"Actor: John S"

• Rossini: Semiramide | DVD | (31/12/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £34.99

  Bel canto can be translated as "pretty singing", and that definition seems tailor-made for this production, which offers grace, charm, and a fine-tuned sense of style in abundance to compensate for its limited psychological and emotional impact. The four principal singers are all specialists in the bel canto style and this opera has played a key role in building their substantial reputations. For its sweeping musical imagination and technical wizardry, Rossini's epic about royal assassination and misdirected lust in the ancient Babylonian Empire deserves a place in any inclusive opera collection, and we are not likely to have a better video recording of Semiramide in the foreseeable future. June Anderson has an attractive appearance and sounds exactly right in the music's florid melodic lines. But she is not dramatically compelling as the wicked queen who had her husband killed and fell in love with a man who turned out to be her long-lost son, Arsace. Marilyn Horne rose to the highest levels of international fame in the role of that conflicted son, and her presence alone would be enough to give this video classic status. Her voice was a bit past its prime when this performance was recorded in 1991, but still there is no other voice quite like it, no other voice so suited to Rossini's heroic mezzo roles. Samuel Ramey is a close bass counterpart to Anderson: great tone, agile florid singing, and a rather wooden but visually appealing stage presence. Sanford Olsen has a small role and sings it near perfectly. James Conlon gets excellent musical results; John Copley's staging is massive and static. --Joe McLellan, Amazon.com

• Inspector Morse - Disc 5 And 6 - Last Seen Wearing / The Settling Of The Sun | DVD | (20/05/2002) from £11.98   |  Saving you £5.00 (50.05%)   |  RRP £14.99

  When Inspector Morse first appeared on television in 1987, nobody could have predicted that it would run into the next century, maintaining throughout a quality of scripts and story lines that raised the genre of the detective series to a new level. Much of its success can be attributed to John Thaw's total immersion in the role. Morse is a prickly character and not obviously easy to like. As a detective in Oxford with unfulfilled academic propensities, he is permanently excluded from a world of which he would dearly love to be a part. He is at odds with that world--and with his colleagues in the police force--most of the time. Passionate about opera and "proper beer", he is a cultural snob for whom vulgarity causes almost physical pain. As a result, he lives from one disillusionment to another. And he is scarred--more deeply than he would ever admit--by past relationships. But he also has a naïve streak and, deep-down sensitivity, which makes him a fascinating challenge for women. At the heart of Morse's professional life is his awkward partnership with Detective Sergeant Lewis, the resolutely ordinary, worldly sidekick who manages to keep his boss in an almost permanent state of exasperation while retaining his grudging respect. It's a testament to Kevin Whateley's consistently excellent performance that from such unpromising material, Lewis becomes as indispensable to the series as Barrington Pheloung's hypnotic, classic theme music. Morse's investigations do occasionally take him abroad to more exotic locations, but throughout 14 successful years of often gruesome murders, the city of Oxford itself became a central character in these brooding two-hour dramas: creator Colin Dexter stating he finally had to kill Morse off because he was giving Oxford a bad reputation as a dangerous place! --Piers Ford

• Mae West - Screen Goddess Boxset | DVD | (03/10/2005) from £44.95   |  Saving you £5.04 (10.10%)   |  RRP £49.99

• Zorro Rides Again - Vol. 2 | DVD | (08/05/2006) from £7.98   |  Saving you £-2.99 (-59.90%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Zorro Rides Again - Volume 2

• The Sheltering Sky | DVD | (13/04/2009) from £24.99   |  Saving you £-9.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Directed by visionary filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango In Paris Stealing Beauty The Last Emperor) and based upon the celebrated existential novel by cult writer Paul Bowles The Sheltering Sky stars Debra Winger (An Officer And A Gentleman Terms Of Endearment) John Malkovich (Burn After Reading Dangerous Liaisons) Campbell Scott (Roger Dodger The Spanish Prisoner) and Timothy Spall (The Last Samurai Secrets And Lies) in an unforgettable dangerous and erotic journey across North Africa and into the dark depths of the human soul. Pseudo-bohemian American couple Port And Kit Moresby believe that a tourist is someone who thinks about home as soon as they arrive somewhere whereas a true traveller never knows when they'll return. In an attempt to spice up their marriage they venture aimlessly across the beautiful but hazardous landscape of North Africa in search of new experiences. But as they journey deeper into the Sahara desert their indulgent dreams slowly evolve into a sinister nightmare of insanity and death.

