"Actor: Richard"

• New Blood | DVD | (28/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Small time gang...big time problems. Danny White (Nick Moran: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and his crew of wannabe gangsters find themselves pitted against the local mafia headed by Leigh and Hellman (Carrie-Anne Moss and Joe Pantoliano: The Matrix) when they accidentally kill a local business man they were hired to kidnap. With nowhere else to turn and bleeding from a fatal gunshot wound Danny visits his estranged father Alan (John Hurt: Contact) looking for help. When Alan sees Danny's condition he only has one thought: Danny may be the organ donor he's been desperately searching for to save Danny's mortally sick sister. But Danny is not prepared to die for nothing. There is a price to be paid and a deal is struck between father and son. And so begins the most terrifying and bizarre night of their lives.

• Marilyn Manson - Demystifying The Devil | DVD | (01/09/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Diehard supporters of everyone's favourite anti-Pope will want Demistifying the Devil, if only because Marilyn Manson is all things to all of them--cutting-edge nu-nasty rock theatre act or slacker anti-hero--you take your choice. However, this very unauthorised biography (there's no footage of young Brian himself or his immediate musical circle other than a few seconds of blurry concert material) is also informative viewing for the merely curious. Mostly consisting of anecdotes from people who were either associated with him before he became famous or who were ejected from his entourage, it soon becomes clear that MM was and remains a genuinely talented visionary. It also becomes clear that the best thing he ever did to further his career was to abandon the huddle of derivative no-marks who constituted the "scene" in his home town of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and whose parochial ramblings dominate this unintentionally hilarious documentary. If you're a fan, you'll have your faith confirmed. If you're not, you'll still end up feeling strangely pleased that both Manson and those he left behind are getting the respective levels of attention they deserve. --Roger Thomas

• Under Milk Wood | DVD | (16/10/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  A fifty-minute animated version of the Dylan Thomas classic. The work complements the original BBC sound-track which features the voice of Richard Burton. With music composed by Trevor Herbert.; ; 'To begin at the beginning. It is spring, moonless night inthe small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack fishingboatbobbing sea...'

• Stargate S.G -1: Season 5 (Vol. 22) | DVD | (24/06/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Stargate SG-1 is the TV spin-off from the 1994 big-screen movie. In the roles of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr Daniel Jackson respectively are Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks. They're joined by Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and guilt-stricken former alien baddie Teal'c (Christopher Judge) to form the primary unit SG-1. With a seemingly endless network of Stargates found to exist on planets all across the known universe, their mission is to make first contact with as many friendly races as possible. Episodes on this DVD:"Between Two Fires". If there's one lesson SG-1 has learned, it's to always look a gift horse in the mouth. So when old acquaintances the Tollan offer Earth a brace of advanced weaponry, Jack's the first to raise a questioning hand and wonder if they aren't "Between Two Fires". Some James Bond-style sneaking about soon unravels the mystery. "2001". A lot of behind-the-scenes political machinations occur during "2001". There's another gloriously menacing cameo from Ronny Cox as Senator Kinsey who's desperately trying to dismantle the Stargate programme. All of which makes the A-plot about a new ally somewhat insignificant! But as always with newcomers on the show, the Aschen may not be all they appear to be. "Desperate Measures". Driven to "Desperate Measures", the perpetrator behind the kidnap of Major Carter puts everyone in an ethical quandary. Jack is forced to team up with his old foe Maybourne to find her. As if his cameo isn't insidious and slimy enough, there's another terrifically snake-like appearance by John de Lancie as Colonel Simmons. "Wormhole X-Treme!". Coming soon to network TV is "Wormhole X-Treme!", a science fiction show featuring an intrepid team travelling to other worlds via an intergalactic portal. Sound familiar? It sure does to the SGC, and when Jack and company investigate they discover dear old Willie Garson (Martin Lloyd from Season 4's Point of No Return) has become a whole new form of security problem. This is the show's 100th episode, and was created as a sort of Galaxy Quest parody. Full of crew-member cameos and in-jokes, it's definitely the best fun fans and cast have had amid the more dramatically serious story arc over the year. --Paul Tonks

