Given the presence of both Steve Martin and John Candy, one would expect this John Hughes comedy to be much, much funnier than it is. Certainly it's not for lack of effort on the part of its stars. Martin is an uptight businessman trying to get home from New York for the holidays. But one thing after another gets in his way--most of it having to do with Candy, a boorish but well-meaning boob who takes a liking to him. Together they travel all over the map; no matter how hard Martin tries to shake him, he can't. But Hughes's writing is never as sharp as it should be and this film winds up being only intermittently humorous. --Marshall Fine
The three nostalgic British musicals in the Cliff Richard DVD Collection are a good reminder that, thanks to a few short years in the 1960s, Sir Cliff can legitimately include "film star" on his already exceptional show business CV. The Young Ones (1961), Summer Holiday (1963) and Wonderful Life (1964) would make tame fare for a teen audience today, but they retain a polished and honest charm which might surprise the sharpest of cynics. First and foremost, of course, they were Cliff Richard vehicles: designed to showcase his all-round talents and capitalise on his first, heady wave of pop chart success. They are also unashamed homages to the heyday of the MGM B-musical with familiar themes: let's put on a show/save the youth club/make a film. But with up-and-coming directors Sidney Furie and Peter Yates making imaginative and sophisticated use of wide-angle camera work and fresh, snappy choreography by Herbert Ross and Gillian Lynne, they also have plenty of assets other than Cliff's wholesome appeal. There are some fine set pieces and surreal flashes, notably the history of cinema in Wonderful Life and the extraordinary mime sequence in Summer Holiday. They also tap into the very British energy of a group of young actors and dancers including Una Stubbs, Susan Hampshire, Melvyn Hayes and Richard O'Sullivan, as well as Cliff's band at the time, The Shadows. For sheer verve, they deserve to be seen on their own merits. On the DVD: The Cliff Richard DVD Collection has been pristinely restored; the colours and clarity, not to mention the use of Cinemascope, leap off the screen (aspect ratio 2.35:1). The mono soundtrack recreates the authentic bandbox sound of the 1960s. Aside from theatrical trailers, the most notable extras are directors' commentaries: actually Furie and Yates in occasionally long-winded conversation with film and music writers. Both men give fascinating insight into the film-making climate in Britain in the early 1960s.--Piers Ford
Obsessive scientist Dr. Pretorious and his assistant Crawford Tillinghast have invented 'The Resonator'. A device intended to stimulate the brain's Pineal gland and expand the powers of the mind. The machine gives them more than they bargained for however when a parallel universe inhibited by slimy creatures ready to prey on humans reveals itself. Pretorious meets a sticky end and returns as a grotesque, deformed being and all manner of depravity ensues. Special Features: Stuart Gordon on From Beyond. Gothic Adaptation: An Interview with writer Dennis Paoli. The Doctors is in: An Interview with Barbara Crampton. Monsters and Slime: The FX of From Beyond. Directors Perspective. The Editing room: Lost and Found. An Interview with the Composer. Commentary with Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Jeffrey Combs. A Photo montage. Storyboard to film comparison.
Obsessive scientist Dr. Pretorious and his assistant Crawford Tillinghast have invented 'The Resonator'. A device intended to stimulate the brain's Pineal gland and expand the powers of the mind. The machine gives them more than they bargained for however when a parallel universe inhibited by slimy creatures ready to prey on humans reveals itself. Pretorious meets a sticky end and returns as a grotesque, deformed being and all manner of depravity ensues. Special Features: Stuart Gordon on From Beyond. Gothic Adaptation: An Interview with writer Dennis Paoli. The Doctors is in: An Interview with Barbara Crampton. Monsters and Slime: The FX of From Beyond. Directors Perspective. The Editing room: Lost and Found. An Interview with the Composer. Commentary with Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Jeffrey Combs. A Photo montage. Storyboard to film comparison.
