"Actor: Ren"

• A Lesson In Love | DVD | (06/12/2004) from £25.63   |  Saving you £-5.64 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Bergman brings a refreshing wit to this dark domestic comedy tale of a married couple who desperately need each other. David (Gunnar Bjrnstrand) is a gynaecologist who is involved with a young patient. His wife Marianne (Eva Dahlbeck) learns of this transgression and begins an affair with his best friend. They attempt a trial separation however an ecounter upon a train bound for Copenhagen reminds them of the good times and connection they have with each other. Mirroring the

• White Oleander | DVD | (23/02/2004) from £9.00   |  Saving you £4.99 (55.44%)   |  RRP £13.99

  A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.

• Mozart: Requiem | DVD | (10/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  1991 was the 200th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. To mark the occasion Sir Georg Solti conducted this stellar concert offering a performance of ""Requiem"" delivered exactly as the original composer intended. The hallowed surroundings of Saint Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna provided an apt location for the concert particularly as it's where Mozart's funeral rites were conducted in 1791.

• 11/09/01 - September 11 | DVD | (28/04/2003) from £10.10   |  Saving you £9.89 (97.92%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This film is a unique and extraordinary response to the catastrophic events in New York City that shook the world on September 11 2001. producer Alain Brigand invited 11 renowned international directors to look towards their own cultures their own memories their own stories and their own language and create a film lasting eleven minutes nine seconds and one frame - 11'09''O1 - around September 11 and its consequences. The thought-provoking results - made with complete freedom of

• Xena - Warrior Princess - Series 6 Box Set 1 | DVD | (01/04/2002) from £17.98   |  Saving you £17.01 (48.60%)   |  RRP £34.99

  Fiesty fierce fantastic. Relish more adventures with the warrior princess Xena in this DVD collection of the first half of Season 6. Episodes Included On This DVD: Coming Home The Haunting Of Amphipolis Heart Of Darkness Who's Gurkhan Legacy The Abyss The Rheingold The Ring The Return Of The Valkyrie Old Ares Had a Farm Dangerous Prey.

• The Green Ray | DVD | (26/01/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Delphine's travelling companion cancels two weeks before her holiday so Delphine a Parisian secretary is at a loose end. She doesn't want to travel by herself but has no means boyfriend and seems unable to meet new people. A friend takes her to Cherbourg; after a few days there the weepy and self pitying Delphine goes back to Paris. She tries the Alps but returns the same day. Next it's the beach; once there she chats with an outgoing Swede a party girl and a friendship seem

• Ally McBeal, Series 5 Box Set 2 | DVD | (10/02/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The fifth season was the last series of Ally McBeal, and probably the least satisfying. While always at least slightly entertaining, it was troubled by two conflicting imperatives: first, to steer its neurotic characters and multiplicity of sub-plots towards a coherent and credible resolution; second, to sustain another series of a programme that had, by now, exhausted all the plot possibilities that were remotely believable. The result is a bemusing onslaught of new characters (Ally's Mini-Me Jenny and a barely distinguishable phalanx of lantern-jawed male leads), celebrity cameos (Edna Everage, Christina Ricci, Barry White, Matthew Perry, Jon Bon Jovi), several storylines that would test the credulity of any of the curiously indulgent judges before whom Ally's firm practises (notably the arrival of a 10-year-old daughter that Ally didn't know she had) and one misbegotten attempt to anchor the programme to the real world (the "Nine One One" episode, an unwatchably mawkish allegory about the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States). Granted that Ally McBeal was never intended to be realistic drama, but when the programme spirals entirely off into the realms of the surreal, any possibility of the sort of identification with the characters on which the programme once relied is lost. Though not without its moments, the sudden redemption of Fish, always the best-written character, is deftly handled. Season Five will be of chief interest to adherents who stuck with it through the first four and so wanted to see how it all ends; in keeping with the central character's defining motifs of solipsism and self-pity, it does so with a whimper. On the DVD: Ally McBeal has episode selector on each disc, and a scene selector within each of those. The final disc contains two short and desultory documentaries on the series billed, somewhat hopefully, as "Special Features". A French audio soundtrack is available, as are subtitles in English, French and Dutch. –-Andrew Mueller

