NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious film-making techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon
Vertical Limit is the film for all those mountain-climbing aficionados who devoured Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and similar books. It attempts to translate man-against-the-mountain adventure into compelling, albeit fictional, drama. But while the climbing action is pretty darn breathtaking, somebody forgot to put the brakes on the cliché machine while penning the screenplay. Two siblings (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) are mentally scarred by a climbing accident in which their father died to save them. She becomes a famous mountain climber; he never climbs again. On one of her climbs an avalanche leaves her stranded and only her determined brother can bring her back, along with a ragtag team of rescuers. It's easy to pick out the rest of the story from here, but Vertical Limit is less about the hackneyed plot than it is about putting its characters into increasingly dangerous situations and hanging them precariously over various mountainsides. It's a credit to director Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) that the impressive action keeps the film moving along past the bordering-on-absurd plot twists. O'Donnell tosses his mane of fluffy hair admirably, but it's still disheartening to see this once-promising actor turning into a pretty-boy stand-in; only Glenn manages to overcome his character's predictability. Mountaineering enthusiasts will recognise a cameo by world-renowned climber Ed Viesturs, who as an actor proves that he's... a very good mountain climber. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
For viewers new to HBO's acclaimed series Big Love, starting with these nine episodes (on three discs) from the fourth season may be like jumping aboard a moving passenger train--there are many strange folks around, and there's a lot going on, so it may take a while to find your footing. (Fortunately, the boxed set includes a look back at the first three seasons, and brief "Inside the Episode" bits in which cocreators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer discuss the key elements of each new chapter.) Of course, old hands will already be familiar with the many trials and tribulations of Mormon businessman Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), his three wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn as Barb, Chloë Sevigny as Nicki, and Ginnifer Goodwin as Margene), and a brood of children now approaching double figures. The family's nemesis (and Nicki's father), "prophet" Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton), is out of the picture early on, but a scary new villain emerges in the form of JJ (Zeljko Ivanek), a skeletal, hollow-eyed schemer and Nicki's ex-husband, who, for starters, marries her mother and connives with her brother Alby (Matt Ross). And there are numerous other story lines to follow, as Bill and his Native American partners struggle to get their new casino going; Bill contemplates a run for political office, hoping to use that bully pulpit to convince his constituents that polygamy isn't so bad after all (and outing himself in the process); two of the wives struggle with carnal temptations offered by other men; Bill's loony parents (Bruce Dern and Grace Zabriskie) become involved in smuggling exotic birds from Mexico; and on and on. Many of these situations are patently absurd, and the tone of the show--satirical but not parodic; amusing but not in the least sit-commy--often follows suit. But there are serious issues here as well; aside from polygamy, the stigma of being gay and Mormon male is handled with considerable poignance. As usual, the performances are excellent (Oscar winner Sissy Spacek appears as a Washington lobbyist in several episodes), as are the writing and direction. And even if many adherents agree that this is not the series' finest season, Big Love is sui generis; the fact that there's nothing else like it out there is by itself a good reason for watching. --Sam Graham
As if juggling three wives isn't tricky enough, Season Three of Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Big Love finds modern polygamist Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) tackling problems outside his three-house suburban home. Bill a practicing polygamist who lives in suburban Salt Lake City with his three wives and seven children. An independent businessman who runs a growing chain of hardware stores, Bill faces a myriad of challenges in meeting the emotional, romantic and financial needs of his wives Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin).
When country boy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) meets the pretty and enigmatic Mae (Jenny Wright) he immediately falls for her angelic charms. Equally enamoured Mae agrees to go for a ride in Caleb's truck where despite Mae's apparent apprehension and urgency to get back home before sunrise the pair make out. During their romantic interlude Mae gives Caleb a nip on the neck before mysteriously disappearing into the night. Alone and slightly confused by the time dawn breaks Caleb is suffering from severe stomach cramps and a serious aversion to sunlight. While struggling to make his way back to his father's farm he is abducted by a group of strangers in a motorhome. The kidnappers turn out to be Mae's ""family"" a band of vampires who intend to feast on Caleb before he turns into one of them... ""Romantic and haunting tender and terrifying it oozes atmosphere as thick as blood"" Total Film
Dante's Peak (Dir. Roger Donaldson 1997): Without warning day becomes night. Air turns to fire and solid ground gives way to white-hot molten terror. Brace yourself for action-packed earth shaking thrills and whatever you do... don't look back. Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton star in an epic adventure from Director Roger Doaldson that will blow you away! Erupting with spectacular special effects heart-pounding suspense romance and remarkable characters Dante's Peak is a blast! Twister (Dir. Jan De Bont 1996): The house rips apart piece by piece. A bellowing cow spins through the air. Tractors fall like rain. A 15 000-pound gasoline tanker becomes an airborne bomb. A mile-wide 300 mile-per-hour force of total devastation is coming at you: Twister is hitting home. In this adventure swirling with cliffhanging excitement and awesome special effects Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton play scientists pursuing the most destructive weatherfront to seep through mid America's Tornado Alley in 50 years. By launching electronic sensors into the funnel the storm chasers hope to obtain enough data to create an improved warning system. In order to do so they must place themselves in the twisters' deadly path... Deep Impact (Dir. Mimi Leder 1998): What would you do if you knew that in a handful of days an enormous comet would collide with Earth and all humanity could be annihilated? Mimi Leder directs guiding an all-star cast featuring Robert Duvall Tea Leoni Elijah Wood Vanessa Redgrave Maximilian Schell and Morgan Freeman. With the film's dynamic fusion of large-scale excitement and touching human-scale storylines Deep Impact makes its impact felt in a big and unforgettable way.
