All six films in the 'Alien' franchise. In Ridley Scott's 'Alien' (1979) the crew of the Nostromo starship are on their way back to Earth after completing a mission when they are diverted to a planetoid to investigate a cryptic message. While exploring an abandoned spacecraft on the planet, they come across a store of unhatched eggs. When one of the eggs releases a mysterious creature that leeches on to a crew member's face, the others bring him back on board to recover from the ordeal. Little do they know that they have also brought on board an alien lifeform that will kill anyone or anything that gets in its way. In James Cameron's sequel, 'Aliens' (1986), sole survivor from the Nostromo Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) awakens after 57 years in stasis, and with a team of Space Marines in tow she returns to the planetoid now named LV-426 to investigate the loss of contact with the terraforming colony in residence. In David Fincher's dark 'Alien 3' (1992), Ripley crash lands on an old prison planet used to house convicted murderers - but she's not alone. When Ripley discovers her body is being used to carry an alien queen she faces a difficult decision to save humanity and sacrifice herself. In Jean-Pierre Jeunet's 'Alien Resurrection' (1997), 200 years after Ripley died bearing the alien queen, a group of scientists successfully produce clones of both her and the alien. The United States Military, hoping to use the queen to breed aliens to study, fail to keep the clones locked up and they escape. It is not long before the new Ripley is forced to team up with a gang of smugglers to repel the alien clones that are set on destroying life on Earth. In 'Prometheus' (2012) Scott returns to direct a new cast of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce. After finding fragments of alien DNA, a team of scientists known as The Company travel into space aboard the state-of-the-art Prometheus spacecraft to investigate the origins of human life on Earth. Their journey takes them into the darkest corners of the universe - but, to their horror, their inquisitive nature ends up posing a threat to the future existence of humankind. The scientists now find themselves tested to their mental and physical limits as they fight a desperate battle to preserve the future of the human race. Finally, in 'Alien: Covenant' (2017), set as a sequel to 'Prometheus' (2012), the crew of the Covenant discover a planet they believe to be paradise, but when they actually start to investigate they find a dark and dangerous world inhabited by a colony of creatures who are less than pleased to see the.
By transplanting the classic haunted house scenario into space, Ridley Scott, together with screenwriters Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, produced a work of genuinely original cinematic sci-fi with Alien that, despite the passage of years and countless inferior imitations, remains shockingly fresh even after repeated viewing. Scott's legendary obsession with detail ensures that the setting is thoroughly conceived, while the Gothic production design and Jerry Goldsmith's wonderfully unsettling score produce a sense of disquiet from the outset: everything about the spaceship Nostromo--from Tupperware to toolboxes-seems oddly familiar yet disconcertingly ... well, alien.Nothing much to speak of happens for at least the first 30 minutes, and that in a way is the secret of the film's success: the audience has been nervously peering round every corner for so long that by the time the eponymous beast claims its first victim, the release of pent-up anxiety is all the more effective. Although Sigourney Weaver ultimately takes centre-stage, the ensemble cast is uniformly excellent. The remarkably low-tech effects still look good (better in many places than the CGI of the sequels), while the nightmarish quality of H.R. Giger's bio-mechanical creature and set design is enhanced by camerawork that tantalises by what it doesn't reveal.On the DVD: The director, audibly pausing to puff on his cigar at regular intervals, provides an insightful commentary which, in tandem with superior sound and picture, sheds light into some previously unexplored dark recesses of this much-analysed, much-discussed movie (why the crew eat muesli, for example, or where the "rain" in the engine room is coming from). Deleted scenes include the famous "cocoon" sequence, the completion of the creature's insect-like life-cycle for which cinema audiences had to wait until 1986 and James Cameron's Aliens. Isolated audio tracks, a picture gallery of production artwork and a "making of" documentary complete a highly attractive DVD package. --Mark Walker
Splash was big news in 1984. It was the sole reason for a renewed Disney Studios forming its Touchstone Pictures subsidiary. This was so they could get away with displaying Daryl Hannah's nude bottom! It was also big news for launching the film career of Tom Hanks, who immediately became a massive box-office comedy draw in the 80s. For Ron Howard, it was the breakaway success that guaranteed he'd be able to pursue as diverse a directorial career path as he wanted to. It's a simple romance tale, spiced up by making the female lead a mermaid. The stroke of brilliance in the script was in making the comedy happen around the two leads, while letting them believably convey they are hopelessly lost in love. The comedy comes from the ever-reliable John Candy as a larger-than-life womanising older brother, and Eugene Levy as a scatty scientist. Although New York looks a little different today, the movie has hardly aged at all. Which is just as well since it boldly begins "This morning." On the DVD: Splash offers a transfer that has some defects, but colours and dark areas seem just about right. We're spoiled for extras, with a warmly nostalgic Howard joining a key production crew commentary in reminiscing on how much fun they had making the movie. There's a half-hour documentary ("Making a Splash") interviewing everyone involved, including some archival footage of the late Candy. Best of all are the original Audition Tapes for Hanks and Hannah, which reveal the consummate professionals these once-hungry stars really are. --Paul Tonks
Steve Coogan returns in his iconic role winning him the BAFTA for Best Male Performance in a Comedy. Scissored Isle also won the International Emmy for Best Comedy. Following a controversial on-air incident, Alan attempts to make amends. Leaving behind his comfortable existence and vast detached house, Alan takes a journey of redemption. He journeys into an unreported Britain inhabited by the very people he had offended to ask whether, in this once united kingdom, a ˜schasm' has formed - a schism or chasm, between the haves and the have-nots (or haven'ts). From supermarket staff to payday lenders, disaffected street gangs to food scavenging ˜freegans', Alan pledges to move among them; to understand them; to see the world through their eyes. And - god willing - along the way become a better citizen, a better man and a better, more sought-after broadcaster.