• City Of Lost Souls | DVD | (18/11/2002) from £12.67   |  Saving you £5.31 (54.86%)   |  RRP £14.99

  A stylised and violent thriller, prolific director Miike Takashi's The City Of Lost Souls (2000) is set in the ganglands of Tokyo and pays homage to Sergio Leone, Quentin Tarantino and, in a daft, animated cockfighting sequence, The Matrix. Mario (Teah) is the Japanese-Brazilian gunslinger fresh out jail who, in a hilariously audacious action sequence, hijacks a helicopter to save his Chinese girlfriend Kei (Michelle Reis) from deportation. He must then secure 18 million yen to secure fake passports for both of them to make a new life for themselves in Australia. In a misconceived operation, Mario arrives at the lair of the intriguing Ko, Kei's ex-boyfriend--a self-assured, effeminate young exchange student--who is somehow head of a vicious gang of Triads. He is on the point of buying a consignment of cocaine from decadent, cold-blooded Yakuza gangster Fushimi when Mario's arrival triggers a shootout, with Mario escaping with the wrong suitcase. Now, in time-honoured True Romancefashion, Mario and Kei are on the run from the mob. Although visually tricksy with some strong set-pieces, The City of Lost Souls is rather hazy when it comes to story and characterisation. We get little sense of the runaway couple as people. A young blind girl is introduced into the tale and there are romantic moments between Mario and Kei but these feel like sugary palliatives to the bloodshed rather than touching moments. Better perhaps to check out Takashi's Audition, a brilliantly gruesome satire on male Japanese attitudes towards womanhood. This is a flashier, faster but less artistically satisfying affair. On the DVD: The City of Lost Souls is presented in video aspect ratio 1.85:1, with reasonable clarity and sharpness. However, the English subtitles are a little pidgin and slapdash in places, none of which improves the main special feature, a rather dull and vague interview with director Takashi. --David Stubbs

• Les Vampires | DVD | (24/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  A legendary early masterpiece of French cinema 'Les Vampires' follows the exploits of a nefarious band of master criminals led by the seductive femme fatale Irma Vep alluringly played by Musidora. Holding Paris in the grip of terror the underworld gang are pursued across the city by heroic journalist Philippe Guerande and his sidekick Mazamette. Reflecting the mood of fear and anxiety in World War I era France this meticulously restored ten-part silent serial from film pioneer Louis Feuillade - creator of the acclaimed Fant''mas serials - is a hugely influential and engrossing crime drama from cinema's golden age. Musical accompaniment composed by Eric Le Guen and Chateau Flight.

• Kalman-Die Csardasfurstin | DVD | (09/10/2006) from £13.39   |  Saving you £3.60 (21.20%)   |  RRP £16.99

  Kalman: Die Csardasfurstin (Grund Moffo Kollo)

• EXTE | DVD | (14/07/2008) from £6.95   |  Saving you £6.04 (86.91%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Customs agents discover a huge amount of human hair along with the bald corpse of a young girl. This arouses the curiosity of Yamazaki a mortuary employee with a hair fetish particularly since the girl's hair continues to grow. Now a mad hair-peddler with an endless stock of locks Yamazaki sells her ever-growing hair to salons to be used for extensions. Meanwhile Yuko an up-and-coming hair stylist is entrusted with the care of her timid and frightened niece Mami whose body bares the signs of abuse. It's not long before death surrounds them and their extension-wearing clientele. The hair it seems has a life of its own with lethal vengeful intentions. And Yuko and Mami must untangle the mystery before more deaths occur. Directed by Sion Sono Hair Extensions will make your hair stand on end!

