"Actor: Dennis Cross"

• 24: Series 3 | DVD | (09/08/2004) from £4.44   |  Saving you £46.81 (1,472.01%)   |  RRP £49.99

  There's not one cougar to be found in 24's dynamic third season, and that's good news for everyone. After Jack Bauer's daughter Kim (Elisha Cuthbert) survived hokey hazards in season 2, she's now a full-time staffer at CTU, the L.A.-based intelligence beehive that's abuzz once again--three years after the events of "Day Two"--when a vengeful terrorist threatens to release a lethal virus that could wipe out much of the country's population. Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) attempts to broker a deal for the virus involving drug kingpin Ramon Salazar (Joaquim de Almeida), whose operation Jack successfully infiltrated at high personal cost: to maintain his cover, he got hooked on heroin. That potentially deadly triangle--drug lords, addiction, and bioterrorism on a massive scale--sets the 24-hour clock ticking in a tight, action-packed plot involving a potential traitor in CTU's midst; the return of TV's greatest villainesses in Nina Meyers (Sarah Clarke) and former First Lady Sherry Palmer (Penny Johnson Jerald); a troubled romance between Kim and Jack's new partner Chase (James Badge Dale); and a scandalized reelection campaign by president David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), who monitors CTU as they struggle to (literally) save the day. The intricately woven subplots that are 24's greatest strength are masterfully developed here, and character arcs are equally strong, especially among CTU staffers Tony (Carlos Bernard) and his wife Michelle (Reiko Aylesworth); CTU director Ryan Chappelle (Paul Schulze), who is season 2's tragic bargaining chip; and the annoying but well-intentioned Chloe O'Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub), who makes pivotal contributions with by-the-book efficiency. It's 24's superior casting that overcomes the series' occasional lapses in credibility, and season 3's twists make marathon viewing a nerve-wracking delight. By the time it's all over, with a high body count and the surgical reattachment of a main character's severed hand, 24 once again leaves you gratefully exhausted. As always, Sutherland anchors the series in the role he was born to play. When Jack takes a private moment to release 24 hours' worth of near-fatal tension and psychological anguish, Sutherland proves that 24's dramatic priorities are as important as its thriller momentum. DVD extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes (about the prison break sequence, climactic F-18 Hornet air-strike, and real-life bio-weaponry) that pay welcome tribute to the series' hard-working crew, who create Emmy-worthy television under pressures as intense as 24 itself. --Jeff Shannon

• 24: Series 2 | DVD | (11/08/2003) from £15.30   |  Saving you £34.69 (226.73%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Jack Bauer is having another one of his "very bad days" in the second series of the ground-breaking real-time thriller 24. Once again the hours are ticking by with more guaranteed cliffhangers than a convention of mountain climbers. Holed up in a Los Angeles condo and estranged from his daughter, Jack is no longer on the government payroll; unfortunately for him, this small fact doesn't seem to matter to President David Palmer and the NSA who call him back in to the CTU and give him 24 hours to infiltrate a terrorist organisation who are planning to detonate a dirty bomb in the city of angels. All Jack wants is to get his daughter out of the city, unfortunately Kim's new employer, the abusive father of the child she is nannying, has other ideas. Fans of the original won't be disappointed, as there are more than enough shock moments in the first few hours to hint at the climactic build-up to come, while newcomers can quickly get involved in the lives of Jack and his family. There are some new characters to bolster the veteran cast and, interestingly (although not surprisingly given the outcome of the first series), Jack's character has taken an altogether darker, more psychopathic turn. The danger the characters find themselves in also has a much more global impetus, grounded as it is in the war against terrorism. Although the territory is more familiar this time around, this second series is just as much a high-tension, taut, adrenaline-fuelled ride as the first series, and one that will have you glued to your TV for the next 24 hours. --Kristen Bowditch

• 24 : Series 1 & 2 (Limited Edition Box Set) | DVD | (11/08/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £69.99

  This limited-edition DVD box set contains the complete first and second series of 24. Read our reviews of the individual series here: 24, Series 1, 24, Series 2.

• The John Cassavetes Collection | DVD | (12/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  A collection of films from famed actor and independent director John Cassavetes comprising: Shadows (1959): A depiction of the struggle of three black siblings to survive the mean streets of Manhattan 'Shadows' was Cassavetes' jazz-scored improvisational film exploring interracial friendships and relationships in Beat-Era (1950s) New York City made from a script entirely improvised by the talented cast heralding a vital new era in independent filmmaking. Faces (1968):

• How To Make A Monster | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Peter Drummond has been chief of make up at a Hollywood studio for 25 years. When his services are abruptly dispensed with Drummond takes his revenge on the callous heads of the studio by hypnotising a couple of actors and bringing his murderous creations Teenage Frankenstein and Teenage Werewolf to life!

• Arkoff - Vol. 1 | DVD | (01/11/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A unique collection of some of the seminal 1950's monster and sci-fi movies made by the greatest director of the time including Roger Corman Bruno VeSota and Edward L Cahn. Featuring Monsters vampires delinquent school girls and giant arachnids along with the earliest performances of some of Hollywood's greatest stars. How To Make A Monster: Peter Drummond has been chief of make up at a Hollywood studio for 25 years. When his services are abruptly dispensed with Drummond takes his revenge on the callous heads of the studio by hypnotising a couple of actors and bringing his murderous creations Teenage Frankenstein and Teenage Werewolf to life! The Spider: When a man doesn't return home one night his daughter Carol and her boyfriend Mike go out to search for him. On finding Carol's father's wrecked car by a cave they decide to investigate further. Before they know it the kids have been enmeshed in a giant spider's web woven of course by a giant spider! After finally escaping the eight legged beast's clutches and raising the alarm the spider is seemingly killed and brought back to town. However.... is the spider really dead? War Of The Colossal Beast: A frightened young man races his truck down a dirt road constantly looking back in terror. He is being pursued by some unseen menace! Undoubtedly it is this menace that is responsible for a series of mysterious food truck robberies and the main suspect is the 60-foot tall Colossal Man! Previously presumed dead he is discovered living in a desolate mountain range in Mexico insane and horribly disfigured his face covered in scar tissue and missing an eye. Every effort of communicating with the giant fails and the military drugs him and transports him back to America where he promptly escapes to wreak havoc on an unfortunate city! The Brain Eaters: Strange things are happening in Riverdale Illinois. A huge seemingly alien structure has been found jutting out of the Earth. A bizarre Earth-drilling craft discharges a horde of fuzzy parasitic creatures that fasten themselves to the necks of the townsfolk and control their brains. Sent to investigate the origin of the mysterious object Senator Walter Powers and scientist Dr.Paul Kettering are responsible for stopping the invasion when it becomes clear that the whole town is under the control of the invaders. The Blood Of Dracula: Six weeks after her mother dies Nancy Perkins' father remarries. The stepmother then sends Nancy off to a school for girls where the innocent girl falls under the spell of evil chemistry teacher Miss Branding. Putting Nancy under hypnosis Miss Branding converts the poor damsel to vampirism causing her to commit murders and then forget about them. The villainess recieves her comeuppance when Nancy refuses to snap out of her spell transforming into a slavering vampiric beast.