Life's a bitch And then it goes to penalties... Life was sweet for Lee Vaughan: money respect sex and . . . football. Ah yes The Beautiful Game - well at least the version played by The Fox and Hounds Chapel Allerton. Lee was the top scorer in 1992. But not a single goal in '93. Glaucoma. It struck him down. Within two years he was totally blind. His only glory from memories. But memories don't satisfy the need for a 'damn good kickabout.' Into Lee's life comes one Charlie Howard. His life is a mess - he kind of likes it that way. Twenty years ago he saw 'Get Carter' and left the USA for the UK. And there he meets a blind man yearning to play this thing they call soccer. Charlie is bored. Charlie is looking for a craic. Looks like he's found one.
A soapy backstage melodrama originally produced for network broadcast, Double Platinum downplays showbiz verisimilitude to turn on the tears. With 60s soul queen Diana Ross and 90s pop princess Brandy sharing production credit as well as billing, this formulaic tearjerker focuses on its stars' dramatic chops more than their musical prowess, a choice that won't deter their respective audiences, even as it disappoints less partisan music fans who might have hoped for a stronger musical component.Olivia King (Ross) is the former St. Louis housewife who abandoned her family for pop stardom, only to return 18 years later determined to meet, and reconcile with, her daughter, Kayla (Brandy), now nurturing her own footlight fantasies. But when the prodigal mom finally does reveal herself to the bright, feisty teen, Kayla is outraged and then hard-boiled. Olivia's offer to help the undeniably talented girl make industry contacts is accepted, with the bitter caveat that the superstar should abandon any hopes of a true maternal bond with her embittered daughter. The usually imperious Olivia meekly accepts those terms, while the secretly yearning Kayla keeps up her tough-cookie cover, but the plot telegraphs its ultimate destination, even as the tears flow.Both stars acquit themselves well in the story's stormier clashes, and the emotional tug of the story is well engineered to soak hankies. Less credulous viewers will be hampered by the original songs--when Ross steps on-stage, her regal demeanour and flashy (if occasionally silly) gowns support her supposed status as a legend, but the utterly forgettable, generic songs she mouths deflate that image. That said, viewers less interested in the actual music than the glitzy idea of the two characters may well be content to wallow in the waterworks of a story that could as easily have been titled Divas: The Next Generation. --Sam Sutherland, Amazon.com
An illicit rendezvous discovered in a park initially appears to be a clear case of adultery but on closer inspection a darker picture develops. A man abuses his position of trust to recruit young girls into his religious sect. Morality is turned on its head when an innocent young girl is 'punished' for the wrong doings of her 'priest'. Bearing all the symbolism of the serpent rearing its ugly head in the Garden of Eden a world of religious fanaticism hypocrisy and perversity unfolds. Appearances can be deceptive as Fitz attempts to unearth the most sinister truths behind the religious fa''ade with spine-chilling consequences.
Matthew is a radio 'agony uncle' unable to heed his own advice after breaking up with girlfriend Liz he won't leave her alone. A terrified Liz turns to Matthew's best friend and a dark tale of obsession and desire is unleashed. A riveting thriller that twists and turns.
A wryly perceptive drama about Frank, a twenty something living in London, and growing up when you're not even sure that's what you want to do.
Tom Jeffords tries to make peace between settlers and Apaches.
A talented and wealthy young married couple's close-knit life together becomes unstitched when the husband becomes addicted to cocaine...
Lassie has to try and make her way home in time for Christmas in this charming family movie.
Sex so hot, it's deadly", announces the tagline for Sexual Malice. Originally screened in 1994, this is a quintessential late-night TV movie. The well-worn plot concerns relationships inside and outside of marriage, with a twist obvious enough for the non-rocket scientists among us to have twigged well before the denouement. As for the sex scenes--there's little here that errs on the outré side of Dirty Dancing (interestingly enough, there's a secondary role for one Don Swayze), and the visuals are stylishly, almost tastefully done--Ashley Irwin's coffee-table funk adding the right musical enhancement. As the upwardly mobile accountant Christine Chandler, Diane Barton gives a creditable portrayal of a woman caught between the routine of marriage to the predictable Richard (stolidly dependable Edward Albert) and the excitement of an illicit affair with the passably seductive Quinn, played with a certain edge by Doug Jeffrey. The two subplots are wafer thin in narrative terms, but those who enjoy bump-and-grind under piers and in changing rooms will certainly stay the course. On the DVD: Sexual Malice comes to DVD in a 4:3 full frame print that's nonetheless a classy looking effort, and the stereo soundtrack is similarly pristine. There are detailed filmographies, a well-reproduced but oddly random photo gallery, and a trailer that manages to summarise a completely different scenario. As its closing voice-over proclaims, "Caught between a boring husband and a dangerous lover, a passionate woman can commit just about anything". Now you know.--Richard Whitehouse
Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton star as a pair of doomed lovers in a strictly controlled society in the near future.
Beaver Bras hand a young executive a cheque for 100 000 dollars to sign up five famous and well-endowed women to model their lingerie... This raunchy adult comedy follows the adventures of this lucky young man as he peruses five very different but similarly endowed beautiful young ladies around the world to get them to sign on the dotted line.
Social ineptitude cultural clashes and football jokes galore. Based on the popular Canadian series and shot in a fly-on-the-wall documentary style this riotously funny series exposes the competitiveness of a local children's football team and more importantly their parents scrapping and shouting on the sidelines. The beautiful game is about to get ugly!
16 year-old Kelly Ann gives birth to a baby boy which is immediately given up for adoption. Six weeks later trying to get over the emotional upset she goes on an overnight hike with her church youth group. When they find a baby boy in a 'lair' they are stalked by a wild beast which begins to pick them off one by one. Lee Kelly Ann's ex-boyfriend sacrifices himself to give Kelly Ann a chance to escape and she begins a new life as mother to the baby.
