On its original release in 1988, the pairing of Steve Martin and Michael Caine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was seen as something of a dream ticket. Viewing the film many years later, that assessment still proves completely accurate: the casting is perfect. American Freddy Benson and Briton Lawrence Jamieson are con men who work the French Riviera--at first as colleagues, later as rivals--praying on rich, gullible women before finally meeting their match. Having spent the decade veering between popular rubbish and low-key quality, for once Caine was able to find a populist vehicle that did justice to his talents. Steve Martin is, well, very Steve Martin but there are few better suited to the visual comedy of his character. The film has an old-fashioned feel (no sex, violence or bad language) and owes much to the earlier period of film humour--it really doesn't take that much imagination to see this as an Ealing comedy. All round, it's a stylish, charming, witty film. On the DVD: Extras are few, limited to scene selection, subtitles and the very funny trailer. Picture quality is superb, allowing the film's exotic setting to sparkle and there are many scenes of breathtaking beauty. Given that the film is full of fantastic comedy set pieces, the ability to select scenes is a real plus, allowing to the viewer to locate that classic Martin pratfall at the push of a button. --Phil Udell
Inspired by the 1973 motion picture of the same name, Westworld is a one-hour drama series about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings. Written and directed by Michael Crichton this dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin is set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past. It explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. 1. Pilot 2. Chestnut 3. The Stray 4. Six Impossible Things 5. Contrapasso 6. Trace Decay 7. Trompe L'Oeil 8. The Adversary 9. Job's Root 10. The Bicameral Mind.
Given that Resident Evil is a Paul Anderson movie based on a computer game which was itself highly derivative (especially of George A Romero and James Cameron films), it's probably unfair to complain that it hasn't got an original idea or moment in its entire running time. In the early 1980s, Italian schlock films such as Zombie Flesh Eaters and Zombie Creeping Flesh tried to cram in as many moments restaged from American originals as possible, strung together by silly characters wandering between monster attacks. This is a much-improved, edited, photographed and directed version of the same gambit. As amnesiac Milla Jovovich remembers amazing kung fu skills and anti-globalist Eric Mabius mutters about evil corporations, a gang of clichéd soldiers with nary a distinguishing feature between them (except for Michelle Rodriguez as a secondary tough chick) are trapped in an underground scientific compound at the mercy of a tyrannical computer--which manifests as a smug little-girl-o-gram--fending off flesh-eating zombies (though gore fans will be disappointed by the film's need to stay within the limits of the 15 certificate) and CGI mutants, not to mention the ever-popular zombie dogs. It's tolerably action-packed, but zips past its borrowings (Aliens, Cube, Deep Blue Sea) without adding anything that future schlock pictures will want to imitate. On the DVD: Resident Evil on disc has the expected trailers, both teaser and theatrical; a half-hour making-of; zombie make-up tests; featurettes on music (with Marilyn Manson), production design and costume. A lively commentary track features Anderson, Jovovich, Rodriguez and producer/zombie Jeremy Bolt--Jovovich upbraids Anderson for talking about different gradings of film stock over her nude scene and everyone else talks about how much she hurt them by punching them out during action sequences. Anderson mentions an alternate commentary track with visual effects designer Richard Yuricich, but it isn't included. --Kim Newman
Will & Grace's Debra Messing hires a male escort to help her face her ex-boyfriend in this romantic comedy.
Roaring onto dazzling 4K Ultra HD⢠for the first time celebrate the full glory of Disney's magnificent coming-of-age masterpiece, The Lion King! With humour and heart, breathtaking animation, and award-winning music, this much-beloved story transports you to the Pride Lands and inspires generations of fans. Extras: 5 Song Selections Nathan and Matthew: The Extended Lion King Conversation The Recording Sessions Inside The Story Room With Introduction by Co-Directors Roger Allers And Rob Minkoff Visualising A Villain Classic Bonus
Inspired by the 1973 motion picture of the same name, Westworld is a one-hour drama series about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings. Written and directed by Michael Crichton this dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin is set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past. It explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. 1. Pilot 2. Chestnut 3. The Stray 4. Six Impossible Things 5. Contrapasso 6. Trace Decay 7. Trompe L'Oeil 8. The Adversary 9. Job's Root 10. The Bicameral Mind.
