Amazon.co.uk Review
An adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, Stardust brings a strong cast together for an enjoyable family feast, with plenty to enjoy.
Stardust mixes in romance and adventure, all in a fantasy movie guise, as it follows Tristan on his quest to retrieve a fallen star for the beautiful Victoria. Only it soon becomes clear that there's a lot more going on as Tristan makes his journey (not least a companion more diverting than the aforementioned Victoria). Michelle Pfeiffer, for instance, returns to high profile movie making (after quite a break) in the role of the evil witch, while there's space too for Robert De Niro's pirate and an odd cameo from Ricky Gervais.
Seemingly one of a wealth of family films that made it out of the blocks off the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Stardust doesn't quite hit those heights, but it has quite a sporting go. It's an uneven tale, albeit one told with enough passion and enthusiasm to encourage you to cut it some slack. And when it gets to the end of the last reel, it's hard to feel shortchanged by what you've just seen.
For while Stardust has problems, it also has laughs, adventure, action and a whole lot in its corner to recommend it. And it is worth your time and attention. --Jon Foster
Customer Reviews:
MAGICAL!!.......2008-03-12
I have just watched this film and I was absolutely blown away by it. Its so beautifully done. the scenery, special effects and story is wonderful. Even my boyfriend liked it and had started moaning when I went to put it on. He ended up getting caught up in the sheer magic of it all!! I would definately recommend it!!!
Sweet and suitable for all.......2008-03-10
we were given this DVD as a gift and I was going to just put it away as it was a film I fancied, but as the wet weather kept us out of the garden we stuck it on. We were both pleasently surprised and found it very entertaining, except for Ricky Gervais who seems to ruin any feature film he appears in, (especially Night at the Museum). Why they think this third rate actor would make any film more enjoyable is beyond me, but there you go. All in All though we really liked this film and would definately sit down on a cold wet day with a pizza and a bottle of wine and watch it again.
Shining like a star.......2008-03-09
I enjoy Neil Gaimen's work, I've read a number of his books and graphic novels, although thus far I have not read Stardust. When it was released in the pictures I never got around to seeing it so when me and the boyfriend were looking for some Saturday night viewing I picked up the DVD with an open mind- and I'm glad to say it was the right decision.
This movie is essentially a fairytale set between the picturesque English village of Wall and the magical land of Stormhold which one reaches by walking through a gap in a wall (appropriately). Around 18 years ago young Dunstan Thorne crossed into Stormhold where he met and instantly fell for a captive Princess, with a son being abandoned on his doorstep some nine months later. That son, Tristan, is the hero of the piece. Obsessed with vacuous pretty girl Victoria (Sienna Miller- possibly the only weak link in a great ensemble cast) he crosses into Stormhold to seek a fallen star as a token of his love. The star, by falling from the Heavens, has transformed into the feisty, pretty Yvaine (Clare Danes in her best turn since Romeo + Juliet) and she has other ideas than being dragged across the borders of realities into Wall as a token for some boy's infatuation. Unfortunately for both of them there are other, darker parties with a vested interest including a trio of witches led by Lamia (played with obvious relish by Michelle Pfeiffer) and a group of Princes who need Yvaine to guarantee eternal youth and a crown respectively.
The dialogue in the movie is frothy, often very funny, and well-written. The story rattles along at a nice pace with only some very slight sagging at points. As stated above it is a top notch cast with Charlie Cox utterly charming and totally gorgeous as wide-eyed hero Tristan, for whom the story is a voyage of self-discovery and understanding of the true meaning of love. Clare Danes is also pretty as a picture and throughly enjoyable as the fallen star, there's an effect used to make her hair glow when Yvains is happy but its not needed as the chemistry between the two leads means that she lights up all on her own. Robert De Nero pops up in a brilliant turn as a camp-as-a-row-of-tents pirate (if anyone else had been cast it would not have been anywhere near as funny) and there are some brilliant cameos from the likes of David Walliams, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Henry Cavill, Rupert Everett, and Peter O'Toole. As an added bonus if, like me, you want to see Ricky Gervais' smug mouth silenced then brought to a sticky end every time he appears on your screen then this is the film for you.
Stardust is a treat, a movie with enough in it for adults and simple enough for kids. Its almost totally bloodless (although not without violence) but is jam packed with adventure. In many ways its reminiscent of the Princess Bride, it has that same charming, open-mouthed wonder. The film is romantic without being lovey dovey, has threatening villains without being too scary, and is predictable without being trite. I'm looking forward to watching this movie again already and definitely recommend it. This is what stars do... They shine!
Great film! suitable for everyone! .......2008-03-08
I loved this film! Wish I'd caught it in the cinema, but the DVD version was pretty good. Loads of well-known faces, really good acting, and a fab story with lots of MAGIC! Michelle P was really good in her role, as was Clare Danes, and I loved all the ghostly princes! Even kept my husband enthralled, and that takes some doing!
Quite good.......2008-03-08
I am not usually a fan of PG rated movies mainly because they usually consist of daft jokes,not a brilliant storyline and corny acting,well this film does have a bit of all that but that doesn't mean it's not good.Aimed at a younger audience but it is enjoyable overall.Not too taxing on the brain and an easy watch.Don't expect to be challenged by this film but do enjoy it for what it is.Recommended.
Customer Reviews:
Now that's what I call acting!.......2008-03-13
Unlike so many other films released recently, La Vie en Rose actually does deserve the praise it has received. In particular, Marion Cotillard really does deserve all the awards for her spectacular portrayal of Edith Piaf. She didn't just act Piaf she was Piaf.
It may not have been the world's best film, the storyline choppy in parts disjointed and more than a little poetic license taken with the facts in order to create a more dramatic story. But for all its shortcomings the performance of Cotillard shone through. Worth watching for her alone.
Powerful portrayal of Edith Piaf.......2008-03-09
This is quite a film and not a particularly joyous one, but neither was the life of Edith Piaf. The life journey of Edith Piaf was mostly new to me and if the film was true to her life then it was a pretty tough start. She came across as having quite a few narcissistic traits, which would not be surprising giving her parents lack of care and concern for her needs.
