America's Sweethearts (Dir. Joe Roth 2001): Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) are America's Sweethearts two wildly popular celebrities who share their love on and off the screen in this farcical romantic comedy. A messy breakup sends Eddie to a New Age Hollywood healing center and Gwen into the arms of her current affair a Spanish bohunk short on charm (Hank Azaria). When their relationship troubles begin to threaten their superstar celebrity status and the release of their final film together the studio heads call in legendary press agent Lee Phillips (Billy Crystal) to helm the troubled film's press junket. Julia Roberts costars as Kiki Gwen's personal assistant and sister who has always lived to please her demanding diva sister. Once overweight and severely self-conscious Kiki's life revolves around her sister's ridiculous demands in this send up of ego-driven movie star vanity. Phillips manages to gather the warring superstars together at a remote desert location for the all important press junket where his best laid plans begin to unravel in this hysterical parody of the movie industry replete with neurotic actors eccentric crazed directors (Christopher Walken in a gem of a cameo) maniacal studio heads and gossip-starved press who will do anything or anyone for the next big story. Mona Lisa Smile (Dir. Mike Newell 2003): Set in 1953 Katherine Watson (Roberts) is a free-spirited graduate of UC Berkeley who accepts a teaching post at Wellesley College a women-only school where the students are torn between the repressive mores of the time and their longing for intellectual freedom. My Best Friend's Wedding (Dir. P.J. Hogan 1997): Julia Roberts Cameron Diaz Rupert Everett and Dermot Mulroney star in My Best Friend's Wedding a high-spirited romantic comedy that serves up something wild something new sometimes touching and sometimes truly hilarious! Roberts's dazzles as commitment-shy Julianne Potter who suddenly realises she is in love with her best friend Michael (Mulroney). There's just one catch - he's about to marry someone else. Now she has to win him back and with just four days the help of her resourceful boss (Everett) and the benefits of an extremely devious mind Jules will do anything to steal him back - except tell him the honest truth!
A lonely country house a cantankerous old patriarch calling all his family together to make changes to his will siblings falling out over their possible inheritances and a faithful old butler and frightened housemaid for good measure. These are all the classic ingredients for an Agatha Christie style murder mystery and Three Steps in the Dark doesn't fail to provide the body in the study!
Many fans don't rate the second series of Space: 1999 as highly as the first. Responding to audience feedback, as well as the separation of producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, the programme makers drafted in new producer Fred Freiberger, the man responsible for the third and weakest season of the original Star Trek. Under his guidance the storylines drifted away from the hard sci-fi of the first season in favour of more action and a faster pace. The theme music, sets and costumes all changed, as did some key personnel. Out went professorial (and very dull) Barry Morse, in came dashing Tony Anholt as security officer Tony Verdeschi, while the glamour quotient was upped considerably by Catherine Schell as the shape-shifting Maya (a much-needed change, since the frosty Barbara Bain had reduced the show's sex appeal to nil in Series 1). Series 2 also introduced lots and lots more aliens kitted out in badly fitting costumes and dodgy glam-rock era makeup. Responding to yet more feedback from American TV executives the protagonists now had to encounter more highly unconvincing monsters than even Dr Who ever dared imagine: "The Beta Cloud", for example, is a classic rampaging-bloke-in-a-suit scenario. That said, this second season has more emphasis on characters other than the headline stars, as various stranded Alphans are allowed to come to the fore instead of just blankly following Commander Koenig's orders. It's all good fun in a silly, nostalgic sort of way, and fans of the more vintage Season 1 will find it hard to resist this second season as well.On the DVD: There aren't many extras here, although sundry interviews with principal cast and crew are scattered across the six discs in this complete box set. There's also a commentary on some episodes with special effects man Brian Johnson, a couple of deleted scenes, production stills and some text features. Each disc has a small booklet that gives some useful background information on the episodes. The remastered 4:3 ratio picture and mono sound are fine. --Mark Walker
Considered by many to be an unsung slasher classic MADMAN follows the lives (and gruesome deaths) of six counselors working at the North Sea Cottages for Gifted Children during the chilly month of November. After hearing the tale of Madman Marz the local psycho who murdered his family and who will supposedly appear if his name is called loudly enough one unfortunate victim tempts fate by doing exactly that. Soon enough the inevitable happens and bloody axe-grinding mayhem ensues.
