New Releases

• Fantasia 2000 - Platinum Edition | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £9.15   |  Saving you £-4.43 (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.72

  More ambitious in scope than any of its other animated films (before or to come), Disney's 1940 Fantasia was a dizzying, magical, and highly enjoyable marriage of classical music and animated images. Fantasia 2000 features some breathtaking animation and storytelling, and in a few spots soars to wonderful high points, but it still more often than not has the feel of walking in its predecessor's footsteps as opposed to creating its own path. A family of whales swimming and soaring to Respighi's The Pines of Rome is magical to watch, but ends all too soon; a forest sprite's dance of life, death, and rebirth to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring too clearly echoes the original Fantasia's Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria sequence. But when it's on target, Fantasia 2000 is glorious enough to make you giddy. Hans Christian Andersen's "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a perfect narrative set to Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, and Donald Duck's guest appearance as the assistant to Noah (of ark fame) set to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance marches is a welcome companion piece (though not an equal) to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the one original Fantasia piece included here. The high point of Fantasia 2000, though, is a fantastic day-in-the-life sequence of 1930s New York City set to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and animated in the style of cartoonist Al Hirschfeld; it's a perfect melding of music, story, and animation. Let's hope future Fantasias (reportedly in the works) take a cue from the best of this compilation. The music is provided by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Levine, interspersed with negligible intros by Steve Martin, Bette Midler, Itzhak Perlman, James Earl Jones, and others. --Mark Englehart

• Machete | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  He looked like just another day laborer from the streets, and the perfect fall guy for a crooked political assassination. But he turned out to be MACHETE, a legendary ex-Federale with a deadly attitude and the skills to match.

• Fantasia - Platinum Edition | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £6.98   |  Saving you £-1.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Groundbreaking on several counts, not the least of which was an innovative use of animation and stereophonic sound, this ambitious Disney feature has lost nothing to time since its release in 1940. Classical music was interpreted by Disney animators, resulting in surreal fantasy and playful escapism. Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra provided the music for eight segments by the composers Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Ponchielli, Bach, Dukas, and Schubert. Not all the sequences were created equally, but a few are simply glorious, such as "Night on Bald Mountain", "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", and "The Nutcracker Suite". The animation ranges from subtly delicate to fiercely bold. The screen bursts with color and action as creatures transmute and convention is thrust aside. The painstaking detail and saturated hues are unique to this film, unmatched even by more advanced technology. --Rochelle O'Gorman

• Let's Sing Nursery Rhymes With | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Come and join Justin on a magical trip to Nursery Rhyme Land and meet lots of your favourite characters along the way! Sing along to over 25 classic Nursery Rhymes including Little Miss Muffet Jack and Jill The Grand Old Duke of York and many more with a few surprise around the corner too.

• Summer Wars | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £11.98   |  Saving you £8.00 (80.08%)   |  RRP £17.99

  The Japanese Box Office sensation When timid eleventh-grader and math genius Kenji Koiso is asked by older student and secret crush Natsuki to come with her to her family's Nagano home for a summer job he agrees without hesitation. Natsuki's family the Jinnouchi clan dates back to the Muromachi era and they've all come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of the spunky matriarch of the family Sakae. That's when Kenji discovers his summer job is to pretend to be Natsuki's fianc'' and dance with her at the birthday celebration. As Kenji attempts to keep up with Natsuki's act around her family he receives a strange math problem on his cell phone which being a math genius he can't resist solving. As it turns out the solution to the mysterious equation causes a hijacking of the social networking site through which most of the world's social and business traffic flows. It's up to Kenji and his new fake family to put reality back in order.

• Wake Wood | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £6.20   |  Saving you £6.79 (109.52%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The parents of a girl who was killed by a savage dog are granted the opportunity to spend three days with their deceased daughter.

• Eric and Ernie | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £35.21   |  Saving you £-25.22 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  This heartfelt drama tells the story of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise's formative years in show business growing from child stars into national treasures. Big head short legs was Eric Bartholomew's first impression of Ernie Wiseman but their friendship endured and after encouragement by his well-meaning but determined mother Sadie Eric became the funny man to Ernie's feed. After a successful stint in children's variety they worked their way up the ladder of live performance but after a disastrous television debut in the series Running Wild Morecambe and Wise learned to trust their own instincts and just make people laugh.

• Beadle's About - The Complete First Series | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £8.39   |  Saving you £4.60 (54.83%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Game for a Laugh had firmly established Jeremy Beadle as Britain's master practical joker and in the mid-Eighties the much-loved TV prankster went on to present more outrageous stunts unbelievable situations and hysterical moments with this phenomenally successful show for LWT. For ten hilarious and unforgettable series between 1986 and 1996 Beadle's About set up unsuspecting members of the public for some of the most elaborate and brilliantly executed pranks ever shown on television capturing the victims' horrified reactions on hidden cameras; the show instantly became essential Saturday-night viewing in millions of homes and the topic of countless Monday-morning conversations at work or school. Now for the first time in DVD format you can enjoy some of Jeremy Beadle's most infamous stunts with this release of the complete first series.

