"Actor: Richard Ri"

• Verdi: Il Trovatore -- Opera Australia | DVD | (05/06/2002) from £22.89   |  Saving you £2.10 (9.17%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Il Trovatore, Verdi's 1853 maelstrom of passion, infanticide, double-crossing and revenge, would be a mightily gamy affair if it didn't contain some of his finest arias, a cracker of a tenor's role and one of opera's most powerfully-written characters in the old gypsy woman, Azucena. Although Joan Sutherland, who plays the self-sacrificing lady-in-waiting Leonora in this 1983 Australia Opera production at Sydney Opera House, is the headline star, in truth the supreme assets of this recording are mezzo-soprano Lauris Elms' Azucena, a beautifully sung performance of haunted, wild-eyed sadness; and Sydney Nolan's wonderfully infernal sets, all purple and burnt ochre with suggestions of distorted faces. Sutherland came late to a part which allowed her to sing up a storm without taxing her rather stolid acting style. Her husband and musical director Richard Bonynge gives her the space to unleash some of Verdi's most fluidly opulent melodies--"D'amor sull'ali rosee" is a case in point--whose beauty is often at odds with the underlying horrors of the tale, based on a rather dodgy Spanish melodrama by Gutierrez. Sutherland has strong support from tenor Kenneth Collins as the doomed Manrico and Jonathan Summers as the vengeful Count. On the DVD: Il Trovatore on disc offers the inevitable shortcomings of a filmed for television performance: to the detriment of Nolan's designs (and the hard-pressed make-up team), the lighting doesn't translate well to video. Presented in 4:3 picture format, the quality is frequently murky. The PCM Stereo soundtrack also has its flat and fuzzy moments, particularly during chorus scenes ("Vedi! Le fosche notturne spoglie") when the orchestra drowns out the singing. But on the whole Sutherland et al sound great.--Piers Ford

• Jeanne La Pucelle - The Prisons | DVD | (24/08/2009) from £21.58   |  Saving you £-5.59 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The second part of Jacques Rivette's austere and magnificent epic masterpiece.

• Carry On Columbus (DVD) | DVD | (30/01/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  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.

• Hollywood Musicals Of The 60's | DVD | (01/09/2000) from £6.76   |  Saving you £-0.77 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  The 60's were the last great decade for the American movie musical but it was also probably its best. With blockbusters like The Sound of Music West Side Story My fair Lady Mary Poppins Oliver! and Funny girl the artform reached its peak. Join us on a singing and dancing tour from the Austrian Alps to the vauderville halls of Brooklyn... from dancing in the streets of Spanish Harlem to the shores of River City... from the chimneys of Old London to the sound stages of Hollywoo

• Puckoon | DVD | (05/03/2007) from £24.90   |  Saving you £-11.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  1924: the Boundary Commission is deciding on the new territorial line between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic... After months of haggling over every inch of territory the commissioners are forced to finish the job by hand after a bicycle incident destroys the surveyor's equipment. With all the participants holding down the pencil and much pushing and shoving the border finds its way down the middle of Puckoon dividing house from outhouse man from wife pub chairs from bar

• Rhapsody In August | DVD | (14/04/2000) from £15.93   |  Saving you £0.06 (0.40%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Japanese grand master Akira Kurosawa's eloquent examination of the nuclear holocaust in Nagasaki as seen though the eyes of a survivor and her four grandchildren 44 years after the event. The grandmother recalls the history of her family and Japanese society. As she searches for an understanding of the past she falls into despair over the loss of her husband in the blast as its anniversary draws near.

• The Flamingo Kid | DVD | (08/04/2002) from £11.90   |  Saving you £-5.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  As The Flamingo Kid amply demonstrates, there's always room for one more rites of passage film if it's made with care and affection. Garry Marshall's 1984 study of a young Brooklyn poker player who thinks the grass is greener at a Long Island beach club, nails the bad guy, realises he got it wrong and returns to the bosom of his "humble" family certainly satisfies on both counts. It also has a strong cast: Matt Dillon as Jeffrey, whose niggling aspirations create the inevitable barrier between himself and his parents; Richard Crenna as his prospective role model who turns out to have feet of clay; and Hector Elizondo as his bemused father. But Jessica Walter (Clint Eastwood's stalker from hell in Play Misty for Me) almost steals the show as an acid-tongued beach-club wife. If the whole thing lacks the depth and warmth of, say, Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, it succeeds on its own merits as an homage to a more innocent time when a young man didn't need to stray far from his own tenement block in order to find himself, with the help of a suitably nostalgic early-1960s soundtrack of course. On the DVD: As far as extras go, this is a budget offering. There are detailed actor biographies but precious little on the film itself, apart from the snippet that Richard Crenna earned a Golden Globe award nomination. There is an adequate scene index and, for those who want to study Dillon in detail, a reasonable stills gallery. The picture is presented in standard format, and hardly distinguishable from ordinary VHS or telecast quality, but the stereo audio certainly helps pump out the period soundtrack. --Piers Ford