The performance of Marion Cotillard was brilliant and the Oscar for best actress was well deserved. She truly lived into the role and portrayed well the life of a tormented soul.
Flashy?.......2008-03-05
The faults with this film can be laid firmly at the door of the Director and Editors causing what could have become a classic film of the future to drop into mediocrity. The actors, their performances and the atmospheres were perfectly judged. In many other films the use of 'flashbacks' is legitimate and well executed. In 'La Vie en Rose' flashbacks are chaotic and have succeeded in creating a hotch potch of a film from one which had the promise of greatness. An Oscar for Best Actress? Yes, but 'Razzies' for both the Director and Editors. Perhaps, at some time in the future, a fresh cut could be attempted.
The only regret would be if you missed this.......2008-03-02
Everyones said it all. I watched this on DVD. A truly awesome performance by Cotillard. The film does have some slight jars - the director taking liberties with the truth (but why not - why do we get so obsessed by that?). There are some strange loose ends, and it is one of those films that jumps about in time. But never mind some minor flaws. Watch this to see what is one of the greatest performances ever on screen - I genuinely believe that. It will leave you gobsmacked. The extras - well, some are OK, but nothing essential.
A simply superbe Piaf !.......2008-02-28
A wonderful mesmerising film. As a film subject this Piaf
will not be bettered.
Amazon.co.uk Review
As good a film as Pixar has ever put out, Ratatouille is a frantic, innovative movie, boasting some of the finest quality animation ever put on the screen.
Ratatouille tells the story of wannabe-chef Remy The Rat, who becomes drawn into the mantra of legendary cook Gusteau, that anyone can cook. The deceased Gusteau's ghostly image appears to Remy, and guides him to his restaurant, whose standards have been slipping since his death. Remy, through the manipulation of a lowly restaurant worker called Linguini, soon starts secretly cooking the food, and this unusual set up proves to be a trove of treasures that Pixar carefully picks through.
Ratatouille's trick is to tie its cutting edge animation techniques to old-school essentials. At times harking back to the frenetic style you'd expect of Chuck Jones, it threads an original narrative through its story, which itself is packed with memorable characters (none more so than Peter O'Toole's superbly-voiced restaurant critic). It perhaps runs a little too long, but it's so well-written and so lavishly entertaining that it's a churlish complaint to have.
For in an era of cynically-produced family movies, Ratatouille is really something special. With an appeal that spreads across generations, and a quality that puts it right up there with Pixar's finest, it's an outstanding piece of cinema, and one set to be enjoyed for many, many years. Unmissable. --Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
Technically excellent, but otherwise rather mediocre.......2008-03-11
Very clever animation, lovely vivid colours, painstaking scenery creation, and first-class camera work. Like many cartoon films, it's extremely brash, very loud, and sometimes verges on the hysterical, and it belabours the simplest points just in case the penny hasn't quite dropped. Unfortunately, it's not particularly funny (maybe it's not meant to be) and the sight of garbage-eating rats - even cartoon ones - swarming over restaurant food won't be to everyone's taste. The "characters" are not particularly sympathetic, either, and it's not always easy to engage with them. The sequel? How's this for an idea: a lovelorn lady salmonella bug meets her Mr Right in someone's large intestine. Oh dear, I feel quite queasy already, and that's before the plot starts to develop.........
Sadly lacking.......2008-03-10
Excellent animation and superb voice acting, but sadly it
lacked one vital ingredient - humour. It just wasn't funny.
It's not that it tried and failed, it just lacked any clear
sense of fun. Compared to Finding Nemo or the Incredibles...
well it just doesn't compare. It fails miserably. Having bought
this DVD on the strength of the reviews and my previous enjoyment
of Pixar films, I was left feeling somewhat cheated. 3 stars
for the great animation (what else would you expect from Pixar),
but I'd advise against buying this if you're expecting to laugh.
Unfunny!.......2008-03-09
Expectations high but sadly, disappointed. My husband and I watched this film with growing disbelief - it's not funny! The animation is great of course but you expect much more than that for a best-seller. Boring I'm afraid - rent it before buying it!
A Disney winner.......2008-03-09
Ratatouille proves a Disney winner as it truly capitalise on what it is traditionally famous for. This is promoting family entertainment to viewers. Clear evidence of this comes to light, whilst watching this production. Pixar a new production company forms a partnership with Disney. Pixar should receive a vast amount of credit in promoting innovation. It is presented in ever so increasingly popular CGI format to viewers' .
The beautiful city of Paris emerges, with virtually every detail meticulously and accurately sketched. It must be appreciated that this is a time consuming and expensive process but it is worth the hassle if you can deliver a result. This clearly has been achieved with a top class animation, backed with a an innovative idea, but rather absurd about a hidden talent of a rat, who can produce masterpiece dishes by pleasing customers and critics. The whole kitchen is infested with rats as chefs. There are huge sequences to amuse viewers for long period of time supported with humorous characters and their hilarious antiques. That what is Disney should be about. I really had a great laugh at the scenes, instead of watching it with a gloomy and non-expressionless face from previous uncharacterisitc Disney animations.
Overall, Disney re-lights the magical elements with Ratatouille. The gloominess, unnecessary complexity and emotional attachment are totally absence at the desirable expense of humour and cheerful characters. Disney is delivering what is good at, which is promoting family entertainment for all to enjoy and cherish.
