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• Brazil | DVD | (19/05/2003) from £9.15   |  Saving you £6.84 (74.75%)   |  RRP £15.99

  If Franz Kafka had been an animator and film director--oh, and a member of Monty Python's Flying Circus--Brazil is the sort of outrageously dystopian satire one could easily imagine him making. In fact it was made by Terry Gilliam, who is all of the above except, of course, Franz Kafka. Be that as it may, Gilliam captures the paranoid-subversive spirit of Kafka's The Trial (along with his own Python animation) in this bureaucratic nightmare-comedy about a meek government clerk named Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) whose life is destroyed by a simple bug. It's not a software bug but a real bug (no doubt related to Kafka's famous Metamorphosis insect) that gets squashed in a printer and causes a typographical error unjustly identifying an innocent citizen, one Mr Buttle, as suspected terrorist Harry Tuttle (Robert De Niro). When Sam becomes enmeshed in unravelling this bureaucratic tangle, he himself winds up labelled as a miscreant. The movie presents such an unrelentingly imaginative and savage vision of 20th-century bureaucracy that it almost became a victim of small-minded studio management itself--until Gilliam surreptitiously screened his cut for the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, who named it the best movie of 1985 and virtually embarrassed Universal into releasing it. --Jim Emerson On the DVD: Brazil comes to DVD in a welcome anamorphic print of the full director's cut--here running some 136 minutes. Disappointingly the only extra feature is the 30-minute making-of documentary "What Is Brazil?", which consists of on-set and behind-the-scenes interviews. There's nothing about the film's controversial release history (covered so comprehensively on the North American Criterion Collection release), nor is Gilliam's illuminating, irreverent directorial commentary anywhere to be found. The only other extra here is the ubiquitous theatrical trailer. A welcome release of a real classic, then, but something of a missed opportunity. --Mark Walker

• Dead Man Walking | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £7.73   |  Saving you £8.26 (106.86%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A serious film on a serious subject, Dead Man Walking (1995) is enriched by two excellent performances: Sean Penn as a murderer and rapist facing execution on Death Row, and Susan Sarandon as a nun who visits and befriends him. Tim Robbins, the writer and director of the film (and Sarandon's husband), based the film on a true story, and there's not much narrative tension since it's obvious Penn will not escape his fate. But the film is a clear-eyed look at the realities of capital punishment and its grisly rituals, which at the same time never sentimentalises the people or the issues. There is no shying away from the evil of the murderer's acts and their effects on the victims' families, but this is balanced against the heartlessness and cynicism of those in the prison system and their political masters. It's hard to say whether the film is ultimately against capital punishment; it certainly encourages you to think for yourself. On the DVD: The image and sound quality is excellent, in widescreen ratio 16:9. There's a theatrical trailer and a TV commercial for the film, which also has language tracks in English, French and Spanish and subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and Hungarian. There's also an audio commentary on the film by director Tim Robbins which gives valuable insights into the political background of the film and the shooting process. --Ed Buscombe

• The Boondock Saints | DVD | (28/10/2002) from £6.40   |  Saving you £-0.41 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  With the advent of satellite broadcasting resurrecting the art of the TV movie, films like the invigorating The Boondock Saints are becoming more frequent. Made for Sky, the movie eschews big-screen production values but is still good value for money. Although the story of two Irish-American brothers who set out on a believed divine mission to wipe out the worst of the criminal element of Boston at times seems like an imitation of the superb Dogma, both films were actually made in the same year. The film is not without its faults, notably the poor performances of Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus as the two brothers--both of whom adopt ludicrous Irish accents. Far better is Willem Dafoe, who steals the show as FBI agent Smecker, and the manic David Della Rocco. Still, The Boondock Saints is highly watchable and keeps the viewer interested throughout with a strong story, frequent black humour and arresting visuals. And there aren't many places where you will come across Billy Connolly as a Mafia contract killer. --Phil Udell

• Saving Bardejov From Auschwitz | DVD | (29/07/2024) from £6.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Widows | Blu Ray | (18/03/2019) from £8.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  From acclaimed director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) and co-writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) comes a blistering, modern-day thriller with a powerful ensemble cast. When four armed robbers are killed in a failed heist attempt, their widowswith nothing in common except a debt left by their dead husbands' criminal activitiestake fate into their own hands to forge a future on their own terms.

