The latest entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang, and has his first big fight with best bud Ron. Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold. But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Tri-Wizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation.--Ellen A. Kim, Amazon.com
Your next sale may be your last! Tommy (Spall) is a vacuum cleaner salesman gripped by the fever of closing the sale. He lives on Puffa Puffa Rice stored in his car's glove compartment and listens to motivational tapes of his own voice bellowing ""sell sell f***ing sell!"" He's sure the Golden Vac the holy grail of vacuum salesmanship can be his if only he hadn't been saddled with Pete a meek sales trainee trying to help his girlfriend quit the stripping scene...
During the last year of his life, whilst on a tour of Scotland, the legendary escape artist and magician, Harry Houdini (Golden Globe nominee Guy Pearce*; Iron Man 3) issued a challenge to any and all psychics; he offered up a prize of £10,000 if any of them could tell him the last words his mother spoke to him before she died. Eager to win the much sought after prize is Mary McGarvie (Academy Award winner Catherine Zeta-Jones°; Chicago), a beautiful conartist, who, along with her daughter Benji (Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan+; Brooklyn) pretends to perform incredible séances in which they communicate with the other side'. Mary's con becomes complicated when she and Houdini develop an attraction which is anything but an illusion and Houdini's manager (BAFTA nominee Timothy Spall; Harry Potter franchise) learns the truth about Mary's plans.
If youre looking for signs that the modern-day Disney has lost neither its touch nor its savvy nature, then theres evidence in abundance in the smart modern-day fairy tale Enchanted. Bookended by the kind of old-style animation the studio is rightly famed for, the main, live action segment of the film finds Amy Adams Giselle--an archetypal Disney princess in pretty much every sense--dropped slap bang into the middle of modern day New York. What follows is ingenious fun, as Giselle walks round very much as a fish out of water, followed quickly by James Marsdens prince who attempts to come to the rescue. Thing is, modern day New York and old style princesses dont really mix, and Enchanted studiously mines the comedy of the scenario, thanks to a smart and witty script. What also lifts Enchanted though are the delightful tips of the hat to classics of Disney old. And were not just talking the show-stopping numbers: there are references to the likes of Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to be found here, and a star-making performance from Adams powering the whole film forward. One of the very best family movies of 2007, Enchanted does occasionally stumble through the odd twee moment (and it could really use a villain with more screen time than Susan Sarandons wicked stepmother gets), but that cant hide the fact that its terrific fun, lavishly made and, at its best, quite brilliant. A modern day family classic, and great to see Disney once again delivering the kind of entertainment it excels at. --Simon Brew
Sofia features an all-star cast including Christian Slater, Donald Sutherland and Timothy Spall.Field Agent Robert Diggs (Slater) walked away from his career in the FBI for one reason: to escape the memories of his wife's death for which he blames himself. However, when an unknown vigilante begins killing high-priority terrorists from America's Most Wanted list, the FBI and CIA request he take on the case, and with the U.S. Ambassador's (Sutherland) persuasion, Diggs finally agrees.While tracking down the killer, Diggs finds himself drawn to a sensuous belly dancer named Ursula. As Diggs' personal life heats up, his progress with the case runs cold. His frustration mounts as the killer continues to successfully assassinate the terrorists. Little does Diggs know that he is sleeping with the enemy.
The Bear Based on Raymond Briggs' bestselling storybook 'The Bear' is the enchanting and magical tale from the makers of 'The Snowman'. A young girl Tilly visits the zoo with her mum and dad but accidentally drops her best loved toy her teddy into the polar bear's pit. That night Tilly cries herself to sleep only to wake and find a huge polar bear standing over her - he's come to return her precious teddy. Ivor The Invisible One Saturday morning little John wakes up to find an invisible something sitting on the end of his bed. The something seems to be gigantic but John can't work out just how big it is. He tries to measure it but the invisible giant won't let him. When John asks this strange new friend his name the letters IVO appear on his mirror so John decides to call him Ivor. The invisible giant plays tricks on John's mum and dad and gets up to lots of mischief especially when John takes Ivor to the park and school! The Last Polar Bears An eccentric Grandfather and his dog Roo embark on an expedition to the North Pole. Also includes 'Roo Reveals All' which is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.
Set Comprises: Good Night And Good Luck (2005): Good Night And Good Luck George Clooney's second film as director takes place during the early days of broadcast journalism in 1950s America chronicling the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow (Strathairn) and Senator Joseph McCarthy with the House Un-American Activities Committee. With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public Murrow and his dedicated staff - headed by his producer Fred Friendly (Clooney) and Joe Wershba (Downey Jr.) in the CBS newsroom - defy corporate and sponsorship pressures to examine the lies and scaremongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist 'witch-hunts'. A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. In this climate of fear and reprisal the CBS crew carries on and their tenacity will prove historic and monumental. Hamburger Hill (1987): The men of Bravo Company are facing a battle that's all uphill... up Hamburger Hill. Fourteen war-weary soldiers are battling for a mud-covered mound of earth so named because it chews up soldiers like chopped meat. They are fighting for their country their fellow soldiers and their lives. War is hell but this is worse. Hamburger Hill tells it the way it was the way it really was. It's a raw gritty and totally unrelenting dramatic depiction of one of the fiercest battles of America's bloodiest war. Dodge the gunfire. Get caught behind enemy lines. Go into battle beside the brave young men who fought and died. Feel their desperation and futility. This happened. Hamburger Hill - war at its worst men at their best. Pierrepoint (2005): Pierrepoint is the gripping and dramatic true-life story of Albert Pierrepoint Britain's most notorious hangman. Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle before him Albert joins the 'family business' in 1934. Living a secret life as a master hangman as well as a humble grocery deliveryman and loyal husband Pierrepoint's reputation as the most highly regarded executioner in the land results in him executing some of Britain's most infamous murderers including Derek Bentley and Ruth Ellis and also the Nazi war criminals convicted at the Nuremberg Trials. But the media coverage from these shatters Pierrepoint's closely guarded anonymity turning him into a minor celebrity. As his two lives collide and public opinion turns against capital punishment Pierrepoint troubled by his notoriety is ready to give it all up but fate has other plans in store for him...