The super geniuses at Pixar have done it again though tots may disagree........2008-03-07
Remy, budding cook and fan of the late celebrity chef Auguste Gusteau, arrives at Gusteau's beleaguered Paris restaurant and strives to help it overcome its misfortunes. Not easy for a rat. 'Anyone can cook' is Gusteau's motto. 'Anyone can animate' might be Pixar's and they'd be right. Anyone can draw a flick-book. Anyone reading this could probably use frame-capture software for cel animation or stop-motion. Even a modest computer is enough for CG. Certainly everyone and his uncle seems to be knocking out CG features these days but, crucially, not just anyone can be inspired. Anyone can animate but, when Pixar hires animators, they aren't interested in computer skills but story telling acumen and their films stand out because they are inspired and inspiring. Ratatouille, which is about inspiration, is no exception. As expected the film is technically flawless- appropriately a feast for the eyes with clothes and fur ruffling, wine sloshing and flames fluttering in wondrous detail (clearly when hiring programmers computer skills are right at the top of Pixar's list) but it wears its wizardry lightly. The countryside is idyllic, Paris enchanting and the atmosphere heady but there's no slavish devotion to photo-realism. This is still a cartoon world allowing hairs-breadth chases, impossible contortions and gravity defying slap-stick so when Remy starts controlling his hapless co-conspirator Linguini, by pulling his hair like a puppeteer, it's perfectly fitting. Linguini and his fellow humans are suitably caricatured and the rats... actually the rats aren't that cute- they have large expressive eyes and dextrous hands but, apart from that, anthropomorphism is at a minimum and their movement and mannerisms are almost unsettlingly convincing. On the evidence of this and The Incredibles director Brad Bird, a former cel animator (and by the way if you haven't seen The Iron Giant put it at the top of your rental list now), has clearly taken to CG. As Remy scurries through drains, up walls and along pipes the camera darts around him playfully but the little touches delight too such as the abstract swirls and shapes that illustrate Remy's love of flavour. This creative passion is at the heart of the film and if it has a motto it must be 'to thane own self be true'. Food critic Anton Ego's voice-over near the end (Peter O'Toole- perfect in an otherwise interchangeable cast) is joyous, poetic even and had me grinning like a fool. It's not funny though and, if this paragraph has made Ratatouille sound heavy going for little 'uns, I believe it is. Ratatouille is clever-funny rather than high-jinks funny though there are high-jinks and they are funny (that doesn't sound right- is high-jinks plural?). Like Surf's Up, this year's other CG gem, there's more for adults and older children than anyone still in junior school. If you take the kids because they are begging to see it I suspect they'll be the ones fidgeting. Hire a baby-sitter, go back later and see this clever and heartfelt film for yourself.
Amazon.co.uk Review
As good a film as Pixar has ever put out, Ratatouille is a frantic, innovative movie, boasting some of the finest quality animation ever put on the screen.
Ratatouille tells the story of wannabe-chef Remy The Rat, who becomes drawn into the mantra of legendary cook Gusteau, that anyone can cook. The deceased Gusteau's ghostly image appears to Remy, and guides him to his restaurant, whose standards have been slipping since his death. Remy, through the manipulation of a lowly restaurant worker called Linguini, soon starts secretly cooking the food, and this unusual set up proves to be a trove of treasures that Pixar carefully picks through.
Ratatouille's trick is to tie its cutting edge animation techniques to old-school essentials. At times harking back to the frenetic style you'd expect of Chuck Jones, it threads an original narrative through its story, which itself is packed with memorable characters (none more so than Peter O'Toole's superbly-voiced restaurant critic). It perhaps runs a little too long, but it's so well-written and so lavishly entertaining that it's a churlish complaint to have.
For in an era of cynically-produced family movies, Ratatouille is really something special. With an appeal that spreads across generations, and a quality that puts it right up there with Pixar's finest, it's an outstanding piece of cinema, and one set to be enjoyed for many, many years. Unmissable. --Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
Remy IS endearing... and the metaphor it implies..........2008-02-29
Remy IS the "american dream" REVISITED, add to this the great character! (I know it is a draw mouse... or should I say rat?... but Mickey Mouse WAS too!... was'nt he?).
It is in fact astounding the expresions Remy is capable of... all "his" emotions are carefully displayed by face, body language and attitude.
A fantastic animation film were humans are less human than rats... (as if we did'nt knew that)...
I think REMY is here to stay... (I dread a RATATOUILLE part II thought...)
My hat is off. Congratulations to all involved in the design and production... for once the OSCAR is well deserved.
ADB
Oh yes!... I nearly forgot all the family loved the film (that means all ages...)... and probably everyone can cook if interested enough!
Brilliant enchanting film.......2008-02-29
An enchanting film, well on par with 'Finding Nemo'. One of those films that give you a warm cosy feeling at the end. Would recommend for children and adults alike.
A truly great film.......2008-02-25
An all-round brilliant film. If you have ever seen any previous pixar films, then you will surely enjoy this. Brad Bird directed this animated tale, which has the same visual flare as The Incredibles (his previous pixar film). I actually found it to be less aimed at kids than the last pixar film; Cars, so it is as enjoyable for parents as it is for toddlers (which, for me, is Pixar's trademark).
In addition, Ratatouille has just won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, which just goes to show the calibre of this film.
Left me cold.......2008-02-25
I'm sorry but I just didn't connect with this movie. I found it soulless and I found very few of the jokes funny. It is wonderfully animated, almost to the point of being photographic in places, so I will the give it stars for that but as far as the script goes... bah!
However, what I will recommend is the animated short, Lifted (which I hope has been included with the DVD) as that is utterly fantastic and had me rolling around in hysterics and I would give that 10/5! It's just such a shame that the main feature compared so badly in comparison.
A Food Hygene Nightmare!!!.......2008-02-23
This was utter rubbish. There was no humour, no one to like, the boy chef was weak, the girl love intrest was a evil cow who had a chip on her shoulder. The rat was a rat, nothing loveable there. This was made worse by the scenes with loads of rats running around the kitchen looking far to life like for comfort. I spent too watching a film that was just not entertaining. Please disney, pull your fingers out and start making proper entertaining films. This and the other disney offering Enchanted where a huge waste of money. Nothing likeable or good to say about this film other than it eventually ends!!!!
Amazon.co.uk Review
While many movie franchises slide as they reach their later instalments, the Harry Potter films just keep getting better. The latest, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is easily the darkest of the series to date, and it's also one of the best. For while it could easily have been little more than a holding film to set up the big encounters to come in the last two instalments of the series, it's to the credit of British director David Yates that the end result is really very good.
It finds Harry coming under suspicion from his wizarding colleagues, who don't believe his claims that the evil Lord Voldermort has returned. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix thus finds its title character on the backfoot for much of its running time, with a select band who firmly believe his story, and very powerful figures who don't.
