"Actor: Ioan"

• The Hornblower Collection (6 discs) | DVD | (10/02/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Based freely on the classic novels by CS Forester, Hornblower is a series of TV films following the progress of a young officer through the ranks of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The series' greatest asset is the handsome and charismatic Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role, surely a major star in the making. For television films the production values are very good, though as Titanic, Waterworld and The Perfect Storm demonstrated, filming an aquatic adventure is a very expensive business, and it is clear that the Hornblower dramas simply make the best of comparatively small budgets. No more faithful to Forester's books than the 1951 Gregory Peck classic Captain Horatio Hornblower, the real inspiration seems to have come from the success of Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, which likewise featured a British hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, while rather more easygoing than the real British navy of the time, the Hornblower saga delivers an entertaining adventure, greatly enhanced by the presence of such guest stars as Denis Lawson, Cheri Lunghi, Ronald Pickup and Anthony Sher. --Gary S Dalkin

• Fantastic Four | UMD | (07/12/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

• Hornblower - The Even Chance | DVD | (15/07/2002) from £8.54   |  Saving you £4.44 (80.00%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Based freely on the classic novels by CS Forester, Hornblower is a series of TV films following the progress of a young officer through the ranks of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The series' greatest asset is the handsome and charismatic Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role, surely a major star in the making. No more faithful to Forester's books than the 1951 Gregory Peck classic Captain Horatio Hornblower, the real inspiration seems to have come from the success of Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, which likewise featured a British hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, while rather more easygoing than the real British navy of the time, the Hornblower saga delivers an entertaining adventure, greatly enhanced by the presence of such guest stars as Denis Lawson, Cheri Lunghi, Ronald Pickup and Anthony Sher. Beginning in 1794 with the 17-year-old midshipman joining the fleet at Portsmouth, "The Even Chance" offers a rather rushed introduction. --Gary S Dalkin

• Black Hawk Down | DVD | (25/10/2004) from £12.54   |  Saving you £0.45 (3.59%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The harrowing true account of what happened when a mission by a group of elite US troops in Somalia went terrribly wrong.

• Hornblower - Retribution | DVD | (03/02/2003) from £7.98   |  Saving you £2.01 (20.10%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Based freely on the classic novels by C. Forester, Hornblower is a series of TV films following the progress of a young officer through the ranks of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The series greatest asset is the handsome and charismatic Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role, surely a major star in the making. For television films the production values are very good, though as Titanic, Waterworld and The Perfect Storm demonstrated, filming an aquatic adventure is a very expensive business, and it is clear that the Hornblower dramas simply make the best of comparatively small budgets. No more faithful to Forester's books than the 1951 Gregory Peck classic Captain Horatio Hornblower, the real inspiration seems to have come from the success of Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, which likewise featured a British hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, while rather more easy going than the real British navy of the time, the Hornblower saga delivers an entertaining adventure, greatly enhanced by the presence of such guest stars as Denis Lawson, Cheri Lunghi, Ronald Pickup and Anthony Sher.--Gary S Dalkin

• Hornblower - The Duchess And The Devil | DVD | (03/02/2003) from £6.95   |  Saving you £3.04 (30.40%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Based freely on the classic novels by C.S. Forester, Hornblower is a series of TV films following the progress of a young officer through the ranks of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The series greatest asset is the handsome and charismatic Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role, surely a major star in the making. For television films the production values are very good, though as Titanic, Waterworld and The Perfect Storm demonstrated, filming an aquatic adventure is a very expensive business, and it is clear that the Hornblower dramas simply make the best of comparatively small budgets. No more faithful to Forester's books than the 1951 Gregory Peck classic Captain Horatio Hornblower, the real inspiration seems to have come from the success of Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, which likewise featured a British hero in the Napoleonic Wars. Nevertheless, while rather more easy going than the real British navy of the time, the Hornblower saga delivers an entertaining adventure, greatly enhanced by the presence of such guest stars as Denis Lawson, Cheri Lunghi, Ronald Pickup and Anthony Sher. "The Duchess and the Devil" has Hornblower and his men taken prisoners of war.--Gary S Dalkin

• Black Hawk Down - The Reel Collection | DVD | (02/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The harrowing true account of what happened when a mission by a group of elite US troops in Somalia went terrribly wrong.

• Hornblower Vol.1 | DVD | (15/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

• Hornblower - Mutiny | DVD | (03/02/2003) from £5.24   |  Saving you £4.75 (90.65%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Horatio Hornblower has been serving on the HMS Renown under Captain Sawyer. There is only one problem Sawyer appears to be going mad. His repeated unprovoked punishment of midshipman Wellard is not only unjust but also distracts him from the job in hand and endangers The Renown. Hornblower's ingenuity saves the ship from disaster but both the ship and Hornblower himself are in constant danger from Sawyer's irrational behaviour. The four lieutenants plan to remove Sawyer of command but despite a nasty accident Sawyer refuses to be budged. The Renown is once again endangered by Sawyer's actions when it comes under heavy fire from the Spanish fort. Once more Hornblower comes to the rescue in an act of astonishing bravery forcing Sawyer into the safety of his cabin. But now Hornblower finds himself languishing in a prison cell charged with mutiny facing an almost certain guilty verdict. The prospect: death...

