Based on Alex Haley's bestseller, the 1977 TV mini-series Roots told the harrowing story of one man's ancestors, commencing with African warrior Kunta Kinte, captured, transported to America, stripped of his dignity, his rights, and even his name. He tries but fails to escape before accepting he can never return to Africa. He marries and bears a daughter, Kizzy, who is callously sold, then raped by her new "master". However, her son, Chicken George, a resourceful dab hand with gamecocks, lives long enough to see his own children attain a liberty of sorts following the Civil War. Roots is told in the same, accessible televisual language as The Waltons or Bonanza, yet it is never bland or evasive. It leaves no doubt as to the torment and abuse suffered by blacks, and although the series' conclusion is fictionally satisfying, for many of the black characters their only hope lies in generations yet unborn. It is sturdy enough drama but its greatest, most revolutionary effects were social. It persuaded American audiences to regard their history from a black perspective, and to see how--against odds far more desperate than those the pilgrims faced--Africans laid claim to their status as free African-Americans. Roots was massively popular, triggering a craze for genealogy and paving the way for series like 1979's Holocaust, which similarly raised the public's awareness of the slaughter of the Jews under Hitler. Most importantly, Roots changed forever the way black people were depicted on American TV. On the DVD: Roots is presented in 1:33:1 format and is visually extremely well-preserved. Extra features include a "Roots Family Tree", a copious, informative audio commentary featuring members of cast and crew, and a documentary, "Remembering Roots". Although this consists only of interviews, these convey the extraordinary emotional grip this project had on those who took part in it.--David Stubbs
The great war has ended. Unicron has been defeated the Decepticons have fled and the Autobots are victorious under the command of a new leader. In the midst of the celebrations the Autobots are suddenly attacked leaving the Decepticons the obvious suspects. But the Decepticons are in bad shape low in energy without a leader and fighting amongst themselves. Who are the mysterious attackers? Find out in these five epic episodes as the Transformers face a new enemy and the truth of their creation!
The Disney Studio was built on innovation in animation, so it seems ironic that Atlantis is both a bold departure and highly derivative, borrowing heavily from anime, video games and graphic novels. Instead of songs and fuzzy little animals, the artists offer an action-adventure set in 1914: nerdy linguist Milo Thatch (Michael J Fox) believes he's found the location of the legendary Lost Continent. An eccentric zillionaire sends Milo out to test his hypothesis with an anachronistic crew that includes tough Puerto Rican mechanic Audrey (Jacqueline Obradors), demolition expert Vinnie (Don Novello), and butt-kicking blonde adventurer Helga (Claudia Christian). When they find Atlantis, its culture is dying because the people can no longer read the runes that explain their mysterious power source--but Milo can. Nasty Commander Rourke (James Garner) attempts to steal that power source, leading to the requisite all-out battle. Atlantis offers some nifty battle scenes, including an attack on a Jules Verne-esque submarine by a giant robotic trilobites and fishlike flying cars. But the film suffers from major story problems. If Princess Kida (Cree Summer) remembers her civilisation at its height, why can't she read the runes? Why doesn't Milo's crew notice that the Atlanteans live for centuries? The angular designs are based on the work of comic book artist Mike Mignola (Hellboy), and the artists struggle with the characters' stubby hands, skinny limbs and pointed jaws. The result is a film that will appeal more to 10-year-old boys than to family audiences. --Charles Solomon, Amazon.com
The Robe was designed by 20th Century-Fox to show off the wonders of CinemaScope, and taken simply as a vehicle for widescreen photography the movie is undeniably a visual treat. Perhaps the clumsy early 'Scope cameras were partly to blame, but from any other perspective--plot, dialogue and acting--The Robe is a flat, overly reverential and turgid piece of film making. Richard Burton is the Roman Centurion on duty at Christ's crucifixion who bets on and wins Jesus' robe, then spends the rest of the movie agonising about becoming a Christian. Victor Mature is his sanctimonious slave Demetrius. So confident were the producers of box-office success that they commissioned the sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators, even before The Robe had been released. --Mark Walker
The Sandlot (Dir. David Mickey Evans 1993): It's the early 1960's and 5th grader Scotty Smalls has just moved into town with his folks. Kids call him a dork because he can't even throw a baseball. But that changes when the leader of the neighborhood gang recruits him to play on the nearby sandlot field. It's the beginning of a magical summer of baseball wild adventures first kisses and fearsome confrontations with the dreaded beast and its owner who live behind the left fie
