A sleeper hit when released in 1986, Stand by Me is based on Stephen King's novella "The Body" (from the book Different Seasons); but it's more about the joys and pains of boyhood friendship than a morbid fascination with corpses. It's about four boys ages 12 and 13 (Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell) who take an overnight hike through the woods near their Oregon town to find the body of a boy who's been missing for days. Their journey includes a variety of scary adventures (including a ferocious junkyard dog, a swamp full of leeches and a treacherous leap from a train trestle), but it's also a time for personal revelations, quiet interludes and the raucous comradeship of best friends. Set in the 1950s, the movie indulges an overabundance of anachronistic profanity and a kind of idealistic, golden-toned nostalgia (it's told in flashback as a story written by Wheaton's character as an adult, played by Richard Dreyfuss). But it's delightfully entertaining from start to finish, thanks to the rapport among its young cast members and the timeless, universal themes of friendship, family and the building of character and self-esteem. Kiefer Sutherland makes a memorable teenage villain and look closely for John Cusack in a flashback scene as Wheaton's now-deceased and dearly missed brother. A genuine crowd-pleaser, this heartfelt movie led director Rob Reiner to even greater success with his next film, The Princess Bride. --Jeff Shannon
A gloriously over-the-top treat, Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers takes the militaristic moralising of Robert Heinlein's pulp classic and sets about undermining it mercilessly. Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) desperately wants to join the Mobile Infantry and kill some Earth-threatening alien bugs. He also desperately wants Carmen (Denise Richards), but only gets to fulfil one ambition in the second of Verhoeven's futuristic satires (also cowritten with his RoboCop scriptwriter Ed Neumeier). Set in a fascistic future where kids must do military service to qualify as citizens, own property or even have babies, the film's dark Vietnam and Nazi-era parallels are all the more disturbing given its deceptively sunny Beverly Hills 90210 teenage cast (though scenery-chewing veteran Michael Ironside steals the movie as tough-talking Lt Rasczak). The CGI arachnids are among the most convincing and dangerous-looking creatures ever seen on screen, and with the movie clocking up the highest number of blanks ever fired on a film set, it's also pretty loud! Verhoeven went on to be Executive Producer of the Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles animated TV series a couple of years later. On the DVD: Starship Troopers in this DVD incarnation can now be played continuously on one side of the disc (the original Region 2 release version was that crime against the DVD format, a "flipper"). You'll also feel really spoiled by the extras here: five deleted scenes (approximately six minutes) pad out Carmen's love triangle problems. There are impressive screen tests for Denise Richards and Casper Van Dien (three-and-a-half minutes). An eight-minute featurette zips by with key interviews and fact flinging. And a real treat is three scene developments with layers of FX work explained by Verhoeven. But what makes this DVD essential is the director's enthusiastic commentary alongside screenwriter Ed Neumeier: dissing astrology, making a stand for feminist issues, saying how he went nude to placate the actors for their shower scene, and drooling with praise for his FX team, Verhoeven makes a fascinating statement that "war makes fascists of us all". After a studio disclaimer, and beginning with his reaction to the film's critique in Time Magazine, this is no-holds-barred fun. --Paul Tonks
DeVito and Schwarzenegger as fraternal twin brothers? Hey, why not? This delightful 1988 comedy by Ivan Reitman--about genetically designed twin siblings who discover each other at the age of 35--works out just fine, thanks largely to great chemistry between the two stars. Despite a certain amount of rough action and tension, Twins really gets a lift from the palpable innocence Reitman develops, and the female costars (Chloe Webb and Kelly Preston) bring some interesting texture of their own. This is a film that walked the tightrope of a high concept and completely succeeded. To see how easy it is to stumble in a similar situation, check out DeVito and Schwarzenegger in Reitman's Junior. --Tom Keogh
Get ready for a surprise, with a mind-blowing 4K restoration of the much loved sci-fi action classic, TOTAL RECALL, directed by Paul Verhoeven. In celebration of Total Recall's 30th anniversary, this collection is one you won't forget. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (Douglas Quaid) and Sharon Stone (Lori Quaid), accompanied by an iconic soundtrack by Academy Award-winner Jerry Goldsmith this is the ultimate version of the cult classic. A brand new 4K 30th anniversary restoration, approved by Paul Verhoeven. Extras: Total Excess: How Caralco Changed Hollywood Audio Commentary by Paul Verhoeven & Arnold Schwarzenegger Models and Skeletons: The Special Effects of Total Recall The Making of Total Recall Imagining Total Recall
The boys are back in town! Conman Reggie Hammond and cop Jack Cates team up once again and turn San Francisco inside out to nail an elusive druglord. Sequel to the smash hit ""48 Hours"".
