"Actor: Paul Russell"

• Operation Mincemeat | DVD | (04/07/2022) from £6.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  It's 1943.¯The Allies are determined to break Hitler's grip on occupied Europe, and plan to launch an all-out assault on Sicily; but they face an impossible challenge - how to protect the invasion force from potential annihilation. It falls to two remarkable intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) to dream the most inspired and improbable disinformation strategy of the war - centred on the most unlikely of secret agents: a dead man. Operation Mincemeat is the extraordinary and true story of an idea that hoped to turn the tide for the Allies - taking impossibly high risks, defying logic, and testing the nerves of its creators to breaking point.

• Sharpe: Classic Collection | DVD | (10/10/2010) from £21.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Collection of the feature-length television movies set during the Napoleonic Wars, starring Sean Bean as the maverick British rifleman Richard Sharpe. 15 episodes feature, including the special, 'Sharpe: The Legend', in which Rifleman Cooper (Michael Mears), who fought alongside Sharpe throughout the Peninsula Wars, looks back at all the adventures and romances that his senior officer got up to, showing clips from the best of the long-running ITV drama. The other episodes comprise: 'Sharpe's Rifles', 'Sharpe's Eagle', 'Sharpe's Company', 'Sharpe's Enemy', 'Sharpe's Honour', 'Sharpe's Gold', 'Sharpe's Battle', 'Sharpe's Sword', 'Sharpe's Regiment', 'Sharpe's Siege', 'Sharpe's Mission', 'Sharpe's Revenge', 'Sharpe's Justice' and 'Sharpe's Waterloo'.

• The Cazalets | DVD | (23/03/2015) from £10.75   |  Saving you £9.24 (85.95%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Based on the best-selling novels by Elizabeth Jane Howard, The Cazalets follows the lives of a large, privileged family transformed by the outbreak of World War II. As storm clouds gather over Europe the family's three generations retreat to their country estate where the trials and tribulations of life play out against the backdrop of war. Births, deaths, marriages, secrets and intrigue test their British restraint and resilience to the limit as both the country and the family are fractured by the horrors of the escalating conflict.

• Fast & Furious 7 | DVD | (07/09/2015) from £8.65   |  Saving you £11.34 (131.10%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed Vin Diesel Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of Fast & Furious 7. James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series that also welcomes back favorites Michelle Rodriguez Jordana Brewster Tyrese Gibson Chris “Ludacris” Bridges Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black. They are joined by international action stars new to the franchise including Jason Statham Djimon Hounsou Tony Jaa Ronda Rousey and Kurt Russell. Neal H. Moritz Vin Diesel and Michael Fottrell return to produce the film written by Chris Morgan.

• Fast & Furious 7 | Blu Ray | (07/09/2015) from £4.65   |  Saving you £20.34 (437.42%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed Vin Diesel Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of Fast & Furious 7. James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series that also welcomes back favorites Michelle Rodriguez Jordana Brewster Tyrese Gibson Chris “Ludacris” Bridges Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black. They are joined by international action stars new to the franchise including Jason Statham Djimon Hounsou Tony Jaa Ronda Rousey and Kurt Russell. Neal H. Moritz Vin Diesel and Michael Fottrell return to produce the film written by Chris Morgan.

• There Will Be Blood | DVD | (30/05/2011) from £5.04   |  Saving you £14.95 (296.63%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century Texas prospector (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the early days of the business.

• Blake's 7 - Series 1 | DVD | (01/03/2004) from £17.03   |  Saving you £32.96 (193.54%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Blake's 7 was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake of Star Wars, though with a grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created by Doctor Who veteran Terry Nation remain involving. The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven. On the DVD: Blake's 7, Series 1 presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC's Doctor Who DVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good as Blake's 7 is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted. Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract from Blue Peter in 1978 with Lesley Judd making a Blake's 7 bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs. --Gary S Dalkin

• Operation Mincemeat | Blu Ray | (04/07/2022) from £11.89   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  It's 1943.¯The Allies are determined to break Hitler's grip on occupied Europe, and plan to launch an all-out assault on Sicily; but they face an impossible challenge - how to protect the invasion force from potential annihilation. It falls to two remarkable intelligence officers, Ewen Montagu (Colin Firth) and Charles Cholmondeley (Matthew Macfadyen) to dream the most inspired and improbable disinformation strategy of the war - centred on the most unlikely of secret agents: a dead man. Operation Mincemeat is the extraordinary and true story of an idea that hoped to turn the tide for the Allies - taking impossibly high risks, defying logic, and testing the nerves of its creators to breaking point.

