"Actor: Christopher Simon"

• The Lord of the Rings (Animated Version) | DVD | (26/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings is a bold, colourful, ambitious failure. Severely truncated, this two-hour version tackles only about half the story, climaxing with the battle of Helm's Deep and leaving poor Frodo and Sam still stuck on the borders of Mordor with Gollum. Allegedly, the director ran out of money and was unable to complete the project. As far as the film does go, however, it is a generally successful attempt at rendering Tolkien's landscapes of the imagination. Bakshi's animation uses a blend of conventional drawing and rotoscoped (traced) animated movements from live-action footage. The latter is at least in part a money-saving device, but it does succeed in lending some depth and a sense of otherworldly menace to the Black Riders and hordes of Orcs: Frodo's encounter at the ford of Rivendell, for example, is one of the movie's best scenes thanks to this mixture of animation techniques. Backdrops are detailed and well-conceived, and all the main characters are strongly drawn. Among a good cast, John Hurt (Aragorn) and C3PO himself, Anthony Daniels (Legolas), provide sterling voice characterisation, while Peter Woodthorpe gives what is surely the definitive Gollum (he revived his portrayal a couple of years later for BBC Radio's exhaustive 13-hour dramatisation). The film's other outstanding virtue is avant-garde composer Leonard Rosenman's magnificent score in which chaotic musical fragments gradually coalesce to produce the triumphant march theme that closes the picture. None of which makes up for the incompleteness of the movie, nor the severe abridging of the story actually filmed. Add to that some oddities--such as intermittently referring to Saruman as "Aruman"--and the final verdict must be that this is a brave yet ultimately unsatisfying work, noteworthy as the first attempt at transferring Tolkien to the big screen but one whose virtues are overshadowed by incompleteness. --Mark Walker

• The Man Who Invented Christmas | DVD | (12/11/2018) from £5.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty and the Beast) as Charles Dickens, The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the true story of how the iconic author came to write the seminal yuletide novel A Christmas Carol in only six weeks. Set in 1840s London, Dickens had been struggling to come up with fresh ideas after the failure of his last three works. However, when he's inspired by the vision of a story that would fire the hearts of humanity, he set out to write and self-publish a book that would reignite his career. As the likes of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Academy Award-winner Christopher Plummer) and The Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future start coming to life in his head, Dickens began creating a masterpiece that gave birth to the Christmas we know and love today.

• Noah's Castle | DVD | (21/09/2009) from £13.05   |  Saving you £-0.06 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  It is the near future and Britain faces social and economic collapse . Hyper-inflation leads to rioting and choric food shortages but Norman Mortimer is determined to protect his loved ones from the encroaching chaos. Mortimer moves his family to a large house in the country and strengthens the cellar in preparation to hoard the food they will need to survive. The Mortimer children are shocked by their fathers behaviour and argue that food should be fairly distributed to all those who need it. As the crisis deepens the Mortimer's arouse the suspicions of starving neighbours blackmailers and the ruthless criminal Vince Holloway. As Norman struggles to keep his fueding family together news of the secret food store spreads and his 'castle' comes under siege...

• The Man Who Invented Christmas | Blu Ray | (12/11/2018) from £5.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Starring Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Beauty and the Beast) as Charles Dickens, The Man Who Invented Christmas tells the true story of how the iconic author came to write the seminal yuletide novel A Christmas Carol in only six weeks. Set in 1840s London, Dickens had been struggling to come up with fresh ideas after the failure of his last three works. However, when he's inspired by the vision of a story that would fire the hearts of humanity, he set out to write and self-publish a book that would reignite his career. As the likes of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by Academy Award-winner Christopher Plummer) and The Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future start coming to life in his head, Dickens began creating a masterpiece that gave birth to the Christmas we know and love today.

