Blake's 7 was the hit BBC space opera launched in the wake of Star Wars, though with a grittier sensibility and produced on a fraction of the budget. Over 13 episodes the first series introduced freedom-fighter Blake (Gareth Thomas) as he escaped from the Orwellian Federation, gathered a crew of low-life rebels, salvaged an alien starship called the Liberator, and began striking back against the forces of Supreme Commander Servalan (sultry Jacqueline Pearce). The effects were cheap, and alien planets were represented by a disused quarry or an industrial complex, but the strong characters and cynical storylines created by Doctor Who veteran Terry Nation remain involving. The perfect foil for Blake was Paul Darrow's Avon, a near psychopathic criminal mastermind who only fought to save his skin. The cowardly Vila (Michael Keating) was almost as memorable, while the female leads were Jenna (Sally Knyvette), a smuggler and pilot, and determined Auron telepath Cally (Jan Chappell). Also on board was Gan (David Jackson), inhibited from violence by a brain implant. With even the good guys being criminals, including murderers, this was a galaxy far, far away from previous screen space opera. Though undeniably dated, the show is still vintage TV SF, right from the opening three-parter "The Way Back / Spacefall / Cygnus Alpha" to the cliff-hanging shocker "Orac", which introduces the final member of the un-magnificent seven. On the DVD: Blake's 7, Series 1 presents the 13 episodes across five DVDs so as to maximise picture quality. Following the BBC's Doctor Who DVDs the 4:3 images are as strong as one could expect from a 1970s TV show shot partly on video (interiors) and 16 mm film (exteriors). Film shots have some grain and vary considerably in quality while the video material shows occasional minor tearing and flaws in the tape. Otherwise these are as good as Blake's 7 is ever going to look. The same is true of the mono sound, which is clear and undistorted. Each DVD is introduced with a CGI reincarnation of the series' famous logo and three episodes are offered with a commentary. These are "Spacefall" (Sally Knyvette, Michael Keating and producer David Maloney), "Seek-Locate-Destroy" (Keating, Jacqueline Pearce and Stephen Greif) and "Project Avalon" (Knyvette, Pearce and Greif). The chat ranges from high-school reunion playfulness, including singing the title music, to some more serious insights into making the show, to an amusing running debate as to whether Glynis Barber appears in "Project Avalon". Other extras are "2 out takes, a missing scene, 1 robot, 2 flat feet and a blooper". These are exactly what they say: an extract from Blue Peter in 1978 with Lesley Judd making a Blake's 7 bracelet; nine clip compilations introducing the main characters; a synopsis for each episode; and a trailer for the Series 2 DVDs. --Gary S Dalkin
Toni Erdmann is a remarkably touching and outrageously funny portrait of a father-daughter relationship. Ines is a highly-strung career woman whose life in corporate Bucharest takes a turn for the bizarre with the arrival of her estranged father Winfried. A practical joker with a liking for silly disguises and childish pranks, Winfried attempts to reconnect with his daughter by introducing the eccentric alter ego Toni Erdmann to catch Ines off guard, not knowing how capable she is of rising to the challenge.
Based on Peter Carey s Booker Prize winning novel, Justin Kurzel's True History of the Kelly Gang shatters the mythology surrounding Ned Kelly to reveal the essence behind the life of the notorious icon. Hero to some, outlaw to others, Kelly (played by George MacKay) throws a long shadow over a specific period of Australian history. Spanning his life from his younger years to the time leading up to his death, the film explores the story behind this legendary figure. Nurtured by the notorious bushranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe) and fuelled by the unfair arrest of his mother (Essie Davis), Kelly recruits a wild bunch of warriors to plot a campaign of anarchy and rebellion that will grip the entire country. Youth and tragedy collide in the Kelly Gang, and at the beating heart of this tale is the fractured and powerful love story between a mother and son.
