Eddie Murphy's 1988 vehicle Coming to America was probably the point at which his status as a mainstream big-screen comedian finally gelled, following the highly successful 48 Hours pairing with Nick Nolte. Never mind the hackneyed storyline: under John Landis's tight direction, he turns in a star performance (and several brilliant cameos) that is disciplined and extremely funny. Murphy plays an African prince who comes to New York officially to sow his wild oats. Privately, he is seeking a bride he can marry for love rather than one chosen by his parents. With his companion (Arsenio Hall, who pushes Murphy all the way in the comedy stakes), he settles in the borough of Queens and takes a job in a hamburger joint. A succession of hilarious satire-barbed adventures ensue, plus the required romantic conclusion. The script is crammed with ripe one-liners , but "Freeze, you diseased rhinoceros pizzle" has to be the most devastating hold-up line of all time. Film buffs will appreciate a brief appearance by Don Ameche as a down-and-out, but this is Murphy's film and he generates warmth enough to convert the most ambivalent viewer. On the DVD: The only--rather pointless--extra on offer is the original theatrical trailer which adds nothing apart from a rapid recap of the story. But the 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation (the picture quality is diamond sharp) and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack recreate the original authentic cinematic experience. The choreography of 1980s pop diva Paula Abdul in the lavish wedding scenes and Nile Rodgers' pounding musical score are the main beneficiaries. --Piers Ford
Hailed by critics as a masterpiece Casualties of War is based on the true story of a squad of soldiers caught in the moral quagmire of wartime Vietnam. Witness to a vile crime Private Eriksson (Michael J. Fox) is forced to stand alone against his fellow soldiers and commanding officer Sergeant Meserve (Sean Penn). A powerful and charismatic man pushed over the edge of barbarism by the terror and brutality of combat. With sweeping scope action and raw power master filmmaker Brian De Palma creates a devastating and unforgettable tale of one man's quest for sanity and justice amidst the chaos of war.
Coasting on the successes of Gods and Monsters and George of the Jungle, Brendan Fraser turns in yet another winning performance in this fish-out-of-water comedy in which Pleasantville meets modern-day Los Angeles, with predictably funny results. Fraser stars as Adam, who was born in the bomb shelter of his paranoid inventor dad (a less-manic-than-usual Christopher Walken), who spirited his pregnant wife (Sissy Spacek, in fine comic form) underground when he thought the Communists dropped the bomb (actually, it was a plane crash). Armed with enough supplies to last 35 years, the parents bring up Adam in Leave It to Beaver style with nary any exposure to the outside world. When the supplies run out, and dad suffers a heart attack, Fraser goes up to modern-day LA for some shopping and long-awaited culture shock. More of a cute premise with lots of clever ideas attached than a fully fleshed out story, Blast from the Past is also supposed to be part romantic comedy, as the hunky Adam hooks up with his jaded Eve (Alicia Silverstone) and tries to convince her to marry him and go underground. The sparks don't fly, though, because Silverstone is saddled with the triple whammy of being miscast, playing an underwritten character, and suffering a very bad hairdo. Fraser, however, carries the film lightly and easily on his broad, goofy shoulders, mixing Adam's gee-whiz innocence with genuine emotion and curiosity; only Fraser could pull off Adam's first glimpse of a sunrise or the ocean with both humour and pathos. Also winning is Dave Foley as Silverstone's gay best friend, who manages to make the most innocuous statements sound like comic gems. -- Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
After a series of Broadway flops, songwriter Bert Hanley goes to work at a musical camp for young performers. Inspired by the kids, he finds an opportunity to regain success by staging an altogether new production.
Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George star in this remake of the classic supernatural chiller.
