WAKING THE DEAD, wow, wow, wow well written and brilliantly performed. Even though it has been going for quite a while, gets me and do hope others stuck to the box to watch. Trevor Eve, how good can one get and Sue Johnston, has me hooked on phsycology so like before wow, wow, wow.......now ave box set on order as it is no longer shown on alibi
An excellent follow up. Kids will reallty enjoy this. I know my son does. Entertaining, well written, stays true to the book and visually very good.
My son watches this every day. It has exciting characters, an engaging story and is wonderfully written. Well recommended to all those with children. They will love it.
Jumanji for adults (18) as in if you lose the game you die. What more needs to be said.
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Riveting adaptation of Shakespeare's play about an embittered Roman General who loathes the people, is betrayed by opportunistic politicians and ultimately joins forces with his arch-enemy to lead an assault against the city he once protected. Ralph Fiennes is on superb form as both director and lead, his portrayal of the aloof and arrogant Caius Martius Coriolanus is matched word for word by co-star Gerry Butler, equally impressive as charismatic rebel leader Tullus Aufidius. Updating the story to modern times, 'Coriolanus' begins in 'A place calling itself Rome' where public dissatisfaction is at an all time high as Affidus intensifies his campaign: Executing captured Roman troops on camera and provoking the powers that be to send in Caius Martius to pacify the insurgency.
Fiennes directs the battle scenes with a sure hand and the war zone looks a lot like the former Yugoslavia, Chechnya or Dagestan. But the real conflicts take place in the corridors of power; where malicious machinations, deceit and treachery prove much worse than the bombs and bullets of the battlefield. 'Coriolanus' is easily the best dramatic performance of Ralph Fiennes career, Gerry Butler, though absent for long periods of time, is also a revelation; and his relationship with Coriolanus traverses the boundaries between respect, friendship and rivalry.
Vanessa Redgrave almost steals the show as Caius Matius's mother Volumina (the long scene where she tries to dissuade her son from attacking Rome is particularly good) whilst a strong supporting cast that includes Jessica Chastin, Brian Cox, Lubna Azabal, Ashraf Barhom and James Nesbit all play their parts well. But this is Fiennes film, and he takes home the lion's share of the best dialogue and turns the dry, military man into a sympathetic anti-hero of sorts. For you'll be hard pressed not to applaud the iambic blitzkrieg of scorn and vitriol that Fiennes brings with every attempt to make him a politician or acceptable to the masses. A particular favourite of mine is the scene where Coriolanus is asked to apologise for an earlier outburst and make amends with the senate:
'Away, my disposition, and possess me
Some harlot's spirit! my throat of war be turn'd,
Which quired with my drum, into a pipe
Small as an eunuch, or the virgin voice
That babies lulls asleep! A most inherent baseness:
I would not buy Their mercy at the price of one fair word;
Nor cheque my courage for what they can give,
To have't with saying 'Good morrow'.
An excellent adaptation the play: well paced, acted and an impressive directorial debut from Fiennes. A must see.
A lot has been said about Game Of Thrones, and the reason why? Because it is absolutely brilliant. The acting is phenomenal especially from the child actors/actresses. The story telling is brilliant in capturing the audiences attention, making viewers pant in anticipation for the next episode.
What makes a show like GoT stand out from other Medieval/Fantasy shows and movies is the fact everything is filmed in real locations which adds to the realism and darkness of the show, instead of green screen which takes away from the experience.
With the story revolving around the different houses it gives the viewers their choice to choose their favourite character instead of being forced to follow just one "main" character.
Best TV series in a very long time. You will not be disappointed!!
Absolutely Perfect television....
I thought this film was abysmal but my 4 year old son loved it and hasn't stopped talking about it all day so we will be buying the dvd for him but I will not be watching it with him!