• Fantastic Four/Elektra/Daredevil | DVD | (16/10/2006) from £26.98   |  Saving you £-6.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Elektra (Dir. Rob Bowman 2005): From the forces that brought you X-Men and Daredevil... Superstar Jennifer Garner proves that looks can kill as the sexiest action hero ever to burst from the pages of Marvel Comics. Restored to life after sustaining mortal wounds in Daredevil an icy solitary Elektra (Garner) now lives only for death as the world's most lethal assassin. Using her bone-crunching martial arts skills and Kimagure - the ability to see into the future - Elektra is on a collision course with darkness until her latest assignment forces her to make a choice that will lead either to her redemption or destruction in the ultimate battle between good and evil! Daredevil (Dir. Mark Steve Johnson 2002): Ben Affleck is Matt Murdock a.k.a Daredevil. As a young boy he lost his sight in a chemical accident which left him with his other senses superhumanly enhanced (and some incredible acrobatic skills). Flash forward and Matt is working by day as a pro bono lawyer (with partner Jon Favreau) and by night as a righteous avenger. The plot sees New York supercriminal Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) calling on Irish assassin Bullseye (Colin Farrell) to take care of some business involving the father of Jennifer Garner's Elektra (with whom Matt falls head over heels in love). Daredevil is a shadowy comic book fantasy that provides plenty of fast-paced high-kicking action. Fantastic Four (Dir. Tim Story 2005): Prepare for the fantastic! The lifelong dream of inventor astronaut and scientist Dr. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space to the center of a cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity. Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary's hopes of the historic flight until Reed accepted a financing deal with his old college rival Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) now a billionaire industrialist. Reed's crew for the mission includes his best friend astronaut Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis); Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) Von Doom's director of genetic research and Reed's ex-girlfriend; and Sue's hot-headed younger brother pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). With benefactor Von Doom in tow the four set off for the exploration of a lifetime. The mission is uneventful - until Reed discovers a miscalculation of the speed of the approaching storm. Within minutes the event threshold is upon them. The space station is engulfed by turbulent clouds of cosmic radiation which genetically transforms the crew. Their DNA is irrevocably altered - and so is their future. Back on earth the effects of the exposure are quickly revealed. Reed gains the ability to stretch and contort his body into any shape he can imagine and as leader of the group is given the name Mr. Fantastic; Sue is able to render herself invisible and to create and project powerful force fields as Invisible Woman; Johnny becomes known as The Human Torch as he can now engulf his body in flames and take flight at will; and Ben whose freakish transmutation is the most shocking becomes an orange-coloured rock-like superhumanly strong creature The Thing. Together they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into coalition using their unique and formidable powers to thwart the evil plans of their now steely-eyed iron-fisted nemesis Dr. Doom...

• Fantastic Four/The Death Of The Incredible Hulk | DVD | (21/05/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £8.99

  The Fantastic Four (Dir. Tim Story 2005): Prepare for the fantastic! The lifelong dream of inventor astronaut and scientist Dr. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space to the center of a cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity. Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary's hopes of the historic flight until Reed accepted a financing deal with his old college rival Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) now a billionaire industrialist. Reed's crew for the mission includes his best friend astronaut Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis); Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) Von Doom's director of genetic research and Reed's ex-girlfriend; and Sue's hot-headed younger brother pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). With benefactor Von Doom in tow the four set off for the exploration of a lifetime. The mission is uneventful - until Reed discovers a miscalculation of the speed of the approaching storm. Within minutes the event threshold is upon them. The space station is engulfed by turbulent clouds of cosmic radiation which genetically transforms the crew. Their DNA is irrevocably altered - and so is their future. Back on earth the effects of the exposure are quickly revealed. Reed gains the ability to stretch and contort his body into any shape he can imagine and as leader of the group is given the name Mr. Fantastic; Sue is able to render herself invisible and to create and project powerful force fields as Invisible Woman; Johnny becomes known as The Human Torch as he can now engulf his body in flames and take flight at will; and Ben whose freakish transmutation is the most shocking becomes an orange-colored rock-like superhumanly strong creature The Thing. Together they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into coalition using their unique and formidable powers to thwart the evil plans of their now steely-eyed iron-fisted nemesis Dr. Doom... The Hulk (Dir. Ang Lee 2003): Scientist Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) has to put it mildly anger management issues. His quiet life as a brilliant researcher working with cutting edge genetic technology conceals a nearly forgotten and painful past. His ex-girlfriend and equally brilliant fellow researcher Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly) has tired of Bruce's cordoned off emotional terrain and resigns herself to remaining an interested onlooker to his quiet life. Which is exactly where Betty finds herself during one of the early trials in Banner's groundbreaking research. A simple oversight leads to an explosive situation and Bruce makes a split-second decision; his heroic impulse saves a life and leaves him apparently unscathed-his body absorbing a normally deadly dose of gamma radiation. Acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker Ang Lee turns his masterful eye to adapting the classic Marvel Comics character for the big screen. Setting out to faithfully transfer the Hulk comic book character from four-color paneled page to motion picture screen Lee combines all the elements of a blockbuster visual effects-intensive superhero movie with the brooding romance and tragedy of Universal's classic horror films. Staying true to the early subversive spirit of the Hulk as envisioned by its creators (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) while also tuning the tale to current dangerous times Lee presents a portrait of a man at war with himself and the world both a superhero and a monster a means of wish fulfillment and a nightmare...

