"Actor: Kenneth Branagh"

• Great Composers - Vol. 2 - Beethoven / Wagner | DVD | (25/02/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  The second volume of the BBC's excellent Great Composers series consists of two hour-long episodes devoted to Beethoven and Wagner respectively. The format in both cases is that of a standard "life and works" biography, but what makes these episodes so attractive is the high quality of the visual material and the engrossing nature of the insights offered from the contributors. For example, it's fascinating to hear the lead violin of the Lindsay Quartet discuss the personal significance of a certain Beethoven phrase just after Charles Rosen has drawn a parallel with the composer's use of form and the speeches of Robespierre. If this makes the whole project sound as wholesome and dull as dry muesli, everyone also seems alive to the human idiosyncrasies of the subjects: we learn, among other things, that the utterly humourless Cosima Wagner used to keep her husband's eyelashes and carry them around with her in a bag. The musical excerpts are both performed--by the Berlin State Opera Orchestra and other groups--and filmed with panache. Kenneth Branagh narrates. All in all, a good introduction to both composers.--Warwick Thompson

• How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog | DVD | (10/03/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  Life Is All About Making A Scene. In the midst of writing a new play Peter McGowen's world is one crazy scene after another. He has a wife who desperately wants to start a family a stalker who's assuming his identity and a crisis which is a scribe's worst nightmare: writer's block. To top it all off he's pushed to the edge by the barking dog next door. Peter only has time for his writing until a special new neighbour teaches the cynical playwright that life is a work in progress.

• TV Drama: Sword Of Honour, Shackleton, Longitude | DVD | (30/09/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Sword Of HonourAward-winning novelist and screenwriter William Boyd brings Evelyn Waugh's classic trilogy of the Second World War vividly to life in this epic two-part drama starring Daniel Craig Megan Dodds Leslie Phillips Julian Rhind-Tutt Robert Pugh and Katrina Cartlidge. ShackletonDirected by Charles Sturridge (Brideshead Revisited Gulliver's Travels Longitude) this biopic of explorer Ernest Shackleton (Kenneth Branagh) is at once a fascinating character study of a driven man and a thrilling true life adventure. Concentrating on Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition to the the South Pole it details the incredible struggle he undertook to lead his 28 man crew to safety after his ship was trapped and then crushed in the pack ice. LongitudeLongitude is the fascinating story of John Harrison (Gambon) who in the 18th century believed he could make a clock that would work on board a ship - and so solve the problem of finding longitude at sea. Harrison has to struggle against a bigoted establishment in order to win recognition for his achievements. This story is intertwined with that of Rupert Gold (Irons) the former naval officer who in the 1920s discovered Harrison's clocks and - at the cost of his health his reputation and his marriage began the mammoth task of restoring them.

• Great Composers - Mahler | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £17.79   |  Saving you £-4.80 (-37.00%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Gustav Mahler as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities. Gustav Mahler Shot on location in Prague Budapest and Vienna and including extracts of some of Mahler's symphonies performed by Sir Georg Solti conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra as well as Das Lied von der Erde with mezzo-soprano Charlotte Hellekant. Thomas Hampson sings extracts from the song-cycles Des Kaben Wunderhorn Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Kindertotenlieder.

• Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets | UMD | (20/03/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £23.99

• Boat That Rocked, the | DVD | (23/01/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.00

