"Actor: Maria"

• Falstaff - Giuseppe Verdi - The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden | DVD | (07/05/2007) from £13.82   |  Saving you £5.43 (43.23%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Verdi was almost eighty when he startled the musical world with his mastery of comic invention in his last opera Falstaff with its brilliant libretto by Arrigo Boito. The story is taken from Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor although the central character is much closer to the Falstaff of Henry IV. The roguish Sir John embroils himself in numerous plots and dupes of love and marriage until eventually the Merry Wives get their revenge on him and all plans are thwarted. When Carlo Maria Giulini returned to conducting public performances of opera after an absence of fourteen years he chose this comic masterpiece for the occasion. The great lyric baritone Renato Bruson sings the title role. Katia Ricciarelli leads the trio of merry wives with Lucia Valentini-Terrani as Mistress Quickly and Brenda Boozer as Meg Page. Leo Nucci sings the role of Ford and the young lovers are here portrayed by Dalmacio Gonzalez and Barbara Hendricks. Stunning designs by Hayden Griffen and Michael Stennett provide the perfect setting for this witty interpretation of Shakespeare's masterpiece.

• A Bullet For The General | DVD | (01/09/2008) from £9.98   |  Saving you £5.01 (50.20%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Klaus Kinski and Lou Castel star in this searing Spaghetti western. A gang of mexican rebels attempts to rob a munitions train in the hope that they can sell the cargo to General Elias a revolutionary determined to bring down the Mexican government. One of the passengers Bill Tate agrees to help the bandits. However his true goal is to kill the General...!

• Bread And Roses | DVD | (13/01/2003) from £19.99   |  Saving you £-10.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  A powerful film, "Bread and Roses" sees acclaimed UK director Ken Loach take on the City of Angels in his first US-set effort, based around the true-life janitors strike that hit the city in 1999.

• Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (26/04/2004) from £6.59   |  Saving you £12.66 (237.52%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Funny fast and furious Rossini's masterpiece Il Barbiere di Siviglia is one of the most popular of comic operas with its sparkling and stylish score. John Cox's innovative production for Glyndebourne Festival Opera with good looking authentic designs by William Dudley put plenty of fizz into this old favourite and was a real hit with the critics. The usual Glyndebourne hallmarks of team work and extended rehersal paid handsome dividends in this production filmed in 1982.

• Three | DVD | (10/07/2017) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Thriller starring Billy Zane and Kelly Brook. When wealthy Texas businessman Jack (Zane) takes a trip in his private yacht to the South Seas with his trophy wife Jennifer (Brook), it seems that the couple's happiness is complete. However, when the yacht capsizes Jennifer and hired hand Manuel (Juan Pablo Di Pace) barely make it alive to shore. Upon discovering themselves deserted on the tropical island, the two endeavour to set up camp but it's not long before their animal attractions overwhelm them. When Jack washes up alive on the same beach some time later, the trio must survive not only the elements but each other as tensions turn deadly.

• Superman / Superman 2 | DVD | (24/09/2001) from £8.89   |  Saving you £22.10 (248.59%)   |  RRP £30.99

  Modern blockbuster cinema came of age with the release of three huge science fiction/fantasy extravaganzas in the late 1970s. In 1978 Superman was the last of these, a gigantic hit unfairly overshadowed by Star Wars (1977) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Christopher Reeve is completely convincing as both Superman and mild-mannered alter ego Clarke Kent, sparking real chemistry with Margot Kidder's fellow reporter Lois Lane. Though the tone becomes lighter and introduces comedy as Superman battles arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) the film succeeds because Donner plays the titular character straight. From Marlon Brando's heavyweight cameo to the surprisingly wrenching finale, Superman unfolds as an epic modern myth, a spiritual fable for a secular age and a fantastic entertainment for the young at heart. With breathtaking production design, special effects, gorgeous cinematography, thrilling set-pieces, wit, romance and John Williams' extraordinarily rich music score, Superman has the power to make you believe a man can fly.Although Superman II is credited to director Richard Lester the film is largely the work of Richard Donner, who shot 70 per cent of the footage back-to-back with Superman at a staggering combined cost of $55 million. Indeed, while each film works perfectly well alone, together they form four-and-a-half hours of the finest fantasy in cinema history. Superman II sees the release of the three super-villains exiled at the beginning of Superman, then without the need to tell Superman's origins offers a full two hours of rip-roaring comic-book action. The villains, led by a marvellously menacing Terrance Stamp, prove stronger adversaries than Lex Luthor, while Clarke's romance with Lois Lane is developed through polished comedy and a serious subplot in which Superman must chose between love and duty. From an atom bomb on the Eiffel Tower to an epic battle amid the skyscrapers of Metropolis (New York) the action and special effects are superb, the characters portrayed with verve and the story delivered with just the right amount of seriousness. A rousing entertainment very nearly as fine as its predecessor, the wirework battles paved the way for Hong Kong's seminal Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain (1983) and ultimately The Matrix (1999).On the DVD: Superman is presented in an extended director's cut which adds eight minutes to the theatrical original. The restored material is so artfully integrated many viewers may not even notice, but it would have been nice to at least have the opportunity to watch the original via seamless branching. The sound has been remixed into extraordinarily powerful Dolby Digital 5.1--the superb main title sequence is worth the price alone--and the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image is, except for some unavoidably grainy effects shots, pristine. The commentary by Richard Donner and writer Tom Mankiewicz reveals more about the background than all but the most dedicated fan will ever need to know, while film music aficionados will revel in the opportunity to listen to John Williams' score isolated in Dolby Digital 5.1. On the second side of the disc are a eight alternate John Williams music cues, a selection of deleted scenes and the screen tests of a variety of would-be Lois Lanes, introduced and with optional commentary by casting director Lynn Stalmaster. These are fascinating, and show how right for the part Margot Kidder really was. A DVD-ROM only feature presents the storyboards plus various Web features, while the real highlight is a 90-minute documentary divided into three sections covering pre-production, filming and special effects. The picture quality on all the extras is very good indeed. An enthralling package, DVD doesn't get much better than this. In contrast to the fantastic Superman DVD the Superman II disc is a bare-bones release with the original trailer being the only extra. The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image is absolutely first-rate, but if Superman can be presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 sound with an isolated score there is absolutely no excuse for the sequel being offered in lacklustre stereo. --Gary S Dalkin