Imagine being a hunter leading highly-trained bloodhounds in pursuit of a killer... and the trail leads directly to you! Starring Academy award winners Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman 'No Way Out' is a mesmerising look at Washington power. Capturing a well deserved four stars from critic Roger Ebert this taut and stylish thriller is fast-paced and powerful - a perfect nailbiter. In a fit of rage Secretary of Defense David Brice (Hackman) murders his mistress. To keep a lid on the
Jamie Lee Curtis faces a new unstoppable terror in this science fiction chiller from the producer of Aliens Terminator 2 and Tremors. Curtis plays the navigator of a tugboat crew which loses its cargo during a hurricane. In the calm eye of the storm they come across a Russian research ship floating dead on the water. Boarding the vessel they initially believe it to be deserted - but they soon realize they're not alone. First they discover a terrified survivor (Joanna Pacula)
Raphael (Johnny Depp also making his directorial debut) and his young family live in Morgantown on the edge of the American Dream. With one step over the poverty line he sees only one way out... money. Raphael meets the monstrous snuff movie maker McCarthy (Marlon Brando). He offers Raphael 000 to be the star of one of his movies. He accepts and has 000 in his hand 000 to go to his family and just one week to live the rest of his life. Determined to make something good out of his last seven days he builds a junkyard paradise for his family. He relishes his new friendship with his kids and falls in love with his wife all over again. Realising that he is worth more to his family alive than dead he tries to return the money and end the contract... but is it too late?
Get ready for a surprise, with a mind-blowing 4K restoration of the much loved sci-fi action classic, TOTAL RECALL, directed by Paul Verhoeven. In celebration of Total Recall's 30th anniversary, this collection is one you won't forget. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (Douglas Quaid) and Sharon Stone (Lori Quaid), accompanied by an iconic soundtrack by Academy Award-winner Jerry Goldsmith this is the ultimate version of the cult classic. A brand new 4K 30th anniversary restoration, approved by Paul Verhoeven. Extras: Total Excess: How Caralco Changed Hollywood Open Your Mind: Scoring Total Recall Audio Commentary by Paul Verhoeven & Arnold Schwarzenegger Total Excess: How Caralco Changed Hollywood Audio Commentary by Paul Verhoeven & Arnold Schwarzenegger Models and Skeletons: The Special Effects of Total Recall The Making of Total Recall Imagining Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in director Paul Verhoven's sci fi classic about a 2084 construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge was a quick follow-up no one was exactly happy with. However this deserves some credit for trying to extend rather than repeat the original storyline. As opposed to the resourceful heroines of all the other Elm Street films, this is the one about the troubled male teenager worried that Freddy is out to possess his body and make his way back to reality. It's shot through with a heavy handed gay subtext, with male bodies ogled and sliced (for a change), stuck with a few truly ridiculous moments (the exploding budgie) and lapses into incoherence, but it opens with a great school bus sequence and makes the most of the infernal boiler room of Freddy's soul. With Clu Gulager and Hope Lange. Directed by Jack Sholder (The Hidden). -- Kim Newman
Every college in the country wants Johnny. 'Cause when he's good he's very very good. And when he's bad he's better. It's an avalanche of wine women and cash kickbacks when two of the biggest college football factories in the country scramble to get Johnny Walker on their rosters. They'd give anything for an arm like Johnny's. And they're willing to offer anybody to see that they get him. Moving from lusty limousine rides to all-night strip joints Johnny (Anthony Michael Hall The
Wuthering Heights (Dir. Robert Fuest 1970): Haunting passionate and unforgettable this beautiful version of Emily Bronte's timeless masterpiece stars Anna Calder-Marshall and Timothy Dalton as Cathy and Heathcliff star crossed lovers destined for a doomed romance..... Jane Eyre (Dir. Franco Zeffirelli 1996): Jane Eyre is a poor orphan brought up by a wealthy Aunt who is determined she should never forget her impoverished background. Surviving the cruelty of an oppressive boarding school she becomes the governess of Thornfield Hall owned by the enigmatic and rarely seen Mr Rochester. When Jane finally meets Mr Rochester in the flesh she is consumed by an overwhelming attraction towards him that soon becomes mutual. Nicholas Nickleby (Dir. Douglas McGrath 2002): When his father dies young Nicholas Nickleby's family is left penniless and he his sister and his mother venture to London to seek help from their wealthy Uncle Ralph (Plummer). Unfortunately Ralph's intentions are less than good and the family is split apart. Nicholas is sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall a squalid school for orphan boys run by the cruel and abusive Wackford Squeers (Broadbent). Within the dark grim walls of Dotheboys Nicholas befriends a kind-hearted and mistreated boy named Smike (Bell) and together they run away setting off on an adventure to reunite the Nickleby family and build a new home of their own.
The amps are on but nobody's home. In this hilarious spoof of the music industry three intelligently challenged rock 'n' rollers (Brendan Fraser Steve Buscemi Adam Sandler) decide to take drastic action after their music continually falls on deaf ears. They break into a radio station hoping to get their demo played on the air. But when the deejay (Joe Mantegna) and station manager (Michael McKean) refuse to play their song the boys have no choice but to take the entire r
A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.
A US Fighter pilot's epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War.
Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. are two renegade pilots ensnared in the madness of covert operations over Laos during the Vietnam conflict. They lead the crew of Air America a not-so-secret airline that drops everything from live pigs to opium over villages throughout the Vietnam countryside. Join Mel Robert and the crazy crew of wartime flyers in the funniest action-comedy since 'Lethal Weapon 2' and 'Good Morning Vietnam'!
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