"Actor: Douglas Gillison"

• Far And Away | DVD | (08/09/2003) from £5.01   |  Saving you £0.98 (19.56%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Filmed in the widescreen splendour of "Panavision Super 70" and blessed with the finest production values that Hollywood clout can buy, this tale of spunky Irish immigrants forgot one crucial ingredient: a decent screenplay. The film is entertaining enough, and director Ron Howard brings his technical proficiency to the simple plot, culminating in a dynamic, breathtaking depiction of the Oklahoma land rush of 1893. But the movie is really just a vacuous vehicle for married stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as (respectively) the poor tenant farmer and rich landlord's daughter who flee Ireland to be American pioneers. The scenery and the stars are never less than stunning, but Howard falls short of the mark in his attempt to match the epic sweep of films by David Lean. On the other hand, this movie is certainly never boring even if it rarely makes sense, and Lean's own Irish epic, Ryan's Daughter, is a snoozer by comparison. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

• Far And Away / Angela's Ashes / The Boxer | DVD | (04/07/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Far And Away (1992): Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star in this critically acclaimed romantic adventure from director Ron Howard. This breathtaking epic opens on the West Coast of Ireland 1892. Joseph Donelly (Cruise) a poor tenant farmer is determined to bring justice to an oppressive landlord. Instead he finds himself accompanying the landlord's daughter Shannon (Kidman) to America in a quest for land. Arriving in Boston Joseph finds a place for them to live while proving a natural at bare-fisted boxing. But his triumph is short-lived as he and Shannon are thrown out into the bitter cold. Joseph sets off for work on the railroad until a passing wagon train reminds him of his original goal to possess his own land. Preparing to stake his claim in the new territory he runs into Shannon who is unhappily reunited with her former fiance. In the excitement of the Oklahoma land rush they realise their dreams of land and life together in this satisfying grand-scale adventure that has been called ""a wondrous epic!"" The Boxer (1997): When Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his Belfast neighbourhood after 14 years in prison all he wants is to find peace resume his career and reclaim the love of the woman who has remained etched in his mind. As they slowly embrace the possibilities of renewed romance they realise cultural taboos stand in the way and fighting for love could cost them their lives. Angela's Ashes (1999): Angela's Ashes the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir comes to life in this stirring film from acclaimed director Alan Parker starring Academy Award-nominee Emily Watson and Robert Carlyle. Life in impoverished Depression-era Ireland holds little promise for young Frank McCourt the oldest son in a tightly knit family. Living by his wits cheered by his irrepressible spirit and sustained by his mother's fierce love Frank embarks on an inspiring journey to overcome the poverty of his childhood and reach the land of his dreams: America.