• Transformers - The Movie | DVD | (26/11/2001) from £13.50   |  Saving you £2.49 (18.44%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons must deal with a world-devouring being called Unicron. This new two-disc edition of the fondly remembered animated tale boasts over five hours of extra features.

• Jeeves And Wooster - The Complete 1st Series | DVD | (23/10/2000) from £17.59   |  Saving you £7.40 (42.07%)   |  RRP £24.99

  PG Wodehouse's much-loved stories about Bertie Wooster and his brilliantly clever valet Jeeves were brought faithfully to life in Jeeves and Wooster, starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry as master and servant. Perfectly cast and with scripts that retain all the sparkling wit of Wodehouse's prose, it's hard to see how any future adaptation of his work could surpass this wonderfully funny series. This set contains the entire first season of Jeeves and Wooster. In "Jeeves Takes Charge" young man-about-town Bertie Wooster employs a new valet called Jeeves, and not a moment too soon. Thanks to his Aunt Agatha, Bertie faces the terrible prospect of marriage to the statuesque Honoria Glossop, and only Jeeves can save the day. "Tuppy and the Terrier" finds Bertie in trouble again when he loses Aunt Agatha's dog. Further aunt-related complications arise when Bertie's chum Tuppy falls for our hero's cousin Angela. Aunt Dahlia is not amused. An uncle in love with a waitress, a trip to the country, a speedy choirboy, and a secret betting syndicate all lead to trouble in "The Purity of the Turf". Jeeves, of course, is the only one who can put things right. Jeeves and Wooster really hits its stride in the final episodes of Series 1: "The Hunger Strike" and "Brinkley Manor". When Bertie visits Aunt Dahlia he is called upon to solve the romantic problems of his friends Tuppy Glossop (in love with Cousin Angela) and the delightful Gussy Fink-Nottle (in love with Madeleine Basset, a young lady who believes the stars to be God's daisy-chain.) Unwisely, Bertie decides to cook up his own plan and before long disaster strikes. Aunt Dahlia's superb chef Anatole gives his notice, and Bertram is to blame. Thank goodness for Jeeves. --Simon Leake, Amazon.com

• Gods And Generals | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £6.99   |  Saving you £7.00 (100.14%)   |  RRP £13.99

  This three and a half hour US civil war epic - a prequel to 1993's "Gettysburg" - tells of the rise and fall of legendary war hero "Stonewall Jackson".

• Harlequin | DVD | (06/12/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £1.99

  An enigmatic stranger with uncanny magical prowess and miraculous psychic abilities mysteriously comes to 'visit' a powerful politician and quickly gains a spell-binding hold over the senator and his family... Magic Murder Mystery.... Nothing is as it appears to be....

• Cape Fear | DVD | (08/08/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Cape Fear (1991): The film stars Oscar winner Robert De Niro (Casino Heat) as Max Cady a psychopath who has recently been released from prison. He is out seeking revenge on his lawyer Sam Bowden played by Nick Nolte (48 Hours Thin Red Line) who he believes deliberately withheld information about his case at trial which could have kept him out of jail. He embarks on a mission to terrorise Bowden his wife played by Oscar-winner Jessica Lange (Blue Sky Rob Roy) and their 15 year old daughter played by Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers). A remake of the 1962 classic film this has guest appearances from the stars of the original film Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck. The film is directed by one of the leading filmmakers of his generation Oscar-nominated Martin Scorcese. Cape Fear (1962): The original version of this masterpiece of psychological terror and revenge stars Oscar-winner Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mocking Bird Moby Dick) in the role of Sam Bowden and Robert Mitchum (The Big Sleep The Last Tycoon) as psychotic killer Max Cady. The film also stars Polly Bergen (Cry Baby Move Over Darling) and was directed by highly acclaimed British director J. Lee Thompson (The Guns of Navarone MacKennas Gold).

• Cherrybomb | DVD | (23/08/2010) from £8.98   |  Saving you £11.00 (157.37%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Starring Rupert Grint (Harry Potter) in his first mature role, Cherrybomb tells the story of two best friends locked in fierce rivalry for the same girl as she seductively encourages a ruthless competition for her heart.