Ten years after the original story the local dirt field is now 'home' to a new group of neighbourhood kids who get together to share laughs show off...and play baseball! Yet the gang faces their toughest challenge yet as they try to retrieve an irreplaceable model rocket that has landed in the junkyard behind left field; a forbidden territory guarded by the legendary slobbering beast known as 'The Great Fear'. Join the Sandlot kids as they experience a summer they'll never forget!
Miles Pope (Lenny Henry) is a struggling black actor whose life takes a hilarious turn for the worse when he unwittingly discovers a ruthless mobster's most guarded secret. To save his neck Miles enlists the help of an eccentric makeup whiz who concocts a brilliant disguise to conceal his 'true identity'...
In the 1980s the iconic pop star Adam Ant was at the height of his fame universally recognized by the white stripe painted across his face and the striking imagery of Prince Charming and The Dandy Highwayman. Then tragedy struck and after a nervous breakdown Adam withdrew from the limelight. This film follows him on his first tour for fifteen years in his new persona 'The Blueblack Hussar' covering spectacular live performances and intimate revealing scenes. Along the way he meets up with actress Charlotte Rampling who inspired his first album 'Dirk Wears White Sox' the music producer Mark Ronson and his mentor the artist Allen Jones. The director Jack Bond has made a compelling portrait of a truly unique artist.
The second coming is upon us and Jesus has returned to earth. But before he can get down to the serious business of judging the living and the dead he has to contend with an army of vampires that can walk in the daylight.Combining Kung-fu action with biblical prophecy and a liberal dose of humour the film teams the savior with Mexican wrestling hero El Santos against mythological horrors and science gone mad and also manages to address contemporary sexual politics. And did we mention that's it's a musical? This sure ain't Sunday school.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ALONE. Gather around the campfire, and hearthe tale of Madman Marz an ill-tempered farmer who, one dark night, chopped up his wife and two children into pieces. When the locals learned of his heinous crimes, they exacted revenge sinking an axe into his head and hanging him from a nearby tree. But the next day, Marz s body was gone... Thus the camp counsellor finishes his tale, closing with the warning never to say Marz s name above a whisper, lest the hideously-deformed farmer comes looking for them. Naturally, the first thing that one of the young campers does is calls out Marz s name precipitating a terrifying night of murder, mayhem and sexy Jacuzzi vignettes! Inspired by the same Cropsey urban legend which informed 1981 s The Burning and starring Dawn of the Dead s Gaylen Ross (appearing under the pseudonym Alexis Dubin ), Madman stands as one of the finest offerings from the golden age of hack n slash.
Set in the early 1970's, this is the tale of a young man whose fiancee has been killed, but who finds himself falling for another woman even while he is still living with his fiancee's grieving parents.
Nothing is as it seems behind the well-trimmed hedges of the picturesque cottages in the idyllic English county of Midsomer. Beneath the tranquil surface of sleepy village life exist dark secrets scandals and downright evil. John Nettles stars as the humorous thoughtful and methodical Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.
