Based on an idea by Gene Roddenberry, Andromeda wears its debt to Star Trek on its sleeve, recalling the best SF of Roddenberry's heyday. Kevin (ex-Hercules) Sorbo, plays Captain Dylan Hunt, the sympathetically flawed idealist in command of the Andromeda Ascendant, a massive 1.4 KM long starship of the now-disbanded Systems Commonwealth. The fall of civilisation has meant that although she ought to be a relic she remains the zenith of technological advancement. Episodes on this DVD: "The Pearls That Were His Eyes", "The Mathematics of Tears", "Music of a Distant Drum" and "Harper 2.0". "The Pearls That Were His Eyes" was one of the first conceived episode ideas, but was delayed until the availability of a Star Trek regular. That eventually turned out to be John (Q) de Lancie, who gives a brilliant turn as Beka's long-lost Uncle Sid. She really ought to have learned by now that no one is out for completely altruistic goals. An indication of how rotten the galaxy has become is that it can now takes three years for junk mail to reach you. Finding another High Guard ship with a crew looking as it did 300 years ago seems like an awful big coincidence. In "The Mathematics of Tears" Dylan works to stay focused on the enigma at hand. Unfortunately, high-ranking officer Jill Pierce keeps distracting him with red herrings and all-manner of feminine wiles. Did they really stay young from the after-effects of an experimental weapon? Or is there a far more tragic secret to be revealed? When the show focuses purely on Tyr, we can always be sure of certain eventualities. There will be glistening displays of muscle, questioned loyalties and some sort of humbled reconciliation with Dylan. This time his erratic behaviour is influenced by the "Music of a Distant Drum" which takes him to the planet Midden and a family of fishmongers. The episode gets to look at the character from the inside out due to a complete memory loss. Never, never, never pick up a floating life pod. When will characters in SF learn this? The dire result of doing so this time is an impressive "Harper 2.0". Gordon Woolvett hasn't had many opportunities to shine thus far. But here we see him talking in multiple languages and contrasting his general surfer wise-cracking with sharp intellect and a mean streak. We also get a glimpse of what it is that's so feared about the Magog in battle. On the DVD: Andromeda, Season 1 Vol. 3 has the regular extras package, with trailers, deleted scenes and comments from star Kevin Sorbo. This box set also features interviews with Brent Stait (Rev) and make-up effects artist Harlow McFarlane. --Paul Tonks
There's schlock-horror movie-making par excellence from producer Dick Randall in this Something Weird Collection 1 twofer. Meat Is Meat (1971) finds mad butcher Otto Lehman back in the Viennese community doing what he does best. With its Sweeney Todd overtones this is not for the faint of stomach, but those who enjoy seeing nagging wives and creepy sidekicks transformed into sausages will lap up accordingly. Victor Buono is perfect casting as Lehman, with Brad Harris stylish as the bored American journalist who rumbles his activities and Karen Field looking good as the housekeeper next door. Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (1973) is less OTT than the title suggests. Rossano Brazzi (earlier of South Pacific!) is a thoughtful Count Frankenstein, while Michael Dunn is seriously unlikable as necrophile dwarf Genz. As anthropologist-cum-sex kitten Krista, Christiane Royce brings a welcome sophistication to this gloss on the hoary Karloff classic, whose opening "location" sequence and standard of dubbing has to be seen to be believed. On the DVD: The Something Weird Collection 1 DVD presentation is of the no-frills variety usual with Siren releases. With decent remastering at 1.33:1 aspect ratio the lurid colour of both films comes through unadulterated. An added attraction is the poster gallery of low-budget shockers with mildly psychedelic soundtrack to boot. It's good, if not so clean fun for all the family. --Richard Whitehouse
As the bitter war between the Galaxy Alliance and the Drule Empire continues the Stellar Ship Explorer finds a new world to build on....
China Rose
An expert in hazardous materials is called in to investigate an explosion in a chemical laboratory. What he discovers is his worst nightmare; a substance so deadly to humans that once exposed the future of mankind is threatened...
