No one is a better soldier than Pvt. Raymond Endore (John Saxon) at least in his own mind. Stationed in Korea as the conflict between the United States and the divided peninsula is coming to an end Endore sleeps while his platoon works to gear up for his nightly patrols of the area. These patrols used to bring vital information but now they have become a nightly ritual for Endore to slash the throats of suspected enemies tolerated by a Captain (Charles Aidman) who fears Endore's unstable nature. A Korean war orphan (Tommy Matsuda) befriends Endore as well as an idealistic soldier (Robert Redford) and these two soldiers must decide the fate of the child as the ceasefire is announced.... Madness in men during their tour of duty a subject also at the heart of Hell Is For Heroes and Attack! is the focus of this brutal 1961 war drama. Redford in his film debut offers a strong counterpart to the criminally underrated John Saxon (who would go on to a career of character work) who gives a stunning performance as a killer who only seems at peace after taking the life of another victim.
In the tumultuous aftermath of the Civil War Union Cavalry officer John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) takes his heroic men West while Southerner James Langdon (Rock Hudson) takes his soldiers to Mexico. When their paths cross they forge an uneasy friendship that is quickly tested as they get caught between Mexican rebels and the Emperor's forces and find themselves fighting side by side.
The original cowriter and director of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was Alex Cox, whose earlier film Sid and Nancy suggests that Cox could have been a perfect match in filming Hunter S. Thompson's psychotropic masterpiece of "gonzo" journalism. Unfortunately Cox departed due to the usual "creative differences," and this ill-fated adaptation was thrust upon Terry Gilliam, whose formidable gifts as a visionary filmmaker were squandered on the seemingly unfilmable elements of Thompson's ether-fogged narrative. The result is a one-joke movie without the joke--an endless series of repetitive scenes involving rampant substance abuse and the hallucinogenic fallout of a road trip that's run crazily out of control. Johnny Depp plays Thompson's alter ego, "gonzo" journalist Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro is his sidekick and so-called lawyer Dr. Gonzo. During the course of a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, they ingest a veritable chemistry set of drugs, and Gilliam does his best to show us the hallucinatory state of their zonked-out minds. This allows for some dazzling imagery and the rampant humour of stumbling buffoons, and the mumbling performances of Depp and Del Toro wholeheartedly embrace the tripped-out, paranoid lunacy of Thompson's celebrated book. But over two hours of this insanity tends to grate on the nerves--like being the only sober guest at a party full of drunken idiots. So while Gilliam's film may achieve some modest cult status over the years, it's only because Fear and Loathing is best enjoyed by those who are just as stoned as the characters in the movie. --Jeff Shannon
Based on Caroline Graham's novels and featuring the stolid crime-solving skills of Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Midsomer Murders made their television debut in 1997 and continue to keep viewers happy with that potent whodunnit ingredient: spectacularly bloody murders in the most tranquil rural settings the Shires have to offer. Midsomer is a vaguely defined area of villages and hamlets with charming names like Badger's Drift and Goodman's Land. It also has the highest number of violent deaths per capita outside the average war zone. Serial killings abound to test the nerve of Barnaby (John Nettles) and his sidekick Sergeant Troy (Daniel Casey), a dullard easily perplexed by a world which refuses to stick to his black and white view of things. Nettles is excellent; there's a hint of Bergerac still, now heavier of jowl and broader of beam, though the chasing is necessarily limited and the DCI enjoys the home comforts of an understanding wife and a spirited daughter. "Every time I go into any Midsomer village, it's always the same thing", he huffs. "Blackmail, sexual deviancy, suicide and murder." Ain't it the truth? The murders are astonishing. Family feuds, jealousy, incest, industrial espionage, all erupt at regular intervals leaving a trail of bodies with throats slashed, limbs dismembered and blood absolutely everywhere. Rivers of sheer nastiness run deep beneath the superficially pastoral perfection of Midsomer. Thank goodness there are still men like dependable Barnaby to get to the bottom of things. Eventually. Sure of Barnabys eventual success, Midsomer Murders make for a cosy, even comforting, couple of hours curled up in front of the television. And they make a great showcase for star turns from the great stable of British character actors, too, from Celia Imrie and Elizabeth Spriggs to Imelda Staunton and Duncan Preston, who invariably turn this whimsical stuff into the tastiest possible ham.--Piers Ford
After going against the wishes of his family to join the Catholic Church twenty years earlier Monsignor Renard returns to the town where he was born. He finds confusion mainly caused by an ineffectual Mayor who is at pains to reassure the anxious populace that threats of occupation are premature. Renard is given a cool reception by his brother Yves resentful that Renard escaped the running of the family business and is accused of scaremongering when he disagrees with the Mayor.
The young poet Lord Byron had everything. He was beautiful aristocratic talented - and sexually irresistible. By his mid-twenties he was the most famous man in England - the world's first celebrity. Women flung themselves at him. Men wanted to be like him. He lived for sensation and sexual excess indulging his darkest cravings and scandalising the nation until he could only be satiated by a passionate affair with his own half-sister. Too late he discovered that even a celebrity can go too far...
