Emilia Fox returns as Dr Nikki Alexander. Still reeling from the sudden death of Dr Thomas Chamberlain and the shock departure of colleague Clarissa Mullery, Nikki and colleague Jack Hodgson return to the Lyell Centre. A case at a high security prison stirs disturbing memories for Nikki. New recruit Adam causes friction with his impetuous desire to impress. The Lyell team help to solve the murder of a promising young boxer, as Jack's family pressures come to a head. And Nikki suspects a body donated to medical science may not have died from natural causes after all.
Hideously plausible when first broadcast in 1984, this BBC TV docu-drama now seems like a terrifying might-have-been, although a great deal of what it says about the probable aftermath of a nuclear attack remains horribly pertinent. Scripted by Barry Hines (author of the novel on which Ken Loach's Kes was based) and directed by Mick Jackson (who later went to Hollywood with The Bodyguard and Volcano), at the time Threads seemed like a response to the American TV movie The Day After although it stands nobly on its own. Showing the after-effects of World War III on the United Kingdom by concentrating on two Sheffield families linked by an unplanned pregnancy, it illustrates the scientific, political, medical and social consequences of the severing of the many vital connective "threads" that support a Western society. Grim in a particularly 1980s way, this is a compulsive if uncomfortable watch and accomplishes a great deal without the distraction of spectacle, picking through all the melted milk bottles and firing squad traffic wardens to find the human horror at the heart of it all. --Kim Newman
It's not the 1935 Hitchcock classic, but this sturdy 1978 adaptation of John Buchan's The Thirty Nine Steps is still a rollicking good adventure. In keeping with the Boys' Own derring-do of the story (set in Edwardian London and the Scottish Highlands), the movie maintains a brisk pace that's interrupted only for tea or cocktails. Robert Powell is Richard Hannay, the man who unwittingly becomes embroiled in a dastardly Prussian plot to assassinate the Greek Prime Minister. Framed for murder, Hannay must flee to Scotland and attempt to clear his name whilst outwitting the prune-faced Prussian agents. Among all the deftly choreographed action sequences and careful period settings there's a strong vein of humour in the film, and if it wasn't for the numerous murders there would be little reason for PG certification. The grand dénouement comes with the realisation that the predicted time for the assassination is linked to Big Ben; unlike the earlier movie this version climaxes memorably with Powell hanging from the clock's minute hand. It might not be Hitchcock behind the lens, but it's still jolly good fun. --Joan Byrne
The mission was a sham. The murders were real. What if one of the greatest space adventures was really a hoax? The whole world is watching the first manned flight to Mars prepare. Suddenly its astronauts (James Brolin Sam Waterson and O.J. Simpson) are taken from the craft to an abandoned desert hanger where NASA's director (Hal Holbrook) tells them their life support systems have failed. Because the mission's success is crucial to future space programs he orders them to ta
Christian Bale stars in director Christopher Nolan's new take on the origin of the legendary superhero.
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Originally produced by the BBC, Threads is a shattering speculative tale the onset of World War III, and the horrors of the post-apocalyptic society that struggles for survival. The film takes place in the ruins of Sheffield, a British working class town. Despite the fact that the world seems to be falling apart all around them, a young couple (Karen Meagher, Reece Meagher) intend to go ahead with their upcoming wedding. As the date draws near, however, simmering international tensions soon erupt into global thermonuclear war. In the devastation that follows, the apocalyptic erosion of society sends mankind hurtling back hundreds of years into an age where famine, strife, pestilence, and death wash over the land like an unrelenting flood of venomous bile. The central theme of the film seems to be that the adage 'Life Goes On' just isn't good enough in a world doomed to a slow death by radiation. Without resorting to shock or sensationalism, this one makes The Day After and Testament look like kids' stuff. Though not picked up by any of the major American networks, Threads was widely distributed in the US through the auspices of cable mogul Ted Turner. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Threads
During World War 2 Carrie and Nick are evacuated to a small Welsh town to live with the strict Mr Evans and his sister Auntie Lou and find they've entered a world of curses witches and druids; a world where nothing is quite what it seems...
