"Actor: Kenneth Ha"

  • Carry On - The Complete Collection [DVD] [1958]Carry On - The Complete Collection | DVD | (07/10/2013) from £29.41   |  Saving you £0.58 (1.97%)   |  RRP £29.99

    This is classic British comedy at it's best! This DVD box set contains all 30 hilarious Carry On movies plus a host of DVD extras! Starring: Kenneth Williams Charles Hawtrey Jim Dale Joan Sims Barbara Windsor Hattie Jacques Windsor Davies Valerie Leon Peter Butterworth Bernard Bresslaw Terry Scott Bill Maynard Phil Silvers Patsy Rowlands and Frankie Howerd. Episodes Comprise: Carry On Sergeant Carry On Nurse Carry On Teacher Carry On Constable Carry On Regardless Carry On Cruising Carry On Cabby Carry On Jack Carry On Spying Carry On Cleo Carry On Cowboy Carry On Screaming! Carry On Don't Lose Your Head Carry On Follow That Camel Carry On Doctor Carry On Up the Khyber Carry On Camping Carry On Again Doctor Carry On Up the Jungle Carry On Loving Carry On Henry Carry On at Your Convenience Carry On Matron Carry On Abroad Carry On Girls Carry On Dick Carry On Behind Carry On England That's Carry On!' and 'Carry On Emmanuelle Special Features: 30 feature-length audio commentaries Trailers All 13 Episodes of the ATV situation comedy series: 'Carry On Laughing' Archive interviews with Sid James Terry Scott and Phil Silvers On location featurette hosted by June Whitfield The official 40th anniversary documentary: 'What's A Carry On?' Textless footage from 'Carry On Jack' and 'Carry On Spying' An alternative Director's cut presentation of 'Carry On England' Extensive production notes for all 30 films Stills Gallery

  • Harry Potter - Complete 8-Film Collection (2016 Edition) [DVD]Harry Potter - Complete 8-Film Collection (2016 Edition) | DVD | (25/07/2016) from £31.98   |  Saving you £20.00 (66.69%)   |  RRP £49.99

    The Complete 8-Film Collection (16-discs): Year 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - The magical adventure begins when Harry Potter is to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Year 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Cars fly, trees attack and a mysterious house-elf warns Harry of great danger as he returns for his second year. Year 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Harry must confront soul-sucking Dementors, outsmart a werewolf and learn the truth about the escaped prisoner of Azkaban - Sirius Black. Year 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Harry must overcome a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. Year 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - When few believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, Harry must secretly train his friends for the wizarding war ahead. Year 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - As Lord Voldemort tightens his grip on both Muggle and wizarding worlds, Harry and Dumbledore work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses. Year 7 - Part 1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 - Harry, Ron and Hermione set out to track down and destroy the secret to Voldemort's power - the Horcruxes. On their own and on the run, the three must rely on one another more than ever...but Dark Forces threaten to tear them apart. Year 7 - Part 2: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

  • Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back | Blu Ray | (24/08/2020) from £19.45   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    The Rebels scatter after the Empire attacks their base on the ice planet Hoth. Han Solo and Princess Leia are pursued by Imperials, while Luke trains with Jedi Master Yoda. Luke battles Darth Vader and learns the shocking truth of his past. Special Features: Audio Commentary By George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren Archival Audio Commentary By The Cast And Crew Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Bonus Disc Conversations: The Lost Interviews Discoveries From Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled A Conversation With The Masters (2010) Dennis Muren: How Walkers Walk Hoth Overview George Lucas On Editing The Empire Strikes Back 1979 Irvin Kershner Interview Dagobah Overview Pursued by the Imperial Fleet Overview George Lucas On The Force: 2010 Cloud City Overview Han And Leia: Extended Echo Base Argument Luke's Recovery Luke And Leia: Medical Center Wampa Attacks The Fate of General Veers Yoda's Test Hiding In The Asteroid Alternate Han And Leia Kiss Lobot's Capture Leia Tends To Luke AT-AT Walker Fallen Model Snowspeeder Model Tauntaun Maquette Rebel Transport Model Hoth Landscape Matte Painting Leia Hoth Costume Han Solo Interior: Hoth Costume Yoda Model Luke's Severed Head Dagobah Bog Matte Painting Dagobah Matte Painting Luke's Tan Costume Star Destroyer Model Millennium Falcon Model Space Slug Darth Vader's Star Destroyer Model Star Destroyer Hull Model Executor Bridge Matte Painting Boba Fett Prototype Costume Imperial Officer Costume Rebel Cruiser Model Twin-Pod Cloud Car Model Cloud City Models Cloud City Matte Painting Cloud City Landing Platform Matte Painting Cloud City Core Vane Matte Painting Cloud City Core Vane Platform Matte Painting Lando Bespin Costume Cloud City Slave I Matte Painting