Where the movie of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix excels though is in its three trump cards. Number one is a far tighter script than we're used to with Potter films, which, combined with trump card number two--the aforementioned David Yates behind the camera--cuts much of the slavish loyalty to the text away in favour of a film with real momentum. The third, and best, card though is the casting of Imelda Staunton as Professor Dolores Umbridge, who simply flies away with every scene she's in. It's a superb performance, and the film is poorer whenever she's not on screen.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is not a film without a few problems, certainly: it's a fair criticism that not too much actually happens, and one or two bits feel superfluous. But it overrides its problems with ease, to emerge as a compelling, highly enjoyable family film, which will leave you salivating for the Christmas 2008 release of movie number six in the series. --Simon Brew
Customer Reviews:
Good Movie.......2008-03-13
Im not a Harry Potter fan and I have not read any of the books. However, compared to all the other movies out there I would say this is a very good movie. It suits children and adults. It has an interesting plot with humor, drama and suspense.
Oh dear, a poor stab at a good book.......2008-02-24
Yes, we all know this is the longest of the Harry Potter books, and to fit into the standard film format some cuts had to be made, but how the choices were made as to which bits were cut must remain a mystery. The end product is more than a bit disjointed. Anyone other than a die hard Potter book fan would loose the thread, where did Hagrid disappear to at the start? And then again for the last half hour? How did they get into the Ministry of Magic? In the book this was a good bit of narative, and in the film? completely cut out.
Not the best film in the sequence.
Another terrible Potter movie.......2008-02-18
I give 1 star for this and all the Potter movies.
Before i continue i must say that i love the books so much, and even more than that i love Stephen Fry reading them on C.D.
That is why i have been so dissapointed with the movies, i really wanted to see great Harry Potter movies.
Made by Warner brothers, they are like the movie equivalent of Macdonalds food. No depth, big budget, profit making.
The choice of actors is terrible.
The ONLY characters in the movies who are similar in the book are Hagrid, Magonigal, and Snape.
The actors playing Harry, Hermiony, Ron, Dumbledor, Voldamort, The weezley twins, Victor Crum and many more are either very weak actors, nothing like the characters in the book, or sometimes both.
Dumbledore in the book is Friendly , calm, allknowing, and funny. in the movies, he shouts alot and has no humor. The most annoying one is Hermiony. The actor was choosen because she is cute, and comes across as a spoilt brat. In the book Hermiony is very down to earth.
Have a look at DR WHO the episode "Family of blood" season 3.
All the acting is first class, and there is a boy there, the one who can see the future, he would have been such a good Harry. The Harry in the movies as just rediculous.
I can't wait for the BBC to make Harry Potter like DR WHO, great acting, humour, and good music.
The music in the Potter movies is typical HollyWood music, how inapropriate for mystical British Harry Potter.
J.K Rowling says she likes the movies, she has to say that, i bet she is dissapointed when she see's DR WHO
Longest Book but Shortest Film.......2008-01-27
Longest Book but Shortest Film, or How To Turn a 766 page Phoenix into a 128 minute Turkey.
Yes, the film, including credits, actually runs 138 minutes. But the book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is 766 wonderful pages long, from perhaps the best, certainly the most popular writer to bridge the gap between children's writing and adult writing, J.K. Rowling,
A pity that the same cannot be said for the poor wretch Michael Goldenberg who took this wonderful book, cut out almost all the supporting characterisation, and turned in a script which concentrates exclusively on Harry Potter in the least satisfying of the films so far. Where was Steve Cloves, who did such a fine job with the first four screenplays? One wonders why J.K. Rowling let this script pass. Perhaps she gave up the right of script approval. Perhaps she no longer cares, now that the series of books is finished, and she is wealthier than the Queen.
Brilliant, flashing, but hokey special effects dazzle the viewer, but waste so much of the film's running time, that all the supporting characters get short shrift. Hagrid is almost absent. The little brat Malfoy has almost disappeared. Hogwarts itself doesn't look the same as it has in most previous films. Even the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix don't live up to the book: the screaming portrait is gone, and Kreatcher, the Black house elf gets so little screen time he might as well not be there. Tonks has about two lines.
The Ministry of Magic scenes which feature so prominently in the book are minimal in the film.
The whole film has also been printed so dark that one needs to turn up the brightness control to see any of the details of the sets. Maybe Warners couldn't afford to build sets with enough detail to be seen with proper lighting. Maybe Warners doesn't care any more, as long as the money keeps rolling in.
Director David Yates did the best he could with a sorry travesty of a screenplay, but even he couldn't pull this one out of a hat. One hopes for better results with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which he is directing for release later this year, 2008. Good news though, Steve Cloves has written the screenplay.
Too bad that Chris Columbus has bowed out of the production. Too bad that Director of Photography Roger Pratt, who so brilliantly photographed the second and fourth films didn't do this one.
The bottom line: rent this one, don't waste your money buying it. Read the book, if you haven't already.
BRILLIANT.......2008-01-15
If you are a Harry the Potter fan you will really like this film. Do not be concerned about the other reviews, watch the film and I assure you that you will enjoy the film and want to see it again. Famntastic.
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the former East Germany, no-one was above suspicion. Like George Orwell's vision of the future come to life, art and people and relationships were monitored obsessively; The Lives of Others captures not only the paranoia and danger inherent in such a world, but also expresses hope that even in the most desperate situations, people can make a difference.
The story of The Lives of Others unfolds mostly through the eyes of a secret service agent who's been given the task of spying on an artistic couple who've attracted the attention of the Minister of Culture. Little by little, he's drawn into their lives even as we're drawn into his; and as he loses his faith in the government, he must decide whether or not to try to hide the transgressions of those he's watching. As the physical danger and emotional cost mounts, it's impossible not to become utterly engrossed; intelligent and well-written, The Lives Of Others is also deeply moving.
It's rare to find a film that really deserves its rave reviews, and considering The Lives of Others won a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, it's got a lot to live up to. Happily, it's more than just up to scratch--it's absolutely brilliant. --Sarah Dobbs
Customer Reviews:
"Don't Forget Your Audience".......2008-03-05
GDR 1984.Senior Stasi Officer Weisler(the late Ulrich Muhe)is assigned to eavesdrop on famous playwright Georg Dreyman(Sebastian Koch)and his actress girlfriend Christa Maria Sieland(Martina Gedeck).A jealous high ranking minister who covets Sieland for himself mistrusts Dreyman because he cannot believe that the playwright's true artistic instincts won't one day supercede his allegiance to the state.