This electrifying action sequel unleashes the deadly Predator in another jungle the urban jungle of Los Angeles. Danny Glover stars as a hard-headed cop up against a savage alien who has come to Earth from a distant galaxy to hunt humans for sport.
If it bleeds we can kill it!!! Get both special editions of Predator 1 and 2 on this fantastic 4 disc box set packed full of loads of extras with behind the scenes footage interviews with the crew and cast and some of the best Schwarzenegger anecdotes you'll ever see! Predator: It sees the heat of their bodies. It smells their fears. It hunts for sport. It kills for pleasure. In a place without rules - the hunter has become the hunted. Deep inside the jungles of Lat
Lake Placid (Dir. Steve Miner 1999): Bill Pullman Bridget Fonda and Oliver Platt share an appetite for sheer adventure when a tranquil New England lakefront erupts into an action-packed den of destruction in this ""Monster of a hit!"" (Wireless Magazine). An investigative team of malcontents (armed with state-of-the-art equipment high-powered weaponry and a biting sense of sarcasm) must work together to defeat Black Lake's most ferocious resident: a 30-foot prehistoric crocod
T3 - Rise Of The Machines (Dir. Jonathan Mostow 2003): A decade has passed since John Connor (Nick Stahl) helped prevent Judgment Day and save mankind from mass destruction. Now 22 Connor lives off the grid - no home no credit cards no cell phone and no job. No record of his existence. No way he can be traced by Skynet - the highly developed network of machines that once tried to kill him and wage war on humanity. Until... ...out of the shadows of the future steps the T-X (Kristanna loken) Skynet's most sophisticated cyborg killing machine yet. Sent back through time to complete the job left unfinished by her predecessor the T-1000 this machine is as relentless as her human guise is beautiful. Now Connor's only hope for survival is the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) his mysterious former assassin. Together they must triumph over the technologically superior T-X and forestall the looming threat of Judgment Day...or face the apocalypse and the fall of civilization as we know it. True Lies (Dir. James Cameron 1994): Arnold Schwarzenegger is special agent Harry Tasker a top spy in the ultra-secret Omega Sector although to his wife Helen he's just a boring computer salesman. When Harry's two lives unexpectedly collide both he and Helen find themselves in the clutches of international terrorists fighting to save not only their marriage but their lives. Jammed with incredible special effects is an exhilarating mix of non-stop action and romantic comedy. Last Action Hero (Dir. John McTiernan 1993): Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien) a young cinema fan is crazy about his all-time great movie hero L.A. cop Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenneger). Having received a magic golden cinema ticket Danny is blasted through the big screen and into the action alongside his celluloid hero who is more than a little puzzled by his presence. Fasten your seatbelt as the dare-devil duo dodge bullets bombs and bad guys in a whirlwind world where anything is possible! But. ..disaster strikes when the baddies grab half the magic ticket and make their escape into the real world where they find life a doddle for two rogues intent on madness and mayhem.With Jack and Danny in hot pursuit hold your breath as the action addicts discover that real life can be even more exciting than the movies.
Can love survive the fall of paradise? During a weekend two shady businessmen flee to the Cayman Islands to avoid federal prosecution. But their escape ignites a chain reaction that leads a British native to commit a crime that changes the nation.
Settle back for a delightful INDIAN SUMMER -- the heartwarming comedy about eight friends who reunite at their summer camp after 20 years! Starring an impressive ensemble cast including Elizabeth Perkins (CATS AND DOGS, 28 DAYS) and Alan Arkin (AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS, GROSSE POINTE BLANK), no sooner do the visitors arrive than they return to the best summer of their lives -- practical jokes, midnight kitchen raids, boat races, campfire stories, and secret romances pick up right where they left off! And with so much hilarity and excitement, the fun never stops. Pack your gear, this week at camp is sure to be a hilarious, feel-good treat for everyone.