If the idea of an Oprah Winfrey-produced film detailing the last days of a dying man and his inspirational effect on those left behind sounds a little cloying, Tuesdays with Morrie will be a rather pleasant surprise. While the presentation of this true story is certainly very American in tone, and it was obviously made for television (the points where it faded to commercial breaks are clear), it's still a surprisingly satisfying piece of work. The credit for that can firmly be laid at the door of Jack Lemmon, appearing in what was to be his last film. He excels as the terminally ill college professor Morrie Schwartz, determined to use his passing as a medium for teaching others about life. Still showing signs of the spark that made the movies of his heyday so memorable, Lemmon is also capable of bringing a magnificent pathos to the role. Co-star Hank Azaria is a more-than-equal foil, instilling his character with a growing awareness of self that blossoms before the viewer. Yes, at times it is a little too schmaltzy for its own good, but Tuesdays with Morrie is a film capable of visiting emotional extremes with ease. On the DVD: A very scanty package, with the usual scene access and Dolby Digital stereo accompanied by a text-only resume of the movie and the briefest of biographies of its cast--in Lemmon's case a massively ineffectual effort.--Phil Udell
Julian Kay is on the prowl and looking for someone to please. Boyish and sensual he speaks five or six languages and is equally comfortable as a chauffeur for a wealthy middle-aged matron and as a translator/companion for the lonely wife of an executive. He is the 'American Gigolo'. But Julian's love-for-sale lifestyle turns deadly when a client is murdered and Julian became the prime suspect. Richard Gere is electrifying as Julian in this stylish sexually charged drama from Pa
Join Littlefoot Cera Spike Ducky Petrie and shy newcomer Ali on their most exciting adventure ever! It's an all-new song-filled animated classic on the continuing story of The Land Before Time. A herd of migrating Longnecks has important news of weather changes in the regions beyond the Great Valley. What was once dry land has become 'The Land of Mists'. Strange new creatures have begun to appear in these rainy marshes while still others have moved into the high trees f
Set within the steamy world of international show jumping Rupert Campbell-Black ad Jake Lovell are top riders and sworn enemies both in and out of the ring. Their bitter rivalry has been escalating until it ultimately erupts at the Los Angeles Olympics with devastating conclusions. The first of the Rutshire chronicles Riders is an explosive mix of romance sex and adventure.
Jackie Chan appears as Condor an adventurer hired to track down a lost hoard of gold buried in the North African desert during the Second World War. Our hero is joined by three women in a race to get to the gold and outwit their evil pursuers.
Video Nasties.... For the first time ever 'together' six of the most shocking depraved and corrupt movies which were banned under the Obscene Publication Act 1983/4 - Along with a feature length documentary 'Ban The Sadist Videos' which was a headline for the Daily Mail at the height of the frenzy. Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979): There is something sinister about the sailing-boat drifting slowly in Hudson Bay upon boarding the coast-guard police are confronted with a terrifying sight appearing out of the hatchway - a man covered in blood walks towards them menacingly only after being shot repeatedly does he fall overboard and disappear amid the waves. This news causes a panic in America as the sailing-boat belonged to a famous scientist who mysteriously disappeared in the Caribbean. Ann the scientist's daughter together with a famous journalist Peter West set out to look for him setting sail on a schooner belonging to Brian an American Ethnologist and Susan an underwater photographer they head for the Caribbean. Meanwhile on Mutal Island in the Antilles professor Menard is conducting strange experiments. What follows in the Caribbean and later in New York is truly terrifying - Zombie Flesh Eaters are here! (Dir. Lucio Fulci) I Spit On Your Grave (1978): Jenny (Camille Keaton) a New Yorker who goes to a secluded country retreat to finish work on her novel is one day assaulted raped and left for dead by four men. But she survives to take revenge. She seduces each of her rapists separately and personally performs their painful executions... (Dir. Meir Zarchi) Driller Killer (1979): Reno is struggling artist close to breaking point. The loud punk band in the flat next door practices for 24 hours a day. His debts are mounting. He needs to sell his new painting to pay the overdue rent on the shabby New York apartment he shares with his girlfriend and