It's the story of Jason (Todd Armstrong) a fearless sailor and explorer who returns to the kingdom of Thessaly after a 20-year voyage to make his rightful claim to the throne. But to do so Jason must first find the magical Golden Fleece. He selects a crew and with the help of Hera Queen of the Gods sets sail in search of the Fleece. Jason and his crew must overcome incredible obstacles including a 100-foot bronze giant the venomous Hydra a huge creature with the heads of seven
Celebrate the festive season with Winnie The Pooh in this full-length adventure. Share the joy and magic of the holidays as Pooh and his lovable friends enjoy Christmas and New Year in a delightful tale about spending special moments with those you care about most. After fond recollections of a Christmas past... the countdown to New Year begins! Rabbit plans a party but when Pooh and friends bother Rabbit he starts to sulk - threatening to move away. To appease him everyone makes a
Made in 1984, The Hitcher is an update--in spirit at least--of Steven Spielberg's first feature film, 1971's Duel. Here C Thomas Howell plays a guy taking a drive-away car from Chicago to San Diego. On a whim, in the rain, and against his better judgment, he picks up a hitchhiker (Rutger Hauer). The hitcher quickly admits to being a murdering psychopath and once Howell finally gets him out of his car, he is pursued with all the vengeance of the ancient furies. We're never sure if the hitcher is a figment of his imagination, making Howell a schizophrenic killer, or if he's real and Howell is the random victim of a wandering madman, which is how his potential new girlfriend (Jennifer Jason Leigh) thinks of him. Either way, The Hitcher is great fun, kinda scary and teetering on the brink of "must see". --Andy Spletzer
Battlestar Galactica the definitive battle between the last surviving human colony and an evil robotic race - an epic journey of intergalactic survivors in search of a distant and unknown planet `earth'. This seven-disc Complete Epic Series Box Set features all 24 x 45 min episodes of the original series. Episodes Comprise: 1. Saga of a Star World - Part 1 2. Saga of a Star World - Part 2 3. Saga of a Star World - Part 3 4. The Lost Planet of the Gods - Part 1 5. The Lost
Barnabas Collins, a member of the founding family of Collinsport, Maine, is turned into a vampire and buried alive by his nemesis, Angelique Bouchard - a powerful witch. When he finally escapes 200 years later, Barnabas sets about to reclaim his family's legacy and destroy the witch who has taken over the town. Special Features: Becoming Barnabus: It takes more than just a set of prosthetic fangs! Welcome to Collinsport! A Melee of Monstrous Proportions Angelique: A Witch Scorned Reliving a Decade The Collinses: Every family as its demons Dark Shadowy Secrets Alice Cooper Rocks Collinsport Dark Shadows: The Legend Bites Back Deleted Scenes Maximum Movie Mode
Later... with Jools Holland--Giants is a collection of classic live performances from a decade of the late-night BBC music show. Everyone will have their favourites and, no doubt, differing opinions on what constitutes a musical "giant". What is indisputable here is the sheer volume and variety of artists and styles on offer. The 32 performers range from Pete Towshend to Blondie; Paul Weller to Willie Nelson; Leonard Cohen to Jeff Beck; Page and Plant to Ronnie Spector and the Divine Comedy. The acts vary in quality--Brian Ferry's posturing, staccato rendition of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" and Georgie Fame's futile, asthmatic efforts to keep up with the beat on "Yeh! Yeh!" are notable low points--but thankfully the few weaker moments are more than compensated for by tour de force performances from the likes of Al Green, REM, Tony Bennett, Dusty Springfield and George Benson. Your enjoyment will obviously depend on a desire to see these greats play, but where else are you going to get both Robbie Williams belting out an impromptu performance of "Suspicious Minds" and Solomon Burke singing "Cry to Me" from an enormous golden throne? On the DVD: Later... with Jools Holland--Giants comes with a desirable selection of interviews with 10 of the featured performers. Sadly, they are tantalisingly short--never longer than three minutes, some little more than a minute--and never stretch beyond Holland's stock questions or brief, if entertaining, anecdotes. Also included are: a "playlist" feature, which allows you to select six of your favourite tracks and play them in an order of your choice, normal track selection, subtitles and a credit list. --Paul Philpott
Featuring four of the comic's great shows Up Pompeii Further Up Pompeii Then Churchill Said To Me and The Best Of Frankie Howerd; which includes sketches from An Evening With Frankie Howerd and the Royal Variety Performances and chatshow appearances on Parkinson and Wogan.