This box set features the following films: The Departed (Dir. Martin Scorsese) (2006): A big-budget Hollywood star power remake of the Hong Kong classic crime thriller Infernal Affairs. Two men operate on different sides of the law; one a mole with the Boston State Police department the other within the Irish mafia. When bloodshed breaks out on the streets each mole is despatched to discover the other's identity in a race against time... Donnie Brasco (Dir. Mike Newell) (1997): The true story of an FBI undercover agent (Johnny Depp) who becomes Donnie Brasco 'The Jewel Man' to infiltrate one of the mob families. Donnie manoeuvres his way into the confidence of ageing hit man Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) who trusts Donnie and vouches for him to the mob. But Lefty and Donnie become friends when they should be enemies. As Donnie moves deeper and deeper into the Mafia chain of command he realises he is not only crossing the line between federal agent and criminal but it also leading his friend Lefty to an almost certain death sentence... Gangs Of New York (Dir. Martin Scorsese) (2002): The seeds for revenge take place in 1846 when a battle is fought against the Irish and the ""native"" Americans over the five points area of New York City. It is here where ""Bill the Butcher"" (Day-Lewis) slays Priest Vallon whose son Amsterdam Vallon (Dicaprio) is then taken to an orphanage. The plot unfolds when in 1863 Amsterdam returns to the five points to seek revenge against his fathers killer.
Never Been Kissed (Dir. Raja Gosnell 1999): Josie Geller is ready for a change. As the youngest copy editor at a big-city newspaper she longs to be taken seriously as a journalist. But while Josie excels as the nerdy brain at work her personal life is another story still plagued by her teenager reputation as a 'geek to the core' Josie is a 25-year-old who has never ever had a serious love relationship - she has never really been kissed. Against all odd Josie lands her fir
Back in the day it would be considered a pretty good sounding bootleg and not an artistic and production risk as it's being hailed. Balancing low profile recording with a handful of musicians including Heartbreaker's keyboardist Benmont Tench; former Wallflower guitarist Michael Ward and engineer/bassist Brian Harrison with her emotions in full flare producer Lynne takes the sparse demo approach giving the listener the overall sense of being there as the music is made.
Slick to a fault, this glossy action flick takes place in sunny Florida, where Martin Lawrence and Will Smith play two cops--one married with kids, the other a swinging bachelor. The two are forced to trade places to foil criminal mastermind Fouchet (Tchéky Karyo) who has stolen $100 million worth of heroin from a police lockup. Violent, illogical and filled with wall-to-wall profanity, Bad Boys was the last film produced by the hit-making team of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer before Simpson's untimely death and marked the directorial debut of Michael Bay who followed up with The Rock. Bad Boys will be of interest to action buffs and fans of Téa Leoni, who makes one of her early screen appearances in the central supporting role. --Jeff Shannon
In 1956 the title of his latest film, Up in the World accurately described Norman Wisdom's career. This was the great British comedian's fourth hit in as many years, this time finding himself employed as window cleaner to Lady Banderville (Ambrosine Phillpotts). Apart from having hundreds of windows to polish, things would be going fine for Norman if it weren't for the endless practical jokes played by Lady Banderville's son, Sir Reginald (Michael Caridia). However, when the irritating Regie is kidnapped, Norman has the chance to prove himself a hero, and it just might impress Jeannie Andrews too, his beautiful co-star Maureen Swanson, then making a name for herself in A Town Like Alice and The Spanish Gardener (both 1956). By now Norman Wisdom was set on a winning formula, working with much the same team as on his three previous smashes, including Jerry Desmonde as Major Willoughby, who had starred in both Trouble in Store (1953) and Man of the Moment (1955). Later, in Carry On Regardless (1961) Desmonde would make a single appearance with another British comedy institution, and interestingly Ambrosine Phillpotts would be there in the same film. Norman meanwhile, would go on to his good fortune in Just My Luck (1957). --Gary S. Dalkin
