"Actor: Lisa James"

• Friends - Series 1 - Episodes 1-8 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £7.56   |  Saving you £-0.57 (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Season 1: When the first series of Friends debuted in September 1994, it was immediately obvious there would be no need for the show to find its feet. "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate" was a confident introduction to the six lead characters, opening in the middle of an everyday conversation with the soon-to-be uncharacteristic line: "There's nothing to tell". In fact, the soap opera-style plot got complicated pretty quickly, with spoiled brat Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) moving on from her failed wedding to feelings toward nerdy/heartthrob Ross (David Schwimmer). However, no love life was more complicated than Joey's (Matt LeBlanc), with an endless stream of girlfriends that annoyed the hell out of wisecracking roommate Chandler (Matthew Perry), who only seemed to be able to connect with Janice (Maggie Wheeler), the shrillest voice in the city. Bouncing all manner of neuroses around them were Ross' obsessive sister Monica (Courteney Cox) and endearingly ditzy Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). Premise established, Series 1 matured the characters by providing a monkey and a son for Ross. We met also meet Ross and Monica's parents Jack (Elliott Gould) and Judy (Christina Pickles), Chandler's mother (Morgan Fairchild) and Phoebe's twin sister Ursula (Kudrow, naturally). Fans loved cameos from George Clooney, Jay Leno and show creators Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. But really the focus was on building to "T.O.W. Rachel Finds Out" that Ross is in love with her. --Paul Tonks

• Angel: Complete Season 1 | DVD | (18/10/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £79.99

  Taking the Spin-off genre to the extreme, Angel attempts to replicate the success of Buffy by taking the heartthrob as the lead. Spin-off shows rarely match the success of their parent programmes, especially in the superhero/fantasy genre (cf. The Girl From UNCLE, The Bionic Woman, The Green Hornet--Frasier being the notable exception). Characters who were perfectly useful as supporting figures dwindle when forced in the spotlight, and Angel takes a special risk by building an entire series around a character who is: (a) supposed to be a mystery man; (b) a vampire who once spent half a season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a dastardly villain who killed without remorse; and (c) played by David Boreanaz, who is well up on handsome and broody but still can't do an Irish accent to save his life and is visibly learning this acting lark as the series progresses. The premise is that Angel, the vampire with a soul, has finally admitted he'll never get it together with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), unless a reunion crossover episode or two are scheduled. He moves to Los Angeles, a city haunted not only by demons and vampires but lawyers and agents. Angel sets up as a private investigator and solves cases with a supernatural aspect, partnered with Doyle (Glenn Quinn), a half-demon with a proper Irish accent and the useful psychic ability to know when someone is in trouble (thereby predicting any given week's plot), and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), another Buffy refugee here trying to reinvent herself as a struggling big-city single girl. Far less consistent than its parent show, but also not saddled with quite so much of a continuing story arc, Angel has a very different feel, cued by its effective semi-Goth violin theme tune and lots of film noir-ish LA street scenes, with a dose of cynical inside-the-entertainment-industry stuff. It has its share of familiar ideas (such as a Fight Club episode) and simply daft premises (a demon-centred show which allegorises the debate about female circumcision , for example). Angel alienated a lot of initial fans by killing off its most appealing regular a third of the way into the run, dusting off hideous English comic stereotype Wesley the Watcher (Alex Denisof) as a replacement. However, it also comes up with some ingenious moments: in a two-parter guest-starring sometime Buffy villainess Faith (Eliza Dushku), the show finally delivers something scary and emotionally powerful as Angel proves he can solve cases his ex-girlfriend can't. Meanwhile, the last couple of episodes--which beef up a satanic law firm as regular foes and resurrect a long-dead character as a major troublemaker for the future--go from promising to delivering. --Kim NewmanOn the DVD: the DVD set is only moderately generous with features, compared to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series DVDs. There are two episodes with commentaries--creators Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt discussing the series' genesis and "City Of ". Added to this Jane Espenson, the resident queen of farce, talks us through the haunted apartment episode "Rm w/a Vu". Also included are four featurettes--introductions to the characters of Angel and Cordelia, a series one overview and a discussion of the show's demons--scripts for the two Faith episodes, cast biographies and a gallery of stills and blue-prints. Most importantly, given the way Angel was butchered by Channel 4 for an inappropriately early time slot, the show's violence and strong language are offered uncut. Presented in English and French Dolby Surround Sound 2.0 and with an aspect ratio of approx 1.33:1 --Roz Kaveney

• The First Churchills - Part 1 | DVD | (09/05/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Susan Hampshire stars in this world stars in this wonderful BBC dramatisation of the lives of John and Sarah Churchill. John Churchill was the first Duke of Marlborough a military genius whose brilliance on the battlefield saved England from defeat just as his descendant Winston Churchill saved Britain 300 years later... Episodes comprise: The Chaste Nymph Bridals Plot Counter-Plot The Lion and the Unicorn Rebellion The Protestant Wind.

