Both director-entrepreneur Ted V Mikels and the packaging of The Doll Squad claim that the TV show Charlie's Angels was ripped off from this cheapo action film. In truth both concepts owe a lot to Emma Peel, Pussy Galore's Flying Circus or the femme armies that crop up in Our Man Flint and other 60s spy efforts. Despite its (horrible) lounge score and eye-straining selection of flared, midriff-baring 70s outfits, Mikels' opus is basically a late-trailing Bond knock-off shot without a stunt budget. Extortionist baddie Eamon O'Reilly (the usually classier Michael Ansara) wants to blackmail the US into handing over secrets and giving into a load of terrorist demands by spreading a bubonic plague manufactured by twin (or clone) mad scientists. "Big Bertha", a computer, suggests that the best way to nail O'Reilly is to send out "the Doll Squad", a cadre of female agents led by Sabrina (Francine York), who can take advantage of his weakness for women (and occasional impotence). The first two choices, a Q-type scientist and a martial artist, are killed by O'Reilly's goons, though Sabrina sees off her would-be assassin with a cigarette lighter/flamethrower that scars his face (and only mildly perturbs the people in the next booth at the bar), so she rounds up a new gang of hairspray-addicted fashion victims: a librarian (Sherri Vernon), a stripper (Tura Satana) and a swimmer (Leigh Christian), later hauling in a squealy and useless undercover girl who is easily kidnapped by O'Reilly to lead them into a trap. We're supposed to believe most of the action takes place in a Dr No-like island retreat but it looks a lot like scrubby California desert and the director's ranch-style "castle". Aside from some fab gear (matching jumpsuits with bust-accenting white lines) the girls have little to do but run around shooting inept stuntmen. On the DVD: For a marginal title, The Doll Squad offers some pleasing extras: a lurid trailer that's probably a more fun watch than the film ("Sabrina's code-prefex is OO-38-24-35!"); a gallery of publicity materials and stills; an exhaustive Mikels filmography; and an odd 1993 interview with the director. The film itself looks as good as it ever will--it's muddily photographed with low-tech effects (the flamethrower flames are just scratched on the emulsion) but at least the colours are vivid and the print is in great condition. --Kim Newman
Spider-Man (Dir. Sam Raimi 2002): Peter Parker (Maguire) was a shy quite nerdy teenager...until he was bitten by a genetically altered spider. Now with the heightened senses and incredible strengths and abilities of a spider Parker has become the amazing Spider-Man! Hellboy (Dir. Guillermo del Toro 2004): In the final days of World War II the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where an occult ceremony is taking place but not before a demon Hellboy has already been conjured. Joining the Allied forces Hellboy (Perlman) eventually grows to adulthood under the supervision of his adopted 'father' Trevor Bruttenholm (Hurt) serving the cause of good rather than evil. When the powerful and evil Nazi figure who unleashed Hellboy suddenly reappears in modern times he discovers that Hellboy is now working as a paranormal investigator at a secret U.S. government agency dedicated to protecting humanity from the forces of darkness. Now Hellboy must fight to prevent the destruction of mankind... Dark Horse Comic's popular cult superhero Hellboy makes the leap from the comic book pages to the big screen with Ron Perlman the only actor considered charismatic enough to carry the role of the blood-red demon cutting a cigar-chomping dash aided by the prosthetic work of 6-time Oscar winning make-up artist Rick Baker. 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...
In the dangerous world of terrorism the possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands is an ever present threat. A rogue general of an eastern block country has hijacked an atomic warhead and is offering it to the highest bidder. Mia Gerard (Daniela Khrut) a United Nations weapons expert has been kidnapped and is being forced to identify the codes that will activate the bomb. But what the general has not bargained on is the fact that Mia's husband (Oliver Gruner) is a one man army trained to kill. He is determined to free his wife and neutralise the bomb at all costs!
Join Lassie the ever-faithful companion and her friends in their exciting adventures. The courageous canine will always be there in times of trouble and strife helping those in need. Lassie truly is everyone's best friend! When a grandfather with custody of his two grandchildren won't sell out to a rich industrialist used to getting his way the industrialist retaliates by proving Lassie is his and taking her from him thus Lassie begins the journey home.
Nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award 1995, this boldly inventive and expertly orchestrated crime saga is now available as a two disc DVD set that includes such extras as deleted scenes, interviews and a documentary.
