"Actor: Michael Gambon"

• Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince | DVD | (07/12/2009) from £8.17   |  Saving you £16.82 (205.88%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series begins right where The Order of the Phoenix left off. The wizarding world is rocked by the news that "He Who Must Not Be Named" has truly returned, and the audience finally knows that Harry is "the Chosen One"--the only wizard who can defeat Lord Voldemort in the end. Dark forces loom around every corner, and now regularly attempt to penetrate the protected walls of Hogwarts School. This is no longer the fun and fascinating world of magic from the first few books—it's dark, dangerous, and scary. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) suspects Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) to be a new Death Eater recruit on a special mission for the Dark Lord. In the meantime, Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) seems to have finally removed the shroud of secrecy from Harry about the dark path that lies ahead, and instead provides private lessons to get him prepared. It's in these intriguing scenes that the dark past of Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) is finally revealed. The actors cast as the different young versions of Riddle (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and Frank Dillane) do an eerily fantastic job of portraying the villain as a child. While the previous movies' many new characters could be slightly overwhelming, only one new key character is introduced this time: Professor Horace Slughorn (with a spot-on performance by Jim Broadbent). Within his mind he holds a key secret in the battle to defeat the Dark Lord, and Harry is tasked by Dumbledore to uncover a memory about Voldemort's darkest weapon--the Horcrux. Despite the long list of distractions, Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) still try to focus on being teenagers, and audiences will enjoy the budding awkward romances. All of the actors have developed nicely, giving their most convincing performances to date. More dramatic and significant things go down in this movie than any of its predecessors, and the stakes are higher than ever. The creators have been tasked with a practically impossible challenge, as fans of the beloved J.K. Rowling book series desperately want the movies to capture the magic of the books as closely as possible. Alas, the point at which one accepts that these two mediums are very different is the point at which one can truly enjoy these brilliant adaptations. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is no exception: it may be the best film yet. For those who have not read the book, nail-biting entertainment is guaranteed. For those who have, the movie does it justice. The key dramatic scenes, including the cave and the shocking twist in the final chapter, are executed very well. It does a perfect job of setting up the two-part grand finale that is to follow. --Jordan Thompson

• Maigret - The Complete Series 1 And 2 | DVD | (09/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  An absolute must for fans of Georges Simenon's beloved sleuth, Inspector Jules Maigret, this four-volume Maigret Collection is the finest detective series from Granada Television since the late Jeremy Brett gave us his definitive portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the 1980s. The masterful Michael Gambon is the latest in a long tradition of familiar leading men (from Jean Gabin to Richard Harris) who have played Simenon's blunt but humane, occasionally whimsical, and magnificently insightful investigator. Yet Gambon is perhaps uniquely suited to the part: a popular star with none of the baggage of a brand-name icon or the self-effacing obligations of a character actor. He captures perfectly Maigret's measured but hardly inscrutable presence in the eruptive underworld of Paris crime. Among the 12 episodes here is "Maigret and the Burglar's Wife", which does honour to Simenon's compassionate tale of a retiring thief whose accidental encounter with a corpse sets in motion one of Maigret's most intense psychological duels. The equally compelling "Maigret's Boyhood Friend" finds the detective on a case drawing suspicion to an old school chum, while "Maigret Sets a Trap" is a wonderful production of Simenon's puzzler about a serial killer whose patterns of motivation and action must be deciphered before he can be caught. --Tom Keogh

• Catholics | DVD | (20/10/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Controversial for its time The Catholics stars Trevor Howard in a powerhouse performance as the Abbot in charge of a remote Irish monastery in Mork Eire. In defiance of an edict from Rome the Abbot and his monks elect to travel to the Irish mainland in order to celebrate the Mass in Latin. Refusing to bow down to Papal pressure and use English for their Mass the monks of Mork soon become celebrated amongst orthodox Catholics and Eire turns into a place of international pilgrimage. Alarmed by the Abbot's populist move Rome acts to quell the dissent when The Father General (Raf Vallone) sends his representative Father Kinsella (Martin Sheen) to force the Abbot to cease the Latin masses or be transferred to another position. When the two men argue against each other's religious beliefs and interpretations the Abbot discovers that it is not just the teachings of his church that he has come to question but the very basis of his own belief in God.

• Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix | Blu Ray | (12/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Harry must contend with the fact that Lord Voldemort has returned in this, the fifth film in the hugely popular franchise.