• The Europeans | DVD | (17/07/2006) from £4.47   |  Saving you £5.52 (123.49%)   |  RRP £9.99

  In 1850 a few miles outside Boston the household of the dour Mr. Wentworth receives two unannounced visitors from Europe Eugenia and Felix the daughter and son of his half sister. Gertrude one of Wentworth's two daughters is instantly infatuated with her cousins and trouble brews...

• Texas Chainsaw Massacre - The Next Generation | DVD | (23/10/2000) from £14.98   |  Saving you £-8.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

• Pretty Persuasion | DVD | (09/10/2006) from £6.92   |  Saving you £12.06 (306.87%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Revenge knows no mercy. Seeing the world as an orchestra Kimberly manipulates those around her like the master conductor she believes herself to be. Convincing her two best friends to join her in a devastating campaign of character assassination against their befuddled teacher Mr Anderson Kimberly entangles the entire Bevery Hills community in her carefully woven web of seduction and deceit.

• The Windsor Protocol | DVD | (30/06/2003) from £5.34   |  Saving you £-2.35 (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  A pact made in the heat of World War II between Hitler and the Duke of Windsor placing the Duke on the throne of England should Germany claim victory threatens world stability today. The Windsor Protocol also details the names and crucially the bank accounts of those who are to help fund the resurgence of the Fourth Reich. And now the most senior surviving Nazi has enlisted the help of an influential US Senator to take over the US government. A nervous British government dispatches legendary agent Sean Dillon (Kyle MacLachlan) to Washington where anyone who gets in the way of the evil plan is being surreptitiously murdered. The race is on for Dillon to save the lives of the most powerful men in the world while his own hangs precariously in the balance. Based on the novel by Jack Higgins.

• The Witching | DVD | (18/11/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A strange and sinister man Mr Cato (Orson Welles) wields extraordinary power in the small town of Lilith. Almost supernatural power. The townsfolk indulge in weird ritual in their pursuit of necromancy... bringing the dead back to life. Against this disturbing background it is a young beautiful girl Lori (Pamela Franklin) who becomes the human catalyst between life and death...

• Hostage | DVD | (28/07/2003) from £4.96   |  Saving you £1.03 (20.77%)   |  RRP £5.99

  British Secret Service agent John Rennie becomes a liability to the Agency after a harrowing mission in Argentina. His ex-wife and children receive death threats and marked for murder he returns to Argentina with a plan that will either protect his family and the woman he loves or destroy them.

• Friends - Complete Series 10 (The Final Series) Box Set | DVD | (16/08/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £79.99

• Steel Dawn | DVD | (28/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.99

  Martial arts warrior Nomad is drifting through a post-apocalyptic desert in search of those responsible for the murderer of his friend and mentor Cord when he comes across a small farming community. The farmers are under threat from Damnil an evil warlord and landowner with his sights set on the local water supplies. Hired to work on the farm of a feisty widow named Kasha Nomad finds himself caught in the middle of the brewing conflict when he discovers his friend's murderers are part of Damnil's gang. Steel Dawn is a violent futuristic kind of Spaghetti Western with Swayze in full-on action hero mode as the nomadic drifter bent on revenge.

• Friends: Complete Series 9 | DVD | (08/09/2003) from £13.98   |  Saving you £86.01 (86.00%)   |  RRP £99.99

  Nine years is a long time for any group of Friends to stick so closely together, but somehow the gang are still as daftly charming as ever. After the birth of Emma, Rachel comes to terms with being a mother surprisingly well. It's how everyone else deals with it that makes things interesting. Joey's accidental proposal creates weird friction between him and Ross, who breaks his finger throwing the show's first ever punch. Monica becomes desperately broody and attempts all manner of convoluted ways of persuading Chandler to father a child (unfortunately he inadvertently bankrupts them in a move to Tulsa!). Phoebe, on the other hand, occupies herself in the dating game, holding on to Mike (Paul Rudd) in the longest guest-star relationship anyone's ever had. Other surprise guests this year include Freddie Prinze Jr as an overly sensitive nanny (in the 200th episode), Christina Applegate as another of Rachel's sisters and Jeff Goldblum playing himself on the set of another movie on which Joey is trying to get a break. As always the sparks occasionally fly between Rachel and Ross, while the others manage to strain their own relationships to the max. The real reason for watching now is the one-off kooky scenarios in which they--or rather Joey--get into. His endless dating finally sees him stuck for remembering if he's already slept with a girl; he botches an attempt at eyebrow waxing; and he manages to make Chandler think Monica's after a breast enhancement! A 10th series and potential movie spin-off were announced well before the year was over, meaning six very rich actors will be supplying the fun for some time yet to come. --Paul Tonks

