"Actor: Peng Peng"

• Cirque Du Soleil - Dralion | DVD | (28/01/2002) from £3.97   |  Saving you £16.02 (403.53%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The work of the Canadian circus troupe Cirque Du Soleil, Dralion is a show which has toured worldwide. It features elements of Chinese circus tradition interspersed with the troupe's own pan-cultural sense of stage spectacle. It's a combination of music, dance, clowning and acrobatics lavishly bathed in dry ice, strobe lights and a colourful array of oriental finery, elaborate costumes and props. Here you'l find Chinese women finding the strength from somewhere in their tiny bodies to balance by their hands atop 10-foot poles which are wheeled around gracefully; and young boys tumbling rapidly through revolving golden hoops; and bronzed dancers swinging through the air in balletic arcs from lengths of blue ribbon. What one could do without, though, is the She-Goddess' New Age babble throughout the proceedings, as well as the soundtrack, which is a queasy fusion of world music marinated in bass. There's also an over-indulgence of costume and choreography, presumably the work of the "avant garde" Cirque Du Soleil, though much here is distinctly apres-garde, reminding the viewer irresistibly of the musical extravaganza that was the daily centrepiece of the ill-fated Millennium Dome. All of this at times smothers and distracts from the impressive physical feats of the Chinese performers. Still, for the three million people who have witnessed this show worldwide this will certainly provide a worthy memento.On the DVD: a number of extra features include a featurette about the five-month deadline the troupe had to meet in putting together the show, splendid for those who thrill to the spectacle of tents being erected and dancers being winched carefully into the rafters of giant hangars. There's also a facility for viewing the performances from different angles. The show is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and is generally pristine in both colour and definition. --David Stubbs

• The Human Goddess (Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (09/07/2018) from £13.69   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The Shaw Brothers veered into outright fantasy territory with HUMAN GODDESS - and often hilarious and very timely look at the state of Hong Kong in the early 1970s! Released in 1972 to adoring audiences, and directed by the iconic Meng Hua Ho (BLACK MAGIC/ MIGHTY PEKING MAN) this is an oddball outing even by the estoric standards of 88 Films and our immortal Asian film line! Taking audiences back to an era of troubled romance, painful poverty and greedy land tycoons - all of whom have to answer to an angel (played by the gorgeous Shanghai-born Li Ching) who has been sent from heaven to look after the residents of the former British colony - HUMAN GODDESS holds up as a riotious viewing experience even today. A mash-up of several genres - from sex comedy to space-age optimism and even political satire - HUMAN GODDESS is one of the most astute Hong Kong movies of its decade and a must-see for anyone curious about the golden age of Hong Kong cinema! Only 88 Films could have brought this true obscurity back from the vaults in a stunning HD transfer that will surely win over a new generation of vixen-enthusiastic viewers.