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Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is a young girl in a remote mountain village in Spain in 1944 after Franco's ascension to power. To escape the upheaval and hardship her family faces (her father died in the war and her mother has been forced to re-marry to a despotic captain in Franco's fascist army), Ofelia creates a world in her mind, where she's guided by a ghastly yet kindly fawn creature.
The captain, it soon transpires, is more interested in the son Ofelia's mother is carrying than he is in either Ofelia or her mother. Mercedes (Maribel Verdú), the captain's considerate servant, and Dr. Ferreiro, the captain’s physician, are, it transpires, in league with the revolutionaries in the woods surrounding the army encampment. These resistance fighters are intent on liberating the rationed food and medicines they need.
As the increasingly manic and paranoid captain assassinates anyone who looks at him the wrong way with alarming regularity, Ofelia's secret quests set by the fawn creature to unlock the portal to another world become more and more urgent.
With its deft mixing of CGI and actual character scenes, political and social statement, Pan's Labyrinth has been referred to already as “The Citizen Kane of fantasy films.”
Film: Pan's Labyrinth - Special Edition
Release date: 28th February 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 119 mins
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil
Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Mystery
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Spain/USA/Mexico
Ghostly goings-on are the order of the day in this eerie shocker from Mexican fright meister Guillermo del Toro.
Set during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, the film takes place in remote orphanage haunted by a mysterious ghost child named Santi. The children of the orphanage are terrified of Santi, but when they learn the true circumstances of his death, they begin plotting to help him get his revenge.
Film: The Devil’s Backbone - Special Edition
Release date: 28th February 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 106 mins
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Marissa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Inigo Garces, Irene Visedo
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Spain/Mexico
A modern-day vampire film which re-works the ancient themes of fear and desire.
Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) is an antique dealer who, with his grandaughter Aurora, discovers a mysterious scarab-like object at the base of an old statue. The statue's previous owner was a 16th century alchemist, and the object turns out to be the Cronos which grants the user eternal life in exchange for blood.
Intrigued, Jesus is drawn into the grip of the Cronos, and when Dieter and his nephew, Angel, hound the antique dealer, Aurora tries to save her grandfather, but she too becomes a part of the thirst for blood.
Film: Cronos - Special Edition
Release date: 28th February 2011
Certificate: 18
Running time: 92 mins
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook, Tamara Shanath, Margarita Isabel
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Horror/Thriller
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Mexico
When a bored college student learns that a long lost aunt has been found dead in a park, he begins piecing together her life to see if it had any value. What he finds is a revelation.
Talented film director Tetsuya Nakashima (Kamikaze Girls) wields a host of cinematic tools to make Memories Of Matsuko a memorably entertaining and emotionally powerful fairytale tragedy, weaving together realistic human drama with offbeat comedy and spectacular (Bob Fosse-like) production numbers to tell the heartbreaking story of Matsuko Kawajiri, a starry-eyed woman who spends her entire life searching for a worthy ‘prince’ capable of returning her limitless love.
Versatile actress, Miki Nakatani, renders a virtuosic performance in the lead role of Matsuko.
Film: Memories Of Matsuko
Release date: 14th February 2011
Certificate: 15
Running time: 130 mins
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Starring: Miki Nakatani, Eita, Yusuke Iseya, Teruyuki Kagawa, YosiYosi Arakawa
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Fantasy/Musical/Mystery
Studio: Third Window
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Japan
Blu-ray Special Features:
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Making of
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Storyboard to film comparison
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Interview with music composer Gabriele Roberto
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Theatrical trailer
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Trailers of other Third Window Films titles
Uncut version of the gory martial arts classic, which was released last year in a limited edition dual format steel book. This is a dubbed release.
A master Samurai warrior refuses to work for the Emperor. As a result, assassins kill his wife and he is forced to flee with his son.
Travelling around the world, he is determined take revenge on the Emperor's assassins.
Stunning fully-restored 1080p presentation of the uncut film in its original aspect ratio.
Film: Shogun Assassin: Special Edition
Release date: 24th January 2011
Certificate: 18
Running time: 81 mins
Director: Robert Houston
Starring: Tomisaburo Wakayama, Kayo Matsuo, Minoru Oki, Akiji Kobayashi, Shin Kishida
Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama
Studio: Eureka!