• Ugly Betty - Series 1-4 - Complete | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £34.99   |  Saving you £41.00 (117.18%)   |  RRP £75.99

  Audiences are cheering for a vibrant overachiever with the spirit and smarts to live her dream. America Ferrera stars as go-getter Betty Suarez a true beauty in the skin-deep world of high fashion. Two very different cultures collide in this sexy and stylish series about believing in yourself regardless of the odds

• Unstoppable | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £5.61   |  Saving you £14.38 (256.33%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Star Trek's Chris Pine team with action maestro Tony Scott in this non-stop action thriller.

• Little House on the Prairie: Season 8 | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Best known for its life-affirming lessons and heartwarming adventures. Little House On The Prairie made its TV debut in 1974 and significantly altered the landscape of television. Loyal fans will relive these exciting and touching adventures while new viewers will discover the Ingalls' unconquerable courage to build a new way of life. The series nominated for 17 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Globes has become a TV milestone.

• Tamara Drewe | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £4.96   |  Saving you £13.03 (262.70%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Once the ugly duckling of the rural Dorset village of Ewedown, Tamara Drewe returns as a glamorous high flying journalist, ruffling feathers, rekindling old passions and shaking up the sleepy village with hilarious and heart-warming consequences.

• Boys on film 6 Pacific Rim | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £5.49   |  Saving you £10.50 (191.26%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Boys On Film goes down under to bring a fresh batch of funny and touching tales courtesy of our Aussie and Kiwi cousins, while from the USA and Hawaii to Singapore via Korea several more stories of men falling in love round out the collection.Rising stars Xavier Samuel and Callan McAuliffe put their own twist on traditional coming out fables in Craig Boreham s second contribution to the Boys On Film library, Drowning and the Berlin Film Festival Crystal Bear winner, Franswa Sharl.Drowning - Dir. Craig Boreham (Australia) 20minsThings are changing for Mik. His world has been turned upside down by the sudden death of his big brother forcing him to redefine his place in his family and the world. The one solid thing in Mik s life is his best friend Dan. But Dan has a new girlfriend...Franswa Sharl - Dir. Hannah Hilliard (Australia) 14minsOn a family holiday to Fiji, twelve year old Greg s creative pursuits fail to amuse his father. Setting out to win back his admiration, he enters himself into a competition with a difference....Tanjong Rhu - Dir. Boo Junfeng (Singapore) 19minsA former military officer makes a film about a man he encountered in Tanjong Rhu, a secluded cruising ground. From up-and-coming Singaporean director Boo Junfeng (of Cannes Critics Week and London Film Festival nominated Sandcastle), this film has gained notoriety in Singapore s discreet gay community.Teddy - Dir. Christopher Banks (New Zealand) 15minsAn earnest Londoner attempts to rekindle an old relationship while on holiday in New Zealand, but a faded old teddy bear from the past ultimately decides his fate.LOVE, 100C - Dir. Kim Jho Kwang-soo (South Korea) 22minsA hearing-impaired boy, Min-so is gay, and he likes his classmate, Ji-seok.One day, Min-so impulsively has sex with a man who works in a public bath, an experience that lends him a new-found confidence, but at a heavy price.My Last Ten Hours With You - Dir. Sophie Hyde (Australia) 15minsAt 6am Jeremy and Mark will go their separate ways. Their last ten hours together over one hot night will be punctuated with friends, fights and frustrations as they wait it out, each dealing with the loss of love in their own way.Ron the Zookeeper - Dir. Darcy Prendergast (Australia) 7minsWith only one male grey panda left in the entire world, Ron the zookeeper is sent in to get a sperm sample, no matter what. Eponymous Aussie artist Darcy Prendergast s first wacky claymation creation (before Mary and Max), Ron The Zookeeper was banned from his graduation premiere!Ajumma! Are You Krazy??? Dir. Brent Anbe (Hawaii, USA) 25minsFuelled by their schoolgirl hormones, three Ajummas , aka Korean soap fanatics - the lovable Judy, Susan the gruff-tough one, and Amy the sassy tart - go on a hilarious journey to try and meet Korean superstar Michael Park by stealing his itinerary, breaking into his hotel room, and sneaking on to his music video set. However, they didn t factor in the competition!

• Secretariat | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £4.01   |  Saving you £9.24 (336.00%)   |  RRP £11.99

  Based on the remarkable true story, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner.