  Richard Curtis (Love Actually) delves into the world of 60's pirate radio in this coming-of-age comedy. Amidst a cast of crazies played by the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Nighy disillusioned teen Carl is about to experience the rebellious spirit of rock 'n' roll Radio Rock-style! On air. Off shore. Out of control. Recently expelled from school Carl (Tom Sturridge) is sent by his mother to find some direction in life by visiting his godfather Quentin (Bill Nighy Underworld). However Quentin is the boss of Radio Rock a pirate radio station in the middle of the North Sea populated by an eclectic crew of rock 'n' roll DJs. They are led by The Count (Oscar Award-winning Philip Seymour Hoffman Capote) - big brash American god of the airwaves and totally in love with the music. He's faithfully backed up by his co-broadcasters Dave (Nick Frost Hot Fuzz) - ironic intelligent and cruelly funny; Simon (Chris O'Dowd TV's The IT Crowd) - super-nice and searching for true love; Midnight Mark (Tom Wisdom) - enigmatic handsome and man of few words; Wee Small Hours Bob - the late night DJ whose hobbies are folk music and drugs; Thick Kevin (Tom Brooke) - possessor of the smallest intelligence known to mankind; On-The-Hour John (Will Adamsdale) - the newsreader; and Angus 'The Nut' Nutsford (Rhys Darby of TV's The Flight Of The Conchords) - possibly the most annoying man in Britain. Life on the North Sea is eventful. Simon finds the woman of his dreams and is married on the boat... only to be left by his bride the next day. Gavin (Rhys Ifans Notting Hill) returns from his drug tour of America to his rightful position as the greatest DJ in Britain clashing with The Count. Meanwhile Carl discovers the opposite sex and who his real father is whilst government minister Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh Wallander) is out for the blood of these rebellious lawbreakers. What results is a literal storm on the high seas. With Radio Rock in peril it's devoted fans rally together and stage an epic Dunkirk-style hundred boat rescue to save their DJ heroes. Some things may come to an end but rock 'n' roll never dies.

• Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets | HD DVD | (12/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The world's most famous boy wizard dives straight into a darker and more thrilling magical adventure in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It's practically the same set-up--something evil's afoot at Hogwarts; Harry and his pals must put it right--but fans of the books won't be disappointed. Director Chris Columbus, whose artistic licence is necessarily limited by the demands of adapting JK Rowling's phenomenally popular novel, does a spectacular job rendering Rowling's imaginary world: the production design and costumes are fascinating in their own right; such is the impressive attention to detail. Daniel Radcliffe gives a more assured performance here as Harry, though he's not quite strong enough to carry the film without the aid of an excellent ensemble cast of experienced adults, notably a twinkly-eyed Kenneth Branagh. Of course, most avid fans will already know what's going to happen as far as the story is concerned, so for them the pleasure in watching The Chamber of Secrets lies in the visualisation of Rowling's magical creations and the verve brought to the action sequences. It's fantastic fun for kids and there's plenty of childhood nostalgia for the rest of us. --Laura Bushell

• Great Composers - Wagner | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £19.42   |  Saving you £-6.43 (-49.50%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Richard Wagner as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities. Shot on location in Leipzig Paris Munich and Bayreuth this programme includes performances by Daniel Barenboim and Berlin State Opera in The Ring of the Nibelung with Siegfried Jerusalem and Deborah Polask Zubin Metha and Munich State Opera and Roger Norrington and the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

• Bach - Great Composers | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Johann Sebastian Bach as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities.

• Tenet (UHD/ BD) | Blu Ray | (14/12/2020) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real-time. Special Features Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet - An Exploration Of The Development And Production Of The Film As Told By The Cast And Crew. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: I. The Principle Of Belief - Christopher Nolan Talks About Why He Wanted To Make This Film And The Twists He Wanted To Bring To The Spy Genre. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Ii. Mobilizing The Troupe - The Filmmakers To Talk About Casting And What The Actors Brought To Their Roles. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Iii. The Approach - The Company Discusses How Nolan&Rsquo;S Filmmaking Philosophies And In-Camera Approach Applied To The Challenges In This Film. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Iv. The Proving Window - A Look At The Cinematography And The Unique Ways They Shot The Movie. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: V. The Roadmap - Examining The Ways The Cast And Crew Kept Track Of The Continuity Across Multiple Perspectives And Timelines. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Vi. Entropy In Action - Breaking Down The Complex Action In The Film And The Stunt Requirements For The Actors. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Vii. Traversing The Globe - Exploring The Logistics Of Travelling And Shooting In Real Locations As Well As Capturing The Epic Marine Sequences In Different Countries Around The World. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Viii. How Big A Plane? - The Story Of The Dramatic Crashing Of A Real 747. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Ix. The Dress Code - Costume Designer Jeffrey Kurland Takes Us Through Some Of The Iconic Costumes From The Film. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: X. Constructing The Twilight World - A Look At The Practical Sets Designed And Built By Nathan Crowley & Team And The Techniques They Used To Enhance The Scope And Scale Of The Film. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Xi. The Final Battle - Inside The Epic Sequence Which Had The Cast And Crew Using Everything That They Had Learned On The Film To Pull It Off. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Xii. Cohesion - Nolan Discusses His Approach Of Involving The Composer And The Editor Early On In The Pre-Production And All The Way Through The Completion Of The Film To Truly Integrate Them Into The Creative Process. Looking At The World In A New Way: The Making Of Tenet: Xiii. Doesn't Us Being Here Now Mean It Never Happened? - The Cast And Crew Discuss The Unique Experience Of Working On The Film.