• Over The Top | DVD | (03/05/2004) from £15.98   |  Saving you £-2.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Tough two-fisted truck driver Lincoln Hawk (Stallone) is a survivor: a man who holds his own against the biggest and brawniest arm-wrestlers in the country. But when his estranged wife (Susan Blakely) dies leaving his 12-year-old son in the custody of his wealthy father-in-law (Robert Loggia) Hawk's muscles are useless against a powerhouse of money and lawyers. Now to prove he can be a responsible father Hawk must build a new life that he can share with his son but his only chanc

• The Full Monty | Blu Ray | (04/03/2013) from £15.52   |  Saving you £-2.53 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Overtaking Jurassic Park as the UK's biggest box office attraction of 1998, and winning one of its four Academy Award nominations, The Full Monty was the surprise world-wide smash of the year, it's unexpected success reflecting the underdog inspiring message of the film itself. Leading a strong cast, it was Robert Carlyle's appearance here which propelled him to sex-symbol superstardom and brought him high-profile Hollywood roles in Angela's Ashes, The World is Not Enough and The Beach among others. The story revolves around the attempts of five unemployed grafters from the recession-hit industrial North to reclaim some of their dignity, which they attempt to do by the unlikely expedient of becoming male strippers. The film follows their struggle to become The Chippendales for real women, from their shambolic beginnings to their euphoric debut appearance in front of 300 hungry lasses! Saucy and spicy with a rocking soundtrack, The Full Monty tells of the triumph of spirit over adversity, reminding us that everyone can be special, no matter what their shape ... or size. This is British independent film making at its very best, exhibiting the heart-warming truthfulness captured by many UK directors, yet eschewing their often gloomy negativity for an altogether more optimistic outlook: it's a modern fairy tale in which all five Cinderellas get to go to the ball. --Paul Eisinger

• The Longest Day/ A Bridge Too Far/ Patton | DVD | (13/04/2009) from £11.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Titles Comprise: The Longest Day:On June 6 1944 the Allied Invasion of France marked the beginning of the end of Nazi domination over Europe. The attack involved 3 000 000 men 11 000 planes and 4 000 ships comprising the largest armada the world has ever seen. Presented in its original black & white version The Longest Day is a vivid hour-by-hour re-creation of this historic event. Featuring a stellar international cast and told from the perspectives of both sides it is a fascinating look at the massive preparations mistakes and random events that determined the outcome of one of the biggest battles in history. Winner of two Oscars (Special Effects and Cinematography) the Longest Day ranks as one of Hollywood's truly great war films. A Bridge Too Far: An epic film that re-creates in stunning detail one of the most disastrous battles of World War II (The Hollywood Reporter) A Bridge Too Far is a spectacular war picture. Painstakingly recreated on actual battlefield locations and boasting a remarkable cast that includes Sean Connery Anthony Hopkins Sir Laurence Olivier and Robert Redford 'A Bridge Too Far' accurately recaptures the monumental scope excitement and danger behind one of the biggest military gambles in history. In September 1944 flush with success after the Normandy Invasion the Allies confidently launched Operation Market Garden a wild scheme intended to put an early end to the fighting by invading Germany and smashing the Reich's war plants. But a combination of battlefield politics faulty intelligence bad luck and even worse weather led to the disaster beyond the Allies' darkest fear. Patton:A critically acclaimed film that won a total of eight 1970 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) Patton is a riveting portrait of one of the 20th century's greatest military geniuses. One of its Oscars went to George C. Scott for this triumphant portrayal of George Patton the only Allied general truly feared by the Nazis. Charismatic and flamboyant Patton designed his own uniforms sported ivory-handled six-shooters and believed he was a warrior in past lives. He outmaneuvered Rommel in Africa and after D-Day led his troops in an unstoppable campaign across Europe. But he was as rebellious as well as brilliant and as Patton shows with insight and poignancy his own volatile personality was one enemy he could never defeat.

• The Shrink Is In | DVD | (22/10/2001) from £2.79   |  Saving you £17.20 (616.49%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Falling in love can drive you crazy... Samantha suffers from many complex phobias. When her shrink is taken away Samantha grabs the oppurtunity to impersonate her doctor and hopefully win over the man of her dreams...

