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Review Cinema Club / Class of 1999
Actors & Directors
  • Traci Lind
  • Stacy Keach
  • Mark L. Lester
  • Malcolm McDowell
  • Bradley Gregg
  • Patrick Kilpatrick
Release date: 2001-02-19
Price: £5.99

Review Class of 1999 / Cinema Club:

Even though this violent indie film has "exploitation" stamped all over it-with its gratuitous car chases, shootouts, and anarchistic characters-it is a guilty pleasure. Unfolding in the future-well, at least at the time of its release it was a decade ahead of schedule-this movie shows how US urban schools have deteriorated to the point that gangs run the classroom and the police, scared to even go near these educational wastelands, use hired goons to keep law and order there. (In fact, the US government now has a Department of Educational Defence. ) In Class of 1999, a corporate representative (Stacy Keach), eager to rake in potential billions in government contracts, convinces a Seattle-area school principal (Malcolm McDowell) to test out three lifelike android teachers (including Pam Grier). This technological trio possesses intelligence and superhuman strength, which offer to both educate and discipline the bad apples at school. Unfortunately, the androids quickly move from harsh discipline such as spankings and beatings to murder, and Keach's corporate scumbag convinces McDowell's educator that despite this, the program needs to stay its course. Thus it is up to a newly paroled ex-gang member (Bradley Gregg) and the principal's daughter (Traci Lind) to uncover the teachers' identities and alert students and rival gangs to the impending danger. Despite its formulaic approach and some plot implausibilities, Mark Lester's film is entertaining to watch, especially with such exchanges as this: "So they've been waging war with my students. " "Well, isn't that what all teachers do?" -Bryan Reesman, Amazon. com.

Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek 3 - The Search For Spock [1984]
Actors & Directors
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • James Doohan
  • Christopher Lloyd
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • William Shatner
  • DeForest Kelley
Release date: 1998-12-28
Run time: 101 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £2.49

Review Star Trek 3 - The Search For Spock [1984] / Paramount Home Entertainment:

The name says it all-Star Trek III: The Search for Spock-so you didn't think Mr. Spock was really dead, did you? When Spock's casket landed on the surface of the Genesis planet at the end of Star Trek II, we had already been told that Genesis had the power to bring "life from lifelessness". So it's no surprise that this energetic but somewhat hokey sequel gives Spock a new lease of life, beginning with his rebirth and rapid growth as the Genesis planet literally shakes itself apart in a series of tumultuous geological spasms. As Kirk is getting to know his estranged son (Merritt Butrick), he must also do battle with the fiendish Klingon Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), who is determined to seize the power of Genesis from the Federation. Meanwhile, the regenerated Spock returns to his home planet, and Star Trek III gains considerable interest by exploring the ceremonial (and, of course, highly logical) traditions of Vulcan society. The movie's a minor disappointment compared to Star Trek II, but it's a-well, logical-sequel that successfully restores Spock (and first-time film director Leonard Nimoy) to the phenomenal Trek franchise. as if he were ever really gone. With Kirk's wilful destruction of the USS Enterprise and Robin Curtis replacing the departing Kirstie Alley as Vulcan Lt Saavik, this was clearly a transitional film in the series, clearing the way for the highly popular Star Trek IV. [+]
-Jeff Shannon, Amazon. com.

Review Universal Pictures UK / The New Avengers - The Last Of The Cybernauts...? / Sleeper [1976]
Actors & Directors
  • Gareth Hunt
  • Joanna Lumley
  • Patrick Macnee
Run time: 101 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £5.95

Review The New Avengers - The Last Of The Cybernauts...? / Sleeper [1976] / Universal Pictures UK:


Actors & Directors
  • Pamela Meekings-Stewart
Release date: 1996-02-26
Creator: Cheryl Cameron
Price: £10.99

Review The New Avengers - To Catch A Rat / Cat Among The Pigeons [1976] / Lumiere Pictures:


Review Head on / Trekkers Scrapbook - Trek Movies [1995]
Release date: 1995-10-16
Price: £9.99

Review Trekkers Scrapbook - Trek Movies [1995] / Head on:


Review Scream Time Video / The Giant Claw [1957]
Actors & Directors
  • Jeff Morrow
  • Morris Ankrum
  • Fred F. Sears
  • Mara Corday
  • Louis Merrill
  • Edgar Barrier
Run time: 71 min.
Price: £12.99

