Splash was big news in 1984. It was the sole reason for a renewed Disney Studios forming its Touchstone Pictures subsidiary. This was so they could get away with displaying Daryl Hannah's nude bottom! It was also big news for launching the film career of Tom Hanks, who immediately became a massive box-office comedy draw in the 80s. For Ron Howard, it was the breakaway success that guaranteed he'd be able to pursue as diverse a directorial career path as he wanted to. It's a simple romance tale, spiced up by making the female lead a mermaid. The stroke of brilliance in the script was in making the comedy happen around the two leads, while letting them believably convey they are hopelessly lost in love. The comedy comes from the ever-reliable John Candy as a larger-than-life womanising older brother, and Eugene Levy as a scatty scientist. Although New York looks a little different today, the movie has hardly aged at all. Which is just as well since it boldly begins "This morning." On the DVD: Splash offers a transfer that has some defects, but colours and dark areas seem just about right. We're spoiled for extras, with a warmly nostalgic Howard joining a key production crew commentary in reminiscing on how much fun they had making the movie. There's a half-hour documentary ("Making a Splash") interviewing everyone involved, including some archival footage of the late Candy. Best of all are the original Audition Tapes for Hanks and Hannah, which reveal the consummate professionals these once-hungry stars really are. --Paul Tonks
Marvel's Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two campsone led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
Batman Begins As a young boy Bruce Wayne watched in horror as his millionaire parents were slain in front of him--a trauma that leads him to become obsessed with revenge. But the opportunity to avenge his parents' deaths is cruelly taken away from him by fate. Fleeing to the East where he seeks counsel with the dangerous but honorable ninja cult leader known as Ra's Al-Ghul Bruce returns to his now decaying Gotham City which is overrun by organized crime and other dangerous individuals manipulating the system. Meanwhile Bruce is slowly being swindled out of Wayne Industries the company he inherited. The discovery of a cave under his mansion along with a prototype armored suit leads him to assume a new persona one which will strike fear into the hearts of men who do wrong; he becomes Batman!!! In the new guise and with the help of rising cop Jim Gordon Batman sets out to take down the various nefarious schemes in motion by individuals such as mafia don Falcone the twisted doctor/drug dealer Jonathan 'The Scarecrow' Crane and a mysterious third party who is quite familiar with Wayne and waiting to strike when the time is right. The Dark Knight Christopher Nolan returns to direct the follow up to his own 2005 blockbuster 'Batman Begins' with Christian Bale once again suited up as 'The Dark Knight'. Gotham City previously a playground for organised crime and petty thieves has been cleaned up under the ever watchful eye of Batman. With the continued help of Lt James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and determined District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) Batman continues to round up the remaining criminals plaguing it. As the opening sequence quickly shows a new threat has emerged. The Joker! brought to life again this time by the late Heath Ledger (Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner). With his eerie grin and wicked laugh mixed with pyschotic madness he unleashes a new danger to the people of Gotham amidst all his chaos. As Batman struggles to bring the madman to justice his alter-ego Bruce Wayne is caught in a love triangle as Rachel Dawes' (Maggie Gyllenhaal) relationship with Harvey Dent grows stronger. Knowing that Harvey may be the 'White Knight' required to bring continued peace to Gotham Batman hopes that for the last time his skills and arsenal of equipment will be needed to stop the crazed villain before the city falls back into turmoil! - (Michael Woodhall) The Dark Knight Rises It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night turning in that instant from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous however is the emergence of Bane a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again Batman may be no match for Bane.
Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post's Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers - and their very freedom - to help bring long-buried truths to light.