• The X Files: Season 1 | DVD | (06/11/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £34.99

  In the first season of The X Files, creator Chris Carter was uncertain of the series' future, so each of the episodes is a self-contained suspense story; they do not delve deep into the ongoing X Files mythology or turn to self-parody and humour as do episodes in later seasons. Yet, these episodes display the elements for which the show would become famous: the cinematic production values and top-notch special effects, the stark lighting of the Vancouver sets, the atmospheric halo of Mark Snow's score, and the clever plots dealing with subjects ranging from the occult, religion, and monsters to urban legends, conspiracy theories and science fiction. Most importantly, Season 1 introduces FBI agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox "Spooky" Mulder (David Duchovny), two of the most attractive government officials around. Scully is the serious-minded medical scientist assigned to join Mulder on the X Files, a division of the FBI dealing with the paranormal. Mulder is the intuitive thinker with a dry wit, a passionate believer in the existence of paranormal phenomena and one of the few characters on television smart enough to figure out who the bad guy is before the audience does. Their muddled relationship, a deep friendship laced with sexual tension, provides the human heart in a world where the bizarre and horrible lurk in everyday society. The materials on the bonus disc provide some interesting trivia and background, but it is the 24 episodes themselves that make this seven-disc boxed set a true find. Those unfamiliar with The X Files often view all the fuss with the same scepticism with which Scully first regards her new partner's ideas. But just as she comes to realise the uncanny accuracy of Mulder's outlandish theories, newcomers to The X Files who sample a few episodes in this boxed set will likely find themselves riveted to their television late into the night. And undoubtedly, the shadows and creaking noises in the house that evening will seem more menacing than usual. --Eugene Wei, Amazon.com

• The Godfather | DVD | (13/09/2004) from £5.62   |  Saving you £12.37 (220.11%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Generally acknowledged as a bona fide classic, this Francis Ford Coppola film is one of those rare experiences that feels perfectly right from beginning to end--almost as if everyone involved had been born to participate in it. Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel about a Mafia dynasty, Coppola's Godfather extracted and enhanced the most universal themes of immigrant experience in America: the plotting-out of hopes and dreams for one's successors, the raising of children to carry on the good work, etc. In the midst of generational strife during the Vietnam years, the film somehow struck a chord with a nation fascinated by the metamorphosis of a rebellious son (Al Pacino) into the keeper of his father's dream. Marlon Brando played against Puzo's own conception of patriarch Vito Corleone, and time has certainly proven the actor correct. The rest of the cast, particularly James Caan, John Cazale, and Robert Duvall as the rest of Vito's male brood--all coping with how to take the mantle of responsibility from their father--is seamless and wonderful. --Tom Keogh

• High Life | DVD | (09/09/2019) from £5.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In deep space, Monte and his daughter Willow live together aboard a spacecraft, in complete isolation. A man whose strict self-discipline is a shield against desire, Monte fathered her against his will. His sperm was used to inseminate the young woman who gave birth to her. They were members of a crew of prisoners death row inmates. Guinea pigs sent on a mission.

• The Small World Of Sammy Lee (Digitally Restored) | DVD | (14/11/2016) from £10.35   |  Saving you £7.64 (73.82%)   |  RRP £17.99

  A 1963 British crime film directed by Ken Hughes and starring Anthony Newley, Julia Foster and Robert Stephens. THE SMALL WORLD OF SAMMY LEE is just around any corner in Soho. Peopled by the pimps, the punters, the brasses and the bookies, and with boils on its face like the sleazy Peepshow club where Sammy (Anthony Newley) comperes the strip-tease. Sammy Lee is worried. When you owe £300 to a bookie like Conner you're entitled to be worried. Particularly when his muscle men (Kenneth J. Warren and Clive Colin Bowler) are coming in a few hours' time to collect the cash. Refused help from brother Lou (Warren Mitchell) by Lou's wife (Miriam Karlin) who won't pour the profits of their delicatessen into bookies' pockets, Sammy is desperately setting up shady deals to raise the money. EXTRAS: New Interview with Julia Foster New Locations Featurette with Film Historian Richard Dacre New Interview with Mike Hodges

• Fräulein Smillas Gespür für Schnee | DVD | (05/03/2009) from £8.41   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A