The Water Babies tells the story of Tom, a chimney sweep who gets framed for theft in 1850s England. Even though a young girl named Ellie knows the real thieves' identities and tries to clear Tom's name, Tom's desperate escape run lands him right in the middle of Dead Man's Pool. Assumed to have met certain death, Tom gets sucked into a magical underwater world. Tom befriends the creatures he meets beneath the sea, and they accompany him on a journey to the land of Water Babies, where he intends to ask the all-powerful Cracken to help him return to the world above the water. However, when Tom finally does manage to return to land, life is far from idyllic as he must set out clear his name and trap the real thieves. Many adults possess fond memories of seeing this 1978 movie as children. The land portions of this musical feature live-action footage, while the water sequence is fully animated. To a fresh, modern audience, the abrupt change from one format to the other is somewhat disconcerting, as is the choppy, older animation style. The story, based on the classic children's book of the same name by Charles Kingsley, is an intriguing look at both Victorian culture and the fantasy world. (Ages 4-8) --Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com
He's the death of the party! After a fraternity prank results in his accidental death a young man is transformed into a vengeful scarecrow who descends on a resort town during spring break in order to seek out those who killed him. Ultimate Fighting Championship contestant Ken Shamrock stars!
Based on a novel by Barbara Cartland, A Ghost in Monte Carlo is an undemanding period romp packed full of twists and turns. The perfect cinematic equivalent of Cartland's literary style, the film is a glossy, star-filled but ultimately shallow exercise. Lysette Anthony is the wide-eyed innocent Mistral, released from her convent upbringing into the care of her Aunt Emilie (Sarah Miles). On arriving in glamorous Monte Carlo, she immediately strikes up a relationship with a dashing young lord and sets out to experience her newfound freedom. Matters take an unexpected, darker turn as Mistral finds herself caught up in the plotting of her aunt and in increasing danger. The performances range from Anthony's passable purity to a ludicrously over-the-top turn from Miles. The much-vaunted all-star casting amounts to a series of brief cameos from the likes of Oliver Reed, Joanna Lumley, Lewis Collins and Gareth Hunt--presumably at the request of executive producer Lord Lew Grade. It's fun for what it is but only as long as you leave any critical sensibilities on hold. On the DVD:A Ghost in Monte Carlo is essentially a video release transferred directly to DVD. The sound is digitally remastered and there is a very poor interactive menu to guide you through the various chapters but no extras. --Phil Udell
Struggling with a tragic past, Paul Thompson (Joseph Finnes - Shakespeare in Love) decides to fulfill a lifelong dream and swim the length of the Hudson River. Joined by travel companion Jeff (Justin Kirk - TV's Weeds) and Liz (Elizabeth Reaser - Twilight series), Paul embarks on an emotional journey that will test the limits of friendship and explore the right to decide one's own fate. Michelle Trachtenberg and Mary Tyler Moore costar in this provocative tale of loss and desire.
Resident Evil - Apocalypse (Dir. Alexander Witt 2004): The sequel to the 0 million hit Resident Evil: Apocalypse is again based on the wildly popular video game series and picks up where the first film ended. The zombies are back and so is Alice (Jovovich). Since being captured by the notorious Umbrella Corporation she has been subjected to biogenetic experimentation and has become genetically altered with super-human strengths senses and dexterity. Now she has teamed with other survivors of Earth ready to destroy any zombie in their path. After escaping from the Racoon City Medical Facility Alice searches for answers to the T-Virus and how to contain it. On the other side of town a woman named Jill Valentine plots her own escape while battling the undead and Matt Adison now transformed into a monster called The Nemesis who is bent on destroying all who live. Punisher (Dir. Jonathan Hensleigh 2004): Marvel Comics presents a second big-screen version of The Punisher with this action-packed adaptation from screenwriter-turned-director Jonathan Hensleigh. Frank Castle (Tom Jane) is a retired F.B.I. agent spurred into action after the merciless slaying of his wife father and son. Adopting the superhero guise of The Punisher Castle aims to wreak vengeance for his dead family by tracking down the culprits responsible for their demise. All clues point to Howard Saint (John Travolta) a ruthless businessman and nightclub owner whose son was mistakenly killed by Castle in a botched undercover operation back in his F.B.I. days. Unique amongst Marvel superheroes The Punisher possesses no special powers just remarkable strength parried with a blind determination to avenge his family. As he hunts down Saint Castle surrounds himself with three fellow societal outcasts to get the job done namely Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) Bumpo (John Pinette) and Dave (Ben Foster). Hellboy (Dir. Guillermo del Toro 2004): In the final days of World War II the Nazis attempt to use black magic to aid their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp where an occult ceremony is taking place but not before a demon Hellboy has already been conjured. Joining the Allied forces Hellboy eventually grows to adulthood under the supervision of his adopted 'father' Trevor Bruttenholm serving the cause of good rather than evil. When the powerful and evil Nazi figure who unleashed Hellboy suddenly reappears in modern times he discovers that Hellboy is now working as a paranormal investigator at a secret U.S. government agency dedicated to protecting humanity from the forces of darkness. Now Hellboy must fight to solve the riddle of his own existence and prevent the destruction of mankind... Dark Horse Comics' popular cult superhero Hellboy makes the leap from the comic book pages to the big screen with Ron Perlman the only actor considered charismatic enough to convey the blood-red demon anti-hero cutting a cigar-chomping dash in the title role as Hellboy assisted by prosthetics from 6-time Oscar winning makeup artist Rick Baker.
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