Bryan Singer's follow-up to his post-modern caper-thriller The Usual Suspects trades in the flamboyant narrative flourish of that film for a moody meditation on the allure of evil. Based on the Stephen King novella (featured in the collection Different Seasons), Apt Pupil follows the disturbing downward spiral of a bright young schoolboy, Todd (Brad Renfro), who discovers a wanted Nazi war criminal is living in his town and then blackmails him into telling stories ("everything they're afraid to show us in school") of the horrors of the Holocaust. The old man, Dussander (a terrifying performance by Ian McKellen), comes alive while telling his tales and is soon reliving his past glories in a SS Halloween ordered byTodd. It's not long before Dussander's homicidal streak is unleashed and he is pulling Todd along with him. Although set against a backdrop of Holocaust history, the issues raised in the stories are ignored in favour of shocks and suspense and the film ultimately sacrifices the opportunity to be a fascinating psychological thriller about the seductive power of evil for a trip into Stephen King territory. Despite such limitations, Singer delivers a stylish and sometimes unsettling horror picture, which is largely due to McKellen's chilling portrait of a slumbering sadist awakened. --Sean Axmaker
Matt Smith returns for his third series as the Eleventh Doctor. Fourteen big, blockbuster-movie episodes - each a brand new epic adventure featuring new monsters and some familiar foes as you've never seen them before. The first part of this series sees the Ponds (Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill) return for their final voyage with The Doctor. They save a spaceship full of dinosaurs, don Stetsons in the Wild Wild West and are even kidnapped by the Doctor's oldest foe. But when they arrive in Manhattan the Weeping Angels are waiting for them - will The Doctor really lose Amy and Rory forever? Christmas brings The Doctor a new friend but how, where and when will he meet her? LIMITED EDITION STEELBOOK WITH BESPOKE ILLUSTRATED ARTWORK. INCLUDES: 6 X PREQUELS 15 X BEHIND THE SCENES 4 X COMMENTARIES 3 X ADDITIONAL SCENES 3 X DOCUMENTARIES 3 X EXCLUSIVE CONTENT SCRIPT TO SCREEN: GOOD AS GOLD THE MAKING OF THE GUNSLINGER POND LIFE COMIC CON
The Scorpion King In the notorious city of Gomorrah, evil warlord Memnon is determined to lay to waste all the nomadic peoples of the desert. Because the few remaining tribes are virtually powerless against him, they decide to hire a skilled assassin, Mathayus, to eliminate Memnon's most prized asset: the sorceress Cassandra, who lies at the root of Memnon's power. Mathayus's plan, however, is to kidnap Cassandra rather than kill her. He knows if he takes her deep into the desert badlands as his hostage, Memnon and his henchman will stop at nothing to rescue her... The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior See how the legend of the Scorpion King began! When a young Mathayus witnesses his father's death at the hands of the king (Ultimate Fighting Championship winner Randy Couture), his quest for vengeance transforms him into the most feared warrior of the ancient world. From the director of Resident Evil: Extinction and Highlander comes a heroic adventure filled with heart-stopping action and thrilling visual effects! The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption 'The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption' sees Mathayus picking up from where he left off during 'The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior', facing some of the fiercest demons he has ever come across whilst embarking on possibly the most challenging battle of his life. Mathayus is hired by the king of Egypt, Horus, to protect his ally King Ramusan from a forthcoming attack, for which he is promised the marriage of Ramusan's daughter in return. During his mission, Mathayus must also contend with Horus' evil brother Talus in order to save the princess, who has been captured and locked away. Mathayus must defy all the odds and save the day, surviving some gruelling confrontations in order to redeem himself and reacquire the empire. –T.P
A sequence of dramatic events befalls the residents of Eaton Place. Elizabeth becomes involved with the Suffragettes which has disastrous consequences upon Rose a financial crisis threatens to force the Bellamys from their home and James returns from India with a fiancee in tow who threatens to shatter the peace. The formidable Thomas and Sarah receive a rousing send-off from the other servants as they set off to begin their new life together in north London. Is this really the last time they will be seen at Eaton Place?