Taut political thriller is deliberately paced but meticulously crafted with impeccable performances(Muhe and Gedeck in particular)with Muhe's character, as he is drawn into their lifestyle, starting to question his own faith in the system when he is watching people who are seeking to create a more balanced and open socialist state through art and thus peacefully challenging the status quo.
The film's depiction of the Stasi's constant surveillance and the constant refining of their"interrogation"techniques is chilling and while not without a contrivance or two, The Lives Of Others is a superb film worthy of its Oscar for Best Foreign Feature at the 2007 awards.The ending while a touch sentimental is an emotional tour de force laying bare the sacrifices that have been made.
Will probably join your top 10 list.......2008-03-03
Once in a while, a film comes along, totally unexpectedly, and reveals itself as not just a great film but one that renews your faith in cinema and stays with you long after it has ended. One that shows that film can be the most worthy art form and one which makes you realise this is what the best of cinema really is - intelligent, substantial and made with integrity without employing silly melodramatic contrivances. The Lives of Others is such a film, undoubtedly one of the best films I've seen in the last decade, an intelligent study of a cold, emotionally stern man who undergoes an emotional awakening and humanizing effect by slowly becoming aware of the richness of life that is eluding his own austere existence.
The man in question is Gerd Weisler, a Stasi officer in East Germany in the mid 1980's. He's distrusting and quietly imposing, stands by the socialist ideals of his government and is determined to uncover political dissent wherever possible. He is simply a cog in the regime. There is nothing to warm to, no personality, individuality or life in him. He's a robot worker and nothing else. That is until he is called upon to spy on an artist couple in their apartment who may or may not be up to something. We first see Wiesler's distrust of the writer in an early scene, a distrust based on nothing more than a gut feeling - or perhaps from a twang of jealousy of this man's obvious contentment and fulfillment. To Wiesler, he is simply "arrogant" and so must be a cause for concern. I don't need to go into any more detail about the plot here but needless to say it paves the way for some moments of high tension and clever plot devices.
However, it's what happens to Wiesler's character throughout that really pushes the buttons and makes for such a lasting impression. His transformation from perpetrator to defector, from hunter to protector. During his surveillance mission, he hears everything the couple say and do, mechanically jotting down every last detail in a notebook and then typing up reports. And so he begins to experience the couple's life vicariously and slowly starts to realise that he wants, needs what they have and that he doesn't - friends, love, beauty, fulfillment. We see him start to change, to restrain himself in situations where he would usually impose himself, we see wonderful key moments where he displays acts of kindness and reveals emotions we didn't think he would be capable of. He ends up surprising us, redeeming himself by risking his career and life for the artists, by calmly deflecting the suspicions of his wily superiors about his integrity to the cause, protecting the inevitably tragic couple from above like some personal guardian angel completely unbeknownst to them, who have no idea they are even under surveillance.
Such a character study would be nothing without a great actor and Ulrich Mühe plays the role perfectly, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing it (what a real shame he passed away recently). His role recalls that of Billy Bob Thornton's in The Man Who Wasn't There, someone who hardly says two words but expresses everything beautifully through his body language and facial expressions. We see him in many different states during the course of the film; from a sometimes menacing and ice cold authoritative instructor and interrogator for the Stasi through to a simple menial state postal worker, allowing time to pass him by as he plods along on his route. He is always believable and an interesting character to watch unfold. The rest of the acting is also first rate, especially from Wiesler's Stasi superiors.
Despite the obvious differences, I would sum up The Lives of Others as a The Shawshank Redemption for this decade because of its significant emotional arc. It has a beautifully controlled, unrushed poetic approach and you get the feeling that the filmmaker (also a debut) has put all he has into it, has fashioned it with a lot of care and attention. You could also say that like Shawshank, it follows a man's escape from an oppressive and dehumanising regime to become human once again. Also, the happy ending is perfectly understated and although Wiesler doesn't exactly end up finding happiness, he's afforded a sort of standing ovation at the end and his final words in the film will certainly bring a lump to your throat. You'll want to pat him on the back and shake his hand. An unsung hero given and appreciating the recognition he deserves.
The Lives of Others.......2008-02-29
This was one of the most moving and outstanding films I have seen in a long time. As a German student myself, I recommend the film strongly to anyone studying German at GCSE and A level, as it is a truly amazing film. Yet, even without having learnt German, and with the English subtitles, you can really enjoy this film. Certanly deserves the awards it has won. First class acting!
Beautiful!.......2008-02-29
I'm not a fan of subtitles but I was seduced by the good reviews i had been reading and am ever thankful that i watched this masterpeice. Its slow, subtle and poignant. The ending was just beautiful, i had a lump in my throat. Highly recommended but not for those who like face paced action. Worth every minute!
the lives of others.......2008-02-28
Highly recommended. This is an excellent story about recent european history. It is almost gently told. Very moving without being totally depressing. Uplifting. I congratulate the writer, the director and the cast.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Even if you missed the first three seasons (the character guides and thorough episode recaps on HBO's website are recommended), and with only one season left, it's not too late to get in under The Wire. In fact, season 4 is an accessible introduction for those who know The Wire only by its street cred as arguably the very best show on television. For them especially, this season will be, as befitting its theme, a real education. Without resorting to melodramatics that other ratings-challenged series employ to gain that frustratingly elusive audience, The Wire shakes things up this season in a way that is true to the series and its characters. A major character, Dominic West's McNulty, plays a minor role as a contented street cop and family man, while a former supporting player, Jim True-Frost's Roland Pryzbylewski, goes to the head of the class as a new eighth grade teacher at beleaguered Edward Tilghman Middle School. It may take a couple of episodes to orient yourself to the Baltimore backrooms, squad rooms, classrooms, and street corners where The Wire's intense dramas play out, and new viewers may miss something in character nuance, but they will easily grasp the big picture. A politically motivated shake-up sends Major Crimes detectives Freamon (Clarke Peters) and Greggs (Sonja Sohn) to Homicide. The gloves come off in the mayoral race between black incumbent Clarence Royce (Glynn Turman) and idealistic white challenger Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen). Gang leader Marlo (Jamie Hector) quietly and deliberately becomes the city's new drug kingpin, managing to subvert all surveillance efforts. Meanwhile, while "Prez" tries to reach his students, four highly at-risk kids will be drawn into the drug trade.