• Rise of the Demon Empire | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £5.48   |  Saving you £10.51 (191.79%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Betrayed and butchered... But vengeance will be theirs. Enter the stunning fantasy world of Mid-Heaven in the magical action epic from the team behind the spectacular 'The Warrior'. Featuring some of the most jaw-dropping kung fu action captured on film DEMON EMPIRE is a visual treat and includes incredible designs by the Academy Award-winning team behind Kurosawa's 'Ran' 'Hero' and 'House Of Flying Daggers'. In the limbo world between Heaven and Earth a fearsome demon lord readies his unholy forces for the time when the gates to the human realm will be shattered. As the prophesised hour draws near the demon hordes hunt a beautiful angel who has the power to prevent their destiny from being fulfilled. Only a wandering human warrior (Jung Woo-sung 'The Good The Bad The Weird') who's become trapped in Mid-Heaven and his magical demon-killing sword stand in their way.

• Mad Men Season 4 | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £11.89   |  Saving you £18.10 (152.23%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Critically acclaimed Mad Men winner of three consecutive Golden Globes and back-to-back Emmys for 'Outstanding Drama Series' returns rife with possibilities - in a Mad New World. Now the cast continue to captivate as they grapple with an uncertain new reality. Relationships are redefined and people are forced to face themselves and the world around them in new ways. Mad Men continues to question the traditional norms and the simmering social frustrations between women and men with compelling storylines and resonant moments that are sure to enthral fans of the show both new and old.

• Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £15.29   |  Saving you £0.70 (4.58%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Winner of the 2010 Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival. The latest film from the director of Syndromes and a Century, Tropical Malady and Blissfully Yours has propelled Apichatpong Weerasethakul into the spotlight.

• Ugly Betty Season 4 | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £9.99   |  Saving you £21.00 (210.21%)   |  RRP £30.99

  Some TV series end too soon, leaving us panting for more, while others overstay their welcome, leaving a bad taste (and possibly a jumped shark or two) in their wake. Fortunately, ABC's Ugly Betty has done neither, bowing out just right with this fourth and final season (with 20 episodes, plus bonus material, on four discs) chronicling the adventures of young Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) as she navigates the world of high fashion in New York. When the third season concluded, one wondered if the show would continue to spotlight Betty's cutesy, quirky ways, including a fashion sense so extreme it could scare a blind person, and thus risk becoming redundant--or would we see her blossom into some version of grown-up normality? As it turns out, the answer is a bit of both. Betty is still well-meaning but often tactless and klutzy, someone who's adored by her family, pursued by boyfriends old and new, and, because she's honest and agenda-free, resented by her covetous, conniving colleagues at Mode, the magazine that employs her. But the character became steadily more confident and assertive through the years; she's an editor now, and by the end of season 4 she has made some major moves in her personal and professional lives. Other changes, though more superficial, are also more dramatic, including an extreme (and permanent) fashion makeover in the second episode and (warning: spoiler alert) the removal of her braces toward the end of the season. The people responsible for the show knew the end was coming, so while various story lines come and go in the course of this final season (as do guests stars like Shakira and Brooklyn Decker), most of the major characters' fates are resolved by the end, including the power struggle between Claire (Judith Light) and Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams); the future of Mode and its editor, Daniel (Eric Mabius); the dispositions of Betty's "frenemies" Amanda (Becki Newton) and Marc (Michael Urie); the romantic lives of Betty's family members; and more. As before, virtually every aspect of Ugly Betty--the sets, the props, the lighting, the clothes (of course), even the writing--is almost cartoonishly bright and colourful, sometimes quite beautifully so. --Sam Graham

• Lexx - Complete Series | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £44.99   |  Saving you £-6.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £38.99

  Bio-engineered the spacecraft Lexx is a powerful weapon which is capable of destroying a planet with ease. Grown in The Cluster under the rule of His Shadow Lexx is stolen by fugitives: security guard Stanley Tweedle the love slave Zev and Kai the last of the Brunnen-G and the one man prophesied to destroy His Shadow's order. Running from The Cluster and the wrath of His Shadow the fugitives take Lexx through the fractal core to the Dark Zone a universe of evil and chaos. Now they are looking for a new home...

• Limelight (Chaplin Collection) | DVD | (28/03/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The legend of silent films, Charlie Chaplin, plays an ageing music-hall comedian who befriends a young despondent ballet dancer, Terry (Claire Bloom). Terry is in slow recovery, learning to feel confident about life after her attempted suicide.Also included in the highlights is a famous Chaplin and Buster Keaton comedy skit in this Academy Award-winning film, as the two comedians portray faded stars seeking an audience in a contantly changing world.