24 has always been an adrenalin filled action series and season 4 does not fail to deliver the high standard of excitement and entertainment much like the first 3 seasons. 24 has certain unique features which make it stand out amongst the plethora of American TV dramas such as Lost and Heroes. Multiple cameras being used at once to film the same section, although sometimes subtle and at points not particularly necessary was a fantastic feature in prior seasons yet season 4 has a distinct lack of this losing it's appeal to those looking for something different. What's more is the shear amount of repetition within season 4. Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) makes the offer of a presidential pardon to several prisoners, most of whom die before the offer can be put in place as well as the same torture sequence with Jack yelling the phrase "Tell me where ______ is" followed by the obligatory word "NOW!" can get a little tedious at times. Overall a rather disappointing season from FOX this time maybe due to their USP of 24 hour long episodes taking place in real time dragging it out a little but if you're a dedicated fan or just enjoyed the previous seasons then for you it still does the brand justice.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is Guy Ritchie's second Holmes movie after the simply titled 'Sherlock Holmes' of 2009. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law star once more, apparently turning down other projects in order to prioritise working together on the new vehicle. The film itself is not strictly based on any one Arthur Conan Doyle story but takes inspiration from The Final Problem. This need not deter viewers though, because what is clear is that the wit, visual delight and breathless plot mechanism that made the original so good have largely been carried over. The story itself is an intriguing mystery with strong overtones of international conspiracy. Very briefly, Holmes and Watson uncover a plan to bring Europe closer to a war which would inevitably benefit the villainous Professor Moriarty who has cynically invested in industries which would directly benefit from such a conflict, most obviously armaments. The film transports us from turn of the century London to the continent and then Switzerland for its thrilling climax.
While the plot as described provides a firm foundation for this film, it is the dialogue, photography and attention to detail that make it so compelling. In dialogue terms, the exchanges between Holmes and Watson and Holmes and Moriarty are super-witty and you find yourself rewinding to catch every last nuance of what is being said. The photography has Ritchie's signature all over it, especially through the bold use of time slice photography during the incredible escape from the armaments factory. However, the best party trick of them all is the way in which Holmes assesses how he might fare in a fight against any given adversary, only seconds before the fight actually begins. He predicts every move like a chess player with all the possible outcomes and this is played out onto the screen with brutal and violent frankness. This same technique is then used with devastating effect at the very end of the film when for the first time we are led to believe - shock horror! - that Holmes might not come out on top after all. I'll say no more for fear of spoiling it for others.
Next is the attention to detail. I'm trying to avoid the cliché of 'visual feast' but the expression really does describe this film perfectly. The neat marriage of Victoriana and turn of the century cutting edge technology reveals a slew of gadgetry that on the surface looks old and brassy until you realise that is exactly what the modern equivalents are based on. We are treated to early but still highly effective versions of gattling guns, sniper rifles, cars, artillery pieces and even an oxygen inhaler. None of this detracts from the film; instead it enriches it and brings out the schoolboy hobbyist in all of us. "Cool!", I find myself gasping involuntarily as the gattling gun wreaks havoc in the train sequence.
But this isn't purely a gadget movie. No Guy Ritchie film would be complete without a snappy and positive portrayal of some of society's more marginalised and misunderstood members. In this case the Roma Gipsies feature but are given fairer treatment than is usually accorded them in films where a degree of stereotyping has tended to creep in. The subsequent Gipsy campfire party in which Holmes and Watson indulge themselves a little too much is trademark Ritchie and just one of many fascinating off-shoots which the film meanders into without completely losing direction or focus. Stephen Fry also makes a welcome appearance as Holmes's eccentric brother Mycroft; his brief but hilarious performance left me wondering why this British national treasure doesn't choose to do more movie work.
In short, Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows is another fine effort by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, with sufficient chemistry between the characters and visual amusement to keep the viewer fully engaged right the way through. The jury is out on whether this film is better than the previous; it's almost a pointless debate because plot-wise they are quite different animals, even if stylistically they are similar. If I was being really picky, I might say that the dialogue is 'only' 98% as good as the previous film's, but the ample compensation for that barely noticeable slippage is some incredible set-piece scenes - the aforementioned armaments factory escape being one - and arguably an even more engaging storyline. Either way, it's clear that there is plenty of mileage left in this Sherlock Holmes franchise and we can safely look forward to more instalments in the coming years.
