"Actor: Ray Charles"

• Cool Runnings | DVD | (22/01/2001) from £5.99   |  Saving you £9.00 (150.25%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Based on an improbable but true story, Cool Runnings concerns the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even seen snow) and the passion behind it (their desire to compete and win). John Candy, in one of his last roles, is touching as a disgraced coach who seizes the opportunity to work with the Jamaicans as a chance for redemption. The bobsled scenes look good and the races are exciting. The climax, which is entirely unexpected, takes the film to a wholly different level, even if events in the story don't quite match the facts. --Tom Keogh

• Space Jam | DVD | (23/11/1998) from £7.19   |  Saving you £6.80 (94.58%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Although at first glance it looks like a movie dreamed up by a marketing committee (and in some respects it probably was), Space Jam actually defies the odds against it to become a dazzling display of family entertainment. There's a kind of demented genius to the idea of casting NBA superstar Michael Jordan in a live-action and animated movie co-starring the beloved characters from Warner Bros' Looney Tunes cartoons. They play off each other like seasoned veterans of vaudeville, and Jordan never falls into the kind of awkward, amateurish showmanship that you might expect from a sports idol. He's comfortable in the cartoon land of his co-stars, who include Bugs Bunny and sexy newcomer Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester & Tweety, Speedy Gonzalez, the Tazmanian Devil, Foghorn Leghorn, and Yosemite Sam. They've all been hijacked to an outer-space amusement park run by the Nerdlucks, who strike a Faustian bargain with the Warners' heroes: if Bugs and Co. can defeat the Nerdluck "Monstars" in a basketball game, they'll win back their freedom; if they lose, they'll be doomed to stay there forever as enslaved entertainers. So they kidnap Jordan as their coach and "secret weapon" while the nefarious Nerdlucks suck out the basketball skills from such stellar victims as Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing. It all leads to reckless abandon on the basketball court, and Bill Murray pops in for some hilarious support. Combining traditional animation and computer-generated Nerdlucks with its live-action cast, Space Jam was made in the anarchic spirit of the original cartoons, where anything goes as long as it's funny and off-the-wall (or the ceiling, or the door, or the floor...). Technically astounding, it's also witty enough to entertain adults and kids alike. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

• The Blues Brothers, The / Blues Brothers 2000 | DVD | (26/03/2001) from £4.83   |  Saving you £8.16 (168.94%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Blues Brothers: John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd--as "legendary" Chicago brothers Jake and Elwood Blues--brought their "Saturday Night Live" act to the big screen in this action-packed hit from 1980. As Jake and Elwood struggle to reunite their old band and save the Chicago orphanage where they were raised, they wreak enough good-natured havoc to attract the entire Cook County police force. The result is a big-budget stunt-fest on a scale rarely attempted before or since, including extended car chases that result in the wanton destruction of shopping malls and more police cars than you can count. Along the way there's plenty of music to punctuate the action, including performances by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway and James Brown that are guaranteed to knock you out. Keep an eye out for Steven Spielberg as the city clerk who stamps some crucial paperwork near the end of the film. The Blues Brothers 2000: It's hard to ignore the sad and conspicuous absence of the late John Belushi, but this long-delayed sequel still has Dan Aykroyd to keep the music alive. Once again, Elwood's trying to reunite the original Blues Brothers Band, and this time he's got a strip-joint bartender (John Goodman) and a 10-year-old orphan named Buster (J Evan Bonifant) joining him at centre stage. It's a shameless clone of the first film, and nobody--especially not Aykroyd or director John Landis--seems to care that the story's not nearly as fun as the music. Of course there's a seemingly endless parade of stunts, including a non-stop pileup of police cars that's hilariously absurd, but what really matters here--indeed, the movie's only saving grace--is the great line-up of legendary blues musicians. Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Junior Wells, Eric Clapton, BB King, Jonny Lang, Eddie Floyd and Blues Traveler are among the many special guests assembled for the film, and their stellar presence makes you wonder if the revived Blues Brothers shouldn't remain an obscure opening act. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

• Stephen | DVD | (18/10/2021) from £9.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Stephen portrays events from 2006, thirteen years after Stephen's death on the evening of 22 April 1993 in a racially motivated attack whilst waiting for a bus in Well Hall Road, Eltham. Even though Doreen and Neville Lawrence knew the identity of their son's killers, the original investigation had failed to convict those responsible, and their extraordinary campaign for justice led to a public inquiry that branded Metropolitan Police institutionally racist and brought about sweeping changes in the law and police practices and transformed thinking and understanding of racial inequality in the UK. Yet six years on from the Inquiry no progress had been made into the case. The drama tells the story of the ongoing struggle by Doreen and Neville Lawrence to achieve justice and how a detective, DCI Clive Driscoll working closely with the Lawrences puts together an investigation that finally more than 18 years after his death secures the convictions of two of the gang who committed the murder of Stephen. Starring Steve Coogan. Sharlene Whyte & Hugh Quarshie

