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Review 4 Front Video / Shanghai Express [1932]
Actors & Directors
  • Clive Brook
  • Marlene Dietrich
  • Eugene Pallette
  • Anna May Wong
  • Warner Oland
  • Josef von Sternberg
Release date: 2000-02-07
Run time: 84 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £5.99

Review Shanghai Express [1932] / 4 Front Video:


Review 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment / Braveheart [1995]
Actors & Directors
  • Mel Gibson
  • Sophie Marceau
  • Catherine McCormack
  • Mel Gibson
  • Patrick McGoohan
Release date: 2001-01-29
Run time: 180 min.
RRP: £14.99
Price: £1.34

Review Braveheart [1995] / 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment:

A stupendous historical saga, Braveheart won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for star Mel Gibson. He plays William Wallace, a 13th-century Scottish commoner who unites the various clans against a cruel English King, Edward the Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan). The scenes of hand-to-hand combat are brutally violent, but they never glorify the bloodshed. There is such enormous scope to this story that it works on a smaller, more personal scale as well, essaying love and loss, patriotism and passion. Extremely moving, it reveals Gibson as a multitalented performer and remarkable director with an eye for detail and an understanding of human emotion. (His first directorial effort was 1993's Man Without a Face. ) The film is nearly three hours long and includes several plot tangents, yet is never dull. This movie resonates long after you have seen it, both for its visual beauty and for its powerful story. -Rochelle O'Gorman Mel Gibson's birth-of-a-nation epic Braveheart does for England what Spartacus did for Rome: every Englishman in this film is weak or nasty or a fool, or all three. Gibson plays William Wallace, the highland warrior whose fierce fighting spirit prompted Robert the Bruce's memorable victory over the English at Bannockburn. [+]
The film opens with boy Wallace losing his father and brother to the murdering English. Gibson's over-age Wallace then indulges in an unintentionally risible spot of teenage romance with the chaste Murron (Catherine McCormack), who is promptly despatched by yet another wicked Englishman. Gibson swings into action in some truly impressive (and horribly gory) fight scenes, culminating in the battles of Stirling and Falkirk. When not separating English body parts, Gibson finds time for a clandestine romance with Isabelle, the Princess of Wales (Sophie Marceau), whom he manages to impregnate, thereby ensuring that the current British monarchy are all descended from him and not from William the Conqueror as they might heretofore have supposed. He trounces the weak and venial English at every turn, causing England's nasty Edward I (Patrick McGoohan) to cough and splutter a lot. Only treachery by the Scotch nobility (lowlanders to a man) stops Wallace's triumphant crusade. His final apotheosis, complete with pre-Passion of the Christ crucifixion imagery, posits Wallace as the redeemer of his country's lost independence. The set-piece battles are a feast for the senses: a combination of the scale of Spartacus with the mud of Branagh's Henry V. But the continual use of slow motion in tandem with the gorgeous scenic backdrops and James Horner's cloying "folksy" music score of indeterminate national origin, enhances the feeling that this is a slick promo for the Scottish tourist board (ironic, perhaps, that much of it was shot in Ireland). Gibson and his Caledonian costars give the impression that a good time was had by all. -Mark Walker.

Review Artificial Eye / Painted Angels [1999]
Actors & Directors
  • Bronagh Gallagher
  • Meret Becker
  • Kelly McGillis
  • Lisa Jakub
  • Brenda Fricker
  • Jon Sanders
Release date: 1999-06-28
Run time: 108 min.
Price: £15.99

Review Painted Angels [1999] / Artificial Eye:


Actors & Directors
  • Omar Sharif
  • Anne Archer
  • John Larroquette
  • Ernest Day
  • Domingo Ambriz
  • Ryan O'Neal
Release date: 2000-02-28
Run time: 105 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £12.98

Review Green Ice [1971] / ITV DVD:


Review ITV DVD / Saturn 3 [1980]
Actors & Directors
  • Harvey Keitel
  • Stanley Donen
  • Douglas Lambert
  • Kirk Douglas
  • Christopher Muncke
  • John Barry (III)
  • Farrah Fawcett
Release date: 2000-04-10
Run time: 84 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £5.90