Tony Palmer's epic film was made in 1982/3 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wagner's death. Filmed in 200 locations throughout Europe, many where the actual historical events took place, with a team from 19 different countries, the entire production was completed in less than a year. Sadly Wagner was to be Richard Burton's last major role, but the stellar cast - including Laurence Oliver, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave, Lszl Gllfi, Gemma Craven, Ekkehardt Schall, Richard Pasco, Marthe Keller, Gabriel Byrne, Franco Nero, Ronald Pickup, Corin Redgrave, Cyril Cusack, Prunella Scales, Andrew Cruickshank, Joan Greenwood, Liza Goddard, Bill Fraser, Arthur Lowe, Joan Plowright, with composer Sir William Walton in a cameo role - assembled partly because of him.Only now is the film being released on DVD as its director Tony Palmer wishes it to be viewed. Previously it's been seen in badly edited versions and been made available on DVD (reproduced from poor-quality VHSs) with sub-standard pictures and sound. Finally, here is the restored presentation as it was originally edited by Tony Palmer in its complete 7 hours 46 minutes duration, issued in wide-screen, re-mastered in Hi-Definition. The music, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Georg Solti with singers including Dame Gwyneth Jones and Peter Hofmann, has never sounded better, and the astonishing images of cameramen Vittorio Storaro and Nic Knowland have never looked better.The script by Charles Wood remains a miracle of historical compression and accuracy, given that Wagner himself was an appalling fantasist and the truth often hard to ascertain. And Richard Burton, who towers above the production, reminds us what a great actor he was. This is a fitting tribute to his - and to Wagner's - genius.
Epic fantasy adventure based on the phenomenally successful role-playing game.
The full third series of Peak Practice which centres on the dramas of life in a country practice in the Derbyshire dales
The surprise hit of 1995, this splendidly entertaining family film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best picture, director, and screenplay, and deservedly won the Oscar for its subtly ingenious visual effects. Babe is all about the title character, a heroic little pig who's been taken in by the friendly farmer Hoggett (Oscar nominee James Cromwell), who senses that he and the pig share "a common destiny." Babe, a popular mischief-maker the Australian farm, is adopted by the resident border collie and raised as a puppy, befriended by Ferdinand the duck (who thinks he's a cockerel), and saves the day as a champion "sheep-pig." Filled with a supporting cast of talking barnyard animals and a chorus of singing mice (courtesy of computer enhancements and clever animatronics), this frequently hilarious, visually imaginative movie has already taken its place as a family classic with timeless appeal. --Jeff Shannon
When it was released in 1977 The Exorcist II: The Heretic was virtually laughed off the screen. A much-anticipated sequel to the Oscar-winning original, it turned out to be an unintentionally hilarious mishmash and received such terrible reviews that director John Boorman yanked it out of cinemas. He reedited it, cutting eight minutes in hopes of getting the story (written by William Goodhart) to the point of coherency--but to no avail. The film remains a kind of reverse gold standard for sequels. It's still a ridiculously overacted, although at times visually haunting, movie. Richard Burton stars as a troubled priest (something of a speciality of his) who is brought in to follow up on the case of Linda Blair, who is institutionalised, still troubled by her encounter with the devil (who wouldn't be?). By the time they confront Satan's minion in the final struggle, you'll be rooting for evil to win. --Marshall Fine
Even now Richard Wagner (1813-83) remains an enigma. His was a rags-to-riches saga with a fairy tale ending. He was loved yet hated admired yet despised a villain yet a hero who was worshipped a man whose fame and exploits were the gossip of Europe. Above all he was an incurable romantic whose love affair with Liszt's illegitimate daughter rivals that of Romeo and Juliet in excitement and drama. But he was also a dangerous political revolutionary whose influence penetrated the
In 1978 Jeff Wayne composed and produced one of the most groundbreaking and best-selling musical works of all time. In 2006 after much anticipation Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds was brought to the stage for the first time playing to sold-out arenas across the UK. The War of The Worlds - Live is a spectacular mix of live music theatre multi-media and visual arts on a grand scale. It combines the brilliance of the original performers including Jeff Wayne Justin Hayward Chris Thompson and even the late Richard Burton (In Sight and Sound) along with a brand new cast the 10-piece Black Smoke Band the 48-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings and an unforgettable fully operating 30ft Martian Fighting Machine!
