Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental US patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funny and moving American TV series of all time. In its first series, The West Wing established the cast of characters who comprise the White House staff. There's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), a recovering alcoholic whose efforts to be the cornerstone of the administration contribute to the break-up of his marriage. CJ (Alison Janney) is the formidable Press Spokeswoman embroiled in a tentative on-off relationship with Timothy (Thirtysomething) Busfield's reporter. Brilliant but grumpy communications deputy Toby Ziegler, Rob Lowe's brilliant but faintly nerdy Sam Seaborn and brilliant but smart-alecky Josh Lyman makes up the rest of the inner circle. Initially, the series' creators had intended to keep the President off-screen. Wisely, however, they went with Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet, whose eccentric volatility, caution, humour and strength in a crisis make for such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent. The second series of The West Wing takes up where the first one left off and, a few moments of slightly toe-curling patriotic sentimentalism apart, maintains the series' astonishingly high standards in depicting the everyday life of the White House staff of a Democratic administration. With Aaron Sorkin's dialogue ranging as ever from dry, staccato mirth to almost biblical gravitas, an ensemble of overworked (and curiously undersexed) characters and an overall depiction of the workings of government that's both gratifyingly idealised yet chasteningly realistic, The West Wing is one of the all-time great American TV dramas. --David Stubbs
Roundly dismissed as one of Steven Spielberg's least successful efforts, this very underrated film poignantly follows the World War II adventures of young Jim (a brilliant Christian Bale), caught in the throes of the fall of China. What if you once had everything and lost it all in an afternoon? What if you were only 12 years old at the time? Bale's transformation, from pampered British ruling-class child to an imprisoned, desperate, nearly feral boy, is nothing short of stunning. Also stunning are exceptional sets, cinematography and music (the last courtesy of John Williams) that enhance author J.G. Ballard's and screenwriter Tom Stoppard's depiction of another, less familiar casualty of war. In a time when competitors were releasing "comedic", derivative coming-of-age films, Empire of the Sun stands out as an epic in the classic David Lean sense--despite confusion or perceived competition with the equally excellent The Last Emperor (also released in 1987, and also a coming-of-age in a similar setting). It is also a remarkable testament to, yes, the human spirit. And despite its disappointing box-office returns, Empire of the Sun helped to further establish Spielberg as more than a commercial director and set the standard, tone and look for future efforts Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. --N.F. Mendoza
It is 1492 and the Sultan of Turkey controls overland trade from the Far East to Europe. Christopher Columbus looking to make his fortune persuades the King and Queen of Spain to finance an expedition to find a new sea route to India.
Day of the Dead, chapter three of George Romero's mighty zombie trilogy, has big footsteps to follow. Night of the Living Dead was a classic that revitalised a certain corner of the cinema, and Dawn of the Dead was nothing short of epic. Day of the Dead, however, has always been regarded as a comedown compared to those twin peaks--and perhaps it is. But on its own terms, this is an awfully effective horror movie, made with Romero's customary social satire and cinematic vigour--when a "retrained" zombie responds to the "Ode to Joy", the film is in genuinely haunting territory. The story is set inside a sunken military complex, where Army and medical staff, supposedly working on a solution to the zombie problem, are going crazy (strongly foreshadowing the final act of 28 Days Later). Tom Savini's make-up effects could make even hardcore gore fans tear off their own heads in amazement. --Robert Horton
Poirot joins Sir Henry Angkatell and fellow guests at Sir Henry's country retreat The Hollow. When the handsome doctor John Christow is found dead Poirot investigates and in doing so uncovers a love triangle. A crime of passion or a pack of lies? Confused by the different stories told by the family and guests Poirot starts to believe that he is deliberately being kept from the truth.
When mankind is reduced to a handful of scared cave dwellers a rebellious group of teenagers are cast out of their tribe and search the land for a new paradise reminiscent of their lost civilization. During their travels the teens encounter two immortal super-humans Judith and Neil who appear at first to be the answer to their prayers. However the couple's true motives soon become clear when they cleverly seduce each teenager in an attempt to pass on a super-human virus. When o
Poirot's dentist Morley is found dead in surgery. It appears to be a simple case of suicide but why has Morley's secretary received a hoax phone call claiming her Aunt was ill? And who is the woman with the broken shoe buckle masquerading as Miss Sainsbury Seale? When a Mr Amberiotis is found dead in his hotel room with an overdose of Novocaine Poirot begins to assemble the evidence...
