"Actor: Kate"

• Verdi: Aida -- Zeffirelli | DVD | (03/12/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £23.99

  This 2001 production of Aida was mounted in Busseto, near to Verdi’s birthplace to mark the opening of his centenary year (1813-1901). The cast of young singers, all at the start of their careers, were directed by veteran Franco Zeffirelli and coached by the great Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi. It’s a handsome production, in period, with striking sets and costumes, beautifully caught on camera, mounted in the relative intimacy of the theatre which bears the composer’s name. Aida is a difficult opera to stage. No other mainstream work combines the features of grand opera, parades and large crowd scenes with intimate exchanges between the main characters--the slave Aida, her father Amonasro, King of Ethiopia, Amneris, daughter of the King of Egypt and Radames, Captain of the Egyptian guards who loves Amneris and Aida. Here the home viewer can follow the machinations of the plot close up as well as witnessing the spectacle, though like most modern stagings there are no animals on parade (in fact this production makes a sizeable musical cut in this biggest of ensembles and elsewhere a short dance is omitted). The young cast show some inexperience in their acting, some gestures are overdone, others look a trifle wooden, but the singing is of a remarkably high standard led by the Aida of Adina Aaron who grows into her role, vocally speaking, and in moments of contemplation produces some very beautiful singing. Her Radames (Paolo Pecchioli) has the looks and physique for the part with lungs to match. Amneris (Kate Aldrich) also possesses winning looks, so it’s something of a shame that her costume hides these attributes. On the DVD: The "making of" feature focuses on Zeffirelli, speaking in Italian and English, exhorting his singers to explore their characters and motives to the extent that we hear not a word from other members of the production team, which in the case of Bergonzi is a great shame. The secure playing of the orchestra of the Arturo Toscanini foundation under the firm baton of Massimiliano Stefanelli comes up well in the Dolby Digital or DTS sound options, while the video direction makes the most of the setting. No one looking for a traditional staging of Aida will be disappointed with this two-disc set.--Adrian Edwards

• Mona Lisa | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £11.49   |  Saving you £-5.50 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Mona Lisa

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape | DVD | (29/03/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Based on the novel by Peter Hedges (who adapted his own book) and directed by Lasse Hallström, What's Eating Gilbert Grape is the funny, moody tale of young Gilbert (Johnny Depp), who lives at home in a small town with his 500-pound Momma (beautifully played by non-professional Darlene Cates), his mentally retarded younger brother Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio, utterly convincing), and his sisters. Not a lot happens--Arnie keeps climbing a water tower and getting stuck; Gilbert is involved with a married woman (Mary Steenburgen), then meets a nice new girl in town who's closer to his age (Juliette Lewis). And that's exactly what makes this movie so much more than your run-of-the-mill Hollywood product: it's not about some mechanical, formulaic plot; it's about these characters, and it allows you to spend some time with them and get to know them. Depp proved yet again that he's one of the most interesting, unpredictable, and risk-taking actors in American movies; while a pre-Titanic DiCaprio deservedly received an Oscar nomination. --Jim Emerson

• Quills | DVD | (29/10/2001) from £9.88   |  Saving you £3.11 (31.48%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The award winning tale of the last days of the Marquis de Sade, imprisoned in an asylum in Paris 1807.

• Trial and Retribution 19-22 | DVD | (07/09/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Trial And Retribution: The Collection - Part Six 19-22

• Missing Lynx | DVD | (04/07/2011) from £4.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (100.20%)   |  RRP £9.99

  From producer Antonio Banderas comes The Missing Lynx an original animated comedy-adventure that will charm and excite viewers of all ages. Meet Felix; a jinxed lynx who's clumsy as he is unlucky. After one of his countless mishaps he finds himself in the Animal Recovery Centre but his luck worsens further when the centre is attacked! The animals find themselves pursued by an eccentric millionaire named Noah who has hired Newmann the self-proclaimed greatest hunter in the world to collect animals for an Ark he is building. Felix assembles a ragtag band of animals - Gus a paranoid chameleon; Beety a daredevil goat; Astarte a brave falcon and Rupert a poor-sighted mole - to foil Noah's plans and these crazy comrades learn the value of working together in this unlikely tale of friendship and heroism.

• Anne Of Green Gables - The Sequel | DVD | (28/10/2002) from £39.99   |  Saving you £-20.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The enchanting sequel to the Emmy award-winning Anne of Green Gables tells the continuing story of Anne Shirley as she makes the transition from a romantic impetuous orphan to an outspoken adventurous and accomplished young teacher.