The Lost World is in danger of extinction. Through bribes and brute force a greedy industrialist in search of oil is raping the land and slaughtering its wondrous dinosaurs. The Lost World natives urgently summon their friends and the old explorers reconvene in an effort to save the land they had once promised to protect. Upon their return the rescuers discover that man's greed has brought in this enchanted land to the brink of apocalyptic destruction. Bountiful trees are levelled the land is ravaged and the natives are being enslaved. The relentless hammering of oil drills has thrown this fragile ecosystem out of balance and a dormant volcano awakens in anger. The group must outwit man and nature in a desperate attempt to save themselves the land and the vulnerable inhabitants of The Lost World.
Ice Age: A star-studded cast provides the voices for the prehistoric creatures in this computer-animated feature set 20 000 years ago as the Ice Age approaches. Seemingly anti-social Manny a woolly mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano) acts as if he just wants to be left alone. When he meets Sid (voiced by John Leguizamo) a sloth the two become unlikely traveling companions. The plot thickens when the duo finds a human infant and decides to try to return the child to its herd. Manny slowly but surely reveals his heart of gold while Sid continues to provide comic relief. Diego (voiced by Denis Leary) a saber-tooth tiger with ulterior motives soon joins them in their search for the humans. Ultimately this group of misfits becomes its own herd learning about friendship and loyalty as they brave snow ice freezing temperatures predators hail and even boiling lava pits. All the while a saber-tooth squirrel Scrat provides comic relief as he valiantly struggles with an acorn. A well-written humorous script and endearing characters mesh well with the state-of-the-art technology and effects. Other stars lending their voices to the feature include Goran Visnjic Jack Black and Jane Krakowski. Chicken Run: Trouble is brewing down on Mrs Tweedy's poultry farm: the chickens are revolting (yes that old chestnut) and clucky hen Ginger (voiced by Julia Sawalha) is planning her latest coop um coup. Getting one or two birds out of the farm is no problem whatsoever. Unfortunately Ginger plans to get everyone out at the same time and when one of the would-be escapees happens to be kind-hearted but bird-brained Babs (Jane Horrocks) Ginger is fighting a losing battle. Despotic owner Mrs Tweedy (Miranda Richardson) plans to turn the birds into the tender filling of her new range of homemade chicken pies and is waiting until the hens have fattened up. Ginger knows that time is of the essence but every daring scheme ends in disaster. Ginger needs a miracle. And fast. As she contemplates her next escape attempt with Scottish engineering genius Mac (Lynn Ferguson) Ginger sees their salvation in the form of a rooster named Rocky (Mel Gibson) if the cocksure Rocky can teach all of the hens how to fly then they can all fly out of Tweedy's clutches before she gives them the chop.
After an ex-ballet dancer's life is turned upside down after receiving devastating news, a chance encounter with a charismatic dancer marks the start to a fragile friendship that might turn into something more profound.
*More details coming soon....
The Legendary Bruce Lee. Unknown in 1971. Two years later an international cult hero and more than twenty years on still remembered as the star of the biggest martial arts epic ever filmed - Enter The Dragon. Enter The Dragon takes Lee into the island fortress of a warlord of crime Han who carries on his opium smuggling and prostitution activities under the disguise of a martial arts academy. Determined to avenge the death of his sister Lee penetrates Han's Stronghold and enters the brutal martial arts tournament Han is staging. Then follows a visual feast of spectacular martial arts matches that combine skills in Karate Judo Tae Kwon Do Tai Chi Chuan and Hap Ki Do. Bruce Lee staged these fighting sequences himself demonstrating experienced awareness of film rhythm and dramatic timing as well as mastery of the martial arts that made him famous. His reputation as an all-time great has grown since his untimely and mysterious death in 1973 three weeks before the opening of Enter The Dragon. This special edition of the film is available uncut for the very first time in Britain and features the 'lost' Bruce Lee monk scene and the full version of the previously edited nanchaku showdown sequence: quite simply the definitive cut of the greatest martial arts movie ever!
Black Hawk Down (Dir. Ridley Scott 2002): Ridley Scott directs this fast moving action adventure about the disastrous mission in Somalia on October 3 1993 where nearly 100 U.S. Army Rangers commanded by Capt. Mike Steele were dropped by helicopter deep into the capital city of Mogadishu to capture two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord which leads to a large and chaotic firefight between the Rangers and hundreds of Somali gunmen which destroys two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters in Mogadishu. Tears Of The Sun (Dir. Antoine Fuqua 2003): Loyal veteran Navy S.E.A.L. Lt. A.K. Waters is sent into the heart of war-torn Africa on a hazardous mission to rescue Dr. Lena Hendricks a U.S. citizen who runs a mission. When the beautiful doctor refuses to abandon the refugees in her care Lt. Waters finds himself having to choose between following orders and the dictates of his own conscience. Together they begin a dangerous trek through the deadly jungle all the while being pursued by a rebel militia group with only one goal in mind: to assassinate Lt. Waters' unit and the refugees in his care... Casualties Of War (Dir. Brian De Palma 1989): 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.