Second Ritchie take on the famous super-sleuth cements the reputation of this franchise
As soon as I saw the trailer for this film I knew I would have to see it. It looked like a great film with a fantastic story to tell. I haven't read the book by Kathryn Stockett but I had heard great things about it and the film adaptation so couldn't wait to buy this DVD.
Another reason that I wanted to watch this film was the actress Emma Stone. I had really enjoyed her performance as a smart and funny modern day teenager in one of my favourite films "Easy A" and wanted to see how she would fair playing a more restrained young woman from the 1960s. I had no need to worry though: as part of a great ensemble cast, Emma Stone perfectly embodied a young woman trying to understand the world around her and her place in it.
All of the main cast members were exceptional from the quiet dignity of Viola Davis as Aibileen the Narrator of the story to the barely contained rage of Octavia Spencer as Minny. One of my favourite relationships in the film was that of Minny and her new employer Celia (Jessica Chastain), herself an outcast in the town. After initially finding herself in the unique position of having to educate her new boss on how to treat a coloured servant, Minny eventually finds real friendship and a place she can relax and be herself.
Although she is essentially playing the villain of the film, I really enjoyed Bryce Dallas Howard's performance as Miss Hilly Holbrook. I think she managed to make this flawed character into a three dimensional, living woman who really could not see or understand that the way she was behaving was wrong. This was a difficult role to play and Bryce Dallas Howard managed it beautifully.
This is a thought provoking and emotional film. It is also very funny and the laughter helps to lighten what could have been a very dark story. At 140 minutes I did think it might be a little too long but the time flew past as I was immersed in the lives of this complicated, wonderful group of women.
I was, however, a little disappointed with the Extras offered on the DVD. The back of the DVD mentions "compelling, never-before-seen bonus features". What we get is two deleted scenes and a music video. These are not "compelling" bonus features. I would have loved to see a "Making Of" documentary or a brief feature about the book and/or the real-life stories that inspired it. Both of these are, I understand, available on the Blu-ray of this film.
In summary, if you are looking for compelling Bonus Features then this DVD is not for you (buy the Blu-ray instead) but if you are looking for a compelling, thought provoking, funny film that will entertain and inform you then I cannot recommend this film highly enough.
Ex-MMA fighter; the undefeated Gina Carano, gets her big break in film as the lead in 'Haywire', an entertaining B-movie spy thriller with an all-star cast. Director Steven Soderbergh ('Traffic') is perhaps the most erratic of all Hollywood filmmakers with a CV ranging from unashamedly commercial fare like 'Ocean's 11, 12 and 13' to underrated cult classics like 'Out of Sight' and 'Che'. Here, he's crafted a slick narrative that sees in-demand mercenary Malory Kane (Carano) double crossed by her employer Ewan Macgregor and forced to go on the run from all manner of shadowy characters out to get her.
Cutting back and forth between Barcelona, New York and Dublin; Mallory fights her way from place to place taking on British spy Michael Fassbender, untrustworthy American Michael Douglas, Spanish spymaster Antonio Banderas and crossing paths with ex-lover and comrade-in-arms Channing Tatum. Each encounter takes her closer to settling the score with Macgregor (who's based his character on U.S. 'Blackwater' terrorist leader Erik Prince). 'Haywire' is a fast paced, well directed movie; I liked the way Sodenbergh shot the fight scenes in long takes with no music, ratcheting up the realism with every kick and punch. Not as stylized as the colored-filter heavy 'Traffic', 'Haywire' retains its edginess with sharp camera moves and crisp visuals beautifully captured by the Red One MX and Hawk V-Lite digital cameras. The diffused dark edges on screen seem to be there for novelty value, or perhaps to highlight the shadowy underworld of black-ops and spy vs. spy shenanigans.
Gina Carano, all things considered, is acceptable enough and sells the action sequences well, the film doesn't demand much from her acting wise but she certainly doesn't embarrass herself alongside such a high caliber cast. 'Haywire' will appeal to fans of the spy thriller and offers an interesting take on the genre; a good movie, and definitely worth a look.