Originally produced as a three-part miniseries for New Zealand television, this extraordinary film is based on the life of Janet Frame, an introverted, sensitive girl who was later misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and spent eight years in a psychiatric hospital. She would later become one of New Zealand's most celebrated poets and novelists, publishing her first books while she was still confined to a mental ward. She had endured over 200 electroshock treatments and had almost been lobotomized by careless physicians who took no time to understand that she was merely awkward and shy and suffered from little more than routine depression. From a solid screenplayby Laura Jones, director Jane Campion (The Piano) tells this story without soapy melodrama but rather as anexploration of a challenged creative spirit--a journey into a writer's mind, exploring the power of imagination as a mechanism of survival and self-defense. Three talented actors play Janet Frame at different ages throughout the film, with Kerry Fox giving a powerful performance as the young-adult Janet, whose own skill and creative tenacity would prove to be her salvation. Frightening, harrowing and ultimately a source of humanistic enlightenment, An Angel at My Table (titled after Frame's autobiography) is a film you won't soon forget.--Jeff Shannon
The Doctor, Amy and Rory are back for the first five blockbuster episodes of series seven.The trio encounter the Daleks, Weeping Angels and even Dinosaurs on a Spaceship as the series builds to the departure of The Ponds in one of the most heartbreaking episodes in the history of Doctor Who.
The original BBC drama that shocked a generation. Set in the paranoia of nuclear war this chilling and BAFTA-award winning BBC2 drama was aired causing outrage and anxiety amongst the viewing public due to its graphic and realistic storytelling of a possible nuclear strike. After its initial airing Threads became a national talking point and became a powerful and terrifying glimpse into a post holocaust world after a devastating nuclear bomb. Even more terrifyin
The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior is a dazzling prequel to the 2002 adventure movie The Scorpion King, the latter starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Mathayus, the warrior who takes on an evil army attacking his homeland. The Scorpion King 2 stars Michael Copon as a young Mathayus, who trains to become one of his king's warriors and then declares vengeance on the evil Sargon after the latter kills Mathayus' father. The hero's ascension as a noble fighter coincides with Sargon's usurping of the throne, leading Mathayus to seek a supernatural means to destroy him. His quest leads him to the infamous labyrinth in which the Minotaur feasts on men, and to the underworld itself, a horrifying place in which people become ensnared and die very slowly. Accompanied by a childhood friend-turned-warrior (Karen Shenaz David) and a philosopher-huckster (Simon Quarterman), Mathayus bravely but uncertainly battles through one obstacle after another to complete his journey. Directed by Australian filmmaker Russell Mulcahy (Resident Evil: Extinction), The Scorpion King 2 is a suspenseful and sometimes startling feature, with art direction and special effects that evoke the mysteries of ancient Greece and indeed make the underworld look like a most unearthly and nightmarish place. --Tom Keogh
THE SCORPION KING Adventure rules! The spectacular Mummy series explodes into a new realm of breathtaking, non-stop action in The Scorpion King! Unleashing WWE superstar The Rock as the most fearsome warrior of the ancient world, The Scorpion King plunges you into a sweeping tale flled with stunning fght sequences, awe-inspiring battles and pulse-pounding thrills. It's the ultimate special effects-powered epic and the must-see-and-see again adventure of the year! BONUS: Outtakes Feature Commentary with The Rock Feature Commentary with Director Chuck Russell Alternative Versions of Key Scenes w/5.1 audio Spotlight on Location: The Making of Scorpion King Ancient World Production Design Preparing the Fight The Rock and Michael Clarke Duncan Working with Animals Special Effects: The Cobras Special Effects: The Fire Ants Godsmack Music Video I Stand Alone King Scorpion (static images) THE SCORPION KING 2: RISE OF A WARRIOR See how the legend of the Scorpion King began! When a young Mathayus witnesses his father's death at the hands of the king (Ultimate Fighting Championship winner Randy Couture), his quest for vengeance transforms him into the most feared warrior of the ancient world. From the director of Resident Evil: Extinction and Highlander comes a heroic adventure flled with heart-stopping action and thrilling visual effects! THE SCORPION KING 3: BATTLE FOR REDEMPTION Since his triumphant rise to power in the original blockbuster The