"Actor: Danny McGrath"

• The Lakes - The Complete First And Second Series | DVD | (06/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  The Lakes brought writer Jimmy McGovern and actor John Simm a great deal of critical praise in 1997. Following a particularly dry period for British TV drama, the show's realistic characterisations and their painfully honest decisions hit audiences hard. Simm is a twentysomething trapped in a life of compulsive gambling, theft and being on the dole in Liverpool. On a whim he heads north to the Lake District. He expects to find the countryside quietude where his hidden poetical leanings might find a home, but instead gets caught up in a community like any other. Lies, temptation and tragedy beset every household just as much as the big city. The focus of Series 1 is Danny's relationship with Emma (Emma Cunniffe) and the consequences of having a child. As time races by, his link to the Lakes becomes an exercise in torment when the eyes of blame fall easily upon him after the accidental deaths of four schoolgirls. Stoking the flames of a series of secondary explosions in waiting are a pair of affairs, one adulterous, the other complicated by religion. In the far longer sequel series that came two years later, these back-stories would come to the fore. Although exploring Danny's tortured soul might have been the obvious continuation, instead an almost Hitchcockian murder scenario occupies far more screen time. But by stretching things out, this second series does not have the same self-contained impact of the original. Additional writers only served to drag out Danny's boy-to-man journey. Ultimately, lessons are learned, including the realistic conclusion that life is without a poetical status quo. Despite the tail-off in overall quality, you'd be hard pressed to identify a better British drama in the years since. On the DVD: The Lakes complete series 1 and 2 box set comes with two separate commentary tracks for the very first episode. In interviews, John Simm fondly recalls how cold the lake water was and director David Blair recalls putting him in it. It's a shame the two weren't recorded together. It's also a shame that's all there is in this package. Even a few cast biographies would have been welcome. Picture is 4:3 and stereo sound is as you'd expect from 1990s UK TV. --Paul Tonks

• Tim Burton 9-Film Collection | Blu Ray | (03/10/2022) from £45.55   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Pee-Wee's Big Adventure: When Pee-wee Herman's idyllic world is destroyed by the theft of his fire-engine red bicycle, the pre-pubescent adult sets out on a manic cross-country odyssey to recover his most valued possession. Director Tim Burton makes his feature-film debut with this comic masterpiece./p> Beetlejuice: A couple of home-loving ghosts need to be rid of a group of pretentious, trendsetting humans, who have taken over their house and made 'living' extremely difficult. They enlist the aid of a bio-exorcist in the hope that he can scare the unwanted guests away. Batman: After witnessing his parents brutal murder as a child, millionaire-philanthropist Bruce Wayne pledges his life to fighting crime disguised as Batman. His long-time nemesis, the Joker, has sinister plans for the citizens of Gotham City. His greed is matched by his obsession with photojournalist Vicki Vale. But Batman is there to counter the Joker's every move. With the fate of Gotham and Vicki in the balance, will good or evil prevail? Batman Returns: Batman the Caped Crusader is pitted against the demented, ravenous Penguin; a pitiful, orphaned psychopathic freak who once went on a baby-killing spree, and a 'power' hungry capitalist villain, Max Shreck. As the two criminals plot to gain domination over Gotham City, Batman must plot to stop them. In the highly stylized Batman Returns, Batman is thrown a third enemy, a terrible distraction: the slinky, sharp-clawed Cat Woman./p> Mars Attacks: When a shiny silver flying saucer lands in the Nevada desert, a group of skull-faced Martians exit the gleaming craft. Although they claim to be peaceful, they promptly vaporize a gathering of unfortunate Earthling s, kicking off a bizarre high-tech war with wild special effects. Sweeney Todd: Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is living a simple life with his wife Lucy and his daughter when the lust of a judge (Alan Rickman) throws their lives into chaos. The judge has Barker deported to Australia, and many years later he returns to England with revenge in his heart. Corpse Bride: Set in a 19th century European village, this stop-motion, animated feature follows the story of Victor (voiced by JOHNNY DEPP), a young man who is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride, Victoria, waits bereft in the land of the living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian upbringing, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory: Acclaimed director Tim Burton brings his vividly imaginative style to the beloved Roald Dahl classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, about eccentric candy-maker Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket, a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's extraordinary factory.

• The Smoking Room - Series 1 & 2 Box Set | DVD | (16/10/2006) from £13.89   |  Saving you £16.10 (115.91%)   |  RRP £29.99

  The Smoking Room continues the rich vein of comedy that's being shown on BBC3 - fast becoming the channel for British comedy. In the world of work there is only one place where seniority counts for nothing where shop-talk is banned and where the last bastions against fresh air and desk-based massage gather regularly to discuss the minutiae of their lives: the smoking room. Here in this protected environment crossword addict Barry; lazy chav lothario Clint; self-obsessed cigarette-pinching Annie; and lovelorn skiver Robin; nurse that last ciggie and are always ready to ask ""have you got time for another?"" Features the complete first and second series. Episode Listing - Series 1: 1. Do De Dum De Da 2. R.I.P. 3. Pantball 4. Light My Fire 5. Chocolate Box 6. Feeding Time 7. Only Temporary 8. Happy Birthday 9. Christmas Special Series 2: 1. Buzz 2. No Place Like Home 3. 1987 4. Smashed 5. Pity The Fool 6. Quitters 7. Last Night A Graphic Designer Saved My Life 8. Significant Others

• Madly Madagascar | DVD | (20/01/2014) from £4.22   |  Saving you £2.77 (65.64%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Things are about to get wild... Your favourite Madagascar pals are back in an all-new adventure! Alex' favourite holiday Valentine's Day brings hilarious surprises and excitement for the entire gang. Melman plans a big surprise for Gloria Marty tries to impress a new friend and everyone wants to get their hands on King Julien's love potion. You'll fall in love with Madly Madagascar!

• Penguins Of Madagascar | DVD | (15/03/2010) from £5.16   |  Saving you £7.83 (151.74%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Penguins Of Madagascar: Season 1