"Actor: Matthew James Thomas"

• The Lost Prince | DVD | (20/01/2003) from £6.12   |  Saving you £9.87 (161.27%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A marvellous reinvention of the costume epic, The Lost Prince is Stephen Poliakoff's absorbing study of the turbulent years leading up to and during the First World War, seen through the percipient eyes of a scarcely remembered royal child. Extensively researched, impeccably cast, beautifully filmed, written and directed by Poliakoff himself with masterly economy and restraint, this is a timely reminder that original, intelligent drama can work as prime time entertainment while appealing on multiple levels; and there isn't an escaped soap star in sight. Johnnie, the prince kept hidden away by his parents Queen Mary and George V for fear that his epileptic fits and idiosyncratic ways might draw unwelcome attention, is not presented as a tragic figure. His view of the great events which shatter his family and change the world forever is direct and uncluttered. Poliakoff celebrates his apartness--and that of all children who are different--as a force for good, without judging the standards, protocols and contemporary medical theories which kept him on the periphery of society. The series makes the most of its well-chosen locations, and from Johnnie's garden at Sandringham to the assassination of the Russian imperial family, it maintains a hypnotic and elegiac quality The acting is first-rate, too. Gina McKee is profoundly moving as Johnnie's devoted nurse Lalla; and Miranda Richardson's Mary is an extraordinary performance, the controlled façade of single-minded focus occasionally fracturing to reveal a flash of humanity. This production is exquisite in every respect. On the DVD: The Lost Prince is presented in its original transmission format of 16:9. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, enhanced by Adrian Johnston's haunting score is crystal clear. Extras include Poliakoff's revealing commentary, with occasional input from Johnston and designer John-Paul Kelly, and a couple of documentary fragments which show the production in progress and place it in context with the rest of Poliakoff's work. --Piers Ford

• The Lion King Special Edition | DVD | (31/10/2003) from £10.46   |  Saving you £12.53 (119.79%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Disney's 1994 animated feature, The Lion King, was a huge smash in cinemas and continues to enjoy life in an acclaimed stage production. The story finds a lion cub, son of a king, sent into exile after his father is deposed by a jealous uncle. The little hero finds his way into the "circle of life" with some new friends and eventually comes back to reclaim his proper place. Characters are very strong, vocal performances by the likes of Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg are terrific, the jokes are aimed as much (if not more) at adults than kids, the animation is sometimes breathtaking and the songs from Tim Rice and Elton John, accompanied by a colourful score, are more palatable than in many recent Disney features. --Tom Keogh On the DVD: The Lion King Special Edition is a superb restoration: take a look at the serviceable but dull film clips incorporated in the plethora of extras and compare them to the vivid gorgeousness of the film presentation. This special edition also adds a 90-second song ("Morning Report") that originated in the lavish stage musical. To Disney's credit, the original theatrical version is also included, both restored and featuring two 5.1 soundtracks: Dolby Digital and a new Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, which does sound brighter. As with the Disney Platinum line, everything is thrown into the discs, except an outsider's voice (the rah-rahs of Disney grow tiresome at times). The excellent commentary from the directors and producer, originally on the laser disc, is hidden under the audio set-up menu. The second disc is organised by 20-minute-ish "journeys" tackling the elements of story, music and so on, including good background on the awkward Shakespearean origins at Disney where it was referred as "Bamlet". The most interesting journey follows the landmark stage production, and the kids should be transfixed by shots of the real African wildlife in the animal journey. Three deleted segments are real curios, including an opening lyric for "Hakuna Matata". Most set-top DVD games are usually pretty thin (DVD-ROM is where it's at), but the Safari game is an exception--the kids should love the roaring animals (in 5.1 Surround, no less). One serious demerit is the needless and complicated second navigation system that is listed by continent but just shows the same features reordered. --Doug Thomas

• The Dirty Dozen - The Deadly Mission | DVD | (04/09/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Telly Savalas assumes the role of the leader of the Dirty Dozen from Lee Marvin as he and the twelve are charged to destroy a nerve gas manufacturing plant before the Germans can make enough to use against the Allied invasion...

• Britannia High - Series 1 - Complete | DVD | (27/04/2009) from £26.98   |  Saving you £-6.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Britannia High is a vibrant exciting contemporary Fame for the noughties and has a host of talent on board. As well as an exceptional cast the show is choreographed by Arlene Philips with the score written by Take That's Gary Barlow and award-winning song writer Guy Chambers.

• Britannia High - Series 1 | DVD | (17/11/2008) from £9.12   |  Saving you £10.87 (119.19%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This is a vibrant exciting contemporary Fame for the noughties and has a host of talent on board. As well as an exceptional cast the show is choreographed by Arlene Philips with the score written by Take That's Gary Barlow and award-winning song writer Guy Chambers.

• Britannia High - Series 1 Vol.2 | DVD | (02/02/2009) from £7.70   |  Saving you £12.29 (159.61%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This is a vibrant exciting contemporary Fame for the noughties and has a host of talent on board. As well as an exceptional cast the show is choreographed by Arlene Philips with the score written by Take That's Gary Barlow and award-winning song writer Guy Chambers.

• The Lion King (Read Along) | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £12.96   |  Saving you £-2.97 (-29.70%)   |  RRP £9.99

  This is a read-along version of the classic Disney movie. Wild Africa is the setting for this tale of a young lion cub whose evil uncle usurps his father's crown and lets hyenas overrun the kingdom. Dodging danger and befriending some oddball characters the cub wanders until the day he's ready to return. Songs by Elton John and featuring the voices of Whoopie Goldberg Cheech Marin James Earl Jones Matthew Broderick Nathan Lane and Jeremy Irons. Academy Award Nominations: 4 including 3 for Best Original Song. Academy Awards: 2 including Best Original Score and Best Original Song (Elton John and Tim Rice: Can You Feel the Love Tonight).

• The Sticky Fingers Of Time | DVD | (10/03/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  When Tucker Harding (Terumi Matthews) a writer of hard-boiled fiction steps out to buy coffee one day in 1953 she finds herself mysteriously transposed to 1997. Wandering through New York's East Village she bumps into Drew (Nicole Zaray) a jaded woman with blossoming self-destructive urges. They form an instant relationship based on a volatile mix of distrust and desire. That is until they discover that they are both 'time freaks' atomically-mutated characters who experience the segments of their lives in any order they choose. When Tucker is suddenly murdered Drew must unravel the web of love time and betrayal that connects her to an unhappy past and a menacing future. Her search brings her to Ofelia (Belinda Becker) a futuristic femme-fatale who holds the thread of Tucker's fate and possibly Drew's as well.

• The Lion King (Special Edition Gift Pack) | DVD | (31/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Disney's epic coming-of-age saga tells of the love between a proud lion ruler Mufasa and his son Simba - a naive and curious cub who just can't wait to be king. But Simba's envious Uncle Scar has other plans and his scheming for the throne leads to Simba's exile from the kingdom he should rightfully rule. Befriended by the hilarious warthog Pumbaa and his manic meerkat companion Timon Simba forgets his regal responsibilities and adopts a carefree lifestyle of Hakuna Matata.

• Lion King | DVD | (28/01/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.22