  • Dunkirk [DVD] [2017]Dunkirk | DVD | (07/12/2020) from £6.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Christopher Nolan writes and directs this war drama that tells the story of the Dunkirk evacuation during the Second World War. In May 1940, in the early days of the Second World War, hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers are trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk after being pushed back by the German army during the Battle of France, prompting a massive rescue operation to evacuate them. As the evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, gets underway, the soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force holds a shrinking position as the Nazi's advance upon them. Meanwhile, civilian sailors back home are called upon to use whatever vessels they have to aid the rescue effort across the Channel and the Royal Air Force tries to defend the vulnerable troops on the ground from the skies. The ensemble cast includes Fionn Whitehead, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and Harry Styles.

  • Oliver [1968]Oliver | DVD | (11/12/2000) from £19.15   |  Saving you £0.84 (4.39%)   |  RRP £19.99

    Film buffs and critics can argue until their faces turn blue about whether this lavish Dickensian musical deserved the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1968, but the movie speaks for itself on grandly entertaining terms. Adapted from Dickens's classic novel, it's one of the most dramatically involving and artistically impressive musicals of the 1960s, directed by Carol Reed with a delightful enthusiasm that would surely have impressed Dickens himself. Mark Lester plays the waifish orphan Oliver Twist, who is befriended by the pick-pocketing Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and recruited into the gang of boy thieves led by Fagin (played to perfection by Ron Moody). The villainous Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) casts his long shadow over Oliver and his friends, but the young orphan is still able to find loving care in the most desperate of circumstances. Full of memorable melodies and splendid lyrics, Oliver! is a timeless film, prompting even hard-to-please critic Pauline Kael to call it "a superb demonstration of intelligent craftsmanship," and to further observe that "it's as if the movie set out to be a tribute to Dickens and his melodramatic art as well as to tell the story of Oliver Twist". --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

  • Salem's Lot [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]Salem's Lot | Blu Ray | (04/05/2020) from £7.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Sinister events bring together a writer (David Soul) fascinated with an old hilltop house; a suave antiques dealer (James Mason) whose expertise goes beyond bric-a-brac; and the dealer's mysterious, pale-skinned partner (Reggie Nalder) in Salem's Lot - a blood-curdling shocker based on Stephen King's novel and directed by Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist).

  • Murder On The Orient Express [Blu-ray + Digital Download] [2017]Murder On The Orient Express | Blu Ray | (05/03/2018) from £4.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast, including Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Judi Dench, in this stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mystery based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie. Everyone's a suspect when a murder is committed on a lavish train ride, and a brilliant detective must race against time to solve the puzzle before the killer strikes again.

  • Spider-Man Triple: Home Coming, Far from Home & No Way Home [Blu-ray] [2021]Spider-Man Triple: Home Coming, Far from Home & No Way Home | Blu Ray | (04/04/2022) from £9.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero's identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange's help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who've ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse.

  • Rome - Series 1-2 - Complete [DVD] [2005]Rome - Series 1-2 - Complete | DVD | (19/11/2007) from £24.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

    The year is 52 B.C. Four hundred years after the founding of the Republic Rome is the wealthiest city in the world a cosmopolitan metropolis of one million people; epicenter of a sprawling empire. The Republic was founded on principles of shared power and fierce personal competition never allowing one man to seize absolute control. But now those foundations are crumbling eaten away by corruption and excess. A serialized drama of love and betrayal masters and slaves husbands and wives Rome chronicles a turbulent era that saw the death of a republic and the birth of an empire.

  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2016 Edition) [DVD]Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2016 Edition) | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £7.98   |  Saving you £14.00 (233.72%)   |  RRP £19.99

    Cars fly, trees fight back and a mysterious elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of the second year of his amazing journey into the world of wizardry. This year at Hogwarts, spiders talk, letters scold and Harry's own unsettling ability to speak to snakes turns his friends against him. From dueling clubs to rogue Bludgers, it's a year of adventure and danger when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. To save Hogwarts will require all of Harry, Ron and Hermione's magical abilities and courage in this spellbinding adaptation of J.K. Rowling's second book. Get ready to be amused and petrified as Harry Potter shows he's more than a wizard, he's a hero!

