The Morecambe & Wise Collection brings together the total cinematic oeuvre of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise: The Intelligence Men (1965), That Riviera Touch (1966) and The Magnificent Two (1967). Though intermittently amusing, they serve mostly to confirm that Morecambe & Wise did the smart thing in devoting the majority of their career to television sketch show. Their comedy was most potent in small doses. The Intelligence Men is an obvious but likeable parody of the early Bond films and sets the pattern for all three films: Eric and Ernie as two well-meaning blunderers cast into an unfamiliar milieu (in this case, international espionage) and forced to survive armed with little more than a repertoire of wince-inducing puns. That Riviera Touch is an obvious but likeable parody of the heist genre. Again, Eric and Ernie are cast as hapless ingénues, in this case a pair of traffic wardens whose holiday in France intersects with the plottings of a gang of jewel thieves. If anything, its even more contrived than that sounds, but the scenes in which Eric cleans out the casino by accident are wonderfully understated, and a reminder of a peerless comic actor. The Magnificent Two, the final and by some distance the least funny of the three, is an updated though rather laboured subversion of the Spaghetti Western, relying rather too much on the notion that anything and everything to do with foreigners is inherently hilarious. On the DVD: The Morecambe & Wise Collection has English subtitles for all three discs and all include the original cinematic trailer. That Riviera Touch is presented in 4:3 format, the remaining two in 16:9. As special features go, these are annoyingly desultory for a release that will certainly only be purchased by die-hard fans. It wouldnt have killed the producers to commission some liner notes at the very least.--Andrew Mueller
Finding Forrester is a very accomplished example of the sentimental melodrama that Gus Von Sant has made his own--issues like integrity and snobbery are presented with just enough simplification to the set pieces that no-one feels challenged. Brilliant baseball player Jamal gets the chance to move from a sink school in the Bronx to a private academy where his real intellectual and artistic talent will be nurtured along with his sporting skills. This is an American film about class and race, but one that makes the real issue Jamal's unsuspecting need to defend himself against accusations of plagiarism. His artistic mentor is a reclusive novelist, whose whereabouts he keeps secret even when he stands to lose everything. Rob Brown is extraordinary as the boy, conveying the sensitivity, genius, obstinacy and physicality of a character written as a paragon; Sean Connery turns in a predictably fine performance as Forrester, using his authority to make the part credible; F Murray Abrahams is, as always, an effective villain--he brings an observed creepy snobbery to the film; Anna Paquin makes a good impression in the minor part of Jamal's white schoolfellow and supporter. On the DVD: The disc includes two powerful deleted scenes of school choirs, a "making-of" documentary and a short film about the auditions process which found Rob Brown. It has fine sound--Dolby Digital 5.1--that brings out the film's jazz score perfectly. The anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for 16:9 TVs, looks just fine. --Roz Kaveny
Beauty and the Beast: One of the most acclaimed and treasured animated films of all time is about to sweep you off your feet. Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all - that true beauty comes from within. An all-new digital restoration makes this 2-Disc DVD more magical than ever. Be our guest and let the music you'll never forget and the characters who will fill your heart cast a shimmering spell like never before.Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Celebrate the most magical time of the year with this Special Edition of the irresistible holiday classic inspired by Disney's Academy Award-winning masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner - Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Share the wonder as Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) recounts another tale as old as time about a Christmas past that almost wasn't - thanks to the scheming of former court composer Forte (Tim Curry), now a gloomy, holiday-hating pipe organ, determined to keep Belle and Beast apart forever. Only a true Christmas miracle could possibly thwart his dastardly plans. Reuniting the original voice cast, this spectacular gem sparkles with exciting bonus features, delightful songs, spellbinding visuals, and enduring themes of hope, friendship and love. Your family will experience the spirit of the season all year long with the timeless magic of Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World: A lot happened before Belle and Beast lived happily ever after! Share the fun with one of Disney's most spirited Princesses and all her enchanted friends as their exciting adventures continue in this sparkling Special Edition of Belle's Magical World - inspired by Disney's beloved Academy Award-winning masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner - Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Join Belle, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere, plus some charming new friends as they discover how love, teamwork, forgiveness and friendship can turn a once-gloomy castle into a dazzling palace fit for a princess! Adorned with delightful bonus features, your favourite characters and great songs, this fun-filled, modern-day classic proves that true beauty shines from within!
Johnny Knoxville and his band of maniacs perform a variety of stunts and gross-out gags on the big screen for the first time.