• Ladies In Lavender/Gosford Park/Keeping Mum | DVD | (16/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Ladies In Lavender (Dir. Charles Dance 2004): Award winning actresses Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith star in this evocative heart-warming story of unfulfilled dreams innocence and unrequited love. Cornwall in 1936 remains as ever a timeless place. Sisters Janet and Ursula Widdington discover a castaway on the beach below their house. With the help of the local doctor they nurse him back to health. During his convalescence the sisters discover his talent as a musician and the unsettling effect he has on them both - especially Ursula whose life will never be the same again. Gosford Park (Dir. Robert Altman 2001): Robert Altman directs this elegant period drama and Agatha Christie-style murder mystery that features the cream of British acting talent. Gathered at aristocrat Michael Gambon's big house are fellow toffs Charles Dance James Wilby and Jeremy Northam (as British matinee idol Ivor Novello) among others. Meanwhile downstairs in the bustling servant's quarters we encounter Alan Bates and Helen Mirren as the head male and female members of staff. The various intrigues that play out between members of the different classes and sexes are all observed with Altman's customary withering eye and trademark roving camerawork. After a murder is committed comical pipe-smoking detective Stephen Fry arrives but the solution is arrived at in an unconventional way. With an impeccable ensemble cast that Merchant Ivory would die for Gosford Park is a classy piece of cinema from a great director getting back to the top of his form. Keeping Mum (Dir. Niall Johnson 2005): Known throughout the clergy for his perfectionism Reverend Walter Goddfellow (Atkinson) is preoccupied with writing the perfect sermon fails to realize that his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) is having an affair and his children are up to no good... A typically eccentric British black comedy with a delightfully dotty performance from Maggie Smith and a sublimely sleazy turn from Patrick Swayze to give sterling support to the snappy script from writer/director Niall Johnson.

• Nothing Personal | DVD | (11/08/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  The deadliest gangsters are those with a cause. Belfast 1975. A bomb goes off in a crowded pub and battle lines are drawn. Loyalist and Republican bosses are negotiating a cease-fire but the foot soldiers want vengeance. Leonard a high-ranking Loyalist orders his men to keep control but gang leader Kenny wants blood. Innocently caught in the cross-fire is Kenny's childhood friend whose involvement places events on a personal level. Tough decisions need to be made as Liam and Kenny find themselves trapped in an escalating spiral of violence from which there is no escape.

• Doctor Who Gift Set 2011 - A Christmas Carol | DVD | (24/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Doctor Who: A Christmas CarolAmy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way the Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser. But is Kazran Sardick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve?The Dalek Handbook by Steve Tribe and James GossThe ultimate guide to the Doctor's deadliest enemies!The Dalek Handbook is your complete guide to the Doctor's greatest enemies. It explores the Daleks' origins on the planet Skaro, how a Time Lord intervention altered the course of Dalek history, and how they emerged to wage war on Thals, Mechonoids, Draconians and humans. It also reveals the secrets of Dalek design, the development of their iconic look and sound, and their enduring appeal on and off the screen. With artwork and photographs from six decades of Doctor Who, The Dalek Handbook is the ultimate celebration of all things Dalek.

• Maigret - Series 1 - Episodes 1 To 3 | DVD | (09/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Michael Gambon plays the extraordinary Belgian Detective Inspector Maigret in this television adaptation of the novels by George Simenon. Inuitive intelligent and creative with a genius for human nature Maigret is like no other detective as he cunningly investigates crime and the human psyche. Episode titles: The Patience Of Maigret Maigret And The Burglar's Wife Maigret Goes To School.

• The Beast Must Die | DVD | (18/10/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Wealthy businessman and skilled huntsman Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) summons a selection of guests to his home for the weekend one of whom is a werewolf with a taste for blood. It's up to the others to seek out the monster before the full moon reveals the culprit.

• The Quick And The Dead/Open Range/Desperado | DVD | (01/10/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The Quick And The Dead (Dir. Sam Rami 1995): Herod (Gene Hackman) Mayor and ruler of Redemption has turned his town into a haven for thugs and Miscreants of every type. In return for his 'leniency' he keeps 50 cents on every dollar traded by the unsavoury group. Each year in order to weed out rivals and to protect his position of power Herod holds a shooting contest which attracts people from miles around including his son 'The Kid' (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cort (Russell Crowe). It is a shoot to kill contest with the prize being a large sum of cash. Herod wins every year so protecting his position and reputation for being the fastest killer in the West. That is until Ellen (Sharon Stone) rides into town a six-gun strapped to her hip and revenge burning in her heart. She's fast furious and her mind is set on winning the ultimate prize of a duel to the death with Herod. Open Range (Dir. Kevin Costner 2003): Academy-Award winning director Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves) helms this traditional Western tale of a way of life that is quickly disappearing. Boss Spearman (Duvall) Charley Waite (Costner) Mose Harrison (Benrubi) and ""Button"" (Luna) freegraze their cattle across the vast prairies of the West sharing a friendship forged by a steadfast code of honour and living a life unencumbered by civilization. When their wayward herd forces them near the small town of Harmonville the cowboys encounter a corrupt Sheriff (Russo) and kingpin rancher (Gambon) who govern the territory through fear tyranny and violence. Boss and Charley find themselves inextricably drawn towards the inevitable showdown as they are forced to defend the freedom and values of a lifestyle that is all too quickly vanishing. Amidst this turmoil life suddenly takes an unexpected turn for loner Charley when he meets the beautiful and warm-spirited Sue Barlow (Bening) a woman who embraces both his heart and his soul. As these courageous men prepare for the decisive battle that looms they are also forced to confront and conquer their own internal demons. Desperado (Dir. Robert Rodriguez): In this sequel/remake to 'El Mariachi' a case of mistaken identity leads to a very high body count involvement with a beautiful woman who works for the local drug lord and finally the inevitable face-to-face confrontation and bloody showdown...