Mere synopsis does not do The Wire justice. The series deftly juggles its myriad storylines and characters, all of whom make an impression, from Marlo's cold-blooded enforcers, Snoop (Felicia Pearson) and Chris (Gbenga Akinnagbe), to boxing instructor "Cutty" (Chad L. Coleman), determined to keep his young charges off the corners. There is not a false note in the performances or the writing. Richard Price (Clockers) and Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) again contributed episodes. That this series has only been nominated for only one Emmy (for writing) is a travesty. As engrossing as the finest novels and in a class by itself, this isn't television; it's The Wire. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews:
Can't wait for season five.......2008-02-26
The Wire maintains its form with a brilliant season. With only one more to go this has set the scene for a thrilling climax. The Wire is not about action and guns blazing. Its a smooth operator. Taking its time to deal a blow. When it does its superb. McNulty is now off the booze and living a fairly quiet life. In the Policical arena things are hotting up with the impending election and its results due. Prez, no longer a cop works in an inner city school. He has it tough. And the streets continue to be a hard place. The Game is real of that there is no doubt. The Barksdale empire has fallen and Marlo rules supreme. But Omar obey's nobody. He continues to be a thorn in the side of everyone. Not only does he continue to steal the drugs from the dealers himself this time he even sells it back to them at a price!
The Wire, however, is more than just an intelligent 'cops and robbers's how. Its an insight into the social plight of many people in America. Particularly, African Americans. Without doubt, Michael a youngster with a talent for boxing is a story that is sad and horrific. Even more so because you can believe this will happen. He is spotted by Marlo's people. They believe he has talent. He tries to keep out of it all and the drugs but he needs a favour and Marlo has promised to help. They keep their part of the deal so Michael must do his. He becomes part of the 'Game' and quickly develops from an innocent child into a cold hearted killer. Its just horrendous. This series works at so many different levels. Its funny, sad, heart breaking. You have empathy for the characters. You despise some of them. Its a thoroughly engaging experience. When television is done like this you never watch something else with the same sort of tolerance. You can see how lazy so many other shows are. In The Wire, people make mistakes. The Cops are sometimes bent and will take a bribe. Its real. It doesn't sugar coat what people can be like. The end to the series is shocking and sad. It sets up what should be a brilliant ending to a phenomenal piece of television and I can't wait. Get this, and the others and watch from Season 1. You will not regret it.
Masterpiece, Vol. 4.......2008-02-08
This season is another humdinger, no doubt. Far and away the most sophisticated thing on TV (not to mention film, radio and the print media), The Wire epitomises that journalistic adage: "Show me, don't tell me". We've all heard about inner city squalor, the ghettos, the drug lords. But can we actually picture what these words mean? The Wire unlocks that world, and may unlock your mind.
If season 4 starts rather slowly, it is no doubt because season 3 ended with such a bang that it tied up most of the loose ends and cauterised the rest. So we get some new characters, new plotlines and a new theme: education, or the lack of it. The political story rings louder as Councilman Tommy Carcetti fights for the party's mayoral nomination, a battle that is waged in an arena of corruption and where attacking the incumbent's record on crime is a potent weapon. So Carcetti (much more likeable here than in season 3) and his mayoral ambitions become a solid part of the story, cementing the political dimension of The Wire.
Interlaced with the politics and the drugs world, which remains centre stage in season 4, is the educational storyline. Hamsterdam veteran Bunny Colvin gets involved in a programme that aims to improve schooling by socialising the 13-year-old "corner kids" - the problem children who are likely to be dead or jailed by 20. Prez, Carver and Cutty also get involved. The school story is rich with junior acting talent. Needless to say, drugs and crime are never far away, and not everyone has a happy time in the classroom.
With so much else going on, the drugs war, which was everything to season 1, is now merely first among equals in a panoply of plotlines. It is still the backbone of The Wire because it is the central issue in the lives of most of the characters, but the writers have had fun breaking new ground and exploring fresh ideas. Since they assume you've already watched the first three seasons (and it would be quite perverse to watch them out of order), they have an increasingly rich and three dimensional Baltimore world to draw on. This saves a huge amount of scene-setting and characterisation and it adds to the realism, and there are in-jokes and references to events and people from back in the old days, the kind of thing you never see on a normal TV show. In fact, I'm getting so at home in Baltimore, I am almost getting to the stage where I can understand the gang talk without the subtitles on. But not quite.
The downside of broadening the canvas, depending on your own personal taste, may be the fact that some characters we know and love are now rarely in the picture. McNulty and, ahem, Stringer, for example, were mainstays of earlier seasons. In this one, McNulty gets a few walk-ons but is essentially a minor character. On the other hand, Bunk, Bunny and Bubbles (why do these guys all have the same kind of name?) are all to the fore. Omar, Lester, Keema, Landsman, Herc and Carver all loom large too.
The complex characters are one of the many strengths of the Wire and the writers have kept up the standard in this season. The killers aren't softies, but even they can tell a joke or show a little heart. Just when you thought you had someone pegged as a loser, they grow balls. That corrupt politician is suddenly likeable. Your favourite character looks a little smug all of a sudden, as if he is his own favourite too.
This richness of roles is key to another of its great virtues: the Wire has dozens of well-rounded characters, and most of them are black. It has set a standard for racial realism which Hollywood will never match if it cannot offer more black roles than "second mugger", "mouthy comedian" and "shouty black police captain".
In fact one of the lesser new characters in this season is a shouty white police captain, Lt. Marimow, a wonderful addition, an officious and headstrong martinet who has been inexplicably promoted and who reminded me strongly of a loathed former boss. It's a testament to the writers that a supposed "goodie" can cause such revulsion while one definite "baddie" who did not make it past the end of season 3 is much missed. The series' writer David Simon explains in the bonus material why he had to kill him off - it is just not realistic for drug dealers to go on living forever.