• Doogie Howser: Season 2 | DVD | (04/06/2012) from £11.09   |  Saving you £18.90 (170.42%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Douglas 'Doogie' Howser (played by How I Met Your Mother's Neil Patrick Harris) may now be 17 years-old, but balancing the demands of being a doctor and trying to live like a normal kid is harder than ever.In the second season, Doogie is plagued by odd dreams about missing his youth, helps his best friend Vinnie (Max Casella) deliver his French teacher's baby, has doubts about his relationship with girlfriend Wanda (Lisa Dean Ryan) and learns a lot about himself as a person, a doctor and a teenager.James Sikking and Belinda Montgomery co-star in this Emmy Award-winning season of the acclaimed comedy-drama created by Steven Bochco (LA Law, NYPD Blue) and David E. Kelley (Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal).

• Friends - Series 2 - Episodes 1-8 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Season 2: Unfortunately, Rachel's brave intention to announce her feelings is scuppered in the season opener "T.O.W. Ross' New Girlfriend". It doesn't matter how great her hair looks (a real-life accident when a friend cut it with a razor), or how many sneaky tricks she tries to separate them. Ultimately it takes a peculiar doppelganger to lure the new girl away in "T.O.W. Russ" (Schwimmer credited as "Snaro"). The Friends couldn't be happier to have the angst and tension relieved, and "T.O.W. Ross and Rachel ... You Know" is unsurprisingly an all-time fan favourite. This was straightforward compared to the other side of Ross' love life in "T.O.W. the Lesbian Wedding" though. Initiating another will-they/won't-they subplot was the introduction of Richard (Tom Selleck) as a new flame for Monica. Highlights for the other characters all centred on the Emmy-winning two-part "T.O. W. After the Super Bowl" with a stunning cameo list including Brooke Shields, Chris Isaak, Dan Castellaneta (Homer from The Simpsons), Jean-Claude Van Damme and Julia Roberts (whom Perry subsequently dated a short while). Another great highlight was Chandler and Joey's ineptitude in "T.O.W the Baby on the Bus", which also featured Chrissie Hynde giving Phoebe's "Smelly Cat" its best ever rendition on guitar. To leave viewers hanging, the year ended with Rachel in understandable uncertainty over "T.O.W. Barry and Mindy's Wedding" (her ex-fiancé and ex-best friend). --Paul Tonks

• Mortal Kombat 2 | Blu Ray | (25/04/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A new era….but for whom? The Mortal Combat victory in the Outworld was supposed to give rise to a generation of peace on Earth. But never trust the world of the fiendish and the power-mad. They’ve opened the portals linking their dimension to ours, and Earth will be overwhelmed – if a gutsy band of human heroes doesn’t acquire new kombat skills that will crush Outworld’s imaginative array of bad-ass warrior creatures. John R. Loenetti, cinematographer of Mortal Kombat and 2010’s Piranha, directs the fighting fury of Mortal Kombat Annihilation. Smash evil!

• Friends: Complete Series 8 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £89.99

  The eighth season of Friends picks up just moments after Monica and Chandler said "I do". But the focus of this season is firmly on Rachel's pregnancy, as the story progresses from fatherhood revelations in "The One with the Red Sweater" and "The One Where Rachel Tells..." towards complicated new feelings for Rachel, Ross and Joey, culminating in the maternity ward two-parter "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby". But it's not all Rachel's pregnancy story. Standalone highlights include "The One with the Rumour" in which the "We Hate Rachel" club started in High School by Ross and a certain Mr Jennifer Aniston (an uncredited Brad Pitt) is revealed; while "The One with Monica's Boots" has Monica and Chandler arguing over finances while Phoebe and Ross argue over the attentions of Sting's wife Trudie Styler (cameoing as herself). Relationship complications fall upon Phoebe as "The One with the Tea Leaves" hooks her up with a stellar cameo from Alec Baldwin. "The One with Joey's Interview" has Matt LeBlanc on top form preparing to be interviewed by Soap Opera Digest. But time starts to tick faster for everyone in "The One Where Rachel is Late", as Joey's WWI movie finally arrives, but is overshadowed by the wait for Rachel's overdue arrival. Naturally it's all build-up to the cliffhanger finale and a final emotional surprise. --Paul Tonks