In the most exciting series yet life for Danny Trevanion at Leopard's Den is about to be turned upside down. Still recovering from the death of his wife Danny is deprived of his stepdaughter and about to lose his stepson Evan. Meanwhile Caroline Du Plessis' bride to be has also returned to England leaving her feisty and interfering sister Georgina to keep things running. Danny has the assistance of Alice a new vet who arrives with her daughter and looks like she might stay. And Mara has a new and attractive owner who - like many attractive creatures in the wild - may hide deadly venom. With emotions running high nature calls in all its fury leaving injured animals and a terrible storm. But with caring at the core of all they do life at Leopard's Den for Danny and family will prove rich in joy and sorrow sometimes frightening often exciting but always Wild At Heart.
Engage! Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his Next Generation crew are back and so is the excitement and fun in this the ninth feature film of the Star Trek series. From the beginning of the Federation the Prime Directive was clear: No Starfleet expedition may interfere with the natural development of other civilizations. But now Picard is confronted with orders that undermine that decree. If he obeys 600 peaceful residents of Ba'kul will be forcibly removed from their remarkable world all for the reportedly greater good of millions who will benefit from Ba'kul's Fountain Of Youth-like powers. If he disobeys he will risk his Starship his career and his life. But for Picard there's really only one choice. He must rebel against Starfleet... and lead the insurrection to preserve Paradise.
Part of the 101 Films x AGFA range. Meet your new favourite action hero. Throughout the 1980s, Black filmmaker and martial artist William Lee wrote, produced, directed, and starred in dozens of D.I.Y. action epics -- all shot on Super 8 in Ohio and New York City. From Treasure Of The Ninja (1987, Lee's most ambitious and beloved movie) to The New Chinese Connection (1980, an homage to Bruce Lee -- William Lee's idol), these inclusive and explosive works serve as an inspiration to anyone with a dream, pulse, or appreciation for spinning kicks. AGFA + Bleeding Skull! are elated to bring the best-of-the-best in William Lee's early filmography to a wider audience for the first time ever, complete with brand new transfers and a revelatory stack of previously unreleased films. NOTICE! Treasure Of The Ninja was shot on super 8 and edited on tape. Please approach the technical quality of the transfer with empathy. Product Features Bonus movie: DRAGON VS. NINJA (1984), previously unreleased and transferred in 2K from the original Super 8 elements Treasure Of The Ninja: New transfer from the original 3/4 master tape Treasure Of The Ninja: Commentary track with William Lee and Bleeding Skull's Annie Choi and Joseph A. Ziemba Short: The New Chinese Connection (1980), previously unreleased and transferred in 2K from the original Super 8 elements Shorts: the Willie Jack series, all previously unreleased and transferred in 2K from the original Super 8 elements Reversible cover artwork
Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Next Generation crew engage in their most thrilling adventure yet - a sci-fi action event that stands proud and apart (Richard Corliss Time). They call themselves the Borg - a half-organic half machine collective with a sole purpose: to conquer and assimilate all races. Led by their seductive and sadistic queen (Alice Krige) the Borg are headed to Earth with a devious plan to alter history. Picard's earlier encounter with the Borg almost killed him. Now he wants vengeance. But how far will he go to get it?
Sean Connery made his final - officially-speaking - appearance as 007 in this riveting adventure, which would lay the groundwork for Mr Moore's incarnation as the suave super-spy.While investigating mysterious activities in the world diamond market, 007 (Sean Connery) discovers that his evil nemesis Blofeld (Charles Gray) is stock-piling the gems to use in his deadly laser satellite. With the help of beautiful smuggler Tiffany Case (Jill St. John), Bond sets out to stop the madman - as the fate of the world hangs in the balance!
In 1978 Jeff Wayne composed and produced one of the most groundbreaking and best-selling musical works of all time. In 2006 after much anticipation Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds was brought to the stage for the first time playing to sold-out arenas across the UK. The War of The Worlds - Live is a spectacular mix of live music theatre multi-media and visual arts on a grand scale. It combines the brilliance of the original performers including Jeff Wayne Justin Hayward Chris Thompson and even the late Richard Burton (In Sight and Sound) along with a brand new cast the 10-piece Black Smoke Band the 48-piece ULLAdubULLA Strings and an unforgettable fully operating 30ft Martian Fighting Machine!
""Space... The final frontier... These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: To explore strange new worlds... To seek out new life; new civilisations... To boldly go where no one has gone before!"" - Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) The complete fifth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation one of the finest sci-fi shows of all-time. Episodes Comprise: 1. Redemption (Part 2) 2. Darmok 3. Ensign Ro 4. Silicon Avatar 5. Disaster
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