"Director: John Avildsen"

• The Karate Kid 3 | DVD | (07/02/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  First it was teacher to student. Then it was father to son. Now it's man to man. Karate Kid Daniel Larusso risks losing it all when he places pride before principle in this dramatic film that reunites stars Ralph Macchio and Noriyuku ""Pat"" Morita. When Daniel (Macchio) decides not to compete in the upcoming karate championship he becomes the target vicious Cobra Kai student Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) who is determined to win the title back. Standing firm Daniel's mentor an

• Rocky Anthology (Box Set) | DVD | (28/05/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  The story of Rocky Balboa, as presented in this five-movie Rocky anthology, looks suspiciously like a barely fictional parallel to Sylvester Stallone's own career. Such a strong vein of autobiography is hardly surprising, really, since Stallone wrote all five movies and directed II, III and IV. The original was a feel-good patriotic update on the American Dream, mirroring Stallone's own journey as a lucky break drags a man from the gutter into stardom; Rocky II was the story of a man who is subsequently plagued by the need to prove that his first success wasn't a fluke, and represented Stallone's attempt to keep his career afloat amidst a sudden explosion of blockbuster movies and superstar actors; the third featured a rival to his position echoing the friendly battle kept up with Schwarzenegger for box-office dominance; Rocky IV appeared at the same time as Rambo: First Blood Part II and was a veritable shower of self-glorification; and the fifth entered old age as gracefully as it could with younger blood ready to pounce from all directions. Balboa may have been "a little punchy", but Stallone was clearly the brains behind the Rockymovies' success.On the DVD: For picture and sound, it's to the first disc connoisseurs should turn. Transfer and 5.1 soundtrack are a notch above instalments III and IV. Inexplicably, II and V are only in three-channel surround. Disc 1 is also the place for the extras. Although the others feature their own trailer and a half-heartedly animated menu, the first has a montage menu that matches the excellent packaging and links rather easily to a hidden feature ("Rocky Meets Stallone"). There's a fascinating 12-minute "behind the scenes" short with director John Avildsen showing fight test footage and two short tributes to the late Burgess Meredith and cinematographer James Crabe. The commentary might seem a little crowded, featuring Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, Talia Shire, Burt Young and Carl Weathers. The best feature is a 30-minute interview with Stallone, who remembers writing from an 8x9 room in Philadelphia and being inspired by an Ali fight. There are confessions about injuries, casting and his dog Butkus! As a 25th Anniversary special edition, the first disc alone is excellent value. --Paul Tonks

• Rocky - Special Edition | DVD | (28/05/2001) from £9.35   |  Saving you £13.63 (214.31%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The 1976 Best Picture Award-winner Rocky has the look of a contemporary on-the-streets movie like Taxi Driver, but the heart of a fairytale. For the Bicentennial Year, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), a Muhammad Ali-like stars-and-stripes blowhard, cynically offers a title shot to an unknown over-the-hill Philadelphia club fighter, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Unlike the sequels, Rocky is a rare American sports movie to realise there's more drama and emotional resonance in losing than winning. The unique finale suggests that going the distance against the odds is more of a triumph than a conventional victory. Stallone, then an unknown as actor and writer, crafts the script to his own strengths--mumbling, Brando-like sincerity combined with explosive physicality expressed in his use of a side of beef as a punch-bag or wintery jogs around Philly. Surprisingly little of the film is taken up with ring action, as we follow Rocky's awkward courtship of pet-store minion Adrian (Talia Shire) and uneasy relationship with her slobbish brother (Burt Young), while Burgess Meredith provides the old pro licks as the curmudgeonly trainer. Though it led to a slick, steroid-fuelled franchise, it has a pleasing roughness, exemplified by the memorable funk/brass band score and the array of fidgety, credible method acting tics. On the DVD: 1.85:1 16x9 print, which represents the sometimes-slick, sometimes rough look of the cinematography; feature commentary with supporting cast and crew (Burt Young admits to rubbing vermouth into his neck to make himself repulsive), video interview with Stallone, a retrospective featurette (which includes news footage of the Ali fight that inspired the story), 8mm test fight footage with a flabbier Stallone, tributes to Burgess Meredith and cameraman James Crabe, trailers for Rocky and all the sequels (which makes a solid précis of the whole series). All this and a "special hidden feature" (a comic sketch with Sly meeting Rocky).--Kim Newman