Scorpion King, Mathayus' kingdom has fallen and he's lost his queen to plague. Now an assassin for hire, he must defend a kingdom from an evil tyrant and his ghost warriors for the chance to regain the power and glory he once knew. Starring Ron Perlman (Hellboy) and Billy Zane (Titanic), The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption takes The Mummy phenomenon to an all-new level of epic action and non-stop adventure! BONUS: Feature Commentary with Director Roel Reiné Deleted/Extended Scenes Deleted Shots Montage Gag Reel Swords and Scorpions: A Making Of Preparing For Battle THE SCORPION KING 4: QUEST FOR POWER Join an exciting new chapter in the action-packed series from the producers of The Mummy! After the king of Norvania is assassinated, the legendary Scorpion King Mathayus is framed for the crime and must fght off an entire kingdom of soldiers. Now Mathayus (Victor Webster) and his only remaining allies, a mysterious woman and her unconventional father, are the last hope to stop the evil heir to the throne on his quest for an ancient and almighty mystical power. Featuring Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) and an all-star cast of fghters, including Roy Big Country Nelson (Winner of The Ultimate Fighter), Royce Gracie (UFC Hall of Fame) and Don Wilson (Three-time World Kickboxing Champion) BONUS: Deleted Scenes Gag Reel Making of Feature Commentary with the Cast and Crew
A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairs the Muppet gang with the perennial favourite Sesame Street cast for a seasonal celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie's childhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing "Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The Christmas Song". Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute programme shines as a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by the culinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, and the diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistible sizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includes Kermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by Jim Henson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --Lynn Gibson In the 50-minute Christmas TV Special, The Christmas Toy, Rugby the Tiger is Jamie's favourite Christmas toy from last year. Rugby is convinced that he will be wrapped up and placed under the tree again this year. When it's Christmas Eve and all the other toys try to explain to him that that is not going to happen, Rugby decides to take matters into his own paws and place himself under the tree. He makes the dangerous trip from the playroom to the living room trying not to be seen, for if a toy's secret of being able to move when humans aren't around is discovered, it becomes frozen forever. Now all his friends from the toy room must get him back before it's too late. This sweet story about friendship and loyalty is delightful, as are the songs, including "Try the Impossible" and "Old Friends". Think Toy Story with Muppetts. --Peggy Maltby-Etra
Universally recognised as the Master of Suspense, the legendary Alfred Hitchcock directed some of cinema's most thrilling and unforgettable classics. The House of Hitchcock features 18 iconic films from the acclaimed director's illustrious career including Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo and North by Northwest, plus a range of limited edition extras including blueprints of the infamous Psycho House, original storyboards from some of his finest movies, movie poster artcards for all the films, and a booklet about the man himself. Includes: SABOTEUR SHADOW OF A DOUBT ROPE STRANGERS ON A TRAIN DIAL M FOR MURDER REAR WINDOW TO CATCH A THIEF THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH VERTIGO NORTH BY NORTHWEST PSYCHO (1960) THE BIRDS MARNIE TORN CURTAIN TOPAZ FRENZY FAMILY PLOT Bonus features: DOCUMENTARIES EXPERT COMMENTARIES INTERVIEWS SCREEN TESTS STORYBOARDS AND MUCH MORE! Plus: ORIGINAL LETTERS, STORYBOARDS, BLUEPRINTS AND MORE...
A sequel to the highly successful anime film Resident Evil: Degeneration.
Most critics couldn't get behind Bill Murray's modern retelling of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, finding it too unfocused at times and not nearly wicked enough. Still, if you are a Murray fan, you have to enjoy his deliciously nasty portrayal of the world's meanest TV executive, who has his cathartic moment one cold Christmas night in New York City. The various ghosts lead him on a ghost-town tour of Manhattan, with stops at holidays past, present and future and a Kumbaya moment when Al Green and Annie Lennox sing "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". The effects are otherworldly, but one wishes the writing were as sharp as Murray's edgy portrayal. --Marshall Fine
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