Spidey release is packed with extras

Spider-Man junkies better get saving, as their pockets are likelier to emptied faster than a kid’s in a sweet shop.

Spider-Man 3 debuts on DVD, Blu-Ray and UMD on October 15 with a plethora of special features making up six hours of bonus material and commentaries including and 11 features. Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 are also exclusively available for the first time on Blu-ray in the Spider-Man High Definition Trilogy Set.

Spider-Man 3 will be available in several versions for fans to collect, including a 2-disc Special Edition release, UMDTM video and a 6-disc DVD release which will include 2-disc versions of all three Spider-Man films on DVD. Also available is the limited edition 6-disc deluxe box set which includes Spider-Man 1, Spider-Man 2.1 (the extended cut) and Spider-Man 3 plus a 52 page Marvel mega-guide, as well as premium collectible packaging.

In addition, Spider-Man 3 will also be available as a 2-disc release on high definition Blu-ray format as well as making up one third of the 4-disc Spider-Man High Definition Trilogy which also includes Spider-Man and the extended cut version of Spider-Man 2.

Got all that? You could just rent it instead!

Source: Yahoo!

Notes On A Scandal DVD Review by Rachel Read

Notes On A Scandal is a master-class in truly fantastic acting. Based on the book by Zoë Heller (which is also fantastic, go read it), the textured and compelling performances given by both Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett are what elevate this film into four-star territory.

Dench plays Barbara Covett, who becomes obsessed with fellow teacher Sheba Hart (Blanchett) and uncovers the latter’s affair with a schoolboy. So far, so standard. But Dench relishes the chance to sink her teeth into this great cinematic monster, both achingly vulnerable and freakishly creepy, with a chilling voiceover that dominates proceedings. Meanwhile, Blanchett is luminous in her role, making the character a hell of a lot more sympathetic than in the novel. Bill Nighy is also rather wonderful in his small role as Sheba’s husband.

The best lines in Patrick Marber’s script are lifted directly from Heller’s caustic original. Unfortunately, the film sometimes forces Barbara into being far more of a crazed lesbian than the book did – lucky then, that the actors make the whole thing so utterly believable. For a film without much plot, things are surprisingly well-paced, making the action even more gripping.

Special features are a bit rubbish - a couple of featurettes that are mostly film clips and some real rip-offs, ‘webisodes’ that are all of a minute long. But really, hearing the actors discuss and dissect character almost destroys the spell that the movie casts on you. Let the performances, all of which were cruelly overlooked in Oscar season, speak for themselves. Bar the rather hammy and far-too-neat ending (another reason why you should read the book), Notes On A Scandal is an intelligent, compulsive and brilliantly-acted film.

Rachel Read

Night At The Museum DVD Review, Film Clips & Game by Rachel Read

Night At The Museum is an enjoyable family film, enlivened by a comedy dream-team of a cast, some rather nifty special effects and a star turn by a capuchin monkey.

It stars the ever reliable Ben Stiller as Larry, the security night-guard who discovers there is more to the museum motto ‘where history comes alive’. Along the way, there’s some soppy nonsense about him building a relationship with his son, but watching a massive T-Rex skeleton come to life is far more interesting.

With a supporting cast including Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais and an underused Paul Rudd, it can hardly fail to raise a chuckle and it’s great to see absolute legend Dick Van Dyke back on screen.

It’s all entertaining stuff and goes down nicely with a bowl of popcorn and not overly high expectations.

Rachel Read

Watch the a clip from the film: Larry Meets Rebecca
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Watch the a clip from the film: Rexy Comes To Life
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Watch the a clip from the film: Unleash Hell
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Watch the a clip from the film: Larry Meets Teddy
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Watch the a clip from the film: Who’s Evolved
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Watch the a clip from the film: Throw The Bone
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Play the T-Rex game >>

Play the Top Trumps game >>

Little Miss Sunshine DVD Review, Making-of Feature & Film Clips by Rachel Read

Little Miss Sunshine has been described as an indie film. Worrying because these days ‘indie’ seems a byword for pretentious movies devoid of plot that go nowhere for far too long. Thankfully, Little Miss Sunshine is none of these things and as lovely as its title suggests.

It features that indie staple, a dysfunctional family – dad Richard (Greg Kinnear) gives lectures on how to be a winner, yet is a bit of a loser himself; uncle Frank (Steve Carrell) is a troubled and suicidal gay academic; surly teen son Dwayne (Paul Dano) refuses to talk and Grandpa (Alan Arkin) is a heroin-snorting porn-loving rogue. Holding it all together is frenetic housewife Sheryl (Toni Collette) and Little Miss Sunshine herself, beauty-pageant loving Olive (Abigail Breslin). Another indie staple, the long road trip, follows the family’s attempts to get Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine contest on time.

This film has been nominated for all manner of awards, and deservingly so because it’s fantastic. What could easily have become a predictable cliché of a movie is elevated by great scriptwriting and the brilliant performances of a uniformly excellent cast. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette, two of the most versatile and consistent actors of the past few years, do not disappoint whilst Alan Arkin plays the rogue perfectly (to Oscar-nominated effect). Steve Carrell gives a subtle, sad and finely-nuanced performance, all the more surprising given his frat-pack credentials. But best of all is Abigail Breslin, the heart of the movie, who is warm charming and wonderful, without ever being cutesy.