• The Boss Baby (4K UHD Blu-Ray) | Blu Ray | (24/09/2018) from £6.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  DreamWorks Animation presents the fun-filled, feel good comedy of the year, The Boss Baby! Seven-year-old Tim Templeton suddenly finds his share of parental love plummeting when his new baby brother (Alec Baldwin) arrives wearing a suit and toting a briefcase and makes it clear to everyone that he's in charge. But when Tim discovers that Boss Baby is on a secret mission, he reluctantly agrees to team up with his pint-sized sibling for an epic adventure that might just change the world! Special Features: BabyCorp and You The Forever Puppy Infomercial Babies vs. Puppies: Who Do YOU Love? The Boss Baby and Tim's Treasure Hunt Through Time The Boss Baby's Undercover Team Cookies Are for Closers: Inside BabyCorp The Great Sibling Competition Happy Accidents: The Deleted Scenes of The Boss Baby Gallery

• Hidden Tiger | DVD | (11/02/2002) from £5.83   |  Saving you £-3.84 (N/A%)   |  RRP £1.99

  Hidden Tiger stars international Tae-Bo superstar Billy Blanks in his most powerful action role ever. The boss of the Asian underworld has ordered a deadly gladiator contest to fuel his gambling appetite and entertain his Mafia colleagues. The savagery of the elimination matches has created a shortage of skilled fighters. Niko (Billy Blanks) is forced to enter the underworld fight circuit to protect his family. He must survive round after round of death-defying combat and overcome his inner torment in his attempt to escape with his life.

• Friends - Series 10 - Vol. 1 - Episodes 1-4 | DVD | (16/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  The first volume of episodes from series 10 of the smash hit U.S. sitcom. The One After Joey And Rachel's Kiss: Romantic hookups continue to go astray in Barbados as Monica Phoebe and Chandler overhear Ross kissing Charlie while through the room's other walls they can also eavesdrop on Joey Matt and Rachel. The One Where Ross Is Fine: Rachel Joey and Charlie spend a very uncomfortable evening with Ross while Chandler commits an unpardonable act when he and Monica visit a couple who have adopted a cute boy and phoebe is visited by a desperate Frank Jr. when he can no longer cope with his triplets. The One With Ross' Tan: Rachel and Joey nervously anticipate their first real 'night' together Monica and Phoebe hatch a scheme to avoid an obnoxious old friend who puts on airs with a fake British accent. Meanwhile Ross envies Monica's sprayed-on tan but when he steps into the booth he emerges as a two-toned disaster. The One With The Cake: Rachel convinces Monica and Chandler to delay their long-anticipated trip to Vermont to stay for Emma's first birthday party but complications ensue when Emma takes a nap and an X-rated birthday cake arrives. When Ross dashes out to help he puts Joey in charge of keeping the partygoers locked in the apartment until the right cake is found.

• Friends: Complete Series 7 | DVD | (28/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £101.99

  Lots happened behind the scenes between seasons and early on in the seventh year of Friends, leaving audiences speculating this might be the last. Matthew Perry became seriously ill again, and returned looking more emaciated than ever. Courtney Cox regained weight, but despite finishing Scream 3 happily, things were already rocky with David Arquette. Much was made in the press about Aniston marrying Brad Pitt, of course, but the real news (allaying fans' fears) was NBC's expensive renewal of the cast for two years at $750,000 per episode each (more than six times their previous increase). On-screen, at least there was Chandler and Monica's engagement lasting the whole year, despite predictable ups and downs (eg "T.O.W. the Truth About London" revealing that Monica fancied Joey). By the time we finally get to "T.O.W. Chandler's Dad" (Kathleen Turner!), it seems inevitable that the two-part finale will be an insane mess--but with a happy-ish ending. Sure enough, "T.O.W. Chandler and Monica's Wedding" features Gary Oldman joining in the chaos as Chandler repeatedly goes missing. Other star turns in the year were Seinfeld's Jason Alexander as a suicidal Office Manager, Susan Sarandon as soap queen bitch Jessica Lockhart, Denise Richards as one of Ross and Monica's endless number of cousins and Winona Ryder as a surprise old friend, prompting "T.O.W. Rachel's Big Kiss". But perhaps the most telling instalment of this weirdly atmospheric year was "T.O.W. They All Turn Thirty". It suggested that maybe the Friends are all getting too old to carry on living their frivolous lives the same way after all. --Paul Tonks