• Last Action Hero (2 Discs - UHD & BD) | Blu Ray | (17/05/2021) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Young Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien) is a lonely 11-year-old boy who escapes from his bleak reality by watching the action adventure movies of his favorite film character, Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger). When his best friend, Nick the projectionist, gives him a special ticket to the new Slater film, Danny is magically transported into Jack's world, where the good guys always win. Danny becomes his helper as Jack battles a trio of nefarious bad guys, Benedict (Charles Dance), Vivaldi (Anthony Quinn) and The Ripper (Tom Noonan). But things get out of hand when Benedict steals Danny's magic ticket stub and transports himself into the real world, where crime can, and often does, pay. Jack and Danny must leave fictional Los Angeles for real-life New York and battle the villains without the aid of movie magic or stuntmen.

• Harry's Game | DVD | (22/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Harry's Game is the story of two killers. One is Billy Downes (Derek Thompson) cold-blooded assassin of a British Cabinet Minister. The other is Harry Brown (Ray Lonnen) Captain by rank and with orders to eliminate the IRA hitman in his own backyard - the Falls Road Belfast. Both men believe their cause is just. But only one can win. Harry's game - to find the identity of the killer and destroy him before his cover is blown... With powerful performances from Ray Lon

• Amadeus | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £9.99   |  Saving you £4.00 (40.04%)   |  RRP £13.99

  The satirical sensibilities of writer Peter Shaffer and director Milos Forman (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest) were ideally matched in this Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Shaffer's hit play about the rivalry between two composers in the court of Austrian Emperor Joseph II--official royal composer Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham), and the younger but superior prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce). The conceit is absolutely delicious: Salieri secretly loathes Mozart's crude and bratty personality but is astounded by the beauty of his music. That's the heart of Salieri's torment--although he's in a unique position to recognise and cultivate both Mozart's talent and career, he's also consumed with envy and insecurity in the face of such genius. That such magnificent music should come from such a vulgar little creature strikes Salieri as one of God's cruellest jokes, and it drives him insane. Amadeus creates peculiar and delightful contrasts between the impeccably re-created details of its lavish period setting and the jarring (but humorously refreshing and unstuffy) modern tone of its dialogue and performances--all of which serve to remind us that these were people before they became enshrined in historical and artistic legend. Jeffrey Jones, best-known as Ferris Bueller's principal, is particularly wonderful as the bumbling emperor (with the voice of a modern mid-level businessman). The film's eight Oscars include statuettes for Best Director Forman, Best Actor Abraham (Hulce was also nominated), Best Screenplay and Best Picture. --Jim Emerson Note: this region two DVD is a "flipper" with a break between sides A and B.

• Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons: The Complete Series | Blu Ray | (08/10/2018) from £24.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  One of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's best-loved series, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons brought a new level of realism and sophistication to Century 21's endlessly popular Supermarionation productions. To mark its fiftieth anniversary, the series has been remastered in HD from the original 35mm film elements for this Blu-ray edition it has never looked better! The year is 2068; after a misunderstanding leading to an attack on their Martian city, the Mysterons declare war on the inhabitants of Earth. Ranged against this devastatingly powerful enemy is Spectrum, a worldwide security organisation its leading operative: Captain Scarlet. Having been captured and replicated by the Mysterons, but breaking free of their control, he now possesses extraordinary powers that make him Spectrum's most powerful agent in the fight to save humanity!

• Yu-Gi-Oh! Movie Triple Pack | DVD | (08/10/2018) from £8.15   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light After the conclusion of the Battle City Tournament, deep below the sands of Egypt, an ancient evil has awakened. Anubis, who was defeated centuries ago by Yugi's mysterious alter ego - the ancient Pharaoh - has returned for revenge. Wielding the power of the Eighth Millennium Item, Anubis is determined to destroy Yugi and take over the world... Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Bonds Beyond Time Yusei Fudo pursues the mysterious stranger who has stolen his most powerful duel monsters card. After falling through a time-slip, Yusei meets Judai Yuki and Yugi Muto, two of the greatest duelists of all time. They agree to help Yusei in his battle to defeat the evil Paradox, who is planning to destroy Pegasus and thus prevent the Duel Monsters from ever being created. Will our heroes save the day? Find out in this action-packed adventure! Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Dark Side of Dimensions The stakes have never been higher; the rivalries never as fierce; the risks never so great. One wrong move one card short and it's game over for good. A decade in the making, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions features new designs and an all-new story from the original creator of the global phenomenon, Kazuki Takahashi. His masterful tale features anime's most beloved characters in their long-awaited return: Yugi Muto, Seto Kaiba, and their faithful friends Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor Téa Gardner, and Bakura. It's the most highly anticipated re-YU-nion ever!