• The Devil Rides Out | DVD | (23/10/2006) from £10.35   |  Saving you £2.64 (25.51%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Revered as one of the best horror films produced by Hammer Studios The Devil Rides Out is a chilling battle between good and evil. Christopher Lee perhaps best known for his role as Dracula gets to show his good side as the heroic and cavalier Duc de Richleau who maintains the air of a gentleman throughout his tireless battle with a Satanic coven led by the wonderfully villainous Mocata (Charles Gray).

• Bugsy Malone | DVD | (17/02/2003) from £6.48   |  Saving you £2.51 (38.73%)   |  RRP £8.99

  New York, 1929: a war rages between two rival gangsters, Fat Sam and Dandy Dan in Alan Parker's much-loved kiddie mob flick.

• Sharpe | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £99.99

  A beautifully presented Collector's Edition Box Set set including all 14 Sharpe episodes as well as 'Sharpe The Legend' a look at Richard Sharpe's remarkable career as seen by his fellow rifleman Cooper and 'Sharpe's Shooting' which provides an exclusive look behind-the-scenes. Includes: 1. Sharpe's Rifles 2. Sharpe's Eagle 3. Sharpe's Company 4. Sharpe's Enemy 5. Sharpe's Honour 6. Sharpe's Gold 7. Sharpe's Battle 8. Sharpe's Sword 9. Sharpe's Regiment 10. Sharpe's Sieg

• Rough Air | DVD | (25/01/2010) from £6.73   |  Saving you £-1.74 (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Starring Eric Roberts (The Runaway Train) and Alexandra Paul (Baywatch). A cargo door is torn open in mid-air during a routine transatlantic flight in rough weather sending the plane and its passengers plummeting to certain death. Hogan the plane's insecure co-pilot is forced to take control.

• Born To Be Bad | DVD | (01/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  In this gripping classic Cary Grant stars as a dairy farmer whose kindness towards an unmarried woman (Loretta Young) and her son results in betrayal. Malcolm Trevor (Grant) and his wife (Marion Burns) are unable to conceive a child of their own. So when Malcolm's truck accidentally hits Letty's (Young) son (Henry Travers) the couple gladly take the boy into their home to raise as their own. Determined to take advantage of Malcolm's riches however Letty tries to blackmail him. In

• Tall in the Saddle (John Wayne) | DVD | (05/06/2006) from £6.93   |  Saving you £3.06 (44.16%)   |  RRP £9.99

  When a stranger arrives in a western town he finds that the rancher who sent for him has been murdered. Further most of the townsfolk seem to be at each other's throats and the newcomer has soon run contrariwise to most of them...

• Rough Air | DVD | (15/04/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  First officer Hogan (Roberts) is a last minute substitute in the cockpit of flight 534 where disaster strikes without warning. With the plane veering out of control and the captain unconscious Hogan must overcome his personal demons to regain control of the aircraft and save the terrified passengers as a violent storm loom ahead...

• Crime Traveller - The Complete Series | DVD | (21/06/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Meet the most unconventional investigative duo of any time - JEFF SLADE and HOLLY TURNER in the mystery adventure series Crime Traveller. Sleuths come and go working on intuition luck and clues but Slade and his science officer colleague Holly are armed with something extra in their fight against crime - their very own Time Machine. High speed chases and intriguing puzzles are solved with the aid of their unreliable Time Machine in this stylish fast-paced drama.

• Double Team | DVD | (16/02/2004) from £5.19   |  Saving you £0.80 (15.41%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Look ma, no script! As expected from a movie by Hong Kong action director Hark Tsui, there are many explosive, fast-paced sequences in this Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle. Some are thrilling, others inconsequential. There is also another mumbling, overdone performance by Mickey Rourke, who looks as if he performed his own plastic surgery. Except for an unintentionally humorous ending, the only surprise is Dennis Rodman as Van Damme's partner in exploitation. Rodman has plenty of charisma, but needs someone to weed out those inferior scripts. He plays an eccentric arms dealer coerced by an avenging Van Damme into tracking down the evil and sadistically weird character played by a well-muscled Rourke. It says little for the production that the best sequence of the movie occurs a quarter of the way into the action. It concerns an escape by Van Damme from an island think tank for forcibly retired covert agents. After that, everyone should have gone home. --Rochelle O'Gorman, Amazon.com