Format: DVD & Blu-ray
Country: Japan/USA
Special Features:
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New video appreciation of the film by actor Samuel L. Jackson
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Two
• commentary tracks: one featuring producer David Weisman, illustrator Jim Evans and actor Gibran Evans (the voice of Daigoro); the second with film scholar Ric Meyers and martial arts expert Steve Watson
•
Original HD theatrical trailer for Shogun Assassin
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Original Japanese trailers for all six of the original Lone Wolf and Cub films
Following its HMV exclusive released in October, the Infernal Affairs Trilogy gets its Amazon UK exclusive release on 27th December 2010.
Spanning ten years, likened to The Godfather trilogy, this is the crime epic of our time. Infernal Affairs Trilogy remains a landmark of both Hong King cinema and international crime cinema.
Winning 29 awards and another 38 nominations across the three films, the emphasis on character and cat-and-mouse plotting over action marked this out from previous Hong Kong cinema, while the impeccable production quality showed the rest of the world that Hong Kong cinema could compete with the best blockbusters every other cinema had to offer. It remains as powerful and riveting today as it did on release.
Infernal Affairs
Ming and Yan live parallel lives; one is undercover in the Triads for the Police, the other is a mole in the police. Eventually their paths must cross…
Infernal Affairs II
We go back ten years to see their lives as they first were when they were initially recruited into their respective roles. Friendships fracture, foes join forces and nothing is as it seams.
Infernal Affairs III
Ten months after the first film we see Ming as he attempts to fit into the police force and slowly morphing into Yan as he has to come to terms with the life he has chosen.
Starring: Tony Leung (Hard Boiled, Hero), Andy Lau (House Of Flying Daggers, The Warlords), Anthony Wong (Exiled, Vengeance), Eric Tsang (An Empress And The Warriors, Bodyguards And Assassins), Shawn Yue (Dragon Tiger Gate, Invisible Target), Edison Chen (The Dark Knight, The Grudge 2), and Kelly Chen (Breaking News, An Empress And The Warriors).
Directed by: Andrew Lau (Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen, Initial D) and Alan Mak (Overheard, Initial D).
Film: Infernal Affairs - The Complete Trilogy
Release date: 27th December 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 332 mins
Director: Andrew Lau & Alan Mak
Starring: Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Shawn Yue
Genre: Action/Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller
Studio: Palisades Tartan
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Hong Kong/China/Singapore
Blu-ray Special Features:
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Commentary
•
Making of
•
Trailer
•
Confidential file
•
Deleted scenes
Trio of supernatural stories based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and directed by Roger Vadim, Louis Malle and Federico Fellini.
In 'Metzengerstein', Vadim's then-wife Jane Fonda plays a jealous medieval Countess with incestuous feelings for her cousin, played by Peter Fonda. In 'William Wilson', directed by Louis Malle, Bridget Bardot finds herself on the end of a whipping when she loses at cards to a sadistic Austrian officer (Alain Delon). Finally, in Fellini's 'Toby Dammit', Terence Stamp plays a self-obsessed movie star who, while driving home drunk one evening, bets his head that he can survive a deadly accident.
This Blu-ray release features a brand new transfer from a new HD restoration of the original negative; alternative English audio for Metzengerstein and William Wilson, English and Italian audio for Toby Dammit, as well the French dubbed version - brand new English subtitle translation on all versions – and rare Vincent Price voiceover narration used for the US theatrical version.
Packaged with a sixty-page booklet featuring Edgar Allan Poe’s original short stories, ‘Metzengerstein’, ‘William Wilson’ and ‘Never Bet the Devil Your Head’ (Toby Dammit); 'Spirits Of The Dead Revisited' essay by critic and author Tim Lucas; and ‘Literature And Cinema' essay by scholar and author Peter Bondanella on Toby Dammit. There are also re-prints of original lobby cards and posters included.
Film: Spirits Of The Dead
Release date: 15th November 2010
Certificate: 18
Running time: 121 mins
Director: Federico Fellini, Louis Malle, Roger Vadim
Starring: Brigitte Bardot, Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, Terence Stamp, James Robertson Justice
Genre: Horror/Mystery
Studio: Arrow
Format: Blu-ray
Country: France/Italy
Blu-ray Special Features:
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Original trailer
Radhe (Salman Khan) and Nirjara (Bhoomika Chawla) are two unworldly people, who fall in love.
Radhe spends his days taunting the students of the college Nirjara attends and so she initially rejects his advances. However, when their circumstances change, she has to declare her feelings before Radhe does something that will change their lives forever.