  • Monty Python's Life Of Brian [1979]Monty Python's Life Of Brian | DVD | (14/04/2003) from £5.32   |  Saving you £7.67 (144.17%)   |  RRP £12.99

    There is not a single joke, sight-gag or one-liner in Monty Python's Life of Brian that will not forever burn itself into the viewer's memory as being just as funny as it is possible to be, but--extraordinarily--almost every indestructibly hilarious scene also serves a dual purpose, making this one of the most consistently sustained film satires ever made. Like all great satire, the Pythons not only attack and vilify their targets (the bigotry and hypocrisy of organised religion and politics) supremely well, they also propose an alternative: be an individual, think for yourself, don't be led by others. "You've all got to work it out for yourselves", cries Brian in a key moment. "Yes, we've all got to work it our for ourselves", the crowd reply en masse. Two thousand years later, in a world still blighted by religious zealots, Brian's is still a lone voice crying in the wilderness. Aside from being a neat spoof on the Hollywood epic, it's also almost incidentally one of the most realistic on-screen depictions of the ancient world--instead of treating their characters as posturing historical stereotypes, the Pythons realised what no sword 'n' sandal epic ever has: that people are all the same, no matter what period of history they live in. People always have and always will bicker, lie, cheat, swear, conceal cowardice with bravado (like Reg, leader of the People's Front of Judea), abuse power (like Pontius Pilate), blindly follow the latest fads and giggle at silly things ("Biggus Dickus"). In the end, Life of Brian teaches us that the only way for a despairing individual to cope in a world of idiocy and hypocrisy is to always look on the bright side of life. On the DVD: Life of Brian returns to Region 2 DVD in a decent widescreen anamorphic print with Dolby 5.1 sound--neither are exactly revelatory, but at least it's an improvement on the previous release, which was, shockingly, pan & scan. The 50-minute BBC documentary, "The Pythons", was filmed mainly on location in 1979 and isn't especially remarkable or insightful (a new retrospective would have been appreciated). There are trailers for this movie, as well as Holy Grail plus three other non-Python movies. There's no commentary track, sadly. --Mark Walker

  • Murder On The Orient Express [DVD] [2017]Murder On The Orient Express | DVD | (05/03/2018) from £3.71   |  Saving you £2.28 (61.46%)   |  RRP £5.99

    Kenneth Branagh directs and leads an all-star cast, including Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe and Judi Dench, in this stylish, suspenseful and thrilling mystery based on the best-selling novel by Agatha Christie. Everyone's a suspect when a murder is committed on a lavish train ride, and a brilliant detective must race against time to solve the puzzle before the killer strikes again.

  • The Commitments [DVD]The Commitments | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £11.90   |  Saving you £-5.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

    Available for the first time ever on Blu-ray, from acclaimed director Alan Parker comes the award-winning film that took the world by storm. Jimmy Rabbitte (Robert Arkins) knows he's the world's greatest band manager.... now he just needs a band. Auditioning everyone he can find, Jimmy gathers ten of the most talented, least experienced musicians from the rough streets of working-class Dublin with a plan to launch the greatest Irish Soul band in the world. It s a joyful mixture of great characters, super dialogue and wonderful music (The Sun); foul-mouthed, fast-talking and very funny (Time Out); with a soundtrack from soul paradise (Daily Telegraph. One of the greatest films in the last 50 years (BBC Movie Connections), Ladies and Gentlemen, please put your working class hands together for the saviours of soul... The Commitments. 25th Anniversary Special Edition comes with a digital copy - yours to download, watch and own. SPECIAL FEATURES Digital Copy 25 Years Later: All-New Interviews with Alan Parker and Cast Audio Commentary with Alan Parker Four Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes Music Video Image Galleries Collectible Booklet

  • Assassin's Creed [DVD]Assassin's Creed | DVD | (15/05/2017) from £4.02   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Oscar® nominee Michael Fassbender stars in this big-screen action-adventure, based on the wildly popular gaming phenomenon. Fassbender plays Callum Lynch, who experiences the life of his 15th-century ancestor through a technology that unlocks his genetic memories. Callum discovers he once belonged to a secret society of assassins and amasses lethal skills to take on the oppressive Templars. Click Images to Enlarge

