imagination and a fresh new style. Fortunately all is not lost as Kate gets a second chance to get into the Academy. This time she prepares for the audition with the help of a handsome and edgy hockey player-turned-dancer. Peter Ghallagher (AMERICAN BEAUTY, THE OC) resumes the role of the Academy’s director he previously played in CENTER STAGE.

Turn it Up [DVD] [2008] Directed by Steven Jacobson Price: £3.59 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 28 new or used available from £2.04 Average customer review:

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Remember Me Combi Pack

Remember Me Combi Pack [Blu-ray+ DVD] [2010] review

Robert Pattinson, Chris Cooper, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce BrosnanDirector: Allen Coulter

Editorial Reviews

Synopsis
His relationship with his father strained in the wake of a family tragedy, rebellious New Yorker Tyler (Robert Pattinson) finds love with the one girl who understands him. Tyler wasn't looking for love, but that's exactly what he found when he met Ally (Emilie de Ravin). Enchanted by her beauty and inspired by her spirit, Tyler finds that his strange life suddenly makes sense when he's around Ally. As their relationship grows, Tyler learns to live his life with passion, and value the little things. When buried secrets threaten to tear the young couple apart, Tyler realizes that sometimes love is worth fighting for. Chris Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, and Lena Olin co-star.

Remember Me Combi Pack [Blu-ray+ DVD] [2010]
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Departures

Departures [DVD] [2008] review

• Making of Departures - 32 mins
• Encoffinment - A feature - 13 mins

Customer Reviews

surprising, very funny, very touching - deserved Oscar-winner
This film won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards ceremony in 2009. It is certainly unusual, and I rate it very highly indeed. Daigo Koboyashi loses his job as a 'cellist in a Tokyo orchestra, and he and his young wife, very charmingly played by Ryoko Hirosue, are forced to go back into the country and stay in the small house left to him by his mother. He needs work and gets it - as the assistant to an aging but highly expert 'encasketer' - that is, someone who prepares a dead body for burial, a ceremony conducted in the presence of family and friends. The ceremony, to Western eyes unfamiliar, is carried out with great dignity and care, and is an opportunity for those close to the departed to say farewell and to express their grief. The advert. for the job has been vague (partly the result of a misprint) and Daigo does not know what he is letting himself in for. For a while he faces many difficulties and eventually his marriage is under strain, but he stays with the job and comes to admire the skill and professionalism of his employer and to value highly the service they give to the bereaved. There are many other plot strands in the film, but, for those who have not seen it, I cannot write about these, except to say that eventually the work comes very close to Daigo personally, and when that happens, the film is extremely moving - the cinema in which I saw it was hushed, and some of the audience were in tears.

But it is also very funny. There is a bizarre side to the work (as, for example, when the encasketers discover - in front of the family - that the corpse - a girl, it would seem - has a penis) and there is a good deal of black humour in the earlier part of the film. All of the principal characters - Diago, Mika (his wife), the encasketer and his female secretary - are sympathetic characters and it is very easy to empathise with them, so that as the plot moves on, we become involved. Its quaintness is a plus too. Not only is the encasketing ritual intriguing, the town in which Diago and Mika stay, the bathhouse they visit, the very beautiful countryside (sometimes snow-covered) are all visually absorbing. Far on in the film, Diago is filmed playing his 'cello on a raised bank by a road with a snow-covered mountain in the background, and this is striking, even if it is also impossible to believe that he ever actually did this.

The film is quite long and I thought might outstay its welcome, but just at that point there was a splendid coup de theatre (in a fishing village) which really struck home - and then it ended. It was thoroughly enjoyable, beautifully acted and directed and, in its strangeness, memorable. I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Departures [DVD] [2008] Directed by Yojiro Takita List Price: £19.99 Price: £10.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 23 new or used available from £5.87 Average customer review:

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Boston Legal Seasons 1-5 DVD Box Set

The Practice was a series which had been hugely successful because it dealt with the lives of everyday defense attorneys, which doesn't often happen in the world of TV series. The Boston Legal is no different. The TV series on DVD has a collection of savvy episodes that have a healthy blend of drama and reality. Boston Legal makes for an interesting watch because it shows a different side of law which is mostly not shown in any legal shows.

