Like all the best celebrity tributes, Dame Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration (2001) combines the essence of its subject--in this case, charity work for HIV and AIDS research and a legendary career in movies, both meriting every ounce of recognition--with the fascination of a spectacular car smash. The highlights are the screenings of trailers for some of her best films, including Giant and Butterfield 8 (she won an Oscar but derided the picture) and an archive interview in which she memorably describes a tiresome gossip columnist as "a frustrated old biddy". The live entertainment is far shakier than the event's inspiration, though. Presented by David Frost and Stephen Fry--an uneasy, fawning partnership-- there is some real quality: Andrea Bocelli (sending the guest of honour into transports of delight), John Barry conducting a couple of his most symphonic Bond themes and Reba McEntire, the powerhouse country and western diva-turned-Broadway actress. On the down side, Marti Pellow's self-congratulatory posing would make Robbie Williams seem a model of modesty, Jay Kay's attempts to jazz up a standard are woeful and Ute Lemper is at her most pretentious for a cacophonic "Mack the Knife". Michael Jackson's mute presence at Taylor's side emphasises the hypnotic strangeness of the whole affair, though the Dame herself takes the entire marvellously lurid spectacle in her stride. On the DVD: Dame Elizabeth Taylor: A Musical Celebration comes to DVD with no extra features. A Taylor filmography would have been useful. Otherwise, the 4:3 video aspect ratio reproduces the television gala feel and for sound quality, you can choose between LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.2 and DTS surround sound (best for that authentic, muddy Royal Albert Hall acoustic).--Piers Ford
A mysterious event from Earth's past threatens to ignite a war so big that the Transformers alone will not be able to save the planet. Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and the Autobots must fight against the darkness to defend our world from the Decepticons all-consuming evil in the smash hit from director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg.
From acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Gladiator Prometheus) comes the epic adventure EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire. Using state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion Scott brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses (Christian Bale) as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton) setting 400 000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.
Really good feature films about animals are as rare as hen's teeth. Based on the classic novel by Henry Williamson, Tarka the Otter is one of the very best. This is one of those highly unusual films told almost entirely from an animal's point of view, yet which refrains from Disney-style sentimentality and anthropomorphism. Set in 1920s England, the film simply follows the life of an otter, and shot over a period of two years captures the glory of the English countryside with some magnificent cinematography. Drama comes not just from the daily struggle to survive, but from the ever present threat of human hunters, and from the vicious otter hound, Deadlock. With narration by Peter Ustinov and a screenplay by the naturalist and author Gerald Durrell Tarka the Otter is a British film classic. While a family film, it is a realistic portrayal of the countryside, and as such contains some scenes that young children and animal lovers may find upsetting. The only other notable feature to star an otter is Ring of Bright Water (1969), while The Bear (1988) is another rare movie to tell its tale from the animal's perspective. --Gary S Dalkin
A successful businesswoman wants to give up work, but her house husband likes things the way they are Meet the Braithwaites. Belinda Braithwaite (Hannah Gordon) and David Braithwaite (Peter Egan) enjoy a very unconventional marriage. Belinda works full-time as an outspoken and respected bank manager. David is a stay-at-home-Dad, who takes care of the household, shares coffee mornings and innuendos with their flirty neighbor Louise (Lill Roughley) and volunteers at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Tired of the rat race, and with the kids now at university, Belinda wants to quit her exhausting job for a simpler life as a housewife. But David has other ideas. He doesn't relish the prospect of returning to a full-time job and does everything he can to persuade Belinda to continue wearing the trousers. John Bird stars as Belinda's deputy at the bank who firmly believes a woman's place is in the home. With an eye on the top job he'd love to see her go and makes office life as unpleasant as he can to try and edge her out. Will David find a proper' job? Will Belinda quit the bank? Will Louise ever have her wicked way with David? Stars BAFTA winner Peter Egan (Chariots of Fire) and Hannah Gordon (Upstairs, Downstairs / My Wife Next Door) Directed by Mike Stephens (The Brittas Empire / Allo Allo) Written by Don Webb (Byker Grove)
Ice Cube returns in this sequel to the popular 2005 family comedy - only this time he has to contend with a contractor from hell.