• The Karate Kid 1-4 Box Set | DVD | (19/07/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Karate Kid (Dir. John G. Avildsen 1984): Daniel (Ralph Macchio) arrives in Los Angeles from the East Coast and faces the difficult task of making new friends. However he becomes the object of bullying by the Cobras a menacing gang of karate students when he strikes up a relationship with Ali (Elisabeth Shue) the Cobra leader's ex-girlfriend. Eager to fight back and impress his new girlfriend but afraid to confront the dangerous gang Daniel asks his handyman Miyagi (Noriyuki Pat Morita) whom he learns is a master of the martial arts to teach him karate. Miyagi teaches Daniel that karate is a mastery over the self - mind and body - and that fighting is always the last answer to a problem. Under Miyagi's guidance Daniel develops not only physical skills but also the faith and self-confidence to compete despite tremendous odds as he encounters the fight of his life in the exciting finale to this entertaining film. The Karate Kid 2 (Dir. John G. Avildsen): Karate student Daniel Larusso (Macchio) accompanies his wise and whimsical teacher Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to his ancestral home in Okinawa. For the boy it's a journey to an exotic new world offering new clues to his mentor's secret past. For Miyagi it's an opportunity to see his father one last time and to rekindle a romance with his childhood sweetheart (Nobu McCarthy). But Miyagi's return also re-ignites a bitter feud with long-time enemy Sato (Danny Kamekona) - a feud that involves young Daniel in a brilliant collision of cultures and combat. Now far away from the tournaments the cheering crowds and the safety of home Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the teacher becomes student and the price of honour is life itself. The Karate Kid 3 (Dir. John G. Avildsen 1989): When Daniel (Macchio) decides not to compete in the upcoming karate championship he becomes the target vicious Cobra Kai student Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) who is determined to win the title back. Standing firm Daniel's mentor and trainer Mr. Miyagi (Morita) instructs him to ignore Mike's threats - and stay away from the tournament. But when Mike's relentless abuse escalates into blackmail Daniel finds himself forced into competition - and at serious odds with Miyagi the one person he cherishes most. Desperate Daniel turns to another karate instructor Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) whose violent combat techniques are directly opposed to Miyagi's wise instruction. But when Daniel realises that Terry and Mike are allied with Mr Miyagi's old nemesis Kreese (Martin Kove) in an elaborate set-up for revenge he also knows he has alienated the only person who can help him. The Next Karate Kid (Dir. Christopher Cain 1994): Noriyuki Pat Morita and Oscar-winner Hilary Swank co-star in The Next Karate Kid the story of a rebellious teenager Julie who blossoms with a little help from her friends - in this case the wise Mr. Miyagi and a trio of Buddhist monks! The action kicks into overdrive when Julie is pitted against a posse of paramilitary students who rule her high school. And while their leader teaches them to fight to kill Julie and Miyagi teach them the secret of fighting to live.

• 3 Film Box Set: Karate Kid / Karate Kid 2 / Karate Kid 3 (Lenticular) | DVD | (17/10/2011) from £24.93   |  Saving you £-9.94 (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The Karate KidWhen he is plagued by attacks and the cruel jokes of a gang of vengeful kids, a young teenager takes karate lessons in the hope that it will make him strong. In the end he learns the more important lesson, that fighting is the last answer to a problem, not the first. The Karate Kid IISequel to 'Karate Kid' which continues the story of a young man growing up under the guidance of his Japanese mentor, Daniel and Miyagi travel to Okinawa where they find they are no longer part of a game played by the rules... The Karate Kid IIIWhen Daniel decides not to compete in a karate championship he becomes the target of a vicious competitor who wants the title back. But when the relentless abuse becomes black-mail, Daniel goes against the sound advice of Miyagi and enters the competition, thus alienating the only person who can help him.

• Rocky | Blu Ray | (21/04/2014) from £7.99   |  Saving you £12.00 (150.19%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer gets a supremely rare chance to fight the heavy-weight champion, Apollo Creed, in a bout in which he strives to go the distance for his self-respect.

• Rocky | Blu Ray | (21/05/2007) from £31.03   |  Saving you £-11.04 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This is the film that catapulted Sylvester Stallone into the international spotlight and launched one of the most successful series of films in movie history. Rocky won the 1976 Academy Award for Best Picture and two nominations for Stallone for leading actor and writer. This is the story of a loser a two-bit boxer from Philadelphia who gets a second chance in life by being offered an impossible shot at the heavyweight title. Stallone's performance is as powerful as his character's punches in the ring. This is one of the most exciting action movies you will ever see.