Director Tim Burton brings the cult classic series "Dark Shadows" to the big screen in a gothic comedy featuring an all-star cast, led by Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter.
Set Comprises: Great Expectations: One of the great translations of literature into film David Lean brings Dickens' masterpiece to robust on-screen life. Pip Magwitch Miss Havisham and Estella populate Lean's magnificent miniature beautifully photographed by Guy Green and designed by John Bryan. The October Man: He was Suspect Number One...while the real killer stalked the streets. Morning Departure: While hunting German shipping the Royal Navy submarine Trojan accidentally strikes an electronically-operated mine - and the race begins to save the lives of the crew of the stricken vessel. Rocked by a tremendous explosion the Trojan plunges to the sea bed. As time - and air - starts to run out the captain gathers together the survivors. A lucky few can escape immediately through emergency hatches - but the others will have to remain trapped in the dying submarine and hope that rescuers will arrive before it is too late. Those left behind must battle with terrifying fear and claustrophobia in the stricken disintegrating hulk far beneath the sea while rescuers begin a last-ditch attempt to raise the submarine to the surface. The rescue is difficult and fraught with danger at the best of times - but a storm of unprecedented ferocity is brewing which threatens to end all hope of rescue. This nail-biting and suspenseful thriller boasts a truly distinguished cast including John Mills Richard Attenborough and Nigel Patrick. Waterloo Road: As World War Two rages Jim Colter (John Mills) finds himself called up to serve in the army - but he's soon to find himself at war on two fronts. While he's away his lovely wife Tillie (Joy Shelton) attracts the amorous attention of Ted Purvis (Stewart Granger) a vicious local spiv and self-acclaimed ladies man. When Jim's sister writes informing him of what is happening Jim decides that the Nazis can wait and that an even more insidious enemy needs to be dealt with first. He breaks out of camp goes AWOL and sets off to find his wife. With the military hot on his tail Jim must make his way through war torn London to settle things once and for all. In Which We Serve: The story of the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Torrin and those that serve in her. In the Battle of Crete she is dive-bombed while streaming at thirty knots and goes down fighting. We see through the memories of her survivors the ordeals achievements and gallantry of HMS Torrin from her commissioning until she sinks in her last battle.
When writer Bill (Jeremy Theobald) is confronted by his latest 'target' of inspiration a man called Cobb (Alex Haw) he is drawn into a life of snooping and breaking and entering...
Montana Badlands rancher David Braxton is a self-made man. Through years of tireless effort and determination he has transformed his vast and rugged land into a thriving prosperous empire. So when his livestock his fortune are threatened by a ruthless horse thief Braxton takes matters into his own hands. Hiring a sadistic 'regulator' to track down the outlaw Braxton intends to liberate the territory from crime but what he initiates instead is a complex series of events that re
Set in the expanse of the Sudan desert in the midst of holy war, Khartoum (1966) plays like an attempt to work the Lawrence of Arabia magic on the (mostly) true story of eccentric British general Charles "Chinese" Gordon in 1884 North Africa. The magnificent opening desert battle suggests David Lean's epic sweep, at least until the film settles into a more modest story of political games, military standoffs, and a battle of wits and wiles between two fierce leaders. Charlton Heston plays the Christian soldier as cocky, unconventional maverick, and Laurence Olivier (behind heavy make-up and a thick black beard) is almost as good as his cagey nemesis the Mahdi, the Islamic holy warrior on a mission of annihilation. More talk than spectacle, the film falls short of Lawrence but is nonetheless a compelling story of colonial politics, cynical manoeuvring and the unconventional heroics of another colourful British maverick abroad. --Sean Axmaker
Nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award 1995, this boldly inventive and expertly orchestrated crime saga is now available as a two disc DVD set that includes such extras as deleted scenes, interviews and a documentary.
Barnabas Collins, a member of the founding family of Collinsport, Maine, is turned into a vampire and buried alive by his nemesis, Angelique Bouchard - a powerful witch. When he finally escapes 200 years later, Barnabas sets about to reclaim his family's legacy and destroy the witch who has taken over the town. Special Features: The Collinses: Every family has its demons
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