• Beauty and the Beast/Belle's Magical World/ Enchanted Xmas Triple Pack | DVD | (31/10/2011) from £14.94   |  Saving you £9.05 (60.58%)   |  RRP £23.99

  Beauty and the Beast: One of the most acclaimed and treasured animated films of all time is about to sweep you off your feet. Follow the adventures of Belle, a bright young woman who finds herself in the castle of a prince who's been turned into a mysterious beast. With the help of the castle's enchanted staff, Belle soon learns the most important lesson of all - that true beauty comes from within. An all-new digital restoration makes this 2-Disc DVD more magical than ever. Be our guest and let the music you'll never forget and the characters who will fill your heart cast a shimmering spell like never before.Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas: Celebrate the most magical time of the year with this Special Edition of the irresistible holiday classic inspired by Disney's Academy Award-winning masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner - Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Share the wonder as Mrs. Potts (Angela Lansbury) recounts another tale as old as time about a Christmas past that almost wasn't - thanks to the scheming of former court composer Forte (Tim Curry), now a gloomy, holiday-hating pipe organ, determined to keep Belle and Beast apart forever. Only a true Christmas miracle could possibly thwart his dastardly plans. Reuniting the original voice cast, this spectacular gem sparkles with exciting bonus features, delightful songs, spellbinding visuals, and enduring themes of hope, friendship and love. Your family will experience the spirit of the season all year long with the timeless magic of Beauty And The Beast: The Enchanted Christmas.Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World: A lot happened before Belle and Beast lived happily ever after! Share the fun with one of Disney's most spirited Princesses and all her enchanted friends as their exciting adventures continue in this sparkling Special Edition of Belle's Magical World - inspired by Disney's beloved Academy Award-winning masterpiece, Beauty And The Beast (1991: Winner - Best Song, Best Original Score; nominated for Best Picture). Join Belle, Beast, Cogsworth, Lumiere, plus some charming new friends as they discover how love, teamwork, forgiveness and friendship can turn a once-gloomy castle into a dazzling palace fit for a princess! Adorned with delightful bonus features, your favourite characters and great songs, this fun-filled, modern-day classic proves that true beauty shines from within!

• Guarding Tess | DVD | (14/01/2002) from £17.00   |  Saving you £2.99 (17.59%)   |  RRP £19.99

  What do you do with a former First Lady who's unpredictable ornery and impossible to please? Anything she wants!! Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage star in this comic compassionate look at life after the White House for two former Washington insiders : First Lady Tess Carlisle and Secret Service agent Doug Chesnic. As uproarious as it is uplifting Guarding Tess is ""a grand mixture of laughter and tears"" (Gary Franklin KCOP-TV).

• All the Way Up | DVD | (21/04/2014) from £7.20   |  Saving you £2.79 (38.75%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Till Death Us Do Part's Warren Mitchell heads an outstanding cast as an ambitious but none-too-bright salesman in this sharply scripted comedy of workplace deviousness and one-upmanship. Based on BAFTA nominee David Turner's 1962 stage hit Semi-Detached All the Way Up is presented here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. Fred Midway will do anything to climb to the top of the corporate tree and he's equally keen to bump up his family's social status. When his aspirations suffer various setbacks Fred even manages to turn a desperate situation to his advantage... only to be blackmailed by his son - a real chip off the old block! Special Features: Original Theatrical Trailer Image Gallery Original Pressbook PDF

• The Grinch / Nanny McPhee / Peter Pan | DVD | (12/10/2009) from £9.99   |  Saving you £-0.43 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.56