The second series of The West Wing takes up literally where the first series left off and, after a few moments of slightly toe-curling patriotic sentimentalism, maintains the series' astonishingly high standards in depicting the everyday life of the White House staff of a Democratic administration. The two-part opener covers the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Bartlet (Martin Sheen), switching between the anxious wait on the injured and flashbacks to Bartlet's campaign for the Presidency. Other peaks in a series exceedingly short on troughs include "Noel", the episode in which Alan Arkin's psychiatrist forces Josh Lynam to confront his post-traumatic stress disorder and the concluding episodes in which President Bartlet, having lost his secretary Mrs Landingham in a tragic car accident, rails angrily against God in Latin. Other new features of this series include the introduction of Ainsley Hayes, a young Republican counsel hired after she beats communications deputy Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) in a TV debate ("Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl!" crow his colleagues), as well as the revelation (to us first, then later his staff) that the President has been suffering from multiple sclerosis. Meanwhile, the White House must move heaven and earth to make incremental political gains as well as deal with a host difficulties abroad, demonstrating, some might argue, more compassion, skill and restraint than that exercised by the real-life US administration. With Aaron Sorkin's dialogue ranging as ever from dry, staccato mirth to almost biblical gravitas, an ensemble of overworked (and curiously undersexed) characters and an overall depiction of the workings of government that's both gratifyingly idealised yet chasteningly realistic, The West Wing is one of the all-time great American TV dramas. --David Stubbs
A remake of one of Conan Doyle's most famous and popular Sherlock Holmes stories. Is Sir Charles Baskerville's strange death the result of demonic forces and a family curse? Sherlock Holmes searches for a more earthly explanation when Sir Henry Baskerville receives a death threat upon his arrival from America. In this eerie mystery hounds are howling on the moors... a killer is on the loose... and Holmes is on the case.
This award-winning series was a gripping and authentic portrayal of the war waged by one group of Belgian resistance fighters against the German occupation during the Second World War... Episodes comprise: 1. The Last Run 2. Invasions 3. Revenge 4. A Safe Place 5. Ring of Rosies 6. Prisoner 7. Ambush 8. Just Light the Blue Touch Paper 9. Sound of Thunder 10. Collaborator 11. Days of Judgement 12. Bridgehead 13. The Execution
David Suchet and Hugh Fraser team up again as the great detective Hercule Poirot and trusty Captain Hastings for more engaging adventures in Double Sin / The Adventure of the Cheap Flat. The Adventure of the Cheap Flat blends international intrigue with the gentle comic relief of a foolish American FBI agent. Double Sin contains a novel twist: Poirot announces his retirement and Hastings is left to solve the case by himself. The cast has the easy rapport of old friends and as always Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp and Pauline Moran as the remarkable Miss Lemon are welcome companions. Brew some tea, check it for arsenic and get ready for a thoroughly entertaining evening. --Ali Davis
A bumper box set of classic films featuring 'The Queen' Barbara Stanwyck! Double Indemnity (Dir. Billy Wilder 1944): Director Billy Wilder and writer Raymond Chandler ('The Big Sleep') adapted James M. Cain's hard-boiled novel into this wildly thrilling story of insurance man Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray) who schemes the perfect murder with the beautiful dame Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck): kill Dietrichson's husband and make off with the insurance money. But of cou
More intriguing investigations for Agatha Christie's famed Belgian detective... The Adventure Of The Italian Nobleman: Hastings decides to buy an elegant car from Mr Vizzini's showroom. Whilst he is there Vizzini receives a message saying that his time is up. Later that day the messenger is found dead in his flat and Poirot and Hastings are drawn into the gangland underworld of London's Little Italy in a baffling case of elaborate blackmail. The Chocolate Box: Poirot is in Brussels accompanying Japp on a trip to receive the 'Branch d'Or' for services to Belgium. They meet up with some former colleagues who still have memories of a case that has apparently remained unresolved for twenty years.
While the little Belgian detective and his English sidekick are enjoying their holidays on the Cornish Riviera a chance meeting with Miss Buckley of nearby End House provides Poirot with the stimulation on which his little grey cells thrive.
Since a tragic accident left him hideously scarred seven years ago Justin MacLeod has hidden away in his cliffside retreat. Meanwhile the locals have delighted in painting him as a perverted madman with an horrific past. Twelve-year-old Chuck Norstadt is also an outsider. Alienated from his family he awaits the day he can go to a boarding school far from home - but he has to pass his entrance exam first. Then by accident Chuck meets Justin Macleod. Justin turns out to be the fr
Another intriguing investigation for Agatha Christie's famed Belgian detective... The Mysterious Affair At Styles was Agatha Christie's debut novel and was first published in 1920. The story introduced Poirot her eccentric and fastidious creation to an enthusiastic public. Lieutenant Hastings is recovering from his war injuries when he receives an invitation to visit his old friends the Cavendish family at Styles St Mary. Staying nearby as guests of the Cavendishs' are a group of Belgian refugees including much to Hastings' surprise his old acquaintance from the Belgian Police Hercule Poirot. Before long the pair are pitting their little grey cells against family machinations and manipulation; murder and mayhem; money and mendacity.
A local troublemaker is accused by the resident priest of being responsible for the death of a young girl. In order to get revenge he accuses the priest of making homosexual advances towards him. Cliff Richard makes his big screen debut and even belts out three songs including his first UK no.1 'Living Doll'. Based on a play by Philp King.
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