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jetblack and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter, bringing out a dark vengeful side that he struggles to control. He must now battle his inner demons as two of the mostfeared villains yet, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), gather unparalleled power and a thirst for revenge which threatens Peter and everyone he loves. Features: Cast and Filmmaker Commentaries with Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and more Blooper Reels
Toni Erdmann is a remarkably touching and outrageously funny portrait of a father-daughter relationship. Ines is a highly-strung career woman whose life in corporate Bucharest takes a turn for the bizarre with the arrival of her estranged father Winfried. A practical joker with a liking for silly disguises and childish pranks, Winfried attempts to reconnect with his daughter by introducing the eccentric alter ego Toni Erdmann to catch Ines off guard, not knowing how capable she is of rising to the challenge.
Based on Peter Carey s Booker Prize winning novel, Justin Kurzel's True History of the Kelly Gang shatters the mythology surrounding Ned Kelly to reveal the essence behind the life of the notorious icon. Hero to some, outlaw to others, Kelly (played by George MacKay) throws a long shadow over a specific period of Australian history. Spanning his life from his younger years to the time leading up to his death, the film explores the story behind this legendary figure. Nurtured by the notorious bushranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe) and fuelled by the unfair arrest of his mother (Essie Davis), Kelly recruits a wild bunch of warriors to plot a campaign of anarchy and rebellion that will grip the entire country. Youth and tragedy collide in the Kelly Gang, and at the beating heart of this tale is the fractured and powerful love story between a mother and son.
From the director of Wolf Creek and staring Daniel Radcliffe, JUNGLE is the true story of one man s fight for survival as he ventures in to the Amazon rainforest. What starts as a dream adventure quickly descends in to a harrowing and desperate nightmare.
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jetblack and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter, bringing out a dark vengeful side that he struggles to control. He must now battle his inner demons as two of the mostfeared villains yet, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), gather unparalleled power and a thirst for revenge which threatens Peter and everyone he loves. Features: Cast & Crew Commentaries Blooper Reel Grains of Sand Building Sandman featurette ReImagining The Goblin featurette Covered In Black Creating Venom featurette Music Video Trailers And more!
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jetblack and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter, bringing out a dark vengeful side that he struggles to control. He must now battle his inner demons as two of the mostfeared villains yet, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), gather unparalleled power and a thirst for revenge which threatens Peter and everyone he loves. Features: Commentaries
More wit than wisdom? More style than substance? Both these charges have been levelled at The Madness of King George, but neither are entirely fair. It could be that the notional subject matter--the psychological collapse of George III, later attributed to the neurological disease porphyria--implies a profound, analytical approach of the kind associated with Oliver Sachs. However, as the screenplay was written by Alan Bennett, based upon his stage play The Madness of George III, what we have here is a typically shrewd, elegant and poignant depiction of how the world seems when viewed by someone who sees things in their own unique way. And as it is by Bennett, who allows himself a brief, bumbling cameo appearance, the dialogue is of course scalpel-sharp throughout and often extremely moving.The historical accuracy is strong on detail, but there's an element of artistic license, such as the depiction of HRH's apparent partial recovery at the close of the film (although the scene itself, in which Hawthorne's befuddled monarch rallies himself to address his subjects, is a joy). In the end, though, we really don't mind.On the DVD: the widescreen DVD extras include the theatrical trailer, a featurette and a lucid commentary by director Nicholas Hytner. --Roger Thomas
From the director of Wolf Creek and staring Daniel Radcliffe, JUNGLE is the true story of one man s fight for survival as he ventures in to the Amazon rainforest. What starts as a dream adventure quickly descends in to a harrowing and desperate nightmare.
A mission almost two decades in the making. Tom Cruise is IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, one of the greatest action heroes of all time, in the adrenaline-pumping, suspense filled blockbuster franchise MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. Filmed in the most exotic locations around the world by the biggest directors in Hollywood, this must-have 5-fi lm set will thrill any action fan. Your mission, should you choose to accept it experience the most action-packed 4K Ultra HD collection ever!