  Nanny McPhee (Dir. Kirk Jones 2005): In this dark and witty fable Thompson portrays a person of unsettling appearance and magical powers who enters the household of the recently widowed Mr. Brown (Firth) and attempts to tame his seven exceedingly ill-behaved children. The children led by the oldest boy Simon (Love Actually's Thomas Sangster) have managed to drive away 17 previous nannies and are certain that they will have no trouble with this one. But as Nanny McPhee takes control they begin to notice that their vile behavior now leads swiftly and magically to rather startling consequences. Peter Pan (Dir. P.J. Hogan 2003): Re-discover the timeless story of Peter Pan as you've never seen it before and be swept off your feet to a Neverland you'd never dreamt possible. Join the boy who wouldn't grow up and Wendy the girl who is told she has to in their adventure against Captain Hook and his pirate crew. Follow Tinker Bell the Lost Boys giant crocodiles and other fantastic creatures to a world where anything is possible and where dreams and imagination have a power all of their own. The Grinch (Dir. Ron Howard 2000): A foul-tempered green and hairy creature who lives on Mount Crumpit the Grinch hates Christmas almost as much as the residents of Whoville the town at the bottom of his mountain. One night he decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos by taking all their decorations presents and Christmassy things. However he soon learns a valuable lesson about the true spirit of the festive season!

• The Scarlet Pimpernel - Series 1 | DVD | (21/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Suspecting that the Pimpernal is an English aristocrat Chauvelin is sent to England to discover the identity of the mystery man. Once there Chauvelin meets his former lover the beautiful French actress Marguerite who is married to a foppish English aristocrat. Marguerite reluctantly gives Chauvelin information to find the elusive Pimpernel and has unwittingly betrayed him...

• Super Eruption | DVD | (20/08/2012) from £4.03   |  Saving you £8.96 (69.00%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A section of a super volcano under Yellowstone erupts after thousands of years, putting millions at risk. Now it's up to Yellowstone's top geologist (Juliet Aubrey) and a park ranger (Richard Burgi) to battle mankind's greatest threat... Earth itself.

• Poirot - Agatha Christie's Poirot - The Hollow | DVD | (13/09/2004) from £9.71   |  Saving you £3.28 (33.78%)   |  RRP £12.99

  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.

• Guarding Tess | DVD | (07/09/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  What do you do with a former First Lady who's unpredictable ornery and impossible to please? Anything she wants!! Shirley MacLaine and Nicolas Cage star in this comic compassionate look at life after the White House for two former Washington insiders : First Lady Tess Carlisle and Secret Service agent Doug Chesnic.

• Peter Pan | Blu Ray | (04/04/2011) from £11.98   |  Saving you £11.00 (122.36%)   |  RRP £19.99

  J.M. Barrie's classic children's tale is brought to the big screen for the first time in a visually stunning, live-action spectacle.

• Monarch Of The Glen - Series 4 - Part 1 | DVD | (29/12/2003) from £4.22   |  Saving you £15.77 (373.70%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Return to Glenbogle to see the trials and tribulations that go on in the most breathtaking of surroundings. Molly returns from Africa to try to put Hector's untimely death behind her and Archie has a new vision for the Estate - wolves! Lexie is forced to choose her future :- cook or Laird's wife.

• Most Wanted Classic Kids TV | DVD | (14/04/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Here at last on one DVD are the most requested childrens programmes! Danger Mouse: The classic episode 'Custard' is presented in its original TV broadcast form (5 x 5 min daily episodes). Will our intrepid duo defeat Baron Greenback and make it safely back to earth? Victor And Hugo: In 'Pandamonium' our two crazy criminals are in London at the behest of Mr X - they have been employed to bear-nap a tree Panda. Will things run to plan? Alias The Jester: T

• Challenger | DVD | (04/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  As the world awaited what should have been a routine lift-off for the space shuttle Challenger unattended complications with equipment turned the mission in to a ticking time-bomb. Adding to the excitement of the mission was the presence of Christa McAuliffe (played by Karen Allen) a small town school teacher chosen from hundreds of candidates to teach the first lesson in space. This compelling account offers a poignant look into the lives of each of the seven Challenger crew members during the months leading up to the launch. Not only devoted to astronauts these heroic seven were also devoted mothers fathers husbands and wives. But during these moments we witness bewildered corporate inability to resolve an issue before it becomes a catastrophe of the highest order. Excitement frustration and grief unfold as the true story of the space shuttle disaster is revealed.

• Chorus Of Dissaproval | DVD | (07/05/2007) from £41.14   |  Saving you £-35.15 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Following the death of his wife Guy Jones (Jeremy Irons) is moved by his company to a sleepy seaside town where faced with knowing no-one and nights of boredom in front of the TV he decides to join the local amateur dramatics society. He is enthusiastically welcomed by eccentric Welsh Director Dafydd (Anthony Hopkins) but it is not long before Guy realizes that the action on stage is nothing compared with the jealousy suspicion and seduction that carries on when rehearsals ar