From Raymond Briggs the author of such children's hits as The Snowman Father Christmas and The Bear.One Saturday morning John wakes up to find an invisible something sitting at the end of his bed. The something seems to be gigantic but John can't work out just how big it is. He tries to measure it but the invisible giant wont let him.When John asks this strange new friend it's name the letters IVO appear on his mirror so John decides to call him Ivor. The invisible giant plays tricks on Johns mum and dad and gets up to lots of mischief especially when John takes Ivor to the park and to school.
From the creator of Wallace & Gromit, the animated tale of chickens planning their great escape from a 1950s chicken farm.
Overnight, Jimmy Connelly (Orlando Bloom - Troy, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings) has become a sex symbol in his neighbourhood and Britain's boxing hope and he's not quite sure what to do with the extra attention! Jimmy's a milkman, you see, and he loves it, but when one day at his local gym, he accidently puts Britain's contender for the boxing World title out of action, he is propelled from amateur boxer onto the world stage and set to fight against the current World champion. He's going to have to shape up and he's going to need all the help he can get! Orlando Bloom is hilarious in this quirky comedy that will make you laugh out loud.
Zavvi Exclusive Steelbook - Limited to 2000 Copies Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp) is living a simple life with his wife Lucy and his daughter when the lust of a judge (Alan Rickman) throws their lives into chaos. The judge has Barker deported to Australia, and many years later he returns to England with revenge in his heart. Bonus Features: Burton + Depp + Carter = Todd Sweeney Todd Is Alive: The Real History of the Demon Barber HBO First Look: The Making of Sweeney Todd London Press Conference Musical Mayhem: Sondheim's Sweeney Todd Sweeney's London Designs for a Demon Barber Grand Guignol: A Theatrical Tradition A Bloody Business Razor's Refrain Photo Gallery
Titles Comprise: Gothic:A richly detailed delightfully chilling horror tale centering around the romanticism's poetic elite. When Lord Byron Percy and Mary Shelley and other assorted artistic guests gather at a secluded mansion they enjoy a frightfully scary drug-induced evening that ultimately inspires the writing of both Mary Shelley's ""Frankenstein"" and Polidori's ""The Vampyre."" The Rainbow:Defying the moral constraints of Victorian England and her parents a young woman engages in unbridled promiscuity with two partners before setting out to capture the full sensuality of life itself. Based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence. Women In Love:Growing up in sheltered 1920s England Gudrun and Ursula know little about the ways of love. So when they pursue thrilling torrid affairs with a notorious playboy and a brooding philanderer what they discover about themselves and their lovers may be more all-consuming than they ever dared imagine.
The adventures of a gang of British workmen abroad.
The Last Samurai gives epic sweep to an intimate story of cultures at a crossroads as Japan undergoes tumultuous transition to a more Westernised society in 1876-77. In America, tormented Civil War veteran Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is coerced by a mercenary officer (Tony Goldwyn) to train the Japanese Emperor's troops in the use of modern weaponry. Opposing this "progress" is a rebellion of samurai warriors, holding fast to their traditions of honour despite strategic disadvantage. As a captive of the samurai leader (Ken Watanabe), Algren learns, appreciates, and adopts the Samurai code, switching sides for a climactic battle that will put everyone's honour to the ultimate test. All of which makes director Edward Zwick's noble epic eminently worthwhile, even if its Hollywood trappings (including an all-too-conventional ending) prevent it from being the masterpiece that Zwick and screenwriter John Logan clearly wanted it to be. Instead, The Last Samurai is an elegant mainstream adventure, impressive in all aspects of its production. It may not engage the emotions as effectively as Logan's script for Gladiator, but like Cruise's character, it finds its own quality of honour. --Jeff Shannon
Get Santa tells the story of a father and son who must team-up to save Christmas when they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police.
When Lady' Sandra Abbott (Imelda Staunton) discovers that her husband of forty years is having an affair with her best friend, she seeks refuge with her estranged, older sister Bif (Celia Imrie). The two could not be more different - Sandra is a fish out of water next to her outspoken, serial dating, free-spirited sibling. But different is just what Sandra needs and she reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to her community dance class, where gradually she starts finding her feet... and romance. In this hilarious and heart-warming modern comedy, a colourful group of defiant and energetic baby boomers' show Sandra that retirement is only the beginning, and that divorce might just give her a whole new lease of life - and love.
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