her spaced-out lesbian lover. Despite the desperate need for cash Reno will not admit that he has completed the painting. It becomes an obsession. In his troubled mind the picture triggers a violence he cannot contain... (Dir. Abel Ferrara) The Last House On The Left (1972): The terrifying story of two teenage girls Mari and Phyllis heading up to the city to celebrate Mari's 17th birthday at concert by the band Bloodlust. Prior to the show the pair are drugged beaten and kidnapped by a group of escaped convicts and taken into the woods where their horrific ordeal ends in rape and murder. When the criminals coincidentally but unknowingly take refuge at the nearby house of one of their victims the girl's parents discover the gruesome fate of their daughter and seek to exact their revenge... (Dir. Wes Craven) Nightmares In A Damaged Brain (1981): Escaped mental patient George (Baird Stafford) repeatedly suffers a graphic nightmare that depicts the axe murders of a couple making love. In Florida a prowler stalks a babysitter - when she is attacked the youngest child she is looking after just sits and laughs... George begins a journey of brutal murder death and destruction until the final moment of truth when his nightmares come to frightening life! (Dir. Romano Scavolini) The Evil Dead (1982): In the literary tradition of Stephen King and the cinematic mode of George Romero (Night of the Living Dead) The Evil Dead is a visual and aural attack on the senses which requires a strong stomach and a healthy sense of humour! Whilst holidaying in the Tennessee woodlands five innocent teenagers unwittingly unleash the spirit of the evil dead. One by one the teenagers fall victim to the frenzied flesh-eating monsters amidst a tour-de-force display of stunning special effects. (Dir. Sam Raimi)
A must for all fans of BAFTA winning David Jason detective series, A Touch of Frost. This 10-disc set features all the episodes from series six to ten.
The scenario of this notorious splatter movie may be familiar- a group of teenage-counsellors at a lakeside summer camp face the vengeance of a twisted psychotic - but the nail-biting tension and graphic gore sequences of this bloody shocker will certainly not be. Described as 'a searing pulse-pounding bolt of energy sure to shock even the most hardened gore-addict' The Burning not only boasts the directorial talents of Tony Maylam - Director of The Recent SF/ Horror smash hit 'Spilt Second' - but also special effects by the genius of gore Tom Savini music by Rick Wakeman and a special appearance by 'Raising Arizona' star Holly Hunter. Long considered one of the goriest of horror films. The Burning the subject of numerous prosecutions has been unavailable since 1983. It is seemed to be an extremely frightening and nerve jolting movie.
Keep 'Em Flying: When a barnstorming stunt pilot decides to join the air corps his two goofball assistants decide to go with him. Since the two are Abbott & Costello the air corps doesn't know what it's in for. Ride 'Em Cowboy: Two peanut vendors at a rodeo show get in trouble with their boss and hide out on a railroad train heading west. They get jobs as cowboys on a dude ranch despite the fact that neither of them knows anything about cowboys horses or anything else.
David Jason stars as Detective Inspector Jack Frost. As Frost continues to interrogate Denton's leading drug dealer he realises it's going nowehere when he starts demanding his solicitor. Meanwhile, a con artist who steals cars from golf clubs is soon under suspicion when a dead body is found in the boot of one of his stolen cars.
Three months ago the unthinkable happened. The buttons had been pushed and missiles filled the skies. Within moments it was over - the entire population of the world could only wait. Then it happened. The nuclear missiles simply vanished along with 187 million people. The world had changed. The reign of the Messiah had begun. Or so it seemed... Is this new supreme leader of the Earth the true Messiah or is he the Antichrist?
Directed by Walter Matthau his only such assignment and also starring his wife Carol Grace (she only made two films) Gangster Story stars Matthau as gangster Jack Martin who is brought into sharp conflict with rival Earl Dawson when he tries to muscle in on his territory.
Gangster Jack Martin comes into conflict with his rival Earl Dawson.... Matthau plays mob leader Jack Martin whose girlfriend Carol (Grace) is desperate for him to give up his unlawful and dishonest lifestyle. The problem is Jack doesn't have the same yearning to turn his back on his shady past but the crunch comes when he persuades the bank manager to lease him an office in the building and promptly robs the bank! With events turning very nasty is there any point in Carol trying to
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