"Actor: Simon Cox"

• The Lord of the Rings (Animated Version) | DVD | (26/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings is a bold, colourful, ambitious failure. Severely truncated, this two-hour version tackles only about half the story, climaxing with the battle of Helm's Deep and leaving poor Frodo and Sam still stuck on the borders of Mordor with Gollum. Allegedly, the director ran out of money and was unable to complete the project. As far as the film does go, however, it is a generally successful attempt at rendering Tolkien's landscapes of the imagination. Bakshi's animation uses a blend of conventional drawing and rotoscoped (traced) animated movements from live-action footage. The latter is at least in part a money-saving device, but it does succeed in lending some depth and a sense of otherworldly menace to the Black Riders and hordes of Orcs: Frodo's encounter at the ford of Rivendell, for example, is one of the movie's best scenes thanks to this mixture of animation techniques. Backdrops are detailed and well-conceived, and all the main characters are strongly drawn. Among a good cast, John Hurt (Aragorn) and C3PO himself, Anthony Daniels (Legolas), provide sterling voice characterisation, while Peter Woodthorpe gives what is surely the definitive Gollum (he revived his portrayal a couple of years later for BBC Radio's exhaustive 13-hour dramatisation). The film's other outstanding virtue is avant-garde composer Leonard Rosenman's magnificent score in which chaotic musical fragments gradually coalesce to produce the triumphant march theme that closes the picture. None of which makes up for the incompleteness of the movie, nor the severe abridging of the story actually filmed. Add to that some oddities--such as intermittently referring to Saruman as "Aruman"--and the final verdict must be that this is a brave yet ultimately unsatisfying work, noteworthy as the first attempt at transferring Tolkien to the big screen but one whose virtues are overshadowed by incompleteness. --Mark Walker

• The Ring/Ring Two | DVD | (16/08/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Ring (Dir. Gore Verbinski 2002):It begins as just another urban legend - the whispered tale of nightmarish videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later. But when four teenagers all meet with mysterious deaths exactly one week after watching just such a tape investigative reporter Rachel Keller tracks down the video...and watches it. Now the legend is coming true the clock is ticking and Rachel has just seven days to unravel the mystery of The Ring. The Ring 2 (Dir. Hideo Nakata 2005):Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) and her son Aidan (David Dorfman) have relocated to the quaint mountain town of Asheville where Rachel has found a new job at the local Asheville Gazette working alongside reporter Max Rourke (Simon Baker). The discovery of a local teenage homicide whilst scanning the electronic Asheville Police archives prompts Rachel to uncover the truth behind it. Before long Rachel has linked the homicide to the mysterious video tape. Just when Rachel is within reach of uncovering the secret she discovers that Aidan has been hospitalized - unconcious perilously cold and bruised. Rachel suspects this is the act of Samara Morgan but Dr Emma Temple suspects otherwise. Having being blamed for child abuse and looking guilty as sin Rachel returns to Seattle to dig deeper into the past of the ghostly Samara. Will the secrets she uncovers solve problems or will they end more lives?

• The Reckoning | DVD | (27/09/2004) from £6.75   |  Saving you £13.24 (196.15%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A fugitive priest joins forces with a troupe of travelling actors to save an innocent woman from execution in this medieval murder mystery.

• The Affair Of The Necklace | DVD | (08/07/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  This romantic drama is based on the true life story of a French Countess whose title was taken from her by the Royal Family. The story of her fight to restore her name revolves around the infamous diamond necklace.

• The Ring Two / The Ring - Special Edition | DVD | (03/07/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  The Ring (Dir. Gore Verbinski 2002):It begins as just another urban legend - the whispered tale of nightmarish videotape that causes anyone who watches it to die seven days later. But when four teenagers all meet with mysterious deaths exactly one week after watching just such a tape investigative reporter Rachel Keller tracks down the video...and watches it. Now the legend is coming true the clock is ticking and Rachel has just seven days to unravel the mystery of The Ring

• Decoding Dan Brown - The Documentaries | DVD | (19/07/2010) from £17.53   |  Saving you £2.46 (14.03%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A fantastic new set containing the three intriguing documentaries Hunting The Lost Symbol Illuminating Angels & Demons and Cracking The Da Vinci Code! Hunting The Lost Symbol: A highly compelling investigation of clues and revelations set forth in celebrated author Dan Brown's novel The Lost Symbol the release of which has perhaps been the most anticipated publishing event in recent history setting records for the best-selling adult fiction title on its first day of sale. Illuminating Angels & Demons: Dan Brown's best-selling Angels & Demons portrays a world in which the Vatican is in a secret two thousand year-old battle with a powerful underground organisation the Illuminati. Much like Brown's mega-hit The Da Vinci Code there are real facts behind the story and a remarkable truth to be exposed. Why is the Vatican so secret about much of its history and its doings? Does and even more secret organisation - the Illuminati - really exist? Are the Illuminati plotting to destroy the Vatican or do they have bigger ambitions? Who are the Angels and who are the Demons? Cracking The Da Vinci Code: Host and author of international best-seller Cracking The Da Vinci Code Simon Cox takes you on an in depth journey through the heart of the mysteries behind Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. The comprehensive documentary cuts through the confusion ultimately cracking Da Vinci's code and revealing the remarkable truth behind the legend of the Holy Grail. Featuring an interview with author Dan Brown!