• The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (1994) | DVD | (19/05/2000) from £15.03   |  Saving you £4.96 (24.80%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Terence Stamp as a drag queen--an Aussie drag queen? Darling, you'd better believe it. In Stephan Elliott's delirious exercise in ultra-camp meets outback macho, Stamp plays an ageing trans-sexual who, with two of his equally high-glossed pals, heads off for a cabaret engagement in Alice Springs. Priscilla is their chosen vehicle, a school bus painted an outrageous purple. The culture-clash comedy that ensues is none too unpredictable: the local Ockers, initially contemptuous, soon find the spangled and bewigged trio can out-talk, out-drink and if necessary, out-punch them; everything ends in a warm glow of mutual tolerance and appreciation. Elliott maybe hits the feelgood button a little too hard, but it's impossible not to be swept along by the sheer brash energy of the film. The bitchy dialogue snaps and crackles, the costumes and Fellini-esque dance numbers are to die for, and Stamp and Co.--enjoying themselves no end--play the whole thing to the hilt and some way beyond it. --Philip Kemp

• Call of the Wild | DVD | (02/02/2004) from £12.97   |  Saving you £-6.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  The immortal Jack London classic tale about John Thornton (Charlton Heston) a prospector in the 1897 Klondyke gold rush trying to eke out a living in the harsh conditions of the bitterly cold Yukon region of Alaska and Buck the German Shepherd dog he befriends. Thornton struggles against unscrupulous rivals and natural hazards in the extreme conditions and is greatly helped by Buck who has his own story to tell: he was abducted from a family home and taken north to become a working sled dog. Man and dog forge a true bond of friendship working together to survive life in the treacherous frozen North.

• Cult Spaghetti Westerns Boxset | Blu Ray | (26/07/2021) from £30.62   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Shoeshine | DVD | (25/09/2006) from £49.96   |  Saving you £-29.97 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Directed by Vittorio De Sica Shoeshine (known in its native Italian language as Sciuscia a Sicilian corruption of the English word ""shoe-shiner"") was filmed on location in postwar Rome using non-professional actors. It was inspired by the real stories of those struggling to overcome the oppressive forces of a corrupt and ineffective political system. De Sica's film depicts the troubled lives of two young boys caught up in the chaos of a world plagued by poverty and unemployment. Giuseppe (Rinaldo Smordoni) and Pasquale (Franco Interlenghi) work on the street where they shine the shoes of American troops. They dream of a better life seeking solace in a horse that they ride to escape their harsh reality. When the boys are implicated in a petty crime they are punished by the society that has robbed them of their innocence resulting in tragic consequences. Shoeshine is widely regarded as one of the finest films to have emerged from the Italian neo-realist cinema and became the first foreign language film to receive an Oscar; available for the first time ever on DVD!

• Tetro | DVD | (27/09/2010) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-1.54 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Seventeen year old Italian-American Bennie arrives in Buenos Aires in search of his prodigal brother poet Tetro. On finding him the pair reflect on their troubled past with composer father Carlo.

• The Bible - Mary Magdeline | DVD | (29/11/2010) from £7.79   |  Saving you £0.20 (2.57%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Describe by many as a seductress or witch this magnificent film from 'The Bible' series tells how Mary Magdalene was also a mystic healer and politician. Her life story is graphically depicted as she confronts Herod Herodius the powerful Roman occupiers and eventually a man who is to change her life forever... Mary must choose where her life journey will go as she searches to give love and receive love she finds Jesus.