• Maigret - Series 1 - Episodes 4 To 6 | DVD | (09/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Michael Gambon plays the extraordinary Belgian detective Inspector Maigret in this television adaptation of the novels by George Simenon. Intuitive intelligent and creative with a genius for human nature Maigret is like no other detective as he cunningly investigates crime and the human psyche. Episode titles: Maigret And The Mad Woman Maigret On Home Ground Maigret Sets A Trap.

• Maigret - Series 2 - Episodes 1 To 3 | DVD | (09/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Michael Gambon plays the extraordinary French detective Inspector Maigret in this television adaptation of the novels by George Simenon. Intuitive intelligent and creative with a genius for human nature Maigret is like no other detective as he cunningly investigates crime and the human psyche. Episode titles: Maigret And The Nightclub Dancer Maigret And The Hotel Majestic Maigret On The Defensive.

• The Browning Version | DVD | (05/03/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Andrew Crocker-Harris (Albert Finney) a teacher of Greek and Latin at a private school is dubbed the 'Hitler of the Lower Sixth' by his students. His rigidity and cruelty are the sad remnants of an extinguished passion for classical literature. But as he is poised to leave the school--forced into retirement by the headmaster and made a cuckold of by the infidelities of his wife Laura (Greta Scacchi) - Crocker-Harris finds his love for learning rekindled by the interest and sympathy of a young student named Taplow (Ben Silverstone) who gives him Robert Browning's translation of Aeschylus' Agamenon as a parting gift. Based on a Terence Rattigan play The Browning Version is a character study that finds pathos in British stodginess and makes a subdued plea for the nobility of teaching. Finney is the powerful centre of the film portraying a man whom time and opportunity have passed by. As humiliations are piled upon his character Finney registers nothing but silent resignation even as he ratchets up his stoicism to face the next disappointment.

• Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban | UMD | (20/03/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £23.99

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

  Just as he's about to get out of the game entirely, a drug dealer gets drawn back in to the doublecrossing world of the London mafia in this refreshing British thriller.

• Shackelon's Antarctic Adventure | DVD | (02/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £10.99

  The Greatest Survival Story Of All Time. Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure recounts the extraordinary true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914- 1916 British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition which many consider ""the greatest survival story of all time."" This expedition has become a testament to heroism and human endurance with all 28 men surviving nearly two years in the barren frigid Antarctic when their ship the Endurance was caught in pack ice and eventually crushed.

• Layer Cake | UMD | (03/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

• Conflict | DVD | (05/06/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  In the near future, the Catholic Church has joined with other western religions in an ecumenical movement that has washed out much of the original message of the religion. A group of Irish monks have begun saying the mass again in Latin and have attracted an international following. Martin Sheen is sent from Rome to bring them to task and they must confront what is truly essential in their worship and what is not.

• A Monkey's Tale | DVD | (12/02/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  A Monkey's Tale is an action-packed animated adventure that tells the story of two tribes of monkeys the Laankos and the Woonkos long separated by fierce rivalry. One day a young Woonko Kom accidentally finds himself in the world of the Laankos where he discovers how similar the Laankos are to his own creed. Romance evil friendship comedy and tragedy lead finally to reconciliation in an uplifting family adventure.

• 3 Favourite Action Heroes - Action Man / Butt Ugly Martians / Sleepy Hollow | DVD | (22/03/2004) from £13.48   |  Saving you £-0.49 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  'Action Man' features the super hero and his team doing battle against the Earth's evil enemies. 'Redwall' tells the story of the characters who live at Redwall Abbey. 'Sleepy Hollow' is based on the Washington Irving tale.