• Mahler - Symphonies Nos. 9 and 10, Das Lied Von Der Erde | DVD | (24/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £21.99

  Mahler - Symphonies Nos. 9 And 10 Das Lied Von Der Erde

• J. Strauss II: Die Fledermaus -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (20/02/2004) from £24.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (20.01%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Johann Strauss II's wonderfully convoluted and ingenious Viennese farce Die Fledermaus is a masterpiece of operetta. The tale spins waltz-like around the philandering Von Eisenstein (Thomas Allen), his wife Rosalinde (Pamela Armstrong), who is tempted by singing teacher Alfred (Par Lindskog), and Adele (Lyubov Petrova), Rosalinde's maid. Following Shakespeare's romantic comedy template there is much mistaken identity, confusion of purpose and cross-dressing, with the events unfolding around an increasingly drunken masked ball and the morning after in the local jail. The champagne-fuelled entertainment carries various satiric undertones, but this adaptation by director Stephen Lawless and Daniel Dooner emphasises colour, wit and flamboyance, always ensuring the jokes work well for a modern audience. The production requires acting as strong as the excellent singing, and Thomas Allen delivers a subtly layered interpretation of Eisenstein, while Pamela Armstrong's Rosalinde offers a winning study in smouldering sensuality, well contrasted with Lyubov Petrova's more directly sexual Adele. The revolving set mirrors the swirling Strauss dances and the elegant design is a perfect match for the boldly extrovert costumes. If this Glyndebourne 2003 production doesn't match Dame Joan Sutherland's retirement performance at the Royal Opera House in 1977 for historic value, it is easily as much fun and the production values are second to none. On the DVD: Die Fledermaus is presented on a two-disc edition with Acts 1 and 2 on the first disc and Act 3 and 37 minutes of extras on the second DVD. The 16:9 anamorphically enhanced image is as strong and detailed as BBC live digital video recording can be and the sound is offered in excellent stereo, as well as superb 5.1 DTS, which places the listener in the acoustic equivalent of the best seat in the house. The extras begin with 20 minutes of short but worthwhile interviews with Pamela Armstrong, Thomas Allen, Hakan Hagegard, conductor Vladimir Jurowski and director Stephen Lawless. There is a five-minute feature on the history of the waltz and a four-minute humorous interlude in which Udo Samel explores the pleasures of champagne in his character as the gaoler Frosch. More substantial if less entertaining is Return of the Architect (8 min), a look at the design and construction of the modern Glyndebourne opera house. The set is completed with routine photo and costume galleries and a nicely produced booklet illustrated with good quality colour photographs. Optional subtitles are available in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish. --Gary S Dalkin

• Legendary Amazons | Blu Ray | (14/05/2012) from £22.19   |  Saving you £2.80 (12.62%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Produced by The King of Action Cinema, Jackie Chan, Legendary Amazons is an epic martial arts adventure set during the brutal wars between the Song and Xia Dynasties of Ancient China.Paying homage to the 1972 Shaw Brothers classic The 14 Amazons, this action-packed blockbuster recounts the adventures of the legendary Yang Clan, a courageous and patriotic attack force of warrior women. Each a master of a unique style of martial arts, they are called to fight their greatest ever battle, when an overwhelming army of barbarian invaders threatens to overrun their homeland.Packed with blockbuster thrills, Legendary Amazons delivers more action in one movie than you might possibly expect in five!

• Quai Des Orfevres | DVD | (05/03/2018) from £11.34   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A marriage that has fallen on hard times is further tested by the couple's implication in a murder. Jenny Lamour (Suzy Delair) is a music hall chanteuse married to her pianist husband Maurice (Bernard Blier). Keen to get ahead, Jenny leaps at the chance when an ageing wealthy businessman (Charles Dullin) offers her the chance of some gigs. However, when she agrees to a meeting at his home and he is found dead later in the evening - Maurice's untamed jealousy is in the frame. A Maigret-esque detective, Antoine, played by Louis Jouvet leaves no stone unturned in his exceedingly private investigations of the down-at-heel showbiz couple's sad, tempestuous life. Features: The Criminal Apogee Of Henri Georges Clouzot

