Gandhi is a great subject, but is Gandhi a great film? Undoubtedly it is, not least because it is one of the last old-school epics ever made, a glorious visual treat featuring tens of thousands of extras (real people, not digital effects) and sumptuous Panavision cinematography. But a true epic is about more than just widescreen photography, it concerns itself with noble subjects too, and the life story of Mahatma Gandhi is one of the noblest of all. Both the man and the film have profound things to say about the meaning of freedom and racial harmony, as well as how to achieve them. Ben Kingsley, in his first major screen role, bears the heavy responsibility of the central performance and carries it off magnificently; without his magnetic and utterly convincing portrayal the film would founder in the very first scene. Sir Richard Attenborough surrounds his main character with a cast of distinguished thespians (Trevor Howard, John Mills, John Gielgud and Martin Sheen, to name but four), none of whom do anything but provide the most sympathetic support. John Briley's literate screenplay achieves the almost impossible task of distilling the bewildering complexities of Anglo-Indian politics. Attenborough's treatment is openly reverential, but, given the saint-like character of his subject, it's hard to see how it could have been anything else. He doesn't flinch from the implication that the Mahatma was naïve to expect a unified India, for example, but instead lets Gandhi's actions speak for themselves. The outstanding achievement of this labour of love is that it tells the story of an avowed pacifist who never raised a hand in anger, of a man who never held high office, of a man who shied away from publicity, and turns it into three hours of utterly mesmerising cinema.On the DVD: The anamorphic (16:9) picture of the original 2.35:1 image has a certain softness to it that may reflect the age of the print, but somehow seems entirely in keeping with the subject . Sound is Dolby 5.1. The extras are fairly brief, but worthwhile: original newsreel footage of Gandhi includes an astonishingly patronising British news account of his visit to England; in a recent interview, Ben Kinglsey chats enthusiastically about the film and the difficulties he experienced bringing the character to life. The dull "making-of" feature is simply a montage of stills. --Mark Walker
The hilarious story of Matilda based on the book by Roald Dahl. Once upon a time, there lived a quite extraordinary little girl named Matilda, but unfortunately her parents were so obsessed with their own lives they never noticed Matilda. They send her to Crunchem Hall, a horrible boarding school run by a bossy headmistress Miss Trunchbull. There, Matilda discovers remarkable skills, which allow her to turn the tables on the wicked grown-ups in her world. Special Features: A Children's Guide to Good Manners A Truly Terrible Test! Classroom Games: Math Game and Spelling Bee Escape to the Library! Get Rid of Miss Trunchbull! Trivia Game Make Magic with Matilda! Matilda The Movie Character Gallery Matilda Read-Along Matilda's Movie Magic Matilda's Movie about Making Matilda Terrify the Trunchbull!
Unfortunately for Matilda her father Harry (Danny DeVito) is a used car salesman who bamboozles innocent customers and her mother Zinnia (Rhea Perlman) lives for bingo and soap operas. Far from noticing what a special child Matilda is they barely notice her at all! They bundle Matilda off to Cruncham Hall a bleak school where students cower before the whip hand and fist of a hulking monster headmistress Miss Trunchball (Pam Ferris). But amid Crunchem's darkness Matilda discove
Flight of the Navigator is the action-packed classic 80s adventure into another world. It's 1978 and 12-year-old David Freeman is knocked unconcious while playing. He wakes up and discovers it's now 1986 and he's been missing for eight years. NASA believes he's been abducted by aliens and want to use him for their research. But with the guidance of a strange unseen entity he discovers a hidden spacehsip and with the help of MAX the computer sets off on an incredible mission to get back to the past where he belongs. Special Features: Commentary by Director Randal Kleiser
Hollywood legends Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake (The Glass Key, This Gun For Hire) team up for a masterfully told tale of suspense and intrigue in the classic noir tradition. When discharged navy officer Johnny Morrison (Ladd) comes home from war to his old stomping ground in the Hollywood Hills, he is shocked to discover his wife Helen (Doris Dowling) having an affair with the proprietor of the glamorous Blue Dahlia nightclub. But when Helen is murdered and Johnny is fingered as the prime suspect, he is forced to prove his innocence, aided by a woman harbouring a dark secret, the beautiful and enigmatic Joyce (Lake). Directed by George Marshall (Destry Rides Again, How the West Was Won) from a script by acclaimed hard-boiled novelist Raymond Chandler his only produced original screenplay The Blue Dahlia sparkles with wit and old Hollywood glamour, showcasing some of the most celebrated talent of the golden age of the silver screen at their iconic best, making its high definition debut in this feature-packed release from Arrow Academy. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed PCM mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Selected scene commentary by Frank Krutnik, author of In a Lonely Street: Film Noir, Genre, Masculinity Introduction to the film by Frank Krutnik Rare 1949 half-hour radio dramatization of The Blue Dahlia by The Screen Guild Theater, starring Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd Original theatrical trailer Extensive gallery of vintage stills and promotional materials Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Tonci Zonjic
A 12 year-old boy is mysteriously abducted by an alien space craft and returns to Earth eight years later still only 12. He now has great navigational powers which enable him to fly his spaceship anywhere he desires.