Oscar winner Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) directs the action adventure In the Heart of the Sea, based on Nathaniel Philbrick's best-selling book about the dramatic true journey of the Essex. In the winter of 1820, the New England whaling ship Essex was assaulted by something no one could believe: a whale of mammoth size and will, and an almost human sense of vengeance. The real-life maritime disaster would inspire Herman Melville's Moby-Dick. But that told only half the story. In the Heart of the Sea reveals the encounter's harrowing aftermath, as the ship's surviving crew is pushed to their limits and forced to do the unthinkable to stay alive. Braving storms, starvation, panic and despair, the men will call into question their deepest beliefs, from the value of their lives to the morality of their trade, as their captain searches for direction on the open sea and his first mate still seeks to bring the great whale down. Click Images to Enlarge
Emma Thompson scores a double bull's-eye with Sense and Sensibility, a marvellous adaptation of Jane Austen's novel. Not only does Thompson turn in a strong (and gently humorous) performance as Elinor Dashwood--the one with "sense"--she also wrote the witty, wise screenplay. Austen's tale of 19th-century manners and morals provides a large cast with a feast of possibilities, notably Kate Winslet, in her pre-Titanic flowering, as Thompson's deeply romantic sister, Marianne (the one with "sensibility"). Winslet attracts the wooing of shy Alan Rickman (a nice change of pace from his bad-guy roles) and dashing Greg Wise, while Thompson must endure an incredibly roundabout courtship with Hugh Grant, here in fine and funny form. All of this is doled out with the usual eye-filling English countryside and handsome costumes, yet the film always seems to be about the careful interior lives of its characters. The director, an inspired choice, is Taiwan-born Ang Lee, here making his first English-language film. He brings the same exquisite taste and discreet touch he displayed in his previous Asian films (such as Eat Drink Man Woman). Thompson's script won an Oscar. --Robert Horton
Titles Comprise: Alien: The terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo investigates a transmission from a desolate planet and makes a horrifying discovery a life form that breeds within a human host. Now the crew must fight not only for its own survival but for the survival of all mankind. Aliens: Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley the only survivor from mankind's first encounter with the monstrous Alien. Her account of the Alien and the fate of her crew are received with skepticism until the mysterious disappearance of colonists on LV-426 lead her to join a team of high-tech colonial marines sent in to investigate... Alien 3: Lt. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is the lone survivor when her crippled spaceship crash lands on Fiorina 161 a bleak wasteland inhabited by former inmates of the planet's maximum security prison. Ripley's fears that an Alien was aboard her craft are confirmed when the mutilated bodies of ex-cons begin to mount. Without weapons or modern technology of any kind Ripley must lead the men into battle against the terrifying creature. And soon she discovers a horrifying fact about her link with the Alien a realisation that may compel Ripley to try destroying not only the horrific creature but herself as well. Alien Resurrection: Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) died fighting the perfect predator. Two hundred years and eight horrific experiments later she's back. A group of scientists have cloned her along with the alien queen inside her hoping to breed the ultimate weapon. But the resurrected Ripley is full of surprises for her creators as are the aliens. And soon a lot more than all hell breaks loose! To combat the creatures Ripley must team up with a band of smugglers including a mechanic named Call (Winona Ryder) who holds more than a few surprises of her own.
Harry, Nikki and Leo continue to seek evidence from the dead to trace their living assailants, but as Dr Cunningham departs, the team comes under pressure from the Home Office. Enter Jack Hodgson, an intuitive forensic scientist and his former colleague, the witty lab assistant Clarissa Mullery...
The award-winning ratings hit that got everyone talking returns for the dramatic next chapter in Gemma's story. Life appears to be going well for the talented doctor and son Tom after the turmoil that followed her discovery of husband Simon's betrayal. After her divorce, Gemma has attempted to leave what happened behind, but can you ever really move on from your ex especially when a child is involved? Gemma's life is further complicated with sexual tensions, destructive obsessions and the need to create stability for her now teenage son. Dark, adult, and psychologically raw, Series 2 is packed with gripping drama, explosive twists and turns, and sees Gemma going further than she ever has before to protect the people she loves.
Five ordinary people needed a miracle. Then one night Faye Riley left the window open. When an unscrupulous real estate developer sends thugs into a deteriorating tenement to get rid of the last five tenants they need nothing short of a miracle to stay where they are. In this delightful fantasy presented by Steven Spielberg little stands between the brave holdouts and the street. But one night when all hope seems lost tiny visitors from outer space mysteriously glide th
All 70 episodes from series 1-6 of the TV drama starring Mark Williams as the eponymous character created by English writer G.K. Chesterton. Set in the 1950s in the fictional village of Kembleford, the series follows Roman Catholic priest Father Brown who has a knack for solving crimes. He is assisted by parish secretary Bridgette McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) and is often a source of frustration for the local police. Includes Subtitles for the Hard of Hearing.
Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic novel, Disney brings the heroic adventures of Quasimodo, the gentle and lonely bell ringer of Notre Dame, to spectular life. At the urging of his hilarious gargoyle pals, Victor, Hugo and Laverne, Quasimodo leave the solitary safety of his tower, venturing out to find his first true friend, the gypsy beauty Esmeralda. The most unlikely of heroes, Quasi fights to save the people and the city he loved and, in turn, helps us to see people for who they are, rather than how they appear. The star-studded voice cast includes Jason Alexander, Tom Hulce, Kevin Kline, and Demi Moore in this magnificent Disney musical from renowned composer Alan Menken. Special Features: The Making of The Hunchback of Notre Dame A Guy Like You Multi-Language Reel
If you read the label on a box of chocolates you'll know exactly what you're gonna get. Life isn't like that in Forrest Gump, however, which is one of the reasons why this movie divided appreciative audiences from hard-hearted critics like few others before it. Audiences responded to the Frank Capra-style sentimentality of this warm-hearted tale of a good ol' American boy making his way in the world without ever losing his pure and simple innocence. Critics, however, were made uneasy by the apparently reactionary subtext to the parallel lives of Forrest and his girlfriend Jenny. Her fate, contrasted with his, suggests a triumph for plain ol' American values over dangerous freethinking hippies and liberals. Whether the movie is just unadulterated sentiment or right-wing propaganda, one thing at least was acknowledged by all: that Forrest Gump displays all the craftsmanship of one of Hollywood's most inventive directors and features a central performance from an actor renowned for his total commitment to every role. Thanks to Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks, even the most cynical critic will find it hard not to shed at least one tear by the end of this undeniably engrossing movie. The soundtrack is great, too. --Mark Walker
Many years ago Grandpa was a World War II flying squadron leader hero but sadly he is now suffering from Alzheimer's disease. His grandson Jack is the only person who can communicate with him properly through second world war fantasies. Together they re-live Grandpas experiences in his Spitfire during The Battle of Britain. Grandpas behaviour becomes more and more erratic and when his family can no longer look after him he is moved to Twilight Villas, an old people's home run by the ferocious Miss Dandy. People only ever leave Twilight Villas in a coffin. Says the worldly newsagent Raj. It soon becomes clear Miss Dandy is running Twilight Villas for her own ulterior motives and Grandpa enlists the help of his grandson Jack to help him and other inmates escape. The classic David Walliams tale is brought to life in this BBC feature length drama. Features: Starring David Walliams, Tom Courtney & Jennifer Saunders. Includes subtitles for the Hard Of Hearing
Catch up on all 6 Mission: Impossible films with the 6-movie collection.
On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the Miracle on the Hudson when Captain Sully Sullenberger glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.Click Images to Enlarge
Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is - through director Paul Greengrass's distinctive lens - simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award -winner Tom Hanks) and the Somali pirate captain Muse (Barkhad Abdi) who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff 145 miles off the Somali coast both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. The film is directed by Academy Award nominee Paul Greengrass from a screenplay by Billy Ray based upon the book A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates Navy SEALs and Dangerous Days at Sea by Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty. The film is produced by Scott Rudin Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca.
Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an epic story of survival and transformation on the American frontier. While on an expedition into the uncharted wilderness, legendary explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally mauled by a bear, then abandoned by members of his own hunting team. Alone and near death, Glass refuses to succumb. Driven by sheer will and his love for his Native American wife and son, he undertakes a 200-mile odyssey through the vast and untamed West on the trail of the man who betrayed him: John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). What begins as a relentless quest for revenge becomes a heroic saga against all odds towards home and redemption. THE REVENANT is directed, produced and co-written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
Cast Away reunites star Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis in their first collaboration since the heavy-handed sentimentality of Forrest Gump. Thankfully, this time their film's life-affirming message is delivered with more subtlety, attributable both to an extraordinarily committed, physically demanding central performance from Hanks and to Zemeckis' technically masterful but carefully understated direction. It's also a film with three distinct "acts" or, to be old-fashioned about it, a proper beginning, middle and end. The story follows schedule-obsessed but fulfilled FedEx supervisor Chuck Noland (Act 1) on a personal journey into the bleakest, most solitary despair (Act 2), before Helen Hunt, in the thankless role of ex-girlfriend, unwittingly allows him to glimpse an optimistic future full of untapped possibilities (Act 3). Hanks' sojourn on the island is the centrepiece, but this is no tropical island idyll: following a terrifying plane crash (the one sequence in the film where Zemeckis shows off his uncanny ability to choreograph action), life on the island is seen to be a depressing and bitter experience filled with disappointment, danger and suicidal despair. Having lost all hope of rescue, ultimately Noland's greatest test is not to survive, but to find a reason to survive. He has no Man Friday for company, just a volleyball named "Wilson" that is both a narrative device allowing Hanks to deliver dialogue and an intriguingly pagan personification of the island's spirit under whose protection Noland is finally able to summon fire (significantly, and heartbreakingly, Wilson leaves him as he regains contact with the world). In an era of MTV-style film editing, Zemeckis and Hanks fearlessly take their time establishing with total conviction the grim realities of Noland's situation, his devastating loss of hope and the means by which he achieves his escape. Like Contact before it, Cast Away is a refreshingly thoughtful piece of mainstream cinema that explores weighty existential issues but retains a warm human intimacy. On the DVD: The luminous anamorphic print with vivid Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is accompanied on the first disc by a technical commentary from Zemeckis and key crew personnel. It's plenty insightful for budding filmmakers, although for pure listening pleasure one might have preferred a more relaxed piece with just the director and Tom Hanks. The second disc includes a 30-minute making-of documentary in which the director sums up the moral of the movie--"Surviving is easy but living is difficult". This draws on material from the three other mini-documentaries about survival skills, Wilson the volleyball and the Fijian island location of Monu Riki respectively. There's also a section on the sometimes surprising use of CGI effects and a storyboard-to-film comparison sequence. Tom Hanks chats with American TV host Charlie Rose about this movie and his career in the extensive 50-minute interview. Trailers, artwork and stills round out a valuable two-disc set. --Mark Walker
The Take
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