Review Saturn 3 [1980] / ITV DVD:


Review Mia Video Entertainment Ltd / Anderson Tapes, The / The Man With The Deadly Lens [1971]
Actors & Directors
  • George Grizzard
  • Richard Brooks
  • John Saxon
  • Robert Conrad
  • Katharine Ross
  • Sean Connery
Release date: 1998-09-14
Run time: 205 min.
RRP: £14.99
Price: £12.99

Review Anderson Tapes, The / The Man With The Deadly Lens [1971] / Mia Video Entertainment Ltd:


Review 4 Front Video / 3 Ninjas High Noon At Mega Mountain [1998]
Actors & Directors
  • Michael O'Laskey II
  • Hulk Hogan
  • Loni Anderson
  • Mathew Botuchis
  • Sean McNamara
  • Jim Varney
Release date: 2002-07-01
Run time: 87 min.
Price: £5.99

Review 3 Ninjas High Noon At Mega Mountain [1998] / 4 Front Video:

An evil gang takes over an amusement park only to be foiled by three Ninja-trained brothers and a TV action star in 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain, a smartly-paced, if by-the-numbers, kiddie action flick. Medusa (Loni Anderson) and Lothar (Jim Varney) head up the gang with ransom money and mayhem on their minds. But they don't count on the young trio, taught by their Asian grandfather, and Dave Dragon (Hulk Hogan), making a live appearance at the park. What follows is campy humour, lots of Karate-style action and plenty of Home Alone-type boy vs foolish bad-guy high jinks. And girls aren't left out: the brothers' neighbour, a brainy techno girl, is on hand to hack into the computer and override the gang's murderous plans, while also providing 007-style gadgets for hand-to-hand combat. While there is plenty of gunplay in the 90-minute film, no one is killed or even significantly hurt, making it appropriate for ages five and up. -Kimberly Heinrichs, Amazon. com.

Review Delta Visual Entertainment / The War Years - The Blitz
Actors & Directors
  • Michael Aspel
Release date: 1998-10-26
Run time: 50 min.
RRP: £4.99
Price: £5.99

Review The War Years - The Blitz / Delta Visual Entertainment:


RRP: £5.99
Price: £9.88

Review Genghis Khan / Cinema Club:


Review Warner Home Video / Cradle 2 the Grave [2003]
Actors & Directors
  • Tom Arnold
  • Anthony Anderson
  • Jet Li
  • DMX
  • Andrzej Bartkowiak
  • Kelly Hu
Release date: 2003-09-15
Run time: 97 min.
RRP: £13.99
Price: £1.50

Review Cradle 2 the Grave [2003] / Warner Home Video:

The intriguing cross-pollination of rap and kung-fu continues with Cradle 2 the Grave, co-starring high-profile rapper DMX and Hong Kong superstar Jet Li. Master thief Fait (DMX) hits a diamond exchange but comes away with a bag of black gems of mysterious origin. When a crime kingpin steals the gems from Fait, an international arms dealer kidnaps Fait's beloved daughter-and Fait can only get her back with the help of Su (Li), a Taiwanese intelligence agent tracking the gems himself. A summary of the plot doesn't do Cradle 2 the Grave justice; while the basic story elements suggest a dozen generic action flicks, the cast (including Anthony Anderson, Gabrielle Union and Kelly Hu) has genuine charisma and the movie layers action on top of action to strong effect. All in all, it's a much more engaging thrill ride than you'd expect. -Bret Fetzer.

Review Weintraub Entertainment Limited TVA 90 2362 2 / Double Exposure [VHS/PAL Video]
Actors & Directors
  • William Byron Hillman
  • Michael Callan
  • Joanna Pettet
  • James Stacey
Run time: 90 min.
Price: £39.99

Review Double Exposure [VHS/PAL Video] / Weintraub Entertainment Limited TVA 90 2362 2:

A photographer for a men's magazine is disturbed by a recurring dream he has that he is killing his models by various gruesome means. Then he discovers that his city is being terrorized by a slasher who is stalking and murdering women on the streets. He begins to suspect that he may actually be the killer.