Fall In!...for a feast of classic fun as the boys from the concert party parade their special brand of army camp. This classic BBC comedy series stars the members of the Royal Artillery Concert Party including Gunner 'Gloria' Beaumont (Melvyn Hayes) Gunner 'Lofty' Sugden (Don Estelle) and 'La De Da' Gunner Graham (John Clegg) all under the watchful eye of Sergeant Major 'SHUUUT UUUUP' Williams (Windsor Davies). All the episodes from series one to four of Jimmy Perry and David Croft's It Ain't Half Hot Mum first broadcast in 1974. Episodes Comprise - Series 1: 1. Meet The Gang 2. My Lovely Boy 3. The Mutiny Of The Punka Wallahs 4. A Star Is Born 5. The Jungle Patrol 6. It's A Wise Child 7. The Road To Bannu 8. The Inspector Calls Series 2: 1. Showing The Flag 2. Down In The Jungle 3. The Natives Are Revolting 4. Cabaret Time 5. The Curse Of The Sadhu 6. Forbidden Fruits 7. Has Anyone Seen My Cobra? 8. The Night Of The Thugs Series 3: 1. The Supremo Show 2. Mind My Maharajah 3. Bang Goes The Maharajah 4. The Grand Illusion 5. Pale Hands I Love 6. Don't Take The Micky Series 4: 1. Monsoon Madness 2. Kidnapped In The Khyber 3. A Fate Worse Than Death 4. Ticket To Blighty 5. Lofty's Little Friend 6. Flight To Jawani 7. We Are Not Amused 8. Twenty-One Today
From director Albert Band comes ROBOT WARS, the follow up to 1989's cult classic ROBOT JOX.In a gas-ravaged future Hell, the United States is divided into two opposing blocs, the North Hemi and the Eastern Alliance and targeting them both are roving bands of pirates known as the Centros. While mega robots were once employed for war, peace between the blocs has dictated that the mechanized monsters are no more, save for the lone remaining functioning specimen the MRAS-2, now utilized as a tourist attraction, and piloted by the rough and tumble Drake (Don Michael Paul). But when a war-mongering dignitary steals the MRAS-2 and threatens to wage a new apocalyptic battle, Drake revives another dormant mega robot, the MEGA-1, and drags it out into the desert to take down the deadly, scorpion-like MRAS-2 with the fate of what's left of the world hanging in the balance!SPECIAL FEATURES:The Wizard of Wars: Remembering David AllenVintage 1997 Full Moon PromoVideozone
Fifty years on from its first UK broadcast, The Prisoner remains as fresh and dynamic as when it was first unleashed upon an unsuspecting world in 1967. This set presents the complete series, stunningly restored, together with a wealth of new special features.
Science transformed him into a monster. Love changed him even more! After a violent incident with a special chemical a research scientist is turned into a swamp plant monster...
A mysterious New York City cab driver is a powerful vampire. And working the night shift brings a sultry array of sensuous passengers within his grasp. Then unexpectedly he discovers erotic human passion - unleashing a raging terrorizing evil.
During the American Civil War a Union spy (Fess Parker) is asked to lead a band of Union soldiers into the South so that they could destroy the railway system. However things don't go as planned when the conductor of the train that they stole is on to them and is doing everything he can to stop them. Based on a true story. Available on DVD for the first time!
A provocative, unflinching look at the complexities of racial conflict in America.
Walt Disney's Cinderella based on the world's greatest fairy tale has captivated audiences for generations with its spellbinding story memorable music spectacular animation and unforgettable characters. Experience the magic in this Royal Edition - with Disney Enhanced Home Theatre Mix and music videos - and you too will believe that dreams really do come true.
Toy Story John Lasseter's Toy Story poses the universal and magical question of what do toys do when they are not being played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favourite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys during a wrenching time of year--the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though--he believes he is the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar "For the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film". In other words, the film is great. Toy Story 2 Like the handful of other great film sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out that Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular 1960s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. This is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story. Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior and two action sequences that book end the film are dazzling. A hoot for kids and adults, the film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus living for forever. --Doug Thomas, Amazon.com
Vince Lombardi High School keeps losing principals to nervous breakdowns because of the students' love of rock 'n' roll and their disregard of education. The putative leader of the students is Riff Randell who loves the music of the Ramones. A new principal the rock music hating Miss Evelyn Togar is brought in and promises to put an end to the music craze. When Miss Togar and a group of parents attempt to burn a pile of rock records the students take over the high school joined by the Ramones who are made honourary students. When the police are summoned and demand that the students evacuate the building they do so which leads to an explosive finale.