""Outstanding! Bursts With Heart-Stopping Excitement!"" -Leonard Maltin. An all-star cast including Oscar-winners Walter Matthau and Martin Balsam teams up with Robert Shaw to deliver ""sure-fire entertainment [that's] gripping and exciting from beginning to end"" (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the sizzling best-seller by John Godey this pulse-pounding picture is guaranteed to give you the ride of your life! Somewhere underground in New York's subway system just outside the
Given that Resident Evil is a Paul Anderson movie based on a computer game which was itself highly derivative (especially of George A Romero and James Cameron films), it's probably unfair to complain that it hasn't got an original idea or moment in its entire running time. In the early 1980s, Italian schlock films such as Zombie Flesh Eaters and Zombie Creeping Flesh tried to cram in as many moments restaged from American originals as possible, strung together by silly characters wandering between monster attacks. This is a much-improved, edited, photographed and directed version of the same gambit. As amnesiac Milla Jovovich remembers amazing kung fu skills and anti-globalist Eric Mabius mutters about evil corporations, a gang of clichéd soldiers with nary a distinguishing feature between them (except for Michelle Rodriguez as a secondary tough chick) are trapped in an underground scientific compound at the mercy of a tyrannical computer--which manifests as a smug little-girl-o-gram--fending off flesh-eating zombies (though gore fans will be disappointed by the film's need to stay within the limits of the 15 certificate) and CGI mutants, not to mention the ever-popular zombie dogs. It's tolerably action-packed, but zips past its borrowings (Aliens, Cube, Deep Blue Sea) without adding anything that future schlock pictures will want to imitate. On the DVD: Resident Evil on disc has the expected trailers, both teaser and theatrical; a half-hour making-of; zombie make-up tests; featurettes on music (with Marilyn Manson), production design and costume. A lively commentary track features Anderson, Jovovich, Rodriguez and producer/zombie Jeremy Bolt--Jovovich upbraids Anderson for talking about different gradings of film stock over her nude scene and everyone else talks about how much she hurt them by punching them out during action sequences. Anderson mentions an alternate commentary track with visual effects designer Richard Yuricich, but it isn't included. --Kim Newman
Inspired by the 1973 motion picture of the same name, Westworld is a one-hour drama series about a futuristic theme park populated by artificial beings. Written and directed by Michael Crichton this dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin is set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past. It explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. 1. Pilot 2. Chestnut 3. The Stray 4. Six Impossible Things 5. Contrapasso 6. Trace Decay 7. Trompe L'Oeil 8. The Adversary 9. Job's Root 10. The Bicameral Mind.
America has become a society steeped in violence and most decent ordinary people are sick of it. Or are they? From two of the world's most controversial filmmakers Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone comes one of the most controversial films ever made. Meet Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) - the most terrifying and relentless cold-blooded killers imaginable. Rejected by society these two lost souls embark on a murderous rampage. But as the body count soars so too does their notoriety and before long the greedy tabloid press has made them into cult heroes. In the media circus of life Mickey and Mallory have just become the main attraction... .
As a postcard from a bygone era, Michelangelo Antonioni's sole American movie is amazing to look at. This was the Italian director's first film since his English-language breakthrough Blowup (1966), which had been a masterpiece that captivated general and art-house audiences alike. Expectations understandably ran high, and as a visual experience Zabriskie Point delivered. Here was this foreigner's eye, among the most distinctive in world cinema, looking at city and desert, streets and backroads, office towers, mini-marts, police cars, airfields, and nonstop signage--the textures of U.S. life transliterated into something alien and askew. Revisited decades later, that's the aspect of Zabriskie Point that comes fascinatingly to the fore.
Dino De Laurentiis' remake of the original hairy monster movie features remarkable special effects by Rick Baker. Fred Wilson (Charles Grodin) head of an oil drilling expedition to the remote island of Micronesia discovers a stow-away on his ship Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) a zoologist in search of a prehistoric creature fabled to exist on the island. Off the coast of Micronesia they rescue Dwan (Jessica Lange) a beautiful woman shipwrecked in the treacherous seas. On the islan
Fred Wilson (Charles Grodin) head of an oil drilling expedition to the remote island of Micronesia discovers a stow-away on his ship Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) a zoologist in search of a prehistoric creature fabled to exist on the island. Off the coast of Micronesia they rescue Dwan (Jessica Lange) a beautiful woman shipwrecked in the treacherous seas. On the island the expedition witness a mysterious ritual to a strange beast called Kong. They soon realise that Kong is the gigantic ape that Prescott is searching for.
Jeff Bridges, Jessica Lange and Charles Grodin star in this remake of the adventure classic from director John Guillermin. Oil executive Fred Wilson (Grodin) sees the chance to make his fortune when he stumbles upon a remote island whose inhabitants worship a giant ape-god named Kong. Capturing the mighty beast, Wilson brings Kong back to New York, earmarking him as the greatest attraction to come to Broadway. The ape has other ideas, however, as he looks to escape and goes on the rampage through the streets of the Big Apple.