• Playgirls and the Vampire | DVD | (02/05/2016) from £11.05   |  Saving you £1.94 (17.56%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Five beautiful showgirls are trapped by a storm and find refuge in a creepy old castle. The owner of the castle, a strange nobleman, has a secret laboratory in the basement and has his own plans for the girls... Extras include Kim Newman: Vampire Hunter Featurette, Rare 8mm version Last Fling of the Vampire . Original Theatrical Trailer. Extra Scene from French version and optional Italian audio track + English subtitles.

• Maria Ewing - Dido And Aeneas | DVD | (10/11/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Purcell''s much-loved tragic masterpiece is an intense tale of heroism passion betrayal and ultimate tragedy played out against a backdrop of fiery rituals evil spells and pageantry. This film was first shown on television in 1995 to celebrate the tercentenary of Purcell''s death. The American soprano Maria Ewing stars as Dido with Karl Daymond as Aeneas. They head an excellent British cast including Rebecca Evans as Belinda Sally Burgess as the Sorceress Patricia Rozario as the First Enchantress and James Bowman as the Voice of Mercury. The Collegium Musicum 90 is conducted by Richard Hickox and the film was directed by Peter Maniura. This production of Dido & Aeneas was filmed entirely on location at Hampton Court House in 1995 where spectacular settings were created in the house and grounds by the Dutch designer Niek Kortekaas. Director Peter Maniura said of the production ''Purcell''s masterpiece is a miracle of dramatic compression. Inspired by the paintings of the 17th Century I have tried to recreate a rich filmic world which places a classical love story with its heroes and heroines magic and intrigue in a Baroque setting''.

• Bob The Builder - The Great Race / Scoop The Disco Digger | DVD | (05/07/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Two great sets of adventures with Bob the Builder and his friends! The Great Race: Bob's Egg And Spoon Race Racing Muck Pilot Spud Mr Bentley's Trains Spud The Musketeer. Also includes the mini-adventures Sporty Spud Bob's Bucket and Lotty And The Tree Stump. Scoop The Disco Digger: Scoop The Disco Digger Bob The Farmer Spud's Statue Travis' Busy Day Muck's Surprise. Also includes the mini-adventures Mrs Potts' Paint Pots Barn Dance Spud Sleepless Lotty

• Dead Sexy | DVD | (09/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Dead Sexy is yet another entry in the spurious "erotic thriller" genre. Although it attempts to pass itself off as a crime drama, the credibility of the whole affair is stretched somewhat by casting ex-Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed in the lead role of Detective Kate McBain, the police officer leading investigations into a suspected serial killer. This time, though, Tweed (who also produced the film) does a sterling job of both keeping her clothes on (most of the time) and acting her way through the movie. Every cliché in the book is utilised, but the movie might have stood up to repeated viewing if it took itself a little less seriously. As it is, the frequent sex scenes are crow-barred in to signal some sort of plot development as the whole thing moves towards its rather lame conclusion, unable to decide whether it wants to offer explicit adult entertainment or serious drama. Ultimately this is one for fans of Tweed, not those who relish a good whodunit. On the DVD: Dead Sexy is surprisingly high-budget and offers good picture and sound quality. Extras are limited to a filmography of Tweed and her wooden co-star John Enos, plus a theatrical trailer that does a fair job of summing up the movie's mix of sex and action. --Phil Udell

• Bird With A Crystal Plumage | DVD | (09/01/2012) from £29.68   |  Saving you £-19.69 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Bird With A Crystal Plumage (aka L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo)

• Amer | Blu Ray | (31/01/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Three key moments all of them sensual define Ana's life. Her carnal search sways between reality and coloured fantasies becoming more and more oppressive. A black laced hand prevents her from screaming. The wind lifts her dress and caresses her thighs. A razor blade brushes her skin where will this chaotic and carnivorous journey leave her?

• I Really Hate My Job | DVD | (22/09/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  It is a summer evening in London. Alice (Shirley Henderson), an aspiring writer, is running late for her job as a kitchen hand in a Soho café, the Stella Bar. Once she arrives, Alice discovers that the chef is drunk and incapable of working, and so, for a bonus, she agrees to be chef for the evening. The action of the film takes place over this one evening as Alice's story intertwines with that of the waitresses - aspiring actress, Abi (Neve Campbell), art student, Suzie (Alexandra Maria Lara) - and the Maitre D', Madonna (Anna Maxwell Martin), and the dishwasher, Rita (Oana Pellea). Over the course of the evening, chaos gradually ensues thanks to rat infestations, arguments about music, art, love and desire, the arrival of a Hollywood movie star, Danny Huston (playing himself), and burnt food.

• Attila - Arena Di Verona | DVD | (26/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  An early Verdi work set in the 5th century Italy during the age of the Huns and the Ostrogoths. It tells the story of the fall of the infamous king of the Huns which proved popular with the Italians in the 1800's. This production was filmed in 1985 with Nello Santi conducting.