Toward the end of the 21st Century two great powers dominated the world a division that resulted from a 30-year war known as the War of the Hemispheres. The war came to an end with the creation of giant indestructible mega-robots designed for military missions and balance of power. With the treaty came peace and both sides merged into one government the New Federation. The armed forces were reduced to one single mega-robot the MRAS-2 an 80-foot-tall Mega-Robotic-Assault-System now used to guard the most dangerous spot on earth. The MRAS-2 now patrols the highly restricted area known as the Crosshair Zone the site of the Toxic Tomb-a dumping ground for the most dangerous toxic waste. Periodically lone-wolf terrorist groups try to get to the tomb to gain materials to launch chemical warfare against New Federation police forces. But MRAS-2 is the most sophisticated weapons system ever built and is indestructible. Recently the mega-robot has become a tourist attraction and is used for tours through the wasteland. While on one such tour the MRAS-2 is attacked by an extremely violent terrorist group known as the Murdaggians. Their leader turns out to be a frequent passenger on the mega-robot Professor B. Wa-Lee who hijacks the MRAS-2 and heads for the Toxic Tomb. If he succeeds in opening the tomb the Murdaggians can carry out their threat to destroy Los Angeles. The only hope to stop the Murdaggians is Lane Drury the robot's pilot who has escaped and knows how to stop the MRAS-2. With the help of Lisa the daughter of the New Federation President Drury finds another mega-robot still intact. The MEGA-1 rises from beneath the earth like a colossus and confronts the MRAS-2 before the Toxic Tomb is penetrated. Now Drury and Wa-Lee both know theirs must be a fight to the finish. Special Features: Videozone: Behind the Scenes Original Trailer 88 Films Trailer Park Reversible Sleeve Incorporating Original Artwork
First broadcast in 1974, the ITV bedsitland sitcom Rising Damp was an instant and enduring success. It starred Leonard Rossiter as the miserly and lovelorn landlord Rigsby who is constantly needling young lodger Alan (Richard Beckinsale), a science student whose long hair and earrings are symptomatic to Rigsby of the parlous effeminacy of the modern age. He's also in love with Frances De La Tour's dowdy spinster Miss Jones, though his tentative advances are forever rebuffed. She in turn carries a torch for Philip (Don Warrington), the elegant son of an African chief who also resides at Rigsby Towers. Some aspects of Rising Damp have not aged well, principally Rigsby's stream of racist jibes at Philip. Although these were doubtless well-meant and supposed to illustrate Rigsby's foolish bigotry, you suspect that that was a convenient cover for audiences in the 1970s to enjoy racist humour. However, Rossiter's Rigsby--stuttering, stammering, bent perpetually over backwards--remains a great comic creation, embodying all the festering prejudices, small-mindedness and self-delusion of the lower middle class Little Englander. --David Stubbs
All 26 episodes from the second season of the classic US cop show, following the cases of wheelchair-bound chief of detectives Robert T. Ironside (Raymond Burr). Paralysed by a sniper's bullet, the San Francisco Police Department's top detective is now head of his own special unit, ably assisted by sergeant Ed Brown (Don Galloway), policewoman Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson), and African-American ex-con Mark Sanger (Don Mitchell). The episodes are: 'Shell Game', 'Split Second to an Epitaph: Part 1', 'Split Second to an Epitaph: Part 2', 'The Sacrifice', 'Robert Phillips Vs the Man', 'Desperate Encounter', 'I, the People', 'Price Tag: Death', 'An Obvious Case of Guilt', 'Reprise', 'The Macabre Mr. Micawber', 'Side Pocket', 'Sergeant Mike', 'In Search of an Artist', 'Up, Down and Even', 'Why the Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club Met On Thursday', 'Rundown On a Bum Rap', 'The Prophecy', 'A World of Jackals', 'And Be My Love', 'Moonlight Means Money', 'A Drug On the Market', 'Puzzlelock', 'The Tormentor', 'A Matter of Love and Death' and 'Not With a Whimper, But a Bang'.
Don Ellis: Electric Heart
Mel Gibson stars in this hard hitting Vietnam War drama set against the backdrop of the first major battle between US and North Vietnamese forces.
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