A heartfelt epic from Irish director Neal Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire), Michael Collins is the biography of the charismatic and controversial Irish rebel leader who led the fight for independence from Britain. Among the most beautiful and atmospherically photographed movies of the 1990s, Michael Collins is also a rich and intelligent study of the nature of politics and leadership: the IRA spokesman, full of fiery convictions, eventually gives way to the more mature negotiator who strives to reach a compromise solution and is politically undone in the process. Liam Neeson gives a grand and towering performance as Collins, but for all the character's legendary, heroic, or otherwise larger-than-life attributes, Jordan and Neeson also keep him human. This is sweeping historical filmmaking of the kind we haven't seen since the heyday of David Lean, but with Jordan's characteristic touches of complexity and ambivalence. --Jim Emerson
"Teeth" is a story of sexual awakening like you've never seen before.
Kindly Dr. Reemer (Leo G. Carroll) has big plans for his new radioactive serum. It makes animals grow at a fantastic rate and this could solve the world's food shortage but when an accident at his Arizona laboratory leads to a tarantula injected with the serum escaping havoc results. The eerily silent desert is soon a lot scarier as cattle and humans start disappearing at an alarming rate. Local doctor Matt Hastings (John Agar) and Reemer's shapely assistant (Mara Corday) finally
It's up to a pair of trash-hauling heroes to clean up the city in this action-comedy starring brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez. With hilarious supporting performances and an all-star soundtrack Men At Work is an engaging comic adventure. Garbage men James (Estevez) and Carl (Sheen) dream of opening a surf shop but often land in hot water due to their practical jokes. When they discover the body of a murdered politician on their route they attempt to sniff out the kille
Music from Dire Straits. Tracks include: 'Calling Elvis' 'Walk Of Life' 'Heavy Fuel' 'Romeo And Juliet' 'Private Investigations' 'Your Latest Trick' 'On Every Street' 'You And Your Friend' 'Money For Nothing' 'The Bug' 'Solid Rock' Local Hero' 'Wild Theme' and 'Brothers In Arms'.
An investigation is called for when a mysterious visitor is crushed to death at Plummer And Sons.
Nicole Kidman is Isabel Archer a young woman of daring independence and equally fierce desires. But her headstrong innocence is no match for the manipulations of her duplicitous friend Madame Merle (Barbara Hershey in an Oscar-nominated performance) and the devious Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich). Adapted from the novel by Henry James.
Dr Dolittle (Dir. Betty Thomas 1998): Treat yourself to a healthy dose of Eddie Murphy's untamed animal magnetism in the smash hit comedy that'll make you roar howl and hoot with laughter! A successful physician and devoted family man John Dolittle (Murphy) seems to have the world by the tail until a long-suppressed talent he possessed as a child - the ability to communicate with animals - is suddenly reawakened... with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distanc
Available for the first time on DVD! This wonderful collection features three animated tales that the whole family can enjoy. We Wish You A Merry Christmas: The wonderful tale of how the true spirit of the season returns to the hardworking town of Harmony when three little orphans give the townsfolk a remarkable present... Christmas caroling! Jingle Bells: As the holiday season draws near an underprivileged family begins to worry because they don't have enough money
A fallen aristocrat with a mountainous gambling debt enlists three men with similar financial instabilities to assist him in a mail van robbery.
A talented musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto and the concentration camps of World War II.