This was to be Pierce Brosnan's final outing as 007 and what a great Bond he was too! James Bond's newest mission begins with a spectacular high-speed hovercraft chase through a minefield in the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea - and the action doesn't let up until the credits roll. From Hong Kong to Cuba to London Bond circles the world in his quest to unmask a traitor and prevent a war of catastrophic proportions. On his way he crosses paths with Jinx (Oscar ''-winner Halle Berry) and Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike) who will play vital roles in his latest adventure. Hot on the trail of deadly megalomaniac Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) and his ruthless right-hand man Zao (Rick Yune) Bond travels to Iceland into the villain's lair: a palace built entirely of ice. There he experiences firsthand the power of a new hi-tech weapon. Ultimately it all leads to an explosive confrontation - and an unforgettable conclusion - back in Korea where it all started.
Though promoted as a "full-length holiday movie", Mickey's Magical Christmas is more of a Christmas special spin-off from Disney's House of Mouse TV series. The premise is something like an animated Muppet Show: Mickey, Goofy and Donald run a nightclub for an audience of Disney characters, with plenty of songs, skits and cartoons. There's not much story to this holiday special--Mickey whips up an impromptu party for stranded guests and instils a "Humbug" quacking Donald with the holiday spirit--but it's full of sight gags and comic bits with dozens of Disney characters, from Ludwig von Duck to Pumba and Timmon. The special begins with the short Pluto's Christmas Tree and ends with the entire 1983 short film Mickey's Christmas Carol. However, the highlight is a comic retelling of The Nutcracker with Donald as a reluctant Mouse King (complete with phony Mickey Mouse ears) and John Cleese as the exasperated narrator. The special is utterly unmemorable as a whole, but nonetheless bright, light, cute and sure to keep the attentions of young tots. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
NOTICE: Polish Release, cover may contain Polish text/markings. The disk DOES NOT have English audio and subtitles.
Mr. Brian Stimpson ran his life -- and everyone else's -- by the clock. Then one day at 2:09 and 43 seconds... The clock decided to strike back. In this hilarious comedy hit written by Michael Frayn (Noises Off) John Cleese stars as the compulsively punctual headmaster of a British high school. But on the day Stimpson is to give a major speech at a posh teachers conference he finds himself in a frantic cross-country chase filled with missed trains confused cops strange monks odd old ladies and stolen clothes. Can Stimpson make up for precious lost time or is the entire world conspiring to make him late for the most important appointment of his life?
This is a John Wayne Western double-bill featuring The Comancheros (1961) and The Undefeated (1969). Nobody made a fuss about The Comancheros when it came out, yet it has proved to be among the most enduringly entertaining of John Wayne's later Westerns. The Duke, just beginning to crease and thicken toward Rooster Cogburn proportions, plays a veteran Texas Ranger named Jake Cutter who joins forces with a New Orleans dandy (Stuart Whitman) to subdue rampaging Indians and the evil white men behind their uprising. The Comancheros was the last credit for Michael Curtiz (Casablanca), who, ravaged by cancer, ceded much of the direction to Wayne (uncredited) and action specialist Cliff Lyons. With support from Wayne stalwarts James Edward Grant (co-screenplay) and William Clothier (camera), the first of many rousing Elmer Bernstein scores for a Wayne picture and a big, flavourful cast including Lee Marvin (the once and future Liberty Valance), Nehemiah Persoff, Bruce Cabot, and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams (in his last movie), they made a broad, cheerfully bloodthirsty adventure movie for red-meat-eating audiences of all ages. In The Undefeated Wayne and Rock Hudson each play a Civil War commander who, after the ceasefire, lead a community of folks into Mexico to make a fresh start. Hudson is a Southern gentleman; Wayne commanded the Yankee cavalry at Shiloh, where Hudson's brother died. Nevertheless, Rock, with his extended family, and Duke, with his troop of cowboys and 3,000 horses to sell to Emperor Maximilian, soon join forces to outgun banditos and beam paternally over the budding romance between their respective daughter and son. Lingering North-South animosities are celebrated in an obligatory communal fistfight, and the showdown with both Maximilian's lancers and the rebel Juaristas is disconcertingly perfunctory. --Richard T Jameson
MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS FULLY RESTORED IN HIGH DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME! To celebrate the 50th anniversary of a genuinely iconic series, we present Monty Python's Flying Circus as nature intended! This ground-up restoration has been produced from the best available materials, painstakingly restored, and garnished with larks' vomit... Previously edited sketches have been returned to their original length while filmed sketch sequences and Terry Gilliam's animations have been newly scanned in High Definition, adding unimaginable depth and clarity to some classic moments. From the archive come genuine rarities including previously unseen studio outtakes and extended versions of filmed sketch material, making this the ultimate in television restoration and a must-have for every generation of Python fan! SERIES ONE FEATURES: Sex and Violence: reinstated content, studio outtakes Full Frontal Nudity: studio outtakes The Ant, an Introduction: studio outtakes Untitled: extended Ron Obvious filmed material and clean end titles footage