The Tracy boys and their flying mean machines are back to do battle with master criminal The Hood in this big-screen adventure based on the beloved 1960s TV series.
Nothing on earth can rival the epic spectacle and breathtaking grandeur of Titanic the sweeping love story that sailed into the hearts of moviegoers around the world ultimately emerging as the most popular motion picture of all time. Leonardo DiCaprio and Oscar nominee Kate Winslet light up the screen as Jack and Rose the young lovers who find one another on the maiden voyage of the 'unsinkable' R.M.S. Titanic. But when the doomed luxury liner collides with an iceberg in the frigid North Atlantic their passionate love affair becomes a thrilling race for survival. From acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron comes a tale of forbidden love and courage in the face of disaster that triumphs as a true cinematic masterpiece.
This Box Set contains the following films: True Lies: Arnold Schwarzenegger is special agent Harry Tasker a top spy in the ultra-secret Omega Sector although to his wife Helen he's just a boring computer salesman. When Harry's two lives unexpectedly collide both he and Helen find themselves in the clutches of international terrorists fighting to save not only their marriage but their lives. Jammed with incredible special effects 'True Lies' is an exhilarating mix of non-stop action and romantic comedy. The Detonator: Undercover C.I.A. agent Sonni Griffith (Wesley Snipes) travels alone to Poland to expose an arms dealer and stop the sale of a nuclear weapon. When the arms dealer is tipped off to Griffith's identity he lands himself in prison...but is quickly released by the C.I.A. only to be given a new mission: to escort a beautiful Russian woman Nadia back to the United States. Griffith soon learns that strong-willed Nadia is being hunted by the very arms dealer that he intended to destroy but this evil dealer will stop at nothing to get the information out of Nadia that he needs - the location of the million dollars she has hidden that will buy him a nuclear bomb. As the leak within the C.I.A. continues to expose the location and identity of Griffith and Nadia they must fight the arms dealers to the death to save themselves and the world! Bad Boys: When 0 million of seized heroin is stolen from the Miami Police lockup Detectives Lowrey (Will Smith) and Burnett (Martin Lawrence) Miami's most mismatched cops are called upon to solve the case before the FBI close their department. Julie (Tea Leoni) is their only lead to the case but will only speak to Lowrey. As he is not around when she calls Burnett impersonates his cool slick partner. A hilarious role reversal begins in order to retain her trust. From then on it's a race against time as the trio dodge the mob and retain their charade while putting pressure on every low-life in Miami's underworld to track down their man. The Foreigner: Jon Cold is a freelance secret agent who's as cunning as he is deadly. When Cold is hired to deliver a mysterious package from France to Germany some very dangerous people will stop at nothing to stop him. But getting in his way is a decision they might not live to regret... Double Impact: Chad (Van Damme) a charming smooth karate instructor from Los Angeles is mysteriously urged to fly to China by the man who raised him like a son Frank Avery. There he meets Alex (Van Damme) a streetwise gun-slinging smuggler raised on the back streets of Hong Kong. Chad and Alex discover that they are in fact twin brothers separated when their parents were brutally murdered twenty-five years ago. In a violently explosive showdown the twins seek their revenge...
Almost ten years have passed since Sarah Connor's ordeal began, and her son John, the future leader of the resistance, is now a healthy young boy.
The Terminator was the film that cemented Arnold Schwarzenegger's place in the action-brawn firmament, and both his and the movie's subsequent iconic status are well deserved. He's chilling as the futuristic cyborg that kills without fear, without love, without mercy. James Cameron's story and direction are pared to the bone and are all the more chillingly effective for it. But don't overlook the contribution of Linda Hamilton, who more than holds her own as the Terminator's would-be victim, Sarah Connor, thus creating--along with Sigourney Weaver in Alien--a new generation of rugged, clear-thinking female action stars. The film's minimalist, malevolent violence is actually scarier than that of its far more expensive, more effects-laden sequel. --Anne Hurley
The classic Western tale tale of the Jesse James gang! With the Civil War over Frank and Jesse James (Bill Paxton and Rob Lowe) retreat to the family farm where they witness the murder of their younger brother while Yankee soldiers turn their backs. The James boys feel they have no choice but to seek their own justice. They join the younger brothers to form a gang of rebels that wage a bloody war against its corrupt enemies in robbing their banks stagecoaches and train. In retaliat
Aliens (1 Disc): 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... Predator (1 Disc): It sees the heat of their bodies. It smells their fears. It hunts for sport. It kills for pleasure. In a plac
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