Boston Legal follows the life of various attorneys that work with the Civil Law firm known as Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Edwin Poole is played by Larry Miller and when he is sent to a hospital, the company also goes through a little evaluation. Alan Shore, played by James Spader and Denny Crane, played by William Shatner are good friends and Crane is the co-founder of the company.

Shore is quite unconventional character and has very unorthodox methods when it comes to work as he takes on cases which can only be called undesirable and in the process gets himself judged by the employees of the office. Brad Chase, played by Mark Valley is the mediator who is responsible for keeping an eye on Crane and Shore. Furthermore, there are three female employees at the office, Sally Heep, Tara Wilson and Lori Colson who do all that they can to get Shore to notice them. Shore on the other hand does not have the capacity to stick to one woman.

As the story develops in Boston Legal seasons 1-5, there are several confusing and complicated relationships while the cases that they are representing get neglected from time to time. There are crazy attorneys and some ever crazier cases in this hit series by David E Kelley. The story follows the lives of various attorneys, all of whom have interesting characters and unconventional cases.

Boston Legal TV series on DVD makes for a great viewing since it is considered to be one of the most balanced shows to be showcased in recent times. It provides a well rounded entertainment since it covers all the important bases like current affairs, political scenarios, drama and comedy in one package in such a way that it all blends in perfectly. David Kelley is known for all of his series being entertaining so one would definitely expect Boston Legal to be the same. Viewers would not be disappointed since Boston Legal Seasons 1-5 have several episodes that will entertain them like no other series.

For more information on the TV series on DVD [http://www.dvd-collections.net/], please visit us for more reviews on Boston Legal seasons 1-5 [http://www.dvd-collections.net/default/boston-legal-complete-seasons-1-5-31-dvd-boxset.html].

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Why English Literature Or Drama Set Plays Need to Be Seen, Not Just Read

Any student taking English, Drama or Theatre Studies will find that their course features a number of set play texts.

These will almost certainly include a Shakespeare play or two, with typical choices including Hamlet, Othello and Romeo and Juliet. Alongside, these will be other classic plays, with popular choices including The Duchess of Malfi, A View From the Bridge and Dr Faustus.

Titles such as the above are studied throughout the English-speaking world, although each country will, of course, have its own preferences, particularly for drama by native playwrights or anything set in their home country.

A student in the USA, for example, taking a High School Diploma, SAT, ACT, Ap/IB or Bachelor's degree in English or Theater Studies may well find himself or herself studying The Crucible. A GCSE or A Level student in the UK could have Lady Windermere's Fan as part of their curriculum. In Scotland, Macbeth is an obvious choice for the Scottish Higher exam. In Australia, The Chapel Perilous is a popular option for Higher School Certificate or Certificate of Education students.

Whatever the stage play, studying the printed texts is the obvious starting point - indeed, it's essential. There are also many resources online giving the plot summary, key themes, characters and so forth, all of which can be useful.

However, there's no substitute for experiencing the plays as they are meant to be experienced - in other words seen, rather than read. If possible, students should try and go to a professional production of the play in question - in fact many examination boards specifically advise it.

In the first place, it makes the play, quite simply, more enjoyable. Students who may struggle with comprehension of a written text, or simply lack the desire to learn about it at all, will suddenly see what all the fuss is about. As long as the production is a good one, they will likely take genuine pleasure out of the experience.

In addition, the plot becomes clear. The characters come to life, as does the way they relate to and interact with each other. And, particularly important in the case of Elizabethan or Jacobean drama, the language becomes more accessible.

Not surprisingly, more pleasure and increased understanding is likely to be reflected in much higher grades.

Of course, finding a professional production of a set text play is often easier said than done, as stagings can be few and far between, even in big cities. There's also the question of cost. A night out at a leading theatre isn't cheap, and a teacher or professor wanting to take their whole class to a production can find the cost prohibitive.

So it's also worth seeking out alternate means of seeing stage plays. For example, the BBC has filmed all of Shakespeare's plays and brought them out on DVD - these are available individually or as a 37-disc boxed set. In addition, Stage on Screen has produced DVDs of stage productions of Doctor Faustus, The Duchess of Malfi, Volpone and others. Both organisations also produce copious background material, including sources, analysis and so on.