This last ever sequence of Farscape episodes is as effective and powerful a climax as those of earlier seasons. The three-parter "We're So Screwed" (a title censored by the BBC in the UK) starts with "Fetal Attraction", in which the crew of Moya attempt to rescue the pregnant Aeryn Sun from her Scarren captors and end up starting a dangerous epidemic on a space station. They get Aeryn back and lose Scorpius; in "Hot to Katratzi", the necessity of saving his worst enemy--who just knows too much to be left a captive--forces John Crichton to gate-crash the Sebacean-Scarren peace conference and bluff his way to success. Seemingly betrayed by Scorpius, John snatches victory in "La Bomba", striking another deadly blow against the Scarren empire. The title of the last episode "Bad Timing" refers both to the show's cancellation--the cast and crew felt real bitterness towards the SciFi Channel over this--and to the cliff-hanger ending; the crew of Moya have to prevent a Scarren ship finding its way through the worm-hole to Earth. Farscape was perhaps the best ever television space opera and certainly the most sexy, stylish, funny and dramatic; it will be greatly missed. On the DVD: Farscape, Series 4 Part 5 presents the shows in 16:9 format with impressively loud Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. The special features include a documentary about the cancellation of Farscape, in which the cast talk about their shock and grief and fans talk about the "Save Farscape" campaign. There are a couple of extended versions of scenes from these episodes and an extensive blooper reel, much of it hilarious. Also included is an illustrated glossary of terms from the Uncharted Territories and a collection of interesting facts about these last four episodes. --Roz Kaveney
James Bolam stars as the ambitious Jack Ford in the third series of this classic drama series. Episodes Include Requiem For A Loser Debts Owed Debts Paid The Empire Builders Look Up And See The Sky Letters From Afar
Collateral Damage: A firefighter (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is plunged into the complex and dangerous world of international terrorism after he loses his wife and child in a bombing. Frustrated by the government's stalled investigation and haunted by the thought that the man responsible for murdering his family might never be brought to justice he takes matters into his own hands and tracks the bomber to Columbia... Swordfish: John Travolta stars as Gabriel Shear a sinister mastermind with an elite criminal crew who are desperately trying to access information locked inside a complicated computer system that contains government secrets and if they can hack it a billion payday... Driven: Sylvester Stallone plays a talented veteran driver who confronts the lost potential of his past when called out of retirement to mentor a talented but unfocused rookie contender (Kip Pardue) whose destructive behavior pursuing the girlfriend (Estella Warren) of his primary racing rival (Til Schweiger). Start your engines!
The final four episodes of Farscape's remarkable third season prove conclusively that this is the show's best and bravest year to date. Powerful issues of love, loyalty and sacrifice remain to be resolved, but after enduring a vertiginous emotional roller-coaster ride in recent episodes, Moya's reunited crew have no time to recuperate as Crichton determinedly calls them to arms for their sternest challenge yet. Scorpius and his Wormhole research must be destroyed at any price. Thus the scene is set to conclude the series' biggest story arc in a climactic confrontation aboard the Peacekeeper Command Carrier. In "I-Yensch, You-Yensch" the plan is set in motion, as a canny Rygel bargains with Scorpius and gains his grudging respect during an unexpected and tragi-comic heist by two murderously incompetent criminals. Then the two-parter "Into the Lion's Den" takes everyone onto the Command Carrier, where Aeryn is confronted by her past, Crichton's subconscious finally releases its Wormhole secrets, and Crais persuades Talyn to do something extraordinarily noble. By the end, it's hard not to sympathise with poor put-upon Scorpius. In the final episode, "Dog with Two Bones", Moya's crew seem finally free to go their separate ways as a mysterious refugee helps Crichton confront his worst fears about Aeryn. Emotions reach a climax and remain tantalisingly unresolved at the cliffhanger ending. On the DVD: Farscape, Volume 3.5 carries all the usual gallery of extra features--including deleted scenes, "Info-Pods" on Rygel, Crais and Scorpius, "Farscape Facts", trailers and stills--plus of course four uncut episodes. --Mark Walker
America's leading ballet soloists display highlights from their repertoire.
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