Film: Tere Naam
Release date: 13th December 2010
Certificate: 12
Running time: 136 mins
Director: Satish Kaushik
Starring: Salman Khan, Bhoomika Chawla, Mahima Chaudhry, Sachin Khedekar, Savita Prabhune
Genre: Bollywood/Romance
Studio: Eros
Format: Blu-ray
Country: India
Under the conducting of Herbert Von Karajan, the Vienna State Opera Ballet, the State Opera Chorus, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the famous singers Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Otto Edelmann, all combine to give a colourful and inspiring performance of Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier.
The story is set in the Royal Court of Vienna, where the princess is being wooed by Octavian, a handsome young cavalier, despite her married state. Complications arise when Octavian falls in love with her younger sister, Sophie, whom another is trying to win.
Set to a rousing musical score, this opera is a classic love story. This Blu-ray-only release features the film restored in HD.
Film: Der Rosenkavalier
Release date: 29th November 2010
Certificate: E
Running time: 192 mins
Director: Paul Czninner
Starring: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Otto Edelmann, Sena Jurinac, Anneliese Rothenberger, Erich Kunz
Genre: Comedy/Romance/Musical
Studio: Park Circus
Format: Blu-ray
Country: UK
Blu-ray Special Features:
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Theatrical trailer
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Before/after restoration
•
Photo gallery
Anil Sharma directs this big-budget Bollywood historical action drama set in the 1880s.
The film is co-written by actor Salman Khan, who also stars as a fearless Pindari warrior in love with a Rajput Princess played by Zarine Khan.
The Pindari warrior Veer (Salman Khan) plots to overthrow British rule in Madhavgarh while falling in love with Princess Yashodhara (Zarine Khan), daughter of King Gyanendra (Jackie Shroff) who as a prince years before had betrayed the Pindari leading to a massacre of 4500 men.
Film: Veer
Release date: 18th October 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 161 mins
Director: Anil Sharma
Starring: Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shroff, Bianca Van Varenberg
Genre: Action/Adventure/Bollywood/Drama/History/Romance/War
Studio: Eros
Format: Blu-ray
Country: India
Blood-spattered and brutal version of 'King Lear', with three sons instead of three daughters. Akira Kurosawa took the story and remade it into this highly regarded, blood splattered 'Period of the Warring States' epic.
After years of ruthless slaughter, Hidetero splits his kingdom amongst his sons seeking a peaceful retirement, but his life descends into chaos as he is unable to escape the corruption within his own family and the torment within his soul.
Film: Ran
Release date: 18th October 2010
Certificate: 15
Running time: 155 mins
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada
Genre: Action/Drama/War
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Japan
Centred around three different stories, this film is set in the heart of the troubled and ever-changing Mexico City.
Octavio is unlucky in love and has a major crush on Susana, who is married to his abusive brother Ramiro; Daniel is a successful editor who has left his wife and kids to live with Valeria, a supermodel, in her penthouse apartment; whilst El Chivo is an ex-con turned hitman who is being paid to kill a rich businessman, against the wishes of his scared young girlfriend.
Film: Amores Perros
Release date: 18th October 2010
Certificate: 18
Running time: 155 mins
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring: Emilio Echevarría, Gael García Bernal, Goya Toledo, Álvaro Guerrero, Vanessa Bauche
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Studio: Optimum
Format: Blu-ray
Country: Mexico
Raajneeti is a story about Indian politics. About Indian democracy. About Indian elections. Above all, it is the story of a few people who control the destiny of millions. It is the story of their unstoppable ambition, and their bitter and violent battle to achieve it. This is the story of people who understand power and know how to wield it at will.
It is the story of Bhasker Sanyal (Naseeruddin Shah), the fire brand leftist leader, as feared for his single handed ability to challenge the most powerful of leaders as he was respected for his political integrity. Until one private mistake of his hurtled him into a self-imposed exile and spawned a secret consequence that shook the destiny of the political future of the state.
The film is hugely influenced by the epic story from the Indian religious history of the ‘Mahabharat’, and is set in the milieu of contemporary electoral politics.
Film: Raajneeti
Release date: 11th October 2010
Certificate: 12
Running time: 168 mins
Director: Prakash Jha
Starring: Ajay Devgan, Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Nana Patekar
Genre: Bollywood/Crime/Drama/Romance
Studio: UTV
Format: Blu-ray
Country: India