Productions such as these also have the advantage of being essentially faithful to the script and of being filmed as they are acted on stage. (While it's fun to watch a movie like West Side Story, inspired by Romeo and Juliet, or Strange Brew, based on Hamlet, transposed stories, heavily cut scripts and outlandish settings don't help much with the final examination.)

Although it can never replace live theatre completely, one advantage of watching stage plays on DVD, of course, is that students have the opportunity to watch the play as often as they want, and to look at individual scenes. And by watching a production together as a class, motivating and teaching students becomes more straightforward.

So if possible, see a live production, or one that's as close to a live performance as possible. For students and teachers alike, it can make all the difference.

* Peter Wise is a UK freelance copywriter based in London, UK. He writes websites, advertising, sales letters, brochures, newsletter articles and press releases. If you're looking for a freelance copywriter, take a look at my freelance copywriting services

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Top 5 Drama Movies of All Time

Drama movies have always been some of the top rated movies in the theatres and in movie stores. But there are five great movies that can hold the position of the top movies of all time.

The first top-rated movie is "Citizen Kane". This movie was released in 1941. A reporter is searching dying Charles Kane's life to try to understand the meaning of the word rosebud. People who know Kane share stories about him and these are featured as a series of flashbacks of his life.

The second movie is "2001: A Space Odyssey". "2001: A Space Odyssey" was released in 1968. The director is Stanley Kubrick. A manned mission is sent to the moon but on the way the ships computer goes crazy.

The Third film is "The Godfather Collection" by Ford Copolla. These movies released in 1972, 1974, and 1990 starring Al Pacino and Marlon Brando. These movies give a great picture of what the mob is like. Al Pacino plays a mob boss in all of these movies.

The fourth movie is "Vertigo" by the famous Alfred Hitchcock. "Vertigo" was released in 1958. In this film Scottie Ferguson follows a girl named Madeleine. She later dies and he later meets another girl named Judy. She reminds Scottie of Madeleine.

The fifth is "The Searchers" directed by John Ford. It was released in 1956 starring John Wayne. The movie is about a white girl being abducted by Comanche Indians and what should be done about it. It is based between 1868-1863 so racism was at its prime.

Do you love movies? Would you like to watch movies for free? If the answer is yes, please visit free online movies and choose from a selection of thouasands of movies and t.v. Shows.

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Mother

Mother [DVD] [2009]

Synopsis
A woman devoted to her son struggles to keep him from spending his life in prison in this drama from director Bong Joon-ho. Do-jun (Weon Bin) is a man in his mid-twenties who isn't especially bright and is easily led. Do-jun lives with his elderly mother (Kim Hye-ja), who loves him fiercely even though she has no illusions about his abilities or his bad habits. Do-jun spends much of his spare time with Jin-tae (Jin Gu), a borderline criminal who takes advantage of Do-jun's credulous nature, much to his mother's annoyance. When Do-jun is arrested by police and accused of the murder of a young woman, his mother is certain he couldn't have done it and sets out to prove her son's innocence to police detectives, who seem more interested in closing the case than researching other possible leads. At first, mother feels certain that Jin-tae has framed her son to avoid being punished himself, but as she digs deeper she suspects the truth is more complicated.


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Bad Boys

Bad Boys [DVD] [1995]
Directed by Michael Bay

Price:	£3.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details

Customer Reviews

Good Film
This film had two things going for it. Firstly it had will smith in an actor who i highly rate and secondly having seen Bad Boys 2 before i new the sort of thing i was about to experience. Whilst not as good as Bad Boys 2 Bad Boys 2 [DVD] [2003] still a very good film and i have rated it 5 stars. Highly enjoyable film had me laughing at points throughout it and the plot was still engaging.

Love it!
I Love this film so much. I think it's highly amusing, and Will Smith and Martin Lawrence make a good duo. What makes it better is that it came the next day even though I had ordered it quite late into the evening.

Passenger 57
I got this for £2.20, all in.
£2.20 for possibly the best film ever made.
And it was delivered in about 3 days.
Brilliant.

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