• Futurama Seasons 1-4 Complete Box Set | DVD | (30/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £79.99

  Every episode from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening's hit animated comedy! Season 1: 1. Space Pilot 3000 2. The Series Has Landed 3. I Roomate 4. Love's Labour's Lost In Space 5. Fear Of A Bot Planet 6. A Fishful Of Dollars 7. My Three Suns 8. A Big Piece Of Garbage 9. Hell Is Other Robots 10. A Flight To Remember 11. Mars University 12. When Aliens Attack 13. Fry And The Slurm Factory Season 2: 1. I Second That Emotion 2. Brannigan Begin Again 3. A Hea

• Rascal | DVD | (06/07/2004) from £12.31   |  Saving you £2.68 (21.77%)   |  RRP £14.99

  If man's best friend is a dog get ready to meet man's funniest friend: he's 4lbs of sheer delight and one of the best scene stealers to ever upstage an actor! Rascal tells a story of a boy (Bill Mumy) and his rescued pet raccoon an animal whose talent for causing loads of mischief is equalled only by his power to trigger tons of laughter!

• The Incredible Hulk 1996 Complete Season 1 | DVD | (05/07/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Caught in the heart of a nuclear explosion a victim of gamma radiation gone wild Doctor Robert Bruce Banner now finds himself transformed in times of stress into one thousand pounds of unfettered fury - the most powerful creature ever to walk the earth. Desperate to rid himself of the beast raging inside Bruce Banner becomes a hapless fugitive in the 1990s animated series of The Incredible Hulk Season 1. This double DVD includes all 13 bittersweet episodes and voice-over by Lou Ferrigno the renowned Hulk actor from Marvel's live-action 1970s TV series. With the relentless General Ross in hot pursuit Bruce Banner's experimental escapades lead to some heroic help from Iron Man the Fantastic Four Thor and She-Hulk. Meanwhile the Hulk faces explosive encounters with the Leader Doctor Doom and the Abomination. Episodes Comprise: Return of the Beast Part 1 Return of the Beast Part 2 Raw Power Helping Hand Iron Fist Innocent Blood Man to Man Beast to Beast Doomed Fantastic Fortitude Mortal Bounds And the Wind Cries... Wendigo Darkness and Light Part 1 Darkness and Light Part 2 Darkness and Light Part 3

• Room At The Top | DVD | (21/01/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This brilliant British drama with potent social commentary and a superb cast portrays the story of a young man from a small mill town who claws his way to the top - any way he can! Laurence Harvey is the 'angry young man' who sacrifices his true love for the steamy Simone Signoret and marries the daughter of the factory boss just so he can get ahead. Signoret was imported from France to add the sex appeal and won herself an Academy Award for Best Actress for her efforts. Harvey was also nominated for his performance as the ruthlessly ambitious Joe Lampton his most famous role but lost out to Charlton Heston's Ben Hur. Neil Paterson also received an Oscar for Best Screenplay. A powerful adaption of the novel by John Braine with skillful direction from newcomer Jack Clayton.

• Gregory's Two Girls | DVD | (07/06/2004) from £11.08   |  Saving you £-5.09 (-85.00%)   |  RRP £5.99

  'Gregory's 2 Girls' is part thriller, part romantic comedy and finds Gregory still dreaming his way through life and still looking for romance.

• Who Dares Wins | DVD | (19/03/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  In an uncanny piece of art imitating life, Who Dares Wins came out in 1982 just after the infamous storming of the Iranian Embassy by the legendary British Special Air Services (SAS) unit. The plot builds up to that unshakeable image of black-clad troops abseiling the front of a stately home and smashing through the windows, and pays off expectations with a thrilling finale. Anyone expecting two hours of military instruction will be disappointed however. After the opening 10 minutes with the troops, the almost James-Bond-like story follows Lewis Collins (riding high in those days after TV's The Professionals) as he infiltrates a radical anti-Nuclear society. Operation: Destroy requires him to go undercover with their potentially insane leader Frankie (Judy Davis), ignoring his wife and child. The period detail is often the film's most entertaining feature as Collins tours across 1980s London constantly eluding spies on his tail. Apart from the endless permed hairdos and the fact that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament hasn't got much to demonstrate about these days, there's the fashions and low-tech gadgetry to enjoy. In the US the film was called The Final Option. The DVD includes a photo gallery, and a history of the SAS. --Paul Tonks

• Pumpkinhead | DVD | (18/10/2004) from £20.72   |  Saving you £-11.74 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  For each of man's evils a special demon exists... When his young son is accidentally killed by a group of city dwelling teenagers a simple country storekeeper seeks a merciless vengeance from the fiery legends of backwood folklore; a terrifying creature known only as Pumpkinhead! Classic horror for Halloween!