Review Warner Home Video / Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger [1993]
Actors & Directors
  • Virgil W Vogel
  • Chuck Norris
  • Clarence Gilyard Jr.
  • Mike Norris
  • Vern Gillum
Release date: 1994-09-12
Run time: 90 min.
Price: £10.99

Review Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger [1993] / Warner Home Video:


Review Fabulous Films Ltd. / Monkey! - Vol. 10 - The Dogs Of Death / The Foolish Philosopher / Who Am I?
Actors & Directors
  • Masako Natsume
  • Masaaki Sakai
  • Satoshi Aoki
Release date: 2001-01-22
Run time: 130 min.
RRP: £12.99
Price: £3.68

Review Monkey! - Vol. 10 - The Dogs Of Death / The Foolish Philosopher / Who Am I? / Fabulous Films Ltd.:

A loose (very loose) Japanese TV adaptation of Wu Ch'eng-en's 16th-century collection of Chinese fables, Monkey! was re-dubbed into English in the early 1980s and became required viewing for a whole generation of schoolchildren. The titular monkey (played with great enthusiasm, not to mention athleticism by Japanese comic actor and former rock star Masaaki Sakai) accompanies boy-monk Tripitaka (confusingly, a pretty actress called Masako Natsume) on his/her quest for the Indian Sutras. They pick up Sandy (Shiro Kishibe), Pigsy (Toshiyuki Nishida) and a dragon that becomes a horse along the way. The appeal of Monkey! is easier to experience than explain. It's an occasionally surreal blend of Oriental fable, knockabout martial arts, pop Buddhism and slapstick comedy. The frequent comic fight scenes are accompanied by a 70s disco-fusion soundtrack, and a narrator (English voice: Frank Duncan) uses gaps in the action to deliver inscrutable snippets of wisdom ("Even a starving camel is still bigger than a horse", "Does love mean labour even for the carp-hearted?"). Best of all, though, is the dialogue: without regard to any lip-synch niceties the English script (by David Weir) is full of idiomatic delights, jokes and double entendres ("I can use it as well", boasts Monkey of his staff that grows from a tiny stick into a big pole. "Ooh, I never doubted it passionate primate", purrs the Dragon Princess into his ear, "go on, make it bigger"). All are delivered by British actors in hilariously cod-Japanese accents (distinguished thesp Miriam Margolyes is the voice of Tripitaka). Bad special effects crown the show's cheesy, retro appeal. [+]
-Mark Walker.

Review Mia Video Entertainment Ltd / Force Of One / The Octagon [1979]
Actors & Directors
  • Clu Gulager
  • Eric Karson
  • Ron O'Neal
  • Paul Aaron
  • Chuck Norris
  • Bill Wallace
  • Jennifer O'Neill
Release date: 2000-01-24
Run time: 185 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £2.25

Review Force Of One / The Octagon [1979] / Mia Video Entertainment Ltd:


Review Bmg Music Programming / White Squall [1996]
Actors & Directors
  • Jeremy Sisto
  • Jeff Bridges
  • Caroline Goodall
  • Scott Wolf
  • John Savage
  • Ridley Scott
Release date: 2001-06-04
Run time: 124 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £9.99

Review White Squall [1996] / Bmg Music Programming:

It's a pity this ocean-going adventure wasn't fully appreciated during its theatrical release in 1996, if only because its climactic storm sequence (hence the movie's title) was awesome on the big screen and inevitably less impressive on video. Mixed reviews also curtailed its box-office potential, but as you might expect from Ridley Scott-the director of Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise-this is a beautifully photographed movie that will thrill anyone who is drawn to the romance and danger of the open sea. The story is a rite-of-passage adventure for a group of high school boys, who spend their senior year as the crew-in-training on the Albatross, a sailing vessel skippered by an experienced sailor and schoolmaster (Jeff Bridges) who teaches hard lessons of teamwork and individual responsibility. As they sail to the tip of South America and back, the young men face many challenges that will shape their character, in addition to the carnal pleasures of shore leave in exotic ports of call. It's a traditional story, and Scott doesn't bring anything particularly new to this sailboat variation of Dead Poets Society and Scent of a Woman. But as a coming-of-age drama White Squall is professionally crafted and filled with vital energy, featuring a talented cast of newcomers (led by Scott Wolf of TV's Party of Five) who rise to the demands of this rousing and life-changing adventure. -Jeff Shannon, Amazon. com.