Though it's not in the same league as the classic screen musicals, Annie's heartwarming rags-to-riches storyline, social comment (shallow as it may be) and catchy songs make for an entertaining and unpretentious 90 minutes' viewing. Aileen Quinn is the irrepressible titular orphan, by no means as irritating as she looks in the cover picture; Albert Finney is Oliver Warbucks, the tyrannical tycoon (with a hidden heart of gold, of course) who adopts her for a week in the interests of good PR. The real show-stopper, though, is Carol Burnett as the gin-soaked harpy Miss Hannigan, ruling with an iron fist over an orphanage full of unruly girls, flirting with every man in sight and eventually scheming with her unscrupulous brother (Tim Curry) to kidnap Annie and reap a fat Warbucks reward cheque. While the songs--including "Tomorrow", "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" and "It's a Hard Knock Life"--are excellent, the kids' voices are shrill and the production pretty low-rent: Annie is very obviously a stage show brought to screen on a low budget. But while it lacks the polish that make the Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe musicals so special, it's funny and sweet and has a rough charm all its own. On the DVD: The film is presented in widescreen, preserving its original 2.35:1 aspect, and is enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TVs; the soundtrack is Dolby surround, though as noted above the music score is relatively rough and ready so top-notch sound isn't actually as important as it would be in other musicals. The extras are pretty disappointing--an uninspired interactive menu features only the obligatory multi-language subtitles, (very) short biographies of the key cast members, a few publicity cards and posters, the theatrical trailer and--most interestingly--an isolated musical score. No commentary from director John Huston, no documentaries, nothing about the 1930s cartoon strip that was, apparently, one of the most popular of its day. There's actually more information in the accompanying booklet than there is on the disc. --Rikki Price
"Tormented" is a sexy, smart, slick, scary and funny high school horror movie that smells like teen spirit with a hint of rotting flesh!
A collection of 5 films based on murder mystery novels by Mary Higgins Clark. Includes: 1. A Crime Of Passion 2. Before I Say Goodbye 3. Try To Remember 4. The Cradle Will Fall 5. I'll Be Seeing You
Sean Penn and Don Cheadle star in this drama that follows the life of a disillusioned salesman who takes extraordinary measures to make his presence felt.
Life can really throw you curves - especially in this breakthrough Lifetime TV comedy! After beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb (Brooke D'Orsay) has a fatal car accident she finds herself in the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott) a brilliant plus-size attorney. By a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention Deb can no longer rely on her fabulous looks to pull her through. Now the new Jane must confront the challenges of her adventurous new life love and career - as well as her curvier frame - in the ultimate showdown of brains and beauty. Featuring a host of celebrity guest stars including Kathy Najimy Delta Burke Rosie O'Donnell Paula Abdul Liza Minelli and Tim Gunn. Episodes Comprise: 1. Drop Dead Diva Pilot 2. The F Word 3. Do Over 4. The Chinese Wall 5. Lost & Found 6. Second Chances 7. The Magic Bullet 8. Crazy 9. The Dress 10. Make Me A Match 11. What If? 12. Dead Model Walking 13. Grayson's Anatomy
E4's multi BAFTA award-winning drama series Skins follows the chaotic lives and loves of hard-partying college students as their teen lives mix with the madness of the adult world around them. The gang from series 1 and 2 are: Tony the most popular boy in town and his kind-hearted sidekick Sid; quick witted and stunning Michelle; total nutter Cassie; best mates Anwar and Maxxie; super bright Jal; and Chris the original party animal. The series 3 and 4 students are: beautiful and mysterious Effy and her best friend kooky Pandora; unpredictable Cook handsome Freddie and their best mate na''ve JJ; beautiful idealist Naomi; identical twins Katie and Emily and Thomas a good honest soul.
Two hilarious short films from British funny man Erik Sykes: 'Rhubarb Rhubarb' concerns a mad game of golf and in 'Mr H Is Late' a coffin is late for a funeral...
Fifty years ago Yale University professor Stanley Milgram held a series of social experiments based on Nazi war criminals' psychology. They were devised to answer a simple question: how far are people willing to go when instructed by authority? Nick, his girlfriend Tayler and their two best friends are about to find out... Abducted after a camping trip, they wake up in an unknown prison with two vials wired into the base of their skulls. They are not alone: another four people are in the sam...
A consumate con-man, Jake Vig (Edward Burns) has just pulled his biggest trick yet. But then he finds out he's conned an eccentric crime boss Winston King (Dustin Hoffman) and there'll be more than hell to pay.