• Marlon Brando Collection - The Early Years | DVD | (20/11/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Contains some of Brando's finest but lesser known performances: Burn The Formula Bedtime Story The Men One Eyed Jacks (also directed by Brando). Burn (Dir. Gillo Pontecorvo 1969): (English - Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono / Fullscreen) Manipulative English mercenary Sir William Walker (Marlon Brando) is posted to a Portuguese colony in the Caribbean. Once there he uses his skills to engineer a slave revolt as part of his calculated plans for the English to seize control of t

• The Karate Kid/The Karate Kid Part 2/The Karate Kid Part 3 | DVD | (01/10/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The Karate Kid Pt. 1: When Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) is plagued by attacks and the cruel jokes of a gang of vengeful kids the young teenager takes karate lessons in the hope that it will make him strong. In the end his tutor Mr Miyagi (Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita) teaches him a more important lesson: that fighting is the last answer to a problem not the first... The Karate Kid Pt. 2: Daniel and Mr Miyagi travel to Okinawa where they find they are no longer part of a game played by the rules... The Karate Kid Pt. 3: When Daniel decides not to compete in a karate championship he becomes the target of a vicious competitor who wants the title back. But when the relentless abuse becomes blackmail Daniel ignores the sound advice of Mr Miyagi and enters the competition alienating the only person who can help him...

• Karate Kid, The / The Karate Kid 2 / The Karate Kid 3 | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £34.99

  The Karate Kid was a hugely popular 1984 drama by John G Avildsen who had also directed the original fighting classic Rocky. The new kid in town (Ralph Macchio), targeted by karate-kicking bullies, gets himself a mentor in the form of the Japanese handyman (Pat Morita) from his apartment building. The mentor teaches him self-confidence, fighting skills and the art of karate. The screen partnership of Macchio's motor-mouth character and Morita's reserved father figure works well and the script allows for the younger man to develop sympathy for the painful memories of his teacher. But the film's real engine is the fighting, and there's plenty of that. The film went on to breed many Karate Kid wannabes in the mid-80s. Literally picking up about five minutes after the conclusion of the original, the 1986 sequel The Karate Kid 2 sends Ralph Macchio's and Pat Morita's characters to the latter's home turf in Japan, where the older man is confronted by an old rival, and Macchio's newly confident fighter gets a tougher challenge than the punks back home. Sillier than its predecessor, this follow-up at least has some distracting soap opera elements as Morita comes to terms with an old flame, while Macchio woos a lovely local girl. Ironically, it's the action that evokes laughter, particularly a climactic fight that gets over the top quickly. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.comIn a vain effort not to let a good thing die, director John G Avildsen attempted once more to revive the action and popularity of the original Karate Kid with the 1989 adventure, the third and final instalment. More silly and absurd than either of its predecessors Karate Kid 3 marked the final outing for the "Kid" Macchio (who was now 27) and his mentor, as the youth audience of the day moved away from the desire to be Karate Kids and toward the need to be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles instead. --Nikki Disney

• Rocky - Limited Edition Steelbook | Blu Ray | (10/02/2014) from £21.99   |  Saving you £-2.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Nominated for 10 Academy Awards this 1976 Best Picture Winner inspired a nation! A struggling Philadelphia club fighter (Sylvester Stallone) gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight for love glory and self-respect. Featuring a legendary musical score and thrilling fight sequences this rousing crowd-pleaser scores a knockout!

• 8 Seconds | DVD | (28/06/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A gruelling competition of nerve strength and skill to stay on top of 2 000 pounds of wild animal for eight seconds: that's professional bull-riding. Champion Cowboy Lane Frost is driven by an obsession to exceed his father's expectations and gain his love. But the sacrifices he makes to his craft threatens not only his marriage but also his friendships. Set against an unpredictably precarious world this is a bittersweet love story about a maverick hero who elevated his sport in

• The Formula | DVD | (22/11/2004) from £9.98   |  Saving you £6.00 (75.09%)   |  RRP £13.99

  This intriguing thriller is based on Steve Shagan's best-selling 1979 book of the same name. It begins in Germany 1945 as the Third Reich realize that the end is at hand. A general is sent to Switzerland with a truckful of documents containing information on the German discovery of a formula for the manufacturing of synthetic fuel. He is intercepted by an American who believes the world will become one big corporation at the end of the war. The scene cuts to present day Los Angeles