The irresistible pairing of Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler is the best reason to see Anger Management, a comedy that might have been subtitled "The Funny and the Furious". Nicholson and especially Sandler have screen personas that partially rely on pent-up anxieties, so there's definite potential in teaming them as a mild-mannered designer of pet clothing for chubby cats (Sandler) who's been ordered to undergo anger management therapy with a zany counsellor (Nicholson) prone to occasional tantrums and devious manipulation. Surely this meandering comedy looked better on the page; director Peter Segal scores a few lucky scenes (particularly Sandler's encounter with a Buddhist monk, played by John C Reilly), but a flood of cameos (Heather Graham, Woody Harrelson, Rudolph Giuliani, and others) can't match the number of laughs that fall flat. As Sandler's understanding girlfriend, Marisa Tomei plays a pivotal role in a happy ending that leaves everyone smiling, with the possible exception of the audience. --Jeff Shannon
To define the 1988 fantasy flick Paperhouse as a mere horror film would be an injustice--although this intelligent and thought-provoking British film is certainly scary in parts. In exploring the world of dreams, director Bernard Rose (Candyman) offers a far more elegant exposition of the subject than the Nightmare on Elm Street school of horror. Based on the novel Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr, Paperhouse offers a believable cause for its intensified dreamworld: Anna (Charlotte Burke) falls ill with glandular fever--a fever which will blur her understanding of reality and dreams. It is clear from the start that Anna has an overzealous imagination, holding onto her childhood games while her best friend becomes more interested in boys. Before her descent into illness Anna draws the Paperhouse of the title, and it is this house that dominates her dream world. Although the acting is rather hammy and the scenes set in reality are tedious, the true beauty of the film comes from Production Designer Gemma Jackson and Cinematographer Mike Southon, whose talents emerge in the dream sequences. Clearly taking inspiration from the Surrealist movement, Jackson recreates a chilling version of Anna's drawing of the house, full of dark shadows and terrifying noises, that perhaps has more in common with Jan Svankmajer's macabre adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice than the innocent childhood offerings of Disney. Ultimately Paperhouse is an exploration of the traumatic transition into adulthood of a young girl on the cusp of her teenage years: at the start of the film Anna "hates boys", but by the end she is sharing her first kiss with Mark, her playmate in the dream world.On the DVD With a 1.66:1 ratio format and Dolby Digital sound the stylistic brilliance of this movie is much easier to see and enjoy than in its previous incarnations on television and video. The special features leave a lot to be desired, though, offering only an unexciting original trailer and four filmographies for the director and the three main adult actresses. --Nikki Disney
Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood: Mothers. Daughters. The never-ending story of good vs. evil... After years of mother-daughter tension Siddalee (Bullock) receives a scrapbook detailing the wild adventures of the 'Ya-Yas' her mother's girlhood friends... (Dir. Callie Khouri 2002 Cert. 12) Two Weeks' Notice: Attorney Lucy Kelson wants to save the world. Instead she's choosing ties and interviewing prospective girlfriends for her handsome and hapless billion
Dorzak: A spaceship lands on the moon. A beautiful young woman emerges from inside seeking medical attention for a colleague who was injured by a criminal that they had captured. The criminal turns out to be a man from Maya's home planet Psychon named Dorzac and persuades Maya that he was not responsible for the injury signalling the start of the troubles to come. Devil's Planet: Answering a distress signal Koenig and Blake Maine go to Entra. The first thing they see is a man being chased by three beautiful girls carrying long electric whips! Maine is killed and then Koenig imprisoned. Can he escape? The Immunity Syndrome: On a seemingly inhabitable planet a series of misfortunes befall Alpha's advance party. Tony Verdeschi is rendered insane by a piercing sound. The metal in the Eagle corrodes and the craft starts to fall apart. Two Alphans die after drinking spring water. Then a skeleton is found inside a geodetic structure with a video beside it explaining how any future visitors might survive. The Dorcons: A huge alien Dorcon ship materialises nearby. When the three leaders demand Maya be sent to them Koenig refuses. A leader comes aboard the spaceship and takes Maya and Alpha by force. But Koenig manages to come along too and using the power struggle between the three leaders tries to rescue Maya.