One of the those films that you'd see mentioned on a 'Great Performances in Average Movies' list, 'W.' directed by prolific political filmmaker Oliver Stone ('JFK', 'Nixon') sees a brilliant, spot on performance by Josh Brolin as convicted war criminal and former U.S. President George W. Bush. But the film itself, though memorable, well paced and ambitious in its narrative approach, often falters and avoids many important aspects in Dubya's life (e.g. Christian Zionism, Israel, PNAC, neo-conservatism, Rothschild etc). Stone decides to tell the story in two halves; going back and forth in time between Bush's nepotistic ascension from drunken thug to political contender (1970-1994) and his terms in office as president (1999-08) coupled with the fallout of the regime's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Held together by a captivating central performance by Josh Brolin, who walks the fine line between character and caricature, 'W.' is tragedy played out as farce but owes more to the objective satire and Poioumena of works like 'Tristram Shandy' and 'Sartor Resartus', than it does to straight up parodies like 'That's My Bush' or 'The Madness of George Dubya'. Essentially a series of compelling vignettes replete with almost all of those deathless gaffes forever known as Bushisms: "...is our children learning?", "...they'll never misunderestimate me again..." etc. 'W.' is a tightly wound, navel gazing biopic as limited in its scope and vision as its eponymous subject and often hampered by the fact that the story isn't over yet.
The film also boasts a sterling supporting cast; all of whom are great actors but many of whom aren't quite right for their parts: James Cromwell is too stoic and sober for George H.W. Bush and only reminded me of the ex-president when he reacts badly after losing the 1992 election or appears in Jr's subconscious as a smarmy, disapproving authority figure. Ellen Burstyn is a casting choice Stone got right, for Burstyn plays cantankerous country bumpkin Barbara Bush to the hilt. Elizabeth Banks' performance is far too sympathetic to convey the robotic Stepford Wife that is Laura Bush. Jeffrey Wright is also saddled with a duff role as Colin Powell; Wright is far too cool and understated to play Powell, for the former secretary of defence was a little more than Yes Man who often played an Uncle Tom for his political masters. Donald Rumsfeld is also way off; Rumsfeld should be a craggy, nauseating bore with little to no human characteristics, whereas Scott Glenn is far too expressive and supple an actor to pull this off. Thandie Newton looks the part as Condelezza Rice; with a permanent Crayola red side smirk Newton gets Rice's mannerisms about right and does a fairly good impression. Stone's masterstroke however, is Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney; portrayed as a snide, conniving hunchback ripped straight out of 'Richard III'; Cheney is clearly the evil genius to Dubya's hubristic moron: Cleverly manipulating Bush to sign off a torture bill at breakfast before unveiling the U.S master plan for world domination at a cabinet meeting.
Stone's involving mise-en-scene works by filming certain events in the way that Bush would've perceived them to be, thereby heightening our reaction to the self-aggrandising stupidity of it all, for by playing it straight and earnest; Stone makes the characters look all the more ridiculous. A recurring motif gives us a glimpse into Dubya's mind, and his 'happy place': an empty baseball field where he always catches the ball, and its during our final visit to this site where Stone employs some straightforward symbolism to sum up his view on Dubya's legacy.
'W.' subtly highlights Bush's failures as both a leader and a human being by using a variety of interesting methods to build up a patchwork of ideas that don't quite work as a whole but make for a reasonable, well-observed biopic. Worth watching once.
What a show stargate was, staring of with the basic jafa enemy throwing in charaters like teal'c, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter and the wonderful funny intellegent Jack O'Neil, with adventure, mystery, conspiracy, humour, romance, intrigue, this show has it all. A true classic hit well worth owning on dvd to be able to go back and watch the classics. Not many sci-fi shows have lasted this many seasons, displaying the tunacity and vibrance given to it by the writers, actors and fans alike. A must have.
an amazing show
When was the last time you were truly challenged by a movie?
If you're anything like me, you've probably got into some lazy habits when it comes to the films you choose to watch. Hollywood actioners or superhero adventures, perhaps, or maybe the kind of dumb-but-fun adult comedies that are enjoying such a resurgence at the moment. Maybe sci-fi's your thing, or maybe animation. But regardless of exactly what your regular diet consists of, you owe it to yourself to take a break from these comfortable and familiar pursuits and check out one of the most arresting, unpredictable, well-acted and uncompromising films I've seen in many years: Paddy Considine's Tyrannosaur.