Review The Giant Claw [1957] / Scream Time Video:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek 5 : The Final Frontier [1989]
Actors & Directors
  • Nichelle Nichols
  • Walter Koenig
  • William Shatner
  • DeForest Kelley
  • William Shatner
  • Leonard Nimoy
Release date: 1998-12-28
Run time: 102 min.
RRP: £9.99
Price: £14.95

Review Star Trek 5 : The Final Frontier [1989] / Paramount Home Entertainment:

Almost universally derided on its first release as the worst of the Star Trek movies to date, The Final Frontier may just have been the victim of bad press. Following in the wake of the massively successful fourth instalment The Voyage Home didn't help matters (notoriously, even-numbered entries are better), nor did having novice director and shameless egomaniac William Shatner at the helm. But if the story, conceived and co-written by Shatner, teeters dangerously on the verge of being corny at times, it redeems itself with enough thought-provoking scenes in the best tradition of the series, and a surprisingly original finale. Granted there are a few too many yawning plot holes along the way, and the general tone is over-earnest (despite some painfully slapstick comedy moments), but the interaction of the central trio (Kirk, Spock and McCoy) is often funny and genuinely insightful; while Laurence Luckinbill is a charismatic adversary as the renegade Vulcan Sybok. True, the rest of the cast scarcely get a look in, and the special effects betray serious budgetary restrictions, but with a standout score from Jerry Goldsmith and a meaty philosophical premise to play around with, Star Trek V looks a lot more substantial in retrospect. Certainly it's no worse than either Generations or Insurrection, the next "odd-numbered" entries in the series. On the DVD: This is a non-anamorphic widescreen (2. 35:1) print, with only two trailers as extra features. Quite frankly, Star Trek fans are being short-changed. -Mark Walker.

Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 18 : The Measure Of A Man / The Dauphin [1988]
Actors & Directors
  • Rob Bowman
  • Patrick Stewart
  • Whoopi Goldberg
  • Brian Brophy
  • Robert Scheerer
  • Paddi Edwards
  • Jaime Hubbard
Release date: 1991-08-12
Run time: 91 min.
Price: £10.99

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 18 : The Measure Of A Man / The Dauphin [1988] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 6 : The Big Goodbye / Haven [1987]
Actors & Directors
  • Richard Compton
  • Joseph L. Scanlan
  • Marina Sirtis
  • Jonathan Frakes
  • Gates McFadden
  • Brent Spiner
  • Patrick Stewart
Release date: 1990-10-10
Run time: 89 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £3.00

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 6 : The Big Goodbye / Haven [1987] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 15 : Elementary, Dear Data / The Outrageous Okona [1988]
Actors & Directors
  • Albert Stratton
  • William Campbell
  • Douglas Rowe
  • Rob Bowman
  • Robert Becker
  • Alan Sherman
  • Patrick Stewart
Release date: 1991-06-03
Run time: 92 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £1.28

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 15 : Elementary, Dear Data / The Outrageous Okona [1988] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 5.5 - The Ascent / The Rapture [1995]
Actors & Directors
  • Avery Brooks
  • Cirroc Lofton
  • Colm Meaney
  • Rene Auberjonois
  • Alexander Siddig
Release date: 1997-04-07
Run time: 88 min.
Creator: Rick Berman
RRP: £5.99
Price: £1.10

Review Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 5.5 - The Ascent / The Rapture [1995] / Paramount Home Entertainment:

From the outset, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was about conflict. Producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller challenged the utopian ideals of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe to create something totally different from its predecessors. This meant no familial camaraderie, squeaky-clean Federation diplomacy or beige décor. Instead they wanted interpersonal friction, ruthless enemies (Gamma Quadrant Imperialists-The Dominion) and rebellion at every turn. The DS9 concept was originally facilitated by introducing the Cardassian/Bajoran war during The Next Generation's final days. After a muted first reception fans gradually came to accept the new look, but no one liked Star Trek without a starship and eventually the producers capitulated to viewers' wishes by introducing the USS Defiant (an apt name) in Season 3. Relying far less on technobabble than TNG, DS9 was unafraid to focus on matters of the spirit demonstrating a gutsy independence from its parent shows. Taking up the gauntlet thrown down by Babylon 5, improved CGI space battles also became a fan favourite. Throughout the increasingly serialised story arc there were rebellious factions within the different establishments: Kira had belonged to the Shakaar resistance cell; The Maquis was Starfleet vs. Cardassians; Section 31 was a secret Starfleet group; The True Way was a Bajoran group opposed to peace; the Cardassians had their Obsidian Order and the Romulans their Gestapo-like Tal Shiar. [+]
Yet for all its constant bickering and espionage (even Bashir got to be James Bond) there was always some contemporary social commentary lurking: the Ferengi were used as a comedic foil to frown on materialistic greed; drugs were looked at via the Jem'Hadar foot soldiers' addiction to Ketracel White. Perhaps Sisko summed up the real heart of things: "Bajor doesn't need a man, it needs a legend". A future vision that retains a place for religion and spirituality turned out to be Deep Space Nine's first best destiny. -Paul Tonks.

Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 13 : Conspiracy / The Neutral Zone [1988]
Actors & Directors
  • James L. Conway
  • Cliff Bole
  • Jonathan Frakes
  • Wil Wheaton
  • Brent Spiner
  • Michael Dorn
  • Patrick Stewart
Release date: 1991-05-07
Run time: 90 min.
Price: £10.99

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 13 : Conspiracy / The Neutral Zone [1988] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


Review Universal Pictures UK / Prototype [1992]
Actors & Directors
  • David Greene
  • David Morse
  • Frances Sternhagen
  • Christopher Plummer
  • James Sutorius
  • Stephen Elliott
Release date: 1994-07-11
Run time: 94 min.
Creator: William Link
Price: £10.99

Review Prototype [1992] / Universal Pictures UK:


Review Manga Entertainment / New Gall Force - New Era Two
Actors & Directors
  • Toni Barry
  • Tamsin Hollo
  • Denica Fairman
  • Elly Fairman
  • Douglas Blackwell
Release date: 1997-03-10
Run time: 43 min.
Creator: Hideki Kakinuma
Price: £5.99

Review New Gall Force - New Era Two / Manga Entertainment:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 14 : The Child / Where Silence Has Lease [1988]
Actors & Directors
  • LeVar Burton
  • Jonathan Frakes
  • Winrich Kolbe
  • Brent Spiner
  • Carl Boehm
  • Rob Bowman
  • Patrick Stewart
Release date: 1991-06-03
Run time: 91 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £2.32

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 14 : The Child / Where Silence Has Lease [1988] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek The Next Generation 19 : Contagion / The Royale [1988]
Actors & Directors
  • Patrick Stewart
  • Joseph L. Scanlan
  • Cliff Bole
  • Noble Willingham
  • Thalmus Rasulala
  • Carolyn Seymour
  • Sam Anderson
Release date: 1991-08-12
Run time: 92 min.
RRP: £10.99
Price: £2.27

Review Star Trek The Next Generation 19 : Contagion / The Royale [1988] / Paramount Home Entertainment:


RRP: £5.99
Price: £9.97

Review Dark Angel:


Review Paramount Home Entertainment / Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 4.8 - Sons of Mogh / Bar Association [1995]
Actors & Directors
  • Rene Auberjonois
  • Avery Brooks
  • Alexander Siddig
  • Cirroc Lofton
  • Colm Meaney
Release date: 1996-07-22
Run time: 88 min.
Creator: Rick Berman
RRP: £5.99
Price: £9.99

Review Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 4.8 - Sons of Mogh / Bar Association [1995] / Paramount Home Entertainment:

From the outset, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was about conflict. Producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller challenged the utopian ideals of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe to create something totally different from its predecessors. That meant no familial camaraderie, squeaky-clean Federation diplomacy, or beige décor. Instead they wanted interpersonal friction, ruthless enemies (Gamma Quadrant Imperialists-The Dominion) and rebellion at every turn. The DS9 concept was originally facilitated by introducing the Cardassian/Bajoran war during The Next Generation's final days. After a muted first reception fans gradually came to accept the new look, but no one liked Star Trek without a starship and eventually the producers capitulated to viewers' wishes by introducing the USS Defiant (an apt name) in Season 3. Relying far less on technobabble than TNG, DS9 was unafraid to focus on matters of the spirit instead, demonstrating a ballsy independence from its parent shows. Taking up the gauntlet thrown down by Babylon 5, improved CGI space battles also became a fan favourite. Throughout the increasingly serialised story arc there were rebellious factions within the different establishments: Kira had belonged to the Shakaar resistance cell; the Maquis was Starfleet vs Cardassians; section 31 was a secret Starfleet group; the True Way was a Bajoran group opposed to peace; the Cardassians had their Obsidian Order and the Romulans their Gestapo-like Tal Shiar. Yet for all its constant bickering and espionage (even Bashir got to be James Bond), there was always some contemporary social commentary lurking: the Ferengi were used as a comedic foil to frown on materialistic greed; drugs were looked at via the Jem'Hadar foot soldiers' addiction to Ketracel White. [+]
Perhaps Sisko summed up the real heart of things: "Bajor doesn't need a man, it needs a legend". A future vision that retains a place for religion and spirituality turned out to be Deep Space Nine's first best destiny. -Paul Tonks.