Actors & Directors
  • Kelly Makin
  • Cynthia Rothrock
  • Jalal Merhi
Release date: 1993-07-12
Run time: 92 min.
Price: £10.99

Review Tiger Claws [1991] / Universal Pictures UK:


Review 4 Front Video / Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here [1969]
Actors & Directors
  • Barry Sullivan
  • Susan Clark
  • Katharine Ross
  • Robert Blake
  • Robert Redford
  • Abraham Polonsky
Release date: 1994-08-08
Run time: 93 min.
Price: £5.99

Review Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here [1969] / 4 Front Video:


Review Second Sight Films Ltd. / Tokyo Drifter [1966]
Actors & Directors
  • Tsuyoshi Yoshida (II)
  • Hideaki Nitani
  • Tetsuya Watari
  • Ryuji Kita
  • Chieko Matsubara
  • Seijun Suzuki
Release date: 2002-03-11
Run time: 82 min.
RRP: £12.99
Price: £3.90

Review Tokyo Drifter [1966] / Second Sight Films Ltd.:

In Tokyo Drifter director Seijun Suzuki transforms the yakuza genre into a pop-art James Bond cartoon as directed by Jean-Luc Godard. The near-incomprehensible plot is negligible: hitman "Phoenix" Tetsu (Tetsuya Watari), a cool killer in dark shades who whistles his own theme song, discovers his own mob has betrayed his code of ethics and hits the road like a questing warrior, with not one but two mobs hot on his trail. In a world of shifting loyalties Tetsu is the last honourable man, a character who might have stepped out of a Jean-Pierre Melville film and into the delirious, colour-soaked landscape of this Vincent Minnelli musical-turned-gangster war zone. The twisting narrative takes Tetsu from deliriously gaudy nightclubs, where killers hide behind every pillar, to the beautiful snowy plains of northern Japan and back again, leaving a trail of corpses in his wake. Suzuki opens the widescreen production in stark, high-contrast black and white with isolated eruptions of colour which finally explode in a screen glowing with oversaturated hues, like a comic book come to life. His extreme stylisation, jarring narrative leaps and wild plot devices combine to create pulp fiction on acid, equal parts gangster parody and post-modern deconstruction. Mere description cannot capture the visceral effect of Suzuki's surreal cinematic fireworks. -Sean Axmaker, Amazon. com.

Review Warner Home Video / Tom Horn [1980]
Actors & Directors
  • Billy Green Bush
  • Richard Farnsworth
  • Steve McQueen
  • Linda Evans
  • William Wiard
  • Slim Pickens
Release date: 1998-04-27
Run time: 93 min.
RRP: £5.99
Price: £4.50

Review Tom Horn [1980] / Warner Home Video:


Review Universal Pictures UK / Gambit [1966]
Actors & Directors
  • Shirley MacLaine
  • Arnold Moss
  • Michael Caine
  • Herbert Lom
  • Ronald Neame
  • Roger C. Carmel
Release date: 1999-10-18
Run time: 104 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £19.59

Review Gambit [1966] / Universal Pictures UK:


Browse Action & Adventure:

Models & Brands:
Shanghai Express [1932], Braveheart [1995], Painted Angels [1999], Green Ice [1971], Saturn 3 [1980], Anderson Tapes, The / The Man With The Deadly Lens [1971], 3 Ninjas High Noon At Mega Mountain [1998], The War Years - The Blitz, Genghis Khan, Cradle 2 the Grave [2003], Double Exposure [VHS/PAL Video], Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger [1993], Monkey! - Vol. 10 - The Dogs Of Death / The Foolish Philosopher / Who Am I?, Force Of One / The Octagon [1979], White Squall [1996], Tiger Claws [1991], Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here [1969], Tokyo Drifter [1966], Tom Horn [1980], Gambit [1966]

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