• The TV Set | DVD | (04/03/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  An all-star cast bites the hand that feeds them in a sophisticated satire of network programming. The story follows a TV pilot as it goes through the production process. Mike (Duchovny) is fighting to put his sitcom into development, his vision, of a guy who, following his brother's suicide, rediscovers his joy in life, is slowly eroded by a network executive (Weaver) who favours trashy reality programming. Every crass suggestion she makes improves the show's response from test audiences and brings the show a step closer to getting on the air. Sometimes the satire is so close to the naked reality of TV development that it's more documentary than comedy, but Weaver gives an inspired performance that skirts truth and satire so adroitly it makes your skin tingle.

• King Arthur | UMD | (05/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £18.99

  It's got a round table, some knights, and a noble warrior who rises to become King Arthur, but everything else about this revisionist legend is pure Hollywood. That's not such a bad thing if you enjoyed Rob Roy, Braveheart, Gladiator and Troy, and there's some intriguing potential in presenting the "real" Arthur (played by Clive Owen) as a 5th-century soldier of Rome, assigned to defend Roman-imperial England against a hoard of invading Saxons (led by Stellan Skarsgard in hairy villain mode). As revamped history and "archaeological findings" would have us believe, Guinevere (Keira Knightley) is a warrior babe in face-paint and Lancelot (Ioan Gruffudd) is a nonentity who fades into the woodwork. Never mind. Best to enjoy the harsh, gloomy atmosphere of Irish locations, the ruggedness of Owen and his hearty supporting cast, and the entertaining nonsense of a Jerry Bruckheimer production that strips battle-ready Guinevere down to leather-strap S&M gear while all the men sport full-body armor. Hail to the queen, indeed! --Jeff Shannon

• Christina Ricci Collection | DVD | (10/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  After.Life: After a horrific car accident Anna (Christina Ricci) wakes up to find the local funeral director Eliot Deacon (Liam Neeson) preparing her body for her funeral. Confused terrified and feeling still very much alive Anna doesn't believe she's dead despite the funeral director's reassurances that she is merely in transition to the afterlife. Eliot convinces her he has the ability to communicate with the dead and is the only one who can help her. Trapped inside the funeral home with nobody to turn to except Eliot Anna is forced to face her deepest fears and accept her own death. But Anna's grief-stricken boyfriend Paul (Justin Long) still can't shake the nagging suspicion that Eliot isn't what he appears to be. As the funeral nears Paul gets closer to unlocking the disturbing truth but it could be too late; Anna may have already begun to cross over the other side. The Gathering: Christina Ricci (Monster) stars in this spine-tingling supernatural thriller about an American backpacker in rural England whose life takes a turn for the worse after a car accident. During recovery she is befriended by a researcher (Stephen Dillane) studying a buried 1st Century church embedded with images of Christ's crucifixion. She begins to have horrific visions of the townspeople and their deaths. Is the town cursed or are her visions spirits from the unearthed church grasping for life? What is uncovered will shock and terrify you!

• King Arthur - Directors Cut | DVD | (03/11/2008) from £26.98   |  Saving you £-8.99 (-50.00%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A gritty version of the famous medieval story from "Training Day" director Antoine Fucqua and uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

• This Girl's Life | DVD | (25/09/2006) from £24.28   |  Saving you £-8.29 (-51.80%)   |  RRP £15.99

  This Girl's Life examines the world of a young internet porn superstar Moon (Juliette Marquis in her debut role.) The gripping drama focuses on Moon's relationships with her father (James Woods) suffering from Parkinson's Disease her best friend (Rosario Dawson) a potential boyfriend (Kip Pardue) and her porn producer (Tomas Arana). Told from Moon's perspective a new guilt-free voyeuristic sexuality is explored as the young sex star's world slowly unravels as she tests the boundaries of herself and those closest to her.

• Ava | DVD | (26/10/2020) from £5.64   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Ava (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong, she is forced to fight for her own survival.