• Jim Jarmusch Collection Vol.1 | DVD | (12/05/2008) from £20.23   |  Saving you £14.76 (72.96%)   |  RRP £34.99

  Permanent Vacation (1980): In downtown Manhattan Allie a twenty-something guy (Chris Parker) whose Father is not around and whose Mother is institutionalized is a big Charlie Parker fan. He almost subconsciously searches for more meaning in his life and meets a few strange and surreal characters along the way. Stranger Than Paradise (1984): Winner of the Camera d'Or for Best First Feature at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival Stranger Than Paradise not only launched Jim Jarmusch's career but also earned him recognition from critics as one of today's more inventive and creative filmmakers. Lounge Lizard musician John Lurie stars as Willie a disenchanted New Yorker who along with his best friend Eddie (Richard Edson) and cousin Eva (Eszter Balint) decides it's time to leave behind their boring lives in search of ""paradise."" But as their unforgettable road trip to Florida unfolds they find that amidst the sunshine blue skies and palm trees their pursuit of happiness is constantly road-blocked by the very thing they can't run away from... themselves. Down By Law (1986): In one of the hippest comedies ever made three misfits find themselves thrown together in a New Orleans jail cell. There's Zach the unemployed DJ Jack the small-time pimp and Bob the crazy Italian tourist. Unavailable for many years this cult hit stars Tom Waits John Lurie and the Oscar-winning director and star of Life is Beautiful Roberto Benigni. A film that firmly established Jim Jarmusch as the coolest director on the American independent scene.

• Love Story | Blu Ray | (28/05/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) and music student Jennifer Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw) share a chemistry they cannot deny and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver's wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail. Oliver and Jenny continue to build their life together. Relying only on each other, they believe love can fix anything. But fate has other plans. Soon, what began as a brutally honest friendship becomes the love story of their lives.For the first time on Blu-ray, this beloved film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including an Oscar-winning musical score that became the poignant theme of the timeless romance.1970 Academy Award nominations: Best Picture; Best Actor (Ryan O'Neal); Best Actress (Ali MacGraw); Best Supporting Actor (John Marley); Best Director (Arthur Hiller); Best Music - Original Score (Francis Lai); and Best Story and Screenplay - Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced (Erich Segal).

• Posse From Hell | DVD | (07/03/2011) from £17.91   |  Saving you £-4.92 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Four gunmen ride into a Western town called Paradise; ten minutes later four townsfolk are dead and the sheriff lies dying in the street. When the gang kidnap Helen (Zohra Lampert) and ride out of town Captain Jeremiah Brown (Robert Keith) a veteran from the Civil War offers to lead a posse and hunt the outlaws down. But the arrival of gunslinger Banner Cole (Audie Murphy) changes the situation as the dying sheriff asks Banner to become his deputy and lead the posse. As the reality of hunting down a gang of ruthless killers dawns on the chasing posse their numbers begin to dwindle leaving Banner and New York city banker Seymour Kern (John Saxon) to bring the outlaws to justice and rescue Helen.

• The Addams Family (Steelbook) | Blu Ray | (13/09/2022) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• The Beatles - Help! Limited Edition | DVD | (05/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £52.99

  'Help!' was The Beatles' second feature film and their first in colour released at the height of their iconic history in 1965.

• Tenebrae | DVD | (24/07/2017) from £12.48   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  After several excursions into supernatural horror, Dario Argento returned to the homicidal frenzy that made his reputation with this mystery that plays more like a grown-up slasher movie than a detective thriller. Anthony Franciosa stars as Peter Neal, a best-selling horror novelist whose promotional tour in Italy takes a terrible turn when a mysterious killer recreates the brutal murders from his book with real-life victims. The first to die are so-called "deviants", Neal's own friends and finally there comes a promise that the author himself is next on the list. Columbo it ain't, but Argento has always been more concerned with style than story and his execution of the crimes is pure cinematic bravura. From the simple beauty of a straight razor shattering a light bulb (the camera catches the red-hot filament slowly blacking out) to an ambitious crane shot that creeps up and over the sides of a house under siege in a voyeuristic survey that would make Hitchcock proud, Argento turns the art of murder into a stylish spectacle. He even lets his kinkier side show with flashbacks of an adolescent boy and a teasing dominatrix in red stiletto heels that become a key motif of the film. The objects of Argento's homicidal tendencies are traditionally lovely, scantily clad Italian beauties, and with self-deprecating humour he even inserts a scene in which Neal is taken to task for the misogynist violence of his stories--an accusation Argento himself has weathered for years. --Sean Axmaker

• Come Home Charlie and Face Them | DVD | (06/08/2007) from £4.70   |  Saving you £13.55 (393.90%)   |  RRP £16.99

  Come Home Charlie and Face Them is based on the novel by R F Delderfield (To Serve Them All My Days). Charlie Pritchard thinks that the bank manager's daughter is his ideal woman as he works as a cashier in a dreary bank in a dreary Welsh town - that is until he meets Delphine. With Delphine and her sidekick Beppo a plan is hatched to rob Charlie's bank.

• Zoo | DVD | (11/08/2008) from £9.70   |  Saving you £10.29 (51.50%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A look at the life of a Seattle man who died as a result of an unusual encounter with a horse.