Tyrannosaur begins by introducing you to its two central characters: Joseph, played by Peter Mullan (of such modern classics as Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, and Children of Men), and Hannah, portrayed by Olivia Colman (probably best known as Sophie from Channel 4's "Peep Show"). Immediately, working-class hardman Joseph is cast in an unremittingly nasty and apparently irredeemable light. He has a short temper, a tendency towards aggressive and violent outbursts - including killing a harmless domestic animal in one of the film's earliest scenes - and unpleasant racist leanings. Hannah, meanwhile, is a well-to-do Christian charity-shop worker who operates in one of the poorer parts of an undisclosed Northern town. The two meet one day when Joseph takes refuge in Hannah's shop to escape a beating from some locals that he's recently antagonised.
So far, so predictable, right?
However, those expecting a simple story of redemption and rehabilitation will find themselves confounded by the many twists and turns that Considine's debut feature takes. It quickly becomes apparent that Joseph isn't the only character with deep-rooted problems, as Hannah's apparently cosy middle-class existence conceals some very dark secrets involving her marriage. As the relationship between Hannah and Joseph develops, we begin to realise that she needs him as much as he needs her, and it's fascinating to watch the balance of power in the relationship change as the compelling narrative of the two characters' increasingly-intertwined lives plays out.
I'm keeping things deliberately vague here, because much of the power of Tyrannosaur is contained within its well-timed and subtle shocks. The story's unpredictable path forces you to address your own preconceptions that you've formed about these characters (and often revise them completely), without any of the plot twists ever feeling contrived or unlikely. And Considine isn't afraid to add some challenging layers of depth and complexity to his characters, either: for example, one minor supporting player who we see advocating a racist attack early on in the film is later rewarded with a quiet moment of grace and dignity during a friend's funeral; whilst another character who initially seems weak and vulnerable proves to be the most violent and dangerous in the movie. It makes you realise just how rare it is to see genuinely three-dimensional characters on the screen, with Tyrannosaur leaving the leads of most other movies looking flat and archetypal.
In amongst the pitch-pefect human drama, Considine reveals an ability to handle more complex storytelling ideas, too: a good example is the canny metaphor of Joseph's gradual destruction of his garden shed, which occurs at the same time as he's breaking down the boundaries between himself and Hannah. There's also a pleasing symmetry between one of the film's final acts of violence and one of its earliest, reframing an apparently irredeemable action as an act of genuine compassion and humanity, despite its violence.
Hopefully this review has given you a flavour of Tyrannosaur without giving too much away about it. Much of the film's appeal would be destroyed if I revealed even the bare bones of its plot, let alone hinted at the nature of its conclusion. But what I can say is that it's an incredibly original, memorable and thought-provoking experience that's packed with thoroughly believable performances (especially from the two leads) and shot with the confidence of an experienced director rather than a rookie first-timer. Whilst it isn't a film that tries to push a particular message on its viewers, or present a certain political point of view, it's still a movie that contains some incredibly powerful ideas that will stay with you long after you've popped the DVD out of its slot.
A very good set!! The episodes are all very good! All very funny and entertaining- South Park at its best.
The box is also good- great layout for all 3 discs! Reccomend to people who want a laugh- but remember its South Park!
I purchased "Earth" from e-bay seller at a total price of £16.95, Waited for the up-to-date version and have to say that I am very disappointed. Of course I looked at reviews AFTER purchasing blu ray in 3d. Not a good idea but one day I will learn. In my opinion not a lot of 3d presentation and to me sometimes seemed blurred. Not the quality of the first 3d blu ray Hugo - now that was really exceptional. I suppose we get spoiled with all David Attenborough productions and for this reason I cannot see me sitting down and watching this again. Seller in e-bay unfortunately does not accept Returns. The clue was there as there were very little details about this blu ray and I think the production was made by the Dutch. Bet it would have been fabulous if Simon King or Gordon Buchanan had been involved.