• Raising Arizona | DVD | (13/10/2003) from £9.04   |  Saving you £3.95 (43.69%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Blood Simple made it clear that the cinematically precocious Coen brothers (writer-director Joel and writer-producer Ethan) were gifted filmmakers to watch out for. But it was the outrageously farcical Raising Arizona that announced the Coens' darkly comedic audacity to the world. It wasn't widely seen when released in 1987, but its modest audience was vocally supportive, and this hyperactive comedy has since developed a large and loyal following. It's the story of "Ed" (for Edwina, played by Holly Hunter), a policewoman who falls in love with "Hi" (for H.I. McDonnough, played by Nicolas Cage) while she's taking his mug shots. She's infertile and he's a habitual robber of convenience stores, and their folksy marital bliss depends on settling down with a rug rat. Unable to conceive, they kidnap one of the newsworthy quintuplets born to an unpainted-furniture huckster named Nathan Arizona (Trey Wilson), who quickly hires a Harley-riding mercenary (Randall "Tex" Cobb) to track the baby's whereabouts. What follows is a full-throttle comedy that defies description, fuelled by the Coens' lyrical, redneck dialogue, the manic camerawork of future director Barry Sonnenfeld and some of the most inventively comedic chase scenes ever filmed. Some will dismiss the comedy for being recklessly over-the-top; others will love it for its clever mix of slapstick action, surreal fantasy and homespun family values. One thing's for sure--this is a Coen movie from start to finish, and that makes it undeniably unique. --Jeff Shannon

• Thunderbirds Box Set (9 discs) | DVD | (13/11/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £124.99

  Filmed in VIDECOLOR [explosions, drum roll, music builds to a climax] and SUPERMARIONATION"! The opening sequence of Thunderbirds is itself a masterclass in Gerry Anderson's marionette hyperbole: who else would dare to make a virtue out of the fact that (a) the show is in colour and (b) it's got puppets in it? But everything about this series really is epic: Thunderbirds is action on the grandest scale, pre-dating such high-concept Hollywood vehicles as Armaggedon by 30 years and more (the acting is better, too), and fetishising gadgets in a way that even the most excessive Bond movies could never hope to rival. Unsurprisingly, it transpires that the visual effects are by Derek Meddings, whose later contributions to Bond movies like The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker echo his pioneering model work here.As to the characters, the clean-cut Tracey boys take second place in the audiences' affections to their cool machines--the real stars of the show--while comic relief is to be found in the charming company of Lady Penelope and her pink Rolls (number plate FAB1), driven by lugubrious chauffeur Parker, whose "Yes, milady" catch phrase resonated around school playgrounds for decades. (Spare a thought for poor old John Tracey, stuck up in space on Thunderbird 5 with only the radio for company.) The puppet stunt-work is breathtakingly audacious, and every week's death-defying escapade is nail-bitingly choreographed in the very best tradition of disaster movies. First shown in 1964 and now digitally remastered, Thunderbirds is children's TV that still looks and sounds like big-budget Hollywood.In this box set: All 32 episodes on eight discs, plus a bonus DVD featuring "The Thunderbirds Companion", an exclusive documentary with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. --Mark Walker

• The Woman in White (BBC) | DVD | (14/05/2018) from £7.99   |  Saving you £3.96 (49.56%)   |  RRP £11.95

  The world of The Woman in White is one of intrigue, danger and psychological suspense. Wilkie Collins beloved mystery novel has taken generations of readers on a thrilling ride along the corridors of English country houses, and down into the dankest, deepest corners of the Victorian madhouse. This bold new adaptation by Fiona Seres for BBC One retains the creeping atmosphere that has captured the imaginations of the book's readers for over a century, while bringing a distinctly modern take to its striking female characters, its charismatic, formidable villains, and its gripping, labyrinthine plot. A timeless classic, it has as much to say to audiences today as it did in 1859. This 5-part BBC series stars Dougray Scott, Jessie Buckley, Ben Hardy, Olivia Vinall & Charles Dance.

