"Actor: George Plimpton"

• Muhammad Ali - When We Were Kings | DVD | (14/05/2001) from £9.48   |  Saving you £8.51 (89.77%)   |  RRP £17.99

  On September 25 1974 in the wake of one of the greatest political scandals in its history - the ignominious collapse of the Nixon presidency - America was poised to watch a knockout punch that would redefine it as a nation of champions. In the atmosphere of a three-ring circus in Zaire a little known country ruled by a military dictator on the little-noticed continent of Africa two American fighters held the world's attention. One would capture the world's imagination. But four days before the scheduled Rumble in the Jungle as the heavyweight championship matchup between reigning title holder George Foreman and challenger Muhammad Ali was called the promoters announced that there would be a six week delay. And in that time span as the international media took in the rhythms of the music ant the mysterious beauty of the land and as anticipation for the fight mounted an entirely new phenomenon evolved - black Americans saw their own generational crossroads reflected in the contrasting images of the two men who had returned to Africa to fight.

• When We Were Kings | DVD | (02/02/2009) from £9.43   |  Saving you £2.56 (27.15%)   |  RRP £11.99

  Muhammad Ali's 1974 knockout of George Foreman to regain the heavyweight championship of the world at the age of 32 was probably the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century. Leon Gast's documentary on the "Rumble In The Jungle", When We Were Kings, eventually released in 1996, is probably the finest ever boxing film. The background to the contest was almost as dramatic as the fight itself. It was the first major coup for promoter Don King, a character described in this film as "very clever but completely amoral"--yet this was his finest hour. President Mobutu, unsavoury dictator of Zaire and a more frightening figure than either boxer, had spent millions of his country's money to host the event. George Foreman, like Sonny Liston before him and Mike Tyson after him, was considered unbeatable, expected to slaughter Ali. Seeing him pounding a dent the size of a grapefruit into a heavy bag during training, you can understand why. Ringside American journalists George Plimpton and in particular Norman Mailer offer exceptionally shrewd insights. As we stare into Ali's face during the minute interval at the end of round one, Mailer talks us through his probable thought processes. "That was the only time I ever saw fear in his eyes." Ali, of course, is the star, besting the sullen Foreman in the build-up with his freewheeling, hilarious braggadocio then outfoxing him in the fight with his "rope-a-dope" technique. Like Ali, the "Rumble In The Jungle" transcended sports in its inspirational significance. --David Stubbs

• The American Civil War - a film by Ken Burns | DVD | (14/09/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £59.99

  It divided a country. It created a nation.

• Just Visiting | DVD | (24/02/2003) from £9.57   |  Saving you £6.42 (67.08%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A Hollywood remake of French hit Les Visiteurs featuring the same male leads and director. Thibault (Jean Reno) is a brave medieval knight who likes riding horses rescuing damsels in distress and ordering his servant Andre (Christian Clavier) around. Now he is about to marry the most beautiful princess in the kingdom (Christina Applegate). But on the eve of his wedding a horrible tragedy occurs and a wizard's terrible mistake means that suddenly Thibault and Andre find themselves sp

• Little Man Tate | DVD | (06/05/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Jodie Foster and Dianne Wiest star in Foster's engaging directorial debut, Little Man Tate. Single mother Dede Tate is doing her best to raise her brilliant-but-lonely son Fred on a waitress' salary. Jane Grierson (Wiest), something of an expert on being brilliant but lonely, spots Fred's genius and wants to enrol him in her school for the gifted. A simple story, but very well told. Foster and Wiest both give excellent, sensitive performances, conveying the selfishness in each characters desire to have Fred to herself, as well as the pain in not being able to fulfil all his needs on her own. Adam Hann-Byrd gives a remarkable performance as Fred, showing his intelligence without getting precious about it. Foster demonstrates a steady directing hand, but the best moments are the more whimsical ones in which she reveals the quiet exhilaration of Fred's mental leaps, like when a pool game suddenly becomes a beautiful collision of lines and forces. --Ali Davis, Amazon.com

• When We Were Kings (Criterion Collection) | Blu Ray | (22/10/2019) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Volunteers | DVD | (26/12/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Ready Or Not Here They Come! Life has taken a turn for the worse for Lawrence Bourne III (Tom Hanks). He's on the run from the bookies in debt for $28 000 and although he comes from money nothing but trouble seems to be coming his way. Lawrence persuades a friend to let him take his place on a plane leaving that night for Thailand - and before he knows it old-money Lawrence ends up in the no-money Thailand to work with the Peace Corps! Down amongst the do-gooders like To