One small quibble with this season is that it does not end with the same kind of satisfying plot wrap-up as the first three did. But that complaint fizzles out when I start thinking about season 5 - the last. Yes, there are still loose ends to be tied up at the end of 4, but I would rather the writers take the whole of season 5 to keep those plots boiling away than try to squeeze all the various storylines into one great reckoning at the end of this fourth 13-episode season.
The bonus material includes an hour-long two-part documentary about the series and the season's education theme. For my money, it is not as enjoyable as the cast's candid Q&A on the season 3 DVD, but still well worth watching. In one insight, Simon sums up the ethos of the series: "The Wire is not about good and evil. The Wire is about economics, it's about sociology." There's also some good input from former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke (who caused a furore by pushing for liberalisation of drug laws) and education experts who laud the season's take on the subject.
The bonus material also gives us a glimpse of the actors out of character - see Bubbles looking clean and chic!! Hear McNulty's English accent! It's quite a fright to realise that it's just a show.
The Guardian called The Wire the best TV show since the invention of radio and the Financial Times said it is such a radical programme that it threatens to disrupt entirely the way we watch TV. As ever, The Wire is not for those who are faint of heart or feeble of mind. For the rest, don't miss it.
wonderful, of course.......2008-02-05
the people who have written the reviews below are not wrong...this is simply amazing and a total joy.
watch the other seasons first, at all costs
No amount of starts can adequately convey its brilliance - buy it now.......2008-02-05
I envy anyone who hasn't watched The Wire yet, and just when I thought it couldn't get any better, series 4 proves how wrong I was.
This is the best TV I have ever seen.
An overall sense of hopelessness pervades this series, especially the final 4 or 5 episodes and once again, there are several shocks and unexpected deaths.
Focussing on youngsters growing up in a dangerous, uncaring world, the word-perfect script is non-formulaic, while both established and new cast members deliver painfully accurate performances. The young actors in particular are excellent, but every cast member (every crew member, writer and director for that matter) should be congratulated.
The action is ruthlessly cruel and heart-breakingly sad in turn, and by examining the lives of youngsters trapped in impossible circumstances through no fault of their own, this series is more overtly poignant than its predecessors.
At the same time, thoughtful references to earlier series demonstrate unmatchable continuity and add to the overall sense of realism. Key characters start to feel like friends (or enemies), and you can't ask any more of a TV series than that. I watch very little TV and have never felt so involved with a television programme, but the writing and portrayals are so engrossing, I defy anyone not to be emotionally affected by this series.
Until now, series 2 had been my favourite, but I think series 4 just about surpasses it.
If you own a multi-region DVD player, buy it now. You won't regret it.
Or blissfully anticipate its UK release in March.
Like I said before, I envy anyone who hasn't watched The Wire - but most especially, anyone who hasn't watched this series.
Eclipses everything else on TV.......2008-02-03
For once, the hyperbole is justified. Watching 'The Wire' makes you
angry - not because of the injustice, poverty or corruption it so
unerringly portrays. No, what makes you really angry is the dawning
realisation that every other TV series you have ever watched has short
changed you. Watching 'The Wire' is like picking up a meaty novel when
all you've ever read before are flimsy short stories. It has taken
nearly 50 years, but finally a show has come along that has realised
the full potential of the medium of television.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralise the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae.
More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylised look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity--more female, less male--than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. --David Horiuchi
Amazon.co.uk Review
Winner of the World Audience Award at Sundance, Once starts out as a small-scale romance, like Before Sunrise, before arriving somewhere unexpected. An Irish busker (Glen Hansard, the Frames and The Commitments) meets a Czech flower seller (Markéta Irglová) while singing on the streets of Dublin. (In the credits, they're listed as Guy and Girl.) She likes what she hears and lets him know. Turns out she's a musician, too. They work on a few songs together and a friendship is forged. She lives with her widowed mother, who doesn't speak English. He lives with his widowed father, who owns a repair shop. Since he broke up with his girlfriend, the guy has been drifting, unable and unwilling to get his life in order. The girl encourages him to pursue a record deal, and the guy emerges from his funk. Then he makes a move on the girl, who rejects his advances. He's confused, but as he comes to find, there's a reason she's keeping her distance. Though Once is filled with appealing folk-pop by Hansard and Irglová (released on CD as The Swell Season), the movie isn't a traditional musical, but rather a more optimistic Brief Encounter. Filmmaker John Carney, Hansard's former bandmate, captures the real city--in all its affluence and poverty--rather than the picture postcard version. His beautifully shot film serves as a heartfelt ballad about all the underclass Guys and Girls swept aside amidst Ireland's economic miracle. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Reviews:
Small Film, Great Performance.......2008-03-14
This is a story of a street musician played by Glen Hansard in Dublin who has let a breakup with his girlfriend send him into a type of depression. He meets and develops a friendship with a Czech immigrant played by Markéta Irglová who sells flowers on the street. They both share an interest in music and she is the catalyst that awakens him so that his life and music can begin to move forward.
This is a new type of romance film where the music is not only great, but is also the star and tells us the story. The music itself is a lead character in this movie. This newfound friendship is the motivating force in pushing his music career. I like that the movie also gives us a small glimpse into the creative process of the music.
It is hard to believe these two are not actors for they were so natural. It may be because they are musicians, so they were just acting naturally. This low budget film but the chemistry of the two main actors and music make it a must see film. I cannot remember the last time I bought a CD, but I will definitely consider buying the soundtrack to this movie.
Beautiful.......2008-03-11
One of the best movies I've seen in the last years... I recommend it: it's nice, it's simple, it's sincere, it's positive... it's a small movie, but it's incredibly powerful. The music... just listen it ONCE and judge by yourself.
Simply beautiful.......2008-03-09
I watched this movie last night, following a reccommendation someone made who had seen it at the cinema. The story was essetially a simple one, but it was beautifully acted by two musician friends who have not acted before and I understand do not wish to again. The dialogue is realistic and as the two actors know eachother in real life, I found so much was said with a look. The movie covers just a few days in the lives of these two people, most of which is said through the music, but it says things that so many of have experienced and is done in a very personal way. The movie was simply beautiful. I will be buying this on DVD and buying the soundtrack too.