Princess Diaries (Dir. Garry Marshall 2001): Academy Award Winner Julie Andrews enchanting newcomer Anne Hathaway and Hector Elizondo (Pretty Woman) lead a charmed cast in Disney's The Princess Diaries a hilarious hip and heartwarming modern day Cinderella story. Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway) is a bright but terribly shy and gawky teenager whose goal in life is to survive each school day with a minimum of attention and embarrassment. Unfortunately her wish to be invisible is
The hit movie that became a cultural sensation, Flashdance delivers an electrifying mix of music, drama and dance that dazzles the senses as it touches the heart; now remastered from a 4K film transfer supervised by director Adrian Lyne. Jennifer Beals stars as Alex, a fiercely determined 18-year-old with one all-consuming dream: to study at the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance. Working during the day as a welder and at night as an exotic dancer. Alex bravely pursues her dream, undertaking an unforgettable journey that reveals the power of her convictions. Featuring the Oscar®winning* song Flashdance What a Feeling. Product Features New Feature FILMMAKER FOCUS: Director Adrian Lyne discusses Flashdance Original Special Features The Look of Flashdance Releasing the Flashdance Phenomenon Theatrical Trailer
Stop the presses! The crime of the century has occurred and investigative reporters Kermit the Frog Fozzie Bear and The Great Gonzo are out to crack the case in this song-filled star-studded extravaganza directed by the legendary Jim Henson. Our heroes arrive in London to interview Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg) a high-fashion designer whose priceless diamond necklace has just been stolen. But when Kermit mistakes the lovely receptionist/would be model Miss Piggy for her aristocra
"Igor" is a hilarious story of a talented hunchback who's determined to prove his worth at the annual Evil Science Fair.
John Bentley - Playing Paul Temple for the third time aids the police in solving a series of gruesome murders. Murder mystery based on Francis Durbridge's amateur sleuth. While holidaying in New York, English novelist and amateur detective Paul Temple (John Bentley) learns of a series of murders terrorising his homeland. Warned by the culprit, the notorious 'Marquis' not to get involved, Temple nevertheless wastes no time in setting after his quarry.
An utterly wild comedy epic directed by Steven Spielberg and nominated for three Academy Awards. Lavish effects sequences highlight this hilarious all star extravaganza set in Los Angeles just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor when fear of a Japanese Invasion threw the city into a state of Pandemonium. Screwball characters run wild on Hollywood Boulevard as manic servicemen zealous store owners teary-eyed girls and bickering Nazis are thrown together in this fast-rising comic souffl that even features a sendup of Spielberg's own Jaws opening.
It may have been underrated when first broadcast, but executive producer Martin Scorsese's homage to the blues is a truly significant, if imperfect, achievement. "Musical journey" is an apt description, as Scorsese and the six other directors responsible for these seven approximately 90-minute films follow the blues--the foundation of jazz, soul, R&B, and rock & roll--from its African roots to its Mississippi Delta origins, up the river to Memphis and Chicago, then to New York, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Some of the films (like Wim Wenders's The Soul of a Man and Charles Burnett's Warming by the Devil's Fire) use extensive fictional film sequences, generally to good effect. There's also plenty of documentary footage, interviews, and contemporary studio performances recorded especially for these films. The last are among the best aspects of the DVDs, as the bonus material features the set's only complete tunes. Lou Reed's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and the ElektriK Mud Kats' (with Chuck D. of Public Enemy) hip-hop-cum-traditional updating of Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy" are among the best of them; on the other hand, a rendition of "Cry Me a River" by Lulu (?!) is a curious choice, even with Jeff Beck on hand. The absence of lengthier vintage clips, meanwhile, is the principal drawback. For that reason alone, Clint Eastwood's Piano Blues is the best of the lot; a musician himself, Eastwood simply lets the players play, which means we get extensive file footage of the likes of Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Nat "King" Cole, as well as new performances by Ray Charles, Dr. John, and others. Overall, this is a set to savor, a worthwhile investment guaranteed to grow on you over the course of repeated viewings. --Sam Graham
This unprecedented collaboration between the BBC and the Royal Navy gripped the nation with a fascinating insight into the lives of seamen on tour across the globe. From hot shot new Commander Glenn (Bryan Marshall) right down to the lower decks, the series follows the personal and professional lives of all the crewmembers as they sail across the world tackling dangerous sea-faring missions. Real Royal Marine Commandos mix with a cast that includes James Cosmo (Game of Thrones, Braveheart) and Andrew Burt (Emmerdale) as the series, shot on location aboard the HMS Phoebe, blurs the lines between drama and documentary. Scottish Naval Officer and screenwriter Ian Mackintosh MBE teamed up with producer Anthony Coburn who wanted to create a series ‘that would do for the Navy what Z-Cars had done for the police.’ In this series the HMS Hero’s new captain is tested when he must navigate an Arctic ice field, Commander Glenn must choose between doing his duty or repaying a debt, Commander Nialls returns to the Hero and a court martial seems imminent when a cruiser suffers friendly fire from a naval jet.
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