"Actor: Dave Parke"

• Blue Streak | DVD | (26/06/2000) from £5.51   |  Saving you £0.48 (8.71%)   |  RRP £5.99

  If Eddie Murphy's comic tone turns on a dime, Martin Lawrence can perhaps be described as sauntering around the dime, looking around to see if anyone else has seen it, then picking the dime up, pocketing it, and casually walking off. He lazily indicates his humour, as if it's too much trouble to actually make the joke--and that distance is what makes him funny. At his best, Lawrence describes a kind of comic space and wanders around in it, claiming it for himself the way a dog might mark his territory, suggesting that what you think is funny doesn't matter to him; he just happens to be where the jokes are, and if you aren't laughing, that's your problem. In Blue Streak, Lawrence plays a jewel thief who plants a stolen diamond in the ventilation duct of a building under construction. When he's released from prison a few years later, he discovers that the building is now a Los Angeles police station. His solution: he impersonates a detective. Of course, everyone believes his disguise. Not only that, using his inside knowledge, he solves several crimes and earns the general admiration of the force. It's a standard fish-out-of-water setup and the plot doesn't take any chances with the formula, but Lawrence wears his role like a loose suit and does a little low-key boogie whenever he can, drawing you into the absurdity with a cock of his head and a roll of his eyes. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

• A Muppet Family Christmas / The Christmas Toy | DVD | (03/11/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairs the Muppet gang with the perennial favourite Sesame Street cast for a seasonal celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie's childhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing "Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The Christmas Song". Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute programme shines as a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by the culinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, and the diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistible sizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includes Kermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by Jim Henson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --Lynn Gibson In the 50-minute Christmas TV Special, The Christmas Toy, Rugby the Tiger is Jamie's favourite Christmas toy from last year. Rugby is convinced that he will be wrapped up and placed under the tree again this year. When it's Christmas Eve and all the other toys try to explain to him that that is not going to happen, Rugby decides to take matters into his own paws and place himself under the tree. He makes the dangerous trip from the playroom to the living room trying not to be seen, for if a toy's secret of being able to move when humans aren't around is discovered, it becomes frozen forever. Now all his friends from the toy room must get him back before it's too late. This sweet story about friendship and loyalty is delightful, as are the songs, including "Try the Impossible" and "Old Friends". Think Toy Story with Muppetts. --Peggy Maltby-Etra

• Deadbeat at Dawn | Blu Ray | (22/10/2018) from £9.39   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Jim VanBebber's notorious, blood-drenched cult classic Deadbeat at Dawn rises again on the advent of its 30th anniversary, newly restored for the first time on Blu-ray. Locked and loaded with a raft of new extras, see Deadbeat as you've never seen it before in all its head-busting, bone-crushing glory! Written by, directed by and starring VanBebber, Deadbeat follows the story of Goose a gang leader whose girlfriend is brutally slaughtered when he attempts to leave the thug life behind. Pulled back into the gang, who've now formed an uneasy alliance with the thugs that butchered his girl, Goose sees an opportunity to exact his brutal, deadly revenge. The very definition of DIY, independent filmmaking (VanBebber quit film school after his first year and used his student loan to fund the movie), Deadbeat at Dawn surpasses its low-budget origins to create a revenge movie that delivers more thrills and bloody spills than all of Chuck Norris' films combined. Special Edition Contents: Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements by Arrow Films, supervised and approved by writer-director Jim VanBebber High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed PCM mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new free-wheeling audio commentary with Jim VanBebber ('Goose', The Ravens' Gang Leader), actor Paul Harper ('Danny Carmodi', The Spyders' Gang Leader) and guest Cody Lee Hardin, moderated by filmmaker Victor Bonacore (Diary of a Deadbeat: The Story of Jim VanBebber) Jim VanBebber, Deadbeat Forever! a brand new retrospective documentary on VanBebber and the Deadbeat legacy by Filmmaker Victor Bonacore, featuring first-time interviews, super-rare footage, VanBebber's college films and much, much more! Archival 1986 behind-the-scenes documentary Nate Pennington's VHS documentary on a failed Deadbeat shoot Outtakes, newly transferred in HD Four newly-restored VanBebber short films Into the Black (1983, 34 mins), My Sweet Satan (1993, 19 mins), Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin (1994, 14 mins) and Gator Green (2013, 16 mins) Jim VanBebber Music Video Collection, featuring never-before-seen Director's Cuts Chunkblower promotional trailer for an unfinished Gary Blair Smith-produced gore-soaked feature film Extensive Image Gallery Never-Before-Seen Stills! Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing by Scott Gabbey and Graham Rae