Review Mia Video Entertainment Ltd / Nemesis 3-Time Lapse
Actors & Directors
  • Sue Price
  • Albert Pyun
  • Debbie Muggli
  • Sharon Bruneau
  • Xavier Declie
  • Norbert Weisser
Release date: 1997-07-14
Run time: 91 min.
Price: £10.99

Review Nemesis 3-Time Lapse / Mia Video Entertainment Ltd:


Review 4 Front Video / Krull [1983]
Actors & Directors
  • Ken Marshall
  • Alun Armstrong
  • Lysette Anthony
  • Francesca Annis
  • Peter Yates
  • Freddie Jones
Release date: 2002-07-01
Run time: 115 min.
Creator: Stanford Sherman
RRP: £5.99
Price: £4.29

Review Krull [1983] / 4 Front Video:

There's something inescapably appealing about Krull, a camp Star Wars-meets-The Lord of the Rings knock-off, that encourages the viewer to overlook it's very many silly shortcomings and simply enjoy the fun. James Horner's rollicking music score-written soon after his similarly memorable contribution to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan-certainly helps, as does the epic-scale CinemaScope photography of the breathtaking Italian landscapes. The costumes and extravagant production design are also great to look at, and much of Derek Meddings' visual effects work still looks striking if not exactly state-of-the-art. Of the cast, Freddie Jones stands head and shoulders above all others as the Obi Wan Kenobi-meets-Gandalf character Ynyr: his trip to the centre of the spider's web is both genuinely scary and genuinely touching. The two romantic leads, Ken Marshall as the Luke Skywalker-meets-King Arthur clone Prince Colwyn and Lysette Anthony (with an overdubbed American voice) as his Leia-Guinevere Princess Lyssa, are mere formalities on which to hang the plot. Ironic fun can be had with the all-British supporting cast, which includes Todd Carty of Eastenders fame and Carry On's Bernard Bresslaw, as well as Robbie Coltrane, Liam Neeson and the gorgeous Francesca Annis. On the DVD: Krull comes to DVD in an anamorphic widescreen print, preserving the luscious CinemaScope look of the theatrical release. The Dolby 5. 1 sound lives up to the picture. There are two commentary tracks: on the first, director Peter Yates talks through the movie, with contributions from other crew members and leads Ken Marshall and Lysette Anthony. [+]
Oddly, the second audio track is just a reading of an article that originally appeared in the November 1982 issue of Cinefantastique magazine. There's also a half-hour "making-of" featurette originally produced to promote the movie at the time, the usual trailer, stills gallery and three talent profiles. -Mark Walker.

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Models & Brands:
Class of 1999, Star Trek 3 - The Search For Spock [1984], The New Avengers - The Last Of The Cybernauts...? / Sleeper [1976], The New Avengers - To Catch A Rat / Cat Among The Pigeons [1976], Trekkers Scrapbook - Trek Movies [1995], The Giant Claw [1957], Star Trek 5 : The Final Frontier [1989], Star Trek The Next Generation 18 : The Measure Of A Man / The Dauphin [1988], Star Trek The Next Generation 6 : The Big Goodbye / Haven [1987], Star Trek The Next Generation 15 : Elementary, Dear Data / The Outrageous Okona [1988], Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 5.5 - The Ascent / The Rapture [1995], Star Trek The Next Generation 13 : Conspiracy / The Neutral Zone [1988], Prototype [1992], New Gall Force - New Era Two, Star Trek The Next Generation 14 : The Child / Where Silence Has Lease [1988], Star Trek The Next Generation 19 : Contagion / The Royale [1988], Dark Angel, Star Trek : Deep Space Nine - Vol. 4.8 - Sons of Mogh / Bar Association [1995], Nemesis 3-Time Lapse, Krull [1983]

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