The Wedding Date (Dir. Clare Kilner 2005): In this sparkling romantic comedy Debra Messing plays Kat a never-married New Yorker who is invited to her parents' London home for her younger sister's wedding. What should be a joyous occasion bodes disaster for Kat however when she discovers that the best man will be none other than her ex-fianc who two years before inexplicably dumped her. In a desperate attempt to face the ordeal with dignity Kat hires Nick (Dermot Mulroney) a charming and handsome professional male escort to pose as her new boyfriend and escort her to the wedding. Even more valuable to Kat than Nick's good looks and charisma is his keen insight into human behavior--a well-learned trick of his trade. Over the course of the weekend Nick takes on the role of the bride's therapist the father's ideal son-in-law the groom's new best friend and the object of every woman's affection. For Kat what starts out as a pretend relationship with Nick begins to turn into something entirely unexpected: a second chance at love. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Dir. Joel Zwick 2002): In this hit ethnic comedy Toula (Nia Vardalos) is a thirty-year-old ugly duckling whose life is going nowhere while she works long hours in her family's Greek diner (called Dancing Zorba's). She then decides to give herself a radical makeover lands a new job in her aunt's travel agency and falls for a hunky sensitive vegetarian teacher (John Corbett). They soon decide to get married but her family have a history of getting hitched exclusively to other Greeks. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a warm funny comedy adapted by writer/star Vardalos from her own one-woman show. The Wedding Singer (Dir. Frank Coraci 1998): It's 1985 and Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is the ultimate master of ceremonies until he is left at the altar at his own wedding. Devastated he becomes a newlywed's worst nightmare - an entertainer who can do nothing but destroy other people's weddings. It's not until he meets a warm-hearted waitress named Julia (Drew Barrymore) that he starts to pick up the pieces of his heart. The only problem is Julia's about to have a wedding of her own and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a lifetime the girl of his dreams will be gone forever...
A collection of Spike Lee films comprising: 1. Do The Right Thing 2. Mo' Better Blues 3. Jungle Fever 4. Crooklyn 5. Clockers
Starring Sorcha Cusack (Tame) and Michael Jayston (Flesh And Blood) this 1973 BBC television adaption of the classics novel follows the fortunes of heroine Jane Eyre who begins her life as an orphan without a penny to her name. 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 en
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Dir. Frank Oz) (1988): One's got a sophisticated suave and debonair con act. The other's got... well an act. Together Steve Martin and Michael Caine are Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and they're absolutely ruining the Riviera in this wonderfully crafted absolutely charming classy and consistently amusing comedy. Martin is Freddy Benson a small-time con man sleazing his way through Europe on whatever handouts he can scam. Caine is Lawrence Jamieson an impeccably dressed and high-minded artiste who thinks Freddy's giving him and all con men a bad name. At first Lawrence agrees to help Freddy spruce up his stunts and his wardrobe. But when it becomes apparent that the Riviera isn't big enough for the both of them they make a winner-takes-all wager over the fortune of a nave American soap heiress (Glenne Headly): the first one to 'clean her out' can make the other clear out - and keep the Riviera and its unsuspecting tourists to himself! Three Amigos (Dir. John Landis) (1986): In the days of silent film serials one of the noblest trios to grace the screen and get the bad guys was the Three Amigos: Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase) Lucky Day (Steve Martin) and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short). But when their Hollywood glory days wane they receive a letter from a desperate community in Mexico that thinks their heroic characters are for real: they want the Three Amigos to come to their tiny Mexican village and defeat the notorious bandit El Guapo (Alfonso Arau). Unfortunately the Three Amigos misinterpret the letter - they're off to visit the Mexican village dressed as their movie characters thinking they're getting a high paying gig. A plethora of pinatas and a comedy of errors occurs before they can prove themselves as worthy as their screen heroes!
King Kong: The Legend Reborn (1976) Fred Wilson (Charles Grodin) head of an oil drilling expedition to the remote island of Micronesia discovers a stow-away on his ship Jack Prescott (Jeff Bridges) a zoologist in search of a prehistoric creature fabled to exist on the island. Off the coast of Micronesia they rescue Dwan (Jessica Lange) a beautiful woman shipwrecked in the treacherous seas. On the island the expedition witness a mysterious ritual to a strange beast called Kong. They soon realise that Kong is the gigantic ape that Prescott is searching for... Producer Dino De Laurentiis' remake of the original hairy monster movie features remarkable special effects by Rick Baker. King Kong Lives! (1986) The mighty ape is resurrected through a miracle of modern medicine and brings him together with what will be the equally terrifying love of his life: Lady Kong... This version of the classic story picks up from where the 1976 version left off.
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