• Great Composers - Tchaikovsky | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £17.79   |  Saving you £-4.80 (-37.00%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities. Filmed on location in Russia and America this film includes extracts from Glyndebourne Festival Opera productions of Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades plus other extracts of Tchaikovsky's music performed by Yuri Temirkanov conducting the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra pianist Mikhail Rudy and violinist Maxim Vengerov.

• Great Composers - Beethoven | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (-34.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Ludwig van Beethoven as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities. This programme was filmed on location in Bonn and Vienna and includes performances by Nikolaus Harnoncourt with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe Sir Georg Solti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Vladimir Ashenazy Bernard Haitink and Glyndebourne Festival Opera The Lindsay Quartet and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

• Symphony For The Spire | DVD | (24/04/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A spectacle of music and theatre from the West Green Salisbury Cathedral featuring the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia Chorus conducted by Richard Armstrong. Includes perfomances by Kenneth Branagh Placido Domingo Ofra Harnoy Charlton Heston and Jessye Norman. The cathedral's West Front also acts as an enormous projection screen for a series of dramatic images to illustrate a special adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V to an acclaimed score by Scottish composer Patrick Doyle. Kenneth Branagh stars in the role that made him internationally famous and he is joined by Hollywood legend Charlton Heston. The Kneller Hall Trumpeters join the English Chamber Orchestra for a performance of the finale to Act II of Verdi's Aida. Then a massive firework display over Salisbury provides a dramatic backdrop to Handel's La Rjouissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks and orchestra and chorus bring the evening to a close with Parry's Jerusalem.

• Great Composers - Puccini | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (-34.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This programme presents the lives and works of Giacomo Puccini as featured in the BBC series Great Composers. It examines the backgrounds influences and relationships that make this composer part of the very fabric of the history of western music. The composer's life and work is presented through extensive performance sequences and through interviews and comments from some of today's greatest artists and most respected authorities. Shot on location in Italy and including extracts from Manon Lescaut La Boheme Tosca Madame Butterfly La Fanciulla del West and Turandot. Singers include Jose Cura Leontina Vaduva and Julia Migenes accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Richard Buckley.

• Rabbit Proof Fence | Blu Ray | (26/03/2012) from £33.73   |  Saving you £-8.74 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  In 1931, three aboriginal girls escape after being plucked from their homes to be trained as domestic staff and set off on a trek across the Outback.

• Dunkirk | DVD | (18/12/2017) from £3.99   |  Saving you £6.01 (150.63%)   |  RRP £10.00

  Dunkirk opens as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are surrounded by enemy forces. Trapped on the beach with their backs to the sea, they face an impossible situation as the enemy closes in.

• DUNKIRK 4K | Blu Ray | (10/06/2019) from £15.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  From filmmaker Christopher Nolan (Interstellar, Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy) comes the epic action thriller Dunkirk, starrring Fionn Whitehead, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Rylance and Tom Hardy. The story unfolds on land, sea and air, as hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk with enemy troops closing in. RAF Spitfires engage the enemy in the skies above the Channel, trying to protect the defenseless men below. Meanwhile, hundreds of small boats manned by both military officers and civilians are mounting a desperate rescue effort, risking their lives in a race against time to save even a fraction of their army.Special features: Join director Christopher Nolan and his production team on their epic journey to recreate the miracle of Dunkirk. Equipped with large-format cameras, innovative effects, historic naval and air fleets and scores of actors, the filmmakers surmounted staggering challenges in order to create an accurate, authentic and heart-pounding cinematic experience.