Harry's Game is the story of two killers. One is Billy Downes (Derek Thompson) cold-blooded assassin of a British Cabinet Minister. The other is Harry Brown (Ray Lonnen) Captain by rank and with orders to eliminate the IRA hitman in his own backyard - the Falls Road Belfast. Both men believe their cause is just. But only one can win. Harry's game - to find the identity of the killer and destroy him before his cover is blown... With powerful performances from Ray Lon
Richard Attenborough's award-winning epic recounts the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi. In South Africa a young Indian lawyer is booted off a train for refusing to ride second-class. Upon his return to his native India and fed up with the unjust political system he joins the Indian Congress Party which encourages social change through passive resistance. When his ""subversive"" activities land him in jail masses of low-skilled workers strike to support his non-violent yet revolutionary position. Back in India Gandhi renounces the Western way of life and struggles to organize Indian labor against British colonialism. A strike costs many British soldiers their lives so the crown responds by slaughtering 1 500 Indians. Enraged the ascetic spiritual leader continues to preach pacifism until he has lead India out from under the tyranny of British imperialism.
Guy Ritchie returns with another tale of criminals, con men and card sharks.
Intergalactic adventure with an interplanetary resistance group battling for survival against a totalitarian super-power. Roaming a universe of boundless space and restrictive discipline freedom-fighter Blake with the crew of spaceship Liberator is locked in combat with the all-powerful forces of the Federation. Episodes comprise: 1. Aftermath 2. Powerplay 3. Volcano 4. Dawn Of The Gods 5. The Harvest Of Kairos 6. City At The Edge Of The World 7. Children Of Auron 8. Rumou
"Mum & Dad", the impressive debut feature by writer-director Steven Sheil, is one of the most disturbing Brit-shockers to emerge in memory.
The Mercer brothers reunite to avenge the murder of their adoptive mother.
Richard Attenborough's award-winning epic recounts the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi. In South Africa a young Indian lawyer is booted off a train for refusing to ride second-class. Upon his return to his native India and fed up with the unjust political system he joins the Indian Congress Party which encourages social change through passive resistance. When his subversive activities land him in jail masses of low-skilled workers strike to support his non-violent yet revolutionary position. Back in India Gandhi renounces the Western way of life and struggles to organize Indian labor against British colonialism. A strike costs many British soldiers their lives so the crown responds by slaughtering 1 500 Indians. Enraged the ascetic spiritual leader continues to preach pacifism until he has lead India out from under the tyranny of British imperialism.
A tale of an inner city drug dealer who turns away from crime to pursue his passion, rap music.
In Thailand, John Rambo (Stallone) assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village where a group of Christian Aid workers are being held hostage.
From 1971 to 1980, millions followed the drama and spectacle of this lavishly-filmed television series following, the trials and triumphs, loves and betrayals, adventures and disasters of James (Peter Gilmore), his family and others in the Onedin Line fleet and boardroom. Set in England in the 1860s when British naval strength was the envy of Europe, this saga charts the fortunes of an ambitious clever and determined ship owner whose private life is more stormy than the seas he sails. It is six months since the death of his wife Anne, and James is still mourning her loss. Gradually he considers a second marriage and finds himself having to choose between two women: the adoring eighteen year-old Leonora Biddulph, daughter of a wealthy coal merchant and Caroline Maudslay, in her late twenties, a sophisticated wealthy widow whom he rescues from a dugout canoe on the Amazon river. There are many new opportunities for James Onedin and his shipping line. The newly built Brazilian State Railway opens up a promising source of trade with constant demand for coal and iron. James is determined to win the contract but Frazer also has plans involving the use of Fogarty and a steamship. Later, Fogarty gets the better over James when he is successful in smuggling rubber seeds, ‘black gold’ out of Brazil for the development of plantations in India. Working the Onedin ships hard for every dollar, James journeys to the Baltic, East Africa, America and north-east Canada. Follow the exciting tale of ruthless men, tempestuous women and violent seas in this three disc DVD boxset complete with all thirteen episodes from series three.
When Johnny Morrison returns home at the end of the war he expects to receive a warm welcome from his wife. However he makes the unpleasant discovery that she's been unfaithful to him with Eddie Harwood the owner of the Blue Dahlia nightclub. After a heated and violent argument he storms out of their house. Later that night she's murdered--and Johnny winds up the prime suspect. Now to prove his innocence Johnny must find the real culprit. Among the suspects are the ruthless nightclub owner and a vicious gangster. Joyce Harwood the estranged wife of the club's proprietor lends Johnny a hand and the two fall in love while tracking down the killer. Two ex-service buddies also come to Johnny's aid: the shell-shocked Buzz Wanchek and George Copeland. Will Johnny solve the mystery before the police find him and charge him with murder? This film noir classic was Raymond Chandler's first original story written directly for the screen.
Flight of the Navigator is the action-packed classic '80s adventure into another world. It's 1978 and 12-year old David Freeman is knocked unconscious while playing. He wakes up and discovers it's now 1986 and he's been missing for eight years. NASA believes he's been abducted by aliens and want to use him for their research. But with the guidance of a strange unseen entity he discovers a hidden spaceship and with the help of MAX the computer sets off on an incredible mission to get ba...
"Idlewild" synthesizes drama, music, cinema and style to bring a tale of struggling singers to life.
Danny DeVito's adaptation of the Roald Dahl book for children is mostly just fine, helped along quite a bit by the charming performance of Mara Wilson (Mrs Doubtfire) as the eponymous young Matilda, a brilliant girl neglected by her stupid, self-involved parents (DeVito and Rhea Perlman). Ignored at home, Matilda escapes into a world of reading, exercising her mind so much she develops telekinetic powers. Good thing, too: sent off to a school headed by a cruel principal, Matilda needs all the help she can get. DeVito takes a highly stylized approach that is sometimes reminiscent of Barry Sonnenfeld (director of Get Shorty, a DeVito production), and his judgement is not the best in some matters, such as letting the comic-scary sequences involving the principal go on too long. But much of the film is delightful and funny.--Tom Keogh
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