Great movie.......2008-03-03
If there is one film that went a little unnoticed it was this little gem. With great chemistry between the leads, the film is interesting study of two lost souls trying to fix one another via the means of music. funny, sad and also intrieging. loved the songs too and if your a fan of the film it's worth trying the soundtrack as well. Best Movie of last year along with Atonement.
A perfect romantic comedy, with a brilliant soundtrack .......2008-03-03
I discovered after watching the film that it is penned as a modern day musical. Although I am a fan of musicals both old and new I am worried that this categorisation will put people off. This is a wonderful feel good film and I welcomed the change after my recent string of tragic dramas and predictable romantic comedies. I may be repeating previous reviews but the appealing thing about this film is the handheld style in which it is flmed and the fact that the two main actors are friends and write songs together in real life explains why their relationship and the musical scenes between them are so convincing. I think everyone can relate in some way to their relationship too, they meet at the right time to sort each other out and we are treated to a string of fantastic songs as a result, that I expect will result in a bestselling album. Although I usually go for the obvious more cheesy romantic comedies, I wish more films were made like this, I wanted to watch it again the minute it finished and will be watching it whenever I need to feel more optimistic about life! Don't miss it!
Amazon.co.uk Review
Back in 1961, Walt Disney got a little hip with 101 Dalmatians, making use of that flat Saturday morning cartoon style that had become so popular. The result is a kitschy change in animation and story. Pongo and Perdita are two lonely Dalmatians who meet in a London park and arrange for their pet humans to marry so they can live together and raise a family. They become proud parents of 15 pups, who are stolen by the dastardly Cruella De Vil, who wants to make a fur coat out of them. Cruella has become the most popular villain in all of Disney--she is flamboyantly nasty and lots of fun. But it is the Dalmatians who shine in this endearing classic, particularly those precocious pups. Telling the story from the dogs' point of view is a clever conceit, a fundamental flaw of Disney's 1996 live-action remake. --Bill Desowitz
Amazon.co.uk Review
Disney may throw around the word 'classic' with a little too much abandon when it comes to some of its animated releases, but its take on 101 Dalmatians is very much the real deal. With lively songs, a terrifically-realised story and one of its very best villains, it remains a towering achievement, over four decades since it first appeared.
The story of 101 Dalmatians starts with the two heroes of the tale, Pongo and Perdita. But when their litter of dalamatian puppies is dognapped by the evil Cruella De Vil's cronies, the pair must spring into action to save their offspring before Cruella gets herself the new coat that she desires.
But while Pongo and Perdita may be the pair you end up rooting for, the undoubted star of 101 Dalmatians is Cruella De Vil. A wonderfully twisted, genuinely nasty villainess, she's an astounding creation and adds a real menace to the film. That said, it's not a downbeat or scary tale: toe-tapping musical numbers, plenty of imagination and a good few chuckles make up the rest of the ingredients, and rarely have they all come together quite so well as they do here.
Retold by Disney in live action form in 1996, it's nonetheless its animated take on 101 Dalmatians that remains the definitive filmed version. And now packed into a special collectors' DVD set, there's never been a better reason to treat your family to a copy. Unmissable, and a reminder of why Disney's reputation in this field is quite so towering. --Simon Brew
DVD Review:
- Steve Vai/Holland Metropole Orkest: Visual Sound Theories [2007]
- Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble - Live At The El Mocambo [1983]
- Take That - Beautiful World Live
- Take That - Never Forget - The Ultimate Collection (1DVD) [2005]
- Take That - The Ultimate Tour [2006]
- The American Folk Blues Festivals 1963-1966 - The British Tours - Various Artists [2007]
- The Beatles - Help!
- The Big Red One [1980] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- The Eagles - Farewell Tour Part One [2004]
- The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over [1994]
DVD Review List
DVD Review
![Stardust [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21DZZWdko%2BL.jpg)
All Action & Adventure
|
Action & Adventure
|
Categories
|
DVD
|
Video
![Beowulf - 1 Disc Edition [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000Y86NS6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Beowulf - 1 Disc Edition [2007]
![The Golden Compass [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0010X8FLM.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Golden Compass [2007]
![The Last Legion [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000YDAJHM.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Last Legion [2007]
![Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Limited Edition Sleeve and Free Bookmark (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0011FTQ44.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Elizabeth: The Golden Age - Limited Edition Sleeve and Free Bookmark (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [2007]
![The Invasion [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000Y8CXXA.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Invasion [2007]
![Stardust [2007]](http://www.bill88.com/buy.gif)
![La Vie En Rose [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21dvxxXDrBL.jpg)
![Moliere [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000UH3VHC.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Michael Clayton [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000ZN63S0.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Lives Of Others [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000R342QS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Atonement [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000YGHBWU.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Tell No-One [2006]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000RXX7Q4.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Ratatouille [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31sqZ6ApsCL.jpg)
![Stardust [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000Z2GQZG.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Bee Movie [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000ZGKCTS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![101 Dalmatians Platinum Edition (Ltd Edition with Dalmatian Toy) [1961]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00127IC8C.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Alvin And The Chipmunks [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0012OTRPC.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2 Disc Special Edition) [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31X3ycOz9QL.jpg)
![Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000GNOKX4.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Spider-Man 3 (2 Disc Special Edition) Limited Edition Sleeve Design and Slipcase (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000HD1004.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Simpsons Movie [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000V7ZME6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Lives Of Others [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31CMljLWPbL.jpg)
![La Vie En Rose [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000VNJEGW.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Night of the Sunflowers [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000R28I9G.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Painted Veil [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000R342RC.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![300 [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31A3acmaNOL.jpg)
![Casino Royale [2006]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000TQLIP6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Blood Diamond [2006]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000MQC92Y.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Pathfinder [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000S6UZDS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Once [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21TZss0LxUL.jpg)
![Into the Wild [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000YIAXJ6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [2007]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000Y8G0OS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![101 Dalmatians Platinum Edition (Ltd Edition with Dalmatian Toy) [1961]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31t0Ug7fgIL.jpg)
![The Aristocats Special Edition [1970]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000XUEX8M.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Peter Pan (2 Disc Special Edition) [1953]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000M2E7I2.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Dumbo (Special Edition) [1941]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000NDM3N6.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)