• Stargate S.G -1: Season 2 (Vol. 5) | DVD | (26/06/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The 1994 movie Stargate was originally intended as the start of a franchise, but creators Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin were distracted celebrating their Independence Day. Episodic TV treatment was the natural next step. Since neither Kurt Russell nor James Spader would be able to commit, it gave the producers licence to tinker with the cast and the universe they'd explore. Replacing the roles of Colonel Jack O'Neill and Dr. Daniel Jackson respectively are Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks. They're joined by Captain Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) and guilt-stricken former alien baddie Teal'c (Christopher Judge) to form the teacher's pet primary unit SG-1 With a seemingly endless network of Stargates found to exist on planets all across the known universe, their mission is to make first contact with as many friendly races as possible. Chasing their heels at almost every turn are the "overlord" pharaohnic Goa'uld--the ancient Egyptian Gods who are none too chummy after the events of the original film. The welcome notion of a continued plot thread sees offshoots that follow the reincarnation of Daniel's wife, Sam's father literally joining a renegade faction of the Goa'uld, and Jack in an unending quest to out-sarcasm everyone. There's something of The Time Tunnel to the show's premise, but amid a dearth of derivative look-a-likes, Stargate has held its own with stories that put the science fiction back into TV sci-fi. A satisfying conclusion to the previous episode's cliff-hanger is reached in "The Tok'ra (Part II)". There may only be preliminary goodwill established between Earth and the rebels, but the dangling thread bodes well. On planet Madrona, the team are accused of stealing a "Touchstone" that controls its climate. The revelation of who really stole it causes ripples in the pond back on Earth. Prepare for a science lesson (one of the series' strengths) in "A Matter of Time" as the gang ponders how to resist a black hole's pull. The last episode in the volume carries a voice from the past through O'Neill's lips as the "Fifth Race" demands to be heard. --Paul Tonks

• Ghosts Of Essex | DVD | (26/05/2008) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (-34.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Essex; the Witch capital of England. Home of Matthew Hopkins-Witch Finder General Dick Turpin Willian Calcraft-longest serving hangman in British history. Haunt of Queen Boudicca and lovation of the most haunted house in Britain. So why not join Ghost Hunter Richard Felix as he spends the night of 28th July on the Nuns Walk on the site of Borley Rectory. On ths DVD is exclusive footage inside HM Prison Chelmsford where Richard discovers the history and ghot stories of Essex County Gaol.

• Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band-Live 2006 | DVD | (04/08/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Ringo Starr: Live On Tour

• Ali Baba And The 40 Thieves - The Lost Scimitar Of Arabia | DVD | (29/01/2007) from £10.99   |  Saving you £2.00 (18.20%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A tale as famous as any ever told however until now few have known the true story of the daring young prince and his forty faithful followers. Set in an epic land of ancient wonders these are the action-packed adventures of young Prince Ali Baba.

• Direct Hit | DVD | (12/04/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A hired assassin working for the C.I.A. is assigned one more case. But the girl he's required to take out proves to be nothing more than a pawn in the game. Now he must protect her....

• Trancers | DVD | (05/11/2007) from £6.73   |  Saving you £1.26 (18.72%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Jack Deth (Tim Thomerson) is a trooper in Angel City Circa 2247 mopping up the last of the disciples of the Martin Whistler. Whistler uses his psychic power to 'trance' those with weak minds and force them to obey his every desire. Whistler had been thought to be dead by now but he's alive and well in the 20th century. Whistler plans to control the city. That's where Jack Deth fits in. Jack is sent back in time by inhabiting the body of his ancestor.His Name is Deth. He hunts trancers. Even In The 20th Century.The only problem is that Whistler's ancestor is a police detective and he's already begun trancing people. With the help of Lena (Helen Hunt) A strong-minded punk rock girl he must find and protect Hap Ashby a former baseball pitcher now living on skid row and face whistler in a final confrontation.

• Van Der Valk - Series 1 Boxset | DVD | (08/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Complete series one of the famous Dutch Detective Van der Valk.