• The Lord of the Rings -- Limited Edition Box Set | DVD | (26/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings is a bold, colourful, ambitious failure. Severely truncated, this two-hour version tackles only about half the story, climaxing with the battle of Helm's Deep and leaving poor Frodo and Sam still stuck on the borders of Mordor with Gollum. Allegedly, the director ran out of money and was unable to complete the project. As far as the film does go, however, it is a generally successful attempt at rendering Tolkien's landscapes of the imagination. Bakshi's animation uses a blend of conventional drawing and rotoscoped (traced) animated movements from live-action footage. The latter is at least in part a money-saving device, but it does succeed in lending some depth and a sense of otherworldly menace to the Black Riders and hordes of Orcs: Frodo's encounter at the ford of Rivendell, for example, is one of the film's best scenes thanks to this mixture of animation techniques. Backdrops are detailed and well conceived, and all the main characters are strongly drawn. Among a good cast, John Hurt (Aragorn) and C3PO himself, Anthony Daniels (Legolas), provide sterling voice characterisation, while Peter Woodthorpe gives what is surely the definitive Gollum (he revived his portrayal a couple of years later for BBC Radio's exhaustive 13-hour dramatisation). The film's other outstanding virtue is avant-garde composer Leonard Rosenman's magnificent score in which chaotic musical fragments gradually coalesce to produce the triumphant march theme that closes the picture. None of which makes up for the incompleteness of the movie, nor the severe abridging of the story actually filmed. Add to that some oddities--such as intermittently referring to Saruman as "Aruman"--and the final verdict must be that this is a brave yet ultimately unsatisfying work, noteworthy as the first attempt at transferring Tolkien to the big screen but one whose virtues are overshadowed by incompleteness. --Mark Walker

• Illuminating Angels & Demons | DVD | (19/07/2010) from £4.98   |  Saving you £7.00 (234.11%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Dan Brown's best-selling Angels & Demons portrays a world in which the Vatican is in a secret two thousand year-old battle with a powerful underground organisation the Illuminati. Much like Brown's mega-hit The Da Vinci Code there are real facts behind the story and a remarkable truth to be exposed. Why is the Vatican so secret about much of its history and its doings? Does and even more secret organisation - the Illuminati - really exist? Are the Illuminati plotting to destroy the Vatican or do they have bigger ambitions? Who are the Angels and who are the Demons? HEAR THE EXPERTS - Join Simon Cox author if the international best-selling Illuminating Angels & Demons and Cracking The Da Vinci Code as he and eleven additional noted authorities take you on an in-depth journey to uncover a plan for world domination that dates back to the early foundations of Christian history. DISCOVER THE TRUTH - More than mere investigation or documentary. Illuminating Angels & Demons is a visually stunning travelogue of the intrigue in baroque and renaissance Rome and the implications it holds for us today. SEE THE ART - In the quest to find the facts behind Brown's fiction you will follow the Path Of Illumination and explore the magnificent sculpture and fountains of Bernini the majestic St Peter's Square and the surrounding seemingly impregnable Vatican City. Examine the more ancient Pantheon and Egyptian obelisks and learn of their meaning and importance to Rome and to the Vatican.

• Cracking The Da Vinci Code | DVD | (19/07/2010) from £3.75   |  Saving you £6.24 (166.40%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Featuring an interview with author Dan Brown! Host and author of international best-seller Cracking The Da Vinci Code Simon Cox takes you on an in depth journey through the heart of the mysteries behind Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. The comprehensive documentary cuts through the confusion ultimately cracking Da Vinci's code and revealing the remarkable truth behind the legend of the Holy Grail. HEAR THE EXPERTS probe new revelations in an exclusive discussion with authors Clive Prince and Lynn Picknett whose book The Templar Revelation is the main source for The Da Vinci Code. They confide that Brown did not access all of their research and explain secrets untold until now. Dr Stephen A Hoeller renowned expert on comparative religion and Gnostic history uses current thinking and Christian history to reach startling conclusions. Mark Oxbrow Templar expert and writer on Rosslyn Chapel reveals new Rosslyn mysteries and confides that the chapel may be alive. SEE THE SITES then follow the path of the book and explore the Louvre Museum and Saint Sulpice Church in Paris; investigate the amazing sites of Temple Church and Westminster Abbey; and examine Scotland's enigmatic and mysterious Rosslyn Chapel. All experts ultimately converge on the mysterious; Rennes-Le-Chateau region of France believed to be the centre of the paradox of Christianity. EXAMINE THE ART The Madonna of the Rocks and The Last Supper as well as several additional works by Leonardo Da Vinci are detailed and dissected using unique visual aids to expose their remarkable conspiratorial symbolism and their true meaning.

• Cracking The Da Vinci Code | DVD | (27/03/2006) from £4.99   |  Saving you £10.00 (200.40%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The DVD of the best-selling factual book! Hear The Experts: Probe new revelations in an exclusive discussion with authors Clive Prince & Lynn Picknett whose book The Templar Revelation is the main source for 'The Da Vinci Code'. They confide that Brown did not access all of their research and explain previously untold secrets. Dr. Stephen A. Hoeller renowned expert on comparative religion and Gnostic history uses current thinking and Christian history to reach startling c

• Cracking The Da Vinci Code | DVD | (02/05/2005) from £5.35   |  Saving you £7.64 (142.80%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The DVD of the best-selling factual book! Hear The Experts: Probe new revelations in an exclusive discussion with authors Clive Prince & Lynn Picknett whose book The Templar Revelation is the main source for 'The Da Vinci Code'. They confide that Brown did not access all of their research and explain previously untold secrets. Dr. Stephen A. Hoeller renowned expert on comparative religion and Gnostic history uses current thinking and Christian history to reach startling c

• The Night Strangler (Special Edition) | DVD | (02/10/2018) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A