• Life Is Sweet | DVD | (11/02/2002) from £19.93   |  Saving you £-6.95 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Life is Sweet, Mike Leigh's 1990 snapshot of the suburban family condition at the tail end of the Thatcher era, is often depressing and occasionally harrowing. It is also ultimately joyous, not just for the sharpness of Leigh's satire--the script was improvised with and by the cast--but also for the real affection that binds the family together. Through a series of minor crises, channels of communication silted up by the daily grind and terminal self-absorption are gradually eased open and the film ends on a note of genuine hope. As parents Wendy and Andy, Alison Steadman and Jim Broadbent give virtuoso performances: two adults who use fantasy, mundane work and a stream of banal chatter to keep reality at bay before a freak kitchen accident forces them to stop and take stock. They have two daughters to perplex them: one a plumber (Claire Skinner) and the other an angry anorexic (Jane Horrocks, unsparing in a gut-wrenching bulimic scene). Timothy Spall is hilarious as family friend Aubrey, a would-be restaurateur whose efforts to establish a gourmet eatery in Enfield collapse in hopeless, drunken farce. This is not an overtly political film, but the sense of a stake being driven through the heart of the 1980s enterprise culture is unmistakeable. Inspiring. --Piers Ford

• Blood From The Mummy's Tomb / Devil Rides Out / Horror Of Frankenstein / Lust For A Vampire / Scars Dracula | DVD | (21/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The Devil Rides Out (WS 1.66:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) Employing ancient rituals a group of Satanists invoke the powers of darkness for personal gain risking very souls to do so. All those involved become increasingly ensnared by the malevolent presence they have summoned. Learning of a friend's involvement the Duke de Richeleau enters the fray as champion for the Powers of Light. Accompanied by his three friends Rex Van Ryn Simon Aron and Richard Eaton the Duke takes the battle to the enemy; the Devil himself! The Horror Of Frankenstein (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 92 mins) On the sudden death of his father young Victor Frankenstein (Ralph Bates) inherits his title his castle and his comely and very accommodating housemaid Alys (Kate O'Mara). Victor decides to leave college and return home where he can carry out scientific experiments of which his teachers would never approve... With the aid of a grave-robber Victor collects the parts he requires for his greatest experiment yet; the construction of a human being! As the struggle to keep his experiments secret becomes harder the body count mounts up and the monster is not yet complete! Scars Of Dracula (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) When two innocent victims discover the blood drained corpse of a missing friend in Dracula's castle necropolis the flesh-creeping horror begins. Christopher Lee the definitive Count Dracula to British film fans portrays both the creature's essential power and evil and his sexual and magnetic appeal in a script that stems directly from the original Bram Stoker novel. Lust For A Vampire (WS 1.78:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) When the fascinating and fatal Mircalla Karnstein enrolls at an exclusive girls' finishing school in Transylvania English teacher Richard Lestrange is among those who fall victim to her striking and sensual beauty. As he risks his life to save her from the terrified villagers he must first save himself from her lethal kiss... Blood From The Mummy's Tomb (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 89 mins) The evil begins when professor Julian Fuchs (Andrew Keir) and his expedition team discover in Egypt after years of quest the tomb of Queen Tera (Valerie Leon). The Queen is a beautiful creature naked save for the tapestry of wonderful jewels that decorate her body. Legend suggests that Egyptian priests murdered Tera Queen of Darkness and that she has mysterious powers from beyond the grave... The opening of the tomb has a strange effect on Fuchs and his team. Are they aware of the powers they are unleashing when they return to England with the mummy and the strange artefacts found in the tomb?

• Sharpe's Rifles / Sharpe's Eagle | DVD | (29/04/2002) from £3.96   |  Saving you £11.03 (278.54%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe (1993-7) ran to 14 full-length television films that follow the adventures of the titular soldier through the later years of the Napoleonic Wars. The programmes are an outstanding achievement for the small screen, dominated by Sean Bean's central performance as the heroic, troubled outsider who turns out to be a resourceful and loyal leader. Bolstered by a strong supporting cast, particularly Daragh O'Malley as Harper and (in later episodes) Abigail Cruttenden as Jane, Sharpe is often visually striking, the action tense and gripping. Consistency is maintained by all 14 episodes being directed by Tom Clegg. On the DVD: Sharpe on DVD contains a photo gallery and several screens of background text. The sound is full-bodied stereo while the very "sharp" picture has been transferred slightly letterboxed at 14:9. Though looking much better than the original TV transmissions the occasionally cropped framing makes it apparent the films were shot in 16:9 widescreen, so it is regrettable they have not been transferred to DVD in that format. Otherwise these are first-rate releases. --Gary S Dalkin