  • Much Ado About Nothing [1993]Much Ado About Nothing | DVD | (01/10/1999) from £6.89   |  Saving you £9.10 (132.08%)   |  RRP £15.99

    Kenneth Branagh's 1993 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a vigorous and imaginative work, cheerful and accessible for everyone. Largely the story of Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson)--adversaries who come to believe each is trying to woo the other--the film veers from arched wit to ironic romps, and the two leads don't mind looking a little silly at times. But the plot is also layered with darker matters that concern the ease with which men and women fall into mutual distrust. Branagh has rounded up a mixed cast of stage vets and Hollywood stars, among the latter Denzel Washington and Michael Keaton, the latter playing a rather seedy, Beetlejuice-like version of Dogberry, king of malapropisms.--Tom Keogh

  • Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi [Blu-ray] [2020] [Region Free]Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi | Blu Ray | (24/08/2020) from £19.45   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    The Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star. The Rebel fleet counters with a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel. Special Features: Audio Commentary By George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt, and Dennis Muren Archival Audio Commentary By The Cast And Crew Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi Bonus Disc Conversations: The Effects Discoveries From Inside: The Sounds of Ben Burtt Classic Creatures: Return Of The Jedi Revenge Of The Jedi Teaser Trailer Return Of The Jedi Launch Trailer It Began TV Spot Climactic Chapter TV Spot Tatooine Overview Endor Overview Harrison Ford Interview Death Star II Space Battle Overview Vader's Arrival And Reaching Out To Luke Tatooine Sandstorm Rebel Raid On The Bunker Jerjerrod's Conflict Battle Of Endor: The Lost Rebels Rancor Maquette EV-9D9 Salacious B. Crumb C-3PO's Head With Eye Poked Out Leia's Boussh Costume Lando Skiff Guard Costume Jabba's Radio-Controlled Eyes AT-ST Walker Model Speeder Bike Imperial Shuttle Model Ewok Hang Glider Maquette Imperial Shuttle Landing Matte Painting Endor Landing Platform Matte Painting Ewok Costume Biker Scout Costume B-wing Fighter Model TIE Interceptor Model Death Star Under Construction Model Imperial Shuttle Bay Matte Painting Admiral Ackbar Costume Death Star Equator Docking Bay Matte Painting Millennium Falcon In Hangar Matte Painting Jabba's Palace, Road Creature Matte Painting Sarlacc Pit Matte Painting

  • 4K UHD Film Collection (Assassin's Creed, The Martian, Kingsman & Prometheus) [4K Blu-ray] [2017]4K UHD Film Collection (Assassin's Creed, The Martian, Kingsman & Prometheus) | 4K UHD | (23/10/2017) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £51.53

    Assassin's Creed - Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender stars in this big-screen action-adventure, based on the wildly popular gaming phenomenon. Fassbender plays Callum Lynch, who experiences the life of his 15th century ancestor through a technology that unlocks his genetic memories. Callum discovers he once belonged to a secret society of assassins and amasses lethal skills to take on the oppressive Templars. Kingsman - Based upon the acclaimed comic book and directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), the film tells the story of The Kingsman; a super-secret spy organization that recruits an unrefined but promising street kid into his agency's ultra-competitive training program just as a global threat emerges from a twisted tech genius Prometheus - After scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green, Devil) discover mysterious cave drawings that point to the origins of mankind, they soon find themselves aboard the spaceship Prometheus, sponsored by Weyland Industries and on a journey to uncover the secrets of humanity. Overseen by the imperious Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron, Snow White and the Huntsman), looked after by the android David (Michael Fassbender, X-Men: First Class), and backed up by a team of scientists, Shaw and Holloway arrive on the isolated moon LV-223 to discover an abandoned alien spaceship and the truth that not all is as it seems... The Martian - During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring the Martian home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN features a star studded cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.