Howard Hughes with the assistance of Howard Hawks directed this racy version of the Pat Garrett vs Billy The Kid story. The publicity campaign surrounding the film's release was a masterpiece. Armed with stills of 19-year-old Jane Russell revealing a remarkable dcolletage (while stopping to pick up a pair of milk pails!) producer/director Howard Hughes spent tens of thousands of dollars purposely to agitate the censors and arouse public indignation. He released the film independently in San Francisco in 1943 after United Artists refused to distribute it; it was quickly closed down by civic groups. Meanwhile legendary publicist Russell Birdwell leased thousands of billboards from coast to coast for three years plastering a suggestive photo of the scantily clad Russell reclining on a bed of hay gun in hand. By 1946 when Hughes finally re-released the film audiences flocked to theatres: Jane Russell was now a Hollywood star and you can see why!
Tilda Swinton Billy Zane and Quentin Crisp star in this ""hip sexy and wickedly funny"" film based on the gender-bending novel by Virginia Woolf. Swinton stars as Orlando an English nobleman who defies the laws of nature with surprising results. Immortal and highly imaginative he undergoes a series of extraordinary transformations which humorously and hauntingly illustrate the eternal war between the sexes. Visually stunning and beautifully acted 'Orlando' is an intoxicating ble
Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) and his duties as a superhero. But when his suit suddenly changes, turning jetblack and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter, bringing out a dark vengeful side that he struggles to control. He must now battle his inner demons as two of the mostfeared villains yet, Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace), gather unparalleled power and a thirst for revenge which threatens Peter and everyone he loves.
Sid the Sexist: Sidney Smutt is a smooth talking sex machine a lady killing hard man who can drink anyone under the table... or so he thinks. Meet Sid Baz Bob and Joe on their adventures as they paint Newcastle red and jet off to sunny Spain in search of love excitement and a truly satisfying takeaway. Oh Lordy! It's The Fat Slags - 3 Saucy Adventures: Here it is. Raunchier than a Swedish rabbit and bluer than a baboon's arse. The two and only Fat Slags burst on
Manchester 1975. The now much diminished but still claustrophobic and dysfunctional Khan family continues to struggle for survival. Sajid the youngest Khan the runt of the litter is deep in pubescent crisis under heavy assault both from his father's tyrannical insistence on Pakistani tradition and from the fierce bullies in the schoolyard. So in a last desperate attempt to 'sort him out' his father decides to pack him off to Mrs Khan No 1 and family in the Punjab the wife and daughters he had abandoned 35 years earlier. It is not long before Ella Khan (Mrs Khan No2) with a small entourage from Salford England swiftly follows to sort out the mess past and present.
The ultimate collection (56 hours!) of John Wayne movies many of which have been previously unavailable on DVD! 1. Stagecoach (1939) 2. The Long Voyage Home (1940) 3. Fort Apache (1948) 4. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) 5. Rio Grande (1951) 6. The Quiet Man (1952) 7. Sands of Iwo Jima 8. The Fighting Seabees 9. The Flying Tigers 10. Back to Bataan 11. Jet Pilot 12. The Flying Leathernecks 13. Dark Command 14. Tall in the Saddle 15. Angel and the Bad Man 16. The Fighting Kentuckian 17. The War Wagon 18. Rooster Cogburn 19. The Spoilers 20. Tycoon 21. Wake of the Red Witch 22. The Conqueror 23. The Magnificent Showman 24. Hellfighters 25. Seven Sinners 26. Three Faces West 27. Lady from Louisiana 28. The Shepherd of the Hills 29. In Old California 30. Pittsburgh 31. Reap the Wild Wind 32. War of the Wildcats 33. Dakota 34. Flame of Barbary Coast
The publicity campaign surrounding The Outlaw's release was a masterpiece. Armed with stills of 19-year-old Jane Russell revealing a remarkable dcolletage (while stopping to pick up a pair of milk pails!) Producer/Director Howard Hughes spent tens of thousands of dollars purposely to agitate the censors and arouse public indignation. He released the film independently in San Francisco in 1943 after United Artists refused to distribute it; it was quickly closed down by civic groups.
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