• Hitch / Men In Black / Men In Black 2 | DVD | (22/11/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Hitch (Dir. Andy Tennant 2005): In Andy Tennant's delightful romantic comedy Hitch Will Smith stars as Alex Hitchens an urban date doctor who helps the common man woo the woman of his dreams. Hitch will use any means necessary--dance lessons back waxing--to instill romantic confidence in his clientele. Why? He was once a lonely wallflower himself who learned about love and heartbreak the hard way. His latest project Albert Brennaman (Kevin James) may be his most difficult. Brennaman a junior accountant prone to clumsiness has fallen head-over-heels for one of his clients Allegra Cole (Amber Valleta) a well-known celebrity. To complicate things further Hitch's dating dogma is shaken when he meets and falls for a beautiful gossip columnist Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) whose sharp wit easily pierces his cool fa''ade. Conflict arises when Melas uncovers Hitch's true profession and blames him for her best friend being dumped. Men In Black (Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld 1997): Secret agents 'K' (Tommy Lee Jones) and 'J' (Will Smith) work for a highly funded yet unofficial government agency which tracks civilisation-infiltrating extraterrestrial. K and J must prevent an alien terrorist (Vincent D'Onofrio) from assassinating two galactic ambassadors on Earth for a conference dooming the Earth to certain destruction! Men In Black 2 (Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld 2002): Agent J and Agent K are back! Agent J (Will Smith) needs help with a new breed of alien terror intent on destroying the planet. He is sent to find Agent K (Jones) restore his memory and enlist him in the fight of a lifetime...

• 1492 - Conquest Of Paradise/Master And Commander - The Far Side Of The World | DVD | (16/04/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £8.99

  1492 - Conquest Of Paradise (Dir. Ridley Scott 1992): Gerard Depardieu plays Christopher Columbus in Ridley Scotts film about the humble explorer who chanced upon a new world while searching for an ocean route to Asia. Columbus faced much hardship on his daunting nautical voyage and once the fanfare of his discovery died down he was left to die in obscurity. This was one of three films about Columbus to hit the screens in 1992 the 500th anniversary of the original voyage. Master And Commander (Dir. Peter Weir 2003): Russell Crowe is Lucky Jack Aubrey the Navy's greatest fighting captain and Paul Bettany is ship's doctor Stephen Maturin. The ship the Surprise is suddenly attacked by a superior enemy. With the Surprise badly damaged and much of his crew injured Aubrey - the ""Master"" of the Surprise and ""Commander"" of his men - is torn between duty and friendship as he sets sail in a high-stakes chase across two oceans to the far side of the world to intercept and capture their foe. It's a mission that can decide the fate of a nation - or destroy Lucky Jack and his crew. The film is based on the narrative outline of the tenth book in Patrick O'Brien's legendary ""Aubrey/Maturin"" series of high seas novels about the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

• Rocky Horror Picture Show, The / Shock Treatment Lip Box | DVD | (22/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £69.99

  The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): Relive Richard O'Brien's sinfully twisted salute to horror sci-fi B-movies and rock music - a ""sensual daydream to treasure forever"" - starring Tim Curry (in his classic gender-bending performance) Barry Bostwick and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon. Do the ""Time Warp"" and sing ""Hot Patootie"" with Meatloaf again...and again...and again...at home or in a movie theater where it will probably be playing for another 25 years! Shock Treatmen

• Garden Of Evil | DVD | (27/11/2000) from £5.29   |  Saving you £14.70 (277.88%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Kelly searches for her missing detective partner when she meets Ben a botanical genius who has a sinister and complicated past.

• Cuckoo | Blu Ray | (28/02/2011) from £4.99   |  Saving you £15.00 (75.00%)   |  RRP £19.99

  In one of his darkest roles Richard E. Grant plays an ageing professor obsessed with his star student Polly (Fraser). Polly is trapped in a dead-end job working for intrusive Professor Julius Greengrass (Grant). Her relationship with boyfriend Chapman (Adam Fenton) is falling apart and jealous sister Jimi (Antonia Bernath) rarely leaves her side. When Polly has the chance to escape her nearest and dearest have other ideas. Alone in her flat Polly struggles to keep her grip on reality. Mysterious sounds surround her voices in the darkness whispers of deceit. Polly knows she's not cuckoo but why won't the noises go away? She turns to the one person she can trust - her boss. But Julius has a dark secret of his own. He wants Polly and he'll do anything to get her. Using oppressive cinematography and a haunting soundtrack from BAFTA nominee Andrew Hewitt writer/director Richard Bracewell whose first film was the acclaimed low-budget comedy The Gigolos carefully builds Polly's world echoing her stressed and anxious state. Expertly played by Fraser we feel Polly's sense of isolation as events unfold around her in this darkly atmospheric and compelling story of deception and intrigue.

• John Wayne - Shadow Of The Eagle | DVD | (09/06/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Shadow of the Eagle is a real treat for John Wayne fans. The action and adventure the mystery and suspense is non stop in this original 12 part serial. John Wayne plays Craig McCoy a stunt pilot who's part of a traveling fair. When a mysterious pilot known as 'The Eagle' starts making murderous threats with sky-writing our guy jumps into action to try and find this villain. All the performers of the traveling fair get involved in one way or another! Some are prime suspects others like the strong man and the ventriloquist use their talents to help catch the criminal.