  • Young Frankenstein [1974]Young Frankenstein | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £8.25   |  Saving you £4.74 (57.45%)   |  RRP £12.99

    If you were to argue Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein ranks among the top-10 funniest movies of all time, nobody could reasonably dispute the claim. Spoofing classic horror in the way that Brooks' previous film Blazing Saddles sent up classic Westerns, the movie is both a loving tribute and a raucous, irreverent parody of Universal's classic horror films Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Filming in glorious black and white, Brooks recreated the Frankenstein laboratory using the equipment from the original Frankenstein (courtesy of designer Kenneth Strickfaden), and this loving attention to physical and stylistic detail creates a solid foundation for non-stop comedy. The story, of course, involves Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) and his effort to resume experiments in re-animation pioneered by his late father. (He's got some help, since dad left behind a book titled How I Did It.) Assisting him is the hapless hunchback Igor (Marty Feldman) and the buxom but none-too-bright maiden Inga (Teri Garr), and when Frankenstein succeeds in creating his monster (Peter Boyle), the stage is set for an outrageous revision of the Frankenstein legend. With comedy highlights too numerous to mention, Brooks guides his brilliant cast (also including Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars and Gene Hackman in a classic cameo role) through scene after scene of inspired hilarity. Indeed, Young Frankenstein is a charmed film, nothing less than a comedy classic, representing the finest work from everyone involved. Not one joke has lost its payoff, and none of the countless gags have lost their zany appeal. From a career that includes some of the best comedies ever made, this is the film for which Mel Brooks will be most fondly remembered. No video library should be without a copy of Young Frankenstein. And just remember--it's pronounced "Fronkensteen". --Jeff Shannon

  • Star Wars Original Trilogy Box Set Blu-ray (Episodes 4-6) [2022] [Region Free]Star Wars Original Trilogy Box Set Blu-ray (Episodes 4-6) | Blu Ray | (02/05/2022) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

    Star Wars: A New Hope Luke Skywalker begins a journey that will change the galaxy. Young farm boy Luke Skywalker is thrust into a galaxy of adventure when he intercepts a distress call from the captive Princess Leia. The event launches him on a daring mission to rescue her from the clutches of Darth Vader and the Evil Empire. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Discover the conflict between good and evil. The Rebels scatter after the Empire attacks their base on the ice planet Hoth. Han Solo and Princess Leia are pursued by Imperials, while Luke trains with Jedi Master Yoda. Luke battles Darth Vader and learns the shocking truth of his past. Star Wars: Return of The Jedi Experience the triumph of the force. The Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star. The Rebel fleet counters with a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel. Product Features Star Wars: A New Hope Filmmaker And Cast Audio Commentary Cast And Crew Archival Audio Commentary Conversations: Creating A Universe Discoveries From Inside: Weapons & The First Lightsaber Documentary: Anatomy Of A Dewback Cast Interviews Extended And Deleted Scenes And Much More Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Filmmaker And Cast Audio Commentary Cast And Crew Archival Audio Commentary Conversations: The Lost Interviews Documentary: A Conversation With The Masters Filmmaker Interviews Extended And Deleted Scenes Discoveries From Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled And Much More! Star Wars: Return of The Jedi Filmmaker And Cast Audio Commentary Cast And Crew Archival Audio Commentary Conversations: The Effects Discoveries From Inside: The Sounds Of Ben Burtt Documentary: Classic Creatures Cast And Crew Interviews Extended And Deleted Scenes And Much More!

  • Brassed Off [1996]Brassed Off | DVD | (10/09/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

    Take The Full Monty, add a sharper emotional edge and replace the strutting strippers with a dignified British band. That's the essence of Brassed Off, a bittersweet gem released in 1996, a year before its more popular (and Oscar-nominated) counterpart. In the Yorkshire town of Grimley, there has always been a coal mine, just as for the last 111 years there has been a brass band and it seems that Danny (the wondrous Pete Postlethwaite) has been the director for every one of those years. Tory economic policies, however, are closing coal mines around the country in favour of nuclear power and Grimley appears to be next on the list. Danny is unfazed by the threat, claiming, "It's music that matters." But some of the men are about to quit the band until the appearance of Gloria (Tara Fitzgerald at her most radiant), who dazzles the all-male group (including old flame Andy, played by Ewan McGregor) first with her beauty, then with her flügelhorn playing. The new member gives the band a boost as they continue to perform and compete but closure remains very real, as director Mark Herman (Little Voice) accompanies the band's performances (played with gusto by the Grimethorpe Colliery Band) with scenes of angry labour-management confrontations and family strife. In this context, some of the characters claim that the music is an irresponsible form of escapism. It becomes clear, however, from a touching performance of "Danny Boy" to the stirring conclusion at Royal Albert Hall, that music is an expression of the human spirit, a bit of beauty and sanity in a harsh world. With defiance, the band can play "Land of Hope and Glory" even when the land offers them neither. --David Horiuchi

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