• Edward And Mrs Simpson | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £7.99   |  Saving you £12.00 (150.19%)   |  RRP £19.99

  He abandoned crown and country for the woman he loved. Everything that is known about Edward VIII is almost totally eclipsed by the world-shattering act which brought his short reign to a close in 1936. To many it seemed a selfish and irresponsible abandonment of duty. To others it was the supreme sacrifice of a man who put love above all things. Based on the definitive biography by Frances Donaldson Edward and Mrs Simpson focuses on the riveting truth behind the sensational headline

• Out For A Kill | DVD | (18/08/2003) from £3.79   |  Saving you £16.20 (427.44%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Archaeologist Robert Burns discovers a collection of priceless artefacts in China. He plans to take them out of China for restoration but the Chinese Mafia has made other plans for the treasure. Burns is framed for a murder and thrown in a Chinese prison; now he must fight for justice and his life!

• Universal Noir #2 (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (23/10/2023) from £49.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  LADY ON A TRAIN (1945, Charles David) TIME OUT OF MIND (1947, Robert Siodmak) SINGAPORE (1947, John Brahm) A WOMAN'S VENGEANCE (1948, Zoltán Korda) AN ACT OF MURDER (1948, Michael Gordon) THE LADY GAMBLES (1949, Michael Gordon) Universal Noir #2 - the second in Indicator's series of box sets focusing on the celebrated film noir output of Universal Pictures collects six crime classics from Hollywood' Starring the cream of US and British acting talent - including Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, Phyllis Calvert, Fred MacMurray, Ava Gardner, Ann Blyth, Jessica Tandy, Cedric Hardwicke, Fredric March, and Barbara Stanwyck - these dark and dangerous dramas feature witnesses to murder (Lady on a Train), family rifts (Time Out of Mind), amnesia and smuggling (Singapore), murderous infidelity (A Woman's Vengeance), mercy killing (An Act of Murder), and gambling addiction (The Lady Gambles). This indispensable collection marks the UK Blu-ray premiere of all six films, and also features an array of fascinating contextualising extras, including newly recorded commentaries, critical appreciations, rare archival short films, and a 120-page book. Strictly limited to 6,000 individually numbered units. Product Features High Definition presentations of Lady on a Train, Time Out of Mind, Singapore, A Woman's Vengeance, An Act of Murder and The Lady Gambles Original mono audio Audio commentary with critics and writers Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme on Lady on a Train (2023) Audio commentary with film historian Adrian Martin on Time Out of Mind (2023) Audio commentary with screenwriter and author Kelly Goodner and filmmaker and film historian Jim Hemphill on Singapore (2023) Audio commentary with writer and film historian Pamela Hutchinson on The Lady Gambles (2023) Jose Arroyo on Time Out of Mind (2023): the writer and academic discusses the film Neil Sinyard on A Woman's Vengeance (2023): an in-depth appreciation by the author and film historian Christina Newland on Ava Gardner (2023): the writer and critic considers the famed actor's noir persona Wings Up (1943): WWII propaganda film featuring The Lady Gambles star Robert Preston alongside Hollywood legends Clark Gable, Gilbert Roland and William Holden Reward Unlimited (1944): dramatised short film about the training of cadet nurses during WWII, directed by Jacques Tourner and featuring Singapore actor Spring Byington The Library of Congress (1945): documentary short, made as part of The American Scene film series, narrated by Lady on a Train star Ralph Bellamy French Town (1945): documentary short offering a portrait of a French town following liberation, narrated by A Woman's Vengeance actor Cedric Hardwicke Welcome Home (1945): documentary short about returning soldiers following the end of WWII, narrated by An Act of Murder star Fredric March With This Ring (1954): dramatised promotional film for the Miller Brewing Company, directed by John Brahm Mollé Mystery Theatre: 'The Gioconda Smile' (1945): radio play based on the Aldous Huxley short story, later adapted as A Woman's Vengeance Lux Radio Theatre: 'Singapore' (1947): radio adaptation of the film's screenplay, featuring Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner reprising their original roles Theatrical trailers Image galleries: promotional and publicity materials New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with new essays by Ellen Wright, Paul Duane, Philip Kemp, Tara Judah, Imogen Sara Smith, and Iris Veysey, extensive archival articles and interviews, new writing on the various short films, and film credits UK premieres on Blu-ray Limited edition box set of 6,000 individually numbered units for the UK All extras subject to change

• The Mirror Crack'd | Blu Ray | (23/10/2017) from £14.39   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Angela Lansbury stars as supersleuth Miss Marple who sets about solving a mysterious death in the archetypal English village of St. Mary Mead. It features an all star cast including Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor. EXTRAS: Interview with writer Barry Sandler Interview with Dame Angela Lansbury Interview with producer Richard Goodwin Behind the scenes stills gallery Storyboard gallery