Another series from Lew Grade's ITC stable, The Protectors attracted high ratings on both sides of the Atlantic when screened during 1971-3. Combining the high-tech ingenuity of Mission: Impossible with the glamour of The Champions, the basic premise of jet-setting special agents going where governments fear to tread is typical of its era. As Harry Rule, Robert Vaughn develops the thinking man of action persona he perfected in The Man from U.N.C.L.E, complemented by Nyree Dawn Porter's stylish Contessa di Contini. The underrated Tony Anholt makes the most of his Mediterranean good looks as Paul Buchet. Ten episodes are included here, all following a well-honed formula of intrigue and strategy, but with enough variety in scenario and setting--a range of European cities and resorts--to offset routine. Look out for a host of soon-to-be-familiar faces. There's also Tony Christie's full-throated rendition of the "Avenues and Alleyways" theme to round off each episode. On the DVD: The Protectors on disc comes in a full-screen format that reproduces excellently for its age (Lew Grade's productions always seem to last well). Each episode is divided into four chapter headings, with English subtitles available. A detailed biography of Vaughn is included along with a gallery of captioned stills, some of which are curiously reproduced in black-and-white. Taken with a healthy dose of nostalgia, entertainment is assured. --Richard Whitehouse
Acclaimed director Rob Marshall re-invents the traditional variety special in this groundbreaking event with show-stopping dance numbers and breathtaking stage production. Marshall and his Academy-award-winning creative team take the viewer on an emotional musical journey re-creating seminal venues of Tony Bennett's music career from the 52nd Street Swing Club to the early Columbia recording studio from the ""rat pack"" stage in Las Vegas to the famous Carnegie Hall. Tony performs live duets of his greatest hits with the greatest artists of today. The show features special appearances by Robert De Niro Catherine Zeta-Jones John Travolta Bruce Willis and Billy Crystal! Track Listing 1. Smile - with Barbra Streisand 2. Sing You Sinners - with John Legend 3. Because of You - with K.D.Lang (featuring Chris Botti) 4. The Best Is Yet to Come - with Diana Krall 5. The Shadow of Your Smile - with Juanes 6. Rags to Riches - with Elton John 7. Just in Time - with Michael Buble 8. For Once in My Life - with Stevie Wonder 9. Steppin' Out - with Christina Aguilera 10. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Bewitched: Be warned. Be ready. A producer remaking the classic sitcom ""Bewitched"" unknowingly casts an actual witch for the lead role! Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell headline this hilarious romantic comedy based on the beloved sitcom starring Elizabeth Montgomery. (Dir. Nora Ephron 2005) Wimbledon: She's the golden girl. He's the longshot. It's a match made in... A pro tennis player has lost his ambition and has fallen in rank to 119. Fortunately for him he meets a young female player on the women's circuit who helps him recapture his focus for Wimbledon at the cost of losing hers... (Dir. Richard Loncraine 2004) The Perfect Man: Is it all too good to be true? Teenager Holly Hamilton (Hilary Duff) is fed up of moving every time her single-parent mother Jean (Heather Locklear) breaks-up with another dead-beat boyfriend. To distract her mother from her latest bad choice Holly conceives the perfect plan for the perfect man - an imaginary secret admirer who will romance Jean and boost her self-esteem. When the virtual relationship takes off Holly finds herself having to produce a suitor from somewhere; borrowing her friend's charming and handsome uncle Ben (Chris Noth) as the face behind the emails notes and gifts! Holly must resort to increasingly desperate measures to keep the ruse alive and protect her Mother's newfound happiness... Almost missing the real perfect man when he does come along. (Dir. Mark Rosman 2005)
Gerry Anderson's classic sci-fi series. The operatives of the secret Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation (S.H.A.D.O.) defend the earth from extra-terrestrials who are abducting humans to obtain their organs which can be transplanted into their own bodies... Episodes include: Reflections In The Water Timelash Mind Bender The Long Sleep
Gerry Anderson's classic sci-fi series. The operatives of the secret Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation (S.H.A.D.O.) defend the earth from extra-terrestrials who are abducting humans to obtain their organs which can be transplanted into their own bodies... Episodes include: Sub-smash The Sound Of Silence The Cat With Ten Lives
When a drug deal goes bad three friends make a fatal judgement that puts one behind bars for a crime he did not commit. When Johnny is finally paroled he finds himself back in his old neighbourhood where battles are fought and drugs provide the only escape. Certain that there has to be a better way he tries to turn his life around. But old gruges die hard Gloria has sworn she will kill him for the murder of her brother and she will not rest till he is dead. This gritty urban tale of violent revenge and sexual exploitation features incredible performances and disturbing scenes as lives intersect in the underbelly of New York.
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