• Creature Comforts | DVD | (28/05/2018) from £5.14   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Creature Comforts unveils the inspirations behind Alf Wright s beloved vet character, James Herriot, in the BBCs most successful TV series of all time, All Creatures Great and Small. Featuring a special appearance from Christopher Timothy who played Herriot in the Emmy nominated show and hosted by Simon Ward from the 1975 TV film.

• Doctor Who: Series 1 - Volume 3 | DVD | (01/08/2005) from £4.96   |  Saving you £11.03 (222.38%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The new series of Doctor Who features Christopher Eccleston as the re-incarnated Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose his trusty sidekick. Episodes comprise: 7. The Long Game: Adam discovers the wonders of travelling in the Tardis. In the far future Satellite 5 broadcasts to the entire Earth Empire. But anyone promoted to Floor 500 is never seen again and the Doctor suspects mankind is being manipulated. Does Adam have what it takes to become the Time Lord's companion?

• The Affair Of The Necklace | DVD | (08/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  This romantic drama is based on the true life story of a French Countess whose title was taken from her by the Royal Family. The story of her fight to restore her name revolves around the infamous diamond necklace.

• The Three Musketeers | DVD | (17/03/2003) from £8.74   |  Saving you £4.25 (48.63%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The young D'Artagnan (Michael York) arrives in Paris with dreams of becoming a king's musketeer. He meets and quarrels with three men Athos (Oliver Reed) Porthos (Frank Finlay) and Aramis (Richard Chamberlain) each of whom challenges him to a duel. D'Artagnan finds out that they are musketeers and is invited to join them in their efforts to oppose Cardinal Richelieu (Charlton Heston) who wishes to increase his already considerable power over the king. D'Artagnan must also juggle

• Aces High | DVD | (18/04/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  An intense drama of life and death amongst fighter pilots in World War I. A moving story of comradeship and bravery loneliness and fear from award winning director Jack Gold 'Aces High' contains some of the most magnificent aerial battles ever staged leading to a BAFTA nomination for Best Cinematography and Best Film at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

• Doctor Who - The Complete First Series Boxset | DVD | (21/11/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £69.99

  Thirteen episodes. In Episode One 'Rose', a young woman called Rose meets up with a mysterious stranger called The Doctor, who saves her from harm when a basement full of showroom dummies comes alive and attacks her.

• Upstairs Downstairs - Series 2 - Episodes 8-13 | DVD | (05/08/2002) from £9.89   |  Saving you £5.10 (51.57%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A sequence of dramatic events befalls the residents of Eaton Place. Elizabeth becomes involved with the Suffragettes which has disastrous consequences upon Rose a financial crisis threatens to force the Bellamys from their home and James returns from India with a fiancee in tow who threatens to shatter the peace. The formidable Thomas and Sarah receive a rousing send-off from the other servants as they set off to begin their new life together in north London. Is this really the last time they will be seen at Eaton Place?

• Aces High *Digitally Restored | DVD | (02/02/2015) from £7.99   |  Saving you £10.00 (125.16%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A classic of the war genre, Aces High is based on R.C. Sheriff's 1929 London and Broadway stageplay and brings together the estimable talents of Malcolm McDowell, Christopher Plummer and Simon Ward. Director Jack Gold's big-screen adaptation follows the story of a naive young officer (McDowell) in World War I, fresh out of school, who arrives on the Western Front, ready to join the airborne fight against the Germans.

• Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete Second Series | DVD | (27/02/2006) from £9.98   |  Saving you £20.01 (200.50%)   |  RRP £29.99

  A sequence of dramatic events befalls the residents of Eaton Place. Elizabeth becomes involved with the Suffragettes which has disastrous consequences upon Rose a financial crisis threatens to force the Bellamys from their home and James returns from India with a fiancee in tow who threatens to shatter the peace. The formidable Thomas and Sarah receive a rousing send-off from the other servants as they set off to begin their new life together in north London. Is this really the las

• Aces High *Digitally Restored | Blu Ray | (02/02/2015) from £11.99   |  Saving you £11.00 (91.74%)   |  RRP £22.99

  A classic of the war genre, Aces High is based on R.C. Sheriff's 1929 London and Broadway stageplay and brings together the estimable talents of Malcolm McDowell, Christopher Plummer and Simon Ward. Director Jack Gold's big-screen adaptation follows the story of a naive young officer (McDowell) in World War I, fresh out of school, who arrives on the Western Front, ready to join the airborne fight against the Germans.

• Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete Third Series | DVD | (01/05/2006) from £15.92   |  Saving you £14.07 (88.38%)   |  RRP £29.99

  The complete third series of the outstanding Emmy Award-winning Upstairs Downstairs. Episodes Comprise: 1. Miss Forrest 2. A House Divided 3. A Change Of Scene 4. A Family Secret 5. Rose's Pigeon 6. Desirous Of Change 7. Word Of Honour 8. The Bolter 9. Goodwill To All Men 10. What The Footman Saw 11. A Perfect Stranger 12. Distant Thunder 13. The Sudden Storm

• Upstairs Downstairs - Series 1 - The Colour Edition | DVD | (18/06/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Landmark British drama series' first season set in turn-of-the-century England chronicles life among the residents of 165 Eaton Place. This is the first series of the classic British drama 'Upstairs Downstairs'. It is obvious in this first season that the budgets are low with the sets sparse and 'bloopers' often not being edited out. This season and the next (which was shown as two series in Britain) were combined into 13 episodes and shown in the US to great acclaim; it won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and an Emmy nomination for Jean Marsh as Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

• Goodnight Sweetheart The Complete Series Four | DVD | (22/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Starring Nicholas Lyndhurst Goodnight Sweetheart became an instant hit with TV viewers of all ages as it charts the life of Gary Sparrow a dealer in memorabilia and antiques of WW2 who has miraculously discovered a portal in time which allows him to travel between the present and wartime Britain. This handy little trick obviously adds to the success of his business but the complications that it adds to Gary's love life are a different matter! Episodes comprise: 1. You're Driving Me

• Upstairs Downstairs - The Complete First Series | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £8.92   |  Saving you £22.33 (291.51%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Landmark British drama series' first season set in turn-of-the-century England chronicles life among the residents of 165 Eaton Place. This is the first series of the classic British drama Upstairs Downstairs. It is obvious in this first season that the budgets are low with the sets sparse and 'bloopers' often not being edited out. Contributer's to the series include renowned author Fay Weldon. Episodes comprise: 1. On Trial 2. The Mistress and the Maids

• Cold Creek Manor | DVD | (12/07/2004) from £8.07   |  Saving you £8.18 (120.12%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A city family relocate to an old mansion in the sticks and soon discover what dark secrets are hidden inside.

• Aces High | DVD | (15/01/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This classic film on World War 1 based on R. C. Sheriff's 1929 London and Broadway stageplay Journey's End stars Malcolm Mc Dowell Christopher Plummer and Simon Ward. Aces High his Jack Gold's adaptation on the big screen of the story of a naive young officer straight from school arriving on the Western front to fight the air war against the Germans. Moving the setting of the play from trenches to the Flying Corps in France during 1916 Jack Gold focuses on the young British airmen of 76 Squadron. Croft (Firth) a public school boy turned RFC officer arrives in France to take over as Second Lieutenant of a British detachment. He has deliberately manoeuvred his way into this particular position in order to be with Gresham (McDowell) an old boy from his school who has becoming something of a flying ace. But he isn't prepared for what he finds - Gresham is an alcoholic cynic whose brilliance in the air is at least partly due to drunken bravado. The other officers don't inspire a great deal of confidence either. Crawford (Ward) is a terrified coward who has faked illness in order to avoid combat and Sinclair (Plummer) is an avuncular veteran who tries to make the place as much like home as possible. Over the course of a few days Croft is introduced into various facts of life; sex drink horror and the hell of 20th Century warfare.