• Assembly | Blu Ray | (05/05/2008) from £8.85   |  Saving you £16.14 (182.37%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Based on a true story Assembly follows one man's journey in search of truth and honour. The Huaihai Campaign of the Chinese Civil War broke out in the winter of 1948 and became one of the bloodiest battles in Chinese history. Thousands from The People's Liberation Army and the KMT Army fought in a bloodbath in between Xuzhou and Bengbu. Captain Guzidi commanding the Ninth Company led the infantry unit which consisted of a mere 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. His orders were to fight until the retreat assembly call was charged. After long hours of defence ammunition was running out and the number of men standing in the Ninth Company was quickly decreasing. Everyone began to wonder if they had missed the retreat bugle call. But Guzidi insisted that the bugle had not sounded and that they were to continue to battle at all costs. It was not until later when he found that all the neighbouring troops had already left the field that he realised he might have made a mistake and contributed to his men's deaths. Guzidi woke up in the hospital and discovered that due to a military re-organisation he and the 46 men who sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement had last their identities and ranks and were deemed missing. Determined to prove the existence of the 46 men and honour their glorious deaths Guzidi embarks on his journey to search for his troops...

• Assembly | DVD | (05/05/2008) from £7.14   |  Saving you £10.85 (151.96%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Based on a true story Assembly follows one man's journey in search of truth and honour. The Huaihai Campaign of the Chinese Civil War broke out in the winter of 1948 and became one of the bloodiest battles in Chinese history. Thousands from The People's Liberation Army and the KMT Army fought in a bloodbath in between Xuzhou and Bengbu. Captain Guzidi commanding the Ninth Company led the infantry unit which consisted of a mere 46 men on a sniping mission to defend the south bank of the Wen River. His orders were to fight until the retreat assembly call was charged. After long hours of defence ammunition was running out and the number of men standing in the Ninth Company was quickly decreasing. Everyone began to wonder if they had missed the retreat bugle call. But Guzidi insisted that the bugle had not sounded and that they were to continue to battle at all costs. It was not until later when he found that all the neighbouring troops had already left the field that he realised he might have made a mistake and contributed to his men's deaths. Guzidi woke up in the hospital and discovered that due to a military re-organisation he and the 46 men who sacrificed themselves during the deadly engagement had lost their identities and ranks and were deemed missing. Determined to prove the existence of the 46 men and honour their glorious deaths Guzidi embarks on his journey to search for his troops...

• Shinjuku Triad Society | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £9.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (50.05%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The first of three films linked by theme rather than by character or story which form Takashi Miike's acclaimed Triad Society trilogy (followed by 'Rainy Dog' and 'Ley Lines') 'Shinjuku Triad Society' charts the bloody gangland battle for control over Tokyo's seedy Sinjuku district. When the Dragon's Claw gang from Taiwan attempts a take-over of the dope extortion and gay prostitution rackets run by the ruling Japanese Yakuza a lone cop predicts carnage. In a crusade against t

• Franz Lehar - Das Land Des Lachelns (Ebert) | DVD | (19/09/2005) from £15.04   |  Saving you £4.95 (24.80%)   |  RRP £19.99

  1974 film version of Franz Lehar's operetta Das Land Des Lachelns famous for the song 'Dein ist mein ganzes Herz'.

• The Black Angel | DVD | (25/02/2002) from £12.90   |  Saving you £-2.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Takashi Ishi's visually stylish The Black Angel is a fascinating cross between Japanese gangster film and Jacobean revenge tragedy. Sent away to the US after the slaughter of her parents by rivals led by her half-sister Chaiko, Ikko (Riona Hazuki) returns determined to reclaim her yakuza kingdom. Ikko is obsessed with childish memories of Mayo the hitwoman, the original Black Angel, entrusted with getting her out of the country. The intervening 14 years have been hard on Mayo--being the Black Angel is tough on the nerves--and she is hired to kill Ikko, not realising they have met before. This is a tragic film in which three strong women are destined to destroy each other through the trickery of male betrayal; from the beginning, as a child is smuggled away and a mother told the infant is dead, it is clear that we are in a land of myth, with no happy endings. A night time Tokyo of bright lights and dark shadows, of dead-end corridors and escalators that lead you only to your death, is provided as a moody backdrop. Takashi's inventive set pieces of mood and action include a shootout in a strip club set to Verdi's Requiem. On the DVD: The Black Angel is presented on disc in widescreen, while the moody, atmospheric score is done full justice by the Dolby Digital soundtrack. The only special features are filmographies and biographies, production stills and the theatrical trailer. --Roz Kaveney