Cowboy drifter Eddie reconnects with May the love of his life in a seedy desert motel even though she's taken up with a new boyfriend. But that's not the only threat to their rekindled passion. A mysterious old man also harbours a secret so dark and forbidden it could destroy Eddie and May's love forever...
When mischievous teenaged cousins Bo Duke (Jonathan Bennett Mean Girls) and Luke Duke (Randy Wayne ABC's Sons And Daughters) are arrested both boys are paroled to the care of their Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) in Hazzard sentenced to a summer of hard work. It's not long before the Duke boys learn of Boss Hogg's (Chris McDonald) plans to foreclose on Uncle Jesse's farm. Together with help from their frumpy cousin Daisy (April Scott) Bo and Luke vow to save the family
We will remember them. Four terrorists wanted to turn Flight 93 into a weapon. Forty passengers and crew stopped it from reaching its target... This drama made for US TV documents the final tragic journey of Flight 93 on 11th September 2001 where the passengers managed to heroically overthrow the terrorist threat at the expense of their lives.
A typically bored affluent Californian housewife's world of domestic oblivion careers off its axis when she develops a mystery illness that puts her at odds with every aspect of the world around her - cars dry cleaners hair perms and even the new couch! Gradually she develops nosebleeds vomiting and breathing problems and finally collapses. In a desperate search for what is 'safe' she opts for virtual isolation in a porcelain igloo in the Texas desert where the inhabitants drag round oxygen cylinders and the therapists act like evangelical preachers. Injected with horror comic touches and psychological suspense Safe is a visionary tale of the future. Has Carol brought her sickness upon herself or is she made vulnerable by a world that is more dangerous than we or she understands?
Mace is a street wise ex-cop who now tracks down criminals that have jumped bail. The mayor hires him to locate and shadow the person who murdered his daughter. Mace enlists the help of Sarah a hooker and Mitch the man who was unlucky enough to have been Donna's last date and now the prime suspect in her murder. When they get close to discovering the identity of the killer they find themselves hunted by the police.
Set in a Colorado mountain town that gets destroyed on a regular basis and is populated by the dumbest, most vulgar characters imaginable, South Park is an anarchic animated sitcom that owes more to the spirit of Monty Python than to its comparatively tame predecessor The Simpsons. The show's origins go back to a 1995 Christmas video "postcard" called The Spirit of Christmas that a Fox Studios executive had commissioned at the previous Sundance Film Festival for $2000 having seen the work of film-makers Trey Parker and Matt Stone (Cannibal: The Musical). The adventures of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny became an instant ratings and merchandising smash and the foul-mouthed eight-year-olds have expanded to the cinema screen (Bigger, Longer and Uncut), found their way to the MTV Movie Awards and allowed the show creators/(song) writers/voice-artists to pursue equally anarchic comedy at the box office with Baseketball and Orgazmo. Constantly pursued by a censorship outcry, the series has survived several copycat cartoon threats and even the death of its lead female vocal-artist during its third season. Perhaps the show's biggest controversy has always been that--despite a disclaimer before every episode--under-aged children still see it. But lured by a universe full of Cheesy Poofs and Cookie Dings, where no-one's afraid to badmouth school bus driver Miss Crabtree and where it's OK to vomit from being in love, it's no wonder that children of all ages can't help but love it. Seriously. --Paul Tonks Season Four: Just three weeks after losing out on an Oscar for the song "Blame Canada", the show's creators aired their disgust at Phil Collins (who won for Tarzan) in the fantastic episode "Timmy! 2000". Not only did it prove how fast they can put a show together, it also reassured viewers that none of their comedic spark had been lost. More importantly we were introduced to the super-sweet wheelchair-bound child with learning difficulties. Timmy truly boosted the show's humour but also instilled some pathos to the gang's growing adventures (such as his poignant role in "Thanksgiving Special"). Proving the intention to take things in a new direction was the long-awaited move up to the "Fourth Grade". With a souped-up theme tune in an explosive new title sequence, the start of Kyle's adopted Canadian brother Ike in Kindergarten (cue super-cute baby voiceovers in a hilarious comment on the US Election farce in "Trapper Keeper") and lots more CGI inserts, this season really looks different from the others. The best two experiments were having Malcolm McDowell as "A British Person" narrating to camera for a new take on "Great Expectations" and linking all the way back to the video postcard that started it all--The Spirit of Christmas--in the downbeat finale "A Very Crappy Christmas". --Paul Tonks
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