• Kindergarten Ninja | DVD | (11/08/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  When a football star is convicted of drunk driving and sentenced to community service teaching kids a martial arts Guardian Angel helps him overcome his own ego and learn the meaning of responsibility.

• Red Planet / Battlefield Earth / Soldier | DVD | (08/10/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  In Red Planet the only thing thicker than the Martian atmosphere (which is breathable, by the way) is the layer of clichés that nearly smothers a formulaic beat-the-clock plot. Science fiction fans are sure to be forgiving, however, because the film is reasonably intelligent, boasts a few dazzling sequences, and presents fascinating technology in the year 2057. We don't know how the Mars-1 spaceship gets to Mars in only six months (newfangled propulsion, no doubt), but we do get some cool diagnostic read-outs on tinfoil scrolls, an abundance of well-designed hardware, and a service-robot-turned-villain that's a high-tech hybrid of RoboCop, Bruce Lee, and a slinky panther with plenty of lethal attitude. A perfectly suitable companion to another Year 2000 sci-fi thriller, Pitch Black, Red Planet is a fine way to kill a couple of hours. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.comWhen Battlefield Earth was released theatrically, this inept sci-fi epic qualified as an instant camp classic, prompting Daily Variety to call it "the Showgirls of sci-fi shoot-'em-ups". Other reviews were united in their derision, and toy stores were left with truckloads of Battlefield Earth action figures that nobody wanted. Recklessly adapted from the novel by sci-fi author and Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard and set in the year 3000, the film is no worse than many cheesy sci-fi flicks, but the sight of Travolta as a burly, dreadlocked alien from the planet Psychlo provokes unintentional laughter from first frame to final credits. The best that Battlefield Earth can hope for is a Dune-like fate: it might improve in a longer director's cut--but that's wishful thinking. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.comKurt Russell hits new heights in laconic action heroes with his portrayal of Sergeant Todd, born and bred to be a Soldier in a futuristic army. Raised to kill mercilessly, living only for battle, he finds himself at the twilight of his career (and so-called life) when a regiment of genetically enhanced warriors threatens to make his brand of soldiering obsolete. Soldier is one of those rare sci-fi movies that relies more on plot and action than special effects (though the trash planet is effectively wrought). The pace of action in the last half of the film is relentless and exciting, and Russell's portrayal of the old warrior as he warms to human emotions relies more on expression than words-in fact, he barely utters half-dozen lines. --Tod Nelson, Amazon.com

• The Stranger | DVD | (18/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  The Stranger, according to Orson Welles, "is the worst of my films. There is nothing of me in that picture. I did it to prove that I could put out a movie as well as anyone else." True, set beside Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, or even The Trial, The Stranger is as close to production-line stuff as the great Orson ever came. But even on autopilot Welles still leaves most filmmakers standing. The shadow of the Second World War hangs heavy over the plot. A war crimes investigator, played by Edward G Robinson, tracks down a senior Nazi, Franz Kindler, to a sleepy New England town where he's living in concealment as a respected college professor. The script, credited to Anthony Veiller but with uncredited input from Welles and John Huston, is riddled with implausibilities: we're asked to believe, for a start, that there'd be no extant photos of a top Nazi leader. The casting's badly skewed, too. Welles wanted Agnes Moorehead as the investigator and Robinson as Kindler, but his producer, Sam Spiegel, wouldn't wear it. So Welles himself plays the supposedly cautious and self-effacing fugitive--and if there was one thing Welles could never play, it was unobtrusive. What's more, Spiegel chopped out most of the two opening reels set in South America, in Welles' view, "the best stuff in the picture". Still, the film's far from a write-off. Welles' eye for stunning visuals rarely deserted him and, aided by Russell Metty's skewed, shadowy photography, The Stranger builds to a doomy grand guignol climax in a clock tower that Hitchcock must surely have recalled when he made Vertigo. And Robinson, dogged in pursuit, is as quietly excellent as ever. On the DVD: not much in the way of extras, except a waffly full-length commentary from Russell Cawthorne that tells us about the history of clock-making and where Edward G was buried, but precious little about the making of the film. Print and sound are acceptable, but though remastering is claimed, there's little evidence of it. --Philip Kemp