Overall, this is a film that is funny and touching in equal measure. It is also, despite its occasional predictability, heartbreakingly real – the scene where Kinnear tells Olive not to eat ice-cream is a stand-out. One of the best films of 2006 with a real feelgood factor, it’s a little indie gem.

-Rachel Read

Watch the film’s trailer:
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Watch a making-of feature:
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Watch clip 1 “he started it”:
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Watch clip 2 “grandpa”:
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Watch clip 3 “having trouble with your horn?”:
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Creature Comforts DVD Review & Clip by Rachel Read

This has ‘great Christmas present’ written all over it.

Comprising the complete second series of Aardman Animation’s beloved programme (those behind the wonderful Wallace & Gromit), it also features a special to get you in the festive spirit and is garlanded with enough extras to keep everyone quiet after the turkey.

The episodes themselves may only be short, yet they’re practically perfect. Amusing, yet in a very British way, the delight lies in the marriage between the lovable claymation characters and the eccentric voiceovers from “the Great British public” themselves – my favourites are the geezer-boy dogs, the funny little Sharpei and its puppy and especially the grumpy old bats (‘What do you think about speed cameras?’ ‘What did you say? Cucumbers?’).

The excellent extras feature that rarest of things, an actually fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary, that takes you from the original interviews with the public (many of whom bear striking and somewhat scary resemblances to their claymation incarnations) to the painstaking business of drawing the characters, creating the puppets and producing an episode – a journey that takes an obvious amount of dedication and love. All this shows in the finished product, which is utterly charming and well worth your forking out for this lovely DVD.

-Rachel Read

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(c) and TM Aardman Animations Ltd 2006. All Rights Reserved

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD Release & Making-of Video Clips

Experience the magic when the mesmerizing blockbuster movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire makes its debut on DVD and UMD on 20th March 2006 from Warner Home Video.

When Harry Potter’s name emerges from the Goblet of Fire, he becomes a competitor in a gruelling battle for glory among three wizarding schools – the Triwizard Tournament. But since Harry never submitted his name for the Tournament, who did?

Now Harry must confront a deadly dragon, fierce water demons and an enchanted maze only to find himself in the cruel grasp of He Who Must Not Be Named. In this fourth film adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, everything changes as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave childhood forever and take on challenges greater than anything they could have imagined.

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk

Making-of Video Clips:
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King Kong DVD Trailer

Universal Pictures is delighted to announce the eagerly awaited release of Academy Award® winning director Peter Jackson’s epic masterpiece, King Kong, which can be captured to own and rent on 2 disc special edition DVD and 2 disc UMD from Monday 10th April, 2006.

The original King Kong was New Zealand born director, Peter Jackson’s inspiration to take up a career in film and in 2005 he fulfilled a childhood dream of remaking the iconic 1933 classic.

With today’s sophisticated film making techniques at his discretion, he brought King Kong roaring in to the 21st century with heart-pounding action, terrifying creatures and groundbreaking special effects unlike anything ever seen before.

Release date: 10 April 2006
Credit: Universal Pictures UK
Certificate: 12
Genre: Adventure
RRP: £24.99

Watch the trailer now >>

Seed of Chucky - DVD Review

Chucky’s back, and this time he’s brought the whole family! Hollywood’s most notorious killer doll is returning in Momentum Pictures 12 September 2005 rental and 26 September retail release, SEED OF CHUCKY. Packed with loads of devilish extras, SEED OF CHUCKY is one DVD you just can’t live without.

This time Chucky (again voiced by series star Brad Dourif –Lord of the Rings, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), the irrepressible devilish-doll-come-to-life and his equally twisted bride Tiffany (voiced by Jennifer Tilly – Bound, Bullets Over Broadway, Bride of Chucky) have brought along their gender confused orphaned offspring Glen/Glenda (voiced by The Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd).

Written and directed by horror-master Don Mancini, the creator of the acclaimed Child’s Play franchise, SEED OF CHUCKY also co-stars ex S Club 7 popstar Hannah Spearritt, who plays Joan, Jennifer Tilly’s gracious but put-upon assistant who finds out first hand how crazy the movie business can really get; hip-hop superstar and die-hard Chucky fan Redman (playing himself) as a rapper turned director; and notorious filmmaker John Waters as sleazy tabloid paparazzo Peter Peters.
“Everybody’s favourite serial-killing psycho-doll
is back from the grave.” Sunday Times

When production starts on a movie about the urban legend of Chucky and his bride, Glen heads for Hollywood to bring his bloodthirsty parents back from the dead. However, the family dynamics are far from perfect as Glen is horrified to see them embark on another spree of murderous mayhem. Chucky can’t believe that his child doesn’t want to follow in his footsteps, and star-struck Tiffany can’t believe that the movie will star her favourite actress, Jennifer Tilly (playing herself), who soon becomes an unwitting hostess to the new family in more ways than one.

Release Information
Release Date: 26 September 2005
Certificate: 15
Running Time: 82 mins
Catalogue No: MP424D
Barcode: 5060049147246
RRP: £15.99