Moulin Rouge- DVD Review
Moulin Rouge is one of the most comprehensive and expertly crafted pieces of film media I have seen to date. It's three main elements of stylish scripting, expert acting and simply masterful music are all done with an elegance that only a true master's hand can craft. Released in 2001 it was most definetely the most popular and successful of director Baz Luhrmann's "Red Curtain Trilogy." It utilises the Verfremsdung effect well and is coated with beautifully composed music that captured the nation, this combined with a riveting storyline was a sure recipe for success.
The story is set in 1899 at the time of the French Revolution, a young writer Christian (Ewan Mcgregor) has come from England to find himself and take part in the Bohemian styled event. He defies his father in doing so and becomes a writer for a group of performers at the renowned night club: the Moulin Rouge. A hub of the dark underworld where the rich & the poor alike go to be entertained by female dancers. He becomes involved with the clubs star Courtesan: Satine (Nicole Kidman.) However she is currently being courted by a rich & powerful Duke (Richard Roxburgh) who has promised funding for the club in exchange for her "services." Thus the love affair grows ever more dangerous and strenuous for the pair as Christian struggles with seeing Satine with other men, not helped either by the club owner's (Jim Broadbent) intent to split them up to ensure the club receives the aforementioned funding. Finally it comes to the point where Satine is forced to break Christians heart to keep her job, banishing Christian from the club. However in a final performance he reappears to claim her hand, in front of the Duke himself. However after having successfully done so Satine collapses dramatically into Christian's arms and dies from a terminal condition leaving Christian heartbroken.
An ultimately sad tale, however is all performed excellently. Jim Broadbent steals the screen when he appears with his booming voice and varied acting that encompasses so many emotions so well. Nicole Kidman also performs well here although not at her best it is fine acting. The real standout for me is Ewan Mcgregor in what I personally think is his best work. He so well shows his character and rather than merely a performance I feel this was an evolution for him. The use of the verfremsdung effect is also prominent in this film which influences all of the actors' styles. This is where the film is designed to remind you that it is in fact a film, to prevent the audience being too absorbed into the diegesis. It is well done and a signpost of Luhrmann's work. The quirky style that emanates from it obviously appealed due to the film's success.
Finally- but most importantly- the music. This is a key point of the film, it is wonderfully composed and is one of the best official soundtracks I have ever heard for a film. Composed by Craig Armstrong it captures all of the emotion of the film using a variety on instruments culminating into an album that is a true joy to listen too. The soundtrack could have it's own review it is that good! The Album has sold thousands of copies and Moulin Rouge is still remembered today for it's music. I even have a copy on my Ipod and it has served as inspiration for my own musical endeavours. Favourites such as the low bassy "show must go on" and the "Elephant Love melody" are true stand outs for me.
Overall this is a movie on a wide scope, encompassing stylistic wrting and a excellent cast but taking it's musical side to a whole other level. Resulting in the film's sound track being it's very own product. In my opinion this a must watch for all.
A musical masterpiece, telling the tale of young Bohemian poet Christian's adventures in the dark underworld of Paris during the French Revloution.
a really fascinating adventure with the Smurfs
little blue people the Smurfs live in a village and are in trouble with gargamel when they go to new york city and they must find a way to get back home
this dvd is fantastic i love being human it was a sad to see george go i recommend this dvd too any one who is a being human fan.
about a warewolf a ghost and a vampire who share a house in barry honolulu heights
and the old ones are coming.and is baby eve the saviour of the world
In my opinion Thor is an outstanding movie in many ways. First of all it has epic and dramatic fighting scenes which you expect to see in marvel super hero films but it did live up to its expectation. They picked the best man for the job to play thor, Chris Hemsworth. He combines serious acting with a touch of humour, and that brings me on to my next point. Al tough being a serious movie about earth trying to be taking other it didn't fail to make me laugh, for example when he first comes to earth they think he is crazy and on drugs and also the bit the government think he is on drugs. this movie is action packed from start to finish. It also shows that you can find love anywhere when thor and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) fall in love by the end. Great twists and turns throughout and in my opinion a must watch.
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