• K2 | DVD | (05/01/2004) from £11.39   |  Saving you £-1.40 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  K2 is a thrilling action adventure about two men Taylor Brooks (Michael Biehn) and Harold Jamieson (Matt Craven) attempting to conquer the most feared mountain in the world. Their quest takes them from America to the sheer peaks of Alaska where they encounter and join a group preparing for the mammoth expedition. Then on to the mighty Karakoram mountain range in Northern Pakistan where K2 ""The Savage Mountain"" awaits. One by one the mountaineers are faced with setbacks and disast

• Thunderbirds Are Go - The Movie | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £7.26   |  Saving you £8.73 (120.25%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Thunderbirds Are Go followed the remarkable success of the Thunderbirds television series, bringing the three-dimensional puppet animation adventures of International Rescue to the big screen. Set in the 21st century, there is no attempt to explain the background story: as in the TV show International Rescue is a private family organisation who use hi-tech craft to rescue anyone in peril. Here it is the first manned flight to Mars which is in danger, as International Rescue foils a sabotage attempt at the launch, then race to avert disaster when the spaceship returns to earth. What could have made a 50-minute TV episode is expanded to feature length with Martian "rock monsters" and a surreal dream-sequence involving Alan Tracy, Lady Penelope and "Cliff Richard Jnr" & the Shadows, with a new song performed by the real Cliff and the Shadows. In the cinemas this was competing against another British children's TV SF spin-off, the equally colourful Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150AD, and would be followed by Thunderbird 6 (1968). Yet apart from more complex model work, a bigger orchestra and even bigger explosions, on TV this plays like a widescreen double-length episode. On the DVD: The mono sound is powerful, with Barry Gray's stirring music suffering intermittent distortion. Presented in anamorphic widescreen the picture is very good, with strong colours and only minimal grain, though the print does show occasional damage. Unfortunately the original extremely wide 2.74:1 Techniscope image is cropped to more conventional 2.35:1, to the extent that the careful compositions are noticeably damaged, which director David Lane refers to in his joint commentary with producer Sylvia Anderson (who also played Lady Penelope). 35 years after the event their commentary is packed with details of the filming process and full of information about the many problems of and solutions to making an animated feature. Both Anderson fans and budding animators will find this a real education. The original, rather battered, trailer is included, as are galleries of behind the scenes photos, promotional artwork and posters. Altogether it's rather FABulous. --Gary S Dalkin

• Henry VIII | DVD | (14/03/2005) from £6.30   |  Saving you £6.69 (106.19%)   |  RRP £12.99

  At the heart of Henry VIII stands a towering performance by Ray Winstone, who literally grows into the role, impressively doubling in size and ageing 40 years over the course of two feature-length episodes. Focusing on Henry's relationships with his six wives, this lavish mini-series also makes a good job of explaining the complex court intrigues of the period, detailing Henry's split with Rome and the political crisis following the creation of the Church of England. Winstone initially seems to play the King as little more than a London gangster, but he gradually unfolds a complex, brutal, manipulative, romantic, dedicated and driven man with great skill. In a role which harks back to Lady Jane (1986), Helena Bonham Carter makes an intelligent and sardonic Anne Boleyn, her bold performance contrasting strongly with Geneviève Bujold in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969). Emily Blunt impresses as the sexpot Katherine Howard, and Emilia Fox is compelling as Henry's greatest love, Jane Seymour. There's fine support from an all-star cast, including Sean Bean, Charles Dance and David Suchet. The production is unflinching, with burnings, torture, marital violence and executions graphically portrayed. If there's a weakness it lies in too-modern dialogue and an uncertain visual style, with noticeable borrowings from John Boorman's Excalibur and Ridley Scott's Gladiator, as well as setting Shakespeare in Love-style elegance against the ugly colours and graininess of reality TV. Ultimately Henry VIII plays most like a prequel to Elizabeth (1999)--right down to using the same piece of Elgar to underscore the finale--and has most of the same faults and virtues as that Oscar-winning film. --Gary S Dalkin

• Hawk The Slayer | DVD | (28/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Once upon a time long ago but perhaps not far away there were two brothers. Hawk (John Terry) the younger brother destined for greatness possessing gifts of strength honour duty and justice. Voltan (Jack Palance) the elder a man of cruel perversion who bore the mark of Cain. Hideously deformed Voltan roamed the land under a black mask so none could look on his ghastly face. When their father is killed at the hands of his firstborn Voltan Hawk swears vengeance. Into Hawk's hand his dying father places the magic mind-sword and Hawk has not only his death to avenge...