• Still Alice | Blu Ray | (06/07/2015) from £9.29   |  Saving you £10.70 (115.18%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Based on Lisa Genova's 2009 novel of the same name, 'Still Alice' is a frightening, heartbreaking, but ultimately inspiring drama featuring an astonishing Oscar and BAFTA-winning performance from Julianne Moore. At age fifty, Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) has it all: a Columbia University linguistics professorship, a devoted husband, and three loving children. Her life is a whirlwind of work and family, and she thrives on it. But, while lecturing at UCLA, something unexpected happens: mid-sentence, she struggles to find a word. Though a seemingly innocuous relapse, the incident leads to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, a stunning realisation that sees the bonds between Alice and her family thoroughly tested.

• How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days / Sliding Doors / Ghost | DVD | (04/10/2004) from £9.95   |  Saving you £10.04 (50.20%)   |  RRP £19.99

  How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days: Andie needs to prove she can dump a guy in 10 days. Ben needs to prove he can win a girl in 10 days. Now the clock is ticking-and the year's most wildly entertaining comedy smash is off and running in this irresistible tale of sex lies and outrageous romantic fireworks! Sliding Doors: The split-second moments that can take a life down one path instead of another form the tantalising 'what if?' in this delightful romantic comedy starring G

• Total Recall | DVD | (26/12/2012) from £2.99   |  Saving you £17.00 (85.00%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Prepare for non-stop excitement and pulse-pounding thrills in this explosive action thriller. Colin Farrell stars as Douglas Quaid, a factory worker who visits Rekall, a revolutionary company that can turn his superspy fantasies into real memories.

• When A Stranger Calls | DVD | (11/09/2006) from £9.99   |  Saving you £8.00 (80.08%)   |  RRP £17.99

  During an otherwise routine babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller.

• The Reader | Blu Ray | (09/05/2018) from £10.75   |  Saving you £14.24 (132.47%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Director Stephen Daldry brings another literary classic to the screen with this adaptation of a novel by Bernhard Schlink and starring Kate Winslet.

• Avatar: The Way of Water: Blu-ray 3D + 2D | Blu Ray | (06/07/2023) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Underworld 1-4 | DVD | (14/05/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £35.99

  Underworld: Selene, a beautiful vampire warrior, is entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a werewolf who longs for the war to end.Underworld: Evolution: Picking up directly from the previous film, vampire warrior Selena and the half werewolf Michael hunt for clues to reveal the history of their races and the war between them.Underworld: Rise of the Lycans: An origins story centered on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.Underworld: Awakening: When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.

• Bob The Builder - Project: Build It! - Super Speedy Benny | DVD | (10/04/2006) from £4.73   |  Saving you £8.26 (174.63%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Can they fix it? Yes they can! More adventures with Bob The Builder and friends. Episodes comprise: 1. Wendy's Party Plan 2. Scrambler In the Doghouse 3. Benny's Important Job 4. Put It Together Spud 5. Roley's Round Up

• The Other Woman | Blu Ray | (13/10/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he's been cheating on, she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered, all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB. Hilarious comedy starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann and Kate Upton.

• Lynda La Plante - Trial And Retribution - 5 To 8 | DVD | (14/03/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £34.99

  Drawing TV audiences of up to 11 million viewers 'Trial And Retribution' is a gritty urban drama that deals with graphic topics from abduction to serial murders and internal police corruption to psychological illness. Breaking new ground in terms of content and style each episode traces the entire trajectory of a serious crime from the act being committed to a detailed investigation and arrest before arriving at the law courts for a dramatic finale.

• So Little Time - Vol. 1 | DVD | (31/05/2004) from £12.98   |  Saving you £1.01 (7.78%)   |  RRP £13.99

  School's cool for 14 year olds Chloe and Riley Carlson. High school is a lot of work besides dating partying and shopping at the mall. 'So Little Time' episodes find Chloe and Riley taking on weird biology partners dumb after-school jobs and disastrous class projects. Episodes: Breakfast Club / Colour Of Money / Girls Just Want To Have Fun / True Lies / Trading Places / Teachers Pet

• Chopper | DVD | (24/09/2007) from £3.60   |  Saving you £2.39 (66.39%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Based on the true-life story of one of Australia's most notorious criminals

• Mildred Pierce (HBO) | Blu Ray | (28/11/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  She gave her daughter everything. But everything was not enough. HBO's new miniseries Mildred Pierce brings to life the memorable characters introduced in James M. Cain's classic 1941 novel of pride and privilege in the middle class. Starring Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet and co-written and directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Todd Haynes this five-part drama is an intimate portrait of a uniquely independent woman who finds herself newly divorced during the Depression years as she struggles to carve out a new life for herself and her family. The story explores Mildred's unreasonable devotion to her insatiable daughter Veda (Evan Rachel Wood) as well as the complex relationship she shares with the indolent men in her life including her polo-playing lover Monty Beragon (Guy Pearce) and ex-husband Bert Pierce (Brian F. O'Byrne).