• Blue Streak / Money Train / Striking Distance | DVD | (04/07/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Blue Streak (1999): Jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) finds the only way he can recover a diamond he stole two years prior is to impersonate a detective who along with his rookie partner ends up using his wits to solve crimes... Money Train (1995): Fresh from their successful double-act in White Men Can't Jump Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson reunite once more... Foster brothers they share a lifelong dream of robbing the `Money Train' that collects millions of dollars each night from New York City subway stations. Only two things stand in their way: they're cops and their boss. As far as he's concerned they're his trains it's his money and he's never been robbed. But on New Year's Eve plans are in motion and the action is switching to overdrive! Striking Distance (1993): Tom Hardy (Bruce Willis) is a fifth generation Pittsburgh cop. Formerly a homicide detective he publicly challenged the police department including several of his family members about the identity of the serial killer who took his father's life. Convinced that a newly active serial killer is the same gunman who murdered his father - despite the fact that another man is already behind bars for that crime - Hardy is working out of his jurisdiction to catch the killer. The maverick cop finds himself at odds with his new partner (Sarah Jessica Parker) as he skirts around the system and defies his uncle (Dennis Farina) his father's successor as the Chief of Homicide. A high-powered suspenseful drama with mind-blowing action Striking Distance is Bruce at his wisecracking best.

• Black Water Vampire | DVD | (24/03/2014) from £7.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (62.58%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Legend Is Real. What sick mind brutalised four women and left their blood drained corpses by Black Water Creek? The cops have him behind bars - Raymond Banks criminally insane. But film producer Andrea Adams has a different story in mind; she believes Banks is innocent and she's taking her film crew deep into the Black Water Woods to find out the truth. What they find there can only be told by the footage they left behind - and it like the answer to their searching shows no mercy and leaves little trace. There are darker forces at work than anyone outside of Black Water can know... or will ever live to tell. Blood wrenching soul shattering terror waits for those who dare enter these woods in search of the Black Water Vampire.

• Blue Streak / I Spy / National Security | DVD | (17/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Blue Streak: Jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) finds the only way he can recover a diamond he stole two years prior is to impersonate a detective who along with his rookie partner ends up using his wits to solve crimes... I Spy: A super-powerful experimental spy plane is stolen by an evil arms dealer and is about to be handed over to an international terrorist. The U.S. Government drafts an egotistical boxing star (Murphy) to join a suave special agent (Wilson) on a dangerous top secret mission to get the plane back. Armed with the latest high-tech gadgets and a whole lot of attitude this ultimate odd couple might be able to save the world; if they can just get along! National Security: In this hilarious action-packed comedy Martin Lawrence stars as cocky L.A.P.D. cadet Earl Montgomery who would probably be a great cop if he weren't such a show-off. Earl's rebellious attitude gets him thrown out of the police academy and he has to settle for a job as a lowly security guard with 'National Security'. After a run-in with an uptight police officer Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) Earl accuses him of harassment. Hank loses his badge is thrown into jail and eventually winds up working for National Security as well. Earl's overzealous behavior leads to a sophisticated smuggling operation led by Nash (Eric Roberts) and a possible police cover-up. Now everyone wants Earl and Hank dead - though they just may kill each other first!

• Blue Streak | Blu Ray | (03/11/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Master jewel thief Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence Life Bad Boys) has a big problem. A million problem. Recently released from prison for the botched heist of a huge diamond he's anxious to retrieve the hot rock which he hid at a construction site two years earlier. Unfortunately his hiding place is now at the center of a recently completed high-security police precinct. Posing as a detective and partnered with straight-laced rookie Carlson (Luke Wilson Home Fries Bottle Rocket) Miles utilizes his criminal expertise and inadvertently rises up the ranks winning the respect of his fellow boys in blue.