The New Order Story: A collection of 21 clips interspersed with interviews with the band and with many of their celebrity friends including Bono from U2. It takes you through New Order's journey from the early days of Joy Division up to the release of Republic taking in all the stories characters and ideas that have played a part in the making of the band along the way. A Collection: 'A Collection' features all of New Order's groundbreaking videos including 'Bizarre Love Triangle' 'Blue Monday' and 'True Faith' plus alternate versions and brand new videos for 'Temptation' and 'Ceremony' created just for this compilation. It also includes the latest video from their current album - the title track 'Waiting For The Sirens Call'. Tracklist: 1. Ceremony 2. Confusion 3. The Perfect Kiss 4. Shellshock 5. State Of The Nation 6. Temptation 7. Bizarre Love Triangle 8. True Faith 9. Touched By The Hand Of God 10. Blue Monday '88 11. Fine Time 12. Round & Round 13. Run 14. World In Motion 15. Regret 16. Ruined In A Day 17. World 18. Spooky 19. 1963 20. Crystal 21. 60 Miles An Hour 22. Here To Stay 23. Krafty 24. Jetstream 25. Waiting For The Sirens' Call
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on an astounding first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds, and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earth orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course, the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth orbit and flying through space without regard to physical law. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
For the time, there had never been a more lavishly produced science fiction TV series than Space: 1999, which was British-made on an astounding first-season budget of 3.25 million pounds, and ran for two seasons from 1975-77. What keeps fans enthralled after all these years has only partly to do with the first-rate production values, the plausibly constructed spaceship models and expert special effects. The tone of the show is one of scientific dispassion, setting it apart from its TV SF predecessors such as Star Trek in which the mood is more generally convivial. Our heroes here are in dire circumstances that require cool heads as a survival trait. Those circumstances: the moon and the 311 crew members of Moonbase Alpha experience a cataclysm that causes the moon to break away from Earth orbit and travel endlessly through space, making our heroes into unintentional explorers. No TV series has created a more palpable feel of hard science fiction than this. Of course, the show is not without its detractors, having been soundly lambasted for its many scientific errors. No less august a figure than Isaac Asimov criticised the show for its premise in the opening episode "Breakaway", which had nuclear explosions on the "dark side of the moon" somehow propelling it out of Earth orbit and flying through space without regard to physical law. In "Earthbound", aliens travelling to Earth state it will take them 75 years to reach their destination, making one wonder why it didn't take the moon that long to encounter the aliens. While these are serious complaints, fans tend to remember the scientific seriousness of the series and the sense of awe created by the many strange creatures and phenomena they encounter on their journey through the galaxy. --Jim Gay, Amazon.com
Mixing a superb cast with a serious salting of dark humour "gun culture" comedy It's The Rage is that rare thing, a genuinely outstanding film which went straight-to-video. Like Magnolia (1999) it makes coincidence a virtue in telling the stories of a group of disparate characters, and how their lives are entwined and sometimes ended because of America's obsession with firearms. When Jeff Daniels shoots his business partner, his wife, Joan Allen, leaves for a job with a software billionaire, Gary Sinise, and the film expands to encompass brother and sister punks (Giovanni Ribisi and Anna Paquin), a video store assistant, a pair of detectives and a gay couple. Adapted from his own play, Keith Reddin ensures the script remains pointed, while Sinise delivers a wonderful performance of supreme eccentricity recalling Peter Seller's Dr Strangelove. Indeed, there is much akin to Kubrick's tense, pitch-black humour in this anti-gun parable, while in various ways, from the central Daniels/Allen couple to the sardonic detachment of the music to Paquin's "almost-relationship" with an older man It's the Rage parallels the contemporaneous American Beauty (1999). It's actually the more powerful film, and though made for cable deserved all the praise it received on its festival screenings. On the DVD: The trailer doesn't capture the spirit of the film at all, while the 13-minute making-of documentary is routine promotional material. The commentary by first time film director (but veteran stage director) James D. Stern is exceptionally good, both enthusiastic and packed with information; the fact that It's The Rage really bites can almost certainly be attributed to Stern's college roommate being shot dead. The sound is Dolby Digital 5.1 and while this isn't the sort of film to show-off a sound system,it's atmospheric and the diverse music score becomes almost a character in itself. The anamorphically enhanced 1.77-1 image is good but a little grainy and shows occasional compression artifacting. --Gary S Dalkin
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