• The Karate Kid - Part II | DVD | (05/03/2007) from £7.90   |  Saving you £-1.91 (-31.90%)   |  RRP £5.99

  The story continues... Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki ""Pat"" Morita re-create the roles that brought them international acclaim in The Karate Kid Part 2. Karate student Daniel Larusso (Macchio) accompanies his wise and whimsical teacher Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to his ancestral home in Okinawa. For the boy it's a journey to an exotic new world offering new clues to his mentor's secret past. For Miyagi it's an opportunity to see his father one last time and to rekindle a romance with his childhood sweetheart (Nobu McCarthy). But Miyagi's return also re-ignites a bitter feud with long-time enemy Sato (Danny Kamekona) - a feud that involves young Daniel in a brilliant collision of cultures and combat. Now far away from the tournaments the cheering crowds and the safety of home Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the teacher becomes student and the price of honour is life itself.

• Rocky/Rocky 2 | DVD | (29/09/2008) from £10.49   |  Saving you £2.50 (23.83%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Rocky:This is the film that catapulted Sylvester Stallone into the international Spotlight and launched one of the most successful series of films in movie history. Rocky won the 1976 Academy Award for Best picture and two nominations for Stallone for leading actor and writer. This is the story of a loser, a two bit boxer from Philadelphia, who gets a second chance in life by being offered an impossible shot at the heavyweight title. Stallone's performance is as powerful as his character's punches in the ring. This is one of the most exciting action movies you will ever see.Rocky II:It's the rematch of the century as Rocky Balboa takes on Apollo Creed in this powerful follow-up to one of the most acclaimed movies in film history. After club fighter Rocky Balboa (Stallone) goes the distance with the world heavyweight champion, boxing fans clamour for a rematch. But Rocky, having sustained massive injuries in the bout, announces his retirement. Though he tries to make a new life for himself, Rocky realises that he can't escape his true calling. The ring beckons once more, and the 'Italian Stallion' must prepare for the fight of his life.

• Save The Tiger | DVD | (27/02/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Director John G. Avildsen's Save The Tiger is a complex character study of businessman Harry Stoner (Jack Lemmon bagging his second Oscar) the CEO of a once-successful clothing company in 1970s Los Angeles. He and his business partner Phil Greene (the great Jack Gilford) have seen better days - their company is failing and on the eve of an important fashion show they must make a decision about its future. Harry believes that the only way out of their financial cri

• Joe | DVD | (12/01/2009) from £21.58   |  Saving you £-5.59 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Bill is a wealthy businessman whose beautiful promising daughter has just decided to run away with her heroin-addicted boyfriend. Whilst wandering the city streets in search his daughter Bill takes refuge in a downtown bar where he meets Joe a frustrated patriotic bigoted and hateful factory worker. Striking up an unlikely friendship both head off into the night intent on tracking down Bill's daughter and putting the world to right. A destination and an objective that finally leads to a dark and unforgettable climax. Extremely controversial and notorious on its initial release in 1970 Joe has since become a rarely seen cult gem. Symbolising the conflict between the counter culture and the establishment Joe daringly reflects a country in turmoil and a society fraying at the edges.

• Neighbours | DVD | (17/01/2005) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Ricky Tomlinson and Phil Daniels star in this dark new British comedy about two neighbours whose disagreements soon escalate.

• Rocky Saga-hmv Excl | Blu Ray | (26/10/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £78.99

  new

• The Karate Kid II | Blu Ray | (19/07/2010) from £13.48   |  Saving you £6.51 (48.29%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The story continues... Ralph Macchio and Noriyuki Pat Morita re-create the roles that brought them international acclaim in The Karate Kid Part 2. Karate student Daniel Larusso (Macchio) accompanies his wise and whimsical teacher Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to his ancestral home in Okinawa. For the boy it's a journey to an exotic new world offering new clues to his mentor's secret past. For Miyagi it's an opportunity to see his father one last time and to rekindle a romance with his childhood sweetheart (Nobu McCarthy). But Miyagi's return also re-ignites a bitter feud with long-time enemy Sato (Danny Kamekona) - a feud that involves young Daniel in a brilliant collision of cultures and combat. Now far away from the tournaments the cheering crowds and the safety of home Daniel will face his greatest challenge ever when the teacher becomes student and the price of honour is life itself.