Often hailed as the greatest ever British sitcom, Fawlty Towers is closer to the more elaborate tradition of farce. Comprising two series made in 1975 and 1979, the total of just 12 episodes were painstakingly constructed by writers John Cleese and Connie Booth. Unlike most British farce, however, Fawlty Towers deals with the big themes--death, psychology, xenophobia and even sex-o-phobia (Basil's marriage to Sybil is the most sterile ever depicted in a sitcom). Basil's contempt for his guests is, of course, legendary. It takes little from patrons to unleash his sledgehammer sarcasm: "Rosewood, mahogany, teak? Sorry, I was wondering what you'd like your breakfast tray made out of", he sneers at a guest who dares to request breakfast in bed. Like every Englishman, he wants to be king of his own castle and resents having to take in lodgers to maintain the place, especially the open-necked younger generation, whom he regards as sub-human. Mostly, though, Fawlty Towers is comedy of exasperation--who can forget the "damn good thrashing" Basil gives his clapped-out car, or the nervous breakdowns he almost suffers trying to make himself understood to Manuel? It's also comedy of embarrassment. The very fear of losing his dignity generally leads Basil into the most spectacularly undignified of predicaments. His inevitable misery is our sheer delight. -- David Stubbs On the DVD: each six-episode season is given its own disc with a commentary track from John Howard Davies and Bob Spiers, directors of Season 1 and Season 2 respectively. The third disc has all the additional material, the best of which are new interviews with John Cleese, Andrew Sachs and Prunella Scales. Also included are text biographies of all the leads and the guest stars, a short background featurette on Torquay and the hotel owner who is said to have inspired Basil, a very short blooper reel of outtakes and a brief teaser with Cleese in character entitled "Cheap Tatty Review". Much of this extra material was comfortably fitted onto the individually available Season 1 and 2 discs, so it's a bit of a mystery why a third disc was deemed necessary for the box set. --Mark Walker
This terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's bestselling horror novel was directed by shock maestro Brian De Palma for maximum, no-holds-barred effect. Sissy Spacek stars as Carrie White, the beleaguered daughter of a religious kook (Piper Laurie) and a social outcast tormented by her cruel, insensitive classmates. When her rage turns into telekinetic powers, however, school's out in every sense of the word. De Palma's horrific climax in a school gym lingers forever in the memory, though the film is also built upon Spacek's remarkable performance and Piper Laurie's outlandishly creepy one. John Travolta has a small part as a thug, De Palma's future wife, Nancy Allen, is his girlfriend, and Amy Irving makes her screen debut as one of the girls giving Carrie a hard time.--Tom Keogh
Finally...The Rock has come back to WWE and finally...The Rock's story is being told in its entirety! From growing up in a sports entertainment family to playing Division 1 College football at the University of Miami to becoming a third-generation superstar and the biggest and most electrifying entertainer in history to conquering Hollywood and returning to WWE. The Epic Journey of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson covers it all. Packed with brand-new exclusive interviews with The Great One as well as his parents Mr. McMahon Triple H Mick Foley Chris Jericho John Cena CM Punk and more this two-hour documentary feature traces the amazing story of The Rock. This 2 disc Blu-ray set is also packed with a selection of career-spanning matches and promos some never before released on Blu-ray. The Rock's journey comes full circle and now fans everywhere can relive it! Matches Include: Survivor Series Elimination Match: Rocky Maivia Marc Mero Barry Windham and Jake 'The Snake' Roberts Vs. Hunter Hearst-Helmsley Goldust Crush and Jerry 'The King' Lawler Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship: The Rock Vs. Triple H Triple Threat Cage Match: The Rock Vs. Mankind Vs. Ken Shamrock 'I Quit' Match for the WWE Championship: The Rock Vs. Mankind No Holds Barred Match for the WWE Championship: The Rock Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship: The Rock Vs. Kurt Angle Vs. Triple H World Tag Team Championship Match: The Rock and Undertaker Vs. Edge and Christian The Rock Vs. 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair WWE Undisputed Championship Match: The Rock Vs. Brock Lesnar The Rock Vs. Hulk Hogan The Rock Returns to Raw The Rock Concert II The WrestleMania Guest Host The People's WrestleMania Blu-Ray Exclusive Features: The Rock Challenges John Cena to a Match at WrestleMania XXVIII The Rock's Birthday Celebration Never Before Never Again: The Rock and John Cena Vs. Awesome Truth
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